Central United Methodist Church
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Founded
1850
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C e n t r a l
J o u r n a l
Informing Members and Friends - Encouraging
Fellowship and Spiritual Growth
A monthly publication of Central United Methodist
Church, Lansing, Michigan
e L E C T R O N I C e D I T I O N |
November 2009
Vision of Possibility
A sideshow strongman was exhibiting his prowess and as a final trick he squeezed
the juice from a lemon between his hands and then offered ten dollars to
anyone in the audience who could squeeze a single drop out of it. Several
husky men tried, to no avail. Finally, a small bespectacled man came forward.
He took the lemon in hand, and to the delight of the audience, managed to
squeeze one more drop from the lemon. As the strongman paid out the ten dollars,
he asked the man, "What is the secret of your strength. How did you manage
to get that last drop?" "Oh," the man replied, "I was the treasurer of the
United Methodist church for 30 years."
Every year we begin the October stewardship campaign with fear and trepidation.
We are convinced that there will be some serious “squeezing” involved.
As we near the end of the campaign I hope you have felt challenged and encouraged
but never squeezed. We worship a great God who wants to bless us. I am convinced
that God has incredible things in store for each of you and for this church.
I sit in Finance meetings where we work hard at squeezing one more drop out
of the lemon and that is part of being a good steward. I hope through the
home meetings and the Sunday services you have also gotten a vision for the
possibility of abundance versus a mentality of scarcity.
Bill Amundsen has done a wonderful job of showing how a small change in our
giving patterns ($5-10 per/week) would reap a $50,000 benefit for the ministry
of the church. Imagine the outreach we could do into the community with that
“extra” money. Imagine the new people who would come into our community
of faith bringing their contribution of gifts, talents, and service. Imagine
how God could use those persons to multiply the ministry of Central UMC even
more. Imagine how we could be the heart of Christ in the heart of Lansing
more effectively as we begin to look at our finances and the finances of
the church with a vision of possibility rather than a scarcity mentality.
Life is about planting seeds. We have to let go of the seed and trust it
to the ground before it will multiply and bless us. I always look at Consecration
Sunday as my day to commit to planting seeds for God and for myself for the
following year.
I challenge you to prayerfully consider how much seed you will plant in 2010.
The world wants to bombard us with bad news and the temptation is to hold
on to as much seed as we possibly can…but whatever we hold on to cannot
be multiplied. Only what we give up to the ground and trust to God will
potentially grow and give back great returns.
Whatever you decide to do we will bless and give over to God on November
1 in the worship service. We are never more like God then when we decide
to give. I thank you for that godly decision to give in the past and to give
in this year ahead. Remember also that our stewardship campaign is not just
about dollars and cents. You will be asked to set personal goals for yourself
in worship attendance, prayer, and service as well. We cannot do it all but
we can all do something and that something together will be glorious in the
sight of God.
Your Fellow Servant in Christ,
Ron
Trustees
Larry Beckon, Chair, Board of Trustees
Following are some items the Board of Trustees are currently addressing.
Restoration of areas damaged by termites: Work has started on the restoration
of the coat room and the anteroom on the Ottawa side of our sanctuary building.
Howard Sewell's hand was injured while working on the restoration.
Temple House ceiling lights: The area running to the north from the entry
to Fellowship Hall is called the pre-function area (an area used before
functions). There are ceiling lights in that area that are cracked. The trustees
are in the process of acquiring new lights which will be installed in the
pre-function area. The new lights will be consistent with lights used in
the Temple House in the 1920s.
Accountant’s Report: Even though the stock market has risen somewhat
recently, the value of Central's endowment funds continues to be negatively
impacted by the economic condition of the world. The market value of Central's
endowment funds now is about $500,000 less than on January 1.
Insurance on our buildings: This is a "good news" story. The yearly amount
that Central pays on the insurance for our buildings, including the parsonage,
has been reduced by about $9,000.
Bulletin Boards for Gym: Our new Facilities Manager, Bruce Newton, has installed
bulletin boards outside the gym. This is an opportunity for any of us to
communicate messages about Central and its programs with the many persons
who use our gym. First come, first serve. Bring your tacks and pins.
Rates for use of our buildings: Pat Mort has gathered data about what other
churches charge for the use of their building. The trustees will be working
with Pat to determine any changes needed in the rates we charge for the many
groups that use our facilities.
CCCC: We are part of a partnership with St. Paul's Episcopal and Christ Community
Churches in the use of the north parking lot and in snow removal efforts.
The partnership is contracting for snow removal and is considering issues
and opportunities about the parking lot (the lot is owned by the State of
Michigan and rented by the three churches).
Maintaining condition of brass entry plates: The new kick plates on the outside
of our Capitol and Ottawa entries have recently been cleaned. We hope to
find a way to keep the kick plates in good condition.
Education
Joi Tennant, Director, Christian Education Ministries
“Wow, Am I Hungry!” A Reality Challenge Game
How often does this thought cross your mind in a day or week – “Oh,
I’m really hungry!” We don’t like that feeling. It usually
sends us looking for something to eat as soon as possible. And who among
our congregation ever finds the cupboard bare?!
We are challenging our church kids (and you, too) to become aware of both
the uncomfortable feeling of hunger and the blessing most of us have because
we can always find something that will stop that little bit of misery. What
must it be like to live in a house where the cupboards or refrigerator are
often nearly bare? Our church, through our Open Door Ministry, helps individuals
who come here hungry for food. But our pantry gets bare, too! We can help.
During the first two weeks of November, we are challenging our kids to keep
track every time they feel that pang of hunger and what they then do to ease
it. It may be a snack, a can of pop, or a delicious meal. A simple chart
has been handed out to our kids. On it they will write the date, time and
the food they ate to end the hunger pangs. Then on Nov. 15, or earlier, they
are to bring their chart taped to a grocery bag in which they have placed
a food donation for our food pantry – one item for every time they felt
hungry and wished for food. On Nov. 15 we will fill up wagons and carts at
the back of the sanctuary with our bags of food and let the kids bring those
wagons to the chancel during worship.
Parents, please talk with your children about what it would be like to go
to bed hungry. You may add as many groceries as you want to your “Wow!
Am I hungry!” bag, but don’t feel like you have to contribute more
than 5 items. (Adults, you are encouraged to play this reality game with
us. Fill your own bag.) To increase the learning experience, Mom and Dad,
you can take your children on a special shopping trip to choose good food
items to put in your bag, and then add up the total amount of money you spent
so that they can get some sense of the cost of food.
If someone spends $500 per month on rent and earns $7/hour at their work,
how far does their income have to go? How much does your family spend on
food each week? How much do you spend on rent or mortgage? What other expenses
are there in life? To talk this through with your child at a level of
understanding appropriate to their age is a wonderful REALITY experience
– better than any TV show. And it will help them to begin to grasp both
the blessing of available food to eat, as well as the problem many families
face each day supplying food for their children. As Christians we are called
upon to share what we have.Supplying our Food Pantry will really make a
difference for many people who are hungry right now. Thank you for joining
in this experience!
Bible Sunday, Nov. 22
Two children will receive gift Bibles this year from our congregation during
worship on Nov. 22. As you may be aware, this has been a tradition in our
church for decades. The children are Ashlyn Pifer and Joseph Podanny
(VanNortwick). We would love to have members of our congregation write one
or two of their favorite Bible verses on cards for each of these children,
which we will then present to them along with their Bibles. Please personalize
your card in any way.
New Adult Elective Begins Nov. 1
Our Church and Society Commission annually presents a speaker series that
addresses social issues from a Christian perspective. This year they have
invited speakers to talk on various ways we are called to be effective
care-givers and also our need to care for ourselves when the problems of
life press upon us. This is a 4-Sunday elective, meeting in the 2nd Floor
Lounge at 11am., beginning Nov. 1 and continuing thru Nov. 22. You will find
more details elsewhere in this Central Journal.
Remember, no Sunday School or Music Classes Nov. 29, Thanksgiving weekend.
Worship and Music Notes
Caryn Welter
Classics, Broadway, Jazz, and Pie!
Mark your calendar now for this enchanting event, to be held in Fellowship
Hall at 7 p.m. Friday, November 13, and 2 p.m. Saturday, November 14.
The evening or afternoon will include a variety of choral music, led out
by classics and including the Chancel Choir’s rendition of
“Sanctus” from the Rutter Requiem. After the classical set, you
will have an opportunity to savor fabulous homemade pie. The event will then
lead into Broadway and Jazz music, with such titles as “Trickle,
Trickle” by Steve Zegree and Stephen Schwartz’ “For Good”.
Tickets will be available during coffee hour in Fellowship Hall on Sundays,
November 1 and 8. Prices are $8 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under;
proceeds will go toward the 2010 music budget.
Speaking of fundraising, each Sunday, beginning November 1, granola bars,
candy bars, fruit snacks, and chips will be available for purchase ($1 each)
during coffee fellowship hour. They’ll be offered by Music Committee,
Music Department, and Music Staff members. Proceeds will go toward the 2010
music budget.
HANGING OF THE GREENS
Denise Kelly
The Advent season is just around the corner! So is our Hanging of the Greens!
Join us Sunday November 22 at 12:15 pm in Fellowship Hall to decorate our
wonderful church for the Christmas season. The more people we have decorating
the better. We will divide into teams to create wonderful displays in various
parts of the church. Bruce and his team will have the sanctuary tree up and
ready for us.
Joi Tennant will have craft activities for the children. We have a job available
for everyone from the young to the young at heart.
We will have a meal after all the decorations are up and everything
else is put away. We will provide the meat (sloppy Joes) and beverage,
please bring a dish to share and your own table service.
If you have any questions please contact Denise Kelley at 484-9109 or
mrgolfbowl@sbcglobal.net or Pat Mort at the church, 485-9477.
Autumn Pops Concert IV coming to Okemos
The Greater Lansing Chapter of the American Guild of Organists will once
again prove that “Lansing’s Got Talent” on Sunday, November
8, 3:00 P.M. at the Okemos Presbyterian Church on Okemos and Bennett Roads
in Okemos. That is the day of the fourth annual AGO “Autumn Pops
Concert”. This program will feature several very talented local musicians
in a blend of pop, classical and jazz styles to be performed on a variety
of instruments.
A word of Thanksgiving
For, after all, put it as we may to ourselves, we are all of us, from birth
to death, guests at a table which we did not spread. The sun, the earth,
love, friends, our very breath are parts of the banquet. Shall we think of
the day as a chance to come nearer to our Host, and to find out something
of him who has fed us so long?
—Rebecca Harding Davis
Among Friends
Remember At press time…
Lee Dibble - at home
Bill Richards - at home
Annette Voorhis - at home
Eleanor Moore - at Sparrow
Audrey Holly - Bickford
Jean Fitch - Burcham
Norma Hanson - Ingham Regional Assisted Living
Transitions…
Sara Huston
Cheer Martin
Walter Dell
Thank You…
Dear Central Family, We celebrated the life of Roger Keen, Ed’s father,
with family and friends. Thank you very much for your prayerful support,
cards and kind words.
Jan & Ed Keen
Thank you very much to everyone who helped us celebrate our 40th anniversary
during the coffee hour. You all made it a very special day with your cards
and well wishes. Thank you also to all of our family who were there
to help us celebrate and our daughters who put it all together. And to
the Lions who even honored us with a win.
Tom & Linda Towsley
Organ Fund growing
Through large and small donations the Chapel Organ Fund is slowly growing.
Recent donations are in memory of Bob Fowler, Helen Huston, Bob Jenkins,
Patsy Fitzgerald, Maxcene Fitch and Jim and Gladys Gilson; also
a donation in honor of the marriage of Irma Farmer and Frank Moss.
The current total is $1,533.72. New organs are costly but we are on
the way to filling the Mary Sabina Chapel with organ music again. Thank you
to all the contributors.
Consider making a donation in honor of an anniversary, wedding, birthday,
graduation and other significant events in the life of a friend or family
member. You may contribute anytime and designate your memorial or gift
to the Chapel Organ Fund.
Mary Jessup, Chair, Gifts and Memorials Committee
NCD Implementation Team Update
Dennis Kelley, NCD Chair
“Loving God, Loving People, While Serving Our World”
The Natural Church Development (NCD) Implementation Team continues to meet
monthly for progress and inspiration. You may recall the minimum factor
identified was a need for More Inspiring Worship which is being addressed
in five aspects. Each area has targeted goals and implementation strategies
discussed by a sub-team to achieve spiritual and physical growth. Here's
the latest:
Under the banner of Treatment and Care of Visitors (see Mary Boudreau or
Bryan Halter), our Welcome Center is up and running. A continuing need exists
for persons with the gift of hospitality for Greeters and Welcomers. Informal
training is provided and guidelines are available. Visitor recognition/gifts
may be re-instituted.
As we work toward More Inspirational Preaching (see Dave Stinson or Rev.
Ron), we believe our new pastor and his approach has moved us forward. Rev.
Ron's sermon series aim to teaching as much as preach, and have perhaps been
more engaging.
Caryn Welter and others are working to Create a Worship
Environment that is more Conducive to Spiritual Growth. Service
time frames are tighter, music is more varied and flavorful and altarscapes
are consistent with the theme. Future directions hope to address temperature
control and lighting (as best we are able with tight finances), as well as
sound and Children's Time visibility.
Dennis Kelley wishes to Improve Laity Participation in Worship with a sub-team
by defining roles and adding persons who are available to participate in
various capacities. We will also collaborate with the Worship and Lay Leadership
Committees.
Raising The Level of Prayer (see Dave Stinson) in worship is another goal.
Ron gave a recent sermon on prayer and there is a need for prayer before,
during, and after services, in various forms – perhaps even a 'separate'
area. Related to this may be use of Affirmations of Faith (outside of the
bulletin) on a monthly basis.
All this and more has passed through our discussions, with some items more
in the realm of our existing church committees than our current NCD mission.
Keep your eyes and ears open for more changes. We trust that our new 'status
quo' will be for the betterment of God's purposes through our church.
Please continue to lift this effort up in prayer, and feel free to direct
any questions you might have to committee members Dennis Kelley, Kayla Tipton,
Mary Boudreau, David Stinson, Caryn Welter, Bryan Halter, Ashley Grettenberger,
Mike MacLaren or Pastor Ron.
Community Outreach
Mary Boudreau
Thanks to all of you who have expressed interest and commitment to being
a part of church growth. In the next few weeks, you will have an opportunity
to make a commitment to help in one of several ways - please pray for guidance
and energy as you consider your decision:
1. Make a commitment to meet people in one section of the church (a
block of pews) one Sunday each month. This involves being friendly
with people you haven't met yet, asking them to fill out a visitor card,
and showing them to coffee hour.
2. Baking bread or cookies for new people, and paying a special visit
to them to deliver it. We will try to coordinate "geographically" to
limit driving.
3. Continuing to invite people to come to events at the church, and
to share the fellowship, love, and devotion that we have found
there.
Central Basketball
The time for basketball leagues is fast approaching. This is a great
ministry for children in grades 1 to 6, and a great way for all of us to
support young families in the church. Please help us invite your children,
grandchildren, neighbors and friends to play. Games are Sunday mornings at
church starting in January. We also need help with coaching, financial
support, snacks and fans!
Silver Bells in the City
Central will again be a popular rest stop for folks attending Silver Bells
in the City, Friday evening, November 20. Paul Grettenberger & friends
will sing in Fellowship Hall from 6:30—7:30 pm., with hot drinks and
hot dogs sold outside. If you can be a tour guide, a cashier, help with
set-up, serving or clean-up, please let Mary Boudreau know.
Don’t forget Central's Annual Church Conference Monday, November
23, 7 pm
Look for these new books in the Ralph Goodell Memorial
Library.
Ed Spink, Library Task Force
FOR CHILDREN:
These children’s books are illustrated by Gijsbert(Nick) van Frankenhuyzen
who resides in Bath, Michigan on a farm devoted to wild life
rehabilitation.
Kelly of Hazel Ridge by Robbyn van Frankenhuyzen tells the story of Kelly
as she grew up on the Hazel Ridge farm. She records experiences of nursing
injured animals back to life in this wildlife sanctuary.
Itsy Bitsy & Teeny Weeny by Robbyn van Frankenhuyzen. In this fourth
Hazel Ridge Farm series, a rejected lamb and an orphaned fawn are raised
as siblings. Nursed to health they gain strength to go their separate ways
by fall.
Mackinac Bridge: the Story of the Five Mile Poem by Gloria Whelan. Beginning
with David B. Steenman’s poem, “The Bridge at Mackinac,” the
author recounts the thrill of watching the bridge emerge and the impact on
the families of ferry boat operators and of the steel workers.
FOR ADULTS:
The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and The Redemptive Power
of Music by Steve Lopez.
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
Central’s Holiday Happy Meals
Pat Bell, Chair, Church and Society
It is a tradition at Central UMC to host a special Holiday Fellowship Luncheon
on Thursday the weeks before Thanksgiving and Christmas. For many years the
congregation has supported this ministry by their financial support as well
as being actively involved in food prep, serving and cleanup. Members of
The Board of Church and Society will collect contributions during Coffee
Hour in Fellowship Hall Nov. 8, 15; and Dec. 6, 13. Checks should be made
to Open Door Ministry, or cash in any amount is most welcome. Receipts will
be issued upon request. We thank you for your support.
Missions Around the World
Cathy Amundsen, Chair, Missions commission
Noisy Sunday Offering July 12: $1700
Christian Education Sunday Offering September 20: $267.00
World Wide Communion Offering October 4: $265
Approximately 23 people gathered Sept. 29 to here John Funk report on the
program at Rio Colorado Technical School in Bolivia.
By the time you read this we will have had an opportunity to hear Dr. Jean-Marie
Nkonge from the Mullungwishi Seminary in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Ten years ago, Central UMC helped make it possible for Dr. Nkonge to get
his PhD degree. He is now contributing greatly to the life of the United
Methodist Church in Congo: He has taught full time and continues to teach
part-time at the Seminary, he helped to develop the first official Swahili
hymnal for the UMC in Central Africa, he is a certified trainer of those
working with persons with HIV/AIDS and he has oversight of the Masters degree
programs in French-speaking Africa. He is a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ
and an influential Christian leader. He was in our area to say thank you
for the help he received and to seek other gifts to the Seminary Scholarship
program.
This is a wonderful example of our Mission offerings and Ministry Share money
working to spread the work of Christ around the world. REJOICE, REJOICE!
WATCH for the giving trees when they appear in the Central Library. You will
find opportunities there to brighten Christmas for others.