Teddy Bears

Seminary Church is an exceptionally caring community of followers of Jesus Christ! We pray for one another, we listen to one another, we provide for one another during times of stress and difficulty and we share our resources with one another. Most churches do this - caring for the community of faith, very well. However, this community of faith, Seminary United Methodist Church, reaches beyond the walls of the church and prays for, listens, to, provides in times of stress, and shares resources, not just to the church community, but to the community outside of our walls. One of the ways we do this is through our "Teddy Bear" ministry - a ministry that provides a soft, cuddly teddy bear that has been prayed over to anyone in need of a smile and a hug.

Do you know someone who needs a teddy bear? Have you ever recieved a token of prayer and love? What difference did it make in your life? Post your comments here!!!

“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Mt 22:34-39

The Seven Dealy Sins

The Seven Deadly Sins - We've all heard of them, but what are they, and what makes them so "deadly"? In this important sermon series we'll explore the hidden and insiduous nature of these specific sins. We'll see how they easily creep into our lives, and we'll learn how to avoid their grip or break free from them. Finally, each week we will experience powerful reminders of the corresponding virtues, and leave worship strengthened to lead lives of peace, joy, and hope.

Join us this Sunday as we kick off our summer sermon series. This week our sermon is on Lust.

1 Thessalonians 4:4-5, 8

Learn to appreciate and give dignity to your body, not abusing it, as is so common among those who know nothing of God. God hasn't invited us into a disorderly, unkempt life but into something holy and beautiful—as beautiful on the inside as the outside.

A bittersweet Trip

My uncle, George Robertson III, died suddenly last night at 9:00pm in his home in Estill Springs, TN. The family is gathering in Estill Springs to say goodbye and remember Uncle George. The viewing will be Saturday afternoon. The funeral is on Sunday afternoon at 2:00pm. I will be helping my cousin Richard officiate the service. Please keep my family in your prayers. Rev. Cindy Osgood of Bluffton 1st United Methodist Church is covering for me in the event of any pastoral emergencies.

The world lost an incredibly loving, supportive, giving, and grace filled man of God Wednesday night. I love you Uncle George! Please pray for my family - all of us are experiencing tremendous shock, loss, and grief.....and will be gathering in TN today to be of comfort to one another and to remember the loving legacy he left us all.

Thursday News From Henderson Settlement

More news from Pastor Dave!!!

Another VERY hot, but very productive day. Everybody worked out at the Gibson house today, and believe it or not, we're almost done! While Andrew crawled under the house to run heating/cooling ducts (photo #005), others installed underlayment and flooring (#017), while still others painted (#018), cut trim, finished skirting, fixed plumbing, and did anything else that was needed.

Now it's about 7 p.m. and all the work camp teams (about 9 teams totalling nearly 150 people) are about to enjoy a big ice cream social.

We're hoping to finish up our work by mid-day on Friday, and there's talk about our team possibly heading back home Friday afternoon. We'll let you know how that pans out.

God bless y'all!
Pastor Dave

Wednesday news - Henderson Settlement

From Pastor Dave:

What a team! Today was to be a "free day" for recreation and sightseeing; but because the team wanted to make sure we get all our work done by the end of the week, they decided to work until noon today before having play time. So while Mary and Allie kept cutting Campbell's labels, the rest worked some more out at the Gibson home, mudding drywall, hanging vinyl siding, digging trenches, installing more vinyl skirting around the base of the home, etc. (See photo #026) Like I said before, it's just remarkable what everybody's been able to accomplish in just two-and-a-half days!

Thankfully, the day wasn't all work, though. I personally had a delightful time teaching little Brandon (the Gibson's 4-year-old grandson) and Cameron (their 6-year-old son) to ride a unicycle (photo #019), and then sharing my "Ugly Unicorn" book with them. After I told them the story, Cameron wanted to read it himself, which he did very well.

Then in the afternoon it was off to the "Kentucky Splash Waterpark" in Williamsburg for most of us. (Steve and Bryan chose to have some quiet time back at Henderson Settlement.) We had a great time riding the waterslides, floating on "the lazy river", getting bounced around in the wave pool and just relaxing. (See photos #037 & 040)

Tomorrow is another long work day, so we're all about ready to head to bed as I write this.
Pastor Dave

Henderson Settlement Mission Trip

The latest from Pastor Dave and the mission crew at Henderson Settlement -

In just a few minutes we'll be heading into an evening program of "mountain music", so I thought I'd try to squeeze in a quick update for Day Two of our Henderson Settlement mission trip.

Actually I'll start with last evening's program, which was a rather sobering look at poverty and survival in the Appalachian Mountain region. Over 40% of the population in this county in Kentucky are below the poverty level, and with the economy being what it is, that doesn't look to get better anytime soon. Later last evening, after sunset, we had a meaningful devotional time led by Steve Beghtel out on the back porch of the mission dorm (see photo #002).

This morning we had another good devotional time outside, and then after breakfast we hit the projects hard again. Mary Marty, Kathy Cary (of Seminary UMC) and Allie Spillman stayed on grounds to work in the greenhouse moving plants (photo #003) and in the office cutting Campbell's labels. Meanwhile, out at the Gibson house Bryan Frehse (Urbana Yoke Parish) and a crew of others spent some time "mudding" drywall, while several others worked on installing new vinyl skirting around the base of the double-wide home (photo #003). The crew working on the new addition made lots of progress today, too, doing wiring, insulating, roofing, drywall, windows and more (photo #004).

Mike Gibson (the dad) and his son, Michael, have also been helping out quite a bit; and it really made us feel good when, as we were leaving today, Michael summarized his feelings about all that's being done when he said, "This is absolutely mind-boggling!"

By the way, please pray for the mother of Donna Gibson (Mike's wife), who was just diagnosed yesterday with Stage One lung cancer. They're thankful that it's just Stage One, and therefore quite treatable; but they're also concerned that she's facing chemotherapy and radiation.

Well, gotta get to the music program. Have a good evening!

Pastor Dave

Henderson Settlement Mission Trip

As most of you know, Seminary member Kathy Cary is with the Faith Chapel/Fruitful Cluster Mission team in Henderson Settlement this week doing mission work. Pastor Dave Marty sent an email update to me this evening with attached pictures describing what the mission team is working on this week. Kathy is an awesome person with a real heart for reaching the poor with the good news of Jesus Christ. Below is Pastor Dave's e-mail:

Dear Faith Chapel friends,

Well, it's been a very full day at Henderson Settlement in Kentucky. We arrived safely last evening and, after supper and orientation, enjoyed chilling out for awhile. Then this morning, after a hillside devotional and breakfast, we headed to the worksite and quickly got busy.

One crew worked on tearing out old nasty drywall in a bedroom, cleaning the studs, and then installing new drywall (see "before & after" pictures #21 and 42). The other crew got to work digging postholes, sinking support posts in the clay soil and framing up the new addition for the family whose house we're working on (pictures #13 & 41).

The theme of the day? HEAT!! It was sunny and in the 90's by afternoon. If you look at picture #35 you'll see that Carmen didn't appreciate the effect the heat was having on Andrew as they worked together inside.

The team's doing great; but we appreciate your continued prayers. God bless!

Pastor Dave

Please continue to pray for the team at Henderson Settlement! They are in the midst of doing good - rule two of the Three Simple Rules......

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Luke 4:18-19