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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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God With Us in a Season of Change
Change is never just logistical. It is emotional. It touches memory, identity, and hope. And yet, Scripture reminds us again and again that God is not shaken by change. God walks with us through every transition—before it begins, while it unfolds, and long after we find our footing again.
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Our church is entering a meaningful season of transition.
Next week, we will celebrate David, our Director of Music, who is concluding 22 years of faithful ministry at the organ. For more than two decades, David’s music has carried our prayers, shaped our worship, and accompanied us through baptisms, weddings, funerals, ordinary Sundays, and holy moments we will never forget. His gift has been a steady, prayerful presence, and we give deep thanks for the ways he has helped us praise God with beauty and reverence.
Please hold David in prayer as he steps into his next chapter—and plan to join us next Sunday as we celebrate his ministry among us.
At the same time, I know that you have read the news of my appointment as of July 1, 2026. I celebrate our nine years of walking together in ministry. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve this congregation—through growth and challenge, joy and grief, questions and courage. I am grateful beyond words for the relationships we have built, the ministry we have shared, and the ways God has been at work among us. But we still have more to do.
As a church, we are now living in the in-between, a liminal time:
- Saying goodbye to beloved leaders
- Giving thanks for what has been
- Preparing to welcome new leadership
- Trusting God as we wait to learn who our next pastor will be
This is holy ground.
I invite you to pray intentionally in this season:
- Pray for David as he leaves and for the legacy of music he has given
- Pray for our worship life as we begin the process of hiring new music leadership
- Pray for our church as we prepare for pastoral transition
- Pray for the pastor God is already preparing to serve here
- Pray for patience, trust, and openness to the Spirit
Transitions also invite us not to step back—but to step in.
This is a meaningful time to serve on ministry teams, to help carry the life of the church forward, and to be part of shaping what comes next. Whether your gifts are in hospitality, worship support, care ministries, mission, administration, or behind-the-scenes help—your presence matters. Strong, faithful participation is one of the greatest gifts we can offer one another during change.
Above all, remember this promise:
God is with us.
God has been faithful in the past.
God is present now.
God will go before us into the future.
Let us walk this season together—grateful, prayerful, and hopeful—trusting that the same God who has guided us this far will continue to lead us forward as a Christ-focused, Spirit-filled, and Mission-driven church.
Love and Peace in Christ,
Rev. Mary
| | From SPRT: We plan to celebrate David Bassin on his last Sunday with us on January 25, 2026. If you have ever been a member of the choir or bell choir during his tenure, we would love to have you join us that day to help us send David off with all the love after his 21.5 years of service as the Director of Music Ministries at our church. We will have our regular Sunday morning schedule that day with services at 8:30 and 11am. | | |
BLOOD DRIVE JAN 15
The blood drive is scheduled for Thursday, January 15th from 1:00 - 6:30 in Fellowship Hall.
As an extra incentive, each donor will receive a $25 e-gift card as a thank-you. The e-gift card will be emailed after your donation.
One blood donation saves up to three lives because the donated blood is separated into its core components—red blood cells, platelets, and plasma—each used to treat different patients and conditions, like anemia (red cells), cancer treatment (platelets/plasma), or severe bleeding from trauma/surgery (whole blood/components). Since these vital parts can't be manufactured, patients rely entirely on volunteer donors for life-saving transfusions, making a single donation incredibly impactful.
APPOINTMENTS
There are 3 ways to make an appointment:
1) Call 866-MIBLOOD
2) Scan QR Code on Versiti flyer
3) Direct Link: https://donateblood.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/11625910
Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are welcome.
DONATION PROCESS
The donation process is segmented into 5 parts: registration, questionnaire, mini physical, blood collection, and refreshments.
The entire process takes less than one hour.
The blood collection itself is usually about 10 minutes.
To speed up the process you can complete the questionnaire online at: https://www.versiti.org/versipass/michigan
AGE REQUIREMENTS
A 16-year-old minor may become a blood donor, if the minor’s parent/guardian agrees - Please see Parental Consent Packet V1 attached.
After age 17, the consent of the minor’s parent/guardian is not required.
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SCOUT SUNDAY FEB 8TH
Come and support our scouts as they participate and serve during the services. If you are currently a scout or have been a scout, wear your uniform to church on Sunday.
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FAITHFUL & INCLUSIVE CLASS
Twice a month, Rev. Mary will host a study after the 11AM service to help us gain an understanding of how we can be both obedient to God’s Word and fully welcoming to LGBTQ persons in our church.
Faithful & Inclusive allows you to gain an understanding of how United Methodists can be both obedient to God’s Word and fully welcoming to LGBTQ persons in the church. This six-session resource will be meant to create a safe space to navigate through this thorny issue, relying on the biblical-interpretation approach of Methodism’s founder, John Wesley. Each video session also features the faith journeys of members of the LGBTQ community and their families.
The six 50-minute video sessions cover these subjects:
1: How United Methodists Interpret Scripture
2: Old Testament Passages
3: The Influence of Culture on How We Read the Bible
4: New Testament Passages
5: The Jesus Ethic: What Did Christ Say?
6: Where Does the South Lyon First UMC Go From Here?
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JANUARY MISSION OF THE MONTH: HOMELESSNESS IN MICHIGAN
This month’s mission of the month is “Homelessness in Michigan”. And as we
are all aware it is very cold outside, and it can be very dangerous for our health to
not find shelter and good nutrition. One of our partners, Cass Community Services, provides a continuum of housing options for those experiencing homelessness. This includes their:
Warming Center: Open to adults and children from November 15 to March 31. Unlike
other programs that are open only overnight, Cass’s Warming Center operates 24/7 and
provides three meals a day.
Family Shelter: Open year-round to families with children from newborn to eighteen
years of age. This emergency shelter operates 24/7, like the Warming Center.
Rotating Shelter: Open for adults between November and April. Local organizations,
usually churches, host Cass clients for a week of overnights at a time. The organization
provides dinner, a clean place to sleep, breakfast, and a bagged lunch.
As we continue to support Cass community services, we will be supporting a
Rotating Shelter between Saturday the 17th of January to Saturday the 24th of
January. At this point in time, we have purchased items for our hosting. But we
would like to appeal for cash donations to help pay for transportation from the
previous shelter and after our week to the next shelter location, for the homeless
people we will be serving and other incidental expenses.
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WALKING CLUB HELP
The Walking Club resumes again this winter, starting this week. The signup sheet to volunteer is on the kiosk. As a walker, you will walk the hallways of the church building from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. Some walk fast, some walk slowly – everyone is welcome. One lap around the building is between 1/10 and 2/10 of a mile. Bring walking shoes to change into to help keep the carpets clean. If you have any questions call Lindy Juergens at the church office (248) 437-0706.
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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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SIP & DIP TINY HOME FUNDRAISER
Date: Saturday, January 31st
Time: 6:00–9:00 pm
Location: Amy Randall-Ray’s Home
1001 Birchway Court, South Lyon
Cost: $35 per person
Includes all painting supplies – instructor led (beginner skill level!)
Sign Up: Click on the QR code to sign up by paying online
What to Bring: A “sip” (your favorite drink) or a “dip” (a snack to share) to add to the fun!
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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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Rooted in Faith, Called to Act
From its earliest days, The United Methodist Church has understood faith as something lived out in the world. Our long history of social advocacy is not a political add-on or a recent development—it is deeply rooted in our theology and grounded in our commitment to love God and neighbor.
This commitment is clearly expressed in two foundational documents of our denomination: The Social Creed and The Social Principles. Together, they articulate how our faith calls us to seek justice, dignity, and wholeness for all people—addressing issues such as economic inequality, racism, healthcare, peace, environmental stewardship, and human rights.
The Social Creed offers a concise statement of our shared values, while the Social Principles provide thoughtful guidance on how those values shape faithful action in today’s world. These resources remind us that advocacy, compassion, and service are essential expressions of discipleship.
If you’d like to learn more, you can explore:
As United Methodists, we are invited to stay informed, prayerful, and engaged—continuing a faithful tradition of working for justice, peace, and the common good.
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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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