JOURNEY TO THE ARK. Glen Echo Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Telephone: (515) ;

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1 THE CHRISTIAN ECHO Glen Echo Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Telephone: (515) ; April 2016 Volume 60, Issue 4 JOURNEY TO THE ARK When one of our members watched her grandchild in the nursery recently, she envisioned a colorful room that would encourage children to return each week to learn about Jesus. At the same time, the Craft Group planned to make wall hangings for the room with a Noah s Ark theme. Concurrently, the Welcoming Committee studied church growth and discovered how important an attractive nursery was to potential members with children. This information was shared with the Property Committee and the Cabinet, who supported the idea of adding speakers to the nursery and the lounge so that services in the sanctuary could be heard in these two rooms. All of these ideas came together, and a plan was born to create a visually exciting space that would be attractive and accessible to children and their parents. Enter Julie Perry Mallas, Dorothy s daughter, who grew up at this church and lives in Ames. Julie is a third grade teacher who is very artistic, and she volunteered to spend her spring break painting murals in the nursery. Julie s theme is Journey to the Ark, and the murals on three walls depict animals traveling in pairs toward the ark, which is painted on the fourth wall. In the crib room, deer, rabbits and chipmunks play together on two of the walls. (Patty Bellus made new quilts for the cribs). Julie was assisted in her efforts by her daughter, Danielle, and her mother, Dorothy Perry. Come and take a look, and thank you, everyone, for your hard work!

2 MINISTER S MOMENT This year, I had my first opportunity to observe Lent and celebrate Easter with Glen Echo Christian Church. It was a meaningful experience for many reasons. As I ve shared with some members of the church, Lent was always an important part of the liturgical calendar while we were missionaries, because we were able to present plays about the disciples and other Biblical figures who knew Jesus. As we did research, analyzed the time period and the disciples possible thoughts, we gained insights into what they may have experienced when they walked the earth with our Lord. Through the years, the person of Jesus became very real to us, and the Gospel accounts of our Savior took on new meanings as the scriptures came to life in our minds. When we left the mission field, we were blessed to find a church in St. Louis Good Friday prayer station based upon the Western Wall in Jerusalem (where I was ordained eventually) that embraced Lent and Easter as important periods of spiritual growth. Lenten suppers, Maundy Thursday Services, and Good Friday Prayer Vigils (complete with interactive prayer stations) were planned every year, and these spiritual practices provided opportunities for our knowledge base to increase and our spirits to grow closer to God. The church that I served while I was in seminary also had a rich tradition of Lenten practices, and spiritual growth continued in that ecclesiastic community. Imagine my delight when I came to Glen Echo and discovered that this church has a rich tradition of Lenten observations. Shrove Tuesday Suppers, Ash Wednesday observances, mid-week Lenten Soup and Study Suppers, Palm Sunday observations, Maundy Thursday Services, and Good Friday Prayer Vigils bring insights to a period that culminates in the exultant celebration of Easter! I was in hog heaven (or maybe chicken heaven, because the disciples probably didn t eat pork). This Lenten and Easter Season have been especially meaningful, because even more time was set aside to focus on spiritual matters, and the Spirit of the Lord ministered to my soul in special ways. This is what I ve come to know on an even deeper level this Lent: That regardless of the violence in the world, or the illness that affects our mortal bodies, or the economic instability that threatens so many families, the effects of Jesus resurrection cannot be stopped. The life-giving, game-changing power that raised the Savior from the dead is available through the Holy Spirit to all of us every day, because death cannot defeat the love of God. The good news of the Gospel of grace continues to spread in our hearts, and then it spreads into the world. Thank you for calling me to be your pastor. I am so blessed to be here. Yours in Christ, Pastor Dawn APRIL PREACHING SCHEDULE Hymn of the Month: #284 Gather Us In OLD TESTAMENT NEW TESTAMENT SERMON TITLE April 3 Psalm 118:14-29 John 20:19-31 Believing Is Seeing April 10 Psalm 30 John 21:1-19 Overload and Over Board April 17 Psalm 104:14-23 Mark 4:3-8 Caretakers of Creation Volume 60, Issue 4 Page 2 April 24 Psalm 148 Acts 11:1-18 Peter s Predicament

3 WORSHIP & WELCOME EARTH DAY APRIL 17 Candles, a prayer wall, devotional books and these finger labyrinths were some of the prayer aids that were used during the Good Friday Prayer Vigil. Thank you to everyone who prayed at the church or at home. HONORING GRADUATES GOOD FELLOWSHIP We would like to acknowledge graduates whose families are affiliated with Glen Echo Christian Church. If you or a member of your family is graduating from high school, college, or a specialized training program, please communicate that information in writing to the church office. Please include the graduate s name, the institution from which they re graduating, and their future plans. The next gathering of the Good group is Friday evening, April 22, at 6:30 PM at Chicago Speak Easy. Everyone is welcome to join us for this good meal at a local restaurant. Friends are welcome! It s a relaxing way to become better acquainted with each other. Page 3 In Genesis 1:26, we read, Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. What does it mean to be made in God s image and have dominion over the earth? We will explore Glen Echo s response to this scripture as we observe Earth Day on April 17. An Earth Day gift will be distributed to everyone in the congregation. Join us April 17 as we celebrate God s gift of creation!

4 OUTREACH EFFORTS POLK COUNTY JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER Proclaiming the good news of the Gospel does not stop at Easter at Glen Echo Christian Church. Members of the Outreach Team and friends will throw a party for the teens at the Polk County Juvenile Detention Center Friday night, April 1. We will meet at the church at 6:00 PM to carpool to the Center. Bring your treats to the church by Friday, and please remember that they should not include peanut butter or nuts. STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE We are continuing to maintain a positive balance in the General Fund. The following is the breakdown: 1/31/16 Balance $9, Receipts 8, Expenses 11, /29/16 Balance $7, We had repair expenses to the lift that totaled $3, Luckily, we still had funds left over from the Capital Campaign that were used to cover the costs, so there was no increase to the budget. Terri Lockard Stewardship Chair Worship Attendance March 6 49 March March March 27 95

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6 April 2016 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 6:00 Meyer Hall Party Pastor Dawn returns from vacation 2:00 Grief Group AM Leave for Christian Conference Center 9 8AM Outside Spring Cleaning :00 Committee and Cabinet Meetings Spring Cleaning Backup Date 17 Earth Day Salvation Army Casseroles :00 AM Deacon Callers 6:30 Good :00 Craft Group Volume 60, Issue :00 Elders Meeting Volume 60, Issue 4 Page 6

7 Glen Echo Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 4323 Douglas Avenue Des Moines, IA SERVING SCHEDULE April 3 April 10 Worship Leader: Kathleen Smith Worship Leader: Rosemarie Kelling Elders: Deborah & Kelly Dooley Elders: Sandy Killin, Pam Suiter Diaconate: Judy Allie, Sandy Bischof Diaconate: Jean Sharp, Lori Martin Mark Fowler, Mary Patrick Diane Pinegar, Bill Suiter April 17 April 24 Worship Leader: Nina Knight Worship Leader: Kathleen Smith Elders: Pam Suiter, Sandy Killin Elders: Deb Martin, Bev Van Blaricome Diaconate: Rosemarie Kelling, Darlene Christiansen Diaconate: Mary Blair, Patty Bellus Jean Sharp, Lori Martin Carol Smith, Craig Woody Visiting Elders for April: Kelly & Deborah Dooley *Elders, Deacons, the Worship Leader and the choir are asked to gather in the lounge at 10:10 AM for prayer.