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AROUND THE CORNER March 2, 2023
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| LivestreamIf you can’t join us in person this Sunday, follow our livestream. Wether you are a regular church-goer or just seeking a moment of peace and reflection, you are welcome to join us. | |
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Online GivingConsider making a contribution to our church. | |
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| Lent BookletLent has started and we are excited to announce that Lenten study books are available for anyone who wishes to deepen their spiritual practice during this time. You can find these books on the Welcome Desk, and feel free to pick one up on Sundays. If we run out of copies, don't worry! We can make more available to you upon request. For those who are unable to come to our location or prefer a digital copy, we are also offering to email the book to anyone who requests it. Please reach out to jcelorio@umc-kzo.org if you would like a copy sent to your email.
Let's make the most out of this special season and use it as an opportunity for growth and reflection. |
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Lenten Organ SeriesJoin us for this year's Lenten Organ Concerts! Experience the beautiful sounds of renowned organists as we celebrate the season of Lent. Free admission, all are welcome! | |
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March 5 , 2023 Join Us for worship! |
| How do we begin again?This Second Sunday of Lent, two texts will guide our worship. The first featuring Abram and Sarai in Genesis Chapter 12. At the end of Genesis 11, all things pointed to death for this couple, and then in chapter 12 all things point towards life. In chapter 11 they were without direction. At the beginning of Chapter 12 they were called to new adventure. The rest of their lives would be spent seeking the God who first called them. In the gospel lesson, Nicodemus comes seeking Jesus in the cover of night. Both men are Rabbi’s, and Nicodemus is curious about Jesus’s teaching. The result is an invitation from Jesus to Nicodemus to be born again. In both texts God casts an invitation for new life. In Lent, in all times really, God casts an invitation to all for new life. Are you curious? May our worship be a time of seeking God’s newness, to begin again. |
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| 10:00am-11:00am: Worship in person at FUMC Kalamazoo or online. If you're joining us for in-person worship, we are now observing an updated mask optional practice.
Livestream Access
Watch on YouTube
View Bulletin
11:00am-12:15pm: Sunday School for all ages.
11:00 am Open Labyrinth - Wesley Hall
11:15 am Confirmation Class - 305
5:30 pm Faith Milestones - Wesley Hall
6:00 pm Youth Group: Will meet in the Youth Lounge.
6:00 pm Small Groups - Multiple spaces at church
For more information, please contact mweiler@umc-kzo.org.
Children & Families Ministries
Nursery, Godly Play, and Sunday School will be available. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact jlibrizzi@umc-kzo.org with any questions.
For the next several weeks after worship, a 7-minute video about the history of First Church will be playing on a monitor in the hallway outside the sanctuary. We hope you'll stop by to take a look.
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Youth Ministry Reflections |
| We are thrilled to share that Rev. Matt has written a reflection about our youth ministry and the tradition of burning ashes. As we enter the season of Lent, this piece serves as a reminder of the spiritual significance of this practice and its relevance to our younger generation. Rev. Matt's reflection offers a unique perspective on how the act of burning ashes can serve as a powerful symbol of renewal and rebirth for our youth. He shares his personal experiences and insights, exploring how this tradition has evolved over time and its continued relevance today.
We encourage you to take a few moments to read this inspiring reflection by clicking on the link below.
Thank you, Rev. Matt, for sharing your wisdom with us. |
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Small Groups this Sunday
Small group actvities Kicked-Off ! But you can still come and spend some time together getting to know each other better and have some fun! Small group activity gatherings happen on Sundays from 6-7:30 pm at church and will occur on the first and third Sundays of each month.
All groups will run simultaneously and you can move between groups, or stay in a group, all evening. Group activities will also change from time to time so stay tuned and join in the fun! |
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 | Lent LabrynthThe labyrinth will be set up in Wesley Hall throughout the season of Lent. You are invited to walk the labyrinth after worship on Sundays or Monday - Thursdays between the hours of 9am-4pm. This labyrinth requires the removal of your shoes to preserve the cloth of the labyrinth. The labyrinth can take 10-20 minutes to walk depending on your pace and the time you spend in the middle. There will also be prayer stations set up, please make use of them to enhance your time of prayer and contemplation. If you have never walked a labyrinth, I encourage you to try this ancient prayer practice to quiet your mind, center yourself and allow your spirit to be in prayer, curiosity, and expectation. Peace be with you |
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Manna and Lent |
This Lent Manna will be exploring the intersections of faith and mental health. Every Tuesday from February 28 through April 4 we will see what the Bible has to say about different mental health related topics including depression, anxiety, suicide, and self-care, and discuss what this means for our own lives today. Manna is open to all young adults and meets Tuesday evenings in the youth lounge, 6:30pm-8:00pm. |
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Academy Class
You’re invited to learn more about reparations on Sunday, March 5, at 11:15 in the Parlor. Some questions to be explored are: What exactly are reparations in the current debate? Are they needed and why? Who would receive them? Who would pay for them? Some short documentaries will be shown and discussed. Mark Stucky will lead the class. Those not able to attend can still view a list of links to short online documentaries on page 7 of the updated (Feb. 25th) History of Racism class resources file that can be downloaded from cinemaspirit.info/race/. |
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The Baylor Project Concert
On March 19 at 3:00 pm we will have a jazz concert given by musicians from Baylor University. That concert will also be held in our sanctuary. |
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HRI's Walk to End Homelessness |
| A 5K Walk to End Homelessness. Saturday, March 18, starting at the Kalamazoo Growlers Baseball Stadium-Homer Stryker Field at 10:00 a.m. Join Housing Resources, Inc (HRI) for their annual fundraising event. HRI’s fundraising goal is $110,000 this year to provide housing assistance to Kalamazoo residents. Donate, start a fundraising team, or participate in this event to be part of the solution to end homelessness in our community. Team and individual registration is open now on the HRI website housingresourcesinc.org. |
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| We are pleased to announce that our church currently has two job openings for individuals who are interested in contributing to our community.
The positions available are for a Part-Time Maintenance Worker and a Financial Assistant. The Part-Time Maintenance Worker will be responsible of performing routine work involving the repair and general maintenance of facilities, buildings, and equipment for First United Methodist Church.
The Financial Assistant will be responsible for assisting the church treasurer with various financial tasks such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and bookkeeping. The ideal candidate should have experience in finance or accounting and have strong organizational and communication skills. |
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Bronson Park Food Pantry Volunteers | Our Bronson Park Food Pantry (open each Wednesday from 12:30-2:30) will soon be opening our doors to welcome back clients to shop for their food needs inside the pantry. In preparation for this, we would like to offer them some “special” items that aren’t included in the deliveries from Loaves and Fishes. Please consider donating the following, which can be left outside the Food Pantry: Toothbrushes Travel size toothpaste Travel size lotion Juice / juice boxes Cooking oil Baby food
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Reconciling Congregation
First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo welcomes all to our congregation for worship, service to others, and learning. We are a reconciling congregation, welcoming all regardless of age, race, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious background, citizenship, language, or ability. |
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