Worship this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. | |
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Friends,
This Sunday, September 24, we will focus on the Gospel according to John 3:9-17. The sermon is titled, Rebirth. As we revisit the life of Nicodemus, we see how the Christian life of faith begins with rebirth and how Jesus reminds Nicodemus of that reality. Rebirth is a necessity for all those who follow Jesus Christ. Until a person is born again he or she is not able to follow Jesus faithfully. Faithful discipleship entails trust in God, willingness to bear the cost of discipleship, and a commitment to seek God’s will.
These expectations are difficult to meet unless one is born again. Baptism is an outward sign of an inner spiritual grace. It is rebirth. It represents God’s gracious work within persons to bring them to spiritual maturity. We will reflect on Jesus’ reminder to those who would follow Him that they must be born again. What does it mean to be born again? How does rebirth help us to follow Jesus Christ today? It is Choir Dedication Sunday, hear from our Children, Youth and Adult Choirs.
I look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday,
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The Rev. Dr. Charles S. G. Boayue, Jr.
Senior Pastor
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Sunday School and Nursery Care are available at 9:30 a.m.
Nursery Care is available at 11:00 a.m.
Click a button below to watch worship online Sunday at 9:30 a.m.
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Altar Flowers
The Altar Flowers are dedicated to the glory of God and in loving memory of Rebecca Young by Merrill Haviland.
The Altar Flowers are available on the following Sundays; October 1 & 8. For more information, or to sponsor one of these dates, please contact Kim Fitzgerald, [email protected], or call 248-646-1200.
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Congratulations
Our prayers of joy and celebration are shared with Madeline McCoy and Brian Kurilko, married here on Saturday, September 16.
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Sympathies
Our prayers of sympathy and support are shared with Martha and Norm Ehlers and family on the death of Martha's sister, Mary Bliss Dadant on September 15. Funeral mass will be held on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at St. Frances Catholic Church in Quincy, IL.
Our prayers of sympathy and support are shared with Shawn and Scott Ciemniecki and family on the death of Shawn's father, Joe Stubbs on September 19, in Georgia. Services will be announced at a later date.
Our prayers of sympathy and support are shared with Joe and Jennifer Cupelli and family on the death of Joe's uncle, Bob Eberhardt, September 18. Services will be held Friday, September 22 at 11:00 a.m. at Lynch and Sons Funeral Home in Clawson.
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While God does not promise to give his children exactly what they want, God does promise to supply all of our needs. This Sunday at Berkley First, Pastor Zack Dunlap will help us to explore the difference between needs and wants and consider what it means to ask for the things that God longs to give.
We also will have an opportunity to hear an update from Pastor Walker Sommerville, who is in Michigan visiting from Honduras. Plan to join us for dinner later in the week, on Wednesday, September 27, at 6:00 p.m. to hear more about this ongoing partnership.
Worship on Sunday, September 24 at 10:00 a.m. at Berkley First in-person or online via livestream, Facebook, YouTube, or BerkleyFirst.org.
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Watch Worship from Sunday, September 17 | |
Watch a recording of worship from last Sunday by clicking one of the buttons below. | |
100 Reasons - Choir Dedication Sunday | |
 |  | This Sunday is Choir Dedication Sunday and all of our singing choirs will be participating in our worship services. Our singers make up an incredible community of friendship, music, and faith that creates beautiful music for worship every week. We each have a slightly different reason for being a choir member. As you come into church on Sunday you’ll see a sample of 100 of those reasons why our singers participate in our choral community. We also know there are many other people that would find a “reason” to join our choral community. Maybe one of those people is you, or maybe, you know of someone outside of our church that would find meaning in singing in our choir. If so, we invite you, or encourage you to invite someone you know, to try singing with us this Christmas season. Rehearsals for our Christmas music begin the first week of October and we would love to have you join us. So, this Sunday, when we are dedicating the choirs, know that we’re also dedicating all those members yet to join…one of which might be you! In between worship services, we’ll continue the celebration on the front lawn with bounce houses and some sweet treats. We would love for you to come out!
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Sunday School Change for This Sunday | |
This Sunday, September 24 will be a little different due to our Children's Choirs performing. All children and youth in a choir should be dropped off in their regular rehearsal spaces at 9:00 a.m. For children's Sunday school non-singers, drop-off will be between 9:15 a.m. to 9:35 a.m. in the balcony on the second floor above the Sanctuary and the youth will be in the PIT. Teachers will have reserved pews and will have signs for each group. Weather permitting, we will go out on the front lawn for bounce house fun and donuts. You can pick your child up on the front lawn after worship concludes. Nursery Care remains the same as usual for both worship services. | |
Volunteers Needed - Produce Table | |
This is the last week for the Hunger Ministry Home Produce Table. Visit their table in Fellowship Hall. Bring any extra items from your garden and drop them off at the table before worship then purchase items brought by others after the 9:30 a.m. service. All proceeds benefit the Hunger Ministry. We need volunteers for this Sunday, September 24. To sign up, click the button below. | |
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It’s CROP Walk Sunday. Our walkers will begin at 1:00 p.m. with a meet-up on the Plaza. Please consider joining them, praying for them, or seeing them off. You can also meet up after the walk to applaud their journey! The walk will end across Pleasant Street at First Presbyterian for an ice cream social. For more information, contact John King at [email protected].
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Sunday Family Dinner this week features a full dinner by Chef Greg Ervin. Donations will be accepted as you are able. Join us in Fellowship Hall at 6:00 p.m. Sunday, September 24. All are invited to attend.
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Sharing Your Faith Journey | |
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Sharing your personal faith journey story is a great way to help others experience the love of God through your faith. While it is not always easy to share your story, it is a worthwhile endeavor as we all experience God through different ways.
Share your story with us! Answer the question below in a video, then upload the video to us.
What do you love most about Birmingham First?
1. Record a video of your personal 1-minute story with your cell phone
2. Upload your video by clicking the link below, or text the video to 734-318-9850
For questions, contact Adrienne Trupiano, [email protected].
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Greeters are needed for the 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. worship services.
You can help make worship a powerful, welcoming experience for others! We have many opportunities for people to serve as greeters. Create your own schedule by selecting the days that work best for you. And if you know someone who might like to share some time volunteering with you, send them this information and invite them! Volunteering is a great way to get to know people in your church family! Questions? Contact Mary Feldmaier, Director of Membership and Connecting Ministries, [email protected]. Click the button below to sign up.
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Middle & High School Parents
If you would like to begin receiving weekly emails regarding Sunday School and Youth Group, please sign up by clicking the button below.
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For information about the Middle School Lock-in, to register to attend, or volunteer as a chaperone, click the button below. | |
High School students are invited to attend a trip to Three Cedars Farm in Northville. Click the button below to register to attend, or to volunteer as a chaperone. | |
Children and Family Ministry | |
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Children in grades 3, 4 & 5 are needed to volunteer monthly with the Acolyte Ministry. Acolytes help with the worship service by lighting the altar and mission candles at the beginning of 9:30 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. worship services.
For more information click the button below or contact Kim Bowyer, [email protected], 248-646-1200 ext. 3134.
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We are so pleased to invite kindergarten and 3rd graders to a special rite of passage at Birmingham First. We will present each kindergarten child The Jesus Storybook Bible and each 3rd grader will receive their very own Adventure Bible. For more information or to RSVP click the button below.
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Children and Family Ministries and Student Ministries will be collecting pop cans. All funds will benefit Living Hope School’s birthday party fund and their Ashawadi Educational Partnership. This non-profit organization supports the educational needs of underprivileged children and youth in Bangalore, India. For more information click the button below.
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Special Traffic Notice from our First Kids Preschool
For the safety of our First Kids, the East side entrance off of West Maple will be closed during morning drop-off between 8:45a.m.-9:30 a.m. during the week (M-F) for Preschool. This entrance will continue to be closed until May 2024 during these days/times. Everyone should enter the church off of Pleasant street.
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The Impact of Legacy Gifts | |
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The choices we make now have an impact well beyond our imagination. The question is not whether we will leave a legacy. Rather the question is what we would hope to leave as our legacy.
Wealth is not a prerequisite for making a legacy gift to Birmingham First. Anyone with a will, estate plan, bank account, retirement account or life insurance, regardless of the amount of assets, can make a legacy gift to Birmingham First. Such gifts pass on to future generations the faith heritage we have received from those who have gone before us. For more information, contact Rev. Shawn Lewis-Lakin, Associate Pastor for Planned Giving, at [email protected] or 734-717-8947. You can also visit our Planned Giving website by clicking the button below.
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Join Rev. Dr. Charles Boayue, Jr., Birmingham and Berkley Clergy, and Mary Feldmaier, Director of Membership and Connecting Ministries for Discover First. This is a one session class that will provide you with the knowledge, resources and relationships needed to take your next steps at Birmingham and Berkley First, and in the United Methodist Church. The session ends with an opportunity to officially become a member. Upcoming Discover First sessions will be: Sunday, October 15 at 2:30 p.m. at Birmingham First in Thomas Parlor and Wednesday, October 18 at 6:00 p.m. at Berkley First in the Social Hall.
We would love to be your church family! There is a place for you at Birmingham and Berkley First! Contact Mary Feldmaier, [email protected] with your reservation to attend one of these sessions.
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Join us for a Honduran Buffet on Tuesday, September 26 at 7:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. There will be a silent auction to help support building a well for LaCorozza. Our special guest is Walker Somerville, The Camino Founder. For question contact Carolyn Kidney, [email protected].
RSVP by clicking the button below.
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Fall Rummage Sale - Donate | |
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You can help to make this year’s Rummage Sale a success by donating gently used items. Start cleaning out your closets, and mark your calendar for our easy drive-thru curbside drop-off days: Sunday, October 8 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Monday, October 9 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. For more information on items we do not take for donations or for packing tips, click the button below.
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The NOAH Project in Detroit is hosting it’s annual Sock-it-to-Me September Sock Drive collecting packages of new socks and underwear (men's boxer briefs) to share with their clients throughout the upcoming winter months. Help them reach their goal by placing packages of socks and underwear in the labeled bins at the Main Entrance, and in the CLC lobby area. Thank you in advance for your generous and valued donations! For questions, contact Merry Beth Valiquett at [email protected]. | |
The Haiti Task Force is looking for adult disposable diapers (sizes small and medium only), twin set bed sheets, blood pressure monitors and reading glasses. Please donate by placing items in the Missions room on the second floor. Be sure items are clearly marked “For Haiti.” For questions, contact Nancy Smith at [email protected]. | |
Pickleball Coming in October to the CLC | |
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Thanks to the Trustees and our new beautiful CLC floor, we will begin offering introduction classes, drop-in days, and evening court times for Pickleball! Reservations will open soon! Click the button below for more information.
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Save the date of Saturday, October 14 to help with unloading the pumpkin truck. Details and SignUpGenius to follow. Sales begin Sunday, October 15. Questions? Contact Bob Feldmaier, [email protected].
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Birmingham First seeks a part-time Childcare Worker Flexible schedules are available.
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. Work anywhere between 3 to 18 hours per week. For more information, click the button below or contact Kim Bowyer, Director of Children and Family Ministries, [email protected], 248-646-1200 ext. 3134.
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