November 2020 newsletter - WordPress.com

“How good and pleasant it is when Godʼs people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaronʼs beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” Psalm 133

Recently, we celebrated World Communion Sunday at T-North Pavilion. The service was a joint service between three churches: Grace Lutheran, First Presbyterian, and Vassar First United Methodist Church.

For the Methodist church, it was the first time we celebrated communion together since March, and I missed it. I missed breaking bread together. I missed sharing the holy sacrament. I missed encountering God through the ordinary elements of bread and juice.

So, I am glad we celebrated communion together. Not just as a congregation, but as a faith community in Vassar. What better way to recognize the spirit of World Communion Sunday than breaking bread together in union with our siblings in Christ?

The act of taking communion together out in God’s cathedral represents more than communion itself. As holy and sacred as communion is, when we take communion together between congregations, it’s also an act of unity. It’s a declaration that we are defined, not by denominational differences, not by buildings and street addresses, not by history or doctrine, but we are defined by our unity under Christ.

Unity seems in short supply these days. We are divided as a nation right now. We are dividing ourselves into us and them; those with me and those against me. These binary positions are even more pronounced as we race towards Election Day: Will you vote with me or against me? Remember the rhetoric around elections is designed to divide: divide us on issues and candidates.

(cont. on next page)

250 W. Huron, Vassar, MI 48768 VassarFPC.org November 2020

http://vassarfpc.org

http://vassarfpc.org

As disciples we need to reclaim our unity in Christ. While the world looks for ways to divide, we, in the Church, need to look for ways to draw together and dwell in harmony with one another. When the world looks to divide us into opposite camps like for or against, blue or red, bacon or sausage, we, as people of God, need to create opportunities to dwell together and remember that Christ is for us all.

Yes, our current safety restrictions and isolation create new challenges to draw together in unity, but there are ways to stay connected: a phone call, a letter, a connection electronically and prayers lifted up. I hope you will continue to remember the others in our church. And we should be practicing those disciplines not only inter-church but also inter-Church (capital C representing all of us in all the churches in our community).

We need to, in a modern rewriting of Galatians 3:28, recognize there are neither liberal or conservative, neither Methodist or Presbyterian, nor is there Republican or Democrat, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

We need to focus more on Christ, the one who unites us instead of all the other things that might divide us.

“Grant to your people, good Lord, the spirit of unity, that they may dwell together in your love, and so bear to the world the ointment of your healing and the dew of your blessing; through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Common Worship: Daily Prayer

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

Pastor Scott Sherrill Romans 14:19

NEWSLETTER INFORMATION DEADLINE

November 23rd

Notes

If you are in need of Pastoral care, please contact the church office ,

and/or Clerk of Session Dan Johnson.

2020 Financial Information 1/1/2020-9/30/2020

September YTD

Gen. Fund Income: $5,866.00 $58,352.91

Interest: 15316 1,116.11

Total Income $ 5,881.16 $59,469.02

Expenses: (2,149.03) (34,246.73)

Net: $2,732.13 $25,322.29

Designated Funds (Not Included in the Gen. Fund)

Food Pantry $ 200.00

Thank you to all those who are giving to the financial mission of our church.

Jackie Strecker, Treasurer

The Angel Tree

The Angel Tree will be up in the sanctuary beginning Sunday, November 22nd through

Sunday, December 6th. This project provides gifts for children in need this Christmas. If you would like to participate in this project please

take an angel from the tree and sign the list on the podium in the parlor. If you are attending

our virtual services and would like to participate in this please call Lynn Franko at the number or email below. Gifts should be wrapped with

the angel gift tag attached to them and returned to the church by Sunday, December 13th. The list of possible gifts on the tags are

suggestions and not everything on the tag needs to be purchased. If you have questions please contact =Lynn Franko at 989-823-7590

or. [email protected].

2 Dan Zuzula 7 Barbara Baker 9 Linda Shoop 14 Joshua Atkins 30 Kirk Atkins

Happy Birthday Happy Anniversary

25 Ray & Helen Waggoner

WHAT’S GOING ON???

Please note: this calendar is always on the website at

vassarfpc.org/know/view-church-calendar/

and is subject to change.

November 2020Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1COMMUNIONDaylight Savings Time EndsDaylight Saving Time End9:00 AM Communi-cation & Publicity Team10:00 AM Worship

2 3Election Day

412:30 PM Bible Study7:00 PM Joint Choir Practice8:00 PM Handbell Choir

56:30 PM Discipleship & Growth Team7:00 PM Cancer Sup-port Group

6 7

810:00 AM Worship

9 10 11Veterans Day7:00 PM Joint Choir Practice8:00 PM Handbell Choir

12 13 14Diwali

1510:00 AM Worship

1610:00 AM Book Club

178:30 AM WIC

186:30 PM Mission & Outreach Team7:00 PM Joint Choir Practice8:00 PM Handbell Choir

197:00 PM Cancer Sup-port Group

20 21

2210:00 AM Worship

23 248:30 AM WIC

257:00 PM Joint Choir Practice8:00 PM Handbell Choir

26Thanksgiving - Office ClosedThanksgiving7:00 PM Session

27 28

2910:00 AM Worship

30 1 212:30 PM Bible Study7:00 PM Joint Choir Practice8:00 PM Handbell Choir


4 5


2 3Election Day



6 7

810:00 AM Worship


12 13 14Diwali

1510:00 AM Worship


178:30 AM WIC



20 21

2210:00 AM Worship

23 248:30 AM WIC



27 28

2910:00 AM Worship



4 5


2 3Election Day



6 7

810:00 AM Worship


12 13 14Diwali

1510:00 AM Worship


178:30 AM WIC



20 21

2210:00 AM Worship

23 248:30 AM WIC



27 28

2910:00 AM Worship



4 5


2 3Election Day



6 7

810:00 AM Worship


12 13 14Diwali

1510:00 AM Worship


178:30 AM WIC



20 21

2210:00 AM Worship

23 248:30 AM WIC



27 28

2910:00 AM Worship



4 5

Page 1/1

http://vassarfpc.org/know/view-church-calendar/

http://vassarfpc.org/know/view-church-calendar/

Documents

November 2020 newsletter - WordPress.com