Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Be sure to read to the end of this newsletter!

Here are the headlines for what's included in this week's Tuesday Newsletter:

Get ready for Palooza!
Step up for outreach in April
Register for Vacation Bible School
Feed others — Immanuel Food Pantry needs your help!
Upcoming events

Palooza is GPUMC's biggest effort every year to raise funds to support the church's mission work. It's your opportunity to party for a good cause!

The Palooza team is ready to sign you up to donate desserts for the dessert auction and to register your plans to attend Palooza on Saturday, April 20. Doors open at 5 pm that night, with the silent auction items available first, followed by the live auction.

Rob Stein will be leading the way with his culinary inspirations. There is a suggested $20 free will donation for dinner.

Proceeds from this year's Palooza will be divided among three recipients:

International — Support the Rice Meal Bag project at the Michigan Annual Conference, which will pack meals to distribute to those in need through Midwest Mission, most recently in Ukraine. Each rice meal bag contains rice, vitamin pack, dehydrated vegetables and soy. Supplies for Rice Meal Bags are $2 and provide six meals.
National — Support for Henderson Settlement in Kentucky.
Local — Support for the Wave Project, which provides shower facilities to serve the homeless.
Outreach Endowment Fund — Support for the ongoing mission outreach work of GPUMC.

Register here to confirm your plans to attend the event and to donate items for either the silent or the live auction. Dessert and service donations will be accepted until Sunday, April 14.

Questions? Contact Tamara Baubie (tbaubie@hotmail.com or 313-218-6879).

Step up for outreach projects in April

After the Storm

On Thursday, April 18 or Friday, April 19, GPUMC will help families whose homes were affected by the June 2021 flooding. Outreach hopes to send one or two teams of eight persons each to work from 8:30 am-12:30 pm each day to remove debris and damaged items and also assist with small repairs.

If you are unable to assist with physically lifting items out, we could also use skilled repair volunteers. You also can support this project by making gift card donations that will pay for supplies or lunches/snacks for the workers.

Sign up after church service the next few weeks or by using this link. Contact Beth Blunden with your name and email or for any questions.

Hands With Detroit

GPUMC has supported Hands with Detroit since its inauguration in 2012. Last year, the event was moved to the spring to better fit church calendars. This year we have committed to be a “Heartbeat Church, “ one that challenges us to send at least 10 volunteers and do one collection. Outreach wants volunteers from ages 10+ to join together from 9 am to noon and noon to 4 pm on Saturday, April 27.

Hands with Detroit offers SIX different opportunities to help around the Cass Community Social Services campus. GPUMC has already registered and committed to collecting twin size pillows and sets of twin sheets (collection boxes will be in the narthex).

You can learn more about the available projects and sign up after church.

Contact Beth Blunden with questions or to add to our team list to register.

Register for Vacation Bible School

Surrounded by water, trees, and rolling hills, Camp Firelight is the perfect location for every camper’s favorite summer activities! Campers join Counselor Sam and Lou, the lightning bug puppet, who invite us to put our trust in God in every situation, including during times when we might be afraid.

Children from preschool through 4th grade are invited to join us July 29-Aug. 2 from 9 am to 11:30 am for crafts, science experiments, music, games, and more! On Friday, Aug 2, after VBS, we will close with a party from 11:30 am to 1 pm.

The registration fee is $20 per child, with a maximum of $40 for a family. See details below about payment.

Volunteers are needed. Both youth and adults can register now . 5th graders and up make excellent Junior Helpers. If your child is interested, please register them as a volunteer!

GPUMC members also are invited to:

Donate snacks to feed the children during VBS week.
Help set up for VBS on Sunday, July 28 after worship
Tear down VBS after 1 pm on Friday, Aug. 2

Join us this August! Please reach out to Emily Bianchi with any questions. We hope to see you this summer!

There are two ways to pay the registration fee:

You can pay online through the church’s giving portal. On that page, select one-time payment, VBS Fund.

You can send payments to 211 Moross, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236. Please mark envelope with names and “VBS registration”.

*Registration is not complete until payment is collected.* A confirmation email will be sent when payment is received.

Increase your support for the food pantry

Continue to remember donations for the Immanuel UMC food pantry. The church has come to rely on us for our contributions.

You can donate canned goods and other non-perishable items in the box in the Activity Entrance or by leaving them on the porch at 86 Willow Tree Place, GP Shores.

You also can support that effort by making your own cash donation to Immanuel, either as a one-time donation or through a recurring payment. Follow this link to set up an account for that purpose.

Because of the large number of families and individuals that Immanuel is serving, they are requesting gift cards in larger amounts ($50 to $100 or more) to Meijer or Kroger. Please deliver those directly to Paul or Beth Blunden.

Weekly meetings

Book of Samuel study. Tuesday, 1-2:30 pm

Ladies Bible study & prayer. Tuesday, 7-8:30 pm

Bell choir rehearsal. Thursday, 6:45 pm

Chancel choir rehearsal. Thursday, 7:45 pm

April 14 Deadline for signing up to donate to Palooza auction

April 18 After the Flood service day, 8:30 am-12:30 pm

April 20 Palooza, 5pm door open, Great Hall

April 27 Hands with Detroit, 9 am-noon, noon-4 pm

May 16 American Red Cross blood drive

Send new calendar dates to Kristyn at office@gpumc.org

GPUMC office hours

9 am - 2 pm Monday through Thursday

By phone only 9 am - 2 pm Friday

313-886-2363

office@gpumc.org