This Sunday!

At 9AM enjoy a special service of music from our bell and vocal choirs. At 11 AM, the children and Pastor Beau present our Christmas Pageant, "Biblical Shark Tank."

Dear Avon Lake UCC Members and Friends,

I have four important items to share with you today:

1.    I had lunch with Mark Pettis on Monday; we are both so excited about the future of Avon Lake UCC! You are in good hands, church!! See below for details about how to meet Mark before the candidating Sunday, December 22.

2.    I ended my day on Monday with a difficult budget meeting. We are experiencing a shortfall in contributions for 2024 and a shortfall in pledged giving for 2025. I know that some of you reading this email are already giving sacrificially: thank you! Some of you may be able to give more to support this phenomenal church and its mission and ministry – either on a one-time basis with a year-end donation, or on an ongoing basis. And some of you have not yet begun supporting the church financially. Every gift matters! Here are ways you may donate:

Donate securely online now or through your Realm App

Pledge to support mission and ministry in 2025

Visit our Giving page for more information: https://avonlakeucc.org/give

You may also increase your pledge for 2025!

3.    Sunday night I met with the Good Neighbor Grant Committee. We had received 24 grant requests. We were able to give to 18 of the 24; the total amount that will be given is $175,000. Many thanks to the committee: Deborah Bracy, Manoj Kumar, Jen Miller and Jamie Wise. Many thanks to everyone who contributes to the success of the Good Neighbor Thrift Shop: donors, shoppers, staff, volunteers and team!

This year’s grant recipients are:

Denison Avenue UCC

Resource Mothers

Primary Purpose

Hosanna Industries

Genesis House/Safe Harbor

Neighborhood Achievement Hub

Second Harvest Food Bank

St. Paul’s Community UCC

Good Knights

St. Augustine-Cleveland

Haven Center/Neighborhood Alliance

Margeau’s House/Road to Hope

LIFE Memory Café

Community Resource Services

Footpath Foundation

USCRI (United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants)

North Ridgeville Community Care

Youth Challenge Sports

The priorities for the grants are these: preference given to Lorain County projects and existing mission partners for these areas – poverty, hunger, homelessness, refugee resettlement, domestic violence, addiction recovery and dementia care. 

Please let me or one of the committee members know if you have any questions about the grants, all given in the name of ALUCC and the Good Neighbor Thrift Shop.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: The funds raised by the Thrift Shop are specifically designated for specific mission projects only. They cannot be given to the General Fund of our church (even though the Thrift Shop belongs to the church.) The shop helps the General Fund in many ways however. Because of the shop’s funds, the church’s money can go to supporting the personnel and programming of the church. All of the church’s mission expenditures are funded by the shop. I’m happy to answer any questions about this!

4.    The Family Lounge is slowly being remodeled. Next week flooring will be installed by church member Allen Smith. Thanks to Beau for the planning, design, painting and purchasing. Thank you to Larry and Tricia Bowersox for their generous over-and-above gift to make this project possible. We are welcoming many families with young children; this room is a wonderful place for them when they need to leave the sanctuary. 

Advent blessings,

Kelly

Mark your calendars!

Please join us for one of the Town Halls in the Chapel on Friday, December 20, 7-8 PM or Saturday, December 21, 1-2 PM to meet Pastor Mark!

We will provide light snacks and refreshments. This is a great opportunity to engage and connect with Pastor Mark. See you there!

As a reminder, we will only have one service at 10:00 AM on Sunday, December 22.

Pastor Mark will provide the sermon and we will hold a congregational meeting directly following the service to vote.

On Monday, December 16 at 7:00, we welcome back guest violinist Mary Beth Ions for a special concert in observance of the Winter Solstice. This concert for the 'Longest Night' will feature contemplative music and poetry on the themes of rest, winter, and darkness. Mary Beth is joined by Scott Ewing on piano, with readings from Kelly Brill and Beau Dansizen. 

Take this opportunity to join us in the comfort of the sanctuary and take a rest in the midst of a busy holiday season. This concert is free to attend and open to the public. Those who wish to contribute to a free-will offering in support of our concert events will have the opportunity to do so.

Happy Birthday!

Download the December birthday list HERE.

Haven Center Meal

Our team of volunteers will be preparing meals for Haven Center families next Saturday, December 21. Your donation of snacks and desserts to accompany the meal are appreciated. Please leave food items for Haven Center wrapped an labeled in the church kitchen by mid-day Saturday, Dec 21. Thank you!

Gift wishes for Resource Mothers (120) were delivered today. Special thanks to all who shopped early and returned their gifts, helped bag them for delivery and delivered them. Jammies for each child as well as some additional were shared as well.

The remaining gift requests need to be returned to the church by Sunday morning, December 15 so they can be prepared for delivery. Please attach gift tag so that they go to the correct mission partner. Gifts should be placed on appropriate table in Fellowship Hall. Together we provided gift wishes for 450!! What a wonderful caring outreach!

Caregiver’s Support Group: next meeting is Tuesday, December 17 at 7:00 p.m. in the Garden Room. Come, share your journeys and resources as we support each other. All on this journey are welcome.

Please be in touch if you have a need or are aware of a need as we care for each other: parishnurse@avonlakeucc.org or cell 440-225-3183

https://avonlakeucc.org/events#Calendar

Sign Up to be a Sunday Volunteer

Everyone can help!

Our WORSHIP SERVICES need additional volunteers. Christmas Eve help and Communion Assistants - we need five on the first Sunday of each month. Additional ushers are needed for special services. Greeters at the doors and Welcome Center are needed at each service.

Use this link to sign-up and assist at worship. More questions? Please see a deacon or staff member on Sunday or contact Angela office@avonlakeucc.org or phone 440-933-3241 during the week.

Our fall Sunday School and Nursery sign-up is live! We are always looking for volunteers. Sunday School SignUp Genius

If you are interested in learning more about volunteering, please talk to Eileen Zakel or Pastor Beau. You can email Eileen Zakel at christianed@avonlakeucc.org or Pastor Beau at beau@avonlakeucc.org.

If you, a group of you, or a specific team would like to host Coffee Hour, please sign up HERE on the Sunday that works for your schedule. 

We are making it super simple. Coffee and paper products will be supplied and ready by church. The host of coffee hour just needs to handle providing simple snacks for after the service and serving them with a smile 😊. Please see the sign up for more information.

PODCAST: ALUCC FELLOWSHIP HALL

From the pews to the pulpit, from youth ministry to our mission programs, Avon Lake UCC is more than just a church; it's a vibrant community of individuals with unique perspectives and shared values. Join us as we sit down with members of our congregation to uncover the narratives that have shaped us, the challenges we've overcome and the moments of inspiration that bind us together.

The first nine episodes of Fellowship Hall are available now with two more on the way! Our newest episode features Dave Witzigreuter!

Be sure to subscribe to the ALUCC Fellowship Hall podcast on your favorite app so you never miss an episode - OR listen directly via our website!

LISTEN DIRECTLY VIA AVONLAKEUCC.ORG

FELLOWSHIP HALL ON APPLE PODCASTS

FELLOWSHIP HALL ON SPOTIFY

Our Prayer List can be found in Saturday's email and will be available on page two of The Current. This weekly brief newsletter is also available in the Gathering Space following worship. If you would like us to pray for a family or friend, and add them to the weekly prayer list, please e-mail pastor@avonlakeucc.org or beau@avonlakeucc.org or office@avonlakeucc.org