August 3, 2018

It’s hard to believe, but for most of us summer vacations are drawing to a close, the fall activities are about to get under way, the buses have started to roll, and our children are going back to school. Here at the church, we are also beginning to get a head start on the fall in a number of ways.

First, Foodstock 2018 is next Saturday, August 11, from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Once again, we will package over 300,000 meals to help feed those who would not otherwise have food to eat. Every year as we package these meals, I can’t help getting images in my mind of people who are malnourished. I try to imagine them receiving this food and not only how it helps to sustain them physically, but the sense of hope it offers them. This year, DUMC will be the site of the 100 millionth meal packaged by the United Methodist Church for Rise Against Hunger and it will mark nearly 2.5 million meals packed here at Dunwoody UMC. You won’t want to miss this historic occasion and you won’t want to miss the opportunity to offer the gift of life to those who need it most.

Our Wednesday Night Suppers get under way on August 15. As a way of informing you about all of the exciting activities offered in the fall, we will take about 30 minutes after supper on August 15 (6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.) to bring you up to date on all the opportunities, including our new Children’s Choir schedule, Preschool, Elementary, and Middle School programs, Small Group Studies, Adult Fellowship, and special programs by the Summit Counseling Center at DUMC.

Then too, you will want to make every effort to be here on Sunday, August 12. On that day, we will have the Blessing of the Backpacks. Each year we invite the children to bring their backpacks to the front of the church and there we offer a blessing for the children, the teachers, and for all who are involved in the educational system. It is a fun time, but even more importantly, it is a reminder to our children, teachers, and administrators that this church cares about them and is holding them in our thoughts and prayers.

As always, I look forward to seeing you Sunday, if not before!

Blessings,

Dan