June 18th, 2018

Potatoes!

One of my favorite parts of Vacation Bible School each summer is our mission project. Over the last few years, we have raised thousands of dollars to provide clean drinking water in Peru, buy livestock and offer education to struggling farmers, and eradicate malaria. It is truly incredible to see the excitement that pours out of our kids as they offer a few pennies or a few dollars and the generosity of our church and community members pledging hundreds and challenging others to match their generosity. 

This year, our mission project is to help feed the hungry in our community through a potato drop.  "What is a potato drop?" you ask.  Great question!

A Potato Drop is a ministry of the Society of St. Andrew, a Virginia-based hunger organization. They deliver a truck-load (about 40,000-50,000 lbs) of potatoes that would otherwise go to waste to a church where volunteers bag them and ready them for distribution to food banks, soup kitchens, and other hunger ministries. For about three cents, a serving of healthy food is delivered to people in need.

The East Rockingham Potato Drop will occur on Saturday, September 15th at Grottoes UMC. Several churches from the Grottoes, Port Republic, Elkton, and McGaheysville area are planning to participate, and the bagged potatoes will go to hunger-relief agencies in the Rockingham/Augusta County area. Each participating church will be contributing financially to offset the cost of dropping the potatoes in our community.

Our goal at VBS is to raise at least $1,500 of the $2,500 needed to move forward with this project. Any amount raised in excess of the cost of the Potato Drop will go to support the continued mission of Society of St. Andrew in feeding the hungry.

If you would like to help us reach (and hopefully exceed) this goal and feed a lot of people in our area, you can write a check to PRUMC designated for "VBS Mission" this Sunday or contact me. If you would like to make a pledge challenge to encourage the generosity of others, please let me know!

Our senior high youth will also be hosting a car wash at Shreckhise during VBS on Wednesday, June 27, to help raise money for this cause. Come out, get your car cleaned, and feed those who are hungry all at the same time!

Blessings on the journey, Jim

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Summer Bible Reading Plan

This summer, Port Church is having its reading club with prizes for all ages! This week's readings are:
Day 8 - Genesis 41 - Behind the Scenes
Day 9 - Exodus 3 - Time for Action
Day 10 - Exodus 14 - Miracle at the Red Sea
Day 11 - Exodus 20 - The Ten Commandments
Day 12 - Exodus 32 - The Dream Dies
Day 13 - Deuteronomy 34 - A New Leader
Day 14 - Joshua 2 - New Spies, New Spirit
This week's readings focus on how God took a single family - the family of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (renamed Israel) - and turned them into a people chosen for a special purpose. Although God worked miracles to deliver them from slavery in Egypt through Moses, the people grumbled, complained, and turned away. Having wandered in the wilderness without a home for a generation, God chose a new leader Joshua to lead them into the promised land. Although we may often falter in our faith and turn away, God continues to work in our lives and our world to fulfill God's will and bring us good things in other ways. 

Annual Conference Update

The Virginia Annual Conference met in Hampton this past weekend. Important decisions were made for our future ministry, and God was glorified in a mighty way in worship and service. Find out more in this summary from the conference.

Living in Community

Thank you to Dinah and the RENEW Mission Team for leading worship on Sunday!
Thank you to everyone on our team who made a difference
in our community for Jesus Christ last week!
Thank you to everyone who joined in prayer for the members of our team!

Thank you, Ralph and Kelly, for representing our church at Annual Conference!

Please be in prayer for our VBS leaders
as we enter into this last week of preparations.

This Week at Port Church

Wednesday, June 20
9:00 - 11:45 am - Office Hours
Thursday, June 21
9:00 - 11:45 am - Office Hours
Friday, June 22
7:00 pm - GVFD Parade Float
​​Sunday, June 24
9:30 am - Worship with Healing: "Helpless"
11:00 am - Sunday School

Looking Ahead

Picnic and Hike - July 7 (rain date - July 14)
Seniors Lunch and Bing0 - July 8
Praise Dance Worship Service - July 15
Welcome Reception for New District Superintendent - July 15, 2-5 pm, Dayton UMC
Back-to-School Bingo - August 12 
Potato Drop to benefit local hunger ministries - September 15
225th Anniversary Celebration - September 29