| 07.30.2026 Greetings Church Family, This week we turn our hearts to Matthew 14:13-21, where Jesus feeds more than five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish. It is a familiar story, but like all of Scripture, it has a way of meeting us again with fresh grace. Jesus had just heard the painful news of John the Baptist’s death and withdrew to a quiet place. Yet the crowds followed Him, bringing their needs, their hunger, and their hurt. When Jesus saw them, He did not turn away. He had compassion. He healed the sick. He blessed what seemed far too small. And in His hands, what looked insufficient became more than enough. Everyone ate and was satisfied, and twelve baskets of leftovers remained. That is the good news we need to hear: when we place what we have in the hands of Christ, He is always able to provide. My message title is “Always Enough.” Today Pastor Maggie and I went to the fair to watch the sheep presentation and support some of the children we know. As we sat there, I found myself thinking about all the unseen work that led to that moment. Long before the ribbons were handed out, there had been early mornings, daily care, patient practice, mistakes, learning, and steady responsibility. Several of the children and youth received blue, red, or yellow ribbons, and we were proud of all of them. But even more than the ribbons, I was moved by the quiet faithfulness on display. The gentleness they showed their animals, the patience with which they led them, and the support of families, mentors, and volunteers and church all spoke to something deeper. Growth rarely happens all at once. It is formed over time, often in places where few people are watching. Is that not also how God works in us? The Lord shapes our faith through ordinary days, small acts of obedience, lessons learned through trial, and the encouragement of those who walk beside us. Watching those children lead their sheep, I could not help but think of our Good Shepherd, who leads us with a tenderness greater than any we can give. Christ sees what others may miss. He sees the preparation, the perseverance, the disappointments, the small victories, and the quiet growth that may never receive a ribbon but matters deeply in the kingdom of God. So this week, may we bring our little to Jesus and trust Him to make it enough. May we notice and bless the growth God is nurturing in one another, especially in our children and youth. And may we remember that even in ordinary places like a fairground, God can speak a holy word of grace, provision, and hope. I look forward to worshiping with you on Sunday. Kym Smith has put together a calendar of events that we are celebrating for our 200th anniversary. We will have copies at church for you, and they are also posted on our webpage. Go to https://rossumc.org/. On the menu you will see 200th Calendar of Celebrations. Click on the link and scroll down. Saturday August 8, we will be going to Elda Elementary school for the yearly RAMM back to school event which our church has been a big contributor of items that help the school children get back to school. Please see Nancy B. if you would be able to be with her at the table where our items are given out. Stay as little or as long as you would like. For more info see Nancy. Our next celebration in honor of our 200th will be August 13th as we will have a movie night and “indoor picnic” open to community and all that gather. Invite someone to join us for a fun night at church. Then on August 16th we will have our District Superintendent Rev. Dr. Suzanne Allen join us on Sunday morning during worship along with the Methodist Historical Society representative Jack Holt for the gift of proclamation in honor of our 200th. We will have a reception after the service. The 200th committee invites you to share how you became part of Ross Community UMC. What brought you to our wonderful church? We have received several notes, and we would like to thank Jan Gump for her testimony last month. You can submit your story in the provided box or email something to rosscommunityumc@gmail.com. Our stories will be assembled together as we journey through 2026. Thank you for your support each month for Heifer Project International. Jan will be giving us an update on the animals we purchased, and if you would like any additional information, see Jan or the Heifer Project International table. REMINDER, SUNDAY SCHOOL IS ON SUMMER BREAK Adult Sunday School is growing. Many of you have shared with me how wonderful your class is and how much you enjoy being with Paul Smith’s weekly topics and leadership. This is another perfect opportunity to invite others to join us and experience RCUMC. Invite a friend and join Sunday School at 9:45. During the 10:45 am service, we are blessed to have Trysta Taylor lead our younger ones. She has a great class ready to receive our children with a program just for them. Any questions, stop by her area and say hello on Sunday Quote for the Week: “We must remember that the shortest distance between our problems and their solutions is the distance between our knees and the floor.” — Charles Stanley Blessings, Pastor Chris Next Update 08.06.2026. |