Blissfield Emmanuel UMC

Sisters, Brothers, Friends,

Steve Seamands, author and professor at Asbury Seminary, writes that “the ministry into which we have entered is the ministry of Jesus Christ, the Son, to the Father, through the Holy Spirit, for the sake of the church and the world.”

Make no mistake: you are in ministry.  And the ministry you engage in – on the job, on the road, at school, at church, at home – is not your ministry; it belongs to Christ.  It’s not for your glory; it’s for the glory of God.   And it cannot be accomplished in your own strength, but in the strength of the Holy Spirit.

Pastors are not meant to do all the work of the church.  That’s one thing that the people of Emmanuel UMC understand well, and I commend you for it!  We are in this together.  “God has given his grace to each one of us measured out by the gift that is given by Christ…  His purpose was to equip God’s people for the work of serving and building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:7, 12).

This October, we look back and we look forward.  We look back on a summer well spent and on an excellent Fall kick-off.  We celebrated the baptisms of Kylie, Chris, Alex, Matthew, Ian, and Luke, and we welcomed Sarah, James, Amy, and Kylie as members.  God has been busy building up the Body in this place!  Now, we look

forward to passing out candy with the love of Christ on October 31^st, to Charge

Conference on November 2^nd, and to all that God has yet to do in us and through us.

Is there a ministry that God has laid on your heart – something particular for you to get involved in or to start up?  Let the church know!  So many of you are so involved already.  Thank you for being such a vital part of this church.  Thank you for taking part in Christ’s ministry – both inside and outside the doors of Emmanuel.  Thank you for supporting Christ’s work in us and through us with your prayers, your presence, your gifts, and your service.

Grateful to serve alongside you,

Pastor Zack

Members and Friends,

September is here and it’s time for us to shift gears and get ready for all that God has in store for this Fall!  Our official Fall Kick-Off is Wednesday, September 10^th and I hope you can make it!  We’ll have burgers and hot dogs at 6pm, with games, activities, and a bounce house for the kids.  This is a great chance to catch up with friends who have been gone over the summer, and to meet new friends as Emmanuel UMC continues to reach out and grow.

God is certainly at work in this place and among these people; there’s no doubting it!  This past week, we experienced a major answer to prayer, with Patty’s son David, who had been in a severe diabetic coma, returning home and even getting out to a Mud Hens game!

This September, we have a Membership Class after service on the 14^th.  The following week, in addition to welcoming any new members, we will also be celebrating several baptisms.  Praise God!

I’m reminded of the final verses of Mark’s Gospel:

”After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.  Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.”

What signs have you seen lately of God’s work?  Note that it says, after Jesus had arisen and the disciples went out to preach, “the Lord worked with them.”  Remember, friends, that ministry is not something we do for God.  Ministry is not ours, it is Christ’s.  It is the work of Jesus, to the glory of the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

May God’s Spirit continue to empower us, and may we go continue to love and serve

wherever we encounter Jesus at work.

Blessings for a wonderful September!

Pastor Zack

Dearest Friends,

This is quite an eventful summer to say the least!  VBS is right around the corner, the River Raisin Festival is through, and July’s mission trip to Sault Ste. Marie was a great success.  Not only was the trip a wonderful balance of relationship-building and hands-on work, it was an opportunity for all of us to encounter God through humble service.  Thank you to all who prayed for us, who donated to support this trip, and who participated in it.

The last couple of weeks have been hugely important in the life of this church.  We have celebrated the marriage of Austin and Taylor Leader, and have mourned the loss of two wonderful people: John Hutton and Eileen Eisenmann.  And, though we do not mourn like those who have no hope, we do mourn.

In Romans 12, Paul famously writes that “in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”  Just a few verses later, he encourages us to “rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another.”

As the Church – the global Body of Christ in the world – we are called to spread the    gospel and to work for social justice.  But by mourning with those who mourn and          rejoicing with those who rejoice, we are practicing community.  We are fulfilling      Scripture and treating each other with the same heartfelt compassion that God has for each of us.  When the Church shows compassion in that way, when we are the face of God in life’s struggles and joys, perhaps that is the Church at its best.

Let us remember the lives of those who have gone before us.  Let us pray for the Hutton, Comiskey, and Eisenmann families who are adjusting to life without their loved ones nearby.  And let us kneel before the Father, asking that He might richly bless the     marriage of Austin and Taylor.

Before I end this month’s newsletter, I want to give you one more reason to rejoice.  In Sault Ste. Marie, Kylie Deer, a young woman who’s a part of our church, came to understand that she is a child of God!  She will be baptized before the summer is out.  Praise God!  Thank you for being a part of His work!

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Zack

Brothers and Sisters,

From July 13-17, a team of 15 youth, kids, and adults from Emmanuel UMC will be on mission in Sault Ste. Marie!  Those serving on this mission trip include: Mark Crane, Bev Crane, Maria Crane, Ben Crane, Sheila Kato, Brandon Kato, Benji Kato, Todd Kato, Callie Keller, Kylie Deer, and the Dunlaps.  Please keep us in your prayers: pray for safety, for the building of relationships (with God, with one another, and with the communities we serve), and for inspiration to bring the mission on home to Blissfield.

In Matthew 28, Jesus famously gives the Great Commission, sending his disciples out to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”  Luke clarifies this in Acts 1:8, writing that Jesus’ followers would be his witnesses “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

There’s something important for us to catch here: mission begins at home.  Short-term mission trips, whether domestic or international, can be transforming experiences.  They can turn us on to the fact that life is not about us, and instilling the joy of service in young and old alike.  But truly transformative relationships take time to build, and that begins at home.

Friends, remember that you are also missionaries.  You don’t have to get on a plane or drive for hours in a van full of youth; you are the hands and feet of Jesus to those you encounter.  At Borchardt Brothers, at work, and in worship – as you mow your lawn and raise your family, you are called to make disciples.

How are we doing, church?  How are you doing, friend?

You’re not alone.  We are in this together as a church family, and the Spirit of the Lord empowers us to fulfill the mission we’ve been given.  Will you walk in the Spirit this month?

Your fellow missionary,

Pastor Zack

Sisters, Brothers, Friends,

Lately, I’ve been reflecting a great deal on the nature of calling and what we’re all about as a people of faith.  For those of you who don’t know, at the service of commissioning and ordination at Annual Conference this year (where Pastor Aaron was ordained), there was an invitation for those who felt called into vocational ministry to come forward and receive a blessing.  Tyler Keller and Mary Violet Comiskey went forward.  Last year, my wife Rachael went forward in response to this same invitation.

God is at work in this place!  God is at work among this people!  I am humbled and privileged to serve alongside all of you.  God calls each and every one of us: first and foremost, into relationship with himself through Jesus Christ.  And secondly, to go and spread the good news of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.  Any secondary calls we may receive flow out of these two primary calls – to come to Christ and make disciples.

There’s another call that we receive: the call to be holy just as He who called us is holy.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let

us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. 

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” – Hebrews 12:1

As we shift gears and transition into summer mode, let us not become lazy in our faith or slothful in the pursuit of perfection.  Instead, let us pray for those who live and serve and work among us.  Let us open ourselves up to the work of the Holy Spirit.  Let us work diligently to bring about God’s purposes in this place.  And let us each respond to the calls we have received from the Lord, remembering that through God’s grace, we are more than conquerors.

Praying for you,

Pastor Zack

Brothers, Sisters, Friends,

Spring is in full bloom, winter is a thing of the past, and summer is on the horizon—though not nearly as close as some of our students would like!  It is a time of new beginnings.  On Sunday, May 18th, and Wednesday, May 21st, we wrap up our 31-week trek through The Story.  It’s been quite an adventure experiencing the narrative of Scripture in broad, sweeping strokes.  We’ve walked through the desert with the Israelites, witnessed the highs and lows of King David’s life, and heard the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Now, as we examine the life of the early church through Peter and Paul’s eyes, we see where we fit into the story.  We are the Church, dear friends.  We who believe are part of the Body of Christ, which the gates of hell shall not overcome and which shall endure until the last days when Christ comes back in all his glory.  Denominations, structures, and local churches may change or die out, but the Church—the global Body of Christ—shall endure.

Take joy in that, but also take heed: we have work to do.  Like Jesus’ first disciples, we too are called to go, to love, to serve, to make disciples of all nations.  I’m so excited for all that this summer has in store!  And, though Wednesday nights wrap up for the season with our annual Talent Review on the 28th and children’s Sunday school does not run through the summer months, be sure that we have a lot going on: River Raisin Festival, VBS, and our Mission Trip to Sault Ste. Marie just to name a few!

As you and I gear up for what God has in store for the next few months, let’s take some time to reflect and maybe do a bit of spring cleaning.  At Emmanuel, we’ll have a spring cleaning time following worship on May 25th.  But, more importantly, what baggage in your life needs to go?  What is holding you back from full devotion to God?  Let’s take the dirt and grime of our lives and hand it over to the Master, trusting that he can clean and purify us once again.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Zack

Brothers and Sisters,

As we continue our journey through The Story, we now approach the cross.  Praying in Gethsemane, Jesus begged the Father, “If it is possible, let this cup pass from me.  Yet not as I will, but as you will.”  Jesus knew what lay ahead, that he would be beaten, scourged, and crucified.  Jesus had come to earth for this purpose, but the Son of God was also fully human.  He didn’t want to suffer and die.

Yet Jesus faced all this for you and me.  He was crucified by his own creations, “pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”  Jesus showed us how to live, he died the death that we deserved, and he rose that we too might have eternal life.

This is the Good News; it is old news, yet ever new.  That’s why Paul writes in First     Corinthians 2, “I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”

What do you know?  What are you sure of?  Of what have you become convinced?  It seems the older I get the less I know for certain.  Yet of this we can be sure:  Christ has died.  Christ is risen.  Christ will come again.

This April, and in the months to come, live in that truth.  Jesus’ resurrection is not merely a historical event; it is a present reality.  Jesus is leading the resurrection      parade and he invites us to join him!  You and I can have eternal life in Jesus, that’s true.  But eternity begins now.  What in your life needs to die?  What needs to be     surrendered more fully to Christ?  In what areas do you need to experience              resurrection?

One last question: How can you bring Christ’s resurrection to the world?  Jesus died, Jesus rose, Jesus ascended into heaven, and he empowered his followers with the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit that raised Christ from the dead and that descended upon the       believers at Pentecost now dwells in you and me.  We have been empowered – now we need to go forth, joining the resurrection parade, and breathing new life into the world around us.

In joy, celebration, and hope,

Pastor Zack

Brothers, Sisters, Friends,

First of all, thank you so much for the prayers, meals, love, and encouragement that you have given to my family and me in the past few weeks. Rachael is doing better and better, and we have certainly witnessed the power of prayer and the goodness of God at work in our lives.

March brings – hopefully – slightly warmer weather. It also marks the beginning of the season of Lent, which takes us from Ash Wednesday on March 5^th up until Easter Sunday. Traditionally, Lent is a time of unloading, of simplifying, of giving up things in our lives that are keeping us from full devotion to God.

In our continued trek through The Story, March also brings us into the New Testament. As we encounter the story of Christ, let us seek to do so with new eyes, new hearts, and a renewed spirit. It’s no surprise that, as Christians, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is central to our faith. This is the story on which all other stories hinge, in which all other stories find their meaning.

That’s true not only in the text of Scripture, but also in our lives today. How has your own story been shaped by Christ’s story? How has God woven them together? Are there parts of your story that need to be brought into the light, redeemed, and surrendered?

This month, let us prepare ourselves for everything that God has in store. More than that, by God’s grace, let us live it.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Zack

Fellow Ministers of the Gospel,

In life, it is good for us to reevaluate things every once in a while.  Am I making the most productive use of my time?  Am I setting the right priorities?  Is my work bearing fruit?  And if so, is there something I can change so that it might be even more fruitful?

Over the years, questions like these have led me to watch less TV, stop smoking cigars, and be more intentional about carving out family time.  These same questions have also led me to adjust the way I serve and work as your pastor.

Lately, I have been asking similar questions about the way we organize ourselves for mission and ministry at Emmanuel UMC.  Specifically, “What structure will best allow us to love God, love others, and make disciples of Jesus Christ?”

Let’s be honest: nobody likes church meetings.  There’s a general consensus that we have much better things to do with our time.  And, certainly, I am no fan of meetings for the sake of meetings.  But, unless we organize ourselves for mission, we will find ourselves flying by the seat of our pants – jumping frantically from one set of weekly tasks to the next.

There are some congregations in which the pastor alone makes all the decisions and then proclaims from on high what direction the church will be moving in on any given issue.  This is not that kind of congregation.  We are connectional.  We are ALL called to love God, love others, and make disciples of Jesus Christ – and we are called to do it together.

In the February newsletter, you will see a proposed structure for Emmanuel UMC.  I     believe that this structure – or something like it – will allow us to creatively engage in worship and mission while still tending to the important administrative work of the   local church.  I encourage you to prayerfully reflect upon this plan, discuss it with others in the congregation, and let me know your thoughts.

Yours in shared missional leadership,

Pastor Zack

This week we are back into “The Story.”  On Sunday we picked back up with chapter 11 and the youth made a super-fun video to remind everyone of the highlights of what we’ve learned so far.

Enjoy!

For more videos and pictures of what’s been happening lately at EUMC click here.