What’s happening in the
life of our church
June 13, 2024
Summer Office Hours!
Effective June 17th, our office hours will be Monday-Thursday, 9am-1pm.
The office will be closed Monday, July 1 – Thursday, July 4.
A Note from Pastor Alice
“Summertime and the livin’ is easy
Fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high”
Before we get comfortable in our summer locations (whether that’s your backyard or a home “up north”), let’s take a moment to reflect on the year of goodness that has been given to us by our Lord. We have traveled many roads together this past year; all of them with God by our side. Through the many unique gifts given us by the Spirit and the responses of all of you in using yours, our church has been able to grow and thrive. It is good to pause at the end of the program year and write our mental list of gratitude for all God has provided.
Think of all the things you have seen happening at the church this past year. To whom do you want to write a card of thanks? Perhaps to yourself — for you all show up and work in so many different ways!
As we move into summer mode, remember, the church remains open and vibrant. If you are in town, join us. If you are out of town, find another place to sing and pray.
And, please know the gratitude I have for all of you. You have helped lead and work and think and plan in every situation of this past year. Thank you! And you have shared your love and care for me through somewhat interesting times by your notes and cards and prayers. Bless you.
With Christian love and gratitude,
Rev. Alice
Vacation Bible School (VBS) August 5-9
Join us at Adrian FUMC for our Camp Firelight VBS! Camp Firelight VBS is based on Psalm 56:3: “Whenever I’m afraid, I put my trust in you.” This verse reminds us that we can trust God no matter what challenges we face! Our VBS Campers will explore timeless Bible stories that show how Old and New Testament “campers” trusted God in the face of their own fears, and went on to do great things in God’s name!
Registration is open through July 22nd and registration can be found here.
All volunteers are welcome to come meet and plan every Wednesday evening at 630pm after our Wednesday dinners. Come as you can, when you have planning work to help with.
Food Ministries @ Adrian FUMC
AFUMC has a wonderful, multi-point food ministry consisting of three primary areas of focus.
1. Hot and Frozen Meal Program for members and non-members alike who sign up for the program.
This program delivers a hot meal monthly (soon to be weekly) on Wednesday’s. The purpose of this program is to share the church’s grace with those who request it. This program also delivers devotionals along with the meal and provides a contact point with someone from the church.
For those who need additional meals we also provide house-made frozen meals that they can thaw and heat up when they need something to eat later in the week. This program started as a frozen meal program pre-COVID, and we added a monthly hot meal during COVID so we could check on our home bound members and provide them with sustenance.
2. Share the Warmth Meal Program provides two meals for 35 to 70 people at Share the Warmth.
Jan Murley and her team provide a complete meal and beverage on the second Monday of each month, while Bryan Bowers and his team provide a meal and beverage on the third Thursday of each month. Bryan and his team took over for Marcia Wright when she moved to be closer to family a few years ago. AFUMC has been providing these meals for Share the Warmth for over four years. This allows us to serve our community members and share the grace of God with those in need and support the mission of Share the Warmth.
3. Wednesday’s Dinners provide food and fellowship for those who join us on Wednesday evenings for dinner at 5:30pm.
There is currently a charge of $5 per person or $20 per family (to be raised to $7 / $25 in September). No one is turned away.
Dinner is preceded by devotions, bible studies, and other scheduled options from 4:30pm until dinner time.
After dinner is a time for outreach projects, ministry, fun and church meetings. We invite anyone from the community who wants to join us as a way to minister to our neighbors and as an entry point to interacting with our church.
The charge is to cover the cost of the food served. We emphasize wholesome, complete meals in an atmosphere of fellowship and fun.
To help streamline the workload and control costs, the Wednesday Dinner, Hot Meal Program and Share the Warmth Program are served the same food. We get a synergy from coordinating the programs whenever possible.
The Hot and Frozen Meal Program is mostly funded through our annual Quiche Sale each November and the Share the Warmth meal is funded by congregational donations of both food stuffs and money.
We sincerely appreciate the support of our congregation both financially and volunteering of their time to help cook, deliver meals, clean up, etc.
Dawn has taken on the responsibility of managing the kitchen, and we thank her for her generosity of donating her time to this important ministry.
If you are interested in helping either by giving of your time, talents, or treasure to support the Food Ministry of our church, please contact Dawn, Bryan or Pastor Alice.
Neighbors of Hope Textile Drive
You continue to be a generous congregation. Your donations for the Neighbors of Hope Textile Drive filled approximately ten 55 gallon containers. Wow!! The textiles will be bailed and added to others collected throughout Lenawee County. A trailer full will bring $5,000.00 to NOH.
You can continue to drop off textiles at the Fishes & Loaves Donation Center, 423. W. Maumee. The hours are M-W-F, 10 to 3 and Sat. 10 to 12.
Once again, thanks for your generosity.
The Outreach Committee
Pride Celebration
The Lenawee Pride 2024 celebration will be on Saturday June 22, from 3-10 pm at Tecumseh Center for the Arts. There will be entertainment and merchant booths and will end with a dance party.
Members of our Outreach Team will be attending and passing out Hersey “Hugs”. If you would like to join us, meet in the church parking lot at 3 pm where we will car pool. We plan to be back to Adrian around 6 pm. You can wear your Adrian First shirts and/or Pride bling. You also might want to bring a folding chair.
Hope you can join us to celebrate and show our love and support for the LGBTQ+ community!
The Outreach Committee
With Appreciation for Our Outside Crew
Every time you stop and admire the beauty of our church campus, keep in mind the handful of people who do so much every week to make it so. Bill Butchart spends hours each week keeping the grounds outside the building looking beautiful, including mowing, tree and bush trimming, weed whacking, maintaining the playground and so much more. The Memorial Garden crew includes JoAnne Mourer, Jim Caldwell, Elizabeth Olgren, Tom Odell and Julie Shultz. They plant and water and weed the beautiful flowers, bushes and trees in the Memorial Garden, keeping it lovely for the many families who visit their loved ones. Thank you, one and all, for your dedication!
Upcoming
WOW (Wednesdays of Wonder) Schedule
Devotion & meditation @ 4:30 pm
Dinner at 5:30 pm is open to all in the community
Note that salad and dessert are always available. Dinners are $5 each or $20 max per family. Anyone is free to come at no cost. Bring a coupon or share it with a friend or even stranger.
Upcoming menu
June 19: Baked ziti, garlic bread, broccoli
June 26: BBQ chicken, corn, potato salad
July 3: No WOW due to the Holiday
July 10: Grilled bratwurst with toppings, coleslaw, chips
July 17: Stuffed shells, green beans, caesar salad
July 24: Chicken & cheese enchiladas, refried beans, Spanish rice
July 31: Beef stroganoff with egg noodles, vegetable
RSVP by calling or emailing the office or on your connection card for planning purposes. Feel free to drop by last minute for one or all events.
June 23 @ 10:45 am: Single Accountability Structure (SAS) VOTE
Our District Superintendent, Rev. Luann Rourke, has granted her consent to a specially called church conference to be held at Adrian FUMC on Sunday, June 23 at 10:45 AM. She has granted permission for Rev. Faye McKinstry and/or Rev. Dave McKinstry to preside in her place.
Attending and voting by way of Zoom is permissible. The person will need to be present on zoom and will vote by putting their name and vote preference in the chat. Zoom link can be found on the church calendar or as listed below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2246338569?pwd=dTJ2cU1GazA3dytzSnZyc0xqUHM4UT09&omn=88426588956
Per a letter sent by Rev. Rourke:
“The purpose of the special church conference is to secure a vote to implement a Simplified Accountable Structure (SAS) model of leadership at Adrian: First UMC. This is not a debatable vote. Only items of business in harmony with this stated call may be transacted (¶246.7).
The vote will be taken using paper ballots. Absentee ballots are not permitted in The United Methodist Church. Only those members attending in-person may vote.
Please give ten days notice, including two Sundays, of the special church conference in order to be in compliance with The Book of Discipline (¶246.8). Please announce that church members have voice and vote at this special church conference.”
If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Alice prior to the June 23rd vote.
Opportunities to Be Present
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.
Wednesday Cooks & Volunteers
Rev. Alice is also looking for those who enjoy fellowship in the kitchen to help with our Wednesday dinners. Come and cook with Chef Bryan and enjoy the company of others in the kitchen. Contact Rev. Alice.
Opportunities to Be Present
Devotion & Meditation Opportunity
Wednesdays at 4:30 pm, the church will be offering an opportunity to gather for devotion and meditation prior to the WOW dinner. We will meet in the Wesley Room. We will utilize a booklet titled Prayers of Illumination by Jeff Munnis. He offers a blending of reading, prayers and meditating on an artform called mandalas. Join as you are able.
The author describes the booklet as follows: “This beautiful book of prayers and mandalas can be used as part of your daily spiritual practice to provide comfort and guidance on your path. Prayers to help you open up your being for the presence of God are included, as well as prayers to help with kindness, strength, guidance, self-realization, love, loss, relationships, and mercy.”
Juneteenth Celebration
A Juneteenth Celebration will be held this Saturday, 6/15 in downtown Adrian from 1-8 pm.
Wesley Chorale: will resume in the fall
Sunday Discovery
Adult Seekers Study: will resume in the fall
Adult Bible Study: will resume in the fall
Engage: meets 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays after Story for All Ages and is a Sunday Discovery Program for children and youth
Fellowship
Youth Group: will resume in the fall
Handicrafters: 6:30 PM 2nd and 4th Mondays
Quilters: every Tuesday in the Lounge from 10 am-2 pm
Prayer Gathering: 10:00 am first Thursday of the month in Room 3
Pub Theology: watch for these events
Men’s Breakfast: 7:00 am on the first Wednesdays of the month at Family Kitchen and is open to all.
W.O.W (Wednesdays of Wonder): Wednesdays 5:30 pm-7:30 pm weekly
Little Dresses: 2nd & 4th Thursdays from 1-3 pm
Please check the on-line calendar for all information & current updates.
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.
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.
Community Activities
From the Senior Source June 2024 Newsletter
June 17: Navigator Caregiver Support Group
2 PM | Daybreak | 327 Erie Street (East Entrance), Adrian, MI
Free respite is available at Daybreak Adult Day Services by calling 517-266-2588
June 19: CLOSED (Juneteenth)
All locations (including Daybreak) closed – no delivered, takeout, or onsite meals, no home services.
June 21: The Longest Day for Alzheimer’s
All Senior Centers participating with events and fundraising activities to support Alzheimer’s research and support
Adrian City Band
It must be summer! Adrian City Band is back in action with on Thursday nights at 7:30 pm at the Adrian Farmer’s Market. Join them for a perfect summer evening concert.
If you are interested in playing in the band, please contact Howard Stukey.
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.
Next bi-weekly Tidings will be published on June 27.
Please send articles to the office by 4 pm June 26.
Church website Adrian First UMC. Contact the church office assistant Pam Myers at (517) 265-5689 x402 or by email at adrianfumc@adrianfumc.org
On-Line Church Calendar is on the website.
Please sign up for coffee hour hosts and flower dedications at the Welcome Center or contact the office for open dates.