United Methodist Church
Welcome to Lexington United Methodist Church
We look forward to meeting you! Here you will find a wonderful faith community whose lives are being changed by the love of Jesus Christ. All are welcome!
Reflections
Pastor's Ponderings
Trees...I keep thinking about them. The Lenten series ‘Lessons from the Tree of Life’ has stayed with me as we move deeper into the Easter season of Resurrection and new life.
During the Civil Rights Pilgrimage, I was reminded that the same seasons that impact the growth and life of trees, are mirrored in the life of human organizations. We visited museums that documented the life stages of various groups of people. Did you know that there is proof that the Anishinaabe people Native were living on the East Coast 15,000 years ago? There is recorded evidence of Paleo-Indian communities in the Upper Peninsula dating backmore than 10,000 years ago?
And today, in Mt. Pleasant at the Ziibiwing Center, we saw a display that illustrated the way life changed for the Native people as the seasons changed. They adapted. They moved around. They lived in harmony with the weather and the plant and animal life. They stayed true to their prophecies and relationship with the Holy Spirit that created and animates them even now.
In some ways, I see our Lexington UMC doing the same thing as we consider renting out space to a Day Care Center. That would inaugurate a new Season in our life together if we decide to do it. We would have to adapt in ways and harmonize with the needs of the families in our community.
Your Trustees and Finance Committee are working to gather the necessary information to make a good decision about this. The C3 ideas are also challenging us to move into some new activities...maybe a Coffee Shop type experience on Tuesday mornings? A Community lunch on a Friday when the Senior Center is closed? Are we ready to revamp the format for Church Council to include time for discerning God’s purpose for us and for planning ahead to walk alongside our neighbors, to tend to our grief, to share our space and our power?Is a new season of life together opening up for us?
Starting in May, on Tuesdays, from Noon to 1 p.m., I invite you to come and join me for a ‘Talk to the Pastor’ lunch experience. Bring your lunch and I’ll bring mine. We can eat together and I’ll be glad to tell you more about the Pilgrimage I took AND how it may or may not relate to the opportunities that God has brought to our door. What can we learn from people who have come before us and experienced challenges beyond our wildest imaginings? Are we ready to use the Holy Spirit strength and wisdom and love and joy that God offers us in new ways? For the glory of God? In the name of Jesus? Come and let’s talk about it...on Tuesdays! See you there.
Pastor Geri
2026 Michigan Annual Conference
May 29–31
Pastor Geri, Barbara Ernsberger (Lay Member), and Lynn Geer (Conference Equalization Member) will attend this year’s conference in Traverse City. The opening worship offering will support mission partners in Haiti and the Liberia Annual Conference. A 10% tithe will go to the Miracle Sunday Initiative, which raises funds for the Endowment for Theological Education to support 500 clergy annually outside the United States.
Several pieces of legislation will be considered including proposals on district reduction, funding changes, anti-bias and anti-racism efforts, immigration policies, support for Ukraine, Pentagon spending, humanitarian aid for Gaza and the West Bank, and the 2027 compensation schedule.
Detailed information is available in the Annual Conference Voting Items Booklet (PDF).You can access the booklet by visiting https://2026.michiganumc.org/annual-conference-materials.
After reviewing, direct any questions to one of the attendees before May 19. They will participate in Zoom sessions to discuss assigned legislation. *Submitted by Barbara Ernsberger, Lay Member to Annual Conference*
*****************************************************
Dear Friends in Christ in the Michigan Conference,
I greet you in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the peace and power of the Holy Spirit. It is with great joy and deep gratitude that I offer this letter acknowledging your congregation’s full payment of Ministry Shares in 2025.
Your faithfulness to our shared ministry as United Methodists is heartening, and I am deeply grateful for your generosity. Your full participation in Ministry Shares extends the ministry of your church in remarkable ways. You help provide the structure that keeps all our United Methodist churches connected. Your gifts allow the Michigan Conference to provide training and support for our churches as we all seek to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, disciples who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully and lead courageously. You make possible important conference connections for reaching out in concern and service to a hurting world. Your gifts make possible the ministry of The United Methodist Church across the globe. I wish you could hear some of the stories of ministryfor Jesus Christ that I hear from United Methodists around the world. Through our shared ministry we help provide principled Christian leaders for churches and communities, work to alleviate poverty, promote health, and help people come to faith in Jesus Christ and connect with communities that will help them in their journey with Jesus.
I celebrate our shared ministry and your participation in it. Thank you. “The rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of God’s people but also overflowswith many thanksgivings to God” (II Corinthians 9:12).
Grace and Peace,
Bishop David A. Bard