Faith for Thought

Faith for Thought is a bi-weekly offering of the

Michigan Conference United Church of Christ

December 4, 2015

The Michigan Conference joins with those who are grieving in San Bernardino, California in the wake of another senseless shooting. We also stand with those seeking to stop gun violence in our country. We will again say, "please pray for the victims and their families;" and we will again add, "please advocate for justice, non-violence and peace."

Campbell Lovett

In today's Faith for Thought, Conference Minister, Campbell Lovett, works on the metaphor of the local church as rescue boat.

Our joy at Christmas is a response to God's promise of new life through the birth of Jesus. It is a joy we are called to share widely, through our witness and gifts, both to loved ones and to distant neighbors. RI UCC churches have the opportunity annually to give gifts that will care for active and retired clergy as well as lay employees of the UCC through participation in the Christmas Fund Offering. Gifts to the Christmas Fund provide for the Supplementation of Small Annuities, Supplementation of Health Premiums, Emergency Grants, as well as Christmas "Thank You" Gift checks for low-income retirees.

Gifts are needed - more than ever - to help the growing number of retirees whose low-income annuities make it difficult to meet increasing living costs. Participate in God's promise of renewal by enabling this ministry of compassion and care. Congregations are encouraged to receive the Christmas Fund offering annually - perhaps on Christmas Sunday - December 20th. For more information go to www.pbucc.org and search for Christmas Fund. Offering envelopes and posters may be ordered from United Church Resources: (800) 537-3394.

IMPORTANT REMINDER

All of your church's 2015 contributions must be received in the Michigan Conference office by Friday, January 15, 2016.

All contributions received after that date will be credited to the year 2016. Please be sure to your remittance forms are clearly marked.

If you have any questions, please contact Bob Heisler (bob@michucc.org) (517)332-3511.

Thank You!

MUCCY (Michigan UCC Youth)

MUCCY is encouraging our youth to participate together in a series of upcoming events hosted at our UCC Churches. We have had a tradition of doing so for events such as Winterfest (skiing), but we are looking to include other fun outings for all--from fun to mission minded events. Our next event is hosted at:

First Congregational Church

403 S Jefferson Ave

Saginaw, MI 48607

STAR WARS youth Shut-in!

December 19-20

The fun starts at 9am and continues with through the Sunday Service... done after lunch on Sunday....

We will watch the old movies, eat, play and watch the new one together-- we will sponsor those who cannot afford the movie...so come one, come all!

For information contact Annie 989-992-5248

Joys & Concerns

Congratulations and Happy Anniversary this year to the churches listed below. We thank God for your mission and ministry and for being part of the United Church of Christ, Michigan Conference. We celebrate your years of witness and service in your communities and ask God's blessings for your members and church staff.

180th Anniversary
Congregational UCC, Galesburg
Federated Church of Grass Lake

175th Anniversary
Bethel UCC, Manchester
First Congregational UCC, Owosso
First Congregational UCC, Port Huron

170th Anniversary
Congregational UCC, Olivet

165th Anniversary
St. Paul's UCC, Watervliet

160th Anniversary
United Church of Christ, Newaygo

155th Anniversary
First Congregational UCC, Benzonia

St. John UCC, New Buffalo

St. John's UCC, Niles

The United Church of Ovid

150th Anniversary
Congregational UCC, Leslie
St. Paul Church, UCC, Chelsea

145th Anniversary

Community Church, Ludington

St. John UCC, Wyandotte

140th Anniversary

Congregational UCC, Hudsonville

First Congregational Church, Fremont

First Congregational Church, Bay City

Salem UCC, Farmington

135th Anniversary
First UCC, Bay City

St. John's UCC, Grand Rapids

Union UCC, Tekonsha

130th Anniversary

Trinity-St. Mark's UCC, Detroit

115th Anniversary

St. John's UCC, Marine City

105th Anniversary

Zion Evangelical UCC, St. Joseph

Comstock Park Congregational Church, Comstock Park

85th Anniversary

Mayflower Congregational UCC, Detroit

75th Anniversary

Grosse Pointe Congregational UCC, Grosse Pointe Farms

60th Anniversary

Haslett Community Church, Haslett

55th Anniversary

Faith-Trinity UCC, Warren

United Church of Wayland

50th Anniversary

Trinity UCC, Northport

45th Anniversary

United Church of Christ, Midland

35th Anniversary

Philippine American Ecumenical Church, U.S.A., Ferndale

25th Anniversary

Church of South India, Sterling Heights

St. Stephen's Community Church, UCC, Lansing

Please hold in your thoughts and prayers, Rev. Steven Lashbrook (former pastor of First Congregational UCC, Manistee) and his family on the death of his brother Peter Lashbrook, who passed away on Sunday, November 22, 2015. A memorial service was held on Friday, November 27 at the First Congregational UCC in Manistee. Cards can be mailed to: 7022 Lake Ann Rd., Lake Ann, MI 49650.

Please continue to pray for Rev. Deborah Dean-Ware, pastor of Church of the Good Shepherd in Ann Arbor, as she continues her fight against breast cancer. Deborah is blogging about her experience at:

Pastoring Into the Unknown: Living With Breast Cancer While Being a Pastor, Mother, and Wife.

Please continue to lift up the Rev. Sherry Schacht (Eastern Association; retired pastor) and her family with prayers filled with strength and courage - determination and faith - love and comfort.

Wishing you a blessed day and wonderful weekend!

Michigan Conference

United Church of Christ

P.O. Box 1006

East Lansing, MI 48826-1006

517.332.3511

www.michucc.org