Announcements – January 30, 2010
A.M.
Songleader – Paul Wasilkoff
Pianist – Troy Phelps
Sermonette – John McClain
Sermon – Clyde Kilough

P.M.
Songleader – David Evans
Pianist – Garrett Fenchel
Sermonette – George Evans
Sermon – Clyde Kilough

Thank you: Thank you to Amy Stephens and her crew for organizing and hosting the Children’s Winter Party last Saturday night. We had a roomful of children, and everyone had a great time. (The dessert was especially enjoyed.)

Attention Seniors: Those seniors who signed up to participate in the “secret grandparent” activity, please check the table in the dining hall each Sabbath through February 13, for a card from your teen.

Winter Dance Weekend, Feb. 5-7: Next week is the Cincinnati Winter Dance Weekend!!! We are planning a Bible study followed by a dessert social Friday night at 7 p.m. at the home office. The dance will again be held at Receptions this year and will begin at 7 p.m. next Saturday.
We are asking the local congregation to bring snacks, finger foods or otherwise yummy and easy- to-eat foods. Dancing will make everyone hungry, and we are having many out of town guests. Please bring your food items to the dance with you. Soft drinks, chips and coffee/tea will be provided by Receptions.
Everyone should have received a dance flyer as they came in today with all details and directions on them. We are giving away fabulous door prizes, gifts for dance contest winners, and will have a special table for children.

Ski Week in Swiss Alps: Attention young adults: The young adults of UCG in French Europe are sponsoring a ski week in the Swiss Alps from March 7 to March 14, 2010. The resort is La Tzoumaz in the Four Valleys region. Activities will include multilingual fellowship (English will be widely spoken), young adult–oriented Bible studies and discussions, downhill skiing and tubing in the beautiful Swiss Alps, high-speed sledding on a 10-km race course and snowshoe hiking.
Lodging in the chalets reserved will cost 180 euros per person for the week. This does not include meals, which will be prepared and shared by participants at each lodging.
The deadline for registration and payment is this Tuesday, Feb. 2. To receive a flyer via e-mail containing all the details, please contact Daniel and Cindy Harper.

Michigan Church of God Family Lock-in, April 3: The UCG – Saginaw congregation will once again host the Michigan Church of God Family Lock-In at Saginaw Valley State University. This year’s lock-in will be held on Saturday, April 3, 2010.
The lock-in will begin with Sabbath services in at 2:30 p.m. Mr. Dave Myers will be this year’s guest speaker. After services a meal will be provided, followed by preteen Bible activities, a teen and young adult Bible study and men’s and women’s seminars. Later in the evening we will have family-oriented activities: novelty Olympics, movies, music, singing and various sports, such as swimming, basketball, dodgeball and volleyball.
Food, fellowship and fun will be provided throughout the night! (The lock-in will end with breakfast at 7 Sunday morning.) We look forward to seeing you all there!
To register or obtain further information, please visit our Web site at www.ucgflint.org/events.html or contact Craig Clark.

ABC Charity Auction, April 18: The ABC class of 2010 would like to invite you to attend the ninth annual Ambassador Bible Center Charity Auction. This year we have chosen to sponsor the East Africa Children’s Education Project to help fund the primary and secondary education of 25 children of baptized members from our Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda congregations. Many of these children are unable to obtain an education due to the abject poverty that exists in this region, especially with several of them being fatherless and orphans. Such costs are unable to be budgeted for by the Church in any other program or subsidy.
We will be accepting donated items for our silent auction and raffle, as well as delectable baked goods for our live auction. We will also be accepting donations of used but functioning laptops to help support a computer lab that has become a necessary component of educational development in these impoverished areas.
If you are interested in helping to prepare these children to support their families in the future, you can send an item to be auctioned off to us here at the home office or plan to attend the charity auction on April 18 ready to bid and be entertained at a night that you’re sure to enjoy. The ABC class and our African brethren are very appreciative of any help you can offer in this charitable effort.

Challenger II Program Applications: The next Challenger II program is being planned. Information sheets describing the activity are on the information table. Deadline for applying is April 16.

To the Young Adults of the United Church of God: Hard copies of all the Youth Corps information are available on the information table and also on the United Youth Corps Web site (http://www.ucgyouthcorps.org). All applicants are encouraged to review and consider the mission statement and outcomes of United Youth Corps prior to applying.
We are pleased and excited to announce we are now accepting applications for this year’s programs in:
 Zambia – East Africa (late July/early August 2010; application deadline Feb. 15, 2010)
 Ghana – West Africa (Aug. 8-20, 2010; application deadline Feb. 15, 2010)
 Kenya – East Africa (Dec. 13-29, 2010; application deadline June 30, 2010)
 Amman, Jordan – Middle East (mid August 2010 to June 2011; application deadline April 1, 2010)
If you think this might be for you, please see the fact sheets on the various projects offered this year, available from your pastor or you may view and download fact sheets for any of the projects at http://www.ucgyouthcorps.org.
Scholarship Subsidy: United Youth Corps is again offering to scholarship a portion of the airfare cost of ALL accepted Youth Corps applicants. This is a financial commitment that United Church of God is making to this education and service program for our qualified young adults. In most cases, airfares vary from $1,700 to $2,300 round-trip to most locations in Africa. With current economic conditions being what they are, all applicants should understand that these airfare costs could rise some. That said, those applicants accepted will receive up to $850 scholarship to offset the total cost of the airfare.
It is strongly recommended that, as an interested applicant, you discuss your desire and preparedness to serve in one of these projects with Mr. Register. United Youth Corps is not a Church-sponsored travel program. While international travel is central to the experience, it is a chance to refocus one’s dedication to serving God, His people and the world in the broader context of the Christian calling. We desire to have applicants who are committed to those values and goals.
If you have any further questions about United Youth Corps, e-mail either doug_horchak@ucg.org or david_baker@ucg.org.

Spring Holy Days Singles’ Weekend in Asheville, April 2-5: Asheville, North Carolina, will be the site for a singles’ activity during the 2010 spring Holy Days. The event’s main attraction will be an all-day tour of the beautiful Biltmore House, gardens and winery in Asheville.
Known as the eighth wonder of the world, the Biltmore House is a real-life castle built in the style of a French Renaissance château that spans over 4 acres and has 250 rooms! Singles will discover original art from such masters as Renoir, magnificent 16th-century tapestries, Napoleon’s chess set, a library with 10,000 volumes, a banquet hall with a 70-foot ceiling, 65 fireplaces, an indoor pool, bowling alley and priceless antiques!
Cost for the weekend will be $200, which includes housing and most of the meals.
A nonrefundable $100 deposit is due by Monday, Feb. 1, 2010. The remaining $100 balance will be due upon arrival or can be mailed in prior to the event.
Please mark your calendar for Friday, April 2, through Monday, April 5, 2010, and plan to join us for this amazing and breathtaking event! Space for this event is limited, so sign up today! Contacts for this weekend are John Dean and Ruben Gusman for more information and to register for the event.