May 2024 Newsletter
Keeping you updated as we gather, grow and go!
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Another Holy Habit?
If you were able to be with us during the most recent season of Lent, you heard Pastor David preach a series of sensational sermons on ‘Holy Habits.’ Per Pastor David, these holy habits are derived from John Wesley’s ‘means of grace.’ John Wesley taught that God's grace is unearned and that we are not to be idle, waiting to experience grace, but we are to engage in the means of grace. The means of grace are ways God works invisibly in believers, hastening, strengthening, and confirming faith so that God's grace pervades in and through us as Christians. These means of grace, or holy habits, include prayer, Bible study, fasting, service, regular worship, and sharing our faith – all wonderful habits.
You may want to think about adding another habit: stewardship, or giving back a portion of your blessings to God. Multiple studies show that developing positive habits is good for a person’s mental, emotional, and even physical well-being. Once giving back to God becomes a habit, the chances are that the giver is less likely to miss those assets, and more likely to feel engaged in the life of the local church and in Jesus Christ’s mission on earth.
Stewardship can be a great habit for you. Please prayerfully consider making this one more ‘Holy Habit’ in your life. There are many ways to give to Due West Methodist Church. Please visit our website (Give — Due West MC) for ways to contribute.
Giving and Expenses – July ‘23 – March ‘24
Budgeted Giving through March -- $1,496,000
Budgeted Expenses through March -- $1,496,000
Actual Giving through March -- $1,450,365 ($45,635 negative; ouch.)
Actual Expenses through March -- $1,455,056 ($40,944 positive)
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Mother’s Day
I’ve been staring at my computer for a while now, trying to come up with something profound to say about Mother’s Day. It should not be so hard. I was raised by a wonderful mother. I am married to a wonderful mother. Our oldest daughter is a wonderful mother. Throughout my childhood and my adult life, I have had a front-row seat to motherhood at its best. So finding something to say about Mother’s Day should be easy. There has only been one small problem. Any words of mine have seemed wholly inadequate. So finally, I decided to offer words from someone wiser than me. From Solomon:
Proverbs 31
V. 10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
V. 11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
V. 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
V. 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
V. 29 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
V. 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
V. 31 Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
In thinking about what to write for Mother’s Day, it is hard to top these words from the book of Proverbs. For moms, and for all women who have loved and nurtured children, thank you for all you do. And Happy Mother’s Day!
If it’s Sunday, you want to be at Due West,
David
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May 2 - Georgia Festival Chorus Concert
May 4 - Sam’s Ordination ceremony at Norcross Methodist Church; Estate Planning Workshop Part 2 of 2
May 5 - Handbell concert in Warner Robins, GA; High School Senior Recognition
May 9 - Women’s Ministry: Get To Know You
May 12 - Mother’s Day; Step-Up Sunday for rising 6th graders
May 12-26 - Way Maker’s Baby Bottle Campaign
May 15 - Last Day of Preschool
May 16 - Firearms and Fellowship
May 19 - Church Annual Business Meeting
May 21 - General Primary Election
May 27 - Memorial Day Holiday - Church Closed
May 28-31 - Broadway Dreamers Musical Camp
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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)
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Sam’s Ordination Ceremony
Sam's official ordination will be Saturday, May 4th, at 10:00 am at Norcross Methodist Church. Please keep that time in your prayers. The service is open to all who would like to attend and will also be livestreamed on the Norcross First Global Methodist Church’s Facebook page.
Mother’s Day Cross in Bldg A Courtyard
We want to take a moment to thank Chuck and Dianne Arundale for their generous donation of the new cross in the Building A Courtyard. We plan on decorating it in May for Mother’s Day and having it available for family photos!
Summer Camps Webpage
We have a page including info and registration links for all of our upcoming summer camps available now on the website. Click here to view them all!
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 one anothers’ 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 a 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.
Family Movie Night
Come to Movie Night in the Family Life Center on Friday, June 7th. The film being shown is “Facing the Giants” (rated PG). Here’s a link to the official trailer. Admission is free and concessions will be available for purchase during the event. Donations will also be accepted if you would like to make one to the church.
Doors open at 6:30 pm and the movie starts at 7:00 pm
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Due West Preschool and Kindergarten has open registration for 1 year olds - Kindergarten children. Our registration form is available on our website. You can schedule a tour so you can come to see our rooms, meet the staff, get answers to your questions about our program, and see why we’re certified as a “Preschool of Excellence"! You can schedule a tour by calling the preschool office at 770-590-0982 or go to our website at https://duewest.org/preschool and click on schedule a tour.
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Preschool Sunday School
Memory Verse: “I will always love you.” Jeremiah 31:3, CEV
This month is all about introducing preschoolers to God – the One who loves them with a love that lasts forever. When it comes to preschoolers and what they know about God, there are a few faith skills we want to make sure they have in their little red wagon. We want every child to know that they can hear from God, pray to God, talk about God to others, and live for God. We hope they will pull these faith skills around, wherever they go, for the rest of their lives. Then they can go with confidence because they have the faith skills needed for whatever comes their way.
Elementary Sunday School
Commitment - Making a plan and putting it into practice.
Memory Verse: “Training the body has some value. But being Godly has value in every way. It promises help for the life you are now living and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8, NIRV
Commitment is part of God’s nature and how God interacts with us, keeping promises and putting plans into action. God’s commitment to us is just one of the many reasons we can trust Him no matter what. And because God’s promises and plans came true in Jesus, we can be with God forever. We reflect God’s character when we make a plan and stick to it. This month, we’ll help kids discover that one of the best plans they can make is to commit to an ongoing relationship with Jesus. We hope they commit to practicing their faith by reading God’s Word, praying to God honestly and consistently, talking about God with others, and living for God in how they show love throughout everyday.
Step Up Ignite
All 5th Graders and their parents are invited to join us under the Pavilion on May 19th at 5:15 pm to meet our Youth Director and get an overview of the ministry they will be moving up to with the new school year. Students are encouraged to stay for Ignite that evening from 5:30-7:30 pm!
Summer Camps
From science to sports, we are excited for all of the amazing camps we have available this summer. Be sure to check out the church website and Church Center for details on how to register.
Vacation Bible School
At Scuba VBS, kids will explore what it means to have a friendship with a real, loving, trustworthy God - a friendship that lasts forever! Register today to attend Scuba VBS Monday, June 3rd - Thursday, June 6th.
Be a Volunteer!
In order to provide this amazing experience to our community, we are in need of many volunteers. Register today to help at Scuba Vacation Bible School and help kids dive into friendship with God! If you have not volunteered in the past, you'll find it to be life-changing for you as well as the kids! We are searching for both adult and youth leaders. Volunteers must have finished the 6th grade, love the Lord, love children, and like to have fun.
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Ignite Sunday Nights - May 5th Legacy Ignite and May 19th Step-Up Ignite
Join us May 5th at 5:30 pm for Legacy Ignite where our seniors add their hand prints to our stairwell and we celebrate their accomplishments!
May 19th is Step-Up Ignite where we ask our 5th graders and their parents to come visit with us and see how Ignite works. We will eat together, play games, and worship. Join us!
May 12th and 26th we will not meet for Ignite (Happy Mother’s Day and Memorial Day!)
May Youth Newsletter - CLICK HERE to view!
Youth Choir
Weekly rehearsals on Wednesdays from 6:00 to 6:45 pm in Sanctuary A.
Youth Choir will help with worship on May 5th Graduation Sunday for the 11:00 am service. Come sing with us!
Senior Celebration!
Sunday, May 5th, at 11:00 am
We will celebrate our graduating seniors on Sunday, May 5th, in the 11:00 am service. There will be a time of recognition and prayer during the service as well as a reception to follow in the Narthex. Each graduate will have a table with a card box, a senior photo, and special memorabilia. This is an awesome opportunity to love on our seniors as a congregation. Please consider how you might be an encouragement to them through a handwritten card, gift card, or even a devotional. Our current participants are Sean Segassie, William Campisi, and Brady Hambrick. Their tables will be set up all Sunday morning, so even if you aren’t attending the 11:00 am service, you can still drop something off. If you know of a senior who would like to participate, email youth@duewest.org and we’ll get them signed up.
Thank you for loving our youth!
Save the Date!
Ignite Pool Party at the Franklins, June 2nd.
Due West Youth Parents and Due West Adults
You can make a difference in the lives of our youth! Sign up below to help serve and clean up after youth dinners on Sunday nights! Time commitment is only about an hour and a half. No cooking required, we feed you, and it’s fun! CLICK HERE to sign up!
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Georgia Festival Concert
Join us in the Building C Sanctuary for a FREE concert on Thursday, May 2nd at 7:00pm. The Georgia Festival Chorus Ensemble is an auditioned group selected from the 90-voice chorus. Several Due West singers are involved in this elite group!
The Horizons concert celebrates this season of resurrection and renewal with a glorious selection of choral music to inspire and enthrall. Come support our musicians and be blessed by an evening of choral music and four-hands piano.
Freedom Sunday
We are redoing our slide show! So please read below thoroughly.
As we prepare to honor our veterans and celebrate God’s foundation in our country this coming Freedom Sunday, June 30th, we want to engage the congregation in two very meaningful ways.
First, if you have served, or would like to recognize immediate family that have served or are currently serving in the armed forces, we would like to include your photo in a slideshow. Submissions are due by June 10th. Here is how to submit:
1. If your photo has never before been in the slideshow, please submit a clear photo with full name, branch, and rank. Email photo submissions with details to csalazar@duewest.org.
2. If your photo was in last year’s slideshow, you may send the name of the person(s) to be included by June 10th and I will re-use last year’s photo. If I do not hear from someone, their photo will not be included in the 2024 slideshow. Email names to csalazar@duewest.org.
Second, we are asking representatives—either active or veteran—from each branch of the military to carry that branch’s flag. We need a representative at each traditional service, 8:30 and 11:00 am. You may volunteer for one or both. Time commitment is only the morning of June 30th, for about an hour per service. Email csalazar@duewest.org to secure your position. Act quickly as some branches fill up fast!
May 5th – Youth Choir @ 11:00
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There are lots of exciting things coming up for the Center for the Arts that you do not want to miss!
SUMMER CAMPS!
Registration is open for all our summer camps! We have theatre camps, art camps, dance camps, an adventure camp, and even a sewing camp! There are opportunities from preschool age through rising college freshman. Check out the list on Church Center and see all we have to offer!
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.
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Missions Newsletter - May
Check out our missions newsletter to learn more about all the church wide mission projects we have going on here at Due West!
Missions Facebook Page is LIVE again!
Check out our recently Updated Missions Website HERE!
Click HERE to read the Missions Newsletter for May.
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!
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Phil McGuire College Scholarship
The 2024 Phil McGuire College Scholarship applications from current Due West Methodist Church active high school seniors need to be submitted to Due West Methodist Men no later than May 31st, 2024.
Please use their mailbox in the Admin 2 building.
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Way Maker Baby Bottle Campaign
Way Maker Pregnancy Center has been the recipient of so many generous donations since we opened our doors. Since July 2021, we have provided over 13,000 diapers, given over 700 educational classes, and have seen over 15 babies born so far.
Our Baby Bottle Campaign kicks off Mother's Day weekend. Baby bottles will be given out to the congregation to fill with change and return by Sunday, May 26th. We operate solely off donations, and this campaign helps the Center with additional needs for our mothers. We appreciate your help in being the hands and feet of God!
Women’s Ministry Let Us Get to Know You
Are you new to Due West? Or are you new to Women's Ministry? Come out at 7:00 pm and let's get to know each other!
We'll enjoy food, fun and fellowship as the women of Due West come together.
You can sign up using this link, or contact Kerri Casteel at kcasteel@duewest.org with any questions.
Ladies June Tea: Keep Your Eyes on the Sparrow - June 8th, 2024
Jesus encourages us to consider sparrows when we think of God's loving care. During this tea, we will learn how these little birds can teach us big spiritual lessons.
Women's Ministry invites you to this annual event to hear God's word and to enjoy tea and lunch while we fellowship.
The cost is $25.00 and will be held in the Sanctuary of Building C. We will start at 11:00 am and conclude by 1:30 pm.
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Methodist Men Host Firearms and Fellowship
Thursday, May 16th, 6:00 pm
Make plans to fellowship with us at Governor's Gun Club of Kennesaw on Thursday, May 16th, for the next Firearms and Fellowship event. We’ll gather at 6:00 pm for range time, and those that are interested are welcome to stay for dinner at the club at 7:00 pm. This is a "dutch treat" style event. Please RSVP to Mark Hellman at mhellman@duewest.org by Tuesday, May 14th.
To join the group on Church Center to keep up with us go to: https://duewest.churchcenter.com/groups/men/firearms-fellowship
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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.
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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.
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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)
The current 13-week cycle started February 11th, 2024 and concludes in May. 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.
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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.
Online Giving
You can give online using your smartphone, tablet or computer. Click here to begin giving through our system. Contact Amber Wilson at awilson@duewest.org if you have any questions.
Due West Market
Click here to shop! We are taking orders for congregational name tags!
Altar Flowers
Honor a loved one with altar flowers displayed in front of the pulpit on Sunday mornings. Learn More & Purchase
Prayer Requests
Need prayer? Click here to submit a prayer request!