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A friend in the ministry passed along the following creed to me recently. Although traditionally the United Methodist Church is not known as a creedal church, I thought this contemporary creed coming from a multicultural perspective would be helpful for us in our journey as a church. One of these days in worship we will recite it together.
I share it here as a meditation for Holy Week. Say it slowly and prayerfully, asking for the Spirit to soften your heart and to reflect on the church around the world. May the Hope of Easter carry us forward to live and be empowered by the words of this creed!
THE IMMIGRANTS CREED by Jose Luis Casal
I believe in Almighty God,
who guided the people in exile and in exodus, the God of Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon, the God of foreigners and immigrants. I believe in Jesus Christ, a displaced Galilean,
who was born away from his people and his home, who fled
his country with his parents when his life was in danger.
When he returned to his own country he suffered under the oppression of Pontius Pilate, the servant of a foreign power. Jesus was persecuted, beaten, tortured, and unjustly condemned to death.
But on the third day Jesus rose from the dead,
not as a scorned foreigner but to offer us citizenship in God’s kingdom. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the eternal immigrant from God’s kingdom among us, who speaks all languages, lives in all countries, and reunites all races.I believe that the Church is the secure home
for foreigners and for all believers.
I believe that the communion of saints begins
when we embrace all God’s people in all their diversity.
I believe in forgiveness, which makes us all equal before God, and in reconciliation, which heals our brokenness.
I believe that in the Resurrection
God will unite us as one people
in which all are distinct and all are alike at the same time.
I believe in life eternal, in which no one will be foreigner but all will be citizens of the kingdom
where God reigns forever and ever. Amen.
On the way there,
Pastor Adam
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Happy Holy Week!
Even if you didn't sign up to help with the Easter Egg hunt this Saturday 10am-12 it's not too late to help. Invite everyone you know with little ones! Also, come to the Easter Egg Hunt even if you don't have young kids and get to know the new families there. If it rains, we will still have the egg hunt and games indoors. We will also have live baby chicks to hold Bearclaw Coffee Truck on site.
Children's Church Volunteers Needed
We need your help making Sunday School happen! Please sign up here or at the children's welcome table near the entrance to help teach or assist with the elementary class or hang out in the nursery on Sunday. All volunteers are required to have a background check.
Young Adult Small Group Lunch April 14th
No matter what you believe or don't believe or how you identify, join our young adult small group for conversation and fellowship at Union Rec from 12:15-1:30.
Youth Group with First UMC @West Side April 28th
If you are in 6th-12th grade, join us here at West Side from 6-8pm for a pizza party, 9 Square, pickleball, and campfire hangout. Invite friends!
Samantha Tidball
Associate Pastor
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There are lots of loopholes in the gun industry that need to be changed to keep harmful weapons and weapon parts out of the hands of evil doers. Below is one example of what was changed in Michigan to keep gun parts out of the gun industry where they can be purchased by those who want to build their own guns which aren’t registered. I credit the end Gun Violence Michigan for pushing for this change.
State police will no longer send firearms to firm that sold gun parts for profit
The Detroit News
Lansing — Michigan State Police will begin using a scrap metal processing facility in Jackson to dispose of excess firearms following pushback on a previous system where parts of the guns could be resold in kits.
The state police agency announced the new disposal program Tuesday after a New York Times investigation found the Missouri-based gun disposal firm the department used would repurpose parts of the gun to be resold as kits that could eventually be used to reassemble a separate weapon. The agreement between the Michigan State Police and GunBusters required the company to destroy the frame and receiver only.
With the increasing incidents of gun violence in Ann Arbor I am very concerned about the safety of all of us. I hope it is a concern of yours.
Education is so important in making others aware of what needs to be done to improve gun safety. I hope you will take advantage of a Zoom training to become a community educator at 8pm on April 18, May 16 or June (TBD). For more information & to register go to https://www.endgunviolencemi.org/
When you go to this website you will find the list of Gun Safety Laws passed in Michigan in February. When you click on the top right corner you will find a list with more info. The gun violence info will take you to videos of a zoom conference I attended in January.
June has been designated as Silence the Violence Month with numerous ways that organizations can participate. If you are interested in more information, contact Marilyn Kirking Mkirking@umich.edu 734 358 7985 or Pastor Adam adam@westside-umc.org.
Blessings,
Marilyn Kirking
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IHN at Alpha House News
Spring is definitely a fresh, new season at Alpha House!
Because of grants from MDHSS and the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, Alpha House was able to add 8 new rooms by renovating the administration wing at the Jackson Road location. The Ann Arbor News published a story about the renovations at Alpha House. You can read the article here . You are invited to an open house to be held on Thursday, April 4, from 2 – 7 pm so that you can have the opportunity to see the new wing before it is opened to new residents. We are also inviting all of our community partners and key supporters and will have refreshments available. We hope it will be a fun event for all!
Also, in anticipation of more families moving in, Westside was able to donate $1,000 toward the purchase of a new industrial size refrigerator. Our congregation has been such a huge supporter of Alpha House through the years. And, thanks to you, Alpha House will be able to add more rooms to the only family shelter in Washtenaw County. Thank you for all you do!
Westside’s Volunteer week is coming in May. Please watch for details in April on how you can help!
Any questions, please call, text or email me, Ann Andraska at: yellowstonefun4@gmail.com or 734-751-7456.
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Get ready for another wild ride with some very interesting women of the Bible. We will begin this adventure on Wednesday, March 27th at 10:30 AM and finish the book on Wednesday, May 15th. We
gather around the fire place in the hospitality area and study a different woman each week. If you have to miss a session, that’s ok.
This class is an 8 week class filled with laughter and discovery. It’s very informal and the discussions are lively. If you ever thought you might like to try a Bible study, but were afraid, thinking you didn’t know enough or you don’t have time for a lot of homework, this is the study for you!
The book is available on Amazon for around $13 and I have found 4 used books that I have put in the office. They are free to the first 4 people who want one. Please call Betsy Doepken (317-437-0971) to have any questions answered.
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NEW Facebook Page
Our new Facebook page is live! Like us to be updated on what's going on around at West Side.
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Prayer Concerns
If you would like to include a prayer concern to be listed in this section of our Weekly email, please email the church office with the name, and if you would like, you may add a brief description, eg. surgery, cancer diagnosis, death in the family, etc. This concern will be listed for 8 weeks. You can request the office to leave the name on the list for a longer period as well.
Andy Siddall (Tom Hams’ nephew)
Fay Cozadd
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West Side Bookworms
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The West Side Bookworms will be meeting on Thursday, April 4th at 10am. Please join us around the fireplace to discuss The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni. Need a copy? Call Betsy Doepken at 317-374-0971
Apr. 4 The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni
May 2 The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
June 6 Throwaway Children by Diney Costeloe
NO MEETING JULY 4
Aug. 8 The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck
Sept. 5 The Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
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West Side Reads
Our April, 2024 book will be: How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith.
Goodreads summary: “Beginning in his own hometown of New Orleans, Clint Smith leads the reader through an unforgettable tour of monuments and landmarks-those that are honest about the past and those that are not-that offer an intergenerational story of how slavery has been central in shaping our nation's collective history, and ourselves.”
This book is available on Audible, Kindle, new in hardback through Thrift Books on-line or Amazon, local bookstores in Ann Arbor and through Ann Arbor District Library.
Because we have Westside friends that are no longer in Ann Arbor, we will continue to have our discussions via zoom. Please join us on ZOOM in April as we continue reading and learning about Social Justice in our world.
April 28 at 7pm
Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/82801441457
Meeting ID: 828 0144 1457
If you have any questions at all, please contact Cindy Heflin Pelo at heflincl@gmail.com or Ann Andraska at yellowstonefun4@gmail.com
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Library Book of the Week
Looks at Jesus as a historical figure and describes the times in which he lived.
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Crafty Christians
Bring yourself, a craft or a coloring page for a fun time! We meet Fridays from 11am-1pm. All are welcomed for fellowship and laughter. Please contact Judy Smith with any questions.
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March
Community Offering:
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR)
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) works to alleviate suffering and serve as a source of help and hope for those impacted by natural or human-caused disasters around the world. UMCOR uses 100% of dedicated gifts in direct support of relief efforts. In order to help enable this feat, our March community outreach offering will join with similar offerings being collected around the world in support of UMCOR's operating expenses. This offering helps to "keep the lights on" at UMCOR so that other donations sent throughout the year can go straight to where they are needed most.
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In Memoriam
Frank J. Siller
April 30, 1930 - September 2, 2022
Nancy Brewer
January 14, 1944 - September 2, 2022
Judith Oakes Fraleigh
November 21, 1935 - January 18, 2023
Edith Laura Semark
August 18, 1934 - February 3, 2023
Trenna Elizabeth Garner
January 8, 1935 - January 14, 2023
Carol Kreischer
December 28, 1930 - February 25, 2023
Joyce Weldon Clark
September 28, 1935 - February 27, 2023
Richard "Rip" Kinney
March 17, 1934 - April 21, 2023
Graham Robert Putnam
April 11, 1947 - October 31, 2023
Stephen Lacoe
February 10, 1936 - February 15, 2024
Marguerite Fisher
November 21, 1923 - February 16, 2024
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Giving Generously & Virtually
If you are able to, please consider giving virtually in the upcoming weeks by visiting our giving tab from our website here, or using our text-to-give function (instructions on how to do this can be found here). Thanks for all that you do to support the West Side family!
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Pastor
Adam Bissell
adam@westside-umc.org
Associate Pastor
Samantha Tidball
samantha@westside-umc.org
Director of Music Ministries
Jacob Carroll
jacob@westside-umc.org |
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Office Manager
Lisa Mayne
westside@westside-umc.org
Church Office Hours - Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10am-2pm
900 S. Seventh St
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
734-663-4164 |
This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.
-Jeremiah 6:16a
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