The Lamplighter

PASTORS PIECE Zion United Church of Christ May 2013 Inside This Issue"Pentecost--Wind of the Spirit""When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force--no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them... "Peter said, 'Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away--whomever, in fact, our Master God invites'... "That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers." Taken from Acts 2, MSG. About 70 different languages were uttered that day, understood by pilgrim Jews from many different places, as their mother tongue. This was considered the "birthday of the church", this outpouring of the Holy Spirit into all who would receive. And it is the same today! Remember how the disciples behaved after Jesus' death and even his resurrection--Easter. They were frightened and confused and returned to what they knew. Once again Jesus appeared to them and met them where they were. He blessed them and feasted with them when they realized who he was. What an incredible experience--and I'm sure so difficult to take in, to fellowship with the risen Lord! Their hope was restored, yet still there was a time of waiting (these 50 days between Easter and Pentecost). Jesus ascension is celebrated on May 9 this year, as always 10 days before Pentecost.

1 Pastors Piece 2 Palm of Prayer 3 This Months Events 4 Worship Ways 5 Community, County &Conference Clamor

6 8

Butterfly Room & Expression Session

7 Celebration OccasionsWorship Whirl

Zion United Church of ChristEstablished 1880 105 N. Mary, Mayview, Missouri 64071-8224 Phone and FAX: (660) 237 - 4355

1

He had said that he must ascend to the Father before the third Person of the Trinity (the Holy Spirit) could descend and enter the hearts of all who are open to receive. And what empowerment the disciples received to go now as apostles (teachers) and spread the Good News to all who would listen! They were and we are finally transformed as we receive and remember receiving the Holy Spirit into our hearts and lives! We are not taken over by some invading entity, but filled with the love of God and the desire to share in the community of Christ, and to reach out beyond as we are moved by the Spirit, to love and help, listen and love. We are called to be cocreators with Christ. What a commission! How can we possibly do it? "Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God of angel armies protects us. Attention, all! See the marvels of God! He plants flowers and trees all over the earth, Bans war from pole to pole, breaks all the weapons across his knee. Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything. Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God of angel armies protects us." Taken from Psalm 46, MSG. All we do is take one step at a time, as we are led. Blessings, peace and love, Pastor Kristin

The Lamplighter

Palm of PrayerHannah prayed: The Lord has filled my heart with joy; I feel very strong in the Lord. I can laugh at my enemies; I am glad because you have helped me!

1 Samuel 2:1 NCV

ConcernsPlease continue to surround in love and prayer, those experiencing health difficulties &/or recovering from surgery & those adjusting to new seasons in their lives: Heather Johnson, Dwight Dickmeyer, Bob & Mary Lee Brueggenjohan, Doris VanCleave's cousin Lita's family; the victims and families of the Boston Marathon bombing and the Texas fertilizer plant explosion; first responders; and those affected by earthquakes throughout the world.

JoysLiving Easter! Spring is here! Joy of life in Christ! Birthdays and Anniversaries! Graduating students! Weddings! EXCITING EVENT! Granny's 90th Birthday! Lunch and Reception after church on May 19th! Pastor Kristin will be out of town May 16-19, for son Nick's graduation from college.

Memorial DayWe walked among the crosses Where our fallen soldiers lay. And listened to the bugle As TAPS began to play. The Chaplin led a prayer We stood with heads bowed low. And I thought of fallen comrades I had known so long ago. They came from every city Across this fertile land. That we might live in freedom. They lie here 'neath the sand. I felt a little guilty My sacrifice was small. I only lost a little time But these men lost their all. Now the services are over For this Memorial Day. To the names upon these crosses I just want to say, Thanks for what you've given No one could ask for more. May you rest with God in heaven From now through evermore. ~ C W Johnson

PASTORAL VISITS OR PRAYERSI'm joyfully continuing my endeavor to visit all the members and friends of Zion United Church of Christ, according to schedules, time available, and desire. You can help out also by calling me for a time to visit, or if a pastoral care visit or prayer request is in your heart. Blessings! Pastor Kristin Little boys prayer"Dear God, please take care of my daddy and my mommy and my sister and my brother and my doggy and my cat and me. Oh, please take care of yourself, God. If anything happens to you, we're gonna be in a big mess."

2

This Months Events S.S.9:30 A.M. Worship10:30 A. M. May 1, 2013 Choir, 7 pm May 3-5, 2013 Mo-Val Womens Retreat/Mens Retreat May 5, 2013 Brian McLaren in Columbia, 3 pm May 6, 2013 Outlook Club, Noon Creative Faith, 7pm May 8, 2013 Choir, 7 pm

The Lamplighter

Copyright 2011 The Zondervan Corporation

May 9, 2013 Ascension Day May 12, 2013 Mothers Day May 14, 2013 BCE, 7 pm May 15, 2013 Youth Chat, 4:30 pm Last day of Choir, 7 pm May 16, 2013 Council, 7:30 pm May 16-19, 2013 Pastor Kristin out of town May 19, 2013 Pentecost Sunday Visiting PastorRev Karen Redman Grannys Birthday Celebration May 27, 2013 Memorial Day May 28, 2013 SAIL, 7 pm

History of Mothers DayThe celebration of Motherhood and being honored on a specific day actually started as far back as the Greeks, the Romans also honored mothers. Early Christians honored mothers on the Fourth day of Lent in honor of the Virgin Mary. For a period of time the "tradition" of honoring Mothers died down until a woman named Julia Ward Howe started working hard to get people to recognize a day to honor all that mothers do. She wanted Mothers Day to be celebrated on June 2nd of each year. It is however Ann Jarvis who is credited with actually getting Mothers Day recognized. She worked tirelessly, writing to all who held a position of power that we needed to have a national day of recognition. Finally on May 8, 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed a declaration that the second Sunday in May would now officially be Mother's Day. ~Source: ask.com So Blessed by You, Mom A mother who always cares, A mother whos always there. A mother who always prays, A mother who always stays. When things get rough, When life gets tough, When all is just too much to bear, Gods Word she shares. Gods light she shines. So blessed God made this mother mine. ~ Author Unknown

3

Zion UCC Worship WaysSAILNursing Home VisitsSAIL sponsored two successful activities in April. On the first Sunday, April 7, SAIL invited anyone from the congregation to join them for lunch at Biffles in Concordia after church and then to visit some of our church family who are in nursing homes. A group of 12 enjoyed lunch together and then visited Sylvian Neher at the Good Shepherd Home in Concordia, Verneal and Virgil Koch and Dorothy Begemann at Golden Living Center in Odessa. We took a little of church to them as we visited and sang some favorite hymns with them.

The LamplighterCoffee? A married couple were arguing who ismaking the coffee, the wife said that in the Bible it says that men should make the coffee and the husband asked her where it said that. The wife opened the Bible and said: "Right here in HEBREWS!"

Community, County & Conference ClamorConference DeaconsThe Conference Deacon program has been in place since September 2011. The purpose of the Conference Deacon Program is to recruit and commission more than 60 individualsboth lay people and clergy (retired and clergy who are not currently serving in parish positions)-to visit the congregations of the Conference on behalf of the Missouri Mid-South Conference. Our goal is to have the deacons' visit each church assigned in our Conference 2 times a year in order to: bring greetings on behalf of the Conference offer a word of thanks for OCWM participation encourage giving to OCWM and the special offerings of the UCC most importantly, build relationships and strengthen the connection between the local and wider church. This was an ambitious undertaking. Currently we have recruited approximately 35 deacons. Based on the success of this program and the requests from churches not currently assigned a deacon, we hope you will prayerfully consider the importance of this connection between the local and wider church and consider volunteering. If interested, please contact Joyce Bathke by phone at 314-409-2929 or emailmailto:joyce.bathke@redcross.org .

Mayview Clean-UpOn Saturday, April 13, SAIL sponsored our 3rd annual Mayview cleanup. A group of about 12 gathered at the Mayview park at 10 AM and picked up many sacks of trash from the park and the streets of Mayview. Around noon the group stopped to enjoy a lunch of hot dogs cooked on the grill along with all the trimmings including veggies, chips and cookies.

Wedding BellsSammi Sanders and David Burroughs are getting married May 18th . SAIL has talked with them and with their full schedule, we are sponsoring a money tree for them instead of a luncheon shower as we often have done. If you would like to make a donation for the money tree or give them a gift, give it to Joyce Hoefer. This will be presented to Sammi and David after their wedding date.

Mission CommitteeFor the month of May the Mo. Paper Products Pack will be on display. The Pack Value is $14.00. Please feel free to purchase one for yourselves or you may donate the money and the committee (Norma, Jeanette, Doris and Ruth) will purchase one for you. Items in that pack are: 3 pkgs toilet tissue (4 double rolls), 2 rolls paper towels (good quality) and 2 facial tissue (large rectangular boxes). Thanks for your support for the Festival of Sharing. "Beyond Charity...Reaching Where Needed Most" October 19, 2013 at Sedalia Mo. Instead of explaining our suffering, God shares it because He knows mere answers are cold and His arms are warm. ~Ann Voskamp

Brian McLaren Celebrates Columbia UCC's 90th AnniversaryBrian McLaren, nationally known speaker and author and one of Time magazine's 25 most influential evangelicals in America, will be at Columbia UCC to celebrate our 90th anniversary! McLaren will speak on themes from his latest book, Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road? The event takes place in our worship space at 3:00 pm on Sunday, May 5, and is presented to the community free of charge. Brian McLaren is presented free of charge; a time for questions will be included. Columbia United Church of Christ is located at 3201 I-70 Dr., NW, Columbia, MO.

4

The Lamplighter Conference Annual GatheringDear Friend, I am inviting you to attend the Conference Annual Gathering (CAG) of the Missouri Mid-South Conference on June 7-9, 2013, at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. The theme for this year's gathering is "We Are The Church Together". The Rev. Dr. Dick Hamm, former General Minister and President of the Disciples of Christ, will be our keynote speaker. Dr. Hamm will also be the consultant for a Conference Visioning Project helping us reflect on how we will engage in Conference Ministry together in a time of rapid change in the church. As part of this year's gathering we will conclude our year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Missouri Mid-South Conference. Worship is always a highlight of our gathering and we are pleased to again be blessed with the music of Paul Westcott from Prince of Peace UCC.Please note: this year all materials for the CAG will be posted on our website www.missourimidsouth.org.

WhoKnew?The Background of PentecostPentecost was the second of the three great feasts in Hebrew society it was originally referred to as the "Feast of Harvest" and later as the "Feast of Weeks." The day was the culmination of a seven-week agricultural season that concluded with a one-day festival held on the first day after the seventh Sabbath after Passover. In its original setting (Num. 28:26), it was a sacrificial presentation of the first fruits of the harvest. In Jesus' time, the holiday took on a more festive tone with a final communal meal to which the poor were invited. Pentecost is often referred to as the forgotten holy day in the church's liturgical calendar. Aside from preaching on the text (Acts 2:121) and singing songs emphasizing the theme of the Holy Spirit, many churches go along with "worship as usual." Yet, the celebration of Pentecost is rich with creative possibilities to enhance the worship of your congregation. Consider all the aspects of the Pentecost story: Expectant disciples are caught up in a cacophonous whirlwind of flames; Filled with the Holy Spirit, they begin to praise God in a variety of languages; The crowd of Jewish foreigners assembled for the Feast of Weeks hears these Galileans speaking in their own tongues; Some in the amazed crowd have a skeptical answer to this language riddle the disciples must be drunk; Peter, emboldened by the Holy Spirit, denies the charge and proclaims God's act of salvation through Christ; At the end of Peter's Pentecost sermon, three thousand people join the new religious movement. If ever there is a day for Christian churches to shout "Alleluia, Amen!" this is it. Pentecost is, quite literally, the birthday of the Christian church. ~ Source: www.ucc.org

Youth Participation at CAGAttention all Pastors, Youth Leaders, Youth and CAG Delegates- starting this year at the Conference Annual Gathering, there will be special opportunities for Conference youth at our gathering! Youth (ages 14 and up) will be invited to participate in several opportunities!

Follow MMSUCC on Facebook!Get the latest news and information from around the Conference and connect with friends on our Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/mmsucc

Honor your father and your mother so that you will live a long time in the land that the Lord your God is going to give you. Exodus 20:12 NCV

5

EXPRESSION SESSION Thank YousWishing you and those you love a beautiful holiday season...Thank you so much for all you do for House of Hope. Not only donations but the thoughtfulness and prayers for our victims of abuse, and our staff. God blessyou all! Christal, House of Hope Dear Friends @ Zion Church: We appreciate all you have done for one of our families. We appreciate all of your hard work and generosity. Have a very Merry Christmas, Sincerely, Andi Riley--School Outreach A very special thank you, for being so very thoughtful! Thanks so much for your support. We are blessed to have friends like you. God's blessings to you in the New Year. Regards, Jennifer March, SSFP Treas. Zion United Church of Christ, Thank you for the card wishing me luck as I student teach. It means so much that you are thinking of me! I am pleased to report that things are going amazingly well and I have my first job interview Thursday, February 7. Thank you for your love and support and continue to pray for me. God bless you! Stephanie Carpenter Dear Zion UCC, Jeff and I would like to thank you for your continued support and prayers. It makes this journey easier knowing we have so many people taking care of us. Laura Rhodes As a volunteer, you make a difference every day. Thank you for your generosity and compassion! The Residents of New Haven I want to thank everyone for their prayers and concerns during my accident where I cut my finger. Thanks. God Bless, Jim Bayless

The Lamplighter

Butterfly Room3 And

if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:3 (KJV)

Writing Mothers Stories Helps Daughter Handle LossMy career as a flight attendant included some intense training every year for the unlikely event of an emergency. One of the scenarios flight crews practice over and over is bracing for an emergency landing. Should this extremely rare situation occur, I felt confident that the crew was prepared and knew exactly what to do. The late night call about my moms death came with absolutely no warning or bracing time, and the impact was devastating. I felt completely unprepared and unsure where to go with the unpredictable emotions of grief. What would life look like without her, the #1 life cheerleader we called Beazy? I remember waking one morning with a palpable fear that I might forget about her- forget the sweet years of growing up in a home with two parents, five loud kids, and two psychotic canines. It was that morning I started to write. Some surprising things happened as I began to record memories in my journal. Writing Beazy stories would bring not only tears, but eventually some laughter- leaving my heart a little lighter. As I preserved memories, photos, even recipes safely on paper, the fear of forgetting about my mom began to fade away. I had a comforting place to go to remember her. So, what about you? Maybe you got the knock at the door with, We regret to inform you or other traumatic news with no time to brace. If thats your story, Im so very sorry for your loss. While I dont pretend to know whats going on in your heart, I believe theres something you can do to keep memories fresh and give you a place to begin to heal. I want to encourage you to get a journal today and start to write. Telling the story is a beautiful way to honor a life thats way too important to be forgotten. ~Beth Marshall Hold on to what is good, even if its a handful of earth. Hold on to my hand, even when Ive gone away from you. Pueblo Blessing

6

The Lamplighter

Celebration OccasionsMay Birthdays Pastor Date2 3 4 10 12 14 15 19 22 23

Office HoursSecretaryTuesday 8:00 AMNoon Wednesday 6:008:00 PM Thursday 8:00 AMNoon Wednesday 5:009:00 PM

BirthdayTisha Ostermeyer Trisha Ehlert Kim Wilton Warren Hawthorne Wilbur Neher Bryce Neher Darrell Fiegenbaum Dorothy Begemann Jesse Engel Philip Hoeppner Verneal Koch Evan Bentsen Robert Brueggenjohann Teresa Begemann Juanita Wright May 5 12 19 26

Serving SoulsACOLYTES Leah Wagner Austin Aardema Faigh Seth Bayless Tanner Burns GREETERS Jeff & Connie Sanders Norma Mittlehauser & Jeanette Starkebaum Elaine Hudson & Doris VanCleave Roger & Mary Ellen Thomson

31

May Anniversaries20 23 31 Robert & Amy Hoefer Mike & Amy Burns Ronnie & Martha HawthorneWayne Hoefer Council President

Administrative AffairsPastor Kristin Aardema Faigh Home(660) 237- 4902 Church (660) 237-4355 pastorkristinatzion@yahoo.com Cell (660) 641-1038 (660) 237- 4386

Reminder!The deadline for submissions for the June newsletter is Thursday, May 22, 2013. Send your submissions to: jennyj36@yahoo.com or zionuccsecretary@hotmail.com or Call (660) 237-4923

Angie Lawson Church Secretary Jenny Holt Newsletter Teresa Begemann Organist Connie Sanders Custodian

(660) 237- 4355 zionuccsecretary@hotmail.com (660) 237 - 4923 jennyj36@yahoo.com (816) 633 - 4133 tjbegemann@yahoo.com (660) 237 - 4246 cjsanders77@yahoo.com

7

Zion United Church of Christ 105 North Mary St. Mayview, Missouri 64071-8224 Generous - Loving - Dedicated Christians Sunday School 9:00 am Worship at 10:30 am

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

The Lamplighter May 2013

Zion UCC Mission StatementThe avowed purpose of our church shall be: To worship God, to proclaim and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to celebrate the Sacraments; to experience Christian fellowship, to build unity, and to practice charity within this congregation and the wider church; and to share this witness of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

Worship WhirlTraditional Worship Contemporary Worship Sunday School Communion Church Council Board of Christian Education SAIL (Serving All in Love) 10:30 AM 10:30 AM 9:30AM 10:30AM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM Sundays Monthly - 3rd Sunday Sundays Monthly 1st Sunday & Special Holidays Monthly Monthly Monthly - 4th Tuesday

8