March 2020 First Pulse

F irst Pulse

First United Methodist Church Grand Rapids | grfumc.org

Stories from First Church and the impact on the lives of our community

March 2020

F irst Pulse

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March 2020

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New sermon series, “If the Church Were Christian” Celebration of the Arts First Place winner, Catherine McClung.

The first service of The Movement!

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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 | March ‘20

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

It is not often when the beginning of the Lenten season lines up perfectly with the monthly edition of the church newsletter! Rare as it is, the first Sunday of Lent is March 1st.

You will probably be reading this article either on Tuesday, February 25, or Ash Wednesday, February 26. So why not start your 40-day Lenten journey with worship?

• March 8 – the Second Sunday of Lent. (Daylight saving time begins.) If the Church Were Christian … Our Potential Would Be More Important than our Brokenness.

• March 15 – the Third Sunday of Lent. If the Church Were Christian … Reconciliation Would Be Valued More than Judgment.

• March 22 – the Fourth Sunday of Lent. If the Church Were Christian … Gracious Behavior Would Be More Important than Right Belief.

• March 29 – the Fifth Sunday of Lent. If the Church Were Christian … Questions Would Be Valued More than Answers.

On Ash Wednesday, February 26, there are three worship opportunities: 12:00 pm in the Upper Room, 3:00 pm in the Clark Retirement Community Chapel on Franklin St SE, and 7:00 pm in the Upper Room.

In this edition, you will also read about spiritual growth opportunities through the classes that will be offered.

Ash Wednesday is a vivid reminder of our mortality.

When the ashes are placed on either the forehead or the back of the hand in the form of a cross, the timeless reminder is spoken, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” The phrasing takes us back to the creation story when God created the human person out of the dust of the earth and activated the body with the breath of life. In the fullness of time, all of us must face death. In fact, in the funeral liturgy at the final resting place, the pastor declares, “Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust … in sure and certain hope of the resurrection unto eternal life.” Ash Wednesday is the bridge that takes us into the Lenten journey that includes walking the way of the cross as we remember the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The Lenten journey is our annual rehearsal for that final transition that will not escape any of us.

You will also read about a five-week Wednesday evening Lenten meal followed by a speaker and discussion on: Becoming Good Neighbors: Conversations about Violence and Peace in Grand Rapids. This is a very exciting addition to our Lenten opportunities this year. In the past, we held Friday morning Men’s Breakfasts. In the evolution of time, attendance began to wane, and we sought feedback from the folks who were attending the breakfast. Many said that Friday morning was not a good time for them and that they would appreciate a dinner time event when they could attend with their spouse, partner, or significant other.

So the Wednesday evening event emerged from the information we gathered. Please come and join us. You will be glad you did!

During Lent, we will also be entering a new sermon series as well. It is connected to last fall’s series on “If Christians Were Really Christian,” as well as being connected to our most recent series on “What We Believe and Why We Believe It!” I have borrowed the title of the series from a book by a wonderful Quaker author/pastor named Philip Gulley: “If the Church Were Christian.” Many of the sermon titles between now and Pentecost are chapters in Gulley’s book. It is a thought provoking and inspiring book. The following is our March plan: • March 1 – the First Sunday of Lent. Communion Sunday and new members are welcomed (approximately 20). If the Church Were Christian …

Jesus Would be the Model for Living!

AND …

Finally, I want to express my deep appreciation to the pastors, staff, lay leaders, and the entire congregation for your kindnesses in granting time away during the hospice care and subsequent death of my mother in Springfield, Missouri. The cards, calls, texts, and emails have been appreciated over the first eighteen days of February. While it is always sad and difficult to say “good-bye” to a loved one, my mother’s health decline and suffering was pronounced. There are times when death is not only a grief, but a relief. She is finally at peace.

Grace and Peace to us all as we enter a “holy” Lent.

Pastor Bob

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Radical H ospitality Why First Church?

If Google is correct, there are about 300 churches in Grand Rapids. With all the choices of churches in Grand Rapids, why do people choose to visit First Church? Or, to make the commitment to join First Church? Is it our beautiful Tiffany window or because we’re a church that looks like a church?

Over the past month, we’ve had about twenty people gather for our “Introduction to First Church” class.

This is the class that all are invited to take if you’re considering becoming a member of First Church or if you would like to learn more about First Church.

We’ve talked about the Methodist Church, the Wesley Quadrilateral, and the ministries and missions of First Church, all while learning about each other’s journey to First Church.

During our class, the soon-to-be new members were asked, “Why do you choose First Church?” Here are some of the responses we heard: “I chose First Church due to the message of inclusion and acceptance. I’ve been very impressed with the outreach this church does within the community.” – Katie Persak “We have been attending FUMC as guests and have felt welcomed since the first day. We believe in missions and are drawn to the work of this church.”

– Susan Ayres “The choir has made a huge impact on me after I moved here. It gave me a family when I’m away from mine.” – Cassandra Knapp “First Church is inclusive and engaged in social justice.” – Rayman Chen “I wanted to join a church that aligned with my moral beliefs.” – Taylor Knapp

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First Pulse | March ‘20

“I chose First Church because originally my parents made me. However, from my first service here, I was impressed with how at home I felt. The community here is so inclusive and loving. Learning about the community outreach and everything you guys do to be true to the message we all want to convey, has made me want to come here, even if my parents don’t.” – Mary Persak “To be a part of a wonderful welcoming diverse church.” – Janice Philips “My son likes the Sunday School here.” – Montana Gao “I choose First Church because it is open and affirming, committed to social justice, fully engaged in demonstrating God’s love to everyone – its members, its visitors, its neighbors, children, elderly, rich, poor, etc. And, every service is poetry.” – Kate Sischo Zell “Our family is looking for a faith-based community that is open to everyone, and actively seeks to include both members and leaders from all walks of life. It’s especially important to us to live in community where both women and members of the LGBTQ community serve in leadership roles or are allowed to lead.” – Lisa Burgess “We love the vibe here and want to be an active part of the church!” – Jeff Ayres And those were only some of the answers our class shared! So, what’s your reason for choosing First Church? I would love to know what brought you here and why you’ve decided to make First Church your home.

Sami Marasigan Hospitality & Invitation

PASSIONATE WORSHIP Music and Arts Ministry

When Words Fail, Music Often Enters When Words Fail, Music Often Enters There are too many dark nights Too many troublesome days, Too many wearisome miles, There has to be a song.

There has to be a song, To make our burdens bearable.

There has to be a song, To make our hopes believable.

To transform our triumphs into praise, There has to be a song.

Somewhere down deep in a forgotten corner of each man’s heart, To release the chains of past defeat, There has to be a song.

Like a cool, clear drink of water, Like the gentle warmth of sunshine, Like the tender love of a child, There has to be a song. (Text by Robert Benson) I recently ran across this poem shuffling through some papers that tend to pile up. I noted again that it was written by Robert Benson, the father of the Robert Benson who came and spent time here at the church exploring poetry, meditation, and the daily office. This poem, like much good poetry, invites the reader into deep reflection: reflecting on what is said, and upon what is not said. This poem expresses something mysterious about the nature of music, and, ultimately, the nature of God. The mystical French composer of the twentieth century, Olivier Messiaen, said that “Music goes beyond words, which are too precise.” Perhaps another way of thinking about this is that music often expresses that which cannot be put into words. In difficult situations, finding the right words are often nearly impossible, and, in fact, are often counterproductive. Benson, who is both a musician and poet, doesn’t say “there have to be words.”

camp, Stalag VIIIA in Gorlitz, Germany, in the years 1940 and 1941. The quartet features the instruments and players available to him at the time: a three-string cello, violin, clarinet, and piano. The piece is dedicated “in homage to the Angel of the Apocalypse, who raises his hand towards Heaven saying ‘There shall be no more time.’” The whole piece is an unbelievable expression of longing, and is at once serene and incredibly complex. Messiaen was liberated from the camp, and became one of the most important composers of the twentieth century. His influence today only seems to be gaining steam. One of the remarkable aspects of his music is his ability to play with the notion of time, and timelessness, as hearing his music often suspends one’s experience of passing time, hinting at the notion of “eternity.”

So it seems to me that Benson and Messiaen are preaching to each other, and both have the sense that “there has to be a song.” For me, the key to the poem is found in the final stanza with the three “like” lines. (“Like a cool, clear drink of water…”) To paraphrase, there has to be a song “like” these things: water that satisfies thirst, the sun that allows us to grow, and unconditional love. To know the need is also to know that which satisfies that need. How would we know the satisfaction of water, if we didn’t know thirst; how would we know the sun’s warmth if we didn’t know dark and cold nights. Jesus said “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.”

Eric Strand Director of Music and the Arts

Messiaen knew difficult times, and knew firsthand how music can be inspired by the darkest of circumstances. One of his most famous compositions, Quartet for the End of Time, was written and premiered while he was in a prisoner of war First Pulse | March ‘20

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March 2020 Sunday, March 1 Communion Sunday 8:45 am – Nursery Care 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 11:45 am – Blood Pressure Clinic 5:00 pm – Jr High and Sr High Youth Group 5:30 pm – Gentle Yoga Monday, March 2 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study 2:00 pm – Mainstream UMC Clergy Session with Mark Holland 6:30 pm – Stephen Ministry 7:00 pm – Mainstream UMC Laity Session with Mark Holland Tuesday, March 3 7:00 am – Work Program 10:00 am – Easter Earthquake at Clark 6:00 pm – Mat Yoga Wednesday, March 4 5:30 pm – Lent Series: Becoming Good Neighbors Thursday, March 5 9:00 am – Fixin’ ‘n’ Fellowship 6:00 pm – Bell Choir Rehearsal 7:15 pm – Chancel Choir Rehearsal

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Saturday, March 7 11:00 am – Confirmation Field Trip to Masjid At-Tawheed Mosque 1:30 pm – Special Annual Conference at Albion College Sunday, March 8 Coffee Can Offering 8:45 am – Nursery Care 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 5:00 pm – Jr High and Sr High Youth Group 5:30 pm – Gentle Yoga Monday, March 9 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study 12:45 pm – Weekly Staff Check-In Tuesday, March 10 7:00 am – Work Program 10:00 am – Easter Earthquake at Clark 5:30 pm – SPRC 5:30 pm – Finance Team 6:00 pm – Mat Yoga Wednesday, March 11 5:30 pm – Lent Series: Becoming Good Neighbors

Thursday, March 12 6:00 pm – Bell Choir Rehearsal 7:15 pm – Chancel Choir Rehearsal Saturday, March 14 9:30 am – Feeding America Cesar Chavez Elementary School March 15 - 22 Family Promise Week Sunday, March 15 8:45 am – Nursery Care 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 12:00 pm – Families in Faith: Monthly Brunch 12:00 pm – Unplugged (3rd - 6th Graders) 5:00 pm – Jr High and Sr High Youth Group 5:30 pm – Gentle Yoga Monday, March 16 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study 12:00 pm – OWLS (formerly 60+ Luncheon) 12:45 pm – Weekly Staff Check-In 5:30 pm – Building Committee 6:30 pm – Stephen Ministry

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First Pulse | March ‘20

Tuesday, March 17 7:00 am – Work Program 10:00 am – Easter Earthquake at Clark 5:30 pm – Social Justice Team 6:00 pm – Mat Yoga 6:30 pm – Missions/Social Justice Meeting 7:00 pm – Missions Committee Meeting Wednesday, March 18 9:00 am – Caring Connection 5:30 pm – Lent Series: Becoming Good Neighbors Thursday, March 19 9:00 am – Fixin’ ‘n’ Fellowship 6:00 pm – Bell Choir Rehearsal 7:15 pm – Chancel Choir Rehearsal Sunday, March 22 8:45 am – Nursery Care 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 12:00 pm – “The Four Things That Matter Most” Book Discussion 3:30 pm – Nursery Care 4:00 pm – New Worship: The Movement 5:00 pm – Sunday Soul Sisters 5:00 pm – Jr High and Sr High Youth Group 5:30 pm – Gentle Yoga

Monday, March 23 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study 12:00 pm – MLK Tutoring Spring Outing Prep 12:45 pm – Weekly Staff Check-In 5:00 pm – Board of Trustees Tuesday, March 24 7:00 am – Work Program 10:00 am – Easter Earthquake at Clark 6:00 pm – Mat Yoga

Monday, March 30 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study 12:45 pm – Weekly Staff Check-In 7:00 pm – Leadership Council Tuesday, March 31 7:00 am – Work Program 10:00 am – Easter Earthquake at Clark 6:00 pm – Mat Yoga

Wednesday, March 25 5:30 pm – Lent Series: Becoming Good Neighbors Thursday, March 26 6:00 pm – Bell Choir Rehearsal 7:15 pm – Chancel Choir Rehearsal Sunday, March 29 8:45 am – Nursery Care 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 5:00 pm – Jr High and Sr High Youth Group 5:30 pm – Gentle Yoga

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Girls Choral Academy and GR Woman’s Chorus performed in worship.

The young adult group made cookies for Celebration of the Arts last night!

Celebration of the Arts 2nd place winner, Jer Hon-Hawkins.

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Intentional Faith Development Neighboring

Are you a good neighbor?

While Jesus and his disciples were teaching in a village, a lawyer, hoping to test Jesus, stood up and asked, “But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them.

Then he put him on his own animal, took him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ ‘Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’”

Luke 10:29-37

“Your neighbor,” as our preschool children learn in Children and Worship, means all of God’s beloved children: every age, race, ethnicity, country of origin, gender, sexual orientation, and political leaning.

Tall order, right?

What if we zoomed in a bit and focused on loving our actual neighbors? Try this: • Can you list the names of the people who live next to you, across the street from you, and behind you?

• Can you name some facts about all of those neighbors; things that you can’t glean from peering out your window, but facts you had to have gathered through a conversation?

• How about in-depth information about your neighbors: their hopes, dreams, challenges, successes, or anything you’ve gathered after developing a relationship?

Last year during Lent, the GR First Church Moms’ Group and I read the book The Art of Neighboring by pastors Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon. Quite early in the book, the authors outline the questions above, challenging readers to scrutinize our own neighborliness.

I’ll admit that I couldn’t report much beyond the first question.

from its hibernation, I took every opportunity to cross the street, holler over the fence, and interrupt dutiful weed-pulling to get to know the people who live around us. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the folks in my neighborhood are friendly and generous! No new best friendships were established in my wanderings last spring and summer, but I know that I took steps in the right direction.

What’s the point of all this effort in neighborliness? The point is to become the Good Samaritan: to open our eyes, our ears, and our hearts to God’s beloved children starting with the folks right next door. To go beyond knowing just the facts about people and develop real relationships with people we can’t hide from. Tall order, right?

Join me in becoming better neighbors.

Audrey Kawel Director of Faith Development

Throughout the spring, as my neighborhood seemed to emerge

Adult Faith Development: Register at grfumc.org/sign-up-sheet.

Sundays, March 1 - April 5 at 9:15 am • A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood //A Beautiful • The Walk //How do we walk Day in the Neighborhood is based on the friendship with Christ? Join us this Lent in between Fred Rogers and a cynical journalist. The film The Walk, by Adam Hamilton, poses the question: How would it feel to have someone and discover five essential spiritual care about you to the point that you were invited to practices rooted in Jesus’ own walk explore your past wounds in a safe environment so that with God. Led by Rev. Dr. Joan you could experience the healing and freedom found in VanDessel. Books are $10 and may forgiving? This class will explore how we can become be purchased from the north lobby better neighbors. Led by Laure Mieskowski. receptionist.

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Risk-Taking Outreach and Mission The year 2019 marked the 25th anniversary of Mobility Worldwide (formerly PET International).

Since 1994: • Over 80,000 hand-crank mobility carts have been constructed.

• These carts have been distributed in 106 countries.

• Hundreds of volunteers have helped do this work.

• Over 70 distribution partners have assisted in distributing carts.

Yet much work remains to be done.

There is an estimated need for upward of 70 million carts for people with leg disabilities worldwide. One cart can be constructed for around $300.

Here at First Church we support Mobility Worldwide through our mission offerings and our annual Different Kind of Giving Christmas Fair. We’ve hosted Larry Hills and Delbert and Sandra Groves – missionaries instrumental in the project. We thank you for your generous support of this worthy project.

The following is a story about how Mobility Worldwide developed into the organization it is today.

It is adapted from a Mobility Worldwide article by the Rev. Walt Hays, Retired UM pastor living in Alaska.

Rev. Hays is a volunteer senior advisor with Mobility Worldwide.

work on the rough terrain of Zambia, so he went to work with Earl Miner, an engineer. Working in the garage at Mel’s home, the two of them built a hand-crank, three-wheeled cart.

They called their creation a PET (Personal Energy Transportation) unit. A field test in Zambia received overwhelmingly positive reviews.

With some modifications, they had a cart which could haul 300 pounds, move at the speed of a fast walk, and last from eight to ten years.

Today there are many construction centers in the US, including Holland, MI, Zambia, and Sierra Leone. These shops produce approximately 7,000 units each year. The shops produce a cart for adults, a cart for children, and a pull cart without a crank. In 2015, PET was rebranded as Mobility Worldwide. Mel West, now 95 years old, has a mantra.

It reads, “When you do a good thing and do it well, let people know about it; good people want to help.”

For more information, visit MobilityWorldwide.org.

Iain Charnley, Missions Committee Chair

This ministry was founded by the Rev. Mel West, a World War II Marine Corps veteran, former dairy farmer, and vocational agriculture teacher in Missouri who experienced a call to this work.

The project began when Rev. West received an appeal from Larry Hills, a United Methodist missionary in Zambia. The appeal derived from an experience Larry had one evening. Larry was driving home and his headlights played on something he saw crawling out of a roadside bush. He thought maybe it was an animal, but discovered it was a woman with an infant strapped to her back. Long ago, a landmine had blown both of her legs off. Larry gave her water, drove her to her destination, and soon thereafter appealed to Mel to use his network of contacts to provide wheelchairs for those maimed by landmines. Mel knew that a standard wheelchair would not First Pulse | March ‘20

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EXTRAVAGANT GENEROSITY Resource Development

What Keeps Us Coming Back For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

(Matthew 6:21) We are experiencing a generous increase in giving in 2020. This increase is not a result of anything the Finance Committee did in running the fall giving campaign as much as it is because we have a congregation whose hearts are committed to doing God’s work here at First Church. As a result, their treasure is generously committed as well.

I hope that every one of us is faithfully listening and praying for God’s leading so that we can each find our personal ministry passion. With all the ministry opportunities at First Church, there is certainly a place for all to find their calling.

Celebration of the Arts Artists’ Reception

In January, we had our first 2020 meeting of the FUMC Leadership Council. Among the 30 or so attendees were several newly appointed members. As part of welcoming the new folks, Pastor Bob asked us each to tell what drew us to First Church, and what keeps us coming back.

Upon listening to the testimonials, it is clear to me that we are doing things right here at First Church!

The common themes rang through… We are open and welcoming. We are inclusive. We have a commitment to missions, outreach, and social justice.

We have wonderful worship experience.

I also was struck with the varied ways the folks in the room are personally involved in hands-on ministry.

There were choir members there. There were Sunday School teachers and youth leaders. There were folks who participate in mission trips and outreach ministries. There were those committed to fellowship and other welcoming ministries. There were those with gifts for administrative leadership. There were members of our dedicated staff.

And this was only a small sampling of the broader congregation that is similarly involved in active witness and ministry. It is no wonder that we are blessed with such amazing financial support here at First Church.

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First Pulse | March ‘20

We are committed to “Year-Round Stewardship” at First Church. This means that we don’t think about financial giving only during the few weeks of a fall campaign. Rather, we are constantly looking for ways to give back to God – with our time, our talents, and our financial resources. When we do this, the fall campaign is merely a time to formally commit to what we are already practicing.

I am so thankful for the many generous gifts that come to First Church. And I am thankful for the givers who have found that their hearts and their treasures are firmly committed to the ministries of First Church.

Chris Hawkins Finance Committee

Congregational Care My oldest son is learning to drive, and it takes hours of practice. Certainly, there are the driving requirements that he needs to meet, and it is in the practice that he learns how to drive. The hands on practice is where you really learn how to drive. We have gone from blue skies to rain and now snow-covered roads. He has had to learn how to adjust his speed, react quickly, and also learn that the book cannot teach you everything. We have driven long stretches and just a quick run to the corner store. What I have learned as I have had to sit in the passenger seat is that practice is important. Practice is what makes you improve, evaluate, and make some changes. Through sitting in a different seat, I am able to observe some changes that I too need to make in something that I do every day. There is wisdom in practice, and it takes us off the automatic.

Practice opportunities come in different ways. During the year, we are given practice opportunities to look at ourselves in new ways. That is one opportunity that Lent provides. Lent is time to practice and set a different course for forty days. The time to practice provides for time to make changes and observe oneself in a different light-the passenger

seat-that allows for a different view of our approach and outlook. Maybe this year your practice can include a routine time to pray with a scripture lesson or it may be an opportunity to develop a spiritual practice of fasting or giving of your time in a different way to something that you are passionate about.

These forty days could be time for family to learn a new prayer before a meal or talk about different ways God is at work. Lent is a time of discipline and practice that will hopefully make a lasting change well past Easter.

Our practice is shaped through a willingness to learn and grow. I know that I have been changed in many ways with a teen ager-and a teen age driver.

As life continues to evolve, changes are inevitable.

The intentional Lenten practice throughout these forty days can provide a needed spiritual renewal and growth.

Rev. Tim Tuthill Associate Pastor Director of Congregational Care

47th Annual Celebration of the Arts First Pulse | March ‘20

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Becoming Good Neighbors: CONVERSATIONS ABOUT VIOLENCE AND PEACE IN GRAND RAPIDS Wednesdays, March 4 – April 1 5:30 pm Dinner | 6:00 pm Presentation

First United Methodist Church is acutely aware of the community division and violence that plagues our city. We believe that the church and its people can and should play a role in helping to heal divisions and curb violence. Join in on the weekly conversation throughout the season of Lent and focus attention on how to help bring the community together.

Each evening will begin with an optional catered meal.

Dinner tickets: $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Register at grfumc.org/neighbors.

Sgt. John Wittkowski, Public Information Officer Meal provided by Gita Pita

APRIL 1 Michigan House Democrats

State Representative David LaGrand, 75th House District Meal provided by Bangkok Taste

Fountain St NE John St NE

Silver Line Fulton St Station

Jefferson Ave SE

Main Entrance

First United Methodist Church 227 Fulton

Fulton St E

First United Methodist Church

227 Fulton St E | Grand Rapids, MI 49503

grfumc.org/neighbors

Prospect Ave NE

Ben Rosa, Executive Director Meal provided by Big Ed’s BBQ

JD Chapman, Jr., Executive Director Meal provided by Curry Kitchen

Lafayette Ave NE

MARCH 25 70x7 Life Recovery

MARCH 18 Grand Rapids Police Department

Barclay Ave NE

Kevin McIntosh, Campus Engagement Manager Meal provided by Donkey Taqueria

MARCH 11 Realism Is Loyalty

Ransom Ave NE

MARCH 4 Kaufman Interfaith Institute