On December 19, I had the opportunity to serve alongside members of Hesed Community Church in Detroit and Grace Church of Ann Arbor and Grace Church of Canton at the Hesed Community Church’s Pride for Parents’ Christmas Store. This is the second year in which these churches have been active in helping individuals in the Brightmoor neighborhood of Detroit in this amazing activity. The Pride for Parents’ Christmas Store allows parents to purchase Christmas gifts for their children at a very reduced rate. New items are purchased and donated by individuals from churches (some from members of Ann Arbor CRC as well as from members of Grace Church of Ann Arbor and Grace Church of Canton) and then sold at a “store” (in actuality at a church) for prices ranging from $.25 to $5. Items that parents could shop for included toys, games, sports equipment, electronics, books, and clothing. Parents were allowed to purchase two toys for each child in their family, one piece of sports equipment and one game per family, and one winter coat for each child in their family. Continue reading
In this year of Covid-19 where we have experienced such disorientation, distance, disinformation and death we are now encouraged by the gift of a vaccine that will allow us to return to a semblance of normalcy (we hope).
We are so grateful for the front-line workers in our AACRC community who have been in the thick of the fight against this disease, who have daily been faced with its devastating effects. We are also grateful that they now have some protection by having been given the vaccine. Let’s continue to pray for their protection—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. (Pictured above are health care workers Dan and Tanya receiving their vaccines.)
Now, the rest of us eagerly await news of when we can be vaccinated. It’s possible, even probable that by the time you read this the directives for accessing the vaccine will have changed (again). Many, if not most of you know this already but it doesn’t hurt to repeat it. The vaccine will be distributed (when available) across the state through different providers. I recommend that you visit the following websites for the most current information for us in this community:
I’m thankful to know that that you are all taking the necessary precautions to be as safe as possible and that you will continue to follow the CDC guidelines even after getting vaccinated: wearing a mask, physical distancing, frequent hand washing. It will be wonderful when this virus is contained and we can all be together again won’t it? Meanwhile, please let me know if you have questions or concerns about the vaccine and I will try to answer or direct you to the appropriate source.
Our church Council is taking January 2021 to work on unpacking the CRC Report on Human Sexuality. This is work that Council does not take lightly. Council is using the following questions to help frame their time of sharing and listening:
What about the report do you affirm? What did you appreciate?
What resistance do you feel? Where do you feel disappointment, anger, or anxiety?
Who is affected? In what ways?
What are the main issues for us as a congregation?
What needs to be done to move forward? What are you prepared to do to help move things forward?
After much prayerful discussion and discernment, we are excited to announce that our Women’s Ministry 2021 spring study will be Latasha’s Morrison’s Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation. This book won Christianity Today’s 2020 award for Christian Living and Discipleship and invites us to the work of racial justice, reconciliation, and personal transformation. Rich themes of confession, repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation shape the book along with engagement with Scripture and prayer. This book is an invitation to personal and communal responsibility, while it also affirms that it is the work of Christ who enables us to engage in work of racial reconciliation and justice. While we anticipate several more months of social distancing in this pandemic, our work as the diverse, multigenerational women of the Ann Arbor Christian Reformed Church is to continue to answer God’s invitation to discipleship—and this call is both challenging and deeply hopeful as those called by Christ. Continue reading
Jesus is coming. That is what the celebration of Christmas is all about. Christmas is about celebrating that Jesus has come into the world to be with us, near us, one of us. Jesus is coming again. He will return to bring the fullness of the kingdom of God. Christmas is about Jesus being with us.
But, before Christmas, we have to wait. That is what Advent is all about. In Advent we wait for Jesus in remembrance and hope. This year our Advent theme is “Almost.” . All of our waiting and yearning in this season for God to be near us when we are experiencing loss, loneliness and isolation is wrapped up in God’s promise to never leave nor forsake us. So, this Advent we wait together, like our sisters and brothers from long ago, and we wait with confidence that not only has Christ come to be with us, but that he will come again and make all things new.
As you mark the season this year—something that seems more important now than ever—we wanted to offer some thoughts on ways you could mark this season. Continue reading
Hey Ann Arbor Christian Reformed Church this is Pastor Kristen. I am coming to you wanting to share a couple suggestions for how to practice Advent intentionally this season. Continue reading
For our Thanksgiving service this year, we plan to collect the prayers of our congregation for the joys and concerns of our community and the world. Please send these prayer requests — petitions and thanksgivings— to Pastor Kristen by Monday, November 23rd. You can write to her at kristen@aacrc.org.
Thanksgiving worship this year will be prerecorded and shared with the congregation prior to Thanksgiving. No in-person live-stream service on Thanksgiving morning.
The need for CAP Thanksgiving baskets is greater than ever this year. You have two options (that might look a little different this year) for supporting the hungry in Wayne County this holiday season. Meals will be delivered to the Community Assistance Program on Sunday afternoon, November 22.
Option 1 (Due by Sunday, November 15): Let someone else do the shopping for you!
Simply provide a donation of $55 ($30 for items plus $25 for a turkey) for each basket you wish to donate. The check should be made out to CAP and “CAP Thanksgiving Basket” should be in the memo line OR you can make this donation by selecting “CAP (Community Assistance Program)” when using our online giving platform.
Option 2 (Due by noon on Sunday, November 22): Purchase food items and donate money for a turkey
You can purchase all of the food items on the SHOPPING LIST (or see below) along with writing a $25 check to CAP for a turkey with “CAP Thanksgiving Basket” in the memo line. Please place your check in an envelope and deposit it in the designated box, near the tables in the narthex (note different location). Meal donations may be brought to the narthex from Sunday, November 15 through noon on Sunday, November 22.
Help us reach our goal of 150 Thanksgiving Baskets for CAP!
Baskets are beginning to fill the narthex for our 2020 collection
CAP Thanksgiving Basket Shopping List
Please use a re-usable grocery tote bag for your items.
The Jiffy pie crust mix has been purposefully removed from the list because this item will be donated for all the baskets (provided by option 1 or 2) and will be added separately.
2 (7.25 oz.) package of macaroni and cheese (or 2 smaller boxes)
1 (5 lb.) package Aunt Jemima self-rising corn meal mix or similar
2 (14 to 15 oz.) cans of one or more vegetables (peas, corn, green beans, please no carrots)
1 (40 oz.) can of yams
2 (6 oz.) package of Stove Top Stuffing for Turkey
1 (14 or 16 oz.) can of jellied cranberry sauce
1 (box, any size) yellow or white cake mix
1 (12 or 16 oz.) can ready mix frosting
2 (20 oz.) cans of pie filling of the same flavor (peach, cherry etc..)
Our church is taking a step of faith that we ask for your help in supporting–we’re hosting the Rotating Shelter for the whole month of November! Buoyed by our experience in the spring and feeling the clear need expressed by the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County, we’ve agreed to be one of the five, month-long hosts.
And not only that! We’ve also agreed to provide daytime shelter for any of the men who do not want to increase their exposure risk to Covid-19 or traverse Ann Arbor, with many of the homeless-friendly buildings closed.
So there is a lot to do, and many different ways to volunteer and support this ministry. We will also have the partnership of two other churches, supporting us in our hosting month–so you will likely run into people from Northside Association Ministries (just a few hundred yards down Broadway) and St. Mary Student Parish.
Day Shelter Host: We need two people each day to be a welcoming presence for the men who stay in our building. This would include putting out the provided meals and being visible during your shift to assist with any issues or questions. (A perfect opportunity for someone working remotely)
Overnight Host: We are looking for one person to stay the night (required), and take the first watch from 8:30-midnight-ish. Delonis is providing a supporting staff person for the rest of the night.
Snacks: A pre-packaged snack for each evening.
Meals: Providing dinner (and possibly serving) a meal to the 25 men staying here.
Our team understands that in these Covid times, not all of us can support this service opportunity the same way we’ve been able to in the past. So we are also collecting funds to provide food and basic needs (socks, undershirts, and toiletries) to our guests. You can give online(select Rotating Shelter) or mail a check to church with Rotating Shelter in the memo.
We’re thankful to partner with you in this vital mission to the homeless in Washtenaw County. We ask for your prayers and tangible support in helping us fill our available volunteer spots and ask that God might use our hands and feet to show love, mercy, and grace within the walls of 1717 Broadway in November!
Serving Together,
The Rotating Shelter Team
Deacons & Mission Action Team: Mike Waldyke, Allyson Wever, Andrew Wiersma, Bill Zinsser, Chris Adams, Eric Wright, Barb Fichtenberg, Jim Steenstra, Matt Admiraal Rotating Shelter Coordinators: Todd Redder, Scott Stephenson, and John & Rachel Bush The AACRC Staff
We are a purposeful community transformed by the love of God
and engaging the world with the grace and truth of Jesus
through the practice of Christian hospitality.
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