MIRACLES IN OUR MIDST

Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us; glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus for all generations, forever and ever. Amen -Ephesians 3:20

On June 8, 2014, we celebrated Miracle Sunday with a miracle of faithfulness and generosity. On that day, we received an offering of $328,500. to God through the church for the replacement of our roof and other improvements for our building. It was a powerful picture of God’s people working together when folks rose up out of their chairs and brought forward their offerings to God. It was a delightful picture of the joy of the Lord when children held high the signs that announced the offering total at the end of the second service.

The miracles continue. In the week following, we rejoiced at the renewed energy and the sense of momentum about our life together which Miracle Sunday helped us experience. We have focused on prayer as well as given offerings, we have shared stories of miracles in our lives, and honored God’s work in the world each day. More offerings have come in. To date, the Miracle Sunday fund is at $349,801.16.

Thank you for your faithfulness, generosi-ty, and prayers. Thank you to the Miracle Sunday Team who worked so hard with such hope and faith. Thank you, God, for doing far beyond what we could ask or imagine by your power at work within us!

Rejoicing with you, and giving God glory, Pastor Lynn

VITAL CHURCH INITIATIVE

VCI is a step by step plan for church revi-talization offered to local congregations by the Annual Conference. A team of laity and I have completed Phase I of the plan. We spent 9 months reading, at-tending trainings, and learning about the new opportunities and challenges of be-coming a growing, vital congregation. The VCI Team recommended that we move to the next step of the plan—Phase II. The Conference leadership has invited our congregation to make that next step. The Church Council will vote on whether to move to Phase II this summer.

Phase II of VCI centers around a week-end Consultation at our church. In the months before the Consultation data about the church, the community and the ministry using demographics and various tools to survey the congregation. Mystery visitors come to worship and write feed-back forms about their experience. All this information is received by the Con-sultation Team who are trained laity and clergy. On the weekend itself, they come to the church to listen, to teach, and set out information and recommend goals for the church, called Prescriptions. They will report to us 5 Strengths, 5 Weaknesses, and 5 Prescriptions. After a series of town meetings to discuss the report, a Church Conference is held to vote on whether or not to accept the 5 Prescrip-tions for our church. If they are accepted, the work begins using action steps which are outlined in the report to learn and grow toward revitalization.

Later this summer, the VCI Team will offer some information steps regarding Phase II. Also, our Adult Education Director, Heidi DeMoss is offering classes on Sundays between worship services which share some of the information the VCI Team learned this year.

Just as we prayed for the Miracle Sunday, let us pray that God will lead us as we consider moving ahead with the Vital Church Initiative. –Pastor Lynn

Church Events, Birth-

days, Caring Ministry,

Church Picnic info

2 & 3

Nurture Ministry,

Finance

4 & 5

UMW, JFON, pictorial

directory, Outreach,

Youth Ministry,

Calendar

6 & 7

Inside this issue:

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July 2014

Adults are invited to come to the air conditioned lounge on Sunday afternoon July 13 at 4:00. We will be watching “The Monuments Men” and afterwards will share in a

potluck while we discuss the film. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share, and your own beverage, the main dish will be provided. The movie is 2 hours long and is rated PG-13. There will not be childcare provided. Questions? See Marj or Tim Haney.

VBS needs: The Craft center can use any tin cans that you would save for them. Any size except #10 cans will be used, including tuna cans. They can also use any Legos or other brand of building blocks you would like to give but you won’t get them back. The Science center could use shop goggles for the kids to use during that center. Label them with your name and you will get them back.

Another parent meeting will be held on Monday evening, July 21 in the lounge at 7:00. Please come especially if you were unable to come in June.

The deadline for article submissions for the August Focus is July 16. Please email articles to mhaney@fumcholland.org by that date or earlier. If a hard copy must be used, please bring to main office by that date also. If you would prefer not receiving the Focus in the mail, please let Marj Haney know at mhaney@fumcholland.org

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Happening this Month

F OCUS

Come join the Lunch Bunch on Sundays following the 10:45 a.m. service. We will gather at the Good Shepherd window to get a head count and head out to a local

restaurant. All ages are welcome to join including singles, couples, and families. Check the bulletin for the days’ location or contact David Newton.

Epsilon will meet Wednesday, July 16th at 11:30 AM at Beechwood Inn. Please call Dave or Dorothea at 392-3493 by the 14th for reservations.

will meet Thursday, July 10 at 1:00 at the church to travel on the bus to the Star of Sau-gatuck Boat Cruise. Reservations are needed and the cost is $15.00. Call Sharon Rocker at 392-1966 for reservations and information.

The Family Fellowship event for July will be attending the All Church picnic at Lawrence Street Park in Zeeland on July 9. Join your church family for an evening of fun and food!

Birthday Wishes!

These friends are celebrating at least their 85th birthday this month. Please extend your well wishes!

July

1 Jean De Vries 3500 Butternut Dr. Holland MI 49424

10 Lois King 110 West St. Apt. 206 Jonesville MI 49250

15 Jean De Vries 668 Maple Creek Dr. Holland MI 49423

The all church picnic will be held on July 9 this year at Lawrence Street Park in Zeeland, on the corner of Pine and Lawrence downtown near the old hospital, which is now called City on a Hill. The park has a large shelter and a

playground next to it. Parking is available at the park (just a few sites), on the street and in the City on a Hill parking lot next door. We will gather at 6:00 and dinner will begin at 6:30.

Hamburgs, hot dogs, condiments, and beverages will be provided. Those whose last names begin with A to J bring a dessert and those that begin with K to Z bring a side dish. Please remember you are feeding lots of people with your dish, so plan accordingly!

Bring your own table service, lawn chairs and blankets. See you there!

Please be in prayer for these congregation members and friends...

JU LY 201 4 Page 3

The Crosby family, those who have had relatives pass away recently, Norine Jones, Loretta Tiethof, Sue Linn

Pray for God's peace and comfort for the family and friends of Florence Kail who died Sunday, June 1. There will be a family grave-side service.

Caring Ministry Sharon Rocker, Director of Care Ministries (ext. 104)

Announcing a new plan for organizing Congregation Care!!

Jesus commands us to love one an-other as he has loved us...in an ef-fort to do this in a purposeful way, we have a new model for congrega-

tion care called the Congregational Care Group. A Care Group is a community within our church family which will be shepherded by a Congregational Care Minister (CCM), who will help facilitate needed care. Our plan is to make access to care as convenient as possible. The Congregational Care Ministers will be providing care and connection to households designat-ed by which worship service they attend. Those una-

ble to attend worship will also be included in the groups.

Watch for the announcement of these groups and the ministers who will be caring for them. We will be recruiting CCM’s during the summer and plan to train and prepare them for ministry by the first of November.

Sharon Rocker, Director of Care Ministries, will provide leadership and direction to the Congregational Care Team, in cooperation with Pastor Lynn Pier-Fitzgerald.

Notes of appreciation for prayers and visits from Donna Wiegerink, and Chuck & Laura Beasley

These notes can be found on the bulletin board near the lounge in the 9th Street hallway.

We have a small group of "behind-the-scenes" angels that perform miracles every Sunday. Our volunteer bus drivers actually bring people to Christ. That's pretty neat when you think about it. Our Bus Ministry provides transportation to and from our church for residents of four locations including Wildwood Creek Manor, Waverly

Meadows, Appledorn and Freedom Village. We are seeking 1 or 2 more willing angels to become CDL certi-fied and participate in a monthly driving rotation. In a perfect world, you would only have to drive once per month. There is no cost to you and I can assist with the certification process. This is a real, meaningful and tangible ministry of our church. If this calling appeals to you, please contact Rick George (616-786-4722 or debnrick@freeway.net) for more information. Thank you.

Still Looking! Help Wanted! People needed to operate sound, video and lighting systems for Sunday morn-ing worship. Training provided. Contact Jim Searls.

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Nurture Ministry Marj Haney, Director (ext. 106) Heidi De Moss, Director of Adult Ministry

F OCUS

Our Summer schedule is in effect for classes. When there are adult classes scheduled for the Jubilant Jour-ney hour, children from PK through 5th grades are welcome to come and learn about the Ten Commandments through a video series. During the 10:45 worship service, children who are one year before kindergarten through those who just completed the 3rd grade are welcome to come to the first floor following the Children’s Time for Summer GPS! Both of these classes will take place on the first floor of the education building.

Youth at Camp

The following youth are attending camp this month, drop them a note at the addresses provided and let them know you are thinking about them while they are away. It is best to send a note early in the week and no treats please.

June 29-July 5: Makenzie Miller will be at Lake Louise attending the Choir Camp. Her address is Lake Louise Camp 11037 Thumb Lake Road Boyne Falls, MI 49713

July 6-12: Adam Chamness will be at Wesley Woods attending the CIA camp. His address is Wesley Woods Camp 1700 Clear Lake Dowling, MI 49050. Brendan Miller, Claire Namovich, Valerie DeLany, Grace Namovich, Rebecca Jones and Tyler Nottingham will be attending the As We Are camp at Lake Louise. Matt and Liz Carr are the deans of the camp and Pas-tor Lynn will be counseling. The address is above.

July 13-15: Kaleb Doty will be at Crystal Springs attending the SPLAT mini camp. His address is Crystal Springs Camp 33774 Crystal Springs Road Dowagiac, MI 49047

July 20-28: Eric Salisbury, Ryan Lindstrom, Quinn Howard and Sebastian Doty will be at Crystal Springs attending A Dangerous Camp for Boys. Their address is above. Dylan Kenyon will be at Wesley Woods attending the ACT 1 camp. Address is above. Wes Hook will be at Camp Kinawind attending the Beaver Island Adventure camp. His address is Camp Kinawind 9885 Thumb Lake Rd Boyne Falls, MI

49713 (his mail probably won’t get to him until the end). Cole Hook, Justin Steggerda, and Ben Russ-ner will be at Lake Louise attending the LIFE camp. Jillian Haney is a counselor. Their address is in the previous column.

July 23-26: Emerson Howard will be at Wesley Woods attending the ACT 3 mini camp. Her address can be found in the previous column.

Please be aware that the Annual All Church Campout scheduled for August 8-10, 2014 has been cancelled due to lack of interest.

Another week of Vacation Bible School is coming up very soon. This year’s theme is Workshop of Wonders and will take place July 27 through July 31, Sunday through Thursday, each evening from 6:00 to 8:30ish.

Registration is now open online at 2014.cokesburyvbs.com/fumc2014 or you can link it from our website. Everyone should have received a postcard with all the information. Don’t forget to bring a friend!!

Please read the following with the urgency with which it is presented...

We are in urgent need of more Wor-ship Center leaders for this fall. Worship Centers meet during the 10:45 worship service. We have had two Centers, one for preschool and

Kindergarten children and one for 1st and 2nd graders and right now have only 2 leaders. If no one is willing to come on board to help, we will have to stop having one or both of these Centers. Training is provided as well as support and mentoring. Please see Marj Haney or Tracy Virta for more information. We also are in need of Jubilant Journey leaders for preschool and elementary aged children. We will be starting a new curriculum this fall and it will require at least 6 adults each Sunday to lead. Please see Marj Haney if you are interested.

JU LY 201 4 Page 5

Adult Nurture Opportunities Looking for something new? How about prayer walks and a prayer bus! This summer we will have cover our local community in prayer as we learn more about what’s in our neighborhood. Walks in the are-as close to church, and bus tours will allow

everyone to participate. Prayer walks will be offered spread over the sum-mer during Jubilant Journey. The Prayer Bus will run the same time as worship once each month.

Change is Hard A series spread over the summer sharing ways FUMCH

might look at its self, and how it works differently. Included:

The Church Life Cycle and Change Simplify! External Focus

Short - Term Classes Where : Lounge June 29 ~ Outside Multi-generational games July 6 ~ No Class - July 4th weekend July 13 ~ Change is Hard: Simplify! - How would sim-

plifying what we do at FUMCH help us? (Information

gleaned from the Vital Church Initiative (VCI) that FUMCH is participating in.)

July 20 ~ Prayer Bus Looking ahead to next month… Aug 3 ~ Prayer Walk Aug 10 ~ Change is Hard: External Focus -

(Information gleaned from the Vital Church Initiative (VCI) that FUMCH is participating in.)

Aug 17 ~ Prayer Bus Aug 24 ~ Toronto Report (?) Aug 31 ~ Multi-generational Fellowship Space Coffee and Conversation Where : East end of Fellowship Hall What : A time to gather and visit with each other, or just relax and refresh. Copies of the newspaper are present, as well as coffee, tea, and often some light refreshments.

Finance Update Kent Jagnow, Treasurer (ext. 103)

As the end of May, 2014, actual General Fund contri-

butions are within $200. of our budgeted amount. Ac-

tual receipts are $241,100 and the budget is $241,300.

This includes approximately $11,500 of pledges that

were prepaid at the end of last year. The expenses of

the church are running favorable to budget. Through

May, 2014, actual expenses were $233,500 compared to

a budget of $241,300. This is a favorable spending

trend in spite of heavy expense in the utilities and snow

removal areas.

The Capital Reserve balance is approximately $76,900.

All obligations have been paid as of this date.

Do you believe in MIRACLES? I think we all should as

we may have witnessed one on June 8th. Our Miracle

Sunday fund raising event has taken in over $347,000.

and I am told there may be more coming. These funds

will go a long way in correcting many major mainte-

nance problems as well as maintaining and renovating

our building and, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

I would also like to thank the Miracle Sunday commit-

tee for a fantastic job WELL DONE. Also, our thanks

should go out to the Finance and Trustee’s committees

for their participation and involvement in this endeav-

or.

I would like to encourage everyone to consider using

our Electronic Contribution. This is an easy, secure

method to get your church contribution in each and

every month. Please see me or look on our web site to

sign up.

Page 6 F OCUS

The Community Action House Basic Services Pantries are in great need of the following items: All-purpose cleaner, laundry soap, shampoo & conditioner, bar soap and toothpaste

Let us help out by bringing some of these items to church in the month of July and place them in the baskets at the 9th Street Door.

The Bread Pan offering for July will bene-fit PET. Information and an actual PET will be here on Sunday July 13 and the offering will be taken on July 20.

Service Group is Joy Circle

West Michigan Conference is hosting Mission u at Central Michigan University in MT Pleasant, July 17 - 19. The studies are: Spiritual Growth, How Is It With Your Soul? The Church and People With Disabilities and The Roma of Europe. For the Children, Making a New Picture: Welcoming Persons With Disabilities Into Our Lives. Drive in Day is August 6, at Holton UMC. If you would like to attend one of these events call Pat Barrett at 399-4354 or email, small case BAR-RETTL@SBCGLOBAL.NET.

Crafters and Canners Needed for November 13 Bazaar Donations

Calling all crafters and canners! United Methodist Women remind you that your donations are needed for this year’s Holiday Bazaar on Thursday, November 13. All kinds of handmade crafts, from toys to jewelry and decorations, sell quickly in the Handicrafts Room. Summertime produce will look extra-delicious this fall, lined up in canning jars in the Country Store.

And speaking of canning jars, Polly Diehl would appre-ciate donations of pint or half-pint canning jars and bags of sugar; these may be left in the church office for her.

This year’s theme is “A Recipe for Christmas.” The event will run from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with lunch, pigs-in-the-blanket, and afternoon tea available.

For more information, contact Holiday Bazaar chair Linda DenUyl at ldenuyl1@comcast.net or call her at (616) 298-2781.

United Methodist Women

NEW PICTORIAL DIRECTORY COMING!

Our dates for the photography sessions for the new directory with Lifetouch begin on August 12 and 13 to catch any families with college age students who would like to be in the family photo and also to catch any early birds who leave us before Oct. 4. The

week of Sept. 30 through Oct. 4 will be when most families will get photographed. If you will be gone that week be sure to sign up in August. We want to include all members this time! The Lifetouch program includes a free directory for any family who is photographed and a complimentary 8 x10 portrait. Lifetouch does not charge the church for this service and there will be no pressure to buy. Look for information on signing up soon. It has been six years since DeVries did an online directory and more than 10 years since we have had a nice printed di-rectory. For any new member coming in a directory is very helpful. PLEASE plan to be in this new directo-ry. Liz Travis, Jane Smith, and Gigi Virta are co-chairing this project.

Youth Ministry LuAnne Stanley Hook, Director (ext. 108)

JU LY 201 4 Page 7

Schedule of Events

July 1 Outreach Team 5:00 PM

July 1 Lay Leadership Team 6:00 PM

July 2 Master Plan Team 5:00 PM

July 3 Hospitality Design Team 6:30 PM

July 8 Staff Parish 7:30 PM

July 10 Trustees 7:00 PM

July 14 Endowment Team 7:00 PM

July 15 Finance 7:00 PM

July 17 Stephen Ministry 7:00 PM

July 22 Church Council 7:00 PM

Each week:

Tuesday noon: Senior Meal

Thursday 7:00: Volleyball

Church Picnic July 9 Lawrence Street Park in

Zeeland

VBS July 27-31 Sunday through Thursday

6:00-8:30 each evening

The Middle School youth had a successful mission trip to Grand Rapids United Methodist Community House. They were able to clean up there yard there, pulling weeds and saving some baby kittens. They played bingo with the senior citizens, sorted and arranged their small library and enjoyed their time spent at Wesley Park UMC in the evenings. Thanks to all the prayer partners and parents who supported this trip.

As this Focus goes to print, the Senior High’s are in Toronto on their trip. Watch for a report next month and plan to be in worship on July 13 when the youth from both groups will talk about what they did, the impact they had on those they served and the impact the trip made on their lives.

Many of our youth will be at camp this month. Please see the listing on the Nurture page and send a note or two with your support. Thanks!

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July 2014

Pastor Rev. J. Lynn Pier-Fitzgerald

Phone: 616-393-6242

Nonprofit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Holland, MI

Permit No. 445

A New Survey for YOU We at First United do a lot of surveying of our membership. We do it for a very good reason— to share the details of all of the people and activities that it takes to do the church’s work, the work that makes it possible for us to meet member family needs, to help in the community, to respond to UMC leadership direction, and more. WE CAN’T DO THIS WORK AND MEET YOUR NEEDS WITHOUT YOUR PARTICIPATION. This sharing should make it possible for a member to give a more knowledgeable response to survey questions about how his or her interests and capabilities match up with the church’s work. We want to inform you of opportunities for serving and to match you up with one that will meet your interest and provide you with great satisfaction and a feeling of accomplishment. We also want to learn what might stand in your way of serving (so we can remove the obstacle), and ask you not to sign on unless you can make the required commitment and feel very good about its potential to meet your needs and desires. There will be a number of surveys put in front of you in the coming month or two. Please keep an eye out for ours—the Lay Leadership nominating team. We’ll be looking for everyone to respond, and we’ll trumpet our request to get your attention. It’s our job to fill our administrative and ministry teams with new, well motivated people drawn from our membership. Help us do our job well, and we’ll help you find the slot you belong in.

57 W. 10th St.

Holland MI 49423

Return Service Requested

FI RST UNIT ED MET HODI ST CHURCH

Phone: 616-396-5205

July 2014

Visit us online at

www.fumcholland.org