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Worship in the sanctuary at 8:30 & 11AM
Sunday School Hour for all ages at 9:45AM
Livestream Worship at 11AM on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3k7Z3Eu
NO SUNDAY SCHOOL THIS SUNDAY. PLEASE JOIN US FOR EASTER WORSHIP!
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HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
JOIN US THIS HOLY WEEK
APR 17 HOLY THURSDAY WORSHIP & AGAPE MEAL at 6PM
APR 18 GOOD FRIDAY WORSHIP at NOON
APR 20 EASTER WORSHIP at 8:30 & 11AM
ENJOY THIS HOLY WEEK MESSAGE FROM BISHOP BARD:
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Dear Friends in Christ-
Greetings in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the peace and power of the Holy Spirit as we enter the most significant week in the Christian year, Holy Week.
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Considering this week's events sends one on a roller coaster of human emotion and on a deep dive into human experience. There is joy and jubilation as the week begins. Jesus enters Jerusalem with great fanfare. There are moments of edgy confrontation during the week. There are conversations containing deep wisdom; the greatest commandment is to love God and love your neighbor. There are moments of intimacy; the washing of feet. There is shared food. One finds failure, betrayal, violence, injustice, and death in the week. It is a good week to understand something about emotional granularity. So much human emotion and experience are encapsulated in this week we call "Holy Week."
So what makes it holy? What makes anything holy? God. Frederick Buechner writes that to say something is holy is "to say it has something of God's mark on it" (Wishful Thinking). To call this week holy is to see that God is present, and the heart of God's presence, as the teaching of Jesus during Holy Week asserts, is love.
God is present in this week of jubilation and joy, conflict and wisdom, intimacy and sharing, failure and betrayal, violence and injustice, and death. Holy Week is holy because it reminds us that God does not abandon us in our failings, betrayals, and injustices. Rather, God finds ways to speak wisdom, to create intimacy and community, to inspire love.
And it is at the end of this week that we proclaim God is most wonderfully and powerfully present. At the end of this week is Easter, the resurrection. Not only does God refuse to abandon us in our failings, injustices, and betrayals, but God is able to bring forth new life. Injustice, failure, and death are all overcome through resurrection. God raised Jesus from the dead, this Jesus who spoke wisdom, touched others with healing, stood against injustice, formed a beloved community, and lived love. Holy Week is especially holy because, in it, the power of God's love is seen as the power to overcome and the power to bring new life.
We mark Holy Week this year in a world of deep uncertainty and even deeper divisions. War rages on in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan. Violence frequently mars human encounters. This remains a world where too many go hungry, a world of enormous disparities, and a world where watching the news can be an exercise in pain management. Many of us feel the creep of death, of discouragement, of weariness in our souls. And we know moments of joy, beauty, love, intimacy, community, and tenderness.
This Holy Week, take time to hear its story again. Wave the branches. Take the bread. Drink the wine. Let water wash away the weary places in you. Listen to the cries of Good Friday. Weep the tears. Feel the stone roll over the grave. Most of all, let your soul sing, "Christ the Lord is risen today!" Know resurrection. Know it deeply. Then, like those present to the risen Christ on that first Easter, witness to the resurrection, tell the story and live resurrection.
Live as if joy outlasts tears. Live as if justice overcomes. Live as if beauty always returns. Live as if beloved community is always possible. Live as if tenderness is our greatest strength. Live as if love is the most powerful thing there is.
Friends, we don't simply live "as if." We trust that it is so because God continues to make things holy in love, and God's way is the way of resurrection.
Blessed Holy Week and Easter,
David Alan Bard
Michigan Area Bishop
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INVITATION TO JOIN THE CRAFTING GROUP
Waiting for the REAL Spring to arrive? We have a way to keep your hands and brain occupied while having good conversation with other crafters. If you are a "crafty" person---sew, knit, crochet, paint, scrapbook, embroider, hook rugs, do Swedish weaving, or any other portable craft or hobby, join our informal group any Thursday in the Friendship Room at South Lyon First United Methodist Church. Come at a time that works for you. We meet from 2pm to 4pm.
Bring a friend. It's warm and friendly.
For more information, please contact Debby Devereaux
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MINISTRY SHARES UPDATE: LOVE IN ACTION
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself” – Matthew 19:19b
Ministry Shares are how we, as United Methodists, join together with churches across the globe to do something far greater than we could accomplish on our own. Whether it’s providing disaster relief, supporting mission work, equipping new church leaders, or caring for the most vulnerable, Ministry Shares make a powerful difference in countless lives.
For 2025, South Lyon First United Methodist Church has been asked to contribute $42,071 toward our shared United Methodist connection. Our church council has set a goal to cover 35% of this amount—$14,725—through our operating budget.
We are grateful to report that, through March, 8.75% of our total Ministry Shares responsibility ($3,681) has already been paid from the operating budget. Thanks to additional support from special offerings and fundraisers, we’ve reached a total of 17.11%—$7,418—of our 2025 responsibility.
That leaves $34,653 still to go.
We are off to a strong start in the first quarter of the year, but we know it will take all of us working together to reach 100% of our Ministry Shares goal. Your generosity makes it possible for our church to be part of life-giving ministry far beyond the walls of our building.
As you have experienced the abundance of God’s love through Jesus Christ, may you be moved to share from your heart so that others may know that same love—in tangible, transformative ways. Let us give, that ministry might flourish in the name of our Risen Lord.
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YOUTH MISSION TRIP
The youth are going to Cass Community Social Services this summer for a mission trip. Current 8th graders through current 12th graders and interested chaperones are encouraged to sign up by May 3. If you have any questions, please reach out to Tina Sain.
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GRADUATION SUNDAY
We are excited for our celebrate our 2025 graduates! During both worship services and coffee hour on Sunday, May 18 we will be recognizing graduates. If you or your child is graduating from high school, college, graduate school or from a certificate program, please send your name, school from which you are graduating,
and details of your future plans to Katy by May 5.
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GCCM MISSION TRIP GOLF OUTING
Register TODAY for our 7th Annual Golf Outing on June 9th to benefit the South Lyon First United Methodist Church's mission trip to God's Country.
Click the link below or use the QR code to register.
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SPRING CLEAN UP MAY 17
Please come and help spruce up our church grounds on May 17 from 9AM until noon. Please sign up using the link below.
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APRIL MISSION OF THE MONTH
This April, South Lyon First United Methodist Church is focusing on Community Generosity as our Mission of the Month. We believe that a strong community is built on mutual support and care, and we want to invite you to join us in making a difference. Your donations to Community Generosity will directly impact the lives of individuals and families right here in South Lyon. Imagine the impact of providing supplies for neighborhood cleanup, donating warm clothing to those in need, and stocking the shelves of our local food banks.
Please prayerfully consider how you can contribute to this vital mission and help us strengthen the bonds of compassion within our community.
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CHURCH AND SOCIETY CORNER
Advocacy: A Core Value of South Lyon First United Methodist Church
At South Lyon First United Methodist Church, we believe that living out our faith means not only caring for those in our community, but also speaking up and taking action to create a more just and compassionate world. Advocacy is one of the ways we put our love into action.
Rooted in the teachings of Jesus and the United Methodist Social Principles, our commitment to advocacy calls us to stand with the vulnerable, challenge injustice, and seek policies that reflect the values of equity, dignity, and inclusion for all people. Whether it’s advocating for affordable housing, healthcare, education, or voting rights, we strive to be a voice for the voiceless and to bring hope where it is most needed.
This week, we invite you to learn more about an urgent issue affecting the sacred right to vote. The General Board of Church and Society is urging opposition to the proposed SAVE Act (H.R. 22), which could make it harder for eligible voters—especially those from marginalized communities—to register and cast their ballots.
Please take a moment to read the full update and consider how you can respond in faith:
Protect the Sacred Right to Vote – Take Action
Together, through prayer, compassion, and faithful action, we can help build a world that better reflects God’s justice and love.
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WE ARE HIRING
Lindy Juergens, our Administrator for Generosity, is transitioning into retirement. Luckily she is not leaving our pews and she is planning on helping our next Administrator for Generosity learn their job. We appreciate all that Lindy has given as part of our staff. Please be in prayer for this exciting next step for her and for our SPRT to find the right replacement.
SLFUMC seeks an Administrator For Generosity, part-time (6-10 hrs/week), to manage contributions and donations and maintain records of giving. Being a good communicator in person and in writing, as well as prioritizing confidentiality, are important attributes to possess. Position responsibilities include processing all methods of giving, entering all contribution information into the church database, preparing giving and other related reports, and assisting church office staff and providing office coverage as needed. Proficiency with Excel and PowerPoint (or similar software) is expected. Resumes should be sent to staffparishslfumc@att.net. For additional information contact Cathy Altenberger.
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Giving Options
· Use WebGive at our website by clicking here or by using the our QR code :
· Use our giving app on your phone, VancoMobile
· Dropoff a check in our drop -box at door #4 at the church
· Mail a check to SLFUMC, 640 S. Lafayette, South Lyon, MI 48178
· Explore other options on the Giving page of our website by clicking here here
Please be aware that we will never ask for your financial, account, or payment information by email. If there is a question, you will be contacted by phone or in person by a staff member.
Staff members will never ask for gift cards or financial help by email.
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BUILDING USE REQUEST
Yes! The church has space available for your group or event! Spaces fill up quickly and there is an approval process, so please allow as much time as possible between your request and the date of your meeting or event to ensure that we can
accommodate your needs.
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Office Hours
- Mon, Tues, Thurs 10am - 1pm
- Wed 10am - 3pm
- Fri closed
Check out our website or our live calendar
for more information about our church or any of these programs!
Do you prefer a printed copy of our Midweek Messenger? Hard copies are available in the tote outside the main doors to the church and on the kiosk.
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