Pilgrim s Progress. JULY 2012 Issue

Transcription

1 Pilgrim s Progress JULY 2012 Issue The purpose of this church shall be to bind together followers of Jesus Christ, for the object of sharing in the worship of God and in seeking His will for our lives, especially as that will is set forth in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Page 1 Pastor s Note Mini Bio for Rich Miller-Todd Page 2 Birthdays Anniversaries Members in Care Facilities Thank Yous Stats Corner Page 3 Stuff the Bus Page 4 VBS 2012 Page 5 Youth Director s Page Page 6 Church Calendar Page 7 Boy Scout Fundraiser Note from Ray Gerdes Page 8 Contact Information Reunions, like revivals, are wonderful opportunities for reflection, revitalization and refocus. I thought the below bio-sketch the perfect Pastor s Letter. I did not fully understand the influence FCC has been on Rich Miller-Todd and his family. Keep Cheryl and me in your prayers as we are away. Sincerely Yours and His In Christ, Pastor Barry Mini Bio from Rev. Richard Miller-Todd who will be our pulpit guest during Pastor Barry s vacation: Life is a funny thing and it lands you in many places. In fact, I have been a resident of many states having been born as the son of a Congregational minister. I attended college at Washington State University before going to Vietnam with the US Army. Upon returning from the war I grew interested in seminary among Quakers and attended Earlham School of Religion in Indiana. Straight out of seminary and a year of hospital chaplaincy, I was encouraged to join Rev. Tom Richard at Marshalltown. For four years I was associate minister at First Church. In 1982, I completed my ordination at Marshalltown. I will soon celebrate 30 years of marriage with Kay and that all began with our wedding at Marshalltown. I moved to Des Moines and spent time with the Pastoral Counseling Center and later served as the EAP director at Iowa State University. I reentered the pastoral ministry and served Berwick Congregational Church for 14 years. I am currently on medical hiatus due to my recent surgery but I intend to reenter the pastoral ministry this winter. I am married to Kay, an attorney with the Iowa Department of Justice. My daughter (Emily) graduated from UNI and will go to Perkins School of Theology in Dallas. And my son, Ben, is working on a biology degree and is a Johnson County Paramedic. His plan is to enter medical school upon completing his biology degree. His wife (Kelsey) is an educator and is waiting a chance to get in a classroom near Iowa City. Page 1

2 Beth Adams July 2 Ron Ohrt July 3 Amber Lawthers July 4 Beth Lawthers July 4 Kaisa Stanley July 4 Miriam Bryant July 5 Lorrie Damman July 5 Dave Hall July 5 Kim Schryver July 5 Tyler Reeder July 6 Bev Swenson July 6 Mike Woltjer July 8 David Dickey July 12 Marilyn Rhodes July 12 Al Hays July 14 Sanny Thompson July 15 Jane Ragland July 18 Julie Squiers July 19 Krystal Randall July 20 Don Lunsford July 21 Kelly Calderon July 22 Susan Ferneau July 22 Helen Berg July 23 JP Howard July 23 Max Meyer July 24 Norman Pike July 24 Ken Kreykes July 25 Margaret Klink July 26 Larry Good July 27 Danielle Propst July 27 Tom Southard July 27 Mackenzie Estabrook July 28 Alecia Storjohann July 28 Matthew Dickey July 31 Eleanor Rowden July 31 Mildred Rowden July 31 Page 2 Bob & Judy Gaynor, 7/1/2006 JP & Jennifer Howard, 7/1/1995 Charlie & Brenda Morris, 7/3/1982 Kirk & Cindy Shirar, 7/6/1991 John & Lisa Beaty, 7/9/2004 Jose & Kelly Calderon, 7/12/2002 Dave & Trisha Gill, 7/12/2008 Marcus & Chantel Woerner, 7/12/2008 Ken & Darcie Lunsford, 7/14/1984 Ron & Vicki Long, 7/24/1971 Please keep our members in care facilities in your thoughts and prayers: Helen Berg, Woody Shives, Pattye Morrison, Esther Riley, Delores Bavender, Don & Connie Lyman, Ginny Southard, Merle & Jo Anne Ainley, Betty Runner Communion for People with Gluten Intolerance If you are gluten intolerant you cannot safely receive communion using ordinary bread. To enable you to participate fully in this important Christian rite, gluten-free bread will henceforth be available for communion. Please request it from any usher before you enter the sanctuary. An anonymous donor has generously gifted us with a Yamaha grand piano for the church sanctuary! It arrived in time for the service on June 24 th. What a wonderful sound it has. The gift also included an adjustable height piano bench. Arlene Selby has donated a very nice grand piano light. Many thanks to our anonymous donor and Arlene. We want to thank our church family for all the prayers, cards and telephone calls. We especially thank Pastor Barry for his continuous prayers to God to reduce our fears for His healing touch as Max continues his treatments for cancer. God Bless you all, Max & Norma Dannen Wedding July 21, 2012 Zachary Juhl and Tara Ohrt

3 FCC is once again partnering with House of Compassion s STUFF the BUS Campaign. Last year, 999 students were assisted through this program! Below are the details for this event. We ask that you bring your donations TO THE CHURCH by Thursday, July 19 th. Thank you for your continued support. From the Benevolence and Missions Committee Let's help our kids go back to school with the tools they need to succeed as we Stuff the Bus! Too many students will begin the 2012 school year without even the most basic classroom necessities. We re inviting you to make a positive impact on a child s life. You can purchase school supplies or make a cash donation for students in Marshall County. For those who would like to help but don t like to shop, donations of cash would also be accepted. Please make checks payable to the House of Compassion and note for Stuff the Bus. Items most needed are: Wide Line, loose-leaf Notebook Paper Glossy Pocket Folders Erasers (pencil tip & regular) Blue & Black Erasable Pens Pencils Large boxes of Facial Tissue Fine Line Washable Markers Colored Pocket Folders Sharp Point Scissors Crayons Spiral Notebooks 8 oz. Elmer s Glue All school supplies should be newly purchased. After Stuff the Bus donations are gathered; all school supplies will be placed into backpacks and given out to area children on Saturday, August 14, 10:00-3:00 and Monday, August 16, 12:00-5:00 at St. Paul s Episcopal Church, 201 E. Church. Thanks so much for participating in this project that benefits so many of our children and youth in Marshall County. Page 3

4 Vacation Bible School August 6th-10th 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM Discover the best destination of the summer-sonrise National Park. Kids will enjoy the thrills of daily treks where they face challenges and learn to depend on the promises of Jesus. They will discover the true treasure described in Philippians 4:19, "My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." As kids explore SonRise National Park, they'll learn the most important survival skill of all: they can always depend on Jesus and His promises of true peace, true riches, true power, true love and true hope. The children will start with dinner and fellowship at 5:30 PM. After dinner they will attend the Go Big! Assembly and then travel through 3 different stations (Trek Talk Bible Stories, Busy Beaver Crafts, and Climb Higher Games) to learn more about these promises of Jesus. At the end of the evening the children will gather once again for more fun and music. So mark your calendar and look for registration forms in the church bulletins or table near the Sanctuary. Children ages 4 years to 10/11 years old are invited to come join their friends and find out what s in store for us at the Beach. Be sure to register soon so we know who to look for. BRING A FRIEND and join the FUN. This summer, bring your kids to SonRise National Park VBS- a fun filled wilderness trek where all trails lead to Jesus! Ways to Help with VBS Volunteer your time: Become one of our wonderful helpers 1. Trek Talk Bible Stories: Lead Bible story and activities in booklets (Pastor Barry will you be available?) 2. Busy Beaver Crafts: Lead Crafts 3. Climb Higher Games: Lead Games (Aaron D. may do this) 4. Puppets/Skits: Perform for our opening and closing assemblies, may be all puppets or may be people acting along with a few puppets 5. Decorating Crew: Help create a National Park in loft and Sunday School rooms 6. Dinner Crew: Help prepare, serve and clean-up after dinner every night; also prepare snack for evening 7. Group helpers: Lead younger children to each station 8. Music Leader: Help teach the children the songs and actions to the songs 9. Other areas that need help (will let you know) Sponsor a child: (cost per child $15-$18) this is for a T-shirt, activity booklet, a collectible key ring with bible verses for each night, and other goodies that they will get to keep Donate Craft/Activity supplies: List will be posted downstairs at end of June or first part of July. Donate supplies for Decorations (this year s theme is the Wilderness, so start looking for items that can be found in the wilderness/park): List will be posted downstairs Donate Food items: Help out by providing food items for each night s meal a list will be provided in July Thanks so much for all your help. FCC is a great church who does a wonderful job in helping our youths out. Questions: Contact Angie Dickey at or at adickey71@gmail.com Page 4

5 YOUTH DIRECTOR PAGE contact info for Shelly Speas: Nooma Nites: Sunday, June 3, 5:30 Meyer's home This is a group for young adults to come together for fellowship and Bible Study time. We meet the 1 st Sunday of the month, and we potluck and create a meal for us to share. There is no cost to join! There is also a babysitter that comes to take care of the kids during the Bible Study. If you have any questions please contact Kristin Meyer: or Shelly Speas. BIBLE BOWLING July p.m. The BCE is proud to present Bible Bowling. A free, family orientated, Bible trivia game. The format and scoring of the game is the same as actual bowling, but the twist in this game is that the "pins" are biblical questions. The BCE will provide a main course of food (walking tacos), you may bring a side dish if you wish, along with your friends and family. This event is open for ALL ages and ability levels of biblical knowledge. Sign-up sheets will be available in the fellowship hall. July event is set for Friday July 13th from 6-8 P.M. in the fellowship hall. Please see Anna Wolvers, Chad Pinkston, or Shelly Speas if you have questions. Hope to see you there!! On Thursday, July 26th, our youth group has an opportunity to work with other youth groups around Marshalltown to work with Habitat for Humanity doing different service projects. The kids must be 6-12th grade. Parents or adults interested in helping are more than welcome to come and participate! We hope to encourage and help some families in our community, and help Habitat work on some homes! Meeting place & time to be determined. For further questions, please contact Shelly. 1 Peter 4:10 "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." Page 5

6 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 Communion Sunday NOOMA Nites 5:30 pm Independence Day Church Offices Closed Boy Scout Troop Pizza Ranch for fundraiser. Trustee s Mtg. 6:30 pm Bible Bowling 6-8 pm FCC Stamp Club 10 - Noon BCE Mtg. 6 pm STUFF the BUS donations due FCC. 20 Rehearsal 6 pm 21 Wedding: Tara Ohrt & Zachary Juhl 4 pm 22 Pulpit Guest Ragbrai in M town 26 Habitat for Humanity (time & place tbd) 27 FCC Stamp Club 10-noon 28 Rev. Rich Miller-Todd 29 Pulpit Guest Weight Watcher Meetings: Wednesdays: 12:15 pm Thursdays: 6 pm Saturdays: 8:30 am 11 MMSC Rev. Rich Miller-Todd Ben & Missions Cmte Mtg 11:45 am Page 6

7 Boy Scout Troop 324 Invites you to PIZZA RANCH for supper on Wednesday, July 11, to 8 PM We are doing this fundraiser to help purchase new tents and other supplies for Scouting and Pizza Ranch is going to help us out. We will be bussing tables and helping customers. Your support would be greatly appreciated. Thank You! Matthew & David Dickey and Troop 324 Thanks to everyone who was a part of my birthday surprise. Julianne presented me with a wrapped box of 93 key chains on my birthday. I was delighted when I opened the box. I now have 4958 key chains hanging in my garage and you are all welcome to stop anytime to see them. Because of my very weak immune system right now my doctor has asked me to avoid large crowds so I won t be able to be in church until I am doing better. I will miss seeing all of you. Thanks again not only for my key chains but for all your prayers, cards and well wishes. Raymond T. Gerdes Page 7

8 First Congregational Church 312 W. Main St. Marshalltown, IA 50158