1 July/August 2018

Wayland United Methodist Church 200 Church Street Wayland, MI 49348

TO:

The ARK

Wayland United Methodist Church Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors

WORSHIP WITH US AT: 10:00 AM

Join us for coffee fellowship following worship!

For Up-To-Date information “Like Us” on Facebook and visit our website: www.waylandumc.org

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS: MONDAY-THURSDAY 9:00 AM-1:00 PM

PASTOR OFFICE HOURS: MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 9:00 AM-12:00 PM

Office: 269-792-2208 ~ Pastor Jeff: 269-944-9231

Office e-mail: office@waylandumc.org

Pastor Jeff email: jeffwrev@gmail.com

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

P A I D PERMIT NO. 2 WAYLAND, MI

Address Service Requested

2 July/ August 2018

Happy 4-Year Anniversary…Let’s Keep Growing Happy Anniversary! Our chapter of Wayland UMC’s ministry began in July 2014. I thank God for the friendships and work we share as disciples of Jesus Christ entering a fifth year of ministry together. On 3/24/14, Beverly and I had our introductory meeting with the Staff Pastor Parish Relations Committee. At that time, I brought these questions:

1. What is ready to happen here? 2. What are you on the verge of, that with encouragement and blessing you can enter into? 3. What gives you hope? 4. How do things grow and change here? What happens, who leads it?

A solid source of continuing education for me is The Great Courses. I mostly get the audio versions of them to listen to on walks or longer drives. My library currently has 14 courses. It is helpful to re-listen to them over time. In “Einstein’s Relativity and the Quantum Revolution: Modern Physics for Non-Scientists, 2nd Edition,” Professor Richard Wolfson reviews pre-classical physics (before Isaac Newton) and the understandings of motion in heaven and on earth (celestial and terrestrial). The earliest belief about earthly motion was that, “Terrestrial objects naturally assume a state of rest close to the center of the universe (Earth); force is required to maintain motion.” Galileo (1564–1642) redefined this belief through physical and thought experiments. He found that the “natural state” of motion on earth was straight-line motion at constant speed. So, objects in the world are naturally in motion, not at rest. Nelson Searcy is a church growth and evangelism leader. About 16 years ago I began studying his work. He describes the process of churches growing through recognized attendance levels of 65,125, 250, and 500 people in worship. We are facing the first level of 65 with an average worship attendance in the mid-50s. He raises two questions about growth that carry important distinctions:

The wrong question is “How do I get my church to grow?”

The right question is “What is keeping my church from growing?”

The wrong question assumes that the natural state of the Church is at rest and we need to do something to make it move. The right question assumes that the natural state of the Church is that it is moving and growing and, therefore, we need to remove the barriers or hinderances to allow the growth to emerge. Searcy further challenges us to make two determining decisions:

1. Determine that it is God’s will for your church to grow. 2. Determine that you want your church to grow.

I consider these questions calls to prayer, conversation, planning, and action in our fifth year of ministry. Our statement of purpose is “God is calling us to be a congregation inspired to serve as a beacon for Christ in the community.” I look forward to growing together in this direction. And I do so with this prayer:

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong (Ephesians 3:14-17).

Peace, Pastor Jeff 269-944-9231; jeffwrev@gmail.com

3 July/August 2018

July

August 1 Communion 10 am

2

3 R.J. Thebo & Emily Shafer Birthday

4 Independence Day 5 Dylan Hott Birthday

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7

8

9

10

11 Wayne Trainor Birthday

12 Worship Team 7 pm

13

14 Josh Harnish Birthday

15 Kaytie Zuidema Birthday

16

17

18 Kaelyn Villarreal & Maggie Anderson Birthday

19 Wayne & Laurie Trainor 12th Anniversary

20 Rolland & Wilma West 4th Anniversary

Gwyn Meisenbach Birthday

21

22

23 Amazing Arts Academy

24 Amazing Arts Academy Scott Chestnut Birthday

25 Amazing Arts Academy Barb Fox Birthday

26

Amazing Arts Academy Jon & Susan Jensen 49th Anniversary

Keith Anderson, Glen Haight & Mitchell Lapham Birthday

27 Amazing Arts Academy

28 Jonathan Fein & Cody Andrews Birthday

29 Stewart Frank Birthday

30

31 Nick Bayer Birthday

1 Gayle & Bea Stewart 48th Anniversary

2

3

4

5

6 Andrew & Hollie Schrotenboer 2nd Anniversary

7

8

9 SPPRC 7 pm

10

11 Rebecca Villarreal & Bob Jackson Birthday

12 Communion 10 am

Charles & Barbara Sears 29th Anniversary

13 Pastor Jeff & Beverly Williams 35th Anniversary

14

15 Ashley Roberts Birthday

16 Sandi Ragan Birthday

17 Dominic Fein & Landon Harnish Birthday

18

19

20 Lee Anderson & Rita Lapham Birthday

21 Theresa Bodenberg Birthday

22 Harry Smith Birthday

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24

25

26 Gary Ragan Birthday

27

Doug Cole, Nell Dandrow & Susan Jensen Birthday

28

29

30

31 Eric Ragan Birthday

4 July/ August 2018

Children’s Sunday School is offered after worship. Beverly Williams leads this

ministry with the support of Sue Jensen and Vanessa Dodson. Children’s

Church meets during worship after the Children’s Message with Pastor Jeff.

Adult Sunday School meets 11:15 – Noon

In this informal group, we are finishing a chapter by chapter study of Acts. Come as you are on the Sundays you are here. We welcome your reflections on the worship service as well as the Scripture study.

We will resume meeting September 10, 2018

Do you knit, crochet, or have other interests? Call Sue Jensen (269-792-2830) or Margaret Smith (269-792-6710) with questions. Please come even if you don’t have a hobby and just like to visit.

Adult Small Group resumes in September

In this small group, we raise questions of faith from previous worship services and current events. The conversation is insightful and encouraging as we share multiple perspectives on God’s presence and power in our lives. Come as you are with a desire to learn and be blessed by the fellowship of people who take faith and its questions seriously. We will meet on Mondays through January and then decide about reorganizing.

If you cannot be in worship, you can listen to the worship service through our web site www.waylandumc.org! Find the Listen Live link. Choosing it, you will have streaming audio from our sound system. And if you want to listen to worship from a prior Sunday, choose the Archived Services link right next to Listen Live.

5 July/August 2018

Questions of Faith Series July 1 - Communion

"Does God Love Equally or Does God Show Favoritism?" 1 John 4:7-12 & Luke 4:16-22 July 8

"How Do I Feel Closer to God When Things Are Bad?" Ecclesiastes 3:1-2,4; Psalm 31:9-10; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

July 15 "Is Christianity the One True Religion?" Isaiah 56:1-8 & Philippians 2:5-11 July 22 "Are There Multiple Ways to Heaven?" Ephesians 2:4-10 July 29 "Is Heaven Real?” Philippians 1:20-24 August 5 Faith Stories in Our Congregation Speaking and singing our faith

The Outsiders Series

August 12 – Communion September 9 "The Worthy" “The Homeless” Luke 7:1-10 Luke 9:51-62 August 19 September 16 "The Lonely" “The Traveler” Luke 7:11-17 Luke 10:1-11,16-20 August 26 September 23 "The Humble" “The Neighbor” Luke 7:36-8:3 Luke 10:25-37 September 2 – Communion “The Tormented” Luke 8:26-39

6 July/ August 2018

Congregational Goals for 2018

Our objective is to create a balance between our inward focus and outward focus.

1. Grow average worship attendance by 10% (2017 - 54), as defined by attending 2 times per month, and include those listening online.

a. Identify special Events, Programs, Recognition Sundays 2. Spiritual Growth – new chair on Ad and Mission, and new lay member of

annual conference, and maintain current number on other committees 3. Grow our education department and offerings, goal to have 75% of

attendees involved in something outside of Sunday worship. Further define list of activities. (goal of 40)

a. Adult Sunday School, Mega Sports, Boy Scouts, Choir, Bell Choir, Christian Neighbors, Green Acres, Camp New Day, Mission Trip

4. Education of local and church conference Missions by increasing monetary support; goal to be at 100%, through % of giving or Noisy Offerings.

Each week at the end of worship, Pastor Jeff asks, “I wonder whom we will meet for the first time next week because you invited them to come to worship with you?” Growing our worshiping congregation is our first goal. Worship is the largest single regular gathering of our congregation. Please consider these ways to support and pursue this goal…

From 50 Ways to Increase Worship Attendance from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership:

Strive to increase the number of times current members are in worship each year. Start with yourself.

Pray for the unchurched in your community. Pray for children being raised outside the church, couples in marriages that don’t have Christ at their center, etc. But pray also for specific families and individuals — friends, relatives, associates, neighbors — by name every day.

Know that personal invitations are the most effective method of increasing worship attendance. Invest 60 seconds once a week to invite someone to attend worship with you.

Continue to invite a person every two months even if they decline your invitations. Those invited may eventually come to a season of life when they are receptive to attending worship. Regular invitations are more likely to overlap one of these seasons.

Recycle your worship bulletins. Keep Sunday’s bulletin in your car or on your desk until you have given it to someone along with your personal invitation for them to join you in worship.

7 July/August 2018

July Worship Service Servants August Worship Service Servants

July 1 August 5

Communion: Gwyn Meisenbach Opener: Wade Greenawalt

Opener: Wade Greenawalt Liturgist: Kelvin Lapham

Liturgist: Gayle Stewart Greeters: Brian & Cindy Sprouts

Greeters: Michael & Dawn Bos Ushers: Wade, Gayle, Wayne, Laurie

Ushers: Wade, Harry, Wayne, Laurie Coffee: Nick & Sarah Fein

Coffee: Michael & Dawn Bos A/V Tech: Mat Dodson

A/V Tech: Keith Kohtz

July 8 August 12

Opener: Harry Smith Communion: Paul Schloop

Liturgist: Paul Schloop Opener: Harry Smith

Greeters: Kimberly Wolff Liturgist: Gwyn Meisenbach

Ushers: Harry, Wade, Pete, Brian S Greeters: Brian Middlemiss & Lori Roberts

Coffee: Michael & Dawn Bos Ushers: Harry, Doug C, Paul S, Sue S

A/V Tech: Mat Dodson Coffee: Margaret Smith & Elaine Rewa

A/V Tech: Kelvin Lapham

July 15 August 19

Opener: Gayle Stewart Opener: Gayle Stewart

Liturgist: Stewart Frank Liturgist: Ron Thebo

Greeters: Jon & Sue Jensen Greeters: Paul & Robin Nyenhuis

Ushers: Gayle, Doug C, Paul S, Sue S Ushers: Gayle, Kelvin, Brian S, Gary

Coffee: Sue Jensen Coffee: Gary & Sandi Ragan

A/V Tech: Kelvin Lapham A/V Tech: Kimberly Wolff

July 22 August 26

Opener: Doug Cole Opener: Doug Cole

Liturgist: Sue Schloop Liturgist: Gayle Stewart

Greeters: Keith & Tammy Kohtz Greeters: Harry & Margaret Smith

Ushers: Doug C, Wade, Gary, Doug F Ushers: Doug C, Wade, Doug F, Paul N

Coffee: Julie Phillips Coffee: Brian Middlemiss & Lori Roberts

A/V Tech: Kimberly Wolff A/V Tech: Keith Kohtz

July 29

Opener: Kelvin Lapham

Liturgist: Julie Phillips

Greeters: Michael & Dawn Bos

Ushers: Kelvin, Harry, Paul N, Pete

Coffee: Brian & Cindy Sprouts

A/V Tech: Keith Kohtz

8 July/ August 2018

Ministry Shares are the primary financial commitment in our relationship with the West Michigan Annual Conference. Our 2018 Ministry Shares are $16,639.00 (a $716 increase from 2017). They are equivalent to 12.8% of our church general fund income. Additionally, the district ministry shares are based on the per-member rate or budget approved by our district conference.

Our current practice is to contribute 10% of the monthly General Fund offering total, several months of

Noisy Offerings, and our quarterly Harding's Rewards.

We dedicate our Noisy Offerings in selected months as additional Ministry Shares contributions. At

times, we will invite recipients of Ministry Shares to be guests in worship, so we may be more personally

aware of the impact of our giving.

The value of having members giving electronically was evident on April 15, a day we

canceled worship due to the ice storm. We still received financial gifts that day totaling

$475. Learn more by choosing the Electronic Giving tab on our website

(www.waylandumc.org).

January Evenly distributed to all Ministry Share areas

April Indian Workers Conference

Native American Awareness

July Connectional Ministries office

August Higher Education & Campus Ministry

October Grand Rapids District Board of Missions

December Board of Ordained Ministry

General Fund offerings and other gifts are reported in the bulletin.

These are the calculations for May/June 2018:

5/6 $3,773.16 6/3 $2,025.00

5/13 $2,301.16 6/10 $1,766.00

5/20 $1,875.00 6/17 $1,699.00

5/27 $2,142.00 6/24 $1,750.00

Total General Fund $10,091.32 Total General Fund

$7,240.00

10% payment $1,009.13 10% payment $724.00

Camp New Day $293.00

Total payment $1,009.13 Total payment $1,017.00

9 July/August 2018

Thank you for your generous Noisy Offerings during May & June! We

donated $191.00 to Wayne & Laurie Trainor's local mission work, and we

donated $293.00 to the Beverly Williams' work with Camp New Day.

The July Noisy Offerings support the Connectional Ministry Office through

our Ministry Shares. The August Noisy Offerings support Campus Ministries

also through our Ministry Shares.

We collected 12 lbs. of donated items in May & 25 lbs. of items in June

for the Christian Neighbors Food Pantry! The requested Pantry item for July

& August is peanut butter.

AMAZING ARTS ACADEMY

Monday-Friday, July 23-27

We are excited to be joining the United Church of Wayland this year with their children’s ministry event,

Amazing Arts Academy, July 23-27, in the evenings from approximately 5:30-8:30 pm. The Academy

is for children entering 1st through 6th grade this fall. We believe exploring the arts is a wonderful way

of helping children experience God's love for them in the world. This year there are plans for a pottery

project, tie-dying, drum making and more! The cost is $15 for the first child and $30 for two or more

children, with dinner included. Financial assistance is available. Parents should contact the office at

the United Church of Wayland, (269) 792-2155, ucofw@sbcglobal.net, to register their children.

Search and Like “Wayland UMC” on Facebook. We use Facebook as a communication source for daily Scripture passages; ministry team meeting reminders; and upcoming Church events. We want to increase the number of people reached in this way.

10 July/ August 2018

Donna Flick’s Kitchen

Sausage French Bread Pizza

1 lb. sausage roll (any kind) 1 c. shredded Italian style cheese

1 French baguette (about 20" long) 2 oz. sliced pepperoni

1/2 c. pizza sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Crumble & cook sausage in medium skillet until brown.

Set aside. Slice baguette in half lengthwise. Place halves on a baking sheet. Spread

with sauce. Top with cheese, sausage & pepperoni. Bake for 5 minutes or until cheese

is melted. Cut into 2-inch pieces.

This makes a good dinner in the summertime and great with a salad! Enjoy!

The History of Aprons

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along

with that, it served as a pot holder for removing hot pans from the oven. It was wonderful for

drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and

sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids. And when the

weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms. Those big old aprons wiped many a

perspiring brow, bent over the hot stove. Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen

in that apron. From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been

shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees. When

unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron

could dust in a matter of seconds. When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the

porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time

apron' that served so many purposes.

REMEMBER: Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her

granddaughters set theirs on the kitchen counter to thaw.

Thanks for the sweet story Donna Flick!