Stone Soup Camps Out at Orchard Lake!

Summer Fun-- School's Out -- Orchard Lake Camping
Thursday June 11 and Friday June 12 (extended stay through Sat night 13th)
Pay Orchard Lake Fees on your own
Here is the info from Beth on the logistics:

Due to most attending graduation and celebrations on Wednesday, we will delay the start of the Camp Out to Thursday.

Plan to set up tents any time after 11AM on Thursday June 11^th.

Stone Soup will be held Thursday eve along with a Mexican Fiesta dinner, volleyball and wiffleball games.

Bring something Mexican to share for dinner.  Mexican Pot Luck!

Friday AM – we are invited to Edna’s for breakfast at 9:30AM. Her house is walking distance from the campground.

She provides all  the food – we just need to help serve and clean-up.

Friday eve – we’ll do American Fare – bring hot dogs, burgers, something to share.  More games and smores.

On Saturday – some will head to the BBQ fest, some will stay at the campground, some will need to pack up.

We can plan the day as we go.

The Harris family will bring wood for the fire pit and a couple of grates for cooking hot dogs, etc.

We have a small camp stove, but please bring one too -  if you have one.

I will bring a coffee pot,  and power strip. There is only one electrical outlet at the campsite – with two plugs.

Please bring your own drinks, lunches and snacks for your family/party.

There is a water faucet at the site for washing dishes or drinking, but we usually prefer bottled or a jug of water. 

Remember a tarp or two… lantern, bug spray.

If we get heavy rain, and especially thunderstorms, it is best to either get in your car and go to the covered pavilion.

The pavilion area also has a game room with couches, bathroom, should we need to seek refuge.

Please chime in with any other questions you might have.

Thanks,

Beth

Thursday night at 8:30 p.m we'll have Stone Soup worship time.
Our theme will be "Who or What Do You Serve?"
Bob Dylan wrote:

You may be an ambassador to England or France

You may like to gamble, you might like to dance

You may be the heavyweight champion of the world

You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls.

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed

You're gonna have to serve somebody,

It may be the devil or it may be the Lord

But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

Might be a rock'n' roll adict prancing on the stage

Might have money and drugs at your commands, women in a cage

You may be a business man or some high degree thief

They may call you Doctor or they may call you Chief.

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed

You're gonna have to serve somebody,

Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord

But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

Paul writes in Galatians:

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Can't wait to see you there!

(there will be no Stone Soup on Sunday 6/14 since we're meeting on Thursday eve) 

Be Still...

‘Be still, and know that I am God!
   I am exalted among the nations,
   I am exalted in the earth.’
Psalm 46:10

How do you know what you know?
Is this the "right" person?
What should I be doing with my life?
Is that God's word for me or is that my mind doing that?
This Sunday, we'll talk about this, we'll pray about this and we'll practice "being still".

So come on out to the church at 5. We'll go up to Judd's Peak/Orchard Hill to worship and work on how do you know what you know.
Bring picnic stuff to share and chairs or blanket to sit on.
If it's raining we'll meet inside at 5.

Stone Soup meets on Thursday evening (the 11th)  this coming week!

Peace
Rob

Creator/Redeemer/Sustainer...

This is Trinity Sunday on the Church Calendar, so we will talk about the implications of the three-fold nature of God: Father/Son/Holy Ghost or Creator/Redeemer/Sustainer.

We'll meet at 5 pm at the Wesley Cottage. We're planning a rain or shine outing. Picnic around the campfire if it is sunny and picnic under cover with rain. All this at Rob's house. So bring bring stuff to cook over a fire (we can use the grill in case of rain) and picnic kind of stuff to share.

The scripture we'll use for reflection is John 3:1-21, also bring any other scripture or readings you want.

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

 ‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

 ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

 ‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.’ 

Remember our annual School's Out Camping At Orchard Lake. You can pick when you want to come. You can just do daytime or camp through the night June 10-13 (Wed-Sat).  We'll do Stone Soup around the campfire probably on Thursday night. I'll keep you posted as the schedule develops. The days are different from what we normally do because school ends on Wed and the BBQ festival is that weekend. Have no fears though, Edna will still be serving her famous breakfast.

Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them...

This Sunday is Pentecost. This day remembers the day that the Holy Spirit appeared among the followers of Jesus gathered in Jerusalem. We also call it the Birthday of the Church.When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Acts 2:1-4

We'll gather Sunday at 5 p.m. at the church and then carpool to Rob's house where we'll sit around the bonfire and reflect on the ways the Holy Spirit can catch fire in our lives.

Bring whatever you want to cook and share over the fire. Rob will provide drinks, watermelon and fire!

Call Rob with questions 828-606-3452

...down to the river to pray

Sunday for Stone Soup we'll go to to the river to pray, to baptize and to remember our baptisms.
Meet at the church at 5 p.m. (wear a bathing suit if you want to get wet). We'll go down to one of our favorite spots on the Green River. There, we will be celebrating the sacrament of baptism during worship. Baptism is available for all who have never been baptized and who desire to be baptized. For those who have been baptized before, we have a ritual that reminds us of our baptism as we continue to claim God's work in our lives.
Bring towels and picnic food to share with all!
Call Rob with questions 828-606-3452

Awakening to Grace Week 3 May 3

Awakening to Grace: Becoming Vulnerable to Love
a series of Sunday evenings with preaching, singing and dialogue

April 19-May 10 2015

Our remaining dates are:

Participating in Grace—Rev. Brice Harris  May 3, 5 p.m. Columbus UMC

Practicing Grace—Rev. Rob Parsons  May 10, 5 p.m. Saluda UMC

This week our speaker is Rev. Brice Harris. He is a retired pastor from the Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church currently living in Etowah, N.C. Brice is a favorite area itinerate preacher who was active for years in peace and justice ministries. In discussing Participating in Grace, Brice will speak and lead discussion on the “second blessing” of grace that ushers in growth in the comfort and power of God’s love for all. This is what John Wesley called sanctifying grace. We will explore together how we can participate in this grace.

The folks at Columbus UMC will serve lasagna for dinner time fellowship! 

Awakening to Grace week 2 April 26

Awakening to Grace: Becoming Vulnerable to Love
a series of Sunday evenings with preaching, singing and dialogue

April 19-May 10 2015

Our remaining dates are:

The Prize of Grace—Rev. Augusta Anne Anderson  April 26, 5 p.m. Saluda UMC

Participating in Grace—Rev. Brice Harris  May 3, 5 p.m. Columbus UMC

Practicing Grace—Rev. Rob Parsons  May 10, 5 p.m. Saluda UMC

This week, Augusta Ann Anderson is preaching. She is the rector at the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Saluda, NC. She is a well-received speaker and priest in the area and currently lives in Asheville, N.C. In discussing the Prize of Grace, Augusta will speak and lead discussion about the work of the Holy Spirit, focusing on fruit of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, generosity and self-control). She will everyone to explore together the work of the Holy Spirit and how to be open to receiving/activating it in our lives.

Our featured pianist is Steve Stone. This is event is free of charge and will be followed by a light supper and continued discussion in the fellowship hall. Saluda United Methodist Church’s address is 53 Greenville St. Saluda, NC 28773. Call Rev. Rob Parsons for more information 828-606-3452.