33424 Oakland Ave. Farmington, MI (248) The Rev. Deborah Schueneman, Pastor December 2017

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1 33424 Oakland Ave. Farmington, MI (248) The Rev. Deborah Schueneman, Pastor December 2017 NO 10AM SERVICE ON CHRISTMAS EVE December 24, 2017 Christmas Eve 7:00pm A Service of Lessons and Carols

2 Thanks to everyone who participated in Salem s Annual Fall clean-up Day! Jay S, Jayson S, Connie H, Jeff S, Gary P, Brian T, Katie T, Laura T, Lauren J, Sarah J and Jeff J. General Fund Update Year-to-date receipts through October $130,342. Year-to-date expenses through October 148,613. Shortfall (18,270) 7 Sally D 8 Frank L Mary Jo S 9 Jeff S Caleb P 10 Margie D 14 Randy R 15 Larry H 17 David H 18 Cindy B 20 Chip B 25 Lara K Happy Anniversary! 21 Jeff & Kim J 20yrs 23 Bert & Christine K 59yrs 30 Bob & Alice B 50 yrs 2

3 Young Adult Bible Study (for ages 18-35) Sunday evenings beginning December 3rd at 6:30 pm at Salem! Please join Karen M, Kristen S & Katie T for a study of The Book of Job in the Reflection room! Join us for a night of prayer, worship, and the word of God. We will be talking about forgiveness. 3

4 It's that time of year for food, fun, and fellowship! Join us for our annual Christmas Luncheon on December 19,2017, at Peterlins. In January, we will be starting the Bible Study "Bad Girls of the Bible". We will meet on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Bring your lunch, coffee will be provided. This class is open to all women, as usual, from any church, so bring your friends! Cost of book will be announced prior to beginning the study. Please let Nan Schrier know f you are interested so we can get a book count. See you there! Nan 2017 Offering Envelopes Available In November Envelopes will be available in the Community Room during November. If you would like to have them mailed to your home, please call Kathy in the church office. Christmas Toy Collection Christmas Toy Collection It s that time of year again! The Women's Fellowship The and Women s the Mission Fellowship collecting & Mission toys Com- for Trinity Committee are once again St. Mark s mittee and will the Farmington be collecting will toys start for the collecting Toys on Sunday Area Good Fellows. We Nov. 26th and Farmington collect until Area Sunday Dec. 10th. Let's make Goodfellows it a brighter and Christmas for as Trinity many children St. Mark s as we can!! this Christmas. There will be a box in Women s Fellowship and the Mission Committee 4

5 Christmas Poinsettias If you wish to sponsor a plant as a memorial or in ho of a loved one, or just enjoy a plant yourself, pleas complete the form and enclose payment to the church o fice or place it in the offering plate during worship Orders will be accepted until Sunday, December 3 rd. Th poinsettias will be enjoyed for worship December 10 th 17 th and may be taken home at that time or left to don to Botsford Commons. Poinsettia Order Form # 2 stem Red Poinsettias $ Enclosed ($12.50 each) In Memory of In Honor of From 5

6 SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS Who: Salem bundled up members & friends What: Ringing the Salvation Army Bell for Kettle Bell Donations When: Saturday, December 9th, 11-3pm (sign-up for 1 hour slots) Where: Busch s Market in Farmington Why: To spread the Christmas spirit and cheer! After Bell Ringing: Grand Tavern. All are welcome at 3pm! See the sign-up sheet on the Gathering Room 6

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9 Come join us for some fun, fellowship & food as we carol to our Salem Shut-ins No prior singing experience required! Saturday, December 16th at 1:00p.m. (Meet in the Community Room at 12:45pm to organize car pools) We will carol for approximately 3 hours and then return to the Bradley s home for dinner. Ham will be provided with the rest of the meal being potluck. Please help share the warmth and love of the Christmas season. This event is always a special and memorable experience for all! If you are planning to attend please fill in the bottom of this form and place it in the offering plate or the box outside the office. You can also leave a message at (248) or at uccsalem@yahoo.com - tear-off FAMILY NAME # OF PEOPLE ATTENDING FOOD ITEM YOU WILL BRING 9

10 Veterans of the Cross - December 17, 2017 Our joy at Christmas is a response to God's promise of new life through the birth of Jesus. It is a joy we are called to share widely, through our witness and gifts, both to loved ones and to distant neighbors. "It wasn t easy picking up the telephone to share with you my present situation. In fact it was one of the most humiliating experiences of my life although it reminded me that grace still happens. Sometimes we as clergy persons lose sight of God s grace when the negative stuff comes into our lives." thanks so much for sharing your time and ministry with me. Your most gracious gift is appreciated more than words can say as I continue to live in the 'meantime.'" These eloquent words are from a pastor who is the recipient of the caring and concern of those who contribute to the Christmas Fund Offering. You have the opportunity to be a part of this ministry that cares for the active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ through your participation in this year's Christmas Fund Offering. Your gift to the Christmas Fund will not only assist pastors like the one above, but also provide for the Supplementation of Small Annuities, Supplementation of Health Premiums, Emergency Grants, and provide Christmas Thank You Gift Checks next December to low-income retirees. Your gifts are needed more than ever to help the growing number of retirees whose low-income annuities make it difficult to meet increasing living costs. This is your opportunity to participate in God's promise of renewal by enabling this ministry of compassion and care. 10

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14 Whoever you are if you are Asian, Latino, Black, White if you are three days old, 30 years old, 103 years old if you are male, female, transgender if you are single, married, divorced, widowed, separated, partnered if you are straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual if you are a Republican, a Democrat, an independent; liberal, moderate, conservative if you own your own home, rent, live with your parents, are homeless if you are clean and sober, or still struggling with an addiction if you are fully abled, disabled, a person of differing abilities if you are employed, unemployed, retired Wherever you are in life s journey if you have never set foot in a church before, are a life-long church member, a lapsed church attender if you come from the Christian tradition, from another faith, claim no faith at all if you are sure in your beliefs, or still struggling and seeking In the name of Christ, you are WELCOME at Salem Church! 14