First Congregational Church, UCC

SHAMA Lenten Service

Pattie — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:02:25 +0000

Celebrating Hunger Ministries is the theme for the first Community Lenten Service sponsored by the South Haven Area Ministerial.

Sunday February 26 6:30p.m. at First Congregational Church

651 Phoenix Street, South Haven

Churches and Individuals from the greater South Haven area will provide leadership in the service and be recognized for their support of local food ministries, including the CROP Walk, free community meals and the CROP Hunger Walk.

The Rev. Lary Jackson, Associate Director of Church World Service Michigan will be the guest speaker. A brass ensemble of area youth will provide special music. Refreshments will be provided following the service. A free will offering to support the food ministries of We Care INC will be collected. All are invited.

Ash Wednesday

Pattie — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:36:49 +0000

February 22 6:30p.m.

The confirmation class will lead our service this evening. People will be invited to come forward to receive the mark of the cross with ashes and then later to celebrate communion. This is a service for all ages, parents are encouraged to bring their children as a way of experiencing what Lent is all about.

Scout Sunday

Pattie — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:42:44 +0000

Sunday February 5th 10:30 a.m.

First Congregational Church UCC will be celebrate scouting at a special Scout Sunday Service. Cub and Boy Scouts along with Girl Scouts from South Haven will be participating in the service. This service celebrates the work of Scouting and the partnership between Scout groups and the Church. Scouts will serve as greeters, ushers, flag bearers and readers during the service.

All Scouts and families are welcome to attend. Scouts and Scout Leaders are ask to come in uniform. A special reception will take place following the service.

Souper Bowl of Caring

Jeffrey — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:42:03 +0000

Sunday February 5, 2012 11:30 a.m.

It is the New England Patriots vs New York Giants in this years Super Bowl.

First Congregational is also participating in the Souper Bowl of Caring. This is the chance to have some fun with the Super Bowl and raise money for those who are hungry. There will be two bowls or helmets at church, one representing the Patriots and one the Giants. Vote for which team will win by placing your donation in the team bucket.

All proceeds will benefit the We Care Food Pantry.

This is a mission project of the Middle High Youth Group

Leadership Retreat

Pattie — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:45:04 +0000

Canceled

Due to illness Saturdays Leadership Retreat will be reschedule to a later date.

IF YOU PLAY NOT TO LOSE, YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT LIKEY TO WIN!

Saturday February 4th 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

In Fellowship Hall

It's a new learning experience that promises fun, fellowship and training!

Help us build our "church vision".... better equip ourselves to build our ministry and meet future challenges. It's for all church leaders (past, current & future) and anyone interested in being involved.

Presenting....

Pastor Thomas Webster

(Mi. U.C.C. Interim Conference Pastor)

Please contact our church office (637-3804 or church@uccsouthhaven.com) or Linda Olsen (637-8115 or linda@wecare-inc.org) to reserve your spot in this exciting and fun learning opportunity!

Annual Meeting

Pattie — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:14:31 +0000

Sunday Jan 22nd 12:00 p.m.

Soup Supper

Pattie — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:12:31 +0000

The Middle High Youth Group will be serving Soup Supper on Jan 22 11:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall.

The Youth Groups will be raising funds to help pay their way to the National Youth Event in July 2012.

Epiphany Sunday

Pattie — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:27:14 +0000

Sunday January 8, 2011 10:30 a.m.

On Epiphany Sunday we will worship with communion.

The youth choir will be singing "We Three Kings"

We also will be celebrating the baptism of

Brett Casey Ayotte.

Bell Choir and Church School resumes this Sunday.

Martin Luther King, Jr. - Day of Community Service

Pattie — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:24:40 +0000

Martin Luther King, Jr. - Day of Community Service

10:00-12:00 at LC Mohr High School

A day of community service where individuals and groups will come and help to package a ton of rice and beans for area food pantries. A lunch will follow in the cafeteria. Contact Pastor Dick if you would like to help.

Women's Fellowship/Material Aids

Pattie — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:54:52 +0000

For the months of January and February Women's Fellowship meets on Thursday mornings at 9:30 for material aids.

We meet in the Scout Room-Food Pantry Room to construct and assemble layettes to be sent to our local We Care church who handles distributing them to new mothers in need. Please join us if you have any of the following talents:

Sewing, folding, talking, laughing, eating, sharing, listening, hugging or joking.

In March we will resume our regular meeting and programs on the second Thursday of each month at 9:30 in the lounge.

March's program will be with Jeanne Lyon and Lynn Dick as they show us how to make out own personal cards. Join Us.

As a reminder: ALL WOMEN of First Congregational Church are automatic members of Women's Fellowship (there is no initiation).

If you have any questions regarding Women's Fellowship or Material Aids, please contact Nancy Garber, Shirley Sollman or the Church office.

New Year's Day Worship

Jeffrey — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:28:11 +0000

Celebrate the beginning of a new year with thanks and praise to God.

At the dawning of a new year, it is good to give thanks, as we should do each day.

We can take time, as we should each day, to give thanks. Dag Hammarksjold, writer, economist, former Secretary General of the United Nations, wrote:

For all that has been—thanks.

For all that shall be—yes!

May we approach this new year giving thanks for the past, and looking forward to the new, knowing that God will be with us. And thus, we can proclaim, YES, to all that will come.

Worship is at 10:30 a.m.

There is no church school or hand bell practice this Sunday

Note: Thanks to Bruce Epperly, theologian, spiritual guide, pastor, and author of twenty one books, for sharing the quote from Dag Hammarksjold.

Christmas Worship

Pattie — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:55:56 +0000

Christmas Eve Service 7:00 p.m. and Christmas Day Service 10:30 a.m.

Christmas Eve Service 7:00 p.m.

A candle light service that follows the theme, The Gifts of Christmas. Many of your favorite Christmas carols will be sung and much special music will be shared. Individual candles will be lit during the singing of Silent Night at the end of the service. Bells will play an important part of the service this evening- and yes, everyone gets to play one!

Christmas Day Service 10:30 a.m.

Christmas on a Sunday - a wonderful day to worship - if not the best time to gather to sing and share as people of faith. Our worship will include the celebration of communion, the singing of many carols and the reading of the Christmas Story. This is a come as you are service - children in pajamas are welcome. The can even bring a new toy with them for show and tell! Come relaxed, coffee will be available before worship and after. Come and celebrate.

No Church School this morning.

Christmas Spirit

Jeffrey — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0000

"It's the most wonderful time of the year" is a song by Andy Williams and those are the words that describe today.

The day began with the children presenting their Christmas Program during worship. This was "The Monk and the Nativity" and is a cute story of a monk carving a nativity scene. Tim Larson played the monk and all the children had parts. They did wonderfully, speaking well and singing Away in a Manger so nicely. What great joy it brought. (I didn't get any photos, but lots of parents did and we will post them soon.)

Following worship, a larger group of men had been working in the kitchen to prepare a Smoked Turkey Dinner. Five smoked turkeys, 2 nonsmoked turkeys, stuffing, potatoes (all peeled and whipped by Phil and Paul Rood), cranberry sauce, stuffing made by volunteers, salad, relish tray, rolls, cooked squash (donated by Stephenson Farms and prepared by Jennifer Bishop and Lynn Dick), corn from Banner Farms and locally grown green beans (thanks to Carolyn Rowles for freezing them for us). We also had lots of desserts and 6 gallons of cider (also from Stephenson Farms). Centerpieces were made by Nancy Daugherty. Dave Daugherty was the chief chef and Bob Linderman organized the volunteers.

Best guess is that 25 men took part in making and cleaning up the affair. Fellowship Hall as packed with 13 tables filled with families. The lines moved quickly, and there was plenty of food for all. Good fellowship, good food and a wonderful day. With candles in the windows, wreaths on the wall, the very large Christmas Tree all lite up and decorated, it was a Christmas Meal to remember.

After all of that, a couple of families met out on 65th Avenue to cut down Christmas Trees. We followed the trail that Bob had blazed, through a corn field, through some brush, over a slight ridge (but no creeks to cross) and made our way to the trees. My son Brandon cut down our tree - his first time doing so. He asked why he had to cut the tree and I explained that his siblings (Josh, Lamont and Jasmine) had all done this before him. I'm not sure Jennifer eve had to cut the tree, but she surely came along when we were in NH.

Cutting our own tree is one of those Christmas moments I enjoy. And today was a beautiful day, sun shining, snow on the ground, cold, but not freezing. So, everyone found a tree, we dragged them back to the trucks and cars (well, Brandon dragged ours and I followed). The tree was loaded in the truck and delivered to 359 Pearl Street.

The tree is now up in the living room, in front of the picture window. Some lights are on, but more will be added on Monday. Then the decorations.

It is beginning to look like Christmas in our house. More importantly, it is beginning to feel like Christmas - and that is a wonderful feeling.

May your Christmas be a blessed one.

A Fabulous Surprise Party

Jeffrey — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0000

In the midst of a very full week - a surprise party takes your breath away. What a joy to walk into church tonight and discover a party for me! Wow - I was stunned. Many thanks to everyone who made this night happen. I am so touched.

I came to church with the thought that I was attending one more meeting....ugh. And to top it off, I did not know why we were meeting and did not have an agenda, and it was frustrating. No control. I also had to keep an eye on Brandon as the girls were supposedly all out shopping. We get to church and of course Brandon runs off. Darn kid.

Then I'm told the meeting is upstairs, and there are no lights on....which was appropriate as I was completely in the dark. Upon entering - lights come on - there are all these people - and my mouth drops and I am stunned and speechless. My first thought was my birthday was a month ago, what's up. Then, Linda informs me that this is a party for my thirtieth anniversary of being an ordained pastor. WOW.

There is food - lots of food (including not one, but two dishes of lima beans, which I had mentioned in a sermon two weeks ago as a food I only get at Thanksgiving). There is a cake, and a room full of people. Oh my.

A couple of weeks ago I drove by Lancaster Theological Seminary which I attended for 3 years and graduated from in 1981. It seems like so long ago. Our daughter Jennifer was born while I was a student there. Great memories. Yet, as I drove by the school I realized I have almost no contact with anyone from my graduating class. It is of the past.

I have been blessed to serve at three different churches during these 30 years - and there are great memories and good friendships and relationships that still exist. Each church has allowed me to grow in my ministry, each church family has welcomed me and trusted me. I have been blessed.

This is my 19th year here in South Haven. Two-thirds of my ministry has been here, and God willing, many more years are still to come.

As I looked around the room, there were a number of folks from the search committee that invited me to South Haven. Greg O'Niel, who hosted our family on our call weekend, spoke tonight. His leadership and friendship have been wonderful. There were many there who were in leadership positions when I first came. For 19 years they have served along side me.

Filling the room were some who had just joined the church this past Sunday (8 new members, including our daughter Keyana, her guy Brandon and her son Donelle) others who joined in the past year or so - and many others who have joined since I arrived.

Children I have baptized and confirmed - and some I have performed their weddings. Many individuals I have been with through tough times, and many I have officiated at funerals. This church family has supported Lynn and I as our family has grown and grown. You have welcomed all of our children and nurtured them and cared for the,.

We have gone through times of wondering about finances and we are currently enjoying a time of generous blessings and great energy.

Throughout it all, we have stayed strong as a church family. We eat and pray together, sing and study, serve and grow. And I could not feel more blessed than I do right now.

To all who made this night so festive, so warm, and so joy filled thank you. For sharing your night with me, and for inviting me into your lives, I am so honored and feel so privileged. Thank you.

I look forward to serving in ministry with all of you for a long time to come. I can't imagine being anywhere else.

Thank you for this honor.

Blessings,

Jeffrey.

LOST & FOUND Christmas Show

Pattie — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:36:28 +0000

December 5th 6:30 at FFC

Start your Christmas preparations with a delightful and inspiring celebration for the whole family.

Lost and Found is a musical group that will perform familiar Christmas Carols (often in a unique fashion) along with newer carols. They will be joined by a good friend, whom will tell 3 Christmas Stories, including a very special story about Father Christmas that will involve children of all ages.

Lost and Found is George and Michael Baum who grew up in Western New York. George plays the piano and is an Episcopal priest and Michael plays guitar and sings.....They were here in the spring of 2009 and played to a full house.

Their music is scripturally based and they share stories around each song. They interact and involve the audience in wonderful ways.

This is a FREE concert for the whole family. You are invited to bring an item for the Shoebox Christmas program through Project Santa. These should be small personal care items or small games/treats for teenagers.

Children's Christmas Program

Pattie — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:35:17 +0000

December 11th 10:30 a.m.

The Monk and the Nativity.

Smoked Turkey Dinner

Pattie — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:38:19 +0000

Dec 11th 12:00 p.m.

This is a wonderful dinner for the whole family provided by the men of the church.

Turkey and all the fixin's will be there, including locally grown corn, beans, and squash that has been frozen for this event. We will also have apple cider donated by Stephenson Farms!

This fellowship event is a wonderful time to invite a friend to come and meet others. You are invited to sign up in the Narthez or call the church office to let us know how many will be attending. The men of the church usually staffs the kitchen so, if you would like to help, sing up or call head chef, Dave Daugherty. Each family is asked to bring a dessert. A free-will offering will be taken that afternoon to provide turkey for families at Christmas.

Soup Luncheon

Pattie — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:57:18 +0000

Nov 13th

The Youth Groups will be raising funds to help pay their way to the National Youth Event in July 2012.

Please support their efforts at the monthly soup luncheons immediately following worship on Oct 9th, Nov 13th and Dec 11.

More will follow in 2012

W.I.L.D WEDNESDAY

Pattie — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:06:55 +0000

NEW features for 2011-2012.

W.I.L.D. is for children preschool through 5th grade. Children's Choir meets at 5:30 p.m. Supper at 6:00 p.m. Program from 6:30 to 7:30.

On the first Wednesday of each month, it is Family Game Night. Supper will be catered by our good friends at the Vineyard. After supper, we will break into groups to play carious board games, card games, and other NON-electronic type of games. There will be games for various age groups. Children are welcome to bring their favorite games as well.

Arts and Crafts Night will be the second Wednesday and Drama & Storytelling the third week. The fourth Wednesday will be Special-either traveling somewhere or a special quest. This will also be pizza night.

Reformation Sunday

Pattie — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:57:25 +0000

October 30th

We will be celebrating Reformation Sunday October 30th by wearing something red (to remind us of the Holy Spirit).

This commemorates Dr. Martin Luther's posting of his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany on October 31, 1517. This act triggered the movement in world history known as the Reformation.

Also, taking place during worship, Bibles will be given to all the 3rd graders as well as those in this year's Confirmation program.

Tailgate Oct 21st.

Pattie — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:39:54 +0000

Next Tailgate Party

October 21st

From 5:00-7:00 pm

In our church parking lot, just before the Rams' Home Games! You can help make these fundraising dinner a huge success simply by attending...make it a night on the town!! Park for FREE, enjoy a delicious seasonal dinner for $7.00/person and then walk to the games. All proceeds go to our general operating fund and will help us continue out ministry within the church as well as in the community. Invite family and friends...everybody's welcome!!

We Care Week "Just A Closer Walk...Together"

Pattie — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:19:06 +0000

We Care Week "Just A Closer Walk...Together"

October 23rd 3 p.m.

Concert at Foundry Hall

October 16th-23rd

All We Care volunteers and supporter are invited to two very special celebratory events...Pray and Fellowship Gathering on Sunday, Oct. 17th at 7 p.m. The gathering will be held at the Church of the Nazarene on Phoenix Rd.

On Sunday, October 23rd at 3 p.m., We Care presents a unigue concert event, "Just A Closer Walk"! Come and enjoy local choirs, musicians, soloists and groups as they perform special selections at Foundry Hall in celebrations of all the ministry of We Care and supporters through our community. Foundry Hall is located at the intersection of Center and Eagle Streets, downtown South Haven.

Hay Ride at the Roods

Pattie — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 21:46:04 +0000

Hay Ride at the Roods

Oct 16th @ 2:00 p.m.

How many years have we done this? TWENTY some at least. This year is no different. On Sunday, October 16th you are invited to the Rood Farm in Covert for a hay ride through the orchards. There will be goodies, a bonfire, and good times. Bring a lawn chair to sit on, Young children will most likey be able to drive a tractor as some point. Friends are always welcome to come along.

September 11th 2011 A Day of Remembrance

Pattie — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:04:49 +0000

Picture Directory Updates for 2011

Pattie — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:17:40 +0000

Picture directory updates for 2011

Is your picture in the directory? We want a picture of everyone in the congregation. . For 2011 we will continue to add new faces and those with life changes. We will also be doing updates of those whose children have changed since we started 5 years ago. If you have a picture you like please email it to the church office. Nancy Garber will be taking pictures for those who need a new picture. It just takes a minute before or after church to have your picture taken. For those of us who are happy with the picture we have, it will stay. Women’s Fellowship pays all cost associated with the directory.