The Good News. Christmas Eve s offerings will be donated to the Warming Center Christmas Eve Service 10 pm. December 2015

Transcription

1 The Good News December 2015 St. Paul United Church of Christ Mound Road Warren MI / Worship Service Sunday, 10 am Office Hours: M-Th, 9am-1pm Saturday, December 5, :00 am $5.00 PER PERSON Train Room Nativity Room Picture with Santa Christmas Bake Sale Gift Ideas for Young & Old Activities for Children, Young & Old Lunch (Hot Dogs/Macaroni & Cheese/Jell-O Jigglers/Veggies & Dip/Beverage/Cookies/Chips) To make reservations, please call the church office at 586/ by Tuesday, Dec. 1. You may either send money in advance or purchase your reserved tickets when you arrive. Christmas Quilt & Painting Raffle Sun, Dec 6 Noon Tickets $1 each Christmas Eve s offerings will be donated to the Warming Center Christmas Eve Service 10 pm

2 Page 2 Notes From The Consistory President Erich Regier On the 10 th, we held our November Consistory meeting. It was a nice quick meeting, as our past few have been. The Pastoral Search Committee has been moving along. We requested an interview with one Interim candidate. The Committee has asked the congregation to submit any questions they might like to ask in the interview. They request that anybody that has a question, please hand it to the people on the Pastoral Search Committee: Gail P., Dick S., Jan C., and myself. The parsonage is moving along. There was a small issue with mold in the basement. Consistory decided to have the mold removed and air tested so we wouldn t have an issue with any mold inspections. This should be done soon. Our Building and Maintenance projects are complete with the exception of some small cement work at the back door. The weather is getting too cold, along with companies are very busy trying to finish up this year s work. We will need to wait until next year to get to that project. In the meantime, please try to refrain from using the back door, if possible. It is very uneven and with the snow and ice, it will be very difficult to stay upright. Thank you to everybody that helped decorate the church for Christmas. The church always looks at its best this time of year. Lunch with Santa is on its way. Instead of mailing your SPUCC friends a Christmas card, bring it to church and we ll put it on the Fireside Room bulletin board. Look at all the postage you ll save too!!!!

3 Page 3 Sue Regier Just a reminder to be on the lookout for good buys on items for the Warming Center. We are always in need of men s socks and underwear (medium and large are the most needed). No women s socks, as they usually prefer the men s socks they are thicker and warmer. Also needed are women s underwear (not too small but not too large). Remember they also need lots of hand cream as they are out in the elements. Gloves are always needed if you have any extra that are warm (need not be new just clean). Sunday, Dec. 20 Rev. Paul Kuntzman has graciously accepted our invitation to lead us in service during the month of Dec. Jim Farrow will be our Guest Organist on Dec 27. December 6 Gail Popyk Dick Schuster 27 Hello Dick, The rummage sale was a great success. We were also able to donate the remainder of warm clothing to the homeless mission nearby and the children s books to the mini libraries in the neighborhood. It wouldn t be possible without the help of you good folks. Thanks again. Peace, George Bozanich Trinity-St. Mark s

4 Page 4 Please Pray For Compo Family Norman Pulanski Albert Holly Family Carol Vigna Family St. Paul UCC New Beginnings Process SPUCC Community Supper Those Serving our Country Washington Decision Makers Michigan s People & Economy People Who Seek/Need a Community of Faith Safety for People of the World Seminarians and Members in Discernment PFLAG Ruth Ellis Center The Warming Center Sacred Conversations on Race Paris Tragedy Refugees & Conflict We continually strive to keep our prayer lists updated. If you know someone on this list, please take a moment and let Barbara Stephens or Cindy Weiler know how they are doing. New additions will be lifted up during our community prayer time in worship and at Monday morning prayer. Each Monday, updated copies will be available on the black countertop. Emergency requests will continue to be called down the prayer chain as they are received. The names on our Home Bound and Cancer lists will be ongoing. The names on our Please Pray For list will remain on for one month. If a name is removed and you would like it to continue on the list, please let Maria know. Home Bound Anne Pyciak Virginia Park Marilyn Dopp Mable Adamson Esther Hornyak Mae St. Clair Joan Pinegar Dorothy Zink Ruth MacRae Wally Paczkowski Sylvia Aud-Polulak Residents of Evangelical Home & Other Residences Cancer Bonnie Fagon Barbara Delmoral Shirley Jean Donna Eugene Hardy Lynn Tom Carol Anna Nancy Lillian Howard Dubois Sherry Schact Irene Marian (Bendik) Yaeger Hannah Aunt Debbie Lorrie Berry Rachel James Karen Powell Mark Portell

5 Page 5 14 Doris Mijal 25 Marilyn Sickle 28 Sue Regier 29 Anne Pyciak Breakfast at Panera Bread (16/Van Dyke) 3rd Saturday of Each Month at 9 am FREE COMMUNITY SUPPER WEDNESDAY, DEC 2 4:30-6:30 PM Mable Adamson Evangelical Homes Shoreline Dr Sterling Heights MI Marilyn Dopp Evangelical Homes Shoreline Dr Sterling Heights MI Esther Hornyak 8050 Menge Centerline MI Ruth MacRae Garfield, Apt 280 Clinton Twp MI Wally Paczkowski Garfield, Apt 115 Clinton Twp MI Virginia Park Sunrise of Troy 6870 Crooks Rd, #224 Troy MI Joan Pinegar River Rd Warren MI Anne Pyciak Cherrywood Nursing Ctr Mile Rd, C204-2 Sterling Hgts MI Mae St Clair Hayes, #108 Clinton Twp MI Dorothy Zink Hope Landing Assisted Living 1252 North Cochran Charlotte MI 48813

6 Page 6 Dear Members of St. Paul UCC, Brandon Ebel "I asked God for all the things that I might enjoy life...he gave me life that I might enjoy all things." What I use to place value on before coming to prison, especially around these times, seems so meaningless now. If I didn't receive everything I asked for on Christmas, I remember how upset I'd be. All those things I desperately clung to really had no value. By no means am I saying I'm against gift giving and receiving, I just wish the bigger picture was instilled in me then. Because the aimless path I started from there led me to placing value on much more that became detrimental to me. The progression from that little boy to a young man is real. It started on a small scale and as I got older I was in search for more to value. I see this same progression everyday. These youth here care so much about materials. I tell them all the time, money is supposed to chase you; not you chasing money. With the latter, it never ends well. I know I'm able to convey this to some, but I'm just so thankful I've found true value in my life to share with anyone I encounter. Value in relationship, in love, in righteousness. In any circumstance or position, if I dig deep I can find true peace; especially in these times. I also wanted to mention the greatest example we have in life and is only fitting for Christmas, Jesus. I yearn to know more about Him and as His life is revealed, I can really see the position Jesus had to take. This is just my observation, but throughout His life He had to walk into and discover His purpose. It is just an amazing, the best, example of how one can find their true purpose. And the humble person that Jesus is said, "greater things will you do." Very hard to fathom that, but I know if everyone strives to believe that. Mountains will be moved. I hope you get a chance to see the Christmas card I sent. You've all helped me to find hope in these days. Thank you for that and Merry Christmas! If you would like to write to Brandon or send him a card, his address is: Ebel, # Thumb Correctional Facility 3225 John Conley Drive, Lapeer, MI As in the past, we will be providing Christmas Baskets to local families. This year, we will need: MONETARY DONATIONS TO PURCHASE FOOD BASKET ITEMS Also, we will be donating gifts to the children of the families we are making baskets for. Please take a gift tag on your way out of church from the black countertop beginning Dec 6. Return your WRAPPED present by Sun, Dec 20. For more information, please see Barbara Stephens.

7 Page 7 Gail Popyk Women s Overall News At its meeting on September 15 th, Women s Overall discussed certain types of entries in its budget for This budget will include contributions for a number of external missions, as well as allocations to support internal church work not budgeted for by the general church budget. Women s Fellowship also makes an annual contribution to support St. Paul UCC. Of special note is a proposed amount to be set aside to assist the church in 2016 if necessary for renovation work. After the business portion of the meeting, attending members heard an informational presentation by Katie Brennan, Ryan Fox and Joann Stiehl of Evangelical Homes of Michigan (EHM) about the various services offered by EHM available to individual residents temporarily or permanently in an EHM facility, or to those wishing to remain in their own home but who need assistance to do so. The Women s Fellowship budget is supported by proceeds of rummage sales and other special events (such as the quilt raffles) and is not part of the church budget. The proposed 2016 Women s Fellowship budget will be reviewed and voted upon at the overall business meeting on January 19 th, All women participating in the life of St. Paul are invited to attend. The primary agenda items will be the program and budget for 2016, so it is extremely important that all women of the church are engaged in this discussion. ONA TEAM NEWS Gail Popyk The feedback I received concerning a possible rainbow flag in front of the church was largely negative, so we will not place a flag and the question will not be raised again in the near future. Our Deepest Condolences are Extended to Edith Anthony s Family CSI & SPUCC members did a beautiful job decorating the church on Hanging of the Greens Sunday. Your contributions toward our Thanksgiving food baskets program was appreciated by many. Our food pantry is full because of YOU. We made $381 in soup sales kudos to all our soup makers.

8 Page 8 Barbara Stephens I hope you will enjoy reading this short, family Christmas story, as written by my friend, Janet. Have a blessed Christmas! BLAIZE: A STAR John 1:14 And the word became flesh and dwelt among us My name is Blaize and I m a star. I am stationed here in a distance galaxy of the universe. I am not perfect. I don t have the usual five or six asterisks that my fellow stars have. I only have 3 which makes me look different, but I love being out here. It s quiet and peaceful, unlike the rumors I hear back in the Throne Room of heaven. News of unrest spreads quickly among us inhabitants in the solar system. My day started out as usual, however, my view of the globe was changing. Since the Holy Ones placed humans on it, and from what I hear, things were not going well down there. I was making my usual rounds around my particular perimeter when my very being stirred within me. I heard His voice! He was calling my name! I immediately left my post and was ushered into the Throne Room. I bowed before My Lord. Blaize, My Lord said, I have an important assignment for you. I want you to be my star over the town of Bethlehem on earth when My Son is born. The time draws quickly now, so go, and I will prepare you for this important mission. As I entered the earth s solar system, the atmosphere of terra was embroiled in activity. The heavens were at war. Michael and his legions of Archangels and Satan and his cohorts were vying for this tiny piece of land. Below was the small town of Bethlehem, the place for the Chosen One. I had my job to do and I was not to be part of the heavenly war. In the distance, I watched as a man led a donkey into Bethlehem. It was close to midnight and the woman was about to give birth to a child called Immanuel. The town was crowded this time of year and eventually they had to spend the night in a cave. Soon the baby was born and every angel in heaven was witness to the Awaited One. My whole being pulsated with a light so bright that my very being changed in an instant. Seven! Yes! I counted seven asterisks, that shown with a brilliance that lit the sky. My beams shot to the earth like lightening to light the way. For the shepherd and the coming of far off travelers. I wanted to dance! I could hardly contain myself for the shear joy of it all! My Creator made me more than perfect. I sang with all of heaven. Glory to God in the highest. The angelic sound of the heavenly choir grew to such a crescendo that I felt surely the earth shook. No celestial beings had ever seen the sight of God wrapped up in the form of a baby. We all looked at His tiny hands and feet and marveled how perfect they were. Michael already the protector, standing guard watching over the Anointed One, would in time see those hands and feet pierced and he and all the angelic beings would not be able to save him. He knew that this baby was God s gift to his people. He shall save them from their sins. Can such Love be comprehended? But for now this Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace lay sleeping. JmP