Greetings MCCC Family!

In case you missed Rev. C’s Midweek Meditation this past Wednesday, July 29th, please check it out at this link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-C25-0yvsk  You can also view it at our website: mantuacentercc.org.

Just a reminder that the funeral for Vernon Herron (Tim Herron’s dad) will be held THIS Sunday, August 2nd at 2:00pm at the Tower Lodge in Ravenna, Ohio, City Park, with a meal following. The following link is the obituary: https://obituaries.nationalcremation.com/obituaries/port-charlotte-fl/vernon-herron-11548054

Mark your calendars for our Annual Canoe Trip, which will be held NEXT Sunday, August 9th at 12:30pm.  We will enjoy Pizza and drinks at Camp Hi, and then depart following lunch. Pricing and further details will follow shortly.  Gather your family and friends together to share in this wonderful experience down the Cuyahoga River!

What’s happening this week? (RED = Church Events, BLUE = Community Events)

• Sunday Aug. 2 –  Worship with Rev. Cynthia 9:30am & 4C’s food collection  / 
  Sunday Classes for the “Seekers” and “Life 101”  11am – 12pm  / 
  Funeral for Vernon Herron @2pm in Ravenna
• Monday Aug. 3 –  Hilltop Knitters – 1:30-3pm (ALL are welcome!)
• Tuesday Aug. 4 –  N/A
• Wednesday Aug. 5 –    Rev. C’s Midweek Meditation on YouTube.com  / 
  Worship Team Meeting 9-11am  /  
  “Dwelling in the Word” with Diane Johnson facilitating 1:15-2:30pm 
• Thursday Aug. 6 –  N/A
• Friday Aug. 7 –  N/A
• Saturday Aug 8 –  N/A
• Sunday Aug. 9 –  Worship with Rev. Cynthia & KWM “Cans for Kids” Collection   / 
  Sunday Classes for the “Seekers” and “Life 101”  / 
  Annual Canoe/Kayak event at Camp Hi 12:30pm

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On a side note . . . 

One of my favorite scriptures is the 1st line of Psalm 46:10.  “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  Every time I read or hear this line, “Be still and know that I am God,” I am reminded that I need to bring my focus back to God and take time to let the silence draw me closer to Him.  (Some weeks I need many reminders!)

We live in a world of loud chaos and messiness!  Our culture seems to celebrate NOISE! It is all around us!  The news clearly shows the loudness, the fighting, the shootings and much more.  Sometimes it seems like a constant stream of information bombarding us at every moment!  When life feels the darkest and most chaotic, that’s where God meets you.  You don’t have to wait until things quiet down and improve to spend some quiet time with Him. I always thought that Jesus is the light at the end of the tunnel. But, in the words of Jen Weaver, a Christian author, she reminds me:   

“Jesus isn’t just the light at the end of your tunnel.  He’s the light IN your tunnel.”

When life feels darkest and most chaotic, that’s precisely where God wants to meet you. He’s right there with you in the midst of it because He never intended for you to navigate tough circumstances alone.  I think we all can use a reminder to carve out some intentional silence each day. Turn off the TV, the phone, the music and just sit in the silence.  In a world that never stops talking, choosing silence almost becomes an act of worship.  It declares that God’s presence is more valuable than any distraction.  His voice is more important than any phone notification.As you journey through this week, maybe try starting with just 3-5 minutes each day to sit in total silence.  If you aren’t used to doing it, it might feel strange or uncomfortable at first, but that may only be because we’ve forgotten how to be still!  Just keep practicing connecting to God this way each day, and it will get easier – maybe even to the point that you will actually look forward to your moments of silence with God each day!  May it be so. Amen!

Wishing you all a week filled with many blessings and new discoveries in your moments of silence. Don’t forget to shine your light with all you come in contact with!  Be the reason they smile. 

Hope to see you Sunday!
Sandi