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Jesus’ Birthday Celebration 2024
August 18, 2024
$8Event Navigation

Everyone is welcome! Bring your family and friends!
TIME: 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time
(Lunch begins promptly at noon)
Greater Lake Michigan Urantia Association will be hosting a celebration in honor of Jesus’ birthday this year and they are inviting everyone to attend a potluck picnic at lovely Silver Beach in St. Joseph, Michigan. This site was chosen for a fourth year in a row due to all of the rave reviews received from the last three years! VIEW VIDEO!
Dunes Pavilion, 101 Broad Street, St. Joseph, MI 49085
SCHEDULE
- People can begin arriving as early as 10:00am Eastern time.
- Welcome/Greetings/Prayer and Remembrance begins promptly at NOON Eastern time.
- This is followed by a potluck lunch.
- The rest of the afternoon is social time. You are invited to enjoy the fellowship of great company and soak up all of the beautiful surroundings – and participate in whatever activity you prefer for the remainder of the day! Chat with the group and make new friends, ride the carousel! Hike the trails, enjoy the sunset.
- People can stay as late as 10:00pm if you want to make the most of the day, the beautiful shelter, and the great resources at Silver Beach. Stay for a fabulous sunset!
POTLUCK LUNCH: Bring a dish to pass, and please arrive early enough to share your dish with everyone. Late dishes always go to waste. Vegetarians, if you would please bring a dish that helps serve those requirements.
PARKING: Identify yourselves as guests of the LYON PICNIC at the main gate to receive a discounted resident parking rate of $8.
DIRECTIONS: Turn right into the parking area immediately after leaving the main entrance. The drive will curve around but continue to drive toward the lake. Dunes Pavilion and the restrooms will be straight ahead after you turn into the parking area, and the pavilion is only a short distance up a sidewalk path to the top of the dune overlooking the lake. Don’t be fooled by the large pavilion just to the right on the river called Shadowland Pavilion leading to the pier. That’s not us! We are nearer to the children’s playground and restrooms, and we have a full, high view of the lake.
We are planning something special, so we hope for a large, wonderful gathering by the lake – reminiscent of the times our Master spent by the Sea of Galilee with his Apostles 2000 years ago.
Let’s pray together, inviting him to rendezvous with us (his modern apostles) enjoying friendship, fellowship, good food and fun – and in keeping with the tradition of the original Forum in celebrating the Master’s birthday by Lake Michigan while living our Greater Lake Michigan Urantia Association motto: “embracing joyful, active, participation…”
We welcome all GLMUA members and our friends in the region to bring their families. We will enjoy celebrating our beloved Master in one of the most beautiful settings possible… and there will be Jesus’ birthday cake for everyone!
PLEASE REGISTER below for food planning purposes!
CHECKLIST – What to Bring:
- Entree / Side Dish / or Appetizer for the potluck dinner (see promised menu below)
- Dunes Shelter is on the lake, bring a sweater in case it’s windy and cool
- Picnic Tables are available, Folding Lawn Chairs may provide more comfort
- Sunglasses / Sun Screen
- Swim Gear / Beach Towels / Sand Toys
- Musical Instruments
- A favorite memory of Jesus you may want to share
- Smiles!
MENU – To date, attendees have pledged the following menu items:
- Meat: Chicken
- Appetizers: Fruit tray
- Desserts: Jesus’ Birthday Cake
- Remembrance: Grape juice & king’s bread
All plates, cups, paper goods, plastic ware, and hand sanitizer will be provided.
PARK RESTRICTIONS: No Alcohol – No Fireworks – No Sky Lanterns – No Litter
BEACH: The park at Silver Beach offers so much for those who will attend – champagne colored sand, incredible scenic views of Lake Michigan, and a variety of things to do for the whole family – including beach volleyball, frisbee, skating, hiking trails, a pier with picturesque lighthouses, sculptures from local artists, two large children’s play areas, and shaded areas. This is an excellent place to swim with clean, sandy bottoms within sight of the pavilion (parents be advised that the lake may have riptides and beach may be closed for swimming on rare occasions) so bring the buckets and kiddie shovels. There is plenty of sand for making sand castles!
SNACK HUT / RESTROOMS: Are only steps away, and directly adjacent to Dunes Shelter. (There are short paved sidewalks up to the pavilion to accommodate those with special needs). Picnic tables are available (7), with seating enough for 28 people, but you may want to bring a lawn chair for each person for more comfortable seating and to anticipate a larger crowd. Wally and Gertz Takeout Hut on the beach will come in handy for those who are spending the entire weekend.
POWER: Electricity is available at Dunes Pavilion. Music or amplified sound is allowed, however the sound must be contained to the event. (Park Staff reserves the right to turn the volume down or off.) Musical instruments are welcome! Janet Guaderrama, bring your singing voice!
HOTELS: For those who would like to spend the weekend in the beautiful historic town of St. Joseph make sure to reserve your room in advance (as soon as possible). The Boulevard Inn & Bistro is gorgeous, or you might check the Inn at Harbor Shores! There is a bed & breakfast near the beach also, among other options.
DINING / ATTRACTIONS: You will enjoy the cultural downtown with the Krasl Art Center, Whirlpool Centennial Park and shopping, along with the Margaret Upton Arboretum, and unique features such as a railroad turnstile swing bridge and a raised bridge to allow tall ships to pass. Nearby, the rail station has been converted to a great pizza place, Silver Beach Pizza, with open air dining when weather permits. The Veranda at the Whitcomb is nearby, and also within walking distance are Thornton’s Home Town Cafe, Chan’s Garden, Azul Tequila, Broad Street Cafe, Buck Burgers & Brew, Beachside Deli, and many others. Check out this MAP for details. Harbor Shores, a world-class golf course is only a few minutes away. You absolutely must take a few moments to appreciate the gorgeous carefully restored historic carousel.
TRAIN: It appears that a train is available from Union Station in Chicago to St. Joseph (one block from Silver Beach) once a day if you are arriving the evening before. Coach seat on the train runs $27-$40. Advanced booking is recommended. Amtrak Thruway connections can be purchased with a rail ticket. Tickets can be purchased at the station, online, or over the phone. More information at AMTRAK.
WEATHER: This is something fun! For a bird’s eye view and to check up-to-the-minute weather see the BEACH CAM
For FURTHER INFORMATION, or to VOLUNTEER for the event: please email [email protected].
(We would really appreciate help from Second Milers to help set up and clean up at the end of the day).
Hosted by Greater Lake Michigan Urantia Association. Everyone is welcome to attend.
We hope to see you there!
Making a weekend getaway out of the event? If so, make room reservations right away!
2024 Jesus' Birthday Celebration
Registration for Jesus' Birthday Celebration