Dear Church Family,
The calendar indicates that it is summer, but all this rain, storming, and cool weather send a different message. But today there is sunshine, there is a hub of rummage sale activity at the church, the kids are in their last week of school, and my triathlon is next week. So I am looking around at all the goodness and thankful for the blessings in my life. Each day I try to choose joy as the attitude to begin the day. But like all humans, everyday we carry joys and concerns in our hearts. Some days the concerns can feel like a storm brewing within us that make living each day with a thankful and joyful attitude all the more difficult. These two scriptures have been sources of strength for me lately:
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in faith, just as you were taught. Colossians 2:6-7
One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filled with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, Master, Master, we are Perishing!” And he awoke and “rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”
Luke 8:22-25
Both of these scriptures have had a special place in my heart lately. Sometimes life feels like a storm:
- My oldest is a senior now (how did that happen?).
- My dad is in need of a new kidney and on a wait list.
- My youngest just received her driver's permit.
- My beloved denomination is in crisis and what will be next is unknown.
- I thought it was 11 years, but it has been 12 years since my uterine and ovarian cancer diagnoses, (I still am sad that my second cousin died of the same cancers during that time and I wrestle with surviving.)
- Too many mass shootings again this year.
These are just a few of the things that fill my heart and if I let it, they can create a storm of emotions and anxiety. The reality is we all have similar lists. My list is not greater than yours. Your list is different. Maybe a few items are similar, but we all have things that can overwhelm our lives and our faith if we allow it.
|
|
One year for our wedding anniversary I decided to surprise Damon and hire a captain to take us out for a sunset sail on Lake Erie. I packed dinner and drinks, took a light blanket, and off we went for his first time on a sailboat. Well it was probably not the greatest idea to go out on the minimum six foot swells. While I loved the waves and was calm, Damon did not have the same joy. Once we named it and focused on other blessings we both enjoyed the sail a bit more. I know my dream of owning a sailboat died that night, but our ability to work through scary things strengthened our relationship. We each handled the literal storm in different ways. One was not better than the other, just different. The sailing ended well because we both acknowledged that fact and did not judge one another. We can even laugh about the event and one another’s response to the storm.
We both bring strength and courage to our relationship to help with the everyday journey through life. I am am thankful that he is my life partner, but it is nothing compared to the strength I get from walking with Christ. Everyday it is a choice to welcome Christ into my day, and when I do, it makes the storms that do come calm down a bit. Christ by my side gives me the courage and strength to move through even the tough things that fill my heart and head. Walking with Christ does not mean that everything turns out perfectly, nor does it mean that I will never get overwhelmed, but my faith in Christ helps to remind me that I am not alone, that it is ok to lean on Christ, it is ok to allow the people that God sends to help with the journey, that I need to pay attention to the Holy Spirit surrounding me when I need it most, and that there is always hope.
This summer during worship we will be walking with Jesus. We will learn about the different places and cities where Jesus traveled during his time on earth and we will discovered how his love and grace were poured out in each place. I have not yet traveled to the Holy Land so I am really excited to learn more about those special places where Jesus' ministry unfolded.
May we all recognize the storms in our lives and invite Jesus to calm the chaos. May we all look around the church family of which we are a part and see the blessings in one another. May we all breathe in and welcome the Holy Spirit and increase our faith as we enjoy this summer and walk with Jesus.
|
|
Love and Peace in Christ,
Rev. Mary
|
|
Outdoor Worship Service – July 14
This year our outdoor worship service will be held on Sunday, July 14. We will have only one service that day at 10:00 am and it will be outdoors at the McHattie Park gazebo. At this service we will welcome home our Mountain T.O.P. youth mission team and they will share with us the ways they saw God in Tennessee. Come a few minutes early for an old-fashioned hymn sing. Because it’s been such a big hit, we will have popcorn and water. We also hope to have a couple tents this year for those who don’t wish to sit in the sun. Wear comfortable clothing, bring a lawn chair, and plan on attending this special day!
|
|
Start Your Day at the
Summer Café
All Summer Long!
This summer, coffee and light refreshments will be served outside of Fellowship Hall at the
Summer Café
in Room 119 from 9:15 - 10:00 am. All are welcome in between the worship services! Please stop by and start your day by catching up with friends! Please sign up on the kiosk if your family is willing to help serve coffee one Sunday this summer.
|
|
Mission of the Month:
God's Country Cooperative Parish
|
|
As South Lyon First UMC prepares to send another team of over 20 people to the Upper Peninsula to serve GOD’S COUNTRY COOPERATIVE PARISH, the Mission Team also designates the ministries of GOD’S COUNTRY as July’s Mission of the Month.
GOD’S COUNTRY COOPERATIVE PARISH is 7 churches in four counties that banded together to survive and thrive where resources are miles apart in an area of harsh winters, low employment opportunities, and poverty levels above national and state averages. Randy Hildebrandt, who leads GOD’S COUNTRY, frequently visits each community, helping to assess the needs of the people that make up the communities, to assure that they remain a cohesive unit for support, encouragement and ministry.
|
|
Persons needing assistance can turn to GOD’S COUNTRY for food, clothing, transportation for medical purposes, home repairs and enhancements. These home repairs and enhancements are a focus of OUR CHURCH when sending a team up there in July of each year. The teams have completed plumbing and electrical repairs, replaced hot water heaters, installed a washer and dryer, built ramps for wheelchair accessibility, done painting and roofing to keep homes and churches protected from the harsh elements, and sewing and other projects as assigned. Beyond this physical presence the team is there interacting with residents of the area as living proof of God’s love and caring.
Through ongoing support from our church and others, last year much work was done inside and out on the new GCCP Ministry Center, a recently purchased former elementary school. The renovation is nearly complete. The Ministry Center has greatly expanded the capabilities of GOD’S COUNTRY by providing office space for staff, dormitory space for interns/mission teams, and expanded food, clothing and other outreach programs.
Your gifts to GOD’S COUNTRY COOPERATIVE PARISH will help this program to keep providing leadership, materials, and proof of God’s love through a physical and spiritual presence of Christians living out Matthew 25:40, “Truly, I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” And, from the apostle Paul, Philippians 2:4, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
|
|
Wednesday Women's Bible Study
The Wednesday Women’s Bible Study will start up again on September 11, 2019. We meet in the Middle School classroom (rm 116) from 9:30-11 am. This year we will be looking at the apostle Paul. The only book you will need is your Bible. You might want to bring a pen or pencil if you care to take notes. I will have handouts. We will be reading parts of: The Acts of the Apostles, as well as those letters in the bible written by Paul and those attributed to Paul. If you have any questions contact Jill Woodward at: 517-304-8791.
|
|
Upcoming Opportunities for Men
•
“First Saturday Breakfast” 7:30 - 9:00 am
July 6
th
in the Friendship Room: Join us for a tasty breakfast followed by a fascinating program. Bob Devereaux will tell us about his beekeeping hobby and the global crisis facing bees. Rumor has it there may be some sweet samples!
|
|
• Every Tuesday morning: devotion, prayer and breakfast 6:30 am in the Parlor
•
The Tuesday night weekly study group is taking a summer break.
•
We have a talent auction workday at Ann Randolph’s house beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 29
th
. We have a long list of projects to complete. Sign up on the kiosk or Ignite bulletin Board. Lunch provided.
•
Congratulations to our 2019 Men in Ministry Award winners: Shannon Boals (Leadership), Andrew Liskey and Justin Poiner (Youth Leadership), Henry Schlusler (Service), Bill Murphy (Lifetime Achievement), and Joe Garber (President’s)!
|
|
Travel to the Holy Land
November 11-19, 2020
Have you ever dreamed of traveling and seeing the places where Jesus was in ministry while he walked on this earth? This year as summer worship plans began to unfold, the focus is all about walking with Jesus through Israel. Once again, I found myself longing to actually go and put my feet on the ground in Israel, see the sights, smell the smells, and hear the sounds as a way to make the scriptures come even more alive. So I contacted one of church members, Ed McKenna who is a travel agent that plans these kinds of faith journeys. There are brochures available at the kiosk and an information meeting will be held on September 15th at 12 p.m. I would love to travel there with our church family as we study scripture and experience the culture of the area as we spend 9 days sightseeing in places like Jaffa, Caesarea, Nazareth, Cana, Tiberias, Seas of Galilee, Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum, Golan Heights, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Mount of Olives, just to name a few. Hope to travel to the Holy Land with you. - Rev. Mary
|
|
Vacation Bible School 2019
CALLING ALL KIDS!
TO MARS AND BEYOND! JULY 29-AUG 1
Ages 4-Fifth Grade
9am-Noon: Bible Stories, Crafts, Science Projects, Music and Outdoor Fun.
REGISTER NOW
HERE
and tell all your friends!
Adult and Teen Volunteers Needed! Sign up on the kiosk or the Ignite bulletin board.
For more information contact Lynnette Conner (conner.lynnette@sbcglobal.net) or Erin Petricca (emtopharm@yahoo.com).
|
|
Summer Lunch Program
Have you ever gone into the kitchen, maybe out of boredom or because there was a little tingle in your tummy, opened the refrigerator door and just stared at the contents? What to choose? So many options.
What if you were genuinely hungry – but there was little or nothing inside?
Food security is a real issue for some of our South Lyon neighbors, and that’s a greater concern in the summer for children who receive free or reduced-price lunches during the school year.
For the 11
th
year, FUMC is the host church for a summer lunch program that provides midday meals for children in economically challenged neighborhoods. Last year, with support from several local churches and businesses, about 2,600 lunches were served over the 11-week school recess. Most were distributed to children, but a few adults and seniors took part, too.
The program is seeking support for this summer, in the form of gift cards to local groceries – Gordon’s, Busch’s, Meijer, Kroger and Walmart – and multi-pack fruit cups. You can drop gift cards into the offering plate or at the church office, and fruit cups can be left in the marked box in the lobby. There is no deadline. Contributions and donations are welcome throughout the summer, although the program will end Aug. 26.
Volunteers also are sought. Sign up on the kiosk and someone will get back to you. Or just show up Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:45 am, starting June 18. We usually are done with food prep by noon, but some volunteers are asked to stay until 2 to help serve.
|
|
Summer Special Music
Do you sing or play an instrument? All are welcome to participate in the summer special music program by sharing your talents during worship. We are always looking for new people! A sign-up sheet is located on the kiosk. Participation in both the 8:15 and 10:00 services is encouraged, but you may sign up for only one of the services if necessary. If you have any questions, feel free to contact David Bassin (
drbassin@yahoo.com
).
|
|
Walking with Jesus
This summer we will be dedicating our sermon series to "Walking With Jesus". We will do this literally and figuratively. Each week we will look at where Jesus walked and how we can walk with him in those spaces. We will also be tracking our steps to a healthier church.
Did you know as a young Boy Jesus and his family walked from Nazareth to Jerusalem every year for the festivals? It is approximately 70 miles between the two cities. That's 140 miles round trip. We hope to make that same journey each week together! 140 miles is approximately 308,000 steps (1 mile - 2,200 steps). Over the course of the summer we hope to walk together as a church 3.388 Million steps.
Will you join us? We have set up a Google tracking sheet to track our progress. Whether you walk a few steps a day or are training for something special, track your steps and log them. Make your walking time a time of prayer and take in the glory that is God's creation. Grab a friend or two and go Walking With Jesus this summer.
|
|
Flip Flop Collection
Also to go along with our “Walking with Jesus” summer sermon series, we will be collecting flip flops to take on our next mission trip to Liberia. Place donations in the suitcases under the altar tables in the sanctuary or Ignite service until September 1. All sizes are needed!
|
|
Free Spanish Classes
Wednesdays beginning July 17
We invite you to a FREE 6-week Spanish class taught by Sonya Luna, the Hispanic/Latino Ministries Missionary for the Michigan Annual Conference. The class will take place 6:30 – 8:30 pm every Wednesday from July 17 – August 21 in the Friendship Room.
In addition to learning some basic Spanish in the course, students will learn cultural tidbits, songs, prayers, and some conversational pieces. This could be a useful outreach tool for our church, helpful on mission trips, or just a fun class! Sign up on the kiosk or Ignite bulletin board. The textbook being used is "
Who is My Neighbor? Learning Spanish as Church Hospitality Student Manual". You may order it from Cokesbury or Amazon.
For more information contact Patti Yerke
(
pattijy@sbcglobal.net
).
|
|
Confirmation!!
As we look toward the fall (
it's not even summer yet
), plans are underway for confirmation class. If your child will be in eighth grade we invite you to have a conversation with them about confirmation class. Class details are still being discussed, but we want to get a general number of interested students. If your child is interested in confirmation class, please email Rev. Kenny at
kennywalkup@gmail.com
.
|
|
Church News
June 9th: Andrew, Benjamin, and Matthew Kneifel were all baptized together.
Welcome to Our Newest Members:
The Reedy family joined the membership at South Lyon First UMC on June 16th.
Laura, Chris, and their 7-year-old daughter, Arya, love to camp and participate in karate together as a family. Laura loves to read and Chris enjoys sports of all kinds. Laura is Jim LaCava's daughter. The Reedy family lives at 10476 Lakeview Drive in Whitmore Lake.
|
|
|
|
Click the link below to see
this month's birthdays!

|
|
Summer Worship Schedule
(5/26-9/1)
8:15 am Daybreak in Sanctuary
9:45 am Ignite in Fellowship Hall
10:00 am Cornerstone in Sanctuary
Summer Office Hours
Monday - Thursday 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Friday - closed
|
|
for more information about our church or any of these programs!
Do you prefer a printed copy of our newsletter? Hard copies are available on the kiosk in the lobby!
Newsletter is edited by Lori Penndorf
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
‌ 
‌