CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Monday ~ Thursday

9:00 a.m. ~ 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. ~ 4:00 p.m.

Friday

9:00 a.m. ~ 12:00 p.m.

RE

TU

RN

SE

RV

ICE

R

EQ

UE

ST

ED

DA

TE

D M

AT

ER

IAL

First United Church

of Christ 248 Harding Way West

Galion, OH 44833

CELEBRATE THE LOVE!

CELEBRATE THE JOY!

Rev. Darrin Harvey

Minister

Volume 29 No. 7 July 2017

FIR

ST

UN

ITE

D C

HU

RC

H O

F C

HR

IST

24

8 H

ard

ing W

ay W

.

G

ali

on

, O

H 4

48

33

Ch

urc

h E

-ma

il:

off

ice@

ucc

ga

lion

.org

Rev.

Harv

ey: p

ast

or@

ucc

gali

on

.org

Ph

on

e:

419-4

68

-438

0 w

ww

.ucc

ga

lion

.org

Rev.

Darr

in H

arv

ey--

----

----

----

----

----

----

--M

inis

ter

Ad

air

Pit

tma

n--

----

----

----

----

----

----

Off

ice S

ecr

eta

ry

Ma

ry A

nn

Sto

ne--

----

----

----

----

-Fin

an

cia

l S

ecr

eta

ry

Joh

n S

ikora

-

----

----

----

----

----

Sr.

Ch

oir

Dir

ect

or

Ste

ph

an

ie S

ikora

----

----

----

----

--B

ell

Ch

oir

Dir

ect

or

Jen

nif

er

Arb

au

gh

----

---Y

ou

th C

hoir

Dir

ect

or-

-Org

an

ist

Jess

ica

Ha

mm

on

d--

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

-Org

an

ist

Ch

rist

ine C

oe--

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

--A

ccom

pa

nis

t

Da

le M

ille

r -

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

--C

ust

od

ian

Ma

rth

a S

ee--

----

----

----

----

----

----

-Kit

chen

Cu

stod

ian

Rev.

Joh

n M

ille

r---

----

----

----

----

----

Past

or

Em

eri

tus

La

rry N

igh

----

----

----

----

----

----

---V

isit

ati

on

Min

iste

r

SUNDAY SERVICES

Worship Service

10:00 a.m.

Sunday School

9:00 a.m.

NO

N-P

RO

FIT

OR

G

U.S

. P

OS

TA

GE

PA

ID

PE

RM

IT N

O.

166

GA

LIO

N,

OH

44833

Ha

pp

y

Dear Church,

July is a different month for us here at First Church.

First of all, IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME! That’s right.

We are collecting for our UCC special mission

offering, The Christmas Fund, designed to help

retired and active United Church of Christ authorized ministers, lay

employees and their surviving spouses with emergency and

supplemental pension income. Secondly, we are going to be having

our worship services OUTSIDE in our pavilion on Sunday mornings

beginning July 2nd through the month of August. Third, we are

turning our fellowship hall into a version of Rome for a week with

our Vacation Bible School happening from July 10th through the

14th. Fourth, we are staffing the summer lunch program in our

neighborhood parks from July 17th – 21st. Fifth, we are welcoming

two guest preachers in July, two old friends of our congregation –

Rev. Frank Isaacs and Rebecca Mularski. What else is different?

Well, I don’t know, come and find out!

Being different for a while is fun, but sometimes it becomes the new

norm and suddenly it isn’t as much fun anymore. A year ago, the

Spiritual Council looked upon our worshiping community, saw how

positive one worship service was and decided to put it to a

congregational vote whether or not to permanently change our

worship schedule. The measure passed with an overwhelming

majority, even among those who indicated they attended the 8:30

service. Still, we acknowledge that there are those who didn’t feel

they had adequate time to express their feelings about such a change

and for that we are sorry. We do feel that the change to one worship

service on Sunday at 10am has been a good decision with some

blessings we did not expect.

Our Saturday Night Alive worship service is small as anticipated,

but we feel it has been living up to our goals of reaching those in the

community who are unchurched, those who cannot attend in the

mornings and for those looking for something different. It was never

intended as a replacement for our 8:30 service, but as a positive

addition to the life of our church. If for some reason you cannot

attend on Sunday morning but are available on Saturday evening, we

invite you out. The service is intimate, come as you are and we eat

afterwards! It is different!

As I have been mentioning in our summer sermon series about the

seven churches of Asia, as Christians we are called to be different. We

do not have the same standards of success as the world does about

things in regard to numbers of people or dollars, so we shouldn’t be

afraid of “failure.” The 8:30 worship service was started to try

something different and it served its purpose of fulfilling the spiritual

needs of people looking for something different. But all things run its

course. Many of the people who began that service and put so much

time into planning it left or are no longer able to volunteer to make it

happen.

The Spiritual Council definitely feels that the needs of our community

are different and call for something different. The Saturday Night

Alive, or ‘SNL’ as some have started calling it, has served as a gateway

into our church for those of spiritual needs in our community who have

begun to attend on Sunday mornings and other activities like Genesis

Friends and Bible Study during the week. It has begun to achieve our

goal of being in RELATIONSHIP with many of our Sunday Morning

Breakfast crowd. I cannot stress the importance of how reaching and

welcoming new people with the Good News is to fulfilling our mission.

We must always be ready to take up the challenge of doing something

different as we are called by the Holy Spirit in our context. May God

bless the Saturday Night Alive worship service and God bless our

congregation as we discern our way forward.

Blessings,

Pastor Darrin

3rd: Katelynn Claus

Mitchell McKibben

Gail Spore

5th: Mary Mills

6th: Sherri Murray

7th: Connie Eichhorn

8th: Missy James

9th: Matt Jeffers

Chloe Schreck

Amy Watts

13th: Betty Tucker

Kathy Weithman

14th: Erik Schreck

16th: Alec Kruger

Miriam Shifley

17th: Brenda Badgley

18th: Sandra Massie

Linnea Stone

21st: Jennifer Lugo

22nd: Jim Nigh

23rd: Hannah Ruth

24th: David Christman

25th: Kathy Kruger

26th: Doug Court

27th: Bruce McKibben

Rose Crago-Roach

28th: Trisha Eidt

Jason Moore

29th: Beth Black

Michael Lovely

30th: Rosemary McDaniel

Riley Worthington

31st: Brad Hocker

Heidi Repp

2nd: Larry & Mary Shifley

6th: Kevin & Kelly Spore

7th: Adrian & Becky Sunday

9th: Chris & Melissa Stiffler

17th: Dale & Tracie Opperman

19th: Edward & Rose Crago-Roach

20th: Jack & Barb Koschnick

24th: Alycia & Jason Palmer

26th: Blaine & Susan Winegarden

28th: Dennis & Judy Garverick

30th: Dale & Carol Miller

HOSPITALIZATIONS

Charlotte Bedson

If you are hospitalized, it is very important that you (or a

family member) inform the church office. Remember,

hospitals can no longer provide us with this information.

Please call 419-468-4380.

CONDOLENCES

1st UCC extends sympathy to the family of Charles Looker.

Charles passed away at Signature Healthcare of Galion on

July 1, 2017. Please keep his family in your thoughts and

prayers.

HEARTFELT THANKS

Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for the many cards, well wishes and outpouring

of love I received from all of you following my recent surgery. Every

day is a little better than the last and the new knees are working

well. I also appreciated the anonymous “care package” someone

dropped off on my front porch. I was really touched by all the kind

words, thoughts and prayers. Thanks again.

In Christian Love,

Mary Ann Stone

COMMUNITY BREAKFAST

Thank you for your generous contributions to the Community

Breakfast!!! Remember the breakfast is the last Sunday of every month!

If you are donating breakfast items, please make sure that your items

are at the church no later than the Friday before the breakfast. There is

a sign up sheet for donated items on the office window. This month we

are serving scrambled eggs, sausage, toast, hash browns & fruit. Last

month we served 26 people outside the church. We are so happy we can

help our neighbors in need!

THANK YOU!

Thank you to all who volunteered and attended the “Picnic at the

Pavilion.” We raised $515.00 for the Project Committee.

ALTAR FLOWERS

Please sign the “Flower Chart”

on the bulletin board outside the

church office. Let the office

know what florist is to make the

delivery.

RADIO BROADCASTS

The cost is $70.00 per

broadcast. Please sign the chart

posted on the bulletin board

outside the church office. Listen

on WBCO 107.5FM on Sunday

from 9:00am-10:00am.

PRAYER CHAIN

For prayer requests please call

Nancy Green at 419-468-3296

or the office at 468-4380.

FOOD PANTRY

Pancake mix, pancake syrup,

canned fruits, peanut butter,

paper products, cleaning

supplies, and personal care

products are needed. There are

containers at both entrances to

the sanctuary.

VISITATION MINISTRY

The Visitation Ministry

ministers to our shut-in

members who are physically

unable to attend church. If you

are interested in making visits,

or if you need a visit, please

contact the church office

(419- 468-4380)

CARING CORNER

We continue to have cards to

sign in the Caring Corner. If

you know of any member,

friend or relative who could

benefit from visits or cards,

please let the office know!

Also, please continue to fill the

pull tab jar. Little things mean a

lot so save those tabs for the

Ronald McDonald House!

News from Pastor Darrin!

Worship in July

July 2nd – Rev. Frank Isaacs Preaching

July 9th – Fourth Letter to the Church in Thyatira. Service of Holy

Communion.

July 16th – Fifth Letter to the Church in Sardis

July 23rd – Rebecca Mularski Preaching

Ministry at Magnolia Terrace

Tuesday, July 18th – Bible Study at 10am

Summer Sunday School

Pre-Teen Summer Sunday School and Youth Choir will resume in Sep-

tember. Adult and High School Sunday School will continue to meet.

Local Gospel Group, “Ezekiel’s Call,” will be performing at First

Church as a part of our Saturday Night Alive worship service on Au-

gust 26th. Come on out for something different! This is a free and open

concert to the public and begins at 5pm.

July 30th – Sixth Letter to the Church in Philadelphia

Sunday, July 30th – Worship at 1:30

Bible Study with Barb Nigh will resume in September.

CHRISTMAS IN JULY!

The mission for the month of July is The Christmas for the

Veterans of the Cross and the Emergency Fund that helps those

who have served and continue to serve in lay and authorized

ministries of the United Church of Christ. The Christmas Fund is

unique in the fact that the fund provides direct financial

assistance to individual UCC clergy and lay church employees.

This fund does not support programs or institutions. It supports

people. Help us to help the many ministers that have served all

of us in so many ways. Please consider dropping something into

the offering plate to help those that have helped us.

Thank you!

BOOKS FOR BUDDIES AND FEED THE KIDS

Thank you to everyone that brought in books or

contributed money to provide books for the hungry

school children in this community. Our church will

pass these books out to our friends when we are

serving meals the week of July 17-21st that the

school has prepared. The program has four locations within the city. If

you have extra time this week and would like to help us a day or so,

please call the office and let Adair know. The mission committee and

the hungry children of Galion appreciate all your help and support.

Vacation Bible School

First United Church of Christ

248 Harding Way West

Monday, July 10th – Friday, July 14th

9am – Noon

Grades K-6th grade Admission – Free

DONATIONS NEEDED FOR VBS

Crayons/markers

Gold, beige, green cardstock paper

Cardboard/papermache egg cartons

Oven dry modeling clay

X-large paper plates

Styrofoam plates

Paint-white, gold, silver

Jump ropes

Tennis balls, rubber workout balls

Chalk, sticky notes,

Wooden clothespins, large bowls, hula hoops, rulers,

duct tape, sheets of cardboard, paper grocery bags,

newspaper, 2 plastic wading pools, buckets,

bed sheets, regular sized paper plates

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

5;30pm Coots Wedding

2

9:00am Sunday School

10:00am Worship

3

4

5

8:00am WIC

6

7

8:00am WIC

8

5pm Sat. Night Alive

9

9:00am Sunday School

10:00am Worship

10

9:00am –12:00 VBS

11

9:00am –12:00 VBS

12

8:00am WIC

9:00am –12:00 VBS

13

9:00am –12:00 VBS

6:00pm Finance at

Doug Court’s house

14

9:00am –12:00 VBS

15

5pm Sat. Night Alive

16

Rev. Darrin Vacation

9:00am Sunday School

10:00am Worship

17

City Wide Lunch

Program

11:00am-1:00pm

(all week)

18

10:00am Bible Study

19

8:00am WIC

20

8:30am Head Start

21

8:00am WIC

22

5pm Sat. Night Alive

23

9:00am Sunday School

10:00am Worship

24

25

7:00pm Elders

26

8:00am WIC

27

28

8:00am WIC

29

5pm Sat. Night Alive

2017

30

8:00am Comm. Brkfst

9:00am Sunday School

10:00am Worship

31

7:00pm Mission

July

Week of July 2:

Sun.: Eccl. 6:1-12

Acts 10:9-23

Luke 12:32-40

Mon.: Eccl. 7:1-14

Gal. 4:12-20

Matt. 15:21-28

Tue.: Eccl. 8:14-9:10

Gal. 4:21-31

Matt. 15:29-39

Wed.: Eccl. 9:11-18

Gal. 5:1-15

Matt. 16:1-12

Thu.: Eccl. 11:1-8

Gal. 5:16-24

Matt. 16:13-20

Fri.: Eccl. 11:9-12:14

Gal. 5:25-6:10

Matt. 16:21-28

Sat.: Num. 3:1-13

Gal. 6:11-18

Matt. 17:1-13

Week of July 9:

Sun.: Num. 6:22-27

Acts 13:1-12

Luke 12:41-48

Mon.: Num. 9:15-23;

10:29-36

Rom. 1:1-15

Matt. 17:14-21

Tue.: Num. 11:1-23

Rom. 1:16-25

Matt. 17:22-27

Wed.: Num. 11:24-33

(34-35)

Rom. 1:28-2:11

Matt. 18:1-9

Thu.: Num. 12:1-16

Rom. 2:12-24

Matt. 18:10-20

Fri.: Num. 13:1-3,

21-30

Rom. 2:25-3:8

Matt. 18:21-35

Sat.: Num. 13:31-14:25

Rom. 3:9-20

Matt. 19:1-12

Week of July 16:

Sun.: Num. 14:26-45

Acts 15:1-12

Luke 12:49-56

Mon.: Num. 16:1-19

Rom. 3:21-31

Matt. 19:13-22

Tue.: Num. 16:20-35

Rom. 4:1-12

Matt. 19:23-30

Wed.: Num. 16:36-50

Rom. 4:13-25

Matt. 20:1-16

Thu.: Num. 17:1-11

Rom. 5:1-11

Matt. 20:17-28

Fri.: Num. 20:1-13

Rom. 5:12-21

Matt. 20:29-34

Sat.: Num. 20:14-29

Rom. 6:1-11

Matt. 21:1-11

Week of July 23:

Sun.: Num. 21:4-9,

21-35

Acts 17:(12-21)

23-24

Luke 13:10-17

Mon.: Num. 22:1-21

Rom. 6:12-23

Matt. 21:12-22

Tue.: Num. 22:21-38

Rom. 7:1-12

Matt. 21:23-32

Wed.: Num. 22:41-23:12

Rom. 7:13-25

Matt. 21:33-46

Thu.: Num. 23:11-26

Rom. 8:1-11

Matt. 22:1-14

Fri.: Num. 24:1-13

Rom. 8:12-17

Matt. 22:15-22

Sat.: Num. 24:12-25

Rom. 8:18-25

Matt. 22:23-40

Week of July 30:

Sun.: Num. 27:12-23

Acts 19:11-20

Mark 1:14-20

Mon.: Num. 32:1-6, 16-27

Rom. 8:26-30

Matt. 23:1-12

Tue.: Num. 35:1-3, 9-15,

30-34

Rom. 8:31-39

Matt. 23:13-26

Wed.: Deut. 1:1-18

Rom. 9:1-18

Matt. 23:27-39

Thu.: Deut. 3:18-28

Rom. 9:19-33

Matt. 24:1-14

Fri.: Deut. 31:7-13,24-

32:4

Rom. 10:1-13

Matt. 24:15-31

Sat.: Deut. 34:1-12

Rom. 10:14-21

Matt. 24:32-51

Fairhaven Community

Volunteer Service Group

June 19, 2017

The June meeting was opened by President Jan Young.

Devotions were given by Tiffin St. John’s.

Roll Call was: Volunteers – 20, Staff – 5.

Minutes of the May meeting were read and approved with minor

corrections.

Communications: A thank you was received from Fairhaven for the

wish list donations.

Treasury Balance - $502.95.

Gift Shop - $3,635.44.

Bingo Cup - $11.00.

Old Business:

Marcy gave a recap of the upcoming Harvest Fest. Set up for the event

will be at 1pm on Wednesday, September 27th, the day preceding the

event. It was also announced that Piece Makers offered to once again

donate items for the event.

Aurelia requested the names and contact information for the new

members (Donna Dursh from St. John’s Baseline, Laura Johnson from

Trinity Tiffin, and Rhonda Harvey from Galion First).

New Business:

None

Staff:

Various staff members expressed their thanks for the donation made by

the group for the wish list items. They also spoke about various

resident activities, such as OMA. There will be an OMA presentation

on July 12th from 3 to 4:30. Food will be available and everyone is

welcome. A reminder was once again made of the Giving Tree located

outside the Gift Shop. This was established by the residents and

contains tags anyone can take with a specified item listed to be

purchased and returned. Becky King closed the meeting “The Way” and prayer.

Next meeting will be July 17th. Devotions will be given by Baseline St.

John’s. Refreshments of ice cream sundaes will be furnished for the

residents.

Consistory Highlights

At its June meeting Pastor Darrin reported Saturday Night

Alive is going well with it being evaluated in a year.

Volunteers are really needed to provide food for the meal

offered after this service. Pastor Darrin will be attending the

General Synod from June 29-July 4. Rev. Frank Isaacs will sub

in his absence.

A baptism for Eloise Ruth Swick Higgins was held June

11. Mother's Day was recognized on May 14 with carnations

given to all women. Father's Day was recognized June 18 with

chocolate bars for the men.

The church sign outside has been painted and the railing near

the pavilion installed. The pews and carpeting will be cleaned

this summer while worship is held outside at the pavilion.

Regarding finances, giving continues to be at an 85%

level. Should that trend continue, the budget will be short by

$27,000. Expenses for going to the General Synod will be paid

from various accounts (not from Current Fund.) Electronic

giving is up and running. A contract has been made with

Muller Organ Company.

Vacation Bible School plans are going well. Children's books

are being collected by the Mission Committee for distribution

with the lunch program in July. The committee will collect

socks and underwear in August rather than the usual school

supplies.

The TV screens in the sanctuary seem to be operating better

with some changes having been made.

Volunteers to perform special music this summer are being

sought as the choirs are off for the summer.

Organ Repair

Payoff The Sterrett Fund will contribute

$48,000 over four years.

We need to fill the keys to get the rest.

$19,910 has been donated through June

25.

The colored in keyboard on the right is to represent the

progress in paying for our organ repair. Every $500 fills a key, and

when all keyboards from bass to treble are filled we will be “paid

off.” Contributions of all sizes are appreciated. If your

contribution is in honor or memory of someone, indicate that. We will

honor those people on our wall.

So far keys have been dedicated in memory/honor of:

Jo & David Bosh

Alesta & Herman Christman

Mary L. Court

David Curfman

The Goldsmith Family

Donna L. Miller

Cloyd & Mildred Rhinehart

Don & Dorothy Rhinehart

Susan Ritzhaupt

Robert (Bob) Ruth

Chuck & Linda Swick

Jack and Jerry Winters

YARD SALE!

Notice! 1st UCC will be having a HUGE yard sale in connection with

the Lincoln Highway Coast to Coast yard sale August 10th, 11th &

12th. Bring your items & volunteer hours! Call the office for drop off

information. Yard sale benefits the Organ Fund.

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Update from the Finance Committee

We have ended the second quarter of 2017. Regular envelope giving

remains down over last year. Through the end of June, here are the

year over year comparisons:

2016: $74,998

2017: $63,475

We will continue to monitor and make adjustments if needed, as a

decrease in giving affects our ability to stay within budget. We are

hopeful the numbers will improve in the second half of 2017.

Donations to the organ fund continue and we are grateful for the

support this project has received. Please note that donations to the

organ project are outside of the regular operating budget. The finance

committee is pleased to report that we now offer on line giving options

through our website. As always, thank you for your support of First

UCC.