An Adult Choral Choir Festival was held November 12, 2005 at Midland First United Methodist Church. Guest Composer/Director was Mark Patterson

The Mission School of the North was held at on October 17-18. The theme was Cornerstones of Hope. Speakers and subjects were:
    Children of the Bible with Rev. Melanie Baker-Steevy
    Public Education II with study leaders Gerry Tibbits and Lois Moseley
    India/Pakistan I with study leaders Dr. Wm. Bauer and Julia Deemer

A Strengthening Adult Studies Workshop was held at State Street UMC in Saginaw on October 22.

The Marquette District and the Saginaw Bay District had a Youth Retreat at St. Ignace UMC on October 22-23. Experiencing God's Glory was the theme.

The United Methodist Men met at Tawas UMC on October 22. The Guest speaker was Lew Tibbets, Executive Director of Bay Shore Camp. New officers were elected.

The District Board of Missions & Church Extension had their annual meeting at West Branch: First UMC on October 10. The guest speaker was Rev. Eugene Blair, Associate Council Director for African Spiritual Formation, Detroit Conference. His subject was Fisherless Fishers.

A Leadership Renewal Retreat for leaders and workers of children and youth was held Aug 27-28, 2005 at Wesleyan Woods, Vassar, Michigan

A Youth Lay Speaking Weekend was held at West Branch First UMC on July 9-10.

Tony Perry, Field Representative from the General Commission of the United Methodist Men, was the speaker at a meeting to discuss future of United Methodist Men in the District at St. Lukes UMC in Essexville on May 14.

The Saginaw Bay District Conference was April 30 at Tawas United Methodist Church. The theme was Amazing Grace For All The Races.

A Vacation Bible School and Sunday School Workshop was held at Auburn UMC on Saturday, February 12.

On February 2005, a work team of 7 led by The Rev. Duane Miller were in Liberia for a Volunteers in Mission project. They attended the Liberian Annual Conference where they provided medical care for pastors, lay members and families. They also visited a medical camp for missions in Buchanan and the Methodist Hospital in Ganta. A summary of their trip may be found in the March 21 issue of the Michigan Christian Advocate.

The District Council on Ministries LEADERSHIP TRAINING DAY was January 29 at First UMC in Saginaw. Dr. Al Caldwell of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary was the keynote speaker. There were 11 workshops.

January 15-16th at Bay Shore Camp, 40 youth and 12 leaders from 7 churches joined together at the Deeper Faith Youth Retreat.

The title of Project Director has changed to Emerging Ministries and Education Consultant to reflect a broader responsibility.
Click here for more information.

The Board of Missions & Church Extension had their annual meeting, October 11, 2004 at the Freeland United Methodist Church. The Rev. Melanie Carey, Pastor, First United Methodist Church of Ypsilanti, spoke on Models for Hispanic Ministry. The Rev. Duane Miller, Pastor, Caro United Methodist Church, gave an update on Liberia Task Force trip scheduled February 9-25. Melene Wilsey spoke on her supportive role to the District under the new title Emerging Ministries and Education Consultant. There was a special offering for Liberia, Haiti, and Ministerio Hispano Shalom(Saginaw). The Freeland Praise Band for Jesus provided praise and worship.

A LEADERSHIP RENEWAL RETREAT for workers with children and youth was held Oct 1-3, 2004 at the Lake Louise Camp Retreat Center.

The Rev. Louise R. Ott became the District Superintendent of the Saginaw Bay District on July 1, 2004. She formerly served the Novi United Methodist Church. She is a graduate of Michigan State University and Garrett-Evangelical Seminary. Her installation was celebrated October 3 at the First Methodist Church in West Branch.

A Ministry Celebration for retiring District Superintendent Rev. Tom Robinson was held June 26, 2004 at Christ United Methodist Church in Bay City.

Marcia McFee's Worship Workshop was held March 12-13, 2004 at First UMC in Saginaw. Click here to view pictures.

District Superintendent Tom Robinson and several clergy and laity members of the District attended the Liberia Annual Conference in Monrovia in February 2004. In May, Liberia sent delegates to the General Conference. With gifts brought by participants to Conference, a seagoing container of health kits, school kits, sewing kits, medicine boxes, Bibles, hymnals, liturgical stoles, and pulpit and choir robes was sent to Liberia

The District Council on Ministries LEADERSHIP TRAINING DAY 2004 was held January 31 at Auburn UMC. The theme was Tools for Disciple Formation and Transformation. Dr. Duane Gebhard was the keynote speaker. There were 13 worship topics. Click here to view pictures.

The 2003 Annual District Celebration was October 6 at the Frankenmuth United Methodist Church in conjunction with meetings of the District Council of Ministries and the District Board of Missions. The Celebration Message was given by The Rev. William T. Robinson, District Superintendent. There was a special offering for Liberia, Haiti, and Ministerio Hispano Shalom(Saginaw). The Frankenmuth Praise Band for Jesus provided praise and worship.

Mission Celebration 2003 was May 4-9 with local churches hosting mission speakers. The Celebration raised over $8000 for support to programs in Liberia and Haiti and to our local Ministerio Hispano Shalom(Saginaw). The Kickoff Banquet and Worship was May 3 at Midland First UMC. Stephen Goldstein, Assistant General Secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries, was the keynote speaker. The Pre-Celebration Rally was held February 9th at West Branch UMC. The Tawas UMC Praise Band and the West Branch UMC Puppeters opened the program. Wayne Rhodes of the General Board of Global Ministries was the guest speaker. Many churches shared visuals of their mission activities.

The 2003 annual Leadership Training Day was March 8 at AmesUMC in Saginaw with Steve Manskar, Director of Accountable Discipleship, General Board of Discipleship, as speaker. The theme was Making Disciples.

The District Secretary/Pastor/Volunteer luncheon was held at the Horizons Conference Center in Saginaw on December 11, 2002 with 61 people in attendance. Click here to view pictures.

The 2002 Annual Meeting of the Board of Missions and Church Extension was held at Saginaw Jefferson Avenue UMC on October 29. The Auburn UMC contemporary worship team provided an inspirational program. The Detroit Conference Director of Congregational Development, Colin Brown, gave his outlook for the development of congregations within the United Methodist Church. A graphics presentation was made showing the newer churches in the District. Individual churches shared their accomplishments. The team which had just returned from Liberia gave a report on their trip.

In the spring of 2002, the Ossineke United Methodist Church had a ground breaking for a new building. The District Board of Missions and Church Extension lent the church some money to help support this project. Click here to view pictures of the ceremony.