Author: Burns, Wayne A

The Connection

February 2020

A monthly publication of the
Millington United Methodist Church
Our Mission: To Know Christ, and to Make Him Known

February Scripture Readings
Colossians 3:12-14
Proverbs 27:5-6
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
John 15: 12-15
Proverbs 17:17
Job 29: 4-6
Proverbs 12:26
Job16 :20-21
1 Corinthians 16:14
1 John 4:8
1 Peter 4:8
John 13:34-35
1 John 4:7
1 John 4:19
Proverbs 10:12
1 John 4:18

Join us at
Millington United
Methodist Church for
2nd Saturday Game
Night
Saturday, February 8th
6:30-9:30 p.m.
In the Fellowship Hall
Bring a snack and drink to share and come join the fun.

Church is not something you go to,
It’s a Family you belong to.

~Pastor~
John Britt
989-871-3341-Parsonage
rev_jjb@yahoo.com

~Our Address~
9020 State Rd. Millington, MI 48746
989-871-3489
989-871-6042 (Fax)
Website: www.millingtonumc.com
Facebook: Millington-United Methodist Church
Email: millingtonunc@millingtonumc.com
Church Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. until noon

~Administrative Assistant
Barb Bassett
989-871-3489
millingtonumc@millingtonumc.com

February Birthdays
1 Bethany Morrill
2 Cindy Ayotte
Bud Schriber
4 Chelsea Newcombe
Robert Valentine
Aleea Wilson
9 Lori Hall
Kathryn Malone
Alissa Vincent
Mark Truett
Melissa Trato
Michael Burks
Riley McKuen
Nolavay Blackmer
Peyton McKuen
Maury Chapin
Watson Gray Reinert
Helen Alvord
Brian Dickson
Chad Reinert
Fiona Wolf
Charlotte Buccaneer
Tonia Burns
Kathryn Cram
Jahari Tanner
Dustin Smith
Tammy Henderson
Robert Shepherd
Bobbye Thom
Devin Howell
Debbie Olmstead

Perhaps you’ve heard the rumor. “Pastor John is retiring this year.” It’s not just a rumor. It’s one of those things that, eventually, we all face: the inevitability and eventuality of change in this passing life. And now it has taken hold of me as well.
As of July 1 – my official beginning of retirement, I’ll have served over 38 years under Episcopal appointment in Michigan. If I thought I could continue to be effective, I’d shoot for 40. But I’ve seen the changes that have gradually accumulated over the years . . . in my twenties – my thirties – my forties – my fifties. And now, well into my sixties, I’d probably tell you more – except I’m having a bit of trouble remembering. Not stuff from my childhood. Just things that are supposed to be on my calendar but are missing. Except, they aren’t. They’re just not happening until next week, and I neglected to turn the page. Not a big deal, until – one day – it IS a big deal. And I need to turn a different page.
So, as we often do as we age, I’ve been reminiscing: thirty-seven and a half of those years have been in what is now the Central Bay District. Saginaw Bay is the closest thing I have to a “hometown,” especially a small cottage on the bay that Janine has known all her life.
I’ve served under seven different bishops and 15 different district superintendents. I’ve been an associate pastor of a city church (for five months), a pastor of a three-church charge, I’ve pastored in a congregation that was the only UMC in the whole county, a small town with three UMCs in one zip code - and a very special church that has been in almost as many districts over the years as I have been. 😊 And, the good news is, it’s not really over – it’s just a new set of opportunities . . . for all of us.
So, I’m taking “optimist” approach as I face more unknowns than I’ve ever before encountered in life. Not only will that help me – I hope it will help anyone and everyone who faces change.
Why? Because this is how an Optimist looks at Life this way:
Life is filled with challenges, puzzles and mysteries. As I keep my faith and follow God’s wisdom in facing them, He will faithfully guide and keep me – and I’ll find fulfillment.
Life is an unending series of adventures for me to help the unfruitful learn how to live for their own growth and the blessing of others. My own challenges help me to encourage others to know God’s grace and cheerfully strive to bring hope and healing for their difficulties, including pessimism.
And though I cannot solve every hurdle and uncertainty in the world by myself, I know the One who can – who does – who will.
I keep finding “new” verses in the Bible. Here is one that has caught my attention recently, from Daniel 12:13 – and the different “Versions” are all comforting to consider.
But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days. (ESV)
But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and shalt stand in thy lot, at the end of the days. (ASV)
And, of course, the better known and dearly loved Psalm 16:5. “LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.” (NIV)
Keep our DS and Bishop in prayer – as well as our SPRC (and me) to let God provide a good transition (including the inevitable speed bumps – er, learning opportunities) for us all, for the sake of the Eternal Kingdom of which we are a part. After all, there IS more to come.
😊 Pastor John

Mission Notes for February
First I want to report the amount we collected for the Baby Bottle Boomerang last summer in support of Positive Alternatives, the crisis pregnancy centers in Caro & Bad Axe. We collected $860.56. The mothers and fathers -to-be are very appreciative of the services provided to them through our support.
I want to re-introduce our congregation of a Mission Program we have been involved in for several years. “Equal Exchange” is a “For-Profit Fair Trade” worker-owned cooperative headquartered in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts.
They distribute organic coffee, tea, sugar, bananas, avocados, olive oil, cocoa and chocolate bars produced by farmer cooperatives in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
An interesting fact is that the highest paid employee is not allowed to receive more than
4x of what the lowest paid employee is paid. Equal Exchange deals directly with small farmers and pay them higher than market prices for their products and award the middle men their profit.
I would encourage our people to look over the items Equal Exchange offers and consider buying the items you could use and order them through Barb at the church office. This will benefit the small farmers in 3rd world countries. This is a self help mission effort.
If you have any questions, Barb has more information in the office.
Thanks,
Maury Chapin
Mission Chairperson
`
Maury Chapin
Mission Chairperson

Millington U.M.C.
4th thru 8th Grade Youth
Schedule
Sunday, February 9th– 6:00-7:30 p.m. Meeting
Sunday, February 23rd– 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Progressive dinner

Finance

Moment

In 2019, the deposits to our bank account totaled $197,446. The distribution of that total was 84.6 % General Fund, 8.7% Designated Funds, 3.2% Pass Through Funds and 3.5% Building Funds. Disbursements from the General Fund were:
Payroll- $92,585 Apportionments & Pension-$29,932
Church Building - $23,110 Missions-$8,000
Parsonage Expenses- $6,130 Support & Infrastructure- $4,500
Travel Expenses- $3,278 Program Accounts- $1,503
Custodial Supplies - $934 Committees- $537
Laity Education - $10 Miscellaneous - $7
Our budget was $178,313. The combined total of the disbursements above is $170,526. So, we stayed within our budget. However, our General Fund Income was $166,810. That was $3,716 less than the operating expenses.
In the six years prior to 2019, the amount of General Fund giving has averaged $178,036. The amount given in 2019 dropped 6.3% compared to the six-year average.
We have tightened the budget for 2020. It is $1,687 less than the 2019 budget even though our apportionments are $835 higher this year.
Please, prayerfully consider an increase in your support of the operations of our church in 2020.

United Methodist Women
Our February meeting will be held on the 12th of February. This will be the first meeting of the year. We will be learning of the Prayer and Self Denial Program for 2020. We will also be filling Valentine bags for our precious shut-ins. Come and join us!
~Jennie Brown, UMW President

Thank You and Upcoming Events and Information...

Thank you to all those who help raise money for our Children’s program by recycling your ink cartridges. We have earned almost $200 by recycling items dropped off to the church. Below is a list of items that can be recycled. Please bring your items to the church office to be collected. Thank you!
What we recycle:
Inkjet cartridges, cell phone & accessories, GPS & radar detectors, calculators, eBook Readers, IPods/MP3 Players, Digital/Video Cameras, PDAs, IPads/Tablets, Video Game & Consoles

MUMC 2nd Saturday Game Night is scheduled for Saturday, February 8th from 6:30-9:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Bring a drink and a snack to share.

Church Council
This Month’s Meeting:
Tuesday, February 18th– 7:30 p.m.

Newsletter Folding will be
Thursday, February 27th at 10 a.m.

Sunday Service Volunteers for February

DATE	Communion	Greeters	Reader	Media & Sound	Children's / Gathering / 4 yrs.-5th Gr.	Nursery / Infant-3 yrs.	Coffee Hour
2		Lois Boyd	1-Lois Boyd / 2-Ann Tanner	Media- / 1-Lois Bushaw / 2-Tom Sabgash / Sound- / 1-Don Jensen / 2-Pat Burns		Need Volunteers
9	1- / 2-	Lois Boyd	1-Lois Boyd / 2-Darla Gasper	Media– / 1-Lois Bushaw / 2-Tom Sabgash / Sound- / 1-Don Jensen / 2-Charles Tanner	Sharon Trato	Need Volunteers
16		Lois Boyd	1-Lois Boyd / 2-Ann Tanner	Media- / 1-Lois Bushaw / 2-Tom Sabgash / Sound / 1-Don Jensen / 2-Pat Burns	Destany / LeVan	Need Volunteers
23		Lois Boyd	1-Lois Boyd / 2-	Media- / 1-Lois Bushaw / 2-Tom Sabgash / Sound / 1-Don Jensen / 2-Charles Tanner	Danielle / Dickson	Need Volunteers

SCRIP Gift Card Program
Birthdays and Anniversaries, or just to say Thank You...don’t forget you can
purchase or order your SCRIP Gift Cards from Barb in the church office. Proceeds from this program go to help support our Children’s programs. There are several cards available in the office and 100’s you can order.
See Barb in the church office if you would like to purchase or order cards.

◄ January	February 2020					March ►
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
						1
2 / 9a Worship / 10a Sunday School / 11a Worship / 6p Men’s 4th Day	3	4 / 8:30a- Women’s 4th Day / 10a- Bible Study / 7p-Bible Study	5 / 8a-Men’s Bible Study / 10a-3p Quilt Club / 6:15p – Choir / 7-10pPing Pong / 7:15p-PoP Band	6	7	8 / 6:30 to 9:30 2nd / Saturday Game Night
9 / 9a Worship / 10a Sunday School / 11a Worship / 6p Men’s 4th Day / 6-7:30p Youth	10 / 5:30 -7p Girl Scouts / 1p—UMW	11 / 8:30a- Women’s 4th Day / 10a- Bible Study / 7p-Bible Study	12 / 8a-Men’s Bible Study / 6:15p – Choir / 7-10pPing Pong / 7:15p-PoP Band	13	14	15
16 / 9a Worship / 10a Sunday School / 11a Worship / 6p Men’s 4th Day	17 / 7:30 pm -Mission Mtg.	18 / 8:30a- Women’s 4th Day / 10a- Bible Study / 7p-Bible Study / 7p Church Council	19 / 8a-Men’s Bible Study / 10a -3p Quilt Club / 6:15p – Choir / 7-10pPing Pong / 7:15p-PoP Band	20	21	22
23 / 9a Worship / 10a Sunday School / 11a Worship / 6p Men’s 4th Day / 5-7p Youth Progressive Dinner	24 / 5:30 -7p Girl Scouts	25 / 8:30a- Women’s 4th Day / 10a- Bible Study / 7p-Bible Study	26 / 8a-Men’s Bible Study / 6:15p – Choir / 7-10pPing Pong / 7:15p-PoP Band	27 / 10a Newsletter Folding	28	29

Millington United Methodist Church
9020 State Rd.
Millington, MI 48746
Phone: 989-871-3489
Millington United Methodist Church
9020 State Rd., Millington MI 48746
989-871-3489 email: millingtonumc@millingtonumc.com
www.millingtonumc.com or on Facebook @ Millington United Methodist Church
Our Mission: To know Christ and to make Him known
OUR SUNDAY SCHEDULE.
*9:00 a.m. Worship *10:00 a.m. Sunday School *11:00 a.m. Worship
Finance Moment
Upcoming Events & Information
Church Family Good News & Thank You Page...

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