Dear Church Family,

I confess…..wait for it…..if you are expecting me to say something that will be shocking, sorry to disappoint.  I confess:  I AM AN OPTIMIST!  And boy do we need a huge dose of optimism in our country right now.  In fact we need more optimists.

Among my personal heroes is Lee Trevino, who I actually got to meet and spend some time with.  That’s another story for another time.  He is one of the all-time money winners on the PGA Tour and one of the most popular golfers ever to put on a pair of golf shoes, probably because of his self-deprecating humor.  Once after having been hit by lightning he was heard to say, “Wow, I promise Lord, I’ll get my act together.”  And in typical “Merry Mex” fashion then quipped, “I should have held up my one iron….even God could not have hit that.”

As a poor Mexican boy growing up in San Antonio, Texas; he tells this story; “We were so poor when I was a boy, if my mother threw the dog a bone, and the bone had any meat on it, the dog would call for a ‘fair catch.”  He went on to say; “I used to be a poor Mexican, but now people think I’m a rich Spaniard.”

One year someone asked him how he would do in the Canadian Open, he quipped; “Are you kidding, that’s my tournament!”  That year, an inebriated spectator who was desperate to get Trevino’s autograph jumped into the water on the final hole, and started swimming across the pond toward the green.  It was obvious to everyone that he was in no condition to make it.  Lee Trevino stopped studying the break of the green for his putt, calmly strolled down to the water, pulled the drunk out, gave him a soggy autograph, ran back up to the green and sank his putt to win his third Canadian Open in four years!

Needless to say, Mr. Trevino is one of the most incurable optimists you would ever want to meet.  The truth is, optimism is an incurable condition in the person with FAITH.  Optimists believe that most disease, distress, dysfunction, and disturbance can be cured.  Optimists also are prevention oriented.  Their thoughts and activities are focused on wellness, health, success, and a developing spirituality.  Bottom line:  seek to be a person of faith and you too will become an optimist and exude optimism, something we all could use more of right now.

 

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CHURCH PICNIC

It’s happening!  It’s coming!  It’s time!  WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR ANNUAL CHURCH PICNIC on Sunday, August 16th at Pitts Pond beginning at 12:00pm.  Here is how it will work:

  • Bring your own picnic lunch to include beverages
  • The pond and everything in it is open and available. So, come prepared to swim and play!
  • The pavilion is open but has limited seating as we will be spreading out. FIRST COME FIRST SERVE.
  • Surrounding grounds are available for seating. Bring your camp chairs and blankets.
  • Bottled water will be made available
  • WE ARE HAVING BAPTISMS!!!!!!

Please sign up so we can know how many are coming (CLICK HERE!).  You can sign up on the church website, in the church office or on Sundays in the FMC.

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VBS

There is a saying I learned in the USN/USMC…..adapt and overcome!  That phrase describes what we did with VBS this summer.  IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS!  I just want to say to all who were involved, and I wish I could name everyone, but to all of you THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!  You helped make a difference in many kids lives and you truly personified what it means to “Reach People for Christ!”

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Announcements:

  1. Office Hours: 
    1. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9am-1pm. Calls will no longer be forwarded to Judy’s cell phone number. You can call the church office and leave a message or you can also reach me at 703-405-7881 (cell).  Or via email:  [email protected]

 

  1. Remember in prayer:
    1. The James Madison family.
    2. Betty and Macwayne Williams and the entire Williams family in the loss of Michael Williams.
    3. Members of our church family facing surgeries and other life issues.
    4. All our frontline workers, in and out of our church, who work hard each day serving and protecting us during this pandemic.

 

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RE-GATHERING

What a great Sunday we had.  It truly was a milestone event in the church.  To see Doug Farris and Joseph Pack ordained into the Gospel Ministry was a blessing to all.  We were “filled to the brim” in the CWS, in more ways than one.

Joseph Pack will be bringing the messages the next 3 Sundays in both services.  I will be out this Sunday but will be in the office next week.

There is still no children’s church, nursery or Sunday School.

Please know that I miss all of you.  Please stay safe and keep the faith.

I love you all,

Pastor Frank