September Newsletter

FROM THE PASTOR

I want to thank all of you, those who sent cards of congratulations, the gifts and those who in person offered their congratulations. Special thanks to Polly and Martha for planning the party and for all who brought food. There is nothing like a Methodist Potluck Dinner. Thanks Eileen for the Mac & Cheese, you knew it was my favorite food. 

Although the Bishop and cabinet will say that they sent me here, I truly believe that it was God who directed them. You truly are a congregation of Open Doors, Open Minds and Open Hearts. 

Martha, the Owl is now perched on top of the bookcase in the office where it will observe all that goes on without making a noise, thanks Martha and thanks Janet for the, well you said it was not a poem, so I will call it the Poem that was not!! 

“ At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." -Albert Schweitzer . 

May God continue to bless all of you in every way.

Grace and Peace,                                                                                                       

 Pastor Don

Birthdays

                SEPTEMBER

3           Bessie Moore

5           Jack LaRose

8          Matt Bromley

11         Ed Renton

18         Don Bedwell

18         Shirley Reno

20         Phyllis Burge

24         David Jahn

27         Madison Kraatz

28         Ryan Gardapee

28         Shannon Rochon

29         David Hokenson

 Anniversaries

5           David & Judy Jahn

6           Gene & Norma Johnson

8          Tom & Phyllis Burge

14         Robert & Eleanore Weber

20         Randy & Janet Peterson

29         Tom & Marcia Tevelde

Memorial Gifts

Memorial gifts have been given in the names of:

· Kim Bedwell

      *by Arlene Bonner

      *by Janette Markey

· Phil McKay

      *by Janet Helmbold

      *by Bette Jahn

      *by Pete & Bessie Moore

      *by Vic & Sharon Vanderville

      *by Sally Winn

      *by Rev Don & Polly Bedwell

· David Mills

      *by David Hokenson

A big “Thank You” to Shirley Reno for undertaking the training and retraining of the acolytes. Also for preparing the acolyte schedule for 2010-2011.

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Thank you to all that serve on our church committees. Thank you to the members that will be serving on these committees in the future. We couldn’t do it without you!!!

 WANTED:

WANTED: Choir members — whereabouts unknown                         LAST SEEN: Hiding out in the congregation                                      DESCRIPTION: Male and female, young and old, musical and cheerful, may be armed and desperate for a robe                                  REWARD: “Give and you shall receive.”                                              SURRENDER TO: Your friendly choir director

 WOMEN'S NEWS

—Carol Weinert

   Another successful UMW Summer luncheon meeting has come and gone. More than 40 women attended, including several guests from Munising, Newberry, McMillan, and Engadine. Thanks to all who provided the food and entertainment.

    Registration forms are now available for the UMW District Meeting to be held in Menominee Saturday, Oct. 2. A copy with complete information is posted on the UMW bulletin board in the Conference Room or see me to get your copy. If you are planning to attend, get your registration in ASAP as they must be sent to District by Sept. 15. Those in the Reading Program must turn in their completed forms to Mary Prater before that date.

    Also concerning the District meeting, Phyllis Burge reminds us that the "Ingathering Project" for this year has been giving in our local community. For our unit to get credit, you are asked to get the approximate dollar amount you have given since Oct. 2009 to Good Neighbors, St. Vinnies, Voices for Youth, etc. to Phyllis ASAP. Call her at 341-6454 if you have questions.

    There is still time to become a 5-Star Woman for 2010 and be recognized at the District meeting. Information is on the UMW bulletin board or contact  Darlene Pruess for more information.

     Another opportunity to attend a UMW function is the School of the North. This annual event will be held Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 18-19 in Gaylord, MI. This is a great mission learning experience. See Darlene or me (341-4499) for more information if you are interested. Our unit may be able to provide a partial "scholarship" to cover the cost for first-time attendees from our church.

     As to our regular UMW activities, there will be no program at Medicare in September, due to the Labor Day holiday. However, our circle meetings will resume soon. Dates will be included in the church Sunday Bulletin.

 LAY LEADER LINES

Q: In the last newsletter, you said you’d tell us more about the financial aspect of the Board of Trustees. What financial aspect is that?

 A: According to the 2008 Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, The Board of Trustees is synonymous with the board of directors of a corporation. (For legal purposes, the church is incorporated.) As such, this board has responsibilities similar to those of a board of directors, including the acceptance and oversight of bequests and trusts. The Board of Trustees cannot make major financial decisions without consulting other church boards and committees, such as the Finance Committee and the Administrative Council, but it does have the responsibility of working with these other committees in managing the financial resources of the church. In this church, the Board of Trustees received a donation from a church member specifically to use at its own discretion in maintaining and improving church properties. This is not necessarily true for other churches, but has been very helpful to this congregation.

Global Ministries and The United Methodist Church

“And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” —Acts 1:8b

The General Board of Global Ministries, the global mission agency of The United Methodist Church, seeks to be faithful to God’s mission throughout the world.

The Gospel—the Good News of God’s love and gifts of redemption and reconciliation—empowers the work of mission.

Making disciples, building up the church, alleviating suffering, and promoting justice, freedom, and peace are Global Ministries’ mission goals.

Global Ministries seeks, on behalf of The United Methodist Church, to embody the Christian and Wesleyan conviction that all of life is within the promise of the saving, judging reign of God.

UMCOR is currently at work in the following areas: Haiti Emergency, US Disaster Response, Spring Storms, Chile Emergency, and Pakistan Flash Floods.

Please read the thank you for the gift received from our giving….

Dear Friends in Mission: Thank you for your gift in support of the following missionaries and ministries of the General Board of Global Ministries:

Hot Lunch Program in Haiti-$37.50

Bishop Judith Craig Children’s Village in Liberia-$37.50

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Youth Group?

Would you or someone you know be interested in joining a youth group through our church?

Interested adults and youth can call the church at 341-6662

FOR OUR PRAYERFUL CONSIDERATION

Let us continue to lift one another in daily prayer. Here is a prayer guide to help you.

September 5-11

Joseph & Sandi Kolder

Michael, Amy, Logan, Madison Kraatz

Jack & Lynn LaRose

David, Nicole, Christian Lawrence

Devin, Janet, Rylie, Tegan, Gabriel

     Lawrence & Emily Blount

Rudy Lawrence

Donna & Woody Berkompas

September 12-18

Debbie Males & Michael Derrico

Connie Meade

Clara Mersnick

James & Nancy Means

Peter & Bessie Moore

George & Laurie Montgomery

Bill & Donna Morden

Doug, Stacey, Shayna, Maggie

     Morrison

September 19-25

Mary Livingston, Robert & Lynn

   Morrow

Van & Mike Mueller

Greg Mulligan

Jon, Steve, Michael Nagy

Audrey Newborn

September 26-October 2

Trisia Noble

John & Gloria Norrington

Randy, Janet, Ryan, DJ Peterson

Fred & Mary Prater

Darlene Pruess

Ed & Eileen Renton

Michael, Shannon, Samuel, Emma,

    Luke Rochon

 The Information Page

Please keep the following people in your prayers: Steven Lindberg, Jim Troyer, Jim Hagman, Wayne Weaver, David Mills, Doug Finch, Marcus Coldsnow, Kathy Weber, Gayle Tufnell, Emma Tufnell, Cindy King, Gene Johnson, Mae Gilroy, Clara Mersnick and Dorothy Hendricks.

Please remember those serving our country: Keegan Feichtenbiner in Iraq and Greg Mulligan.

We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Patrick Barnett.  (Polly Bedwell’s cousin)

We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of David Mills.

Congratulations to Rev. Don on your graduation!!!

Tentative plans are being made for the start of Sunday School. Please watch the bulletin and website homepage for schedule and details.

                                  A View from the Belfry

How many of you who belong to this church family ever think about the trash? Yes, the trash!! Probably the church’s trash isn’t something you consider very often, is it? Well, did you know that one of our church members has thought about the trash on a regular basis for many, many years? In fact, he did more than think about it; he emptied it! For years, David Hokenson regularly, faithfully put out the trash generated by the church so it would be picked up by the trash collectors as they made their rounds. So what, you say? It’s just the trash, after all. Well, do you know how heavy that trash is when it contains all the potato peelings generated by the pasty crew? It’s HEAVY! And do you know how inconvenient it must have been for Dave to come down to the church, week after week, just to set it out for the trash collectors to pick up? Now, Dave is a very quiet man who doesn’t like to call attention to himself, and he usually dealt with the trash when other people weren’t around. As a result, most church members may not have even known he was doing it. However, as your resident bat, I saw what was going on. Unfortunately, he is not able to perform this service any longer because his back started complaining about those heavy bags of potato peelings. Of course, I’m just a bat, but I think Dave deserves a round of    applause, or at least an expression of your appreciation, for his years of dedication to a job well done!

Lectionary for September 2010

September 5

Jeremiah 18:1-11 Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18               Philemon 1-21             Luke 14:25-33

September 12

Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28                                    Psalm 14                    1 Timothy 1:12-17          Luke 15:1-10

September 19

Jeremiah 8:18—9:1                                      Psalm 79:1-9                1 Timothy 2:1-7      Luke 16:1-13

September 26

Jeremiah 32:1-3, 6-15                           Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16   1 Timothy 6:6-19    Luke 16:19-31