This Sunday, Journey will continue the "Unimaginable Love" series with a message entitled "The Two Sons." Come re-examine the parable of the prodigal son and reflect on the unimaginable love of our Father in heaven.

On Sunday morning, August 1, the Dawson Family of Faith will be blessed by the music of the Lamb Family Violin Ensemble. This very talented ensemble is in great demand throughout the Southeast to play for churches, corporate events, weddings, and a variety of other special occasions. Their repertoire is wide, and their musical technique is phenomenal.

The Lamb Ensemble will accompany the congregational singing and will play several special selections as a part of the 9:40 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. worship services. CD recordings will be available for purchase in the Marketplace before and after the morning worship services.

Dawson will host a "Back To School" event for children and families in Coy, Alabama, on Saturday, August 7. Your help is needed in distributing school supplies and clothes. The following school supplies are needed:

• Packs of colored pencils - need 97
• Glue - need 100
• Packs of pens - need 85
• Packs of markers - need 16
• Packs of filler paper - need 110

Don't miss this opportunity to celebrate what God has done through our Dawson mission teams in 2010. At this service you will be introduced to a new missionary family that will live in one of our missionary residences next year.  You will also learn about two mission efforts that were new to our church in 2010. This summer we launched a three-year partnership with Children's Hope Chest to minister to a community in Swaziland. You will also hear from Kimberly Smith, the founder of Make Way Partners, about their ministry to orphans in Sudan. The Lord continues to provide us with numerous opportunities to serve locally and around the world. Come on August 8 to celebrate these mission projects!

All Sunday School teachers (preschool through senior adult) will meet on Sunday afternoon, August 1. Planning begins at 4:30 p.m. and includes information, tips, and schedules for the new start of Sunday School on August 15.

Dawson’s Education Staff invites Sunday School leadership and families to a party on the front lawn on Sunday evening, August 1, following Sunday School leadership training. A picnic dinner will be provided for all. Children’s activities are planned. Please mark your calendar for this time of fellowship and food. Bring a blanket and chairs! We are celebrating the new year with great anticipation!

Leaders for Wednesday night Music and Missions for preschool, children, and preteens are meeting August 11 to prepare for an exciting year of Quest. The training schedule is as follows.
 
Preschool Quest: Music & Missions Training
6:00 p.m.-7:15 p.m., Room 225 East
 
Children’s Choirs Training
5:45 p.m.-7:15 p.m., Room 354 North
 
Boys Missions Training (Grades 1-4)
5:45 p.m., Room 301 West

Girls in Action Training (Grades 1-4)
5:45 p.m., Room 207 West

Preteen Girls and Boys Missions Training

5:45 p.m., Room 325 East

 
Volunteers are still needed in several areas. Call the Church Office at 871-7324 or contact a coordinator below to learn more.
 
Brooke Gibson, Preschool Missions: brooke.gibson@dawsonchurch.org
Ginny Glass, Children’s Missions: ginny.glass@dawsonchurch.org
Tracy Hanrahan, Preschool & Children’s Choirs: tracy.hanrahan@dawsonchurch.org

Enrollment is open year round for music lessons with the Dawson Music Academy.  The fall semester begins August 23! Lessons are offered in strings, woodwind, voice, guitar, brass, and percussion instruments. Registration information and forms are available online. 

The Dawson Music Academy will offer Kindermusik classes on Mondays this fall semester for birth through 5 years old. Classes begin the week of September 13. To learn more, contact Jill Vaughan at kmotm@att.net or visit http://kindermusikotm.com. 

Experience the J12 Challenge! Parents of 5^th and 6^th graders are invited to attend a dinner meeting on Sunday, August 15, at 5:00 p.m. Come and learn about the purpose and passion of the Preteen Ministry at Dawson. You will also receive 2010-2011 calendar dates for preteen and parent events and activities. Leadership representatives from the Preteen Ministry will share information about various opportunities for preteens and parents. This is something that you don’t want to miss! There is no cost. Please contact Kristen Torres by Wednesday, August 11, to R.S.V.P. 

Dawson's 5^th and 6^th graders are headed to Desoto Caverns to retreat and to be refreshed! The preteens will be introduced to the J12 Challenge of reading a Bible Overview, 365 chapters between Genesis and Revelation, for the coming year. This will be a time of great fun and fellowship as we explore (and spend the night in!) Desoto Caverns and participate in a variety of activities and attractions. We will get into God’s Word starting with Genesis 1: “In the Beginning.” Students will be divided into small groups to learn how to read and study God’s Word daily and also how to journal personal thoughts, meaningful Scripture, and prayers using the Bible as a guide. The cost is $60. The registration deadline is Monday, August 16. Church family, we covet your prayers as we embark on this adventure.

Register now for Men's Basketball! League play begins the week of September 7. Get your friends, Sunday School class, and co-workers together and form a team. Registration is available in the Family Recreation Center. 

Dawson’s vision addresses all aspects of our lives. For us to be found faithful in ministry and service, we must also be faithful in providing the financial resources to carry out those ministries. We are blessed with many ministry opportunities through Dawson, both within our walls and beyond our walls.  Those can only take place because of the generous giving of the entire Dawson Family. As the summer winds down and we prepare for a new church year, please consider your support for God’s work through Dawson. This is an excellent time to catch up on your giving or to give extra to support the ministries that reach so many people.

“It is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” 

(1 Corinthians 4:2)

You are invited each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. and 9:40 a.m. to a time of challenging, relevant, life-changing Bible study. Dawson offers Sunday School classes for all ages, birth through senior adult. Talented and gifted teachers lead these classes weekly. Welcome Center Hosts are available to assist you with your class choice and location. New teachers and classrooms await birth through college and several new options are available for adults beginning August 15. Contact Jan Jones for more information.

Journey is starting a new Life Group for college students. A "Life Group" is what we call a small group. This group will be a great way to connect with others and learn to live out your faith in everyday life. Life Groups are led through discussion-based teaching in a casual setting. The college group will meet at 11:00 a.m. in the apartment above the Grief Counseling House (directly across the street from the Dawson sign on the front lawn). For further information please contact Jeff or Tanya Hindman. We will start a new series on Sunday, August 15.

Women's fall studies will be offered on Wednesday mornings beginning August 18 and on Wednesday and Thursday evenings beginning in September. Options include Beth Moore's new study on the Book of Revelation, Precept Study of Judges, 5 Conversations You Must Have with Your Daughter by Vicki Courtney, and Becoming the Parent God Wants you to Be by Kevin Leman. Bible study leaders include: Penny Kimrey, Kimeran Stevens, Nancy Murphy, Sharon Wells, Kristin Awbrey, Lisa Bryan, and Vicki Dennis. Watch your mail for a detailed brochure.

A new year of Monday Men’s Bible Study will begin on September 13. The group will meet every Monday from 7:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m. in Social Hall. The morning will start with a light breakfast followed by an in-depth study of the book of Romans. A study guide will be available for purchase at each meeting. All men in the church and community are invited to attend this study led by Neal Schooley.

Dawson offers two excellent financial studies to help you manage all of the resources God has entrusted to you. These studies can truly change your life. Please seriously consider participating in one of these studies this fall. If you are trying to decide which one is right for you, contact Tom Thompson for a confidential discussion. 

Pre-registration is required. Information and registration packets are available in the Church Office. Childcare is available and can be reserved when you register. The schedule is as follows.

Crown Financial Study

Orientation is Wednesday, August 25 at 6:00 p.m. Classes last 10 weeks. You may choose to attend either on Wednesdays, September 8 through November 10, at 6:00 p.m. or on Sundays, September 12 through November 14, at 5:00 p.m. Cost is $25 per individual or $35 per couple.

Financial Peace University

Orientation is Tuesday, August 24 at 6:00 p.m. Classes last 13 weeks and are on Tuesdays, September 7 through November 30, at 6:00 p.m. Cost is $95 per family unit.

Have you ever heard (or uttered) the phrase "in the original Greek" during a Bible study and wanted to see and know more about it for yourself? Would you like to be able to understand and explain the New Testament more in context? Whether you are an informal Bible scholar or a lay Bible study teacher, you can get started learning Biblical Greek and become better equipped to study and teach the New Testament. This introductory course geared for non-seminarians is facilitated by Dr. Randy Todd of Samford University. The 12-week class will meet each Wednesday from 5:45 p.m.-7:00 p.m. from September 1 until November 17. The cost for class material is $20. To learn more, contact Keith Vinson.

Joshua Beau Payne, son of Stephanie and Darrell Payne, will participate with his family in dedication this Sunday during the 11:00 a.m. worship service.  Beau was born on February 22, 2010.  He has two brothers, Brock and Benjamin; and a sister, Bevin.  His grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. David Watson of Alabaster, AL; Mrs. Jean Payne and the late Mr. Louie E. Payne of Calera, AL. His great-grandparents are Mr. Fletcher Payne of Alabaster, AL; and Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Bennett of Calera, AL. 

Taylor and Josh Gamble on the birth of their sons, Harrison Nash Gamble and Jack Henry Gamble, on April 16, 2010

Betsey and Tyler Peterson on the birth of their daughter, Kathryn Leigh Peterson, on July 22, 2010

Haley and Jack Cupp in the death of her grandfather

Bill Carner and family in the death of his wife, Shirlie Carner

Family and friends of Valera Myers

Helen Taylor ~ July 9, 2010

Valera Myers ~ July 16, 2010

Shirlie Carner ~ July 17, 2010

An 11-member Dawson mission team is serving in Kharkov, Ukraine, this week. The team has partnered with an organization called LifeSong and will be working with a staff of missionaries to lead a camp for the orphans in a local orphanage. Please be in prayer for the team as they travel .Pray that they will effectively show Christ’s love to the kids. Also pray that their efforts will be an encouragement and blessing to the local missionaries.