THE CLARION SEPTEMBER 2016

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1 THE CLARION SEPTEMBER 2016 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 Please Help Secure The Future Of Clare United Methodist Church You may have noticed over the past 3 years that several repairs and improvements have been completed in and around the Church and Education buildings. *Both buildings have had their landscaping updated *The Sanctuary has been painted. *A few doors and windows have been replaced in the Ed. Bldg. *LED lighting was installed in Sanctuary, and has now been upgraded in all of the permanent fixtures in both buildings(including outdoors). *We have also had substantial repairs and upgrades to our Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning system controls. They are now computer linked and co-ordinated to function efficiently together. These repairs were funded through the Wills and Bequests Fund, which was established to assure that the buildings would remain in good repair, several years ago. The fund carried a substantial balance for many years as repairs were not needed at that time. The Trustees noticed sever areas in our buildings that need to be updated or had become unsightly and needed to be replaced and those funds have been used. The fund now carries a small balance and is currently unable to perform the function for which it was designed. The short version of this story is: We(Clare UMC Need Some Money!!! We have 2 elderly Compressor/Condenser Units that supply the AC for the Sanctuary that need to be replaced and no funds to replace them. If you are able, please consider a special gift to the Wills and Bequests Fund. Also, remember this fund when doing Estate Planning. Please Help secure the future of Clare UMC for future generations. FROM YOUR TRUSTEE S COMMITTEE FROG (Small Group)(Friends Relying on God) will be starting September 7 th. Our study will start on the 14 th. Anyone is welcome, we meet at 9:00 to 10:30ish at the Bremer s 1421 Woodlawn Ave. If you have a? We will begin the year with Sarah Young s Trusting in Christ,, we will examine what the Bible has to say about relying on God for all your needs. As you push back the demands of the day, give your cares to Him, and encounter Him personally through His Word, you will discover the truth of Paul s words when he wrote, My God will meet all of your needs according the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). You will see that God loves you, cares for you, and provides the strength you need to get through any situation. Opal Thomson has been moved & can receive mail. The Laurels Rehab Center, Rm. 107, 400 S. Crapo Rd., Mt. Pleasant, MI CLARE UMC STAFF AND SCHEDULE Pastor: Pastor John G. Kasper pastorjohn@clareumc.org Office Manager: Judy M. Bailey jbailey@clareumc.org Youth Director: Rachel Potter rdpotter89@gmail.com Organist(8:15) LuAnne Humphrey Pianist: Chelsea Storms Choir Director & Children's Choir Director: Tracy Lubs Clare United Methodist Child Care Center Director: Melonie Kingsbury mkingsbury@clareumc.org Day Care Center phone: Church Office Hours Church Office phone # noon & 1-3:30 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. THE CARING AND SHARING COMMITTEE WILL BE SENDING OUT COLLEGE & MILITARY GIFT BOXES THIS YEAR. IF YOU HAVE A CHILD/GRANDCHILD IN COLLEGE. YOU ARE ASKED TO CONTACT THE OFFICE WITH THEIR NAMES AND ADDRESSES. We will also be collecting the following items: Nail Clippers Chap Sticks, Stain Sticks, pens, highlighters, envelopes, note cards, stamps, 2017 fun calendars, room air fresheners, Kleenex, I tune cards, mugs, can openers, soft slipper socks, cards, stress ball, ramen noodles, crackers, snack packets, microwave popcorn, trail mix cereal, healthy bars, hot cocoa, hot cider mixes, individual mac & cheese, and etc. (military) white socks, hard candy, wet wipes, Monetary gifts are welcome. Watch for donation box in lobby mid Sept.

2 But people who have only physical life can t receive these truths from God s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 1 Corinthians 2:14 New Living Translation Ben Hur opened in theaters Friday, August 19. You probably know that the plot involves a chariot race and may wonder why you need to know more. You likely have not heard of any of the actors apart from Morgan Freeman. Having visited the Holy Land, I can tell you that, from the previews, Ben-Hur captures well the landscape, geography and culture of the New Testament era. The film has generally not received positive reviews from critics. Roma Downey and Mark Burnett helped produce the film. They, along with the writers and directors have a different focus; so, it is different than the 1959 version we have all seen. Still, I think it is more than the fact that the movie is different from the 1959 version. I think it is because the culture is different. Sadly, we are now living in a culture that more and more rejects objective morality. Only 35 percent of Americans believe that absolute moral truth even exists. As a result, we re told that we should tolerate all behaviors that do not harm us personally. Of course, such tolerance is not extended to those who do believe in moral truth. For instance, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said earlier this month that he opposed abortion for pregnant women infected with the Zika virus. Pro-abortion advocates rebuked and ridiculed him, calling his position outrageous. Maj. Steve Lewis, an officer at Colorado's Peterson Air Force Base, was recently forced to remove an open Bible on his desk after the Military Religious Freedom Foundation protested he set up an around-the-clock Christian Bible Shrine. REALLY? In a culture which rejects moral truth, we can choose to be silent and let society reap what it sows. We can choose to be belligerent with our witness. Or we can find creative and persuasive ways to share God's love. Here's why I think critics of Ben-Hur have generally not been positive: its underlying theme is reconciliation with God and with each other. Our conflicted and deceived culture needs that message more than it knows. Critics who are insensitive to the gospel are not likely to welcome another film that presents the good news, even though the movie's message is both subtle and realistic. As Paul observed, people who have only physical life can t receive these truths from God s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. That's why it's so important that as believers we find every way we can to share the good news effectively with our hopeless world. If they will not come to us, we must go to them. Mark Burnett and Roma Downey used their platform to show how God's love can heal shattered lives and relationships. Their work is a clarion call for Christians to use our influence to do the same. Lost people deserve to know the good news of God's transforming love. How are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? (Romans 10:14). We could begin by inviting them to join us at a viewing of Ben-Hur and then take them out for an ice cream and ask what they thought about it and the message it gives. Just a thought. With you on the Journey, Pastor John

3 Fall in Love with the Family We live in a culture of consumers, independent and critical consumers. We attend church, but do we want to settle down and truly invest ourselves? Are we visitors or family? The church is the place God grows us, encourages us, and uses us best. Loving Jesus involves a passionate commitment to His family. We can t be apathetic. It s time to Fall in Love with the Family! All in All September 4, Communion Sunday, Don t Sell God Short Matthew 26:14-16 September 11, Impact Zone Begins, God Is Jealous for You Ezekiel 8:1-5 Fall in Love with the Family September 18, Stop Dating the Church Ephesians 1:15-23 September 25, Seeing the Family from Heaven s Perspective Ephesians 2:14-22 October 2, World Communion Sunday, Think Extended, Love Immediate Hebrews 10:19-25 October 9, Bible Sunday, Divorce the Club; Marry the Church Ephesians 5:1-2, THANK YOU SO MUCH! Dear friends at the Clare United Methodist Church, It is hard to find the right words to tell you how much we appreciate your faithful giving to the Clare County Baby Pantry. You have been so generous throughout the years. You truly reflect the giving nature of Christ, and we thank you so much for that. Our families are helped so much by you! God Bless, Your friends at the Baby Pantry

4 News from the Child Care Center As part of my college education and professional training in Child Care and Development I was fortunate to have participated in the Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (S.T.E.P. Training) program through the Child Advocacy 4C of Central Michigan. This practical training has proven to be so helpful in working with children that I have decided that the staff at the Child Care Center could benefit through participation in this program. As a Christian Child Care Center we are using the Biblically based STEP training that models the training principals with biblical lessons, thereby furthering our Christian values. Now to continue with the poem Children Learn What They Live, the next line is of the poem is: If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy. Ridicule is simply cruel and unchristian. The false-hood that it s all in fun, by saying Oh come on, I was only kidding, can t you take a joke effectively blames the victim for any reaction they might show. The person being ridiculed is placed in a no-win situation. If they object to the ridicule, they may be ridiculed even more. If they accept the ridicule, their self-esteem suffers. Children who become shy and hold back as an attempt to avoid being ridiculed need our help. It is our responsibility to listen, to find out what s going on and to help the child figure out ways to deal with the situation. Sometimes, often without thinking, parents are the ones who are doing the ridiculing. We may make a sniping comment about someone, or gossip and we may not feel as if we are really doing anything wrong because we re talking about a stranger or someone who s not present. But if our kids are listening (and if they are in the room, they ARE listening) they ll think it s okay to speak poorly about others. A gossip betrays a confidence Proverbs 20:19 Ridicule and laughter often go together, but they re not natural companions. At its healthiest and purest, shared laughter can send feelings of well-being and relaxation through our bodies and help bind friendships. On the other hand, ridicule involves making fun of someone. The laughter is at someone s expense. Distinguishing between healthy laughter and the jeers of ridicule is confusing for kids. We need to explain to our children that we aren t to laugh when someone is hurt or fails, instead we should help them. We can increase a child s sensitivity to others feelings by saying, Imagine how you would feel if you fell or if your friend said that to you. I wonder how they felt. Teaching our children empathy and kindness will positively serve them a lifetime. MOTHER HUBBARD S CUPBOARD IN SEPTEMBER, WE WILL BE COLLECTING: Facial Tissues, Kleenex, Puffs, Seventh Generation Just a Note A special Thank you to friends, neighbors and family for all the prayers, cards, phone calls and visits while I was on the mend. I will soon be back at my old address. Your Friendship is Special! Thank you again, Rilla Seibt

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6 IMPACT ZONE SCHEDULE FOR SEPTEMBER

7 SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS 2 Schunk, Mark Staten, Jason Stinson, Patricia 3 Johnson, Steve Blow, Jean 4 Miller, Lee 5 Hopkins, Kathy 6 Tyler, Barb 8 Gallagher, Gerry Mussell, Kellie Denton, Gabrial Sherwood, Gabby 9 Ducham, Deb Freeborn(Kleinhardt),Kacie Zinser, Ashtyn 10 Kingsbury, Allison 12 Curtis, Eleanor 13 Staten, Janet Shurlow, Mary Ann 14 Sowle, Janet House, Janet Haggart, Nyle 15 Mahon, Barb Hunt, Chris 16 McGregor, Jason White, Ed Anderson, Erma 18 Davis, Bryan Newton, Chloe 20 Dice, George Dice, Janet 21 Staten, Ken Turner, Trista Greg Wood 22 Brown, Kendra 23 Lubs, Scott Lickman, Megan Lickman, Michelle 24 Packer, Matthew Viers, Maya 25 Boyle, Ruth Dickey, Marjorie 28 Gross, Sally O'Day, Kelly 30 Arnie Krause Opal Thomson has been moved & can receive mail. The Laurels Rehab Center, Rm. 107, 400 S. Crapo Rd., Mt. Pleasant, MI Marlene Hales is now at Green Acres Assisted Living, 1805 Remus Rd., Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858(if you wish to visit her) her mailing address is still: 605 Herrick Rd, Clare, MI 48617

8 We Would Like To Express Our Deepest Sympathy To These Families; Our Thoughts And Prayers Go Out To: The Friends and Family of.. David Seiter Deb Borrow Joseph Pudvay Murrie Gibson Bill Burns MEMORIALS Bill Burns has been remembered with a Memorial gift to the church from Velma Cross and James & Carol Coleville. David Seiter has been remembered with a memorial gift to Wills & Bequests from Dr. Dale & Kay Moser. Also a gift from Carol Pilon to the Child Care Building Fund A BIG THANK YOU TO SOME VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE IN OUR CHURCH Ken & Dave Teall, Bill Droomer, Elvis & Connie Denton and Ron Kunse Over a 3 month period, Ken, Bill and Dave started installing New LED Lighting in both the Education Building and the Church at the beginning of the summer. It was a decision made by our Trustee s to take advantage of a Consumers Energy Incentive Program to convert all of our lighting to LED. It was a major project. Approximately 516 new lights were installed. It took many of their volunteer hours for this project. They also re-cemented and painted the light poles in the North Parking lot (while putting in the new LED lights). Ron Kunse was kind enough to help them with those large parking lot poles with his fork lift. Elvis & Connie Denton were very helpful by hauling all of the cardboard away for recycling. We want to thank all of them for being such wonderful stewards to our church. We will notice a big difference in our electric bills thanks to all of them. Thanks so much from your church family.

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11 LIVE NATIVITY COORDINATOR NEEDED. The Kunse family has coordinated our live nativity the two days before Christmas for several years. This visual ministry expresses the truth of Christmas to our community and is well received. This year, the Ron and Barb will be traveling and spending Christmas in Switzerland with family. We need the blessing of someone to coordinate this ministry. Barb and Ron will train and resource you so that you will be well prepared. If interested or just curious, please contact Barb Kunse at CHURCH FRIENDS COME SING WITH US! SING ALONG (variety of songs) Janet Dice is playing the piano on Tuesday, Sept. 20 th at 11:00 a.m. at the Clare Castle Senior Center(downtown Clare) If you are having lunch for $2.25(suggested donation) Reservations necessary.( to Carolyn or leave a message) questions? (Janet) Keep a Song In Your Heart

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