Whoever you are, wherever you are on life's journey,
YOU are welcome at Salem Church !
Friends,
We are planning on returning to worship in the Salem Sanctuary soon. Our Sanctuary is now open to view live stream worship via Zoom on the Sanctuary television screens!

Here are some ground rules:
  • Everyone MUST wear a mask, vaccinated or not. 
  • If you have been or if you think you have been exposed to COViD-19 or have any symptoms of COViD-19, please do not attend in person and join us safely on Zoom.
  • Please arrive at least 10 minutes early so the Ushers have enough time to seat everyone safely. 
  • Please use ONLY the front, main Sanctuary entrance of the Church off of Oakland Street.
  • An usher will seat you with your family members.
  • Please remember to keep social distancing standards while in the Sanctuary and refrain from contact with other members.
  • At the close of the worship service, please remain seated until the ushers escort you toward the exit.
  • The restroom in the office hallway will be available for use.
  • The rest of the building will remain closed - including the nursery. You will have access to the restroom in the office hallway via the Gathering Room.
  • We will have some social time following the service outside, and there you may make contact if you are comfortable.
  • If you are not comfortable with being in the sanctuary, please join us on Zoom. 
Pastor Larsen will still be live streaming the service remotely until we have the ability to live stream effectively from the Sanctuary, so as to include all of those who are currently more comfortable with the virtual service. We have taken appropriate safety precautions to make sure that you are safe and that the church is accessible and clean for your arrival for worship. We are hoping to return fully, with live stream capabilities, by July 4th. Please keep us in prayer as your Staff and Leadership Team are trying their best to make this work and work well. 
Click on the link below for our Sunday Bulletin!
Salem United Church of Christ is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Sunday 10AM Worship
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82899941841?pwd=VzcrK09mbmR2b1FPODlkYVdxRTZsZz09
Meeting ID: 828 9994 1841
Passcode: 800285
One tap mobile
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Graduation Sunday, June13!
Congratulations Graduates!!!
Seth Fox
Seth graduated from the International Academy High School in June. He will be attending The University of Michigan studying Aerospace engineering! (GO BLUE!!)
Sarah Jacobs
Sarah graduated in May, Summa Cum Laude, in Theater from Wayne State!
Ryn Jorgensen
Ryn graduates in July from Berklee School of Music with a Master of Music in Scoring for Film, Television, and Video Games!
Pastor Greg is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Mid Week Summer Check In & Prayer
Time: 10:00 AM 
    Every week on Wednesday, until Jul 7, 2021 10AM
    Jun 16, 2021 10:00 AM
    Jun 23, 2021 10:00 AM
    Jun 30, 2021 10:00 AM
    Jul 7, 2021 10:00 AM
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 885 2336 9609
Passcode: 891812
The summer swing is upon us, isn't it? The cheerful, joyous chorus of children hitting their summer break stride is always a precious time of year. We go to the cottage or spend time at a lake, we travel to our sacred spaces of "up north" (truly, a Michigan thing that really means "any direction") and kick our heels up during these warmer months in hopes our stressors will fade.

I, too, look forward to a vacation over the summer here and there. Sophie is now old enough and tall enough to ride the roller coasters at Cedar Point. So, a two-day ticket for the both of us has been purchased so we can see if she loves them as much as I do, and to see if I can still tolerate them like I hope I can still do, too! It's family time. It's a deeply meaningful time. And, if you are like me, it's the time most of us have created lasting and loving memories.

I love the summer. 

These past two years at Salem have been so rewarding for me as a pastor. I need to tell you why that is... 

You see, when I left the settled ministry in Rochester I was burned by the work. Congregations can sometimes be unfriendly, unkind, cruel. And after nearly five years of ministry, I could no longer work as a minister effectively. I turned to Intentional Interim Ministry training and found myself - I was actually doing the work of an Interim and didn't know it! And, believe me, how lucky am I to have found my first transitional ministry position at Salem UCC in Farmington!?!? 

I have mentioned this in some of Salem's circles, but I want you to hear it again. I firmly believe Salem is strong. I believe Salem is vital. And I believe your potential to serve the Farmington community has only begun to be tapped. Let's face it, every church deals with financial issues. Every church has their share of a few wing-nuts in the congregation. Every church has issues that can make ministry difficult. However, that being said, I have experienced Salem to be a place of hope for what is coming next, rather than a siphon of life for what used to be. 

That makes a HUGE difference. 

I'm confident in your Search anc Call Team, a team you all had input in calling forward. They have been doing the hard work and have learned a lot along the way. It's no easy task, either. I am also confident in the Leadership Team. And I am confident in your support staffing. If I could, I would sweep them all away from Salem if there were another settled position that could afford them and their talents! 

As I wind down my time as your Interim Pastor, I will be preaching a series of scriptural-based reflections and translations of the church. I hope, even while summer tends to be a draw away from the church, that you will find a way to watch the live-stream or attend as often as you can in person, once we're fully back to broadcasting from the Sanctuary. (In the meantime, continue to attend worship AT the sanctuary - see the rest of the Salem Happenings for that info). It's a critical time of teaching for you as I open the floodgates on the theological side of transition I have learned a few years back. I believe you may find this series helpful while also challenging - which is part of our calling as a body of Christ, to be sure.

Salem UCC has A LOT going for it. I do not want you to lose sight of that. As an outsider looking in, I see great potential. I can easily envision a growing church and a sacred space of worship in Farmington where the masses can find belonging. In a way, that makes it even harder to leave.

I love you all,

Pastor Greg
Salem United Church of Christ is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Prayer Shawl Ministry
Time: 10:00 AM Eastern Time
Every week on Tue, until Dec 28, 2021,
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82856795548?pwd=RnpiRVJOMmFnb2RuSldWSEtHQUZ3UT09

Meeting ID: 828 5679 5548
Passcode: 147105
We also meet outdoors in the Salem parking lot during the summer months!
Property Resources Ministry Team 
(Repair, maintenance, and management of the
building and surrounding property)

The Property Resources Ministry Team is in need of a chair person! If you are interested in volunteering or have any questions please contact Jay Schwalm or Pastor Greg.
Salem Church is set up to receive offerings thru
Zelle mobile application!
 
Here's How Zelle® Works 
 It's fast, safe and easy. Ready to start sending and receiving with Zelle?

STEP 1: Access Zelle. Find Zelle in the mobile banking app of our partners. If you already have your banking app on your phone, there's no download necessary. If your bank or credit union doesn't offer Zelle yet, just download the Zelle app to get started.
 
STEP 2: Pick a person to pay. Once you enroll, all you need to send money with Zelle is the preferred email address or mobile number of the trusted recipient. Salem UCC Church’s email address is: uccsalem@yahoo.com
 
 STEP 3: Choose the amount to send. Enter the amount you want to send. If your recipient is already enrolled with Zelle, the money will go directly into their bank account, typically in minutes. If they aren’t enrolled yet, they will get a notification explaining how to receive the money simply and quickly.
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