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Zion United Church

of Christ September 2015

Inside This Issue

1 Pastor’s Peace

2 Palm of Prayer

3 Worship Ways

4 This Month’s Events

5 Community & Conference Clamor

6 Butterfly Room &

Inspiration Station

7 Celebration Occasions

8 Worship Whirl

The Lamplighter

Zion United Church of Christ—Established 1880

105 N. Mary, Mayview, Missouri 64071-8224

Phone and FAX: (660) 237 - 4355

PASTOR’S PEACE

"Believe!"

"If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

2 Corinthians 5:17 How can this happen--being in Christ, a part of Christ's very being in this time and space? It is sometimes easier to understand Christ's being in us, in our hearts and minds and spirits--yet that can also make our understand-ing very small, as we look from our own worldview. Don't get me wrong--seeing our faith through our own worldview is a wonderful place to start, but it is also just the place from which to begin. We have to move beyond our com-fort zones and venture deeply into the realm of discovery both within and beyond ourselves, in the safety of our community of faith. But how can we possibly become a new creation in this life? Exercise, diet, education, work and play are all important, yet they are only part of the process which leads to transformation--to the new creation. We often speak of life being a process, a journey, an adventure (my grandmother would often say our Saturday afternoon out-ings were an adventure--but I think that had something to do with her driving...). In our lives as people of faith we are encouraged to continue in the process of growth and spiritual forma-tion. If we do not continually learn and grow then this can lead to stagnation--a ceasing of Spirit's flow in our life ex-perience, which often leads to frustration, and sometimes to depression and despair. No matter what our choices the world continues to grow and evolve, change and trans-form, and the opportunity to be a part of that growth and evolution, change and transformation, is truly exciting and available to each one of us. This year in Sunday School and Worship we will be looking at the basics of our faith journeys through the lens of the curriculum "Believe". This is a 30-week pro-gram which will look at three ways of becoming more like Jesus--that new creation spoken of in 2 Corinthians, as we become a new person in Christ.

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The Lamplighter The first ten weeks we will look at the question What Do I Believe?. At Gathering time we will watch a video by author Randy Frazee on the subject for the week, then we will separate, or on some weeks merge, into our adult classes, and the youth into theirs. We will look at Scripture, life experience, and discuss what we believe, what we question, what we don't believe, and how each belief affects our lives

each day. What do we think about the subject being discussed, and how do we think like Jesus? I will also preach each week on each subject we talk about.

The second ten weeks we will look at the question What Should I do?. We will resume our regular Gatherings and during Sunday School look at ten aspects of growth through the things we do in our lives as Christians. This will help to empower our journeys by learning how to act like Jesus, which is something all of us hit or miss on a regular basis. This is a time of discussion and continued exploration into what it means for each of us on our journeys. The third ten weeks will be an in depth look at the fruits of the spirit which will help us to consider the question Who Am I Becoming?. How are we affected by these virtues in our own lives, how are we affected by them in others, and how can we effect others and the world through the practice of God's love, joy, peace, self-control, hope, patience... I'm excited about this journey of exploration and discovery within ourselves and for our part in God's world, and I will continue to preach on our subject of study each week throughout the whole school year. We are on the journey of life together and I'm looking forward to this adventure, with God in the driver's seat! Joy in Christ,

Pastor Kristin

Pastoral Visits and Prayers Please feel free to contact me at any time if a pastoral care visit or prayer request is in your heart. The best way to reach me is at the parsonage, 660-237-4902, and the next best option is

my cell @ 660-641-1038. Blessings! Pastor Kristin

There are two ways to spread happiness;

either be the light who shines it or be

the mirror who reflects it.

Edith Wharton

PALM of PRAYER I love the LORD,

for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. Psalm 116:1-2 NIVUK

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: Kylie Timmerberg, Crystal Faris, Tyler in ICU; family and friends of Barbara Fristoe, Jason, son of Bob Miller, Don Heidbrink, and Leo Cretzmeyer; first responders; military personnel and their families; families around the world that are in the midst of disease, natural disasters, immigration crisis, tensions, conflicts, acts of violence and wars which are going on in different parts of the world. Joys Mary Rehmsmeyer, mother of Helen Hoeppner, named as Grand Marshall of the Dover Days celebration. The kids are back in school! Beautiful weather; the loving faith community of Zion UCC

Mayview.

EXPRESSION SESSION Thank You’s Dear Members of Zion United Church of Christ, Thank you so much for your prayers. That is what is keeping me going along with my faith in the Lord. It is sure nice to know the church where I grew up is praying for me. I have so much family still at the church. Hope to come visit soon. Lois (Schmutz) Dial

Grandparents Day Grandparents Day September 13, 2015. But why not celebrate Grandparents Day all year long? Check out our Grand Things to Do for lots of great ideas on ways to celebrate Grandparents Day all year long. You can also get ideas from our Take Action Guide. Source: www.grandparentsday.org

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ZION UCC WORSHIP WAYS BOARD OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION We return to our regular worship schedule on Sunday, Sept. 13th. Sun-day School will begin at 9:30 AM, followed by wor-ship at 10:30 AM. Promo-tion Sunday is September 13th.

YOUTH YAK 40 plus people were at the Back to School Bash and all had a blast. Thank you all who were in-volved in planning and a special thank you to BCE for making this happen! A new confirmation class will begin on September 13. This is a two-year program where we will meet every other week. We'll explore Zion's his-tory, church history, the Bible, explore other churches, design a service, do reports...and have fun! I'm really looking forward to the beginning of this adventure with Dallas Walls, Austin and Dono-van Aardema Faigh. Gear up boys for learning, exploration and discovery! Blessings and prayers for all going back to school--have fun and learn much!

MISSION COMMITTEE

CROP Walk for Hunger on Sunday September 27 at 3:00 p.m. at Con-federate Memorial Park in Higginsville. It is time to start collecting dona-tions, ask your family and friends to sponsor you and your family. Better

yet, ask them to join you. Plan to attend and bring a friend to the Festival of Sharing on Saturday, October 17th. November 8th we will highlight Missions with a special Sunday service and meal. Save the date!

I burned 2000 calories

yesterday in 4 hours!

That’s the last time I’ll put

cookies in the oven and

take a nap.

NEW BEGINNINGS OPPORTUNITY A group from our congregation will go to a free meeting on Saturday, September 19, from 9-11a.m. at Agape House, 312 19th Street Terrace, Blue Springs, MO. Please let Pastor Kristin know if you are interested in attending. We will carpool from the church at 8:15a.m. New beginnings will be a presentation about the New Beginning assessment process for churches that can answer 'yes' to three or more of the follow-ing: Less than 70 in worship, or more than 70 in worship but significant decline for a decade Wrestling with future vision for the church Significant building issues Aging membership Changing neighborhood Trouble paying bills and/or paying off a loan Currently in interim time of transition The purpose for our group attending is in seeing where we are in our vision and potentially looking to assistance in visioning for the future.

INVITATION EXTENDED President and General Minister Reverend Dr. John Dorhauer has been invited to preach at Zion on October 4th. Stay tuned, we will conduct a church calling tree if he accepts the invitation.

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THE SILENT SERMON A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his preacher's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace...and waited. The preacher made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone, then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and dimin-ished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The preacher glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the old, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it. As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the firey sermon. I will be back in church next Sunday.' We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left

unspoken.

The Lamplighter

Sunday School—9:30 A.M. Worship—10:30 A.M.

September 8, 2015 BCE, 7:15 pm September 9, 2015 Choir practice resumes, 7 pm September 10, 2015 Council, 7 pm September 11, 2015 SAIL luncheon, 11:30 am Toscano's Italian Restaurant Buckner September 13, 2015 Promotion Sunday (Bibles for 3rd graders) Resume Regular Worship Times Sunday School, 9:30 am Worship, 10:30 am Grandparents Day September 14, 2015 Steppingstone Shower September 16, 2015 Choir, 7 pm September 19, 2015 New Beginnings Opportunity, 9 to 11 am Blue Springs Terrace, Agape House September 20, 2015 Sunday School Picnic/Fish Fry 5:30pm September 22, 2015 SAIL, 7 pm September 23, 2015 Choir, 7 pm September 24, 2015 Laf Area Fellowship 9:00 AM Grand Pass September 27, 2015 CROP Walk 3:00 PM Confederate Park September 30, 2015 Choir, 7 pm

Copyright © 2011 The Zondervan Corporation

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Community, County & Conference Clamor LAFAYETTE AREA CLUSTER STEPPINGSTONE SHOWER The fall shower for Steppingstone is right around the corner! Please bring in new and gently-used items that will work in an apartment--single bed sheets, towels and washcloths, lamps, pots and pans...the shower date is September 14, and the need is always great.

MISSIONS Also, please remember that we are collecting different bundles for Festival of Sharing each month. In addition there is always a need for seed packets and money for shipping. This is part of the outreach we are called to as a faith community--giving is always much more fun anyway! Great peace have they that love Thy law, and nothing shall cause them to fall. Psalm 119:165 KJ21

NEW THINGS ARE HAPPENING All around us new things are happening - a new President and General Minister of the United Church of Christ, a new vision for the Missouri Mid-South Con-ference, and soon a new Con-ference Minister will be called. There is a new vitality surround-ing us and the challenge to make it happen.

Your Conference Leaders know it will take more than our enthusiasm, it will take additional dol-lars as well. For more than two years, and for the first time in years, Missouri Mid-South giving matches our expenditures. But to meet the fu-ture that pulls us, our Conference Leaders are challenging us to make a gift for that future. They are ready to put their money where their mouth is. They want to fund newness: the Sacred Conver-sations on Race, Church Vitality and our work with the Center for Progressive Renewal. And who knows what other exciting and vital minis-tries will emerge along with new leadership? Soon we will be sharing more about "Friends of the Conference," a fund to make that tomorrow happen for all of us.

FALL WESTERN ASSN MEETING Dear Western Association Members, Attached is a letter from the Association Chairper-son, Ron Wendle, regarding the Western Associa-tion Fall Fellowship Gathering on October 3rd and a Flyer for the same. We hope you will be able to attend this his-toric meeting of our Association with the Kansas-Oklahoma Con-ference at the Doubletree Hotel in Overland Park, Kansas. The Keynote Speaker for the event is Rev. Da Vita McCallister and the theme is, “Becoming God’s Beloved Community.” Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer, the new President and General Minister of the United Church of Christ, will also be present and participating in the meeting. The K-O website link is listed in both documents for more information and to register. Western Association members are welcome to attend the entire week-end, or just on Saturday, October 3rd. We hope to see you that weekend of October 3rd! Grace and Peace on behalf of the Western Asso-ciation, Rev. Bob Atkinson

LAFAYETTE AREA FELLOWSHIP Fall meeting is on Thursday, September 24, at Grand Pass. Registration begins at 9am. Pro-gram will be on PET, Personal Energy Transporta-tion, by creator Mel West, from Columbia, MO. Our offering will go to PET. Hospitality will be provided by Levasy, Lexington and Concordia. EVERYONE is invited. This is a very important ongoing project that provides personal independ-ence to so many in need. Come, bring a dish to pass, and be a part of this wonderful experience! There is no personal charm so great

as the charm of a cheerful tempera-

ment. Henry Van Dyke

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apple in half with their bare hands (though in fact it´s

really not that difficult).

3. Circle Stickler: This rebellious sort slices the apple against the grain − across the core, to make round slices. She can often be found with convenient slices of cheese at hand. This person knows that round apple slices are

much better than crackers!

4. Top-to-Bottom Type: This methodical muncher starts at the stem and munches all the way down to the bot-tom. He doesn´t change the apple´s position until one vertical top-to-bottom pass had been completed. He then rotates the apple to continue in the next lane until

the whole thing is done.

5. Equator Eater: Probably the most common approach, this muncher takes bites out of the center of the apple all the way around, until the apple looks something like a mushroom on a mirror. The nibbler then attacks the top, and finally the bottom, which is somewhat less conven-ient as there is no place left to hold apple without get-

ting one´s fingers juicy − but she doesn´t mind!

6. The Streak: This eater prefers to eat his apples in the nude − the apple, that is! He does not care about what he´s been told about all those vitamins and fiber in the skin, peeling the stuff right off, preferably in one long winding piece. Once the peeling is complete, he either eats the apple whole or sliced. The latter method is usu-ally employed, as the apple´s skinless state can lead to

copious juice drippings.

7. Core-Free Cruncher: This muncher comes in two per-sonalities. Type B loves gadgets and small appliances. He eats a lot of apples because he gets to use that nifty “apple corer” gadget. Type A is a seedophobic and doesn´t care whether she gets to use a gadget, knife or sharp fingernails - she just has to get those darned seeds out of there before she´ll even take one bite! The Type A

personality does avoid core disposal issues, however.

8. Stem Plucker: Before the first bite, this apple muncher grabs the apple´s stem and twists, saying one letter of the alphabet with each turn. The letter at which the stem comes off has profound meaning, usually interpreted as the first initial of the name of the future spouse. (Married munchers, take note: Turns can be modified to ensure the stem comes out at the desired letter.) Particularly curious Stem Pluckers continue the ritual by poking the outside of the apple with the stem to determine the number of children they will have, said to be equal to the number of pokes it takes to break the skin of the apple. (Hey, we don´t make these things up, we just reprint ´em.) In a recent, incredibly unscientific poll, three out of four people surveyed reported them-

selves to be Stem Pluckers.

Source: http://www.usapple.org/

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)

Safely Home by Author Unknown I am home in heaven, dear ones; Oh, so happy and so bright. There is a perfect joy and beauty in this everlasting light. All the pain and grief is over, every restless tossing passed; I am now at peace forever, safely home in heaven at last. Did you wonder I so calmly Trod the valley of the shade? Oh, but Jesus’ love illuminated Every dark and fearful glade. And He came Himself to meet me in the way so hard to tread; And with Jesus’ arm to lean on could I have one doubt or dread? Then you must not grieve so sorely, for I love you dearly still. Try to look beyond death’s shadows; Pray to trust our Father’s will. There is work still waiting for you, so you must not idly stand. Do it now, while life remaineth; you shall rest in Jesus’ land. When that work is all completed, He will gently call you home; Oh, the rapture of that meeting;

Oh, the joy to see you come!

JUST FOR FUN! What Kind of Apple Eater Are You? There are almost as many ways to eat an apple as there are apple varieties. What kind of apple eater are you? Compare your munching method

with these apple profiles.

1. Compulsive Wedger: This apple eater can´t eat the apple whole; must have perfect, core-free wedges neatly arranged on a plate. Each wedge

must equal one-eighth of an apple.

2. Splitter: This apple eater hates to deal with the core, but isn´t compulsive enough to bother with wedges − just chops the apple in half, removes the

core and munches contentedly. Muscle-bound types show off their brute force by twisting the

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The Lamplighter

Celebration Occasions

September Birthdays

Date Birthday

4 Laura Nolte Sammi Jo Burroughs

9 Jason Bayless

12 Shawn Engel

14 Jeff Bayless

Will Ogan

Alyssa Hoefer

22 Joyce Schemmer

23 Ray Begemann

28 Rachel Murry

28 Diane Wagner

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

Sept ACOLYTES GREETERS

6 Alyssa Hoefer Scott & Amanda

Hoeppner

13 Kristen Johnson Marvin & Alice Huenefeld

20 Macey Begemann Kenny & Mildred

Jungerman

27 Austin Aardema

Faigh Brian & Rachel Murry

Office Hours

Pastor Secretary

Tuesday

8:00 AM—Noon

Wednesday

6:00—8:00 PM

Wednesday

5:00—9:00 PM

Thursday

8:00 AM—Noon

Reminder!

The deadline for submissions for the October newsletter is Wednesday, September 16, 2015. Send your submissions to:

jennyholt14@gmail.com or zionuccsecretary@hotmail.com

Or Call (660) 237-4923

September Anniversaries

4 Roger & Mary Ellen Thomson

20 Brian & Rachel Murry

27 Carl & Helen Hoeppner

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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 September 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 10:30 AM Sundays

Come As You Are Service 10:30 AM Monthly - 3rd Sunday

Sacred Conversations and Fellowship

9:30 AM Sundays

Communion 10:30AM Monthly 1st Sunday & Special Holidays

Church Council 7:00 PM Monthly

Board of Christian Education 7:15 PM

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

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