THIS WEEK AT FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH For the week of January 16, 2019 Dear Friends, It is 2019 and that means it is the year when we get to host the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Des Moines! Mark your calendars now for July 20-24! General Assembly happens every two years. It is our denomination’s largest gathering and draws people from throughout Disciples churches in the United States and Canada as well as Disciples from around the world. It is a time when we come together to learn, to worship, to get to know each other, to work side by side in mission, and to do the church’s business. I attended my first General Assembly in 1993 and have gone nearly every time since. My children attended their first in 2009 (at ages 1 and 3) and have gone to each one since - yes, there is programming for children and youth so it can be a family event. Even my children have friends they have made who they know they will see every two years at General Assembly! Since it is in Iowa this year, we not only have the joy of easy access, but we also have the responsibility of serving as local hosts. For a General Assembly to be successful, it take many, many people. There are opportunities for all interests and abilities from hospitality to serving communion to working with children to singing in the choir and more. And those who volunteer get a discount on their registration. Please don’t leave all the work for Disciples in Des Moines area churches. Speaking of registration - you can register any time (and early bird prices go through 3/31) or you can even just drive over to Des Moines during the event for evening worship. Worship is open to everyone, whether registered or not (other parts of the Assembly require registration). To learn more, please visit this link to the regional website. Or you can just go to the regional website by typing in: www.uppermidwestcc.org and then click on the yellow “Abide in Me” box near the top of the page to get to the same place. Here you will find many volunteer opportunities including information about the Assembly choir (sign up now if interested - they are getting rehearsals underway across the state!). Keep paying attention. Keep visiting both the regional website and the denominational website (www.disciples.org) where information about speakers, the schedule, children/youth activities and more can be found. Once you register or sign up to volunteer, please let me know. We’d like to keep a list of who all is attending. And, please, if you have questions - just ask! Not only do I hope to see you in Des Moines in July, but I hope to see you Sunday, Jill A Note From Your Pastor Cross Park Place—Open House today! Are you aware of Shelter House’s new project - Cross Park Place - which is ready to open? Cross Park Place is a 24 -unit apartment building for those experiencing chronic homelessness. It employs a “Housing First” approach. The Housing First strategy, once considered radical, is the belief that unl a homeless person's housing situaon becomes stable, it is difficult to address problems like alcohol and substance abuse, unemployment, mental illness and other causes of homelessness. The dedicaon and open house at Cross Park Place (820 Cross Park Ave, Iowa City) will happen today with dedicaon at 4:15pm and tours being given unl 6pm. To learn more, check out this arcle.
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THIS WEEK AT FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH For the week of January 16, 2019
Dear Friends,
It is 2019 and that means it is the year when we get to host the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Des Moines! Mark your calendars now for July 20-24!
General Assembly happens every two years. It is our denomination’s largest gathering and draws people from throughout Disciples churches in the United States and Canada as well as Disciples from around the world. It is a time when we come together to learn, to worship, to get to know each other, to work side by side in mission, and to do the church’s business.
I attended my first General Assembly in 1993 and have gone nearly every time since. My children attended their first in 2009 (at ages 1 and 3) and have gone to each one since - yes, there is programming for children and youth so it can be a family event. Even my children have friends they have made who they know they will see every two years at General Assembly!
Since it is in Iowa this year, we not only have the joy of easy access, but we also have the responsibility of serving as local hosts. For a General Assembly to be successful, it take many, many people. There are opportunities for all interests and abilities from hospitality to serving communion to working with children to singing in the choir and more. And those who volunteer get a discount on their registration. Please don’t leave all the work for Disciples in Des Moines area churches.
Speaking of registration - you can register any time (and early bird prices go through 3/31) or you can even just drive over to Des Moines during the event for evening worship. Worship is open to everyone, whether registered or not (other parts of the Assembly require registration).
To learn more, please visit this link to the regional website. Or you can just go to the regional website by typing in: www.uppermidwestcc.org and then click on the yellow “Abide in Me” box near the top of the page to get to the same place. Here you will find many volunteer opportunities including information about the Assembly choir (sign up now if interested - they are getting rehearsals underway across the state!).
Keep paying attention. Keep visiting both the regional website and the denominational website (www.disciples.org) where information about speakers, the schedule, children/youth activities and more can be found.
Once you register or sign up to volunteer, please let me know. We’d like to keep a list of who all is attending. And, please, if you have questions - just ask! Not only do I hope to see you in Des Moines in July, but I hope to see you Sunday,
Jill
A Note From Your Pastor
Cross Park Place—Open House today!
Are you aware of Shelter House’s new project - Cross Park Place - which is ready to open? Cross Park Place is a 24
-unit apartment building for those experiencing chronic homelessness. It employs a “Housing First” approach.
The Housing First strategy, once considered radical, is the belief that until a homeless person's housing situation
becomes stable, it is difficult to address problems like alcohol and substance abuse, unemployment, mental illness
and other causes of homelessness. The dedication and open house at Cross Park Place (820 Cross Park Ave, Iowa
City) will happen today with dedication at 4:15pm and tours being given until 6pm. To learn more, check out this
This Week at First Christian Church January 16, 2019
UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday Bible Study meets at
12:30pm each week.
January 16 - I Corinthians 12:12-27
January 23 - I Corinthians 13:1-8a
Sunday, January 20, 2019
Scripture: John 2:1-11 Sermon: Giving the Best
JANUARY BOOK CLUB
January’s book club selection takes us back 400 years to a Spanish expedition into Florida that went awry. A few explorers pressed on, ending up on the coast of what is now Texas. The book is The Moor's Account by Laila Lalami. We'll discuss it at the McKinstry’s, 308 Ronalds Street, Iowa City, on January 24 at 7 p.m.
Please, make note: change of location.
2019 Mission Trip
This year’s mission/work trip will be held the week of
March 18 in Marshalltown, IA. We are hoping to
bring youth along to help this year. People interested
