06 Jan Christmas: Many Ways to Help the Needy

Eric Self sent this report from Mt. Zion UB church in Junction City, Ohio. Eric is the senior pastor.
We kicked off the season by participating in Franklin Graham’s Christmas Shoebox ministry. This was the third year we gathered boxes for this ministry. We gave 30 boxes this past Christmas, which was an average of almost one box per person in attendance.

Next, we adopted two families within our church. One is a single father with his two children, mother, and neice. This was accomplished with our own angel tree with ornaments describing a needed/wanted gift. People took ornaments from the tree and bought presents for this family; one couple even did shopping for some of the rest of us! Then we helped the other family with Christmas dinner and some presents.

We also participated in our local community’s food pantry Christmas basket program with ten bags of sugar and 40 boxes of spaghetti. In addition, we gave another family in the community a gift certificate so they could buy Christmas presents for their children.

Our congregation loves to bring Christmas cheer to those in need! At the same time, we have fun and fellowship with each other, including our annual Christmas dinner. The season was concluded with annual caroling and delivery of cookies and fruit to several senior members of our congregation.

05 Jan Christmas: A Story of Three Bicycles

Annette Sites sent this report about Christmas activities at Jerusalem Chapel (Churchville, Va.). Her husband, Denny, is the pastor.

After months of practices and hard work, the children and youth shared a wonderful musical entitled “The Christmas Carol.” The musical was loosely based on the traditional “Scrooge” story, but this one spoke of making the most of what we have and sharing the ultimate gift of Jesus Christ with others.

As a part of the process of teaching those children who were a part of the musical, Velma “Beanie” Griffin, encouraged the children to find out what true giving was really all about. How? Well, one of the props that was needed for the musical was a bicycle (which was also a topic of discussion in the musical).

Rather than just have the church buy a new bike for a prop, this creative director had the children participate in a bake sale to raise funds for the bicycle. Then, after the presentation, the bicycle would be donated to a needy child.
The children raised enough money to buy two bikes. A third bike was donated by one of the children. And, by God’s grace, a needy family was presented to Mrs. Griffin and guess what they wanted? The family had three children, and each had asked for just one thing for Christmas: a bicycle!

What a blessing for these children to receive an answer to their Christmas wish, but also for our children to see how God can work through us as we seek to serve Him. We are blessed to have some very generous and loving children as a part of our church family–and adults and parents who are willing to help them grow up in their faith!

05 Jan Christmas: Various Events in St. Mary’s, Ohio

Elmer Long mentioned some holiday-related activities at Hillsdale UB (St. Mary’s, Ohio):

• The Saturday after Thanksgiving we had a church decorating party. Everyone brought their favorite chili and we put it all together. 
• We offer free babysitting to the community for Christmas twice. We offer this to parents who have shopping or other things to do without the children. 
• We held a Christmas Eve candlelight service. 
• Our youth had a bake sale to help raise money for them to go to camp this summer.

30 Dec Christmas: Joint Christmas Eve Service

Brad Kittle, pastor of The Rock (Findlay, Ohio), reports: “The Rock and First UB of Findlay held a combined Christmas Eve service this year. It was an awsome experience for both churches. About 200 people attended, and that didn’t even represent all of the people from both churches!

“Darwin Dunten, pastor of First UB, I were very pleased with the experience and the turnout. We also believe that this service was the beginning of a closer partnership between the two churches, which has been needed for many years. I praise God that I could be a part of such a rich and fulfilling experience!”

18 Dec Anchor UB’s Supper with Santa

Anchor UB church (Fort Wayne, Ind.) held its Supper with Santa evening on Saturday, December 13. Over 100 people, including people from the community, attended. There were crafts for children, and lots of food.

And people could get their picture taken with Santa (a return performance by Tim Bauman, a worship team guitarist who has moonlighted as a Santa at the local Glenbrook Mall).

Pastor Tim Hallman met with all the young children to read through the Christmas story.

This is the second year for Supper with Santa.

16 Dec State Line UB Church Closes

Living Hope UB church in State Line, Pa., closed October 5 in order to merge with Crossroads Brethren in Christ church. Mike Wentz, the senior pastor, resigned as of the same date to take secular employment.

15 Dec New Beginnings Church

Central UB church of Montpelier, Ohio, has a new name: New Beginnings Church. Mike Martinelli is the pastor.

10 Dec Retirement Residence Donated to Hillsdale UB

On November 30, Hillsdale UB church (Hillsdale, Mich.) dedicated a 12-unit former assisted living facility two miles from the church. It was donated by three member families who had owned and managed the facility known as Drews Place.

The church is developing plans to expand its outreach ministry in the community by partnering with Domestic Harmony to use the building. Domestic Harmony is a local shelter for abused women and children.

06 Dec Emmanuel Community Church

Emmanuel Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.) has a sharp new website.

03 Dec Brown Corners: A Caring Church

The Morning Sun, a news site serving central Michigan, published an article about Jim and Mary Jane Ogg, members of Brown Corners UB church in Clare, Mich. It tells about how church people ministered to them during Jim’s lengthy battle with heart problems (culminating in a heart transplant), including taking care of their cattle and crops. A nice example for us all.