News
Work Teams Needed To Help Renovate New Homeless Shelter
Adult work teams are needed to help renovate the Elmhurst building to house MOM’S Place I and II. MOM’S Place is a shelter for homeless women and children operated by Cass Community Social Services. They are currently renting facilities that are small and inadequate for this purpose. The new shelter, when completed will provide studio and one and two bedroom apartments. It will be a huge improvement over their current arrangements. This new shelter has the advantage of being across the street from the Scott building and the services available at Cass Community Social Services. In addition, the new MOM’S Place will house a library and store, which will carry milk, bread and daily food necessities.
The teams are needed to do everything from demolition to painting and everything in-between. You can volunteer by calling Rev. Faith Fowler or Mr. Ed Hingleberg at Cass Community Social Services at 313.883.2277 or email Rev. Fowler at ccumcac@aol.com.
United Methodist Union to Host Two Forum for Preacher in 2008
The first is Thursday, October 23, 2008from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Hope United Methodist Church in Southfield, Michigan. Our presenter and resource person will be Dr. Marcia McFee. Marcia is an author, worship designer and leader, preacher and professor. She offers practical suggestions for pastors and leaders of every size congregation. Her workshops have been described as “engaging,” “refreshing” and “unforgettable.” Marcia combines her background in the performing arts and her knowledge of worship to empower pastors and leaders design experiences that will enable worshippers experience God in fresh and interactive ways. This workshop is a must for those wanting to learn more about Emerging Church worship.
Testimonials:
“Marcia’s approach is refreshing and practical for any size congregation as they seek ways to engage the emerging generations.” Keith Howard, Big Beaver United Methodist Church, Troy
“Marcia gives hands on, practical suggestions that empower pastors and worship leaders to help worshippers experience God in meaningful ways. When I utilized ideas from Marcia’s workshop the congregation’s response was very positive.” Kenneth Christler, Executive Director, United Methodist Union
Marcia’s workshop is open to all who are interested. It is a great opportunity for anyone involved in designing worship, musicians, pastors, worship teams members. The topic for the day will be: “Creative Ways to Design Worship Together.” Morning refreshments and lunch will be provided.
The second Forum for Preachers will host the renowned author and church growth consultant Dr. Tom Bandy, Friday, November 21, 2008 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Berkley, Michigan.
Tom is president of Easum, Bandy and Associates Executive Director of Net Results Magazine. Denominational leaders consider Tom one of the leading thinkers and writers in the area of current cultural trends, church growth and transformation. He specializes in coaching congregations with less than 800 in worship to overcome obstacles to change, motivation and skill development fro servant empowered leadership. His passion is helping church leaders make disciples and grow disciple-making congregations with integrity and courage.
Don’t miss this exciting opportunity. We are excited and please to be able to provide this opportunity for our pastors and congregational leaders. Morning refreshments and lunch will be provided.
Vote On Creating the Great Lakes Conference
Members of the Detroit and West Michigan Annual Conferences gathered in Lansing on Saturday, April 5, 2008 to cast their ballots to create a new annual conference. The creation of the new Great Lakes Annual Conference was turned down by just a few votes. While many feel this issue is over, it isn’t! Our circumstances have not changed. Our conferences and congregations continue to decline in membership. We lack the ability and motivation to make new disciples for Jesus Christ. We must find new ways to engage our culture with the good news of Jesus Christ. It is possible, but it requires thinking and doing ministry in new and courageous ways. I have posted this letter written by Rev. Duane Miller, District Superintendent of the Detroit East District to help us reflect:
It has been a difficult week following our gathering in Lansing on April 5 with our brothers and sisters of the West Michigan Conference. We came together to vote on the plan to join together to become the Great Lakes Annual Conference. Since it was turned down my heart has been heavy — and yet my spirit full of hope.
My heart has been heavy because I feel like we have all lost something special. We all had so much to gain by coming together. There was creativity, understandings of ministry, points of view, financial savvy, and focus that each conference brought to the mix that all of us would have benefited from. Making us stronger and sharpening our combined understanding of what it is to be servants of Christ. I have appreciated so much learning from my brothers and sisters in West Michigan through the discussions and planning that has taken place in the last couple of years. I hope that dialogue will continue. We have a lot to offer each other.
My heart is heavy because I saw new possibility and vision in the structural plan to make the district the center of education and assistance to the local church. The district, along with the district superintendent, is closer to the individual churches and has the potential to focus on the needs specific to churches in the district.
My heart is heavy for all those who have labored so faithfully, at our instructions, to develop a NEW plan for a NEW way of doing ministry where the local church was really the focus, and giving primary attention to the making of disciples for the transformation of the world as our basic purpose. Those persons who gave so much of themselves. Listening to each other, listening to groups of both conferences, discussing, debating, praying, listening to God, holding feedback sessions and getting information out to us all are probably wondering, Why? Why? Did they waste all that time, energy and work? I would hope that as time goes on they and we will all realize that it was worth it. We have all learned so much from each other just by being together and making the effort to understand each other’s point of view.
My heart is heavy for my many dear friends and those I was getting to know from West Michigan who came down on both sides of the vote. Those who feel that they lost so much and those who felt they won. My heart is heavy for the sense of distrust that some had for leaders on both sides who had worked so hard. The reality is that everyone ultimately lost something in the results.
My spirit is full of hope because we made the effort to meet together, discuss the work of the church as faithful disciples, to worship and pray together, and to plan together. We HAVE learned much. We HAVE been changed. We have GROWN in our understanding of the call and claim of Christ on us.
My spirit is full of hope because even though forming a new conference has been voted down, our commitment and focus on making disciples for the transformation of the world has been strengthened because we spent so much time discussing it. We will now put new energy into disciple making and open ourselves in new ways to the reason the church was called into being. Even on the district level I believe it will make a difference in how we think about ourselves and our churches. We will bet on to our basic call, with expectations that churches will focus on making disciples for the transformation of the world. That clearly has become our agenda!
What will happen in the future is now the question on so many people’s minds. I don’t think anyone knows. What we do know is that the future has always been in God’s hands. We will move into the future seeking to trust where God is leading us and praying that we will be ready to respond. I ask you to make it a habit to pray each day for the United Methodist Church in the WHOLE state of Michigan. Let us continue to think about all of us and not just OUR side of the state.
Your Brother in Christ, Duane
A Report on the Street Threads Outreach Ministry
Rev. Jeff Nelson, Associate Pastor of First United Methodist Church of Birmingham, Michigan and a United Methodist Union Trustee, has started a unique and creative outreach ministry to the Cass Corridor called “Street Threads.” Your Executive Director was intrigued by this creative probe by a suburban congregation into the city, so he asked if he could go along.
We gathered at the Birmingham Church about 4:00 p.m. and volunteers were finishing up preparing the food that we would share with the friends the congregation had made on this particular street corner. That evening we took Bratwurst and all the fixings’, fruit, cookies and hot and cold beverages. We arrived at our predetermined location and the five of us quickly set up a small table to serve the food from and open the back of the van to dispense the beverages. People seemed to be waiting for our arrival and quickly formed a line. I was impressed by the openness and trust that had been established by this weekly venture into the city. Volunteers were able to call residents by name. Residents sought out certain volunteers and asked if we had brought items they had requested. I was asked to go into one of “tenement-looking” apartment buildings to offer a prayer for a resident facing surgery the next day. I was escorted in and out by my host to insure my safety in the hallway. I wasn’t as good as “Father Jeff,” but I would do.
Within an hour we had served all the food we had brought to approximately 40 guests, passed out the clothing we had and engaged in several significant conversations. We arrived back at the church by 6:30 p.m. It only took a couple hours out of my day, but it was a powerful experience. It provided volunteers the opportunity to share their faith by providing a much needed ministry, to interact with the people they came to serve and share the good news of Jesus Christ by their presence.
I was impressed by its efficiency and impact. I recommend these creative ventures to all who are interested in making a difference. Contact Rev. Jeff Nelson at 248.646.1200 for more information.
Congregations that give themselves away in mission, not only survive, but thrive.