the Tidings Practicing Forgiveness Inside this issue: Adult Education . . . . . . . 20 Care Ministries . . . . . .10-11 Children’s Ministry . . . . 8-9 Churchwide . . . . . . . . . . 5-7 Elder Care . . . . . . . . . 18-19 Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Generosity . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 GUMP (Preschool) . . . . . 27 GUWF . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13 Health & Wellness . . . . . 28 Hospitality . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Membership . . . . . . . . . . 21 Message from Pastors Tim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Scott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Mimi . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Missions . . . . . . . . . . . 22-24
On July 2, 1881, President James Garfield, the twentieth President of the United States, was shot by an assassin. He lingered for months, finally succumbing on September 19. Modern scholars believe the bullet itself wasn’t the primary cause of his death. Rather, it was the well-meaning but misguided efforts of his doctors, who, lacking today’s medical knowledge, repeatedly probed and cut in their attempts to locate the bullet. This caused immense pain, complications, and ultimately a fatal infection. In the end, their probing proved deadlier than the bullet.
Tim Carpenter Senior Pastor
In life, we often face moments when someone’s words or actions wound us— sometimes unintentionally, sometimes deliberately. When this happens, we face a choice: to practice forgiveness or to let the hurt fester. Dwelling on past wrongs can Love prospers when become a toxic form of probing. The more a fault is forgiven, we revisit and cling to the pain, the more it but dwelling on it grows, poisoning our relationships and our well-being. separates close friends. Proverbs 17:9 offers wisdom: “Whoever Proverbs 17:9 covers an offense promotes love, but who(NLT) ever dwells on it separates close friends.” Forgiveness is rarely easy. It’s called “practicing” forgiveness because it requires effort, intention, and time. Yet, with practice, we grow healthier. Forgiveness doesn’t mean excusing or condoning the wrong done to us. Instead, it means refusing to let that wrong define us, control us, or hinder our ability to love God and others. Forgiving others allows the forgiveness of Christ to flow through us, bringing Christ's cleansing grace through us and to others. Relentless probing of past hurts brings death to the spirit. Practicing forgiveness is where healing begins.
Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Older Adults. . . . . . . .14-16 OLEC . . . . . . . . . . . . 28-31
Our Traditional Worship Series in October, and on All Saints' Sunday, is "A Walk Among the Psalms."
United Methodist Men . . 17 Youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Join us as we encounter some important lessons from the "songbook of the Lord."