The Metropolitan Messenger | | |
Metropolitan United Methodist Church
8000 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48202-2528
313-875-7407
Rev. Taek Kim, Senior Pastor
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Sunday, July 5, 2026
Holy Communion Sunday
Sunday School for All Ages, 10 a.m., nursery available
Worship at 11 a.m.
CLM Sherman Louis preaching "The Sin Within", Liturgist, Children's & Youth Message & Offertory: Thomas Gilchrist, Sammye VanDiver, Juli Stephens
Tuesday, July 7, 2026
Good Sam Pantry preparation, volunteers come at 11 a.m.
NA Meeting - Noon, Kresge
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Good Sam Food Pantry this week, volunteers come at 11 a.m. Food given noon - 2 p.m.
Book Club, 1:30 p.m., church library
Men's Prayer Group and Women's Prayer Circle, 6 p.m., see Pastor Sherman for info.
Sunday, July 12, 2026
Sunday School for All Ages, 10 a.m., nursery available
Worship at 11 a.m.
Rev. Taek Kim preaching "Tending to Our Soil", Liturgist, Children's & Youth Message & Offertory: Jamie Kim, Karen Thompson, Jim Waldrop
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Save the Date
Delores Lewis Book Club, Wednesday, July 8, 1:30 p.m., see article below.
Greater Detroit District Golf Outing, July 18th, see flyer below
5 O'Clock Rush, Tuesday, July 21, Randall Poindexter & Next Phase performing, doors open at 5 p.m.
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Reminder to turn your mobile phones to silent during the services. Thank you!
We Have a Nursery for the Little Ones (through age 5), located on the 2nd floor, ask our ushers for directions. Your children are also welcome to stay with you, we love them and the sound of their voices in worship.
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The Methodist Connection Space
Click the buttons for info and news on
Detroit and Michigan Methodist Events
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Congratulations to the10 Men Recognized
by the United Women in Faith
Kenneth Davis
Ted Ebersole
Fennell Rodgers
Kenneth Kubit
Paul McCarty
Jim Waldrop
Les Ryckman
Thomas Gilchrist
Sherman Louis
Rev. Taek Kim
“by love serve one another” Galatians 5:13
| | | Delores Lewis Book Club Meets | | |
The Book Club meets Wednesday, July 8th at 1:30 p.m. in the church library. The book is "The Book of Hope", by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams. There is still hope and this book offers perspective and guidance.
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Hour Magazine Article Features Lawrence!
In February, our own Lawrence Mitchell-Matthews was featured in an article in Hour Magazine. Click the link below to read how Lawrence developed his musical talent, and found his first role(s) in the Opera! Thank you to Mefi Barrera for sending the link.
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Call to Action - Urge Lawmakers to Fund Food Programs
Update - as of July 1st, Michigan had not passed the 2027 budget. The Senate approved an $88 billion budget, the House passed a leaner $76 billion budget. Both budgets funded free school meals.
Dear Justice Seekers,
We write to you with a call to action this week:
Please reach out to your state lawmakers now, and ask them to pass a one-year budget with all food programs fully funded by July 1.
July 1 is the statutory deadline to pass the budget for Fiscal Year 2027. The new fiscal year officially begins October 1, 2026. Schools need to know how much funding they have as they prepare for the new school year. At the start of the last school year, several K-12 school districts sent out letters to families discontinuing the free breakfast and lunches because the state budget had not been passed yet. According to Feeding America, 1 in 5 children in Michigan suffer from hunger. These school breakfasts and lunches are vitally important. The draft state budgets include this funding for school meals.
Contact your state senators and representatives and their staff through emails, phone calls and visits. Most state lawmakers will be having coffee hours in their districts over the next few weeks. Check their websites or contact their offices for information. Please look them in the eye, thank them for caring about hunger, and ask them to get the state budget passed that fully funds all food programs by July 1.
Your voices matter. Together we can be a faithful witness. Click the button to watch the Advocacy Day 2026 video with reflections from lawmakers and their staff about the impact we have made. We shared this at annual conference last month and encourage you to share it with your congregations. Let it be an inspiration to continue advocacy.
With grace and peace,
Alice Fleming Townley, Michelle King and Tori Booker
The Advocacy Day Team
| | Mefi Barrera is Playing Ice Hockey! | | |
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Take 5 minutes to watch this inspiring video featuring our own Mefi Barrera. He has been playing hockey with Hockeymentors for almost two years, and loves it! This organization provides free equipment, ice time and mentoring to people of all ages, abilities. What an inspiring story!
Maybe our next Loose Change Offering can be donated to this organization?!!?
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Drawing from Romans 6:12–23, Pastor Taek's sermon "True Freedom" on June 28th emphasized that true freedom is found not in doing whatever one desires, but in belonging to Christ and living under God's grace. He explained that Christ frees believers from the power of sin, transforms their identity through grace rather than condemnation, and calls them to live lives marked by righteousness, forgiveness, compassion, and joyful witness. He encouraged all to embrace the gift of freedom in Christ each day, living with hope, love, and confidence in God's redeeming grace.
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July Unity Prayer - America's 250th Birthday
God, Creator of All Nations, Universal Source of Light and Healing,
We pray in this 250th year of our nation to reflect on our collective journey with gratitude, humility, and hope. We honor the foundational promise of liberty and justice for all, while recognizing the immense struggles of those who have marched, sacrificed, and raised their voices for equality over the centuries.
We acknowledge with honesty the painful chapters of our history, where prejudice and division have caused deep suffering. We ask for healing for these generational wounds and strength for the ongoing work of justice.
Awaken the conscience of our leaders and communities. Inspire us to break down barriers of inequality, defend the dignity of every person, and protect the vulnerable among us.
Fill us with a shared hope that we can evolve and be better. Grant us the empathy to listen to unfamiliar stories, the courage to stand against prejudice, and the dedication to build a society rooted in fairness and mutual respect.
May this landmark anniversary mark a turning point toward a future defined by compassion, truth, and our common bond as one human family.
Amen.
| | Happy Birthday, July Born! | | |
3 Sammye Van Diver
4 Anna Kubit
6 Lynne Kubit
9 James Owens
15 Ronke Soyombo
15 Sharon Uhring
21 Richard Uhring
26 Victoria Koski
28 Patricia Felder
31 Janice Robinson
| | Do you have a July or August birthday? Let us know so we can add you to the list! We love to celebrate birthdays, and we are glad you were born. Call the church at 313-875-7407 | |
Be Faithful to Your Giving Commitment
The Church relies on the tithes and offering of our members and friends to meet our financial obligations. Please remain faithful to the church in your giving. It is needed and deeply appreciated. You can mail payments to Metropolitan UMC, 8000 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48202. We also accept Venmo and other cash apps. Click the link below to give now.
Members wishing to make donations alternatively of "in-kind" financial securities are encouraged and welcome to do so. Please contact the church office for information. Mr. Les Ryckman, CFA, will be happy to discuss this further with you.
Les
Les H. Ryckman, CFA
Ph. # 248-840-0007
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Anthony Holiday's family has experienced another family loss from cancer, Anthony's brother-in-law. Please pray for the entire family as they go through a season of grief and loss.
Please pray for John Lucas as he deals with medical issues caused by his medication. Pray that John's health issues can be healed, and that his caregivers give him good care.
Prayers for healing for Amya Howse, daughter of our new custodian, who was involved in a car accident a few days ago and is now recovering at home.
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Chuck Arnold
Benton
The Burns Family
John Burns
Tamara Burt (Pat Felder's daughter)
Kuba, Eric Dawson's sister
Judy, Meri Slaven's Mom
Mavis Dorsey
Janet Douglass
Michelle Ferguson
Mary Fillippis
Courtney Fink
Fahran Flowers
The Flowers Family
Geoffrey Garrett
Annie Louise Handy
Georgia Harris
Anthony Holliday
David Holt
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Amya Howse
Janice & Ron Hurst
Christie Jackson
Rev. Mary Laverne Jackson
Solomon Jackson
Henrietta Jend
Pamela Lee Johnson
Judy, Meri Slaven's Mom
Issac Jones
Mark Anthony Jones (Marvin's brother)
Rebecca Kell
Mary Kinnie
Bernice Leatherwood
Saul Leonard
John Lucas
Samuel Lucas
Sherry Martin
Paul McCarty
Christine Mathes
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Kristine Miranne
Elijah Morton
The Pauza Family
Dr. Anna Pettway
Cindy Richards Wallace
Tom Richards
Pauline Smith (Rydell Smith's mother)
Trisha Solomon
Lamont Stinson
Alicia Strong
Kathy Synder
Ina Jane Tassen
Darlene Teasley
Philip (Karen Thompson's brother)
Cherrmaine Williams
Cornelia Williams
Marie Williams
Tracee, Kelvin & Trindon
| | Chuck Arnold, Ryan Burns, Caleb Charlet, Ken Davis, Audrey Hooke, Delores Jackson, Seijla Kulaglic and family, Alvia Lewis, Cheryl Love, Paul McCarty, Lawrence Mitchell-Matthews, Christian Robinson, Christopher Robinson II, Frank Robinson, Stella | | Adonis Allen (University of Toledo), Mikayla Boyd (Wayne State University), Nataiya Boyd (Wayne State University), Tamar J. Burt (Grand Valley State University), Soli Evans (Spelman College), Jehnya Footitt (Wayne State University), Jerrold Lee (Wayne County Community College), Asia Seabourough (Grand Valley State) | | Zachary King (Army), Major Hernando Flowers, also a doctor, (Army Reserves) and Sean Oakes (Reserves),Tristan Stallworth (United States Marine Corp) | | Metropolitan Church Staff | | |
Pastoral
Rev. Taek Kim, Senior Pastor, ext. 314
Sherman Louis, Cert. Lay Minister of Congregational Care, ext. 315
Clergy in Connection - Volunteer Clergy
Rev. Chp. Mary LaVerne Jackson, Minister
Rev. Don Veltman, Minister
Music Department
Sarmad Ashkuri, Music Director, sarmadashkuri@gmail.com
Susan Berry, Handbell Choir Director, 313-580-4486, Susan.berry.bells@gmail.com
Chancel Choir Section Leads: Caoilfhionn Davis, Denzel Donald, Ashli Hunter, Lawrence Mitchell-Matthews
Dorothy Duensing, Emeritus Section Lead, volunteer
Belle Veltman, Gathering Music, volunteer
Church Staff
Ken Davis, Special Occasions
Sharon Erving, Church Administrator, ext. 304,
serving@metroumc.org
Pamela Udeagwu, Children & Youth Ministry Coordinator,
313-875-7407, Ext. 336, wcfupu@gmail.com
Sandra Miller, Church Nursery Care
Janice Robinson, Church Nursery Care
Church Hours (Building Open)
Tuesday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday, Noon - 5 p.m.
(Article Deadline for the Messenger - Thursdays at 10 a.m., send to Juli Stephens, Editor, julis1111@aol.com)
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8000 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48202
313-875-7407, metroumcdetroit.org
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