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Zion United Church

of Christ June 2015

Inside This Issue

1 Pastors Peace

2 Palm of Prayer

3 Worship Ways

4 Community & Conference Clamor

5 This Months Events

6 Butterfly Room &

Expression Session

7 Celebration Occasions

8 Worship Whirl

The Lamplighter

Zion United Church of ChristEstablished 1880 105 N. Mary, Mayview, Missouri 64071-8224

Phone and FAX: (660) 237 - 4355

PASTORS PEACE

Graduate in Grace "Listen, my child, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life." Proverbs 3:10-13 NIV After church on multiple Sundays of my young childhood, I remember sitting at the feet of my paternal grandmother, Verna Aardema, and listening to her tell sto-ries that she developed, or retold, from Africa or Mexico. Most times the stories would be told through the mouths of different animals anthropomorphised (humanized) to make a point. The stories held tremendous truths, and often holy truths, that easily captured a child's imagination as well as taught along the way. One day I specifically remember standing on my stepstool washing dishes with Grano (our name for her) after Sunday dinner, telling her stories of some of my fa-vorite cartoons. She dedicated her book, Behind the Back of the Mountain, "To little Kristin Aardema, who tells sto-ries to me" from that experience. Her books, filled with a single or multiple stories, are precious to me, and I share them with my own children and with others to this day, because, even though many of them are reconciled through acts of harm, they continue to teach truth--to teach wisdom that can lead on right paths, God's paths toward freedom and joy. We are encouraged to embrace holy wisdom ( feminine hagia sophia in Greek) in our lives, wisdom from above, as opposed to earthly wisdom, "so that our years of life will be many". I have discovered that wisdom often comes later in life, after (sometimes) multiple disas-ters, bad decisions, distractions of youth, and often vio-lence--perpetuated domestically or abroad. But why, after millenia of truth available in Scrip-ture and life, do we continue to fight against ourselves and others?

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The Lamplighter It seems we always need a scapegoat, one who bears the blame for others, to make us feel better about ourselves. We live in old understandings of judgment and justice, wanting to meet it out depending upon where we ourselves stand in our ideas or fears. This is so ingrained in us through our own inclination to sin, or separate ourselves from God, that God came to us incarnate, in the flesh, in Jesus to save us from this propensity by becoming the final scapegoat! This was certainly not out of obligation or force, but willingly, without argument, and out of a love that we will never be able to understand in our lifetime. It seems that this should be enough to transform us from a people of violence, hatred and vice to a people of love, forgiveness, and mercy. Yet is seems we can fight this transformation through grace all the way to our own graves! We are called to listen and learn wisdom. We are called to follow paths of love and peace. We are called to run to those in need. We are called to embrace Hagia Sophia, the Holy Spirit, and guard ourselves from the draw of the world's distraction to fight against ourselves and others. There are great stories of truth and grace inside each one of us, from our own experiences, and from the experiences and wisdom of others all throughout the ages. Wouldn't it be better to sit at the feet of holy wisdom to listen and to share, instead of to act in ways that shut out and shut up? In God's grace,

Pastor Kristin

In every block of marble I see a statue as plain as

though it stood before me, shaped and perfect in

attitude and action. I have only to hew away the rough

walls that imprison the lovely apparition to reveal it to

the other eyes as mine see it. Michelangelo

PALM of PRAYER 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy

salvation; and uphold me with thy

free spirit. Psalm 51:12 (KJV)

Concerns Please continue to surround in love and prayer, those experiencing health difficulties &/or recovering from surgery, the loss of family and friends, & those adjusting to new seasons in their lives: Sherry Saunders, Judy Bowlin, Denise Dickmeyer, Jim Walls Sr., Dave Hippenstal, Wayne Burk, Lillie Jennings, Katie Heitman, Julie Begemann, the family of Sandy Wagner, Samuel Burroughs, Max Tyler, Mark Malott; first responders; military personnel and their families; families around the world that are in the midst of disease, natural disasters, immigration crisis, tensions, conflicts and wars which are going on in different parts of the world. Joys Ernie and Judy Pragman celebrate the birth of their first great-grandchild, Emily Faith. Alyssa Hoefer--Higginsville Spelling Bee contender--go Alyssa! Celebration of 2015 graduates--Trent McGinnis, Concordia HS, Alex Nolte, Higginsville HS, Dalton Koch and Seth Smith, Odessa HS, Scott Alvested, Masters CMS . Congratulations! (If we have missed anyone, let us know and names will be included in July's Lamplighter!) THANK YOU! Lloyd Clouse for all you are doing in Mayview, and for letting the Community Garden use your property on Marshall-- let the sun

shine in

and on!

Our Dad God took the strength of a mountain,

The majesty of a tree, The warmth of a summer sun,

The calm of a quiet sea, The generous soul of nature, The comforting arm of night,

The wisdom of the ages, The power of the eagle's flight, The joy of a morning in spring,

The faith of a mustard seed, The patience of eternity,

The depth of a family need, Then God combined these qualities,

When there was nothing more to add, He knew His masterpiece was complete,

And so, He called it... Dad

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The Lamplighter TREASURERS TWITTER

ZION UCC WORSHIP WAYS BOARD OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION There will be no Vacation Bible School (VBS) at Zion this year. Children are encouraged to join existing VBS opportunities this summer. BCE will designate another mission offering to be collected in June, for food pantries desperately in need in Higginsville and Odessa. Our summer Sunday mornings beginning on June 7 will be Fellowship at 9:30am, and Worship at 10:00am. The summer schedule will continue until Promotion Sunday, which is September 13. A special offering will be collected on Fathers Day and is designated for Habitat for Humanity. Dads will receive candy bars. A float will be entered in the Mayview Picnic parade and will be created the morning of the event, July 11. We do not yet know the theme, but we need to begin to get volunteers ready to prepare the best (and of course to get supplies, etc.) Please speak with Amy Hoefer about volunteering! Remember, there's a potential prize out there, not to mention honor at stake--First Baptist came in first last year! Our Planning Meeting will be June 14th, immediately following Worship.

Mission Committee The Festival of Sharing kit for June is YOUTH PERSONAL CARE PAK. It contains the following: 1 -3oz. bottle hand sanitizer; 1 chap stick; 1 fleece throw; 1 washcloth; 1 deodorant; 1 toothbrush; 1 box medicated facial cleansing pads(such as Stridex); 1 mens body spray OR 1 small package of feminine pads or tampons; 3 ink pens; 1 journal; 1 travel size lotion; 1 travel size shampoo; 1 travel size conditioner; 1 travel size toothpaste. Put all the items in a drawstring bag approximately 17 x 24. Please use solid color fabric to allow the teen to personalize the bag. You can furnish all or part of the items or contribute money for items and bags. These kits are used by children between the ages of 12 to 18 who have experienced a crisis and are being placed in state care. You may feel free to also contribute any other items or kits that are listed in the Festival of Sharing booklet which is available on the hall table. If you have questions please contact a member of the mission committee. We have also started the Community Garden and welcome help in any way or shape of form. Also remember to be generous to the UCC offerings such as Strengthen the Church, Neighbors in Need and One Great Hour of Sharing. These offerings are how we are able to supports projects around the world. The Habitat for Humanity Run/Walk is June 13, starting at 7:30 a.m. in Lexington. We look forward to your participation!

Comparison of Receipts to 2015 Budget & Expenses as of April 30, 2015

CURRENT BENEVOLENT

Total Budget $ 74,715.00 $ 7,471.00

YTD Budget $ 24,905.00 $ 2,490.00

YTD Expenses $ 24,305.61

YTD Receipts $ 20,988.21 $ 1,695.98

YTD Budget to Receipts -$ 3,916.79 -$ 794.02

YTD Receipts to Expenses -$ 3,317.40

April 2015 SUMMARY BEGIN RECEIPTS EXPENSES END

TOTAL CURRENT $ 50,476.23 $ 5,942.32 $4,780.94 $ 51,637.61

TOTAL BENEVOLENT $ 1,211.77 $ 484.21 $ 1,695.98

TOTAL SPEC. FUNDS $ 12,334.51 $ 1,126.00 $729.59 $ 12,730.92

GRAND TOTAL $ 64,022.51 $ 7,552.53 $5,510.53 $ 66,064.51

BANK ACCOUNT BALANCE 2015

Jan Feb March April

MM ACCT-Bank of Odessa $ 31,548.96 $ 31,552.98 $31,556.61 $ 31,560.63

CHECKING-Bank of Odessa $ 13,811.14 $ 13,643.87 $11,045.58 $ 13,083.56

Certif of Depst-B&L Bank $ 21,393.94 $ 21,393.94 $21,420.32 $ 21,420.32

TOTAL $ 66,754.04 $ 66,590.79 $64,022.51 $ 66,064.51

12 You will go out in joy

and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

will clap their hands.

Isaiah 55:12 (NIV)

One of my

favorite people in

Scripture is

Moses...Right at

the beginning of

his life he starts

off as a

basket case.

~Patsy Clairmont

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YOUTH YAK We are going to the Royals game Wednesday, June 17th. A new Confirmation class will begin in the fall--please call the church office if you have a student

entering 7th grade this fall--660-237-4355.

SAIL NEWS Come work with us at Blue Springs Terrace on Tuesday, June 9, beginning at 8a.m. Let's meet

at church to carpool at 7:30a.m.

Community, County & Conference Clamor Lafayette Area Council The next meeting of the Lafayette Area Council will be July 27th at 7:30 pm at Salem UCC Higginsville. Blessed is the influ-ence of one true, lov-ing human soul on another. ~ George Eliot

Nepal Earthquake-How to Donate By now I'm sure you are all aware of the devas-tating earthquake in Nepal. I wanted to send you a quick update on the UCC response as you may re-ceive calls or e-mail inquiries from our congrega-tions and members. UCC Disaster Ministries has a broad network of trusted and reliable partners that we work with throughout the year with capacity and local presence in hundreds of countries. Through these partnerships we are able to effectively and efficiently respond to both immediate and long-term needs following disasters. Since the quake our partnership through the ACT Alliance has been responding and working hard to help stabilize the situation through provisions of food, water, medicine and temporary shelter. UCC Disaster Ministries is requesting financial contribu-tions to the International Emergency Relief fund to support these essential on-the-ground efforts. Do-nors can designate their gift by noting it is for Nepal Earthquake relief. To give online visit https://unitedchurchofchrist.nationbuilder.com/international_emergency_relief_fund Thank you for your continued prayers for the sur-vivors, rescue teams and relief workers. Zach Wolgemuth

Executive, UCC Disaster Ministries

INSPIRATION STATION

A message from Tilda A taste of Gestalt Pastoral Care from its creator.

Teacher Last summer my husband and I had our rst-ever riding lesson. The horses were lovely: gen-tle, responsive, and extremely well-trained. The idea, the teacher explained, was to feel the horses energy as well as to let the horse feel your energy and intention. He said balancing on the saddle, which had no hand-hold, would ow from maintaining our center. And by golly, it worked. Soon we were riding around the ring, feeling more and more condent. Easy. Wonderful. Then the teacher suggested we try a little trotting. And I froze. Is he out of his mind? Were rookies at this, were both in our mid- seventies, and we already have enough aches without risking a fall. But, well, there we were, and he was the teacher. So I agreed to try. It was awful. Terrible. So bumpy I thought my teeth would fall out and my spine would jangle to pieces. Im never going to do this again! I told the teacher. The teachers response was not an apology, not an explanation, not a pep talk. He said, Im so glad you felt free to say that you dont like trot-ting. With that, I was home. I tried it, I didnt like it, I said no. End of story? Actually, not. Because my objection was accepted I left the riding stable ea-ger to return. Oddly, predictably, a tiny door opened to the scary, crazy possibility of asking the horse to trot next time. In GPC no one is ever cajoled or persuaded or pressured. Suggestions for experiments are of-fered, but when someone says no, we nd a way to support and honor that refusal. Resistance is a word we dont use because it implies that there is something wrong or lazy about refusing to go along with what is suggested. Instead we want to empower the one who is working to take charge of her or his own process, by saying no, yes or maybe to anything we sug-gest. And we want to encourage each ones inte-rior awareness of Gods hovering grace that shapes each persons growth from the inside, in-viting the next step, and the one after that.

The word listen contains the same letters as the word silent ~ Alfred Brendel

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EXPRESSION SESSION Thank Yous A very special thank you to everyone for your thoughts, prayers and cards while Larry was in the hospital and re-hab. he is home now and doing pretty good. It is a real slow process but he is making progress. Thanks so very much, Larry & Ruth Davis and family

Dear Friends at Zion, Thank you for the cards, prayers and kind words expressed for my recent knee surgery. I am recovering well and in good shape. David Dickmeyer

Thank you for the beautiful card. Your thoughtfulness meant a lot. Rose Humphrey's family

What did the

vegetables say

at the garden

party?

The Lamplighter

Fellowship9:30 A.M. Worship10:00 A.M.

June 46, 2015 Conference Annual Gathering June 7, 2015 First Day of Summer Schedule 9:30 Fellowship 10:00 Worship June 9, 2015 Carpool from Zion Work Day Blue Springs Terrace 7:30 am June 11, 2015 Advent Celebration Committee, 11 am June 14, 2015 Float Meeting immediately following worship Flag Day

June 17, 2015 Youth Royals Game Lamplighter Due Date June 18, 2015 Council, 7 pm June 21, 2015 Father's Day Summer Solstice June 26 - 30, 2015 General Synod

Copyright 2011 The Zondervan Corporation

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The seemingly sad and obscure life of one man re-sulted in so many lives being uplifted, both in his own time, and for many years after whenever the beautiful and comforting words of What a Friend We Have in Jesus are sung. Written by: Connie Ruth Christiansen

http://www.sharefaith.com

People across the United States celebrate Flag Day on June 14 each year to honor the United States flag and to commemorate the flags adoption. The American flag, also nicknamed as Old Glory or star-spangled banner, has changed designs over the centuries. It consists of 13 equal hori-zontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars. Each of the 50 stars represents one of the 50 states in the United States and the 13 stripes represent the original 13 colonies that

became the first states in the Union.

The Lamplighter BUTTERFLY ROOM 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto my-self; that where I am, there ye may be also.

John 14:3 (KJV)

What a Friend We Have in Jesus,

the Song and the Story

Irish born Joseph M. Scriven (1819-1896) was 25 years old, in love and to be married. The day before his wedding his fianc died in a tragic drowning accident. Heartbroken, Joseph sailed from his homeland to start a new life in Canada. While in Canada working as a teacher, he fell in love again and became engaged to Eliza Roche, a relative of one of his students. Once again, Jo-seph's hopes and dreams were shattered when Eliza became ill and died before the wedding could take place. Although one can only imagine the turmoil within this young man, history tells us that his faith in God sustained him. Soon after Eliza's death Joseph joined the Plymouth Brethren and began preaching for a Baptist church. He never married, but spent the remainder of his life giving all his time, money and even the clothes off his own back to help the less fortunate and to spread the love and compassion of Jesus wherever he went. Around the same time that Eliza died, Joseph received word from Ireland that his mother was ill. He could not go to be with her, so he wrote a letter of comfort and enclosed one of his poems entitled What a Friend We Have in Jesus. Many years later a friend was sitting with Jo-seph, as he was very ill. During this visit, the friend was very impressed when he ran across his poems, including What a Friend We Have in Jesus. As a result of this visit, almost 30 years after his letter of comfort to his mother, Joseph's poems were published in a book called Hymns and Other Verses. Soon thereafter, noted musi-cian Charles C. Converse (1834-1918) put music to one of those poems: What a Friend We Have in Jesus. Well-known musician and revivalist Ira D. Sankey (1840-1908) was a great admirer of Jo-seph Scriven. In 1875, Sankey came upon the music and words for What a Friend We Have in Jesus. He included it as the last entry into his well-known publication Sankey's Gospel Hymns Number 1. After Joseph Scriven's death, the citizens of Port Hope, Ontario, Canada, where he gave so much of himself, erected a monument to his life.

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The Lamplighter

Celebration Occasions

June Birthdays

Date Birthday 9 Ernie Pragman

10 Matthew Elder

11 Elaine Hudson

16 Amy Nolte

19 Greg Huenefeld Vernon Koch

21 Dwight Dickmeyer

23 Marvin Huenefeld

Trenton Bainbridge

Mitchell Bainbridge

Calle Hoeppner

24 Seth Bayless

27 Alice Huenefeld

Administrative Affairs

Reverend Kristin Aardema Faigh

Home(660) 237- 4902 Church (660) 237-4355

pastorkristinatzion@yahoo.com Cell (660) 641-1038

Scott Alvested Council President (816) 230-4450

Angie Lawson Church Secretary

(660) 237- 4355 zionuccsecretary@hotmail.com

Jenny Holt Newsletter

(660) 237 - 4923 jennyholt14@gmail.com

Teresa Begemann Organist

(816) 633 - 4133 tjbegemann@yahoo.com

Dawn Stuart Custodian

(660) 237 - 4355

Serving Souls

June ACOLYTES GREETERS

7 Alyssa Hoefer Juanita Wright &

Laura Nolte

14 Kristen Johnson Scott & Tresina Alvested

21 Austin Aardema

Faigh Bill & Denise Bainbridge

28 Donovan Aardema

Faigh

Maggie Barresi &

Judy Pragman

Office Hours

Pastor Secretary

Tuesday

8:00 AMNoon

Wednesday

6:008:00 PM Wednesday

5:009:00 PM

Thursday

8:00 AMNoon

Reminder!

The deadline for submissions for the July newsletter is Wednesday, June 17, 2015. Send your submissions to:

jennyholt14@gmail.com or zionuccsecretary@hotmail.com

June Anniversaries

3 Will & Beth Ogan

4 Scott & Amanda Hoeppner Olin & Carla Struchtemeyer

19 Larry & Karen Neher

20 LeRoy & Doris VanCleave

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Zion United Church of Christ 105 North Mary St. Mayview, Missouri 64071-8224 Generous - Loving - Dedicated Christians Sunday School 9:30 am Worship at 10:30 am ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

The Lamplighter June 2015

Zion UCC Mission Statement The avowed purpose of our church shall be:

To worship God, to proclaim and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to celebrate the Sacra-ments; to experience Christian fellowship, to build unity, and to practice charity within this congre-

gation and the wider church; and to share this witness of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

Summer Worship Whirl

Traditional Worship 10:00 AM Sundays

Come As You Are Service 10:00 AM Monthly - 3rd Sunday

Fellowship 9:30 AM Sundays

Communion 10:00AM Monthly 1st Sunday & Special Holidays

Church Council 7:00 PM Monthly

Board of Christian Education 7:00 PM Monthly

SAIL (Serving All in Love) 7:00 PM Monthly - 4th Tuesday

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