September 2019 Newsletter

Note from the Pastor

The Tie That Binds "Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful." - Col 3:14-15

Dear Church Family, During these last few months many of us do our very best to enjoy the Michigan summer, to spend extra time with family and friends, going to fun places near bodies of water, enjoying the great weather and just relaxing. I was able to see my parents, went on 2 mission trips with our youth, spent a week camping with all 4 of our kids, we kayaked and rode our bikes whenever possible during the week, we sat outside enjoying the lightning bugs, I completed my first triathlon, and worked at the church a lot. But this is what a fun packed summer looks like in our house. We all get busy. But sometimes when life gets busy it also means that we shift our worship patterns a bit. I know that even when I am away enjoying my vacation time I enjoy not working on Sunday morning. But at 8:15ish I pause and think about my church family beginning the first of three worship services. I miss worship with you all even when I am away renewing my soul. I miss our regular Sunday School classes, youth group gatherings, and yes, even team meetings. What I really miss is the contact with you and the continued building of our relationships. We know that relationships are what help to form us and being in relationship with one another is a gift from God. A gift that I am truly thankful for each day. Summer is that joyful thing that we look towards in the cold months and being out in creation is a beautiful way to connect with our ever present God. As we turn the calendar and begin a new month, we set our schedules and plans. It is the natural flow of the start of fall. For many of us that means that we are busy getting our youth ready for the start of a new school year. Eleanor will be starting her senior year and Heather will be a sophomore. Yes, it all is going by quickly. Some of you will be closing up cabins, putting away campers, and changing your activities as the weather begins to shift. A new month also gives us an opportunity to establish patterns. Our worship theme is about being blessed to be tied together as the Body of Christ. We will be invited to consider how our relationships with the Holy and with each other form and transform us. And we will affirm the power of God's presence in our worshiping community to inspire us to "go and do likewise" in relationship to the world. We hope to see the whole church family come back into the pews on September 8 th . In fact, it would be a great day to invite family and friends. We will have a Fall Kick-Off during services, blessings of backpack and brief cases, Sunday school resumes, and there will be a picnic after church. There will be games for all ages and Rev. Kenny and I will be cooking on the grill.  Just bring friends and a dish to pass.

Love and Peace in Christ, Rev. Mary

Fall Worship Theme - The Tie That Binds September 8, 2019  - Woven In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth… And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light…Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may [have stewardship] over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created humankind in God’s own image, in the image of God [they were created]; male and female God created them. - Genesis 1:1-27 Fall Kick-Off Sunday with music, communion, blessing backpacks, and a picnic. As we begin the series, we affirm that God is the Tie That Binds. We have been created by God, gifted by God, given life by God–formed by God’s hand like clay by the potter. We open ourselves to being re-shaped when necessary and we celebrate our common connections as God’s children. Blest be the tie that binds! God creates the world and invites us to be stewards of it. We are woven together with all of creation and God desires harmony for all. When difficult things happen for anyone or anything of creation, we are all affected. The tie that binds calls us to care for all. September 15, 2019 - Poured Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body… Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. - Ephesians 4:25-5:2   Jesus was God’s love poured out for us. Jesus forgave again and again, modeling kindness and love in unmeasurable amounts–even before folks admitted they needed it! This morning we open ourselves to Christ’s presence and answer the call to be his compassion poured out in the world, creating ties that bind us to one another in love. September 22, 2019 - Lifted Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end… so he got up from the meal… poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet… “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” - John 13:1-17 We will be celebrating Christian Education Sunday, blessings our teachers and handing out Bibles on this Sunday. Jesus modeled a new kind of relationship in this world–one that put no one above another. Indeed, he always lifted up those who were put down. As Jesus “own,” are we “going and doing likewise” in the world by lifting those whose path we cross up? Or do we bring others down? What random acts of kindness will you be caught doing that creates the ties that bind ? September 29, 2019 - Moved So I say, walk by the Spirit… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law… Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit! - Galatians 5:16-26 Relationships are a dance! To be connected is to find a rhythm with those around you. And when we are in step with the rhythm of the Spirit, the fruits of the Spirit will make the ties that bind us to each other secure . Let us dance this dance of love, joy and peace! October 6, 2019 - Anointed How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore. - Psalm 133   The final Sunday of the sermon series is also World Communion Sunday. We are reminded that the joy of living together in unity is a blessing–one that covers us from top to bottom, from head to toe! No one is excluded from this grace. No one is excluded from this table of plenty. No one is excluded from the tie that binds us together and that binds us to God!

Fall Worship Schedule Begins Sunday, September 8! 8:15 am Daybreak Traditional Worship (Sanctuary) 9:30 am Sunday School for All Ages 10:45 am Ignite Modern Worship (Fellowship Hall) 11:00 am Cornerstone Traditional Worship (Sanctuary)

Fall Kick-Off Worship & Picnic September 8 In addition to kicking off our fall worship schedule on September 8, we are excited to host a Kick-Off Picnic so everyone can reconnect after the summer season. We hope you will join us behind the church that day around noon after the services. We'll have a variety of lawn and board games for you to play with your family and friends while Revs. Mary and Kenny serve up hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill. Please bring a dish to share, your own place settings, some lawn chairs or picnic blankets, and a favorite board game if you like. This is a great opportunity to invite your friends as well. Please sign up on the kiosk or Ignite bulletin board so we can plan the food. For more information contact Jen Liskey( jennifer.liskey@gmail.com ) or Michelle Walkup ( walkupm@sbcglobal.net ).

Blessing of the Backpacks We’re sending South Lyon First UMC students, teachers, and administrators back to school with our prayers and blessings! We’ll have a time of prayer during each worship service on September 8 th . You are all encouraged to bring your backpacks and briefcases to the service to be blessed and receive a special item to tie on your backpacks and briefcases.

Women’s Book Study With Rev. Mary All women are invited! Each month offers a book title to read, with a discussion held on a Tuesday night at 6:30 pm. We will gather in the Hart Chapel. Bring your favorite tea or coffee, your book, and an open mind and heart for a time of sharing and discovery. Upcoming selection’s to begin reading now and discuss on the date below: September 17 Coffee, Tea, and Holy Water by Amanda Hudson Coffee, Tea, and Holy Water  takes the reader on an armchair tour of Christianity in our world, across borders and over continents. Author Amanda Hudson provides a personal touch with cultural curiosities, profound questions about the nature and practice of faith, as she travels to five countries: Brazil, Wales, Tanzania, China, and Honduras.          October 15  The Power of Giving by Azim Jamal and Harvey McKinnon         The Power of Giving  provides a wealth of down-to-earth ideas, exercises, and real-life stories that reveal to each reader the unique gifts she has to give - including kindness, ideas, advice, attention, hope, and more and the many ways you can benefit from giving them, from better health to better job prospects. November 19     Book to be determined….any suggestions? Inspired by Rachel Held Evans, Be Bold by Rachel Billups, Messy People by Jennifer Cowart, Black and White by Teesha Hadra, Holy Envy by Barbara Brown Tayor, Almost Everything by Anne Lamott, or what is on your reading list?

Freely Give The Finance Team has been hard at work this summer testing and launching new ways to make giving safe, easy, and convenient for you.    We now offer: *Online Giving through the church website (checking, savings, credit, or debit) *Mobile App : Download GivePlus Church app for ios or Android (checking, savings, credit, or debit)  *Text to Give : 248-617-2239. Text the amount you would like to contribute followed by the fund code (oper, mom, ymt, misc) *Credit/Debit Card Swiper : great for fundraisers   You can use these giving options to set up your monthly tithe or to contribute one time to a fundraiser or pay for an event. You can give from the convenience of your home or vacation destination by computer or phone. If you want to try one of our new giving methods and have any questions, visit the church website ( southlyonfirstumc.org  and click the "GIVING" tab) or call the church office (248-437-0760). If you have any questions about the church finances, please contact Marci Ries, Finance Chair ( riesm@valassis.com ).

Mission of the Month: Active Faith

Active Faith has been a part of our community for over 30 years, since nine local pastors came together to create Active Faith Community Services. Active Faith’s Mission:  Our Mission is to provide long term and temporary assistance to those who have fallen on difficult times in hopes of returning them to the independent pursuit of their life’s goals. Active Faith is constantly changing to meet the needs of the community by distributing 195,605 pounds of food, counseling, clothing, children’s tutoring, access and knowledge of outside resources, and The THAW fund site for utility help for over 600 families. In 2011, Active Faith was able to offer the Capernaum Dental and Health Clinics. With your prayers and support our church members along with other churches, our local clergy, and our local community, came together to form Capernaum, a 501C(3) that hosts these clinics. Active Faith provides so many opportunities to help our community; Grow a Row, Strike Out Hunger, Postal Food Drive, golf outings, Sponsor a Shelf, and other donor opportunities. There are over 100 companies who support Active Faith. Many of Active Faith's volunteers belong to First United Methodist Church. Please visit their website at: www.activefaithcs.org to learn more. Please consider supporting Active Faith because together we can help those who have fallen and lift them up through our prayers, support, and actions. Hebrew 13:16 Do not neglect to do good and share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.  The Mission Team

Valley Below  The youth are back from our Mountain T.O.P. mission trip and are looking for ways to continue God’s work in our local community! Our plan is to do a Valley Below project one Sunday a month starting in the fall. Below is a sample list of project ideas that Valley Below can help with free of charge. If you would like the youth to do one of these projects at your home, sign up on the kiosk or Ignite bulletin board. For more information contact Rev. Kenny ( kennywalkup@gmail.com ) or Marc Liskey ( mliskey@ford.com ).  Fall Projects Yard cleanup – Raking Gutter clean out Garage clean up/organization Christmas decorations (get out your decorations and set-up trees)   Winter Projects Put away Christmas decorations Organizing basements & closets Assemble closet organizers   Spring Projects Yard clean up Plant flowers Mulching Weeding Clean & paint decks

Youth Group Lite Come one, come kindergarteners to fifth graders! Come meet old and new friends.  Come to Youth Group Lite. We would love to have you join us on Wednesdays at 5:00 pm in Room 119 beginning September 18. We will learn more about Jesus, do art and craft projects, play games, and have snacks. Best of all we will have fun doing all of these things. If anyone  would like to volunteer to help  with this wonderful group of young people, please contact the church office or Bobbie Bushey at  dirbar@ameritech.net   or call 1-278-787-3637. If you have questions about Youth Group Lite please use the contacts above.  We will be happy to answer your questions.

Serving from the Heart – Spiritual Gifts Study         Looking for a way to serve? Frustrated with not knowing how or where to jump in? This study includes a Spiritual Gifts assessment and will help you discover all you have to offer by also considering your talents, abilities, and resources. For more info and sign up:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090C49A8AC23AB9-sharing

Upcoming Opportunities for Men • “First Saturday Breakfast” 7:30 - 9:00 am September 7th in the Friendship Room: Join us as Rev. Kenny shares photos and stories from his recently completed hike of Isle Royale National Park.

• Every Tuesday morning: devotion, prayer and breakfast 6:30 am in the Parlor •   The Tuesday night weekly study group resumes on September 10 th 7:30 – 8:30 in the parlor. We will travel “A Road to Discipleship,” a 12-week Bible study prepared by staff members of our national organization of United Methodist Men. Sign up on the kiosk or Ignite bulletin board. •   We lead the all-church BBQ Bonanza on Saturday, September 28 th . See article elsewhere in newsletter for details. • “First Saturday Breakfast” on October 5 th will feature Joanna Firestone speaking about the recently completed summer lunch and backpack programs.

Sewing Opportunities Hello, Creative Friends! If you like to create colorful things with fabric, thread, or yarn, we have the creative outlet for you! Three different groups meet right here at the church, and we would love to see you attend any of our sessions. 1.   Stitching for Christ . Every Tuesday, from 2 – 4 pm, some of us gather in the parlor and make prayer shawls. We knit or we crochet, and you can join us with your own yarn and tools, or we can provide some for you. Our prayer shawls, once they’re finished, are available in the hall outside the nursery, and anyone in our congregation may take one for a friend or another church member who may be going through a hard time. The shawl provides tangible evidence of God’s love and our love wrapped around the receiver. 2.    Pillowcase Ministry . Every other Thursday, from noon – 4 pm, another group gathers in the Friendship Room. Some of us bring sewing machines and sewing tools. We make colorful, happy pillowcases for the children at Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. Our group has people who cut pieces of fabric and match them up, pin the pieces together, sew, and iron. You don’t have to know how to sew to come. Our first session for the fall will be August 29, then Sept 12, 26, and so on for every other week. 3.    Quilting Club . Every other Thursday, on the weeks when we don’t make pillowcases, a group of quilters meet to work on our own quilting projects. Once again, we meet in the Friendship Room, and the time is noon – 4 pm. If you want to join us, we each bring our own project, sewing machine and tools. We enjoy the opportunity to sew, to visit, and to exchange quilting ideas with each other. First session for fall will be Sept 5, then Sept 19, and Oct 3, etc. For more information about any of these activities, contact Kathy Smith ( daveandkathysmith@yahoo.com).

Travel to the Holy Land November 11-19, 2020 Do you want to visit the Holy Land?  I can remember as a child dreaming of a visit to the Land of Israel. The idea of walking where Jesus walked seemed like such a far-fetched idea, but it really is possible and I am finally going to go. I have spent a lifetime reading about the special places in Jesus' life as they are written about in the Bible. This summer’s sermon series has given me even more opportunities to research and dream about a trip to the Holy Land. So mark your calendars for November 11 – 19, 2020. If your heart’s desire is to visit Israel, I want to encourage you to believe that dreams do come true – it is possible! Ed McKenna, from our church and a Collette travel agent, has created a meaningful itinerary for us that covers those biblical stories we have imagined in our minds eye, we will travel with a guide, eat in places that serve wonderful food and stay in 4 and 5 star hotels. There are brochures available on the kiosk & Ignite bulletin board and an information meeting will be held on September 15th at 12:15 pm. 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. I personally cannot wait to wade into the River Jordan and renew my baptism vows in the very water that washed over Jesus. I hope to travel to the Holy Land with you. See you on September 15th. - Rev. Mary ( revmarymcinnes@att.net )

Exploring Membership Class September 24th at 7:00 PM in the Library (Rm. 106) Interested in learning more about becoming a member at South Lyon First UMC or learning more about the ministry here? Please sign up on the kiosk in the parlor or contact Rev. Kenny Walkup at kennywalkup@gmail.com . Childcare will be provided as needed.

Road Rally – October 20 – Save the Date! We will be spending a lot of October in our “Treasure” stewardship series. As part of the series, the Stewardship Team will be hosting a Road Rally/Treasure Hunt! The road rally will take place on Sunday, October 20 from 3:00 – 5:00 pm. Beginning at the church, participants in each car will decode clues around the South Lyon area and then take pictures to document their route. It will be super fun and appropriate for all ages! To participate, sign up on the kiosk or Ignite bulletin board. For more information contact Michelle Walkup ( walkupm@sbcglobal.net ).

Reduce, Reuse, & Reach Out Grocery Bags Who knew a cloth bag could do so much good? We now have SLFUMC reusable cloth grocery bags! They can hold more than paper or plastic grocery bags, save the environment, and help our church reach out to our community. Please stop by the Summer Cafe or the church office and check out the new bags! They are available for $3/bag or $10/4 bags and all profits will be used to host our free community outreach events (Cool Yule, Spring Fling, etc.).  For more information contact Jen Denny ( jendenny@att.net ).

Thank You from Your God’s Country Mission Team! L to R: Frank Dres, Ed Willobee, Jacob Smith (intern), and David Manville prepare to attach the last section of a wheelchair ramp for a wonderful lady named Linda.  Twenty-three adults who relate to our congregation spent the third week of July serving people in the Newberry, Paradise, and Grand Marais communities of the Upper Peninsula. These and four other communities comprise the God’s Country Cooperative Parish. In just 4 ½ workdays we were able to complete the following incredible list of projects: •       Install new water line from the street to the Ministry Center •       Build a wheelchair ramp in Paradise •       Disassemble playground equipment at the Paradise elementary school, haul it to Newberry, and position for reassembly at the Ministry Center  •       Empty and paint two future dorm rooms at the Ministry Center  •       Paint interior and back deck of Grand Marais parsonage  •       Install new baseboard and shoe molding at Grand Marais parsonage  •       Replace remaining fluorescent lights at Ministry Center with LED bulbs •       Remove rotting wood on Paradise parsonage deck, put in new posts for expanded footprint, and begin framing •       Build 16 more Adirondack-style benches for Parish fundraiser Those of us who worked at the Ministry Center got a chance to see first-hand the large number of people in the 4-county parish who benefit from several of the ministries based there…from the food pantry, to the clothes closet, to the furniture closet. This is an area of extreme poverty where The United Methodist Church is making a difference. Churches from across Michigan who support the Parish through financial gifts are enabling year-round continuity of these valuable ministries. (Our congregation contributes generously through our Mission of the Month program.) Our team would like to thank you for the many ways you support our trip. The pasty sale and golf outing are certainly major contributors to funding our work. Donations from the Mission Fund and various individuals are also key. Team members complete the funding by paying all travel and housing expenses. In addition, you uphold us in your prayers as we travel and work. For all that you do, THANK YOU! We had a marvelous week of fellowship, service, and fun. We are already planning our return July 19-24, 2020. Is God calling you to join us? God’s Country Mission Team Dave Smith, Coordinator

Thank you from the Roe Family Words cannot express the comfort and strength from all your love and prayers for Paul, Parker, and McKenzi during Paul's sickness and through his passing. We are blessed to be a part of this loving church family. Love, Wendy, Parker, McKenzi Roe

Pumpkinfest Parade Hydration Station Invite your friends to quench their thirst at the South Lyon First UMC Hydration Station located in front of the church during the Pumpkinfest Parade on Saturday, September 28 th at 10:00 AM. We will be serving free lemonade or hot chocolate (depending on the weather) and spreading God’s love. Come and cheer for the Ignite Band in the Pumpkinfest Parade! Hope to see you there!

Barbeque Bonanza Benefits Active Faith  11:30 – 2:00 Saturday, Sept 28 in Fellowship Hall Join us for a wonderful lunch with three smoked meat options, potatoes, cole slaw, pumpkin pie and more! Tickets: adults $10 and children under 12 are $5.  Please consider signing up to help us with the various tasks of the day.  See the sign-up sheets on the kiosk or contact Dave Smith at 520-668-7358 for more information. This event is our major fundraiser for Active Faith.

Church News Baptisms: Noah Luoma on 7/21/19 Births: Adalyn Hungerford, daughter of Garrett & Andrea (7/13/19) Jillian Mirabelle Redman-Jager, daughter of Stacy Redman-Kiernan (4/16/19)

Click the link below to see this month's birthdays!  September 2019 Birthdays

Fall Worship Schedule (begins 9/8) 8:15 am Daybreak in Sanctuary 9:30 am Sunday School for all ages 10:45 am Ignite in Fellowship Hall 11:00 am Cornerstone in Sanctuary Office Hours Monday - Thursday 9:00am - 3:30pm Closed Fridays

Check out our website  or our live calendar 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 ( lpenndorf@sbcglobal.net )

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