THE FOLD Monthly Newsletter of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church

April 2016

LOGOS YOUTH CLUB ~ February/March 2016:

Youth and adults experienced Christian fun and learning for 5 weeks on Wednesdays during February and March 2016. We are thankful for the adults serving with joy to make disciples for Jesus and thankful for our youth sharing themselves with us. Praise be to God!

Good Shepherd United Methodist Church

1570 Mason Dearborn, MI 48124

313-278-4350 gshepherdumc@att.net

www.dearborngsumc.org

Pastor Rev. Dr. Douglas E. Ralston

Church Office Hours Tuesday & Thursday

10 am – 1 pm or by appointment

Sunday Schedule

9:15 am: God’s Love in ACTion

9:30 Adult Sunday Study 10:30 am: Worship Service

Coffee & Conversation in Fellowship Hall following

worship.

United Methodist Men Dinner meeting 1st Monday

each month at 6 pm - Leon’s on Michigan Ave.

How Much Is A Mite? A $100 bill, a $20 bill and a $1 bill met at the Department of the Treasury shredder at the end of their usefulness as money. The tattered old bills talked about where they had been. The $100 dollar bill said, “I’ve seen the whole world during my lifetime. Why, I’ve been on cruises in the Caribbean, safaris in Africa and vacations in Europe.” The twenty said, “Well, I have been to Atlantic City, Disneyland and Starbucks.” They both turn to the $1 bill and asked, “How about you?” The dollar bill said, “I’ve seen the whole country too! I’ve been from church to church to church.” Then the one hundred dollar bill asked, “What’s a church?” The setting for the story of the widow’s mites In Mark 12 is apparently within sight of the Temple depository. There were 13 trumpet-shaped receptacles that functioned to gather the gifts of the faithful for the temple treasury. Jesus and his disciples observe many wealthy worshipers placing significant sums into the temple treasury but Jesus says nothing until he sees the tiny gift of two mites given by a poor widow that he makes a comment. The widow’s mites were most likely a coin called the lepton. A lepton’s monetary value was pretty small, so small, in fact, that it may be one of the least-valued coins ever struck. It was very likely two of these tiny lepta were the “mites” that the widow dropped into the temple treasury. Peter J. Gomes, while Chaplain at Harvard said that, “The widow of St. Mark’s gospel is praised, not because she practiced a prudential form of proportionate giving, but because she gave everything she had. We praise her example, although most of us would not dare to follow it, and yet giving, not saving, is at the heart of the gospel.” Jesus told us “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” What is it that we use our money for? We please God when we care for the poor and the oppressed, when we feed those who have no food, when we work for justice, when we give of our bounty to those who have less. Mark’s story of the widow really isn’t about our offerings and tithes. It’s about having the right attitude and entering into a right relationship with God. It is important to remember that the widow had two coins. She didn’t negotiate or hold back, she gave away all that she had. She gave both coins. Peace,

Pastor Doug

Spaghetti Dinner

Our next spaghetti dinner is on Friday, April 1st - no fooling! That’s obviously as early as it possibly could be in the month so a quick return for our monthly fellowship with our guests. It is very much appreciated that folks have been putting their names on the sign-up sheet rather than waiting to be asked or called about sharing of time and talents for the dinner. That makes it so much easier for planning. Thank you! Please continue to invite friends, neighbors and co-workers as well as to share the signs in businesses and wherever you feel appropriate. Personal invitations are always a great way to express how wonderful our dinners are.

NOAH Project Sack Lunch Prep

We will be preparing lunches for the NOAH Project at Central United Methodist Church after worship on Sunday, April 17.

A sign-up sheet will be at the Opportunity Center for items needed to put the lunches together. Also, cash/check donations to cover the

cost of items not donated can be made via your giving envelopes and designated for the NOAH Project. Please plan on staying for an extra half an hour or so and helping to make sandwiches or put together the lunch bags. Nothing we do for this project is difficult. All are encouraged to lend a hand and a little bit of time. All help is appreciated!

April Mission of the Month

Camp Scholarship Fund

Our mission giving focus for the month of April is Local Church Camp Scholarships. Support for this program helps send individuals from Good Shepherd to one of the many United Methodist summer camps throughout Michigan.

What better way to experience God than by having fun in a safe and caring environment, all the while making new friends (sometimes lifelong), learning new skills, and enjoying nature up close and personal. Summer will be here before we know it. Camp booklets are in the church lobby.

For additional details contact either Pastor Doug or Jan Poush.

Home Health Aide

Home health aide Janet Post has been entrusted with helping people in their homes for many years. If you, or someone you know, are in need of assistance, please contact Janet at 313-718-6697. References available.

Run For God

Our Run for God group continues to meet on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 6:30 am and Saturdays at 7:00 am. We have been walking inside at Westborn Shopping Center next to Kroger on Michigan Ave due to the cold weather, but we hope to be back outside on the track at OL Smith Middle School soon. On Saturdays we meet at Panera Cares for fellowship after our walk. We welcome anyone interested in adding some exercise to your daily routine. We are also hoping to start some biking excursions this summer! Hope to see some new faces join our group!

Calling Amazon Shoppers

Those who shop on Amazon.com can now automatically benefit Good Shepherd every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com (notice the altered address), you'll find the same low prices, same products, same service as on Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate 0.5% from your eligible purchases to Good Shepherd. There are nearly one million organizations eligible for donations through this purchasing program, and now Good Shepherd is one of them. You can use your existing Amazon account on AmazonSmile, or create an account if you are new to online shopping.

How do I begin? Simply go to smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobile device, and sign in as you would on Amazon. Before you begin shopping, select Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, Dearborn, MI from the list of participating charitable organizations. Amazon will remember GSUMC once you've made your choice. Tens of millions of products are eligible for donations. You will see those products marked "Eligible for AmazonSmile donation" on the right side of their product detail pages. You can learn more about AmazonSmile on the first screen of their website.

VBS – Coming in August! Please save the following empty, clean containers needed for various projects at Vacation Bible School. They may be placed in the collection basket in the church foyer.

- gallon milk jugs and lids - 16 oz. plastic peanut butter style jars with

lids - water bottles 4 oz. to 16 oz. - fruit and vegetable cans with labels in tact.

MEN-WOMEN-TEENS Do you enjoy crafts, games, acting, puppets, cooking, miscellaneous tasks, signing, or storytelling? If so, there is a place for you to serve our Lord at Vacation Bible School August 15 - 19. Some of those opportunities are: 1. Puppeteer for a feisty bird. 2. Actors for short skits, memorizing not necessary - parts for males and females. 3. Lead/assist in crafts - ideas supplied, yours are welcome. 4. Lead a variety of active games. 5. Lead the Bible event presenting the event or introducing and following up the skits varies with event. 6. Lead/assist Pre-session activities: Guessing jar, voting on scarecrows, and charting favorites. 7. Farm Hand - leading children to activities and sitting with them, taking attendance for your group. 8. Leader of adult class, 9. Leader for discovery center - a variety of quiet activities that reinforce each days lesson/verse. 10. Registration - before and during VBS. 11. Cook/server of a simple supper each evening. 12. Signing - a song and possibly a Bible event - charts supplied. To volunteer or more information see Jerrie Lynn Robinson or contact her at 313-294-3379 or rosslynn7@comcast.net

Belle Isle Park Adventure Sunday, May 1, 2016

All ages welcome ~ Invite a friend

Events for May 1:

• Worship @ 10:30am

• Immediately after worship we carpool to Belle Isle ~ MI Recreation Passport required for park entry or $9 day fee/per vehicle

• Enjoy your picnic lunch and

• Explore the island or visit: o Nature Zoo

o Great Lakes Museum

o Aquarium

o Conservatory

o Golf Range

o Hiking Trail

NOTE: Pack your own sack lunch and a beverage. Dress for the weather as it will be cooler near the water. All ages are welcome!

Looking Forward in Worship

Message and Text Apr 3 He Did What? John 20:19-31 Apr 10 If You Could Ask for Anything 1 Kings 3:1-13 Apr 17 Money – The Excellent Gift Luke 16:1-13 Apr 24 You Can’t Take It With You Matt 25:14-30

Ushers Apr 3 Carla Schneider & Paula Turbett Apr 10 Annie Smith & Al Costantino Apr 17 Donna Eberhart & Dean Lewis Apr 24 Samm Myers & David Scannell

Acolyte Apr 3 Josh Costantino Apr 10 Lilly Lawson Apr 17 Sabrina Perry Apr 24 Josh Costantino

Worship Leader Apr 3 Sandie Post Apr 10 Nancy Murdoch Apr 17 Gary Atkins Apr 24 Dean Lewis

Counters 1st Joe & Margee O’Brien & Jim Woods 2nd David Johnson & Scott Williams 3rd Carla Schneider & Jim Woods 4th Jim Woods & Sandra Lowe

Greeters 1st Fred Michaelson & Pam Post 2nd Sharon Mangan & Sally Rausch 3rd Georgia Grovesteen & Paula Turbett 4th Donna Eberhart & Anita Polzin

Communion Servers Apr 3 Served During Worship Apr 10 Dean & Kathy Lewis Apr 17 Sandie Post & Jerrie Lynn Robinson Apr 24 Jim & Jan Woods

Nursery 1st Carolyn Costantino & Lori Lawson 2nd Liz Cairo & Kathy Lewis 3rd Carolyn Costantino & Lori Lawson 4th Liz Cairo & Paula Turbett

Openers 1st Thomas Garrant 2nd Alan Costantino 3rd Bruce Coburn 4th Scott Williams

Lisa Andrews, Ali & Micah Betts, Marg Brink, Michael Cross, Devine Family,

Griffin Family, Dorothy Grovesteen, Helen Hosker, Robert & Kathy James,

Shirley Lantz, Lamp Family, Delores Lebeck, Doug & Lynn Lebeck,

Aron & Danielle Lewis & Family, Elmer Lugh, Jack & Marilyn MacTavish, Kendra Malotka,

Drew & Elizabeth McDonald, Mesick & Hood Family, Gayle Mihalik & Family,

Bill Noble, James Oliver & Family, Amber Przygocki & Family,

Samantha Myers & Family, Pigeon Family, Sally Rausch, Mercedes Ruiz & Family, Lucy

Russell, Ann Schaub, Megan Schroeder, John Schuberg & Family, Tim Shaw & Family, Marie Shearer, Sandy Stassen & Family, George & Karen Stoops, Jeremy Travis, Andrew Urban,

Annette Wajda, Larry Zimmerman

Our Home Bound (Addresses and Phone Numbers in Current Directory or Church Office)

Judy Barker, Anne Creek Helen Hickey, Mary Catherine Luoma

Robert Signoretti

Our Military & Their Families Spc. John Glasco & family Zachary Danke, US Army

Articles for the May Fold are due in the office by

April 18

April 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

March 27

Easter Breakfast 9:00 am Easter Worship 10:30 am Easter Joy Ride 12:00 pm

28

29

Run for God 6:30 am

Mindful Meditation 6:15 pm

30

Choir 7 pm 31

Run for God 6:30 am

Covenant Bible Study 5:30 pm

1

Spaghetti Dinner 5-7 pm

2

Run for God 7 am

3 God’s Love in ACTion 9:15 am

Adult Sunday Study 9:30 am Morning Worship 10:30 am

Coffee Fellowship 11:45 am

4 UM Men at Leon’s

6 pm

5 Run for God

6:30 am

Mindful Meditation 6:15 pm

6 Choir 7 pm

7

Run for God 6:30 am

Covenant Bible Study 5:30 pm

8

9

Run for God 7 am

10 God’s Love in ACTion 9:15 am

Adult Sunday Study 9:30 am Morning Worship 10:30 am

Coffee Fellowship 11:45 am Hand Bell Choir 12 pm

11

12

Run for God 6:30 am

Congregational Care Team 6 pm

Mindful Meditation 6:15 pm

13

Food Pantry Prep 1 pm

Choir 7 pm

14

Run for God 6:30 am

Covenant Bible Study 5:30 pm

15

16

Run for God 7 am

Monthly Food Pantry 9-11 am

NOAH Prep 10 am

17 God’s Love in ACTion 9:15 am

Adult Sunday Study 9:30 am Morning Worship 10:30 am

NOAH Sack Lunch Packing 12:00 pm

18

Spark 6:30 pm

19

Run for God 6:30 am

Mindful Meditation 6:15 pm

20 Choir 7 pm

21

Run for God 6:30 am

Covenant Bible Study 5:30 pm

22

23

Run for God 7 am

Prayer Shawl Ministry 9 am

24

God’s Love in ACTion 9:15 am Adult Sunday Study 9:30 am Morning Worship 10:30 am Coffee Fellowship 11:45 am

25 26

Run for God 6:30 am

Mindful Meditation 6:15 pm

27 Choir 7 pm

28 Run for God 6:30 am

Tai Chi 10 am

Covenant Bible Study 5:30 pm

29

30

Run for God 7 am

Worship for Oakwood Common residents is on Sundays at 1 PM and for Hubbard West residents on 2nd Sundays at 4:30 PM.

LookingForward

Graduation Sunday Ifyouorsomeoneyouknowwillbecelebratinganeducationalmilestonethisyearandwouldliketobehonored,lettheofficeknow!ThedateforGraduationSundayhasyettobedetermined.

The Fold GOOD SHEPHERD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 1570 Mason at Monroe, Dearborn, MI 48124 Phone: 313-278-4350 Website: www.dearborngsumc.org Dated Material – Do Not Hold