SEPT 4

VISIT: southlyonfirstumc.org

for more information

Good morning,

It is that exciting time of year where children and youth in our communities head to school. Some for the first time as kindergartners and others as seniors. I also love this time of year, a fresh start to fall church programming. This morning I spent some time driving by a few of our families’ homes and praying over the start of a new year. While I am always excited to start a new year, I am mindful that for some it can be a really difficult time of year for a lot of reasons. So I have been lifting you up in prayers, whether there is great joy or many tears in your household this week. Remember that while I am praying for you, that does not compare to our ever present God who is with you always!!

(I paused here while writing this message this morning, went home for a lunch break, and turned on the news.)

Prayers are rising for the Apalachee High School families and community. As a parent, I cannot imagine my child being part of a mass shooting. As a Pastor, I cannot imagine what it would be like to walk a beloved community through such a traumatic event. As a citizen of this country, I am frustrated that we cannot create a strategic plan to make a way forward to solve this problem. Yes, it is very complicated. My mind does not have the capacity to know the correct next steps to do better for our children, but my heart cries for these mass shootings to stop. 

Will you pray with me?

Loving God, so many emotions are boiling up… anger, frustration, confusion, disappointment, fear, and numbness, as our hearts are broken for the Apalachee High School community. We lift up those families who are getting the call that their loved one was killed today. Be with those families embracing their youth again and surround the people who are needed to walk with them during the trauma of this day. Help us to see clear options to make our communities safer for our children. Help us to find ways to end gun violence. Help us to move forward in a way that is not driven by fear, but by faith: faith that reminds us that we are never alone; faith that reminds us that peace is possible; and faith that reminds us that loving others is part of what we are called to do.

Lord give us strength, Amen.

Find the daily Bible readings for the 365 Bible journey here!

POPSICLES AND PRAYERS

South Lyon Depot Day is THIS SATURDAY, September 7th from

10am - 4pm, and we still need help staffing our booth and

offering Popsicles and Prayers. The booth is a great opportunity

to connect to our community in a meaningful and joyful way, and

will provide us an avenue to reach out to other organizations and

leaders within South Lyon to foster future outreach opportunities.

I hope you will consider signing up to join us at the Depot Days

booth for a few hours to hand out popsicles and meet our

neighbors. If you want to support the booth, but can’t be there

that day, you can also sign up to provide snacks for the volunteers. For more info, please use this Sign-up Genius link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0A4DABA629A46-50966616-depot

WELCOMING WANDERERS

Join the Welcoming Wanderers as we study Our Hearts Were Strangely Lukewarm: The American Methodist Church and the Struggle with White Supremacy. This book will summon the reader on a most unusual journey through Methodist history. Along the way, we discover how the White American Methodist Church became deeply entangled with White supremacy. And yet, if we want to transform the world toward a different and better future for all, one free of the stranglehold of racism, we must come to terms with the story of our past—the whole story! Our Hearts Were Strangely Lukewarm is a trustworthy guide into the church’s troubled history. It’s also a present-day call to action that finds inspiration in those Methodists who stood against the tide and those guiding the church today toward the horizon of racial justice. Classes will meet 9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 11/3, 11/17, 12/1, 12/8, and 12/15 at 9:45 in room 112. Respond to this Google Link or contact David Ascher.

WE ARE HIRING

Director of Faith Formation, part-time (30 hours per week, with possibility of growth to a full-time position) Seeking a Director of Faith Formation for 570-member mission driven church in family-oriented community. This staff member would cultivate faith formation for all ages: Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, youth group, youth mission trips, and adult ministries. We are looking for a dynamic person of faith and creativity who can inspire children, youth and engage/manage adult volunteers while serving as a mentor and role model. Must be able to teach and model beliefs consistent with the United Methodist Church. Willingness to engage in community relations, enact excellent communication skills, and effectively use social media are requirements.  Salary commensurate with experience. Theological training is preferred. See our church website at SouthLyonFirstUMC.org. Please send your resume and salary requirements to staffparishslfumc@att.net.

FAITH IN ACTION: AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVOCACY EVENT

We are excited to announce a special evening event dedicated to exploring the critical issues of affordable housing and economic justice. This gathering is part of our broader commitment to living the United Methodist Social Principles, as guided by the United Methodist Church's General Board of Church and Society.

We’ll be joined by Paul Terranova from MHAction, an organization at the forefront of advocating for the rights and dignity of manufactured housing residents. Paul will lead us in a discussion on how our community and congregation can take meaningful steps to address the challenges of affordable housing, ensuring that everyone has access to safe, stable, and affordable places to live.

This event is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about how you can get involved in advocacy efforts, inspired by resources and initiatives from UMCJustice.org. Whether you are new to these issues or have been engaged for years, your voice is important.

Come and be part of the conversation on Tuesday, October 1, from 7-8 PM as we work together towards a more just and equitable community.

Light refreshments will be provided. We look forward to seeing you there!

SEPTEMBER MISSION OF THE MONTH

Samaritan Counseling Center is our September Mission of the Month.

Since 1985, SCC has provided counseling services to people in Southeastern

Michigan. Their licensed therapists offer a variety of therapeutic approaches to

assist clients; healing through exploring their inner resources and hopes.

They offer a space for faith; knowing that spirituality is often a key to a person’s

resilience.

​

Available services include: Individual Counseling, Couples/Family Counseling,

Psychological Assessment (coming soon), Congregational and Organizational

Support, Art Adventures, Art Therapy, Prepare-Enrich, Speakers Bureau, and

Clergy Assessment.

Our own church member Dr. Ron Studer, DVM, MA, LPC is a Licensed Professional

Counselor and has been practicing at Samaritan Counseling Center since 1994. His

practice consists of general counseling related to concerns in everyday living. His

personal interests in practice are individual, group, and relationships.

Dr. Karen Schurgin, Psy.D., ATR-BC, L.P.C., L.P., began serving as the Interim

Executive Director in January of 2024. Karen first came to Samaritan Counseling

Center as an intern in October of 2006. She completed her doctorate in Humanistic

Psychology from the Michigan School for Professional Psychology in 2008 and

joined SCC as a full-time staff member in August of 2008. In 2011, Karen assumed

the role of the Clinical Director, a role she continues to hold for a much-expanded

staff of therapists and counselors. Karen is a former president of the Michigan

Association of Art Therapy (position held for 5 years) and currently teaches at

Wayne State University in the Art Therapy Program.

Please consider contributing to the Samaritan Counseling Center during the

month of May. As always, your Mission and Outreach Team thank you for your support!

NUSERY HELP NEEDED

We need your help to make our little ones and their families feel welcome and comfortable during worship! Please sign up to help our nursery coordinator, Heather Shipley, on Sunday mornings in the church nursery.

FAITHFUL LEADERS NEEDED: THIS MEANS YOU! 

South Lyon First UMC continues to rebuild and grow in momentum. God continues to nudge and give us guidance for the future, but to move forward in healthy ways we need many gifts. The very gifts God has planted in you. 

We have teams that need visionaries, organizers, leaders, and doers: would you consider serving on a team? 

,

 Trustees

 Finance

 Christian Education 

Care

Hospitality and Outreach (this is a new team that is needed)

Mission

Media Ministry

Lay Leadership

Generosity

Worship Design

We need hands and feet to serve on Sundays or during the week:

Sing in choir

Read scripture

Make or serve coffee

Open the door and welcome our guests

Serve donuts

Share generosity stories

Serve communion

Volunteer in the nursery

Teach Sunday School

During the week we need help with:

 Answering phones 

Greeting guests when the office is open

 Helping with mailings

Create bulletin boards

Helping with community events

 Decorating lunch bags for the summer program

Calling homebound or those who are not well

Hosting the online worship service

Working with youth and teens

Helping with small building issues 

There are so many ways that people of all ages, all abilities, and all stages of life can use the gifts that God has given them to make a difference.

Would you please pray, and be bold and share your gifts and time, so that we can do the work that God is calling us to doing South Lyon as we make disciples of Jesus Christ as Christ Focused, Spirit Filled, and Mission Driven servants of God. .

Please reach out to Rev. Mary with ideas of where God is encouraging you to serve. 

Faithfully, Rev. Mary

Giving Options

·       Use WebGive at our website by clicking here or by using the our QR code :            

·       Use our giving app on your phone, VancoMobile

·       Dropoff a check in our drop -box at door #4 at the church

·       Mail a check to SLFUMC, 640 S. Lafayette, South Lyon, MI 48178

·       Explore other options on the Giving page of our website by clicking here here

Please be aware that we will never ask for your financial, account, or payment information by email. If there is a question, you will be contacted by phone or in person by a staff member.

Staff members will never ask for gift cards or financial help by email.

IRA GIVING

Are you required to take the Required Minimum Distribution from your IRA? Did you know that there might be a tax advantage to giving the money directly to the church? If you think that this might be beneficial to you, we suggest that you consult with your financial advisor. Then, if you would like information as to how to direct your giving to the church, please contact Lindy Juergens, Administrator of Generosity, at the church office.

Please consult our website https://www.southlyonfirstumc.org/ in the Giving Options tab for more information on giving from other forms of investments such as stocks and mutual funds. Questions on those other options can also be directed to Lindy Juergens.

BUILDING USE REQUEST

Yes! The church has space available for your group or event! Spaces fill up quickly and there is an approval process, so please allow as much time as possible between your request and the date of your meeting or event to ensure that we can

accommodate your needs.

Office Hours

• Mon, Tues, Thurs 10am - 1pm
• Wed 10am - 3pm
• Fri closed

Check out our website or our live calendar

for more information about our church or any of these programs!

Do you prefer a printed copy of our Midweek Messenger? Hard copies are available in the tote outside the main doors to the church and on the kiosk.