Welcome to another week! I can’t believe how sunny and beautiful it’s been over the past several weeks.
I love seeing flowers pop up throughout spring and summer. Different flowers bloom almost every week from April through August on my property. Our forsythia and daffodils bloom first and our Rose of Sharon blooms last. It’s in full bloom now. Bumblebees, butterflies, and – I can’t believe I actually saw it – a hummingbird visit these flowers regularly.
Watching the hummingbird drink from the purple bloom reminded me that God is the God of the impossible. Scientists are baffled at the hummingbird’s ability to fly.
Something else that seemed impossible happened last week and God deserves the credit.
I and millions of other Christians around the world have been praying for two Sudanese pastors, Michael Ruot and Peter Yein Reith, who were imprisoned for their faith. By the grace of God they were released on August 5. They might’ve gone to death row for their faith in Jesus. But God moved and they were released.
I’m still praying for Pastor Saeed Abedini, who is imprisoned in Iran, and Asia Bibi, who is imprisoned in Pakistan. Their crimes? Pastor Saeed helped build an orphanage in Iran. And some Muslim women got into an argument about a cup of water with Bibi while they picked fruit in a field. She is charged with blasphemy against Muhammad.
Won’t you please join me in praying for Pastor Saeed and Bibi? Let’s look forward to the day when we learn that they’ve been released from prison.
Fallowfield United Methodist Church volunteer bakers made 150 Dutch apple, plain apple, and strawberry-rhubarb pies on August 3. We had a big crew and got everything done in two hours. What a blessing! I’ve been to pie makes that lasted for four hours.
You have two more chances to help make pies before fair week. Please join us at Fallowfield United Methodist on Monday, August 10, at 5 p.m. We will have a pie make on August 17, too.
Fallowfield held its annual Sunday school picnic on August 2. We had a good turnout and lots of desserts, salads, and casseroles. We played silly games afterward. One game challenged players to toss mini marshmallows into teammates’ mouths. The winners caught 50 marshmallows. My team caught five. There’s a reason I vowed never to play an organized sport after I graduated from high school.
The Crawford County Fair begins Saturday, August 22, and runs through August 29. Please come by Fallowfield’s booth and get a piece of homemade pie. All our net profits support missions at home and around the world. We’ll be making our usual pies, with the exception of blueberry crumb. We’re making coconut cream, lemon meringue, strawberry-rhubarb, Dutch apple, blackberry, cherry, peach, apple, elderberry, summer harvest (a blend of peach, cherry, and blueberries), rhubarb, and raisin. I’m sure you’ll like at least one of these. And remember: all our pies are nonfat and noncaloric. (Wink, wink.)
On August 14, Kennard United Methodist Church is hosting a flea market from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in their fellowship hall. Afterward, why not head over to Atlantic’s Community Days?
Fallowfield Fire & Rescue is hosting its second annual Community Days event on Friday, August 14, and Saturday, August 15. They are working in conjunction with Atlantic Community Church’s car cruise-in and pig roast. The fun lasts from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on August 14. Saturday’s festivities begin at 10 a.m. on August 15, and end at 7 p.m.
Both days will feature carnival games, a bouncy house, and the chance to - To Atlantic next page
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dunk firefighters, including the chief at a dunking booth.
Car cruise-in registration begins at 10 a.m. on the 15th at Atlantic Community Church.
Saturday’s Community Days events include a pet parade at noon, a corn hole tournament at 1 p.m., and lawn bingo at 2 p.m.
They’re raffling an ATV with a plow and winch and a 2015 Polaris Sportsman ETX 400. The winners will be announced November 14, 2015.
Have a wonderful week. Blessings!