Bethany United Methodist Church

United Methodist Church serving Clio, Michigan

  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • New Here?
    • Who Are We?
    • What do we believe?
    • Reach out to us!
      • Find Your Fit
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Church Calendar
  • Music for the Season
    • The Soul Felt Its Worth – Daily Advent Study 2020
  • Sermons
    • All Video Worship Recordings
    • Sermons from Pastor Cathi
      • Pastor’s Page – From Pastor Cathi
    • Past Sermons from Guest Preachers
    • Listen to Past Sermons from Pastor LuAnn
      • Advent 2015 Sermons – Prepare for Jesus
      • Winter 2016 – Get Fit Sermon Series
      • Lent 2016 – Real Love: Relationship Matters
      • Spring 2016 – Luke! The Gospel of Amazement
      • Summer 2016 – Spiritual Renovation: The Amazing Grace Race
      • September 2016 – Road Trip Sermon Series
  • Ministries
    • Children & Youth
      • Fall Bible Focus – 2020
      • Children & Youth – Online Resources
      • Core
        • Summer Core Camp
      • Wednesday Night Live
      • Sunday School
      • Roller Skating
    • Worship
      • Advent 2015
      • Lent 2016
    • Music
      • Summer Gospel Concerts ~ Monday Nights
      • Music Updates
    • Wednesday Night Live
    • Missions
      • Missions News
    • United Methodist Women
      • UMW Events
      • Women’s Bible Study
    • Whine & Dine
    • Adult Fellowship
      • M and M All Church Fellowship
    • Adult Bible Study
      • The Soul Felt Its Worth – Daily Advent Study 2020
      • All Church Bible Study Plans
      • Tips for using the online Bible
    • Roller Skating
  • Calendar
    • Worship activities
    • Youth activities
    • Family Fellowship
  • News
    • Tower Notes
    • Annual Conference 2019 – Michigan Area
  • Connections
    • Community
    • Reach out to us!
      • Find Your Fit
    • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Youth Links
You are here: Home / From the Pastor / Letter from Pastor LuAnn – June 2016
Letter from Pastor LuAnn – June 2016

Letter from Pastor LuAnn – June 2016

June 2, 2016 By ClioBethany

A long time ago during my first year of seminary studies, a professor named Dr. Wendell Davis gave 1 Corinthians 4:1-5  to our New Testament class as something we should hold on to for the work of ministry.  He said, “Remember you will never be able to please everyone.  But you do not serve everyone.  You are servants of Christ.”  As servants of Christ we are given a trust and we must be faithful to that trust.

 

As I seek to live and lead in faithfulness to that trust, I am convinced that God has planted Bethany Church here in the community of Clio for a purpose.  The purpose is clear:  embody the presence of the Risen Christ and live so that others may know him.  We can spend a lot of time and energy on developing a mission statement, but Jesus gave us that:  go and make disciples.

 

In John 14 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you really knew me, you would know the Father as well.  From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”  Phillip said, ‘Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”  Jesus answered, “Don’t you know me, Phillip after I have been among you for such a long time?”

 

Sometimes it can be difficult to see what is under our nose; to comprehend the eternal significance of our everyday actions; to surpass the routine church calendar; to remember that we are called to follow the way of the Lord.  And Jesus made it clear:  if we want to be recognized as followers of Jesus we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and FOLLOW.  This is the work of ministry, and it’s not just the pastor’s job.  It’s not just the paid staff’s job.  Every one of us is called to act with justice, love tenderly, and walk humbly with God.

 

The United Methodist Church has a mission statement that guides every local church:  To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.   The world is certainly transforming, there is no doubt of that!  The question is, are we working God’s Kingdom agenda in the midst of it all, or are we just going with the flow?

 

This year’s General Conference affirmed the continuation of four areas of focus for the people called Methodist.  1) Engaging in Ministry with the Poor  2) Improving Global Health  3) Developing Principled Christian Leaders  4) Creating New and Renewed Congregations.

 

As I read the gospels and the book of Acts I see all four of these at work as the early church formed.  I see John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, doing the same.  Jesus engaged the poor in ministry.  The early church shared what they had so that no one went without.  Jesus developed leaders and so did Paul.  Jesus sent out his disciples to proclaim the Kingdom.  Paul planted churches everywhere he went.  John Wesley required that the Methodists connect in small groups to be renewed by the transforming of their minds (Romans 12:1-2), to serve the poor and develop new leaders

 

As the early church moved in step with the Spirit of God, both in the first century when the Church was born and in the 18th when Methodism was formed, God added to the number of those being saved.  I pray for a movement of God among us as we seek to follow as the Spirit leads, for the growth of Bethany church in number and in impact on the transformation of the world.

 

Be fruitful, and multiply!

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: From the Pastor

Categories

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Stay informed on the happenings at Clio Bethany UMC

Tower Notes - Receive our monthly all church newsletter by email. This has a letter from the Pastor and details on upcoming events, worship and prayer services as well as an all church calendar.

Children's Ministry - Receive news and updates for families of children from Kindergarten through 4th Grade.

Youth Ministry - Receive news and updates for families of youth from Grade 5 - 12

We use a 2 step subscription process to combat spam. Be sure to check your inbox and spam folder for a link to click to confirm your subscription. Then whitelist bethanyumcclio@gmail.com to make sure that our messages reach your inbox.

Check your inbox or spam folder now to confirm your subscription. Make sure to whitelist our email address so that you receive our messages in your inbox!

Connect with Us!

  • YouTube
  • Facebook

Connect online with Bethany Youth & Children’s ministries

Connect online with Bethany Youth & Children’s ministries

Rewatch previous video worship with one of the following links:

Visit our Facebook Page Videos Tab to view all of our recent videos

Epiphany – Sermons from the Sunday after Christmas until the start of Lent

Prepare Ye Series – Advent 2020 (From 11/29 thru Christmas Eve)

Special Sundays (including All Saints and Stewardship Sunday)

Changing Colors – Fall 2020 Series

The Blessings of Sabbath – September 2020

View all past online worship experience choices

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)

Youth Social Media Links

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Missions

Mission Projects – 2020

Everyone can participate!

  • Ongoing – LOVE Pantry – Accepting cash donations and non-perishable food donations
    • Fill a grocery bag from the gathering area labelled with a current need
  • Knitting with Jesus – Meets on Thursdays @ 1pm
  • Aluminum & Steel Tabs and Bottle Caps – Den & Karen Nichols collect these in support of Ronald McDonald House, University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The monies earned from this collection go to providing a place for families to stay at Ronald McDonald house while their children are being treated there.
  • Ongoing – Collect items for Operation Christmas Child.  Toys, hygiene products, crayons, hats, gloves, etc. must be able to fit in shoe box, no liquids, and no weapon or war like toys. Bring them to church office or youth ministry!

If you have a need or can fulfill a need in our community, please connect with our church office.

Regular Worship Activities

Bethany United Methodist Church - Clio, MI

In Person worship & activities temporarily suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  Please stay in touch with us here on our website and on our Facebook page where we worship together online.

Watch and See!

Sunday:

9am – Sunday School – Join Online

10:30am – Online Worship on Facebook

Learn about Activities for Youth & Children


1st Sunday (when in person) – Communion – The UMC has an open table.

1st Thursday of every month – Grief Support Group at 7pm Meeting digitally for now, contact us for details.

Praise God through Bible study, music, and fellowship. Bible study groups for youth and adults available.

Prayer Requests

Are you in need of prayer? Do you want a member of our congregation or pastoral team to contact you, a family member or a friend? Please feel free to reach out to us with your prayer requests, or to share your joys or the ways that God is working in your life.

Prayer Request Form





Prayer Requests
Join Bethany United Methodist Church in Clio, Michigan on the mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors

Keep in Touch!

Bethany United Methodist Church
353 Vienna Street
P.O. Box 327
Clio, Michigan 48420
Phone: 810-686-5151
Email Us!

Current Office Hours (December 2020) Mon & Wed 10am – 1pm

Follow Us

  • YouTube
  • Facebook

Meet Pastor Cathi

Pastor Cathi HuvaereWould you like to visit with Pastor Cathi? We could meet in your home or in a nearby restaurant during the day or early evening. If you would welcome a visit, please let me know. Just call the church office to set up a time. I look forward to getting to know you!

Copyright © 2021 · Bethany United Methodist Church | Clio, Michigan

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.