Ione Community Church News letter
Friends, It has been so good to be back with you again. We have been settling in again and in some ways feel like we were never gone, while in others, it feels like we were gone forever. Your reception of us has been very kind and I want to thank you again for your care and understanding of me during this time. My mom is doing well and is getting adjusted to life on her own, although this is a huge transition for her. I think I am probably more worried for her than she needs me to be, but call and check in frequently. She is planning to come for a visit in April and is looking forward to seeing all of you. I wanted to make sure that all of you know that Pastor Tim was called as the permanent Pastor at the United Church of Christ in Condon. This is exciting for both of our communities. I look forward to continuing to build a collegial relationship with him - in person! I will keep you informed about when an installation service will be. Again, it is so nice to be back with you all. I was lled with gratitude for the leave, but am also lled with gratitude that you let me return. As always, I look forward to joining you in ministry.
UPCOMING EVENTS
WEDNESDAY, 2/13 ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE
Join us for a service of songs, scripture and prayer at 6pm.
SUNDAY, 2/17 FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT SUNDAY, 2/24 SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT DIACONATE MEET AFTER COFFEE HOUR MONDAY, 2/25 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MEETING, 5:30PM TUESDAY, 2/26 CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING
A Letter of Thanks
Dearest Ione Community Church, We would like to express our thanks and gratitude to you for sharing your wonderful pastor wit us. Stacy was such a blessing during out time of loss and helped us probably more than she will ever know. My hope is that we were as much comfort to her in her time of need as well. It was generous of you to allow Stacy those three months to be here in Bakerseld with her family as well as with us, and there is no way we could ever repay the debt. But, to try to show our appreciation we are sending two boxes of Bakerselds own Dewars Peanut Butter Chews, a couple of bags of Caramel Corn made by our Christian Mens Fellowship, along with a few cards. Thank you again for allowing us to get to know (all over again) and love Stacy, Jay and little Miss Lily. God Bless You All, Teriesa Smith, Elder Chair Mill Creek Christian Church
We will schedule the rest of the quarterly meetings for the year. All are welcome to attend Church Council at 7PM
YOUTH MEETINGS ARE ON WEDNESDAY EVENINGS: ICY JR. @ 6PM, ICY SR. @7PM
Sharing brings joy! The phrase rolls easily off the tongue, but it is no trite clich! Rather, it expresses profound spiritual truths truths about a loving and caring God truths about a joyous generosity that circles round and dances into and through the human experience as we relate to others and to the Holy One! Sharing brings joy to others. Week of Compassion and One Great Hour of Sharing assistance, relief, and support have known comfort and joy through your sharing: families displaced by natural disaster or political unrest rejoice to receive food, shelter, and the comfort of a safe place to begin rebuilding their lives; the worried faces of mothers, whose children are threatened by food insecurity due to drought and famine, are transformed to deep peace when sustenance arrives; a woman who has had to walk miles for potable water for her family smiles as she draws water from a clean well near her home; children arrive excitedly for the rst day of class at the villages new school. We can clearly see that generous sharing brings joy to those who receive. Sharing brings joy to us. Generous giving, practiced as a regular spiritual discipline, teaches us about joy. We learn to see ourselves as vital parts of a cooperative sharing effort which expresses Gods love for the world. We see the delight of recipients and experience our own gladness. Others joy grows our joy. Grateful for Gods extravagant gifts, the great happiness of others, and our experience of such delight, we discover we want to be more generous, and so we are drawn into the circular rhythm of sharing that brings joy upon joy. Sharing brings joy to God. We know that God is always in the midst of our joy, but we also know that God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). Can you imagine Gods joy when we share? Can your minds eye see those things that cause rejoicing in the heart of the Divine? Scriptures tell us what brings God joy: steadfast love, justice, and righteousness, says Jeremiah (9:24), and the well-being of Gods people (Psalms 35:27b). Certainly any manifestation of agape love, such as a generous hand outstretched to help others (Matthew 22:37-40), brings gladness to God. Joy-lled sharing makes possible the well-being of Gods people. This is surely a delight to the Holy One! When we see ourselves as part of all Gods children everywhere, we learn to be less fearful of a sense of scarcity that can inhibit our generosity. We come to understand that others who happen to be in need are not simply recipients of our charity, but sisters and brothers with whom we are called to live justly and share abundantly. Knowing we willingly share reminds them of who they are: beloved children of the Creator, family of us all, each one a person of sacred worth, also imbued with possibilities for sharing joy.
We will be accepting our Week of Compassion and One Great Hour of Sharing offerings on February 17th & 24th. As you make your offering this year, remember the myriad ways your gifts bring joy to you as Gods precious child, to all of Gods other cherished children, and especially to the Holy One. May your worship be joyful. May your sharing be delightfully abundant. May God be made glad by your cheerful generosity!
Ash Wednesday Service, February 13, 2013 6pm
Ash Wednesday, is the first day of Lent and occurs 46 days before Easter. It is a movable date, falling on a different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter (which, somewhat strangely, is based on the full moon after the Northern Spring Equinox). It can occur as early as February 4 or as late as March 10. According to the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert before the beginning of his public ministry, during which he endured temptation by Satan. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of a 40-day liturgical period of prayer and fasting that is meant to replicate that of Jesus time in the wilderness (It is considered 40 days instead of 46 days because the Sundays are not included). Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of those in attendance as a sign of mourning and repentance to God. Please join us on the 13th for a contemplative worship experience.
Ione Community Church
PO Box 346 395 E. Main Street Ione, Oregon 97843
