We wish a HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the following members and friends who are celebrating their December birthdays:
02 - Scott Grzanka
03 - Stephanie Grzanka
08 - Terri Houston
11 - Jackie Waszkiewicz
13 - Joyce Townsend
18 - Dekker Davis
18 - Doug Manska
18 - Shannon Vivona
19 - Lucy Zoma
24 - Carol Kulman
27 - Don Cockerill
We also wish a HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to the following members and friends whose wedding anniversary is in December:
06– Lantz & Jennifer Northam
09 - Doug & Joselyn Manska
Join us for Euchre Night on Saturday, January 11 at 6:30 pm. It’s $10 per person and if you would like to bring a snack to share, please do. You wouldn’t believe how hungry you get playing a rousing card game and laughing!
Help Us Get Ready for the Christmas Day Dinner
We are looking for volunteers for the following times to get ready for the Christmas Day Dinner. We would appreciate any help you can offer.
The following is a general outline of our schedule. Please call with any questions. Also, desserts can be dropped off while Helen is here on Friday, December 20 from 9 am --1 pm.
Saturday, December 21
- 10:00 am to finish:
- Clean the kitchen and basement and decorate the tables/basement
- Dessert drop-off
Tuesday, December 24
- 9:00 am -- 12:00 noon:
- Prep/peel potatoes/miscellaneous
- Dessert drop-off
Wednesday December 25
- 9 am – 12 noon:
- Cook/prep
- 12 noon – 3 pm:
- Serve/dishes
- 3 pm:
- Clean up until done.
Jennifer Northam
(810-523-0225)
Justine Achatz
(586-248-2989)
Vote on Changes to the Constitution
The church council has proposed updates to the church constitution to address concerns people have expressed regarding committing to serving on council for a 3-year term. The changes will be voted on during the annual congregational meeting in January. The changes approved by the church council include going to a 1-year term for church council (with the option to serve up to 3 consecutive terms) and going from 6 council members to 5 members.
Another Successful Holiday Gift Auction
for our Church
This year we had bids totaling $926. It was such a fun day. We were small in number but the laughter wasn’t.
I would like to say “THANK YOU” to all my helpers:
Ryan (auctioneer), Jennifer & Niki (cashiers), Kaleb, Reagan, Mayella, Blake and Brady (runners). And don’t think for a moment that I’d forget to say Thank You to each of you for all the donated items and all the delicious food. See you next year!
Kim Schrote
ADVENT COLORS — One of the season’s symbolic colors is blue, representing hope. During Advent, we wait in hope to celebrate again God’s coming in human form. We also look forward in hope to Christ’s coming in glory at the end of the age. Purple symbolizes the royalty of Jesus, the coming Prince of Peace, and the penitence with which we receive him. Some congregations also use pink or white candles in Advent wreaths, with pink symbolizing joy and white symbolizing the Christ Child.
Thousands of older and disabled adults in our community struggle daily to get by. For these individuals a little extra help can make it possible for them to remain safe and independent in their own homes.
The Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers program matches volunteers with frail, homebound and isolated neighbors who need assistance. If you have just a couple hours a month that you
can give to someone in need, you can make a huge difference in the life of a struggling neighbor. You tell us what days, times and areas are convenient for you, and how you would like to serve. You can be matched with the same person for regular visits, or just be on a list for occasional rides and chores.
Volunteers are needed to help with the following:
♦ Transportation for appointments and essential errands
♦ Simple chores, yardwork or home repairs
♦ Help with housekeeping or meal preparation
♦ Friendly visits or supportive phone calls
♦ Respite breaks for full-time family caregivers
♦ Other support that can help a frail, older or disabled neighbor
We also need volunteers who can provide support in our office, assist with special events, or serve on our various committees.
Please call our office today at (586) 757-5551 or visit www.ivcinfo.org to learn more.
The Flower Calendar is displayed on an easel in the narthex for those who would like to donate altar flowers on a specific Sunday
during the new year. Pick a postcard that corresponds to the day you would like to provide flowers, address it to yourself, add a dedication if you want to, and submit the card to the church office. Please do not keep the card. As your date draws near, your postcard will be mailed back to you as a reminder to order your flowers.
Flowers on the altar can be an expression of celebration, or they can be a solemn remembrance of deceased family members and/or friends.
Thanks to all the past and future contributors—your flowers make a beautiful addition to our church.
We need a team of volunteers to set up communion and host our coffee hour on the first Sunday of each month. If you can lend a hand, please contact the church office at 586-727-3155.
Thank you.
In place of hiring a church custodian, the church council wants to see if the periodic cleaning of the church can be completed by our church members. A check list has been developed to identify items to be completed each month by members of the church. Some items will be done bi-weekly and others monthly. When you complete an item, simply enter the date on the checklist to note
that it has been completed so everyone knows the status of the cleaning tasks. If you have any questions, talk to a council member. Thanks to everyone for pitching in to keep our church clean.
Do You Have Something to Share…
Email to firstunitedcc@outlook.com before the 20th of each month and we will add your news to our monthly newsletter.
Kroger Quarterly Statement
August 1, 2024 - October 31, 2024
Households: 18
Total Donations: $44.97
Shop at Kroger?
If you shop KROGER anywhere in the country, the rewards can come to our little church in Richmond, MI. Maybe you are one of our on-liners or somebody who drops in once in awhile. Maybe you are limited in getting around, or have limited finances, or maybe you just never thought of, or never knew about, Kroger rewards.
We at First United Church of Christ - Richmond are using any rewards we receive for missions. Read below for how to sign up for the rewards, and remember, you can shop KROGER ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY and we will receive the rewards when you list us as your non-profit.
The funds received per individual are minimal, but when more people work and give together, the small amounts combine, and when received quarterly, enable us to help those in need. This special collection helps support our community.
Thank you for your consideration.
Pastor KatieD+
Shop Kroger?
How about letting us be your non-profit for the Kroger Rewards Program.
◆ Get a Kroger Plus card at the Kroger Service Desk
◆ Register for a Rewards account
◆ To register online, go to krogercommunityrewards.com
◆ Click on Community Rewards and enter your Kroger Plus Card #
◆ Enter NPO (far left of my Account-Community Rewards - will be maybe 7th or 8th)
First United Church of Christ - Richmond
TY 543 - non profit # 97155
Besides those who worship in person with us, those who watch on Facebook Live can contribute to us via the KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM.
Please let your friends and neighbors know so they too can make us the recipient of their Kroger shopping. It does not matter if the Kroger you shop at is in Ohio or anywhere else, we can be credited. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for considering this and us.
If you do not want to register online, ask at the Kroger Service Desk how you can be registered for the Rewards Program or call 1-800-krogers.
By registering us as your NPO we get credit and designate any rewards towards missions. Working and giving together enables us to help those in need. Thanks in advance for listing First United Church of Christ - Richmond.
Blessings to you and yours.
Pastor KatieD
Lost and Found Box
If you’ve left anything behind after worship, look in our Lost & Found Box which is in the furnace room next to the refrigerator.
Due to a parishioner allergy:
First United Church of Christ is now a pineapple free zone.
Please refrain from lotions, gums, fruit snacks, fruit juices, perfumes, air fresheners and any other scent or flavoring with pineapple in it.
Please do not bring anything for coffee hour that contains pineapple. This is really serious. Let's all do our best to take care of each other!
Our church now offers to “Text” or “Call” UCC members and friends who may not have email to receive important news from our church.
We are working on a new way to keep all our members and friends informed about important news such as the death of someone in our church family. We can continue to communicate such news by email, or we can call or send a text message to your phone.
If you would like to receive text messages regarding church news, please fill out the form below, cut it out and place it on the offering plate or mail it to the church office. Be sure to include the name of your cell phone service provider (ATT, Verizon, Sprint, etc.). If you would rather get an old fashioned phone call, fill in your home phone number and we will relay church announcements with a phone call.
If we do not have your email address, and you would like to receive our church announcements, please fill out the form below, cut and place it on the offering plate or mail it to the church office.
