Cook's United Methodist Church
July 2024 Newsletter
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We exist to make followers of Jesus Christ who love God and others. |
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UNITED! In July begins Sunday, July 7 and continues through all four Sundays of July. UNITED! will look like this: one worship service, one “coffee break,” and one study/share time for the ONE BODY OF CHRIST known as COOK’S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. So much has changed for us in the last four years that we may not know one another as well as we think we do! The aim of July, then, is to get-to-know one another or reconnect AND to get to know our history a bit better. We hope that you will join us for worship and for study together. (All materials you will need to participate will be provided for you.)
One Worship Service, 9:30am in the Friendship Hall
One Study/Share Time, 10:50am in the Friendship Hall
Goodies and Drinks provided
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Sunday, July 21, United Methodist Men’s Breakfast Meeting (all are invited!) at 8:15am.
Sunday, July 28, Potluck Dinner on the Grounds (following study/share time)
Last name begins with A-L: bring a side or salad, M-Z: bring a dessert
I’m a cradle Methodist. That means I’ve been “in” the Methodist Church since I was in the cradle. You? How long have you been “in” the Methodist Church or of the Wesleyan persuasion? And, if not because of Mama or Daddy, how did you get there? Spouse? Agreeable compromise because of former experiences with another denomination or the institutional church in general?
Those who have been in the UMC (the United Methodist Church) may not be aware of the difference in theological perspective between us and other Christian denominations. And the same is true for those who are new to the UMC; you may not be aware that every denomination has a unique perspective on the things of God. Case in point: the observance of Holy Communion. Some Christian denominations practice a closed table at Holy Communion meaning you are not invited to the Table unless you are a member of their fellowship. The reason is that the family of God/leadership at that church is concerned about you taking unworthily and since they don’t know you, they’d rather err on the side of denying you. Some denominations, like United Methodism, practice an open table meaning everyone is invited to the Table as we celebrate God’s grace in Jesus being for everyone. We begin our preparation for the Table with confession and pardon so taking/receiving the sacrament is a personal spiritual issue. All are welcome: old-timers and newbies alike!
How much do you know of our Methodist heritage? Here’s a baker’s dozen questions about John Wesley, his family, and his ministry to test you. True or False . . .
1. John Wesley was bullied horribly as a child.
2. John Wesley came from a small family.
3. Sophy, Grace, Georgy and Charlie are siblings to John Wesley.
4. John Wesley traveled over 250,000 miles by horseback in his life of ministry.
5. Samuel, John’s father, was also clergy serving as a navy chaplain for a while.
6. Susanna, John’s mother, was raised as a Nonconformist.
7. Wesley’s Holy Club were called Methodists because Susanna, their mother, was strictly methodical in the way she “schooled” them at home.
8. Charles, John’s brother, wrote over 6,000 hymns.
9. Charles, not John, is the Wesley brother who started meeting with friends, calling themselves The Holy Club.
10. Charles accepted holy orders (to be clergy) only to help brother John in a mission to the Georgia Colony in North America.
11. John Wesley was so frustrated with the Church of England that it was his intention to start a new Church.
12. John Wesley coined the term, “agree to disagree.”
13. John Wesley believed that Christians must be in relationship, or community, with one another for our discipleship to Jesus and maturity of faith to grow.
(ANSWERS AVAILABLE AT OUR FIRST ONE STUDY/SHARE TIME, JULY 7TH)
Sandra
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Samaritan Fund
The dollars in this fund are used to help those in our community with immediate needs. The money used to fund this account comes from donations left on the altar rail during communion.
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Communion Sunday
We will be celebrating the sacrament of Holy Communion on Sunday, July 7. If you will be worshipping/celebrating with us from home, please gather bread (or tortillas or crackers, etc.) and juice (if you don't have grape, any juice or liquid will suffice) enough for everyone in your household. We look forward to celebrating God's grace in this very special way.
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Current Information
The most recent Newsletter, Financial Statement, 2024 Officers / Committee Members Listing, and approved Church Council minutes can be found in the literature rack in the back hallway (just outside the Friendship Hall).
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Fellowship Donuts
Volunteers needed to bring donuts for our fellowship time (between first service and Sunday School). There is a sign-up sheet on the wall next to the donut table across from the coffee pots by friendship hall. 4-5 dozen needed each Sunday and must be here by 9:15am. Keep your receipt to be reimbursed by the office. Tax exempt forms available in the office.
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SALT (Serving at the Lord’s Table)
CANNED MIXED VEGETABLES; RICE (1 lb. bags)
CANNED BEANS (northern, pinto, black, kidney, pork & beans)
TOILET PAPER (4-roll package)
PAPER TOWELS, LAUNDRY & DISHWASHING DETERGENTS
BAR SOAP (individually wrapped)
SHAMPOO, TOOTHPASTE
All donations can be left in totes in back hall.
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Missions Team
Wednesday, July 3 @ 6:00pm
Library
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Office Closed
Thursday, July 4 Holiday
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Finance Team
Sunday, July 14 @ 3:30pm
Lamplighters Room
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Church Council
Sunday, July 14 @ 4pm
Youth Room
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CareGivers Connection
Wednesday, July 17 @ 1:00 pm
Youth Room
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Men's Club Breakfast
Sunday, July 21 @ 7:45am
Youth Room
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Congregational Care
Wednesday, July 24 @ 10am
Lamplighters Room
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Talent Show
Saturday, July 27 @ 7pm
Friendship Hall
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Church Potluck Dinner
Sunday, July 28
Friendship Hall
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Sanctuary Reserved
Wednesday, July 31
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Backpack Program
The Backpack program supports our neediest children. Students are supplied with food items to bridge the weekend gap during the school year. The Church at Pleasant Grove sponsors the Backpack Program for 5 schools in our area and they need help stocking their shelves. Items requested are: Instant Oatmeal Packages; Individual Mac & Cheese; Pudding Cups (non-refrigerated; Ravioli, Spaghetti-O's; Granola Bars; Fruit Cups; Applesauce; Juice Boxes (avoid those with lots of sugar). All donations can be left in the totes in back hallway.
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Home Centered
Ralph & Miriam Appleby, Dot Creasman, Billie East, Gladys Pennington, Norman & Ruby Walker
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Staff Corner
I come from a long line of Methodist pastors. My dad's dad was a pastor. My dad and his fraternal twin brother were pastors. My sister serves as a pastor at Mt. Zion UMC in St. Louis.
I never wanted to be a pastor. Seeing it firsthand as a preacher’s kid (or as we refer to it, PK), I know it’s one of the hardest jobs in the world. More to the point, I felt called to a different kind of ministry.
When I was around ten years old, I went to a Christian music festival called New Song and knew I was supposed to make music for the Lord. Even in years before that, when the teacher would ask the class what we wanted to be when we grew up, the typical answers were bandied about: firefighter, astronaut, doctor, cowboy. I said, “Christian Rock Star.”
My music is less explicitly evangelical in tone than it might have been back in the '80s, but as Christ is the center of my life and my lyrics are mostly about my life, it comes out in my songs like “Nothing” and “New Vocabulary.”
Around twenty-five years ago (how has it been that long?), I wrote a song called “Across Four Aprils.” Some songs take weeks, months, or even years to write, but this one just flowed out of me. I had seen a book somewhere at some point called *Across Five Aprils*, and the title just stuck with me. I did misremember it as “across four Aprils” though and ended up titling this song as such. Plus, four just seems better than five anyway for some reason.
In thinking about the Aprils of my life, I remembered the April 2nd it had snowed on my friend Melissa’s birthday, so the first line came to me: “Mama start the car up, ‘cause it takes a little while to start it up. Well I know that this is April, but it’s snowing outside and I’m fed up.”
I didn’t know what it meant. I hated that it rhymed the word *up* with the word *up* and the word *up*, but I couldn’t shake it. It was good and the way it should be. The lyrics that followed would change the direction of the song radically and be different from anything else I had written. “Every time he hits you, I can’t close my eyes. And I am sick of hearing his stupid alibis.”
This was to be a song about domestic abuse.
I had never experienced an abusive father, but my mom had, and I had heard stories about kids who had. I have been a huge movie buff my entire life and worked at Blockbuster at the time I wrote the song. So I had seen movies and shows about abuse that deeply affected me over the years, and I guess that just led to the song.
I wrote the line, “If we left right now, nobody’d let us in,” thinking about Mary and Joseph, but also thinking about the many women who have decided they would rather subject their children to a life of homelessness than a life with an abusive father.
And then came the sort of chorus (the song doesn’t really have one) of “I drove across four Aprils just trying to forget. I drove across four Aprils and I haven’t got there yet.” The song was complete, but it sat on a shelf, so to speak, for all those years because it didn’t work with anything I have been recording.
Recently, I decided to play the song in a video for my Patreon.com supporters, and it struck me that I still loved it. I restructured it a little bit, but it’s mostly the same as it was back in the late '90s. I recorded it, added a bunch of guitars, bass, drums, and organ, and had my friend Josh come over to add some electric guitar flourishes that only he could.
I’m really proud of it and decided to release it on July 5th everywhere that music is available online, whether you stream music somewhere like Apple or Spotify, or buy it somewhere like Amazon or iTunes.
You can even pre-save it at www.ericcoomer.com.
I would love to hear what you think once it’s out. And if you or someone you know is or has been a victim of abuse, I hope you know you’re not alone and that there are people and organizations available to get you the help you need.
Eric Coomer
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Calendar of Events
Staff Meeting, Tues., July 2 @ 11:45am (Library)
Missions Team, Wed., July 3 @ 6pm (Library)
Church Office Closed, Thurs., July 4 (Holiday)
Finance Team, Sun., July 14 @ 3:30pm (Lamplighters Room)
Church Council, Sun., July 14 @ 4pm (Youth Room)
CareGivers Coffee, Wed., July 17 @ 1pm (Youth Room)
Men’s Club Breakfast, Sun., July 21 @ 7:45am (Youth Room)
Congregational Care, Wed., July 24 @ 10am (Lamplighters Room)
Talent Show, Sat. July 27 @ 7pm (Friendship Hall)
Potluck Dinner, Sun., July 28 following Sunday School (Friendship Hall)
Sanctuary Reserved, Sun., July 31
Mondays @ 9:30am Bible Study (Youth Room)
Thursdays @ 6:00pm Boy Scouts (Youth Room & Shine Room)
Mondays, Tuesdays & Fridays @ 6:00pm TKD (Friendship Hall)
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Church Potluck Dinner
Sunday, July 28
Cook’s will provide the meat, drinks, and paper products.
If your last name begins with A-L please bring a side dish.
If you last name begins with M-Z please bring a dessert.
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Caregivers Coffee Connection
A Caregivers Support Group meets the third Wednesday of the month at 1pm in Cook’s UMC Youth Room. This is to offer respite, support, and connection for those who are caregivers. Our purpose is to surround each other with support and friendship as we encourage the journey of a Caregiver. If you or someone you know would benefit from a loving time of encouragement or just a place to meet and have coffee, desert and conversation please know you are welcome to meet with us. If you have any questions, call Judy at 615-417-9002.
NEXT Meeting Wednesday, July 17 @ 1pm.
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City of Mt. Juliet Collecting Cooling Devices
for Those in Need
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As temperatures rise, the City of Mt. Juliet is collecting usable and operable window AC units, gently used fans, portable AC units, and misting fans at City Hall (2425 N. Mt. Juliet Road). Your donations will make a huge difference for the elderly and children who might be struggling without proper cooling during these hot summer days. How can you help?
Donate your gently used window AC units, fans, portable AC units, or misting fans.
Spread the word to friends and neighbors who might have items to donate.
Help spread the word to those that are in need of a fan. Call 615-330-0578 to request a fan while supplies last.
Let’s ensure everyone in Mt. Juliet stays cool and comfortable this summer. Your generosity can truly change lives!
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Are You on Facebook?
You can help us spread Cook's news! It's easy: first, be sure to "Like" Cook's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/cooksumc/). Then keep your eye out for announcements, inspiration, and invitations to worship. When they show up in your FB feed, "Like" or "Share" the posts. The more who do, the more people see it, even if they're not yet members and/or don't “Like” the CUMC page. Have photos from a church event or something you want to promote on social media? Send info/photos to Alison Nash or to the church office.
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In Person Giving An offering plate is passed around during traditional worship service in the sanctuary and an offering basket is available at the back of the Friendship Hall during "The Well" worship service, or you can drop your offering off by the church office during regular business hours. | |
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Online Giving You can give online at www.cooksumc.org or text cumc to 73256.
Standard text message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Text HELP to 73256 for help. Text STOP to 73256 to cancel.
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Electronic Bank Draft If you are interested in this easy and convenient way of giving, please contact the church office. | |
7919 Lebanon Road, Mt. Juliet TN 37122
615/449-2574
www.cooksumc.org
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Sunday Schedule
8:45am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary), Facebook Live & YouTube
10:00am Sunday School
11:00am "The Well" Service (Friendship Hall), Facebook Live & YouTube
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