What’s happening in the
life of our church
August 29, 2024
Summer Office Hours
Effective September 3, our office hours will go back to Monday-Thursday, 9am-noon and 1pm-4pm.
We are CLOSED on Monday, September 2nd for Labor Day,
THANK YOU to our amazing volunteers who covered the office so joyfully and effectively all summer! You have brought such joy and energy into the church!
A Note from Pastor Alice
Greetings in the name of our Risen Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ!
Summer seems to have gone by in a flurry of energy, activity and joy. As much as I love the unique, sporadic offerings summer brings, I also always await autumn with so much anticipation. We are excited to kick off our program year on September 8th with a variety of offerings for you and your families. More about those in the blocks below.
For a moment, I have one item of particular importance for you regarding the Organ Restoration and Repair discussions that have been ongoing. After months (years, even) of discussion, sharing, gathering input from all of you, gathering bids and praying for God’s guidance, the Church Council voted this week to:
- Approve signing a contract for approximately $350,000 with Muller Pipe Organ Company to restore and repair the organ;
- When, and only when, our “testing the temperature” of your current sense of contributing to that work exceeds $150,000;
- While asking the Endowment to fund the first $70,000 of that cost as the down-payment needed to sign the contract, not to be refunded to the endowment.
There is currently approximately $180,000 in the endowment that is marked as the year-over-year accumulation of released funds for church use. We will leave the larger part of that in the endowment with the anticipation of larger church work items needed in the next year, including replacing our amazing boilers that have worked long and hard and are already on borrowed time. We will begin an official Building and Organ Campaign in January for the amount needed for the organ and other large ticket items anticipated in the next 5 years. It will be a joyful time of creative sharing and planning together.
If you have not responded to the survey you to share your thoughts on the organ repair work and on what your current sense of financial ability is to contribute to the campaign that will cover the organ repair, please do so here and now. Click HERE to do so.
If anyone has thoughts or concerns you would like to share in person, I am always available. Please let me know.
Blessings to each and everyone!
Rev. Alice
Blessings of the Backpacks and Church Picnic
All children, teachers, workers are invited to bring the backpacks, briefcases, tote bags to church on Sunday, September 8 to be blessed as we kickoff the fall program year!
Come for the celebration and fun. Bring a side dish for our picnic!
Wesley Chorale is Seeking YOU
The Wesley Chorale is excited to begin the 2024-25 season! We will have a potluck on Saturday, September 7th at 5:30pm. Bring your significant other and join us in the Fellowship Hall. Steve will be grilling hamburgers, so please bring a dish to pass. Following dinner and socializing, we will rehearse a few musical selections to begin our fall season. If you love singing and would like to check this out, please join us. Please direct questions to Laura Langley at laura.langley71@gmail.com
Church Outreach, Sponsored by our Outreach Team
The Outreach Team is again sponsoring a booth at Artalicious. We are in need of volunteers to staff the booth. It is so fun to work with the children to decorate a mural to later be displayed at our church. Please consider joining us for a couple hours on Saturday, September 21st. Our booth will be located at Non-Profit Row on West Maumee. You can sign up on Sign up Genius or at the information desk. Click HERE for Sign Up Genius.
Adult Sunday Bible Study
Join in our ongoing Adult Sunday Bible Study in room 5 on Sunday mornings after church.
This fall, our Bible lessons follow the theme “Claiming Identity.” They unpack and explore the concept of identity by examining the life and experiences of Esther, the factors that shape our identity, and how we find and claim our identity in Christ. The writer of the student book is Dan Dick.
Seeker’s Sunday Morning Study Group
The Seekers Sunday morning study group will begin on Sunday, Sept. 15th. Jesus’ AlternativePlan: The Sermon on the Mount by Richard Rohr will be the source of our study. “When Jesus talked about the Kingdom of God, he was talking about an utterly different way of relating to human society as we know it…In this book, Richard Rohr goes through the teachings of the sermon, explaining the historical and cultural context of each verse and offering guidance for what it means for Christians today. “
Seekers meet in the lounge at 10:45 on Sunday mornings. Below is a link for information about the study. Purchase the book on your own in whatever format you choose.
Please let me know if you will be joining the group. I will add you to the contact list for the reading assignments.
Disciple: Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study
Every United Methodist can be proud of knowing how much impact the United Methodist Disciple Bible Study program has had on the lives of millions of people. Being part of this intense and committed program changes lives; it changes the lives of every single person in the group, every single time.
If you haven’t been part of a group before, pray with an open heart and open mind to discern if now is the right time for you. If you have been part of a group before, maybe it’s time to go around again, to learn more and to help others learn.
The class will have 24 sessions, each session lasting 75 minutes.
Look into it by clicking here.
Contact Rev. Alice if you are interested or curious. It truly is for you, whether you have done this before or not.
Silenced: The Forgotten Story of Progressive Free Methodist Women
Come and join Lenawee Historical Society as they host Dr. Christy Mesaros-Winkles sharing from her recent publication “Silenced: The Forgotten Story of Progressive Free Methodist Women.” Thursday, September 19 at 7:00pm in the Frazier Auditorium on the second floor of the museum.
We are missed!
Our United Women of Faith, formerly United Methodist Women, has been missed. A variety of events are being planned for the year, including a women’s retreat. Stay tuned for more information.
Julie Shultz and Jan Murley
Information on our Wednesday Dinners
FYI: We have worked hard to keep the cost at $5/meal and find we can no longer faithfully sustain that price. Beginning in September, the dinners will be $7/meal or $25/family.
As always, no one is turned away for any reason.
Also, our very best Chef Bryan agreed to cook for us until his busy season begins in November. If you would like to help step into this blessed ministry of creating meals for a community, please contact Rev. Alice.
RSVP (for planning purposes) by calling or emailing the church office or note on your connection card. Feel free to drop by last minute.
The Congregational Care Team
The Congregational Care Team invites the congregation to stop by Room 5 and share some joy. There are all kinds of wonderful cards available along with a church directory and return address labels. Stop by and brighten someone else’s day or brighten your own day by giving to someone else. All you have to do is add the stamp! Thank you to all who have donated cards.
Ongoing Ministries
Please check the on-line calendar (click here) for all information & current updates.
Handicrafters: meets 2nd and 4th Mondays at 6:30 pm
Gardening: in the Memorial Garden Tuesdays (weather permitting) at 9:30 am
Quilters: every Tuesday from 10 am – 2 pm in the Lounge
Men’s Breakfast: first Wednesdays of the month, 7:00 am at Family Kitchen
Prayer Gathering: meets 1st Thursday every month at 10:00 am in Room 3
W.O.W. (Wednesdays of Wonder): 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm weekly
Handbell choir: watch for fall details as they become available
Pub Theology: fourth Tuesday of every month at Aubree’s at 5:30 pm
Heritage District Conference
Your Heritage District Leadership Team has put together a District Conference event that you won’t want to miss! Join us for an inspiring day of networking and idea sharing featuring Keynote Speaker, Luke Edwards, author of Becoming Church – A Trail Guide for Starting Fresh Expressions. It is our hope that clergy and laity alike will come away energized with creative new ways to extend the love of Christ in the communities they serve!
Learn more and sign up HERE.
Opportunities to Give
Little Free Pantry
Drop off in the red box outside of the nursery/preschool rooms or in the office. Take what you need and add as you are able.
St Mary’s Food Pantry
From Liliane Haddad – In May, we helped 130 families, 367 individuals and 120 children. 22 new families came for food assistance. The need is greater every day and your continued support and donations are really appreciated. Many thanks to all my volunteers who are taking care of the needy in our community. We also give toiletries and provide utility assistance with shut off notices.
Current needs: fresh eggs, fresh produce, kids cereal and cake mixes for families to celebrate birthdays together.
For your Information
Prayer Requests & Updates
Please contact the church office with your prayer requests by phone, email or note on your connection card. Prayer requests will be shared with the congregation through the bulletins and Tidings. If the prayer request is private, please note at the time of request.
We also invite you to share your joys and celebrations. Just email the church office.
Please know that prayer is our foundation and everything we do is surrounded in prayer.
Please note that the next Tidings will be published on September 12. If you have an article to include, please send it to adrianfumc@adrianfumc.org by 4:00 pm September 10.
On-Line Church Calendar can be found here.
Please sign up for coffee hour hosts and flower dedications at the Welcome Center or contact the office for open dates.