LAF Weekly Announcements

Hello Everyone!  The Metzner's and Easom's are looking forward to leading our very special group in the coming year.  Please bear with us as we get started in our role sending out announcements. 

I am going to start out this week being ambitious and including a weekly devotional.  This is story that my dad had sent me awhile back and I have kept hoping to be able to share it with you all.  As someone who always stops to pick up pennies I really enjoyed this anecdote:

Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the home of her husband's employer. My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than her house.
The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. Her husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely.
As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant one evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband.  He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment.  Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts. Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny.  He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?
Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She casually mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value.
A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this?
"Look at it," he said. "Read what it says."
She read the words, "  United States of America ."
"No, not that. Read further."
"One cent?"
"No, keep reading."
"In God we Trust?"
"Yes!"
"And?. . ."
"And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin, I see that inscription. It is written on every single  United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him. Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray. I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!"

SOCIAL:
Please join us for the Annual Tailgate THIS SATURDAY, September 10th at Joe and Kimberly Fess' home. Bring the whole family decked out in your favorite football team gear ready for some fun, fellowship, and football. LAF will provide hamburgers and hotdogs and bottled water. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share and your own beverages. 

Look for an EVITE soon for the LAF Halloween Party - save the date of October 30th to celebrate HALLOWEEN!

CURRICULUM: 
Thanks to those couples who participated in our service project preparing hygiene kits and sack lunches for hte homeless during class last Sunday. This Sunday we will resume our series on Giving Good Gifts with the Lamarches leading our discussion surrounding "Honor."

OUTREACH: 
This month we will be raising money to support the Georgia orphanage where we sponsor two orphans.  They are in desperate need of money to buy shoes for the children and have asked our class to donate $300.  To raise the money, we will be organizing a consignment drive!  Please e-mail Elizabeth Wade if you have any maternity or children's clothes you would like to consign.  On October 2nd, we will have a speaker talk to us about the mission work at the orphanage and we will write letters to the children.

CHURCH NEWS:
Moms Partnering with God, the Early Years Fall Series
Moms Partnering with God, the Early Years is a five-week speaker series and fellowship group designed for moms with children under the age of five.  It is a wonderful opportunity to meet new friends, grow in your faith and hear important perspectives about Christian motherhood from leaders in our faith and community.  The series is held on Tuesday nights from 6:30 - 8:15 and includes large and small group fellowship and discussion. 

The theme for this fall's series is Treasure, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:24. 

Topics and speakers for series are:
September 20 - Kickoff Dinner with Marcia Gaddis: The Treasure of Faith in Motherhood
September 27 - Katrina Kenison: The Treasure of an Ordinary Day
October 4 - Dr. Lee Friedman: The Treasure of a Disciplined Child with Values at the Core
October 11 - Kate Ferguson: The Treasure of a Sacred Marriage
October 18 - Celebration Dinner with Sarah Crossman-Sullivan: The Treasure of Community

The first and last session include dinner and will be held in the Hospitality Suite.  The middle three will be held in the Youth Lounge.  There will be plenty of signage up those evenings to point people in the right direction.

The cost for the full series is $25.  Childcare is available for an additional $30 which covers all sessions.  Registration is online at http://www.prumc.org/ under "Events." 

CELEBRATIONS/PRAISES:
Congratulations to the Kurbans on the birth of their daughter Kathryn Grace Kurban "Kate" at 11:06 PM on Labor Day.  She is a very healthy baby at 7 lb. 11 oz. and 20 inches long.  The Kurbans thank you for your prayers!

Congratulations to the Dickeys on the birth of their daughter Caroline Gregory Dickey on Tuesday.  

PRAYER REQUESTS:
Please keep Caroline Dickey and parents in your prayers the next few days.  Last night, she had a brief breathing pause for about 10-20 seconds, and turned blue/purple in the face.  She recovered but it has happened 3 more times this morning.  She has been moved to the Intermediate Nursery (step below NICU) for closer observation, and she will not be able to go home today as planned.  She seems to be doing better but they are going to keep her a couple extra days just to be sure that all is ok.  Preliminary testing suggests seizures so please pray for sweet baby Caroline. 

Amy Register - Please pray for the Bolen family-Taggart, Lisa and baby Addison.  Their 2 week old little girl has had to have emergency abdominal surgery. 

BIRTHDAY'S/ANNIVERSARIES: 
Please forgive me (Susan) that I have misplaced the list so I don't have the birthdays/anniversaries this week.  I don't want to hold up the announcments and will be sure to include in next week's announcments!


In God's Grace,
Malia, David, Susan & Wes