From Pastor Paul Donelson
If you would like a pastoral call, simply call and let me know you would like me to meet with you - at your home, in my office, or wherever!  Often, I'm even able to come right away, depending on the need.  You can call me at the church at 872-4322, at home at 872-2945, or email me at donelson@umcs.org.  The second Tuesday afternoon of each month I make home communion calls for those who can't get to church.

1.  “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” – Matthew 5:38-39 (Most of us have a really hard time with this one!)
2. “And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.” – Matthew 5:40 (Imagine how many lawyers would be out of business if we took this to heart!)
3. “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” – Matthew 5:41. (Was this Jesus’ version of car-pooling?)
4. “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you”. – Matthew 5:42 (See if a bank will give you this kind of a deal!)
5. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:43-45 (This is what it takes to be a member of the family of God!? Gracious!)
6. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” – Matthew 7:21-23 (Just saying the words in church isn’t enough? I guess not!)
7. “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;” – Matthew 10:37 (What a test of faith this is!)
8. “Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” – Matthew 10:38 (What is your cross?)
9. “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” – Matthew 10:39 (This gives new meaning to the phrase, “Get a life!”)
10. “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” – Matthew 19:21 (Perfection may be more complicated than we think!)
11. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” – Luke 4:18-19 (According to the Old Testament, a year of the Lord’s favor was supposed to take place every fifty years with total land reform and forgiveness of debts! When and how do we start?)
12. Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.” – Luke 11:39-41 (You rarely hear the last sentence in this passage talked about! Read it again!)
13. “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.” – Luke 11:42 (Justice can be very complicated!)
14. “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” – Luke 14:13-14 (We really need to put our faith in Jesus, here!)
15. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” – Luke 17:3-4 (I suppose we could always get out of this one by asking, “So who is my brother?”)

Peace .

Rev. Paul

Has anyone seen these little kids?
– We seem to have left them in the church! –

I met these two little kids when they were quite young, actually. In fact, they were both minutes old, fresh from their being with their mom. I couldn’t be in the operating room when the girl was born, as the doctor didn’t think I could handle watching a C-section being done on my wife. But, two years later, I was there for the boy’s birth. In fact, I was the first dad in that hospital to be allowed in the operating room for such a procedure.

We named them “Heather and Nathan.”

I remember how when we took them to church the people adored them as much as we did, helped to hold them, rocked them, and volunteered to baby sit for us. These two little kids were near the center of our lives at the church for a long time.

I remember how when Heather was about three years old, she was with me in the church, one night. It was dark in the sanctuary. The only light that was on was the eternal light above the Lord’s Table. As we walked by the sanctuary, I was holding her little hand in the dark. Suddenly stopping, she looked into the sanctuary and then looked up at me. “Daddy,” she whispered, softly, “Jesus is here!”

Chills went up my back.

As she got older, Heather liked to sing in the sanctuary, whether or not there were people there to listen to her. Often, she’d just extemporaneously make up her own songs with the words and sing them to the top of her voice. She was our little musician and went on to play the trumpet, march in the band, sing in the choirs.

Nathan, on the other hand, was our “little professor.” I remember how, at the age of two, he was able to recite the Lord’s Prayer, while sitting in the pew in the worship service. Of course, he’d learned the prayer at home, as we had prayed it every night before we went to bed.

One Sunday morning, Dr. Ramon Green, the superintendent of the public school system, was sitting in the pew in front of Nathan and was surprised to hear the boy say the Lord’s Prayer in his clear little voice. After the service was over, the astounded man picked up Nathan and carried him around the church to all the people he could and had him recite the Lord’s Prayer for them, which Nathan gladly did. The little fellow looked like a marionette in the tall man’s arms.

At about the same time, Nathan started to notice little things – ants, beetles, bees, flies, spiders, crickets, grasshoppers, preying mantises, and other small creatures that came around while he was playing, outside. He would lie on the ground and closely watch what they did and how they interacted.

We got him a “bug box” – something to put bugs into. And then he started to read books on bugs. And then he branched off into studying other living things, not only at home, but at school.

Heather and Nathan spent a lot of time at the church with us. They know all the hymns in the hymnal. They learned the bible stories and developed their own deep relationships with the Lord.

A few weeks ago, someone lamented that I didn’t have any kids. I was amazed to hear this, since it seems that I’d shared my kids with the church all of their lives.

About eight years ago, Heather graduated from college, with a major in music, got married and had two little girls of her own. She’s been working full time as the family and youth director at Adrian First United Methodist Church. She has plans to go on to be a nurse.

Nathan, stayed in school. A few years ago, he earned a master’s degree in biology from Bowling Green State University. He’s been married, now, for a few years.

In the meantime, he made a couple of trips to South Africa to collect samples of a unique kind of grasshopper and then went to London to help identify and properly catalog the species.

As I think about it, the fact is that my wife and I left our kids in the church. We were at churches in Birmingham and Pontiac when we left our daughter to move elsewhere. We were at the church in Roseville when we left our son to go to Ishpeming. Certainly, we would have loved to have kept them with us. They would have been great company. However, letting go of them is one of the best ways to encourage your children to grow.

Last night Nathan phoned us from Bowling Green with some good news. “I passed the orals for my dissertation, today,” he said. “I’ll be awarded my Ph.D. in December. Maybe I’ll go to medical school, now!” he quipped.

As I proudly congratulated him, I remembered my two little kids – my little musician and my little professor – and the things we had done together; how my wife and I had challenged their imaginations and their creativity so that they might take risks and pursue lofty goals, and how we had left them in the church.

Rev. Paul

Group Highlights

Dorcas
Meal Stats: October Turkey Dinner
Total Meals Served: 357
(Guests: 205; Take outs: 112; Workers 40)
Deposit for October: $2,588.00

November Menu:
Meatloaf and Escalloped Potatoes

A very big THANK YOU! to everyone who helped make this dinner a success. It wasn’t the biggest dinner but it ranks right up there. Thank you to the cooks who worked ahead of time getting squash baked (and those who donated the squash!) And drying bread for the stuffing; peeling and mashing potatoes; those making salads; baking pies and those who cut and set out those yummy pieces; those who set up the tables and those who put the place settings on them; those who delivered the take outs; those who served beverages and carried food to the tables; to those who dished up the food; to those who cleared and took tables down and mopped up; to those who did dishes, dishes and more dishes; and those who found places for leftovers. And with this long list of helpers, some tasks may still not be included but please know every task was important and was appreciated.


United Methodist Youth Fellowship
The UMYF had its first meeting on Sunday, October 14th. The group invites all youth from grades 5 through 12 to come and join the fun! The group will be meeting every other Sunday evening at 5pm. Ron and Beth Kittle are the leaders. Next meeting is Sunday, November 11.


United Methodist Women

The November meeting of the UMW will be on the 5th at noon. Group 1 along with co-hostesses Connie Schwaderer and Shirley Wisenbach will prepare and serve the noon luncheon.

Please bring your full Thank Offering boxes. New Thank Offering boxes will be ready to be picked up.

Goodie Boxes for college students and service people will be packed for shipping. Everyone is encouraged to donate individual serving items of instant soups, drink mixes, pudding and fruit cups, microwave popcorn, crackers with cheese or peanut butter, candy, gum, breakfast bars, pop tarts, toothpaste, toothbrushes, pens, pencils, or anything you like for snacking!

If you have bazaar items ready, you may bring them in with you.

Bazaar Notes:

• Looking for lots of Baked Goods and homemade candy.
• Wood crafts are very popular - hope our men have been busy!
• New this year will be felted bags. It is the rage in knitting this year. Come, check out these amazing bags!
• Holiday Crafts and decorations draw attention. Be creative.
• If anyone is looking for aprons, we will have some here!
• If you have any real nice items for the Attic Treasures, they will be welcome.
• Helpers are always needed in preparing and serving the lunch. Give Connie Schwaderer at call.

MATT Meeting
Matt stands for Michigan Area Transition Team - those working on the merger of the Detroit Annual Conference and the West Michigan Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

The Team will be on a listening tour around the state with the closest session for us being:

Sunday, November 11 at Frankenmuth UMC from 2:00 to 4:00pm.

The Plan of Organization for the new Great Lakes Conference is available on the Detroit Conference web site at www.umc-detconf.org or from the web site for the Michigan Christian Advocate: www.mcadvocate.org.

All Saints’ Sunday
The first Sunday in November brings us together to celebrate the life of those from our congregation who have gone on to live with their Heavenly Father.

This year we will recall:

• Millie Mark
• Louis Nemeth
• Iva Hildinger
• Ellis Karr
• Esther Buehrly
• Marilyn Hobart

During worship, each name will be read, a bell will toll and a candle will be lighted in remembrance of our friends.

Organ Dedication and Concert
You are invited to a special Service of Dedication and a wonderful Organ Concert on Sunday, November 11. The brief dedication will begin at 3:00pm followed by the concert.

Don Greenleaf has been preparing an array of hymns and popular music to present. Others will also join Don in this time of celebration.

Although this is a community effort and not a program of the Cass City UMC, several persons from our congregation participate in the preparation and serving of the meal. Please pray for this worthy community service, and if you would like to help , call Steve and Dora Fobear at 872-3804 or Scott Mills at 665-2410.

Take outs will be available later in the day.

Hanging of the Greens

We haven’t heard this phrase used in a while - mainly because Marilyn Green was among those persons decorating the church for several years. Now that Marilyn and Dolly Misch have officially “retired”, a new wave of volunteers will be needed.

Barb Kirn has offered to organize the “Hanging of the Greens” event. That doesn’t mean she will be the only one decorating! She will be organizing it - picking the areas to be decorated - and helping you decide what decorations to use.

Sunday, November 25 at 3:30pm, grab the kids and some finger foods and snacks and head for church. Area to be decorated will be divided up and the decorations ready to go - and we will give the glory to God for all of the new creations!

If you could help Barb bring in decorations from the shed, please give her a call.

13th Annual Bazaar and Lunch
Saturday, November 10 from 8:00am to 3:00pm

Lunch served from 11am to 2pm

Christmas Decorations, Wood Crafts, Baked Goods and Homemade Candy,
Hand Knitted items, Felted Bags, Cookbook Corner, Attic Treasures, Rag Rugs, Aprons, Cookie Walk, And Lots More!

Invite your family, friends and neighbors to browse the many tables on display and enjoy a delicious light lunch, too!

Remember the bottle drive - will accept colored bottles as well as clear plastic returnable bottles and aluminum cans. If you need pickup, contact the Shermans at 872-4649. This is another great way to support camping year round! There is a container in the east entry for your donations. Please be sure to rinse out your containers to help prevent a problem with ants.

Thanksgiving Community Service

You and your family are invited to share in a time of worship and fellowship with our friends from St. Pancratius Catholic Church, First and Fraser Presbyterian Churches on Sunday evening, November 18th at 7:00pm at the First Presbyterian Church.

Our choir will have a special presentation.

Our Liberian Connection

From: Rev. Peggy Paige,
Port Huron District Superintendent

The dates have been reset for our Port Huron Work Teams to travel to our sister districts of Sinoe & Grand Gedeh in Liberia. They are October 18 - November 3, 2008. We hope to send 2 construction teams of 8 persons each to work on a project in each of these districts. In addition we will support a project on the Nana Kru District which they will undertake. Total funds needed to be raised for the three proposed projects is $30,000 or $10,000 for each district. Although this may seem like a lot of money, it breaks down to only $5.00 per person in attendance at Sunday morning worship.

Proposed projects are:
• Grand Gedeh District: building completion- Putuken UME & Refuge Temple UMC
• Sinoe District: renovation of First UMC in Greenville (Our Sister Church!)
• Nana Kru District: completion of Guest House.

At this time the Port Huron Liberian Task Force is asking for your support to start raising funds to make this dream a reality. Special offerings, fund raisers by local churches, clusters or zones are encouraged. As you plan your Lenten activities think about adding Liberia as part of your mission outreach. Our goal is to have the $30.000 in hand by March 31, 2008 so we can guarantee the success of the projects and assure our brothers and sisters in Liberia our support. Checks should be made out to “PH DCOM” on the memo line: Liberia; Projects.

In addition to the cost of the projects, individual team members will need to provide funds for transportation, food, water and other personal expenses; this is currently estimated at $3,500 per person. If you would like to support the team, checks should be made out to “PH DCOM” on the memo line: Liberia Team Expenses.

I am confident that we can make this a reality as we all work together. An information meeting for those interested in becoming part of the teams will take place after the first of the year - watch for details.

Grief During the Holidays
Heartland Hospice and Champagne Funeral Homes present an End of Life Seminar, Grief during the Holidays.

The seminar will be held Tuesday, November 13 at the Tuscany Breeze (in the Econo-Lodge just north of the old Farmer Jack’s store) 898 N. Van Dyke, Bad Axe.

Special speaker, Jerry Walden, brings a unique perspective in addressing issues surrounding the grieving process and coping with the holidays. Jerry knows what it is like - one day his wife and three children were killed instantly in an auto accident as she took the kids to school. As a result, Jerry has spent much of his time educating others as to the grief process and ways to be a support to others.

The presentation begins at 7:00pm with sign-in beginning at 6:00pm. Refreshments will be served. Seating is limited. RSVP by November 5 to Laura Wisniewski at Heartland Hospice 269-2472. There is no charge.

Lisa Ann Treat in Concert

Gagetown UMC invites everyone to hear Lisa Ann Treat of Mayville on Sunday, November 4 at 6 pm. Check out her music at www.lisaanntreat.org.

• Discussed the Pig Roast. About 50 people attended. Raised $527 for our camp fund. Like the idea of having it in the fall. It needs to be moved to another area as it is not a worship event.
• Laity Day speaker will be Rod Sherman. Pastor Paul will be at a Bishop’s meeting.
• Noted a change in the schedule for the Organ Dedication. Originally set for November 4, it had to be moved back one week to November 11 due to a Service of Remembrance at Kranz Funeral Home.
• A Thanksgiving Service will be held here on Sunday, November 18 at 7pm. (This since has changed to First Presbyterian Church.)
• Barb Kirn volunteered to organize church decorating for Christmas. Hanging of the Greens will be Sunday, November 25 at 3:30pm with finger foods and snacks served.
• Tom Thumb Concert will be held in our sanctuary on Saturday, December 1 and Sunday, December 2.
• Will contact various church families to see if they will light an Advent candle and read the parts. Will need a family for Christmas Eve at 8:00pm.
• Children’s Christmas Program will be Sunday, December 9 at 6:00pm. Linda Derfiny has volunteered to help Laura Hill.
• A Cantata will be held on Sunday, December 16 at the 11am worship.
• Began planning Lenten services. Rev. Paul suggested a supper study on Wednesday
  evenings at 6:00pm - being all done in time for choir at 7pm. Keep it simple. Rev. Paul will do chili dogs for the first meal. Will plan others at next meeting.
• Want more than one person doing praise time - others are invited to help sing. Songs need to be lively and familiar. 
• Ideas for contacting the congregation to help with volunteer tasks was discussed.
• Discussed a noisy offering or other fund raisers for the Good Samaritan Fund.
• Will have a noisy offering the third Sunday of each month during Children’s Time.
• The Team was asked to be observant during worship services and will report observations at next meeting.

The Church is a Rescue Ship

(Adapted from Paul Kaak in New Directions for Small Group Ministry.)
A responsive readying from October Bishop’s Seminar for Pastors in Lansing on Laity Sunday

Caring and Sharing
Deaths...
...Our Condolences to John and Melody Frankowski, Ashley and Nataliah, their family and friends on the death of a cousin, Beatrice Bazant.
...Our Sympathy to Dorothy Knight, Susan and Ed Stoutenburg, Matt, Nick, Jeff, and Jarod, their family and friends on the passing of Dorothy’s brother, James C. Eaton of Farmington Hills. James was a former member of the Air Force and CIA.
...Our Deepest Sympathies to Marvin Hobart, Mark and Michelle Hobart and other family members and friends on the passing into life eternal by Marv’s wife, Marilyn.
...We Send our Sympathies to Barbara and Bob Tuckey, their family and friends on the recent passing of Barb’s step father in Florida.
Births...
Congratulations to Justin and Stacy Anthes on the birth of their first child, a son, Hayden Scott. Hayden was born on October 7 weighing 8 pounds 1 ounce. He is 22 inches long. The proud grandma is Beth Anthes.
Marriage...
Best wishes to Ashley Frankowski and Justin Grice who were married on October 4.
In Your Prayers... Rev. Linda (improving from another knee procedure); Tom & Elaine Proctor; Denise Jones (Leukemia);Maurice Joos; Mary Hutchinson; Thelma Graham; Bea Baker; Jack and Ruth Esau;Mike Sullivan (heart surgery); Laura Hill (gallbladder & hernia surgery);
Tendercare, 4782 Hospital Dr., C.C.: Florence Eimers, Audrey Katzenberger, and Janet Francis (recuperating from back surgery)
Northwood Meadows, 6086 Beechwood, C.C.: John Marshall, Bob Keating, Mick Dawson, Winifred Lamb (Betsy Dillon’s mom); Fritz Pomeroy, Marv Hobart.
Rendon AFC, 1341 S. Colling Rd., Caro 48723, Stanley Kirn.
Kings’ Daughters, 2410 Rodd St., Midland, MI 48640: Dorothea Quick;
Tuscola Medical Care Facility, 1285 Cleaver Rd., Caro 48723: Ruth Freeman.
Service People: Mike Furness (should be home from Iraq now); Marc Inbody (Germany); Jason Jezewski (Montana); Tim Karr (Washington State); Jesse Osborne (Japan); Josh Sherman (Ohio) and Jamie Parrish (Iraq).
From the Mail Box...
From Margaret Burns: Thank you so much for the flowers. I really appreciate your thoughtfulness. Also, thank you for the many cards, get well wishes, and the prayers while I am recovering.
Behind the Scenes
Many of us forget the hidden hands behind many church activities. It’s all to easy to forget the members of the congregation who clean the sanctuary so it is ready for worship, not to mention those who keep the restrooms clean. It is all too easy to attend church dinners, forgetting those in the kitchen preparing food or washing dishes - setting tables and taking down tables and chairs. It is all too easy to pray for shut-ins, forgetting those who take the time to write or visit them. All too easy, because so often it is the same people performing all of these tasks. Our lives are made of time. God’s most precious gift was Jesus’ time on Earth. Surely spending time doing what the church needs - behind the scenes - is a vital part of our saying “Thank you” to God.
Newsletter Helpers: Ruth Esau, proofreading; Judy Profit, Barbara Stickle, Roy & Shirley Wagg and Viola Walker for folding.
Lawn Mowers: Dr. Bob Green, Gary Jones, Mick Kirn, Steve Fobear, and Ron Kittle. Thank you to Harland Lounsbury for volunteering to do maintenance on the lawn tractor.
Thank you to those who clean each week.

Thanks be to God!