Get Your Summer Serve On! It’s July, and that means we will Serve Our Neighbors at the end of this month! How so? We will be working for three days as a congregation to repair local homes and host a concurrent Vacation Bible School, all while sharing meals and worship together. We are excited for our second year of this event, and can’t wait to see what God does during the 25th-27th of July! What happens if you didn’t sign up? Are you left out of the fun? Not necessarily. You can pray for God’s blessings on all the activities of SON, for safety for all the people involved in SON, and for God to touch hearts and lives with His love during this event. Also, we will gather together each day at 4:30pm for a short worship time, and we invite anyone to join us for that, whether you signed up or not. Come and celebrate!
Outdoor Worship, July 28 In celebration of the culmination of Serving Our Neighbors (SON) and Vacation Bible School, we will have a special outdoor worship service led by the Praise Band on Sunday, July 28 at 10:45am. There will be only one service this day. Come to celebrate, and bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on. Following the service, all are invited to a potluck in the Fellowship Hall. The church will be providing the meat
course and a variety of beverages. All who are attending are asked to bring a side dish to share.
Please plan on bringing a side dish large enough for everyone in your group. (We’ll be sharing and want to make sure there is enough to go around.) Also, due to allergies, please do not include nuts of any kind in your dish. Sounds delicious and fun! See you on the 28th!
First Focus A Newsletter of First United Methodist Church of Holland Michigan
July 2019
Leadership Development Update The Leadership Development Team is excited about the results from the consultation with Hope College Center for Leadership that took place this past winter and spring. After working with students and coaches from Hope a leadership workshop/class has been developed. This new program will be kicking off this fall. The intention for the workshop/class is to help our congregation members grow their leadership skills for use in their faith lives, at work at home—everywhere. It is modeled on a “bottoms up” leadership model where skillful This article continues on page 2
Inside this Issue: VBS / UMW/ Missions
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Inclusion / Celebrations / Technology
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Kids / Adult-Child Group
4
Youth / Photo Directory
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The Last Word
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Our Vision: To be a grace-filled community aflame with God’s love for the world.
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July 2019
July Vacation Bible School
Leadership
Invite a friend and sign up for ROAR, where kids discover that God is good even when life gets wild!
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Our VBS Team is taking great care to make sure our lessons and activities help every kid know they are loved and valued. Kids participate in Bible-learning activities, sing songs, play games, and experience Bible Adventures. In the afternoon, we'll go on fun field trips to look for evidence of God all around through something called God Sightings. Our VBS will run during our SON event July 25-27 from 9am - 4 pm. Register on the church website, Facebook, or at this link: https://vbspro.events/p/events/2e301c Questions? Contact Director Colleen Bajema by clicking on her name or call her cell at 616-834-8478.
leaders serve out of their life in Christ. Your prayers for this work are appreciated! You are invited to touch base with any member of our leadership development team if you have questions or comments. The team consists of the following persons: Kirstin Carr, Kim Fellwock, Doug Dinkins, Rev. Tania Dozeman, Rev. LuAnne Stanley Hook, and Rev. Brad Bartelmay.
United Methodist Women
The Service Circle for July is Hope Circle and the Meals in Time of Need is Joy Circle. Even though it's still summertime and all are enjoying this ever changing, yet pleasant weather, the United Methodist Women are definitely talking about the 58th annual Holiday Bazaar. This special event will take place on Friday, November 8th from 9:30am to 4:00pm here at the church. The theme is "All Aboard for Christmas". Be sure to put this special event on your calendars! We are asking everyone to save cookie tins and shoe boxes that can be used for the Cookie Room. These containers go fast when customers are buying dozens of delicious cookies. Something Old: Abby Searls wants you to save household items and other special "old" items--but no clothing--for the Attic Specials room. We need someone to chair the Toy Chest Room, which is for 5-year old and under.
This year we need around 70 hand-made table centerpieces from a variety of Christmas and Thanksgiving themes for the tables at the Bazaar Lunch. These center pieces are sold the day of the event. Anyone interested in volunteering, please call Cindy Helder at 616-848-7204, Liz Travis 616-392-7260, or Janet Hardenburg at 616-298-9792. If anyone is interested in helping cochair for the Bazaar, call Cindy Helder. Kids Korner will offer items for babies and for children up to age 5, like cloth books, bibs, aprons, games, and stuffed animals. This will be a popular place for parents, grandparents, and aunts/uncles to find that special gift for their kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews. All summer shoppers be on the lookout for tree decoration ideas and new possibilities for crafts of any kind. This article continues on page 5
First Focus
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Inclusion Team
Celebrations
The Inclusion Team is working in several areas. We are exploring ways to make our commitment to being a Reconciling Congregation visible to the community through the use of lighting, as well as signage (temporary and permanent). We are also promoting a detailed survey of our own facilities with the idea of making our building welcoming, safe, and accessible.
Celebrating 50+ years of marriage:
If you would like to get involved, Lexi Scott is offering an ongoing "Journey to Inclusion" class which meets July 7, July 21, and August 4 during the Learning Hour on Sundays at 9:40-10:30am. Please see the church website (the link is https:// www.fumcholland.org) for more details.
2nd Jim & Jane Smith, 4260 Niles Ave, Holland, 49424 10th Dave & Garnie Vander Leek, 1729 S. Shore Dr, Holland, 49423 20th Jake & Lorelle Eberly, 16565 Greenly St, Holland, 49424 28th Larry & Pat Barrett, 17351 N. Lake Ave, West Olive, 49460
Also, all are welcome to attend the Inclusion Team meetings as we seek to make our church's Welcoming Statement a living reality in our congregation and the larger community. The next meeting is at 7pm on Monday, July 29th in the Lounge.
Tech Crew Do you have a passion for Music? Sound? Lighting? Or Video projection? If so, we are looking for you. Our Tech Crews who run the sound, lights, and video projection are looking for servants to help out with Sunday morning worship. We’ll provide training. Commitment? You would serve one Sunday a month. The week you are scheduled to run the equipment you would also come to worship rehearsal on Wednesday night at 7pm, for a run through of the worship service.
Celebrating 85+ years: 1st Jean De Vries, H-9, 727 Apple Ave, Holland, 49423 2nd Mary Mowery, 580 142nd Ave, Holland, 49424
Questions or to sign-up? Contact David Newton by clicking on his name or call at 616-541-9210.
15th Jean De Vries P, 668 Maple Creek Dr, Holland, 49423
Meet the Team
16th Marvin Winningham, 240 W 29th St, Holland, 49423
If you are rather new to this faith community and would like to connect with the team at First UMC at a casual time together, the next “Meet the Team” meeting is on Sunday, July 14 at 12pm. We will gather in the Lounge/M102 and enjoy light refreshments, as we talk together. Please RSVP at the church Information Desk or email Rev Tania Dozeman by clicking on her name.
18th Glenn Schrotenboer, 466 Beeline Rd, Holland, 49424 21st Sheila Humes, 790 Harvest Dr, Holland, 49423
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July 2019
Children’s Ministry Sunday School classes are each Sunday at 9:40am and Children’s Time classes are at 11am. Check-ins are by entrance C. Kids need to be checked in and picked up by an adult parent/guardian. Questions? Contact Director Colleen Bajema by clicking on her name or call her on the cell 616-834-8478.
First through Fifth Grade Here is this month’s theme: “Power Up: Raise Your Game.” A Life App: What God is doing in you to change the world around you. The memory verse this month is: “God began a good work in you. And I am sure that he will carry it on until it is completed. That will be on the day Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6, NIrV Here are the weekly themes: July 7 Every Good and Perfect Gift (Goodness) • James 1:17a.
Adult/Child Group Come and visit the adult-child learning and fellowship class at 9:40am every Sunday through July 21. Beth Peter leads the class in reading and pondering a short Biblical passage, then all do art and active exploration while reflecting together on the passage. Each session stands alone from the others. This class is designed for parent/child participation but could also be attended with a grandchild or special mentor. Children need to be able to color and follow basic directions, pre-teens and teens are also welcome with a parent.
July 14 Peter Gets Out of Prison (Faithfulness) • Acts 12:1-19. July 21 Jesus and the Little Children (Gentleness) • Mark 10:1316 & Mark 9:36-37. July 28 Taming of the Tongue (Self-control) • James 3:3-10.
Infants through Kindergarten July’s theme is “Power Up” and the following points will be reinforced each week. Memory Verse: “I can do everything by the power of Christ.” Philippians 4:13, NIrV Basic Truth: Jesus wants to be my friend forever. Here are the weekly stories: July 7 Jesus gives the power to show goodness. • James 1:17 July 14 Jesus gives the power to be faithful. • Acts 12:1-19 July 21 Jesus gives the power to be gentle. • Mark 5:25-34 July 28 Jesus gives the power to have self-control. • 1 Timothy 4:12
Sign up at fumcholland.org. If you need help signing up, contact Colleen 616-834-8478 or email her by clicking on her name. The cost for books is $10 per kid/adult combo and $5 for each additional kid who needs their own workbook. If you have questions about this class, email Beth Peter Pete0993@umn.edu or call 616-335-2015.
First Focus
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Summer Church Camps Many of our children and youth are still attending church camp throughout the rest of the summer. Please remember them in your prayers, especially their health, safety, relationships, and for their hearts to be open to the spirit of the Lord!
Youth Happenings Our youth mission trips are over for this year, but opportunities for youth are still happening. There are spaces at some of our church camps, and youth are also encouraged to sign up to assist at Vacation Bible School during the Serving Our Neighbors event, July 25-27. If you have questions, contact LuAnne by texting 616-965-0956 or email her by clicking on her name.
Pictorial Directory We want to see your photo in the new church pictorial directory! To sign-up for a photo shoot, look for Karlene Stack or Cindy Helder in the lobby of the Sanctuary before or after services. Photos will be taken on August 2, 3, 12, 13, and 14 in Fellowship Hall. If you will not be here for one of these dates, call Cindy (616-848-7204) or Karlene (616-392-6632).
UMW
Grow Your Faith For more opportunities to nurture your faith life this summer, check out the Grow section of our church website (www.fumcholland.org)!
Bread Pan for Missions Instead of a bread pan offering for the month of July, Risk-Taking Missions invites you to give the gift of your time during our Serving Our Neighbors (SON) event from July 25 to 27! All ages are invited to be involved either in participating in VBS or serving through a work crew, kitchen help, hospitality, worship, VBS, or even a combination of things! If you are already signed up, look for an email or phone call in early July with more details. Let’s show our church neighborhood the love of Jesus Christ this summer!
continues . . . Cookie Workshops: Everyone is welcome to join the workshops where cookies are made for the November 8th Bazaar. The workshop dates are: September 26th, October 2nd, 16th, 23rd, and 30th at the church. No experience is required. Come any time between 9am and noon. If you have any questions or would like to sign up to help, please call Nancy Haggarty, 212-5311 or email by clicking on her name.
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Holland, MI Permit No. 445
First United Methodist Church 57 W. 10th St. Holland MI 49423 Return Service Requested
Reverend Brad Bartelmay Phone: 616-396-5205, ext. 105 or 269-266-2221 July Worship Series: God is Out There
Upcoming communion date: July 21, 2019
Visit us online at www.fumcholland.org
The Last Word The deadline for submissions to First Focus is Wednesday, July 17th. Please email articles to erin@ fumcholland.org
George Sweeting, the former president of Moody Bible Institute used to tell a story occurring during the reign of Oliver Cromwell. Apparently there was a shortage of currency in the British Empire at that time. Representatives carefully searched the nation in hopes of finding silver to meet the emergency. After one month, the committee returned with its report. “We have searched the Empire in vain seeking to find silver. To our dismay, we found none anywhere except in the cathedrals where the statues of the saints are made of choice silver.” Oliver Cromwell eloquently answered, “Let’s melt down the saints and put them into circulation.” I don’t know if the story is apocryphal or not, but I do love that line. The saints of the church (that’s all of us who claim the title Christ-followers) are not intended to just hang out in church. We’re to be out there in circulation: serving Christ by serving the community. In worship this month we’ll be talking about serving the community, culminating in Serving Our Neighbors on the last weekend. I look forward to seeing you in worship as we learn to serve together.