Thanksgiving... We are beginning one of my all-time favorite top -12 months of the year! When I think of November, I think of Thanksgiving, hunting season, some of the best fishing of the year, and the beginning of another ski season there is sooo much to be thankful for! Before I get too far into this article, I want to give a big round of applause and a big thank-you to the UMW ladies who put on the Craft Show and Bazaar. Amazing! You all simply make things happen! One of my favorite things to do at this time of the year is a tradition we began last year. Remember how we took time in worship to write thank-you notes to unsuspecting recipients throughout the community and Make followers of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. bombed them with an overwhelming number of our notes of appreciation for all they did to make Manistee a better place to live? Well, we are going to do that again this year! Yes, we are confirming what we did last year in hope that it will become a celebrated tradition for years to come! Beginning November 6 th we will celebrate a new individual person each week through December 11 th. If you have someone in mind that you think is well deserving of this act of love and appreciation, please let us know who and why by calling or emailing the church office. We can t promise that we will target everyone suggested, but we certainly do encourage your suggestion of people that NOV. 2016 A WELCOME WORD Continued on page 2. MANISTEE UMC, page 1
Continued from page 1. you know have been working hard to make this a better place to live, work, and raise our families. Once again we will have some fun blessing faithful servants that live and work in our community and who go above and beyond for the sake of others. Also, I would like to take a moment and give a shout of praise and thanksgiving to our Leadership Team here at the church. They have done a wonderful job of leading us through some of the changes we needed to make as a result of our commitment to the Vital Church Initiative findings and recommendations (prescriptions). We have learned a lot in the last year as we work into this new model of leadership. Yet, despite this change, we have installed a new sound system, launched a full-time Youth Ministry, kicked-off a new discipleship model by doing a church-wide campaign called TRANSFORMED, started a new Children s Ministry program, improved the worship experience, remodeled the lobby and library, and launched River City Music School. Our church is on the move and will be impacting the community in the years ahead through these changes and ministries. It has been a busy, fruitful year and I am thankful for these people and their willingness to share their time, gifts and talents. This month we will also be collecting our 2017 Pledge Cards as part of setting our budget for this coming year. Many of you have already received a letter and card in the mail. Let me take a moment and say thank you for being an incredibly generous church in 2016! We have moved forward in areas of ministry, building, worship, staff, sound, and discipleship. Our Ministry Shares are paid in full, our bills are current and God has provided as we advance the Kingdom. Giving to God s work through the local church is biblical, it is an act of faithful obedience as well as an expression of love and gratitude for all God has done and is doing in our lives. Keep up the good work!! You all have been such a blessing! MANISTEE UMC, page 2 On November 6 th we will bring our Pledge Cards forward as we come to receive Communion. On November 13 th and 20 th, Andy Anderson (our Youth Pastor), and myself will be sharing our hopes and dreams for Manistee UMC as we look forward to the coming year. If today happens to be November 1 st we would know that we have 54 shopping days until Christmas! That being said, let me also tell you that Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year. Because of that we will be offering a single Christmas Day worship service at 10:00 am with a brunch following the service. Also, please note that we are planning our Christmas eve services at 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm. The 7:00 pm service will be family oriented with music provided by the Praise Band. The 9:00 pm service will consist of carols and communion. Both will close with a lighting of the candles. Let me bring you back to November. It is a month marked with Thanksgiving. I wonder what you might be thankful for as your days come and go and we enter November together. As the Psalmist wrote over and over again, Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; and His love endures forever. Let us do that together and often! Pastor John
Sunday School - Fall Update Our Sunday school program for Children and Youth began the new academic year in September. All our students from the littlest nursery through High School age moved up to the next grade section for Sunday school. We decided to combine our 10 am (Sunday school) and 11 am (Junior church) classes into ONE unified class. They now have Sunday School at 11 am. Our Children s Ministries kick started a new curriculum called, TRU. Our children are working their way through the Bible chronologically, learning about The Big God Story and where they fit in His story. TRU is a vibrant, spiritually forming and family-empowering curriculum. What s Happening? 9:00am Service: Nursery 10:00am: Sunday School moved to 11 a.m. 11:00am Service: Nursery (0 3 years) TruWonder: 4 s 1 st grade (This is a NEW class for the younger kids - meets upstairs.) TruStory: 2 nd - 5 th grade (Meets down the ramp and to the left) ATTN: The children will be dismissed from the Sanctuary after the opening worship and then will return during the closing worship. Children must stop at the check-in table to receive their nametags. We are asking that PARENTS please escort your child(ren) to the check-in table to make sure they are in the check-in system. Thank you! As you can see we have made a few changes in the groupings of children. These changes have been made due to the growth in our attendance allowing us to divide our children into more defined age groups. As always we would love to have more help to build and maintain this quality program for our children and youth. If you are interested in supporting this wonderful opportunity to reach, teach and care for our children or if you have any questions, please email Allison Anderson at childrensministriesmumc@gmail.com or call the church office at 231-723-6219 We would like to thank each one of you who said a prayer; gave a hug; a card; phone call and especially the love that we felt through the prayers. It carried us as though we were on a cloud. Please continue to pray for both of us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. John & Janice Witkowski in the passing of Art Somsel MUMC quilting group will meet 9:30 to noon and/or 6:30 to 8:30 on Wed., November 16th. The goal is to make quilts for charities, but new quilters are welcome to come and learn. For information, call Joyce Brenner at 398-9205. Missed a Sunday Sermon? Listen to it on-line at www.manisteeumc.org MANISTEE UMC, page 3
UMW Bazaar And Lunch A Resounding Success Thank you to all who made the Fall Luncheon and Bazaar such a stupendous success. Although the final count is not yet complete, proceeds exceeded $5,000, a record amount. It would not have been possible without the support of the entire congregation. You came, you donated, you helped, you brought friends. The funds generated will help women and children, both locally and in some 120 countries around the world, through United Methodist Women s missions. New Time Starting Nov. 2nd Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m. Thank You Church Family Stephen Ministries/Christian Caring Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for our church family to dwell together in unity! Psalm 133:1 Sunday mornings, we all stroll into church and slip into our pews just in time for the first song or announcements. In the front pew, I can see an old college friend, just back from a trip home where he had arranged for the care of an ailing mother. Beside us, an elderly woman sits with her recently divorced daughter. Behind us, I noticed a couple joined by their teenage son; who is home again after a rough year at college. We all have concerns...but as we worship, I could feel a lightening of our burdens. We know the presence and warmth of the Holy Spirit is in this place. We know we have God and each other to depend on. I leaned up and whispered in the woman s ear sitting in front of us, Let me help you. I zipped up the back of the woman s dress, something this mother of four apparently had forgotten in the flurry of getting ready this morning. Thank you, the woman whispered back. I smiled. It seemed fitting for us to help each other as we meet with one accord...to worship our Heavenly Father. It s a good way to recall the reality of God s love, goodness, generosity and faithfulness. We are saying thanks to a real God, who has really touched our lives! This Thanksgiving, as we gather with family and friends, let s be sure to give God the thanks and praise that He deserves! Know of someone in need Be sure to call our Stephen Ministers Shirley at the Office 723-6219 OR Jeanne at 231-920-7511. MANISTEE UMC, page 4
Bible Study Is redemption possible for Ebenezer Scrooge? Pastor and author Matt Rawle believes so as he discovers the teachings of Jesus in the words of the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol. Rawle dives deep into the dark, sad, greedy world of Scrooge and discovers a man in dire need of a second chance. Along with Scrooge, we meet the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future and in the process learn about living with and for others in a world blessed by Jesus. Rediscover and reinvigorate your Christian faith this Advent and Christmas season and look at this familiar classic through the lens of faith. Chapters include: Bah! Humbug! The Remembrance of Christmas Past The Life of Christmas Present The Hope of Christmas Future Join us for this 4 week study on Friday mornings, 9 a.m., starting November 11th or Monday nights, 7 p.m., starting November 21. If your current small group is interested in doing the study, please contact Shirley at the church office to order books. There are short, 8-10 minutes DVDs, for each session. November Birthdays Kyle Thompson Samuel Gressick Tom Koon Olivia Selbee Josh Witkowski Janet Dahlquist Diane Holman Jena Stalmack LacyMcDougall Claire Holman Connor Merrill Virginia Harroun Dave Horton John Gancarz Max McColl Jan Weldy Char Briske Kody Elzinga Michael DeRosia Holly Larsen Trudy Alexander Michelle Granada Laila Adamczak Eric Thuemmel Morgan Grace Flessner Betty Jo Riggs William Sutton Anniversaries Owen & Jan Weldy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thank you to all who sent cards, well wishes and prayers during Dad s last months. He so appreciated your care and concern. Thanks also to the church ladies who served at his memorial service. The Lippert Kids Jon, Dency, Jeff, Mary, Jane, Mac & David. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MANISTEE UMC, page 5
BLOCK PARTY HIGHLIGHTS! MANISTEE UMC, page 6
Student Ministries Hey Church, What an exciting Fall we ve had so far! The youth group has grown to nearly 35-40 kids, we had a great turn out for the block party on October 23rd - there must have been at least 150 people present! The Cross Country season brought on 4-6 kids to the youth group as well. Though it s been busy, relationships are being struck as well as a good sense of trust being built. I love being apart of the Manistee Schools as I get to meet so many other people that I otherwise would have missed out on meeting! Looking forward to a good winter with lots of challenging yet fun activities for the youth group to participate in. Also, we are looking for a service project to end the fall with. Email me at: studentministriesmumc@gmail.com for any ideas. Your Director of Student Ministries, Andy Anderson Carol Voigts Organist & Choir Director Retiring ~ Carol Voigts is wondering what she is going to do with her Sunday mornings beginning next month. Sunday, November 27th will be her last day as Carol retires from her duties as choir director and organist with a final worship celebration at 10 a.m. followed with a catered meal by Jerry Zupin. Carol has conducted the choir, played the organ for Sunday worship, funerals and weddings since 2004. She will be missed by all who have worked with her and heard her at work producing superb music for many years. All who have been involved with Carol in the choir or impacted by her ministry are invited to join the celebration and wish her well in her future endeavors. Celebration Nov. 27th 10 a.m. Worship Catered Lunch Following $10 RSVP Church office by Nov. 20th Meet our New Bishop Rev. David Bard was elected as the North Central Jurisdiction Bishop on July 13, 2016. After his election he stated I pledge with God s grace and the help of God s Spirit and all of your help to work to make The United Methodist Church the best it can be, for us to be a church that indeed offers hope and healing in a broken and battered world. Bishop Bard, who has been serving the First United Methodist Church in Duluth since 2005, has been in ministry for more than 30 years and has served in many roles within both the Minnesota Conference and the General Church. Bishop Bard has a wife, Julie, and three children. In his free time, he enjoys music, reading, baseball and walking outside. MANISTEE UMC, page 7
Manistee United Methodist Church 387 First Street Manistee, Michigan 49660 231.723.6219 www.manisteeumc.org NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID MANISTEE, MI PERMIT NO. 81 Return Service Requested Connect with God Grow in Faith Serve Others Coming Events: Nov. 2 Nov. 6 Nov. 11-18 Nov. 20 Nov. 27 Nov. 29 Dec. 3 Dec. 24 Dec. 25 MANISTEE UMC, page 8 Grief Share moves to 3 p.m. Daylight Savings Ends (Fall back) Pledge Sunday / Communion Scrooge Bible Studies Start Noisy Offering 10 a.m. Worship and Celebration for Carol Voights Leadership Meeting 5 p.m. Sleighbell Warm Up following Parade Candlelight Services 7 & 9 p.m. Christmas Worship 10 a.m. followed by Brunch 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5 A Welcome Word is the newsletter of Manistee United Methodist Church Deadline for articles is 9 a.m.on the 3rd Tuesday of each month to the church office. The Editor reserves the right to edit for content and space. Pastor - Rev. John Scott Director of Student Ministries - Andy Anderson Director of Children s Ministries - Allie Anderson Please join us for Sunday Worship Services: Hymns 9:00 a.m. Praise 11:00 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Sept.-May Phone 231.723.6219 Fax 231.723.5072 Email: mumc@t-one.net www.manisteeumc.org