From the desk of Pastor Jonathan

A publication of

First United Methodist Church

105 E Main

Ionia, MI 48846

616.527.1860

www.ioniafirst.com

ioniafirst@gmail.com

Pastor Jonathan’s Letter 1,2

S.P.R.C./Out of the Mouths of Babes 2

Coming Events 3

Children/Youth 4

Trustees/Prayers/Thank You 5

United Methodist Women 6

Attendance/Giving/UMW Thank You 7

Birthdays/Anniversaries/Schedules 8

January Calendar 9

Inside this issue:

105 E. Main Street

Ionia, MI 48846

Service

9:30 am

www.ioniafirst.com

“Make My Love More Perfect”

I hate, I despise your festivals,

and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,

I will not accept them;

and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals

I will not look upon.

Take away from me the noise of your songs;

I will not listen to the melody of your harps.

But let justice roll down like waters,

and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (Amos 5:21-24)

Dear friends,

As the tide turns on another year, I wonder what is different in our life together. We

have accomplished much, we have suffered, we have lost loved ones, we have disagreed,

we have worked together, we have fallen in and we have fallen out; we have seen beauty

and gladness; we have seen fear and uncertainty. All of human life is under the microscope

this time of the year, as we evaluate ourselves, our world, and our life together. But the

question remains: are we more in love with God than at this same moment last year? Has

our discipleship deepened? Have we learned to be our best and true selves more diligently

and clearly?

The passage above is Amos as his most testy and abrasive. He’s come up against a

monarchy and religious elite which believes that their religion will save them, even though

they have completely cast aside the commandments to care for the poor, the widow, the or-

phan, the refugee, and those who are in debt. The Prophet wants those whose vocation it is

to shepherd the people to recall that the Law of Moses is not an end in itself, but a road map

to a beloved community where the survival of the weakest becomes the point of our life to-

gether… a community of justice and righteousness.

While I don’t think anyone necessarily needs to hear Amos yelling directly at them

–– although, if that’s what you hear, take note –– I think his conclusion about the difference

between religion and righteousness applies to the life of discipleship quite directly. The

point of our individual discipleship is the formation of this same beloved community in-

tended by the Law of Moses and proclaimed without great fervor and conviction by the later

prophets of Israel. Discipleship is a response to the experience of that community realized

in the life of Jesus. Discipleship is a response to the salvation revealed in his love. Disciple-

ship is not an end in and of itself.

(continued on page 2)

January

2020

Newsletter

At present UMW is in a “lull.” We are in the planning stages for the up-coming “School Kit” project in which we will be collecting items for school kits to be sent to UMCOR and forwarded to wherever the need is greatest. We are also beginning to plan for our special recognitions and for the late summer Trash and Treasure Sale. The pay is to feel the sense the satisfaction experienced when you have reached out and improved someone else’s life, knowing that you perhaps have been that “one little candle.” The bonus is that you have bonded more closely with members of you own church family and enjoyed a priceless fellowship, that you have received and given support to those with which you have worked.

(continued from page 1)

So as we ponder the coming year, and what we should resolve to do, if we want to continue to become

the Body of Christ, we must evaluate how our way of being present in community either builds up or tears

down. This is going to be a very hard year. The derisive nature of our politics is pushing our whole nation to-

ward an ever deepening divide in an ideological and moral civil war. And the abyss which grows between dif-

ferent sides of our grotesque debates can only be bridged by one thing: the decision to obey Christ’s Law of

Love (James 2:8). This law, to love as we have been loved, (John 13:34) is the method given by the Lord to

“work out our salvation” (Philippians 2:12), for no part of our religion will amount to a hill o’ beans if we

have not love. Indeed, “the only thing that counts is faith made effective through love” (Galatians 5:6). Re-

solve, therefore, dear friends, to pray one single prayer every morning, every noon, and every night: Lord, in

your mercy, make my love more perfect. Amen.

Pastor Jonathan

Out of the Mouths of Babes

A four year-old was praying in church…”and forgive us our trashbaskets as we forgive those who put trash in our bas-kets.”

From: Did You Read That? Bulletin Bloopers & Church Funnies

By Derrric Johnson

S.P.R.C.

Happy New Year,

As we begin a new year, it is so important that we thank our loyal employees for all that they do: whether it is typ-

ing the bulletin, rocking a baby in the nursery, teaching our children about God, cleaning the back glass doors,

making sure the service is on the screen, or playing the organ for our worship, all their services are done with love.

Also, we cannot forget the army of volunteers that make our church special.

Thank you for your dedicated service.

Finally, or Pastor gives us his all. Bless you and your family

Jan Powell and the S.P.R.C.

Page 3

january Coming events

Jan. 5 12:30 p.m. On the R.I.S.E. Sloppy Joe Lunch & Family Game Day

Jan. 6 6:45 p.m. Trustees Meeting 7:45 p.m. S.P.R.C. Meeting

Jan. 7 9:30 a.m. Friendship Committee

Jan 20 6:45 p.m. Administrative Board Meeting

Jan. 27 6:45 p.m. United Methodist Women Meeting

7:45 p.m. Mission/Outreach Meeting

Sunday-School

We have been learning all about Mary, Joseph, and the birth of Jesus this month. We have done many activi-

ties such as: angel sun catchers, salt paintings, and made our own nativity.

On The R.I.S.E

The youth has been very busy the last month! The end of November, we participated in The Escape Room in

Portland where you have to try to solve clues and riddles to find your way out. We didn’t escape but we had a

great time and were very close. The next week, we cancelled our family game day due to weather and kids out

of town for the Thanksgiving weekend. The following week, our service project was helping with Toys for

Tots and then last week, we went caroling at SKLD! The kids and residents loved it. This coming weekend,

we are going on a horse drawn wagon ride to finish out the month. Our first family game day and lunch of

2020 will be January 5th at 12:30 PM. We will be having a soup bar and then games after. All proceeds will

go towards our mission trip to Niagara Falls in June of 2020!

:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ioniaontherise/

Family Ministries Coordinator

Jodi Courtland

616-841-0288

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ioniaontherise/

Page 5

Prayers for those in the military:

Adam Cook-Green Beret, Afghanistan

Nick Murray, Retired, Bremerton WA

Andy Hoort-Nurse, Ret. Royal Oak, MI

Ross Marshall, Navy, Submarine, Groton, CT

Daniel Zander-Major U.S. Army retired

Duane Baliff

Austin Campbell - Air Force

Prayers for: Carol Newkirk Brian Lyons Stuart Weisgerber Elizabeth Smith Lewis Slater Steve Lampman Hunter Wagner Julie Peters Al & Marge Irby Lucille Leslie Ryan Bowne Gary Hanson Elisha & Crystal Stock Ben Merchant Barb Helmer Katherine Asher Penny Wineman Jennifer Ferris Maybelle Drake Nicole Rhodes Marian Quinn Winter Mike Nelson Ethel Clark Janet Winter Keith Soloman Lorraine LeMay Joel Kilgore Will Sanborn Barb Ehlert Ned Kuhlman Lisa Dvork Joanie Carle Silas Lewis Jack and Millie Bartholomew

PLEASE PRAY IN THE NAME OF THE LORD

FOR:

(E-mail prayer requests to

sharron67@charter.net)

From the Trustees

The Trustees are working on many little projects from electrical problems to carpentry work. We meet on the first Monday of the odd months (January, March, May, July, September and November) at 6:45 p.m. in the conference room upstairs. Everyone is invited to attend.

Please, as you see things which need to be fixed, let us know.

Don’t forget the Capital Campaign, as we have a heating system and parking lot to pay for.

Let us carry the good feelings and more importantly the true meaning of Christmas through the new year.

I hope this finds everyone well, and having had a safe and wonderful Christmas Holiday. Please say some prayers for those less fortunate.

Joe Brown, Chairman

Thank You To all who helped to make the December 23rd Soup Kitchen a little more special

for our friends who find this a necessary part of their lives.

After a wonderful Ham Dinner (thanks to our great Soup Kitchen staff), these

folks were surprised to receive

gifts that will help make their lives a little easier.

UMW NEWS

CPR……. We all know that those letters stand for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a life-saving tech-nique. If we use those same letters but have them represent a need of our UMW, the “C” could denote caring, capable or compassionate. The “P” could be for protagonistic and the “R”, rejuve-nators. Compassionate protagonistic rejuvenators!!!!!! That is a mouthful, but that is what our United Methodist Women’s Board needs. In other words, we are seeking new blood, new leader-ship, new board members. The UMW board is composed of the following:

A president or chairman who conducts the monthly meetings and confers and supports all the chairmen of the various projects. She sits on the Administrative Board and represents our church at the Church Women United meetings on the first Friday of each month at the Service Center and our district United Methodist Women’s meetings scheduled during the year throughout the district.

A vice-president duties include assisting the president and being prepared to substitute for her if needed.

A secretary keeps the minutes of each board meeting and prepares written reports for each meeting. She also receives and sends correspondence as directed by the board and the president. She submits district reports as requested.

A treasurer keeps all the financial records, deposits monetary receipts and pays the bills and makes our district donations. She reports at each monthly board meeting.

A UMW librarian will organize and supervise our “renewed” library.

A Mission chairman co-ordinates UMW mission endeavors with the church’s and district’s mission pro-grams. That would include our district pledge and our donations to the Samaritan’s Shoe Box, I Am Kid’s, Music-on-the-Green, Vacation Bible School, and other such mission projects.

A Spiritual Growth chairman presents the devotional at each monthly meeting and promotes district re-treats and meetings.

A Special Events chairman organizes the Lenten Breakfast and the Lenten potlucks, and co-ordinates the sub-chairmen for: Harvest Bazaar, Festival of Tables, and the Christmas Basket Mission.

A Recycling chairman supervises the collection of Pop Tabs which go to the district, the donations to R.A.V.E. which includes the lap-robes from the Quilters and the computer cartridges, the cereal boxes which Joan MacDonald takes care of, and any other items we vote to recycle.

A Public Relations chairman promotes the board activities by submitting notices to be published in Shop-per’s Guide and the Sentinel and creates informational articles for the church bulletin and keeps the UMW bulletin board updated. She also secures the greeters each month and writes this

Remember, every woman affiliated with our church we consider a United Methodist Woman because all are involved one way or another with the various activities of the church: the soup kitchen, counting money, quilting, gardening, liturgist, assisting with special events held at the church and the list keeps growing. If you are interested in any one of the above described opportunities listed above, just drop me a note and de-posit it in the UMW mailbox in the downstairs hall or give me a call at 527-2433.

PURPOSE OF UNITED METHODIST WOMEN: THE ORGANIZED UNIT OF UNITED METHODIST

WOMEN SHALL BE A COMMUNTY OF WOMEN WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO KNOW GOD AND EXPE-

RIENCE FREEDOM AS WHOLE PERSONS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST; TO DEVELOP A CREATIVE,

SUPPORTIVE FELLOWSHIP, AND TO EXPAND CONCEPTS OF MISSION PARTICIPATION IN THE

GLOBAL MISSIONS OF THE CHURCH.

Peg Fell

Attendance Giving Needed

Dec. 1 42 Not available at this time $2,989.00

Dec. 8 50 $2,989.00

Dec. 15 60 $2,989.00

Dec 22 56 $2,989.00

Dec 29 42 $2,989.00

Thank You

from the UMW Board

to all who have during 2019 contributed or assisted

in our numerous projects.

The Lenten Breakfast, the Trash and Treasure Sale, the Harvest Ba-

zaar, the Festival of Tables, the Christmas Basket Mission, our contri-

bution to I AM Kids, Samaritan Shoe Box, our district and local recy-

cling efforts, and our ability to pay our District Pledge of $1.000.00

have all been possible and successful because of you. You

have touched many lives in many positive ways.

Thank You! Thank You ! Thank you! Thank You!

JANUARY

BIRTHDAYS

1 Mark Hotchkin

2 Marge Irby

8 Miller Hotchkin

10 Michelle Castle

10 Abby Frost

14 Jack Manciu

23 Lacy Fulcher

24 Forest Schumacher

27 Al Irby

31 Melinda Hall

January Anniversaries

4 Allen & Joan MacDonald

9 Eric & Renee Asher

January

Greeters

January 5 Jason & Danielle Sibley

January 12 Andrew Badder

January 19 Robert & Patricia Zander

January 26 Jackie Christiansen

Note: If you have agreed to serve as a greeter on a

Sunday morning, but find that you cannot do so,

please call Peg (527-2433) or the church office

(527-1860).

January Liturgists January 5 Melissa Wagner January 12 Eric Asher January 19 Kayla Hagen January 26 Jackie Christiansen If you are unable to serve on the day for which you are scheduled, it is up to you to switch with another liturgist.

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1

Happy New Year

2

8:00 am Quilters

3

4

5

Communion

12:30

Lunch/Family

game day

6

6:00 pm Soup

Kitchen

6:45 pm Trustees

7:45 pm SPRC

7

9:30 am Friend-

ship Committee

8

8:30 am Morning

prayer

Noon Freedom

Living

9

8:00 am Quilters

10

11

12

Noisy Offering

1:30 pm Youth

Group

13

6:00 pm Soup

Kitchen

14

15

8:30 am Morning

Prayer

Noon Freedom

Living

16

8:00 am Quilters

17

18

19

Mission Sunday

1:30 pm Youth

Group

20

6:00 pm Soup

Kitchen

6:45 pm Ad Board

21

22

8:30 am Morning

Prayer

Noon Freedom

Living

23

8:00 am Quilters

24

Newsletter Dead-

line

25

26

1:30 pm Youth

Group

27

6:00 pm Soup

Kitchen

6:45 pm UMW

7:45 pm Mission

Outreach

28

29

8:30 am Morning

Prayer

Noon Freedom

Living

30

8:00 am Quilters

31

January 2020

105 E. Main Street

Ionia, MI 48846

Service 9:30am

Check it out!

www.ioniafirst.com

Page 13