When are we getting back to in-person worship? I ask myself this question everyday. And for several months my answer has been I don’t know. I really hate not knowing. It drives me bonkers. If you were to ask my wife she would tell you the thing that I dislike the most is to be asked a question to which I don’t know the answer. Sometimes I find myself mak-ing an answer up without any real evidence to support it. That usually ends badly. So instead of making up an answer to when we will get back to worship. Let me offer some factors that weigh on the deci-sion. First, I don’t want to make the decision on my own. I will be working with the Church Leadership to determine when we can safely return to in person worship. Second, my priority is the health and safety of our faith commu-nity, and our neighborhood. I feel that we should practice being good neighbors by paying attention to guidance of our Gover-nor and Public Health Authorities as to the risk of spread of the

Shepherd United Methodist Church

Circuit Volune 1 Issue 7 August 6, 2020

Pastor: Rev. Bill Chu Email: wmwchu@gmail.com

Admin Asst: Nichole Knight & Rose Cowden

107 W. Wright Ave. Shepherd, MI. 48883

(989) 828-5866 office@shepherdumcmi.org www.shepherdumcmi.org

Office Hours:

Monday 9:00-11:00 Wednesday & Thursday

9:00-12:00 pm

The Vision of Shepherd United Methodist Church

To be an inviting and

welcoming congregation committed to:

~sharing the love of God

~building meaningful

relationships within the community

Sunday Service connect with us on Facebook - First United Methodist Church Sermon Series: The Sabbath

Making Connections

From the Pastor………….. When are we getting back to in-person worship? I ask myself this question everyday. And for several months my answer has been I don’t know. I really hate not knowing. It drives me bonkers. If you were to ask my wife she would tell you the thing that I dislike the most is to be asked a question to which I don’t know the answer. Sometimes I find myself making an an-swer up without any real evidence to support it. That usually ends badly. So instead of making up an answer to when we will get back to worship. Let me offer some factors that weigh on the decision. First, I don’t want to make the decision on my own. I will be working with the Church Leadership to determine when we can safely return to in person worship. Second, my priority is the health and safety of our faith communi-ty, and our neighborhood. I feel that we should practice being good neighbors by paying attention to guidance of our Governor and Public Health Authorities as to the risk of spread of the COVID-19. My personal experience is that this is a real risk to our public health. I personally know friends and family who have contracted COVID-19 and some have died. So for me this is not a political argument. Continued on page 2

We are Praying for you this week! Week of August 10 Myrtle Raab Birthdays Dean Travis August 11 Prayers & Concerns: Prayer Requests I will intentionally pray for these people & situations this week: Current Celebrations & Concerns: ♦ Rebecca, Dee Brock’s sister,

several health issues ♦ Back to School concerns for all ♦ Administrative staff, teachers,

staff, students of Shepherd School

♦ Alyson Martin, dog bite, she is undergoing the shots

♦ Prayers for those suffering with mental illness, depression, anxi-ety, loneliness

♦ Family & friends of Bill Banks, at his passing.

♦ Hortensia & family, at the death of her father

♦ Josh Morgan, 2 more tumors found , more chemo & radia-tion treatments

♦ Pastor Bill, a smooth transition Ongoing Celebrations & Concerns ♦ Mike Wisneski, facing a long

recovery from throat cancer ♦ Prayers for our nation, our

state & our church as we con-tinue to plan reopening & a return to some state of “normal”.

♦ Prayers for Darci Draper who is dealing with health issues.

♦ Brian Schueller, chemo treat-ments

♦ Ed & Paula Grubb

From the Pastor continued……….. Third, I am not used to leading a social distancing church. I am used to greeting people with a smile and a touch (handshake or hug). This is impossible with social distanc-ing. I have been trained to lead public in person worship, but with a ten person limit this is also difficult. Moreover, I am in a new appointment in a new town and my normal methods of meeting and greeting are off the table, ugh. This is not a complete list but these are some of the factors that I consider on a daily basis. Enlight of all of these factors here is what we are aiming for. I would like to return to in person worship at Shepherd UMC on September 13, 2020. We will need to follow the Gover-nor’s suggestions regarding public gatherings and I think it's appropriate that we take some cues from our Shepherd Schools. If the schools are meeting in person, I believe it’s likely safe for us to meet in person. That said I feel it is neces-sary to continue to offer an online social distancing option for our members and guests who are most vulnerable. I pray that you find this information helpful and comforting in these extraordinary times. Blessings, Pastor Bill Chu

Hello Everyone. Though the season we are in is so unpre-dictable, we have enjoyed our days spent at home, adven-turing into crafts, enjoying outdoors, playing games, virtual church and loving the family time. I planned an end of the school year field day for my daughters and seven nieces and nephews. Phew, that was so fun but exhausting. I do have to say God knew what he was doing when he gave us the opportunity to homeschool. I am beyond grateful that I have a year under our belt, especially with the situation many are facing regarding school decisions. Some of the fun things we have done are bike riding, virtual vacation bible school, making slime, baking, reading/schoolwork, lots of swimming, fishing, and fun with cousins! I have at-tached a few pictures including our dog Rossi…

Connecting with our Staff family

Nichole

Connecting……..with our family page.

Connecting with our memories. Are you doing your autobiography? This weeks question: Who did you feel the most love from? Mom? Dad? Grandparents? Aunt? Un-cle? Sibling? Teacher? Neighbor? Friend? Pastor? God? Write yourself a heartwarming story about that love. Remember who your audience will be; you children and grandchildren.

Cats & Cows….Life on the farm and at the home of Dave & Judy Sprague

Ivory as a baby. Ginger as a baby. Sisters, Ivory & Ginger, 2 years old!

Upcoming Mission Sunday

Sunday, August 9th: Henderson Settlement If you visit the Settlement’s website, you will see there are many ministries to support and encourage this community. They offer home improvement, a thrift store, a craft shop (with local vendors), infant/parent/youth/adult/senior support and much more. They have a growing greenhouse business that is participating in the Grow Appalachia Program and a beef cattle program that rounds out their agricultural setting. The Grow Appalachia Program is a marvelous addition for the support of their community. Your financial support of this wonderful ministry will be much appreciated!

Drive Thru Back-to-School-Bash News Plans are progressing for the “Drive Thru Back-to-School Bash” at Shepherd Elementary School and Winn Elementary School on August 18 and 19. Several of you have been purchasing school items, and please know that the Outreach Team is very appreciative.

It was discovered that there were several containers of school supplies from previ-ous years stored up behind the sanctuary. Those supplies have been moved to the Fel-lowship Hall.

If you are willing and available, I am extending an invitation to members of the Outreach Team or to anyone else who is interested to please meet me in the Fellowship Hall on Friday, August 7 at 10 a.m. to help count and organize what it there.

Thank you kindly for your assistance.

Connecting in the Community

Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee (Ode To Joy) Verse 1 Joyful joyful we adore Thee God of glory Lord of love Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee Opening to the sun above Melt the clouds of sin and sadness Drive the dark of doubt away Giver of immortal gladness Fill us with the light of day Verse 2 All Thy works with joy surround Thee Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays Stars and angels sing around Thee Center of unbroken praise Field and forest vale and mountain Flowery meadow flashing sea Chanting bird and flowing fountain Call us to rejoice in Thee Verse 3 Thou art giving and forgiving Ever blessing ever blest Wellspring of the joy of living Ocean depth of happy rest Thou our Father Christ our Brother All who live in love are Thine Teach us how to love each other Lift us to the joy divine Verse 4 Mortals join the mighty chorus Which the morning stars began Father love is reigning o'er us Brother love binds man to man Ever singing march we onward Victors in the midst of strife Joyful music lifts us sunward In the triumph song of life CCLI Song # 25321 Edward Hodges | Henry Van Dyke | Ludwig van Beethoven © Words: Public Domain Music: Public Domain For use solely with the SongSelect®. Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 1052757

Trading My Sorrows Chorus I'm trading my sorrows I'm trading my shame I'm laying them down For the joy of the Lord I'm trading my sickness I'm trading my pain I'm laying them down For the joy of the Lord Vamp Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord amen Verse I am pressed but not crushed Persecuted not abandoned Struck down but not destroyed I am blessed beyond the curse For His promise will endure That His joy's gonna be my strength Though the sorrow may last for the night His joy comes with the morning Interlude Lai lai lai lai lai lai lai lai lai lai lai Lai lai lai lai lai lai lai lai lai lai lai Lai lai lai lai lai lai lai lai lai lai lai lai lai CCLI Song # 2574653 Darrell Evans © 1998 Integrity's Hosanna! Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (Integrity Music, David C Cook)) For use solely with the SongSelect®. Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 1052757

Music for Sunday Worship

King Of My Heart Verse 1 Let the King of my heart Be the mountain where I run The fountain I drink from Oh He is my song Let the King of my heart Be the shadow where I hide The ransom for my life Oh He is my song Chorus You are good good oh You are good good oh You are good good oh You are good good oh Verse 2 Let the King of my heart Be the wind inside my sails The anchor in the waves Oh He is my song Let the King of my heart Be the fire inside my veins The echo of my days Oh He is my song Bridge You're never gonna let Never gonna let me down You're never gonna let Never gonna let me down You're never gonna let Never gonna let me down You're never gonna let Never gonna let me down Ending When the night is holding on to me God is holding on When the night is holding on to me God is holding on CCLI Song # 7046145 John Mark McMillan | Sarah McMillan © Meaux Jeaux Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Pub-

Way Maker Verse 1 You are here moving in our midst I worship You I worship You You are here working in this place I worship You I worship You Chorus (You are) Way Maker Miracle Worker Promise Keeper Light in the darkness my God that is who You are Verse 2 You are here touching ev'ry heart I worship You I worship You You are here healing ev'ry heart I worship You I worship You Verse 3 You are here turning lives around I worship You I worship You You are here mending ev'ry heart I worship You yeah I worship You Lord Tag That is who You are That is who You are That is who You are That is who You are Bridge Even when I don't see it You're working Even when I don't feel it You're working You never stop You never stop working You never stop You never stop working CCLI Song # 7115744 Osinachi Kalu Okoro Egbu © 2016 Integrity Music Europe (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (Integrity Music, David C Cook)) For use solely with the SongSelect®. Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 1052757

Sunday M

onday T

uesday W

ednesday T

hursday Fri Sat

P-Prayers B

-Birthdays

A-A

nniversaries

A

ugust

1

2 10am

Online W

orship

3 P-Rita Purtill

4 A-How

ard & H

ortensia Parkhurst

5 6

7 8

9 10am

Online W

orship

10 P-M

yrtle Raab

11 B-D

ean Travis

12

13 Staff M

eeting 14

15

16 10am

O

nline Worship

17 P-Jane R

oethlisberger 18 5-7pm

B

ack to School Bash

Kindergarten—

2nd grade

19 5-7pm

B

ack to School Bash

3rd-5th grades A-Ralph &

Bea Claybaugh

20 21

22

23 10am

O

nline Worship

24 P-Alice Rolston A-D

ean & Sharon

Travis

25 26

27 Staff M

eeting B-Bill Riley B-Paul H

awkins

28 29

30 10am

O

nline Worship

31 P-Randall &

LaVonna Roose A-Ed &

Paula Grubb

Missionary Update Most of you know that this is the time in which I would under normal circumstances be in South Africa. I'm missing being there terribly. Normal-ly when memories come up on Facebook I love it. But when I see memories of past trips to S.A. they are bi�ersweet.

Our purpose in South Africa is to take the love of God to the children, the grandparents who are a big part of the children’s lives since a great deal of that middle generation are deceased due to the AIDs/HIV pandemic and to those who are sick dy-ing.

Pastor’s Bill & Julie’s daily devotions this week have been on The Sabbath. The discussions have brought up “Doing vs. Being”. That has caused me to really think about am I doing? Being? And what is the difference?

A friend and I who have been on many of the S.A. Mis-sion trips together often talk about how close we feel to God on these trips. We wonder why it doesn’t last when we come home and get back to our daily lives. What is it? Even though we go to South Africa to do stuff and we are doing: VBS, Life Skills, Orphan Intervention Care, visiting preschools, visiting clinics, etc. We don’t go with a doing mentality. We go with a being mentality. We go to be in relationship. We go to love on, pray for and enjoy God’s creation. We don’t have a personal agenda. Someone else keeps track of time and just tells us when it is time to move. It frees us up to listen to God. Listen for His voice and not our own. Maybe its because it is easier to be when we don’t stress the out-come of what we are doing. It is easier to be when we do everything out of pure love. But, when I start pu�ing a price tag on what I am doing (and for me the price tag is people pleasing ) then doing is just that, doing. I can’t put a price tag on South Africa Mission Trips. Thanks for listening and many thanks for all your sup-port through the years. Rose Rose