January 10, 2021
January 6, 2021
Dear Friends in Christ in the Michigan Conference of The United Methodist Church,
Like many of you, I have been watching in shock, disbelief, heartbreak, disappointment, and, yes, anger, the scenes coming from our nation’s capital. I am setting the anger aside. There is already an ample surplus, and it is not needed now. Never in my most disturbing nightmares would I have imagined an unruly mob breaking into the United States Capitol Building, sending legislators and staff into a protective shelter and interrupting the work of the Congress, work integral to the peaceful transfer of power, which is an essential dimension of political democracy.
Like many of you, I have thoughts about who bears a measure of responsibility beyond those trespassing, threatening others, or breaking windows. There will be time for analysis and thoughtful debate about this later.
Right now, what is required is calm and a lowering of emotional temperature. What is needed is prayer. Prayer for those in danger. Prayer for those seeking to restore order to our capital, and prayer for peace, justice, and kindness. What is required of all of us is a deepening of our commitment to the common good.
I know you join me in prayer. God grant us grace in our praying and in our work for the common good. On this Day of Epiphany, may we reflect light and love in all we do.
Grace and Peace,
David Alan Bard
Michigan Area Bishop
Announcements
We have felt it necessary to make the call to keep our buildings closed through the end of December based on the guidance from our Bishop and state leadership. The full Worship Plan Update, including the announcement from the Bishop, is below.
The Ad Board will be meeting on January 11 and will make a complete decision for how we will meet going forward (for the foreseeable future). We will remain on Zoom until that meeting.
The Ad Board will be meeting on January 11 and will make a complete decision for how we will meet going forward (for the foreseeable future). We will remain on Zoom until that meeting.
Upcoming Newsletter!
We will be putting together a Church Newsletter for February/March. We would love your contributions!
Where we mainly need your help is in a new space highlighting positive things happening in our community during this trying year. If you have a story of a positive experience within the last year or a testimony to how you have seen God at work, please email it to the church or Mitzi for it to be included in the Newsletter. You can sign it or it can be anonymous.
We will also be including some annual sections, celebrating births, remembering losses, and least excitingly a financial report.
If you have anything else you would like to contribute to the Newsletter, please submit it!
All submissions are due Jan. 15 so we can get everything together for mailing on time. You can submit by email to Mitzi or the church email or drop off a paper copy on Wednesdays or other times by appointment.
Ashes for Ash Wednesday
Not to rush out the Christmas season, but we are already looking ahead to plan for the next big church season, Lent! Lent begins with Ash Wednesday which is on Feb 17 this year, which will surely be upon us quicker than we think.
Looking ahead, we cannot be sure if we will be virtual or in-person, so we have to be prepared for virtual. That in mind, we would like to know who would like to have ashes at home to use yourself or along with our Ash Wednesday service.
Please contact Mitzi or Pastor Kelsey if you would like to sign-up for one or have any questions or ideas for how we can make Lent meaningful with our current normal.
Keep an eye out for a sign-up that will go out via bulletin and Flocknote as we get closer to Ash Wednesday.
“Souper” Bowl
It’s almost time for the annual SOUPer Bowl Challenge between Hopkins UMC, South Monterey UMC, Burnips UMC and Monterey Center UMC!
Our challenge runs from January 3 through Super Bowl Sunday, February 7.
We’re collecting: soup, crackers, chili ingredients (beans, tomato sauce, canned tomatoes, chili spice packets, etc), macaroni and cheese, pasta sauce, pasta and canned pasta. Bring your items to HUM Hall anytime between now and February 2nd! Get excited for our Souper Bowl!!!
Food Pantry Donation Needs
Thank you so much for your faithful donations!
The needs right now are: Instant Potatoes, Canned Pasta, Canned Fruit, Tuna, Peanut Butter, Jelly, Ketchup, Mustard, and Toothpaste. Drop off Wednesdays from 10am to 1pm and 5pm to 7pm. Bring them to church or contact Mitzi or Pastor Linda about a drop off time.
The needs right now are: Instant Potatoes, Canned Pasta, Canned Fruit, Tuna, Peanut Butter, Jelly, Ketchup, Mustard, and Toothpaste. Drop off Wednesdays from 10am to 1pm and 5pm to 7pm. Bring them to church or contact Mitzi or Pastor Linda about a drop off time.
Upcoming Event Dates
Jan 3-Feb 7 - Souper Bowl Collecting!
Jan 10 - Worship on Zoom at 10am
Jan 11 - Ad Board meeting on Zoom at 6:30pm
Jan 17 - Worship, Location TBD
Jan 24 - Worship, Location TBD
Worship This Sunday
Morning Worship with Hopkins &
South Monterey UMCs on Zoom
Bulletins attached below or mailed to you
This week is Baptism of our Lord Sunday!
Bring with you to your worship space a small bowl of water as we all remember our baptisms alongside Jesus'.
Focus Scripture: Mark 1:4-11
Download the Bulletin for Sunday below:
The bulletin includes song lyrics along with the usual things
Every week's bulletin is uploaded to the church website. If you ever have trouble finding it, they will always be posted there on Wednesdays.
Upcoming Worship Schedule
SUNDAY - Jan 10 - Baptism of our Lord Sunday, Worship on Zoom at 10am
SUNDAY - Jan 17 - Worship, Location TBD (based on decision of Ad Board)
SUNDAY - Jan 24 - Worship, Location TBD (based on decision of Ad Board)
How to Join Zoom
If you've never used Zoom before and want to participate on your desktop or laptop, simply click the join link below, and you will be prompted to download and install a quick software package. The software is safe and helps ensure that your connection is as stable and reliable as possible. You can download and install Zoom at any time before the gathering begins. You should not need to create an account to do so. See the 60-second video above for additional instructions.
Joining Worship on a Smartphone
Download the Zoom mobile apps (iOS, Google Play) and click the join link above after installation has finished. Or, join worship by using the instructions below
Joining Worship from Any Phone
Call (312) 626-6799.
Enter meeting ID 768 555 3158 followed by #
If asked for a participant ID, just enter # again.
If asked for a password, enter 2697937323 followed by #.
In the event that you encounter a busy signal, try these alternative phone numbers:
1-646-558-8656 or 1-301-715-8592.
The Meeting ID, password, and joining process will be exactly the same.
Advent Worship Plan
In the week following our last Ad Board meeting, we received a couple of important pieces of guidance from state leadership. Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health released a new wave of restrictions on public gathering spaces and new recommendations. With that, our Bishop also released a statement giving guidance to the United Methodist churches of Michigan on what we should do about gathering for the Advent and Christmas season. Below is the Bishop's statement:
Highlights:
"Today, I am asking you in the strongest way possible to refrain from in-person indoor worship for the Advent and Christmas seasons."
"Remember, the Christmas story is about a God who arrives in surprising places and in surprising ways. When there is no room in the inn, a manger will have to do. When being together inside is not safe, good news of great joy still arrives."
If you would rather read the Bishop's statement you can read it here. I strongly recommend reading it as the Bishop's words have brought me some needed peace and comfort as we have had to have some tough discussions.
Taking the Bishop and Governor's recommendations seriously, the Ad Boards of Hopkins and South Monterey have come to the tough decision to remain virtual through the end of December. This means that Advent through Christmas will be held on Zoom. This is disappointing for all of us. I know how much we would all love to be back to normal inside worshiping like we are used to. Zoom worship is not the same and does not spark the same joy and comfort, but we are working to bring some joy, cheer, and advent feelings to you at home and during our Zoom services. We will try some new things and find Christ's peace in new and important ways during this year of ongoing upheaval.
As we will remain on Zoom for the next few weeks please let Pastor Kelsey know if you need any help figuring out the technology. We would love to have you with us on Sunday morning whenever you can. It feels more like home the more of us that are together.