February 2020

Hello Fellow Travelers, Today is January 20th, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I am at my desk. (Yes, the office is closed today.) As I drove into the parking lot there were two people waiting. The Barn was being used. Bridge Club is in now, sharing their hellos and stories. I sit here wondering what to write about for the next newsletter. Thankfully I had a visitor that provoked a large amount of conversation and thought. The conversation came around to the fact that I have a BACN board meeting tonight and what we do here to support them. In 2018 we donated 1,346 pounds. Sara and I had walked a load of items down to help highlight food insecurity as well as the difficulty that many people have in getting to the grocery store. 2019 we fell a bit short of our 1,500-pound goal, donating 1,011 pounds. A side note for clarification here. Although the first Sunday of the month is always B I G Sunday; Bring In Groceries Sunday, food can be brought in any time. And I give a huge shout out to Earl for emptying the cart every week and taking it to BACN. I spent nearly a year volunteering in the pantry at BACN. I would go in on Tuesday afternoons and restock the shelves. I learned that BACN carries a large variety of staple items. In my time in the pantry I also noticed how quickly donated items that are beyond the staple items are scooped up by the neighbors. From ketchup and condiments to laundry soap and shaving cream, neighbors continue to need more than the basic staples. We all love to have variety in our cupboards. I would like to offer a suggestion to our donations this year; to have a monthly focus. This month, February, the Soul Sisters have started us off well with a focus of soup. The bucket is filling up and it is beautiful. Soups, stews, cream based, vegetarian and low sodium, all aspects of great variety. I am excited to see how much we can gather. Sorry – Not Sorry – Earl. I’ll help carry it down. Here are my suggestions for the first three months. Please let me know your suggestion for a monthly focus!! We are all called to take care of each other. February: Soup (already in process) March: Personal Care Items April: Laundry Products May: Condiments And please know that anything and everything that you are able to offer is welcomed in the cart. See you along The Way,

Patty

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF BENZONIA UCC

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

1 Judy Polhamus

2 Leah Johnson

4 Ryan Strom

8 Christy Case

8 Mary Gehring

8 Elizabeth Neiger

9 Chris Jones

13 Kim Weaver

14 John Gehring

14 Delores Jones

16 Lynn Hopkins

21 Will Jones

23 Donna Knox

25 Wyatt Brown

29 Marsha Case

29 Marilee Strom

FEBRUARY ANNIVERSARIES

(none)

FLOWERS

If you would like to supply flowers, please sign up on the sign posted

on the bulletin board. You may then bring in your own flowers or

donate $30 to the church to make the arrangements with a local

florist.

THANK YOU TO OUR FEBRUARY VOLUNTEERS

COFFEE NURSERY Feb 2 Deacons Barb Brian Feb 9 Roxane Miner Mary Rodriguez Feb 16 Barb Brian Brittney Savage Feb 23 Soul Sisters Chris Gehring

HEAD USHER: Andy Case

MONEY COUNT: Andy Case

What is BIG Sunday?

BIG stands for Bring In Groceries;

groceries brought in on BIG Sundays are

donated to Benzie Area Christian

Neighbors (BACN) to help provide a meal

to those in need. BIG Sundays are the first

Sunday of every month

— as are Holy

Communion Sundays —

and are a great way for

us to share the love and

feast of communion and

community.

UCC SISTER CHURCH OF THE MONTH

As part of our continuing efforts to work together as a community of

faith, we pray for UCC churches in our United Northern Association.

You are invited to pray this month for the ongoing mission and

ministries of Clare UCC.

Nancy Reynolds Pat Forrester Helen Pickard Elisabeth Case Peg & Randy Kay Fischer Mary Ellen Wagner

John & Doris Marshall Lorrie Groenevelt Darlene Gray Family of Nathan Groenevelt Joyce Lincoln Mike Barnes

Gary Rankin Mike Sheets Family and friends of Deb Birchard Bob Ward

REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS

THANK YOU NOTES

“Your ‘Be Kind’ tree covered with gloves and mittens was purchased by a friend of Betsie Valley School—your generosity is unparalleled!” —Becky, for the Habitat for Humanity Festival of Trees Committee “Your willingness to put a Toys for Tots bin in your parish helped us to provide gifts for 756 children in Benzie County. We are so fortunate to have such a generous community to help with the needs of others.” —Marilou, Toys for Tots Representative

Check out all of our thank you notes on the bulletin board!

MI Conf. Happenings

Want to keep up with the happenings within the Michigan Conference, UCC? Head to http://www.michucc.org/ and click “News” in the upper righthand corner.

Circle I

Circle I will meet at the church on Wednesday, February 19 at 1:00. Carol Dye is the hostess. Bring your Mother/Daughter banquet ideas!

From the Conference Minister

In the midst of new dimensions, in the face of changing ways, Who will lead the pilgrim peoples wandering in their separate ways?

God of rainbow, fiery pillar, leading where the eagles soar. We your people, ours the journey now and ever, now and ever, now and ever more.

In March of 2012, I was called to serve as the Conference Minister of the Michigan Conference of the United Church of Christ. Almost eight years later I will be retiring from Conference Ministry. January 28 will be my last day in the office. On Monday, February 3, Rev. Phil Hart will arrive to begin his ministry as your Transitional Conference Minister. I have appreciated your encouragement and support during my tenure. I would like to believe that we have knit more firmly the ties that bind us together as local churches, associations, the conference, the national setting, and our global mission partners. I have visited with most of the local churches in Michigan, I have participated in the meetings of our six Associations, I have worked tirelessly on behalf of the Conference, I have served in a variety of ways with the National Setting, and I have visited a number of our Global Mission Partners in Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel/Palestine, Germany and Canada. I can only pray that my presence has been helpful compared to how richly I have been blessed by each and every one of those engagements. Thank you for your honoring of the covenantal commitments in which we all share. I will always have a warm place in my heart for the Michigan Conference – even on the coldest of days. What’s next? For Eileen and me it is a move to New Hampshire and some travels to warmer climes. For the Michigan Conference it is keeping the momentum going with Rev. Hart and perhaps updating the vision, mission and purpose of the Conference. There will be many partners on this journey. A great team of Conference staff will keep you on track. Those who serve on behalf of the Conference in each Association will continue to resource local churches and help build up the life of the United Church of Christ. The Board of Directors is ready for the transition and they will be resourced by Rev. Lee Albertson who works with Conferences during times of Conference Minister transition. When one visits a National Park, there will be signs with a variation of this saying: “Take only pictures, leave only footprints.” For me, as I prepare to depart, I am taking gratitude and joy for our season of service together; and hopefully, I am leaving a sense that a mutual ministry among the settings of the church is more beneficial than being in ministry all alone. So, blessings on you in your mission and ministry of service, witness and work for justice. May that God of rainbow and fiery pillar, that God who sent Jesus Christ to call us to follow, continue to guide you on the journey of faith as disciples - and as the United Church of Christ in Michigan. With you on the Journey, Campbell Lovett Conference Minister

Christian Education & The Soul Sisters present

More Bad Girls

of the Bible

Book Study

Beginning Thursday, February 27

4 consecutive Thursdays

5:45 – 6:30pm Dinner

6:30pm Book Study

Library News

Tattoos on the Heart…donated by Bill Bos, this is the book he spoke about so movingly several weeks ago. The book shares story after story of the life of a Jesuit priest who spent the majority of his adult life working with gangs in the gang capital of Los Angeles. Father Greg developed a gang intervention program that helps troubled, at-risk youth positively develop and become participating members of society. You will laugh, you will cry as you read these inspiring and heart-touching stories. Fair warning…don’t read this book if you are offended by colorful language…Father Greg tells it like it is and allows his gang members to do the same. Thank you, Bill, for bringing this book to us. Finding Chika… another heart breaking, heart warming, story from Mitch Albom. Chika is brave, stubborn, resilient, cheerful, full of hope, and loves to have fun. She was born in Haiti shortly after the 2010 earthquake. Her mother died when she was 3 and she was placed in the orphanage run by Albom. When at age 5 she was diagnosed with an illness for which there was no help in Haiti, Mitch and his wife Janine brought her to the US to seek medical attention. Those are the facts behind this poignant story. The real value of this story lives in the lessons learned…where the values of faith, hope, love and family are truly lived out. Away on the Hilltop…beautiful watercolor illustrations by Jan Bower accompanying short rhyming poems describing the life of Jesus are the essence of this children's book. Thank you, Chris Jones, for this donation.

Jr/Sr High Sunday School Class is collecting NEW and Gently Used Books

for Infants & Toddlers: Newborn to 5 years

February 2020 – March 2020

Books will be donated to the Benzie County Baby Pantry

Annual Chili Lunch & Games Day

Sunday, February 23, following Worship

Chili – Soup – Salad – Bread – Dessert

Free Will Offering to benefit Soul Sisters 2020 Blanket Project

Hosted by the Deacons & Soul Sisters

You’re Invited to a

Valentine’s Day Dinner

February 14th, 2020 6:00pm

First Congregational Church of Benzonia, United Church of Christ

Whether you come as a single, double, or by the family, all are welcomed!

February 2020

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1

2

10:30 Worship & Church School

SouperBowl Sunday

6-8 ACOA (Barn)

3

9:30-10:30 Yoga (Barn)

12N AA (Barn)

12-5 Bridge Club

7:00 AA (Barn)

4

10:00 Yoga (Barn)

12N AA (Barn)

7:00 WAA (Barn)

5

12N AA (Barn)

12-5 APT

7:00 AA (Barn)

6

9-10:30 AA (Barn)

12N AA (Barn)

4:30 Choir

7:00 NA (Barn)

7

12N LOWV

8

8:30 Men’s Breakfast @ Papa J’s

9

10:30 Worship & Church School

6-8 ACOA (Barn)

10

9:00 Trustees

9:30-10:30 Yoga (Barn)

11 Commodities Distribution

12N AA (Barn)

12-5 Bridge Club

7:00 AA (Barn)

11

10:00 Yoga (Barn)

12N AA (Barn)

7:00 WAA (Barn)

12

12N AA (Barn)

12-5 APT

7:00 AA (Barn)

13

9-10:30 AA (Barn)

12N AA (Barn)

4:00 Deacons— CANCELLED

4:30 Choir

7:00 NA (Barn)

14

12N LOWV

6:00 Valentine’s Day Dinner

15

16

10:30 Worship & Church School Christian Edu. 6-8 ACOA (Barn)

17

9:30-10:30 Yoga (Barn)

12N AA (Barn)

12-5 Bridge Club

7:00 AA (Barn)

18

10:00 Yoga (Barn)

12N AA (Barn)

5:00 Council

7:00 WAA (Barn)

19

12N AA (Barn)

12-5 APT

1:00 Circle I

7:00 AA (Barn)

20

9-10:30 AA (Barn)

12N AA (Barn)

4:30 Choir

7:00 NA (Barn)

21

12N LOWV

22

Zonta (Barn)

23

10:30 Worship & Church School Chili Lunch & Games 6-8 ACOA (Barn)

24

9:30-10:30 Yoga (Barn)

12N AA (Barn)

12-5 Bridge Club

7:00 AA (Barn)

25

10:00 Yoga (Barn)

12N AA (Barn)

7:00 WAA (Barn)

26

12N AA (Barn)

12-5 APT

7:00 AA (Barn)

7:00 Ash Wed. Service

27

9-10:30 AA (Barn)

12N AA (Barn)

4:30 Choir

5:45 Bad Girls Dinner & Book Study

7:00 NA (Barn)

28

12N LOWV

29

First Congregational Church of Benzonia UCC 901 Barber Street, P.O. Box 234

Benzonia, MI 49616

Phone: (231) 882-4922

F I R S T C O N G R E G AT I O N A L C H U R C H O F B E N Z O N I A UCC B E N Z O N I A , M I C H I G A N

Office Phone: 231-882-4922

Office Hours: M—Th 9am—Noon, F 8:30am—11:30am

Office Email: secretary@benzoniacongregational.org

Our Website: http://www.benzoniacongregational.org

Our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/BenzoniaCongregational