Each week, general church announcements and the calendar for the coming week appear in the worship folder for both the downtown and Green Wood services. The deadline for submissions is noon on Wednesday the week prior. Around major church holidays, the normal deadline may change. Bulletin announcements should be submitted to Adele Roy at the church office (adele@fumc-a2.org ). Announcements from organizations outside First Church will be included as space permits.
There are forms available through the church office so church groups may request to hang banners, use the display cases, and have tables set in the Social Hall during Connections. Please plan to make requests at least one week in advance. Please also bring to the office during business hours any smaller signs you wish to post, or tack them to the appropriate bulletin board. A room setup sheet (sometimes referred to as a "Green Sheet") is now available online. Please print it out, fill it in, and return it to the church office at least five days prior to your event to ensure your room is properly prepared for your event.
WEEKLY MEETING NOTES
SUNDAY: Global Issues 11 am, Aldersgate room. Examining issues of faith & society.
TUESDAY: WOWMOMs 9:30 am, Asbury room. Childcare available.
WEDNESDAY: Mothers Circle 9:30 am, Asbury room. Childcare available.
THURSDAY: Men’s Thursday Luncheon Club 11:30 am, Green Wood. Lunch at noon; program at 12:30 pm. First time visitors free.
THURSDAY: Body & Soul 7 pm, Burkhead’s (2255 S. 7th) for people who would like to shed a few pounds in the fellowship of other caring folks. Call ahead, 662-9853.
FRIDAY: L.O.V.E. Thy Neighbor Bag Lunch preparation 6:30-8:30 pm Social Hall & Kitchen. Help prepare bag lunches for distribution to our community homeless.
SATURDAY: L.O.V.E. Thy Neighbor Bag Lunch distribution 6:45-9 am at the St. Andrews Church Kitchen.
SATURDAY: Alcoholics Anonymous 10 am, Calkins. A faith-based support group for alcoholics and their families. Children’s support group meets in Room 211/212.
Updated Thursday, May 15, 2008
Church Email outage coming up — We will transition to a new email provider the evening of Wed., May 21. Any mail sent after 5pm that night will likely not get through. We hope to have everything up and running the morning of Thu., May 22.
Please sign up to host Lemonade on the Lawn — A sign-up sheet is posted on the bulletin board near the Welcome Center in the West entry, downtown. Lemonade on the Lawn begins June 1!
Mission Focus for May - FUMC CAN! In Washtenaw County, 1 in every 10 children lives in poverty. Children living in poverty are more likely to experience poor health, struggle in school, have social problems, or experience violent crime. Perhaps most important – persistently poor children frequently end up as poor adults. FUMC CAN make a difference and help break the cycle of poverty for 135 children living in Ann Arbor’s Green Baxter Court and Hikone low income family housing complexes. Partnering with the Community Action Network (CAN), FUMC CAN offers a variety of small, doable projects or donation opportunities to help children succeed by building self esteem and developing necessary education and life skills. To learn more contact Mary (m19danforth44@sbcglobal.net or 426-7910) or Chris (Christine_Nelson@mac.com or 429-0875).
Stop by our youth mission table at Connections! FUMC youth support disadvantaged children through missions. Sale of Kenyan necklaces provides education scholarships for youth. Donations for “If Everyone Cared” wristbands help feed 90 Bulgarian children every day. All monies go directly to these projects.
Plan for your own interment or that of a loved one. Talk with a Memorial Garden committee member during Connections in May. Call Elaine Fisher with questions, 663-1706.
The downtown display cases in May feature the “challenge” quilts of Carol Spaly, each made using a specific set of rules.
J.O.Y. (Just Older Youth) Luncheon r.s.v.p.s for the May 22 event are due Mon., May 19!
Can you help serve our senior citizens lunch that day? Join Chef Joanne May 22 in the Social Hall. It’ll be a true Memorial Day picnic with traditional Irish musical entertainment by award-winning David Bowen. There are lots of ways to help anytime between 10 am—2 pm. Contact Pastor Joanne (662- 4536 or joanne@fumc-a2.org).
Curious about NOOMA? Join us on Wednesdays, 7-8:30 pm in the Asbury Room to view and discuss NOOMAs, short films that really communicate. This week we will view and discuss “05: Noise.” Visit www.nooma.com for film info. Hosted by Helen Ryan, Jean Wong, and Wendy Everett. Contact wendy@fumc-a2.org for more info.
Miriam Circle will meet Tue., May 20 at noon for a salad potluck luncheon at the home of Marge Whitacre, 915 Vesper Road. Guests are welcome.
Please bring your used and unwanted candles to help the L.O.V.E. project prepare for an upcoming fundraiser. There is a container near the office for you to deposit the candles. Your donations will help to generate funds for making sack lunches for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Attention Singles! Our next brunch will be Sun., May 25, following the late service. We’ll go to Cady’s Grill in Ypsilanti. Call or email Phyllis at 482-8999 or prector@provide.net no later than Fri., May 23 to make your reservation.
Help Raise the Roof — Each Sunday during May the mini “Habitat House” will be displayed during Connections time between services in the Social Hall. Habitat work volunteers are encouraged to visit the house to sign up for our church work days and add their “shingle” to Help Raise the Roof.
Green Wood workday — come help with the spring cleaning at Green Wood on Sat., Jun. 7, from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Snacks available.
Assemble a Playground! On June 6 & 7, six or more FUMC CAN make a difference by helping the families of Hikone housing complex assemble a new playground unit. No special skills or tools required. A manufacturer’s rep will be on hand to guide and oversee the project. Interested? Contact Chris (429-0875 or christine_nelson@mac.com).
Our next IHN host week is coming up — FUMC will host homeless families through the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) at Alpha House the week of June 16-25. This requires about 80 volunteers to prepare dinners, provide food for meals, serve as hosts for dinner, participate in evening activity time with the children, and to stay overnight. We also need hosts for times throughout the day on both Saturday and Sunday. In addition, we provide supplies for the pantry at Alpha House. Stop by the downtown social hall during Connections between services to sign up, or contact Beth Lipton at
turboteach@aol.com or 665-9033. Please note: Our other IHN Host week for 2008 is Nov. 10-16.
Thank you for your continued ministry to our homeless neighbors at Alpha House!
OUR COMMUNITY
Notes from the Holy Land — Recently returned from a visit to Palestine and Israel, Bishop Thomas Gumbleton has witnessed the occupation and its brutality first hand. He will share his impressions, experiences, and observations at this dinner/fundraiser for Detroit/Ann Arbor Sabeel. Event will be held Thu., May 22, at 6:30 pm at Ramallah Club of Metro Detroit (27484 Ann Arbor Trail, Westland.) Tickets are $30. For tickets see Bart Beavin (332-0030) or call 734-741-1273.
Foreclosure workshop — Attend a free seminar with a light dinner and find out how to protect your most valuable asset, your home, in troubled times. There are two locations/dates: Thu., May 22 from 6-8:30 pm at the New Progressive Missionary Baptist Church (5055 Platt Rd., Ann Arbor), or Thu., Jun. 5 from 6-8:30 pm at the New Testament Baptist Church (1230 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti.) Register now, space is limited: 734-998-9341 or tavny@umich.edu.
