03 Jan Christmas at Our Church: Findlay, Ohio

Persons from The Rock cook a Christmas morning meal at the Findlay City Mission.

Christmas morning at the Findlay City Mission

Teddy Fairchild (right), senior pastor, The Rock (Findlay, Ohio)

We have been celebrating Christmas a little differently here at our church, The Rock, here in Findlay, Ohio. God gave us the opportunity to serve him in unique ways through the local jail. I was recently sworn in as a chaplain for the Hancock County Sheriffs Department.

I was given an idea about videotaping Christmas messages from the inmates to their families. I volunteered myself and The Rock to carry out the project. The sheriff was supportive in allowing us to bring in a festive backdrop, a Christmas tree, and video equipment. It was a lot of work for the Correctional Officers to go to each cell block and transport the inmates to get their video done, and they did so with full support.

In total, 17 inmates choose to record a message. We included a brief introduction of our church and our wishes for a blessed Christmas before the individual messages from the inmates with music overlay. Each DVD was personalized and mailed to the families.

God certainly was at work in the hearts of the inmates as well as the officers, and I am eager to continue building relationship’s with both of these communities. Our prayer is that we remain open to the new and different outreaches God allows the Rock to be a part of as we seek to reach others for Christ’s Kingdom.

In our Christmas sermon series, we were challenged to find a gift for Christ on His birthday, whether a gift of forgiveness to another, an expression of love, or an act of service to one whom we may not think deserves it or will give anything back. Christ set the example in sacrificing and giving without expectation of return in coming to our world as a baby in a lowly manger.

So this Christmas morning nearly two-thirds of The Rock Church showed up bright and early at the Findlay City Mission to cook and serve breakfast for the homeless before our regular church worship time. Many arrived before 7 am to decorate tables, heat ovens, and make coffee. We served egg casserole, biscuits and sausage gravy, donuts, drinks, and lots of friendly conversation.

As a pastor, I am encouraged to see my fellow brothers and sisters living out the name they chose for this church: Reaching Others for Christ’s Kingdom (ROCK). It was something small and simple to give, but I believe it shows the heart of God’s people, and some of the neediest people in our community experienced his love in a very practical way this Christmas.

Tell us something special your church did during the Christmas season–events, programs, ministries, anything. You can use this form or send an email.

03 Jan Florida Church Searching for a Bus

First UB Church in Holly Hill, Fla., is looking for a bus. Got one they could have or buy?

Pastor Chuck McKeown (right, with wife Vicki) writes, “We opened an ACE school at the church on December 12, 2011. We have about 50 K-12 students enrolled now and are expecting an additional 10 by the end of January. Most are from low-income families and many have special needs. We need a school-type bus for outings and field trips.”

He reports that they also plan to build a new home for their food pantry. “In 2011 we distributed 340,000 pounds of food to over 40,000 people from another location. Because that location is no longer available, we had to move everything to the church.”

02 Jan Christmas at Our Church: Lake Odessa, Mich.

Eldon Grubb, pastor, Pleasant Valley UB (Lake Odessa, Mich.)

On the first Sunday night in December, we had a concert with our bell choir and brass group. Not all the bell choir members are from Pleasant Valley, so we invited people from 3 or more other churches. More than 110 came out, and it was a great time of music and worship, including a “Ring-a-story” skit with the bell choir.

On December 18 in the evening, about 6-8 of us went Christmas caroling. We got to 2-3 places to people who had only been to church once in a while or not at all in the last year. So it was some good outreach.

On December 24, we held a simple candlelighting service. I knew some were gone, so I did not expect many. But those who
came brought families, and at least one family came on their own. It was very good!

Tell us something special your church did during the Christmas season–events, programs, ministries, anything. You can use this form or send an email.

31 Dec Christmas at Our Church: Rockford, Ill.

Barry Skinner, pastor, Kilburn Avenue UB Church (Rockford, Ill.)

We held a Christmas Eve candlelight service, 10 pm to midnight, during which we sang and gave testimonies, and heard the message which explained all that was given unto us when Jesus came in human form. Twenty-five people attended and the singing was incredible. We had battery-operated candles in all the windows, and each person had a real candle that was lit for last 5 minutes of the service, during which the house lights were turned off as we sang “Silent Night.”

We held a normal service Christmas Day, with 25 people attending. The message was “There Goes the Neighborhood,” dealing with the impact on the area and world when the Messiah arrived. We again sang Christmas hymns and shared testimonies.

Tell us something special your church did during the Christmas season–events, programs, ministries, anything. You can use this form or send an email.

31 Dec UBs Getting Behind One of Our Newest Churches

Andy Sikora (right), pastor, Renew Communities (Berea, Ohio)

Renew Communities, as a church plant, has had a great first year. We’ve grown from 20 people to 130 in average attendance. As a new church we are doing a TON of fund-raising for 2012. We have set a budget of $250,000 for 2012 ($100,000 from giving within our church and $150,000 from outside sources).

We have recieved support from churches within the denomination as well as outside of the denomination. In 2011 in terms of UB support we have received support from the denomination and from two UB churches–Colwood (Caro, Mich.) and Mainstreet (Walbridge, Ohio). For 2012, we have commitments from the denomination, those two churches, and two additional UB churches: Pathway Church (Jackson, Mich.) and Prince Street (Shippensburg, Pa.). If you or your church would be willing to support us, send me a note.

29 Dec Christmas at Our Church: Byron Center, Mich.

Filled stockings and other gifts from the college students at Banner of Christ Church

Mike Caley (right), senior pastor, Banner of Christ Church (Byron Center, Mich.)

Banner tries hard to share Christmas with the most hurting and needy people in our community and church family–more so than at any other church I have served. This year, our students took it to a whole new level.

Our middle school students were challenged in early December with $5 seed money from their teacher, Mrs. Sue Vogt. All 10 students worked hard to make various items, and then brought them to church and to their families to sell to raise funds to help minister to families at Renucci House–a temporary residence associated with Devos Children’s Hospital for families of sick children. In all, they raised over $400 to buy gifts and a Little Tikes playhouse to present to Renucci House.

On December 18 they went to the house and prepared and served dinner to the residents, and presented the playhouse and gifts.

Our College Students–18 to Life Class–last year decorated and filled 50 stockings to share with the homeless in Grand Rapids at Christmas. This year they challenged the church family to join them, and presented 150 empty stockings for families to decorate and fill.

The response was amazing. On Christmas morning, just before our service, we prayed for the students and sent them out with 153 filled stockings. They later reported that it took them under 45 minutes to distribute all the stockings to some very grateful individuals. The stockings were filled with food items, personal toiletries and care items, gloves, mittens, and hats. Several also included small Bibles or devotional books.

In all, beyond these above, Banner helped over 30 families with various gifts, gas and grocery cards, even a cord of seasoned and stacked wood. We celebrated the joy of Jesus’ gift of himself to us, by embracing the challenge to give beyond ourselves.

Tell us something special your church did during the Christmas season–events, programs, ministries, anything. You can use this form or send an email.

28 Dec Christmas at Our Church: Camden, Mich.

Anna and Simeon

The Lake View choir

Stephen Smith (senior pastor, left) and Ben Gladhill (associate pastor (right), Lake View Church, Camden, Mich.

December is an exciting time at Lake View Church (like most churches)! We rejoice in the many avenues of outreach and ministry God enables us to enjoy. One of our main outreach events is our annual Christmas musical. This was Lake View’s 22nd year, and we offered three presentations of “Hope Has Hands” on December 9, 10, and 11.

This dramatic musical was enhanced by the ongoing dramatic scenes featuring the conversation of Anna and Simeon sharing their part in the life of the Christ child. The 30-voice choir blended with soloists, children doing sign language, and interpretive drama to present the powerful message of hope that the birth of Christ affords to all.

Many of our various small groups and ministry groups were involved in outreach and sharing.

• 14 adults from one small group got together before leaving go Christmas carolling and prepared 15 plates of goodies and gifts to give to shut-ins, the elderly, and some who lost their spouses in the past year.
• Our ONE80 student ministries provided the worship service on Sunday, December 11, for about 100 residents at the Fairlawn Haven Residence in Archbold, Ohio. Teens provided music and a devotional, and took time to share with the residents and spread cheer!
• Another small group enjoyed a progressive Christmas dinner and then attended a musical presentation.
• Like many churches, we participated in the Operation Christmas Child outreach, sending 115 boxes this year.
• Our Wednesday night AWANA Club enjoyed celebrating the birth of Christ on Wednesday, December 14–Jingle For Jesus Night. The evening included gifts, candy, and carol singing, and the Christmas story was presented to 100 that evening.

Another annual event is the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service which is a tremendous outreach to our community and neighbors. The theme this year was “Immanuel – The Word Became Flesh.” This one-hour service intentionally included the congregation with numerous responsive readings, eight Christmas hymns, and numerous solos and instrumentals. The evening was completed with the packed-out sanctuary glowing with everyone’s candles being lit and the singing of Silent Night.

Pastor Steve Smith’s Christmas series this year was called “Christmas HOPE – Getting to Know the Christ of Christmas.” The series, from John 1:1-14, thoroughly explained the Incarnation and person of Jesus Christ. We were blessed by many responses to this series and we rejoice with Jody, one of our adult men, who accepted Christ on Christmas Sunday morning. During the closing song he came forward to publicly profess his newfound faith in Christ with joy and tears!

Tell us something special your church did during the Christmas season–events, programs, ministries, anything. You can use this form or send an email.