WEEKLY EMAIL FROM FIRST REFORMED UCC
JANUARY 7, 2022
LOOKING TOWARD SUNDAY: A MESSAGE FROM REV. HORTON
Dear Friends,
In Sunday’s worship we will begin this new year by remembering that we are loved and claimed by God. It is the celebration of the Baptism of Christ…a day we reaffirm our own baptism as beloved children of God.
We will also install the 2022 Consistory and Trustees. The term “Consistory” literally means “to stand with.” The Consistory stands with one another in providing leadership for First Reformed United Church of Christ, seeking to discern the will of God through the Holy Spirit, and helping to equip the congregation to carry our God’s calling.
The Trustees of the Church are entrusted to care for the larger vision of the church property, and the financial gifts and accounts of the church which are not a part of the annual budget.
On Sunday we will commit as a congregation to support and serve with them.
DEACONS
Dave Fulton Alane Holste
Robert Danze Smithie Parrish
John Maze Stacy Sosebee-West
ELDERS
Rita Lohr John Smith
John Gray Lisa Nelson
Betty Barr Clifton Murphy
TRUSTEES:
Buddy Lohr Clifford Lopp Jerry Smith
Mark Smith Walter Hoffman
In faith, hope, and love,
Elizabeth
SERMON TITLE FOR JANUARY 2, 2022:
“A Beginning and a Blessing”
Scripture:Luke 3: 15-22
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: SIGN UP SIGN UP TO HELP
WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRIES FOR 2022
YOUTH MINISTRIES
SUNDAYS at 6:00PM: Youth Group (Fellowship Hall)
WEDNESDAYS at 6:30PM: Youth Study (Youth Room)
SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT YOUTH STUDY HERE
CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES
SUNDAYS at 10:30AM Children’s Church (Theater Room)
SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER FOR CHILDREN’S CHURCH HERE
WEDNESDAYS at 6:30PM: Children’s Fun & Activities (Fellowship Hall)
SIGN UP TO VLUNTEER FOR WEDNESDAY CHILDREN’S FUN & ACITIVITIES HERE
BIBLE STUDY THROUGH JANUARY 30, 2022
“Love Never Ends: Being the Body of Christ”
Ordinary time is the season that follows Epiphany, although most of the time we call it the “Season of Epiphany.” The Epistle readings in Year C of the Lectionary Cycle are the letters to the Corinthians. The best-known passages are from I Corinthians 13 known as the “Love Chapter.”
This Bible Study is based on the Epistles readings as a way of seeing the Light of Christ through the lens of love. “Love Never Ends” is both a description and a promise. You are invited to journey with others, guided by the Corinthian Epistles to let the light shine around you, in you, and then from you as we seek to continue to become disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
We who have seen the Light of Christ now desire to reflect it in our community and in our world by letting others see Christ through our loving presence.
Our Sunday morning Bible study begins at 9:30AM in the educational building or via ZOOM. The themes and scripture readings for the month of January are as follows:
Sunday, January 9th
“Well Pleased”
The Baptism of Jesus
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Sunday, January 16th
“Varieties of Gifts”
I Corinthians 12:1-11
Sunday, January 23rd
“You Are the Body”
I Corinthians 12:12-31a
Sunday, January 30th
The Greatest of These”
I Corinthians 13:1-13
USHERS ARE NEEDED EACH SUNDAY…PLEASE SIGN UP TO SERVE
Please consider signing up to serve as an usher on Sunday mornings. Open slots are available on most Sundays. You may use the Sign-Up Genius link below to pick a Sunday to volunteer. Feel free to sign up for more than one Sunday of service! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050f44abae28a7fe3-usher
IT’S GIRL SCOUT COOKIE TIME
Troop #2160 will pick up their cookies on January 15! Watch your weekly emails for times for the Drive-Thru Cookie Booth at the church. You will also be able to place orders directly with Jianna or Kivi Miller.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE:
LITURGIST: Bonita Hooper
DIGITAL MEDIA TECHS: Jeremy Peterson
SOUND TECH: James Gray
ACOLYTE: Emma Hartle
BIBLE STEWARD: Jacob Hartle
USHERS: John Gray, Lisa Nelson, Eddie Yates
PLEASE PRAY FOR…
Jeremy Lovell, Alisa Johnson
AT HOME AND IN CARE FACILITIES:
Peggy Bates, Sherry Bonner, Lee & Ellen Bouchard, Ruth Essick, Pattie Everhart, Vogen Everhart, Lib & Jimbo Hinkle, Jeff Hutchens, Marguerite Leonard, Deanna Michael, John Potts & Janette Neal, Lib Sink, Carolyn Spivey, Adena Wall
OUR FRIENDS:
*John Ray Ward (Patti Lovell’s brother-in- law), *The Family of Ken Holmes (neighbors of Jerry & Patti Lovell), Nicole Holste (Alane Holste’s sister-in-love), Family of Will Swaim (friend of Alane Holste), Ed Leonard (Sylvia Walser’s brother), Miller Abernathy (Sylvia Walser’s son-in-law), The family of Evelyn York (friend of Alane Holste), The Family of Ruth “P-nut” Kennedy (friend of Alane Holste), Marc Frye (son of the late Doris Frye, Ashley Thomason (Ron & Heidi Hutcheson’s daughter-in-law)
JANUARY CELEBRATIONS
BIRTHDAYS:
10th…Deanna Michael…Harriette Murphy
11th…Camille Morgan
13th…Jitter Yarbrough
15th…Laura Perry
CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES IN OUR CHURCH
Sunday, January 9: First Sunday after Epiphany
9:30AM
Adult Bible Study: “Well Pleased” Facilitator: Rev. June Grubb
The Baptism of Jesus (Luke 3:15-17, 21-22)
10:30AM
Worship Service (in person and via YouTube)
Installation of 2022 Consistory
10:45AM
Children’s Worship (Theater Room)
Following Worship
Prayer Circle
Choir Practice (Sanctuary)
Consistory Meeting
6:00PM
Youth Group (Fellowship Hall)
Tuesday, January 11:
12:00PM
2CFAR (via Zoom)
7:00PM
Book Study “The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World” (via Zoom) Facilitator: Smithie Parrish
Wednesday, January 12:
5:30PM
Confirmation
6:30PM
Children’s Fun and Games (Fellowship Hall)
Youth Study Assistant: Stacy Sosebee-West (Youth Room)
Thursday, January 13:
4-6:00PM
Clothing Ministry Workday
6:30PM
Board of Evangelism Meeting (Fellowship Hall)
Saturday, January 15:
12:30PM
Take-out Lunch Ministry (Kitchen)
Sunday, January 16: Church’s 121st Anniversary
9:30AM
Adult Bible Study: “Varieties of Gifts” Facilitators: Jay & Cathy Whitley
I Corinthians 12:1-11
10:30AM
Worship Service (in person and via YouTube)
10:45AM
Children’s Worship
Following Worship
Prayer Circle
Choir Practice (Sanctuary)
6:00PM
Youth Group (Fellowship Hall)