July 22, 2020 Vol. 34, No. 7

First United Methodist Church 212 S. Park Street Kalamazoo, MI 49007 269.381.6340 www.umc-kzo.org

OnMay11,2020,theChurchCouncilapprovedtheformationoftheTaskForceforRe-entryandResponsetothePandemic.TheTaskForceincludesclergy,staff,andlaymemberswhohavebeentaskedinthecollaborationandguidanceforourdecision-makingandactivitiesinresponsetoCOVID-19. TheTaskForceconductedacongregationalsurveyandwaspleasedtoreceiveseveralhundredresponses.Theoverwhelmingresponsewasthaton-lineworshipmetorexceededexpectations.Respondentsfeltthatweshouldproceedgraduallywithappropriatecareinkeepingeveryonesafe.Over2/3oftherespondentsindicatedthattheyconsideredthemselvesinthe“at-risk”group.Alimitednumberofrespondentsindicatedthattheywerereadytoreturntoworship.Thesentimentsofloveforeachotheraswellasthefellowshipandworkofthechurchareappreciatedandacknowledged.Itisdifficulttobephysicallyisolatedfromfamilyandfriends,includingourchurchfamily. TherealityisthattheTaskForcedoesnotforeseethatin-personworshipwillresumeforsometimetocome,mostlikelyuntilthereisavaccineforthevirusandithasbeenwidelyadministered.Ourloveandconcernforeachotheristoogreattotakeanyunnecessaryrisksinresumingin-personworshipatthechurch.Weknowthatwewillcontinuetobeblessedbytheinspiration,creativity,love,andhardworkthattheclergyandstaffcontinuetobringtoonlineworship! TheTaskForceconsidersthatFUMC’sresponsewillbemeasuredandgradualandwillpassthroughseveralphasesasfollows:

▶ Phase0:CompleteshutdownofFUMC▶ Phase1:Limitedstaffatchurchasneededto

ensurecriticalfunctionsaremet▶ Phase2:Limitedministriesresumeatchurch

thatcannotfunctionremotely▶ Phase3:Expandedstaffonsiteandadditional

ministriesresumethatcannotfunctionremotely▶ Phase4:FUMCisopenforin-personworship▶ Phase5:Additionalministriesresumein-

personasre-entryplansarepresentedandapproved Inorderforanypersonorgroupbeallowedtoresumemeeting,anappropriatere-entryplanwillneedtobedevelopedbythegroupandapprovedbytheTaskForceandChurchCouncil.Re-entryplansfortheFirstCareChildCareCenterandtheKidsAdventureProgramweresubmittedandapproved.TheTaskForceismonitoringtheseactivitiesastheyconsiderfuturestaffpresenceandactivities. TheTaskForceestablishedprotocolsforlimitedstaffandothersentrytoFUMC,includingasign-inand-outlog,requiredresponsestohealthscreeningquestions,socialdistancingrequirements,andamandateofmask-wearing. Wecontinuetodiscernandplanourstepsonmovingforwardtore-entrywiththerealizationthatwewillhavemanychallenges.Weareoperatingwithagreatdealofuncertainty,withon-goingchangesinconditionsandupdatesinmedicalandscientificinformation.WewillworkandplanwiththeconfidencethattheHolySpiritisatworkinourlivesindividuallyandasafaithcommunity.Godisgoodandwewillcreatewaystobethechurchinaworldthatyearnsandwatchesforsignsofhope.

The First Word July 22, 2020

Pleasekeepthesefriendsinyourprayers

FredAllen,DanaAnderson,NinaBaker,DeeBarkley,JaneBarnes,Max&EllenBrinkley,Dan&JillChristian,

MiramCook,FredDouglas,EmersonEidson,AndreeaFrew,RuthEvelynGraham,BrendaHaan,

GinnieHessler,RedHikade,NellHolland,JohnHolms,DeannaHouse,AnnImerzel,LenoraHolliday,DavidHouseman,BenKorendyke,DorisLee,DavidLocke,LarryLueth,CarolynMann,

EllenMcDonald,DonnaMcNaughton,ChristinePeavler,ClairePeek,JoanRohs,JanSearch,KimTaylor,LarryTaylor,ArleneTriestram,LaurieUlrich,

KathyWinchell,LindaWinkelman,JanetWydendorf

DuringthistimewhenthechurchbuildingisclosedduetotheCOVID-19pandemic,wewillcontinueto

bringyouthechurch!Pleaseworshipwithusat10a.m.(summerschedule)onSundaysvialivestreaming

oronourYouTubechannel.Bothareaccessiblefromourwebsite:umc-kzo.org.

Ifyouwouldliketoshareaprayerrequestwithourclergyandprayerministryteam,pleaseemailyourrequesttoThomVictorattvictor@umc-kzo.org.Ifyoudonothaveaccesstoemail,youcancallthechurchat(269)381-6340andleaveamessage.PrayerrequestsneedtobereceivedbyWEDNESDAY

atnoon.

JoinusforZoomfellowshiptimeonSundaymorningAFTERthe10a.m.onlinehomeworship.Zoomisanonlinevideoandchatroom(youwillneedabuilt-incamera/recorderonyourdevice;e.g.,tablet,laptoporphone).Alinktothisfellowshiptimeisincludedin

theweeklyAroundtheCorner.MeetingID:5169067999.

StaffRetirementbyLisaStucky,StaffParishRelationsCommittee

JenniferStupicaisretiringasCommunicationsCoordinatorattheendofJuly.Sheisourlongest-servingemployee,hiredin1997afterearningherBachelorinBusinessAdministrationdegree.Jenniferhasworked

withseventeenclergyandcountlessparishioners

asshehaskeptusinformed,connected,andequippedtodoGod'sworktogether.HerroleshaveevolvedfromMembership&EvangelismAssistanttoAdministrativeAssistanttohercurrentrole.Communicationsasafieldhasevolvedconsiderably,too,withtechnologyandsocialmediabecominghugefactorsinherposition.Ourstay-hometimehascertainlybeenenhancedbythefruitsofJennifer'slabors,andisonlythemostrecentexampleofhertechnicalandorganizationalskills.WeareextremelyappreciativetoJenniferforthecare,compassion,competence,andcreativitywithwhichshehasblessedusformorethantwodecades.Wewishhermuchhappinessasshecontinueshercreativepursuits,travels,andspendstimecaringforherinfantgranddaughter.

SummerKAPKidsAdventureProgrambyColleenTreman,KAPLeader

OurthirdyearofSummerKAPbeganJune22andendsJuly31.DuetoCOVID-19wewereunabletohaveKAP"inperson"butfifteenchildrensigneduptoreceiveKAPmaterialsremotelyorthroughtheUSmail.ThankstotheKAPstaffwhichincludesourinterns,DrewStrandandMaggieSwafford,ouryouthstaff,LaylaEaton,andourcraftteacher,NancyDouglas.ThanksalsogoestotheKAPPlanningTeamthatmeetsthroughouttheyear.WelookforwardtominiKAPduringspringbreakandsummerKAPnextyear.

JenniferStupicaCommunicationsCoordinator

UpcomingZoomAcademyClass"Practice.Testimony.Story."Afour-weekAcademyClassledbyPastorMattWeilerwillusescripture,spiritualdisciplines,andconversationtoexplorehowtobeattentivetomomentsofGod’sgraceinourlives.Wewillthenleadtheclassincraftingthosemomentsintonarratives.ThisZoomclasswillbeginat11:30a.m.onSundays,July26,August2,16,and23followingZoomfellowship.(NoclassonAug.9.)ClicktheZoomlinkintheThursdayAroundtheCornere-newsletterorjoinZoomMeetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/81474262215(password575672).PleaseemailMatt(mweiler@umc-kzo.org)withanyquestions.

Did you know that United Methodist Women continues to find ways to support the church's adopted school, Spring Valley Elementary, as they plan for the next school year? In August, each staff member will have an electric pencil sharpener in their room thanks to the generosity of UMW and FUMC members!

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The First Word July 22, 2020

JFONimmigrationministrynewsbyAnnSweany,JFON-KalamazooClinicCoordinator

WecongratulateourJusticeForOurNeighbors(JFON)legalassistant,CoralCervantes,onbe-cominganAccreditedRepresenta-tivethroughtheDepartmentofJustice(DOJ).Thisisanimportantstepthatrequiredmuchtimeandstudytoaccomplish.AsaDOJAccreditedRepresentative,Coralwillbeabletoprovideimmigra-

tionlegalservicestoimmigrantsandrefugeesinthesouthwestMichiganregion,increasingtheeffective-nessofourwork.WeapplaudCoral'scontinuedeffortsandaccomplishmentsinadvocatingforourimmigrantneighbors! OurJFONofficecontinuestomeetwithnewandreturningclientsduringtheCOVID-19pandem-ic,creativelyusingonlinemeanstoconnect.Itcanbedisconcertingforlegalstafftomeetwithclientsinthisway,butitisgratifyingthatthosewhoneedus,trustusenoughtogothisroute. Wehopeyouwilljoinusincontinuingtomoni-torchangesinimmigrationpolicy,andadvocateforareasonable,humaneimmigrationsystem.Asalways,ourelectedofficialsandthoserunningforofficeneedourguidance.Checkouttheirwebsite:www.jfonmi.org/kalamazooformoreinformation.

CoralCervantesJFONLegalAssistant

Evenduringthepandemic,theFirstStitchershavecontinuedtosewathomeandprovideitemsforthoseinneedlocallyaswellasaroundtheworld.Hereareourprojectsthisyear:• Whenthepandemicbegan,oursewersprovidedover100maskstoBronsonHospitalforusebytheirauxiliarystaffinordertosavehospital-grademasksuppliesforthemedicalpersonnel.• WearesewingreceivingblanketsforUMW’sUgandaproject.FUMCmemberRuthZielinski(UniversityofMichiganProfessorofmidwifery),planstotakeanothergroupofstudentstoteachtheirskillstowomeninUgandathiswinter.• Wemadesomedeliveriesbeforethestay-at-homeorderswentintoeffectandournon-profitpartnersareonceagainacceptingdonations.Thisyear,wehaveprovided37pillowsandpillowcasestotheYWCA.Wehavealsomadedeliveriesof21smallquiltstotheKalamazoochapterofBinkyPatrol.• AnewpartnerweareexcitedtohelpisSparrow&NestDesign.TwoladiesdecorateandfurnishapartmentsforclientsmovingoutoftheYWCAandintotheirownapartments.Lastweekwewereabletoprovidethem10pillows,9knitteddishcloths,andadozendishandhandtowels.NOTE:Weknowmanyothershavebeensewingmasksandhospitalgowns!Whenyoufeelstuckathome,SEW!RonandCarolGranthavemade650masksforfriends,family,andlocalmedicalfacilities.Carol,DebKarnemaat,andothersalsosewed30isolationgownsforBronsonHospice.

FirstStitcherscontinuetheirministryduringpandemicbyLindaLueth,FirstStitchersCo-Chair

(LtoR,goingcounterclockwise)JudyAardemawithhersewingprojects,EllenPortis'BinkyPatrolblankets,andMelaniePerry'spillowcases

SatelliteserviceresumesatTheFountainsWecelebratethenewsthatoursatelliteservicehasresumedatTheFountainsatBronsonPlaceintheirauditorium!ItwillbeundertheirstrictCOVID-19guidelineswithonlytenresidentsinattendanceatatime.WethankourRe-EntryTaskForceforreviewingthesafetyplanandforNancyMason,oneofTheFountainsresidents,forherhospitalityasshehoststheservicesandwelcomesthoseinattendance. WelookforwardtoresumingoursatelliteservicesatHeritageCommunityandFriendshipVillageassoonaspossible.Wewillcontinuetostayintouchwiththeirstaffandfollowtheirgatheringguidelines.

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The First Word July 22, 2020

FinanceupdatesbySandyGower,FinanceCommitteeChair

MissionoftheMonths"ThankYou!"byTerriKinzi,OutreachTeamChair

Thechurch’sfinancesremainstable.WeendedMaywithaGeneralFundbalanceof$63,804.03.InJune,wehadaGeneralFundincomeof$109,932.72andexpensesof$72,220.46.AsofJune30,theGeneralFundbalanceis$147,291.89.ThePayrollProtectionProgramloanhasnowbeenspent.Wecontinuetomonitorexpensesasweknowwewilllikelyhaveadditionalcostsasweprepareforre-opening.Onceagain,yourcontinuedgeneroussupportofourongoingministriesistrulyablessing.SpecialOfferingsasofJuly15,2020HumanRelationsSunday$382.00UMCORSunday $1,755.00EasterOffering $7,120.00NativeAmericanSunday$635.00PeacewithJusticeSunday$285.00JusticeTeam/MichiganUnited/ISAAC$400.00

ThankstothecongregationforsupportingourMayMissionoftheMonth,theSietaScholarsandYWCA,with$245tobesplitbetweenthetwoorganizations.Wewouldalsoliketothankthecongregationfortheirgeneroussupportof$1050fortheJuneMissionoftheMonththathelpedsupportthevictimsoffloodingintheGreatLakesBayRegionofmid-Michigan.SomeofyoualsosupportedthefloodvictimsbymakingadonationdirectlytotheMichiganConferencewebsite.YoursupportwillhaveagreatbenefittothesituationsofourbrothersandsistersandallowthemtoknowtheyhavethesupportofMichiganUnitedMethodists.

CalltoActionfromISAAC:Helprestorefundingforschoolbudgetsforthefall InlightoftheinequitableimpactofCOVID-19onstateandlocalfundingfortheeducationofourchildreninthecomingyear,ISAACisadvocatingforafederalschoolreliefpackagetoaddresstheschoolbudgetcuts.Stateofficialsandlegislatorshaveadvisedusthatreducedstaterevenuescannotsupportneededfunding.WeneedtheU.S.CongresstopassaCOVIDreliefpackagetohelpstatesandcommunitiesrestorefundstopublicschools. ISAACisaskingeachofustoconsidersigningandsendingalettertoCongressmanFredUpton.AsampleletterisatISAAC'swebsite,www.isaackalamazooorg.Pleasetakeamomenttosendaletterthisweekifyouareabletodoso,andtoforwardthistoyourcircleoffamily,friends,andcolleaguesinsouthwestMichigan. ISAACwelcomesyourparticipationinseveralcommunitytaskforces:Anti-Racism,Housing,Anti-Poverty,andGunViolencePrevention.MonthlymeetingstakeplaceviaZoomonceamonth.Forinformationonjoiningataskforce,contactRaySweanyatrasweany@charter.net.

HelpingOurNeighborsduringthepandemicbyJenniferStupica,fromexcerptswrittenbyKimTaylorandTimMullikin,HONvolunteers

Duringthepandemic,HONvolunteershavebeenunabletomeetclientsface-to-face.Insteadtheyhavebeenmakingphonecallstocheckonpastclients.Inarecentvirtualteammeeting,thevolunteersremarkedhowrewardingitistobeabletocheck-inwithclientstoseehowtheyaredoingwithpayingoffutilityshut-offsandevictionnotices.Peopleareverysurprisedwhentheyreceiveacalloutofthebluefromthechurchaskingiftheyneedassistanceand/oragiftcardtohelpwithgroceriesorgas.KimTaylorremarkedthatitwas"asgoodasbeingSantaClaus!"tobeabletoofferthisassistancetothosewhoarelivingontheedge. Volunteerswerehappytoreportthatsomeclientsaredoingwellnowafterreceivingstimulusmoney,andnolongerneededthechurch'sassistance.They'vebeenabletopaytheirConsumersEnergybillsaswellascatchuponbackrent.Someevenrefusedthegiftcardandsaidtogiveittosomeonewhomayneeditmore.WesoappreciatethehardworkofourHONvolunteers.Theyareablessingtothechurchandthecommunity!

KalamazooServiceProject,July27-31OurannualASPmissiontripwascanceledforthesummerof2020duetoCOVID-19.Toreplacethistimeofmissionforouryouth,wewillbeparticipatinginasimilarpartnershipwithdowntownKalamazooorganizationsthatwearecallingtheKalamazooServiceProject!Wewillalsoserveourchurchbydoingsomerepairsandpainting.PastorsJulieandMattwillleadthisweekofservicewiththehelpof22youthand17adults.Pleasekeeptheminyourprayers!