Sunday, April 23, 2017, Second Sunday of Easter

A PEEK AT THE SUNDAY SERMON

What does it take to be immortalized? If you are a celebrity and there
is enough interest from adoring fans, chances are you will one day
have your name etched on a bronze star on the Hollywood Boulevard
Walk of Fame.
If you are like me, you havent given it much
thought! My lifes goal hasnt been to have my
name placed on this famous walkway. The
opportunity will never happen!

There is, however, a place I am aiming for as

I walk through life in step with the Spirit of
God, I have a promise that my name WILL be
immortalized! In Johns Book of Revelation,
the Apostle shares this in his amazing vision:

The main street of the City was pure gold,

translucent as glass. But there was no
sign of a Temple, for the Lord God the
Sovereign-Strong and the Lamb are the
Temple. The City doesnt need sun or
moon for light. Gods Glory is its light,
the Lamb its lamp! The nations will walk
in its light and earths kings bring in their
splendor. Its gates will never be shut by
day, and there wont be any night. Theyll
bring the glory and honor of the nations
into the City. Nothing dirty or defiled will
get into the City, and no one who defiles
or deceives. Only those whose names are
written in the Lambs Book of Life will get
in. (Revelation 20:21-27 - The Message)

On Sunday Ill be sharing a message titled; Heavens Walk of Fame. We will be

looking at Isaiah 50:4-11. Contained, in this passage things you need to know so
that you meet the requirements and have your name immortalized!

Interested? Then you have a reserved seat at Dearborn Congregational Church.

Services start promptly at 10 AM dont be late!
 The Dearborn Congregational Church Pew
Henry Ford Connection
In 1925, Henry Ford began purchasing land in Bryan Neck, Georgia. When
he was finished, he owned 85,000 acres and built his winter retreat in,
what is now, Richmond Hill, Georgia.
Ford was interested in the social
and agricultural improvement of
the area, then one of the most
impoverished places in coastal
Georgia. Ford began agricultural
operations; provided housing and
medical facilities; and built
churches, a community center,
and schools for blacks and
whites.

He developed a sawmill, vocational trade school, improved roads, and

other infrastructure and generally brought the area into the 20th century.

Dearborn Congregational Church has a unique connection with

Richmond Hill.

Its the Spring of 1948 and Greenfield Congregational Church is

experiencing some wonderful growth. New families are attending and the
sanctuary is bulging! The church School had also increased in size and in
the number of classes. With dramatic spiritual and numerical growth came
welcomed problems. For instance, the folding chairs in the Sanctuary were
in need of replacing!

Along with saved funds, the Special Easter Offering was received and
designated to be added to the New Pews fund. By October 30, 1948, the
balance in the fund had reached $1,500 (thats $16,000 in todays market).

The decision was made to purchase new pews. Dr. Grant Mackenzie was
picked to resolve the problem. In his own words here is the story of our
pews and Henry Ford, Sr.

I had just retired from the Board of Trustees at the end of May 1948. I hadnt
attended the Annual Meeting in May, but my sister Margaret had, and when she
got home she greeted me with a big grin and advised me that I had been made the
chairman of the Pews Committee. Later, I was to learn that I was not the only
chairman I was the whole committee.
Through Mr. Robert Ross I learned that Henry Ford, Sr., had a winter home and a
large plantation in Georgia and that on the plantation he operated a mill that made
pews for churches throughout the south. I went to Camp Legion [during the
depression, Ford opened a working soybean farm in Dearborn for young men. At Camp
Legion, soybeans were grown and harvested for use in the auto factory. This camp
also provided job training for a variety of skills the young men could take with
them] which was maintained during the war years on Michigan Ave. near the
Henry Ford School, to look at the pews in the camp chapel.

The camp loaned me one of its pews which I brought over to our church for the
people to look at, sit in, and criticize. After a couple of weeks, we finally agreed
upon what we wanted. I had a drawing made and submitted it to the Ford Mill in
Georgia, for a bid. The bid was approved by the Board of Trustees, and the pews
were ordered.
We were very fortunate in getting these pews delivered right to our door without
cost. At the time the pews were finished at the mill and crated, a Ford Motor Co.
van that had just delivered a load of goods to Mr. Fords home on the plantation
was returning with a light load and had plenty of room for the pews. When the
load arrived in Dearborn the driver called me and said, Your pews are here.
Where do you want em put?
I looked all over the city of Dearborn and not one Congregationalist could I find!
We finally backed the truck up to the double doors that opened into the school
room, and the driver and I lugged every one of them from the truck and stacked
them on the Sunday School room floor, where they were later assembled by
Harvey Meehl and painted by Clair Simpson, before being installed in the chapel.

Today, when you worship in the Dearborn (Greenfield) Congregational

Church sanctuary, just think - you are sitting in a Ford pew!
Now lets be honest - how many churches, in Michigan, can make a claim
like this? I always thought the ride at DCC was just a little smoother,
quieter! And now you know the rest of the story!

Psalm 16 is one of the suggested daily Bible reading for Sunday, April
23, 2017. (The 2017 United Church of Christ Calendar).
Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge. 2 I said to
the LORD, You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from
you. 3 The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take
pleasure in them! 4 Troubles multiply for those who chase after other
gods. I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood or even speak the
names of their gods. 5 LORD, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of
blessing. You guard all that is mine. 6 The land you have given me is
7
a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance! I will bless
the LORD who guides me; even at night, my heart instructs me. 8 I
know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right
beside me.9 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests
in safety. 10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow
your holy one to rot in the grave. 11 You will show me the way of
life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living
with you forever.

For the Second Sunday of Easter, the paraments and

altar linens are white symbolizing purity. Our
Lenten journey has come to an end Jesus has won
the victory! He Has Risen!

If you havent 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.
 The Sunday Sermon is on
YouTube!
Just click on the YouTube
image and you will be taken to
last weeks sermon!

Prayer Requests
Lois Clickner. Recovering from a serious fall.
Rev. Norman Kirsch. Serious medical concerns.
Edith Schwartz. Now home and in hospice care.
Irene Moxon. Serious medical problems.
Marilyn Beardsley. Continuing medical concerns.
Pat Stacho. Continuing medical concerns.
Shirley Fedraw. Medical concerns.
Suzanne Van Ranst. Medical concerns.
Phyllis Preston. Medical concerns.
Pauline Gourlay. Medical concerns.
David Allen. Medical concerns.
Arthur Triplett. Sue Krens brother has a serious medical condition.
Grant MacKenzie. Continuing medical concerns.
Gail Waggoner. Health issues.

Receiving Donations Helping the Needy

We are now collecting non-perishable food
donations that will be delivered to the Fish &
Loaves food pantry, in Taylor. This organization
was first launched by an ecumenical group of
churches, led by St. Paul United Church of Christ
in Taylor and their Pastor, Rev. Geoff Drutchas.

Fish & Loaves offers needy families and individuals a wide range of canned
goods, refrigerated and frozen foods, dairy products, and seasonal produce
is offered at no cost to clients. Since opening its doors in 2008, the Fish &
Loaves Pantry has assisted more than 9100 households and over 13,000
men, women, and children. They distribute over two million pounds of food
annually. The advantages of a client-choice pantry are:
 A sense of dignity for clients and their families -- thanks to our store-
like setting.
Higher client satisfaction with food they are able to choose.
Less waste and, therefore, less cost in providing food to clients.
Greater opportunities for positive and supportive social interaction
between Fish & Loaves volunteers and clients.

BLOGGING ALONG!
Blog (noun) A regularly updated website or web page,
typically one run by an individual or small group, that is written
in an informal or conversational style.

Ive been blogging about church work and my life in the

ministry since arriving at Dearborn Congregational. You
can learn more about the Pastor and how he thinks, by
clicking on the link (picture) to the right!

Oliver the Musical is playing

May 5 21, at the Theater on the
Avenue, 2656 Biddle Ave.,
Wyandotte. Our very own Jay
Carter joins a very talented cast
who bring this Charles Dickens
novel to life! Great music and a
fun time!

Tickets are:
$16.00 - Adults,
$13.00 Seniors/Students.

It Was a Sign From God!

Last week, a few days before Easter Sunday, I wrote an article on my blog
titled: Must Be a Sign From God! After our Easter Sunday Service, I
realized that IT WAS!! Here is the article:

Must Be a Sign From God!

Im a person who employs symbolism in my preaching and teaching. Last
night, Im leaving our Trustees meeting and headed for my car - when I
saw this blossoming in front of the Church.
One lone, white blossom. Isnt this a beautiful representation of Easter?
White is symbolic of purity - our Savior and His victory over death and the
grave. The stone behind the flowers - symbolic of the gravestone that was
rolled away on that first Easter morning! All the yellow flowers facing in
different directions - symbolic of a message that all Christians must share!
North - south - east - west lets proclaim the good news that Jesus Christ
has Risen!
Happy Easter!

Blessings,

Pastor Bill