HOPE
Upcoming Events at Hope UCC
SPECIAL EVENTS LINE-UP
- Each Sunday: Spirit-filled worship at 10 a.m.
- 9/3: Hymn singing and Holy Communion.
- 9/17: Church picnic following worship.
- 10/1: Holy Communion for World Communion
Sunday.
- 10/8: Pet Blessing @ 2 p.m.
- 10/15: Bible Sunday and Children’s Sabbath.
- 10/17 & 10/18: Church Photos for the New
Directory.
- 10/21: Trick or Trunk @2 p.m.
- 10/29: Congregational meeting to approve 2024
church budget.
- 11/12: All Saints Day.
-11/19: Church potluck following worship.
NEW SERMON SERIES
Beginning August 13th. As we begin to draw our summer worship to a close, Pastor Meg will begin a sermon series on challenging feelings. Just because we are Christians does not mean we are immune to life’s challenges. We will be exploring ways to manage these difficulties through the lens of our faith.
UNIVERSAL CHURCH DIRECTORIES
The Pictorial Directory for the Church Family Album is
reserved for Monday, October 17th, and Tuesday,
October 18th, 2 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
This fun event includes a free 8x10 and a free directory for participants. This is a great way to invite families back into the church and to celebrate the families that are already here. Please feel free to invite your friends and neighbors.
More information to come...
DO SOMETHING FOR YOUR HEART IN JUNE
BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING !
EVERY MONTH - 1st Sunday
All Information is Confidential
FOOD PANTRY
On July 8th we held a drive-thru distribution day. We served 91 families (280 Individuals) 6,400 lbs of food, cleaning supplies and hygiene products!
In 2022, we served 2,876 individuals over 65,583 lbs of food, cleaning supplies and hygiene products!
These pantry distribution days would not have been a success without the generous support of our donors, volunteers, and your Christian Mission & Witness Committee members.
Our next drive-thru pantry distribution will
be Saturday, September 9th from 10-12pm.
WE ARE THE CHURCH!
Pastor Meg is inviting children and teens to read the Call to Worship. If you have a young person in your family who would like to participate in worship, please contact the church office. Pastor Meg will write the material at your child’s reading level. The children do not need to be church members.
We also need teens or adults to read the scripture each week. If you would be willing to serve in this capacity, please reach out to Pastor Meg or the church office. We are the church together!
What's News
Our Annual Church Picnic will be on September 17th at the church following worship.
Delicious chicken provided; bring a dish to pass; outside games for all ages; bounce house!
Come and enjoy this time of fellowship and fun! Bring your family, friends, and grandkids to this end-of summer celebration.
Sign-up sheets are posted via the Narthex.
Blessing of the Pets
October 8th at 2 p.m., we invite you and your friends to a joyful celebration of the pets in our lives. All animals and humans are welcome! This is a brief worship service.
Stuffed animals may be blessed if your household doesn't include any creatures! If your pet is shy about being in public, you may choose to bring their favorite toy to be blessed instead. Please have your pets restrained for their safety. Refreshments will be served to both human and animal participants.
Bring your goldfish, dogs, cats, hamsters, horses, and any other creature to this celebration.
Trunk or Treat
We will host our annual Halloween event on Saturday, October 21st, at 2 p.m. Children dress up in costumes and trick or treat in the parking lot, going from car to car. Adults are encouraged to decorate their cars and bring candy to pass out. This event happens rain or shine. Bring your kids, grandkids, and neighbors to this fun and safe event!
Sunday School Position
The candidate we had planned to hire for the Christian Education position needed to withdraw her name from consideration due to some serious health issues. The HR Committee is looking at applications and is interviewing some potential candidates for the Sunday School Director’s position. Please keep praying that we find the right person to help lead this vital program.
Sunday School Kick-Off
Sunday, September 17th, we will officially begin the new Christian Education 2023/2024 year! This fall, we hope to have at least two groups and then add on as the year continues. We want to have a group for preschool through 1st grade and then 2nd through 5th grade. We will ask older youth to help out in a classroom. Parents will be asked to fill out an updated Sunday School Registration Form.
Bible Sunday October 15
The church is committed to the tradition of giving young learners a Bible from their church family. We typically give a Bible to children in the third grade. We want to make sure to include all eligible children so we can encourage them to grow in their faith. Please contact Pastor Meg or the church office if you have a third grader in your family who would like to receive a Bible on Sunday, October 15th. We want to make sure to recognize each recipient in a special way on that Sunday during the worship service.
TURKEY DINNER GIVE-AWAY
Hope Church will be participating in the Turkey Dinner Giveaway again this year. This mission project is being coordinated by Amber Lemon at Lakepoint Church in Shelby Township.
The next organizational meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 27th, at Lakepoint Church, starting at 11 a.m. Lunch will be provided. You are welcome to attend the meeting, but if you are unable to attend but would like to participate in the Giveaway, the packing party will happen on Friday, November 17, 6-8 PM.
The distribution will occur on Saturday, November 18,
from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Focus: HOPE
To help reduce the nearly 43 percent of people who are
food insecure in southeast Michigan, Focus: HOPE is
increasing its effort to expand the monthly food program
for seniors.
Unlike many food programs that provide one-time meals, this program focuses on supplementing senior pantries with items like milk, cereal, and canned goods that can be used throughout the entire month.
Seniors age 60 and older living in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb or
Washtenaw counties can apply for the monthly Food for Seniors
Program by calling 313-494-4600, emailing food@focushope.edu or filling out the form at: https://bit.ly/3D8YFzl.
Michigan UCC – United in Love
Bethel UCC and Michigan Conference UCC Prophetic Integrity Mission Area Team, has partnered with the organization RIP Medical Debt (RIP MD).
RIP MD acquires medical debt from secondary collection sources like collection agencies and, through the generosity of donors, TOTALLY ELIMINATES that debt at a 100:1 ratio. That means for every dollar we raise, $100 in medical debt is eliminated.
We are asking you, as a colleague in Christ in our Michigan Conference, to help us ERASE this debt for our neighbors in Michigan. So together, UNITED IN LOVE, we will relieve the crushing burden placed on already sick Michiganders who cannot afford the medical cost of their illness.
WHERE?
To donate, CLICK HERE (* RIP Medical Debt is a 501(c)3 charitable organization).
LEARN MORE about RIP Medical Debt HERE
HEARING ASSISTANCE NOW OFFERED AT HOPE
Can’t quite hear Pastor Meg’s sermon? Think the choir just doesn’t sing loud enough? We can help!
We can accommodate you with our assistive listening system! We have installed a complex system that can transmit directly to your hearing aids, through your own smartphone or with a special receiver we can lend you. We also have earphones for those without hearing aids.
Make sure you can hear God’s wonderful good news!
If you would like to give a gift to support these events, please click here to be routed to our secure giving site.
Ongoing Activities
AA
Alcoholics Anonymous meets every Tuesday 7-8:00 pm.
Saturday 7-8:30 pm.
in Fellowship Hall.
Seniors Group
Third Monday of each month - 11:30am Potluck, Games & Fellowship
PFLAG
Reachout to PFLAG at plagct@gmail.com for more information and meeting times.
BOWLING
Every two weeks unless on a holiday. Reach out to Tim Cole if you’re interested. They bowl at the AMF Rose Bowl Lanes on Martin Road. From September-April.
EXERCISE CLASS - Will restart in March
Both men and women are welcome to join this on-going class. Cost is $1.00 per person per class. The instructor is from the Arthritis Foundation. The class meets:
Mondays 11a-12p
Wednesdays from from 1-2p
HELP WANTED—SOUND BOARD
We're always looking for help with our audio and video services. Its easier than it looks and its fun to learn. If this seems interesting to you, please talk to Jim on Sunday or call him.
CHOIR & HANDBELLS
will be resuming regular rehearsals on
Thursday September 15
Please see Deborah if you would like to join one of these groups. You do not need to know how to read music—all will be taught to you!
- Handbell rehearsals
5:45 set up 6:00-7:00 rehearsal
- Choir rehearsals 7:30-9:00 (or 8:30ish)
We are always looking for more singers to join the Choir and players to join the Bell Choir; we have a place for you.