Pilgrim s Progress March 2014 Issue

Transcription

1 Pilgrim s Progress March 2014 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 Message Page 2 Feb Cum Double Meeting Church Photo Directory Feb UCW Meeting Members In Care Facilities Pray for Soldiers Get to Know our Confirmands MCS Thank you Page 3 Birthdays, Anniversaries Gerdes Thank you! Youth Group Update Page 4 Lenten Breakfast Schedule 2014 Projects Church Humor Page 5 Church Calendar Church Contact Info: FCC 312 W. Main St. Marshalltown, IA pastor@fccmarshalltown.org secretary@fccmarshalltown.org treasurer@fccmarshalltown.org This is my first newsletter message for you, and I'd like to begin by thanking Pastor Jean for her insightful sermon, thoughtfulness and compassion. May God richly bless her and her dear husband in their endeavors, including Egypt and beyond. The "beyond" for Jeanne and me is returning to Marshalltown after all these years. We know that Marshalltown has seen many changes since we last lived here, but to drive the familiar streets, walk the familiar halls of this church and see the familiar smiling faces of the people here is marvelous. To return home to live, serve God and love one another is the greatest marvel of all. I think Pastor Jean's closing words summed things up well: live "strong for the Lord. Be faithful in worship, generous in giving, serious about learning from the Word of God and diligent in prayer." Pastor Dan Page 1

2 Cum Double! When: Wednesday March 12 th (note date change) Time: 6 pm Hosts: Kolleen Schollenbarger & Norma Dannen Program: Arlene Selby & EXALTATION GROUP! Please bring a dish to share; meat, salads, dessert. Prayer and meal at 6 P.M. Thanks, come join us. All are welcome. President Ray Gerdes It will soon be time, so practice your smile, get your best duds ready and add the dates to your calendar so you won t forget to make your photo contribution to FCC s Church Photo Directory. More into to follow! WHAT: First Congregational Photo Directory - Fall 2014 DATES: September 25 th 3-9 pm Thurs September 26 th 1-8 pm Friday September 27 th 9 am 6 pm Saturday Mark your calendars. More information in upcoming newsletters. Sign-up will commence two months prior to Portrait Session Dates. Coordinators: Nancy Urbanowski & Foster Hawkins UNITED CIRCLE OF WOMEN Meeting: March 27@Noon Meeting Leader: Leta Lacina Devotions: Miriam Bryant Program: To Be Determined Hostesses: Julie Paustian, Romaine Mackaman Reservations due into the church office by Monday, March 24th. Thank you. Please keep our Members in Care Facilities in your Thoughts and prayers: Al & Stella Storjohann Esther Riley, Pattye Morrison Don & Connie Lyman Dr. John Garland, JoAnne Ainley Betty Runner, Max Canfield Norman Pike, Loretta Stubbe, Dr. John Garland Please pray for all soldiers who are away from their loved ones and serving their country. SGT Dushawn Alexander, grandson-in-law of Jane and Willis Fiscus. He has recently been relocated to a new post and we are still waiting on a new address. Please keep him in your prayers. Get to know our Confirmands! We re Amber and Bethany Lawthers. We are identical twins. Our parents are Mimi and Dean Lawthers. We both like different school subjects. Beth likes math and Amber likes science. We both like to craft new things for our American Girl Dolls and LPS Figures. When we grow up we want to be involved in TV weather programs. Amber would like to be the weather girl on WHO Channel 13 and Beth wants to work for the National hurricane Center. Our favorite family vacation was in Minnesota and going to see a ball game, the Mall of America and the zoo. We hope to learn more about Jesus and the Christian faith. THANK YOU! I would like to extend a personal thanks to FCC for the favorable vote at the Annual Meeting to pledge to the building campaign for Marshalltown Christian School and I would like to provide an update. We are about halfway pledged to our goal of $1.6 million for the construction of a new school building on 7th Avenue. The steel for the structure arrived last week and we look forward to beginning construction as soon as the weather allows. We also hope to wrap up fundraising for the building as soon as possible in order to stay on schedule for a start to the school year in our new facilities. I would ask that you prayerfully consider joining those of us who have also made a personal pledge and contact me if you have any questions about the school building project. You may find extra pledge envelopes on the table just outside the church office, or I can bring one to you. Thank you for your consideration. Kristin Meyer Page 2

3 MARCH BIRTHDAYS AT FCC!! 1... Cliff March 2... Kayla Bogenrief 3... Leta Lacina 4... Norma Balcom, Barbara Ellcey,... Dick Squiers, Erin Stanley 5... Jack Tremain 6... Gus Pappas, Dorothy Peterson... Joel Storjohann 7... Barb Hibbs, Erin Woltjer 9... Bob Bauer Greg Meyer, Reed Swartz Dave Gill Dorothy McHone, Ashtynn Shields Brandon Daniel, Charlie Fry... Julie Paustian, Cal Runner Ron Rainey Bruce Vircks Kate Greer, Gwen Wical Mayah Carson Irene Steward Lenora Brown, Lori March Marilyn Egleston, Vicki Weaver Julia Ohrt Rita Byers Nick Carson ANNIVERSARIES Byron & Renee Hof 03/19/94 Bing & Dorothy McHone 3/28/98 "You don't marry someone you can live with; you marry the person you cannot live without - anonymous" Thank you, thank you to all who came to wish us a Happy Anniversary at Fellowship on Feb. 9th. The cards and greetings were very much appreciated. We are so very Blessed to have a wonderful, caring Church Family!!! Ray & Marian Gerdes YOUTH GROUP HAPPENINGS! Youth Group Dates: March 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th (6-12th grade) 6-7:30pm D.O.G.'s (Depend on God) March 12th, and 26th (Kindergarten-5th grade) 6-7:30pm Sunday School is every Sunday morning for all ages starting at 9:15am Special Events in March 1) Friday, March 14th First Baptist Church in Marshalltown is hosting the We Won't Be Shaken Tour, featuring Christian bands: Building 429, Family Force 5, and Hawk Nelson. You can get more information at and order tickets or call First Baptist Church to reserve tickets. We are so excited to have Marshalltown host these amazing bands and pray this will be a way to spread God's word to our community! We hope you will join us!! 2) Saturday, March 22nd NAPF/HOPE group will host its annual Spaghetti Dinner at our church from 5-7pm. We invite all our church family and friends to come enjoy a meal served by our youth! It is a fundraiser for our kids going to our national youth mission conference this summer. It is a free will donation. Thanks to all who can come out and support us!! 3) Friday, MARCH 28 WINTERJAM! Shelly will be joining other youth pastors and directors taking our groups to WinterJam (Christian Band Festival with the focus of sharing the Gospel through music and testimonies of band members!) Friday, March 28th at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, IA. Only $10 at the door. Other travel details will be discussed soon. Please contact Shelly if you would like to go! WinterJam website: Contact info for Shelly Speas: shellzncheese2004@yahoo.com Page 3

4 In just a few short weeks we will again be observing another season of Lent. This is a great opportunity for us as Christians to give a united message about the salvation that has been given to all through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Too often we are seen and viewed by the format of our worship service rather than the message we have to share. As we have done in the past few years, there will be a fellowship and worship service every Wednesday morning during the Lenten season. The following congregations have volunteered to host this service on the dates indicated below. March 5 First United Church of Christ 204 S 4 th Avenue March 12 Hope United Methodist Church 2203 S 3 rd Avenue March 19 First Friends Church 2409 S 5 th Street March 26 Elim Lutheran Church 302 W Church Street April 2 St. Henry s Catholic Church 211 West Olive Street April 9 New Hope Christian Church 3901 S Center Street April 16 First Congregational Church 312 W Main Street Breakfast will be served 6:30am followed by a Lenten message. We are asking the host congregations to finish by 7:15am. The suggested theme for this season will be: The Manger, The Cross and the Empty Tomb. This theme should provide all of us, as Christians, the opportunity to share our Good News throughout our community PROJECTS The Board of Trustees would like your input regarding Capital Improvement and/or Maintenance projects that you would like to see addressed in As presented at the annual meeting, the following projects were listed as being considered. Replace carpeting in sanctuary, offices & hallways Loft upgrades: computer & 60 monitor Front door repairs New carpet in the nursery (complete) Updates for boiler fuel backup system (complete) Insulate attic due to raccoon damage (complete) Major Roof repair Motion sensors for lights and fan in 4 bathrooms Repair & insulate East wall in East stair to balcony SE Flat roof repair & water damage repair Please list below in your order of importance any additional such projects and/or comment on the above projects. PROJECT DESCRIPTION BENEFITS BY: (Optional) clip & mail, or call your choices to the church. We invite all in our community to attend. So if you are planning to join us, please invite a friend. Page 4 CHURCH FUNNY CHURCH BILLBOARD HUMOR! Six-year-old Angie and her four-year-old brother Joel were sitting together in church. Joel giggled, sang, and talked out loud Finally,his big sister had had enough. "You're not supposed to talk out loud in church." "Why? Who's going to stop me?" Joel asked. Angie pointed to the back of the church and said, "See those two men standing by the door? They're hushers!"

5 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH CALENDAR Sunday Worship services: 8 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Sunday School: 9:15 a.m. Chancel Choir Practice: Sundays 9:30 a.m. Bell Choir Practice: Thursdays 5:30 p.m. SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY When inclement weather occurs, please refer to the following radio stations for announcement of cancellation of our worship services: KDAO 1190 am or 99.5 fm KIX fm KFJB 1230 am Church Offices Hours: color code: youth events Monday Friday church meetings/events 9 a.m. Noon special events Sunday school 1 2 Communion Sunday School 9: pm Svcs Ash Wednesday Cum Double 6pm Youth Group 6:00-7:30pm Sunday School9:15 1 st Sunday of Lent Youth Grp & D.O.G.s 6:00-7:30pm Trustees Mtg 6:30pm FCC Stamp Club 10-Noon FBC We won t be Shaken Tour Sunday School 9:15 2 nd Sunday of Lent 17 BCE Mtg. 6 pm HAPPY ST. PAT S DAY! 18 Deacons Mtg. 6:30pm 19 Youth Group 6:00-7:30pm MOW 11 am MMSC 5-7pm NAPF Spaghetti dinner fundraiser 23 Sunday School 9:15 3 rd Sunday of Lent 4 th Sunday of Lent 9:15Sunday School Youth Grp & D.O.G.s 6:00-7:30pm 27 United Circle of Women Noon 28 FCC Stamp Club 10-Noon Winter Jam Wells Fargo DSM 29 MOW 11 am MMSC Page 5

6 First Congregational Church 312 W. Main St. Marshalltown, IA Address Service Requested -