October 2018 First Pulse

F irst Pulse

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

First United Methodist Church Grand Rapids | grfumc.org

October 2018

F irst Pulse

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October 2018

On the cover

Attitude is Everything!

Sermon series on the Beatitudes.

A

B

Cuba Mission Trip to our sister church in Herradura, Cuba.

C

Homecoming Sunday: Swing into Fall!

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Pastor Bob and Pigeon enjoying the Homecoming celebration!

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D

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 | October ‘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.

September Pastor’s Forum Dear friends, Thank you, congregation, for your support of the Pastor’s Forum! The attendance and participation has been extraordinary. Over 60 came and listened attentively to my report from the recent fourmonth renewal leave (sabbatical). This past Sunday, over 90 folks gathered to read, listen, and converse about “The Way Forward,” and the three plans that will be the legislative focus of a Special General Conference that will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, February 22 – 26, 2019. The handouts that I gave are available in print in the north lobby or at grfumc.org/vision. I also would encourage any of you who are interested to attend one of the listening sessions held by our Michigan Area Bishop David Bard. Bishop Bard is hosting these sessions throughout the state of Michigan. The dates of sessions closest to Grand Rapids are: October 15: Georgetown UMC, 7:00 pm October 17: Kalamazoo FUMC, 7:00 pm November 29: Ann Arbor FUMC 7:00 pm December 6: Lansing, Michigan Area Conference Center 7:00 pm Adult Classes begin on September 30.

I am a firm believer that Christian Education is for ALL ages! Growing in our faith is a life-long learning process. Engaging in classes not only expands our knowledge, it deepens our faith. When we make a commitment to attend a class, we meet and connect with people within our faith community in meaningful ways. Sharing in friendship and fellowship with others is worth the participation alone.

There are SEVEN … (that’s right, seven) classes offered this fall. Five of the seven are offered on Sunday morning from 9:15 to 10:15 am. The full class descriptions are listed on the First Church website at grfumc.org/adults.

The FIVE Sunday morning classes are: Disciple III – The prerequisite to taking this class is to have completed Disciple I. Disciple III has been re-packaged into a FastTrack weekly hour-long class that will run through May 19, studying the prophets and the letters of Paul. Pigeon Hundley is the leader.

Faith Link – considers current events through the lens of our United Methodist faith heritage. Rev. Norm Kohns facilitates this drop-in discussion-oriented class where no preparation or advanced reading is necessary.

Life Transitions – Pastor Tim Tuthill will lead this class in exploring transitions and the use of spiritual practices in helping to navigate transitions.

Parenting Class – This group will consider pertinent topics via TED Talk videos, discussion, Biblical reflection, and book references. Sherah Eavey will facilitate this group.

The Most Good We Can Do – This class will focus on social justice topics such as altruism, poverty, homelessness, incarceration, immigration, social activism, and so forth. Darren McKnight, the Chair of our Social Concerns Committee will facilitate this year-long exploration of what we can do to make a difference.

THEN, on Sunday evenings from 5:30 to 7:00 pm, I will teach a class titled, How to Pray. It is a six-week class focused on a book by the same title that is authored by C.S. Lewis.

On Mondays, join the Adult Bible Study at 11:00 am in room 302. Using the daily and weekly devotions from Christian Living in the Mature Years, this is a way to strengthen your awareness and knowledge of the Bible and to explore the meaning and interpretations of the Bible each week with a comfortable and welcoming group. New members are always welcome.

And finally – Disciple I is offered on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 pm with Joan VanDessel as facilitator. Disciple I is an introductory level class that gives principles of Biblical study of both Old and New Testaments and how scripture can transform our lives and the lives of our community.

What a wonderful variety of classes for the people of First Church and the community of Grand Rapids. Get involved! Take a class. Grow in your faith. You will be glad you did. See you Sunday!

Pastor Bob

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Radical H ospitality Swinging into Fall with First Church

Homecoming Sunday was awesome! Live music, a great service, reconnecting with friends, a festive dinner with a brownie bar, and swing dancers – it was like attending a wedding without the need to bring a gift! Thank you to the many volunteers and staff members who helped to create this kickoff!

As we settle into fall, don’t let the spirit of Homecoming Sunday fade away! Sign up to take a class, volunteer on the fellowship team, serve as an usher or greeter, or attend one of our Lunch & Learns. Also, don’t be shy! People are coming to First Church because they are seeking spiritual community. Don’t wait for a staff person or greeter to make the first move, YOU are just the right person to offer hospitality to our guests! Introduce yourself, invite them into community, be the spirit of Homecoming until the spirit of Christmas rolls in.

Thanks to all who joined us for and volunteered at the Neighborhood Picnic!

Stories of Inclusion Hospitality is more than a handshake and a cup of coffee. It’s the way we invite people into our lives. It’s the stories we share. Messy stories, beautiful stories, stories of pain and of growth. These stories shape who we are and shape who we can become. That’s why sharing and hearing each other’s stories is so valuable.

As we approach Inclusion First, a week-long series of events meant to engage, educate, and equip us, our church, and our community, you are invited to share your stories of inclusion (or exclusion) related to LGBT+ issues. For example: One lesson I learned during a young adult mission trip was not 4

First Pulse | October ‘18

to assume. During the housing check-in process, our site host went through the rules. There were the typical “keep things clean” and “be in before lights out” reminders.

Then, she had looked at our all-girl group and jokingly said, “Well, I guess I don’t have to go through the public-displays-of-affection rules with this group.” Our group awkwardly laughed. We were not an all-straight group. Looking back, I wish I had spoken up and used it as a teaching moment. Now I am ready.

What is your story? Are you an LGBT+ person with a story to share? Maybe your story is as a friend, family member, ally, or observer – your story counts too! Let’s connect and grow

in community together.

Email Sami Marasigan, SamiM@grfumc.org, to set up a time to video your story.

Sami Marasigan Director of Hospitality and Invitation

PASSIONATE WORSHIP Music and Arts Ministry

Global Song at First Church October 7th is the annual celebration of World Communion Sunday. This observance is about 80 years old and is recognized by many Christian denominations and church organizations around the world. The Sunday is an opportunity to emphasize the unity of the Christian church throughout the world, even amidst great diversity. At the heart of unity is the celebration of communion: a place at the table for all.

As part of this observance, the United Methodist Church emphasizes the scholarships which support national and international students (often from marginalized populations) in leadership around the world. Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.”

As part of this observance, churches are often encouraged to include customs and liturgical practices from around the world. “Global Song” resources are continuing to expand within the United Methodist Church and among many mainline denominations in the West. Global Song broadly encompasses music that is not from the Euro-centric traditions that comprise most of the music found in our hymnal. However, you may be surprised if you happen to look at the indices of the hymnals in our pew. A casual look shows music from Africa, China, Croatia, India, Japan, Laos, Malawi, Pakistan, The Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Venezuela. Hymnal supplements have continued this exploration of music collected from around the world.

context of our worship. It seems important to not engage in a “food-court” mentality of global song that sprinkles in music from around the world just because it is available. The thoughtful use of Global Song attempts to avoid something akin to “Ethno Tourism” that is often not an authentic representation of a culture or tradition.

One of the songs that has become a familiar part of our repertoire is the South African song “Siyahamba” which has been translated into English from Zulu as “We Are Marching in the Light of God.” It’s upbeat and has taken on a universal quality as it has become more familiar. This year the choir will sing “The Beatitudes” set to a Russian Orthodox chant, as well as a song inspired by the struggles with oppression in South Africa, “We Are the Ones.”

On Sunday, October 14th, we will have guest musician, Sebastian Buhts playing at the 10:45 AM service. Sebastian is a doctoral student in percussion at Michigan State University. He performs on a variety of percussion instruments, including the tabla, and specializes in the marimba. His transcriptions for marimba of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach was brought to my attention last summer.

You will not want to miss that Sunday morning. You may see his performances at sebastianbuhts. com.

Eric Strand Director of Music and the Arts

The use of Global Song at First Church is at its best when it emphasizes unity with all people of faith throughout the world. One of the strengths of this church is that we have a diverse congregation, with members from around the world. There are some pitfalls, it seems to me, when Global Songs are not properly placed in context – the context of its original use, possibly including the way in which a particular song was collected for publication in one of our hymnals, and why this song might function well in the First Pulse | October ‘18

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October 2018 Monday, October 1 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study 5:30 pm – Inclusivity Committee 6:30 pm – Stephen Ministry Tuesday, October 2 7:00 am – Work Program 5:00 pm – Moms’ Groupd: Fall Fun Fest 5:30 pm – SPRC Meeting Wednesday, October 3 6:00 pm – Disciple I 6:00 pm – Young Adults Group Thursday, October 4 9:00 am – Fixin’ ‘n’ Fellowship 12:00 pm – Thirsty Thursday 6:00 pm – Jubilation Ringers 7:15 pm – Chancel Choir 7:00 pm – Perchance to Dream Friday, October 5 7:00 pm – Perchance to Dream October 5 - 7 Jr & Sr High Fall Retreat

Sunday, October 7 Communion Sunday Blood Pressure 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 – Children’s Choir Rehearsal 10:45 am – Sunday Worship 11:00 am – Children & Worship, Third Grade Bible Study, and Shine: Sensory Room 4:00 pm – Families in Faith Finance Potluck 5:00 pm – Sunday Dinner 5:30 pm – How To Pray Monday, October 8 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study 5:00 pm – Trustees Tuesday, October 9 7:00 am – Work Program Wednesday, October 10 Road Trip: Fall Color Tour 6:00 pm – Disciple I 6:00 pm – Young Adults Group: Creative Carvings Thursday, October 11 9:00 am – Moms and Muffins Date 12:00 pm – Thirsty Thursday 6:00 pm – Jubilation Ringers 7:15 pm – Chancel Choir

A

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B

First Pulse | October ‘18

Saturday, October 13 9:30 am – Feeding America Sunday, October 14 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 – Children’s and Youth Choir Rehearsals 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 5:30 pm – How To Pray Monday, October 15 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study 6:30 pm – Stephen Ministry Tuesday, October 16 7:00 am – Work Program 7:00 pm – FAN of I Light: Specialized Grief Group Wednesday, October 17 9:00 am – Caring Connection 6:00 pm – Disciple I 6:00 pm – Young Adults Group: Creative Carvings

C

Thursday, October 18 9:00 am – Fixin’ ‘n’ Fellowship 10:00 am – GR Progressive Clergy 12:00 pm – Thirsty Thursday 6:00 pm – Jubilation Ringers 7:15 pm – Chancel Choir Sunday, October 21 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 – Children’s and Youth Choir Rehearsals 10:45 am – Sunday Worship 11:00 am – Children & Worship, Third Grade Bible Study, and Shine: Sensory Room 11:45 am – Lunch & Learn: Making Choices Michigan 5:00 pm – Sunday Dinner 5:00 pm – Jr High and Sr High Youth Group 5:30 pm – How To Pray Monday, October 22 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study 5:30 pm – Building Committee Tuesday, October 23 7:00 am – Work Program 5:30 pm – Finance

Wednesday, October 24 6:00 pm – Disciple I 5:30 pm – Young Adults Group: Halloween Party at Well House Thursday, October 25 12:00 pm – Thirsty Thursday 6:00 pm – Jubilation Ringers 7:15 pm – Chancel Choir Saturday, October 27 Wedding Sunday, October 28 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 – Children’s and Youth Choir Rehearsals 10:45 am – Sunday Worship 11:00 am – Children & Worship, Third Grade Bible Study, and Shine: Sensory Room 12:00 pm – Lunch 1:30 pm – Trunk-or-Treat 5:00 pm – Sunday Dinner 5:00 pm – Jr High and Sr High Youth Group 5:30 pm – How To Pray

A B

Monday, October 29 11:00 am – Adult Bible Study

C

Tuesday, October 30 7:00 am – Work Program

D

Homecoming Dinner Summer Community Picnic Mission Trip to Cuba Swinging into Fall

D

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Intentional Faith Development How Well Do You Know Our Faith Development Programs?

4. Where is the nursery? a. Room 306 on the 3rd floor b. Room 203 on the 2nd floor c. Room 106 on the 1st floor d. In the basement

Quizzes are not commonplace in Faith Development at First, but in the spirit of fun at the start of our new program year, test your knowledge of the faith development programs we offer for learners of all ages.

5. Which class offers a nohomework, no-prep look at a current event every week through the lens of our shared United Methodist faith? a. “The Most Good We Can Do” b. “Life Transitions” c. “Parenting in 2018” d. “FaithLink”

1. Finish the first line of this popular Children and Worship song: “Be still and know _____” a. That God is good b. Children and Worship is cool c. That I am God d. That Jesus hears you 2. At what time do Jr. and Sr. High youth meet for Youth Group in The Vine, lowest level of First Place, 201 Fulton? a. Saturdays, Noon - 2:00 pm b. Sundays, 4:00 - 6:00 pm c. Fridays, 6:00 - 8:00 pm d. Sundays, 5:00 - 7:00 pm 3. What is the name of Pastor Bob’s class that meets Sunday evenings in room 104? a. “How to Pray” b. “Prayer in 2018” c. “The Way Forward” d. “How to Write”

6. During the 10:45 worship service, what does the Sensory Room strive to do? a. Build community b. Teach foundational Bible stories c. Provide a safe place for children and youth to grow d. All of the above 7. Which version of Disciple is being offered on Sunday mornings? a. Disciple I, a comprehensive, guided reading and study of the entire Bible b. Disciple II, a guide in deepening understanding of Scripture and connection between the text and individual experience. c. Disciple III, an examination of our memory and identity as the people of God d. No Disciple classes are being offered on Sunday mornings.

Moms’ Group Night Out 8. What requirements must volunteers meet in order to work with our children and youth?

(Circle all that apply) a. Be a member and/or have attended our church regularly for at least 6 months b. Complete an application to work with children c. Submit to and pass a felony background check d. Attend a training session on child protection and how to prevent and spot abuse 9. On Sundays at 9:15 am, our Preschool - 4th graders learn a single foundational Bible story in a rotation Sunday School model.

Through what rotation are our children taught these Bible stories? (Circle all that apply) a. Drama b. Art c. Music d. Science e. Video f. Games g. Tight-rope walking 10. For which faith development opportunity have you signed up? ______ (Do you have nothing to write in that blank? Let’s fix that!

Go to grfumc.org/adults to see all the class offerings and sign up for one OR email audreyk@ grfumc.org to get help finding what’s right for you.)

Answers: 1. c 2. d 3. a 4. c 5. d 6. d 7. c 8. a,b,c,d 9. a,b,c,d, e,f (NOT g) 8

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Risk-Taking Outreach and Mission I love Grand Rapids and I’m a huge fan of all things local. But I have to admit that compared to all of the other cities in the world, Grand Rapids is a fairly ordinary place.

Except during ArtPrize. We are once again in the midst of this international art competition that transforms Grand Rapids into a giant art museum, and - like it or hate it - it’s pretty extraordinary. There’s art everywhere.

Not just in the places where you would typically expect to see art, but on old building facades, in chic office complexes, in run-down bars, and even in the middle of the river.

Everything seems to be fair game for becoming a canvas during ArtPrize.

For me, the most fascinating part of the event is walking around the city noticing all of the surprising ways that the ordinary landscape of Grand Rapids is transformed. An unexpected sculpture is suddenly in the middle of the sidewalk or a new mural changes the appearance of a building that’s been there for years.

The presence of art transforms the city. And it transforms the way that I look at the city. When there’s art everywhere, everything begins to look like art. The line between art and everyday life becomes blurred, and I find myself engaged in a new way of seeing everything.

I believe this concept can be easily extended to one of the ways we are called to participate in Christian mission and outreach: by becoming engaged in

a new way of seeing God’s work in the world. While the temptation is often to quickly jump into action when it comes to mission and outreach, a crucial step in the process is to cultivate a way of seeing the world that aligns our vision with God’s vision. In Mission from the Ground Up: Emergent Themes in Contemporary Mission, theologian Robert Schreiter asserts, “Only by focusing our attention in such a way as to be able to see God’s movements in the world can we hope to participate in God’s reconciling the world.” In other words, mission is a way of participating in God’s vision for the world, which requires from us a shift in our own way of seeing things.

In addition to developing a lens that looks for God’s movements in the world, we must also experience a widening of the places, persons, and contexts in which we are attentive to the needs of others.

We often talk about the importance of being in ministry with people rather than doing ministry for people. Becoming attentive to other ways of seeing the world is an important way that we can participate in mission with our neighbors.

In this relational type of mission and outreach we put ourselves in dialogue with people outside of our typical contexts and notice the ways that we are being called to collaborate in embodied, engaged, and authentic mission and outreach.

There are plenty of opportunities happening at First Church that can help you become engaged in a new way of seeing God’s work in the world. If this discussion excites you, you might want to join me and Sami Marasigan for our Social Justice Walking Tour this Sunday, September 30 at 5:30 pm, where we will be looking at ArtPrize through the lens of social justice. Another opportunity to broaden your vision for social justice is Darren McKnight’s class, The Most Good We Can Do, Sundays at 9:15 am.

Dr. Joan VanDessel Director of Community Outreach and Mission

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EXTRAVAGANT GENEROSITY Resource Development

Legacy Celebrations!

Did you know that the Bibles that our third graders receive are paid for from a fund for the specific purpose of purchasing Bibles? This was a specific bequest from the estate of Al Heffron, a long-time member of First Church.

The Ardath Wiltse Music scholarships that are offered in the Spring were awarded to Emma Schuiling, Abby Schuiling, and Kelsie Wezeman this past year. These talented young ladies have shared their music with us many times in appreciation of their scholarships.

The Legacy College Education Fund gave out six college scholarships this past year! The recipients were: Emma Buist, Holly McGillivray, Lucy Schuiling, Darcy Walker, David Walker, and Katie Wezeman.

This Legacy College Education Fund started just a couple of years ago by a passionate parishioner who wanted to see her Legacy being used. Several other donors are also passionate about the youth in our congregation and have also given to this fund!

The Legacy Congregational Care and Development Fund provided financial assistance for the Catalyst weekend event for our young adults. This fund will also provide financial assistance for Luke Dowding who will be with us this Fall for Inclusion First.

The Donna Keller Hunger Fund helps pay for the food we serve to our Heartside neighbors on Christmas Eve for Casey’s Breakfast. This fund also pays for the food we distribute through Feeding America mobile food pantries.

These gifts are making a difference in the lives of our neighbors and our youth! One of the scholarship recipients wrote, “I am so proud to be a member of this church. The church, congregation, youth group, confirmation, volunteering has taught me so may valuable lessons.” Our youth of today are our future for tomorrow!

Meanwhile, many of our retirees have taken advantage of the Charitable IRA Rollover law either to complete their estimate of giving for 2018, or to give to second-mile giving through the Legacy Funds, and some will most likely pre-pay their 2019 commitment to First Church. They simply notify me when the funds are coming, where they want the funds applied, and the check comes directly to the church from their IRA investment manager/bank.

The funds do not pass through the donor’s hands.

This is considered an outright gift to First Church and qualifies for the Charitable IRA Rollover law.

So what are you passionate about? I invite you to contact me if you want information on how you can give to your church through your will, estate plan, or if you want to see your legacy at work … now!

Sharon Sorensen, Legacy Administrator & Treasurer

The youth choir performing during the May Youth Service.

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First Pulse | October ‘18

Congregational Care Transitions The summer construction seemed to follow me this year. At every twist and turn, I found orange barrels or a “road closed sign.”

Trying not to take it personally, I found detours inconvenient. There were days I would forget and had to back-track to get home, to the hospital, to work, or to the gym.

Life is like that, too. You find detours that take you down roads you would never imagine you would have to travel. Life is filled with detours, or maybe a better word is transitions. Life is filled with transitions that are naturally occurring changes but that force us by choice or events beyond our control to find new routes. The roads you once traveled in life may not be open anymore. Each one of us goes through them, and yet, we don’t always want to share life transitions. If you are feeling the need to re-examine a transition or two in life, join me for the upcoming class Life Transitions beginning Sunday, Sepember 30 through November 18 at 9:15 am in Room 303.

Making Choices Michigan First Church has joined the interfaith initiative started by Making Choice Michigan (MCM).

The community collaborative started close to ten years ago and provides advance care planningfacilitated conversation about what matters most to you in regard to medical treatment if you are unable to speak for yourself. The conversation is not just for older adults. The facilitated conversations help you to articulate and write down your healthcare goals with your healthcare advocate helping you to clarify your values and goals. Do you have a healthcare advocate? We have four trained facilitators embedded in the congregation: Denise Niswonger, Jill Peirce, Ken Peirce, and Tim Tuthill who are trained to help listen to your goals. If you would like more information, please plan to attend the Lunch & Learn on Sunday, October 21 at 12:00 pm to learn more and hear how you can schedule a conversation.

If you would like to schedule a conversation, please contact Michele Lipka at 616.451.2879 or michelel@grfumc.org.

Inclusion First It only takes a spark to get a fire going. What started out as a conversation turned into an opportunity. Last Sunday, over 90 people attended Pastor Bob’s forum on human sexuality in preparation for the upcoming General Conference being held in February 2019. Our congregation began the discussion on human sexuality long before now and through a thoughtfully developed theological statement in 2015 followed by a statement of inclusion a year later. We have been talking about inclusion and we are committing more time to engage, educate, and equip ourselves as well as others in the conversation. November 4-11, First Church is hosting Inclusion First an opportunity to learn more about ways to become more inclusive to our LGBT+ neighbors.

The events are open to all and we have many ways to get connected, visit grfumc.org/InclusionFirst for more details. We will have more information coming. Stayed tuned and get connected!

Rev. Tim Tuthill Director of Congregational Care

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