March 2016- Food Donations

We want to thank everyone who has helped support Fish food pantry of Shelby, and our own church food pantry. During the Month of March First UCCer's donated over 300 food items, and $122.00 to help feed hungry families!

"Messages."- from Church Organist Phil Pearson

MESSAGES

                I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel overwhelmed by messages.  Sometimes they are on my answering machine, sometimes in my email.  I can only be thankful that I don’t do texting, because my frustration would only increase. 

                We seem to be bombarded by messages everywhere.  People want us to pay attention to what they have to say.  Sometimes messages are embedded or outright stated in sermons, conversations with friends, on billboards, on TV advertisements, and so on.  People are constantly vying for our time.  Some of those messages are ones we need to hear; sometimes they are pure dribble. 

                One of the biggest messages we all send is how we live our lives.  We have all been influenced from our early lives by those around us.  My father always grew far too many vegetables in his garden than our family could possibly eat.  The lesson here was that we frequently went with him as he delivered the excess to those in the community who could benefit.  I know he purposely grew too many so that he would have that excess to share.  My mother always taught us not to hate or even use the word and not to see skin color as an excuse for derision. 

My junior choir director at church and her husband, the organist, were constantly making big pictures for little eyes to see.  My choir director would get up early every morning to bake bread and take it to others.  She would go sing to residents at the nursing homes every week.  She would constantly ask me to sing solos in church (Can you imagine my high soprano voice singing to 800 people in a church filled with musicians and professors?) She was encouraging me to use my talents.  I think she saw far more in me than I did.  She and her husband were constantly taking me to concerts and would always take me backstage to meet the performers.  Her husband later became my organ professor at Otterbein.  I could not have asked to have a better role model of a Christian who constantly made me aware that when I played for church, I was not a performer or a bystander during the times in the service when the music was not being used.  He said, “You should always be an active Christian participant in all parts of the service.”  He gave generously of his time and his considerable talent, but he was always a Christian man in all that he did.

                You and I have had many role models in our lives.  We have had great teachers, preachers, family members, friends, and mentors.  What messages did they send?  I hope your lives have been as richly blessed as mine has been, and that people will see Jesus when they see us and the way we live your lives.  Not all messages contribute to the overload.  Jesus is the best role model of them all.

Phil

Blanket Sunday

Last Sunday Fred Cooke talked to our church youth about the importance of "Blanket Sunday." Every year the First United Church of Christ collects a generous offering for Church World Missions (The organization that supplies these blankets to people all around the world who have experienced a disaster of some kind. Fred showed the kids how a blanket can be used as a shelter- clothing- to carry things- and simply to stay warm. The kids raise $307 in their offering- enough to buy 61.5 blankets. Thank you Fred and 1st UCC youth for helping others!

An Evening of Gospel Music- Shelby High School

The Choir of the First United Church of Christ had the opportunity to participate in an Evening of Gospel Music at Shelby Senior High School. Here are a few photos from that evening.