Chanticleer Volume 88, Issue 11 Dear Friends, I recently noticed a large number of my friends, and huge swaths of the Internet, getting really excited about something. Theology professors of mine in seminary were getting their entire families prepared. Friends from every church imaginable, and even the unchurched and nonreligious, were counting days. Something spectacular is clearing coming from all of the excitement. There are even videos of people watching the news unfold reacting with unfettered awe and joy. No, it is not Advent that they are anticipating; nor is it Christmas. It was the trailer for the new Star Wars movie, coming out mid-december, and the announcement that tickets were going on sale two months before the movie comes out. Like many people my age, Star Wars was an awakening of the epic imagination. I was seven years old when I saw the movie for the first time in the theater, the first of many times. I had the action figures, the soundtrack (on vinyl!), and an instant love for all things sci-fi. In 1977, Star Wars did a couple of things. It was the first movie to truly capitalize on the frightful wonders of merchandising. And it took its place on the playground and in college classrooms as an example of epic and archetypal storytelling. The villains were larger than life. The good guys are outnumbered, and some of them are not all that good. Part western, part samurai movie, all sci fi, Star Wars continues to excite the imagination and stir the blood. So what gets people so excited? Surely we have seen enough spaceships and blasters in the movies. But there is something about a kid on a desert planet, the nephew of moisture farmers, who is actually a part of something grander, something more important, a person in a long line of people who are more than they seem. We all like a story where we think, if a kid like that can be a hero, maybe I can be too And don t get me started on the Force! What would it take to help people realize that their place in the church is part of something grand, the unfolding of the kingdom of heaven that Jesus preached? How do we excite people about what it means to wait upon the Lord for inspiration for doing small acts with great love, as Mother Theresa called them? Do we ourselves understand that we are a part of so great a cloud of witnesses, and that we are called to acts of great service and faithfulness? Some thoughts as we approach Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas. Grace and Peace, Phil
It is that time of year again to think about winter coats. Thanks to your help last year we donated about 40 coats. The Outreach Board will be sponsoring a coat drive again this year. We are hoping to be able to buy from the warehouse like we did last year. The cost will be the same from $12 to $20 per coat. If you would like to donate, please make your check payable to First Congregational Church and in the memo line write Outreach coats. If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact Bill or Carol Yerkes. Thank you for your continued support. Bill Yerkes Outreach Board Important Chanticleer Deadline Dates For November and December Tuesday, November 17 by 8:30 am for the December Chanticleer Tuesday, December 15 by 8:30 am for the January Chanticleer Articles submitted after the deadline date will not appear until the following month s newsletter
Music Notes The bell choir and senior choir have several exciting activities in November. Both choirs are spreading music out into the community (and we hope it s contagious! ) Celestial Bells: Friday, Nov. 20: The bells are once again playing for Silver Bells in the City in Lansing. Look for them in front of Insty Prints, 209 S. Washington Square. They ll be playing from 5:30 to 8:30 PM, barring inclement weather. Stroll the streets, take in the sights and sounds of Christmas, do your Christmas shopping, and listen to our bell choir ringing in the season! Sunday, Nov. 22: The bells will be gracing our congregation with their music during our church service. (The bell choir is also looking for a couple more ringers, either as an occasional sub, or as a regular member. You don t have to be able to read music to play bells; they can colorcode your notes so you ll know what bell to play! Give it a try it will be fun!) Senior Choir: In addition to singing and enhancing the worship service every Sunday, our senior choir is also spreading music to the community: Sunday, Nov. 22: Performance of excerpts from Handel s Messiah: Our choir will be joining with the Olivet College choir and the choir from St. Mary s Cathedral in Lansing, along with strings and harpsichord. Each choir will also sing several of their own pieces. The performance will take place at the Olivet Congregational Church at 3 PM. We hope you can join us! And looking ahead: On Sunday, Dec. 20, during the church service, the senior choir will be performing The Christmas Story in Lessons and Carols. The bell choir will play the offertory that Sunday as well, so it will be a music-filled day!
2015 Bazaar Calendar (Bazaar dates: Nov. 12, 13 & 14, 2015) **PLEASE KEEP AND POST AT HOME** Come help whenever you can. Thanks! NOVEMBER Nov. 1 7 ALL WEEK **** Menu/Publicity Distribution to area businesses/schools etc. Mon. Nov. 2 6:30pm 8:00 Noodle Making (kitchen) NEED HELPERS Tues. Nov. 3 8:30am - Mix batter for muffins (Dyna, Jan & Barb) 9:30am - Salad Dressing Preparation (Donna W) Nov. 8-14 (BAZAAR WEEK!!) Sun. Nov. 8 after worship Ask congregation to help move chairs from lounge and move nursery items Mon. Nov. 9 very early am Cook Meat (Dyna &??) 9:00am 12:00 Make Crescent Roll Dough 1:00/2:00pm - Cut Up & measure meats NEED HELPERS 6:00pm Scouts set up tables/chairs in Bess Fulton Room Tues. Nov. 10 9:00am 12:00 Roll out & Bake Crescent Rolls Wed. Nov. 11 ALL DAY Take out/delivery orders taken 8:00am - Prep apples, vegetables, coleslaw ingred; bake muffins; quiche premix ready, thaw fruit 9:00am - Dining Room Set-Up (Susan B. & Neola) 1:00pm - Pie Baking - PLEASE COME HELP Thurs. Nov. 12 7:00am Final Luncheon Preparation 9:00am 4:00pm CRAFTS FROM THE CONGREGATION 11:00am 1:30pm BAZAAR LUNCHEON Fri. Nov. 13 9:00am 1:00pm COOKIE WALK CRAFTS FROM THE CONGREGATION
Sat. Nov. 14 9:00am 1:00pm COOKIE WALK CRAFTS FROM THE CONGREGATION Sun. Nov 15 after worship Coffee Hour in Lounge final sales FOLLOW-UP Wed. Dec. 2 1:00 pm Bazaar Wrap Up Meeting Thurs. Dec. 3 8:30 am Kitchen Deep Cleaning *PLEASE COME HELP Sun. Jan. 3, 2016 after worship Women's Fellowship Annual Meeting From the Trustees, Approved Financial Figures as of August 31, 2015 (General Budget only, NOT restricted use accounts September 2015 Income: $19,194.62 Disbursements: $25,472.64 Negative $6,278.02 Year to Date (January 1 thru September 30, 2015) Income: $147,457.34 Disbursements: $166,102.85 Negative: $18,645.51 A big thank you to everyone who helped with building and grounds upkeep this fall. People worked at exterior trim painting, sanding and refinishing wooden floors, raking, trimming, and more. The new outside entryway to the kitchen is a big improvement. Your time, work, and abilities are appreciated! Outreach
Such a busy time of year. By the time you read this Harvest Feast will be over and my life will be back to some semblance of normal. Festival of Trees is November 27 and 28. This is such a fun event. If you have never attended you should come. I love seeing the different Christmas Tree ideas but also I enjoy the good music, the lights, the people, and of course the goodies. We also welcome the donations of trees for auction so please consider this. CROP walk was successful with $1,090 being donated. Thank you to everyone who donated and/or walked. Brown gifts come out November 15 and are returned November 22. These are nonperishable food items donated to SIREN/Eaton and Helping Hands. White gifts are in December. I will mention this again in the December Chanticleer. The Christmas family and Mitten Tree also are in December. Bill and Carol Yerkes will again be taking financial donations for winter coats which are given to Eaton County Clothing and Furniture. Donations can go directly to them or to them through the church. We are looking into possibly a project with Habitat through Humanity hopefully here in Charlotte. Someone left us a flyer about Crosswalk Teen Center asking if we were interested in helping them in some way. We are looking into it. We will be having at least one opening in Outreach next year. Please consider becoming a part of us. If you are not sure you are welcome to come to our meeting and observe. We usually meet the 3 rd Sunday of the month. As always, we welcome your input/ideas on ways to reach out into the community and world to help others. Stayed tuned. Mary Normand
Thank you to everyone who helped with Harvest Feast. If you donated toward the turkeys, helped cook, donated desserts, help with advertising, served food, sold tickets, directed traffic, or cleaned up, all your help was appreciated. Thank you to all who came and enjoyed the meal. It would not happen without all of you. Thank you, Thank you. Mary Normand Flower Committee News Save this date Monday, November 23 at 9 am Hanging of the Greens
John 18:33-37 November 29 First Sunday of Advent Jeremiah 33:14-16 Psalm 25:1-10 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 Luke 21:25-36 Youth Ministry for Today s Teens At the Michigan Conference Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids in October, we heard many great ideas from the Center for Progressive Renewal (CPR), on how to authentically Be The Church and build a stronger foundation for future generations. One of the key points was how we need to upgrade our vision for what Youth Ministry means for this generation, instead of being stuck in our stereotypes of what youth groups were like in the 1950 s and 1960 s. We all know that teens today have multiple demands on their time, including many opportunities to work in groups with others their age. The church has an opportunity to build a new model for creating and nurturing relationships with a variety of other people within our faith community. Next summer the UCC will be holding our National Youth Event in Orlando, and we need to start planning now to participate (raise funds) in this major event. However, we also have many other ways to engage our young people in deepening their faith and understanding how spirituality grows. In addition to the Confirmation Class, we will be introducing new multi-generational programs to nurture positive relationships with our Middle School and High School students. Our current Sunday School classes provide a good starting-point, but other special events will be developed with guidance from our youth to educate both youth and adults for living our faith in today s world. Registration forms are available. Please see Amy Frost to register or if you have questions. Please spread the word to friends and family. If you use Facebook you can like our Facebook page, Festival of Trees. If you share the posts we can reach many more people. If you know of a business, or service club that you think might be interested in donating a tree please let Amy know or share the email address with them festivaloftrees@att.net.
We will be displaying nativity scenes this year. If you have one you would like to loan us to show we will take very good care of it. Thanks for your support. Remember we love to have you visit whether you bid on a tree or just want some holiday cheer. Minister: Every Member Minister of Worship and Congregational Life Phil Hobson Minister of Program and Membership Development Tom Jones Moderator Katherine Johnson Vice Moderator Amy Frost Board of Deacons Rachel Harvitt Board of Trustees Bill Rinckey 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 Janet Hamilton Director of Music Ramona Kime Mission Statement of First Congregational Church Our church will provide a place and direction for joining with God, healing the broken, and education for youth and adults. We will be 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. Sunday Worship: 10:00 a.m., Children s Sunday School: 10 a.m. Adult Bible Studies: Sunday 8:15 a.m., Tuesday at 6:30 pm Men s Group: Saturday 8:00 a.m. Women s Prayer Circle Women of the church are welcome the 1 st & 3 rd Thursday of each month at 10:30 am in the Annex Library. The Chanticleer is a monthly newsletter, distributed to members and friends of First Congregational Church. We welcome most comments and articles. Chanticleer article deadline is the 18 th of each month. Blanche Moyer Circle Next Meeting March 21 st at 6:30 pm Email address: fcuc@sbcglobal.net Website address: ucccharlotte.org Church Office: Hours: Tuesday thru Friday from 8:30 am to 3 pm Prayer Shawl Ministry meets The 1 st & 3 rd Saturdays at 9:00 am. Love to knit or