November Assignments:

Altar Rep: Gwen HoffmanNote: If there are special requests for the Altar please contact the AltarCommittee so proper action can be taken. Barb Clark, Chair 924-2356

Altar Flowers:6: Bob & Bonnie Erber13: Bill Fries, Sr.20: Cornucopia27: Poinsettia’s

Ushers:6: Jack & Mary Butterick,

Dave & Sue Vandenbelt13: Pat Krehn & Georgia Paxton20:27:

Greeters:6: Dean & Jean Morehouse13: Jack & Mary Butterick20: Ann Werner27: Jack & Mary Butterick

Coffee Hosts:6: Van & Judy Nadeau13: Potluck - Dean & Jean Morehouse20: Ann Werner & Margie Ekkel27: Karla Johnson & Jaime Deuling

Kitchen Towels ~ Gail Cooper

Communion:Prep & Serve

Pat KrehnServe

Helen Miller & Beth(Gary)HookerCompassion:

Clair Shively & Pat Krehn

N o v e m b e r B i r t h d a y s

5 Ted JohnsonBrandon Zeerip

8 Daniel BrookhouseJack BrooksJaime DeulingGary Hooker

19 Luke PfeifferRaene` RedingerRosemary Tittle

21 Shirley BrooksLoretta VanDuzen

22 Courtney Waldo

25 Dougan ChurchKyle Parks

26 Brad Cooper

27 Jeff Johnson

29 David White

November Anniversaries

10 John & Maxine Dykstra

26 Bill & Millie Sherman

29 Ted & Nancy Johnson

Pastor Ray’s Ramblings:

An anonymous illustration Ifound concerning our awareness ofGod is affected by our awareness of things around us andour willingness to notice the obvious.

The man whispered, “God speak to me.”And a meadowlark sang. But the man did not hear.So the man yelled, “God speak to me.”Thunder rolled across the sky. But the man did not listen.The man looked around and said, “God let me see you.”The stars shone overhead. But he noticed them not.Then the man shouted, “God, show me a miracle.”Nearby the cry of a newborn baby touched the silence.But the man was unaware.So the man cried out in despair,“Touch me God and let me know you are here!”Whereupon God reach down and touched the man.But the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.

The first chapter of Romans teaches that what maybe known about God is made plain by him to all people, ifonly they open their eyes, ears, minds, and hearts. “Forsince the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities -his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearlyseen, being understood from what has been made, so thatmen are without excuse.”

I believe all of us would enjoy a greater awarenessof the reality of God in our lives if we would orientourselves to look at the obvious presence of his gloryevidenced all around us. In a world so affected by evil itwould help us all live a better day.

Blankets +

Blankets + is a special mission opportunitythat congregations and groups across thecountry take part in each year to provide fundsto help people in 80 nations, including the United States.For over 60 years, Church World Service has worked in partnershipwith local communities to identify their needs and access theresources they need to build the foundation for a more viable future,including:

*Blankets, tents, food an other emergency supplies in thewake of a disaster.

*Tools and seeds for refugees returning home to replant theirfields.

*Wells for families living in drought prone areas to provideclean, safe water to drink and to irrigate crops and gardens.

*Literacy training and micro-credit for women struggling torealize their potential.

The right tool at the right time can make a difference in the live ofchildren and families faced with an emergency or struggling to keepfood on the table. Blankets + enables Church World Services torespond to disasters at home and around the world, and to assistimpoverished communities with the basic tools they need to buildsatisfying, sustainable lives.

A special offering for Blankets + will be taken November 20, 2016 Donation envelopes can be put in the offering plate or turned in to thechurch office. Checks should be made out to Church World Services. Your help is greatly appreciated.

You’re the plus in the Blankets + ! Thank YOU! for yoursupport. The Board of Charitable Giving

Socks for the Needy:

True North is asking our help inproviding socks for the needy. This is part oftheir Children’s Christmas Program. If youwould like to donate to this project please either put NEWsocks, any size, in the True North basket in the narthex orcontact me by December 1 . If you would like to make ast

monetary donation, I will do the shopping for you. Blessings,Mary Butterick - 924-4581 or email: missesa1@aol.com

Book Circle:

Book Circle will meet on Tuesday,November 15, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at thehome of Jill Sondeen, 415 E. Maple. The book review will beby Nancy Johnson.

This will be our last meeting of 2016. We will beginagain in March, 2017.

Our Church Family:

Health Concerns ~John Cooper was hospitalized

for a heart valve replacement that ended up be a repair. He ishome again recovering.

Baby Jack Zeerip health concerns.Anne VandeKieft - double knee replacement - she

will be having rehab at Marywood Health and MedicalCenter, 111 Lakeside Drive NE Grand Rapids 49503. Shewill be here for 2-3 weeks.

Kelly Parks - surgery at BlodgettJaime Deuling - radiation treatments

Christmas Shopping & Home Tour:

The 27 Home Tour isth

drawing near! Soon all of thewomen of the church should havereceived six tickets to eitherpurchase themselves to give topeople or to sell to friends. Thesetickets will bring in the people whowill buy our crafts, soup, and Plum Pudding items, soplease try to get them out to people in the communityand the surrounding area. By November 25 , please turnth

in any unused tickets as well as your ticket money toLorene.

Also, please save the date: Saturday, December 3! We need the help of all - men, women, and children -who are physically able to work the day of the event. Some of you may have already been contacted to work. If not, you will be called to let you know what positionsneed to be filled. If you don’t’ receive a call, please callthe church office. This event is our main fundraiser ofthe year, and because of it we are able to donate to localcharities, offer programs, and support the church budget. Thanks for your help!

Do you need an idea of what to make for the PlumPudding Shoppe? Watch for a table in Fellowship Hallwith tins to be filled and recipe ideas for you to take. Don’t forget to include your name and a list ofingredients for your Plum Pudding treats.

Becky & Shelli

Plum Pudding ~ 2016

In accordance with the State of Michigan FoodRequirements this is the required list of food items that can bemade for Plum Pudding:

Breads - not frozenSimilar baked goodsVinegar & flavored vinegarCakes - not refrigeratedMuffinsCooked fruit piesJams & Jellies

in glass jars that can be stored at roomtemperature.

CookiesDry herbs and dry herb mixesDry baking mixesDry dip mixesDry soup mixesDehydrated vegetables or fruitsPopcornChocolate covered pretzels, marshmallows, graham

crackers, rice krispie treatsCoated or uncoated nutsDried pasta made with eggsRoasted coffee beans or ground roasted coffee

1) All food items have to be labeled with a list of ingredientswith your FIRST name, The First Congregational Church231-924-4710 on the label. Labels will be provided for you inadvance. No item will be able to be sold without labeling.2) These guidelines are required to be in compliance with theState of Michigan Department of Agriculture & RuralDevelopment.

Thank you for your cooperation,Mary Butterick, Plum Pudding Coordinator

Poinsettia Order

Red Pink White Burgundy Marble 6" pot - 4-7 blooms $6.00 ____ ____ ____ ____ ____8" pot - 8-12 blooms $16.00 ____ ____ ____ ____ ____10" pot - 16+ blooms $25.00 ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

__________ Total Amount Enclosed

Poinsettia(s) to be used during Advent.

__________Following worship service, I/we will pick up our poinsettia(s).

__________Following worship service, the Altar Committee may take care of my/our poinsettia(s) in an appropriate way.

Given by: __________________________________________

In Memory of __________________________________________

Or

In Honor of ___________________________________________ This completed form, along with your payment for each poinsettiaordered may be placed in the offering plate, or turned into thechurch office no later than November 16, 2016

Note: This year we will again be ordering from Ludema’s in Grand Rapids.