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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
Pastor Jonathan’s Letter 1,2
S.P.R.C. 2
Coming Events 3
Children/Youth 4
Trustees/Prayers/Thank You 5
United Methodist Women 6
Attendance/Giving/Finance Report 7
Birthdays/Anniversaries/Schedules 8
February Calendar 9
Inside this issue:
105 E. Main Street
Ionia, MI 48846
Service
9:30 am
www.ioniafirst.com
“Hunger and Thirst”
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Matthew 5:6
To the Body of Christ,
I’ve had several recent conversations in which folks have asked why more people
don’t come to church. I suggest that it’s not because our culture and society are going off
the rails, but because folks don’t know what they’re missing when they stay away. Folks
don’t expect to experience a transformative encounter with Jesus. This suggestion usually
draws a blank stare, which makes me wonder if the question “Why don’t others come to
church?” really belies the question, “Why do I go to church?” Often I surmise that many of
us have little to no experience of a transformative – which is to say terrifying and captivat-
ing – encounter with Jesus. But this, we must believe, isn’t because Jesus remains absent
from our worship. Rather, if we think quietly and carefully about it, the question of attend-
ance in church is the question of expectations. In our utilitarian culture, you don’t go some-
where if you don’t expect to feel anything, or do anything, or get anything. If you’re not
hungry, you don’t feel like eating; and if you do eat when you’re not hungry, the food
doesn’t taste as good. Similarly, if you’ve had plenty to drink, obtaining a glass of water, or
juice, or milk, et cetera, doesn’t enter your head. I think when the church gathers for wor-
ship on the Lord’s Day, too few of us are in a state of craving: we don’t feel starved for the
Creator’s love; we don’t feel desperate for the living water of Christ’s forgiveness and wel-
come; and we have not yearned to be burnt once more by the fire and grace of the Spirit.
And if we’re not hungry and thirsty for the righteousness of God, how can we be filled?
It’s often been said that the Christian life is “one beggar telling another beggar
where to find bread.” I don’t know who first coined this phrase, but it’s true. The only thing
is, if you’re not hungry for bread, then you don’t go looking for it… so that you don’t find
it… so that you can’t tell anyone else where it is. This bread is the righteousness of God:
God’s freedom for the oppressed, God’s love for the despicable, God’s suffering with the
poor. Are you hungry for the prisoner to go free? Are you hungry for reconciliation with
those who have become your enemies? Are you thirsty for the poor to find relief from our
economy of compounding debt? If you’re not yearning for the same things that God desires,
then the Praise and Confession and Forgiveness and Proclamation and Prayer that we enact
on Sunday mornings will inevitably leave you blah and unfulfilled. But if you hunger and
thirst for righteousness, then what happens on Sunday mornings is shocking and vital and
utterly captivating. If you have not been shocked by a life-giving and arresting encounter
with Christ on the Day of Resurrection, it isn’t because He wasn’t there. So when you get
ready for worship on the Lord’s Day, don’t just get dressed and comb your hair: ask wheth-
er you’re hungry for justice and hope, and thirsty for mercy and love.
(continued on page 2)
February
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)
In another conversation, I was reminded of this challenging quote from one of my favorite author’s, Annie Dillard:
On the whole, I do not find Christians, outside the catacombs, sufficiently sensible of the conditions.
Does anyone have the foggiest idea what sort of power we so blithely invoke? Or, as I suspect, does no
one believe a word of it? The churches are children playing on the floor with their chemistry sets, mix-
ing up a batch of TNT to kill a Sunday morning. It is madness to wear ladies' straw hats and velvet hats
to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares;
they should lash us to our pews. For the sleeping God may wake some day and take offense, or the wak-
ing God may draw us out to where we can never return.”
“Expedition to the Pole” in Teaching a Stone to Talk, p. 52-53.
Have you ever felt like this in worship? If you have, tell all the beggars you meet where to find bread. If you haven’t,
realize or remember that you’re an unrighteous beggar, and come: you will be filled.
In the Name of Jesus Christ, and for His sake, so be it.
Jonathan Bratt Carle,
Beggar.
S.P.R.C.
The S.P.R.C. met recently to evaluate the year. We also finished the staff end-of-year reviews. As
many of you know, our beloved nursery attendant, Alicia, has taken a well-deserved promotion
with Spectrum Hospital which includes working on Sundays. Because of this the committee is
looking for her replacement and has begun the advertising for it. If anyone in the congregation is
interested, you must submit a resume and cover letter. Give this to Marie Church or me by the end
of the month. You must be able to lift babies and crawl on the floor to play. Alicia has established
a bond with the children and we would hope for the same with a new candidate.
Our next meeting date is February 3 at 6:45 p.m. However, this may change depending on the re-
sponse to the advertised position. Members will be informed in advance. Interviews will need to
be determined.
Pray for the committee as we want someone who will fit into our community.
Jan
Page 3
february Coming events
Feb. 2 12:30 p.m. On the R.I.S.E. Lunch & Family Game Day
Feb. 3 6:45 p.m. S.P.R.C. Meeting
Feb. 4 9:30 a.m. Friendship Committee
Feb. 12 7:00 p.m. VBS Meeting
Feb. 17 6:45 p.m. Administrative Board Meeting
Feb. 21 1:00 p.m. Newsletter Deadline
Feb. 24 6:45 p.m. Missions/Outreach Meeting
Feb. 26 6:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday Service at Lyons-Muir
Feb. 27 5:30 p.m. Lenten Potluck/Lenten Study at Ionia First
Sunday-School
The kids have been loving our lessons, crafts, and games! We have had a great group of boys!
On The R.I.S.E
The youth have been keeping busy. Our January lunch and game day went very well. Thank you to everyone that came and supported us. We didn’t have very much soup left. Our January 12th gathering was cancelled due to the snow/ice storm. On January 19th, we cancelled Youth Group due to weather. On January 26th, we will meet and watch the movie “Overcomer”. What a great movie and message! I highly recommend it for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet. Then we followed with a group discussion and some treats. Our next family game day and lunch will be February 2nd at 12:30 PM. We will be having sloppy joes and then games after. The youth group will be starting up with bake sales beginning in February. We will have a table located out-side the chapel with our baked goods and a jar for donations after church service from February-June. Please, let me know if you would like to help us bake. All proceeds will go towards our mission trip to Niaga-ra Falls in June of 2020! :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ioniaontherise/
VBS
We have begun the planning Process. We will be holding VBS from August 206. Our curriculum this year is:
Rocky Railway-Jesus’ Power Pulls Us Through. Meetings are open to everyone and we would love to have
lots of input. Our next meeting will take place February 12th at 7 PM at First United Methodist
Family Ministries Coordinator
Jodi Courtland
616-841-0288
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
From the Trustees
The trustees have been correcting several electrical issues at the church, and several issues at the parsonage.
The eating system is up and running. An additional thermostat has been added to control the heat in the back of the church an additional radiator in the Café.
Winter is upon us again and we are doing our best to keep things accessible and safe. That being said, at times it may be necessary to cancel services due to dangerous weather conditions. Channel * news will be notified, and will put it on their list and broadcast the closures. If you know of any other way to notify, please let us know.
The next Trustees meeting will be Monday, March 2, 2020.
Stay safe and God Bless.
Joe Brown, Chairman
A big Thank you to Andrew Badder
who is taking over the responsibility of making and decorating the cakes
for Coffee Fellowship on the last Sunday of each month
to celebrate Birthdays and Anniversaries.
We have all come to expect these cakes, and I personally want to thank you
Andrew for stepping up to do what I have been doing for the past 23 years.
Marie Church
UMW NEWS
Well a New Year has begun, and like everything else things are changing here at
First Church. I am sure that most of the ladies here at First Church know that
our Chairman of the United Methodist Women, Peg Fell has resigned. Due to
her resignation, we are starting the new year with a new slate of officers. I feel
that It is important that we recognize Peg for all the work she has accomplished
over the last 17 years. Please, when you see her, tell her thank you, or send her a card with
your well wishes.
Our new officers were elected on January 27, and they are as follows: Chair-Rebecca Brown,
Vice Chair-Roxanne Stiles, Treasurer-Jodi Courtland and lastly our Secretary-Colleen Thomp-
son. We had a productive meeting after the election of the officers. We discussed all the pro-
grams we have been having for the last several years. Some will be continuing, but some will
be let go as times ae changing and we must change with he times or we won’t be able to con-
tinue at all. When you see me please ask me, and I will be able to give you a calendar of our
upcoming events.
Please remember Ladies of First Church, this is our United Methodist Women’s unit; not just
the officers. We need to work together as a cohesive unit for us to be the success that First
Church has always been. Hopefully, we will have something on our upcoming calendar to
peak your interest.
Isaiah 41:10 reads: “do not fear, for I am with you,
do not be afraid, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my victorious
right hand.”
I like to read this as often as possible because we often forget that the Lord is always with us.
The best way for us all to honor Peg’s hard work is to really work hard this year and show her
that she has lead us well, and we can succeed. Help us as we move forward into the New Year.
Thank you,
Rebecca Brown
Attendance Giving Needed
Jan. 5 56 Not available at this time $2,989.00
Jan. 12 0 $2,989.00
Jan. 19 25 $2,989.00
Jan. 26 54 $2,989.00
Finance Report
Thank you to Ronda Bestrom for agreeing to co-chair the Finance Committee with Al MacDonald.
Ronda is also our Financial Secretary, and she and Alicia Christensen (our Treasurer) are learning the system and putting our finances in order again.
If you have any questions or concerns for our committee or any of the leaders of our church, you can write them on the comment cards you will find in the pews, and place them in the offering plate on Sunday morning; or you can call the office during the week.
Many of you have picked up your offering envelopes. If you are one who has not, and would like them, we have more in the office. Just ask Ronda or Marie Church.
As things start taking shape, we will have more information for this page.
Pray for God’s blessing and guidance for our church as we move forward.
Your Finance Committee
FEBRUARY
BIRTHDAYS
1 Andy Badder 8 Jan Powell
9 Jessica Teunissen
9 Jesse Alfaro 10 Marie Church
13 Joan MacDonald 14 Adam Frost
15 John Ransom 16 Lucille Leslie
17 Janice Fate 21 Roberta Sterner
23 Robert Zander 23 Jenifer Stout
24 Sharon Hartman 24 Alicia Christensen
27 Larry Ransom 28 Jana Fedon
February Anniversaries
8 Joe & Rebecca Brown
February
Greeters
February 2 Would you like to be a
greeter? If so contact
February 9 Marie in the church
office, and we will sign
February 16 you up.
February 23
Note: If you have agreed to serve as a greeter on a
Sunday morning, but find that you cannot do so,
please call the church office (527-1860).
February Liturgists February 2 Jan Powell February 9 Al MacDonald February 16 Melissa Wagner February 23 Eric Asher If you are unable to serve on the day for which you are scheduled, it is up to you to switch with another liturgist, and notify the church office.
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1
2
Communion
12:30
Lunch/Family
game day
3
6:00 pm Soup
Kitchen
6:45 pm
4
9:30 am Friend-
ship Committee
5
8:30 am Morning
prayer
Noon Freedom
Living
6
8:00 am Quilters
7
8
9
Noisy Offering
1:30 pm Youth
Group
10
6:00 pm Soup
Kitchen
11
12
8:30 am Morning
Prayer
Noon Freedom
Living
7:00 pm VBS
meeting
13
8:00 am Quilters
14
15
16
Mission Sunday
1:30 pm Youth
Group
17
6:00 pm Soup
Kitchen
6:45 pm Ad Board
18
19
8:30 am Morning
Prayer
Noon Freedom
Living
20
8:00 am Quilters
21
Newsletter Dead-
line
22
23
1:30 pm Youth
Group
24
6:00 pm Soup
Kitchen
6:45 pm UMW
7:45 pm Worship
Committee
25
26
8:30 am Morning
Prayer
Noon Freedom
Living
6:00 p.m. Ash
Wednesday Ser-
vice @ LMC
27
8:00 am Quilters
5:30 pm Lenten
Potluck/Study @
FUMC
28 29
February 2020
105 E. Main Street
Ionia, MI 48846
Service 9:30am
Check it out!
www.ioniafirst.com
Page 13
