April 2008 Newsletter

April 13th
9:00 & 10:45 a.m.

Mary Lou Smith will be our special mission speaker from Erie United Methodist Church. Her scripture passage will be I Peter 4:10.

The presentation will center on a Volunteers In Mission (VIM) trip to Biloxi, Mississippi, where they worked on homes that had been damaged during hurricane Katrina. She will also address the opportunities for local mission projects such as serving meals at local homeless shelters. Also included is a power point presentation.

She has been an active member of her church and currently serves as Social Action chairperson for the Ann Arbor District UMW mission team.

 **~**~**~**~

April 27th

9:00 & 10:45 a.m.

The Rev. Tom Macaulay will lead our Sunday worship while Pastor Alice is attending General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. Tom is currently serving as Ann Arbor District Superintendent and has officiated at our annual charge conference each fall since coming to Ann Arbor. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend one (or both) services.

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Pastor’s Page

GENERAL CONFERENCE, April 22-May 2, 2008
 Fort Worth, Texas
 
This is a year when you can learn much about the United Methodist Church and how it works. The word “conference” and “conferencing” are good Methodist terms. We do a lot of it. The Church Council meets monthly to conference regarding our local church program. Every year our district superintendent comes to hold a “church charge conference,” where we set goals and elect our administrative teams for the year.

The Detroit Annual Conference is one of 63 annual conferences in the U.S. (There are 34,892 local churches in the U.S., and 8,141,078 professing members). The Annual Conferences usually gather only one time a year, at this level there is clergy and lay member representation, much like how congress works. Here we vote on the ordination of clergy, and determine the outreach, spiritual and educational programs of the conference, along with the budgets to support them.
 
However, we are a global church by design, not by choice. Today we see that evidenced by the 59 annual conferences outside the United States—with more than 6,900 churches and more than 1.8 million members---all dedicated to the ministry of Jesus Christ. Therefore, every four years there is a General Conference where over 1,000 delegates, from all over the world, come together to “conference.”

The elected delegates of the General Conference defines and fixes the conditions, privileges and duties of church membership, the powers and duties of clergy, annual conference, and all areas of the church. It is the Voice of the United Methodist Church.

I will attend General Conference this year as a witness for the Rural Church Fellowship. Rural Fellowship petitions the conference in regard to the needs of small membership churches. I will assist in providing information to the delegates.

Please keep our United Methodist Church in prayer as we move toward these important events that guide our ministry in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
 
Pastor Alice

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Covenant Mission Offering

 Noisy (MISSION) Offering, March 30th

Jesus said to Simon Peter
"Do you love me?"
         "Yes."
              "Feed my lambs.” (John 21:15)

 For Christians, a covenant is seen as an instrument by which we are bound to God and to each other. We are called to maintain our covenants, as the covenant of God is maintained with us. Our covenants with the Methodist Church of Haiti and with the United Methodist Church of Liberia call us to support each other with our prayers, our presence, and our continuing financial support.
 
The Haiti Hot Lunch Program provides a hot lunch for nearly 20,000 children attending Methodist supported schools in Haiti. For many, this is their only food for the entire day. Children attend school 180 days, and the cost of the meals average 50¢ each.

Bishop Judith Craig Children’s Home: this institution provides a safe and nurturing haven for children orphaned by war, abandoned, death of parents due to HIV-AIDS, or extreme economic difficulties.

On Sunday, March 30th, we will receive your gift which will be taken to Annual Conference in May as our church’s "Covenant Offering". Our gift will be divided with half going to each of the above purposes. We pray that as we learn more about our sisters and brothers, God’s Spirit will sensitize us, guide us, and empower us to fulfill Christ’s command to "feed my lambs".
 
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THE DETROIT ANNUAL CONFERENCE
 1969 to 2008

North Lake United Methodist Church is in the Ann Arbor District of the Detroit Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. In 1969, The Methodist Church merged with The Evangelical United Brethren Church, and in our area the Detroit Annual Conference was born. We are 40 years old this year.
 
The Michigan Area is divided into two Annual Conferences. West Michigan Conference takes in the western side of the mitt. The Detroit Conference takes in the whole of the Upper Peninsular and churches on the east side of the mitt. (Hwy 52 divides them and has churches dancing on either side of the road. Salem Grove is in Detroit Conference, while Webberville is in West Michigan Conference.) Both are served by the same bishop.
 
In 1969, there were 768 clergy members in our conference and 182,203 members in our local churches. However, in 2007 the Detroit Conference reported having 746 clergy and 100,384 members. I do not have West Michigan statistics, but they reflect similar loss.
 
In 2004, the Detroit and West Michigan Conferences voted to appoint a task force to explore ways the two conferences could cooperate in ministry together. Over the last four years, exploring many options, it was decided that to provide the best quality of ministry for our churches, the two conferences needed to become one. Our own Sandy Eisele has been a part of this team that has moved the conferences forward to this time.

Special Session of Detroit Conference Called – April 5, 2008

 Therefore, on April 5, there will be a special called session in Lansing, Michigan of both the Detroit and West Michigan Annual Conferences to make this important decision. They have decided NOT TO MERGE, but the vote will be whether to CREATE A NEW ANNUAL CONFERENCE or not.
 
On Sunday, March 30th during Fellowship Time, we will discuss this event with you who are interested. The proposed name for the new conference is The Great Lakes Annual Conference. Another first time ever for North Lake Church: At this special called session your “little” church will have four members attending with voting rights. Every church has one clergy (Alice) and one Lay member (Annette). But in addition, for this one time only we will also have Marilyn Jachalke serving as a Member-at-Large for the Ann Arbor District and Sandra Eisele as a member of the MATT team. This is historically a very proud moment in time. Please have this event high on your prayer list in the coming days.

Pastor Alice



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 Liberia Task Force News

You are invited!  We are very happy to announce that we have an upcoming visit from Rev. Nelly Wright, former District Superintendent of the St. John River District in Liberia, who has now been named the new Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries for the Liberia Annual Conference.  She will be in Michigan May 3-May 10. 

All of our district churches are invited to attend a potluck supper at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 4th, 2008 at Milan Marble Memorial UMC, 8 Park Street in Milan, where we will share a meal, and then hear Rev. Wright speak. For more information contact Marilyn Jachalke.

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Of Cabbages and Kings

Be ye Doers of the Word

“Be ye doers of the word, and not merely hearers”. Such advice can be misunderstood. The Pharisees of Jesus time were neither the first nor the last who based their relationship with God on their own ability to do what God required. By contrast, James does not moralize and urge us to be better through our own power. It is God who empowers us to control our speech and anger. God guides us through the word of truth. A loving God draws us into a relationship with God; that is the gospel, the good news.

The good news not only saves but guides our behavior as saved persons. As the Gospel of James would say, the perfect law brings freedom from sin but also mirrors the soul, reflecting those areas that need improvement. Those persons who do the word (that is, obey the gospel) look into the law and do not forget what they see and they change their lives accordingly. Such doers are blessed by God, as Jesus said “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it”. (Luke 11:28).

This discussion of hearing and doing serves as a corrective to the “cheap grace” practiced by some in the church today. Salvation by grace does not mean that moral standards are lower for Christians. Jesus calls his disciples to a higher standard of righteousness (Matt. 5:20). In James day, as well as ours, some have deceived themselves into thinking they are saved just by hearing the words of salvation. James reminds us that grace requires an ACTIVE response. That response includes control of the words we speak, care for those in need, and rejection of the world’s standards.

Be ye Doers of the Word:

Excerpts taken from: The Upper Room Disciplines

Shalom:

Gordon Knight, Co-Lay Leader


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Thank You
 
Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness and very special kindness for the prayer shawl. Love to all.

Lauretta Sockow

~**~**~

Dear Pastor Alice and the North Lake Congregation
Thank you so much for the beautiful prayer shawl blessed for our daughter Breanne. We are happy to report she is now doing very well. We will forever be grateful for all of the thoughts and prayers for her during her time of need.

Best wishes to all,
Adrianne & Jeff Dolph

~**~**~

Dear Methodist Church members,
Thank you for the lovely Prayer Shawl. I appreciate the congregation praying for my successful surgery. Besides being such a thoughtful gift and functional – it is beautiful and my favorite color. All of the prayers paid off – the operation went well so now we wait to hear about the next procedure.

Sincerely, Mary Murphy (Dawn Brennan’s mom)

~**~**~

Dear Friends at North Lake UMC
It was good to be with you again to renew our friendship with you all. We are grateful for your honorarium and we hope you like our gift of the Charles Wesley plate.
Hopefully we will be able to share in worship with you when we next visit Michigan.

May God Bless you all,
Love, Jack & Heather Bates

~**~**~

Dear Friends,
Thank you for the donation of 24 pounds of paper products and toiletries, and 152 pounds of food. As one of our volunteers, who was here at the time said, “What a blessing.” What a wonderful way to share with others in the community. You have a great and generous congregation.

Sincerely,
Evelyn Kay and Stockbridge Community Outreach

~**~**~

Egg Supper Thanks
Thank You to everyone who participated in the 132nd Annual Egg Supper. Management would like to thank every individual who devoted their time, energy, and resources to make this a successful event. We had many new faces and look forward to your participation in the coming year.

Gordon Knight

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Christian Believers Class
In our group we recently discussed the doctrine of worship.


What is worship? 

What does the Bible say about Worship?

David Knisely has written these words in response to the lesson:


Worship
Worshipping God in spirit and truth
Is what we should seek to attain.
Biblical worship involves the whole person;
Knowing God is the ultimate gain.
Worship involves communion,
Baptism, rejoicing and prayer.
Approaching God can be public
Or a quieting private affair.
Worship patterns change
Just as cultural patterns evolve.
Whether praising with organ or drum,
Honoring God is our main resolve.
Because we the church believe
God desires our worship and prayer,
I will seek, in spirit and truth,
Since I know I am in God's care.


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 Bishop Jonathan Keaton reminds us:

Whenever United Methodism has had a clear sense of mission, God has used our Church to save persons, heal relationships, transform social structures, and spread scriptural holiness, thereby changing the world. In order to be truly alive, we embrace Jesus’ mandate to love God and to love our neighbor and to make disciples of all peoples.” ¶121, p.88, 2004 Book of Discipline


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Worship Committee News

 Special Music in April

April Events
April 6 – Native American Sunday. This Sunday recognizes the contributions of Native Americans to society. A special offering that day helps fund Native American ministries, the Urban Initiative, and seminary scholarships.

April 27 – Festival of God’s Creation is celebrated on a Sunday near Earth Day. Earth Day has been an annual event, since 1970, for people around the world to celebrate the earth and renew our commitment to building a safer, healthier and cleaner world for all of us.
 
Dawn Brennan, Worship Committee Chair

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United Methodist Men

Saturday, April 12th
9:00 a.m. (note time change)

Last month there were 23 men at the March breakfast (another record breaking attendance). Thanks to Floyd Boyce who brought several newcomers with him. We are meeting at a new time, 9:00 a.m. Join us for a full Irish breakfast in the Fellowship Hall. Don’t miss this opportunity to get to know the men of the church and join us in making a difference in the community. Bring your sons along, and make it a father/son event.

Gordon Knight

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United Methodist Women

Dates to keep in mind:

District/Conference Dates note:  The coffee at fellowship time between services is provided by the UMW.  Please check out the selection of different flavored Fair Trade coffees, teas, and cocoa available on the Mission Table
 
Sandy Eisele

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Education

C.O.O.L. J Sunday school

9:00 a.m. Sunday Mornings

April 6  - Wrap up of The Triumphant Entry
March 13  - Begin the new spring rotation 3000 More

**~**~**~**~

Puppet Team
headed by Diane Tandy  & Ann Beyer meets from 6-7:15 p.m. on Wednesdays. 

April 16, 23, 30  
                    A special performance of Stand Firm will be presented by the Puppet Team at the UMW Spring Tea on May 3rd.

Any questions call Diane Tandy

 **~**~**~**~

Adult Sunday School  
         will begin “The Gospel According to Peanuts” after Easter at 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.  No reading or homework – just come and share.

 **~**~**~**~
Graduation Sunday, June 1st 
           We are looking for graduates (high school, college, trade schools) so we can honor you on June 1st. Contact Danna Segrest or the Church Office

 **~**~**~**~

Vacation Bible School needs: large and small paper rolls from empty paper towel & toilet paper. 

 **~**~**~**~
Education Committee meeting: Wednesday, April 16 at 7:15 p.m.


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 Youth volunteer at Food Gatherers

March 19th members of our youth group volunteered at Food Gatherers in Ann Arbor. Monica Higman set up this mission for us to help out those in need of food. Food Gatherers is a non-profit food distribution center that receives from grocery stores and shops. They then sort and package what they get to send out to soup kitchens and food banks.

We broke bread into pieces to dry and packaged already dried bread for stuffing.

There were 10 North Lakers who went and we all found the 2 hours spent there fun and felt good helping out. The were Monica, Jacob and Kevin Higman; Mary and Liz Boyce; Danna and Reeve Segrest, Barb and Nathan Obenchain Diane Tandy

Danna Segrest, reporter

Youth at Food Gatherers in Ann Arbor
Reeve Segrest, Jacob Higman, Nathan Obenchain and Liz Boyce at 1 Carrot Way (formerly Kappler’s Packing)

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MISSION CELEBRATION EVENT

Weekend of April 10 through April 13

Upcoming Mission Trips. . . 
November 7 – 14, 2008 You’re invited to the fall VIM trip with the Haiti School project. The team will visit several sites and meet people in various settings. If you would like to join the Haiti School Project team as we work and worship with our Haitian partners in missions, contact Curtis Bartz email

Leaving March 22, 2008 Rebuilding the Gulf Coast - Mary Peterson from the First United Methodist Church in Birmingham is leading a team. Dulac is located outside the city of New Orleans, and has suffered greatly from both hurricanes and poverty. We plan to leave the Saturday before Easter and celebrate Easter Sunday at a church in the town where we stop overnight. The team is open to 14-20 people to be rebuilding and doing new construction. Contact Mary Peterson email

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Births

Breanne Marie Dolph, daughter of Adrianne and Jeffrey, born on February 25, weighed 7 lbs and 9 ½ oz, and was 21 inches long. Maternal grandparents are Mike and Karen Baize and great grandmother is Mary Baize.


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WORSHIP
Part 2 of a 4 part series

In a great many Protestant congregations, there are four movements of worship:
In this month’s newsletter, the second movement is more fully described.

SHARING THE WORD

During the Gathering, we prepared ourselves for worship and gathered as the family of God. Now we settle in to hear God’s word for us today. Rather than merely sitting back and listening, the congregation brings its own story as a community and the stories of each of its members as part of the whole Christian story. The gathering people listen to God’s word for them today as they hear the stories of God’s people from the past. This listening is not passive but active. It is participatory – a doing, an action. We believe that we gather as the church to do worship – not merely to observe what is happening up front.

The Readings
Worship is often filled with words. Silence gives us time to ponder what has happened, to catch up with the flow of worship, to think about what we have heard, and to listen for the whisper of God’s spirit in our hearts. Moments of silence before and/or after the readings can deepen the impact of the words and give us time to absorb and accept the call of Christ upon us.

Ordinarily the first reading is from the Old Testament. Many congregations use the term “Hebrew Scriptures” instead of “Old Testament.” Often readers end with “The Word of God for the people of God,” to which the people respond “Thanks be to God.” Consistency is important, so that the people come to know the response by heart. A psalm is suggested to follow the first reading. The psalms were written for singing. They work best as the congregation’s response when the psalms are sung by everyone or responsive.
 
The second reading usually comes from the letters or epistles of the New Testament. The writings of the developing church are ready for instruction and inspiration.

The Gospel is next. In some traditions, people stand for the reading of the Gospel to honor the importance of these texts to our Christian faith. In other congregations, members prefer to honor all parts of scripture in the same way. Local tradition and preferences should guide.

Long historical precedence has established the pattern of readings just described. The flow is toward the Gospel, the central witness to Jesus Christ.

The Sermon
After the bible readings are concluded, the preacher explores their meaning for those gathered today. The sermon is one of the greatest challenges in making worship more participatory. The sermon should be simple in structure and accessible to all. The sermon must address the real concerns listeners face. The sermon is an interpretation of scripture that offers insight into God’s will for our lives. The goal is to bring the text alive in ways that are meaningful to daily life – and to listeners of all ages.

Many liturgical scholars and worship leaders believe that the entire worship event should include all people present as much as possible, regardless of age. Therefore, a “Children’s Sermon” or “Time with Children” is not mentioned as a separate part of worship. There is no better way for children to learn about worship and to know it as a vital and important part of Christian life than by being present and participating in the whole of it. Children will not understand everything that is said or nor should everything be simplified for them. By consciously attempting to make all of worship more approachable to various ages, our worship is far more inclusive. People of all ages need a variety of stimuli to gain the greatest experience from worship. Lively, singable songs, color and pictures, other visual expressions of the worship theme, such as motions as clapping or raising hands when singing or walking forward to communion all aid in our praise and prayer and engage children and youth in action. Children can contribute regularly to worship in a variety of ways (teach songs, offer artwork, carry symbols). Too often, children’s participation in worship is identified as a special event.

Response
Having heard the word of God proclaimed in readings, song, and sermon, the people are invited to respond in faith. Responses may include: a first commitment to Christ which may be followed by baptism, confirmation or reception of new members, reaffirmation of faith, installation and recognition of new officers, services of healing, consecration or dedication services, mission or reconciliation commitments, silent reflection or spoken expressions, apostle’s creed or another creed. Usually communal, this response reaffirms the corporate nature of our worship after the more reflective act of listening to the sermon. What is important is that we should actively respond to the Word read and proclaimed. Ultimately, we respond by following in the path of discipleship and receiving the grace offered.
Taken from The Work of the People by Marlea Gilbert.
The elements in the Sharing the Word also follow the United Methodist Book of Worship

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 Miscellaneous Donation Items

As many of you know, I will be moving to South Carolina the last week of May. Although I will miss all of my friends at North Lake Church, it is time for me to move on to the next chapter of my life.

In doing so, I have several items at my apartment that I need to dispose of. All of these items have been well used, but still could have some value for students, needy families, etc. If you or someone you may know could use any of these items, please contact me. Thank you!

Bette Roth

Loveseat – black/white stripes
Small rocking chair/ottoman
2 end tables (could use refinishing)
Wood dinette set w/four chairs
Wicker chest
Small canvas chair
TV/stereo cabinet (small-black)
Stereo speakers
Microwave
Sewing machine
Lamps
Coffee maker
Miscellaneous dinnerware

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"Super Tuesday"  Tornado recovery

United Methodist Committee On Relief's early response teams have been hard at work removing debris caused by the devastating tornadoes that struck five southern states on "Super Tuesday" Feb. 5. UMCOR will now assist in long-term recovery to help rebuild homes and lives in the Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee areas.

 The tornadoes were considered to be the worst outbreak in nearly 25 years. Dozens of people were killed and thousands of homes were destroyed. Help us rebuild by giving to Domestic Disaster Response — "Super Tuesday" Tornadoes, UMCOR Advance #901670   note that this is a secure link directly to the General Board of Global Ministries. You may also contribute through the offering plate at church.

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Together we can make a Difference

Raise money for North Lake UMC!
Together we can work to make a difference in our church. It's easy, just save UPC barcodes for cash. When we receive the checks, the church is free to spend the money any way we want.

Save Our Family UPC barcodes.... It's that easy!

Just save the barcodes from Our Family products (at both Country Market and Polly's Stores). Your church earns $25.00 in cash for each bundle of 500 UPC barcodes sent to us. There is a container in the Grange Hall. Thanks!

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E-mail Addresses
wanted for:
Send your email address to church email address.

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The Official Church Calendar is on the office wall.

Each committee is responsible for recording all dates of meetings and events.
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Wanted: Church Keys

If you have a church key that you no longer use, please return it so it can be given to current church officers and teachers

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PRAYER CHAIN
Many of our church families participate in the North Lake Prayer Chain. The Chain goes into action when there is a need for prayer. Bob Burrows is the Chair of the Prayer Chain. Calls go to him, and from that six calls are made to activate the chain in six directions.

The prayer chain is a good way to be involved in prayer ministry. If you are not a part of the Prayer Chain, we invite you to sign up today. If for any reason you no longer wish to be a part of the chain, you may ask to be removed from your obligation to it. For more information, contact Bob Burrows.
-- --- -- --

E-Mail Prayer Chain!
What a wonderful way to extend our prayer ministry. If you are interested in receiving prayer requests and joys by e-mail so you can be a part of a vital ministry, please let Pastor Alice know. You can e-mail her at: pastor's email

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The church's email address: contact@northlakeumc.org.
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The Sunday School hour is the most wasted hour of the week -- for the people who aren't there.
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