District News

My name is Cesar Garcia-Rodriguez, I am appointed to the new Latinx Church Plant of the Greater Southwest District. Working in the mission of The United Methodist Church is the most exciting work and purpose of life; to be witness of the transformation that the grace of God brings to our community as we visited the migrant camps and the Hispanic families who are already established in Van Buren County.

One of the most impactful moments of this past year, was when leading a Spanish Bible study at the parsonage, God working in the unity of the families, by studying about the grace of God working in every person and how to bring families together; even through games and a dinner we could experience the Holy Spirit restoring the bonds of parents and children.

And the ministry is just beginning; we are so excited to announce that this summer even more things are going to happen with the Hispanic Ministry in our district.

Miriam Peralta De Garcia is appointed to work full-time along with me in the new Latinx Church. Thanks to the support of the Michigan Conference and generous donors, this will be possible starting the first of July; along with the establishment of the Hispanic Community Center in the facilities of Paw Paw United Methodist Church who has opened their doors to host this ministry.
 
Through this Center we will be offering classes and services to the Spanish-speaking community. We are currently in need of equipment: such as 15 padded folding chairs, a whiteboard, and office supplies (white paper, printer ink, pencils, tape, etc.).

This summer once again, we are working closely with the Van Buren Intermediate School District’s Migrant/Multilingual office, which offers a summer program to migrant children. This year again we will support them with 300 reusable plastic water bottles that they need during the summer school hours.

Along with that, we continue the partnership with the Department of Labor of Michigan State, Migrant Agricultural office to support the Bienvenidos Event, which welcomes migrant seasonal workers and their families. Several agencies come together to offer services; we are going to put together a welcoming kit, which includes hygiene products for the entire family: shampoo, soap, deodorants, sunscreen, etc.
 
If you or your church wants to support or donate to the community center, the summer program, or the welcoming kits, please contact me (269-569-4962 or [email protected]) or send a check to the district office.

Join United Methodists from around the District at a Kalamazoo Growlers baseball game July 28.

Gates: 5:35pm | First Pitch: 6:35pm

Fireworks following the game!

TICKET & A HAT: $12
Reserved bleacher seat
Growlers hat

BLEACHER BUFFET: $25
All-Inclusive Ballpark Buffet (hot dogs, burgers, chips, potato salad, coleslaw, and more) for 4-innings 
Unlimited soda and water throughout the game

growlerstickets.com
Promo Code: UMC

2023 Growlers game flyer

Our Sunday worship is an extension of our home, the experience of the warm welcome, along with familiar music and faces we have grown to know over time and faith. But for some, worship does not represent an extension of their home or their lives. “Everyone has an innate need to connect and belong. It’s an idea grounded in theology (think God’s radical connection with humanity in the person of Jesus) and in science (think Brene Brown’s new academic research on how we are wired for – and the importance of cultivating – connection).” -Anne Nelson
 
The Hispano/Latino community represents 12% of the total population in the Greater Southwest District. And every year more than 200 migrant camps receive temporary Hispanic families for seasonal work. Just within the limits of our district!
 
That’s why we are creating a new place for new people; reaching more diverse people who become more like Christ in the world: a Hispanic/Latino New Church in Van Buren County. Making New Disciples in New Places is one of the Four Areas of Ministry Focus of The United Methodist Church. We have a vision to create a unique community – a place for engaging, transformative worship, and fellowship to all generations.
 
We have launched a Tuesday evening worship which is held in two languages, Spanish and English. It starts with bilingual music, scripture, reflection, and prayers. This means that if you don’t speak either of the languages, you can still worship. Join us Tuesdays at 7:00pm livestreaming on Facebook or in person at Lawrence UMC.
 
We have been working to get to know the Hispano/Latino Community of the area through partnerships and connections with the State Department of Labor, the School District, the Health and Human Services Department, and the Van Buren County fair board.
 
SUMMER PROJECT:
One of the local schools has asked for the support of 300 reusable water bottles for the children of migrant seasonal workers and its summer program. The cost of 50 plastic water bottles is approximately $100; for that reason, we are looking for sponsorship from the churches of the district on this project. 
 
If you’d like to support this project, send checks to: 
Greater Southwest District
2350 Ring Rd N, Suite B
Kalamazoo, MI 49006
Memo: Migrant Project

by Rev. Dwayne Bagley

Dying and rising have been on my mind a lot throughout this Lenten season. In one of our Cabinet devotion times in March, we were invited to take a deep dive into the story from John 4 about Jesus’ meeting with the woman at the well. In that encounter, Jesus challenges assumptions the woman holds about which side of a very clear dividing line she is on, the proper way to worship God, and what to expect from a Savior. During what seems to be a chance encounter, Jesus’ words convince the woman to lay all her preconceived notions about the way things are to rest so that a new understanding of God’s grace can rise in their place. Because she does this, everyone around her similarly lays their own assumptions to rest and begins to embrace the possibility that they too are heirs of God’s promise. A tradition that has been cherished and formative, which includes their interpretation of the scripture, bars the way to this new way of understanding who can be counted among the people of God. An experience of Jesus and God’s Holy Spirit choosing to move wherever, however and among whomever it chooses transforms all these preconceived notions in such a powerful way that the people reconsider the foundation of their belief in light of the new thing God is doing.

It is a foundational belief of mine that the Spirit of the Living God continues to do new things. But because I am only human, I am motivated to hold on to what has been, believing all the while that I am doing so to keep a grasp on something essential. In moments of dire need, God grants me enough grace to wonder if what I consider essential is the same thing God counts among essentials. And I wonder if I am holding on too tightly to things I should lay to rest so that God can raise up something new in me.

I wonder the same thing about our United Methodist Church and its congregations. In this Age of Disaffiliation, we all are trying to keep a grasp on what has been at the expense of what might yet be. Whether we hold on to the hope of preserving The United Methodist Church or seek to keep a grip on our traditional understanding of scripture, we may be holding on too tightly. Our focus on what we are trying so hard to hold on to may keep us from seeing where the Spirit is moving. While may we say, “let go and let God,” our actions are less motivated by the Hand of Sweet Release than shaped by the Spirit of the Age. This continuing practice is all the more questionable when we consider our call to live as Easter People. Amidst the hope and promise of the Resurrection, there is this core assertion at work: Jesus did not die and Christ was not raised just so that everything could remain the same.

Trusting that conviction is among the essentials, I raise this question for us, for our churches and for all the people called United Methodist: “What do we need to lay to rest so that God might raise up something new?” As we consider that question throughout Eastertide, let this verse from our hymnal serve as inspiration and invitation: “The Church of Christ in every age, beset by change but Spirit led, must claim and test its heritage and keep on rising from the dead.” Happy Easter. Christ is Risen. Come, Holy Spirit, come.