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Central Journal

May, 1998

Keeping membership and friends informed

Promoting fellowship

Contributing to spiritual growth

Mission endowment funding provided by Edward and Marjorie Roe

By Carolyn Schuurmans, Commission on Global Missions

For the past ten years, Edward and Marjorie Roe have been regularly giving a large gift each year to establish a mission endowment fund at Central UMC. Their commitment to missions is extraordinary, and the Global Missions Commission wants to express our gratitude for this great gift.

Their goal was to leave a $100,000 endowment fund, the interest to be used by the Global Missions Commission, with approval by the trustees, to support missionary work of the United Methodist Church. Before Mr. Roe died earlier this year, the fund with interest had reached $150,000. He decided to give $30,000 for youth through the Camp Endowment Fund. The interest will continue to help the fund grow until Mrs. Roe's death, but part of it will be available for missionary support.

The Global Missions Commission is investigating the Six Lanes of Giving book, to find the places in each lane most in need. We hope to become a Covenant Church, which means supporting a missionary at $1,000 per year. We will then be in personal touch with them and they will visit Central when they are "itinerating" in the United States.

We hope Central members will become more personally interested in the mission work of the church and each of us find the desire to support Mission work, feeling our own sense of the commitment of Edward and Marjorie Roe.

Quality Living Program to Begin at Central

By Denise Fabbri, Education Director

Many of you may already know that since last fall I have been working on a master's degree from Western Michigan University. My degree program requires that I complete a 200 hour practicum. As with all practicums it needs to be an area of interest but also an area where new learning will occur for the student.

This past winter, I was approached by two members concerning the Quality Living Program sponsored by Christian Services. This program creates an opportunity for individuals to learn goal setting and financial skills. It helps them accomplish change through small steps while attending a weekly class which acts as a learning environment as well as a support system.

The program trains volunteers to work one on one with identified families. It offers the family additional support through a prayer partner and a children's program, as well as, a Bible lesson and the ability to network into other needed services.

My part in all of this is to organize the project, locate volunteers, attend the training, and facilitate the group meetings as both the project coordinator and as a budget counselor.

Where can you fit in? Well, there are several areas for outreach within this project for anyone interested. First, I will need two to four people to commit to being a budget counselor. This will include a training period and 12 weekly sessions of Acounseling.

Then, I will need people to present the children's program. One of the strengths of this program is that the children receive the same Bible lesson as their parents. This should act as reinforcement and help to facilitate change in the family dynamics.

Lastly, the volunteers and the clients will need a prayer partner. This person agrees to pray daily for the participants. For many of the clients, it will be empowering to know that someone prays specifically for them during this time of learning, change, and growth.

This program has helped several families in the area even though it is a relatively new program. The most significant change came from a woman on welfare who is now self-supportive and a budget counselor. She has become an inspiration for others.

From a Christian standpoint, God calls each of us to be good stewards of the earth and all the creatures on it. Unfortunately, not everyone has the skill or the knowledge of God's word to accomplish God's will. It is then left to us to help our neighbors cope with today's financially driven society and to provide the teaching, support, and prayer to help make changes in families living near the edge or fringes of society.

It may also be one way our new visioning can manifest itself within the walls of Central and be an outreach to the downtown community. We often hear much discussion that Central does not have a Aneighborhood. We may want to reconsider this thinking. Already one family living very near Central has been identified and is ready for this program. So please, let's take another look around us and reframe our paradigm of what a Aneighborhood actually is.

It is my hope that all of you will consider this a wonderful outreach for Central. Many lives can be touched and hopefully changed positively.

I, personally, look forward to this project with anticipation for both myself and the clients, but also for the positive possibilities for Central.

PASTOR'S PEN

Okay, let's talk about the applause thing. Several people have contacted me over the issue of applause in the Sunday worship service. I'm glad so many people are concerned and willing to express their opinions.

On the one hand, it is clear that for many people applause disrupts the spiritual climate of the service, it smacks of a "performance" orientation in worship and has no place in the reflective/meditative atmosphere that we try to foster. On the other hand, applause is a legitimate form of expression of appreciation for people's talents and efforts and fits well into a celebratory form of worship that is becoming more popular – adding life to what otherwise might appear dullness. The issue then, is not just applause, it is really between two fundamentally different types and understandings of worship; the meditative versus the celebratory.

Is it possible to find a compromise, or "happy medium," to this dilemma, assuming that we will have just one service?

There are no hard and fast rules about this. Let's try this for starters:

Applause is appropriate during the Praise section of the service, but not during the Proclamation section of the service. (For instance, several weeks ago, there was applause for the kids who sang a prayer response. This was not appropriate.)

Applause is especially appropriate for the kids when they do their music during the Praise section of the service. For the adults during the Praise section of the service, spontaneous applause is OK but should generally be avoided.

Applause is appropriate during recognitions and presentations.

Let's keep the conversation going, but in the meantime, let's understand that there are different worship styles that are valid, and let's not expect everyone to worship the same way. Let me know you thoughts.

Grace and Peace, John

CENTRAL DIRECTORY

Our Worship Service each Sunday is at 9:30 a.m. with Sunday School for all ages at 11:00 a.m. The service is broadcast live over WJIM-AM (1240). It is also cablecast and appears Sunday night from 9-10 p.m. on Channel 16 or 37 of Media One Cablevision.

The Central Journal is a monthly publication of Central United Methodist Church, Lansing, MI. Deadline for submittal of material is the third Monday of the month preceding the month of publication. Journals are scheduled to arrive at destinations by the first of the month.

Journal Editor is Jim Hane (517) 669-3306

Second Vision Meeting

By Ruth Holmes

The second Visioning meeting was held at Central on April 1, 1998 at 7:30. Rev. Joe Bistayi, from the West Michigan Conference, again led us in our Visioning Search.

We opened with the biblical reference in Mark referring to the blind man, Bartimmaeus. We were asked to think about the cries of today, the silencing that goes on in our society in relation to those cries, and how Christ responds and also asks us to respond.

We were led in a series of questions and discussions concerning the present, future, and our expectations for Central based on our "Vision" and where we want to go.

Who is currently the primary customer of CUMC? Discussion centered around ourselves and our outreach ministries related to times of day and days of the week. It was a revealing discussion as to who we are really serving and when.

In the future, who would you like to be our primary customers? What does God want us to do? What is pleasing to him? Should we focus on finding where we can best serve and not be all things to all people? Are we stretched and drained through over-commitment? Is there a deeper calling inherent in all this? Are we searching out a strong deep calling that God lifts up?

If CUMC would become anything God wanted it to be in three years and we gave ourselves fully to that, what would it look like? What would be its focus, and what would it be known for? We divided into groups for this and most wanted a caring, committed church, serving others, full and meaningful services in a top notch facility where spiritual needs are met.

All who attended the meeting will receive Rev. Bistayi's notes with some future steps outlined.

Our next meeting will be Wednesday, April 29th at 7:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to join us as we vision and discern the future.

QUIET MOMENTS

This month's column was graciously provided by CUMC member Wallace (Wally) VanStratt.

"My mother, Ada VanStratt, was a devout person. She was a blue ribbon gardner and floral arranger. She was also a poet of some notoriety. In one of her quiet moments she combined these attitudes and talents when she penned the following Garden Prayer."

Make us more like gardens, Lord

with a faith as true and strong

They know there will be sunshine

and that dew will come with dawn.

They know there will be cloudy days,

that storms will have their spell.

They know Nature's Great Creator

Still lives, and all is well.

This month's suggested Bible Readings

Matthew 6:24-34

Psalm 128:1-8

Quiet Moments is a column with devotional and spiritual focus. If you would like to share your experience or insight please call Leah Kay Fitch at 394-4597

COMMON "CENTS"

by Ruthann Jaquette, Business Manager

Did you know that you can designate your contribution to the "United Way" to Central Church? When making your gift or pledge indicate that you would like your money to go in full or in part to Central UMC. Just another way your money can work to further God's mission at Central.

The recent collection for the Covenant Players Drama Group amounted to $471. The collection for One Great Hour of Sharing amounted to $1,170. Nice going Central!

If you would like to sponsor a Sunday morning radio broadcast in honor or memory of someone please contact me or Beverly Dodge at the church office. The cost is $135 per broadcast.

Congratulations Central!

Lansing District Superintendent John Ellinger, in a congratulatory letter to Central, points out that the 1997 District apportionment giving was 91.3% which is a 4.4% increase over 1996 and the highest record of giving in recent years. As you recall, we paid 100% of our approtionment in 1997.

He also reports more good news . The 1997 Advance Special giving for the District jumped a whopping 23.5% over 1996!!

I share John's excitement and appreciation for the work of our congregation in this regard. Let's keep up the good work.

Education

Denise Fabbri, Education Director

Adult Electives

Block 6 continues through May 31

Whole People of God, Easter People

Paul, His Message About Faith and Grace

Feeding the Spirit, Sermon on the Mount

Great Ideas II

May 3 - Kaye Olson, RN, MA, author of Surgery and Recovery, a book on how to reduce anxiety and promote healthy healing, will discuss health promotion and peak performance. Ms. Olson donated a copy of her book to our library.

May 10 - Congresswoman Debbie Stabenow will discuss the Major Issues Facing Our District.

May 17 - Lansing Mayor David Hollister, former State Legislator and Lansing Public school teacher, will discuss how Central can assist the city, along with other churches, to keep General Motors in the Lansing area.

May 24 - No classes in observance of Memorial Day

May 31 - Elsie Dakota, District Secretary for the Grand Traverse District of the United Methodist Church, will discuss her experience on a recent Peace Keeping Mission to the West Bank that was sponsored by the Michigan Peace Team.

Last Call for Camping Scholarships

Very soon I will need to pay the Conference for camping scholarships. If you are interested in attending camp, please get your forms into me by May 20th.

Library Stamps Purchase Books

Last month I explained how collecting Library Builder Stamps from the Gift and Bible stores could help the library. Well, this past month I was able to get Corrie Ten Boom, Her Story free from Gift and Bible with these library stamps. What a great way to build our library!

Graduation Sunday is June 7

Central will celebrate the graduation of this year's seniors on June 7, 1998 with the traditional Graduation Breakfast and Worship Service. College graduates are asked to submit their name, school and their degree so it can be printed in the bulletin bu June 1st.

New Summer Children's Program to Begin June 7

During Worship this summer the children will be invited to attend a new summer program called Summer Seekers. After the Children's Sermon children between 3 and 6 years old will go downstairs as in the past, and children between 7 and 10 will go to the Learning Center. The children will hear a Bible story and work on a related craft project. Parents can pick up their children after the service.

Vacation Bible School News

VBS will we held here at Central June 22-26th from 9:30 to 12:30. This year's theme is Sonlight Island because it follows a beach party scheme.The children will hear about God's love using New Testament stories such as, The Good Samaritan, The Prodigal Son, and Zacchaeus. We will end the week with a family beach party in the parking lot at 5:30 Friday. Everyone is invited to the festivities which will include the children singing all the music they have learned all week. Volunteers are needed in all areas to make this a great success. If you can help, even for only one day, please call me.

Last Minute Call for Directory Pictures

The last opportunity for you to be a part of our directory is May 5th and 6th. So, please call to get an appointment. There are still a few openings.

Walk for Humanity

By Mary Bourdeau

The Junior and Senior High Sunday school class will be participating in the annual Walk for Humanity on May 3rd. Our goal is to have ten walkers get a least ten sponsors for $10 each. We invite your support and assistance (and would love to have more walkers, of course). Money raised will help Habitat's annual Blitz Build, in which we will again build two houses in two weeks (See related article on page 7). This is a great program, and we hope many people from Central will join us in action and prayer. Please be generous when you are approached by a young person for sponsorship in this activity.

THANKS

A big thank you to the following volunteers who helped with the recent Church Rummage Sale; Ginny Cantwell and her brother, Lucille Chase, Betty Corbishley, Nancy Esch, Dorothy Good, Jim Hane, Charley and Pam Jennett, Lee Mort, Evelyn O'Dell, Laveda Poyet, Ruth and Rex Smith, Marian Sprague, Betty Ward, and Margaret Woolcocks.

Ginny Hane, Chairperson

Norma Hanson, Assistant

Dear Friends,

Thanks so much for your very generous "love" gift given at Christmas. It finally arrived and I have put it to very good use.

Beverly Dodge

Thanks to everyone for their prayers, cards and calls during my recent illness. A special thanks to Rev. Boley and Rev. Anderson for their visits. May God bless you all.

Ken Lamphere

Thanks to Lois Meyers for providing funding for the

April 5th radio broadcast; to Margaret Holmes for the April 12th broadcast; and to Arline Roe for the broadcast of April 19th.

Thanks so very much for your wonderful gift of the love offering. That, coupled with the meaningful note of appreciation, touched my heart in a special way. It was just one more example of the warmth and caring this congregation has extended to me over the past two years. It is a real pleasure to be here in your midst.

Caryn Welter

Thank you Central UMC Family for your support and your prayers. The diagnosis is officially unchanged until further testing. Therefore may I request your continued support in prayers.

With Sincere Thanks,

Miriam Priebe (and Walt)

Thank you so much for your love offering gift. Being here this past year has been very rewarding for me both personally and professionally and that is due in great part to the wonderful caring people I work with and for.

Warmly, Denise

Thanks to all the people who have taken an interest in making the church gardens a thing of beauty this summer.

We welcome as new members:

Louise Arthur Reaffirmation of Faith

Helen Groh Reaffirmation of Faith

Dennis Kelly Transfer from Plymouth First UMC

Sara Martin Baptism and Membership

Kevin Sosnowski Reaffirmation of Faith

Karen Stefl Transfer from Portage Chapel Hill UMC

Bruce Worthington Reaffirmation of Faith

(Look for brief new member "bios" in the next Central Journal)

Website reaches milestone!

By Bryan Halter

At the close of its first year in operation, Central's website recorded over 1000 visits, making it one of the most frequently accessed church sites. Some technical problems at the General Board of Global Ministries server in New York, on which our material is stored, resulted in erratic totals for a few days near the end of March, but that problem has now been corrected.

Central is the first Lansing area church to appear on the General Board national server, and the first Lansing/East Lansing United Methodist Church to have its own place on the Internet.

Innovations during the year included offering linked access to the full text of the Bible in seven languages: German, Swedish, Latin, French, Spanish,Portuguese, Italian, Tagalog and Norwegian. An archive of back issues of the on-line Central Journal through August, 1997 has also been constructed so site visitors attempting to find past information have it at their fingertips.

The future for the site is limited only by our imagination. It will likely be an effective tool in communicating our Vision to the community and the world beyond. Meanwhile, it continues to serve its primary purpose as a modern "directory listing" similar to the telephone book, city directory, etc., where people can turn to find basic information about churches in a "high tech" environment.

EVANGELISM/NURTURE

Co-Chairs: Beth Murley and Marjorie Sleight

Help Wanted

Who?..........................................................................................................Greeters

Were?........................................................................................................Ottawa and Capitol Entrances

When?..........................................................................................9:00 to 9:30 a.m. each Sunday morning

Why?..........................................To welcome everyone with a smile, a handshake and a friendly word.

Sunday Transportation Available

Need transportation to church Sunday morning? The new church van is at your service! Please call the church during the week or leave a message on Saturday. Include your name, address and phone number. Door to door service is just a call away! The drivers are ready and willing.

See you in church!

REMEMBERING From Central's past ...

Notes from various historical documents located in the Church Archives.

43 Years ago, 1955

Central's Ralph Goodell Memorial Library had its beginnings in 1955, when Dr. Morrison, pastor, reported to the board of Trustees that Mrs. Mable Goodell and Mr. and Mrs. Vern Ebersole, the latter a daughter of Mr. Goodell, had agreed to provide furnishings for what would become the Ralph Goodell Memorial Library. The cost of the furnishings was not to exceed $1,385. The old Central Chapel was renamed for that purpose. Some of the items suggested for purchase were a dozen chairs, a library desk and table, conference table, new lighting, shelving and a formal picture of Ralph Goodell.

49 Years ago, 1948

On Sunday, May 23, 1948, a twentieth Anniversary Program was held at Central, celebrating the building of the Central Temple House. It was an interesting program chaired by Dr. J. W. Sexton, Superintendent of the Lansing Public Schools. Also to give talks that day were Kearney Kirkby, Minister of Education; Lee Black, the architect; and Ralph Crego, Mayor of Lansing. The solo that Sunday was "Open the Gates of the Temple" sung by Mary Toy Yard, whose mother, Mrs. J. M. Toy had sung the same solo at the dedication of the Temple House.

48 Years ago, 1950

Contrary to popular belief, Central did experience some security problems in its earlier years. The problem raised its ugly head several times in later years.

(Editor Note: Did you know that a breakin and robbery at Central occurred as recently as April 23, 1998 when a person or persons broke the glass window of the first floor lounge, gaining entry in the early morning hours?

In 1950, during the interim of the choir recessional and the congregation leaving the sanctuary, the offering plate, and offerings were taken out of the church. It was later revealed that this same type of theft had occurred at the First Baptist Church.

In 1971, the church administrative secretary noted a number of : "missing" items and urged the Board of Trustees to implement security measures, including the changing of all locks.

109 Years ago, 1889

Central's Board of Trustees, at its March 19 meeting authorized donations for memorial stain glass windows in the church. As a result there were eleven donors who contributed a total of $975 toward the cost. Early records show a discrepancy in this figure. Some record state cost at $825.60 and an earlier source shows $916.89.

Memorial Gift Report

Undesignated memorial money has been used to add voice mail to staff telephones, purchase three banquet tables, and a new signboard, letters, and interior lighting for the sign on the Capitol-Ottawa corner of the building. The Ottawa Street foyer tile is a gift from Jeanne and Bob Fowler. The new sign between the Ottawa Street doors is given in memory of W. Richard Neller. Our Lenten banners, New Life Rising", are in memory of Kenneth and Ruth Fishbeck, designed and crafted by their niece, fiber artist Barbara Peterson. We join the family and friends in remembering them. We express our gratitude to those who have conributed.

Mary Jessup, Chairperson, Church Memorial Committee

Red Roses to ..

To Marie Manson for rearranging the Judy Grove memorial floral arrangement as well as the mantle arrangement in the First Floor Lounge. Our lounge is very attractive because of Marie's care.

To fourth and fifth grade Sunday School class and their teachers for weeding the garden spot between the Mary Sabina Chapel entrance and the Capitol Avenue entrance. Those participating were Tommy and Jimmy Pasch, Katie Jo Knechtel, Sam Holoweiko, Kendra Schneider, Ian Boley, Beckey Mason, Ivan Parker, Chris Ezop, Margo Parker and Ruthann Jaquette. Great examples of "budding" Christian stewardship at Central.

To the many people who helped with third-floor preparations for the upcoming elevator installation. Removal of risers and choir robe storage, as well as the relocating of music shelving and music, were all huge undertakings. Thanks to the efforts of many, we were ready in time for the first target date.

To Arline Roe and David Bass for taking pictures for the directory.

To Bill Tennant and Jim Hepfer for getting and wiring a third body microphone for the Covenant Players.

To Joi Tennant for the informative and artistic Stewardship Bulletin Boards outside Fellowship Hall. Don't miss these great exhibits.

To Dan Morris, who redid the small bathroom on the balcony between the Sunday School rooms in Fellowship Hall.

CHURCH AND SOCIETY NEWS

Paint Blitz

Report from Mary Boudreau

It's time to mark your calendars for a day of hard work, fellowship, and community action. This year's Paint Blitz will be Saturday, June 6 (or June 13, depending in Michigan's weather).

For the past two years (at least) Central has gathered a team of 15 to 20 people to paint a house for an elderly or disabled person. It is a fun and busy activity that not only helps an individual, but also spruces up a neighborhood and demonstrates Central's commitment to our community.

People can help by actually working that day, providing snacks (this is the most vital part of the project) and praying for good weather, safe work, and good fellowship.

Please contact Mary Boudreau at 372-4146 if you can participate in any way. It is a great activity for the family (at least those who are old enough to hold a brush) and is a very meaningful experience.

Legislative Business

Report from Joyce Joranko

I am very heartened by the work that the Michigan House Committee on School Violence has been doing. For the past several months they have held hearings all over the state. As a result of these hearings they have put together a thirteen bill package.One of the components is money for alternative programs for troubled youth expelled from their local schools. Also in the plan are funds for an intervention and prevention program for juvenile violence and crime and after school and non-athletic programs for troubled youth.

As a former alternative teacher, I know that these are good solutions for a serious problem. Kids that are troubled often feel alienated and rejected. Providing structures where they can feel accepted, needed and given ways to achieve success will indeed keep many from a future of continued anti-social and criminal behaviors.During the church school study on Violence in Society. we discussed ways we can stem the tide of violence. I urge all of you to write to your legislators to support this bill.

One other note, I urge you to give prayerful consideration to a bill that would require welfare recipients to be drug tested and fingerprinted as well as require their gambling winnings to be used to repay the state for past benefits. Let your voice be heard.

Church Snapshot Pictures

By Rich Roush, History Committee

This is a busy time of the year when the church begins to have meetings, dinners projects and picnics. We also begin to take snapshot pictures to record these events. Many of these pictures find their way to the History Committee for safe keeping and future reference. Unfortunately, many come to the Committee without proper documentation. To help us properly file these pictures, we request that they have the following data on each photo. Event and date * Group * Names of the pictured individuals. Picture Photos without this data will be placed in a General File and will probably be discarded in future years.

Food For Thought

Goals are dreams with deadlines.

Prayer changes the way we look at the world around us.

Talents sealed in a bottle do not spread the fragrance of God's love.

(The May Central Journal is continued on page two. Click here for page two)

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