The Churchmouse Newaygo Congregational United Church of Christ
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Newaygo Congregational United Church of Christ
432 Quarterline • Newaygo, MI 49337 • (231) 652-6624
Jonathan Riedel, Pastor
The Churchmouse
March, 2021
St. Patrick’s Day
“
Christ Be With Me. Christ Be Within Me. Christ Be Before Me.
Christ Be Behind Me.”
St. Patrick’s Breastplate
Much of what we know about Ireland’s St. Patrick is swathed in legend, but we can sketch the
outlines of his life out of the myths. He was a Briton, not an Irishman. He was kidnapped as a young
child and taken to Ireland as a slave. He escaped and made his way, by ship, back to his homeland.
He felt a calling to the priesthood and, after studying in France, he discovered, by a dream, that his
first assignment was as a missionary to the land that once held him captive. The only snakes he ever
drove from Ireland were the pagans that he had a deep distaste for, many of whom had served as
leaders of the Irish clans and had engaged in constant warfare to determine who would lead the Irish
people. His way of peace was not miraculous but instead involved great cunning and the willingness
to ostracize those with whom he disagreed. He was a clever evangelist; he used the shamrock as
picture-perfect illustration of the Trinity. He insisted on the careful education of the clergy who served
beneath him, a tradition that led Ireland to become, in the deep Middle Ages, the repository of
Aristotle and other classical Greek thinkers during the social collapse of the times. He was bishop for
many years and was later beatified as Ireland’s greatest saint.
His mystique only increased as famine and English encroachment of their homeland drove many
Irish to come to America. They settled in ghettos in major port towns and suffered from discrimination
and anti-Catholic sentiments that limited where they could live and where they could work. The
neighborhoods around the ghettos feared those who lived there and saw them as alcoholics, crooks,
and irresponsible, prolific parents. Those who managed to scrape up enough money to leave the
cities often went to the Midwest and the Far West to work farm land that was seized from the Native
Americans. They battled disease, unpredictable weather, and continued religious discrimination. Most
Americans of Irish descent are no longer Catholic. They abandoned the faith of their homeland, the
faith of St. Patrick, as a way to fit in, to burrow deeper into the American insistence on White Anglo-
Saxon Protestantism. Most of the traditions that we observe to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day-the green
beer, the corned beef and cabbage, the Irish songs so well sung by Bing Crosby-were either created
March, 2021 1in America or are far more popular here than they are in their native land. I have had the occasion to
speak to Irish students from time to time and have discovered their surprise at how much we assume
is straight from Ireland although they themselves have never experienced. Ireland, for this country, is
a mythical homeless of lush green, ancient lore, clog dancers, potatoes (or lack thereof), and endless
song. It is the perfect homeland that even many of us who have not a drop of Irish blood in our veins
view as our lost past. After all, what is the greatest tradition of St. Patrick’s Day than the assumption
that everyone is Irish for at least twenty four hours, no matter what our ancestors’ place of origin was,
what color our skin is, and whether or not we can stomach cabbage.
In many ways, St. Patrick was a mythical ancestor of mine. He preached using examples that
people could understand-shamrocks, the standing stones, and the green grass. He strove to end the
disputes that made his adopted homeland such a hard place to live in, although I do despise the
violent ways he settled scores with those he religiously disagreed with. He insisted on the sheer
closeness of God’s presence-the humanity of Jesus, how he understood our suffering and our deaths.
His God feels lived in, as close as good dirt, thick fog, and the sheep that he spent his youth tending.
He did not see God as far off, as far removed, as far beyond the reach of human care and hope.
Instead, God was within and without, in front of and behind, above and under. God was in the very
ground we stand on and in the very air we breathe. The prayer I quoted above is part of a long prayer
called “St. Patrick’s Breastplate”. Fragments of it may have indeed come sermons that Patrick
preached. It bears the markings of something stitched together many years later but its spirit belongs
to Patrick. I have discovered that when I am most at peace with the God who glances across the
surface of the water and waves through the high grass I can be at peace with a world so torn and
driven but also still so much a part of God’s good creation.
I do not celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by drinking green beer. Nor do I order a shamrock shake at the
local McDonald’s. I have no taste for corned beef and no one wants to hear me sing “My Wild Irish
Rose”. But I do take the time to remember Patrick’s on his death day. And I do try to emulate the best
of his example. What better way to celebrate a saint.
The Rev. Jonathan D. Riedel-Pastor,
Newaygo Congregational United Church of Christ
Lenten Special Offering
Our Lenten Special Offering this year will be on behalf of the Compassion Home of Newaygo
County. This organization, which operates hospices in Fremont and White Cloud, provides end of life
care in a calming and caring environment for all, regardless of whether or not you have insurance
and other monetary resources. Nursing Care, Spiritual Support, and Counseling are provided, no
matter your faith, your marital status, and your level of care required. If you would like to support this
fine program, please send a check to the church office with Compassion Home written in the memo
section. You can also mail your check to the Newaygo County Compassion Home at 4012 S.
Sherman Blvd., Fremont MI 49412.
2 March, 2021Treasurer’s
Pick a Topic Sermons
Report
January 16, 2021 to
Pastor would like to hear from you about which February 15, 2021
topics you would like Pastor Jon to feature during
his Pic a Topic sermons. If you have a
suggestion, you can call Pastor at 652-6624, or
e-mail him at revjdriedel@gmail.com. Income Total Exp.
February 2 $2,620.00
February 10 530.00
February 21 865.00
Total $4,015.00 $6,987.93
Difference ($2,972.93)
Tuesday Noon Study Time
Join us as we do a survey of the History Phillips Fund $177,045.15
Books of the Bible. This month, we pick up
Family Fund 74,978.08
the saga as the people of Israel decide to try
their hand at letting kings rule over them. The Compassion House 100.00
result: it does not go well. For more details,
call into 978 990-5000 then 283560#. Ques-
Thank You to all for your generosity. Have a
tions are always welcome. meaningful Lenten Experience.
Here is this month's schedule of readings:
Dawn Anderson, Treasurer
3/02 - I Samuel
3/09 - 2 Samuel
3/16 - I Kings
3/23 - 2 Kings Fun Facts
3/30 - I Chronicles 1. You can’t see your ears without a mirror.
2. You can’t count your hair.
3. You can’t breath through your nose with
your tongue out.
4. You just tried #3.
6. When you tried #3 you realized that it is pos-
sible, only you look like a dog.
7. You are smiling right now because you were
fooled.
8. You skipped #5
9. You just checked to see if there is a #5.
March, 2021 3NCUCC Scholarship
Deadline for the April Award Recipient
Below is a letter from Samantha
Churchmouse Toth, this year’s Scholarship Award
Please send any information or articles Recipient:
you would like included in the April
Dear Rosemary Strohpaul and Julie Otto,
Churchmouse to the office by
Friday, March 27.
Hi! This is Samantha Toth, the recipient of the
You may e-mail information to:
Newatygo United Church of Christ scholarship from
Churchmouse@newaygoucc.org
Newaygo High School. I am so sorry this thank you
or leave a hard copy in the office.
letter is so late. The year has been very rough for me.
Thank you so much for the Scholarship. It helped
immensely with my first trimester at Kalamazoo
College. It helped me purchase required textbooks for
my courses. I finished my first trimester of college on
November 26th. I received all As for my classes
and was placed on the Deans List.
I am enjoying college a lot, even though it is hard
Genny Cooper Memorial Money to do online, I am still enjoying what I learn. As of
Agencies that we decided to fund with the right now I plan a double majoring in biology and
Genny Cooper memorial money at our last psychology. Those two fields are fascinating to me
and I would love to learn more about them. Also, my
council meeting: current plan after I receive my Bachelors Degree is
to attend Westerns Medical School and focus on
Newaygo County Council for the Prevention Forensic Pathology. I want to help make an impact
of Child Abuse- $5000 on the world and help others with my career.
Open Arms Child Advocacy Center- $4000
Again, thank you so much for this scholarship. It
Migrant Resource Council- $2000
played an important part in funding my further
Camp Newaygo- $4500 education.
Camp Henry- $4500 Thank You
Women's Information Services- $4000 Samantha Toth
Promise Zone of Newaygo County- $3000
4 March, 2021March, 2021 5
March, 2021
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
27 1 2 3 4 5 6
Worship Svc. Admin 10 am
10 am via Zoom
by phone &
ZOOM
8 9 10 11 12 13
7 Worship &
Worship Svc. Pastoral Care
10 am 9:30 am
by phone & via Free
ZOOM Conference Call
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
DST Begins St. Patricks Council
Set Clocks Day 10 am
Forward via Zoom
Worship Svc.
10 am by
phone & Zoom
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
Worship Svc.
10 am by
phone &
ZOOM
28 29 30Mission & 31 1 2 3
Worship Svc. Social Action
10 am by 4:00 pm
phone & Free Conference
ZOOM Call-978-990-
5000 then
283560#.
6
March, 2021Open & Affirming
"For where two or three are gathered in my name,
I am there among them."
Matthew 18:20
In October of 2019 the congregation completed a survey on what was felt to be important outreach
programs. One of the programs that was felt to be of significance was going through the Open and
Affirming (O&A) process.
Following this, a year later another survey was sent out to the congregation regarding the (O&A)
process to give opportunity for questions, comments, and opinions. Unfortunately, the pandemic got
in the way of moving forward sooner but we now have a committee formed ready to help guide
us through this process. The committee has met one time to begin the discussion and we really want
to make sure that everyone understands that this will be a long process.
There are many steps that need to be taken before we will be ready to bring anything to the
congregation. We believe that this is such an important issue and a conversation that needs to be
had so we want to do it correctly and because it is going to take a while we felt that it was at least
important to begin the discussion.
We will keep the congregation informed as we move through this process. At this time we don’t
have a lot of information and still have many questions ourselves. The committee members are Holly
Spaulding-chair, Tom Mee, Dorothy Bos, Deb Burton, Rosemary Strohpaul, and Gloria Winters.
Thank you for your understanding and prayers.
Holly Spaulding-chair
Do You Know Lake Superior?
Do you realize and recall how huge this lake ● It contains as much water as all the other
really is? Great Lakes combined, plus three extra
● Lake Superior contains ten percent of all the Lake Erie's!
fresh water on the planet Earth. ● There is a small outflow from the lake at St.
● It covers 82,000 square kilometers or 31,700 Mary's River (Sault Ste Marie) into Lake
square miles. Huron, but it takes almost two centuries
● The average depth is 147 meters or 483 feet. for the water to be completely replaced.
● There have been about 350 shipwrecks ● There is enough water in Lake Superior to
recorded in Lake Superior ● Lake Superior cover all of North and South America with
is, by surface area, the largest lake in the water one foot deep.
world. ● Lake Superior was formed during the last
● A Jesuit priest in 1668 named it Lac Tracy, but glacial retreat, making it one of the earth's
that name was never officially adopted. youngest major features at only about
10,000 years old.
March, 2021 7Church Services & Meetings Birthdays in
March
Sunday Services will be available on ZOOM at
10:00 am;
We have a new link for the Zoom Worship
1 - Linda Shively
Service because we need to have a pass-
1 - Don Strohpaul
code to get into the system after September 21 - Audrey Eno
first. All computer and telephone users have
to enter both the meeting number and the
passcode but those will be unchanged from
week to week. The same Chicago number
(312) 626-6799 will work just fine, then type
in the meeting i.d. 862 7048 2984 followed
by the password 516544.
We will have a new ZOOM number after the
17th, are now on a waiting list.
Computer users will just need the link on
their computer and the password.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87026441449
Meeting ID: 848-6469-8086
Join Zoom Meeting
March Worship Schedule on ZOOM
https://us02webzoom.us/j/848 6469 9096# or call 312 626-6799 then 848 649-9096.
3/07 - Communion 3/21 - The Lenten Promises of God:
The Lenton Promises of God: A New Promise
A Contract” Jeremiah 31:31-34
Exodus 20:1-17
3/28 - Palm/Passion Sunday
A Journey Through Holy Week
3/14 - The Lenten Promises of God:
Broken Promises? with Mark
Numbers 21:4-9 Mark 11:1-11 and Mark 14:1-15: 47
8 March, 2021You can also read
