Sunday, July 15, 2018 Ninth Sunday After Pentecost

A Peek At The Sunday Sermon

A Season Begins – A Ministry Defined
John 4:31-38

Big 10 Football is coming! Yes, I know it’s mid-summer, and most of you are
in that frame of mind: boating, swimming, fishing … all that “summer stuff.”

Your July days might even include Tiger Baseball!

I understand. But lately, I’ve been thinking about
Big 10 Football, the Big House, crowds, roaring
cheers, and my team winning! To be honest, I
can’t wait!

At this very moment - coaches are working with young men, eager to prove
their worth on the field. Big 10 football teams are preparing for a season in
the hopes of becoming gridiron champions!

In order to achieve the goal of a champion, Jim Harbaugh

and other college coaches are training young men -
testing their physical and mental prowess.

Soon – a new season will begin – and any success will be determined by
how well the preparation.

And so it is in ministry.

On Sunday, I’ll be sharing a message based on two events that are recorded
in the Gospel of John, Chapter 4. Team Jesus is preparing for a season of
ministry. There are some valuable lessons here for today’s church!

Hope to see you …

Sunday, July 15, 2018, at 10:00 AM

 Historical Detroit Church Tour!
Just a reminder that the Detroit Churches Tour is this Saturday,
July 14th.

We will meet at 9:30 am in our church parking lot. The

suggested donation is $5 for each church. John Peters will collect
the donation money before we leave.

We will carpool and head downtown to the Eastern Market area for
a 10 am guided tour of the magnificent Trinity Lutheran Church,
established in 1850. Then it's on to Christ Church Detroit for an 11
am tour. Christ Church is the oldest Protestant church in Michigan
– and still at its original location.

After the 2nd tour, we have a 12:15 pm lunch reservation at the

New Parthenon Restaurant in Greektown. It promises to be an
enjoyable time!

The liturgical colors have been changed to green.

In the season after Pentecost, we are reminded to
pray for the growth of the church!

The Sunday Sermon is on

YouTube!
Just click here or on the YouTube
image and you’ll be taken to last
Sunday’s sermon.

Two Important Meetings!

Special Congregational Meeting
Following the 10 AM Morning Worship Service on July 22, 2018.

Church Council Meeting

Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at 7:00 PM. This meeting is open to all church members. All
Board and Committee heads should be in attendance and present a brief oral report on
recent activities.
Our suggested Scripture reading for July 15, 2018, from the 2018 UCC
Church Calendar:
Ephesians 1:3-14 (NLT)
Spiritual Blessings!
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has
blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms
because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the
world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without
fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own
family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what
he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise
God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to
his dear Son.[b] 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he
purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our
sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom
and understanding.
9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—
which is to fulfill his own good plan. 10 And this is the plan: At the
right time he will bring everything together under the authority of
Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 11 Furthermore,
because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance
from God,[c] for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything
work out according to his plan.
12 God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in
Christ would bring praise and glory to God. 13 And now you Gentiles
have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And
when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving
you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is
God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised
and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so
we would praise and glorify him.
 If you haven’t – why not “Like Us” on Facebook? Just click
on the sign to the left – you will be transported to the
Dearborn Congregational Facebook Page! Maybe you
like to tweet? You can follow Pastor Kren on Twitter:
@william_kren.

Prayer Requests
Bev Traver – Serious medical concerns.
Marilyn Beardsley - Continuing medical concerns.
Pat and Pete Stacho - Continuing medical concerns.
Phyllis Preston - Medical concerns.
Pauline Gourlay - Medical concerns.
Barb and David Allen - Medical concerns.
Grant MacKenzie - Continuing medical concerns.
Gail Waggoner - Health issues.
Jane Haling - Health issues.
Elie Stergiou - Medical Concerns.
Jim Shippee - Medical Concerns.
Della King Family - Medical Concerns.
Pastor Bill Kren - Health issues.
Dr. Geoff Drutchas - Health issues.
The Lennon Pregnancy Center - Budget concerns.

We are now collecting non-persihable

food items for needy veterans and their
families. A “Totes of Love” collection
bin is located in the Sanctuary.

Since arriving at Dearborn Congregational.

I’ve been “blogging” about church work and
my life in the ministry. You can learn more
about the Pastor and how he thinks, by
clicking on the link (picture) to the left.
I’m looking forward to Sunday! Hope to see you at 10:00 a.m. as we explore the
Scriptures, together.

Bill
Pastor Bill Kren