theBig Rapids First United Methodist Church

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

FIRST UMC family

ItishardtobelievethattodaywewelcomeOctober.Timeflieswhenyouarehavingfun!WehavebeenworkinghardthislastmonthandIthankyouforyourparticipationinthesmallgroupsandforfollowingalongwiththeCatchprogram.Iamanxioustohearandengagethenewideascomingtolifeinyourconversations.Wehaveabusymonthahead,filledwithsomefuneventsandatimetosharetogetheraboutwhereGodisleadingus.

WhenIthinkaboutOctober,memoriesofsnowytrick-or-treatingfloodmymind.Itwasalwayssofuntomakeacostumeanddressassomeoneelseforanevening.Doyourememberdressingupandknockingondoorswithhopesofdelicioustreats?MybrotherandIwouldalwayshaveatrading-sessionlateintothenight,andthepeanutbuttercupswerealwayshighlysoughtafter.

Inthemidstofallthegoings-onithascometomyattentionthatOctoberisNationalDisabilityAwarenessMonth.Sundaythe6thwillbeabusydayhereaswewalkfortheCROPWalktoraisefundsthatfighthunger,theneattogetherandshareaboutwhatitmeanstobeawareandinclusiveofpersonswithlimitations.Itiseasytoassumethatournationhascometoaplacewhereallpeoplecanaccessallbuildingseasily,andthatisreallynotthecase.Gainingmoreinsightastohowourbuildingandworshipservicescanengagepersonsofallabilitieswillbeagift.

Asdelightfulasitwastodressupasaclownorghostasakid,Ioftenrealizethatpeopleputonmaskseverysingleday.Thesemasksarethekindthatwewearwhenweareafraidthatwewillnotfitin,theonesweslipontomeettheexpectationsofothers,theonesthatcaneasilyhideourtrueselves.Theworldtellsustoputonaprettyfaceandhidethedifficultiesandstruggles.Iimaginepersonswithdisabilitiesunderstandthisatafardeeperlevelthanmanyofus.

Aretheremasksthatyouweartocoverupyourtrueself?

AswecontinuetalkingaboutwhatitmeanstobeachurchwhosedeepestdesireistoconnectpeoplewithJesus,myprayeristhatweembraceandintegratepersonswhohavebeenmarginalized.IhopeyouwilljoinusforthisdiscussiononSundayaswelearnmoreaboutwhatitmeanstobeopen,welcomingandtrulyhospitabletothosewithdisabilities.Mayweworktobeamask-freezone,whereallpeopleareimportantandincluded.

Youareloved,

Our mission is to reach out to and

bless every child of God.

GALLOPIN’ GRANNIES

OCTOBER 2 SUGAR CREEK (WAS SHARON’S)

OCTOBER 9 SUGAR CREEK (WAS SHARON’S)

OCTOBER 16 MANCINO’S

OCTOBER 23 MANCINO’S

OCTOBER 30 APPLEBEE’S

Prayers• Aging: Those suffering from dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other conditions associated with aging, and for

those who care for them.• Students, Teachers, & Administrators: Angela Lovegrove, Wesley Theological Seminary. Support for

all in education.• In Nursing/Adult Care Homes: Carroll Larrison, Dottie McMaster, Malcolm Lund, Roger Baker, Gloria

Anderson. All those in Nursing/Adult Care Homes.• Mission: Mecosta County Jail Ministry, McCurdy School, Valerie Mossman-Celestin (HAPI)• Military: Sgt. Kyle Maneke (Fort Campbell, Kentucky); Forrest Dorman (Beale AFB, California);

River Dorman (Cannon AFB, NM), 2nd Lieutenant Matthew Ferguson (USMC, Jacksonville, NC); LCPL Paul Nelson (USMC, Deployed); AMN Dalton Nelson (US AirForce, Abilene, TX); Stephen Szpiech (Scott AFB, IL),

StaffRev. Devon Herrell — Pastor Barbara Erb — Office Manager Open — Director of Christian Ed. Rev. Kaye Patton — Director of Music Shirley Jernstadt — Organist Kathy Bell — Accompanist Ruth Reeds — Accompanist Diane Parrish — Nursery Supervisor Beth Ridenour — Treasurer Gary Erb — Custodian

Email for Church Office/Barbara Erb: bigrapidsfirstumc@gmail.comEmail for Pastor Devon: bigrapidsfumcpastor@gmail.comChurch Website: www.bigrapidsfumc.comFacebook Page: www.facebook.com/brfumcChurch Address: 304 Elm Street Big Rapids, MI 49307Phone Number: 231-796-7771Fax Number: 231-796-0757 www.facebook.com/brfumc

Find us and follow us!

Worship In

OCTOBER 6 Communion Sunday

OCTOBER 13 OCTOBER 20 OCTOBER 27

Liturgist: Kathy Bell

Liturgist: Antionette Epps

Liturgist: Bruce Dilg

Liturgist: Robin Dilg

Ushers: Ann Spagnuolo Joann Haist Ron Bongard Pat Williamson Daniels Family

Ushers: Colin & Roberta Cline Arnold Parrish Allan & Sharon Parker

Ushers: Doug & Jackie Fitzgerald Pete Jensen Herm McConnell Pisani Family

Ushers: Michael Gibson Keith & Lori Maneke John & Sally Nelson

Greeters: Pete Jensen Denise Jefts Claude & Jane Pepper

Greeters: Mike & Dawn Wyman Joann Haist Gary Fitch

Greeters: Barbara Ross Mike & Chris Mekaru Bev Wesche

Greeters: Chris & Christine Berke Ed & Linda Owczarek Robin Dilg

Acolytes: Kaitlyn Case

Acolytes: Liberty Beam

Acolytes: Chloe Councilor

Acolytes: Emma Kwant

Soundboard Tech: Thomas Wheeler

Soundboard Tech: Thomas Wheeler

Soundboard Tech: Ken Draves

Soundboard Tech: Ken Draves

Nursery: Maureen Kubitskey

Nursery: Kati Wheeler

Nursery: Julie Tessin

Nursery: Jana Pisani

Children’s Worship: No Children’s Worship

Children’s Worship: Trisha Jadhav Dawn Wyman

Children’s Worship: Amanda Hahn Derek Doublestein

Children’s Worship: Pam Fleming Tony Daniels

Communion Helpers: Dave & Nancy Cotton

Upcoming Church, District and Conference Events

Dates OctoberEventsSunday,October6 SpecialOfferingSundayforWorldCommunion

CROPWALK,1:00pmFreeChiliDinner&DisabilityAwareness,3:00pm

Thursday,October10 CommunityResourceWinterClothingGiveAway,6:00pm

Sunday,October13 PastorAppreciationDay

Monday,October14 ChurchinaCafe’@ThreeGirlsBakery,6:00pm

Tuesday,October15 EndowmentGrantApplicationdueintotheoffice.

2020BudgetRequestFormsdueintotheoffice.

Saturday,October19 AnnualChurch/ChargeConference,3:00pm

Sunday,October20 All-ChurchHayride&HotdogRoastatPaul&DeniseJeftsFarm,3:00pm

Saturday,October26 CommunityTrunkorTreatatCityHall,10:30am

YouthGrouplunchandCornMazeafterTrunkorTreat

Sunday,October27 All-ChurchPotluckfollowingWorship

Monday,October28 RedCrossBloodDrive,12:00-5:45pm

Sunday,November3 DaylightSavingsTimeEnds(turnclocksback)

All-SaintsDay

Our Annual Church/Charge Conference will be held on Saturday, October 19 @ 3:00 pm. We will review this past year’s ministries and look to the future with election of new and continuing leaders. We will also vote on the new elevator. Voting is only permissible for members of the congregation

First UMC Monday, October 28

Noon to 5:45 pm.

Daylight Savings Time ENDS Sunday, November 3.

All-SaintsSundayisNovember3rd.Wewouldlovetorememberthoseinyourliveswhohavepassedawayinthelastyear.Ifyouhavesomeoneyouwouldliketorememberpleasesendtheir

picture(ifyouhaveone)totheofficeandwewillincludetheminourtimeofremembranceduringworship.

Christian Education and Family News

Calling all youth 5th grade and up! Come and meet Derek, our awesome student intern!

• October 6 CROP Walk - meet at church at 1:00 pm • October 20 Hayride & Hotdog Roast at Jefts Farm @ 3pm. (13654 15th Avenue, Big Rapids) • October 26 Trunk or Treat at 10:30 @ City Hall Parking Lot.

Followed by lunch and a trip to the Corn Maze.

Mission CommitteeThefollowingdatesin2019arescheduledforMissionMoment/HungerPotsandSpecialOfferingSunday’s:

Sunday,October6-SpecialOfferingSunday-WorldCommunionSunday,November10-SpecialOfferingSunday-StarburstSunday,November24-SpecialOfferingSunday-UMStudentDay

Worship/Music Committee

Coffee/FellowshipWeareinneedoftwomoreteamssowecanholdacoffeehoureachSundayofthemonth.IfyouwouldliketohelppleasecontactLindaOwczarekat796-3212.ThepurposeoftheCoffee/FellowshipHouristomeetandgatherwithfriendsandfamilyafterworshipinFellowshipHall.

Thankyou-Linda&Ed

WeareinneedofavolunteertoruntheSoundboardduringworshipforoneSundayamonthandapossiblesecondSundayonmonthswithfiveweeks.Thisisanimportantministryandifyoufeelcalledtofillthisposition,pleasecontactJanaPisaniatJanaPisani@ferris.edu

WeareinneedofanUsheronthe2ndSundayofthemonthforTeamTwoontheMainFloor.IfyouareinterestedinthisministrypleasecontactClaude&JanePepper

Endowment CommitteeTheEndowmentCommitteeisnowacceptingGrantApplicationsfortheFall.ThelastdaytoturninyourGrantApplicationintothechurchofficeisTuesday,October15.TheGrantApplicationformsareavailableattheInformationCenterlocatedoutsideofthechurchofficeandonthechurchwebsiteundertheNewslettertab.

Staff Parish RelationsWearesearchingtofindthebestpersontofillourFamilyDiscipleshipCoordinatorposition(FormerlyDirectorofChristianEducation).Thispersonwillbringvisionandenergytoourministrybyintentionallyreachingouttochildren,youthandtheirfamilies.Inaddition,wehopetocreateopportunitiesforintergenerationalconnectionandfaithdevelopment.TheJobDescriptionisavailableonourwebsiteundertheNewsletterTabandonourFacebookpage.Pleasehelpusspreadtheword!Resumescanbesenttobigrapidsfumc@gmail.com.IfyouhaveanyquestionsaboutthispleaseletPastorDevonknow.

CROPHungerWalk–Hungerisoneofthegreatestinjusticesfacingourworldtoday,butitdoesn’thavetobe!OnSunday,October6that1:00p.m.,BigRapidsFirstUnitedMethodistChurchwillgatherwithothersinourcommunitytofighthungerbothhereathomeandaroundtheworld.PleaseseeAmandaHahnformoredetailsandtosignuptobeawalker,asponsor,orahospitalityvolunteer!YoumayalsocallortextAmandaat231.527.8707.Thisyear,wealsohaveaBRFUMCCropWalkTeamPagewhereyoucanregistertowalk,makeonlinedonationsorcheckourprogress!Visitcrophungerwalk.org/bigrapidsmitosearchfortheFirstUnitedMethodistChurchteampage.Thankyouforyourprayersaroundthismissionopportunityandforhelpingtofeedthehungrybothinourcommunityandthroughouttheworldaswestepoutincompassionandcontributetoprovidemercy.

Will be held at First Church on Thursday, October 10.

Donation box is located in the Warren Street Foyer.

Accepting donations of:Coats, boots, sweatpants, mittens, gloves, hats & scarves.

To Our Pastor Our God has sent you to this place

To lead us in the way That He would have us work and think

And live from day to day No matter the hour; whatever the need,

You go the extra mile - Always ready and willing to share A comforting thought and a smile.

We’re grateful that you’re here with us To teach us from His word,

And we will try to do our best In service of our Lord.

We thank you for your ministry, Your guidance and your care.

His greatest blessings for your life Is our most humble prayer.

Author Unknown