April 2017
First United Methodist Church
312 Harrison Street, Monroe, MI
website: org
APRIL BIRTHDAYS
Carson Pasko / 1st / Monica Knapp / 16th
Gerald Wittkop / 7th / Megan Cardella / 18th
James Jacobs / 9th / Sophie Ruhlig / 21st
Bev Lutz / 15th / Stephen Wilson / 22nd
Nancy Pirritano / 15th / Billy Mann / 27th
APRIL ANNIVERSARIES
Ron and Marsha Metz 3rd
Carl and Bonnie Knapp 18th
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sunday / April 2 / 5th Sunday in Lent- PotluckSunday Worship Service at 11 a.m./ Children’s Sunday school at 11 a.m.
Monday / April 3 / Mary Martha- Heritage 1:00
Wednesday / April 5 / Christian Education Meeting 1:00
Saturday / April 8 / Youth Art Class 10-12 / Youth Group 12-2
Sunday / April 9 / 6th Sunday in Lent- Palm Sunday
Sunday Worship Service at 11 a.m./ Children’s Sunday school at 11 a.m.
Thursday / April 13 / Maundy Thursday Service
First 7:00
Friday / April 14 / Good Friday Service
St. Paul’s 1:00
Sunday / April16 / Easter Breakfast
Heritage-8:00-8:45
Easter
Sunday Worship Service at 11 a.m./ Children’s Sunday school at 11 a.m.
Wednesday / April 19 / Administrative/Finance Board Meeting 1:30
Saturday / April 22 / Youth Art Class 10-12
Sunday / April 23 / 2nd Sunday of Easter
Sunday Worship Service at 11 a.m./ Children’s Sunday school at 11 a.m.
Saturday / April 29 / Youth Group Lock-In / 9-9 Details to Follow
Sunday / April 30 / 3rd Sunday of Easter
Sunday Worship Service at 11 a.m./ Children’s Sunday school at 11 a.m.
THOSE IN NEED OF PRAYER
In Service to Country:Brandon Bailey / Private First Class
Kayla R. Gonzalez
Shut-ins:
Dolores Pask
Loved Ones in Long-term Care:
Christine Chappell / (Lutheran Home)
Helen Montz / (Lutheran Home)
Marion Smith / (Lutheran Home)
Mary Lou Kinner / (Fountainview)
Ruth Meyer / (Brookdale)
Julia Oetting / (Brookdale)
Please call Pastor Katie or the church office, if you know of someone who is ill, hospitalized, or that has entered nursing home care. Please let your family of faith lift you in prayer, visit,
or meet your practical needs during difficult times. Please let us know. We care.
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE
Liturgists are needed. Please sign up!
“Sign-up Sheets” for Sunday Liturgist & Communion Stewards are in the Narthex.
The sheet for Coffee Hour is on the table in the lower entryway.
SINGERS INSTRUMENTALISTS WANTED
Looking for musicians of all skill levels to share their talents during the worship services. Special music is welcomeat all services.
**If names or other information are omitted or incorrect please contact the church office at (734) 241-6070. **
Women’s Fellowship & Service Opportunity!
Mary-MarthaCircle
OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE ON
MONDAY, April 3rd AT 1:00 p.m.
Monroe First United Methodist Church
“Please join us!” – Jamele Perry
Free Copy of Book of Discipline 2016 and/or Book of Resolutions 2016
Kroger Community Rewards Program
Anyone who participates in this program, must re-enroll during the month of April for our church to continue earning rewards during May 2017 - April 2018. You can do this by going to the customer service desk in Kroger. Kroger mails a check to the church quarterly for rewards earned. This is one way the Missions Committee receives money for the organizations they help during the year.
Easter Breakfast
Easter Breakfast, Heritage UMC, 8:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. Please sign yellow sheet in the lobby, no later than Palm Sunday, if you plan on attending.
Monroe First UMC
Holy Week
Palm Sunday 11am
Children (and those young at heart who want to join us!) will process into worship waving palm branches and shouting, “Hosannah!” to commemorate Christ’s journey into Jerusalem. We will have a real live, baby donkey, just like the one Jesus asked for before his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, be sure to join us for our Palm Sunday worship on April 9, 2017 at 11am in the Sanctuary.
*Please bring coats and jackets to be laid over the pews which will then be taken to be distributed to the needy at Oaks of Righteous as we recreate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem with the waving of palms and cloaks along the way.
Maundy Thursday/Holy Thursday Service, 7:00 pm
We will commemorate the Last Supper with a Service of Holy Communion, and scripture and drama to remember the last 24 hours of Christ’s life through the eyes of his mother, Mary. This service will conclude with the traditional “stripping of the altar” as worshipers depart in silence. Maundy Thursday is on April 13, 2017 at 7pm in the chapel in the All Purpose Room
Good Friday Service 1pm
Our Good Friday service will be a joint service held at St Paul’s UMC with First UMC, Heritage UMC, St Pauls UMC and other churches from our community participating.
EASTER BUTTERFLY WORSHIP CELEBRATION
Join us for a unique memorable Easter experience. During our worship we will have special music, celebrate Christ’s resurrection, and following the 11:00 am worship service we will release live butterflies. At the end of worship, we will move to the park across the street to release our butterflies. The butterfly is one of the Christian church’s earliest symbols of Christ’s resurrection. This Easter you will have the chance to hold in your hands a tiny envelope. When you open it, you will watch a beautiful, Painted Lady Butterfly experience its very first flight. Imagine more than a hundred butterflies, released at the same time, fresh from their cocoons, caught up in their new life that reminds us of the new life we have in Christ.
He Is Risen Indeed!
If you see a visitor to our church, be sure they stop by our visitor’s table to receive a free butterfly.
*Painted Lady Butterflies are indigenous to our environment, but if we have unseasonably cold or rainy weather on Easter Sunday, we will postpone the butterfly release until the next Sunday to give our butterflies the best chance at life.
Easter Morning Egg Hunt
Our children will leave worship after Children’s time to participate in our annual Easter Egg hunt. The children will return to worship about 10 minutes before the end, so they can be a part of our butterfly celebration with their families.
ELEVATOR NEWS
After many weeks of hard work by the Trustees, we are pleased to share with the church that we have secured a grant (which does not have to be repaid) from the Ann Arbor District for half of the cost of a new handicapped elevator, and along with a large generous memorial gift by an individual, along with other generous gifts, the new elevator is being ordered and plans are being coordinated for the construction work for the new elevator to begin. We ask for your patience as the lobby area is under construction, and be on the lookout for a Sunday celebration where we will dedicate the new elevator and finally get to worship again permanently in our beautiful sanctuary. If you have any questions, please ask a Trustee.
Holy Humor Sunday
On April 23rd, bring your funny bones and happy faces to 11 am worship and come prepared to laugh in the joy of the Christian faith! Holy Humor Sunday, the Sunday after Easter, was for centuries the culmination of a week of joyous celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, a week rich in joy, laughter, parties, jokes, singing and dancing. This ancient custom stemmed from the musings of early theologians who considered the possibility that the Resurrection was God’s joke on the devil. The resurrection is the celebration that God has the last laugh.
It is also known as Bright Sunday, because bright and colorful clothes, evoking the hues of butterflies (symbol of the Resurrection) are suggested as attire. Silly hats and happy clown faces are just fine, too!
Come to sing funny songs, listen to great music, laugh and share joy.There is even a rumor that there will be kazoos! Share a relaxed, fun service of worship as we celebrate God’s surprises on this day of joy and laughter.
After Holy Humor Sunday, We are going to be beginning a new sermon series about Christian half- truths. They are simple phrases. They sound Christian—like something you might find in the Bible. We’ve all heard these words. Maybe we have even said them. Maybe we have had them said to us. They capture some element of truth, yet they often miss the point in some very important ways.
Using the book by Adam Hamilton with the same name, we are going to search for the whole truth by comparing these common Christian clichés to the message and ministry of Jesus, and what scripture has to say about them. The clichés we are going to look at are:
April 30
Everything Happens for a Reason?
-Deuteronomy 30:19-20a
May 7
God Helps Those Who Help Themselves?
-Psalm 10:14, 27-28
-Psalm 18:6,16
-Psalm 121:1-2
May 14- Mother’s Day
God Won’t Give You More Than You Can Handle?
-1 Corinthians 10:13
-Psalm 46:1-2
May 21
God Said It, I Believe It,That Settles It?
-Deuteronomy 23:12-14
May 28
Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin?
-Matthew 7:1-5
What is LIUB
About World Autism Month and Light It Up Blue
Each April 2nd, Autism Speaks celebrates the start of its signature campaign, Light It Up Blue, along with the international autism community in recognition of UN sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day and April, World Autism Month.
Thousands of iconic landmarks and buildings join the hundreds of thousands of homes and communities around the world to “light blue” in support of people living with autism. Autism-friendly events and educational activities take place all month to increase understanding and acceptance and further support people with autism.
~Autism Speaks
*What is Autism?
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines Autism as: “a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral changes”.
The definition of Autism provided by Autism Speaks states that: “Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. With the May 2013 publication of the DSM-5 diagnostic manual, all autism disorders were merged into one umbrella diagnosis of ASD. Previously, they were recognized as distinct subtypes, including autistic disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome. ASD can be associated with intellectual disability, difficulties in motor coordination and attention and physical health issues such as sleep and gastrointestinal disturbances. Some persons with ASD excel in visual skills, music, math and art.”
Similar to the CDC and Autism Speaks definitions of Autism, the definition of Autism provided by the Mayo Clinic states: “Autism spectrum disorder is a serious neurodevelopmental disorder that impairs a child’s ability to communicate and interact with others. It also includes restricted repetitive behaviors, interests and activities. These issues cause significant impairment in social, occupational and other areas of functioning. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is now defined by the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as a single disorder that includes disorders that were previously considered separate — autism, Asperger’s syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified. The term “spectrum” in autism spectrum disorder refers to the wide range of symptoms and severity. Although the term “Asperger’s syndrome” is no longer in the DSM, some people still use the term, which is generally thought to be at the mild end of autism spectrum disorder.
Lastly, Autism is defined in the Merriman Webster Dictionary as: “a developmental disorder that appears by age three and that is variable in expression but is recognized and diagnosed by impairment of the ability to form normal social relationships, by impairment of the ability to communicate with others, and by stereotyped behavior patterns especially as exhibited by a preoccupation with repetitive activities of restricted focus rather than with flexible and imaginative ones.”
In summary, it can be said that, Autism is a neurologically based developmental disability that seriously affects a person’s ability to communicate, socialize, make judgments, and understand the perspectives of others. Autism is a spectrum disorder that affects every individual differently. The degree to which autism symptoms affect each person varies greatly.
According to recent estimates from the Center for Disease Control’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, autism affects about 1 in 68 children. It is almost 5 times more common among boys (1 in 42) than among girls (1 in 189). Autism occurs in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups and is the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States. Prematurity, low birth weight, and advanced parental age also increase the risk of developing autism. Parents who have one child with autism have a 2% to 18% chance of having a second child affected by autism.
Aidan’s thoughts about Autism
“If you want to know what it’s like to have autism, you’ve come to the right place. It’s a bit interesting, frustrating, and confusing. However, autism is one giant disability. Autism’s color is blue. And Sonic the Hedgehog is my autistic symbol.”
From the Marcero Family
Our Journey…
Our journey with Autism has been a winding road that neither one of us could have prepared for. As an expectant parent you try so hard to do “everything right.” The truth is we didn’t “do anything” to contribute to Aidan’s Autism. Autism can affect anyone of any race, socioeconomic background, health status, etc. It took several years to understand that and to except it.
Aidan did not talk consistently until he was almost 4 years old. I will never forget the day he said “Mommy, I love you” for the first time. He was in a Special Education Pre-School at the time and was receiving Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Music Therapy. Suddenly our bright, beautiful boy flourished before our eyes. Like the butterfly we have been studying in church, he continues to open up and show us his unique and different colors every day.
We thank God every day that we are one of the “lucky” ones. Jon and I are parents of a high functioning child of Autism. He has a bright future. We don’t have to agonize over what we are going to do when we are too old to care for him. Adults with disabilities can become lost in the system and overlooked.
We work tirelessly with the school and our team members from the Monroe County ISD to provide him with the best possible start in life. It’s what every parent wants for their child. Jon and I have the same desire for Sean, to be successful and find a profession that they will love and to be a productive member of society. With Aidan, it takes longer to accomplish those goals.
Would we change him if we could?
We get asked this question everyone in a while. It is very simple, no we would not change our Aidan. Autism has given him some of his best traits. He is funny, has a wealth and yearning for knowledge like none we have seen. Aidan is always learning something new and share it with us. He is great at creating, whether it is a new Lego structure, picture or computer program, he is always so proud of his creation. Aidan of course as you know is a great talker. If he is passionate about something he will let you know. He has a deep faith and a relationship with God that truly touches our hearts. How could we take all of that away? We would lose his soul and who he truly is. Aidan and Sean are our gifts from God. They have shown us how deeply you can love someone and just how much they can love you back.
…Our Journey Continues
Our journey is always changing, always winding and never a clear path. It hasn’t been easy, there have been deep struggles that taught us what it means to live out your marriage vows.
“To have and to hold,
from this day forward,
for better, for worse,
for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health,
until death do you part?”
Our strong faith has held us together. We are more than Autism. It has been a pleasure watching the congregation assist us in raising our children with faith. If you have questions you can always ask.
Included below is a light bulb. We invite you to place it in your house for this month and remember those with this interesting and complex disorder.
~Erin Marcero
**Autism Speaks is the original founder of the Light It Blue Campaign for autism awareness. They do great work nationally however if you would like to give money please send it to the Autism Alliance of Michigan. They are making strides in the community. AAoM has recently worked with Ford Motor Company to create a jobs program designed for adults with autism. Autism Alliance of Michigan also has FREE informational conferences designed to deliver the latest information in legislation, therapies, education etc. to caregivers, healthcare workers, education staff etc.