September 2016 Edition
In my study, there is a beautiful wood plaque that my wife h a d m a d e by a n artist in one of our former pastorates. It was given to me as a constant reminder of time that we had spent together at the Disney Key West Vacation Club in Orlando. A dear friend, from yet another former congregation, allowed us to enjoy her membership privileges for several years. What the wooden plaque says is, “WELCOME HOME!” Now the significance of that two-word phrase is that when we were guests at the Key West Vacation Club, every time that we entered the campus, we were greeted with a verbal, “WELCOME HOME!” The first time that it happened, I was taken aback! The greeter at the gated entrance came out of the little house to make sure that our names were on his reservation list. When our reservation was solidified, the greeter stuck out his hand to shake mine with, “Welcome Home.” I said, “Thanks – but what does that mean?” He said, “As long as you are our guest, we want you to feel at home! Our home is your home. Relax. Enjoy. And if we can do anything to make your stay more enjoyable, please let us know.”
www.grandrapidsfumc.org
signs of “welcome” just as you will hear the phrase “Welcome Home” from greeters! We hope to create the atmosphere where First Church is like a spiritual home where we all are welcome. “Homecoming” Sunday is September 11. Our fall schedule will return with worship at 8:15 am in the upper room. The church school hour is from 9:15 - 10:15 am. Worship begins in the sanctuary at 10:45 am.
local churches, and clergy. Therefore, for three Sunday’s in September we will hold Pastor’s Forums. They are designed to be a time of presentation, questions, and discussion. The Forums will be held in the upper room at 9:15 am.
September 11 – What’s happening in the United Methodist Church? Reflections on General Conference, Episcopal elections, the request for a declaratory decision by the Judicial Council, and actions taken by local You will read about classes, activities, congregations, Boards of Ordained and ministries for all ages and stages. Ministries, and Annual Conferences. On September 11, I will be kicking off a fall sermon series on the Ten September 18 – The Council of Commandments that I have entitled, Bishops “Call to Prayer” and our “God’s Design for Freedom and participation in praying for the Responsibility.” United Methodist Church. As a United Methodist congregation, how I am also going to hold a three- can we enter fully into a season of prayer week Pastor’s Forum focused on the and discernment for our denomination, following: Since General Conference AND for ourselves and the ministry of 2016, (held in Portland, Oregon, that we have in our community. May 10-20) there have been lots of questions about the decisions that September 25 – We also have a were made and the impact of those call to “Action!” Being prayerful decisions on Annual Conferences, often produces “action” to follow our discernment. As we become more selfWe were welcomed graciously aware as a congregation and further and it did feel like “home” define our scope of ministry, what role do we play in the greater church during our stay. to “lead” rather than follow?
As we arrived at the welcome center where we were to check-in and get our key, a person greeted us by holding the door with the phrase, “Welcome Home.” The Guest Services attendant at the desk said, “Welcome Home!” We were welcomed graciously and it did feel like “home” during our stay.
Come and participate in this unique time of learning and conversation. The year of 2016-17 is shaping up to be a red-letter year in the life of First Church. Come and join us … and “Welcome Home!”
That is the kind of hospitality that we are hoping to achieve at First Church, particularly this fall. You will see
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Intentional Faith Development
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Pastor Bob Hundley
Pastor’s Message
Radical Hospitality 1
Risk-taking Mission and Service
Passionate Worship 5
Extravagant Generosity 4
3 Congregational Care
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