PUMC Connections. From the desk of Reverend Thomas Davenport

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1 Parchment United Methodist Church 225 Glendale Blvd. Parchment, MI Volume 22, Issue 2 PUMC Connections From the desk of Reverend Thomas Davenport The Church s Role Dr. King wrote: The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool. If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority. If the church does not participate actively in the struggle for peace and for economic and racial justice, it will forfeit the loyalty of millions and cause men everywhere to say that it has atrophied its will. But if the church will free itself from the shackles of a deadening status quo, and, recovering its great historic mission, will speak and act fearlessly and insistently in terms of justice and peace, it will enkindle the imagination of mankind and fire the souls of men, imbuing them with a glowing and ardent love for truth, justice, and peace. Men far and near will know the church as a great fellowship of love that provides light and bread for lonely travelers at midnight. Martin Luther King Jr. A Knock at Midnight (June 11, 1967) Church Office: Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Monday - Thursday parchmentumc@tds.net OR pastorthomm@hotmail.com Deadline for March Issue: Monday, February 13, 2017 There is surely a separation of Church and State, but this, however, does not mean that there is not relationship. From the prophets of the Old Testament, to modern day preachers, the Church can be voice of support for the forgotten. In fact, when all others have grown silent, or numb, to the injustice of the state, the Church must stand up and speak truth. Of course, this is always a risky thing, because we all want to just get along. If we do not speak truth to power, who will? I know that it is illegal or unethical to use the pulpit to advocate or promote a candidate (although many preachers do ). Yet it is not unethical to call our leaders to accountability. I think it would be a travesty if we remain silent. Of course, there is a cost. Dietrich Bonhoeffer understood this, when he returned to Germany during the time of World War II, and was imprisoned, and ultimately executed for speaking up against Hitler. I pray that the Church bravely finds the courage of the prophetic voice. Grace and Peace, Pastor Thom Page 1

2 February 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Cub Scouts Comm. Mtg 6:30 2 UMW Potluck 6pm pm Fam Fun Nite Boy Scouts Comm. Mtg 6: am Men s Bkfst Michelle s 11:30 Valentine s Day Lunch 19 11:45 Chili Cookoff Cubs Blue & Gold Banquet 2-5-Soc. Hall Red Cross Blood Drive Noon-2:45 20 Newsletter Articles Due 27 7 pm Finance Mtg 14 6 pm Fam Fun Nite 21 6 pm Fam Fun Nite Cub Scouts Comm. Mtg 6:30 7 pm Leadership Council Mtg 28 6 pm Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner pm Trustee Mtg Private Event 2-7 Soc. Hall Head Usher for February: Norm Jones Page 2 Trustee on Duty for February: Dan Closson

3 1 Sherry Jones 1 Flynn McKinney 2 Sharon Ebbitt 4 Dustin Croy 5 Ian McKinney 6 Steve Gillespie 7 Dan Closson 8 Barbara Gruizinga 9 Harry Parker 13 Barb Glennon 13 Lois Stegman 13 Nancy Taylo 15 Joyce Dennison 15 Carol Hilboldt 18 Ella DeGraw 18 Ronda Kuhnert 18 Alexis Moore 19 Kathy Noble 21 Gregory DeWard 22 Julie Rickey 24 Kay Miller 24 Jim Cole 26 Sheryl Roberts 28 Marcus DeGraw Red Cross Blood Drive Monday February 13th Noon to 2:45 pm 12 Richard & Margaret Burton ( 55) STAFF SECURITY POSITION AVAILABLE Kudos to Grace MacCarron who suggested the amount of Electronic Giving be included in the offering total and printed in the Sunday bulletins. Brilliant, Grace! We will remember Jean Gray who passed away January 11th. Jean had been a member of our church since Parchment United Methodist Church is looking for a security person to join the staff. Please submit your resume to the Staff/Parish Relations Committee. Your resume may be placed in the mailbox outside the church office JANUARY ATTENDANCE WORSHIP SUNDAY SCHOOL 1/ / / / /29 Page 3

4 Passing of the baton Thank you Dean Clark for serving as World Missions Chair for many years! In 2017 Kandie Wood will follow in your footsteps, providing leadership on matters concerning our World Missions giving. OUR 2016 CHRISTMAS OFFERING TOTAL WAS $1,403 Fifty percent of the total is designated to go to World Missions (half to Papillion Orphanage in Haiti and half to Lord s Mountain Orphanage in Zambezi, Africa) and Fifty percent of the total is designated to go to Local Missions (thirty percent to Kalamazoo Open Doors and twenty percent to Generous Hands) PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE, Tuesday, February 28, 6:30-8:00 pm. Come by to meet us and discuss enrollment possibilities for the school year. LOST: sterling silver (Brighton), rope bracelet with rhinestone accents. Please contact Julie Born if found SOUND SYSTEM OPERATORS NEEDED The PUMC sound crew is still in need of additional members. After training, each member is responsible for running the sound board one Sunday each month. See or call Andy Knight at , or knightmusik@chartermi.net. STRINGERS AND SINGERS PRAISE BAND PUMC Stringers and Singers Praise Band is always open to new members, but is in immediate need of 2 additional female singers for the February 19 service. We will be singing "You Are Holy" that Sunday and need additional singers to make it work. So if you enjoy that song, please contact Andy Knight at , or knightmusik@chartermi.net. Page 4

5 Celebrate Valentine's Day with a lasagna luncheon after worship on Sunday, February 12th. Lunch, beverage, and table service will be provided. If you have a favorite Valentine s Day dessert, please bring it to share! UNITED METHODIST WOMEN S COMING EVENTS: February 2 6 pm UMW Potluck - Guest Speaker is Elyse Connors February 19 11:45 am Chili Cook-off March 4 9 am Lenten Breakfast April 21 (Fri) 1pm-6 pm Rummage Sale April 22 (Sat) 9 am-2 pm Rummage Sale May 4 6 pm Mother-Daughter Banquet June 1 6 pm UMW Potluck Meet John Scott. John clears the snow from our steps and sidewalks, and spreads salt to keep us safe! Thanks, John! We appreciate you. Page 5

6 Parchment United Methodist Church 225 Glendale Blvd. Parchment, MI A Purpose-Driven Church Serving Christ in the Heart of Parchment Like us on Facebook! 2017 OFFICE HOURS: Monday Thursday 9:00 a.m. 1 p.m.