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
I like to spend time between Christmas and New Years, pondering the beauty and significance of Jesus, son of Mary, born to save us from all that would destroy us from within and without. This year is a little bit different because I have been struck (again!) by the COVID virus. Definitely not conducive to mindfulness and reflection!
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I had planned to write the Pastor’s Ponderings after Church on 12/28 and then finish the Beacon for you before leaving town
for a week. What do they say: People Plan, God laughs! More sneezing, headaches and less pondering...
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So ‘Ponderings’ will be limited to just a few things I have noticed in putting together this Newsletter. [Info on this website is taken from the Newsletter]. Read through and see what you think. What I sense is a Spirit of eagerness and an energy for discussion and learning going on...even in the January and February of this year!
Patrick Beach and his wife Dee have been coming to Lex UMC since earlier this year and you will see
his impressions of us (below)....which have led him to present a six week Adult SS Class for us (page 5).
Ellen Schippert has been with us for a couple years now and even though she lives part time out of state...she stays in contact through ZOOM, emails, web-site editing. She too is moved to present a class on Tuesday mornings about Discernment, using new technology to do a
book study by the author Henri Nouwen (see the 'Home' page).
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I dare to say that the 3C-Courageous Congregations Collaboration is also stirring up conversation and expanding our imaginations...in order to discern God’s intentions, plans, hopes for our faithfulness in the coming year and years. Ellen, Paul Haroon, Judy Ross, Diane Schlieder, Linda Fey can help you understand more about that. Their phone numbers are in the new Directory that is being handed out at Church. (I can also email the Directory to you if you send me your email address.)
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All Good News...yes? May God bless us all as we move into a new year and perhaps, a new era for our church. We will not
be deterred...not even by COVID! Stay healthy and the Peace of the Lord be with You.
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Pastor Geri
A Meaningful Message
from Patrick Beach
While I have been away from Michigan over 30 years, I spent over 35 years in Oakland County, vacationing occasionally in The Thumb. My wife, Dee and I bought a cottage up in Forester Township in 2020 and built a house on the site in 2022, moving here at that time.We looked at a variety of churches, and I want to share my experience coming to Lexington UMC.
I had a few coincidences starting with your street sign announcing the welcoming of new Pastor Geri Hamlen. I called on the church and Pastor answered the phone. We spoke about the church and her experience of coming to Lexington. Here I found coincidence #1. I worked for 30+ years in the community Pastor grew up in and knew a little of her family.
I found Lexington UMC living its welcoming message that all are welcome in the church. During entry to the building, the Passing of Peace and coffee time afterwards I met many people with longevity at Lexington UMC. I was invited to a variety of midweek activities. Most of all I found people living the message of Jesus and wanting to do the next right thing.
I was welcomed with a worship bulletin. When I entered a pew, someone smiled and moved over. During the passing of peace, I saw a community of believers, who knew each other. I also experienced some of those people reaching out to me and my wife. Having a Hospitality Ministry is a solution some churches use to welcome newcomers. While the ministry is great and well used in many places, being hospitable costs nothing yet yields great results.
When asked why I stayed at Lexington UMC, I respond that the people were hospitable. I thank you for the welcome and look forward to meeting more people.
Patrick Beach
Prayers
by Lucrecia Ferriby​
In the darkness of the hour,
Where we need to find the light
May we turn to God to guide us.
For God truly is the light.
Despair and desperation,
Seem to penetrate our minds.
We must come to the realization
That we find strength in God on High.
God never fails to hear us,
God is ever at our side.Hope, Peace, Strength and Celebration!
In each day, each hour we find.
Each prayer that is lifted for us,
As they come from children of one God.
Each one a blessing to us,
As God hears each and every one.
Post Holiday Faith Formation
by Ellen Schippert
Moving into 2026 with a New Tool: DISCERNMENT
Now that the tree, lights, and decorations of Christmas are put away, what are your hopes, dreams, and longings for 2026? Are you looking forward to a grand vacation? Better health? A closer relationship with God and neighbor? Perhaps you hope to take up a new hobby or find a place to volunteer in the community or in church. Whatever you are looking forward to, consider using the tool of discernment to guide you.
Your C3 Team is learning to grow using discernment as we explore how Lexington UMC might stay agile and adaptive in a changing world, and we want to share what we are learning with you. Discernment grows out of believing God is active in the world. If God is active in the world, then, as Christians, we pay attention to God’s heart and purpose in our daily lives. We act in response to what God is up to rather than our personal preferences.
You might ask: Isn’t discernment the same as decision-making? Not entirely! Decision-making is rooted in logical thinking, individual personal choices, maximizing resources, and maintaining order (think Robert’s Rules of Order). Discernment is rooted in being open to the will and movement of the Holy Spirit and recognizing that God cares deeply about our choices individually and in community. May we all learn more about the tool of discernment and use it to grow in God throughout 2026.
If you would like to learn more about discernment, I recommend Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life by Henri J.M. Nouwen. It’s available as a paperback, hardback, and on Audible and Kindle. And...I am offering a class on Tuesday mornings, 10 a.m. via ZOOM on this very book. Pastor Geri will set up the library at Church for the ZOOM class or you can access it from home, or wherever you are. Come and see! Let’s learn together!
Grace and peace,
Ellen Olson Schippert,
Lex UMC Spiritual Formation director and C3 Team member
C3—Courageous Congregations Collaboration Update:
Lex UMC is supporting our own C3 team (Pastor, Ellen Schippert, Diane Schlieder, Judy Ross, Linda Fey, Paul Haroon) who want to share words of Wisdom:
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*Discernment – a spiritual listening. Discernment comes to a greater understanding through the pursuit of the Holy Spirit’s voices for a particular season or matter.
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*Waiting on the Lord – There is an idea in the Christian tradition of waiting as a spiritual place. This theme regularly comes up in Advent. Waiting is not wasted time but a time of preparation. We wait on God because we need to be ready, our timing is not God’s timing, or God is preparing a purpose.
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*What are we about as a church that is showing determination and resolve for what we are created for by the person of Jesus whose purpose was to illuminate God , tending to and setting people free right here in our own community?
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*The Holy Spirit – The Holy Spirit is present and actively moving individuals and churches into purpose for today’s time and place.
We continue to be inspired about potential transformation at Lexington UMC. Thank you for your support and feel free to contact any of the 6 of us with your questions and thoughts and dreams for our church!