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Pilgrim Call Newsletter

Of First Congregational Christian Church

JANUARY 5, 2016 – ISSUE 656

Please join us this Sunday, January 10th as we resume with our “Believe” curriculum and our regular Worship times at 9:00 and 10:15. The Sunday School classes will also resume at their previous times coordinating with our services at 9:00 & 10:15. The adults will meet in the Chapel, Grades 6-12 will meet in the Youth Room or Chapel, and the 4 year olds through 5th grade will meet in the middle Sunday School Room in the West Sunday School Wing! Session 11: Worship Key Idea: I worship God for who he is and what he has done for me. Key Verse: “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salva-tion. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.” Psalm 95:1-2

Service of Remembrance from 2015 Name Birth Death

Jodi Mohr September 25, 1923 January 4, 2015 John Miller March 15, 1926 January 8, 2015 Thelma Ann Hamilton July 30, 1932 February 6, 2015 Patricia (Patsy) Roberts February 17, 1924 April 3, 2015 Ann Kaegi Button January 23, 1934 May 6, 2015 Tim Heck March 23, 1961 June 27, 2015 David Reeves February 27, 1959 July 31, 2015 Marie Ella Trainor July 1, 1929 Sept. 3, 2015 James Beechy August 8, 1936 December 26, 2015 Dolly Parker August 7, 1925 December 6, 2014

We had the honor of remembering our Congregational members and friends in Christ on Sunday, January 3rd, who passed away over the past year. It was a touch-ing ceremony for many as they remembered their loved ones who are at peace with Christ now. We also pray for those in our Congregation who have lost loved ones over the past year; such as parents, siblings, friends, etc. who are not listed above. May God give you peace and comfort!

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Prayer Concerns January 4—Brandon Arnold, friend of Jon Tice, please pray about serious health challenges for Brandon. January 3—Ernie Cottingham, please pray for his biopsies to go well. December 30—Cameron Fuller, Cottingham’s grandson, please pray for healing following surgery to re-move his tonsils. December 30—Marty Visser, prayers for healing following foot surgery. December 27—Family of Jim Beechy, John Beechy’s father. Please pray for the Beechy family upon the passing of Jim after several health challenges. December 20—Susan Cottingham, prayers for healing of vision challenges. December 20—Jackie, co-worker of Greg Fridholm, prayers for finding peace in salvation in Christ.

Continue with Prayers December 18—Chad Pulley, Phillips’ friends son, please pray for healing following major digestive tract surgery. He is at home and recovering there. He is doing much better. Thank you for the prayers. December 18—Don Button, he is thankful for God’s hand of healing in his recovery and thankful to be back. Continued prayers for: Dorothy Unger (Buffey Hedrick's mom), Dean Madigan (Marilee Neer’s brother), Heather Hartman (Mandy Behler’s friend’s daughter), Dick & Betty Gaffney, Mary Myers, Nearly New volunteer, Margaret Orr (Joe Orr’s mother), Eric Schwartz (Pam Nierman’s cousin), Larry Forte (Sarah Scott’s friend), Mrs. Gentry (Rick Gentry’s mom), Carol Record (Buffey’s friend), Craig Cook’s aunt Jackie & uncle Bill, Rita Cook, Chuck Simon (Dawn Wisler), Mark Downs (Dawn Wisler), Peggy (friend of Angie Love), Norma Knack, Craig Cook, Sandy Smith, Sonie Durbin. Continued prayers for cancer challenges: Carol Peterson (family friend of Kim & Mark Herr), Brad, (friend of Nate & Krista Steward), Steve Cassidy (friend of Bailey’s), Alan Bargerhuff (Tracy Reichel’s fa-ther) Dorothy Wagoner friend of Schoenians), Linda Trent, Helen Willoughby, Linda (Mandy Behler’s

friend). Please continue to pray for these members and friends of people in our congregation who are facing cancer treatments, those who have finished treatments, and those in remission.

Attendance for Sunday, Jan. 3rd, 2016

Classic Service: Adults—103, Children—5

Total—108 Leaders for Sunday, Jan 10th, 2016

Regular Services at 9:00 &10:15

Jr. Church: Gayle Ryberg

Pray for the Military Soldiers of our Church

David Carey Adam King Aaron Knight Riley Johnson Andrew Reed Richard Young

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Taking Down the Christmas Decorations

We will be taking down the Christmas decorations on Thursday, January 7th at 6:00. The more hands, the merrier, so please come

and help out.

The Way Youth (Grades 6-12)

~~This Sunday, January 10th, The Way will be meeting from 5:30-7:30 here at the church. Please invite friends for a time of food, fellowship and faith!

Men’s & Ladies Bible Studies will NOT begin again until February.

Please note the following addresses for our Snowbirds Dale & Eileen Bohall: P.O. Box 6068, Bradenton, FL 34281 Bill & Margot Fox: 23001 Front Beach Rd-Apt. 1114, Panama City, FL 32413 Tom & Jo Hightower: 2144 Timber Ln., Sebring, FL 33872 Ben & Doris Hippensteel: 7 D El Red Dr., Tavares, FL 32778 Chuck & Karen Hosier: 578 Hogan Dr., N. Ft. Meyers, FL 33903 David & Julia Ingle: 17020 Willowcrest Way # 103, Ft. Meyers, FL 33908 Hal & Sherry King: 14910 W. Verde Ln., Goodyear, AZ 85395 Bill & Lyn Shirley: 887 Gulf Pavilion Dr., # 204, Naples, FL 34108 Kevin & Jan Staley: 6365 E. Forest St, Apache Junction, AZ 85219 ~The Kruggel’s and the Heck’s have not left for Florida yet. ~If we have missed anybody with “snowbird” addresses or news, please call the church office at 452-8285.

JANUARY BIRTHDAY’S

4th Karen Caylor 5th Teresa Worl 7th Jan Staley 8th Carolyn Jacobs 10th Mary Ann Hoover 11th Christopher Nierman 17th Maura Williamson 18th Tori Gingerich Tom Podwell Kendall Krause 19th Roger Pyle

22nd Stacey Tice Xavour Worthington 23rd Roger Worl 26th Tatum Hemmeger 28th Mary Ann Peabody JANUARY ANNIVERSARIES 29th Barkley & Marcy Holder

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Secret Friend Reveal Dinner January 24 will be the Secret Friend reveal dinner immediately follow-ing the Classic service and Sunday School, in the Lounge. If you as the adult prayer partner or your child/children have participated, your family is invited. Please sign up in the lobby (adding the number at-tending) so a place can be set especially for you.

New Secret Friend/Prayer Partner forms are available in the lobby. Please prayerfully consider participating. Forms are due Sunday, Janu-ary 24. Please place them in the basket provided on the counter in the lobby.

Secret Friend/Prayer Partner Ministry This ministry of our church is one that connects a praying adult/family with the children of our church. Forms are filled out by adults who wish to have a secret friend to pray for and provide small gifts or cards for throughout the year and forms are filled out on the children wishing to be prayed for. The secret part of it is fun for the children to receive cards/small gifts as a reminder that someone special is remembering them in prayer. This ministry lasts for a year with a reveal party in Janu-ary. Please prayerfully consider participating in this ministry of our church as it is another way of connecting the generations in our midst.

Domestic Violence Shelter

The local Domestic Violence Shelter is always in need of cold weather items

(gloves, hats, scarves) for women and children. We will be collecting these

items during the month of January as we can and delivering them as they

are collected. These can be new or clean, but gently used. Thank you.

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December 2015 Treasurer’s Report General Budget Outreach (pledged) Non Budgeted 12/6 $7999.00 $123.00 $553.95 12/13 $3310.00 $246.00 $1470.83 12/20 $15,513.00 $46.00 $4710.00 12/27 $3460.00 $140.00 $17,060.00 Total $30,282.00 $555.00 $23,794.78

The total given to the Capital Funds Drive for the month of December was $2220.00, plus a very generous, anonymous gift of $42,000 that was given to replenish the Virginia McKay Funds that we borrowed in order to complete the elevator project. This check was directly deposited into our account held with Raymond James. An amount of $15,000 given in December was the yearly donation from the Nearly New Shop. The Nearly New Shop distributes their profits to various community needs and also give a portion to our church’s local outreach.

Super Bowl Party Whether you like football or not, plan to attend the All church Super Bowl party held in Pilgrim Hall (basement) on Sunday, February 7. More information to come.

All Church Ski Trip-Saturday, February 6th

We are planning an overnight option to the annual ski trip this year if it works into your schedule. Skiing is available from 5-10:30 Friday even-ing, February 5th and all day Saturday, February 6th. Lift Tickets are $32 for Friday evening and $41 all day Saturday, ski rental is $23 and $25. A free lesson is included with the lift ticket. Some are spending the night at the Hampton Inn in Kalamazoo (844-882-0346 or 844-225-0052 and there are ski packages). Make your own hotel reservations, but let Stacey know if you are planning to go, in order to meet when we all arrive. Or you can drive up on Saturday morning and meet up with the group at Bittersweet Ski Resort. Call Stacey at 271-6677 or Nancy at 419-1368 to let us know you are coming.

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Come Worship With Us On Sunday Mornings!

9:00 Praise Service/Sunday School 10:15 Classic Service/Sunday School

Contact Information: Phone: (765)452-8285 Nearly New: 459-8121

E-Mail: first.congo@aol.com Web Site: kokomofirstcongo.org

Facebook:FirstCongo-Kokomo, IN.

First Congregational Christian Church 505 W. Mulberry St. Kokomo, In 46901

Non Profit Organization

U.S. Postage Paid

Permit No. 83

Kokomo, Indiana

This Sunday, January 10th—Regular Worship Times

9:00 Praise Service, 10:15 Classic Service

Sunday School Resumes

Adult, children, and youth Sunday School classes will resume this Sunday, Janu-ary 10th at 9:00 and 10:15. We will pick up with Part 2 of the Believe Series, which is Week 11: Worship. If you are not already plugged into one of the ex-isting classes, please contact Stacey.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And

he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.