News and Upcomming Events

Pastoral Care At Second is always priority #1. If you are anticipating a stay in the hospital, or if you would just like a visit in your home, please contact the church office.

Window Candles?The window candles used for Carols by Candlelight and the Advent season are given in memory of Chuck LeBaron from Bill and Laura VanSkiver.

Altar Flowers?the Altar Flowers for Sunday, December 28, are in loving memory of Neil Bard from his wife and family.

The Altar Flowers for Sunday, January 4, are for the glory of God!

ADVANCE DEADLINE?The next Advance will be mailed on Tuesday, January 6.

The deadline for articles is noon on Friday, January 2. Thank you!
---Mary Harrison

Liturgical Dance at Second Church?
(Liturgical dance is a form of creative movement done in worship.) Pastor Tracey is looking for children youth, or adults to do liturgical dance Christmas Eve at our 6:30 or 10:00 services - and possibly other times.

Children's Live Nativity, Sunday December 21

10:30 Service

We are seeking children 3 years - 6^th grade to be shepherds, angels, magi, etc., and Jr. High youth to be readers. If you would like for your child to be part of the Live Nativity, contact Pastor Tracey by December 10.

Poinsettia plant Sale.. This Sunday, December 14, will be the last opportunity to order a Poinsettia plant to decorate our Sanctuary for the Christmas season. Orders can be placed outside the Drawing Room after the 8:30 am and before and after the 10:30 am Worship Service. Plants may be picked up on Christmas Eve after the 10:00 am service or anytime throughout the following week. If you are unable to pick up your plant(s), please make

arrangements to have someone pick them up for you!

Mitten Tree..As you are shopping for gifts this season, would you consider adding a pair of mittens, hats, or scarves to your Christmas list? We've even received our first pair of donated mittens from the Rev. Bruce & Becky Irwin (which Becky knitted herself.) Each year the donations received are divided between the children at the East Leonard Elementary Public School and the Charles Hall Youth Service, founded by the United Church of Christ, to help the Lakota people. (The Lakota Reservation encompasses the two poorest counties in America.) Please place your donation on or around the Mitten Tree located in the Narthex. Thank you, in advance, for warming God's children's hearts and hands.

Merry Christmas! - The Anderson/Rebekah Guild

Advent Devotions are still available in the narthex

and on the Christian Education table.

Christian Missions Board

The Christian Missions Board (formerly "Outreach") is charged with supporting the programs and projects that spread the word of God throughout our town, our nation and our world.

The largest part of the Mission Board's budget is the OCWM (Our Church's Wider Ministry). On a nation and global level, this 16 billion dollar a year fund fights poverty, works for justices, provides education, empowers people and helps them become self sufficient. There are four major offerings within the OCWM umbrella. These are Neighbors in Need, The Christmas Fund, Strengthen the Church and One Great Hour of Sharing. Each of these offerings will focus on the larger, global issues of our world.

The smaller, but equally important part of our board is to provide support to local charities which deal with the issues facing our city and our neighborhoods. We support these programs with our money and our time. Each Sunday, we ask that you drop your loose change from your pocket into the collection basket. This money is accumulated and donated to a local charity. In the past, we've done Gilda's House, Senior Meals on Wheels, The Red Cross, In the Image and many more. This fall, we distributed food from Gleaner's to local residents in need. We are working on a similar project for the first of the year that will allow our youth to be involved as well. There are many ways to make a difference in our community. Money is certainly important, but so is the giving of our time to help others and spread the word of God.

This Christmas, as we try to make a difference in the lives of so many of our community members who are struggling, we ask that you support our Christmas Project of "Warming Up the Holidays" with your gift of money or a warm clothing item (socks, slippers, sweatshirts, etc.)

Happy

Holidays from the Christian Missions Board!

REACHING OUT?
with the Christian Missions Board

FOOD PANTRIES?Cold means warm? That is, when it is cold outside, the little folks need something warm for their little tummies! Pancakes, hot cereals, or toast with jelly for

breakfast, and macaroni & cheese, soups, and beans - good for warm lunches! Thank you to those who graciously give to the pantries. It is very much needed and appreciated!

LOOSE CHANGE FUND? We have reached our goal and a check will be sent out to Gilda's house to help with their wonderful programs. We have $4 left to start our next project which will be the YWCA Domestic Crisis Center. Please continue to put your loose coins in the collection plate.

ENVELOPE MISSION GIVING: Remember, all money contributed to Missions in our envelope giving during the last quarter of the year will be given to Ronald McDonald House to be used for their many programs to help family members deal with sick children.

SUPPER HOUSE?We served again at Supper house on December 4th. A delicious chicken sandwich, tossed salad and fruit salad and pumpkin walnut cake was offered to approximately 115 people. Those who helped serve were Diane Baker, Bob & Donna Eggleston, Don & Marilyn Long, Roy May and Janet Rinvelt. A new sign-up for next year will be up soon on the board next to the Drawing Room. Because of the change of site to Plainfield Methodist Church, we will only be needing 8 servers, so sign up early!

CHRISTMAS FUND?The Christmas fund offering (formally known as the Christmas fund for the Veterans of the Cross) is one of the special mission offerings of the UCC and an important way of showing our joy at God's renewing, life giving grace.

Gifts to the Christmas Fund help provide pension and health premiums supplementing low retirees, emergency to families of clergy and lay employees. Your gifts are needed more than ever now with the economy growing worse, making it even harder for them to meet their expenses. Please look for the Christmas Fund offering in envelopes in the Sunday bulletin or in your envelope giving box. Let's make this special offering SPECIAL.

DIRECTORY NEWS?All of the materials for the directory have now been sent in to Olan Mills. The next step is waiting for the proof book, which should be here soon. After the proof book is approved and sent back, we can expect our directories in approximately 30 days. I'm not sure if we will get them before Christmas, but it should be shortly thereafter. Everyone should have received their prints from photography by now. If you have not, please call Olan Mills at 1-800-596-3731 and dial option 5. A customer service representative should be able to help you. Thank you, Gilda Sorenson

SNOW POLICY

Please accept our apologies for the failure to get an earlier notice placed

on the two TV stations (WOOD-TV & WZZM-13) cancelling our church

services for December 21. It is difficult to make the decision when you

have Christmas programs planned, and you don't see other churches cancelling their services (and waiting to the last minute, also.) For the future, when we cancel, in addition to the TV messages, we will add the message to our church answering system (361-2629). Again, our apologies, but our member's safety is important!

Thomas Cole

Church Moderator

RIVER CITY JAZZ CONCERT: Mark your calendars for the annual River City Jazz concert, which will be held in our sanctuary on January 23 at 7:30 pm. The concert is free, and a free-will offering will be received for the Music Fund. This event is always a big hit, and is a great opportunity to invite your friends and neighbors!

ALTAR FLOWERS?We have a number of dates available for January and February for altar flowers. If you would like to sign-up for a Sunday, please contact Mary Harrison in the church office at 361-2629. The cost is $40.00.

BLOOD DRIVE?We will be holding a blood drive on Monday, February 23. To be eligible to give on that date, you may not donate blood after December 28. Please, let's make this a big drive. Questions? Call Donna Eggleston at 454-9038

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Thanks to all the children who brought Socks for "In the Image" during Advent!

Sunday School Plans

December 28: One Room Schoolhouse for preschoolers - sixth graders

January 4: Finish our "Good News" Advent/Christmas workshop

January 11: Start "Calling the Disciples" Faith Branches rotation, new shepherds begin

YOUTH MINISTRY

Senior High Youth:

Sunday, January 4: Youth Group, 11:45

Wednesday, January 7: Youth Council, 4:45 PM

Sunday, January 11: Faith Formation (during the 10:30 service)

Junior High Youth

Sunday, January 4: Resume regular Sunday School

Sunday, January 11: Youth Group, 11:45

Carnival

Second Congregational UCC

525 Cheshire

361-2629

Winter Carnival & Preschool Open House

Saturday, January 31, 2009

12 Noon-3 p.m.

Bring your Family, Friends and Neighbors!

Play, have fun and win prizes!!!!

Creston Neighborhood Association: You can make a difference in your neighborhood to help stop foreclosures. Please spread the word by letting people know who to call for help.

If you know someone who has even missed one payment or is worried about making their next payment, make sure they know that FREE help is available from a reliable, trained housing specialist. The sooner they receive help, the better the chances are they will be able to avoid foreclosure. No one should pay for foreclosure help. So, the first call they make should be to Home Repair Services. They are a wonderful no-profit organization in Grand Rapids. Call

241-2601. For more information or materials, call Kym from Foreclosure Response at 401-0680 or visit their website www.foreclosureresponse.org

ADULT EDUCATION

Tuesday Morning Bible Study, 9:30 am in the Sage Room, led by Pastor
Todd

TGIW: Wednesdays, 6:30-7:30 pm

            Dec. 3: Vision Class: Walk the Labyrinth as we equip for the
            future, led by Pastor Todd (Be part of the conversation as we prepare
            for our congregation's future and as we search for our settled Senior
            Pastor.)