F irst Pulse
First United Methodist Church Grand Rapids | grfumc.org
Stories from First Church and the impact on the lives of our community
October 2019
F irst Pulse
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October 2019
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Fall sermon seriers “If Christians Were... Really Christian?” Moments with the Children with Leara Glinzak, art therapist and the owner of I Light LLC A variety of Ministries were representated at the Ministry Fair on September 15.
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OUR MISSION To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
OUR PURPOSE
To fulfill the call of Christ to be spiritually alive in the city while embracing the world.
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First Pulse | October ‘19
INCLUSIVITY Inclusiveness means openness, acceptance, and support that enable all persons to participate in the life of the Church, the community, and the world; therefore, inclusiveness denies every semblance of discrimination.
Pastor’s Message Dear friends,
We are off to a great start to the “New Year” for church programming. The energy and enthusiasm that shone all around the church throughout September is both inviting and contagious. Vitality seems to produce vitality. Members of First Church have been invitational and welcoming to our guests. Folks who are looking for a faith community are finding First Church attractive enough to return again and again. All of us play a role in hospitality through our words of welcome, a handshake, a smile, giving helpful direction when someone appears lost or confused, and paying attention to names and faces of our guests so that when they return, somebody notices and greets them by name. While I believe that it is a spiritual searching and yearning that draws a person to make a courageous decision to attend worship in a new place for the first time, what brings them back is the excellence of the experience combined with the genuine welcome they feel from people. So ... • IF you happen to be a member of First Church or a regular attender and consider First Church your church home, please know that you are important in your ministry of inviting and welcoming all people who enter our doors. OR … • IF you happen to be a guest who is looking for a community of faith that values you and your spiritual journey, I trust you feel welcome enough to make First Church a vital part of your life. Please know that you are welcome here. On September 9, our Expanded Leadership Council met and reversed a decision they made in May. (The Expanded Leadership Council includes the official members of the Leadership Council who were elected to serve plus the members of the Board of Trustees, the Building Committee, the Staff-Parish Relations Committee, the Way Forward Committee, and the Finance Committee. The Expanded Leadership Council has met four times since February to give a broader representation of our congregation in the decision making process.) If you will recall, The Way Forward Committee of our congregation was named after the St. Louis Special General Conference that upheld the current language of the Book of Discipline that does not fully include LGBTQ+ persons. The committee was given the responsibility to study, monitor the actions and trends
of the general church and the Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church, participate fully in the dialogue, and then, make recommendations to the Leadership Council of First Church about the future direction our congregation. The committee has done their work incredibly well. By both conviction and commitment, the majority of First Church lay leaders and members disagreed with the decisions made at General Conference. Consequently, in May, a decision was made to “hold” our Ministry Shares to the Annual Conference until we had greater clarity on the direction of other United Methodist Churches in Michigan. Based upon the experiences and observations of the committee members, the study they have done, the conversations they have had, and the listening that they continue to do, they recommended that our congregation resume full financial participation with the Annual Conference. The recommendation was adopted unanimously. Compelling facts that helped the Leadership Council make their decision include: • By a survey done, approximately 70% of the membership in the United Methodist Church within the United States favor a more fully inclusive church. • At Annual Conference, a “straw poll” was taken to advise our Michigan Conference leadership where Michigan United Methodists fall on the continuum. 68% of Michigan Conference delegates favored a more open and inclusive stance for our congregations. • Our Bishop (David Bard) gave clear and compelling personal alignment with a more inclusive commitment in leading the church forward. • The delegates elected from the Michigan Conference to the General Conference all are theologically and practically committed to full inclusion. • And across the denomination, persons were commissioned or fully ordained who identify themselves as LGBTQ+. This is the information that is important for the entire congregation to know, affirm, and celebrate. First Church is a vital congregation that is making a positive difference in the world. Grace and peace to ALL. Pastor Bob
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Radical H ospitality Listening
The other day a friend said, “The reason I don’t talk very much is because I feel like no one is listening.” As someone who struggles to stop talking, that made me pause. I wonder how many times I’ve missed hearing someone’s story because I just wasn’t listening for it. Each of our stories is important, and hearing other’s stories helps us to connect in meaningful ways. As we move into the fast pace of the fall, I encourage you to pause to hear each other’s stories. Come to worship early and start a conversation with someone new. Has this person been a part of First Church since she was born? Or did she just move to Grand Rapids to start a new career? Don’t rush to leave your Sunday school class. Instead, stay and build community. How was their week? What brought them joy? What are they struggling
with? In a time when people are constantly connected, many struggle with loneliness. Rather than sliding in late or leaving as soon as the last note is sung, let’s linger. Let’s intentionally continue to build a community that listens and shares. If you’re looking to find a place to connect at First Church, but aren’t sure where you might best connect, I’d love to hear from you. Sami Marasigan Hospitality & Invitation SamiM@grfumc.org
Homecoming 2019 Thanks to all who joined us for our fall kick-off! From a packed Pastor’s Forum, to an energizing worship, to fantastic meal – Homecoming Sunday was a great day! A big thank you to the volunteers who helped make the Homecoming meal! The healthy meal was a great way to continue our wellness focus into this new year! If you have meal suggestions or would like to join the Fellowship Committee, please email SamiM@grfumc.org.
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First Pulse | October ‘19
PASSIONATE WORSHIP Music and Arts Ministry
World Communion Sunday The first Sunday in October is known as World Communion Sunday. This observance began in 1936 as an act to recognize our ecumenical oneness in Christ and to bring Christians across the world together in a spirit of unity and peace. It is a time to emphasize the unity of all Christians through the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, instituted by Jesus, saying “do this, in remembrance of me.” The Christian community in Taizé, France, is an ecumenical monastic fraternity, with over a hundred brothers from both Protestant and Catholic traditions. This community was founded to foster peace and mutual understanding and has become a significant destination for pilgrims throughout the world. The community hosts 100,000+ pilgrims each year for study, prayer, and communal activities of service. The Church of Reconciliation serves as the location for a unique style of meditative prayer that has become a form of prayer for Christians around the world. At present, there is a group of brothers from Taizé traveling around the United States, with daily prayer and communion celebrated at the various stops. The central element of worship at Taizé is the songbook: a collection of short, meditative chants that echo both Gregorian chant, and harmonized chorales. These short chants create a meditative texture at Taizé, with the words often sung in many different languages simultaneously. The Taizé songbook describes this music: “Using just a few words, the chants express a basic reality of faith, quickly grasped by the mind.” The repertoire of music is constantly being expanded, including the number of languages represented. Recent such language additions are Portuguese, Lithuanian, Swedish, and Russian.
On Sunday, October 20 at 3:00 pm, our choir will join with several other choirs in Grand Rapids to sing a concert at Fountain Street Church. The concert is being organized by The Chamber Choir of Grand Rapids and will feature the Grand Rapids Women’s Choir, Mandala (the select youth ensemble of the Grand Rapids Symphony), and the choirs of Park Congregational and Fountain Street Church. Our Youth Choir will participate in singing two of the selections. One of the significant pieces on the program is a work by Sean Ivory titled “Hope for Reconciliation: A Song for Mandela and de Klerk.” This piece was written in 1994 to commemorate the end of Apartheid in South Africa, in hopes of reconciliation and healing. The score is dedicated “To the memory of Nelson Mandela, who struggled long and hard against inequality and strove for meaningful dialogue between the races. Rest in peace.” A familiar European chant, Of the Father’s Love Begotten is first sung, followed by a South African anti-apartheid liberation song, Thula sizwe, sung in Zulu. The two melodies then are sung simultaneously, musically depicting a hope for reconciliation. Other music to be sung includes settings of the hymns, O God Beyond All Praising and Holy God, We Praise Your Name, the final movement of Requiem by Gabriel Fauré, and an uplifting arrangement of Will the Circle Be Unbroken by J. David Moore. The concert is free of charge on Sunday, October 20 at 3:00 pm at Fountain Street Church. All are encouraged to attend. Eric Strand Director of Music and the Arts
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October 2019 Tuesday, October 1 7:00 am – Work Program 6:00 pm – Mat Yoga Wednesday, October 2 5:00 pm – Young Adult Bible Study Thursday, October 3 9:00 am – Fixin’ ‘n’ Fellowship 6:00 pm – Bell Choir Rehearsal 7:15 pm – Chancel Choir Rehearsal
Tuesday, October 8 7:00 am – Work Program 5:30 pm – SPRC Committee 6:00 pm – Mat Yoga
Monday, October 14 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study 5:00 pm – Board of Trustees 6:30 pm – Admin Team Leader
Wednesday, October 9 5:30 pm – Moms’ Group: Ask a Speech Pathologist Night
Tuesday, October 15 7:00 am – Work Program 5:30 pm – Finance Committee 6:00 pm – FAN of I Light: Specialized Grief Group 6:00 pm – Mat Yoga 6:00 pm – Social Justice Team
Thursday, October 10 6:00 pm – Bell Choir Rehearsal 7:15 pm – Chancel Choir Rehearsal October 11-13 Jr/Sr High Youth Retreat
Saturday, October 5 6:00 pm – Diane Penning and Paul Langford in Concert
Friday, October 11 9:30 am – Mom’s Group: Friday Morning Playdate
Sunday, October 6 World Communion Sunday 8:45 am – Nursery Care 8:45 am – Walk and Worship 9:15 am – Church School Classes for all ages 10:15 am – Choir Rehearsals 10:45 am – Sunday Worship 11:00 am – Children & Worship, Third Grade Bible Study, and Shine: Sensory Room 12:15 pm – World Communion Lunch and Celebration at La Nueva 5:30 pm – Screenagers Movie Showing 5:30 pm – Adult Book Club 5:30 pm – Gentle Yoga
Saturday, October 12 9:30 am – Feeding America
Monday, October 7 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study 6:30 pm – Stephen Ministry A
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Sunday, October 13 Coffee Can Offering 8:45 am – Nursery Care 8:45 am – Walk and Worship 9:15 am – Church School Classes for all ages 10:15 am – Choir Rehearsals 10:45 am – Sunday Worship 11:00 am – Children & Worship, Third Grade Bible Study, and Shine: Sensory Room 5:30 pm – Adult Book Club 5:30 pm – Gentle Yoga
Wednesday, October 16 9:00 am – Caring Connection 6:30 pm – Steering Committee for the Way Forward Meeting Thursday, October 17 9:00 am – Fixin’ ‘n’ Fellowship 6:00 pm – Bell Choir Rehearsal 7:15 pm – Chancel Choir Rehearsal Friday, October 18 4:30 pm – Wedding Rehearsal 5:45 pm – Confirmation Field Trip Saturday, October 19 3:00 pm – Wedding Sunday, October 20 8:45 am – Nursery Care 8:45 am – Walk and Worship 9:15 am – Church School Classes for all ages
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First Pulse | October ‘19
Hispanic Community welcomes Eric Payne as the new Grand Rapids Police Chief.
9:15 am – New Adult Classes October 20 - November 24: • Aging Gracefully • Justice Theology • Bible Study 10:15 am – Choir Rehearsals 10:45 am – Sunday Worship 11:00 am – Children & Worship, Third Grade Bible Study, and Shine: Sensory Room 12:00 pm – Families in Faith: Monthly Brunch 12:00 pm – Unplugged 12:00 pm – FUMC Family Program Visioning 3:00 pm – Community Choir Concert at Fountain Street 5:00 pm – Jr High and Sr High Youth Group 5:30 pm – Gentle Yoga 5:30 pm – New Adult Class Oct 20 - Nov 24: How to Talk About the Bible and LGBTQ Inclusion Monday, October 21 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study 12:00 pm – 60+ Luncheon 6:30 pm – Stephen Ministry
Friday, October 25 MLK Gift of Giving: Donation Sign-Up Deadline 5:00 pm – Wedding Rehearsal Saturday, October 26 3:00 pm – Wedding Sunday, October 27 8:45 am – Nursery Care 8:45 am – Walk and Worship 9:15 am – Church School Classes for all ages 10:15 am – Choir Rehearsals 10:45 am – Sunday Worship 11:00 am – Children & Worship, and Shine: Sensory Room 1:30 pm – Trunk-or-Treat 5:00 pm – Jr High and Sr High Youth Group 5:30 pm – Adult Book Club 5:30 pm – Gentle Yoga
Monday, October 28 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study 5:30 pm – Building Committee Tuesday, October 29 7:00 am – Work Program 6:00 pm – Mat Yoga Thursday, October 31 9:00 am – Fixin’ ‘n’ Fellowship
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Tuesday, October 22 7:00 am – Work Program 6:00 pm – Mat Yoga Thursday, October 24 6:00 pm – Bell Choir Rehearsal 7:15 pm – Chancel Choir Rehearsal C D
A Pastor’s Forum was held on September 9. Senior High Mission Trip D
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Intentional Faith Development Junior and Senior High Youth Mission Experiences During the week of June 23-29, both the junior and senior high youth spent a week giving up part of their summer vacation to help others. The junior high youth had their own “Week of Mission” that coincided with Arts Alive Camp. The students got to experience mission work while staying at home and learning more about our city. They helped trim trees with Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, planted native flowers at Calvin University’s Ecosystem Preserve, cleaned up a parking structure and park at Dwelling Place, cleaned up the courtyard and played bingo with residents at Clark at Keller Lake, checked all the markers and bought new ones for First UMC, cut out various shapes and assembled packets for Gift of Giving for MLK Leadership Academy. Friday was a fun day where the junior high youth went to Country Dairy in
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First Pulse | October ‘19
New Era to learn about dairy cows and to eat ice cream. The junior high youth had a great time giving back to their community. On June 23rd, the senior high youth hit the road for a week of service in North Lawrence, Ohio, with Reach Mission Trips. Each of our youth split up into different work crews to work with youth from other churches from across the United States. Each work crew was sent to a different worksite in the community to assist with home repair projects. Our senior high youth spent the week building porches and wheelchair ramps, painting, drywalling, and laying tile. After a week of service, we stopped at Cuyahoga Valley National Park on the way
home to explore the trails that ran through forests and alongside rivers and waterfalls. Thank you to everyone who prayed for and supported the junior high Week of Mission and the senior high mission trip to North Lawrence, Ohio. We had incredible weeks that allowed us to serve others and grow in our faith. If you are interested in learning more about how you can volunteer with the junior high youth, please contact Emily Uebbing at emilyu@ grfumc.org. If working with the senior high youth is more your speed, please contact Heather Yzenbaard at heathery@grfumc. org. Emily Uebbing and Heather Yzenbaard Directors of Junior and Senior High Youth
Risk-Taking Outreach and Mission New Things Are Springing Up All Around Us Isaiah 43:19 ― See, I am doing
a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Although summer has recently ended, this time of year always reminds me of new beginnings. Many of us have started a new school year. When you head to the store you’ll see summer items replaced with new fall decor. At First Church we kicked off our new programming year on September 8 with a Homecoming “New Year’s Eve” celebration. New things are springing up all around us – and there are three exciting new things I want to make you aware of that are happening in First Church’s Outreach and Mission ministries. 1. The Social Concerns Committee has a new name. We will be called the Social Justice Team (Equipo de Justicia Social). The team feels that this name more accurately describes the work we’ve been commissioned to do – where our faith becomes action in the communities around us. We will continue to support and coordinate local mission opportunities, while also becoming more fully informed and intentional in living into our calling to be a prophetic voice and active participant for justice, peace, diversity, and inclusion in our neighborhoods and in our world. 2. The Social Justice Team has a new chair. Dave Rowe has agreed to serve as chair of the Social Justice Team (Equipo de Justicia Social). We’re thrilled to welcome Dave and all of the wisdom, experience, and heart he brings to this role. Dave has a passion for social justice, and specifies that First Church’s social justice programs are what attracted him and his wife, Sue, to First Church. During his time at First Church, Dave has been involved with Family Promise, the Bridges out of Poverty mentoring program, Circles GR, and the Committee for Full inclusion, and he and Sue have taught a class about understanding poverty. Dave is also active as an ESL tutor for the Literary Center. As chair of the Social Justice Team, Dave’s main objectives are to support and enhance the current ministries
that fall under the Social Justice umbrella, to thoughtfully examine and consider the relevancy of all the entities we support to make sure that they align with our First Church outreach and ministry, and to seek new partners to work with in our community that are highly relevant to today’s issues – such as gun control, affordable housing, and climate change. 3. The Missions Commission and Social Justice Team will be spending more time together. Prior to this year, our missions and social justice teams have met separately to address ministry issues and events relevant to each team. While it’s important for us to continue doing the work specific to each of our teams, this year we’ll also be collaborating together every other month. The goal of our collaboration will be to address issues that intersect the interests of both groups. We will be discussing a broad range of topics that affect both global and local communities, as well as thinking together about ways that we might more effectively involve and communicate with our congregation in the important missions and outreach ministries of First Church. I look forward to each new opportunity placed before us as we continue to engage in ministry with one another and with our neighbors. Rev. Dr. Joan VanDessel Associate Pastor and Dir. of Outreach and Mission
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EXTRAVAGANT GENEROSITY Resource Development
Finding Their Church H ome H ere! The Leadership Council at First Church meets regularly during the year to oversee the activities of the church. The group consists of all the committee leaders in addition to several “at large” members of the congregation. Along with conducting our prescribed duties, time is always set aside during our meetings to gather input about the “sense of the congregation.” This is where all are asked to offer comments about what we are hearing or sensing regarding what’s happening in the church. At our September 9th meeting, we spent considerable time with this “sensing” discussion. One of the common points of feedback was how impressive it has been over the last few years to see the everincreasing active participation by so many young families. This is overwhelmingly viewed as a sign that our vision for ministry is spot-on. The fact that so many of the “next generation” of families with young children are choosing First Church means we are doing the right things to remain vital and relevant.
Is your excitement with being a part of all that First Church has to offer leading you to a greater level of giving? Will 2020 be the year that you become a tithing Christian? Will your giving set the stage for the next generation of bold ministry at First Church? Seeing all those children up in front of the church each Sunday and seeing the growth in our Sunday School and young family participation is indeed a cause for great celebration! But it is also a challenge for all of us. Someday all those children will be in our shoes as the generous supporters of First Church, providing for yet another generation. The strength of past generations has gotten us where we are today. Will our “strength” in giving allow us to continue God’s great work for the generations to come? Chris Hawkins Finance Committee
You will soon be hearing about our annual fall giving campaign to gather pledges of financial support for 2020. Our campaign theme this year is From Strength to Strength. We will be celebrating the fact that we have been blessed with generations of extravagantly generous givers to First Church. Each generation of faithful givers has been exceeded by yet another! Our challenge today is to once again inspire the next generation of strong giving ― From Strength to Strength! As some of our current most generous givers begin to age out, who will replace them? Our hope is that this campaign will inspire all of us to consider how we will become that next generation of generous financial support as First Church continues its ministry into the future. We have an incredible base of young and energetic faithful families. I am confident that out of this base will emerge yet another generation of amazing financial support. 10
First Pulse | October ‘19
First Church welcomed Aquinas students back to school with free ice cream!
Congregational Care I remember countless Sunday dinners at my grandparents’ home where I would sit sandwiched between my grandmother and mom. We would eat on white plates with a silver ring around them, and I would look forward to the best mashed potatoes in the world. I cannot replicate my grandmothers mashed potatoes to this day. As I grew older, the dining room did not get any bigger, and there were added chairs to accommodate new people. Some how we all fit around the table because there always seemed to be enough room. Families have a way of making more space as they grow and expand. That is true for the church family as well. We have space to expand and make room for all people to come around the table of grace. World Communion Sunday makes room for all to connect around the table as together we listen for Jesus’ voice, “Do this in remembrance of me.” Countless times Jesus made room for the other: the individuals that were not invited to come in and sit. Jesus made room for all as he would gather by the seashore and hillside. As we take time this year, let us remember to invite a friend or neighbor to come
around the table of grace. Maybe call and reach out to someone you have not seen at church lately. There is always room and always enough. This is a wonderful time of the year to connect with others and help people feel a part of the community as together we gather around the table. Rev. Tim Tuthill Associate Pastor and Director of Congregational Care
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