Each week, general church announcements and the calendar for the coming week appear in the worship folder for both the downtown and Green Wood services. The deadline for submissions is noon on Wednesday the week prior. Around major church holidays, the normal deadline may change. Bulletin announcements should be submitted to Adele Roy at the church office (adele@fumc-a2.org ). Announcements from organizations outside First Church will be included as space permits.
There are forms available through the church office so church groups may request to hang banners, use the display cases, and have tables set in the Social Hall during Connections. Please plan to make requests at least one week in advance. Please also bring to the office during business hours any smaller signs you wish to post, or tack them to the appropriate bulletin board. A room setup sheet (sometimes referred to as a "Green Sheet") is now available online. Please print it out, fill it in, and return it to the church office at least five days prior to your event to ensure your room is properly prepared for your event.
WEEKLY MEETING NOTES
SUNDAYS: Global Issues (11am Aldersgate) Examining issues of faith & society.
TUESDAYS: WOWMOMs (9:30am Asbury) WOW = Women Of Wonder — Gathering each week to give fellowship and support to each other. Childcare available.
WEDNESDAYS: Mothers Circle (9:30am Asbury) This women’s group meets each week to share ideas, discuss parenting joys and challenges, enjoy a cup of coffee or tea, and fellowship. Childcare available.
THURSDAYS: Men’s Luncheon Club (11:30am Green Wood) Lunch at noon; program at 12:30 pm. First time visitors free.
FRIDAYS: L.O.V.E. Thy Neighbor Bag Lunch preparation (6:30-8:30pm Social Hall & Kitchen) Prepare bag lunches for distribution to our community homeless.
SATURDAYS: L.O.V.E. Thy Neighbor Bag Lunch distribution (6:45-9am St. Andrews Church Kitchen)
SATURDAYS: Men Of Faith (8am Asbury) Gathering of men interested in exploring faith expression.
Updated Thursday, March 4, 2010
Next Sunday (March 14): Spring Forward! Daylight Savings Time begins next Sunday so be sure to set your clocks AHEAD one hour before bedtime Saturday so you don’t miss church!
Display cases in March and April — Linda Brokaw, Mike Fedel, Mike Hannum, and Bev Walker are sharing artwork based on the theme “Spirituality” in the display cases downtown through April.
The editorial deadline for the April Messenger is Wed., Mar. 10 by noon. Pictures are always welcome. Please help us by limiting your submissions to 300 words or less if possible. Material may be submitted through the Messenger mailbox outside the office, or via email:
jschlee@umich.edu .
Do you have a copy? A few years ago we had a retreat based on Henri Nouwen’s book The Return of the Prodigal Son. The youth will use this book for their upcoming retreat in mid-March. If you can loan or donate your copy of the book, please drop it off in the Youth Ministry mailbox downtown.
Ministry Opportunity — Do you have some time during the day and would you like to use it by serving God in a very special way? The Visitation Team is looking for volunteers who would be willing to take members to their doctors appointments, to church, and perhaps perform an other type of errand. We are also looking for members who would be interested in visiting our shut-ins. If this is something that interests you, please contact Phyllis Rector (
prector@provide.net or 482-8999).
Max & Jeannette Collins will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary on March 10!
The church now offers Care Notes, pamphlets to encourage you or a loved one through a difficult situation. See the rack outside the downtown office.
Men’s Prayer Breakfast meets Sat., Mar. 13 at 7:30 am at Bob Evan’s restaurant, at the corner of Carpenter and Washtenaw Ave. Visitors Welcome!
The FUMC liturgical movement team, Praise in Motion, is preparing to schedule rehearsals for the evening worship service of Maundy Thursday, April 1. This is a no-barriers ministry that welcomes all who have a willing spirit, regardless of dance training or ability. If interested, please contact Lauren Steele at 997-7161 or
RLSteele@mail.com by Sun., Mar. 14. Participants should plan on attending three rehearsals.
Mothers Too (Circle II) will meet at 11am in the Asbury Room (lower level) Sun., Mar. 14. Anyone is welcome for non-judgmental informal personal discussion and sharing. For info contact:
cookie4860@aol.com or 734-995-2532.
Miriam Circle will meet at 9:15am Tue., Mar. 16, at the home of Marge Hansen, 3121 Silver Maples Dr. in Chelsea. Kathie Wilder will speak on the recent mission trip to Kenya. Call Marge Whitacre if interested in car pooling.
UMW Setting the Table — Join the UMW in a Spiritual Retreat at Green Wood on Sat., Mar. 20, from 9–11am. Rev. Amy Mayo-Moyle will lead the program relating to the miracles of Jesus and hospitality as a spiritual gift. Amy is the pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Britton and wife of pastor Michael Mayo-Moyle, who formerly served our congregation. Women and daughters of all ages are invited. Coffee and pastries will be served.
Please let the church office know of any church family members serving in the armed forces so we can be aware of them and keep them in our prayers. If you think they would enjoy receiving mail please include their address and birthday.
The Jukebox Generation is a group for couples in their 50s and older. On Sun., Mar. 21, we will host the Connections Coffee Hour. Please let Jan Radak know what you can bring (483-8124 or
kradak@provide.net ). Following coffee hour that day, we will have lunch at Pot Belly and then go on a tour of the renovated U of M Museum of Art. On Sat., Apr. 17, the Jukebox Generation will attend the Musical Theater Production of Ragtime at the Power Center at 8pm preceded by dinner. Tickets for Ragtime are $15 each if we have 12 people. Deadline is April 1 with checks to be sent to Phyllis Hill 3091 Idlewild Ct. 48105.
Annual Ukranian Egg Decorating — Sun., Mar. 28, 11am -2pm in the Social Hall, appropriate for ages 8 and up (or for younger children with adult supervision). Teens and adults: If you've never tried this, please come check out a fun, artistic activity that dates back to ancient times!
Donate your eggs and tiny toys — Children's Ministries at FUMC is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt on Sun., Mar. 28 at 10:45am on the Wesley lawn (or inside if inclement weather). We are currently hoping to collect many, many, many plastic eggs for the hunt and little goodies for the “goodie bags” that the children will receive after the hunt. If you are able to donate your extra plastic eggs AND/OR little goodies for the “goodie bags” that the children will receive after the hunt, please place your donations in the green tub outside of the church office by the end of the day on Sun., Mar. 21. Thank you so much! Questions? Please contact Lynne Pauer (677-4025 or
Lynne.Pauer@comcast.net ).
COMMUNITY EVENTS
“Called Out: Creating New Places for New Faces” is the theme for the Ann Arbor/Albion/Lansing Combined District Event at Albion College on Sat., Mar. 13. Keynote speaker is Bishop Robert Schnase, an evangelism and church growth award-winning pastor, the author of Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, and bishop of the Missouri Area of the United Methodist Church. Visit the church website for a link to further information. Contact Tina in the church office to coordinate carpooling to this event. The day will include spirit-filled worship and lunch; childcare is available.
The Interfaith Round Table of Washtenaw County continues its five part winter/spring series on The Divine Language of Music, with its third theme, INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC, on Sun., Mar. 21, from 7-8:30 pm, at the First Congregational Church, 608 E. William St., Ann Arbor. Three local musicians/groups will perform and explore the meaning of their music: organist Daniel Forger AAGO, Dr. Stephen Eddins and his percussionists, and Matt Endahl and the jazz ensemble, Quartex. For more information, call (734) 424–1535 or email
gbrides@umich.edu . Suggested donations, $10.
UMCOR Responds — Assistance for Haiti and Chili —An earthquake hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti on January 12, and another hit near Santiago, Chili on February 27. Monetary donations to support relief can be made online at
www.UMCOR.org , or you may write a check to FUMC with “Haiti, UMCOR Advance #418325” or “Chili, UMCOR
Advance #3021178” in the memo.
We’ve given barrels of food, but we can do more! Food Gatherers needs tuna fish, canned or dried beans, pasta, rice, peanut butter (in plastic jars), pancake mix, cereal, oatmeal, and powdered milk. Please put donations in the bins at the downtown church. Thank you for feeding the hungry!
