Central
Journal
April 1998
Holy Week Happenings at Central
Won't you join us during Holy Week as we anticipate Easter. Holy Week is
a special time in the Christian faith as we identify with Christ's trials,
the faithful confusion of the disciples and the celebration of the
Resurrection.
Palm Sunday, April 5
Worship Service at 9:30 a.m. to include Palm Sunday Drama by Covenant Players.
This group will also perform during the adult Sunday School
class.
Monday through Thursday
Weekday Devotional Services at 12:00 p.m. in the Mary Sabina Chapel. Sponsored
by the Inner City Pastor's Alliance.
Maundy Thursday, April 9
Seder Service at 7:00 p.m. led by Arnie Weinfeld and Rev. John
Boley.
Good Friday Service, April 10
The Last Words of Christ sponsored by the Inner City Pastor's Alliance, 12:00
p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Here at Central. Come and go as you can.
Easter Morning, April 12
Sunrise Service: at 7:30 a.m. sponsored by the Youth. To take place in the
Mary Sabina Chapel.
Breakfast for all from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. Organized by Fred Brazee. Free will
donation.
Service of the Resurrection at 9:30 a.m. Rev. John Boley preaching, "The
Parable of the Loving Father."
No Sunday School Easter Morning
Pastor's Pen
At our first "visioning" meeting a couple of weeks ago, Rev. Joe Bistayi,
the West Michigan Conference Staff Member for Spiritual Formation, challenged
the church and the 30 participants there to place spiritual values at the
heart of the church method of operation and at the heart of the visioning
process. He recommended increased prayer and devotion in all church gatherings,
and he recommended that the leaders of the church lead this spiritual effort.
It is only in this way that discerning God's vision for this church can become
a reality. These recommendations ring true to me.
As such, we need to clothe the operations of the church in prayer and devotions.
This includes all meetings of administrative boards and commissions, all
gatherings of program functions, and all study groups. It also suggests that
the elected leaders of the church should themselves be very intentional about
their own spiritual development, being a part of study and prayer groups
and seeking out opportunities for spiritual growth, like Sunday School, Lenten
studies and regular Bible Study.
Discerning God's will for this great downtown church across from the Capitol
in the midst of our changing cultural environment is one of the great adventures
of a lifetime. Let us be about doing it correctly with the proper spiritual
disciplines.
Grace and Peace, John
REMEMBERING
From Central's past ......
Notes from various historical documents located in the Church
Archives.
79 Years ago, 1919
The Business Women's Foreign Missionary Society was organized about 1919,
and was reorganized in 1940 as the Wesleyan Service Guild. The Susanna Wesley
Guild, a group of younger business women interested in missions, was organized
in 1953.
86 Years ago, 1912
In April, 1912, Central's ladies were requested to remove their hats at sermon
time and at all public meetings.
100 Years ago, 1898
The Ladies Aid Society was given permission to decorate the outside of the
church with English Ivy.
Congratulations
To: Peter and Estella Hudy on the birth of their second son, Isaí Jonatán Hudy-Velasco, born on March 12, 1998.
Central's Annual Blanket Sunday, April 26th
Sponsored by Church World Service
For some 50 years, the Church World Service Blanket Program has helped in
making life more bearable for those who have been affected by disasters,
as well as those who just need a warm place to lay their heads.
Every $5 you donate can provide a good wool or cotton blend blanket because
Church World Services buys in large quantities. When possible, blankets are
purchased close to the scene of a disaster, to speed delivery and to spur
local economies.
To a child in the cold, a warm blanket can mean the difference between life
and death. To a family whose home lies in rubble, a sturdy blanket offers
a small measure of shelter and security.
Please support this program with your love ... your gifts ... and your prayers.
If you won't be present in the Sanctuary Sunday, April 26th, won't you consider
sending a check, in care of Church World Service, to the church
office?
Red Roses to ....
What a beautiful service on March 15th. The preaching was good, the liturgist
sounded good, the children sang very well - but what a joy to see and hear
Elizabeth Ezop play her clairnet during the offering.
Janet Mort for planning and providing all of the wonderful activities for
Lenten Fair. And to all those who helped during Lenten Fair.
Dottie Stark and Jean Fowler for scrubbing the ladies
restroom.
CENTRAL'S "GARDEN CLUB"
Spring is on the way and another flower season is approaching for Central's
gardens on Capitol and Ottawa. Have you planted, tended, admired, or complained
about the plantings around our church? If so, can we get together? In our
church gardens are tulips, daffodils, Jamaican Lady Slippers, miniature snap
dragons, Dusty Miller, chrysanthemums, geraniums, peonies, and yew shrubs.
There may be other plantings.
We need a core of interested persons that can identify current plantings
and help design others that we can add which will be attractive, and low
maintenance. Perhaps with spring arriving, there are perennials in your garden
at home that need transplanting and would fit appropriately in the church
landscaping.We also need persons who would be willing to trim the yews, remove
the fading flowers, pull weeds, and dig up some of the hard weed-filled soil.
You may not know how to garden yet, but we'd be happy to teach you if you
wish.
Our "Garden Club" would normally be a non-meeting group of persons that plan
together but work at their own pace and time to achieve an attractive 'face'
for Central.
Can we meet at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 18th for initial discussion to share
ideas and exchange phone numbers? Phone Dotty Stark 482-7834 if interested
or available.
EDUCATION
Denise Fabbri, Education DirectorAdult Electives Block 6
April 12 - May 31
Whole People of God, "Easter People"
Paul, "His Message About Faith and Grace"
Great Ideas II Feeding the Spirit, "Sermon on the Mount"
Noisy Sunday Offering
February 15th Noisy Sunday offering totaled $271.18. This offering went to
the United Methodist Community House in Grand Rapids.
Get ready for Camp!
Camping Brochures are available in my office. Camping Scholarships are also
available. Call me for details.
Adirondack Adventure Camp
This adults only camp is sponsored by the West Michigan Conference and will
be held both August 2-8 and August 9-5. Spend a week in the largest state
park in the 48 contiguous state and enjoy scenery much like the U.P with
higher mountains. Cost $190. See Denise for details.
Family Camp July 10-12
This year's family camp will be held at Lakeview UMC camping grounds. The
drive-in day will be Saturday, July 11 beginning at 10:30. This year's theme
is Sacred Secrets. If you would like to make a reservation please call Karen
Holoweiko at 626-6798. The cost is $16 per night. So far forty-eight people
have plans to attend. So, come join the fun!
Vacation Bible School
I know it is early, but many of you are already planning summer events. This
year's VBS will at Central with First Presbyterian joining us. The dates
are June 22-26. The theme this year is SonLight Island with a tropical island
setting. The Bible lessons are from the New Testament and center around God's
love for us. If you are interested in helping in any way, please contact
Ruthann Jaquette, Julie Cooper, or myself.
New Church Directory
Update: The next opportunity to have your picture taken for our new directory
will be May 5 and 6. In order to receive all of the perks that go into a
great directory we need everyone to participate. Quite frankly, it is a numbers
game. I need to reach a certain number to have all of the additional pages
that make a directory special. So, if you do not have an appointment, please
call my office. I will gladly set up an appointment for you.
Also, if you have any group pictures that could be used for the activity
pages, please bring them in. I will need a variety of events to make this
the best possible directory.
College Scholarships
Deadline is April 17th!
The Educational Grants Committee will make scholarships available again this
spring. Applications are available in the church office.
Covenant Drama Group to Perform on April 5
A national drama group will perform during the worship service on Palm Sunday,
April 5th. This group travels all over the mid-west performing Christian
drama. They will also perform during the adult Sunday School class that day.
The Sunday School performance location will be announced Sunday morning.
Merchandise for Our Library
Help us! Gift and Bible and Family Book Store both offer stamps when you
make a purchase in their stores. Ask for your Library Builder Stamps and
turn them in to me. I'll pool them with others and be able to get free items.
This is a great way for our library to get new books.
Have a trailer for loan?
Our youth need to borrow an enclosed hauling trailer for their trip to a
youth gathering in Icthus, Kentucky April 21-28. It needs to be 5'-12' in
length and road worthy. If you know of one that might be available, please
call Steve Lyon at 323-1134.
"Good" Idea...
Do all the good you can
By all the means you can
In all the ways you can
In all the places you can
At all the times you can
To all the people you can
As long as ever you can
-John Wesley
THIS AND THAT
Drama Ministry
If you are interested in being a part of a drama ministry, please see Rev.
Boley. This would be small skits done during the Sunday worship service related
to the theme for the service.
New Members
The participants in the new member class will be joining the church on Easter
Sunday.
Oberammergau/Holy Land Trip
Wouldn't it be great to go to Europe and the Holy Land at the same time?
In case you haven't heard, Dale and Carolyn Kirkby and John Boley will be
leading a trip to the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany and then on to
the Holy Land in June of 2000. The Passion Play is a play put on only every
10 years in Oberammergau, Germany. The play depicts the life and passion
of Christ in a day-long performance.
There are already seven people from CUMC signed up to go. For more information,
please see the Kirkbys or John Boley. There will be a gathering of people
planning to go or interested in going on the trip on Sunday evening, May
3rd at 7:00 p.m. Information and pictures. All are invited to
attend.
Kitchen Dishes
There are a number of food serving dishes that have been left at the church
after potluck dinners and other events. These need to be claimed by their
rightful owners soon.
Please check the kitchen on your next visit. You will find them on the counter
just inside the dining room kitchen entrance.
Office Volunteers Needed
The church office desperately needs additional volunteers, both men and women,
who are willing to give four hours of their time each week, twice a month,
or on a relief basis. This is a great opportunity to become better acquainted
with other church members, the activities of the church and to fulfill our
commitment to Christian service.
Volunteerism is soothing to the soul. Be involved! Call Lillian at 482-3494
(afternoon and evenings) or Beverly Dodge at the church
weekdays.
First Vision Meeting
Visioning officially came to Central Church the evening of March 4th, as
members and staff gathered to begin exploring the role of the church and
the challenges it must meet in years to come.
Rev. Joe Bistayi, representing the Spiritual Formation program of the West
Michigan Conference Council on Ministries, led a group of 30 in the first
formal meeting seeking to develop a Vision plan for Central's future. It
was a positive, stimulating and uplifting experience for all who attended.
The evening began with prayer, then moved on to a video presentation stressing
the importance of both individuals' and organizations' establishment of clearly
defined goals and the means to reach those goals. The Church faces the additional
responsibility of discerning God's will in its efforts, and as Rev. Bistayi
put it, "Knowing not what God wants us to be, but who."
Key points revolved around the elements that make up vital
congregations:
They are Vision Driven, have a clear purpose and are willing to take
risks.
Their worship is lively, encourages participation, is relevant and Christ
centered.
The atmosphere is open, hospitable and flexible.
There is genuine awareness of human needs, and cultural and social
tolerance.
They are disciple making, through faith development, witnessing and daily
ministry.
Hands-on activity is encouraged, missions are embraced, participants are
truly committed.
Community awareness is at a high level, supported by effective communication
efforts.
Leadership is based in spiritual values which are part of each meeting, each
agenda, each undertaking.
A second meeting will be held on April 1st, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the church. This is another opportunity to share your insight into ways to turn Central's vision into reality as the 21st century approaches.
Church Women United
Monday, April 13th
Board Meeting at 10:00 a.m.
Program at 1:00 p.m., Economic Crisis Center
Speaker, Beverly Wiener, Director
Place: All Saints Episcopal Church,
800 Abbott Rd., East Lansing
For childcare, call Carolyn Schuurmans 321-0569
Casinos Casinos ??
by Rev. Frank Anderson
Whether to gamble or not, that is the question—is it not? By this I
do not mean driving through an amber light or simply taking a chance in some
way. I mean, gambling. I have counted fifteen Native American currently run
casinos in Michigan. Enough is enough?
Historically, the United Methodist Church has had a definitive statement
opposing gambling ...
Gambling is a menace to society, deadly, economic, and spiritual life and
destructive of good government.
As an act of faith and love, Christians should abstain from gambling, and should strive to minister to those victimized by the practice ...
(The Social principles)
The Proposal to Repeal
Proposal E is an attempt to stop the erection of three new massive casinos
in the City of Detroit, and to stem the tide of invasive attempts by casino
interests to increase gambling as a major industry in Michigan.
The Coalition to Repeal
Proposal E supporters have until May 27, 1998, to obtain 247,127 valid signatures
for submission to the Secretary of State. Petitions for signing by members
and friends of Central are available now. See Rev. Frank
Anderson.
From the Trustees
Although hard hats are not needed just yet ...
Much progress has been and is being made on the elevator project, which is
now well underway. The architect's plans are complete and have been reviewed
by Shirley Ambrose, our generous donor.
The Trustees are now in the process of selecting a company that will take
on the building of the project. Look for the display at coffee hour beginning
on March 29, where you can ask questions and get a good idea about what it
will look like.
We are very excited about the many positive changes what will occur in conjunction with this project.
Thank You
I wish to thank everyone for their cards, prayers and visits during my recent
illnesses. I appreciated the visits and prayers by Rev. Boley and Rev. Anderson
so much. They all helped in my convalescing. May God bless each of
you.
Lou Smith
We want to thank our church "family" for the calls and visits. It's been
a long winter for us, but we felt your prayers. Dick is recovering well but
it does take time and patience which is sometimes hard. Hopefully, we will
be back with you in person before too long. Staying away from "face to face"
contacts because of the wide spread flue this year. Coughing and sneezing
is still painful. If recovery continues to progress, we will be back soon.
Do enjoy the television broadcast. Many thanks to Rev. Boley for all his
support.
Linda Bates
Thanks to Jeanne and Bob Fowler for their generous gift of providing the
beautiful new ceramic tile floor in the foyer of the Ottawa Street entrance.
It is a lasting gift that will continue to enhance the church for years to
come. Thank you Jeanne and Bob.
Your Church Family
Many thanks to my friends at Central Church. They helped me so much during
my recent illness. Some called and some sent cards and I knew many were praying
for me.
Love, Lois Meyers
Thanks to Linda Fishbeck Thompson and Carol Fishbeck Haga for donating the
two "New Life Rising" Lenten banners as a memorial to their parents, Ruth
and Kenneth Fishbeck. The senior Fishbecks, who joined Central in 1942, lived
their long lives in faithful service to the Lord. They lived their faith
in their care and concern for others. This legacy lives on, continuing to
influence the lives of three generations of extended family, including the
banner artist, niece Barbara Brines Peterson, from Bristol
Indiana.
A Lenten Experience
by Mary Boudreau
Lent is a time to reflect on the meaning of sacrifice and commitment, and
find ways to reflect those values in our day to day lives. As lent approached,
I was particularly touched by the suffering of people throughout the world
who are hungry and starving. I decided to make fasting and simple foods a
part of my Lenten celebration.
Eating dry bread and plain rice have afforded me the opportunity to contemplate
the fate of so many of the world's people for whom these simple meals are
a feast. I am particularly concerned for the people of North Korea who receive
a ration of 100 grams of rice per day and face starvation from no food at
all in two weeks. I think of the children of Haiti who have one meal of rice
and beans a day-if they are lucky. I also pray for the people of Iraq, where
thousands of children are dying of malnutrition and disease because of neighbors
on the streets who struggle to locate food every day.
Some of my friends are dieting in the midst of this Lenten season. We all
get a bit cranky in the midst of our hunger, whether it is from dieting or
fasting. It really makes me appreciate how hunger and want contributes to
the conflicts of the world. It clarifies how and why people attack others
and go to war to alleviate this suffering. However, I pray that my fast and
simplicity can help ease the suffering and anger of others (by divine
intervention as well as redirecting my own resources) and teaches me to be
more spiritually focused.
CENTRALNITERS
Come and tiptoe through tulips - and other flowers
Sunday, April 19th
We'll share a potluck dinner after church (hamloaf provided)
Martha Shirtum will give us a short slide show on Michigan wildflowers.
Afterwards, we'll take a walk through a Lansing area park. Hopefully, wildflowers
will be out and it will be a nice day! For reservations, call Carolyn and
Dave Schuurmans, 321-569. Let them know what you would like to bring. Don't
forget your walking shoes!
Everyone welcome
Recent Deaths of Central UMC Members ...
Edward W. Roe, Sr. Died March 16,1998 at the age of 94. Ed was a retired
Vice President of First America Bank. He loved his God and was a devoted
member of Central. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Marjorie, 1 son,
Edward Jr., 3 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren.
Marie A. Hill Died February 22, 1998 at the age of 82. Marie was a very warm
hearted and family oriented woman, who loved her grandchildren very much.
She enjoyed the simpler things in life. She was preceded in death by her
husband Jay in 1984. Surviving are 1 daughter, Donna, 1 son, Terry, 4
grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
Warren Brintnall Died February 17, 1998 in Lansing at the age of 75. Warren
retired in 1988 after a 45-year career with the Lansing State Journal where
he started as a "cub reporter" and quickly rose to an editor. He is survived
by his wife of 50 years, Geraldine, and 2 daughters, Karen and
Jan.
CENTRAL UMC MEMBERS IN FLORIDA
by Leora Stutes
On February 11, 1998, members and former members of Central Church who live
in or winter in Florida had a luncheon reunion at Luby's Cafeteria in Clearwater,
Florida. Luby's is located at the S. W. corner of Gulf-to-Bay (route 60)
and busy route 19. There were 17 present and 8 who planned to come were not
able to make it at the last minute because of illness or other contingency.
We had a marvelous time sharing about our families and present activities
in our lives. The consensus was that we should have another reunion next
winter.Those present were: Richard & Ernestine Branch, Sam & Shirley
Gingrich, Lyle & Marjorie Hepfer, Birdsill & Audrey Holly, Bob &
Lois Jenkins, Betty & Carl Leiby, Duane & Ruth Perry, and Marion
& Leora Stutes. A guest was a cousin of Lois Jenkins who was visiting
in Florida. If you are going to be in Florida next winter, let me know so
I can inform you of the 1999 reunion date.
Don't Have a Computer? Yes, you do ...
It's at the church!a
Last fall, thanks to a donation from the Memorial Committee, Central purchased
a top of the line multi media computer. In authorizing its purchase, the
committee's intent was that it be available to Central membership and friends,
much as some computers are available in public libraries.
This high speed color computer, located in an upstairs room off the Fellowship
Hall balcony has a large screen monitor and installed software for sounds
and graphics. It also has internet access!
If you are interested in becoming more computer savvy,why not consider scheduling
an hour or so learning session hosted by a church volunteer. A beginnining
session could involve taking a peek at our Church Website. To schedule your
church visit, call either Jim Hane at 669-3306, or Jim Stark at 482-7834.
Both are home numbers.
Central's Prayer Chain
A confidential, prayer chain ministry is available 24 hrs., 7 days a week.
To initiate a prayer request please call one of the prayer chain
leaders:
Day 8:00am - 5:00 pm
Beverly Dodge (church office) 485-9477
Janet Mort 321-2330
Karen Holoweiko626-6798
Evening 5:00pm - 8:00am
Elizabeth Gibbs 882-2635
Kayla Tipton 669-3259
The Prayer Chain Ministry is open to anyone who would like to become a
participant.
Did You Know
... the carillon of 36 bells in Central's tower was gifted to the church
in 1951 by a generous donor who wish to remain anonymous? The bells were
cast by a Dutch bell foundry. The largest of the bells weighs 760 pounds
and the smallest just 9 pounds. The bells are tuned for all time and will
last for centuries.
The Central Journal is a monthly publication of Central United Methodist
Church, Lansing, MI. Deadline for submittal of material is always the third
Monday of the month preceding the month of publication.
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