Upcoming Orchard Events…

Sat. Mar. 2 - “GPS” Musical Rehearsal at 9:00 a.m. Sun. Mar. 3 - Scout Sunday (11:00 Worship Service) Wed. Mar. 6 - Funtastiks - Lunch and Game Day Sun. Mar. 10 - One Great Hour of Sharing, Daylight Saving Time Fri. Mar. 15 - “GPS” Dress Rehearsal at 6:00 p.m. Sun. Mar. 17 - Orchard Children’s Musical, “GPS” (both services)

Fri. Mar. 22 - Youth Church Camp Lock-In at Northbrook Presbyterian Sun. Mar. 24 - Palm Sunday / Easter Basket Project Thu. Mar. 28 - Sat. Mar. 30 - Labyrinth in the MAC Thu. Mar. 28 - Orchard Maundy Thursday Service at 7:30 p.m. Fri. Mar. 29 - Ecumenical Good Friday Service (Orchard Lake Presbyterian) Sun. Mar. 31 - Easter Sunday / Easter Egg Hunt

“Strolling Under the Stars”

This year, our “Auction Action Team” led by MOO (Men of Orchard), with the support of Missions, Congregational Life, and Youth Ministry, will be hosting a Community Outreach Auction on May 4, 2013. The money raised by “Strolling Under the Stars” will be used by the various teams to reach out to the community in a wide variety of ways. Here’s how you can help:

What’s an auction without items to bid on? One of the ways you can get involved is by helping us secure donated items/services for auction. If you can donate and/or help us find donations, please contact John Young at (248-489-0881) or Dan Harmon at (248-553-4174).

What’s an auction without bidders? We’d like a sold-out crowd of bidders to come and enjoy this exciting evening at both silent and live auction times! Invite family, friends, co-workers, neighbors to stroll around the “starlit” MAC on May 4th to help with this worthy cause. Tickets will be available beginning in April!

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME - MARCH 10th

Be sure to turn your clocks ahead Sunday, March 10th. See you in church, don’t be late!

EASTER BASKETS FOR KIDS! Sunday, March 24th at 12:15 p.m.

Help fill 24 Easter baskets to be given to the Salvation Army for delivery. Assistance is needed with assembling the baskets and with donations. Please bring donations in groups of 12. Names A-L should bring non-edibles (pencils, bubbles, crayons, etc.); names M-Z should bring edibles (candy, juice boxes, crackers, etc.). Leave goodies in the church office, or bring them with you on the 24th! Sponsored by the Wed. Women’s Bible Study.

“GPS” Children’s Musical Sunday, March 17th

Buckle your seat belts for a fun-filled inspirational ride on the highway of life with “GPS” as your guide. The children of BLAST and Club 56 are preparing the musical, “GPS -

God’s Plan for Salvation.” We will learn many truths about our God that help us to navigate successfully through life! This production will be presented on Sunday, March 17th at both worship services (9 & 11 a.m.).

EASTER GARDEN Lilies, Mums, Tulips, Azaleas

and Hydrangeas!

Help decorate our sanctuary for Easter services. This year we are offering a choice of spring flowers for you to choose from, including lilies, mums, tulips, azaleas and hydrangeas. Prices vary, depending on the flowers you order. All flower pots will be wrapped in foil with a bow. You may include a dedication or memorial to be listed in the Easter bulletin. Order forms available in the church office. **All orders must be received in the church office by noon Monday, March 18th!

Easter Egg Hunt

It will be sunny and warm on Easter, right?? Well, rain or shine, we’ll be having an Easter Egg Hunt! All children (3 years to 4th grade) are invited! Children and their parents should gather at 10:00 a.m. in room 7. Join us for this fun family activity!

March is a busy Month!! And I am so glad that “Grace Happens Here” as we try to accomplish all the goals and expectations that we have set for ourselves. Though sometimes it means you have to work late… It was about 7:10 last night when the lights went out. I had spread all my reference materials across the desk in my office and didn’t want to pack it all up and take it home. Why not just work a little bit longer? And then the lights went out. It was pitch black in my office. I couldn’t see a thing. All kinds of things raced through my mind. This wasn’t a bad TV movie where someone had just cut the power to the church and was on their way to murder me… relax. But I couldn’t just stand up and move around. I had stacked up all the “everyday stuff” from my desk and put it on the floor. All I needed to do was to trip and fall and reinjure my back… Now where was that small flashlight I put in my desk drawer? Matt Larson had noticed it in the leftovers from the church lost and found collection and suggested it might be something good to have in an emergency. This qualified. I found it, but I couldn’t figure out how to turn it on. A few cars on Farmington Road provided the limited light that allowed me to see a tall candle on the edge of my desk. Further rummaging produced some matches and a commitment to clean my desk drawers. After several tries, making sure the match head was up in my hand, a spark flew and the candle was lit. It is amazing how a little light changes everything, how it alters all your perceptions and even allows you to see how to turn on a flashlight (and yes, it did work!). From time to time we find ourselves in the darkness of life, trapped in a host of events and choices that choke the very light out of us. Yet our faith reminds us that no matter how dark the room, the light of God’s grace continues to shine. It’s a light that transforms everything, including my heart. Across these Lenten Days we are reminded of God’s unconditional love that continues to light our way. It’s more than we deserve, greater than we imagine. We call it GRACE. Blessings and Joy,

One Great Hour of Sharing Sunday, March 10th

Included in this issue of the Harvester is a contribution envelope for UMCOR’s One Great Hour of Sharing. Please bring it with you to church on March

10th, or drop it off any time in the church office. Working in more than 80 countries, UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) is hope for millions of people, often the poorest in society, who suffer as a result of natural catastrophes, conflicts or wars. The One Great Hour of Sharing offering is the financial lifeblood of UMCOR, United Methodist’s not-for-profit, international, humanitarian-aid organization. UMCOR receives no World Service or other apportionment money. Please choose to support this worthy organization, and contribute to this special offering. For more information about UMCOR, please go online to: www.umcor.org

Palm Sunday Worship Services Sunday, March 24th at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Join us for a parade of palms as we enter into Holy Week. Childcare for infants/toddlers at both services. Kids Own Worship both services. Labyrinth To enter the labyrinth is to choose to walk a sacred path. The labyrinth will be available in the MAC for prayer and meditation on: - Thursday, March 28th (9 a.m. - 9 p.m.) - Friday, March 29th (3 p.m. - 9 p.m.) - Saturday, March 30th (9 a.m. - 3 p.m.) Maundy Thursday Worship Service Thursday, March 28th - 7:30 p.m. On the night before Jesus was crucified, he celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples. Celebrate and remember with us at this special service. Holy Communion. Childcare available. Ecumenical Good Friday Service Friday, March 29th - 12:15 p.m. Community worship service at Orchard Lake Presbyterian Church. Special music provided by community choirs. Childcare available. Easter Sunday Services of Worship Sunday, March 31st Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!! 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Worship Services. Childcare (infants/toddlers) both services. Kids Own Worship during both services. Special Coffee Hour at 10:00 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt at 10:00 a.m.

Oscar Marcus Updyke was born on January 25, 2013. Oscar is the son of Julie and Ben Updyke, and the brother of Henry and Linus. Grandparents are Ann and Richard Knepper, and Debbie and Sam Updyke.

With Appreciation

To Our Orchard Family, Many thanks for all your prayers and best wishes for my recovery. The good news, they are working. With each day the improvement is evident. With great gratitude to God and the Orchard Family, Beverly Ragland Dear Orchard Family- Words cannot express how grateful we are for the love and support we felt from our Church family during the weeks we journeyed through the final earthly days of Scott's father. Living far away and the trips we had to make made this experience especially difficult. But the phone calls offering to help with Christmas Eve duties, words of encouragement that came through phone calls, text messages, notes, emails and postings in the funeral guest book and the beautiful arrangement from the 1st Sunday Usher Team at the visitation made us feel connected, loved and comforted. We will never again take for granted the card we intended to send or the phone call we intended to make. It makes a difference. With love and gratitude, Scott, Rowena, Kristen & Nick Adamowski

ORCHARD FAMILY AND FRIENDS HOSPITALIZED/CONVALESCING/ILL

Tom Clark; Mary Dible; Peggy Knuttila; Barb and Mike McMenamin; Bunnie Recht; Michelle Salley; Mary Slucter; Sue Sohn; Glenn Ulrich; Bob Wallace; Jacki Work; Sue Young

ORCHARD FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN NEED OF OUR PRAYERS

Tricia Ahern’s sister, Meg, and friend, Frank Cathy Albery’s friends, David Coulter, and the family of Karen Johnson Simmons Leslie Blair’s friend, Mandy Tabor Brian Blankinship Diana Chilson’s father and wife, Bill and Bev Jerry Chilson’s father, John Valerie Costello’s uncle, Pete, and friend, Bill Newton Barbara DeGrazia’s friend, Jenny Chiesa Jan DeOrio’s neighbor, Laura Malcomb Alyson Gay’s father-in-law, Stu, and friend, Laurie Tracey Hammaren’s friends, Phyllis, & the Lamar family Vivian Henderhan’s friend, Phyllis Lisa Jackson’s mother, Diane Kathy Janssen Marti Kirby’s sister, Nancy, & friends, the Carden Family Kohl family friends, Katie and Chris Diana and John Kuenzli’s friends, the Wojtyniak family, and Diana’s co-worker, Mark McKinley Debbie Lamson’s mother-in-law, Nancy Lamson, and co-worker, Jeri Cheryl Love’s neighbor, Shirley Parapet McArdle family friend, Drew Olivia Niles Sara Repen’s mother, Marianne Mickle Stu Rescoe Betsy Stanis’ sister, Sue Cole Eric Stanis’ friend, Kyle Witherspoon DyAnn St. Clair’s mother, Jean Schlasner, and niece, Jackie Schlasner Eleanor Thompson’s brother, Jim Rhaesa, grandson, Noel, and friend, Dan Cortez Barbara Ulman’s friends, Richard and Dolly Coe Former Orchard member, Betsy Watson Donna Young’s parents, Ron and Dorothy, and sister, Diane

IN MEMORIAM

Pam Williams’ step-mother, Marion Johnson, died January 27, 2013.

Betty Kramer died January 29, 2013.

Debbie Lamson’s cousin, David Ursu, died February 5, 2013.

Jerry Chilson’s uncle, Don Chilson, died February 14, 2013.

Chris Striffler’s grandmother, Hilda Irene Paul, died February 19, 2013.

Scott Williams’ mother, Joan Brown, died February 19, 2013.

MOPS Volunteer Opportunity Have I got an exciting ministry opportunity for you! Our MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) group is GROWING! Praise God! We need just 2 hours of your time once a month to help care for our children. Under the direction of Ann Schuur you get to hold, read to, play with and cuddle children from 3 months to 5 years old. If you have love to give and can volunteer on Thursday mornings, please contact Alyson Gay at 248-669-2884 or Ann Schuur at 248-476-3581.

MARCH USHER TRAINING

During the month of March we will be asking all ushers to report for duty 15 minutes earlier on their scheduled Sunday so that we can address all facets of the role of an Orchard usher and insure that everyone is fulfilling their duties in a manner consistent with newly established guidelines. We have added some new ushers during the last year, and hope to add a few more in March, so if you are considering volunteering for this role, now is a GREAT time to join this team! If you are interested contact Scott Adamowski at (248 417-6150) or email Scott at: sadamowski@craworld.com

Orchard United Methodist Church 30450 Farmington Road Farmington Hills MI 48334-1939 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

The Orchard Harvester is the newsletter of Orchard United Methodist Church. The April 2013 Harvester deadline is March 15, 2013 and will be mailed the week of March 25, 2013.

E-mail articles may be directed to Susan Stone at: susanstone@orchardumc.org

Pastors: Rev. Carol J. Johns, Rev. Suzanne K. Goodwin and Rev. Lynn Hasley Sunday Worship Services at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

Phone 248 626-3620 Fax 248 626-6836 Web Site: www.orchardumc.org Samaritan Counseling Center 248 474-4701

Non-Profit Org.

US Postage PAID

Farmington, MI PERMIT No. 216

Overnight Church Camp Lock-In for Youth

On March 22nd at 7 p.m., Northbrook Presbyterian Church will be hosting our annual Lock-In where we reconnect, sample Camp Mahn-Go and get pumped for this summer. Bring your friends who might be interested in camp and enjoy the Mahn-Go experience with camp competitions, crazy dances, guitars/singing, and a virtual campfire. For the Lock-In, you'll need to RSVP with Dave Tengler (ds10gler@gmail.com), drop off your kids at 7 p.m. along with $10/kid, a signed permission form, a sleeping bag, pillow and a flashlight. Youth will enjoy a light snack in the evening and a breakfast in the morning. Pick up is at 9 a.m. Saturday morning. At that time, parents and youth will receive information about Camp Mahn-Go and take home early registration materials. This summer, completed 1st through 12th graders will be camping on August 4th-10th. The deadline for the reduced cost of $350/camper registra-tion is June 1st. See Dave Tengler for more information.

March Funtastiks - Game Day!

The Funtastiks will meet at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 6th for a soup lunch and games. Bring a sandwich if you like - soup, beverage and dessert will be provided. Also, bring your favorite board game to play after lunch! Sign up in the church office. For more information, please call Aneta Pryor (248 626-8510).

Rebuilding Together - Sign Up Now!

Rebuilding Together projects will take place on Saturday, April 27th this year. Rebuilding Together of Oakland County identifies seniors, disabled and low-income homeowners who need repairs on their homes. Orchard is hoping to put together 4 teams of volunteers to work in Farmington Hills, Southfield and possibly Pontiac. If you have participated in the past, you may go to www.rebuildingtogether-oaklandcounty.org and update your current application, via Returning Volunteer Application. We welcome new volunteers as well, who are at least 12 years of age, and ask that they complete the New Volunteer Application. Please sign up under the group “Orchard UMC”, and confirmands under group “Orchard UMC Confirmands.”

NEW ORCHARD CHURCH DIRECTORY! We’re doing a new pictorial directory for Orchard, and we want we want everyone to be included! Please see the enclosed flyer for more information about photography dates in April and May. You will be able to sign up for a photography date online at www.orchardumc.org, or after worship services in March and early April. If you have any questions, please contact Susan Stone in the church office (248 626-3620 x25).

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Our Church Photography Dates:

Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 18, 19 & 20 Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, May 22 - 25

Weekday hours - 2:30 to 9:00 p.m. Saturday hours - 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

HOW DO I REGISTER FOR AN APPOINTMENT?

Sign up online at: www.orchardumc.org Sign up after worship services 3/10, 3/17, 3/24 and 4/7.

More details to follow! Contact Susan Stone in the church office for more information (248 626-3620, ext. 25).

YOU’RE PART OF THE FAMILY! IT WON’T BE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU!

Sign up soon to be part of our Pictorial Directory and receive your

complimentary portrait and free church directory!

No sitting fees, no obligation, just great photography, lots of choices for gifts or for yourself! And you will be part of the new church family album!

DO YOU HAVE A FEW HOURS TO SPEND SIGNING UP FAMILIES ON SUNDAYS AFTER WORSHIP SERVICES AND/OR GREETING YOUR CHURCH FRIENDS AT APPOINTMENTS? We need people just like you who are interested in helping us! If you can help with sign-ups on Sundays, or hostess on photo dates, please contact Sandy Catherman (248 478-1336) or Susan Stone (248 626-3620, x 25).

YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PERSONALLY! Lifetouch encourages you to bring to your portrait session something that says who you are--perhaps a hat, pin, scarf, musical instrument, Bible, sports gear--whatever it is that’s important to you! Lifetouch also does generational photography. Invite other family members to your portrait session for one big family portrait!

Don’t Forget… To Bring Your Pet! Do you have a special pet at home? You are welcome to bring him/her with you for your portrait session!

FEED THE NEED!

Bring a non-perishable food item for our food pantry and you will receive a $5

discount certificate toward the purchase of any

photography.