In This Edition:

• Joint Worship with South Walpole UMC

• Staff Vacations/Office Closure

• Sermon Snippet

• Holding in Prayer

Joint Worship with South Walpole UMC

We’re blessed by the ties that bind us to our siblings in Christ at South Walpole UMC! Despite not sharing a joint mission trip this summer, we still will have a chance to worship together, and to meet SWUMC’s new pastor, Rev. Ken Mantler. THIS SUNDAY August 17, we will welcome SWUMC to our Outdoor/Chapel worship at Union. Next Sunday, August 24, we will gather down Washington Street in South Walpole’s sanctuary (1886 Washington Street). *Note that SWUMC begins worship at 10:00 AM. Both services will be live-streamed on Facebook.

Staff Vacations/Office Closure

Office manager Beverly Sellers will be away on vacation next week. The office will be closed next week, as Pastor Shepherd will be away from August 19-September 8. For pastoral care during that time, contact your deacon, or the chair of Diaconate, Judy Rummell. The office will reopen for regularly scheduled hours on Tuesday, August 26.

Sermon Snippet

This time of year New Englanders take advantage of the good weather to get out and explore the beauty of this corner of God’s creation. Whether you’re a mountain person, a “camp” person, a lake person, or a beach person, there’s some bit of nature nearby that will suit your needs. Indeed, “getting away” into nature has long been viewed as a natural part of human life, and even a way of connecting with God.

Many people describe escaping into nature as a form of worship. They say the mountains or the beaches are “their church.” This week’s sermon addresses the question: “Why do we need to come to church? Why can’t we just worship God in nature?” It’s a friendly encouragement and a reminder about the importance of gathering as God’s people, even when it’s perhaps not what we would prefer to do with our weekends and spare time—because the truth is, it’s not possible to be a faithful follower of Christ without other people.

Holding in Prayer

This week, as a community of faith we pray:

• for Barbara Carroll, for healing after a couple of falls

• for Barbara’s grandson Shane, for healing after a serious head injury

• for Laurie’s aunt Angelina, who has entered hospice care, and for her cousins Mary and Bob

• For peace in the world, in remembrance of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings

• for the victims of the shooting at the CDC/Emory University this past Friday

• for Jordan, as she heads off to college, and for Kerry, as she lets her go

• for Nelson’s son Greg, who is healing from a concussion

• for Nelson’s friend and cribbage competitor Francine, for continued healing

• for Kerry’s friend Diane, who is beginning a difficult course of treatment for cancer

• with joy, for Jim and Justin’s niece Heidi’s visit to Boston

• with joy for Pam, and the healing of a broken relationship

• for Margie’s sister Holly, who has passed away, and for all who mourn

• for Noah, for healing after crashing his new E-Bike and for continued safety

• for Shirley’s niece Karen, who is receiving palliative care, and for the comforting times with family.

• for Pam’s friend Cookie, as she battles cancer.

• for Lew’s friend Dan, as he faces kidney disease