First United Methodist Church of Howell July Monthly Newsletter

Transcription

1 First United Methodist Church of Howell July Monthly Newsletter Abuse Unemployment Sexuality Homeless- Poverty Divorce Addictions Eating Disorders Disabilities Old Age Mental Illness Felony Convictions A Word From The Pastor: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 This verse is the theme verse for my summer series entitled, "Erasing the stigmas". This sermon series has been on my mind percolating for some time now. The idea comes to mind each time I catch myself stereotyping a person. I began to pay close attention to who I was judging. This has led me to prayer and to a renewed desire to see everyone as God sees them. In the above verse from Corinthians, we see Paul trying to explain what the work of Christ is like. It is like getting a new start. It is like being created all over again. It is difficult to completely understand the work of Christ unless we understand the sincere need for a new start. So, the overall question that I ask myself on many occasions is this, "Can that person get a new start and can that person be considered a beloved child of God just as I am a beloved child of God?" This is the motivation for the sermon series. I believe there are too many people in this world that go through life carrying with them a very difficult stigma attached to them. These stigmas vary in so many ways that I can't begin to address, but I have chosen a few. My overall desire is that the church would be the one place in the world in which we would all see one another with the eyes of Christ. A place where the stigmas of life do not define us but our faith in God does define us. A place where we stand together at the cross and worship the One who loves us all. The church is more than just a place; it must be a body that takes that same love outside our walls and into a broken world. It's sad to think of the friendships I could have lost if I had allowed the walls of separation and pain to rise-up. I have been friends with felons and the abused. I have been friends with the divorced and the mentally ill. I observed them as they struggled with the labels that were placed upon them and the assumptions that were made of them. The constant hurt can be overwhelming. The church should be the body of Christ, where the hurting stops and the healing starts. That is the emphasis of our next few weeks. During these weeks, I hope we have a healing summer. I will be bringing in some experts on our subjects to better understand how we can help. Each one of us has contact with people who are labeled and have stigmas on their lives. Let's all heal together.

2 July Sermon Series: Sunday, July 2, 2017: Sermon: Erasing the Stigma of a Disability Scripture: 2 Samuel 9:1-13 Sunday, July 9, 2017: Sermon: Erasing the Stigma of Alcoholism Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-21 Sunday, July 16, 2017: Sermon: Erasing the Stigma of Divorce Scripture: Matthew 19:1-12 Electronic Giving is available here at FUMC! You can enroll online at our website howellfumc.com or contact the church office for an authorization form. We can help you enroll! The Bell Ringer is published monthly by Howell FUMC. The deadline for submitting news articles is the 15 th of each month. Next month s Bell Ringer will be mailed Wednesday, July 26, All Sunday Sermons are available online on our website at Sunday, July 23, 2017: Sermon: Erasing the Stigma of Aging Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:1-14 Sunday, July 30, 2017: Guest Speaker: Mike Barnaby Rev. Lewis away on vacation July 24 th - July 30 th. Visit and then search for First United Methodist Church and click like at the top of the page. This will keep you current with upcoming sermon series, different events and cancellations that may occur. Our Church Staff: Rev. George H. Lewis, Pastor revgeorgelewis@howellfumc.com Diane Griffin, Director of Educational Ministries diane@howellfumc.com Jenny Tomaszewski, Secretary jenny@howellfumc.com Kevin Griffin, Contemporary Worship Director kevingriffin@howellfumc.com Jamie Rouster, Financial Administrator 1230finance@howellfumc.com Olive Hayden-Moore, Children's Ministry Director Olive@howellfumc.com Ellen Paige, Organist Jan Clay, Chancel Choir Director Shawn McNamara, Custodian shawn@howellfumc.com Danielle Burkhart, Youth Director Danielle@howellfumc.com Page 2

3 Saturday July 8 th and 9 th from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Our Community Giving Garden as well as the Courtyard will be on the LACASA Garden Tour for all the community to see and be inspired. If you wish to learn more about the Garden Tour visit Tickets for this event are $15 in advance; $20 at garden entrances. Check LACASA website for different locations to purchase tickets. The Hearl Family is opening their home to all family and friends in celebration of Grace s High School Graduation. They would like to invite all of their church family as well! When: Saturday, July 15, 2017 Time: Starting at 3:00 p.m. Location: 7519 Talonna Trail, Fowlerville, MI To further our mission of being Great Neighbors in our community, we are looking for a team of people who want to help paint the hallways of Northwest Elementary School on Saturday, July 15 th from 9-4! If you are available and able, please sign-up on the clipboard in the Church-In- Action Area. Norma Bushrey 100 th Birthday Celebration Sunday July 23 rd from 2-4 p.m. in Lawson Hall In lieu of gifts please bring a written memory. Rev. Lewis will be on vacation July 24 th - 30 th. In case of emergency, please contact the church office at (517) or Rev. Alan DeGraw at (248) Mark Your Calendar: One Combined Outdoor Worship Service/Church Picnic Sunday, August 6 th at 10:00 a.m. Following the service, lunch will be provided. Watch for more details to come. Page 3

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5 Annual Conference Update: On June 1-4 at the Grand Traverse Resort the very first combined West Michigan and Detroit Annual Conferences were held. Here are a few highlights from those who attended: We were led by our new Bishop David Bard who did an excellent job. The mission offering for Haiti and Liberia was almost 67,000 dollars. We voted for a new combined structure. We voted that the new Michigan Area Conference would have a total of nine districts. Our worship services were excellent and diverse. The retiree s booklet and remembrance booklets are available for you to look at. Rev. Beverly Marr retired this year. She looks forward to returning home. We had so many chances to meet brand new people from the west side of the state. Our teaching and training sessions were terrific and very relevant. Our District Superintendent for Ann Arbor will continue to be Rev. Mark Spaw. Once again Bishop Bard set the appointment for Rev. George Lewis and Diane Griffin to serve Howell First UMC! Your delegation, Rev. George Lewis, Diane Griffin, Sue Dolato, Mike Barnaby Celebrating 50 Years: In 1969 this congregation moved into the current Sanctuary, which means in 2019 we will celebrate 50 years. I would like to see planning begin for this event. It will involve historical work and event preparations. If you are interested, please attend a short discussion time on July12 th at 6:00 p.m. in the library. ~Rev. George Lewis Vital Church Initiative Update: At the June 15 th meeting the Administrative Council voted to proceed with Phase 2 of the Vital Church Initiative. The following people can answer any questions you may have about what this means. Brochures are also available to help explain the process. Rev. George Lewis Diane Griffin Kevin Griffin Olive Hayden-Moore Mike Barnaby Sue Dolato Lyndon Johnson Peter Johnson These people have spent an entire winter and spring learning and growing in discipleship in order to prepare all of us on how to proceed forward. Page 5

6 United Methodist Women Faith-Hope-Love-In-Action The world s task today is the overcoming of ignorance, superstition, prejudice, distrust, poverty, sickness, suffering, and it is to the banishings of these very things in our land that the Women s Home Missionary Society devotes its splendid services. This quote is from the Women s Home Mission Society, January 1922!!! The statement, from our United Methodist Women Organization forerunner, remains true today. As we approach our 150 year mark in 2019, let us use these words to inspire our continued efforts for Social Justice. Shaila Jehle, Social Action Chair. UMW Communion Breakfast: Saturday, August 5 th at 9:00 a.m. Courtyard/Lawson Hall All women of the church are invited to attend this annual fall kick-off event. Guests are welcome! Evangelism Committee Update: Last month we asked, "What would you be willing to sacrifice to make a visitor to our church feel welcome?" One member asked me last Sunday, "Do you see where I'm sitting?" She had moved from her usual seat on the aisle to a row near the front. That left a place near the back where a visitor or someone coming late could slip in easily. This same individual is wearing her name tag, another way of welcoming someone. Gleaners Update: Thanks to all who brought food and supplies for the Gleaners Ingathering. We delivered 864 pounds to Gleaners to help the hungry people in Livingston County. So far this year, you have donated 1322 pounds. Please continue to bring items when you come to church. The summer is an especially difficult time for children who won't receive a lunch at school. Laundry Update: The Laundry Ministry with Love INC has served 23 families so far this year with 63 individuals. They have received $800 in vouchers. Thank you for your continued giving that makes it possible to minister to people who just want the dignity of being able to wear clean clothes. Thank You Notes: Thank you to everyone for your prayers, cards and the lovely prayer shawls. Thank you to Rev. Lewis for his visits and for the memorial service for Jim. We appreciate everything that was done for us. ~Karen, Renee and Melissa Ketchel Thank you for all your cards, calls and prayers. Thank you to Rev. Lewis for his visits and prayers. ~Nona Milner Page 6

7 Building Committee Update: The past several months, the Building Committee has been busy working on finalizing the building plans for the renovations to be done to our church. Subcommittees were formed that looked specifically at each area to be renovated, (Sanctuary, Welcome Center, Kids Zone, Nursery/Preschool Rooms and Kitchen). These subcommittees along with the architects from Lindhout Associates worked on the necessary details so that construction documents could be drawn. Pending approval by an All-Church Conference and the Ann Arbor District Building Committee, a tentative building schedule has been put together with the replacement of the roof and renovations to the nursery/toddler/ce rooms starting in October. Remaining parts of the renovation will begin after January 1, We are also in the process of selecting a building manager who would oversee the renovations. It has been a long process but we are excited that we may see construction beginning this fall. Please keep us in your prayers as we continue our work. -Jeff Carl, Vice-Chairman 2017 Adult Mission Trip: Sunday, October 1 st - Saturday, October 7 th We are going to Henderson Settlement again in Frakes, Kentucky. Watch for more information on the project we will be doing and the support we will need from the congregation in the August Bell Ringer. If you have any questions before then, contact Sue Dolato at sdolato@comcast.net or God s Kitchen at St. Joseph Catholic Church: God s Kitchen is busy all summer. A Special thanks to Mary-Elizabeth Circle for their help in June. I m looking for a couple volunteers for the months of July, August and September. Please consider helping! ~DuAnne Hickman History Note for July: At the entrance to the Chapel, a set of paintings show a piece of our history. Elvira Bamber is the artist who painted these about 15 years ago. The first painting (from the right) shows the Methodist Church built in 1855 at the corner of Walnut and Sibley Street. This building was moved to build the brick church in Notice the details of the stained-glass windows. Next to this, Elvira has painted the EUB Church, which was built in Taking the cornerstone from each of these two churches, our United Methodist Church was built in 1969 and is the subject of the fourth paining. Our church is very blessed by these various artists who share their talents. Another example is shown in the wall hangings in Lawson Hall. These share the history of our Christian faith. These started with watercolor paintings done by Marlee Hoffman, then Sue Dolato and DuAnne Hickman searched to recreate Marlee s images in fabrics. With the help of additional workers, they have given this congregation another priceless treasure. By: Morrie Coles Interpreted by: Kathy Fox-Zents Page 7

8 Stephen Ministry: There has been so much emphasis lately about first responders and how grateful and blessed are we for people who do such important work in such difficult times. Ministers, too, can be considered as first responders, as they are often the first ones to know of a crisis within our lives. Like first responders, they are often the first to assist with the crisis and attempt to get the crisis under control. However, also like first responders, they do not have the capacity to continue the ongoing care once the dust has settled. But crises leave us often needing a little more attention and that's when Stephen Ministers become the care providers. Recently, an article was provided to Stephen Ministry leadership called "Stephen Ministers: The After People". Carolyn Henderson provided me a copy and I thought it worth the while to share it with the congregation. It helps provide some clarification just what we can do after an initial crisis as the "after people". Stephen Ministers are there:...after the phone call you hoped you'd never get....after the funeral, when everyone has left and the emotions you've held at bay come crashing in on you....after the relationship falls apart and the bottoms falls out of your life....after the doctor says "I'm sorry, but there's nothing more we can do."...after the nursing home director shakes your hand and says, "Welcome to your new home."...after the last child honks the horn, waves, and drives away - and the house suddenly seems empty....after the baby arrives, demanding more of you than you ever dreamed possible....after you find a pink slip with your final paycheck....after your family and friends have heard your story too many times, but you still need to talk it out. There are so many scenarios, but please know that Stephen Ministers are ready to come alongside you to provide comfort and to support you for as long as "after" as needed. Please let any of the Stephen Ministers or Stephen Ministry leaders know of your desire for a one on one, confidential, Christian care provider. Summer blessings to our congregation, Patti Van Loo for Stephen Ministry Ways to Contribute to Howell FUMC While You Shop: SmileAmazon: sign-up online through your Amazon account. For more details on how to sign-up, please visit the Church-In-Action Area for step-by-step instructions. Kroger: link your Kroger Plus Card to the church s phone number (it must be updated once a year). *Next time you shop at Kroger, please re-enroll the church s phone number so that we continue to earn Kroger Community Reward Points. All participants must sign-up for the program in order to earn funds for your group. VG and other Spartan Nash Stores: Deposit your receipt in the box in the Church-In-Action Area. Meijer: Link your Meijer credit card to the church s phone number. Please contact the church office with any questions. Page 8

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11 5 6 2 F I R S T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H J U L Y C A L E N D A R Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 8 am Communion LACASA Garden Tour pm 100 th Birthday Party: Norma Bushrey Church Office Closed 10 am Staff Meeting 1:30 pm Foundations 7 pm Missions 7 pm Stephen Ministry Supervision 4 11 Church Office Closed 1 pm Bible Study 6 pm Capital Funds Campaign 7 pm Evangelism 7 pm Worship pm Bible Study 1 pm Bible Study 7 pm Technology Vacation Bible School Monday, July 31 st - Friday, August 4 th 9:00-11:30 a.m. See Page 4 for Color of the Day. 12 6:30 am Business Man s Bible Study 9:30 am Foundations 6:00 pm Howell FUMC History Discussion 6:30 pm Garden Team 7:00 pm Sharing Faith 19 6:30 am Business Man s Bible Study 9:30 am Foundations 7:00 pm Sharing Faith 26 6:30 pm Garden Team 10 am Sisters am Sisters Study am Sisters Study 27 6:30 pm Building Committee Sr. High Mission Trip July 22 nd - July 30 th to Rhode Island Sunday Schedule Um Men Gathering, Tennessee Church Office Closed 9-4 LACASA Garden Tour Church Office Closed Church Office Closed Church Office Closed 8 am Chapel Worship 9 am Contemporary Worship 10:30 am Sanctuary Worship 9:15 & 10:45am Faith Factory Good Neighbor Event at Northwest Elementary See flyers in the Church-In-Action Area for complete fitness schedule

12 FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 1230 Bower Street Howell, Michigan Phone: (517) Fax: (517) Website: howellfumc.com Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Howell, MI PERMIT #4 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Soaring in our community and around the world with the light of Christ Join us for worship: 8:00 a.m. Chapel Service in the Chapel 9:00 a.m. Contemporary Service in Lawson Hall 10:30 a.m. Traditional Service in the Sanctuary Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. 3 p.m. Website: howellfumc.com Sunday Morning Coffee and Fellowship Times: Coffee Time: 8:45 a.m. in the Parlor Common Grounds: 10:10-10:25 a.m. in Lawson Hall Coffee Time: 11:30 a.m. in Lawson Hall Faith Factory: 9:15-10:00 and 10:45-11:30 a.m. for ages 3 to 10. Nursery: During the 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. services and is for children from birth to age 3.