It's the First Day of School in Oconee County, and other schools in our area have already started or will soon follow!
Today seems like a good time to let you in on a little secret about me. I absolutely love shopping for school supplies! There is nothing like a fresh bunch of sharpened pencils, a new set of colorful crayons, or the crisp click of a new three-ring binder. Yet, each year, as I shop for school supplies, I am reminded that some school supplies don't come from the store. Indeed, the most essential school supplies that students, teachers, and school staff need come from God! I am talking about school supplies like courage, patience, flexibility, kindness, perseverance, protection, and grace.
Our students, teachers, and school staff need our prayers. During August, let's unite in praying for them daily. Ask God to provide courage, patience, flexibility, kindness, perseverance, protection, and grace to all who learn and serve in schools. Let’s ask God to provide these important school supplies in abundance this year.
Speaking of school supplies, I was blown away by your generosity in supporting the Christian Women's Fellowship (CWF) School Supply Drive, which aims to provide essential school supplies to children in need in our local area! The variety and amount of school supplies you shared were simply amazing. Thank you for stepping up and sharing the needed supplies with children in our local area.
This month, our CWF is collecting individually wrapped snacks for our county bus drivers. These snacks are a small token of our appreciation for the dedicated men and women who drive school buses in Oconee County, often working long hours to ensure our children's safety. I know these snacks will bring a smile to their faces. You can drop your individually wrapped snacks off in the Gathering Space any time this month.
Finally, please join me in praying for our youth and children this August. Pray that God will continue to grow and guide each one to be rooted in Christ and his love. Over the last few years, we have been blessed to see considerable growth and energy in our Children’s Ministry. I sense that our kids are really taking Jesus' teaching to heart, which is thrilling to see! Our Sunday afternoon programming for children and youth begins this coming Sunday, with the kids coming at 3:00 PM and the youth at 4:00 PM. As we pray for our youth and children this month, let's ask God to guide this specific generation of the Union Family to share God's love with people in all the places they go each day!
Thank you for being a praying church, a generous church, and a church that welcomes all of God's children to share in our life and ministry together! I love being your pastor!