Wednesday, January 07, 2026: Mobile Food Pantry

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The first Feeding America West Michigan Mobile Food Pantry of 2026 is scheduled on January 7, sponsored by St. John's UCC in partnership with Sudanese Grace Episcopal Church.  Volunteers will gather at 5:00 pm at 1550 Oswego NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504.  Last month, we distributed 5,745 pounds of food to 81 households, 214 individuals, 90 children, 50 seniors and 5 veterans.  A total of 26 volunteers braved freezing rain and treacherous roads to alleviate food insecurity in our community.  Surplus food was delivered to UCOM by Richard Johnston, and Jeffrey Dick.  Clients received a hand knitted hat made by Fern Albers and Carol Stechow.  Thank you to Lindsey Kremmer for being the photographer for the evening, the pictures captured the joy of the volunteers working together despite the weather conditions.  We continue to be an equal opportunity provider.  For more information about the Mobile Food Pantry, contact Teresa Markoski at 616-690-4566 or at tmarkoski2004@yahoo.com.  Financial support is welcome by donating on the church app or by mailing a check to St.  John's UCC, 1934 Bridge Street NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504.  Together, we serve. 

 Food Pantry Non Discrimination Agreement

Location:

Sudanese Grace Episcopal Church
1550 Oswego NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Jan 7, 2026 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

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Special Offering: The Christmas Fund

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The Christmas Fund has been caring for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ for over 100 years, providing emergency grants, supplementation of small annuities and health premiums, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks each December to our lower-income retirees.

United Church of Christ congregations and members have blessed the Christmas Fund with their generosity for many years. This year, your care and compassion will be especially appreciated by those servants of the church who are facing a time of need. Thank you!

Please consider donating to the Christmas Fund. You can do so by designating "Christmas Fund" on your in-person donation or by selecting "VOC - Christmas Fund" when donating online.

This Sunday, December 28, 2025

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Welcome to Sunday morning!  This is the day that God has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! 

Please join us for our in-person worship  (Lessons and Carols) on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Then join us in Fellowship Hall for coffee hour. 

If you are unable to join us in-person, please join the worship service on our website at https://stjohnsuccgr.org/worship-online at 10:00 a.m.

There are links below this message to the order of service, the weekly Journal, a children's bulletin for the week's lectionary readings, a youth Bible Study, an Adult Bible Study, and a devotional guide for the week. Please share these resources with your family and friends and know that we are joined together across any distances or difficulties that might separate us.

We are able to provide all of these wonderful services because of your continuing generosity and support.  If you are able to give to support our ministries, please do. You can make a donation or set up regular giving by clicking here:  http://www.stjohnsuccgr.org/give .  You can also simply mail your check to the church:

St. John’s UCC
1934 Bridge ST NW
Grand Rapids, MI  49504

Thank you for your continued faithfulness in supporting St. John's. Let us continue to hold each other and the entire world close to our hearts and to the heart of God in prayer.

Youth Bible Study

https://blogs.elca.org/faithlens/

Children's Bulletin

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51294ee7e4b03f854ee99725/t/694bfe118d4a240fdf0380d8/1766587921787/Children%27s+bulletin+12282025.pdf

Order of Service

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51294ee7e4b03f854ee99725/t/694bff7ee2647d76037e3f01/1766588286777/Order+of+Service+12282025.pdf

Weekly Journal

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51294ee7e4b03f854ee99725/t/694bfe4ce28a654dd92b8fe7/1766587980539/Journal+12282025.pdf

Weekly Devotional

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51294ee7e4b03f854ee99725/t/694bfe2c588ce10bf5f8fe4c/1766587948225/Weekly+Devotional+12282025.pdf

This Sunday, December 21, 2025

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Welcome to Sunday morning!  This is the day that God has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! 

Please join us for our in-person worship on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Our Children's Pageant will be performed today during worship.

After worship, join us in Fellowship Hall for coffee hour. 

If you are unable to join us in-person, please join the worship service on our website at https://stjohnsuccgr.org/worship-online at 10:00 a.m.

There are links below this message to the order of service, the weekly Journal, a children's bulletin for the week's lectionary readings, a youth Bible Study, an Adult Bible Study, and a devotional guide for the week. Please share these resources with your family and friends and know that we are joined together across any distances or difficulties that might separate us.

We are able to provide all of these wonderful services because of your continuing generosity and support.  If you are able to give to support our ministries, please do. You can make a donation or set up regular giving by clicking here:  http://www.stjohnsuccgr.org/give .  You can also simply mail your check to the church:

St. John’s UCC
1934 Bridge ST NW
Grand Rapids, MI  49504

Thank you for your continued faithfulness in supporting St. John's. Let us continue to hold each other and the entire world close to our hearts and to the heart of God in prayer.

Youth Bible Study

https://blogs.elca.org/faithlens/

Children's Bulletin

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51294ee7e4b03f854ee99725/t/6942b7664ed2f54ea2a5365d/1765980006311/Children%27s+Bulletin+12212025.pdf

Order of Service

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51294ee7e4b03f854ee99725/t/6942b74878eb68456a8a3f98/1765979976777/Order+of+Service+12212025.pdf

Weekly Journal

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51294ee7e4b03f854ee99725/t/6942fc419202a856ca02166f/1765997633286/Journal+12212025.pdf

Weekly Devotional

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51294ee7e4b03f854ee99725/t/6942b781f59c75294aeac851/1765980033469/Weekly+Devotional+12212025.pdf

This Sunday, December 14, 2025

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Welcome to Sunday morning!  This is the day that God has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! 

Please join us for our in-person worship, downstairs in Fellowship Hall on Sunday at 10:00 a.m., then join us for coffee hour for "We Celebrate You". (A time to celebrate all of the wonderful things to be celebrated in December!)

Pageant Rehearsal today!

If you are unable to join us in-person, please join the worship service on our website at https://stjohnsuccgr.org/worship-online at 10:00 a.m.

There are links below this message to the order of service, the weekly Journal, a children's bulletin for the week's lectionary readings, a youth Bible Study, an Adult Bible Study, and a devotional guide for the week. Please share these resources with your family and friends and know that we are joined together across any distances or difficulties that might separate us.

We are able to provide all of these wonderful services because of your continuing generosity and support.  If you are able to give to support our ministries, please do. You can make a donation or set up regular giving by clicking here:  http://www.stjohnsuccgr.org/give .  You can also simply mail your check to the church:

St. John’s UCC
1934 Bridge ST NW
Grand Rapids, MI  49504

Thank you for your continued faithfulness in supporting St. John's. Let us continue to hold each other and the entire world close to our hearts and to the heart of God in prayer.

Youth Bible Study

https://blogs.elca.org/faithlens/

Children's Bulletin

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51294ee7e4b03f854ee99725/t/693c16f55dc5020c8fcb5320/1765545717764/Children%27s+Bulletin+12142025.pdf

Order of Service

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51294ee7e4b03f854ee99725/t/693c16dbd84f2d2d742de6eb/1765545691994/Order+of+Service+12142025.pdf

Weekly Journal

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51294ee7e4b03f854ee99725/t/693c1bc6b52fd83728476471/1765546950362/Journal+12142025.pdf

Weekly Devotional

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51294ee7e4b03f854ee99725/t/693c186037fca1467ba89514/1765546080518/Weekly+Devotional+12142025.pdf

This Sunday, December 7, 2025

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Welcome to Sunday morning!  This is the day that God has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! 

Please join us for our in-person worship on Sunday at 10:00 a.m., then join us for coffee hour and Church Chat. 

Pageant Rehearsal today!

If you are unable to join us in-person, please join the worship service on our website at https://stjohnsuccgr.org/worship-online at 10:00 a.m.

There are links below this message to the order of service, the weekly Journal, a children's bulletin for the week's lectionary readings, a youth Bible Study, an Adult Bible Study, and a devotional guide for the week. Please share these resources with your family and friends and know that we are joined together across any distances or difficulties that might separate us.

We are able to provide all of these wonderful services because of your continuing generosity and support.  If you are able to give to support our ministries, please do. You can make a donation or set up regular giving by clicking here:  http://www.stjohnsuccgr.org/give .  You can also simply mail your check to the church:

St. John’s UCC
1934 Bridge ST NW
Grand Rapids, MI  49504

Thank you for your continued faithfulness in supporting St. John's. Let us continue to hold each other and the entire world close to our hearts and to the heart of God in prayer.

Youth Bible Study

https://blogs.elca.org/faithlens/

Children's Bulletin

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51294ee7e4b03f854ee99725/t/69304a671c7b2f7958012f88/1764772455809/Children%27s+bulletin+12072025.pdf

Order of Service

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51294ee7e4b03f854ee99725/t/6932e6bcb654677ecd6bc6d4/1764943548305/Order+of+Service+12072025.pdf

Weekly Journal

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51294ee7e4b03f854ee99725/t/6932e69c8521a84fd344af72/1764943516663/Journal+12072025.pdf

Weekly Devotional

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51294ee7e4b03f854ee99725/t/69304afe2ba62c6ac5b3dcf3/1764772606326/Weekly+Devotional+12072025.pdf

Today at 5PM: Mobile Food Pantry

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A Feeding America West Michigan Mobile Food Pantry is scheduled on December 3, 2025, sponsored by St. John's UCC in partnership with Sudanese Grace Episcopal Church.  Volunteers will gather at 5:00 pm at 1550 Oswego NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504.  Last month, we distributed 7,888 pounds of food to 126 households, 418 individuals, 150 children, 87 seniors and 3 veterans.  A total of 31 dedicated volunteers worked together to address food insecurity in our community.  Aaron Rossell, Jeff Proulx, Brandon Dick, Stacy Bare, Makenzie and Wilder all answered our request to help.  Thank you all for showing up and we hope to see you again!  Beautiful hand knitted hats crafted by Carol Stechow and Fern Albers were distributed to clients waiting on cars.  Richard Johnston, Jeffrey Dick and grandson Donnell, Brandon Dick, Rizzy Williams, Todd Krupp, and Aaron Rossell delivered surplus food to UCOM in multiple cars. Bags of pears were donated to Grandview Apartment's share table.   A huge thank you to Jeffrey Dick for being our spokesperson for a news station WZZM interview and sharing how changes to SNAP benefits has affected our community and members of his extended family. We continue to be an equal opportunity provider.  For more information about the Mobile Food Pantry, contact Teresa Markoski at 616-690-4566 or at tmarkoski2004@yahoo.com. Financial support is welcome by donating on the church app or by mailing a check to St. John's UCC, 1934 Bridge Street NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504.  Together, we serve. 

Food Pantry Non Discrimination Agreement  

Location:

The Sudanese Grace Episcopal Church
1550 Oswego NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Dec 3, 2025 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

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What if Advent could be something more?

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What if Advent was more than lighting candles or preparing for Christmas? What if it didn’t matter whether you’ve celebrated it for decades, or you’re not even sure what Advent is?

What if this season could be a moment to slow down, reconnect, and breathe… to find a community where your whole self is welcome?

At St. John’s UCC, we’re a church where our hearts are soft but our backs are strong.
We show up for one another.
We show up for our neighbors.
We show up for the world God calls us to love.

And if you’ve ever wondered whether following Jesus could look like:
✨ Rejecting racism
✨ Caring for the Earth
✨ Feeding the hungry
✨ Practicing radical welcome for all
✨ Being the church—not just attending it

…then you might be surprised to discover that this is exactly who we strive to be.

Maybe you identify as Christian but feel disconnected from the versions of Christianity you see around you. Maybe you’ve longed for a community that genuinely cares, listens, and supports you. Maybe you’ve doubted whether such a place exists.

But what if it does? What if this Advent season, you were invited to bring your whole self, your questions, your hopes, your story, and know they matter?

What if you could find a community where LGBTQ+ folks, straight folks, veterans, families, singles, elders, seekers, and skeptics sit side-by-side. Where your story is honored and conversation is safe? Where tradition is meaningful, not rigid, and love is lived, not just talked about.

How might that feel, this Advent?

If you’re longing for a place to belong, a place to grow, to hope, to be held in community, we would love to welcome you.

📅 Advent & Christmas at St. John’s
Nov 30, Dec 7: 10am Advent Services + Food & Fellowship
Dec 14: 10am Advent Services + Caroling to shut-ins
Dec 21: 10am Kids’ Christmas Pageant + Food & Fellowship
Dec 24: 7pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service – Music & a special Children’s moment

Wherever you are on life’s journey—you are welcome here. Come discover what Advent can mean for you.

Today at 6:30 PM: Tuesday, Friends Book Discussion Group

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Dear Friends, on this blustery day before Thanksgiving!!!  We hope to finish our discussion of, "The Wisdom Jesus", by Cynthia Bourgeault this coming Tuesday, December 2, 2025.  We will take a few weeks off for the holidays and then on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 will start our discussion of "How Can it be All Right, When Everything is All Wrong", by Lewis B. Smedes.  Lets read the Invitation and the first couple of chapters.  Stay safe and travel carefully.  So grateful for all of you!!!. Barb

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81479362234?pwd=DzkehcI8eHjGTRpBjUbMGGzq4Qupdw.1

Meeting ID: 81479362234
Passcode: 949544

Dial by your location:
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

Location:

zoom
Dec 2, 2025 6:30 PM to 8:19 PM

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