News
On the calendar this week:
Wednesday, October 19th: Flint Mission Zone 12:30pm
Wednesday: Senior Choir offsite at Springvale 2:00pm
Wednesday: Joy Ringers 6:00pm
Thursday, October 20th: Chancel Choir 7:00pm
Do you have an event you would like to put on the calendar? contact us at courtstreetumc@comcast.net or call us at (810) 235-4651
On the calendar this week:
Tuesday, October 11th: Staff Meeting 8:00am
Tuesday: Staff Parish Meeting 6:30pm
Wednesday, October 12th: Blanket Tying 9:30am
Wednesday: Senior Choir 12:30pm
Wednesday: Joy Ringers 6:00pm
Thursday, October 13th: Chancel Choir 7:00pm
Saturday, October 15th: New to Court Street Q&A 2:00pm
Saturday: Harvest Festival & Chili Cookoff 3:15pm
To sign up for the Chili Cookoff, follow this link, https://forms.gle/ebb1mgXWoCa74JjC9
Or contact us at (810) 235-4651 or office@courtstreetflint.org
Do you have an event you would like to put on the calendar? contact us at courtstreetumc@comcast.net or call us at (810) 235-4651
On September 29th, we unfortunately lost a beloved CSUMC member, Gerald Berriman. Below is the link for his obituary and arrangements.
https://obits.mlive.com/us/obituaries/flint/name/gerald-berriman-obituary?id=36677160
On the calendar this week:
Wednesday, October 5th: Joy Ringers 6:00pm
Thursday, October 6th: Friendship Circle 12:00pm
Thursday: Chancel Choir 7:00pm
Do you have an event you would like to put on the calendar? contact us at courtstreetumc@comcast.net or call us at (810) 235-4651
We unfortunately lost 2 beloved CSUMC members. Mary Arnould passed on Friday, September 23rd. Click on this link for more information on Mary’s arrangements https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/grand-blanc-mi/mary-arnould-10941325
Karen Welch passed on Sunday, September 25th. We are not yet aware of Karen’s arrangements, but we will update this post with any further information.
On the calendar this week:
Tuesday, September 27th: Trustees Meeting 6:00pm
Wednesday, September 28th: Community Ministry 10:00am
Wednesday: Senior Choir 12:30pm
Thursday, September 29th: Chancel Choir 7:00pm
Sunday, October 2nd: CROP Walk 1:00pm for registration, 2:00pm for the walk kickoff
Do you have an event you would like to put on the calendar? contact us at courtstreetumc@comcast.net or call us at (810) 235-4651
On the calendar this week:
Tuesday, September 20th: Staff Parish Relations Committee at 6:30pm
Tuesday: Evangelism Planning Meeting offsite at White Horse Tavern 7:00pm
Wednesday, September 21st: Senior Choir at 12:30pm
Thursday, September 22nd: Chancel Choir 7:00pm
Do you have an event you would like to put on the calendar? contact us at courtstreetumc@comcast.net or call us at (810) 235-4651
On the calendar this week:
Monday, September 12th: Crossover at 10:00am
Tuesday, September 13th: SPRC at 6:30pm
Missions at 6:30pm
Wednesday, September 14th: Senior Choir at 12:30pm
Thursday, September 15th: Chancel Choir 7:00pm
Do you have an event you would like to put on the calendar? contact us at courtstreetumc@comcast.net or call us at (810) 235-4651
On the calendar this week:
Monday, September 5th: Labor Day - Church office is closed
Wednesday, September 7th: Senior Choir at 12:30
Thursday, September 8th: Friendship Circle at 12:00
Do you have an event you would like to put on the calendar? contact us at courtstreetumc@comcast.net or call us at (810) 235-4651
Congratulations to all Crim participants and thank you so much to all of the volunteers who handed out water this past weekend!
On the Calendar this week:
Tuesday, August 30th: Crossover Meeting at 10am
Do you have an event you would like to put on the calendar? contact us at courtstreetumc@comcast.net or call us at (810) 235-4651
Dear Church,
What a week it’s been! I’m so very proud of the staff and the people of Court Street United Methodist Church. This has been an unusual and challenging week, and you have responded with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. The Holy Spirit has been moving among us these last few days, creating sanctuary and community in all of the places where we dwell.
We are working to figure out what ministry looks like in this season of physical distancing. We will also work to keep you posted about events and changes in the life the church. Please note that we have reduced the on-campus time of all church staff. Melissa, our stellar secretary, will be working from home most of the week. Don’t be surprised or frustrated if nobody answers the phone. Melissa will be checking phone messages regularly, and we would appreciate if you would leave all of your messages in the general voicemail box, which will be checked more often than the boxes for individual staffpersons.
We would like to thank the people who made Sunday morning’s worship livestream possible. Alan Weamer on the organ, Rev. Christy with the children’s message, Vince Slocum with a deeply pastoral prayer, Celia Peters with the Scripture reading - you saw all of them on camera. You didn’t see two people who were instrumental in making that service happen: many thanks to Warren Cormicle for working the sound system, and to Ryan Pratt for serving as our cameraman and computer guru.
We appreciate your encouragement and constructive feedback about that first attempt at livestreaming. We have got some new equipment and software this week that we hope will make the experience even more user friendly. We hope to be able to broadcast to Facebook, YouTube, and our church website. Those with smart TVs and Roku-style devices will be able to join worship on the TV screen. We also hope to be able to put hymn lyrics on the screen so there’s no need to print a separate songsheet. Please pray for us as we figure out how to make all of this work!
Thanks to those who are giving through the church website, and thanks to those who have faithfully sent in offering envelopes. We are working to make it even easier to give. If you are able, please consider making an extra gift to Court Street UMC. We are investing in new equipment and software, believing that God will provide the resources and bring us out the other side of this challenging season with even stronger and more effective ministries.
One new tool for ministry we are going to employ during our weeks of physical distancing is an online service called “Zoom.” Zoom makes it possible to have virtual gatherings online through your internet browser. Participants can see and hear each other, and there is no need to download any additional software to your computer. This week we are going to try using Zoom for some of our regular gatherings. Check your email for links to the following events:
Wednesday, March 18, 6pm: Online Youth Group
Wednesday, March 18, 7pm: Virtual Potluck/Bible Study
Thursday, March 19, 10am: Online Coffee with Clergy
Thursday, March 19, 7pm: Bedtime Stories with Rev. Christy
Sunday, March 22, 6pm: Online Youth Group
Tuesday, March 24, 7pm: Bedtime Stories with Rev. Christy
Please know that we are working to care for those members of our church family who may be struggling with feelings of isolation. A handful of Court Streeters have volunteered to make regular phone calls, particularly to those who are homebound or living alone. We would love to have more Court Streeters making more calls to more people. If you’re willing to spend some time on the phone, keeping our church family connected, please respond to this message for further instructions.
Above all, Church, keep doing what you have been doing. Look for ways to love the people who are cooped up with you. Take lots of deep breaths. If you are able, participate in one of the many ministries that are helping people find the essentials (there’s still a food ministry happening at Asbury UMC, for example). Wash your hands, and do not be afraid. God is with us, everywhere!
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Jeremy
Dear Church,
After much consultation and prayer, and upon the request of Bishop David Bard, we are suspending all church activities, including Sunday school and in-person worship. The State of Michigan has recommended that all gatherings of more than 100 persons be suspended, and many churches in our area have made this same decision. In light of all we have learned about the Coronavirus in recent days, we believe this is the best way for us to care for one another and our community.
This unusual moment gives us an opportunity to remember that “church” is not a building or something we do on Sunday morning; we are the church, and no amount of social-distancing or self-quarantining can stop us from being the church together. We believe that by the power of God’s love we can be present with one another, even when we are separated by great distances or death.
We are working to find new ways of connecting to one another. Get ready to hear about how the youth group will gather online, and how Christian Education can continue without in-person gatherings. We are planning to livestream worship on Sunday mornings at 10:30am. You should be able to watch the video through Facebook; we are working on a way to also stream it here on the Court Street website, but that might not be ready in time for this Sunday.
As always you can listen to sermons and even give your tithe through the church website. In this strange and anxious moment, the work of the church goes on. In fact, our staff are working many extra hours this week to sanitize the building, keep up with current events, and create new ways of being in community. Please support that work by continuing your generous giving.
In the meantime, spend some extra time on the phone with loved ones who might be feeling anxious. Gather with your family for laughter and prayer. FaceTime people who might be feeling lonely and isolated. And, as always, keep on washing your hands and do not be afraid.
God is with us!
Pastor Jeremy and Rev. Christy
