February, 2016

Cross Words

Did you enjoy New Years? I watched bowl games from the couch and ate some chocolate (traditions in my family). And I was struck by how often I heard phrases about Adventure. The 2016 Rose Bowl Parade theme was “Find Your Adventure”. Iowa State University’s catch phrase has been “Choose Your Adventure”. And our son Jason and his family went to find their Disney Adventure.

When I was a child, I loved reading adventure stories. They sparked the imagination and offered choices that could lead to a dungeon or a pot of gold. I learned that life was an adventure in which small decisions could have big consequences.

African-American mystic, teacher, and spiritual guide Howard Thurman described our lives as a holy adventure in which our small actions shape what the universe will become. Each decision we make in the course of the day offers new opportunities for a relationship with God and with creation.

Maybe you’ve never thought about God inviting you to go on an adventure. Let that be Lent for you – an invitation to recognize God’s presence in your every day. Choose your own Adventure! Partner up with God in creating the world you hope for. Begin a journey that joins the cosmic and your humanity in shaping the health of the planet as well as your own body, mind, and spirit.

There is nothing boring about being Christian. It’s exciting! What might happen if you chose to affirm throughout the 40 days of lent the following words: “I am on a holy adventure with God”?

Let’s begin.

Blessings,

Pastor Sue

29043 T Avenue P.O. Box 278

Phone: 515-987-4937 www.waukeechristianchurch@msn.com

WaukeeChristianChurch.com

We will offer ashes from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Ash Wednesday, February 10th, at the church. Stop by the church anytime and the minister will be available for individual prayer and the imposition of ashes. Ashes will also be available at the Women of Waukee (WOW) meeting that evening.

Why do we mark that day with ashes? Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent – a time when Christians prepare for Easter by setting aside time for repentance, moderation, and spiritual discipline. The use of the ashes is a sign of our mortality and sorrow for sins. The ashes are made from palm branches from the previous Palm Sunday service. In that way, they also point us to Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection.

May this Ash Wednesday be a blessing and may the ashes be an outward sign of your spiritual need to be close to the God who loves you.

February, 2015

Cross Words

Between the Covers book club

will meet at 6:00 pm on Monday,

February 29th (Leap Day!) to

review The Girl in the Spider’s

Web (crime/fiction) by David

Lagercrantz. See you there!

The next CWF meeting will be

February 3 at 9:30 AM at the

church.

Have you purchased your

cookbook yet? It is not too late to

do that. The recipes are so good

that you will want to try them

all. Call the church, Ruth Sindt, or

Evelyn Dowell and we will save you a

cookbook. They make great

birthday, thank you or hostess

gifts!

Let Your Resolution be God’s Solution

How do you carry on a conversation with Jesus? If he were sitting right beside you would you be attentive or uneasy? Would you feel comfortable or apprehensive? Marilyn Dowell led the WOW ladies at their January meeting hoping that they would make New Year resolutions keeping in mind what Jesus would say to them if they had the opportunity to just sit and talk with Him.

Using the book “Jesus Calling”, a daily devotional guide, by Sarah Young, a missionary who wrote the book as if Jesus were speaking to you directly, Marilyn used it as a sample of daily devotions that urged us to “view each day as an adventure,” carefully planned out by your Guide. We are reminded to thank Him for this day of life “realizing that it is a precious unrepeatable gift.” He will tell you that He is with you every moment.

Would Jesus point out your weaknesses? Would He call us out for our attempts to look good? Or would he open our hearts and minds to receive all the gifts he has for us. He would tell us how to transfer our weakness to strengths. And He would urge us to talk to Him.

Marilyn suggested that we make our New Year’s resolution to do daily devotions as a way to become closer to God. And if Jesus were sitting beside you in conversation, he probably would tell you that “a life lived close to Him will never be dull or predictable.”

The group finalized plans for the Garden Party to be held March 19thand the Church-Wide garage sale to be held the weekend of the All-City Garage Sale on May 7th. We discussed a work day at Ronald McDonald house. Tammy shared a Christmas card from Victor Kumar of Andhra Pradish, India, who was a recipient of a gift from our church. We are thinking that it would be a shoebox or one of the other outreach projects that have come from our church. Karen Neese provided a yummy dessert.

The next meeting will be held at Vicki Teas’ home at 6:30 pm on February 10th.

February, 2016

Cross Words

Your giving is important to the future ministry of God’s church

in this place. Please give generously and with a cheerful heart.

October November December

Receipts $ 9,226.78 $ 10,989.41 $ 18,293.97

Expenses $ 11,536.83 $ 9,659.12 $ 14,719.86

Difference ($ 2,310.05) $ 1,330.29 $ 3,574.11

Money available for expenses

$22,436.84 $23,767.13 $ 27,341.24

Thanks to

The Youth, musicians, and worship

leaders for a wonderful Christmas

Eve Service

George Risinger, Kathy Dean, and

all who helped lead worship during

Pastor Sue’s surgery

The Elves who helped pack away

Christmas decorations for another

year

Everyone who participated in

planning our 2016 ministries

Those who called on or cared for

someone this month

Everyone who came out for

January Thaw Games

Keep the WOW garage sale in mind as you are cleaning

closets! Put items aside until spring. Stay tuned for

more information!

AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon that lets

customers enjoy the same wide selection of products, low

prices, and convenient shopping features as on Amazon.com.

The difference is that when customers shop on AmazonSmile

(smile.amazon.com), the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate

0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the charitable

organizations selected by customers. Waukee Chistian Church

is one of the charitable organizations that can be selected! So

what are you waiting for? Get shopping today!!

What is

AmazonSmile?

Dear church family,

Thank you for surprising me

with a monetary gift at Christmas.

My gift to you is serving as I was

called. I look forward to getting to

know many of you better in the

New Year.

Blessings always,

Pastor Julie Cornelius

February, 2016

Cross Words

Let us know if we missed your special day!

02/03 Jamie Keller 02/04 Dennis Dowell 02/08 Lorrie Grandgenett 02/12 Alan Finestead 02/19 Vivian Smith 02/23 Sadie Infante 02/25 Charlotte Swallow 02/25 Gavin Reeck 02/27 John McKinney 02/28 Brad Baier 02/29 Joe Younger

But just in case the snow is too deep or the ice to thick, the Chair of the Board and the Minister will decide what’s in the best interest of Waukee Christian Church members and friends.

If Church activities are cancelled for any reason, notice will be sent through our One Call Now phone system. Please make sure the office has your preferred phone number. We will also make attempts to have the information on local television stations. Stay safe!

You’ve Seen Them Care Now Show You Care About Them!

Do you know someone who takes care of a friend or loved

one? Then you probably know someone who could use a lift.

We challenge you to do a Random Act of Kindness for a

caregiver. Take a photo of your random act and post it on

the Waukee Christian Church’s Facebook page. Then

challenge your friends to do the same for someone in their

lives. Need ideas? Here are 8 ideas for you to use!

1. Take their kids or grandkids to a movie

2. Do some holiday shopping for them

3. Bring over a guitar and sing familiar songs

4. Stop by with a board game to play

5. Take them out for coffee

6. Teach them a skill they admire you for

7. Visit them with a pet that has a sweet disposition

8. Send them flowers

Stay tuned! We will be posting more ideas in the months

to come!

Dear Church Friends,

A note of “special” thanks to

Linda O’Hair and Linda Wilcox for

taking over the preparation and

serving of the Thanksgiving Feast,

along with so many others of our

church family and friends stepping

right in to make it such a delicious

“feast” to be shared by all with a

time of fellowship and giving

thanks.

Thank you so much friends,

Lorrie Grandgenett

February, 2016

Cross Words

OK, so it’s not breakfast but

pancakes are good for lunch too,

right?

Please join us after worship on

February 7th for a pancake lunch.

There will be a free-will offering to

help support the mission trip to

Rippling Hope in Detroit later this

year.

Remember that VBS song, “I am the church! You are the church!

We are the church together!” All of us are given wonderful gifts by the

God who created us. And we can use those gifts to serve Waukee Christian

Church together.

Can you count? Volunteers are needed to help count the morning

offering. If you are an Elder or on the Board, can you help in the rotation?

George Risinger and Jerry Woods have been serving for over a year, but it

means they often miss fellowship time. Please consider taking your turn

and visit with George or Jerry.

Can you click? We only have a couple of people who operate the

slide show on Sunday morning. It’s very easy! Just push a button.

Training is provided. Let Pastor Sue know if you can take a turn in the AV

booth.

Respite Volunteers? Can you take a turn providing respite for Don

& Evelyn Dowell on Friday mornings? Call the office for more details.

February, 2016

Cross Words

March Serving Schedule March 6

th 13

th 20

th 27

th

Communion Prep & Clean-up Dave Grandgenett Beckie Myers Cheri May Audrey MacRae

A/V Jason Keller George Risinger Dave Grandgenett Suzanne Koch

Greeter Suzanne Koch Naomi Brumfield Jim Pfeifer Rosalie Pfeifer

Youth Greeter Ximen Markway Austin Younger Alayna Younger Alice Ruggles

Candle Lighter Austin Younger Suzanne Koch Linda O’Hair Alayna Younger

Children’s Moment George Risinger Kathy Dean Pastor Sue Woods George Risinger

Reader Tammy Hardersen Cimberly Hansen Cheri May Sue MacRae

Communion Invitation & Offering/Communion Server

Linda O’Hair Julie Cornelius Juanita McBeth George Risinger

Call to Offering & Offering Prayer

Cimberly Hansen Linda O’Hair Suzanne Koch Jerry Woods

Communion Prayer Cathy Conklin Juanita McBeth Cimberly Hansen Cathy Conklin

Offering & Communion Servers Shari Burgus Audrey MacRae Ron Hardersen Tammy Hardersen

Fellowship Naomi Brumfield Sue MacRae Linda O’Hair Shari Burgus

Food Pantry Delivery Sarah Infante

Visiting Shepherds Cimberly Hansen/Jerry Woods

Lock up after church Tammy Hardersen

Water Indoor plants Karen Neese

February Serving Schedule February 7

th 14

th 21

st 28

th

Communion Prep & Clean-up Linda O’Hair Cheri May Linda O’Hair Jan De Jong

A/V Jason Keller Jerry Woods Dave Grandgenett Suzanne Koch

Greeter Robin Younger Joe Younger Sarah Infante Karen Neese

Youth Greeter Alayna Younger Alice Ruggles Zoey Koch Sam Ruggles

Candle Lighter Austin Younger Linda O’Hair Suzanne Koch Alayna Younger

Children’s Moment Pastor Sue Woods George Risinger Kathy Dean Pastor Sue Woods

Reader George Risinger Cathy Conklin Shari Burgus Ron Hardersen

Communion Invitation & Offering/Communion Server Julie Cornelius Juanita McBeth George Risinger Cathy Conklin

Call to Offering & Offering Prayer Juanita McBeth Shari Burgus Ron Hardersen Tammy Hardersen

Communion Prayer Cathy Conklin Juanita McBeth Cimberly Hansen Jerry Woods

Offering & Communion Servers Lorrie Grandgenett George Risinger Cathy Conklin Juanita McBeth

Fellowship Marilyn Dowell Ron/Tammy Hardersen Karen Neese Cimberly Hansen

Food Pantry Delivery Jan De Jong

Visiting Shepherds Ron/Tammy Hardersen

Lock up after church Ron Hardersen

Water Indoor plants George Risinger

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29

9 am Sunday School 10 am Worship

Support Team Mtg. 11:45 am

Knit Wits 1:00 pm

Knit Wits 1:00 pm

Knit Wits 1:00 pm

Newsletter

Articles Due

9 am Sunday School 10 am Worship

2016

9 am Sunday School 10 am Worship

WoW 6:30 pm at Vicki Teas’

6:00 pm

9 am Sunday School 10 am Worship

Knit Wits 1:00 pm CWF 9:30 am

1st Sunday in Lent

2nd Sunday in Lent

3rd Sunday in Lent

Lenten Soup Supper 5:45 pm

Lenten Soup Supper 5:45 pm

lunch Lent Begins

Imposition of Ashes 10 am – 3 pm

Waukee Christian Church

29043 T Avenue

P.O. Box 278

Waukee, Iowa 50263

Connecting people to each other and

the world.

Growing spiritually through the

renewing of our minds.

Honoring the Image of God in all

people.

…OUR STAFF…

Pastor: Reverend Sue Woods Visiting Pastor: Julie Cornelius Admin. Assistant: Lanita Cavanaugh

… CHURCH OFFICE ... Office Hours

Monday-Wednesday-Thursday 8:30AM – 3:30PM

Phone (515) 987-4937

Email waukeechristianchurch@msn.com

Website

waukeechristianchurch.com

The Waukee Christian Church Newsletter is published monthly.

~ We are People of the Table ~

~Living Faith on the Edge of Waukee ~

WORSHIP SCHEDULE

9:00 am Education Hour

(Adults, Busy Bee’s, High School)

10:00 am Worship Service

11:00 a.m. Coffee

11:15 a.m. Youth Group

(Elementary/Middle School) NOTICE: If you no longer wish to receive the WCC newsletter, please

notify the office at 515-987-4937. If you would like to receive

this newsletter electronically, send your email address to

waukeechristianchurch@msn.com. Thank you.

Like us on Facebook!

Waukee Christian Church

Waukee Christian

Church

February, 2016

Cross Words