We invite you to live in openness to the voice of the Still Speaking God.
Through God’s grace, this congregation is committed to being a loving and welcoming community of faith. We recognize, celebrate, and give thanks for the many diverse gifts of God among us. We affirm that all people are created in the image of God and as beloved children of God, all are worthy of God’s grace and love.
In Galatians 3:28 Paul wrote: “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, male or female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” We declare ourselves to be an Open and Affirming Congregation, welcoming into the full life and ministry of the church, persons of every race, culture, age, gender identity and gender expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, marital status, education, and economic status. We especially welcome all who have known the pain of exclusion or discrimination in the church and society.
On Sunday, November 15, 2020, First Congregational Church, UCC in South Haven MI, voted to officially become an “Open and Affirming” congregation. This is a designation within our denomination and affirms the dignity of all people and our desire to extend the hospitality of God to everyone.
HANDBELL EXPERIENCE
September 13, 20 and 27
In the Sanctuary, immediately
following the service.
Try it out!
Brandish Some Bronze!
30 pain-free minutes, and a few laughs!
All are welcome – Bring a friend!
Book Study to Commence Later This Month Consider this your invitation to participate in a book study, set to begin on Sunday, September 26 at 4 pm. The book I, Art Ayers, have chosen, is Finding God in the Waves: How I Lost my Faith and Found It Again Through Science, by Mike McHargue. “Mike McHargue’s journey to faith began on the shore of the Pacific Ocean, when a bewildering, seemingly mystical moment motivated him to reexamine the Christian faith that he had abandoned two years earlier. However, this time, it wasn’t theology, scripture, or the arguments of pastors that led him back to God-it was science.” I believe we can effectively make our way through the book in four sessions- September 26th, October 3rd, October 10th, and October 17th. Paperback copies on Amazon range anywhere from $15 (new) to $1.85 (used). It may be wisest to have this through ZOOM; however, if something drastically changes, you’ll certainly be informed. Hope many of you will be able and willing to join me… -Art Ayers If you’re interested, please call the church office, Pastor Mike or Art Ayers.
Fall Celebration – Community Picnic
This event is planned for Sunday, September 26th. The event will focus on children and youth.
It will run from 11:30 to 1:30.
There will be food (hot dogs and chips, drinks and brownies.)
There will be a bounce house and one or two other games for
children.
There will be information on fall events and children and youth programming at the church.
The lower level will be
available for tours.
SAVE THE DATE – all are welcome!!!!
INVITE A FRIEND!
Zoom Movie Discussion of “Pray Away”
Join us next month for a Zoom discussion of the new Netflix documentary ‘Pray Away’ on Thursday, October 7 at 7:00 p.m. This is sponsored by the new Welcome Team. P.J. Lindemann will lead the discussion. The movie explores the pain inflicted by ‘ex-gay’ ministries. It follows a brutal narrative arc of five gay evangelical Christians: From repression to proselytizing, to hypocrisy, to freedom, to devastating guilt. The documentary has a complicated task: to sympathize with its subjects as survivors without excusing their propagation of the same ideology that hurt other closeted Christians.
Children’s Ministry- Sunday School
Sunday School has started up on a regular basis again for all children who are fifth grade or younger. Children will come to worship with their family and come up for Children’s Time near the beginning of the service. Then children will go with Sarah Peterson to Sunday School for the remainder of the time of worship. Sunday School will occur every first and third Sundays of the month during the worship service. We will be having Sunday afternoon activities on the second and fourth Sundays of the month.
Monday/Wednesday/Friday
10 a.m. to Noon—Food Pantry
Saturday discontinued
You can find this on our First Congregational Church, UCC Facebook Page
Sunday Service: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Church Office: M-F 9:30 to 1:30
“God is still speaking,” reminds us that God still has a lot more to say. Since 2004, Still speaking has worked with thousands of United Church of Christ churches and individuals across the country to make religion relevant again and to extend an extravagant welcome to all – because no matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome here. Here at the United Church of Christ.
First Congregational Church is taking another step forward in the digital age! We have signed up for Online giving and donations through a company called Vanco Payments. Use this button to go directly to our First Congregational Church online giving and donations page:
Here are some of the more recent things we have been up to at First Congregational Church of South Haven Michigan.
We invite you to come join us for any and all of our events!
Want to get to know us better? Here is a good place to start, check out our most recent monthly newsletter and recorded service. We would love to have you join us for a service and get to know us better!
Join us in Fellowship Hall after service for coffee, snacks and fellowship!
