Muskegon Central United Methodist Church

Are you new?

Kay — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:39:05 +0000

Want to learn more about Central? Here are answers to some basic questions.

	What time is worship? September-May: 8:30 a.m. & 10:45 a.m.June-August: 8:30 a.m. & 10:00 a.m.The early service takes place in the Chapel and the later service is held in the Sanctuary.
	Where can I park? Central shares a large parking lot with the Red Cross. Enter off Webster Street or Muskegon Avenue. There is also on-street parking on 2^nd Street.
	What door do I enter? During the week the door off the parking lot nearest Muskegon Avenue is open. On Sunday morning doors off the parking lot and doors on 2^nd Street are all open.
	Are you handicap accessible? There’s a ramp for access at the parking lot entrance nearest Webster Street. An elevator reaches all three floors inside. Sanctuary pews have wheelchair locations. There are restrooms that accommodate wheelchairs. Central’s sanctuary is equipped with a hearing loop.
	What is worship like at Central? Central’s chapel service at 8:30 a.m. is classic but informal. Our sanctuary service at 10:45 is liturgical, with a wide range of music … Choirs, Soloists, Organ, Bells, Brass and a Family Orchestra.
	How do I find the nursery? Our Infant Nursery and Child Care for Toddlers are available from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. each Sunday. Ben Clarke is our primary Care Giver. The rooms are on the 2^nd floor in Room 211 and 213.
	What are your office hours? Central’s Church Office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The office is straight down the hallway through the Muskegon Avenue entrance off the parking lot. Call 722-6545 for assistance.
	What do United Methodists believe? The United Methodist Church web site explains about our history and the “big ideas” of our faith in action. John Wesley began the Methodist movement in 1738 and we continue to make a difference for individuals and society in the 21^st century. Learn more.
	How can I meet people? There are friendly, growing experiences for children and adults from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Aldersgate Cafe, in our library at 9:30, and Coffee Time, in Parish Hall at 12:15, are times to enjoy refreshments and conversation.
	How can I find out what’s happening? Visit this web site on a regular basis. Central also has a print newsletter, The Outlook, mailed the first of the month. Our e-news, Live the Light, is sent mid-month. Contact the Church Office, 722-6545, to subscribe.

Take a tour

Kay — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:48:57 +0000

From the outside we look like a big, gray building. But on the inside, Central is full of smiling faces.

The tour is about more than the building. It’s about the people, the church, who minister both in and out of God’s House at 1011 Second Street.

Click here to go to the virtual tour link.

Central’s team has been busy in Chatham, Illinois

Kay — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:29:52 +0000

Ten volunteers from Central returned to Muskegon on Feb. 3 after a week of work at the Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Chatham, Illinois. One of their tasks was making school desks for Haiti.

Here are highlights of their reports back the past few days…

Tuesday, Jan. 31:
We blessed a load of desks, health kits, student kits, cleaning buckets, medical equipment, all being shipped to Kenya and Tanzania. The ladies today started with sewing kits, layettes, and then most of the day they did personal dignity kits. The men plus Julie built 6 desks and took them apart again for shipment. The weather down was fine except for Holland, but that wasn’t too bad. Donna was an excellent cruise director.

Wednesday, Feb. 1:
The 3 of us are back from St. John’s Breadline in Springfield. Sally and Linda bussed tables, while Julie worked in the kitchen, “pickin chicken”, that’s going to be Thursday’s meal. St. John’s (a mission similar to MAP Supper House) has lots of really nice people working there, and they refer to their patrons as “guests”. They serve two meals a day, 365 days a year. Not too busy today, first of the month, and many people got their checks so didn’t come in for lunch. We have started and not finished ONE puzzle…we miss Cheryl and Lynn and his perseverence (or FOCUS). Haven’t done much in games, just enjoying each other’s company and stories. (Other team members took the day off in Springfield visiting Abraham Lincoln heritage sites.)

Thursday, Feb. 2:
Today’s work … Donna sewed, Marty and Jan and Chris counted paperclips, tore apart and re-counted layettes, Sally and Linda traced and cut patterns for hospital apparel to send to people, sorted material and cut bolts of cloth for sewing kits, also spent some time counting paperclips during down time. A total of 5,950 paperclips were counted!!! Don East and Don West and Dick and Julie sanded and polyurethaned senior desks, and got to shrink wrap and load them and get them weighed and ready to ship: 1,012# of desks on a pallett. We then got another pallett of desks ready for the next group of volunteers to polyurethane, which means taking the kits apart and putting the parts on the wall where there are a series of colored dowels, and it takes many people to figure out which parts go where!!! We brought back to the dorm a roll of upholstery fabric that Donna asked for to make student bags, and we had to unroll it and fold it for transport. We had a great time but and it was too short! Went by fast. Having leftovers for supper, thinking of you all and wishing you were here. Still haven’t finished the first puzzle.

On Feb. 3 our friends will return to Michigan. We welcome home: Julie Husted, Linda Roberts, Dick Swanson, Donna Truran, Chris Twork, Don VanderLaan, Don West, Jan Wheeler, Sally Wibalda, and Marty Wolf, our missionaries to Illinois.

Learn more about the ministry of the Midwest Mission Distribution Center by clicking here.

What’s Happening?

Kay — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:28:33 +0000

Opportunities for friendship. Good times around the table. A chance to learn new skills. Here’s what’s coming at Central …

Monday, Feb. 6:
-United Methodist Women Book Discussion

Tuesday, Feb. 7:
-Computer Club, 10 am-noon

Wednesday, Feb. 8:
-Chapel Prayer, 7:00 am
-Mission Bees Sewing Group, 10:00 a.m.
-Jr. High Youth at Lake Harbor UMC, 7 pm

Thursday, Feb. 9:
-Romeos Breakfast at Carmen’s, 8:30 am
-Juliets Breakfastg at Cherokee Restaurant, 9:00 am
-Computer Club, 7-9 pm

Sunday, Feb. 12
-Worship in the Chapel, 8:30 am
-Children K-5 in Rm 204 at 9:30 am
-The Foundry for Adults in Rm 209 at 9:30 am
–Sr. High Youth at Lake Harbor, 5:00 pm

Central’s monthly newsletter is called the Outlook. Click here for the February edition. Central also has an e-letter, Shining the Light. Subscribe to the newsletters by contacting the Church Office.

Click here to find the calendar of events for the month of February. Birthdays and Anniversaries, too.

Ready to think summer? Sign up for a United Methodist Camp!

Kay — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:57:29 +0000

A Dangerous Camp for Boys. The Laura Ingells Wilder Camp. Camp C.H.A.O.S. Fun, Faith & Fine Arts. Those are just some of the opportunities for fun in the outdoors this summer.

Church Camp brochures are now available in the church office that describe these and many more activities for all ages. Camp is a place for creating new friendships and discovering a greater love for God.

Where are the camps: Wesley Woods (Dowling), Crystal Springs (Berrien Springs), Lake Louise (Boyne Falls), Lake Michigan (Pentwater) and Albright Camp (Reed City).

Central offers camp scholarships to those attending these camps. There are also first-time camper rebates available. To learn more about all the possibilities go to the camp website. For details about Central’s support for campers, email Donna Truran or call her at 231-828-4648.

Celebrate Ash Wednesday in Central’s sanctuary Feb. 22

Kay — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:59:49 +0000

United Methodists will gather to mark the beginning of Lent at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 22. Pastor Andrew Jackson will be in Central’s pulpit that night.

Worship will include the traditional marking foreheads with ashes. Solos and sermon by Pastor Jackson. Methodist pastors from Greater Muskegon will be robed and leading worship.

Pastor Andrew Jackson is a retired United Methodist clergyman living in Byron Center. Since 2005 he has served as the Chief Chaplain of the Michigan State Police. He and his wife, Phyllis, are active at Wesley Park United Methodist Church in Wyoming.

Lent is a time for the church to journey together toward Easter. Lent is not a time to feel miserable or sad. Giving up something can be part of Lenten disciplines, but so can taking on something new.

Here are some ways to make your heart and life ready for Jesus’ death and resurrection during the six weeks of Lent that begin Ash Wednesday…

Read twice through one of the Gospels.
Keep a journal of prayer concerns and questions.
Attend The Foundry, 9:30 on Sundays in Room 209.
Focus on thanksgiving, rather than asking, when you pray.
Give yourself a gift of 3 hours to do something “I always say I don’t have time to do.”
Forgive someone who has hurt you in the past.