May 2015

Orchard Harvester
Monthly Newsletter of Orchard United Methodist Church

IN THIS ISSUE

MAY YOU GO WITH GOD

Auction ......................4
Celebrations for
Rev. Carol ..................2
Childrens Ministry ......6
CROP Walk.................4
Flower Sale ................4
Funtastiks ..................5
Graduates ..................6
In the Life of Orchard..7
LAF Activities ..............5
Mark Your Calendar ....8
New Member Class .....3
Orchard in Mission ......4
Prayer Concerns .........7
Promotion Sunday ......6
Pull Tabs ....................3
Social Media ...............8
Spotlight Orchard .......2
Summer Choir............1
Summer Worship .......1
VBS ...........................6

by Rev. Suzanne Goodwin

he tulips are up, and the trees are bloomingsigns of new life. High school and
college graduates are making plans for the next phases of their livessigns of living
forward. Families are making plans for camps and summer vacationspreparing to go.
Even our own Rev. Carol is preparing to move forward in her journey of ministry, just as
Pastor Amy is readying herself to come here.
Each week the church breathes in and breathes out. It draws us in to reconnect with God
and to be filled with the Holy Spirit. And then it exhales us back out into the world to live
the lives we were created for. Each of us has a journey and a purpose. We were not
meant to live inside the walls of the church. We were meant to go and doto live and to
love.
Each week we are sent forth to go. The question isas we move through the glass doors
to head back out into the world, do we take God with us? Or do we leave God right here
so well know where to find Him when we need Him? New life, new beginnings, new
challenges, going, living, loving, and doing are what we are aboutby design: Gods
design. God is our strength, our purpose, our roadmap, and our fuel. When we go with
God, we are uniquely and powerfully abled to go and live.
As you look ahead and make plans to go; may you be fully reminded of who and whose
you are. And may you always Go with God!

SUMMER WORSHIP HOURS

BEGIN

5/24

(office closed 5/25 for Memorial Day)

s regular programs start to wind down and we head

into Orchards summer season, its time to switch to
our summer worship schedule. Beginning May 24,
Memorial Day Sunday, we will have a casual worship
service at 9 am and a more traditional service at 10:30 am.

SUMMER CHOIR

BEGINS

5/24

Sundays at 9:45 for the 10:30 service

ave you always wanted to sing with the

choir but dont have time for a weekly
commitment to rehearse? Now is your chance!
Summer choir begins on May 24 at 9:45 to
warm up and run through the music. Sit with
your family until the time of singing. Contact
Jamie Reed at (248) 998-3600 for more
information.

SPOTLIGHT ORCHARD
Each month we highlight a group, a friend, or member of Orchard to see how they are finding ways
to shine Gods light out in the world. Contact Deanna Kohl if you have a suggestion for a future Spotlight candidate!

REV. CAROL J. JOHNS

n early December, Rev. Carol announced to her

Orchard family that she felt it was time to retire.
But God laughs, and Rev. Carol has a
good sense of humor. After nineteen
years of serving here at Orchard, Rev.
Carol will now be providing part-time
leadership for the United Methodist
Unionthe organization that provides
special funding for new ministry projects
in the Detroit Renaissance District. No
golf clubs needed.
Over the nearly two decades of service
here, Rev. Carol has seen Orchard and
its people through growth and change,
thick and thin, baptisms, weddings,
funerals, a new building addition, and
even (gasp!) the addition of a screen in
the sanctuary! She has preached passels
of sermons, created multitudes
of memories, and impacted lives
in ways too numerous to count.
And through years and
challenges, she has proven to be a visionary and
multifaceted leader as adept in the pulpit as she is
chairing the Council on Finance Administration. But
perhaps the most outstanding hallmark of Rev. Carols
ministry, is her faithful response to Gods leading. In all
things, prayer, grace, and faith-centered discernment
are the foundations of her leadership.

Annual ConferenceCarol learned what it was possible

for a woman to do, and when she felt Gods call at Lake
Louise one summer, she knew that
ordained ministry was her path as well.
And when she was ordained in 1973, she
was just the seventh woman to achieve
such an accomplishment! Carol has
worked hard and she is well known and
respected in the Detroit Annual
Conference.
Perhaps one of the most gratifying,
rewarding, and heartrending storylines of
Rev. Carols ministry at Orchard was her
friendship and mentorship of Rev. Margo
Dexter. Rev. Carol came to Orchard as
Margo was preparing to go to seminary
and pursue ordination as a deacon. Over
time they became close friendshiking,
climbing, leading tours to the
Holy Land, and ministering
together sisters by choice, if
not by blood. Their journey
together through Margos fight with, and ultimate loss
to breast cancer led both women to a deeper
understanding of what it means to live as people of
faith, certain of the promise of the resurrection.

A Legacy of Faithfulness

In nearly forty-three years of ministry, Rev. Carol has

served just four churches. (In Methodist speak, that
means wherever shes been, shes been the right
person for the job!) Mentored by her Aunt Elsie the
second woman to be ordained as an elder in the Detroit

Disclaimer: This Spotlight article does not serve as a

eulogy to a career, but as an invitation to celebrate a
commitment to ministry that is too large to be
contained in a short article. We hope that you will
consider attending one or both of the celebrations
listed below, where we will celebrate Rev. Carols
service with Orchard and her life-long commitment to
ministry in the United Methodist Church.

Rev. Carols Last Sunday

Sunday, June 14
Friday, May 29 @ 7:00 pm
Glen Oaks Country Club
$40/person + cash bar
RSVP and payment due no
later than Sunday, May 24

Join us in sharing some

of Rev. Carols favorite
worship traditions
at the 9 & 10:30
worship services.

This event is for adults only.

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Your invitation and further details about these events will be arriving in your mailbox soon!

TENDING THE ORCHARD

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE PULL TAB COLLECTION

by Carole Parker

pproximately 27.6 pounds of aluminum pull tabs

have been collected from Orchard members over
the past 18 months. These tabs are now packaged and
ready to deliver to the Ronald McDonald House next to
Childrens Hospital, part of the DMC Detroit Medical
Center. The funds generated from recycling these
aluminum pull tabs help offset Ronald McDonald House
expenses which helps benefit the families who stay
there while their children are hospitalized.

2014 VBS drama used 5000 pull tabs when David

Albery retold the Feeding of the 5000 in order to
illustrate to our children the amount of 5000 of
something. Those 5000 tabs weighed about 3 lbs.
and 3 oz. Consequently, we are guesstimating that this
27.6 pounds being donated is approximately 41,00042,000 pull tabs. What FUN! Keep helping us collect
those tabs!

Since 2003, Orchard has donated quantities of pull tabs

to the McDonald House at the DMC about every 18 -24
months. We thank all the OUMC members who have
contributed in the past and will continue to contribute
in the future. So every time you open a soup can,
pop can or aluminum can with a tab, save it in a family
designated spot and drop them off at Orchard in the
Childrens Ed Office. There are containers just inside
the door on the left side marked for Ronald McDonald
House.

Thank You
Dear Church Family,
Just wanted to say Thank You! for your generosity and
support. Because of you, our Kitchen Shower was a great
success!
I am happy that so many of you came down to see the
MAC Kitchen. Your support for the changes that been
made in the MAC Kitchen policies is greatly appreciated.
I want to thank Barbara Van Haren, Peggy Conrad, Sue
Darold, Sue Scott, and Joyce Frazee for helping me detail
and wash everything before putting them back in the
kitchen. A special thanks goes to Randy Hall for giving
200+ hours of his time to help me get the kitchen
cleaned and organized.

It is my privilege to serve as your Kitchen Facilitator

and help your event run smooth from the kitchen
side. There is an Information/Training class scheduled
for Sunday, May 17 at 10:10,
between services. If you have
any questions about the MAC
Kitchen, please don't hesitate to
call me at (502) 648-9607.

Sunday, May 3 at 6:30 pm

Considering membership at Orchard UMC? Join Rev. Carol
and Rev. Suzanne on Sunday, May 3 for an informal
discussion about faith and connection at Orchard. Well
gather in the parlor for some refreshments and discussion,
and be done by 8:00 pm Childcare is available upon request.

Love in Christ,
Frances Childress
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Orchard in Mission
Invite family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors so they can see how

were making a difference in the world!

Strolling Under the Stars

ur community outreach auction is

Saturday, May 2, 2015. The doors open at
6:30 pm to begin strolling under the star-lit
decorations in the MAC. Youll enjoy delicious
hors doeuvres and dessert, beverages, live
entertainment, and the company of friends
and family!
The money raised at this event will be used to
help others through mission outreach
programs, including Rebuilding Together and
the Fusion Mission Teams trip this summer.
You can purchase tickets by calling the church
office at (248) 626-3620, or at the door!
Tickets available at the door!

CROP HUNGER WALK

Sunday, May 3 at 1:30 pm
It is NOT too late to sign up to walk in the May 3rd CROP Hunger Walk
or to sponsor someone who is walking in this 2 or 6 mile trek! This walk,
now in its 30th year in Farmington/West Bloomfield, is part of the nearly
seven decades of effort by Church World Service to "build a world where
there is enough for all." Please help us to support their goal of meeting
people where they are and helping them create solutions they can
maintain --- and build on. Visit their website at www.cwsglobal.org. You
can donate by scanning the code, or going online to www.cropwalk.org
and locating our Orchard team! 25% of the money raised goes to support
hunger programs in our own community.

Donate online by scanning above code,

or go to www.cropwalkonline.org. Click
on Michigan, then Farmington/West
Bloomfield Walk, then Donate by Team
(look for Orchard UMC and click on a
team member). You can even add
yourself to Team Orchard!

Childrens Ministry Fundraiser 2015

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Pick up your flowers on Saturday, May 16

from 9 am to Noon

Opportunities at Orchard!

FUNTASTIKS PLANNING EVENTS

FOR

MAY & JUNE

The Funtastiks, our Seniors social group, are planning more outings for May and June!

On Sunday, May 3 at 2 pm, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"

at the Farmington Players Barn. Only two tickets left! Contact Jo Ann Cline at (248)
553-3686 if you want to get in on this fun!

Wednesday, June 3 at 11:30 am will be lunch and a movie at Orchard.

Come and join your Funtastik friends as they watch Elsa and Fred, the
story of two people who, at the end of the road, discover that its never
too late to love and make dreams come true. Salad and dessert will be
providedbring a sandwich if youd like. Sign up in the church office;
contact JoAnn Cline for more details.

Saturday, June 6 @ 6 pm

Join LAF (Life After Fifty) for their second annual Kick
Off the Summer potluck! This event is hosted by
Donna and John You. Please bring $5/couple or
$3/single to cover the cost of meat and paper products.
More details for this event are on the LAF page of
Orchard website! RSVP to the Youngs by May 31 at
(248) 489-0881 or jdmskyoung@sbcglobal.net.

Thursday, May 7 beginning at 10 am

he National Day of Prayer is deeply rooted in our countrys

history, from the Second Continental Congress resolution in
1775 to observe a day of humiliation, fasting and prayer to 1952,
when a federal statute recognized a day of prayer to be observed
annually, to 1988, when that law was amended making the first
Thursday of May the Annual National Day of Prayer.
Orchard will observe this special prayer time on Thursday, May 7 at
10 am when our chapel (south end of south wing) will be available all
day for individuals use. You are encouraged to come in and pray for
our nation, our leaders, our people.

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Childrens and Youth Ministry

VBS Coming Your Way!

July 13-17

ts coming fast and with great G-Force! Vacation Bible SchoolEarly Registration begins May 1! Your
$40 registration fee includes a logo T-Shirt and a CD with all the exciting VBS music! Maximum family
price will be $75. Late Registration will be accepted after June 15, and will include a CD and a t-shirt
transfer for you to make your own t-shirt. VBS is for children preschool through 5th grade. (Minimum age is
3 years.) You can register by going to www.cokesburyvbs.com/OrchardUMC (you can get there by scanning
the code above) or by visiting our table in the Narthex beginning Sunday, May 17.
To find out how you can volunteer or help by donating to our decoration wish list, please stop by the table
in the Narthex or see Meghann Snyder. Copies of our wish list will also be available at the Connection Point
and at the table outside of the WOW room.

Its time to fuel up and get ready for VBS!

Promotion Sunday

Summer Schedule

May 17 at both services

Begins Sunday, May 24

ll children, Nursery through 6th grade, are asked

to come to church and enjoy a celebration of
their Power Progress as they are promoted into next
years program. Graduates will receive a gift from the
congregation to recognize their hard work and be
greeted by their next years teacher. Cake and lemonade will be provided for kids during Power Hour.

A SEASON

OF

Memorial Weekend begins our summer schedule with

a hiatus from Power Hour for the summer. However,
WOW will continue to Worship Our Way throughout
the summer as we review what we have learned, do
crafts and even get outside for some fun activities!

GRADUATION

In this season of graduation, Orchard is proud to acknowledge all of its high school and college graduates as
they move on to new and exciting challenges in their lives. Please hold them in your prayers, and join us at the
11:00 service on Sunday, May as we recognize thirteen local high school graduates from the class of 2015:
Garrett Center (North Farmington-NFHS), Cameron Derian (Bloomfield Hills HS), Brooke Dunning (NFHS),
Maura Erlich (NFHS), Kristen Gallett (Farmington HS), Julianna Jackson (West Bloomfield HS), Allison Mann
(NFHS), Lauren Mann (NFHS), Kara McGlashan (NFHS), Evan McMurray (NFHS), Miranda Roode
(Clarenceville), Beth Shrosbree (NFHS), and Spencer Wright (Catholic Central).
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IN

THE

LIFE

OF

ORCHARD

Connecting people to God to each other and to the best parts of themselves!

Meghann and Betsy hang the kids paintings for

Easter Sunday (check out the sanctuary walls on our
Facebook page!).

Helpers at the April 25 Rebuilding

Together day.

Several people stopped in for a tour of the bright and

shiny MAC Kitchen!

Construction on the MAC stage is now complete (this

Lesley and Eli Bonsky at one of the fun activity stations in the MAC on
Easter Sunday.

Tyler rejoiced during our April 26

Rockin the Resurrection worship
experience!

In the life of Orchard, we believe in the power of prayer.

Join us in intercession, thanksgiving, celebration, and remembrance.
Let us pray...

WE LIFT IN PRAYER
Kevin Aherns friends,
the Rebandt family
Cathy Alberys friend,
Cindy Grogan Early
Beverly Browns friends,
the family of Hannah
Campbell
Meg Budd's husband's
grandmother,
Lorraine Budd
Kay Burns
Bob Bussers mother,
Janet Busser
Sandy Catherman
and her cousin
Jerry and Diana Chilsons
daughter, Candy, and
Jerrys dad
The Coleman family
Valerie Costellos friends,
the Ferriss family
Jeanette Domol
Morgan Drossos friend
Russell Grimes
Marcia Harmons great-niece,
Jordan, and her aunt, Pat

Melissa Harrisons niece,

Marah Daniels
Barbara Hayters son, Paul
Fiona Heads grandmother,
Marlene
Diane Holdens daughter, Linda
Lisa Jacksons father,
Larry Jackson
Rev. Carol Johns cousin,
Daniel Gualdoni
Jean Joy
Anthony Kosibas mother, Pat
Jackie Lawrences aunt,
Nellie Samson
Jim Lowe
Mary Maniers father,
Marvin McCallum
Bob Mark
Missie McSweeneys sister,
Millie Speed and family friend,
Paul Hanosh
Morells friends, Kate and
Nick, and their unborn
twins
Thom Parkers brother,
Jim Parker
Ann Roesers mother, Mary
Lynn Colwell

Michelle Rosenblums sister,

Tova
Louise Rudnick
Bruce Sakachs father,
Ray Sakach
Debbie Sakachs cousins,
the Harris family and her
friend, Donna York
Laurie and David Sarti
John Scotts friend, Tom
Marion Seeber
Mary Slucter
Brad Snider and family
Susan Snider
Don Stacy
Amy Stanis friend, Lauren
and her parents
Margie Tatems niece, Becky
Charlene Thiede
Mary Ann Trenkles friend,
Connie Jarah, and sister,
Pat May
Mari Anne Wilks friend, Jim,
the Dawe family, and her
grandmother, Sylvia Judd
Karen Wagners mom
Betsy Watson

WE CELEBRATE
Dear Church Family,
Thanks to all who contributed
goodies to the wonderful Easter
baskets we delivered to the
Farmington Salvation Army to
be distributed to children in
need! They were beautiful and
bountiful!

The Wednesday Ladies

Bible Study

WE REMEMBER
Randy Halls cousin,
Barb Crocker (April 25)
Nancy Hubbs (April 27)
Thom Parkers sister,
Amelia Parker Copen
(April 27)

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The Orchard Harvester is the newsletter of Orchard United Methodist Church.

The June 2015 Harvester deadline is May 12, 2015.
E-mail articles may be directed to Deanna Kohl at: deannakohl@orchardumc.org
Pastors: Rev. Carol J. Johns and Rev. Suzanne K. Goodwin
Worship Services at 9:00 & 11:00 am Christian Education at 10:00 am
Summer Worship Hours beginning May 24 at 9:00 & 10:30 am
Phone 248 626-3620
Fax 248 626-6836
Web Site: www.orchardumc.org

Non-Profit Org.
US Postage
PAID
Farmington, MI
PERMIT No. 216

Orchard United Methodist Church

30450 Farmington Road
Farmington Hills MI 48334-1939

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Saturday, May 2
Saturday, May 2
Sunday, May 3
May 14-17
Saturday, May 16
Sunday, May 17
Sunday, May 24

Rebuilding Together (FH)

Community Outreach Auction (6:30)
Graduation Sunday
Crop Walk (1:30)
New Members Class (6:30)
Annual Conference
Flower Pick-Up
Parenting with Grace (7, offsite)
Promotion Sunday
MAC Kitchen Training
Summer Worship Hours Begin

Monday, May 25
Friday, May 29

Memorial Dayoffice closed

Toast to Rev. Carol @ Glen Oaks
(adults only reception)

Sunday, May 31
Sunday, June 14

Confirmation
Rev. Carols last Sunday
Celebration of Ministry for Rev. Carol
(All-Church in the Sanctuary and MAC)

June 20-27
Sunday, July 5
July 13-17
August 10-14

Youth Mission Trip

Rev. Amys first Sunday
Vacation Bible School
F.R.O.G. Week

(9 & 10:30)

Find us, like us, share with us, and share

us with others on Facebook, Twitter, and
Instagram!

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