GOOD NEWS
Ankeny Christian Church
Santa’s North Pole Village
It is that time of year again and Ankeny
Christian Church will be participating in this
year’s Santa’s North Pole Village craft sale.
This will be our largest fundraiser of the year.
The date is Saturday, November 3. We will
provide a food/beverage vendor site for two of
the craft show locations- Northview Middle
School and Parkview Middle School.
Volunteers are needed to staff each of the
two sites from 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The
craft show is open to the public from 9:00 a.m.
until 4:00 p.m., but we need to be there early
to set up and have breakfast food/beverages
available for the craft vendors and earlyarriving shoppers. We’ll also need help in
taking down each site and returning items to
the church. There will be a sign-up sheet in
the narthex. The day is broken into two-hour
shifts. Keep in mind we’ll need more people
during the core lunch hours (11:00-1:00) due
to the increase customer traffic. Please sign
up to help for two or more hours. If you’d like
to work a shift at each site, allow ample time
to travel between buildings.
This is a great opportunity to work with
fellow ACC members/friends in a different
setting as well as helping ACC raise funds for
Missions projects and general fund needs.
It’s also an opportunity to support the Ankeny
Art Center and to get our church name in front
of several thousand shoppers.
How successful we are in this fundraiser
will, in part, be determined by your willingness
to give of some of your time at either site or at
both sites. Check your calendar and pencil in
Saturday, November 3. By volunteering to
help, you will receive free admission to the
craft sale. Depending on the shifts(s) you
October 2012
work, you will have an opportunity to go
shopping yourself either before or after your
scheduled work shift(s).
For questions or additional information,
contact Lynn or Teresa Worley (Parkview site
coordinators) at 515-419-4392 or Steve Raver
(Northview site coordinator) at 515-964-5262.
Wonderful Wednesday class
Crossings offers a unique Bible overview of
what many scholars consider the eight core
stories of the Bible. Theologian Walter
Brueggemann calls them "the primal narrative
- that most simple, elemental, and nonnegotiable story line that lies at the heart of
biblical faith." These eight core stories are
presented in 11 segments, each
approximately 15-20 minutes in length. Each
segment is set up with two internal "pauses"
to allow time for group discussion. The
program includes:
1. How is the Bible true?
2. God's Call (core story 1)
3. The Exodus (core story 2)
4. Sinai Covenant (core story 3)
5. Promised Land (core story 4)
6. Davidic Rule (core story 5)
7. Jesus' Family Tree
8. Jesus' Life (core story 6)
9. The Cross (core story 7)
10. Resurrection Life (core story 8)
11. Run the Race
This study is designed to help participants
hear God's word addressed to them at life's
crossings, where we experience God in our
self and in one another. Studying these
ancient stories reveals that these are also our
stories. Begins October 3 at 6:30 p.m.
Grace & Peace—Pastor Dave
Recently someone asked me about
how the Christian Church interprets a
particular verse of scripture. He was
surprised when I told him that our
denomination does not have an "official
interpretation" for that verse or any other
verse of scripture. He had come from a
tradition where everyone was expected to
agree to certain interpretations of all of
scripture. It's always fun to see the
astonished expressions on people's faces
when they learn that our church
embraces people who have widely
differing approaches to how to read the
Bible. Our focus has never been to get
everyone to believe exactly alike on
everything. The Disciple's church has
always said we are about what we have
in common: a belief in Jesus as our savior
and we commit to following his way in the
world. We may disagree with each other
over how to interpret the Bible, but at the
end of the day each of us is invited to
come to the Lord's Table as sinners in
need of grace and forgiveness.
Our church is built on a trust of God
and in people to be faithful about
interpreting scripture. Scripture serves as
our beginning point for all that we do--we
are always aspiring to be faithful to God's
claim on our lives and must always take
the Bible seriously. I believe that we are
called to study the scriptures and use the
best tools we have in unpacking its
meaning for us. Sometimes a simple
reading of a verse really speaks directly
to our hearts and its truth rings clear for
us. Other times, we are challenged to
look at the passage in context, asking
what were the social, political, cultural
and environmental situations? We are
called to look beyond just one verse to
see the larger sweeps of biblical themes
and even verses that seem to be in
tension with the one under question. We
have traditions of interpretations, our own
experience, a community of faith, people
who may disagree with us to help us
figure it out. I'm glad to be part of a
church that doesn't tell me what to
believe, but challenges me to strengthen
my faith through vigorous investigation of
the scriptures myself. For some people
this is too much work--they'd rather have
someone tell them what to believe and
they'll just buy it, whatever it is. And the
nice thing in the Christian Church is that
one person can take someone else's
interpretation as their own if they want.
The only thing they cannot do is to say
that everyone else has to think like they
do if they want to be a Disciple.
In a world of growing intolerance--even
Christians dividing up against each other,
this embrace of diversity is refreshing.
You'd think the world would need to hear
about such a church. You'd almost think
that maybe you should tell someone.
Grace and Peace,
Dave
****************************************************
Pastor Appreciation
Day is
Sunday, October 14
Scriptures & Sermons
Oct. 7
Mark 9:38-41
“Not One of Us”
On this World Communion Sunday, we are
reminded of how wide God’s grace is and that
people who are not part of our group are still
doing God’s work and part of God’s plan.
Oct. 14
Mark 10:17-31
“Giving to Receive”
Jesus promises in this scripture lesson that
those who give up something for the gospel
will receive back much more than they ever
gave. The element is trust and the question is
not how much are you prepared to give of
your life; the question is: how much are you
prepared to receive.
Oct. 21
Mark 10:35-45
“We are Able”
There is a great hymn based on this
passage. It’s a little tricky, because what we
profess is that we are able to follow, to
sacrifice, to love unconditionally. It’s very
powerful stuff to sing that song. It may be a
time of renewal of faith to join in the chorus
with us on Sunday.
Oct. 28
Mark 10:46-52
“Let Me See Again”
Sometimes blindness is more of a spiritual
condition than a physical one. What would it
mean to see the world as God sees it? What
would it mean to see yourself, your family,
your community as God sees it? These are
the questions we are invited to consider.
2012 Financial Report
Income for August
Expenses for August
Year to Date Income
Year to Date Expenses
Equity
$22,528.39
$17,242.39
$159,807.16
$140,956.16
$229,938.61
Two Newton Christian
Conference Center events
1. Hotdoggin’ Afternoon!
Sunday, October 21
2:00-6:00 p.m.
Cost: $5/person
Includes supper of hotdogs, chips and
smores. Rain or shine activities planned!
2. Fall Festival & Fundraiser
Saturday, October 27
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Cost: $10/person
to cover lunch, afternoon snack and activities
Fun for the entire family, youth group or
anyone who wants to have a day in the great
outdoors! Rain or Shine! Activities include:
Hayrides
Hikes through the timber
Bonfires
Pumpkin carving
Scavenger hunt
Pumpkin launching contest
Games for all ages (pie in the face,
dart game, ring toss, bingo, etc.)
Fundraising Auction at 2:00 p.m.
Go to www.upermidwestcc.org to see a
listing of items for auction along with pictures.
Will update often. Plus many fresh baked
goods that day.
Check out your basements, attics and
garages to see if you have anything you
would like to donate for the auction. If you
have something special let Bert Burns know
(515-971-1077) and it will be added to the
sale bill. Otherwise, just bring the donated
item(s) with you and we will add them the day
of the festival.
If you want to enter the pumpkin launching
contest build your catapult or mechanism for
launching the pumpkin and bring it with you.
Pumpkins will be provided.
Among Our Church Family and Friends
Prayer concerns
Thank you notes cont’d
Julie Orser, Crystle Brandenburg, Shirley
Dunston (mother of Angela Johnson), Jennifer
(sister of Clay Dean), Karen Grode, Aden (J.
Koehler’s co-worker’s son), Steve(brother of
Pat Morton), Steve Belluchi, Carol Towsley
(friend of Honderds), Mary (mother of Ron
Crees), Zach Narwold, Jared McIlrath, Martha
Gray, Nancy Belluchi, Carol Lee, Tommy &
Tanya Cox. Shut-ins: Bill Smith, Rita Oline,
Ruth Maxwell, David Roberts, Doris
Brandenburg.
The Prayer Chain can be started by
contacting Carolyn Fisher 710-0816 or
[email protected] .
Please let the church office know about
hospitalizations, surgeries, etc. The
Privacy Act (HIPPA) limits the notifications we
get from health care facilities.
Dear Friends of Ankeny Christian Church,
Thank you so much for your kind
remembrance of my mother, Ruth Maxwell, on
st
her 91 birthday. Thank you also for your
continued prayers for her. She continues to
be sweet and without pain. What a blessing.
Blessings, Carolyn Gooden
Thank you for the support, cards, and letters:
Caprice Gilliam
2800 Hudson RD-Hag 111
Cedar Falls, IA 50613-6702
Thank you to Carolyn Fisher for getting the
choir new folders and labeling each one for
us.
Bob Brown, Choir Director
New baby
Thank you notes
Ankeny Christian Church,
Thank you to everyone who sent cards,
sent thoughts, gave a prayer shawl and most
of all said prayers for me. I know it was my
church family that helped me through this
time! I am so blessed by all of you.
Love, Martha Gray
Dear Ankeny Christian,
No matter the age or reason it’s never easy
to loose those you’ve loved as we’ve found
out. With the help of friends and family, grief
and loss lessens. The memories of smiles,
love and years of happiness we’ve shared
guide us forward.
Thanks for all your thoughts, prayers, food,
hugs, shawls and support as we start a new
journey.
Roger Swenson’s Family
Virginia, Mark, Angela, Emma & Mason
To our ACC family,
With sincere hearts, our family wishes to
thank you for the generous prayers and
financial help you have given us in the past
few months. Tommy is still seeking control of
his seizures, and I am continuing to seek help
along with him at Mayo Clinic, for my
migraines, so we are taking everything day by
day.
In Christian Love,
Tanya, Ben, Trinity & Tommy
Dorothy Mathis is a new grandma! Zayn
Pena-Jamison was born to Alexis Pena and
Taber Jamison on September 7 and weighed
8 lbs. and 9 oz.
Mark your Calendar
Our church’s Silent Auction is November
18. Be thinking of hand crafted items you
could donate, assembling a gift basket of
related items, baking your family's favorite pie,
or giving a gift certificate to a popular
restaurant, etc.
Granite Top Portable Oak Cabinet in
memory of Jim Nash, Phillip Guckes, Ruby
Andrews, Phyllis Henderson, Amy
Knowler, Gordon Jelinek. Presented by
Family & Friends
Hand carved Olive Wood Last Supper and
Olive Wood Nativity set in memory of
Norman Maxwell and in honor of Ruth
Maxwell. Presented by Carolyn Gooden
“Light Looked Down” Cantata Music in
memory of Gordon Jelinek. Presented by
Family & Friends
Yamaha CP300 Keyboard in memory of
Doris Peterson, Ruth Wunderlich, Doris
Wolf, Lulu Rockwell, Everett Johnson,
Dean & Mryt Moore, Mildred Anderson,
Bracey Hammond, Phillip Guckes, Amy
Knolwer. Presented by Family & Friends
Donation toward Fellowship Hall Light
Fixtures in memory of Jim & Willis
Hitchens. Presented by Gregory L and J.
David Hitchens
Two Autumn Flame Maple Trees in memory
of Brenda Schmitz. Presented by David
Schmitz and Lori Reynolds
Attendance
Aug. 26
Sept 2
Sept 9
Sept 16
Sept 23
Sunday
School
00
00
63
49
67
Worship
127
128
161
147
166
Wed
● Learning God’s word,
● Sharing Christ’s love,
● Proclaiming God’s message.
C.H.A.O.S. youth group
(Christ honoring and others serving)
5th-12th grade
6:30-8:00 p.m.
Sun, Oct. 7: Regular meeting
Sun, Oct. 14: 12:45 p.m. meet at church
to car pool to the Hunger Hike
1:30-4:00 p.m.
Sun, Oct. 21:4:00 p.m. meet at the church
to go to All Youth Corn Maze Outing
Sun, Oct. 28: Regular meeting
cont’d
Our Larger Family
● Sharing Christ’s love
Fill the Shoe—in conjunction with the
Leaders: Lisa Thurston & Karla Rice
K-5th grade
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Wed,
Wed,
Wed,
Wed,
Oct. 3 Regular meeting
Oct.10 Regular meeting
Oct 17 Regular meeting
Oct 24 Regular meeting
All Youth Corn
Maze Outing
(Kids Club and
CHAOS)
Sunday, October
21 Corn Maze at
Giesler farm in
Bondurant. Meet at the
church at 4:00 p.m. to
travel to the farm.
Cost is $7 per person or $6 if you bring a
food item to donate to the food pantry. We
will return to the church at 7:30 p.m. We
have reserved a fire pit for roasting
hotdogs etc... Meal will be provided by
youth leaders. Family members are invited
to attend also.
Hunger Hike, our youngest ACC members will
hike around in the sanctuary with a shoe
collecting spare change to be given to the
Hunger Hike, during Children’s Moment,
October 14.
The Missions Committee will match all
funds collected during the children's hike. So
load your pockets with some extra cash for
that Sunday and let's show the kids how much
fun it is to give.
Ongoing mission project to
Conaspeh Children’s Center
During VBS this year, the children were
given the opportunity to help a child in Haiti go
to school. The Missions Committee would like
to give the church the opportunity to continue
this mission project throughout the year.
The money will be donated to the
Conaspeh Children’s Center in Port Au
Prince, Haiti to sponsor children with their
schooling. Currently there are around 2 million
children in Haiti that are not able to go to
school due to lack of money. The money will
be used to assist in tuition, purchasing school
supplies, uniforms and a noon meal while at
the Conaspeh Children’s Center.
For approximately $25 a month you can
sponsor a child to go to school for a year.
Schooling for a child in Haiti can make all the
difference from a life of poverty to a life of
opportunity. Let's make the difference in a
child's life today.
Our Larger Family ● Sharing Christ’s love
Thank you letters
Food Pantry Sunday is October 21
Ankeny Christian,
Thank you for your recent donation to
National Fire Safety Council, Inc. and your
local fire department.….
….On behalf of local firefighters, parents
and their children, we thank you for
recognizing the need for fire and burn
prevention in your community.
Sincerely, Firepup
National Fire Safety Council
Special offering for October is the
Des Moines Area Hunger Hike
Dear ACC members,
Thank you for your continued support of
Youth Emergency Services & Shelter (YESS)
and its commitment to meeting the critical
needs of children and families in crisis. Your
generous gift of $435 will be used to purchase
school supplies for youth throughout the
year….
….We are grateful to be a part of your spirit
of community, and your support is greatly
appreciated as we work together to heal
families and change lives every day.
Kristin Huinker
Development Manager
Special offering report for August
Food Pantry
Ankeny Service Center
VBS health kits
Haiti Children’s Fund
Adult Mission Trip
Youth Mission Trip
$155.00
$110.00
$72.00
$26.35
$800.00
$53.20
Bell Ringers Needed
The Salvation Army is in need of volunteers
to be Bell Ringers during the holiday season.
If interested call them at 515-282-3599.
rd
Join the 43 annual Des Moines Area
Hunger Hike on Sunday, October 14 from
1:30 to 4:00 p.m. at the Norman E. Borlaug
Hall of Laureates, 100 Locust Street (east
entrance).
The Des Moines Area Hunger Hike has
been working since 1969 to increase
awareness and concern about local and
world-wide hunger and its causes and raise
funds to be used by non-profit agencies and
programs to help alleviate the problem of
hunger.
Every dollar raised by the Hunger Hike
makes a difference. Around one in every six
people in the world is hungry, and in Iowa
alone 421,000 people are defined as “at risk”
for food security.
Join us as we walk together to help end
Hunger. To get involved in the Hike and to
obtain a collection envelope, sign up on the
poster in the Narthex and a packet will be
delivered to you or see Karla Rice.
There is a new route this year. The route
will start on the steps at the east entrance of
the Hall of Laureates (old City Library)
between Walnut and Locust at 1:30 p.m.
Meet at the church at 12:45 p.m. to carpool
down to the site.
We will hike as a group along the Des
Moines River Walk, visit some of the features
along the river walk, and return to visit the Hall
of the Laureates (World Food Prize) Building.
Tours of the Hall will be available after the
hike if interested. Refreshments available at
the end of the walk.
Come Join us as we fellowship and work
together for this great cause.
Ankeny Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)
rd
2506 SW 3 Street
Ankeny IA 50023-2471
Phone: 515-964-1083
Web site: www.accdoc.org
Pastor…………………David Clark
[email protected]
Youth Coordinator..Lisa Thurston
Office Manager….Christine Stoffa
[email protected]
Sunday Schedule
9:00 a.m. Sunday School
10:00 a.m. Worship
11.00 a.m. Fellowship Time
wheelchair accessible
Hope in God’s Plan
Written by Monica and Tom Liddle
Surely there is a future and your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 23:18
For most people in East Timor, the eastern half of an island southeast of Indonesia, educational and career
opportunities are few. But Amena Cristovao, a 24-year-old woman from the rural village of Lospalos, is about to
embark on the opportunity of a lifetime. Through a sponsorship from Global Ministries, St Paul’s UCC in Duluth,
MN and generous members, Amena is hoping to complete the medical laboratory technician program at Lake
Superior College in Duluth, Minn. With this associate’s degree, Amena will be one of the most valuable medical
lab technicians in all of East Timor.
Tom and Monica Liddle, Global Ministries missionaries, helped facilitate Amena’s sponsorship. Monica, a
doctor, worked with Amena in Clinic Imanuel in Lospalos. It was clear to her that “Amena had a passion for
health care and a desire to learn. She specialized in tuberculosis and malaria testing, two prominent diseases in
East Timor. She was also very interested in learning. She spoke a little English and I would help her learn more
as we went along."
There are still a few hurdles for Amena to get through before she can begin her training. First, she will be
required to take a four-month English intensive course in order to keep up in an American classroom setting.
Then she will have to take a year of prerequisite math and science courses prior to beginning the three-year
medical program. Amena has committed to return to East Timor once she completes her studies. In exchange
for the sponsorship, Amena has agreed to fulfill a three-year contract at Clinic Imanuel.
O God, it seems everything is in place, and we trust in your plan for Amena. We pray for safekeeping, support
for Amena and inspiration for each person Amena touches
Monica and Tom Liddle, served the Protestant Church of East Timor (IPTL). Monica is a Naturopathic Doctor
(ND) and worked in Immanuel Clinic Lospalos, which is run by the FUSONA, the relief and development wing of
the IPTL. Monica's appointment was supported by One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS). Tom served as an
English teacher and facilitator in strengthening congregations and the continuing education of pastors.