April 2020
the Visitor Our Vision Statement
a publication of Flushing United Methodist Church
Preparing servants who make a difference in their community and the world by knowing Christ, following Christ and sharing Christ.
Church Staff Lead Pastor JJ Mannschreck Office Manager Rose Dessinger Director of Music Christie Dover Christian Ed. Director Melissa Whalen Youth Leader Tramell Ferguson Custodian Marlene Cooper Play Place Director Lisa Luther Play Place Sandy Abueita Sarah Covert Hanna Nettleton Patricia Wisenbaugh
Sunday Worship
8:45 am Traditional Service 11:15 am Contemporary Worship
Office Hours
Monday - Thursday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Published the last Wednesday of the month (810)659-5172 Editor: Rose Dessinger
413 E Main St, Flushing MI 48433 www.flushingumc.org e-mail: flumc@sbcglobal.net Pastor JJ’s email: pastor@flushingumc.org cell #: (248) 219-8598
Greetings from the desk of the Pastor! In a few years I believe we will look back on this moment as one of those absolutely incredible times in our world to be the church. There is a lot of uncertainty, a lot of fear and we have a unique opportunity to be a source of hope and even joy to our community right now. Let me begin this letter by thanking all of the incredible volunteers and people who have stepped up to make my paternity leave possible. Any time the Pastor of a church takes an extended leave from the church – it is only possible because of the combined efforts of an army of volunteers. First there are the guest preachers – to whom we entrust the teaching of the word. And I am very grateful that all of them are willing and able to run services even through livestream as necessary. Then we need worship hosts to help guide worship. We need volunteers and staff to cover the little things nobody thinks about (like unlocking doors and turning on livestream each Sunday). Then there are other pastors who agree to be “on call” during the week if there are any emergencies – like hospital visits or something like that. To all the incredible people who have stepped up to give me this incredible gift of time with my family – I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for taking care of my church family while I am away. Second, I wanted to take a second and express how overwhelmed I am at a church that simply will not stop being the church. You have amazed me yet again. While the rest of the world panics and lets fear consume – you have quietly and steadfastly continued to create a place where we love one another. In the last few days alone, in response to this pandemic, I have seen people from this church offer complete strangers coffee or a meal because they have to work while others stay home. I’ve seen people offer to bring groceries or toilet paper to those who cannot leave their homes. I have seen positive messages shared on social media and I have heard of many phone calls being made. Even just a quick call to say, “I miss you, I’m looking forward to seeing you when this is all over.”
Simple ways we can love and support one another right now. In the office, we are brainstorming all sorts of ways that we can be together while the world is requiring us to be apart. If livestream Sundays continue, we want to make sure we offer both a traditional AND a contemporary worship experience. We know that not everyone can access the livestream recordings – and so we’re putting together ministries where we burn CD’s with the audio of the service and send them to folks in the mail. While the world shuts down, the church continues to do its work. They can close a building, for a time, but they cannot stop us from loving one another. I want to encourage you – take some time during this pandemic – brainstorm creative ways you can show love to your brothers and sisters. The last thing I wanted to include in this brief letter is to highlight the teachings that come from Holy Saturday. It’s not something we talk about very much in the Methodist Church – but between the bad news of Good Friday and the good news of Easter Sunday there is Holy Saturday. Can you imagine what it must have been like for Jesus’ followers? After Jesus has died, but he had not resurrected yet - I figure that day must have felt like forever to each of them. The shadow of death lingers over their hearts, and yet perhaps they had a spark of hope, a shred of belief that something good in the future might be coming. They found themselves in the inbetween – somewhere between devastation and optimism. I think about the difficulties with our denomination and the fear and hope centering around the Protocol and the possible votes that are coming. I think about the Corona Virus and all the fear I see in the media. Perhaps there is something we can learn from the disciples on Holy Saturday. Be patient in the face of what looks like bad news – resurrection might be just around the corner. It may feel like Good Friday, but Easter is coming. God is coming to do a new thing among us silly folk who call themselves Methodists. But until then, I’ll see you on Sunday!
Finance Snapshot through February 2020 Amount received YTD: $63,922 Capitol: $4,822 2020 Apportionments: $47,397 Paid to date: $ 7,900 We are 100% current on this years apportionments!
Online Giving
You can now donate online through our website. Go to:
https://www.flushingumc.org/give/
PayPal–Scroll to the very bottom page and click on the Donate button. (Available now!)
Vanco– Coming Soon! This option will soon enable you to make recurring or one time payments. See Ken Hedges for more details.
Bored at home and need an easy sewing project to do? Help out our health-care workers by making masks! UMW Sisters, If you'd like to help by making masks for our health-care workers, please send me an e-mail. And, I will send you the information & links to a pattern & a "how to" video. But, if you have a sewing machine, scraps of cotton (or cotton-like) material, and elastic (or ribbons) you can help make these masks...which will help our health care workers be able to use the official N95 more than once, by slipping these over the official one...and in the event they run out of the official one...would be better than nothing at all! These homemade ones could also be used for patients who do not have COVID-19. I have information from Kris Burns (as you may know, Kris is the mother of a nurse), who made this request & suggestion. We also have scrap material from our dresses & pillowcase projects, if you don't have the material...if you let me know, you could pick some of that up from my house. However, I am working on finding elastic...as we have depleted ours down to nothing. So, if you do have elastic...but no machine or the material...you could donate that. Just let me know that, too. In the meantime, I will be checking with Johann Fabrics...to see if I can purchase some elastic; or they may make a donation of some elastic; I saw that indicated on-line. At any rate, for those of us who may be looking for something to do at home...and have the items needed, we can still maintain our self-quarantine and/or social distancing while doing this at home. More information will come to those who respond that they would like to participate in this project. Send me an e-mail & I will get back to you! Once I know who our sewers are for this, Kris Burns will be coordinating where the need for these are and getting them where they need to be! -Sue Ridge
Join us online on Facebook or Flushingumc.org
KINGDOM OF PEACE
IT DOES NOT TAKE A GENIUS…
…to know a good idea when you see it! The Flushing United Methodist Church Endowment Fund provides a means to give a lasting gift to the church and may be given at any time and for any occasion – memorial, honorarium, and estate settlement, for example. Pick up an Endowment Fund brochure from the information rack by the front door.
SAVE THE DATE! Our UM Women will be keeping an eye on the COVID-19 crisis and will be deciding in the near future whether to postpone or cancel this event. We will keep you informed.
In times like these, it’s nice to have something to look forward to...a time when we can all come together again and celebrate!
Paternity Leave
March 29th thru May 3rd Pastor JJ will be on Paternity Leave. Listed below are the guest speakers that are scheduled to preach while he is away. Most of these will be streamed online through our website or you can find them on Facebook. March 29 – Keith Leonard **ONLINE @ 10 AM April 5 (Palm Sunday) – John Hice ** ONLINE @ 10 AM April 10 (Good Friday) – Rev Greg Timmons **ONLINE April 12 (Easter) - Pastor JJ returns for Easter Sunday **ONLINE April 19 – Tramell Ferguson April 26 – Maurice Horne May 3 – Terry Euper We also have Zoom, a program designed specifically for people without an internet connection. This program allows you to call on the phone and listen to the service “live” through your phone while the service is being streamed. If you know someone who might be interested, have them call before the service begins 1-312-626-6799. they will ask you for a meeting #...dial 387-864-384# at the prompt Then dial # again for the participant ID.
7:00 PM Service
Guest Speaker: Greg Timmons from Calvary UMC
Remembering Holy Week, Celebrating Easter
At Home Holy Week and Easter traditionally provide a wealth of opportunities for remembering, meditating and celebrating at church. But in light of Covid-19 “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order what do families, especially those with younger children, do at home for Holy Week and Easter? Families can still set aside time for more intense prayer, study and service. Here are several ideas to help families journey toward Easter together and then to make Easter a season long, rather than one-day, celebration. Have simpler meals. Rather than fasting (which may not be appropriate for children), simplifying meals can remind everyone of the solemnity of the week leading up to sunset on Holy Saturday. Simply eliminating desserts is an easy way to do this. Talk to your children about how giving up something we enjoy can remind us of Jesus' giving up his life for us. Read together about the events of the last weeks of Jesus' life in your Bible. Children who are old enough and enjoy reading can read some of the passages to the family. Easter Eggs with a Difference (on previous page) provides one way to read many of the pertinent passages with your family and talk about them. Add the events of Holy Week to your family prayers. For example, you could pray, "God, we remember today how Jesus served his friends by washing their feet. Help us to serve others, too." On Easter Sunday, celebrate at home in a big way. Make "Christ is risen!" banners to hang around the house. Have a special food. If fresh flowers — a colorful symbol of new life — are available, bring some in to decorate the spaces where your family gathers. Teach your children the traditional Easter greeting "Alleluia! Christ is risen!" and the response "The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!" Other ideas include: Give up technology (TV, cell phones, Internet) for a period of time and spend that time as a family engaged in community service. (This is another way to teach children about fasting.)
Use an age-appropriate Lenten Bible study or read The Legend of the Easter Egg (Zondervan) by Lori Walburg. Plant seeds (marigold, petunia or grass seeds) in an eggshell carton filled with dirt; sprouting seeds send a clear message to children of the power of new life. Check Pinterest and online blogs for Lent- and Easter-related craft ideas. Host an at-home foot washing ceremony on Maundy Thursday using the account of the Lord's Supper in John 13:1-11. Washing someone else's feet, especially for children to wash their parents' feet and each other's, can be a powerful experience. Watch the sunrise together on Easter morning (the time of day the Resurrection was discovered) before going to church. TALKING ABOUT HOLY WEEK Children may ask pointed and difficult questions about why Jesus had to die or the events leading up to his death and Resurrection. While parents should be mindful about how they talk about the details, children can process them when shared appropriately. Children are open to the cycle of life and the reality that everything has birth and dies. We only need to make it simple for them. Talk to them in terms they will understand. One way to engage children in looking at the cycle of life during Lent is through a camera lens by seeking out images that help us turn to God. Sharing the painful and sad story of Good Friday with your children can be challenging. Talk about the day Jesus died, that he died on a cross and that it hurt. But don't focus on what people did to Jesus. Instead, focus on what Jesus was doing for them — blessing the people, asking God to forgive, even blessing another who is on the cross. Children can't un-see images or un-hear words." Be honest without being graphic." During these conversations, it's good to remind children that sometimes feeling sad is OK and that God is with us even in our sadness. EASTER IS A SEASON To continue the celebration throughout the Easter season, create a family worship space — a table, a corner of the family room, wherever the family can gather — if you don't already have one. Decorate the space for Easter with symbols of new life — flowers, a budding branch, pictures of butterflies or baby animals (invite children to draw these or cut them out from old magazines), etc. In the days following Easter Sunday, gather there each day as a family to pray together and read a short passage of scripture about the events following the Resurrection."
Here are more creative spiritual practices you and your family can do together, alone or even do as a online group with your Flushing UMC family: Faith at Home Practices to Encourage
Create a sacred space at home to pray and meditate Start a regular prayer practice (ex: prayer book) Do a sacred moment practice such as family Lectio Divina, Washing Worries Away, or starting a Nighttime Blessing Practice Do acts of service together at home, reaching out to those who need company - give them a call and tell them you miss them Spend time outside, breathing in fresh air and listing reasons to be grateful Bake and break bread together — talk about the parable of the yeast Read from the Family Time Bible Make a prayer chain with gratitude or prayer requests. Watch it grow every day. Draw or color your prayer requests. Post pictures and share with others, or mail to those who are isolated. Sing a simple song or hymn together. Blow bubbles or fly a kite. Let them remind you of the Holy Spirit that moves in mysterious ways Make origami birds or butterflies as a symbol of hope and resurrection Feed the birds to remember how God cares for creation Remember play can be a spiritual practice
Classic or Creative Spiritual Practices that Can Be Practiced At a Distance or In Small Groups
Find a Labyrinth to walk Have people pray in “shifts” over a period of time so your community knows someone is in constant prayer Set up some nature/outdoor themed Prayer Stations Read a book of the Bible together Make a group gratitude journal either online, or somewhere everyone can contribute Divide up into prayer partners or prayer groups to meet virtually or via phone Promote the use of a daily Bible reading guide Encourage use of a 365 devotional for a great daily online devotional The poetry foundation has a poem of the day that is great for centering and thinking in new ways In these tense times, practice joy.
Loving Your Neighbor Drop off food and supplies to older adults and those in isolation Give a phone call to those who are staying at home Connect with community programs who are helping children out of school Create an emergency fund to help people who are living paycheck to paycheck and are temporarily out of work Share your abundance if you’ve got extra from your stockpile Send cards, mail, and prayers to people at home Find ways to support and nurture health care workers through prayer and providing a place of respite Donate to local organizations who continue to serve the most vulnerable Share ideas as a community. Who needs help? How can we help? Have an offering of service ideas on your social media Offer extra support to those in your community with mental health challenges such as depression or anxiety Don’t label people as overreacting or underreacting. Practice compassion and/or acts of generosity Ask a mom-to-be, how you can help support her Stock the food pantry at Flushing Christian Outreach Center
Spiritual Practices to Reduce Anxiety and Foster Peace
Practice a news fast. Turn off social media and news. Try looking at news only one time per day. Practice the loving kindness meditation Focus on what you can control and not what you can’t Practice mindfulness meditation Practice centering prayer, make a prayer journal Go outside and listen to nature sounds. Think about God’s creation. Print and color mandalas Encourage Mini-Sabbaths in addition to a regular practice of Sabbath Practice the Daily Examen, Lectio or Visio Divina Nurture a Spiritual practice of imagination Make and use a finger labyrinth Start a gratitude journal or practice Pray the Lord it is Night prayer before bed When you don’t have the words to say, light a candle instead Make and use prayer beads Pick a centering word like “peace” or “hope.” Write it down and let it be your intention for the day.
Name
Day of Birth Name
Day of Birth
Scot Workman
1
Eleanor Shipley
16
Judith Keeler
3
Carolyn Malaski
17
Marj Alexander
4
Jason Keef
18
Nikkeya Martin
7
Cindy Pratt
18
Nikkita Martin
7
Sarah Covert
20
Carmen Williams
7
Taylor Fleury
20
Barb Johnston
8
Beth Prittie
20
Patricia Wisenbaugh
9
Andrea Martin
23
Michael Workman
9
Courtney Walters
23
Linda Walters
11
Carol Grant
25
Doris Bramlett
12
Bill Vaughan
25
Bob Baker
13
Olivia Allard
27
Sienna Roman
15
Taylor Venable
27
Kyle Grindstaff
16
Kayla Bigelow
28
Phyllis Lewis
16
Dawn Hiller
30
Finance Snapshot through February 2020 Amount received YTD: $63,922 Capitol: $4,822 2020 Apportionments: $47,397 Paid to date: $ 7,900 We are 100% current on this years apportionments!
Sisters, Due to the Coronavirus situation, our UMW Rummage Sale that was to be held on April 24 & 25 has been CANCELLED. Please do not bring any donations to the church at this time! Please save your "treasures" for our Fall Rummage Sale instead! The date for that is yet to be determined, but, we will inform you when it has been set. Thank-you! Sue Ridge, Sandy Kitts, Lynne Whitmire
Diving Deeper Into the Protocol [Diving Deeper is a section of our newsletter that will be devoted to explaining some of the more complicated details of the Protocol of Grace and Reconciliation Through Separation.] Flushing UMC, like many churches around us, is full of people who are watching the news carefully, learning and asking good questions to make sure we are educated and prepared for the next steps in this church. Through newsletter articles like this one, Pizza With the Pastor and coffee conversations – we have sought to grow and learn and pray about the future of our church. What’s surprising to me is the ways that this has actually pulled many in the church into closer relationships. People who have never spoken to one another before are now seeking comfort and support, a listening ear, someone to talk to. I have to say – I’m very proud of the way you have all acted thus far. Some churches may be ripping into one anotherdrawing battle lines and taking sides of attack – but you have moved in cautiously optimistic ways. Careful, and yet hopeful that together this church will move into the future. I pray you continue on this high road as God has called us. I pray kindness continues to be the hallmark of your conversations – trusting that God is in control and that fact alone can give us tremendous peace. This month I wanted to answer two very important questions that have come up over and over. These questions center around the topic of labels and leaving. 1. Who is leaving and who is staying in the United Methodist Church? Many people associate the name “United Methodist Church” with traditional beliefs that have been in our Book of Discipline for many years – so this can be very confusing. In the language of the Protocol, there will be two new churches. Both churches will be different than the existing United Methodist Church.
One church will stay – they will keep the name “United Methodist Church” AND they will keep the symbol: the cross and flame. One church will leave – they will create a new name, and a new symbol. Currently they call themselves the “New Traditionalist Denomination” but the official name has not been released yet.
Here’s the confusing part. The Church that keeps the name United Methodist Church is the church that will CHANGE the book of discipline. If the protocol passes the United Methodist Church will change the book of discipline to allow Same Sex Weddings, and for married LGBTQ people to become clergy. The NEW denomination is the one that will keep the book of discipline the SAME as it has been on the issue of LGBTQ inclusion. The Traditionalists are the churches that would like to keep the language we have been using for the last 50 years. It is the conservatives who are creating something new. 2. How do we decide who wins? Who gets to keep the church? This is VERY important. Nobody wins. There are no winners and losers here. No matter what votes happen or what decisions come – nobody will be forced to leave this church. It is likely that there will be a vote in the fall from the members of Flushing UMC. We will decide whether to join the New Traditionalist Denomination OR to stay in the United Methodist Church. We may change policies OR we may change the name on the side of the building – but neither choice changes who is welcome in this church. All people who are seeking the grace and forgiveness of God found in his son Jesus are welcome in our churches. Some people may choose to find another place to worship God because they disagree with the results of the votes, and that is their personal choice – but NO ONE is expected to leave. There are no winners or losers – there are simply people who need Jesus, searching together. Pastor JJ
Our Church Family
Aware of a concern or joy in our family? Please notify the church, so we can share them with you. Only first names will be published in prayer concerns.
Please remember in your hearts and prayers: Jennifer & husband living in Italy + niece Jill with brain cancer Hudson, 3 year old with epilepsy + Joyce who had a stroke in + February + Sarah, with "high risk" pregnancy + + + Scott, on kidney dialysis + A friends mom with breast cancer. + + + + +
Joe who has cancer, bowels blockage and fluid build up coworker with a malignant brain tumor- surgery next week Cathy, diagnosed with lupus Mable, who is in hospice Scott, on kidney dialysis Mary, lost weight –not known why
Have a Blessed
Worship Servants Greeters 8:45 am Apr 5 - cancelled Apr 12 - cancelled Apr 19 –Bill & Rose Dessinger Apr 26 –Nancy Elsner, Bonnie Farrow Coffee Hosts 8:45 am Apr 5 - cancelled Apr 12 - cancelled Apr 19 –Bruce & Sylvia Hathaway Apr 26 –Rusty Eavy & Judy Martz Ushers 8:45 am Apr 5 - cancelled Apr 12 - cancelled Apr 19 –Bonnie Farrow, Jim Graham Apr 26 –Jim & Liz Fonger
Scripture Readers 8:45 am Apr 5 - cancelled Apr 12 - cancelled Apr 19 –Carolyn Malaski Apr 26 –Mary Lou Martin
Greeters 11:15 am Apr 5 - cancelled Apr 12 - cancelled Apr 19 –Carole Dewley, Cathy Riley Apr 26 –Teresa Casteel, Denise Johnson Coffee Hosts 11:15 am Apr 5 - cancelled Apr 12 - cancelled Apr 19 –Nick & Jan Bodis Apr 26 –Tammy Workman Ushers 11:15 am Apr 5 - cancelled Apr 12 - cancelled Apr 19 –Kris Supernaw, Bob Halbedel Apr 26 –Kris Burns, Tom Lawrence
Deadline: April 19, 2020
March 1 - 175 March 8 - 149 March 15– 77 March 22 - 0
March 25, 2020 – Issue #3
the Visitor
FLUSHING UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 413 E MAIN ST FLUSHING MI 48433-2029
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