first word july2021
TRANSCRIPT
Summer Concert Series at FUMC KalamazooFirst United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo is hosting a free summer concert series. Thecommunity is welcome to attend these events in the church sanctuary on July 25, August 1and August 8, all at 4pm.
CONCERT INFORMATION:Sunday, July 25 at 4pmOrganist Bernie Foulk with Jacqueline Stilger featuring the Letourneau organ of First UnitedMethodist Church
The concert will feature the three manuel, 54 rank Letourneau pipe organ, Opus 52,installed in the church in 2000. The music will span the centuries with pieces from therenaissance period through contemporary.
Sunday, August 1 at 4pmThe Great American Songbook and All That Jazz with Terry Lower (piano) and Dr. Barry Ross(violin)
Pianist Terry Lower has been a fixture on the Michigan jazz scene for over 30 years. He isboth a dazzling soloist and a superior accompanist. Find more information athttps://terrylowermusic.com/.
Dr. Barry Ross is the Concertmaster Emeritus of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra,Founder of the Kalamazoo Philharmonia and a Professor of Music Emeritus at KalamazooCollege. In his over four decades of residing in Michigan, Dr. Ross has appeared asconductor, concertmaster and a concert violinist throughout the country and maintains anactive performance schedule.
Sunday, August 8 at 4pmHazeltree: Traditional acoustic songs and tunes from Ireland, Scotland, England and America
Hazeltree is ensemble of close harmonies, guitar, mountain dulcimer, mandolin, flute, anddrum. In Irish tree lore, the hazel embodies creativity, wisdom and transformation… Find more information at https://www.facebook.com/hazeltreemusic.
Attendees are asked to enter the church through our parking lot entrance, located onAcademy St. Please sign in as you enter the church and we ask all attendees to remainmasked to ensure hospitality and protection for all vulnerable populations. Freewillofferings will be gratefully accepted, but admission for all summer concert series events isfree.
IN PERSON AT FUMC KALAMAZOOSundays at 10am in the Sanctuary
We ask that those who join us wear amask and sign in at the doors off theparking lot. Please keep space from oneanother and, as you exit, use the ParkStreet doors and visit in the yard orparking lot. Ms. Julia, Grandma Joyce orother approved adults will be on theplayground for families who would liketo bring their children for the fellowshipof play. Children are welcome in thesanctuary as well.
LIVESTREAM ONLINE WORSHIPJoin the livestream on Sundays at 10am
You can access our online livestreamworship at https://www.umc-kzo.org/live/ or on YouTube athttps://www.youtube.com/c/KalamazooFirstUnitedMethodistChurch/. Watchingon YouTube allows you to makecomments and connect to others whoare worshipping online.
ON DEMAND ONLINE WORSHIPAccess past services 24/7 online
For your convenience, past services areavailable on our website or onYouTube.
SUNDAY SATELLITE SERVICES-Heritage Community: 3pm in the Bistro-The Fountains at Bronson Place: 4pm inthe auditorium-Friendship Village: 6:30pm in the KIVA
We are happy to celebrate with oneanother again and invite retirementcommunity residents to join us forworship. Residents of Friendship Villageand the Fountains should sign up withtheir respective activity coordinator.
THE FIRST WORDJ U L Y 2 0 2 1 / / V O L . 3 5 , N O . 7
212 S. PARK STREET, KALAMAZOO, MI 49007 // (269) 381-6340 // WWW.UMC-KZO.ORG
Join Us for Worship Wherever You Are
A box of 24 Crayola crayonsA glue stickAn eraser#2 pencils
The children of Spring Valley are anticipating their return to school in late August after allof these months away from their friends and teachers! Let's help to welcome them back byshowering them with school supplies!
It is anticipated that Spring Valley will have 375 students and it is our hope to supply eachchild with the following supplies:
Please donate any of these items in any quantity by placing them in the Mission of theMonth box in the church entryway. To make a monetary donation, please donate online orwrite Spring Valley Elementary in your check memo line. All school supplies will bedelivered to Spring Valley by mid-August.
Since 1634, the most famous Passion Playin the World has been presented every 10years in Oberammergau, Germany. Theworldwide virus pandemic of 2020 forcedthe Play organizers to move theproduction to 2022–only the 4th time inalmost 400 years that the Play has beencanceled or postponed.
Educational Opportunities Tours invitesyou to join an estimated 450,000 visitorsfrom around the world, in the small villageof Oberammergau for this special Playseason. Travelers will experience theworld’s largest dramatic and musicalPassion Play in the beautiful Bavaria andTyrol regions of Germany and Austria.
For those who thought they missed thePassion Play in 2020, this is a rare secondchance to see the event of a lifetime. ManyEO travelers moved their 2020 plans to2022, but tickets and hotel space havebeen reserved for additional travelers tojoin in 2022.
Travelers will enjoy ten days in Germany,Austria and Prague. They'll exploreInnsbruck, Prague, Dresden, Leipzig, andBerlin. Tickets to the OberammergauPassion Play are included with time toexplore the sites in southern Germany,such as Ettal. Price starts at $4,698 perperson and trip departs out of New York.
This trip will be hosted by Rev. Keith &Colleen Treman and take place fromSeptember 21-30, 2022. To access the tourbrochure, click here and you can also visithttp://www.eo.travel/ or call (800) 247-0017 x590 for more information.
Fred and Lana Allen
Dana Anderson
Arnold Family
Nina Baker
Doris Ball
Wanda Boekhout
Harriet & Don Chalker
Andreea Frew
Ruth Evelyn Graham
Nell Holland
Hurley Family
John & Carol Holms
Deanna & Sara House
Lenora Holliday
David Houseman
Doris Lee
Ellen McDonald
Bob McClelland
Myrta Messikommer
Jeanne Plott
Gerry Schaberg
Jan Search
Chris Uggen & Family
Janet Wydendorf
If you would like to share a prayerrequest with our clergy and prayerministry team, please visitbit.ly/FUMCPrayers. If you do not haveinternet access, please call the churchat (269) 381-6340 and leave amessage. Prayer requestsneed to be received each THURSDAYby noon for inclusion in our weekly listfor the prayer ministry team.
Oberammergau Passion PlayEuropean Capitals Tour:September 21-30, 2022 with Rev. Keith & Colleen Treman
Marguerite Baechtold, who died on
June 29.
Jo Anne Nelson, who died on June 7.
Beverly Siemers, who died on July 14.
Our Sympathy and Prayers to the Family and Friends of:
Please keep these friends in your prayers:
Prayer requests:
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You are invited to join us for Wednesdayevening prayer services on our picnic tableyard each week (weather permitting) at7pm. We ask that you please bring yourown lawn chair or blanket. These times ofworship will give us the opportunity to raiseour joys and concerns, participate in asimple liturgy and sing together! Masks areoptional for this outdoor service.
This will be a short prayer service of 30-45minutes. We will not be using the churchbuilding, only the lawn. This will mean thatbathrooms will not be available (unless it’san emergency). If services need to becancelled due to inclement weather, we willupdate through email and social media. Wehope you will join us for this simple time ofworship that allows us to experience,celebrate and share God’s love.
July Mission of the Month: Spring Valley Elementary
Wednesday EveningOutdoor Prayer Service
Jacqueline Stilger, Director of Music, [email protected] native of Southern Indiana, Jacqueline has been involved in church music since highschool. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in organ performance from the University ofLouisville, where she studied with Melvin Dickenson, and a double Master’s of Musicdegree in Organ and Church Music from Indiana University, studying with Dr. MarilynKeiser. She has served congregations in Kentucky, Indiana, New York and Michigan. Shehas been the Minister of Music at First United Methodist Church since the summer of 2009and deeply enjoys the variety of ways that faith is expressed through music here at First. Inher free time, she enjoys gardening, playing ukulele, finding creative outlets through fabricand fiber arts and spending time with family and friends.
Kathryn Sappington, Global Mission Fellow, [email protected] Sappington moved to the Kalamazoo area in 2019 as a Global Mission Fellow. Shecomes to Kalamazoo from Mississippi. She is a graduate of Delta State University with adegree in Child Development. During her time at DSU, Kathryn fell in love with ministrywork through the Wesley Foundation, youth groups, and summer camps where sheworked. She became a Global Mission Fellow with the hopes of finding out more aboutwhat ministry work looks like.
During her time in Kalamazoo, Kathryn has enjoyed getting to know the members of FUMC,diving into her work as a Global Mission Fellow, finding sunny spots on the beaches of LakeMichigan, and exploring the different neighborhoods of Kalamazoo. She has loved gettingto know the rich history of Kalamazoo. Some of her most favorite finds in Kalamazoo havebeen the Saturday morning farmer’s market (specifically First Fruits farm), Rose Gold CoffeeCo., Confections with Convictions, Lillian Anderson Arboretum, sunsets in South Haven, theStamped Robin, and biscuits and gravy at Crow’s Nest. Her two-year commitment will be upin August. She will then move to Louisville, Kentucky, to pursue a Master of Arts Degree inMarriage and Family Therapy at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. She will be inthis program for the next three years. She hopes to find meaningful work at theintersections of young, LGBTQIA+ individuals, their families, and the church. Until then, shewill be spending her time soaking up the Michigan summer while working with Helping OurNeighbors, Youth Tribe, young adults, and other church teams and ministries. Kathrynlooks forward to staying in touch with the community at FUMC. Please feel free to reachout to her at [email protected] to get her contact information moving forward.
Finance CommitteeBy Sandy GowerFinance Committee Chair
In May our General Fund Income was$155,013 with expenses of $741,850leaving us with a fund balance of$83,163. This month we received ourannual contribution from theTrustees as well as some generouscontributions from the congregation.Overall, our income and expenses arein line with what we anticipated in thebudget. We are truly a blessedcongregation.
I wish you all peace, health and love
FUMC Special OfferingsHuman Relations Sunday $285.00UMCOR Sunday $1155.00Easter Offering $8669.25Native American Sunday $355.55Peace with Justice Sunday $250.00Justice Team Michigan United/ISAAC $0.00ASP Sunday Youth Missions $0.00World Communion Sunday $100.00Christmas Offering $900.00UMW Sunday $0.00UM Student Day $500.00YANA $0.00
For the time being, we are asking thatyou make an appointment if you needaccess to the church building. We arecurrently limiting the number of peoplewho come into the building to ensurethat all who enter are staying safe. Wethank you for your help in making thechurch building as safe as possible forall who enter. Please call the church at(269) 381-6340, Monday throughThursday from 9:30am to 3:30pm, toschedule an appointment. (Outside ofthose hours, you are welcome to leave amessage and someone will get back toyou as soon as they're able.)
First United Methodist Church Staff Spotlight
Special Offeringsas of June 2021
Access to the Church Building
Michigan Conference Special OfferingChristian Education Sunday $50.00
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Throughout this eventful past year and beyond, our staff has risen to the challengesthrown their way and we are grateful to have a strong team to support our mission andcongregation. On behalf of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC), we encourage youto share your support of our FUMC staff. Cards and emails are welcome!
Kathryn Sappington Jacqueline Stilger
Growing Hope Globally: Summer CelebrationWe at First United Methodist Church have supported Growing Hope Globally (formerlyFoods Resource Bank) for many years through the Christmas Offering. The SummerCelebration will be virtual again this year on Thursday, July 22 from 6 to 8 pm EDT.
To register go to: www.growinghopeglobally.org/event/2021-summer-celebration-online
Our contribution currently supports the Nicaragua Rio Coco Program, where a communityleader attends a training center to learn about and experiment with different techniques forgrowing crops and raising animals. This leader, Miriam, shares the information with hercommunity so that families have food security, can afford to send their children to school and not make the difficult decision to migrate.
Everyone is encouraged to join the 2021 Summer Celebration!
Dan Duncan sent a letter to thecongregation saying:
“We, your pastoral servant leaders, withhearts full of love for those we serve, arewriting to you about our mutual andprayerful decision to offer our pastoralministry to all couples in our congregationwho earnestly and prayerfully seek to bemarried. For us, marriage equality is morethan a political issue or a judicial decision,it is a matter of heeding our call to bepastors and offer without prejudice ourpastoral care and support for those whorequest it.”
Beginning in 2017, the ReconcilingMinistry Team began to expand its workto include anti-bias and anti-racismdiscussions. Throughout the yearsfollowing, over fifty congregants haveattended anti-racism training, othershave participated in various bookstudies, Academy Classes, and videopresentations which led to theaffirmation and blessing by ChurchCouncil of the following:
As part of Kalamazoo First UnitedMethodist Church’s vow to resist oppressionin all its forms, we, the Church Council,commit ourselves to the decisive action thatis needed to resist and dismantle racism atevery level. This action must go beyond ourhistorically empty rhetoric aboutrepentance and broken promises to be achurch that is a credible and active witnessfor peace, equity and justice in the face ofharm visited upon communities of color. We beckon our clergy and lay leadership tounapologetically shine the light of truth onour church community so that we recognizeour complicity in systemic racism, recognizeand condemn white supremacy as sin, andseek a deep knowing of what God calls usto do. We make these vows so that everyperson—especially Black, Indigenous, andPeople of Color (BIPOC)—may live in safety,health, and freedom.
The Reconciling Team continues to be inministry with the congregation to liveinto our baptismal vows “Do you acceptthe freedom and power God gives youto resist evil, injustice, and oppression inwhatever forms they present themselves?”And we answer, “we will."
There is a banner hanging in the hall on theway to the sanctuary, just next to the Perksarea. Maybe you've seen it, but haveforgotten about it since we haven’t been inthe building for a while. Maybe you haven’tseen it because you attend church online orat a satellite service. The image above showsthe banner which alerts all who pass that weare a reconciling congregation. So what doesbeing a reconciling congregation mean?
In October 2005 the Church Council adopteda Strategic Plan with several goals, including Invite, welcome and accept all persons withopen hearts, open minds and open doors withChrist-Like Hospitality. A part of implementingthis goal was to “Explore whether our churchshould join the UMC Reconciling MinistriesNetwork.”
In August 2006, a Reconciling MinistriesStudy Group was formed consisting ofupwards of twenty First Church membersand staff to carry out this assignment. ThisStudy Group met over the next two plusyears which ultimately led to a SpecialChurch Conference, in 2008, chaired byKalamazoo District Superintendent NeilDavis to receive and act on the Report andRecommendations of the Study Group. FirstChurch members present overwhelminglyapproved the adoption of the followingstatement and to join the reconcilingministry network.
“First United Methodist Church of Kalamazooinvites all persons to join us in our journey offaith. Jesus Christ calls us to be an inclusivechurch that exemplifies the kingdom of God.We strive to move toward reconcilingrelationship with all, affirming those who aremarginalized for any reason, including sexualorientation or gender identity. We welcome allwith open hearts, open minds and open doors.”
Since that time, First Church has participatedin Pride Events (even virtually during Covid),offered Bible studies, Academy Classes, andbook studies, and received the annual FaithAward from the Kalamazoo Gay and LesbianResource Center for being a ReconcilingCongregation. In April 2014, First Churchsponsored a two-day opportunity called“Biblical Obedience: Reconciling Ministries andMarriage Equality” led by Bishop Melvin G.Talbert. Upwards of 100 people from acrossMichigan attended a Saturday conversationwith Bishop Talbert and others. He wasguest preacher the following day and FirstChurch Clergy Steve Charnley, Julie Kline and
We praise God for the generosity ofour congregation as we complete thesecond year of the Dream campaignfor affordable housing for all! Wethank God that many individuals havebeen housed by Kalamazoo Collectiveand the YWCA with Dream funds. Weare grateful to God that families havebeen able to stay in their homes thanksto critical home repairs made byCommunity Homeworks. We praiseGod that Building Blocks has helped toincrease safety and neighborhoodengagement in parts of our citythrough Dream contributions. Webeseech God to allow the good work ofall of our seven partners to continue inthe year ahead. We ask God tocontinue to open hearts and minds tocontributing of their time and money tothe Dream and we seek God’sguidance in the team’s decisionmaking in the year ahead.
Celebrating Our MinistriesReconciling Ministry Team
Dream Team PrayerCorner
Articles for the next issue are due nolater than August 9, 2021. The nextnewsletter will be mailed the week ofAugust 16. Articles submitted to thenewsletter should be sent to BethanyGauthier at [email protected] may be edited for space andcontent.
By Lisa Batten
The First Word for August
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Small Groups at FUMC KalamazooThere's still time to join a small groupand make some new friends, spendtime with old friends and do prayerwith a renewed spirit. If you’d like toestablish a new small group, contactone of our Pastors, Julie Kline or MattWeiler: [email protected] [email protected]. You can alsofind more information on smallgroups at https://www.umc-kzo.org/about-us/small-groups/.