Will April showers bring May flowers?  We certainly could use a splash of color to brighten up our lives. I trust you are fairing well during these times as home.  Continue to be safe, to take care of yourself and be kind to others.

This newsletter bring a bit more as it serves to include some items normally found in a monthly newsletter.

WORSHIP

We continue to worship on Facebook live for the time being. We also have worship on our website and by CD’s. If you need help connecting, let the office know.

In May we continue a service called Heart of the Matter. There are some ways you can prepare at home for this celebration.

1) Worry Stone: Each week we will mention and use a “worry stone.” This can be any type of stone. If you want, you can paint or draw a heart on it. This is a great idea for children. If you do paint one, please share it with us online. It could be a stone from your garden or a stone you collected from some place that you have on a shelf. Simple or elegant.

2) Food: Each Sunday we will recall how the early church would gather as noted in Acts 2:46-47: “Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.”

So, you are invited to have something simple to eat during worship. Maybe a piece of bread (toast and jam), a danish, some fruit, or even something larger if you like. We will offer a word of grace and provide a time to eat with scripture and music playing.

3) Candle: Each Sunday we invite you to light a candle as a part of worship. Any type of candle is fine.

Communion:  This Sunday, May 3rd, we will celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion.  You are invited to have a piece of bread and some juice, or wine, to celebrate with at home. If you cannot join us for worship but would still like to have communion Pastor Dick can do that by a phone call.  Give the church office a call to set up a time.

This Sunday, our scripture reading is the 23rd Psalm.  Rev. Michael Tupper will begin being a part of worship this Sunday and will leave the communion part of the service.  Our special music guests will be Chip and Dolly Harris.   Last Sunday, Karen Ruesink provided our special music.  We are blessed by these musical gifts.

Devotionals

The May/June Upper Room has arrived.  We also have the most recent copy of These Days.  If you would like a copy of either of these daily devotionals, you can stop by during the Food Pantry Hours (M/W/F from 10 to noon) or call the church office and one can be delivered to you.

Tuesday Prayer Group

The Tuesday Prayer Group continues to meet online and by phone Tuesdays at 1:30.   If you would like to connect give Pastor Dick a call,   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:

• Greg O’Niel
• Lynn Hiscock
• Karen Morey
• Bob Sollman
• Rick Olsen
• Lew Parsell
• Michael Hoyt
• Sophia Cochran
• Irene Elmer
• Rick (Lynda Sharpe’s brother in hospital)
• CJ Johnson and his wife Verlene
• All affected by the Coronavirus. (CoVid 19)

We pray for our brothers and sisters at St. Paul’s UCC in Watervliet.

stewardship noun
\ ‘stu-erd-,ship
1. The office, duties, and obligations of a steward.
2. The conducting, supervising, or managing of something
Especially: the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.

As Christians, we are called by our faith to be “good stewards” of our resources and the world around us. There’s a new Stewardship Committee within our church family and we’re excited to be a part of it! Currently, we’re learning about the different aspects of our church. We’re working on preparing ways to share “Our Story” with members and friends and look forward to sharing it with you!

We hope you’ll join us this year as we begin educating ourselves and our church family about the blessings of stewardship and what that can mean for us together. After all….God has entrusted us with “the careful and responsible management” of both our faith and His church. You’re invited!

2020 Stewardship Committee,
Doug Gruber (Chairman), Susan Murphey & Linda Olsen

The Diaconate will meet on Tuesday by Zoom.

College Graduates:  We celebrate that Thomas Lyon and Madison Nelson have graduated from MSU with their undergraduate degrees.  Celeste Wheeler has also graduated from MSU with her Masters Degree in Science.    Congrats to each of them!

Wanted for art projects

Reader’s Digest condensed version books

Metal bowls, colanders, round baking pans, jello molds, etc.

Colored glassware  i.e. plates, cups, vases, bowls, etc.

The above is appreciated, any condition.

Contact Kris Ayers to donate, 637-8762

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.

How Can We Help

You should be receiving a call from a member of the church each week to see how you are doing.  If there is something at the church we can assist you with, please let them know or call the church.

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

During these times of staying home, we trust that you are taking care of yourself, getting outside for a walk when the sun is shinning.