May 4th (rescheduled from April) Community Homeworks provides critical home repairs to low-income homeowners in Kalamazoo County that help our community members to be safe and warm, avoid homelessness, and build generational wealth. Community Homeworks also provides educational workshops on home maintenance and repair and a tool library to everyone in our community.You can learn … Continue reading Special Collection: Community Homeworks
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, the 2019 film directed by Quentin Tarantino will be our topic May 21, 4-5:30 on Zoom.We continue to meet on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Newcomers are welcome. To get on the email list for reminders and a Zoom invitation, contact Pat Nelson, patnelson348@gmail.com, 269-716-3623.
We had a short work day in April, to begin readying the garden for spring. Boards surrounding the garden, that had been placed there to kill off the underlying grass, were removed. Dead plant stalks were cut back. The new growth is looking good, and we anticipate a productive growing season. This year we hope … Continue reading Rain Garden Update
Our rain garden is in its second season. Native gardens take 3 years to establish. So what does that mean? We will tend the garden more closely this and next year. Years following, the maintenance time will be much less.Join in for some very informal education about native-to-Michigan plants as we work on the rain … Continue reading Nature Therapy Opportunity!
If you need care or support from the church, please reach out to the sabbatical pastoral care team at peoplescareteam@gmail.com or 269-375-3262 x. 11. The team – Gerren Young, Sasha Ospina, Don Miller, and Rochelle Habeck, with support from Jill Terwilliger, will be in touch with you shortly.
Dear Friends at People’s Church – With gratitude to all who have welcomed me over the past four years, I have decided to retire. I joined the Finance Team as the bookkeeper under Allan Hunt’s guidance and care for your church and continued with the team working with Tom Hackley and Pat VanSlambrouck. Barb Davis … Continue reading Farewell from Diana
It’s that time of year again where we need to collect committee reports for the Annual Meeting. Reports should include names of committee members and chairs, the purpose of the committee, what the committee has done this year, and future goals. Reports are due no later than Thursday May 1. Please send all reports to … Continue reading Annual Committee Reports Due May 1st
Because of a recent executive order, seven newly arrived refugee families in our community have been cut off from casework and financial support. In partnership with many organizations in town, including the Kalamazoo Refugee Resource Collaborative and other congregations, we are working to make up this gap. If you are able to contribute money to … Continue reading Support Needed for Seven Newly Arrived Refugee Families
Due to scheduling conflicts, the March board meeting was held over Zoom. We’re lucky to have that option available.People’s Church has taken steps for being an active and supportive participant in our wider community during this time in which compassion and community are in high demand. People’s people are deeply involved in organizing efforts and … Continue reading From the Board
In response to requests from our partners at El Concilio and Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, this week, the People’s Church Board of Trustees created the ‘Resistance and Resilience Fund.’ This is a new, special fund designed to help people beyond our church community in times of crisis and uncertainty when money could make a big … Continue reading People’s Church Resistance & Resilience Fund
Dear People’s people, I write as I am preparing for a sabbatical that will last from April 15-August 15. In the March newsletter, I wrote about how People’s people are filling the various ‘Rachel-shaped holes’ I will leave behind. Thank you, everyone! Today, I want to tell you some ‘sabbatical etiquette’ and about my plans … Continue reading From the Minister
There have been two requests from our Refugee families for some specific items.The first is a request for a wheelchair.The other request is for a PlayStation for one of the Refugee kids. He’s 14, an only child and plays with his dad!If you are able to help with either of these requests, please reach out … Continue reading Items Requested by Refugee Families
Two organizations are planning Earth Day celebrations in our area. The Kalamazoo Nature Center is focused on one big day, and Kalamazoo Earth Day has many smaller events throughout April. Here’s some info from their websites: Kalamazoo Nature Center (more info at naturecenter.org) Celebrate Earth Day Saturday, April 26, 2025 *** FREE admission day!Enjoy FREE … Continue reading Earth Day Celebrations Abound!
The Study Group will be meeting on Monday March 31 at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom, to discuss: “Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World” by Pulitzer-prize winning journalist and historian Anne Applebaum. The book explores how we can organize to oppose autocracies around the world that are working together to undermine democracy. The Study Group meets monthly … Continue reading Study Group
During our November 10, 2024 service, An Honest Thanksgiving, Rev. Rachel told a truer story about Native American history than what is traditionally portrayed in our culture. As the service description noted, “An honest history invites us all to begin moving toward right relationship with Native communities.” The Reckoning Team is a newly formed group … Continue reading Green Spot: With Respect to the Land
We invite you to join us for an informative seminar on legacy giving and learn how you can help ensure the long-term stability and growth of Peoples Church. This session will explore estate-planning strategies and show you simple ways to include Peoples Church in your legacy plans.What to Expect: This seminar has been postponed! If … Continue reading Legacy Giving Seminar: Build a Lasting Future for Peoples Church
Saturday, March 15, 2pm, People’s Church People’s Church is hosting a Transgender Day of Visibility Gathering led by by Faith Alliance (the faith leaders associated with OutFront). Religious leaders from Christian, Pagan, Jewish, and UU communities will offer words and rituals of blessing and affirmation for trans, nonbinary, gender creative, and gender non-conforming folks. This … Continue reading Transgender Day of Visibility Gathering
Thank you to everyone who donated items, bid on items, and otherwise helped with the budget. Special gratitude to the auction team, including Laura Bultman, Rochelle Habeck, Dolores Strom & Eli Emrich. The auction team is not planning to lead the auction again next year. If you are interested in helping make the auction happen … Continue reading Auction gratitude – and future plans
It is time to make your financial pledge to the church for the coming fiscal year. Pledge forms will be given and sent on Sunday March 3rd. If you’d like to complete your pledge form online early, CLICK HERE! Please complete your pledge by March 30! We are asking people to participate with care and quickness this … Continue reading It’s Stewardship Season!
Artist: Glenda DemissianosArt Wall Exhibit: February 16thYou’ll find no deep introspection here… just my love of color and flowers.I prefer to experiment with various water media, gouache, ink, acrylic and watercolor to add life and color to any space.Art was one of my majors at Western Michigan University and I have been a painter for … Continue reading Art Wall: WORKS ON PAPER
