Dear Glen Mar friends,

The first day of school for Howard County is Monday! I’m so excited for all that our kids are going to learn and the friends they will make! I hope you’ll bring the family to church this weekend or join us online to get prayed up for the new year, whether you are a student, a teacher, an admin person, a parent or someone who cares for any of those sorts of folks. Just this weekend alone, our high schoolers will have an end of summer pool-palooza on Saturday, our littles are going to be blessed by our “Time with the Children” in worship Sunday, our confirmation parents will have their info meeting. And I’ll be preaching on the theme “I am…Gifted.”

I love that United Methodists see intellect as one of God’s gifts to us, and that we believe reason is something God gives us to use as a tool in our faith toolbox. We believe that learning is an important part of growing into the people God wants us to be. When we work math problems, or read great literature, or do scientific experiments, or learn about history, or run a mile in gym, or draw a picture, or play an instrument, it can be an act of praise to God who calls us to grow in wisdom, not just in stature.

Let us love God, not just with our whole heart, soul and strength, but also with our mind!

If you have a college student who’s local, I’d love to be able to reach out to them to have a group dinner sometime (my treat) or other fun group outing. Send their contact info to my assistant, Mary Ellen. If you have a college student who’s further away, I feel your pain (I miss ours already), and I want to be able to text the occasional encouraging word or funny meme or $10 Chipotle gift card. Please let Mary Ellen know how I might reach them also!

See you in church,

Pastor Mandy

PS Susan Rhodes, longtime Glen Mar member and beloved friend, was briefly in hospice care, and has gone to be with the Lord. Her family will not have a service for some time, but I wanted to make sure our church is aware of Susan’s passing so that we can pray for her family.

For more information on what’s going on at Glen Mar, check out our blog “This Just In.”