Sunday, April 4, 2021 – Easter Sunday

Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise

Read: Luke 24:1-12

Hail the day that sees Him rise
To His throne above the skies.
Christ, awhile to mortals given
Reascends His native Heaven.

There the glorious triumph waits.
Lift your heads, eternal gates.
Christ hath conquered death and sin.
Take the King of glory in.

See! the Heaven its Lord receives,
Yet He loves the Earth He leaves.
Though returning to His throne,
Still He calls the world His own.

See! He lifts His hands above.
See! He shows the prints of love.
Hark! His gracious lips bestow
Blessings on His church below.

Charles Wesley

Saturday, April 3, 2021

A Love Letter to My Church Family

“After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church—for we are members of his body.” – Ephesians 5:29-30

What a year this has been! We have all been overwhelmed with the disruption to our lives brought on by this horrible pandemic. Will you remember a year of disappointment, inconveniences, fear, political and social unrest, stress, mask wearing and social distancing, hopelessness, or a multitude of other negatives? Or will the year be remembered as one to reflect on what is really important in life, to re-balance our values, to realize how dependent we are on each other, to discover how creative we can be, and to celebrate our faith in the midst of uncertainty. It is a year where I have discovered anew the appreciation I have for this church and my church family. This church has wrapped its loving arms around me at the loss of my beloved Larry and given me sustenance to find a new sense of normalcy in spite of all the disruptions.

Thank you to each of the following:

• those with technical skills who have facilitated our online services and activities
• those who have blessed us with their beautiful voices and instruments
• the inspiring, comforting and reassuring words of our pastor as he prepared excellent sermons
• the wonderful children’s messages that Emily has given which spoke to the adults as well as children
• church members who made caring calls and wrote notes of cheer
• the United Methodist Women’s Cheer Group, the Witness and Caring Group, Stephen Ministry, Prayer Vigil participants, and the Outreach Ministry Group who have quietly continued their ministry to shut-ins, the hurting, those grieving, the fearful, and the lonely
• Charlie van Becelaere who has stepped up to become the Swiss Army knife of services to our congregation from presenting sermons, soliciting and presenting special music, and preparing our annual Lenten devotion booklet
• Joan Richardson who has brightened our days with the “Tuesday Newsletter” and “Coffee Hour”.
• Bob Rossbach whose technical skills have given us our online services, the voices of our choir and special music, and who facilitated the funeral service for Larry Deck in the Memorial Garden which led to outdoor services in the garden
• Fred Van de Putte who has kept all the sound and communications equipment working
• the unnamed who have sustained and supported the ministries of our church
• everyone who shared a kind word and smiled love

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for our church family who reminds us that while the virus is disruptive and inconvenient, it cannot touch our hearts and minds, nor can it keep us from your love and care.

Pat Deck

Friday, April 2, 2021 – Good Friday

The Lord’s Prayer – Together

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
 on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
 as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
 but deliver us from the evil one. - Matthew 6:9-13

I have been participating in the continuous prayer vigil since the beginning. At first every week, but I must admit as the weather got better not nearly as frequently. I was apprehensive at first; 15 minutes seemed like a long time, but later I was easily able to pray for 30 minutes and would often be surprised when my alarm went off. Yes – those that know me know I would be the type to set an alarm. I pray silently.

Early on during the pandemic, when we were virtual, I would say the Lords Prayer out loud when the time came. It felt a little uncomfortable since I am a silent prayer, but I did it. I was happy when we could worship in the Garden and pray together, and during that time when there was a rainy Sunday I would pray out loud at home. Then, finally, we got to go back inside. When it came time to pray the Lord’s Prayer together it was awesome. I’m not sure how many people were in the sanctuary that first Sunday, maybe 60, but the sound of us saying the words together echoing thought the sanctuary... it brought tears to my eyes.

Ever since we have been forced back online, when Mike and I pray our lone voices in our house make me sad. It reminds me that we are meant to be together. Praying together in our beautiful church where our voices blend together and fill the room. So, for the last several weeks I pray silently.

As I write this, I believe I only have one more Sunday before I can pray the prayer Jesus taught us with my eyes closed and my heart full in our sanctuary, hearing all your voices with mine. So if you happen to see a tear on my cheek for the first few Sundays, know it Is a tear of joy.

Prayer: Lord, bless all those that are unable to worship in person during this Lent. May they know they are missed and loved.

Cathy Lorenz

Thursday, April 1, 2021 – Maundy Thursday

Special Delivery

Read: Luke 14:12-14, Proverbs 16:9

I’m sure that everyone has some kind of COVID story to tell. It might be about a chance encounter when walking in the neighborhood, or failing to recognize a long-time friend because of masks (sorry about that), or it might be something even more serendipitous. That’s what I have to share – a story of serendipity.

As you remember, we wanted to celebrate Communion at the Christmas Eve worship service. Of course, we couldn’t be in the Sanctuary together at that time, so what were we to do? Since we had other things to distribute – Advent kits, Luminarias, and Butter Braids – we thought we would distribute the elements at the same time as those things.

That went quite well. We passed out a lot of elements to the folks who were picking up that other stuff. Then we did some home deliveries. A few people took elements to those who couldn’t make it to church to pick them up, and I was one of those deliverers. I handled several drop-offs to people whose homes I knew well, but I was also asked to take some additional cups to a relatively new person – one who wasn’t in the aging directory I keep in my car – as they were going to have more family at home than they had realized.

I checked with a friend to get the address, and it was right on my way to church where I had to drop off some other stuff anyway. I pulled up, masked up, grabbed the correct number of communion cups, and knocked on the door. A young girl answered, and I told her I was from the church and just dropping off the communion elements. She took them, looking a bit confused, thanked me, and closed the door, so I headed to the church and did my stuff there.

While I was finishing up, I got a text telling me that I had gotten the wrong address – I had just delivered the elements to the house across the street from where I was supposed to be. No wonder the girl looked confused! Anyway, I grabbed a few more cups and headed over to the correct address, where a different young girl looked nearly as confused, but thanked me just as sincerely.

I’ll bet there was an interesting conversation in that “wrong” house about just where those communion elements came from! I hope it led to their taking Communion that evening, and that it was one of those nudges from God to all involved, reminding us that even when we think we know what we’re doing, we may just be doing His will.

Prayer: Father, thank you for taking our mistakes and turning them into opportunities for your Love to shine through. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Charlie van Becelaere

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Ethan and Charlie

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” – John 13:34

My two oldest grandsons are very devoted to each other. That is not to say that they don’t ever fight verbally or even physically but my oldest grandson, age 13, is especially protective of his brother, age 10. So I was a little taken aback when one day, Charlie, age 10, announced that he would really like a baby sister. Well, I didn’t want to disabuse him of the possibility that he would ever have a baby sister. But seriously, as far as the parents were concerned, that ship had already sailed. But at the same time, I was curious why Charlie would make that statement. It is true that he has 4 younger cousins nearby and loves to entertain them. But to bring another person into the house to share the toys, bathrooms and/or bedrooms was another thing altogether.

So I asked Charlie why he wanted a baby sister and his answer was this: he wanted a baby sister so that he could look after her like Ethan, his older brother, looks after him. So I got to thinking that we should think of God’s love in that way also. His love for us is so profound that we should, much like Ethan and Charlie, in turn love others.

Vivian Anderson

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

No Help Wanted

Read: Psalm 48
(I was going to suggest Colossians 3:21, but thought better of it. Ed.)

I truly am blessed and living a charmed life. Today I didn't know how much I needed someone to take me to a doctor appointment up on 23 mile road. Charlie rode to the rescue and not only took me there (I had never been in that area before), but eased my concerns and was a strong voice during the visit.

I guess this is just another lesson for me in how much less independent I am than I have believed. While Charlie is part of my immediate family, this makes me realize how important our other family, the church family, is to our feeling of well being. They are always ready to help.

I'm reminded of an account I read of a minister who was in a really bad car accident. He was in the hospital for months and months. Whenever someone asked if there was something they could do for him or get him something, the answer was always no. One of his friends lectured him, saying, “You are not being fair by not letting anyone help when it's what they want to do. You need to let them feel good about helping.”

The next time a friend asked if there was something he could get him, finally he said yes – he'd like a magazine. His friend returned with a copy of every magazine for sale in the hospital. Lesson learned.

Jack van Becelaere

Monday, March 29, 2021

Just Because

Read: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Just because you can’t see the air
    doesn’t mean you stop breathing.
And just because you can’t see God
    doesn’t mean you stop believing!

Glenn DeLodder

The Promise of Dawn

Read: UMH 145, Psalm 118:24

In my third floor apartment my favorite chair faces large windows that look out on the sky and tree tops.

As an early morning riser it’s my pleasure to witness the dawning of each day with gratitude.
In spite of losses and the occasional darkness in my life, I give thanks for God's promise of the dawn – the new beginning of each day – and the presence of God’s constant love,

Sarah Frakes

Sunday, March 28, 2021 – Palm Sunday

In the Middle of Our Messes

Read: Mark 1:21-28

Has your room at home ever been messy, and then that you have to clean up that messiness? What kinds of things do you usually have to clean up? Maybe books or toys, stuffed animals, your electronics, your clothes... all sorts of things. I have messes at home too.

Actually when I left Oliver and Stella home with my Mom this morning, they were already up and working very hard on the day's mess. So what do you think of these messes we have at home? Do we ever see those types of messes in the sanctuary? No, not so much. It looks pretty clean, just about all the time, doesn't it? If I were to make a mess in there, it would look especially messy and out of place. And I don't think Josh would probably be very happy with me.

But just as we have messes in our rooms, we can also have messes inside of us. And a lot of times, we think we're supposed to clean up those messes inside of us all on our own. We might even think that we need to clean up our messes before we can come to worship. Or maybe we think we need to hide our messes when we worship because it looks so clean: it would look out of place if we were messy.

But in today's scripture from Mark, we see someone in Jesus's faith community who decides to spill their mess right there in the middle of the worship service. The story calls this mess an unclean spirit. But you'll notice when we read from Mark how Jesus responded to this person's mess. Jesus didn't get mad or upset. Instead, Jesus helped the person clean up his mess right there in the middle of worship.

Although the sanctuary is almost always clean, it doesn't mean we have to have everything cleaned up in our own lives to be there. In fact, our faith community can actually help us. With God's guidance and love, they can help us clean up our messes just like Jesus does in today's scripture story. For example, at home, we may make a mess. But then a sibling or a parent might help us clean it up. And that's how it's supposed to work. Not only don’t we need to be cleaned up to be a part of church, we can invite others in the faith community to know about our messes – to live in our messes. And together, with God's help, we can work together to clean up our messes. Jesus isn't afraid of our messes. We learned that today. Imagine our world if we all acted as Jesus did; if we gave each other the same grace in the middle of our messes.

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for Jesus, for He shows us – in the middle of our messes – your healing love and grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Emily Bianchi

Saturday, March 27, 2021

Christ is the Light of the World

"The Word gave life to everything that was created,
And his life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness,
And the darkness can never extinguish it."
John 1:4-5

Our Bible Study Group is studying the book of John using Adam Hamilton book, “John, The Gospel of Light and Life.” We have found new understanding. Unlike the other gospel writers, John gives the meaning of Jesus' life; the spiritual significance. John is attempting to answer the questions of Jesus’ identity and importance for the reader. "We come to know who God is by looking at Jesus."

"No one has ever seen God. God the only Son, who is at the Father's side, has made God known." John 1:18

Jesus came to be the light of the world; to push back the darkness we experience. The darkness is John's metaphor for evil, despair, death of loved ones, and losing our way. Jesus is the light that shows us the way to live. We are to let God's light shine through us to lead others to God so they can experience His unfailing love.

Lighting each other's candles at Christmas Eve has new meaning for me. It symbolizes what we as Christians are expected to do. We are to pass the light of Christ in the way we live our lives to our fellow man. We are to share God's love with others. When our members braved the cold to form a cross of lighted candles at Christmas, they showed God's love is alive in this church to our community.

I was impressed by the poem Amanda Gorman wrote. "For there is always light. If only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it."

Prayer: Jesus, I trust in you, that you are God's word in the flesh. I trust that you are the light of the world. Illuminate my darkness. Help me to walk in your light and to love and follow you all the days of my life. In your holy name. Amen

Karen Bromley

Friday, March 26, 2021

Living a life worth remembering

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. – Psalm 19:14.

Be kind to one another and tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. – Ephesians 4:32

After I finished my lunch today, I realized I needed to wrap up the kitchen trash and take it out. When I returned, I reached into the bottom of the wastebasket, retrieved a plastic bag that lay at the bottom of the receptacle, and put the new trash liner in place.

Every time I put a new plastic bag into one of my trash cans at home, I think of Bill Evans. Every. Single. Time.

Bill Evans was a longtime member at GPUMC, and years ago taught me that trick during one of the first times I worked in the church kitchen. I was new to this chore, and Bill was an old hand who introduced me to some of the expected practices in the kitchen. One of those practices was placing several plastic liners in the bottom of the trash can so one would be available the next time the trash was emptied. I thought that was brilliant — and it soon became the expectation in the RR household as well!

Bill was kind, funny, and ever-present, and I really appreciated that he took the time to orient me as needed.

A few years later, Bill took the same care when he showed my son, David, how to operate the dishwasher in the basement kitchen. Running the dishwasher eventually became David’s favorite church chore, in no small part because of the good memories associated with how he was taught to use the device. Bill trusted him to learn this task when David was at that awkward middle school age when nobody trusted him to do anything of significance.

I learned that plastic bag trick close to 25 years ago, and it sticks with me to this day. I really do think of Bill Evans every time I replace the trash bag liner. It’s not the practice itself that made such an impression — although it clearly did! — but the generosity of spirit that made him take the time to show a newcomer how to fit in. Such a very simple act of kindness. But he touched my heart and I remember him still with great fondness.

Prayer: Lord, help me to remember that all of my actions, no matter how small, have the power to help or hurt another person. Help me to live a life that will cause others to remember my acts of kindness and faithfulness.

Joan Richardson

Thursday, March 25, 2021

G Words

Read: Luke 17:11-17

Recently, I read two articles in the newspaper on the same day that essentially had nothing to do with each other, other than both focused on words starting with the letter G.

The first article was about hot water and types of hot water heaters. The article started out talking about how we today, in this country, take for Granted the availability of hot water at any time in our homes. The article went on further to say that it hasn’t always been that way and there was a time when Saturday night was bath night and one tub full of hot water had to take care of the whole family from Dad through Mom, through the kids in descending order from oldest to youngest. This article got me thinking about things I take for Granted.

The second article was about Murray Howe, M.D., youngest son of hockey great, Gordie Howe, and the book Murray wrote in 2017 about the 9 lessons he learned from his Dad. The article spoke of a tenth lesson Murray learned from his Dad that he realized after several years of book signings and conversations with folks about the book and his Dad. That tenth lesson was Gratitude. In the book, Murray stated of his Dad, “He didn’t take credit for anything in his life, that it was all given to him by God and by his family and friends and fans…. He felt he was the most fortunate person whoever lived.”

So, my mind started asking me what I take for Granted and do I ever express Gratitude to God for those thing I take for Granted. The list of things I take for Granted is endless, but difficult to list as I rarely think of those things. A major thing is taking for Granted that people I love will be around forever, so there’s always time to tell them that. That isn’t true. I need to tell them now. I used to take for Granted that I’ll be around to celebrate and enjoy this Earthly life tomorrow. That isn’t necessarily true and the older I get, the less I take today and tomorrow for Granted. There are so many blessings I take for Granted, but a realistic resolution is to think of those things and to offer Gratitude to God for every one of them

Mike Bernhardt

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Gratitude is the heart of prayer.

Prayer: Dear God, make us constantly aware of those things we take for Granted and remind us to express our Gratitude to you in prayer always.

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

The Change Jar

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

We are moving our laundry area. It turns out that means more than just moving the washer and dryer. I have sorting bins, a place to hang things, and lots of bottles of important stuff. The shelf above the washer and dryer has become a bit of a catch all. Most items will be tossed, or put where they actually belong. One item on that shelf that served an important purpose at one point, has outlived its usefulness. The change jar. I can’t remember the last time I found change in the washing machine from someone’s forgetfulness. I can’t even remember the last time I found a dollar bill. (I have found the occasional guitar pick.) The jar has been sitting about one third full for several years. And so, I finally emptied it and then counted the change. The good news is that I discovered just under $30.00 in that jar, mostly pennies and nickels. It is amazing how much value can accumulate.

When I think back over my life, there has been a lot of change – some my choice, and some not. So, I guess I’m just a human form of a change jar! My life is a sum of all the change that has been deposited throughout the years. Just like change in the form of coins becomes more valuable as it grows, so do life changes when added together.

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” Let’s substitute the word change for the word things in this scripture. Suddenly all those unwanted and wanted changes become pennies that when compounded over time make us rich.

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for the richness of life brought about by change. Whether it is change that we like or not, it is comforting to know that You will make it good. Because You are good. All the time. Amen.

Jacki Rumpp

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Turn About

“Carry each other’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” – Galatians 6:2

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” - Hebrews 13:16

It was probably the summer of 2017. I was in the Kroger parking lot when I noticed some people trying to load some patio-like furniture into their CAR. It wouldn’t fit. After watching a little while I offered to help by loading some of it in my Terrain (SUV) and following them home.

No surprise, they were apprehensive about loading their stuff in a stranger’s car and hoping they would see it again. The trip was not a long one, and no doubt they were happy when it was over with me, and their stuff, there.

Strange twist – one of them was living in a house that had belonged to our daughter, Jacki, and her family.

Strange twist of faith? Just before Christmas of 2019, I was trying to load the box with my new Christmas tree into my Buick convertible. The top wouldn’t go down because it was too cold, so I couldn’t put it in the back seat, and was struggling to put it in the front.

Lo and behold! – a guy watching my struggle came over to help. He realized it wouldn’t fit (not enough head room) so he offered to follow me home with the tree in his TERRAIN!

All the time since I helped those strangers, I felt I was ahead of the game. Now I have been brought back to even.

The great hope is that more instances will occur so I can once again be ahead of the game. I have to rely on God since I have no control over it!

Jack van Becelaere

Monday, March 22, 2021

Smiling Down on Me

Read: Psalm 126:1-3

Some very upsetting circumstances, in the outcome, can make you smile and even laugh at yourself. Thanks be to God!

Recently I ordered some groceries from a local market which included frozen items and items which needed refrigeration. I explained to the writer of my order that I live in an upstairs apartment in my building of four apartments. She remembered this from my previous orders, and wrote down instructions for the driver to: Call in advance of delivery. Main door to enter is open. Place packages on my “chair lift” where a gratuity envelope for them would be found. I would then glide them up to my domain.

This event normally takes place around noon. At 2:30 I was told by my downstairs neighbor that I had a delivery placed in the hall, and they would sent it up to me. Yes … melted ice cream, unfrozen chicken pot pie, and warm milk.

I immediately called (I thought) the store to explain what had happened.
A gentleman answered “Farms.”
Jean: “Is this Steve or Larry?” (the owners).
“No – It’s John,” was the answer.
Jean: “Well, my delivery has arrived, but it was left in the downstairs hall and some items have changed from solid to soft. I’m 88 years old, on a walker, blah, blah, blah, ice cream, chicken pot pie, blah, blah, blah…”
John: “Who delivered it?”
Jean: “Your delivery man.”
John: “I suggest, ma’am, that you call the store.”
Jean: “Who am I talking to – not the store?”
John: “This is the Farms Police Department.”

Dialing a wrong number is an embarrassing mistake, but when it ends up being the local Police Department it’s a colossal error! … I could have died.
I’m sure God was smiling down on me as He often does, and that John is still having a good laugh with his fellow officers about the crazy lady and her melted ice cream.

It’s a wonder that this “newsy” item did not show up in the Grosse Pointe News under the “Criminal Reports.”

We have been burdened by many stressful moments this past year due to things such as the epidemic, elections, riots, and our own personal griefs. This devotion I dedicate to you with tongue in cheek, as a smile maker.

May all your problems be this trivial. Amen.

Jean Buhler

Sunday, March 21, 2021

The Contradiction of Grief

Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the Earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again. – Psalm 71:20-21

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.... Blessed are those who grieve, for they shall be consoled. – Matthew 5:4

This year I lost my Dad. I’ve found my personal experience of loss to be a huge contradiction between grief and gratitude.

The sadness has been, at times, overwhelming and all consuming. But throughout all of that, I’ve witnessed a miraculous display of hope, care, consideration, and support from my immediate family, yes, but also our church family, dear friends, and friends that I’ve fallen out of contact with, airline employees, and so many more.

At first, I found this juxtaposition of grief and kindness to be so confounding.

“No one tells you you’re going to see the absolute best of people when you’re going through the worst!”

I’ve felt seized by grief – but also love: True, goodness of humans, heart-of-gold, divine love.

In a way, 2020 has given me more blessings than I can count.

It’s a complicated and perhaps even controversial sentence I’ve written there, but for me, it’s true. I lost my beloved, kind, smart, supportive Dad. My work has severely diminished, and life is not the same, in the slightest. But like my experience with grief, this entire year has been a contradiction. It’s been hard, but it’s also been gloriously special. I’ve had more time to be at home and spend quality time with my Mom, something I’ve truly treasured. And the lack of noise (both literal and emotional) from the outside world has given me the opportunity to more fully connect with God, and ask that he use me as his instrument.

As far as I can understand it, I’ve witnessed a miracle this year. A miracle of combined kindness and humanity. I don’t know what’s to come, but after such a difficult and trying year I have the more faith than ever, and that’s a contradiction I welcome.

Prayer: God, give me strength to live with the confusion of life. Help me to see both the shards of light emerging from the darkness and be the light for those struggling within their own darkness.

Andrea Deck

Saturday, March 20, 2021

Coffee Hour

Read: Acts 2:41-42

I love being in the sanctuary on Sunday mornings, seeing all the familiar and some new faces.
The music is so beautiful and the traditions are so reassuring. I meet my same pew partners and whisper a few updates before the service begins. The "method" in the Methodism is always predictable and then the sermon begins. I try to concentrate on the message, and my favorites are always about taking care of "the least" of these. The service ends – and church begins for me during "Coffee Hour".

Arriving in the Great Hall I am greeted by and greet so many church friends. Then the real giving begins. In the last few years my husband has faced some unbelievable medical challenges, and by this I mean numerous "rare" and crazy conditions. I approach someone who I think can help us with our zinger, and suddenly I am surrounded by professionals of every specialty who reassure me and send me on to another person who might have some advice. It is incredible how this can happen in a simple coffee hour. We have been offered so much hope and love from these church folks that I am sure there must be divine intervention at play. In a really good coffee experience, I hope that I have been able to reciprocate and have spoken words to meet someone else's challenge.

Thank God for coffee hour – and Church too!
 
Sharon Burkett

Lending a Helping Hand

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:2

My husband tells me I'm technically challenged, and he's about right. I can do very little with the computer. I took a few lessons, but I never got really efficient.

Most of the appointment times to get a vaccination for the corona virus can only be made by using the computer. Thankfully, my card playing friend's daughter knew my dilemma, so she called and said she found a portal if I had an Ascension physician. In about three minutes I had an appointment.

I was very thankful, but I said, “My friend is having trouble getting an appointment because he has hand tremors and has much difficulty using his computer. Can you see about an appointment for him?”

In another three minutes she had appointments for both him and his wife.

We were all so grateful for young people who take their time to help the older generation.

Sara Wooton

Friday, March 19, 2021

Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Read: Lamentations 3:19-26

As many of you already know, I was very ill for almost two years and unable to do much of anything for about a year. I became very depressed and started to lose hope that I would ever recover. I had a variety of symptoms and clinical findings, but my doctors were unable to discover the source of my illness. That led to more depression and a greater feeling of hopelessness. Many times I wanted to give up the fight and succumb to whatever was wrong with me. It took effort to push forward in search of answers and, ultimately, the proper treatment. However, my church family kept reminding me that I was prayed for and loved. Many people from church sent me cards of encouragement and caring, made calls to check on me and visited when I was up to it. Those gestures of love continually gave me the strength to push forward.

I also received a book, called “Finding Hope: Ways to See Life in a Brighter Light,” from a group of women from church. Initially, I put the book aside. I could not see how the book could help me get better, and I was too depressed to find out. Nonetheless, one night before going to bed, I decided to force myself to read at least one chapter. After reading that chapter, I made a vow to read a chapter of the book every night. I knew that I needed something to lift my spirits and encourage me to continue on with my quest to find the cause of my illness, despite my depression and feelings of despair. To my surprise, the words in the book gave me the strength to get up every day and seek answers. A few months later, a very wise doctor discovered the cause of my illness and said that she could help me. When testing confirmed her suspicions, I had HOPE that I would recover.

A chapter in the book, titled “Open to What’s Sacred,” contains words that might help us get through this worldwide pandemic of 2020-21: “When you stay hopeful, you remain open to the possibility that there is more than just this physical world and more than just this present moment. You grant that something greater may be at work around you and even within you. And that something greater may be Something Greater.”

Remember these words of the hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness:” “Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.”

Jan Versical

Thursday, March 18, 2021

These Three Abide

Read: John 13:31-35

The last year has given us much to pray over! When we first “sheltered at Home” it seemed like a temporary inconvenience. Little did we know how much we would miss and how much we would need human contact and hugs. All of the challenges of COVID-19 have given us an opportunity to draw closer to our religious roots.

UMW is a basic part of my life and soul. No meetings, no events, no retreat (we were scheduled to leave on March 13th), no fellowship or food. But in spite of it all, we are alive and well. UMW has kept a steady contact with shut-ins. We provided a grab and go soup supper. We have received a large donation from Al Spaulding’s estate. Al’s widow, Jane, has written a heart-felt letter sharing the importance of GPUMC in their lives. We are gathering Valentines bags for our shut-ins. We look forward to a new normal of serving our church family.

Rummage?!?! As we have canceled 3 rummage sales and face an unknown decision on a fourth, we needed to face the mountain of rummage at Frisbie Moving. A very small group attacked the problem, spending Tuesdays in the warehouse sorting and sorting and sorting. We were all glad to have a purpose and a chance to be together safely. Of course, we had to have food. Tuesday pot lucks at Frisbie became famous!! Everyone wanted to work in the warehouse on Tuesdays so they could share in the bounty. We are now very organized for a rummage sale to be determined. Is this a faithful experience? Yes it is – we shared our faith as we conquered the mountain.

The prayer vigil that Lisa Sicklesteel started and has kept going throughout the Pandemic has been an anchor for my week. Almost every Saturday I have signed up for a specific time to spend in prayer. This is a powerful experience. I have never before had an organized prayer life. It has given structure to my prayers, and helped me to focus on prayer for 30 minutes. Our church lives in the time of COVID-19.

I was so happy to be able to attend church during the summer. I carried my chair into my regular place around the Memorial Garden and worshiped in person. We shared music, time as children, scripture, and a sermon. We were able to take communion. It was a special time in the life of our church. We also received a little bag of cookies or sweet bread as we left the “sanctuary.” I soon took part in providing some of the coffee hour goodies. (I am not sure they wanted me to keep volunteering as both of my Sundays were rained out. The cookies were frozen and thawed and bagged for the following week.) I have never made 160 cookies before!! It was a privilege to find a way to make our Sundays special.

I was so grateful for the church members and neighbors and family members who helped me survive the quarantine. Food, meals, groceries, driveway distanced happy hours, and phone calls. I felt surrounded by love.

Faith, Hope, and Love. All of these have made the last year a time of the grace of God.

Bertie See

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

A Year of Patience

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. - Romans 12:12

I chose this passage because patience is what we have needed to have this past year: especially patience in affliction. We all have either been scared of COVID, lost someone from COVID, or have had COVID ourselves. If we have not gotten it, we have prayed to God to bring it to an end so we could get out and be with our loved ones again. We patiently waited for vaccines and they are now coming, thanks be to God.

I am now joyful in hope that the end is near. It may be several more months, but if we are all faithful in prayer, I think we can rest assured that our patience has been rewarded and our hope has brought joy and our faithful prayers have finally brought an answer.

Prayer: Father, please continue to give us the patience we need to live through the end of this crisis and any other crisis in the future.
Please know this prayer shows our faith, hope, and joy in your abilities.

Judy Wilcox

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Easing My Mind

Read: Job 33:14-18

I guess you could say I had a vision. The other day I was sitting with my eyes closed, half asleep, half awake when I saw Shirley sitting in a chair to my right. She looked great like it was 30 or 40 years ago. It reminded me of lines in a song – "If I could see you just one time, Oh how it'd ease my troubled mind." I opened my eyes and she wasn't there. At first I looked around to see where she went – and then I thought – Oh yeah.

Now I wonder if that was something in my head, or if it was God's way of easing my mind by telling me she is fine. (Charlie and Jacki think the latter) She was not fine in her last few days at home. She was frail ever getting frailer! I suppose the good news is that God took her and made her well. She was ready to go, her vote counted and ours didn't. She got relief and we got grief. No one said this would be easy, but we have to do the best we can since this is God's will.

God gave me her to lean on, and now it's a test to see if I can make it on my own. I thank God each day for my many blessings. Some days it's hard, but I shouldn't complain after the more than 60 years we had together.

Jack van Becelaere

Monday, March 15, 2021

Fallow Ground

“but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow.” Exodus 23: 11

Fallow is a farming technique where land is not planted for a period of time, the goal being to allow the land to recover and store up organic matter making it more fertile. It also disrupts the life cycles of some of the pests or weeds or fungus. After the land has rested it will be fresh and ready with good soil to start anew.

Lying fallow as it’s intended in the Bible, or in modern crop rotation, doesn’t happen overnight. It could be several months, or it could be a whole year. It has to be long enough to break the cycles that are depleting the soil, and rest is an important part of that. There are lots of examples in the Bible about rest and renewal: keeping the Sabbath, the 23rd Psalm, Be still and know that I am God, Take my yoke, … the list is long.

We are living in a state of forced rest right now. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather choose to rest than be forced to. But – being the glass-half-full person that I am – I am searching for the good. I guess we are all lying fallow right now. I am hoping that by the time this “rest” is over, I will have more fertile soil for God’s seeds. (I certainly have taken in plenty of organic matter and extra nutrients, as my tight clothing will attest.) I am also hoping that the time has disrupted any negative or petty thoughts and tendencies. Perhaps this fallow time will allow me to be more appreciative, loving and productive. I am looking forward to the not-so-distant future when we can follow Hosea’s words:

“Sow to yourselves in righteousness
 Reap according to mercy
 Break up your fallow ground
 for it is Time to seek the Lord” Hosea 10:12

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for rest. Please grant us patience and wisdom to use our fallow time to create a fertile ground for Your word, Your love, and Your kingdom. Amen

Jacki Rumpp

Sunday, March 14, 2021

What Gift Shall We Give?

Read: UMH 886

This past year of 2020 has been a strikingly difficult one, bringing into sharp focus the ills of our contemporary world. We count among them the pandemic, political and social strife, challenges relating to the natural environment, fair and equitable distribution of the goods and services necessary for meaningful human life. And, looking far back in time, the frequency of war, which pits one segment of humanity against another. I have often wondered when the children of God, as remarkably diverse as we are, will make another choice – to see ourselves as belonging to one human family, as members of the body of Christ, issuing from one “God, creator of the world and of all people" (UMH 886).

If we are completely open and honest with ourselves, no one will deny humanity’s great need of healing, on both personal and societal levels. But the process of healing must begin with our firm desire for it. In reality, our greatest need is for the healing of our minds, for all our words and actions originate with our thoughts. Unhealthy desires and motives must be relinquished if we are to the made whole. Healing is not for ourselves alone, for we are not alone. We are joined in the oneness of the great Creator, whose spirit is in all living things. What we give to others is the gift we give to ourselves. Would we be forgiven? Then we forgive. Would we be loved? Then we love. Would we be respected? Then we respect others. Would we have peace? Then we give peace to make it ours. In Luke 6:38 we read, "Give and it will be given to you.” And in Acts 20:35, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

The healing of humanity and the planet is collaborative in nature. It is the result of minds that join and not separate. We are called to a most holy function – to reach out to every broken fragment of God's creation with healing, comforting, and uniting love. The whole of God’s plan depends on each individual’s acceptance of his/her part. Do you sense Spirit's gentle call? Then a role has been assigned to you. Upon full acceptance, you have made the deliberate choice to see that your interests are not apart from someone else's. The lamp burns more brightly now.

In his sermon on the mount Jesus said, "It is you who are the light of the world... let your light so shine before people that, seeing your good actions, they will praise your Father in Heaven." Yet it is not a light of this world. It shines within in perfect peace and purity, and is ours to radiate, thereby increasing in intensity and attractiveness. To each person with whom we share a portion of our Earthly journey, be that person close or regarded as a stranger, we are given the opportunity to replace darkness with light, and fear with love. And those you thus help will shine on you in gratitude for your bringing to their tired eyes a vision of a different world. Giving the gifts of hope, love, and healing is the way to ensure that they are truly and lastingly ours.

May the peace and love of Christ be our treasure each and every day,
Doug Dykstra

Saturday, March 13, 2021

Turn Down the Volume and Listen

Read: Mark 4:23-25

Today’s continuously connected world has a unique ability to allow us to listen to and be heard by an ever wider network of friends. Ironically, “connected” can often have the opposite effect on our relationship with God. I find in my own life that the constant cacophony of voices can sometimes make me deaf to the whispers from God.

On a cold, dark January evening, I found myself rushing into my car to run a quick errand to get paint supplies for a school project for my 6-year-old son. It was the end of an ordinary day. As I was spinning down Mack Ave. I heard a whisper that many days I might have ignored.
A sudden and overpowering feeling came over me that I needed to make this an unordinary day. God had broken through the cacophony and told me to change course and stop by for a surprise visit at the home of one set of my church parents. I could have gotten there blindfolded, and certainly without the aid of a Google map, as I had spent countless carefree days playing in their yard years ago. I slipped on my mask, strolled up the stairs to the porch, and rang the doorbell. After a few anxious moments, Heidi and Charlie van Becelaere answered the door.

Even though I was fretting about breaking the rules of my COVID “pod,” I knew immediately that I had done the right thing. I had finally turned down the volume and listened to a whisper from God. Though this was a new form of “socially distant” fellowship, as with all good family and friends, we picked up right were we left off. It was like we had not missed a day apart.
As the conversation was winding down, I saw a welling in Heidi’s eyes as she asked if she could have a hug. A year ago this simple embrace would have been an ordinary goodbye, but after almost a year of isolation, it seemed like an extraordinary request. Though my mind was telling me “it’s not safe,” I again listened to God for guidance. The answer was clear – we held on for what seemed like an eternity and it was a fitting end to one of the most “connected” moments of the last year.

So for me, every once in a while turn down the volume – you might actually hear something that could change your course.

Andrew DeWitt

Friday, March 12, 2021

We Are the Church

Read: Hebrews 13:12-16

Many of you know that a fairly large group of GPUMC members head up to Sleeper State Park for a long weekend of camping together, generally on the first weekend after Labor Day – the first weekend kids are back in school.
It all started as sort of a “School is back in session but it’s still Summer and we want to go camping, so there” kind of thing, and it has become one of the annual anchors of most of our calendars, lo these twenty-plus years.

One beautiful Sunday morning at the campsite – you probably need to know that we take up a whole bunch of contiguous campsites, reserving a central one as our kitchen / dining / gathering area – we had the coffee maker going full-blast, the bacon was frying, the pancakes were caking, the omelets were letting, the sun was shining, and all was well with the world.
A van pulled up next to our site and asked if they could buy some coffee. Apparently we looked like a commercial operation with all that activity, and these folks were heading out and hoping for a quick cup of joe, as it were.
Well, I told them we weren’t a restaurant, just a bunch of friends camping together and they started down the road.
Making me look bad, James Van de Putte turned and said, in essence, “Charlie, we’re the church here. Why don’t we serve our brothers and sisters?”
Ouch. “You’re absolutely right, James. You go stop them and I’ll pour some coffee as soon as I find some to-go cups.” So off he went and stopped the van on its way out.
I poured the coffee and – even better – they came back around, sat down at our table and had breakfast with us. We were the church.

Sometimes it’s nothing more than a cup of coffee (or a drink of water), but sometimes that cup of coffee is much, much more. I try to be more aware of being the church now.

Prayer:
Father, help us to see our opportunities to serve in ways that are big or small, and help us to serve in the name of Jesus when we do. Amen.

Charlie van Becelaere

Thursday, March 11, 2021

Long Lines

Read: Matthew 25:33-40

While on my first "COVID" trip to Kroger and after searching for necessary items on my list – accidentally up the down aisle and down the up aisle – I had already given up on the unnecessary items. I finally rounded the corner of the last aisle and headed for the check-out area. I was glad to see that it didn’t look busy because I was exhausted, wanting only to check out and leave.

That's when I heard myself give a loud sigh, or more like a snort of frustration, which surprised me and probably those nearby standing in long lines down every aisle waiting for the check-out – likely without many items they came in for, as was I.

Those lines reminded me of war-torn countries with people standing in long lines hoping to get food – even a loaf of bread – only to be turned away.

And then I thought of those right here who stand in line for a meal or a bag of food to feed their families.

The experience at Kroger made me remember how fortunate I am, even when standing in long lines.

I felt God speaking to me, “Feed the Poor.”

Rebecca Heike

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

We Are … Together

Read: 1 Corinthians 3:16, UMH 558

There’s a hymn in our hymnal that I’ve never really cared for very much, but that’s more because of form than of content. The words and music were written in 1972, while the war in Viet Nam was still going on, and there was still a lot of social unrest in this country related to it and to the civil rights movement as well. It isn’t really a protest song, it’s more an affirmation of the authors’ view of the church’s place in the world. I’ve always thought of the tune as being a little sing-songy (if there’s such a word!) for my musical taste, as well as feeling that the author was groping a bit for words that would fit the tune.

That’s all form. As far as content, the last year has especially emphasized to me the truth behind the refrain and the whole hymn, especially the first verse. Allow me to excerpt a bit of it: “I am the church! You are the church! We are the church…” and “…the church is a people.” Not having been able to worship inside our building for most of the past year, and not having been able to see and visit with church friends and family (even at our outdoor services we were pretty conscious of social distancing and minimizing contact with others), has emphasized the people aspect of our fellowship to me. I can watch the on-line service, I can be recorded singing a choir anthem, I can follow things on social media, but I can’t see you smile at me as we engage in conversation, I can’t shake your hand or hug you, I can’t join my voice with the entire choir. To put it simply, I miss my people! I miss the winter retreat, I miss cooking a pig, sharing fellowship and dessert bids with everybody, and eating those purchased desserts at Palooza. I miss choir rehearsals; I miss being around people.

To paraphrase something I’ve said while trying to recruit choir members, the church is greater than the sum of its parts; when we all come together there’s no limit to what we can do. So let’s keep praying, keep tuning in to the on-line service, keep supporting the church with our gifts and our service (safely, or course). Let’s keep wearing masks, let’s get vaccinated, and let’s look forward to the glorious day when we can again be united together in prayer, in song, in praise, in worship, and in fellowship!

Art Van de Putte

Tuesday, March 9, 2021

A Whole Day of Devotion

Read: Ephesians 3:14-21

What a way to start a day. I went to the gym after an absence of two weeks. The first time I saw my friend Mary she told me she saw me come in and said, "Thank you, Jesus." It reinforces my belief that I truly have a "family" at the gym. People notice absences, express concern when someone is missing, and ask if all is OK when you're back.

As if that weren't enough – I was home again, contemplating what I could have for dinner – the phone rang. Most calls I get are to be ignored, but this one was from Laurie Stowell. She wondered if I would like some chicken & dumplings, chili, and I don't know what all.
From beginning to end, the day was a blessing. A gym family and a church family – confirmation of what I believe – God is watching over me! Like Mary said "Thank you, Jesus."

To paraphrase: There BY the grace of God go I.

Jack van Becelaere

Return on Investment

Read: Matthew 19:16-26

Prayers have a great ROI (Return on Investment). Just a few words of prayer on a daily basis and look at the return. I had the best wife anyone could hope for. My richness was multiplied first by our two children, and then again when they married great people, and yet again with the advent of grandchildren.

I have a reliable car, a house that is warm in the winter and cool in the summer; but that's not what makes me rich. I realized I was rich in 1966 when we joined this church and became part of this congregation.

I am now blessed with three families: my immediate family, my church family, and another at LA Fitness.

If this kind of richness is what Jesus was talking about, I'm doomed because I know a camel can't go through the eye of a needle, and nobody is richer that I.

Jack van Becelaere

Monday, March 8, 2021

Smiling Faces

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” – Romans 15: 13 Revised Standard Version

In the early days of the pandemic, I remember remarking to my husband that I never realized so many people lived in our neighborhood.

In March and April, as we all learned how to adapt to the new rules and restrictions, the sidewalks around my house were flooded with people. Everyone apparently wanted to walk, needed to walk. At almost every hour of the day, you would see singletons and couples and frequently families with young children out for a stroll. Husbands and wives would walk hand-in-hand in the middle of the day. Just because.

Kindness was contagious. People crossed the street to avoid walking into someone. But they waved and smiled. Occasionally someone would shout a greeting, always with good humor about the oddity of the situation. Walkers kept their distance, often slowing down to avoid walking on top of another person.

We did not know at the start that a year later, we would still be wearing masks and keeping distant from others. But our initial response was that we could do this! We believed we were up to this challenge.

And we still are.

A year in, we have developed more coping responses than we had when the pandemic began. But we’ve grown weary and perhaps less optimistic that life will return to the normal that we want. We’ve gotten bored.

I want to carry with me that feeling of hope and resilience that we first embraced when the pandemic began.

Prayer: Help me to remember that I am strong and capable because you support me in all that I do. I can survive. I can get through each day because Jesus walks by my side through the good times and the bad. Help me to raise my sight to the horizon and stay focused on what lies ahead and not to be consumed by the challenges of today.

Joan Richardson

Sunday, March 7, 2021

Let It Go

Read: 2 Corinthians 6:1-3

“You're holding to an image of a disconnecting God
Who needs to be protected from the darkness in your heart
Who waits for you to sober up before he gives his love
I think God would say that if that's who he was
Then, let it go”

These Lyrics from Andy Gullahorn’s song “Let it Go” always ring in my heart as such a strong truth and reminder of two things. God isn’t waiting on us to figure it out before we come to Him.

That seems pretty obvious when it is put so directly, but I think many times we replicate the pattern of our first father and mother, Adam and Eve, and allow the shame of our shadows and shortcomings to keep us from the safest place that we could be in that moment: walking with God. God is never, I’ll say it again, never the one to pull away. He isn’t waiting to be near, to give his love, to show you his affection until you have things figured out in your life.

The best time to draw close to God is right now. The best time to drop the unworthiness that comes with shame is right now. One of the best antidotes to shame is acceptance. What could be a better thing to do than to come close to the One who extends the most radical acceptance? Right now is the perfect time for you to answer God’s first question: “Where are you?” and let him see you and know you right where you are.

The second part of this for me is the same idea, but with the people that you walk with most closely in life. One of the biggest ways to create distance in your relationships is to only walk through good things in your life with your friends and share your victories, but not your struggles or shortcomings. Intimacy grows in the ground of vulnerability.

Letting people into your processes and not just your victories creates depth to your relationships that you cannot get anywhere else. If you truly desire to be seen and known, consider jumping into the risk of letting God and the people closest to you love and accept you in your fullness just like you are right now.

Josh Kearney

Saturday, March 6, 2021

COVID and Worrying

Read Luke 12: 22-34

My father, John Cobau, died on April 1st, 2020 of COVID-19. We were very close, and I loved him very much. For the last few years of his life we shared an office on Mack Avenue.

Dad died at the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, before everyone started worrying incessantly about the illness. After he died the country started a nationwide effort to contain the virus. Many people seemed to worry nonstop about the possibility of catching the virus. Because my mother and I had contracted the virus in the first few days of the pandemic, we thought we could not catch it again, so we were not as anxious.

After a few months I moved into my father’s office and I noticed a quotation from the Bible taped on to his desk. It was about worry and I thought it was very appropriate for the year of worry we have lived through in 2020. I believe it was my dad’s last words of wisdom for me to live by.

The Bible verse was from Luke Chapter 12, verses 25 to 34. In the version he had printed out, they called worrying being anxious. His version of verse 27 read “And which of you, by being anxious can add one cubit to the span of his life?”

I thought about my father and the lessons he taught his family. He had health concerns in his later years, but he rarely spoke of them or took them seriously. He always had a sense of humor when a doctor would diagnose him with a new illness or warn him about a new danger.

I realized he was living out these Bible verses. The verses are absolute truth. He would have gained nothing in his life by worrying about his physical ailments. He kept doing the things he loved with the people he loved and enjoying his life.

I hope we all can follow his example and follow the Bible and show faith, love, and hope during these troubled times.

“Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.”

Tom Cobau

Friday, March 5, 2021

A Happy Sacrifice

Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.” – Luke 9: 23-24

For the last few years I’ve given up eating sugar for Lent. While I’ve dreaded the start each year, I’ve been surprised by how good I feel during those Lenten weeks; and I’ve found myself saying many times throughout the rest of the year that I wish I would just go back to what I was doing during Lent, and stop with the sweets completely. I find it a bit ironic that I’m now thinking back so fondly and wistfully about a time of year where I was originally intending to be making a sacrifice.

Perhaps Lent teaches us that giving up something we enjoy can be much more than just a sacrifice. It can actually make us stronger in faith and discipline, help us focus on what’s really important, and even force us to learn and expand our horizons. And all these things can make us happier and more content in our daily lives.

The New Testament is filled with people who gave up most of what they once valued to follow Christ and expand the church. But their sacrifices led them to receive rewards far broader and greater than anything they could have had if they kept their lives “as-is.”

Craig Fowler

Thursday, March 4, 2021

What Wondrous Love

Read: Revelation 5:1-14

Lynn and I recently watched a documentary about the U.S. space program, Mercury through Apollo, focusing on personnel in mission control. It was overwhelming to be reminded of the teams of engineers, physicists, and mathematicians whose work was voluminous, detailed, and incredibly complex. They enabled hardware with millions of parts to leave Earth, orbit or land on the moon, and return safely to Earth, but I was about to be “whelmed” even more.

A graphic of an Apollo craft orbiting Earth was shown. As the craft was accelerated to achieve transit to the moon, the view was as if the camera was pulling back from the spacecraft, encompassing the entire distance it had to travel. That view evoked a “wow” moment for me. As the camera pulled back, what was (just ask David Bowie) a tin can with people inside shrank and disappeared in the vastness of space.

Our sun is one of about 200 billion stars just in our own galaxy, the Milky Way. In the observable universe it is estimated that there are two trillion galaxies. We are a tiny speck in our own solar system, which is a tiny speck in a galaxy, which is a tiny speck in the known universe.

My prayers often acknowledge the greatness of God in the context of what I wrote above. In the vastness of His creation, He knows us and loves us. Talk about being overwhelmed! Yesterday when I started my car to head to church, the radio, tuned to the bluegrass channel, was playing a beautiful version of Wondrous Love (UMH 292). Consider the words of a verse that doesn’t appear in our hymnal:

Ye winged seraphs fly,
Bear the news, bear the news!
Ye winged seraphs fly
Bear the news!--
Ye winged seraphs fly,
like comets through the sky,
fill vast eternity!
With the news, with the news!
Fill vast eternity
With the news!

Fred Van de Putte

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Living with Otherwise

Read: Colossians 3:12-17

Many of us have spent almost 9 months staying safe at home 24/7.

One part of that is our 8-year old dog has gotten a lot more “Dave Time” than previously and I have had more “Jax The Dog Time” too.
This togetherness has allowed me to pay more attention to his positive and some negative characteristics.

Let us start with the positives. First, he is GREAT with our three grandchildren (ages 6, 6, and 3). He greets them warmly and allows them to hug, tussle, and order him around with various conflicting commands with no complaints and probably enjoys the attention even if it is confusing. Second, he is a shedding type dog, so although keeping up the vacuuming is important, when he sheds, all smells go with the hair...meaning he never needs a bath (unless rolling in dead fish is involved). Third, he still likes to play, although now for shorter periods of time, and that keeps us laughing and “forced” to play with him. Fourth, he is fantastic judge of human (and dog) character. Intuitively at first meeting he knows who is nice and who is more suspect. For nice humans and dogs, he presents a wag (and for dogs-only a special dog smell). For the suspect ones, standoffish for humans and for dogs a growl (and dog-fights are a no-no). Fifth, he is a “talking dog” with groans, snorts, and various grunting sounds that we re-create and have “conversations” with him. Sixth, he is generally well trained and behaves appropriately most of the time. Finally, for now, he is our security system and is always alert for passersby on all sides of our yard and house.

Ah, here come the negatives......beginning with the last positive, he barks incessantly. We call him Mr. Barks A Lot. Particularly in these COVID times where neighborhood deliveries are constant and each one is considered a danger to his master and mistress. Yes we have a shock collar that can be adjusted for the strength of the correction, but hardly ever use it unless we have a need for absolute silence and are constantly bringing him in from the yard.

As a rescue dog (from Heidi at GP Animal Clinic) he is close to being a small Smooth Coated Collie with a little Australian Shepard thrown in, but he has lopsided Yoda ears. Okay, not much of a negative.

Now that I have been at home so much, finally the other “negative” is that I discovered that he is not very smart. Sure, he has achieved standard training like come, sit, lie down, and shake (paw shaking only if food is involved). Since I had more time, I have tried introducing new tricks or to point out a hidden squirrel or rabbit, but I’m met with blank stares and misdirected looks. His canine bred-in instincts are great and those positive features listed above reflect that fact.

So how does this all fit into our current religious and daily lives? Well, we do not like all the (unnecessary) barking, I can live with floppy ears (they are cute), and not having a smart hunting dog to help put food on the table is no biggie.

So people, support what is right with the world and decide to live nicer with “otherwise.”

Dave DeWitt

Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Seasons

Read: Genesis 1:11-25

Some people probably wonder why we live in Michigan. Well, here we have all the seasons; from a blanket of snow to seeing emerging leaves, green trees and grass and so on, to Fall colors.

We don't have to go to a gallery to see beauty. Paintings and such lack God's touch. As Roger Miller observed. "Think what God could have done if He had money."

Looking out it's easy to realize squirrels are Nature's acrobats. You can see them walking tight ropes (power lines), swinging through trees like they were trapezes, and running up and down tree trunks or utility poles, sticking to them like they have another form of animal magnetism. It's like it's God's no cover charge event. Watching squirrels is like watching the otters of the air!

God does work in miraculous ways.

Jack van Becelaere

Pondering

Read: Daniel 2:20-23

Fall is a really strange time of year! When cold weather comes, some of the trees start undressing themselves. Sure all the Fall colors are beautiful, but if they're so good looking, why aren't they that color all year?

And another thing – what's wrong with all those leaves that they have to be thrown out in the Fall and get new ones every Spring? Especially since the new ones look just like the old ones. It's nice that we have a great variety of trees (Maple, Oak, Elm, etc.), but they sure are in lock step Fall and Spring when they all do the same thing.

I know it's all part of God's plan, but that doesn't stop me from wondering and asking questions like these.

Jack van Becelaere

P.S. I'm not asking for a change. I know better!

Monday, March 1, 2021

Welcome Home

Read: Romans 15:5-7

2020 was a year of epic proportions, to say the least. The ongoing pandemic has caused much heartache and sorrow, although some good has certainly come as well. I am an Army Reserve Soldier who was mobilized to Kuwait for a 9 month tour. I left in July 2019, and returned last May, during a very difficult and strange time to say the least.

Wearing masks and being socially distant was an extremely difficult situation to get used to, especially after being away from friends and family for an extended period. Luckily, GPUMC was able to be creative in order to give me a much appreciated welcome home.

On a quiet June weekday evening, I received an unexpected welcome home “parade” of cars down Briarcliff drive, with near and dear longtime GPUMC members! They honked and waved signs of appreciation for my service, as well as welcoming me home.

I am truly blessed to have so many family and friends who went out of their way, during a difficult time, to show a true and unique act of kindness!

Ben DeWitt

Sunday, February 28, 2021

Finding God in Times of Trial

Read: Acts 17:22-31

Since moving to Michigan in July of 2020, I have felt much more connected to God, and I believe GPUMC is the biggest reason for that. In the time of difficulty we know as the COVID-19 Pandemic, becoming a member and expanding my knowledge of The Lord has truly been amazing. I hope to continue my journey and devote myself more to church and giving back to our community.

Anna Diatlovich

Since becoming a new member last year, I have been able to establish my own journey with God, having not been a regular participant since childhood. GPUMC has been a constant anchor, and I hope to be more involved in volunteering following the pandemic.

Logan Miller

Saturday, February 27, 2021

Without Words

Read UM Hymnal #454, verse 2

When we adopted our dog, Jax, from Grosse Pointe Animal Clinic, Heidi told us that Dr. Herzog said, “Jax always has to have the last word.” Boy, was he right!

Jax is definitely the most vocal dog we've ever had. I'm not sure if it's the collie in him or just his temperament. Jax has vocalizations for all occasions. There's the “someone has dared to walk on my sidewalk” bark, the “UPS or mail carrier is here – should I chase them away?” crazy bark, and the “I think that squirrel is trespassing” even crazier bark.

There's also a grand series of groans – tired, stretching, or getting a back rub. There's also play talk – tug of war fake growls and “throw this toy for me” barking. He has special yips for the people he loves to see, and crying and whining when he's left behind alone. All these vocalizations are without actual words, but we understand his intent.

I was thinking about our own communications with God. When we pray, sometimes we're answered with a feeling inside. I've had occasions when I'm compelled to do something; maybe by that voice in my head – God's calling me without words, but just as effectively. I think we all need to listen with our hearts as well as our ears, and perhaps the answers we seek will materialize.

Prayer request: Dogs and those who love them

Sue DeWitt

Friday, February 26, 2021

Take Your Medicine

Read: Mark 8:22-26

I’ve learned a lot from Jack these past few months.
Did you know cats can get glaucoma? I didn’t either, but that didn’t stop Jack (our cat, not my Dad) from getting it and needing treatment.

For whatever reason, I’m Jack’s human – about the only person he’ll allow to pick him up and pet him and all that. So naturally it’s my job to give him his drops twice a day.

No, it’s not as traumatic as I had expected, and I haven’t really lost any blood in the process. In fact, Jack often shows up on his own at the chair where we do his drops, right at the time when he should get them. I think he’s learned that they make him feel better (and he likes the treats he gets afterward), but I also like to think he wants to spend time with me.

He usually protests a bit when I pick him up to get the drops, but it’s only for a moment. I give him his medicine and then I hold him for a short time. Initially it was to let the drops get in before he can shake his head and send them flying, but it has become a time when we can just be together. I tell him he’s a good boy and that I love him. He sits with me calmly until I let go, and then he jumps down and heads to his bowl for a few treats.

As I said, I’ve learned a lot from Jack these past few months. I’ve learned what trust looks like; and I want to trust God the way Jack trusts me. He doesn’t like getting the drops – there’s no question about that – but he trusts me that I won’t hurt him, and that I’m doing something good for him. Yes, I want to trust God the way Jack trusts me – and He is far more trustworthy than I’ll ever be. Sure, I try to do what’s best for Jack, but God actually knows what’s best for me.
I know I’ll continue to complain like Jack when it’s time to take my medicine, but I pray I’ll also learn to sit in God’s embrace while He tells me that He loves me.

Prayer: Father, help me to trust You more and more. Remind me that You know what’s best for me, and that You are always working for my good. Thank you for the examples of trust – of faith – that can help me remember that. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Charlie van Becelaere

Thursday, February 25, 2021

Let there be Light!

Read: Matthew 5:13-16, John 8:12

Small pleasures have made a big difference to me this past year. Small pleasures like attending worship in our beautiful sanctuary, a nice conversation with a neighbor, singing harmony with a friend, and lighting a candle.

I had been missing the beautiful luminarias placed around our church perimeter on Christmas Eve. I must have mentioned it to Heidi and Charlie, and Tamara must have also mentioned it. As a team (but I admit that Heidi and Tam did most of the planning), we decided to offer luminaria kits to our GPUMC family. We had a great response and were happy to imagine folks’ homes lit to welcome our Saviour on December 24. And as we thoroughly enjoyed distributing the candles, paper bags, and sand, and having those lovely conversations with people we had been missing, we all mentioned missing the lit candles around the church property.

We decided to secure more supplies and light up the walkway on Christmas Eve. Heidi and Charlie braved the elements and cold to provide a warm glow that evening during the story telling in the Memorial Garden.

We still had more candles, so we planned to celebrate Epiphany with the front walkway to GPUMC lit with luminarias. We had damp weather on Epiphany Eve, so we delayed our lighting to Wednesday.

What a gift! Heidi and Charlie and I laid out the bags in nice calm weather (Tam was quarantining), and we laughed and prayed and sang as we struggled with worn out lighters to light our candles. We talked with two sisters who were walking on the sidewalk, to wish them a joyous Epiphany, and had a joy-filled conversation about the possibility of the two of them visiting our church in the future. We had an amazing hour and were excited about our end result.

What a surprise to learn how God works! Ray mentioned in his next sermon that a committee meeting saw the images of the candles that night and were also lifted up and filled with joy, as we all remembered together that we are still seeking Jesus, still searching for the light. And the light was right there, all along. The light is IN us and all around us.

Thank you for a light filled Christmas season! Amen

Anne Sullivan

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Yes, Virginia –

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under Heaven.” - Ecclesiastes 3:1
“When the time is right, I. the Lord, will make it happen.” - Isaiah 60:22

In December 1978, I was a Senior in High School and for the first time in my life was not in the Christmas spirit. My father had died very unexpectedly on December 2nd, and I had to make some pretty hard choices. The reality was my suddenly-single Mother was the sole supporter of four daughters ranging in age from 7 to 19. My dream of going to Clemson was dashed, as not even my scholarship could make the out-of-state tuition manageable.

When Mama decided we would continue to have our traditional Christmas Eve Open House, I was not in the mood to get the house/food ready, but at least it was a diversion. In the end, it was the perfect decision as it provided a setting for a miracle.

Yes… some time during the evening of December 24th, gifts magically appeared on the front porch. There were tags on each with the name of each daughter. The note accompanying the gifts read:
“There truly is a Santa Claus, and as long as there is good in the hearts and minds of men, this spirit shall prevail. These small gifts are to help fill your loneliness for the one who couldn’t be with you this Christmas. They are given because of his affection for you and his goodness and kindness to others. Accept them in the spirit of Christmas, and may God bless you, every one. Love, Santa Claus”

We never knew ‘who’ brought the gifts. It really didn’t matter. It was enough to accept that someone was really kind and thoughtful. Plus, they knew us pretty well as the gifts were perfect for each of us.

Fast forward 40 years: I decided to go to my High School Reunion. I figured enough time had passed (and we had all aged enough) that I better go back or risk never seeing some of these folks again. Best decision ever! It was a wonderful evening, and seeing dear friends was such a precious gift. Towards the end of the evening, I was talking with one of my dearest friends, Rick.

Rick told me how grateful he was that I would make the trek to the reunion. His reason was not just wanting to see me, but to share a secret he had held for 40+ years. You see, Rick’s parents and my parents were fast friends, vicious bridge players, plus my father was their accountant.

Rick turned the conversation to Christmas Eve 1978 and asked if I remembered the surprise gifts. Of course I did!

He elaborated that his parents had a tax-planning meeting with my dad in the Fall of 1978. At the meeting’s end, my father mentioned that he was not feeling particularly well – which concerned them as my father had suffered a heart attack 8+ years before. Daddy asked a favor of his clients: if anything were to happen to him, please see that ‘his girls’ got the gifts he had already purchased for them.

My childhood mystery was replaced now by the magic of Christmas, and the knowledge that miracles do happen as long as we retain a sense of childlike wonder, and know God will give us answers in His time.

I hugged and thanked my dear friend and got more than a few tears in my eyes.

In God’s time, I had my answer – and yes, there is good in the world, and Santa Claus will always exist for me.

Carolyn Franklin

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Life Is a Song

Read: Psalm 40:1-10

There's a song "Hank Williams You Wrote My Life." I seem to be living a life of a line or two from song after song. Beginning with "Why me Lord, what have I ever done to deserve even one of the pleasures I've known?" to Johnny Cash's "I don't like it but I guess things happen that way.”

I'm living in Plan A. I thought I had plan A, but I was wrong. Mine was Plan B, but I didn't know it.
Fortunately for me, God’s Plan A included Patti Greenwell. After the 2019 Gospel Fest she had me repeat my performance in the church service the following June (which morphed into several more times in church).

Because of her faith in me, music has kept me sane (?) and somewhat fulfilled. God keeps me for reasons I don't understand. The Willie Nelson song of that name helps explain it. The words came down to him, "You're just a man and it's not for you to understand." I no longer wonder why I'm here. I figure it means there are things here for me to do. I have interpreted that to mean A, I should brighten at least one person's day every day, or B, I haven't finished atoning for my past. (A third option just popped into my head – when I'm gone, my kids will be orphans and who would adopt them?)
While I bide my time, music and people like Patti and Sara Wooton and the Stowells and the rest of the church family will see me through.

Jack van Becelaere

One final thought – Heaven must be a truly wonderful place if it is a step up from how I have it here.

Monday, February 22, 2021

Turning No into Yes

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” – John 14: 27, Revised Standard Version

Every place I turned in 2020 seemed like a bunch of “No.” Can’t do this. Can’t do that. Can’t go here. Can’t go there.

At first, I was angry and frustrated that the corona virus robbed me of my crazy, busy but very rich life. But the corona virus gave me so much more than it took away. No need to make excuses about choosing to stay home instead of going someplace. Staying home was the right thing to do. Quiet and more isolated hours. Hours and hours with my husband, literally hundreds of meals together, just the two of us. Time to think and to re-evaluate and to reflect. Time to just be.

I’m ever so sorry for the loss of lives, the gaps in families and friendships that cannot be replaced. I’m sorry that it’s kept me away from friends and my family. I’m sorry for all of the businesses that have been hurt by this and by the loss of income in so many homes. I cannot deny that this pandemic has caused real pain for millions of people around the world.

At the same time, however, I am embracing gratitude for all that it has given me. I’m grateful for the quiet moments sitting in my backyard during the summer or by the fire inside this winter. I’m grateful that so many distractions have been stripped away. I’m grateful that it made me think in new ways about how to connect with family and friends: dinners, birthday parties, Christmas morning, Thanksgiving dinner, and games of charades, all thanks to Zoom.

Prayer: Even as I grieve for the enormous problems of the world, help me to focus on the small parts of my world that bring me joy. A sunrise, the lapping of water at the lake, the quiet breathing of a loved one. Even in the darkest days, remind me that there is hope and the promise of a new life.

Joan Richardson

Sunday, February 21, 2021

The People on My Path

In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths. - Proverbs 3:6
Show me your ways, O Lord. Teach me your paths. - Psalm 25:4

When I was younger, significant events in the church were marked with gifts of scriptural items such as plaques, boxes, wall hangings, and jewelry. I received several of these including a ceramic planter with the Lord’s prayer. But the most memorable was a plaque upon my confirmation into the church which had Proverbs 3:6. This passage reminds us to acknowledge the Lord on our path in life.

In that regard, I have learned a number of things about our path in life. We each have our own path; it can be perplexing to know what path among options we should choose; the right path may not be the easiest; and the path of life is filled with challenges for everyone. For this devotion I would like to focus on the people on my path. Are they there to bless us or lead us astray? Are they there to teach us lessons or encumber us? Are they sent by God or is it just an accident that they are on our path? Are they on our path so we can help them or are they sent to help us?

The theologian Henri Nouwen said: “Pay attention to the people God puts in your path if you want to discern what God is up to in your life.” I never used to pay much attention to the people on my path. Maybe that’s because I’ve been preoccupied with taking care of my family and various other responsibilities. With ‘retirement’ I’ve had more time to think and contemplate. During COVID I’ve become much more aware of how important being connected to people is. I’ve also been able to reflect on my life and see how my friendships and experiences have impacted me. What a gift that God has put people in my life to be in fellowship with, who have supported me during challenging times, who have ministered to me and given me hope, who have given me the opportunity to minister to them and in so doing find purpose.

It is such a blessing that God gave us human companionship. Not all the people in my path have been there to promote my good. Yet even those people ultimately have had a positive effect on me because they’ve made me stronger and more focused. Some people are on our path life long and others just for a season. Ask God to help you appreciate the people on your path and to guide you on your path. Ask him to help you discern his will for you with others. Ask him to send someone on your path that you can help. When you travel with God on your path you can’t go wrong.

Prayer: Dear Father help me pay attention to the people on my path and to discern your will for my life. Send someone on my path that I can be a blessing to or who can be a blessing to me.

Pat Deck

Saturday, February 20, 2021

Small Nudges

Examine me, O God, and know my mind; test me, and discover my thoughts. Find out if there is any evil in me and guide me in the everlasting way. - Psalm 139:23-24

2019 offered new opportunities, testing and challenges, a few of which really felt like God was testing me much more than felt comfortable, to say the least. However, when I reflect back, this testing did not come without some of His guidance. It did not appear so at times, but those ‘small nudges’ from God were there—through people, Upper Room readings, and other ‘small nudges’ out of the blue. Situations became manageable and I definitely felt Him guiding me. A sunrise slowed me down to meditate and take in its beauty. The words of friends gave me courage to deal with happenings at hand. A new practice of daily Bible readings gave me insight. The daily Upper Room readings were mysteriously right on target for whatever choice I had been concerned about that day, giving me peace to clearly access choices, and wisdom to choose the right one to the best of my ability.

Prayer: Dear Lord, we adore and thank you for those small nudges you give to all of us. May we take time to see them, be open to feeling them and applying them. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen

Carolyn Barth

Friday, February 19, 2021

An Inspirational Walk

Read: UMH 430

One Sunday in November, my dog, Molly, and I went for a walk. It was a windy day; leaves were flying; there was a chill in the air, but the sun was shining brightly. We ran into a church member who was walking his son in a stroller. They had hoped to visit the playground but had to opt out owing to the chilly winds.

I joined them on their walk home. As we walked and talked, my companion stopped several times to pick up trash discarded on the ground. He kept a keen eye out for others coming our way, taking care to move aside and make room for others to safely pass. This behavior was clearly automatic. As we walked along, we asked each other about our families, church, how we celebrated Halloween this year, and how we were managing during these unusual times. He talked about taking care of some projects in his yard. As we turned onto his street, I dropped him and his son off at their house. He left me with an offer of help if there was anything I ever needed. I felt like that chance encounter was a great lesson for me. Think of others before yourself, keep your environment clean even if you didn’t cause the mess, and offer to help those who may need your help. He and his precious son made my day.

Nancy Grose

Thursday, February 18, 2021

It’s a God Thing

Read: Psalm 32
I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
    Psalm 32:8 NRSV

I became the Chair of our church council in January of 2020. When Bob Rossbach asked me to take over the role he had held for so long I was hesitant. I didn’t feel I had the leadership skills to lead our church through what I expected to be a challenging time for Methodists. I prayed about it for a while and felt God calling me to take a leap of faith, so I said yes.

I know many Christians believe that every day of our life is known to God, that He is directly responsible for every detail of our lives. This is not me. I do believe that God is with me and I turn to Him often in prayer to help me in my daily life as well as long term decision making. I believe that He hears my prayers and has guided me through many challenges. Some that seemed so impossible at the time that I consider the resolutions miracles. But I don’t see life like a chess game where God is moving every piece.

However, that said, as I reflect back on 2020 I see God’s hand in the leadership team put in place at our church. My organizational skills and access to real time business and tax information turned out to be just the gifts my position needed for 2020. More importantly, this leadership change freed up Bob to use his talents in service to our church in other ways. His video production skills were invaluable as we transitioned to virtual worship. A service he may not have had the time to provide were he still council chair.

Reorganizing our communications committee and putting Joan Richardson at the helm is another place I see God at work in our midst. Her talents, developed over a lifetime in the publishing world, have been critical as we have had to transition from in person communication to written and video communication. Additionally, her transition to this position freed up Charlie van Becelaere to devote more time to worship and music which has been ever changing and challenging this past year.

When things seem to work out just right my daughter likes to say, “That’s a God thing.” Well I have to admit our leadership at GPUMC throughout all of this sure seems like a God thing to me. Every single committee chair and so many others have stepped up and offered their skills and gifts as we adapted and improvised. We are so very blessed to be at GPUMC, and I long for the time in the not too distant future, I hope, when we can all be together again and I can hug each and every one of you and say thanks.

Until then: God, may we continue to turn to you in prayer, and trust that you will instruct us and teach us in the way we should go, and counsel us along the journey.

Cathy Lorenz

February 17 – Ash Wednesday

Reflections from the Cabin…

Read: Luke 8:4-8

As many of you know, we (my wife, Dar, & I) had a cabin in the woods near the Au Sable River not far from Roscommon, Michigan. It was lost to a fire last year. I come to this place as often as my schedule allows as it provides a place to be refreshed and to re-connect with God. What follows is an article I wrote a few years ago (a “re-write” if you will) but, I trust that it is worth sharing with you in hopes that you may find some measure of renewal and re-connecting with our Creator. Enjoy.

Welcome to “the cabin.” As many of you know, this place is where I go to “get away,” to walk in the woods, enjoy the wilderness, the company of a few close to me, read a good book (or several), a cup of coffee, or just the quiet of “the cabin.” It is here that I seek (and find) refreshing in reading God’s Word, in praying and conversing with God. It is the place the allows me the quiet to hear God’s whisper as well as the shouts of my own thoughts.

What follows are just some random thoughts and reflections shared with you along with a prayer that may cause you to pause from your busy day and ponder various areas of your own faith journey.

If you were here this morning, you would find me reading four different books (I pick up where I left off with each visit). The books? The Gospel of Luke, 1 Corinthians, a book about FDR (“A Traitor to His Class”), and a Nicholas Sparks novel. A love story, an educational type book, and something to feed my spirit – I wonder if all of us need to be more intentional to maintain a well rounded lifestyle? I wonder if each of us could do better to maintain a healthy balance within our own lives.

Outside, I noticed a Blue Jay “pushing” out all of the other birds from the feeder, scattering seed all over the ground in his attempt to feed himself. Also, the less “pushy” birds resigned themselves to feeding on what was dropped on the ground by the “bully Blue Jay” – I wonder if sometimes I too am like the pushy Blue Jay, bullying my way and leaving others to fend for themselves? Are there areas in my life where I could show more Christ-like grace and concern for others?

Still looking outside and past the bird feeder, I notice that the canvas cover on the boat has an area that is not properly supported and has sagged allowing water to pool on top of the cover. Over the winter this will cause a problem with ice forming and tearing the canvas. I wonder if there may be areas of my life that are not properly supported through prayer and study, exercise and diet, rest and refreshment? As the canvas cover on the boat sags, are there areas of my life (or your life) that are running the risk of “sagging?”

Well, it’s about time to pack up and head home. I pray that God speaks to you in many different ways, that you are open to His whispers as well as His shouts.

Hope to see you in Church and may God bless you abundantly until we meet again.
    
Pastor Ray