Journey to Generosity, A Walk with Jesus

Transcription

1 Second Congregational UCC FACEBOOK: Second Congregational UCC, Grand RapidsCEBOOK: Journey to Generosity, A Walk with Jesus A perfect and timely theme for the Stewardship campaign at Second Church this year. Once again we find ourselves on a journey a journey on the road to the future of Second Church. The family of Second Church will walk together in Faith, Hope and Love with Jesus by our side. What could be better than that!!! The Future of Second Church is OURS. It takes imagination, hard work, time, a positive joyful attitude and a drive to succeed. It also takes prayer, sacrifice and sometimes a willingness to step up to a challenge. We all need to be GENEROUS with our time, our talents and our treasure. During the month of October, take time to reflect and dream for the future of Second Church. Let s work hard and be generous to make Second Church GREAT again. A church that will inspire and transform lives, a church filled with the music of love and joy, a church with a Family whose hearts beat together in joy and in sorrow, a church that welcomes ALL to walk together with us and Jesus, knowing HIS way is the Truth and the Light. Our guest speakers during the month of October will be the Rev. Dr. Jonathan White and the Rev Dr. Glen Wagner. We are so grateful that they are willing to give us their time, to teach us and help us heal as we move forward on our journey. October 22 is Stewardship Sunday, the Sunday you will bring your pledge cards to the altar of Second Church. The Stewardship Team and Finance Committee want to be able to report back to us that we have indeed been GENEROUS and that we want Second Church to survive, to grow and be the church that we know and want to be. We will have a special thank you Second Coffee following the service. Please come and support Second Church. ---Katie Cripps, Stewardship Team Leader

2 Do you have children? Grandchildren? We are having a "Brag about your kids and grand-kids Sunday" on October 8th. We will have a special time honoring all the children along with special treats for them after the service. We also expect a certain amount of bragging by the grandparents! Got em, Bring em...sunday, October 8th! SECOND CHURCH IS EXCITED TO BEGIN USING "CHILDREN AND WORSHIP" CURRICULUM THIS FALL! Children & Worship was created to make a special place where children can come to encounter God, to be still with God and to listen to God. It is a place where children come to nurture their spiritual life. Children & Worship can be used either during the worship service or during Sunday School. Children & Worship uses the familiar four-fold order of worship that many different congregations are familiar with. To begin, the children come into a special worship space, to a storyteller waiting to greet them. They sit in a circle, surrounded by bible stories made just for them, with all materials at their height. Everything in this special place is accessible to the children. This special coming together of the children follows the first order of worship which is the gathering of God's people to hear God s word. Next they will hear the word proclaimed through a bible story told with multi-sensory materials that children with all different learning styles can value and enjoy. As the story is finished the children are invited to enter into a time of wonder about the story. They are asked "wondering questions" to help them dive deeper into the meaning of the story and to listen for God's still voice that is found there. These questions might sound like, "I wonder if the Good Shepherd's sheep have names?" Or, " I wonder what it was like to be in the ark for forty days I wonder if Noah knew that God was with him?" Third, just as in "big" worship the children will respond to the word. In "big" worship we often respond through prayer, song, offering, celebrating the Eucharist, commissioning, and celebrating baptisms. The children have the chance to respond to the Word in a myriad of ways as well. Some of these ways include telling their own story or the story they just heard, using art and craft materials, praying at the prayer table, dancing in the dance corner, or building with materials such as clay or blocks. As they leave the worship center, the children will participate in the last order of worship which is the sending out of God's people into the world. Each child will be given a special blessing as they leave to be God's disciples in their homes, schools, and activities. As we begin this church year, we begin with these stories for October... October 1 October 8 October 15 October 22 October 29 World Wide Communion Sunday-Children remain in Worship The Liturgy of the Light The Parable of the Good Shepherd and the Lost Sheep Creation Noah

3 150th Anniversary! Our 150th Anniversary is not to far away! We need a committee to plan our year long party and iideas! Volunteers are needed to help put 1 or more of the events together. Come be part of the celebration! See the Governance Board to volunteer. Neighbors in Need...The Neighbors In Need offering, which we will receive on October 8, supports the UCC s ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. Two-thirds of the offering is used by the UCC s Justice and Witness Ministries to fund a wide array of local and national justice initiatives, advocacy efforts and direct service projects. Half of the offering supports the UCCs Council for American Indian Ministries (CAIM). Today there are 20 UCC congregations on reservations and 1 urban, multi-tribal UCC congregation in Minneapolis. These churches and their pastors are supported by CAIM. CAIM is also an invaluable resource for more than 1,000 individuals from dozens of other tribes and nations who are members of other UCC congregations in the United States. Principal Leadership Called to Serve You Director of Church Affairs William Bode bill@2ndchurch.com Director of Music Ministries Barbara Dulmage barbara@2ndchurch.com Church Secretary, Advance Mary Harrison mary@2ndchurch.com Bookkeeper Shelley Plambeck shelley@2ndchurch.com Director of Preschool Jennifer Restivo jen@2ndchurch.com Nursery Coordinator Governance Board Prayer Chain Amanda Curtis Cheryl McCarthy, Moderator Jim Biener, Treasurer; Betsy Flory-McCoy, Clerk Members at large: Pat DeGraaf, Laura Haas Joan Beebe, Janet Van Geison, Dorothy Tock ATTENDANCE August September September September Serving Our Members in October Head Usher: Kathy Speer FINANCIAL STATUS Thru August we have received 64% of expected income and spent 66% of our budget. Detailed figures are available on the Governance Board bulletin board outside the church office. Thank you for your generous financial support for your church

4 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Service COMMUNION 2 Mahjong Barbershop Chorus 3 9:30 Bible Study 4 8:00 Men s Breakfast 9:30 2nd Stitchers Staff Mtg Ministry Council 5 9:00-4:00 SECOND BEST SALE 6:15 Bells 7:30 Choir 6 9:00-2:00 SECOND BEST SALE 7 8 Service Change for a Cause Neighbors in Need 9 Mahjong Barbershop Chorus 10 9:00 Calder Band 9:30 Bible Study 11 Staff Mtg Book Club 12 6:15 Bells 7:30 Choir 13 Wedding Rehearsal 14 Wedding 15 Service 16 Mahjong Barbershop Chorus 17 9:00 Calder Band 9:30 Bible Study 4:45 Supper House 6:30 Governance Bd 18 8:00 Men s Breakfast 9:30 2nd Stitchers Staff Mtg 19 6:15 Bells 7:30 Choir 20 November ADVANCE Deadline Service Stewardship Sunday 23 Mahjong Barbershop Chorus 24 9:00 Calder Band 9:30 Bible Study Faith Formation 25 Staff Mtg Operation Stork Potluck lunch and meeting 26 6:15 Bells 7:30 Choir Service Reformation Sunday 30 Mahjong Barbershop Chorus 31 9:00 Calder Band 9:30 Bible Study

5 Happy Birthdays! 1 Henry Wieten 2 Elizabeth Romkema, Marilyn Taylor 3 Marjorie Paquette, Ellen Wicks, Jim Yates 5 Glenn Shaffer, Kari Tubbs 7 Max Frozley, Brooklyn Larsen 10 Emily Larsen 12 Fred Eyer 13 Steve Haas 14 William English 16 Betsy Flory-McCoy 18 Donna Atkinson, Judith Whitwer 19 Dorothea Endres, Deborah Keim 21 Kara McKinley, Wade Van Dyke 22 Lewis Boersma, Carolyn Frozley 23 Tim Leonard 24 Chelsea Gladding, Phillip Van Den Berge 25 Gloria Patz 26 Shannon Burton 27 Olivia Thompson 28 Calder Burton, Katie Cripps, Sue Eyer, Janet Van Geison, Kara Van Den Hout 29 Steven Eding, Jeff Ingraham 30 Kimberly Larsen 31 Brian Place Please note...if your birthday is listed incorrectly or is not listed at all, please contact the Church Office, , so that we can put your very important date in our computers!

6 Safety while in the steeple Stairway to heaven! Steeple Update! We are about halfway done refurbishing it. We voted last year to use MGH money to repair the steeple and lights. With talent, dedication and bravery, Rick DeGraaf and Art Felix have been crawling up into the steeple. They have been replacing, caulking, puttying, and painting the windows and the sides of the steeple. The lights are also going to be replaced as part of the project! Soon we will have the steeple all aglow again! All of this work is coming in at about 1/4 of the money that was budgeted for this project. So THANK YOU guys for all that you are doing! ANGELS at SECOND! Wonderful Angels have been so busy at work here at 2nd! I have gotten behind in expressing Huge THANK YOUs to so many people! We start with DIck and Judy W. Faithfully every Friday, they have been coming to church and cleaning the closets, cupboards, shelves, etc., throughout the building. They have uncovered some very old treasures that are no longer treasures! And polishing and dusting furniture, washing windows, cleaning screens. The list changes every week! Thank you! To Jim B and George and Katie C, THANK YOU for tackling the garden in front! You have helped us get back on top of the weeds. And still more to go. They grew abundantly this year! Thank you! Shirley B. Your sewing is awesome! THANK YOU for recovering the cushions for the little benches! These will go in the ladies bathroom downstairs when it's painted. Repurposing things that we have! The new covers are so pretty! Thank you! And to the Women's Fellowship! A huge THANK YOU for the money donation that will go toward the new lights for the steeple! Your help with so many projects around the building is so very awesome! You ladies work so hard on that 2nd Best Sale. So your gift to the church is even more special. Thank you! I know I am forgetting names. There have been so many lending a hand on a project all the time. Thank you! Together WE are strong! Thank you Angels! The Property Board

7 Home Again Sunday 2017! A Big Thank You to ALL who helped make Home Again Sunday a wonderful Cool Kick Off to a busy new year at Second Church. Thank you to Bill Bode for planning and leading a joyful, meaningful service for us under the Big Top! Thank you the Great Lakes Men s Chorus for sharing their awesome gift of song to our worship service. Thank you to Women s Fellowship, Fireside Couples Club, Arnie and Pat Chapin, Larry and Mary Pontremoli, Mary McKinley, Bill and Laura Van Skiver, Pat Younkers, Amy Manning, ALL of our pie and brownie bakers; our Grillers, Larry, Tim, Eric and George; our servers, Kathy Speer, Betsy Flory-McCoy, Mary Pontremoli, Cheryl McCarthy, Pat Walcott, Laura Haas and anyone else who manned a spoon. Also a huge Thank You to Shirley Boersma, Mary Harrison, Cheryl McCarthy, Josh Holman, Tim McCarthy, Eric Frye, Larry Pontremoli, Jim Hunsberger, and David Schultheiss and anyone else who grabbed a chair for helping to set up and take down and put away!!! Great job we couldn t have Home Again Sunday without YOU!!!! This is what makes Second Church a GREAT CHURCH..A Real Family of Faith, Love and Friendship. For those who couldn t be at Home Again Sunday this year, you missed a really great service of Worship, Fellowship, Fun and GOOD EATS!!! We missed you and hope to see you soon!! Again, THANK YOU to all who helped make Home Again Sunday a HUGE SUCCESS!!! George and Katie Cripps

8 OCTOBER PREACHING SCHEDULE October 1st - World Communion Sunday - Rev. Dr. Jonathan White - Rev. Dr. Jonathan White was the Interim Associate Pastor under Rev. Dr. Dewey Peterson in the early 90s while in seminary as a licensed UCC minister. The Second Church Choir sang at my ordination ceremony at Mayflower Congregational Church in May He retired as an NA/UCC minister in 2012, and his ordination credentials are held by Mayflower. He is also a Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies, Frederik Meijer Honors College and Grand Valley State University Jonathan White is a national expert on the topic of terrorism and religious extremism. He has served as Director of the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance's State and Local Anti-Terrorism Training program. Rev. White has received many awards including Special Recognition from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Outstanding Service Recognition Award from the United States Department of Justice. October 8th - Rev. Dr. Glenn M. Wagner - Glenn Maris Wagner has been a United Methodist pastor, husband, and community leader for 40 years. He is a father of two and friend to many. He has lived, traveled, served, pastored, and studied in America, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. His core value for ministry, based on the love of God, is In God s math, everybody counts. Glenn is a certified clergy coach and has organized leadership training events to develop leaders for small groups in the church. He has worked hard to build bridges of understanding and respect across religious, racial, ethnic, political, gender, educational and economic divides that separate the human family. He is an accomplished story teller and currently retired December 31, 2016 as pastor of United Methodist Church of the Dunes in Grand Haven, Michigan. October 15 - Rev. Dr. Glenn M. Wagner October 22 - Stewardship Sunday with Rev. Dr. Glenn M. Wagner October 29 - To Be Announced

9 .Search Committee - Volunteers Needed We are asking you to prayerful consider serving on a small search committee for an "Intentional Interim" pastor. This commitment will be about 4-8 weeks. This team will be responsible for hiring a person for the interim position. (This is not a 'called position' of which will require much more time and commitment). The Governance Board will select a team to represent the congregation. If you feel called to be on this team please let anyone on Governance Board know of your interest. Church Affairs Director... Bill Bode will has accepted a temporary position as our Church Affairs Director at Second Church. He is responsible for all staff members and is working closely with the Personal Committee to revise job descriptions, set goals, and generally evaluated what our staffing needs actually are. He has already filled our pulpit with pastors, authors and speakers through the end of October. Secord Church is truly blessed to have Bill serve in this position at this pivotal time. The Outreach Trust Fund made contributions of $ each to the following: United Church Outreach Ministry, North End Community Ministry, Kids Food Basket, and In The Image. The members of the Board thank all who continue to support the Outreach Trust Fund. DID YOU KNOW? The church calendar has been added to the website! So, if you need to know the times or dates of events, the website is a great resource. Thank you for thinking of Bob through his facial cancer surgery. He s healing well and feeling good. We appreciate the prayers, thought and kindness shown to us. We are thankful for the support from Second Church. ---Bob and Judy Bartholomew

10 SECOND CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 525 Cheshire Dr. N.E. Grand Rapids MI SECOND BEST SALE! Women s Fellowship Annual Fall Second Best Sale Thursday, October 5-9:00-4:00 Friday, October 6-9:00-2:00 We will start setting up on Tuesday, September 26, at noon. All volunteers are welcome!