4/28/10

MEET OUR CONFIRMANDS!!

Last Sunday we confirmed the following individuals as members of the First Congregational United Church of Christ:

Katelyn Ellingson- "I love to draw, hang out with friends, watch movies and have fun!"

Sydne Frohberg- "I love the pursuit of knowledge. I am an artist, singer and writer. My favorite subject is English."

Hayley Houck- "I enjoy playing softball, volleyball, and swimming."

Darian Keels- "I love to hang out with friends, play basketball, go to church retreats andCamp Mimanagish."

Zoie Koostra- "I write and sing a lot, and probably laugh too much. I play the trombone, and piano."

Nealey Thompson- "I enjoy being outside. I play basketball and volleyball. I enjoy being with friends and family."

Katie Townsend- "I love riding my horses, playing piano, working around home, and having fun with my friends."

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS & ROOM PICK UP

Children begin in Sunday School for the last rotation of Zacchaeus:

Pre School Room 5 Cathy Petersen

Grades K-1 Room 2 Christeen Collins

Grades 2-3 Room 7 Betsy Rogstad

Grades 4-5 Room 2 Christeen Collins

Middle School Room 4 Zach Nelson

Thank you to everyone who made our Confirmation Breakfast a success. We welcome our newly confirmed members to our congregation! A special thank you to Zoie Koostra who will join the Christian Education Board, with new and exciting ideas!

With June 1 being the start of our new 2010/11 fiscal year, we are into the final preparation of our budget. Thank you to the 154 folks who have sent in pledges and responded to our letters and phonecalls. Your pledges total $211,785, for an average of $1,375 per pledge. If you would like to make a pledge, it would make a big difference in our attempt to meet the budget. Please turn in your card or call the office with your information.

REV. JIM'S BIBLE STUDY will meet on Sunday, April 25 at 9:30 A.M. for the conclusion of Chapter 14 in your study guide, Story Without End. Both groups will meet on Wednesday, May 5 at noon for a concluding potluck luncheon.

You can still catch the 2^nd of a 3-week Bible Study series being offered, The People Called by God. Join your church family as we discover together what it means to fulfill our calling from God. Sign up by calling the church office at 453-4316 and letting Holly know your choice of the following:

CUSTODIAL HELP NEEDED

Norman Kraftenberg, our devoted custodian of nearly 16 years, underwent bypass surgery on April 27 and will be out for an undetermined amount of time. Joint Facilities is looking into hiring someone temporarily for 15 hours a week. In the meantime, if you could please be mindful and clean up after yourself, whether in the kitchen, bathrooms, etc, it would be most appreciated. Also, if you would like to volunteer with some chores around the church, please call the office and let us know. We wish Norman a thorough recovery.

ANNUAL MEETING

If you have agenda items for our Annual Congregational Meeting on Sunday, May 23^rd, please submit your agenda item IN WRITING to Moderator Janet Koostra no later than Monday, May 10^th. Thank you.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE

The Nominating Committee still has openings on the Church Growth Board and Fellowship Board. If you would like to serve on either board, please call the office.

On April 17, Rev. Geoffrey Black was installed in his role as the UCC's General Minister and President. The service was attended by more than 500 UCC and ecumenical delegates from around the nation and world, and was the culmination of a celebratory weekend marking the transition of the United Church of Christ's seventh leader. Held at the The Federated Church (UCC) in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, Black's installation comes nine months after he was elected by the UCC's General Synod as General Minister and President. Rev. Geoffrey Black is attending the Western Regional Youth Event in Billings so many of our youth will have the opportunity to meet him! Congratulations Rev. Black!

UCC BOARDS MEET ON MONDAY, MAY 3^RD AT 6:15 P.M., WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE BUSINESS AFFAIRS BOARD WHO WILL MEET THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, MAY 10^TH AT 6:30 P.M.

Registration and payment are due two weeks before the camp start date. You can register online at www.campmimanagish.org. Please visit the website or stop by the office for a brochure. Adult counselors are always needed to make the camp season successful. Male volunteers are especially needed for the 3/4 grade camp.

Directors of First Congregational UCC Memorial Fund Corporation are continuing the tradition of helping graduating seniors, and ?non-traditional' students, fund advanced training in the following areas:

Honorariums for graduating seniors

Students "graduating this school year, who have been involved in UCC-Great Falls and who are entering college, university, technical or trade schools this fall" will receive $500 each, honoring them and helping with their continuing education. Funding will be provided by the Bertsche Memorial.

Honorariums for "non-traditional" students:

Non-traditional students are members of the UCC family "who are resuming their education following an interruption. Previous recipients of the non-traditional award are not eligible." One thousand dollars, from the General Fund, will be equally divided among those applying.

As is typical of most educational grants and scholarships, the Memorial Fund will send the recipients' allocation to their school's finance office for dispersal during fall registration.

Honorarium applications are available at the church office and are due no later than May 21.

The members of The Salvation Army Auxiliary thank you for your past support of our annual Antiques&Collectibles sale. This year, our sale will again be held on May 14th and 15th at The Salvation Army Youth & Family Center at 1000 17th Avenue South. Our Auxiliary was formed in 1974 to assist The Salvation Army Corps in Great Falls. We raise money by collecting, cleaning and refurbishing items throughout the year for this sale. Through the money raised from this event, we help the disadvantaged youth in our community by: buying gift cards at Christmas for families to give clothing to their children, paying fees for children to attend Salvation Army daycare and summer camps, as well as fees for flag football and basketball leagues for children in need, buying supplies for daycare and summer camps, buying winter coats and jackets, and furnishing school backpacks where needed, and so much more! The merchandise in our sale is contributed by our members, friends and supporters of this project. If you have items you would like to donate to next year's sale, they would be gladly received. Just Shirley Jacobsen at 453-0569, and she will arrange to have them picked up. Our Auxiliary has an open membership, and we gladly welcome new members! We meet the 2nd Monday of the month, September through May at 10:00 a.m. at the Youth & Family Center. Dues are $10.00 per year. Please consider this an invitation to join us! Please call Shirley Jacobsen for more information, or Regina Larson at the Corps Office: 453-0391, extension 10, and thank you again!

"BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED"

The 19^th Annual Early Risers' Series is being presented by the Women's Ministries of First Presbyterian Church. This is a 4- week series that takes place on May 6, 13, 20, and 27 from 6:30-7:45 A.M. at First Presbyterian Church (1315 Central Avenue). To register, please call First Presbyterian Church at 453-1411. Registration is $15 if paid by April 30 and includes four continental breakfasts and a special gift.

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS & ROOM PICK UP

A note from your Memorial Fund: College and trade school-bound graduates are again offered $500 honorariums.