Edition 4, Vol. 7
THE MOUNTAIN VIEW MESSENGER
God Bless America!
July, 2026
FROM PASTOR LAURA -Welcome to July 2026 Mountain View FamilyI want to recognize the loss of two of our church members, who went on to be with Jesus. We will miss Bonnie Bever and Jerry Griffin and look forward to seeing them again in glory one day. What a tribute to celebrate the lives of those who put their faith in their Savior Jesus. The heat is on! As July brings more sunshine, I know the heat can cause discomfort with us, but it also brings life-giving growth! The month of July is associated with renewal, transformation, and personal growth. As we have been walking through the Acts of the Apostles in worship, we are acknowledging the hard work that the early church did to bring us all the Gospel. Through the Holy Spirit, we are renewed and transformed as He guides each of us at Mountain View, and we are encouraged to share His light. During June, we welcomed four new members into our church family, who love the welcoming presence of our congregation and the Holy Spirit’s leading. Our four confirmands were recognized for completing their confirmation class. It is a privilege for us to walk alongside our younger generation and help to guide them in their faith journey, while they grow in their relationship with Jesus. Mark your calendar for some fun events this month for our community. We will be hosting a VBS on July 7, 8, and 9 from 9 am to 12 pm. On the evenings of July 12, 19, and 26, we will be having summer family movie nights in the fellowship hall. We look forward to seeing you all there. Our congregation is continuing to grow in discipleship through a Bible Study on Wednesday evenings. Let us remain steadfast in God’s Word and prayer, as we lean into His direction and trust in the movement of the Holy Spirit, who is working through us. We invite you to come and join us for worship and ministry gatherings at Mountain View Global Methodist Church, where our mission is to make disciples who fuel faith, build foundations, and embody Jesus Christ in the world. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2
JULY CALENDAR 1 – Bible Study, 5:00 PM 2 – Handmade with Love, 1:00 PM 4 – Independence Day (250 years!!) 5 – Holy Communion, 10:30 AM Service 7-9 – VBS – 9-12 Noon 8 – Bible Study, 5:00 PM 12 – Cookout after church, (see p.5) 12 – First of the Family Movie Night Series, 2 PM 13 – Mah Jongg, 1 PM 15 – Bible Study & Dinner, 5:00 PM 15 – Begin 40 days of Prayer for General Conference (see p.4) 16 – Handmade With Love, 1:00 PM 16 – Nursing Home Ministry, 2:30 PM (see below) 19 – Family Movie Night, 5:00 PM 23 – Veteran Coffee House, 8:30-11:00 AM 26 – Family Movie Night, 5:00 PM 27 – Mah Jongg, 1:00 PM Pastor Laura’s Office Hours Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
JULY CELEBRATIONS Happy Birthday! 2 – Kristin Camacho 3 – Sam Stewart 7 – Linda Adkins 8 – Dusty Ross 14 – Dave Hudgins 15 – Hal Howard 18– Hank Yarborough 27 – Shirley Ward 29 – Russ Didelot 30 – Kent Crain
CELEBRATE!! Happy Anniversary!
Reminders: - No Methodist Women in July – Next mtg. Aug. 11th, 4 PM - Methodist Men will not meet in July – Next meeting 8/15/26 at 10:00 AM
12 – Larry & Pam Pasek 16 – Lester & Lynne Gosnell
Nursing Home Ministry You! Last month I put into words “a feeling and thoughts” I had been having about reviving a nursing home ministry. I also recall during Pastor Laura’s sermon series in Acts, she talked about taking the first step in faith. So, we had an informal meeting to see if there were others interested in taking part in this ministry. We had six people at the meeting and several others emailed to say they were interested. God is so good!! We have scheduled a time to sing and bring love to the patients at Riverfalls Nursing Home in Marietta. On Thursday, July 16 at 2:30 we will sing a few songs and visit with God’s precious people. If you are interested in being a part of this, please let me know. As I have said before, we welcome all who would like to show God’s love with a smile or a soft touch on a shoulder. You do not have to profess to be a singer!! God will use each of us in this time together. Contact me if you have questions. Cindy Crain
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Remembering Debbie Wilson by Making a Difference What started as a wish by Debbie Wilson to grow the Mountain View parking lot fund has grown to honor and memorialize so many people from our church family in addition to Debbie! This month, in addition to gifts given in Debbie’s memory, gifts were also given in honor of Phillip Deal and Patti Jolly and in memory of Bonnie Bever, Evangeline B. Blackwell, David Embry, Jerry Griffin, and Lois J. Ross. A sincere thank you to everyone who has faithfully supported this effort through your prayers, encouragement, and generous financial gifts.
The Value In our Paving Fund as of 6/28/26 is $54,165.50 Goal $75,000 72.22%
The commitment of the Mountain View faith family continues to amaze us all. Every gift is important and gets us closer to funding the goal of repaving our parking lots. As of the end of June, the initial campaign to honor Debbie Wilson’s wish to fund the parking lot paving has officially ended. At this point, the finance committee will discuss the next steps to take. Our fundraising efforts have currently raised $54,165.50, which is over 72% of the total amount needed! Repaving the parking lots is estimated to cost $75,000. While the official campaign has ended, donations may still be made to the parking lot fund by labelling donations as ‘PAVING’. **Please note that this month’s total also counts donations from 5/31/26. Thank you for your love, support, and generosity in honoring all these wonderful members of our church family.
In Memory of
In Honor of
Bonnie Bever by Harriet Aaron by Lois & Mick Coster by Kent & Cindy Crain by Phillip & Kay Deal by Carol & Jay DeBree by Scott & Danielle Morrison by Elaine Stewart by Thelma Tate & Velma Fowler by Barbara Williams
Phillip Deal by John Wilson Patti Jolly by Phillip & Kay Deal
David Embry by Harriet Aaron Jerry Griffin by Harriet Aaron by Mick & Lois Coster by Kent & Cindy Crain by Jay & Carol DeBree Debbie Wilson by Tammy Than 3
General Conference The General Conference of the Global Methodist Church will meet in Johannesburg, South Africa in August of this year. Our Conference leaders are asking us to be in involved in 40 days of prayer leading up to the time of the conference, beginning July 15 I will be sending daily emails which include prayers written by leaders of the Global Methodist Church. This will continue during the actual time of the Conference. We have a special reason to be in prayer for the Conference. Pastor Laura is a delegate from the South Carolina Conference and will be traveling to Johannesburg for the General Conference. Please use these emails in your prayer time and let us be a part of a worldwide time of prayer for the leaders of our denomination, that their decisions will align with the will of God, that they will be safe and that our denomination will be used to make disciples for the glory of God. If you do not receive emails but wish take part in this prayer time, please contact me. I will make printed copies of the prayers available to all who want them. Harriet Aaron
Welcome New Members: Robin Duncan Debbi Moseley-Prince Joey Prince Beth Lake
CONFIRMANDS Congratulations to these confirmands who completed their coursework! They were presented to the congregation and each received a Bible. Emma Elliott JJ Elliott Kane Pittman Jacob Hempel
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Welcome to Mountain View Global Methodist Church to Natalie, Travis, and Bennett Richards. Natalie and Travis have been married for 12 years and were married at Disney World, a childhood dream come true for Natalie. She and Travis lived in Florida before moving to the SC Upstate in 2016 to be closer to Natalie’s sister, Nancy Elliott, and her family. They love living here and it has felt like home from the beginning. Travis has been a Sous Chef at The Cliffs Valley for the past 4 years. Natalie received her Bachelor’s degree from Natalie, Travis, & The University of South Florida and her Master’s degree Bennett Richards from Clemson University. She is about to begin her 16th year of teaching and currently teaches at Taylors year of teaching and currently teaches at Taylors Elementary School. Natalie loves her job and feels that Elementary School. Natalie loves her job and feels that teaching really chose her. Helping her students grow in all ways imaginable is incredibly rewarding for teaching really chose her. Helping her students grow in all her. Their son, Bennett, is a pure joy for both Travis and Natalie. They consider him their little miracle ways imaginable is incredibly rewarding for her. Their boy and the center of their whole world. son, Bennett, is a pure joy for both Travis and Natalie. They consider him their little miracle boy and the center With a toddler and a full-time job, Natalie doesn’t have a lot of free time, but likes to bake, be creative, of their whole world. learn and relax when she can. Travis is the outdoorsy type who likes to hunt, fish and garden. They are frequent visitors to Disney World and now love to see it through Bennett's eyes. He especially loves the characters and music. Another favorite pastime for the family is to visit a lot of parks so that Bennett can run and explore. As Florida Gator fans, they enjoy watching all their games. The Richards started attending Mountain View along with the Elliotts, as they had been actively looking for a church home and invited them to join them. The people of Mountain View are the best part for them. Since the first time they attended a service, everyone has been warm and welcoming. Everyone has shown Bennett such love which means the world to both Natalie and Travis. It feels to them that Bennett has gained so many new grandparents who get to watch him grow up and be an influence in his life. Travis's work schedule makes it tough for him to always be present but he is looking forward to attending night events or activities. Right now, Natalie is very busy working on all things Vacation Bible School! She loves that she gets to bring VBS to life at Mountain View and hopes to grow it more in the future. How blessed we are that Natalie has stepped up to manage VBS for Mountain View!
Family Committee Cookout There will be a cookout following the church service on July 12. We will provide the hamburgers, buns, and condiments. We ask that everyone bring a side dish or dessert to share. We look forward to enjoying a great time of food and fellowship with you! So that we will know how many to expect, please sign up on our website. Any questions, please contact Elaine Stewart. Thank you!!!
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Mountain View Global Methodist Men July 2026
Do you have a favorite book of the Bible? Is there a section that just naturally falls open? I had a pastor once that had the worst looking Bible I’ve ever seen. It was falling apart, stuffed with Post-it notes and yellow highlighter throughout. The margins were crammed with notes he had written. I sometimes wondered why he didn’t just get a fresh Bible. His was a living Bible though, full of the proof that he had found many, many answers there. While his Bible may not have worked for me, it certainly worked for him! There are so many books in the Bible, and they can all teach us something. The predictions that the prophet Isaiah wrote are truly stunning. The Old Testament is rich with the history of our church. There is so much wisdom in Proverbs. There is so much comfort in Psalms. Last year, when Pastor Laura asked me to talk about Nehemiah, I frankly admitted that I didn’t know much about him. But I learned! Which then brought me to Jeremiah to learn more about the history of Jerusalem, and the roles various Old Testament authors played in it. The Old Testament is a not just history, but a rich tapestry of our Church, and it is the foundation for the reign of Jesus Christ. The New Testament builds on this history, with the salvation promised and delivered by Jesus. The Disciples wrote at length about the road to Salvation, and how to find it and stay on it. The Gospels narrate the history of Jesus’ time on earth, and of His teachings. I suppose that if I had to choose just one book, it would be Psalms. The Psalms don’t just speak to me; they SING to me! As an amateur musician, I instantly recognize many of the great hymns of our faith that are taken directly from the Book of Psalms. Now, I don’t know if The Bible has ever been on Oprah’s book list, or if the New York Times recommends it for summer reading, but I do know that it should be on our reading list, every day, every season, every year of our lives. In His Service, Jay DeBree
VETERAN COFFEE HOUSE - MISSION The Veteran Coffee House of the Methodist Men continues to meet the 4th Thursdays. About 16 joined us this month for our military "Biscuits & Sausage Gravy" !!!! . Remember to Invite a Vet.
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MVMW (Cont’d)
Mountain View Methodist Women As it is now officially "Summer" I looked up the historical and spiritual context of women in Methodism's history. Women became leaders, teachers, missionaries and organizers dating back to Susanna Wesley. In the Summer women's roles were both practical (organizing events, mentoring, leading small groups like VBS) and spiritual (prayer, discipleship, and mission work). Well ladies I believe that we are successfully carrying on our Methodism history and doing a good job. We had 15 women attend our June meeting. We enjoyed our refreshments provided by Linda Search and Patti J. Pam Pasek gave the devotional on "The Power of Prayer" from Act 4. The message was clear that we need to be constantly re-connecting with GOD through prayer. During the Treasurers Report the Upper Room Daily Devotional was discussed. I am not sure that all the members of our church are aware that our Women's Group has been paying and providing the Upper Room to the Church for many years. We had a short discussion on whether we should continue and I am proud to say, with a unanimous vote, we all agreed to keep on providing the Upper Room. We discussed about adding them to the welcome packets and also Terry Didelot volunteered to make a nice box for all who wish to donate your old copies to people like nursing homes residents and maybe to the homeless.
Harriett Aaron gave the program. Harriet had asked us all to bring a picture of our fathers to the meeting. Harriett started by telling us about her father and then she showed us a picture, then it went to the next women then around the table. Of the 15 women there, we learned that only one has a father still living. We had three who lost their fathers when they were young, but the most amazing part was that when we got to the end, we realized that the same words were used to describe all our fathers, words like kind, courageous, generous, truthful, compassionate, faithful and they all loved GOD. There were a lot of laughs and a few tears but we all went away thanking our fathers for giving us the guidance to "begin our journeys and the wings to soar". Oh by the way there will be no meeting in July (sad). But we will start back on August 11th at 4pm. Please ladies of Mt View it would be great if more of you Please ladies of Mt View it would be great if more of you would consider joining our group and sharing our JOY. I just want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support, your joyful spirits, and your willingness to serve. You made the first 5 months a blessing for me. May God continue to guide and bless our work AMEN Patti Jolly President
The Methodist Women are asking MV members that take and read the Upper Room publication, that our group furnishes for free, to return the copies when you are finished with them. We will be having a project for recycling them so they can be used again. A box will be in the narthex for you to deposit them in. Thanks for helping us on this endeavor. The Global Methodist Women
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Local Mission Outreach SUNDAY DINNER WITH A TWIST - MISSION John Wilson with help from Cyndy Stake and Susan Bennett prepared this month’s "80 Meals for June 21st". The "Johnny Manzetti" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Marzetti) was a great hit. John actually served more than 80 and had even more left for Redd Martin to take to a family or two he looks after. COLD WATER - MISSION Bill Wilson and I continue with a core of volunteers to conduct MV’s Cold Water Mission each Sunday as the SDWAT Meals are being distributed. Linda Search & Elaine Stewart and then Cindy & Kent Crain filled out June's mission. The option of Walmart's SPORT DRINK and just plain ICE-COLD water is a welcome necessity on these HOT Summer days. July's volunteers are Phillip & Kay Deal, Bill & Linda Wilson, Jay & Carol DeBree with Dave & Maria Hudgins finishing July's Sundays. We would love to add to our list of volunteers. If you would like to tag along to see how the process works just contact either of us.... you will definitely be blessed. We typically distribute about 150 cold drinks and our thanks to the church for covering the $42 per week cost of this Mission to the Homeless of Greenville County. Phillip Deal, Co-Chair, Local Missions
MVGMC 80 Meals
MVGMC Johnny Marzetty 80 Meals
MVGMC Waters & Sport Drinks
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Mountain View Global Methodist Church 6525 Mountain View Rd. Taylors, SC 29687 (864) 895-8532
Check out our new website at Mountainviewgmc.org for news, pictures, and much more!!! Look for our google calendar under “What’s Happening” as well as weekly bulletin, monthly newsletter and photo gallery. We are also on Facebook – Mountain View Global Methodist Church – Taylors, SC
COME AND WORSHIP!
Sunday School – 9:30 am Worship – 10:30 am
WELCOME HOME! Where Faith is Fueled and Foundations are Built
Mountain View GMC 6525 Mountain View Road Taylors, SC, 29687
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