February, 2000
Keeping Members and Friends Informed
Promoting
Fellowship
Contributing to Spiritual
Growth
Partners report a successful start
Note: Following is an short report given by Dave Mills during a recent Sunday
morning service in the Sanctuary, edited for the Electronic Edition. Dave
is Chairperson for Central's Partnership for Preservation
Program.
"Two years ago the Board of Trustees, in an effort to address the deterioration
of our church home, established an endowment fund dedicated to the maintenance
and preservation of the structural integrity of Central United Methodist
church. Following our good Methodist tradition, a committee was formed to
implement this plan. Called "Partners for Preservation," the committee began
meeting a year ago with the goal of raising a considerable amount. Funds
raised will be placed in an endowment and the interest earned will ensure
that Central remains a religious, cultural, recreational and community center
for generations to come. A kickoff event was held May 1999. I would like
to share with you the progress of that effort and alert you to some upcoming
plans and events. Gifts to the Partnership for Preservation effort can come
in two forms. The first is a cash gift. The second method of giving is pledged
assets. This, for example, could be an insurance policy naming the church
as beneficiary, or to include the church in your will. When this effort began,
our committee thought it would take 5 years to raise the needed dollars.
However, if we continue at our first year pace, we will have endowed the
fund in 3 years. Over the next year we plan to continue current efforts and
expand in some new areas. The preservation Christmas cards will again be
available, and Dr. Wayne Barrett, of the United Methodist Foundation of the
West Michigan Conference will continue to provide assistance by explaining
various endowment opportunities available. For example, he will be at Central
on Saturday morning, March 11, to conduct a Wills and Trust Clinic. We will
also be approaching community groups who use Central - foundations, corporations
and government grants. To kick off the second year activities, we will hold
a special event at the church on May 6, 2000. Mark your calendar now and
the details of the fun time will be availabe soon. A church is far more than
a building. But the building provides a tool to use in our worship, a place
to have fellowship, to provide service to our community, to learn, and a
place made sacred by the experiences we have had here. Our building echoes
with the sounds and sights of over a hundred years and with the sounds and
sights of our hope for the future. Together we can ensure it will be all
of those things for generations to come."
THANK YOU
I would like to thank Central Church for the dinner provided after the memorial
service on January 14 for my dearest brother, Frank M. Headley. Thank you
to Pastor Boley and Caryn Welter for their speedy responses to put this service
together quickly. I must especially thank three women who have been incredible
during this difficult time for me: Patricia Bell, Lenore Ojibway and Joi
Tennant. I can't possibly thank you too much. And, Maggie Wallin, I can feel
your tender heart and support in spirit.. Dorothy Headley and daughters,
Rita, Rose, Mary and Lillian.
I would like to thank the congregation for your wonderful cards and prayers
during Mom's illness. Doug Lounsbury
Thanks to the entire church family for its love and support through the recent
illness and death of our father, Edward Spence. All of your acts and kindness,
cards, letters, and prayers are greatly appreciated. Family of Edward
Spence
Dear Friends, Please let me thank the pastor and all the people at Central
who made my 100th birthday a special one. I wish I were able to come to the
church and thank you in person. You are so good to your "shut ins." May God
continue to bless you. Electia 'Peg'
Bolley
Birth Announcement!
Joseph Howard Sidney Worthington born November 14, 1999 to Bruce and Sara
Worthington. Baptized by Rev. John Boley on January 2,
2000.
And a death
Frank Headley died January 5, 2000. Memorial Services were held in the Sanctuary
on January 14, 2000
Please take note!
Grief Seminar planned
There will be a grief seminar here at the church on Saturday, February 12th
from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. It is entitled "Tears of Gold: Coping with the Pain
of Losing a Loved One." It will be in the Dining Room. It will be conducted
by Leland Howe of Samaritan Counseling Center and Susan Zimmerman of Passages
Life Transition Center. All who are still suffering from the loss of a loved
one are invited to attend. There is no cost. Goodies will be provided. Feel
free to invite a friend who may be helped by this. We live fast paced lives.
Events come at us quickly. Especially for those of us with children, the
pace seems to be increasing and we spend our time running from thing to thing
and juggling events and commitments.
But when a loss comes - like the loss of a loved one - things come to a crashing
halt. There is shock, anger, loss, and tremendous grief. And the world does
not seem to stop long enough to care. Family, church, friends - all are important
in helping us recover from a significant loss. But society as a whole does
not pay much attention. In fact, society gives you 10 days to recover from
the death of a loved one, and then it expects you to be back to full speed,
just as the people who know you are back to full speed. In the church, we
understand the grief process, and we understand that society's time frame
is not sufficient for those in grief.
If you have suffered a loss in the last number of years and are still feeling
it, I invite you to come to a Grief Seminar here at the church on Saturday
morning, February 12th, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The seminar is entitled,
"Tears of Gold: Coping with the Pain of Losing a Loved One." It will be led
by two professional grief counselors. There is no cost. Goodies will be provided.
Grief is something that happens to everyone and should not be endured
alone.
May God be with you!
Pulpit Exchange
The annual pulpit exchange sponsored by the Pastor's Alliance of Greater
Lansing will be on Sunday, February 13. Preaching here will be Rev. Michael
Murphy of St. Stephen's UCC Church. John Boley will be preaching at Mt. Zion
Missionary Baptist Church.
Nursery School now enrolling
Mary Poppins Nursury School, a traditional preschool, is now enrolling 3
and 4 year olds for the fall of 2000. Mary Poppins has been operating a fully
licensed preschool for 32 years at First Presbyterian Church, on the corner
of Ottawa and Chestnut, in downtown Lansing. Classes fill up quickly! If
you have a child or grandchild to be enrolled for the 2000-2001 school year,
please call Jill McKeer at 323-2253 for more information.
UMW Rummage Sale is February 18-19 and 21,22.
Donations may be left in the south end of the church dining room on Sunday,
February 13. We are especially in need of people to help with set up and
take down. Call Norma Hanson at 886-4521 if you can
help.
Elderberrys
The next meeting will be Tuesday, February 5th at 10:30 in the church dining
room. The program will be a speaker on election and community issues will
be the program. RSVP by february 4th to Janet Mort by calling the church
office or signing up in Fellowship Hall 4th. The following meeting will be
March 14th.
Members addresses needed
We still have a couple of members without current addresses. If you have
them for Louise Arther or Edna D. Raby, please call the church
office.
Attention cat lovers
Please help us find a loving home for our cat. We will be moving home to
Kansas in May and unfortunately we will not be able too take her with us.
We adopted "Cooley" from the Humane Society when she was seven months old-she
is now three years old. She is a beautiful, short-haired, tortoise shell
colored cat. She is de-clawed, litter box trained, and all her shots are
current. Cooley enjoys being around people, but likes her independence as
well. She has brought great happiness to our lives, and we are looking for
a loving family for her. If you are interested in adopting Cooley, please
call Chad and Ann Haines at (517)321-7699.
Gifts and Memorials
By Mary Jessup, Chairperson, Gifts and Memorials Committee
Newly received memorials include:
1. Four portable bulletin boards in memory of Hayward Getty, Carolyn Schuurmans'
father, given by family and friends. The bulletin boards wereconstructed
by Dave Jessup.
2. New skirts for the bell choir tables in memory of Anna Anderson and Harry
Nesman, given by family and friends. Ann Mather was the seamstress
3. Paschal candle and brass candlestick in memory of Hazel and Harry Nesman,
given by family and friends
4. Two deacons benches in memory of many loved ones from undesignated memorial
funds.
We join in recalling these friends and appreciated those who
contributed.
Library News
Rebecca Lyman, daughter of Rev. Howard Lyman, has donated to our Library
a new book that she has written called Early Christian Traditions. Rebecca
is an Episcopal Priest and the Samuel Garrett Professor of Church History
at The Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, California. Her
book is part of a new book series called The New Church's Teaching Series.
Rebecca has fond memories of Central and was greatly influenced by "the example
and interest of many fine people at Central." She wants to encourage us to
keep sowing seeds and have confidence that the seeds do sprout.
The children's section in our library has recently acquired an 11 volume
set of books on Bible history. Titles include Warriors and Kings, Wind and
Fire, Kingdoms and Empires, The Life that Changed the World, and Growing
up in Bible Times. There are many other attractive and informative books
in the children's section, ready for you to check out. Also, other new books
of appeal to parents, teachers, grandparents, and any others are The Grandmother
Principle and A Prayer for Children. In fiction the Mitford series is
available.
Church School News
Coordinated by Janet Mort, Program Director
Lenten Study begins March 12
We will be offering a series of classes both on Sunday morning and evening
which will explore some of the great doctrines of the church. Some of the
questions that will be asked are why did Jesus have to die, why and how should
I read the Bible, how does God guide us and how and why should we tell others?
Plan to make this study a part of your schedule during Lent. Watch for further
details in next month's Journal.
Unit 4 - Time and Again January 16 - March 5
Whole People of God - Joi Tennant Centennial Room
New member Class - Rev. John Boley 2nd Floor Conference Room
Join the Adult Class that began January 16th The Jesus I Never Knew - Karen
Holoweiko & Pat Bell
(Second Floor Lounge)
Leadership Training/District Conference
Saturday, February 19, 2000 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Trinity UMC, Lansing
Keynote Speaker will be Dr. Dan Dick. Workshops include:
Leadership in the Local Church
Negotiating the Tricky Waters of Change
Racial and Cultural Diversity
General Conference Issues
Trustees: Responsibilities in the Local Church
Spirituality and Finances Go Together
United Methodist Women
Pastor/Parish Relations: What are the Issues
Meals as Outreach
Maximizing Talents of Retirees as Volunteers
Lunch will be served. Cost will be $10 per person for the day. District
Conference business will be between meal and afternoon
workshops.
MUSIC NOTES
By B. Caryn Welter, Music Director
The lovely Jaeckel organ's beauty stuns parishioners and guests alike as
they enter Central's sanctuary. What a magnificent offering it is to our
God! Inasmuch as we experience some ongoing difficulties with it, we have
invited the builder here to talk with us about some structural repairs and
corrections that may solve recurring problems. We have gathered information
from two other individuals about structural/technical aspects of the organ's
functioning. These, combined with day-to-day observations of the instrument,
will help with the builder's work. Our ten-year work agreement with Dan Jaeckel
ends in a couple of years, so it's important to address these issues now.
Should you have questions, feel free to ask. We are fortunate to have this
glorious instrument in our church.
From Michelle …
Mark your calenders for upcoming children's music performance dates: Sunday,
Feb 27; Sunday, March 19; Sunday, April 16; and Sunday, May 21. Choir recognition
day is Sunday, May 14. Rehearsal times: children through 1st grade: after
children's time in worship; children through 5th grade: immediately following
worship. Also, if you can volunteer to help with cookies and juice or to
round up children for rehearsal on Sunday mornings … that would be
wonderful! We have limited rehearsal times and lots of things to practice,
so all your help is greatly appreciated! See you Sunday at
rehearsal!!!
START THINKING CAMP
It's not too early to be thinking about a summer church camp. The following
opportunities at West Michigan Conference Camps can be a life-changing
experience, a chance to make life-long friendships with other Christian youth
and adults, and a time to grow closer to God and to learn to love
oneself.
"The ABC's of Faith" Elementary Camp, Crystal Springs, July 19-25
"More Than Music" Elementary Camp, Wesley Woods July 12 - 28
"Serve the Lord with Gladness" Middle School Camp, Wesley Woods, Aug. 2
-8
"Forever Friends" Senior High Camp, Lake Louise, July 26 - Aug 1
Lansing Family Camp Lake Michigan, Aug. 2-8
Mature Adult Camp September at Wesley Woods
Look for information on these and other camp opportunities in Conference
brochure available soon through the church office.
Red Roses ...
To Charlie Jennett who spent days proofreading the materials for the new
church directory.
Thanks also to Anne Forgrave and Linda McCracken for their assistance in
proofing.
To the great crew who worked for hours to take down the greens from the Christmas
season, including Charlie and Pam Jennett, Dick and Beth Murley, Arline Roe
and Don Pickard.
To Rob Forgrave: "We are still getting great comments about the new
signs."
To the church staff for their great work in keeping our church "office" running
so smoothly.
Sewing Group Annual Report
Submitted by Norma Hanson, Chairperson and Jeanne Fowler,
Treasurer
Balance on hand January 1, 1999 $235.32
Income 102.50
Total $337.82
Expenditures 73.94
December 31, 1999 balance $263.88
Sources of Income: Church rummage sales and garage sales, Woolcocks Memorial,
Monetary gift and items sold to Sewing Group members. Membership: 6 active,
1 home knitter, 2 home sewers. Meetings: 48- Held Thursdays 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
in north end of church dining room.
United Methodist Women
By Pat Mort, President
CONFERENCE/DISTRICT DATES FOR 2000
Saturday, March 25 Legislative Day at Holt UMC
Friday/Saturday, April 14/15 Spring Retreat at Wesley Woods
July 20-23 School of Missions at Calvin College
Thursday, September 21 (9a.m. - 3 p.m.) Lansing District Annual Meeting, Hastings
Monday, October 9 (2 - 8 p.m.) Officer Training at DeWitt Redeemer
Saturday, October 21 Annual Conference - Lansing First UMC
Next Mission Team Meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on February 1 in the Centennial Room.
"Fun" Calendars will be available from Circle Leaders at February meeting
Proceeds will go to UMW mission projects.
CHURCH FAMILY NIGHT - FEBRUARY 29
Leap Year Extravaganza 6:15 p.m. in the Dining Room
Sloppy Joes/chips/relishes/ice cream/ cookies/beverages. Cost is $3.00 Adult,
$2.00 ages 4 - 11, and free if 3 and under.
All proceeds will go to Brighter Future for Children and Youth, an outreach
of United Methodist Women.
LENTEN BRUNCH - April 15 Dining Room at noon. Hosted by Mable Morrison
Circle
SPECIAL EVENT - February 28 from 9 a.m. - noon at Holt UMC (2321 N. Aurelius
Road, Holt) Ray Buckley, author and Native American storyteller, will be
speaking on Native American Spirituality, as well as the importance of giving
a name.
FROM THE TRUSTEES
By Jim Mort, Chairperson, Board of Trustees
The members of the Trustees for the year 2000 are: Dick Bates, Dick Murley,
Susan Grettenberger, Jim Stark, Bryan Halter, Mary Ellen Maas and Jim Mort.
I would like to take this opportunity to express appreciation to our departing
members: Joy Adcock, Don Knechtel , Bob Wangen & Maggie
Wallin.
The work on the chapel restoration is well underway!! By now, many of you
have met some of the workers, seen demonstrations of gold leafing and witnessed
evidence of some other touch ups around the church. The work in the chapel
should be completed by the end of the first week in March. One additional
benefit of this project is that the New Millennium company is also preparing
a 'book' for us detailing how the restoration was done and how to best preserve
our chapel in the future.
Some other changes that will be happening is that some new furniture will
be arriving soon for the seconf floor lounge and conference rooms. The new
furniture is part of a redecoration project that has been going on for several
months. There are some exciting changes happening at Central, but as always
let us remember to keep our focus on God first!
May the Lord bless you and keep you … Jim Mort
Life Journeys
Third in a continuing series highlighting "Central's Graduates" from the
past decade
If you are a "Central graduate" honored during one of our past ten June
Commencement Sundays, we want to hear from you (or from your friends or family).
Submit a short narrative for publication in a future Journal. Outline your
journey since graduation; your education, where you have lived or traveled,
your employment, and your family, friend and hobbies.
Class of 1990
Jennifer Robinson, daughter of Edith and Roger Robinson, writes; "After
graduation from Okemos High School in 1990, I attended Lansing Community
College where I earned an Associate Degree in Photography. From there I
transferred to Columbia College in Chicago where I earned a Bachelors Degree
in Professional Photography. I am currently a studio manager and photographer
for Jessica Tampas Photography in Chicago. I am very blessed to be involved
in a church plant on the north side of Chicago. This church plant is designed
to reach a range of people including homeless youth, gutter punks, goths,
ravers, drug addicts and homosexuals. Basically, we are trying to reach a
generation of people in search of identity and purpose and showing them what
it means to find it in Christ. What started out as 8 people meeting in a
home a year ago, has turned into 30 to 40 people ready to launch a church
plant in January called, "The River." This will be a satellite for New Life
Community Church on the south side of Chicago. I have seen many lives changed
and am looking forward to seeing how God is going to work here."
Class of 1993
Kristin Robinson, daughter of Edith and Roger Robinson, graduated from Okemos
High School in 1993. She attended Lansing Community College and then transferred
to Columbia College in Chicago. She is currently attending MSU with plans
to graduate in May with a degree in Recreational Therapy. Kris lived for
one year in Chicago and returned for one summer to volunteer at the Chicago
Institute of Recreational Therapy. Since she has been back in Michigan, she
has had an opportunity to work with disadvantaged youth and mentally handicapped
adults. She also teaches aerobics. Other sites of travel include Florida,
Dallas, Las Vegas and San Diego.
Class of 1994
Molly McCracken, daughter of Bill and Faye McCracken graduated from Albion
College with a double major in Spanish and Economics in May 1998. She applied
to be a Peace Corps Volunteer shortly before graduation, and then worked
in Southfield for several months before hearing from the Peace Corps. Finally,
in November 1998, she was offered a placement in either the South Pacific
or in Panama. She decided to go to Panama, in part, because she wanted to
use her Spanish. Her three-months of training began in Panama on January
10, 1999. Ironically, her permanent assignment, starting last April, is on
the island of Ustupu in the San Blas province. The island has about 6000
Kuyna Indians, who speak their own native American language-and only a few
speak Spanish! The Kuna language is essentially unwritten, so learning to
communicate with them has been a real challenge. Her main job is small business
development for the Kuna artistic work, the sewing of Molas, beautiful highly
colored stitchery.
Class of 1997
Michael McCracken, son of Bill and Faye McCracken, is a third-year student
at the University of Michigan majoring in Civil and Environmental Engineering.
He is interested in hydraulics and hydrology and may make that his specialty
within the CEE program. He is out of the dorm this year and lives in a house
in the student ghetto near campus with four other students. His room is in
the basement, but has a fairly large window, so it is quite pleasant-not
a dungeon. Michael is also quite interested in rocks and minerals. The summer
he graduated from East Lansing High School he attended U of M's Camp Davis
in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for a six-week course in Geology of the Rockies.
The following summer, he again went to Camp Davis, this time as an employee,
rather than a student. Last summer, he worked for a hotel company in Grand
Marais, Minnesota, on the north shore of Lake Superior. Michael has several
hobbies, but the one that seems to be occupying all of his spare time now
is playing the banjo.
Class of 1999
Lynda McCracken , daughter of Bill and Faye MacCracken, is a first-year student
at the University of Michigan and is studying engineering. At this point
she plans to major in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Design. She enjoys
art which would be a part of the design component of that program. Class
work is taking most of her time, so she has not had time to play any golf
or swimming, two sports which she spent much time at while attending East
Lansing High School. Lynda worked at the Douglas J Salon last summer and
over the Christmas break. However, she is planning to take some classes at
U of M this summer, and may work part time in Ann Arbor.
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