Books On Spiritual Practices: As the summer draws to a close the weather cools, but our lives seem to only heat up. There is more to do with the start of the school year, sports activities, and even fellowship opportunities. While these can all be wonderful experiences and opportunities, the busyness of life can make it hard to make time to focus on our spiritual life. This month’s CE reading recommendations all center around engaging in spiritual practices to strengthen ourselves, our families and the community we have chosen to be with. Most books are made for families but that doesn’t have to be just you and your kids or even immediate family, it can also be friends or small groups. So grab a partner, your family or group and dive deeper into your faith and time with God. Faithful Families: Creating Sacred Moments at Home Paperback by Traci Smith.  Add family faith moments to your daily routine with little or no prep, and share meaningful spiritual experiences with your children! Traci Smith, a pastor and mother of three, offers ways to discover and develop new spiritual practices as a family, whether you’re a new seeker or a lifelong follower. Faithful Families is brimming with easy, do-it-yourself ideas for transforming your family’s everyday moments into sacred moments.

SCHOLARSHIP SINGERS: The Session has approved the funds to hire three university music students as Scholarship Singers. These students will augment the choir and bring new ideas to our music program while receiving training, mentorship, and experience in music ministry. We are exploring grants to help offset the costs, but we also welcome donations from anyone who wishes to support the development of new church professionals. If you’d like to assist financially with this program beyond your existing pledge, please give via your usual method and specify that it is for the Scholarship Singers.

MUSEUM TOUR: On Sept. 13th. Join us for lunch followed by an afternoon of Art at NOMA. We will meet at the church at 10:30 AM then head to the museum. The Museum is free to Louisiana residents. You can use the insert in the bulletin to sign up or speak with Beverly Kennedy.

ALL CHURCH AND COMMUNITY PICNIC: Please plan to join us on September 10th for our all Church and Community Picnic. We have lots of volunteer opportunities, however even if you can’t volunteer we hope you will join us for this great fellowship opportunity. Sign up to volunteer or let us know you are coming using the inset in the Bulletin. Please plan to bring a Picnic side or dessert to share. Oh and Saints fans don’t worry we plan to have the game projected so you won’t miss a moment of the game and we will outdoor water activities for the kids.  

GET INVOLVED IN CHRISTIAN EDUCATION: We have a great year planned and would love for you to get involved. Here is what we are looking for: 

1. Sunday School teachers for our middle and high School youth which will meet twice a month at 9:30 AM. They will be using the Spice Rack Curriculum: Habits. 
2. Nursery volunteers. 
3. Teachers for our age PK- 2nd grade Children’s Church. They will be using a narrative lectionary Curriculum. While we don’t have younger children in the church yet we still want to be prepared to provide a children’s church and nursery option if we do have families worship with us. Louise will work with those who are interested to 

STARTING THIS FALL: We have so many wonderful programs starting up on September 17th for all ages. At 9:30 am adults can join us in the library for a new Adult Sunday School series called Off the Deep End