What, when it comes right down to it, do Christians need to believe?  Christians need to believe in Jesus—his life, teachings, example, death, and resurrection.  These are to core of Christianity.  A great benefit of these beliefs is that they provide answers to life’s most profound questions, including, What matters most?  Am I accepted?  Where is God?  What brings fulfillment?  What about suffering?  And is there hope?

During this series we will also focus on some things Christians don’t need to believe.  For example, Christians don’t need to believe that everything in the Bible should be taken literally, or that God causes cancer and car wrecks, or that God hates gay people.

You can help us prepare for this dynamic seven week experience in the following ways:

1. Pray for this important event
2. Attend worship every Sunday during the sermon and study series
3. Purchase, from the church office, a copy of the book, “What’s the Least I Can Believe and Still be a Christian” and join in a study group (Dates and times to be announced)
4. Invite family members, neighbors, friends, and coworkers to visit the church during this event.

One of the goals of this series is to help us reach out beyond our own congregation.  Accordingly, the church has purchased, and makes available to you at no additional cost, copies of “What’s the Least I Can Believe and Still be a Christian” that you can give to others as an invitation to join us for this series.

I am looking forward to this series, and our time together.  Please contact me if you have any questions about how you can make the most of this opportunity.

Decem­ber 24, 2011
Christ­mas Eve
Join us for a cel­e­bra­tion of the scrip­ture and music of the sea­son. Many of the musi­cal groups of the church will be offer­ing their best Christ­mas music, and so will you!

Date: Thursday, November 24
Time:  Two Seatings—12:00 p.m. noon and 3 p.m.
Place: First Congregational Church, downtown St. Johns
Registration: please call 224‑2636 by November 16, 2011

Sponsored and hosted by the First Congregational Church, First United Methodist Church, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Kiwanis Club of St Johns, the physicians and staff of Sparrow Clinton Hospital, St. Johns High School National Honors Society and Good Wins and the St. Johns Wilson Center Alternative School students.

Come and enjoy the fire, food and fellowship.

Rain Cancels

Where:

When: Saturday, October 22, 2011
First Session 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.
Lunch provided
Second Session 12:00—2:00 p.m.

“The Dynamic for Living Close to God”

Studies of several  Biblical passages in Ephesians and Colossians
Focusing on God’s true purpose in our lives.
Everyone is welcome!

Please Call 989–224-2636 or e mail fccsj@4wbi.net to reserve your spot.

This retreat will be lead by Rev. Eric C. Britcher, Interim Senior Pastor of First Congregational Church in Mansfield, Ohio.  Rev Britcher served forty years as a officer (ordained clergy) in various capacities, finally in the National Office as a consultant to all Salvation Army programs nationwide.  He then served for sixteen years at Mayflower Congregational Church in Grand Rapids, MI, the last nine as Associate Pastor for Congregational Life.  Rev. Britcher is married, has four grown children, seven grandchildren and one + great grandchildren.

Now serving in Mansfield, Ohio First Congregational Church as a Interim Senior Pastor,  Rev. Britcher is active in the Michigan Conference of C.C.C. on the Pastoral Relations Committee.

Everyone  ( age 4 through 6th grade) is invited to attend our Sunday School!

Beginning on September 18th at 10:00 a.m.

Junior and Senior High Pilgrim Fellowship Youth Groups also begin on September 18th, at 10:00 a.m.

COME AND JOIN US!

Worship service at 11:00 a.m.

Hog Roast and Pot Luck Dinner at 12:00 p.m.  Bring a dish to pass and your own table service.  Everyone is welcome to attend, so ask a friend or neighbor to come and enjoy this special morning with us.

ST. JOHNS — The Board of Ministry at First Congregational Church in St. Johns is pleased to announce plans to offer a new 8:30 a.m. worship service beginning June 12, 2011 and continuing until September 4, 2011. The purpose of this early morning service is to offer members and friends of First Congregational Church a choice of worship services during the summer months. A 10:00 a.m. service will continue to be available and will be conducted in the same manner as in past summers.

In contrast, the early service will be an informal service with a shorter message and a variety of music. It will be conducted by volunteers including lay ministers, visiting ministers, Steven’s Ministers and possibly members of the youth programs at FCC.

“We are very pleased to be able to offer our members and friends a choice in the time that they worship”, states Senior Minister, Matt Olson. “I believe that the messages delivered will be fresh and exciting”.

In order to continue to offer all members of the congregation a chance for fellowship around the morning worship service, coffee fellowship will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Those who come for the early morning service can stay after their service and those planning to attend the 10:00 a.m. service can come early.

Please plan to join us at 8:30 a.m. on Sundays this summer at First Congregational Church in St. Johns!