January 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 Lisa Mitchell Youth Leader Tramell Ferguson Custodian Marlene Cooper Play Place Director Brooke Daily Play Place Sandy Abueita Sarah Covert Hanna Nettleton Patricia Wisenbaugh
Sunday Worship 8:45 am Traditional Service 11:15 am Contemporary Worship
Holiday Office Hours The office will be closed from December 22, 2019 thru January 4, 2020. Regular office hours: Monday—Thursday 9-4pm. 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! After an incredible Christmas season, I hope you were able to find some rest and relaxation somewhere in all that chaos. The fun thing about beginning a new year is that many of us feel a sense of being refreshed. A sense of starting new with a clean slate. With that in mind, I wanted to tell you a little bit about some of our upcoming projects. First, some background. There is a group in our church known as the Faith In Action Team. It’s a group of fantastic, and slightly overworked individuals who are dedicated to putting our Faith In Action! They have run our involvement in the Raider Rally, the parade, all of our financial mission support (such as FCOC, Family Promise, Campus Ministry, and more), Easter Egg Hunts, Trunk or Treat, Sunday brunches, thanksgiving baskets, brown bag Sunday and many, many more projects. They are truly an inspiration to watch as they very practically take Jesus’ instructions seriously – instructions to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world. However, there is one problem: the phrase “Faith In Action” covers too much ground! They have SO MANY projects they can’t get it all done as just one group. Their calendar is often full to bursting and their volunteer list has been running at 110% for a very long time. SO, after some conversations with the leaders of the Team, we have decided to do a little multiplying. I’m very excited to announce that we will be taking the existing Faith In Action Team and transforming it into two brand new groups with smaller, more focused goals. First will be the Missions Team – this will be a group of people who have a heart for missions – both local and international. They will continue to provide financial support for the four major groups we already support, and then with their leftover budget each year they will seek to find new ways to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and heal the sick. It will be an incredible group to join if you are looking to follow Jesus’ instruction to spread God’s love to the people around you in practical, hands on ways.
One really exciting feature is that this group now opens up the possibility of this church to put together INTERNATIONAL MISSION TRIPS as we have done in the past. We have a big beautiful world to serve and that will be the focus of the Missions Team. The second team is the Outreach Team. This is a group of people dedicated to increasing community awareness of our church. This will be a high energy group focused on having a lot of FUN and showing our little town just who and what Flushing UMC is all about. They will take on projects such as the Easter Egg Hunt, Trunk or Treat, Parade Floats, Raider Rally, Candle Walk and more! These events are not necessarily service oriented – but still do the important work of increasing our community involvement and awareness. Again, it’s a great group if you love to get hands on and enjoy some of those wonderful town-wide events in our community. There will be more information coming VERY SOON about both of these groups. We will probably have an initial brainstorming session early in the year to map out a plan for each team. If you are interested, sign up at the welcome center, or let me know personally. Here’s the most exciting part: because of the clever budgeting work of our finance team – both of these teams are already built into our yearly budget. The Faith In Action Team’s budget has been expanded and then split into two groups – Missions Team and Outreach Team. Each group is underwritten by the gifts of this church. They may need to do extra fundraising through the year – but they are starting off strong. I’m running out of space, so let me just hint at two other exciting new projects and I’ll just ask you to stay tuned: 1.) we are exploring some creative new ways to do Men’s Ministry and 2.) a brand new Life Groups catalog will be released very soon. More on both of those later, but until then, I’ll see you on Sunday!
Pastor’s Bookshelf
Welcome to my bookshelf! Each month I will discuss a recent book that I’ve finished. *disclaimer; I don’t always have time to sit and read physical books, but I do quite a bit of my reading through audiobooks these days.* For the next few months I thought it would be fun to introduce you to several books on how to “do church” in the modern world. When it comes to strategy and organization – where does that all come from?
Just about every good idea I’ve ever had came from a time when I read a book by someone much smarter than me. I recommend these books, because I think everyone should have the chance to understand why we do things the way we do them in this church. First: The Purpose Driven Church By Rick Warren Second: Simple Church By Thomas Rainer I would easily trade half of my seminary education for these two books alone. Rick Warren’s book is fantastic, even for those outside of church leadership – and Tom’s book is full of great case studies and very relatable examples. They talk about the difference between effective churches and simply “busy” churches. The Purpose Driven Church is inspiring and when you read it, you’ll see many of the concepts have been adapted and used all around you in this church. I hope you enjoy them!
continues Jan 12 at 12:30pm. Here’s another opportunity to come to enjoy pizza and ask Pastor JJ anything and everything. It's just a regular opportunity to get together with the congregation and get to know one another better.
New Members Ferguson, Tramell Halbedel, Diane VanPatten, Brian VanPatten, Katie Ensign, Terry
Ensign, Terry Duby, Barbara Pratt, Cindy Yatts, Peggy
Life Groups Starts Early February Coming soon! We will have a catalogue and sign up sheets beginning in January to sign up for our February Life Groups.
One Worship Service ONLY December 29th @ 10:00 AM Tramell Ferguson will be leading giving the sermon while Pastor JJ is on vacation. You don’t want to miss it!
Two Services January 5th @ 8:45 & 11:15 AM
Pastor Danny Bledsoe will be here to give the sermon January 5th for both services while Pastor JJ is on vacation.
De-hanging of the Greens Sunday, January 12th After 2nd service Please come and help us take down the Christmas decorations and enjoy some pizza together. Many hands make light work!
Sunday Worship 8:45 am & 11:15 am
NAME Covert, Caleb Swigart, Michelle Kinney, Nina Dasen, Bob Wheeler, Katherine Nettleton, Emma Booth, Blair Dick, Jerry Schmitzer, Lynn Lewis, Dave Serbus, Joe Griffin, Madison Shipley, David
DOB 1/1 1/2 1/6 1/7 1/8 1/9 1/11 1/12 1/12 1/15 1/17 1/18 1/19
Wisenbaugh, William Grindstaff, Jennifer Wisenbaugh, Jeanne Kitts, Mary Johnson, Ron Hopkins, Hayden Arthurs, Gabriel Allyn, Duane Basey,Danie Alsager, Linda Meredith, Bryce Griffin, Lois Bryan, Anthony Pieknik, Jamie
1/20 1/21 1/24 1/24 1/25 1/25 1/26 1/27 1/27 1/28 1/28 1/29 1/31 1/31
FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP We spend our lives acquiring things and we are taught that faithful stewardship of our possessions is important. As Christians, we seek to be good stewards of God’s gifts and many of us manage that well through our lives. Yet, at life’s end, we have been reluctant to, or failed to, remember our church as a testimony to our faith. Chances are that our children, or whoever settles our estate, will not think to do so. Including instructions in our will or trust to gift the church assures that our desire is fulfilled. And, a gift to the Flushing United Methodist Church Endowment Fund is one that keeps on giving long into the future – the Fund invests the gift and uses the earnings to support nonroutine church projects and programs. All of us are indebted to the past. We enjoy the fruits of their efforts. At the same time, all of us are seeds of the future. Please consider including a gift to the Flushing United Methodist Church Endowment Fund in your estate plan.
Medical equipment to be sent to the Ivory Cost. InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Christian Education Sunday Human Relations Sunday Native American Sunday Peace With Justice Sunday World Communion Sunday Church World Service Assist Day
Grace Children's Hospital #418520 Haiti Hot Lunch # 418790 Bread 4 Life Missionary Support for Princess Jusu Flushing Christian Outreach Center Food Boxes General Missions Support Mobility Worldwide East Michiga
UMCOR Total Mission Givings
$1,000 $2,400.00 $845 $786 $500 $500 $632 $279 $6,227.80 $355 $355 $536 $2,052 $3,133.75 $1,836 $2,309.60 $1,915 $1,906 $27,568.15
Men’s Breakfast
Jan 11th @ 8:30 am @Kathy's Restaurant (All Men are invited) Come and enjoy fellowship with other men of Flushing UMC as well as Hope UMC.
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: Kevin, stage 4 cancer Carolyn, cancer has returned Bonnie, with breast cancer Ed. needs strength and healing Jennifer who is in Ecuador Shirley, Bill, Bob, Casie, Bonnie - all battling serious health challenges + Diane for healing + + + + + +
+ Terry who is in ICU & Select Rehab + Jenny with bone & brain cancer + Rachel healing from breast cancer + Susan waiting for a liver transplant + Gary, with ill health + Safe travels over the holidays
Congratulations! Lynne and Gary Whitmire welcome baby Aubrey Renee Whitmire, 7 lb 2 oz on December 9 born to Mike and Renee. Thank you for all the nice cards after my hospital visit. -Ellen Hulet Flushing UMC friends, We pray a great celebration of the gift of Christ to each of you. We are well-getting ready for a long winter. My Sewing machine will be busy! Hope you are all doing well. Blessings, Ron Yencer & Debbie Line Yencer Thank you again for offering such a great program (GriefShare). It helped me in so many ways to get through the many hurdles I’ve had. It helps to meet and share with people who are going through some of the same feelings and fears I have. I have met some very nice people including the people who head the group. Yours in Jesus, Janet Bright
Worship Servants Greeters 8:45 am Jan 5 - Ruth Brown, Nancy Elsner Jan 12 - Larry & Sue Ridge Jan 19 –Dave Lewis, Tom Troxell Jan 26 –Bill & Sue Martin Coffee Hosts 8:45 am Jan 5 - Harry & Ellen Hulet Jan 12 - Bruce & Sylvia Hathaway Jan 19 –Bill & Sue Martin Jan 26 –Jim & Laragene Triplett Ushers 8:45 am Jan 5 - Bill & Rose Dessinger Jan 12 - Jerry & Carol Dick Jan 19 –Bruce Hathaway, Carolyn Malaski Jan 26 –Larry & Sue Ridge Scripture Readers 8:45 am Jan 5 - not needed Jan 12 - Carolyn Malaski Jan 19 –Mary Lou Martin Jan 26 –Cathy Metz
Greeters 11:15 am Jan 5 - Carole Dewley, Teresa Casteel Jan 12 - Blair & Tracey Booth Jan 19 –Cathy Riley, Tom Lawrence Jan 26 –Denise Johnson Marlene Cooper Coffee Hosts 11:15 am Jan 5 - Jim & Melissa Belanger Jan 12 - Jan & Nick Bodis Jan 19 –Tammy Workman Jan 26 –Denise Trantham, Becky Stamm Ushers 11:15 am Jan 5 - Greg & Anne Winiarski Jan 12 - Denise Trantham, Jeff Welch Jan 19 –Kris Supernaw, Bob Halbedel Jan 26 –Denise Sands, Cathy Riley
Sound Board 8:45 am Jan 5 - Dawn Hiller Jan 12 - Karen Florida Jan 19 –Nancy Elsner Jan 26 –Joe Metz
Deadline: December 16, 2019
Dec 1 - 138
Dec 8 - 201
Dec 15- 188
November 27, 2019 – Issue #11
the Visitor
FLUSHING UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 413 E MAIN ST FLUSHING MI 48433-2029
_
_
_
_