FROM THE PASTOR, PEN. PILGRIM JOURNAL First Congregational Church, UCC PO Box 5 ~ 102 Church Street Romeo, MI Church Office:

Transcription

1 PILGRIM JOURNAL First Congregational Church, UCC PO Box 5 ~ 102 Church Street Romeo, MI Church Office: firstcongromeo@gmail.com website: firstconguccromeo.com APRIL SCRIPTURE READINGS MAR 29 Mark 11:1-11; Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Palm Sun Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16 Philippians 2:5-11; Mark 14:1-15:47 APR 2 Exodus 12:1-4, (5-10), 11-14; Psalm 116; 1-2, Maundy Thu 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31b-35 April 3 Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 22; Good Fri Hebrews 10:16-25; John 18:1-19:42 APR 4 Job 14:1-14; Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16; Holy Sat 1 Peter 4:1-8; Matthew 27:57-66 APR 5 Acts 10:34-43; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Easter 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; John 20:1-18 APR 12 Acts 4:32-35; Psalm 133; 1 John 1:1-2:2; John 20:19-31 Angel s Wing Help Birthdays Church School News from Kim Dates for your Calendar Easter Joy Flower Day From the Pastor, Pen Holy Hilarity Sunday IN THIS ISSUE In Our Church Family Kroger Enrollment Time Ministry of Outreach & Mission Prayer List Radical Hospitality News Reduction in Pastor s Hours Scholarship Available Wider Church News FROM THE PASTOR, PEN The Easter message of Jesus resurrection occurs in all four of the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. In each of the narrative expressions the women (and sometimes men disciples) run away from the empty tomb. In John s account, the women flee even before they looked inside just seeing the stone rolled away sends them packing. In John s account the women run to tell Peter and the other disciple that they have taken the Lord. Peter and John come running, John reaches the tomb first, but it is Peter who goes inside and sees the burial cloths discarded and the towel from Jesus head carefully folded and rolled up lying in a place by itself. Notice, there are no angels present. In this gospel the two angels show up later. Peter, John, and the women are witnesses and we are told, They do not understand that Jesus must rise from the dead and the disciples return to their homes. No public announcement made - no cheers and revelry- no joyous hand-clapping and praising. We get the sense that very quietly, even solemnly perhaps, they go to their homes to try to understand what has occurred still acutely devastated from the events of that Friday, the disciples and the women leave the empty tomb, still empty and they do not understand. It is not until later that the truth will become fully known to them. But for now, even as Jesus dearest friends, family and confidants the witnesses to all these things we hear

2 that they do not understand. First thing in the morning, they left the tomb empty they left running on the empty - and they did not know what was to come next. Many of us have probably had that unwelcome kind of feeling a moment, or an hour, or even years when we did not understand a sad or tragic event that has taken place. Perhaps you have had a time when you wanted to walk away from the emptiness when you didn t understand the hurt, the pain, the uncertainty? Perhaps you ve had a time when you doubted the outcome of your life was in God s hands. The Easter story from John encourages us to ponder these thoughts. It was a beautiful October afternoon in I was fourteen years old. The day is seared into my memory. As I stood outside the junior high after school, my twelve year old brother came walking across the parking lot to get me. By the look on his face I knew that something horrible had happened. I learned that day that my father had had been murdered. Across the street from the school, our house was already full of people the friends and relatives who had come to offer comfort and to mourn with us. There was weeping and wailing, tears and hugs, and expressions of condolence. I balked. I knew I couldn t stay there, I couldn t bear the presence and grief of all those people and I certainly didn t understand. I left. I found myself filled with such pain and despair that I couldn t even feel it I had to push the darkness and the pain down deep inside and cover it up. Some chambers of my heart closed. I didn t talk to any of my friends about it. When CKLW had a breaking news story that began with John Lowes found murdered the mom driving snapped off the radio. I went off to a football game with my friends. I went to watch my boyfriend play. I went away from my home so that I might be surrounded by some things that made sense to me. Because nothing I found at home made any sense. I ran. I went running on the emptiness I forced myself to be devoid of any feelings at all. All these years later, and after some serious therapy as an adult, I know that running on empty was how I survived. All of life seemed empty so I let myself be empty, too. I didn t want to feel or think. I went through the motions of existence. I know some of you have had these times of deep hurt, disappointment and devastation, too. For most of us, it is simply a truth of life that there will be a time when the pain and the suffering causes us to question our existence and perhaps causes us to flee. I think it might have been like that for the disciples that morning. Empty tomb moments come before the Easter message is glimpsed and learned. Maybe we can begin to understand that very first Easter through our own experiences of empty tomb moments. God s own son died a human death on the cross. God s own son forgave those who abused him and offered God s hope to those on his left and his right the common criminals were invited to paradise. God forgave the world that day, and in Jesus gave us a glimpse of what true love is. True love is embracing the deep failings of others and of our selves. True love is offering forgiveness even as we ask God to forgive us so that new life may emerge. It took some time. A few visits by the risen Jesus and fifty days, before the disciples reached an understanding that God desired them to go on; that they were to have a key role in bringing God s vision to reality. On Pentecost they

3 were visited by a rush of the Holy Spirit. new life was breathed into them new language was given to them a new mission formed. It took some time for me. Twenty years before I could even cry. Twenty years before my heart began to heal and slowly re-open to new life and hope. I learned to forgive. The easiest task was forgiving the murderer. Next was forgiving my father if he hadn t been in that place and hadn t made those choices The hardest task was forgiving me. I thought I must have done something horrible to make this happen. I had to relearn that God loved me. Angels of mercy helped me including the miracles of my children. It has been a strange and wondrous journey to wholeness. My desire to thank God and to help others is a great part of my call to ministry. Easter morning dawns once again. Hope revisits the world in the resurrected Christ. He is not dead. God did not leave us bereft and alone. We have the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us. Mostly we have each other angels among us - to hold and to love, to welcome and to bless, to accept with all our failings and to nurture through our good days and our bad days. Jesus lives on in the world! Through us, in us, for us and in spite of us - if that isn t a miracle, I don t know what is! God s love shines through in new and astounding ways. Come! Celebrate the Good News of God s love set loose in the world. Run, run to church! Rev Penny IN OUR CHURCH FAMILY Great news to share!! Vita and Dennis Green are grandparents again! They welcomed another grandson into their family on Monday, March 23! Bryce Edward Grzadzinski was 4:30 pm; was 21 1/2 inches long and weighed 8 lbs. 9 oz.! Blessings to this new little soul, his big brother, Bradley, his parents, Sherry and Brent and his grandparents, Vita and Dennis! April Birthdays 04/03 Cameron Butz 04/12 Matt Carlson Dave Robinson 04/13 Jackie Noyes 04/04 Irene Kelly 04/18 Cindy Grudzinski Jennifer LaFeir 04/22 Kati Adams Swinney 04/11 Stephanie Mulka 04/30 Janet Musilli Happy Birthday and many blessings to all! Easter Joy! On Sunday, April 5 we rejoice in the empty cross and Christ s resurrection. Once again we will have a special Easter Coffer hour hosted by the Ministry Council in the Narthex entry at the rear of the sanctuary. Tables will be set up inside and outside as weather permits for those desiring seating.

4 A wide array of delectable treats will grace the table. The organ will ring with the hymns and glorious tones of favorite and new compositions. Three violinists will join Timothy Tikker in providing the rousing music befitting the Lord s Day. Loose offering on Easter will go to support the music ministry. We will praise God together. Bring a friend! Invite a neighbor! Let us give thanks to God for the new life promised in Christ Jesus. Amen. HOLY HILARITY SUNDAY April a.m. Come to celebrate and rejoice as we laugh at God s victory over death and evil. Be prepared to laugh! Wear funny clothes or an outrageous hat. Wear your pajamas, mix plaids and stripes have fun and be creative! Bring the kids for the sermon telling of How the Grinch Stole Easter This is a day you will not want to miss. Come! Celebrate with us! Reduction in Pastor s Hours mid-april mid-june As many of you know, I have a new grandson, Lincoln James. His mother (my daughter) is a teacher and will return to school on April 13th to finish out the year on June 11 th. I have had the privilege of being granny nanny for 3 of my previous 4 grandchildren. Last fall Courtney asked me if I would watch Lincoln as I had the others. I agreed. In all honesty, I didn t believe I would staying on with you beyond Easter. After prayer and consultation with Ministry Council, however, I have agreed to stay through your interim time and pastoral search. Ministry Council has graciously allowed me a reduction of hours (and pay) for these two months. You will see me most Sunday mornings but I will not be holding regular office hours during the week as I will be caring for Lincoln in West Bloomfield. I will be a phone call away and will still be attentive to your pastoral needs. I will be able to make arrangements in the event of emergencies or other pastoral needs. Terry Butz will be my right hand person and I am grateful to her for her steadying presence and incredible abilities. I will be planning the Sunday worship services and a participant in most. I will be home on the weekends. Thank you for your understanding and the gracious gift of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be present with my youngest grandson. I m guessing he will be making a few trips to Romeo with Grammy during these weeks. Perhaps you will get to meet him! Rev. Penny

5 CHURCH SCHOOL NEWS from KIM Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. On May 17th, First Congregational will be having its very first Youth Sunday! All children and youth are strongly encouraged to participate. Youth Sunday is a special 1 John 4:7 Youth Sunday! Sunday where the children and youth plan and participate in the entire service. They choose the music, the scripture text, and perform a skit as the sermon. We will begin rehearsing during Church School on April 19th and rehearse on April 26th, May 3rd, and May 10th. It is very important that everyone is at as many rehearsals as possible. If your child does not want to perform, we will also need ushers and a sound technician, so there are roles for everyone! The night before Youth Sunday, May 16th, we will be having a lock-in at the church. It will begin at 5pm with a rehearsal for the next morning. There will be food, games, and sleep I am incredibly excited to begin working on Youth Sunday with all of your kids! Flower Day! After church on April 12th, we will be planting flowers in paper cups for Flower Day! This will be a short and fun activity for the kids. The flowers will be sold at Romeo Flower Day on May 16 th. Save the Dates March 29 th - Palm Sunday: Processional with Palms and the Donkey April 5 th - Easter Sunday: Easter Egg Hunt after church April 12 th - Holy Hilarity Sunday: Come and let Rev. Penny and Kim give you some laughs you will not soon forget! Also flower planting after church! April 19 th - Church School: Youth Sunday rehearsals begin. April 26 th - Church School: Youth Sunday rehearsal May 3 rd - Church School: Youth Sunday rehearsal. May 10 th - Church School: Youth Sunday rehearsal May 16 th - Church 5pm May 17 th - Youth Sunday!!!

6 Flower Day is Coming to Romeo May 16 th! And we will be there! Join in the festivities as we offer tours of the clock tower, decorate clock tower cookies, celebrate the ministry of the winders, become artists in a Group Art Lesson with a Flower Picture to take home, offer a 50/50 raffle and more! Come and join us. Let us know how you can participate! There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board outside of the church office. Pastor Parish Relations Team Dearest Members and Friends, We want to lift up the ministry of the Pastoral Relations Team. We are here to support our Pastor and we are here to support members and friends. Please contact any of us if there is a way in which we can be of service to you. Blessings ~ Marnie Adams, Rob Butz, Jon Heuss Radical Hospitality Task Force Events Thank you to all who participated in the "March Madness" Presentations around Radical Hospitality. We also express our appreciation to our guests who came from other churches to share their experiences around issues of welcome for LGBTQ in the church. Each week offered new opportunities for learning and those in attendance took away new understandings and good information. The Radical Hospitality Team has expanded the educational opportunities for April and May. Please plan to be present as we welcome these guests and continue to broaden our understanding as disciples for Jesus Christ. April 19: The Rev. Roger Meiller from the Evangelical Homes of Michigan will offer the sermon and stay for a Q&A session during coffee hour. While sharing information about EHM, Roger will also address issues of hospitality, accessibility and welcome for all and especially those issues and challenges that face us as we age. May 3: Tom and Shirley Butler will join us in worship offering their insights around hospitality and inclusion for those in recovery for substance addiction and their families. They will also stay for a time of Q & A during coffee hour. We are grateful for their ongoing presence and leadership with the AA groups that meet in our building each week.

7 May 17: Youth Sunday. The young people of First Congregational United Church of Christ will lead us in worship that they have planned with Coordinator of Ministries to Children and Families, Kim Newport. May 31: The children of Nature's Child Preschool and their director, Sally Walker, will join us for worship and even sing for us as we celebrate their presence in our building these past two years. HELP WANTED: Angel s Wing Please consider becoming involved in the July 17th, 2015 fundraiser for Angel s Wing, a Transitional Home for homeless families with children. There are many ways to do so! send s/letters to neighbors, friends and relatives asking them or someone. We can even give you a template for the letter. visit local businesses in the Romeo, Washington, Bruce, Shelby, and Rochester areas soliciting donations for the silent auction. Flyers will be available for you to take with you. volunteer on the day of the even to help set-up, serve food, help with the auction, or clean up. help with the writing of thank you notes to donors help orchestrate the parking of vehicles on the day of the even to maximize use of the lot (event to be held at the Lion s Club Pavillion - Romeo) be a part of the Baking and Beverage Teams. We need a coordinator for both and people to bake, plate, and serve the baked goods on July 17th help with publicity: hanging up posters around town, contact Channel 6 and local papers, etc. Attend the event and bring some friends. We NEED MANY HANDS to make this event a success. Please let us know how you can help!! Appreciatively, Marnie Adams on behalf of Angel s Wing SCHOLARSHIP SEASON!! Our church offers the Arleen T. Gregory Scholarship which is available to a church youth member who is graduating from high school or enrolled in college. Applications are available from the church office and due back by May 1st.

8 KROGER REWARD PROGRAM ENROLLMENT TIME Ministry of Outreach and Mission News MCREST MEAL HELP NEEDED AT ARMADA UCC Congregational UCC in Armada is hosting MCREST the week of May We have been asked to help serve our famous sloppy joes on May 16. They are also looking for staples that they need to help with serving the guests. Here is the list: Dips/Spreads/Salsa - A total of 6 Juice Boxes/Pouches 6 pkgs of 10 Grape Jam - 2 lbs. total Peanut Butter 2 lbs. total (Creamy) English Muffins Wheat 2 boxes Sugar 5 lbs Country Time Lemonade Mix 5 lbs. total Tostido s scoops or tortilla chips 3 bags Brown Lunch Bags 200 ct. Ziploc sandwich bags 200 total Paper towels 10 rolls total A sign-up sheet for these items will also be posted any contributions will be appreciated. We also need someone to deliver the above on: Thursday, May 7th 9 a.m. 1:00 pm OR Saturday, May 9th 9 a.m. 2 p.m. As a reminder the members of First Congregational Church will need to re-enroll to continue earning in the Kroger Community Rewards Program. When a person enrolls or re-enrolls in April their earnings (for the charity) will start MAY 1 st Any member who enrolled before April 1, 2015 must re-enroll to continue earning. All participants must sign up for the program in order to continue earning funds for your group during It s easy for your members to enroll or re-enroll in Kroger Community Rewards. They can visit click on Michigan and click on Enroll. All participants must have a valid online account at Kroger.com and must sign up online to participate. FYI from the church office I m not sure how many people are signed up but please consider this for the first time and/or re-signing for the next year. Whether you run in for a few items or do a major shop, it will all add up over the course of time. We received almost $180 last year, just by a few of us shopping for some of our groceries. Every little bit helps! If you would like help enrolling, please give the church office a call.

9 NEWS FROM THE WIDER CHURCH IN CELEBRATION OF WOMEN A day to remember and appreciate women (ordained and lay) who have strengthened the Michigan UCC over the past 50 years Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her. MARK 14:9 SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015 MAYFLOWER CONGREGATIONAL UCC 11:00 am - Worship Barbara Brown Zikmund preaching in 1964 BBZ was ordained at Mayflower; she was one of only four women ordained in the UCC that year) 12:45 pm - Lunch and fellowship 1:45 pm 3:15 pm - A program celebrating women s leadership During the past fifty years the numbers of ordained women in pastoral leadership has expanded dramatically. The Michigan Conference has been blessed by the diverse gifts of ordained and lay women. Come and join the celebration. Barbara Brown Zikmund will give a historical overview. Other women will share personal stories and memories. 3:15-3:30 pm - Closing prayers of thanksgiving & blessing The Rev. Dr. Campbell Lovett, Michigan Conference UCC The Rev. Dr. James Michael Curenton Sr., Mayflower Congregational UCC Minister Judith Harper West, Mayflower Cong. UCC COME FOR THE WHOLE DAY OR JUST THE AFTERNOON PROGRAM Marriage Equality: Is Your Congregation Ready? WHEN: Monday, April 27 10:00 am 2:30 pm WHERE: Michigan Conference United Church of Christ 5945 Park Lake Road East Lansing Join us, as we bear witness to one of the most compelling social justice issues of our time, as we prepare and pray, in hope and expectation, on the eve of the Supreme Court s hearing on marriage equality. This workshop will address critical topics to support clergy, officiants and wedding support people from all faith traditions who plan to celebrate marriage equality when it becomes legal in Michigan. EASTERN ASSOCIATION NEWS The spring meeting of the Eastern Association of the United Church of Christ will be held on Saturday, May 16th at First Congregational UCC in Richmond, MI. All members of the UCC are invited to attend. It starts at 9 a.m. and culminate in the early afternoon. Each local congregation is encouraged to send two delegates. Please see Rev. Lowes for details.

10 PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR: Martin Pellerito Vita Green's dad Joanne McPhail friend of Chuck and Sherry Schacht Jeff Shannon s brother-in-law Karol Regius friend of Dale and Judy Lopus Julia Anthony friend of Dale and Judy Lopus Gary Voss friend of Tighe s Joe friend of Marnie Adams Pastor Sherry Schacht Sarah Swinney Kati (Adams) Swinney s mother-in-law Dawn Finamore former coworker of Vita Green Ruth Dietz Lois McGinley s mother Nancy Parsons Lois McGinley s friend Lou Jaros friend of Kay and Mike Maniscalco Brian Ibbotson son of Sally Hess Linda Schnell friend of Joyce Couch Gerry Buzzell Nancy McMillan friend of Ned and Ellyn Youatt Ed Alward Penny Lowes uncle Tom Massola friend of Lois McGinley Kris Leith friend of Sue Allum s daughter, Wendy Geoffrey Lopus Dale and Judy s son Jacque Lewis friend of Lois McGinley Gloria Soulliard mother of Lynda Henzie, friend of Rob and Terry Butz Carol T Butz Rob Butz s mother DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR Mar 29 10:00 Palm Sunday Worship Mar 30 6:30 Stitching Group Apr 2 7:00 Maundy Thursday Service Apr 5 10:00 Worship and Easter Celebration Communion Apr 6 6:30 Stitching Group Apr 12 10:00 Holy Hilarity Sunday Apr 13 6:30 Stitching Group Apr 14 5:30 His Table Community Meal APR 15 7:00 Ministry Council Apr 19 10:00 Worship and Church School Rev. Roger Meiller from Evangelical Homes Apr 26 10:00 Worship and Church School Those serving in the military: Sergeant Mark Buzzell serving in 10th Mountain Unit Gerry Buzzell s grandson