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September 2019 Issue 3 (81)
**Upcoming Meetings & Events**
Men’s Gathering: Breakfast/Dinner
Wed. Sept 4, 9am Breakfast at Robin’s Nest
United Methodist Women - UMW
Wed. Sept. 11, 7 pm, @ GUMC, MaryAnn presenting trip to Cuba.
UMW District Annual meeting is Saturday, Sept 14, 9-2:30pm. Let Diane know by Sept 6th
if
you plan to attend.
Book Club
Due to changes in the UMW reading program reporting for just this year, we will be reading
the following book that is not on the Program list:
Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver, Wed. Oct. 23.
Books can be ordered through Gobles Library, MeL.org. See Diane C. for questions.
Things to Note:
Adopt-A-Highway – Sept 21 through Sept 29
Flu shots will be available on Sunday, Sept 29 at 10:00 at the church.
GUMC NEWS Serving God, Serving Community, Connecting Community with God
Pastor Larry French email: [email protected]
Pastor’s cell: 616-551-9280
Parsonage: 628-9126
Office Hours: Tues 9:00-Noon / Thurs 9:00-Noon
Wednesday: visitation and pastoral care by appt
Office Phone: 269-628-2263
Church Email: [email protected]
Sermons are available on the webpage. Go to www.goblesumc.org and go to sermons.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goblesumc/
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September 2019 Issue 3 (81)
The Food pantry is open on Saturday’s 9-11am
Needs for this month: cooking oil, shortening,
(med size), toothpaste, laundry soap*, dish
soap*, toilet paper*
*Items at Dollar Tree and have had good luck.
Troops Overseas
Packages for our troops:
September Item(s) of the month – Gum
hotel size shampoo, conditioner, soap and lotion
can be donated anytime.
Missions
Literacy Night - The next Literacy Night is Thursday, October 10 from 5:30-7. Please see Diane C. If you
wish to volunteer to work in the kitchen or with the activities.
Mission Trip - MaryAnn Menck, Debbie Siwula, Jan Westcott will be leaving Sept 28th
along with a group
from Delton & Otsego UMC’s on a Mission trip to the Appalachia area through the Appalachia Service
Project doing housing repair projects.
Please keep them in your prayers for safe travel and we pray that this partnership will continue and that
more of us will be able to join them next year.
Hair Cut & Hot Dog Event - Aside from a rain storm parading on our event, we had 14 kids who got
haircuts. This is down from 30 last year. A lot of kids picked up school supplies and books. Hopefully we
can revisit our event and make a few changes to attract more kids next year. Always welcome to new ideas!!
All Adopt-A-Hwy Volunteers
The third and final cleanup for this year is anytime
from Sept 21 through Sept 29.
Trash bags will be above the coat rack ...please leave
the filled bags on the edge of the highway in plain
sight.
Thank you for your service to our community.
Any questions call Barb Browne
FLU CLINIC
Flu shots will be available on Sunday,
September 29th
at 10:00 at the church.
This is being offered by Hometown
Pharmacy.
Bring your insurance card. Open to
public! Invite a friend!!!
Finance Update for September
We are happy to report that the 2019 Ministry Shares
are paid in full. This should be celebrated as many
churches are behind or for one reason or another are
not paying. There are benefits to us for paying, such as
in the Ministry Benefits area.
All bills are currently paid and income and expenses
are balanced
Your Finance Team
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September 2019 Issue 3 (81)
Gobles Worship Servant Ministries
September October November
Liturgist Dan Leonard
Jan Leonard
Tim Harvey Eileen Chaffee
Ushers & Greeters September 1, 8
Chuck Grimes
MaryAnn Menck
September 15, 22, 29
John & Cherie Thorpe
Oct 6, 13
Chris Pomeroy
Phyllis Harvey
Oct 20, 27
Tim & Peggy Harvey
Nov 3, 10
Dan & Jan Leonard
Nov 17, 24
Mary Ann Menck
Chuck Haring
Hospitality September 1, 8
Dan & Jan Leonard
September 15, 22, 29
Tim & Peggy Harvey
Jan Westcott
Marlene Krajewski
Dave & Cheryll Goodwin
Adult Sunday School
“Thirteen Apostles”
13-week study starting October 13th
after
service, following fellowship.
Pick up study material for the first Apostle on
October 6th
, the week before.
Any questions call or see Wynne 720-0741
Kids’ Sunday School
Start’s back up on September 8th. Our theme for
the fall is Loving God, Loving Neighbor. We
are using a curriculum called One Room Sunday
School, which is for ages 3-12.
If we want kids in our church, we need to
INVITE. So, if you have neighbors or
grandchildren, please invite them to join
us. Kids’ Sunday School takes place during the
regular worship service.
New Ministry for our Church
Last spring our church felt called to do something for Gobles Public Schools. In checking with the school, we
found out that their biggest need right now is mentoring in the Middle School. This is for students that would
benefit from someone to talk to and spend time with on a regular basis.
We have six volunteers right now who will spend an hour a week with their student during the school
day. Scheduling is flexible. Right now, we are waiting to hear from the social worker at school after she
determines which students would benefit.
Please keep this new ministry in your prayers, and if you feel called to help out, contact Cheryl Rumery.
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September 2019 Issue 3 (81)
Send a card, email, give a call
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sept 11 Sarah Wheaton
14395 -26th
St.
Gobles, MI 49055
Sarah-269-615-0502 text
[email protected]
Sept 12 Tessa Wheaton
14395 -26th
St.
Gobles, MI 49055
[email protected]
Sept 23 Cheryl Shaw
32781 Pinedale Lane
Gobles, MI 49055
[email protected]
Sept 28 Nancy Finch
2160 Sanibel Is.
Apt. B2
Portage, MI 49024
779-7574 text
Sept 30 Bonnie Johnson
34299 10th Avenue
Gobles, MI 49055
655-6570 text
[email protected]
Sept 9 Wess & Kim Swinehart
23123-30th St.
Gobles, MI 49055
K-312-709-1736 W-269-568-6341
Sept 24 Marlin & Phyllis Harvey
03800 CR 653
Gobles, MI 49055
628-5700 / 330-0610 text
[email protected]
Encouragement is water to the soul
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September 2019 Issue 3 (81)
Be A Prayer Warrior Luke 21:36 Our prayers for July - God Hears and Answers Prayers
Ian Wilcox Grace Dee Howard Lynn Woodard Alyssa Munger Tom G.
Penny Woodard Barb Peterson Pat Collins Prisoners and Families Cindy Brown Dani Wiggins Shootings in Texas &
Ohio Joann Boyer Mara’s mom
Larry Barber Bruce McDonald Reagan Lawson Jean Isaacson Nancy Forrest Ruby Hyde Donna Kidd Bill Smith
Thank you Prayer Warriors Luke 21:36
Prayers Answered in July
JoAnn Boyer
Sympathy in July family of:
Family of Pat Collins Farrell Family
Travel Prayers for July
Donna & Lois
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September 2019 Issue 3 (81)
Show God’s Love Pray for them, Send a card, Call them, Visit them
Gilberta Evans 34505 W. Homewood Dr.
Gobles, MI 49055 628-4152
Marlene Krajewski 35326 44th Ave.
Paw Paw, MI 49079 657-5486
Dorothy Healy Directors Hall
600 Golden St. #316 Kalamazoo, MI
270-7912
John Smith 34375 Homewood Dr.
Gobles, MI 49055
Ruby Hyde 636 High Pointe Apt. 4
Allegan MI 49010 686-6814
Bernice Stowman %White Oaks
300 White Oaks Rd. Lawton, MI 49065
Kit Hunsberger 38531 6th Ave.
Bloomingdale, MI49026 521-7735
Pat Wesseling P.O. Box 147
Gobles MI 49055 628-2087
Paul Weston 410 West VanBuren
Gobles, MI 49055 628-2728
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September 2019 Issue 3 (81)
Meeting/Committee Church Council Date Thursday, August 29, 2019
Chair Pastor Larry French Time 6:30pm
Recording Secretary Karen Grimes Next Meeting
Present: Pastor Larry, Wynne Hurlbut, Dennis Hurlbut, Donna Launius, Lois Wesler, Cheryl
Rumery, Chuck Grimes, Karen Grimes, Jan Leonard, Nancy Finch, Diane Corradini,
Jennifer Wheaton
Agenda Topics/Issue Discussion
Devotion & prayers: Dennis opened with prayer
Mission/Outreach
Mission Outreach – Our goal is to do one event every quarter. The community free
dinner we tried was not well attended. We do support a missionary, Wesley foundation,
and Engage Michigan. We have a Halloween book give away with candy.
Dennis reported on the Appreciation dinner for First Responders. Hope to maybe do
another for school board or city council.
Literacy night – three times a year in the evening for preschool children. October 10th
is
the next one.
United Christian Services – This is out of Freshwater church in Paw Paw. Supported
from the discretionary fund.
Hair Cuts & Hot Dogs – not well attended. Only 14 haircuts this year.
Mission Trip – Jan, Debbie, MaryAnn to the Appalachia area September 28th
.
Hospitality/New
Guest
Going well. More volunteers plus people are signing up to bring in a greater variety then
just cookies. Still doing B&A the first Sunday of each month with cake and ice-cream
UMW / Men’s
Group
Men’s group had Dinner at Nino’s last month. Well attended with eight.
UMW – District Annual Meeting is Saturday, Sept. 14, 9-2:30pm.
Worship Design Meeting every other Tuesday. All planned through September. Could use help with
visuals. Larry adding cartoon to bulletin that goes along with his scripture reading.
Education Children’s Sunday school starts Sept 8. Have 4 teachers and 4 helpers. Adult SS starts
October 13. Wynne doing a study on the 13 apostles. Will put announcement in bulletin.
Tech
Facebook
Dennis mentioned that at some point we need to replace computer upstairs to operate
Windows 10.
One year of free postings from SocialPilot will be ending soon. Don’t feel we have a need
to pay for the service after that. Larry will do some posting on FB. Dennis does calendar
on webpage. Need to keep him informed to get it on the webpage.
Finance
Treasurers Report
Financial Secretary
Dennis reported that Ministry shares are paid 100% both district and conference. Medical
insurance not going up next year. All bills are paid. We are $1400.00 ahead from where we
started the year at. Dennis paid for the parsonage repairs from the Building Fund prior to
today’s meeting unsure which fund the money should be pulled. So a motion was made by
Cheryl and seconded by Chuck to support it. All in favor. Now, Dennis would like to take
the dollar amount paid for these repairs from checking and put back in the building fund.
Motion was made by Wynne and seconded by Nancy.
Cheryl – Weekly contributions to date is $1491. Weekly amount needed is $1578. Various
savings funds total $12,562. In Six Lanes of Giving we collected for Peace with Justice
Sunday, Native American Ministries Sunday, UMCOR and Christian Education Sunday.
Trustees
Replaced faucet in nursery. Will replace faucet in men’s bathroom. Wynne went over the
parsonage repair list expenses. $8741.12 split in half with Kendall. John paid expenses of
$1433.99. plus 2 weeks salary. Everything is done and Gobles now handles all expenses.
Around the Room /
Anything Else
Jenny Wheaton – has taken over as membership chair.
Dennis – if committees are meeting, need to discuss budgets for next year for charge conference,
scheduled for Thursday, December 5th.
Need to make better use of the Newsletter and bulletin for communicating to help keep people
informed.
Middle school mentors needed – A new ministry for us. One hour a week.
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September 2019 Issue 3 (81)
Pastor Larry Did seven home visits in July. August visits, 11 out of 16 attempts. Have made hospital
visits. Meeting with worship team every other week. Tuesday night lectionary bible study
starting September 17th
.
Pastor Larry’s Ponderings…
Greetings in the name of the Christ; for it is he who inspires us, equips
us, and empowers us to reach new and incredible heights –
TOGETHER!
As excited as I was to join your Gobles UMC family, I am even more
humbled by how welcoming you have been to me and my family. I
know Sharon, Morgan, and Haley have all felt the same sense of
immediate belonging to something more than a church, more than brick
and mortar. We have all felt a sense of being welcomed into a family,
all part of one body. For that I am deeply grateful.
As we started our journey together, in July, with the “Simple” series,
following the “Three Simple Rules” as outlined in the book by the same title, we found common
ground in which to live together. As United Methodists, we are all called to Do No Harm, Do Good,
and to Stay in Love with God. Simple, but profound, these rules lay a groundwork in which to live.
In August we found ourselves learning from Jesus through parables, and sometimes difficult to
follow teachings, as he turned his face toward Jerusalem and the fate that awaited him there. In
September we will follow Jesus as he marches fearlessly toward that walled city, where the dominant
powers of the time have entrenched themselves. We will learn lessons along the way, all pointing us
to the new thing Jesus came to bring about, a new Kingdom, where power is rooted in mercy and
love.
Some exciting things are happening in September! As we kick off our new church calendar year, we
also kick off our season of Christian Education. Please check out the bulletin for starting dates and
times of our class offerings.
One new addition will be a Lectionary-based Bible Study that I will lead every Tuesday evening
from 6:30 to 8:30pm starting September 17th
. Mark your calendars, because September starts a
season of new and exciting possibilities! I look forward to each new experience, and I cannot wait to
see what the future holds – TOGETHER!
In gratitude,
Pastor Larry
