It’s shortly after 7 on Monday morning and my thoughts are reeling. I am grateful for a blessed Sunday with two great worship services, afternoon rest and time to close the day studying God’s Word with fellow disciples. But this morning, my thoughts turn to the Supreme Court decision about marriage which came down this past Friday. I must confess I was not shocked or surprised like the many folks who have chosen to air their frustration and righteous anger on social media. The world didn’t change in a day. It’s been this way for some time. Truth is we haven’t lived in a “Christian nation” for quite some time. I’m not sure we ever did. Just because the Ten Commandme nts were posted on the walls of our courtrooms didn’t mean society obeyed them. Just because our money says “In God We Trust” doesn’t make it so. I find it hard to get angry about one decision from a courtroom when it merely symbolizes a malady we have suffered for years.
That being said, I still strongly believe Christians must respond to this decision with action. The action you are led to take as a disciple of Jesus must be forged by your own prayers. I can only tell you what I am
Rev. Jim White being led to do. The conviction that serves as the foundation for my intended action is this: Marriage is not primarily about self-fulfillment. It’s about honoring God. It’s God’s idea, part of the fabric of God’s creation.
When I preside over a wedding I do not implore the bride and groom to honor themselves, I challenge them to honor God.
This leads me to a course of action that might surprise you, but I believe it is the best one. My challenge to you as a bod y of believers is this: To those of us who are married, the most powerful witness we can make to the world is to love our spouses with the love of
Christ, to invite Him into our marriages as Lord. Disciples of Jesus are supposed to honor God with our marriages just like we’re supposed to honor God with all our lives. We recommitted ourselves to those values yesterday in worship when a new disciple joined the Body of Christ. Those stewardship vows embody what it means to serve Christ as Lord. Christ’s lordship means he sets the parameters, he draws the bou ndaries. God’s Word is our authority. If Christian marriages stood apart from those of the world by virtue of our commitment to God’s value system, I believe we’d have a much more solid place to stand as we bear witness to God’s design for marriage.
For those disciples who are single: Christ’s lordship should set your boundaries as well. Seek to glorify God through your relationships. If you’re looking for a marriage partner, seek to honor God in the search. Trust God with this part of your life as you would with any other. The foundational conviction is the same for both married and single people: Human life is not nearly as much about self fulfilment as it is about honoring and glorifying God. When we succeed at honoring God through our obedience and trust, when that honor becomes obvious to others by the way we love our neighbor, including our spouses, the world will have a holy example to follow. And guess what? God will take care of granting fulfillment and purpose to your life in the process!
So I choose not to rant over an inevitable court decision. Instead, I choose to humbly demonstrate to the world what a human life looks like when it’s lived under the lordship of Jesus. If enough of us will do that, God’s Kingdom will come on earth. Remember, the battle is the Lord’s, not ours. Our most powerful witness is a life which clearly defines for the world what his lordship looks like when it takes its proper place at the forefront of who we are.
In Service to our King,
Jim
8:30 AM Early Worship
10:00 AM Sunday School
11:00 AM Worship Service
G
th
th
Ages: 3 Years Old –
Rising 7 th Grades
Time:
Drop-
Off:
5:30 PM Meal
6:15 – 8:15 PM VBS
There will be Drop-Off and Pick-Up for children so parents won’t need to park and come in
Will announce at VBS VBS
Mission
Project:

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday
6:00
– 8:00 PM
1
Youth
Thursday
2
Friday
July 4 th
Holiday
3
Saturday
4
5
Roatan Sunday
5:30 PM
Meal
6:15
– 8:15 PM
VBS
12
6:00 PM
Disciple I
6:00 PM
Disciple II
Carolina Cross
Connection
19
Disciple II
Sunday
6:00 PM
Disciple I
6:00 PM
Disciple II
26
3:00 PM
CCC Celebration in Kannapolis
6:00 PM
Disciple I
6:00 PM
Disciple II
Jim, Nancy, and
Joshua White will be on vacation
July 20 th – 26th
5:30 PM
Meal
6:15
– 8:15 PM
VBS
6
13
Carolina Cross
Connection
20
7
11:30 AM
Senior Luncheon
5:30 PM
Meal
6:15
– 8:15 PM
VBS
14
7:00 PM
Whitley Benefit
Meeting
Carolina Cross
Connection
21
7:00 PM
Whitley Benefit
Meeting
27 28
7:00 PM
Whitley Benefit
Meeting
6:00 – 8:00 PM
8
Youth
5:30 PM
Meal
6:15
– 8:15 PM
VBS
15
Carolina Cross
Connection
22
6:00 – 8:00 PM
Youth
Youth
29
6:00 – 8:00 PM
5:30 PM
Meal
6:15
– 8:15 PM
VBS
9
16
Carolina Cross
Connection
23
10
5:30 PM
Meal
6:15
– 8:15 PM
VBS
17
Carolina Cross
Connection
24
10:00 AM
Prayer Shawl
Ministry
11
18
8:00 AM
Rugged Cross
Brotherhood
TBA
You th “Welcome
Back” Cookout
25
30 31
Date Nursery
July 5
July 12
July 19
July 26
Ali Smith
Jessica Little
Becky Whitley
Robin Morgan
Children’s Church
Nancy White
Crystal Wages
Pat VanHoose
Carrie Whitley
Please contact Beverly Plummer
If you can help in any way.
It takes everyone taking their turn to help to make these ministries work. Thank you!
2

July 5
Roatan
Missions
Team
Roatan Sunday
Come and hear the story of how God used the people of Love's Grove to change the lives of the people of Coxen Hole, Roatan. We worked in a community called "The Swamp." We also spent one day going house to house in the community of Brick Bay distributing water filters and praying for each family we visited. Several folks will be sharing about how God is changing their lives as a result of this trip.
July 12
Proverbs 3:27-35
The Five "No's" of Being a Good Neighbor: Part 2
This week we’ll take up where we left off in Proverbs 3:27-35. Reminding ourselves why the wise teacher chooses to put these directives in the negative. The simple truth is our fallen nature necessitates these prohibitions. Just as it did when our parents used the negative in their discipline of us as children, “No!” means we are to listen. God’s truth means business. His directives aren’t up for debate or negotiation. Allowing our relationships with neighbors to be ruled by selfishness, malice and violence brings disaster upon us. Look for wisdom’s counsel here as we seek to live in peace with our neighbor.
July 19
Proverbs 4:1-9
July 26
Generational Wisdom
If you’re like me, you have fond memories of your grandparents. My grandfathers on both sides of the family taught me some things I will cherish forever. They also taught lessons to my father which he passed on to me. I, in turn, will pass them on to my son. Ge nerational wisdom is today’s topic.
It’s essential that we bear witness to our children about the importance of God’s truth. It’s the only solid place we can stand. Today we will look to God’s Word to establish what his truth looks like, and build a grid to serve as a filter. Filters sift out the impurities from many things. Today we’ll use this text to filter out what’s truth and what’s not. The key to passing down solid generational wisdom is always the same: the ultimate authority is God’s truth. Is the wisdom we teach from God or from man? The wise teacher of Proverbs helps us discern the difference.
Jim and Nancy will be on renewal leave this week, and Lay Leader Yvonne Crump will be delivering a crucial message on how temptation seeks to distract us at our weakest, most vulnerable spots. God is working to give Yvonne a crucial word of truth for our walk with Christ. Followers of
Jesus are not exempt from temptation. If anything, they are subject even more to its snares.
Please make it a priority to be here on this special Sunday when Yvonne shares the Word with us at both services.
We’re making big plans and need your help. We need each group in the ch urch to make a “presentation board” telling about your ministry (Missions, Classes, UMW, Building Teams, UMYF,
Rainbow, etc.) We want to show everyone how they can be involved in doing God’s Kingdom work. Display Boards will be set up for everyone to see during lunch on Sunday, August 9th, and during the week.
This year we will be having ONE SERVICE ONLY at 10:00 AM on
Sunday, August 9 th . NO Sunday School. Following the service at
11:30 AM we will have lunch in the Family Life Center provided by the church!
Sunday
Homecoming and Revival Speakers:
10:00 AM Rev. R. L. Icard, Executive Director
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
7:00 PM
7:00 PM
7:00 PM
Foothills Service Project, Valdese, NC
Rev. James Yow
Rev. Mike Burris
TBA
Wednesday 7:00 PM Rev. Mike Carr
th
* Invitation is open to ALL children 3 – 12 years
* Lunch and snacks provided
* Each child needs to bring swimsuit,
Sunscreen, and a towel
* Parents are welcome and urged to attend!!
so she can have a head count for the meal and snacks
3

(Names are listed alphabetically)
Church Family
Austin Barnhardt
Louise Blackwelder
Trish Curlee
Jerry Efird
Jewell Efird
Carolyn Eudy
Mike Gheesling
C. J. Hinson
Jane Layok
Debbie Lepper
Betty L. McCoy
Dee McCoy
Lewis McCoy
Sarah McCoy
Sharri McMillian
Louise Polk
Anita Sedberry
Jane Simpson
Bob Taylor
Rhonda Whitley
Shirley Whitley
Julia Wilson
Stephanie Yarbrough
Clayton Yow
Helen Yow
Van Yow
Friends
Angie Barbee
Dana Barbee
Vicki Barrett
Tommy Black
Tom Branch
Elbon Conder
Jeff Crump
Wyatt Dabbs
Jason Doyle
Jeanette Edwards
Gerald Efird
Lindsey Efird
Robby and Angie Fink
Don Frey
Nancy Furr
Don Harkey
Robert Heberling
Scott Hinson
Mary Hudecek
Delaine Huneycutt
Clint Kiker
Freddie Kiker
Avery Love
Rylie Lytle
Lydia Mitchell
Joyce Morton
Keith Morton
Doris Mullis
Barbi Ortz
Peggy Outen
Thom Outen
John Pietras
Victor Smith
Jimmy Tyree
Danny Watts
Friends
Danny Watts
Debbi White
Brenda Windham
Frenchie Yow
Gene Yow
John Yow, Jr.
Junior Yow
Families Of
Brenda Bost
Jeff Brown
Steve Brown
Bentley Dennis
Herbie Furr
Caleb Hartsell
Larry Hill
Jean Hinson
Jeanette Hinson
Betty Horan
Betty Justice
Jody Little
Perry Plummer
Richard Shumate
JoAnn Traylor
Wednesdays
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Kathy McCoy, Director lovesgroveyouth@outlook.com
th
th
Please drop them a note and keep them in your prayers as they do mission projects for families in need.
Cards are on the narthex table or you can send it to:
Carolina Cross Connection
(write in campers name)
PO Box 1292
Millers Creek, NC 28651
Assisted Living /
Retirement
Community /
Rehabilitation
Stowe Brooks
Martha Davis
Judy Murrill
Johnnie Thompson
Military Service
Josh Barbee
Ashley Clark
Scottie Clark
Will Griffin
Josh Heter
Caleb McCoy
Van McCoy
Jacob Randolph
Matt Revels
John Yanochick
Please keep the church office notified of any updates for the list.
Thank you!
There will be a “Welcome Back
Cookout” on Saturday, July 18 th .
Please contact Carrie Whitley to sign up to bring a dish or help grill hot dogs.
Come out and support our youth!
There will be a CCC Celebration in
Kannapolis on Sunday, July 26 th .
They will plan to leave the church at
3:00 PM.
4

(May 17 th – June 14 th )
In Honor Of…
Gene and Jewell Efird’s 70 th Anniversary
Bob and Maggie Taylor
Confirmation Class
High School Graduates
Betty L. McCoy’s Birthday
Terry and Beverly Plummer
In Memory Of…
Designation…
Building
Building
General
General
General
General
Designation…
Given By…
Delette Eudy
Richard, Kim, and John Henry Hammett
Dell Whitley Family
Dell Whitley Family
Nancy, Scott, and Carter
Fred and Shelby Long
Given By…
Hazel and Bryte Efird
Jean Hinson
Harvey Martin
Clinton Polk
Clinton Polk
Lela Yow
Hazel Efird
Jean Hinson
Jean Hinson
Tamera Jean Meggs’ Birthday
Perry Plummer
Ethel Bostic
Hazel Smith
Lenwood Vinson
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Cemetery
General
General
General
General
Missions
Missions
Missions
Delette Eudy
Fred and Shelby Long
Doris Martin
Delette Eudy
Randy and Dee McCoy
Bill and Paulette Kiker
H. D. and Janice Efird
Dell Whitley Family
Robert and Peggy Long
Moma
Robert and Peggy Long
Richard and Frances Mullis
Clayton and Helen Yow
Golden Rule Class
Rhonda is a lifetime member of Love’s Grove.
Over the past 8 years she has been battling cancer and other health issues.
Love’s Grove in sponsoring this benefit to help Rhonda and her family with her ongoing medical expenses.
Friday – August 28, 2015
11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
$9.00 Donation
½ BBQ Chicken, Slaw, Bread, Chips, and Cake
Cooking provided by the Christian Cooking Convoy
Take-Out (drive thru) and Delivery
For ticket information or to volunteer to help please contact the church office at
704-888-4643 (7:30 AM – 11:30 AM) or at whitleybenefit@gmail.com
Donations can be mailed to:
Love’s Grove UMC, Whitley Benefit, PO Box 276, Stanfield, NC 28163
5

Contact: Donna Jenkins
Scrip Cards are ordered the 1 st Sunday each month. Order forms on the narthex table. Complete list of vendors available. New cards have been added!!
Benefits Building Fund.
Facilities Rentals: Contact church office for information and to make payments.
Prayer Request Updates: Please notify church office with any additions/deletions.
Church Directory: Please notify church office with any additions/deletions to your listing. Sent out twice a year. Can also be downloaded on smartphones and tablets.
Meal is at 6:00 PM on Wednesday. (Will resume in September)
Meets at 7:00 PM on Wednesday. (Will resume in September)
Contact: John McCoy
Contact: Bonnie Randolph
Contact: Jean Barnes
Meets at 7:30 PM on Monday . Led by Myrtis Efird, the choir performs a special music at Easter and a cantata at Christmas. They are always welcoming new voices.
If you are interested please come join them. (Will resume in the Fall)
Meets at 8:00 AM on the 1 st and 3 rd Saturday at Bojangle’s in Locust.
A group of men who do service projects and other activities for people in the community. All men are invited to participate.
Located on the hallway to the Family Life Center. Great resources for Sunday
School classes and other groups are available for your use! Individuals can also check out books.
Meets at 10:00 AM on 2 nd Saturday.
If you don’t know how to crochet or knit… they will teach you! You are also welcome to come and just enjoy the fellowship.
They meet in the Fellowship Hall.
Meets at 7:00 PM on Wednesday.
(Will resume in September)
They will have activities throughout the year. Watch for dates and information.
3 Years – 5 th Grade
Contacts: Wendy Harwood
April Peed
Contacts: Betty Martin
Jean Barnes
Connie Kilpatrick
Rev. White
6 th Grade – 12 th Grade
Contacts: Kathy McCoy
Jimmy Thompson
Contact: Diane Yow
…after the phone call you hoped you’d never get ...after
the divorce papers are served and the bottom falls out of your life …after the doctor says, I’m sorry, but there is nothing more we can do …after you find a pink slip with your final paycheck.
They are ready to come alongside you and provide comfort and support for as long as needed. Contact a leader for more information.
Meets at 7:00 PM on Wednesday in the Basement.
(Meets 6:00 – 8:00 PM during June, July, and August.)
They have several fundraisers during the year to help raise money for their summer mission trip to Carolina Cross Connection.
They have other activities they do to help in the community.
Meets at 7:00 PM on 3 rd Tuesday.
(Will resume in September)
The UMW have a store located in the hallway between the Sunday School classes in the Fellowship Hall, that is stocked with flavoring, cards, knives, etc. that are available for purchase. Proceeds from sale of these items are used to fund their mission projects.
6

I’m against them. Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for not working, and puttering, and walking around the house aimlessly while claiming your meditating on some spiritual truth. But I’m not for going on vacation, or at least the preparations necessary for going on vacation.
My son recently went to Florida with his senior class —one last group bonding opportunity and a time to start getting ready to say good-bye to a major part of his life. Since he was traveling, my wife thought it highly unfair that we weren’t going somewhere. She spent days looking for destinations and found a wonderful Groupon deal for a cabin in the Great Smoky
Mountains.
If I were single, I would simply toss a few pairs of jeans into a bag, a few socks, and be on my way. I’m sure they have food down there. I’m sure they have supermarkets and restaurants and take-out places. No one would starve—least of all me.
But now … well, the Normandy invasion might have involved less planning. My sister-in-law and brother-in-law are joining us at the cabin. There has been a near-constant stream of e-mails and texts over who is bring what foodstuff and how we might preserve our perishables on the nine-hour drive.
And my wife has extensive checklists for what to bring, tailored to the expected weather, meticulously composed after studying and examining the average temperatures predicted for our stay: long shirts, pullovers, rain gear, a separate bag for shoes…and shorts and T-shirts and sunscreen and sunglasses.
It is hart now to be pulled into the frenzy. Complicating the process is the fact that we are driving. That means we can gleefully overpack. So I’m considering bringing things like my old birding books and my binoculars— If I’m birding, I’ll need these — and my adjustable walking stick that I got for a birthday present 15 years ago — we’ll be in a great place for hiking.
Here’s the truth of the matter: It is so, so easy to get caught up in the furor of taking and packing and planning and organizing that the real reason one goes on vacation —to rest and relax and recharge—is all but obliterated by the frazzled activity beforehand.
Don’t let that happen to you. Slow down, pack light, worry less, and enjoy more. You can’t appreciate God’s creation if you can’t be in the moment. Put that on your checklist, please. by Jack Kraus, Publisher
Tyndall House Publishers
Music's Importance
I attend a small village church in rural PA. On any given Sunday, we may have six or seven faithful little ones who come with their parents for the whole church service. Pastor has a white bag which gets passed from child to child, making sure they get equal turns to put something in for him to talk about. Each Sunday, Pastor calls all the little children up to him and he opens the bag to find a "surprise" on which he bases his children's sermon. Last week, the bag went home with a little guy who spends many hours a week on church related activities. His parents and older brother are very active and so, in turn, is he. When Pastor opened the bag, there was a copy of Handel's Messiah which was very appropriate for Easter
Sunday. Pastor and the children had a lively discussion going on about the joy and happiness that music brings to the service. As he closed the little talk, Pastor said, "Yes, music is a wonderful part of our service. What would church be like if there was none?" Without skipping a beat, the little boy who had brought the music said, "About a half an hour!"
Needless to say, everyone exploded into laughter which lasted for minutes. Finally, Pastor said, "There is no way I can top that so let's have a little prayer before you return to your seats." (From Laugh & Lift)
“Your acts of kindness are iridescent wings of divine love, which linger and continue to uplift others long after your sharing.”
-Rumi
7

 Mission Building Team: Next trip TBA.
They will be working with Foothills Service Projects to build ramps and make home repairs. They stay at Jim’s house. All you need to bring is pillow, sleeping bag, toiletries, and personal items. All tools and food is provided. Contact James Layok to volunteer.
 Clean Water Project: We will continue to raise funds ($4500) to purchase a clean water system for our 2016
Honduras Mission Trip . Make any gifts to Love’s Grove Missions and designate them “Water Project.”
 Chicken ‘n Dumpling Supper : Saturday, November 7th, 4:00 – 7:30 PM.
Mark your calendars now!
 Continuous Community Support: Thank you for all you do as a congregation to help us be a church that reaches beyond its walls and borders with the love of Jesus. Thanks be to God for the privilege we have to serve! Some agencies we partner with through gifts and/or volunteers:
West Stanly Christian Ministries
United Methodist Committee on Relief (disaster relief)
Live Again Ministries
Bridge To Recovery – Men’s Home
Bridge To Recovery – Women’s Home
Love’s Grove
United Methodist Church
Post Office Box 276
4360 Polk Ford Road
Stanfield, NC 28163-0276
Phone:
704.888.4643
Office Hours:
Monday
– Friday
7:30 AM – 11:30 PM
Pastor:
James K. White pastorjkw@live.com
Office Administrator:
Donna Jenkins lovesgroveumc@live.com
Youth Director:
Kathy McCoy lovesgroveyouth@outlook.com
Website: www.lovesgrove.org
Email: lovesgroveumc@live.com
Wings of Caring (Africa)
Provide financial aid to families in crisis situations
Foothills Service Project
Missionaries to Japan: Matt and Jen Daniels
8