Glorify God and make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world by welcoming all neighbors home to grow in faith and serve Christ. 

The final piece is ready!

Our new 15-ton air handler will be installed on Monday.

Following worship, we invite anyone who is able to stay for a few minutes to help clear the air-handler room at the back of the sanctuary. Your assistance will help ensure the space is ready for installation.

I thank God for each of you and for the generous partnership you have shown in this work. Your gifts have helped Lakeside move forward with these much-needed A/C repairs, and we are confident that the good work begun through your faithfulness will continue to bless our worship, ministry, and welcome for years to come.

Thank you for helping Lakeside prepare our building to welcome our neighbors, grow in faith, and serve Jesus Christ.

Help your family—and another family—begin the school year with God's blessing.

The start of a new school year brings excitement, but it also brings new routines, new classrooms, and new challenges. Every student, teacher, and parent could use a reminder that they don't walk into this season alone.

That's why Sunday, August 9 is one of the easiest and most meaningful Sundays to invite someone to church. We'll celebrate our Back to School Blessing, praying over students, teachers, administrators, and school staff as they begin a new year. Every student will receive a special backpack tag to carry with them as a reminder that God is with them wherever they go.

Then, after worship, we'll gather for our Fall Kickoff Potluck—a chance to reconnect after the summer, enjoy a delicious meal together, and get a first look at everything happening this fall at Lakeside. This is more than another Sunday on the calendar. It's an opportunity to help someone feel welcomed before school begins.

Think about the people God has already placed in your life:

• The family down the street getting ready for the first day of school.

• The grandparents raising grandchildren.

• The teacher preparing a classroom.

• The college student leaving home.

• The neighbor who has been looking for a church but hasn't known where to start.

A simple invitation can open the door to new friendships, meaningful faith conversations, and a church family that walks alongside them throughout the year.

So bring your favorite dish for the potluck, invite someone to sit with you in worship, and stay to hear about Bible studies, children's ministries, youth programs, mission opportunities, and all the ways we'll grow together this fall.

Let's begin this school year the way we hope to live it—with prayer, community, and the confidence that God goes before us.

One invitation. One shared meal. One meaningful beginning. We can't wait to welcome everyone home.

On Friday, August 21, Lakeside UMC will welcome daughters of all ages for an evening of dinner, dancing, crafts, photos, raffles, and joyful memories. More than just a fun event, the Celebration of Daughters is an opportunity to remind every girl who walks through our doors that she is deeply loved by God and cherished by her community.

Events like this don't happen on their own. They happen because our church family comes together with generous hearts, creative ideas, and willing hands.

Here are a few ways you can help make this celebration special:

Family Fun Night: Kickball at Deussen Park

Mark your calendars for Saturday, July 25, and come join us for a night of fun, fellowship, and friendly competition at Deussen Park!

Lakeside UMC is hosting a Family Fun Night featuring a Youth vs. Adults Kickball Game. Whether you are ready to step up to the plate, cheer from the sidelines, or simply enjoy time with the church family, this will be a great evening to laugh, connect, and make memories together.

There will also be other games for everyone, so all ages are welcome to participate. Bring your lawn chairs, your competitive spirit, and maybe even your best kickball shoes!

Please let us know you are coming by email or on Facebook so we can plan well for the evening.

We hope to see you there as we enjoy time together as a church family!

The daughters and special girls in our lives grow up quickly. In the middle of busy schedules, we do not always take enough time to pause, have fun, and remind them just how deeply loved they are.

Lakeside UMC is creating that moment.

Join us for the Celebration of Daughters—an evening filled with:

Dinner | Dancing | Crafts | Raffles | Photos |  Unforgettable memories together

Your destination is an evening of laughter, connection, and celebration. All you have to do is reserve your place, invite someone special, and come ready for the fun!

August 21, 2026 | Boarding begins at 6:00 PM | Lakeside United Methodist Church

Reserve your place today:
lakesideumc.betterworld.org/events/dance-2026

Do not let this special evening fly away—register and start planning your night together!

Here is a polished version for the weekly newsletter:

Sunday in Review: Wheat and Weeds

This week, we continued our journey through Jesus’ parables of the kingdom with the story of the wheat and the weeds in Matthew 13:24–30. Jesus’ parable speaks directly to the questions we ask when evil, injustice, and suffering seem to grow alongside all that is good.

The full sermon, “Wheat and Weeds,” is available on YouTube. Watch the sermon here.

The Field Still Belongs to God

In the parable, a farmer plants good seed, but an enemy secretly plants weeds throughout the field. When the servants discover what has happened, they immediately want to pull the weeds. The farmer, however, tells them to wait. Because the roots have become intertwined, pulling the weeds too soon could also destroy the wheat.

This is the surprising and sometimes unsettling truth at the heart of the parable: God allows the wheat and weeds to grow together until the harvest.

The presence of evil does not mean that God has abandoned the field. The world has been sabotaged by an enemy, but it still belongs to its Farmer. God sees the violence, injustice, betrayal, and suffering around us. His patience is not indifference. It is mercy.

Unlike us, God sees beneath the surface. He understands every tangled root, every hidden wound, and every possibility for redemption. History reminds us that human beings often celebrate the wrong heroes, condemn the wrong people, and make judgments without knowing the whole story. Jesus therefore warns us against becoming self-appointed “weed-pullers” who decide too quickly who belongs and who does not.

Our calling is not to judge the field but to live faithfully within it.

Father Gregory Boyle encourages us to stand “in awe, not judgment.” Even when our light feels small—more like a dollar-store flashlight than a brilliant spotlight—we can still shine with compassion, patience, and hope. A kind word, a generous act, a listening ear, or a story of God’s faithfulness can help someone glimpse the goodness of God in a dark place.

The weeds do not cancel the promise of the harvest. The field still belongs to God, and God is still at work. We are invited to trust the Farmer’s wisdom, reflect His patience, and become visible signs of His kingdom.

Reflection Questions

1. Where do you most struggle to see God’s kingdom because the weeds seem overwhelming?

2. Can you recall a time when your quick judgment about someone proved to be wrong? What did you learn?

3. How might showing patience toward others reflect God’s patience toward you?

4. Who around you needs the small “flashlight” of encouragement you can offer this week?

5. What spiritual practice could help you remember God’s goodness when the news tempts you to despair?

Prayer

Patient Farmer, You see every tangled root and still choose mercy. Forgive our rush to judge and our doubts about Your goodness. Plant trust in our minds, hope in our hearts, and compassion in our hands. Make us lights that guide others toward the harvest You are surely bringing. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Hey Lakeside family!

Thank you to everyone who has already signed up to serve with Youth Ministry! We are so grateful for all who have plugged in and made a difference for our students.

Now it’s time to look ahead to summer activities! Summer is one of the best seasons for connection, growth, fun, and faith-building moments for our students—and we need amazing volunteers to help make it happen.

If you’ve been thinking about getting involved, this is a great time to jump in. Whether you can help at one event or several, your presence matters. And if you’re not quite sure yet, you’re always welcome to come observe and see what Youth Ministry is all about.

Head to the link below to sign up for upcoming summer opportunities. It only takes a few minutes, but the impact can last far beyond one season.

 To subscribe to Youth Group communication, Text “lakesideyouth” to 855-485-7965 (or scan the QR code below).  Then send us a message with your name and whether you are a youth or parent so we know who we have captured.