Pastor

Reverend Gary Bagley

Director of Youth Ministries Tracy Loomis

Church Secretary

Peggy Riley

Director of Music

Kasie Johnson

Bookkeeper

Carla Meier

Learning House Director Mariah Bailey

Maintenance/Custodian

Tom McLaren

Organist

Lavonne Bomeli

Parish Visitor

Mary Powers

6494 South Belsay Road

Grand Blanc, Michigan 48439

Phone: (810) 695-0550 • Fax: (810) 695-5117

Email: secretary@fcucc.com

www.uccgrandblanc.org

First Congregational

United Church of Christ

Fourteen Grand Blanc families received food baskets and had a brighter Christmas because of your generosity.

Our Sock/Coat drive yielded 36 pairs of socks, 4 coats and 2 blankets. Our Mitten Tree was decorated with 12 scarves, 3 hat/scarf/mitten sets, 37 hats, 12 hat/

mitten sets, and 47 gloves & mittens. All of these items were delivered to Catholic Charities for distribution at the North End Soup Kitchen and the Center of Hope.

Many people will be warmer this winter because of you.

Thank you for all your help in serving God through these ministries.

The Congregator

F i r s t C o n g r e g a t i o n a l United Church of Christ

January, 2020

Upcoming Events

New Year’s Day

LH & Office Closed

Jan. 2 & 3 Daycare Closed

Admin Board Meet & Greet

Sunday, January 5

Put Away Christmas

Decorations

Monday, January 6

Looking Ahead:

Youth Worship

Sunday, February 2

Senior High Euchre Fundraiser

Saturday, February 8

Boy Scout Sunday

Sunday, February 9

Annual Meeting

Sunday, February 16

Senior High Winter Retreat

Fri, Jan 10 - Sun, Jan 12

Ladies’ Luncheon (off site)

Tuesday, January 14

www.silhouettedesignstore.com

Page 2

The Congregator

“Our Mission is to enable disciples to change the world to the glory of

God by living the teachings of

Jesus our Christ.”

Dear Friends In Christ, After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. Matthew 2:1-3

"Hope and Trouble"

Now for the rest of the story! We’ve celebrated the birth of Jesus but were it not for Matthew’s gospel, we wouldn’t know how close on the heels of Jesus’ nativity does trouble appear.

In a few days we enter the season of Epiphany - the realization of the presence of God to all people, both Gentile and Jew, as marked by the visit of the magi to the infant Jesus and his parents. Traditionally, we’ve sort of run the story together by having the “wise men” appear at the stable. That’s not how Matthew, the only gospel to record the event, recounts what happened.

A period of time has passed from when an astronomical event prompts three foreign observers to travel to Judea in order to see the one whose birth was marked in the heavens. King Herod’s response confirms this. When Herod’s scheming is undone by the magi, he orders the death of any male born in the region for the last two years. Rachel and parents everywhere are weeping, indeed!

Perhaps you've just ended a year of struggle and are looking for easier days ahead. Perhaps your new year is off to a rocky start. Be comforted in knowing that struggle does not overpower hope nor does evil get the best of God’s good news. Re-read the previous sentence again and take it in, letting it sink into your psyche and your soul.

As we enter this new year, remember, hope is closer than it may appear. Live with courage and keep moving forward. Make a positive difference in this world by being a person of hope and encouragement for others. My personal epiphany is that God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Holy One, thank you for being the God who is with us - incarnate in Jesus and present now through the gift of your Spirit. Remind us of your presence when we are too troubled to see the hope that is near. Amen.

A Word from

our Pastor

The Admin Board is

hosting a “Meet &

Greet” on Sunday,

January 5th at 10am

in the Conference

Room.

Page 7

The Congregator

2020 PLEDGES

If you haven’t turned in your “Estimate of

Giving” card for next year, there is still time!

Please fill one out. This greatly helps our

budgeting for next year. Thank you for your

generous support of God’s church. Sunday, February 16th following our worship service

November November November 2019 2019 2019 YTD

Budget Actual Diff Budget Actual vs Budget

Operating Fund

Revenue from Giving 23,872 30,705 6,833 256,036 248,250 (7,786)

Other Revenue 940 562 (378) 13,394 13,657 263

Expenses 34,787 33,754 1,033 350,919 344,077 6,841

Surplus/(Deficit) (9,975) (2,488) 7,487 (81,489) (82,170) (682)

Upward/Missions/Youth

Revenue 2,828 275 (2,553) 22,835 15,590 (7,245)

Expenses 1,894 404 1,490 22,215 17,733 4,482

Surplus/(Deficit) 934 (129) (1,063) 620 (2,143) (2,763)

Learning House

Revenue 54,247 47,194 (7,053) 549,343 545,585 (3,758)

Expenses 48,852 54,996 (6,144) 448,532 426,796 21,736

Surplus/(Deficit) 5,395 (7,802) (13,197) 100,811 118,790 17,979

Building Fund

Revenue 2,583 6,185 3,602 28,417 39,488 11,071

Loan Principal Payment 2,483 2,475 9 27,317 29,401 (2,084)

Other Expenses 100 100 0 1,100 13,457 (12,357)

Surplus/(Deficit) (0) 3,610 3,610 (0) (3,370) (3,370)

Grand Total Surplus/(Deficit) (3,646) (6,809) (3,162) 19,942 31,107 11,165

First Congregational United Church of Christ

November 30, 2019

Revenue & Expense Summary

Page 6

The Congregator

Su

n

Mo

n

Tu

e

Wed

Th

u

Fri

Sat

1 2

3 9:

00 V

anB

uren

BB

all

6:

30 S

tinso

n B

Bal

l

4 7:0

0 A

lcoh

olic

s A

nony

mo

us

5 9:3

0 N

et T

opi

c T

alk

10:0

0 A

dmin

Boa

rd

Mee

t &

Gre

et

10:3

0 W

orsh

ip/H

oly

Com

mun

ion

11:3

0 F

ello

wsh

ip

7:0

0 B

oy S

cout

Pac

k 1

75

C

omm

ittee

Mee

ting

6 9:0

0 P

ut A

way

Chr

istm

as

D

ecor

atio

ns

7:0

0 B

oy S

cout

Mee

ting

7 5:

30 C

onfir

mat

ion

6:

30 R

ober

ts B

Bal

l

7:00

You

th T

eam

Me

etin

g

7:00

Alc

ohol

ics

Ano

nym

ous

8 10:

00 L

H C

hape

l 1

0:30

Sta

ff M

eetin

g

5:

00 F

ello

ws

hip

Te

am M

tg

6:

00 S

piri

tual

Gro

wth

Mtg

6:30

Van

Bur

en B

Bal

l

7:

00 B

oy S

cou

t Me

etin

g

9 11:0

0 C

are

& N

urtu

re T

eam

M

eetin

g (o

ff si

te)

5:3

0 W

orsh

ip T

eam

Me

etin

g 6

:30

You

th C

hoir

Pra

ctic

e

7:0

0 C

hoi

r P

ract

ice

10

11

7:0

0 A

lcoh

olic

s A

nony

mo

us

12

10:3

0

Wor

ship

10:3

0 S

unda

y S

choo

l

11:3

0 F

ello

wsh

ip

13

7:0

0 B

oy S

cout

Mee

ting

14

1:

00 L

adie

s Lu

nche

on

(of

f site

)

5:30

Con

firm

atio

n

6:30

Rob

erts

BB

all

7:

00 A

lcoh

olic

s A

nony

mo

us

15

10:

00 L

H C

hape

l

6:

00 A

dmin

Bo

ard

Me

etin

g

6:30

Van

Bur

en B

Bal

l

16

6:

30 Y

outh

Ch

oir

Pra

ctic

e

7:

00 C

hoir

Pra

ctic

e

17

18

7:0

0 A

lcoh

olic

s A

nony

mo

us

19

10:3

0

Wor

ship

10

:30

Sun

day

Sch

ool

11:3

0 F

ello

wsh

ip

6:0

0 N

et

20

7:0

0 B

oy S

cout

Mee

ting

21 5:

30 C

onfir

mat

ion

6:

30 R

ober

ts B

Bal

l

7:00

Alc

ohol

ics

Ano

nym

ous

22

10:0

0 L

H C

hap

el

6:3

0 V

anB

uren

BB

all

23

6:

30 Y

outh

Ch

oir

Pra

ctic

e

7:00

Cho

ir P

ract

ice

24

25

11:0

0 D

ew

ley

Pra

ctic

e

7:0

0 A

lcoh

olic

s A

nony

mo

us

26

10:3

0

Wor

ship

10:3

0 S

unda

y S

choo

l 11

:30

Fel

low

ship

27

7:0

0 B

oy S

cout

Mee

ting

28

5:

30 C

onfir

mat

ion

6:

30 R

ober

ts B

Bal

l

6:30

Bui

ldin

g &

Gro

und

s M

tg

7:

00 A

lcoh

olic

s A

nony

mo

us

29

10:0

0 L

H C

hap

el

6:3

0 V

anB

uren

BB

all

30

6:

30 Y

outh

Ch

oir

Pra

ctic

e

7:00

Cho

ir P

ract

ice

31

—

-

Net

Win

ter

Ret

reat

Th

e L

earn

ing

Ho

use

is

Clo

sed

Ep

iph

any

New

Yea

r’s

Day

LH

& C

hu

rch

Off

ice

is C

lose

d

Th

e L

earn

ing

Ho

use

is

Clo

sed

Net

Win

ter

Ret

reat

N

et W

inte

r R

etre

at

Page 3

The Congregator

Children’s Christmas Program “A Charlie Brown Christmas”

On December 22, 2019, the children performed their Christmas program.

Thank you to everyone involved in putting this production together, especially our young actors/singers/dancers! Great job!

2020 FLOWER CHART

Dates are now available in next year’s Flower Chart starting with January 12th. Purchasing flowers to

decorate the sanctuary is a wonderful way to praise God,

honor someone, commemorate a special event, donate in memory of a

loved one, or just because. Cost is $20.00.

The chart is located near the

Welcome Center.

The Ladies’

Luncheon is

Tuesday, January

14th at 1pm.

We will meet at The Meeting Place,

3600 Owen Road in Fenton

(1st building west of Panera’s).

Please RSVP with

Barb Benson (810) 694-1867 or

Anne Stableford (810) 694-8045.

Bring with you your resolutions and/or

wishes for 2020.

All the ladies of the church and their

friends are welcome!

Help is needed to take down the Christmas

Decorations after the First of the year. We will

pack up the decorations at 9am on Monday,

January 6th. We welcome anyone willing and

available to help. Contact Kay Gibson for more

information. Thank you!

CANS FOR CHRIST ** The Outreach Team is collect-ing canned food items to restock our food pantry.

(The Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets depleted our supply). Look for the grocery cart outside the sanctuary! Bring in cans of pasta, fruit, soup, vegetables, beans, etc. Boxed food items will also be appreciated. Thank you, as always, for your generous support!

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts & prayers during our hard times. It’s not over yet, but I’m told it won’t be long. We’re anxious to

come back to church. Until then, please have a Happy Holiday! Our thoughts are with all of you. Love, George & Jeanette Adams

Page 4

The Congregator

*** YOUTH NEWS ****** YOUTH NEWS *** What a wonderful holiday season as we celebrated with all the youth. The Elementary kids joined with The Learning House kids for a night of fun and pizza; the Senior High shared dinner out and frosting cookies with our friends at Grand Blanc Fields; and our Middle High caroled at Grand Blanc Fields too. The Middle High also celebrated with a trip to Davison Escape Games and were energized with the excitement during this event.

Thank you so much for the caring from so many during my illness - the email from Kasie and the choir - you are all so special to me!

Thanks to Tracy and 3 young people who surprised me Sunday afternoon with a poinsettia.

Merry Christmas to all, Joey Wilcox

The Learning House chapel children enjoying an indoor “snowball” fight

with Ms. Tracy!

Senior High Winter

Retreat 2020

January 10-12

I T ‘ S C O O K I E T I M E ! ! !

I T ‘ S C A R O L I N G T I M E ! ! !

Page 5

The Congregator

Join fellow FCUCC friends in a 9- week video course in Financial Peace with Dave Ramsey

What is Financial Peace University?

The Knowledge You Need to Win With Money Financial Peace University includes nine video lessons featuring Dave Ramsey, Rachel Cruze, and Chris Hogan. Follow along in your workbook as they teach you: Lesson 1: Build a Starter Emergency Fund and Learn How to Budget Lesson 2: Pay Off All Debt Lesson 3: Save a Fully Funded Emergency Fund Lesson 4: Invest for the Future and Build Wealth Lesson 5: Buyer Beware Lesson 6: The Role of Insurance Lesson 7: Retirement Planning Lesson 8: Real Estate and Mortgages Lesson 9: Living and Giving Like No One Else Would you join us? We’ll be meeting Sundays at 6:00pm - 7:00pm beginning February 2 and ending March 29 in the Gathering Room. The cost of the Financial Peace University kit is $89 plus tax. Visit DaveRamsey.com if you’d like to know more about this approach to financial freedom or more about the materials included in the kit. If interested in joining our FCUCC group, contact Kim Goodall by January 22. My email address is below. Happy New Year to All!!! May God Bless You! Kim Goodall, Moderator lkgoo@comcast.net