New and updates to welcome the new year!

Celebrating the Journey

January 2023

click on the image for the church calendar

In-Person Services & Livestreaming

Sundays, 10:00 am.

To view services, click on the church

Live-streamed services can be seen

on YouTube and Facebook

Masks are now optional throughout the church building

UPCOMING SPECIAL SERVICES

AND EVENTS

Ladies, Let's Roll!

Join us in Fellowship Hall on Friday, January 13, at 6:00 pm for our monthly game of Bunco!

All are welcome! Bring $5 and a snack to share. The pot will be donated to a charity, chosen by the winner(s) for the evening.

Men's Fellowship Breakfast

Let's eat! (and talk) on Saturday, January 14^th at 9:00 am. We'll have plenty of food and coffee - and some talking - join us - bring a friend! Can you guess who our Mystery Speaker will be?

Movies with Meaning!

Saturday, January 21st at 1:00 pm

This 2022 American coming-of-age drama film is inspired by the author's childhood experiences. Set in the 1980's, it follows a young Jewish-American boy who befriends an African-American classmate, and begins to struggle with expectations from his family, growing up in a world of privilege, inequality and prejudice. This film stars Anne Hathaway, Jeremy Strong, Banks Repeta, Jaylin Webb and Anthony Hopkins. (click on the image for the trailer)

MINISTRY OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Teaching Assistants

We are looking to fill the Teaching Assistant slots for January to March. Sign-Up sheets are in the Narthex!

Thank you!

Teen Faith in Action

In December, the Teens earned $395 for the ALITH Interfaith Food Pantry

Walking Cookie Sale was $350
Dog Toy Sales earned $45

Thank you for your contributions to this effort!

From the Deacons

Sunday, January 8

after worship

Let's all stay after church a bit to help the Deacons put the wonderful Christmas decorations back into storage. It won't take long if you can help us!

Would you like the opportunity to meet new people?

Then join the Happy Faces of our church! We want to make visitors feel welcome; members who say hello, show our visitors where to find coffee, and generally help them to feel comfortable. When visitors know that we are happy, they chose our church! They will come back. Show your happy smile. It's pretty simple.

Ministry of Missions

To order online

Fair Trade - Sunday January 8

Whether you come to the Fair Trade Table on the 2^nd Sunday monthly, or you call in your order to Nancy during the month, we thank you for your faithfulness to the goals of this program, benefiting those in need!

5th Sunday, January 29

In light of the on-going war in Ukraine, we will focus on this UCC Relief effort for our January 5th Sunday Offering.

MoM is looking for Suggestions for Volunteer Opportunities!

We are looking for suggestions that the Ministry of Missions can review or focus its efforts toward for Volunteer Opportunities. You can make your suggestions using our form, which you will find in the Narthex. Please provide as much detail as you can and be as specific as you can be. Thank you for your input!

If you have any questions, see Barb Erion!

What YOU did

for Missions last Fall

We had a few offerings we received in the fall that you might want to hear about:

Food Pantry our monthly 1st Sunday Food Pantry offerings continue to be strong, averaging about $170 each month.```

Jan 1 is our next Food Pantry Offering

Crop Walk - Barb and Don Schmidt raised over $1,000! What a marvelous effort.
Our Church's Wider Mission (OCWM) - averages about $400 monthly (over $2,000 since July!).
The Heavenly Attic donated $200 each month as follows: District 300's "Stuff the Bus" effort (Sept.), Turning Point (Oct.), Church Emergency Fund (Nov.), and the ALITH Interfaith Food Pantry (Dec.).
October 5th Sunday focused on the Extreme Weather Sheltering Program for PADS - we received just over $1,000 for the homeless.
Neighbors in Need was received in October at $640.

Thank you to this wonderful, generous congregation

for all that you do for others!

The Ministry of Missions

The Heavenly Attic made about $1,500 for charity in the month of December, and made a direct donation of goods to two new immigrant families from Ukraine.

During the three hours of Miracle on Main Event on December 3rd, we made more than we do on an average weekend! The church's candy give-away outside the shop, and the walk lit by the luminary, brought in lots of first-time shoppers. Having a warm shop on a cold night didn't hurt either!

Of course, none of this would be possible without donations to sell. Thank you to all who have brought items in and especially to Jeff Jolitz for remembering the shop with so many special items from his parent's estate.

JoAnn Schindler, co-manager HA

Remember our Shut-Ins

and those in need of prayer.

Click on the picture to request prayer!

Please remember also those currently recovering at home or struggling with on-going health concerns:

Mike Armato, Nancy Kneip, Joy McLaughlin, Pam Novak, Bobbie Reed, Tony Tarosas, Ed Turk and Carol Whitney.

Please remember our members who are unable to join us, with a card or a phone call.

Donna Brown

Dorothy Bogaard

Fred & Nancy Ekstrom

Dede & Gary Gray

Betty Imhoff

Claudette Treadwell

Mary Westerbeck

Rita Whitney

Valoyce Williams.

Contact the Church Office for a current Shut-In Roster, Birthday or Anniversary List. A current Church Directory is available in the Church Office.

Memorial Contributions

made in December are as follows

In Memory of Bob Kelley from Lori Martens

In Memory of Mandy Jolitz from Lori Martens and June Casterton

In Memory of Shirley Basler from Lynn Halton

In Memory of Joyce Horn from Pat Kramer

In Memory of Ken Thime from June Casterton, Howard & Kathy Dittmann, Jim & Barb Erion, Steve & Karen Guenther, Val Kalen, Ellen Kuroghlian, Sal & Pat Maggio, Lori Martens, Judy & Roger Miedema, Peg & Art Nesser, John & Pam Novak, Dan Reebel, Bobbie Reed, Lauren Aggen Sweet, Judy Szatkowski, The Thime/Grilli Family Trust, Greg & Bev Tipps, Richard Traub, Ann & Mike Venzon, Martha Wallace, Barb Weitz, Alice Woertendyke and Lucy Zielinski

Special Christmas Memorials

In Memory of the Norris Family (Sally Cope, Lois Norris & Ryan Stevens) from Marcia Wager
In Memory of Bonnie Soukup from Robert Soukup
In Memory of Bob & Robert Woertendyke from Alice Woertendyke
In Memory of Bill & Rosemary Soto from Cecelia & Ray Kratz
In Memory of those we've lost in our Church Family from Betty Paldauf
In Memory of my Neighbors, Sally Cope & Amanda Jolitz from Robert Shea

Memorial Donations can be made at any time, for any person you should choose. Be sure to note for whom, and how much this donation is so it is clear. Donations can be made by check, in cash, or online.