November First Pulse 2018

F irst Pulse

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

First United Methodist Church Grand Rapids | grfumc.org

November 2018

F irst Pulse

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November 2018

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Fall: November is full of events and activities for all.

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World Communion Sunday.

Church school class.

Jubilation Ringers

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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 | November ‘18

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.

World Communion Sunday November seems always to be a special month in the life of our congregation, and November of 2018 will continue that tradition.

You will read about our worship emphasis throughout November in Eric’s article.

It is a great month of worship, singing, and making music in the heart, as we reflect, grow and unite with our sisters and brothers in the faith.

The evening of November 4, we kick off a weeklong learning, growing, and conversing experience about inclusivity. For several weeks now you have read about Inclusion First: Engage. Educate. Equip.

It is our way of continuing the conversation and educational experiences in preparation for the United Methodist General Conference in February of 2019.

Please take advantage of this opportunity to grow in your faith and practice of being committed to inclusivity. The schedule is once again included in the newsletter along with the encouragement to participate as much as you can.

November 11 is also the evening of the “Methodist Connection” worship and pie social. You will read about that invitation as well as we unite with our sister African-American Methodist Churches in an annual worship and fellowship opportunity.

November 18 is Consecration Sunday, when we dedicate ourselves and our financial partnership in ministry for 2019. Once again, the Finance Team has done a wonderful job of communicating and challenging our congregation to be faithful partners through giving. This year’s theme is “Share Your Blessings,” which is not only a compelling theme,

it is also a mantra that can be constant goal for us all throughout the year. We will also welcome new members into First Church on the 18th.

November 22 – Happy Thanksgiving!!

November 25 – begins the preparation for the Advent and Christmas season with Advent Together and A Different Kind of Christmas Fair.

Finally, on Monday evening, November 26, is our Annual Church Conference. Church Conference is not only a business meeting, it is a celebration of ministry. And part of any celebration of ministry is looking forward, not just looking back. The Building Committee is anticipating sharing with the congregation the fruits of their work in re-imagining a potential plan to make our facilities more accessible and welcoming. The congregation’s wisdom and insight created the need to go back to the drawing board. A new plan is emerging and the committee believes that some preliminary sketches will be ready to share by November 26. No decisions will be made, but certainly interaction and feedback will be important.

So November is an exciting month for the people of First United Methodist Church. Come and join us in the festivities, be inspired, and invest yourself as together, we continue to make a positive difference in our world.

May God bless us all as we count our blessings and share our blessings.

Pastor Bob First Pulse | November ‘18

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Radical H ospitality Inclusive Hospitality As we prepare for Inclusion Week 2018, I am looking for ways to help us be more intentionally inclusive.

One way to offer kindness and welcome to one another is through the correct use of pronouns. In elementary school, we learned how to fill in the pronoun blanks – “Samantha went to the store, she bought her mom a cake.” But, what if it’s Sam who went to the store to buy cake? I’ve met many male Sams and I’m a female Sam. How do I know which pronoun to use? What if I get it wrong? Is it even important?

Pronoun mistakes happen – apologize and use the correct pronoun. Practice saying the correct pronoun to yourself multiple times, so you will get it right the next time. Why? Because when we mis-gender people, it invalidates their identity and is hurtful. If someone has told you their pronouns, use them. When we use the correct pronouns, we offer a safe space to be in community and recognize each other’s human-ness. If you would like to learn more, I found www. mypronouns.org to be a great resource.

Sami Marasigan Hospitality & Invitation Pronouns: she, her, hers

My pronouns are she/her/ hers.

Yes, using correct personal pronouns are important, just like using the correct name is important. Our pronouns are part of our identity. When we use the correct pronouns, it shows respect and creates an inclusive environment. It conveys that we value each other as human beings. While he and she are the two most common types of pronouns used, those will not fit everyone you meet. Many non-binary people (people who don’t identify as a man or woman) prefer the pronouns of they/them/theirs. In this case, they/ them/theirs is a singular pronoun. Another set of pronouns you may hear is ze/zir/zirs and is typically gender neutral. “Ze bought zir mom a cake.”

What if I don’t know which pronoun to use?

Appearances don’t always point to a pronoun or sometimes point to an incorrect pronoun. So, rather than guess, introduce yourself using your own pronouns. Hi! My name is Sami and my pronouns are she/her/hers. Also, if you are in a situation where you feel you need to ask – ask for a person’s pronoun, not their gender.

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PS – Keep your eyes open for our new single-bathroom signs with genderinclusive language. Even though this is just a small change, it is a visible way to let all people know they are welcome at First Church.

PASSIONATE WORSHIP Music and Arts Ministry

Remember, Seek Peace, and Give Thanks November brings several important observances that we will celebrate in worship. The Feast of All Saints, The 100th Anniversary of Armistice Day (The End of World War I), and Thanksgiving Sunday.

November 4: The Feast of All Saints The Feast of All Saints is an opportunity to remember those in our church family who have died in the past year. We celebrate our connection to lost loved ones, and all those who have “gone before us in the faith.” We have an understanding that we are surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1),” and that all the faithful, both living and departed, are bound together in mutual support and one community of prayer. John Wesley encouraged reflection and learning from the lives of the “saints.” United Methodists call people “saints” because they demonstrate the Christian life, and in this way, all Christians can be considered saints.

United Methodists do not have a system in which saints are elected or “canonized,” do not pray to the saints themselves, or expect saints to act as a mediator between themselves and God. “…There is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human who gave himself a ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2:5-6a).

Adding to the festivities will be The Antiphon Brass, a premier brass ensemble in West Michigan, and the resident brass ensemble of Calvin College. Organ and brass will accompany the hymns “For All the Saints” and “Sing With All the Saints in Glory” in addition to other offerings.

Sing with all the saints in glory, sing the resurrection song!

Death and sorrow, earth’s dark story, to the former days belong. All around the clouds are breaking, soon the storms of time shall cease; in God’s likeness we, awaking, know the everlasting peace.

November 11: 100th Anniversary of Armistice Day November 11 at 11:00 AM marks the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. Armistice Day is commemorated every year to mark the armistice signed between the Allies of World War

I and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War I, which took effect at eleven o’clock in the morning—the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” of 1918. In this country, we observe this day as Veterans Day. During the service, we will offer an act of remembrance, to honor those who died in World War 1 and all subsequent wars, as well as offer prayers for hope and peace. In the Narthex of First Church, there are two large remembrance plaques, one for World War I, and one for World War II. The WWI plaque is remarkable, for after listing many names of those who served, it notes at the bottom, “In God’s providence no life was lost in service.”

A string ensemble will accompany the choir and offer music appropriate to this observance.

Near the end, Peter Van Dessel, will play the Great Highland Bagpipe, honoring the solemnity of the occasion.

O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home.

November 18: Consecration and Thanksgiving Sunday The common theme of gratitude is threaded throughout these observances: gratitude for the witness, service, generosity, and kindness of those who have gone before us, preparing the way.

Thanksgiving Sunday, coming just prior to our national observance, is an opportunity to celebrate all the blessings that God so abundantly provides.

Additionally, Consecration Sunday is the opportunity to offer back to God a portion of all that God has given us.

Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices, Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices; Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

Eric Strand Director of Music and the Arts First Pulse | November ‘18

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November 2018 Thursday, November 1 9:00 am – Fixin’ ‘n’ Fellowship 5:30 pm – JFON Volunteer Meeting 6:00 pm – Jubilation Ringers 7:15 pm – Chancel Choir Sunday, November 4 All Saints Sunday Communion Sunday 8:00 am – Nursery Care 8:15 am – Sunday Worship 8:30 am – Children’s Chapel 9:00 am – Infant/Toddler Nurseries 9:15 am – Church School 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 11:45 am – Blood Pressure Clinic 5:00 pm – Sunday Dinner 5:00 pm – Jr High and Sr High Youth Group 5:00 pm – How To Pray 6:00 pm – Inclusion First: Ted Talks and Dessert Monday, November 5 9:00 am – Inclusion First: Clergy and Staff Training Session 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study 5:30 pm – Inclusion First: Dinner and Discussion, Part I 6:30 pm – Stephen Ministry

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Tuesday, November 6 7:00 am – Work Program 5:30 pm – Inclusion First: Dinner and Discussion, Part II 5:30 pm – SPRC Meeting Wednesday, November 7 12:00 pm – Inclusion First: Lunch and Learn – Being Inclusive in the Workplace 6:00 pm – Disciple I Thursday, November 8 9:00 am – Moms’ Group: Moms and Muffins Date 12:00 pm – Thirsty Thursday 5:00 pm – Thirsty Thursday 6:00 pm – Jubilation Ringers 7:15 pm – Chancel Choir Friday, November 9 7:00 am – Inclusion First: Business Leader Breakfast 12:00 pm – Inclusion First: Community Worship Service Saturday, November 10 9:30 am – Feeding America

Sunday, November 11 8:00 am – Nursery Care 8:15 am – Sunday Worship 8:30 am – Children’s Chapel 9:00 am – Infant/Toddler Nurseries 9:15 am – Church School for all ages 10:15 am – Choir Rehearsals 10:15 am – Advent in a Box 10:45 am – Sunday Worship 11:00 am – Children & Worship, Third Grade Bible Study, and Shine: Sensory Room 5:00 pm – Sunday Dinner 5:00 pm – Jr High and Sr High Youth Group 5:00 pm – Methodist Connection Worship and Pie Social 5:30 pm – How To Pray Monday, November 12 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study 1:00 pm – Staff meeting 5:00 pm – Trustees 6:00 pm – Building Commitee Tuesday, November 13 7:00 am – Work Program 5:30 pm – Finance Wednesday, November 14 6:00 pm – Disciple I 6:00 pm – Young Adult Group Thursday, November 15 9:00 am – Fixin’ ‘n’ Fellowship 10:00 am – GR Progressive Clergy 6:00 pm – Jubilation Ringers 7:15 pm – Chancel Choir

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First Pulse | November ‘18

Saturday, November 17 8:30 am – Moms’ Group: Santa Parade

Thursday, November 22 Thanksgiving Day Church Offices and Building Closed

Sunday, November 18 8:00 am – Nursery Care 8:15 am – Sunday Worship 8:30 am – Children’s Chapel 9:00 am – Infant/Toddler Nurseries 9:15 am – Church School 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 – Kids’ Club: Unplugged/Thankful Pie 2:00 pm – Casey’s Socks Stuffing 5:00 pm – Sunday Dinner 5:00 pm – Jr High and Sr High Youth Group 5:30 pm – How To Pray

Friday, November 23 Church Offices and Building Closed Sunday, November 25 8:00 am – Nursery Care 8:15 am – Sunday Worship 8:30 am – Children’s Chapel 9:00 am – Infant/Toddler Nurseries 9:15 am – Advent Together 10:15 am – Choir Rehearsals 10:15 pm – A Different Kind of Christmas Fair 10:45 am – Sunday Worship 11:00 am – Children & Worship and Shine: Sensory Room 12:00 pm – A Different Kind of Christmas Fair 5:00 pm – Sunday Dinner 5:00 pm – Jr High and Sr High Youth Group

Monday, November 19 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study 12:00 pm – 60+ Luncheon 6:30 pm – Stephen Ministry 7:00 pm – Leadership Council

Monday, November 26 10:00 am – Worship Design 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study 1:00 pm – Staff 1:00 pm – MLK Gift of Giving Set-Up 6:00 pm – SPRC Meeting 7:00 pm – Charge Conference

Tuesday, November 20 7:00 am – Work Program 6:30 pm – Missions Commission 7:00 pm – FAN of I Light: Specialized Grief Group Wednesday, November 21 9:00 am – Caring Connection Church Offices and Building Closing at 2:00 pm

Tuesday, November 27 7:00 am – Work Program

Wednesday, November 28 9:00 am – MLK Gift of Giving Donation Drop-Off Day 6:00 pm – Disciple I 6:00 pm – Hanging of the Greens Thursday, November 29 9:00 am – Fixin’ ‘n’ Fellowship 6:00 pm – Jubilation Ringers 7:15 pm – Chancel Choir Friday, November 30 9:00 am – MLK Gift of Giving Drop-Off Day 5:30 pm – Moms’ Group: Mom’s Night Out

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World Communion Sunday David ~ Congratulations on your baptism!

5th-6th Graders: Connect Class — Connecting friendships and faith!

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First Pulse | November ‘18

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Intentional Faith Development Fall Youth Retreat

From October 5th-7th, the junior and senior high youth participated in a retreat at Camp Geneva. The theme for the weekend was “Love Your Selfie.” We focused on discussing how we live in a world where it can be easy to become focused on oneself.

With social media becoming such a prominent piece of our culture, it has become easy to spend time focusing on projecting the perfect image of ourself through stunning selfies and well written Facebook/Instagram posts. As the weekend progressed, we moved on to talk about how we want to take time to care for ourselves; but we also want to make sure we look beyond ourselves to help others.

We put this idea into practice on Saturday afternoon when the youth went shopping for supplies to put together hygiene kits for UMCOR. We made twelve hygiene kits that UMCOR will give to people who have been forced out of their homes because of human conflict 8

First Pulse | November ‘18

or natural disaster.

We also made sure to take some time to have fun and get to know one another better. We played multiple games of Gaga Ball, Nuke Em, and Pictionary.

We watched the movie Wonder to see how easy it is to get caught up in outward appearances, and recognize that at the end of the day, what really matters is how we treat the people around us.

We took trips to the lake to take selfies with God’s creation, and to spend time reflecting and praying about what we had learned over the weekend.

On Sunday morning, we revealed the destination of the 2019 senior high mission trip via a group game. The senior high youth will be traveling to North Lawrence, Ohio, with Reach Mission Trips from June 23rd-30th.

The retreat wrapped up with a youth-led worship service. The youth planned a service that included music, a sermon, and time for prayer. The experience brought us together to worship and draw close to God. It was a great ending to an amazing God-filled weekend that allowed the junior and senior high youth to come together to build community and grow in faith together.

Emily Uebbing Director of Junior High Youth Heather Yzenbaard Director of Senior High Youth

Risk-Taking Outreach and Mission Guests were coming for the weekend and I made my trek to Meijer to get the groceries. Deciding between beef, pork, chicken, or fish for the main courses wore me out…and then what to have for the sides! What a problem to have. Meanwhile my friend in Managua, Nicaragua, is choosing between rice and beans or beans with tortillas and one piece of chicken for each person once over the weekend.

Her dinner table includes her daughter, her granddaughter, Connie (a 16-year-old girl who is living with her so she can attend school, the cost of which we support), Connie’s mother (who appeared at the door after a 24-hour bus ride to find help because she was very ill), and Connie’s brother (who is 12 years old and accompanied his mom). Her extra guests were a surprise, but my friend welcomed them and shared what she had. The rains have been torrential in Managua and my friend’s roof has many leaks with puddles of water covering the floor. With all of this affecting her life, her main concern is for the children of Managua who are hungry and in poor health.

Nicaragua is in crisis. During five months of antigovernment protests and the government crackdown that followed, hundreds of people have been killed.

Nicaragua is now in the throes of a mass uprising against President Ortega’s regime. The former revolutionary leader now acts more like a cartel leader than a president. The protestors are mostly students and young people demanding the ouster of President

Ortega and a return to democracy.

To quote my friend, “At the national level, and especially in Managua, there are many unemployed people and many hungry children.

There is food, but there is no money to buy it. Milk is very expensive and the children have none. Every day more children come to ask for food and I do not have money to help them – or even buy food for ourselves. The situation in Nicaragua is difficult and I especially worry about the children.”

Why has God provided so much for me and not for them? What is the right thing to do?

Nancy Gillette Team Leader/Healing Hands Medical Mission *After 18 years of this team traveling to Nicaragua in November, we are unable to go because of unrest in the country. We plan to go in March.

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EXTRAVAGANT GENEROSITY Resource Development

Share Your Blessings If you have involved yourself in one of the many ministries of First Church, you have likely experienced an “A-Ha” moment where you see first hand the impact we have on people in need of our love and our helping hands.

I know I have shared this story before, but it is a great reminder for us as we approach our decisions regarding 2019 giving.

Several years ago, during the time of the week when the First Church Work Program participants were being paid their ten dollars for their few hours of work in the program, one of the participants insisted on giving one dollar of his “wage” back to the church as a thank you for the blessing he had received.

Indeed, he gave a “tithe” back to God. It seems, during this time of our “Share Your Blessings” campaign, that it is hard to justify holding back in our giving when someone who literally has nothing insists on giving one tenth back.

Our church is made up of people from up and down the income spectrum. We are blessed with so many whose walk with God has brought them to the joy of tithing. Surprisingly, it is not just those we would call “wealthy.” In fact, many of our most generous givers in terms of percentage are not wealthy by this world’s measure. They have, however, discovered the rich blessings of life that come from surrendering all our fears to God. Sharing these blessings through church giving is not a difficult decision for them whatsoever.

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So as the time to submit our pledge for 2019 approaches, let us remember this story: where a homeless person gave one dollar from the only ten dollars he had back to the ministries of First Church.

How well will each of us be inspired by this amazing example of faith and generosity?

The theme of our giving campaign this fall is “Share Your Blessings.” Compared to the man in the example I described, or compared to the widow Jesus praised for giving her only two coins, nearly all of us are richly blessed.

First Church is alive with so many examples of outreach, mission, and extending the loving hands of God to the world. These ministries depend on every one of us remembering our vows to support the church through our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness!

If this is not yet the year where God has led you to tithe, perhaps you can simply move up a percentage point or two in your pledge. If you are currently giving three or four percent, perhaps you are ready to move to five or six percent. Please pray about this important part of the life of our church, the annual giving campaign, and how you will participate in enabling ministry in 2019.

Let us share our blessings generously through our 2019 giving, so that we can continue to reach those who will experience God’s love through First Church.

Chris Hawkins, Finance Committee

Congregational Care The fall comes with pictures of beauty. The fall colors are starting to fade as the leaves fall to the ground.

While I enjoy the beautiful colors, the raking that comes with the falling leaves is not one of my favorite things. The seasonal change and our own changes come with responses. The upcoming All Saints Sunday provides a time to remember. Sunday, November 4 provides a time to remember members that have gone on to life in Christ. Family members and friends come to remember in a time during the service to celebrate and remember.

In February 2019, the United Methodist Church is coming together to find a way forward regarding sexual identity. Over the past few years, First Church has made many steps in this process of stating what we believe. November 4-11 is a week dedicated to discussing, learning, and listening to the important work of inclusion. This event is unique to First Church, and the gathering will help to do the work we have started in a new way. In this work, there might be a few things we will need to do differently as we listen to stories and a new way forward for our community.

In this changing season within the church, we find ways to grow and emerge through the conversations.

As the seasons change, there is space for change and finding God amid the changes we undergo in big and small ways. We look to God for guidance and direction as we continue to find ways to live out Jesus’ greatest commandment, “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34) As the leaves continue to fall, let us continue to gather up and come together to find ways to live together and learn together through these changing seasons.

Rev. Tim Tuthill Associate Pastor

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Advent Together SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 9:15 - 10:15 AM Join your First Church family for an intergenerational, peace-filled event to prepare us all for the season of Advent.