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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
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Good afternoon friends,
As we begin Lent, I pray that you are finding meaningful ways to deepen your faith walk with Jesus. I am not talking about giving up chocolate, I am thinking more about our spiritual disciplines. The things we do on a regular basis to keep us connected to God.
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One way that some do this is through weekly devotion time studying scripture and praying. Maybe some of you already have a way that you are practicing this type of spiritual discipline. Since we are talking about Walking with Jesus on the Road leading up to Easter, I thought it might be fun to add a deeper layer to a walking group that you are already part of, or to create new small groups, and/or to find ways for people to “walk” with Jesus while sitting in a chair.
Lenten Walking Groups is meant to invite participants to experience Lent with their bodies, breath, and attention, mirroring Jesus’ own road-centered ministry. These groups are not Bible studies and not therapy groups—they are sacred companionship.
Group Basics:
- Ideal group size: 4–10 people
- Duration: 30–40 minutes
- Frequency: Weekly during Lent
- Location: Neighborhood sidewalks, church campus, indoor hallways, gym, or chairs-in-a-circle
Each Week there is a suggested pattern, scripture, one question, prayer, and blessing.
1. Gathering (5 minutes)
- Welcoming everyone
- Read the week’s scripture aloud once slowly, then say, “As we walk, we trust Christ to meet us on the road.”
2. Walking in Silence (5 minutes)
- “For the first few minutes, we’ll walk in silence— noticing our breath, our bodies, and God’s presence.”
- (No pressure. Silence is always invitational, it may not work with your group.)
3. Walking Together (15–20 minutes)
- Walk (or sit) as a group or in pairs or trios
- The groups would be places of encouraging natural conversation
- If energy feels low, pause and breathe together
4. Reflection Question (10 minutes)
- Gather in a circle (standing or seated).
- Ask one question.
5. Blessing (2 minutes)
- Use the same blessing each week to anchor the journey as you end your time together:
Christ walks before you,
Christ walks beside you,
Christ walks within you.
Go in peace.
Here are the weekly themes and questions for those interested.
Lent 1 Scripture: Matthew 4:12–17
Question: Where do you see light showing up in ordinary or difficult places?
Lent 2 – Grounded in Prayer
Scripture: Matthew 6:5–15
Question: What does honest prayer look like for you right now?
Lent 3 – Traveling Unattached
Scripture: Luke 9:1–6
Question: What feels heavy to carry these days?
Lent 4 – A New Allegiance
Scripture: Mark 8:34–37
Question: What competes for your deepest loyalty?
Lent 5 – Decentering the Self
Scripture: Mark 9:35–37
Question: Who might Jesus be asking you to notice more closely?
Holy Week Walk
Theme: Staying with Jesus
Format: 5 short stops, 1 verse each from the Passion
Closing: Silent walk back
I pray that this Lenten devotion will enhance your spiritual walk with Jesus. Please ask questions or send me photos of your group “walking together”
Walking with you all, Rev. Mary
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LEGO MY EGGO MAR 13
Join us at 5:30 PM on Mar 13th in the fellowship hall and enjoy a waffle bar, Lego gallery on display, and Lego challenges. $5/person, or $20/family.
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GCCM ADULT MISSION TRIP MEETING
On Mar 15 at noon in the Friendship Room, there will be an informational meeting to discuss the details for the adult summer mission trip to GCCM.
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JOIN REV. MARY FOR ADVOCACY DAY
Registration is now open for Advocacy Day on March 18. Get a preview of this year’s focus and hear a testimony about how this annual event has shaped one person’s faith.
In a Christian Century article from 1960, Dr. King wrote, “The gospel at its best deals with the whole man [sic], not only his soul but his body, not only his spiritual well-being, but his material well-being. Any religion that professes to be concerned about the souls of men and is not concerned about the slums that damn them, the economic conditions that strangle them, and the social conditions that cripple them is a spiritually moribund religion awaiting burial.”
Michigan United Methodists, through the Michigan Conference’s Advocacy Day event, take this challenge to heart each year. They meet with lawmakers in Lansing to advance legislative changes that address social systems and structures that keep Michiganders from living into their full humanity. It’s about going beyond a bandage to reach the root of the problem.
Registration is now open for this year’s Advocacy Day, to be held on Wednesday, March 18. Central UMC in Lansing, across the street from the State Capitol, will once again host the event. A lunch and learn will be offered publicly on Wednesday, February 11, to provide more details about this year’s event, as will future articles in MIconnect.
This year’s topic is food insecurity, which touches every single person in our state. You may not have ever experienced it personally, but you know someone who hasn’t always had sufficient nutritious food or has lived under the stress of providing enough food for their loved ones. They’re our neighbors, coworkers, friends at church, and family members.
Statistics show that many Michiganders face this painful reality. Food insecurity has increased in our state from 14.2% to 15.4%. As grocery prices have risen, wages have not kept pace, leading to increased hunger. This has affected vulnerable populations, including children and older adults. According to a 2023 study, over 131,000 Michiganders age 60 and older (roughly 5.3%) live with some form of food insecurity, or a lack of regular access to nutritious meals.
Our community partner this year is the Food Bank Council of Michigan (FBCM). FBCM connects and supports seven regional food banks, all of which are part of the national Feeding America network. The council will be providing support and background material on the impact of food insecurity in our state in the coming weeks.
Another goal of Advocacy Day, along with enlivening faith, is to help Michigan United Methodists and friends increase their capacity for building relationships with their lawmakers and grow their confidence in telling stories of impact and asking for change. And Advocacy Day has turned into an annual event that draws people back.
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UMC ZONE MISSION PROJECT
This year several local United Methodist Churches are getting together for a hands on Mission Project: “The Blessing Bag Project” on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at First UMC, 1230 Bower St., Howell, MI. All our youth are invited as well as church members to help complete this project. Please let Rev. Mary know if you would like to carpool for this event.
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KOH SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIP
Applications are now being accepted!
Apply by March 31. For information about the program & application criteria, please check the church website.
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FROM THE STAFF-PARISH RELATIONS TEAM
We currently have job openings for the positions listed below. If you or someone you know is interested in obtaining further information, please use the SPRT email: staffparish@southlyonfirstumc.org. We appreciate your assistance in helping spread awareness of these wonderful opportunities to be a part of our church staff!
MUSIC MINISTRIES LEADER (part-time, 15 hrs/week)
Position responsibilities include coordinating and preparing worship music for services and events, being the principal worship leader and accompanist, leading, coordinating, and recruiting volunteer musicians, working in partnership with the Band Leader, and communicating regularly with church staff.
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR (part-time, 16-20 hrs/week)
Position responsibilities include being the public face of the church office during Monday and Wednesday 10a-3p office hours, maintaining membership records, coordinating building use, maintaining the church calendar, supporting staff and members, and performing general office duties.
YOUTH COORDINATOR (part-time, 8-10 hrs/week)
Position responsibilities include cultivating faith formation of the congregation's youth, collaboratively working to develop a Youth Group Plan, recruiting, training, and coordinating volunteers, and attending Youth Ministries events and other church events and meetings as requested.
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NEW CHURCH & SOCIETY BOOK STUDY
We are beginning a new study for the remainder of this school year. We will read and discuss the book Looking for God in Messy Places by Bishop Jake Owensby. Our next meeting is Sunday, February 22, and you can join for the discussions whether or not you read the book! If you have questions or want to order a book, email Keli DeVries at kelzebra@gmail.com.
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SLFUMC PRIORITIES FROM FEB 1 ALL CHURCH MEETING
The following summary shows the top 5 priorities from the feedback we received from the attendees at February 1st all church meeting.
Rank Priority Topic
1 Local Community Outreach
2 Youth Programs
3 Missions & Church & Society/Advocacy (tied)
4 Music Ministry & Facility & Grounds (tied)
Church Council reviewed the feedback and has started to take actions to allocate our resources (finance & volunteer) to live into these priorities.
We look forward to seeing how God leads SLFUMC in this time of change.
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MUSIC MINISTRY NEEDS
Calling all people with musical interest! We would love to have you join our Bell Choir and/or Chancel Choir. We are in particular need for singers now through Easter Sunday. Feel free to try out either group for a period of time to see if it’s a good fit for you. We always enjoy having new members join us.
Choir practice for singers is held on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 and lasts approximately 1 hour. On occasion practice may be cancelled, so you are welcome to call and check regarding dates. Contact: Jen Liskey
Bell choir also practices on Wednesday evenings, starting at 6:30. If you are interested it would be best to call and discuss the schedule, as we choose our music based on the number of ringers available for a particular Sunday. Contact: Vera Burns
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EASTER FLOWERS ORDERS
To give visual praise to our Risen Lord on Easter Sunday, we are offering the opportunity to order a beautiful pot of daffodils or tulips! You can keep the flowers or donate for the SLFUMC Care Team to give away to home-bound friends. If you wish to order flowers in honor or in memory of a loved one, please include that information.
Order deadline is March 22nd. Please use the online order form to place and pay for your order, or pick up an order form at the church and make checks payable to FUMC (note "Easter Flowers" in the memo section).
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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. 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 10am-3pm
- Wed 10am-3pm
- Tues, Thurs, & 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 door #4 at the church and on the kiosk.
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