Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Romans 12:11

 Worship Services

    8:25 a.m., 9:40 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. - Sanctuary

  11:00 a.m. - Journey, The Loft

  11:00 a.m. - Hispanic Service, Chapel

  Bible Study

    8:25 a.m. & 9:40 a.m. 

July 26–August 3, Somotillo and Corinto, Nicaragua

On Saturday, July 26, a mission team from Dawson representing For Love of The Game traveled to Nicaragua to partner with Because We Care Ministries. For Love of The Game is an organization that combines the love of baseball with the love that Christ has for all humankind. John 13:35 says, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

The team will be in Nicaragua this week and will return on Sunday, August 3. Please pray for the members of this team and for the people with whom they will come in contact throughout the week.

Boys clothes in sizes 6–18, and especially sizes 7, 8, and 10, are needed so that Kids Connection can meet the needs of the kids we serve. Please check your closets and see what you can donate. You will make a difference in the lives of many kids in need.

This July, we are collecting back-to-school supplies for students in Coy, Alabama, Dawson’s adopted community in the Black Belt region of South Alabama. Your donations of paper, pens, pencils, crayons, and any new school supply are greatly needed and appreciated. Collection tubs are located at the Church Office and the welcome desk in the Arendall Building. Please contact David or Denise Bivin if you have questions or are available to help.

A group of 106 Dawson students and sponsors set out on our Chapel Choir tour that began with an 18-hour day of travel from Birmingham to Wichita, Kansas. At our first rest stop, John Woods pulled out a bag of turquoise rubber bracelets and started passing them down the aisle of the bus: "When you meet someone, listen to their story and then tell them why we are on this ministry trip. Find out their story and tell them yours." The students were challenged to give their bracelets to people with whom they came in contact and to explain to them that the purpose of our trip was to reflect God’s glory because of the incredible gift he has given us in Christ Jesus.

The next day the students traveled to the Air Force Academy for their first performance. Inside the chapel, our students sang for 324 guests, including some cadets, military personnel, and a number of tourists. After a quick-change at the hotel, we traveled to Coors Field, the home of the Rockies baseball team, to sing the National Anthem. That evening our students reflected upon the day. Hearing the stories of their encounters with stadium workers, cashiers, ushers, and random people who happened to be at the game that day was an encouragement. Everywhere we went, we saw people wearing the turquoise bracelets that our students and sponsors had given away. One student said, "I was really afraid to give away my bracelet. But I did it anyway. I felt good about that."

On Monday our students assisted at a Salvation Army camp for kids ages 10 to 17. Our students interacted with the campers who, the Camp Director explained, came from difficult backgrounds. Student Pastor, Jason Hall, shared his testimony and offered encouragement to the campers. The rest of the week was spent ministering to many others including serving at Harbor Light, a Salvation Army ministry in downtown Denver, and working and singing at Harvest Farm, a farm and rehabilitation center for men seeking to break cycles of addiction and homelessness.

My husband asked me what was my favorite experience of this year’s Chapel Choir tour. That is a difficult question to answer. Watching our students engage cashiers and folks standing in line with them has been a joy. Seeing our students share their turquoise #reflectglory bracelets with a new acquaintance, inviting them to tell their story, and sharing their own story in return has been life-changing. While the main focus of Chapel Choir tour is ministry through music, our students have learned how to communicate the message of salvation to the people God places in their path. This is what brings meaning to our choir ministry tour. It is about going where God sends you even when it is not where we want to be, and being a comfort to others. And by doing so, we reflect His glory.

Kimberly Cook

Chapel Choir Sponsor

"Receiving God’s Blessings: How Your Finances Impact Your Spiritual Journey" is a four-week study that will give you the biblical foundation for sound financial management and introduce practical applications. Additional one- and two-week studies will provide more detailed guidance on all aspects of personal finances. Managing your finances the way that God wants will absolutely impact your spiritual journey.  Classes meet on Wednesdays at 6:15 p.m. in Room 256 North starting August 27. There is no charge, and pre-registration is not required.

Sunday, August 10, 4:00 p.m.

A new year of Sunday morning Bible study begins August 17. In preparation for this important event, Sunday School leadership for all ages will meet to learn how we can best reach people for Christ and help Christians grow in their relationship with Christ. Childcare is available by contacting Donna Allan at dallan@dawsonchurch.org. All groups start at 4:00 p.m.

• Preschool – Chapel
• dawson kids – 354 North
• Students – The Loft
• Young Adults – Fellowship Hall
• Median and Senior Adults – Fellowship Hall

The Dawson Preschool Ministry is preparing for an exciting new year which will kick off on August 17. Our Preschool Ministry is an important and rewarding place to serve by teaching God’s love and sharing the love of Jesus with precious young children, and we need several additional leaders for the upcoming year. Each class has a lead teacher in place, and resources and supplies are prepared and provided each week. Please prayerfully consider the needs below and contact Brooke Gibson, Minister of Preschoolers, for more information about joining this team.

8:25 a.m. Sunday School:

Infants (Newborns-1 year olds) - Need 3 teachers

1 year olds - Need 3 teachers

2 year olds - Need 2 teachers

3 year olds - Need 2 teachers

9:40 a.m. Sunday School:

Infants (Newborns-1 year olds) - Need 3 teachers

4 year olds - Need 1 teacher

Kindergarten - Need 2 teachers

Dawson’s Cradle Care Team is a group of moms who meet monthly to pray for the expectant families in our church family. Each expectant family is assigned a Cradle Care caregiver who ministers to them throughout their pregnancy, birth, and baby dedication. Look for the New and Expectant Parents Announcement Board in the Preschool Atrium to find out who’s new and who’s due! Please contact Brooke Gibson, Minister of Preschoolers, if you would like to volunteer to be a part of the Cradle Care Ministry or if you know of an expectant family who needs to be added to the Cradle Care Ministry prayer list.

Stephen Ministers are laypersons who have undergone training in distinctively Christian caring skills. Since 1993, we have trained well in excess of 100 persons to serve as Stephen Ministers here at Dawson. Beginning August 11, our new semester of training will begin. You are encouraged to sign up by August 10 for this great opportunity of training and to become a Stephen Minister at Dawson.  For more information or to sign up for the training, please contact Bill Johnston at 871-7324 or bjohnston@dawsonchurch.org.

The dawson kids Ministry is currently looking for Investors (volunteers) for Sunday morning and Wednesday night collide. Below is the list of investor positions we have open. Please prayerfully consider if God could be calling you to serve in one of these areas:

Sunday Morning: 9:40 a.m. Sunday School

1st Grade: 5 Investors Needed

3rd Grade: 5 Investors Needed

Substitutes: 6 Substitutes Needed

Wednesday Night: collide

20 collide Greeters Needed (serving once a month) from 5:35 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

collide Track Teachers Needed

- 5 collide Missions Track Leaders Needed (6:40 p.m.-7:15 p.m.)

- 3 collide Discipleship Track Leaders Needed (6:40 p.m.-7:15 p.m.)

- 3 collide Art Studio Track Assistants Needed (6:40 p.m.-7:15 p.m.)

- 3 collide Music Lab Track Assistants Needed (6:40 p.m.-7:15 p.m.)

- 4 collide Recreation Track Assistants Needed (6:40 p.m.-7:15 p.m.)

If you feel God calling you to lead in one of these areas, please contact Danielle Bell, Minister of Children, at dbell@dawsonchurch.org.

Collide is brought to you by dawson kids and the Dawson Children’s Choir Ministry and is for kids in grades 1-5 on Wednesday nights starting this fall. Please visit www.dawsonchurch.org/collide and subscribe to updates for this exciting new ministry.

Wednesday, August 6, 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., Social Hall

Why do so many people have Attention Deficit Disorder or ADD? How can individuals with ADD/ADHD stay focused and be productive and not be too medicated? What can parents and teachers do to help individuals with this disorder? What can parents and teachers do when they see ADD affect someone’s self-esteem or compromise their school performance and even their social skills? What is the "latest" information on medication, coping techniques, and how nutrition impacts the disorder? Dawson is pleased to have Dr. Bert Pitts founder of Pitts and Associates, located in Homewood as our guest speaker. Who would benefit from attending? School teachers, parents and grandparents, Sunday School teachers, DMA teachers, babysitters, and the list goes on. Please mark your calendar to attend this very informative program.

Kindermusik classes with the Dawson Music Academy are available this fall on Mondays at 9:15 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 1:10 p.m. in addition to Tuesdays at 9:15 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 11:45 a.m. For more information or to register for Kindermusik, please visit www.kindermusikotm.com.

Did you know that the Dawson Music Academy currently has 250 students taking private lessons in harp, percussion, flute, trombone, baritone, violin, viola, cello, piano, voice, clarinet, guitar, ukulele, harmonica, mandolin, trumpet, and bassoon? We also have 40 families participating in Kindermusik classes. We have classes for kids and adults (private and group), so please join us for another wonderful year at the Dawson Music Academy. Registration for 2014-15 is now available online at www.dawsonchurch.org/DMA.

Read "Fenton's Friday Five" for observations and insights about being faithful at www.dawsonchurch.org/fridayfive.

Annalise Kensington Hollis, daughter of Erin and Marshall Hollis, will participate with her family in dedication this Sunday during the 9:40 a.m. service. Annalise was born on March 25, 2014. She has one sister, Bellalise. Her grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Greg Brown of Oxford, MS; Vee Hollis of Monroe, LA; and Mr. Tom Hollis of Ruston, LA. Her great-grandparents are Mrs. Jean Brown of Weaver and Mr. and Mrs. Ben Marshall of Monroe, LA.

Nancy Caroline Guthrie, daughter of Deanne and Scott Guthrie, will participate with her family in dedication this Sunday during the 11:00 a.m. worship service. Caroline was born on August 6, 2013. Her grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Larry Moore of Huntsville and Mrs. Gertrude and the late Mr. Don Guthrie of Parrish.

Family and friends of Mary Della Moss

Family and friends of Dr. Walter Nunn

Dr. Walter Nunn ~ July 12, 2014

Mary Della Moss ~ July 15, 2014

Cynthia and Adam Hobson in the birth of their daughter, Layla Joyce Hobson, on July 18, 2014

The flowers in the Vestibule and Sanctuary are in honor of the wedding ceremony of Caroline Stephens and Luke Holcomb on July 26, 2014.

Megan Harris

Laurie Taylor

Sunday sermons, by Dr. Gary Fenton, are available on CD in the Marketplace (located in the Foyer) immediately following the 11:00 a.m. service ($4 each). 

Dawson’s 11:00 a.m. Sunday Worship Service is broadcast (one week delayed) on WIAT 42, Sundays at 10:00 a.m.