First Congregational Church of Royal Oak 1314 Northwood Boulevard, Royal Oak, Michigan 48073 Phone: 248-288-4220 Fax: 248-288-9029 Web Site: www.fccro.org Published Monthly Return Service Requested December, 2016-Vol. 41, No. 12 Dec. 4 Dec. 11 Dec. 12 Dec. 24 Dec. 25 Christmas Workshop-Crafts 3-5 pm Dinner-5:45 pm Christmas Pageant during the worship service Pancake Breakfast hosted by the Boy Scouts Bell Concert-4:00 pm Women s Fellowship Program and Tea-6:30 pm Program features the Royal Oak Bells Christmas Eve Candlelight Service-7:00 pm Christmas Morning Worship Service-10:30 am
I ve learned a few things lately. Sometimes our CD service recordings don t sound like we wish they did. Sometimes our wireless hearing assistance system doesn t deliver the clear signal we want it to. We learn about this when people use them. We hear about crowd noise. Senior Minister s Minute by John Miller We understand a tone is playing over the earbuds. And we respond. We seek better inputs. We turn off settings that were interfering. We work to improve those experiences because hearing is important. Not just important, really. Crucial. As much as careful and thoughtful preparation of words, musical notes and more are needed, so too we need to listen carefully and clearly. Communication counts on both sides of this equation, and we need to be mindful of how it is all working for everyone. A few practical thoughts with this in mind: If things don t sound right, say something! Most of us don t hear the CDs or the hearing assistance units. Understanding your experience is important! We will add a few tests to our Sunday morning practices to see if we can keep things sounding better. We will keep these issues in mind in all facets of our FCC sound systems, in the meeting house, the Social Hall or any other location. A few deeper thoughts about all of this: Listening to each other takes intention and effort too. Seeking clear understandings as we share, plan, live and grow together is vital work. James 1:19 says, let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger..we need this, in times of turmoil, in times of transition, in times of growth, and, really, in all times. The book of Proverbs, source of rich, practical wisdom that it is, has frequent comments about our listening. Proverbs 2:2 says we should be Making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 12:15 says, The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. In chapter 18, it gets even clearer. Hear verses 12 and 13: 12 Before destruction a man s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. 13 If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame. So let s learn from all of this. Let s share when we need more clarity. Let s work hard to speak and hear clearly. Let s continue to grow as a discerning, discussing community. This is at our core as a Congregational church. If we cannot make the effort and the space necessary to speak and hear clearly, we cannot even begin to listen to God deeply. And Proverbs 2:1-5 reminds us what is at stake there: My child, if you accept my words and treasure up my commandments within you, 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 3 if you indeed cry out for insight, and raise your voice for understanding; 4 if you seek it like silver, and search for it as for hidden treasures 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Let s listen closely and carefully, to God and to each other. Let s make it work for all!
Impressions from The Director of Family Ministries Women's Fellowship December Program: Hearthside Yule Tea - December 12, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. (Note time change) Program - Royal Oak Bells Reservations to church office by Monday, One of the great things about my job is that I get to purchase books and suggest activities for our pre-school room. Since we do not use a published curriculum, carefully chosen story books become the inspiration for art projects, songs, and simple games in the preschool room. We have three dedicated teachers who rotate in that room and all of them have much knowledge and love to share with our young learners. Many of the books they use focus on helping children understand how to treat others with kindness. On a recent Sunday the book was We Have a Baby. The teacher enhanced story time by using dolls to teach the children about the importance of being gentle and careful with real infants. They talked about the needs of babies, including how important it is to help a baby experience God s love by being loved by family members. Our preschool students also begin to learn how some holidays are directly connected to church...such as Pilgrims for Thanksgiving and Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus at Christmas! They do simple art projects and learn holiday songs like Away in a Manger that emphasize the original Christmas Story. The nursery is another wonderful place to be on Sunday mornings. Babies and toddlers love snuggling with our volunteers in one of our three rocking chairs. That close contact with adults is important to development in so many ways...and the adults enjoy it too! If you would like to assist in the nursery or preschool room please call me or talk to me at church. Your holidays will be brighter if you spend some time with little ones who will learn about God s love from you... and they will make you smile and maybe even laugh! Dianne Kruzman.PARISH REGISTER Baptism Noa Amelia Wilkonski, daughter of Stephen & Lori (Short) Wilkonski-November 13, 2016 Death May Soper-October 30, 2017 ON NOV. 20th, WE WILL EXTEND THE RIGHT HAND OF FELLOWSHIP to our new members: Katie Anderson 2709 Vinsetta Blvd.. Sponsor: Dianne Kruzman Amy & Mike Conrad 514 Walnut Sponsor: Jesse & Jessi Beatty David Leone 1424 S. Wilson Ave. 248-677-5585 Sponsor: Joe Lendo Tina & Chris Sherban 1518 Donald Ave. 269-929-7608 Sponsor: Don Gavin Sherill Williams 2803 Clawson Sponsor: Sally Granke
Board of Christian Outreach (BCO) Monthly Update Beacon of Hope Fresh Food Pantry We had 8 volunteers from FCC serving on October 22, and the pantry provided food for 73 families, helping to feed 181 people. Please continue to bring your used plastic bags along with your cheese and butter donations for the pantry. We use an average of 2,000 bags per month, so your donations are greatly appreciated! The Board of Christian Outreach would like to thank the Endowment Committee for honoring our request for $3,600 to help support the Beacon of Hope Fresh Food Pantry. The pantry has become a mission that involves many of our church members each month, whether it s a food donation or volunteering. Beacon of Hope serves 80 to 100 families each month in need of food, personal hygiene items and household products. It operates through donations, purchasing food through Gleaners and grants they receive. Again, many thanks to the Endowment Committee for this much needed donation! Sock Box Once again, we are asking for your help in filling our Sock Box which is located across from the stairs going down to the social hall. Please bring new or gently used WARM clothing to help people in need. Coats, scarves, gloves, long johns, boots and new socks and underwear are all appreciated. Clothing is needed for men and women! Spread the Laughs 11 took place on Thursday, October 27, at Mark Ridley s Comedy Castle in Royal Oak. This was a benefit to help support the Welcome Inn, a day shelter for the homeless in south Oakland County. The evening was a great success! Thank you to all who participated. Upcoming Holiday Events Gleaners Turkey Donations We will be collecting 10-12 pound frozen turkeys in our church parking lot before the service on Sunday, November 20, our Heritage Sunday. Please remember your turkeys that day since we have made arrangements with Gleaners to pick up the turkeys while we are in our church service. Salvation Army Bell Ringing Salvation Army bell ringing has been a huge success in past years! Ringers are needed for Saturday, December 3 and Saturday, December 10, 2016. We will be at the Hollywood Supermarket on Campbell Road and 12 Mile in Madison Heights. Last year, we collected over $1,700 for the Salvation Army. For any newcomers wanting to help out, we ring in the vestibule at Hollywood. You will be inside, but it s still chilly when the doors open. Please dress warm! Ringing is broken up into one hour increments. This is a family/kid friendly outreach event, so please join in. It s a lot of fun for a good cause. Sign up sheets are available during the coffee hours. Jimmy s Kids Donations We will be collecting new Christmas gifts for underprivileged children and youth in southwest Detroit to be delivered on Christmas day. Collection will begin after Thanksgiving through Sunday, December 12. (continued on next page)
We are asking the congregation to bring UN- WRAPPED gifts as they will be sorted as to age and gender by Jimmy s Kids volunteers. Jimmy asked us to concentrate on gifts for the older kids and teens since they are often left out or forgotten. Many gifts can be purchased for about $5 at FIVE BELOW such as basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, nail polish, girls winter hats and gloves. If you prefer, our PF youth can do the shopping for you. Once again, PF will be collecting monetary donations for their annual Jimmy s Kids shopping Upcoming Events in 2017 Martin Luther King Day FCC is planning a celebration on January 16, 2017. More info coming soon! 2017 Crop Walk Although still a long way off, the Crop Walk will be held on May 7, 2017 so add it to your calendar. The walk is the same day as our annual meeting. More info will come as the date gets closer. spree. All donations of gifts and money are much appreciated for these kids!. Thank You from Library Team Thank you for your book donations to the book sale at the annual rummage sale in October. The sale will enable us to add to our collection of large print books, inspirational books, fiction, children s books, mysteries, science fiction and biographies. We try to have a variety of new books to choose from throughout the year. All books not sold during the book sale were donated to a variety of organizations including local libraries and charities. The book sale also enables the Library Team to purchase needed library supplies and furnishings. You may have noticed that we have a new conference table and comfortable chairs in the library. These items were purchased with memorial donations made on behalf of Kathleen Ried, a former Library Team member, as well as with funds raised through our book sales. Please stop in and see the memorial placed on our conference table in honor of Kathleen Ried. SPECIAL NOTE: On Friday, December 2 at 5:30pm, there is a PBS (channel 56) produced show about Jimmy Tuman, founder of Jimmy s Kids. This documentary will give everyone a better idea of the man behind Jimmy s Kids and his accomplishments. Jimmy turned 75 years old this year and celebrates 28 years of doing Jimmy s Kids.
From the Stewardship Committee As this year s stewardship campaign draws to a close, it is right and proper that we once again extend out profound thanks to the people who really make the stewardship campaign work and that is each and every one of our members and nonmember friends who decide to give generously of their wealth to the church. We did not really have a theme this year, but that is okay, because it is what each and every one of you do that allows the church to function, despite the economy, the political situation or whatever other distractions that try to interfere with our mission. As in previous years we will provide updates throughout the season as to our progress. But again, as in previous years, know that regardless of the outcome, your gifts are appreciated and that each of you individually is key to this church s health. Next year will be a new and different stewardship campaign. The committee will have different leadership and members; the theme (if we have one) will be different; and letters and pulpit presentations may change. The one constant year to year though is the generosity of our congregation. Thank you again. The Stewardship Committee The earth is the Lord s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein; Psalms 24:1 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF ROYAL OAK 1314 Northwood Boulevard, Royal Oak, Michigan 48073 Phone: (248) 288-4220 Fax: (248) 288-9029 Email: fccro@fccro.org Webpage: www.fccro.org The Rev. John F. Miller, Senior Minister Melissa Ambrose-Eidson, Minister of Music Dianne Kruzman, Director of Family Ministries Patricia Noll, Administrative Assistant Lori Dixon, Bell Choir Director