"Faith Notes"
November 12, 2009
Dear Faith Family:
This is the very day God has created—let's celebrate and be festive!
Psalm 118:24
This past week an inordinate list of things happened in my life. My flights to Alabama and back were all ahead of time in take-offs and landings. The weather was excellent until Tuesday morning when I was leaving Montgomery, Alabama. That morning the hurricane had moved in but still my flight took off ahead of schedule. What a blessing.
Over the days I spent time with, almost 11 years old, Keaton, attending all kinds of activities with the Auburn University football team. I observed him interacting with life and telling each person that things were great. I watched him hitting golf balls at the driving range. He was excited that he was hitting better then any time in his life.
I observed him at the end of season party for his football team. I remember him telling me and others after his first ballgame, "My body is hurting all over from my arthritis grandpa but this was the best day of my life!"
I held my new Great-grandson in my two hands… he just about filled them. I thought to myself, "This must be the most perfectly created baby God has created." I got to play with his brother and I knew this was the best day of my life.
I celebrated with the family my grandson's 18th birthday. I sat back and observed the interaction of family and friends around his table. What a wonderful day and time. How blessed I am!
On Monday I headed to the golf course with grandson's Kenneth and Kyle. It was a beautiful cloudy day with no wind. We had a great time as Kyle hit the ball straighter then he had ever hit it. We talked about how much better they were playing golf then ever before. We also talked about grade cards and both boys shared how they have found out that school and learning can be enjoyable.
All the boys and my daughter talked at different times about life and how tenuous it was. My daughter shared with me that Keaton had taught her that you make the most of each day and know that no matter what happens tomorrow, God will be there and the gift, will be life. We will walk through stuff and in the end thank God because it has been the best day of our life.
I invite you to step back and breathe deeply. Meditate on these words from Psalm 118…
Thank God because he's good,
because his love never quits.
tell the world, [people of God],
"His love never quits."
And you, clan of Aaron, tell the world,
"His love never quits."
And you who fear God, join in,
"His love never quits."
Hear the shouts, hear the triumph songs
in the camp of the saved?
"The hand of God has turned the tide!
The hand of God is raised in victory!
The hand of God has turned the tide!
I didn't die, I lived!
And now I'm telling the world what God did.
God tested me, he pushed me hard,
but he didn't hand me over to Death.
Swing wide the city gates—the righteous gates!
I'll walk right through and thank God!
This Temple Gate belongs to God,
so victors can enter and praise.
This is God's work.
We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it!
This is the very day God created—
Let's celebrate and be festive!
Oh yes, God—a free and full life.
The back-drop to the meditations is the 13 earthly lives that came to an end this past week at Fort Hood. If we hear God in life, we know each day is a blessing and even in the end of this earthly life we will walk right through and thank God, and we will sing into eternal life knowing God's love endures forever. Amen.
SNL (Sunday Night Live) – Sunday, Nov. 22nd the SNL Youth Group are making tied fleece blankets for Blank's Children's Hospital's patients. If you would like to donate 1- 1 1/2 yards of fleece material (either printed or solid color) the youth group would appreciate it! Please contact Pastor Natalie at 991-2359 or bring to the church and place in basket on the table in the Narthex. I hear Hancock Fabrics has a great sale this month!
Thanksgiving Turkeys for Food Pantry folks!!!
We continue to collect money for Thanksgiving Turkeys, any donation will help. If you prefer to purchase a frozen that is fine too. Please place "labeled" frozen turkey in our church's deep freezer.
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Sunday School- For all ages, classes for pre-school, K thru 2nd grade, 3rd thru 5th grade, 6th grade thru adults. Music for all youth begins at 9:00 A.M. The youth are practicing for the church Christmas music program that will be Dec. 20th.
Dedication for the New Home for Caring Hands Outreach 2pm 201 9th Street NE Altoona, free parking and shuttle service from Christ the King Lutheran Church to the Food Pantry. Please join me there for the dedication service and to see our new facility.
Prayers, Joys, and Concerns
In our Thoughts and Prayers:
Eleanor Miller, Becky & Jay Rosenberger's grandson, Nickolas Cecchi, Larry DeMoss' sister, Dee Deitrick, Carol Genovese's sister, Georgia Kost, the Barron family, Irv Barron's sister, Betty Darst, Joe Procyk Sr., Marvin & Juanita Sheets, Alex Champion, Maddie Landwehr, Keaton Pratt, Charlie Mayfield, Wendy Todd's aunt, Mrs. Bristow, Wendy Miles' father & her brother, Randy Rawson, her godmother, Ruth Carpenter, Doris Wolf, Michele Taylor's niece, Amanda Miles, Les Hill, Sheila Santos' sister,Renita Lewis, Linda Lighthall, Carol Sutton, Lonita McLean's cousin's daughter, Karli Bruxboort, Connie Miers' father, Leroy Iverson, Carol Nieter's brother, Harvey Taylor, the Shaw family, Barb Geissinger's nephew, Adam, Davier Jones, Carrolyn Stroud's son's mother-in-law, Janice Beller, Tammie Palazzo and her family, Jodi Nelson's friend, Cindy, Jim Rose, Barb Geissinger's cousin Teresa Enfield, Michelle Taylor's friend Gary Hampton whose wife Dianne died this week, Paulette Craggs and Nancy Gill.
We welcome home Joe Scheib, family friend of Karen Mark after his 2nd tour of duty in Iraq, he returned home on Wed. Oct. 28th, Rich Webb, Judi Webb's husband, who has been called to active duty, and we continue to remember all others serving our country.
November Birthdays: Nov. 15th Annette Barr, Ben Hitchcock, and Jeanielle Sachs, Nov. Stephanie Hosier, Nov. 17th Carl Barr, Nov. 18th Sheila Pinegar Weidner, Nov. 19th Jeff Zaugg, Mick Waddell, and Nicholas Hood, and Nov. 21st Doug Casey
November Anniversaries: Nov. 14th Bob and Ann Kirby and Nov. 18th Tony and Megan Neff
Calendar Week of Nov. 8th -15th
(Today) Sun. Nov. 15th- Food Pantry Sunday - Donations of the following items are needed for the Thanksgiving Boxes: canned sweet potatoes, instant potatoes, boxed stuffing, canned pumpkin, evaporated milk and bags of marshmallows. Sharing some extra groceries with hungry people is ever so easy.
Worship services 8:15am & 10:15am, Sunday School all ages Pre-K through Adult - 9:15am, SNL -5-7pm,
Dedication for the New Home for Caring Hands Outreach 2pm 201 9th Street NE Altoona, free parking and shuttle service from Christ the King Lutheran Church to the Food Pantry.
Mon. Nov. 16th - Cub Scouts 6pm, Outreach Committee mtg. - 6pm
Tues. Nov. 17th - T.O.P.S. 8:30-11am, Tiger Scouts -6-7pm
Wed. Nov. 18th – M&M's Puppets and Youth Chime Choir 2-4:30pm, Bell Choir 7pm
Thurs. Nov. 19th – Tiger Scouts 6-7pm, Mixed Blessings Quartet 6:30pm, Choir 7pm
Sun. Nov. 22nd- Worship services 8:15 & 10:15am, Sun. School Classes ages Pre-K through Adult - 9:15am,
SNL– 5-7pm (Sunday Night Live) the SNL Youth Group are making tied fleece blankets for Blank's Children's Hospital's patients. They need donations of 1yd to 1 1/2 yards of fleece material (either printed or solid color).The youth group would greatly appreciate it! Please contact Pastor Natalie at 991-2359 or bring to the church and place in basket on the table in the Narthex.
Holiday Poinsettias order forms are due today Nov. 22nd for $10. Please fill out a form and return it to the church office or call the office to place an order 967-4382.
Annual Thanksgiving Dinner and Auction- 12pm The annual catered Thanksgiving Dinner will cost is $8.00 Adults and $5.00 Children 10 & under and free for children 2 and under. Contact Anna with questions or to purchase tickets for the dinner at 967-4232. Auction - Please fill out the form with your auction donation & place it in the offering plate or give it to Becky Rosenberger.
Announcements
Turkeys for the Food Pantry- Turkey donations will be accepted through November 22nd for the Food Pantry or if you'd like to donate a turkey, that's great too, please put the frozen turkey in the church's freezer, and we'll see that it gets to the Food Pantry.
Christian Education meeting and Church Board meeting scheduled for Nov. 23rd at 6pm and 7pm.
SE Polk Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service- Wed. Nov. 25th 7pm at Altoona United Methodist Church with Father Fitzgerald officiating. Come and worship together in the spirit of thanksgiving.
Hanging of the Greens Worship Service- Nov. 29th 6pm- The youth will have a large role throughout the service, but we're looking for folks to "bring in the greens", light candles, help the little kids with Christmons, bring forward the poinsettias, carry in the nativity, and present the paramounts. If your family would like to volunteer for one of these important task, please let me know at your soonest convenience!
Christian Women's Fellowship Pella Trip – December 4th Please meet at the church at 9am. For more information, contact Georgia at 967-5622.
"Week of Compassion"
A Word from the Associate Director
I do my best to take time to reflect when I'm on the road. I've been fortunate over the last few weeks to find myself in a number of places, meeting Disciples from all over the country who are doing their best to live out their call to act with "Courageous Compassion."
- Getting to know Central California Disciples responding to hunger, severe unemployment and underemployment, and "tent cities" set up by people affected by homelessness.
- Chatting about Foods Resource Bank with an ecumenical group of Young Adults interested in issues of climate change and sustainable living.
- Making a couple of trips to the Gulf Coast, asking the big question, "What's Next?" with everyone who dreams of rebuilding not only New Orleans, but the many other communities devastated by disaster here in the U.S.
- Learning from and being inspired by my colleagues from Church World Service.
- And perhaps most importantly, answering emails and phone calls that all boil down to the same question: "How Can We Make a Difference?"
The "Hope, Healing and a Hand" Courageous Compassion Partnership is a great way to get involved. Disciples Volunteering can help you serve in the Gulf Coast; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and many other places in severe need of starting over, finding healing, and needing encouragement.
There are other places, too. All in need of the courage, compassion, and creativity I've seen as I've traveled around, and I'm sure you all see every time you take an extra second looking in the mirror.
Hope to see you out here on the road. If not, feel free to give me a shout.
- Brandon
I hope to see you in church Sunday. Our religious education program has been very active on Sunday morning. Children are gathering at 9:00 in the music area of the fellowship hall to practice. They are singing "We are Very Thankful" this Sunday in the 10:15 worship service. They are also practicing their Christmas music. We do need a few more individuals to step forward to assist in our Sunday school classes. If you are not teaching please attend the adult class with David Peebler as they study in an in-depth way the life of Paul.
During worship you will joy in the singing of our children and the puppet program that will be presented.
The previous two weeks we have explored the stewardship of bread. The first week folks were invited to imagine what it would look like if a special project of the congregation yielded a hundredfold. What difference would such a yield make in people's lives? How would you assess the yield? How would you celebrate and what would you do next?
Last week you were invited to think about the different ingredients that were involved in making bread. How does that relate to the ministry we are called to? That ministry involves large and small ingredients. Each ingredient is unique just as each one of you is unique. Each one of you brings something to enhance or change the ministry of this congregation proclaiming its true mission in more than words? What part will you play?
This week we will be centered on "The Best Supper." When we gather around the table who is it that is in our presence? What gifts do you receive from participating in the meal? If you were called upon to offer the toast or the blessing at this meal, what would you say or do?
Again, as you prepare for worship this week meditate on these words… "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:35
If you have not returned the survey on Congregational Brainstorming please bring it this Sunday with your thoughts. One in our family has returned it and has shared some very insightful thoughts.
Keep Dancing in the Spirit,
Ken
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