Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
~Contents~
From the Pastor’s Desk …… Page 1 & 2
Summer Outdoor Worship …….. Page 2
WFC’s Bible Study & Mtg ………. Page 3
Summer Choir Practices ………... Page 3
Fellowship Hosts ………………… Page 3
Scripture Readers ……………….. Page 3
Nursery Workers ………………… Page 3
Welcome Team …………………… Page 3
Summer Bible Study .…………… Page 3
July Activities Calendar ……...... Page 4
Summer Sunday School ………... Page 5
Christian Neighbors Cereal ……. Page 5
Birthdays & Anniversaries ……. Page 6
HS Open House Invite …………. Page 6
News from the Pews ……………. Page 6
Smile Train/Summer Mission …. Page 6
Pastoral Visits …………………… Page 7
Contact Information …………….. Page 7
MI Cong. Summer Camp ……….. Page 7
5k Event Group …..……………... Page 7
All Faiths’ Block Party .………… Page 7
Our Covenant We covenant with the Lord and one with another, and do bind ourselves in the presence of God, to walk together in all his ways, according as he is pleased to reveal himself unto us in his blessed word of truth.
Our Goal The church exists to change lives. That's what we're about. It's simple to say, harder to live. Every single week, we find a way to love God through worship, one another through fellowship, and the Saugatuck/Douglas area through simple acts of service. We don't always get it right. But we have fun trying.
The Lakeshore Congregationalist July 2017
A Publication of First Congregational Church of Saugatuck
Serving our community since 1860
“Where there is no vision, the people perish.”
Proverbs 29:18a
As I write this article I’m
a waiting the dryer to sound it’s
“I’m finished!” buzz so that I
can finish packing to leave for
the National Association of
Congregational Christian Churches Annual Meeting
and Conference, at Piedmont College in Georgia. I
look forward to this conference every year, not only
because it is a place to savor blessed fellowship with
our Congregational brothers and sister from all over
the country (and all over the world as we greet our
missionaries and international partners), but also
because I greedily get to pick the brains of some of the
wisest people I know. I ask them endless questions…
I seek advice on the occasional church conundrum, I
ask them for their perspective on Scripture that has
convicted my heart… but mostly I eagerly await their
inspiration! The Annual Meeting is always alive with
ideas on how to engage the Gospel in new ways and
ideas on how to strengthen the family bond of the
local church.
This year is unique though, while I usually
attend as one eager to drink from the fire hose of
vision, this year I come prepared to add to that
surge. I’ll be presenting some of YOUR thoughts on
what it means to be a Thriving Church! I know I’ve
talked about that a lot lately... but it is just that
exciting! While we are close to thriving in some
areas, and miles away in others- we nevertheless are
in a season of seeking, exploring, and trying. And our
efforts have yielded some wisdom that it is my
privilege to share forward.
Continued
The Lakeshore Congregationalist July 2017 Page 2
From the Pastor’s Desk continued
While thinking about our unique
church, in this unique space in time,
there is something that stuck me
recently as I waded through your
thoughts and ideas; it was a special
kind of question and challenge before
us.
Saugatuck is ever changing,
evolving and shifting. Between our
summer time guests, businesses
coming and going, a facility that lays
at the heart of this busy town, and a
congregation that is deeply engaged
with the ebb and flows of the
seasons… what is our Sunday worship meant to be? The answer to that
question might be obvious, for
certainly it is a time of prayer and
praise, learning and connecting,
Sabbath and sacrament. But in our
shifting Saugatuck context, I dare say
that worship should be/could be
something deeply simpler: A brush
with grace!
So many of you offered me your
thoughts on what we (as a community)
are good at or are working on, and so
many of those thoughts were
originally about hospitality and
openness, acceptance and
innovation. We are a people of God’s
grace! We gather to experience it. We
work together to offer it. We serve our
world in honor of it.
Our worship, our work, our
witness and welcome… they are all
about brushing against the grace of
God. For the onetime summer visitor
to the longtime member, we come
together to create an experience that
our Lord can take and run with.
Children of God, I encourage you to think
deeply about what it means to encounter God’s grace
yourself, and what we can each do to create more
opportunities and spaces for all others to brush
against it as well. Blessings to you in your ministry!
All together in Christ,
Pastor Sarah
1-989- 640-1487 [email protected]
Pastor Sarah’s Office Hours:
Tues, Weds, Thurs 12pm-5pm &
Fri 9am-12pm.
Office Mgr. Kathleen Slawson
will be in the office
Tues, Weds, Thurs 9am-11am
The Lakeshore Congregationalist July 2017 Page 3
Women’s Fellowship
Circle
On Tuesday, July 11th @
10am, the ladies will
meet in The Fellowship
Hall for a time of
fellowship, time in the
Word and a time in prayer. All
women are invited.
Hello Choristers! Chancel Choir sings
the praises of the Lord
during the worship
service, once a
month.
The Summer Rehearsal schedule is as
follows: Sundays, July 16th & August
20th, at 9am in the Fellow-ship Hall.
The choir will then sing during
worship, on those same Sunday
mornings. For more info contact Cathy
Brockington, 269-857-2146.
Fellowship Host
Schedule
July
2 Diaconate Board
9 The Boyce Family
16 Lampen & Birkholz Families
23 Char & Thom Houseman
30 Vic & Jane Mayer, Kathy & Dale
Plapp
Scripture Reader’s
Schedule
July 2 - Linda Escott
July 9 - OPEN
July 16 - Cindy Raue
July 23 - OPEN
July 30 - OPEN
Workers’ Schedule
July
2 Barry Clark
9 Myrna Dornan
16 Laurie Birkholz
23 OPEN
30 Robert Boyce
Sunday Morning Greeters
Volunteers are needed for every
Sunday in July.
To fill open Sundays please sign up on the clip-
boards, located at the Welcome Desk, or contact Linda
Escott.
To everyone who signs up and serves in these
varied avenues of ministry; you are greatly
appreciated for your acts of love towards others, and
on behalf of the church. Thank you!
Summer Bible Study
Can I Ask That?
Tuesdays @ 7pm,
July 18th-Aug 22nd
Join us for our Summer Bible Study series, Can I Ask That? Every Tuesday evening at 7pm. We will be
taking a page from our youth’s book and asking some
of the fascinating question that they have been
studying all year long in Donut Club.
Can I trust the Bible?
Can I be a Christian and believe in evolution?
Does God discriminate against women?
Is Jesus really the only way to God?
Does God endorse violence?
Is Hell real? How could God send someone there?
Come and explore these challenging and enlightening
questions!
The Lakeshore Congregationalist July 2017 Page 4
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1
2 Communion Sunday
3
4 Independence
Day
Office Closed
5
6
7 10am GROOVE Exercise Class
8 2-4pm Amber Wingard’s HS Graduation Open House in the Fellowship Hall – Church Family invited
9 10:00am Outdoor Worship Service
11:15am Trustee Board meeting
2pm Worship Service at Grace of Douglas
10 7pm Prudential Board meeting
7pm District AA meeting
11 10am WFC’s meeting & Bible Study
12
13
14
10am GROOVE Exercise Class
15
16
9am Choir practice, sing during worship
17
18 7pm Weekly Summer Bible Study begins
19 August Newsletter submissions’ deadline
20
21 10am GROOVE Exercise Class
22 2-4pm All Faiths’ Community Block Party @ Saugatuck CRC
23 Bob Ruddy plays organ during worship
24
25 7pm Summer Bible Study
26 27 28 10am GROOVE Exercise Class
29
30 11:20am Diaconate Board meeting
July 2017
First Congregational Church Activity Calendar Sunday Worship Services – 10:00am Nursery Provided Communion will be served 1st Sunday of the month Sunday School – 10:15am Social Hour after Worship – 11:00am
MI Congregational Summer Camp July 9th-14th at Camp Ohiyesa in Holly, MI
The Lakeshore Congregationalist July 2017 Page 5
Summer Sunday School
Summer Sunday School starts June 4
and runs thru August 27. Pre-school
age through 5th grade, make use of our
outside grassy area most Sunday's, so
dress appropriately.
Key Passages for July are:
Sharks
Luke 10:38-42, At the Home of Mary
and Martha
We need to make time to slow down
and listen to God.
Stingrays
1 Kings 19:1-18, Elijah flees to Horeb
God will always be there for us.
Whales
Exodus 14:5-31, Crossing the Red Sea
God is greater then we can ever
imagine!
Starfish
Genesis 15:1-7, God’s Covenant with
Abram
God blesses us more then we will ever
know.
Come and join us as we study the
Bible and about various sea creatures.
Each week we have a mini skit, Bible
story, fun and craft.
Parents each week a special flyer is
sent home to help you and your child
go over the lessons. It is helpful and
gives fun ideas. It is called “Make it
Stick".
Memory work for the summer:
"Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all
creation, will be able to separate us from the love of
God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
- Romans 8:39 (NIV)
Offerings: Are going to The Smile Train. Our students
are coordinating with the adult congregation, in this
mission emphasis for the summer.
Donut Club (grades 6 - 12) will be taking a summer
sabbatical and will resume classes in the fall.
Children this age are welcome to join the adults in the
sanctuary for worship, or stay to assist with the
younger students.
Visitors: Visitors are always welcome to join us for
classes. It does not matter your age; you are always
welcome in our classrooms.
Please save the following for Upcoming Sunday
School Projects:
Bottle caps…plastic & metal all colors…this means
water, pop, juice, anything…T.P. tubes, Paper towel
tubes, Clean, foam meat trays, and Plastic sherbet
or ice cream containers are needed for upcoming
Sunday School art projects! Please bring in these
items so that our children can “up-cycle" them into
something great. There is box for your donations in
the narthex.
Christian Neighbors Cereal Collection
So far we have
collected 59 boxes of
kid friendly cereal for
the food pantry at
Christian Neighbors!
When school is out for
the summer the pantry receives a huge increase in
requests for cereal from the families they serve. Next
time you are at the grocery store, think about picking
up an extra box. There is a donation basket near the
handicap entrance for contributions.
The Lakeshore Congregationalist July 2017 Page 6
July Celebrations
July 4 – Andrew Rudich
July 11 – Keenan Faber
July 13 – Blake Wolffis
July 15 – Myrna Dornan
July 15 – Sydney Baker
July 21 – Lydia Battjes
July 21 – Catherine Moore
July 22 – Patricia Gentry
July 23 – Alex Brockington
July 23 – Peggy Boyce
July 24 – Avery Brockington
July 26 – Elizabeth DeBoer
July 27 – Andra Stormer
July 29 – Thom Houseman
July 7 – Steve & Terri Borgman
If you notice that your birthday or
anniversary was omitted just call the
church office (269-857-2929) and
update our records. Thank you!
The Wingard
Family would
like to invite
you to Amber’s
High School
Graduation Open House Celebration.
Saturday, July 8th, from 2-4pm, held
here in the church’s Fellowship Hall.
News from the Pews
“Jesus comforts those who mourn & binds up their
broken hearts.”
• Pray for Myrna Dornan and extended family
members, as her sister-in-law Donna Kossen passed
away in June.
• Pray for the family & friends of Janel Davis, who
also passed away in June.
“I am the God that healeth thee.”
• Pray for Diana Theilgaard-Hoppe as she recovers
from radiation, surgery & treatment for a cancerous
tumor, found attached to her eye.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.”
• “Thank you to everyone who has kept me in your
prayers during this tough time in my life. It means
so much to me to know you are holding me up in
prayer. Also, thank you to those who have brought
meals over for my brother and me. This act of
kindness is greatly appreciated. Blessings, Diana
Theilgaard-Hoppe”
“Just keep moving, just keep moving!”
• GROOVE Exercise Class continues here at the
church 10am, every Friday. Cost is $7 per session.
Summer
Mission
Focus This summer the congregation is supporting the
Smile Train, an international ministry that provides
lip and cleft palate surgeries to children in
developing nations. Each surgery costs about
$250. The congregation has set a goal of sponsoring
six surgeries, and we are well on our way! So far to
date, we have collected just over $700.
The Lakeshore Congregationalist July 2017 Page 7
Pastoral Visits
Due to strict privacy laws, hospitals
are not allowed to inform the Church
Office if you are admitted for
treatment. Sometimes
the Spiritual Care Office will inform
the church if specifically requested,
but we shouldn’t count on this
happening. Please call us if you are ill
so that we can be in touch and offer
our good wishes and prayers.
Pastor Sarah makes pastoral calls at
homes and hospitals by need and
request, so please contact her or the
Church Office and she would be happy
to visit with you.
Also, if you have an upcoming pro-
cedure or know you will be off your
feet for a while, our Shepherds are
happy to help coordinate meal
delivery. Just stay in touch with
Pastor Sarah!
FCC’s Contact Information:
Church Address: 296 Hoffman St,
PO Box 633, Saugatuck, MI 49453
Church Phone: 269-857-2929, after
hours it will go to our answering
machine.
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.1stcongregational.net
Facebook: 1st Congregational
Saugatuck
MI Congregational Summer Camp
July 9th-14th at Camp Ohiyesa in
Holly, MI. Please remember to pray
for the kids attending camp from all of
our Michigan sister churches. This
year’s theme is “Planet Earth!” They
will explore God’s creation, learn
about kingdom gardeners, & have a
whole lot of fun!
5k Event Group
Calling all Runners
(Walkers too!)
Calling all runners, walkers,
and even those who just
enjoy a nice mosey every now and again! Join us for
our new 5K running/walking group!
There is a bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall
featuring event information and sign-ups for local
charity races. Let’s run them/ walk them together!
What a fun way to support area ministries and
causes, while celebrating our time of fellowship
together. Our next event is:
Camp Sunshine/Run For the Sun - Wednesday, July
19th @ 6:30pm (Hope College) To register click on
their link at:
https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Holland/CampSunsh
ineRunfortheSun
Let Pastor Sarah know if will be participating in
this event. Our group will gather shortly before the
start for prayer and encouragement.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
All Faiths’ Community
Block Party
Saturday, July 22nd, 4-6pm
Hosted by Saugatuck Christian
Reformed Church
(corner of Old Allegan Rd & Blue Star Hwy)
The Saugatuck/Douglas Ministerial Association
invites you to attend the All Faiths’ Community Block
Party! There will be plenty of games and activities for
the kids, at this family, friendly event, including a
bounce house and barrel train.
