June & july THIS MATTER OF VISION 9

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1 Second Congregational UCC FACEBOOK: Second Congregational UCC, Grand Rapids THIS MATTER OF VISION 9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11 At Second Congregational, we ve been talking a good deal about vision. It was the focus of our retreat on May 20. We made the point that vision is formed out of what we believe out of our core beliefs, and becomes an expression of our core values. If we believe that the Bible is God s inspired Word and hold that as a core belief, then a core value that will help shape our vision is to teach biblical truth to our people and we will hold that the Bible is to have authority in our life in matters of faith and living. I have often heard the expression: vision leaks. It s true! An organization may have a dynamic and powerful vision, but if it is pushed in the background it will become fuzzy and soon forgotten. Mike Regele has written The most important problem in the church today is a fundamental lack of clear, heart-grabbing vision. The church in America has no vision. It has programs and institutions and property and ministers and politically correct hymnals, but no vision. (Regele, Death of the Church) We may or may not agree with the above statement, but I think we all agree that our vision needs to be a big dream of the future, a future that can and must become reality. God doesn t give us small dreams, and if our dreams don t scare us a bit, then our vision is probably not from God. The Apostle Paul had a great vision for the church (See Philippians 1:9-11 above). He had a big and bold and audacious prayer for his friends at Philippi. Are our prayers, our expectations, for each other big and bold? Don t pray for small visions. Small visions have no power to set our souls on fire. Small visions have no need of the power of God working in and through us. A vision worthy of a church is not just a memorable statement that is memorized, it is a movement of God that changes lives, communities and the world. May God give us His vision for the journey ahead. Steve Armfield May 21, 2018 June & july

2 Women s Retreat Reminder We are very excited that a Women s Retreat is being planned for this fall! The dates are September 21, thru September 23. The retreat will begin Friday evening with dinner and conclude Sunday morning after breakfast and a worship service. Our retreat will be held at Wesley Woods Camp and Retreat Center in Dowling, MI, about 50 miles from Second Church. We will be staying in the lodge and all meals are provided. The lodge and lunch room are handicap accessible and any dietary requirements can be addressed. The setting is beautiful; with a lake, walking paths, picnic tables and a tranquil atmosphere. We are especially thrilled that Kim Murphy from Heron Woods has agreed to be our Inspirational Leader for the retreat. Kim is an inspiring personality and a motivating speaker. The overall theme for the retreat will be A Box of Rocks Stepping Stones not Stumbling Blocks. In addition to Kim s thought-provoking messages, we will have free time, games like It s Called a What? and Whose Gift is This, Anyway? plus a selection of movies. Please let me know if you would like to participate in this weekend retreat. The cost of lodging and meals will be $120. There is a scholarship available. Marcia Gaetano (616) Thank you. SESQUICENTENIAL COMMITTEE The video we were going to be doing for the celebration will no longer be done. There were only a few people interested in doing it and almost all of them were not comfortable being in front of a video camera. The majority of church members have said they would be more comfortable writing about some of their memories and what the church has meant to their family. So, we will be gathering written memories for a book of memories to be included with a new directory for the 150 th Celebration. We ask that you keep the memories to no more than 1/2 to 3/4 of a page long. They can be turned in to the church office or to Ken Bird or Eric Frye. We ask that these be completed by October 1, of this year. Celebration 150 Committee The Past is Prelude

3 We re Sew Grateful! The Second Stitchers would like to thank everyone in the congregation for your ongoing support of our quilt mission for Family Promise. We began in September, Through May, 2018, the following items have been donated: 900 quilts 163 pillow cases 59 hot pads/potholders 45 tote bags for new moms 8 floor pillows (filled with all of our quilting scraps!) Whether you loved on the quilts at the dedication, talked to the stitchers personally, donated fabric or funds, or all three of these things, we offer our thanks. Monetary donations in any amount and 100% cotton (kid friendly) fabric are always appreciated. Thank you!!! I would like to thank my 2 nd Church family for all the cards, phone calls and prayers during my ongoing recovery from my fall and surgery in March. They have meant a lot to me and helped through all of the healing. Thanks again! ---Ken Bird FROM YOUR MISSION TEAM... The mission team would like to thank the Congregation at Second Church for all the donation of money, items and volunteering. All of this is really appreciated!! Loose coin for May: $87.67 Pop can collection for May: $36.00 Hunger Walk: $ Pop -up brunch $73.00 Also remember : Food Pantry-UCOM and NECOM Family Fare ongoing receipts Empty Cans Used clothing- stained clothing for rags

4 EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE PLAN FOR SECOND CHURCH The Worship Life Team has developed a plan to manage medical emergencies that may occur during Sunday worship or other church events. The emergency medical response team is composed of our head ushers: Jim Biener, Kathy Speer, Gloria Patz and Jim Betts, and our security team: Ken Bird, Kyle Berciunas and Josh Holman. While none of the volunteers in this group are certified in CPR, they have all attended the recent review course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of our automatic electronic defibrillator (AED). Our goal is to identify and evaluate any individual in distress, provide necessary support and summon emergency medical services if necessary. The complete plan will be posted in the usher s box by the front door. My phone was lost on Sunday, May 6, when I was in the kitchen. It is a Motorola Moto Z with a hard pink sparkly case. Please contact Amy Manning at 616/ if found. THANK YOU! Floor covering! We are on the move! A huge Thank-you, first of all, to everyone that has donated to the new floor covering fund drive! Each little bit goes a long way! We have moved the tape, and it gets more exciting! I was asked to break it down a bit more. We are needing to raise $53,000. This is $30,000 for the Sanctuary and $23,000 for the hallways. $70.00 will help purchase one yard. For every $315.00, we can move the tape in the Sanctuary one foot closer to the double doors. We e concentrating on the Sanctuary first. We are looking at covering over the vinyl in the Sanctuary with a new vinyl, while maintaining the acoustics in that room. There are no asbestos issues to deal with by doing it that way. Then we replace the 37 year old carpet with new. We are on the move! But we need your help! If you haven't contributed, please consider. Please and Thank-you ahead of time!

5 SUMMER.Isn t it wonderful that we are entering the summer months and can look forward to vacation away from home. Please keep in mind that the church does not go on vacation. We would appreciate that you maintain your pledge during the summer period. Thank you! --- Jim Biener, Church Treasurer SECOND BEST SALE..35 years ago and counting..yes, it has been that long since we have been doing sales. Some good - some OK. We thank all who donated and all who helped in any way. Our daily workers are amazing - relentless and dedicated helpers. The men who helped are to be commended. Josh and Diane are super help and the sandwich lady, Mary McKinley, is really appreciated. We made $2,604. Left overs were donated to St. Vincent De Paul. ---Pat Yonkers/Anne Little 2019 Art for Second JUST FOR FUN! The 150 Team wants to challenge all of us, to make ART FOR SECOND for Art inspired by 150 years of Second Church! The churches, steeples, frogs.. You could: Paint Watercolor Pen/ink Crayon Clay Rice Krispy Treat art Cake, cookies Quilt, knit, sew Photography, cross stitch, embroidery Use YOUR imagination and create ART FOR SECOND! You have a year - Art and Music Sunday is Spring, 2019 Have fun!!! ---Your 150 Team

6 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Office 2 3 Service at 4 Office Chorus 5 Band 6 8:00 Breakfast 2nd Stitchers Staff Mtg Ministry Council 7 8 Office 9 10 Service at Change for a Cause 11 Office Chorus 12 Band 13 Staff Mtg Book Club 6:30 Governance Bd Office Service at 18 Office :00 Breakfast 2nd Stitchers Staff Mtg Missions Team Office Service at 25 Office Staff Mtg 28 29Office 30

7 1 Thomas Paasche 3 David Francisco, Dorothy Tock 5 Laura Haas, Patricia Kellogg, Charles Weaver 6 Cindy Chamberlain 11 Kenneth Paquette 12 Bill Clark, Allene Johnson, Jim Stover 13 Mark Davis, Rick DeGraaf 16 Suzan Corbett, Eric Fyre, Larry Pontremoli 17 Judy Biener 18 Mary Pontremoli 19 Diane Baker, David Paquette 20 Jeanne Bentley, Alan McClary, 22 Douglas DeYoung 23 Arnie Chapin, Joyce Lacy 24 Bob Eggleston, Judy Wooden 27 Margaret Parker 28 Richard Wooden 29 Marie McClary J U N E B I R T H D A Y S J U L Y B I R T H D A Y S 4 James Hunsberger 5 Kathy Kelly 6 Glenn Preston, Patricia Stegmeier 8 Laura Beckett, Collin Place 10 Christine McKinley 16 Susan Shoemaker 17 Mary Kuemmerle 19 Garth Mann, Jr. 20 Laurie Maresco 21 Jeff Larsen, Merry Sue Mann 22 Todd Pitts 23 Linda Larsen 26 Allison Pitts 29 Lynne Heinz 30 Richard Murphy

8 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Service at 2 Office 3 Band 4 Office 5 6 Office 7 8 Service at Change for a Cause 9 Office 10 Band 11 8:00 Breakfast 2nd Stitchers Staff Mtg Office Service at 16 Office 17 Band 18 Staff Mtg Book Club 19 August ADVANCE Deadline 20 Office Service at 23 Office 24 6:30 Governance Bd 25 8:00 Breakfast 2nd Stitchers Staff Mtg Missions Office 4:00 Plank Wedding Service at 30 Office 31

9 SECOND COFFEE HOSTS FOR June, July & August June July 3 Red Hats 1 Mission Team 10 Memory Garden Team 8 Property Team 17 Harmoneers Couples Club 15 Pilgrim Guild 24 Stewardship Team 22 Nominating Team August 5 Library Team 12 Membership Task Force 19 Elizabeth Kollnot Circle 26 New Horizon Couples Club 29 Women s Fellowship Principal Leadership Called to Serve You 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 Custodian Josh Holman Nursery Coordinator Governance Board Prayer Chain Amanda Curtis Cheryl McCarthy, Moderator Laura Haas, Vice Moderator Jim Biener, Treasurer; Betsy Flory-McCoy, Clerk Members at large: Pat DeGraaf, Ken Bird, Bill Clark Joan Beebe, Janet Van Geison, Dorothy Tock Serving Our Members in June Head Usher: Kathy Speer (June); Gloria Patz (July) Lectors: Betsy Flory McCoy (June 3); Valerie Knapp (June 10); Jim Hunsberger (June 17); Tad Schultheiss (June 24) ATTENDANCE April May May May FINANCIAL STATUS Detailed figures are available on the Goverance Board bulletin board outside the church office. Thank you for your generous financial support for your church

10 SECOND CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 525 Cheshire Dr. N.E. Grand Rapids MI Office Hours: - 4:00 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday We will no longer be sending the Advance in the mail, except to shut-ins. Please pick up the latest copy on the information table in the front hall or check online at the church s website: Guest WiFi for Second Church is: 2ndCGuest159