Weekly Newsletter

E-Blast

Thursday,

June 27, 2024

Weekly Schedule

Sunday, June 23 - Sunday, June 30

Youth Dominican Mission Trip

Sunday, June 30

9 a.m. - Morning Worship

10 a.m. - Sunday School

11 a.m. - Morning Worship

Tuesday, July 2

7 a.m. - Men’s Prayer Breakfast

Wednesday, July 3

No Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal

Thursday, July 4

Church Office Closed

No Walking in the FLC

Happy Independence Day

Friday, July 5

Church Office Closed

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**Known by Our Love**

In John 13:35, Jesus says, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Our Christian identity is not defined by opinions or positions but by our love.

Jesus' command calls us to a higher standard, transcending self-interest or judgment. His love was sacrificial, unconditional, and inclusive, reaching out to the marginalized and forgiving the unforgivable. This is the love we are called to embody.

Being known by our love means understanding and serving others, putting aside prejudices to genuinely care. Acts of kindness, patience, and forgiveness reflect our faith.

I recall a men's retreat with Jay Hanson, where his father Dave shared his life vision: “I want to be a glad Christian.” This simple yet profound statement stayed with me.

Tonight we will have a presidential debate. This weekend and next week we will thank God for our country. Yet in my 47 years, I have never seen our nation so torn by hatred and polarization. Next month our church will vote on its future. Later this year our country will vote for the next President as well as other leaders. We have ample opportunities in the weeks to come to voice our opinions and positions.

Yet, my hope and prayer for Perry United Methodist Church is that, regardless of changes, even if the name on our church sign changes, that one thing won’t change. I pray that we will follow Jesus. That we will be known by the love we have for one another, and for ALL God’s children. May we remain a beacon of hope and love, following Jesus together.

Church Conference Monday, July 22, 2024

6 p.m. in the Family Life Center

A Nursery will be provided in the Education Building

All professing members of Perry UMC, as well as clergy appointed to serve Perry UMC and retired clergy who hold their membership at Perry UMC, are eligible to vote.

Voting Information:

- Voting must be done in person; absentee voting is not allowed.

- A two-thirds (2/3) majority of the total number of ballots handed out is required to approve the departure.

- The Ballot Will Read:

Shall Perry United Methodist Church (1) depart from The United Methodist Church for reasons of conscience regarding a change in the requirements and provisions of The Book of Discipline related to the practice of homosexuality or the ordination or marriage of self-avowed practicing homosexuals or the actions or inactions of the Annual Conference related to these issues; (2) close the church and transfer title to all its real and personal, tangible and intangible property to the Annual Conference Board of Trustees (the "Trustees') in accordance with paragraph 2549.3(a) of The Discipline; and (3) enter into an agreement with the Trustees for the purchase and sale of the real and personal property of Perry United Methodist Church to a new church to be formed by the members of Perry United Methodist Church at the price and on the terms set out in the Trustees' Policy adopted on February 22, 2022.

- Ballots can only be marked YES or NO.

If you vote YES - You are voting to depart the United Methodist Church.

If you vote NO - You are voting to stay in the United Methodist Church.

- Unmarked or unreturned ballots count against the total needed for departure. Abstaining (not marking or returning a ballot) effectively counts as a "NO" vote.

Let us unite in prayer for our church and the outcome of this vote. This vote is NOT about our love for all people, our belief in the Bible as God's Word, or the welcome we extend to everyone. It is solely to decide the best denominational home for our church in the future.

For further questions, comments, or concerns, please contact us:

**Rev. Tom Carruth**

- Senior Pastor

- tcarruth3@gmail.com

- 912-677-8681

**Mr. Rob Tuggle**

- Administrative Board Chair

- rtuggle@dltj.com

- 478-396-5499

Thank You from Rev. Tommy Perkins and Family

Thank you so much Perry United Methodist Church for all your love, support, gifts, and prayers!

The outpouring of your generosity this spring to us by way of support and prayers, cards and gifts, Star Wars videos and sending away receptions/meals-- all have blessed our Perkins’ family hearts. Even before this leave-taking, you have been so kind! We will never forget your generosity to us over these seven years and realize no words that could be written here are able to capture our deep since of indebtedness to you, this congregation, Perry UMC's staff, as well as the Perry community.

We hope that in the future y’all will either go to www.wesleyglenministries.com or even better come on up the road to Wesley Glen Ministries on North Munford to encounter some of the thousands of Christ-centered ministries with people experiencing intellectual and developmental disabilities. Tommy already shared a joke or two with Wesley

Glen, and one of them was a joke from PrimeTime’s “Jokes You’ll Love” that you of Perry United Methodist Church and the Perry Dogwood festival should surely remember... “How can you tell a tree is a DAWGwood tree?” Answer: “By the bark” (diddle um tum Tssss)

10000 Thank Yous from the Perkins family!

Deeply grateful,

Tommy, Caroline, Ronnie, and Delia

Pledges for Departure Cost

The amount needed for the departure will be $84,881 for the unfunded pension liability and $236,463 for two years of apportionments. We have paid $59,000 in apportionments and $10,000 in the pension liability which leaves $252,344. We are estimating $50,000 in additional costs for new signage, repainting the vans, etc, etc, which brings our total to $302,344.

The Administrative Board and Finance Committee are now seeking your support for a ONE TIME PLEDGE to prepare our church for a departure fee required by the South Georgia Conference should we vote to depart in July. If the church votes to depart from the UMC we will have a very short window of time to raise the required funds for departure. In order to plan intelligently, we are asking for your pledge at this time.

We sent pledge cards with the May messenger. They are also available in the church office, the sanctuary narthex, or online at perryumc.org/give.

To read a letter from our Administrative Board President, Rob Tuggle and our Finance Committee President, Kelly Hillis about these pledges, including a timeline, please click here.

For more information about our Denominational Concerns and process, please go to perryumc.org/denominational-concerns

Children's Camp

IT'S ALMOST TIME! Children's Camp is just around the corner! It's going to be great! We'll ride horses, we'll play games and you can't forget THE BLOB!

Campers should arrive at the Family Life Center at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, July 8th to load luggage and prepare for our departure at 9:30 a.m.

Registration for camp is closed.

We are helping Foster Family Support of Middle Georgia to collect school supplies for children in foster care. Click Here for the Amazon wishlist where supplies can be purchased and sent directly to them . They had 4 times more families sign up for help than they were expecting, so please help support this project!

The Blessing Box Pantry suggested items

· Canned vegetables or canned fruit

· Fruit cups/applesauce

· Canned meat/Jerky

· Tuna packs/Chicken salad packs

· Canned soups

· Pasta (dried, canned, microwaveable cups)

· Instant potatoes

· Mac & Cheese (boxed or microwaveable cups)

· Cereal cups/Oatmeal cups

· Granola bars/Protein bars

· Trail mix/assorted nuts

· Pudding/Jello cups

· Crackers/Popcorn

· Baby food

· Can openers

· Cooking oils and sprays

· Spices/seasonings

· Plastic utensils,,,

· Cleaning supplies (cleaning wipes, soap, sponges, laundry detergent, etc.)

· School supplies (composition books, notebook paper, pencils, pens, etc.)

· Travel-sized toiletries (shampoo, body wash, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc.)

· Feminine hygiene products

· Diapers and wipes

The Blessing Box Freezer and Fridge suggested items

· Frozen microwaveable dinners

· Individually wrapped frozen items (corn dogs, hot pockets, burritos, breakfast sandwiches, etc.)

· Fresh Produce

· Bottled water

· Shelf-stable milk

· Gatorades

· Juice boxes

· Butter

· Small cartons of eggs

· Bread

· Lunchables

· Cooked, packaged meals in to-go boxes (MUST BE LABELED WITH THE DATE FOOD WAS COOKED AND INGREDIENTS)

The Blessing Box and Fridge are being visited many times a day. The need in Perry is great. Loaves and Fishes has not begun operating from it's new location so there are very few options to get help with food. Please help us feed the hungry in our community.