February

2016
The Cross and the Flame
by Faith Hawkins
THE CROSS, symbol of Our
Lord’s sacrifice for all souls.
The Truth; the Word
like an eternal flame living, burning
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
To Grow in our understanding of God
To Grow in our Love for God
To Grow in our commitment and service
To Witness to others about our faith journey
ever in our hearts.
A torch high-held to spread the
news unto all lands to all people.
Inside this issue:
Parson to Person, Announcements,
February Schedules,
Monthly Calendar
***
STAFF
Rev. Gene Bacon, Pastor
pastor@alpenafumc.org
Loretta Beyer, Organist
Wellington Dean,
Heating Maintenance
Jim Hart, Choir Director
Mary Louise Hart, Organist
Sandy Jarmuzewski, Adm. Assistant
office@alpenafumc.org
David Reeves, Custodian
OFFICE HOURS
Monday
8:30 am until 4:00 pm
Tuesday thru Thursday
8:30 am until 3:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am until 12:00 noon
Office: 354-2490 Parsonage: 356-1846
E-mail: office@alpenafumc.org
pastor@alpenafumc.org
Website: www.alpenafumc.org
WZTK 105.7 FM airs service on
Sundays at 11:30 AM
WORSHIP SCHEDULE
10:00 a.m. at the Church
Holy Communion served on the
First Sunday of the month
(See Lent Services Schedule Inside)
FEBRUARY EVENTS
Janet Anderson Bible Class - After Worship
Tai Chi - Saturdays @ 9-10:30 a.m.
Yoga - Noon to 1:15 p.m. Every Tuesday
Ecumenical Class -Tuesdays 7:15 p.m. in lounge
for 14 weeks (ends April)
Hearts to Home - Every Wednesday at noon
Yoga - 8:30am-9:45 am. Every Thursday
Bell Choir - Every Thursday @ 5:30 p.m.
Choir - Every Thursday @ 7:30 p.m.
Alpena Bridge Club Monday 12:45-4 pm 2/1, 2/8
Revision Body Class - 2/3 @6:30 p.m. Lounge
Communion Sunday- 2/7
Shut-In Communion - 2/9
Red Cross Blood Drive - All Day 2/10
Parkinson Support Group - 2/15 @ 1 p.m.
Basket Guild - 2/9 & 2/25 from 6pm to 9 pm
Church Growth Potluck - 2/21 after service
FEBRUARY SPECIAL OFFERINGS
Tin Can -Sunrise Mission 2/14
Hearts to Home Collection 2/28
FEBRUARY MEETINGS
Church Growth - 2/1 @ 6:30 p.m.
JOY Group - 2/3 @ 10 a.m.
SPRC - 2/4 @ 6:30 p.m.
Finance Committee 2/9 @ 3:00 p.m.
UMM 2/9 @ 6:00 p.m.
Worship Committee - 2/11 @6:30 p.m.
Trustees 2/16 @ 6:00 p.m.
Ad Board - 2/16 @ 7:00 p.m.
Staff Mtg. 2/17 @ 9:30 a.m.
150th Anniv. Cmte- 2/9@11 a.m.
First United Methodist Church
167 South Ripley Blvd., Alpena, MI 49707
FEBRUARY 2016
CROSS & flame
PARSON TO PERSON
Lent and Repentance
Lent, the forty day period preceding Easter (excluding Sundays), is almost upon us.
The forty days mirrors the forty days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness prior to beginning
his ministry. Lent comes early this year. The timing of Lent is based upon Easter which the
Church sets as the first Sunday after the first full moon which takes place after the first day of
spring. Since that first full moon comes almost right after the first day of spring this year, both
Easter and Lent come early.
Lent is a penitential period, involving the dual disciplines of abstinence and fasting.
During Lent many Christians commit to fasting or giving up certain foods, habits or luxuries for example meat, cakes and sweets, alcohol, smoking - for its duration (the money saved is
often then donated to charity). This is done both as a form of penitence and as a spiritual tool
to tame the body and 'sharpen the spirit' for prayer, reflection and contemplation in preparation
for the celebration of Easter.
The theme of Lent is often related to repentance. Since the New Testament was written
in Greek and then translated into other languages the Greek words behind our English words
are often quite significant. The Greek word for repentance is metanoia. Literally this refers
to going beyond the mind or a current way of thinking to embrace a new way of thinking or
seeing. The apostle Paul writes that we now have “the mind of Christ” (1Cor. 2:16). If we are
truly repentant, then, we will no longer see or understand the world in the way we did in the
past. We will see things through the eyes of Christ. Once, for example, we would have
judged harshly; now we see persons as children of God, fellow heirs of the Kingdom with us.
We will do everything in our power to reach out in love with the good news of the Gospel.
First United Methodist Church
167 South Ripley Blvd., Alpena, MI 49707
FEBRUARY 2016
CROSS & flame
PARSON TO PERSON
Lent and Repentance (continued)
Many people think repentance means “feeling sorry about something wrong we’ve
done, and intending not to do it again.” Even my granddaughter Aspen understands this. She
will say, “I’m sorry, Grandpa.
I won’t do it again.”
She often does do it again, but
momentarily her intentions are good.
Though repentance means more than contrition and intending to change, contrition is a
good place to start. Unless we see the error of our ways, understand the harm we do to
ourselves and others, and truly intend to change, there is little hope that we will be able to put
on the mind of Christ. To have the mind of Christ means, first and foremost, to humble
ourselves before God.
Once we have done this and made the inner shift from seeing in the old way to seeing
with the eyes of Christ, we will begin to see everything from this new perspective. A secular
person might see a remarkable healing as simply a happy coincidence; with our new way of
understanding, we see the hand of God at work.
I am planning a service on the first Sunday of Lent (Feb. 14) in which I hope to feature
testimonies - testimonies in which persons will share how God has been a source of
strength, healing or comfort. I am looking here for a spiritual perspective that reflects
metanoia – the changed heart and way of looking at the world I’ve been speaking about. If
you have a short testimony you would like to share, please call the Church office.
Lenten blessings,
First United Methodist Church
167 South Ripley Blvd., Alpena, MI 49707
february 2016
Pat and Shirley Brandt - February 27 will be 62 years.
Wes and Helen Smith - February 21 will be 42 years.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
is Souper Bowl Sunday
You may bring cans of soup for this on that day
or well in advance. Please put your cans of soup
on or under the missions table in the hallway.
Thank you!!
HAPPY NEWS!!!!
The Finance Team wishes to inform everyone with some happy
news. Due to the $14,000 reduction in apportionments by the
District, the $8,800 revenue from the sale of pasties, and
all those who put Christ on your Christmas list, we are happy to
report all bills are paid and apportionments are paid in full for the year 2015.
Thanks to all who have made this possible. A special thanks to all who put
Christ on their Christmas list. We appreciate the wonderful response!
A special thanks to Stan and Lois Brockenbrough for spearheading
the making of the pasties. They are instrumental in making sure everything
is ready when the pasty crew comes in to work. Also a special thanks to those
who prepare the pasties and, of course, a special thank you to all of you who
purchase and sell pasties. Thanks be to God for our wonderful church family!
God Bless All -- The Finance Team
JOY FELLOWSHIP will holds its February
meeting on Wednesday, February 3rd at 10 a.m.
in the church lounge. This meeting will be a planning
meeting. Bring ideas for programs and ideas as to what
is of interest to you. Everyone is welcome to attend and
enjoy an hour of fellowship.
First United Methodist Church
167 South Ripley Blvd., Alpena, MI 49707
FEBRUARY, 2016
Our Faith Response
General Fund
1/24/2016
Needed each week
3730
Received for Current Expenses last week
3729
Needed Income Y-T-D
14920
Income Received Y-T-D
12739
Expenses Y-T-D
10978
Difference
1761
*Apportionments Due Y-T-D
0
Apportionments Paid Y-T-D
17160
Due - Not Paid Y-T-D
0
Apportionments Remaining
17160
Apportionments are our fair share of the United Methodist Church's world-wide Ministry and mission, and is
included in our annual budget.
Also Received: Maintenance Fund $13, Bell Choir $5, Hearts to Home $55
WZTK BEHIND $30
THANK YOU!!
C R O S S & FL A ME
HEARTS TO HOME
Hearts to Home income is always appreciated!
Month
Money Collected
# of Families
# of Individuals
# of Items Distributed
October
$149.00
3
9
115
November
$138.00
4
5
70
December
$5.00
8
12
147
January
$170.00
2
2
41
The deadline for submitting
items for the March 2016 issue
is Monday, February 22, 2016 at
4:00 p.m.
BELL CHOIR NEWS
The Bell Choir will be playing three
times in March. March 5th we will be
playing at Living Hope Church. Palm
Sunday we will play at First United
Methodist. We are arranging a visit to
Turningbrook as well for the 12th,
19th or 26th. Pete Rasmussen has
agreed to pull the trailer. Thank you
so much!! We still need help loading
the trailer with 4 tables, 3 cases of
bells and boxes of accessories to go “on
the road” and loading up to bring
those items back to the church. If this
is something you could help with,
please contact Sandy in the office
before March.
3rd - Michele Kirby
5th - Warren Roznowski
Mary Jane Thomson
8th - Cathy Nevins
9th - Scott Wade
10th - Robert Jones
11th - Lori Tucker
13th - Peter Rasmussen
15th - Lillian Haynes
Autumn Pilarski
16th - Christine Milstein
17th - Laura Coleman
18th - Robert Nevins-Brown
19th - Sid Hausding
24th - Mike Major
25th - Linda Kelley
Tom Leavesley
If you are not on the above list and wish
to be, please let the office know.
Year-end statements have been mailed
to all who did not pick them up in their
mailboxes by January 26. Thank you!
FEBRUARY 2016 SCHEDULE
7th 14th 21st 28th -
Greeters
Ray and Gerry Beamish
Pete and Linda Rasmussen
Koproski Family
Marie and Don Witt
7th 14th 21st 28th -
Liturgists
Mickey Strong
Linda Suneson
Don Witt
Patty Kucharek
7th 14th 21st 28th -
Sound
Russ Anderson
Welly Dean
Russ Anderson
Welly Dean
1st 8th 15th 22nd 29th -
Counters
Mike Barnett and Jill Lutes
Pauline Buchner and Don Witt
Bob Strong and Carol Boyer
Connie Ratz and Norma Smith
Norma Smith and Cathy Moore
7th 14th 21st 28th -
Couriers
Bill McConnell
Mike Barnett
Larry Thomson
Gene Smith
CROSS & FLAME
Visitation Team
7th - Welly and Barb Dean
14th - Scott and Amy Koproski
21st - Carl and Carolyn Anderson
28th - Ken and Mary Cook
7th 14th 21st 28th -
Ushers
Dick & Don/Carol Boyer & Family Member
Bev F./Jackie @./Rickie M./Patty K.
Sandy/Gary J/John and Jackie Oliver
Mary, Ken, Zack Cook/Gary J.
3rd 10th 17th 24th -
Hearts to Home
Jill Lutes
Sandy Witkowski
Mary McConnell
Carolyn Anderson
Acolytes
7th - Cassie Anderson
14th - Madison Tolan
21st - Zach Cook
28th - Natalie Koproski
7th 14th 21st 28th -
Nursery
Marc and Jan Simons
Amy and Natalie Koproski
Karen Bacon
Sandy Jarmuzewski
7th
2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2
“ R emoving the Masks ”
We often put on a front for others. Do we ever
feel safe enough to remove the masks?
14th
Luke 4:1-13
Joshua 4:1-7
“ S tone Testaments ”
The ancient Israelites often set up stones as a
way of testifying to divine aid or comfort. How
often do we share with others our stories of
sacred encounters?
21st
Luke 13:31-35
“ H ouses of Desolation ”
Unless we tend our relationship with God, our
spiritual houses can become places of
desolation.
POT LUCK - Starting
February 21 Church
Growth will be hosting a potluck luncheon every third Sunday of the month right after the 10 AM
service. We are asking everyone to attend and bring a dish to pass if you want, but not mandatory.
Help with set-up and clean-up is appreciated. We will pass around a clipboard at the 10 AM service.
You will also able to sign up on the bulletin board outside the sanctuary.
PLEASE CONSIDER SENDING A
SHUT-INS OR ALL OF THEM. THEY
VALENTINE CARD TO SOME OF OUR
WILL SO MUCH APPRECIATE THAT!
A NEW PICTORIAL CHURCH DIRECTORY IS
IN THE PLANNING STAGES FOR OUR
150TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR.
MORE DETAILS TO COME…..
We are now refreshing the Prayer List in the bulletin on a quarterly basis.
If you want someone on the list you must keep the church office updated so your
loved one is not removed. Please give the office the reason for a person remaining
on the list as is done during the Joy and Concerns part of our church service so
the reason can be kept on a list for those on there long-term. Thank you in
advance for the information.
STARTING IN FEBRUARY, CHURCH GROWTH MEETINGS WILL BE HELD
THE 1ST TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 6:30 P.M. EVERYONE IS WELCOME
AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND AND GET INVOLVED.
2016 Ecumenical Lenten Series
Restored in Christ
Date
Host Church
Theme
Preacher
Ash Wednesday
St. Paul Lutheran
Broken Hearts
Sr. Mary Hughes
February 17
Grace Lutheran
Broken Vessel
Rev. Gene Bacon
February 24
First Congregational
Broken Trust
The Very Rev.
February 10
UCC
March 2
Bill McClure
First Presbyterian
Broken Bread
Pastor Shirley
Ross-Jones
March 9
St. Bernard
Broken Promise
Rev. Dr. Bob Case
March 16
First United Methodist
Broken Justice
Pastor Tom Orth
Church
Maundy Thursday
Trinity Episcopal
Rev. Paul Lance
March 24
The offering from the series will be split between Call Us For Help,
Friendship Room at St. Bernard’s and Sunday Supper
at Trinity Episcopal.
6:00 p.m. Soup Supper
7:00 p.m. Service