COOPERATIVE
BIBLE STUDY
Ten persons from several different churches in the Cooperative
meet at the McMillan church each Thursday at 10:00 a.m.
They are studying Disciple II which focuses on the books
of Genesis, Exodus, Luke and Acts. The study finishes each
time with a fellowship lunch.
COOPERATIVE FELLOWSHIP EVENTS
The Cooperative holds a fall get-together at Interlaken
Camp to fellowship and have a great meal. Horseshoes, volleyball,
singing along with a guitar, swimming, and just plain chatting
with friends keep everyone busy for the afternoon. The meal
is wonderful. Meat, fish, and corn-on-the cob is provided
by the Coop and cooked by owners Bill and Shari Pew. Each
church is in charge of bringing either dessert, drink, salad
or breads. After dinner, there is a Communion service at
lakeside.
The Cooperative also holds an annual
Christmas Party. Taking turns, one of the churches is the
host. That church is in charge of planning the menu for
the planned potluck and providing entertainment. Often a
Christmas drama is presented.
COOPERATIVE LEADERSHIP AND
TRAINING EVENTS
Certification Course: Protecting Children, Youth and Vulnerable
Persons. This event was held twice this winter in the Parish
with a total of 34 persons attending. The God’s Country
Cooperative Parish has adopted the Detroit Annual Conference
policy on Child Protection as its own in the Coop.
Staff Retreats: The staff gets together
at least twice each year for a retreat – a time of learning,
sharing, and fellowship. In this last year the staff met
at a cabin at Muskallonge Lake and at the parsonage in Paradise.
In 2003, Margaret Madison, Karen
Mars, Mike and Saundra Clark, and Ken and Marg Host attended
a Consultation on Cooperative Ministry in St. Louis, Missouri.
We came home with good ideas and a lot of enthusiasm for
cooperative ministry.
COOPERATIVE SUPPORT OF MISSION
PROJECTS
In November, the Parish held an “Alternative Christmas Mission
Fair” at the Newberry church in which persons could give
to mission as a gift for Christmas. Unfortunately, it was
not well attended this year because we were in conflict
with a Newberry High School football championship game.
Almost the entire town of Newberry went “down-state” for
the game.
In 2004, the Cooperative Parish decided
to become a member of “Bread for the World” which is an
advocate group with the government trying to help with the
hunger problem throughout the world.
Another mission project in 2004 was
the Grand Marais church. The church had a very difficult
year financially and the Coop chose to give them financial
support in the form of a grant and also as recipient of
the Christmas mission gifts.
COOPERATIVE YOUTH ACTIVITIES
In November of 2004, Margaret Madison took two of the youth
of the Parish to a Youth Rally in Flint. Both found it to
be a very learning experience.
COOPERATIVE MISSION TRIPS
A trip was not taken in 2004.
In 2003, 5 adults and several youth went to Virginia to
work for CrossRoads Ministries. They did several building
projects. The group also had some “fun” time when they went
white-water rafting.
COOPERATIVE HOSTING OF VOLUNTEERS
IN MISSION TEAMS
The churches of the Cooperative host teams that come from
down state or out of state that wish to be involved in a
mission project. The church is obligated to help with housing
– either finding motels, campgrounds, etc., or setting it
up so the groups can sleep and eat at the church and take
showers somewhere. In return, the VIM groups do a variety
of projects in the community such as: helping with Vacation
Bible School, building of decks and ramps, painting, putting
in a new sidewalk in front of a church, working in gardens,
making bags for the “mission bean soup” etc. These VIM teams
take care of their own expenses and often bring money to
put toward the projects they are working on. The big project
for 2004 was the total re-doing of a house in Hulbert for
a mother and her two children. There were several groups
that worked on this project, including the Marquette District
Youth. The VIM projects were overseen by Don Bodi of Newberry,
Ken Host of Germfask and Margaret Madison, our Parish Director.
COOPERATIVE CHARGE CONFERENCE
The seven churches of God’s Country Cooperative Parish meet
together for the annual Charge Conference. The host church
provides a meal. In 2004, there was a worship service celebrating
the mission accomplishments of the churches. District Superintendent
Doug Paterson preached. The meeting itself addressed each
of the seven churches as they took care of the business
matters of slate of officers, pastoral compensation recommendation,
membership changes, and Lay Speaker certifications.
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