Whoever you are, wherever you are on life's journey,
YOU are welcome at Salem Church!
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LGBTQ+ Community Fellowship
You’re Invited to a LGBTQ+ Community Fellowship Event
First Fridays! August 5 - 7-9pm at Salem United Church of Christ 33424 Oakland Ave. Farmington, MI
A time for food, refreshments, community, connection, and fun for LGBTQ+ folks! A free-will donation of any amount is appreciated (but not required) to help offset the cost of food and refreshments. Questions? Contact RevLawrence@SalemUCC.us or call 248-474-6880
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Please note: We will celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion, this Sunday August 7th, if you are participating in worship via Zoom, be sure to come prepared with your own communion elements of bread/crackers/cookies/wafers and juice/wine/water/milk.
Click on the link below for our Sunday Bulletin!
Topic: Sunday 10AM Worship
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86198029257?pwd=cjM3eWRvZkZjdm1sWVhLWUJDN0U2Zz09
Meeting ID: 861 9802 9257
Passcode: 777530
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Dear Members and Friends of Salem UCC,
Welcome to the first week of August. This Sunday, we officially welcome our newest member, Margaret Shoesmith. If you are in town, do greet her! It’s also Communion Sunday, and for those worshiping online, you are invited to assemble your Communion elements of wine/water/juice/milk and bread/crackers/wafers/cookies for use during the service.
This Sunday, we continue our sermon series, The Genders of God. Last week—in week 1—we considered God as ‘he.’ This week, we turn our attention to the Divine Feminine. Sophia Franklin, our interim music director, returns from time away, and we are grateful for her presence with us through August 21st, when she leaves for school.
It is with a grateful heart that I welcome you to worship—whoever you are and however you find yourself on life’s journey!
Sincerely,
Rev. Lawrence
Do you have feedback about Church or want to chat with Rev. Lawrence? Perhaps you would like prayer, a pastoral visit, or to receive Communion. You can schedule time through Kathy@salemucc.us or by calling the church office at 248-474-6880 or by setting up time here.
Rev. Lawrence looks forward to speaking with you.
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Is God a man or a woman?
July 31st - August 21st
Or does God even have or need a gender? In this 4-week sermon series entitled, “The Genders of God,” we will explore these questions and more alongside our weekly lectionary readings. In the first week, we will explore the most familiar way many people relate to God—God as ‘he’. The second week, God as ‘she’, the third week, God as ‘they’, and the final week, God as transcendent of gender. There is a benefit to gendering God; and depending upon our perspective and social location, the specific gender used to identify God and the gender roles we associate with God shapes our views about God, ourselves, and others. What gender do you give God? How do we relate to God on an individual and collective basis? Let’s explore this together, July 31st through August 21st.
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Community Food Collection
Sunday, August 7th
Many thanks to all who bring in items for the Salvation Army Food Pantry/Neighborhood House Collection! Your continued generosity to bringing in food can make life just a little easier for those, who for whatever reason, find themselves at the Pantry.
Donation Bins are located at the front and side entrance to the church
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Welcome to Salem UCC!
Margaret Shoesmith
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Margaret moved to Michigan from Canada in 2018. She was an elementary school teacher before becoming a stay at home mom to Anumeha Bansal in 2019. She has studied and taught singing for years, and enjoys music as well as many other activities. She loves to love and is very happy to be loving everyone here at Salem UCC. Go Salem! |
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Our New Minister of Music
Welcome to Alana O’Donnell, Salem’s new Minister of Music. Alana’s bio is below; you are encouraged to introduce yourself to her on Sundays! Alana will begin working with Sophia Franklin, our interim music director, from now until Sophia’s last Sunday, August 21st, after which Alana will assume primary responsibility for the position.
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Alana O’Donnell is a Senior Choral Music Education and Voice Performance Major at the University of Michigan who teaches music lessons at the Hudson Music Center in Dexter. At school, she has honed her skills in teaching, singing, piano and choral conducting. She is eager to work with Salem’s choir and instrumentalists! She looks forward to collaborating with the musicians and congregation at Salem in order to create a fulfilling and Holy atmosphere. |
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Nursery and Children's Programs
This week, our nursery staff person, Mina, will be available in the nursery. We love having our littles in worship and we also respect that sometimes parents want a space for kids that is separate from their own space for worship and reflection, so the nursery will be open for parents who wish to bring their littles and have space for breaks or time for their littles to play and be energized during worship.
Children's Program Needs, Ideas, & Suggestions
Rev. Lawrence would love to meet with parents and guardians of infants, children, and teens to hear your program desires, ideas, and questions. Please feel free to send all your ideas to revlawrence@salemucc.us or call 248-474-6880. During the Spring and Summer months, we will be exploring program ideas, strengthening connections with families with children, and firming up ministry opportunities for families with children. We are grateful for all ages and stages of life in this congregation and Rev. Lawrence looks forward to connecting with each of you.
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Moving Things Around
Over the next month, you will notice some movement in the sanctuary. Movement, in this case, refers to placing items in/around the sanctuary. At a previous leadership team meeting, we discussed relocating the organ that needs substantial repairs, and the organ will be moved to the Community Room. Spaces in the sanctuary, including where the organ currently resides, will be reconfigured for an IT (information technology) station and a space for children. Over the next several weeks, as you notice things moving around, please share your feedback because we want to create a sacred worship space that inspires and is accessible to all in our congregation and community.
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Please pray for healing for Alice Bailey's sister Beverly and her husband Dan Organ, both are struggling with health issues.
Please pray for healing for Irene Slisinger; sister of Carolyn and Chip Bridges.
Please keep Michele Bridges; cousin of Carolyn and Chip Bridges, who was recently diagnosed with Lymphoma.
Please pray for comfort and peace for the family of Brian and Maureen Tyler as they mourn the passing of Maureen's uncle Terry.
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Join us for a night of worship on August 10th and August 24th, that includes music, scripture and community as we meet for Worship Nights Wednesday nights in the gathering room. We will start service at 6:30pm. Come as you are for a mid-week refresh! We will also be streaming live on our Instagram (@theworshipnights)
See you Wednesday!
Katie and Laura Tyler
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August Food Drive/Tailgate/Concert
Friday, August 12 @ 5pm
Please join in for this summer's last food drive/tailgate picnic at Salem on Friday, August 12th. Bring a food donation for Neighborhood House and your own picnic supplies. At 630pm those who wish can walk or drive to Riley Park for a concert by Billy Mack and the Juke Joint Johnnies. Billy Mack is one of the premier entertainers in the Farmington summer concert series!
ALL are Welcome!
Please feel free to bring any school supply donations
for our mission project to the tailgate!!!
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Ruth Ellis Mission Project
Collection for the Clairmount House
July 17th - August 21st
The Ruth Ellis Clairmount Center (REC Center) is a mixed-use development in Detroit’s Piety Hill neighborhood that will create 43 units of permanent supportive housing for LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness within a larger mixed-use development offering social services, health care, and employment opportunities. Ruth Ellis Clairmount Center opening this fall!
We will be collecting New household items for the residents, such as; sheets. pillows. comforters, and kitchen items. Please check the display at the front of the church for more suggestions. Donations of cash are always appreciated and can be placed in the offering plate marked Ruth Ellis Mission Project.
Please contact Peg Hellyer with any questions - 313-399-5795
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Neighborhood House/Farmington Schools Mission Project
Sunday, August 14th after worship
Salem would like to help Farmington area students have the supplies they need when school starts. We have purchased 48 pencil boxes and are looking to fill them with the following items:
24 count crayola crayons
10 ct Crayola fine tip markers
8 ct Crayola broad markers
Scissors
Glue sticks
Erasers
Blue, black, red pens
#2 pencils
Small pencil sharpeners
Donations of cash/checks are always appreciated and can be placed in the offering plate marked School Supply Mission Project.
Please bring your donations to the Food Drive/Tailgate on August 12th or to church by August 14th.
We will assemble the boxes after service on August 14th!
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SAVE THE DATE
Rally Sunday is Almost Here!
Rally Sunday is almost a month away! If you’re wondering what Rally Sunday is, it’s the start of a church’s Fall program year. It's an excellent opportunity to reconnect with old friends, meet new friends, learn about what's coming up, and have outdoor fun before the weather changes. For us at Salem, Rally Sunday falls on Sunday, September 11th.
On Rally Sunday, we will worship at 10am at Shiawassee Park, and following worship, we will have a very short program of thanksgiving, and then enjoy food, grilling, and fun at the park! Everyone is welcome and encouraged to bring a lawn chair, a food item to share, and beverages of choice. Set up begins as early as 9am and our space at the park is reserved until 2pm.
Look for the Salem Church signs!!
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Building Improvement Fund
August 7, 2022
This is a Salem Fund established specifically for building needs.
Salem Missions Offering
August 28. 2022
This offering helps fund extra Salem mission projects that arise. including Peace with Justice.
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Please call the church office 248-474-6880 or email
to place your order!
The suggested donation for altar flowers is $20.00.
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Planned Giving at Salem UCC
As a people of faith, we are called to be “good stewards” of the assets with which we have been entrusted. Good stewardship calls for financial planning and estate planning to ensure the financial security of our families and loved ones. We must also consider how we will provide for the church or ministry that we love and serve to secure its foundation and vitality for future generations. One way you can achieve these goals is through a Planned Gift.
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Please remember to follow these guidelines below to help everyone feel Welcome and Safe at Salem Church!
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.
- Everyone MUST wear a mask, vaccinated or not.
- 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.
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Holy Communion - single serving communion cups and wafers will be available (Please place empty Communion cups in the trash, by the door, as you exit.) We will also have an offering plate near the entrance as well.
- The restroom in the office hallway will be available for use.
- The rest of the building will remain closed . You will have access to the restroom in the office hallway via the Gathering Room.
- If you are not comfortable with being in the sanctuary, please join us on Zoom.
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!
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Stay up to date with the Michigan Conference happenings by clicking link below for their newsletter! You also have the option on the link to sign up for the MC Newsletter to be directly delivered to your inbox!
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