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.

28 Nov A Cross-Cultural Experience in the US

Pat Jones, Director of Healthy Church Ministries

Many of our churches spend thousands of dollars each year to make trips to other countries to experience ministry in a different culture. We encourage that ministry and those partnerships.  

But I would like to suggest that there are some other options that will accomplish similar ministry objectives.  

• Why not consider sending some youth and adults to minister with Pastor Rubenia Bomatay and her Hispanic folks in Jamaica Plain, Mass.?
• Our New York cluster group gives you Jamaican, Chinese, and Sierra Leonean options. Last year, Todd Yoder, youth pastor at Jerusalem Chapel (Churchville, Va.), took a group to work with our Bethel church in Yonkers, NY. Call and ask him what that experience did for their youth.