Faith for Thought

Faith for Thought is a bi-weekly offering of the

Michigan Conference United Church of Christ

December 18, 2015

In today's Faith for Thought, we hear about Christmas Conversations and three things we can do to help make the upcoming Christmas season more meaningful.

It's that time again...time for
Yearbook Data Input!

We need your help this year - maybe more than ever!

It's time again for Yearbook Data input and we are encouraging and praying that all of our churches will participate before the March 7th, 2016 deadline.

Churches will again input their own information directly into the UCC Data Hub. The Data Hub is open for church data input as of January 4, 2016.

Please click on the link below to follow instructions and find new information for inputting your church data.

We would really appreciate your help in increasing our reporting response this year!

Unfortunately, the Michigan Conference UCC dropped in our reporting percentage last year from 10th place to 16th place - a 9% decrease from 2013!

With a little extra effort we can push ourselves back up to the Top 10! Let's show our strength and get our results in as soon as possible! Wouldn't it be an awesome sight to have ALL of our Michigan Conference Churches reporting this year!

We are only a phone call or email away to help with any questions you may have. We can also input your information for you if you need assistance - just let us know!

Church Yearbook Reporting

Thanks so much for your help!

Launching '2016: A Year of Faith and Peace'

The Michigan Conference of the United Church of Christ invites Southeast Michigan clergy and church members to this special gathering for people of faith to stand together.

This year, we will seek to understand one another. We will stand together with our friends of all faiths. We will unite against fear. And we will stand up for religious freedom. Next Tuesday morning we will come together at the Islamic Center of America to launch '2016: A Year of Faith and Peace.'

Our community is captured by fear. There is much talk of abandoning some of our most cherished faith values.

The antidote is standing up for our common faith values.

"Our metropolitan communities of faith have been looking for an opportunity to publicly express their strongly felt faith values," says IFLC chair Bob Bruttell.

"We need to stand together, comfort one another, and commit to working together to solve these problems as people of faith," says Bruttell.

During this season of peace, Christmas, Hanukkah and the birth of the Prophet, our faith leaders will kick off a year of events that will reinforce our faith and help to calm our fears. In the current charged atmosphere we must commit ourselves to actively working toward more understanding, creating friendships and building community.

During all of 2016 IFLC and the interfaith community will introduce adult literacy programs, religious diversity immersion programs, congregational exchanges, interfaith dinners, open houses, and other innovative educational events designed to help our community develop understanding and bonds of friendship.

"We cannot allow terrorism and intemperate political statements to displace our faith values. It's as simple, as important and as critical as that. Our better angels require us to seek peace, generate good will and care for each other," Bob emphasized.

Come join us on Tuesday, December 22, at 10 am, at the Islamic Center of America - 19500 Ford Rd, Dearborn, MI 48128. The public is invited and welcome.

Together we will keep the faith that overcomes fear.

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!

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.

Joys & Concerns

Watch for information on these important events!

February 2016: Immanuel Scholarship Information
March 5th, 2016: Vitality Day! (tentative)

April 23rd, 2016: Festival of Faith

May 5th, 2016: Boundary Training (location to be determined)

May 13th, 2016: Chaplain's Day Away

August 2016: Prophetic Integrity MAT - Social Justice Grant Info

Sept. 22, 2016: Boundary Training @ St. Francis Retreat Ctr, Dewitt

October 14-15, 2016: MI Conf UCC - Annual Meeting in Flint, MI

In Our Thoughts & Prayers

We are saddened to share the news of the passing of the Rev. Rosemary "Romi" Chaffee (Retired Pastor - Covenant Association) on Tuesday, December 15, 2015; she was 92. She was ordained at the Haslett Community Church in Haslett, MI in 1989. Romi was a trained Intentional Interim Specialist and Consultant and served several churches in the Covenant Association (First Cong'l UCC, Owosso, First Cong'l UCC, Chelsea, Church of the Good Shepherd, Ann Arbor, Leslie Cong'l Church, Leslie, Grandville-Jenison UCC, Grandville). She also served as a Michigan Conference representative to the Michigan Council of Churches and other Conference committees and commissions. A memorial service will be held in late winter or early spring at the Haslett Community Church. When we have this information we will be sure to share it with you. Please lift up Romi's family in your prayers filled with support and strength to comfort them during this difficult time.

Please hold in your hearts and in your prayers the Rev. Deborah Dean-Ware and her family as they mourn the loss of Deborah's father, Don Maxwell Dean, 81, who passed away on December 11, 2015. A memorial service was held Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Amarillo, TX. OBITUARY

Word has come to the Conference Office of the recent death of David Bullis. He died at home in Iowa of cancer. David served churches in Michigan in the 1980's and 90's. Our condolences are sent forth to his friends and family.

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