THE CLARION MARCH 2018

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1 THE CLARION MARCH 2018 CLARE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Know God, Grow in Faith, and Share God s Love We are Jesus Centered, bringing Love, Hope, and Encouragement to People in our Community and Beyond DON T FORGET TO SET YOUR CLOCKS AHEAD 1 HOUR BEFORE YOU GO TO BED ON MARCH 10 DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS MARCH 11 TH and only 20 days until March 25, Palm Sunday, Why Do I Feel So Guilty? Romans 3:10-26 March 29, Maundy Thursday, 7pm, Farwell UMC March 30, Good Friday, 1pm, Clare Christ Fellowship March 30, Good Friday, 7pm, What Does Jesus Cross Mean to Me? Galatians 3:1-14 Jesus Answer April 1, Resurrection Celebration with Communion, He s Alive and I m Forgiven John 20:1-9, Vital Church Initiative Update: Wow! Our consultation weekend has come and gone. A huge thank you to everyone for giving of your time, your insights, and your selves, you truly gave the consultation team a true look at who we are and what we are willing to do to be the vital church God wants us to be. We now have outsider s perspective of our gifts and graces, what a wonderful church you are, and five prescriptions to help us be even better as children of God and builders of God s Kingdom. Below are the dates and times for the three town hall meetings which will allow you to better understand the prescriptions and determine whether we are willing to step into them as a church. on Sunday, April 8, Anita Hahn, our District Superintendent will lead an official church conference after the 11am morning worship service in which the members of the church will vote to accept the prescriptions and the coaching that can assist us in accomplishing those prescriptions. Town Hall Meetings Wednesday, March 7, 7pm in Sanctuary Sunday, March 11, 9:30am in Sanctuary Tuesday, March 13, noon in Fellowship Hall with Soup and Salad Lunch Church Conference to Accept Prescriptions Sunday, April 8, 12:30 following second service CLARE UMC STAFF AND SCHEDULE Pastor: Pastor John G. Kasper pastorjohn@clareumc.org Office Manager: Judy M. Bailey jbailey@clareumc.org Youth Director: Rachel MacGregor rdpotter89@gmail.com Organist(8:15) LuAnne Humphrey Pianist: Abigail Mullis Pianist: Deniza Derdovski Choir Director & Children's Choir Director: Tracy Lubs Clare UMC Preschool and Child Care Center Director: Melonie Kingsbury MA;mkingsbury@clareumc.org phone: Church Office Hours Church Office phone # :30-noon & 1-4:00 p.m. Monday Friday Worship Services 8:15 & 11:00 Impact Zone(Sunday School) 9:15 A.M. Adult Sunday School 9:30 A.M. Sept. May MISS A MESSAGE? Want to hear it again? Would like to share it with a friend? Manuscripts of Sunday messages are now available on our website, Messages will be posted by Wednesday following the Sunday it was given and will be available 4 months following. ARE YOU IN NEED OF A HANDY MAN? We have someone attending our church that would be happy to help you out. Steve Davis is a Handy Man his phone number is He is new to our church, has rentals in town and needs to get more work! The Preschool and Child Care Center Board of Directors is organizing a Toy Shower for the Center. The date is after the 11:00 service on March 18. See more inside this issue. Page

2 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and he has anointed me to be hope for the poor, freedom for the brokenhearted, and new eyes for the blind, and to preach to prisoners, You are set free! I have come to share the message of Jubilee, for the time of God s great acceptance has begun. Luke 4:18-19 The Passion Translation We are in the season of Lent, a time for us to reflect on who we are in relation to our holy God, a time for us to consider Jesus life and sacrifice, and a time to ponder how we might respond to that wonderful love gift in a way that will cause others to be drawn to our wonderful God. As a priest in the Church of England, John Wesley was troubled and disturbed that the church failed to reach the vast majority of British people with the Gospel and didn t seem concerned that it wasn t. God s spirit created such a holy discontent in Wesley s heart that he abandoned conventional modes of ministry and tried with several innovative approaches. To everyone s surprise, spiritual revival broke out in England and beyond. If God could do that then, why not now? Perhaps it can. In his book, Meet the Good People: Wesley s 7 Ways to Share Faith, Roger Ross suggests we review and implement seven of John Wesley s practices that were characteristic of the early Methodist movement. 1. Be Devoted to Prayer Wesley rediscovered what the church of his day had forgotten: prayer releases the power of God. He called prayer the grand means of drawing near to God and found believing, persistent prayer to be the necessary first step to see God move. He modeled this conviction by devoting at least two hours a day to personal prayer and made fervent prayer a hallmark of the movement. 2. Go Where the People Are When the love of Jesus Christ gripped Wesley s heart, he knew he couldn t keep it to himself. There had to be some way to reach the vast masses of people who would never darken a church door. Initially, Wesley was convinced the gospel could only be preached in the stained-glass setting of a church building. But with so few people attending church services, he was forced to consider other options. Reluctantly, Wesley began preaching in the open air. He would find a high spot on the edge of a city and speak to whoever would listen. Crowds of three, five, even ten thousand people would gather. Many of them were touched by the spirit of God and awakened to their spiritual state. A revival in England was born largely because Wesley was willing to take the gospel to where the people were. 3. Speak Plain Truth In Wesley s day, the Church of England didn t connect with the real lives of everyday people. Ironically, the ministry of Jesus was just the opposite. When Jesus spoke, the common people heard him gladly. Wesley longed to bridge the gap between real faith and real people. Although he was a highly educated Oxford fellow and deeply steeped in the Christian tradition, he refused to parade his scholarship. He chose to speak plain truth for plain people. He intentionally shaped his language so common people could gladly hear the gospel and respond. 4. Use the Music of the Culture Gregorian chants in Latin and heavy German music were standard fare in church services in Wesley s day. Although the words were meaningful, the music was a complete disconnect with the common people. It didn t speak their heart language. In his travels, Wesley found that pre-christian people connected most easily with the gospel when it came through their native culture. He encouraged his brother Charles to put gospel words to the popular tunes of the day, and it caught people s hearts. Speaking in terms people could understand was part one of cracking the cultural code; music that touched the modern day soul was part two. -continued on next page-

3 5. Place Everyone in a Small Group for Spiritual Growth continued As Wesley began outdoor preaching in various sites around England, he soon noticed a troubling pattern. Without intentional support and encouragement, people who had moving, even ecstatic experiences of God while he was preaching would soon fall away from their newly awakened state. To provide responsible spiritual care, Wesley would only preach in venues where spiritually awakened people could be placed in small groups or classes. His goal was not to see people have a single encounter with God but to have them experience real, lasting life change through faith in Christ. Such transformation of heart and life happens best when people do life together with a handful of others who become a spiritual family. 6. Give the Ministry to the Laity A team member who rides the bench and a Christian who sits in a pew share are similar they both watch other people play. Christianity was never designed to be a spectator sport. As the early Methodist movement grew rapidly, Wesley soon took his mother s advice and allowed laypersons, both men and women, to oversee classes (small groups) and preach in the society meetings (large groups). When he released the energies of the laity, the ministry multiplied even faster. 7. Use Mass Communication to Get the Word Out In Wesley s day, the mass communication tool was the printing press. Wesley wrote numerous sermons, treatises, tracts, and books that were distributed to a wide audience to fuel the movement. Thousands of people who never heard him speak came to know Christ and grow in Christ through his writings. Of course, today the Internet and social media enable anyone with web access to have a personal platform previously unimaginable. Why Not Now? The genius of the Wesleyan revival is found in the ways he engaged coldly indifferent people and turned them into warm-hearted disciples who changed the world. We can do that, too. We can recover the seven methods of the early Methodist movement that reached the unchurched masses of that day. Let s consider how we can reshape these practices for our twenty-first century context and culture. I do believe a spiritual revival can happen right here in Clare. With you on the Journey, Pastor John This article is adapted from Roger Ross s book Meet the Good People: Wesley s 7 Ways to Share Faith. Life Questions The season of Lent is intended to be a time of reflection: Who am I? What does God say about me? How then should I live? In the process of reflection we often encounter questions we are not certain we can answer on our own. God has something to say in regard to those questions. We will consider some of those questions between now and that most holy of weeks when we reflect on, consider, and, yes, even celebrate God s wondrous acts of love for us. Life Questions March 4, 3 rd Sunday in Lent & Communion Sunday, Why Am I Afraid? Mark 4:35-41 March 11, 4 th Sunday in Lent, Why Am I Here? Ephesians 1:3-14 March 18, 5 th Sunday in Lent, What Happens When I Die? Luke 16:19-31 March 25, Palm Sunday, Why Do I Feel So Guilty? Romans 3:10-26 March 29, Maundy Thursday, 7pm, Farwell UMC March 30, Good Friday, 1pm, Clare Christ Fellowship March 30, Good Friday, 7pm, What Does Jesus Cross Mean to Me? Galatians 3:1-14 Jesus Answer April 1, Resurrection Celebration with Communion, He s Alive and I m Forgiven John 20:1-9, 19-23

4 THANK YOU TO BILL & LINDA DROOMER FOR PURCHASING 2 MORE NEW TABLES, NOW WE HAVE 14 NEW TABLES (in the Fellowship Hall) THANK YOU! Dear Church family, I want to thank you so much for thinking of me on my birthday this year. It made me feel extra specialknowing that you all took the time to sign a birthday card for me. Feeling blessed! Jo Raymond THANK YOU! Dear Church family, I can t to tell you how much I appreciate all of your valentines and goodies that you sent to me out here in Virginia, You still make me feel like I am a part of you, and to that I want to thank you all so much! I always look forward to hearing from all of you! With much appreciation, Virgie Wilson THANK YOU! Dear Church family, I would like to thank you for the wonderful care package you sent me. It came just at the right time! I appreciate your kindness and love that was put into sending it to me. Thanks again! Bailey Hubel What a Blessing the ladies are from this church! Thank you so much for your help and participation in the wonderful baby shower for the MacGregor family. We had a fund time of food, games, presents and fellowship! We heard many time from the guests that attended about what a wonderful church family Rachel, Dylan, and McKayla have and that could nt be more true! again to anyone that helped in any way. Thank you!! THANK YOU! Dear Clare UMC family, Thank you for all the cute valentines I received from my friends at the church. So nice to be remembered! God Bless all of you! Glenna Beard THANK YOU! To my Dear Friends at CUMC, and Pastor John, Just a small token of my appreciation, for how you have helped me shine in so many ways. Thank you for your support during the holidays and how you have embraced me into your church family. When I count my blessings I always think of you cause I couldn t be more grateful for the thoughtful things you do! Love & Blessings, Sheila Parker THANK YOU! Dear Clare UMC family, I want to thank all of you for the cards that you continue to send to Joyce and myself. It is so wonderful of all of you to think of us. We feel blessed to have you as our friends! God s Blessings to you! Judy & Joyce LeBoeuf "The MacGregor family would like to thank our church family for the many blessing and support we have received as we prepare for our new little guy! Special thanks to Debbi Kasper and all of those who helped to coordinate our beautiful shower! We were definitely showered with so many much-needed gifts for Wyatt and big sister McKayla. Beyond the gifts the love and support we are surrounded by is amazing and we feel beyond blessed to have so many people in our lives that already love and care for our bundle of joy! We ask for continued prayers as Wyatt arrives and as we move forward with the adoption process of our sweet McKayla! We are beyond thankful for all of you!" Easter is approaching quickly. We will have sign up sheets in the lobby if you would like to contribute in some way for our Sunrise Breakfast to follow the Sunrise Service. Last year we had a tremendous attendance, and we would appreciate any help with food before, during, and after the breakfast. If you are interested in helping out with this ministry in any way, please contact the Kathy or kswarn@hotmail.com Thank you! MOTHER HUBBARD S CUPBOARD IN MARCH WE WILL BE COLLECTING PAPER PRODUCTS: TOILET PAPER, PAPER TOWEL, ETC.. FOR OUR CLARE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH PRESCHOOL AND CHILD CARE CENTER

5 OUR EXTRA MILE GIVING FOR MARCH WILL BE FOR DELBERT & SANDY GROVES, MISSIONAIRIES WE HAVE SUPPORTED FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. 1: Abigail Monzo Tami Turner 2: Nancy Curtis 3: Connie McGregor Cheryl Haataja 4: Mike Goin 6: Linda Droomer Matthew Lane Peyton Hubel Kay Musser 7: LeAnn Benic Brianna (McGregor) Harris Paul McNeilly Joyce Swan 9: Brooke Cassiday Anika Newton 10: Andy McNeilly 12: Konner McKinstry 13: Heidi Gallagher Laurie Staten 15: Nicole Taylor 16: Jim Teall 17: Kathryn Kruskamp Julie McNeilly 18: Connie Miller 19: Tony Taylor 20: Adam McGregor 22: Audrey Patterson Ryan Thayer 25: Karen Mater Elmer Shurlow 27: Rose Musser 28: Dawn Moline Char Smock Brian Staten 29: Dexter Hubel Adrian Nevill 30: Brenda Denton Katie(Marshall) Jenkins Kristi (Marshall) Murray Tom Schunk 31: Ron Burrows Aleisha Dickman

6 Toy Shower for new Preschool and Child Care Center March 18 Our Preschool and Child Care Center building is progressing. All of the contractors have been diligent in doing their part in coordinated, timely stages. The P & CCC Board of Directors is organizing a Toy Shower for the Center. The date is after the 11:00 worship service on March 18. We will do the Coffee Hour that day and invite all the congregation and the parents and students from the Center. If the Building site is safe to tour, we will do so. Director Melonie has been compiling a list of appropriate toys and products the Center will be needing. There will be a file box available in the Narthex by a display board from which you may choose. Also there is a website lakeshorelearning.com that has a list. Since the site has to have an individual s name, you need to search under Melonie Kingsbury. Then you will see it says for the Clare UMC Preschool and Child Care Center. Now that we will have many more children enrolled, the Board is asking you in the congregation to consider volunteering or even becoming a paid substitute. To do so, it is required a background check be done through DHHS and ICHAT. There is no charge for this and all you need to do is fill out an application and provide a copy of your driver s license. An orientation is provided and the staff does an EXCELLENT job helping newcomers. As a volunteer myself, I can tell you, you will be rewarded 70 x 7 watching children grow with Christ as their center. A sub needs the same background checks, but will be paid and will need to commit to being available to fill-in for staff illnesses or emergencies. The next couple months will be very busy as construction is completed and the move is made. We are so blessed our church has chosen to provide this community's children with what is the mission statement: Caring professionals providing developmentally appropriate Christian Education. NEWS FROM THE PRESCHOOL AND CHILD CARE CENTER Last month I provided information on how to choose a high quality child care center and this month I will like to cover how to choose a high quality preschool for your child. Once a child is 3 years old and potty trained we automatically enroll them into our preschool. That is because they are ready to start interacting with their peers in meaningful ways. The information of choosing high quality preschool that I am sharing is from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, of which I am a member of this organization. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is a professional membership organization that works to promote highquality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research. They advance a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children. The association comprises nearly 60,000 individual members of the early childhood community and more than 50 Affiliates, all committed to delivering on the promise of high-quality early learning. Together, they work to achieve a collective vision: that all young children thrive and learn in a society dedicated to ensuring they reach their full potential. Creating a Caring Community of Learners In a high-quality preschool, children develop positive relationships with each other and their teachers. Teachers: Are warm and caring, and they get to know each child and family well. Help children learn how to play, work together, and make friends. Plan activities so that all children can join in. Include every child's family, language, and culture in the program. -continued on next page-

7 NEWS FROM THE PRESCHOOL AND CHILD CARE CENTER CONTINUED Teaching to Support Children's Development and Learning Teachers set up the classroom, choose materials, and plan activities that support children's learning. They also: Provide materials and activities that interest children and challenge them. Encourage children's efforts by making specific comments. Set clear limits for children's behavior and explain the reasons. Planning and Adapting Curriculum A preschool curriculum is based on what most preschoolers should know and be able to do. Teachers plan and adapt curriculum to help children learn and grow by: Setting learning goals for children that are challenging but achievable with help. Balancing group activities and instruction guided by the teacher with activities children choose themselves. Providing enough time for children to get deeply involved in activities and learning. Paying attention to and supporting children's interests, skills, and knowledge. Assessing Children's Development and Learning Through regular assessment, teachers understand what each child knows and can do. This helps them decide which materials, activities, and experiences to add to help children continue learning. Teachers assess children's learning and development by: Regularly taking notes on what children do and say. Collecting samples of children's drawings and writings. Taking photos of the things children make. Using screening tests to identify when children need more learning support. Asking you what activities your child does at home and what interests he has. Developing Relationships With Families Teachers want to build trusting relationships with families. They know that you are the most important people in your child's life. Teachers partner with families by: Listening to families' goals and concerns for their children. Encouraging families to participate in the program in different ways. Showing respect for each family and its language and culture. Trying to find ways to communicate in a family's home language. Warning Signs There are many wonderful preschool programs. But you might see some things that don't help children learn and develop. A few examples are listed here. If you're concerned about something you see, talk to the teacher or program supervisor. The space is not organized. Children wander around and aren't really involved in activities. Or, teachers control all activities so children aren't ever free to explore materials or play. Children are given worksheets, flashcards, or toys that can be used just one way. Other materials don't let children make choices and solve problems. Teachers don't participate in children's activities. They don't ask questions or make suggestions that help children learn deeply. Or, they tell children what to do and how to do it. Teachers don't set clear limits for children's behavior. Or, they respond to misbehavior by punishing children instead of helping them learn what they could do next time. Teachers rarely share information about children's progress with families. They mainly talk to families when there is a problem and don't ask about a family's wishes and concerns. Programs don't try to communicate with families in ways they can understand. The first few years of your child's life are such important learning years. Connecting with warm, caring adults early on helps your preschooler form strong relationships throughout his life. Together, you and your child's teachers can make good choices that'll give your child a great start! Please check our for more information.

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9 UNITED METHODIST WOMEN S PAGE Our Next Meeting: Tuesday, March 13, at 7:00 in the Trinity room!! All of you ladies are welcome to join us!! As an added incentive, DARLYN will return to conduct the meeting!! A wonderful, delicious dessert will be served...with the possibly of it being green! About Our Monthly Meetings: The Clare United Methodist Women plan a monthly meeting or special monthly event each month. During the month of December we sponsored the Advent evening service for the entire church. Beginning the evening with a very yummy family pot luck, followed by Christmas carols played and sang by Stephanie Terpening the sanctuary, we welcomed the Advent season. During the January month we conducted a church service. We listened to a special presentation on the horrors of human trafficking in Michigan. We were delighted to present the dove award to two very special Christian women. In the month of February our program was derived from the UMW program book. This program told about being called by God to help other people. Just as Moses, Gideon, Esther, and John were called to help others so are the United Methodist women called to help other individuals. We sponsor a unique laity program of deaconess and home missioners. Our church also has many who are called to help others. These endeavors are listed on the chart on the Trinity wall. During the month of March our UMW meeting will be held on March 13. We are very fortunate to have as our program presenter Sheila Bissonnette. Sheila is the Clare Pere Marquette District librarian. Sheila will present the vast resources of the library in Christian and other religions (fiction and non-fiction), inspirational topics, historical religious topics, and current issues in religion available at the library. This program promises to be very informative and possibly encourage your reading choices. Our UMW Officers 2018 Pres-Darlyn Turner Vice President- Jeanne Shelander Secretary- Kathy Englehart Treasurer- Colleen Bremer Spiritual Growth-Sue Neff Program Resources- Jeanne Shelander WE HAVE 2 RUMMAGE SALES A YEAR. THE PROCEEDS GO TO UNITED METHODIST WOMEN GLOBAL MISSIONS. UMW HAS A READING PROGRAM. BOOKS CAN BE FOUND IN OUR CHURCH LIBRARY, IN THE EDUCATION BUILDING

10 Life Line Screening is once again coming to Clare UMC, a leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, is pleased to offer a preventive health event at Clare United Methodist Church on 3/8/2018. Five screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems related to: blocked arteries which is a leading cause of stroke; abdominal aortic aneurysms which can lead to a ruptured aorta; hardening of the arteries in the legs which is a strong predictor of heart disease; atrial fibrillation or irregular heart beat which is closely tied to stroke risk; and a bone density screening, for men and women, used to assess the risk of osteoporosis. Register for a Wellness Package which includes 4 vascular tests and osteoporosis screening from $149 ($139 with our member discount). All five screenings take minutes to complete. There are three ways to register for this event and to receive a $10 discount off any package priced above $129, please call toll-free or visit or text the word circle to

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