We Are People of Prayer
In response to this week’s horrifying events in our nation, I prayed. Not a passing prayer but on my knees, heart and soul, exhausting prayer. I don’t always have the perfect words or even begin to know how to express the range of emotions I’m working through; anger, disbelief, wondering what country my kids will inherit, dismay at social media and all the sides taking shots at other sides. If you are waiting for the perfect paragraph, I’m sorry. Right now I can only pray. And I wonder if this time our church and all of God’s people will unite around the power of the Resurrected Lord of Love. It won’t be in a social media barrage or a witty remark. It will be in learning about your enemy and loving. I appeal to LOVE and resurrection, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.  

READ THIS if you want some happy news.
Later today I will deliver fifty six $50 gift cards to St. Luke’s Hospital. That will allow one gift card for every person employed on one of the floors. (A parishioner has a friend who works on that floor and that’s how we got connected.) They will be surprised, and hopefully their hearts will be warmed. I’ll report back!

But thus far, I can tell you that the people from the hospital who know are elated. One lady was almost in tears. Church, thank you for showing love in a broken and sad world. Amen! 

Opportunities to Grow
Keep working on your faith and growing as a disciples of Jesus! At SUMC we encourage you to engage your faith in the three areas highlighted below. Deeper Roots are the ways we worship as a church family. Stronger Branches are the ways we engage our personal relationship with Christ. Bountiful Fruit are the ways we allow our faith to share God’s love in the world. 

Deeper Roots
  • Worship will be online on Facebook Live this Sunday, January 10 at 8:30 a.m. Please keep in mind that you can view it anytime after that. So there is no pressure to begin right at that time. 
  • We are hoping to offer in-person worship on January 17. Masks and social distance will be a necessary part of that. Please stay tuned for an official announcement with times included. Online worship will remain an option for all. If you don’t feel comfortable being present with masks and distance respected, please do not feel pressured to come. Online worship is wonderful at this time.  
  • Exit X will take place in-person on Wednesday, January 13 at 6:30 p.m. along with 380 Kids. Masks are required and measures will be taken to keep everyone as safe
as possible.  

Stronger Branches
Part of growing in our faith is prayer. Please take a moment to pray for these people and situations, plus what is on your heart.

  • All who are dealing with COVID 
  • Medical professionals of all kinds
  • Caretakers
  • Jacob Vance
  • Kay Feldman, Brenda Swanson’s mother, is on Hospice Care
  • Judy Stein, Louise Lang’s sister, is on Hospice Care
  • Michael Broghammer, at Basic Training
  • Annelee Machacek, some health issues lately
  • Those with eating disorders
  • Family of Virginia Roths and Duane Palmer (Pastor Brody presided at these funerals in the last week, although not connected directly to our church)

If you are not part of a scripture text group, now is a great time to start. We read a chapter in the Bible each day and a brief reflection by Pastor Brody. It is a great opportunity to grow in your knowledge of scripture and faith in Christ. Let Pastor Brody know if you’d like to be a part of this. 

If you don’t do text messaging, you can receive these in hard copy form. Let Pastor Brody or Carol Crisman know if you’d like to receive these through the mail. 

Small Groups will be starting up this Lenten season, so be on the lookout for how you can get involved.
    
Bountiful Fruit
  • Matthew 25 is a ministry in downtown Cedar Rapids. We have been working alongside them in derecho recovery. There are some winter projects that can be done by small groups of people. If you are interested, please let Pastor Brody know. There are people who need help and we can be a part of showing them love and grace. 
  • Our church has done some great things at Christmas, with the prompting and the power of the Holy Spirit. We sent out Christmas Food Baskets and also had some people donate some gifts for elderly. Those gift bags have looked different but they all shared love. Here is a picture of the contents of one below.