FIRST CHRISTIAN
CHURCH NEWS
(Disciples of Christ)
First Christian Church is a diverse family of believers and seekers,
united in Christ, who share God's love and the good news of God's
grace with all persons through daily acts of justice, mercy and
love.
October 8, 2008
Encouraged by The Alliance Defense Fund, thirty-three pastors in 22
states are in danger of losing tax-exempt status for their churches after
endorsing a candidate from the pulpit. Those ministers claim they have
a constitutional right to tell their worshipers how to vote. Actually,
Federal law doesn’t keep ministers and congregations from endorsing
candidates; it just allows their tax-exempt status to be revoked if they
do. If the rule against endorsement were repealed it would open up a
new loophole; people would probably be forming “churches” sometimes
rather than Political Action Committees merely to gain a tax break. We
are called to stand together on issues of justice, and Jesus was killed
because he was perceived as a political threat. While I encourage all of
our members and friends to be vitally involved in the political process
and to vote their respective consciences, I don’t think our Lord is best
served when congregation and pastors make partisan politics a part of
Sunday morning worship.
Neal Miller, A Missouri Disciple who with his wife Nancy runs the
mission station here for Disciples Volunteering, says that most of the
earliest followers of Thomas and Alexander Campbell (early leaders of
our movement including Neal’s family) were states-rights members of
the Democratic-Republican Party who opposed the Federal Government
in the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794. The Federal tax on the production of
alcohol gave a favorable flat fee to large producers back East like
George Washington, but imposed a per gallon tax on small producers on
the frontier where people were barely surviving. Producing alcohol was
one of the few ways frontier farmers could consolidate the grains they
were growing into a product that could be marketed over horrible roads.
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By the late 1800’s Carrie Nation, a Kansas Disciple minister’s wife, was
hacking up bars with her hyperactive hatchet in an effort to eliminate the
alcoholic beverage industry by making it illegal. Many of our earliest
congregations persisted in using wine for communion while most of us
converted to the use of non-fermented juice. Even to this day, some
congregations have compromised by serving both wine and grape juice
for communion. So even in our holiest act of communion we are
reminded that we are all enmeshed in politics, but we cannot let politics
divide us.
Peace,
Joys and Concerns
+ Bruce and Carol Fischer are proud grandparents of their first
grandchild. His name is Obree Emile Fischer, born to Andreas and
Lorelei Fischer of Chicago.
+ Vi Miller is now residing at the Iowa City Care Center. Visitors are
welcome.
+ Julie Bobitt’s mother who lives in Clinton has been diagnosed with
cervical cancer and is coming to UIHC for some testing and treatment.
Julie is the primary caregiver. Your prayers are welcomed.
+ Dennis Watters is heading up a Committee to organize hospitality
for the work campers from Disciples Volunteering who will be
staying in our building the week of October 26. We’ll be needing help
for the fellowship dinner (Oct. 29), maps, entertainment, orientation to
our building, etc., so please help Dennis by offering what you can do.
(337-6364) A group of eight volunteers from Northwood Christian
Church in Indianapolis and a group of four from Medina, Ohio, stayed
in our building and worked on homes in Coralville and Cedar Rapids in
September and October. This week, volunteers staying with us worked
on homes in the Normandy Drive area of Iowa City. Local volunteers
who want to work in flooded homes need only call United Way (319)
337-VOLS or Habitat for Humanity 354-3527 and get scheduled.
+ After many months of constant pain from a hip, Pat Harding has had
a few days with virtually no pain- Congratulations!
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+ Martha Hedberg’s mother Charlene has been at UIHC for several
weeks now making steady progress with her heart and lungs. Your
prayers are appreciated.
+ David Klein’s mother, in Denver, CO, has had serious bleeding
complications associated with hemodialysis and has been hospitalized
twice recently. Please pray for her.
+ Diane Hertel had surgery for breast cancer at UIHC and came home
last Friday. Your prayers are welcomed.
+ Jean Meyer, Annette’s sister, has been recovering from treatment for
cancer, which has prevented her from coming to worship. She came
home from Mercy Hospital last Friday. Your prayers are welcomed.
+ The Church Board voted to read and discuss the book Unbinding the
Gospel as a spiritual discipline to prepare for entering into a
transformation program through the GraceNet organization next year.
One discussion group meets at UIHC E132-1, first floor General
Hospital. at noon each Wednesday. A second group will meet from
5:30-6:30 Wednesday evenings (with a meal) beginning with the
Community Night program October 1. Books cost $13.00 and
everyone is welcome to participate! The Board will also be discussing
the book at its monthly meetings.
+ The Circle Drive project which would bring a driveway up the front
door of the sanctuary is on hold now until an additional $4500 in funds
are pledged or given (which along with $6000 in memorial funds and
$7500 already pledged or given would equal the $18,000 needed) If you
would like to contribute please mark your check or pledge “Circle
Drive.” Thank You.
+ The Upper Midwest Region will hold its Assembly on October 11
in West Des Moines and we are invited to send as many persons as we’d
like. The Assembly will feature the musical artistry of Bill Thomas,
who will also perform in concert at first Christian in Des Moines on Oct.
10 at 7:30 pm. Check the region’s website uppermidwestcc.org for
details.
+ Mark your calendars: The 2009 General Assembly of the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ) will be held July 29 – August 2, 2009 in
Indianapolis, IN. Watch for more information on www.disciples.org.
Sunday's Scriptures
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October 12, 2008
Exodus 32:1-14; Philippians 4:1-7;Matthew 22:1-14
October 19, 2008
Exodus 33:12-23; Psalm 99; 1 Thess 1:1-10; Matthew 22:15-22
Worship Leaders
October 12, 2008 - 10:00 am Service
Greeter: TBA
Ushers: Nancy Ream
Servers: Rex/Michele Brandstatter, Karen Dawson
Elder: Patricia Arnold
Reader: Dennis Arnold
Hospitality: TBA
Acolyte: TBA
A/V: Scott VanOss
Communion Prep: Bette Klein
October 19, 2008 - 10:00 Service
Greeters: Darrell/Linda Flinn
Ushers: Melody Walker
Servers: Anna Gay, Daryl/Barb Henry
Elder: Joel Ringdahl
Reader: Roger Child
Hospitality: TBA
Acolyte: TBA
A/V: Jim Lang
Communion Prep: Bette Klein
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Bible Study with Dennis Arnold
Come visit the books of Acts and Romans with us and
discover how first generation Disciples viewed these books
and how it helped to shape the Disciples movement. The
study delves more into the scripture than into Disciples
history, but we have included the history as an interesting
point of view.
The Ethical Issues class will focus on issues around aging on
Sunday, October 12.
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Applications are now being accepted for the Helen Gay
Scholarship. Forms can be picked up in the church
office or mailed at your request. Emphasis will be given
to persons in the medical field. Deadline for applying is
December 1, 2008.
Scholarship Committee
The Hannah Circle will meet at 1:30 p.m. on Monday,
October 20, at the home of Jan Christensen, 1931 Liberty
Lane, Coralville. Martha Melton will provide the lesson.
All women are invited.
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The next Women’s Nite Out
will be held on Thursday,
October 16 at 6:00 p.m. at
Carlos O’Kellys. The group
meets on the third Thursday of
each month at a different
location. All are welcome!
The next FCC Book Club meeting will be on Friday, November 7 at
7:00 p.m. at Maggie Keyser’s, 23 Hummingbird Lane, Iowa City.
The club will be reading “The Shack” by William P. Young.
Amazon describes the book this way: “Mac is a grief-stricken father
in mid-life about to have an extraordinary experience with God. His
great sadness began four years earlier on a weekend camping trip
when his 6 year old daughter, Missy, was murdered. What he
couldn’t know then, but is about to learn, was God’s purpose for
Missy’s death. This compelling fantasy explores themes of love,
loss and blame.”
For those who like to read ahead, the next book will be “The River
Why” by David James Duncan, and the following book will be “Run”
by Ann Patchett.
Please join us!
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On behalf of the “Coralville 8” from Northwood Christian Church, I would
like to express my gratitude and thanks for being such wonderful hosts
last week. We had a meaningful and rewarding experience made only
better by your kindness and hospitality. I have enjoyed telling and retelling our stories all week. It’s been fun and so easy to “sing your
praises”!
If we can work it out, we would love to return to your area in 2009, but
only if we can stay at your beautiful church. We will enjoy showing our
many pictures of our week and carry the memories for many years to
come.
Thank you again and blessings to you all,
Denise Rogers
Northwood Christian Church
Indianapolis, IN
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MOE: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
What can four rowdy ten-year-old boys accomplish? Plenty, if you move
out of their way! It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words but in
this case it was a picture that launched a thousand ideas.
Almost invisible through the clutter of the bulletin board of the old
church, a small poster caught the attention of four such boys: 4th and 5th
grade pals Patrick Cronin, Nathan Giglierano, Aaron Kepler, and Nich
Klein. Depicting malnourished children in Haiti, the poster for Week of
Compassion prompted Patrick's question: "How can we live like this,
when they live like that?" and sparked a conversation that changed their
lives forever.
With the fervor and determination of youth, they decided that it was
unconscionable to live in warm homes with full stomachs without at
least trying to help those who have so little. This was the seed that
started MOE, short for Money Offering Effort, a social action and
philanthropic organization that is run entirely by youth.
Over the past eight years they have raised over $25,000 for hunger relief
and humanitarian projects in 18 different countries, collected over 900
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books for a youth home, assisted Shelter House with the Overflow
Shelter Project, raised money to help a local woman secure a seizure
response dog, collected and delivered furniture to a family whose home
was destroyed by fire and have helped many other local families by
offering assistance whenever and wherever needed.
As the boys planned huge projects…such as sending goats to Haiti,
other like-minded children were drawn to MOE like magnets to metal.
The group that started as four boys from First Christian Church, has now
grown to 18 youth from very diverse faith backgrounds. Catholics, Jews,
Unitarians, Evangelicals, Baptists, Disciples of Christ, as well as an
Agnostic or two have all joined together with the common goal of doing
whatever they can to make a difference in the world and in the lives of
individuals.
Last year, when the first of the MOE founders turned 18, they began
serious discussions about the future of MOE. What happens to an
organization that is run entirely by youth, when it’s leaders grow up?
After many discussions, they came up with a plan to transition MOE to
new leadership. Recently, Co-Presidents, Nathan Giglierano and Patrick
Cronin appointed the new officers and began training them in their
duties. Claire Rowden and Morgan Kittrell were appointed Co-Vice
Presidents. Renata Stewart was chosen for the new position of Secretary
and Valerie and Caitlin Klein have become Co-Treasurers. By spreading
the leadership of MOE over a wider base, they theorized that the
organization would remain solid. Nathan and Patrick will remain CoPresidents this year, but their job description has changed. Instead of
being the main ones in charge of planning the projects, they will work as
advisers and mentors to the vice presidents as they learn how to choose,
evaluate, and manage future projects and learn the ropes of the
presidency.
Becoming socially conscious at such a young age has had a powerful
impact on the lives of the founding MOE members. By consistently
working for the good of others, they have learned compassion and
responsibility. Even outside of the MOE projects that they have done
together, they have each found ways to serve individually. Attending
Work Camps, doing construction work at an Indian Reservation,
rebuilding homes in the gulf coast, caring for siblings, doing mission
work in the Ukraine, volunteering musical talents for church and
community events, helping with sandbagging and emergency
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evacuations, preparing breakfasts for the overflow homeless shelter and
composing and recording special music to be given to people facing a
healing crisis are all ways they have chosen to spend their “free” time.
Even now as they are busy filling out college applications and job
applications ideas are taking shape for a return trip to the Ukraine and a
trip to help out at a Mexican Orphanage. Service to others has become a
part of who they are, so it is with some sadness, a little pride, and much
joy and amazement that they turn over the organization that they
founded eight years ago to new leadership.
September
September
September
September
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14
21
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117
120
75
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September Net Income All Funds: -$5,164
September Net Income Year to Date: +$8,029
Hills Bank Mortgage Balance: $538,212.14
Hills Bank Mortgage Payment: $6,022.93
Events of Interest:
The Consultation of Religious Communities will hold its annual
Winter Outerwear Distribution on Saturday, Oct. 25 from 9:00
a.m. to Noon at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 1300 Melrose
Ave. The purpose of this distribution is to help economically
disadvantaged people of all ages prepare for our harsh Iowa
winters. We are asking for donations of clean, usable winter
clothing for this free distribution. We need costs, snowsuits,
hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, boots, heavy sweaters and
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hooded sweatshirts. Please pre-sort items by size and gender.
We are also accepting long underwear and winter blankets.
There will be a collection site set up for your donations.
Donations need to be in by Thursday, Oct. 23 when they will be
taken to St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. We also need
volunteers to help with the set-up for the distribution on
Friday, Oct. 24 from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m, and with the
Distribution on Saturday, Oct. 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
For further information contact Dedi Walker at 351-1354 or
dedi.walker@gmail.com.
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