Dr. Marcia McFee to bring "Worship Design Studio" workshop to Grand Rapids and Detroit areas

  “How do we create vital and passionate worship consistently without getting burned out while still caring for all the other duties of the ministry?” Dr. Marcia McFee, a national worship leader and educator will address this common question at two workshops for worship teams: Grand Rapids area, Saturday, January 19, at Rockford UMC and Detroit area, Saturday, January 26, at Farmington Hills: Nardin Park UMC.    “The desire to create meaningful and memorable...

Church Communicator Tweets 3-Year Lectionary Cycle

  In 2009, the Rev. Andrew Schleicher claimed the name @lectionary on Twitter and began tweeting his way through the three-year cycle of scripture lessons. Each week, Schleicher selects excerpts from the following Sunday’s assigned texts and share them with his ever-growing audience.   “I began this discipline three years ago as a way both to share the word of God with others throughout the world, and also to take time during the week to read and ponder the Scripture on...

Cordle to be featured speaker at "New Places for New Faces" workshop

The Rev. Steve Cordle, senior pastor at Crossroads United Methodist Church in suburban Pittsburgh, Pa., will be the featured speaker at an upcoming workshop hosted by the Detroit Conference new congregational development committee.   "New Places for New Faces" will be a workshop on multi-site and adoption models in starting new churches and expanding existing ministries. The workshop is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 19, from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at Fenton UMC.   The...

Change the World weekend set for May 19-20

  Change the World, a global movement of United Methodists to build community locally and fight malaria globally, will take place on Saturday-Sunday, May 19-20, 2012. Local churches are being asked to begin planning for the denominational event, as the church seeks to have 4,000 events take place worldwide.    Change the World, an event that began in 2010, is an opportunity to connect mission-minded disciples with the mission of The United Methodist Church, which is to make...

Rethink Church invites churches to Journey to Hope this Lent

  United Methodist Communications, through Rethink Church, is inviting churches to take a 7-week Journey to Hope this Lent. During the series, you will travel with Jesus to the cross and discover the Hope that can be found in the midst of life’s most difficult circumstances. This series was previously released in 2010 and has been updated to include small group, children and youth/young adult supplements.   Journey to Hope will inspire people to reflect on Jesus’...

Spanish Language Workshop being offered for clergy and lay leaders

  Recently, as part of the Saginaw Bay District Mission Celebration, I gave a sermon at Laporte United Methodist Church. My sermon was about the day of Pentecost. In my sermon, I did not focus on the actions of the apostles, but on the response of the community members that gathered there that day. That day, as we know, the Holy Spirit came down and filled the apostles and they started to speak in different languages. Normally, our focus is on the apostles and their ability to speak...

Powerful demographic tool available to conference churches

  The New Church Development Committee of the Detroit Conference has announced that it has made available MissionInsite - an online demographic tool - to all conference local churches free of charge.   MissionInsite (www.missioninsite.com) provides instant access to community information for churches. The web-based program gives you access to demographic data for a variety of geographic levels and is a powerful discovery tool for exploration and out of the box thinking for church...

America's Sunday Supper promotes service

United Methodist Communications and the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society are urging communities to Rethink Church in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with America’s Sunday Supper on January 15, 2012. America’s Sunday Supper will be a nationwide night of simultaneous dinners and discussions shared in churches, homes, community centers and kitchens to promote positive change in the world. As an activation partner with Points of Light, United Methodist...

Popular Christian Activist Speaking March 31

  Shane Claiborne, sought-after speaker and bestselling author, will speak on March 31, 2012, at University United Methodist Church in East Lansing.   With tears and laughter, Shane Claiborne unveils the tragic messes in the world and the tangible hope that another world is possible.  Shane has worked alongside Mother Teresa, in a wealthy, mega-church, and written "Jesus for President."     He is also a founding partner of The Simple Way, a faith...

Board of Ordained Ministry encourages Called to Ministry Sunday

Dear Pastors, Church Leaders, and Congregations,   In October, the Rev. Mary Ann Gibson heard the challenge during the Clergy session at Annual Conference to have a Called to Ministry Sunday and shared her call story one Sunday.  As a result, two people responded to God's call to ministry!   In our efforts to create a stronger Called to Ministry culture in our conference, we are asking you to fulfill the challenge made to you at last year's Annual Conference.   Please...

Bishop's Day Events Planned for March

  Churches and leaders in the Detroit Conference will be learning about "Ministry with the Poor" in March during the annual Bishop's Day, which will take place at seven district sites across the conference. Each district has arranged for keynote speakers and workshops to highlight Michigan Area Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton's annual continuing education event.   "Faith Stories: A Transformation Experience" is the title of the Ann Arbor District Bishop's Day, which...

Pastor's Birthday Celebration Warms 1,300 Homeless

  The Rev. Johnny Liles celebrates his birthday on December 8 every year the same way. When the congregation of Troy: Fellowship United Methodist Church asks what gift he would enjoy, the answer is always the same: blankets. Since 1991, Liles has received over 1,300 blankets which he has, in turn, “re-gifted” to the Baldwin Center in Pontiac, Mich.    This gift makes perfect sense. Liles has spent his life as an example of Matthew 25:40: “Truly I tell you,...

RethinkChurch.org to Launch Nov. 12

The denomination’s revamped website for young-adult spiritual seekers, RethinkChurch.org, will debut Friday, Nov. 12. This marks the website’s beta launch, a period when the website is fine-tuned amid real-world exposure.   “Research shows that young adults tend to embrace their digital and physical worlds as one,” said the Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist Communications. “This age group favors exploring new concepts and ideas...

Hearts Strangely Warmed to be Live Streamed

Hearts Strangely Warmed, a worship and evangelism workshop sponsored by the Detroit Conference Board of Discipleship, will be live streaming its plenary sessions on Saturday, Nov. 6.   Following is the schedule of events for the live streaming (all times Eastern):   9:30-10:45 a.m. - Opening Worship/Plenary - the Rev. Mike Slaughter, pastor of Ginghamsburg Church (ginghamsburg.org)   3:45-4:45 p.m. - Closing Worship - the Rev. Jim Walker, pastor of Hot Metal Bridge Faith...

November Edition of the Michigan Area Reporter Now Available

  The November edition of the Michigan Area Reporter, the official newspaper of the Detroit and West Michigan Conferences, it on its way to mailboxes, and the digital edition of the paper has been posted on the Detroit Conference website.   Included in the November edition is:   - A recap of the 200th anniversary celebration at Detroit: Central UMC; - Bishop Keaton's column, "Let Us Preach the Mission of the Church;" - A review of the installation of the Rev. Dr....

Advance Registration Deadline Approaching for Hearts Strangely Warmed

  Saturday, Oct. 30 is the advance registration deadline for Hearts Strangely Warmed, a worship and evangelism workshop that will take place on Saturday, Nov 6., from 8:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m. at Swartz Creek UMC.    Those submitting advance registrations by the deadline can register for $15 per person. After October 30, all registrations will cost $20 per person.   The Rev. Mike Slaughter, pastor of Ginghamsburg Church (ginghamsburg.org) in Tipp City, Ohio, will be the...

October Edition of the Michigan Area Reporter Now Available

  The October edition of the Michigan Area Reporter, the official newspaper of the Detroit and West Michigan Conferences, it on its way to mailboxes, and the digital edition of the paper has been posted on the Detroit Conference website.   Included in the October edition is:   - An article on 5 O'Clock Rush, a ministry of Detroit: Metropolitan UMC; - A recap of the installation of the Rev. Mark Spaw, Ann Arbor District Superintendent; - A feature on prison ministries in...

Give a Bible to someone who’s searching

  For less than the cost of a matinee movie ticket or a couple of gallons of gas, you can place the New Testament in the hands of a spiritual seeker who has responded to The United Methodist Church’s advertisements.   This is United Methodist Communications’ message to the church, as the agency begins offering the Rethink Church Edition Common English Bible (New Testament) at no cost to seekers who request it when they visit the Rethink Church campaign website,...

Detroit: Metropolitan UMC To Host Faith-Sharing Seminar

  In celebration of its' 125th anniversary, and to celebrate the opening of the Metropolitan United Methodist Ministry Center, which contains the Detroit East and Detroit West District offices as well as the offices of the United Methodist Union of Greater Detroit, Detroit: Metropolitan United Methodist Church will host a faith-sharing seminar from 10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11.    The Rev. Dr George Morris, senior professor of world evangelism for the World...

Mike Slaughter to Headline Hearts Strangely Warmed Workshop In November

  The Rev. Mike Slaughter, pastor of Ginghamsburgh Church (www.ginghamsburg.org) in Tipp City, Ohio, will be the keynote speaker at Hearts Strangely Warmed, a worship and evangelism workshop scheduled for 8:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6, at Swartz Creek UMC. Hearts Strangely Warmed is sponsored by the conference Board of Discipleship.    Slaughter will be speaking at the opening worship and plenary session, and will also be teaching a workshop entitled "Change the...