Faith Notes

"Faith Notes" 

                                                                                    December 30, 2009

Dear Faith Family:

 

It has been about three weeks since I last sent out Faith Notes.  During that time Carla and I were in the process of moving and you were receiving the daily Advent Devotions.  If you appreciated the devotions we have sent out the past year during Lent and Advent it would be helpful if you let me know.  If they were helpful to you we will continue the practice of sending devotions out during special seasons.  If they were not helpful we will look for something different in the future.  Thank you in advance for your input. 

 

I want to thank everyone for allowing the time Carla and I needed to make the adjustments of downsizing and moving over the past few weeks.  We are feeling more at home in our new place at Walnut Ridge each day.  Making the adjustment would have been impossible without your understanding.

 

                                     

 

I share with you a few thoughts for the New Year.  These notes are from a book titled "the Art of Living" by Wilferd A Peterson. 

 

To get the most out of life we must take time to live as well as to make a living.  We must practice the art of filling our moments with enriching experiences that will give new meaning and depth to our lives. 

 

We should take time for good books; time to absorb the thoughts of poets and philosophers, seers and prophets. 

 

Time for music that washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. 

 

Time for friendships; time for talks by the fire and walks beneath the stars.

 

Time for children that we may find again the Kingdom of Heaven within our hearts.

 

Time for laughter; time for letting go and filling the heart with mirth. 

 

Time for travel; time for pilgrimage and festival, for shrine and exhibit, for rockbound coast and desert, mountain and plain. 

 

Time for nature, time for flower gardens, trees, birds and sunsets. 

Time to love and be loved, for love is the greatest thing in the world.

 

Time for people; time for the interplay of personalities and the interchange of ideas.

 

Time for solitude; time to be quiet and alone and to look within.

 

Time to give of ourselves, our talents, abilities, devotions, convictions, that we may contribute to the onward march of man. 

 

Time to worship; time for opening our lives to God's infinite springs of vitality, that we may live more abundantly. 

 

In all ways let us make our moments glow with life.  Let us pray as did Matthew Arnold: "Calm, calm me more, nor let me die, before I have begun to live."

 

Amen. 

 

                                                 

 

 Prayers, Joys, & Concerns:

 

In our Thoughts and Prayers: Eleanor Miller; Becky & Jay Rosenberger's grandson, Nickolas Cecchi;

Ken and Carla Briggs' grandson, Keaton Pratt; Carol Genovese's sister, Georgia Kost; the Barron family and Irv's sister, Betty Darst; Joe Procyk Sr.; Marvin & Juanita Sheets; Alex Champion; Maddie Landwehr; Charlie Mayfield; Wendy Todd's aunt, Mrs. Bristow; Wendy Miles' father, brother, Randy Rawson, and her godmother, Ruth Carpenter; Doris Wolf; Michele Taylor's niece, Amanda Miles and her friend Gary Hampton; Les Hill;  Sheila Santos' sister, Renita Lewis; Linda Lighthall; Carol Sutton; Lonita McLean's cousin's daughter, Karli Bruxboort; Connie Miers' father, Leroy Iverson; 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; Nancy Gill; Jodi Nelson's friend, Cindy; Ellis Monk; Jim Rose; Anna Hines; Doug Teuber; Blaine Moats' nephew, Isaac; Norma Stuart's friend, Marvel Hall; Paulette Craggs' friend, Sharon; Vee Rehor; Alan Petre; Margaret & Jeff Cummings' brother and sister; Barb Geissinger and her family.

We remember Rich Webb, Judi Webb's husband, who has been called to active duty, and we continue to remember all others serving our country.

 

January Birthdays: Jan. 4^th John Craggs, Jan. 5^th Mary Heinrich, Jan. 6^th Inga Brown and

Carol Genovese, Jan. 9^th Mike Nieters, and Jan. 10^th Bill Malcom

January Anniversaries: Jan. 3^rd Scott and Janet Glass, Jan. 5^th Mike and Carol Nieters

 

Calendar Week of Jan. 3^rd – 10^th, 2010

(Today) Sun. Jan. 3^rd – Sunday Morning Worship services 8:15am & 10:15am,

Sunday School 9:15am all ages welcome, No SNL

Mon. Jan. 4^th - Scouts 4-5:30pm and 6-7pm

Tues.  Jan.  5^th - T.O.P.S. 8:30-11:30am, Boy Scouts 6:30-7:45pm

Wed. Jan. 6^th – Day of Epiphany, No M&M Puppets and Youth Chime Choir (resumes Wed. Jan. 13^th from 2-4:30pm), Bell Choir 7pm

Thurs. Jan. 7^th - Scouts 5-6pm, 6-7:15pm, Mixed Blessing Quartet 6:30pm, Choir 7pm

Sat. Jan. 9^th - Scrapbooking 9am-2pm Come one, come all...  Looking for experienced scrapbookers and those wanting to learn!

Sun. Jan. 10^th – Sunday Morning Worship services 8:15am & 10:15am,

Sunday School 9:15am all ages welcome, SNL 5-7pm

 

Announcements:

 

SNL Dinners: SNL leaders and youth are looking for members and friends of the congregation to supply and/or prepare dinner for our Sunday evenings here at ACC. If you would like more information about times, ideas and dates, please email Pastor Natalie at peaceweaver@live.com or call her at 991-2359. Any help would greatly be appreciated!

 

Boy Scouts – Fri. Jan. 15^th Pinewood Derby Weigh-In 5-9pm & Sat. Jan. 16^th Pinewood Derby 8am-5pm

 

Sun. Jan. 17^th - Food Pantry Sunday - Most items needed are pancake mix, syrup (sugar and sugar-free), PB and crackers, Mac and Cheese dinners, spaghetti and sauce, soups, canned veggies, tuna or salmon, canned fruit and juices, and pasta noodles.  Personal hygiene items needed are soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, diapers, and sanitary napkins. Please remember monetary donations are always welcomed at the Food Pantry too.

 

Sharing and Giving Tree - During the month of November and December Altoona Christian Church members and friends donated items needed and wanted by one family through Central Place's - Season of Sharing program. We were able to donate most of the items requested plus a holiday food box.

We also received lots of scarves, mittens, gloves and hats that were donated and taken to Central Place for their clients over after Christmas.

 

       Clothes Hanger- A Program of Central Place 201 9^th Street NE  Alt.- If you need help with clothing or             want to donate items! Open – Mon & Wed. 5-8pm, and 1^st and 3^rd Saturdays each month 9-11am

                                               

 

Church Cancellations!!!

 

Remember, in the event of inclement weather, please check your e-mails.  We send out e-mails to everyone if any services are canceled.  You can also check with WHO and KCCI television and radio stations.  You can also go to their internet sites and click the button for cancellations.  We will always try to cancel services in a timely fashion.  If you do not have internet or cannot find information on television and have any questions about services please call me at 314-6494. 

 

During the weekdays, if Southeast Polk Schools are closed the office will generally be closed.  Again, if there is a question, please call me at 314-6494.  Be safe and thank you for your understanding.

 

                                               

 

Don's Forget…

 

You can always bring your refundable soda and other beverage containers to church and deposit them in the container at the entrance of the church.  We refund those containers and the funds go to support "Heavens Handful Puppets."

 

Hawthorn Hill…

 

I share with you a letter I received this week from Hawthorn Hill.  This is one of the outreach programs we support through the year and I wanted you to be reminded what our sharing does in people lives. 

 

Dear Altoona Christian Church: 

 

Many have suffered this year with the economic downturn.  Imagine being unable to support your family financially.  The current economy renders it even harder for these families to make ends meet. 

 

More families than ever are finding themselves unemployed and even worse, homeless.  Experiencing homelessness can be traumatic, more so during the holidays.  These challenging times are especially hard for homeless families already going without the essentials that most of us take for granted. 

 

Families that come to Hawthorn Hill don't have the luxury of spending the holidays in their own homes.  During Thanksgiving, New Directions Shelter was at capacity with 8 mothers and 23 children.  Their only home is the one we provide at New Directions Shelter. 

 

From January through November, 2009, we have had over 120 families come to Hawthorn Hill for shelter and housing.  Thankfully, we have had wonderful success stories from our families that were able to overcome the odds and are working towards achieving financial independence. 

 

One particular story this year is of Miguel and Maria.  They, along with their five children ranging in age from 18 months to 17, have bee in The Home Connection program for 2 ½ years.  The Home Connection program helped them become self-sufficient and self-reliant.  Miguel and Maria worked diligently to obtain financial independence.  They both attended and graduated English as a Second Language (ESL) classes and are now employed full time.  Their seventeen-year old daughter participated in her high school's ROTC program and will graduate with honors before joining the Navy.  Miguel and Maria's family just purchased their first home and will be moving into it this month.  Thanks to your donations, we are able to make financial independence a reality for this family. 

 

Because of generous contributions, it is possible for us to provide a lending hand to families who want to achieve independence and acquire permanent housing.  We hope you will consider a financial gift today.  It is a gift that will truly make a difference in the live of hundreds of homeless families. 

 

Sincerely, Tim Shanahan, Executive Director

Have a happy New Year…  I want to thank all of you who have given of yourselves in so many ways sharing in the ministry of Altoona Christian Church.  Every day the spirit of what it means to be Disciples together is lived out in this community of faith.  One person wrote in our survey of "Congregational Brainstorming"… "Reach out to others and fill the church with new members.  I think Altoona Community seeks our church as a family place to worship.  Each member should bring in new members this year."  They went on to say… "Our greatest gift is outreach, music, youth activities, having Natalie on-board and great messages." 

 

As we enter the New Year of ministry in the name of Jesus Christ, if you are in town take time to gather in worship on Sunday.  Natalie and I are looking forward to seeing you.  The message for the morning will be "Coming Home to God" with the text being Jeremiah 31:7-14.  There will be special music in both services. 

 

Keep Dancing in the Spirit,

 

Ken     

 

       

          

             

January 3 Bulletin

I am attaching the bulletin for Jan 3.  There might be changes but the music will remain the same. 
 
Ken

Canceling Christmas Eve Services

Dear Faith Family:

 

Because the prediction of icing to begin between 2:00 and 4:00 and the condition of our parking lot and driving conditions that are expected, the leadership of Altoona Christian church has made the decision that out of concern for the safety of everyone, we should cancel our Christmas Eve Services.  We thank you for your understanding.  A pastor said last night on a newscast... "We don't need a Christmas Eve service to have Christmas."  May each of us gather where we are and share in the meaning of the birth of the Christ Child as hope again springs forth in our hearts. 

 

We hope it will meet with your approval that we have the same service on Sunday morning at 10:15 that we would have had this evening.  We will also have some of the same music and service at the 8:15 service on Sunday morning. 

 

I leave with you God's Blessings and the Advent Devotion for today...

 

December 24, 2009

The Christmas Gift

Excerpt from Micah 6: 6 - 8

"With what shall I come before God . . . Burnt offerings, calves a year old . . . Thousands of rams, ten thousands of rivers of oil?"

Reflection by Anthony B. Robinson

If you haven't found the right gift by now, you may be feeling desperate. Desperate, anxious and maybe a little irritated. Lot of pressure, the gift-giving thing. The ads tell us that if only we get/find/buy the right gift, then we will be loved.

The people of Israel were operating on a similar premise: God would love them if they offered the right gift. But they are a little irritated about it all. Nothing seemed to be enough. No gift they could think up seemed sufficient to get God's love. So they poured out their frustration to the prophet, Micah. What does God want? Burnt offerings? Our best, young livestock? How about a couple thousand rams? Maybe a river of the finest oil? (Get how angry they are?) They up the ante as high as it can go. "Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" What's it gonna take, God?

Micah's answer, and the good news of Christmas, is that we don't have to come up with the perfect or the biggest or the most expensive gift. We don't have to win God's favor or to appease God at all. Instead of frantically trying to do something to get God to love us, trust that God already and truly loves us. We don't have to try to get on God's good side, because God has taken our side. God has sent God's own first born child to our side. God's love comes first, gift and grace. "Unto you is born this day in the city of David a child." We can't do a thing to earn God's love, but we can receive it and trust it.

We are, however, asked to respond to God's love and grace. How? Micah tells us, "by doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with God." Give this gift to God not to win God's love but because God loves you so much he sent his own first born child. God will always love you. It's a gift. Your Christmas gift. Open it and live.

Prayer

Lord, when I get tied in knots trying to earn your love, help me to take a deep breath and receive the good news, unto me is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. Amen.

     

Advent Devotion

December 23, 2009

Shoutout to All the Abbas

Excerpt from Luke1:5-25

"Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord."

Reflection by Quinn G. Caldwell

Much is made of motherhood during Advent, as well it should be. But too often, Joseph recedes into the background, and Zechariah, who like Mary receives the annunciation of his special kid's birth, hardly gets mentioned at all. So I always try to remind myself to think about the dads in this story. Those of us with good fathers, even flawed good fathers, know how important good fathering is. Those of us without good fathers know the same thing, but have learned it in a much harder way.

I sometimes hear from people that they cannot refer to God as Father; they've experienced things with their human fathers that will not let them believe that a good God could be anything like them. So don't you think Joseph must have been a great dad? I mean, Jesus referred to God as Father more frequently than almost anything else, even going so far as to call God Abba, or "Daddy," on the cross. Don't you think Joseph must have been really extraordinary for that metaphor to work for Jesus? Don't you think Zechariah must have been something special to raise a kid like John? Don't you think the world needs as many good fathers in it as it can get?

Don't you think you ought to get in touch with a good Abba you know today and thank him for it?

Prayer

God, for every good dad you have sent into the world to shape and nurture it, we praise your name. Amen.

Advent Devotion

Dear Faith Family:

 

Please be safe in your travels.  Keep watching your e-mail and TV announcements in relation to the Christmas Eve Services.  If we think it would not be safe to gather for worship we will cancel the services.  I will continue to send out devotions to those who have e-mail so you can worship as a family in the safety of your homes. 

 

Have a Merry and Blessed Christmas,

Pastor Ken

 

December 22, 2009

Another Kind of Hope

Excerpt from Romans 8:18-30

"By hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen?"

Reflection by William C. Green 

Hope is not easy. How often we say, "The world is a mess. I can't see any hope." Or, "I always run into the same problems. I can't see any hope." "My partner is never going to change," or "I'm never going to change. I can't see any hope for this relationship." We can feel this way about much that we face. Plenty of people have plenty of faith and a great attitude and bad stuff still happens. More believing and more praying isn't always of much help.

Faith is no denial of hopelessness. It's no denial of despair. Maybe our problem is the notion that faith means believing in prayer, or believing in hope, when instead it means believing in God. This can seem vague until brought into focus in Jesus. With him we don't turn away -- we can't -- from error and tragedy, the risks of love, and the agony of suffering and injustice.

In the birth of Jesus a much different kind of hope is born, challenging what we're used to. We learn what Luther called "confident despair." This means looking beyond what we can see and control. It's the abandonment of self-assurance for the assurance of God's presence. We can't see in the dark anymore than we can always see hope. But we're not alone. A strong hand holds ours. We're loved and led in the way to go.

Prayer

Lord of light and darkness, you give us hope beyond our own that leads us in the way ahead. Amen

Advent Devotion

Dear Faith Community:
 
Since I did not get a devotion sent out yeasterday and I liked it so much I am sending yesterday's and today's devotion to you this morning.  I want to thank everyone for their birthday greetings yeasterday.  We had a great encounter with God at church yesterday.  Please have a safe day today.
 
Blessings, Ken 
 
 
December 20, 2009

I'm What?

Excerpt from Luke 1:46b-55

Reflection by Ron Buford

When reading this full text, those of us who take the Bible seriously but not necessarily literally may wonder what Mary really said when the angel told her that she was about to become an unwed teenage mother. This could not possibly have been good news for Mary, a poor peasant girl among an illiterate people who never heard of a thing called "virgin birth."

"I'm what? Pregnant?"

"And you want me to tell people what?"

"You know that in the eyes of all my neighbors, he will always be regarded as a . . . you know what they will call my baby."

And yet the truth of this text is profoundly present in Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, whose birth will so change the world that the years on earth will be measured as being before and after Jesus' birth. And Mary's prophecy in this text is still coming true. People of the light still believe and work for it to this day.

And we remember Mary, with millions still saying, "Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus."

And we will still work for justice as God's partners, until the poorest and most vulnerable on the earth realize God's mercy as present "for those who fear God from generation to generation." God's strength has and will continue to bring down powerful despots on thrones; God will continue lifting up the lowly and filling the hungry on the earth, filling them with good things.

No matter what actually happened, I know this text is true.

Prayer

Thanks be to God for Mary, Amen
 
 
December 21, 2009

24/7

Excerpt from Psalm 113

From the rising of the sun to its setting, praise be the Name of God!

Reflection by David Schoen

From the psalmist's perspective, the world was flat and the sun actually did rise and set.

I don't think, however, that the psalmist meant to limit the timing of God's praise for just the daylight hours, since other texts in the psalms remind us of God's presence during the night.

Today we know that the sun setting or rising is just a matter of our perspective.

Some days our praise of God is a matter of our perspective as well. There are days when it is difficult to see or sense God's presence in the world or our lives. There often are days when from our perspective God may seem distant or even absent.

We know that the sun never really sets, it shines twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, around the world: 24/7. This week we celebrate the birth of the one who, like the sun, reminds us that God is with us always: today, tonight, and tomorrow; in life, in death, in life beyond death. Emmanuel, God is with us 24/7.

Let our praise and thanks this week and always be 24/7.

Prayer of Praise

"Hail the Bearer of God's peace! Hail the Sun of righteousness, Light and life our Savior brings, risen with radiant healing wings, Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the Christ-child bring!" (New Century Hymnal, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," #144)

Advent Devotion

Greetings:

 

Hope to see everyone in church on this glorious day.  Parents please have all your children at the church by 9:00 A.M. for music practice back in the music room.  The children's part of worship is going to be great.  Keep safe and please be careful with all of the slick spots.  Blessings to each one of you.

 

Pastor Ken

 

December 19, 2009

God Has Many Names

Excerpt from Luke 13:31-35

Reflection by Martin B. Copenhaver

What's your favorite name for God? There are so many choices. The Bible contains dozens of names for God.

Some names remind us that God is powerful and mysterious: I Am, Alpha and Omega, Sun of Righteousness, Bright Morning Star, Ancient of Days, Holy One.

Other names seem to bring God to our side in an intimate way: Abba (which means, "Papa," or, "Daddy"), Comforter, Counselor, Love. In this Advent season, we particularly call upon God in Christ with the name Emmanuel, which means "God with us."

Many of the names for God in the Bible are masculine, but others, like the name in our reading today ("Brooding Hen") are feminine, and still others are gender-neutral.

So why do we have so many names for God? Quite simply, each name says something about God, but not all that can be said. No one name is sufficient. So we draw on a rich treasure-store of many names. As one of our hymns charges us, "Bring many names, beautiful and good."

So what is your favorite name for God? May I suggest that you use that name now to call upon God in prayer?

Prayer

I know you by many names, but the name that seems to draw me closest to you is _______. Thank you for giving me a name with which to address you because that means that you long to be in relationship with me. Amen.

  

Advent Devotion

December 18, 2009

No Refunds

Excerpt from Hebrews 10:32-39

" . . . you cheerfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves possessed something better and more lasting."

Reflection by Christina Villa

In a long checkout line at the Gap, I was right behind a very nicely-dressed woman carrying bags from the expensive department stores at the mall. She was arguing, loudly and abusively, with the teenaged cashier about a refund she erroneously believed she was entitled to. The people in line were at first shocked into silence by the spectacle, but soon began heckling the woman, who spat nastily right back at them. Finally a manager appeared and gave the woman her refund -- clearly to get rid of her. With relief, the cashier handed the woman a receipt and said, "That's $11.77 back on your Master Card."

$11.77. I had figured this was a scene worthy of at least $50. I wonder how much happiness that $11.77 bought her. If I needed a reminder this Christmas season to focus less on buying gifts and worrying about money, this lady had just provided it.

Nobody likes being deprived of what they think they have coming to them. I don't know anyone who would cheerfully accept the plundering of their possessions, as today's scripture puts it. On the other hand, maybe most of us would cheerfully accept our possessions being plundered -- if it were the only way we could hang on to "something better and more lasting." For most of us, what is better and more lasting are things like our faith, our family, the people in our lives, the relationships we have them, all of the above. When these things are lost or plundered, it's very difficult to get a refund.

Prayer

Dear God, please keep me out of the lines at the mall, watch over the cashiers and sales people who are stuck in the stores this entire holy season, and check on that lady who got her money back at the Gap. Amen.

Advent Devotion

December 17, 2009

Are You Angry With Me?

Excerpt from Psalm 80: 1-7

"O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people's prayers . . . Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved."

Reflection by Lillian Daniel

Some people are very sensitive to other's moods. They constantly check in, asking, "Are you angry with me? Did I do something to offend you?"

Usually the response is, "Of course not. Why do you ask?'

They then confess some misstep they worried had hurt you, when to you it was no big deal. You talk and work it out.

Sometimes those same people get mad themselves and never tell you, expecting you to be as sensitive as they are. They are waiting for you to ask them, "Are you angry with me? Did I do something to offend you?" They want you to ask so that you can clear the air, and they can finally say "No big deal." But you don't ask, because it hadn't occurred to you that they were angry, and finally, months later, they tell you they've been mad all this time.

I seldom ask people if they are angry with me. Why hunt for bad news? I figure they'll tell me, but of course I know that's not always true.

Have you ever found out long after the fact that someone was angry with you? It's a miserable feeling.

In this psalm, the person praying asks, "God, are you angry at me? Did I do something wrong?" People whose prayers don't get answered often wonder if God is mad at them. And I always picture God responding, "No, of course not. Why do you ask?" For God doesn't punish us like that.

Prayer

God, thank you for being more patient with us than we deserve. I thank you that you are not a punishing God, but a God of love and mercy. Could it be that the answer to my prayers is coming in another form than I imagined? If so, I thank you in advance. Amen.

Advent Devotion

December 16, 2009

Nothing but the Truth

Excerpt from Luke 7:31-35

"For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon;' the Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'"

Reflection by Felix Carrion

They said of John the Baptist "he has a demon." They said of [Jesus], "Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!" With these words, Jesus points to the banal contradictions of their criticisms. Those whom he quotes refuse to listen to the message about the condition of their lives. Instead, they deflect, they label.

Friends, let's accept it now: there are people who will always be critical no matter what you do and how you do it. The labels they fling will always fly. Forget trying to change this; instead, work on "thyself," which means: pay loving and genuine attention to your life, to your every step. This is the path to an authentic life.

I am convinced that neither John nor Jesus gave any credence to the opinions of their critics. Whether praised or criticized, they simply went on doing what rang true in them. Nothing but the truth of their lives could hold court in their hearts and heads.

An authentic and transparent life is free from the flapping fickleness of the human tongue and the judgments of others.

Prayer

O God, hold court in my heart, and free me to be who I truly am. Amen.

Advent Devotions

December 5, 2009

Touched by God

Excerpt from Luke 9:1-6

"Jesus called the twelve together . . . and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal."

Reflection by William C. Green


As a poet put it, "I learn by going where I have to go." We learn who Jesus is by doing what he asks us to do: preach and heal through what we say and do, whether or not we mount a pulpit or cure illness.

Three times in my life, someone has been so bold as to place their hands on my head or shoulders and pray explicitly for God's blessing.  This was more than praying at a polite distance. It involved touch—unsettling for some of us. I hadn't asked for this. Sometimes we're in no position to ask for what we need. Sometimes someone seems intuitively to know that only a power higher than our own, working through them, can touch us.

We may not be cured but we can be healed. The power of what threatens us can be broken. Think of the embrace of a loved one, or, when appropriate, a good hug. Think of someone who listens well when something is troubling you. That's a healing touch, too.

All of us need more than a good prayer or a strong hug. But all of us first need power beyond our own that directly touches us with love and confidence. That's what Jesus is all about -- and how he becomes real for us and, through us, for others. This is what we prepare to celebrate all over again this Advent season.

Prayer

God of healing and hope, touch us again and make us bold enough to share that with others. Amen.

Advent Devotion

December 13, 2009

Results Beyond Measure

Excerpt from Philippians 4:4-7

"The Lord is near."

Reflection by William C. Green

In determining what's good, we want measurable results. Our way of measuring often fails to question the value of what we're looking for. Do we really wish all our prayers had been answered? If so, we might be stuck in a job we prayed was safe but that we needed to leave, or relieved by assurance that proved misguided. And so with better church attendance, good performance evaluations, and successful campaigns. What's measurable can be misleading, and it's not what counts.

What counts is what Advent anticipates: the coming of true hope in the birth of Christ. Who could have measured the difference this would make? With the advantage of hindsight we see world-wide significance. At the time what could be "measured" was the poorness of parents and the extremity of poverty. Later on, what could be measured was twelve disheveled disciples. Then what could be measured was the might of Rome and the weakness of a crucified Savior. The power of Easter could not be measured by the number who believed.

Paul says, not that the Lord is here, but that the Lord is near. God is with us, but that's hard to nail down and quantify. Poverty, oppression, all manner of disorder and disease still prevail. That's measurable. What's immeasurable is God's promise that this will be overcome. In this expectation we are meant to live, to plan, and to love.

Prayer

God, whose love is near and beyond measure, may we count on the new hope that is ours in Christ. Amen.

 

Advent Devotions

Dear Faith Family:

 

Most of our belongings are moved into our new home.  There is still much to do at our home of the last 13 years but the big stuff is at our new home if it has not found its rightful place there.  We thank you for your prayers and look forward to celebrating the remaining days of Advent in anticipation of the newness of the Christ-child.

 

Our new address is 1701 Campus Drive, Apartment 3430, Clive, IA 50325.  Our new land-line phone number is 221-4506. 

 

See you in church tomorrow. 

 

Pastor Ken

 

December 12, 2009

The Big and the Small

Excerpt from Amos 9: 8-15

For lo, I will command, and shake the house of Israel among all the nations as one shakes with a sieve, but no pebble shall fall to the ground.

Reflection by Donna Schaper

If you have ever had a pebble in your shoe, you know what harassment is. You have to stop, take off your shoe, potentially your sock as well, and get that pebble out. It is in your way. It may be small but it is still significant. God appears not to be harassed by the small. God appears not to know how not to pay attention to the little things or the little ones.

This is good news for the small and bad news for the bigs. My kids always called us parents "the bigs." We can go if the bigs say yes. We can get the ice cream if the bigs say yes. I always wondered how much they hated us for our power. Children are both protected and annoyed by what adults do to them. Never ignore a child who is telling you "I am a BIG girl." She may be defensive but she means it.

So what is it about God and Israel? It was small and God protected it. Does God preferentially care for the small and the powerless? The children? The ones who have to be shaken with a sieve to even be seen?

I think yes. I think the evidence from widow's mite to shaken sieve is abundant. If you are small God is likely to be with you. If you are big, whoops. Israel as a nation surely must understand now that its smallness has become so big, or at least so pivotal. The rich surely understand, now that they fear the poor and gate themselves when not sitting in the walled protection of first class.

No pebble shall fall to the ground. But what about the boulders? Who can care for them? I mean us. Is God large enough to shake and save both big and small?

Prayer

O God, whether we are big or small, boulder or pebble, enlighten us and show us how much you care. Help us to turn towards the small, especially as we get big. And keep the Bigs from being too large to fail. And protect the pebbles. Amen.
     

Advent Devotion

Dear Faith Family:  
 
This is moving day for Carla and I.  Keep us in your prayers that all goes smoothly.  Thank you and blessings, Ken
 
December 11, 2009

Spiritual Seed and Material Harvest

Excerpt from 1 Corinthians 9: 3-14

"Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel." (NIV)

Reflection by Kenneth L. Samuel

Is there anything more disturbing than a church dispute about a minister's compensation? It should be encouraging to know that these difficult matters did not originate with our congregations. The first-century church, wrestled with the same issues.

From their struggles, we learn first that spiritual matters are worthy of material investment. I heard a preacher say that "the gospel is free, but ministry costs." And in our day, the work of ministry has broadened to include not just parish ministers, but denominational leaders and staff. How often do we miss the opportunity to attract and maintain capable, qualified persons for service in our churches and in our denomination because we fail to offer adequate compensation? It takes quality investments to maintain and develop quality ministries.

Second, Paul reminds us that while ministers of the gospel should be adequately compensated materially, the motivation of ministers should never be material compensation. "Quid pro quo" (an equal exchange) does not work well for persons in ministry because our labors are labors of love -- the uplifting of spirits, the sharing of the Good News, the support of families in crisis, the blessing of newborns, the development of resources for spiritual growth, the solemnizing of marriages, the work of domestic and foreign missions, the offering of comfort to the grieving . . . these services are offered out of deep devotion to God and commitment to the body of Christ. Still, ministers of the gospel should not have to sacrifice their material well-being for the spiritual edification of the church.

May the seeds of the Spirit produce material harvests of abundance for all who give and receive the gospel of Jesus.
Prayer

Lord God, we are grateful for the immeasurable gift of your church. Now please give us the commitment to make the spiritual and the material investments that are necessary to build and sustain it for thy glory. Amen.
 

Advent Devotion

December 10, 2009

Get Your Bucket, Honey!

Dear Faith Family:
 
The church office remains closed today because of cold and snow removal problems.  The move date for Carla and I was changed to tomorrow, Friday December 11.  I hope to see you Sunday.  Pastor Ken   
 
 
Excerpt from Isaiah 12:2-6

"With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation."

Reflection by Ron Buford

Life is sometimes difficult. Here the ancient Hebrew writer gives us the key to surviving tough times -- when we lose someone we love or struggle financially, when our health fails, when people disappoint us or we disappoint others and ourselves, or when we must abandon a life-long dream. Whatever the challenge, this text reminds us to "with joy, draw water from the wells of salvation."

Joy is the bucket. It draws water from the wells of salvation. Joy is not inappropriate or senseless happiness, frivolity or complacency in tough times. It is hopeful remembrance of God's Presence and Power on our behalf as we recall survival with God through past tough times. Here, an active image of drawing water reminds us to keep moving forward, to keep hoping in God, listening for God, confident that we will eventually draw up real salvation -- real solutions for real living.

Does this mean that things will always turn out the way we'd like? No.

It does mean we choose to change dance partners -- from fear and negativity to dancing with the God of hope and perspective on all life's circumstances, with the One who gently whispers in our ear, guiding as we learn the steps, just in time. We are dancing with the One who can unfold any box and turn it into a dance floor . . . eventually.

So, get your bucket honey, draw up living water and then dance . . . dance . . . dance with God . . . today.

Prayer

Gracious God, like the Samaritan woman who had "issues" and encountered Jesus when she came to draw water from the well, Lord, we have issues. You inspired her to draw upon your living water within her. Recalling your innumerable gifts and actions throughout our lives, we gain confidence in your power for us this day. Thank you. Sharpen our recall. Strengthen our resolve to thrive, laugh, and dance again. Amen.

Advent Devotion

December 9, 2009

Eyewitness News

Excerpt from Luke 7:18-30

When the men had come to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?'" . . . Jesus answered them, "Go tell John what you have seen and heard . . . "

Reflection by J. Mary Luti

You don't have to be in jail to need to know. You don't have to be facing execution to wonder. You don't have to be watching your life's work crumble to condense all your puzzlement and pain into one urgent question for Jesus: "Are you the one?"

All it takes is a shadow drifting across the sun of our faith -- a contradiction, a failure, a loss. God zigs where we thought God would zag. Suddenly there are trees but no forest; pixels but no picture. Down go our hearts. Up goes our cry: "Are you really the one? Is this really the way?"

Jesus doesn't offer pious assurances: "Tell John all will be well." He doesn't proclaim dogma: "Tell John God is in charge." He doesn't cite authority, "Tell him I said so." He says, "Tell John what you see and hear."

What you see and hear.

How do disillusioned hearts turn the corner to hope again? Often it's when a sister or brother shares with us true stories about God's mercy in their own lives and about the graceful things God is doing in the world -- what they have seen and heard. And the more they tell, the more the big picture clarifies, and the more the risk of faith feels right again.

I doubt that authoritative utterances or pious assurances encouraged John in jail. But I bet his heart leapt when his disciples returned with Eyewitness News.
Prayer

Lord, send me messengers with eyewitness news to encourage my faith. And send me to others, to tell them everything I know of you.

A Surprise Birthday

Dear Faith Family:

 

I wanted to remind you that Irv Barron's birthday is December 16.  Irv will be 80 years old on that day.  His family and I would like to invite all of you to shower him with cards on his birthday.  Irv is the one who always makes sure the members of our church family get cards for all kinds of occasions, now it is our time to honor him. 

 

If you would like to be a part of this surprise please send a card to Irv Barron, 608 4^th St SE, Altoona, IA 50009. 

 

Thank you so much. 

 

Pastor Ken 

 

Advent Devotion

December 8, 2009

I'm Just Not That Good

Excerpt from 2 Peter 1: 2-15

"You must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love."

Reflection by Lillian Daniel

Just reading that list makes me tired and despondent. I can't fit all those good attributes into one day, let alone one sentence. I know every one those characteristics is something worth striving for, but seeing them all together like that makes me think this is not the list for me.

I'd be grateful for a day where I displayed some goodness, or had some self-control, or showed some godly love. But I seldom hit all those things together. And who does?

I don't think God expects us to get them all right at every time. In fact, as followers of Jesus, we know we are not capable of that kind of perfection, which is why we need him.

Yet, the point here is that our good practices really are connected to one another. When, for example, we work toward mutual affection, surely that will help us in the love department. Without self-control, our love can go awry. Pure knowledge can make the world worse as easily as it makes it better. Knowledge needs to work alongside goodness. They all need one another.

Most of us are strong in one department, and weaker in another. Look over that list very carefully. Is there something there that God is calling you to work on today?

Did you make brownies for your sick neighbor, and then eat a whole tray yourself? Did you ace the intelligence test but flunk compassion? Did you throw yourself overboard for love and forget to expect mutual affection? Perhaps you know where you might start.

Prayer

Jesus, you meet us right where we are. Today I ask you to take me to a better place. Give me one good thing to work on, in your holy name, and let that one good thing influence all the others. Amen.

Advent Devotion

December 7, 2009

The Six Word Summary

Excerpt from Isaiah 40: 1 - 11

"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. Get you up to a high mountain . . . Lift up your voice with strength . . . Lift it up, do not fear."

Reflection by Anthony B. Robinson

Invited to speak at an historic urban church, I was taken on a tour and told the church's story prior to my talk. "Yes, I thought our church would close its doors," said the longtime member. The last century had seen decades of steady decline. "Only about fifty of us left. But lately we've experienced a great renewal . . . . New people coming, reaching out to our community. Four hundred in worship now," he said, beaming.

"What happened?" I asked, "What made the difference?" My guide smiled and said, "Our new minister didn't do it by himself, but he's been important." I persisted, "Well, what did he do?" "He got us studying the Bible," said the old man, with a clear inference that they hadn't done anything like that in a good long time. "Yes, he gives a great Bible study. In fact, our minister can give the message of the entire Bible in just six words," he said smiling broadly.

"Six words? Really?" Skeptical, I asked, "And what might the six words that summarize the message of the entire Bible be?" A broad smile creased his wrinkled face. "The six words that summarize the message of the Bible? 'I am God and you're not.'" He burst out laughing, as did I. "I am God and you're not," can be bad news if we think we're in charge here. But it's finally good news, really good news. God is God. God is faithful. The word of our God will stand forever.

Prayer

Holy One, though the days are darkening now, speak your word of encouragement to me and through me, your great promise that your word stands forever and that you are faithful beyond all measure. Amen.

Advent Devotion

December 5, 2009

Touched by God

Excerpt from Luke 9:1-6

"Jesus called the twelve together . . . and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal."

Reflection by William C. Green


As a poet put it, "I learn by going where I have to go." We learn who Jesus is by doing what he asks us to do: preach and heal through what we say and do, whether or not we mount a pulpit or cure illness.

Three times in my life, someone has been so bold as to place their hands on my head or shoulders and pray explicitly for God's blessing.  This was more than praying at a polite distance. It involved touch—unsettling for some of us. I hadn't asked for this. Sometimes we're in no position to ask for what we need. Sometimes someone seems intuitively to know that only a power higher than our own, working through them, can touch us.

We may not be cured but we can be healed. The power of what threatens us can be broken. Think of the embrace of a loved one, or, when appropriate, a good hug. Think of someone who listens well when something is troubling you. That's a healing touch, too.

All of us need more than a good prayer or a strong hug. But all of us first need power beyond our own that directly touches us with love and confidence. That's what Jesus is all about -- and how he becomes real for us and, through us, for others. This is what we prepare to celebrate all over again this Advent season.

Prayer

God of healing and hope, touch us again and make us bold enough to share that with others. Amen.