CONGREGATION + COMMUNITY NEWS
PEOPLES PRESS
Joyfully Defiant for the Sake of a Just World
a congregation of the United Church of Christ, the Alliance of Baptists & the American Baptist Churches
HELLO PEOPLES CHURCH
As May 1 creeps closer, we are working together to ensure a smooth transition in all areas of our church life. The Search Committee is in full swing. The Executive Committee (Joe Eufinger, Karen Eaton, Patti Pagels, and me) is working to find an Interim Pastor. We have met with one candidate and are
scheduling an interview with another. We are seeking candidates through all three of our denominations.
Tom Travis has become our Worship Coordinator. He is working with the worship team to create the meaningful services we love.
Dale Emery is our main contact on the patio project, working with that team to keep us on track with the proposed timeline.
Please watch this space for other updates and changes as we all journey together. Reach out to me with any questions, ideas, or help you have to offer.
Thanks!
Jamie Schmidt, Moderator
natesmamajamie@gmail.com; 810-287-8308
IN THE CONGREGATION
Links are on the church calendar.
Need more info? Just ask!
Adult Forum, 9:30 am Sundays, is reading Mariame Kaba's We Do This 'Til We Free Us: Abolitionist Organizing and Transforming Justice. Join in by zoom or in person at church. And let us know if
you need a book.
Thursday Evening Study Group begins again April 28, reading Diana Butler Bass’ A Peoples History of Christianity: the other side of the story. Books will shortly be on the welcome table at church. Need one shipped? Call the office!
Vigil for Racial Justice is still gathering 1-2 pm Thursdays on the Genesee Courthouse lawn. But only if the temp is above 20º.
New Text Alert System. We have shifted to a new text messaging service. If you're in our church directory, you're all set. If you're not, go to t.ly/LQC71 to sign up!
Ministers Discretionary Fund. This fund helps us help folks. Jay Cummings administers this fund,
now with assist from Kendall Brown, and says it's getting a little low. If you can make a special gift,
please do. All the regular ways, just mark it "discretionary fund.”
HOLY WEEK & EASTER WORSHIP
Maundy Thursday & Good Friday. We’ll gather online and in person this week, 7 pm each night, to recount the last hours of Jesus’ life. Join us both nights to hear the whole story.
Easter Sunday. We will be online and in the house celebrating resurrection and considering a resurrected life, 11 am Sunday. We’ll also receive new members and dedicate our new name! Bonnets not required.
PEOPLES CHURCH SEARCH COMMITTEE
is up and running! After a few weeks of making connections and learning something about the process ahead of us, we had our first in-person meeting as a team. We are now meeting weekly on Zoom as we compile our Church Profile, which will be used to help us understand 'Who Are We', 'Who is Our Neighbor', and 'Who is God Calling Us to Become'? The answers to these questions will both
help us in our pastor search and help candidates understand who we are.
There will be times in the coming months that we will ask your input on these questions as well. Meanwhile, we have been in touch with all three of our denominational associations and are already benefiting from their expertise, support and direction. We value your prayers as we move ahead.
Carla Pierik, chair
IN THE COMMUNITY
The 1619 Project. Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator of the 1619 Project, will speak 7 pm April 13 at the Capitol Theatre. The 1619 Project is an ongoing initiative from The New York Times Magazine marking the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery and helping us learn about race.
The event is free; tickets are available at t.ly/B2tf.
A Good Good-Bye
For Pastor Deborah DeMars Conrad
Sunday, May 1, 2022
11 am Worship Service
“Farewell and Godspeed”
12:15 pm Reception and Presentations
Please RSVP to the church office and let us know if you will attend in person or via Zoom
Zoom link is on the website calendar.
(For in person attendance masks and vaccination are required.)
If you would like to contribute to Deb’s Good Goodbye, you can give in all the regular ways; just write “honoring Deb” on the memo line.