| WORSHIP this SUNDAY
We continue to worship on Facebook live at 10:30 Sunday mornings. We also have worship on our website and by CD’s. If you need help connecting, let the office know.
During the month of June we focus on a new series, “Listen”. We will quiet things down and heighten our attention to the “still, small voice” of God and our own true self. Listening through prayer as well as meditation on sacred texts is an ancient spiritual practice. We invite you to join us, to find a place of quiet rest and listen.
RETIRING
This will be Patricia Kerr’s last Sunday with us as our Music Director. She is officially retiring, a second time! Patricia has brought energy and joy to our worship and has been a delightful and creative presence with us over the years. She even came out of retirement to work with us a second time.
During these past three months, she and Adam Peterson, have added so much to our online worship. Without this wonderful music worship would have been just a talking head. We are sad to say goodbye, but send Patricia off with our blessings. We hope in the future to have her back for some special music. Thank you Patricia for the many gifts you have shared with us.
Tuesday Prayer Group
The Prayer Group meets on line Tuesday’s at 1:30 p.m. You can join the meeting by going to Zoom.us and go to JOIN A MEETING. There you will enter the phone number 269-214-8924.
If you have prayer requests, please let us know. These will be added to the Tuesday and Sunday lists .
Please hold the following in your prayers this week:
- Lisa Pietenpol—car accident
- Al Lyon—broken wrist
- Steve Siler
- Rick Siler
- Brad Ayers
- Elsie Hoffman—3 yr. old great-granddaughter of Ann Gruber
- Juanita Wellever—Florida
- Craig Arms
All affected by the Coronavirus. (CoVid 19)
Prayers for resolutions in a peaceful manner.
We pray for our brothers and sisters at First Congregational (ONA) in Kalamazoo.
Burger Burn
A meal to reconnect with the young adults of the church put on by Young Adult Ministry group.
Please join us for burgers in an outdoor picnic. Social distancing will be observed.
The whole family is welcome to join us for this event!
When:
Sunday, June 28th at 12:30 pm
Where:
First Congregational Church
Our new musician
Lane Alsup will be joining us for the rest of the summer and hopefully into the fall, as our worship musician. Lane is a Music Education student at Western Michigan and lives in Coloma. We are excited to have him with us. He will join us on July 5th.
SIGN LANGUAGE
The church is looking for some people who know sign language. We want to use sign language to enhance a song during the offering this summer. If you would be willing to assist please contact Pastor Dick or Pastor Mike.
Youth Biking Event
Thanks to the youth and the Youth Ministry Team who rode their bikes on June 14 to raise money for the Haiti orphanage. Send checks made out to the church and place in the memo YOUTH BIKE TRIP.
In person worship will begin on July 5th We will still be live streaming worship as well. A detailed letter will be sent out on Monday with instructions about in person worship. The following is an introduction about what to expect:
The doors to the sanctuary will open at 10:15! Before that, people are invited to remain in their cars or they can stand 6 feet apart on the sidewalk outside.
Church doors will be propped open. When you enter you will be verbally greeted (no handshaking!) and welcomed. You will be reminded to maintain social distance and asked to wear a mask. If you don’t have one, a mask will be provided.
At the doors to the sanctuary, another team member will greet you and sign your family in. (This is important so that we have a record of who is attending in case someone comes down with the virus later on.) At this station, an offering plate will be available for people to bring their gift.
You will then be escorted to the next available pew by a third team member. We will be using every other pew and spacing people within each pew.
During the service there will be no congregational singing, Adam Peterson will sing for us along with special music.
At the end of the service you will be dismissed pew by pew.
This will all take some time to get use to but most likely this is how we will be worshiping for some time.
Castlemania
Thanks to the Children’s Ministry Team for the great children’s event last Saturday. All families won prizes for their amazing sand castles.
Mission News
Sandy J., a migrant service worker with the state of Michigan stopped at the Food Pantry this week. She was helping 3 migrant families that had arrived from Florida. We were able to give each family food. She was also looking for masks for them to wear, we had a couple.
Then she asked about where to get bedding and towels. We had some downstairs for the rummage sale and she took those and was very grateful.
The Mission Board has approved to support migrant families over the next couple of weeks. We are collecting old sheets, blankets or towels (or new ones) for these workers. You can bring them to the church. Thank you.
Address Directory
Copies are available in the church office, and in the Narthex when in-house worship begins. An 8 1/2 x11 and 5 1/2×8 1/2 will be available.
You also have the ability to receive it electronically as a PDF document. If you would like this option please email the church office.
Greetings from Florida
We have spent every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. with you the last few months and have, once again, felt like part of the UCC family!
We have enclosed a check for the church, which part is for the Youth Bike fundraiser.
Our FCC church returns to the sanctuary this Sunday so we’ll have to join by video from now on.
As summer arrives, we are sad to not be able to join you this summer. But know that you are always in our prayers.
Hugs, Sue & Roger Kirkpatrick
How Can You Help
You can mail weekly church offerings to:
First Congregational Church
651 Phoenix Street
South Haven, MI 49090
Pastors
Jeffrey Dick 269-214-8924
Mike Tupper 269-303-3743
Church Office: 268-637-3804
Masks
The church is handing out cloth masks. If you make these and would like to donate some for the church, that would be most helpful. We are most thankful for the ones that have been donated so far.
Thank you.
Church Building: Here at church the doors are locked and the church building is closed. Victoria will be here in the office M/W/F from 9:30—1:30 to do the most needed work. Pastor Dick will be here as well on a limited basis.
The Food Pantry continues to be open Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 10 to noon. Very steady flow of people coming through. We are very thankful for the many donations of food and money from members and friends. Thank you. |
