Everyone is back to full work mode as school has started and all the committees of the church are gearing up for the many events planned before Christmas this year.

For one thing, choir practice has begun again on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. The new Christmas music has been brought out and that should be a lot of fun.

Winter Arthur and Amy Shruptine are busy organizing many activities for the young children this fall. They have activated the church van to make sure the kids can make it to church on Sunday.

On Saturday, they have planned a trip to the Brookshire's museum in Tyler. Later, we'll have trips to The Villages, the Polar Express at Christmas and other places.

Winter has also asked for help in another project. She is responsible for decorating 10 scarecrows for a fall festival at the Athens arboretum on Oct. 10. She hopes several of the groups in the church will volunteer to take on at least one scarecrow to decorate. The Red Hats have signed up for two and so have the Methodist Men.

The Martin family attended the wedding of Bill and Joyce's granddaughter this past weekend. It was planned as an outside wedding, but we hear at the last minute it had to be moved inside.

Last night, the church hosted the Savutos, a missionary couple from Kenya. After dinner, they presented a program on their work.

This Saturday is the annual Charge Conference for this church. It will be at 4 p.m. The district superintendent will be in attendance.

Also, mark your calendars for Sept. 27. That's when a group called David's Song will be performing at the amphitheater.

Another item to remember is the semi-annual Methodist Men garage sale. It will be Oct. 10. So, if you have any items around the house you want to get rid of, just let the church office know and someone will come and get them for you.