Welcome to a faith filled church practicing a religion filled with grace
Searching for a place where you'll feel loved, inspired, and challenged? Then H.U.M.C. may be for you. Come check us out!
Our Church
Our Church
A church can be an intimidating place. We want you to know you're welcome here. Hospitality is a big thing for us. We want to to assist you with any questions you may have.
I want to personally invite you to come experience God's presence at Hartford UMC. Our goal is to impact the world we live in by making disciples. We do that by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Come and be a part of life at Hartford United Methodist Church.
In Jesus name, Pastor Doug
10:00 A.M. service
The 10:00 a.m. service is an indoor, in-person worship service in the sanctuary. Also it is live streamed on our Facebook page.
Your Help is needed
Snow Plowing for Our Church
If you have a snow plow truck and are willing to plow the parking lot for the church for free it would be greatly appreciated especially on Thursday nights for food pantry or Sunday mornings for church.. Each time we have it plowed it is costing the church $160. If you can help please let Pastor Doug know.
Gifts and Giving
Your support and contributions will enable us to further our mission as a church.
You can give through PayPal below,
Venmo ( www.venmo.com/u/TheBridgeat-HartfordUMC ),
Give+ app on your phone,
Square (https://square.link/u/1i9QaxSk )
or your bill pay at your financial institution
February Scriptures
Spiritual Disciplines - Confession February 5, 2023 - 1 John 1:5-10
Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a] sin.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
1 John 1:5-10
Missions
Our Church Missions
Our church is mission minded. We have been involved with Cooperative Food Pantry and recently we have taken on the mission of the Weekend Backpacks for our local elementary students. We are also involved with the United Methodist Church monthly mission focus on both local, regional, national, and world mission programs.
Cooperating Ministries
The Cooperating Ministries Food Pantry is made up several churches in the area that works together to provide food for those in need. It is housed here at Hartford United Methodist Church. They distribute food every Thursday from 4 pm - 7 p.m. They are able to provide the food because they get generous donations from many people in our town, the Pokagon Fund has awarded them grants, The Four Winds Casino also helps out at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, Catholic Charities also donates food to the food pantry, along with many of our local farms will give produce and fresh fruit when they are able to. They have been lucky to get donations from Burnett packing and the local Harding's store as well.
Backpack Mission
The Backpack Mission project is in need of funding. If you can help we would appreciate it. The Backpack Mission was developed and created because many of our teachers and administrators saw that some of our children did not have enough food in their homes on the weekends when school was not in session. We have a group of volunteers that pack up the bags and deliver them to the school on Friday so that the students can take them home on Friday. They provide food for breakfast and either lunch or supper for those two days. We have been extremely blessed by those who support this program: The Pokagon Fund, The Hartford Foundation for a Quality Education, Burnett Packing, The Hartford United Methodist Church Mission Team, and local individuals who contribute money so that we can purchase what we need through Feed America. We have also received help through feed the children on occasion as well.
Monthly Mission
For the Month of February our Mission Offerings will be going towards Golden Cross
WHAT IS Golden Cross Sunday?
Golden Cross Sunday is one of four Special Sundays designated by The Michigan Conference. This special offering supports life-changing care for children, seniors who have outlived their savings, and those unable to pay the cost of hospitalization.
The organizations that will receive a portion of the 2023 offering are:
- The Methodist Children’s Home Society
- Chelsea Retirement Community
- Clark Retirement Community
- Joy Southfield Community Development Organization (CDC)
- Michigan Area United Methodist Camping
- Bronson Hospital·
Click on the ministry’s name to learn more.
Photo Gallery
On Thursday, October 27th, the Hartford high school came and did work at the church.
They raked not only the entire front yard they did the side yard as well.
They also helped with the chopping for our pulled pork dinner.
On Friday, September 23rd we had our first movie night.
The movie we showed was "Family Camp".
The small crowd agreed it was something they would like to do again.
On Monday, August 29th, A group of us met at theElementary School to pass out Water bottles, backpack tags and pray
The Parents and Students were happy to receive the water bottles and our encouragement.
The team was happy to take part on this first day activity.
On August 24, 2022 Our church attended the Back To School Bash.
We passed out water bottles and suckers.
Some of our youth helped pass out the bottles
Susie and Deanna getting the table ready for the Bash
Karymn and Cristela ready to give out the suckers to everyone.
Preparing the bottles for the Back to School Bash.
Preparing the bottles for the Bash.
Preparing the suckers for the Back to School Bash.
The happy couple cutting the cake.
Pastor Wayne annouces them husband and wife.
Pastor Wayne Babcock performed the ceremony.
On July 23, 2022 Pastor Doug and Deanna were wed.
On Thursday, July 7, we had the Feed America Mobile Truck here at the church
During this time we had several volunteers.
With the help of the truck and our own food pantry ---
We fed 216 families.
We have been truly blessed that we could help that many families
The Feed America Mobile Truck is here each month on the first Thursday of the month. But you can get food every week here on thursday night.
The ladies are preparing for the rummage.
The rummage is donated by church members and friends of the church.
The rummage sale will be Friday(june 17th) and Saturday( June 18th)
It is great to have this tradition back.
Please join us for this fund raiser.
The 2nd prayer walk to the police department and the schools.
Praying for our officers that serve
Praying for those who serve the community.
Praying for the high school seniors, students and teachers.
Walking to the middle school to pray.
Praying for the Middle school students , teachers, bus drivers.
Some of our graduates from the class of 2022
Tammy and Dave presented each of the graduates with a gift
The local Post Office had a food drive on the 2nd Saturday in May of 2022 and this is what they collected for the Cooperating Ministries
What a great addition to our food pantry for those in need of food.
The volunteers sorted the food so that it was ready to be distributed on Thursday nights
On the average the Cooperating Ministries are giving food to 100 familiies each week throughout the year.
Place the heart on the cross to symbolize that God loves you.
Station 12: Justin was able to give communion.
Station 11: The pool with the water in it was where we put the rocks that represented our sin -- and how it was taken from us from his death.
Station 10: The sand bag represented the 75 lbs of aloe, Frankincense and myrrah that was used to wrap Jesus's body in inside of the tomb.
Station 9: Represented the light of Jesus being taken as he died on the cross and his spirit leaving his body.
Station 9: Autumn was there to relight the candle for each participate.
Station 8: Larry would give each of us a nail that was made to take home as a remembrance.
Station 8: We take a hammer and beat a nail into the cross to symbolize what they did to Jesus to crucify him.
Pastor Doug made the whip and we had playing on the computer the beating scene from "The Passion"
station 7: This station was to remind us the beating Jesus took.
Station 6: Symbolizes Peter denying the Lord three times before the rooster crowed.
Station 5: symbolizes Pilate washing his hands from the matter
Station 4: 30 pieces that Judas took for betraying Jesus
Good Friday Stations: Station 1 - what great things that God Created in our world
Pastor Doug Welcoming everyone to Maundy Thursday.
Autumn was the narrator for the skit of the Upper Room.
Jesus (Larry Woodley) preparing to wash Peter's Feet. ( Justin Cardenas)
Jesus:………………………………………. Larry Woodley
Simon (Peter): ………………………..…..Justin Cardenas
Andrew: …………………………………Wayne Babcock
James: …………………………… Roger Danneffel
Judas: ……………………………………….Butch Drumm
Philip: ……………………………………Nick McGlothlin
Bartholomew: …………………….…………. Bob Kuenhle
James (son of Alphaeus): ……………….…..Dale Kaucher
Simon (Zealot): …………………………….Kenneth Smith
Judas Iscariot: ……………………………….Pastor Doug
Shirley and Mickey Cochrane
Roger and Holly Danneffell enjoying Maundy Thursday's Soup and Salad meal
Maxine Melvin
Janet Melvin
Nancy Spoula
Pastor Wayne Babcock
Forground: T. J Mason and his daughter, Becky & Larry Woodley, Deanna Kniss
Table behind: Jill & Justin Cardenas, Doug Nelson, Nick McGlothlin and Des
Autumn schmaltz, Rosemary Heinisch, Wanda Maston, Ronda Kaucher
Dale Kaucher, Becky and Larry Woodley, T. J. Mason and his daughter
Nick McGlothlin, Destiny Chacon, Jill Cardenas, Doug Nelson
Our first Easter Egg hunt was held Saturday April 9th.
We had to move it to inside of the church because of the snow that fell over night.
Even the older kids had a great time looking for the eggs that were hidden in some strange places
We are grateful to all of the people that made this possible including Becky and Larry Woodley who chaired this activity.
Justin enjoying the Men's breakfast and fellowship.
The men put on a great breakfast for themselves and a few guests.
The food looked great
The fellowship and devotion amongst the men and guest are so important.
The Food Drive for the Super Bowl and you can tell --the Rams won the food drive as well.
The Pastor and several of the members enjoying the game.
Some of us were enjoying the game while a few enjoyed having the puppy here for the evening.
The guys were intense about the game.
Always in a happy mood
This is what happens when the Pastor leaves his phone laying about and the secretary finds out there is no pass code.
Even on a cold snowday from school are teams are hard at work filling backpacks for the students at school.
This is Team 1 filling backpacks on their snow day on 1.6.22 Without our three teams we would be lost and these backpacks would not be filled.
Hartford Public Schools High School School did their stuff the bus campaign on November 18th
Several students were on hand to help bring in all that they collected
The students from the National Honor Society and Student Council were the ones in charge
The students were excited about the amount of food they had collected
Dave Janicki, the high school principal, explained that the students really enjoy helping out the community.
The students were allowed to be out of school because they are in the National Honor Society.
Even the head of transportation for the school was here to help bring everything in.
Not only food was given but even baby diapers were given as a donation.
It took the students several trips to get everything out of the bus and the pickup that was loaded down
The volunteers of the food pantry started to sort all of the can goods
The Students food drive was a great success
The Hartford Public High School did a great job collecting food for the Food Pantry
And they should lead us to our next destination.
The group walking to our last spot.
Watching out for us as we each speak as we feel led.
A good time by our group as we walked from the church to the fire department, police department and the school.
Our group at the school praying for the school employees.
Pastor Doug leading us a prayer at the school.
Even Pumpkin joined us for the walk.
Janet getting the drinks ready for this afternoon
Lisa Buddemeier and Maxine Melvin dishing up the beans
Lisa still dishing up the beans
Myra cutting the cakes.
Ready for outdoor dining.
More out door dining
Silent Auction items
More silent auction items
More silent auction items
More silent auction items
even more silent auction items.
The Church's flowers along the drive away.
The Church's flowers in the spring of 2021
Spring flowers
The flowers on the corner of the driveway.
Karen Williams cleaning the Memory garden
The flowers we planted last November in Memory of those who passed are coming up just in time for Palm Sunday & Easter.
What a wonderful tradition and honor to those who have been here before us.
This way their memory will be with us every time we see the flowers in bloom.
When they are in full bloom they will be gorgeous. Thank you again to Becky and Larry Woodley for planting these lasting memories.
Food Truck came for a visit on March 4, 2021
We served over 166 families
That means we gave out 9316 pounds of food
We are very grateful for Feed America and for all of the volunteers that helped to make this a successful give away.
The winter clothing drive for the last two weeks was a great success.
Pastor Stephanie, Nick McGlothin, and Brittany Vanlandingham delivered the coats and winter gear to the Gospel Mission
Packing the cars with the winter took some skill.
With the donations that came in we were able to purchase even more items
We appreciate Miller Thermometer for their help in supplying these materials.
The Backpack Mission received a $2,700 grant from the Pokagon Fund.
Cooperating Ministries gave out over 230 boxes of food on December 17th.
And hopefully every year afterwards the memory of our love ones will continue to bloom for us to enjoy. The bulbs were planted in memory of the following people: Jim Brummit; Jean Walker; Bob Kling; Genevieve Conklin; Shirley Anchor; Richard"Dick"Smith; Bonna Vanderlyn; Helen Norden. Also other's that passed Matthew Efting, The mother of Dan Fitch
So Larry and Becky Woodley took the morning and planted them in our memory garden.
They worked with the Catholic Services, Hartford Lions Club
Also Hartford Hardings
and the Pokagon Fund.
They had people lined up starting at 1:30 and went until
7:00 p.m. Thursday night.
We continue to supply food to families of our youth at Redwood Elementary School for the weekend.
Instead of cut carnations for All Saint's Day it was decided that we plant bulbs in memory of those who passed this past year.
So in the spring we will have a constant memory of those who passed.
All Saint's day - Nov 1st -
Preparing for the Food Pantry distribution on October 29th.
The last few weeks we have had between 60-75 families each week.
The Cooperating ministries team had to restock after last weeks distribution.
Unloading the truck so that we can get ready for this week's distribution.
Oct. 28th the last tailgate get together with Joanne Evans as the host.
Even though it was a typical fall day for Michigan the spirits of these church family members were happy.
It was great how everyone chips in and brings the snacks and enjoys each others company.
It will be great when they can worship together this Sunday Nov. 1st inside for the first time.
The group gathered together for coffee and conversation.
It was a pleasant morning for everyone to enjoy a few minutes together.
Rev Wayne and many others enjoyed the time to just chat and reconnect over some yummy snacks.