Chanticleer. Chanticleer July 2018 Page

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Chanticleer FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH,

Farewell to Pastor Hobson & Family July 15

Campbell Lovett at 10:00 AM Holy Communion

follow after the service We invite Summer

1 Chanticleer FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CHARLOTTE, MI JULY 2018 VOLUMN 91 ISSUE 7 Farewell to Pastor Hobson & Family July 15 Service of Farewell with Rev. Dr. Campbell Lovett at 10:00 AM Holy Communion Join our Church Family for Dinner to follow after the service We invite Summer Story Hour continues (pg. 17) Chanticleer July 2018 Page

JULY 2018 Dear Friends, There is no way to write briefly all the things for which I am grateful from our time together over the past decade and a half.

2 JULY 2018 Dear Friends, There is no way to write briefly all the things for which I am grateful from our time together over the past decade and a half. I will carry in my heart the lessons of our ministry together. The kindnesses the church has shown to me and my family are too many to innumerate, and I am grateful. Where you and I have offered each other strength, mutual ministry, and encouragement for the life of the Gospel, let us give thanks. Where we have failed or disappointed one another, let us pray for and offer forgiveness. A critical element of our goodbye is found in the Ordained Minister s Code of the United Church of Christ. I will not, upon my termination and departure from a ministry position, interfere with or intrude upon the ministry of my successor. I will not perform pastoral services within a parish or for a member of a parish without the consent of the pastor of that parish. I will deal honorably with the record of my predecessor and successor. At our final worship service together on July 15th, we will release each other from the vows we took for our mutual ministry at the time of my ordination. I will not be Facebook or Instagram friends with you when I leave. I cannot read of your lives without wanting to be your pastor. For me to maintain such Chanticleer July 2018 Page 2

3 contact would be a de facto way of intruding upon and interfering with the ministry of my successor. A year after you have a Settled Pastor, if you wish to send me a friend request, feel free to do so. But I will not be initiating such connections. I will also stop ing out my sermons for the same reasons. Life is going to be very different in the Hobson family and at First Congregational Church of Charlotte in the months and years ahead. But the God who brought us together will bring you the pastor you need. I truly believe this. My prayers for y all continue. Grace and Peace, Phil Minister: Every Member of the Church Minister of Worship and Congregational Life Phil Hobson Director of Music Ramona Kime Moderator Curtis Scott Vice Moderator Amy Frost Board of Deacons Matt Slot Board of Trustees Judi Cates Board of Christian Education Amy Slot Outreach Board Mary Normand Church Clerk Barbara Anderson Financial Secretary Don Johnson Treasurer Eric Crandall Staff: Office Manager Sher Brown Custodian Rex Todd The Chanticleer is a monthly newsletter, distributed to members and friends of First Congregational Church. We welcome most comments and articles. Editors: Judi Cates: judithcates@sbcglobal.net Amy Krizek mom_krizeki@hotmail.com Chanticleer article deadline is the 18th of each month. Chanticleer July 2018 Page 3

JULY UNDER THE UMBRELLA From the Chair of the Board of Trustees-Judi Cates It is such a happy feeling to be done with really cold weather and see the beautiful colors of Summer!

Where will they settle after College? Will they continue to come to church? What is it that this Church taught them? Did we and family instill a sense of belonging? Community? A Church Family?

4 JULY UNDER THE UMBRELLA From the Chair of the Board of Trustees-Judi Cates It is such a happy feeling to be done with really cold weather and see the beautiful colors of Summer! On June 10th we Congratulated all our graduates from High School and College. How proud we are of these young people!! I remind myself that these young people are the future of our Church. Where will they settle after College? Will they continue to come to church? What is it that this Church taught them? Did we and family instill a sense of belonging? Community? A Church Family? Seek and you will find My prayer is that they continue their religious and spiritual journey where ever they settle. God continues to Speak to all of us in many ways, may these young people here the voice of God in their hearts and minds. As a Church we are proud to call them Family. We also say Farewell to Pastor Phil and Family on July 15th. This is a sad and happy time rolled together! We are saying goodbye to a dear friend and Pastor. Phil is looking forward to serving his new family, developing new friends and leading an expectant congregation ready for new beginnings. Likewise we are in a time of exploration, searing for our new Pastor. Having heard from a member of the congregation, just as New York was looking for Phil, someone is looking for us at First Congregational Charlotte. It will be a time of reflection for all of our family here. Member/non-member it doesn't matter. We are all seeking something in our life right now. Let our personal reflection pour over and fill us with the Spirit and move our hearts and minds towards the work that will be done. In my childhood church there was this huge mural over the Altar with Jesus and scripture stating: 7 "Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7 8 Prayers always for the Hobsons and for our Church in our time of seeking and searching. Peace & Love Judi Chanticleer July 2018 Page 4

Congregational Church presents A spoon Full of Sing-Along!

information, call 543-1310 or email office@ucccharlotte.

Popcorn (Bug Spray is Optional) When We Come Together Sunday Worship: 10:00 am, Children s Sunday school: 10 am Coffee Hour: Following worship, join us for great fellowship!

5 Congregational Church presents A spoon Full of Sing-Along! Join us for a double movie feature, starting with the classic about a musical nanny who is practically perfect in every way This event is free & open to the public Sunday, July 1st at 6:30pm For more information, call or office@ucccharlotte.org AND A Superhero Movie of Tiny Proportions Join us Sunday, July 1st at Dusk for: Outdoor Movie Night on the Commons This Event is Free & Open to the Public Bring your Bag Chair, We ll Bring the Popcorn (Bug Spray is Optional) When We Come Together Sunday Worship: 10:00 am, Children s Sunday school: 10 am Coffee Hour: Following worship, join us for great fellowship! Adult Bible Studies: Sunday 8:15 am, Library Faith Studies: Tuesday at 6:30 pm, Annex Men s Group: Saturday 8:00 am Lounge Prayer Shawls: First and Third Saturdays after 9 am in the Lounge Senior Choir rehearses Wednesday at 7 pm in the Lounge Bell Choir rehearses Wednesday at 2pm Christian Education Board: First Sunday after worship, Annex Library Diaconate Board: Second Sunday, Annex Small Meeting Room Outreach Board: Third Sunday, Annex Small Meeting Room Care Community: First Wednesday in Annex Library. Board of Trustees: Third Monday, 6:30 pm Annex Library Advisory Board: Third Thursday of the month, 6:30 pm, Annex Small Meeting Room Chanticleer July 2018 Page 5

6 Our big Commons project this summer is building the labyrinth. We re getting excited as we finalize plans and raise money for materials. I ve compiled some general information here about labyrinths and have included some information about our specific labyrinth. For those who haven t walked a labyrinth, I ve also included some guidelines on making your experience one that s reflective and meaningful to you. History: Labyrinths go back almost 5,000 years, long before Christianity. By the early Middle Ages, however, the church had converted labyrinths for Christian use and developed a specifically Christian tradition. The Chartres Labyrinth represents the culmination of the Christian design and was constructed during the twelfth century in the floor of the Chartres Cathedral in France. While there are numerous labyrinth patterns, the Chartres pattern is the most commonly used. Ours will be a simplified replica of the Chartres labyrinth. All are invited to walk our Commons Labyrinth. May you find a quiet experience of reflection There has been a revival of interest in labyrinths since the 1990 s, spearheaded principally by the efforts of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. The World-Wide Labyrinth Locator currently lists over 5500 labyrinths worldwide, in 80 countries, with 90 of those labyrinths within a 100-mile radius of Charlotte. Most of those were built since the year 2000, and most are found at churches or spiritual retreat centers. Most are built out of pavers, bricks, crushed stone (like ours will be) or mown in the grass with stones to delineate the path. Most range from in diameter (ours will measure 45 in diameter) Chanticleer July 2018 Page 6

Walking the Labyrinth: There is only one path; it leads to the center and back out again. Unlike mazes, labyrinths have no dead ends or false turns. on the path, distractions en- your life.

RECEIVING: When you come to the center of the labyrinth, you may wish to pause and listen to the message of your own heart. Stay there as long as you like, sit or stand, meditate or pray.

7 Walking the Labyrinth: There is only one path; it leads to the center and back out again. Unlike mazes, labyrinths have no dead ends or false turns. on the path, distractions en- your life. Sur- to open your RELEASING: As you begin walking the act of shedding thoughts and ables you to let go of the details of render to the path. This is a time heart and quiet your mind. RECEIVING: When you come to the center of the labyrinth, you may wish to pause and listen to the message of your own heart. Stay there as long as you like, sit or stand, meditate or pray. Allow yourself to receive guidance. RETURNING: To leave the center, follow the same path back out. Walking back out of the labyrinth represents a return from centered reality to the world of ordinary time. You become more empowered to find and do the work you feel your soul calling for. A few guidelines: You may begin to walk even while others are in the labyrinth. Perhaps you will encounter people who are moving in the opposite direction from you. On the journey, you may step aside to let others pass; you may move quickly or slowly, passing others or being passed. Your experience of walking the labyrinth will be unlike anyone else s experience. Each walk is unique. All are invited to walk our Commons Labyrinth. May you find a quiet experience of reflection. Chanticleer July 2018 Page 7

8 MOMENT Father s Day weekend is always a great time in Charlotte. This is a festival town and our reputation is as the Festival Church. We lived up to that reputation during Charlotte Celebrates. In the purest faith tradition, we turned our sanctuary into a place of peace and reflection. And we turned our food and feeding devotion into festival fun. I played my usual roll on Friday of the festival by adding a little music to a situation. I booked a band for Friends of Charlotte Performing Arts Center at the old Michigan National Bank building then milled about the festival for the rest of the night to have conversations. Those conversations were amazing. Everyone wanted to talk about First Congregational. More people than I could have possibly imagined knew Phil Hobson was leaving and I was Moderator and thus had a big problem. People I had just met wanted to know what we were going to do next because, as was made very clear, the town needs us. These people I spoke with, every single one of them, were Baptists, Catholics and Methodists who pay close attention to what we do. I was on the fifth or sixth conversation when I began to realize that we re leading in the only sense that matters: ethics, and actions based on those ethics. I learned that one set of young people are angry about their churches turn toward bigotry. They watch our every move. I got two invitations from twenty-something Baptists wanting to discuss ethics. Young people are reading our signs and t-shirts and rethinking the definition of church. They are our replacements. Our Replacements Curt Scott, Moderator CURT SCOTT Carry on. It s working. Chanticleer July 2018 Page 8

Bazaar News Up Coming events at the Church June 18 - Aug 6 Story Hour Continues July 1 Movie Night Double Header July 13 July 15 Aug 15 Sept 16 Oct 12 & 13 Oct 21 7:00 Windwalker Music Commons Stage

Harvest Feast-Noon Bazaar 2018 is in the planning stages. This spring and summer please remember: Plant squash and beets for Harvest Feast and Bazaar.

9 Bazaar News Up Coming events at the Church June 18 - Aug 6 Story Hour Continues July 1 Movie Night Double Header July 13 July 15 Aug 15 Sept 16 Oct 12 & 13 Oct 21 7:00 Windwalker Music Commons Stage Come early lawn chairs et. al. Service of Farewell to Pastor Phil Hobson and Family..Luncheon 3:30 pm 5 pm Community Dinner Eagles Church Fall Season MI Conference UCC Fall Conference Event here! Harvest Feast-Noon Bazaar 2018 is in the planning stages. This spring and summer please remember: Plant squash and beets for Harvest Feast and Bazaar. We always need fruit for piesrhubarb, blueberries, tart cherries, some strawberries, and raspberries. If you have these or if you go out and pick them please think about picking a few for the bazaar. You can put them in the church freezer. If you have craft ideas and would like to lead craft sessions. If you aren t crafty and you don t bake or make jams and jellies there are still plenty of ways you can help. We do pickled beets later in the summer/fall. There is much food preparation as bazaar gets closer. We have a noodle making night. Contact Mary N or Amy K Oct 24 Nov 9,10,11 3:30 pm 5 pm Community Dinner Eagles Holiday Bazaar Save the date: November 9, 10,11 Chanticleer July 2018 Page 9

First Congregational Church July 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Phil - School 2 Church Office Closed 3 4 5 8:15 am Adult Bible Study - A/Lib 6 7 Phil - School 10:00 am

pm Quilters - A/LMR 11:30 am Christian Ed - A/Lib 1. 6:30 Movie in Sanctuary 2.

School Rex Vacation - All week - Sher Vacation - All Week Phil - School Rex Vacation - All week Sher Vacation - All Week 8 Phil - School 8:15 am Adult Bible Study - A/Lib 10:00 am Worship & SS 11:00

10 First Congregational Church July 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Phil - School 2 Church Office Closed :15 am Adult Bible Study - A/Lib 6 7 Phil - School 10:00 am Worship & SS July 4th Holiday 10:30 am Women's Prayer Circle-A/Lib 8:00 am Men's Group 11:00 am Comm of Christ Service 6:30 pm Bible Study - A/SMR 9:00 am Prayer Shawl Ministry-L Office Closed 7:00 pm Quilters - A/LMR 11:30 am Christian Ed - A/Lib 1. 6:30 Movie in Sanctuary 2. 10:00 PM Movie On the Commons Phil - School Phil - School Rex Vacation - All week - (7/4 H) Sher Vacation - All Week -(7/4 H) Phil School Rex Vacation - All week - Sher Vacation - All Week - Phil - School Rex Vacation - All week - Sher Vacation - All Week Phil - School Rex Vacation - All week Sher Vacation - All Week 8 Phil - School 8:15 am Adult Bible Study - A/Lib 10:00 am Worship & SS 11:00 am Comm of Christ Service 11:30 am Diaconate - A/Lib 15 Pastor Phil last Day 8:15 am Adult Bible Study - A/Lib 10:00 am FAREWELL SERVICE 11:00 am Comm of Christ Service 11:30 am Outreach Mtg - A/Lib Luncheon for Hobson Family 9 Church Office Closed Phil - School 16 Church Office Closed 9:00 am GFWC - A/SMR 6:30 pm Trustee Meeting - A/ SMR 10 9:00 am Clergy - A/Lib 6:30 pm Bible Study - A/SMR 17 5:30 pm Girl Scout Mtg - A/LMR 6:30 pm Bible Study - A/SMR 11 1:00 pm Bible Study - A/Lib 5:30 pm By Law Meeting - A/Lib 18 9:00 am GFWC Board Mtg - A/SMR 1:00 pm Bible Study - A/Lib 12 6:00 pm Friends of Chrystal - L 7:00 pm Quilters - A/LMR 19 10:30 am Women's Prayer Circle-A/Lib 6:30 pm Advisory - A/SMR 7:00 pm Quilters - A/LMR :00 am Men's Group 8:00 am Men's Group 9:00 am Women's Prayer Shawl Ministry - L 22 8:15 am Adult Bible Study - A/Lib 10:00 am Worship & SS 11:00 am Comm of Christ Service 11:30 am ONA - A/Lib 29 8:15 am Adult Bible Study - A/Lib 23 Church Office Closed 6:30 pm GFWC - Siren Tea Mtg - A/ LMR Church Office Closed 31 6:30 pm Bible Study - A/SMR 25 Chanticleer Deadline 1:00 pm Bible Study - A/Lib 6:30 pm Scout Ldr Mtg - BFR 26 7:00 pm Quilters - A/LMR :00 am Men's Group 10:00 am Worship & SS 11:15 By Laws Q&A 11:00 am Comm of Christ Service 6:30 pm Bible Study - A/SMR

Summer Story Hour June 25 On the Farm July 9 Dr.

30 Trains (Mr. Davis returns with his trains) Aug.

a light snack, and a FREE book to take home.

11 Summer Story Hour June 25 On the Farm July 9 Dr. Seuss July 16 Dinosaurs July 23 Frog and Toad July 30 Trains (Mr. Davis returns with his trains) Aug. 6 Snowy Day MONDAYS 6:30-7:30 First Congregational Church 106 S. BOSTWICK CHARLOTTE Join us for stories, activities, a light snack, and a FREE book to take home. Activities are designed for children ages 3-8 and a parent or caregiver. Chanticleer July 2018 Page 15

WOMEN OF THE CHURCH Prayer Shawl Ministry meets The 1 st & 3 rd Saturdays at 9:00 am.

Church Bazaar Request As you sort through things this spring and summer please remember the used jewelry

Quality costume jewelry has been a very successful part of the bazaar and we need your help to continue

To donate jewelry that you no longer use or want, you may contact me at 543-0049 or you may give pieces to

12 WOMEN OF THE CHURCH Prayer Shawl Ministry meets The 1 st & 3 rd Saturdays at 9:00 am. Love to knit or crochet? Don t know how? We ll teach you! Come & join us we would love to have you! Church Bazaar Request As you sort through things this spring and summer please remember the used jewelry sale at the church bazaar in November. Quality costume jewelry has been a very successful part of the bazaar and we need your help to continue this tradition. To donate jewelry that you no longer use or want, you may contact me at or you may give pieces to me at the church. Thank you, Lola Wilson Blanche Moyer Circle Resumes in September, the second Monday of the month at 6:30 pm. Contact Chris Reist at for information. Women of the Church are welcome the 1st & 3rd Thursday of each month at 10:30 am in the Annex Library Chanticleer July 2018 Page 16

Gosh, here I am writing the July Chanticleer article all ready. Please notice our Giving Tree in the Bess Fulton room is now a series of wooden boxes in the shape of a tree.

13 Gosh, here I am writing the July Chanticleer article all ready. Please notice our Giving Tree in the Bess Fulton room is now a series of wooden boxes in the shape of a tree. It s easier to place your items in the boxes rather than on the tree. Thank you to Bill and Carol Yerkes for taking on this tree project. The months of June/July we are collecting paper products; August/Sept will be socks and underwear. Thank you for your support. Outreach, in combination with Peace Lutheran Church and the Courthouse Square Association, will be sponsoring another Concert on the Square this summer. Our date is August 9 so please put this on your calendars and come out and support our church and the concerts. We will again be having our famous homemade ice cream sandwiches and we will have bubbles and sidewalk chalk for the children. Next spring we will again be putting together the spring shoe boxes. There are great sales in July and August on items we like for the boxes such as small outdoor toys, crayons, glue, coloring books, colored pencils, markers, small indoor toys, activity books, reading books. Anything a child would enjoy that fits in a shoe box. These boxes are divided between Eaton Furniture and Clothing and SIREN/Eaton who then give them out to their clients during spring break so the children have something to do during the break. The items can be placed on the counter in the Bess Fulton room to the attention of Outreach and I will store them in our closet until we need them. You may also donate the shoe box already filled. Thanks for your support. This church has always generously supported this project, thank you! Festival of Trees will be here before we know it. Please consider donating a tree this year. Proceeds go the Eaton Furniture and Clothing to purchase boots for their clients. Last year we had 30 entries I believe. Let s try and meet or exceed that number. Chanticleer No meeting in July, next meeting, August 19 July 2018 Page 17 Stay Tuned..Mary Normand, Chair

14 First Congregational Charlotte-United Church of Christ 106 South Bostwick Charlotte, Michigan (517) Reverend Phil Hobson Chanticleer July 2018 Page 18

Your thoughtful and prayerful guidance and suggestions will be very much appreciated. Get more information at the church office or: Please contact Bill Anderson, wnanderson5543@gmail.

15 A CARING COMMUNITY The ad hoc By-Laws Revisioning Committee provided an update for the congregation April 22 following worship service. The presentation was on the current direction of our updated governance system. If you have ever served on a board or committee for this church, they would like input from you in the near future. Your thoughtful and prayerful guidance and suggestions will be very much appreciated. Get more information at the church office or: Please contact Bill Anderson, wnanderson5543@gmail.com, Kathie Cook, crkfcook@hotmail.com, Amy Frost,fosta@pennfield.net Rosa P Joyce S Sally W Claudia P-S Mary H Rose Ellen R Gladys S Nell S Mary Lou P Charlotte s Best Brownie Bake-off Brownie Bake-off Winners 1st place Amy Slot 2nd place Mary Normand Terry Davis, tdavis@msu.edu org 3rd place Lisa Bly Fan Favorite Mary Normand Supports Labyrinth Construction on the Congregational Commons 2018 We had 15 entrants and 44 tasters Fund Raiser Total: $370. Thanks to everyone who participated. Special thanks to Joey Pray and Phil Hobson for their dedicated judging. Amy Frost, Chair Chanticleer July 2018 Page 19

THE CHANTICLEER First Congregational Church 517.543.

16 THE CHANTICLEER First Congregational Church South Bostwick - Charlotte, MI Staff: Office Manager Sher Brown Custodian Rex Todd Office Hours Tuesday Friday 9 AM to 3 PM Worship Service 10am Mission Statement of First Congregational Church, Charlotte MI Our church will provide a place and direction for joining with God, healing the broken, and educating youth and adults. We are challenged by our faith to reach out to our congregants, our community and world family, and to offer opportunities for spiritual growth and renewal. We welcome others into our Christian Family. This is our mission as a church of Jesus Christ. Chanticleer July 2018 Page 20

Chanticleer. Pastoral Coverage will be provided by Pastor David Keller and our own Dawn Christenson.

Chanticleer. Pastoral Coverage will be provided by Pastor David Keller and our own Dawn Christenson. Chanticleer Volume 90, Issue 7 Pastor Phil will be in Chicago for the summer residency for his DMin program for three weeks. He leaves just after church on June 18th and will be back in the office on Tuesday,