Dear Church Family,
I am so thankful that the sun is shining, there are leaves on the trees, birds are singing, and flowers are starting to bloom. This past Lent and Easter season has provided such a meaningful time of Resting, Relaxing, and Reconnecting with God. I pray that you have had moments to do the same.
As we turn towards summer, we are creating opportunities to deepen our journey with God. Some say that the Christian life is that of a walk, a journey, or a sojourn. A relationship with God is so much more than just a set of beliefs. It affects all that you are, including the way you live, think, and feel, day to day. It's bigger than a code of ethics, because it involves a relationship with a living guide - the Almighty God. And it's more than a transaction, because God doesn't just want to save us. He wants to transform us.
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This summer we will walk with Jesus and visit the places that he traveled during his earthly ministry. Each place we visit with Jesus will reveal a unique facet of his ministry and continue to speak to us of God’s enduring presence in our lives. This summer will you walk with us? Will you walk with Jesus? Will you willingly see the message that God has for you on the journey? I know that many of us plan time away during the summer, but whether you are worshiping at South Lyon First UMC, at other churches on vacation, or in the midst of God’s mighty creation, follow along and walk with Jesus. Read the scriptures, imagine the journey, and open yourself up for God to transform you.
Walking with Jesus
June 16 The City of Nazareth Luke 2:39-52 Walking as a child of God
June 23 The Jordan River Matthew 3:13-17 Walking as a baptized child of God
June 30 The Wilderness Matthew 4:1-11 Walking through temptations
July 7 By The Sea of Galilee Mark 1:16-20 Walking as a disciple
July 14 The Mountains John 6:3 Walking up mountains
Outdoor Service – Mountain TOP
July 21 The City of Cana John 2:1-12 Walking to see the miracles
July 28 The Region of Samaria John 4:4-42 Walking to find living water
August 4 The City of Capernaum Luke 6:20-49 Walking with the hungry
August 11 The City of Bethsaida Matthew 14:13-21 Walking with the blessed
August 18 On The Sea of Galilee Matthew 14:22-36 Walking on water…having faith
August 25 Through The Parables Luke 10:25-37 Walking Each Day with Jesus-
one step at a time
This summer as we purposely walk through scripture and visit the places where Jesus walked, let us invite Jesus to walk with us on our adventures. May we think about others who are not blessed with various modes of transportation like we have at our disposal. Some walk by foot, some without shoes. This summer we will collect flip flops that we can send back to Liberia to share with the people we are in covenant with in John Dean Town and Bethlehem Temple UMC. Look for collection areas in both places of worship. We walk with one another, we walk with our brothers and sisters around the world, and we walk with Jesus as we remain Christ Focused, Spirit Filled, and Mission Driven.
Love and Peace in Christ,
Rev. Mary
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Has Winter Ended Yet?
Mother Nature has once again wreaked havoc on our winter and spring! As a result, our snowplowing and salting bills are our highest in history. As of April 30
th
, our bill has exceeded $20,858, but we think we are done! The Trustees have worked diligently with our snowplowing company trying ensure that our service is efficient & fair. They have prayerfully decided to end our current contract and seek a relationship with a new vendor. It is their hope that this will help to keep costs down. They are thankful to have found a company that will push and plow within the guidelines that match our church’s needs. Brien’s Services Inc. is our new vendor that will not only take care of snow, but our lawn also. In the meantime, the Finance Team is looking for additional donations to help offset this enormous expense. If you wish to make a donation in addition to your usual tithe, place an offering in the plate with a donation to the “Operating Fund”.
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Start Your Day at the
Summer Café
Beginning May 26
This summer, coffee and light refreshments will be served outside of Fellowship Hall at the
Summer Café
in Room 119 from 9:15 - 10:00 am. All are welcome in between the worship services! Please stop by and start your day by catching up with friends! Please sign up on the kiosk if your family is willing to help serve coffee one Sunday this summer.
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Mission of the Month: Flint Water Crisis
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On December 14, 2015, newly elected City of Flint Mayor Karen Weaver declared a State of Emergency in response to the man-made disaster caused by the City’s water source being switched from the Great Lakes Water Authority to the Flint River in 2014. The switch was made, without the proper corrosion control measures in place, which resulted in lead from the lead water service lines leeching into the drinking water.
High levels of lead can cause the following signs and symptoms in children:
Developmental delay, Learning difficulties, Irritability, Loss of appetite, Weight loss, Sluggishness, Abdominal pain, Vomiting,
Constipation, Hearing loss, Seizures
The City of Flint switched back to using the Great Lakes Water Authority on October 16, 2015. However, some homes/sites continue to have elevated lead levels. At-home water test kits, water filters, bottled water and foods that help decrease the absorption of lead (those high in calcium, iron and Vitamin C) have been provided by the State of Michigan, the Red Cross, Nestle Corporation and other sponsors. Since Mayor Weaver’s FAST Start program began in March 2016, crews from area companies have completed lead pipe excavations at 20,490 homes. The goal is to have all of Flint’s lead-tainted service lines replaced by the end of 2019.
On April 7, 2018, following the MDEQ release of water quality data, the State of Michigan announced the discontinued resource of bottled water for Flint residents. As of April 11, 2018, Flint residents now have three Help Centers to go to. Flint Bethel UMC, New Ashbury UMC and Greater Holy Temple Church of God in Christ. Harold Woodson, from Flint Bethel UMC shared
“we have been serving people in the Flint community since the beginning. Doors open at 10 am on Monday mornings. People start lining up at 4 am. The lines wraps around the building and down the block. Some people wait for hours to get the help they need.”
Flint Bethel UMC provides bottled water, kitchen sink and shower head water filters (when available), bottled water, foods that help decrease the absorption of lead and physical and mental health resources every Monday. Volunteers with donations from all over the nation, including major league sports teams like the Tigers and government officials from the Pentagon, have worked at Flint Bethel UMC.
Please prayerfully consider giving to this important mission of the month. Funds raised will be given to Flint Bethel UMC. Details regarding a hands-on Monday morning volunteer experience are being worked out now. More information will be forthcoming.
In Christ’s Service,
Mission Team
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S’more for Cass Community Social Services
Let's gather 'round the campfire, and sing our campfire song.
Our -c-a-m-p-f-i-r-e- -s-o-n-g- song.
And if you don't think that we can sing it faster than you're wrong, but it'll help if you just sing alooong.

Please join the Mission Team on
Friday June 7 from 7pm – 9:30pm
at the outdoor worship space behind the church for campfire songs and s’mores! We will be taking a free-will offering to fund a fire-pit that will be used to update a green space called Taylor Park on the Cass Community Social Services Campus. This park will also include a memorial garden and an outdoor stage that will be used to host events and a worship space for a variety of groups, including those doing overnight mission projects in Detroit. Check the kiosk for s’more donations and participation. If you cannot attend but would like to financially support this project, please place your donation in the offering basket with a note of “Cass Fire Pit". Contact Jessica Mytty at 517-294-1777 or
slfumcmissionteam@gmail.com
if you have any questions. Kumbaya!!!
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Upcoming Opportunities for Men
•
“First Saturday Breakfast” 7:30 - 9:00 am on June 1st in the Friendship Room. Join us for our annual Men in Ministry Awards.
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• Every Tuesday morning: devotion, prayer and breakfast 6:30 am in the Parlor
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The Tuesday night weekly study group is taking a summer break.
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Vacation Bible School 2019
CALLING ALL KIDS!
TO MARS AND BEYOND! JULY 29-AUG 1
Ages 4-Fifth Grade
9am-Noon: Bible Stories, Crafts, Science Projects, Music and Outdoor Fun.
REGISTER NOW
HERE
and tell all your friends!

Adult and Teen Volunteers Needed! Sign up on the kiosk if you're interested or email hattiemaguire@gmail.com for more info.
Click here to see the flier
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Summer Lunch Program
Have you ever gone into the kitchen, maybe out of boredom or because there was a little tingle in your tummy, opened the refrigerator door and just stared at the contents? What to choose? So many options.
What if you were genuinely hungry – but there was little or nothing inside?
Food security is a real issue for some of our South Lyon neighbors, and that’s a greater concern in the summer for children who receive free or reduced-price lunches during the school year.
For the 11
th
year, FUMC is the host church for a summer lunch program that provides midday meals for children in economically challenged neighborhoods. Last year, with support from several local churches and businesses, about 2,600 lunches were served over the 11-week school recess. Most were distributed to children, but a few adults and seniors took part, too.
The program is seeking support for this summer, in the form of gift cards to local groceries – Gordon’s, Busch’s, Meijer, Kroger and Walmart – and multi-pack fruit cups. You can drop gift cards into the offering plate or at the church office, and fruit cups can be left in the marked box in the lobby. There is no deadline. Contributions and donations are welcome throughout the summer, although the program will end Aug. 26.
Volunteers also are sought. Sign up on the kiosk and someone will get back to you. Or just show up Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:45 am, starting June 18. We usually are done with food prep by noon, but some volunteers are asked to stay until 2 to help serve.
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Rummage Sale – June 14 & 15
Join us for our HUGE rummage sale on Friday, June 14 (9:00 am – 4:00 pm) and Saturday, June 15 (9:00 am – 1:00 pm)! Many volunteers are needed for this fundraiser which provides camp scholarships to our SLFUMC students. Please sign up on the kiosk to help. Donations for the sale will be accepted Monday, June 10 – Thursday, June 13 from 9:00 am – 3:30 pm and 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm. Spread the word! Contact Dan Noble for more information (248-982-0108).
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Congratulations to our 2019 Graduates!
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Willem Swartzinski, Andrew Liskey, Bree Taylor, Gretchen Ascher, Chloe Grimes
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Marissa Radtke, Annabelle Beck, Ian Gesler, Nick Panoff
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Jakob Klemens, Rev. Mary, Emma Barrett, Nick Panoff, Will Ray, Ian Gesler
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Our church building continues to be a beehive of daily activity, as we seek to live out our pledge to be Mission Driven.
As you may know, the organization "Blessings in a Backpack" regularly stuffs the backpacks of local school children with food, to help carry their families through the weekend during the school year. This year, Blessings is partnering with the FUMC-based Summer Lunch Program to give each child a weekly grocery bag of nonperishables, such as soup and oatmeal. Volunteers who deliver lunches to children in three economically challenged South Lyon neighborhoods will distribute the grocery bags every Thursday. Lunches also are served on Tuesdays.
"It's a perfect pairing of our two organizations," said summer lunch coordinator Joanna Firestone. "Being able to leverage the resources of both Blessings and Summer Lunch will significantly increase the food security of 120-140 kids every week, throughout the summer."
If you would like to help Blessings in a Backpack assemble the 1,300 food bags that will be stored at FUMC for summer distribution, come to Fellowship Hall at 9 am Saturday, June 8. You also can support our summer lunch program through grocery store gift cards, or donations of peanut butter, jelly and individual fruit cups.
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2
nd
Annual Golf Outing to Benefit
God’s Country Mission Trip
Join us for golf and/or dinner on Sunday, June 23
rd
as we have great fun while raising money for a great mission project! Last year’s inaugural tournament was a rousing success and this year we plan to build on that.
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Church News
We welcome these persons into membership:
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Kate Allison Loch
Kate is in 8
th
grade at Centennial Middle School. At CMS, she enjoys playing volleyball and basketball. When not at school you will find her swimming, horseback riding, and playing outside with her friends.
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Mia Carolyn Manasco
Mia is in 8
th
grade and attends Centennial Middle School. In school, she is involved in PEERS and Spanish. In her spare time, she enjoys volleyball and softball.
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Click the link below to see
this month's birthdays!

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Summer Worship Schedule
(begins 5/26)
8:15 am Daybreak in Sanctuary
9:45 am Ignite in Fellowship Hall
10:00 am Cornerstone in Sanctuary
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for more information about our church or any of these programs!
Do you prefer a printed copy of our newsletter? Hard copies are available on the kiosk in the lobby!
Newsletter is edited by Lori Penndorf
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