Weekly Visitor  Online Edition

R. Scott Pricer, Sr. Minister

A little over a year ago, Bill Gates, co-founder and now major owner of Microsoft Corporation, spoke to a group of high school seniors on graduation day. He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teaching has created a full generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept sets them up for failure in the real world.

His first point is simple. "Life is not fair-get used to it." How often have we said "life is not fair" when we didn't like the way things were turning out. Unfortunately, children are not the only ones who say this. We adults are just as guilty when things aren't going our way. That is often a protest on our part because we didn't get a bigger "piece of the pie" when it comes to life. We look at the way some people live and wonder out loud why we didn't get more. Is there not one of us who hasn't driven by those half million to a million dollar homes in Memphis and wondered how anyone could deserve such luxury? It just doesn't seem fair. I suspect that some of those people inherited money from parents and that is their good fortune. Others made wise choices early in life and worked hard to achieve those goals. Still others may have just 'fallen' into the right job by accident. They didn't really have any idea what they wanted or where they were going, but somehow things just fell together for them. Don't you wish that would have happened to you?

Rule number eight says "Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life has not. In some schools they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to anything in real life." Don't we wish. How often have we wished we could have had a second chance to have gone a different route? Maybe we would have but then again maybe we would have done the same thing. What I am aware of is that we each have 24 hours in a day and we have opportunities to choose what we will do and won't do. I will always remember Luther Coley and the day he called me some six or eight months ago. He said that he couldn't do much but that he wanted to do something more for his church. He said that he could call people who missed church on Sundays from his chair at home and wanted to know if this would be okay. I wholeheartedly agreed and for several months that is exactly what Luther did. He made a choice to do something and it was a benefit to him as well as the church. I wish we would all make that kind of choice when trying to figure out what to do. Maybe something will come to you in the next few days or weeks and you, too, will call the office with a suggestion. I hope so.

Your pastor

Mamie Waldrip – Methodist Central.

Ralph Ramsey, father of Ron, surgery last week in Alaska.

Donna Climer.

Mary Jean Morris.

Mildred Parker.

Russell & Elizabeth Parks.

We extend our Christian love and sympathy to Paula Coss in the death of her mother, Joyce Bozer. Mrs. Bozer died last Tuesday in Illinois. 

We also extend our sympathy to Norman Thompson in the death of his brother, Homer, in Florida last week.

Dear Friends,

Sincere thanks for the cards, calls and visits during my six days in the hospital. I am fully recovered and certain that all your prayers are responsible.

Love, Mary Ann Stuart

 

Thanks to Gene Pricer,

Thank you, Gene, for serving DTCC as Elder for a year and a half. You took your commitment seriously and served well. We regret that other responsibilities 

interfere with your service as Elder at this time, but we know you will continue to serve in other ways. Your presence is valued to our congregation; your Christian spirit has deeply enriched our lives. In a recent called Official Board Meeting Bob Williams was elected to fill the vacancy left by Gene’s resignation.

Joyce Mariencheck, Chairperson

Board of Elders

We welcomed the following visitors: Lance Poole, Rhonda Wright, Demetria Ambrose, Gerald & Sharron Paris, Becky Smith

Church School 146

Worship Service 234

SALT Service 47

Received July 8 $7,151

Rec’d to date in July $19,947

July Budget Needs $42,116

Debt/Touch the Dream $350

Total Debt/Touch Rec’d $161,789

Speaker for SALT this week will be Rick McDade.

Have you signed up to make your favorite homemade ice cream for the Ice Cream Contest? If not, why not? We really do need some more entries – we would like to be able for everyone attending to have some good homemade ice cream. Our Family Night Ice Cream Social will be Saturday, July 21 at 7 p.m. Call Julie Western or sign up on the poster in the narthex.

Make your plans to attend "The Pied Piper" at Theatre Memphis, Thursday, July 19. We will meet at the church at 9 a.m. and leave around 9:15. The cost is $5.00. Please bring a sack lunch and we will eat the park. Drinks will be provided. Please call Trina Luechauer if you plan to go.

Registration forms for the young adult retreat are available on the bulletin board outside the YA room! Cost $20. Friday evening, August 3 – 4 p.m. Saturday, August 4 at Nelson Woods Retreat Center, Millington. Theme: "See Cruise . . Where Do You See Jesus?" Call Debbie Sisk for information.

CYF Campers from DTCC this year were Patrick Adkins, Michelle Austin, Emily Garrett, Julie Poston and Joey Weir.

This week at Bethany Hills for Junior Camp II we have Amber Dole, Brittany Duke, Devin McCuddy, Emilie Poston, Mairi Stockton, Madison Taylor, Sera 

Wooten and Zach Vaughan. Counselors this week include Michelle Austin, Michael Posey and Joey Weir.

Attending Discover Camp the end of this month will be Michael Sampson and Brittany Vaughan.

Family campers at Bethany Hills the week of July 22 we are aware of will be: Bobby & Barbara Lamberth, Nancy & Matthew Henry, Steve, Debra, Julie & Emilie Poston, Linda Gibson & Mairi, Jimmy, Cheryl, Corey & Alicia Woodall. Cheryl is this year’s director.

 Adults – We need your help! On July 17-20 from 6:30 – 9 p.m. we will hold our annual Vacation Bible School. This year’s theme is "Marketplace 29 A.D." Are you available to help?

Sign ups are now underway for VBS. The cost is $5 per child. Please sign up if you have not done so – also invite your friends and neighbors. We can’t have VBS without people.

We still need some tents to use for Vacation Bible School. They are needed between July 15-July 22. See Michael Posey or Kimber Vaughan if you can help. Thanks.

Bartlett Community Theatre presents its 20^th annual summer musical "The King and I" July 20, 21, 26-28 at 7:30 p.m. and at 2:30 p.m. on July 22. This production will be at the Bartlett Performing Arts and Conference Center. Advance tickets are $12 and may be purchased at Super D, 3051 Kirby-Whitten – they will be $15 at the door. For information call 382-2527.

We are excited to announce that Wilma Beam will be visiting McLemore Christian Women’s Fellowship on Saturday, July 14, to give a report on her visit to Vietnam last October.

As you probably know, each year the Woman-to-Woman event takes place in the country to be the mission study of CWF for the following year.

Wilma will have a timely and interesting presentation. You are invited to hear her speak at 1 p.m. on July 14 and to the reception following.

We hope to see you then at McLemore Christian Church at 4965 Willow Road.

There’s a treat for all music lovers. Early Dawn and Echelon will be in concert on July 22, 7 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 6325 Raleigh-LaGrange. Tickets will be $5 at the door. Early Dawn is just beginning their tour and this will be Echelon’s final tour. Don’t miss this exciting event!

Our next week to host the Memphis Interfaith Hospitality Network will be the week of July 29 – August 5. There are still a few slots open – it’s a great opportunity for service. Sign up Sunday or contact Bill or Mable Parks to be a part of this program.