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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
JOIN US FOR SCOUT SUNDAY, FEB 8th!
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Celebrating Scouting Ministries — Faith in Action!
This month, we joyfully celebrate the Girl and Boy Scouting ministries in the life of our church — and the many young people who are learning leadership, service, courage, and faith along the way.
Scouting has long been a beautiful partnership between church and community. Through programs like Girl Scouts of the USA and Boy Scouts of America, young people are encouraged to grow in character, responsibility, and compassion — values that align deeply with our Christian calling.
This Sunday, we will have several young people from various troops worshiping with us. They represent those who participate in scouting each week in our building. We will also celebrate two remarkable young men who have been faithfully working through God and Me and Jesus and Me as part of the PRAY: Building Faith in Youth program. These faith journeys invite youth to explore prayer, service, Scripture, and what it means to follow Jesus in everyday life. We are so proud of their dedication and growth — and grateful for the mentors, leaders, and families who walk alongside them.
You’re invited to participate!
We encourage everyone to help make this celebration special by:
Wearing your Scout uniform (past or present!)
Bringing photos from your Scouting days
Sharing stories of how Scouting shaped your faith or life
Whether you earned badges decades ago, supported a Scout as a parent or grandparent, or simply believe in nurturing young leaders, this is a moment for our whole congregation to give thanks.
Scouting reminds us that faith is not just something we believe — it’s something we practice: through service, kindness, courage, and community. Come celebrate these young disciples and the wider Scouting family that continues to bless our church.
We can’t wait to honor them with you!
Love and Peace in Christ, Rev. Mary
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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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WALKING GROUP LEADERS NEEDED
This Lent we will continue our faith journey by walking alongside Jesus. I am looking for 2 or 3 volunteers who are willing to facilitate weekly walking groups during Lent (February 22-April 31). There are prayers and questions for you to ponder as a group as you walk. Maybe there is a mom or dad’s group that walks before work or when the kids are at school. There might even be an afterschool group that includes a walk with the little ones. Maybe someone else will host a group that walks midday at the church. Maybe another group will gather at a local park and walk together. These are meant to be small groups of fellowship and prayer to enhance our spiritual discipline during this Lent Season. Please contact Rev. Mary ASAP if you are interested so that we can let people know when walking groups will be available.
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LADIES' GAME NIGHT FEB 13
You won’t want to miss a night of games and fellowship on Feb 13th at 6:45PM. All ages welcome! Bring a friend and your own beverage.
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BOOK CLUB WITH THE PASTOR
I have missed our book discussions. Mark your calendar for February 17th at 7 pm. Our first book of 2026 will be Cultivating Christlikeness: Loving as Jesus Loved by Paul W. Chilcote. I have had this book on my shelf for a while and I am always looking for ways to live a life that reflects Jesus' love in this world. Men, women, and people of all ages are welcome.
“Our communities and the world are crying out for empathy, authenticity, and integrity. This book helps us choose ways of living that are grace-filled and redeeming. Cultivating Christlikeness is about the bold adventure of United Methodists celebrating and living into a grand vision that includes everyone in God’s extravagant embrace. Jesus invites us to partner in the work of transformation, new birth, and resurrection in every aspect of our lives. Together we can step into a future showered by God’s multiplying love.”
Mark your calendars for future Book Club with the Pastor dates: March 24th, April 28th, and May 19th. What books would you like to read together next? I also have Freeing Jesus by Diana Butler Bass, Unraveling by Rebecca Wilson, Mere Christians, Sermon on the Mount by Any-Jill Levine, Sabbath as Resistance by Walter Brueggemann, Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown, What Makes you Come Alive by Lerita Brown, and The Color of Compromise all sitting waiting to be read, (yes, I have many books to read).
So bring your book ideas to our February discussion and we will pick the next 3 together. If you have any questions, reach out to me. Peace, Rev. Mary
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EXPLORING NEW MEMBERSHIP CLASS FEB 8
Have you been engaging in worship and ministry for a bit and are you ready to take next steps into claiming South Lyon First UMC as your church family? Then please reserve a spot for your family in this class, lunch will be provided. Rev. Mary will be sharing about this church’s history, the United Methodist Church, our church’s vision and goals, as well as details about what it means to be a member and about ways your gifts can impact our church and community. Lunch will be provided as well as a sitter if needed.
Contact Rev. Mary for any extra information needed.
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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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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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Stand Up for Justice: Join Us at the Michigan Conference Advocacy Day — March 18!
As people of faith called to love our neighbors and seek the common good, The United Methodist Church invites you to take part in Advocacy Day 2026 at the Michigan State Capitol on Wednesday, March 18. Advocacy is a powerful way we live out our Wesleyan heritage—not only serving those in need but also addressing the systems and policies that shape their lives.
At its heart, advocacy is an expression of Christian discipleship. We are called to speak truth in love and work for justice, compassion, and mercy in our communities. Advocacy Day gives us the training, tools, and fellowship to meet with state lawmakers, share our stories, and encourage policies that reflect our faith’s commitment to dignity and thriving for all people.
This year’s Advocacy Day focuses on food insecurity, a pressing issue affecting many in Michigan. Too many families struggle to put nutritious meals on the table, including children, older adults, and working households. Through education, relationship-building with legislators, and faithful witness, United Methodists will help lift up the voices of those who experience hunger and advocate for lasting solutions.
Whether you have participated in advocacy before or want to learn how your faith can shape public life, Advocacy Day is for you. Join other United Methodists from around the state for a day of prayer, conversation, witness, and worship.
Learn more, read the full article, and register here:
https://michiganumc.org/advocacy-day-to-address-food-insecurity/
Together, let’s turn our faith into action and be a voice for those who are hungry—not only for food but for justice.
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GENEROSITY UPDATE
Why do we need everyone to turn in an estimate of giving card?
We all need to pray, and reflect, on what financial gift God is calling us to give to SLFUMC to fulfill our local and global Ministries & Missions.
The Finance Team, and Church Council, use the estimate of giving cards to determine what Ministries & Missions we can financially support.
Please submit your Estimate of giving card at church or online.
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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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