Holy Week began with Palm Sunday and, as always, offers several opportunities to deepen your experience and understanding of the most significant time in the Christian calendar. Prayerfully consider how you want to spend your time this week.

Continue to read your Lenten devotions during the week.The entire annual book of Lenten devotions is available here. Copies are in the narthex and, if you follow either of our Facebook pages, you'll also be able to read each day's devotion there through Easter Sunday.

Maundy Thursday — March 28

The Maundy Thursday service will be built around "From Bethlehem to Calvary,” by Carol Feickert. "From Bethlehem to Calvary" shares personal experiences relating to these traumatic times: John the Baptist’s parents, Mary Magdalene, Pontius Pilate, and, of course, Jesus.

Communion and short music interludes will complete the worship service.

The service begins at 7:30 pm in the sanctuary and will also be available via the livestream.

Good Friday — March 29

This somber service of scripture and music will continue our journey to the cross.

The service begins at noon in the sanctuary and will also be available via the livestream.

Easter Sunday — March 31

Celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday morning!

Rev. Eardley will lead a Sonrise service at 7:30 am in the chapel at the west end of the building.

The traditional Easter morning worship service will be at 9:30 am in the sanctuary and also available via the livestream.

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.

Palooza



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).

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.

Friends are one of God's greatest blessings and we at GPUMC wish to show gratitude for this wonderful gift. We encourage you to bring a friend (or two or more if you wish) to our 9:30 am service on Sunday April 7. 

This is a great chance to honor your friends, thank them for your relationship, and catch up.

We will serve a light lunch during our regular coffee hour, which will give you the opportunity to spend time with your friend — and also give us the opportunity to show off GPUMC at its best. See you and your friend(s) then.