TAWAS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

TAWAS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Volume 43 Issue 5 May 2016 \ I find it hard to believe that we are rapidly approaching the month of May. Where does the time go? Before long we will be enjoying the wonderful Summers here in the Tawas area and then we will be looking forward to the events of the Fall season. Whatever the date or season, enjoy each and every day that the Lord provides. Last month I was considering the next step for our Church. What should we consider next in our ministry? Reflecting on the past three years, we have made tremendous progress in the infrastructure, technology, and faith formation of this congregation. Please think back on what has changed here. For example, consider the educational opportunities now available. Three adult Bible studies are ongoing, a book study, Spectacular Saturday for the youth, the Truth Project small group study, Lay Servant Ministries, and in the Fall, Disciple Bible 2. Does this suggest that we should relax and take it easy? No, certainly not! I do encourage you to plug into one of these groups and spiritually grow with the opportunities. On April 16th, I traveled to Midland and listened to a presentation by Bob Farr on Like a Good Neighbor. His message was on outreach and relational evangelism and I believe that our next step needs to be in these areas. He suggested spending less time with Methodists and instead spending more time in our community. We can share relational evangelism by beginning relationships with our neighbors, through golf or bowling leagues, adult coloring groups, special interest classes, and other activities that can eventually grow into inviting friends to church. If we fail to reach out and invite others into the Kingdom of God, churches like ours will dwindle and slip away. Currently our Church is involved in many local mission projects. The community backpack and FISH Organization are located here, the shoe project, local school support, and numerous local groups benefit from the ministries offered by our faith community. The next step for us may be in determining an outreach project in our community and inviting our neighbors to engage in a ministry or mission that will benefit someone outside our doors. What is your next step in mission or ministry and how can we engage in outreach to the community around us? Please pray for the General Conference of the United Methodist Church. Selected delegates from around the world will meet in Portland, Oregon on May 10-20 to discuss the business and ministry of our denomination. Some of the issues they will discuss could potentially impact our local church and ministry that we are currently engaged in. Please pray that denomination will continue to be obedient to God s Word and the personal holiness that Methodism has traditionally proclaimed. God Bless! Dan

BIRTHDAYS 5/1 Betty House 5/7 Terry Richardson 5/9 Nicholas Revord 5/11 Rachelle Tetley 5/12 Ryder Michalski 5/18 Nathan Turbin 5/21 Frances Eaton 5/21 Judy Hills 5/21 Carl Walker 5/22 Richard Look 5/24 Robert Huddy 5/24 Janelle Morgan 5/25 Peggy Hendrickson 5/27 Allison Brownlow 5/29 Pamela Moore ANNIVERSARIES 5/7 Jim & Eva McArdle 5/11 Tom & Sue Ferguson 5/15 Jon & Jennifer Look 5/15 Elite & Nancy Shellenbarger 5/17 Kurt & Anna Dalman 5/20 Gary & Pam Lynch 5/22 Lee & Julie Lockman 5/26 Kenneth & Mary Gillham If your name, birthday or anniversary does not appear on our list or the information is not correct please call the Church Office at 362-4288. Mid-MI Emmaus www.midmichiganemmaus.com

TAWAS UNITED METHODIST WOMEN SPPRR ING HAS SPR UNG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Grand luncheon/unit meeting on the 12th. What a delightful surprise to have Flo Gofton and Mary De Voss with us AND our special guest Pastor Dan as well!!!!! MARK YOUR CALENDARS LADIES SPRING BANQUET TUESDAY May 10th -- Tickets: $10.00. NOW AVAILABLE IN THE GATHERING SPACE, BE SURE TO COME HEAR ABOUT THE INSPIRING JOURNEY TAKEN BY "OUR MISSIONARIES" SATURDAY June 11th--Saturday Service -- Mexico AND SUNDAY June 12th--Sunday Service -- Mexico ALSO UMW SUNDAY TUESDAY June 14TH--7:00 pm Overflow. Sue Gillham Haiti COMING UP YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THE R U M M A G E S A L E July 8 and 9 (BE SURE TO START BRINGING IN YOUR TREASURES) NOR DO YOU NOT WANT TO MISS THIS YEAR'S MYSTERY TRIP AUGUST 9th.A SURPISE JOURNEY...FOR SURE!!!!! BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE UMW BULLETIN BOARD. HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT THE LIBRARY????? ALWAYS...EVERYONE IS INVITED TO ANY AND/OR ALL UMW EVENTS. LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU GOD's MANY BLESSING, Barbara Ritsema President, TUMC UMW United Methodist Women Monthly Schedule UMW sponsored Bible study: Monday, 2pm in the Library. UMW Executive Committee Meeting in the Library, as needed. UMW Unit meeting: Check monthly events for times. Mary Martha Circle meets the 1st. Tuesday at 11:00am (No meeting in January or February). Faith Circle meets the 4th. Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. (No meetings in January, July, August or December). If you would like more information of the United Methodist Women activities, please contact: Barbara Ritsema ~~~~UMW President.... 362-0432 Judy Hills ~~~~~~~~~UMW Vice President.984-4154 Melissa Schirmer~~~ UMW Secretary..362-5976 Candy Thomas ~~~~~UMW Treasurer.....739-2635 Sally Nagy~~~~~~~~ UMW Asst. Treasurer.362-7120

UNITED METHODIST MEN S ACTIVITY For information please contact: Pastor Dan at pastortumc@outlook.com Gary Bushman at mr.bean405@sbcglobal.net or Ed Nagy at ednagy@chartermi.net ONGOING EVENTS: SATURDAY WORSHIP, YOUTH GROUP, CHOIR AND BIBLE STUDY Bible Study: Sunday 9am Bible Study: Sunday 11:30am Bible Study: Monday at 11am. Cub and Boy Scouts: Monday at 6pm. Choir practice: Thursday at 5:30pm. Book Study: Wednesday at 7pm. Narcotics Anonymous meeting: Wednesday at 7pm. Sewin Souls: 1st. and 3rd. Thursdays from 10am til 12 noon in the Fireplace Room. Men s Study: Friday at 6:30am in the Old Kitchen. Praise Worship: Saturday night at 6pm. Come and join us for this informal, casual, uplifting worship experience. FORWARDING ADDRESS PLEASE provide the Church Office with your temporary address while you are away. The Post Office will only forward first class mail, the BEACON is mailed at a bulk rate which is a considerably lower postage rate. The Church is charged $0.59 to $1.25 per returned BEACON that does not have a correct address. Your assistance on this would be greatly appreciated.

MAY 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 9:00am Sunday School 9:00am Bible Study 10:00am Worship Communion Sunday 8 Noisy Offering Mother s Day 2 6:30pm Missions mtg 9 10am Hospitality / Witness mtg. 11am Bible Study 6pm Cub/Boy Scouts 6:30pm Trustee mtg. 3 4 10 National Correctional Officers Week May 1 7 10am Mary Martha mtg. 6pm Women s Spring Banquet 7pm Book Study 11 7pm Book Study 5 5:30pm Choir National Day of Prayer 12 10am Sewin Souls (Fireplace Room) 5:30pm Choir 7pm Education mtg. 6 6:30am Men s Study Group 13 6:30am Men s Study Group 6-8pm Euchre 7 5pm Praise 6pm Praise Worship 14 5pm Praise 6pm Praise Worship 15 Community Food Pantry (Nonperishable foods collection) National Peace Officers Memorial Day 16 22 23 29 30 11am Bible Study 6pm Finance mtg. 7pm Church Council mtg. 6pm Scouts 11am Bible Study 6pm Cub/Boy Scouts 6:30pm Marketing mtg 11am Bible Study 17 2pm UMW Executive mtg 6:30pm The Truth Project 24 1pm Faith Circle 6:30pm The Truth Project 31 18 7pm Book Study 19 National Police Week May 15 21 25 7pm Narcotics Anonymous 7pm Book Study 5:30pm Choir 26 10am Sewin Souls 5:30pm Choir 20 6:30am Men s Study 5-8pm Drive-In Diner 7pm-9pm Special Dance 27 6:30am Men s Study Group 21 12-2pm Spectacular Saturday 6pm Praise Worship 28 FISH Garage Sale 9am 4pm 10am 1pm 5pm Praise 6pm Praise Worship MEMORIAL DAY 6:30pm The Truth Project

DO YOU KNOW? Do you know that the Women s Spring Banquet is on Tuesday, May 10th at 6 pm? Ladies come and enjoy an evening of great food, service, fellowship, and entertainment. Tickets ($10) are now available in the Gathering Space or in the Church Office during office hours. Do you know that we will soon enjoy monthly Christian Movie Matinées in our Church? On Sunday, May 15th the movie, The War Room will be offered at 3 pm. Come and enjoy this time of fellowship for the whole family. Do you know that on Friday, May 20th we will once again relive a past dining experience with a Drive-In Diner? From 5-8 pm you can be served the traditional food of a drive-in diner in the comfort of your car. The proceeds from this event will support Pay-to-Play youth in our local school sports and band programs. Do you know that the FISH organization will be holding its annual Garage Sale on Friday May 27th (9 am-4 pm) and Saturday May 28th (10 am-1 pm)? All proceeds will be used to provide emergency support to local families. If you would like to donate items, collection will begin on Monday, May 23rd. Local Outreach Mission Project: Last Christmas Eve we collected more than $1,600.00 for a local outreach, mission project. How can we use these resources to improve the lives of an individual family or the local community? If you have an idea or wish to be involved in the planning and leadership of a project, please contact Pastor Dan. At the eastern opening to Tawas Bay stands a lighthouse. Its purpose is to provide safe passage and assurance to travelers on their journeys. The Tawas UMC has the opportunity to be a beacon of light in an ever darkening world for the membership of the Saginaw Bay District on Thursday, October 27th for the Annual District Conference. Approximately 170 travelers will seek our church in order to be enlightened by the ministerial progress and business of our district. Our responsibility will be to provide a hearty meal through which the travelers can continue their journey of service for our Lord and Savior in their local churches. This event will require the assistance of our total congregation, so please save the date and please consider how you may help with this opportunity of hospitality.

LAYETTE MINISTRY The Layette Ministry is in desperate need of NEWBORN size sleepers. If you are able to make a donation, please turn them in to the Church Office. We had a great turnout last month and would like to repeat that in May. Friday May 13 is our next Euchre night. We have a lively night of Christian fellowship and would love for you to come. A light snack is provided and a $5.00 donation is requested. The proceeds go to debt retirement. Come and join us from 6-8 pm. Howard MISSIONS CANDLE/FLOWERS ON THE ALTAR T he Missions Committee would like to offer a new option for flowers on the altar. You can support our church's mission work while honoring or remembering an important person or event in your life by making a donation to light the Mission Candle on the altar. You would light the candle at 9:50 and extinguish it when the service is over. A note acknowledging your donation will appear in the bulletin on that Sunday, your donation will be used to support our church's mission work. Sign up in the Gathering Space on the "Flowers for the Altar/ Mission Candle "form, and turn in your donation to Tina in the Church Office or put a check made out to TUMC Missions in Carol Westcott's mailbox. YOUR CHURCH MAILBOX Everyone has a mailbox if you regularly attend church. The mailboxes are in the main hallway of the Church. Please remember to check your mailbox every Sunday. There is important information left there for you. There might be something there for you today! Please let the Church Office know if you change your address.

UMW SPRING BANQUET A CALENDAR DINNER TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016 6:00pm Adults $10 Kids 6-10 $5 Kids 5 and under Free Tickets will be on sale May 1 and May 8. HANDICAPPED PARKING There are limited number of handicapped parking spaces available in the Church parking lot. As a reminder you are required by law to have a handicapped permit to use these parking spaces. GRIEF SUPPORT PROGRAM 2016 St Joseph Health System provides a variety of Grief Support services for our patients, families, employees and members of the area community. They include Grief Support groups which are held monthly, on Thursday from 3:00 to 4:30 PM at St Joseph Hospital in Classroom C. These groups provide support and information for anyone whose life has been disrupted by a significant loss due to death of a loved one. All sessions are facilitated by qualified member of our Spiritual Care Team. There is no fee, however Advance Registration is appreciated. To register please call 362-9368 and talk with Chaplain Michael Sullivan, Manager Spiritual Care.

HOSPITALITY SNACKS AND COFFEE We are in need of snacks to serve after the Worship Services. Our snack sign up schedule has many available Sundays to fill. Please consider signing up! Pat Fisher NEW BOOK STUDY AND MOVIE Hello everyone it is with great pleasure that I am able to announce the following items for your consideration. A NEW BOOK STUDY IS TAKING PLACE DATE: MAY 2 2016 TIME: 11:00 A.M. - 12:30 WHERE: FIREPLACE ROOM WHAT: "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyer We are starting a new book study and you are invited to attend, books and workbooks are available to order at The Booknook in East Tawas or online at Christianbook.com MATINEE SUNDAY'S Is a new addition to our fun activities we hope you will join us for popcorn and movie show in the overflow area of our church. Please feel free to suggest movies and share any with us they must however be clean and wholesome. This will be on the third Sundays of the month beginning on May 15 2016. WAR ROOM FROM the creators of Fireproof and Courageous DATE: MAY 15 2016 TIME: 3:00 P.M. WHERE: OVERFLOW AREA RATED: PG there is adult theme in this movie and it is approximately 2:40 in length. We are excited to be able to do this and look forward to seeing everyone there. If you have any questions, you can contact myself Sue Anderson or Pam Gonder or Mary Bean for information. If you need child care, please let us know and we will do our best to provide someone in the nursery. Thank you. SEWIN SOULS Come join us for a morning of sewing and fellowship! Or bring another kind of project you enjoy. We meet the first and third Thursdays of the month from 10am til 12 noon. One of our projects that you can join in or not is sewing feminine hygiene supplies for girls in third world countries. You may have heard of Days for Girls, an international organization that puts together kits with hygiene supplies. These supplies make it possible for girls to have better school attendance instead of missing 5 days each month. Other projects we have made include baby blankets, table toppers, cool neck scarves for service men and women in desert areas, and our own personal quilt projects.

Looking for something to do for dinner on a Friday night? Spread the word to family and friends to come out on Friday, May 20th from 5:00-8:00 for the Mission Team's Drive-In Diner. Pull up, place your food/drink order, pay, get your food delivered to your car and listen to the tunes from the 50's and 60's while you eat. We will be serving hot dogs, chili dogs, chips, pop, and vanilla or chocolate shakes. Look for more information to come. All proceeds go to benefit local school activities. Blessings! The Missions Team SCRIP GIFT CARDS Do you buy gasoline? Do you go out to eat? Do you go shopping? My guess is that you do one or two of these, if not all three. We have gift cards for all your needs. The way it works is that you decide what you need (i.e.: a sandwich at Subway. You buy a gift card from the Scrip program at Church. You use the card for its full value ($10, $25, etc.) and that store gives the church a percentage of what you paid (2% - 15% depending on the store). Also the gift cards can be given to family or friends as gifts (like Graduation, Mother's Day, Father's Day, birthdays, etc.) Just stop at the table near the front entrance to purchase the gift cards you would like. Sally, John or Ray will be happy to help you. Thank you for your support.

YOUTH NEWS Howdy My Dear Friends In Christ, Wow has time passed so rapidly and I am glad to be sitting in the sunshine from the window. I would just like to say that while I am excited to see the end of the school year coming to a close, it makes me realize that we have had a good year indeed with our children's programs. Thank you for all your love and support and I am looking forward to the many joys and sounds of the remaining year activities. The Newsboys concert was the best ever!!!! Oh yeah it was amazing to see our young and even younger youth enjoy the music laughter and words of wisdom shared with each other. Thank you Pastor Dan for giving us the thumbs up and to all of those who so generously gave of time and money to make it possible, YOU KNOW WHOM YOU ARE... I can say without a doubt Your investment was well worth it. God blessed our travel, it was great and we all got a chance to be together as one. Praise the Lord "MY GOD S NOT DEAD". Certainly not an unplanned revival of the heart came out of this experience to say the least. SUNDAY SCHOOL at 9:00 a.m. 4yr - 6th grade JUNIOR CHURCH is following Young Christian Moments 4yr. - 3rd grade Our Next Spectacular Saturday is on May 21 2016 Spectacular Saturday 1 grades K - 4 Spectacular Saturday II 5th - 8th grade TIME: Noon - 2:00 p.m. VBS (VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL) WILL be the week of July 11-15, 2016 Theme this year is Ancient Egypt Time 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Grades 4yrs. - 6th grade We will be looking for volunteers and if you would please prayerfully consider helping out in any way from snacks donations, to working an hour day or even the week, please contact Gwen Burt or myself Sue Anderson. This is going to be a great opportunity for our young Christians and their friends who might not know Christ to learn and share in fellowship together. Lets make this the best one ever. If you have any concerns or joy to express please do so, all comments are appreciated. Thank you in His service, Sue Anderson

Tawas United Methodist Church 20 E M-55 Tawas City, MI 48763 Nonprofit U.S. Postage Paid Tawas City, MI Permit No. 23 Please share this newsletter with anyone you know who may be interested in visiting our Church. ADDRESS LABEL Join us for Sunday Service Saturday 6pm Praise Worship Sunday School 9:00am Sunday 10:00 a.m. Worship Nursery (staffed) 10:00am Pastor: Rev. Daniel Gonder Parsonage: 989-362-5399 Email: pastortumc@outlook.com Youth Director: Office Manager: Tina McKennon Music Director: Shawn Wygant Custodian: Judy Hills Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00am to 2:00 pm (Lunch: 11:30 Noon) Friday Closed Church Office: 989-362-4288 Fax: 989-362-6320 Email: tawasumc@outlook.com Web: www.tawasumc.org Our Purpose... To connect people to God and one another through Jesus Christ.