Before my kids go off to school, this is what I want to talk about...

What makes life meaningful?
How do you find meaning in your life?
What can we do when we find meaninglessness creeping into our lives?

Since this is a discussion we want to have with our kids (and ourselves) let's begin with our common ground in music. So when you come to Stone Soup this Sunday, bring a song that you feel deals with or frames the problem of one of the above questions. You can bring it on a mp3 player or we can look it up on YouTube. We'll use the music to jumpstart our discussion of such an important topic over the next few weeks. Then we'll actually do some things that are actually part of what helps us acknowledge and participate in what is meaningful in our lives together. We'll eat and play together, read scripture and learn from each other, serve others and more. Stephen will be leading a class for the kids that don't want to be part of this larger discussion.

So let's meet this Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Wesley Cottage in the back parking lot of Saluda United Methodist Church. For our dinner together, let's focus on being as fresh as we can be. Get a friend and/or family member and harvest something from your garden or get something from a local tailgate market and bring a fresh and delicious dish to share. (But as always, don't let the dinner thing be a hinderance to your coming, there is always enough and we're always flexible. )

After dinner, we'll spill out into our wonderful town for some town-sized games. This should be lots of fun and there should be plenty of benches for those who just want to watch (and not pull a hamstring).

Let's go find a new (to us) waterfall, sit with it's power and beauty, and talk about God.

This Sunday, July 21, we'll join up with the Saluda Community Land Trust to hike the Missing 40 Trail (a one mile loop) and do some exploring of the land and our hearts.
We'll meet at the Saluda Library at 2 p.m. We're meeting early so we won't share dinner together but bring hiking snacks that we can share around. If you like, also bring clothes you can get wet in since last time we explored the Missing 40 trail we also enjoyed the exploring the streams.

Within this beautiful context we begin our exploration of how to deal with meaninglessness, hopelessness and lovelessness. These are difficult spiritual issues to deal with when they creep into our lives and into our community. Nonetheless, it is especially crucial that we deal with these issues, especially for the children of our whole community. How we talk, with whom we sit, and where we are will have as much to bear in the conversation as what we say... so join us!
1Corinthians 13:2 "And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing."

Tubing on Sunday

Let's Go Tubing This Sunday

Now that the rivers are receding back to normal levels, we'll go tubing on the Green River.
We'll meet at the Wesley Cottage at 2:00 p.m. and carpool from there.
I don't know what it costs for sure to rent a tube (because they normally give us a church group discount), so bring $7 for each person in your group. Each group/family that comes needs to be self-sufficient (adults with children, everyone needs to be  comfortable with swimming) and we will show you where you can rent tubes.
Since we are starting early, we won't do a meal, but I can carry snacks. I will paddle an inflatable ducky  and will have a dry bag for some snacks (limited space but we can share with each other). We'll pull out on the beach at Little Corky, share snacks and worship. We should be through by 6 p.m.

Our scripture this week comes from
Amos 7:7-17  God sets a plumb line among the people.
John 10:25-37 When Jesus is asked, "Who is my neighbor?" he responds with the story of the Good Samaritan.

Tubing always teaches us something and riverside worship is always special, so join us and bring a friend!
If you have questions, call Rob 828-606-3452

"What do you mean by, "You will be made free"?

Stone Soup Goes to the Lake

We'll meet at 4 p.m. at the Wesley Cottage and go from there to Lake Sheila. Pack a picnic and we can share among ourselves. I will bring a grill if you want to grill something. I'll also bring a kayak or two in case you want to work on your roll or just paddle around. Bring any lake floats or games you want to play. The weather had been looking good for Sunday but now shows thunder storms possible. If it is raining we'll do an indoor picnic and a movie.

Our discussion will be about freedom, what it is and why we give it up.
Exodus 16:1-3 The Israelites were not even two months out of slavery and were talking about going back into Egypt.
Romans 8:12-17 Paul says we were not given a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption.
John 8:31-38 Jesus says if you continue in his word you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.

Can't wait to see you!
Bring a friend/summer person...