2021 August/September CrossTie

Cross ie MAGAZINE

Vol 5 | Issue 7 | August/September 2021

Kick-Off Sunday Schedule 9:00 AM

Breakfast in the Fellowship Hall

9:45 AM

Sunday School

11:00 AM Worship with a Blessing for the students and teachers Wednesday Night Dinner and Activities Beginning August 11th Sunday Evening Activities Beginning August 15th

Looking Forward to Fall As we begin to look forward to the fall, we are getting excited about returning to our new normal. The pandemic allowed us to step back from the way we have done church, and reimagine a new schedule and new ways to grow.

Wednesday Night Schedule Beginning August 11th 5:15 pm

Dinner

6:00 pm

Nursery Care

6:15 pm

Journeys in the Fellowship Hall Children Fellowship Youth Fellowship Preschool Choir

7:00 pm

Sanctuary Choir (resuming August 4th)

Sunday Night Schedule Beginning August 15th 4:00 pm

Liturgical Dance Handbell Choir

5:00 pm

Children's Choir and Activities Youth Choir and Activities Grief Support (once a month on every 3rd Sunday, beginning August 15th) Preschool Activities (once a month on every 4th Sunday, beginning August 22nd) Connections (once a month on every 4th Sunday, beginning August 22nd)

Monday Night Schedule Beginning August 16th 7:00 pm

Journeys - Racial Justice Study Group

Leadership Meeting Schedule Fellowship of Deacons

Every second Sunday following worship

Personnel Committee

Once a month on a Sunday evening

Finance Committee

Every 3rd Thursday

Chuch in Conference

September 12th and November 14th

C ON N EC T W ITH U S

SMOK ER IS EB A P T I ST. OR G OUR MINIST E R S

CO N T EN TS

Be c k y C a s we l l - S pei gh t

4

From the Pastor

5

Worship

6

Growing

7

Caring

8

Serving

9

Sing and Serve

10

Connecting

11

Generosity

12

Family Ministry

13

Youth

14

Monthly Snapshot

Minister of Families, Faith Formation and Connection rspeight@smokerisebaptist.org 678.533.0546

Je re m y C o l l i v e r

Minister of Youth, Missions and Communications jcolliver@smokerisebaptist.org 678.533.0551

Chris G e o r ge

Senior Pastor cgeorge@smokerisebaptist.org 770.469.5856

Bart McNiel

Associate Pastor of Administration, Ministry Support and Congregational Care bmcniel@smokerisebaptist.org 678.533.0540

J a me s S m i th

Pastoral Care Associate jsmith@smokerisebaptist.org 404.405.5467

Danny Va n c i l

Minister of Music and Worship dvancil@smokerisebaptist.org 678.533.0560

facebook.com/ smokerise

smokerisebaptist.org

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F RO M THE PASTOR

7

CA RIN G

As Smoke Rise began re-opening this summer, Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones reforming and taking on flesh to live and dance again has not been far from my mind as a biblical metaphor in the postpandemic life of our church. With Kick-Off Sunday just around the corner on August 8, some of the ways we come together will be familiar and some will be new.

Then God breaks through. No mess is beyond his healing. You are never too broken for restoration. You are never too shattered for God’s tender repair. He whispers, “Don’t be ashamed of the broken places of your life.” Those places have a story to tell.

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YO UTH

Whatever the content, stories are important. Stories connect one person to another. They help create common ground and experiences. Think about it. How often do you gather without telling a story?

There might be different avenues, but the purpose of being together is to really tell a story—whether playing cards, sitting around a campfire, or sharing lunch dates.

We all tell stories.

A B O UT S M O K E RIS E 5901 Hugh Howell Rd. Stone Mountain, GA 30087 Tel: 770.469.5856 Fax: 770.498.3598 Office Hours M-F 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Smoke Rise Baptist Church is a loving and caring faith community where people come to grow spiritually, worship communally and serve faithfully. We are committed to fostering authentic relationships and engaging in meaningful ministry in our congregation, our community and around the world. We partner with others in an effort to be about God’s work. We commit to love God with all our hearts, all our souls, all our minds and all our strength, and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. We seek to proclaim the Good News of Christ in all that we say and do.

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te a i c o FRO M TH E Ass PASTOR

BART MCNIEL - As s o ci a t e Pa s t o r o f A dm i n i strati on, Mi ni stry Support and Congregati onal Care

3Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” 4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath[a] to enter you, and you shall live. 6 I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath[b] in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.

-Ezekiel 37:3-6 As Smoke Rise began re-opening this summer, Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones reforming and taking on flesh to live and dance again has not been far from my mind as a biblical metaphor in the post-pandemic life of our church.

With Kick-Off Sunday just around the corner on August 8, some of the ways we come together will be familiar and some will be new.

We look forward to the return of our pastor, Dr. Chris George, to the pulpit, refreshed and renewed after a season of sabbatical. For families with children and youth, Sunday and Wednesday evenings will offer new opportunities for connection and growth. Fellowship dinner will resume with renewed emphasis on fellowship, devotion and learning together.

When the Hebrew people experienced a time of exile long ago, Ezekiel looked to God and wondered, “Can these dead bones live again?” Many believed that the world as they knew it had come to an end, and some were saying that the God they served had abandoned them once and for all.

At this crossroads, God gave Ezekiel a new vision of a valley of dry bones where God’s Spirit was descending to reform and remake the Hebrew family of faith. The underlying frame was familiar, but the beginning a new one.

In the old days, Ezekiel was known as a prophet of gloom; but when it was time for the children of Israel to gather again in familiar and new ways, God commissioned Ezekiel to start shouting, “Get up! Get up, you dry bones! Get up and live again.”

where many languished in a valley far from home. In Ezekiel’s vision, the bones needed to do more than just stand up and take a few steps. For God’s work to flourish, the dry bones needed to learn to walk again. And more than just walk, the bones needed to learn some new dance steps to go with their new tendons and flesh.

At first, the prospect of dead bones coming back to life must have seemed too good to be true. “How can these bones live again?” God asks, and Ezekiel replies, “Lord, only you know how?”

But God does not let Ezekiel off the hook. It’s not God who speaks to the bones; it’s Ezekiel who is called to cry out to the bones to get up and dance.

And that’s how I feel about Kick-off Sunday. God is still calling us into beloved community and mission at Smoke Rise; but we are the ones who must answer that call. And it takes all of us to stand and speak to the bones for the bones to get up and dance. God’s question for Ezekiel is a personal one. “Ezekiel, do you believe these bones can live again? Are you prepared to speak new life into these lifeless bones? If you are, then the Spirit will answer your prayer for the bones to live again.”

Growing pains are always part of all new beginnings.

It is a realistic vision of the way faith works, I think, because the vision of the valley of dry bones does not suppose that we live from one mountaintop to another.

Ezekiel’s vision does not pretend that it is always going to be easy. There will be valleys and hills to climb. New ascents will be made along the way. There will be new flesh and sinews to form. The best gifts that faith offers us are born in the valley before we start our journey to the mountaintop. New beginnings require child-like steps of faith as we learn to traverse terrain beyond what is familiar.

As we kick-off a new season of worshiping, learning, caring, serving and giving together at Smoke Rise, it is time to take a long stretch. Some of the tunes are familiar. Some of the steps we take will be new. Get ready, friends in Christ; it’s time to get up and dance.

When the prophet started singing this new song, the people were being called out of an in-between place 4 | SMOKE RIS E BAPT IST.ORG

WOR S H IP I N G AT S M OK E R I SE

DANNY VANC IL - Minister of Music and Worship

Looking Ahead…

It may be the middle of the hot summer in the A-T-L but my thoughts are consumed with plans for the fall and Christmas seasons at Smoke Rise. You know what it’s like when the temperatures are sweltering and you open the mail to find a magazine advertising sweaters and Christmas decorations.

Well, looking ahead is a necessity for those of us whose planning and dreaming make visions a reality.

At Smoke Rise, we were blessed to find ways to continue with our rehearsing and singing when the pandemic struck. The dedication and perseverance of all our choirs were a testimony to our love for God, the church and each other. While I look back with amazement at how we managed to carry on, I now look forward to the fall as we gather with more freedom and normality.

Why share this with you now? I simply cannot contain my excitement—especially about our Christmas plans!

On Sunday, December 19, our music ministry will present

A Christmas Tapestry. This production will be on a grand scale, utilizing the church’s multiple choirs, accompanied by a full orchestra. Our decorating team will be going overthe-top in adorning the sanctuary with the colors and scents of the season. Many volunteers will be needed to serve as ushers and greeters, as well as for construction of custombuilt platforms.

While a Christmas Tapestry promises to be a wonderful evening of music for our congregation, it will also provide an opportunity for us to invite our neighbors and community to join us in the celebration of Christmas.

If you would like to discuss ways you can lend a hand to support our music ministry, please give me a call or email me. In the meantime, you can look toward the coming months with high expectations and excitement.

Blessings!

Danny

Eternal God, we give you thanks for music, blest gift from heaven to all your servants here on earth: In time of joy a crown, in sorrow consolation; companion through our days of tears and mirth.

We give you thanks for every sound of beauty: for sweetest harmony that echoes in our hearts.

For melodies that soar on high like birds at morning...For voice and instrument in all their parts.

As we are blest, so may our gifts bless others: may hearts be touched and spirits lifted up anew.

Let music draw together those who live as strangers bring joy to those we love, in thankfulness true.

And when at last we come into your kingdom, all discord over and all earthly labor done, then sound and silence yield before one equal music, and with the Giver shall our souls be one.

John Rutter 5 | SMOKE RIS E BAPT IST.ORG

GROWING AT S M O KE R I SE

BECKY CAS W ELL- SPEI GHT- Minister of Families, Faith Formation and Connection

Journeys 2.0 This year, our Journey experiences will look a little different.

In the past, Journey sessions were on Wednesday evenings only. Beginning August 11th, our Journey programming will be branching out. We will have one session each week at 6:15 on Wednesday. This session will be focused on a specific scripture. Chris George will begin our fall Wednesday session with a study of the Parables.

Then, scattered throughout the week, we will have small group topical studies, book studies, and focused support groups. These studies will be available in person, online or with a hybrid of the two. This kind of flexibility in our Journeys programming will help open up adult spiritual formation for people that have not traditionally been able to join our church family on Wednesday evenings. These sessions will be congregation-led. As you read this, if you have an idea for discussion or a book study that you would like to experience in the space of Christian community, let me know. These weekly Journey sessions will provide various members the opportunity to lead and study based on specific interests.

Lastly, we will host quarterly all-church conversations to help connect us to the greater Kingdom of God. These gatherings will give us the opportunity to bring in guest speakers to speak on a variety of faith-based topics.

Watch the website and The Informer/Eater's Digest for the upcoming schedule of Journeys events.

In-Person Sunday School Faith - 116

Seekers - 223

Friendship - 115 Faith and Issues - 125 Fellowship/Agape/Koinonia - 230 Good News - 123 Ideas in Action - 305 The Journey - 131/133 The Joy Class - 309 Pairs and Spares - 126

Berean - 310 Cambium - 308 Discovery - 106 Crossroads - 307 Youth - Gym Loft Elementary - Children’s Suite Preschool - 204 & 210

Open Circle - 306

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CARI NG AT S M O KE R I SE

JA ME S S MIT H - Pasto r al Car e Asso ciate

Beauty in Brokenness

As my body struggled to pass a kidney stone, I had a lot of time to contemplate things that break into pieces. (That’s what I was hoping that kidney stone would do!)

Usually, however, something breaking into pieces is not good or desirable.

I’m reminded of things crashing to the floor and breaking into an explosion of pieces when we had kids, dogs and a lot of activity in our household.

A prominent memory is that of the broken nativity set that was a cherished family heirloom. As our son chased our daughter through the house, a table was tipped and pieces of the nativity landed on the tile floor. Baby Jesus was still in the manger, but a wise man’s head was separated from his body. The kids thought they had repaired the damage by inserting a pencil into the body of the wise man and situating his head back into position. It almost worked. But the pencil was a little long, allowing the head to swing and sway back and forth with the slightest movement. He became known as our “bobble-head” wise man.

families, broken relationships, broken dreams and broken lives.

away, set on a shelf or forgotten Do you know that the Japanese make an by our Creator and Savior. We art out of restoring broken things? The ancient Kintsugi practice restores broken are yet useful in the Kingdom of Heaven. or cracked pottery using gold. Real gold Brokenness has the power to bring new not only repairs but increases the value of beauty, strength and inspiration to others. that which is broken.

Often in our moments of deep suffering we discover we were made for something At the heart of Kintsugi art is turning more—for greater purposes. what is broken into cherished pieces.

Instead of hiding the flaws, the artist highlights the cracks and crevices with gold. A whole new design is created that brings unique beauty to the original creation. Once it is restored, the pottery is considered to be more valuable and more beautiful because of the restoration process. Once broken, it has history and a new story and new beauty.

Our scars in life, our deep wounds, our lines of healing all have stories to tell. We should not try to hide them away. We should not choose to try to present to the world a more perfect version or a safe façade.

When we face the difficulty and risk the vulnerability of exposure, we need to know we have a Healer—One who When I would repair and glue a broken repairs. One Who can fit broken pieces toy, usually my daughter would declare into a design that makes sense. The it “good as new.” Japanese Kintsugi mighty work of our God mends and fits reinforces a profound belief that together God’s creation—a greater work restoration makes things not only as good than we ever thought possible! God as they were before, but “better than new.” makes all things beautiful in God’s time.

Especially the broken things. Jagged edges Hear that again. Read that again: Better form such deep meaning when God’s than new.

My daughter always made an effective grace is applied.

In our weakest moments, something appeal when toys or other objects were whispers to our soul, “You’re done. You’re It is not a matter of being patched back broken saying, “Daddy can blue (glue) together. It is not a matter of hoping the on the shelf, out of the game, tossed it back together.” But some things were glue will stick this time. God’s repair and aside.” You lose your grip. Things come never the same after the damage was healing is not intended to be invisible. done. Broken things are familiar to most crashing in. You want to hide the scars Grace shines through every scar and and you feel like the brokenness has active families. In our household they broken place. Crevices of our hearts are made you useless. You just know you normally found a temporary home on stronger, better, more beautiful. That’s the are beyond repair this time—forgotten; a shelf until the Super Glue repair was shamed; set aside; rejected; put on a shelf. work of Jesus. His story is bringing life to complete. what is broken. Jesus is willing to take on It takes a lot of work to fix broken things. Then God breaks through. No mess is the brokenness of the world. beyond his healing. You are never too In our culture it is often easier to toss Beautiful Savior. Beauty in brokenness. broken for restoration. You are never away broken things and buy a new one. too shattered for God’s tender repair.

As I dealt with the pain of a kidney, my Sometimes we as human beings are He whispers, “Don’t be ashamed of the fervent prayer was for the stone to break broken. Sometimes we feel broken. broken places of your life.” Those places up. But I also thought of broken people Shattered; set on a shelf, tossed aside; have a story to tell. It is your story and and places. They are all around us. They replaced. Our culture whispers, “It takes God’s story. A story of not being thrown need to be restored. How much better life too much work to restore,” and “Don’t let away! can be! How much more beautiful life anyone see the broken flaws.” That’s the can be! reality of how we live in a broken world— The deepest truths I have learned about brokenness is that we are not thrown with our broken marriages, broken

S ERVIN G ON M I S S I ON

J E R E M Y C OLLI V ER - Minister of Youth, Missions and Communications

Exam Room I greatly dislike exams. Assign me a 40-page paper over taking an exam any day of the week. If it is a multiple choice exam, it is even worse. What are they going to ask? Did I study enough? Did I read all the captions under the graphics and pictures? Exams make me anxious and nervous.

But exams are necessary. Exams and evaluations give us an understanding of where we stand with the material at hand. They reveal to us what we know and what we don’t know. They are a tool to help us get better. This is also the understanding that we take into the process of evaluating our mission partners.

You may remember that we had begun this evaluation process before COVID. We had gotten to the point that questionnaires had been sent to our partners and were being returned to be combed through by the committee.

Since so much of has changed since COVID, we’re going to send out the questionnaire again. It will be tweaked slightly to reflect questions and situations that have arisen during and post COIVD, but the process will be the same.

Our goal remains the same: to have a better understanding of what is happening with our mission partners and to see if Smoke Rise and our partners’ missions are still congruent.

Pray for our partners and the Mission Team as we once again enter into this time of evaluation.

-Jeremy

CBF Mission Bite: Never Too Young (Or Old) We met Bobby at a mission conference for work among internationals in the Bay Area held at a Korean church. Bobby is a young father, married with two young children living in Oakland and pastoring a small, but dynamic Mongolian church. He has been a seminary student for some time and very committed to his ministry. In the Bay Area, almost everyone faces financial challenges.

We found out through Bobby that there are only 10 Mongolian churches in the United States, with three of them in the San Francisco Bay Area, his church in Oakland being one of the 10.

is attentive to their needs in addition to being a good pastor.

Just this week, when we were bringing Easter gift bags to the 52 Mongolian children at his church, Bobby told me that he is joining the navy in April and starting basic training in Chicago. His young family will soon follow him. He hopes to eventually serve as a Navy chaplain.

In the dark of night in the parking lot at his church, we led a prayer of blessing for him as he joins the navy.

One thing this relationship has taught us as we get older: You're never too young (or too old) to follow your heart and follow God's plan for changes in your life.

When the pandemic started, I asked Bobby about unemployment among his congregation, and he said almost every family was affected.

We developed our COVID-19 food ministry and have been able to bless 17 Mongolian families in Oakland and six Mongolian families in San Francisco. Bobby knows each of these family members very well and

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- Lita and Rick Sample, CBF field personnel in the San Francisco Bay Area, Calif.

SING AND SERVE

G ENEROS I T Y BART MCNIEL - A ss o ci a t e Pa s t o r o f A dm i n i s t r a ti on, Mi ni stry Support and Congregati onal Care

We are grateful for the collective work of Smoke Rise members who have volunteered time and talent to our classroom technology and renovation efforts over the summer.

Project Leadership Volunteers: Carol Ann Fulgham (coordinator), Wilson Echols (construction), Mike Holt (painting), Ken Stephenson (planning, design and drafting)

Classroom Renovation Team Volunteers: Wilson Echols, Cliff Mueller, Charlie Scott, Bill Blanton, Bob Jernigan, Gary Prophitt, Colin Harris, Page Fulgham, Wendell Tutor, William Henry, Jim Myrick, Rudy Wilson, Mike Pattillo and Bob Knell

Painting Team Volunteers: Karen Stitt, Jan Sloan, Marsha Kelley, Mary Wilson, Martha Holt, Jane Grinstead, Jenny Brannan, Doug Wagner, Bob Jernigan, and Mike Holt

We are also grateful to our building manager, Antowyn Smith, who coordinated with volunteers, contractors and vendors over many hours of work, and to Jeremy Colliver and Bart McNiel and Joseph Bass (the husband of our youth intern, Naomi Black-Bass) for extra hours and effort in coordinating, setting up and installing digital classroom stations.

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CONNEC T I N G AT SMOK E R I SE Catching Up with the Academy of Arts Smoke Rise Academy of Arts is looking forward to and preparing for a booming year after the long spell of COVID quarantines, restrictions, masks, zoom classes and elbow bumps! During the past 18 months the Academy instructors kept their students motivated with zoom classes, outdoor lessons, filmed productions, and safely distanced festivals and recitals. This spring our drama classes came together (with safe distancing and masks) to perform Jungle Book and Shrek before small audiences of families and friends and live-streamed audiences in states coast to coast, Europe, and Central America. Our summer drama enrollment has exceeded former summer enrollments with 80 school aged actors auditioning for parts in Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man to be performed August 20-22 and September 17-19. We are currently planning for 3 spring productions and a return trip to The Junior Theater Festival in addition to expanded art, dance, and music classes for all ages.

Exciting news for our Academy is the addition of a new room for our dance classes. We have been able to outfit room 220, behind the church offices, with dance barres, mirrors and new flooring for our ballet, jazz, tap and liturgical dance classes. Sydney Cash has taught our dancers for several years.

When she began with us, we offered only one pre-school tap/ ballet class. Over the years Sydney has expanded her classes to include two pre-school classes, jazz, tap, ballet classes for school ages, liturgical dance class and our popular adult tap dance class. Greyson Chadwick, who co-directs our drama classes, teaches two highly energetic Theater Dance Fusion classes for middle and high school students. Our new room will be well used!

We are also excited to welcome two new piano instructors to our staff to offer individual piano lessons. Debbie Heimberger is returning to Smoke Rise Academy after several years in SC. She brings with her extensive experience teaching children and adults. We also welcome Tsai-Wei (Michelle) Li, a doctorate student at UGA. She has degrees in piano performance and pedagogy with studies in teaching the preschool child. Both instructors will be great additions to our Arts staff.

Fall semester will begin August 9. In addition to dance and drama classes, we offer the popular MUSIKGARTEN Family music class for pre-school children and parent, keyboard classes, art for children and adults and music lessons in voice, violin, piano, drums, guitar, and ukulele. Check out our website, smokerisebaptist.org/arts/ and come join us this fall!

Almost 50 Years of Serving Our Community As the Weekday School concluded our 48th year of ministry and wished our 15 graduates well on their way to Kindergarten, we are keeping our eyes on the ministry of Christ. We find our mission in the call of Jesus to care for children and in the teachings of our faith that children are not only the future, but they are integral members of our community now. In our continued work to provide a safe and caring environment for children, we spoke with several of our families about what our school does well, and why they chose to be a part of our community.

Overwhelmingly, the responses came back that the demeanor and love of our staff, and the cleanliness of our facilities. Families walk through our doors and know that this church cares for them and we have prepared a space for them.

They can sense that our church puts time and care into the care of our resources and that we are generous in how we give to our community.

And now, we are beginning our 49th year. We have had numerous tours this Summer where families come through our doors and see our classrooms and learn about program. And on every tour, we spend time in our chapel and tell the family that we want their children to know that God made them and God loves them. And we as a school, and as a church, believe that and celebrate it.

God made and loves the little children, and now we have the chance to care for them.

-Harrison Litzell, Weekday School Co-Director 11 | SMOKE RISE BAPT IST.ORG

FAMILY M I N I ST RY AT SMOK E R I SE

BE C KY CAS W ELL- SPEI GHT- Minister of Family, Faith Formation and Connection

As you are reading this article, you are probably working to get your children ready for a new school year. With a new year comes new opportunities, new changes, new grades, new schools, and new activities.

Here at Smoke Rise Baptist Church, we are looking forward to beginning a new year! After a year of evaluating the family ministries of our church, our activities will look a little different..

First, kindergarteners will move into the elementary department so that their church peer group can mirror their school peer group. Beginning on Promotion Sunday, August 8th, Ms. Faye and Ms. Dorothy will welcome kindergarten and first grade students to room 302. Ms. Lois, Mr. Wade, Ms. Rita, and Mr. Mack will welcome second- and thirdgraders into room 301. And lastly, Ms. Mitzi, Ms. Laura, and Ms. Caroline will welcome fourth- and fifth-graders into room 303.

on learning in classroom stations.

Nursery care will be available on fourth Sunday nights when Connections, Gathering and Inspiration Stations are in session.

Wednesdays in the fall will look a bit different too.

Wednesdays are for fellowship. After dinner, families will join in for prayer time from 6:00 to 6:15 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Then, elementary children will gather in the gym for Fellowship while preschool children will meet in room 210 for Preschool Choir from 6:15-6:45 pm.

Nursery care will be available on Wedndsday nights from 6-6:45 pm.

This year will bring a fresh approach and positive changes to our weekly schedule. We look forward to moving into this new era of ministry with each of your families this fall.

In the nursery and on the preschool hall, room 204 will be designated for nursery care and room 210 will be open to our potty-trained preschoolers.

Grandparents Day

September 12 9:45 AM Sunday School and Breakfast

The response to our Sunday evening activities was so good over the past year that we have permanently moved Children’s Choristers to 5:00 pm on Sunday nights.

We will begin a new ministry called Gathering after Children’s Choristers at 5:45 pm. Gathering will be a time of faith formation, mission education and Bible study. Preschoolers will meet on the fourth Sunday night of each month, during Connections for adults, for Inspiration Stations. This time will focus on a new theme each month while learning Bible stories, being encouraged and equipped to make a difference in their world, and experiencing hands-

Family Ministry Schedule this Fall Sunday Morning Schedule 9:45 am

Sunday School Nursery Care

Room 204 Potty-Trained Preschoolers

Room 210 Kindergarten and 1st Grade

Room 302 2nd and 3rd Grade

Room 301 4th and 5th Grade

Room 303 11:00 am Worship

Sunday Evening Schedule 4:00 pm Liturgical Dance 5:00 pm Children's Choir 5:45 pm Children's Gathering Preschool Gathering (once a month on every 4th Sunday, beginning August 22nd)

Wednesday Evening Schedule 5:15 6:00 6:15

Dinner Time of Prayer Nursery Care Children's Fellowship Time Preschool Choir

YOU TH AT S M O KE R I SE

J E R E MY C OLLI V ER - Minister of Youth, Missions and Communications

Tell Your Story We spent a lot of our time together this summer telling stories. Some of these stories were lighthearted and fun about things that had recently happened. Others of these stories were serious and involved tears as hands were held and arms placed around the shoulder. There were also stories that were whimsical and made no sense at all.

Whatever the content, stories are important.

Stories connect one person to another.

They help create common ground and experiences. Think about it. How often do you gather without telling a story? There might be different avenues, but the purpose of being together is to really tell a story— whether playing cards, sitting around a campfire, or sharing lunch dates. We all tell stories.

Our youth are going to focus on our own stories this year and, in particular, how our stories are influenced by our faith. We’re going to look in-depth into the story that binds us all together: the Bible. Where did it come from? How did we get it in the form that we have now? What are we to make of all these different stories that are in the Bible? What does this old book have to do with us?

We’re also going to look in-depth into our own stories. How do we translate our experiences into what God is doing in our lives? How do we see God? Where do wesee God? How can our stories help someone else?

As we look at both of these kinds of stories, we’re going to discover how they intertwine and interact. In the end, we hope can tell our stories in a way that reveals God to others as well as to ourselves.

PASSPORT

KICK OFF THE NEW YEAR WITH...

POOLOOZA August 8th 5:00 - 7:00 PM

When you see us in the hallways, ask us about our stories; but be ready to tell us a story as well.

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MON THLY S N A P S H OT

Summer Fun at Smoke Rise

August Dates

September Dates

4 Sanctuary Choir Resumes

5 No Sunday Evening Activities

8 Kick-Off Sunday

6 Labor Day - Office Closed

11 Wednesday Night Activities Resume

26 - 1 Men's GAP Mission Trip

15 Sunday Evening Activities Resume 15 Grief Support Group 22 Sunday Evening Activites for Preschoolers and Connections

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October 30 • 5-7pm • Free Admission

Comeout forfor thisthis Freefun andFall Funevent eventon Come on Wednesday, October 30, 2019 Wednesday, October 27, 2021. from 5:00 - 7:00 PM. Dinner Tickets $5 for Adults, $3 for Children, $15 Family maximum

Coming Soon!

Beginning in December, there will be changes in the published communications from Smoke Rise. The CrossTie will now be published quarterly in a 24-page magazine format. The CrossTie will be more article-based and have the feel of a traditional magazine. With the changes to CrossTie, our weekly publications, The Informer and Eater's Digest, will be combined into a new publication to be called The Tie that Binds. The Tie that Binds will be more robust and more inclusive than The Informer and Eater's Digest, which will still be available on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. As always, you will still receive weekly preview emails and find ongoing information about church activities online via our website and social media platforms.

World Communion Sunday October 3, 2021

We’re All In This Together Mission Sunday · October 17, 2021

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