God's Country Cooperative Parish Spring Newsletter

Contents:
Mallory's Musings
Letter from Katie Peterson
Mission To and From the GCCP
Fellowship and Events
How to Assist GCCP Finances
Youth News
Community Church News
Cookbook Proposal

Mallory's Musings top
I just came in the house from cleaning out my driveway. We are in the midst of a blizzard that includes lake effect snow. Heading out for coffee this morning with the ‘boys,’ I didn’t look into the rearview mirror as I was backing out of the garage and got stuck, with my four wheel drive truck, in a drift that came up to the windows. So, I was forced to have coffee all by myself here at home. Poor me!

This episode forced me to alter my plans for the day, or at least for a while, since I had to spend some time with the snow blower and shovel to get the truck and driveway cleared.
I really didn’t have time for this, and was very frustrated with the inconvenience of it all.
As I muse about this, and other instances in life we humans do to cause us ‘frustrations,’ an email came to my mind that I received from a friend. This email contained lessons learned from Noah’s Ark, which I am going to share with you.

1. Don’t miss the boat.
2. Remember that we are all in the same boat.
3. Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark.
4. Stay fit when you’re 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
5. Don’t listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
6. Build your future on high ground.
7. For safety’s sake, travel in pairs.
8. Speed isn’t always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
9. When you’re stressed, float for a while.
10. Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
11. No matter the storm, when you are with God, there is always a rainbow waiting.

As we head into the most sacred time of the Christian year, (Lent/Easter/Pentecost) I would like to suggest another. Always remember, we have a Savior who suffered and died for atonement with God, a Savior who rose for us that we might have life everlasting, and been given the Holy Spirit to give us strength to do God’s work during our lifetime.
May this be a blessed time for you all.

Pax,

Paul

Letter from Katie Peterson top

Grace and peace to you in the name of the Jesus Christ!

God is Good! All the time! As I am writing this article, it is a mere 15 degrees outside and snowing. We have finally started getting real snow in the Upper Peninsula. Snow is so beautiful in many ways. It shows us God’s beauty. It brings tourists to our area to ski and snowmobile. Snow keeps our stores, hotels, restaurants, and gas stations open – which provide many much-needed jobs for our neighbors. It is so nice to go snowshoeing in the backfields where I listen to the peace of God in nature and see the many different animal tracks. For everything there is a Season!

God’s love surrounds us! I have just returned from sharing the joy of missions with thirteen different congregations in the West Ohio and Detroit Conferences. What an experience and joy. God’s love was alive everywhere I went and with everyone I shared. Thank you for all of your prayers and support for me as your Deaconess and Church and Community Worker serving here at God’s Country Cooperative Parish. Your support both for GCCP, and for me as a United Methodist Missionary, both show how important our connectional church is in reaching out to help our neighbors in need.

God is great! God surrounds every day with gifts and graces. During the recent Advent season, I had the joy of assisting our churches to reach out to our neighbors in need with the joy of Christmas. Because of your many prayers, donations, and support – we were able to not only give gifts to their children and food to the families, but we were also able to provide clothes and outer winter clothing for many of the members of each family. Each family member was able to open a gift under the tree as well. The families were all very appreciative of everything they received!

God is preparing us. Over the next several months, we will prepare to start hosting close to one hundred volunteers this summer and to send out mission teams to serve Christ with our hands. We are sharing in ministry with our neighboring agencies to help our neighbors in need with home repairs.

God blesses us each and everyday with children, health, shelter, and food. Thank you for helping us to share these gifts throughout God’s Country Cooperative Parish each and everyday. Please let me know if you would like me to come share the joy of missions with your church or small group at anytime, ktpete@gmail.com .

Shalom,

Katie Peterson, Deaconess, Church and Community Worker

Mission To and From the GCCP top

“Mission is our Mission"
For participation in any way to the NIM and/or VIM Program contact:
Katie Peterson ktpete@gmail.com
P.O. Box 67 GBG#982942 - CCW
Paradise, MI 49768 MJ1110 – GCCP Advance#
Tel. (906) 492-3680

MISSION TRIP
Newberry and Engadine UMCs are presently organizing a team to return to the Gulf Coast region to lend a hand in the ongoing process of rebuilding homes and lives devastated in 2005 by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The team will depart Friday, Feb.29 and travel 1,450 miles to Abbeville, LA (75 miles southwest of Baton Rouge) where they will work from March 3-7 under the supervision of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. They will return to the U.P. not later than Monday, March 10. Team members will make the trip at their own expense; however, some funding is available to assist those who want to be a part of this effort, but might have difficulty with the estimated per-person cost of $300. For more information, contact Mike Clark (477-6254), Jo Martin (293-6005) or Lisa Den Boer (293-4156).

VIM TEAMS RETURN TO GCCP AND NIM CONTINUES TO SERVE
Located in the East Central part of the Marquette District, between the shores of Lakes Michigan and Superior lies God’s Country Cooperative Parish. Made up of seven communities of faith, the Cooperative serves in mission to the elderly, infirmed and impoverished families and individuals of the area. After a year of planning by Deaconess Katie Peterson and the project directors, GCCP was able to welcome Volunteers in Mission Teams from five different churches from the Detroit Annual Conference. After a year’s absence due to staff changes, the Parish hosted forty-eight VIM volunteers. These volunteers, along with GCCP’s own Neighbors in Mission (NIM) Teams, were able to complete seventeen different projects for families and agencies becoming ‘doers of the word and not hearers only.’
The people of the seven churches that make up God’s Country Cooperative Parish look forward to continued shared ministry with the VIM volunteers and the Ministry Jubilee partners of the Detroit Annual Conference.

If you would be interested in learning more about GCCP or having a representative come and share with your congregation, please contact the Church and Community Worker at 906-492-3680.

Continuing Programs Assist with the GCCP Finances top

GCCP TEE SHIRTS FOR SALE
You may purchase a GCCP tee shirt for yourself or as a gift for a family member of friend.
They are $15.00 for short sleeve or $27.00 for long sleeve.
Contact Katie Peterson (906-492-3680 or ktpete@gmail.com)

USING GOODSEARCH.COM TO SURF THE INTERNET HELPS US OUT FOR FREE
You can now SHOP through this site, and the parish receives a % of the sale. It’s easy! An update!!! Since May 2007, we have had 2456 searches made and have earned $35.33 ($6.87 has come from the “shopping” link). What if God’s Country Cooperative Parish earned a penny every time you surfed the Internet? Well, now we can! GoodSearch.com is a new search engine that donates half its revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. You use it just as you would any search engine, and Yahoo powers it! So you get great results. Just go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter God’s Country Cooperative Parish as the charity you want to support. Just 500 of us searching four times a day will raise about $7300 in a year without anyone spending a dime! Please, be sure to spread the word! Imagine how much we could earn if all of us signed up and searched the Internet through GoodSearch! Saving the address as a favorite makes this an easy way to participate and give to the parish.

CROSS AND FLAME UMC MAGNETS
We are currently selling UMC magnets for $5 in order to support the mission projects of the GCCP. You may want to purchase a large number of these and sell them at conferences or large meetings. They may be purchased from any pastor or from the CCW, Katie Peterson (906-492-3680 or ktpete@gmail.com). Thanks for your prayers and support!

TURN GARBAGE INTO GOLD (And be kind to the environment)
In an effort to help cut GCCP office expenses, you can donate your used HP, Lexmark, or Brother ink cartridges from your printers. These may be redeemed for paper for the GCCP office or other office supplies. If you are not near and would like to participate, you may turn them into most office supply stores and they will give you a “Gift card” or coupon.
These may then be sent to the GCCP office at Newberry UMC for redemption. (906-293-5711)

THANKS to everyone who donated used ink cartridges to God’s Country Cooperative Parish. The ink cartridges have been redeemed for colored paper, card stock and labels. Turning garbage into Gold! What a savings and blessing! We couldn’t do it with out YOU.

GORDON FOOD SERVICE "FUN FUNDS CARDS"
Last, but certainly not least, Gordon Food Service is continuing to partner with us to help raise money for missions. Every time you show your “Fun Funds Card” when shopping at Gordon’s, we get up to 10% back. If you do not have a “Fun Funds Card,” you can apply at any Gordon’s store. Be sure to include on the form that God’s Country Cooperative Parish is the agency you wish to support. Anyone can participate in giving to the GCCP from any community, whether you are connected to the church or not. This would be a great way for people who live far and wide to share with the GCCP ministry.

Fellowship and Events top

GCCP BIBLE STUDIES
In Engadine, there will be a Bible Study lasting for eight weeks in which the participants will be reading and discussing Old Testament Scriptures will be

A Lenten Bible Study will be held in Germfask on Thursdays, beginning at noon with a soup and sandwich lunch. This will begin on February 7th and will last for six weeks. McMillan, Grand Marais, and Germfask Churches will be gathering for this activity. Call Rev. Mallory for information. . (906) 494-2653

Newberry/ Engadine will also hold a Lenten Study. Please check with the office for details.

The Bible Study group will continue to meet throughout the winter months on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m., led by Shirley Schlereth. Anyone is invited to attend in the Fellowship Hall of the McMillan UMC.

Each Monday night at 6:30 p.m. several members of the Paradise Community get together at the church for Bible study. Before Christmas the group studied “An Introduction to the Old Testament.” This is a short-term Disciple Bible Study. It was very much enjoyed. So much, in fact, that they are now studying “An Invitation to Genesis.”

MARQUETTE DISTRICT LEARNING FAIR
January 26th and 27th found many in the GCCP joining other members of the Marquette District at the Learning Fairs in Crystal Falls and Newberry. Six presentations were offered each day. The sessions were: Got Youth?: Laurie dela Garza, Liturgical Altar/Church Design: Lorna Benson, Staff/Pastor Parish Relation Committee: Rev. Grant Lobb, Trustee: Rev. Donna J Lindberg, VBS – Meet at the Beach: Debi Lobb, and MAD Camp: Jan Barrett. In addition, a session of Child Protection Policy Training: Laurie dela Garza, certified several following a morning of training in Crystal Falls.

A WINTER'S NIGHT BY CANDLELIGHT
Save the date of Saturday, Feb. 16, for another in the series of fine dining experiences by candlelight at the Newberry UMC. Seating times are 5:00 and 7:00 p.m., and the suggested donation is $12.50. Like the previous events in this series, this evening of fine dining and good music is intended to raise funds for building materials and supplies to be used by our mission team and the families impacted by the disastrous Gulf Coast hurricanes. None of the funds will be used to pay expenses incurred by mission team members. Once again, our own culinary professional Caroll Harper will be planning the menu and overseeing the preparations. This is a big undertaking. If you would be willing to help, contact Caroll (477-6163), Jo (293-6005), Lisa (293-4156) or Mike (477-6254).

Tickets will be sold until February 13.

MIDWINTER MADNESS
February 23, 2008, Noon – 3:00 p.m.
All GCCP members and friends are invited to gather at Newberry UMC for a party to chase away the midwinter blues. From 12:00 – 3:00 there will be a light lunch and birthday cakes at each table followed by games and conversation. There is no charge for this party, and it is not a fundraiser…just FUN!!! There is no need to sign up ahead of time. Contact: Lois Levenworth (906-494-2796).

MUSIC, ART & DRAMA (MAD) CAMP 2008
The GCCP will again be hosting a summer faith based Arts Camp for children and youth in the area. The camp will be held at Newberry UMC, from 9 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. This year, the age will be extended from 5-16 years old, and the older campers will act as interns with additional responsibilities. Further information and registration forms will be available in the MAY newsletter, but you may want to plan summer visits from grandchildren around the camp schedule. There is no church affiliation required for participation. This is the third year for MAD Camp here in the UP. Call director, Jan Barrett for further information. 906-586-3901

Youth News top
Several youth from GCCP will be participating in the Marquette District Youth Lay speaking retreat at Gladstone Memorial UMC April 18-20, 2008. Please pray that this will be a great experience for all of them. Any youth that would like to participate with us please let Katie Peterson know at ktpete@gmail.com by April 1, 2008.

The youth will be going on a mission trip to the Houghton/Calumet area from June 9-13, 2008. They are collecting cans/bottles ongoing as their spring fundraiser and will have a carwash this summer to raise money for their trip. If anyone is interested in going on this mission trip - please contact Katie Peterson. Youth have to have completed 7th-12th grade to participate

Community Church News top

MCMILLAN NEWS

Annual Hunters’ Dinner
On November 14th, Hunters were welcomed to the area once again with a scrumptious McMillan UMC dinner. At the Columbus Town Hall, in McMillan, across from the church, plates were filled with roast turkey, roast beef, potatoes, vegetables and all the trimmings. The crowning touch was a variety of home baked pies.

ENGADINE NEWS

World Day of Prayer service will be held at the Naubinway Christian Fellowship Church on March 7. Time for the afternoon service will be announced later. Women from several area churches participate in the service.

The Service of Ashes will be held on Friday, February 8, at 7pm at the Engadine Church.
Pastor Sonie will be leading a Lenten study. Details will be announced in the bulletin.
A Tenebrae Maundy Thursday service is planned for March 20. The United Methodist Women will lead an Easter Sunrise Service at 9am, followed by a delicious Easter breakfast prepared by the men of the church. The traditional Easter worship will be lead by Pastor Sonie at 11am.

Attention Women
The Engadine United Methodist Women will be having their annual May Fellowship event on May 2., 10:00 am. We will start with brunch and follow with a program of interest to women. All women of the cooperative are invited to attend. Please begin searching for a short poem or tribute to mothers or women you could share at this event.
Mark your calendar now – we’ll be looking for you!

Community Meal
Engadine continues to serve over 100 guests at their community meal on the last Wednesday of every month at the Township Hall.
The meal is served from 4:30 – 6:30. There is no cost for this meal.

A Christmas Gift – A Live Nativity
On Saturday, December 15, the Engadine United Methodist Church shared a musical live nativity. It was held outside a bed and breakfast farmhouse north of Engadine, W14142 Sandtown Road. Guests from all the GCCP churches were invited to join the journey to Bethlehem at 5:30pm or at 7:00pm.
Visitors walked to Nazareth to view the appearance of angels to Mary and Joseph and then continued the journey on foot or by wagon to search for a room, hear the angels proclaim the glad tidings, meet shepherds with live sheep and finally arrive at the stable. The live nativity is a touching way to share our Christian story with children.

NEWBERRY NEWS

NEWBERRY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH PLANS CELEBRATION OF 125 YEARS IN MINISTRY

The Newberry United Methodist Church is proud to announce a weekend of events to celebrate their 125 years in ministry. The weekend will also focus on a reunion for present/past members and friends, as well as clergy who have served NUMC. The celebration will take place the weekend of July 4th. Activities will include entering a float in the parade on the 4th, a Saturday barbeque, and a special church service on Sunday morning, at 9 a.m., followed by brunch. Everyone is welcome! Please plan to attend one or all of the events. There will be lots of time for fellowship and reminiscing with old friends and for making new ones.

Details will be published at a later date. You may also call the church office at 906-293-5711 if you have questions

Mystery Dinner Theatre
A good time was had by all – the players and the audience - as New Years was celebrated by a Dinner Theatre. Proceeds from the performance will be used to support Newberry United Methodist Church ministries for people in need in the local area.

Free Community Meals
Newberry continues to offer Free Community Meals. They strive to serve tasty, nutritional meals with a kind smile and words and with God’s love. At “specialty meals” like Christmas, Thanksgiving and St. Patrick’s Day, there may be as many as 170 meals served. A record number of meals (185!) was served this October. These include both sit down and take out dinners. They serve from 4:00-6:00, and plenty of parking is available. A ramp inside the north door and an elevator chair make the dining area and rest rooms available to all. All are invited to join us for our once a month get-togethers. Call the church (906) 293-5711, for specific dates.

Newberry UMW
The Newberry UMW meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 11:00a.m. Everyone is asked to bring a sandwich to share. Anyone is invited to participate. The UMW Christmas Tea and Cookie Sale will be held December 1st from 2:00- 4:00. A program and sing along will bring the spirit of Christmas to the participants.

GERMFASK NEWS

On January 8, 2008, The Germfask United Methodist Women voted to form a new unit of the UMW. Officers were installed on January 13th during the morning worship. Watch the calendar for activities being organized by these women. Some of these are the Women’s Day Tea, a Yard sale in conjunction with the Germfask Community Sale, and the church-wide Strawberry Festival.

The church received a thank-you from the Samaritan Purse for the forty+ Christmas boxes sent to them for children throughout the world.

*Worship time at Germfask is 9:30 a.m. year round…not changing from one season to the next.

PARADISE NEWS

Paradise Area Easter Sunrise Service
This is an ecumenical worship service for the Paradise and Hulbert area. The last few years the Paradise UMC Kid’s Club children have provided the music and scripture reading for the service. They will again this year, if possible. It is our hope that our Young Youth group will do a short skit in the way of a program. Everyone is welcome to come experience the sunrise on Easter morning over Whitefish Bay! It’s an awesome experience. The worship service is followed by a continental breakfast. Come join us! It’s well worth getting up early for this service.

Easter Family Night
The Paradise UMC will again be providing the Paradise and Hulbert communities with an Easter Walk. This “walk” takes families through the events of Holy Week so that they can experience what the first disciples might have experienced. The “walk” begins with Palm Sunday and continues through the Last Supper, the Garden, Good Friday and finally into the awesome experience of Easter!

This event includes a light supper and craft opportunities while participants wait for their turn to “walk” or when they are finished. And there may be an extra treat of singing from the Kid’s Club children!

Quilting in Paradise
The ladies of the Paradise UMC are busy making quilts again! Each Monday afternoon they meet in the Paradise UMC’s parsonage basement to make warm polyester quilts to be sent to Henderson Settlement.

Kid’s Club
The Paradise UMC is continuing to offer their after-school Kid’s Club. We have a total of 26 children attending this year!!!! They range from Preschool through 5th graders, and they are truly awesome kids!!!

On November 3rd, the Kid's Club children from 1st through 5th grade were part of the Marquette District Double Header in Escanaba. They sang three songs during the opening worship service. In addition, they stayed at the Best Western the night before and enjoyed the swimming pool, pizza, and some wonderful Christian fellowship. There a total of fifteen children and eight adults who were able to participate in the great trip.

D.R.E.A.M. Team
Our D.R.E.A.M. Team is at the Whitefish Township Community School each Thursday night to provide snacks and drinks to the kids while they wait to begin their sports practices! This is a great presence for the church. The kids really look forward to the treats and are very grateful.

GRAND MARAIS NEWS

We've just finished the Holidays, but were hit by a couple of severe accidents and illness by some members,
just before the planned programs, which changed everything we had planned. You know Lois Leavenworth, of course, - she was in a single vehicle rollover accident just before Christmas, which, while mostly shaking her up and bruising her badly, put her out of commission, basically, for a while and her car permanently. Sue Boudaux was hit by a 74 mph gust of wind and thrown to the ground, cracking her hip and was in the hospital a couple weeks, is now recouping at home, but while able to get out to some services, is not able to do as much as she usually did. Our pianist and leader of our small Choir has been having serious problems with her eyes, and surgery was done today (I think). We are "carrying on" as best we can - grabbing everyone we can to jump in and take a place. Everything is done a bit differently, but we are having some fun with it, and laugh at our "mistakes". As everyone understands, and is ready to assist in any way needed, it sure is a challenge.

The Chat Room is still holding weekly gatherings on Fridays 1-3, at the church for any able to get out (membership for this has dropped because snow birds left).

Hymn Sings on Hold
The monthly hymn sings will be held again beginning in April when the roads are safer and the temperatures warmer.

Dog Sled Races
On February 16th the people of Grand Marais UMC will be participating in the annual dog sled race excitement as they sell small bags of cookies from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to the racers and their supporters, as well as those watching the activities in Grand Marais. The cookies sell for $1 a package.

HULBERT/TAHQUAMENON NEWS

Bible School – 2008
With the success of the 2007 Bible School, the Hulbert/Tahquamenon church is already making plans for the next Vacation Bible School.

Hulbert Tahquamenon announces two new GCCP Council members, Debi Snody and Geri Penix, who will begin serving this spring. We are delighted to have them on board!

Cookbook Proposal top

We are planning a GCCP cookbook as a fundraiser. On the inside of the address page there is a form that you may copy and share with anyone, near or far, who might be interested. Anyone interested may share up to 5 recipes (one per form), and they will be printed with the author’s name in the book. MARCH 31, 2008 is the deadline to have them in to:

Kathy Werner @ 23735 County Road 386, McMillan, Michigan, 49853.

PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY ON THE FORM BECAUSE THE RECIPES WILL BE TRANSCRIBED BY COMPANY EMPLOYEES.
This will be a great way of sharing the GCCP with friends, neighbors, and family.

Get the form from the bulletin.

Questions? Jan Barrett 906-586-3901