Biblical Benefits of Giving – No. 3

In two recent Stewardship pieces, we wrote about the first of the Seven Biblical Benefits of Giving (as identified by an actual Biblical scholar – not by us non-scholars). No. 1 was Giving is Evidence of Our Obedience to God – basically being willing to follow God’s numerous instructions in both the Old and New Testaments about tithing and giving. No. 2 was Giving Sets Our Priorities Straight – that is, investing in the Kingdom of God over investing in the fleeting treasures of this world.

Now, let’s move to No. 3 – Giving Increases Our Faith. This can be summed up by saying that giving is not about how much money you have, it’s about how much faith you have.

How much do you trust God that if you give obediently, He’ll provide for all that you need? There are countless testimonies that when a person or family obediently and faithfully gives from their ‘first fruits’ each month, that God is always faithful in providing all that they need. It’s when we don’t give that we end up lacking. I can very truthfully say that this is the case with my family and our decision to regularly give to God every month, no matter the circumstance.

Giving is clearly a matter of trust. The more you give, the more you learn to trust God that you will have enough left over for your own needs. And the more you trust, the more you’ll give. Again, put your money where your mouth is when you say “I trust God” and put Him to the test.

God takes that trust issue so seriously that the issue of money is the only area in which God tells us to test Him. Elsewhere Scripture says do not test the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 6:16, Luke 4:12, Acts 15:10). Yet, in Malachi 3:10, God said,

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”

I am inviting you and your family to test God in your approach to stewardship and giving. Earnestly, obediently, and regularly give from your ‘first fruits’ and see if God doesn’t pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.

Remember, the purpose of giving and stewardship isn’t to fund God’s church or His work. The purpose of giving is for us to make our hearts right in our relationship with God, and to demonstrate that we are aware that our purpose on Earth is to honor and glorify Him while furthering His kingdom on earth. Please prayerfully consider where giving to God ranks among the things in your life, and remember, we are merely the stewards of our earthly possessions.

* * * * *

Giving and Expenses

Budgeted Giving, June-25 -- $155,498

Actual Giving, June-25 -- $157,079 (A good way to close out our fiscal year by just exceeding our June budget for Giving)

Budgeted Expenses, June-25 -- $155,498

Actual Expenses, June-25 -- $170,791 ($15k more than our budgeted Expenses)

* * * * *

Budgeted Giving, YTD (full 12 months of our fiscal year) -- $1,999,998

Actual Giving, YTD -- $2,020,391 ($20,393 better than budget – a solid year for Giving. Thank you to everyone that was able to support Due West!)

Budgeted Expenses, YTD -- $1,999,998

Actual Expenses, YTD -- $1,976,443 ($23,555 better than budget – very good fiscal discipline by our ministries!)

* * * * *

Ways to Give to Due West Methodist Church

Give Online – Click this link: Donate - Due West Methodist Church

Give In Person – Drop cash or a check into the offering plate at any of our services

on Sunday morning.

Mail a Check – Send your gift to the Church office at:

Due West Methodist Church

3956 Due West Road

Marietta, GA 30064

Donate Stocks - We also accept in-kind contributions of stocks. If you would like more information, please contact our Business Coordinator, Amber Wilson at awilson@duewest.org.

The Pulpit and Political Endorsements

In 1954, a provision appeared in the federal tax code called the Johnson Amendment. It stated that a church could lose their nonprofit status if they participated in "any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office." While it has not always been enforced, that has been the law for more than seven decades. That has now changed.

A court ruling last month said that when a church speaks "in good faith speaks to its congregation, through its customary channels of communication on matters of faith in connection with religious services, concerning electoral politics viewed through the lens of religious faith" it does not run afoul of the Johnson Amendment.

Throughout the course of my life as a pastor, I have always done my best to give no signs of my political convictions from the pulpit. I have them. I’ve discussed them in casual conversations with many of you. But I have steered clear of it in my role as your pastor. There are plenty of elections where brothers and sisters in Christ will disagree on the best candidates. I do not want to be disrespectful of people who have a differing vision than I do. So I avoid talking about specific candidates. And although the law has changed, I’m not sure my approach will.

What I will share is something that I think would have been legal before. And that is this: You should vote how you pray. What does that mean? With much regularity we pray together the Lord’s prayer. “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Sound familiar? It is how you pray. And I believe you should vote how you pray. What candidate… what policies… do you believe will help bring the kingdom to earth as it is in heaven? Simple question. And not so simple. No candidate or policy is going to be perfect. And no candidate or policy is going to be “the end of civilization as we know it” regardless of what you read on the internet. But who is your best choice to bring the kingdom of God into reality in our community? (I will say, there have been times I didn’t see a lot of encouragement from either candidate on a ballot and simply not voted in that race.) But for the most part, I can make a selection.

If we reach an election where I do feel compelled by the Lord to speak out for or against someone, I will do so. But God’s voice will need to be crystal clear before I do so. Otherwise, my thoughts on politics from the pulpit would be: Make a Kingdom vote.

On another note, I’m excited to be back at work. Elsewhere in the newsletter is an article about my time away. If you would like to hear more, let me know. I’d be happy to talk about it!

If it’s Sunday, you want to be at Due West,

David

Sabbatical Report

As most of you know, I have been on a Sabbatical for the last three months. I wanted to take a moment and share how I spent my time. But before I do, I first want to say “Thank you” to each and every one of you for giving me the time and for raising money for me to take this time. I am now in my 40th year as a Methodist pastor and it is the first time I’ve taken extended time off. It was an incredible gift from you to me and my family and I will always be more grateful than words can express. I am also grateful to Sam and the rest of the staff for their willingness to do such a great job while I was gone. We are blessed by each and every one of them.

I said in April that there were four main things I hoped to accomplish. The first one I mentioned was Sundays. I said I wanted to revisit some of the churches I have served. That has been a joy. In addition, Susan and I have been to worship with our son and daughter-in-law. We’ve also gone with our daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren. We so rarely get to do so. It was very special.

I also mentioned some writing I wanted to do. I’ve been working on a small bible study, an overview of the Old Testament. It is not quite finished, but it is close. I hope to share that with you all next year after Easter. The other big project I have been working on is a book. I have invested a lot of time on that. I wish I could tell you it was nearly done, but it is not. I’ve written a lot and am happy with my first draft. But I think rewriting and editing will take even longer! I do believe I will finish it. And it would not have been possible without this time. Most of my time writing has been in town. But I’ve also made a couple of trips to get away and write. I shared a definition of Sabbatical in April. It is "an extended period of time intentionally spent on something that’s not your routine job." That is exactly what I have had.

The third goal I shared with you all in April was to take some time to study pastoral transitions and succession plans. I don’t plan on retiring anytime soon, but that day is coming and I believe I’ve learned some things that will help the church when that day comes. I spent some time in Dallas, Texas with some representatives from a group called “Church Difference Makers”. Transitions are one of the things they focus on and it was very enlightening.

The final goal was time to rest and relax. Susan and I have spent time in our mountain house. I got to sit around the firepit with good friends, hike through the woods with grandchildren, and just enjoy our place. And in June, Susan and I went to Alaska. You all helped make that possible. We had a great time. It was the first vacation we’ve ever taken when at least part of my mind wasn’t thinking about the things I would need to do at church when I got back! That made it incredibly relaxing.

That’s a quick update on the last three months. If you want to hear more, let me know and I’m happy to talk to you. It has been great, and now I am ready to be back at work! God has done so much in and through Due West, but I know our best days are ahead. Thanks again for such an amazing gift.

David

August 1 - Flag Football begins
August 7 - Preschool Parent Orientation
August 8 - Preschool Meet & Greet
August 9 - Youth Rally in Sugar Hill
August 10 - dwCrew at Escalade
August 10, 17 & 24 - Ministry Fair
August 10 - Youth Back-to-School Bash games/fun
August 11 - First Day of Preschool
August 13 - Music rehearsals resume
Aug 17- Youth Back-to-School Bash guest speaker/worship
August 17 & 24 - Due West 101
August 24 - dwCrew Pool Party

Support Groups

AA Open Meeting - Sundays @ 7:00 pm (Bldg A)
AA Women’s Group - Thursdays @ 7:00 pm (Bldg A)
GriefShare - Sundays @ 6:00 pm (Bldg C)
GRASP Support Group - Second Tuesday @ 7:00 pm (Bldg C)
Parkinson’s Support Group - Second Sunday @ 3:00 pm
Better Days - 1st and 3rd Mondays @ 7:00 pm (Bldg C)

Dementia Ministry Meetings

Spouse Support Group meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 9:00 am.
Spouse Group meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 1:00 pm.
Family Support Group meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm.

Currently, all meetings are being held via Zoom. For more information, please email dementiaministry@duewest.org.

Weekly Exercise Classes (Bldg B)

Monday

Tone & Tighten @ 9:30 am (Nursery)

Tuesday

Pilates @ 9:30 am

Wednesday

Cardio-Sculpt @ 9:30 am (Nursery)
Slow Flow Yoga @ 10:35 am

Thursday

Zumba @ 9:30 am

Friday

Boot Camp @ 8:30 am (Nursery)
Stretch & Tone @ 9:30 am (Nursery)

Ministry Fair Month

August 10th, 17th and 24th

Discover Where You Belong at Due West!

Curious about the ministries and groups at Due West? Looking for a place to serve or connect? Not sure how to use your God-given gifts?

Join us for Ministry Fair Month on August 10th, 17th, and 24th after each service. Visit the tables outside the Narthex and in the Gathering Place(Building A) to explore ways you can Gather, Grow, and Go at Due West.

Questions? Contact Jane Swanson at janecswan@gmail.com.

Challenge Coins

If you have ever been in the military, you are familiar with Challenge Coins. Challenge coins are given as a way to thank someone for going above and beyond the call of duty. I have a collection from my time as an Army Chaplain and they are all important to me. I wanted to bring that tradition into the church, so I had some challenge coins made. My goal is to give them out to members of Due West to say, “Thanks for all you do for Christ and His church!” I’ll get input from the staff, and we will celebrate some of the people serving the Lord in this place. The first one is in August. Come join us in worship to see who gets the first one!

Israel 2026

For several years people have asked me, “When are you going to take a group back to Israel?” The answer is October of 2026! If you have any interest, please be praying about the trip. We will soon have an informational meeting, but know the trip is coming. Informational brochures are available in the Admin 1 office.

In Christ,

David

Experienced Graphic Designer Needed!

Stated Need: Creative Style Guidelines and Creative Style Guide

Seeking: A talented, creative graphic designer willing to work in a volunteer capacity with the Due West Strategic Planning Best Practices Committee to help develop commercially viable, creative style guidelines for use across Due West ministries and communication platforms.

As part of our Church’s strategic task force work, we recognize that we have an opportunity to make sure all of our communications to invite our community to “gather” with us are effective and attractive. Further, we know they should all have the same look and feel so that our messages, website, signage, social media posts, etc., are consistent and instantly recognized by everyone in our community. If you have experience developing creative style guides and feel the call to be the hands and feet of Jesus, our team can really use your help. You’ll play a key role in helping set the creative standards that will guide all of our communications and digital and out-of-home evangelism efforts and can play a major role in creative development.

We are eager to hear from you! Reach out directly to Justin Lewis.

We’re Hiring!

Youth and Missions are looking for a new administrative assistant. Apply now if you're interested or share with someone you think would be a great fit!

View the job description and apply by going to duewest.org/openings!

Altar Flowers

Did you know we have a Flower Ministry at Due West Methodist? A floral arrangement can be purchased and displayed on the altar during Sunday morning services in honor or memory of someone you love, to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, or just because you love Jesus. An acknowledgment of the flowers will be included in the preservice slides. You will also have the option of taking home the arrangement after the service or donating it to the Flower Ministry. If you choose to donate it, we have volunteers on Monday morning who will divide the arrangement into smaller bouquets and deliver them to you as well as to church members on our prayer list. The arrangements cost $75 and are available to purchase from January – November of each year, with the exception of the first Sunday of each month. You can click here to order Altar Flowers for an upcoming Sunday. Alternatively, you can contact Denise Luders for assistance at dluders@duewest.org or call the church office at 770-427-3835.

How to Church Center

Giving

To Give:

From the home screen on the Church Center app, select the “Give” icon located at the bottom of the screen.
On the next screen, enter the dollar amount you would like to give and select “next”.
You will now see a dropdown menu where you can choose what fund you want the money to go toward.
Next, select the frequency of the donation (One Time, Weekly, Every Other Week, Monthly, Twice-Monthly)
Finally, select your Payment Method and then select “Give $0.00 now”

To View Your Giving History

Select “My Giving”
From this screen, you can view the following:
- Donation History – Itemized list of your donations
- Recurring Donations – View your recurring donations
- Payment Methods – This has been moved to your profile settings.
- Notifications – View your email address where we send account updates; Choose if you want an email donation receipt
- Pledges – View your current and past pledges and your progress toward that pledge.
- Statements – View or print your quarterly and year-end statements.

If you have any questions related to Giving, please email Nan Relf at nrelf@duewest.org.

2 Corinthians 9:7: "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Due West Preschool & Kindergarten registration is full for the 2025-2026 school year!

To schedule a tour or to be added to our waitlist, call our preschool office at 770-590-0982 or visit our website. For more information, feel free to reach out to skubek@duewest.org. We look forward to meeting your family!

Preschool Sunday School

God Made Everything

Memory Verse: “God saw everything He had made. And it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31, NIrV)

When you look at the world, what do you see? Vast oceans teaming with extraordinary sea life? Flowers you can name by their scent? Trees that blossom in spring, produce fruit in summer, and turn brilliant colors in fall? When God saw everything He had made, it was very good. And it still is!

Week One: Light and Dark; Sky Above Water* (Genesis 1:3-8)

Week Two: Land, Plants, and Seas* (Genesis 1:9-13)

Week Three: Sun, Moon, and Stars* (Genesis 1:14-19)

Week Four: Sea Animals and Birds* (Genesis 1:20-23)

Week Five: Land Animals and People; God Rested* (Genesis 1:24-2:3)

Elementary Sunday School

Origin Story: Where our story with God begins

Memory Verse: “Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being sure of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1, NIrV)

We can trust God. Looking back at the beginning of God’s Big Story and seeing how God kept His promises then gives us confidence to trust that He will be with us now.

Week One: Creation and the Fall (Genesis 1–2:3; 3) Bottom Line: You can trust God no matter what.

Week Two: Noah (Genesis 6-9) Bottom Line: You can trust God even when you don’t understand.

Week Three: God Chooses Abram (Genesis 12:1-9, 15:1-6) Bottom Line: You can trust that God has a plan.

Week Four: Jacob’s Dream (Genesis 28:10-22) Bottom Line: You can trust that God is with you.

Week Five: Joseph (Genesis 37, 39–45) Bottom Line: You can trust God when things get tough.

dwCrew

dwCrew is a specialized time of fun, learning, and service for 3rd-5th graders. We will be meeting this month on August 10 & August 24.

August 10 - Escalade Rock Climbing from 1:30-3:30 pm/Cost is $8

August 24 - Pool Party until 2:15 pm/Cost is $3

Promotion Sunday

Promotion Sunday is August 3rd for our dwKids, and we will be having a back-to-school celebration. Join us during Sunday school hours to celebrate the beginning of a new school year.

Check out our August Youth Newsletter for everything you need to know about youth activities this month!

Join us Sunday nights from 5:30-7:30 pm for Ignite!

To subscribe to our monthly newsletter click here.

Middle School Boys Before-School Bible Study Resumes on August 8!

Meetings are on Fridays from 7:45 - 9:30 am at the Brookstone Chick-fil-A! Come join us for some breakfast and learning!

Youth Rally - Aug 9th

We are excited to join other students from the North Georgia area for a Youth Rally on Saturday, August 9th. We’ll meet at the church at 3:00 pm and pick up at 9:30 pm.

Taylor heard about this from two youth pastor connections and from Dede Reilly, our summer retreat speaker. Please register on church center if you plan to join.

Rehearsals Resume!

There has never been a better time to get involved in Due West Music Ministry. Choirs and orchestra resume Wednesday rehearsals on August 13th. Check out our website for the full list of music groups and to get involved!

Here’s the lineup for August 13th:

10:00 am - Chancel Choir

6:00 pm - Kids Choir & Rooted Youth Choir

7:00 pm - Adult Choir & Orchestra

Also see our website on how to get involved in our other groups like Handbells, Modern Worship, or Bluegrass Jam.

There are lots of exciting things coming up for the Center for the Arts that you won’t want to miss! Be sure to check out our webpage to learn more!

Kindermusik Classes

We are now offering mommy and me (or caregiver and me) classes for babies and toddlers. These classes are offered in partnership with Kindermusik of West Cobb. Please see their site to Register for Kindermusik.

Watercolor Classes for Adults

Join us every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month from 10:30 am-12:00 pm for a fun watercolor class with Annette Lewis. You can commit to just one class at a time, and no experience is necessary - Annette will guide you step-by-step. Just bring yourself and your supplies, or if you don’t have supplies, let her know and Annette will provide those for you. Cost is $13 if you bring your own supplies, $17 if you’d like Annette to provide them. Simply send Annette a text at 404-664-9906 if you’d like to join the class.

Instrumental Lessons

We are thrilled to offer you lessons in piano, voice, guitar, bass guitar, ukulele and harmonica. If you are interested in private lessons in any of those instruments, please send an email to Nicole at cfa@duewest.org for more information.

Missions Newsletter

August

Check out the information below to learn more about all the churchwide mission projects we have going on here at Due West!

Check out the archive of missions newsletters HERE.

Register here to have the monthly email newsletter delivered directly to your inbox!

Preschool Teacher Snacks

The Teach Love Ministry is collecting snacks for the staff of Due West Preschool. We like to bless them by keeping their break room filled. We are asking for warehouse sized amounts of snacks sold in places like Sam’s and Costco. See the sign up below for ideas. You may use the Amazon Wish List if you’d like or purchase items on your own. Please drop your donations off in Admin 2 by Monday, August 25th. If you have any questions, please email Jane Swanson at janecswan@gmail.com.

Click here for the Amazon list!

Upcoming Estate Planning Seminar: Wills and Trusts

On Saturday, August 16th, from 2-4 pm in Room C242 your Legacy Ministry Committee will again sponsor a program for members of all ages who desire to learn more about these important estate planning documents at no cost to you. An estate planning attorney will teach the seminar.

Your will relates to everything God has entrusted to you, and it can be a powerful statement of your Christian generosity. Any person who has a bank account or owns a home, real estate, car, or other personal property has an estate. Such a person should have a will.

Your last will and testament are important for the purpose of passing property on after you are gone, but there are other things that are equally important for you to know so that you can develop the most effective plan for your circumstances.

Wills and the probate process.
What happens if one passes without a will?
Other ways to pass property outside your will and why passing assets outside of your will is important.
Revocable living trusts and how they can contribute to your planning goals.
Reasons to periodically review and update your will or trust.

Please use this link to sign up. The class size is limited to 14 individuals.

Legacy Ministry Committee Seeking Endowment Grant Requests

If you are serving the needs of others in a hurting world as a member of Due West Methodist Church or are part of our church staff, now is the time to request a grant from our church endowment’s planned distribution of earnings. All requests will be evaluated based upon the merits of their present and future impact. Click here to access the grant request form. If approved, funds will be distributed in late October. Send all grant requests to Bill Coffeen, Legacy Ministry Chair. Deadline for submission is September 20th, 2025.

Annual Charity Golf Tournament

Join us for our Due West Methodist Men Charity Golf Tournament on September 29th. The deadline to register is September 19th, and early signups help with our planning, ensuring that this tournament can be as exciting as possible! Go to duewest.org/golf to learn more.

The Pickleball schedule is as follows and everyone is invited to join us!

Mondays - 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Wednesdays - 6:00-8:00 pm

We have the equipment here at the church, and you are welcome to use it.

The Congregational Care Ministry is committed to sharing the love of Christ by loving and supporting our church family. We work with our Pastors to meet the needs of our congregation, especially during times of illness and loss, and to those who no longer can attend worship services. We walk alongside those going through hard times utilizing home and facility visits, phone calls, cards, and emails.

It is a joy to offer Holy Communion to those who cannot come to the Lord’s Table and offer anointing with oil as a reminder that Christ is always with us in body, mind, and spirit. We provide Holy Communion after our services each Sunday and serve in the Healing Services and Longest Night Service each year.

Our Ministry is ready and waiting to be there for you, and we assure you of complete confidentiality. To be assigned a CCM, please get in touch with Brenda Wyatt, Lay Leader, at bwyatt66chs@gmail.com or 770-605-3709.

Matthew 25:40: “Truly I tell you whatever you did for one of the least of those brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

In His Service by Your Side

Brenda Wyatt

GriefShare - Comforting Others

After the funeral, when the cards and flowers have stopped coming, most of the people around you return to their normal lives. But your grief continues and you may feel alone. Often friends and family want to help, but don't know how. That's the reason for GriefShare. Our group is led by caring people who have experienced grief and have successfully rebuilt their lives. We understand how you feel because we have been in the same place. We will walk with you on the long path through grief toward healing and restored hope for the future.GriefShare is a nationwide network committed to biblical concepts for healing from your grief. To learn more visit the GriefShare website at www.griefshare.org.

What to Expect: GriefShare is a group that meets weekly for 13 weeks. There are three key parts to the group.

· Video Seminar

· Support Group

· Workbook (Provided)

The next 13-week cycle begins September 14th, 2025. Join us at 6:00 pm in Building C, Room 242, everyone is welcome to join the group here. If you have any questions or are interested in participating, please contact Connie Morrow:

Email: cmm10500@gmail.com

Cell Phone (Preferred): 904-651-2732

American Heritage Girls - Informational Meeting

Parents of girls ages 5-17 are invited to an informational meeting to learn more about American Heritage Girls Troop GA4224, which is chartered by Due West. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 5, at 6:30 pm. Girls are welcome to come meet current troop members and do some crafting while parents learn more about our troop. Our goal is to build women of integrity through faith, service, and fun. We enjoy the outdoors, work on badges, have devotionals, and serve God and our community. Our fall registration period will be open through September 15. RSVP here for the informational meeting. You can also learn more about American Heritage Girls (AHG) on their website. Contact us through the Find a Troop link.

Media Team Sunday Volunteering

Hey Due West families! On Sundays, have you ever used the lyrics on the screens to follow along with worship? Or read the scripture with Pastor David? Seen the offering photos? Maybe you’ve watched the announcement videos? All of these are controlled by a Media Team volunteer back in the tech booth! We have tons of opportunities for volunteering, but our most needed position right now is ProPresenter Operator. If you have ever used something like PowerPoint, then you are immediately qualified to use ProPresenter! Matt, the Director of Media, handles all of the stressful “tech”-y bits and personally teaches you ProPresenter through shadowing and practical experience!

If you would only like to volunteer once a month, that’s perfectly fine! We are very flexible with scheduling and have positions available for every service time. If you are still hesitant to volunteer, just give it a try and volunteer for one Sunday! All you have to do is email Matt Boullain and he’ll walk you through everything!

August 2025 Newsletter

Keeping you updated as we gather, grow and go!

Due West Methodist Church

Sunday Service Times

August 2025 Newsletter

Keeping you updated as we gather, grow and go!

Stewardship

Pastoral Update

Sabbatical Report

Seasonal Events

Ongoing Events

General Announcements

How to Church Center!

dwPreschool

dwKids

Youth

Music Ministry

Center for the Arts

Missions

Legacy Ministry

Men's Ministry

Recreation Ministry

Congregational Care Ministry

Scouts

Volunteer Opportunities

July 2025 Newsletter

Due West Methodist Church

Sunday Service Times