News and Announcements
Special Thanks
• To Emily Schowalter and her family for providing Nursery Care on Sunday morning, January 7.
• To Nicki Lesnik and her family for taking down the sanctuary Christmas tree and storing all of the decorations.
• To Ken Matthews for conducting our Sunday morning service on New Year’s Eve.
• To Brett and Jennifer Dimmer, Tracy Greymont and Mike Spalding for providing special music at our 9:30 service on Christmas Eve.
• To our Senior Choir for providing special music at our 7:00 service on Christmas Eve.
• To Brett and Jennifer Dimmer and Mark MacRae for providing Christmas Brass at our 7:00 service on Christmas Eve.
• To the entire Cast of Characters in our annual Christmas Eve Pageant. Click here for a complete list and a few action photos.
• To Don Niederfrank for offering the Meditation on the Fourth Sunday of Advent.
• To our Christmas Tree Committee: David Franks and Louise Mollinger, Angelo and Cindy Lopez, Joe Rychtik, Ryan Soerens and Scott Symes for facilitating the entire sale.
Congratulations
• To Gary Drasch who recently published a book entitled Ham Radio is Alive and Well.From the Archives
December 27, 2017
December 20, 2017
December 13, 2017
December 5, 2017
INQUIRER’S GATHERING
This coming Sunday morning, January 14, Jeff Suddendorf will host an Inquirer’s Gathering for all those who are new to our church. We will meet in the Dennett Room at 11:15 and be on our way by Noon. Childcare will be provided in the Nursery. This is an opportunity to get to know one another and to learn more about the life and work of First Congregational Church. We will receive new members into our community of faith on Sunday morning, January 28.
CHURCH SCHOOL AND FAMILY SERVICES
Our Church School meets one Sunday each month at 10:00. We also celebrate a Family Service each month at 10:00. All children 4K through 7th grade are invited to participate. The next Church School Sunday is this coming Sunday, January 14. The next Family Service is Sunday, January 28.
CHILI DINNER
The Fellowship Team will be hosting a Chili Dinner on Wednesday evening, January 17, from 5:30 - 7:00, in Fellowship Hall. This is a wonderful opportunity to gather with others and enjoy a meal at church. Please bring your favorite chili and/or dessert to share! Mark your calendars for our annual Mardi Gras Pancake Dinner on Tuesday, February 13, and two Soup and Salad Dinners on Wednesdays, March 14 and April 18.
ANNUAL STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN
We are still in the process of wrapping up our annual Stewardship Campaign. Members and friends of the church are asked to make a formal pledge to support the church financially in the year to come. Please visit our Stewardship Page for more information or to complete the online pledge form.
WINTER CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
Our annual Winter Congregational Meeting has been scheduled for Sunday morning, January 28, immediately following the 10:00 service. Our two items of business are an end-of-the-year financial report and the approval of a 2018 Church Budget. All members of the church are encouraged to attend.
NURSERY
Each Sunday morning during the 10:00 service, we provide a nursery for children newborn through 4-years-old. Care is provided by our 8th grade Confirmation students and their families. Parents are required to register their children, and to sign their children in and out of the nursery. We want to do our very best to make the nursery a safe and secure environment.
WEDNESDAY LUNCH AT CHURCH
Each Wednesday at Noon, you are invited to meet Jeff at church for lunch and Bible study. The group always takes time to visit before reflecting upon the lectionary reading for the upcoming Sunday. Coffee is always provided, but please bring your own lunch.
MEN’S BREAKFAST
Men in the church are invited to gather for breakfast every Thursday morning, at 8:00, at the Dockside Deli. The group often has fun considering a Question of the Day. If you are able, please come and join the conversation.
YOGA AT CHURCH
A gentle yoga class is held in Fellowship Hall every Wednesday evening from 5:15 - 6:15. The cost is $10 per class. For more information, please contact Susan Niederfrank at susanniederfrank@gmail.com.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
An AA Group meets at our church every Sunday afternoon at 3:00. For more information, please contact the church office.
GLUTEN FREE COMMUNION
We continue to offer a gluten-free option for receiving the Sacrament of Holy Communion. The gluten-free communion bread is purchased commercially, and prepared separately, so that there is no chance of contact with our regular sourdough communion bread.
SNOW CANCELLATION POLICY
If it should be necessary to cancel one or both of our Sunday services, we will put a message on the church answering machine by 7:00 on Sunday morning. Please call the church office, 284-2022, if you have any doubts about the weather.
MISSED CHURCH?
If you wonder what you missed, CDs of the service are always available in the church office.