|
|
October 2022 Newsletter
Sunday Worship
10 AM
Sunday Fellowship
11 AM
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.
|
|
|
“But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’ And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.”
- Matthew 19:14-15
Children are a gift from God. They are, at the same time, representative of our future and culmination of our past; promise and responsibility. In this series we will celebrate our children – the ones we see regularly and the ones who are strangers to us, we will reclaim our responsibility to them, and expand our care of them. We will recommit our support and encouragement of their leadership, not just in the future, but here and now.
| |
|
October 9
"Teach Your Children Well"
Deuteronomy 6:1-9
October 16
"Bless All the Dear Children"
Matthew 19:12-15
October 23
"Encourage the Children"
Exodus 2:1-10
October 30
"Let the Children Lead the Way"
Isaiah 11:1-9
| |
Pastor Owen's Ponderings | |
|
But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his side, and said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest.’
- Luke 9:47-48
“I believe the children are our future; teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside, give them a sense of pride to make it easier.”
- Michael Masser, “The Greatest Love of All”
The exercise is not uncommon at church camp. You sit in a chair in the center of the group and each person in the group tells you something good about you. It is often called an affirmation circle and the idea, or at least the way I have typically used it at camp, is that each person will be
affirmed as a child of God; reminded that they have value and that they are loved.
This year at Adventure Camp Lori and I had our small groups do this as a part of the worship for the daily theme “Loved at the Table”. What we observed was a little disheartening. As each person in each group took the chair in the center, we noticed that they were uncomfortable. I even noticed several who, when their turn was up, literally jumped up out of the chair as though it was so hot as to be painful they had been so discomforted by the exercise.
As we came back into the larger circle to talk about the experience as a whole group I observed this phenomenon out loud and several in the group confirmed that they jumped out of the chair because they were so uncomfortable with being spoken of in such positive terms. When I asked
why, one of the kids said something to the effect of, “It is just easier to believe the bad stuff.”
Note, the youth did not have trouble saying good things about their peers. Indeed, even the more challenging youth received good words about themselves. However, to hear…to be in the hotseat (though it was not intended to be so) and hear things that affirmed their value was challenging to them. It was hard for these young people, who were at church camp and therefore at least loosely connected to a church mind you, to hear that they were loved at the table was hard. Lori expressed to me that she has done similar exercises with our youth…OUR wonderful, amazing, spectacular, talented, loveable youth…and has had similar feedback from them. It is hard for them to hear that they are loved and that they have value. Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me…” I think part of what it means to welcome a child in Jesus’ name is to remind them regularly that they are children of God, made in the image of God, and worthy of love – not for any other reason but because God loves them! And it is our responsibility to remind them enough that they believe it.
Shalom,
Pastor Owen
| |
|
October 8th
5 PM to 8 PM
at Highland Park Christian Church 4260 NW 6th Dr. Des Moines, Iowa 50313
| |
|
Every Wednesday
10 AM to 11:30 AM
"From Widows to Warriors: Women's Stories from the Old Testament"
Books located in Fellowship Hall
| |
|
"Come be Disciples Together at the Christian Conference Center in Newton for the 2022 All Congregational Gathering. Spend the day with Disciples from across the Upper Midwest in fellowship, worship, and learning as we explore ideas about how to be the church in the world today!"
Click the photo to sign up!
| |
|
Ankeny Christian Church (ACC) October 2022 Covid committee update:
The ACC Covid committee will suspend our monthly meetings effective October 1, 2022. Our committee is comprised of church members, members in the health field, leaders, and our senior pastor. We monitor and make recommendations to ACC church council based on information from the Center for Disease Control and the Polk County Health Department. We have been meeting and taking actions in the interest of ACC since June of 2020. The committee has recommended and Church Council has approved the suspension of this “sprint” committee. We believe that the committee has served its’ objectives. We will initiate action, however, immediately pending extraordinary changes that require our attention. There are new and improved vaccinations in the making that are more Covid strain specific. These should help reduce the effects of Covid for those that obtain the vaccine. Remember the vaccinations are not a “I won’t get it” solution. They’re designed to reduce the effects when and if you get it. You should consult your respective care giver for further information. We’re approaching the flu season. It is highly recommended to members to get your flu shot. These are general recommendations and you should consult your health care professional if you have underlying needs. Communion servers will continue to glove and mask. This is also subject to change but will remain at this time. We continue to encourage members who are not feeling well to not attend. We have on-line worship services available every Sunday.
We continue to use the air purifiers in the sanctuary and fellowship hall. I would like to thank all the members of this “sprint” committee for faithfully serving Ankeny Christian Church in this manner. Owen Cayton, Karen Fausch, Frank Prowant, Jennifer Koehler, Latisha Ukpabi,
Darin Leach, John Sayre, Tarah Widaman, Cathy Helmke, Tom Murphy, Emily Porath and David Rawson.
Arnie Porath
| |
|
Missions Committee:
At the writing of this, the Food Bowl competition is in the final quarter. Check the scoreboard next Sunday as it is too close to call. Proceeds from this will go to the Ankeny Service Center food distribution program. There is a tremendous need for food items in Ankeny despite having various locations for assistance. ASC averages 300 clients per month. Be assured that our contribution is greatly appreciated.
October brings our traditional Shoe Walk. Scheduled for October 9, the children (and any other young at heart person) will be collecting donations in their shoe during Children’s time. The first $500 proceeds from this event will be matched by the Mission committee. Our childcare will benefit from this event as we plan to gift each employee as a “Thank you” for the great service they provide. Too often the news is reporting the closure or understaffing of childcare facilities resulting in the hardship of parents having to quit jobs due to not having appropriate care for their children. We are blessed to be able to host this much needed facility and hope this token
of appreciation will be welcomed. Donations will be accepted throughout October.
November’s Thanksgiving meal and Silent Auction will be held November 20. Its not too late for crafters to start crafting, woodworkers to be making messes, bakers to bake, collectors to sort, gift basket assemblers to assemble and so on! Proceeds from this event finance our Holiday gift giving to those in the ACC family that may need a blessing at Christmas. Speaking of Holidays, this year instead of the traditional “Mitten Tree” we are suggesting personal care, hygiene, toilet paper and cleaning items to supplement the needed supplies for distribution by the Ankeny Service Center. These items are not usually available at similar facilities. Donations to the homeless shelter or ACC will also be accepted, please indicate your choice with your gifts.
If you have any questions, please contact Chuck Fausch, committee chair. Thank you for yourcontinual support.
Ankeny Christian Church Missions Committee
| |
|
CHAOS
College Student Care Packages
In October, CHAOS will be hosting a service project to compile and send care packages to all of the current ACC college students. The youth brainstormed ideas for the care packages and would love some help from the congregation in obtaining the items for the boxes. The list of donations they are seeking include:
- Snacks (sweet or salty, but non-perishable)
- Gift cards (Starbucks, Casey's, Target, Walmart, etc.)
- Quality pens or pencils
- Lotion
- Journal Notebooks
- Silly putty
- Room spray/freshener
- Juice Boxes
- Fuzzy socks
- Stress relief/fidget toys (pop-its, fidget spinners, etc)
We have 16 college students, so we'll be looking for that many of each item. There will be a table in the fellowship hall where donations can be placed and cards that you can sign for each student. Please join CHAOS in helping our college students feel loved by their ACC family!
Thanks!
Lori
| |
|
Ankeny Christian Childcare Update
On Thursday, September 23 Ankeny Christian Church provided boxed lunches for the staff of the Ankeny Christian Childcare Center. What a joy it was to express our appreciation for the work they do with children every day and to reaffirm our joy in partnering with them in serving the children of the Ankeny community. A big thank you to John and Patrice Sayre for organizing the meals!
| |
Lots of things happening at Ankeny Christian Childcare Center in October. It is time for Parent Teacher Conferences. They will also host a book fair as well as a Fall Festival for their kiddos. | |
|
Care Connections:
Medical Recovery Tools Exchange
A number of ACC members have experienced injuries or surgeries that require walkers, crutches, canes, etc. in the healing process. Many of them still have the equipment stored in their homes and are willing to lend the items to others. If you would like to add your name to the list of people who have items to lend, please e-mail ankenyccdoc@gmail.com or call (515-964-1083) Kasey @ ACC and let her know. She will distribute the list to anyone who needs a piece of equipment. Please remember that this is a member-to-member process – ACC cannot store equipment, nor can they make recommendations or verify viability of equipment. You will need to contact the equipment owner and make arrangements with them. We hope this will be of benefit to members.
| |
|
October Birthdays
10/1 Karla Rice
10/3 Mike St. Clair
10/5 Justin Breckenridge
Jason-Paul Channels
10/6 Clay Dean
10/8 Amy Gage
10/9 Rachel Schneberger
10/12 Lisa Duffy
Linda Lamont
10/15 Carter Hauschildt
10/16 Caleb Porath
Colleen Porath
10/17 Larry Squier
10/18 Savannah Gage
Christine Stoffa
10/21 John Lee
10/24 Patty Dorman
Pat Fliger
Nancy Squier
10/26 Judy Krase
10/27 Sara Hanley
10/31 Teresa Worley
| |
|
October Anniversaries
10/2 Ron & Marlys Lapham
10/3 Brian & Cheryl Jass
10/11 John & Patrice Sayre
10/15 Dennis & Christine Stoffa
Clint Fischer & Deanna Clingan-Fischer
10/20 Felix & Julie Garcia
Justin & Jennifer Schroeder
10/26 Randy & Joanie Wehofer
10/28 John & Jodie Craig
| |
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, Iowa 50023 or you can give online by clicking the link below. There you can set up one time or recurring donations. | |
|
Current Office Staff:
Pastor Owen Cayton, Senior Minister
pastorocayton@gmail.com
Nathan Green, Music Director
nategreenaccdoc@gmail.com
Kasey Romano, Office Manager
ankenyccdoc@gmail.com
| |
|
2022 Leadership
Officers:
- President: David Rawson
- President Elect: Open
- Past President, Chair Personnel Committee: Emily Porath
- 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; Di Mathis
- Nominating Committee: Annette Hunter; Rob Duffy; Lori Leach
Current Committee Chairs:
- Christian Education: Cathy Helmke
- Stewardship & Finance: Curt Narwold
- Property: Tom Murphy
- Worship: Karen Fausch
- Social Life: Open
- Evangelism: Open
- Missions: Chuck Fausch
- Endowment: Dorothy Mathis
| |
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. | |
Ankeny Christian Church
2506 SW 3rd Street
Ankeny, Iowa 50023
515-964-1083
ankenyccdoc@gmail.com
|
| | | |
