New Life United Methodist Church 6584 W. Howard City-Edmore Rd. Six Lakes, MI 48886 NOVEMBER 2013 www.newlifeunitedmethodist.com Dear Friends, In the last few weeks we have been going through a message series called, How To Be Rich. We talked about living thankfully, living expectantly, and finally living generously. Check out this wonderful story and see if you can find thanksgiving, expectation, and generosity: Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My six-yearold son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, God is good, God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen! Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby I heard a woman remark, That s what s wrong with this country. Kids today don t even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never! Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me? As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer. Really? my son asked. Cross my heart, the man replied. Then in a theatrical whisper he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes. Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already. What a great story. The generosity of that young man was demonstrated in his giving of the ice cream to the woman who had caused his tears. The effects of his generosity were felt and acknowledged by more than just one person. The same can be said of your generosity as you faithfully give to the ministries of New Life! The generous heart serves as a reminder that goodness and mercy still exist! Generosity flows out of a heart filled with love and an understanding that the Author of All Good and Perfect Gifts has an endless abundance. It is the tithe and generous gifts of people like yourself who keep our doors open and fund the ministries we believe God calls us to carry out locally and around the world. I want to thank you for your generosity and faithful service this year as we go through our pledge drive to set our budget for next year. Just like the story above, when you give to the church, you don t always get to see the effect your giving has on the lives of others but, be assured of this, your generosity always has a positive effect on the growth of God s Kingdom! So we invite you give generously. We invite you to celebrate baptisms and communion with us on November 3rd. We invite you to laugh this month with Tony Wolf on November 9th and 10th! We invite you to celebrate Thanksgiving with us as we host the Community Thanksgiving Service here at New Life on Sunday evening at 6:00PM oh, I heard there will be pie! See you soon! Pastor John His Solitude A November day is like a jewel that sparkles in the sun Autumn s last solitaire inviting us to come... Come my children, play with Me and see the blended hues While the places of your heart in quietness renews. Rake the leaves on the morrow this day we have is ours To share the golden moments of November s lingering hours. Leone Whittum I tell the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven Matthew 18,3 NIV
2 Carol Enyart 11/01 Colton Leppink 11/02 Jennifer Large 11/03 Nichole Commans 11/06 Bryce Gunderman-Lake 11/06 Kennedy Cogswell 11/10 Sydnie Nielsen 11/12 JohnShell 11/12 Hazel Smith 11/12 Melody Olin 11/15 Marvin Fountain 11/16 Tom Ammann 11/18 Bonnie Selesky 11/18 Pat Buskirk 11/20 Emily Molitor 11/21 Mary Kozler 11/26 Sandra Winget 11/26 Troy Andersen 11/27 Brent Gunderman-Lake 11/27 Kenadee Cordray 11/28 Kelly Smith 11/29 Melvin & Linda Houck 11/04 46 yrs Nick & Dawn Armock 11/17 40 yrs Walt & Carol Enyart 11/19 25 yrs Nancy & Walter Bannen 11/23 50 yrs Audrey & Jerry Crane 11/23 56 yrs God of all nations, you are our Strength and Shield. We give you thanks today for the devotion and courage of all those who have offered military service for this country... We ask today that you would lift up by your Spirit those who are now at war; encourage and heal those in hospitals or mending their wounds at home; guard those in any need or trouble; hold safely in your hands all military families and bring the returning troops to joyful reunion and tranquil life t home. Give to us, your people, grateful hearts and a united will to honor these men and women and hold them always in our love and our prayers until your world is perfected in peace and all wars cease. Through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen - Rev. Dr. Jennifer Phillips Sewing Circle 11/07-2:00pm Women s Fellowship 11/12-1:30pm Widows Might 11/14-12:30pm Kelsey Recreation 11/19-2:00pm Circle of Friends 11/25-7:00pm Making the stuffing for Thanksgiving dinner helps restore my heart to gratefulness. First I cut bread into cubes to dry out. Has it really been a year since I thanked God for the simple things of life? Dear God, thank you for my daily bread. Next I boil giblets for the tasty broth. When did I last express thanks for my body - even the oftforgotten parts? Thank you,, God, for creating and sustaining me. Then i dice onions and celery, adding them to the mixture. That reminds me to thank God for abundant harvests. Finally I measure raisins, nuts, sage and salt into the stuffing, as scents fill the air. Lord, help me not grow weary of the interesting spices that fill my life. As the stuffing goes into the oven, warm air wafting into the kitchen, I remember to thank God for providing my home. Here relatives and friends gather, often an odd combination. yet when we bow our heads in thankfulness, we re an unbeatable mix. - Mary Ann Sundby
3 Remember back late this summer when we all dropped a rock into the cross mold up front at the Church? Well, the cement has been poured into it, the rocks situated on top, its cured, and the forms have been removed. Recently it was wrestled down and placed into the edge of the rocks that are situated around the sign out in front of the Church. Here is the crew that made sure that this project was completed. Take a look at the cross when you get a chance and remember that it was all about the congregation coming together in unity and laying down our burdens, so that we could be as one for Christ. The Sewing Circle will meet Thursday, November 7th, at 2:00pm, in the Pathfinders classroom. If you wish to sew, bring a machine, fabric, and binding. We will make some pot holders. Contact Diana Jones (352.6957) or Nancy Bannen (365.3135) for additional information. Faith walks simply, childlike, between the darkness of human life and the hope of what is to come. - Catherine de Hueck Doherty
Dinner & Comedy Night Presented by: New Life UMC Fundraising Committee 4 ~ SATURDAY ~ NOVEMBER 9TH ~ DINNER SERVED 6 PM ~ SHOW 7 PM What s for Dinner? What s the Show? Tony Wolf How do we buy Tickets? - Comedy Crew Volunteers Needed Any questions Please call Anita Epolito at 517-282-3087 As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. - John F. Kennedy
5 1 10am Coffee Break 2 10am-3pm VCI@NL 4:30pm Emmaus Gathering-Greenville 1st UMC 9 & 11am Worship 10am Sunday School 7:30pm AA&Al-Anon 4 1pm Care Group 5:45pm TOPS 6:30pm Hand Bells 5 6 10:30am Prayer Grp 12pm LV Minst. Mtg 6pm Boy Scouts 7pm Emmaus 4th Day 8am Quest Men s Bible Study 9:30am TOPS 1pm Staff Meeting 5:30pm Gathering 6:30pm VCI Talk Back / Q&A 7 8am Breakfast at Crystal Fountain 2pm Sewing Circle 8 No Coffee Break 10-4 Craft Sale 9 8am Men s Fellowship 6pm Dinner 7pm Comedy Show Tony Wolf Tony Wolf preaching 9 & 11am Worship 10am Sunday School 7pm AA Speaker 1pm Care Group 5:45pm TOPS 6:30pm Hand Bells 10:30am Prayer Grp 1:30pm Women s Fellowship 6pm Boy Scouts 6:15pm Leadership 8am Quest Men s Bible Study 9:30am TOPS 1pm Staff Meeting 5:30pm Gathering 15 12:30pm Widows 10am Coffee Break Might 4pm Free Food Truck-LV Free Meth. 17 9 & 11am Worship 1pm Care Group 10am Sunday School 5:45pm TOPS 12:15 Young at Heart 6:30pm Hand Bells 7:30pm AA&Al-Anon 19 10:30am Prayer Grp 8am Quest Men s 2pm Kelsey Bible Study Recreation 9:30am TOPS 6pm Boy Scouts 1pmm Staff Meeting 5:30pm Gathering 10am Coffee Break 9 & 11am Worship 10am Sunday School 6pm Community Thanksgiving Service 7:30pm AA&Al-Anon 25 1pm Care Group 5:45pm TOPS 6:30pm Hand Bells 7pm Circle of Friends 10:30am Prayer Grp 6pm Boy Scouts 7pm Trustees Mtg 8am Quest Men s Bible Study 9:30am TOPS 1pm Staff Meeting 5:30pm Gathering Office Closed Office Closed It was brought to our attention that on on Fox News channel and other television or cable outlets there will be a special TV program that you may be interested in. It will be My Hope American with Billy Graham. It was suggested that you could arrange a shoe box packing party and invite a few friends over to watch this show and pack a few boxes. We are so happy to announce that we only have a few of the we put together left. If we run out, you can always wrap a regular shoe box or pick up a plastic box and pack it. Whatever you plan to do; pack a box, donate funds for a box, or say a prayer, we are ever so grateful. Collection date is Thanks, Circle of Friends
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New Life United Methodist Church 6584 W. Howard City-Edmore Rd. Six Lakes, MI 48886 Phone: 989.352.7788 Fax: 989.352.1101 E-mail: newlifeumc6584@gmail.com Web Site: www.newlifeunitedmethodist.com