It’s been hot for so long that I don’t remember whining about how cold it was earlier this spring.  It’s been hot so long that I don’t care if the Japanese    beetles eat my flowers.  It’s been hot so long that I’ve fallen   back in love with  watermelon, patios at 10 at night and sprinklers.  And we’ve only just reached the official Dog Days of Summer.  Remember that phrase?  The Old Farmer’s Almanac  says they run for 40 days from July 3rd to August 11th.  Named by the ancient Romans after Sirius, the Dog Star, whose brightness coincided with this period, it is a time “when the seas boiled, wine turned sour, dogs grew mad, and all creatures became languid, causing to man burning fevers, hysterics, and phrensies”  OK, we’re not all hysterical and frenzied, but we may be dragging a bit, both in body and soul.

These days remind me why the psalmist  wrote that the “LORD is your shade at your right hand.”  I need the cooling refreshment of God’s Word when worries and grief leave me, well, frenzied.  Perhaps you too have days where your worries mix with the heat and leave you thirsty for more than a cold drink.  Now is not the time to forget to gather together in fellowship and worship with those who care for you at Shiloh.  Now is not the time to forget to nourish your soul with the words of the psalmist who reminds us that with the Lord “the sun shall not strike you by day” (Ps 121).  Now is not the time to shut ourselves up inside our air-conditioned cocoons waiting for easier days.  Now is, instead, the time to refresh ourselves by gathering, praising and still serving our Lord.  Just be sure to bring the cold water.

Pastor Susan

There’s still time to join in God’s ministry this summer!

Be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ this summer!  Join us!

July 17 - Shiloh Church work day with EDGE Outreach  (that includes YOU youth!)

July 18 - 21 - High School Mission House trip-this is always a summer highlight as we spend our days making other people’s lives better and our evenings with special activities and programs.   Scholarships are available so see Sherry or Pastor Susan.

July 25-30 - We are at Loucon Camp!!!  ”Can’t wait to Sally Down the Alley”!

On Sunday July 18th, come for a worship time as we celebrate in song and word God’s empowering of us all to ‘go into the world’.

Lisa Fish, missionary to Uganda and friend of Shiloh church,

and Pastor Susan will share a joint message on “Unexpected Missions.”

DO YOU remember Lisa Fish, a dynamic young woman, dedicated to God, and serving with World Gospel Mission?  Lisa’s journey has taken her from New Jersey to    Indiana and Kentucky, where she graduated from Asbury College.  She served in Bolivia for 13 years, and in 2003 transferred to Uganda, where there was a great need for more missionaries. She teaches at Heritage International School, located in Kampala.

WELCOME Lisa here on Sunday and we look forward to spending some social time as well as we host a reception for her after the service.  Light lunch and great dessert will be there for all.

It’s not just quilts for the Jenkins anymore.  Did you know that he and Carole have a small sewing group for youth ages 10 and up at Breath of Life UMC in Shively?  Last year it just happened that extra transportation was needed on one of the Wednesday nights that Shiloh serves there, and the Jenkins volunteered.  During the course of things one of the children said he thought they should make a quilt.  Well, jumping right into quilt making is a bit of a reach, so they started with pillows.  Each month a group of about 4 have been meeting to learn about sewing machines and making a small pillow.  These evenings have been “exhilarating and exhausting!” Starting in July, there will be a group of 5 teens beginning the task of making quilts.  Each one will make one, and Dick has been busy cutting and preparing their kits.   It promises to be fun and fruitful.

Welcome to Hero HeadQuarters,

where kids join forces with God!

August 2-6th 6:00-8:00 pm

What makes someone a hero? Super power? Amazing ability?  maybe. . .

But at Hero HeadQuarters, kids will discover unnamed heroes who were not super or powerful, yet their small acts were used by God to do wonderful things! What they had was a willingness to be used by God right where they lived.

Each day at hero HQ kids will participate in activities where they’ll learn that with God’s power they can make a difference in the lives of people around them!

They will be challenged to be heroes who:

Do the unexpected!  Take action!  Step out on faith!  Save the day!  Stand for truth!

This year our VBS is a Back-to-School Bible School as we prepare our children for a new school year centered in the power of God’s Word.  Watch for registration materials