Oak Grove United Methodist Church PERMIT NO. 210

6440 OLD STATESVILLE ROAD NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

CHARLOTTE NC 28269-1782 US POSTAGE PAID

CHARLOTTE NC 28269-1782 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

SUNDAY SCHEDULE: Sunday School – 9:30AM Worship – 10:30AM CHURCH OFFICE HOURS: MONDAY - THURSDAY 9:00AM - 2:00PM Phone & Fax Number – 704-596-4084 Pastor’s Cell 828-773-0995 Web Address – www.oakgroveumc.net Pastor’s email – ogumc.pastor@gmail.com Church office email—office@oakgroveumc.net Secretary email—oakgrovesecretary@gmail.com

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From the Pastor’s Pen With August 23rd approaching and with me being your “homecoming” preacher, I’m focused on writing

about the topic of your returning home to Oak Grove. Some of you live near the church and some of you will travel a distance to get here. Some of you attend “homecoming” every year; some do not. And as your new pastor, I look forward to meeting all who come as I ask, “Where is home?”

Certainly, answers will vary… “Rock Hill, Raleigh, Columbia, Savannah, Chicago, etc.” are possible geographic locations. Yet, “Where do you live?” is not the question. The question is, “Where is home?” My pastoral and spiritual response is, “Home is where the heart is.” (Perhaps

you know who first said this; I cannot recall.) Throughout my life, I have often heard this statement that rings true within me. So, now in looking ahead to August 23rd, I ask the “homecoming” question differently, “Is Oak Grove UMC where your heart is?”

Most of us, however, define “home” as our abiding place (where we live). Most every day as we go about our lives, we may say to someone, “I’m going home,” or “I’m coming home.” When away from home (at work, at the doctor, at the grocery store, etc.) we say, “I’m going home”. But when in the car and talking on the cell phone to someone at home, we say, “I’m coming home.” So, when coming home to Oak Grove’s “homecoming”, are you telling anyone, “I’m coming home.”?

My hope is that many who come here on “homecoming” are truly coming to where their heart is. Now is the time to take the time to tell your heart, “I’m coming home”. And take the time to thank God for those who nurtured you and taught you about

the love of God through Jesus Christ. Yes, the Oak Grove’s beautiful building beckons as memories are recalled, but it is only God that touches, warms, and molds the heart through our love for Him and for others.

Join me in praying that our August 23rd “homecoming” is a coming-home revival of our being home with God. Again, “Where is home?” Let us answer, “Home is where the heart is; home is with God”.

In closing, I look forward to seeing you here at Oak Grove on August 23rd. Meanwhile, ponder these questions, “Where is home?” and “Where is your heart?” NRS 2 Chronicles 6:14 He said, "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant in steadfast love with your servants who walk before you with all their heart—“ Rev. Bob Roten

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Oak Grove Homecoming

Celebration Sunday, August 23

The day will begin at the 10:30 Worship Service where the message will be delivered by our minister,

Rev. Bob Roten.

A covered dish dinner will

follow in the fellowship hall.

Saint James Men’s Chorus

The day's festivities will conclude with a concert by the Saint James Men’s Chorus

at 6PM.

Mark your calendars now so you will not miss the special day at Oak Grove United Methodist Church.

3 2

In Memory of Jimmy McWhirter, Danny McWhirter & Ed Ketner

By Chris Blumberg

In Honor of Tony Stephens

By Jay & Lib Phillips

In Honor of Kay Dwyer Cooke & Kenneth Cooke ,

On their 50th Wedding Anniversary By their daughter, Carol Ann Cooke

*You may designate Memorials and Honoraria for any Oak Grove UMC ministry or fund.

Memorials not designated by the donor will be directed (first) to the designation predetermined by the surviving family or, (second) to the default designation (currently,

budgeted expenses) determined by the

UMW We appreciate your support all year! See the list below for your 2015 calendar dates:

Sept. 20, 2015 - UMW Fund raiser meal after worship service – Menu: Meatloaf, Green Beans,

Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Rolls & Dessert .

Metro district UMW

calendar for 2015 district events:

District Annual Meeting, August 22 - Simpson -

Gillespie UMC

Conference Annual Meeting, September 11-13 - Lake Junaluska

District Officer Leadership Development Day, October 10 (tba)

Metro District Leadership Development, November 7 (tba)

Some dates for events in the Metro District are tentative, but we will let you know of any changes in

the coming newsletters.

In the month of July, we were able to help to feed 70

families. This month we are especially collecting canned Veggies, canned meat, and Peanut Butter & Jelly

Thank you for helping us stock our pantry!

The Outreach Committee could still use more help at Saturn Nursing Home, on the first Wednesday of each month, at 3:00pm. You will be blessed by your participation with these dear

people!

125th anniversary photos are available at the church. 8×10 photos are 10 dollars each or 20 dollars each in a frame. All proceeds go towards chime repair. Contact Church office, Ryan Wilson or Brent Blumberg for purchase

or for information.

We would like to remind the congregation of their pledges and commitments to Oak Grove United Methodist Church. Your prompt attention to this matter will be appreciated.

Finance Committee

Memorials and Honorariums

To My Oak Grove Family,

Thank you so much for my very thoughtful card

and gifts for my graduation. I can’t wait to get

started on the book! I am so very blessed to have

this church and the people in it to call my family. I

wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without everyone’s

constant, selfless love, care, and support. I am so

thankful to have a place I can call home.

♥always,

Katie

The folks at Oak Grove UMC would like to congratulate Reverend Patrick Welch on his recent retirement!!!

Congratulations, Pastor!!!!!!

SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE It’s that time of year again to collect back to school items to support Winding Springs Elementary and Ranson Middle School. As I was looking at Sunday’s sale ads I thought that even in this age of the computer some things have not changed….kids still need paper, pencils, pens and a notebook. What has changed are the terms. What I called a notebook is now called a binder. What I called a composition book is now called a spiral

notebook. And a composition book is black and white/blue and white/red and white marbled bound book of paper.

What else that has changed is that the computer is now a part of their lives and thumb drives are needed. Another change is that CMS either does not provide or provides only a little of things such as Kleenexes, hand sanitizer, markers and crayons. Children are now being asked to provide those items.

Below are items suggested by Ranson and Winding Springs personnel that they have found to be needed by their students: Pencils Erasers Binders Notebooks – Spiral and Composition Pocket Folders – Solid colors with and without prongs Thumb drives Book bags

Other items the teachers need for their classrooms and/or their students are: Kleenexes/Tissue Post-It Notes Expo-Dry Erase Markers

Containers will be placed in the Narthex and in the Fellowship Hall to collect the donated items. Our back to School Festival will be Saturday August 22nd so we’d like as many donations as possible to be dropped off by then. Thank you so much and as always blessings to you. -Pat Barker

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: BACK TO SCHOOL CELEBRATION

When: Saturday, Aug. 22nd

Time: 9 a.m. – Noon

Place: Oak Grove UMC Fellowship Hall

Join us as we help children play games and complete tasks to win school supplies. Watch a child grin just as big winning a pencil as he/she does when winning candy at our Fall Festival. Physical activity required is

minimal. Reward received is maximal.

If interested, a sign-up sheet will be posted in the Fellowship Hall or leave

a message at the church office.

KLEB’S KIDS If you were not in attendance at 317 Woodside Drive, Harrisburg, NC this past Saturday night you missed one

great party!

Chief T-Bonz Williams, with the help of Marshall, Tommy, Corey, and Moe, smoked up one heck of a BBQ dinner served with bake beans and slaw. It was so good that if

you didn't watch it your tongue would slap your cheek out.

Afterwards when the great group "WAYWARD REASON" cranked up, even an old man like me (whose muscles have been laying dormant for some time) began to move with

the beat of the music.

The greatest gift of the evening was the five thousand plus dollars that was raised to (1) "put a smile on a child's face on Christmas morning and (2) help to set up a Medical

Clinic in Nicaragua to help heal a child that is sick.

Once again thanks to everyone that showed up, which was over two hundred people, and also thanks to the

ones that couldn't attend but sent donations anyway.

Mark July 23, 2016 on your calendar

for the big event next year.

Once again thanks to all that made this an successful

event !

Mike Kleban