Central United Methodist Church April 2015

The Outlook The Outlook is published monthly by Central United Methodist Church, 1011 2nd Street, Muskegon MI 49440. Volume 119 Issue 3

Central United Methodist Church March 2019

THOUGHTS FROM MY HEART ~ Juanita Joiner

It was during the month of December that I started an almost non-stop knitting binge. I’ve knitted three Prayer Shawls that tested my patience and yet, during this searching time brought comfort for things weighing on my heart. Perhaps you can relate.

During Advent two hymns spoke to me as I picked up my needles…and they weren’t even Advent hymns. The first hymn that would not escape my heart was, It Is Well with My Soul. I clung to those words and hoped for a blessing hour by hour. While watching a Christmas special on TV, I dropped my needles as one of my hymns was featured in this program. I now had an understanding why God placed It Is Well with My Soul on my heart during Advent. The words of this song were penned after the tragic death of Horatio Spafford’s family. The family had experienced great tragedy in the Great Chicago Fire. A trip to Europe was planned during Christmas to try to heal this family, but Horatio ended up staying in Chicago to work with the devastation that was done to his business during the fire. Instead, only his wife and children boarded the ship. While crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the ship sank rapidly after a collision at sea and all four of his children died. Only his wife survived. Shortly afterwards, as Horatio traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write the words of what would eventually become the hymn It Is Well with My Soul. Don’t you agree that during rough times people search to find answers and com-fort from God? We search even as Christians…just as Horatio did. When peace like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well, with my soul.

The months of January, February and March are the months when each of my relatives passed and found peace for their souls. What is it about the winter? This winter we have longed for relief from snow, ice and school closings. I think our word this winter has been HOPE. I know that those Prayer Shawls I’ve knitted and continue to knit were filled, and are continuing to be filled, with prayers of hope, peace and comfort…words that rang loud and clear during my Advent and again now, as I prepare for Lent.

What was the second hymn? O Love That Will Not Let Me Go. Again, these words touched my heart stitch by stitch and row by row. Each verse of this hymn starts with two words…O Love, O Light, O Joy, O Cross. Powerful words not only for me, but for each of us. I just love the last few words of the final verse: Life that shall endless be.

February again brought me grief in the passing of three dear friends…all within six days of each other. Each of these people had placed a permanent mark on my heart…a heart that was now filled with love and appreciation for the time I had in each of their lives and yet, sorrow for days I did not see. I attended visitations and came away with that hymn still playing in the depths of my soul…It is well with my soul. During one of the visitations the family had printed out one of the journal entries made during the person’s final journey. Words written from the heart, just like Horatio’s. As I read, I received love, light and joy from these penned words: God is greater than any problem I have…Grace is calling…It was a God moment…and the one that touched me most…Throughout my entire life I’ve known God but today I am much closer to Him than I’ve ever been. I have felt God’s absolute presence and strength with each passing day. Yes, there were tears shed but now I feel love, not emptiness; joy not sorrow.

Today I’m thankful for my heavy heart during Advent and for the two hymns that will forever remain in my heart. I think God knew what was ahead for me this February and prepared me with his love. May each of you also cling to memories that brought you love, light and joy. And may we together sing from the bottom of our hearts…O Cross that liftest up my head, I dare not ask to fly from thee; I lay in dust life’s glory dead, and from the ground there blossoms red life that shall endless be.

And all the people said...AMEN!

Central’s Mission ...

Central United Methodist Church seeks to be “a light along the shore” in Muskegon.

As believers in Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, we

Worship together in community

Learn of God through the Word at all ages of life.

Because our lives are ablaze with the Light of Christ, we

Welcome all who wish to walk with us on the journey

Serve our neighborhood and world.

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Lent Can Be Confusing The season of Lent begins on March 6 with Ash Wednesday. Throughout the world, millions of believers will receive the sign of the cross on their foreheads in ash as a sign of faith and penitence and begin a 40-day period of rituals and fasting! The confusion begins for many after Ash Wednes-day because the season is expressed by us in worship rather somberly. The tone of Lent worship is often quiet, penitent, and dark. At the same time the snow is melting, the days get longer, the tem-peratures get warmer, and the Earth begins to bloom, and excitement fills the air. The emotion of our worship doesn’t quite match the exuberance of springtime. Also, we often share the Lenten scripture reading from Matthew 6:1 that says, “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.” Yet we are very intention-al about practicing several Lenten traditions and rituals. Perhaps the most confusing aspect of Lent is the widespread practice of giving something up – chiefly the practice of giving up food … fasting. It is striking that Lent begins this year on March 6, literally three days after National Eating Dis-order Awareness Week is promoted in the United States. So while Christians everywhere will be lamenting all the foods they sacrifice this Lent, what will the millions of Americans who struggle with eating disorders hear from our ritual? Yes ... confusing. An even bigger question about this widespread practice is: what does fasting teach us about God and the Christian life? Back in the 1500’s, Martin Luther was already skeptical about this Lenten practice. He wrote, “Lent has become mere mockery because our fasting is a perversion and an institution of man. For although Christ did fast forty days, yet there is no word of his that he requires us to do the same and fast as he did…we should see to it that we have his Word to support our actions.” Are you surprised? Luther saw how inwardly focused Lent had become. The people in his day turned the season into an opportunity to better themselves and their position before God through their works. Rather than reflect on Christ and the trials he endured for our sake, people were more concerned with their own trials. So Luther called for a change - let Christ’s commands guide our actions. And what does Christ command? Love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself (Matt 22:37-39). Are you confused? So here is our challenge. How will we let these two commandments guide our journey through Lent? Rather than give up food for the sake of doing it, what could we do that would actually help us deepen our relationship with God? What things could we give up or what practices could we add to our lives for the sake of those less fortunate than us, who are deserving of our love? That is the point of Lent. These 40 days, we will journey together as a community toward the most important event in the history of the world: the death and resur-rection of Jesus Christ. This isn’t a gift that is meant to be experienced alone. It is a gift with the power to transform us and our relationships with God and with our neighbors near and far.

In the name of because of the love of our Risen Lord,

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MARCH WORSHIP AT CUMC 9:30 a.m. at The Sanctuary and 11:11 a.m. at The Corner

(Concluding the Epiphany Series – Drawn In) March 3 – Last Sunday of Epiphany – Transfiguration Sunday Be Not Afraid (Jeremiah 33:1-4) Matthew 17:1-8 On this last Sunday in the season after the Epiphany…on this last Sunday before we embark on the journey of Lent… we behold the Transfiguration. In today’s gospel reading, we are with Peter, James, and John on top of the high mountain in Galilee where God reveals to Jesus, to these three disciples, and to us who hear these gospel words, Jesus’ glory as the Son of God. The mountaintop scene is saturated by intense, bright light. Jesus’ face shines as brightly as the sun, his clothes are a dazzling white…all are engulfed in a brilliantly shining cloud. The brightness of the light is so piercing that it is probably hard to see…but it is surprisingly easy to hear…to hear God’s voice declaring of Jesus, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

Ash Wednesday Muskegon Methodist Ministries Service March 6, 7:00 p.m.

Featuring The Rev. Dr. Jennifer Browne, Director of Clergy Excellence/Michigan Conference Community Choir: meet and practice at 6:00 p.m. in the balcony

Season of Lent God’s Still Small Voice – Come and Rest … Come and Listen

“Look, I’ll pour out my spirit on you.

I’ll reveal my words to you.” Proverbs 1:23

Have you ever misplaced your phone–which is on vibrate of course–and then asked someone to call it? We get really still and really quiet. Our ears perk up in all directions in order to be ready to hear that little buzz. It is a quieting down and high

alert all at the same time. This Lent we will quiet things down and heighten our attention to the “still, small voice”

of God and our own True Self. Listening through prayer as well as meditation on holy texts is

an ancient Lenten practice. Come and rest, come and listen.

March 10 - 1st Sunday of Lent Finding Your Cave: Listening Spaces (Hebrews 3:7-12) 1 Kings 19:11-12

Sometimes we just need to get away in order to hear from that “still small voice” within. This quiet voice is an attribute of the Holy Living God, as Elijah found out in a cave where he expected to experience God in big wind and earthquake and fire. What is your “cave" equivalent? What place (a park, a path, a rocking chair, a shore-line) and practice (walking, journaling, reading, making art) helps you get quiet enough for long enough so you can hear past the chaos and into the depths of your life?

March 17 - 2nd

Sunday of Lent Finding Your Breath: Listening to our Bodies (Romans 8:26-30) Romans 8:38-39

Our sacred texts connect the breath of God with our own aliveness–God blew breath into us at creation and we continue to breathe all of creation in and out of our bodies constantly. The early church also believed that breath and Spirit were one in the same. How might the meditative practice of paying attention to our breath be, in and of itself, a prayer of connection to God? When we embrace our bodies as the holy vessel of God, we become even more our True Selves–which has been there all along.

March 24 - 3rd

Sunday of Lent Finding a Word: Listening to the Texts (2 Timothy 3:14-17) Proverbs 1:20-23

The Wisdom tradition within Christianity invites us to love knowledge, especially the self knowledge that comes from examining ourselves in relationship to the liberating Word of God. Lectio divina (“divine reading”) is an an-cient tradition of mixing the reading of scripture with prayer and meditation. Rather than an analytical approach to the words of scripture, it is a way for the words to simply be present and live in us. What will we hear when we let go of what it all is “supposed to” mean and simply let it reside within us?

March 31 - 4th Sunday of Lent Finding Your Power: Listening for Healing (James 5:14-15) Mark 5:24-34

Prayer as a spiritual practice may come easy for you or maybe it doesn’t. Even the most devout among us have doubts about prayer’s power at times. What is it? How does it work? This week we will consider that the me-chanics of what happens in prayer is not as important as that we do. Because whether or not the outcome for ourselves or others is an actual healing, the very act of being in relationship with God and with others through prayer has healing and powerful benefits.

HELPING HAND FUND Kindness Jars are put out at the back of the Sanctuary every third Sunday and the dollars collected enable Pastor Mark to meet the needs of persons in the community and in the congregation. Donations to this cause can be made anytime just by putting a note on your check or envelope with money enclosed.

LOCAL MISSION 211

In July of 2000 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reserved the 211 dialing code for community infor-mation and referral services. Some of the things 211 refers people to are disaster response and recovery, children, youth and family support, and help for needs of older adults and persons with disabilities. Muskegon 211 is located on Central’s second floor .

Together we WILL make a difference!

HUNGER/UMCOR MOBILE FOOD TRUCK

This is not new to our congregation. We sponsor two Food Trucks a year along with our friends at Mt. Zion COGIC. Our next one will be April 22nd so we need to gather funds now. If we want to give out meat it costs more, so please be generous. Also prayers that our truck will have very useful products on it are certainly helpful.

Be the Gift of hope to someone in 2019!

MISSION POSSIBLE FOR MARCH

MISSION OF THE MONTH UMCOR SUNDAY

This was formerly known as One Great Hour of Sharing. It is one of the six church-wide Special Sunday offerings of the United Methodist Church. Our offerings lay the foundation for UMCOR to share God’s love with commu-nities everywhere. Funds collected allow immediate action when there is a disaster as the money is there and ready to be used.

Together we CAN make a difference!

PANTRY MAP: HAMBURGER HELPER

Hamburger Helper is a very popular item at the Mission for Area People Food Pantry. It can be a hearty meal with or without meat.

Watch for the 10 for 10 sale at Meijer and get a deal. If 20 people bring 10 boxes that will equal 200 boxes. If 30 people bring 10 boxes that will be 300 and if 40 people bring….you get the picture! Our goal will be 300!

Be the GIFT in 2019!

Forty Days — Forty Items Central UMC

Lenten Challenge

Wednesday, March 6 is the first day of Lent. We have a challenge for each of you!! Each day of Lent,

remove one item from your closet or cupboard that you no longer need or want and put it into a trash bag or box. At the end of the forty days, please donate these items to MAP so they can share them with someone who can really use them.

Household Items MAP Can Use

Dishes — Mugs — Drinking Glasses

Silverware — Cooking Utensils Sheets — Pillows/Cases Bedspread/Comforters

Curtains — Blankets — Home Décor Pots & Pans

Shower Curtains — Placemats Tablecloths Simple Toys

Puzzles (for all ages)

You can drop your items off at MAP or place in them in our Mission Room.

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The Nurture Team would like to offer our thanks to all who participated in the potluck and our Valentine Gift Bag project. Both were a huge success. By the end of the potluck, all 20 bags were picked up by our volunteers to deliver to our shut-ins. Thank you to all who

brought food, donated items for the gift bags, and helped pack and distribute them. The excess donated items (that’s a GOOD prob-lem) were packed up and will be delivered to MAP for their Food Pantry. Another gift from our hearts. ~ Julie Husted

BOOK STUDY WILL BEGIN SOON

“If God had his way, what would our churches look like?” “When Jesus returns, will He find us caring for His Bride — even more than for our own lives?”

Letters to the Church reminds us of how powerful, how glorious the Church once was...and calls us to once again be the Church God intended us to be.

Starting on Sunday, March 10, we will be holding a 7-week book study on Francis Chan’s book, Letters to the Church, from 3-4 p.m. in the parlor.

Please sign-up by February 25 if you plan to attend and order your book at that time. Cost is approximately $12. Books will be passed out March 3.

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OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE AND SERVE

MISSION OFFERINGS February 2019

TOGETHER WE CAN! Mission of the Month—Solid Rock Housing Support

$120

Local Mission—Pathfinders $95

Helping Hand Fund $138

Hunger/UMCOR—International Disaster Response $170

Pantry—Meals on Wheels $25

Missionary Salary Offering—Valerie Celestin $75

God’s Work — Our Hands

The next Men’s Prayer Breakfast will be held on March 9 from 9:30-11:00 a.m. at Crestwood UMC. Please plan to join this very vibrant group of

Christian men for good food, prayers and fellowship. God is using this outreach to touch and inspire the men of our churches, helping them grow in Christ and experience good Christian bonding with our Brothers in Christ.

Crestwood UMC is located at 1220 Creston St., Muskegon, MI. Won’t you please consider joining? Please contact Don VanderLaan (557-1948) for more information.

Lake Louise Summer Camp Employment!

Are you or someone you know looking for something

exciting to do this summer?

Are you or someone you know wanting to find a sum-

mer job where you can have fun and still earn money?

Lake Louise Summer Camp is currently accepting

applications for a number of temporary, seasonal positions.

Lake Louise is looking to hire individuals who are:

Dedicated, Reliable, Fun, wanting a new experi- ence and who enjoy working with others!

Positions are available in our Facilities, Food

Service and Program Departments.

Call or stop by our office for more information.

Lake Louise Summer Camp 11037 Thumb Lake Road Boyne Falls, MI 49713 231-549-2728

Lenten Midweek Contemplative Worship

On Thursdays at 6 p.m., March 21 – April 11 we will celebrate quiet worship in God’s presence in the chapel.

March 21 – Open My Eyes, Lord March 28 – Open My Hands, Lord April 4 – Open My Ears, Lord April 11 – Open My Heart, Lord

FYI — Habitat For Humanity will now be called Solid Rock Housing Support. This organization will rehab existing habitat homes and work on financial literacy.

You are invited to participate in a Community Choir

Meet in the balcony of the church at 6:00 p.m.

United Methodist Women

The United Methodist Women are a global Mission Outreach with district, conference and national connections. It’s the largest faith-based women’s group in the world with over 800,000 members fostering spiritual growth, developing leaders and advocating for justice. Do Circle programs look interesting? Come! You are invited.

Monday, March 4, 2019, Book Discussion Group, 9:30 a.m. Location: Church Conference Room Hostesses: Jeanne Coulon and Sue Van Hoesen Program: Educated by Tara Westover Presenter: Hester Newton

Tuesday, March 12, Executive Committee Meeting, 9:30 a.m. Location: Church Conference Room

Tuesday, March 19, 2019, Isabella Thoburn Circle, 1 p.m. Location: Church Conference Room Program: Greeting card craft project

Monday, March 18, 2019, 6:00 p.m. Vibrant Women go out to dinner and chat Location: TBA Contact: Call Debra Dahlquist to reserve table space, 780-4428 Not connected? Come and join this friendly group.

Wednesday, March 20, 2019, Ruth Circle, 10:30 a.m. Location: Church Conference Room Program: Exploring Christian Art: St. Christopher

District Event—You still have time to sign up!:

SPRING FLING 2019: Saturday, March 16, 2019 Fremont United Methodist Church

9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Topic: “Justice for Our Neighbors.” Breakout sessions: book review, oil of ancient scriptures, craft project. Lunch is included with your registration. Ingathering of women’s hygiene items for Grand Rapids Community First Step House.

Sign up by March 2! Fee paid for you and let’s plan to carpool! Call Erika Paulson at 759-0648 for more information.

MISSION MART: This is our version of a “Bazaar” all year round. We want to support the activities of the wider United Methodist Women and our own local needs, so check out what’s for sale. Fair Trade coffees support small independent growers, a double win. NEW: Greeting cards at 1950’s prices! Craft donations are appreciated! If you have any questions about the Women’s Circles at CUMC, please contact Erika Paulson (231) 759-0648.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

God’s Assurance for YOUR Beautiful Day

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. ~ Psalm 118:24 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. ~ Romans 15:13

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. ~ Numbers 6:24-26

The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever-more. ~ Psalm 121:7-8

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Look no further than our BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP!

Our Book Discussion Group is a perfect place for any lady who loves to read, loves to share her love of reading, or loves meeting new friends each month...BOOKS!

This group meets monthly in the Conference Room on the first Monday at 9:30 a.m. Please contact Jean Anderson if you are interested in joining or visiting. Jean can be reached at 231.780.4263 or jeanmand@aol.com

Central United Methodist Church March 2019

Light Lines

March Volunteers

Sunday service reminder … clip to your calendar. Post on your fridge.

March 3 Liturgist: Diane Van Wesep Lay Reader: Jenny McNeill Ushers: Bill Paulson, Bill Nicholson, Dale Beattie Greeters: Kay Fairfield & Carol Higginson Welcome Desk: Tim & Val Lundholm Communion Servers: Huey & Julie Husted

March 10 Liturgist: Mary Oakes Lay Reader: Jordan Parisian Ushers: Bill Paulson, Bill Nicholson, Huey Husted Greeters: Diane Lindstrom & Juanita Joiner Welcome Desk: Maryann Mako

March 17 Liturgist: Sue Zack Lay Reader: Colin Berry Ushers: Bill Paulson, Bill Nicholson, Tim Lundholm Greeters: Erika Paulson & Martha Giacobassi Welcome Desk: Billie Joy Thomas

March 24 Liturgist: Liz Johnson Lay Reader: Carol Higginson Ushers: Bill Paulson, Bill Nicholson, Dale Beattie Greeters: Maryann Mako & Jessee Watrin Welcome Desk: Erika Paulson

March 31 Liturgist: Julie Husted Lay Reader: Sally Wibalda Ushers: Bill Paulson, Bill Nicholson, Huey Husted Greeters: Don & Nancy Crandall Welcome Desk: Sally Wibalda

Care Notes Share their grief: Family and friends of Shirley George who passed away

on February 6. There will not be a Memorial Service. Family and friends of Harriet Oliver who passed away

on February 7 in Kalamazoo. A Memorial Service was held at CUMC on February 16

Words of encouragement: Brenda Wei needs our support and prayers. Please

send your cards of encouragement to this address: 1061 W. Hackley

Room 202 Muskegon, MI 49441

Word of thanks: Sincere thanks to all my Central friends who remembered me in so many ways during my stay at Seminole Shores. Orel Borgeson

What’s better than giving up broccoli for Lent?

Read pages 3, 4, 5 again for suggestions of what we think you need to ADD in your Lenten Journey...NOT take away.

Special Request: Please keep Patty in the church office updated on any

of the prayer requests you have made on behalf of your friends and family. We want our bulletin to be not only accurate but up-to-date.

Where to send important information! Please send to all addresses.

Juanita Joiner for the Newsletter: jrjoiner@comcast.net

Patty Dahlman for the Church Calendar and Bulletin: pdahlman@muskegoncentralumc.org

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Closings Please check our website

or TV stations: WOODTV-8, WZZM-13, WXMI-Fox 17.

If Muskegon Public Schools are closed, the Church is also closed.

Central United Methodist Church

1011 2nd Street Muskegon MI 49440 231-722-6545 MuskegonCentralUMC.org

Muskegon Central United Methodist

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Muskegon, MI

Permit No. 321

Central Staff

Rev. Mark Miller, Senior Pastor

revmarkmiller@yahoo.com; 231-766-1376

Patty Dahlman, Office Manager pdahlman@muskegoncentralumc.org; 231-722-6545

Marian Davis, Parish Visitor osu1fan@gmail.com 231-903-7240

Ron Vanderwest, Assistant Organist

Jim Johnson, Financial Administrator J_a_johnson_2007@yahoo.com; 231-798-2987 or 231-740-1447

Juanita Joiner, Newsletter Editor

jrjoiner@comcast.net 231-722-3689

Josh Dugger, Technology Director tenoil1@aol.com 231-955-5550

Beth Adkins, Music Director for The Sanctuary

bethannadkins@gmail.com 231-722-6545 / 760-994-0205

Dan Melinn, Facilities Coordinator

Carl Chapman, Custodian

Have news for the Outlook or bulletin? See page 9 for submission addresses. Next Outlook deadline is March 19. Thank you!

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS All movies are FREE! All begin @ 7:00 @ The Corner

Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

First Saturday each month will be a FAMILY/YOUNG CHILDREN (ages 3-12 years) selection.

Second Saturday each month will be an ADULT (ages 30+ years) selection.

Third Saturday each month will be a GEN X (ages 20-30 years) se-

lection. Fourth Saturday each month will be a TEEN (ages 13-19 years) se-

lection. You are free to choose & come to any or all.

All movie night selections are subject to substitution based on attend-ance and availability.

MARCH MOVIES FOR March 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE SUNDAY BULLETIN!

Free pop corn! — Invite a friend!