Announcements

New Member Classes: Sundays, May 13 & May 20. Classes will be offered for those interested in joining the church as members. These sessions will meet in the lounge following the 11:00 a.m. worship service. Reception Sunday is May 27. Contact the church office to sign up or if you have questions, 946-5191.

Phoebe Fellowship: Thursday, May 17 at 1:00 p.m. in the Church Lounge. The program, arranged by Margaret Knapp, will include Rev. Marvin and Annette Rosa. They will share some memories of their years at Central in the early 1960s and sing a song or two, and Annette will play her accordion. All are welcome!

Last Parent’s Night: Friday May 18 from 6 - 9:30 p.m. Parents enjoy a night out with free child care while we enjoy your kids! We’re planning to walk to F&M Park, weather permitting, so please send the kids with good walking shoes.

Change the World: May 19. There are 3 ways you can held Change the World with Central. Visit the Events page to find out more information.

Sunday School Ends: May 20 for all ages.

Honoring the 2012 Seniors: Sunday, May 20th. If you have (or are) a high school graduate this year, please email Ann Porter or call 946-5191 ext. 26 with the following information: Student name, parent's name & best phone number to reach someone for additional information. We look forward to a special brunch and service designed especially for this benchmark.

Little Bracha's: Sunday, May 20 at 2:30 p.m. A group designed just for families with infants and toddlers will meet at Hands on Art, on Hall street near the warehouse district, at 2:30 today to create a ceramic family treasure or perfect father's day gift. Please join other families in a similar stage of life for fellowship and fun, for the whole family!

Haiti Presentation: Monday, May 21 at 6:15 p.m. in room 305. Bill Donberg went to Haiti a few weeks ago to check out the water filtration assistance that the Haitian Methodist Church and Rotary are helping to provide to Haitians without clean water. He will share a presentation regarding the program.

UM Women Days Apart: Tuesday, May 22. Celia Hastings, author of "The Undertaker's Wife" will be our speaker. There are two opportunities: There will be a daytime gathering at Mears United Methodist Church at 9:00am. This is a potluck. An evening gathering will be at 6:00pm at the Charlevoix United Methodist Church. This will be a dinner. Information forms and registration forms for the dinner can be found on the UMW Bulletin Board. Please contact Corinne Plough or call 922-4978 for further information or to share rides.

Church Office: Closed Monday, May 28 in observance of Memorial Day.

Rev. Cynthia Harvey, the executive director of UMCOR: June 3. She will be preaching at Central. United Methodist Committee on Relief is the helping arm of the United Methodist Church through which we assist people in suffering situations from events of disasters caused by human or natural factors. Between services she will participate in a question and answer session.

God's Creation Camp: June 18 - 22. Through hands on activities, 1st - 5th graders will learn ways to sustain the earth and contribute to the air we breathe and the soil we grow food in. Activities include worm composting, gardening, sprout growing, water quality care and conservation and recycling. Pre-registration is required and can be done in the church office.

Mission opportunity: June 22 - 24. All ages are invited to gather at 5:30 p.m. to head to Muskegon for a day of mission on Sat. June 23 and a day of fun at Michigan Adventure on June 24th! Mission work will include painting the exterior of a home and some thinning of existing landscaping. Please find out more by contacting Ann Porter or by calling the church office or attending an information meeting on Sunday, June 3rd at 9:45 in room 106.

We are a rainbow of people: We believe that God’s love and grace are available to everyone. A rainbow is a sign of God’s promise to always care for us. Wearing a rainbow cross or sticker on your nametag is a way to welcome everyone to Central Church and assure them that there is a place for them in God’s circle of grace. Rainbow crosses and stickers are available at the Welcome Center and on the table by the office.

Central Community Outreach Wins Award: Central's Community Outreach program received the "Unsung Hero Award" at the annual Goodwill Industries "In Unity with Community Luncheon" on May 9. Our Community Outreach program provides hot breakfasts, access to showers and mail, counseling on obtaining aid and assistance and Christian love and fellowship five mornings a week to 50 to 70 individuals in need. Thanks and congratulations to our thirty plus loyal volunteers, our Community Outreach Director, Jacquie Thomas, and our Missions Team and congregation for providing funds to make this vital program possible.

Inspired by George Moss? Would you like to attend the Big Ticket Festival mid June? I was and I'd like you to come along with me! If you are interested in a trip to the Allegan Fairgrounds, let Ann Porter know and we can gather a group of both adults and youth to go together in a church van. Email Ann or call the church office.

Office Volunteers Needed: Help with morning and afternoon shifts during the week and on Sunday mornings. Basic receptionist duties and some light office work. Please contact Vicki Heethuis, volunteer coordinator, at 938-9704 if you can help!

Take Them A Meal: Current Recipients are - Rick Eyman and Don & Anne Ross password is cumc and for Kelly & Matt Johnston, password yummy love. Please go to takethemameal.com, enter their last name and password. If you do not e-mail but would like to participate please contact Beth Whiting at 938-9225 to be added to the schedule.

May Mission Prayers: Rio Colorado Agricultural and Technical High School, Bolivia. Give thank s that the new Spanish language computers are in place at the school. Central provided a large portion of the funds for these computers.

May Coin Offering: May's offering will support the Family Partnership of the Grand Traverse area. This ministry links mentors and people having difficult financial circumstances. Through this multi-month connection the mentors assist the persons to learn how to manage their finances and the challenging organizations with which they work. Several members of Central serve as mentors and members of the Family Partnership Board.

Library News: The Spring books issue of The Christian Century has the usual "Best sellers" list from a variety of publishers. The May 2 issue also has reviews of a number of current books and is located on the shelf in the lounge. Copies of the "Best sellers" list is on the table in the lounge.

Adult Christian Education classes this month:

When and how to use the Emergency Room: May 16 from 6:30-7:30 in the church lounge. Leader, Dr. Blum.

Primetime Parables: Sunday Mornings April 15 - May 20 in the Church Library. Leaders: Char and Fred Hoxie.

Go Green, Save Green: Sundays, April 15-May 20 from 9:45-10:45 in room 301

5 Wishes Workshop: May 23 at 6:30 in the Library. Please call the church office to sign up. If you have questions, please direct them to our parish nurse, Beth Whiting, 946-5191.

Parenting is a Journey: February 29 - May 23 (No class on March 28) from 6:30 - 7:30 in room 105.

Becoming a Love and Logic Parent: Wednesday evenings April 4 - May 23 from 6:15-7:45 in room 106. This class requires preregistration. Please register in the church office or sign up now. Leaders: Kelly and Matt Johnston.

Serve God, Save the Planet: Wednesday evenings May 2 - May 23 from 6:30-7:30 in the lounge. Leaders: John Flesher and Darcy Dewling.

What Has Formed Me: Interview about Faith and Life: May 23 at 6:30 in the church lounge. We have all been influenced by our life experiences. Each of us has important stories to tell. Join us on Wednesday as we hear the stories that have shaped the faith of our friend, Kathy Gray from our congregation.

Immigration Educational Forum: May 31from 7:00-9:00 in the Chapel. We have the privilege this spring of hosting a panel of top officials from Detroit USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services), ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and CBP (Customs and Boarder Protection). Come to hear from all the different sides of the immigration issue. As we continue to explore the opportunity of starting a Justice For Our Neighbors ministry at Central, learn how the services provided through JFON can benefit not only individuals in Northern Michigan, but also the work of all three of these federal agencies.

Questions and Answers about UMCOR: June 3 from 9:45-10:45 in room 301. Leaders: Rev. Cynthia Harvey, Executive Director of UMCOR. Join us for this special opportunity for a question and answer time with the head of the United Methodist Committee on Relief. She will be giving the sermon at the 9:00 and 11:00 services that day.

Go to the Adult page to find out more details of the classes offered. Faithlink will finish up for the year on May 20.

Tour of Hope and Peace in the Middle East: The Reverend and The Rabbi invite you to join them from October 21-30, 2012. Rabbi Chava Bahle and The Rev. Dr. Robin Long are leading an inter-faith trip to Israel. Highlights include Caesarea on the Mediterranean coast, the Bahai Gardens, Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and much, much more.