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Worship @ Greensky Hill Indian UMC, indoors and online, 10 AM, Sunday
Greensky Hill Indian United Methodist Church wants all of our neighbors to know
- especially our LGBTQIA2S+ members, family, & friends -
that we see all the people and we welcome all as beloved children of God. All.
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8484 Green Sky Hill Rd, Charlevoix, MI 49720
September 5 - October 10, 2021
Beguiled by Beauty: Beauty, Contemplation, and Radical Compassion, 9/5/21
Beguiled by Beauty: Awakening to Beauty, Falling in Love with the World, 9/19/21
Beguiled by Beauty: Beauty, Contemplation, and Radical Compassion, 9/5/21
Greensky Hill presents a multicultural service featuring songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, music by The Drum Voices of Greensky Hill, Pastor Sharon Osterhouse and others, "Searching for Beauty: A Time for Children" with Pastor Sarah Sheaffer and kids, “Sermo Divina” from Ezekiel 31:3-7 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays, and Communion. “All things are beautiful–not by a standard of ‘pretty’ as seen by our eyes, but by an essence of sacred worth that is sensed by the spirit. This is the root and heart of compassion and justice. Beauty is the threshold to Divine Goodness and a door into radical compassion. Contemplation trains our spirits to see this deeper truth. Over the next six weeks, we will pursue a contemplative life to deepen our spiritual capacities so that we might live as Beloveds of God who extend Goodness in the world." (WDS)
Design/original music © Worship Design Studio, used with permission.
Beguiled by Beauty: We Are Made for the Beloved, 9/12/21
Beguiled by Beauty: Awakening to Beauty, Falling in Love with the World, 9/19/21
Beguiled by Beauty: Beauty, Contemplation, and Radical Compassion, 9/5/21
Greensky Hill presents a multicultural service featuring songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, music by Pastor Sharon Osterhouse and others, "Searching for Beauty: A Time for Children" with Pastor Sarah Sheaffer and kids, and “Sermo Divina” from Psalm 16:7-11 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays. “A Christian mystic of the 14th century, Julian of Norwich, lived during one of the worst centuries of human history, including the black death pandemic that wiped out millions of people, famines, floods, war, and corruption. In her writing, she addresses what she believed to be at the root of suffering–the misplaced idea of God’s rejection. Without this core belief in beauty and sacred worth, we engage in self-and-other-destroying behaviors, inducing further suffering. Contemplative practices invite us into union with the Divine One, healing the wounds of forgetfulness." (WDS)
Design/original music © Worship Design Studio, used with permission.
Beguiled by Beauty: Awakening to Beauty, Falling in Love with the World, 9/19/21
Beguiled by Beauty: Awakening to Beauty, Falling in Love with the World, 9/19/21
Beguiled by Beauty: Awakening to Beauty, Falling in Love with the World, 9/19/21
Greensky Hill continues our six-week worship series "Beguiled by Beauty," with Week 3: "Awakening to Beauty, Falling in Love with the World." This multicultural service features songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English and “Sermo Divina” from Psalm 147 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays. "We try to satisfy our thirst for meaningful life with so many distractions and addictions. Awakening to beauty is to find the well that never runs dry. For it is in beginning to truly see the world with our spirits that our soul’s thirst is quenched. “The resilience and beauty of the natural world is a sign of hope, even when things are difficult.” A tree is scorched by fire and yet new sprouts shoot up, defiant and optimistically reaching toward the sun. A crack in a sidewalk reveals the seeds just beneath the surface just waiting for a chance to break through. Contemplating this resilient beauty draws us back to our own vitality and the promise that we, too, are capable of new life." (WDS)
Design/original music © Worship Design Studio, used with permission.
Beguiled by Beauty: Abyss, Mystery, and Wonder, 9/26/21
Beguiled by Beauty: From Beauty to Compassion and Justice, 10/10/21
Beguiled by Beauty: Awakening to Beauty, Falling in Love with the World, 9/19/21
Greensky Hill continues our six-week worship series "Beguiled by Beauty," with Week 4: "Abyss, Mystery, and Wonder." This multicultural service features songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, music by Pastor Sharon Osterhouse and others, "Searching for Beauty: A Time for Children" with Pastor Sarah Sheaffer and kids, and “Sermo Divina” from Psalm 135:1-3, 13-21 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays. "Names were important in the Ancient Near East. Names described attributes of the person to whom they were assigned and could be changed when an important occurrence shifted the story and the essence of a person. The psalmist often gives glory to 'the name of God.' And yet to name God is difficult for there is no one word that can describe the fullness of the Holy. In today's Lectio Divina passage, the psalmist describes the attributes of God for which praise is given: justice and compassion. This is unlike any other unfeeling, life-denying idol that claims to be a “god.” This is a Holy Spirit that moves and breathes–not only in setting the beauty of creation in motion, but even now. It is an indescribable presence that warrants the simple description 'Beautiful Name.'" (WDS)
Design/original music © Worship Design Studio, used with permission.
Beguiled by Beauty: The Beauty of a World Without a "Why," 10/3/21
Beguiled by Beauty: From Beauty to Compassion and Justice, 10/10/21
Beguiled by Beauty: From Beauty to Compassion and Justice, 10/10/21
This multicultural service features songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, music by Pastor Sharon Osterhouse and others, "Searching for Beauty: A Time for Children" with Pastor Sarah Sheaffer and kids, “Sermo Divina” from Song of Songs 4:1-7 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays, and individually served Communion. "When we accept the non-utilitarian goodness of life–a world that doesn’t need a 'why'– we tune into the raw delight in the world. 'Beauty decenters our ego by helping us realize that life is its own justification.' As we let go of how everything relates to us, serves us, benefits us, we begin to appreciate all things for their own worth and beauty, and our desire for their flourishing intensifies. When we turn this idea onto our own selves, we can let go of the expectations of others and the societal standards of beauty in regard to our own worth."
Design/original music © Worship Design Studio, used with permission.
Beguiled by Beauty: From Beauty to Compassion and Justice, 10/10/21
Beguiled by Beauty: From Beauty to Compassion and Justice, 10/10/21
Beguiled by Beauty: From Beauty to Compassion and Justice, 10/10/21
With quotes from "Beguiled by Beauty" author, Dr. Wendy Farley, Series designer, Worship Design Studios, notes, "Our series ends with a reaffirmation of our call to contemplative action in the world. The awareness of one another’s beauty is the 'seedling for the birth of compassion and justice.' A contemplative life can empty us and ready us to become instruments of the Good. Let us affirm our plans to continue practicing 'a way of beauty' that makes life 'rich, courageous, generous, and joyful' as active agents of the Divine Beauty in the world."
Design/original music © Worship Design Studio, used with permission.
This multicultural service features songs and prayers in Anishinaabemowin and English, music by Pastor Sharon Osterhouse and others, "Searching for Beauty: A Time for Children" with Pastor Sarah Sheaffer and kids, and “Sermo Divina” from Isaiah 52:7-10 by the Rev. Jonathan Mays.
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. (Online-only, 10/17-11/13/21. In-person and online beginning 11/14/21).
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.
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.
Contact Greensky Hill
Better yet, get to know us!
Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, you'll feel welcome at Greensky Hill Indian United Methodist Church, where it's safe to ask the hard questions. We will leave no heart behind.
Greensky Hill Indian United Methodist Church
8484 Green Sky Hill, Charlevoix, Michigan 49720, United States
Rev. Jonathan David Mays, Pastor, (231) 459-8067
Welcome to Greensky Hill
Sadly, as of October 9, the Covid Risk level in Charlevoix County is Very High again. We are returning to “online only” worship services for 10/17-11/13, so that we can take a few more steps to keep everyone as safe as possible. Our goal is to return to indoor worship on 11/14. Following each broadcast, the service will be available on our Home page. Earlier services are available on our Archive page.