ORTH EWS. North Congregational Church Golf Outing

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1 NORTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH W. Twelve Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI Phone: (248) FAX (248) Website: northcongregationalchurch.org Address Service Requested Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage P.A.I.D. Farmington Hills, MI North September, 2014 Permit No. 107 Congregational Vol. 35 Church No. 9 ORTH EWS W. Twelve Mile Road, Farmington Hills, Michigan (248) Fax: (248) Church Website: northcongregationalchurch.org Worshiping God, Serving Humanity North Congregational Church Golf Outing Saturday, September 20 Please join us for the North Church fall Golf Outing at Farmington Hills Golf Club beginning at 1:00 p.m. on the afternoon of September 20th. We will play an 18-hole scramble (beginners welcome) followed by dinner at the Hawkins house. Non-golfers are welcome to join us for dinner. The cost for golf will be $35, including a cart. That is payable at the golf course. We will order in dinner for $10 - $15 per person. A sign up sheet will be outside Fellowship Hall in August. Please contact Danny Hawkins with any questions. We are gathered for worship of God and service to humanity.

2 From the Minister... Notes from the Moderator... September is back to school time in Michigan, and you can t go anywhere without seeing reminders of that! While it can be sad to wind down the summer fun, it s also an exciting time of new beginnings. That s certainly true here at North Church where many people have been planning and preparing for the coming program year. September 7 th is Rally Sunday the start of another year of Sunday School classes, the return of the Chancel Choir, and the resumption of Bible studies and fellowship groups. Come and celebrate this Back to Church day, and make plans to stay for the Rally Day Picnic, as well as to sign up for many of the learning and fellowship activities you ll find in the articles in this newsletter! Taking a quick look back at the summer, I ve been pleased by the many people involved in ministries, particularly the many folks who donated items and helped out as North Church joined with St. Alexander s to welcome the South Oakland Shelter program August There will be many more opportunities to help the hungry, homeless, and needy in our community and beyond, and Mission Month presentations beginning on September 14 th will share some of the many missions our church supports. Finally, I am grateful for the people who took part in the Pentecost Project Day of Discernment in June, which used a discussion framework that is the product of my doctoral work. I invite everyone to hear my presentation on the process and how and why it was developed during worship on September 28 th. This model for discerning conversation is a tool that I hope will help us at North Church as we work together faithfully and compassionately to make plans and carry out ministries of worship and service this year and in the years to come! Faithfully, Rev. Mimi Biedron Sunscreen? Check Shorts/t-shirt? Check Water, flip-flops, hat? Check A day at the beach or a picnic? Nope we re going to church. Huh? That s right. This summer while vacationing in Florida, we walked to a bar down the beach for Sunday morning service. A bar known for its live music, awesome views of the Gulf of Mexico, a local drink called a Bushwacker, and a giant annual beach party called The Mullet Toss hosts the service. This was the brainchild of a local church with a simple philosophy if people won t attend church while vacationing, then we ll bring the church to the people. And wow do people come. About 500 on a typical Sunday, and closer to 1,000 on busy weekends like Easter. The service is held outdoors under a permanent tent held up with ropes and PVC piping. People sit on folding chairs or picnic tables, though many have to stand due to the large crowds. Helpers pass out bottled water (this is Florida in July heat and humidity are oppressive even at 10 AM!). The format is heavy on music with a live band, and the attire is just as I stated above shorts, t-shirts, flip-flops. The church puts up signs around the bar: Judgment Free Zone & God Loves You, though they do not remove the sign on the stage literally four feet above the minister: Bud Light Bikini Contest! While I obviously do not advocate NCC follows all these practices, I do believe one idea, Bringing the Church to the People, fits right in with our mission: We are gathered for worship of God and Service to Humanity. Bringing the church to the people (Service to Humanity) is not necessarily done by holding worship outside our building, but is done in many, many other ways such as community outreach, NOLA, mission work, COTS, etc. all things we already do! I encourage you to keep that theme in mind as we all assist Mimi wrap up her doctoral project this fall. And as for the other steps the Florida church above took I d be OK if you wore flip-flops to our church. But the rest is better suited for a day at the beach or a picnic! Bob Plummer

3 Rally Sunday Sunday, September 7 Adults & Children 11 years & older: $4.00 Children 10 years & under: $2.00 Family Maximum: $12.00 We ll be welcoming the Chancel Choir and our Sunday School back from summer vacation on Rally Sunday, with a worship service followed by the Rally Day Picnic. Sign up to be part of this fun afternoon, with hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill, and potluck sides and desserts! Back by popular demand, there will be face painting and a bounce house again this year! Check out the sign up sheet outside Fellowship Hall if you d like to bring a dish to share*; if you can t bring a dish, don t worry! Come and enjoy an afternoon of food, fun and North Church friends of all ages. Invite a friend or neighbor to come and learn more about our church! *Note: Please refrain from using tree nuts or peanuts in your recipes, so that everyone can enjoy them. Fellowship, Food & Fun! September 7th, 2014, Rally Sunday, begins a new year in our Sunday School. We are looking forward to welcoming our students back from summer vacation, and grateful for everyone who helped out in Summer Sunday School and Vacation Bible School! Due to class sizes, we've changed some of our class divisions this year. We're pleased to have most of our regular teachers returning to teach again. The classes and teachers are: Nursery (babies up to 18 mos.): Greg and Alexandra Ricketts; Abby Turner, helper Toddler Room (18 months thru 3 years.): Jane Meredith; Cobian Gleason, helper Preschool/Kindergarten (4 years & up): Judy Campbell; Kendall Murray, helper 1 st - 3 rd grades: Mari Mortsfield 4 th - 6th grades: Emily Dye 7th 8 th grade: Justin Hornburg and Tom Straith High School: Carrie Cooper We will be using the GROW PROCLAIM SERVE curriculum which emphasizes learning the stories of faith in the Bible and then applying their lessons to our own lives (learn more about these lesson materials on the curriculum website: In addition to Bible stories, students in the Sunday School will enjoy crafts, special days, games, and more. Because of allergies, we ll avoid foods and crafts containing any kind of tree nuts or peanuts. Parents are encouraged to fill out the Sunday School registration form to indicate any allergies or other special considerations. Also an important reminder: If your student has a cell phone, an ipod or other electronic device, he/she should leave it with you or plan to put it in the electronic box during class to avoid distractions. Sunday School students in Preschool and up should come to the worship service each morning (babies and toddlers can go directly to their classrooms at 10:30), and then go to their classes during the second hymn. At the end of the morning classes, Pre-K through 6 th grade will gather in the Music Room for a short time of singing, collection of the Sunday School cont d.

4 Sunday School cont d. offering, and celebration of birthdays. At this time, students will prepare for songs to be presented in church, as well as other specials such as the Living Christmas Card and the Christmas Pageant. Following the church service, parents are encouraged to pick up younger students from their classrooms; older students can meet their parents in Coffee Hour. Should you have any questions or concerns about Sunday School or our Christian Education program, please talk to Rev. Mimi Biedron or Michelle Sibley, chair of the Board of Religious Education. See you in Sunday School!! SHARE YOUR If you are receiving this letter via hard copy, it s because we don t have your address. If you have and use , please send an to the church at ncc.churchoffice@gmail.com so that we can add you! Third Grade Bible Presentation Sunday, September 14 As part of our Sunday School program, North Church presents Bibles to third grade students each year. These NRSV translation Bibles include maps, a Bible dictionary, and sidebar information to help students and their parents get the most out of scripture! In addition to the Bibles, we ll be giving third grade parents the booklet, Discovering Together with information and suggestions for reading and activities that will help develop Bible knowledge and skills. Third graders receiving Bibles should meet with Rev. Mimi Biedron in the Link before worship on September 14; presentation will take place during the morning worship service. If your child is older than Third Grade and has not received a Bible, please call the church office so that we may arrange for them to receive a copy. Missions Month - September Worshiping God, Serving Humanity "...for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink..." Matthew 25:35 This fall we will have the opportunity to hear from three of our benevolence organizations. Cathy Yourchock will speak about the Farmington Hills Meals on Wheels program. Kristi Pavlak will bring us information about HAVEN. Gary Tester will provide a message that details the work being done at Starr Commonwealth. "Since 1913, Starr Commonwealth has been dedicated to the mission of creating positive environments where children and families flourish." St. Alexander s Food Pantry Each week the Diaconate posts a request for a specific item for St. Alexander s Food Pantry. The bulletin board is in the Link; please place your donations in the baskets provided. Deliveries will be made weekly. The need is great and your donations will help so many people! Thank you for your warm and generous spirit! Diaconate Benevolences for the month of September Indian Trails and other Missions - Shipping Metropolitan Christian Council - Meals for Shut-ins

5 Diaconate Benevolences for 2014 Adopt-a-Family American Red Cross Capuchin Community Center Casa Colibri - Guatamala Cass Corridor Social Services Common Ground Sanctuary Congregational Library COTS Children s Center Crossroads Crossroads - Hygiene Kits Crossroads - Meal Preparation CWS - Blankets CWS - CROP CWS - Emergency Cleanup Bucket Ecumenical Theological Seminary - Michigan Farmington Multicultural/Multiracial Community Council Farmington Neighborhood House Farmington YMCA - Strong Kids Farmington/Farmington Hills Community Foundation Farmington/Farmington Hills Community Foundation - Duck Race Farmington/Farmington Hills Meals on Wheels Focus: Hope Girlstown Good News Gang Goodfellows - Toys for Tots Grace Centers of Hope Habitat for Humanity - National Office Haven Indian Trails Lighthouse Llewelyn House Love Worth Sharing - Haiti Methodist Theological School in Ohio Metropolitan Christian Council, Detroit- Windsor (Meals for Shut ins) Michigan Conference of CCC Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion Minister s Discretionary Fund Mission Mazahua Mitten Tree NACCC - Center for Congregational Leadership NACCC - Christmas Fund NACCC - Congregational Church Development NACCC - Congregational Foundation for Theological Studies NACCC - Foreign Missions NACCC - Missionary Society Admin. NACCC - Missions NACCC - One Great Hour of Sharing NACCC - Shared Ministries Fund NCC - Rummage Sale Olivet College Prayer Shawls Quilting Group Salvation Army Samaritan Counseling Center SE Michigan Assoc. of Congregational Churches SOUL - Backpacks SOUL - Build SOUL - Thanks for Giving SOUL - Source of Universal Love St. Alexander s Food Cupboard St. Bernard Parish Project -- Louisiana Starr Commonwealth Warm Up America INDIAN TRAILS BOXES Indian Trails boxes have long been a Christmas tradition at North Church, loading up the boxes with school supplies, personal items and small gifts. Continuing with the changes made last year, we are focusing on the school supply aspect of the boxes and taking advantage of back-to-school sales by collecting the white boxes in September. Your help is needed to pack these boxes. Please take a sticker for the age group and gender you want, and buy the necessary supplies. The boxes will be available on Rally Sunday, September 7th, and will be dedicated on Sunday, September 28 th in preparation for shipment to Arizona. We d like to send as many boxes as possible to the kids at the Indian Trails Mission, so let s stock up on the items listed below: PLEASE INCLUDE: FULL SIZE toothbrush and toothpaste Barrettes Hand towel (NO bath towels...they are too large.) Comb and/or brush Bar soap Paper in notebook form (no loose leaf paper) Coloring books Markers Colored pencils Crayons A small toy, such as a Matchbox car, or a small stuffed animal. DO NOT INCLUDE: Battery operated toys or toys with numerous small pieces. Food, candy or liquid items.

6 Crossroads Sunday, October 19 Yes, we are returning to CROSSROADS, and we need YOUR help. Twice a year members and friends of North Church go to the CROSSROADS SOUP KITCHEN to make and then serve soup, sandwiches, fruit, cookies, and a beverage to people who live along the Cass Corridor and near the medical center in Detroit. You can help by signing up to work the morning shift (they make the food and set up the room) or the afternoon shift (they serve and clean up). Or you can bake cookies - preferably at least 6 dozen. Please place 2 cookies in each sandwich bag. We expect to serve approximately 800 people, and each person gets two cookies - that s 1,600 cookies! You may bring them to church anytime the week of October 12th, and place them in the refrigerators in Fellowship Hall. They will be taken to CROSSROADS on October 19th. If you have any good, warm winter clothes - especially coats or jackets - you are welcome to bring them for CROSSROADS. Just leave them in the Coat Room, marked clearly for CROSSROADS, and we will deliver them. Also, your donations of personal care items and school supplies will be sorted and packaged on Sunday, September 28th, for distribution on October 19th. Please sign up to serve and/or bake. We need your help and you ll be glad you did it! If you have any questions, see Sara or Steve Lange. GIFTS FOR CROSSROADS HYGIENE ITEMS Please bring soaps, shampoos, hair conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, shaving cream and razors, individual packages of Kleenex tissues, pens and socks, which will be delivered to CROSSROADS when we serve lunch on October 19th. They can be small containers that you brought back from summer vacation, or articles you purchase especially for CROSSROADS. Please place them in the basket next to the Toddler Room in the Sunday School wing by September 28th. Thank you for your continued support! SCHOOL SUPPLIES NEEDED! Help kids succeed! The school supplies you bring in will go to CROSSROADS. Items needed are: backpacks, erasers, calculators, folders, markers, ink pens (red, blue, black), highlighters, colored pencils, bigger pencils, loose leaf paper, hand sanitizer, Kleenex, scissors, pencil cases, Crayons and binders. Card tables, along with containers to hold the school supplies, are set up in the main hallway, the Sunday school wing and outside of Fellowship Hall. Donations brought in by September 28th will be boxed up, along with the hygiene kits. Thank you for your generosity!

7 September Activities Tuesday Lunch Circle Join us each Tuesday for lunch at 11:30 a.m. Reservations are needed, all women of the church are welcome! September 02: Breakfast Club September 09: Tommy s Parthenon September 16: Women s Association Lunch and Program at 12:00 p.m. September 23: Applebee s September 30 - Olive Garden Women s Bible Study... meets in the Library each Tuesday morning at 10 a.m., beginning September 2nd, to continue their studies. All women are welcome to join us come when you can! Flick Chicks - Thursday, September 4 The Flick Chicks have enjoyed the summer movies, and are looking forward to the fall and holiday movies, and of course, dinner at Applebee s afterwards. Come for the movie, the dinner, or both when you are available. The Chicks meet the first Thursday of the month and we decide on a movie the previous Sunday during coffee hour. All the Chicks at church are invited. Men s Breakfast CLUB A group of North Church men meet for breakfast at Moe s on Ten, every other Tuesday morning at 9:00 o clock. If you eat and are interested in a little lively conversation, contact Steve Lange at stephenlange@me.com. He will add you to their list so you receive updates on their schedule. MASCOT 3 S Mascot 3 s, is a social group open to all members and friends of the church. Please join us once a month for fun, food (always food) and fellowship. September 6th - Meet and Greet Join us at the Hawkins house at 6 p.m. for a season-opening BBQ. We ll grill some meat, catch up, meet new friends and discuss some things we may want to do this year. October 4th - Pub Crawl, Detroit Check out Detroit s history and character. We will car pool from church with our Designated Drivers to either Midtown or Downtown Detroit and walk to three pubs highlighted in national publications. Please sign up on the sheet outside Fellowship Hall for additional information. Contact Danny Hawkins at ncc.businessmanager@gmail.com with any questions or suggested activities. CHAOS The ladies of CHAOS will meet on Wednesday, September 10th, in the Middle School Sunday School Room at 6:00 p.m. We will be organizing for our November prayer booklets, beginning to plan for our Adopt-a-Family Christmas project and doing long-range planning for our Valentine party at Halsted Place. Please bring your dinner and beverage and join us! All women of the church are welcome. We'll be waiting for you! Used Eyeglasses: Do you have prescription eyeglasses, reading glasses or prescription sunglasses that you no longer need? North Church is collecting these glasses in the Sunday School wing next to the Toddler Room. Kim Marlinga will deliver them to her ophthalmologist who takes them to needy folks in third world countries. You may bring your glasses in any time. Bibles for Missionaries The average American Christian household owns eight Bibles. Christian Resources International collects Bibles and other inspirational materials (like Guideposts), and packs and ships them to missionaries throughout the world. The women of CHAOS are collecting Bibles and other inspirational materials to be delivered to CRI. There is a box next to the food baskets for St. Alexander s (in the Link) for your donated, gently used Bibles or other materials. Dottie Kendall will deliver them every few months.

8 Confirmation Class Every other year, North Church offers a Confirmation Class for students in grades 7 and up, to review and deepen their knowledge of God, the church, the Bible, and Christian behavior, with the goal of joining the church and taking part in the church covenant. This year s class was postponed from spring to this fall, and is planning to meet on several Sunday afternoons in September, October, and November. Confirmation Sunday will be Heritage Sunday, November 23 rd, in the morning worship service. For more information on the schedule and content of this class, or to sign up, please contact Rev. Mimi Biedron at church or by at ncc.seniorminster@gmail.com. Acolytes If you asked most people when the worship service begins, they would mention the time when the acolyte brings the flame and lights the candles in the front of the Sanctuary, a symbol of the presence of the Holy Spirit in this place. To make this happen, North Church prepares a schedule of Acolytes for each Sunday during the regular church year (we do not have Acolytes in the summer months). If you d like to be an acolyte, please speak with Jane Meredith to be put on the schedule! While we ve traditionally used teenagers, we welcome young (and even not so young) adults who might like to be part of this tradition. High School Class We will be starting the year with Doug Fields video series Love Out Loud. The series motivates students to take Jesus outside the walls of the church, and challenges them to put their faith into action in ways that are meaningful, practical and godly. See you on Sunday morning! Pilgrim Fellowship An Organizational Meeting has been scheduled for students and their parents on Sunday, September 14th, 4:30-6:00 p.m., in the Plymouth Room. This year the Pilgrim Fellowship wants YOU! Come and enjoy refreshments, and help make decisions for the upcoming year with Rev. Mimi Biedron and Danny Hawkins. Monday Night Bible Study We begin the new program year meeting on a new night! Please join us in the Library on Monday nights from 6:30-7:25 p.m. Our first session will be on September 15th. We will be studying the book of Revelation and I will have a schedule and beginning study guide available in the Bible Study Drawer in the Library on September 7th. All are welcome, please sign up outside of Fellowship Hall. Book Group The book group will meet on Wednesday, September 17 th, at 1 p.m. to discuss His Excellency George Washington, a biographical exploration of the life, times, and thoughts of our first president by Joseph Ellis. Come and join the conversation, as we reflect on some of the surprises in this exploration of a familiar historical figure! We will also be choosing some titles for the upcoming year. All are welcome! Women s Association The Women s Association September Luncheon will be on Tuesday, September 16. We will have an entertaining speaker telling us all about the film Gone With The Wind is the 75th anniversary of the premier of the film. There will also be a display of memorabilia connected to the movie. We will enjoy lunch at noon in the Bradford Room. The cost of lunch is $8.00, which includes wonderful desserts. Reservations are necessary for lunch, so we have enough food for everyone. Please sign up on the sheet outside of Fellowship Hall. This is a good opportunity to invite a friend to share the afternoon with you. All women are welcome to Women s Association events! Flu Clinic Liane Jensen, of the Michigan Community Visiting Nurses Association, will be in Fellowship Hall administering Flu Shots on Sunday, September 21 st at 11:30 a.m. A limited number of doses of Flu Mist nasal spray will be available for children 2 18 years of age. An insurance coverage list and the sign up sheet may be found on the Information Table outside Fellowship Hall. You will need to bring your insurance card with you. Without coverage, the cost is $32 for the flu shot, and $34 for the flu mist, if available.

9 Pentecost Project Update On Sunday, September 28 th, Rev. Mimi Biedron will be presenting the results of her doctoral project in the morning worship service. This project was the development of a tool to help the church in making decisions using the Christian practice of discernment, which allows many voices and opinions to be heard and leaves plenty of room for the Holy Spirit to work. A session using the discussion framework that resulted from her research was held in June, with reflection on the North Church mission statement ( We are gathered for worship of God and service to humanity ), and the ways in which we can be faithful to that mission going forward. The results were compiled and given to Executive Council, which has been developing program and ministry recommendations based on the priorities and ideas that emerged in the time of discernment. This presentation will be the message for the day, and will include the Biblical and theological basis for this kind of discussion as well as the results from the Jun 14 th day of discernment and Council s consideration of those results. Resources on individual and collective decision-making in Christian traditions, which were handed out last spring before the discussion session will be available again. After the worship service, Rev. Biedron will be available in coffee hour comments and questions. Plan now to be present, to hear more about the process and to learn about the exciting and inspired ideas that have grown from that day of discernment! NACCC (National Association of Congregational Christian Churches) What Is it? The NACCC is a fellowship with other Congregational churches across the nation. It is a way to share ourselves with other congregations with exchange of ideas, resources for education, stewardship, leadership development, clergy searches, finances, retirement and insurance benefits for clergy, the history of Congregationalism, and consultations regarding conflict resolution if needed. The annual NAPF/HOPE meeting offers opportunities for youth and college students to come together for worship, fellowship and service as the annual NA offers adults the chance to share faith, freedom and fellowship all with spiritual guidance. What's In It For Us? Does North Church need all these services all the time? Of course not, but when we do need help these resources can be invaluable. Several of our ministers are/have been graduates of the CFTS program (clergy training). NA was contacted for help in how NCC needed to proceed in selecting a new minister (clergy search). We send high school students in our Pilgrim Fellowship to the annual NAPF meetings, and NCC also sends both a delegate and alternate to the annual NA meeting. These individuals return with renewed vigor, enthusiasm and ideas and suggestions for helping NCC with its programs. Ask our PF'ers about building ten ramps in 4 days for needy seniors in the Nashville, TN area this year! BUT, in turn, we need to share our ideas, wealth of information, suggestions, thoughts, leadership capabilities, the activities in which we participate, our missions and all we do there, our experiences sharing and caring for our fellow members, friends and those in need.

10 NACCC, cont d. YOU ALL NEED to realize North Congregational Church is wellknown in the National Association and has/is providing leadership for the organization. We are proud to know that Elvera Leversuch, Rev. Mark Jensen and Rev. Neil Hunt are all past Moderators and Judy Campbell is presently secretary of the organization. NCC is also a Fair Share Plus member, meaning that our annual monetary contribution exceeds what has been established as a Fair Share member. The Congregationalist magazine is published six times per year, filled with articles and pictures of various activities from churches across the country, reports of mission works and needs, pulpit vacancies, and much, much more. You may subscribe for your very own copy or read the one received by NCC every other month. Questions? Feel free to ask Dottie Kendall, Judy Campbell, Mimi Biedron, or Mark and Liane Jensen. You can also learn more about the National Association on the NACCC website, naccc.org. STEWARDSHIP Dear Friends of North Church, Our Stewardship theme this year is, "Steps toward worship and service". This is based on our church-wide theme, Worshiping God, Serving Humanity. Our accent this year is on how vitally important North Church is on a Personal, Local, and National Level, and how our stewardship of our time and financial resources make the many ministries of worship and service possible. Starting in mid-october, this year s Stewardship program will emphasize how our giving to the church supports the church s acts of worship and care for the world. Our goal is $225,000, and just as there are many steps in organizing and offering worship and service, so there are many smaller steps to that goal. Watch for much more on stewardship, and consider how you are part of the ministries of North Congregational Church! Mark Payne, Chair, Stewardship Committee TRY A NEW ACTIVITY! Bowl at Country Lanes, Nine Mile at Tuck Rd., Farmington Hills Any skill level Fun! Inexpensive Wednesday mornings 9 a.m. Non-competitive Highest over personal average wins a few quarters. Comments From Participants: Marion Stowell (Scorekeeper): I don t bowl but it is fun to be part of the group. Jack Pomeroy: Come join us Wednesday mornings at 9 a.m. for lots of fun and camaraderie. The more, the merrier! Nancy Smith: We hit pins, get exercise AND have a blast together! Ross Smith: Mostly retirees having fun, but we do come up with a game, once in a while. Come for the fun! Tom Howard: It is good exercise, physically and mentally. Al Smith: Brighten your day by bowling in the A.M. great fellowship! Emily Dye: I don t mind not breaking 100. Being part of this enthusiastic group is what matters. Butch Dye: Emily and I have so much fun bowling that we look forward to it all week. It s an activity we can share together. Contact: Jack Pomeroy jackpomeroy@rocketmail.com

11 Dinner for Eight Dinner for Eight, an opportunity to share several meals with a small group of North Church people, will begin a new session in October. The timing and style of the meals can be tailored to suit the needs and desires of each group (you may choose afternoons or evenings, pot lucks hosted by members of the group or meet at local restaurants). Sign up to join us for food, fun and a chance to learn more about your fellow parishioners. South Oakland Shelter North Congregational provided 28 volunteers to assist St. Alexander and St. Gerald Catholic Churches as they hosted South Oakland Shelter at St. Alexander the week of August 17 th (S.O.S. provides homeless prevention, sustainable housing and career development strategies and programs for homeless and at-risk people seeking stabilization and self-sufficiency). In all, North was able to fill more than 33 different roles providing food, transportation, laundry, entertainment and hospitality for the 30 clients of S.O.S. in their temporary home. Many thanks to our parishioners who gave of their time to assist in this project. The hosts at St. Alexander were thrilled with the manpower and financial support we were able to provide. Well done! Announcing the Annual All Women's Retreat The Annual Women s Retreat will take place at the Howell Nature and Conference Center in Howell, MI on Friday, November 7th and Saturday, November 8th. This is an opportunity to deepen your faith AND develop friendships by sharing each other s stories and learning about God s love together. Women will learn to see God at work in all the seasons of their lives - the ups and the downs. The retreat begins Friday evening with check-in at 6 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. We will close on Saturday at 2 p.m. The cost of $97 includes one night s lodging, bedding and a towel/ washcloth, 3 delicious meals, all program materials and wonderful memories. Registration will begin in October, but now is the time to write it on your calendar. Invite a friend to share the experience with you. If you have any questions, please contact Carol Turner. New Orleans, LA 8 th Annual Mission Trip Save the Date Reservations have been made for our 8 th annual South East Michigan mission trip to NOLA. The trip is scheduled for the end of February Our work week is Monday, February 23 - Friday, February 27. The weekend before and after will be our travel time. We will have an Informational Meeting at North Church on Sunday, October 26 at 2pm where you can learn about past trips, meet other volunteers from our sister churches in SE Michigan, learn about plans for this trip and of course, ask questions. Please plan to attend the meeting if you plan to go on the trip, or if you think you might have an interest in going on this fun and worthwhile mission trip. Please also visit our website, for updated information and applying for the trip. In the meantime, feel free to ask Mark and Liane Jensen, Mark Payne, Mona Utterback, Bob Plummer, Lys Kennedy or a host of others if you have questions. Lys Kennedy

12 Chancel Flower Orders Would you like to donate flowers to beautify our sanctuary for Sunday morning worship? It s a wonderful opportunity to remember a loved one, acknowledge a special event, or celebrate a birthday or anniversary. The cost of an arrangement is $45.00, and checks should be made payable to North Congregational Church Flower Fund. A list of available dates may be found on the Information Table outside Fellowship Hall. Please cross off the date you want, fill out the order form completely, and leave your order and check on Debbie s desk in the office. We are limited to one arrangement each Sunday. We cannot accept orders for chancel flowers on December 14th or 21st when the sanctuary will be filled with Christmas poinsettias; Palm Sunday, March 29th, when we special order an arrangement; or on Easter Sunday, April 5th, when beautiful spring plants will grace the chancel. You Should Call the Office... When you need to speak with the minister. When a new baby/child arrives. When you move, change your phone number, address or provider. When a member of your family is admitted to the hospital. Hospitals do not call us unless specifically asked to by the patient or family. When a member of your family leaves for college, we d like to have their address and phone number. Travelers and Snow Birds... Please let us know of your travel plans if you are going to be away long enough to forward your mail. If we have your temporary address on file, you will receive your newsletter sooner and the church will save the money on return postage. Thanks! Circle of Care...card distribution WORSHIP SERVICE CD'S AVAILABLE Thinking of you... Circle of Care cards are made by Kim Marlinga and placed in Fellowship Hall each week prior to the Sunday service. Congregants are urged to sign the cards with a short message or just their name; Debbie Skindell then mails them. Recipients include (but are not limited to) shut-in members and friends, nursing home residents, and seniors who have moved out of the Detroit area. Cards are also sent to the congregation for: Deaths in the immediate family Births and Baptisms in the immediate family Surgery/hospitalization in the immediate family Illness or accident in the immediate family Milestone birthdays of members (starting at age 80 and then every five years) Milestone wedding anniversaries (starting at 50 and then every five years) Deployment of military personnel of members or immediate family. Graduation of high school and college students Families that move away Thinking of You to members on the Diaconate List (on a regular rotation determined by the diaconate members). Any other as determined by the minister In addition, the information of the cards that are mailed is posted for one month on the Diaconate bulletin board on the wall outside of Fellowship Hall. Every Sunday, the Ushers record the worship service on a Compact Disc. Our CD duplicator is now up and running and making good copies. So, we are pleased to announce that, if you wish to have a copy of a Sunday service, please contact the church office. To defray cost of the blank CD's and the equipment, we're asking a donation of $1.00 for each copy. Share North Church with a friend, catch up on worship from a missed Sunday, or keep a copy of a special performance!

13 S E P T E M B E R LAY READERS September 07 - Meghan Webster September 14 - Pat Butler September 21 - Lee Poese September 28 - Tom Straith SOLOISTS September 07 - James Wilking September 14 - Brandy Nicole Adams September 21 - Gregory Stinson September 28 - Lauren Jacob ACOLYTES September 07 - Abby Turner September 14 - Sage Lanier September 21 - Brian Ekizian September 28 - Sarah Straith GREETERS Would you like to be a North Church greeter on Sunday morning for the worship service? If so, please call Audrey Poese at 248/ September 7 Roy and Donna Nordman September 14 Jack and Marilyn Pomeroy September 21 Ken and Carol Milner September 28 Bob and Karen Moore COFFEE HOUR HOSTS September 7 Dave and Rebecca Pniewski September 14 Wendy Powell, Lee Poese September 21 Matthew Shand, Steve Lange September 28 Mark Bowden, Sandy Greer Kim and Jeremy Ruckhaber and family, on the death of Kim s mother, Virginia F. Leeshock on Sunday, August 3, Art and Pat Lanier and family, on the death of Art s grandmother, Aleen Newsome, on August 7, September Calendar (Current version of our calendar can be found on our web site: northcongregationalchurch.org) September 1, Monday - Labor Day Office Closed September 2, Tuesday 9:00 a.m. Men s Breakfast CLUB - Moe s on Ten 11:30 a.m. Tuesday Lunch Circle - Lunch at Breakfast Club 6:30 p.m. Chancel Bell Rehearsal 7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal September 3, Wednesday 9:00 a.m. Wednesday Morning North Church Open Bowling - Country Lanes September 4, Thursday 10:00 a.m. Library Committee Meeting Flick Chicks - Movie at United Artists Theater / Dinner at Applebee s 7:00 pm. Stewardship Meeting - Conference Room September 6, Saturday 6:00 p.m. MASCOT³S - Meet and Greet at the Hawkins house September 7, Rally Sunday! 10:30 a.m. Worship, Sunday School, High School Class Lay Reader: Meghan Webster; Acolyte: Abby Turner Soloist: James Wilking 11:45 a.m. Rally Day food, fun and activities! Indian Trails Boxes distributed September 9, Tuesday 10:00 a.m. Women s Bible Study - Library 11:30 a.m. Tuesday Lunch Circle - Lunch at Tommy s Parthenon 6:30 p.m. Chancel Bell Rehearsal 7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal

14 September 10, Wednesday 9:00 a.m. Wednesday Morning North Church Open Bowling - Country Lanes 6:00 p.m. CHAOS - Dinner/Meeting - Middle School Room 7:30 p.m. Trustee Meeting - Middle School Room 7:30 p.m. Diaconate Meeting - Plymouth Room September 14, Sunday 10:30 a.m. Worship, Third Grade Bible Presentation, Sunday School, High School Class Lay Reader: Pat Butler; Acolyte: Sage Lanier Soloist: Brandy Nicole Adams 4:30 p.m. Pilgrim Fellowship - PF and Parent Opening Meeting September 15, Monday 6:30 p.m. Monday Evening Bible Study - Library September 16, Tuesday 9:00 a.m. Men s Breakfast CLUB - Moe s on Ten 10:00 a.m. Women s Bible Study - Library 12:00 p.m. Women s Association Lunch and Program - Plymouth/Bradford Room 6:30 p.m. Chancel Bell Rehearsal; 7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal September 17, Wednesday 9:00 a.m. Wednesday Morning North Church Open Bowling 1:00 p.m. Book Group - Library September 19, Friday Consent Agenda minutes and reports for Council due today September 20, Saturday 1:00 p.m. North Church Golf Outing - Farmington Hills Golf Club, Dinner at Danny and Susie Hawkins house September 21, Sunday 10:30 a.m. Worship, Sunday School, High School Class Lay Reader: Lee Poese; Acolyte: Brian Ekizian Soloist: Gregory Stinson 11:30 a.m. Flu Clinic - Fellowship Hall 11:45 a.m. BRE Meeting - Library September 22, Monday 6:30 p.m. Monday Evening Bible Study - Library 7:30 p.m. Executive Council Meeting - Middle School Room September 23, Tuesday 10:00 a.m. Women s Bible Study 11:30 a.m. Tuesday Lunch Circle - Lunch at Applebee s 6:30 p.m. Chancel Bell Rehearsal 7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal September 24, Wednesday 9:00 a.m. Wednesday Morning North Church Open Bowling September 28, Sunday 10:30 a.m. Worship, Children s Message, Dedication of Indian Trails Boxes, Sunday School, High School Class Lay Reader: Tom Straith; Acolyte: Sarah Straith Soloist: Lauren Jacob High School class packs hygiene kits and school supplies September 29, Monday 6:30 p.m. Monday Evening Bible Study - Library September 30, Tuesday 9:00 a.m. Men s Breakfast CLUB - Moe s on Ten 10:00 a.m. Women s Bible Study - Library 11:30 a.m. Tuesday Lunch Circle - Lunch at Olive Garden 6:30 p.m. Chancel Bell Rehearsal 7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal October Newsletter Newsletter articles are needed by the 10th of each month. Please Debbie at ncc.churchoffice@gmail.com. Thanks!