Dear Friends,

         I want to extend yet another invitation to these two events that will soon be taking place on our district. Whether you provide leadership as a clergy or layperson, I trust you will give this the highest priority as you prepare your schedule for the coming months.

         First, the “Bishop’s Day for Evangelism and Stewardship II” will be held at Northville 1st Church on Saturday, March 1st. You and others from your church are being asked to register in advance. Come early for fellowship and gathering to begin at 8:45 a.m. We have acquired dynamic leadership for this day and believe that all who attend will be blessed and empowered for their ministry in their church and community.

         Rev. Taek Kim, from our Walled lake Church will lead us in worship, along with the Northville 1st
youth. Taek will help us explore the crucial area of stewardship as he leads our morning worship.

         Dr. Rose Sims, author of the award-winning book, New Life for Dying Churches (It Can Happen Anywhere!), will lead us for two plenary sessions. Now, you do not need to be a “dying church” to benefit from this passionate advocate for the gospel. She will help us in our ministry of “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world”.

         A luncheon will also be served that will feed your body, even as our time together with Rev. Kim and Dr. Sims will nurture our spirits and minds! More details are available in the brochure you should have received some time ago. If you need or want another copy, please call Jane in the District Office at (734)663-3939 or e-mail her at aadisumc@sbcglobal.net.

         The second invitation is for each of the 65 congregations of the Ann Arbor District to plan on participating in our “Mission Celebration Event” Thursday, April 10th through Sunday, April 13th.  Hopefully, each of you have filled out and returned the “Mission Profile” sheet and have indicated when you would like speaker(s) to appear at your church. As I shared during this past fall’s Church Conference, it is hoped that you will have several mission interpreters share, inform, inspire and encourage your church about the world-wide mission of the United Methodist Church. Plan to have a speaker during worship on Sunday the 13th, another at a UMW, UMM, Youth, Bible Study or small group gathering. Again, at each gathering, please take an offering… not for that particular speaker, but to support our mission here in Michigan, across the country and around the globe.

         On Saturday, April 12th, there will be a “Mission Celebration Banquet” at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, across from St. Joseph Hospital. Cost of the meal for this banquet is $15/person and reservations are due no later than March 1st at the District Office with the check enclosed.

             People are being asked to arrive at the Morris Lawrence Building, where the banquet will be held about 6:00 p.m. and we will have some time for fellowship before we plan to begin the meal at 6:30. Beth Miller, Director of Youth Ministries at Ann Arbor 1st,   will be our keynote speaker for the banquet and will be sure to inspire us.

         So make your plans now… if you haven’t already… to participate, grow, learn, become inspired and serve in ways that will reflect a life of gratitude to God for all the ways our life together in Christ blesses us. See you on March 1st… April 12th… and who knows where else? May God bless you for such a time as this.

Shalom,

Tom Macaulay
District Superintendent