Here's what you will find in this issue:
- Sunday Worship Information and Links
- Worship Series
- Calendar Link
- Pastor Owen's Article
- Ash Wednesday Meal and Service Announcement
- Pastor Alison's Youth News
- A Note from Pastor Alison
- Committee Updates
- Missions
- Hiring Committee Update
- Summer Camp Registration is Open
- 2022 Leadership
- Birthdays and Anniversaries
- Prayer information
- Online Giving Link
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Sunday Morning February 27, 2022
10:00 am Worship
11:00 am Fellowship
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Volunteers for In Person Worship
February 27, 2022
Communion Prep: Pat Fliger
Communion Servers: Paul & Linda Lamont; Pat Fliger; Rob Duffy; Shanon Buckroyd
Greeter: Wehofer Family
Fellowship: Mary St. Clair; Pat Fliger
Usher: Shanon Buckroyd
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Worship services will continue to be live streamed on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. You can either use the Facebook Link or the YouTube Link to see the live feed, or even worship a little later if you need to. Use the buttons below to choose which link fits your needs best.
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Reminder: If you are not feeling well, please stay home and participate in worship online. The COVID task force would also like to encourage all of those who are eligible to get vaccinated. |
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Worship Series
Good Enough: Embracing the Imperfections of Life and Faith
March 2 – "Perfection is impossible. Transformation isn't"
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
March 6 - “Ordinary Lives can be Holy”
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
March 13 - “So much is out of our control”
Luke 13:31-35
March 20- "Lots of things can be medicine"
Luke 13:1-9
March 27 "Noah: A story for Lent"
Genesis 6-9
April 3 "We are Precious"
John 12:1-8
April 10 "You are a Group Project"
Luke 19:28-40
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“Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”
- Gandalf in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
“We cannot all do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
- Mother Teresa
As I write this article, news has been pouring in all day about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. I can’t help but ponder the ways this will impact so many things in our world. I mean there is never really a small war. There may be wars that stretch on long enough that we get used to and forget to be horrified by them, but they all have impacts and ripples that extend beyond them…if nothing else, in the toll they take on life, human and otherwise. So, I think about this invasion and wonder what I can do in the face of the evils of war? What possible difference can I make? How can I…how can we do anything big enough to respond with enough goodness to overcome the evils of war?
And then I think about the funeral on Monday and the life we celebrated. Sam Johnson was a wonderful example of faithfulness – not perfection – but faithfulness. We all remember his tenderness toward Frances and his care for her. We all remember his face as he showed up weekly for worship. I ponder that kind of faithfulness and think about really how big that is! I think about how much of a difference that faithfulness made in others’ lives and I smile. It is not easy, yet Sam made it seem so.
And I think about the words Cathy Helmke spoke during the communion meditation this Sunday past that still resonate within my soul. She talked about how after she has put aside her sewing and quilting for a while, maybe just she got busy or, whatever, but she hadn’t done this thing that she loves in a while, to get back into it she doesn’t try a huge project, rather she picks something small to work on…and that is how she gets her ‘sew-jo’ back. She remembers, in those small things, the love she has for her craft, and it builds from there.
What small thing can we do that can grow? What can we bring to be into the world that nudges it ever closer to what God hopes for the world?
At the end of each worship service during this series I have invited us to a creative act. This week I invited folk in the congregation to work on something together, to bring something to be in the world together. Well, now, I want to invite you to something specific. I would like us, Ankeny Christian Church, to serve a meal to the staff and their families of the Ankeny Christian Childcare Center and to sit and share that meal with them. (see article below for more information and ways you can help). I want this simple meal to be an act of love we do together and bring into the world.
The past couple years have been rough on all of us, and the ACCC staff is no exception. They have worked, often short staffed because of the difficulties everyone seems to have finding employees or because of illness, and then they have had to deal with the regular things: illness, family struggles, and all the things we all have to deal with from time to time, while continuing to push through and care for the children that have been entrusted to them.
I am not under any illusion that this meal will fix everything for them. But I am convinced that this seemingly small thing can make a difference. And if we make a difference in the lives of the staff, it can make a difference in the lives of the children and the families they care for. I hope you will join me in this simple act of love and appreciation. Let’s bring something good into the world together!
Shalom,
Pastor Owen
Let’s Do Something Fun Together and Serve!
The friendly folk at Ankeny Christian Church (that’s us) are going to serve a meal to the Ankeny Christian Childcare Center staff and their families, and we are going to enjoy that meal with them on Tuesday, March 8 at 6:00 p.m. We will need folk to bring some food, some to help set up and clean up, some to help serve, and some…well, some to just show up and eat. If you would like to help in one or more of those ways, please see either the sign up genius here:
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Or sign up on the board in the Fellowship Hall after worship this Sunday or next. The meat is being provided by some of our members who have smokers, but we’ll need all the other stuff to go with it! Let’s do what we do well and share Christ’s love with each other and the Childcare staff and families. |
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Sign up in the Fellowship Hall after worship to bring a dish for the meal. |
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A Note from Pastor Alison
Hey, Church!
I wanted to take the opportunity of the newsletter coming out on my last Friday with you all to write you a little note as I say farewell. I love a reason to tell you how wonderful you are, so you’re going to just have to bear with me!
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There has been a word over these past few weeks since my note went out to you all that keeps surfacing as I have been sifting and sorting through files, putting things in their places, preparing to be gone and saying goodbyes and that word is gratitude.
When I started at ACC I didn’t have much. I was a fresh minister who only had what she’d learned in seminary in her bag, a little fragile from moving halfway across the country, and a little nervous about embarking on living into my calling in a full-time way. This might’ve been a bit daunting for some congregations - bringing someone on who knew “exactly how to do things” - someone who was pretty green around the edges, but do you know what? You said “yes”.
You said yes to giving me my own office, and letting me paint it and draw on the walls with chalk. You said yes to supporting me through Bethany Fellows, and Excellence in Ministry, believing that these ministries would further my ministry and embolden ours together.
You said yes to letting me walk alongside your children, your youth. You said yes to letting me take them all around the country on mission trips, you said yes to coffees on Thursday afternoons, you said yes to weeks of CHAOS, and yes to MidWeek Mayhem - yes to Pastors Class and weeks of camp at the Christian Conference Center.
You said yes to letting me preach and lead on Sunday mornings, and marry those within the community and walk together in grief over those that we lost by offering services of remembrance. You let me sit with you in the hospital, in hospice. You welcomed me into your homes for meals or for coffee or just to say hello. You said yes to letting me pray with you in all of these places and sometimes over the phone or over text messages.
You said yes to me when I said I was tired and needed rest. You said yes to me when I needed to care for myself, or someone around me. You said yes by bringing my parents, my dog, and now even my husband into the fold.
My friends. Church. All of these yeses you’ve given me have made these past five and a half years a journey of abundance, and it is a journey that I will never forget and will cherish for the rest of my life.
You took a fresh from seminary graduate, newly ordained, and you said yes to her. And that has made all of the difference.
I love all of you with my whole heart, and I take you with me as I go. Please know that while I cannot see you or communicate with you over these next couple of years due to clergy ethics code, it does not mean that I don’t love you or I don’t care. I do - and fiercely so. Know that I’m looking on from afar, holding you in prayer, and loving you deeply.
Ankeny Christian Church, thank you. I am overflowing with gratitude and love that will spill out and into all of my life, forever.
Thank you for saying yes to me, and thank you for the ministry and life and love we’ve shared over these past five and a half years.
May the love of God surround you everywhere that you may go.
Peace,
Pastor Alison
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Pastor Alison's Youth News |
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We will be continuing Sunday School for Pre-K through 12th Grade during the month of March at its usual time of 9:00 - 9:45 a.m. Please note: there will be a break on March 13 & 20 for Spring Break!
Out K-5th Graders will spend the month diving into the Lord's Prayer - what it means and why it's important - with different and fun interactive activities.
Our 6 - 12th Graders will continue to ask hard questions and tricky scenarios in relation to our faith lives.
We hope you can join us for Sunday School this month!
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Plan for CHAOS Moving Forward! |
Last week, a group of us met to talk about CHAOS after I depart ACC. Here is a summary of what we discussed:
● There will be 4 parents who will be planning and implementing youth group through the end of the semester. Those parents and sponsors are Cathy Helmke, Lori Krase-Cayton, Darin Leach, and Mary St. Clair
● I will be giving them contact info for every family in youth group and they will be communicating a semester schedule with you all via email, and only emailing if there’s a change.
● Emily Porath will now be in charge of the CHAOS GroupMe. There will be information on how to join the GroupMe coming soon!
● The youth mission trip dates will be June 12-19 (approximately). The destination is still to be determined!
That’s what’s going on! If you have questions, please reach out to one of the folks named above. And please do thank these people when you find a moment! They are obviously amazing and CHAOS is clearly in loving and capable hands. :)
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Mid-Week Mayhem Moving Forward |
MidWeek Mayhem (Grades K-5) will continue in the month of February with some fellowship and fun! We will meet from 3:15 - 4:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary!
The Christian Education Committee has met to discuss MidWeek Mayhem (grades K-5) and the plan after I depart. Cathy Helmke will be discussing a plan with those who are involved with the ministry and they will be coming up with a time to meet. I have also shared a document with contact information for all of the families who have K-5 children so that they may be in communication with you.
There will be no meeting on March 2nd due to Ash Wednesday services.
If you have any questions, please contact Cathy Helmke. Thank you!
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Missions March Special Offering:
Food Insecurity
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Numerous articles and reports of changes in the food distribution programs in Iowa have recently been headlined. Expanded pandemic food benefits financial assistance availability will expire in April leaving numerous persons struggling to feed their families as they cope with rising inflation. Legislative solutions seem complicated and possibly ineffective. This is a current problem.
Ankeny Christian will not be able to solve this crisis; however, donating locally to provide needed food is the most obvious action we can take. COVID prevented the ever popular “Shoe Hike” so this message/challenge serves as an alternative for the event.
Ankeny has 4 sources to obtain free food: two churches, Impact and the Ankeny Service Center. The Mission's committee is recommending that we support the Service Center. Recipients are asked to register and may visit weekly to select whatever they need. The Center is open daily.
Food is obtained from the food bank, purchased at local stores, donated directly from individuals or freshly prepared food donated by local outlets. Thanks to local organizations donating freezers and refrigeration, included items such as dairy, eggs, produce and other fresh items donated locally are available. Financing is primarily from individuals and organizations.
Missions is suggesting we donate financially to support this program. Funds donated will be earmarked for food procurement. The Mission's committee is pledging a donation of $300.00 which will supplement our indicated donation during the month of March. The Service center will be relocating to a larger facility this spring. Updates will be available.
Thank you in advance for your generosity.
Missions Committee
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Hiring Committee Update
Great News! We have hired a new Office Manager! Kasey Romano has decided to join our community and has already started working with Pastor Owen. We are excited to have her join us, her office schedule is located below and she will enjoy meeting and working with everyone please make sure to stop in and say hello!
Monday 1 pm to 7 pm
Tuesdays OFF
Wednesdays 1 pm to 7 pm
Thursdays 8:30 am to 12:30 pm
Fridays 8:30 am to 11:30 am
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Summer Camp Registration is Open!! |
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SUMMER CAMP 2022 Serious FUN. Powerful PURPOSE.
From an overnight for grandparents and grandkids to a weeklong sleep-away camp for elementary, middle, and high school students, to a weekend of faith and fun for the whole family, we’ve got a camp for you! Art, High Adventure, Rustic Camping, Leader Development camps, and more are offered in the Christian Conference Center’s summer program. We have a lot of SERIOUS FUN, all while growing in faith and learning to live and love with POWERFUL PURPOSE.
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2022 Leadership
Officers
- President – David Rawson
- President-Elect – Open
- Past President, Chair Personnel Committee – Emily Porath
- Secretary – Shanon Buckroyd
- Treasurer – Jackie Black
- Member at Large – Jennifer Koehler
- Check Writer – John Lee
- Chair of PRC – Darin Leach
- PRC Members - Sarah Wright, Terri Ostrem, Darin Leach, Randy Wehofer, Frank Prowant, and Di Mathis
- Nominating Committee - Annette Hunter, Rob Duffy, and Lori Leach
Current Committee Chairs
- Christian Education – Cathy Helmke
- Stewardship and Finance – Curt Narwold
- Property – Tom Murphy
- Worship – Karen Fausch
- Social Life – Kayla Harris
- Evangelism – Open
- Missions – Chuck Fausch
- Endowment – Dorothy Mathis
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March Birthdays
2 Darin Leach
Betty Grimes
4 Morgan Leach
5 Max Marshall
9 Ben Chatman
Mary Hanley
Jerry Sawyer
10 Brinson Kalvig
15 Megan Narwold
16 Judy Johnson
21 Hazel Magner
22 Crystle Brandenburg
Jennifer Koehler
26 Matt Porath
Mac Fett
Sully Fett
28 Wesley Brandenburg
Randy Hart
Joanie Wehofer
29 Beverly Morgan
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March Anniversaries
28 Bob & Shannon Buckroyd
29 Randy & Suzette Hart
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Do you have a Prayer Request? |
If you have a prayer request, please email Pastor Owen at:
pastorcayton@gmail.com
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If you would like to continue (or begin) to contribute to the work of the church financially, you can mail in a check to
2506 SW 3rd Street, Ankeny, IA 50023
or you can give online by clicking the link below.
There you can set up one time or recurring donations.
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Pastor Owen Cayton, Senior Minister |
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Ankeny Christian Church
2506 SW 3rd Street
Ankeny, IA 50023
515-964-1083
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