Hello there,

THERE WILL BE ONE SERVICE THIS SUNDAY AT 10:00.

It will be a service you do not want to miss!  The youth and children have prepared a wonderful program with lots of music and drama and just a lot of fun. A huge THANK YOU must go out to Brent and Diane England who have been key in putting it all together, along with high school junior Isaac Langley who has been directing the children’s music program on Wednesday nights.  Louise White has also done a fine job directing the middle school hand bell choir.  So make every effort to be there and be sure to express your gratitude to those who helped to make it all happen.

Following the service, the youth will host the annual Christmas Cookie Walk.  They will be baking up the goodies on Saturday, and will have lots of treats to choose from.  So take home a box and make a generous donation towards the summer mission trips.

Here is your weekly reminder of the times for the upcoming services: One service this week at 10:00; two services at 9:00 and 11:00 on Sunday the 16^th; one service at 10:00 on the 23^rd.  There will be the usual 5:00 family service and then 7:00 communion service on Christmas Eve.  Then there will be one service at 10:00 on December 30^th.

We are still looking for people to light the Advent Candles at the second service on the 16^th, at the one service at 10:00 on the 23^rd, and then at the 5:00 service on Christmas Eve. If you are at all interested, call the church office or talk to Pastor Beth.

Pastor Beth is also looking for volunteers to help with LOGOS once it starts up in the new year.  Contact her or sign up on the sheet in the back of the sanctuary.

Stay in One Peace,

Howard

Hello there,

‘Tis the season for helping out and feeling good.  You can get into that spirit by showing up on Saturday morning, December 2^nd at 9:00 when we decorate the sanctuary.  It is not hard and really doesn’t take too long if we have enough volunteers.  And it really can get you into the Christmas spirit.  Donuts and coffee will be provided.  So please come, because we could use your help.

If you want to add to the seasonal feelings, the Rockwell Collins Chorus will be having their Christmas Concert in our sanctuary at 1:00 that same afternoon, December 2^nd.

There will be two services this week, our traditional service at 9:00 and the Synergy service at 11:00. It is the first Sunday of Advent and we have some wonderful things planned for the first worship service.  Bob Roussell has arranged for a brass ensemble consisting of three trumpets, a french horn, a trombone, a euphonium, and a tuba.  They will be playing Christmas carols as an extended prelude so come early.  Then we have a beautiful choir anthem augmented with some singers from the Midwest Chorale and a cellist, Katie Peake Callen.  So the music will be absolutely fantastic!!  I will be preaching on Jeremiah 33:14-16 and my sermon title will be “Getting Us Through.”  In addition to all this, we will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper at both services.

I know there has been some confusion about the number of services and at what time. So I will remind you each week.  There will be two services this week, the 2^nd.  Then there will be one service on the 9^th at 10:00.  This will be a wonderful children’s program, that the children and youth have been working on.  There will be two services at 9:00 and 11:00 the following week on December 16^th.  There will be one service at 10:00 on December 23^rd.  On Christmas Eve there will be two services.  The family service will be at 5:00 and the Communion service at 7:00.  If you have any questions, give us a call.

We have three slots left for people to light the Advent candles; on December 16^th at the 11:00 service, on December 23^rd at the one service at 10:00 and on Christmas Eve at the 5:00 service.  If you are interested contact one of the pastors or call the church office.

Finally, the December First Press is available at various spots around the church building.  Or you can download it by clicking here.

Stay in One Peace,

Howard

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

I hope you and yours were able to enjoy the holiday with good food, good times and grateful hearts.

Just a quick note to remind you of a few things coming up.  The office will be closed tomorrow, Friday the 23^rd for the holiday.  There will only be one service at 9:00 this coming Sunday.  Pastor Beth will be preaching.

If you would like to really get into the holiday spirit, come help us decorate the church sanctuary on December 1^st, Saturday morning at 9:00.  It doesn’t take too long, so come and lend a hand.  Donuts will be provided.

And mark your calendars now: We will be having only one worship service on December 9^th, 23^rd and 30^th and it will be at 10:00, NOT 9:00!  Hopefully this will be a bit easier on those who normally come to the 11:00 service, and allow for a little extra practice time for the children’s program and musicians.

Be thankful for our One Peace,

Howard

Hello there,

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I know it is a week away, but I won’t be in the office next Thursday and hopefully you will be busy as well.  So this is a bi-weekly contact.  Next week the church office will be open Monday 9:00-12:00, Tuesday 9:00-4:00, and Wednesday 9:00-12:00.  It will be closed Thursday and Friday.

First off—THIS SATURDAY!!  FIRST LIGHT POT BLESS AT OUR CHURCH!!! Bring a dish to pass for the 5:15 harvest feast.  I promise you, the food will be delicious.  We are also asking everyone to bring a food item donation for our food pantry.  Worship will be at 6:30 with some fantastic music and Pastor Beth preaching.  It will be a great way to get into a Thanksgiving mood, so please do not miss this!

Worship on Sunday will feature the Chancel Bells at the first service.  I will be preaching on Luke 17:11-19 and my sermon title is “Truly Giving Thanks”.  There will also be a pancake breakfast served up by the youth.  Your generous donations will go towards their upcoming summer mission trip to Pittsburgh, PA.

THERE WILL BE ONLY ONE WORSHIP SERVICE AT 9:00 ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25^TH.

‘Tis the season for all sorts of activities…  We are looking for Advent candle lighters.  If you and your family, or just some friends would be interested in being part of worship throughout December, there will be a sign up sheet in the back of the sanctuary, or call the church office.

We will soon be setting up the Angel Tree for Marion Cares.  Take an angel off the tree with a gift item for you to purchase.  The deadline for those gifts will be December 9.

Mark your calendar now for helping us out decorating the sanctuary for the Advent/Christmas season.  We will be doing this on Saturday morning, December 1^st, starting at 9:00.  Donuts will be provided.  It really doesn’t take very long if we have enough helpers.

Finally, if you have not yet turned in your 2019 pledge card, please do so as soon as you can.  It makes a big difference in our planning for next year.

Stay in One Peace,

Howard

Hello there,

WE NEED YOUR HELP!! We have our clean-up day scheduled for this Saturday morning, starting at 9:00.  As I type this the weather forecast is predicting SNOW!!@%&% tomorrow, but as to how much is questionable depending on which weather report you listen to.  Obviously, if things are soggy, wet and snow covered we will reschedule everything until the following Saturday.  But it everything is dry, we will try to go ahead, even if it is cold.  So, the more we can get to help us out, the better. Even if you can only come for 45 minutes to an hour, if we get enough people we can get a lot done.  So, bundle up, and bring your rakes, brooms and blowers and let’s get everything ready before winter really sets in.

Regardless of the weather, rain or shine, there will be a packing party for Operation Christmas Child, Saturday afternoon, starting at 1:00.

Sunday is Consecration Sunday, so please bring your pledge card to worship, with your substantial increase for 2019.  If you don’t have a card, you can pick one up at the back of the sanctuary.  The Chancel Choir is singing at the first service and I am preaching on Mark 12:38-44.  My sermon title is “Enough is Enough.”

There will be a congregational meeting following the first service at around 10:00.  The purpose of this meeting is to elect elders and deacons.  The slate presented by the nominating committee is as follows:

For elders: Roger Dana (2^nd term), Grant Dancey (2^nd term), Paul Draper, Lois Foster, Andrea Hayes (2^nd term as youth elder)

For deacons: Jerry Chaffee, Carl Foster (2^nd term), Deb Groves, Linda Kushpinsky

Finally, I hope you have your calendars marked for a week from Saturday, November 17^th.  We are hosting another of First Light Ministries’ Pot BLESS Harvest Feast.  I have explained before that they call it a pot bless and not potluck, because it is all about God’s blessings and luck doesn’t have anything to do with it.  The meal begins at 5:15 and worship service at 6:30. Bring a dish to share and a food item for the Marion Food Pantry.  It is always a wonderful time and you won’t want to miss it.

Stay in One Peace,

Howard

Hello there,

I love it when there is a lot going on at our church and November is starting off as very busy.  If you want to check out November’s First Press for more details, then click here.

First off, many of us were overwhelmed once again by the horrific news of the deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, PA.  Here in the Cedar Rapids area, the board at Temple Judah has invited the community to come and worship with them at their Shabbat services, as they remember the victims and pray for brotherhood, peace and tolerance.  The service will be this Friday evening at 6:30. The address is 3221 Lindsay Lane.  Temple Judah is one of the worshiping communities that are a part of Family Promise ministry offering assistance to families that are homeless.

Sunday morning, we are going to let you sleep in an hour.  Turn your clocks back one hour before you go to bed.

We will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper on Sunday.  Megan Evans Anderson will be singing a solo at the first service.  The chancel choir will also be singing.  I am preaching on Mark 12:28-34 and my sermon title is “With All Your Heart…”

Next Wednesday, November 7^th, at 6:30, all veterans and their spouses are invited to supper at our LOGOS program.  If you are interested in joining us, please contact the church office ASAP.

On Saturday morning, November 10^th, starting at 9:00, everyone is invited to help us clean up the grounds, raking leaves and picking up trash, getting everything ready for winter.  Bring rakes, brooms, blowers and anything else you can think of to get the job done.  If it rains, we will reschedule for the following Saturday.

That same Saturday afternoon, starting at 1:00, there will be a packing party for Operation Christmas Child.  Our goal is to fill 350 boxes.

Sunday, November 11^th, is when we want you to bring in your pledge card for 2019, marked up with a nice increase.  If you need a pledge card, you can pick one up at the back of the church on this Sunday.

On Saturday, November 17^th, we are hosting the First Light Christian Ministries for one of their fantastic Pot Bless feasts.  They call it a pot bless and not a potluck, because it is all about blessings and luck doesn’t have anything to do with it.  We always have a great time when we do this.  Pastor Beth is preaching during the worship time.

Finally, we would very much like to end the year financially in the black, but that could be a challenge.  We have a deficit budget, and have had to borrow $10,000 to pay the bills.  So we are asking everyone to give a little extra.  As a thank you, if you donate $75 you may have a print of one of my watercolor paintings.  We have had 4 different painting, printed up and are suitable for framing.  If you make a donation of $250, you may have all 4, or any combination that you like.  If everyone who pledges was to make a donation of $250, we would be able to eliminate the deficit and end the year in the black.

That is enough for now.

Stay in One Peace,

Howard

Hello there,

Sunday is our Celtic Heritage Sunday, with one service at 9:00.  There will be bagpipes, Celtic hymns, music and liturgy, with the Chancel Choir singing.  I will be preaching on Mark 10:46-52 and my sermon title is “In-sight in Light.”  Following the service there will be delicious Kettel House scones down in the Social Room.  So wear your kilt or your tartan or at least something plaid, and join us for a great time.

The Harvest dinner is Sunday afternoon at 5:00 for all our senior and retirees.  If you would like to come and have not made an RSVP please call the church office, immediately!!  The number is 377-7309.  Call anytime and leave a message on the voicemail if no one is in the office.

October is coming to an end, but you need to mark your calendar for a number of important events coming up in November.  First off, on Wednesday, November 7^th, at 6:30, all veterans and spouses are invited to dinner with our LOGOS program.   Please RSVP to the church office by November 4^th.

On Saturday, November 10^th, we will be having our fall clean up, starting at 9:00.  Bring rakes, brooms, blowers, etc., as we get the ground’s picked up and ready for winter.  The rain date will be the following Saturday, November 17^th.’

On Sunday, November 11^th, we will be having a congregational meeting following the first service, for the purpose of electing elders and deacons.  That will also be the Sunday when you should turn in your pledge card for 2019.  You should be receiving a letter with more information about that this week.

Finally, on Saturday, November 17^th, we will be hosting a Pot Bless Harvest Feast in partnership with First Light Fellowship.   We have done this before and it is always a wonderful event. First Light is a ministry working for reconciliation between races.  The meal will begin at 5:15. The worship time will be at 6:30.  There will be wonderful music and Pastor Beth is preaching.  Bring a dish to share and be ready to have a fantastic time.

Stay in One Peace,

Howard

Hello there,

In the Gazette this morning it said the fall colors are almost at peak.  I don’t know about the rest of the state, but the tree beside the church parking lot is about perfect.  I hope you are enjoying some of the beauty of God’s creation.

I will be talking about creation in my sermon this week based upon an interesting passage from the book of Job, chapter 38, verses 1-7 and 34-41.  My sermon title is “Caught Up in the Mystery.”  The Chancel Bells will be playing at the first service, and we will have a great little puppet show and song put on by the children.

We want to remind you of Socktober.  Once again we are collecting socks for the Marion Cares Trunk or Treat event.  Pick up a pack of socks the next time you are out shopping and bring them in this Sunday.  Actually, Marion Cares is looking for new children’s coats, scarves, mittens, hats, underwear, in addition to socks.  So if you would like to donate any of those items as well, that would be fantastic!

We also want to remind you that a week from Sunday, October 28^th is a big day at FPC.  It is Celtic Sunday with one service in the morning at 9:00.  We will have a bagpiper and Celtic hymns, prayers and liturgy.  So wear something plaid and join the fun.

Then at 5:00 that evening we are having our annual Harvest Dinner served up by our youth for our retirees.  It is always great fun with plenty to eat.  There is no charge but donations will benefit the youth summer mission trips.  If you haven’t made your reservations yet, please call the office.

Stay in One Peace,

Howard

Hello there,

Ray Blue will be with us on Sunday.  It is always great to have Ray and his sweet jazz saxophone.  He will be playing at both services and then Dick Watson will be joining him for an afternoon jazz concert at 3:00 in our sanctuary.  There will be no charge for the afternoon concert but a free will offering will be taken.

I am preaching on Sunday.  My text is Mark 10:17-31.  It is a familiar story that I have preached on before.  My sermon title is “What is Lacking?”

It is October, and the cooler weather today really feels like it.  But that means it is “Socktober” as well.  We are collecting socks for the Marion Cares “Trunk or Treat” event that is coming up on October 25^th.  So pick up a pack of children or adult socks the next time you are shopping and help keep some little toes warm this winter.

Mark your calendars now Celtic Sunday and the Harvest Dinner are both coming up on October 28^th.  Find something plaid to wear and RSVP to the church office if you are planning on coming to the Harvest Dinner.

Finally, if you have ever thought about someday traveling and visiting the Holy Land, the Rev. Rodney Bluml is taking a group next February 4^th to the 16^th.  Rodney is the pastor of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Anamosa, and a good friend of Pastor Beth and me.  This trip should be an absolutely fantastic trip. If you are at all interested let us know and we will get you some detailed information.

Stay in One Peace,

Howard

Hello there,

Last week I sent a letter to members of FPC Marion, and then I announced in church on Sunday that I have made the decision to retire next summer, on August 1, 2019.  It is 10 months off, but after what will be 24 years of serving as pastor, we will all need that time to make the transition go as smoothly as possible.  My wife, Judy, will also be retiring as organist.  It will indeed be sad to end what has been a wonderful time of working with a fantastic congregation, but I do believe the time is right and God will continue to work among us all.

In the meantime, there is much that is going on and much to do.  This Sunday we are celebrating the 50^th anniversary of our Helping Hands Store.  It all began back in 1968 with a small cement block building across the alley from the church.  Over the decades it has helped thousands of those in need providing clothing and other items.  So, as part of our celebration we are collecting winter coats.  If you have a gently used coat that has been sitting in your closet, bring it in to help someone this winter.  We will also be honoring Marguerite Ackley for her part in organizing the Helping Hands all those years ago.  It is also World Communion Sunday.  Pastor Beth is preaching.  Her text is Mark 10:13-16 and her sermon title is “Plenty on the Table.”

Mark your calendar now for the following Sunday, August 14. Ray Blue will be in worship in the morning, and then he and Dick Watson will have a jazz concert in our sanctuary at 3:00 that afternoon.

Finally, the October First Press is available. If you would like to download it click here.

Stay in One Peace,

Howard