Groundbreaking ceremony August 30

Please mark your calendars for an exciting and historic day in the life of Woodville UMC. On Sunday, August 30, 2009 Bishop Janice Huie will preach in our worship service and be present to pray at the official groundbreaking ceremony for our new multi-purpose ministry center! We are honored and pleased to host Bishop Huie at our church and we’ll all be blessed by God by her message that Sunday. She’s an outstanding preacher and a dynamic leader. Please make plans now to be present. By August 30th most should be settled in here at home after summer vacations and travel schedules. School will have begun and routines will return. Note that this is not Labor Day weekend; it comes the weekend after.
Let me share with you another relevant date in the building process. On July 8th, the demolition will begin on the current youth center. It should be completed by the end of that week. Remember that it’s on that spot that the new building will be constructed. Even as we are excited about a new, larger, more accommodating space for all, many have wonderful memories of the Anthony Youth Center and thanksgivings for the ministry that happened in that space for 50 years. With grateful hearts, we are going to give praise to God this Sunday, July 5th for the ministry that happened with special prayers. Kaaren Sullivan is preparing those prayers for us.
Also in worship we will pray for our youth and adults who are headed to Lakeview Youth Camp July 6-10. We have 26 youth and 5 adults who are going to Lakeview. If that’s not a record number, it’s got to be close! Praise God. I’ll be co-directing the 6th/7th Grade camp and therefore will be out all week. If you or someone you know needs immediate pastoral assistance, please contact Dixie Jarrott at 429-4026. You may also call the church office and Sharon, our church secretary, can reach me. After camp concludes, the Williams family is headed to north Dallas for a family reunion. I’ll miss being in church Sunday July 14th but you’ll enjoy hearing witnesses from our youth about their camp experience.
This Sunday July 5th in worship we’ll also give thanks for the freedom to worship God and remember those who do not enjoy this freedom. Have a safe and happy 4th of July celebration this weekend.