Ann Arbor District Picnic

Transcription

1 The Arbor Vine Ann Arbor District of The United Methodist Church Rev. Mark E. Spaw, District Superintendent June 2017 Ann Arbor District Picnic July 29 12:00 3:00 pm Dexter UMC MEAL Rev. Spaw will grill hot dogs buns, paper products, beverages provided Please bring a dish to share (serving 10-12). SEATING Tables, chairs, picnic tables (you may bring your own lawn chairs) ENTERTAINMENT Sand volleyball Float the Huron River from Dexter UMC to Hudson Mills Metropark (40 minute float) Bring your own floatation devices/towels River depth is safe for younger children Dexter UMC will provide transportation back to the church (5 minute ride)

2 Spaw s Paws Some thoughts from your D.S., Rev. Mark E. Spaw Something to Pray and Think About Celebrate Patriotism Page 2 Next month we celebrate our 4th of July. In regards to this very special and important day of Independence, I share these thoughts of well-known columnist, Sydney J. Harris. Patriotism means asking a country to conform to the highest laws of human nature, to the eternal standards of justice and equality. Nationalism means supporting your country even when it violates these eternal standards. Patriotism is a form of faith. Nationalism is a form of superstition, of fanaticism, of idolatry. Patriotism would like every country to become like ours, in its best aspects. Nationalism despises other countries as incapable of becoming like ours. Americanism, in its highest, original sense, asks that we all become patriots to an idea, not to a particular country. This idea is self-government by ALL persons, who are not regarded as equals in the law. Patriotism is for the entire world, and not just for us. To confuse it with nationalism, to use it for ugly purposes, is to betray the dream of those who made it come true. As we celebrate the 4th of July, thank God for the blessings of this world. Thank God for the opportunity to share the GOOD NEWS of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank God and remember those, throughout the world, who have given their lives for the dream of freedom. As I celebrate seven years with you, I give God thanks for the wonderful people of the Ann Arbor District and ask that together we continue to share the GOOD NEWS. I hope to be greeting you all at the Ann Arbor District Picnic on July 29 at Dexter UMC. The picnic is from 12:00 pm 3:00 pm. I will be manning the grill with hot dogs. The buns, condiments, and table settings are provided. We re asking that you bring a dish to share that will serve people. Dexter UMC will provide beverages, tables, chairs, picnic tables and generous hospitality. There is sand volleyball and an opportunity to float the Huron River from the Dexter UMC Campus to Hudson Mills Metropark (40 minute float). The depth of the river between these two points is shallow enough for young children. If you plan to float the river you must bring your own floatation device and towels. Dexter UMC will provide transportation from the Metropark back to the church (5 minute ride). I pray that these summer months will bring us all renewal, refreshment and a great deal of fun! Sharing the Good News, Rev. Mark E. Spaw, D.S.

3 What s Happening in the Mitten Page 3 MI Area Annual Conference More than 1500 United Methodists will be in Traverse City for Annual Conference from June 1 June 4. If you are attending please keep in mind as with doing all things for the first time God s grace must abound. If you were part of the design team, lodging, registration, logistics, communication, etc. many thanks for your hard work and commitment to making things run as smoothly as possible. Many conversations and laughs will take place along with the business of the United Methodist Church. Many decisions will be made., some easy and some not so easy. There ll be worship services that are powerful. While hearing 1500 United Methodists singing this might also be a time to pause from the singing and listen to the message of the words. Please lift up those attending in prayer on a daily basis. Pray for the Bishop and the Cabinet. Pray for the behind the scenes conference staff, including lodging staff. Pray that those who are vacationing in the Traverse City area will see God s presence in us. Inviting God to be part of all that will be happening could make a difference as we all continue to Make Disciples for the transformation of the World. Reach Mini Workshop Cathy Townley will be presenting the workshop Building Worship Bridges on June 22 (9:30 am-4:00 pm) at Rochester St. Paul's UMC. In this workshop based on Cathy s new book, Building Worship Bridges: Worship to Accelerate Neighborhood Connections you'll learn the technical side of worship service development (competent) and the adaptive, relational side (compelling). Go to: 5th Annual UM Friday at Comerica Park The Detroit Tigers will play the Chicago White Sox at 7:10 pm on September 15. Come early for pre-game fun with Bishop Bard. Post game fun includes fireworks (weather permitting). Tickets are $40 with seating in the Right Field Lower Deck. Contact: Don Archambeau For complete information and to register go to: Ann Arbor District Conference The Ann Arbor District Conference is October 16 at Novi United Methodist Church. There ll be a dinner with the meeting to follow. Further details will be announced at a later date. REACH Summit 2017 October in Grand Rapids. MI at the Doubletree Inn. Go to Ann Arbor District Lay Servant Classes The Ann Arbor District Conference Lay Servant Classes are sat Chelsea First United Methodist Church on October 21 and November 4 with registration beginning at 8:30 am and worship and sessions beginning at 9:00 am. Hands4Detroit October 7 is the date of Hands4Detroit 2017 from 9:00 am 4:00 pm in Mexican Town and Southwest Detroit. The host church is Crisitano UMC located at 1270 Waterman in Detroit. This is a one day work blitz making a difference in the area. Contact: Audrey Mangum drdsjusticemisson@gmail.com

4 Information Worth Repeating Conference Journal Distribution Process There are significant changes in ordering and receiving journals for Exception-Retired clergy and surviving spouses of clergy memorialized at the 2017 annual conference will receive a complimentary journal automatically no ordering needed. Journals will be ordered and paid for online ($10-$12 each) using a link to a web site that will be provided later this year. The journals will only be available as regular bound. Historical reports will only be available online at the MI Area website. Churches, clergy, lay members, district and conference agencies will need to place orders and pay for them at the time of ordering. Page 4 JUNE BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES 2 Fred Hatfield 4 Joel & Megan Walther 6 Bob Miller 6 Amy Triebwasser 8 Tom Hart 9 Alan & Judith DeGraw 10 Mike & Bri Desotell 11 Eric Hammar 11 David & Winona Church 14 Sondra Willobee 14 Devin & Brittany Smith 18 Bill & Cindy Kreichbaum 18 James & Pamela Kummer 19 Gloria Tarpley 21 Tom & Julie Zimmerman 21 Skip & Sue Rice 21 Jerry & Ardith Stewardson 21 Beverly Crane 23 Don & Shelley Weatherup 24 Tommy Burdette 25 Earl Downing 25 Karen Bamsey 25 William & Janet Smith 26 Rhonda Hawkins 27 Evans Bentley 27 David Hurst 29 Marianne McMunn 30 Jamie Kim 30 Eric Triebwasser Ann Arbor District: Early Response Team Training Early Response Teams (ERT) are an active part of the United Methodist Disaster Response effort and are an essential part of the domestic and global disaster relief and recovery efforts of the United Methodist Church. The ERT program trains individuals to go into an area where a natural disaster has struck to help families begin the process of putting their lives back in order. The work of the ERT is to Be a Caring Christian Presence in the aftermath of a disaster. This happens through working with families to make their home and yard safe by picking up debris, tarping roofs, removing and sorting items that were harmed, tearing out damaged carpet/dry wall, mucking out a basement, or cleaning where mold has begun to grow. It is a ministry of caring for those who have been affected by a disaster through offering help which begins their journey back to normal. If you believe that working for three days of intense sharing, caring, sorting, sifting and lifting sounds like a ministry for you, then consider this training event. If you have already taken the basic course, but your certification has lapsed, this course will cover your recertification. Where: Marble Memorial UMC, 8 Park Ln, Milan MI When: Saturday, June 24 (registration deadline June 12) Cost: $30 This includes Manual, Badge, and T-Shirt For more information or to reserve your place, or call Bob Miller at pastorbob@marbleumc.org, , or Bob Freysinger (Trainer) at pastorrjf913@yahoo.com. A registration packet will be mailed or ed to you to complete and bring to the event. Liberia UMVIM Team Leader Packets Interested in taking a volunteer in mission team to Liberia? Check out the projects and opportunities available through the Liberian Methodist Church at lumvim.blogspot.com/. A free planning packet PDF for teams going to Liberia is available from Tom Anderson at tanderson@humc.us Connectional Church Grants Connectional church grants are intended to assist local congregations in the Ann Arbor District in program, ministry or projects that the church would find difficult, if not impossible, to do without assistance. Greater weight will be placed on projects and programs that go beyond the church s present budgetary ability. Grants are given to both new and innovative programs. Total grant budget for the district for 2017 is $13, 000. Grant amounts are limited by the number of churches that apply. Go to the district web site for the link to download the application.

5 Ann Arbor District Office of the United Methodist Church 900 S. Seventh St. Suite 1 Ann Arbor MI Return Service Requested The Arbor Vine