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February 2020 Newsletter

Sunday Worship Service and Sunday School at 10:00am Office phone: 734.428.8359 Email: emanuelucc8359@gmail.com Facebook: Emanuel UCC – Manchester, MI Website: www.emanuelucc.org Chris Kurtz’s cell: (757) 232-5503 Pastor’s Office Hours:

Monday & Tuesday: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and

Wednesday 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Other times available by Appointment

Church Office Hours: Monday 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Tuesday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Wednesday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Upcoming Events - Wednesday, Feb. 12 – Swiss Steak Dinner here from 5 -

7:30 p.m.

- Friday, Feb. 14 – Love Your Neighbor Luncheon

- Wednesday, Feb. 26 – Ash Wednesday Service here at

7:30 p.m.

- Saturday, Feb. 29 – Family Movie Night in the gym

- Monday, March 2 – Blood Drive here at Emanuel.

Volunteers needed!

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Come and join the Choir to sing on

Easter Sunday. We will be singing Lord

of the Dance. Practice will be Palm

Sunday after service. Let Rhonda Ash

or a choir member know that you are

interested. We would love to have you!

We are in need of VOLUNTEERS for Emanuel’s annual Blood Drive on March 2nd. We need 3 people from 12:45 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 3 people from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Please call Chrissy in the office if you are able to help. The Red Cross appreciates our help in saving lives!

Emanuel Kids (Ekids) Ministry Needs Volunteers We are looking for folks who would be willing to serve in the nursery and offer childcare during our weekly worship service on a rotational basis. This would be for infant children through age 5. If you would be interested please contact Chrissy in the church office or Pastor Chris.

Are you interested in being ServSafe Certified? The church is looking

for a member to hold the manager certification for the church kitchen.

The health department requires a licensed manager to hold our food

license. If you have any questions you can ask Chrissy in the office.

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Phone: (734) 428-7722 Fax: (734) 428-7950 710 E. Main Street (located in Riverside Intermediate School)

FOOD PANTRY SHOPPING LIST All contributions are welcome. What is below is a list of

products that our pantry is running low on & items that

many families don’t have access to on a regular basis. Some

items, like shampoo and soap, cannot be purchased with a Bridge

Card (food stamps).

Condiments Personal Care Items

Vinegars (red/white) Kleenex

Salad dressings Liquid Shower Soap

Ketchup and Mustard Hand Sanitizer

Jam and Jelly Shaving Cream

Salt and Pepper Razors/Shavers

Deodorant

Cleaning Supplies

Laundry Detergent Dry Pasta

Bleach and Fabric Softener Spaghetti

Dish Soap Rotini

Bathroom or Kitchen Cleaner Penne

Glass Cleaner Small Seashell

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Canned and dry food goods donated should be un-opened and in

their original packaging with labels, in good condition and

within 6 months of “sell by” date. Generic/store brands

preferred. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS!

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Pastor’s Ponderings . . . February 2020 A wife came to see her pastor full of hatred toward her husband. "I do not only want to get rid of him, I want to get even. Before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has me." The pastor suggested an ingenious plan, "Go home and act as if you really love your husband. Tell him how much he means to you. Praise him for every decent trait. Go out of your way to be as kind, considerate, and generous as possible. Spare no efforts to please him, to enjoy him. Make him believe you love him. After you've convinced him of your undying love and that you cannot live without him, then drop the bomb. Tell him that you're getting a divorce. That will really hurt him." With revenge in her eyes, she smiled and exclaimed, "Beautiful, beautiful. Will he ever be surprised!" And she did it with enthusiasm. Acting "as if." For two months she showed love, kindness, listening, giving, reinforcing, and sharing. When she didn't return, the pastor called, "Are you ready now to go through with the divorce?" "Divorce?" she exclaimed. "Never! I discovered I really do love him." Her actions had changed her feelings. Motion resulted in emotion. The ability to love is established not so much by enthusiastic promise as often repeated deeds. The Greek word agape (love) seems to have been virtually a Christian invention, a new word for a new thing (apart from about twenty occurrences in the Greek version of the Old Testament, it is almost non-existent before the New Testament). Agape draws its meaning directly from the revelation of God in Christ. It is not a form of natural affection, however, intense, but a supernatural fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). It is a matter of will rather than feeling (for Christians must love even those they dislike -- Matt. 5:44-48). It is the basic element in Christ-likeness. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner I encourage you to read 1 Corinthians 13 and note what these verses have to say about the priority (vv. 1-3) and perpetuity (vv. 8-13) of love; note as well the shape of love (vv. 4-7) which they give. Blessings, Joy, and Love,

Pastor Chris

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December GENERAL FUND

INCOME EXPENSES Pew Collections $21,658.00 Benevolences/Missions $955.00 Sunday School Offering

$0.00 Property/Maintenance $3,451.85

Bulletin Sponsorships

$10.00 Administrative $410.61

Coffee Hour $124.00 Christian Ed $0.00 Building Use $339.00 Worship Supplies $0.00 Refunded Bank Charges

$43.80 Music Expense $0.00

Other Income $105.00 Salaries/Benefits $12,585.53 Strengthen the Church Offering

$25.00 Total Operating Expenses

$17,402.99

Christmas Fund Offering

$230.00 Income to Expenses -$6,495.92

Christmas in the Village

$1,364.11 Overall Church General Funds YTD

-$8,516.35

Total Income $23,898.91

$16,731.00$18,172.00

$10,145.00

Finances at a glance

Budgeted Income Expenses to Date Income to Date

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Serving in February Deacons to Serve in February: Usher Team: Kelly Blaine, Morgan Blaine, Christine Honer and Ruth Blumenauer Communion Preparation: Stacey Bruestle and JoAnn Roberts **Acolyte Sign-up sheet is located in the Narthex near the balcony steps – we welcome anyone to help – robes and ropes

are located in the sacristy, if you need help, ask a Deacon.

Forest & Joan Walz February 4, 1956

Chelsea & Joseph Koengeter

February 4, 2017

Gregory & Courtney McLennan February 14, 2004

Jeremy & Kimberly Clore February 19, 2000

Abby & Chad Weiler February 21, 2015

Deborah & James Brown

February 28, 2004

Pamela & Donald Zoltowski February 29, 1992

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February 2: Lily Lewis Natalie King February 3: Laura Feuerbacher Andrea Cecconie February 4: Sarah Woollams February 5: Ava Rentfro February 6: Vicki Eisele Charlotte Major February 7: June Weiler February 8: Braeden Bunney Lee DeClaire February 10: Keith Reed Ezra Walter February 11: Jack Stein Julie Warboy Heidi Stein Amy Bruestle February 12: William Haeussler

February 13: Craig Little February 14: Sally Tindall Ted Harrington Tom Kallewaard Glenn Buss February 15: David Kempher Linda Alber February 16: Mary Jo Crossno February 17: Ashley Aldrich February 18: Riley Bair Jacob Gautz February 19: Morgan Herrst Amy Mann Kay Mutchler Jonathan Walz February 20: Grace Schlicht February 21: Christopher Holmquest February 22: Kathy Buss

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Stephen Holmquest Alayna Woollams Austin Luckhardt February 25: Verity Goodell February 28: Gareth Bates Karen Bennett Hollie Grider

Jefferay Henry Herbert Honer

If your birthday does not appear on this list for February or is incorrect, please call the church office so that we may update your membership record.

Contact your audiologist for information

on how to switch to the T-coil frequency.

This new technology works within the

pews on the main level. Unfortunately

it’s not in the balcony. We hope you are

able to switch on the T-coil and enjoy

the worship service with us.

Winter Bible Study Thursday, February 6 at 6:30 p.m. There a number of things that we think Jesus said when in actuality they are not found in scripture and do not reflect the heart of Christ. If we were to have a face to face conversation with Jesus what do we think he would have to say about our relationship with God and how we live out our faith? In this study we will look at what I call myths that some people believe about their relationship with God and how Jesus feels about us.

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Thank you to everyone who helped take down our advent

decorations.

Thank you, Ray Kemner for looking at our coffee maker and

getting us a replacement. We appreciate you always being willing

to help.

Thank you to those who continue to donate to the Community

Resource Center! This last month we donated 1 pair of children’s

snow pants, 1 pair of gloves, 1 box of Kleenex, 1 bottle of laundry

detergent, and 4 boxes of Jell-o.

Officers of Church Council 2019 President: Siobhan Gorman Vice President: Gary Stautz

Secretary: Vicki Eisele Treasurer: Kathy Buss

Financial Secretary: Jan Steinhauer

Board & Committee Liaison List:

Nominating – Gerry Mann Missions – Siobhan Gorman CE – Kathy Buss Music – Cathy Eisenhauer Property – Gary Stautz Historical – Vicki Eisele Deacons – Endowment – Jan Steinhauer Stewardship– Memorials– Staff Relations – Siobhan G & Tom A

Emanuel United Church of Christ

Church Council Meeting Minutes Monday, December 16, 2019

Council Present: Siobhan Gorman, Vicki Eisele, Gary Stautz, Jan

Steinhauer, Kathy Buss, Cathy Eisenhauer, Gerry Mann, Bryan Houttekier, Tom Ash

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Council Absent: Ex Officio: Rev. Chris Kurtz, Pastor and Christina Whitesall,

Administrative Assistant Guests: None Call to Order: 6:34 p.m. Devotions: Jan S. read two Christmas poems written by her mom,

Ellen Haeussler. Approval of Agenda: Tom A. requested adding Sound system to the old

business. Kathy B. moved and Jan S. seconded the motion to approve the agenda as amended. The motion passed.

Approval of Prior Minutes: Gerry M. moved and Bryan H. seconded the motion to approve the November council minutes. The motion passed.

Pastor’s Report: Pastor Chris reported that he has been very busy over the last month. He will be out of the office next week.

He will be having a Bible Study starting in February entitled “Things Jesus did not say”.

He has met with the Michigan Conference relative to becoming a UCC Minister. We will be working toward a Dual Standing position. That will require him to take some online classes. He will be paired with a local area mentor. A Full Standing certification is a much longer process and is a onetime process. If you fail, you are not allowed to attempt again.

The trip to New York went well. The possibility of a trip to the Ark next year is being considered.

President’s Report: Siobhan G. thanked the choir for the Cantata. She reported that the seniors are looking for a cook for their weekly meals. Reports for the annual report are due to Chrissy. Jamie Kurtz is asking for cookies for the coffee hour on 12/29 that will be an Open House at the parsonage.

Financial Reports: Our income continues to lag behind our expenses. We are currently $8,000 behind. We need to ramp up the stewardship program. Tom A. moved to accept the November financial report. The motion was seconded by Jan S. and the motion was carried.

Old Business:

a) Accessibility: The property committee is working with the feedback from the Town Hall meeting.

b) Nominations: Many positions are still open. Everyone needs to consider helping in the area where they have the most passion.

c) Budget for 2020: We will review the proposed budget at the Jan. working meeting.

d) Benevolence giving: The 2019 budgeted giving was reviewed. After much discussion, Tom A. moved that we give $600 to the local MFS and CRC. Jan S. seconded and the motion passed. Rev. Chris recommended that next year we look at % based giving.

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e) Renaissance Group: Pastor Chris did not hear anything back from the group.

f) Sound System: Based on the usage at the Cantata, there are changes needed in the sound system. Some capabilities that were proposed were not available. This is referred to the property committee.

New Business:

a) Annual Meeting Date: Annual meeting date has been set for Jan.26 following services.

b) Board and Committee Reports Due: Chrissy would like all reports by Jan. 3.

c) Staff Schedules: Working on plan for year and need vacation schedule, etc.

Board Reports: Deacons: Pastor Chris is working on an outline for how to do

communion so everyone is on the same page. He also wants to work on a process for receiving new prospective members. Suggestions for the Live Nativity are to have the lights on in the church and have the doors unlocked for visitors.

Christian Education: No meeting. Stewardship: No Report. Missions: Christmas in the Village went well. They are working on a

plan for 2020.

Committee Reports: Endowment: They met on 12/3 and have received 3 requests. One

request has been referred to Pastor Chris. The estimate of amount available to donate is $13, 000. Meeting scheduled for 12/3.

Property: Working on accessibility project and small maintenance items. Historical: No working session in Dec. Music: Cantata went well at Emanuel. Next Sunday it will be at Sharon. Gifts & Memorials: They are looking into new chalices and pew

cushions. Nominating: Many openings on boards and committees. Staff Relations: Evaluations are almost done.

NEXT COUNCIL MEETING – Monday, January 20, 2020 – 6:30 pm. VISION & PURPOSE MEETING – Monday, January 6, 20 – 6:30 pm Meeting adjourned with the Lord’s Prayer. Minutes submitted by: Vicki Eisele, Secretary

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Emanuel Church’s

Swiss Steak Dinner

Wednesday, February 12 324 W. Main Street, Manchester

Dinner from 5-7:30 p.m.

Swiss Steak

Mashed Potatoes

Vegetable

Tossed Salad

Rolls with butter

Dessert

Adults: $10.00 Children 5-12 years old: $5.00

Children under 5 are Free DINE IN OR TAKE OUT