TOWER TALKS. A church for the whole family of God. First United Methodist Church of Warren

Transcription

1 TOWER TALKS First United Methodist Church of Warren A church for the whole family of God Published on January 18, 2019 Special Points of Interest: Amazon Smile Address Changes Greeters, Ushers, Lay Reader Schedule Lay Readers Messy Church 2nd Wednesday s Thank You Corner The Twelve Disciple Adult Study Monday Evenings Year End Statements Inside This Issue: Pastor s Pen 2 Church Announcements 3 & 4 Prayer Concerns 5 As part of Messy Church s February gathering, we will be assembling care packages for the homeless at area warming shelters. Please help us love one another by donating any of the following items that will be included in these packages. Chapstick, travel size bottle of shampoo, travel size bottle of hand lotion, comb, tooth brush, travel size toothpaste, dental floss, small bars of soap, bandaids, individual containers of applesauce, granola bars (non crunchy) individual packages of crackers with cheese. Join us Wednesday, February 13 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Volunteers can sign up on the sheet provided in the Fellowship Hall. United Methodist Women s News 6 A Reception for Sarah Bauerle, our organist and accompanist will be held on Sunday, January 27 following the 10:30 a.m. service. A love offering will be taken up for her in the Fellowship Hall. Please join us for refreshments. warrenfirstumc.org

2 TOWER TALKS Page 2 The Pastor s Pen: I hope that your holidays were filled with blessings even as I acknowledge the many challenges some of you have faced the past few weeks. Life often happens that way, leaving us to look for the blessings in the midst of the chaos. As the holidays have wrapped up, we now face a brand-new year full of new possibilities. I find that it is easy to go from December 31 st to January 1 st as if nothing is different. The reality is that day to day life often seems like it simply stays the same. We may make a new resolution or two, but for the most part, life trudges on. This year, I hope that together we can see this new year as more than the same-old-same-old. My hope is that together, we can look into the days and months to come with renewed spirits and new hope for all that God has planned for us as a church. The past year, through prayerful discernment, the leadership of Warren 1 st began to cast the vision for this congregation. Together, they decided that God was calling us as the church to Connect people to the love of God; Grow disciples of Jesus Christ; and Go to serve God by serving others. This is who we are called to be and this is what we are called to do. Here's the thing. These can simply be words we put on a piece of paper and look at, maybe even memorize or they can be words that transform what we do and how we do it. If we as a community of faith believe that we are called to connect people to the love of God, we will feel led to have deep conversations around questions like: Who in our community is God calling us to reach and connect to his love for them? How can we connect with them? What will we need to change in order for them to experience God's love? If we as a community of faith believe that making disciples of Jesus Christ is an important part of what we are doing, we may ask ourselves: What is a disciple? What expectations do we have for discipleship? What expectations should we have? What programs do we have to train up disciples? Finally, if we are serious about our call to go and serve God by serving others, we might need to ask ourselves: What opportunities are there in our community to serve? Who are we called to serve with? What are we being called to do? As we begin a new year in ministry as the Warren 1 st UMC, we begin with a purpose that calls us to Connect, Grow, and Serve together. It also begins by putting God and God's purpose for us central to all that we do. From time to time, we will need to remind ourselves that it's not about me. It's about God and God's kingdom. I know that this is difficult work at times, but I have also learned in the past few months that God has placed in this community of faith some great disciples with a heart for God's kingdom. I know that together, we can become a beacon of hope for a hurting world. I invite you to join me in this journey as we step into 2019 together. Blessings, Pastor Melissa

3 TOWER TALKS Page 3 Church Announcements Thank You Corner Church Family: Thank you for all the prayers and cards from many friends from my church family for my husband, Gerald. All your kindness and thoughtfulness was so very appreciated. He is so better off with God, and I know I will miss him forever. Kathleen Ruffi Bob and I wish to thank everyone for your prayers, concerns, cards, phone calls and hospital visits. It was all greatly appreciated. He is doing better and hope to have him home soon. Love you, Barb & Bob Parnell Dear Warren First UMC Family: Thank you for your outpouring of love following the passing of my husband and your friend, Leon Bird, on December 7. Your kind and generous expressions of sympathy have comforted and sustained me. Your prayers of intercession have uplifted me and given me peace. The ongoing message of Christmas is God With Us. I am so thankful for His indwelling, abiding presence. May the Lord bless you all in the coming year. In His Love, Judy Bird Reminder One of the main functions of worship is to gather together to worship God. In our gathering, relationships are strengthened and we are connected to ministries that allow us to serve God by serving others. As we gather together, we have to be aware of things that may get in the way of our brothers and sisters worshiping with us. We have members of the congregation who are sensitive to perfumes and colognes as well as those who are allergic to nuts. Although the signs are no longer on the doors, we encourage our members to be aware of these issues as they bring food into the building and as they prepare to come to worship. We really do want to be a place where people can connect to the love of God. Year End Statements Statements will be available for pick up on Sunday, January 27 in the Fellowship Hall. If you have questions, contact Beth Permaloff at or epermaloff@yahoo.com. Please Excuse our Dust! In the near future painting will begin in the Narthex and Hallway areas of the church. It will be a work in progress as the labor force is minimal. So work will be done is sections, until the project is completed. Please be patient. P.S. If you would like to donate for this project to offset the costs, donations can be made to the DG7 account. Thank you, Trustees Change of Address Shirley M. Hillam 3775 Sugar Maple Dr. Sterling Hgts., MI Willis & Jayne Baker 1401 E. Lincoln Ave. Royal Oak, MI Nancy Nugent 3056 Waverly Woods Lane Howell, MI Pamela Weatherwax 4782 Gerald St. Warren, MI 48092

4 TOWER TALKS Page 4 Church Announcements Deaths Gerald R. Ruffi, age 80 died December 27, Beloved husband of Kathleen Ruffi; loving father of Dawn (Robert) McNeilly; Suzanne (Gerald) Schueler; Ronald (Lynette) Ruffi; and Daniel Ruffi; 8 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. A service celebrating his life was held on January 5, 2019 with the Rev. Melissa Claxton officiating. Donations requested to Beaumont Hospice. Lyle Granville Elliott, aged 71 years in Warren and Lakeville, Michigan passed away January 13, 2019 among beloved family and dearest friends. A FuneralDirector and U.S. Marine Corp. Veteran who took great pride in caring for others now joins his late wife Jan M., and parents Lyle Gordon and Bonita L. Elliott. Lyle Gran lives on in the memories of children; L. Geoff (Kari), April M. and Joshua (Maria)Elliott; grandchildren L. Griffin, Garrison T., Meegen A. and Keller B. Elliott; In-laws, cousins, friends and countless community members. Visitaiton 12-8pm Sunday, January 20, 2019 with Funeral Service 11am Monday at Lyle Elliott Funeral Home, Mound Rd., Warren Burial will be made following Military Honors at Oakview Cemetery in Royal Oak. Prayers for healing for Pastor Melissa Claxton who had foot surgery on Wednesday, January 16. The Rev. Marshall Dunlap will be serving our pulpit on Sunday, January 20 and 27. His contact information is For all pastoral emergencies please contact Rev. Scott Manning from Rochester Hills, St. Luke s Church, or his cell: WFUMC can now accept credit or debit cards through our on-line giving. Please go to the church website and complete the information under on line giving. You can do a one-time gift or a recurring donation. If you need assistance contact Beth Permaloff at epermaloff@yahoo.com or WFUMC is committed to responsible use of credit cards. This service is being offered solely for convenience and we urge you not to use credit cards to give more than is available in your budget. Thank you for supporting our ministries. We are asking that every member of the church take the time every day to pray for the church. We need prayers for our local congregation as we begin the work of focusing on God's vision for us and how we are called to reach new people for Christ. We also need prayers for the greater church as the special session of General Conference convenes February to talk about the future of the church in regards to human sexuality. Monday Night Bible Study The Twelve Disciples (Author: Douglas Connelly) Monday s 6:30-8:30 p.m. Jan. 21 Orientation Passing out Books Jan. 28 Andrew Feb. 4 Simon Peter Feb. 11 Matthew Feb. 18 James Feb. 25 Philip Mar. 4 John Mar. 11 Thomas Mar. 18 Nathaniel Mar. 25 Judas Iscariot Apr. 1 Three Others Book Fee $7.00 Questions, contact Mike Rivard at:

5 TOWER TALKS Page 5 PRAYER CONCERNS... Hospitalized/Outpatient/Rehab Richard Berryman, Rev. Melissa Claxton, Nancy Gross Velma Gray, Bob Parnell Assisted Care Doug Anderson Martha T. Berry, Elizabeth Rd., Rm Mount Clemens, MI RuthAnn Anderson Fraser Villa Utica Rd., Fraser, MI Cliff Jex Lakeshore Woods, 4851 Lakeshore Rd, Rm. 215, Fort Gratiot, MI Mary Etta Miller Van Dyke, Rm. 247, Warren, MI Jean Minter Sunrise Assisted Living, Hayes Rd., Rm. 216, Shelby Twp., MI Continued Prayers Active Duty Jack Barnes United States Sean Boesman Germany Bradley Cornett WA Andrew Rivard MI Vincent Farmilo Germany Matthew Seilicki CA Vincent Von Lau Army All those in active military service. Names removed from this list remain on the prayer team s weekly prayer list. Questions? Please see a member of the prayer team or contact them below. Lora Quick: , prayergramma@gmail.com Dorothy Collins: Dot McLean: , dorothym308j@gmail.com Church: , contact@warrenfirstumc.org MCREST Church s Feb. 3: Rock Community, Fair Haven Feb. 10: Sts. Francis & Maximilliam, New Haven Feb. 17: St. Lawrence Catholic, Utica Feb. 24: St. Ephrem, Sterling Heights Ushers Schedule Walt Kauppila Bill Descamps Sherry Descamps Greeters Schedule Feb. 3: Susan Ferraro Feb 10: Peggy McIvor Feb. 17: Hilda Blazo Feb. 24: Sandy & Dewey Bowers Lay Readers Schedule Feb. 3: Lisa Wardell Feb. 10: John Cole Feb. 17: Katie Belles Feb. 24: Madison Meadows Counters February Sheri Anderson Doug Belles Sunday Office Volunteers Feb. 3: Shari Anderson Feb. 10: Claudia DeBacker Feb. 17: Liz Baron Feb. 24: Dorothy Collins

6 TOWER TALKS Page 6 United Methodist Women Mission Team: Tuesday, February 10:00 a.m. Library Circle Meetings Tuesday, February 10:00 a.m. 1 Mary Fellowship Hall 2 Naomi Red Olive Restaurant 3 Joy Bronx Burger Restaurant 4 Glory Theo s Family Restaurant 5 Deborah Tuesday, February 7:00 Pekarek s Fellowship Meeting: Tuesday, February 19, 10:00 a.m. Fellowship Hall 2018 Mitten Tree Update As a congregation we collected 44 Scarves 121 Hats 69 Mittens 26 Sets 260 Total The items were delivered locally to the Warren Consolidated Schools for distribution. Thank you again for supporting this Mission! Warren First UMC is now connected to Amazon Smile (Amazon will donate a small percentage of eligible purchases to the church)! So as you shop, please consider using Amazon Smile. The church s direct link is smile.amazon.com/ch/ Thank you! FUMC Rummage Sale The sale dates are Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8, 2019 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Early Bird entry is $2.00 per person, both days from 8:00-9:00 a.m. Sale items can be brought in starting on Sunday, June 2 and dropped off in the Library. Volunteers are also needed for setting up on Sunday after service, and sorting items Monday, June 3 through Thursday, June 6, starting around 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Questions, contact Byron Pietras-Kiefer at