First United Church of Christ 248 Harding Way West

Transcription

1 FIRST UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 248 Harding Way W. Galion, OH Church Rev. Harvey: Phone: Rev. Darrin Harvey Minister Adair Pittman Office Secretary Mary Ann Stone Financial Secretary John Sikora Sr. Choir Director Stephanie Sikora Bell Choir Director Jennifer Arbaugh Youth Choir Director--Organist Jessica Hammond Organist Christine Coe Accompanist Dale Miller Custodian Martha See Kitchen Custodian Rev. John Miller Pastor Emeritus Larry Nigh Visitation Minister RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED DATED MATERIAL NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 166 GALION, OH First United Church of Christ 248 Harding Way West Galion, OH CELEBRATE THE LOVE! CELEBRATE THE JOY! Rev. Darrin Harvey Minister Volume 30 No. 5 May 2018 SUNDAY SERVICES Sunday School 9:00 a.m. Worship Service 10:00 a.m. CHURCH OFFICE HOURS Monday ~ Thursday 9:00 a.m. ~ 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. ~ 4:00 p.m. Friday 9:00 a.m. ~ 12:00 p.m.

2 Dear Church, Let us hope that the saying is true, that April showers do indeed bring May flowers. Allow me to use this letter to provide for us a sketch of what is going to happen in worship for the foreeeable future. I will be gone for the first week of May this year and we have a guest preacher, Gary Schiefer, on May 6 th. For the last two years we have been following the Narrative Lectionary series of passages that dictate for us readings for the nine-month year from September through May. When I return, there will only be two more weeks of Lectionary passages, so I have made the decision to forego these readings and do something different that I am excited about. On Mother s Day, May 13 th I am going to present The Gospel According to Harry Potter: The Power of Love. On Pentecost Day May 20 th, The Gospel According to Star Wars: May the Spirit Be With You and on Memorial Sunday May 27 th, The Gospel According to Marvel: Body of Teamwork. In June, we are going to celebrate our graduates on the 3 rd. Then we are going to do a three-week series featuring stage musicals to finish June. In July and August, we are going to be worshiping outside beginning with the Lord s Prayer in five sessions in July, followed by a series on Ruth in four sessions in August. When we return inside in September, we are going to be doing a series of scriptures that focus on Biblical stories beginning in Genesis and going in chronological format. These are not from the published Narrative Lectionary but instead from a UCC project in Wisconsin using art as a medium to tell Biblical stories. There are 36 of them and will take us through the nine-month year. I am always in search of ways to make our worship relevant, interesting and biblically- based that leaves room for the Spirit of God to do its work. The Elders and I are committed to sharing ideas and listening to your input. Please let us know about anything from a favorite hymn to the way communion is served. It s my hope and prayer that our time together every week continues to inform us and result in bearing fruit throughout the week. Finally, I would like to thank everyone for praying for me during my tests that I had done last month. The doctor has prescribed new medication that we hope will help with my symptoms. Thankfully, I have been able most of the time to accomplish what I have had to do in my work and family life. I am not used to be on the receiving end of your prayers, but it was felt and I am touched by your thoughts and concern. May God Bless Us this Spring Season, Pastor Darrin CONSISTORY MEETING APRIL 17, 2018 There will no longer be Bible Study at Magnolia Terrace. Instead there will be worship at Magnolia Terrace and Mill Creek once a month. On May 5, Simon Avila will be the special guest for the Diamond Dinner. Pastor Darrin will be gone the first week in May and will have a substitute on May 6. June 3 will be Graduation Sunday. Letters will go out to the graduates and their families inviting them to breakfast. There are 5 graduates. Thursday Bible Study will begin May 10 th at 1:30 PM. Communion will be Sunday, May 13, Outside worship usually begins in July.

3 HOSPITALIZATIONS None reported If you are hospitalized, it is very important that you (or a family member) inform the church office. Hospitals can no longer give us this information. Please call CONDOLENCES 1st UCC extends sympathy to the family of Douglas Van Allen. Douglas passed away on March 14, 2018 in Myrtle Beach, SC. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers. HEARTFELT THANKS Bible School 2018 July :00-12:00 First Church is hosting a Bible School for K 6th grade students. DANIEL S COURAGE IN CAPTIVITY: A summer event called Babylon will be hosted here at First UCC. Students step back in time at Babylon, exploring Daniel s adventures as a captive in a foreign land. Kids participate in a memorable Bible-times Marketplace, sing catchy songs, play teamwork-building games, dig into Bible-times snacks, visit Daniel and collect Bible Memory Makers to remind them of God s Word. Plus, everyone learns to look for evidence of God all around them through something called God Sightings. Each day concludes at Celebration a time of upbeat worship that gets everyone involved. If you would like to donate your time, your skills, your money or resources please contact the church office. Thank you to all that attended the SONrise pancake breakfast. Thanks to you, our youth have $ extra in their account! Blessings, 1st UCC Youth

4 MAY Week of May 6th: Week of May 13th: Week of May 20th: Week of May 27th: Sun. Deut. 15: Tim. 3:14-4:5 Matt. 13:24-34a Mon. Deut. 8:1-10 James 1:1-15 Luke 9:18-27 Tue. Deut. 8:11-20 James 1:16-27 Luke 11:1-13 Wed. Deut. 19:1-7 James 5:13-18 Luke 12:22-31 Thur. Ezek. 1:1-14,24-28b Heb. 2:5-18 Matt. 28:16-20 Fri. Ezek. 1:28-3:3 Heb. 4:14-5:6 Luke 9:28-36 Sat. Ezek. 3:4-17 Heb. 5:7-14 Luke 9:37-50 Sun. Ezek. 3:16-27 Eph. 2:1-10 Matt. 10:24-33,40-42 Mon. Ezek. 4:1-17 Heb. 6:1-12 Luke 9:51-62 Tues. Ezek. 7:10-15, 23b-27 Heb. 6:13-20 Luke 10:1-17 Wed. Ezek. 11:14-25 Heb. 7:1-17 Luke 10:17-24 Thur. Ezek. 18:1-4,19-32 Heb. 7:18-28 Luke 10:25-37 Fri. Ezek. 34:17-31 Heb. 8:1-13 Luke 10:38-42 Sat. Ezek. 43:1-12 Heb. 9:1-14 Luke 11:14-23 Sun. Isa. 11:1-9 1 Cor. 2:1-13 John 14:21-29 Mon. Isa. 63: Tim. 1:1-14 Luke 11:24-36 Tue. Isa. 63:15-64:9 2 Tim. 1:15-2:13 Luke 11:37-52 Wed. Isa. 65: Tim. 2:14-26 Luke 11:53-12:12 Thur. Isa. 65: Tim. 3:1-17 Luke 12:13-31 Fri. Isa. 66:1-6 2 Tim. 4:1-8 Luke 12:32-48 Sat. Isa. 66: Tim. 4:9-22 Luke 12:49-59 Sun. Deut. 6:1-9 (10-15) Eph. 4:1-16 John 1:1-18 Mon. Ruth 1: Tim. 1:1-17 Luke 13:1-9 Tue. Ruth 1:19-2:13 1 Tim. 1:18-2:8 Luke 13:10-17 Wed. Ruth 2: Tim. 3:1-16 Luke 13:18-30 Thu. Ruth 3: Tim. 4:1-16 Luke 13:31-35 Fri. Ruth 4: Tim. 5:17-22 (23-25) Luke 14:1-11 Sat. Deut. 1:1-8 1 Tim. 6:6-21 Luke 14:12-24

5 1st: Kairi Sikora 3rd: Kenneth Ketterman Jeffrey Kurtzman Mike Motter Ella Pfeifer 5th: Jessica Kruger 6th: Emma Heiser Mitchell Young 7th: Madison Kindell 8th: Linda Cahill 11th: Nicole Claus 12th: Joshua Kennedy 15th: Joseph Lugo 16th: Jessica Eidt 17th: Aiden Collins 19th: Kevin Biederman James Deppen Nolan McKibben 20th: Krisanna Deppen Stacey Hocker Jessica Moore 21st: Glenn DeWitt Carol Moran 22nd: Barb MacMichael Faye Toy 23rd: Nathaniel Cahill John Gibson 24th: Hollis Walter 26th: Jerri Mularski Loren Stone Paul Sulser 27th: Ethan Hocker 29th: Chris Coe Phillip Feik Ellie Heiser Ian Lamontagne 30th: Ellie Hocker 31st: William Burgess Anna Marie Durtschi 6th: Don & Sue Kindell 16th: Gary & Heidi Repp 17th: Tim & Rosemary McDaniel 20th: Matt & Becky Harmon 21st: Dan & Marci Brown Richard & Trudy DeWitt 22nd: Larry & Susan Ness 24th: Bradley & Stacey Hocker 30th: Tom & Sharon Cole 31st: Brad & Krista McKibben

6 2018 HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE GRADUATES Graduation information letters will be going out soon. If you do not receive a letter, please notify the church office at or office@uccgalion.org The church wishes to recognize our college & high school graduates at the Graduation Breakfast on June 3rd. If you would like to join us for breakfast, please notify the church office by May 25th, so that we may include you on the reservation list. Reminder-if you want to be included in the Graduation bulletin, please return your questionnaire and picture by May 21st. COMMUNITY BREAKFAST Thank you for your generous contributions to the Community Breakfast!!! Remember the breakfast is the last Sunday of every month! If you are donating breakfast items, please make sure that your items are at the church no later than the Friday before the breakfast. There is a sign up sheet for donated items on the office window. This month we are serving hash and fresh fruit. Last month we served 27 outside the church. We are so happy we can help our neighbors in need! SUMMER MUSIC There will be a sign up sheet posted on the office window to sign up for summer music. Summer music begins June 10th! ALTAR FLOWERS Please sign the Flower Chart on the bulletin board outside the church office. RADIO BROADCASTS The cost is $70.00 per broadcast. Please sign the chart posted on the bulletin board outside the church office. Listen on WBCO FM107.5 on Sunday from 9:00am-10:00am. PRAYER CHAIN For prayer requests, please call the office at GENESIS FRIENDS FOOD PANTRY Needed: cereal, canned meats, dry or canned milk, canned fruit, paper products, cleaning supplies and personal care products. There are containers at both entrances to the sanctuary. CARING CORNER We continue to have cards to sign in the Caring Corner. If you know of any member, friend or relative who could benefit from visits or cards, please let the office know! Also, please continue to fill the pull tab jar. Little things mean a lot so save those tabs for the Ronald McDonald House! Genesis Friends meeting is May 21st at 6:00 p.m. to clean and plant flowers around the church. Bring your gardening tools and experience to the church and after the work is done, we will treat ourselves to Wendy s.

7 Fairhaven Community Volunteer Service Group April 23, 2018 NEWS FROM THE ASSOCIATION MEETING Did you know that First United Church of Christ was awarded at the recent Spring Conference in Genoa, Ohio the 5 for 5 award? This award is given to the churches that support the five missions: United Church Homes, Strengthen the Church, Christmas Fund, One Great Hour of Sharing & Neighbors in Need. Congratulations to all!! Speaking about the Association meeting, our church took 36 filled Disaster Buckets and 34 Personal Care kits to the Association meeting in Genoa on April 28th. This is the most buckets and kits we have ever filled! Thank you to everyone that took the time to shop for this mission. STRENGTHEN THE CHURCH OFFERING Enclosed is an order form to order a geranium flower to brighten our sanctuary on May 20th in memory/ honor of a loved one. By purchasing a geranium or dropping a check in the offering plate, you help the UCC with new church starts, youth ministry, lay and pastoral training and other outreaches of the church. All proceeds over the cost of the geraniums will be donated to this mission and any flowers left will be planted outside our church to be enjoyed all summer long. Plan to attend church on May 20th and see the beautiful red filled sanctuary. THANK YOU We had plenty of delicious food and fellowship at the recent Holy Joe s Potluck held on April 22nd after the service. Thank you to all that attended and donated to this mission. We were able to purchase 18 cases of Fellowship Blend Coffee for our troops with the donations we received from the potluck. The April meeting was opened by Vice President Arlene Main. Baseline St. John s presented devotions and music of I Can Only Imagine. Roll Call: Volunteers 23, Staff 2. Minutes were approved as read. Communications consisted of a Thank You from Rev. Daniel for the donations to Fairhaven of the standing garden and the scholarship. Treasury Balance - $1, Gift Shop - $2, Bingo Cup - $14.00 Old Business: None New Business: It was pointed out that Galion First is scheduled to provide devotions for next month and also for August. Dorothy Eckert said that Marion First will do devotions next month. Janet reminded everyone that the annual carnival will be held in June and that she volunteers to line up the prizes. Staff: Alissa Clouse announced that on July 24 th the Annual Appreciation Dinner will be held. Honorees will be: Devoted Donor Mark and Nancy Johnson, Spirit Award Lillian Hartschuh, and Supportive Congregation St. John s UCC Bucyrus. Becky Blocksom thanked everyone for all the volunteers do for Fairhaven and shared that Serenity Hopper was thrilled with being awarded the scholarship. The meeting was closed with prayer and The Way led by Becky. Next month s meeting will be held May 21 st. Marion First will provide devotions and a potluck will be held following the meeting. Volunteers providing cupcakes for the residents following their activity are: Kathryn Adams, Becky Blocksom, Jean Pratt, and Miriam Shifley.

8 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat :30am WIC 11:00am Tai Chi 6:30pm Bell Choir 7:30pm Sr. Choir 7:00pm Finance 7:00pm 12-Step 12:00pm Diamond Dinner :00am Sunday School 10:00am Worship Service 1:30pm Magnolia Terrace 8:30am Head Start 7:00pm Consistory 11:00am Tai Chi 6:30pm Bell Choir 7:30pm Sr. Choir 1:30pm Barb Nigh Bible Study 7:00pm 12-Step :00am Sunday School 10:00am Worship Service 11:00am Tai Chi 6:30pm Bell Choir 7:30pm Sr. Choir 1:30pm Barb Nigh Bible Study 7:00pm 12-Step 8:00am Men s Prayer Breakfast 20 Strengthen the Church 9:00am Sunday School 10:00am Worship Service 2:00pm Mill Creek Worship 7:00pm Piano Recital 21 6:00pm Genesis Friends 22 7:00pm Elders 23 11:00am Tai Chi 6:30pm Bell Choir 7:30pm Sr. Choir 24 1:30pm Barb Nigh Bible Study 7:00pm 12-Step :00 Community Brkfst 9:00am Sunday School 10:00am Worship Service 28 OFFICE CLOSED :00am Tai Chi 6:30pm Bell Choir 7:30pm Sr. Choir 31 1:30pm Barb Nigh Bible Study 7:00pm 12-Step

9 "As God has sent me, so I send you." From God to Jesus to the disciples to Christians in every generation, including ours, we are called to embrace, to encourage and to empower. This year, as part of the Strengthen the Church special offering, the Mission Committee challenges First Church members to once again embrace, encourage and empower locally and nationally! Your geraniums may be taken home following the 10:00 a.m. service on May 21st, or left to be planted around the church grounds by members of Genesis Friends, reminding us with their blooms all summer long of our commitment to new Christians and new UCC churches. The proceeds from this project will go to new churches across the U.S. and leadership development for old and new churches. As you make your $10.00 donation, we encourage you to remember an individual or group that has impacted your life as a Christian. Strengthen the Church is another opportunity to witness that God is Still Speaking! Deadline to order is by NOON May 14th Please use one form per order. I would like to order Red $10 each. In Honor of: OR In Loving Memory of : OR To The Glory of God Given By: I am leaving my geranium(s) to be planted on church grounds. Organ Repair Payoff The Sterrett Fund will contribute $48,000.We need to fill the keys to get the rest. $37,700 has been donated through April 30, The balance due on the loan is now $86,300. The colored in keyboard above represents the progress in paying for our organ repair. Every $500 fills a key, and when all keyboards from bass to treble are filled we will be paid off. Contributions of all sizes are appreciated. If your contribution is in honor or memory of someone, indicate that. Automated Giving Made Easy Support the work of our church through Electronic Giving. Have your weekly or monthly contribution debited from your checking or savings account and transferred directly into the church account safely and electronically, or use your debit or credit card to make contributions you ll never have to remember your checkbook again! Log into the church website at Scroll down until you see the Giving Icon. Click on the word Giving and it will take you to our secure giving website. Follow the instructions to Create Your Profile and you will be all set. Problems? Contact Doug Court and he ll help

10 Men s Prayer Breakfast CAN YOU HELP US? At a recent meeting of the Mission Committee, we decided to join other churches in our community and offer a monthly outreach to our community. Our meals will be on the third Thursday each month from 5-6pm. We are hoping to establish four teams so no one group or individuals are responsible for the meal every month. We would love to include any member of our congregation that has an interest in participating. Even if you don t enjoy cooking, we will have something you can do to help and we need your help! If you are interested, please contact the office or Mary Ann Stone so you can be placed on our schedule. Our first meal is scheduled for June 21st. Won t you help? We are going to be having a Men s Prayer Breakfast at The Whistle Stop on Harding Way East on Saturday, May 19th at 8am. Food, Fellowship and Prayer. Casual and low stress! PIANO RECITAL Join Jennifer Arbaugh and her talented students for an evening of music. May 20, 7:00pm at 1st UCC Galion