The LINK. Fulfilling the Promises of God. January 1, 2015 Non-Profit Organization. Lake Orion, MI Permit No. 24. U.S.

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1 January 1, 2015 Non-Profit Organization 140 E. Flint St. Lake Orion, MI U.S. Postage Paid Lake Orion, MI Permit No. 24 This last Sunday was Love INC (In the Name of Christ) Sunday. Sandy Weaver, as Executive Director of Love INC, gave the message. But she turned over a portion of the message time to a member of our congregation, Kirk Davis. Kirk gave a powerful testimony of his experi- The LINK January 1, 2015 LINKing members and friends of the United Methodist Church of Lake Orion Phone: LOUMC1@lakeorionumc.org Fulfilling the Promises of God Throughout December, and now into January, we have reminded ourselves in postcards, sermons, and videos how, as people of faith, we can participate in fulfilling the promises of God. We participate by bringing all we are, and all we have, to the work at hand. Here at LOUMC, we are doing our part through joyful stewardship, inter-generational family ministry, relational mission, small group ministry, and engaging worship. As a meaningful token of our response to all this vital ministry, we will be celebrating the commitment of our gifts and service (pledge cards and spiritual gifts inventories) on Sunday, January 11th, 2015 during a special Covenant Service. Please plan on attending one of the three worship services that morning to turn in your commitments, or if you cannot make worship that morning, do your best to have those commitments mailed into the office by that date. We will make these commitments, as we make all of our commitments to God and to the work of Christ s Church, not merely out of a sense of duty, but for the sake of the joy set before [us]! (Hebrews 12:2)

2 PAGE 2 THE LINK JANUARY 1, 2015 JANUARY 1, 2015 THE LINK PAGE 11 Come and celebrate with your church family at our EPIPHANY PARTY!! January 4 th, 2015, 11:00 a.m. at the church. Two worship services at 8:00 and 10:00 followed by fellowship and activities and the ever-famous POTLUCK!! United Methodist Church of Lake Orion SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP: 8:00, 9:15 & 11:00 a.m. NURSERY CARE is available during the 9:15 & 11:00 services KIDS ON THE ROCK (Age 3-Gr. 5) is during the 9:15 & 11:00 services [youth café ] (Grs. 6-12) is during the 9:15 service ELEVATOR available at the Slater Street entrance HEARING IMPAIRED AIDS are available for worship services OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM 5:00 PM with lunch from 12-1 BULLETIN DEADLINE: Wednesdays at 3:00 LINK DEADLINES: January 15th for February 1st LINK *Call the church if you would like to be taken off the mailing list at We at Lake Orion United Methodist Church (LOUMC) are a diverse, inclusive, caring, and Christ-like community. Our mission is to connect people to God, one another, and the world, through engaging worship, spiritual formation, intergenerational family ministries, relational mission, and grateful stewardship. Epiphany is the twelfth day of the twelve days of Christmas. It is also the celebration of the visit of the wise men to the Christ Child. Our party activities will include: Minute to Win It games, intergenerational Scavenger Hunt, taking down Christmas decorations, and Kingo (our Epiphany version of Bingo). For the luncheon, please bring a dish to pass and your own table service. We will provide the beverages. If your dish is homemade, we would also like you to bring the recipe so we can make it available for those who want it. Doesn t this all sound like fun? There will be something for everyone to do OR you can just sit and visit with your church family. What a great way to start the new year as a church!! Hope to see you there!! If you have any questions, please contact Donna Waite at , ext. 206 or donna.waite@lakeorionumc.org. Pastor: Rev. Larry Wik office ext home cell Associate Pastor: Rev. John Ball office ext cell Children s Ministries Director: Donna Waite office ext. 206 Stephen Ministry Coordinator: Lisa Goyette office ext. 202 Organist/Choir Director: John Potter office ext home Secretary: Debbie Heyboer office ext. 209 Youth Director Aaron Gross office ext. 205 Nursery Director: Jeri Melton Accompanist: Cristie Tyrrell Custodian: Curtis Bussell

3 PAGE 10 THE LINK JANUARY 1, 2015 JANUARY 1, 2015 THE LINK PAGE 3 We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the following people for their help in and around the church this past month: To Jim Wright, Trudy Carney, Jack Brown, Chris Wilson, Linda Nixon, Becki Doyle, Dawn Figueroa, Melanie Kursinsky, Jack & Charlotte Patton, Beth & Alan Widgren, Tim Marker, Jeff & Jenny Koncelik, Jeanne Draggoo, Paul & Sandy Reile, Sue Noonan, Laurie Trafton, Chad Griffith, Diann Orlowski and Bob Butler for ushering & greeting to Joy Tomlinson, Anna Graffeo, Sydney Brzezinski and Becca Smiles for serving as acolytes. to Ralph Reseigh, Rosemary Ford, Dan DiGasbarro, Charlie Weaver and Ron Nordquist for being lay readers. to Lori & Howard Bryan, Jeff & Janet Leigh, Pam Nichols, Jerry King and Rich Popchock for hosting FellowshipTime. to Jim Childers, Paulie Egner, Cynthia Du and Lynne Winter for being Fellowship Time Greeters. To all those who planned, shopped, prepared, served or cleaned-up for the Monday Night Community Meal throughout the past month. ABOUT PEOPLE Spotlight on Staff Jeri Melton, Nursery Director Jeri Melton, wishes everyone a Happy New Year, including the precious little ones in our church nursery. Otherwise known as Miss Jeri, she has been the Nursery Director at LOUMC for the past 34 years. She holds classes in our nursery for both the 9:15 and 11:00 services every Sunday. On Tuesday and Thursday mornings, she directs the Mother s Morning Out program which is unique to Methodist Churches. This outreach ministry allows parents to leave their young children in her care for two and a half hours, as they do errands, attend meetings, or enjoy some time on their own. This service is provided to both parishioners and non-parishioners. Jeri s desire to work with small children began when she was young, along with her passion for art. She obtained her art education degree from North Texas State University, where she also met her husband, Jerry. In her senior year, she received the Cora E. Stafford award as outstanding art student. She has taught art in the public schools of both Dallas, TX, and Birmingham, MI, as well as several private organizations. Jeri and her husband, have raised three sons and now have seven wonderful grandchildren. Her other passions are ice and in-line skating, gardening, and biking. While the boys were growing up she had her own business, Jeri s Softwear, where she hand painted original designs on fleece garments. Thank you for all that you do, Miss Jeri! Moms, dads, and kids all adore you! Please keep the following people in your prayers: Sue Anglea, Juanita Brandeberry, Shirley Dingman, Mary Jean Hanson, Bob Hollenbeck, Phil Lavender, Carol McCormick, Patti Miechiels, Judy Muir, Chuck Myers, Don Northcote, Sherrry Reseigh, Garry Reynolds, Randy Riley, Larry Royster, Roger Shulze, Judy Wright Community Meals Family LOUMC Extended Family Members

4 PAGE 4 THE LINK JANUARY 1, 2015 JANUARY 1, 2015 THE LINK PAGE 9 The Penny Jug Update The Penny Jug was counted last week and the $84.50 it contained is being sent equally ($42.25 each) to Imagine No Malaria and to the Red Bird Mission in Beverly, Kentucky. Malaria was eliminated in the United States in the 1950s, but it remains a serious health issue across the globe, particularly in developing African countries. As Christians, we have the unique opportunity to help those in other lands try to avoid the disease. Each year, more than 500 million people contract malaria. More than a million die of the disease. Every 30 seconds, a child dies of malaria...that's 3,000 innocent young lives every day. But we can change all that by supporting Imagine No Malaria by providing bed nets, better medicine to those who need it most and by educating and empowering families throughout the continent of Africa. Next year we hope to send even more for the people who need our help so badly. The Red Bird Mission helps to provide essential services to people living in a remote area of Appalachia. We wish to thank everyone who contributes throughout the year by dropping their change and often dollar bills, into the jug on Sunday mornings during Fellowship time. We couldn't help these people without you! WARM HANDS, WARM FEET It's the time of year when all of us need to bundle up against the snow and wind. Easy enough to do for most of us but some have a bit more trouble. Please join us for our annual drive to collect warm socks, hats, mittens, gloves and scarves which will all be given to our local Love, INC. A BIN WILL BE IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL starting January 11 and will continue until February 8. Items can be handmade or store bought, lots of sales coming up too... AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION Stephen Ministry Thank-you Stephen Ministry Extends a Huge Thank You to all who donated to this years Secret Santa Fund and all who supported this years Feast Of Stephen. The support received from the congregation for these special causes is nothing short of a Christmas Blessing to so many in need. May God Bless you all and your families during the Advent Season and in the upcoming New Year. Pray for New Stephen Ministers in Training Starting January 12th the following individuals will begin training to become Stephen Ministers: Meaghan Cole, Carolyn Eickel, Bob Erickson, Suzanne Osborn and Ann Parker. Please keep them in your prayers as they take the necessary steps to become commissioned to help those that are hurting. We also give thanks for Jan Butcher who will be rejoining Stephen Ministry. Jan took a break for several years and is returning to help. Addiction Support Ministry Two items to mention. The first support group for those with family members that are dealing with an addiction was held in December. The group will meet again on Tuesday, January 13th, Please pray for this group and for the incredible courage and strength it takes to come forward and receive help. On Monday, February 2, 2015, Raj Mehta, M.S.W. from Serenity Therapy Center in Rochester Hills will be at LOUMC to talk about addiction. Raj is a very skilled clinician who specializes in the field of substance abuse. This talk is open to the congregation and community. On November 19, 2014 the following individuals successfully completed the objectives and skills in accordance with the American Heart Association and were certified in First Aid, CPR and AED: Ralph Reseigh, Beth Widgren, Sharon Keener, Abby Keener, Gina Adams, Lisa Goyette, Diann Orlowski, Jack Brown, Becky Lowe and John Potter. The class was taught by Stacy Hegerberg and her colleague Tom Harris. Thanks to all who participated. Our next small group series begins on January 11 until February 15. Sign-up sheets are available on the welcome tables and also in Fellowship Hall during Fellowship Time.

5 PAGE 8 THE LINK JANUARY 1, 2015 JANUARY 1, 2015 THE LINK PAGE 5 In Thanks Dear Prayers and Squares ~~ Thank YOU! It is hard to express what is in my heart but I ll try. When Lisa Goyette and Marilyn Gaskins brought me my quilt and I held it and we prayed with it, I felt all the warmth of prayers and love from all those involved in making my quilt, those tying knots and praying for me, and it was so overwhelming. I truly felt the Lord in the room with me, the evening was so uplifting and continues every time I wrap my quilt around me. I don t know how to thank you and the church enough for the joy and peace you ve brought to me. I feel very humbled and so blessed. Gods blesssing to you all, Cyndee Zenas Thanks for all the calls, cards and prayers I received since my surgery. Larry Royster Thank you for the cards, calls and prayers during my recent surgery and recovery. Judy Muir Worship and the Arts would like to thank all those who helped ready the church, inside and out, for our holiday season. Each space looked beautiful and contributed greatly to the sense of Holy Celebration of the Birth of Christ...Thank you! WORKING IN THE BALDWIN AVENUE KITCHEN Thanks to those who worked at Baldwin Avenue Kitchen on December 17: Jack & Charlotte Brown, Jim Childers, Marilyn Gaskins, Michele Kellogg, Nancy Ochoa, Bill Porritt and Jay Verran. A reminder to those scheduled to work in the kitchen on Wednesday, January 21: Jim Childers, Michele Kellogg, Linda Nixon and Jay Verran. Please contact Charlotte Brown at if you can help or know of someone that would like to help. WILD GAME DINNER United Methodist Men Wild Game Dinner at Seymour Lake UMC will be on Saturday, January 24th. Snacks at 5:30pm, with dinner at 6pm, followed by a guest speaker. Tickets are $15 each. Contact Rob Charlton if you are interested in attending. January 11 th is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day! Human trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery. It is the second largest criminal industry in the world. Around the country, and right here in Michigan, men, women and children are forced into prostitution, domestic servitude and other labor for little or no pay. Yet, this problem has gone unnoticed because traffickers use force, fraud and coercion to hide their victims in the shadows. Did you know that major sporting and entertainment events where thousands of people gather (like the Super Bowl, World Series, Olympics and even Detroit s Auto Show) are also places where human traffickers bring their victims to serve food in restaurants or at catered parties? Others will clean hotel rooms, wash dishes, tidy nail salons, deliver dry cleaning or wash windows. Some will be trafficked as sex workers for escort services or in men-only clubs. When you attend these events, you can keep your eyes open for people who are trafficked. There are brochures on the Welcome Tables that provide additional information, as well as tell you how you can identify someone who is being trafficked. United Methodist Women Meet Sisters in Faith will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 13th at 9:30 a.m. in Shalom. Circle of Hope will meet on Monday, Jan. 19th, 7:00 p.m., in Room 103 for a program on Esther s Children (see related article on Human Trafficking). All women are invited to join us. If childcare is desired, call Donna Waite by Fri., Jan. 16 th at (248) FINANCIAL HOPE FACILITATORS NEEDED In an effort to support area families/individuals manage their household budgets, Love INC is introducing an exciting new ministry called Financial Hope. This five session series will help families develop a sound financial plan. Instructors are needed to facilitate this series. The training for instructors is two hours and is planned for January. The actual classes will begin in February and will consist of five classes, one hour each class. If you love helping others and have a basic knowledge of personal money management, please consider your gift of time for this ministry. If you are interested please contact Lisa Goyette at ext 202 or via Lisa.goyette@lakeorionumc.org

6 Weekly Scheduled Events : Sunday 8:00, 9:15, 11:00 Worship Service 09:15 Kids on the Rock 09:15 [youth café] 10:15 Fellowship Time (FH) 11:00 Kids on the Rock 11:00 Adult Bible Study (108) Monday 10:30 Bible Study (Sh) 11:45 Tai Chi Sword & Tai Chi (104) 05:30 Community Meal (FH) 07:00 Testify Practice 07:00 Small Group (51 North) Tuesday 09:00 Mother s Morning Out (Nur) 09:30 Staff Meeting (103) 07:30 Chancel Choir Wednesday 10:00 Bible Study (103) 06:00 3-in-1 (AC) 06:45 CODA (Sh) Thursday 09:00 Yoga (203/4) 09:00 Mother s Morning Out (Nur) 09:30 Hallelujah Handbells 05:30 Oakland County Services Friday Saturday S u n M o n T u e Wed T h u F r i S a t 4 8:00 & 10;00 Worship Services only 10:00 AM-KOTR 10:00 AM-[youth café] 11:00 AM-Epiphany Party (FH) 11 10:15 AM- Confirmation Class 12:00 PM-Lunch with the Pastors 18 10:15 AM- Confirmation Class 25 10:15 AM-Blood Pressure Screening Middle School Winter Camp 5 07:00 PM-Peer Support (105) :30 AM-Sister s in Faith (Sh) 19 Office Closed 07:00 PM-Circle of Hope (103) 1 New Year s Day Office Closed 05:30 PM-Community Meal :00 AM-FISH (Sh) 07:00 PM-SPRC (205) 07:00 PM-Trustee (Sh) 20 09:00 AM-Prayers & Squares (Naz) 07:30 PM-KOTR Planning Team (103) :30 PM-UMW Team Meeting (Sh) JA N U A RY :00 PM-Finance (Sh) 21 10:00 AM-Work at Baldwin Kitchen (OS) 22 07:00 PM-Ad Board (105) :30 AM-UMM Breakfast (OS) 01:00 PM-Epiphany Party Set-up :00 AM-LINK Assembly (Sh) 07:00 PM-Girl Scouts Middle School Winter Camp Middle School Winter Camp