Volume 60, Issue 10 June 2017

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1 Fellowship Lantern Volume 60, Issue 10 June 2017 The first phase of the Vital Church Initiative is winding down and on June 25, our Coffee Hour will include a presentation from the VCI team on our work thus far, including some information from our retreat last month. As we transition to the second phase, and begin to implement changes around the church so that we might better serve Christ in our community, it will be a scary-exciting time. Now, you June not be familiar with the term, scary-exxciting, but I m sure that most of you are acquainted with the circumstance of being scared and excited at the same time by the same thing. Starting new jobs, becoming parents, entering new relationships are some of the other times that we can find scary-exciting - Scary, because we might not be up to the challenge and because we might fail; Exciting, because we see tremendous hope in the journey we are beginning. In June of 1990, following four years of study, I graduated from Wesley Theological Seminary with my Master of Divinity. One month later, after five years as a candidate for ministry, Bishop Judith Craig ordained me as a Deacon in the Detroit Annual Conference. Within a few weeks, almost ten years after I first recognized God calling me into ministry, I was received as pastor of the Linden and Argentine United Methodist Churches my first appointment. I m sure you can understand how exciting these months were. Long-held dreams were coming true and long courses of preparation were being completed. I was meeting new friends, finding mentors, and being given opportunities to lead in ways for which I had been training for years. But at times I wondered if I was up to the task. On my first night in the parsonage, I received a phone call that the key lay leader of one of my congregations had been killed in a car accident. In an instant, that congregation lost its Administrative Council Chair, Pastor-Parish Relations Chair, and Church Treasurer, and I would meet her family at her home before I would preach my first sermon. On my first Sunday, I almost dropped the communion bread because an intensifying neuropathy was taking the strength and feeling from my arms and hands. Most of all, over the next few months, I would realize the challenges that face a twenty-something year old pastor, serving congregations of folks who had been part of their churches for more than twice as long as I had been alive. They were scary-exciting times. Make no mistake, reversing more than 40 years of declining worship attendance will not be To promote Christian discipleship and fellowship in the congregation and community Published by.the FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF Wayne-Westland Pastor Carter Cortelyou 3 Town Square Wayne, MI Telephone easy. We are going to need to learn new ways of relating to our community, each other, and to God. We are going to have to put our resources of money, time, and spirit at risk. We June lose our church. That is scary! But we are striving to embody a vision that reveals God s presence through our church. We are striving to follow where Christ leads. We are striving to be God s faithful people, making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world! That means people hungry in body and spirit will be fed, that a community deep in cynicism and anger will be invited to share in hope and reconciliation, that connections with the larger church that have been lost to alienation will be strengthened. That is exciting! Scary? Sure. But even more exciting! And the great thing is that we will be held in God s hand regardless as we work to be a vital church, doing God s work in our community, and working with others, around the world.. Pastor Carter 1

2 A PEOPLE BELONGING TO GOD But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 God s eternal plan was to create a family for Himself. This is more than an individual plan for our lives. God s plan is a community. To walk alone is contrary to God s purposes for our lives. God's plan was not to enable us to do our own thing, but to be in God's family, to be in community with other people who are called to God. A lively set of spiritual practices is important in becoming better members of God's family. It s hard to develop a friendship if you rarely spend time with your friends. Christian spiritual disciplines like Bible study, spiritual reading, worship, and meditative prayer afford us space to listen to our first and best Friend. Constant prayer throughout the day, either alone or in community, increases our connection to a gracious God who is invisibly near. If we turn to God throughout the day even in the most simple of tasks, we bring a conscious effort to our awareness of God s presence in our lives, but over time it becomes a habit in the natural outgrowth of regular practice. Another important spiritual practice is to spend some time with God alone. Jesus taught us,"when you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private, and he will reward you." Matthew 6:6 A time of reflection and self-examination helps to establish us and keep us on God's path. Spending some time with scripture passages and devotionals prepare us for the day in a calm manner, and help us deal with the decisions we need to make throughout the day. Great are the rewards of spending time with God! In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy. Philip. 1:4 Red Miller 2

3 June 4 th June 11 th June 18th Coffee Hour Open Doug & Irene Schoonover in celebration of their 55 th Anniversary UMW June 25th Andrea Cortelyou ************************************************************ COFFEE HOUR AND ALTAR FLOWERS STILL HAVE DATES AVAILABLE. PLEASE SEE LINDA OWULETTE. ********************************************************** MEETING CHANGE The Depression & Anxiety Group is only going to meet once a month on the 3 rd Saturday at 2:00 p.m. **************************************************** CROP WALK, MAY 7, 2017 FINAL COLLECTED WAS $ ST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH $ FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH $ GOOD HOPE $ KIRK OF OUR SAVIOR $ ST. MARY S $ ST. RICHARD S $ ST. PAUL S $ THANKS TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED IN WALKING & DONATING. 3

4 UNITED METHODIST WOMEN IN GATHERING 2017 THE INGATHERING FOR THIS YEAR IS FOR VISTA MARIA. THEY WORK WITH HOMELESS AND FOSTER YOUTH. THEIR MISSION: TO DELIVER INNOVATIVE CARE, SUPPORT, TREATMENT AND EDUCATION TO VENERABLE YOUTH SO THEY HEAL, BELIEVE THEIR WORTH AND BUILD SKILLS NEEDED TO THEIR VISION: SUCCEED. TO ENSURE THAT VENERALBE YOUTH AND FAMILIES ARE SUPPORTED, PREPARED AND EQUIPED TO ACHIEVE LIFE LONG SUCCESS. INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT & PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED FOR GIRLS AGES TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED FOR YOUNG WOMEN AGES 18 TO 24 WHO HAVE AGED OUT AND ARE HOMELESS. ON UNITED METHODIST SUNDAY, JUNE 18 TH A SPEAKER FROM VISTA MARIA WILL BE HERE TO EXPLAIN IN DETAIL WHAT THEY DO. THE NEXT TWO PAGES IN THIS LANTERN WILL ADVISE YOU OF THEIR NEEDS FROM THE WISH LISTS. PAGE 5 LISTS EVERYDAY WISHES PAGE 6 HOW TO FILL A WELCOME BAG YOU MAY CHOOSE FROM THE EVERYDAY LIST OR YOU MAY CHOOSE TO BUY A TOTE BAG AND FILL IT WITH THE ITEMS LISTED. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A UNITED METHODIST WOMEN S PROJECT, EVERY ONE INTERESTED IS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE. THE INGATHERING LASTS ALL SUMMER UNTIL THE SECOND WEEK IN SEPTEMBER. ANY QUESTIONS SEE JAN PODGERS. HEBREWS 13:16 AND DO NOT FORGET TO DO GOOD AND TO SHARE WITH OTHERS, FOR WITH SUCH SACRIFICE GOD IS PLEASED. 4

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7 All Women and Girls are invited to join Charis Circle Members in this very worthy project During the Prayer and Self Denial service, we learned about Days for Girls, which is an organization that provides washable hygiene kits for girls around the world. These kits allow the girls to attend school and go to work during their monthly cycle. Without these kits, girls miss approximately 5 days of work or school each month. How can you help? We need donations of dark colored washcloths travel size bar soap Fruit of the Loom 100% cotton underwear (full size briefs) girls sizes (dark colors or patterned only-no white or pastel) (only this brand and sizes, no bikini, thong, French cut, etc.) Money towards the purchase of material, thread and other items up the kit that make We will have workshops throughout the summer to sew the items in the kit and put it all together. Sign up sheets will be posted on the United Methodist Women s bulletin board across from the nursery. Bring sewing scissors. Dates: Friday, June 2, 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 20 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 29 7:00 p.m. Thank you for helping us make a difference in the life of girls everywhere. Linda Maylone U.M.W. President 7

8 ALTAR FLOWERS June 4 th Chris Shellly inn memory of her dad Harold Reiter June 11 th Doug & Irene Schoonover in honor of their 55 th Wedding Anniversary June 18st Shirleen Curtis in memory of Aunt Eileen & her father s birthdays June 25th Vivian Speakman 8

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10 Days for Girls Summer Worshop Attention all women and girls! Charis circle was inspired by our Prayer and Self Denial program to get involved with Days for Girls. This organization provides hygiene kits for girls (mainly in other countries) that are washable and reusable. Each kit will last about 3 years. Having this kit means that the girl can attend school or go to work without missing due to her monthly cycle. Thus it ensures that the girls don t miss vital instruction at school or hours at work. Our goal is to sew 25 kits. There are specific instructions that must be adhered to. We are asking for donations of money or items. The list is very specific. A collection basket for donated items is located on the bottom shelf near the south doors on the Collection Connection book case. Thank you for any donation or help. A sign up sheet is located on the United Methodist Women s bulletin board across from the nursery. Bring sewing scissors to cut out material. We anticipate sewing the items at the July and August workshops. If you have a sewing machine, please let Linda Owulette know. A serger sewing machine would be ideal. Any questions? Please call Linda Maylone, President, at or her at lmaylone@wideopenwest.com. Items needed: dark colored washcloths travel size bar soap Fruit of the Loom 100% cotton underwear (full size briefs) girls sizes (dark colors or patterned only-no white or pastel) (only this brand and sizes, no bikini, thong, French cut, etc.) Money towards the purchase of material, thread and other items that make up the kit ********************************************************** THE LAY READER FOR JUNE IS: Kathy Jahn 10

11 ****************************************************************** JUNE BIRTHDAYS: June 13 th June 18 th June 29 th June 29 th Sheyi Olojo David Orwin Fay Tolk John Ofiara HAPPY ANNIVERSARY June 1 st June 16 th June 27th Greg & Nancy Lewis Doug & Irene Schoonover David & Sharon Orwin Ed & Marlene Pedlow 11

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13 FELLOWSHIP LANTERN REV. CARTER CORTELYOU PASTOR is published monthly except August GALE WILBUR EDITOR DEADLINE FOR ARTICLES Is the 15 th of the month address for the lantern is Visit us on the web at Mission Statement We are the Congregation of First United Methodist Church of Wayne-Westland and are a committed, loving, Christian community of Jesus Christ, in ministry, witnessing to the love of God as experienced in our lives, and expressed by: worship together, Christian nurture, education evangelism, Christian fellowship and support of one another, invitation to others to share our faith, social awareness, involvement and support of worldwide Methodism. Our witness embraces all people. First United Methodist Church 3 Town Square Wayne, MI SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE 10:00 A.M. ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL AT 9:00 A.M. CHILDREN S SUNDAY SCHOOL 10:00 A.M. 13