Worship this Sunday at 10:00 a.m. | |
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Dear Friends,
Misplaced Anger is the title of the sermon for Sunday, July 23. It’s taken from the scripture, Luke 15:25-32, and explores the root causes of anger and how Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son deals with anger.
Our society faces rising anger these days – anger about the role of government, leadership issues, public policy, national and local priorities, and even what constitutes truth. On an individual basis, anger distracts, deters, demonizes and destroys. As a counterbalance to the distraction and destruction caused by misplaced anger, we all need to understand anger and learn how to avoid it and, if necessary, manage it. Apart from the negative impact of unresolved anger, misplaced anger has the potential of destroying vital relationships and dismantling systems.
Are you angry? Do you have to deal with anger issues in your family, at work, or in your community?
Come and let us discern together how anger raised its head in a family and brought it to the brink of disaster. Come and let us hear afresh the word of God about anger and let us find the healing power of God through Jesus Christ. On Sunday, worship begins at 10:00 a.m. in-person in the Birmingham First Sanctuary or online via our website. Sunday School and Nursery Care are available.
Last Sunday our congregation hosted First Taste; a first of its kind event focused on Africa. It spanned most of the day and took place on the front lawn. This was a time of community-wide fellowship around great African food, music, dance, storytelling, trivia, games and fun! An estimated 800 – 1,000 persons came and shared in this common humanity.
At a time of increasing anger in the nation, God is leading us to be ministers of reconciliation, ambassadors of God’s grace, and proclaimers of salvation and justice for all.
For the past month, we have been inviting a donation to sponsor African flags to support the installation of a commercial kitchen at Freedom House in Detroit. The apartment-sized kitchen at Freedom House feeds at least 60 refugees daily. You can see these African flags displayed on the front lawn of Birmingham First if you walk or drive down West Maple.
While this effort is going well, we do still have some flags remaining that are available to sponsor. Your support will give this vital mission the capacity to offer better service to our refugee sisters and brothers. If you would like to sponsor one of the African flags to support the kitchen installation at Freedom House, please contact Kristen Armstrong by emailing, kcid3@icloud.com.
I want to give a special thanks to DeAnn Forbes, Casey Proch, Kristen Armstrong, Tiffany Ericson, and Mixie Hockman, for organizing and planning this event. Thank you also to those who worked to make the day a success, including; Adrienne Trupiano-Stepaniak, Matt Alexander, Elizabeth Boayue, Mary Feldmaier, Solomon Duncan, Kate Wilcox, Mary Wilcox, Mary Jane Russell, Laura Auberry, Frank Turco, Jake Halkey, Gary Peck, Dorothy Beck, Jacob Beck, David LeBlanc and anyone who volunteered or served as a greeter throughout the day.
We will begin planning for the 2024 First Taste event later this fall and will update you along the way. If you wish to assist in the planning and implementation of First Taste for 2024, please contact DeAnn Forbes at deannforbes1@gmail.com.
With faith and commitment,
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Rev. Dr. Charles S. G. Boayue, Jr.
Senior Pastor
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Click a button below to watch worship online Sunday at 10:00 a.m. | |
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This Sunday, July 23, Josh Denzler will preach the sermon, “Unity Through Service” based on the scripture Galatians 3:26-29 and Matthew 25:35-40.
Today it seems the first thought in connecting with others is "do you believe what I believe?" - especially when it comes to our politics. However, Jesus calls us to first be one in Him. This message will discuss how answering God's call to serve the "least of these" can be a path to bridging the gaps in an intensely divided world, which might even help us solve the very problems that divide us.
Come and see what God might have in store for you Sunday, July 23 at 10:00
a.m. at Berkley First in-person or online via livestream, Facebook, YouTube, or BerkleyFirst.org.
Sunday School and Nursery Care are available.
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Watch Worship from Sunday, July 16 | |
On Sunday, July 16 we ran into a few technical difficulties with our livestream. We hope you were able to connect, but incase you were not able to watch live, the buttons below will bring you to a recording of the worship services. | |
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Altar Flowers
The Altar Flowers are dedicated to the glory of God and in loving memory of Ian Lennox from the Lennox family.
Mission Candle
The Mission Candle is dedicated to the glory of God and in loving memory of Philip C. Kornblum from his wife, Delores, daughter Marchelle, and family.
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Gratitude
“Thank you” is hardly adequate to express our deep gratitude to the Birmingham and Berkley Church family for the love and support you have shown me and my family this past 3 weeks. You have truly been the hands and feet of Jesus to us with your prayers, cards, visits and so many meals. Special thanks to Mary Wilcox and Rev. Dr. Charles Boayue for helping us to navigate the immediate grief and plan to celebrate Jerry’s life in a beautiful and meaningful way. With much love and gratitude – Jill Brouhard and family.
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Sympathies
Our Prayers of Sympathy and Support are shared with Mike and Deb Roy and family on the death of Mike's mother, Cora Roy on July 10. The visitation will be on July 27, from 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Jowett Funeral Home, 57737 Gratiot Ave, New Haven, MI 48048. Following visitation, a memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m.
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We are happy to welcome the following new members who were received into our church family. We hope that they will form warm friendships and find their place in the work of Birmingham and Berkley First. | |
- Rob Brown
- Grogan, Patrick, Anne, Eleanor, Victoria and Ceridwen Schmitt
- Joan Topping
- Ed, Laura, Emma, Maddie, and Abigail Urbano
- David and Gayle Wint
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Voice of Hope is a weekly devotional available to you by phone 24 hours a day. Starting on July 23 and lasting for a week, the Voice of Hope message will be recorded by Greg LaBrake titled, Of Fireworks and Freedom. To listen, call 248-646-6407 and press 2 when your call is answered by our automated system. | |
First Taste: Africa featured on WDET | |
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Rev. Charles was interviewed by WDET Culture Shift about the First Taste: Africa event! Click the button below to listen to the interview.
“Festival organizer Rev. Dr. Charles Boayue, Jr., Senior Pastor of Birmingham First, and Nadia Nijimbere Mamba, owner of Baobab Fare, joined CultureShift to discuss what it’s like serving African food in Metro Detroit and what they hope to accomplish with this event.”
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Hunger Ministry will be hosting a Home Produce Table every Sunday through Sunday, September 24. Visit their table in Fellowship Hall. Bring any extra items from your garden and drop them off at the Home Produce Table before worship then purchase items brought by others after service to benefit the Hunger Ministry.
We need volunteers! Click the button below to sign up or contact Bob Feldmaier, bob.feldmaier@yahoo.com.
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Next Chapter of the CLC - Update | |
The Christian Life Center (CLC) is undergoing renovation to prepare for the next chapter! The original flooring has been removed and new flooring will be installed in August. Thank you to those who gave of their time to remove the existing floor. | |
Volunteer Record & Registration Update | |
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Birmingham & Berkley First has a new policy for working with children, youth and vulnerable persons. This new policy asks for volunteers to complete an application, background check release, and provide the names and email addresses of two references who will be asked to fill out a form recommending you as a volunteer. Because most of our ministries involve children, youth or vulnerable persons in some way, all volunteers are being asked to complete this process as soon as possible to bring us into compliance with the new policy. Once the application process has been completed, only the background check release will need to be repeated every three years.
If you volunteer in any capacity with Birmingham & Berkley First please complete the online volunteer application by clicking the button below. Thank you for supporting the safety of the children, youth, and vulnerable adults of our church by participating in this process. For questions, please contact Rev. Susie Hierholzer, Pastor of Discipleship, by email shierholzer@fumcbirmingham.org or by phone 248-646-1200 ext. 3162.
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This summer, Laura Auberry, Duke Seminary Intern, leads a class about John Wesley and the foundational ideas behind Methodism as well as it’s history. She will lead you through the scripture that was important to Wesley, and review some of his most impactful sermons.
The class meets Mondays, July 24 & 31 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Wright Parlor at Birmingham First. If you have any questions, please contact Laura at lauberry@fumbirmingham.org.
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Summer Serve for Students - The Noah Project
Come join the fun, earn volunteer hours, and close out the summer "doing good!"
Sunday, August 13 - Meet at church (evening time) in the big kitchen to assemble 300 lunches for the NOAH Project. We'll end with ice cream sundaes and trivia!
Saturday, August 14 - Meet at church (morning time) to load up the church van and head to the NOAH Project in Detroit to serve 300 lunches to our Detroit neighbors. We will end with lunch and a tour of Central UMC!
Click the button below to register. For questions, or for more information, contact Amy Holton, aholton@fumcbirmingham.org or Sarah Alexander salexander@fumcbirmingham.org.
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You’re invited to Berkley First on Wednesday, July 26 at 7:00 p.m. for live outdoor music, snacks and s’mores. Bring a lawn chair, or a blanket to sit on.
The fun takes place at 2820 12 Mile Road, Berkley. For questions, contact Berkley Campus Director of Worship, Brian White by email at bwhite@berkleyfirst.org.
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Multicultural Family Center Art Supplies Drive | |
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The Church & Society Ministry is sponsoring an all-church Art Supplies Drive as part of our ongoing support of the Pontiac-based nonprofit Multicultural Family Center (the Center) which provides family focused support services and basic life essentials to families in need (food; clothing; shelter assistance). The Center also offers neighborhood children programs and camp experiences that open up the wonderful world of artistic expression to each child. In support of this children’s art-centered enrichment activity and faced with a very limited budget, the Multicultural Family Center has provided us with a wish list of items needed. Our goal is to provide the Center with 100 items from their wish list.
An Amazon wish list has been created with the items and quantities of the
supplies the Center desires. Click the button below to go directly to the wish list. The items will be delivered directly to the Center. For questions, contact Frank Driscoll by emailing fcdriscoll@yahoo.com.
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Welcome Desk Administrative Assistant (part-time): Birmingham First seeks a part-time (8 -12 hours per week) Administrative Assistant for the Welcome Desk. Excellent hospitality skills are needed to interact with members, guests, and staff. Candidates should demonstrate exceptional written and verbal skills, along with the ability to learn new software and online programs. Experience in MS Office Word and Excel preferred. Complete job description and application are available by scanning the QR code. To send an application with resume, email to Mary Feldmaier at mfeldmaier@fumcbirmingham.org.
Childcare Worker (part-time): Birmingham First is hiring a Childcare Worker to assist in providing a developmentally appropriate, play-based, Christian environment for children. The Childcare Worker is responsible for the well-being of the children under their care. For more information, click the button below or contact Kim Bowyer, Director of Children and Family Ministries, kbowyer@fumcbirmingham.org, 248-646-1200 ext. 3134.
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