theA U G U S T 2 0 1 8

FIRST UMC family

Big Rapids First United Methodist Church

Every Sunday for nearly three years Walter had a routine. Just before 10:00 a.m. he would open the doors to Epworth and prepare the church for worship. If the weather was cold, he would build a fire in the old wood stove. If it was hot, he would open all the windows and distribute the hand fans with a picture of Jesus on one side and an ad for a local funeral home on the other.Next, Walter would open the Bible located on top of the wooden pulpit and read the selected Scripture for that week. Then it would be time for prayer. Often there were folks in the community included on Walter's list. The latest national and world news would be mentioned. But always, Walter ended every prayer with a plea for God to remember and bless his beloved church.Every Sunday, Walter had a routine, but what makes this story so unique is that with very few exceptions, Walter began and ended the Sunday morning worship service ... alone. Alone? Why? Many years ago, Epworth church was built on land donated by a neighboring farmer, but if for any reason they stopped meeting regularly, if Walter stopped opening the church doors every Sunday, the property would revert to the original owners ... Epworth church would cease to exist.So what is the big deal? If Walter is the only one bothering to attend, let him go somewhere else or stay at home. Why not face the inevitable and allow Epworth to quietly disappear? What harm would it do? For Walter, it was a big deal. God had a divine purpose for his life and for the church he loved. But for now, Walter must be patient, be faithful ... and wait. Wait for what? ...One Sunday morning a young family, new to the area, visited Epworth and after meeting Walter joined him in worship. They found something unique about this little church nestled among the trees and the old man who faithfully opened her doors. On the following Sunday they came back and within a few weeks the children were bringing friends. At year's end a minister was hired.Today, Epworth is a small family church situated between several farms and hidden among the trees. Every summer they offer vacation Bible school for the neighborhood and each Christmas is celebrated with a pageant performed by the children. Many of the original family have died and some of the children have moved away, but the miracle of Epworth has never been forgotten.On the first Sunday of August, people come from across the United States to visit the church of their youth and relive the miracle of the old man who refused to let his beloved church die. The worship service is followed by a picnic on the church grounds. While the children are playing and the adults are eating, you may notice a family wandering over to the nearby cemetery. If you listen carefully, you'll hear a parent telling her child, "Let me tell you a story about Walter...."!--Larry Davies, "Turning Points: A Church, the Messiah ... Wait! Why?" December 15 & December 22, 1999,Sowseeds@hovac.com !

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A lovely villa rests on the shores of beautiful Lake Como in the Italian Alps. Some tourists complimented the trusted old gardener who had maintained the grounds for years. 'The owner must come here frequently,' one said.!

'No,' he replied. 'He has been here only once in 15 years, and then I did not see him.'!'But how do you get your orders?'!'From the owner's agent, who lives in Milan.'!'Then he must come here often?'!'No, not often. Perhaps once a year or so.'!The tourist was amazed. 'You have no one to supervise your work, and the grounds are as neat as if you expected the owner to come back tomorrow!' !The old gardener firmly replied, 'Today, sir! Not tomorrow, but today.'!That gardener was faithful to his trust."Are you and I going to be just as faithful--to God, to each other, to our church? !

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and seek to be a faithful disciple that responsibility also includes being faithful to Christ’s Church. Ephesians 4:15 says, “We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” !It does take each person participating in the ministries of the church, doing their part for Christ, for the church to be healthy and growing. There are ministries within the church that need your help. The Leadership and Nominations Committee is beginning their work of seeking persons to serve on specific committees that manage and oversee the administration and program ministries of the church. They have prayerfully considered whom to call. Perhaps it will be you. I pray that you will step out in faith and serve. If you are interested in serving the Church in a certain way, please contact me.!We want First United Methodist Church to continue to be a vital beacon for Christ in our community and the world for generations to come, but it takes each one of us to make that happen.

Know this ‘Christ is Counting on YOU!’ !God Bless You,Pastor Becky

Our mission is to reach out to and bless every child of God.

GALLOPIN’ GRANNIES

AUGUST 1 PIZZA HUT

AUGUST 8 PIZZA HUT

AUGUST 15 RUBY TUESDAY

AUGUST 22 RUBY TUESDAY

AUGUST 29 SPORTING NEW GRILL

Prayers!• Aging: Those suffering from dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other conditions associated with aging, and for

those who care for them.!• Students, Teachers, & Administrators: Support for all in education.!• In Nursing/Adult Care Homes: Carroll Larrison, Dottie McMaster, Malcolm Lund, Roger Baker!• Mission: Mecosta County Jail Ministry, McCurdy School, Valerie Mossman-Celestin (HAPI)!• Military: Msgt. Jamie Sobers (Home); Captain Phillip Sobers (Home); Sgt. Kyle Maneke (Fort

Campbell, Kentucky); Forrest Dorman (Beale AFB, California); River Dorman (Cannon AFB, NM), 2nd Lieutenant Matthew Ferguson (USMC, Jacksonville, NC); PFC Paul Nelson (Camp Pendleton, CA); Stephen Szpiech (Scott AFB, IL)

Staff!

Rev. Becky Morrison — Pastor Barbara Erb — Office Manager Jen Morrison — Director of Christian Ed. Kaye Patton — Director of Music Shirley Jernstadt — Organist Kathy Bell — Accompanist Ruth Reeds — Accompanist Diane Parrish — Nursery Supervisor Nancy Parsons — Treasurer Gary Erb — Custodian

Email for Church Office/Barbara Erb: bigrapidsfirstumc@gmail.com!Email for Pastor Becky: pastorbigrapidsfumc@gmail.com!Church Website: www.bigrapidsfumc.com!Church Address: !304 Elm Street Big Rapids, MI 49307!Phone Number: 231-796-7771!Fax Number: 231-796-0757!

Worship In

AUGUST 5 AUGUST 12 AUGUST 19 AUGUST 26

Liturgist: Marlene Rodgers

Liturgist: Barbara Ross

Liturgist: Amanda Hahn !

Liturgist: Sue Kwant

Ushers: Ann Spagnuolo Joann Haist Ron Bongard Pat Williamson Daniels Family

Ushers: Colin & Roberta Cline Jim & Candy Huff Allan & Sharon Parker

Ushers: Doug & Jackie Fitzgerald Pete Jensen Herm McConnell Pisani Family

Ushers: Bob Cervantes Michael Gibson Carter Councilor Gary Lenon John & Sally Nelson

Greeters: Pete Jensen Denise Jefts Claude & Jane Pepper

Greeters: Mike & Dawn Wyman Joann Haist Gary Fitch

Greeters: Barbara Ross Mike & Chris Mekaru Bev Wesche

Greeters: Chris & Christine Berke Ed & Linda Owczarek

Acolytes: Katilyn Case

Acolytes: Liberty Beam

Acolytes: Chloe Councilor

Acolytes: Emma Kwant

Soundboard Tech: Ed Bobrowski

Soundboard Tech: Thomas Wheeler

Soundboard Tech: Ed Bobrowski

Soundboard Tech: Ken Draves

Nursery: Maureen Kubitskey

Nursery: Kati Wheeler

Nursery: Gayle Rhodes

Nursery: Jana Pisani

Children’s Worship: Cara Sweppenheiser Gayle Rhodes

Children’s Worship: Larisa Draves

Children’s Worship: Jen Morrison

Children’s Worship: Pam Fleming Bonnie Dorman

Communion Helpers: Brenda Miller Mary Nicholson

Upcoming Church, District and Conference Events

Dates AugustEventsSunday,August12 PastorKayePattonpreachingforPastorBecky

MissionMoment/HungerPotforCommunityMeals

Monday,August20 RedCrossBloodDrive,12:00-5:45pm

Tuesday,August21-Friday,August24 Officeopenfrom9:00am-1:00pm

Monday,September3 LastdaytodonatebottlesandcansfortheIGNITE!YouthGroup

Sunday,September9 AdultSundaySchoolClassbegins,9:00am

!!!

Anna Rose Hedlund was born on 5-29-18 in Mobile, AL to Ryan and Kathryn Drake Hedlund. She weighed in at 7 lbs 8oz and was gleefully welcomed by her big brother Theo. She was also welcomed by her happy grandparents, Chuck and Donna Drake of Big Rapids and Mollie and the late Colin Hedlund of New Orleans, LA, along with many cousins, aunts, and uncles. Grandma D plans to move to Mobile for Anna’s first year to enjoy lots of baby snuggles! She will miss her BRFUMC family!

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Are empty BOTTLES and CANS filling your garage? Returning them too much of a sticky mess?

IGNITE! Youth has the answer to this predicament! DONATE YOUR EMPTIES (or return slips)TO the IGNITE! Youth Group

When: Now thru Labor Day Where: Receptacles in Fellowship Hall

Less mess and aggravation for you and more Activities for Youth!!!

********************************************************************************************!!Rolling River Rampage VBS was a blessing to each child and leader! Thank you to ALL of the congregation for making this a successful week

ministering to family, friends both new and old. So much happened! Look for pictures on the board outside the Nursery for an inside look!

We encountered Adventure on the River! We found Acceptance on the River! We discovered Joy on the River! We experienced Rest on the River!

We had Peace on the River! Praising God for the love we have through Jesus! !

********************************************************************************************!!Fall is exciting time as we all are given opportunities to start new journeys as the

seasons change. Classes will be starting up again soon. !***Phil Keating will be leading the Adult Sunday School Class!

beginning on Sunday, September 9 at 9:00 on “Short Stories by Jesus”. !Cost of book $10.00. See Jen for your book.!***Youth Group will resume in September. !

Watch for more info.!***First Kids will be back in action on Wednesday’s in September. More info soon! !!!!!

********************************************************************************************! We are looking for one more leader for an adult opportunity. ! Please see Jen if you are interested in facilitating a group.

Christian Education and Family News

Mission CommitteeThefollowingdatesin2018arescheduledforMissionMoment/HungerPotsandSpecialOfferingSunday’s:!Sunday,August12-MissionMoment/HungerPot-CommunityMealSunday,September9-MissionMoment/HungerPot-WesleyHouseFoodBankSunday,October7-SpecialOfferingSunday-WorldCommunionSunday,October14-MissionMoment/HungerPot-CROPWalkThursday,November1-StarburstFoodTableavailableinSanctuaryforfooddonationsSunday,November11-MissionMoment/HungerPot-StarburstSunday,November25-SpecialOfferingSunday-UMStudentDay

Coffee/Fellowship Committee

Coffee/FellowshipHourwillresumeonSunday,September9inFellowshipHall.SeveralpeoplehaveexpressedhowmuchtheymisstheCoffee/Fellowshiptime.WearestillinneedofhelperstohostaSundayortobeasub.Itdoesnottakelongtosetupforthecoffeehour.

Wewouldbegladtoshowyouwhatneedstobedone.Thecoffee,drinks,napkinsandcupsareallprovided.Youjustbringsnackstoshare.Somesuggestionsonwhatkindofsnackstobringarecookies(theydonothavetobehomebaked),coffeecake,slicedbreads,donutholesorbrownies.Maybeyouhavesomethingspecialyouwouldliketoshare.

Wehopethatyouwillvolunteerforthisfunandimportantministry.Callifyouhaveanyquestions.WelookforwardtohavingyouonourCoffee/FellowshipHourteam.!Ed&LindaOwczarek(231)796-3212

Staff Parish Relations Committee

NancyParsonswillbesteppingdownasourTreasurerattheendofthisyear.WearelookingtofilltheTreasurerposition.Ifyouareinterested,submityourresumetoStaffParishRelations.TheTreasurer’sjobdescriptionispostedonthechurch’swebsite-underthenewslettertab.Ifyouhaveanyquestions,seeMikeWyman,ChairpersonoftheSPRC.