Sunday Worship Services – 10:00am
Nursery Provided
Communion will be served 1st Sunday of the month
Sunday School – 10:15am
Social Hour after Worship – 11:00am
Blood Pressure Clinic after Worship, every 1st Sunday of the month, with Parish Nurse, Renna Birkholz.

Chancel Choir Practice, with Rachel Searls & Cathy Brockington Sundays, 9:00am Feb 5th, Feb 12th and Feb 26th, singing on Sunday, Feb 26th.
New Praise Practice, Sundays 11:30am with Jack Nyland.

Tuesday, Feb 7th, 10am, WFC’s meet to clean church kitchen.

Tuesday, Feb 14th, 10am, WFC’s meeting @ FCC.

Tuesday, Feb 21st @ FCC:
·       6:30pm, Diaconate Board meeting. Chair, Betty White
·       7:00pm, Trustee Board meeting. Chair, Frank Lamb.
·       8:00pm, Prudential Board meeting. Moderator, Kirke White.

Starting every Wednesday @ 6pm @ FCC, Super Simple Soup Supper Study Series: Feb 22nd – March 28th.  More info on Page 5.

Sunday, Feb 26th, 4pm @ FCC, Talent Show & Potluck Dinner. A Family Friendly Event.

How can we show God’s amazing love in simple ways? How can we convince our community of God’s freely given love? Every Monday, we rise to the challenge to Make Monday Matter.

Last month, we prepared meals for some unsuspecting members of our community, gave away coffee to the early risers at Demond's and helped out with Pre-Game activities before school at Douglas Elementary by playing games with students who arrive early, and delivered Christmas Cookies to the shut-in's.

Want to get involved? Check out our upcoming projects.  Please note new dates and times.

Monday February 6 @ 4:00 pm @ the Brinks (3322 Coppice Ct) we will be making crafts for the shut-ins.  All are welcome to help!  We also need help delivering the crafts.   

Tuesday, February 14th 4:00pm @ FCC we will be showing God's love to local businesses with a special Valentine's Day surprise.  Come help us share God's love with unsuspecting members of our community. 

Monday, February 20th:  How can you show God's love today?  Can you open a door for some one?  Offer to carry groceries?  Drop off a home cooked meal?  There are so many ways to show God's love.  Pick one!

Monday, February 27th 7:15 am @ Douglas Elementary School for an all-new event PREGAME!  It has been brought to our attention that a number of elementary school kids are dropped off very early for school.   Join us in showing God’s love to some of the youngest members of our community through games and stories.  We are collecting a basket of quick fun games that are easy to learn and easier to play.  If you have something you would like to donate, please drop it off at church.  All volunteers will need to complete a 1-page background sheet before participating.  Pick up the form in the back of church or the office.

We are making a difference in our community and need your help!    Have connections in the community, know of a project that needs to get done, think of a way to show God’s amazing love? Contact Jess Brink with your ideas.  She is looking for projects for March and April! 

Remember. “Unassuming acts of kindness convince people of the love of God more persuasively than words.”

For the latest updates, check out the Every Monday Matters display in the Fellowship Hall. Or, check out the book Conspiracy of Kindness by Steven Sjogren.  It’s all about how “unassuming acts of kindness convince people of the love of God more persuasively than words.”  A copy will be available at church as well as by request at the library. You can find pictures and videos from recent projects on the First Church Saugatuck Facebook page.

We’re trying something new in Sunday School this year. It’s called the Rotation Workshop Model.Click here for this month's lesson plan

Workshop Rotation Model in a nutshell: We will teach major Bible stories and concepts through kid-friendly multimedia workshops: an Art workshop, Drama, Music, Games, A-V, Puppets, Storytelling, Computers, and any other educational media we can get our hands on. We teach the same Bible story in all of the workshops each month, rotating the kids to a different workshop each week.  

Here's why it works: The Workshop Rotation Model concentrates on the major stories of the Bible over and over again. The model's philosophy recognizes that not only do kids love repetition, but they need it to develop lasting memory and understanding. The multi-intelligences (creative methods) approach isn't merely kid-friendly, it responds to each student's God-given gifts. Some kids learn best through words, others through images, and others by trying things out with their own two hands. Plus, students who miss a Sunday won’t get left behind.

Here's how it works:  The children will all be together in one Sunday School class.  The first Sunday of every month, the children will go to the Chapel for Children's Church.  They will worship through song and dance, learning new songs that focus on the monthly lesson.  They will hear a child-friendly scripture passage and participate in offering and communion before closing again with music.  The next 3-4 Sundays, the children will head to the Chapel for Opening Time, and then attend that week’s workshop. Each workshop teaches the story of the month in a new way. Check the bulletin or the Sunday school message board for workshop locations. One week we might be baking in the kitchen, and the next putting on a play in the Chapel.  

Linda Kinnaman, Sam Van Raalte, and Jess Brink will lead the Opening Times and the lessons.  Volunteers will help each week by leading specific workshops. The volunteer’s job will be to make the workshop fun and engaging. The teachers will tie the workshop to the story of the month.  What's your passion?  Do you enjoy painting, woodworking, hiking, cooking, drama, movies, computer games? As long as you are passionate about the activity, you will make an excellent workshop leader and we NEED you as a volunteer.

February Sunday School

Volunteer Schedule:

February 5:   Dotty Houser
February 12: Linda Kinnaman
February 19: Peggy Boyce
February 26: Rob Boyce

Theme: The Sunday School Children will learn the story of Zacchaeus. For a copy of this Lesson Plan see the bulletin table in the church narthex.

Volunteer Project: We will make crafts for the shut-ins on Monday, Feb 6th at 4pm at the Brink’s home (3322 Coppice Court, Saugatuck).

Family Friendly Event: Sunday, Feb 26th, 4pm Potluck Dinner and Church Talent showcase.

The Women's Fellowship Circle is a ministry group consisting of the women of First Congregational Church. Any and all ages are welcome to participate. They meet monthly for a Bible Study, sometimes having organizational meetings to plan upcoming events and decide how they can bless the church body. No matter what they are doing in any given month their main focus is fellowship and fun. The President is Janet Hanscom, and Treasurer is Linda Dine. Watch our Events page for their upcoming activities.

The Brute Squad is for those who like to get their hands dirty. So far we only have one bylaw. "Where two or more of the Brute Squad gather, there shall be food." We do projects around the meetinghouse and for church members. We're always looking for extra help and new projects, so call or email the church office if you'd like to get involved.

Hello Choristers! Chancel Choir is starting up for another year of singing the praises of the Lord during our worship services.

We sing SAB (Soprano-Alto-Bass) and SATB (Soprano- Alto-Tenor-Bass) music, with suggestions from the congregation welcome at any time. See above monthly activities' schedule for our practice times on Sunday mornings and when we will be singing.

So warm up your vocal chords and join the Chancel Choir group as we worship the Lord together.

For more information contact Cathy Brockington, 269-857-2146

Short Bio on our new Church Pianist/Organist – Rachel Searls

Rachel is originally from Zeeland.  She began studying piano at the age of eight and by the time she reached high school she was the accompanist for the First United Methodist Church of Holland's Junior Choir and also had a few of her own piano students.  As a youth, she was involved in choir, band and theatre throughout high school.  

Rachel holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Albion College. While at Albion, she participated in vocal music and played French horn in the band and orchestra.  Following graduation she taught vocal and instrumental music for Constantine Public Schools and spent the last three years as a vocal music teacher for Zeeland Public Schools.  In both districts, Rachel was a director of theatre productions.  

Currently, she is pursuing a master’s degree from Western Michigan University.  

In addition to her new job at FCC, Rachel has a small, but growing, studio of voice and piano students and she works for the Professional Educational Services Group.  

Rachel is a lifelong member of the Girl Scouts and recently "retired" after nine years as a leader of Mackinac Island Honor Scout Troop #147.  

Rachel lives in Holland with her cat, Charlie.  She enjoys traveling, geocaching, American history, and attending live theatre (especially musicals!) She is very happy to be a new part of the First Congregational Church family.

Like Contemporary Praise & Worship music? Love to Sing Praises to God? Do you play a guitar, drums, piano or other instrument? If you do, we need you! Our Spirit inspired New Praise Group would love to have more voices and musicians. We practice every Sunday after worship, from 11:30am to 12:30am, in the sanctuary, and are scheduled to sing on the 4th Sunday of every month. Occasionally we sing on a 5th Sunday. We welcome any and all to our practices and to join us in singing God’s praises! Speak with Jack Nyland at the sound control desk or call him at 616-499-5199 for more information.