Meadowbrook Congregational Church

Sunday, June 28, 2009 Fourth Sunday after Pentecost Worship at 10:00 AM Sermon: Running the Race Eric Brott All Are Welcome

A Canticle of Peace And it shall come to pass in the latter day That the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountain, And many shall go and say: Come ye and let us go into the house of the Lord. And He will teach us His way, and we will walk in His paths. And He shall judge and He shall judge between the nations. And shall reprove many nations. And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, Nation shall not lift sword against nation. Neither shall they learn war anymore, Come ye, let us walk in the light of the Lord -- Come.

Current Events

• REVERNED RITTER will be at the National Association meeting, June 24 through 30. Nancy in the church office will be able to reach him in case of a pastoral emergency.
  
  
• CHURCH DIRECTORIES HAVE ARRIVED: Please pick up your copy of the 2009 church directory in Fellowship Hall. Our pictorial directories are expected with two weeks!
  
  
• PICTORIAL DIRECTORIES have arrived! Your family copy is labeled and available in Fellowship Hall. Directories are available only to those members who had their photograph taken. If you would like a directory, and you didn't have a photograph taken, there may be a few extras...please add your name to the signup sheet.
  
  
• MEMORIAL GARDEN BROCHURES are available on the Information Rack by the north entry. Please see Reverend Ritter if you have any questions.
  
  
• GRADUATION PARTY? Are you having a graduation party this summer? We have a canopy for rent - $100. If interested, see Nancy in the church office.
  
  
• GLEANERS: Due to lack of signups, the Gleaners project for June 27 will be rescheduled for the fall.
  
  
• JUNE PROPERTY WISH LIST: This month we are collecting: Paper placemats (all colors) hot/cold cups, legal size colored paper. All donations may be left in the church office. Thank you for your continuing support.
  
  
• GOLF SIGN UP: If you are interested in participating in the all church golf day on Saturday, July 25, please sign up in Fellowship Hall.
  
  
• NOVI EMERGENCY FOOD BANK: The Novi Emergency Food Bank serves the hungry of Novi, Walled Lake and Wixom. This month we are collecting: Cooking supplies - flour, sugar, salt and pepper, cooking oil.
  
  
• SUMMER MUSIC: The Music Board is looking for talented musical persons to perform during the church service throughout the summer months while the Chancel Choir is on hiatus (June  21 - September 6).  It could be vocal or instrumental.  If interested, please sign up for the Sunday(s) you would like on the sheet in Fellowship Hall.  Please see Bonnie Hyde if you have any questions (248-349-5825 or 248-892-4694).
  
  
• FLOWER DONATIONS: Effective July 1, 2009 the flower donation policy will be changed.  Those donating flowers for the Sunday worship service will be given the flowers to take home.  Donors must be present on the day of their donation to receive the flowers unless they have made other arrangements with the church office to pick them up on a subsequent day.  Donors may also indicate they would prefer the Deacons to give the flowers to a shut in. Flowers for the Sunday worship service may be donated by completing a Flower Donation Card.  Donation cards are available in the pew racks and next to the Flower Donation Chart in the hallway next to Room 2.  The cost is $40 per arrangement. Please contact the Deacons if you have any questions.



• HYMNALS FOR SALE: The Music Board has extra hymnals for sale for private use.  The cost is $20 and the hymnals and an envelope for your payment are on the table in Fellowship Hall.  Please make checks payable to Meadowbrook Congregational Church.
  
  
• COOKIE TRAYS NEEDED: With graduation upon us, the organizers of Meadowbrook's first ever Cookie Walk (to be held December 12) are seeking catering trays for the holiday fundraiser. If you are hosting a graduation party or other event, please consider donating any disposable plastic catering trays. There is a box in Fellowship Hall to place trays. Please make sure they are clean before donating. More information on the Cookie Walk will be forthcoming.
  
  
• BOOK CLUB: Our July selection is Loving Frank by Nancy Horan.  This historically imagined novel recounts the love story between Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Cheney.  Copies of the book are available at church; please see Colleen Foster.  We will meet on Tuesday, July 14 at 7:30 p.m.
  
  
• SUMMER SCRIP: The Scrip program is up and running. Many Meadowbrook families have already jumped on board and are earning money for the church just by doing their regular shopping and spending. Each scrip gift card earns the church between 2 and 19% that is being used to eliminate our church deficit. The summer brings additional opportunities to help. Are you planning a party? Buy Sam's or Gordon Foods cards to purchase your party needs. Call or email Patti Hokett at plhokett at yahoo dot com for more information. When you place an order on Sunday we usually have it delivered to us by mid week. Remember - you can pay both your Kohl's and Penney's credit cards with scrip.



• THE GARDENS NEED SOME ATTENTION: Are you interested in tending to some of the church gardens in your spare time? If so, you are welcome to "adopt" any of the flower beds. They are in need of some tender loving weeding. If needed, community service letters can be provided.



• NURSERY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: There is a need for "fifth" Sunday nursery volunteers on August 30 and November 29. If you can help watch our little ones on any of these dates, please contact Michele Fecht.
  
  
• NOVI EMERGENCY FOOD BANK: The Novi Emergency Food Bank serves the hungry of Novi, Walled Lake and Wixom. This month we are collecting spring cleaning supplies - dish soap, window cleaner, laundry soap, bleach and bathroom cleaner.
  
  

Church School News CHURCH SCHOOL QUILT:  Stop by and see the beautiful quilt on display in Fellowship Hall.  Each square depicts a way in which we can show love for one another.  Thank you to all of the children and youth who designed the pictures.  A special thank you goes to Kelle Vela for leading the project as well as putting the final product together.                SUMMER CHURCH SCHOOL:  Don Gaines will be leading our Summer Church School program again. He has a lot of great activities planned for our preschool through 5th Grade students.  Assistants are needed; Middle School and High School youth as well as Adults who would like to help out, please sign up in Fellowship Hall. NURSERY CHILD CARE: Child care is available during worship service for children under 3 years old. Our clean, modern nursery is located off the main hall, past the coat room, and staffed by church members.

Pilgrim Fellowship News Pilgrim Fellowship is Meadowbrook's Youth Group for those in 6th through 12th grades. We meet most Sunday evenings from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. We do a number of field trips and community service projects as well as meetings that include meaningful discussions, fellowship and fun. PFers are encouraged to bring friends to the meetings.

Ongoing announcements

• OFFICE HOURS beginning January 2009 are from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Monday thru Thursday (until 1:30 p.m. during summer). The office is closed on Fridays. Rev. Art Ritter is in the office Monday through Thursday.
  
  
• NAME TAGS: Members of Meadowbrook Congregational are provided with name tags in order to make it easy to meet new friends. If you do not have a name tag, we encourage you to write one for yourself at the Welcome Table immediately inside the parking lot entrance. If you have lost or misplaced your name tag, please let Nancy in the church office know and a new one will be made for you. The name tags are housed immediately outside the coat closet in the main hall.
  
  
• CHURCH COOKBOOK: The Meadowbrook Cookbook is available for purchase. Cost is $10. See Nancy in the church office.
  
  
• MEADOWBROOK PRAYER CHAIN: If you, or someone you know, would like to be placed on the Meadowbrook Church Prayer Chain, please call Nancy in the church office.
  
  
• THE DEACONS CAN USE YOUR HELP: While you're cleaning out closets and cabinets, please remember the Deacons could use some of your discards such as: Florist vases (to take flowers to the hospital and nursing home) Large clear glass plates (for receptions and coffee hour) Punch bowls and punch cups (for receptions and funerals) Clear glass sugar bowls and creamer sets (for dinners, receptions, and coffee hour) Donations can be dropped off in the kitchen.  Please see Nancy Barry if you have any questions.
  
  
• PROPERTY COMMITTEE: Do you have some spare time? Do you like to putter around and fix things? If you do the Board of Trustees would like you to be a member of the Property Committee. The Property Committee is overseen by the Trustees but you don't have to be on the Board of Trustees to be on the Property Committee. If you are interested and we sure could use you, there is a sign-up sheet in the Fellowship Hall, or see Charlie Hokett.
  
  
• ACOLYTES: All 5th and 6th grade youth are invited to participate in worship as an acolyte. Our young people bring the light of Jesus into the Meeting House each Sunday, and both boys and girls are encouraged to participate in this meaningful part of worship. Please signup in Fellowship Hall if you are interested. Questions? Call Norm Kubitskey at 248 880-3361.
  
  
• THE MESSENGER MAILING: In order to control the cost of mailing The Messenger, please consider making a yearly donation of $10 which will cover the cost of paper, printing and postage mailing the newsletter to your home. If you wish to have the newsletter sent to you electronically, please let Nancy in the church office know. (Current and back issues of The Messenger are always available here on the website as well.) Thank you.
  
  
• LOOKING FOR A SPECIAL GIFT? For those of us who don't need a thing when asked what we would like for a birthday or special occasion. Please consider suggesting to family and friends an offering to the Bridge to the Future capital campaign fund would be a thoughtful and meaningful gift. It would also be a tax benefit to the donor and a most welcome contribution to the church.
  To make an offering to the Bridge to the Future campaign, you may simply place your check into your pledge envelope and indicate the amount in the space after BUILDING FUND. Or you may use the blue envelopes marked Bridge to the Future.
  
  
• BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS: Please be sure that all bulletin announcements are submitted by noon on Wednesday. This will ensure that they are included in the following Sunday bulletin.
  
  

Activities at Meadowbrook

Summer Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

EVERY SUNDAY

• 10:00 a.m. Worship & Church School (age 4 through high school)
• 11:00 a.m. Fellowship Hour
• 6:00-8:00 p.m. Pilgrim Fellowship

SUNDAY, June 28

• 10:00 a.m. Worship: Sermon - "Running the Race"
• Guest Preacher - Eric Brott
• 11:00 a.m. Fellowship

MONDAY, June 29

• 10:30 a.m. Staff meeting
• 7:30 p.m. YogaFit class

WEDNESDAY, July 1

• Bulletin deadline

SUNDAY, July 5

• 10:00 a.m. Worship: Sermon: "Sacred Time"
• 11:00 a.m. Fellowship

• Visit us for Sunday worship! We are located at 21355 Meadowbrook Road in Novi, one-quarter mile north of Eight Mile Road. Meadowbrook is one mile west of Haggerty Road. View a map and directions.
• Use our online response form and your message will be forwarded to the appropriate person for reply.
• Call Meadowbrook Congregational Church anytime at (248) 348-7757. Church summer office hours are 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM Monday through Thursday; regular office hours are 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM Monday through Thursday (closed Fridays); there is a 24-hour voicemail system to leave a message after hours. Quite frequently there is someone to answer the phone outside of office hours as well.

Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, and all the ways you can, and all the places you can, at the times you can, to all the people you can as long as you ever can.