The Messenger May 2016

The Messenger
May 2016
OTW NEWS
Book Time!
It’s Book Time!! We will once again
be giving every one of our 385 little friends at
Hamilton ECC a
book of their
very own to take
home with them
this summer. We
will be selling the
books in the library Sunday, May
8 and May 15 from 9-9:30am, and
immediately following church. The
books are $2.00 each and we encourage you to sign the books you
buy if you’d like.
Upcoming Events
May 15 — Youth Sunday
May 22 — Music
Appreciation Sunday
May 29 — Pulpit Exchange
St. Paul’s United
Methodist Church
3334 Breton Road, S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Phone: (616) 949-0880
Email:
grstpaulsumc@gmail.com
Website:
www.grstpaulsumc.org
Thank You Luncheon
Come one! Come All!! The staff at
Hamilton ECC has
invited everyone
from St. Paul’s for a
“thank you luncheon”
Friday, May 6 at
12pm at Hamilton. This is for anyone who volunteers in any way,
donates teachers supplies in the
fall, or prays for our friends there.
Please sign up at the OTW table
and plan to attend.
Hurting World
St. Paul’s youth, together with Wyoming Park and Grandville UMC
youth, will travel to Nashville, TN in June, where they will be engaged
in a project called “Week of Hope.” Youth will “live as Jesus did,” serving
meals to the homeless, work with disabled children, and share stories
with elderly. Mission experiences are indelibly imprinted in the fond
memories of young people. Furthermore, mission trips are an inspiring
source for building lifelong Christian ideologies. Please consider giving
generously in support of this important piece of education for our youth.
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The Messenger
WHAT is General Conference?
General Conference is the top policy-making body of The United Methodist Church.
The purpose of this gathering is to determine the future direction, goals, and mission focus of our global
denomination. The conference can revise church law, as well as adopt resolutions on current moral, social, public policy and economic issues.
Discussion on the floor of General Conference will encompass budget items, global church governance
models, and the ordination process. They will also spend several days debating hot button issues including: gun violence, homosexuality, and immigration. The result of every General Conference is a revised
edition of the United Methodist Book of Discipline and Social Principles.
WHO can participate in General Conference?
A diverse and representative body of 850 clergy and lay delegates attend General Conference (in person)
to share their voice and vote. There are also 2,000+ guest visitors including Bishops, caucus organizations, church staff, media, and UMC groupies. You can participate by going online to watch the Live
Stream video feed of all legislative and worship services: http://www.umc.org/who-we-are/generalconference-2016-live-video-stream-english
WHERE is General Conference?
Rev. John Wesley convened the first General Conference on December 24, 1784 in Baltimore, Maryland.
This “meeting of the minds” established Methodism in America, as well as much of the denominational
polity that is still in place today.
Since 1784, the location of General Conference has moved all over the continental United States. The
next General Conference is in Portland, Oregon.
WHEN is the next General Conference?
May 10-20, 2016.
WHY does General Conference matter?
General Conference provides an organizational framework for the United Methodist Church. The governance policies hold our churches accountable to practicing our faith with integrity and purpose. The
worship serves to unite a diverse body of Christ and teaches us to celebrate each person who has encountered God’s grace through our prophetic witness.
March 2016 Statistical Report
INCOME
EXPENSE
St. Paul’s General Fund Balance
NET (+-)
MARCH
$18,946
$25,048
— 6,101
YEAR TO
DATE
$65,818
$66,818
— 567
Average attendance: March: 91
Budget and Fund report available upon request
SAVINGS
BEGINNING
BALANCE
01/01/2016
YTD
BALANCE
$ 6,976
$ 7,893
NET (+-)
03/31/2016
+ 917
St. Paul’s UMC
Sunday, May 1
Hunger Walk from 12:30-4:00pm. Drop off and pick up at Wyoming Park UMC.
Sunday, May 8
That Thing We Do on Sundays @ Wyoming Park UMC from 12-2pm. Lunch provided.
Sunday, May 15
Youth Sunday & Chili Cook Off @ St. Paul’s UMC from 8:30am-1:00pm.
Wednesday, May 18
Wednesday Night Meal @ Wyoming Park UMC from 4:30-6:30pm.
Sunday, May 22
That Thing We Do on Sundays @ Wyoming Park UMC from 12-2pm. Lunch provided.
Sunday, May 22
Donuts & Dragons. More info coming soon!
Sunday, May 29
Burger Bash @ TBD from 12-2:30pm.
YOUTH SUNDAY AND CHILI COOK OFF
OUR YOUTH ARE
Youth Sunday will take place on May 15. The junior and senior high
students from St. Paul’s, Wyoming Park, and Grandville UMC will be
leading the worship service. We look forward to sharing God’s Word
with you through drama, music, prayer, and several heartfelt testimonies. Immediately following the service, we will be hosting a Chili
Cook Off in the fellowship hall!! You do not have to bring anything but
your appetite. We will have delicious soups, salads and dessert ready
for you to enjoy. We do hope you will make a donation to our youth
mission trip in June to Nashville, TN.
We are hoping to raise enough money so
that all our youth can participate in this
9 day service trip, and invite you to give
as you are able and as you feel called to
support our ministry.
HUNGRY...AGAIN!
ENVELOP US WITH LOVE!
Our Youth are hungry again! To provide a meal go to:
Takethemameal.com, Username:
youth; Password: youth. Or contact
Bill Cummings at
williamcumings@outlook.com.
help you with that tedious errand
and earn some money along the way.
In June the youth are going on a
Please remember to check for the MI
summer mission trip to the Music
City, Nashville, Tennessee! We need 10 cent deposit, remove lids and
rinse out the cans and bottles before
our church family to “Envelop us
with Love!” Please consider making depositing them in the green cona donation to help kick off our 2016 tainer located in the coat room.
fundraising campaign. Check out the Thank you for your support!
PINK FLAMINGOS
white envelopes on the bulletin
board in the narthex.
The youth group has a flock of 50
POP CAN DRIVE
pink flamingos that are ready to
decorate the lawns of St. Paul’s and
We will be collecting pop cans and
bottles throughout the month. Let us Wyoming Park UMC members this
spring. The ground has thawed and
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that means these beautiful birds will
be everywhere you look! We hope to
run this fundraiser throughout the
months of April, May, and June as
we make our final fundraising push
for the summer mission trip. Please
see Bill Cummings or Pastor Erin for
more information about who to
“flock” your family, friends, and
neighbors. We are happy to make
arrangements for anniversaries,
birthdays, graduations, retirements
and any other special occasion you
can think of to show our youth some
love and support! Thank you!
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
7:15am—AA
9:30am—Worship
10:20am—May Day
Muffins
10:45am—Sunday
7:15am—AA
9:30am—W.B Study
12pm—AA
6:30pm—F.A.
7pm—Stephen Ministry
7:15am—AA
12pm—AA
7pm—SPRC
7pm—Trustees
7:15am—AA
9:30am—Rachel Circ.
12pm—AA
5:45pm—Praise T.
6:30pm—OTW M.
6:45pm—Handbell
7:30pm—Chancel
7:15am—AA
12pm—AA
6:30pm—Mosaic
Worship Meeting
7:15am—AA
12pm—AA
7:15am—AA
8:30am—Methodist
Men Meeting
9am—Spring Clean
Up!
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
7:15am—AA
7:15am—AA
9:30am—W.B Study
12pm—AA
6:30pm—F.A.
7:15am—AA
12pm—AA
7:15am—AA
12pm—AA
1pm—Needlecraft
5:45pm—Praise T.
6:45pm—Handbell
7:30pm—Chancel
7:15am—AA
10am—Caregivers
12pm—AA
6pm—John Knox Vol.
6:30pm—Mosaic
Worship Meeting
7:15am—AA
9am—Brunch Bunch
12pm—AA
7:15am—AA
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
7:15am—AA
7:15am—AA
9:30am—W.B Study
12pm—AA
6:30pm—F.A.
7:15am—AA
12pm—AA
7pm—Mosaic
Women’s Bible Club
7:15am—AA
12pm—AA
5:45pm—Praise T.
6:45pm—Handbell
7:30pm—Chancel
7:15am—AA
12pm—AA
6:30pm—Mosaic
Worship Meeting
7:15am—AA
12pm—AA
7:15am—AA
25
26
27
28
7:15am—AA
12pm—AA
6:30pm—Mosaic
Worship Meeting
7:15am—AA
12pm—AA
7:15am—AA
School
12:30pm—-Hunger
Walk
9:30am—Worship
10:45am—Sunday
School
Election Site
Mother’s Day
8:30am—Chili Cook
Off!
9:30am—Worship
10:45am—Sunday
Newsletter Articles Due
School
22
23
24
7:15am—AA
7:15am—AA
9:30am—W.B Study
12pm—AA
6:30pm—F.A.
7:15am—AA
7:15am—AA
12pm—AA
12pm—AA
7pm—Church Council 5:45pm—Praise T.
6:45pm—Handbell
7:30pm—Chancel
29
30
31
7:15am—AA
9:30am—Worship
10:45am—Sunday
7:15am—AA
12pm—AA
School
7:15am—AA
9:30am—W.B Study
12pm—AA
6:30pm—F.A.
O.H.W. offering
Memorial Day
9:30am—Worship
10:45am—Sunday
School
Mission Minute
THIS AND THAT
Brunch Bunch will meet on Friday, May
13, at 9am at Bob Evans on Kalamazoo.
All women are welcome! If you have
questions please contact Peg Edvenson @
455-8167 or pedvenson@gmail.com.
Rachel Circle will meet on Wednesday, May 4, at
9:30am in the lounge. Hostess: Sharon Esterley;
Co-Hostess: Gladys Young; Devotions: Peg Cargill;
Response: Bev Gassdorf; Program: Lydia Mulder
will play piano and read scripture.
Spring Clean-Up!
Spring is just around the corner —I think!
Our annual outdoor spring clean-up is
scheduled for Saturday, May 7th from 9:00
am until noon. Everyone is welcome!!
Coffee and doughnuts will be provided.
The Methodist Men will have a short business
meeting at 8:30 am.
John Knox will be collecting summer foods in the
month of May, such as pasta, salad dressings, tuna
fish, juice, etc. As always, any donations are appreciated. Team 2 will volunteer Thursday, May 12 at
5:45pm. If you cannot work, please find a sub from
Team 1.
The Food Pantry is unable to use anything that has
been opened or has expired. Please check before donating. Thank you for all your support!
The Thursday evening Women’s Bible Study is
taking a couple of months off. Watch for our next
study in the messenger and bulletins.
Welcome Desk Plea! Please consider signing up to
help at the welcome desk!! We need more volunteers.
Thank you!!
St. Paul’s People Make me Thankful Because:
Those who work on committees give their time generously and tirelessly. When you check your calendars
before you schedule other life events, and you give
much thought and energy to the goals of our church,
working with the ideas of others can be tedious. Yet in
doing this, you ensure that we are in line with Jesus’
Great Commission. Thank you for your service.
~Marilynn Springman
WHITECAPS GAME!!
Join your friends for a Night at the Whitecaps on Saturday, June 11!
The game starts at 7pm and there will be fireworks at night. Tickets
are $11.00. Please sign up at the welcome desk. If you have any
questions contact Peg Edvenson at, pedvenson@gmail.com
Nonprofit Organization
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Grand Rapids, MI
Permit No. 142
The MESSENGER
St. Paul’s UMC
3334 Breton RD.,SE,
Grand Rapids, MI 49512-2798
(616) 949-0880
Email: grstpaulsumc@gmail.com
Rev. Erin Fitzgerald, Pastor
Change Service Requested
We are on the Web!
www.grstpaulsumc.org
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
OTW
1
Hurting World
1
From the Pastor
2
Just the Facts
2
Youth Events
3
Church Council Summary
4
Calendar
Insert
This and That
Insert
Church Council
Trustees – 1) Glenn Gould sent a report, which Pam Gombert read, regarding the damage done to the brick support and
roof at the main entrance to our building. An estimate to repair the damage is being obtained. An insurance claim was filed
with our insurance provider. The 2 people in the car which caused the damage are now ok. 2) Church members are reminded to turn off all lights, close all interior doors, and lock all exterior doors when leaving the church.
Staff Comments – Erin Fitzgerald reported: 1) Please pray for all who are attending our denomination’s General Conference starting May 10 in Portland, OR. She will share information on live internet streaming of the conference in her May
Messenger article. 2) On Sunday, May 1, a May Day Muffin event will occur for St. Paul’s and Mosaic Church members to
meet each other between the 2 worship services. Please be sure to meet a new person that day. People will be encouraged
to wear their nametags. 3) Four young female pastors, including Erin, were able to spend a day with our bishop 2 weeks
ago. 4) Erin celebrates our church’s ongoing ministries for children, youth and music. Children’s Sabbath on Apr. 24 went
well. Youth and Music Sundays will be in May.
Worship – Sharon Gould: 1) Youth Sunday is May 15. Music Sunday is May 22. 2) We need to remember to show hospitality at mid-week church events by welcoming people, having signs directing people to the proper room, etc.
Over the Wall – Roni McNeil: 1) On Thursday, April 21 we hosted about 50 people at a Staff Appreciation Breakfast at
Hamilton. 2) On Friday, May 6 at noon, Hamilton will host a lunch for St. Paul’s congregation. All are encouraged to attend, whether or not you volunteer in a classroom, help with special events there, donate school supplies, or pray for their
students. 3) We will be selling books again this year to give to Hamilton’s 386 students to keep. The sale will be on 2 Sundays - May 8 and May 15 - in the Library. Books will cost $2.00 each.
Missions – The Hurting World Offering for May has been changed to support the youth group’s mission trip to Nashville,
TN. Erin will now be doing mission minutes as part of her announcements at the start of the worship service.
SPRC – Tom Orsborn: 1) They have been reviewing staff job descriptions. Three are complete with one more to be finished. 2) There have been some questions about the hours the custodian and administrative assistant work. Each has a
maximum number of hours per week they can work. Starting May 1, there will be a time clock in the work room which
they will be using. 3) Thanks to Tom Drake for taking Tom Asher’s place on SPRC, since they have moved.
Bible Study Updates – 1) Tom Orsborn and Steve Place, pastor of Mosaic, are looking at starting a men’s Bible study
group in the next month or so. Details aren’t determined yet. 5) The Thursday evening women’s Bible study group is taking
1-2 months off.
Finance – 1) Financial numbers are looking good, partially because of our light winter and lower snowplowing expenses.
Covenant Concerns/Praises – 1) It is good to have more people using our church building. 2) Dave Gombert attends a
men’s fellowship group hosted by Mosaic. He reported that their members have had positive comments and felt welcomed.
3) St. Paul’s members shouldn’t feel that they can’t attend Mosaic events and vice versa. An example given was when some
Mosaic members recently attended our Men’s Auction. (Proceeds of the auction were about $2,800.00)
Miscellaneous – 1) This year’s church directory doesn’t include the Lay Leadership Listing. It was noted that it should be
included in the directory every year, even if there are vacancies when it is published. Printed copies of the 2016 Lay Leadership listing will be put at the welcome desk for members to take. This will be publicized in the bulletin and/or newsletter.
2) There are currently 9 youth going on the mission trip. A member from Mosaic may be going as the female chaperone
that was needed. The meeting adjourned with prayer requests being heard and prayer.