Sunday, January 1, 2017

New Years Day

Finding Approval In 2017

There is a story told of one of
Verdis operas. The composer
was young and this particular
work had been produced in a
hurry. Verdi knew that it was not
his best. It was produced for the
first time in Florence and at the
end
the
enthusiastic
yet
undiscriminating audience went
into unwarranted raptures and
cheered the composer.
The cheers echoed down the halls of the theatre. But Verdi paid little heed.
He had eyes for only one man. He looked to the box where this one man
sat. All the recognition and praise of the crowd would not compensate for
the lack of this mans approval. The man was Rossini - and he was not
smiling.
The Advent season is now past. We have celebrated the birth of the
Christ child the Messiah! He is the author of our salvation. Jesus came
into the world for one reason and one reason only! Save us from our
sins.
And now we begin a New Year with the same calling that we share the
Good News! Tell others about Jesus and the salvation message. This is
why we are Dearborn Congregational Church!
This work will not be popular. But we are not in it for the acclaim and
plaudits of the crowd. We will do our best to call people back to God and
to repentance. It will not win the popular vote! But work we must.
In 2017 - lets give Him our best and keep our eyes on Jesus!

The Final Judgment

Matthew 25:31-46 is the suggested daily Bible reading for Sunday, January 1, 2017.
(2017 U.C.C. Calendar).
31 But

when the Son of

Man comes in his glory, and all
the angels with him, then he will
sit upon his glorious throne.
32 All

the nations will be gathered

in his presence, and he will
separate the people as a
shepherd separates the sheep
from the goats. 33 He will place
the sheep at his right hand and
the goats at his left.
34 Then

the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit
the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I
was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was
naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited
me.
37 Then

these righteous ones will reply, Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or
thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and
give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?
40 And

the King will say, I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers
and sisters, you were doing it to me!
41 Then

the King will turn to those on the left and say, Away with you, you cursed ones, into the
eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 42 For I was hungry, and you didnt feed me. I
was thirsty, and you didnt give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didnt invite me into your
home. I was naked, and you didnt give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didnt visit
me.
44 Then

they will reply, Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or
sick or in prison, and not help you?
45 And

he will answer, I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers
and sisters, you were refusing to help me.
46 And

they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.

Paraments and altar linens have been changed to white and gold
joyous and festive colors used during the Christmas and Easter
Season (except on the Day of Pentecost), White symbolizes purity,
holiness, and virtue, as well as respect and reverence.

Pastor Krens December 25,

2016 Sunday Sermon is now on
YouTube. Just click on the
image!

If you havent why not Like Us on

Facebook? Just click on the signs
to the right you will be transported
to the Dearborn Congregational
Facebook Page! Maybe you like to
tweet? You can follow Pastor Kren
on Twitter: @william_kren.

BLOGGING ALONG!
Blog (noun) A regularly updated website or web page, typically
one run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal
or conversational style.

Ive been blogging about church work and my life in

the ministry since arriving at Dearborn Congregational.
You can learn more about the Pastor and how he thinks,
by clicking on the link (picture) to the right!

Colleen Grozdanoff Memorial Service

Colleen Grozdanoff, wife of Gordon Grozdanoff and a longtime
member of Dearborn Congregational Church, after a brief
illness, passed away on November 23, 2016, at Oakwood
Hospital.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2017
at Dearborn Congregational Church, 16350 Rotunda Drive,
Dearborn, MI 48120, at 11:00 AM. Following the service a
luncheon will be served, in the Mayflower Room.

Prayer Requests
Edith Schwartz. Currently at Four Chaplains Nursing Care Center in Westland.
Irene Moxon. Serious medical problems.
Marilyn Beardsley. Continuing medical concerns.
Gordon Grozdanoff. Serious medical problems. He is now home and receiving care.
Pat Stacho. Continuing medical concerns.
Shirley Fedraw. Adjusting to her new caregiving facility. Medical concerns.
Suzanne Van Ranst. Medical concerns.
Pauline Gourlay. Medical concerns.
David Allen. Serious medical concerns.
Tom Schlaff. Serious medical concerns.
Frank Kren. This is Pastor Bills younger brother. Serious medical concerns.
Arthur Triplett. Sue Krens brother is in the hospital with a serious medical condition.
Carol Thompson. Sue Krens sister has a serious medical concern.

A complete list of prayer requests is also printed in the Sunday bulletin. If

you have a special request please phone the Church Office: 313-2718552. You can also phone Pastor Kren at 313-344-9808.

Receiving Donations Helping the Needy

At a recent meeting of the Diaconate, it was voted that nonperishable food donations be delivered to the Fish &
Loaves food pantry, in Taylor. This organization was first
launched by an ecumenical group of churches, led by St.
Paul United Church of Christ in Taylor and their Pastor,
Rev. Geoff Drutchas.
As a client-choice facility, Fish & Loaves allows families and individuals to shop every .
A wide range of canned goods, refrigerated and frozen foods, dairy products, and
seasonal produce are offered at no cost to clients. The client-choice model affirms the
dignity of the families and individuals served. Since opening its doors in 2008, the Fish
& Loaves Pantry has assisted more than 9100 households and over 13,000 men,
women, and children. The advantages of a client-choice pantry are:

A sense of dignity for clients and their families -- thanks to our store-like setting.
Higher client satisfaction with food they are able to choose.
Less waste and, therefore, less cost in providing food to clients.
Greater opportunities for positive and supportive social interaction between Fish
& Loaves volunteers and clients.

Dearborn Congregational Church will continue to assemble food baskets for distribution
during Thanksgiving. We will also refer family requests for assistance to Fish & Loaves.

On Sunday, January 8, 2017, during our Morning

Worship, there will be a Healing Service. At the
appointed time, Pastor Kren will invite anyone who
would like a special prayer for healing, to meet him
at the front of the Church.
They will receive
anointing oil and prayer and then return to their pew.
The oil is an important symbol God gives us, but no
special powers are transferred prayer to God is
what is special and powerful. It is sincere prayers
which God hears and responds to. Please be in
prayer, leading up to this special service.
Pastor Kren and Sue will be visiting family in Indiana over the New Years Day weekend.
Mr. Brian Sampson will be filling in it will be a great hour of worship at Dearborn
Congregational Church! See you Sunday at 10:00 AM!

Pastor Bill