Following the service, there will be refreshments and time for fellowship. 

This service is sponsored by Northfield Retirement Community, Three Links, and Northfield Hospital.

Please click here for a printable version [...]]]> Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, April 21, 7:00pm.  Join us at Three Links Chapel for a service of inspirational and renewal designed for anyone in a care-giving role:

• family caregivers
• nurses
• physicians
• healthcare workers
• therapists
• clergy
• volunteers

Following the service, there will be refreshments and time for fellowship. 

This service is sponsored by Northfield Retirement Community, Three Links, and Northfield Hospital.

Please click here for a printable version of this information.

We will welcome and celebrate Easter at two services on Sunday morning: 8:30 am and 10:00 am.   We hope you [...]]]> Please join us at 8:00 PM on Friday, April 11, for our Good Friday Service.  Prayers and music will be the backdrop for the reading of the Passion according to St. Matthew.

We will welcome and celebrate Easter at two services on Sunday morning: 8:30 am and 10:00 am.   We hope you will also join us for a festive coffee hour between the two services, from 9:30 to 10:00.

And we wish you a joyful and blessed Easter !

For an instant slide show of all the photos click HERE.

Dear God, You are always with us, even when bad things happen. You bless us with so many good things: Food, shelter, heat for our homes. Good schools [...]]]> Last week the second and third grade students were our worship leaders, and they offered this prayer — one that is worth remembering and offering again …

Dear God,
You are always with us, even when bad things happen.
You bless us with so many good things:
Food, shelter, heat for our homes.
Good schools and teachers and friends.
You bless us with spring!
You give us families and people to take care of us.
And wise leaders in whom we can believe, and 
who realize that wars must stop.
Because you are always with us, God,
we celebrate and praise you in many ways:
Through artwork, singing, and prayer,
By helping others and giving money to the food shelf,
By following the golden rule.
We show our care for you each time we:
Share our talents with others,
Affirm that we each have our own voice
and recognize that while we all are different, we each are special.
Thank you, God, for blessing and caring for all of your children.

Innkeeper (Alex Battiste)

I am the innkeeper.  One night the town was crowded, because everyone had to come and be counted for the census.  There was a knock on the door.  A man and woman who looked very tired were standing there.  The woman was pregnant.  I said there were no empty rooms, but they begged for a place to stay.  I said they could sleep in my barn.

Donkey (Jack Warden)

I am a donkey.  I am tired.  I walked five days.  I ate hay in the barn, and I heard a baby cry.

Joseph (Will Kruse)

My name is Joseph.  I heard my son wailing.  I saw many people coming.  I felt very proud that my son was picked for this honor.  I thought that I would be happy and always remember this day.

Mary (Grace Morris)

My name is Mary.  I have been walking 5 days and my husband Joseph and I are very tired.  We have tried many inns, but all of them are full.  I feel happy.  This baby that I will have will save people from sadness, anger, and hate.  Now the baby is born.  I see people in wonder and awe.  There is a star rising above the stable, and our child Jesus is quiet.  Everyone is amazed.  I know that from now on the world may be better.

Horse (Caitlan Kelley)

Outside the wind howled.  Then the door banged open, and two people walked in.  I heard a commotion outside.  I cantered out to see what was happening.  When I came back I was starving, but to my dismay, a soft pink thing was lying in my hay!  Neighhh!  My poor hay!  It was getting all messed up.

Goat (Gus Ohnesorge)

I heard:  Baa… baa… Baby… baa… baa… God… baa… Jesus… baa… goat… baa.  I saw a baby, some people giving the baby gifts, a man and a woman, shepherds.

Angel (Henry Beimers)

I am an angel.  God told me to tell a woman named Mary she was going to have God’s son as a child.  She was scared and confused, but I thought it was the best day ever.  I also told the shepherds about the baby.  They were terrified when I came out of the sky.  But after I told them what was happening, they went to the manger to see the baby.  Mary said I got to name the baby, so I named him Jesus.

Shepherd (Skye Sonnega)

I am a shepherd.  One night when I was guarding my sheep an angel told me that the Prince of Peace was born.  Then more angels started singing, so I and the other shepherds went to see the Prince of Peace in the barn.  There were lots of animals but right in the middle there were a man and woman bending over the baby boy.  The baby was wrapped in a cloth and lying in a pile of straw.  They invited me to come over and see.  Then I realized he was the Prince of Peace.

Shepherd (Anna Hawkins-Saurer)

I am also a shepherd.  One night when I was herding my sheep, an angel suddenly appeared in the sky.  I was scared, but the angel told me that it meant no harm.  It also told me that a baby had been born in a stable and he was the Prince of Peace.  I walked into the stable to see animals and people standing around a newborn baby boy.  He was wrapped in a cloth and was lying in a poky pile of straw in a manger.  He was the Prince of Peace.

Travelers (Christopher Garlitz, Casey Carriel)

We couldn’t get to sleep because of a noise.  So we left the inn and came over here.

Chickens (Anders Bruihler, Nick Kelley)

We saw some hay knocked out of the manger and thought there might be some bugs to eat.  No bugs.  We went to our nest and watched everything.  It was a very peculiar gathering.  There were people with saggy clothes and some with long robes.

Star (Christoph Hodel)

I am the star.  One night I started to notice I was a bit brighter than usual.  Far below me, I spotted a couple of tiny humans who seemed to be coming towards me.  I was not scared—I was a star!  I lived right above an inn.  It seemed that some people were coming into the inn.  Perhaps I could guide them!  I—I—I could be a hero!  So I pumped up all my energy and….. shined!  I saw their faces look up, and they began to walk a little faster.  It worked!  I’m a hero!

Wise Man (Will Clark)

I am a wise man.  I was curious when I saw a very bright star, so I followed it.  It led me to a stable where I saw a baby in a manger.  I thought it was a very special baby, and I gave him a gift of gold.  I felt that this little baby boy might become a powerful king.

Jesus (William Beimers)

A lot of things happened in the story, and this is what happened to me.  I am not sure how I was born, but the first thing I heard in the womb was the angel Gabriel saying, “You are to call him Jesus.”  I felt myself being bounced around for a few days, and I heard voices outside talking about stupid kings and taxes and a census.  Then we stopped.  I heard somebody saying, “No vacancy,” and “not enough room,” like I knew what that meant!  When I opened my eyes for the first time I was lying in some scratchy yellow stuff.  There was a bunch of people above me.  There were three well-dressed ones and five crudely-dressed ones with a bunch of animals and one person with wings.  There was a large animal leaning over me, and I realized that I was lying in its food.  I also realized that a woman and man were my mother and father.  I wondered why everyone was admiring me so much, but then God spoke to me.  He said I was Jesus Christ, his son.  After that I fell fast asleep.

"Good Morning! Whatever has brought you to this [...]]]> Each week a member or friend of our congregation volunteers to say a few words of welcome at the start of our worship service.  These "Welcomes" are treasured sharing’s that are as diverse and unique as the people sharing them.  Below is a sample from last Sunday.  

"Good Morning! Whatever has brought you to this place at this time, we welcome you, and hope that this hour we spend together in worship and prayer will refresh and renew you for the week ahead. We are pleased you have joined us this morning.   My name is Ross Shoger and I have been attending First UCC for about 49 years. Although we have worshipped with five different ministers and several interim ministers during that time, Jan and I and our three sons and their families have always felt at home here because although the membership has been constantly changing, as well as the leadership, there is always an attitude that stresses the importance of social service and also the personal care and love that has been extended to us.

This has never been more obvious to us that the many prayers and helping hands that have reached out to us in incredibly numerous ways during the last several months as we rebounded from a Christmas eve house fire. We have found a large caring and loving family in the members who gather here – something precious that we shall never forget or stop treasuring.

Thank God for the spirit that dwells in our midst."