A Forty Day Journey. May our road to Easter be filled with meaning and may our fast bring us into the presence of Christ.

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1 Second Congregational UCC FACEBOOK: Second Congregational UCC, Grand Rapids A Forty Day Journey The Lenten season is a 40 day journey of the church to Easter. The word Lent comes from the Old English word lengthen, which simply means Spring when the days lengthen and new life springs forth. It is a time in which we anticipate the victory of the light and life of Christ over the darkness of death and sin. But before Easter there is the journey of betrayal and denial; there is the pain of a crown of thrones, the scourging and death on a cross. Historically many Christians during Lent fast from various foods, activities, and habits. I read a note recently from Pope Francis suggesting what we might fast from this Lenten season: * Fast from hurting words and say kind words. * Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude. * Fast from anger and be filled with patience. * Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope. * Fast from worries and have trust in GOD. * Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity. * Fast from pressures and be prayerful. * Fast from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy. * Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others. * Fast from grudges and be reconciled. * Fast from words and be silent so you can listen. I m going to try and take the Pope s suggestion. I think that anyone who follows these steps of fasting will find it to be a life changing journey. I d like to give this a try. If you also choose to do so let s get together and share what we learn and experience. May our road to Easter be filled with meaning and may our fast bring us into the presence of Christ. Blessings, Steve Armfield Lent 2018

2 Lenten Series Continues: Words from the Cross March 4 The Caring Word Scripture: John 19:17-27 March 11 The Agonizing Word Scripture: Matthew 27:45-49 March 18 The Painful Word Scripture: John 19:28-29 March 25 The Finishing Word Scripture: John 19:28-30 WOMEN S FELLOWSHIP LENTEN SERIES CONTINUES On Tuesday, March 6, in the Chapel at 10 o clock, our own Allison VanSkiver will be our speaker. The speakers for the remaining weeks of the series are: March 13 Rev. Tracey Taylor-Kunst, Pine Rest Staff Chaplin March 20 Pastor Dawn Scott Damon, Tribes Church (check Revelations 7:9) March 27 (WHITE BREAKFAST) Ms. Kim Murphy, Herron Manor Thank you to my church family for the many cards, calls and prayers during my stay at home. ---Betty Marcusse

3 2nd Church Being Better Stewards of Our Environment Second Church is always looking to be proactive in helping our environment. The first thing that churches are doing to grow their recycle program is to eliminate using Styrofoam. Second Church is making the choice to use paper products, and use the cups and dishes we already own as our first priority in doing our part to protect our community and our environment. One of the observations visitors make when considering a church is, "Are they good stewards of the environment?" Second Church now will be able to answer, "Yes!" Saturday, March 10 SESQUICENTENNIAL 2019 As part of our 150 th Celebration, we will be making a video history from members of Second Church. The interview of members will take place from April thru September. This way, we hopefully will be able to film all those interested in participating in a way that fits their schedule. We will need to start knowing who is interested in being a part of this Oral History of our church by March 31, in order to facilitate scheduling of individuals and/or families. For church members who are shut-ins and cannot make it to church, we will come to you. We do not want to leave any member out of participating in the filming. Please contact the church office, Eric Frye or Ken Bird if interested. The 150 Committee

4 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 6:15 Bells 7:30 Choir 2 Office :00 DeColores 4 Service at COMMUN- ION 5 Office Mahjong Barbershop Chorus 6 9:00 Calder City Band Lenten Service 7 8:00 Breakfast Staff Mtg 6:00 Preschool Exec. Board Ministry Council 8 6:15 Bells 7:30 Choir 9 Office 10 CNA Pancake Breakfast AED Class 11 Service at Change for a Cause Daylight Savings Time starts 12 Office Mahjong Barbershop 13 9:00 Calder City Band Lenten Service 14 9:30 2nd Stitchers Staff Mtg Book Club 15 NOON April ADVANCE Deadline 6:15 Bells 7:30 Choir 16 Office Service at 19 Office Mahjong Barbershop 20 9:00 Calder City Lenten Service 5:30 Preschool Bd 6:30 Governance Bd 21 8:00 Breakfast Staff Mtg Missions Team 22 4:00 Preschool Leadership Mtg. 6:15 Bells 7:30 Choir 23 Office :00 DeColores 25 Service at am 26 Office Mahjong 27 White Breakfast 28 Staff Mtg Operation Stork 29 5:00-6:15 Soup Supper 6:30 Service 30 12:00 Service 31 Barbershop Chorus

5 Join us in wishing the following a very "Happy Birthday" for March! 2 Jill Smith 3 Alice Peterson 4 Donald Long 5 Cindy Leonard 7 Tom Cole 10 Bob Bartholomew, Joe Heinz 12 Cheryl McCarthy 13 Becky Irwin 18 Marlene Bard, Mary Betts, Don Curtis 19 Orland Baas, Michael Maresco 20 Maryann Courter 22 Matt LaMore 26 Jacklyn Eding 29 Candy Marz 30 Joyce Roberts 31 Pam Chambers

6 O.C.W. M. Kit Fundraiser What a school kit, health kit, or emergency clean-up kit does is make it possible to tackle some of the basic equations of life. Problems like basic hygiene, or cleaning up after a flood, or being able to go to school prepared to take notes. During the month of March, Women s Fellowship is hoping to get monetary donations toward the purchases of these kits. The money is sent to Church World Services: they purchase the kits. $15 covers the cost of either a health kit or school kit; $75 covers the cost of one clean-up kit. Please keep this in your hearts for March. Checks to church can be designated O.C.W.M. kits; any amount is appreciated. Contents of the kits are posted on the Mission Board. Thank-you. --- Women s Fellowship FROM YOUR MISSION TEAM... THANKS FOR ALL YOUR DONATIONS! Empty pop cans collected for February, 2018 $23.00 Loose coin collected $44.45 All the money collected on for Mission Sunday and the Pop-up brunch. $ will be sent to the Guiding Light Missions Any money collected from pop cans, Pop-up brunches and loose coin will go toward our financial obligation for the supper houses and the food trucks. Receipts are still needed from Spartan Stores for NECOM. All your donations and your donated time is very appreciated. SUPPER HOUSE... We served at Supper House again on Feb. 6. Nearly 80 people were served a delicious dinner of stuffed pepper soup, salad, applesauce, a roll and cake for dessert. Those who helped serve that night were Ruta Buckingham, Sue Corbett, Jan Rinvelt, Jill Smith, Vicki Tingley and Pat Wolcott. Our next time to serve will be on Thursday, April 5th. Please sign up outside the drawing room.

7 SECOND COFFEE HOSTS FOR March & April March: 4 Second Stitchers April: 1 Worship Life & Property Teams 11 Stewardship Team 8 New Horizon Couples Club 18 Property Team 15 Cavaliers Couples Club 25 Library Team 22 Anderson/Rebekah Guild 29 Faith Formation Team Chocolate Sale Success! Thank-you to all who baked, sold, and purchased chocolates in support of Anderson/Rebekah s Annual Chocolate Sale. The weather was bad; but with your support we raised $196. FANTASTIC! Money will be used for various functions in the church. Thank-you! --- Anderson/Rebekah Guild Principal Leadership Called to Serve You Interim Senior Pastor Steve Armfield steven@2ndchurch.com Director of Church Business 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 Lumbert jen@2ndchurch.com Custodian Josh Holman Nursery Coordinator Amanda Curtis Governance Board Cheryl McCarthy, Moderator Laura Haas, Vice Moderator Jim Biener, Treasurer; Betsy Flory-McCoy, Clerk Members at large: Pat DeGraaf, Ken Bird, Bill Clark Prayer Chain Joan Beebe, Janet Van Geison, Dorothy Tock Serving Our Members in February Head Usher: Jim Biener Lectors: Betsy Flory-McCoy (March 4): Jim Hunsberger (March 11); Valerie Knapp (March 18) Tad Schultheiss (March 25) ATTENDANCE January February 4 67 February February FINANCIAL STATUS Detailed figures are available on the Goverance Board bulletin board outside the church office. Thank you for your generous

8 SECOND CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 525 Cheshire Dr. N.E. Grand Rapids MI Office Hours: 9:00-4:00 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday CHILDREN & WORSHIP 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. March stories include March 4 Communion-Children remain in Worship March 11 Lent IV: Jesus and Zacchaeus March 18 Lent V: Jesus and Bartimaeus March 25 Palm Sunday: Jesus the King and The Last Supper 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.