July 8

I hope this email finds everyone doing well. I've entered my summer break determined to get our house and yard in better shape. I'm so busy during the year that the house and yard get put on the backburner...and it shows. I've bagged about 30 bags of leaves so far, but have about 60 more to go! The people who pick up the bags must think someone else has moved into the house. "Finally, someone who cares!" they must be thinking.

I actually love working in the yard...find it very therapeutic. How good it is be working in God's great earth. Our office manager, Claudette DeLong, feels the same way. So if you need a therapeutic experience, Claudette and I recommend some good ole-fashioned yard work. During the summer months, however, do it in the morning or the late afternoon...and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

What a treat we have in store for you this week as Rev. C.J. Hawking has travelled from Chicago to preach for you on Sunday. C.J. is the executive director of Arise Chicago which was founded by a diverse group of religious leaders in 1991 looking to address systemic poverty in the Chicagoland area. C.J. is also a close friend of our Rev. Claire Marich. Claire will be the "host pastor" on Sunday. We appreciate C.J., Claire, Ray Ellis, and others leading us in worship. 

The Raise the Roof Capital Campaign is still going on, and there are plenty of dates to choose from on the 12 monthly calendars. If you have not signed up for a date, you may do so by going HERE. If you have any questions, please call the church office at 912-233-4351. 

The doors at Asbury and Wesley Oak are always wide open for anyone looking for a church home and a church family. Our next New Member Classes will be in October. If you are interested in learning more about church membership and the classes, please contact Candace Jenkins at the church office or contact me at bghester3@comcast.net.

Cheri and I recently celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary. We got married In NYC on June 27th at Marble Collegiate Church in 1987. Marble Collegiate is on the corner of 5th Avenue and 29th Street. When we chose our wedding date, we completely forgot about that being PRIDE weekend, so the parade went right down 5th Avenue in front of the church! What a celebration it was! I guess it was destined for us to be leading an inclusive, LGBT friendly church!

For our anniversary this year, we had a great meal at a restaurant in downtown Savannah After supper, we walked over to the fairly recently developed Plant Riverside District. We had heard about the giant chrome dinosaur, the amazing gems and fossils, and beautiful art galleries - all free to see in the lobby of the JW Marriott. It did not disappoint. Like working with nature in the yard, one can't help but be amazed at our creative and mysterious God looking at these feats of nature. Then after passing through the building, you end up being on a wonderful boardwalk right next to the mighty Savannah River.

If you haven't had a chance to go to the Plant Riverside District, I encourage you to do so. It will be good for your soul!

Love & Blessings to all!
Billy