The Greeneville Grapevine

Dear Church Family,

Can you believe school starts next week? Where did the summer go?

I shared the following with our boys this morning during worship. While it is sometimes said that the times we live in today are much different, the first sentence in the following passage seems to demonstrate the relevance of such for today. It seems apparent that physical education involves industry and work.

Even if it were certain that one would never need to resort to manual labor for his support, still he should be taught to work. Without physical exercise, no one can have a sound constitution and vigorous health; and the discipline of well-regulated labor is no less essential to the securing of a strong and active mind and a noble character.

Every student should devote a portion of each day to active labor. Thus habits of industry would be formed, and a spirit of self-reliance encouraged, while the youth would be shielded from many evil and degrading practices that are so often the result of idleness. And this is all in keeping with the primary object of education; for in encouraging activity, diligence, and purity, we are coming into harmony with the Creator.

White, E. G. (1894). Christian Education (p. 69). International Tract Society.

In the news:

There will be orchestra practice tonight at the church at 7:30 p.m.
This Sabbath we will have the orchestra participating in the service as well as a baby dedication and teacher dedication. I will be sharing the morning message with a sermon entitled, “True Education.”
There will be a fellowship lunch this Sabbath with the Reese / Chalfant team hosting.
Sabbath afternoon there will be a baptism at Paint Creek at 4:30 p.m. Joshua Small & Elise Brown will both be baptized.
AYA this Sabbath will feature Don & Donna Mohl who will present a unique variety of musical blends with a wide variety of Biblical and traditional instruments. AYA will be at 7:30 p.m.
Our annual school work bee will be this Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch will be provided.
I had a nice time visiting with some of the new parents and students yesterday at school registration. I learned that we are expecting 19 new students for the new school year. In visiting with the teachers, I learned that the largest classroom looks to be 3^rd and 4th grade with 16-17 students expected. We are expecting a total of 23 students in our 10-12^th grades. It was also exciting to see a mother there from the community who has also attended our church some recently. She was there registering all five of her children for school. God continues to shower our school with His blessings.
There will be a Sabbath School Council Meeting this Monday, August 5 at 6 p.m. at the church.
All the Pastors and their families gathered at Cohutta this week for ministers meetings. It’s always a pleasure to gather and fellowship and grow together. Summer meetings are geared towards family and we enjoyed a great presentation on the importance of having a vision and mission as a family. The last evening there Tina and I along with the boys enjoyed a canoe/kayak ride on the lake.
As many of you may have heard, Elder Wright, our conference president is retiring at the end of August and so we spent time at ministers meetings recognizing his 15 years of service within our conference. A search committee is set to meet August 28 which will be composed of the executive committee and the nominating committee from the last conference constituency meeting. Southern Union President, Elder Ron Smith will chair the committee. Thus Brad Emde & myself will be serving on that committee. Please pray for God’s leading in the process.
Just a reminder that our NE TN camp meeting at the Oaks is set for Sept 20-21. Dr. Stephen Bauer will be the speaker and if you are interested in camping or staying at the Oaks that weekend, reservations and information can be picked up in the church foyer.