Zion United Church of Christ B a r o d a, M I Chimes December 11, 2017 Volume 19 UPCOMING HOLIDAY EVENTS INSIDE: & SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE Upcoming Events Announcements and Thank Yous 2 2 Ladies' Fellowship Christmas Dinner Monday, Dec. 11 at 6:00 pm Contact Info 3 Cookie Walk 3 Sunday School Christmas Program Sunday, Dec. 17 at 10:30 am Prayer Concerns Ladies Fellowship 3 5 Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Sunday, Dec. 24 at 7:00 pm Staff Greeting 6 Birthdays & Anniversaries 6 Sunday School Christmas Program Info: Please join us on Sunday, December 17th at 10:30 am (participants should arrive by 10 am) as the Sunday School children present the Christmas program, The First Christmas by Louise Egan. This is a traditional telling of Christ s birth. Sunday School Program Rehearsals: Saturday, Dec. 16, Dress rehearsal 10 - Noon. Pumpkin Rolls are Back! We are taking Pumpkin Roll orders for delivery on December 17 after church service. $15 each and please specify with or without nuts. An order sheet is in the narthex or you can special order by calling Karen H. or Kathy R. The entire proceeds will go to the UCC Disaster Fund for Puerto Rico. Checks should be payable to Zion Ladies Fellowship. The Christmas Fund Offering, one of the Special Mission Offerings of the UCC, is an important way of sharing our joy at God s renewing and lifegiving grace. Your gifts are needed more than ever to help the growing number of retirees whose low-income annuities make it difficult to meet increasing living costs. Please give generously on December 24th.
Page 2 Upcoming Events 12/11 Ladies Fellowship Christmas Dinner 6 pm 12/13 Prayer Circle 10 am 12/16 Sunday School Rehearsal 10 am - Noon 12/17 No Sunday School, Adult Faith or Confirmation Sunday School Christmas Program 10:30 am (participants arrive 10 am) 12/19 Soup Kitchen Prep MLG Meeting 6:30 pm 12/20 Soup Kitchen serve 12/22-1/7 Church office closed 12/24 No Sunday School, Adult Faith or Confirmation Christmas Fund Special Mission Offering Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 7 pm Chimes 12/25 Christmas Day! 12/27 Prayer Circle 10 am 12/31 No Sunday School, Adult Faith or Confirmation 01/07 Sunday School, Adult Faith Formation, and Confirmation resume Un-Decorating Party 01/10 Prayer Circle 10 am Choirs resume 01/14 Sunday School, Adult Faith Formation 10:30 am Chimes articles due 01/16 MLG Meeting 6:30 pm 01/17 Choir Rehearsals 01/21 Sunday School, Adult Faith Formation 10:30 am Announcements & Thank Yous Thank yous to:... Many thanks to the wonderful crew who decorated the church. Those participating were: Dave & Kim F., Karen H., Susan E., Mike V., Dave & Karla L., Mark & Diane K., Bob & Vicki P., Nancy W., Jan T., Rodney & Mike M., Bob & Diane P. 2018 Offering Envelopes are available at Communication Center Desk: The packet of 2018 offering envelopes are now available at the communication desk for pick up. We do not intend to mail each of the packets unless specifically requested. If you are able to deliver envelopes to someone who has not picked up their set yet, it would be appreciated. In addition you are encouraged to use the highly secure web-site donation page. You may make single or repeating donations. You may also designate funds to specific categories from the web-site. If you have questions, please feel free to contact the church office. IRS Year End Donations Protocol: If you are interested in receiving IRS tax credit for donations to the church in the 2017 year, all contributions must be made by Dec. 24th. IRS is very clear about back-dating contributions. If you have questions, please contact the church office, or Rev. Noffke for more information. Annual Reports: Reminder that Annual Reports for all committees and activities of the church are due soon. Church Office Closed For Christmas Break: The church office will be closed from December 22nd until January 7th. The answering machine will not take messages during this time but will have information if you have a pastoral need. Donations to Hurricane Survivors, and Earthquake victims in Mexico still needed! While the intensity of the stories have faded a bit, the needs in each of the areas of devastation has not diminished. From Hurricanes in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and two earthquakes in Mexico, the UCC continues to provide support and care for those who suffer from the loss of homes and infrastructure. You can find up to date information at www.ucc.org/disaster. If you are able to give, please mark your envelopes clearly, or if using our on-line presence, please choose the other field, and include disaster in the memo field, and we will make sure that these gifts will get to where they belong; helping people in need. Please give generously. Secure Online Donations are a great safe way to contribute: For those who are comfortable with on-line donations, please explore donating through Zion s web-site. It is safe, easy to use and secure. All your information is protected by Vanco services. If you would like more information please feel free to contact the church office (269-422-1590 - zionuccbaroda@gmail.org) or Rev. Noffke (cnoffke@ecunet.org).
Volume 19 HOW YOU CAN HELP... Altar Flowers: Every week there are flowers on the altar that complete the beauty of our church. Won t you consider being the one to add that final touch of beauty to the altar? Coffee Hour Hosts: Hosts provide coffee, pastries, cake or donut holes. Expenses may be taken from donations that day, so the commitment is to purchase the food & make coffee. Juice, coffee, plates, napkins & cups are provided. Sign up sheets are available in the Narthex Contact Information Page 3 Church Office Phone Number: 269-422-1590 Church Web Site: zionuccbaroda.org Current Address/Phone Number: To update yours call 422-1590 or email zionuccbaroda@gmail.com Church Staff: Pastor: Rev. Chris Noffke - cnoffke@ecunet.org Choir Director: Edgar L. Organist: Office Manager: Kim - zionuccbaroda@gmail.com Bookkeeper: Rhonda - zionuccbaroda@gmail.com CE Coordinator: Carolyn Ministry Leadership Group Members: Jan T. (Moderator) Brian A. (Vice-Moderator) Bob P. (Treasurer) Karla L. (Secretary) Carolyn S. George S. Matt S. Prayer Circle: Coreen D. Ladies Fellowship: Kim F. Check Zion's Website, www.zionuccbaroda.org, for the latest up to date information! If you have submissions for inclusion on the web, any questions, or suggestions please feel free to contact the church office at 422-1590, or email at zionuccbaroda@gmail.com or Rev Noffke at cnoffke@ecunet.org. Considering we woke to the first winter storm of the year, Zion s annual Cookie Walk was very successful! Our bakers really came through by providing a delightful array of baked goods, and we had steady attendance throughout the morning despite the snow and even had a line-up of folks waiting to get started at one point! (additional pictures page 5) We made $1236! A portion of the profits will be used for Zion families-in-need Christmas funding and the remainder will help fund Ladies Fellowship projects. A big THANK YOU to all our bakers, to all who worked at the Cookie Walk and to all who purchased goodies! A special thank-you goes to Ned T. and crew, Chris N. and Mikey M. for snow removal of our parking lot and walkways so our customers and workers could safely enter and exit the narthex. A happy and blessed Christmas to all! Cinda N. and Sharon M., co-chairs Cookie Walk Recap! Prayer Concerns We extend our love and prayers to:... Janice M. who was hospitalized with pneumonia Sunday, December 3rd. She is now recovering at home.
The Chimes Newsletter is published at Zion UCC in Baroda, MI approximately every two weeks. Submissions are subject to editing. All submissions for publication must be signed. The office phone is 269-422-1590. E-Mail - zionuccbaroda@gmail.com. Zion United Church of Christ P.O. Box 10 Baroda, MI 49101 Address Service Requested Z i o n U n i t e d C h u r c h o f C h r i s t B a r o d a, M I PO Box 10 9100 Third Street Baroda, MI 49101 Phone: 269-422-1590 Email: zionuccbaroda@gmail.com www.zionuccbaroda.org All Are Welcome! 2017/19 THINGS YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW... Electronic Fund Transfer: If you would like to have your offering to Zion UCC automatically withdrawn from your checking or savings account (weekly or monthly), please contact the church office to obtain an authorization form. Once the form is signed and returned withdrawals will begin. You may change or stop this service at any time. Zion s Web site: For the latest news at Zion, check out our web site at www.zionuccbaroda.org. If you have submissions for inclusion on the web, questions, or suggestions, please feel free to contact the office or Rev. Noffke at cnoffke@ecunet.org. Privacy Laws Related to Hospitalizations: The laws have been in effect for quite some time, but the interpretation of those laws varies widely. In an effort to protect the privacy of patients, most healthcare providers will not release any information to churches and/or pastors. If you are hospitalized and would like the church and pastor to know, please be proactive with the admissions officer, and 1) tell them that you are a member of Zion, 2) you would like Zion to know that you are hospitalized, and 3) call the church office and Rev. Noffke. Church Calendar Worship Service: 9:00 am Sunday School & Adult Faith Formation 10:30 am Sunday (Sept - May) Adult Choirs: Wednesday (Sept - May) MLG: 3rd Tuesday - 6:30 pm Articles for the next issue of Chimes are due January 14
Ladies Fellowship News Page 5 Ladies Fellowship: a note from Kim F. Zion UCC Ladies Fellowship has been my passion for the last ten plus years. Our ladies are the hardest working, most loyal and best advocates for Zion that can be found. I have loved and enjoyed working alongside our ladies. But, my leadership role as president of this wonderful group is coming to an end as of January 1, 2018. It is time for new ideas and new leadership. I am willing to help new leaders plan for 2018. The transition can be smooth and effortless. We just need someone to head our organization and take over leadership. As I said, our ladies are the best! They really lead themselves. And I plan to stay involved I just need a reprieve. So, with a heavy heart, I am resigning from the Ladies Fellowship Board. I hope and pray that someone steps up to help Cinda and Delores with the monthly organization. As I said, I will help with the transition and be available for questions. The horizon is open to whoever takes my place. Blessings and love to you all, Kim F. COOKIE WALK PHOTOS MITTEN TREE PHOTOS These pictures do not really show the beautiful handicraft of the Bridgman Public Library knitters. We were again simply blown away by their talents and generosity. We are delighted to divide up the goodies this year. Giving half to the food pantry sponsored by Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church and the other half to Bridgman Public School s holiday drive. We are so happy to help share warmth to those in need.