Holly Calvary UMC. A Life-Giving Church Connecting people to people and people to Jesus through the gift of life-giving relationships.

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1 Holly Calvary UMC A Life-Giving Church Connecting people to people and people to Jesus through the gift of life-giving relationships. January 2019 Newsletter Jan 13 Family Promise Jan 13 Congregational Meeting Pg 4 Feb 3 Membership/Partner Class Pg 3 Birthdays / Anniversaries Pg 6 Pastor: Clifford Schroeder Ph voice or text From the Coach s Corner: Drifting, Driving, or Design 2019 is on the horizon and scores people are preparing to meet the new year with resolutions that are intended to bring changes to their health, relationships, financial security, spiritual life, or some other area of life that they feel needs improving. Maybe you re part of this group. Maybe you should be part of this group. After all, we do not tend to see positive changes in our lives unless we pursue them. The lack of pursuit of any goals in life leaves a person to drift from one thing to the next. It is often evidence by an internal desire for something to change, but without any conviction to act in order to pursue the desired change. And, since they do nothing to intentionally choose and pursue a destination, they end up in various destinations by default. The opposite of a drifting life might be seen as a driven life. This person s waking hours become singularly about achieving particular goals. Such a life appears to accomplish much, and is often admired and celebrated, but it carries with it a blind spot. The goals in the driven life often become allencompassing, even to the point of neglecting other important elements of life. Excelling at work to gain a big raise seems positive unless it has been at the expense of your relationships with God, spouse, children, etc. Whereas the drifting life has no plan, the driven life has a very narrow plan. Is there a place where one can avoid the drift, but not be consumed by the drive? My personal coach, Michael, recently challenged me to The Designed Life. It s accomplished by crafting our plan/goals with all the players in place. Michael offers the following ten areas of life. Spiritual, Intellectual, Emotional, Physical, Marital, Parental, Social, Vocational, Avocational, and Financial. In the end, Michael s challenge is to live intentionally in all areas. Select all the areas relevant to your life and identify goals you would like to accomplish in each. I am excited about the path ahead of me with my goals. Will you join me? 1 A Blessed 2019 to one and all, Pastor Cliff

2 ANNOUNCEMENTS God s Messy Family Six week Adult Study SERVSAFE FOOD MANAGER S CERTIFICATION A certification class will be offered in March. Those who were certified in 2014, will need to be re-certified in The church needs at least one person certified for each ministry that uses the kitchen. Please contact Barb Nickels to sign up for the class. G.I.F.T Circle Pasty Sale February 9th Drama. Drama. Drama. Your family may be the stuff of a hit reality TV show, but into every family a little or a lot of drama must sometimes fall. That s the way we humans have been from the very beginning. Take a look at the lives of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Esau in Jacob Armstrong s newest book, God s Messy Family. As you meet these messy families in the stories in Genesis, you ll recognize a pattern to their lives: they are called, they mess up, and God continues to redeem them. Sound familiar? Find out how your messy family fits into God s family and how you are part of God s plan for the world. January Greeters 6 Jack & Carolyn Gmelich 13 Janet Shiel & Jean Elmer 20 Doug & Sharri Hallett 27 Julia Ford Direct your Dollars Help us earn $1, If you shop at VG s, please save your receipts! Bring in your receipts and put them into the box in the hallway and VG s will donate money to our Mega Kids program! Kroger Rewards Holly Calvary Church is part of the Kroger rewards program. By using your Kroger Plus card, a percentage of each purchase goes to our Mega Kids program, if you have selected us as the recipient. Our account number is If you have questions or need help contact Barb Nickels or Ellen Pease. 2 We collect Box Tops for Elementary Schools in Holly. Please save them and drop them into the blue file pocket on the bulletin board in the hall. Each one is worth 10 cents and they sure do add up. See Brenda Trimmer or Ellen Pease if you have any questions. Try our SCRIP program for ALL your shopping needs! This fundraiser is an easy way to meet your needs while earning funds for our church; approximately $800 a year. If you have questions, or want to place an order, see Ron Pease at the script table in the hallway on Sundays or call

3 Member Partnership Class The next Member - Partnership class, Committing to Christ and One Another, will be held on February 3 rd & 10 th from 11:00am to Noon in the Library Classroom. This 2-part class is open to everyone who desires to know what God s Word teaches us about being the church; the body of Christ. We will study the Scriptures to learn what it looks like to be a healthy member of the body of Christ and how to serve God through the local church. We will explore the mission, vision, and values of Holly Calvary UMC. Covenant Partnership classes are a safe space and a great place where you can have open and honest discussions, ask questions, and connect with Pastor Cliff and spiritual leaders of the church. We believe it is important to have a church that you can call home because it means you have chosen to be in a relationship with other Christians who have committed to Christ. In covenant partnership we seek, encourage, serve, and are held accountable to live a life that honors God. It means we are part of a spiritual family that is committed to praying for each other, holding each other accountable, and walking the Christian journey together. We invite you to make Holly Calvary Church home. PRAISES Our food pantry is doing great! We served 33 families and 104 individuals in November. Thank you to those who donated non-perishable food items, paper and hygiene products during our monthly ingathering. Our pantry in-gatherings are on the 4 th Sunday of each month. Our next one will be January 20 th. We are in need of juice, crackers, cereal, pasta mixes, toilet paper and feminine hygiene products. There are no income requirements to use the food pantry. If you are in need and would like to utilize the food pantry, please come Mon-Thurs from 9:00 2:00 p.m. Each person may come twice per month and receive two bags of food, plus one toilet paper, paper towel & detergent. MEGA KIDS - BLOOD DRIVE Mega Kids would like to thank everyone who helped with blood drive! We had several people donate food, paper products and volunteer at the drive. We raised $530 thanks for your support! 3 Jim Diegel Happy new year! What a year I had in No heart trouble for 7 years. A new job at the DPW after 15 years of not being able to work. Taking music lessons every two weeks. Playing guitars with Mike on Wednesday nights. Come enjoy Wednesday night worship. The United Methodist Women would like to thank everyone for the wonderful donations of cookies for the cookie walk. Thank you, too, for everyone who came and bought cookies. We so much appreciate your support whether you baked, bought, set up, cleaned up or shopped at the craft sale. We hope to see you when we meet again on March 4, 2019 for our next UMW meeting!

4 Future of UMC? The Future of the United Methodist Church? The United Methodist Church has held divided thinking for over half a century regarding the Scriptural teachings on marriage and ordination (affirmation as clergy persons) of persons who are homosexual. The division has been fueled by intense emotions and hostility, and has generated much pain for persons on all sides of the issue. The present language in our United Methodist of Discipline (beliefs and bylaws) states that we believe the practice of homosexuality to be incompatible with Christian teaching. Based on this conviction, the United Methodist Church will not participate in the acts of ordination or marriage for such persons. Please note that this stance is specifically in regards to marriage and ordination. Article IV. Inclusiveness of the Church: The United Methodist Church acknowledges that all persons are of sacred worth. All persons without regard to race, color, national origin, status, or economic condition, shall be eligible to attend its worship services, participate in its programs, receive the sacraments, upon baptism be admitted as baptized members, and upon taking vows declaring the Christian faith, become professing members in any local church in the connection. of Discipline PP4 Beyond the presenting issue of homosexuality is the deeper and even more critical issue of how we view the Holy Scriptures. Some view the Scriptures as authoritative and timeless. Others view them as contextual. Still others view them as metaphorical. The divisions escalated at the last General Conference (the United Methodist Church s global discernment meeting), which was held in the Spring of Delegates called for the Council of Bishops to help us create a pathway to discern A Way Forward. A commission was formed and a special General Conference was set for February of In preparation for the time ahead, I want us to be keenly aware of all information regarding this conference, and of the potential effects it will have on our local church. I invite you to attend one of two congregational meetings to be held on January 13 th at 11:00am and January 16 7:30pm. I will be presenting the various issues, as well as the proposals for our denomination s future, decisions by the judicial council, and positions by various groups in our denomination. I will present all information and answer all questions to the best of my ability, utilizing the most current, truthful, and unbiased information possible. Please understand that there is much that we still do not know, and much that we will not know until after the General Conference session. I ask you to be in prayer for our congregational meetings, for the Feb General Conference, for each other, and for the future of the United Methodist Church. Let us be confident in God, trusting Him who has led His people through many rough waters and dry deserts into a promised land. Let us find our peace in God alone. Blessings in Christ, Pastor Cliff 4

5 GROUPS The United Methodist Women met on December 3 rd at the Holly McDonalds with 13 women in attendance. We will take a few months off and meet again on March 4 th at the church at 1pm. Holly Methodist Men Next meeting dates: Jan. 5, Feb. 2 All Holly Calvary men and friends are invited to come to our monthly meetings the first Saturday of each month at 8 am at Villagers Restaurant in Holly. We will discuss current projects, purchases, and other business. Contact Ron Pease at for more information. FEATURES Library Corner Merry Christmas Gifts On the Anvil: Stories On Being Shaped Into God s Image - by Max Lucado We are all somewhere in the Blacksmith's shop. We are either on the scrap pile, in the craftsman s (Jesus) hands on the anvil, or in the tool chest. Some of the junk on scrap pile can be old rusted tools or metals or sins pile, while other tools like a hammer are on the anvil. The anvil is a place where tools are used by the craftsman to create something. There is a lot of soul searching an inner examination to be done in surrendering to God. The firey trials of our life help melt us down and prepare us for the anvil where the Master shapes us into something He can use for His purpose. Seizing the Moments: Making the Most of Life s Opportunities- by James W. Moore James Moore is a senior past at St. Luke United Methodist church in Houston Texas. His book provides example of people who learned to seize moments Many times in our lives we miss opportunities to say I love you or How can I help you? We forget that a smile can change a person s day. The Bible says in Luke 10:27 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" We need to seize every moment and realize it counts for something in the kingdom of God. Happy New Year! As you surrender to God and let him be the craftsman in your life while on the anvil, may you seize every moment to live for Him. Love your sister in Christ, Judy Wood 5

6 MINISTRIES OF THE CHURCH In January, Mega Kids will be doing a 10-week study on prayer. Thank you to all my faithful volunteers Marianne Nickels, Mary Jane Winohradsky, Janet Jenks, Nancy Parsons, Elijah Schroeder and Rayne Coster-Black! Prayer Quilt Ministry meets the third Monday of each month. Join us to iron, pin quilt layers, sew in ties, give advice and enjoy fellowship. Questions call Mary Jane at or Julia at OF PRAYER Tuesday mornings 11 am to Noon Beginnings what does that mean to you? We all have a beginning when God s plan for each of our lives started. We have a beginning as people of God, too read about it in the Bible, you haven t already. Genesis starts with In the beginning. We are starting the beginning of a new year 2019! What is God s 365 days plan for each of us? As we start the beginning of 2019 let us praise God for this new year and let us pray each day for His guidance. Hour of Prayer ministry is a time of praising and talking with God and voicing concerns - Tuesdays 11am to noon. Call Mary Jane Winodradsky with any questions at Jr. High Youth Ministry Bring Em, Build Em, Send Em! Thursdays 3:00-4:30pm 1 Dale Lage, Judy Prose, Stever & Sheri Ruth 5 Shirley Brendel, Glenn Carpenter 6 Carolyn Gmelich 9 Kevin Nickels 10 Edgar Maynard, Dennis Reed 11 Pat Falkner 13 Barb Nickels, Mattilyn Maynard 17 Godfrey Blair, Greg Blair 18 Rachel Ray 19 Jeff & Michelle Smith 25 Charlie Jenks 31 Guy Winohradsky I hope and pray that you all had a Christ filled Christmas. We are going to have our Holiday party January 5th. Meet at Doug and Sharri s in Ortonville at 5:00. Bring a white elephant to share. Let s share what last year brought and our hopes for 2019 Love in Christ Sharri and Douglas In December, GIFT Circle had their Christmas party at Barb Nickels house. In February, we are planning our pasty sale. Proceeds will go the parking lot and roof fund. Please verify your pasty order with Barb Casey at

7 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 6 Epiphany Holy Communion Firm Foundation Worship Service 9:30 AM Sunday School 13 Firm Foundation Worship Service 9:30 AM Congregation Meeting Sunday School 20 Newsletter articles due. Firm Foundation Worship Service 9:30 AM Sunday School G.I.F.T. Circle (Growing In Faith Together) 12:15 PM 27 In-Gathering Sunday Firm Foundation Worship Service 9:30 AM Sunday School 7 A.A. Steps Family Promise Week A.A. Steps Faith Pathways Trustees 7:00 PM Worship Committee 7:30 PM Martin Luther King Day A.A. Steps Prayer Quilt Ministry 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM SPRC 7:00 PM 28 A.A. Steps Stewardship Committee 7:00 PM 1 New Year's Day Office Closed 8 An Hour of Prayer Ministry - 12:00 PM Bell Choir - 7:30 PM 15 An Hour of Prayer Ministry - 12:00 PM Bell Choir - 7:30 PM An Hour of Prayer Ministry - 12:00 PM Bell Choir - 7:30 PM 29 An Hour of Prayer Ministry - 12:00 PM Bell Choir - 7:30 PM 2 Mega Kids - Canceled - 7:15 PM 9 MEGA Kids 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM - 7:15 PM 16 MEGA Kids 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM - 7:15 PM Congregation Meeting 7:30 PM 23 MEGA Kids 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM - 7:15 PM 30 MEGA Kids 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM - 7:15 PM Office Closed Stephen Ministry A.A. - G.O.D. Big AA - Addiction & Recovery Get 2 Get To 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Office Closed AA - Addiction & A.A. - G.O.D. Big Recovery 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Get 2 Get To 17 Family Promise Week A.A. - G.O.D. Big Get 2 Get To 18 Office Closed AA - Addiction & Recovery 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Office Closed AA - Addiction & A.A. - G.O.D. Big Recovery 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Get 2 Get To 31 A.A. - G.O.D. Big Get 2 Get To 5 Holly Methodist Men's breakfast meeting 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Annual Owl Walk & Presentation 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM

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