Fenton United Methodist Church Newsletter August/ September Edition 2015

www.fentonumc.com

Under Construction by Jeff Jaggers

MAINSPRING Keeping our congregation in sync with God and each other

For the last several months I have been hearing the sounds of construction just outside my office. I hear the sounds of concrete being smashed by a tremendous weight, the warning beeps of heavy equipment in reverse, and the loud thud of a large piece of road dumped to the ground. I am sure I will be hearing these sounds for many months to come. Sometimes they are distracting, sometimes they are frustrating and sometimes I can tune them out. The street and sidewalks that many folks had come to know well, have walked on for years, are no longer there. Gravel and dirt lay where cars used to glide on even cement, and over which parades used to pass. Now we dodge orange barrels and navigate a maze of detour signs. (Have I told you lately how proud and pleased I am of those who continue to find the grace and tenacity to attend worship every Sunday under these challenging conditions?) Sometime later this year I expect that ground-breaking will take place to begin a building project just to the north of the church in the current city parking lot. More changes. More challenges. More noise. More frustrations. But, a year from now, when all of this is complete, it will be worth it. Our downtown will be amazing – more beautiful than it already is. I know. I’ve seen the plan, and I have spoken with the City Manager and the foreman of the streetscape project, and I have confidence in them. Construction is frustrating, but it is sometimes necessary; and the outcome is usually better than we had expected. Christ-followers are no strangers to construction; mostly because we are always under it. We are always on God’s magnificent work bench. God is always

shaping us more and more into the character of Jesus Christ. In the Wesleyan tradition we call that process, sanctification. It is Christians under construction. Sometimes we don’t realize that God has done some shaping in our lives until someone points it out to us. Sometimes we are very aware that our lives are under construction because it hurts, and it is frustrating, and it there are too many detours and stopped traffic. But, to be alive means to be under construction. Congregations are no strangers to construction, either – at least the dynamic ones; the ones into whom God breathes the breath of life. To be alive means to be under construction. Churches that are alive with the Spirit of God go through seasons of construction

and change. They must. Sometimes we don’t even notice it, and sometimes it is jarring, painful and frustrating. Each day we get to decide what we will do with the construction zone. Will we get mad at it? Will

we cooperate with it? Will we take another way? What we decide will move us either towards God’s vision for us or away. I can’t say that I have seen the vision for who and what you and I will become in our walk with God through Jesus Christ. Nor can I say that I have seen God’s vision for Fenton United Methodist Church – though we will be working on that over the next several months. But, I trust God - the foreman of all these

that the outcome will be amazing!

Jeff Jaggers Lead Pastor

Christ-followers are no

strangers to construction;

mostly because we are always

under it.

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CONNECTIONAL GIVING BY JEFF JAGGERS

NOTES FROM GOD ON STEWARDSHIP

Ministerial Education Fund

Men and women choose the ministry because God calls them. The Ministerial Education Fund is our way of helping them answer that divine call. Our United

Methodist seminaries lead the effort to proclaim God’s word in a world desperately in need of that message.

Faithful Stewardship helps in God’s work in the world.

“This service that you perform (giving) is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but it

is also overflowing with many expressions of thanks to God.”

2 Corinthians 9:12

I know it’s the last thing that anyone wants to talk about in the summer, but winter is coming

and it will be here sooner than we think. But along with the snow and ice that winter brings it also

brings something very exciting and a huge ministry to our church; Upward Basketball.

Did you know that Fenton United Methodist Church has the largest Upward Basketball league

in the whole state of Michigan? I sure didn’t! When I learned this fact I realized even more ho w

important this ministry is to hundreds of young people that come in our doors for eight weeks to play basketball

but also to learn about Jesus! We have a huge opportunity here to reach hundreds of people in a

unique way and it is my job to make sure that we do that this year in the best way possible.

That is where the church body comes in. In order for this ministry to run at its full potential

we need lots of people to be different parts of the body that is Upward Basketball. I am looking for a

few commissioners to be in charge of the big parts of the process like concessions, refereeing, prayer,

half time, and host. I am also looking for people that want to volunteer to help in each of these areas

underneath the commissioner. It takes a lot of bodies to make this ministry work, but I know that if

we all chip in and do what we feel that God is calling us to then together we can accomplish great

things and make a huge impact in young people’s lives this winter!

Jeff Jaggers Lead Pastor

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Fenton United Methodist Church Newsletter August/ September Edition 2015

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FUMC Brass Ensemble is open to any brass musician

who would like to share their talents on the third

Sunday of each month (9:30 & 11:00 worship) and

Contact Lisa Pearson, via phone: (810) 569-3451

or email: bwpianokeys@yahoo.com.

The UMM Breakfast Meetings for the rest of the year are 8/1, 9/12, 10/3, 11/7, and 12/5. We meet on Saturday morning, at 8:00am, in Room 117 next to the kitchen.

What’s Going on at Fenton UMC...

Back to the Bricks

In August we will be selling Strawberry Shortcake at Back to the Bricks. The date is Thursday,

August 6 in the evening at Fenton High School. Volunteers needed.

Pasty Sale The remaining Pasty Sales for 2015 are Saturday, September 19 and Saturday, November 21. Orders should be in the Monday before. Pasties are $3.50 each and all the profit goes to pay down the principle on the Family Life Center Mortgage.

FUMC HOLIDAY CRAFT SHOW AND SMALL BUSINESS EXPO!

Once again, FUMC will host their annual Small Business and Holiday Craft Show on Saturday, November 22 in the FLC. We need small businesses, crafters, and buyers and we want YOU! Please check the church

website for the application and rules. Early bird deadline for spaces is thru August 31. Prices go up by $5 after that. All proceeds benefit our church and its’ ministries to the greater community. Lunch will be served (a la Denise

shopping day! Free internet by request.

Your Stephen Ministry is growing!

Susan Allen, Judy Dettre, and Sandy York have joined Marilyn Rutter to form

the Stephen Ministry’s Leadership Team. Plans are taking place to train the

next group of Stephen Ministers! So, if you are a compassionate, caring person

with a desire to “walk along side” another person as they face challenging life issues-

consider training to become a Stephen Minister.

Contact the church office and one of

to any questions you may have.

Family Promise of Genesee County

Give Me Shelter 5K Run/Walk Saturday, August 8, 2015

Jack Abernathy Regional Park

500 S. Dayton Street, Davison, Michigan 48423

8:00am Kids (10 and under) Free Fun Run

8:30am Runners – Timed Race

8:35am Walkers – Fun, Family, Friends, Strollers

9:00am Free Pancake Breakfast – Davison Odd Fellows

Award Ceremony to follow

Online Registration: givemeshelter5k.com

Unable to walk or run? You can still participate in this Family Promise Fundraiser. We need volunteers

on the course to help direct walkers/runners and distribute water. If you would like to volunteer on race

day, from 7am to 10am, please contact Janet Ruggirello at (810) 417-1516 or via email at ruggir@aol.com.

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Equal Exchange’s Red Cherry Challenge ended on May 31, and they’ve tallied up the results! Our coffee total for the year was 276 pounds! Thank you for your purchases! Fenton UMC’s goal for this past year was 250 pounds. Our coffee purchases counted even more for farmers. All told, between June 1, 2014 and May 31, 2015, 613 congregations,

groups, and individuals participated in the Red Cherry Challenge. Together we raised $8,281 for farmers whose coffee crops have been devastated by coffee rust, a coffee tree disease that has been exacerbated by the effects of climate change. The Red Cherry Challenge has ended, but there is more work to be done: Choose Fair Trade coffee. As Fair Trade consumers, we are partners with the farmers in good years and bad. Hopefully, buying more coffee will help sustain farmers through difficult times. Raise awareness. Educational materials are available from Equal Exchange at equalexchange.coop/rcc. Financial contribution. Above and beyond the Red Cherry Fund, Equal Exchange has contributed $80,000 to Root Capital and $20,000 to The Coffee Trust, both organizations working with farmers on the ground to mitigate the effects of coffee rust.

Thank you for all your Equal Exchange Fair Trade purchases. Along with coffee, we have tea, chocolate, nuts, olive oil, fruit and nut bars, and honey available in the church office. Don’t see what you’re looking for in the office, please call me – Janet Ruggirello at (810) 714-3110.

EQUAL EXCHANGE

School Supplies are in great need at MMDC where school kits are assembled and sent to disaster areas. A team of sixteen adults from Fenton UMC will be going to MMDC on September 20 for a week of volunteer mission work. Among the jobs will be assembling hundreds of school kits. Our team would like to take school supplies donated by our church family. The school items will be collected in the Narthex from August 2 to August 30. Items needed are: (follow guidelines specifically) • Blunt end school scissors (rounded end, not plastic) • Pads or loose-leaf 8 1/2” x 11” ruled paper • 30 centimeter rulers • Pencil sharpeners (hand held) • Pencils with erasers (no logos, sayings, or advertising) • Erasers, 2 1/2” • Crayons (Boxes of 24 crayons only) Please help us with this project. Thank you! What is Midwest Mission Distribution Center? Midwest Mission Distribution Center (MMDC) is a Methodist disaster relief facility located 4 miles south of Springfield, Illinois. It is a caring ministry related to the North Central Jurisdiction of the UMC and cooperates with UMCOR Relief Supply Network. MMDC provides opportunities for individuals and groups from all walks of life, denominational backgrounds, abilities, and ages to help provide disaster relief kits and resources as well as educational and medical supplies to those in need both locally and internationally. MMDC offers a “hands-on mission experience”. MMDC is a non-profit organization and receives 100% of its’

and communities. It operates on a debt-free basis. A MMDC Mission Team from Fenton UMC has volunteered for a week for the past years. For more information, contact Eva Curtis at (810) 629-7446.

“OPERATION SCHOOL SUPPLIES”

FOR MIDWEST MISSION DISTRIBUTION CENTER

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LOOKING FORWARD INTRODUCING ASSOCIATE PASTOR MICHELLE FORSYTH

When my family and I first arrived at the Mill Pond parsonage there was a card attached to the stove welcoming us to Fenton United Methodist Church. Inside the card was a gift card to Uncle Ray’s Dairyland (which by the way is the best ice cream in the world!) from the Staff Parish Relations Committee. The first night we arrived we enjoyed breaking bread together with the Jaggers. We enjoyed a night of excellent food, wonderful fellowship, and the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Throughout the week we had food and gifts dropped off to the parsonage and warm, welcoming introductions from our new church family and our neighbors. Needless to say, we were elated b y t h e h o s p i t a l i t y t h a t everyone has shown to us. And I remembered something that Pastor Jeff said during my first introduction to Staff Parish a while back. He asserted that he would like Fenton United Methodist Church to be the church that “gets Christianity right.” Friends, my family and I have been in Fenton for a little over two weeks now and we have been welcomed with open arms and open hearts. This is proof that Fenton United Methodist Church “gets Christianity right,” and I am so very thankful that I get to be a part of a church that “gets Christianity right!” There are other elements besides hospitality that Fenton United Methodist Church does well. For instance, we are a church that immerses itself into the Fenton Community. We extend our hands out to the community and serve in bold and mighty ways. We are also a church that ministers to our young people. I admire all the youth group leaders for their dedication to the youth group. They “get Christianity right” by investing in the lives of our youth group; the future leaders of our

our world.

I, too, am excited and passionate about walking alongside the youth in their spiritual journey. I am also looking forward to what God has in store for Fenton Youth Group. Friends, I am so honored and privileged to have been selected to serve alongside all of you. I am still asking myself what I did to deserve this opportunity and perhaps it is because I have the same vision Pastor Jeff has, to “get Christianity right.” However, I also believe in the Methodist appointment system and that it was the Spirit of God who essentially brought me here. Nonetheless, I cannot thank you enough

for welcoming me and my family with open arms. You have adopted me as one of your own, and because of that, it will be well with Pastor Jeremy’s soul. S o fr i e n ds , le t u s b e a

forward-looking body of Christ that “gets Christianity right” and gives God the glory in everything we do. I know that I am super excited and delighted to get started, so here we go! Your sister in Christ Jesus, Pastor Michelle

Let us be a forward-looking body of Christ that gets “Christianity

right” and gives God the glory in everything we do.

Pastor Michelle Forsyth, with husband

Bob, and kids Nyomi and Blaine

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My favorite place from my childhood was South Hampton, Ontario which is a small beach town on Lake Huron. Growing up I thought that was the only beach in which you could experience the magic of the great lakes. It was the only beach with the perfect sand for sand castles, the only dunes for hide and seek, and the only sunsets that took your breath away. As I’ve grown up and travelled, I realized that almost every beach along the great lakes on the Canadian, Michigan, and Illinois (but not Ohio) side was just as magical and were full of the same amount of wonders. This realization did not take away from the cherished memo-ries of South Hampton. In fact, I love the Great Lakes because I first loved South Hampton. I love Lake Michigan because it has the same perfect waves. I cherish running through the dunes because of my childhood memories. I have new adventures that exist in a

childhood love and apprecia-tion. Much like my love for South Hampton ma-tured and transformed but still remained every bit as cherished, so has my love for Fenton United Methodist Church. Fenton will always and fore-most be my church home. Through Fenton stood as firmly as the brick foundation it is built on as my church home. I fell in love with the Christmas eve candlelight service, the gift of music offered on a Sunday morning, the giving of Sno-Kones, and the love shared between the congregation. Fenton had, and always will have, a very special place in my heart, for it was the church that showed me the kingdom. Fenton was the nurturing arms in which I was loved with a love that only comes from God. Fenton showed and equipped me with the tools to be a disciple of Christ.

Going to college made me worry that I may never be spiritually nurtured and embraced in

the same way. I worried that no other church would love me as much as Fenton. This concern did

not last long as I quickly realized the world is bigger than you can possibly comprehend, and God is

even bigger. The love I saw at Fenton was peeking out at each church I visited my first year at college.

It looked different, but I knew it was the same love. It was the love of Christian disciples revealing

the same Kingdom. I began to love new churches. I found new “homes”. Much like the South Hampton

beach, I loved these new places only because I first loved Fenton. Fenton has shaped me and is a

huge part of who I am. I realized growing up doesn’t mean saying good bye. It simply means, thank

you, I’m going to take this experience and allow it to be part of my next phase. As I continue pursuing

my call to ministry, I will call many churches my “home church”, but Fenton will always be part of

that understanding of home. I will recognize and receive love because I first saw it here. I will give

and teach love because I first learned it here. It would not be appropriate to simply say thank you,

for I will be thanking you over and over again as I carry around the large part of myself that is

shaped and nurtured by Fenton United Methodist Church to every one of my new homes.

HOME BY TAYLOR PRYDE

Photo Credit: Taylor Pryde

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“Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the

world.”

119 S. Leroy St. Fenton, MI. 48430 Address Service Requested

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Find us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/FentonUMC

If you would like to include an ad into our Fenton UMC Mainspring, please

email our newsletter editor, Lisa Okoniewski at L109White@gmail.com.

Submissions are due by the 15th of Sept.

Twenty volunteers helped scoop, pour syrup on and pass out more

than 1,200 Sno-Kones to the folks who attended the Freedom Festival

on the Fourth of July. In addition, several of our youth and adults

walked the parade route with garbage containers to help clean up at

the end of the parade. We are so thankful to all of our volunteers

who help us have a joyful and meaningful presence in our community,

and especially at this great community event. Little by little, in simple

and profound ways, we are sharing the love of God and making disciples

of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

FREEDOM FESTIVAL 2015

Volunteers from Freedom Fest 2015 Making Sno-Kones