I hope you had a chance to be in worship last Sunday!  Bishop Watson shared a fantastic message of hope and encouragement for us as a church family.  He reassured us that God has great things in store for us...things we can't possibly imagine at the moment.  He reminded us that Holy Spirit is present in our church and that we have all the gifts necessary to regain our strength.  He reminded us we are "16 years old" and that is usually a rocky time in life, whether you are a person or a church.  We are on our way to the next great phase of our life together!  I hope you decide to stay on board because it is going to be a great ride!

Now onto this weekend...You will not want to miss our Worship Arts Team's presentation of "The Heart of Christmas."  This is an original musical created by Harrison Hinson and our Music Ministry.  It is going to be wonderful.  Why not decided right now who you will invite?  The program will be offered twice...once on Saturday, Dec. 15th at 7 pm and again on Sunday, Dec. 16th at 2 pm.
 
There is no reason we should not fill the sanctuary for both productions and that can happen if you come and bring someone with you! 

Stuart
  

BISHOP TO VISIT SUGARLOAF!

It isn't everyday that a church has the privilege of having the Bishop make a special visit.  We are about to have that experience and I wanted you to know in advance so you can plan to be present!
On Sunday, December 9th, Bishop Michael Watson, spiritual leader of the North Georgia Conference will be our special guest.  Bishop Watson will preach at our morning worship service and bring a word of support from the other United Methodist Churches in the 
Annual Conference.  I hope you will plan on attending and inviting someone, perhaps a member you haven't seen in awhile.  
Bishop Watson and his wife Margaret came to North Georgia in the fall of 2008. Prior to his ministry with us, he served as Bishop of the South Georgia Conference.  
Bishop Watson is a remarkable Christian leader.  He loves Christ and the Church and has given his life in effective service and ministry.  He is aware of the struggles we have experienced as of late and wants to show his unwavering support as well as that of the entire conference!  I am deeply appreciative of his visit and know it will be a day to remember in the life of Sugarloaf United Methodist Church.
Let me say again how much I appreciate all of you and the way you are coming together to sustain a vibrant and growing ministry at the church!  It is truly an honor to be your Pastor and I want you to know I thank God everyday for you.  I look forward to seeing you in God's House again this Sunday!

Stuart  

I have always felt sorry for Atheists on Thanksgiving!  I mean, who are they going to thank?  Who can they show their gratitude to for all the blessings they enjoy in life?  Do they thank nature, good luck or even themselves?  Expressions of gratitude need an object of devotion.  I hope each of us know the source of our blessings...the God who created us and who, each day, blesses us beyond anything we deserve or have earned.
As we approach Thanksgiving 2012, I am thankful to God for so many things, most of which are not "things" at all.  I am grateful for the love of my wife and children.  I am grateful for the relationships I share with my brothers and sisters in my Sugarloaf Church family.  I am thankful for faith I have come to know because of the influence of Christian parents and grandparents.  I am thankful for the wonderful feelings that come when I hug my grandchildren when they come to visit.  I am thankful for the knowledge of God's love with me now and the promise of his love in eternity.  I am thankful that God has helped me realize that the most important things in life are not things at all.  They are relationships, people, and the life we share together.
 Here's hoping you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday!  May God pour out His blessings abundantly on you this Thanksgiving and everyday of your life!

Stuart 

INVITE SOMEONE THIS SUNDAY!

 

You and I owe a great debt of gratitude to the men and women of our Armed Forces who have paved the way to secure the freedoms we enjoy in America!  This Sunday, Nov. 11 is Veteran's Day and we have planned a very special tribute to honor these wonderful people.  If you are a Veteran...I hope you will plan to attend so that we can personally thank you for your service!  
Do you know people in your neighborhood who are veterans or active duty military?  What would it mean to them if you called in the next day or so and said, "My Church respects you and your family for the service you have given. We have planned a special service this Sunday to honor you and the many others who have served. Would you be my guest at this service?"  That invitation would probably bring a tear to their eyes and cause them to feel truly appreciated.  Why not call and invite them right now?
In addition to inspiring music and patriotic tributes, we will have an opportunity to hear from veterans as they reflect on their love of God and love of country.  You won't want to miss this opportunity!

 Stuart

 This coming Sunday, we begin a new series on the power of faith to make a difference in our day to day lives.  The series is "Faith That Works" and is based on insights from the Book of James.  I see a lot of folks today whose faith doesn't seem to have much influence in their lives.  Many of them have concluded that faith in God, faith in Christ is basically a waste of time and have therefore opted for a life without it. It's not just people outside the church that feel this way.  Many active, church-goers hold on to their religious beliefs because its "the thing to do" but their faith is powerless, void of any practical application in their everyday life.  
I want to use the lessons found in the Book of James to help us understand that faith is a powerful tool that can offer real life help to those who learn to apply it.
You probably know someone who has given up on faith or who doubts faith is worth pursuing.  This would the ideal time to invite them to worship with you!  This series will point out to us the practical difference faith can in building a life that matters.


Here are the areas we will explore:
Oct. 28:  "You Can Do This!"  (how faith gets us through life's trials)
Nov. 4:  "Don't Go There!"  (how faith helps us resist temptation.)
Nov. 18:  "Be Who You Say You Are!"  (turning beliefs into behavior)
Nov. 25:   "Everybody Matters!"  (avoiding favoritism)
Dec. 2:  "Watch Your Mouth!"  (learning to tame the tongue)
Dec. 9:  "Have You Prayed About It?"  (how faith encourages prayer.)

These are some of the ways faith works to make life flow better.  I look forward to sharing these messages from God's Word with you each week.  

Stuart  
  


 

One of my pet peeves is when pastors use the pulpit to endorse one political party or candidate over another.  Don't get me wrong...I'm all about Christians diving into the political process and being involved in determining the course and direction of our communities and nation.  Our voice and our values need to be heard loud and clear!  Where I draw the line is pastors who use the power and influence of God's pulpit to tell people who to vote for in elections such as the presidential election we have coming up next month.
Last month a group of 1500 Pastors from across the country took to their pulpits and told their congregations who they should vote for in the November election.  They intentionally did this to challenge the IRS ruling which prohibits churches, due to tax exemption, of taking political sides.  This Sunday I will be sharing my thoughts about all this.  I hope you will be present. 
By the way...if you have been absent the last few Sundays, we have missed you!  Don't forget we have gone to one Worship Service for the present time and it starts at 10:45 Sunday morning!  We have also started some great new Sunday morning classes which meet at 9:30.  Check them out!
 I look forward to seeing you Sunday at Sugarloaf!

Stuart

For the last three Sundays we have challenged one another to bring our very best to the table in strengthening our ministry.  I want to thank everyone who has been attending worship and supporting the church through your faithful service the last few weeks!  The Spirit of God is very much alive here and we are seeing signs of renewal every week!

The final "ship" we will be discussing is one which not everyone decides to board.  I'm talking about STEWARD-SHIP!  One of the fundamental truths about Christians, people whose hearts and lives have been transformed by Christ, it that they find joy in giving.  They don't give because they want recognition or praise.  They don't give thinking that somehow being generous will earn them God's forgiveness or favor.  They don't give to ease a guilty conscience.  They give to show their love for God and to experience the joy that comes through knowing they are being faithful to God!  

I once heard a preacher say this in a prayer before taking up the offering:  "No matter what we say or do, what we Give, Oh God, is what we think of you!"  That has always stuck with me.  One of the most accurate barometers of our faith in God is our giving.  What does yours say about you?  Does it say what you want it to say?  

God doesn't need our money, but Sugarloaf UMC does!  The church we love and care about cannot exist without generous giving from its members.  I hope you will join me in giving to God through Sugarloaf in the coming weeks.  If all of us "get on board" and commit to  "All Hands on Deck!"   the future of this church is bright and promising!

I look forward to seeing each of you this Sunday as we worship the God who has already GIVEN so much to us!

Stuart










 

FELLOWSHIP

I hope you have enjoyed our worship the last few weeks.  I've got to tell you, I feel a renewed sense of God's presence in our worship and many of you have shared the same.  

During our current series "ALL HANDS ON DECK!" we are talking about the four "ships" which contribute to a church's effectiveness in ministry.  This week we will be thinking about the power of Christian FELLOWSHIP. There is no such thing as a "solitary" or "isolated" Christian life.  Search the scriptures and you will never find Jesus inviting anyone into a "personal or private" relationship with him.  The invitation was always into the "kingdom of God", the community of believers.  Fellowship is not merely Christians coming together to catch up on the latest happenings in their lives, it is Christians sharing life, faith, joys, sorrows, hopes all in the context of our common love for Christ.   

One of the most important things we can do right now in our ministry is to support and provide opportunities for meaningful FELLOWSHIP within our church family. The response to last week's Covered-Dish Dinner let us know that such experiences are things you want to see happen more often.  We agree and will be planning such events moving forward. 

The importance of being together was one of the primary reasons behind our decision to move to One Worship Service beginning Oct. 7th.  The service will begin at 10:45.  Sunday School and Small Groups will still meet at 9:30.  An idea has been tossed around to offer breakfast each Sunday from 9:00 to 10:30 if there is sufficient interest and if someone feels led to take on that ministry. Are you interested in either? Let us know!

There are lots of things I love about Sugarloaf, but at the top of the list is the fellowship I find with some of the most wonderful people in the world.  I look forward to sharing with you about the importance of that FELLOWSHIP this Sunday!

Stuart
 

Welcome Ryan and Heather George!

I am SO HAPPY to introduce to you the new face of Student Ministry here at Sugarloaf!  Several weeks ago we made a promise to find and hire the best person we could find to work with your teens.  In hiring Ryan, we have kept that promise!  I can't wait for you to meet him, his wife, Heather and their three beautiful little girls Rylee (7), Piper (5), and Darcey (5 months).  
Ryan begins his work with our students this Wednesday, Sept. 26th!  They will be at our Covered Dish Dinner at 6:00 so be sure to say "hello" and give them a big Sugarloaf welcome!

The other day I asked Ryan to let me know his answers to a couple of questions.  I hope they will provide you some information about this fantastic couple!
Stuart:  Who is Ryan George?
Ryan:  "I grew up in North Little Rock, AR., went to college in Oklahoma City and am currently enrolled in Master's work through Asbury Theological Seminary.  I am the youngest of three sons...a loving husband...a doting father of three girls...a screaming extrovert...and an avid college football fan."
Stuart:  How did you and Heather meet?
Ryan:  Heather and I met while I was waiting tables.  She was not too sure about me, but I finally wore her down...mostly through trickery and begging!
Stuart:  What's it like being a Dad to three girls?
Ryan: Being a daddy is the most wonderful gift that I never saw coming.  I am completely ga-ga for my girls and rough-house them frequently.
Stuart:  What do you do for fun?
Ryan:  For fun I can be found running (previously completed three marathons), playing games with the family, taking my wife out on motorcycle rides, and playing guitar.
Stuart:  What do you want to happen in Student Ministry at Sugarloaf?
Ryan:  I look for teens to start participating more in the full body of the congregation.  To be present and leading worship, serving in areas of their passion, developing relationships to be both discipled and to mentor others.

Let's all turn out this Wednesday to show our support for Ryan and Heather as they begin their ministry among us!

Stuart 
 

 

I hope all of you are having a GREAT DAY today!  Speaking of "great days"...that is how I would describe our worship last Sunday!  God showed up in a BIG way and the Holy Spirit was evident all throughout the morning.  Harrison and our Worship Team and Choir blessed us with anointed music!  Lutricia Richardson moved us with her music and personal testimony of faith!  Our prayer time at the altar with EVERYONE coming forward was truly uplifting and powerful!
We have experienced some set-backs the last few weeks, but make no mistake about it...GOD IS BLESSING SUGARLOAF UMC AND WE HAVE ONLY BEGUN TO SEE WHAT HE HAS IN STORE FOR US IN THE FUTURE!!!!!!!



I hope you will plan on being in worship each of the next four Sundays as we begin a new series entitled, "ALL HANDS ON DECK!"  Whenever a need arises on a ship that is of an urgent nature, the word goes out to everyone on board..."All hands on deck!"  It means that routine tasks are to be set aside and that everyone is needed to focus on a single, more pressing task on deck. When this call goes out, everyone knows to drop what they are doing and report for duty.
In thinking about the needs before us as church family at the present moment, I can think of no better challenge than to say "All Hands On Deck! Now is the time for ALL of us to come together and prepare Sugarloaf UMC for where God is taking us!"
Sugarloaf will flourish in the coming months when we report for duty on each of the following "ships."       "WOR-SHIP"   "DISCIPLE-SHIP"  "FELLOW-SHIP"  "STEWARD-SHIP" (OK...I know that may be a little corny...but go with me for a moment!"  If ALL of us "show up on deck" to devote ourselves to these four practices over the next weeks and months, these are going to be some pretty exciting times around here.  I hope you will make a commitment to be present!

ALSO... Don't forget our next Town Hall Meeting and Covered-dish Dinner on Wednesday, Sept. 26th!  We will enjoy dinner and fellowship together starting at 6:00 and begin our informational meeting at 6:45.  I won't be the same without you, so plan now to be present!

It is an honor and privilege to serve as your Pastor.  I hope you will call on me if there are ways I can be of service to you or your family.

In Christ's Service,

Stuart

By now you should have heard about our AWAKEN weekend scheduled for August 10-12!  It is going to be a great weekend of worship, fellowship, food and fun for all ages!   Don't let anything keep you from participating in this incredible experience.  Check out the full details on the AWAKEN link on the website!

Stuart

 

 When people ask us in passing..."So, how are you?  How is your family?" we often smile, take a deep breathe and say "Great, just great!"  Sometimes we can say that with true sincerity because our family life really is wonderful!  But sometimes we know the words ring hollow.  There is no more truth in those words than there is snow flakes in Florida!  The truth is, family life for us is chaotic, painful, stressful, downright crazy!  

This past Sunday we began a series of messages you may find helpful if your family life is currently less than ideal:  "It's a Jungle in Here!"  We are identifying those "predators" that can disrupt family unity and create havoc in the home.  Here they are:

There is the "Elephant in the Room" - that family issue, problem, reality that everyone knows exists but which no one is willing to talk about or discuss.  It's the family secret that everyone just works around.

There is the "800 Pound Gorilla" - this is the family member who  seeks to control, coerce and always have the "last say."  They have to always be right.  They don't like it when they aren't.  They believe the whole family revolves around them.

The "Snake in the Grass" is the deception, lying and dishonestly that sometimes creeps into family dynamics and relationships.  It's venom is deadly!

The "Deer in the Headlights" - Is effective communication ever a problem in your home?  Do family members ever looked bewildered when you mention something they should remember but appear as though they are hearing it for the first time!

The "Monkey on your Back" - Debt and financial stress are top causes for family disharmony and strife.  How can we get this monkey off our back and out of our house?

I look forward to sharing these messages with you over the next few weeks!  

Stuart

Now that we have identified our vision for the future, it is time to resource the vision with our prayers, our spiritual commitments and our financial gifts.  This is the focus of the series we began last week.  

I want to remind everyone that on Sunday, April 29th, we will be making our commitments to Christ and the Church as we indicate our financial decisions to fund God's work here at Sugarloaf.  If we are to realize the goals God has set before us, it will require all of us loving God sincerely and giving to God sacrificially!  There are three aspects of this year's Giving Campaign that I want to highlight.

1.  This year's commitments begin immediately when your pledge is submitted.   This is different from the past when we have asked for pledges and then the actual giving period doesn't start until July.  To eliminate confusion we are establishing the giving period  to begin immediately and continue through next year's commitment time.


2.  This year we are asking everyone who is able to bring a "First Fruits Offering" to present at the altar in addition to the pledge card.  The biblical idea of the first fruits was to bring to God the very first (best) of the harvest and offer it as an expression of love and worship to God.  What are we asking in a First Fruits Offering?  We are asking that we bring the very best we can as a "first installment" of our pledge to present on April 29th.  In other words, how much of your pledge could you actually give up front?  This offering could significantly position us to enter the new ministry year with a great start! Offerings received on the 29th will apply to your "our Passion. His Purpose" pledge for 2012/2013.

3.  Please remember that this year there will NOT be a separate Capital Campaign as in the past.  Our debt service will be rolled into a unified budget and therefore the commitments we make on April 29th will have to meet both our ministry and building expenses!  Many of you have been giving to the "Together We Can" campaign the last few years. THANK YOU!  If you are able, we are asking you to pray about converting that giving to your regular giving or, in essence, combining the two.  


I know this is a lot to think about, but the issues we are discussing are hugely important ones!  We are counting on the faithful members and friends of Sugarloaf UMC to help us meet or exceed our goals!  I hope your decision will be guided by a desire to love God sincerely and to give to God sacrificially.  If all of us do that, great things are in store for this church and our ministry!


Stuart

FROM HUNGER TO HOPE!

Don't forget to join us next Sunday (March 25) at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds for our second annual "From Hunger To Hope" food pack!  This year we will be packing 400,000 meals to tackle hunger around the world.  Yes, you read that right...400 thousand!  We are able to do this because of the generous support of members of Sugarloaf as well as local businesses and groups.  The weekend starts on Friday night and the pack continues through Sunday afternoon at 2:30.  That is when we will have our celebration Worship Service which I hope all of you will attend.

This special service REPLACES our normally held morning services at the campus!  Please remember we will have NO WORSHIP SERVICES on the morning of Sunday, March 25! 

Look forward to seeing you there!

Stuart

TRANSITION

In every journey there are milestones, intersections along the way when decisions have to be made.  Do we go left? Do we go right? Do we go straight?  We, as a church, have come to a point of transition in our journey.  We find ourselves needing to ask:  "Where is God calling us to go?"  "What is God calling us to do?"  

For the past year a group of Sugarloaf members and I have been asking those questions.  The "20/20" Vision Team has prayed, researched, studied and been in dialogue about these questions.  We are ready to share with you our findings and our recommendations.  We are ready to invite you into discussion and feedback so that all our voices can be heard.

Let me urge you as strongly as I can to be in worship this Sunday, Feb. 26th!  We will doing two things.  First, we will celebrate and bring closure to the "Together We Can" campaign of the last three years.  There is much to celebrate and we will do just that.  Secondly, I will be sharing a "first look" at where the 20/20 Team is inviting us to go in the future.  We have some special things planned for the service.  Trust me, you will  not want to miss it!   I would tell you more, but I really want to encourage you to come on Sunday and hear it for yourself.  

I can't wait for Sunday to get here!  I hope to see you there!

Stuart

New Series starts February 5th

There was a time when Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism probably never crossed your mind.  These were nothing more than religions of people far, far away in places like the Middle East, Asia or India.  Today is far different.  Islam is in the news everyday and you probably have Muslims as neighbors.  People who used to go to church with you have left and are now practicing Buddhists.  If you work in a metropolitan city you are likely to have Hindus as co-workers.  We now live in multicultural communities represented by diverse religious beliefs.  It only makes sense that we get to know one another and understand each others religious beliefs.
What do you know about Islam?  about Buddhism?  Hinduism?  What are the similarities and differences between these faith traditions and Christianity?  Why is understanding these other faiths important for us as followers of Jesus?  Is it true, as some people suggest, that all religions are basically the same?  These are some of the questions we will tackle in the next series called "Mythbusters." I hope you'll join us each Sunday at 9:30 or 11:00!

Stuart

I couldn't resist sharing this photo of some of the "sock monkey's" in my life!  The two on the outside don't have names (that I'm aware of) but the two in the middle are my two grandsons Landon and Hudson.  These were taken during this year's Christmas celebration.
I hope you and your family had a great Christmas and New Year's celebration!  I want to thank the wonderful people of Sugarloaf UMC for remembering me, Becky and the entire Ministry Staff in their Christmas Gift List this year.  You are generous folks and we appreciate all you do.

What about that Christmas Eve Offering!!!!!!Over $50,000 for "Feed My Starving Children" and the "Hunger to Hope" project we will have in March!  We will be sharing more details about this year's Pack in the upcoming weeks.  

Stuart