connections - shaftsburg united methodist...

Connections January 2016

Connections

A PUBLICATION OF PERRY & SHAFTSBURG

UNITED METHODIST CHURCHES

January 2016 Volume # 24 Issue # 11

Pastor Nancy’s Contemplations

Jesus replied, “What is impossible for humans is possible for God.” –Luke 18:27

“I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” –John 14:13

Since every congregation is located in a community in some type of transition, every local church is encouraged to study their congregation’s potential. Upon the request of the congregation the district superintendent shall appoint a study task force to assist in an extensive study of the past, present, and potential ministry of that local church. –The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, ¶213.1

Over the last year, I’ve tried to keep you updated as we move toward engaging in a ¶213 process, as described our Book of Discipline (see above). Our District Superintendent, Rev. Kennetha Bigham-Tsai, recently informed me that the task force for this process has been appointed and a date set for our first meeting with them. Three other UM churches have also committed to taking part: Lansing Korean, and the two-point charge of Dimondale and Grovenburg. Teams from these churches will have our first meeting with the task force on January 12, 7 p.m., at University UMC in East Lansing. Notice what this process involves: “an extensive study of the past, present, and potential ministry” of our churches. We’ll celebrate past and present ministries and, most importantly, we’ll study our potential for future ministry in making disciples of Jesus Christ as witnesses in word and deed to God’s love for all. That reminds me of a version of a Gaither song that is often sung at UMC church camps: I am a Promise, I am a possibility. I am a Promise, with a capital “P.” I’m a great big bundle of potentiality. I am listening to hear God’s voice and I am trying to make the right choice. I am a Promise to be anything God wants me to be. Those promises of God apply not only to individuals, but also to churches. Reread the scriptures at the beginning of this column. Note that Jesus didn’t promise to do for us anything we want, but to do whatever we ask in his name, that is, whatever is in harmony with God’s intent for us, our calling in Christ. God will continue to give us whatever gifts and graces we need to accomplish any mission God calls us to accept. Our job is to discern God’s calling for us and be faithful to it. So in the ¶213 process, we’ll be relying on God’s promises and listening to hear God’s voice as we seek to discern how God would have us be the Church. Do we really believe in God’s promises? If so, we will dare to ask what faithful ministries of the past and ways of being the Church are no longer effective in our calling and should be set aside. We will dare to ask how God may be calling us to new ministries that would make God’s love real to others. We will dare to ask how God sends us to meet people where they are—in their spiritual journeys as well as their physical locations. When answers we discern feel uncomfortable or even impossible, we will remember the promise: What is impossible for humans is possible with God.


I look forward to this journey we’re about to take together. Please pray for the teams from each church, for the task force that will guide us and for each congregation as a whole. (Team members from Perry UMC, to date, are Gerrad Leitelt, Carol Nama, Heather Nolen, John Plowman and Sue Price. Team members from Shaftsburg UMC are Cathy Bradley, Sue Hammond, Fred Kline, Jim LeBaron, Dan Pendell, Walt Saxton and Lori Whipp-Weaver.) Watch for opportunities to receive more updates and to share your ideas, concerns and questions along the way. Know that you are welcome to contact me anytime with questions or concerns.

Christ’s peace & joy, Pastor Nancy (517-375-7479; [email protected])

Dear Friends,

As the end of 2015 approaches, I want to thank you so much for participating in the Peace with Justice Sunday offering this year. Your congregation has helped to make available funds that have gone worldwide in the cause of advocacy for the poor and the disenfranchised in many places.

As you may be aware, half of the offering stays within our conference to offer assistance to those closer to home. You have contributed to the ministry of Justice for Our Neighbors, helping those who have been refugees as they live and work in the US while seeking permanent status as citizens or with green cards. You have also enabled the ministry of Haitian Artists for Peace International that is continuing to lift many Haitian people out of poverty, provide education for children and help many adults to earn an income.

This year we have given some of the PWJ funds to Circles, a new program in the United States that seeks to work with families in poverty, helping with employment, finances and other issues that may keep a family below the poverty line. This program is becoming active in the Grand Rapids area and will soon spread to other areas of Michigan. Circles is volunteer intensive, as people come forward to support and work with families in the program.

Each of these ministries is thankful for the generous support of your church. Your faithful response to God’s desire for all people to live full lives for themselves and their children is to be commended. Please be sure to take the offering again next year.

We wish all of you a blessed Christmas season, and all of God’s blessings for 2016.

Ellen A. Brubaker Peace with Justice Coordinator, West Michigan Conference


January worship scriptures Jan. 3: Isaiah 60:1-6; Matthew 2:1-12 Jan. 10: Psalm 29; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 Jan. 17: Jeremiah 31:15-17; Psalm 71:1-6; Matthew 2:13-23 Jan. 24: (to be determined) Jan. 31: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Psalm 36:5-10; John 2:1-11

Don't know what to do with those unwanted items taking up space in your house/garage? We have a solution. Save them for the Church rummage sale coming in April. The proceeds from this sale help many of the ongoing projects at Church. Our rummage/bake sale is scheduled for Saturday, April 30th from 9am to 2pm. We will be accepting clean and in good condition items including clothes starting, Sunday, April 25th through Friday, April 29th. Please drop off items at the Shaftsburg Church in the vestibule on the left as you go in. Bake sale items can be dropped off on Friday, April 29th or Saturday morning. We will not be accepting any TV's, pianos, and computers. We will have a volunteer sign-up sheet for workers during the month of April at Church.

Anyone who is need of items to be picked up please contact Luann LeBaron at 517-641-8042. Remember someone else’s junk is another person's treasure. "Let us not grow weary of doing good...in due time we shall reap our harvest."

Galatians 6:9

JANUARY SPECIAL OFFERING: HUMAN RELATIONS DAY January 17, 2016 is Human Relations Day, one of six Special Sundays observed in United Methodist Churches around the world. Human Relations Day calls United Methodists to recognize our call to help all God’s children realize their potential as human beings in relationship with one another. The day’s special offering benefits neighborhood ministries through Community Developers, community advocacy through United Methodist Voluntary Services and work with at-risk teens through the Youth Offender Rehabilitation Program. For more information, see http://www.umcgiving.org/ministry-articles/human-relations-day .

Do you have an idea for an activity that you would like to do at the Shaftsburg Church? If so please share your idea with Marge Kline. She will work toward getting it organized.


A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR NANCY LENTEN BIBLE STUDY: 24 Hours That Changed the World

based on the books by Adam Hamilton

Lent will be here before we know it, a time to prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter. Begin planning now to join me in a seven-week Lenten Bible study that will deepen our understanding of the last day of Jesus’ life. Take time to consider how God’s gracious and powerful acts in Jesus Christ have changed the world and continue to change lives, including ours.

Sign-up sheets for the study groups will be available Dec. 27 – Jan. 31 in the entryway of each church. Study groups will begin meeting the week of Feb. 17 & 18. Plans are for two sessions each week—Wed. evening, 7:00-8:30 at Perry UMC, and Thurs. morning, 10:00-11:30 at Shaftsburg UMC. Please indicate on the sign-up sheet which session day/time you plan to attend. Persons may attend either session on a given week; if you may need to attend the morning session some weeks and the evening session on other weeks, mark both. Also indicate if you would like for me to order a book(s) for you. No book is necessary to take part in the study, but you may find one or both of these helpful:

24 Hours That Changed the World—$12.72 (the original full-length book) Journey to the Cross: Reflections on 24 Hours That Changed the World—

$6.69 (daily reflections, prayers and information from the book above; may be used as daily devotions for Lent, as well as supplement for the study sessions)

Study sessions will include prayer, scripture study and discussion. Video clips filmed at relevant Holy Land sites will help introduce study/discussion topics.

Week 1: The Last Supper Week 2: The Garden of Gethsemane Week 3: Condemned by the Righteous Week 4: Jesus, Barabbas, and Pilate Week 5: The Torture and Humiliation of the King Week 6: The Crucifixion Week 7: Christ the Victor


Prayer Joys & Concerns:

Shaftsburg Prayer List Travel Mercies for our holiday travelers. Sandy White and Mike Shaft both have unspoken requests. Dan & Mitchell for cancer healing. Marcia sister-in-law Darlene bad news for CT scan. Linda Marsh, for arthritis help. Josephine Young hip replacement surgery. Colby Family for the passing of Betty. Mary Burks in hospice after stroke. For the Families of the San Bernardino shooting. Marcia Copeland for reactions to new medications. For tumor’s that have been removed and awaiting results. All of our Service members who are away from their families during the holiday season. Perry Prayer Concerns Please keep these folks in your prayers: Everett Held; Heather Nolan; GaeAnn Dysinger Misti Leitelt’s mom Suzelle; Char Bragg’s friend Nancy; Terry Bever; Dick Locke; Dick McDevitt; Tony Salmeto’s sister Malinda; Van Polhemus; Julia’s friend; Clif Tobias; Gerrad Leitelt; Bonnie Dunn; Melanie Davis’ brother Ryan and her cousin Crystal Hittle; Mike Pavich; Russ VanNorwick; John Robertson. Grief Support for the families of: David Lyons, Pat Cooper, and Muriel Darling. Remember our shut-ins; Jean and Harold Canfield, Liz Taylor and Rich Polhemus. Pray for the men and women in the service around the world, especially for Kevin Polhemus as he is home for his wedding on January 2nd and Logan Stevens.

Adults’ night out coming up! Saturday, February 20, 2016. We will meet at the Olive Garden in Okemos at 5:30 pm. There will be a sign-up sheet in the narthex.

Saturday January 16th it’s Game night at Shaftsburg!! Bring your favorite game (s) and a snack to share, and be at the Church at 7:00. Let the Game’s begin.


JANUARY CELEBRATIONS

Perry

Birthdays

Bob Hempsted 1/4 Jean Canfield 1/5

William Sampson 1/6 Jill Held 1/7

Madison Davis 1/25

Anniversaries

None to report

Shaftsburg

Birthdays

Mike Shaft 1/3

Robert Graham 1/13 Patricia Murley 1/29

Anniversaries

Courtland & Catherine Bradley 1/14

To Worship

January Ministries

In Shafsburg Worship Opportunities to Serve

Bulletin Board: Greeters: Flowers: 1/3 – No Flowers 1/10 – 1/17 – 1/24 – 1/31

Liturgist: Fred Kline

Music Prelude: Pat Murley

Meet & Greet 1/3 Simple Spread 1/10 1/17 Simple Spread 1/24 1/31


Mm

Don’t Forget your Box Tops for Education! We use these to fund our Shaftsburg Sunday School Programs. Place them in the white container in the Narthex.

Saturday, January 2 Begin eating at 8:00 a.m. If you would like to help cook, be at the church at 7:00 a.m.

KID’S CUPBOARD NEWS Spread the word about Kid’s Cupboard at Shaftsburg UMC: Open the 4th Monday of each month, 2 p.m. to 8p.m. We supply children’s clothes sizes 0 to 6 years, baby food, diapers, shoes, baby equipment and toys. Have questions? Please call Kathy Rice at 675-5339

Ladies Night Out ~ January 13, 2015 Leo’s Lodge – Okemos by Meijer

Meet at 5:30 p.m. or to carpool meet at Shaftsburg Church at 5:00 p.m. If you need a ride call Marge 675-5457 – Let Marge know for a count on how many.

Perry UMC will collect non-perishable food items for the Perry food bank on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month (the same Sundays as Noisy Change offering). Items may be left in the box in the entryway.

A new Al-Anon Group will be meeting at the church in the Adult Sunday School Room at 7:30 pm on Wednesday nights. This is a support group for all family and friends of alcoholics and all are invited to the meetings. Any questions, contact Mary at (616) 648-2052


SUMC Church Council December 7, 2015 The SUMC Church Council was called to order at 7 p.m. In attendance were Pastor Nancy, Fred K, Connie H, Luann L, Jim L and Dick R. EDUCATION: Sunday School program will be during the 12/20 worship service. Planning for Bible Study topics for next year. TRUSTEES: Meeting held welcoming new trustees for 2016: Ron H and Laura S. Officially elected Fred to continue on as head trustee and Dick as secretary. Made decision to use funds that have been collected over the years to build a 16 x 12 foot storage shed in the spring. WORSHIP: Worship committee meeting being planned for January. MISSIONS: Collecting items for the area Food Banks. Cookie Walk sales totaled about $400 which is used to support various missions. Thanks to many generous donations, 55 Christmas shoeboxes were filled along with enough money donated to cover the $385 shipping costs. The women’s Sunday School class continues to sponsor 3 middle school children this year. Every Friday 3 bags of food are provided for these children to have for the weekend. STAFF/PARISH RELATIONS COMMITTEE: Meeting held welcoming a new member for 2016: Lori W. In January, our church will join with other United Methodist churches to being a process to understand who we are and what we want to be. This “213 Process” will consist of 4 – 5 meetings resulting in a formal report that will be shared with the congregation. PLANNING COMMITTEE: Christmas Caroling will be Sunday 12/13. (update: a record 19 carolers enjoyed singing at about a dozen houses.) FINANCE AND STEWARDSHP: The General Fund is back in the black after a couple months of being slightly negative. (Last year at this time we were negative by $10,000.) Also, we are completing year 16 of our 20 year mortgage. Remaining owed is $45,000; our current Building Fund is $11,000, used for the monthly $1,200 payment. Very generous giving in 2015 has allowed us the end the year in a solid position. NON-COMMITTEE REPORTS:

The monthly Newsletter is posted on the SUMC website: Shaftsburgumc.weebly.com. Also, 13 people have opted to have their Newsletter emailed. Contact Cathy Bradley for details if you want to change to email delivery.

Next meeting is January 4, 2016. Meeting adjourned 8:05 p.m.

Any dates that you need to reserve the Shaftsburg Church for a group, function or activity please add it to the calendar on the wall by the office.


KIDS CORNER [p;’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’

A. In Revelation what are the seven churches that received letters?

1. 2.

3. 4. 5. 6. 7. B. Of these churches which one was pointed out as having kept the command to endure patiently? C. Which church will have the crown of life? D. Who holds the keys of death and Hades?

1. Ephesus 2. Smyrna 3. Pergamum 4. Thyatira 5. Sardis 6. Philadelphia 7. Laodicea B = Philadelphia C= Smyrna D= Jesus Rev. 1:18


January 2016 Perry & Shaftsburg United Methodist Churches

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 Men’s Breakfast Cooking 7 am Eat 8 am

3 Noisy Change: P & S Haiti Lunch

4 SPRC – Joint 6:00 Shaftsburg AD – Council Perry 7:00

5 Choir: P – 5:00 pm Choir: S – 7:00 pm

6 AA METING: S- Al-Anon: S- 7:00 & 7:30 Junior Scouts 7:00 P

7

8 9

10 Potluck Perry 12:00 Caroling 6:00 pm meet at Shaftsburg

11 Perry Worship 5:00 Perry Ad Council 6:00


13 AA METING: S- Al-Anon: S- 7:00 & 7:30 Daisy ? Brownies Scouts 6:00 P

14

15 16 Game Night – Shaftsburg 7:00 pm

Noisy Change: 17 S – Trustees P – Local Mission Perry Potluch

18


20 AA METING: S- Al-Anon: S- 7:00 & 7:30 Junior Scouts 7:00 P

21

22 23

24 Newsletter Deadline Shaftsburg Trustee’s 8:30 am

25 Kid’s Cupboard 2:00 – 8:00


27 2AA METING: S- Al-Anon: S- 7:00 & 7:30 Daisy ? Brownies Scouts 6:00 P

28 29 30

31


Perry & Shaftsburg United Methodist Churches P.O. Box 15 Perry, MI 48872

Perry U.M.C. – A family of God, sharing the love of Jesus Christ with our community and the world.

131 South Madison St. – P.O. Box 15 Perry, MI 48872

Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. (during the school year) Worship 11:00 a.m.

Office phone (517) 625-3444 http://perryumc.weebly.com

Shaftsburg U.M.C. – Taking the name and meaning of Jesus Christ

into our community.

12821 S. Warner rd. at Lansing Rd. P.O. Box 161 Shaftsburg, MI 48882

Worship: 9:30 a.m. Christian Education: 11:00 a.m. (during the school year)

Phone (517) 675-1567 shaftsburgumc.weebly.com

Newsletter email: [email protected]

connections - shaftsburg united methodist...

Documents