Here's what you will find in this issue:
- Sunday Worship Information and Links
- Worship Series
- Calendar Link
- Pastor Owen's Article
- Pastor Alison's Youth News
- Committee Updates and other News
- Hiring Committee Update
- Rose Eaves Welcome
- Birthdays and Anniversaries
- Prayer information
- Online Giving Link
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Sunday Morning January 9, 2022
10:00 am Worship
11:00 am Fellowship
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Volunteers for In Person Worship
January 9, 2022
Communion Prep: Paul and Linda L
Communion Servers: Judi D, Linda and Paul L, Judi K, Pat M
Greeter: Bob T, Shanon B
Fellowship: Mary SC, Pat F
Usher: Darin L
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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
December 5 – "Standing in the Already and Not Yet"
Luke 3:1-6
December 12 - “Uproot Greed and Cultivate Compassion”
Luke 3:7-14
December 19 - “Rise Up!”
Luke 1:46-55, Luke 1:39-45
December 24 (Christmas Eve) - "Sing Praise!"
Luke 21:1-20 (11-20), John 1:1-14, Isaiah 9:2-7, Psalm 96
December 26 (First Sunday After Christmas) -
“Tell It, Live It!”
Colossians 3:12-17
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The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to liberate the oppressed, - Luke 4:18
I have wrestled with this particular piece of what is often referred to as Jesus’ mission statement (or in some places his ‘manifesto’). I understand the part about liberating the oppressed, as we all long for that, even if sometimes we are oppressors without being cognizant of it (that is for a different newsletter article).
However, the line about proclaiming release to the prisoners…well, that I struggle with, and like many others, often spiritualize it. You know what I mean. It is like the line in “A Star Wars Story: Rebel One” (which, since no one asked, is my favorite Star Wars movie, even though it is not one of the main series of movies), Chirrut, a blind, wise man observes to another character, “There is more than one sort of prison, Captain, I sense that you carry yours wherever you go.” That kind of prison, one that is manufactured internally or by circumstance and life encumbrance, I hope for that kind of release much the same way that I long for liberty to the oppressed.
But, what about prisoners who are literally in jail. There are some people who are guilty of their crimes and should be in prison. Aren’t there? Is Jesus, and us by extension, proclaiming release to those prisoners as well?
This struggle hits a little closer to home this year as a member of our community, one we have loved and cared for and hoped for, sits in prison accused of hurting someone, another member of our community whom we have loved, cared for, and hoped the best for. What then? How do we respond to this? How do we as a community of faith still express our love, care, and hope regardless of guilt or innocence?
I don’t know that I have a final answer to that question. However, it seems that the gospel call doesn’t require innocence as a pre-requisite of God’s love, or by extension, our love. Indeed, we are called to care for – and maybe ‘called’ is too weak a word for this – maybe we are compelled, maybe it is a gospel imperative to continue to love and care for and hope for the best for members of our community (and the world for that matter), regardless of guilt or innocence. Maybe Jesus’ proclaiming of release to the prisoners goes deeper than just getting them out of jail.
I think it is both proclamation for those of us who carry our jails with us, and those who are behind bars. We have a responsibility to them as well – to go beyond putting people in jail to be forgotten and out of the way. In Matthew’s gospel, in the last parable Jesus tells, he reminds us that our treatment of prisoners is equal to our treatment of him, “I was in prison and you visited me…as you did it to the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”
Shalom,
Pastor Owen
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Pastor Alison's Youth News |
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We will be starting Sunday School for Pre-K through 12th Grade on Sunday, January 16th at its usual time of 9:00 - 9:45 a.m.
Out K-5th Graders will start off 2022 learning about the story of Four Friends - four friends who lowered their friend on a mat through the roof so Jesus might heal him. We’ll be learning more about the story in many different and interactive ways!
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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The CHAOS Continues in January! |
Our 6th – 12th grade youth group or CHAOS (Christ Honoring and Others Serving) will continue our fun in January. We will start 2020 off right with some great activities! Here’s what’s on our agenda:
January 9 - Cozy Catch Up Night: On this night, we will check in, hear about our breaks, and generally be cozy as we slowly start back into our youth group routine.
January 16 - Hot Cocoa Bar: This will be a great night of delicious hot cocoa and games at the church. There will be a bunch of different things to put in your cocoa, and we’ll spend our time just hanging out with one another. Cozy clothes welcome! Keep your eye on your email for more information.
January 23 & 30 - TBD: I am hoping that we will get enough snow and warm enough weather to do some sledding one of these two Sundays! In the event that it doesn’t work to do sledding, we’ll have a 3G Night and/or an evening of doing service!
Keep your eye on Weekly CHAOS for more up-to-date information! It’s going to be a GREAT semester!
If you’re interested in being placed on our weekly newsletter mailing list, please email me at alisonaccdoc@gmail.com
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Mid-Week Mayhem Moves
Along in December
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MidWeek Mayhem (Grades K-5) will continue in the month of January with some fellowship and fun! We will be meeting from 3:15 - 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays in the Sanctuary!
Parents: If your child is interested in attending MWM but they need a ride from school/home, please let me know! I’m happy to arrange something. We’d love to have your child participate in this weekly fun!
Here’s our schedule:
January 5 - How Was Your Break? - On this evening we’ll spend some time filling each other in with how our breaks were through games and other fun ways
January 12 - Hello, 2021! - On this day, we’ll spend some time talking about this new year, and doing a fun craft to ring in the New Year!
January 19 - Four Friends- We’ll spend a bit more time this Wednesday on our lesson that we’re learning in Sunday School!
January 26 - Game Time! - Just as it sounds! It’ll be a fun time!
Keep your eye on Monday Mayhem for more information! If you’d like to be added to this weekly newsletter for Children’s Ministries, please let me know!
We are looking forward to another great semester of Mayhem in the middle of the week! Hope to see you or your child there!
There will be more in-depth information in Monday Mayhem, sent out weekly on Mondays! If you’re interested in being placed on that mailing list, please email me at alisonaccdoc@gmail.com
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Committee Updates and other news |
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Holiday Sharing with Love from ACC |
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The Mission Committee is recommending a change from our usual Holiday Giving in that rather than supplying the church with disposable items, we direct our giving to others in need.
Two categories are being suggested. The Ankeny Service Center has an ongoing need for personal health/hygiene items to give to local residents. Rising costs of food, clothing and gas are limiting the families’ funds available for items such as tooth brushes and paste, deodorant, hair care items, razors, body wash, toilet paper, dish soap, laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, etc. In short, any of those items that are needed daily for one’s well- being. The Service Center maintains a food pantry as well, therefore also welcomes donations to stock that.
The second recipient of ACC’s Holiday gifts is an adult homeless shelter in DM. Their needs are the same personal items as well as heavy mittens and gloves, hats and scarves, warm socks, quilts and blankets.
Marked Totes are located at the front of the sanctuary. They will be emptied as necessary and will remain throughout January.
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Hiring Committee Update
We continue to put out feelers for a potential music director, having updated the job description. Please, keep us in your prayers and, as always, if you have someone who might be interested in the position, send them our way! You can always email Pastor Alison or Pastor Owen with leads or questions.
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New Office Manager, Rose Eaves
I was born and raised in Des Moines and am the youngest of 3 siblings. I have over 50 first cousins that lived in the Des Moines area and were a big part of my group of friends growing up. I graduated from Lincoln High School and attended Upper Iowa University where I studied Business Management.
I have 2 grown children who both live out of state. My son, Ken, lives in Chicago, is single and is a middle manager for Slolam, an IT firm. My daughter, Jennifer, has 2 sons, 21 and 17, and her family lives in Fairgrove, Missouri.
My career has covered all areas of business, including assistant to CEO, HR administrator, director of events and office manager positions. In my over 30 years of experience, I have become a jack of all trades in the office arena. In my spare time, I enjoy visiting with my children, family and friends. I enjoy walking, reading, water aerobics and traveling. I lived in Ankeny 20 years ago for about 7 years, moved to West Des Moines, and back to Ankeny 5 years ago. I volunteer and enjoy being active in my community and church.
My normal business hours will be Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 8am to 1pm, and Thursday from 10am to 3pm.
I am very excited to join the team at Ankeny Christian Church and meeting each and every one of you!
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January Birthdays
3 Brian Ostrem
6 Kara Duffy
7 Susie Bentley
9 Sue Jansen
14 Shelby Skinner
16 Marshall Moellers
Madi Narwold
17 Ken Johnson
20 Sydney Neitzel
21 Georgene Raver
23 Trinity Smith
24 Norm Honderd
25 John Harris
26 Kathryn Kalvig
Judi DeMoss
27 Fran Honderd
Emma Wehofer
30 Clint Fischer
31 Lori Leach
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January Anniversaries
4 Joshua & Crystal Ross
Tim and Kathryn Kalvig
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Do you have a Prayer Request? |
If you have a prayer request, please email Pastor Owen or Pastor Alison at:
pastorcayton@gmail.com
alisonaccdoc@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
Pastor Alison Fitzgerald, Associate Minister
Rose Eaves, Office Manager
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Ankeny Christian Church
2506 SW 3rd Street
Ankeny, IA 50023
515-964-1083
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