Scroll down for our latest video and info. Click Archive for previous services.

Greensky Hill Indian United Methodist Church

Greensky Hill Indian United Methodist Church, Charlevoix

The Gift of Being Present: Being Present with Hope, 12/3/23

"The Gift of Being Present: Being Present with Hope" features Advent Candle Lighting, carols, and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, music with the Drum Voices of Greensky Hill, worship pastor Sharon Osterhouse, and others, a reflection on the First Nations Version of Mark 13:24-37 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays, a video, “The Slow Work of God,” by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and The Work of the People, and Communion.

Series Design/Original Liturgy © Worship Design Studio. Used with permission.

Oct 8, Long Haul - Dec 24, 2023, The Gift of Being Present

For the Long Haul: Fruit of the Kindom, 10/8/23

The End in Sight: The Things that are God's, 10/22/23

For the Long Haul: Stiff-Necked People, 10/15/23

"For the Long Haul: Fruit of the Kindom" features songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, music with worship pastor Sharon Osterhouse, Time for Children with family pastor Sarah Sheaffer, a reflection on Exodus 20 & Matthew 21 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays, and a video, "Running for the Light" by The Work of the People (inspired by Psalm 80/music by Wilder Atkins).

UMC Discipleship Ministries offers a new perspective on the "commandments" listed in Exodus 20, "...you can have a rhythm, you can have a pattern, and worship and rest will be woven into that pattern. The pattern will be there to help you be who you were created to be. The pattern will keep you close to the Presence, who is with you always."

© Greensky Hill Indian UMC & Discipleship Ministries. Used with permission.

CCLI 20391192

For the Long Haul: Stiff-Necked People, 10/15/23

The End in Sight: The Things that are God's, 10/22/23

For the Long Haul: Stiff-Necked People, 10/15/23

"For the Long Haul: Stiff-Necked People" features songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, music with worship pastor Sharon Osterhouse, a reflection on Exodus 32 & Matthew 22 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays, and a video, "Let Us Love," by Elsa Anders Cook and The Work of the People.

UMC Discipleship Ministries wrote, "The theme this week might seem harsh. It might also lead us to point fingers at those out there or over there who are stiff-necked. Rarely will we realize that we are the ones in need of a neck massage. Perhaps worship this week begins with confession."

© Greensky Hill Indian UMC & Discipleship Ministries. Used with permission.

CCLI 20391192

The End in Sight: The Things that are God's, 10/22/23

"The End in Sight: The Things that are God's" features songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, music with worship pastor Sharon Osterhouse, Time for Children with family pastor Sarah Sheaffer, a reflection on Exodus 33 & Matthew 22 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays, and a video, "Soul Womb," by John Philip Newel and The Work of the People.

UMC Discipleship Ministries notes,

"The invitation this week in worship is to adjust our vision. We are called to see God in the world in which we live. We are called to identify the things that are God’s, including ourselves and the people around us. Even the surprising ones."

© Greensky Hill Indian UMC & Discipleship Ministries. Used with permission.

CCLI 20391192

The End in Sight: Face to Face, 10/29/23

Our Hymn of Grateful Praise: Enter the Gates, 11/12/23

The End in Sight: The Things that are God's, 10/22/23

"The End in Sight: Face to Face" features songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, music with worship pastor Sharon Osterhouse, Time for Children with family pastor Sarah Sheaffer, a reflection on Deuteronomy 34 & Matthew 22 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays, and a video, "Patterns of Self Love" with Jacqui Lewis, by The Work of the People.

UMC Discipleship Ministries notes,

"We continue to envision what it would be like to live in the kin-dom of God as a community of faith. But this week, we focus on the doing."

© Greensky Hill Indian UMC & Discipleship Ministries. Used with permission.

CCLI 20391192

All Saints Sunday: From Every Tribe, 11/5/23

Our Hymn of Grateful Praise: Enter the Gates, 11/12/23

"From Every Tribe" features songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, music with the Drum Voices of Greensky Hill and worship pastor Sharon Osterhouse, a meditation on The Beatitudes in Matthew 5, 1 John 3, & Revelation 7 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays, a video by The Work of the People, and open table Communion. All are welcome!

"Today, we celebrate not just those we miss, those who died since the last All Saints celebration, but we celebrate what they taught us and what they showed us. Today, we celebrate how the community was enriched by their presence, as it is enriched by those who are still here with us."

© Greensky Hill Indian UMC & Discipleship Ministries. Used with permission.

CCLI 20391192

Our Hymn of Grateful Praise: Enter the Gates, 11/12/23

"Our Hymn of Grateful Praise: Enter the Gates" features songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, a conversation about decolonizing and indigenizing Thanksgiving (with wisdom from Living Resistance by Kaitlin B. Curtice), a meditation on Psalm 100 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays, and a video, "Be Still," by The Work of the People.

"We are being invited to consider our common humanity, our shared experience of living in a world that has heartache and struggle, but also profound joy and satisfaction that is deep and true and binding of heart to heart. And it all grows out of an awareness of the interconnectedness of life, which opens us up to living in gratitude. That’s what we celebrate this week as we worship."

© Greensky Hill Indian UMC & Discipleship Ministries. Used with permission.

CCLI 20391192

Our Hymn of Grateful Praise: In Everything, 11/19/23

The Gift of Being Present: Being Present with Hope, 12/3/23

Our Hymn of Grateful Praise: After Giving Thanks, 11/26/23

"Our Hymn of Grateful Praise: In Everything" features songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, a conversation about decolonizing and indigenizing Thanksgiving (with wisdom from Living Resistance by Kaitlin B. Curtice), a meditation on Philippians 4:4-13 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays, and a video, "Creative Joy" by Christine Valters Paintner and The Work of the People.

As we tell the truth about the Thanksgiving holiday and reflect on a familiar passage about 'rejoicing always," UMC Discipleship Ministries reminds us, "This is not to say, even here on the threshold of Thanksgiving, that there isn’t room for grief or sadness. Suffering strikes even during the holiday season. Some might be dreading gathering with family, knowing there is pain there...We don’t ask to accept the brokenness or endure abuse, but note that we see beyond the pain of the moment to a wholeness that is offered. We give thanks for the promises of God, even when we can’t feel them at the moment."

© Greensky Hill Indian UMC & Discipleship Ministries. Used with permission.

CCLI 20391192

Our Hymn of Grateful Praise: After Giving Thanks, 11/26/23

The Gift of Being Present: Being Present with Hope, 12/3/23

Our Hymn of Grateful Praise: After Giving Thanks, 11/26/23

"Our Hymn of Grateful Praise: After Giving Thanks" features songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, a conversation about decolonizing and indigenizing Thanksgiving (with wisdom from Living Resistance by Kaitlin B. Curtice), and a meditation on John 6:5-23 with worship pastor Sharon Osterhouse, and a video, "The Great Reversal," an adapted prayer from Isaiah 60 by Kelly Ann Hall and The Work of the People.

"If the Sunday before Thanksgiving invited us to look at the community and the family that surrounds us, this Sunday encourages us to look up to the Christ as we give thanks for the kin-dom he asks us to see and to lean into."

© Greensky Hill Indian UMC & Discipleship Ministries. Used with permission.

CCLI 20391192

The Gift of Being Present: Being Present with Hope, 12/3/23

The Gift of Being Present: Being Present with Peace, 12/10/23

"The Gift of Being Present: Being Present with Hope" features Advent Candle Lighting, carols, songs, and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, music with the Drum Voices of Greensky Hill, worship pastor Sharon Osterhouse, and others, a reflection on the First Nations Version of Mark 13:24-37 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays, a video, “The Slow Work of God,” by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and The Work of the People, and open table Communion. All are welcome!

"Advent can be filled with worry about finding the perfect Christmas gifts. Deep down we want people in our lives to know they are special and that we love them. But sometimes we overlook the greatest gift of all… our very presence. The 19th century poet, Christina Rosetti, wrote 'In the Bleak Midwinter' that became a popular Christmas carol. Modern composer, Mark Hayes, set the last verse of that poem to music as our theme song for our Advent/Christmas series. It reminds us that even if we are feeling poor — in resources, in body or spirit — we can simply be a gift of presence, we can give our hearts."

CCLI 20391192

The Gift of Being Present: Being Present with Peace, 12/10/23

Coming Soon!

"The Gift of Being Present: Being Present with Peace" features Advent Candle Lighting, carols, songs, and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, and a meditation on Mark 1:1-8 with worship pastor Sharon Osterhouse, and a video by The Work of the People.

"In our Advent series, we are celebrating the gift of being truly present — to each other and to the call of God to make this world a better place. We can be the gift of presence with those who are experiencing life as less-than-peaceful. But this might also be true of how we are personally feeling in this moment. Our lives can feel a bit chaotic."

CCLI 20391192

The Gift of Being Present: Being Present with Joy, 12/17/23

The Gift of Being Present: Being Present with Peace, 12/10/23

The Gift of Being Present: Being Present with Love, 12/24/23

Coming Soon!

"The Gift of Being Present: Being Present with Joy" features Advent Candle Lighting, carols, songs, and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, music with worship pastor Sharon Osterhouse and others, a reflection on the First Nations Version of Luke 1:41-55 by the Rev. Tim Wright, and a video by The Work of the People.

"Today we will read the words of Isaiah offering a prophetic vision that Jesus then claims for his ministry. Likewise, we are called to claim the gift of being fully present with all people — those who mourn, those who grieve, those who have suffered indignity and oppression. Mary’s Magnificat is prophetic as well. She claims the overturning of injustice even before it has come to pass. In the difficulty of her situation, she 'sings' with joy about the very real presence of God growing within her."

CCLI 20391192

The Gift of Being Present: Being Present with Love, 12/24/23

The Gift of Being Present: Being Present with Peace, 12/10/23

The Gift of Being Present: Being Present with Love, 12/24/23

Coming Soon!

"The Gift of Being Present: Being Present with Love" features Advent Candle Lighting, carols, songs, and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, music with worship pastor Sharon Osterhouse and others, a reflection on the First Nations Version of Luke 1:26-38 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays, and a video by The Work of the People.

"The faith narrative is careful to show us a lineage from King David to Jesus. It is no ordinary lineage; it is one that began in the shepherding of sheep, of leading and delivering the people in search of a home. Mary’s womb becomes part of that lineage of love, offering the world the gift of God’s presence 'in the flesh.' As we enter the story of the birth of Love Among Us, we are invited to be present with love. We may think the perfect gift is outside our reach to give, but in reality we have all that we need… the heart’s love and presence."

CCLI 20391192

Aug 4, Living Resistance - Oct 1, 2023, Come to the Table

Kaitlin Curtice, Living Resistance: The Personal Realm, 8/4/23

Kaitlin Curtice, Living Resistance: The Ancestral Realm, 8/5/23

Kaitlin Curtice, Living Resistance: The Personal Realm, 8/4/23

In celebration of Greensky Hill's 190th anniversary, the community is invited to an evening presentation,
"The Personal Real," by Potawatomi author Kaitlin Curtice from her book, Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day.

"Personal Realm: This realm's color is red, to represent our lifeblood, the connection to our de (heart center). It is the season of winter, the time when we go inward to understand, ask questions, rest, and process."

© Greensky Hill Indian UMC & © Kaitlin B. Curtice, 2023. Used with permission.

CCLI 20391192

Kaitlin Curtice, Living Resistance: The Communal Realm, 8/5/23

Kaitlin Curtice, Living Resistance: The Ancestral Realm, 8/5/23

Kaitlin Curtice, Living Resistance: The Personal Realm, 8/4/23

In celebration of Greensky Hill's 190th anniversary, the community is invited to a Thursday afternoon presentation featuring Potawatomi author Kaitlin Curtice's second talk, "The Communal Realm,", from her book, Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day.

"Communal Realm: This realm's color is brown, to represent aki -- dirt or earth. It is the time to honor our connection to the land and each other, and the time to plant seeds and make changes on the communal level. It is spring, the time of planting and waiting." (p. 15)

© Greensky Hill Indian UMC & © Kaitlin B. Curtice, 2023. Used with permission.

CCLI 20391192

Kaitlin Curtice, Living Resistance: The Ancestral Realm, 8/5/23

In celebration of Greensky Hill's 190th anniversary, the community is invited to a Thursday evening presentation featuring Potawatomi author Kaitlin Curtice's third talk, "The Ancestral Realm," from her book, Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day.

"Ancestral Realm: This realm's color is blue, to represent mbish (water), fluidity, movement, and the space we inhabit as we interact with our ancestors. Resistance is fluid, moving work. It is the season of summer, when we notice what grows and blooms for future generations, what comes out of the hard work of planting that we did in the Communal Realm." (p. 15)

© Greensky Hill Indian UMC & © Kaitlin B. Curtice, 2023. Used with permission.

CCLI 20391192

Kaitlin Curtice, Living Resistance: The Integral Realm, 8/6/23

Kaitlin Curtice, Living Resistance: The Ancestral Realm, 8/5/23

In celebration of Greensky Hill's 190th anniversary, the community is invited to an extended Sunday morning gathering, 10-11:30 AM, followed by a community picnic, 11:30 AM-1 PM. The morning gathering features Potawatomi author Kaitlin Curtice's fourth and final talk, "The Integral Realm" from her book, Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day, immediately following a brief worship service including greetings from Bishop David Alan Bard, A Native American Celebration of Holy Communion, a children's presentation at the conclusion of Kid's Camp 2023, songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, music with worship pastor Sharon Osterhouse, and thoughts on the First Nations Version of John 10:10 and the Seven Grandfather Teachings by Rev. Jonathan Mays.

"Integral Realm: This realm's color is yellow, and it is at the very center of who we are, our shkode (fire). In this realm, we integrate all the embodiment, presence, and work of the other realms. The Intergral Reaml, the season of autumn, is the time to harvest, to gather in all that we've learned, unlearned, and embodied in the other realms.

© Greensky Hill Indian UMC & © Kaitlin B. Curtice, 2023. Used with permission.

CCLI 20391192

The Path: Wrestling with Our Hunger, 8/13/23

Kaitlin Curtice, Living Resistance: The Integral Realm, 8/6/23

The Path: Wrestling with Our Hunger, 8/13/23

"The Path of the Disciple," Part IV, Week 1, "Searching for the Face of God: Wrestling with Our Hunger," features a story and prayer song from Taoyewakanwi (Her Ways Are Sacred), songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, music with worship pastor Sharon Osterhouse, and a brief reflection on the First Nations Version of Matthew 14:13-21 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays.

"Worship this week can be a reminder that we are seeking the face of God when we gather but also when we scatter. Our hunger for God is not only met when we gather for worship but also when we are at work, when we are in fellowship, when we engage in conversations and build relationships, when we serve and love as we are sent to do."

© Greensky Hill Indian UMC & Discipleship Ministries. Used with permission.

CCLI 20391192

The Path: What Are You Seeking?, 8/20/23

Kaitlin Curtice, Living Resistance: The Integral Realm, 8/6/23

The Path: Wrestling with Our Hunger, 8/13/23

"The Path of the Disciple," Part IV, Week 2, "Searching for the Face of God: What Are You Seeking?," features songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, music with worship pastor Sharon Osterhouse, Time for Children with family pastor Sarah Sheaffer, a reflection on Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 and the First Nations Version of Matthew 14:22-33 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays, and a video, "Invitation to the Thirsty," by The Work of the People.

"When we ask, 'What are you seeking?' we are talking about kin-dom living. We are talking about the community of faith representing the body of Christ. As we worship this week, we celebrate the signs of God’s presence among us."

CCLI 20391192

The Path: Is It Fair?, 8/27/23

Come to the Table: The Table of Hospitality, 9/3/23

Greensky Hill concludes the "The Path of the Disciple" worship series with Part IV, Week 3, "Searching for the Face of God: Is It Fair?," featuring songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, music with worship pastor Sharon Osterhouse, Time for Children with family pastor Sarah Sheaffer, a reflection on the First Nations Version of Matthew 15:10-28 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays, and a video, "Unstoppable Love," by The Work of the People.

"When we are truly seeking the face of God, we go beyond fair and move into grace manifested in love in all our relationships."

CCLI 20391192

Come to the Table: The Table of Hospitality, 9/3/23

Greensky Hill kicks off the fall season with a 5-week worship series titled "Come to the Table." Week 1, "The Table of Hospitality" features The Drum Voices of Greensky Hill, songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, music with worship pastor Sharon Osterhouse, The Children Gather with family pastor Sarah Sheaffer, a reflection on the First Nations Version of Romans 12:9-21 & Matthew 16:21-28 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays, a video, "Stranger," by The Work of the People, and open table Communion.

"Jesus’ lesson at the last supper was clear: the meal of the kin-dom of God is for ALL. Saints, strangers, those who persecute and betray you, those who are joyful and those who weep. The author of the epistle letter to the Romans reminds us and invites us to do as Jesus did — 'do not be overcome with evil but overcome evil with good.' In the words of Jesus, 'take up your cross and follow me.' This requires that we follow God’s way in offering a good meal at God’s table for all of God’s guests.'

CCLI 20391192

Come to the Table: The Table of Love, 9/10/23

Come to the Table: The Table of Hospitality, 9/3/23

Come to the Table: The Table of Peace, 9/17/23

"The Table of Love" features songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, music with worship pastor Sharon Osterhouse and others, The Children Gather and a reflection on the First Nations Version of Romans 13:8-14 & Matthew 18:15-20 by family pastor Sarah Sheaffer, and a video, "It Is Love that Matters," by Ilia Delio and The Work of the People.

"Jesus often confounded those for whom acceptance was conditional — those who required specific laws be followed 'or else.' The litmus test for Jesus was simply love. He chose time and again to seek out the intention of someone’s heart — to gather together and engage in conversation as a way of moving toward right relationship. What happens when we seek to 'do no wrong' to our neighbor, moving beyond boundaries into reciprocal understanding?"

CCLI 20391192

Come to the Table: The Table of Peace, 9/17/23

Come to the Table: The Table of Joy, 10/1/23 (World Communion Sunday)

Come to the Table: The Table of Peace, 9/17/23

"The Table of Peace" features songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, music with worship pastor Sharon Osterhouse, The Children Gather with family pastor Sarah Sheaffer, a reflection on the First Nations Version of Romans 14:1-12 & Matthew 18:21-35 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays, and a video, "Lord, Lord, Open Unto Me," by Howard Thurman and The Work of the People.

"We welcome each other at the table even when we disagree. Coming to tables of peacemaking is hard work. We must be willing to suspend our propensity for making ourselves the judge of others. Accountability AND forgiveness are on the menu at God’s table and we are called to sit down and find merciful ways to deal with one another despite our differences."

CCLI 20391192

Come to the Table: The Table of Grace, 9/24/23

Come to the Table: The Table of Joy, 10/1/23 (World Communion Sunday)

"The Table of Grace" features songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, music with worship pastor Sharon Osterhouse, The Children Gather with family pastor Sarah Sheaffer, a reflection on the First Nations Version of Philippians 1:21-30 & Matthew 20:1-16 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays, and a video, "The Merton Prayer," by Thomas Merton and by The Work of the People.

"God’s table is one of plenty! God decides how much to give and gives more than we can ever imagine; more grace than we expect. God even gives more than we would give ourselves. In the face of such abundance, we are called to be generous as God is generous. Indeed, at God’s pot-luck of grace, even the last in line have more than enough to eat!"

CCLI 20391192

Come to the Table: The Table of Joy, 10/1/23 (World Communion Sunday)

"The Table of Joy" features songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, music with worship pastor Sharon Osterhouse, The Children Gather with family pastor Sarah Sheaffer, a reflection on the First Nations Version of Philippians 2:1-13 & Matthew 21:23-32 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays, a video, "A Prayer for the Church," from The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and The Work of the People, and open table Communion.

"We celebrate our common communion table with people all over the world. Through Jesus, we are brought together and no matter how we got there, believing in the host of this Table makes our joy complete! Let us share our stories, our compassion, our sympathy as part of one human family that shares the love of Christ in the breaking of the bread!"

CCLI 20391192

About Greensky Hill

We share sacred space.

We remain a sanctuary of love in a setting of natural beauty.

We preserve a unique Native Heritage.

We invite people to experience community as sisters and brothers in Christ and empower people to serve all in need.

We worship together every Sunday at 10 a.m. (in person and online).

Our simple log church was built in the 1840's. Surrounded by trees marking the site of a long sacred meeting place, the church was constructed with large hewn logs notched at the corners and laid horizontally over a stone foundation. Much of the lumber used in the building was brought by canoe from Traverse City. Today the church continues to be an active, racially mixed congregation, some of whom are descendants of original worshipers. Our three ministry priorities are: to be radically welcoming, to be an Anishinaabe cultural center as well as a living Christian church, and the Greening of Greensky Hill.

We care for creation, we care for our community, and we love sharing meals with our neighbors.

Through our partnership with Manna Food Project, we have Family Food Boxes available at no charge and with no strings attached. If you're interested in worship or other church activities, you are more than welcome; however, you should never feel obligated. We also care for our community with United Methodist Women and Men's Club meetings, Grandmother Moon ceremonies, Bible Studies, children's ministry, water protector events, and other activities.