FEBURARY 2017 NEWSLETTER

Transcription

1 Maple Leaves FEBURARY 2017 NEWSLETTER

2 Message from the Pastor 2017 I love making lists! If you don t believe me, ask my sisters. To Do lists Grocery lists Christmas lists Things to be done in the spring lists I make lists on notepads backs of envelopes scraps of paper I ve even written on my hand a time or two Once, I started a Perpetual List in a spiral notebook. I figured it would be a good place to corral all my lists in one place. But when I reached the back of page 3, I got discouraged and chucked the whole idea. But, I ve never made a Blessings List. Have you? Did you ever sit down and make a list of all your blessings? What would be on it? Like me, your list would probably be pretty standard My house my health my family my job/retirement But then what? What are the other blessings in your life? The dictionary definition of blessing is quite straightforward anything that gives happiness or prevents misfortune. Let s look a little deeper at this Blessing List. My home what about the promise of your heavenly home with Christ? My health how is it with your soul your spirit? Can you give thanks for God s grace and forgiveness at work in your life? My family and friends does that include those you don t know well, those that you have an opportunity to help, those you only rub shoulders with the unhappy waitress, the angry store clerk, those without hope in their lives? funny-pictures.picphotos.net My job/retirement what is God leading you to do for Him? What project/ mission is He laying on your heart? What is your passion?

3 continued from page 2 Let s expand the Blessing List if a blessing is anything that gives happiness or prevents misfortune, what does your blessing list look like now? What gives you happiness joy even a deep sense of peace? What, in your life, prevents much of the misfortune or disappointment that others seem to face? Where do you find your joy, your security, your confidence? Our focus this year at Maple is on Blessing. Each week we want to recognize (and celebrate) the blessings in our lives. It might be a blessing we are expecting (a planned vacation, the birth of a grandchild, a graduation). It could be a blessing we ve already experienced (a promotion, a new home, getting rid of a sling or walker). It could be the opportunity we ve had to BE the blessing to someone else (working at the SHARE Dinner, helping someone get their groceries in their car, visiting with someone who is ill). Paying it forward, Rev. Linda What is on YOUR Blessing List for 2017?

4 Put blinders onto those things that hold you back, especially the ones in your own head. Meryl Streep How can we reach you? To keep you informed, the Maple Leaves Newsletter is available three ways: Paper Printed copies are available at the church. We can also mail you a copy, if necessary. We can send PDF files of the newsletter and calendar directly to the e -mail we have on file for you. Web site The link to the newsletter is updated each month and is available the entire month. The calendar is updated regularly. Let us know which option works best for you by contacting us at 269/ All hearts need the peace-maker.

5 Sunday Worship Helpers Liturgists 5 Jill Mason 12 Lois Mabus 19 Edith Clements 26 Morris Banks Greeters 5 Cheryl Wynn 12 Cheryl Ashley & Shirley Paulson 19 Marji Suggs 26 Elmer & Alyce Egelkraut Monthly Ushers Ed Bickford Tina Bickford Bob Hegerberg Otis Moore Brew Crew To sign up for this hospitality ministry, contact the office or see the list by the kitchen. Flowers The Flower sponsor chart is located in the downstairs parlor. Check for $15 00 should be written to Maple Women s Support Group. New Address Directories are available for If you would like one, please contact us at (269) or mapleumc@yahoo.com.

6 John and Lisa Singh Married on December 31, 2016 Thank you all for your continued support as I embark on my MS treatment. Your prayers are incredibly valuable to me and my family. My husband and I will be leaving for Mexico on 26. I will be providing updates each Sunday as well as on-line daily. Thank you. Laurie Lotter, Secretary Thank you for the cards and prayers for both of us. They are all special and we really appreciate them. Steve and Ginny Datema

7 SHARE Dinner Free Store At each SHARE Dinner hosted by Maple, there is a table with free items for those in attendance. Items that have been collected in the past include: new socks, packages of under garments, gently used T-shirts, hats and gloves. Contact the office to find out what is currently being collected. The King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Matthew 25:40 Card ministry If organizations send you a bundle of cards and you are not going to use them, bring them to the church to give to the new card ministry. This group will be sending cards to people that need a kind word. If you would like to help or donate, call the church. Items needed will be cards, envelopes, postage and YOU! Therefore, encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. I Thessalonians 5:11 Calhoun County Juvenile Home and Barnabas Ministries We will begin collecting personal trial-sized hygiene items for Lent These will be given to the above ministries to aid high-risk and incarcerated teens. Bibles for Prisons If you have extra Bibles not being read or used, they can be brought to the church and dispersed to people who have been jailed. Prison Chaplains will give your Bible to a person in the prison system. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105

8 The Breakfast Buddies meet for breakfast every Tuesday at 8:30am to eat and laugh. Here are the dates and locations for. You are all welcome to join us! Bob Evans 5421 Beckley Rd Griffin Pub 38 W Michigan Ave LUX Café 2587 Capital Ave SW Pancake House 185 Capital Ave SW Bernadine Brown ended up with a $275 million in her divorce. Having been raised in the church, she knew that when much is given much is expected, so she asked God to send her a purpose. The purpose turned out to be a town: Henry Adams, Kansas. The failing town had put itself up for sale on the Internet, so Bernadine bought it. When the buyer comes to town, the mayor, Trent July is impressed by her vision, strength, and the hope she wants to offer not only to the town and its few remaining residents, but to a handful of kids in desperate need of a second chance. Not everyone in town wants to get on board though; they don't want change. But Bernadine and Trent are determined to preserve the town's legacy while ushering in a new era with ties to its unique past and its promising future.

9 NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD PANTRY NEWS Monthly Food Pantry Focus Cans of Fruit A can of fruit is a staple for the boxes given to families in need and is not available from the Food Bank, so the pantry relies on donations of this item. Remember, paper products (especially toilet tissue), soaps and other personal toiletry items are always needed. Direct Your Dollars Family Fare Fundraiser for the NE Food Pantry When we collect $150,000 worth of Direct Your Dollar purchases on Family Fare food, gas and pharmacy receipts, Family Fare will give $1,000 for use by the Pantry. As of publication, we have collected nearly $40,000! The fundraiser has been extended to help the pantry reach this goal, so keep saving those receipts. Please mail or drop off your ORIGINAL receipts to the church or the Food Pantry, 342 Capital Ave NE, Battle Creek, Fazoli s Spaghetti Fundraiser

10 Maple United Methodist Church 342 Capital Ave. NE Battle Creek, MI Visit us at mapleumc.org LABEL AREA FOR MAILING Pastor: Rev. Linda Stoddard Church Phone: (269) Church Fax: (269) Church Church Website: mapleumc.org Office Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9:00 a.m.-noon Sunday Worship Times 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship Service VISION STATEMENT The vision of Maple United Methodist Church is to be deeply rooted in Christ; our branches reaching out to our neighbors, bearing fruit in all seasons, and giving all praise and glory to God.