the onne tion · love you, thank you.” you can’t beat that for the price of a hamburger! praise...

The CONNECTION A Note From Pastor Stephanie

“Now the Lord is a spirit and

where the Spirit of the Lord is

there is freedom.”

2nd Corinthians 3:17. NIV

We celebrate on July 4, 241

years of freedom. We are a very

young country considering other

countries in the world. One thing

we can certainly learn is that

freedom is not free. It comes

with a price. Many have paid the

price in many wars for us to

remain free. Our salvation was

paid with the price of our

Savior’s death on the cross. To

be free in Christ is to be free

indeed.

We are set free from the

bondage of sin. We are free to

love unconditionally. We are free

to serve everyone. Jesus did not

distinguish people in his ministry.

He healed, taught and gave to all

who came to him. When we are

born again we are born to be free

in Christ. So what does free in

Christ mean to you?

In our country, we have had

thousands give their lives for the

cause of freedom over the last

241 years. We live in freedom

but it was paid with the price of

many lives. Because of this we

can worship openly. We can read

the Bible without fear of

imprisonment. We can, for now,

not be afraid to be counted as a

Christian, a follower of Jesus

Christ. Although it is plausible

that this may not be the case

forever here in America.

Would you be willing to die

for your belief in Christ as many

have been willing to die for the

freedoms we enjoy today? This

is a sobering question. But it is a

question that we may have to

answer someday.

We celebrate with fireworks, barbeques, and with family in America on Independence Day. But remember in all of your

celebrations to think of all the Lord has done for us this Independence Day and be thankful.

Blessings and love, Pastor Stephanie and Jack

Sundays

9:00am Sunday School

10:00am Worship Service

5:30pm Worship Service

Wednesdays

6:00pm Bible Study

OUR VISION

Living up to our heritage of reaching each new generation for Christ.

OUR MISSION

To Put Jesus F.I.R.S.T. In Our Lives, Our Church, and Our Community.

Reaching Each

New Generation

JULY 2017

2

FELLOWSHIP MINISTRY Strong Community Life Matters to God

July 9

Sunday School (9:00 AM) Worship Service (10:00 AM)

(D) Dave & Dell Oltmans

(B) Dave & Dell Oltmans

(G) Dave & Dell Oltmans

(U) Bill Hart/Allen Brackin/Jim Kinney/Mike Johnson

K1 KIDZ— Patty Johnson—Need Volunteers Pre-School—Mary Bullard—Need Volunteers

Toddlers Nursery:-Kim Clark

Coffee Nook Nibbles: Dell Oltmans

5:30 PM Worship; 6 PM Kids & Youth Activities

July 2


(D) John & Glenda Sanders

B) Dave Oltmans

(G) Dell Oltmans




Coffee Nook Nibbles: Charm Russler


July 16


(D) Kathi Dasinger & Mary Walsh

(B) Kathi Dasinger & Mary Walsh

(G) Kathi Dasinger & Mary Walsh




Coffee Nook Nibbles: Carolyn Johnson


July 23


(D) Cornelia Cooper & Wanda Schamp

(B) Cornelia Cooper & Wanda Schamp

(G) Cornelia Cooper & Wanda Schamp




Coffee Nook Nibbles: Frances Foster


July 30


(D) Allen & Mary Beth Brackin (B) Allen & Mary Beth Brackin (G) Allen & Mary Beth Brackin




Coffee Nook Nibbles: Need Volunteers

2-5 PM—Next Steps Ministry Now Workshop (need Volun-teers for Snacks and Drinks)


3

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31

4

Greystone’s Cookbook

Our church cookbook has a lot of great recipes!

These make great gifts for Graduation & Birthdays!

Proceeds from the cookbook sales help support our church ministries. Cookbooks

are located in the lobby.

Cost: $10 each

Sunday Mornings

Sunday School—9:00am Worship Service—10:00am

Sunday Evenings U.T.H. Join our teens—5:30pm

Bible Study—6pm

ecreation

nd

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erving

No R.A.F.T.S. in July, see

you all on August 15th at

noon!

Contact Betsy Kingsbury

for more info @ (912) 281-2053

Hostesses:

Christian Women United Circle Ministry Groups

Donation for Love In Action is Paper Towels & Bingo Prizes

C.W.U. Next Meeting in September

. FAITH CIRCLE

No Meeting in July

Grace-Love Circle June 19th at 6pm at Mama Rosa’s

FELLOWSHIP MINISTRY Strong Community Life Matters to God

5

INSTRUCT MINISTRY

Spiritual and Relational Health Matter to God

Join us Sundays

9am for Sunday School; 10am for Children’s Church

Children and U.T.H. Activities —Sunday nights 5:30pm

Join us Wednesday evenings

Stick Ministry 6-7pm

Kidz First (2 yr-Kindergarten) 6-7pm

Greystone UMC

Children’s Ministry

We had a wonderful Vacation Bible School this year! We had THREE

Children ask the Lord to come into their heart! Amazing!!!

Thank you to everyone that volunteered and donated to Greystone’s

Vacation Bible School! You are greatly appreciated!

In His Love,

Patty Johnson

6

Greystone Thuper Thursdays Children’s Ministry Leader: Patty Johnson

July 13th—Arts & Crafts 10am-2pm

We will have an Arts & Crafts Day at the church! Bring your creativity and get ready to create something fun!

Bring a sack lunch.

July 6th—No Activities

July 27th—End of the Summer Pool Party at Mike and Patty’s 10am-2pm

We are ending the summer with a pool party at Mike and Patty Johnson’s home. Patty will be providing and cooking lunch for the children.

Bring a towel and sunscreen!

INSTRUCT MINISTRY Spiritual and Relational Health Matter to God

Come and see the children and youth of Greystone perform a special from their Stick Ministry with us on Sunday, July 2nd at 10am!

7

INSTRUCT MINISTRY Spiritual and Relational Health Matter to God

September 22-24 You are not going to want to miss this great weekend!!! Cost is $60.

Balance due by August 1st.

Cost is non refundable. See Patty Johnson or Pam Pilcher for more information

Men’s Bible Study w/Bob Willis

Journey back to the time of Jesus. Marvel at the magnificence of Herod’s palace. Scramble among

the ruins of Qumran. And wonder at the simplicity and wisdom of Jesus’ parables. This

eight-week video/discussion study is part of Ray Vanderlaan’s series, That the WORLD may Know. Discover how the events of Jesus’ day impacted his life, ministry, and communication. Then let

them impact yours.

Bible Study

Pastor Stephanie Cox will be leading a Bible

Study on Thessalonians for everyone on

Wednesday’s at 6pm. She will be teaching from

the Bible. Bring your Bible with you to learn

more.

8

LOCAL FOOD MINISTRY

LOVE IN ACTION Please remember the food drive: Canned goods and non- perishables will be collected for Love in Action the 1st Sunday of each month. Volunteers serve food on the 1st Thursday of each month. Contact Jan Willis at 796-4022.

Items for Wiregrass Animal Shelter will be collected the 1st Sunday of each month.

REACH MINISTRY People Want Their Lives to Matter and Make a Difference

Good Neighbors at Greys one We are still collecting food for the children at Honeysuckle, throughout the summer. They

need breakfast items that are individually wrapped, but they will take all food donations.

The next school year we will focus on approx. 9 treat bags for the Lunch Room and

Custodian Staff. We will also provide treat bags for the students that we will personally

hand to the student. We will possibly focus on one grade at the time.

More Information Soon!

9

REACH MINISTRY People Want Their Lives to Matter and Make a Difference

“Let’s Get Social”

Like us on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/

GreystoneUnitedMethodistChurch/

Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/GreystoneUMC

Follow us on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/

greystonedothan/

Watch us on You Tube

Channel: Greystone United Methodist

Church

Did you know Greystone is getting Social? We are in the mix!

Find Us, Like Us, Follow Us, and Watch Us!

10

CHEERFUL HEARTS First, a very special THANK YOU to the Greystone Church family! More than 30 people contributed or volunteered or both to

make the June Cheerful Hearts event a success. How do we know

it was a success? The amazing expressions of joy and appreciation on the faces of our guests; the happy sounds of people saying such things as, “I love coming to this church” or “thank you for all you do for our people” or “it is so much fun to be here and I’m glad I got to come.” The most precious of all from our sweet friend, Bob, who always makes a special point to say, “I enjoyed it, I love you, thank you.” You can’t beat that for the price of a hamburger! Praise God for this opportunity to share His love. Thank you.

Now, looking ahead! Mark your calendars for

Tuesday, August 29th, 5:00-6:30.

Our theme, as Bob Hope sings, “A Summer’s Night in Venice.” We will be

dreaming Italian. If you missed the April or June event make plans to share

in the fun and festivities with our Very Special Friends from the SpectraCare

Group homes. Until then, CIAO.

"Do all the good you can,... at all the times you can,... for as long as

you ever can." J. Wesley

SERVE MINISTRY People Want Their Lives to Matter and Make a Difference

11

Join us the First Thursday of every month. We share food donated by Greystone members. And share the Love of Christ with them through Prayer.

Ask Jan Willis for dates and location

Love In Action International Ministries spreads

the Gospel of Jesus Christ through acts of

compassion in our hometown of Dothan, Ala.,

inner cities throughout the US, and other parts

of the world. Jesus tells us in Matthew 25:35-

40 that we are to take care of the neediest

among us. In verse 40 He says, "I assure you:

Whatever you did for one of the least of these

brothers of Mine, you did for Me."

They also believe in carrying out the Great

Commission Jesus gives all of His followers in

Matthew 28:19-20. Therefore, we go to the

nations reaching the lost and unreached peo-

ple with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and make

disciples.

The United Methodist Church is a

connectional denomination. That

means all UMC’s are connected to

one another through annual

conferences. Keep up with what’s

happening and learn more about

your Alabama-West Florida

Conference from their website:

awfumc.org

A.R.M.E.D., Men’s Club, meets 2nd Mondays

at 6:30pm in the church sanctuary for a

meal, fellowship, and planning.

SERVE MINISTRY

People Want Their Lives to Matter and Make a Difference

Stephen Ministry is Christ caring for people through people. If you, or someone you know, are going through a difficult time, consider having a Stephen Minister. Stephen Ministers listen, care, encourage and provide emotional and spiritual support. The care is confidential and helpful. For more information on receiving care contact Rev. Stephanie Cox at 334.794.6725.

12

Choir Practice during the month of July at 7pm on

Wednesday nights.

Interested in joining the choir?

.For information contact Betsy Kingsbury at

334.794.6725

THANKS MINISTRY God Inhabits the Praises of His People

Interested in joining the

Praise band?

For information contact Chris

Adkins at 334.794.6725

July Practice:

July 19th & 26th at 6pm

We are needing some volunteers for keeping children for a “Parent’s Night Out” on the first Friday of the month beginning back in August

from 5-8:30pm. If you are interested in volunteering or leaving your kids with us for a night out, call Jennifer at the church, 794-6725.

No Parent’s Night out in July

13

District UMC News

Dear Dothan district family,

It seems as if it has been a very long time since I have written. We, here at the district office have recovered

from Annual Conference and are looking ahead to plans for fall and beyond. I am excited about some of the things that

we have planned. Let me share with you what God is doing here in our District.

Alan Meyer has hit the ground running and is busy contacting our small membership pastors. We have an

event for our small membership churches on Sunday, July 30 from 2:00 until 5:00 at Greystone UMC. Mr. Victor Din-

gus who presented on Tuesday morning at Annual Conference will be leading this time. We are asking our small mem-

bership pastors to bring some of their key lay people to join us. If you have questions please call me or Alan at the dis-

trict office.

Our pastor meetings will be Thursday, August 10. Our full time pastors will meet at 10:00 am at Abbeville UMC

and our part time pastors will meet at 6:00pm at Sylvan Grove UMC. These meetings are not optional. We will wor-

ship together, welcome the new pastors to our district and enable them to see why we are the best district in the confer-

ence, you will receive Charge Conference schedules, a district directory and some important information about our min-

istry together. I look forward to meeting with you all.

Finally, something I am really excited about is that Sean Dietrich (Sean of the South) will be our speaker at the

Fall Gathering which is Monday, September 25 6:00 at Covenant UMC. We will send out more information at a later

date.

It’s going to be a great year! Thank you for all you do for your church, the district and God’s people.

Love,

Sara

Dothan District UMC

[email protected]

334-792-4259

Website: dothanumc.org

mailto:[email protected]

14

Birthdays, Anniversaries And Other Important Stuff

June 2017

Income: $19,711.99 Expense: $20,836.03

ATTENDANCE

June 4 June 11

Sunday School: 67 Sunday School: 45

Worship: 84 Worship: 102

June 18 June 25

Sunday School: 51 Sunday School: 47

Worship: 80 Worship: 95

JULY ANNIVERSARIES

Neil & Kim Clark 7/02 Jay & Candice Helms 7/15 Dwight & Roni Gilley 7/18 Mark & Robyn Robbins 7/19 Buford & Polly Fortson 7/22

Do you have something that you

would like to go into the monthly

Connection? Or a suggestion for

the Connection? You can put it in

the basket in the Common

Ground, or you can email it to me

at [email protected]

July Birthdays

Will Parish 7/08 Matthew Harden 7/10 Pam Longchamp 7/10 Robyn Robbins 7/13 Gayla Miskell 7/14 Teddy Sherrill 7/15 Evelyn Cox 7/16 James Tyson 7/17 Patsy Marteney 7/20 Dakota Justice 7/23 Sara Kate Tompkins 7/23 Patti Walker 7/23 Myra Shewmake 7/28

15

Richard White—Keep in your prayers Pete Knight—Sugar levels & recovering from fall Shirley Belcher—Answers for tremors she is having Mary Bullard—Appointment at Mayo Clinic Aug 22 Ryder Wilhelm—Recovering from brain tumor Lawanna Dykes—A kidney donor-type A or O Mark Freeman—Prostate cancer Bernie Hartfield—Parkinson's Disease (Rhonda Rankin's father) Margrette Joiner—continued recovery at Extendicare Nelda Kelley—(Robyn Robbins’ mother)

Chris Carnley—Unspoken Vernon Sears—Keep in your prayers Lenora McAllister—Keep in your prayers Tom Walsh—Pray for foot to heal completely Frank Sanders—Cancer Emory & Frances Foster—Grandson Justin Frances Foster—Bladder Surgery to remove tumor Teddy Sherrill—Congestive heart failure Pastor Stephanie & her family—Keep in your prayers Betsy Kingsbury—Upcoming Surgery Susan Miller’s parents—Pray for their health Patti Walker—Strength in her knees and no pain Joe Walker—Eye Surgery & skin cancer removed John Sanders—Skin Cancer removed

Our Church, Our Community, and Our Country

Please update the church office on the status of these

prayer requests.

Janie Arnold (404 Montezuma Avenue, 36303)

Shirley Belcher (Baptist Village #107, 4426 W. Main Street, 36303)

Lois Christensen (5913 Granger Road, Marianna, FL 32446)

Clyde & Billie Cunningham (102 Pearce Street, 36301)

Evelyn McMoy (1504 Dakota Street, 36303)

Richard White (105 Boardwalk, 36303)

NURSING HOME RESIDENTS

PRAYER LIST homebound

. "Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive." Matthew 21:22

Somerset Extendicare Myra Shewmake(#102) Vernon Sears Margrette Joiner Vi Altman Wesley Place Sara Williams Lenora McAllister Troy Health & Rehab Center Jerrie Hollis Westside Terrace Jeanette McCollum

Those Serving our Country.........

SPC Ben Dasinger (Alabama) (son of Eddie & Kathi Dasinger) SFC Matthew Kingsbury (Alabama) (husband of Betsy Kingsbury) SSgt. Michael Monday - USMC (North Carolina) (son of Allen & Mary Beth Brackin) Sgt. Chris Moore - USMC (Japan) (nephew of Mary Beth Brackin) Cpt. Justin Shaw (Tennessee) (grandson of Buford & Polly Fortson) Caleb Thomas (son of Troy & Virginia Thomas) LCPL Dakota (Cody) Justice (North Carolina) (son of Chris & Connie Justice) SR Robert Williams (Great Lakes) (grandson of Bob & Wanda Schamp)

Addresses of some of our Servicemen

LCPL Dakota Justice

PO Box 8029

Camp Lejeune, NC 28547

SR Williams, Robert, J. DIV234

SHIP06. USS CONSTITUTION

3510 Illinois Street

Great Lakes, IL 60088-3119

16

Church Staff

Stephanie Cox John Sanders Senior Pastor Visitation Pastor

Betsy Kingsbury Chris Adkins

Choir Director Worship Leader

Mike Johnson Patty Johnson

Director of Youth Ministries Director of Children’s Ministry

Kim Clark Mary Bullard Nursery Pre-K Teacher

Mark Robbins Betsy Kingsbury Sound Tech Pianist

Jennifer Hamilton Diane Blackstone Church Administration/IT Tech Custodian

Church Office Hours

Monday-Thursday 8:00 am—4:00 pm

OFFICE: (334) 794-6725 FAX: (334) 712-9717

Email: [email protected]

F.I.R.S.T. Team Leaders

Fellowship Charm Russler

Instruct Jim Kinney

Reach Susan Loftin

Serve Barbara Haymon

Thanksgiving Carolyn Johnson

Website: www.greystonedothan.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/

GreystoneUnitedMethodistChurch

Twitter: @GreystoneUMC

Memorials

A donation was made to The Greystone UMC

In Memory of Josie Arledge

By Lavania Herrington



By Bobby & Sherry Dean



By Tom and Mary Walsh

the onne tion · love you, thank you.” you can’t beat that for the price of a hamburger! praise...

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