January 2017 Volume 29, Number 1 Forecaster Committing Ourselves to the Lord for the New Year Let us join ourselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant which will never be forgotten. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement created a Covenant Service for the early Methodists to renew the commitments that bind them in covenant with God. The first Covenant Service was held on August 11, 1755 with 1800 people present. Soon, however, the British Methodists made it their custom to use the Covenant Service in Watchnight services on New Year s Eve as a way of renewing their commitment to Christ at the beginning of the new year. The climax of the Covenant Service is a prayer that captures the radical commitment of the early Methodists and continues to challenge us in our commitments today. Perhaps you would like to use this prayer at the beginning of this new year to renew your commitments that bind you in covenant with God: you, exalted for you or brought low for you. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to your pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen. Tremendous possibilities await us in the year 2017. None, however, are more important than our resolve to be in covenant with the Lord our God. In This Issue: Committing Ourselves to the Lord for the New Year Habits for the New Year Series 12 Days of Christmas and Following Jesus Calendar Mission: Mission of Hope and Willis Dady Outreach: Cake Decorating I am no longer my own, but yours. Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for you or laid aside for
Page 2 John Louk, Pastor What Resolutions Are You Making for 2017? Habits for the New Year January 1 is a wonderful time to make some resolutions for the upcoming year. How do we intend to live our lives? After all, life is the most precious gift from God. What we do with it is our response to God. Some of the most popular resolutions in our culture include losing weight, being more healthy, getting organized, learning something new, and getting out of debt. Of course, most resolutions fail within the first month. We make the resolution, but often we don t have a plan to make it happen. Likewise, as followers of Jesus, it s not enough to simply want to be a disciple, we need a plan and a process to make that happen. Discipleship is a pattern of life. It s the practices we cultivate in our lives as we submit to our Lord, Jesus. One of the early Church Fathers, Tertullian (c.160 c.225) said Christians are made, not born. That is, it takes work. Just like Olympic athletes are made and not born, the kind of people we become is directly related to the habits we practice in life. We follow Jesus by the practices we make a part of life every day. The Apostle Paul tells the church at Philippi that they are to conform their practices to Christ as well as to Paul and Timothy, who are models in discipleship. Brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example (Philippians 3:17 NLT) Again at the end of the letter Paul says, Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me everything you heard from me and saw me doing (Philippians 4:9 NLT). These practices of discipleship are, for us as Christians, habits for the new year. They are the patterns of life we have learned from disciples older than us in the way of Jesus. They include doing what John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, called Works of Piety and Works of Mercy. Wesley's Works of Piety are acts we do that express reverence and love for God, such as studying Scripture; hearing Scripture read and sermons preached; receiving the Lord s Supper; praying; fasting; coming together for conversation and mutual support; and living healthily. Works of Mercy are acts we do that love and care for our neighbor. Simply, they are doing good to others. Wesley specifically named feeding the hungry; providing clothing and shelter for those in need; visiting the sick and those in prison; welcoming the stranger; comforting the afflicted; offering counsel, advice, and encouragement to those who need to know God or desire to grow in their relationship with God; earning, saving and giving all one can; and opposing slavery (issues of justice). John Wesley called these "channels of grace because they are practices or habits that help form us as disciples of Jesus Christ. As we practice these habits, the Holy Spirit uses them to further transform our hearts and lives. This is how we are sanctified, or made holy. The Holy Spirit works in us to renew the image of God in us so that we look, speak, and act differently from the world. Certainly they do not earn us salvation. Rather they are fruit that flow from salvation. Wesley understood their absence, however, to indicate an absence of faith. Therefore, Salem, let us resolve to practice these habits this year, living as disciples of Jesus Christ who transform the world. Grace and peace to you, John Louk
Page 3 Series 12 Days of Christmas and Following Jesus In January we conclude the 12 Days of Christmas and begin a new series on following Jesus. January 1, New Year s Day, is the First Sunday after Christmas and we ll still be celebrating. We ll focus on the Gospel which is a difficult passage. Herod is furious when he misses the opportunity to kill the baby Jesus. January 8 is Baptism of the Lord. The focus on baptism is a great introduction to the new worship series on discipleship, Following Jesus, beginning January 15. We ll look at the call to discipleship and then Jesus teaching for followers in the Sermon on the Mount. Come and worship! Jan 1 First Sunday After Christmas Day *One service at 10:30 AM Isaiah 63:7-9 God s Mercy Remembered Psalm 148 Praise for God s Universal Glory Hebrews 2:10-18 Exaltation Through Suffering Matthew 2:13-23 The Escape to Egypt and Massacre of Infants Holy Communion Come and! Sundays Jan 8 Baptism of the Lord Isaiah 42:1 9 Psalm 29 Acts 10:34-43 Matthew 3:13-17 The Servant, a Light to the Nations The Voice of God in a Great Storm Gentiles Hear the Good News The Baptism of Jesus 9 AM Contemporary 11 AM Traditional Jan 15 Following Jesus Isaiah 49:1 7 The Servant s Mission Psalm 40:1 11 Thanksgiving for Deliverance and Prayer for Help 1 Corinthians 1:1 9 In Every Way You Have Been Enriched By Him John 1:29 42 The First Disciples of Jesus Holy Communion Jan 22 Following Jesus Isaiah 9:1-4 The Righteous Reign of the Coming King Psalm 27:1, 4-9 To Live in the House of the Lord Forever 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 Divisions in the Church Matthew 4:12-23 Jesus Begins His Ministry and Calls Disciples Jan 29 Following Jesus Micah 6:1-8 Psalm 15 (UMH 747) I Corinthians 1:18-31 Matthew 5:1-12 What God Requires Who Shall Abide in God s Sanctuary Christ the Power and Wisdom of God Sermon on the Mount: The Beatitudes
Page 4 January 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 New Year s Day 2 3 4 5 6 7 10:30 New Year s Day **one service** Salem Office Closed 9:30 AM Prayer Room 10 AM Wednesday Morning Bible Study Epiphany 8 AM UM Men s Breakfast 7 PM Choir Rehearsal 8 Baptism of the Lord 9 AM Contemporary 9 AM Lectionary Class 10 AM Fellowship 10:10 AM Sunday School 11 AM Traditional 12:30 PM Women s Care Group 9 11:30 AM Golden Links 10 9:30 AM Staff Meeting 6:30 PM Tuesday Night Bible Study 11 10 AM Wednesday Morning Bible Study 5 PM Ministry Teams Leader Meeting 6 PM Salem Son Walkers Emmaus Reunion Group 6:15 PM Youth Group 7 PM Choir Rehearsal 12 13 14 9 AM Outreach Cake Decorating 15 Following Jesus Human Relations Day 9 AM Contemporary 9 AM Lectionary Class 10 AM Fellowship 10:10 AM Sunday School 11 AM Traditional 16 17 9:30 AM Prayer Room 5:15 PM Leadership Board 6:30 PM Tuesday Night Bible Study 18 10 AM Wednesday Morning Bible Study 5 PM Ministry Teams Meeting 6:15 PM Youth Group 7 PM Choir Rehearsal 19 20 21 22 Following Jesus 23 24 25 26 27 28 9 AM Contemporary 9 AM Lectionary Class 10 AM Fellowship 10:10 AM Sunday School 11 AM Traditional January Forecaster articles due to church office 6:30 PM Tuesday Night Bible Study 10 AM Wednesday Morning Bible Study 6 PM Salem Son Walkers Emmaus Reunion Group 6:15 Youth Group 7 PM Choir Rehearsal 1 PM Private 50th Birthday Celebration 29 Following Jesus 9 AM Contemporary 9 AM Lectionary Class 10 AM Fellowship 10:10 Connecting Point 10:10 AM Sunday School 11 AM Traditional 1:30 PM District Leadership Training 30 31 12:30 PM Cards & Fellowship 6:30 PM Tuesday Night Bible Study Salem Office hours: Monday Thursday 9 AM to 4 PM (closed holidays)
Page 5 January Birthdays and Anniversaries Birthdays: 1 Jodi Anderson 2 Amy Schilling 4 Nicole Lindo 6 Glenda McMillen 6 Ann Louk 7 Kori Thomas 7 Ausha Ayers 7 Grant Schilling 8 Mark Lindo 11 Margery Gundling 11 Jordan Jacobus 15 Barb Soukup 15 Gary Warmbier 18 Jack Schilling 19 Norman Schade 21 JoEllen Jacobus 25 Donald Kamara 27 Jace Jacobus 28 Don Whitaker 29 Tim Soukup 29 Kevin Naholi 29 Lydia Whitaker 30 Sally Rohrer 30 Brenda Seaton 31 Billie Tessendorf Anniversaries: 20 Dave & DeAnn King January Mission Focus: Mission of Hope and Willis Dady This month s Mission focus is Mission of Hope and Willis Dady Emergency Shelter. This month s Mission focus is Mission of Hope, a ministry in Cedar Rapids, offering physical, emotional, and spiritual help to those in need. Willis Dady provides prevention services consisting of case management and referrals to services that provide financial, medical, and other aid to households. There are beds for sixteen men and four families. We will receive a special Mission offering the last Sunday of the month during worship.
Page 6 United Methodist Women Sarah Circle will not be meeting in January. Please join us on Thursday, February 9 at 9:30 AM in Fellowship Hall. Sharon Busch, President Rachel Circle will not meet in January. Please join us on Thursday, February 9 at 5:55 PM in Fellowship Hall. United Methodist Men United Methodist Men s breakfast is Saturday, January 7 at 8 AM in Fellowship Hall. RSVP to Mark Minger at 319-651-4751 or at sailing2@mchsi.com Mark Minger Women s Care Group Women s Care Group meets monthly to encourage and care for one another, and to extend that care beyond the walls of Salem. Please plan to join us Sunday, January 8 at 12:30 PM in Fellowship Hall. We will have a potluck meal, fellowship, and uplifting encouragement.
Page 7 Outreach Cake Decorating If you are interested in learning cake decorating basics, join us on Saturday, January 14 at 9AM. Our own Doris Holst will be teaching us. Bring a friend! Please sign up in Fellowship Hall or call Debbie Klatt at 816-668-6101 for more information. Winter Weather Alert Winter is here. Snow, ice, and severe cold can make travel treacherous. We offer this reminder on how you can know if events are canceled at Salem due to safety concerns. Watch for cancellation notices on the bottom of your TV screen on KCRG (9), KWWL (7), and KGAN (2). In general, when the Cedar Rapids Public Schools cancel due to dangerous weather conditions, Salem will also cancel activities. Our website (www.salemchurchcr.com) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/salem.cr) will also have cancellation information when it becomes necessary. All Golden-Agers Welcome! Golden Links don t just meet to eat. This year we gave $275 to Olivet Mission for Christmas food baskets. We also sent Christmas greetings to the veterans at the VA Hospital in Iowa City, and will be sending valentines there also. All seniors are welcome to join us on Monday, January 9 at 11:30 AM at Pizza Ranch, 2450 Westdale Drive SW, for an uplifting time of food and fellowship! Judy Thomas will have the program, and we have some important items to discuss. Call Jeff Cook (393-9180), Judy Thomas (390-6574) or Dick Talbott (247-9919) for information.
January 2017 Forecaster 3715 33rd Avenue SW Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404 319-362-6178 office@salemchurchcr.com www.salemchurchcr.com www.facebook.com/salem.cr RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Salem s mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. connecting people, building community, transforming lives through Jesus Salem s Sunday Morning Schedule 9:00 AM Contemporary Sanctuary 9:00 AM Lectionary Class Lower Level Room 6 10:00 AM Fellowship Time Fellowship Hall 10:10 AM Sunday School Lower Level 11:00 AM Traditional Sanctuary Nursery for infants through 4-year-olds is available on the Lower Level during worship services and Sunday School. Salem Office hours: Monday Thursday 9 AM to 4 PM (closed standard holidays)