BRANCHES August 2015

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SOUTHWOODoverviewCONTENTS3 pastor's noteBRANCHESDESIGNER Phillip LackeyCONTRIBUTORSWill SpinkChad TownsleySarah NiemitzNiña BantaRamsay & Elizabeth NuwayhidLane & Emily PolakPHOTOSPhillip LackeyWinnie WinfordKatie CochranFEEDBACK!We want to hear from you! Please sendyour suggestions and comments tobranches@southwood.org1000 CARL T. JONES DRIVE | HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA 35802(256) 882-3085 | WWW.SOUTHWOOD.ORGMELISSA PATTERSON Interim Administrative DirectorADULT MINISTRIESSARAH NIEMITZ Director of Community Development/AssimilationJAMES PARKER Chief MusicianWILL SPINK Associate Pastor/ShepherdingSTUDENT MINISTRIESKIM DELCHAMPS Administrative AssistantNIÑA BANTA Director of ChildrenNANCY McCREIGHT Assistant Director /Children/NurseryCHAD TOWNSLEY Associate Pastor/High-LifeWINNIE WINFORD Assistant Director/High-LifeMINISTRY SUPPORTTERRI GOOD Accountant/BookkeeperJONATHAN BARNETTE Director of CommunicationPHILLIP LACKEY Graphic DesignerJANICE CROWSON Director of Facilities/FinanceELIZABETH BUTZ Receptionist4 reflecting on marriageCouples sharing what they learned5 back to sunday schoolNew faces, new places, & new ideas6 on mission togetherThe value of small groups8 .5K sprayPhoto montage10 session updateKeeping you informed11 where can you fit in jobs for life?Finding out ways to helpUPCOMINGEVENTSFamily Movie NightAugust 7Fall Sunday School KickoffAugust 9Jr. High-Life ReturnsSeptember 2Southwood Men's RetreatSeptember 11 & 12Sr. High-Life ReturnsSeptember 13FAMILY MOVIENIGHTFriday, August 7 • 6pmAt the LodgePopcorn & Grilled Hot Dogs$4 per person$15 per family2 AUGUST 2015 | SOUTHWOOD.ORG
PASTOR’S NOTERelationships MatterIn our edition of Branches this past May, I wrotea brief description of a book I was planning toread during the summer months. I am proudto say that despite numerous youth trips, otherchurch life events and two busy kids around myhouse, I completed that book. I must admit,however, that it was a double-spaced bookof only 226 pages, making the challenge lessthan impressive. Nevertheless, I finished andthoroughly enjoyed Donald Miller’s newestbook, Scary Close. With August (unfortunatelyand begrudgingly) marking the end of thesummer reading season and the beginning ofthe school semester, I thought I would sharea few quick words from Donald Miller’s book.Intimate relationships matter. One of thegreatest forms in which we can experiencelove and learn more about God the Father isin and through relationships. Not, however,the common type of relationships which oftenfill our lives. Not the acquaintance, passer-by,“hey, how ya’ doin?” kind of relationships, butthe ones in which we truly stop to expose whowe are, good and bad, to another person.We must be willing to drop the act, stoppretending that we’re something we’re notand show people brokenness. This is intimacyand it is the soil in which the gospel grows inour lives. Until we are willing to drop the act,we will continue in a cycle of chasing applauseand affirmation that won’t fill us up. As weengage in relationships, inmate relationships,we rest in the truth of the gospel that we areloved and valued by God the Father. It is thenthat we can expose who we are as sinners andsaints in Heaven and grow as we share our livesand experiences with others.Because of Jesus, you are good atrelationships. One of the strongest chaptersin Miller’s book communicates this one truth—despite your past failings and shortcomings,you are still good at relationships, because ofthe difference Jesus makes in your heart. Thisdoesn’t mean that you are meant to be someYoda-like mentor to every person who crossesyour path. What it does mean is that you needto be courageous when it comes to taking therisks of intimacy. You are good at relationshipsbecause when you have been transformedby the gospel, you have something pure andlife-giving to offer other people. You havesomething to offer that is greater than yourself.You have the love, acceptance and calling ofJesus to share with others.Another school year is ahead and this meanslots of opportunities for new and continuedrelationships. Pray that God would move inyour heart in such a way that you would bewilling to expose the broken areas of your life.Pray that God would place particular peoplein your life to share the gospel with. Pray thatGod would teach you your worth and value asit's founded in Jesus. This is how the kingdomof God moves forward—by sharing our livesin intimate ways. The beauty and grace of thegospel is powerful because of Jesus, workingto redeem our lives. Pursue relationships—they matter and you are good at them!Chad TownsleyAssociate PastorIf you would like to contactChad, use the following:chad.townsley@southwood.org@thectownAUGUST 2015 | SOUTHWOOD.ORG 3
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BRANCHES August 2015

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