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Hello and happy Monday! How fortunate we are to have such a beautiful July! I surely hope it isn’t just a tease before we enter August. This kind of weather would be ideal in a tobacco field (if you know, you know!)!

Scott and I had a great summer weekend and am entering this week feeling refreshed from it! We capitalized on the nice weekend and took a motorcycle friend with some friends and family to have dinner on the bay. Saturday was a “tending” day for me on the homestead, I spent the entire day weeding. Not an ideal job, a very satisfying job for me!

As I’ve been sharing, it’s been slow and quiet around here this summer and for that I am grateful. This week I’ll join some Youth Roots at the Cecil County Fair as we’ll serve alongside the Wakefield Lions Club for an evening fundraiser. This weekend some Sr. High Youth Roots will participate in a short, sweet and simple summer retreat along the river! They’ll enjoy some water sports, campfire time, devotions and will visit a local church on Sunday before returning home. You can be prayerful over the fellowship and spiritual connections that will take place this weekend. 

This upcoming Sunday, August 2nd, is the annual (and mandatory) Roots Volunteer Training. We’ll begin immediately following the 10:30am service with a working lunch. We discuss policies and procedures, strategies for sharing the gospel message with kids and teens and best practices for building lasting, kingdom-focused relationships. Let this be a reminder to you if you’ve already responded you’ll be there! If you’ve been thinking about working with kids or teens in any capacity, this is the place to be! This training is mandatory for all Roots Volunteers, so pop in and join us!

Next Sunday is also the last week to sign-up to join for the Roots Family experience at Guppy Gulch, the inflatable water park in Delta, PA. Help us hold the group rate by getting signed up by Sunday! Tickets are $25/person. Families will depart on their own at the conclusion of the 10:30am worship service. 

One more thing to make note of… Sunday, August 23rd is Back-to-School/Bible Handout Sunday! Roots Kids entering Kindergarten, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th grade will receive their new Bibles. Their parents will receive an accompanying resource to help them cultivate the spiritual growth of their children at home. The Bibles will be distributed during the 10:30 am worship service, but both services will take time to pray over the Roots Kids upcoming school year! It is an important Sunday!

 

What WE’RE Learning This Week: A nugget of what our Lil’, Youth and Adults Roots heard this week

Lil’ & Bridge Roots Psalm + Big Idea: Psalm 138: I will be thankfully thankful!

Youth Roots Psalm + Big Idea: Psalm 103: The Danger of Forgetfulness

How Every Generation Lives This Out: Talk as a family... How can we help others find ways to be thankful?

 

What I’M Learning This Week: Sharing what I’m reading and listening to lately

I mentioned earlier about how I spent my Saturday weeding. While I weed, I often pray and ask God to weed in my heart, the things that need to be pulled and trashed. I have this book, “Prayers for Ordinary Life” and thought this one, “A Prayer for Yard Work,” was a fitting one to share with you today…

“Gardener of souls, you planted a garden in the beginning and walked among its trees. As I dig and prune, weed and water, remind me that you are tending to me, shaping me with care. Give me patience with slow growth, perseverance for hard work, and joy in the beauty you bring from the earth. May this labor be an act of worship, offering back to you what you have given. Amen.  ||  “The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:8-9

 

Make Every Week Count: Parenting, Grandparenting & Spiritual Mentoring Resources

Something to Read: This looks like a great gift, or a great personal devotional resource for you to journey through on your own! Check out the Fruit of the Spirit Devotional Journal set or look into the individual journals for each fruit, like this one for joy!

Something to Listen to: You’ve probably heard it already, but this song just dropped and I can’t stop listening to it - Road Less Traveled!

Something to Follow: I stumbled across this Instagram account recently and I wanted to share! Give Righteous Reads a follow, they share great reviews on Gospel-centered books for kids!

 

How Can You Pray? Prayer Requests and Praises from Roots Ministries

PRAY for the preparations that are beginning for our various fall ministry programs.

PRAISE for all of the musicians in our church family who help enhance our worship services with their gifts.