November 2015 - First Congregational United Church of Christ

November
2015
Still Speaking
First Congregational
United Church ofUnited
Christ of Alpena
Newsletter of First
Congregational
Church of Christ of Alpena
Board of Directors:
 Greg Adamus
 Dennis Artley, treasurer
 Brandon Borke
 Ann Diamond , chair
 Ann Gerow, vice chair
 Dottie Haase
 Mike Mack
 Vernie Nethercut
November 2015
Dates to Remember
1
Daylight Saving Ends
2
Friendship Room
4
Movie: Pieces of April
5
Palestine/Israel
“Quest for Peace”
9
Board of Directors
11
Movie: “Poster Girl”
12
Palestine/Israel
“Quest for Peace
13
Ladies Luncheon
@ The 19th Hole
15
Thanksgiving Potluck
19
Building Bridges Movie
Night
21
Retreat
27
Thanksgiving
Office Closed
A Word from Our Minister
—
Rev. Dr. Paul A. Lance III
“When I first open my eyes upon the morning meadows and
look out upon the beautiful world, I thank God I am alive.”
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
November is a month for remembering to say “Thank you.”
We have a national holiday on Thursday, Nov. 26, which recalls our
Pilgrim (“Congregational”) forbearers, who survived in the harsh New
England environment with the help of native people who knew how things
grew. I’ll tell some of that story on Sunday, Nov. 15, before our own
Thanksgiving potluck. The following week, Patty and I will fly to California to
enjoy the holiday with her mother, sister, and other relatives. Rev. Bob
Case, our Pastor Emeritus, will be with us again in my absence. Thank you,
Bob.
Sunday Nov. 1, just for fun, I’ll give a theologian’s take on Frank
Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz” (since many of you will have seen the current
Alpena Civic Theater performance, featuring Jere Standen as Uncle Henry)
and Nov. 8 we’ll wrap-up the Stewardship Pledge Drive with a sermon on
“Gratitude”. All three weeks (Nov. 1, 8, & 15) at our 5:00 P.M. Underground
Church, we will sing songs of thanksgiving and talk about gratitude.
Let me leave you with this thought from novelist, essayist, critic, and
poet G. K. Chesterton: “When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether
you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” Thank you all!
Two Midweek Movies on Wednesday Mornings in Nov.
At 10:00 A.M. on Nov. 4, I will show the 2004 movie “Pieces of April”:
Katie Holmes is the quirky black sheep of her family as she plays
rebellious twenty-something daughter April Burns. (Hence, the film
title.) She offers to host a Thanksgiving dinner for her suburban clan
in her Lower East Side apartment. Her plans go awry when she
discovers that her oven doesn’t work. As her weary family (Patricia
Clarkson & Oliver Platt among others) makes its way into the City,
April needs to rely on the kindness of strangers to pull off a
memorable meal.
At 11:00 A.M. on Nov. 11 (Veteran’s Day), we will watch “Poster Girl”
about a soldier who develops PTSD syndrome.
With a little discussion afterwards, we’ll be done each time by
12:30 P.M. These are open to the public, no charge.
Page 2
Celebrating the Birthdays in November
Nov.1: Dan Kibbe
Nov. 14: Diana Standen
Nov 1: Tom Watkins
Nov. 15: Paul Moceri
Nov 5: Deb Butler
Nov. 15: Sherry Allen
Nov 6: Chris McCoy
Nov. 16: Kay Beland
Nov 6: Angela Huizenga
Nov. 19: Bill Miles
Nov. 8: Marilyn Kettler
Nov. 26: Wyatt Hanna
Nov. 8: Andy Lindahl
Nov. 26: Madisyn Speaks
Nov. 9: Matthew Gerow
Nov. 30: Dan Storey
Nov. 10: Bill Haase
Nov. 11: Olivia Brunetti
The Mitten Tree
Jennie Morey and Diana Standen
The Mitten Tree will be ready for donations Sunday, November 8. A
collection basket will be by the display case. Other ideas: hats, mittens/
gloves, scarves, slippers, socks, sweaters (any size) will be donated to
organizations such as Salvation Army or Sunday Supper. Whether
hand-made or purchased, your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated.
We will be collecting through Sunday, December 13.
Stewardship Committee Report
The Stewardship pledge campaign goal for this
year is $138,000.
As of October 25, we have received pledges for a
total of $ 65,480.
Ladies Luncheon
Kay Beland and Jan Snell
The Ladies Luncheon was held on Friday,
October 9th at the 19th Hole Restaurant.
Good food and good conversations.
Our next gathering will be on Friday, Nov. 13
(Friday the 13th is good luck)
If everyone responds in a timely fashion, it is likely
that we can once again provide a balanced budget Also, please mark you calendars for
for next year.
Saturday, December 12th,
for the Ladies Christmas Luncheon
Thanks for your support!
to be held at the Church.
Bill & Kathy Dempsey, Jim & Patty McNeil,
Kay & Jan
Dennis & Janet Artley, and Patty Lance
Page 3
Comstock Grants for 2016
Blair Diamond, Chair of the Comstock Fund Committee
The Comstock Committee met to review all the requests for the 2016 grant process. Altogether
there were 50 requests this year for funds., each a valuable request. The total amount of grants
awarded this year was $105,590
The following grants were approved by the Comstock Committee for 2016;
Church Operations: (10%) $10,559
Higher Education(10%): Scholarships for UCC Ministerial Training (in house), Lay Ministry
Foundational Training (UCC), Systematic Training for Effective Ministries (STEM), Scholarship
Support for Seminary Student (Minn.), The Horace Bushnell Award (Minn.), International Scholars
Program (Eden Seminary) for a total of $10, 559.
Outreach/ Mission (60%): First Cong’l Mission, Firs Cong’l Human Needs, First Cong’l Salary for
CMH, Friendship Room, Salvation Army, Shelter Inc., St. Vincent De Paul, Partners in Prevention,
NEMROC @ Besser Museum, NEMROC @Friends Together, NEMROC @ Habitat For Humanity,
Child and Family: Day One and Treatment Foster Care Curriculum Certification, Baby Basket
(Atlanta), Baby Pantry (Alpena), Habitat for Humanity, “Interfaith Amigos” (St. Paul Lutheran, LARCC
& Peace Coalition), Alpena Pregnancy Center, Alpena Boys & Girls Club, Bay View Center, ARMC
Pediatrics “Read a Book” program, for a total of $63,356.
Innovative Ministry/Capital Projects (20%) : First Church Seminars, ACE-VBS, First Church
Films, Underground Church Guest Musicians, Publicity & Marketing, Navigators, German Youth &
Adult Trip to Alpena (August 2016), Camperships, Spring & Fall Church Retreats, Church Web
Design, First Cong’l UCC “Blog-Spot” and “You Tube” Video capability, for a total of $21,119.
The Quest for Peace in Palestine/Israel
Rev. Dr. Paul A. Lance, Minister
For nearly 70 years, the Holy Land has been relentlessly at war. When the United Nations
partitioned the land of Palestine to establish the Jewish Sate of Israel, a parallel state for non-Jews
(native Arab Christians and Muslims) was foreseen. The “two-state solution” has not been realized.
Jody Moceri and I will be hosting three Thursday evening discussions about the Israeli occupation of
Palestinian land and its peoples, beginning October 29, at 5:30 PM. Other sessions will be on Nov. 5
and 12 at 5:30 PM in either the Conference Room or Fellowship Hall (depending on the attendance).
In keeping with the UCC General Synod’s resolution from this June, entitled: “A Call for United
Church of Christ to take actions toward a Just Peace in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict,” we will
first look at a synopsis of the history of the land dispute and get a picture of current realities on the
ground. We will show short videos about the two nations.
Our purpose is primarily for insight, information, education, and humanitarian concern for fellow
Christians (and others) in the land where Jesus lived. We do not challenge Israel’s existence, nor
will we call for boycotts or divestment. We will, however, question some policies of the government
and Israeli martial law imposed upon the Palestinian villages and refugee camps in Gaza and the
West Bank, including Jewish settlements on Palestinian land and the Separation Wall. Of necessity,
reflection on biblical claims to the land will be part of our study. This is open to the public.
Page 4
“FLUTE & FRIENDS VII”
Sunday, November 8, 2015
2:00 PM
Trinity Episcopal Church
124 E. Washington Ave.
Featuring Mary Ann Hubbard, Flutist
and
Betsy Adamus, flute, piccolo, alto flute and piano
Greg Altman- “Music for You”
Susan Asher, piccolo
Avery Aten, percussion
Judith Case, flute vocal, percussion
Phil Cook, guitar
Isabelle Denstaedt & Caileigh Nitchman, AHS seniors
Eric Dunckel, string bass
Eric Lawson, violin
Joanne Root, flute and alto flute
David Sawtelle, banjo
Kris Stringer, percussion
Alpena/ Alcona Flute Choir
WindSong Flute Quartet
Something for Everyone and All Musicla Tastes!
Admission—$5.00
“A Silly Saturday Thanksgiving!”
Hey, Wacky Wednesday Fun Club friends, join us on
Saturday, November 13th for
“A Silly Saturday Thanksgiving!”
We will be gathering in the Lower Level Multipurpose Room at
the church at 12 noon until 2:00 PM. We will start with a light lunch, sing some
songs, hear a story or two, do a craft, try some games, and other activities. Please
tell your children ages K – 5th grade (and their younger siblings) to join us for “A
Silly Saturday Thanksgiving!”
Page 5
Exploring a Maturing Christianity:
A Series of Day-Long Retreats
with
Kimberly Beyer, MA, SD
Retreat #3: “Getting to the Real YES: the Interior
Spiritual Practices of the Advent Season”
Saturday, November 21, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
First Congregational United Church of Christ
201 S. Second Ave., downtown Alpena
~~~
How do we write for ourselves a Rule of Life, a commitment to live into our faith? The
season of Advent is the perfect time to explore the idea that such a Rule may be one
of subtraction – embracing simplicity, choosing silence and surrender, allowing God to
work through us in loving service and loving the darkness, the very Mystery of life that
nurtures every creative impulse from seed to baby. Nestle into a day of putting a maturing Christianity into practice as a balm for what hurries, snarls, demands and imposes on your life.
This program is free and open to the public.
Advance registration is requested.
Registration deadline is Tuesday September 22nd
Please call the church office at 356-1795.
A simple noon-time meal of soup and bread will be provided.
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A CHRISTMAS GIFTS IDEA
Christmas is just around the corner and I have the perfect stocking stuffer –
dish cloths. These cloths are of great value, high quality and inexpensive. They are
double layered knit, ravel proof, sanitary and made in the USA! Cost is $2 each in
colors of red, blue, green and tan. Call Nancy Wedge, 356-4402 or send an email
[email protected] to place your order.
Remember Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday,
November 1st. Time to “Fall Back” into wintertime
rhythms
Sunday, October 11th we had the opportunity to help put
“Baby Kits” together. Diana Standen and the other
UCC Needlecraft folks at Birchwood Meadows have made
dozens of outfits and blankets and collected cloth diapers
and other supplies for babies caught in emergency
situations such as refugees, flood victims, and so forth. A
long table was set up in Fellowship Hall to help assemble
40 kits. They were sent to Church World Service for
distribution to families caught in crises in America and
around the world. This gives the ministry a total of 59 kits
sent for 2015. Well done, good and faithful servants!
Page 7
Dr. Tom Cook brought his Apples and Cider Press for Oct. 18th “Apple Fest”
A fun fellowship time!
Board of Directors October 2015 Meeting Highlights
Gerrie La Cross, Secretary

Meeting opened wit Prayer by Rev. Lance

Minutes approved from last month. Rev. Lance shared the newsletter from Child and Family
Services with a photo on the back cover of Kathy Dempsey and Rev. Lance presenting one of the
Comstock checks to the community agency.

Financial reports were given by Dennis Artley and accepted as presented. Dennis will seek funds
from the Community Foundation for replacement of (1) the water meter, (2) a valve that was
replaced, and (3) the controller for the heating system.

2016 Budget will be presented at the November meeting

Wording for the plaque for the new organ was approved.

Craig Wolf informed the board that his mother’s house has been sold and he has given the
contents to the Mission Committee to disburse. Kathy Dempsey has contacted Shelter, Inc. and
they have accepted the donation and will bring their truck to Alice Wolf’s house on Friday, Oct. 30.

Apple Fest will be this weekend with Dr. Tom Cook’s apples and cider press.

Property committee was granted the request to replace the window treatments in the Lounge.
Northland Interiors will do the work. Funds will come from Sam Olsen’s generous memorial gift.

New Bible study to start on Tuesday evenings. Comstock to meet Oct 21 and review 50+
applications. Three sessions will be held on Palestine/Israel with a follow-up meeting in January.
Kim Beyer’s second retreat will be Oct .24. A Session on Emerging Church will be held Nov. 15th
Full Board Minutes are at the Calendar Podium outside the Office
or request by email to [email protected]
Microsoft
Phone: 555-555-5555
Fax: 555-555-5555
E-mail: [email protected]
Sunday Worship: 10:00 a.m.
Business Tagline or Motto
Still Speaking
Newsletter of First Congregational United Church of Christ of Alpena
Thanksgiving Potluck
Join us on Sunday, November 15 for fellowship and
a Thanksgiving Potluck luncheon (sponsored by the Worship Committee)
immediately following the 10:00 a.m. Sunday service. Nancy Wedge and
Pat Kreft will provide turkeys and Vicky Lindsay will provide dressing.
Bring a dish to share. Assignments are by last name:
Dessert: A-H
Sides/Salads: I-Q
Main Dish: R-Z
Help will be needed for set-up and clean-up. Thank You.
Call Nancy Wedge, 356-4402 for details.