The Grapevine 2018 gv.pdfRomeo United Methodist Church Page 1 February 4 The GRAPEVINE is published...

Romeo United Methodist Church Page 1

Reverend Trevor Herm, Pastor

Romeo United Methodist Church

Church Office: 586-752-9132 Church Fax: 586-752-0593

Anne Wilber, Church Secretary Cynthia Forsgren, Choir Director

Linda Schenburn, Christian Education Kari Reid, Treasurer

Ed LaLonde, Praise Band Hannah Engwall, Youth Director

February 2018

The GRAPEVINE is published monthly. The

intention is to communicate and promote the entire

program of the Romeo United Methodist Church

to members and friends. Your articles, comments

and suggestions are welcome. The editor reserves

the right to edit content and space as required.

Linda Eastman, Editor Phone: 586 281-6956 [email protected]

The Grapevine

Ash Wednesday February 14

Valentine’s Day February 14

This Month’s Events

UMW Sunday February 4

Haiti Dress Workshop February 26


Pastor’s Paragraphs

Well it’s February so of course I’m going to write about love. I know we think that love will solve all our

problems, or at least help us through them, but we each need to be loved.

The way we celebrate Valentine’s Day captures how short term our view of love is. Love is more than a card

or a box of chocolates. We think of love as something we only need one day a year or when we’re with

someone we really like, but God offers us so much more to consider. God’s love lasts forever. And when God

talks about love, He combines it with faith and hope, so that faith teaches us to trust others, and hope helps

us to look to the future.

As we celebrate love this month may we learn to love like God does. May we learn to love everyone, not just

our sweetheart, or Valentine. And let’s not limit our love to just what we feel, but let’s practice a love that

embraces the world. God wants us to love with all the gifts and resources He gave us.

Thank you again for all the ways you let Carol and I know you were thinking of us this week during her surgery.

We love you all and are grateful for the chance to share together in our ministry as a church, as we seek to

love each other with a love that truly can change our world. Happy Valentines Day.

Pastor Trevor

DRESSES AND SHIRTS FOR HAITI

In 2017 RUMC contributed over 500 items of clothing to the Northwest Christian Haiti Mission. Part of those donations were dresses and shirts made by the ladies of UMW. There are pictures posted in Fellowship Hall of some of the children wearing the items we donated. UMW plans to continue this mission project in 2018. On Monday, February 26th at 10:00 a.m. we will again be making dresses and shirts to send to Haiti in July. The items will be delivered by Tom and Sharon Snively, the missionaries who spoke at our church on Mission Sunday. If you would like to be a part of this mission project please join us. If you are not a sewer don’t fret, there are other tasks that you can help with. Refreshments are always served, we are Methodists after all. Donations of fabric, bias tape, eyelet, buttons, etc. are always welcome. Please drop your donations in the box outside the church office.

BLUE WATER DISTRICT CELEBRATION As you know, Michigan District boundaries will be changed effective July 1, 2018. Join Rev. Elizabeth Hill, Blue Water District Superintendent, The Blue Water District Leadership Team, and our Blue Water District congregations on February 11th at the Lake Huron Retreat Center at 8794 Lakeshore Rd, Burchville, MI 48059 from 2 to 4 p.m. for a celebration of our Blue Water District. Our District name will be changed July 1st, and Romeo UMC will remain in our present District.


FEBRUARY VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE FELLOWSHIP TIME

4th UMW Sunday 11th Marilyn Bracy, Becky Laseke, Sue Rhoads 18th Ginny Power, Kathy Loba, Kathy Smith 25th Jeff and Mary McClay, Elaine Roberson

USHERS SCHEDULE Traditional Service Contemporary Service

4th and 11th Becky Laseke – Lead, Linda Eastman (4th Only), Ginny Power, Pat

Sebastian, Ron Sebastian Dory Hill

18th and 25th Craig Engwall – Lead, Judy Engwall,Hannah Engwall, Ed Buckner Don Adkin

GREETERS

9:00 A.M. Service

4th Elaine Roberson, Naomi Stasak 11th Becky Laseke, Marian Hevel 18th Bob and Lynn Bachholzky 25th Lou and Anna Bonanni

If you are not able to greet at any time scheduled, please make arrangements for a sub.

VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS

Seasonal Flowers Mary Jo Hosler 586-337-2692 Baby Blanket Ministry Ilene Lock 586-752-3952 College Ministry Paula Groomes 586-752-4003 Fellowship Hour Becky Laseke 586-337-1361 Greeters Gayle Beitel 586-232-3388 Nursery Jen Lamb 586-255-5557 Sound Board Dave Beskin 586-781-8346 Ushers Craig Engwall 586-504-6655 Communion Marilyn Bracy 586-752-6964

COMMUNION STEWARDS

February 4 - Pews

9:00 a.m. Marilyn Bracy Naomi Stasak 11:00 a.m. Marty and Karen Rastigue Pat & Ron Sebastian

\

LITURGIST SCHEDULE

9:00 Service

4th Ned Grant 11th Ann Heller 18th Paul Heller 25th Mary Jo Hosler 11:00 Service 4th Combined Service 11th Ellen Dennis 18th Hannah Engwall 25th Alex Stork

SOUND BOARD

4th Claudia Royal 11th Laurie Bennett 18th Mischele Makhlouf 25th Claudia Royal

ALTAR FLOWERS 4th Open 11th Open 18th Ned and Amy Grant 25th Open **The price to sponsor altar

flowers is now $50.

NURSERY SCHEDULE

9:00 A.M. Service

4th McClay Family 11th Ginny Power 18th Laura Salsido 25th Marty & Heather Wagester 11:OO A.M. Service 4th Louchrisa Smith 11th Lamb Family 18th Dale & Jenny Teller 25th Louchrisa Smith


Weekly Meetings

Communion Sunday First Sunday of each month Traditional Service Sunday 9:00 a.m. Sanctuary Fellowship Time Sunday 10:00 a.m. Fellowship Hall Prayers for Church Sunday 10:15 a.m. Prayer Room 106 Contemporary Service Sunday 11:00 a.m. Sanctuary Knitting Class Tuesday 1:00 p.m. Room 110 His Table Community Meal Tuesday 5:30 p.m. Fellowship Hall Men’s Fellowship 2nd & 4th Tues 6:30 p.m. Room 107 Praise Band Practice Tuesday 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary Santa’s Workshop Wednesday 10:00 a.m. Life Skills Room Hand Bell Choir Practice Wednesday 6:45 p.m. Choir Room Choir Practice Wednesday 7:30 p.m. Choir Room Turning Point Office Thursday 9:30 a.m. Room 106

RUMC February 2018 Calendar

Sun 4th

UMW Sunday –Combined Service 10:00 a.m.

Tue 6th

Staff Parish Committee Meeting 7:00 p.m.

Thur 8th

Staff Parish Committee Meeting

Church Council Meeting

5:30 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Sun 11th

BWD Office Closing Event at Lake Retreat

Center 2:00 p.m. to

4:00 p.m.

Wed 14th

Ash Wednesday Service

Valentine’s Day

7:00 p.m.

Thur 15th

Trustee Meeting 7:00 p.m.

Fri 23rd

Fish Fry #1 4:30 p.m.

Mon 26th

Haiti Dress Workshop 10:00 a.m.

Arvid and I would like to thank our church family for your cards, prayers and kind words during the passing of my Mother. Your support meant a lot to us. Lorraine Martin

Apportionment Fundraiser! Odyssey children continue to

collect returnable cans and bottles. We need yours! Please leave them in

the box in the lobby. $146.70 in January!

Thank you!

ANNOUNCEMENT PRESENTERS SCHEDULE

4th Carol Herm 11th Tom King 18th Judy Howard 25th Judy Engwall

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES

Wednesday, February 14, 7:00pm

The season of Lent will soon be upon us!! Mark your calendars, and plan to attend this important service.

February 4th has been

designated as UMW Sunday.

The entire morning will be

covered by women, greeters,

ushers, etc. There will be 2

guest speakers, Tom and

Sharon Snively, the

Missionaries that go to the

orphanage in Haiti and

deliver the dresses and shirts

we make and the other

speaker will be a survivor

from Turning Point.


Play that “funky” music…….

“Funky” music is defined as music which moves your

body and your soul. I bring this up as a way to

introduce RUMC’s own purveyor of funky music, Ed

LaLonde.

Ed was given his first guitar, which he still has by the

way, by his grandfather when he was 8 years old. The

first song he learned on that guitar was, “Home on

the Range”. Ed also knows how to play bass guitar

and some keyboards but his main instrument is the

guitar. In the 11th grade he put his first band

together, Prophecy. The band played early 80’s rock

and roll. During this time period Ed wanted to have

fame and fortune as an entertainer. However, it

appears God had other plans for him.

After meeting his current wife Ed decided fame and

fortune were not the most important things in life.

He now believes it was God working on him through

his music. Ed began to concentrate more on Christian

music which led to him taking a job in a local

congregation, first simply as a player in the church

band and finally as the praise band leader. This

position lasted for approximately 8 years and when it

ended God had another plan for him.

It was at this point in time Ed met Gary Glanville and

eventually ended up playing here and being the

praise band leader at RUMC. This is Ed’s current

position in our church and he hopes to remain here

for a long time. His main goal now is to write more

songs of inspiration he can teach the congregation.

He currently has written about a dozen songs which

he will play from time to time along with more

contemporary Christian songs. Ed did reveal that his

one big dream is to go in a professional recording

studio and record the songs he has written. With God

looking over him there is a good chance it may

happen one day.

February Food Pantry Needs: Pancake Mix Saltine Crackers Cereal Coffee Jelly Pasta Noodles Bath Tissue Pasta Sauce Women’s Deodorant Beef Stew Shampoo Children’s Snacks Diaper’s (Size 4-6) We appreciate any non-perishable food items and

toiletries that you can donate. THANK YOU! Please bring your donations to Samaritan House, 62324 Van Dyke (between 28 & 29 Mile Roads) in Washington Twp. on Tuesday and Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can contact Samaritan House at (586) 336-9956.

A note from George Bryant: I am back home and

feeling better. I would just like to thank all of you for

the cards and especially the prayers during my recent

illness. I love you all and so appreciate your

support. I praise God for all you do.

Blessings, George Bryant

Financial Snapshot of the Operating Fund

as of 12/31/17

Actual Budget Difference

Income $386,452 $371,801 $14,651

Expenses 372,272 371,801 -471

Deficit 14,180 0 14,180

Unpaid Apportionments $ 19,668

Your church needs your financial support!!


T Elliott Welch

To You Who Bring Small Children to Church

There you are sitting in worship or Bible study. Your child, or toddler, is restless. Perhaps they’re even a little boisterous. You try to silence them, and nothing. You try to pacify them with food or toys, and nothing. Eventually, you resort to the last thing you wanted to do: you pick them up, and before a watching audience, you make the march out of the auditorium. All the while, you’re a little embarrassed. Maybe you’re a little frustrated too. You might even think to yourself, “There’s no point in coming to church. I get nothing out of it because I have to constantly care for my kid.”

I want you — you mothers and/or fathers — to know just how encouraging you are to so many. The little elderly woman who often feels alone beams with a smile at the sight of you wrestling with your little one. She’s been there before. She knows how hard it can be, but she smiles because to hear that brings back precious memories. To see young parents and their small children brightens her day, and she may have just received bad news this week about her health, but seeing the vitality of young ones removes — if but for a moment — her fears.

The older man who always seems to be grouchy notices you too. He’s always talking about how children in this day have no respect or sense of good. But, he sees you — a young family — in church, and you don’t miss any gathering. Like clockwork, he can depend on the sight of you and your young family. You give him hope that maybe the church isn’t doomed after all, because there are still young parents who love God enough to bring their restless children to worship.

Then there’s everybody else. Some people will honestly become frustrated by noisy children in church. They have this warped idea that reverence includes absolute silence. It doesn’t. When parents brought their children to Jesus, the disciples rebuked them (Matt. 19.13-15), but Jesus rebuked His disciples. He said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” The term translated “children” in Matthew and Mark is paidon. The root of the word “pedagogue” is from this word. It defined children of either an infant state, or more particularly, it was with reference to those who were half-grown and could be either males or females.

When Luke wrote his account of this narrative, he used the word brephos; which means “infants.” Luke wasn’t contradicting Matthew and Mark’s account, because Luke wrote that they brought the infants “also” (Luke 18.15-17). They would have squirmed, maybe even cried. This was likely why the disciples rebuked the parents; as well as that they might have thought that the children were too young to understand the blessing Christ pronounced over them.

Bring your children to church. If you don’t hear crying, the church is dying. As hard as it might be for you as a parent who’s half-asleep, keep on doing what you’re doing. You are an encouragement, and you’re starting off your children’s lives as you should.

Copied: (Author Unknown)

Submitted by Christian Education


1st Martin Rastigue 2nd Scott Jones 3rd Steve Trenchemontagne 4th Paula Groomes

Cindie Wade 7th Derek Beaumont Paton Zimmerman Audrey Salsido Jenna Hodgin 9th Peggy Moore Julianne Nicol 11th Rachel Young 12th Shirley Engwall Grason Dixon

13th David Faris Chantelle Adkins 15th Donald Corah 16th Betty Walton Kathy Smith 17th Judy Baker 20th Esta Corbin 22nd Deborah Obrecht 23rd Joy Stevenson Mary Jane Johnson 24th Leonard Royal 28th Dona Back

Please join us from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018 at

Greystone Golf Club and Banquet Center for our 8th Annual

Pasta and Chicken Dinner.

The benefit dinner is for a great cause, our goal is $12,000,

which enables Samaritan House to provide emergency

assistance to more than 500 people each month.

Tickets are $25 each, with children 12 and under, $10. Advance

ticket sales only. Buy your tickets early, last year we sold out!

Samaritan House is seeking sponsors. For more information, or

to become a sponsor, contact (586) 336-9956 or email

[email protected].

Easter Distribution Needs

Samaritan House needs the following items

for its Easter Food Drive. Please deliver the

following items to Samaritan House by March

1, 2018. Thank You!!

Box potatoes

Canned applesauce or cranberry

Mandarin oranges or other fruit

Green beans or carrots

Mayonnaise

Frosting

Cake mix

Brown sugar (box or bag)

Jelly beans

Jell-O

“A Time Mostly for Children” will

now be offered at second service!

A note from Nancy Harrar: Thanks to everyone for their prayers

and expression of concern for my dad, Frank Brown. I am happy to

report he is back to health and his usual activities. Praise the Lord!

mailto:[email protected]


On Sunday, January 7th, the children of Odyssey had the

opportunity to learn about the visitors from the East. As

they entered the room, scented candles of frankincense

and myrrh were burning. An atomizer was sending the

essential oils of frankincense into the air. Samples of the

dried crystals were available for touching and studying.

We learned that they were the dried resins from trees in

the Middle East. They had been very valuable and were

precious indeed. There were many uses for these

products back in Biblical times.

We watched a short video clip illustrating the

Wiseman’s journey and their dilemma with King Herod.

Then we read and acted out a story based on Matthew

2:1-12. After discussing the story, we made small

luminaries out of plastic cups to remind us of the star

that lit up the night sky. We punched designs and various

holes into the cups, inserted small LED tealights and then

went into a dark room to view our finished product. It

was very awe-inspiring and a good reminder to keep

beside our beds at night.

Dr. Arnold Hentschl, a family friend and regular

Sunday morning attendee of RUMC, thought the children

should have real gold, or something that symbolized that

special gift. He collected enough gold coins for each one

of our children to take home as a keepsake. There were

golden Presidential dollar coins and golden Sacagawea

dollar coins. Every child was able to choose their favorite

one as they went out the door that day clutching their

story papers and their luminaries. All in all, it was an

enjoyable morning and we all learned a lot. We have

enough coins left over so that if your child was not able

to attend that day and would like to learn more about

that lesson, we can accommodate them. See Mrs.

Schenburn or myself.

Respectfully submitted, Mary Jo Hosler

Hello my name is church,

I’m sure you’ve heard a lot about me. I have no shortage

of critics. Perhaps you have heard that I am...

- Boring

- Shallow

- Cheap

- A waste of time

You’ve heard that I am full of:

- Hypocrites

- Clowns

- Greedy people

- The self-righteous

Maybe you have visited me before and discovered:

- Horrible music

- Passionless singing

- Dry preaching

- Rude congregants

Maybe you needed me and I was:

- Too busy

- Too “righteous”

- Too broke

- Too blind

Maybe you joined me and found I was:

- Distant

- Demanding

- Dull

- Preoccupied

Maybe you tried to serve in me but were caught off guard

by:

- Business meetings

- Committees

- Teams

- Bureaucracy

Maybe you left and were surprised that nobody:

- Called

- Cared

- Noticed

- Invited you back


Hello my name is church, (continued)

In order for us to all worship in the same room Christ was:

- Shamed

- Beaten

- Killed

- Resurrected

Which is far worse than being:

- Bored

- Uncomfortable

- Embarrassed

- Ignored

So why not come back to church and let all of these messed up

people:

- Challenge you

- Sharpen you

- Strengthen you

- Humble you

I can’t promise you that the people will be great. This is church.

It’s not:

- Heaven

- Paradise

- Beulah Land

- The Celestial city

Come back.

- God wants you here.

- The body needs you here.

- The world needs your witness here.

- You belong here.

Hello, my name is church.

- I miss you.

- I love you.

- I’m sorry.

Can’t wait to see you.

Perhaps your experience has driven you to:

- Speak negatively of me

- Swear to never come back to me

- Proclaim that no one needs me

- Believe you’re better off without me

If this is true, I have something to say to you:

- I’m sorry

- I was wrong

- I blew it

- I made a huge mistake

But remember, I never said my name was:

- Perfect

- Flawless

- Complete

- Arrived

My name is church. I welcome the:

- Hypocrite

- Dry

- Self-righteous

- Shallow

I welcome the

- Sincere

- Passionate

- Forgiving

- Selfless

I cannot shut my doors to the people who make you:

- Angry

- Uncomfortable

- Impatient

- Self-conscious

But I would remind you that we couldn’t always worship in

the same room. In the Old Testament there was a division

between the:

- Gentile

- Jew

- Man

- Woman

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