Michigan Annual Conference and Sanctuary Worship Returns
Rev. William Bills
June 2, 2021

On Sunday, June 6 at 10 a.m., you are encouraged to watch the worship service from the Michigan Annual Conference. You can access the service in the same ways that you have been accessing our online church services on Facebook and YouTube. The link for the Annual Conference worship will be posted on those two sites. The link will also be sent out to the Tower Alert email list on Sunday morning.

On June 13 we will worship in the sanctuary. The service will be live but the songs from the REACH Band will appear on the screens as music videos as Parker is in Boston at this time. It is our hope to have the band back in person very soon, though. We will have live piano and organ music, along with other special music in the sanctuary beginning on June 20.

You don’t have to make a reservation for Sunday worship. We expect to be able to accommodate everyone. You will be able to sing in worship but we will require masks. We will not have bulletins or hymnals through the summer. We will make copies of the hymns on the traditional Sundays for those who would like the music. The balcony will be open, as will all the restrooms. Offering baskets will be available for those who wish to leave an offering. If you would like to use electronic giving, please contact the church office. We will not offer nursery care or Sunday school during the summer. The children’s sermon will be done by Sara Cardinal on video through the summer months. Family areas will be reserved in the Gathering Space for those with children who may not want to sit in the sanctuary. The service will also be shown on the screen in Asbury Hall for any who feel that the sanctuary is too crowded for adequate social distancing. Coffee fellowship will be in the Memorial Garden after worship, weather permitting.

For those who are not ready to return to worship in the sanctuary, we will show the service live on YouTube. We will only be using YouTube because it is easier to access for live video online. YouTube also automatically archives video for viewing at a later date. If you have a smart TV you can probably access the worship service directly to your TV with YouTube. Kim Depew will continue to send the link for YouTube out in an email on Sunday mornings for a few weeks. Please bookmark the link in your web browser or on your smart TV. The Finance Committee has made it possible for us to purchase equipment needed for live broadcasting on Sunday mornings. Those who choose not to attend worship may watch it live on Sunday mornings or view it later as a recording on YouTube.

We will be making a number of changes and transitions on June 13. There will likely be more adjustments made as we move through summer and into the fall. Your support and cooperation during these transitions is greatly appreciated!

At University United Methodist Church, we affirm that as disciples of Jesus Christ, we are an open and inclusive congregation and welcome all persons into full participation regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic situation, age, ability, education, background and whether single or partnered.