This has been quite the exciting week for Royston First UMC. Last Sunday after worship, we gathered at the Royston Wellness and Community Park for a Blessing of the Animals service. It was a wonderful service with several dogs and a chicken! Our pets are important to us, and it was so much fun getting to meet so many of your pets.
Then on Monday, we welcomed two new staff people to our team at Royston First UMC. Julie Lewis will be working in the church office as our new Administrative Assistant. Julie and her husband, Scott, recently moved to Lavonia this past summer. Prior to working at Royston First UMC, Julie held a similar position at Thompson First UMC in Thompson, GA. Heather Woods is joining our staff as our new Director of Kid’s Ministry/Financial Assistant. Heather will be in the office some helping with bookkeeping, but the bulk of her time will be spent working with our kids and their families. Heather and her husband, Bill (Woody), recently moved to Martin and they have four children, Gracie, Robbie, Cole, and Leila. I am very excited to have both of these ladies join our staff, and I know they will be a wonderful addition to our church.
The rest of the week consisted of the Haitian Orphanage Choir singing at our church, preschool students learning about snakes, a visit to the Pumpkin Patch from kindergarten and first grade students at Royston Elementary, and the Community Prayer Rally in our sanctuary. There is a lot of great things happening at Royston First UMC, and I hope you are able to get involved in what’s happening.
This Sunday, we are pleased to welcome Dr. Brian Clark in both of our worship services. Brian is a former pastor at Royston First UMC (2000-2005) and the current district superintendent of the Athens-Elberton district. Brian has been a good friend of mine for the last several years, and I am always excited when I get to hear Brian preach. It will be extra special this weekend to have him return to Royston and be with us in worship. Later on Sunday afternoon, Brian will also be the featured speaker at the United Methodist Women’s gathering we are hosting on Sunday at 3:00 PM.
God continues to do AMAZING things at Royston First UMC and I am so honored that I get to be your pastor! No matter where you are in life, there’s a place for you at Royston First UMC. Have a wonderful weekend and I look forward to being with you in worship at 8:45 and 11:00 this Sunday!
Blessings,
Matt
P.S. Don’t forget to pray with us at 11:30 AM every day through this month. Let’s join together and pray for an awakening in our church and in our community. If you would like to pray with us and do not know how to pray, you can pray the Lord’s Prayer (see below) and reflect on each of the lines.
Royston First United Methodist Church 