We are a Christian community called to love God, love neighbor, love self, as Jesus taught.

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1 FIRST UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST RICHMOND, MICHIGAN May, 2013 FIRST UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Rev. Julie Kilmer, Interim CELL: OFFICE: FAX: OFFICE HOURS: MONDAY FRIDAY 9:00 AM - 12 NOON Afternoons by appointment We are a Christian community called to love God, love neighbor, love self, as Jesus taught. Mark your calendars for a VIP Congregational Conversation on May 19 th after service. The search committee will be presenting information and discussing the pros and cons of a full or 3/4 time pastor. We will be outlining the financial aspects of the different levels of employment. Please be present as we ask for your input and feedback on this very important issue. Meanwhile the search committee has continued to meet regularly and continues to write our church's profile for prospective pastors.

2 Scripture Readings for May May 5 May 12 May 19 May 26 Sixth Sunday of Easter Disciples Together Acts 16:9-15; Psalm 67; Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5; John 14:23-29 Seventh Sunday of Easter Breaking Chains Acts 16:16-34; Psalm 97; Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21; John 17:20-26 Pentecost Sunday Gathered and Scattered Acts 2: 1-21; Psalm 104:24-34, 35b; Romans 8:14-17; John 14:8-17, (25-27) Trinity Sunday Wisdom Calls Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31; Psalm 8; Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-15 The United Church of Christ Symbol What does it mean? The symbol of the United Church of Christ comprises a crown, cross, and orb enclosed within a double oval bearing the name of the church and the prayer of Jesus "that they may all be one" (John 17:21). It is based on an ancient Christian symbol. The crown symbolizes the sovereignty of Christ who expresses God's power through love. The cross recalls the suffering of Christ his arms outstretched on the wood of the cross for the salvation of humanity. The orb represents the world. It is divided but, at the same time, whole, and the cross of Jesus reaches into its depths. The division of the orb into three parts also reminds us of Jesus' call to be his "witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Jesus wants us to bring God's love to every corner of the earth. The prayer reflects our historic commitment to the restoration of unity among the separated churches of Jesus Christ, and our faith that the day will come when all humanity will be gathered by God into one family.

3 Dear Friends and Family in Christ, What do , Facebook, calls, handwritten notes, visits, twitter, instant messages and Skype have in common with the church? Each is a way to share the Good news and happenings at Frist UCC with the world. Through the use of social media and good old-fashion methods of communication, we can reach out to our friends, family and neighbors in Richmond. We can tell everyone in surrounding communities that our faith is alive! This is a great way to grow the church. We read in Acts 8 that Paul shared the Christian story with an Ethiopian man. They read the word and prayed together. Then the man was baptized and became a part of the Christian family. Like Paul we are called to share our Christian faith with others. Will you like us on Facebook or share with others an invitation to do so? Will you send a note or to someone who hasn t been to church in awhile? Let us join together in sharing our faith with others. In hope, Pastor Julie The Vitality Team has once again been hard at work. Our job is to encourage hope, growth and energy. To that end, a portion of our team attended a Vitality workshop in Lansing led by David Plunkett and Michael Piazza from the Center for Progressive Renewal. We came away from the experience with a renewed sense of purpose and desire to put some of the ideas into action. One of the easiest (and free!) ideas was to use social media as a tool for getting our name out there. Many of us are familiar with the internet, and you really don t have to be tech savvy to sign up for a Facebook account. Our church has a Facebook page, and when you click on the like button to show that you like us, all of your Facebook friends can see that you ve liked the page and maybe they will like it; then their friends will see that they ve liked it, and so on, and so on, and so on just like that old shampoo commercial! And just like that, people who ve never heard of First United Church of Christ in Richmond know who we are, where we are and what we re up to. So if you re on Facebook, go like us! If you re not, I encourage you to check it out. We may even schedule a quick tutorial for those that may want it. Oh! Another thing that we took away from the workshop was the phrase, If Nobody s Gonna Die, Give It A Try! We look forward to trying different things as we continue to grow in our relationship with the One who grew us all.

4 Dear Church Family, With many exciting things happening in our church during our pastoral transition time, the council is excited to announce a proposed change we think most of you will support. We are scheduling a congregational meeting on June 2 to consider a proposal to change our church year back to a January-December fiscal year. We are proposing that we still approve our budget for the coming year in an October meeting. Then in January we would elect council members and present all committee annual reports. This would greatly assist our financial secretary and make all of our giving statements easier to understand. The budget spending approved in October would begin on January 1. We are hoping this would alleviate some of the confusion we experience now. Please be sure to mark your calendar and be present to discuss and vote on this change in our church constitution on June 2. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me, any member of council or our financial secretary or treasurer. Peace and Prayers, Sue Weinert Mission Statement We are traveling life s road: created by God, guided by Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit and grounded in scripture. We strive to be individuals on a spiritual journey and a community sharing God s love with all. Vision Statement The purpose of this church shall be to worship God, to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to celebrate the sacraments; to realize Christian fellowship and unity within this church and the Church universal; to render loving service toward humankind; and to strive for righteousness, justice and peace.

5 March April April April Noisy Offering total for the month of April: $54.52 Present Heifer Project total: $410.07

6 Multigenerational Sunday school Sunday, May 19 at 9:45 am Worship 11:00 am Congregational conversation after service Prayer Group Tuesday, May 14 at 7:00 pm Need some nourishment? Join our Bible study and prayer group. We meet once a month to be nourished through faith and fellowship as we walk through the book: The Cup of our Life, by Joyce Rupp. Book Club Tuesday, May 21 at 10:00 am We meet in the church basement for a lively discussion. Please join us as we discuss the book: Women of The Bible Deborah s Story by: Ann Burton Planting Butterfly Garden and Having a Picnic Sunday, June 9 after worship service Please donate to this fun and worthy cause. Shoe Drive Saturday, May 4 from 10 am - 2 pm Bring your old shoes, new shoes, or lightly used shoes to the trailer parked in our parking lot. Church Council meeting Thursday, May 16 at 7:00 pm Camp Talahi Retreat & Nature Center Youth Overnight Camps Meet in the church basement Saturday, May 11 at 9:00 am Counselor in Training Camp: June Mini Camp: June 30 - July 3 Adventure Camp: July 7-12 Junior Camp: July Senior High 7-Day Camp: July Music, Arts, Drama Camp: July 28 - August 2 Wilderness Camp: July 28 - August 2 Weekend Camps Young Adult Weekend: May Family Camp: June Senior High Weekend: July Join us for a summer of fun, faith and fellowship!

7 Called to Care Team Mary Alice Busch Bob Chrostowski (H) (C) Reb & Sally McNinch Tri-Church VBS Pre-school thru 5th Grade August 5-8 at Trinity Lutheran Church 5:30 pm (community dinner) 6:00 pm (learning stations) VBS day ends at 8:00 pm Register online May 1 at Volunteers please contact tlcpastorkelsay@gmail.com at UCC Women of Michigan Cordially invite you to The Gathering June 7, 8, 9, 2013 at Kettunen Center, Tustin, Michigan Sometimes the state of our world leaves little to rejoice about. Join us the Gathering as we find ways to Walk in the Spirit and bring joy into our lives. The Gathering is a wonderful time for women to come together, see old friends, make new ones, share time in worship, prayer, study, singing, laughing, crying, and, of course eating! Most are touched in some way as we walk the journey together. Kettunen Center is luxury camping at its finest. See for yourself by visiting their website:

8 What is Mission 4/1 Earth? ONE UNITED CHURCH on a shared resurrection witness for Planet Earth during 50 great days of greening up, powering down, and shouting out for the environment! That's Mission 4/1 Earth! "Mission 4/1 Earth: 50 Great Days" is about boldly living Jesus' let-your-light-shine proclamation in the Sermon on the Mount: That they may see your good works! It is an opportunity to live out our faith in unity, as one church for the sake of our fragile planet Earth. Launching on Easter, Monday, April 1, 2013, and continuing through the great 50 days of Eastertide, United Church of Christ congregations, colleges, seminaries, camps and outdoor ministries, and health and human service agencies will join together in a shared mission campaign to: Collectively offer more than ONE MILLION HOURS of engaged earth care, including clean up, advocacy, education, and behavioral changes that will impact the environment. Collectively plant more than 100,000 TREES locally and globally in partnership with the National Arbor Day Foundation and the UCC's denominational partners around the world. Collectively write and send more than 100,000 ADVO- CACY LETTERS on environmental concerns to elected officials and local and national newspapers. Mission 4/1 Earth links together four significant events Easter (March 31), Earth Day (April 22), Arbor Day (April 26) and Pentecost (May 19) for a sustained, aggressive and collective mission opportunity for the entire United Church of Christ. Together, we will inspire and aspire to what we can accomplish as ONE CHURCH. Go to ucc.org to participate. Don't forget to list First UCC Richmond! Mow the grass or donate $35 to get the job done. Help Keep our Church Lawn Beautiful A lawn-mowing schedule is on the table in the narthex. Just write your name on the schedule in the signature box for the week or weeks that you would like to mow the lawn or donate the fee, and indicate mow or paid. If you choose to donate $35 for a week, please place the money in an envelope, mark it with the words, Lawn Mowing and place it in the offering plate or leave it in the church office. Thank you.

9 MISSION CALENDAR 2013 February Health kit items due in church on or before February 24 March *One Great Hour of Sharing Offering on March 10 April Shoe Drive April 27 May Shoe Drive May 4 *Blanket Sunday Offering on May 12 June July & Baby kit items due in church on or before June 2 *Strengthen the Church Offering on June 16 School kit items due in church on August or before August 25 October *Neighbors In Need Offering on October 6 Bread for the World Bread Sale on October 20 November Shoebox Christmas Gift Collection for KIDS Boxes due in church on or before Dec. 8 December *Christmas Fund offering on Dec. 22 *Envelopes will be provided Check the Mission bulletin board at the back of the church for a detailed list for the baby, health and school kits plus any other Mission updates. Annually our congregation gives $600 to support the Richmond Good Samaritan Fund. Cash donations are always needed and welcomed. CWS Blankets+ it s about blankets and so much more! Blankets+ is a special mission opportunity to assist people in need around the world. Our contributions given on Sunday, May 12 th provide the means to transform lives and communities when they are faced with an emergency or simply struggling to put food on the table. For 65 years, Church World Service has worked in partnership with local communities to identify their needs and access the resources they need to build the foundation for a more viable future and includes the following:. Blankets, tents, food and other emergency supplies in the wake of a disaster. Tools and seeds for refugees returning home to replant their fields. Wells for families living in drought-prone areas to provide clean, safe water to drink and to irrigate crops and gardens. Literacy training for women struggling to feed their families. For each $5.00 you put in the offering envelope, it will buy a nice, warm blanket. You may also text Blankets to to make a $10 gift. Envelopes will be provided in the bulletins. Thank you! Anpil men, chay pa lou. With many hands, the load is not heavy. Haitian proverb THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT!

10 Baby Care Kits Items needed for one Baby Care Kit are as follows: One sweater or sweatshirt Two receiving blankets During May and June the Mission Committee will be collecting items for the Church World Service Baby Care Kits. 6 cloth diapers Two t-shirts or undershirts (no onesies) UNDER 12 MONTH IN SIZE Two wash cloths Two gowns or sleepers UNDERS 12 MONTH IN SIZE Two diaper pins There is a sign up sheet on the Mission table in the back of the church. Please have your items to church on or before Sunday, June 2. Thank you. The Shoe Drive for Grace Center of Hope, Pontiac will continue on Saturday May 4 th between 10AM and 2PM. Shoes of all sizes, color, and condition are taken. If the Center cannot sell or give the shoes away, they send them off to a recycle shop that grinds them up for use in road material. During the summer months, our worship service will begin at 10:00 am. Our summer worship schedule begins on June 2 and ends on September 15, the second Sunday after Labor Day. We plan to recognize our graduates during worship on Sunday, June 9. If anyone has a graduate who would like to be honored, please notify the church office at

11 Prayers coming your way... This page in our newsletter shares prayer concerns and prayer opportunities within the life of our family of faith. By actively praying for the concerns presented, we strengthen our congregation, our brother and sister churches, our association and our conference. If you have prayer concerns you would like to see added to this page, please contact Pastor Julie or call the office at Please add the following concerns to your personal prayer time: Those from our family of faith who are distant, homebound or dealing with illness: Bertha Teska..Donna Bartell..Carl Kulman.. Joyce Trudgeon..Beamus Bentley..Leona Conner.. Lucille Trombley..Marjorie Pentzien..Joyce Trudgeon The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon Him in truth. Psalm 145:18 First UCC s Weekly Prayer Discipline for MAY Clip and Keep Reminders May 5-11 Marjorie Pentzien Christopher, Krista & Hanna Plucinski John & Nancy Pollock May Gary & Lynda Porrett Glen & Diane Porrett Mike & Ann Quinn May Mary Ann Reece Robert & Yvonne Reindel Robert, Wendy, Drew & Nathan Reindel May 26 - June 1 Renee & Matthew Rewalt Charles Rocker Mildred Roeder

12 We wish a HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the following members who are celebrating their birthday in May: 01 - Kelly Hamburg 01 - Amelia Miller 02 - Leona Conner 03 - Tarah Weeks 07 - Jeff Chrostowski 10 - Matthew Rewalt 11 - Ginnean Kohn 12 - Claire Weinert 13 - Jacob Marlow 17 - Dave Grzanka 19 - Ryan Schrote 19 - Joshua Houston 21 - Kristie Hollick 22 - Vance Green 23 - Frank Bartell 23 - Bob Reindel 23 - Paulette Trombley 31 - Nicole Fair HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the children of our church who celebrate a birthday this month: 06 - Ainsley Guse 09 - Logan Northam 17 - John Kulman 27 - Evan Grewe We also wish a HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to the following members whose wedding anniversary is in May: 03 - Jim & Joyce Townsend 18 - George & Sue Millbrand 20 - Barry & Carrie Trombley 29 - Bill & Andra Jones B E S T W I S H E S T O Y O U! A Memorial Day Verse We thank you, God, for loved ones dear Who clung to faith beyond their fear, Who served and paid the highest price For freedom bought with sacrifice. May they remind us of your Son Whose death our final freedom won. Heidi L. Mann

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14 SERVERS SCHEDULE FOR MAY (Communion) Ron & Kim Schrote 12 Ray & Paulette Trombley 19 Glen & Diane Porrett 26 Rich & Sue Weinert GREETERS 05 Ray & Paulette Trombley 12 Glen & Diane Porrett 19 Al & Mary Alice Busch 26 Jerry & Lynn Dunsmore 05 Pastor Julie 12 Sue Weinert 19 Lucia Marshall 26 Christine Hensch NURSERY 05 Need Volunteer 12 Kristina Dunsmore 19 Need Volunteer 26 Need Volunteer Our goal is to keep (at least) a 4-week rotation. To do so will require 3 more names. Please consider helping in this very important ministry. Thank you. 05 No Flowers Needed 12 Diane & Glen Porrett 19 Ray & Paulette Trombley 26 Christine Hensch Communion Sunday, May 5 Communion Preparer - Paulette Trombley Communion Servers - Bob & Veronica Chrostowski Remember, if you are unable to serve on dates assigned, it is your responsibility to find a replacement. Please inform the church office of any changes made. Thanks.

15 FIRST UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST SOUTH FOREST RICHMOND, MI Return address requested No Matter Who You Are Or Where You Are On Life s Journey You Are Welcome Here!