A Time for Everything. For everything there is a season. -Ecclesiastes 3:1a

Transcription

1 The Uniter OCTOBER 2018 Maquoketa United Church of Christ God is still speaking A Time for Everything For everything there is a season. -Ecclesiastes 3:1a The time has come. It s my last newsletter article. When I think of last things, my mind turns to Ecclesiastes 3. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 is a common text for funerals, and while I m not sure the theology holds up in every instance (what exactly does it mean that there is a time to kill?), the sheer rhythm of it comforts and touches something real. In fact, there is a time to be born, and a time to die. A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted. A time to weep, and a time to laugh. A time to mourn, and a time to dance. We know this rhythm deep in our bones. Life is a series of seasons and we are meant to live each to the fullest. My season with you as your pastor is coming to a rapid end. I ve begun to attend to last things last meetings, final farewells, tying up as many loose ends as I can. It s a humbling process: there are words I might forget to say, people I might not get to wish well, innumerable practical details. And yet that s what it is. The deep rhythm of life and of God--calls me forward. And calls you forward. To your next season of life. And to mine. So in the midst of many words spoken and perhaps some forgotten let me say two that mean much to me: thank you. Thank you. Thank you for the years we ve shared together. Thank you for taking a chance on a young pastor in her first solo call. Thank you for the words of encouragement, for the prayers, for the cards, and for your receptivity to the gifts I ve offered. Thank you for the laughter and surprise and joy there s been a lot of that. Thank you for sharing seasons of pain and loss there s been some of that too. Thank you for turning out to be exactly what I hoped when I interviewed with the search committee (Continued on page 2)

2 (Continued from page 1) seven years ago, and a great deal more. Thank you for letting me into your homes, your hospital rooms, to your loved ones gravesites, your children s lives, your hearts. I ve always said that God has done good things with us together, and I hope that s been as obvious to you as it has been to me. You have changed my life, Maquoketa United Church of Christ. And I will carry you forward and forever. My prayer for you, my people for another few weeks, is to let this season of transition be what it is. A time for grief, for letting go, and a time for recalibration, for reflection and ultimately, a time of preparation for new things. God isn t done with either of us, yet. It s just that from now on, we ll take separate roads. So with gratitude for our season together, I give thanks to God. Let the people say, Amen. Amen. With love, Pastor Stephanie Opportunities to Serve Mentoring: Are you interested in Mentoring a Middle School Student? Please contact Marilyn Dean for further information. We are working with Middle School to help in this way. There is a need for this service. Prayer Shawl Ministry: Are you interested in the Prayer Shawl Ministry? Calling all crocheter, knitters, and those that would like to learn. We plan to continue to meet monthly to work on this ministry with First Lutheran Church. 2

3 Thursday, October 4 7:30 am 5pm Friday, October 5 8:30 am 4 pm Saturday, October 6 8:30 am 12 pm **Special Bag Sale Each Day** New (Elevator) Lift Now Available!! Any help appreciated before and during the sale! Lunch will be provided Saturday for the clean up crew. Office hours will continue to be Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 3

4 Sun Mon Tue Wed 7 8:45 a Bible Study 9:00 a Sunday School 10:00 a Worship 11:45 a Qigong October 201 Maquoketa United Church of Chri 3 7:30 a Centering Prayer 11:00 a Spiritual Outreach 1:00 p Worship Meeting 5:15 p Meal Deal (Potluck) 5:30 p Education Board Mtg 10 7:30 a Centering Prayer 9:30 a Women's Fellowship 5:15 p Meal Deal 14 8:45 a Bible Study 9:00 a Sunday School 10:00 a Farewell Worship :30 a Centering Prayer 5:15 p Meal Deal 21 8:45 a Bible Study 9:00 a Sunday School 10:00 a Worship :30 a Centering Prayer 5:15 p Meal Deal 28 8:45 a Bible Study 9:00 a Sunday School 10:00 a Worship 11:45 a Qigong :30 a Centering Prayer 5:15 p Meal Deal 4

5 8 st Service Committee Connie Francois and Mara Nissen 206 E Platt Street PO Box 1177 Maquoketa, IA Phone: (563) info@maqucc.org Thu Fri Sat 4 7:30 a 5 p Treasure Sale 1:00 p 3:00 p Prayer Shawl Ministry for Knitting & Crocheting at First Lutheran Church 5 8:30 a 4p Treasure Sale 6 8:30 a 12 p Treasure Sale 7:00 p Narcotics Anonymous 11 7:00 p Council Meeting :00 p Narcotics Anonymous 7:00 p Narcotics Anonymous 7:00 p Narcotics Anonymous October 7 WC Tom Breuch GR Karen Garien & Dianne Barker WL Chris Tubbs October 14 WC John Dague GR Marie Holst & Lin Redling WL Marilyn Deegan October 21 WC Marta Romer GR Nabb Family WL David Manning October 28 WC Geni Carr GR Joyce Den Herder & Ann Miller WL Karen McClintock 5

6 Dates to Remember: October 4,5,6 Treasure Sale October 14 Farewell Service Dan Anderson October 3 Barry Francois October 3 Emily Oswalt October 4 James Hayward October 5 Debbie Pettyjohn October 6 Madonna Sagers October 6 Lige Yappen October 15 Renea Yarolim October 16 Tracy Holland October 18 Nikko Francois October 19 Andy Yarolim October 29 Austin Yarolim October 29 Amber Yarolim October 29 Need a ride? If you need help in getting to worship, or other church events... Please call David Manning at Council Minutes The council minutes will be posted on the bulletin board outside Pastor Stephanie s office after they have been approved by the council. 6

7 A MISSION MOMENT FOR CROSSROAD CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES Crossroad Child & Family Services was founding in 1883 as an orphanage by one of the predecessor denominations to the United Church of Christ. They were founded as the Reformed Orphan s Home of Fort Wayne, IN to care for the neediest of God s children. Churches from Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa were very involved in the creation of the organization way out in the Western Synod of the church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Crossroad is proud of their covenant to the UCC and their nearly 134 yeas of mission to children and families! Over the years their name changed and their services evolved as the needs of the children changed. Today s Mission: Crossroad creates promising futures for children in difficult circumstances by providing therapy, education and family support services. Crossroad is known throughout the Midwest as one of the larges providers of treatment for troubled children and their families. They are also known as a state-of-the-art rather than a run-of-the-mill faith-based agency; and the place that will accept the most challenging children other places will often not work with. They accept referral s from mental health professionals, parents, judges, educators, The Department of Child Services, Juvenile Probation, and others. They offer a spectrum of services ranging from out-patient and home-based therapy, to their core services in residential treatment, Psychiatric Residential Treatment, and education in their on-campus school. Recently, they opened Emergency Shelter Care program. The emotionally troubled children they work with may also be autistic, MR/DD, medically fragile or suffering from brain trauma. Most children are victims of physical or sexual abuse and extreme neglect. They are also now receiving referrals for children who are victims of human trafficking. Boys and girls in their residential services are as young as age 6. They are often children who have been hurt the most by those who should have loved and protected them the most! Currently Crossroad s residential living units are full and they have lengthy waiting-lists! Much of this is due to the growing epidemic of the drug-abuse amongst adults using heroin, meth, and/or opioids. Adults using drugs often seriously abuse and neglect the children in their homes. Crossroad is currently working on a plan to make room to help more children. 7

8 Maquoketa United Church of Christ PO Box 1177 Maquoketa, IA Phone: (563)