The Green Team is pleased to announce the second year of the Adopt a Plot program!
  The Green Team is a subcommittee of the Property Committee that helps to maintain the church grounds. We meet a few times during the growing season to work in the flower and shrub beds. Our next meeting is the Spring clean up. Bring rakes and your favorite tools Saturday, May 2 from 9-11 at the church.

   Adopt a Plot is an opportunity to get folks involved with keeping church grounds in tip-top shape. We've

identified 20 "plots" on church grounds that need regular weeding. Some will be planted with annual flowers.

Please consider adopting a plot to maintain this summer. The sign-up poster is at the Crossroads.
*Choose a plot to maintain during the growing season (May-October);
*spend a few hours a month keeping your plot weed-free;
*Work at your own pace and at your convenience;
*Flowers provided for specific areas.
  Questions? Call Leigh (671-5355) or email krausshaus@comcast.net.
***Rain date - if it rains we'll meet the next day: Sunday, May 3 at noon.

Finding Hope hosted by York Connection

  "Your grief and mourning will iimpact you in all five realms of experience: physical; emotional; cognitive;social; and spiritual."  Quote from "Understanding Your Grief"..Alan D,Wolfelt, Ph.D.
   The next class of Finding Hope is organizing for a late April or early May beginning. If you are interestedin being a member of this group, or know someone in need, please call. Our members are not necessarily GIPCmembers, but we do rely on our faith as we go through the sessions.
   This group, using the writings of Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. from the Center for Loss is focused on those who are

grieving the death of a family member; spouse, dear friend, parent, etc. The goal of the group is to help move from grieving into hope and healing. Our resource books are "Understanding Your Grief: Ten EssentialTouchstones for Finding Hope and Healing Your Heart" and "The Understanding Your Grief Journal."
   The small group of individuals meets weekly for ten weeks and moves through the Touchstones as outlined in the

book.  We celebrate the end of the group by acknowledging what we have learned about our growth.  Per Dr.

Wolfelt, growth means; encountering pain, change, a new inner balance with no end points, and exploring our

assumptions about life.
 

   To learn more about the possibilities of this new group please contact Susan Hurst, group leader at 734-671-

1530 or hursts@wowway.com.

 From Mission Yearbook for May 3, 2015
 

   It's time to reread John 15:1-8 to remind us of who and whose we are. One of the privileges of becoming older and gaining wisdom is to reflect on and share what God has done in our lives. God is with us in the good timesas well as the challenging times of life. It is up to us to continue to spread the good news!
  One of the joys of becoming older and wiser is the recognition that God is with us---all the time. God knows

us in and out, and as we mature we have the privilege of growing in this awareness of being known and loved.

It is important for us to share our story. Passing on our experience to other generations spreads the good news and helps others get through some difficult times. As God relates to us and we share the fruit of this relationship with others--we keep God's story--and ours--going.
  The good news continues--through sharing. May 3rd Sunday's lectionary readings include the story of the

Ethiopian eunuch and the parable of the vine and branches. We are the branches who draw our life from Jesus,

the true vine. Pass it on!
  In sharing your stories, be sure to take time to smell the flowers.
                                  Peace and love be with each of you. 
                                                Helen Morrison, elder, 
                          Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church (Michigan)