Oct 14, 09

October 14, 2009

Welcome General Minister Geoffrey A. Black

On October 1, theUnited Church of Christ welcomed new General Minister Geoffrey A. Black. Having served as the UCC's New York Conference Minister since 2000, Rev. Black was elected this summer at General Synod 27 in Grand Rapids to succeed the Rev. John H. Thomas, who completed 10 years of service in the office. A 15-year local church pastor, a college chaplain and a former national staff member, Rev. Black offers an infectious sense of humor, a gentle spirit, keen pastoral sensibilities, an ecumenical outlook, a commitment to church growth and evangelism, and a deep concern for justice and peace. Rev. Black says he loves the United Church of Christ because it is a church that respects and affirms your intellect, while affirming the presence of Jesus Christ in the midst of all that we do. We welcome Geoffrey A. Black and pray as he leads the United Church of Christ into the next chapter.

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS & ROOM PICK UP

Welcome to our rotation on Joseph in Egypt! We will learn that our bad decisions don't have to haunt us for the rest of our lives. God can work to alter the course and is acting in our lives today as HE acted in the life of Joseph. Children begin in Sunday School this Sunday, October 18, in the following rooms:

*Pre-School; room 5, Cathy Petersen

*Grades K-1; room 3, Christeen Collins, Zach Nelson

*Grades 2-3; room 2, Janet Koostra

*Grades 4-5; room 4, Gloria Collins, Heather Lucero

*Middle School; room 7, June Rovero

FUNDRAISER FOR CHRISTHOPER MONGEOPA

Thank you to all who so graciously supported our Fundraiser for Christhoper. Donations totaling more than $70.00 were received! We hope all who wanted one found a "Worry Doll." We may be making more, it is a joy to watch the children create them.

FALL DINNER GROUPS

LAST CHANCE to sign up for good conversation and savory cuisine!!! Please call the office to have your name put on the list.

CLOWNING AROUND

FALL YOUTH RETREAT, OCTOBER 23-25

Come join us in exploration through Clown Ministry! Bring a friend for a weekend of fun, fellowship, and fantastic friends as we explore our faith and how to share in worship, games, and of course, the ever popular dance! All youth in grades 7-12 are invited to United Community Church in Colstrip, MT. The retreat starts on Friday, October 23 at 5:00 P.M. and will end on Sunday, October 25 at 12:00 P.M. Registration deadline is October 16. The $45 registration fee is paid from the Bertsche Memorial. Please call the church office or Kim Harris at (406) 855-4317.

Chauffeurs and Chaperones are needed!

UCC Council meets on Monday, October 19^th at 6:30 P.M.

The Men's Group will meet on Thursday, October 22^nd at Good Eats (801 2^nd Ave. N). Please note the time of 11:30 A.M.

NEIGHBORS IN NEED UPDATE

Our Neighbors In Need offering received additional $260 last Sunday, bringing the total to $1,305 collected from our congregation! It's not too late to contribute in support of the UCC's ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. Envelopes are available in the office or from the ushers on Sunday.

WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY

It's not too late to join the Women's Bible Study and discuss Getting Through the Tough Stuff with Chuck Swindoll. The cost of the study guide is $17.00. Bible Study is held on Tuesdays, at 6:30 P.M. at Micki Fura's house, 3315 6^th Ave. N. If you have any questions, or plan on attending, please call Micki at 453-6619.

INQUIRER'S CLASS TO BEGIN

Rev. Jim Petersen will host a two-part Inquirer's Class for persons interested in seeking more information about the First Congregational Church. The first session will share information about who we are as a denomination, the United Church of Christ. The second session will address our local congregation. If you would like to explore further our congregation, and consider uniting with us in membership, please join Rev. Jim in the parlor on the following evenings:

Sunday, October 25, 6:30-8:00 P.M.

Sunday, November 1, 6:30-8:00 P.M.

Childcare will be provided upon request, as well as refreshments. Kindly RSVP.

For more information on Invitation to the Journey, a three year discernment process facilitated by co-pastors from Washington, and produced by the Center for Parish Development in Chicago, please visit our website- www.greatfallsucc.org and go to the WORSHIP page, then click on Invitation to the Journey. Let us know what you think!

IT'S MAC TIME! The Montana Association of Churches is holding it's 37^th Annual Assembly. The theme for this year's assembly is Ecumenical Stimulus Package. We are proud to announce that Denise Jackson is one of our delegates attending and representing the Conference. On Monday, October 19, at 7:30 P.M., Faith Lutheran Church will host an Ecumenical Worship Service with Episcopal Bishop Franklin Brookhart as Homilist. An offering will be taken to support the MAC mission and ministry.

YOUTH LOCK-IN FOR GRADES 6-12 IS THIS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16th, AT FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 610 2^ND AVE. N. MEET AT THE CHURCH AT 6:00 P.M., CARAVAN TO THE VAUGHN CORN MAZE, THEN BACK TO THE CHURCH FOR GAMES, PIZZA, AND FUN. COST IS $10 PER CHILD. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL YOUTH COORDINATOR, KRISTEN CATES AT 360-6040.

PERMISSION SLIPS AVAILABLE IN THE OFFICE.