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2018 Annual Reports
2019
OFFICIARY First United Methodist Church
212 S. Park Street | Kalamazoo, MI 49007
269.381.6340 | www.umc-kzo.org
We are a Reconciling Congregation, welcoming all.
Experience, Celebrate, and Share God’s love
OUR MISSION
We are called to
Experience God’s love
Celebrate God’s love
Share God’s love
OUR VISION
We are a Faith Community
Alive in Christ
Open to all
Growing in faith
Serving our neighbors
Active in the world
We are a Reconciling Congregation.
First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo invites
all persons to join us on our journey of faith.
Jesus Christ calls us to be an inclusive church
that exemplifies the kingdom of God.
We strive to move toward reconciling relationships with all,
affirming those who are marginalized
for any reason, including sexual orientation or gender identity.
We welcome all with
open hearts, open minds, open doors.
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2 0 1 9 O F F I C I A R Y 2 0 1 8 A N N U A L R E P O R T S
Table of Contents Page
Church Conference Agenda ........................................................................................................ 4
2019 Church Council .................................................................................................................... 5
First United Methodist Church Staff .......................................................................................... 6
Nominating Committee Report .................................................................................................. 7-14
Membership Report ..................................................................................................................... 15-16
First Church Ministers (volunteers) ........................................................................................... 17-20
Ministry Team Reports:
Building & Grounds ............................................................................................................... 21-22
Children & Families Ministry Team .................................................................................... 23-25
Church Council ........................................................................................................................ 26-27
Congregational Care Ministry Team .................................................................................... 27
Dream Team ............................................................................................................................. 28-29
Endowment .............................................................................................................................. 29
Finance ..................................................................................................................................... 30-31
First Stitchers ............................................................................................................................ 31
Food Pantry .............................................................................................................................. 32
Helping Our Neighbors Ministry .......................................................................................... 32-33
Hospitality Team .................................................................................................................... 33
Justice Team ............................................................................................................................ 34
Justice For Our Neighbors Ministry (JFON) ........................................................................ 35-36
Lay Leader Report ................................................................................................................... 37
Lifelong Learning Ministry Team ......................................................................................... 38
Memorial Committee .............................................................................................................. 39
Minister of Music ..................................................................................................................... 39-40
Music & the Arts Committee ................................................................................................. 41
Outreach Team ......................................................................................................................... 41-42
Pastor’s Report – Senior Pastor ............................................................................................. 43
Pastor’s Report – Pastor of Youth Ministries & Emerging Ministries .............................. 44-45
Pastor’s Report – Pastor of Children & Families Ministries .............................................. 46
Pastor’s Report – Pastor of Congregational Care ................................................................ 47
Pastor’s Report – Pastor of Congregational Development & Innovation ........................ 48
Pew Patrol................................................................................................................................. 49
Reconciling Ministries............................................................................................................. 49-50
Richard Knapp Bequest Review Committee ....................................................................... 50
St. Andrews Worship Ministry Team ................................................................................... 51
Social Justice and Youth & Young Adults Intern ................................................................ 51-52
Staff Parish Relations .............................................................................................................. 52
Stephen Ministry ..................................................................................................................... 53
Stewardship Team Report ...................................................................................................... 54
Trustees ..................................................................................................................................... 54-55
United Methodist Man: Dawn & Sunrise Patrols ............................................................... 56-57
United Methodist Women ...................................................................................................... 57
Worship Technology Vision Team ........................................................................................ 58-59
You Are Not Alone (YANA) Ministry .................................................................................. 59
Report of the Finance Committee ............................................................................................... 60-62
Trustee’s Report ............................................................................................................................ 63-64
- 4 -
First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo
Church Conference Agenda
December 11, 2018 @ 7 p.m.
*Please stand in body or in spirit
WELCOME Rev. Steve Charnley
CALL TO ORDER & OPENING PRAYER Rev. Dwayne Bagley
*OPENING HYMN #203 (red hymnal) “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed”
CELEBRATING THE WITNESS Video Presentation
ELECTION OF SECRETARY FOR CHURCH CONFERENCE Rev. Dwayne Bagley
ELECTION OF LAY LEADERSHIP Rev. Steve Charnley
CLERGY & DIRECTORS’ COMPENSATION RECOMMENDATION Dan Adams, SPRC Chair
MEMBERSHIP REPORT Rev. Steve Charnley
DIALOGUE WITH THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT Rev. Dwayne Bagley
*CLOSING HYMN #2153 (black hymnal) “I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me”
*CLOSING PRAYER Rev. Steve Charnley
- 5 -
First United Methodist Church - Kalamazoo
2019 CHURCH COUNCIL
Co-Chairperson ............................................................. Karen Hassevoort, 569-5160
Co-Chairperson ............................................................. Vickie Winfield, 744-2338
Secretary ......................................................................... Jim Librizzi, (616) 644-2446
Lay Leader ..................................................................... Jonathan Richardson, 720-0166
Lay Members of Annual Conf. (8-year limit) ............. John Clark, 343-7285
Fred Douglas, 373-6838
Jonathan Richardson, 720-0166
Deb Search Willoughby, 349-9311
Molly Williams, 375-4867
Reserve Lay Member to Annual Conf. ....................... Lisa Coe, (269) 599-8979
Board of Trustees Chair ............................................... Larry Lueth, 324-3522
Finance Chair ................................................................. Molly Williams, 375-4867
Staff/Parish Relations Chair ........................................ Dan Adams, 343-2628
Lay Leadership Chair ................................................... Rev. Steve Charnley, 381-6340
Treasurer ........................................................................ Terry O’Connor , 342-4608
UMW Rep ...................................................................... Nancy Hilliard, 370-1883
Young Adult Rep .......................................................... Elizabeth Batten, 816-0804
First Care Board President ........................................... Deanna Welter, (231) 670-0373
Shaunna Padgett, 870-0714
MINISTRY TEAMS
Children & Families Ministries ............................... Jocelyn Newman, 615-3189
Congregational Care ................................................ Laura Van Vlack-Ailes, 349-9988
Robin Entenman, 344-2157
Hospitality ................................................................ Bruce Binns , 345-6279
Justice ........................................................................ Ray Sweany, 350-5977
Ann Sweany, 350-5977
JFON (Rep on MI JFON Board) ................................. David Lundquist, 352-0582
Lifelong Learning ..................................................... John Clark, 343-7285
Membership Engagement ....................................... Dave Lundquist,
Memorial Committee ............................................... Cheryl Anderson, 327-5436
Music & The Arts ...................................................... Liz Moon, 329-2899
Carol Hodges, 342-6647
Outreach ..................................................................... Mark Oudersluys, 345-0579
Reconciling Ministry Team ..................................... Lori Owens-Rogers , 574-360-6525
Diane Owen-Rogers, 377-8434
Security ....................................................................... Michael Seals , 744-4220
Seminary Intern Liaison........................................... Andy Vorbrich, 343-1906
Stewardship ............................................................... Jerry Bultema, 203-7435
Mike Cooper, 501-3700
St. Andrews Group (Worship Overview) ................. Carol Hodges, 342-6647
- 6 -
CLERGY/DIRECTOR TEAM
Senior Pastor....................................................................... Steve Charnley, 381-6340, x227
Associate Pastor ................................................................. Julie Kline, 381-6340, x232
Pastor of Children & Families Ministries ....................... Dan Duncan, 381-6340, x231
Pastor of Congregational Care ......................................... Keith Treman, 381-6340, x211
Pastor of Cong. Development & Innovation ................. Manohar Joshi, 381-6340, x238
Minister of Music ............................................................... Jacqueline Stilger, 381-6340, x245
Church Business Administrator ...................................... Ruth LaMachia, 381-6340, x228
STAFF (not on Church Council)
Administrative Partner in Ministry ................................ Christine Landreville, 381-6340 x223
Bookkeeper ......................................................................... Curt Flowers, 381-6340, x229
Communications Coordinator/Webmaster ................... Jennifer Stupica, 381-6340, x224
Contributions Assistant .................................................... Brenda Tucker, 381-6340, x 236
Custodian ............................................................................ Pamala Roman, 312-6880
Custodian ............................................................................ Todd Bloomfield, 668-4711
Custodian/Security ............................................................ Vickee Seals, 929-4640
First Care Director ............................................................. Julie Meyers, 381-6340, x239
First Singers Director ........................................................ Rich Peavler, 629-4661
JFON Attorney ................................................................... Kathy Purnell, 743-2501
JFON Legal Assistant ........................................................ Coral Cervantes, 743-2501
Lead Audio-Video Technician ......................................... Max Neeley, 381-6340, x242
Maintenance ....................................................................... Austen Rial, (760) 672-0851
Office Assistant .................................................................. Thom Victor, 381-6340, x222
Office Assistant/Security .................................................. Robin Entenman, 344-2157
Organist .............................................................................. Bernie Foulk, 381-6340, x240
Security ............................................................................... Ernesto Escobedo, 290-9347
Social Justice and Youth & Young Adults Intern .......... Elizabeth Batten, 816-0804
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MINISTRY TEAMS
All ministry teams are active, functioning groups that have a particular mission within the overall
ministry of the congregation. Team Leaders are nominated by the Nominating Committee for a
specific term, usually three years. Members of the ministry teams either volunteer or are recruited by
the ministry teams themselves, the clergy staff, or Nominating Committee. There is no set term for
members of ministry teams.
ARCHIVES
Ray & Sue Eden, 375-9880 JoAnne Ivey, (630) 640-5963
Staff: Ruth LaMachia
CHILDREN & FAMILIES MINISTRY TEAM (CFM)
Chair: Jocelyn Newman, 616-890-0923;
Sharon Bunker, 329-1196
Kylee Adams, 343-2628
Molly Geerlings, 324-8213
Nate Hawthorne, 373-1546
Julia Librizzi, 616-644-2446
Joyce Moore, 553-9802
Liza Wolfe, 349-1492
Staff: Dan Duncan
CONGREGATIONAL CARE MINISTRY TEAM
Leaders: Laura VanVlack-Ailes, 349-9988; Robin Entenman, 344-2157
Judy Aardema, 381-3805
Dave Arnold, 323-2344
Wendy Arnold, 323-2344
Jim Barney, 251-1187
Janice Brown, 998-4799
Wayne Conner, 271-3513
Robin Entenman, 344-2157
Ruth Evelyn Graham, 327-8799
Carol Grant, 375-0321
Kay Gross, 629-5462
Ginnie Hessler, 382-3824
Carol Hodges, 342-6647
Bob Hunt, 373-1588
Joyce Moore, 553-9802
Lisa Stucky, 365-0649
Barb Toshalis, 365-0313
Ruth Ann Uggen, 671-4407
Staff: Rev. Keith Treman, Rev. Steve Charnley
FIRST CARE BOARD
Leader: Matt Morgan, 517-449-1400
Carol Hamet, 345-1684
Carol Holms, 327-8673
Karen Hornish, 375-9664
Ann Kneas, 873-1550
Judy Sims, 388-5220
Deanna Welter, 734-231-6058
Staff: Julie Meyers, Dan Duncan
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HOSPITALITY MINISTRY TEAM Leader: Bruce Binns , 345-6279
Maggie Binns, 345-6279
Sue Eden, 375-9880
JoAnne Ivey, (630) 640-5963
Lisa Stucky, 365-0649
Mark Stucky, 365-0649
Ruth Ann Uggen, 671-4407
Staff: Ruth LaMachia
JUSTICE MINISTRY TEAM (including Justice For Our Neighbors (JFON)
Leaders: Ray Sweany, Ann Sweany, 350-5977
Max Brinkley, 372-4507
Mollie Clements, 226-0910
Wayne Connor, 271-3513
Miriam Downey, 342-6630
Sue Eden, 375-9880
Nancy Hilliard, 671-4917
David Kingsley, 762-8485
David Lundquist, 352-0582
Ann & Dave Martin, 345-1251
Ellen McDonald, 372-1639
Beth Mitchell, 343-6806
Kari Parthasarathy, 303-7119
Sue Paul, 349-8218
Hank Rohs, 375-0758
Chris Schlegel, 345-2981
Len Schoenherr, 903-2182
Joan Schroeder (Gull Lake UMC)
Kelly-Jien Warner-Miller
Staff: Steve Charnley
1) Michigan United
Leaders: Mollie Clements, 226-0910
Ray & Ann Sweany, 350-5977
Staff: Steve Charnley, Julie Kline
2) Interfaith Coalition for Peace & Justice
Leader: Mollie Clements, 226-0910
Wayne Connor, 271-3513
Staff: Steve Charnley
3) ISSAC
Leader: Ray Sweany
- 9 -
LIFELONG LEARNING MINISTRY
Leader: John Clark , 343-7285
Ellen & Max Brinkley, 372-4507
Andrew Eaton, 372-5644
Nancy Hyde, 375-8717
Becky Pence, 372-2312
Deb Search Willoughby, 349-9811
Staff: Steve Charnley
MEMBERSHIP ENGAGEMENT
Leader: TBD
Dan Bunker, 329-1196 David Lundquist, 352-0582
MUSIC & THE ARTS MINISTRY TEAM
Leader: Liz Moon, 329-2899; Carol Hodges, 342-6647
Jim & Marilyn Barney, 251-1187
Carol Grant, 375-0321
Sally Hubbard, 344-7681
Molly & Roger Williams, 375-4867
Staff: Jacqueline Stilger, Bernie Foulk. Jennifer Stupica
OUTREACH MINISTRY TEAM
Leader: Mark Oudersluys, 345-0759
Wayne Conner, 269-271-3513
Bill & Mary Lee Dimond, 375-1504
Donna Dunyak, 344-0056
Donna Oudersluys, 345-0759
Ray & Ann Sweany, 350-5977
Pat Stevenson, 323-2722
Staff: Julie Kline
RECONCILING MINISTRY
Co-Leaders: Diane Owen-Rogers, 377-8434; Lori Owen-Rogers, 567-360-6525
Jim & Marilyn Barney, 251-1187
Mollie Clements, 366-4901
Vicki Eichstaedt, 344-0810
Jeanne Grubb, 447-4301
Carol Hamet, 345-1684
Karen Hassevoort, 569-5160
David Lundquist, 352-0582
Dick Shilts, 375-7890
Kim Taylor, 353-2893
Dawn Wheaton, 330-5152
Deb Search Willoughby, 349-9311
Staff: Rev. Steve Charnley, Rev. Julie Kline, Rev. Dan Duncan, Rev. Keith Treman, Ruth LaMachia,
Jacqueline Stilger, Lisa Batten
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STEPHEN MINISTRY
Leaders: Wendy Arnold, 323-3244, Donna Meninga (Sunnyside UMC), 388-5837:
Ann Kneas, 349-6376; Judy Sims, 388-5220
David Arnold, 323-3244
Sharon Dougan, 312-8602
Ruth Evelyn Graham, 327-8799
Becky Lawson, 375-0325
Claire Peek, 254-8245
Staff: Steve Charnley, Keith Treman
STEWARDSHIP MINISTRY TEAM
Leader: Jerry Bultema, 203-7435 and Mike Cooper, 501-3700
Allison Bland, 598-3233
Matthew Bland, 547-9133
Margie Bultema, 203-7435
Don Chalker, 375-9884
Harriet Chalker, 375-9884
Janet Cooper, 501-3701
Mike Cooper, 501-3700
Cari Miller, 330-0654
Dennis Moon, 329-2899
Gary Miner, 382-2605
Roger Williams, 375-4867
Staff: Steve Charnley, Ruth LaMachia
ST. ANDREWS WORSHIP MINISTRY TEAM
Leader: Carol Hodges, 342-6647
(Team comprised of leaders from each of the following constituent groups)
Staff: Steve Charnley, Ruth LaMachia
1) Emerging Worship Team
Molly Geerlings, 324-8213
Nancy Hyde, 375-8718
Bob Lane, 382-2390
Lori Owen-Rogers, 377-8434
Dawn Wheaton, 350-5152
Deb Search Willoughby, 349-9311
Staff: Julie Kline, Jackie Stilger, Ruth LaMachia, Thom Victor, Marc Pendziszewski
2) Worship Enrichment Team
Co-Leaders: Deb Search Willoughby, 762-3529; Carol Grant, 375-0321
Nancy Douglas, 373-6838
Sally Hubbard, 344-7681
Kristy Lepley, 381-4842
Staff: Steve Charnley, Julie Kline, Dan Duncan, Jackie Stilger, Bernie Foulk
- 11 -
YOUTH MINISTRIES
Jay Gross, 382-0597
Amber Walker, 321-0538
Derek Wheaton, 998-7829
Vickee Seals, 929-4640
Staff: Julie Kline, Elizabeth Batten
Youth Council
Lukas Bolton
William Fulton
Hannah Geerlings
Molly Gross
Natalie Gross
Emma Hampton
Hannah Koshar
Kameran Long
Thomas Murphy
Logan Neeley
Staff: Julie Kline
- 12 -
ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEES
Administrative Committees report to the Church Council, except where Trustee fiduciary duties
direct otherwise. Staffing of the Administrative Committees, both the chairpersons and the members
of the committees, are filled by nomination of the Nominating Committee. The Board of Trustees,
Finance Committee, Staff-Parish Relations Committee and Nominating Committee are required by
“The Book of Discipline.”
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Chair: Larry Lueth Vice-chair: Chris Bovid
Treasurer: Carol Hodges Secretary: Thom Victor
(Officers elected by Trustees at their January meeting)
2019 2020 2021
Chris Bovid, 735-255-0901 Larry Lueth, 324-3522 Richard Long, 808-1820
Thom Victor, 404-772-1353 Kari Parthasarathy, 303-7119 Mitch Wilson, 327-7131
Michel Pierce, 375-4526 Carol Hodges, 342-6647
Staff: Steve Charnley, Ruth LaMachia
1) Building & Grounds
Chair: Thomas Schaberg, 327-1821
Steve Hassevoort, 388-3025
Chuck Hubbard, 344-7681
Bill Smith, 344-4402
Ray Sweany, 350-5977
Larry Taylor, 353-2893
Sally Vorbrich, 808-0733
Jim Willoughby, 349-9311
Mitch Wilson, 327-7131
Staff: Ruth LaMachia, Austen Rial
2) Kitchen Committee
Chair: Ray Sweany, 350-5977
Barb Miller, 343-3339 Liz Moon, 329-2899
Staff: Ruth LaMachia
3) Richard Knapp Bequest Committee
Chair: Karen Hassevoort Secretary: Larry Taylor
2019 2020 2021
Daniel Russell, 352-8645 Paul Cutler, 350-5740 Jerry Bultema, 203-7435
Miriam Downey, 342-6630 Dennis Moon, 329-2899 JoAnne Ivey, (630) 640-5963
Jay Gross, 382-0597 Lisa Whittaker, 370-0901 Larry Taylor, 353-2893
- 13 -
4) Permanent Endowment Fund Committee for Bequests and Gifts
Chair: Jeanne Grub, 447-4301
Chris Bovid, 734-255-0901 Terry O’Connor, 370-7306
Keith Mumma, 598-1313
Staff: Steve Charnley, Ruth LaMachia
COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT (CONALD)
Chair: Steve Charnley, 381-6340
2019 2020 2021
Fred Douglas, 373-6838 Ed Hessler, 382-3824 Dawn Wheaton, 330-5152
Lisa Stucky, 365-0649 Ellen Rowe, 381-4255
Ex-Officio Lay Leader: Jonathan Richardson, 375-3722
Staff: Steve Charnley
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Chair: Molly Williams, 375-4867
2019 2020 2021
Allen Stupica, 352-7765 Shirley Palmer, 344-2592 Sandy Gower, (517) 204-5359
Jeremy Welter, (231) 670-0373 Sally Vorbrich, 808-0733
Ex-Officio: Treasurer: Terry O’Connor, 342-4608
Church Council Co-Chairs: Vickie Winfield, Karen Hassevoort
SPRC Chair: Dan Adams, 343-2628
Lay Member to Annual Conference: John Clark, 343-7285
Lay Leader: Jonathan Richardson, 375-3722
Trustee Rep: Carol Hodges,
Stewardship Co-Chairs: Jerry Bultema, 203-7435; Mike Cooper, 501-3700
Staff: Ruth LaMachia, Steve Charnley. Curt Flowers
JFON ADVISORY GROUP
Leader: Mollie Clements, 366-4901
Miriam Downey, 267-7909
David Lundquist, 352-0582
Ann Sweany, 350-5977
Ray Sweany, 350-5977
Cathy Ur, 342-1376
Beth Mitchell
Jimoh Bibilomo
Albert Gasake
Janet Jones
Sharat Kamath
Adelene Mushikiwabo
Chris Schlegel
- 14 -
MEMORIAL COMMITTEE
Chair: Cheryl Anderson (17), 327-5436
Lou Bradley, 349-6504
Bob & Jan Hunt, 373-1588
Linda Lueth, 324-3522
Durrell & Marsha McKenzie, 375-9895
Sarah Wilson, 327-7131
Staff: Steve Charnley, Ruth LaMachia
STAFF PARISH RELATIONS (SPRC)
Chair: Dan Adams, 343-2628
2019 2020 2021
Carol Hurley, 324-4034 Nancy Hyde, 375-8718 Dan Adams, 343-2628
Mark Stucky, 365-0649 David Lundquist, 352-0582 Tammy Eaton, 372-5644
Lori Owen-Rogers, (574)360-6525 Tim Faillo, 867-349-0063 Bruce Grubb, 447-4301
Ex-Officio:
Lay Member Annual Conference: John Clark, 343-7285
Lay Leader: Jonathan Richardson, 375-3722
Staff: Steve Charnley
- 15 -
- 16 -
First Church Ministers
Academy Class Planners
& Presenters
Bruce Binns
Steve Charnley
John Clark
Andrew Eaton
Tammy Eaton
Ron Grant
Carol Hodges
Nancy Hyde
Mantu Joshi
Andrew Lehman
David Lundquist
Becky Pence
Diane Owen-Rogers
Dick Shilts
Lisa Stucky
Mark Stucky
Ann Sweany
Jerry Toshalis
Deb Search Willoughby
Acolytes
Ella Adams
Owen Adams
Collin Bland
Josie Bland
Nicholas Dolislager
Layla Eaton
Andrew Hampton
Janae Joshi
Isabella Ledlow
Sam Ledlow
Carolyn Librizzi
Lucas McGinnis
Alex Moon
Evelyn Moon
Zoe Newman
David Wilkinson
Andrew Wright
Adult Handbell Choir
Ken Archey (Equipment
Manager)
Marilyn Archey
Connie Elzinga
Yvonne Fulton
Lucas Geer
Paula Hall
Carol Hodges
Kameran Long
Cari Miller (sub)
Elizabeth Moon (sub)
Gina Rakowski
Vickee Seals
Anne Sherfield
Laura VanVlack-Ailes
Derek Wheaton
Elise Warnicke
Molly Williams
Kathy Winchell
Angel Tree Coordinators
Pat Stevenson
Paul Stevenson
Archives
JoAnne Ivey
Ray Eden
Sue Eden
Bronson Park Food
Pantry
Cheryl Anderson
Wendy Arnold
Janie Bare
Jim Barney
Marilyn Barney
Maggie Binns
Ray Eden
Sue Eden
Pat Elzerman
Ashton Fredenburg
Carol Grant
Ron Grant
Joan Gray
Paul Gray
Paula Hall
Carol Hamet
Dave Hamman
Kathy Harriger
Nancy Hilliard
Carol Holms
John Holms
Deanna House
Sally Hubbard
Jan Hunt
JoAnne Ivey
Jan Kayser
Janie Kinaf
Judy Kingsley
Barb Kortes
Joanne Lehman
Richard Long
Ellie Miller
Carol Mulligan
Carol Oakley
Don Oakley
Donna Oudersluys
Ellen Portis
Judy Ross
Linda Schell
Judy Sims
Ginger Spaniolo
Sally Stevens
Joyce Treece
Kim Urban
Diane VanGemert
Laura VanVlack-Ailes
Howard Vindedahl
Sue White
-17-
- 18 -
Molly Williams
Roger Williams
Mitch Wilson
Sarah Wilson
Vickie Winfield
Shelly Wisdom-Long
Chancel Choir
Jim Barney
Marilyn Barney
Buff Coe
Lisa Coe
Wayne Connor
Joanne Decker
Kristen DeBruin
Fred Douglas
Nancy Douglas
Roberta Gabier
Barbara Goodwin
Joey Gottschall
Ed Hessler
Karen Hornish
Isaac James
Shannon Kelley
Leonard Marcilous
Elaine Martin
Cari Miller
Dennis Pence
Jane Rettke
Hank Rohs
Lois Schmidt
Vickee Seals
Judy Sims
Halle Shadrake
Ginger Spaniolo
Tom Stobie
Thom Victor
Saj Williams
Children’s Ministry
Leaders
Dan Adams
Kylee Adams
Matt Bland
Margie Bultema
Lisa Coe
Mary Lee Diamond
Pat Elzerman
Emilie Faillo
Tim Faillo
Molly Geerlings
Carol Grant
Nancy Hilliard
JoAnne Ivey
Janie Kinas
Julia Librizzi
Magen Lindstrom
Katy McGinnis
Ashley McKenzie
Shondo Miller
Brian Moon
Joyce Moore
Andrea Murphy
Jocelyn Newman
Matt Newman
Carol Oakley
Donna Oudersluys
Kari Parthasarathy
Daniel Russell
Penny Russel
Anne Sherfield
Adriane Siefert
Colleen Treman
Ruth Ann Uggen
Lisa Whittaker
Shelly Wisdom-Long
Liza Wolfe
Jennifer Wright
Communion
Coordinators
Chuck Hubbard
Sally Hubbard
First Beats (Children’s
Choir)
Colin Bland
Kelcey Briggs
Tessa Hawthorne
Carolyn Librizzi
Kameran Long
Alex Moon
Evelyn Moon
Zoe Newman
Sean Willoughby
First Singers
Wayne Conner
Chris Haber
Carol Hodges
Joyce Moore
Ron Moore
Laurie Nelson
Lori Owen-Rogers
Sue Paul
Rich Peavler
Chris Peavler
Michel Pierce
Jan Schoenherr
Allen Stupica
Andy Vorbrich
Molly Williams
Kathy Winchell
Deb Search Willoughby
Jim Willoughby
First Stitchers
Judy Aardema
Doris Ball
Maggie Binns
Louella Bradley
Miriam Cook
Chris Cupper
Lena Ellinger
Pat Elzerman
Gwen Haake
- 19 -
Sally Hubbard
Kristy Lepley
Linda Lueth
Ellen McDonald
Lois McGlinsey
Marsha McKenzie
Liz Moon
Carol Oakley
Ellen Portis
Jennifer Stupica
First Strings
Kay Alexander
Kohler Briggs
Mary Butler
Steve Charnley
Buff Coe
Chris DeWolf
Chris Haber
Nancy Hyde
Mike Krischer
Nick Rankin
Anne Sherfield
Allen Stupica
Diane Taylor
First Word Mailing Team
Nancy Hyde
JoAnne Ivey
Joyce Moore
Molly Williams
Roger Williams
Gardeners
Judy Aardema
Jim Willoughby
Hospital Calling Team
Max Brinkley
Bob Hunt
Joyce Moore
Lisa Stucky
Ruth Ann Uggen
Lay Liturgists
Judy Aardema
Lisa Batten
Janice Brown
Edgar Chapel
Buff Coe
Lisa Coe
Lynne Corbus
James Cupper
Jessica Davenport
Kay Gross
Karen Hassevoort
Ginnie Hessler
Carol Hodges
Carol Holms
Carol Hurley
Nancy Hyde
Ann Kneas
John Kneas
Kristina Ledlow
Julia Librizzi
Kameran Long
Linda Lueth
Elaine Martin
Tim Mullikin
Jocelyn Newman
Laurie Nelson
Terry O’Connor
Diane Owen-Rogers
Lori Owen-Rogers
Deb Search Willoughby
Jan Schoenherr
Michael Seals
Christina Stamper
Mark Stucky
Kim Taylor
Joyce Treece
Laura VanVlack-Ailes
Thom Victor
Andy Vorbrich
Amber Walker
Dawn Wheaton
Derek Wheaton
Molly Williams
Vickie Winfield
Meal Ministry
Sharon Dougan
Robin Entenman
Donna Oudersluy
Lisa Stucky
Keith Treman
Laura VanVlack-Ailes
Dawn Wheaton
Office Volunteers
Sharon Bunker
Harriet Chalker
Deanna House
Robin Entenman
Joyce Moore
Becky Pence
Joyce Treece
Laura VanVlack-Ailes
Fay Woolrich
Parish Nurse
Robin Entenman
Pew Patrol
Nancy Hyde
Sue Paul
Jeanne Plott
Jan Schoenherr
Molly Williams
Photographers
Ray Eden
Keith Mumma
Jennifer Stupica
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Prayer Shawls
Joyce Treece
Prayer Bear Ministry
Jennifer Stupica
Sound/Lights
Greg Anderson
Jonah Bolton
Lukas Bolton
Andrew Eaton
Drew Eaton
Bob Lane
Thom Victor
Ukulele Krush
Joanne Decker
Susan Eden
Layla Eaton
Carol Grant
Molly Gross
Nate Hawthorne
Nancy Hyde
Christine Landreville
Lori Owen-Rogers
Jane Rettke
Lois Schmidt
Jacqueline Stilger
MaryAnne Sumney
Thom Victor
Ushers
Timothy Barrera
Lukas Bolton
Dan Bunker
Janet Cooper
Mike Cooper
Michael Deaton
Andrew Gill
Greg Gill
Jay Gross
Ken Hall
Karen Hassevoort
Steven Hassevoort
Diana Lundquist
Tom Lundquist
Durrell McKenzie
Tim Mullikin
Dennis Moon
Liz Moon
Pam O’Connor
Terry O’Connor
Michel Pierce
Wendell Pierce
David Russel
Kim Taylor
Larry Taylor
Jim Treece
Elise Warnicke
Molly Williams
Roger Williams
Van Drivers
Fred Corbus
Jay Gross
Bruce Grubb
Dave Russel
Dan Victor
Wedding Hostesses
Carolyn Betke
Sharon Bunker
Kaye Chodl
Molly Geerlings
Carol Hamet
Joyce Moore
Sherry Oliver
Joyce Treece
Liza Wolfe
BUILDING & GROUNDS COMMITTEE
by Tom Schaberg, Chair
The B & G Committee membership as of November 26, 2018, included Steve Hassevoort, Chuck
Hubbard, Ruth LaMachia, Austen Rial, Tom Schaberg (Chair – B & G), Bill Smith, Ray Sweany- (Kitchen
Chair), Larry Taylor, Sally Vorbrich, Jim Willoughby ( Grounds Chair), and Mitch Wilson. Ruth
represents Business Administration, and Austen is our Maintenance person.
Committee members are to be commended for their participation and dedication to the B & G team’s
work. Regular monthly meetings were held, and several other special project meetings were also
necessary. THANK YOU ALL !
Two high priority projects were completed during the year. First, in June, Stained Glass Specialist Willet
Hauser was contracted for $77,000 ($45,000 R. Knapp Fund, and $32,000 Trustees). The project included
scraping lead based paint from 77 stained glass windows on the first and second floors. Then, two coats
of special metal coating paint was applied. The project took about six weeks and was completed about
July 7, 2018. Much appreciation goes to Austen for his close project management working with the
Willet Hauser specialist. With his constant oversight, the final job met our quality expectations. Thanks
also to Ruth, who had to do much juggling of schedules to accommodate the contractor.
The second project was not planned or expected. Thanks to Jim Willoughby’s observation in August
finding a chunk of limestone on the sidewalk on Park Street at the narthex entrance, immediate follow-
up showed that we had many cracks and loose limestone on the façade of the sanctuary on Park Street.
The B & G Committee and Trustees approved a $45,000 contract with Building Restoration LLC to make
repairs. The cost was paid from the Trustee account. The work started in September and was completed
about November 7, 2018.
OTHER PROJECTS STARTED OR COMPLETED IN 2018:
Parlor renovation cabinets and new A/C.
Close wall opening in Parlor where old HVAC was located - Austen
Remove and replace storm windows in First Care so stained glass windows could be scraped and
painted – Austen & Pam
Replace Carriage House outside light and change to LED – Austen
Paint Fellowship Room – Austen
Repair and replace many emergency lighting fixtures – Austen
Re-tar flat roofs (Tichenor Roofing) – Austen oversight
Replace choir practice room door handles with lever type handles to meet ADA specs – Austen
Install wood plates in restrooms for auto door openers – Austen
Install 5 grab bars in restrooms ADA stalls – Austen
Install 6 portable A/C units in third floor offices – Austen
Stain and varnish window sills in all third floor offices and conference rooms – Austen
Remove and replace ceiling tiles in room 208 and in hallway for new HVAC installation – Austen
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Build and install new cabinets in Kitchenette – reuse doors. Drew Bolton contractor. Cost $1,200 –
Trustee repair fund
Install under cabinet light in Kitchenette – Austen
Install cabinet door latches in Kitchenette – Austen
Build shelves for DVD equipment in Parlor – Austen
Painted new screen casings in Sanctuary – Austen
Painted wire channels for new cameras and emergency lights – Austen
Replace all parking lot lights with LED fixtures and bulbs – ESPER
Installed new HVAC and controls in First Care. Cost $28,000 – Building Reserve Fund
Install new emergency lighting and exit signs to meet Fire Inspectors requests. Cost $6,500 –
Building reserve Fund
HVAC controls upgrade. Cost $6,500 – Building Reserve Fund
New refrigerator for Kitchen. Cost $3,100 – Building Reserve Fund
Barrier free door openers for two restrooms in Perk area. Cost $9,625 – Building reserve Fund.
Control unit repair for Sanctuary rafter lights. Cost $753 – Trustee repair fund.
Three stained glass windows in room 200 were covered with new storm windows on inside. Covers
lead based paint and lead caming. Cost $1,200 – covered with original storm window project fund.
Replace wiring on large chiller by food pantry – chewed by mice. Cost $1,600 – Trustee repair fund.
Paint room 308 – Austen
Ceiling tiles replaced in Pastor’s hallway – Austen
Sidewalk joints uneven – Austen ground down high spots
B & G team approved final plans for Youth Breakfast Bar
B & G approved plans for adding more cameras
Ten Year Capital Plan was approved by B & G Committee and the Trustees on I January 2018.
The annual Sanctuary cleaning was done on Saturday, January 20, 2018. The team was organized
and led by Deb and Rich Karnemaat.
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CHILDREN & FAMILIES MINISTRY TEAM (CFM TEAM)
by Jocelyn Newman, Chair
Team Members: Jocelyn Newman, Rev. Dan Duncan, Rev. Mantu Joshi, Sharon Bunker, Molly
Geerlings, Julia Librizzi, Magen Lindstrom, Joyce Moore, and Liza Wolfe.
“The Mission of Children and Family Ministry is to welcome, support, sustain and guide all children
and families as they grow in God’s love. We move toward this mission through safety, acceptance,
excellence, grace, joy and scripture.”
The CFM Team aspires to meet this mission with each curriculum, program, and activity that the team
develops and/or organizes for the children and families at FUMC. This report will detail the offerings
First United Methodist Church has provided for children and families during the past year.
Sunday School (Sept. through May):
9:15– Noon Infant/Toddler Child Care, “Toddlers & Twos” Deep Blue
9:30-10:30 Preschool through 2nd Grade “Deep Blue”
“ 3rd Grade “Deep Blue”
“ 4th - 6th Grade “Submerge”
Godly Play (Sept. through May):
11:15-Noon 4 to 6 year olds
11:15-Noon 7-8 year olds
June – August:
10 a.m. – end of worship Infant/Toddler care & “Deep Blue” curriculum
Godly Play (one group)
Gathering Time
This program takes place on Sunday morning in “The Arches”, the gathering space for families on the
2nd floor. Children partake in a tasty snack donated by our weekly volunteer “Snack Hero.” First Bells
rehearse one or two times per month, and ring in worship at the 11 a.m. worship about once per month.
All other Sundays the children participate in a 10 minute Sunday School assembly prior to their class
session featuring singing, announcements, and occasional mission activities.
Godly Play
This Montessori-inspired program is held in two specially-equipped rooms on the second floor,
following the “Time with Children” in the sanctuary (11 a.m. service during the school year; 10 a.m.
service in the summer) until the adult worship is finished. Godly Play is both a worship and educational
experience, based on a multi-sensory telling of a Bible story, a time for “wondering” about how the story
connects God with our own lives. Children also have the opportunity to work with the material on their
own, share a “Feast” together, and also participate in communion on the first Sundays of the month.
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Family Fun Nights
CFM is continuing with the Family Fun Nights generally held on the third Friday evening in September,
October, November, January, February, March, April and May (but with exceptions depending on the
activity!). This is a time for families with children to come together for an evening of nothing but fun
and fellowship. We have had pumpkin carving and candlemaking events with pizza/potluck dinners in
Wesley Hall. Many additional events are off-site, including swimming and bowling nights and our first
ever family sledding event. We also held a summer gathering at the Markin Glen Park and coordinated
a family night at a Kalamazoo Growlers game. This important ministry is continually growing and
despite its name, is open to anyone who would like to attend!
Parent’s Night Out:
A new re-occurring event begun this year, the Parent’s Night Out allows families to bring their children
to church for the evening and then head out into the downtown community for dinner and fellowship
with other parents. Children are supervised by prescreened and background-checked caregivers, many
recruited through the Wesley Foundation. This popular event was held twice in 2018 (with a third
“Moms Night Out” event as well) and already has two additional dates in the plans for early 2019.
Check-In/Security:
We offer safe, restricted access to the children’s rooms on the 2nd Floor. Entrance is available through
only 2 entries on Sundays – the West Stairwell and the elevator. Our check-in procedure gives us the
ability to both accurately identify the children, responsible adult, which class they will be in, and to
highlight any pertinent allergies/medical conditions. Background checks are performed on every adult
responsible for child care and teaching. There is an assigned Security Team member each Sunday who
is readily available each week.
Vacation Bible School:
The theme for this year’s annual week-long immersion in the Bible was "Abundance Orchard" held June
18th-22nd. As usual, we partnered with three other downtown churches: First UCC, First Presbyterian,
and St. Luke’s Episcopal. First Presbyterian served as host this year, which featured a hunger action-
themed curriculum written by the leaders from each church. We had close to 100 kids involved at some
point in the week, age 4 through grade 5. Many thanks to the capable volunteers from our church!
Musical Offerings:
First Bells with Liza Wolfe (Spring) and Carol Grant (Fall) – see above.
Children’s Choirs and more - Jackie Stilger, our Musical Director at FUMC provides musical several
opportunities for young children in our congregation. On Sunday mornings following “Time for the
Child in All of Us”, the children ages 4- 3rd grade participate in a 10 minute time of singing. On Tuesday
afternoons, First Beats (children in third through 8th grades) meet and participate in a more advanced
level of musical praise, including singing, bell ringing and Orff instruments. The congregation has
enjoyed many offerings this year from our talented children under Jackie’s exceptional guidance,
including the annual Christmas pageant and musical performance during worship in late spring. CFM’s
goal is to help Jackie in any manner possible, including sign ups, advertising, costumes, supervision at
rehearsals and performances, and food offerings at events.
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Acolytes
CFM oversees the acolyte program in our church, and Jennifer Moon has assumed coordinator duties
this fall. Pastor Dan leads the training of 3rd graders at the beginning of the year.
Children’s Library:
FUMC is blessed to have a wonderful collection of books for children on the 2nd Floor in “The Arches.”
Our goal is to help the children, both congregational members and First Care children to make this
wonderful resource a well-used and loved space.
Baptismal Books
As a useful memento of the sacrament of baptism, CFM has been purchasing Baptismal books for newly
baptized children (The Children of God Storybook Bible, by Desmond Tutu). The congregation is
encouraged to sign the books with encouraging phrases and to remind the child and family that they are
part of a larger story and family than just their own.
Ongoing Ministries, Programs and Events for FUMC Children and Families:
September: 3rd Grade Bible Presentation
Sunday School Kick-off
October: Family Fun Night: Pumpkin Carving and Pizza
Parents’ Night Out
November: Food Blessing and Give-a-way
Family Fun Night: Candlemaking
Parents’ Night Out
December: Children’s Christmas Pageant
Christmas Eve Family Service
January: Family Fun Night: Swimming & potluck
Providing books for the children at a Costa Rican Methodist Children’s
Home
February: Family Fun Night: sledding
March Family Fun Night: bowling
April: Palm Sunday Procession: Bronson Park churches, & Brunch
May: Sunday School Celebration
First Beats’ Musical
Moms’ Night Out
June: Vacation Bible School: Bronson Park Churches
July: Growler’s Game
August: Family Fun Night: Summer Family Picnic
The CFM team continues to be present in the welcome and support the children and families of FUMC
through the provision of many varied opportunities for ministry and participation, to encourage and
assist them as they grow in God’s love, grace, mercy and love.
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CHURCH COUNCIL
by Matt Newman, Church Council Chair
As I come to the end of my third and final year as Church Council Chair, I know that I am blessed to be
a part of such a wonderful church family that goes to tremendous efforts to put our mission in action
here in our local community, and across the greater community we touch. I would like to encourage all
our ministry teams to continue to take full advantage of our engaged Council, and use our inclusive and
mission driven approach to continue to Experience, Celebrate, and Share God’s Love.
The Church Council provides for planning and implementing a program of nurture, outreach, witness,
and resources in our Church. Through the administration of this function, the Council envisions, plans,
implements, and annually evaluates the mission and ministry of the Church. First United Methodist
Church of Kalamazoo has a robust and diverse array of ministry teams and committees that work in
concert with a truly mission centric and dedicated staff to put our mission into action.
The Church Council provides oversight, coordination, and direction in this process and is the group
responsible for legislating key policy decisions on behalf of the congregation and its constituent groups.
The Church Council membership is comprised of Church ministry team and administrative committee
leaders, clergy, directors, and other lay members holding leadership positions. Our approach is non-
hierarchical, allowing each ministry team and administrative committee much leeway to carry out its
responsibilities. The Church Council meets most months on the fourth Tuesday at 7 p.m. Members of
the congregation are welcome to attend our meetings. Any member of the congregation may have a
voice, but only Church Council members may vote on decision items.
A few of the key initiatives approved and/or supported by the Church Council for the year include:
continued support to the Church’s Technology Team for planning and very successful implement-ation
of enhancements to our worship and outreach capabilities to include virtual services in the community;
support and partnership with the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission to include further discussion on how to
better support the homeless population in Kalamazoo; continued focus on security, emergency drills,
and enhancing knowledge to prevent violence and promote appropriate reactions in emergency
situations; further development of outreach ministries; support and expansion of JFON; support for
implementation of the Kids Adventure Program (KAP); continued focus on topics affecting the Global
Church and how our local mission fits; support for UMCOR Hurricane Response; partnership with the
Trustees and Dick Knapp Bequest Committee to support proposals for a Global Mission Fellow and a
consultant to help asses potential areas of growth in our mission and worship; and the completion of the
budget process resulting in a balanced budget for 2019 prior to the end of the calendar year. (Thanks to
the Finance Committee led by Molly Williams, the support of our many ministry teams, and the
continued generosity of the congregation to again make this a reality!)
I have again been humbled this year by the tremendous amount of work our Church does for our
community and the continued generosity of the congregation. Our membership continues to grow and
our many wonderful new members and families jump in and roll up their sleeves to serve in our
mission. This is truly a testament to the active, compassionate, and mission driven congregation that
make up First Church. I know many of you are actively engaged in initiatives, and for those of you who
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are not, there is always an opportunity. All you have to do is ask! I am truly grateful for the
opportunity I have had to serve our church family and our community as the Chair of the Church
Council. We had an amazing year in 2018 and I sure it will be even better in 2019!
CONGREGATIONAL CARE MINISTRY TEAM
by Robin Entenman & Laura VanVlack-Ailes, Co-Chairs
The methods of keeping in contact with our homebound members have had a significant addition this
year. Because of the creative work of the Technology Committee, our homebound members now have
two ways to connect with church services. We now have our weekly satellite services at both Friendship
Village and Heritage Community. Members with computers also have the option of streaming the
service at home or borrowing a church DVD player to watch a DVD of the service. These are great
advances but personal contact is still important, so our committee mission continues to be to help our
homebound members have regular contact with their church family. Our 12 committee members make
regular monthly visits to 19 church members. We augment these visits with telephone ministry. The
quarterly communion services at both Friendship Village and the Heritage Community continue. Our
post-hospital care team and meal ministry continue to operate when requested by the pastors. Some 75
of our church family attended the Four Score and More luncheon in their honor this fall and greatly
enjoyed hearing Ukulele Krush.
COSTA RICA MISSION TEAM
by Sue Eden
A team of sixteen adults known as the KaZoo Crew spent the week of January 27 to February 3, 2018 in
Coronado, Costa Rica working at the Methodist Children’s Home. This was the third year that First
UMC has sent a team to help with the construction of the multi-purpose building. Members raised funds
to cover the cost of building supplies and home operation cost. All personal costs, including airfare,
were paid by team members.
The week was spent with activities such as stuccoing walls and painting roof trusses.
“Heart-prints for God” was our theme for the week. Each child at the home received a book with that
title. All craft activities were based on that theme, too. Of great joy was being able to give each child a
teddy bear with a heart print on the paw that said “Jesus Loves You.” Interacting with the children is the
greatest reward of the week.
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DREAM TEAM
By Mark Oudersluys, Team Facilitator
Five years ago, at the kick-off for the last Forward in Faith Campaign, the church’s consultant Jeff Susor,
stated that he believed that Forward in Faith would be the last building campaign for First United
Methodist Church. However, he went on to say that from his conversations with individuals within the
church, he believed that the next capital campaign the church would undertake would be for outreach or
to address community needs.
In February of 2017, when it was apparent that the Forward in Faith Campaign was nearing completion,
the Outreach Team asked the Church Council for permission to form an exploratory committee to
evaluate the advisability of undertaking a capital campaign to provide assistance to individuals in our
community. After the church council approved the formation of the committee, a small group of
individuals began meeting to review past church involvements and the potential of a future capital
campaign for others. During this time, the group developed a set of operational guidelines and selected
a Bible verse which would describe the goal of the campaign, Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is,
there will be your heart be also.”
FIRST UMC is located in the center of the city, has always had a heart for the city and its residents, and
has a long history of community engagement. How can we best continue to invest our treasure, time,
talents and love in our city? In November 2017, the church council approved a motion to bring the
question of a campaign to the congregation at its annual meeting. At the December 2017 meeting, the
congregation gave its approval to establish a committee to study and develop recommendations that
would involve raising approximately $1,000,000 to make a lasting impact in Kalamazoo.
In February of this year, a group of twenty individuals began exploring how the church could make a
difference in the community. In March, the congregation was asked to provide direction as to what
areas the Dream Team should concentrate it efforts. The congregation indicated their two highest
priorities were housing and hunger. In April, the team began to have discussions with a wide variety of
organizations to learn more about poverty, homelessness, affordable housing and hunger in Kalamazoo.
For the last eight months, the team has met with non-profit organizations working in the areas of
housing and hunger, housing development companies, financial institutions, community foundations,
and with government officials. We have learned that the issues related to poverty and homelessness are
extremely varied and complex. We have also come to realize that while we are undertaking a rather
unique project for a church (having a capital campaign to address the needs of individuals in the
community), we are not the only organization working to address these issues. As a result, we are
attempting to work in conjunction with not only non-profits but also with the city of Kalamazoo and our
community foundations. If we are successful in working together on common goals, we can
significantly increase our impact.
Through our discussions, the team has learned that we have a group of non-profit organizations that are
very effectively addressing the needs of housing and hunger and we are currently in discussion with
these organizations to determine how we can work together. The opportunities are many but how are
we as a church called to best collaborate with these organizations? In one of our discussions when we
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were trying to discern the best approach, one of our members said, “Any organization can write checks,
you are a church, you should be about relationships.” As a result of this discussion we asked ourselves,
how can the Dream Team encourage/foster new personal relationships not only in the community but
also within the church?”
This brings us back to five years ago and our last Forward in Faith campaign. In reviewing what he
learned from our congregation, our consultant indicated that the most vivid memories individuals
recalled were those that created a sense of accomplishment and personal interaction, when the
congregation worked together to help establish Loaves & Fishes, renovate a house for Housing
Resources, and remodeled a house for Open Doors.
The challenge of the Dream Team is to prayerfully discern which of the many opportunities under
consideration will once again passionately unite us as we seek to bring about change in our community
and ourselves. After a series of congregational information sessions, the Dream Team will bring
recommendations to the congregation early in 2019 that not only include a list of possible activities, but
also provide opportunities to become personally involved in improving our community. Between now
and then, the Team asks for your prayers as we continue to be in conversation with many potential
community partners, working together to review projects, their anticipated costs, and the timing
required.
ENDOWMENT COMMITTEE
By Rev. Steve Charnley
We eagerly look forward to the coming year with the renewed energies of the Endowment Committee
led by their newly nominated chair, Jeanne Grubb. This year’s activity included the reception of the
following gifts:
$50,290 from Allen & Marguerite Briggs - Undesignated
$18,302 from Ruth & Robert Peterson – Undesignated & $1,000 for ASP
$20,227 from Virginia & Nolen Weller for UMCOR
$5,442 from an anonymous donor for Ministry Intern Program
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FINANCE COMMITTEE
by Molly Williams, Committee Chair
The Finance Committee develops and monitors First UMC’s annual operating budget, and it watches
the accounts of many other off-budget activities. We receive and review detailed monthly reports of the
operating budget and other funds. Our role is to be informative and transparent, and to provide
information to Church Council so that it has adequate information to make financial decisions.
The 2018 operating budget of $994,918 was developed in fall 2017 based on requests from ministry
teams and committees and on members’ estimates of giving and other anticipated sources of income.
This budget provides the infrastructure to keep our doors open. The dominant expense categories are
personnel costs of clergy/directors and lay staff ($653,711) and building expenses including utilities,
maintenance, insurance, and office operations ($184,450). We also fully honor our connectional
commitment of Ministry Shares to the wider United Methodist Church ($121,342). The remainder of the
budget covers program expenses such as supplies for worship, education, and congregational care.
The pledge campaign for the 2019 budget culminated in a Consecration Sunday in October 2018,
although the Stewardship Team continues to contact members who have not responded. Our
recommended budget for 2019 is approximately $1 million.
In addition to the operating budget, we also monitor the following special funds:
First Care
Memorial Funds
Youth Missions Fund
Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON)
United Methodist Women
Designated Funds - a long list of special offerings and other ongoing projects
Consolidation of these reports allows Finance Committee to see the overall financial status of these off-
budget activities, although each group is responsible for managing its own income and expenses.
We offer the option of electronic giving through Vanco Payment Solutions. This service allows
donations to be made on-line or via credit or debit card. We can also accommodate credit/debit card
purchases at fundraisers offering food or craft items. This service also permits setting up individual
accounts for periodic or one-time giving. Thus, regular giving to FUMC can be now accomplished
through this new electronic giving service as well as the continuing options of automatic debits or
offering envelopes.
Special offerings outside the operating budget are requested about once a month. Many of these are
sanctioned by the United Methodist Church, such as Human Relations, Peace with Justice, Native
American Ministries, and World Communion Sundays. The Christmas and Easter offerings support
missions recommended by the Outreach Ministry Team. These special offerings are listed regularly in
our monthly newsletter The First Word. There are sometimes unanticipated emergency appeals in
response to natural disasters or manmade suffering. Other ongoing projects, developed through this
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local church, also deserve our support – Justice for Our Neighbors legal services for immigrants, the Food
Pantry (part of the Loaves & Fishes network), Helping Our Neighbors assistance to community members
with short term financial needs, You Are Not Alone Sunday evening meals, Pastor’s Discretionary Funds,
Youth Missions, and others. These projects are all independently managed and supported. This church
provides space in our building for these ministries, but the direct expenses are not part of the operating
budget.
If you have questions about your church’s financial operations, please feel free to ask. The ongoing
generosity of our members and friends keeps our doors open and offers Christ to the world through our
mission to Experience, Celebrate, and Share God’s love.
FIRST STITCHERS
by Linda Lueth & Ellen Portis, Co-Chairs
First Stitchers is alive and well! In fact we are busier than ever and for the first time, continued working
through the summer months without taking a break! Other organizations such as Westwood UMW,
Blind Persons Training Center, Greenleaf Trust employees (for their Day of Service project), and even
high school students (who tie fleece blankets for National Honor Society credit) have also helped this
year, enabling us to donate 465 items so far in 2018, including 60 receiving blankets made for the UMW
Sudanese Mid-wife Project. And we will be making another delivery before Christmas! Our donations
of pillows with new beautiful handmade pillowcases and fleece tied blankets have gone to the Eleanor
Street Shelter. We also provided the KAP kids with a lightweight fleece blanket. Other fleece, flannel,
knit or crocheted blankets and patchwork quilts have gone to the local chapter of The Binky Patrol,
which donates to various non-profit agencies throughout the county to those in need.
It was great to partner with other ministries of the church this year, including UMW (we're sewing
another batch of receiving blankets) and to be able to lend our machines and provide sewing instruction
to the KAP kids this summer.
Funds were raised this year by a Blessing of the Blankets special offering ($302), various Memorial gifts,
UMW and Outreach Team support ($500). This support has allowed us to purchase 2 new sewing
machines, refurbish some of our older machines (purchased by UMW years ago), buy solid color cotton
and flannel, fleece, travel and regular size pillows, rotary blades and thread. Fortunately, the vast
majority of our material is donated by members.
Join us on Thursday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to noon in the Fellowship Room to sew, knit and
fellowship over a brown bag lunch. Or if you prefer to work at home, we can always put your creations
to good use. Come when you can, we'd love to have you join us. The need for comfort items is great.
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FOOD PANTRY
by Carol Holms, Co-Chair
The Bronson Park Food Pantry receives our food from Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes as well as our local
church family. For 37 years, our community has partnered with Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes to
provide food assistance to those trying to make ends meet. Loaves and Fishes distributes food to 74
distribution sites throughout Kalamazoo County. Loaves and Fishes provides an average of 700 people
with groceries each day. Many thanks go to the generosity of local growers and the help of weekly
volunteers who make this program possible.
Our pantry here at First United Methodist Church is open 1-½ hours a day, five days a week. For the
months of July through October, our pantry served 1,254 households. Volunteers from our church have
worked diligently to make books available to the children who come to the pantry. At the present time,
we currently have volunteers who fill 51 positions each month.
Please consider volunteering for this worthy cause as we are very proud of the work we do here at our
Pantry. We ALWAYS NEED VOLUNTEERS!
HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS MINISTRY
by Kim Taylor, Facilitator
This ministry helps those in our community facing emergencies with utilities and housing. We continue
to see people on Thursday mornings from 10 a.m. until noon.
From January 1 until November 16, 2018, Helping Our Neighbors (HON) saw 343 people who returned
166 pledges for payment. Total payout for 2018 was $11,476.36. Our percentage of paid pledges has
decreased from 58% in 2017 to 48% in 2018. These figures represent a slower start to our year, with
crowds not being seen until late July. We have continued to be busy up until this report was written in
mid-November. The 343 people that we saw had $282,801.69 of need they were trying to cover. They
found $132,434.40 in pledges from other sources.
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) changed their emergency utility plan in
September. Until that time, DHHS only helped from November 1 until May 1. As of October 2018,
DHHS will accept emergency utility requests year around. We had hoped to see our lines of people
needing assistance decrease after October 1, but that has yet to occur. Many weeks we have turned away
four to six people even though we have had two people working each week.
This year was the second and final year of Richard Knapp Bequest funds for Consumers Energy clients
during the DHHS lock-out period. We had 46 utility pledges between May 1 and November 1 paid at
$100 each. Splitting that total between Helping Our Neighbor Funds and the Richard Knapp Bequest
Funds meant $2,300 came from each account. Recently HON was blessed with an anonymous gift to
raise our standard pledge amount from $50 to $75 for one year.
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Our dedicated intake workers include Cheryl Anderson, Joyce Treece, Nora Hauk, Tammy Eaton,
Timothy Mullikin, Janine Kennedy, Nina Victor, and Kim Taylor. We currently have four people
interested in becoming intake workers, and we are planning a training session in early December.
Helping Our Neighbors has been blessed with three interns during the past year. Dominique Bunker
worked last winter and produced an Annual Report with great graphics that we utilize to explain our
ministry. Isabel Alloway worked during the summer and switched us to an online database that is
accessible from anywhere. That has allowed us to more fully examine demographics and need.
Elizabeth Batten is helping through spring of 2019. She has worked to increase our number of workers
and will help with the upcoming training. Gwen Nagle is new to us and is helping with phone calls.
Our database work continues to be managed by Carrie Hybels. Welcome Desk workers Laura VanVlack-
Ailes and Becky Pence help sign people in and answer questions while they wait to see our workers.
Office staff continues to provide support in countless ways.
Our neighbors are blessed by your gifts to the Helping Our Neighbor Fund and your prayers.
HOSPITALITY TEAM
by Bruce Binns, Team Chair
Hospitality may be seen as Perks! on Sunday, but it is a part of all we do in our church life. So that we
can continue to see growth, we welcome you to seek the stranger who enters the doors of the church and
looks for a friendly face.
We have had three Inquirers classes this last year resulting in about 50 new members. In each class
a common theme is the welcoming and greeting all felt as they came to church.
In the last year, we probably have hosted Perks! for thousands of folks. They enjoy the snacks and
fellowship time. The children’s Perks table has been a wonderful addition. Summer Perks! was hosted
by various committees during the summer months, giving the regular crew a break. Thank you! We are
always pleased with members and friends of the church who sign up to be hosts as well as bring
goodies. In the year ahead we would be delighted to have more participants, especially new members of
our congregation. It's a great way to get acquainted.
The hospitality continues! We all love hearing the happy sound of chatting during Perks after being
welcomed at the door. To learn more about how to be a welcoming congregation, I invite you to read the
book titled Beyond 30 Seconds: Developing a Welcoming Congregation by United Methodist
Communications, which discusses the need to spend time with a new visitor.
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JUSTICE TEAM
by Ray and Ann Sweany, Team Co-Chairs
The Justice Team is that part of the structure of our church that focuses on the need to guide our society in
insuring justice to all its peoples. By necessity, this requires being involved politically and our
effectiveness is improved when we are allied with others of similar mind. The Justice Team’s role is to
bring issues and avenues to the attention of the congregation so that they can individually and collectively
be involved. In last year’s report, we recognized the involvement of those in the Reconciling Ministry
Team; those active in MOMS and other groups seeking to decrease gun violence; the efforts of the Youth
Tribe to make people aware of human trafficking and labor exploitation and those active in the Kalamazoo
Coalition for Peace and Justice. To this we add the increased activism of the Dawn Patrol. We also note the
recent recognition by the Church Women United of Julie Kline for her social justice work.
ISAAC. This was the first year of our active involvement in ISAAC, Interfaith Strategy for Advocacy &
Action in the Community. Members of the congregation have been active in the Taskforces for Affordable
Housing and Racism. The only Taskforce in which we didn’t have active participants was Poverty. Our
awareness of issues of affordable housing were stimulated by our involvement in the city-wide reading
program centered on Matthew Desmond’s book, Evicted. A group of about 30 read the book and joined in
discussions at an Academy Class led by Steve Charnley. The Justice Team hosted a dinner in May for
church people to become more familiar with the Foundation for Excellence in Kalamazoo and in Shared
Prosperity Kalamazoo, in particular. City Commissioner David Anderson was the featured speaker. There
were about 50 at the meeting representing a number of churches, mostly drawn from our ISAAC
connection.
ADVOCACY – Immigration. Ann Sweany, the clinic coordinator for JFON-Kalamazoo, and others from
this congregation organized a protest gathering outside the Calhoun County jail to protest the separation
of families at the border in May. With help from Jennifer Stupica from staff, the plan grew via Facebook to
include probably 200 people who used a variety of homemade signs to communicate their displeasure with
the insensitivity of the treatment of immigrants by our government.
ADVOCACY – Voting. The Team was particularly interested in assisting the congregation’s involvement
in the mid-term elections. Petitions for anti-gerrymandering and voter-inclusiveness initiatives were
circulated after services; both measures were ultimately approved by voters. We publicized registration
deadlines and absentee voter information. These efforts included oral announcements and discussions at
the beginning of our Sunday evening dinners, You Are Not Alone.
ADVOCACY – Poverty. Our involvement with You Are Not Alone drew us into the debate over
controversial recommendations before the City Commission that affected homeless individuals and six
people submitted comments to the Commissioners who were affiliated with YANA.
RESTRUCTURE. The Justice Team has lost members and struggles to continue in the mold of past
years. We have recognized that participation in the Justice Team is often on top of being actively involved
in groups that are directly involved in advocacy. We are actively discussing a plan whereby a group of
representatives from justice-seeking groups allied with the church would meet quarterly to make decisions
that impact the status of their endeavors and to identify new opportunities for involvement.
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JUSTICE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS (JFON)
by Ann Sweany, Clinic Coordinator JFON-Kalamazoo
Justice for Our Neighbors, or JFON, is our immigration legal services ministry located on the third floor
of the church. JFON is a ministry of hospitality that welcomes immigrants by providing affordable,
high-quality immigration legal services, engaging in advocacy for immigrants’ rights and offering
education to communities of faith and the public.
Those we serve. It has been a joy to see a number of successful applications by immigrants with JFON’s
help. In one report, Alex Gillett reported receiving this good news for about 20 people over a short
period time, reducing open caseload at that time from more than 40 to 21 at the time Kathy Purnell
began working with us as attorney. Through our relationship with JFON-MI, our office worked with
Bethany Christian Services to contract with them to work on unaccompanied refugee minor cases,
initially about a dozen children/youth. Here in our office, we complete the intake process, and,
depending on needs, follow-up may be done by our staff or staff in Traverse City, Grand Rapids or
Southeast Michigan. Currently, Kathy Purnell has just accepted 2 new asylum cases and recently
represented 2 youths in court. The range of her cases so far have included, in addition to
unaccompanied minors, adjustment of status (application for legal permanent residence), and asylum
cases, including one LGBT and one gang violence case. Clients have come from, for example, Honduras,
Mexico and Senegal.
We watch with concern, either proposals for changes in immigration policy, or actual implementation of
policies that are of concern. One such case was the separation of children from their parents last
summer. We joined some 200 concerned people in front of the Calhoun County Jail, which serves as an
ICE detention center, to protest this policy. Currently, we are participating in the public comment
period about proposed changes on “public charge” which would affect many people seeking to make
their status more permanent, in particular to become legal permanent residents or citizens. Another
concern is a ruling on “Matter of A-B” which affects people who previously might have been able to
receive help after having been victims of domestic violence in their home country, including those
instances in which the home country’s government provides little to no protection in such cases.
Structural change. 2018 has been a year of structural change and changes in personnel. As of Jan. 1,
2018, JFON-West Michigan and JFON-Southeast Michigan merged to become one organization, JFON-
Michigan. In the spring, Jonquil Bertschi (sounds like “bird-shy”) accepted the position of Executive
Director of JFON-MI. She works out of an office in the east side of the state, but has been to Kalamazoo
a number of times, and has worked hard to establish a strong relationship with our clinic. JFON-MI will
likely reach out to those who have supported our clinic in some way. It is now possible to donate
specifically to our clinic through the state organization, as well to give a more general gift to JFON-MI.
Raquel Owens increased her hours to strengthen her position as Site Director of JFON-Grand Rapids
and of our site. You will usually see her in our office on Tuesdays as well as some other times. We
value both Raquel’s and Jonquil’s abilities as we strive to more effectively serve those who seek our
help. Both were an essential part of the process of interviewing candidates and hiring our legal assistant
and attorney.
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Personnel changes. Our former attorney, Katrina Pradelski, resigned in the fall of 2017, pausing for a
period and eventually accepting full-time employment elsewhere. We were well-served in the interim
period before hiring her replacement by Alex Gillett, who is based in the Grand Rapids JFON office.
Legal assistant Aita Wellington also resigned from our office to take a full-time position downtown.
This summer, we hired Coral Cervantes, a Kalamazoo College graduate and graduate student at WMU,
as our new legal assistant, and soon after, hired Kathy Purnell, part of teaching staff at WMU, as our
attorney. We are fortunate to have both of them on board, with their skills and passion for our mission.
We were delighted to be able to welcome Kathy to our office full-time, where she works with
immigrants in appointments and in our monthly intakes. She also reaches out to detainees who are
being held for deportation at the Calhoun County jail, and has begun monthly clinic hours at Kalamazoo
Public Library. From the beginning, we have worked on advocacy and outreach to the community, and
Kathy has greatly expanded these efforts.
Church support. We are grateful to FIRST UMC for its support in many ways. We couldn’t operate
without the physical space provided in this building. Staff helps with security, with pastoral support,
and a deep interest in our mission. We have a strong core of volunteers, many of whom are from the
church; likewise, many members of our advisory committee come out of the church. The Justice Team
has offered moral and logistical support as well, as has the Church Council.
Financial. Although we are connected to UMCOR and to National JFON, we are responsible for raising
all our operating funds. With expenditures in 2018 around $98,000, this is a challenge. We are grateful
to receive needed funds from many sources, including a gift from last year’s Christmas offering and a
large multi-year grant from the Richard Knapp Bequest; many individual gifts; gifts from other churches
and from the UMC District; our own UMW and other UMWs; Kalamazoo Community Foundation;
Battle Creek Community Foundation; and a recent multi-year grant from Stryker-Johnston.
The Knapp grant came at a critical time in planning for our continuing work, not only for 2018, but
ongoing. Battle Creek funds help a great deal with our work with those facing deportation proceedings.
Grants from Kalamazoo Community Foundation and Stryker-Johnston allowed us to contract with
Kathy Purnell to expand that position to full-time, and late this fall also to expand legal assistant hours
to full-time. Both are much-needed in order to better meet the needs of our immigrant neighbors. We
are always looking for additional sources of funds, so as not to rely too heavily on any one person or
organization.
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LAY LEADERSHIP
by Karen Hassevoort, 2018 Lay Leader
What an honor it continues to be to serve as lay leader of our vibrant, thoughtful, loving, accepting and
generous congregation. This is the last of my three years serving as lay leader and it has been a joy to
serve and to interact with clergy, staff and the congregation in this capacity and be part of such an active
faith community. As you read the numerous reports, you will hear about many of the things that we
have to celebrate this year -- from the work of The Dream Team and the listening and synthesizing that
they have been engaged in to the groups that meet regularly and the many outreach, ministry and
mission projects and activities that happen within and outside our walls. All are evidence that the
people who are part of our church and our community want to embody, show, teach and carry the love
of God and Jesus Christ into the world. In each activity and opportunity, the evidence of the collective
generosity of spirit and sharing of time, talents and gifts is readily apparent. Wherever you look and
walk, you can feel the warmth and energy when you enter the church throughout the week to attend a
meeting, class, or program, or participate in the many ministry activities that are carried out by clergy,
members and friends. Together, as we continue to struggle with political and social issues that would
seek to divide us, it is very evident that we are connected and drawn together in community to combine
our talents and gifts and work to make the world, our world, a place of greater peace, justice and love
for all, where there is enough food, shelter and medical care for each of God’s children.
We continually remember and give thanks for all of those who have come before and helped establish
and sustain our church and faith community and for their sacrifice and vision. For those who are no
longer physically with us because of their passing from this earthly life or because they have moved, we
are grateful for so many things, friendship, memories and their contribution to our lives, history and
ministry. We know that their lives continue to bless us in countless ways and we seek to use well and
wisely gifts, bequests and memorial funds which allow us to spread God’s love in the world. These gifts
help us to continue to be a vital congregation, striving to share God’s love and serve our
neighbors. Hosanna in the highest for this time and place and the lives of all who gather with us in
community to promote peace and justice for all.
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LIFELONG LEARNING MINISTRY TEAM
by John Clark, Chair
Maintaining high quality opportunities for lifelong learning is important to the spiritual growth
of our congregation. Information about Christian education for children and youth can be
found in the Children and Families Ministry Team and Youth Tribe reports, respectively, while
this report focuses on adults. Our team focuses on Sunday mornings, but we also help to
coordinate other educational programming that occurs throughout the week (for example, the
Just Faith class offered this fall).
Sunday morning Academy Classes meet during the 9:30 Church School hour. Most Academy
Classes feature small- or large-group discussion, thus providing participants the chance to ask
questions, discuss, and seek God’s will about significant faith issues. Participants have praised
Academy Classes for their diversity and their quality and for being challenging, provocative,
and thoughtful. Leadership is provided by members of the FUMC community.
Academy Classes offered in 2018 include the following:
Evicted (Steve Charnley)
Walking the Bible (John Clark)
The Challenge of Paul (Steve Charnley)
We Shall Not Be Moved (Lori Owen-Rogers and Deb Search Willoughby)
Worshipful: Living Sunday Morning All Week (Carol Hodges)
Revival: Faith as Wesley Lived It (John Clark)
The Future of the United Methodist Church (David Lundquist and Lori Owen-Rogers)
Reclaiming Jesus: Confessing our Faith in a Time of Crisis (Jerry Toshalis)
The Challenge of Paul, Part II (John Clark)
Seeking a Path to Racial Harmony (Dick Shilts and Andrew Lehman)
Sip-and-Sing (John Clark and Lisa Stucky)
Family Foundations is an on-going Sunday morning class targeted at the parents of young children. This
class has created a greater sense of community among this key demographic in our faith community.
Rev. Mantu Joshi brings his considerable talents to serving as the point person for the class.
Inquirers classes are offered periodically throughout the year. These classes are designed to acquaint
potential members with our congregation and the United Methodist Church. In the past year, two
Inquirers classes were led by Rev. Steve Charnley with assistance from various members of the
congregation. Both yielded large groups of new members. The Academy Planners group meets
periodically throughout the year to discuss potential topics, books, videos, and class leaders. The group
welcomes suggestions from members of the church family.
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MEMORIAL COMMITTEE
by Cheryl Anderson, Chair & Linda Lueth
The Memorial Committee oversees the gifting and spending of funds provided through memorial gifts
to the church. The Committee meets three to four times per year, as needed. When a memorial gift is
received, thank you notes are written to the givers and acknowledgements are provided to the
deceased's family. The Memorial Committee determines how memorial funds may be spent if the donor
or family has not specified. Current members include: Cheryl Anderson, Lou Bradley, Steve Charnley,
Bob Hunt, Jan Kline-Hunt, Ruth LaMachia, Linda Lueth, Durrell McKenzie, Marsha McKenzie, and
Sarah Wilson.
During the first ten months of 2018, approximately $4,300 was received in memorial gifts, about 1/3 of
the amount received in 2017. Donors and families designated over half of this total to such ministries of
the church as music, Pastor’s Discretionary Fund, HON, JFON, YANA, Dawn Patrol, Costa Rica Mission
Trip, Stephen Ministries, First Stitchers, and a new designated fund for our satellite services. The
Memorial Committee approved three projects out of our undesignated funds this year: DVD players for
our homebound members, two chairs for the youth lounge, and microphones to enhance the sound
quality of congregational response and singing for our recorded worship services.
We are thankful that people remember their friends and loved ones with a memorial gift to the church.
MINISTER OF MUSIC
by Jacqueline Stilger
“Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world.” - Martin Luther
The music ministries are alive and well here at First! We are blessed with artistic and expressive
musicians that are dedicated to a faithful life in Christ through music.
Chancel Choir continues to sing nine months out of the year nearly every Sunday. The choir has grown
to nearly 30 people over the last year. We are competently supported by our wonderful Choral Scholars
program and Halle Shadrake, Shannon Kelley, Joey Gottshall and Isaac James have become very special
members of our choir. The goal of giving them a place to call their spiritual home has been met and
exceeded expectations. Lasting friendships have been built and one of the Choral Scholars even moved
in with a choir member for the semester when she was between apartments and not ready to sign a full
years lease. The choir and congregation is fully and capably supported by our dedicated organist Bernie
Foulk. First Singers also remains healthy and steadfast. Led by Rich Peavler and accompanied by
Carol Hodges, they sing twice monthly at the 8:30 service. They sing more often in Advent and Lent.
First Singers and Chancel Choir enjoy the opportunity to sing together for various events and our last
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‘Sing Out Sunday’ was a joy to present. Our choirs sing together, pray together, support and care for one
another, and the beautiful foundation for all of it is the expression of music through song.
First Beats, our children’s ensemble remains vital and energetic. They participate in worship almost
monthly and often sing in conjunction with the Chancel Choir. It’s great to see their faces as they are
surrounded by the powerful sound of the adult choir! They presented the musical “Daniel and the
Lion’s Den” this past June. Many thanks goes to Carol Grant and Jane Rettke for their tireless work in
making the costumes and scenery/sets.
Emerging Worship Band utilizes the talents of many of our teens of the congregation as well as some
adults, too. We continue to explore presenting different kinds of music and making the service spirit-
filled. Ryan Deminiuk has been a faithful percussionist for the group, and we are grateful for his
presence.
Our adult/youth Handbell Ensemble was able to purchase a 3-octave set of Malmark handbells, thanks
to a generous grant from the Dick Knapp fund. We were able to purchase them used, which cut down
on the cost a quite a bit. A new 4rth octave was ordered to complete our 5-octave set of Malmark bells.
These bells are superior in every way to our old bells. We are grateful to Molly Williams for her tireless
work in making it all happen and for her continued work on the maintenance of the bells.
Ukelele Krush is a new ensemble started in the summer. There is resurgence in the popularity of this
mighty instrument and it has taken off here at First! In August, twelve people strummed and sang in
church and we also presented a sing-a-long at the Four Score and More luncheon. We meet together on
the third Sunday of the month at 3:00 to play together, learn from one another and enjoy each other’s
company. The future of the group will unfold with time, but for right now, we are having lots of fun!
In May, our beloved Liza Wolfe stepped down from directing First Bells after 17 faithful years. We are
so grateful for her leadership and advocacy for our youngest members. Carol Grant has graciously
stepped in to fill her big shoes. She is assisted by pianist Jane Rettke.
Another fairly new ensemble is First Strings, led by Anne Sherfield. First Strings is an ensemble made
up of members and friends of First. They offer a place for anyone who is a string player, brand new or
very experienced, to share their gifts and skills. They rehearse on scheduled Saturday mornings and
have developed into a lovely ensemble that the congregation appreciates. Many, many thanks go to
Anne for all that she does to assist this group.
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MUSIC & THE ARTS COMMITTEE
by Carol Hodges & Elizabeth Moon, Co-Chairs
The Music and The Arts Committee supports the work of local performing artists and shares the fruits
of that work with the church and the wider community. We normally sponsor Lenten and Advent
Thursday noontime recitals. These are fifty-minute, free, lunchtime concerts that feature area musicians.
During Lent, we heard five different organists: Thomas Fielding of St. Augustine’s Cathedral in
Kalamazoo, Carrie Groenewold of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Kalamazoo, Sipkje Pesnichak of
Jackson First Presbyterian Church, Elizabeth Bruce of Kalamazoo’s First Presbyterian Church, and Rob
Hlebinsky of Grand Haven First Presbyterian Church.
In Advent we look forward to hearing Hazeltree on December 6. This is an ensemble of close female
harmonies accompanied by various string instruments. On December 13, the Frank Silva Jazz Trio will
perform. The final concert will be on December 20 with our own four choral scholars singing.
We appreciate the work of team members Jim and Marilyn Barney, Roger and Molly Williams, Sally
Hubbard, and Carol Grant, who made the post-recital receptions possible.
OUTREACH TEAM
by Mark Oudersluys, Chair
The First United Methodist Church Outreach Team acts as an advisory body for the church related to its
outreach ministries and missions at local, national and international levels. Outreach ministry has been
a fundamental purpose of First United Methodist Church throughout its history. Our ministry of
service to those outside of the church continues to be the way we most often identify ourselves. It is our
hope that if you are not already involved in any First United Methodist Church outreach ministries, this
information will inspire you to contact someone who is. Join us by lending your gifts, talents, energy
and time to make the world a place where all people can experience, share, and celebrate God’s love.
During the past, year the members of First UMC have repeatedly given their time, talents and finances
to, as John Wesley said: “Do all of good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in
all of the places you can, at all of the times you can, to all of the people you can, as long as ever you
can..”
The following are a few of the highlights from the past year.
Missionary Support. This is our second year of support for our three new missionaries. As you may
recall our new missionaries are:
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Desiree l. Segura-April. Desiree is associated with the General Board of Global Missions and was a
resource person for The Children at Risk Ministries in Nicaragua. This fall we learned that she and her
husband were evacuated from Nicaragua to Tegucigalpa, Honduras because of civil unrest. Desiree’s
mission has also changed in that she will now serve Global Ministries partners in all of Latin America &
the Caribbean.
Will & Ella Faircloth. Will & Ella are missionaries in Costa Rica associated with Methodist Church of
Costa Rica and are involved with the Methodist Children’s Home as well as the Methodist Seminary and
new church starts. This year marks their fourteenth anniversary of working in Costa Rica. However, as
they put it, the Big News is that they are expecting their first son who will be born in December.
Donna Pewo. Donna is a missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries and is serving as a
Church and Community Worker primarily with children of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes in a rural area
west of Oklahoma City.
This past year in addition to providing our monetary support for the missionaries, we provided
additional funds for Desiree’s and Donna’s “children at risk programs.” We also provided additional
funds for the children’s home in Costa Rica.
Volunteer in Mission. At the present time, First UMC has one annual work/construction trip to the
Methodist Children’s Home in Costa Rica. In 2019, the church will again be the first team to begin
working at the site in the new year. The team is always looking for additional volunteers who would be
willing to travel to Costa Rica with them. For those that would like to participate but may find the
expense a barrier, a scholarship fund has been established to help defray this cost.
Mission of the Month. Each month the congregation is invited to support a local organization, project
or school. The variety of items donated have met specific needs at Ministry with Community,
Community in Schools, YWCA Domestic Assault Center and their Trafficking Shelter, Pretty Lake
Camp, our Bronson Food Pantry, Eleanor St. Shelter and Salvation Army’s “Share the Warmth Coat
Drive.” When we deliver your donations to the above organizations and agencies they continue to be
amazed at the generosity of this congregation. You are definitely making a difference in a significant
number of people’s lives.
Crop Walk. This year’s Crop Walk was again led by the Youth Tribe with amazing results. In 2018 the
Youth Tribe raised a total of $5,122 to fight global hunger and for another year FIRST UMC led all local
churches in donations. A very big thank you to the Youth Tribe for their leadership.
Finally, this past year the Outreach Team significantly expanded its membership in an attempt to have
representatives from all of the church’s main outreach activities be part of our discussion. Additionally,
this past year, the team developed a list of 10 suggestions that could improve the effectiveness of the
team. We have implemented several of those suggestions and will continue to work on the remaining
ones. Is there more that we can do? Yes, there will always be opportunities to do all the good we can
do, in all of the places we can. If you have any ideas for new areas of outreach, or would like to be an
active partner in this discussion, please consider becoming a member of the Outreach Team which meets
the third Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m. in the church parlor.
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PASTOR’S REPORT – SENIOR PASTOR
by Rev. Steve Charnley
New Members. Together with Bruce Binns, our Hospitality Leader, and Rev. Julie Kline and Derek
Wheaton, who led our Confirmation Class, I invite you to celebrate the reception of 57 new members this
year! (See the membership report prepared by Administrative Assistant Christi Landreville for the list of
names.) I encourage you to get acquainted with these new persons and deepen our relationships on this
journey of faith and service in Christ’s name.
A Teaching Church. Nurturing a new generation of faithful leaders has become one of our signature
ministries with the hiring of interns made possible through our Knapp and Intern Ministries bequests.
During 2018 we have been blessed with the talents of Dominque Bunker, Laura Rolf, Isabel Alloway, and
Elizabeth Batten. We are becoming known as a teaching church wherein young adults can find their call
to ministry both inside and outside the church.
Satellite Services. Beginning in the summer of 2018, Rev. Keith Treman and I launched two Sunday
satellite services using our new video technology: one at Heritage Community at 3pm and the other at
Friendship Village at 6:30pm. They have been well received and are being supported by Marc
Pendziszewski and Thom Victor. Each Sunday an average of 30-40 persons gather for worship, creating
community while receiving the music and message from our morning service. In addition, our service is
viewed by those at home through live streaming and archived viewing.
The Way Forward. Bishop Bard blessed us with his presence early this fall, holding a listening session
regarding the way forward in dealing with our the struggle in the UMC around issues of inclusion.
Whereas we are clear and unequivocal about our stance of welcome and full inclusion for our LGBTQI
community, it was helpful to have the bishop’s perspective as we prepare for the General Conference
called for February in St. Louis. I am indebted to Dave Lundquist and others from our Reconciling
Ministries Team in helping us inform and inspire our congregation on this journey. I’m confident, with
God’s leading, that we can find a way forward. Regardless of the outcome in February, I invite you to join
me in echoing Martin Luther’s words in the Reformation, “Here I stand, I can do no other.”
Building Bridges for Inter-racial Dialogue. One of the most fulfilling parts of my ministry this past year
has been my participation in and leadership of Dawn Patrol, our historic Wednesday morning men's
fellowship. The inter-racial friendships have deepened as the sharing of life stories continues. These
stories have set a stark contrast of our society's preservation of white privilege at the expense of persons of
color. In addition, I have been inspired by my membership in the Northside Ministerial Alliance and the
relationships created with my African American colleagues in ministry. Particular among them is our
growing relationship with Allen Chapel AME (African Methodist Episcopal) led by Rev. Gloria
Clark. One of Just Faith Classes is meeting at Allen Chapel this fall and we are in conversation about
launching a satellite for HON (Helping Our Neighbors) at their church serving the Northside.In my fifth
year at First UMC, I am grateful to Bishop Bard for this appointment, for my stellar colleagues with whom
I work, and most of all, for the dedicated members who generously give their prayers, presence, gifts,
service, and witness to make a difference in our community and in our world.
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PASTOR’S REPORT – ASSOCIATE PASTOR
by Rev. Julie Kline
As I sit down to write this year-end report it is the perfect Michigan winter morning that follows
Thanksgiving and leans into the almost beginning of the season of Advent. A winter snow storm has
befallen us throughout the night and we wake to a beautiful, white blanket of snow, while the snow
clings so becomingly to the trees that willingly bared their branches to receive its freshness. It is an in-
between week as the time of thanksgiving and gratitude opens into the season of waiting for the
Messiah to be born. As God’s people, we begin to line the mangers of our hearts with gratitude that is
then layered with the hopes and dreams for all the world to find Peace and be reconciled.
Christ the King Sunday is the gateway between these two seasons of our souls. It is often a Sunday that
emphasizes the Lordship of Jesus, the King of heaven and earth, Ruler of every creature and heart. It is a
Sunday filled with praise and adoration and a longing for the Prince of Peace to reign with power. As I
prepared to preach for Christ the King, I was struck by the phrase of our lectionary assigned scripture
from the Gospel of John, “My kingdom is not of this world.” Jesus does claim a kingdom of liberation,
he is The Liberator for the poor and the captive, and he will bring sight to the blind, release to the
prisoner and proclaim the year of our God’s favor. He will bring about this kingdom through the
inspiring of hearts and the intertwining of lives so that we are free to love, free to do justice and be
fiercely courageous in the face of fear as we claim ourselves kin to Christ and kin to one another.
Each week we pray that this kingdom will come. Each day as we open the doors of our church, open our
hearts to others and open our minds to engage with the entirety and mystery of God’s kingdom coming
and we engage with hope. It is our calling and while we may not always get it just right, it is done with
love and the faith that grace will flow guided by the Holy Spirit. It is encouraging to me and always a
source of joy that our church is engaged in kingdom work. There is always something happening within
our church dwelling, as we live into our vision:
We are a faith community! Alive in Christ. Open to All. Growing in faith. Serving our neighbors.
Active in the world.
The kingdom and kinship of Christ is active and engaged as we feed our neighbors through our food
pantry, bringing some relief to the hungry. Kinship is established as we sit down with our neighbors
through the ministry of ‘Helping Our Neighbors’ and assist in helping with the payment of necessary
utilities. Bread is broken and a safe place of community is established each Sunday evening as ‘You Are
not Alone’ gathers. Kinship ties are hoped for in the recognizing of humanity and the opportunities to
pray together and share life stories with compassion. It is not the arrival of the kingdom but it is
kingdom work. Time and again we open our doors so that neighbors may meet, find sanctuary, work
toward the healing of addictions, find solutions to gun violence, inspire one another with teachings,
pray for our world, and dream of providing affordable housing. The kingdom work is tireless and it is
our kinship that sustains us and gives us the courage and stamina to open the doors of the church day
after day. This is the kingdom that is Jesus; this is the kinship of liberation that is carried out by
reaching, preaching, teaching, and inspiring others to follow.
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The Youth Tribe is always an exciting hub of kingdom work as the youth intentionally reach out and
inward in the midst of their busy lives to seek love for one another and for neighbors. Our Youth
Council continues to help create programming that engages the youth in fun and fellowship but deeply
grounds them in service. This year in Cocoa & Class we have been exploring the vows of membership
more thoroughly as each week we focus on the key components of prayer, presence, gifts, service and
witness. I have joyfully embraced the challenge of finding ways to actively be involved with these
components and not just sit down and talk about them. This has led us to button prayers, hot chocolate
missions around downtown, prayer walks throughout some of the most interesting parts of the church,
notes of encouragement to recipients of food, among many other engaging ways of learning practical
ways to live out our vows of faith and membership. Our apple pies and crisps were once again a
beautiful project and wonderfully received by the congregation. We are deeply grateful for the
generosity of Gull Meadow Farms who once again bestowed the gift of a crate of apples. Our
participation with the Appalachia Service Project will be one of the defining themes of our ministry not
just for a week in late July, early August but as a precedence in our ongoing walk of faith that seeks
kingdom living each day.
Both the Youth Tribe and Young Adult ministries have been influenced this year by our Encounter
MICall Intern, Elizabeth Batten. We welcome her support role with the Youth Tribe and look forward to
further areas of leadership from her as 2019 unfolds. Elizabeth has placed a great deal of energy and
time exploring ways to engage and involve Young Adults within First UMC and beyond. Young Adults
ministry has waxed and waned and Elizabeth has needed to explore options of truly beginning again
while seeking to understand the needs and desires of young adults for spiritual development. Please see
her report under her title, Social Justice Coordinator and Youth & Young Adult Intern, for further
insights and challenges for us as we make sacred space for Young Adults in our midst.
Emerging Worship is a place for many to find their souls filled with Spirit led worship. For the first time
this summer we held Emerging Worship in the Sanctuary and were delighted with the enhancement of
our new technology to these times of worship. The Emerging Worship Team and worship participants
agreed that the space may not be as fluid as the Wesley Hall but it was more welcoming for the larger
summer crowds as we all worship with just one service at 10am. Emerging Worship strives to make
kingdom living come by engaging the senses in multi-sensory worship. I believe my favorite worship of
the year came just this month. We intentionally broke pots to represent our lives that can sometimes feel
broken or scattered. Together, table teams worked to glue these pots back together with hot glue guns. It
was a sight to behold. The creations that were produced certainly represented the hope and the faith that
holds our lives together. At the end of worship we offered these cracked but held together pots upon the
worship table as we offered our lives as broken vessels to be kingdom workers for God. Each pot was
placed upon a light and as we closed worship in the darkened hall we were reassured that the Light of
God shines through our brokenness with beauty and power.
As we follow The Liberator, who is Christ the King, whom reigns within our hearts and calls us to be kin
working for and with one another to bring about God’s Kingdom let us go with courage, believing that
each small act of love is powerful and worthy.
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PASTOR’S REPORT – PASTOR OF CHILDREN & FAMILIES MINISTRIES
by Rev. Daniel M. Duncan
I am now beginning my fifth year in this position at First Church, and feel blessed to serve on a team
marked by dedication, harmony, and excellence, as well as conviviality!
Regular parts of my position include recruiting and training the many volunteers who serve as teachers
and leaders in our children’s and family ministries, giving the ‘Children’s Message’ during the second
service, and every two to three months the adult sermon in both services, helping with pastoral care with
Julie and Steve, performing weddings and funerals both in our congregation and as a community service,
make home visits to new families with children in our church, help coordinate baptisms, serve as the staff
member of our Children and Family Ministries Team, provide leadership in our downtown-church joint
Vacation Bible School, and make sure that our nursery is adequately staffed (we’ve had several staff
transitions over the past year). In this position, I serve on the First Care preschool Board of Directors, and
lead a bi-monthly worship time with the three age level groups for the First Care children.
We continue to work on ways to invite, welcome, and integrate new families with children into our
church. The Sunday morning gathering of parents with young children, Family Foundations, continues to
thrive and has been blessed by the thoughtful and wise leadership of Rev. Manohar Joshi, who moved
here with his family last year, has taken root and has a regular attendance between 8 and 20 people. We
have a roster around forty people in this demographic.
We continue to staff our nursery in anticipation of infants as well as toddlers (at age four the children
attend a Sunday School class or Godly Play). Sharon Bunker is our lead nursery coordinator. We also have
Deb Linderman and Samantha Lee as nursery caregivers, both new to us in the last year.
Godly Play continues to be our age-appropriate worship experience for children for the 45 minutes we
have with them after the children’s message during the 11 a.m. service and the summer 10 a.m. service.
We have our 4-6 year olds meeting in Room 203, and our 7-9 year olds meeting in Room 200. Most of our
team of Storytellers and Guides continued from the first year of this, with the addition recently of Magen
Lindstrom as a Storyteller and Liza Wolfe as a Guide.
This summer our tradition of the mainline downtown churches sponsoring a joint Vacation Bible School
continued, this year hosted by First Presbyterian Church. The title was “God’s Abundant Orchard,” based
on curriculum through Church World Service, which the leaders augmented with material we wrote
ourselves.
The Children and Families Ministry Team plans an amazing number and variety of “Family Fun Nights”
as well as other events, and leadership of that area will continue for a third year with Jocelyn Newman.
I have some involvement in endeavors beyond our congregation: continuing to serve as a leader of a high
school United Methodist adventure camp in the summer (last summer was kayak camping on Grand
Island in Lake Superior for a week). I also added an adult adventure kayak camp this past summer. Both
of these are through Camp Kinawind.
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PASTOR’S REPORT – CONGREGATIONAL CARE
by Rev. Keith Treman
I hear it often; “Thank you for offering this opportunity!”
It was a beautiful group of about 20 of our Four Score and More Group that gathered in Directors Hall at
The Heritage for our Quarterly Communion. There is a time for sharing, praying, singing, worship,
meditating and sharing Holy Communion together. Many are First UM Church members, but not all.
Usually Pastor Steve, Jackie Stilger, Carol Hodges or Carol Grant, and I are there to lead the group. This
happens at Friendship Village as well and includes lunch prior to our Communion time. Those who
attend are always so very thankful to the church for offering this opportunity!
This year our Live Streaming of the (11am/ 10am summer) church service began. This offers a way for
those who can only worship from home to do so. For those who worship from home but do not have
internet capabilities, we provide CD’s, DVD’s, bulletins and even DVD players. We hear how very
thankful people are to the church for offering these opportunities!
This year we started our two satellite services each Sunday. The service at The Heritage begins at 3
p.m. and the service at Friendship Village at 6:30 p.m. A cooperative effort from church staff, church
members, and staff at The Heritage and Friendship Village make these services possible. We hear how
very thankful people are to the church for offering these opportunities!
It was a blessed time in Israel with those who traveled from First Church in October and November as
Colleen and I served as Hospitality in Jerusalem at the Olive Tree Hotel.
My job description for ministry is to support the pastoral staff in its efforts to offer care to the
congregation and to help coordinate the many wonderful caring ministries serving the church. My 10-
12 hours per week, normally Monday and Wednesday with some Sundays, are spent meeting with
Pastor Steve on Monday mornings to map out the schedule for the next few weeks. I meet with Stephen
Ministry Leaders and Congregational Care Team leaders regularly to plan quarterly Communion at
Friendship Village and The Heritage Community, assist monitoring Stephen Ministry and Care Team
relationships. I primarily call on our seniors who worship at home, senior living communities and care
centers. With over 160 members 80 years of age and over, I help coordinate our Four Score & More
Luncheon, birthday cards and anniversary cards. It takes all of us working together to care for others.
There are many caring ministries at work within the church from Stephen Ministry to Congregational
Care, from United Methodist Women Circles to Post-Hospital Care Ministry, and from Pastor of
Congregational Care to informal congregational visits to Parish Nurse. This congregation takes caring
for others seriously and takes this part of our ministry together seriously. We are in this together and all
are encouraged to make visits in person, by phone call, by email, card, Facebook, video chat, or twitter.
Many times when I visit, I see the cards you are sending to each other. They sit on the coffee table, the
bed stand, or are posted on the bulletin board.
Thank you for your faithful witness and ministry together.
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PASTOR’S REPORT – CONGREGATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
AND INNOVATION
by Rev. Mantu Joshi
As I shared in my sermon last month on “The Power of Listening,” according to Kira Asatryan’s book,
Stop Being Lonely, research has shown that as technology has increased our ability to communicate with
ease, loneliness has actually increased. Of course, individuals may have some profound exceptions to
this trend, but overall, people are feeling lonelier. Asatryan’s observation is that so much of our
communication (90%) is non-verbal and a text or tweet cannot capture this information. Also, she shares
that closeness is not so simple to achieve and yet this real depth of connection is that hunger people are
having, even unconsciously.
The challenge of technology is that people often initially feel more connected, but when this connection
never leads to closeness, there is a despair that enters the soul. When I was asked to help with our
technology and social media, I felt a ripple of holy fear. What if we simply do what the mainline culture
is doing? What if we create more loneliness and disconnection by steering our people to whatever is
most popular? I began to change my thinking from “What can technology do (for the church)?” to
“What should technology be (for the loneliness God wants to heal)?
I have been praying this year that God would give me a heart for the people who are feeling this lack of
healthy “closeness” with others. I have been praying that we as a church would find our way to not
simply add to brokenness, but to act in a countercultural way.
In order to think of technology and what technology “should be” I reflected on lessons learned in
changing diapers and washing dishes while I was a stay-at-home Dad over the last seven years. At that
time, I found myself often reflecting on the writings of Brother Lawrence, who was able to find the Holy
even in washing the dishes, or preparing food in the kitchen. In this time, when I was pulled back from
my previous identity as a senior pastor, I found myself finding God in the everyday work of parenting a
child with special needs. Letting go of my ego a bit, and living into the work of caring for our children, I
began to see the world a little more like Brother Lawrence.
So, in this context of Church work with technology, I began to wonder if the same every day holiness
could be applied even into the chaotic world of “likes” and “hyperlinks”. What if technology could also
be a sacred act? What if we opened Facebook and instead of just political adds and cat videos, we
instead found sacred pieces for living in true community?
To this question, I further asked what technology would look like if it were seen as everyday worship,
just like Brother Lawrence in the kitchen. To this end, I also took a look at ancient patterns of worship
and began to form a new way of seeing social media and technologies. I will share more of this in future
First Word newsletters.
For now, I ask, do you also have a heart for those who are feeling loneliness in the 21st Century? Are
you interested in asking, “what should technology be and do”? If so, please email me and perhaps a
small group of us can re-imagine what the church can do to love our neighbor in the 21st century. My
email is [email protected] or you can message me on Facebook.
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PEW PATROL
by Molly Williams
Have you thought about why you always have hymnals and bibles within reach during worship? How
the attendance folders always have blank forms and a writing implement ready to record your
presence? Why there are always prayer cards and offering envelopes in the pew pockets? Within a few
days following each worship service, one of our volunteers organizes the hymnal racks and replenishes
the attendance folders and the prayer cards and offering envelopes in the pew pockets. Usually, a
volunteer works for one month, but we freely substitute as needed.
The task takes two to three hours for one person to refresh all the items in the sanctuary, including the
balcony and chancel areas. When the sanctuary is used mid-week for weddings, memorial services,
rehearsals or performances by outside groups, and additional worship services during Lent or Advent,
there is sometimes a need for an extra mid-week check-up as well.
We could use another volunteer or two, since our numbers have shrunk to five Pew Patrollers, one of
whom is taking a short leave. Would you like to help? To volunteer, contact any of the team. We’d be
happy to show you what we do and add you to the schedule. Current volunteers are: Nancy Hyde, Jean
Plott, Molly Williams, Sue Paul, and Jan Schoenherr (on leave).
RECONCILING MINISTRIES TEAM
by Diane and Lori Owen-Rogers, Co-chairs
Current Members: Diane and Lori Owen-Rogers, co-chairs; Staff: Rev. Steve Charnley, Rev. Julie Kline;
Elizabeth Batten, Lisa Batten, Mollie Clements, Tammy Eaton, Karen Hassevoort, Andrew Lehman,
David Lundquist, Ellen McDonald, Dick Shilts, Deb Search Willoughby, Nina Victor
This year, the Reconciling Ministry Team is discerning what it might mean for First UMC to claim an
expanded identity of reconciling to include extending our welcome to all marginalized people. We seek
to support the leadership of the church and its members to develop a deeper analysis of systems of
oppression that are held in place by the status quo of the supremacy of whiteness. The framework of the
supremacy of whiteness requires winners and losers, power over others, and keeps us fighting with each
other. Rather the Reconciling Ministry Team is working in collaboration with others to bring the vision
Jesus provides us in the Lord’s Prayer of God’s Kingdom on Earth, or what Dr. King refers to as the
beloved community. The Reconciling Ministry Team exists to cultivate a reconciling church that is
known in our community as an ally for justice and welcoming of all people including those of various
races, sexual orientations, gender identities, abilities, citizenship statuses, ages, occupations, levels of
education, and economic statuses.
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The Reconciling Ministry Team has wrestled to develop a united vision of reconciling work under this
expanded view. Our work has included the following tangible activities designed to develop a deeper
analysis of reconciling work at First UMC:
● 3 Academy Classes were facilitated by team members
○ We Shall Not be Moved
○ The Future of the United Methodist Church: Is it Settled or Uncertain?
○ Seeking a Path to Racial Harmony
● 12 additional participants attended the 2.5 day “Understanding and Analyzing Systemic Racism”
workshop for a total of 24+ people who have attended from First UMC; attendance was supported by
funds from the Richard Knapp Bequest.
● 13 staff and members convened to discuss the impact of the 2.5 day anti-racism training; this will
become a regular practice with meetings held three times a year as we seek to hold each other
accountable to move forward in the church’s reconciling work.
● Lisa Batten is attending the Faith Alliance of OutFront Kalamazoo’s monthly meeting as the First
UMC Reconciling Team’s representative.
● 15 active team members participate in monthly, 2-hour team meetings with this number growing
throughout the year The Reconciling Ministry Team is working on other ongoing projects that will be
announced in early 2019. We are working with the clergy to expand our team’s reach to involve all
members in deepening our understanding of what it means for FIRST UMC to be a reconciling church
and for us to truly understand how to have open hearts, open minds, and open doors.
RICHARD KNAPP BEQUEST REVIEW COMMITTEE
by Karen Hassevoort, Chair
As I continue to serve as the Chairperson of the Richard (Dick) Knapp Bequest Committee as established
by the Board of Trustees, I can provide witness to the many ways in which monetary gifts allow us to
respond in many rich and diverse ways to expand our ability to provide ministry and/or direct service
and outreach through projects that provide support for: full-time employees for Justice For Our
Neighbors to assist with immigrant rights, promoting study and support for small groups and the use of
technology/social media for updating or rethinking how we engage in worship and connections in
ministry, funding to help improve maternal and infant health outcomes among South Sudanese
refugees, and funding to support outreach to children in our community with a summer faith-based arts
enrichment program. What a joy and a challenge as we work together to discern and make decisions
faithful to the spirit of the bequest. This group is inspired by the countless examples and abundant
evidence of efforts of so many throughout our congregation to share God’s love in the world.
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ST. ANDREWS WORSHIP MINISTRY TEAM
by Carol Hodges, Chair
St. Andrew’s is a worship oversight group that meets quarterly. While the staff deals with weekly
worship planning, our group looks at the big picture of worship and discusses possible changes.
This year our big focus was technology in worship. Derek Wheaten, along with a team of other
congregation members, has been working on implementing technology around the building. After the
November 2017 roll-out of the use of two large screens in the sanctuary, Derek’s group continued to
work with the staff and the congregation as new things were tried. The use of screens was accompanied
by a new projection system and an improved sound system. The old sound booth was upgraded and an
additional technology room was added next to it.
Marc Pendziszewski was hired to be our chief technology staff member, and he trained a small group of
volunteers to run the equipment on Sunday mornings. We have also started live-streaming our 11:00
service every week. Each service is archived and available on YouTube. There is a link to our YouTube
channel on the church’s website.
On Sunday afternoons this video recording of the morning worship service is presented at the
Wyndham Retirement Community at 3:00 p.m. and at Friendship Village at 6:30 p.m. These satellite
services enable an additional group of church members to worship as a part of the larger congregation.
We also continue to enjoy the creativity shown in altar art by Deb Search Willoughby as well as the
musical gifts of the four choral scholars from Western Michigan University, Isaac James, Joey Gottshall,
Halle Shadrake, and Shannon Kelley.
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND YOUTH & YOUNG ADULT INTERN
by Elizabeth Batten
Serving as the EncounterMICall Intern in Youth and Young Adults, I have met one-on-one with former
Youth Tribe members and young adults in and out of the church. We have had regular gatherings
specifically for young adults as well as invitations to join the many wonderful opportunities at First UMC.
One look around the church we can see a lack of young adults. We have an opportunity at First UMC to
shift the culture to be in ministry with young adults, which ultimately leads to growth in the church. We
can open our hearts to young adults by being in relationship with those already in the church, sit with, as
well as take an interest in the young adults who attend and are sitting alone. Young adults have an
abundance of gifts, skills, and energy needed in the church today.
We can open our minds to young adults by reading “From the Ground Up, Beginning a Young Adult
Ministry From Scratch” in Relevant magazine. One misconception is that young adult ministry is an older
version of youth ministry and we need to understand the difference. We can open our doors to young
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adults by offering opportunities to be part of spiritual growth and the worshipping community outside of
Sunday morning (the majority of young adults work at this time). For young adults, there is no one-size-
fits-all worship style, time, or way in which they encounter God.
How will we as a church open our hearts, minds, and doors to being in ministry with young adults? In
what ways will you open your hearts, minds, and doors to being in relationship with young adults?
STAFF PARISH RELATIONS COMMITTEE
by Dan Adams, Chair
As First United Methodist Church continues to grow, the SPRC continues to serve the people, the staff,
and the clergy.
Our current staff and clergy continue to hold themselves to the highest standards and are working
together to ensure the church’s principles and missions are accomplished. Senior Pastor Steve Charnley
continues to lead in a way that is growing the church in a time when many appear to be shrinking. He is
active in his role within the church but is also committed to be a presence in the community. He continues
to set and seek high goals and we are blessed by his ministry.
Revs. Julie Kline, Dan Duncan, and Keith Treman continue to give every effort in supporting the overall
growth of the church. They work wonderfully as a team with the staff and each other. Rev. Julie continues
to lead the emerging worship service which has grown in popularity and is an effective ministry. Rev.
Dan continues to head up our children and families ministry and has had continued success with the
“Godly Play” ministry during regular worship. Rev. Keith had a great year continuing his role as Pastor
of Congregational Care; the church’s outreach mission to those members who are not able to attend on a
regular basis do to health and age. Other members of our Sunday worship including Jacqueline Stilger
(Minster of Music) and Bernie Faulk (Organist) continue to fill the sanctuary with music and pageantry.
Ruth LaMachia continues to lead the office and lay personnel. Through efforts and gifts, Rev. Mantu
Joshi has become a part of the ministry team on a consultation basis for 11 months. He is helping the
church create new disciple groups and is working on approaches for building community through social
media. The SPRC has attempted to make improvements on staff appreciation and held a Clergy
Recognition Service to honor all current and retired clergy. The church has also become very dedicated
and successful in advancing efforts to provide “online” services for those who are unable to attend
regular worship.
First Church continues to strive in its goal of sharing and experiencing God’s love. As it does, the SPRC
will continue to provide support in all that is possible.
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STEPHEN MINISTRY
by Wendy Arnold, Stephen Minister
In 2018 First UMC of Kalamazoo celebrated 33 years as a Stephen Ministry (SM) congregation. During those
years, over 85 lay persons trained to become Stephen Ministry Caregivers. They brought confidential, one-
on-one, distinctively Christian care to hundreds of Care Receivers within the congregation and community.
This ministry is named after Stephen, the early Christian martyr (Acts 6) who was commissioned by the
apostles to do acts of caring for those in need. Over the years, our Stephen Ministers have offered a caring
presence to persons experiencing large or small life changes, challenges, or crises.
Stephen Ministry remains a viable group within our congregation. There are currently ten actively serving
ministers. Our team remains committed to connecting and networking with active Stephen Ministry
programs at other area-wide churches in order to participate in combined training sessions or for other
mutually beneficial purposes. Our group is blessed to have the Rev. Steve Charnley and Rev. Keith Treman
as our advisors. We are grateful for their insightful monthly meetings with the Stephen Ministry leaders and
his timely referrals as well as their spiritual care and support they offer for the work of our group.
Stephen Ministry training equips God’s people for effective caring ministry. Trainees practice listening,
communication, relationship, and spiritual caring skills. They study various situations common to life and
learn how to best support Care Receivers with appropriate care in these circumstances. The training is open
to church members whether or not they intend to become active Stephen Ministers. After completing the 50
hours of training, participants may choose to be commissioned and serve as Stephen Ministers or simply use
their skills in their personal lives. Commissioned Stephen Ministers are additionally supported with
periodic continuing education and skill building. Currently, we meet once or twice a month for that skill
building and group supervision. We support one another with prayer for our personal concerns as well as
for God’s guidance and grace in our caring relationships.
The Stephen Ministers ask that all members of our congregation be alert to the hurting in our midst, and to
remind each other of the availability of this caring ministry. For further information or confidential inquiries
about seeking a Stephen Minister for oneself or a friend, one may contact any of the pastors or a Stephen
Ministry Leader (Wendy Arnold or Donna Meninga).
Stephen Ministers are here to care, listen, love, and offer hope in Christ's name. Continue to pray for us as we
pray for you. Thank you for supporting a ministry which enables us to bear one another’s burdens and
willingly give and receive care that strengthens and equips our congregation so that we may all continue to
“experience God’s love, celebrate God’s love, and share God’s love.” We are grateful for the privilege of
serving God and you in this special ministry.
You may contact any of the following Stephen Ministers for more information: David Arnold, Wendy
Arnold, Sharon Dougan, Becky Lawson, Donna Meninga, Claire Peek, Ruth Evelyn Graham, Ann Kneas,
Judy Sims, Marian Burkey, Rev. Steve Charnley, and Rev. Keith Treman.
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STEWARDSHIP
by Jerry Bultema & Mike Cooper, Co-Chairs
The 2018 Stewardship committee consisted of 13 members: Jerry & Margie Bultema, Mike & Janet
Cooper, Don & Harriet Chalker, Matt & Allison Bland, Roger Williams, Dennis Moon, Gary Minor, Rev.
Steve Charnley and Ruth LaMachia. The committee met several times throughout the campaign and
selected the theme Giving Is Heart Work early in the planning process. This year we added a
stewardship brochure to our campaign and continued our First Word articles. Additionally, individual
committee members provided Stewardship Moments during worship and we sent letters to the
congregation throughout the campaign. As of November 11, 2018, donations were ahead of last year’s
total. We hope to have final numbers after the first of the year. Part of our plan for 2019 is to add two
new members to our committee. It is our belief that younger parishioners would be valuable assets to
the Stewardship Committee. If you would be interested in joining this team, please contact either Jerry
Bultema or Mike Cooper.
TRUSTEES
by Larry Lueth, Chair
The Trustees are charged to supervise and maintain all property belonging to the congregation so that
the ministries of the church can be effective. This responsibility includes the church building,
furnishings, and grounds, as well as its financial assets.
The financial assets overseen by the Trustees, totaling approximately $2.013 million, include both
discretionary funds and several restricted funds. Most are invested at the United Methodist Foundation
of Michigan. The figures listed in this report represent October 31, 2018 balances.
The Permanent Endowment Fund ($832,297) is managed by a separate Endowment Committee, but is
included in the Trustee report. This fund receives special gifts and bequests. Its earnings (up to 5% of
its three year average asset value) are distributed to support church operations. In 2018 that amount
was $29,081.
The Parsonage Escrow Fund ($196,686) holds the proceeds from the sales of our former parsonages.
From this Fund, the Trustees provide partial support ($15,000 in 2018) of the pastors’ housing allowance.
The Mary Lou Robinson Fund ($32,988) holds the remains of a bequest designated to support local
outreach ministries. These funds are dispersed at the request of the Outreach Ministry Team.
The Cora Pountain Library Fund ($10,465) generates earnings that support the church’s library and
other Christian education items.
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The David H. Rohs Memorial Youth Program Fund ($18,037) is a bequest from David Rohs to be used to
support youth ministries. These funds are available for youth need based scholarships for youth
activities. Also, through an application process, the funds are available for post-secondary educational
opportunities. Five scholarships were given out in 2018 totaling $8,000.
The Building Reserve Fund ($296,936) was established in 2017 to begin setting aside funds to pay for
major capital expenditures as identified by the Buildings and Grounds Committee in the Ten Year
Capital Plan. This Fund was initially seeded with $100,000 in 2017 from the Trustees Parsonage Fund.
Future undesignated bequests will be put into this Fund. Guidelines have been approved identifying
how and when these funds will be used in the future.
The Richard G. Knapp Major Projects Fund ($433,796) is a bequest from Dick Knapp to be used for major
projects. A subcommittee of the Trustees receives proposals and makes recommendations for the
distribution of these funds. So far in 2018 four projects were approved totaling $138,000. The Trustees
are scheduled to review four or five project requests in December.
Discretionary funds in checking and savings accounts ($123,525) comprise the funds available to the
Trustees for property maintenance.
During 2018 capital expenses of about $133,000 were funded by Trustee monies. Richard Knapp monies
paid for approximately $120,900 in projects. Major projects included the following:
1. Scraping and painting of 77 stained glass windows on the first and second floors
2. Front of sanctuary façade repair
3. New HVAC in First Care
4. New emergency lighting and exit signs
5. Building HVAC controls upgrade
6. Security camera upgrades
7. Youth breakfast bar
For a list of the total projects completed in 2018 see the Buildings & Grounds report.
Trustees received two new bequests totaling $72,309 in 2018. We, along with the Endowment
Committee, encourage members and friends to include the church in their estate plans.
The Trustees for 2018 are Ric Brown, Chris Bovid – Vice Chair, Steve Charnley – Senior Pastor, Carol
Hodges – Treasurer, Ruth LaMachia – Church Business Administrator, Larry Lueth – Chair, Kari
Parthasarathy, Michel Pierce, Tom Schaberg – Buildings & Grounds Chair, Thom Victor, and Mitch
Wilson.
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UNITED METHODIST MEN: DAWN PATROL
by Dick Shilts, Andrew Lehman
This was another unprecedented year in this 50+ year-old group. “This is a bunch of old guys; where is
this new stuff coming from?” WE think the Lord above is doing something new; what else can it be?
From the fall of 2016 through the spring of 2017, we studied the book Dear White Christians by Jennifer
Harvey. While that length of time on one book was not new, we wondered how our conversations
might have gone if we had had some people of color present with us. So we intentionally set out in the
summer of 2017 to invite several African-American men to our Dawn Patrol. From the fall of 2017 until
present, we have been engaged in “story-telling” conversation. That was a bold step, but we
immediately felt it was working well. It was uncomfortable at times, but we stuck with it and with each
other as relationships grew. By the grace of God, we were doing what the pundits on TV say ought to
be done after racial nightmare followed racial nightmare across our country. Week by week we were
doing it: talking and listening across racial lines—slowly beginning to lower the barriers between us.
Story-telling has continued and deepened. We spent eight weeks or so last spring going through several
articles Pastor Charnley brought us from the April 2018 issue of National Geographic, which had race as
its focus. This fall we decided to extend the time of our meetings from an hour to an hour and a half—
unprecedented in Dawn Patrol history—so we’d have more space to get further into the issues raised.
Back in September we discussed the question of what to do for 2019. It was quickly decided to continue
on the path we have been on for the last two years. Getting a dozen old codgers to agree on anything
quickly is a miracle in itself. It was evident that we wanted to probe the area of racism even more
deeply—evidence, we think, that the Holy Spirit is working. We also owe a great deal to our black
brothers who have joined us and trusted us with their thoughts and observations. (Also noteworthy is
the fact that almost half of the group regularly go to Nina’s afterwards for breakfast, enabling us to
continue our interaction.)
Since September we have been working through Debbie Irving's classic book Waking Up White, a book
we would love to see recommended as “required reading” across our congregation. Maybe we cover
one page, maybe five, in a week; but always the conversation has been lively, enlightening, and
challenging. How long it will take us to finish the book is, as with many previous books we have
tackled, yet to be discovered.
There have been losses that we mourn: Jim Martin, Russ Gabier, and Paul VanWestrienen are no longer
with us; their input and fellowship are greatly missed. Our group ended the 2016-17 time period
averaging 8-9 people per session. We are now averaging 12-14 per session, and we welcome new folks
with open arms. It is also worth noting that Dawn Patrol met through the 2018 summer months for the
first time, taking turns sharing facilitator roles. Now approaching our third year, we are confident that
God is guiding us. We are grateful for the leadership of our ministerial staff. We go forth in faith
toward that which we cannot yet see, hopeful that we are helping to build the kingdom of God, here on
earth, daily. If you’d like to join Dawn Patrol, they meet on Wednesday mornings from 7:30-9:00 a.m.
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UNITED METHODIST MEN: SUNRISE PATROL
by John Clark
The Sunrise Patrol is a men’s group that has been meeting on Monday mornings for more than a
decade. Originally a spinoff of the long-standing Dawn Patrol, the group has created its own identity.
We currently have about nine members. All are welcome to join our fellowship.
We typically organize our discussions around a book. In 2017-18, we used Immigration and Justice for
Our Neighbors, edited by Jennifer Clark and Miriam Downey. This collection of poetry and prose
contains works by both local and national writers, including many from our congregation. The book
stretched our literary chops—there are few poets among us—but the power of the writing challenged us
to think about the plight of the “other” in our midst. Immigration and Justice for Our Neighbors is a
fundraiser for our local JFON office. We give it a strong recommendation.
For 2018-19, we’re reading Strive by local author Tim Hiller. A former Western Michigan University
football player, Tim worshiped with our congregation during his time at WMU. The short devotionals in
Strive work nicely in our free-flowing discussion format, and books by or about athletes have been a
regular theme of our weekly meetings.
While we use books to give us a theme, the discussion and fellowship brings us back together week after
week. Small group ministry is an essential part of the Wesleyan tradition. Those wishing to join our
small group can meet us Mondays at 7 a.m. in the Fellowship Room.
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
by Nancy Hilliard, Chair
United Methodist Women (UMW) has had a productive year, with programs of relevance, spiritual
fellowship and giving to ministries locally, nationally, and internationally that support women and
children.
In Oct, 2018, our UMW Sunday focused on homelessness in the Kalamazoo area, with our pulpit
guest/classroom leaders from OpenDoors Kalamazoo; $2,600 was raised for that great organization in
our special offering that day.
We invite women and friends of First UMC to join UMW.
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WORSHIP TECHNOLOGY VISION TEAM
by Derek Wheaton, Chair
Members: Derek Wheaton (chairperson), Mark Stucky, David Lundquist, Mike Cooper, Jim
Willoughby, Mitch Wilson, Kay Gross, Lynne Emons, Ruth LaMachia, Bob Lane, Marc Pendziszewski
The exciting ministry of the Worship Vision Technology Team has taken off this year! Last fall, the final
touches on installation of technology enhancements in our Sanctuary, Wesley Hall, Parlor and
educational rooms and Welcome Center area were completed. We successfully debuted the screens and
equipment on November 5 for All Saints Sunday, displaying visually the saints who have gone before us
in the sancturary. Later in December, the SPRC confirmed the hiring of a visual technician, Marc
Pendziszewski.
The hiring of Marc has ensured that the ministry of visual technology has blossomed! We debuted Live
Streaming on our You Tube channel in January of 2018! We have received several affirmations from
those who are traveling, not well, and/or shut-ins who rave about the opportunity to have a being there
worship experience! We continue to publish each week not only the opportunity for Live Streaming, but
archiving the service for posterity.
Marc led training for our Care Team to teach them how to share our Live Streaming service with shut-
ins. He led the team on how to utilize DVD monitor players that could be used in the home if no
internet capabilities were present and a DVD was preferred.
The use of visual technology in the Sanctuary has grown. As the worship planning team has gotten
more comfortable with the use of technology, videos have been shown, pictures have been displayed
and referenced, and three full Emerging Worship services were held in the Sanctuary for the first time
last summer to utilize the full scope of technology visual enhancements! The sound enhancements and
hearing aid system has ensured that everyone, no matter where they are located in the Sanctuary, can
clearly hear the service as it progresses. Again, rave reviews from the congregation affirmed the purpose
of this technology, so that people could fully see, hear, participate, and celebrate worship!
Our congregation has gotten comfortable in the use of technology in the Parlor, Fellowship Room, and
educational rooms and utilize the monitors well to share the word of Christ through educational videos.
The video monitors installed in our entry and welcome center area display announcements and recent
pictures of members in action as disciples of Jesus Christ. On occasion, for memorial services, life story
videos and pictures have been projected.
With the help of Rev. Keith Treman, two satellite services were launched this year! Each Sunday, the
recorded service is shown at 3:00pm at Heritage and 6:30pm at Friendship Village. Participants receive
a bulletin and the full use of hymnals to follow and sing along during the service. Again, several
participants shared their appreciation of having the opportunity to celebrate, experience, and share
God’s love via a satellite location. We even had a non-member who was attending the service on a
weekly basis join the congregation! Praise be to God!
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As we look to next year we want to continue to see where God where lead this ministry. We are
working with youth to cull their interest in volunteering in both the sound and video booth. We are
culling interns from local college programs who might be placed to learn about our system and work
alongside our video technician, Marc. We are interested in finding ways to utilize our video
conferencing technology to connect with the greater world. We will continue to see how we can grow
this ministry in ways that we have yet to uncover! Our eyes and ears are open, we continue to listen to
God and seek direction to where we can lead through head, heart, and hands.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE (YANA) MINISTRY
by Ray Sweany
You Are Not Alone (YANA) is a community meal served on Sunday evenings starting at 5:00 p.m. The
meals are nutritious and prepared with love. Anybody is welcome to join us. Many who join us are
food insecure, others are not. The prep work, serving, and clean-up are shared responsibilities. For
more information, you can contact Ray Sweany; 269-350-5977 or at [email protected].
You Are Not Alone is a mix between the beloved community and the descriptions of the early church as
recorded in Acts. We imagine a group who are bonded together by love and by as much as a need for
community as for a need for food. I am haunted by the testimony of 20 or more homeless people before
the City Commission on August 28. People whose lives were in turmoil viewed themselves as unloved
and unwelcome. “There isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t consider suicide.” (Matthew 25) challenges
us to share the love of Christ where it seems so needed. As we become bonded, we find other things to
share besides food. We have assisted in housing, transportation, simple needs of warm clothing and
bedding, stuffed animals as well. We share prayers.
We blur the meaning of “we” and “they.” As a result, some of those who came for food are now formal
members of First United Methodist Church. Clearly, others consider First UMC their church even if
they never join the earlier services in the morning or formally. Just as clearly, “they” join in the loving,
the sharing of what there is to share, and the praying. Clearly, many of the “they” are “us.” Others are
visitors who share the food and they are the recipients of so much more.
Last year, we served over 5,892 people at a cost to our designated account of $10,336. This worked out
to be $2.05 per meal. You Are Not Alone is bigger than First United Methodist Church and the actual
cost of our program is greater than what was shown because in-kind food has been donated by a variety
of individuals as well as other churches, principally Westwood United Methodist Church, St. Luke’s
Episcopal Church, and Gull Lake UMC. To add to the complexity, the number of people served is also
greater than the number shown above. At the end of the meal, the leftover food is either packaged for
takeout or offered as seconds. Often, we hear the stories of those who are not present, but in need of
food: children who were left at home, shut-ins, partners who were watching over belongings are among
the stories. Probably unspoken are people just wanting to ensure good food for the morrow.
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