God has given me some things that nothing can change?

Your worth is not measure by what you do.  Nor can you calculate the degree of your worthiness by what you possess.  Your worth is a function of your being.  Your being is colorless, genderless and believe it or not, ageless.  Your being in worthy of honor, admiration and respect.  It is a vessel of love and light.  It is a beacon of inspiration.  Beneath all the things that you have told yourself, been told about yourself, maybe even hold against yourself, there is a being that you must learn to honor, value and embrace.  It doesn't take much to learn how to do it, and it is well worth the effort.  How you learn to "be" with yourself and how you honor the being that you are will ultimately determine how worthy you feel.

Don't be harsh with your being.  Don't waste your time regretting things you have done or ways you have been.  If you take a nice, long, slow, deep breath, you will feel the truth of your being.  Try it now.  Take a nice long, slow deep breath.  Slowly release that breath and take another one.  Sit in the stillness that is sure to fall over your being while you silently remind your being of its worth and value to the world.  This simple practice will put you in touch with all of the love, light, joy and inspiration you need in the world.  This practice allows you to embrace your being.

In learning to embrace your being, don't look at your mistakes.  It is a given that we will all make some mistakes in life.  It is a given that you will make inappropriate choices for inappropriate reasons.  They will in no way affect your worth.  No matter what you say of what you do, nothing can minimize the worth of your being.  Your worth is a gift from God.  Your worth is a gift of grace.

Until today, you may not have realized that God established the worth of your being when you were given the gift of life.  Just for today, remain focused on the idea that your worth is not what you do or have.  Embrace the gift of your being.

~ Iyanla Vanzant

The new prayer calendar for the month of June from the New Hope Pregnancy Center is now available on the New Beginnings page.

Canning Hunger
Throughout the summer, donations to the Canning Hunger bin will go to Clayton Area Ministries.

Blood Drive
The date for the American Red Cross Blood Drive is Saturday, August 8 from 10 am to 2:30 pm. We will be signing people up for appointment times in the near future. If you have not yet signed up for donation, you may still do so. Keep in mind that the more donors we have the more lives we save. Contact Kris Carter with any questions.

VBS T-shirts
We will be ordering the VBS volunteer T-shirts soon. If you would like to purchase one for $10, please sign up the sheet on the bulletin board in the church lobby.

Military Outreach
The leaders of the Military Outreach are looking for opportunities to help people in the military. If you have a military contact or know of any outreach opportunities, please contact Adam Revels.

Honoring of Graduates
Christ Community will be honoring the graduates of high school, college, and professional schools on Sunday, June 7. We want to be sure to include everyone. If you know of someone in our church family who will be graduating, please contact the church office.

Life will work for me when I realize… I am in a different part of the same boat as everyone else.

Life doesn’t always go the way you want or plan that it will go. It hardly ever looks the way you first envisioned that it would look. It rarely feels comfortable or as if you have it under control, and quite often there are things that you cannot control! That’s life! Life is usually what happens just when you are planning something else.

It moves at its own pace, which is usually faster or slower than you would like it to. It moves in its own direction, which is often not the direction in which you are going. It opens up when you least expect it and shuts itself down at the most inopportune moments. It gives for no reason and takes the same way. It starts abruptly and stops just short of the goal. It changes. Then it refuses to change. It runs smoothly, then hits a bump. It feels good for days, weeks or months at a time. Then, all of a sudden, it makes you sick. It loves you. Then it leaves you high and dry. It will help you out when you need it most, then knock you down and roll right over you. It will present you with an answer. Then it will present you with questions that do not match the answer you have been given. It is good for a while. Then it sucks all of the goodness out of you. That’s life.

Until today, you may have spent a great deal of time focused on making life move around you. Just for today, be devoted to allowing the life within you to flow it its own way, at its own pace.

Honoring of Graduates
Christ Community will be honoring the graduates of high school, college, and professional schools on Sunday, June 7. We want to be sure to include everyone. If you know of someone in our church family who will be graduating, please contact the church office.

Blood Drive
We need people to pledge blood donation. Without the pledges we cannot schedule a date. Keep in mind that every donor can help save the lives of 3 people. If you were excluded from donation in the past, please consider trying again. Everyone receives a mini-physical to make sure they are a candidate for giving. The sign-up sheet is posted on the bulletin board in the lobby. If you have questions visit www.givelife.org, www.redcross.org, or contact Kris Carter.

Deeper Still LifeWay Women’s Event
Feeling lost in your busy, overloaded life? Then it’s time to grab your girlfriends, jump in the car, and head to Deeper Still. Join us for an extraordinary weekend of in-depth bible study, prayer, and worship that will point you toward the vibrant life God has in store for you. It’s never too late to ask for direction in your faith journey, and this LifeWay event for women of every age will get you to your destination. If you are interested in joining us in Greensboro, July 31- August 1 for the unique opportunity to worship and hear the rich and relevant teaching of Kay Arthur, Priscilla Shire, and Beth Moore, please contact Patty Eller.

Pork BBQ Fundraiser
On May 29, Christ Community UMC will be partnering with Fairview Contemporary Fellowship to do a Pork BBQ Fundraiser. The $5 plates will include BBQ, potatoes, slaw and a roll or bread. In order to make this fundraiser a success, CCUMC is being asked to do the following:
- Sell tickets
- Provide Volunteers:
o 2 for Chopping BBQ at 9:30 am
o 2 for preparing plates
o 3 or 4 for delivering to area businesses
- Provide Food Donations
o Pound Cakes
o Green Cabbage
If you are able to help, please contact the church office.

Wii Sports Tournament & Yard Sale
The Finance Committee is sponsoring a Wii Tournament & Yard Sale to benefit the church general fund. All are encouraged to participate.
The Wii Sports Tournament & Games will be held on Friday, June 5 from 6:00 – 9:30 pm. There will be bowling, golf, tennis, and baseball available. The cost per participant is $5. There is no fee for spectators and nursery will be provided. Refreshments (Pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, brownies & soda) will be available to purchase. Come out and join us for a family night of fun and entertainment!
The Yard Sale will be held on Saturday, June 6 from 7:00 am – noon. Donations may be dropped off in room #6 any time after Sunday School on May 31.

Wii Sports Tournament Reservations
To help us with planning, if you are going to attend the Wii Sports Tournament, please contact the church office with the number of spectators attending and the number of participants attending.

Wii Sports Tournament & Yard Sale Volunteers
In order to make the Wii Tournament and Yard Sale a success, we will need volunteers. If you are able to help in any of the following ways, please contact the church office.
For the Wii Tournament, I will
_____ provide a Wii game system
_____ provide a large TV
_____ oversee a Wii station
For the refreshments, I will
_____ provide brownies
For the Yard Sale, I will
_____ help with pricing on Thursday 6/4 @ 7:00 pm
_____ help set up on Saturday 6/6 @ 6:00 am
_____ help with sales on Sat. 6/6 7:00 am – 9:30 am
_____ help with sales on Sat. 6/6 9:30 am – noon
_____ help with clean up on Sat. 6/6 noon until done
_____ take left over items to Goodwill after sale

When You Thought I Wasn’t Looking (Written by a former child)

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one. When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals. When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that they little things can be the special things in life. When you thought I wasn’t looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God that I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God. When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other. When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don’t. When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given. When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn’t feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up. When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it’s all right to cry. When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be. When you thought I wasn’t looking, I learned most of life’s lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up. When you thought I wasn’t looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, “Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn’t looking.”

Each of us, parent or friend, influence the life of a child. How will you touch the life of someone today?

About a week late but we finally got the new prayer calendar out.

Check it out!

Blood Drive
We need people to pledge blood donation. Without the pledges we cannot schedule a date. Keep in mind that every donor can help save the lives of 3 people. If you were excluded from donation in the past, please consider trying again. Everyone receives a mini-physical to make sure they are a candidate for giving. The sign-up sheet is posted on the bulletin board in the lobby. If you have questions visit www.givelife.org, www.redcross.org, or contact Kris Carter.

Secret Sisters
The Secret Sisters assignments were e-mailed out in early April. If you did not receive an e-mail or have any questions about Secret Sisters, please call Amy Jones.

Deeper Still LifeWay Women’s Event
Feeling lost in your busy, overloaded life? Then it’s time to grab your girlfriends, jump in the car, and head to Deeper Still. Join us for an extraordinary weekend of in-depth bible study, prayer, and worship that will point you toward the vibrant life God has in store for you. It’s never too late to ask for direction in your faith journey, and this LifeWay event for women of every age will get you to your destination. If you are interested in joining us in Greensboro, July 31- August 1 for the unique opportunity to worship and hear the rich and relevant teaching of Kay Arthur, Priscilla Shire, and Beth Moore, please contact Patty Eller.

New Bible Study to Begin
"Times of Tragedy and Moments of Grace: Surviving a Life Changing Loss as a Person of Faith"
This is a study of John Baggett’s newest book, Times of Tragedy and Moments of Grace: Surviving a Life Changing Loss as a Person of Faith. It was written for those who have experienced some type of life-changing event, such as the death of a loved one, a serious diagnosis, a disability, a divorce, an addicted family member, a job loss, or a financial catastrophe. The book is a guide for negotiating the struggles of faith that so often accompany personal tragedies, and for finding and developing the spiritual resources to survive the darkest days of grief and suffering. It is about the willingness to learn, to change, and to grow, in the midst of pain and sorrow, and about emotional and spiritual recovery. And it is a testimony to the mysterious power of God through faith to transform events experienced as radical suffering, and to use them for good. The study is also intended for those who desire to assist others through such times, or for those who wish to prepare spiritually for the losses that eventually come to all of us.

Introduction
Chapter 1 Like Lightning Striking
Phase I: The Unwillingness to Face Reality
Chapter 2 Denial is Not a River in Egypt
Chapter 3 You Can Run But You Will Only Get Tired
Chapter 4 Where is a Superhero When You Really Need One?
Phase II: The Unwillingness to Accept Reality
Chapter 5 Why Do You Keep Asking “Why?”
Chapter 6 Who Pushed Humpty Dumpty?
Chapter 7 Never Put a Period Where a Comma Belongs
Phase III: The Grace to Embrace Reality
Chapter 8 The Road to Recovery is Paved With Moments of Grace
Chapter 9 Transforming Your Season of Grieving into a Lifetime of Caring
Chapter 10 When the Caterpillar Dies, the Butterfly Flies
Epilogue

This study which will be facilitated by John and Diane Baggett will meet on Tuesdays from 7:00 to 8:30 pm beginning June 2 at the home of Jan and Paul Julien. If you would like to participate or for more information, please contact Diane Baggett.

Pork BBQ Fundraiser
On May 29, Christ Community UMC will be partnering with Fairview Contemporary Fellowship to do a Pork BBQ Fundraiser. The $5 plates will include BBQ, potatoes, slaw and a roll or bread. In order to make this fundraiser a success, CCUMC is being asked to do the following:
- Sell tickets
- Provide Volunteers:
o 2 for Chopping BBQ at 9:30 am
o 2 for preparing plates
o 3 or 4 for delivering to area businesses
- Provide Food Donations
o Pound Cakes
o Green Cabbage
If you are able to help or for more information, please contact Anthony Suggs or Danny Brown.

I open my heart and mind to be aware… there are no points in the game of life. How I play determines if I win.

The goal of a football player is to get the ball over the goal line in order to score a touchdown. The goal of a baseball player is to hit a home run in order to increase the team’s score. The goal of a basketball player is to get the ball in the basket and increase the team’s points. Each of these players is focused on the goal, clear about the rules and prepared to win the game. This is not always true for those of us who are playing on the field of life. Our goal is not always clear. Our team is not always supportive. The points we make are not always counted. How do you win the game of life?

The goal of life is not to win. It is to play the game with live. The rules of the game are:
- Have a strong desire to win.
- Believe that you are worthy of winning.
- Have faith that you will win.
- And, as long as you are alive, never believe the game is over.
Go for the love and have fun while you are doing it! There really are no points to count. The fact that you are here means you have already won the important race. Play the game believing you cannot lose. Play the game for the love of it.

The game of life is rigged in your favor. There are angels playing on your side. Learn how to cooperate with them. The team you were born into really doesn’t matter, because there is only one coach for all teams in life. His name is God, and he has been cited for his consistent winning record.

Until today, you may have been working so hard to reach the goal line that you lost sight of the meaning of the game. Just for today, do not keep score. Remind yourself of the rules; love what you are doing. Listen to your coach because with him you are assured victory.