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May, 2017

Easter is over, the candy is eaten, and now we begin to think about mowing lawns, planting gardens and flowers. Everyday for Christians is an Easter and we need to remind ourselves and each other to remember that Christ died for us and in his resurrection we have been given a promise that through faith we will not die but be given eternal life! Who will you remind today and tell the story of Easter to today? On May 7, starting at 5 pm with a potluck we want to gather as a church to enter into a time of conversation around the vision for Chapel Hill UMC. Similar to our meeting last May but with a different focus this year. Last year we asked why we are here, this year let’s have some conversation about God’s vision for us. Do we have a vision? What does that look like and how are we living that out? Chapel Hill, like many churches, are in a state of decline and how can God guide and encourage us to be in ministry with Him and the world around us? What keeps us from moving forward towards being healthy church, vibrant and on fire for Jesus Christ? Matthew 28 reminds us that we are to GO INTO THE WORLD (emphasis mine) and make disciples for Jesus Christ. I ran across this article on the internet from Carey Nieuwhof (becoming one of my favorite authors) sharing about struggles churches of our size face, struggles that may hold us back and keep us from fully seeing God’s vision. As you prepare to come on May 7 read this article and think about how this might relate to Chapel Hill. 5 Things Every Small to Mid-Sized Church Struggles With By Carey Nieuwhof Of all the subjects I deal with on this blog, church size generates a LOT of reaction and emotion. This post on why most churches never break the 200 attendance mark struck a deep nerve. As I outline in my new book, people clearly have strong opinions and emotions about. But I can also totally relate to the dynamics of leading a smaller church. When I began in ministry, I spent about 3 years leading a small congregation (under 100) that grew into a mid-sized church (under 500) and then grew into a larger church. I remember the emotions that swirl around small and mid-sized churches. I also have lived through the struggles those congregations face. This post (like the last one) is written for church leaders and teams that want to reach more people. If you don’t want to grow, this post won’t help you much. It’s critical that as church leaders we understand the tensions we’re facing. In the same way that diagnosing that pain under your kneecap when you’re trying to run a race is helpful, diagnosing what you sense in the congregation can be critical to taking your next step forward. Overcome these tensions and you’re closer to progress. Avoid them or fail to deal with them and you can stay stuck a long time. So, here are 5 problems every small to mid-sized church encounters. 1. The desire to keep the church one big family This pressure is huge. Many people believe that the church functions best as one big family. The reality is even when our church was 40 people, those 40 people didn’t know each other—really. Some were left out, others weren’t. Even at 100 or 300, enough people will still believe they know ‘everyone’. But they don’t. People believe the small church functions best as one big family. They ’re wrong. When people told me they knew everyone I would challenge people (nicely) and say “Really, you know everyone? Because as much as I wish I did, I don’t.” They would then admit they didn’t know everyone. They just knew the people they knew and liked and often felt that growing the church would threaten that. The truth is, at 100-300, many people are unknown. And even if ‘we all wear name-tags,” many of the people in your church don’t really have anyone to talk to about what matters. The one big family idea is, in almost every case, a myth. Once you get beyond a dozen people, start organizing in groups. Everyone will have a home. Everyone who wants to be known and have meaningful relationships will have them. And a healthy groups model is scalable to hundred, thousands and even beyond that. The idea that small churches are one big family is largely myth. 2. The people who hold positions don’t always hold the power In many small churches, your board may be your board, but often there are people—and even families—whose opinion carries tremendous weight. If one of those people sits on the board, they end up with a de facto veto because no one wants to make a move without their buy in. If they are not on the board, decisions the board makes or a leader makes can get ‘undone’ if the person or family disapproves. This misuse of power is unhealthy and needs to be stopped.

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May Sermon and Scripture Titles

May 7 Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14; Luke 15:11-32 Sermon: Is your Spiritual Journey a Broadway?

May 14 Scripture: Acts 9:1-9 Sermon: Is your Spiritual Journey like flashing lights?

May 21 Scripture: Luke 10:25-37 Sermon: Is your Spiritual Journey about second thoughts?

May 28 Scripture: John 12:1-11 Sermon: Does your Spiritual Journey need a time out?

No Youth Group on May 14 - Mother’s Day! TBD for Youth Group on Sunday, May 28 as it is a holiday weekend!

Preparation for worship

Jesus, you promised your followers power and ability to be your witnesses. By your Spirit, help us

“Where are we going 2017” All church meeting and potluck Sunday, May 7 from 5 - 8 pm

Do you have a high school or college graduate this year? Anyone wanting a graduate listed in this year’s bulletin and newsletter needs to have their information in to the office no later than Friday, May 12th.

Please share the grad’s name, institution from which the degree was earned, degree type, and post - graduation plans. Information can be dropped off in the office, e-mailed to

chumcsodus@comcast.net or called in to the office at 927-3454.

All Graduates will be honored on Sunday, May 21, 2017 at the 10:30 am service

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HELPING HOBBIES Pillowcase Mission Project and work

on Prayer Blankets May 13 at 10 am to 3 pm

Calling all who can use a pair a scissors and

enjoy being with others.

If you have a portable sewing machine

please bring but not necessary to attend. Donated fabric or gift cards to buy fabric is

most appreciated.

A mother's prayer

A.T. Pierson writes that “all true prayer trusts [God] to give his own answer, not in our way or time, or even to our own expressed desire, but rather to his own unutterable groaning within us which he can interpret better than we.” As an example, Pierson points to Monica, the mother of the man who came to be known as Saint Augustine. Although Monica “pleaded with God that her dissolute son might not go to Rome, that sink of iniquity,” he went anyway. While there, he met Ambrose, bishop of Milan, who led him to the Christian faith. Saint Augustine is considered one of the most important church fathers. “God fulfilled the mother’s desire while denying her request,” Pierson writes. How might God be meeting your desires, even amid what appear to be unanswered prayers?

On Sunday, May 21 at 6 pm, a Barbershop Quartet ***The Revelier’s ***

will be singing at Chapel Hill. This event will be followed with desserts and

coffee in the Fellowship Hill.

This is a free-will donation event and is open to the public.

This is a fund raiser for the youth group.

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05/02 Alexandra Ratliff 05/04 Jim Leto 05/05 Carly D.Q. Harris 05/09 Colton Harris 05/11 Sarah Bennett 05/12 Patrick Walsh, Jr. 05/13 Mickey Bennett Louise King Jean Rakauski 05/17 Maureen Paulin 05/18 LaVerne Glassman 05/19 Daniel Reed 05/21 Lenora Cuthbert 05/23 George Bush 05/24 Chris Peters 05/26 Nathan Lambrecht Sandy Young 05/27 Ann Schroeder 05/28 Kenneth Pullins 05/31 Victor Cuthbert, Sr.

05/05 John and Catherine Glassman, Jr. 05/14 Dave and Melissa Dustin 05/18 Jesse and Heather Theobald 05/19 Ken and Margie Krieger 05/27 Art and Barbara Moore

If we have missed a birthday or anniversary, or

have you listed incorrectly, please call the office so

that we may update our information.

Join us following worship on

Sunday, May 21 where we will

celebrate this month’s birthdays

and anniversaries with a Potluck!

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Lay Participant Forms

Please sign up for lay participant positions.

Liturgists: Greeters: Coffee Hour: Nursery: The sign up sheets are on the foyer table.

Contacts:

Liturgists: Linda Bennett 944-4181 Greeters: Karen Hook 463-8535 Coffee Hour: Sandy Keath 208-0115 Nursery: Bob Wesner 463-5050

THE LAWN MOWING SCHEDULE IS OUT ON THE TABLE IN THE FOYER.

Keep in our prayers Pastor Mark

and Those individuals who are serving within our

church fellowship and our community. May their lives show Christ in all they do and say.

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When people who don’t hold office wield power in the church, you have a problem. In the churches where I began, I took the power away from these people by going head to head with them, then handed it back to the people who are supposed to have the power. In two out of three cases, the person left the church after it was clear I would not allow them to run it anymore. It’s a tough call, but the church was far better off for it. When the people who are gifted to lead get to lead, the church becomes healthy. When we got healthy, we grew. When the people who are gifted to lead get to lead, your church gets healthy. 3. The pastor carries expectations no human can fulfil In most small to mid-sized churches, the pastor is expected to attend (if not conduct) every wedding, funeral, hospital call or meeting, visit people in their homes, write a killer message every Sunday, organize most of the activities of the church, be present for all functions AND have a great family life. In other words, the pastor carries expectations no human can fulfil. In many churches, the pastor carries expectations no human can fulfil. The key here for those who want to grow past this is to set clear expectations of what you will spend your time on. I visited people in their homes and in hospital for the first two years, but then we went to a groups model. I explained (for what seemed like forever) how care was shifting from me to the congregation. I stopped attending every church event. We developed a great counseling referral network. And I started focusing on what I can best contribute given my gift set: communication, charting a course for the future, developing our best leaders, casting vision and raising resources. Many small church pastors are actually more burnt out than large church pastors. Small church pastors, please realize this: if the key to growing your church is to work more hours, you’re sunk. Work better and smarter with clearer boundaries and expectations. Don’t just work longer. Once you master that, you can thrive, even as your church grows. If the key to growing your church is to work more hours, you’re sunk. 4. Tradition has more pull than vision This is not just about traditional churches—it’s true of church plants too. The past has a nostalgia to it that the future never does. Even the recent past. Remember how great the church felt when it was smaller, more intimate and met in the living room/school/old facility? The challenge for the leader is to cast a vision that is clear enough and compelling enough to pull people from the familiar past into a brighter future. The past has a nostalgia to it the future never does. 5. The natural desire to do more, not less As you grow, you will be tempted to do more. Every time there are more people/money/resources, the pressure will be strong to add programming and complexity to your organization. Resist that. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Often the key to reaching more is doing less. By doing a few things well and creating steps, not programs, you will help more people grow faster than almost any other way. The key to reaching more is doing less. With an aging congregation and struggling finances, where do we see ourselves in 5 years? 10 years? Beyond? Carey reminds us that without a clear vision, we will wander in the desert, just getting by. I apologize for being blunt, but is there a future for Chapel Hill? On the other hand, what if we were not here at the corner of Naomi and Hillandale, would it make a difference? Join us on May 7, help us define our vision and may God help us to celebrate the presence of this church in this community. Cool Runnings (Peace be the journey),

Pastor Mark

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Thank you to Chapel Hill for allowing the DeColores Women's Weekend to be here March 30 thru April 2. The weekend was truly a blessing the women in attendance and hopefully a blessing for Chapel Hill UMC. From the Ladies of Weekend # 122 (number of men’s and women’s weekends held here in Southwest MI). A little background and history on DeColores Ministry.

DeColores Ministries Inc. of SW Michigan is a Michigan not for profit organization. We are comprised of members from various Christian denominations for the purpose of fulfilling our mission. We conduct several spiritual retreat weekends each year in order to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. DeColores weekends are held at various churches throughout the year and are available to anyone who is seeking a life changing experience and desires to grow closer to Christ Jesus. You can view more information about upcoming events.

The first Cursillo weekend in the United States, was held in Texas in 1957. During the next four years, Spanish language weekends were held throughout Texas, Phoenix Arizona, New York City and in Lorain, Ohio. The first English language Cursillo was held in San Angelo, Texas in 1961. That same year, the movement spread to California, Indiana, Michigan, New Mexico, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, Maryland, Missouri, Massachusetts, and Washington state. In December of 1964, Cursillo #13 was held in Muskegon, Michigan. Catholics, desiring to share this unique experience with their non-Catholic friends and clergy, began sponsoring those of varied faiths to weekends. This began on a very small scale and at a slow pace, but by the mid 70's, hundreds of men and women, laypeople and clergy from virtually all, major denominations, had made a Cursillo. Struggling with the fact that the Cursillo in the Muskegon area was no longer fulfilling its original purpose to the Catholic Diocese, but at the same time believing in the interfaith experience that had evolved, DeColores EnCristo was born. DeColores Ministries took root from that. There are other denominational Cursillos...Lutheran, Episcopal, Presbyterian, etc., and other similar movements, such as Tres Dias, and Walk to Emmaus, as well as Cursillo in other countries. DeColores means "of colors" in Spanish and is meant to reflect the many colors of Christ. DeColores was born in the spirit of interfaith communion of the love feast. The agape. It is important to realize that the DeColores movement was born of love and not law. The first DeColores was held in Muskegon in 1980. In 1985, it officially expanded to Grand Rapids, with that secretariat being the first off-spring. Since then, DeColores communities have sprung up in southwest Michigan, Detroit, and northern Michigan. In addition, there have been DeColores weekends held inside the Muskegon correctional facility, Camp Geneva in Holland, and other similar facilities. The weekend is a three-day interdenominational short course in Christianity, in a semi-retreat format, filled with singing, praying and praising God. It is an atmosphere of loving accepting Christian community where personal stories are shared (though never forced), confidences are honored, grief may be comforted, joys can be celebrated, and hearts can heal. Sharing by lay leaders and clerics emphasize piety, study, action, and connect Biblical principles to the realities of human hearts and experiences. DeColores is Christ centered and Biblically based. We are focused on knowing Christ and making him known to others. That is our call, and in doing it, lies our greatest joy.

If you would like more information about DeColores and attending a weekend contact Mark or Joyce Mitchell or visit www.swmi-decolores.org/ .

DeColores!

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

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7 Communion “Where are we Going in 2017” All church meeting and potluck at 5 - 8 pm

8 Trustees Meeting 7 pm

9 Prayer Group 10 am SPRC Meeting 6:30 pm

10 Bell Choir 6:30 - 7:30 pm Choir 7:30 - 9:00 pm

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13 Helping Hobbies Pillowcase Mission Project and Prayer Quilt 10 am - 3 pm

14 Loose Change Offering

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16 Prayer Group 10 am Finance Meeting 7 pm

17 Bell Choir 6:30 - 7:30 pm Choir 7:30 - 9:00 pm

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21 Graduation Sunday!

Potluck Crop Walk Barbershop Quartet Youth Group Fundraiser 6 pm

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23 Prayer Group 10 am Church Council Meeting 7 pm

24 Bell Choir 6:30 - 7:30 pm Choir 7:30 - 9:00 pm

25 Newsletter Information Due

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30 Prayer Group 10 am

31 Newsletter Goes Out Bell Choir 6:30 - 7:30 pm Choir 7:30 - 9:00 pm Fellowship Hall Reserved

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A Reflection of Christ’s Love Chapel Hill United Methodist Church

4071 Naomi Rd Sodus, MI 49126-9768

CHAPEL HILL NEWS

May 2017

Phone: (269) 927-3454

Parsonage: (269) 925-4528 E-mail: chumcsodus@comcast.net

Website: www.chumcsodus.org

Adult Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship: 10:30 a.m.

Children’s Sunday School after Children’s message in 10:30 a.m. Worship

Mark Mitchell, Pastor

Church Office Hours Wednesday 9:00 am to 2:00 pm Thursday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Friday 9:00 am to 2:00 pm

In case of emergency when the office is closed, please try the parsonage (925-4528).