WILLOW UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

36925 Willow Road , New Boston, Michigan 48164

Reverend Brad Lewis, Pastor

OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS, OPEN DOORS

THE COMMUNICATOR JUNE 2016

A NOTE FROM PASTOR BRAD:

None of us get through life without making mistakes or failing at something we deemed very important. As a high school senior I played First Chair Clarinet in the high school band and orchestra. I took private clarinet lessons from a member of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. My in-

tent was to pursue a career in music and play the clarinet for a living. Near the end of the school year I asked my clarinet instructor what he thought about my hopes of becoming a professional musician playing clarinet. I was stunned when he responded, “You may make a good high school band director, but I don’t see you succeeding playing the clarinet as a profession.” Today, I look at that moment as a time when I had to decide what to do next. I stopped playing the clarinet, which I regret, but other career opportunities came my way in the years that fol-lowed. Norman Vincent Peale once told of a trip he took to Jamaica. In the hallway of his hotel hung an old map of the island. Looking at the map, he noticed some faint words written across an uninhabited portion of the island: "The Land of Look-Behind." Peale asked the hotel owner if he knew what those words meant. He explained: "In the days of slavery, runaways from the sugar plantations sometimes escaped into that lonely and barren territory. They were often pursued by slave owners or other authorities with guns and dogs. The fugitive slaves were always on the run, always looking over their shoulders." So that was where the term came from: The Land of Look-Behind. "I never forgot that melancholy term, because my years of counseling people have led me to believe that many of them are living in their own private Land of Look-Behind. They are the ones who dwell endlessly on past mis-takes, who let fears generated by old failures rob them of success, who refuse to accept God's promises of for-giveness of sins.” "When a person lives in the Land of Look-Behind, he or she is really excluding hope from his or her life. They are also making it almost impossible for faith to operate. How can faith make an entry into a mind that has lost the buoyancy of hope?" —Norman Vincent Peale, "The Stupendous Power of Hope," Plus magazine, May 1995. Don’t get lost in the Land of Look-Behind. Consider what God says in Proverbs 23:18 (GW); 18 There is indeed a future, and your hope will never be cut off. God loves you and so do I, Pastor Brad

June 2016 - Sermons Titles, Scriptures, and Themes

June 5, 2016 When the Dead Sit Up Luke 7:11-17 Someday, there will be no more funerals. June 12, 2016 “Deal…or Else” 1 Kings 21:1-10,15-21a In a culture where all the voices shout at us to play the greed game and deal us for more, we are reminded that God still speaks a word of contentment. June 19 2016 - Father’s Day A Life Worth Living Galatians 1:11-24 Every life has meaning, and it lies with God. June 26, 2016 “Walk On” Luke 9:51-62 The Walk of Whole Life Discipleship involves three components: 1) Walk Along; 2) Walk Away; and 3) Walk On.

WILLOW CHURCH SUMMER PLANNED EVENTS

June 4: Outside church clean up 9 am

June 20—24: VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 6—8:00 PM

July 11—15 & July 18—22 LEGO CAMP

July 17: All church picnic at Ash Park 12:00 (pot luck) church provides meat

July 24: Blessings of the Animals...

HAPPY ANNIERSAY!!! (May celebrations)

Helena & R.P. Lilley: 58 years!

Katherine & Jim Buck: 25 years!

We can trust God to sustain us in life.

Cave Quest Vacation Bible School

June 20th—24th 6—8:00 PM

Embark on a VBS Adventure That Will Light Their Way! Gear up for an over-the-top underground adventure! Ground kids in the rock-solid foundation of God’s love, a love that takes us through life’s dark times.

At Cave Quest vacation Bible school, kids experience God’s Word in surprising and unforgettable ways! Each day,

leaders reinforce one simple Bible truth—which makes it easy for kids to remember and apply to real life

ALL ARE WELCOME

Each day kids will discover more truths about Jesus as their guide. Participants will learn to trust Jesus as Savior and

walk along the journey of life becoming more like Him as they traverse the Cave Quest adventures.

Were you here?

When we did the annual indoor church cleaning.

When we were reminded that JOY is what life looks like when we really trust

God.

When we were told that “Jesus tells us to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.”

When our sermon on a Sunday in May stated “we who follow Jesus will not be left behind.”

When on Pentecost Sunday we learned the definition of Pentecost: The Church of Jesus Christ entered the

public domain.” Happy Birthday to you, Church!

When we told that church bells were one way a church spoke to the community.

COMING TO WILLOW CHURCH IN JULY

LEGO CAMP...July 11th—15th and July 18th—

22nd. Mark the children's calendar for this

SPECIAL WEEK EVENT.

DRINKING FROM THE SAUCER by John Paul Moore

I’ve never made a fortune, and I’ll never make one now

But it really doesn’t matter, cause I’m happy anyhow

As I go along my journey, I’m reaping better than I’ve sowed.

I’m drinking from the saucer cause my cup has overflowed.

I don’t have a lot of riches. And sometimes the going’s tough.

But with kin and friends to love me I think I’m rich enough.

I thank God for the blessings that His mercy has bestowed.

I’m drinking from the saucer cause my cup has overflowed.

He gives me strength and courage, when the way grows steep and

rough. I’ll not ask for other blessings for I’m already blessed enough.

May we never be too busy to help bear another’s load.

Then we’ll all be drinking from the saucer when our cups have

overflowed.

“Know that the Lord is God!...we are His

people, and the sheep of his pasture..

His steadfast love endures forever, and his

faithfulness to all generations.”

Psalm 100

Kathy vacuuming….Luke washing!

Willow Church Ministries

Food Pantry: Ethel’s food pantry offers short term assistance for any in need. 1 bag of groceries at a time. The food pantry is

open 24/7. Please call the church for information or to request assistance.

Spiritual Growth and Bible Study: A weekly study fellowship with emphasis on deepening personal spirituality with practi-

cal disciplines. Study group meets Thursdays at 7:00 pm.

Prayer Ministry: Our congregation offers, through prayer and meditation, intercessory prayer for any concern 24 hours a

day. Please call the church office to leave your prayer requests.

AA Ministry: Utilize a 12 step program to help those suffering the effects of alcohol addiction. Meetings are held at the

church Wednesdays at 6:00 pm

Music Ministry: Choir and worship opportunities through music participation. Practice every Wednesday at 7:00 pm.

Children’s Ministry: Christian education during worship service is offered weekly to foster and guide our children in their

faith under the direction of Jeanne Lochner. Children’s Church is held each Sunday, coordinated by Jennifer Johnson.

This newsletter is compiled by Donna Lee Hornyak. A special

thanks to Gail Sobecki and all who submit articles. If you

would like to add to “The Communicator”, please e mail me

at dhornyak2@gmail.com.

Thought for the Day: We need to learn how to

appreciate the present moment.

Altar Flowers: Altar flowers can be displayed as a

memorial or in honor of someone or something or a

special event. Cost per bouquet: if only 1 bouquet is

purchased for the same week is $15.00. Cost if 2 vases

are purchased is $12.50 each. Make all checks to

Darlene’s Flowers. Please contact Vanessa Lenz at

734-731-9611. Orders and payments are required 2

weeks prior to date.

Willow United Methodist Church 36925 Willow Road

New Boston, MI 48164

Rev. Brad Lewis, Pastor

Email address: bklewis2105@gmail.com

Pastor Cell Phone Number: 1-989-906-5231

Office Hours Wednesdays and Thursdays

1:30—3:30 PM and upon request

Church phone: 734-654-9020

Fax: 734-654-9020

Sunday Service 9:30 AM

Jeanne Lochner: Children’s Ministry Director

Karen Struble Organist and Music Director

FOOD PANTRY 24/7 734-753-4320

BOOK to read!

Have you read a good Christian Book

lately...one that you would recommend

to others? We will start now listing

book titles submitted by our congregation that others

might enjoy.

“Praying for Strangers” by Reverend Jordan

WHEN YOU INCLUDE

GOD IN ANYTHING, IT

CHANGES EVERYTHING!

G I W G B I B L E V O L T E D

E E R I P S N I N G R A C E C

J Z Z R G Q O O O R A N H K C

V T I O Q I S E I A T R T U J

N M E T H O D I S T L E U B Q

O A W C P Z A E S I A T R O J

I X I E C A E P I T A E T T C

T I L T X K B G M U A R R H F

O U L O S K I N G D O M P C H

V F O R G I V E N E S S Z R K

E E W P Y A R E P E N T G U J

D I T C S G E H R N V Z J H K

O L R P J E I K C S D A U C D

G E T O V E D S O J E I E Q Q

M B T G T B U U O R X P U H Y

ALTAR BAPTIZE BELIEF

BIBLE BREAD CHRISTIAN

CHURCH COURAGE CREATION

DEVOTE DEVOTION ETERNAL

FORGIVENESS GRACE GRATITUDE

HEAVEN I NSPIRE KINGDOM

LOVE MERCY METHODIST

MISSION NEED PEACE

PRAISE PROTECTOR REPENT

SEEK SON TRUTH

VERSE WILLOW

Join others of Willow Church as we pray with our appointed “Sister

Church” White Pigeon UMC (near Kalamazoo) on Friday, June

10th...Please see Pastor Brad if you are interested in participating

in the Day of Prayer.

June 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

AA 6:00

2

Karen Struble

3

John

Haydamacker

4

Outdoor

church

clean up

9:00 am

5

Holy Communion

Children’s Church

6

Justin

McDaniel

7

Rotary 6:30

8

AA 6:00

9 10

Prayer day

with White

Pigeon UMC

11

Terry

June

12

Children’s Church

Coffee Hour after church

13 14

Flag Day

Rotary 6:30

Nelson

Haydamacker

15

AA 6:00

Mary & Tom

Van Meer

16 17

Judy

Buttignoli

18

19

Ad Board meets

Children’s Church

20

VBS

6:00 PM—

8:00 PM

21

VBS

6:00 PM—

8:00 PM

22

VBS

6:00 PM—

8:00 PM

Kimberly

Cole

23

VBS

6:00 PM—

8:00 PM

24

VBS

6:00 PM—

8:00 PM

25

26

Children’s Church

27 28

Rotary 6:30

29

AA 6:00

Marianne

Mc Munn

30

Dallas &

Mary Lou

Kennedy

Alexis

Gambino

1

2