PEACE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST “Peace United Church of Christ is a multigenerational community of faith. We welcome people of all ages, races, and life situations to join us in our calling to serve as the hands and feet of Christ.” TIDINGS March, 2017 Volume 59, Number 3 Jon Haack, Pastor 301 North Main Street PO Box 268 Elkader, Iowa 52043 563-245-2126 Office Hours Monday—Friday 2 p.m.— 5p.m. Email: [email protected]Website: www.peacechurchelkader.org Facebook: facebook.com/ peacechurchelkader As you receive this Tidings edition, Lent is just beginning. Lent is that season of the Church year that gives us opportunity to ponder our relationship with Jesus Christ. Are we close? Have we gone in a different direction? Have we tried to go our own way? How might we walk with Jesus more closely than ever before? All of these questions and more are part of the Lenten journey to the cross. Are we like the disciples, who didn’t want to hear and didn’t understand it when Jesus said He would be crucified? Are we as bold as Peter to say, “No” to Jesus when what we’re facing seems as imminent as the arrest and crucifixion seemed to Peter? Or are we like Peter when we deny knowing Christ or being a follower when it would be inconvenient to admit it? Just as we did the Journey to the Manger during the Advent season, we now invite everyone to join us in the Journey to the Cross. It won’t always be easy. There will be glimpses of glory and moments of darkness. There will be the sounds of Good News to counteract the warnings brought on by our sin. We encourage you to join in the journey. No matter where you are on that journey, you are welcome here. In Christ, Pastor Jon
Transcript
PEACE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
“Peace United Church of Christ is a multigenerational community of faith. We welcome people of all ages, races, and life situations to join us in our calling to serve as the hands and feet of Christ.”
As you receive this Tidings edition, Lent is just beginning. Lent is that season of the Church year that gives us opportunity to ponder our relationship with Jesus Christ. Are we close? Have we gone in a different direction? Have we tried to go our own way? How might we walk with Jesus more closely than ever before? All of these questions and more are part of the Lenten journey to the cross. Are we like the disciples, who didn’t want to hear and didn’t understand it when Jesus said He would be crucified? Are we as bold as Peter to say, “No” to Jesus when what we’re facing seems as imminent as the arrest and crucifixion seemed to Peter? Or are we like Peter when we deny knowing Christ or being a follower when it would be inconvenient to admit it? Just as we did the Journey to the Manger during the Advent season, we now invite everyone to join us in the Journey to the Cross. It won’t always be easy. There will be glimpses of glory and moments of darkness. There will be the sounds of Good News to counteract the warnings brought on by our sin. We encourage you to join in the journey. No matter where you are on that journey, you are welcome here. In Christ, Pastor Jon
Worship Assistants Wednesday, March 1 — Ash Wed. Ushers: Gerry French, Carl Moser Greeters: Diane Finley, Deb DeShaw Reader: Sharon Seney Fellowship: Jon Haack Videotaping: Volunteer Needed Opening/Closing: Joanne Gray Sunday, March 5, 2017 Ushers: Council Members Greeters: Volunteer Needed Reader: John Gnagy Fellowship: Gary & Nancy Kuehl Videotaping: Dirk Buckman Opening/Closing: Council Members Communion Prep: Kurt & Nicky Dennler Food Shelf Delivery: Ken & Sharon Seney Sunday, March 12, 2017 Ushers: Ed & Melissa Patrick Greeters: Tom & Mary Webber Reader: Betty Buchholz Fellowship: Marlis Huinker Videotaping: Jacobsons Opening/Closing: John & Jane Metcalf Sunday, March 19, 2017 Ushers: Lanette Schutte, Barb Chandler Greeters: Edie Seitz, Kris Stark Reader: Volunteer Needed Fellowship: Ed & Sandi Coobs Videotaping: Volunteer Needed Opening/Closing: Janet Ott Sunday, March 26, 2017 Ushers: Steve & Janita Doeppke Greeters: Volunteer Needed Reader: Steve McCorkindale Fellowship: Steve & Ann McCorkindale Videotaping: Jay Moser Opening/Closing: Floyd & Janice Possehl
One Great Hour of Sharing On Sunday, March 26, we will receive our One Great Hour
of Sharing offering - one of five special offerings in the United Church of Christ. For almost 70 years, the
UCC has been making a difference through One Great Hour of Sharing. This offering helps provide support for health,
education, refugee, agricultural, and emergency relief initiatives in 138 countries - including the United States.
1 James Bunting 3 Geneva Hoth 6 Lucena Phelps, Donna Anderson and Steve
McCorkindale 7 Burnell Wilker, 10 Arlene Reimer 11 Deb DeShaw 12 Fran Derhammer 20 Inge Baumgartner 21 Sue Gnagy 23 Geraldine French 24 Dorothy Buckner and Janis Lerch 25 Bonnie Syverson, Alyce Hunt, Mary
Webber, and Ken Dettbarn 29 John Storbeck 31 Roger Buchholz, Jay Moser, Karen Tieden
Food Shelf Items for March
Pancake mix,
syrup, canned fruit, paper goods
Bread for the Journey
Sunday, March 5 “Abundant Grace” Gen 2:15-17; 3:1-7 Ps 32 Rom 5:12-19 Matt 4:1-11
Sunday, March 12 “Bold Blessing” Gen 12:1-4a Ps121 Rom 4:1-5, 13-17 John 3:1-14 or Matt 17:1-9
Sunday, March 19 “Thirsty Voices” Exodus 17:1-7 Ps 95 Rom 5:1-11 John 4:5-42
Sunday, March 26 “Restored” 1 Sam 16:1-13 Ps 23 Eph 5:8-14 Matt 9:1-41
Worship Attendance/Offerings February 5, 2017 71 $2684.00 February 12, 2017 78 $2660.00 February 19, 2017 68 $1911.00 February 26, 2017 Will be in April Tidings
Special Prayer Requests Heidi Aulwes, Harry & Gloria Robbins,
Frank Wacker, LuVern Kuehl, Cora Lou Koons, Greg Anderson, Linda Vitek, Harley & Irma Glawe, Steve
Doeppke, Verna Kuehl, Mary Webber, Sharon Riechert
Care Center/Assisted Living Residents Vi Sadewasser, Eydie Seeland, Ruby Koehn, Mary Ann Gray, Burnell Wilker, Harley & Irma Glawe,
Gretal Heimann, Linda Vitek, Kate Bente, Marion Benson
Serving in the Military Service men and women
Please contact the church office to add or remove a name from the prayer list
LENTEN SEASON—JOURNEY TO THE CROSS This year, our Lenten journey will be the Journey to the Cross. We’ll use touchstones on that journey to make where we are and remember where we’ve been. We will begin with Ash Wednesday, with ashes available for all during the worship service. All of the services will be at 7:00pm. Some will be in the Sanctuary and some in Herbster Hall. Each week after Ash Wednesday, those touchstones of our journey will be moments from the history of the United Church of Christ. We will have accompanying Scriptures for these touchstones so that the Word will guide us on our journey just as the Word guided the United Church of Christ. 7:00pm March 8 — First colony in the free world, Pilgrims 7:00pm March 15 — First Bible printed in the United States, the Algonquin Bible. 7:00pm March 22 — First denomination to fight for freedom of slaves—Amistad 7:00pm March 29 — First African American published author in the United States, Phillis Wheatley, and first woman ordained the ministry, Antoinette Brown 7:00pm April 5 — First closing of General Synod to support Cesar Chavez in rights of farm workers
Peace United Church of Christ Council Meeting on February 12, 2017 Call to Order – Sue called the meeting to order at 10:20 a.m. Members present: Pastor on Haack, Sue Stott,
Melissa Buckman, Gus Augustson, and Michelle Gifford.
Opening Devotion – Pastor Jon Haack led us in prayer.
Minutes of the last meeting were approved as read. Pastor’s Report- Pastor Haack has been making a presence at several school and community events. He was pleased with the annual meeting and the unity, optimism, and hope that was shown. The exciting news was that the congregation unanimously voted to pursue Open & Affirming status (ONA) and commissioned the Church Council to adopt and ONA covenant. Melissa Buckman made a motion to accept the new covenant wording, and Gus Augustson seconded the motion. Melissa Buckman made a motion to accept the new covenant wording, and Gus Augustson seconded the motion. The worship committee plans to meet and discuss Ash Wednesday and Lenten services. He reported that there have been DVD problems in regards to watching our church service out at the care center. There is an upcoming mission supper. He wants to see the congregation continue to dream about the church’s future. On February 26, there will be a town hall meeting for the school bond issue after church. Pastor mentioned that Peace UCC did not make the Five for Five status this year on our UCC Support amounts; the Christmas Fund was deposited too late to be counted in for 2016. Committee Reports Christian Ed-Melissa Buckman reported that they have only gotten together once due to the bad weather we had. Mallory doesn’t think they should try and perform the Christmas pageant anymore now that we are into February. Instead, she is thinking of having the kids do a skit and maybe sing a few songs. The consensus at the annual meeting was that all are welcome to communion, regardless of age. It is up to the parents. Buildings and Grounds-Dave was not present. Worship-Michelle Gifford reported that there was a scheduled meeting on Thursday. Missions-Lois was not present. We will continue to look for mission projects in our area. Finance-Gus Augustson went over the report. It was noted that the $14 in the Mission portion under Christmas Dinner had not been carried down in the total. Also, the disability and pension amounts still need to be updated. Melissa Buckman made a motion to accept these changes, and Michelle Gifford seconded the motion. New Business-We need to get Gus Augustson and Michelle Gifford binders and keys as new council members. Sue Stott suggested that we take terns leading the meeting devotion and prayer. For the next six months it will be as follows: March12 – Melissa Buckman, April 9– Gus Augustson, May 14 – Michelle Gifford, and June – to be decided. Also, it was suggested that we make a schedule for who will open/close on the first Sunday of the month. Duty sheets need to be sent to all council members in regards to opening and closing. We are getting Quickbooks for Non-Profit for our new church software. Gus Augustson also suggested that we back up on flash drives. We discussed adding page numbers to the financial report. It was noted that a second person should have access to Quickbooks for accountability. We also discussed creating separate categories for the memorial fund. We have not heard back from Betty Buchholz and Diane Finley yet regarded a quote for the kitchen floor. David Funk has been hired to do snow removal for $12.50 an hour. Gary Kuehl has been overseeing this and it has been going well. As of March 1, Susan Palas will be leaving her position to go full-time at her other job. At this time, we should think of the hours we would like to have the church office open. We will offer the position to all church members first, before placing an ad in the paper to the general public. It was mentioned that the committee members need to take more ownership of their committee, and not pass work along to the secretary. Melissa Buckman motioned to adjourn the meeting, and Michelle Gifford seconded, carried. Meeting adjourned at !2:15 p.m. Respectifully Submitted, Michelle Gifford, Church Council Secretary Pro-tem
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PEACE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST CAR-RT-SORT P.O. BOX 268 NON-PROFIT ELKADER, IOWA 52043-0268 U.S. POSTAL PERMIT NO. 45 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED ELKADER, IA 52043
