Sunday, February 8
"Don't Bury Me Here", Selected verses from the Old Testament
Rev. Dr. John (Jack) Harnish preaching

"Hey Dad, are we there yet?"
How often have you heard that question from the back seat of the family van?  It's the question of every antsy, anxious child in every road-weary family on every long road trip.  It was also the question of the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob coming from the back seat of their camel caravan crossing the desert.  From God's call to Abraham through the generations, the Old Testament tells the story of the people of God making their way toward the fulfillment of God's promise.  It's the story of a family on a journey...and the journey goes on.

 It is also the question we ask on the journey of faith. Our journey begins in baptism and is nourished along the way with broken bread and shared cup. Sometimes, as an old song says, "the road seems long with many a winding turns that leads us to who knows where, who knows when," but we journey on.  In preparation for Sunday's sermon, here are some road markers along the way, focusing on Abraham's great-great grandson Joseph:  Genesis 50:22-26, Exodus 13:19-22, Joshua 24:32,  and Hebrews 11:1-22.  I encourage you to read them as we follow Joseph's journey and his final request, "Don't Bury Me Here."

My Lord, I'm on my journey,
My Lord, I'm in my journey,
My Lord, I'm on my journey home.

See you in person or on-line this Sunday,
Jack Harnish

About Rev. Dr. John E. (Jack) Harnish
Pastor Emeritus Rev. Dr. John E. (Jack) Harnish retired from Birmingham First in 2013 after 45 years in active ministry.  Other appointments included FUMC Ann Arbor, Court Street UMC Flint and Dexter United Methodist Church.  For seven years he was the Associate General Secretary for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and served as a Trustee at Methodist Theological School in Ohio, Adrian College and the Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary in Tallinn, Estonia.  His most recent book Thirty Days with E. Stanley Jones, available through the Circuit Rider Bookstore or Amazon.  Jack and Judy make their home on Platte Lake in Benzie County.  He writes a weekly Monday Memo, available at his website www.johneharnish.com.

Sunday, February 15
Witnesses to a Living Light, 2 Peter 1:16-21 (NRSVUE)
Rev. Dr. Darryl E. Totty preaching


About Rev. Dr. Darryl E. Totty
Rev. Dr. Darryl Totty is a seasoned clergy leader with more than thirty-eight years of ministry in The United Methodist Church and currently serves as District Superintendent of the Greater Detroit District of the Michigan Conference. He is widely respected for his visionary leadership, strategic insight, and deep commitment to discipleship and congregational vitality, particularly within urban and regional ministry contexts.

Prior to his appointment as District Superintendent, he served as Senior Pastor of Grace Community United Methodist Church in Detroit, a merged congregation formed through the adoption of Detroit St. Timothy and Second Grace United Methodist Churches. His pastoral journey also includes appointments at Christ United Methodist Church, Jefferson Avenue United Methodist Church, Conant Avenue United Methodist Church, and Second Grace United Methodist Church.

An ordained elder in The United Methodist Church, he holds an undergraduate degree in Business Administration, a Master of Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Divinity from the Graduate Theological Foundation. His doctoral project, The Mission of Missions: A Strategic Response to the Great Commission (2005), focused on implementing effective mission strategies in large urban environments and continues to inform his leadership philosophy.

Within the Michigan Conference, he has provided significant leadership, serving as Chair of the Conference Leadership Council, Chair of the Greater Detroit District Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee, and as a member of both the Committee on African American Ministry and the Committee on Episcopacy.

Before entering full-time ministry, he worked as a marketing executive and has since served on numerous nonprofit and international boards, including as Chair of the Board of Detroit Community Health Connection and as a board member of the World Center of Compassion for Children in Vienna, Austria.

As a United Methodist Volunteer in Mission (VIM), he has traveled extensively, particularly to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and Cape Town, South Africa, advocating for strategic mission investments that strengthen communities and foster disciple-making.
He is married to Anita Totty and is the proud grandfather of six. He enjoys technology, reading, golfing, NASCAR racing, hockey, and spending time with family. His life and ministry are grounded in Matthew 6:33, “Seek the kingdom of God above all else…”

Ash Wednesday, February 18
At 7:40 a.m. (in-person), 10:00 a.m. (in-person & online), 4:30 p.m. (in-person & online), and 6:30 p.m. (in-person), join in the Sanctuary for this sacred and solemn occasion. Together, we will share in music, communion, and receive the imposition of Ashes. "From God's good dust you were created, and to God's good dust you shall return."

February 22
Don't Go It Alone, Matthew 4:1-11NIV
Rev. Chad Oyer preaching

As Angie and I, parent our four children, Marilyn [22 yrs. old]. Neil [19 yrs. old], Ross [16 yrs. old], and Gretchen [14 yrs. old], we deeply want for them to know that they are never alone. As each of them enter and navigate a new chapter in her/his journey,  we want them to know that we are always here for them. We don't want them to ever think that they have to go it alone.

Many years ago, when I embarked on the call of full time ministry, I was strongly admonished to cultivate and commit to having a deep, accountable, and life giving relationship with two to five colleagues. The ministry advisory is to always have a buddy with you.

In living up North, with lots of water, woods, snow, and four seasons adventures, the rule of thumb is to always have someone with you.    

This is the First Sunday of our Lenten journey, and it's very possible that scripture admonishes us, don't go it alone.

Really, maybe, many of us are well overdue to pay heed to scripture's counsel and cease from
a determination that we have to go it alone. As we begin this Lenten journey, may we do so with a new awareness that if Jesus didn't have to go it alone then neither should we.

Blessings,
Chad