Well, there are lots of them waiting for you to come visit, and decide to stay. Of course I highly recommend Mt. Bethel United Methodist down 81 East in McDonough. We still sing special music on Sunday mornings, and although the choir doesn’t have nearly as many members, we all still love His music. We sing from the hymnal, we veer off into gospel, and we learn new songs and try to perform for Easter and Christmas. One kind soul provided us with a CD of the latest collage of joy we’re learning for the Sunday celebrating the rising of Jesus after our forty days of lent. We have a very talented pianist and our pastor has an amazing voice, plus her husband does too (when he’s not on the road driving his semi). 

  Mt. Bethel also stays in the giving mode and lately we’ve been bringing in items for health kits to give to those in need. We always exceed the number requested, which is one hundred. Not too many Sundays ago our Sisters in Christ held a soup and sandwich lunch and the donations we gave will help them in their monthly feeding of a local group home. It’s just a loving and giving church, and has been that way since I first walked in those doors in 1959. 

  We also have a great sermon every Sunday morning and I know I’ve bragged that our current pastor never loses my very short attention span! Sorry to say but I used to bring a note pad in my purse and if the one in the pulpit strayed from their subject, or ran on too long, I’d write down a big word and see how many small words I could find, writing them down of course. I no longer bring anything to write on, and instead make notes of the scripture Claire uses on my bulletin and the occasional new fact she teaches me about the Bible. She also lifts up people I’ve been praying for, and other urgent needs in her warm prayer plus teaches some great children’s moments and finishes by having them say a short prayer as she calls out the word sentence by sentence.  A few of us whisper with the little ones, as it’s a wonderful prayer!

  I loved going to Bible school in my early years, and Sunday school of course, and then moved on up to Methodist Youth Fellowship as a pre-teen. All of those wonderful teachers and youth directors taught me so much from the Bible, plus neat songs I learned and some wonderful lessons I’ll always remember. I still love Jesus Loves Me, and will always use that as a calming device any time I’m having a medical procedure.    And with my latest excitement I again experienced the love of Jesus through my church family. I broke my right arm in a fall in the driveway and was offered help so I accepted a shopping trip to fill up on pain medicine and some salad by two Mt. Bethel buddies. While I was trying to write a  list for another trip, a kind neighbor dropped by and told me to let her know of anything I needed. I handed her a new slip of paper and pen and she neatly rewrote my scribbled note. My son, Leslie, came by later and  escorted me through Publix and completed that shopping trip after a warm visit. I had already gotten some smiles from my son, Ron, and of course daughter, Sam too, who took me to the bone doc to get my cast. On Wednesday two of my church members arrived, one to get me to choir, while the other stayed here to visit with Norman. I am already enjoying the wonderful meals provided via Mt. Bethel. I am SO blessed, via Jesus, family and friends!