How Much Should I Give?

In recent months, this newsletter section has addressed several questions surrounding stewardship.

What is stewardship?
Should I work to make stewardship a ‘holy habit’?
What does our church do with my financial gifts?

When push comes to shove, though, the biggest question that many Christians have - both lifelong believers and new converts – is “how much do I give”? Don’t worry. Millions of people have grappled with this dilemma. Do I give 10%? Why 10%? Do I give based on my gross income or my net paycheck? Do I have to tithe to be a Christian?

A tithe is giving a portion of your income (10%) to the Lord (the word tithe means tenth in Hebrew). The concept of tithing comes from the Old Testament where believers were expected to give one-tenth of their agricultural income to God as an expression of thanks and dedication. A critical point to understand here, though, is that tithing, or stewardship, is not for God’s benefit – He doesn’t need your money – but is for the believer’s benefit. Why? Because sacrificing a portion of our income reminds us to rely on God to meet our needs, and it makes us more aware of the needs of others. Giving develops a grateful and generous spirit and can help steer us away from greed and personal emptiness and discontent.

The New Testament doesn’t appear to apply the “10%” standard to Christians. What does the New Testament instruct us to do? Matthew 6:21 says “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” This suggests that God wants us to give generously and out of gratitude for the gift of grace that was bestowed upon us when Jesus gave His life for our sin on the cross.

Let’s get back to that big question – how much do I give? That’s really easy. Pray earnestly about your giving. Give what you are comfortable giving. If you currently cannot contribute 10% of your gross income, give what you can. Start by giving a small amount each week or each month. Try to arrange your spending so that stewardship is a regular part of your family’s life. The Bible instructs us to give of our “first fruits.” This suggests that stewardship should be a part of your budget, and that giving should not be from what’s left over (if anything is left over).

Let’s answer another crucial question: Do I have to tithe to be a Christian? The great news is emphatically ‘No’! You’re not required to tithe to be a Christian. And you’re not a bad Christian if you don’t tithe. Thankfully, God loves us when we give and when we don’t give. And that’s key here: We don’t have to tithe to earn God’s love—because we already have it. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus warns against focusing too much on the rules of tithing without paying attention to the more important things like justice, mercy and faithfulness. This isn’t about a rule. This is about your heart.

Bottom line? You should be giving in some way. But tithing is more of a spiritual topic than a financial one. It’s about living with the attitude that we’ve been blessed in order to be a blessing. In fact, 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV) says, “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.”

Giving and Expenses, July-23 – May-24

Budgeted Giving through May -- $1,826,000

Budgeted Expenses through March -- $1,826,000

Actual Giving through May -- $1,787,875 ($38,125 negative; ouch)

Actual Expenses through May -- $1,766,372 ($59,628 positive; very good)

Here we are, send us!

When was the last time you read the story of the call of the prophet Isaiah? Take the time to sit down and read Isaiah 6:1-8. Isaiah sees the Lord “high and lifted up.” He sees and hears seraphim (think angels) singing “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.” Soon he hears the voice of God asking, “Who shall we send? Who will go for us?” With no reservation Isaiah replies, “Here I am, send me!”

Is that not the kind of spirit we all long to have? Don’t we all want to be ready to launch into the future to which the Lord has called us? But how do we know what that future is? That is a question for which we all want answers.

At times, the future almost seems day to day. Four years ago we were in the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic. It seemed every day the situation was changing. Our focus was necessarily on navigating quarantine and safety concerns. Once that settled down, our congregation was in a discernment process over disaffiliation. As uncertain as the pandemic was, the disaffiliation process and all that came with it made the ground beneath our feet even less steady! But that was then.

2024 has brought us into a time where we can finally look further into the future. We can ask the Lord, “Where would You have us go? What kind of church do You want us to be in ’25, ’26, ’29 and ’30?” Earlier this year, your leadership began talking and praying about bringing a group together to discern God’s will for Due West for the next few years. After a couple of months of prayerful conversation, we asked the Administrative Board to empower a Strategic Planning Task Force. We reached out to people in the church and asked them to prayerfully serve. We did not want to begin in the middle of the Spring and lose momentum in the Summer. So we decided to begin our work in August.

And so next month, we begin that work. We want to look at the strengths and weaknesses of Due West. We want to seek the Lord and His direction. We want to talk about ministries, missions, facilities and more. We want to set goals. We want to be aspirational. We have seen God working in powerful ways this year, and we believe our best days are still ahead.

You will be hearing much more about this group and its work in the days ahead. We will want to hear from all of you. The Task Force represents the congregation, but the vision we are seeking is a vision for all of us. And so, we want your input. We want to discern the Lord’s will for Due West.

And then, as your pastor, I have full confidence that when we hear the voice of the Lord ask, “Who shall we send, who will go for us?” We will all answer with one voice, “Here we are, send us!”

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

David

July 3-6 - Church Closed
July 4 - Freedom of Religion 5K
July 7 - 11 am service moved to Bldg. C; CCM communion offered in Bldg. C at 9:30 and 12:10
July 8-12 – Science Camp and Art Camp
July 12, 13 & 14 - CFA presents Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
July 13-19 – Guatemala Mission Trip #2
July 14 - Way Maker’s 3rd Anniversary
July 15-19 – Science Camp, Flag Football Camp, and Mean Girls Jr. Theatre Camp
July 18 - Women’s Game Night
July 19 & 20 - CFA presents Mean Girls Jr.
July 21 & 28 - Due West 101 Class
July 22-26 – Science Camp, Sew Fun Camp, and Willy Wonka Kids Camp
July 26 & 27 - CFA presents Willy Wonka Kids

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)
S.O.S. Support Group - Second Thursday @ 7:00 pm (Bldg C)
Parkinson’s Support Group - Second Sunday @ 3:00 pm

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)

July 7th, 11:00 am Service

Due to the Building A Sanctuary undergoing repainting at the start of July, the 11:00 am Service on July 7th will take place in the Building C Sanctuary. As our seating options are more limited in Building C, we ask that you consider attending one of our earlier services in order to maximize seating for all attendees!

Freedom of Religion 5K, July 4th, 7:00am - 10:00am

Come run with us to celebrate our freedom of Religion! Race registration is FREE! Games, face painting, fun things for the kids, and an awards ceremony after the race at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are planned. Free pancake breakfast for all starting about 8:00 am at the Finish Line. Click here to sign up on Church Center.

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 6th, at 6:30 pm in the Children’s Assembly Room in the lower level of Building A. 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 30th. 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.

Back-to-School Sunday!

Sunday, July 28th, 11:00 am service

Blessing of the Backpacks

ALL teachers and ALL students! Invite your friends and neighbors! Join us as we send our students and teachers back to school in Due West style! Bring your backpacks and computer bags to worship at 11:00 am to be prayed over and BLESSED for the new school year!

School Prayer Walk

Then, AFTER the service, we invite everyone in our congregation to our annual Prayer Walk. You will be given some simple prayer guidelines and then head off to the schools on your own. We will go to Due West Preschool, Due West Elementary, Lost Mountain Middle School and Harrison High School. If you would like to go to an additional school, please email Millie Skinner the name of the school, so we can get permission to be on the school grounds from that school’s administration. Please email mskinner@duewest.org by Monday, July 22nd at noon.

Name Badges

As we are in a season of starting fresh here at Due West Methodist Church, it seems like a great time for us to learn the names of fellow members of DWMC while we gather together. We likely recognize each other's faces at worship services or other church events, but wouldn’t it be great to put a name with that face? We can help do that by ordering, and wearing, name badges while on campus. If you are interested in ordering a name badge, please reach out directly to Denise Luders via email at dluders@duewest.org. Please do NOT order name badges individually through the newsletter or website at this time. Denise will collect names and place a bulk order which will allow us to enjoy significant cost savings per badge (individual badges are $18.50). We will notify all who order what the revised price is prior to finalizing the order.

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 bouquet after the service or donating it to the Flower Ministry. If you choose to donate it, we have volunteers on Monday morning that will divide the arrangement into smaller bouquets and deliver them to you and other church members on our prayer list. The arrangements cost $65 and are available to purchase from January – November of each year, with the exception of the first Sunday of each month. You will find the link to order Altar Flowers here. Alternatively, you can contact Denise Luders for assistance at dluders@duewest.org or call the church office at 770-427-3835.

Mental Health Support Group

Better Days is a small group program for mental health and wellness that offers support, encouragement, compassion, and respect for people and family members walking through mental health issues. This group is open to the community as well as Due West Methodist Church!

Meets every other Monday from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm in Building C, Youth Center. Contact Tony Casteel with any questions at tonycasteelservices@outlook.com.

This group will utilize material and resources from Mental Health Grace Alliance as well as Emotions Anonymous.

The preschool is almost ready for the 2024-2025 school year. We still have a few openings in all of our age levels and we also have NEW one-year-old classes on Tuesday/Thursday. Your child must be one before September 1st. If you are interested, please email Shelly Kubek or Courtney Kunkel. Also, you can call our office at 770-590-0982 to schedule a tour or go to Schedule a tour here!

Each year, we need to update and replace toys and books. As you can imagine, with over 180 children, we need many items. At this time, we are in need of tricycles and cozy coupe cars. If you are willing to donate yours, please let us know.

Please mark your calendar and save the date for the Holiday Market on November 2nd, 2024.

Preschool Sunday School

Jesus gives me Joy

Memory Verse: “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Luke 2:10, ESV

No one likes for a party to end, so let’s keep this party going! That means you can keep all of those streamers, hats, and party horns right where they are because we have MORE to celebrate! This month, we’re celebrating Jesus because Jesus gives me joy!

We’re not talking about the happiness you get from a carnival ride or a triple scoop of ice cream kind of joy. We’re talking about the joy only Jesus can give! It’s the kind of joy that we can have no matter what. It is a joy that lasts forever!

So grab a handful—or two—of confetti. It’s time to start the party . . . AGAIN!

Elementary Sunday School

Joy - Choosing to celebrate what God is doing

Memory Verse: “Always be joyful because you belong to the Lord. I will say it again. Be Joyful!” Philippians 4:4, NIRV

Choose joy! This may be a commonly used phrase you’ve heard, but what does it actually mean? Joy is more than being excited about the good things that happen to us. Joy is an attitude—a decision to trust God no matter what is going on in our lives. From the very beginning, God had a plan for the world. As we dive into the Bible, we’ll discover God’s plan for us and how God has been at work through it all. When we see and celebrate what God is doing, we can find true joy!

We will not have dwKids’ Sunday School on July 7th, however, we will have child care available for all ages.

Volunteers Needed

We are currently recruiting volunteers for the 2024-2025 elementary and preschool Sunday School classes. If you would like to be a part of the ministry, please contact Alicia Iles at ailes@duewest.org.

July Youth Newsletter

Ignite meets from 5:30-7:30 pm each week and is open to 6-12th grade students. We offer a meal each week and ask for a donation of $3 to help offset the cost of food. Join us for dinner, worship, a lesson, and fellowship! Bring a friend!

July Youth Newsletter - CLICK HERE to view!

Due West Adults

You can make a difference in the lives of our youth! You can come help serve and clean up after youth dinners on Sunday nights from 5:00-6:30 pm. This summer, we have opportunities for cooks as well! We will provide the food, you just provide the labor! We will need cooks on 7/14, 7/21, and 7/28. We ask that all youth volunteers take our Due West Safe Sanctuary Training, and submit to a background check. Please email Millie Skinner for more information.

Click here to view the signup!

MUST Summer Lunch - Packing and Delivery

We're doing a crossover episode! Our Due West Ignite Youth Group will help pack and deliver lunches for the Missions Ministry!

Packing July 16th, 10:30-11:30 am

Join us Tuesday, July 16th, in building C room 226 to pack lunches for kids in need! We will pack for about an hour. We can only have 10 kids for packing, so sign up fast!

To register to pack for Summer Lunch CLICK HERE.

Delivery July 18th 11:15 am -1:00 pm

Thursday, July 18th, we will go to deliver lunches to the kids that live in Country Pines Apartments. Students will ride with volunteer chaperones to and from the apartments. We will meet at 11:15 am and come back to the youth center between 1:00-1:30 pm. We will plan to have lunch together at the youth center and then parents pick up at 2:30pm. This event requires a medical form and permission form to be on file. There is not a limit on how many people can help with delivery, but we need a good headcount for lunch and transportation. Please register by or before July 12th at noon!

To learn more and to register to Deliver Summer Lunch CLICK HERE.

There are lots of exciting things coming up for the Center for the Arts that you do not want to miss!

TICKETS are on sale as of June 1st for our production of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT! Please visit this site for more information and to purchase tickets.

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 https://regalperformingarts.com/

Watercolor Classes for Adults

Join us every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month from 10:30-12 for a fun watercolor class with Annette Lewis. Commit 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 just 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 things please send an email to Nicole at cfa@duewest.org for more information.

Missions Newsletter - July

Check out our missions newsletter to learn more about all the church wide mission projects we have going on here at Due West!

Click here to read the Missions Newsletter for July.

Check out the Missions Facebook Page!

Check out our recently Updated Missions Website HERE!

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

Drivers Needed for MUST Summer Lunch

We need drivers and ride-along volunteers for MUST Summer lunch! MUST has new insurance and new rules for drivers this year. All drivers must be at least 21 years old, submit to a background check, take our online Due West Safe Sanctuary training, and attend a training session. If you are interested in helping drive for Summer Lunch, please contact Millie Skinner to be added to the list. Thanks so much!

MUST Summer Lunch Donations

MUST Summer Lunch Program will end July 25th, and we still need your food donations! Single serve breakfast, lunch, and snack items are requested. CLICK HERE for a list of food to donate. This year, you can choose to either bring food donations (preferred) to the white donation bins on campus or donate funds. Checks can be made out to Due West MC with ‘MUST Summer Lunch’ in the memo line.

Thank you for helping kids in need this summer!

2024 Phil McGuire Scholarship Winners

The Due West Methodist Men awarded a $1,000 Phil McGuire college scholarship to the following Due West Methodist seniors:

William Campisi
William Scrivner
Sean Segassie
Claire Benore

Congratulations and all the best in your college career.

Time to Build!

This will be our 4th year of participating with the Cobb Interfaith Habitat Coalition to build a habitat home. The location of our build this year is at 136 Hedges Street in Marietta, and the next build date is July 13th. For more information, contact Larry Sago at 770 366-5521.

Sign up for the build here!

July Ladies’ Game Night

Come join us July 18th from 6:30 to 8:00 pm for fun and fellowship! We will meet in the FLC classroom 101. This is a great night to come out and enjoy fellowship and meet women you might not know yet. Come enjoy heavy hors d' oeuvres and games that range from board games, card games and maybe one or two from your teen years too! Sign up today!

‘I Am Ezer’ Bible/Book Study

Sister, you were made to be fierce! From the garden of Eden to the present day, women have been lied to. We have been deceived. Our deceiver is none other than the devil himself. He seeks to bring down the daughters of the Most High God through fear, anxiety, low self-esteem, feelings of inadequacy, abuse, failed marriages, wayward children, depression, and so many other tactics. He strives to destroy the spiritual DNA that God gave all women. However, God’s plan can never be thwarted, and it is time for the enemy’s lies to be exposed. It is time for all of God’s girls to know who He made us to be. This book will reveal the biblical truth about every woman’s spiritual DNA.

Through the course of the study, you will learn these truths:

Who the real enemy is
The truth that dispels the deceiver’s lies
You are a powerful army of one
You are marked
You are a giant slayer

Most importantly, what God put in you is being called back to life!

"Fearless Women in the Bible"

The Tuesday morning Women's Bible Study group will begin a new study on Tuesday, August 6th, at 9:30 am in room 228 in Building C. We will begin by studying "Fearless Women in the Bible" by Lynn Cowell. This is a 6-week study, and the book can be purchased on Amazon or christianbook.com.

Our next study, which will likely start in mid-September, will be "30 Days with Jesus" by Lynn Terkeurst. This is a 6-week study, and the book can be purchased on Amazon or christianbook.com.

We will be following the Cobb County school schedule, and all women are welcome to join us!

If you are interested in joining or have questions, please contact Robin Northcutt at 770-974-6461 (home) or 404-434-9374 (cell).

Teacher Recognition

The Teach/Love Ministry exists to show God’s Love to our area teachers. Starting this September, the Teach/Love Ministry will be recognizing 3 teachers each month from September – May. Each recognized educator will receive a gift basket from the church and we need YOUR help with this!

Business Owners! We would love to have nice promotional products that would be good for teachers but also advertise your business. We’re looking for things like:

-Nice Stainless Steel drinking cups

-Office Supplies – pens, pencils, post-it notes, rulers, staplers, etc.

-Personal self-care items – hand lotion, shower steamers, nice ChapStick, etc.

-Gift Cards to your business, restaurants, etc.

Non-Business owners – We’ll gladly receive any of the above items as well!

EVERYONE! You can also make a monetary contribution to the church via Church Center (choose “Missions” in the dropdown) or write a check.

If it’s easier to order from Amazon – here is our wishlist!

Blessings and thank you for helping Due West show the love of Jesus to our area educators.

Prayer & Project

The Teach / Love Ministry at Due West is sponsoring a Prayer and Project time this coming school year.

On the 1st Monday of each month (September – May) we will meet, have time for fellowship and pray for our teachers, students and schools.

We will also have a “project” of some kind each month that will be taken to one of our area schools for their teachers.

9:15 – 9:30 am – Check in yourself and drop off any children at our FREE Childcare center – Building C

If you need childcare, please email Ashley Brown abrown@duewest.org by the prior Thursday to save your spot!

9:30 – 9:45 am Welcome and Prayer - Room 219 – Building C

9:45 – 10:30 am Optional Project time

While we would LOVE for EVERYONE to stay for the project time, we realize how valuable time is these days. Please stay when you can, but if you need to leave after the Prayer time, we totally understand!

Mark these 1st Mondays in your calendar NOW and plan to join us! Bring your neighbors, family, friends – ANYONE who wants to pray for our teachers, students and schools!

September 9, October 7, November 4, December 2, January 6, February 3, March 3, April 14, May 5

Due West MC has its very own fitness program offering classes for all levels and open to anyone age 12 and up. Classes are $4.00 (includes childcare on Monday, Wednesday & Friday) and you can find our class schedule on Facebook at Due West Adult Fitness Classes. Punch Cards are also available and cover 11 classes for $40.00. These cards are available from the class instructors.

Congregational Care Ministry

Our Ministry is ready and waiting to be there for you and assures complete confidentiality. We are committed to sharing the love of Christ and the love and support of your church family with you. To be assigned a CCM, please contact Pastor David Campbell or Lay Leader, Brenda Wyatt at bwyatt66chs@gmail.com, cell 770-605-3709.

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

In His Service by Your Side,

Brenda Wyatt

Congregational Care Minister

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 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 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)

We will offer a new session in the fall. Click here to join the group!

If you have any questions or are interested in participating, please contact Connie at cmm10500@gmail.com or 904-651-2732.

Click here to learn more about GriefShare

Sunday Media Team Needs Volunteers!

Sunday mornings couldn’t happen without the hard work from our Sunday media volunteers! Song lyrics, sermon slides, livestream video, lights, offering photos, and more are only possible with your help. We have positions for all skill levels with technology and offer hands-on learning and shadowing opportunities to help get you comfortable with your position! Please email Matt or find him at the sound booth after the 8:30am or 11am Services to help keep our Sundays running smoothly!

9:45 am Service Ushers

We are in need of more ushers for the 9:45 am church service in Building C. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Sandra Imundo at Sandra.Imundo@fmc-na.com

Sunday School Volunteers

dwKids Sunday School Volunteers - Contact Alicia Iles at ailes@duewest.org for details.

July 2024 Newsletter

Keeping you updated as we gather, grow and go!

Due West Methodist Church

Sunday Service Times

July 2024 Newsletter

Keeping you updated as we gather, grow and go!

Stewardship

Pastoral Update

Seasonal Events

Ongoing Events

General Announcements

dwPreschool

dwKids

Youth

Center for the Arts

Missions

Men's Ministry

Women's Ministry

Teach/Love

Recreation Ministry

Congregational Care Ministry

Volunteer Opportunities

August 2024 Newsletter

June 2024 Newsletter

Due West Methodist Church

Sunday Service Times