One in Christ-but not the same!

What is it about Central that draws us to drive past other churches, to sometimes worry about parking and to worry about taking care of an aging building? What motivates us to pray for a diverse congregation to come together in a profound way for ministry?

Do we come because of our unique building? Although we are deeply indebted to our forebears for an incredible structure, I don't really believe that we worship a place.

Do we come because this is where we meet our neighbors and close associates? Probably most of us drive totally beyond our home neighborhoods and local acquaintances.

Pray continually that God’s Spirit will prevail at Central Church

What is it about our urban church which has created such loyalty by so many of its members? We usually mention strengths like a great preaching tradition, terrific music tradition, our historical and architecturally inspiring sanctuary, our location in the capital city and its opportunities for influence, our warm relationships with neighboring churches and our tradition of urban ministry.

All of that is a powerful incentive for us, but as I examine my own thirty-four years at Central, I believe that what draws me is both a source of our strength and our weakness. And that is the diversity of people and ideas which continually pull us forward in our thinking about Christian discipleship. Jesus lived and taught in the midst of great religious and political conflict. Jesus never hid from it. Rather, he engaged it, even provoked it, and forced those around him to think in new directions about who God is. Changes that Christianity made in tradition, scripture, worship, and societal views were shocking to those who wanted the status quo.

I confess that change isn't always easy for me. Disagreement can make me uncomfortable. I struggle with new and provocative views in religious thought. But isn't that climate exactly what creates a restlessness to keep searching for the truth? Isn't that exactly what God expects of each new generation of Christians?

Bishop Linda Lee, at this year's Annual Conference, suggested that even though Christian disciples are called to be "one in Christ", it doesn't mean that we are asked to be "the same". We are called to be one in Christ in our diversity with all of its complications.

Pray continually that God's spirit will prevail at Central Church as we continue to wrestle with who we are as a Christian congregation of United Methodists. May God's grace bring healing and refreshment of discipleship as we look forward to a new and exciting program year! -Jamie Zimmer, Chair, Administrative Council

There were 15 Church and Society related decision items to be voted on at Annual Conference 2004. Many were authored by West Michigan Annual Conference Board of Church and Society Chair, John Boley; Conference Peace With Justice Coordinator, Robert Roth; Grand Rapids District Peace With Justice Community Director, Kennetha Bigham-Tsai; Environmental Justice Coordinator for Board of Church and Society West Michigan Annual Conference, Ada Kidd ; and others. All fifteen resolutions were approved. Of those 15, the resolutions listed below are requesting specific attention and action from each district and local churches in each district.

* A Call for Churches to pray for peace in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Middle East each Sunday in August and September of 2004. Also to discuss in Ad-Council and Education Commission the possibility of a study in the local church on "Methodism, John Wesley, and issues of War and Peace Today." Resources for prayer and study shall come from our Conference staff and Conference Peace Centers in Traverse City, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Mt. Pleasant and Kalamazoo.

* Institutional and Personal Racism -- That each district in the West Michigan Conference hold a district-wide Act of Repentance and Reconciliation Worship Service focusing on Institutional and Personal racism before Annual Conference of 2005.

* Hate Crimes Against Homosexuals -- Pastors and lay leaders are urged to denounce and report hate crimes against people because of sexual orientation; and to communicate to their congregations that the local UMC in West MI is a place of sanctuary and healing from these brutalities in our society. Phone numbers where this kind of violence can be reported in MI: 877-7-TRIANGLE (877-787-4264)

* Restorative Justice in Michigan -- UM Churches to be in prayer, study, research and action concerning the current practices of State's retributive justice system; to become familiar with principles of restorative justice, including the study resource, "Restorative Justice: Moving Beyond Punishment"; To contact State politicians with concerns over current prison system and the costs, encouraging them to move the system from retributive justice to principles of restorative justice .

* Study on Homosexuality / Sexual Orientation. Each local church is encouraged to study these issues using a variety of different resources from different perspectives. (12 + different resources are recommended within the body of the proposal).

* Disposables -- urging churches to avoid using disposables.

* Support of Water Protection/ Boycott of Nestle (A list of water bottled by Nestle Corporation is included in the resolution)

These items go into greater detail. If you have questions, ask Pat Bell, Russell McReynolds, Bob Roth, Bill Amundsen, Frank Anderson, Keith Pohl or David Mills to see the blue Decision Items Book. All 15 resolutions are listed and briefly described in the Shalom Center Newsletter.

Education

Celebrate The Psalms Begins Sunday, September 12, 11 a.m.

The Genesis to Revelation class will begin a 13-week study of the Psalms. Class will meet in the second floor conference room following Fellowship Hour. Join us as we explore these hymns of praise, thanksgiving, lament and wisdom that have been such an important part of worship for centuries. “As religious poetry, the Psalms are an integral part of the dialogue between humans and God.”

The writers of the Psalms knew a God who is forgiving, gracious, righteous, just, merciful and faithful. They felt that to know God was to live life at it’s fullest. Come, renew your acquaintance with Him, and continue the conversations.

Contact Pat Basgall at the Church office or Dale Kirkby at 651-6302 to let us know your interest so we can have plenty of class books.

Sunday Vesper Class (Sunday evening) Begins Sunday, September 12, 5:30 to 7 p.m..

We will read, study, and discuss the book written by my professor at Garrett Theological Seminary [now GETS], William E. Hordern. It was first published in 1955, revised and expanded in 1968, and recently reprinted by Macmillan Press. It has an outdated title: A Layman's Guide to Protestant Theology. It is not a book dealing with contemporary systematic theology, but rather a historical theological presentation of Protestant roots and its variety of theological branches.

It begins with a background of the theology of the Early Church and the subsequent Protestant Reformation, which is often referred to as "Orthodoxy". It describes the origins of Fundamentalism and Conservative Theology as well as the meaning of theological Liberalism.

At least half of the book provides a chapter on the great theological minds of the 20th Century: Karl Barth, Reinhold Niebuhr, Paul Tillich, Rudolf Bultmann, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and trends into the 21st Century. It is difficult if not impossible to understand present-day Protestantism without familiarity with this background and these theological masters.

William Hordern left Garrett shortly after I graduated to become president of the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Saskatchewan, Canada, his native country. He earned his masters and doctorate degrees from Union Theological Seminary in New York, where he also served as an assistant to both Niebuhr and Tillich. - Keith Pohl

Youth News

A Heart for Youth Ministry?

If God has given you a heart for ministry with youth and you would like to answer that prompting of God’s Spirit, let us know. We may have a way for you to help youth to grow in their Christian faith, service and fellowship, all with a good helping of fun. Let Pastor Rob Nystrom know if you are interested in being one of Central’s adult volunteers in our youth ministry area.

Pour a “cup of concern”

The Rev. Bob Roth continues to honor Central UMC by writing articles helpful for our people, especially our youth. One of his latest is a suggestion for teens to pour a “cup of concern” for other teens instead of “booze.” You'll find it in the July/August, 2004 DevoZINE in our literature rack.
-Rev. Bill Amundsen

MusicNotes

Trey Jacobs is moving here from Florida and will serve as Central's Chancel Choir Director, beginning in September. Mr. Jacobs brings a wealth of experiences to his role here. His Master of Music degree is from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and he counts these among his many honors and activities: Choral Conductor for several performances of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra; conductor for performances of various honors choirs, some of which were held in Carnegie Hall; recipient of the Sallie Mae New Teacher Award for Orange County Public Schools; adjudicator at solo/ensemble and choral assessment festivals; conductor and co-founder of the Orlando Children's Choir and Concert Chorale; co-conductor of the Bach Children's Choir in Winter Park, Florida. He has served at the Masonboro Baptist Church in Wilmington, North Carolina; First Baptist Church of Joshua, Texas; Kingsland Baptist Church of Texas; First Baptist Church of Tallahassee, Florida, and Winter Park Presbyterian Church of Winter Park, Florida. Will you please extend a warm welcome to Mr. Jacobs.

This summer's special music has been topnotch, owing to the participation of a variety of great musicians! Many thanks go to Jessica Allen, Carolyn and Dale Kirkby, Jim Tennant and Katherine Austin, Portia Cole, Bryce Berry, Wendy Roiser, Janet Geissler, Lindsay Kesselman, Kathy and Suzanne MacLaren, and Dave Schuurmans for sharing their gifts with the congregation in worship. Thank you, too, to Michael Crouch, Roger Matthies, and Steve Rice for their assistance at the organ.

The Worship Commission has met this summer, and looks forward to helping with the launch of Central's new program year. Ideas for the group's consideration can be sent to Leon Martin, Chair.

Jessica Allen sends thanks to this congregation for the generous love gift that was given her on the Chancel Choir's last Sunday in June. She's most appreciative, and highly values her friendships with the folks here at Central. She looks forward to staying in touch.

The James Tennant - Katherine Austin Duo was an exciting inspiration to those in attendance at their Monday, July 12, recital here in Fellowship Hall. The two had just returned from a concert tour of England, and were on their way to teaching / performing at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. Their presentation was incredible! It was clear that, while each is a brilliant musician in his / her own right, their combined talents multiply even that severalfold.

This event was a wonderful blessing to the 150 folks who were able to be in attendance. How proud the Tennant family members must have been! What a well-deserved honor it was for James Tennant to dedicate the amazing performance to his mother, Virginia Tennant, in gratitude for her many years of love and support.

The West Michigan Conference Board of FUMMWA (Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and the Worship Arts) just completed a two-day planning session at which they scheduled several events. The workshops are of particular interest to those involved in the worship arts, and are scheduled at various places in the State. September's Journal article will outline some of these opportunities.

Wheelchairs available

There are two wheelchairs available at Central Church. They are normally parked next to one of the elevators on the ground floor. These chairs will provide easy access to almost any floor in the building. If you, a friend or family member has a personal need for a wheel chair, you may contact our Facility Manager, Tom Towsley to make arrangements to borrow one for a short period of time.

Central Journal delivery

If you receive the Central Journal later than expected, please call Pat Basgall at 485-9477. We strive to publish the newsletter so that it arrives at local mailboxes by the first of the month or within a couple days thereafter. We are in communication with the Postal Service in an effort to improve delivery time and your help is appreciated.- Ed

UnitedMethodist Women

Mission Team meets Thursday, August 12 at 6 p.m. at Arline Roe's home. We will use this time to plan for the upcoming year so if you have suggestions or requests please get them to one of us as soon as possible. Not sure who we are? Pat Mort, Linda Towsley, Mary Bower, Arline Roe, Marge Sleight, Dottie Stark, Carolyn Schuurmans, Betty Corbishley. Can't find us? Leave a note on the UMW Board in Fellowship Hall!

September's Mission Team meets Tuesday, September 7 and the October meeting is Wednesday, September 29, both at 6:30 p.m. in the 1st Floor Lounge.

Hope you're reading The Red Tent in preparation for September's Chalice Chicks! Watch your September Central Journal for date and time.

Wednesday, September 15, Lansing District Annual Meeting will be called to order at Lake Odessa Central UMC. Registration forms will be available in August. Our theme this year is "A Beacon for 135 Years". This is a DAY meeting - hope you can come! Bring along your pop tabs, items for Community House (see list of needed items on UMW Board in Fellowship Hall), a desire to fellowship with other UMW members and a thirst for knowledge! Rev. Molly Turner is our speaker.

Saturday, October 2 - mark it down now and plan to attend! We will have an Autumn Tea at 2 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. This event is open to all women and girls of Central - and your friends. See the September Central Journal for more details!

Saturday, October 16 is Conference Annual at Frankfort. Check the UMW Board for fliers closer to the date.

November is our Thank Offering Month. Plan now to give back in thanks and gratitude.

December 7 is our Christmas by Candlelight. Put it on your calendar now and plan to come. Details forthcoming!

So you see, there's lots to do and learn with UMW! Check out our books in the Library, knit or crochet a prayer shawl, read "Response" and "New World Outlook", also in the Library. We're 1,000,000+ strong - united in our purpose to help women, youth and children around the world. Be proud, be active, be involved. We're United Methodist Women. You're invited to be a part of us in whatever way you can.

Wheelchair available at Central

There is a wonderful way to remember or honor a loved one. Few of us have the need for more material gifts, so spread God’s Word by sponsoring a Sunday morning broadcast and include those at home or in the hospital as part of our Sunday morning worship.

Sprawl in the Promised Land: Healing Community from Rural to Urban.

Saturday, November 6, 9:30 am - 3 p.m., at Asbury UMC, Lansing. A Michigan area-wide forum on urban sprawl for all those persons with interest in city, suburban, town and rural ministries - watch for more information.

Fellowship Coffee Hour volunteers needed

Many members of the Church have been very gracious with their time and signed up to work coffee hour during June and July.

I am now working to find volunteers to work during August and September. Can you help? If your schedule permits, please sign up for the Sunday of your choice on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall or call me at 694-0680. Thank you so much for your continuing support of this very enjoyable fellowship time. - Alice Pifer, -Fellowship Coffee Hour

Among Friends

Remember...

At press time...

Joe O’Shea
Dan Schneider
Maxine Jones   
Dennis Kelley
Lulu Smith
Cathy Amundsen
Margaret Ebersole
Bill Ambrose
Bob Ebersole
Don Ambrose
Margaret Woolcocks, at Tendercare West

Baptism…

Emily Saalfeld, daughter of Jerry and Barb Saalfeld, was baptized June 13, in Mary Sabina Chapel.
 

Congratulations…

...to Nicole Pifer and Timothy Leible who were married on July 3. Nicole is the daughter of Steve & Mary Beth Pifer and the niece of Alice Pifer.

…to Kipp and Amy Richburg on the birth of their son, Ian Rhomas Richburg, born May 22. Grandparents are Jerrie and Ron Gibbs and great-grandmother is Arline Roe.
 

Thank you…

…to each of you who called or sent a card, stopped by to visit, do some work or run errands. I am grateful for your expressions of kindness. I am on my way to recovery after my fall. Joe O’Shea

…to all of you who have been praying for me for the past many weeks. The need does continue, but I want you to know I have been encouraged, comforted, and strengthened just knowing this is going on. May each of you be richly blessed. Maxine Jones

…after my emergency surgery to repair two aortic aneurysms, I was pleased to have hospital visits by Pastor Anderson and by Justin and Marge Sleight. In addition, I have appreciated the cards and wishes for recovery sent by many friends at Central. Mano Hardies

Transitions…

Ann Stoakes passed away May 24 and a memorial service was held June 14.

Ruth Smith, wife of Rex Smith, passed away May 27. The memorial service was held June 2.

Mark Gamble, brother of Anita Gamble, passed away July 13.

ELDERBERRYS ANTICIPATE FALL

Our older adult ministries have been on hold since May, but as we approach Fall new things can happen. For we are happy to announce that on Tuesday morning, September 14, Elderberrys will resume their morning monthly meetings at 10:30 a.m. Any and all adults in their retirement years or preparing for same, are invited and welcome to attend with us. We meet in the Church Dining Room, beginning with a program of vital interest, or entertainment, and then have lunch together around the tables as provided by Meals on Wheels of the Tri-County Office of Aging. We have fabulous times! Why not join in with us? The program on September 14th will deal with the new Policies of Admission and Churches' Ministries at Sparrow Health System here in Lansing. The Rev. Senia J. Taipale, Chaplain and Director of Pastoral Care for the Hospital, will be our guest speaker to start off our fall ministries for adults here at Central UMC. Reservations may be made in Fellowship Hall the two preceding Sunday mornings, or by phoning the Church Office. - F.F.A.

Ministries to those living in Retirement Homes

A number of our members and friends happen to reside in formal retirement homes in the Lansing area. Rev. Anderson has been conducting afternoon Vespers at Independence Village in East Lansing for almost ten years. The services are held weekly in the TV Room at 2 p.m. on the ground floor to the left as one enters the Main Lounge. His assigned time is the first Sunday of every month. He also coordinates the 4 p.m. weekly Vespers at Burcham Hills Retirement Community in East Lansing by assigning local pastors and speakers who conduct the services held in the Ada White Room on the first floor. A resident of Burcham helps to see that all runs smoothly week by week. If you are interested in providing music, or participating in any of these ministries, please contact Rev. Anderson at 323-6968, and he will be glad to talk with you about possibilities. - Francis Anderson

We send you greetings from Bolivia in the name of our Lord Jesus, wishing the best for you in all that you do.

During our visit to the States around the turn of the year, many of you had the opportunity to buy sets of baskets made by the women's group, "Tejiendo Esperanzas" (Weaving Hopes).

We thank you for your support and want to let you know a little bit of the impact YOU have had on these women's lives.

Peter and I were talking with one of the weavers in the group, Doña Sabina Chungara Jorge, about what she did with the money that she earned from the baskets sold in the churches we visited. Doña Sabina sent a total of 9 baskets that we were able to sell. For her, this represented about 20 days labor in total. For this work, she earned about $85.50 or a little more than $4.25 per day's labor. Yet, she was extremely happy to have earned this amount of money! Many women in Bolivia have little or no opportunity to earn money outside of the house. They rely on money given to them by their husbands or earned by the whole family.

For Doña Sabina, one of the first items that she purchased with her earnings was a gas lantern for her family. It cost her around $40 to buy, but now the family has a good light source to use at night. The lantern's operating costs will be similar to the cost for candles that they were using before (most families spend about $0.50 per day on candles), and the quality of light is better and stronger too.

Another area that was very important for Doña Sabina was to help pay some of the costs of schooling her children. Her eldest child, Zulema Goméz Chungara, is a senior this year at the Rio Colorado High School. She has other children who are still in elementary school also. Yet, for her, and many of the parents where we live, making sure that their children have access to better opportunities than their parents had is very important.

Returning to Bolivia with a Baby!

My son, Timoteo, was born in January 2004. How do I feel as a missionary mother bringing my children to another country to do our work?

Timoteo is a precious baby, a present from God to our family. Returning to Bolivia with a four-month old baby is a challenge for me. I probably won’t be able to work as much or in as many things as I did before, but I am sure that some new doors will be opened and that Timoteo and I will have new challenges together, as well as with his older brothers, Benjamin & Jonatan.

One great example for me at the school is Vilma Mamani Ayala, the wife of the pastor there. She is a mother with two children. When we arrived in Bolivia for our first three years as missionaries, Vilma had just returned to Rio Colorado with a baby just a couple of months old. Together, we all learned how to adapt to the difficult place where we were living. The baby had been born up in the mountain highlands of Bolivia, in the city of La Paz. Coming from the city to the tropical jungles with a baby, even if they were Bolivians, was very difficult. Together, we shared some difficult times.

I think that our family, Peter, the boys and I, will be able to continue the work that God has put before us the same way that Vilma and her family have done. I will leave all in the hands of our Lord Jesus Christ, and I know that He will help us in everything. I also know that we can count on the help from each of you as we work these three years; and especially the support of your thoughts and prayers.

Estela de Hudy, Colegio Rio Colorado,

Casilla 8347, La Paz, Bolivia

Elisabeth Wangen has arrived at the Rio Colorado School and has started teaching English to the students at the school. Elisabeth would love to hear from members of the congregation. Please feel free to send letters and cards to:

Elisabeth Wangen, Colegio Rio Colorado,
Casilla 8347, La Paz, Bolivia

It’s everywhere! The Purpose Driven Life. Rarely has a religious book been so popular and so recommended. That’s what led me to choose it for a book study at E. L. Chapel Hill UMC. On good advice we reviewed only a couple chapters a week, rather than doing the “40 day spiritual journey”. There’s simply too much thought-provoking material to digest that quickly and you don’t want to read this book without giving ample time for reflection.

The book has enjoyed a crossover appeal from pew to general public that’s a publisher’s dream. Author Rick Warren, a Baptist pastor, avoids the theological jargon and common pitfalls that would make most people hesitant to recommend it to friends. He also makes smart use of The Message, a very popular new paraphrase of the Bible. Warren downplays his own theological tradition, but The Purpose Driven Life is immersed (a full immersion) in modern Baptist theology, which is different enough from our Wesleyan (free will) perspective, that it can be a stumbling block. Unfortunately, there is little room for thoughtful differences or disagreements with the author, leaving some feeling that their faith has just been judged (critically). The chapter-a-day pace wouldn’t bother a sheep, but wouldn’t allow critical thinkers necessary time to consider important differences and underlying premises of faith. At Chapel Hill our best discussions grew out of why we disagreed with the book!

There are things I really liked about The Purpose Driven Life. Warren helps people look at the meaning of life in a way you won’t find on the voluminous shelves of self-help books. He asserts that your life is not about you; your life is about The One Who created you. We will ever struggle with the meaning and purpose of life until we see it in the context of a loving God Who has created us with a purpose. We need to ask and explore, “How is God trying to use me for God’s purpose in this world?” Warren wants all believers to understand that God has a ministry for them, and how to discern what that ministry is and how to explore and identify your spiritual gifts. Great insights for spiritual growth.

If you read The Purpose Driven Life give yourself time to digest it, a forum to discuss it, and permission to differ with it in places. It’s popularity tells us: 1) that church folks are searching and yearning for purpose and meaning too, just like “the world” and 2) “The world” is not so un-spiritual that it’s unwilling to consider spiritual resources that are clearly relevant and helpful. Warren has definitely identified a deep and profound need in our culture. Expect to see more books from him, and more books from other authors following this trend.

New Members at Central!

June 20 was the date for the reception of new members: Laurie Bates, Sara Bryant, Mark Mullins, and Meredith Price (and baptism). Welcome to Central!

Nursery Attendant Needed:

We are looking for a person to work in the Nursery Sunday mornings for three hours, 9 - 12 p.m., while parents attend Worship Service and Sunday School. This is a paid position. If you or someone you know are interested please speak with Rev. Rob Nystrom, 339-7511 or Frank Joranko, 485-6425.

Building Attendant needed:

We are in search of a building attendant to assist with church security, event supervision, cleaning and maintenance in exchange for use of the church apartment through a separate agreement. It is expected that the two male occupants of the church apartment will spend 12 hours per week (each) at the assigned duties. Hours worked over 12 hours will be paid. Please contact Pat Basgall, Administrative Secretary at 485-9477 for an application and possible interview.

Taken from Annual Conference Summary, John Ross Thompson, Conference Ministry Consultant

2004 West Michigan Annual Conference Summary

Healing: Streams in the Desert was the theme for the 2004 West Michigan Annual Conference which met in Grand Rapids June 3 to 6. Some highlights follow:

The conference defeated a petition mandating written accountability from churches that do not receive new members on profession of faith or have a decline in worship attendance.

The 425 churches of the conference now have 68,422 members, a decrease of 1,629. 

Bishop Linda Lee completed her fourth year as resident bishop of  the Michigan area. 

The new formula for a church’s share of the conference budget will be based on church income,  rather than membership and expenses.

The addition of domestic partner benefits to the conference health care plan will be appealed to the United Methodist Judicial Council, but it will be in effect pending a decision on whether it violates any provisions of The Discipline.

Honored at the conference was Cris Bobier, Lay Leader, and others within the conference, who are retiring from their leadership roles.

The 2005 annual conference will be held June 2-5, 2005 at Calvin College in Grand Rapids.

Come join the crowd!

"Celebrate with Central"

Saturday evening, September 25 and Sunday morning, September 26

Saturday evening music with Pat Madden-Roth and Bill Tennant

Special music Sunday

Peter Mitchel, President of Albion College

Guest speaker for both events

Central members and friends will celebrate:

* The reopening of Ottawa Avenue.
* Restoration of our Ottawa Avenue parking.
* Renovation of the dining room and the apartment.
* The new roof on the Temple House and repair of the sanctuary roof.
* Our opportunities for Christian stewardship.
* The beginning of an exciting church year at Central with the theme: GIFTING US FOR MINISTRY!

More details will follow in the September Central Journal. Please come and bring another person!