Sowers Seeds. Go to our Homepage: September 27, 2018 Dear Friends,

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1 Go to our Homepage: September 27, 2018 Dear Friends, Sowers Seeds We are in that rare and beautiful season as we speak, and it seems to take place all over the country, no matter what the natural climate may be. There have been times when I have gotten to experience this charming time of year up close but I would like to experience its full flowering in my hometown for the sake of nostalgia. There is no place like home for this season. It manifests itself in different ways; pep rallies, parades, games and dances. Yes, it is that glorious moment and collection of events we know as homecoming. I vividly remember the crowds of people watching the parade, and then at the football game there were always a set of classes that were the honored guests for the year. Usually, it seemed that the classes had graduated some fifty or sixty years prior to the year of homecoming. The esteemed men and women with grey and white hair would smile and wave as they stood in their designated spot in the home stands. At other times the honored guests would stand on the fifty yard line in the center of the football field and soak in the applause and sense of welcome imparted by the crowd. There have been moments when I have felt the tug to drive home to Richmond or Wabash College for homecoming festivities. I have attended the events at Wabash before, but I have not experienced a homecoming in Richmond since the autumn of 1994 as a high school senior. I was a person who claimed that they would never be back for homecoming events in some distant future. Yet, time has a way of mellowing strong positions and lines in the sand. Now, those years of high school have begun to take on a golden glow. It doesn t really take too long in the grand scheme of things for the old hurts to be washed away in a flood of memories. Mind you, I have no desire to be a high school student again, but I do have the desire to experience that sense of place, welcome, and homecoming that such school celebrations often represent. I think in our own ways, we all feel the tug of home and homecoming. We are promised that in a world where we may wander to and fro, there is a place of perfect welcome, acceptance and love. Often pastors wax rhapsodic about such themes in sermons and during funerals, but I have a notion that we need a sense of place, welcome and homecoming long before our final breath is taken. Wouldn t it be wonderful to experience a miniature homecoming as a foretaste and foreshadowing of what is to come in some perhaps distant future? I have this sense that we as a congregation that sits on Sixth and Seneca could be that place. Think about it, there are many who have shared experiences in this place. We have laughed, cried, witnessed dedications, baptisms, weddings and mourned the saints of the church, all in this very place. Those are powerful shared moments that build a connection and a sense of place. Perhaps, there are some who have wandered far from home, but then as we turn and look back over the road we have trod, home begins to beckon with a powerful call. We are still here, our doors are still open, our lights are still on, and maybe this Sunday and all Sundays are the day to throw wide our arms so that all may be welcomed in and welcomed home as a taste of what is to come. All the Best and God s Blessings, Pastor John

2 The Light a Candle Prayer Vigil uses a different focus scripture each week related to the overall theme as we prepare for Children's Sabbath. You may follow along each day with us online as daily reflections are posted. Weekly Scriptures We encourage you to reflect on these scriptures in prayer. Find ways to share them with the children around you and embrace them as you move into action on behalf of all God's children. Week of October 1-7 Galatians 3: But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. 27 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham s offspring, heirs according to the promise. NRSV Thanks for the cards and prayers and special thanks to Pastor John for a great service in honor of Bob. Janet Zirkle 2

3 Praises for Rebecca Matousek s new job! Ruth Kenton Praise for Steve Martin- to go home this week. Ruth Kenton Praise for Our Precious Grandchildren. Lois Steineker Praises for Teresa & John Groves & Lois Steineker & Kathy Powell, for all their hard work putting on a wonderful Keenager Day! Sandy Wilson Prayers for Janet Zirkle as she and family grieve the loss of Bob. Sandy Wilson Pray for Caitlin Onasch s friend Reba s husband- his dad passed away Saturday. Prayers for Vickie Kenton- knee surgery this week. Ruth Kenton Prayers for The Families of Randy Asher & Jim Thomas- Both passed away last week. John & Teresa Groves Prayers for Kathy Ramirez Family. Prayers that Chelsea Moore can get moved in asap so she s out of the old apartment by the 30 th. Prayers for Kathy Ramirez friend, Mary Martha Blanton- recovering from a heart attack. Continued prayers for Matthew Abold- healing from a broken leg. Kathy Ramirez Pray for those in the Hospital Betty Wimer- Twin Oaks Rehab Pray for those who have lost a loved one Elden (Eli Bagley s Grandfather) August 10, 2018 Bob Zirkle September 16, 2018 Ongoing Cares & Concerns Steve Martin, Alice Bushman, Gene Allen, Marilyn Vance, Noah Kincaid, Kathy Ramirez, Rose Marie Theel, Ruby Corbet, Cheryl Elliott, Don Bohnsack, Katie Boyer, Jody Bryant, Winnie Henderson, April Shea, Brian Onasch, Pearl Stonebraker Pray for our out-of-town Active Duty Personnel Melissa Van Valkenburgh, Lucy Collings, Hannah Bond, Dustin Phillips, Rob Widmyer, Jim & Rachel Sullivan, Christin Collins, Nickalas Derringer, Rose Uy 3 Please help us update our Active Duty list with members or those in direct relationship with our members.

4 Sunday, September 30 th Combined Worship 9:15am Sunday School 10:30am Combined Worship Followed by Potluck Dinner Come join us!! After the combined service there will be a Spaghetti & Chicken Alfredo Dinner. Please bring a Salad or Dessert to share with everyone. Taizé Worship TAIZE The Taize community is an ecumenical monastic community in southern France. The community has become one of the world's most important sites of Christian pilgrimage, with a focus on youth. Over 100,000 young people from around the world make pilgrimages to Taizé each year for prayer, Bible Study, sharing, and communal work. Through the community's ecumenical outlook, they are encouraged to live in the spirit of kindness, simplicity and reconciliation. (Wikipedia) Worship Music The music of Taize puts its emphasis on simple lines and phrases. The lyrics are normally Psalms or other pieces of scripture. These choruses are repeated and sometimes sung in a round. This Sunday, the music chosen from the Hymnal comes from the Taize community. We will experience in a small way some of the worship of Taize. About the Special Offering The Special Offering is used to fund our Church s mission imperative to become a pro-reconciling and anti-racist church, utilizing experiential education, inclusive worship and intentional dialogue. Our efforts to promote healing, relationship and restoration in the whole family of God are enlivened by funds from this offering. Through it we can provide programs for leadership development, curriculum for dialogue and learning and partnerships within the Church and our communities. 4

5 Finance & Stewardship Chair has requested that all the chairpersons get the budgets for 2019 in by October 1 st. Children s Church Schedule September 30 th Treehouse Treasures Lakeside Learners Emily Bean & Margaret Collins Bonnie Williams & Marji Dickson You are Invited to celebrate Lillian Edmonds Selas 90 th Birthday Sunday, September 30 th 2:00pm in the Kitterman Room We need someone to deliver Backpack Buddies food to Head Start this week. You will need a truck or van with lots of space to load all the food. Please contact Ruth Kenton: Children & Youth Ministry Mission Statement We seek to grow spiritually, serve and invite children, youth and families to participate in missions. Values 1. Mission We serve together in a world of need. 2. Family We are there for one another in good times and bad. 3. Empathy We seek to understand each other s feelings. 4. Acceptance We all belong. 5. Integrity We try to live what we believe. 5

6 September 27 th Lynette Vinzant September 29 th Lois Steineker Gloria Spath September 30 th Diane Nixon October 1 st Elizabeth Seever October 2 nd Lillian Edmonds-Selas October 3 rd Linda Bohnsack Sandy Wilson Offering September 16 th General $1, DWF Shelter Wk/Compassion 1, Total $3, Attendance September 23 rd 8:30am Worship 65 11:00am Worship 39 Sunday School 49 Visitors 2 Total 104 Offering September 23 rd General $2, Backpack Buddies Sunday School 7.00 Total $2,

7 First Christian Calendar September 26-Oct 4, 2018 Wednesday, September 26 th Prayer Group Kitterman 8:15am Elders Meeting Kitterman 7:00pm Thursday, September 27 th Carillons Chancel Choir 6:30pm 7:30pm Sunday, September 30 th Light a Candle for Children Reconciliation Offering Sunday School 9:15am Worship 10:30am Potluck to Follow Fellowship Lillian Selas 90 th Bday Kitterman 2:00pm Monday, October 1 st Prayer Breakfast Pullman Place 6:30am Wednesday, October 3 rd Prayer Group Kitterman 8:15am Girl Scouts Fellowship 5:30pm DWF Retreat 4 th -6 th October Sunday s Servers September 30 th 10:30am Service Elder: Don Homan Scripture: Doug Euler Greeters Main: Fred Kesinger Narthex: Nancy House Servers Evalyn Hubert* Ruth Kenton & Laney Mellott Communion Prep: Ruth Kenton Clean-up: Evalyn Hubert *Captain Thursday, October 4 th Carillons Chancel Choir 6:30pm 7:30pm Hospital Visitation Sept 30-Oct 6 Cushing: Molly & Don Homan St John: Richard & Erin Sack Sunday, September 30 th Joyce Bachtel (913) The driver listed for Sunday will pick up for both worship services. Call if you need a ride to church. Let the driver know which service you plan to attend. 7

8 Contact US Telephone Number: (913) Church Office Hours Monday-Friday, 8:30 4:00 Church Website: Pastor: Reverend John Sowers: (309)