Dec.3 - Communion/First AdventThe Lighting of the CandlesPsalm 80:1-7, 17-19Stories for the Season - Land of Fools

Dec. 10 - Second AdventThe Lighting of the CandlesSunday School Christmas PageantIsaiah 40:1-11

Worship Helpers for DecemberUSHERS:

3: Julie Otto10: Julie Otto17: 24: Dorothy & Gloria24: Christmas Eve

Dorothy & Gloria31: TBD

SOUND SYSTEM

Ken Bell

FELLOWSHIP TIME:3: Clair & Linda Shively

10: Don & Holly17: Bring a Snack Sunday24: TBD31: Fifth Sunday Potluck

Worship Schedule

Birthdays inDecember

2 Joyce Twining3 Vicki Pantoja4 Ella Mae Mercer

12 Dylan Cook20 Dorothy Bos24 Donnielle Cook25 Marilyn Melvin26 Bill Leaver30 Blake Cook30 Jeanne Leaver

Anniversaries in December21 Wayne & Jane Porter28 Ken & Jo North

continued on page 2

Dec. 17 Third AdventThe Lighting of the CandlesCarol SingPsalm 126Stories of the Season - The Rabbi’s Gift

Dec. 24 Fourth AdventThe Lighting of the CandlesLuke 1:26-38Stories of the Season - The Tinker KingChristmas Eve Svc. at 7 pm

Dec. 31 Pastor Jon OffCarol Sing Sunday

Choir Practice has been changed toWednesday evening at 5:30.

If you would like to join the choir, seeBarb Getz.

People have always found night lights useful. I suppose that is because, unlike many creatures,our eyes cannot naturally see in the darkness. Therefore we rely on flashlights, lasers, and matchesto keep ourselves from stumbling and to know what lies before and behind us. I suspect that this isalso why we are fascinated by nature’s lights-fire, sun, moon, and stars. Their glow keeps us warm,guides our ships and our walkers, and inspires the bedrock of our thinking about creation andcreators. Our ancestors looked at the sun and moon and wondered if God dwelt in their intensityand in their comforting warmth. From there, they began to draw patterns among the stars andspeculated that those shapes and forms were pale reflections of the divine energy that theybelieved flowed through the universe.

I know that inspiration well. I have often laid out on perfect, star-lit evening and piece togetherthe constellations. Ursa Major. Ursa Minor. Orion. Scorpio. Sagittarius. Each season brings a newspin of patterns among meteor showers and bands of Northern Lights. Whether bundled in a thickjacket or sweating in the cooling summer night, I have studied the stars and marveled. I have raisedmy finger and drawn my own patterns. Most of the time, however, I have just stood there,overwhelmed by light.

Why am I so overwhelmed? I know that I am looking at distant balls of hydrogen and helium lightyears from each other and unaware of any order I might impose on them. These faraway suns livein a physical world removed from whatever spiritual implications I might give them. Yet I still gaze onthem in wonder, wonder at the power that sparked their lights and put them in their paths. I ponderthe vast creative energies of atoms in motion and cannot help but see in that power a glimpse of thedivine. The science does not take the Spirit further from me; it opens me up ever more deeply to themysteries that surround us. And it is in those mysteries that I discover God.That God is powerful-frightening so. That God is unknowable-unfathomably so. That God iscreative-unimaginably so. Yet as I stand there and study the stars, I realize that the universe has aplace for the stars and me. That same God encompasses all of us. That same Divine Spark givesus energy and heat. That same God found a way to welcome me in. In response that that, all I can

Sky Lights“Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guiding their sheep at night. The

Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s Glory shone around them, and theywere terrified.” Luke 2: 8-9 CEB

December, 2017

Newaygo Congregational United Church of Christ432 Quarterline • Newaygo, MI 49337• (231) 652-6624

Jonathan Riedel, Pastor

TThhee CChhuurrcchhmmoouussee

Sunday Morning BibleStudy

9:00 am

We will be slowly traveling through theprophesies of Isaiah. Please join us at 9:00am.

(continued from page 1)

Al, Carolyn, Conrad Jr.,Fred & Lucas.

Canned Goodsfor Food Pantry

We are continuingthe collection of

Canned Goods for the food pantry. Thereis a special need at this time of the year.There will be a box under the coat racks inwhich to put your donations.

Thank You

Deadline for the JanuaryChurchmouse

Please send any information or articlesyou would like included in the JanuaryChurchmouse to the office by Tuesday,December 26.

You may e-mail information to:churchmouse@newaygoucc.orgor leave a hard copy in the office.

feel is gratitude, humility, and more than a little awe.I feel a touch of that same awe when I think about the shepherds’ experience with the angels.

These were salt of the earth people, unaccustomed to being addressed by the rich in the townsthey lived outside, let alone by the angelic host. These were people who felt small enough to beignored because they often were. Now night skies above glowed with angel wings and angel songand they sat there, trying to conjure the strength to run. They were surrounded by the brilliance ofGod and they were certain that they were not going to survive the experience. In the dim back oftheir imaginations, they might have recalled God’s warning to Moses that no person could seeGod’s face and live. So these humble men closed their eyes and felt their terror rise inside of them.Their last thoughts must have been about who was going to protect these sheep.

Yet they lived. God did more than just spare them, however; God called them to see somethingnew, something even more incredible. The angel welcomed them to some good news-news thatmight change their world irrevocably for the better. A Messiah, a savior, was born in a nearby townfor them. They were invited to front row seats to this birth, ahead of even the rich snobs whosesheep they were keeping. To bring this invitation home, more angels appeared and sang somethingabout God’s great glory and equally great love. The sky lit up even brighter than it had before andthe shepherds scurried off to Bethlehem-half out of curiosity to see this child and half, I suppose,out of the desire to get out the way before God lit up the sky with something else, somethingperhaps not as reassuring as these angels.

The message of the sky lights was awe-awe that the great and creative God would bother withhuman beings enough to send them a child to guide and nurture them. Awe that the God of thedistant star light would come down to love them. Wonder that God continue to seek the best forhumankind despite of all our failings and cruelties. As I reflect on this story, I cannot help but thinkthat the shepherds hesitated before hurrying of to the city to find the child to give thanks for thisnight of lights shining hard enough to give their bare lives purpose and brilliance as it still does toours today.

The Rev. Jonathan D. Riedel-Pastor,Newaygo Congregational United Church of Christ

Christmas Eve ServiceThe Christmas Eve Service of Song and

Story will take place on December 24th at 7pm. The Bell Choir and the Adult Choir will beperforming special selections. All arewelcome.

Stay Tuned. . .Stay tuned for Christmas Caroling at the

Brook and the Woodview Apartments. Datesand times will appear in your church bulletin.

Office Closed December 25thThe office will be closed on December

25th to allow the staff to celebrate Christmaswith their families. All of us wish all of you amost blessed Christmas season. Pastor Jonwould like to thank you for all the kindnessesyou have shown to him during this seasonand during the past year.

Pastor Jon on VacationPastor Jon will be on vacation from

December 25 to January 1. Please call NancyCarlson if you have a pastoral need.

Things My Mother Taught Me1. My mother taught me to APPRECIATE A

JOB WELL DONE. “If you’re going to killeach other, do it outside, I just finishedcleaning.”

2. My mother taught me RELIGION. “Youbetter pray that will come out of thecarpet.”

3. My mother taught me TIME TRAVEL. “Ifyou don’t straighten up, I’m going to knockyou into the middle of next week.”

4. My mother taught me LOGIC. “Because Isaid so that’s why.”

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGICl. “Ifyou fall out of that swing and break yourneck, you’re not going to the store withme.”

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT “Makesure you wear clean underwear, in caseyou are in an accident.”

7. My mother taught me IRONY. “Keep cry-ing, and I’ll give you something to cryabout.”

8. My mother taught me about the science ofOSMOSIS. “Shut your mouth and eat yoursupper.”

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIO-ISM. “Will you look at that dirt on the backof your neck.”

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.“You’ll sit there until all that spinach isgone.”

Pick a TopicSermons

Pastor would like to hear from you aboutwhich topics you would like Pastor Jon tofeature during his Pick a Topic sermons. Ifyou have a suggestion, you can call Pastorat 652-6624, put a note in the offering plate,or email him at

revjdriedel@gmail.com.

Treasurer’sReport

October 16 2017 -November 15, 2017

Income Total Exp.Oct. 22 $ 634.00Oct. 29 1,653.00Nov. 5 3,158.00Nov. 12 1,840.00

Total $7,285.00 $4,283.26

Difference $3,001.74

Phillips Fund $166,656.22

Neighbors in Need (so far) $64.00

A Happy Thanksgiving season toeveryone. We are doing well with thefinances and appreciate everyone whogives so generously and faithfully.

Dawn Anderson, Treasurer

Sun

day

Mon

day

Tues

day

Wed

nesd

ayT

hurs

day

Frid

ayS

atur

day

Dec

embe

r

Chr

istm

as E

veS

ervi

ce -

7 p

m

5th

Sun

day

Pot

luck

Cho

ir P

ract

ice

5:30

Pas

tor

Jon

onV

acat

ion

Chu

rchm

ouse

Dea

dlin

e24

2627

28

Wom

en’s

Bib

le S

tudy

10 a

m

3029

2829

301

2

Wor

ship

&P

asto

ral C

are

9:00

am

Cho

ir P

ract

ice

5:30

34

56

78

9

Chi

ldre

n’s

Pro

gram

durin

g w

orsh

ip

Cho

ir P

ract

ice

5:30

1011

1213

1415

16

Chr

istm

as G

ifts

need

to

be in

Cho

ir P

ract

ice

5:30

1718

1920

2122

23

2627

Tuesday Adult Study Class-noon and repeating at 7 p.m.

There will be no classes in December orJanuary.

Women’s Bible StudyWomen’s Bible Study will meet again in

April.

Men’s BreakfastNo Men’s Breakfast in December or

January.

Chr

istm

as D

ayO

ffice

Clo

sed

25

31

Thank you to all those who signed up topurchased gifts for our adopted Christmasfamilies. We only have a few gifts left to besigned up for. If you wish to donate a giftcard from Leppinks, so families can purchasefood, please give them to Gloria or Jeanneand we will put them in a Christmas card forthat family.

Gifts need to be wrapped, labeled withthe tag you received when you signed upand at the church by Sunday, December17th. The Vera’s House women will pick upthe gifts at the church on Tuesday, December19, after Women in Transition.

Christmas Greetings for our Church Families

Christmas Families

Christmas CookiesChristmas Cookies are still needed for our

Circles Poverty Group meal.

We would like to give each personattending the meal on December 14, a bag ofcookies to take home. If you can help bydonating some cookies, they will be greatlyappreciated. A sign-up sheet is posted in theFellowship Hall.

Thank you,Gloria

For 116 years, the Christmas Fund for theVeterans of the Cross and the EmergencyFund has been a tangible expression ofGod’s love. One of the four Special MissionOfferings of the United Church of Christ, theChristmas Fund provides UCC congregationsand members an opportunity to reach out inloving compassion, providing assistance tothose who have so faithfully served ourChurch and who now find themselves facingunexpected financial needs.

In 2016, UCC congregations andmembers generously contributed to theOffering. This enabled the Pension Boards’Ministerial Assistance program to provide, onbehalf of the whole Church, PensionSupplementation, Health PremiumSupplementation, Emergency Grants, andChristmas “Thank You” Gift Checks toindividuals and families in need.

Mission & Social Action NewsChristmas Fund

The theme of the 2017 Christmas FundOffering is God’s Love Colors Everything, andour goal is to raise $1.7 million to helpsupport these ministries of love and care. Inthe spirit of love, we invite and encourageyou to prayerfully consider and support thisyear’s appeal, and to spread the word so thatothers will also join in this vital ministry.

On behalf of the hundreds of clergy andlay employees and their families whose liveswere touched by your support of last year’sChristmas Fund Offering, we offer our sincerethanks to you for your generosity and for thelove that colors everything in God’s name!Please visit www.christmasfund.org formore information.

Once again, this offering will be receivedduring our Christmas Eve Service, December24.

From Vera’s House

Christmas Gift-WrapingFor You

Friday, Dec. 15: 4-7 pmSaturday, Dec. 16 - 12-3 pm

Don

atios

App

reciat

ed

18 Justice St. in Newaygo

Children’s Christmas Program during Worship on Sunday, December 10