“The
Cooperative Courier”
GBGM Advance #3020435
Ministry Jubilee #MJ 1110
110 W. Harrie Street
Newberry, MI 49868
Tel. & Fax (906) 293-5711
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
Mallory's Musings
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“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God.”
(John 1:1)
We speak quite a bit about the “Word of God,”
and indeed, we should. The “Word of God” is a
powerful thing. In Genesis, the first book of the Bible, creation
is accomplished by God’s ‘word.’ Each of
the steps of creation begins with “…God said…”
God’s ‘word’ was uttered and it was so.
The word is a powerful thing.
What about our words. In the ‘blurb’ for the
book Words That Hurt; Words That Heal, by Joseph
Telushkin, it says the book “illuminates the powerful
effects we create by what we say and how we say it.”
We are created in the image of God and therefore our words,
too, have power. As a parent what we say and how we say it
can have a great impact on our child. As a spouse what we
say and how we say it can have a great impact on our partner.
We can hurt and we can heal with our words. The old childhood
saying of, “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but
words will never hurt me,” just doesn’t wash.
The injuries caused by sticks and stones will heal, the hurts
from words will last forever.
Beyond this, our words are spirit within us and what we say
reflects that spirit. If we say, ‘we lack,’ then
we will lack; if we say, ‘I can’t,’ then
we won’t; if we say, ‘I will try my best,’
then we will do our best. Psychologists call this ‘self-fulfilling
prophesy,’ God’s people call this faith or lack
of faith. Our life energy comes from the word of God, and
is reflected in our words. I pray you live energetic lives.
Pax, Paul
Letter from Katie Peterson
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Dear Friends,
Jesus said to [Peter], "Truly I tell you, this day,
this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny
me three times."
-Mark 14:30 (NRSV)
This Bible verse has come to me several times over the last
couple of weeks. I think God is telling me something. Am I
living a Christ filled life or am I denying Christ through
my words and actions in life? When I say or do something that
hurts other people, I am going against what God wants me to.
I pray each day to live a God like life and to help people
out in as many ways as I can, without hurting them or anyone
else. How or where are you trying to live out your life like
Christ would like you to?
The birds are returning to the Upper Peninsula; hopefully
the flowers will be coming soon. Spring is on its way. As
spring approaches, that means that summer mission teams are
not far behind. We are visiting prospective projects, making
plans to order material, preparing our churches for teams,
and praying for safety for our teams, families, and volunteers.
Our teams this year will be coming from: Three Rivers FUMC,
Good Shepherd of the North UMC, Iron Mountain Trinity UMC,
South Lyon and Carlton UMCs, Amazing Grace Praise Group –
Houghton, and Marlton, NJ – from June 14- August 1.
God has been so awesome this winter and spring, spreading
and showing His love to us in large and small ways. I have
had the wonderful opportunity to share the joy of missions
with several of your congregations this year. These include:
Munising UMW; Hayes Memorial UMC; Sylvania FUMC missions committee;
Fremont Trinity UMC; Wellston UMC; Coolville UMC; Hudson UMC;
Sterling, Alger, Garfield UMCs; Marquette FUMC; NMU Wesley
House; Midland FUMC missions committee; Alpena FUMW; Christ
UMYF – Kettering; Christ UMC-Columbus; St. Paul’s
UMC-Dayton; Ypsilanti FUMC; South Lyon UMC; Saginaw Bay District
UMW. I would be happy to come share the joy of missions from
God’s Country Cooperative Parish with your congregation,
UMW, youth, UMM, missions committee, etc. Please let me know
when you would like me to come. Thank you for continuing to
support us through Ministry Jubilee and me through the Advance.
Don’t forget, for those churches especially that are
outside of Detroit conference – that God’s Country
Cooperative Parish is now an Advance!
From March –May, I have had the glorious opportunity
of co-teaching Confirmation class with three young men at
Paradise UMC. We have been claiming the Name of Jesus and
exploring what is to become a United Methodist. This has been,
and is, a very rewarding experience for me. Please pray for
Chris, Jameson, and Joshua as they prepare to join church
on Pentecost Sunday, May 31, 2009.
As you breeze your way through the remainder of spring and
the summer, think about your words and your actions –
are they what God would want you to do or say?
Shalom,
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
A THANK YOU!
GCCP thanks everyone for your generous donations. Our closets
are overflowing with donations - and boxes are prepared for
next school year, with the items that they have requested!
Thank you for helping us to make that possible. We are NOT
in need of adult clothing or socks of any sort. We are seeking
children's new or used sweatpants and shirts size 3T-L children's
size - boy and girl.
Christian Education materials donated to God’s
Country Cooperative Parish
We have been blessed to receive an eclectic variety of Bible
Studies, Youth group material, Children’s resources,
Easter and Christmas plays, teaching helps. A list of what
is available to borrow is our web page. If you would like
to browse our shelves or borrow any material – please
contact Katie Peterson.
WINTER 2009 VIM TRIP
A VIM team of eighteen members from Newberry
and Engadine UMC went to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to work on homes
devastated by the 2008 flood which was the worst flood in
Cedar Rapids history. There were three Lutherans, all licensed
contractors, who went with us--what a blessing to have them
as part of the team. The team worked on two houses putting
up dry wall, mudding, painting, do electrical work, putting
in cabinets, connecting water to the houses, tuck pointing
foundation stones, hung doors, light fixtures, framed windows
and doors, and more.
We met the homeowners and heard their personal stories of
disaster and survival.
A VIM team from Missouri joined us for meals and devotions.
We shared communion together one evening before the Missouri
team left for home.
We came away feeling we had received more than we had given.
We look forward to planning a VIM project next year.
SUMMER 2009 VIM/NIM
Watch for a report from the VIM Team summer
activities in the August Newsletter.
Continuing Programs
Assist with the GCCP Finances
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GBGM Advance #3020435
GCCP funds are very low at this time. The following section
has ways in which you and your organization can help to enhance
the local mission of the GCCP.
A GCCP COOKBOOK!!!
A donation of $10.00 is being asked for each book. (There
will be an additional $2.50 per book if being mailed.)
The GCCP cookbook has been a great success! You might want
to consider this a UMW, or whole church, mission project.
We do have books still available. This is a great opportunity
for you to provide a gift for any occasion for friends, neighbors
and relatives near and far. We will be happy to mail far and
wide!
To order or with questions, contact: Jan Barrett 906-586-3901
or jan_barrett47@hotmail.com
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 as well as search, and
the parish receives a % of the sale. It’s easy!
God’s Country Cooperative Parish is earning a penny
every time you surfed the Internet! GoodSearch.com is a 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! Saving the address
as a favorite makes this an easy way to participate and give
to the parish. Planning a big event, like a wedding? Every
time you check out a site, GCCP can earn valuable money for
their work in ministry. Since inception, we have earned $115.65.
CROSS AND FLAME UMC MAGNETS
We are currently asking for donations of $5 for UMC magnets
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 acquired 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.
YARN REALLY NEEDED FOR LOVE MISSION
We are continually creating baby blankets, caps, and prayer
shawls for mission giving. Those who are knitting and crocheting
would love to receive yarn as a donation for their projects.
If you are cleaning out your closets or would like to have
a yarn drive at your next women’s meeting or would like
to purchase some yarn, any kind, you may deliver it or mail
it to Joan Lynn. The address is P.O. Box 95, Naubinway, MI,
49762 – or call her at (906) 477-6299. These items go
to the local hospitals for new babies, and the prayer shawls
are gifted to shut-ins, cancer patients, those who are grieving,
or anyone who might need a “prayer hug.” Thanks
for your continued support to our mission.
Fellowship and Events
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MUSIC, ART & DRAMA (MAD) CAMP 2009
Go and Tell
Held at the Newberry UM Church
July 27-31, 2009
Monday – Friday 9:00 – 1:00
Have your children or visiting grandchildren
ever looked for an organized, inexpensive, camp to attend
during the summer?
Be sure to invite neighbor children as well!!!
Any or no church affiliation is required to attend.
This could be just the thing you are looking for. Children
will be singing and gaining confidence in a loving, creative
environment as they try their hands at drama in a non-threatening
circle of friends. In addition, campers will participate in
art projects as they create props and settings for a short
musical play. There will also be an opportunity for campers
to bring and use their musical instruments throughout the
week. (At least a year’s experience is required for
this part of the program.) Competition is not part of this
experience. Fun and fellowship is!!!
This is the fourth MAD Camp that has been made available to
children and youth who have completed K – 8th grade
in this area. Campers will have an opportunity to work with
professional educators, as they spend their mornings in an
ecumenical, faith based environment. The campers will meet
from 9:00-1:00 as they prepare a musical written by John Horman,
a retired school music teacher and long time church music
coordinator and director in Maryland. He has written many
anthems and hymns for children and adults. This year’s
musical is called Go and Tell.
The twenty-minute musical and a brief
service will be presented by the campers at the Newberry United
Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 31st. Anyone
is invited to share in this experience with the Campers.
There will be a fee of $20.00 per camper to
cover the cost of the campers’ supplies throughout the
week, (Scholarships are available on a need basis). This cost
includes the music that will be used and the t-shirts the
campers will receive. Children will be asked to bring a sack
lunch Monday-Thursday (beverage and daily snack will be provided).
We thank the Newberry UMC in advance for the use of their
building, the trained music educators who donate a week of
their summer, and the volunteers from throughout the GCCP
and local community. “Volunteers make it happen!”
We are looking forward to a great time!
You may register for the camp by mailing the form
to camp director and dean, Mrs. Jan Barrett.
906-586-3901 …or… e-mail, jan_barrett47@hotmail.com
Please register by June 30, 2009.
A program of…
God’s Country Cooperative Parish
Marquette District
Detroit Area Conference
United Methodist Church
THE PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE PERSONS TRAINING
On Saturday, February 28th, there was a GCCP wide training
for The Protection for Children and Vulnerable Persons. This
included both new and renewing certification. Several from
the parish participated. There will be other training sessions
available if you missed this one.
Youth News
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The youth, their mothers, and the chaperones going on the
mission trip this summer, prepared and served our 2nd annual
dinner for the Naubinway Tribal Elders on March 25. We would
like to thank everyone who helped to make this dinner success
with your donations of items and money. We are ready to go
build raised flower beds at Hearthside Retirement Home in
Sault Ste. Marie, MI June 28-July 1. Please pray for our 4
youth and 2 adults as we prepare to go share God’s love
in missions.
Community Church News
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MCMILLAN
NEWS
ENGADINE
NEWS
NEWBERRY
NEWS
GERMFASK
NEWS
PARADISE
NEWS
GRAND
MARAIS NEWS
HULBERT/TAHQUAMENON
NEWS
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