1st Congregational UCC Votes Overwhelmingly to Become Open & Affirming
On Sunday, June 4, after a full year of study, discussion, book groups, panel discussions, and guest speakers, our congregation voted overwhelmingly to become an Open and Affirming church as the United Church of Christ defines it. This vote makes official what our congregation has felt for a long, long time, namely that we want our purple doors to be open to everyone…period. Just as our communion table has a place for everyone, so does the full range of activities and ministries that our church provides. Here is our church’s official statement, the covenant we made with each other and with God when we voted to become Open and Affirming:
We, as participants of 1st Congregational United Church of Christ, Charlevoix, Michigan, seek to follow the life and teachings of Jesus in all we do, so that we may obey the Great Commandment to Love. We will open our purple doors more widely to all people who seek God.
In this particular age, we seek to be especially sure that people of any sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or family configuration will find safety, love and full inclusion among us. We affirm people in the LGBTQ+ community as children of God and enthusiastically invite their full participation in the life and leadership of this congregation.
We officially adopt the UCC’s Open and Affirming designation. With the Holy Spirit’s guidance, our family of faith will continue to learn and grow by ongoing education, sensitivity, language, and action to truly become a spiritual home for all people.
We will never exclude anyone on the basis of their gender identity, expression, or family configuration. If you want a church that celebrates and fully includes all people, the church with the purple doors at 101 State St. in Charlevoix may be the right one for you. Check us out!
This Week’s Service Information:
Online Worship Services
Please join us for our live-streaming online worship each Sunday at 10:30 am
We are spending this Advent exploring ways we can restore and refresh those for whom the holidays are a pretty tough season. This week we turn our attention to the widows and widowers in our lives. Both Moses and Jesus put a huge emphasis on being sure we take extra good care of this population. We’ll find out why this Sunday and get equipped to make a difference in the widows and widowers in our lives this Christmas. Join us!
We meet in person at 101 State St. in Charlevoix at 10:30 am inside the church with the purple doors. We also offer a livestream at www.chxucc.org Just click here: December 10, 2023.
And don’t forget that if you or someone you know is struggling with the holidays this year, we are offering a quiet Blue Christmas service on Wednesday, Dec 20 at 7:00 pm. All are welcome!
Blue Christmas Service
Blue? Yes, blue as in the blues. As in “I am feeling blue.” Not everyone is up and cheery for the Christmas holidays. Dealing with the death of a loved one, facing life after divorce or separation, coping with the loss of a job, living with cancer or some other disease that puts a question mark over the future, and a number of other human situations make parties and joviality painful for many people in our community. This Service will be a time of quiet reflection, worship, and peaceful music. We will also be live-streaming the service for those who can’t make it into our Sanctuary.
Please join us on Wednesday, December 20 at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome here with open and loving arms.
Streamers! We Need to Hear From YOU!
We need to know who you are and where you are. You have become such an important part of our family of faith that we really want to connect with you. More importantly, we want to be able to connect with each other as streaming participants. We are in the process of setting up a Virtual Coffee Hour for our streamers that we hope will happen once a month starting in December. To make this happen, we need you to take two minutes right now and email us the following information:
• Your name (along with any family for friends with whom you stream)
• Your email address
• Your physical address
Please simply email this information to office@chxucc.org. In the subject line, simply write, “I’m a Streamer.” Then we will send you a zoom link the week before our first Virtual Coffee Hour, which will take place immediately after the worship service that morning. Toby will be your host and you’ll all have a chance to “see” each other and have some casual conversation.
If you have already notified us that you are a Streamer, you don’t need to fill out the form again. We have already noted this in your profile and you will get updates and invites automatically.
We look forward to hearing from you soon! Thank you for being a part of our community!
Scripture Discussion Group
Did you know that we have a Scripture Discussion Group here at FCUCC? Every Tuesday from 10a-11a we meet in Ransom Hall and share coffee, snacks, and a lively discussion of the scripture that will be a part of the following Sunday’s service. There are questions that stimulate conversation, and help us better understand the Word and each other. Everyone is welcome!
Feel free to stop in – you will be glad you did! Can’t make it to the in-person group? No problem, we also live-stream by Zoom, and you can also participate that way. Call the church office at (231) 547-9122 to be added to the Scripture Group’s Zoom list.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
Our church community seeks to embody God’s Spirit and live the teachings of Jesus. We offer a sense of belonging to each other and to all our neighbors, as we build a just and sustainable world for all.
On Sunday, June 4, after a full year of study, discussion, book groups, panel discussions, and guest speakers, our congregation voted overwhelmingly to become an Open and Affirming church as the United Church of Christ defines it. This vote makes official what our congregation has felt for a long, long time, namely that we want our purple doors to be open to everyone…period. Just as our communion table has a place for everyone, so does the full range of activities and ministries that our church provides. Here is our church’s official statement, the covenant we made with each other and with God when we voted to become Open and Affirming:
