|
Summer is approaching, and a change in seasons brings a different rhythm, for better or worse. While summer is a great reprieve for some of us, the heat and lack of structure in the schedule provide stress for others. No matter what summer means for you, I encourage you to look at the season as an opportunity to practice Sabbath. Pastor Adam and I have been putting together a sermon series on the topic of Sabbath that I will be kicking off this Sunday. I have been reading Sabbath by Wayne Mueller. Mueller describes it this way, "Sabbath is a way of being in time where we remember who we are, remember what we know, and taste the gifts of spirit and eternity. Sabbath is more than the absence of work; it is not just a day off. It is time consecrated with our attention and mindfulness, honoring those quieter forces of grace or spirit that sustain and heal us." I hope you will join us this Sunday as we learn to recognize the Sabbath as more than a commandment but a gift to help us experience God's goodness in the world.
Attention Graduates! Please let us know if you are graduating from high school, grad school, trade school, etc. Email samantha@westside-umc.org with a photo, and a short bio telling us where you graduated from, what degree you earned, and what your next steps are. Pictures and bios will go in the weekly. Join us in church on June 23rd to celebrate our graduates with a prayer and recognition.
Samantha Tidball
Associate Pastor
|
Greetings from Northern Michigan ,
If you want to see what’s going on at our annual UMC conference, go to this website https://2024.michiganumc.org/ to watch it livestream or read some of the reports. I will give a summary after the conference is over.
Blessings,
Marilyn Kirking
|
Our wonderful treasurer, Jim Meretta, will be "retiring" from his volunteer church treasurer position at the end of this year. He has served faithfully for several years! Our goal is to have someone receive some training over the coming months to get acclimated with the role. The hope for the position is that someone could commit to 2 - 3 years if it turns out to be an agreeable role. Please contact Adam if interested or if you have questions!
|
Each month we will share 2 - 3 highlights from our Leadership Board meetings here. The board meetings commonly include topics around church finance, trustees, staff parish relations and overall mission and vision.
1. Some missing shingles recently observed on roof over sanctuary, need to replace about 6-10. $3750 (whole new roof would be $60k) . Motion to approve smaller repair, passed.
2. Treasurer's report:
a. 4 months in - Looking good.
b. Overall ahead of budget, YTD
3. Motion to allow removal of cross and flame from behind garden tree on front of building, in order to refurbish and/or possibly replace, perhaps elsewhere on the front of church, passed.
|
West Side Thursday Morning Bible Study
Our spring ZOOM Bible Study is on Thursdays at 11:00am. This Bible Study is on ZOOM because we have members that were once at Westside, but have moved out of state. It is an amazing group that enjoy prayer and group support as we discuss Bible study curriculum in a safe, nonjudgmental space. We take turns facilitating the group, though this is definitely not a requirement to be part of the group.
We will be studying Christianity and World Religions by Adam Hamilton. Lisa, our office manager, has ordered the book. It is available in the West Side Office for $11 and/or can be ordered on Amazon.
If you have any questions, please text, call or email Ann Andraska @ 734-751-7456 or yellowstonefun4@gmail.com
Recurring ZOOM link for the sessions:
Topic: Bible Study - Christianity and World Religions
Time: 11:00 AM Eastern Time
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87505688146
Meeting ID: 875 0568 8146
|
We recently set the dates for our participation in Habitat for Humanity this Summer.
Our congregation is pledging:
- one group of 8-10 people for Saturday June 15.
- one group of 8-10 people for Saturday August 10
- one smaller group of 4-5 people for Friday August 23
We will also need 2 volunteers to provide lunches each day.
Please sign up on the event table in the welcome center or online.
Volunteer Information from Habitat
All volunteers must complete the online registration/waiver by the Tuesday before the scheduled build day. Tasks, additional details and any potential location change will be emailed to all volunteers on the Tuesday before your build day. All volunteers must arrive by 9 AM for a safety briefing and task instruction. If plans change, or they can no longer join us, volunteers can "cancel" their registration or notify their congregation's liaison.
2024 Good News Group Volunteer Flyer.pdf
Link to sign up for any Westside Build Days (access code is "Westside"): https://givepul.se/dnc615
|
The Elevator is Back Up and Running
|
NEW Facebook Page
Our new Facebook page is live! Like us to be updated on what's going on around at West Side.
|
|
|
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
|
West Side Bookworms
|
|
The West Side Bookworms will be meeting on Thursday, June 6 at 10am. Please join us around the fireplace to discuss Throwaway Children by Diney Costeloe. Need a copy? Call Betsy Doepken at 317-374-0971
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
|
|
|
West Side Reads
We had a great discussion at our Westside Reads about the book How the Word is Passed and are looking forward to our next book - How Ableism Fuels Racism by Lamar Hardwick. Our next and last read for the 2023-24 academic year will be on June 2 at 7:00pm on zoom. We would love for you to join our discussion!
Summary of How Ableism Files Racism: As a Black autistic pastor and disability scholar, Lamar Hardwick lives at the intersection of disability, race, and religion. Tied to this reality, he heeded the call to write How Ableism Fuels Racism to help Christian communities engage in critical conversations about race by addressing issues of ableism.
Hardwick believes that ableism--the idea that certain bodies are better than others--and the disability discrimination fueled by this perspective are the root causes of racial bias and injustice in American
culture and in the church. Here, he uses historical records, biblical interpretation, and disability studies to examine how ableism in America led to the creation of images, idols, and institutions that perpetuate both disability and racial discrimination.
He then goes a step further, calling the church into action to address the deep-seated issues of ableism that started it all and offering practical steps to help readers dismantle ableism and racism both in attitude and practice.
This book is available on Audible, Kindle, new in hardback through Amazon and can be ordered through local bookstores in Ann Arbor.
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 June 2 as we continue reading and learning about Social Justice in our world.
Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/82801441457
Meeting ID: 828 0144 1457
If you have any questions at all, please contact Ann Andraska at yellowstonefun4@gmail.com or
Cindy Heflin Pelo at heflincl@gmail.com
|
|
|
Library Book of the Week
Is Jesus relevant to us today? Few figures have had such an influence on history as Jesus of Nazareth. His teachings have inspired discussion, arguments, even war, and yet few have ever held forth as movingly on the need for peace, forgiveness, and mercy. Paul Johnson's brilliant reading offers readers a lively biography of the man who inspired one of the world's great religions and whose lessons still guide us in current times.
Johnson's magisterial and revered book A History of Christianity is a masterpiece of historical writing on religion; and in his new book he returns to focus on a central figure in one of the world's dominant religions. Johnson's intelligent and conversational style, as well as his ability to distill complex subjects into succinct, highly readable works, make this book the ideal match of a major historian with a major subject. The result is an accessible biography and an insightful analysis of how Jesus is important in the present era.
|
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.
|
|
|
May Community Offering: Alpha House/IHN
Westside’s Community Offering for the month of May will go to Alpha House. In addition, we have our volunteer week May 6-12. Thank you SO much to everyone that is donating their time, food and/or money for our May week! You’ll have another chance to provide for Alpha House in September. Please know that you are making a difference!
Mission and History of Alpha House
More than providing just a bed and a roof for families, the goal of Alpha House is to support families in securing and maintaining their own home. The average age of a child experiencing homelessness is seven. Within a single year, 87% of children experiencing homelessness move, often up to three times, meaning changes in school, teacher and school work. Children often fall behind academically and struggle emotionally, mentally and behaviorally. At Alpha House, they strive to provide children the support they need in shelter and during the transition back into permanent housing.
Alpha House was established in 1992 to provide shelter and support to families experiencing homelessness and at-risk families. They serve over forty families a year in the shelter and up to ninety families through their rapid rehousing program. Alpha House provides intensive support services to address each family's individual needs and barriers to securing permanent housing. Their Case Managers begin with assisting each family to identify goals and objectives to move toward housing stability. The goals for families are focused on increasing income and savings, increasing employment and securing housing. Alpha House services aim to provide stability for parents and children living in the shelter and guide them through a plan to secure and maintain stable housing.
Alpha House is truly a community response to homelessness. Each year over 2,500 volunteers from local congregations, community groups, and businesses support the shelter by cooking and serving meals, engaging with the children, providing support and mentorship to the adults, and performing all the shelter maintenance (inside and outside). Every volunteer reminds the families that they are not alone in their struggles.
If you ever have questions or would love to find ways to volunteer, donate or just take a tour, please contact Ann Andraska: yellowstonefun4@gmail.com OR Kenndra Brewer: dkbrewer@ameritech.net OR you can call Alpha House directly at 734-822-0220 OR visit their website: https://www.alphahouse-ihn.org/
|
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
Elizabeth Audette
May 31, 1960 - April 21, 2024
|
|
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!
|
|
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 |
|
Office Manager
Lisa Mayne
westside@westside-umc.org
Church Office Hours - Tuesday-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
|
|
|