“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed…” Matthew 17:20
 

Are we sowing seeds of faith? Think about the smallness of seeds and what God births from the smallest seeds. Jesus calls us to live out the action of faith in our lives by faith from the smallest of seeds. I read that, “The seed may be the most amazing example of God’s prolific (productive, fruitful,…) creativity.” Think about that concerning your faith. Are you living this kind of faith out in your lives? In your prayer life? In how you take action? Is God speaking something to you that sounds uncomfortable in the sense that it is stretching you, out of the norm for you, maybe even radical? It happens!
Recently, I preached on Jeremiah 32 and how the LORD spoke to Jeremiah to purchase a piece of property at the same time Babylon was overtaking and destroying Jerusalem. I remarked that this could be like, “Hey, if you believe that, I’ve got some swamp land in Texas to sell ya!” The land was his to purchase according to the Law, but he also knew this land really wasn’t going to be profitable or even truly his with the exile and captivity of Babylon. But God was making a promise, setting an example for Jeremiah and all who witnessed the transaction. The promise being, one day you will build houses, you will plant fields and vineyards, and the land will be restored to you. A story of God’s promise of redemption.
We share in this promise from God today! We don’t have to buy a piece of property because we are bought and paid through Christ Jesus; the transaction is complete. Our sin has been satisfied so we already have heavenly real estate and we have ownership now and eternally. That is the promise fulfilled. We are the real estate agents for the Lord to offer this promise to others as people in Christ.
Like Jeremiah, we are a people of faith. Faith is what the Spirit gave to us to believe in this promise in Christ Jesus. Even Faith, the size of a mustard seed planted in our hearts, planted in the hearts of others will be enough to move us from the beginning place, the stuck places, the mountains, and the dry lands or wilderness of our lives to the land of milk and honey. How sweet it is! The little seed of faith grows into luscious grapes, apples, peaches, cantaloupes, honey dew, and even huge watermelons, all sweet and tasty as can be! And it all starts with prayer and until we recognize the power of prayer, talking to Jesus, and believing in faith he hears, our lives may never fully enter the promises of today, the abundance Jesus has to offer us now, and we may be stuck in the land of mediocrity, complacency, and fruit that never really gets a chance to ripen and be harvested as very good.
The Lord placed in my spirit a call to prayer. The call to prayer is a challenge to each of us to read “Draw the Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge” by Mark Batterson. The expectation is that we will start this together as a Cooperative Parish-Linden, Markham, and Marshall. We will read, pray, journal, and share the blessings of circling prayers for us personally and collectively as the church. God has something for us to hear in this, to pray for in this, and God wants us to pray God-sized prayers—remember, those BHAPs! That means Big Hairy Audacious Prayers! If you think you're stuck, we’re stuck, and you know God is speaking a way forward—pray! Participate and engage this challenge! I’m excited about what the Lord wants to bring for us his church. Are you? Let’s get started! My hope and prayer is to have the books here by this Sunday, October 6 and start the challenge October 7. The books are a gift to you to freely engage this journey. May the Lord stir us with a holy determination, holy discontent, and a holy direction through the prayers of his people! Amen!

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Terry

Chair of Council:  Steve Showers

Nurture, Evangelism:  Genia Ortiz

Adult Discipleship:  Sal Ortiz
Nominations:  Pastor Terry (Chair), Ruth Ann Rector, Helen Kenney, Maureen Dunford, Sal Ortiz, Dawn Bueno
Trustees:  Loyd Dunford, Steve Showers, Mary Potter, Lou Ann Bennett, Stuart Showers, Zachery Bueno
Parsonage Trustees:  Loyd Dunford (Chair), Steve Showers (Co-Chair), Zachery Bueno
Finance:  Chair Vacancy, Pastor Terry, Sal Ortiz, Dawn Bueno, Steve Showers, Loyd Dunford

SPRC:  Bonnie Schmidt (Chair), Brook Middleton, Edith Middleton, John Fedorchak
Finance Chair:  Debbie Jo Foster

Finance:  Chair Vacancy, Pastor Terry, Edith Middleton, John Fedorchak, Bonnie Schmidt, Brook Middleton, Nancy Sickel
Council Secretary:  Theresa Malinsky

The Linden UMW will host their annual Harvest Dinner on October 5 from 5-7 pm at the Linden UMC Fellowship Hall. A love offering will be accepted. Bring a wrapped item for the auction fun afterward! See you there!

Come join us at Hartland Orchards on November 2nd at 9am to glean apples and help support our local food banks.  If interested contact Genia Ortiz at 540.635.9636.

Prayer and Healing Service
October 20 at 6:00 pm at Linden UMC. Jesus gives us an invitation, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Mt. 11:28-30, NRSV). All are welcome to come and receive Jesus' healing presence.

Our 200th Anniversary of the Stone Church and 101st of the Schoolhouse was a great success! We celebrated with the community of Markham and beyond, clergy both present and prior, and our Cooperative Parish.  Thank you to all those who made this a memorable event!'

Prayer Warrior
Prayer Warrior is underway and people are always welcome to join us. We meet once a month on the first Tuesday of each month at 5:30 pm at Edith Middleton's home. We are currently studying Priscilla Shirer's book, "Armor of God." For more information contact Michele Middleton, 703.380.0141 or Bonnie Schmidt. 571.332.9744.

The Prayer Warrior Group will be attending Fervent 2.0, an event featuring Christian author and Bible teacher Priscilla Shirer, the author of Armor of God, the evening of Oct. 28 at Christian Fellowship Church in  Ashburn VA.  You do not need to be a member of the prayer warrior group to attend.  For further information contact Michele Middleton at MMiddletoncpa@aol.com.

ESL Classes started on Tuesday, October 1. If you know of someone who could benefit from this teaching contact Edith Middelton at 540.364.2885.

 

Congregational Care
We have started the process of creating a Congregational Care team.  This would include prayer, visitations, writing notes, and sometimes just sitting and listening to someone.  More information will be available in the near future.   Please be prayerfully thinking if this is something you would like to be involved with.  

Thank you,

Cathy Harris

 

Classes are underway for ‘A Disciple’s Path’, if you would like more information contact Cheryl Kowalczyk at mama2cake@gmail.com.  Sessions will be held at Marshall UMC through October 17.  This class is Step 1 of the discipleship series.   

Step 2: A Disciple’s Heart will start in October when the first study concludes.

Thank you,

Cheryl Kowalczyk

We will be doing a Cooperative Parish-wide prayer challenge using "Draw the Circle The 40 Day Prayer Challenge" beginning in October with sermons and daily devotions. The focus is Spirit-led so come and participate praying and embracing what the Spirit desires to bring through this intentional time of fervent prayer. A copy of the book will be gifted to every person in all three churches. Contact Pastor Terry for more information.

 

MUMPs is open and off to a great start! 
Thank you to all that donated some needed supplies for the 2019/2020 preschool year!  We are blessed by the generosity of our church family support!  The need for some supplies is ongoing.  There will be a ‘Needs’ list posted when things start running low!   We are also thankful to Doris Edmonds for being our first month’s ‘Thursday reader’!  Each Thursday she will read a story to all 20 preschoolers in the Fellowship Hall.  It is a great opportunity to connect with our preschool family.  If you are interested in reading one week, please contact Terri Hill at terrih57@msn.com or call Donna Thomas at 540-364-4111.

Wayside in Middletown! Leaving church st 1030!  Contact Doris Edmonds if interested at 540.253.5349.

I hope you have been enjoying these last lazy, hazy days of summer. Your district mission team has been gearing up for our fall programs and that means Mission Encounter  to be held September 7 at Stephens City UMC. This is an opportunity for your UMW members as well as all church members and clergy to learn more about mission what we do in mission, how we conduct mission and why we are called to be in mission as disciples of Jesus Christ. 

The courses offered this year are:  (1)Anniversary Study: Women United for Change, 150 years in Mission, led by Dr. Karen McElfish,Conference Coordinator for Social Action. Karen led this class at Conference Mission Encounter. 

(2) Spiritual Growth: Practicing Resurrection: The Gospel Of Mark and Radical Discipleship, led by Rev. Laura Douglass, Deacon  and leader for  Conference Mission Encounter. 

The plenary will be led by Rev. Laetitia Schoeman, Pastor of Fairview-Refuge charge. 

The reservation form is on the district website and may be downloaded. The deadline for registration is August 28. The cost for Mission Encounter is $17.00 which includes a light brunch and lunch. 

You may order books in advance at umwmissionresources.org or call 1-800-305-9857. Books are $10.00 each. 

Please encourage your members and friends to attend this wonderful event. 

I am looking forward to seeing each of you on Sept. 7 in Stephens City.