July 30, 2010

Dear Friends,

As we experience a different pace of life during the summer months, we hope that these weeks offer times of rest, renewal, recreation, and a time of re-connecting; reconnecting with family and friends, and reconnecting with God.

This month, in our sermon series, “Celebrating Discipline: Are You Kidding Me?” we will reflect on those actions that allow us to reconnect with the One who is always seeking to connect with us. We might get caught up in the word “discipline” and yet, that word comes from a Latin word meaning instruction. We all need instruction to understand, to learn, and to grow.

Jesus showed his disciples how practicing the disciplines of worship, prayer, study, service, and gathering around the table, were ways to be open to God’s presence in their life. Those same disciplines enable us, as followers of Jesus Christ today, to become more receptive to God’s presence in our lives and lead us to experience life more fully.

This Sunday, during all three worship services, we will gather around the table of our Lord and receive Holy Communion. During the message, “Family Meal,” we will reflect on this table fellowship and hear the words of the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 10:15-17. This Sunday, we will also lift up the Jr. High Youth leaving for Jeremiah Project and the Sr. High Youth leaving for Puerto Rico.

A reminder goes out to young adults for pizza and conversation with Denise, this Tuesday, August 3rd at the parsonage. E-mail churchoffice@stmatthewsumc.org or call 703-978-3500 to RSVP. Come and share your thoughts, ideas, and opinions.

If you are traveling this weekend, we pray for safe travel. If you are in town this weekend, we look forward to worshiping with you. In your prayer time, please continue to lift up the ministry and mission of Jesus Christ here at St. Matthew’s.

Yours in Christ,

Denise and Linda