October 2015 Edition
Dear Friends, Thank you for your faithfulness and support! Our September start-up has exceeded my expectations. We are off and running with a new schedule and after just one week. (I am writing on September 15th), we had 45 for our first Upper Room worship at 8:15 am, 175 children, youth, and adults in Christian Education classes at 9:15 am, and 375 at the 10:45 am worship. The energy throughout the building was outstanding. People were enthused and excited to be in church, and I am sure that the excitement will grow as will our attendance. Thank you to each member of the program and support staff as well as all of the lay leaders, volunteers, and workers who have done such an outstanding job of planning and then carrying out the plan! Good things are happening at First Church, so why not “come and see?” Invite a friend and come and be a part of an extraordinary church engaged in extraordinary ministry! As we look toward October, I want to share with you two important events on the horizon. On October 4… which is World-Wide Communion Sunday, at 9:15 am (during the normal church school hour), we are going to begin a Pastor’s Forum! The Forum is an opportunity for me to talk with members of our congregation about pertinent topics that are not only important to me, but to the life of our congregation. All fall adult class members are invited to attend the forum. Regular classes will resume on October 11. We will have a Forum four or five times throughout the year. At our first Forum, I will share with you a proposed “theological and ministry” definition of
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Intentional Faith Development
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www.grandrapidsfumc.org
First Church. The staff worked on the document for many months. This past July, we presented the draft to the Leadership Council. We believe that attempting to define ourselves theologically and with a particular ministry focus is important! We believe that the entire membership of First Church needs to have the opportunity to think, discuss, amend, change, and ultimately adopt such a document. So come and join us in Wesley Hall for coffee and conversation! New Member Exploration classes begin on October 11 at 9:15 am. We will hold our classes in the library. There are many people who have been attending regularly throughout the summer. This is a four-week opportunity for you to get better acquainted with United Methodism, the history of First Church, our staff, laity, and ministry. If you are curious about First Church or if you have never taken the step of becoming a member, please join us and explore. LOOKING AHEAD to November… We are thrilled to report that on November 8 at 4:00 pm, the Sons of Serendip will be in concert in our sanctuary. They are an outstanding African-American ensemble of four classically-trained musicians from Boston who made a name for themselves by being finalists on America’s Got Talent. Pigeon and I heard them at Lakeside, the United Methodist Chautauqua on Lake Erie. They filled the 2,500 seat auditorium. First Church is sponsoring this event in conjunction with the Methodist Connection. More detailed information will be forthcom-
Pastor’s Message
ing that will include ticket prices. We expect to literally fill the sanctuary. So stay tuned. This will be an evening to remember! AND on November 15, we will begin our celebration of the 100th anniversary of the building and dedication of our sanctuary. Bishop Deborah Kiesey will be our pulpit guest. She has served as the resident Bishop of the Michigan Area of the United Methodist Church since 2012. I had the privilege of serving as Dean of the Cabinet the first year that Bishop Kiesey (and her husband, Brad) came to Michigan, having previously served as the Resident Bishop of the Dakotas for eight years. We are fortunate that the Bishop included First Church in her limited preaching schedule. You will enjoy our Bishop and Brad as they join us in worship on this special occasion. November will also be the time for our annual stewardship awareness focus with the 2016 Consecration Sunday on November 22. We all are blessed to be part of First Church! Tell somebody about all the good things that are happening among us and invite them to join in the journey.
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Risk-taking Mission and Service
Pastor Bob Hundley Passionate Worship 5
Extravagant Generosity 4
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