―Diaper Bank‖ Update Circle of Hope Next Meeting June 13hopechurchonthehill.com/calendar/June Newsletter 2017.pdf · The roofers (who will most likely begin work on the pitched

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Each week the bulletin contains a list of people for whom prayers have been requested. We want

everyone to be aware of these special prayer requests, and invite you to submit requests for prayers.

Peace in the Midst of Grief

Lydia Campbell & family on the death of her mother

Health Concerns :

Charlene Bentley Ray Bracero John & Sue Foote Howard Hagon

James Iron Keith Jordan Marian Mage Jimmy Owen

Sue Locke Owen Amira Rahmon Larry Welsch Larry Wright

Harold Zinn

Those who grieve and those who need to feel your healing

Our neighbors & friends who don’t know Jesus

Our homebound of Hope UMC

Our missionaries around the world

The leaders of Hope UMC

Pastor Carol and her family as she leads our congregation

Special Music in

Worship on 6/25

On Sunday, June 25 an

ensemble from the Flint

Scottish Pipe Band will

provide special music

during worship. Following worship, we will head

downstairs for a delicious potluck lunch! The

FSPB appreciates being able to use Hope’s facilities

for their rehearsal space. They will have t-shirts for

sale at the potluck to raise $$ for a trip to Stone

Mountain, GA in October, to compete with Pipe

Bands from all over the nation. Let’s support their

effort to make the trip affordable.

―Diaper Bank‖ Update

Hope United Methodist Church recently has begun a community outreach:

The Diaper Bank @ Hope Church. This program is designed to benefit our disadvan-

taged neighbors in the Flint area by providing a small quantity of diapers on a monthly

basis. We plan on expanding this service by the fall of 2017 to include relationship

building, educational pieces, faith formation, child care and other areas of service

on the morning of the giveaway.

Led by Hope member, Keri Crane, we launched May 4, 2017. We served about 40 Flint area residents with

more than 60 packs of diapers handed out. Each person could pick up 20 diapers in the size(s) needed for

their child(ren). As it was the inaugural give-away paired with stormy weather, we felt it was a success.

With better weather and word of mouth, we anticipate even more persons will come and participate in the

coming months.

Currently all diapers have been supplied by the congregation of Hope Church. We know we will need to

continually replenish our stock of diapers, and we are beginning to seek help from area merchants along

with partnering with other non-profits and churches to assure enough diapers each month.

The Diaper Bank will be open on the 1st Thursday of each month (June 1 this month). Helpers are needed

to give out the packages—contact the church office if you are willing to help. Thank you!

As a father has compassion on his children, so

the LORD has compassion on those who fear

him .

Psalm 103:13

Happy Father’s Day June 18, 2017

2 Circle of Hope—Next Meeting June 13

Last month the Circle of Hope hosted a guest speaker, Denise Diller, Develop-ment Officer from the Crossover Downtown Outreach Ministry of Flint. Miss Denise explained that this ministry began as a collaborative effort of the three large downtown Flint churches St. Paul’s Episcopal, First Presbyterian, and Court Street UMC. Today, Crossover provides a crucial service to some of Flint’s neediest citizens. They provide clothing, food, personal and hygiene items, household items and much more. Our circle was happy to present Miss

Denise with a check to go toward their needs and several boxes and bags of donations brought in to share by the women of the Circle of Hope. Anyone wishing to receive more information about this ministry or a tour of their facility on Court Street can contact Crossover at 810/234-8688.

Our next meeting will be on June 13th. We will enjoy a potluck meal at this meeting, so our starting time has been moved up to 12:30 p.m. We will, again, have a guest speaker, following the meal: Mr. Gary Cech, a former member of the 50’s group, “The Diamonds”. They had hit records like “The Stroll”, and “Little Darlin’”. Gary is now the pastor at Grace Community Church—the church that hosts the “UGLI Quilts” work project. He left the music industry to preserve his family and to follow his God. Please join us on the 13th to hear about Pastor Cech’s fascinating life story, and enjoy some of his very entertaining music! And don’t forget— it’s a POTLUCK! Invite your friends!!

Reading Plan – Bible in a year - Biblestudytools.com—June 2017

June Birthdays and Anniversaries

6/13 Carol Johnson 6/14 Jimmy Owen

6/20 Carolyn Branstner

Vonna Horwood

James & Judy Walker

6/21 Keith & Ruth Jordan

6/24 Loretta Findley

6/26 Bob & Clara Larson

6/30 June Congdon

Ron Reed

June 1 - 2 Chronicles 4-6; John 12:20-50 June 16 - Nehemiah 1-3; Acts 2:1-13

June 2 - 2 Chronicles 7-9; John 13:1-17 June 17 - Nehemiah 4-6; Acts 2:14-47

June 3 - 2 Chronicles 10-12; John 13:18-38 June 18 - Nehemiah 7-8; Acts 3

June 4 - 2 Chronicles 13-16; John 14 June 19 - Nehemiah 9-11; Acts 4:1-22

June 5 - 2 Chronicles 17-19; John 15 June 20 - Nehemiah 12-13; Acts 4:23-37

June 6 - 2 Chronicles 20-22; John 16:1-15 June 21 - Esther 1-3; Acts 5:1-16

June 7 - 2 Chronicles 23-25; John 16:16-33 June 22 - Esther 4-6; Acts 5:17-42

June 8 - 2 Chronicles 26-28; John 17 June 23 - Esther 7-10; Acts 6

June 9 - 2 Chronicles 29-31; John 18:1-23 June 24 - Job 1-3; Acts 7:1-19

June 10 - 2 Chronicles 32-33; John 18:24-40 June 25 - Job 4-6; Acts 7:20-43

June 11 - 2 Chronicles 34-36; John 19:1-22 June 26 - Job 7-9; Acts 7:44-60

June 12 - Ezra 1-2; John 19:23-42 June 27 - Job 10-12; Acts 8:1-25

June 13 - Ezra 3-5; John 20 June 28 - Job 13-15; Acts 8:26-40

June 14 - Ezra 6-8; John 21 June 29 - Job 16-18; Acts 9:1-22

June 15 - Ezra 9-10; Acts 1 June 30 - Job 19-20; Acts 9:23-43

If you have fallen behind, don’t give up! Just start again today!

The

Raleigh

Ringer’s

This nationally

known handbell

choir will be per-

forming at St. Paul’s UMC in Roches-

ter, MI on Tues., July 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Advance tickets are $20.

If you are interested in attending as

part of a group, let the church office

know by June 15.

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Hope’s Leadership Team met together on Monday, May 22. The meeting opened with a humorous

video regarding how some church/synagogue meetings get bogged down in small details that receive

far too much time and attention. The team agreed that their goal will be to keep this from happening!

There was discussion regarding the recently completed Stewardship Campaign, and its results. So

far, 46 pledges have been received, for which we are very thankful. Thank you cards will go out, as

well as “reminder” cards to those who haven’t submitted a pledge yet. The amount of money pledged

totals approximately 55 % of our projected budget. The team acknowledged the fact that Hope’s

membership has been shrinking as members pass away, and this partially explains the financial

shortfall.

Discussion was also held regarding the upcoming roof repair and the status of the church’s carillon.

The roofers (who will most likely begin work on the pitched roof early in June, depending on the

weather) will need to remove the carillon speakers in order to proceed. After much conversation and

careful thought, it was the consensus of this group not to return the speakers to the rooftop, and to

discontinue use of the carillon at this time. One of the justifying reasons for this decision was the fact

that the speakers seem to be temperamental—not consistently keeping the same volume—and this

may be due to their age, which doesn’t seem to be a repairable factor. At some point in the future it

may be possible to get new speakers , which would undoubtedly be smaller and more efficient.

Pastor Carol brought up that the church has completed its entire 30/60/90 Goal List except for one

item: We still want to get the windows cleaned, inside and out. A very generous offer of funding for

this project has been received from a Hope member, so Betty Johnson agreed to take on the responsi-

bility of contacting some window cleaning businesses to get estimates.

The team talked about advertising methods to post the opening for a musician to take over for Ed

Stinson. Ads will be placed on Craig’s List, and Handshake, and posted throughout the Crossroads

District via their newsletter. The area colleges and the FIM will be contacted, and we can post the

opening on our Facebook page as well as on our website. Please help us spread the word that we are

searching for a new musician with strong keyboard skills—piano and/or organ.

The meeting concluded with thoughtful discussion about the changes coming to the United Method-

ist Church in Michigan—the merging of the two conferences into one, and the probable reduction in

the number of districts in the state from 12 to 9. These changes will certainly impact the local

churches in various ways, but we are still looking forward with hope and faith. Pastor Carol and

Nancy Howland will be representing Hope UMC at Annual Conference June 1 through June 4. This

will be the first time for the two Conferences to meet jointly—there will certainly be interesting sto-

ries to hear from Pastor Carol and Nancy when they return!

The next Leadership Team meeting will be Monday, June 19th at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend. cc

Church Email Addresses: Pastor Carol Blair Bouse: [email protected]

Main office: [email protected]

Robin McCalden: [email protected]

Felicia Hall: [email protected]

Website: hopechurchonthehill.com

4

This Month’s Helpers June 4—Pentecost! Wear Red!

Preacher: Rev. Betty Blair

Lay Reader: Harold Branstner

Greeters: Jeanette Essler & Faye Hagon

Ushers: Jim Smith, Bob Miller, Dick Carmack, Dick Lee

Host Family: Frances Price

Counters: Betty Johnson & Donna Wright

June 11

Lay Reader: Joy Crane

Greeters: Bob & Clara Larson

Ushers: Beverly Hunt, Earlynn Frye, Beth Sly, Elaine Wright,

Bea Reed, Janet Carmack, Elaine Olmsted

Host Family: Nancy Howland

Counters: Linda Johnson & Bob Miller

June 18

Lay Reader: Jerry Whitacre

Greeters: Betty Johnson & Linda Johnson

Ushers: Jackie Beckley, Clara Larson, Cheryl Thoms, Alwayne Zinn

Syd Gargagliano

Host Family: Pastor Bouse and Family

Counters: Betty Johnson & Dorothy Craig

June 25

Lay Reader: Keri Crane

Special Music: Flint Scottish Pipe Band

Greeters: Marv & Judy Payne

Ushers: Jim Phelps, Larry Green, Forrest Coontz, Keith Jordan, Neil Wright

Host Family: Potluck

Counters: Linda Johnson & Donna Wright

Sunday School News from Miss Nancy

At the end of the school year, we will be taking

a break from weekly Children’s Sunday School.

We will start back when the school year begins

in the fall.

I still hope to see you throughout the summer.

Feel free to come sit with me when you are in

church! Miss Nancy

The choir will sing on Father’s Day, June

18th, then begin a summer vacation. If you, or

someone you know, is interested in providing

special music during worship sometime this

summer, please let Felicia Hall know, or con-

tact the church office. Choir will resume in

September.

The Joyful Noise Bell Choir will also be tak-

ing a summer break, but will resume rehears-

als in August. They’ll be ready to play early in

the fall that way!

Music in the Summer

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Michigan Annual Conference June 1-4

It is that time again for us Church geeks—Annual Conference time. I believe this is my 30th Annual

Conference. I attended my first one while I was still in High School. I continued while at Adrian Col-

lege and during Seminary. Each year Annual Conference brings members together to do the business

of the church. We gather in worship every day, including remembering clergy, spouses and lay mem-

bers to DAC who have died during the past year. A high point is always the Service of Ordination.

Also the work of the DAC happens as we hear reports along with budgets and plans. We have a time

of teaching and we gather together for many meals.

This year is different. For the first time the Detroit Annual Conference and the West Michigan Annual

Conference will be jointly gathered for the entirety as the Michigan Annual Conference. We will be

together for all the above reasons along with a time to welcome Bishop Bard to Michigan. This year

along with all of our normal work we also come together to vote on over 135 pages of legislation for

the creation of the Michigan Annual Conference. This includes such things as structure, policies, pen-

sions and health benefits. Some pieces include just language changes but others are totally new. A

piece of legislation that I assume will get a great deal of discussion is the decision to move from 12

Districts between the Detroit and West Michigan to 9 in the new Michigan Conference. This will

mean each district will increase in size, some to 100+ Churches; thus ministry must change. All of this

and more is planned so that by July 1, 2018 we will be functioning as the Michigan Annual Confer-

ence and by Dec. 31, 2018 all legal and financial paperwork will be completed to legally begin 2019

as one.

This year we will also be taking up 5 General Conference Proposed Constitutional Amendments, one

of which I have been hard at work to insure passage as a member of the DAC Board of Justice, Advo-

cacy and Equity. Paragraph 4, Article IV is trying to be amended the UMC Constitution to include

gender, ability, age and marital status as nondiscriminatory classes. So no Pastor, Church or Confer-

ence can refuse membership, leadership or sacraments to persons based upon race, color, gender, na-

tional origin, ability, age, marital status, or economic condition.

Please pray for Nancy Howland, myself and the almost 2000 other people who will attend the 2017

Annual Conference at the Grand Traverse Resort.

Pastor Carol

Pastor Carol’s Corner:

June 2017 HOPE-filled Words

Website: Hopechurchonthehill.com

6 From Both Sides Now Joni Mitchell’s melancholy song says, “I’ve looked at life from both sides now…” As we antici-pate the coming together of the West Michigan and Detroit Conferences, there are relatively few people who can look at life from both sides of the state of Michigan. Rev. John Hice is one person with that unique perspective.

John has served as a pastor and District Superintendent “on both sides”. He grew up in Dear-born, then served in the West Michigan Conference for 20 years before returning to the De-troit Conference as the pastor at Northville and Royal Oak. While in West Michigan he was the District Superintendent of the Grand Rapids District and now he serves as the Superinten-

dent of the Crossroads District in the Detroit Conference. In addition, John says he served “…not just in two different con-ferences, but two different eras in the life of the church.”

On both sides John has seen the state of the church change significantly because of changes in the culture and the decline of many of our congregations. While some churches which were struggling 20 years ago have lost strength or closed, oth-ers “…are engaging in prayerful and courageous courses of change, adapting to a changing world, and they have grown and become stronger.” Conference programs which worked two decades ago now seem out of date and on both sides we face a new day with shared challenges, all of which play into the conversation about the future of the church and what it means to “create a new conference.”.

When asked about the differences between the West Michigan and Detroit conferences, John says, “I may be a lone voice, but I am not sure there are as many differences as we thought.” He feels the difference might be more between town and country churches vis-a-vis suburban and urban churches, rather than east and west of an imaginary line through the middle of the lower peninsula. He acknowledges there are significantly different views of metropolitan Detroit in the Marquette, Grand Traverse, and Saginaw districts than those churches in the Southeast portion of the state. In his district, he cele-brates the support for the city of Flint during the water crisis, but he also recognizes that for some rural communities there are misgivings about the amount of attention and resources directed to Flint, Detroit and our other urban cen-ters. Sometimes it is our assumptions rather than the reality that get in the way. When folks in Detroit assume that all of Grand Rapids is Dutch Calvinist, or when west-siders perpetuate negative attitudes and prejudices toward Detroit, our as-sumptions get in the way of truly coming together.

But on the positive side, John says “the more we live together, the more we realize the similarities and the shared values which run deeper than our differences. For example, both conferences have a high commitment to mission support through apportionment giving, Advance Specials and local mission teams serving at home and around the world. John believes Michigan United Methodists offer an example of the balance of Wesleyan theology—personal holiness coupled with social holiness—which could be a model for the rest of the church. He believes there is a balance between deep spirituality and prayer on one hand and social engagement on the other, representing a desire to “…transform the world through hand and heart.”

Given his experience on both sides, John has experienced the differences in structure and policies, places where he says we can learn from each other and seek new directions. The differences in health care for clergy, appointive practices by the Bishop and cabinet, the ways in which business is conducted in the annual conference session, and the systems for provid-ing missional church support in the districts offer opportunities to discern the best practices and develop new ways of doing our work as a church. For example, the cabinet has developed a “Forms Ministry Team” to look at all the forms the local church provides for Church Conference, asking “Why?” and “What is the best approach?”

When asked about the proposal for nine districts, John said, “It may or may not be financially beneficial. End of the day there may be some cost savings, but more important is the shift to encourage the superintendents to be the “Chief Mis-sional Strategist” for the district in order to create more collaboration between the churches.” He says the sheer size of the districts will be “…challenging, but it should be empowering as well.”

Finally, John said, “I celebrate the spirit, commitment and faith of United Methodists across the state, north and south, east and west, to work together to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” Having looked at life from both sides, John is encouraged about the future of the church as we move into this new venture together.

(Article originally published in the May 17, 2017 MICONNECT. Author,: Rev. John E. Harnish, Retired clergy member of DAC

Rev. John Hice, Crossroads DS

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Hope Church's Mission Statement

To make new disciples of Jesus Christ

for the transformation of the world.

Hope Church's Vision Statement

To experience and share the love of God with our community.

4467 Beecher Rd

Flint, MI 48532

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