Lake Palestine U.M.C.
by Barbara Cade

School should be up and going by now, and we trust that everyone is ready for a busy and exciting year. It looks like this week lots has happened and lots is going to happen at the lake church this fall.

For starters, yesterday there was a benefit dinner given for Dale and Mary Ann Whisenhunt's daughter, Tracey. Tracey has some injuries related to the Gulf War when she was serving in the military. Right now, they are preventing her from working, so the church has pitched in to help her with some of her living expenses. The chicken spaghetti dinner was great and raised a lot of money, and there was also a silent auction which proved to be popular with everyone. We really do pray that Tracey can get back on her feet soon and feel lots better.

Also, on Monday night, Joyce Martin held another meeting in preparation for the GED classes which will be starting at the church on September 10th at 6:15 p.m. We are all very excited about this venture.

In mentioning Joyce, it wouldn't be fair not to mention her husband, Bill. He has decided to start the new fall season without his beard. He looks good, and it should be a lot cooler in this very hot weather.

It was good to see John Riveire back in church on Sunday. He even sat with the choir although he wasn't quite up to singing a special yet.

Dorothy Botts is also doing much better. She got rid of that pesky tooth that ws bothering her.

Kaethe Griffin came to church wearing a brace around her foot. That's supposed to help the healing process on her ankle.

Crystal Simon's grandmother is doing much better after her surgery. Now, Crystal's sister, Sherry has just had surgery on her foot.

Prayers are needed for both Jeff and Lynn Davis. Jeff's father had a stroke and Lynn's son is going back to Iraq.

Everett Kuykendall is back home after having surgery.

Milton Decker is finally doing better after his motorcycle accident. He didn't think it was bad at first, but later he discovered internal bleeding which made a trip to the hospital necessary.

Our prayers are with Roland and Gail Massey who returned from Austin last week where they went to visit a terminally ill friend.

We hear that Sunny Farley got to preach at another church on Sunday. Bet it was good.

We were very sorry to hear that Ray Williams was in ICU in Tyler this past week with heart problems. We are praying that he is up and home soon.

Howard Buchanan drove himself to the emergency room on his motorcycle Sunday after he experienced complications from a wasp sting.

We were very happy to see Don Kiser back in church Sunday. He is here for a while from Seattle.

The United Methodist Women will kick off the year with a meeting on Tuesday, September 4th at 6:30 p.m. The Methodist Men will meet at the church on September 8th at 8 a.m. for their regular monthly breakfast.

A very special event is coming up on September 15th at 6:30 p.m. Dyanna Dawn, country music and gospel singer, will be performing down by the lake. The show is free, but the youth will be selling refreshments. There will also be about thirty door prizes given away during the performance. If it rains that night, everyone will go inside the church. Lawn chairs will be needed for the outside performance. Dyanna will be giving the church a preview of her singing talents by singing at the services on Sunday, September 9th.