On this special Sunday we will remember family members and friends who have died within this past year. We will be reading their names and lighting candles in their memory. Everyone is invited to come up and share those special names.
2. Also on Sunday is the Fall Harvest Festival. There will be games, great food and hayrides for the kids. It will be a great time for everyone. The Festival will be from 4-6pm. There will be no trunk or treat because we are encouraging everyone to go to Lakeshore high School where the community trunk or treat will be taking place.
3. Renovation Update: PEW MOVING PARTY!!
Construction is moving along! A lot was done this week. We can see what the walls look like.
To help the guys working on the floor we need to move the pews out of the sanctuary as soon as possible.
We will be moving pews out of the sanctuary this Sunday after the Fall Harvest celebration ends as 6pm. Please come and lend a hand it.
Looking ahead:
We will be moving the pews to the new church, Overflow Church in Benton Harbor
on Monday, November 8th. They are bringing a truck over here about noon and we will load the pews in the evening (7pm). After unloading them we are planning some pizza together at their church! We are helping a new church be in ministry!! How exciting. The pews will be used for more worship!!!
As far as financing, new and extended pledges keep coming in as more people get involved.
The building and finance teams continue the goal and plan and build what our funds will allow.
4. Always take some time to look at all the ministry tables to see where you can be involved.
5. Correction to the kits for Haiti: We are collecting any size or color of cotton or cotton blend fabrics.
God IS Good, All the time All the time, God IS Good!
This Sunday is the last of our “Simplicity” series. With all that we have talked about, now is the time to act and use what we have learned in our daily lives. “The Ripple Effect” is the joy of what happens when one person acts like a stone thrown in a pond. The ripple and circles of water spread out over the whole pond. In the same way every one of our lives makes a difference and matters. Think about it. You matter! You make a difference! Your life is one more ripple sharing the grace of God.
2. This Saturday set up for worship will be at 9:30am because a funeral luncheon we have later this same morning.
3. Renovation Update: PEW MOVING PARTY!!
Construction is moving along! We can see what the walls will look like.
The pews have been unbolted and we are needing to move some of the pews out so the floor work can begin.
We will be moving pews this Monday, October 25th, starting around 7pm.
If you can come and lend a hand it will fun for all !!!
Looking ahead:
About a third of the pews are going to members of our church and the rest are going to the new church in Benton Harbor, Overflow Church. I spoke with their past Brian Bennett and together we area going to move the rest of the pews to the Overflow Church on Monday, November 8th. They are bringing a truck over here about noon on the 8th and we will load them in the evening (7pm). After unloading them we are planning some pizza together at their church! We are helping a new church be in ministry!! How exciting. The pews will be used for more worship!!!
As far as financing, new and extended pledges keep coming in as more people get involved.
The building and finance teams continue the goal and plan and build what our funds will allow.
4. A Reminder of the all church WORK DAY on Saturday, October 30th from 8:30 - noon.
Come and help do the fall clean up that we need to do around the church.
5. Always take some time to look at all the ministry tables to see where you can be involved.
6. Correction to the kits for Haiti: We are collecting any size or color of cotton or cotton blend fabrics.
God IS Good, All the time All the time, God IS Good!
1. This week’s sermon theme: “Simplicity: Taking steps”
This Sunday we will be thinking about the steps we can take to put the idea of “simplicity” into action. I am looking at this from remembering learning how to ride a bike from the tricycle, to training wheels to just the two wheeler. Remember those days? In this same way, share a story about a United Methodist Church who started out as a new church and because of it vision and purpose grew a little.
Invite your friends to remember some bike riding days and see how God grows us when we follow.
2. Saturday set up for worship will be at 10am on Saturdays
Thanks for all your help in setting up for worship on Saturdays. Anyone can help.
Come to Faith Hall around 10am. If you can, please call the office (429-5911) or sign the clip board on Sunday morning. Again many thanks.
3. Renovation Update:
Construction has begun! We can see what the walls will look like.
As far as financing, new and extended pledges keep coming in as more people want to help and see even more accomplished. We are now over $100,000!!! The chairs have been ordered!
The building and finance teams continue the goal and plan to build only what we our support funds will allow. They are working hard to keep us on track and enable the giving to go as far as possible.
4. Thank You!
We received a couple letters today thanking the church for caring.
The first letter was a thank you from the Kathy, the Director of Child and Family Services. This summer she and clients came to the pond for a day. Some of their thoughts were, “Thank You! Fishing is fun!
Happy Fall and hope you are doing well! We had fun and laughed!
The second was a note from Len and Jan Schaeffer, one of the families the senior high youth group helped in Lake Delhi, Iowa. They also shared a newspaper article with a picture of Nicole Berta and Tendai Rukunda doing some of the work. More ministry in action!!!!
5. Always take some time to look at all the ministry tables to see where you can be involved.
We have a need for this Sunday Morning Hospitality. We need some one willing to start up the coffee and set everything out. Margie, Jack and Randy Hardy have signed up to do the clean up. If you can do this, please call me at home (429-5749). As I write this, if there is anyone willing to take over this coordination, also give me a call. We have the sign up list that people cover most weeks. Many thanks.
Very definitely, God IS Good, All the time and All the time, God IS Good!
As we had advertised in the newsletter and hoping for a nice fall day, we planned to have the 11:00 worship service this Sunday, October 10th at the pond. The weather is supposed to be sunny and 70! Praise the Lord. It will be a great day to gather and praise God at the pond worship center.
2. As you receive this week’s update I am in Kansas City at the UM Church of the Resurrection for a Leadership Institute. I left on Wednesday and there are workshops and worship on Thursday and Friday, and then travel back on Saturday.
The workshops I will be attending are:
a. Strategies for Producing Powerful Creative Worship
b. Unleashing the Word: Preaching with Relevance, Purpose and Passion
c. Spiritual Gifts
d. Learning to Preach with Image
The Church of the Resurrection was started 20 years ago in a funeral home by Rev. Adam Hamilton, and now has thousands of members and friends coming to worship. I hope to take lots of notes and pictures to help us keep moving forward.
While I am at this conference, please call Sarah McCall if you need any pastoral care.
3. Sermon theme the week: “Simplicity: Our Divine Center”
We continue our theme of “Biblical Simplicity” this Sunday with the subject being our “Divine Center”. What is it and how do we find it?
We are enjoying wonderful conversations on Wednesday evenings as well and run this series Sunday, October 24th and Wednesday, October 27th.
My goal is that we are providing some relevant equipment for our daily living. Please let me know how this topic is reaching you and if you are finding some tools to help you slow down and simplify your lifestyle.
4. Saturday set up for worship will be at 10am on Saturdays
Thanks for all of you come to help set for worship on Saturday. Thanks ahead of time for this Saturday. It is a real joy to come back from being, and walk into the sanctuary and find everything where it needs to be and ready for Sunday morning worship. Anyone can help. Come to Faith Hall around 10am. If you can, please call the office (429-5911) or sign the clip board on Sunday morning.
Thank you all for this help.
5. Renovation Update:
Fiskars construction people have started some work!
The new and extended pledges keep coming in. We are now over $100,000!!!
The chairs have been ordered! With your interest and commitments the Building Team is looking into what else can be accomplished. Once again, if you are thinking about extending your pledge or beginning to support the renovation project, there is still time and a place for your gift as well. There are still more parts of the total project that we can take care of. The building and finance teams continue the goal and plan that we will build only as far as received funds will allow. They are working hard to keep us on track and enable the giving to go as far as possible.
Very definitely, God IS Good, All the time and All the time, God IS Good!
How excited Susan and I are about having a granddaughter.
Lucy Elizabeth was born last Sunday around 7:30 am.
There will be more trips to Grand Rapids to watch her grow, play and spoil her.
2. Fall color tour bike riding this Sunday!
We had a great time a couple weeks ago on the Kal-Haven trail and wanted to take advantage of the colors on a beautiful trail so we are riding again. We will meet at the church at 2pm and then go the South Haven to get on the trail. It will be fun to ride together as well as good for our muscles. This is part of our church “Health Plan” for the year! See you on the trail.
3. Sermon Series: “Biblical Simplicity”
I am excited about our theme of “Biblical Simplicity” and how it can change our lives and bring some calmness to our busy lives! This Sunday we are looking at the New Testament message on this topic. We are enjoying wonderful conversations on Wednesday evenings as well. We will continue this theme thru Sunday, October 24th and Wednesday, October 27th. If you want the discussion book we are using on Wednesday evenings please let me know and we will order one for you.
4. Saturday set up for worship will be at 10am on Saturdays
We continue to need people to help set up the chairs and get Faith Hall ready for worship. Please call the office (429-5911) or sign the clip board on Sunday morning. Thank you all so much for the help already.
5. Renovation Update:
As of last Sunday we received gifts/extended pledges totaling around $98,000! This means the chairs were ordered!!! Some more are still coming in. If you are still thinking about extending or beginning to support the renovation project, there is a place for your gift as well. There are still more parts of the total project that we can take care of. The building and finance teams continue the goal and plan that we will build only as far as received funds will allow. They are working hard to keep us on track and enable the giving to stretch as far as possible.
6. Membership Sunday:
I am looking forward to next Sunday as we receive some new friends into membership in the church and celebrate a baptism. It will be a time for all of us to renew our vows as well. What a joy as God moves people in living out their faith through this church.
Very definitely, God IS Good, All the time and All the time, God IS Good!
We had a great time on the Kal-Haven trail last Sunday and want to take advantage of the colors on a beautiful trail so we are riding again. Mark your calendars for Sunday October 3rd - meet at the church at 2pm and then go the South Haven to get on the trail. It will be fun to ride together as well as good for our muscles. This is part of our church “Health Plan” for the year! See you on the trail.
2. Sermon Series: “Biblical Simplicity”
I am excited about our theme of “Biblical Simplicity” and how it can change our lives and bring some calmness to our busy lives! We are enjoying wonderful conversations on Wednesday evenings as well. We will continue this theme thru Sunday, October 24th and Wednesday, October 27th. If you want the discussion book we are using on Wednesday evenings please let me know and we will order one for you.
3. Saturday set up for worship will be at 10am on Saturdays
We continue to need people to help set up the chairs and get Faith Hall ready for worship. Please call the office (429-5911) or sign the clip board on Sunday morning. Thank you all so much for the help already.
4. Renovation Update:
We have some wonderful news to share this coming Sunday. As of last Sunday we had received gifts/extended pledges totaling around $38,000, but by Wednesday our total reached $98,000! If you are still thinking about extending or beginning to support the renovation project, there is a place for your gift as well. There are other parts of the project that we could also take care of, but the building and finance teams continue the goal and plan to build only as far as received funds will allow. They are working hard to keep us on track and enable the giving to stretch as far as possible.
5. Membership Sunday:
I am also looking forward to next Sunday, October 3rd as we will receive some new friends into membership in the church. What a joy as God moves people in living out their faith through this church.
Very definitely, God IS Good, All the time and All the time, God IS Good!
1. Time to go Bike riding! I can’t wait to get on the bike and try the Kal-Haven trail for a few miles.
Remember, we will be meeting at the church this Sunday, September 19th, at 2pm and then go the South Haven to get on the trail. It will be fun to ride together as well as good for our muscles. This is part of our church “Health Plan” for the year! See you on the trail.
2. Sermon Series: “Biblical Simplicity”
I am excited to begin a sermon series looking at “Biblical Simplicity” for our lives and how we can bring some calmness to our busy lives! We have wonderful beginning last Wednesday evening as we began this series in the evening class discussion. We continue this theme thru Sunday, October 24th and Wednesday, October 27th. There is a book that is a good resource as a companion for the sermons and Wednesday evening meetings. Please let me know if you need a copy.
3. Demo Update
In taking another look for the final clean up we found a few more odds and ends that need our attention: take up the rest of the tack strips, a couple panels removed, few pieces of vinyl down, and damp mop the whole floor to keep the dust down. If any one can come, we will be doing this tomorrow Saturday morning around 9:30.
4. Saturday set up worship at 7pm this Saturday night only!!!
We continue to need people to help set up the chairs and get Faith Hall ready for worship. Because of the benefit dinner at the church starting at 5 I am thinking we can set up around 7pm. Please call the office (429-5911) or sign the clip board on Sunday morning. Thank you all so much for the help already.
I remember the picture of the horse races and how when the bell sounds the horses come rushing out of the gate and off the races. I felt a little like that this week and this coming Sunday as so many of our ministries started or will begin this Sunday.
1. Learning Groups Begin this Sunday
This Sunday is the beginning of our Learning Groups with classes for everyone, as well as the evening study groups starting up this coming week. We are starting this new beginning on Sunday with another fabulous all church potluck as soon as the 11:00 service is over. Chicken will be provided and all you have to bring is one of your fantastic dishes to pass!! It will be another great day to gather together.
2. Blessing of the Backpacks also this Sunday.
We would like to start this new year of learning by asking all the kids and teachers to bring their backpacks or bags to either service this Sunday so we can take a moments and offer a blessing for all that will learned and taught in school and Sunday school this year.
3. Sermon Series
Starting September 19th, I am beginning a sermon series looking at “Simplicity” for our lives, as well as using the Wednesday evening class time, beginning September 15h, for discussion of this same theme. This discussion will run until Sunday, October 24th and Wednesday, October 27th. There is a book resource that I will also be using and whoever would like a copy of this companion book to the sermons, please let me know. I have seven copies and will order more as needed.
4. Demo Update
This past Wednesday evening 7 people came and worked from 6:30 until 10:00. A lot of work was done with the dumpster filled again! Don Fiskars of the construction company met with Steve Slavicek to go over see if we were ready for construction to begin. There were a few odds and ends to do. You need to know these efforts of our doing the demo work saved the church over $10,000!! If you want to help in this final clean up, I hope to get this all done tomorrow (Saturday morning - Please come around 9:30 am) when we come to set up chairs for worship. We have some wires to remove from the ceiling, a little section of dry wall to remove, and scaffold to take down, and then we are done!!!
5. Saturday morning set up worship
We continue to need people to help set up the chairs and get Faith Hall ready for worship. Set up takes place tomorrow (Sept.11) at 9:30. Please call the office (429-5911) or sign the clip board on Sunday morning. Thank you all so much for the help already.
6. We still have work to do
Last Sunday one of our member’s extended family member came for worship and shared with me how they felt coming in as a stranger. We still have some work to do. Some of the feeling shared were, “As a guest to your church community, therefore a stranger to everyone, sitting at the back, while several (quite a few actually) people saw me and even stood by me for a short period of time. No one expressed a “Hello” of “Good morning”… A couple people talked to me after the service, but not before.” My goal and I know yours to is for us to have no more of these experiences/letters. May we remember “Radical Hospitality” for everyone. We have a great story to tell and share at this church.
May we be even more intentional in how we greet one another and those new friends who come.
Gordie’s Weekly Update
September 3rd
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There is good news all around the church.
This week has been one in which a number of pastors have come to the church. Our District Superintendent Neil Davis held some of his annual one on one meetings with pastors at our church on Tuesday and Thursday. Every year the pastors of our Kalamazoo District drive to the district office in Kalamazoo to meet with Neil. This year he called to see if some of those meetings could be at our church. I had a wonderful meeting sharing the joys of ministry with all of you and it was great fun giving tours of the “construction mess” and share all that is going on around here!!!! Congratulations church, everyone is excited to see ALL that is and HOW God is working here!
1. DEMO Update:
The demo is almost finished. There will be one more work night - this coming Wednesday, September 8th beginning at 6:30. This will finish the demo work and construction can begin!!!
2. We continue to need people to help set up the chairs and get Faith Hall ready for worship. Set up takes place every Saturday at 10am. Please call the office (429-5911) or sign the clip board on Sunday morning. Thank you all so much for the help already.
3. Some news from the Finance team reminds us that we haven’t received everyone’s financial and service commitment sheets. It isn’t too late for you to fill out your Service Commitment sheet and/or sent in your Financial Commitment sheet. Bring them on Sunday offering plates or turn in to the office. Your church needs your support for ministry to happen. We give thanks for your prayerful response.
4. Have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend. Enjoy the gifts of your family and friends.
Get your toes in the sand one more time!
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God is Good! All the time! All the time! God is Good!!
Blessings, Gordie
Where has the time gone? I need to share with you some updates. I found out when I got back from the Alaska trip I brought back a couple souvenirs I really didn’t want or need. The first one was some virus doctors said was from the plane which made me feel like I had mono. The other one was from the changing air pressure also from the plane ride. This past Wednesday I finally got to see an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist who told me what was wrong and gave me some medication to take care of it. If this doesn’t work I get to have tubes put in. Just like a little child!! I also found out that because I have been very blessed with good health, I am not a very good patient. Just ask Susan! Everything feels somewhat better now, but I felt the need to share this with you because I have felt really out of touch during these past three weeks. Thanks for all your concern and help.
1. I am excited the work continues in the sanctuary. The demo is almost finished and ready for construction to begin. One idea we want to begin this Sunday is to have the lights on and the doors to sanctuary open so anyone can feel free to come in and see what is going on. Take a few moments to walk in and take a peek.
2. Not wanting to lose momentum, and with the fall schedule ready to begin, I am also excited this Sunday the Alaska mission team will be sharing thoughts and picture of the trip. What a great summer we have had in mission!
3. Demo times for this week are:
Sunday (8/29) at 6pm, Monday (8/30) at 1pm and evening 7pm
Wednesday (9/1) at 6:30pm.
4. We continue to need people to help set up the chairs and get Faith Hall ready for worship. Set up takes place every Saturday at 10am. Please call the office (429-5911) or sign the clip board on Sunday morning. Thank you all so much for the help already.
5. We knew this was going to be a different summer with beginning our year on July 1st and summer being a time when so many enjoy vacations and the area. If you haven’t filled out your Service Commitment sheet and/or sent in your Financial Commitment sheet it isn’t too late! The Finance team continues to refine the budget, and your church needs your support for ministry to happen.
6. One last joy !!!!! This past Wednesday evening we enjoyed the “End of Summer” picnic with some 70-80 people attending. We had hamburgers and hotdogs as well as another one of those awesome SUMC potlucks that filled the tables. There were also some very healthy ice cream shakes served as well!!!
It was a wonderful evening. Thanks to Sarah McCall for spearheading this great time! Mark your calendars for the same time next year.
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It has been a wonderful and packed summer, and fall is looking wonderful as well. As you can see there is a lot going on around Stevensville United Methodist Church and there are many many hands helping and making sure everything can get done. Thanks to all for your help.
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God is Good! All the time! All the time! God is Good!!
Blessings, Gordie