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Greetings in the Name of Christ!

I am delighted and excited to have been appointed to serve with the Ionia First and Easton churches as pastor for the next few years. It is an honor and privilege to be in ministry with you.

First, a brief introduction: I am Lamarr V Gibson, an ordained elder of the Wisconsin Conference. I began my ministry career in the Detroit Conference as a local pastor in 1993 and was ordained elder in 1997. Over a span of 30 years, I served four churches in Detroit, one church in Lansing, and three churches in Wisconsin. I have also served as hospital chaplain in Detroit and Madison and have a passion for pastoral care.

I am married to Linda Lee and we have three children (2 sons and a daughter), twelve grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. Linda is also clergy and served the Detroit Conference as pastor, district superintendent and later was elected bishop and assigned to the Michigan Area for four years, after which she was assigned to Wisconsin and I followed her there.

I am a native of Chicago, Illinois, living there for 43 years. I moved to Detroit when Linda and I were married. Before moving to Grand Rapids where we presently reside, Linda and I lived 13 years in Michigan and 17 years in Wisconsin.

Linda and I met in Nashville at a BMCR caucus convention and a year later were married. We have been married for 33 years and are looking forward to more delightful years together.

I was born into the Baptist faith but became a United Methodist in 1977 while tutoring

children in a summer program at a United Methodist church. Because I liked the music and the what the pastor said when he preached, I joined the church. I liked the ministries and activities of this church and soon became an officer of the church. Being a member of this congregation brought me to a greater awareness of God in my life and I began feeling called to ministry in the church.

I began my ministry journey seeking to become a diaconal minister, but soon realized I was called to ordained ministry. I pursued that path and gained the necessary educational credentials to be eligible for full membership in the Detroit Conference. But my educational pursuit did not end with graduation.

As I became more familiar with the demands of ministry and the needs of the persons I provided ministry for, I realized my knowledge for assisting people in need was inadequate. As a result, my educational pursuits continued as I served numerous churches and I earned several graduate degrees, including 2 doctorates.

I consider my theological views to be quite eclectic, ranging from conservative to very liberal views. I believe in viewing the scriptures critically and trying to understand the message the stories and writings contain. Thus, I do not take a literal view of the scriptures and am not bound by specific doctrines.

I am hopeful we can share our beliefs and experiences in a manner that is rewarding and fruitful for all. I look forward to visiting, worshipping, having fellowship, and creating ministry with you. Because God is with us, I know we will do good things.

Blessings,

Lamarr

1/14 Worship Service has been canceled

Easton UMC Church does not have power and we are unsure when power will return.  First UMC has graciously invited EUMC to join them for Sunday Worship tomorrow at 11am with their Lay Speaker.  There will be a time for coffee before Worship.  

Pastor Terry will not be preaching at Easton or Ionia First tomorrow.  He is unable to make it due to no power and trees down at his home in Webberville and is currently running on a generator.   

Ionia Easton United Methodist Church is looking for vendors for their Craft Show. To be held Saturday, October 14, 2023. For registration and additional information, call Judy at 616-690-3072.

First United Methodist Church and Easton UMC of Ionia extend a warm welcome to our new pastor, Terry Melton. Terry and his wife Linda currently reside in Webberville, where they enjoy gardening, crafts, working with computers, and spending time with their wonderful animals. Pastor Terry will be conducting weekly services at Easton UMC at 9:00am and First UMC at 11:00am and plans to establish a pet loss support group and other services for the community. Please join us as we welcome him!

Sunday worship has been changed to 10am. Thank you.

Easton United Methodist Church Rummage Sale, 4970 Potters Rd., Ionia at Potters Road and Johnson Rd. Thursday, June 16, from 9am – 5pm; Friday, June 17, from 9am – 5pm; and Saturday, June 18, from 9am – 1pm; Clothing, books, electronics, bath and kitchenware, home décor, crafts, linens, toys, furniture, holiday items, and much more. Handicap accessible. Come and stop by!! No Presales. Reasonable Donations accepted.

Visit our Facebook page for more details.

• May 7, Saturday – Saturday Night Worship – Food and Fellowship at 5:30pm and Contemporary Worship 6pm
• May 8, Sunday – Worship 11am *****Happy Mother’s Day*****
• May 9, Monday – Ad Board Meeting 6pm
• May 14, Saturday – Saturday Night Worship – Food and Fellowship at 5:30pm and Contemporary Worship 6pm
• May 15, Sunday – Worship 11am
• May 21, Saturday – Memorial Service at 11am for Terry Lautzenheiser’s parents and sister.   
• May 21, Saturday – Saturday Night Worship – Food and Fellowship at 5:30pm and Contemporary Worship 6pm
• May 22, Sunday – Worship 11am
• May 28, Saturday – Saturday Night Worship – Food and Fellowship at 5:30pm and Contemporary Worship 6pm
• May 29, Sunday – Worship 11am
• May 30, Monday – Memorial Day – office closed
• June 1 – 4 – Annual Conference
• June 2, Thursday – UMW meeting at noon/please bring a dish to pass
• June 2, Thursday – Zion Community Dinner @ 6pm – Help needed call, Kathy Jackson, for more information
• June 11, Saturday – Saturday Night Worship – Food and Fellowship at 5:30pm and Contemporary Worship 6pm
• June 12, Sunday – Worship 11am
• June 13, Monday – Ad Board Meeting 6pm
• June 16, 17, 18 – Rummage Sale
• June 18, Saturday – Saturday Night Worship – Food and Fellowship at 5:30pm and Contemporary Worship 6pm
• June 19, Sunday – Worship 11am ****Happy Father’s Day****
• EUMC Rummage Sale – June 16, 17, 18 –Please contact relatives, friends, and neighbors to see if they have anything they want to donate.  We cannot accept TVs or large appliances.  Donations can be dropped off at the church fellowship hall downstairs beginning in May on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-3pm.   More information to follow.  Any questions please call the Church or Kathy Jackson at 616-523-6339. 
• Zion Community Dinner – Easton is scheduled to serve on the 1^st Thursday of every month.  3 to 4 workers are needed each month.  We need helpers for Thursday, May 5.  Please see the sign-up sheet in the back of the sanctuary.
• MISSIONS -. 2022 –  2nd  quarter(April, May, and June) Mission Pot donations will go to UMCOR for disaster relief in Ukraine.   
• RAVE (Relief After Violent Encounters) in Ionia needs the following items: Underwear for all ages, Cleaning products, Silverware, Towels, New Pillows, Hair Ties, Tampons, Hairbrushes, Nail Clippers, Journals, Pens, Razors, Plastic Food Storage Containers, and Paper Towels, Toilet Paper, etc. There is a tote on the pew by the stairway to put items in the front gathering room. 
• ZION UMC FOOD PANTRY – we are collecting non-perishable food items.  A collection box is in the east entryway.   If you have any ideas or would like to serve on the Mission Committee, please contact Nancy Raymond at 616-902-2702.
• Opportunity to Serve – We give praise for the strength to step up and serve God with spiritual gifts of leadership.  We have an opening for a Finance Chair and a Staff Parish Relations Chair, and we have other openings for other duties and leadership positions. Please get in touch with Pastor Donna or the Church Office. We want to welcome Airel Sherwood to the SPRC Committee.

Greetings

This Monday, February 7th we will share together our last and final chapter 10 in The Pursuit of God.  We have had an intriguing and challenging time learning and growing closer to God and one another.  My prayer is that this study has been fruitful for you and we continue to dialog and care for one another as we move into the season of Lent.

With Lent in mind, I wanted to reach out with some suggestions for our Lenten Bible Study and invite everyone back for this 6-week journey through Lent.  Ash Wednesday is March 2nd and the following Monday, March 7th through April 11th we will study and share together what the Bible teaches us and how we might be part of the road Jesus walked.  We will continue to meet at 10 am.  I am attaching a document with 5 different ideas for Lenten Bible Studies, and I would love you to review them, pray about them, and reply to this email as to the one or ones that may interest you, or any other 6-week study that God may be calling on you to be part of.  In addition, please share this information with others who do not have this email. 

During our time Lenten together, we invite you to be part of Sherwood’s celebration of life as Ariel and Craig welcome a new baby into their family expected near the end of February or the first of March.  We will celebrate with a Baby Shower.  This shower celebrating the birth of their new baby will be Monday, April 4th following Bible Study.  More information to follow.  Watch for updates and of course keep all of the family in your prayers.

Looking Forward and Grateful for Your Love and Kindness

In Him

Pastor Donna

A 6 week Lenten Study  

March 7^th -April 11^th

Monday’s 10 am

Gospeled Lives: Encounters with Jesus, A Lenten Study, Perfect Paperback – November 1, 2008 by John Indermark.

A provocative study focusing on both the positive and negative responses of people who encountered the living Christ and his offer of good news.  Stories of the people who met Jesus. 

Lent in Plain Sight Paperback – January 14, 2020

by Jill J. Duffield (Author)

God is often at work through the ordinary: ordinary people, ordinary objects, ordinary grace. Through the ordinary, God communicates epiphanies, salvation, revelation, and reconciliation. It is through the mundane that we hear God’s quiet voice.

In this devotion for the season of Lent, Jill J. Duffield draws readers’ attention to ten ordinary objects that Jesus would have encountered on his way to Jerusalem: dust, bread, the cross, coins, shoes, oil, coats, towels, thorns, and stones. In each object, readers will find meaning in the biblical account of Jesus’ final days. Each week, readers encounter a new object to consider through Scripture, prayer, and reflection. From Ash Wednesday to Easter, Lent in Plain Sight reminds Christians to open ourselves to the kingdom of God.  

Journey to the Cross: A 40-Day Lenten Devotional – January 5, 2021

by Paul David Tripp  

“During our forty days together, may your mourning increase so that your joy may deepen.”―Paul David Tripp

Lent is a time in the yearly Christian calendar when we mourn our sin and let go of worldly things that keep our hearts from experiencing God more fully. But how do we reevaluate and recalibrate the values of our hearts to match those of our suffering Savior?

In this forty-day Lenten devotional, best-selling author Paul David Tripp invites us to set aside time from the busyness of our lives to focus on the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus. Each of the short readings encourages us to abide in the abundant joy found in Christ as we encounter the Savior more fully and follow him more faithfully during this Lenten season.

Simon Peter: Flawed but Faithful Disciple Hardcover – December 18, 2018

by Adam Hamilton  (Author)

He left everything to follow his teacher and possessed a passion that would change the world. That’s one way to describe Peter. Here’s another: poor, uneducated, quick-tempered, and full of doubts and fears. Doesn’t even sound like the same man.

And that’s the point of Simon Peter, a new book and six-week adult Bible study by Adam Hamilton. Peter was just an ordinary guy who heard and followed God’s extraordinary call. Discover how you, too, have special gifts, talents, and abilities that God can use to make a difference today. In addition to the Leader Guide and DVD components for adult studies, corresponding youth and children’s resources, sold separately, can be used to create a churchwide study.

Chapters Include:  Call of the Fisherman, Walking with Jesus in the Storm, Bedrock or Stumbling Block? “I Will Not Deny You” From Cowardice to Courage, The Rest of the Story

Seven Words: Listening to Christ from the Cross Paperback – December 15, 2020

by Susan G. Robb (Author)

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While many of us naturally wish to avoid the reality of the cross, it’s from the cross that Jesus speaks and shows his deepest love for us. It’s from the cross that Jesus’ full humanity draws us closest to him. It’s from the cross, as Jesus breathes his last breath and speaks his last words, that his deep trust in the Father and his divine glory are revealed. Those who listen to Jesus’ last words from the cross will discover what he most wants them (the world) to hear and will experience an intimate and divine awe only available to those who are willing to draw near his cross.

In Seven Words, Susan Robb looks at the seven last words of Christ on the cross through a lens that finds life and hope in his final sayings, while exploring each from a biblical and historical perspective. The book brings a hopeful and contemplative take on the cross during the weeks of Lent.

Additional components for a six-week study include a DVD featuring Susan Robb and a comprehensive Leader Guide.

Come and join us at Easton UMC, Friday, December 24, at 5:30pm for our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service.

Sunday, June 13, 2021 – 11am

Easton United Methodist Church
4970 Potters Rd.
Ionia, MI 48846

Singer/songwriter, pianist, and guitarist Katy Kinard is a faith-driven lyricist, puzzle-piecing the space between trust and doubt. Simplicity vs cynicism. Her influences range from the vocal and lyrical styles of Nichole Nordeman and Natalie Merchant, to the conversational style of David Wilcox, within the pop/rock and folk genres.
Katy attended Belmont University in Nashville, TN, where she studied Commercial Music and Music Business.  She is a winner of the 2013 International CWIMA contest, the ’09 Independent Music Awards Popular Vote, and Embassy Music’s regional pick.  Katy’s song “World’s Largest Peanut” took first prize in the 2009 International Acoustic Music Awards folk category; her song “Sunshine,” second.  She has co-produced and toured four albums: “Headed Back” (2005), “You’re Still Better” (2007), “Lullaby Hymns: the weary soul” (2010); and her latest: “God of Fireflies” (2016)

Saturday, June 5, 10am to 3pm. in the downstairs Fellowship Hall. All donations are used locally, and donors receive an email as to how their blood was used if desired.

Please click on this link to sign up online. https://donate.michigan.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/137601

You do not have to create an account. If you are having trouble signing up; please email (eastonoffice@gmail.com) or phone(616-527-6529) the church and leave a message and we can sign you up.

Church Information

https://www.dropbox.com/s/81yuqc5okhdblvr/Ash%20Wednesday%20and%20Lent%202021.pdf?dl=0

Thoughts on Ash Wednesday Soil

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2by811d64yi3hsu/Ash%20Wednesday%202021-%20Thoughts%20on%20Soil.docx?dl=0

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