Chariton Disciples of Christ

SILENT AUCTION MARCH 18TH

2012-02-21T11:29:00.000-08:00

Hand made items and yummy baked goods are needed for the Silent Auction.
On March 18th we will have a pot luck luncheon and Silent Auction following worship.

NEW CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

2012-02-21T11:27:00.002-08:00

New Church Office Hours
Monday 9:00am to 1:00pm
Tuesday 10:30am to 2:30 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am to 1:00pm
Thursday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Friday Office Closed
Saturday 9:00am to 1:00 pm
Church office 641-774-2375
Cell – phone # 641-203-4689

CJ works the first and third Wednesdays at the Ministry Center if you need her on these days call the cell phone.

CUSTODIAL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

2012-02-21T11:27:00.001-08:00

The custodial care of the church needs volunteers. Due to others using the church, it seems that Saturdays are about the only time we can clean. We have been meeting at 8:30 am and it takes about 1½ to 2 hours. We have been having 3 to 4 people there at once and it works pretty well. The Sunday school rooms, red room & kitchen can be cleaned on Thursday or Friday (any time of day) for they will not be used until Sunday. There is a list of tasks on the inside of the janitor’s closet door. Cleaning supplies are there. If you could help, call Mary Ruth (774-4850 or 641-203-0391). A few hours once in a while would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Mary Davis & Mary Ruth P.

HISTORY BOOKS

2012-02-21T11:26:00.000-08:00

There are still a few history books available but they are going fast. A donation of $7.00 is requested to offset the cost of ink and paper. This history covers the church from the time of its conception to the 40th celebration of being in the present building. We had planned a second printing but with the loss of Mary Louise Reeves, doing so may not be possible. So get yours while you still can. We ask that you take one copy per member only at this time. If you want extra copies you may put your name on a list for extras or for the second printing if and when possible.

NOTES FROM THE PARISH NURSE

2012-02-21T11:25:00.000-08:00

We have come full circle to the heart month once again. Hopefully you do not view this as a once-a-year care and maintenance effort, and are continuing to avoid neglecting the symptoms that serve as warnings. I.e.: tightness or cramping in your chest or shoulders (between the shoulders and upper back has been reportedly more often found to be the case in women) all should be noted, certainly pains in or down your arms (one or both), shortness of breath and heavy perspiration with no apparent exertion or cause are signs to react to quickly also!
E. R. personnel take any of these symptoms seriously!
Hearts and flowers to you all and May God continue to bless you and yours!
Barbara Riley

NEWS ON THE NATIONAL FRONT

2012-02-21T11:24:00.000-08:00

This week marks the beginning of Disciples “Week of Compassion”. This is the arm of our Church which is charged with responding to Emergencies around the World. The Week of Compassion teams are on sight after a natural disaster very quickly, and they often stay after other agencies leave. We seldom hear about what the Week of Compassion is doing, I guess because we don’t blow our own horn very much but since this is the Week of Compassion, let’s just this once blow away.
The impact of the earthquake that devastated Haiti more than two years ago is still enormous. While Week of Compassion has responded faithfully to the plethora of needs that emerged as a result of that overwhelming disaster--including material assistance in the form of food, water, blankets, medical supplies, and hygiene kits--we also support spiritual, pastoral, and psychosocial care for those who have experienced trauma. To that end, Week of Compassion supports the STAR Program (Seminars on Trauma Awareness and Resilience) of Eastern Mennonite University's Center for Justice and Peace. STAR was established soon after 9/11 and has been working in the areas of trauma healing, recovery, and resilience ever since. In the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, an ecumenical partnership was created to form and fund STAR-Haiti. Week of Compassion is one of the founding partners and faithful supporters of this life-changing work across Haiti.
Want to know more about what Week of Compassion is doing with the money you give? Go to www.Disciples.org/ then to the ministries of the church and click on Week of Compassion. You will learn all about what they are doing.

CJ' s REFLECTIONS

2012-02-21T11:20:00.000-08:00

It feels a bit odd around here today. The church is normally a hub of activity, yet today has been very quiet. This is good; I need a quiet day now and then and I’m thankful for it. On these rare, but quiet days I tend to reflect more on life and on the direction life is taking us. Today has been one of those days and I am finding myself reflecting on people I’ve known but who are not with us anymore and wondering if they ever knew how they affected my life and the life of others around them. Our friends and family do affect our life and the choices we make in life whether we think they do or not.
I’ve been thinking about my Grandma. She was a kind soul; raised eight kids during the depression. Two became teachers like she was before she married my grandfather. Back then, if a woman married she could no longer teach school anymore. Four of the kids joined the armed forces; three in the Navy and one in the Air Force & Army. Two studied to become ministers but only one was ever ordained. The other became one of the two teachers and ran for public office, becoming a State Senator in Minnesota. Uncle Carl became the minister and Grandma was very proud of him, as she was of all her kids and 26 grandchildren. However, Carl didn’t stay a minister very long. Squabbling in the church did him in very quickly and he decided that he could live more peacefully as an Army officer. There’s something sad in that fact of family history. However, it’s a fact that I have known all my adult life and still I choose to become a minister.
While I was in seminary, Uncle Carl talked to me about his time in the ministry and I thought he might try to talk me out of traveling down this road, but he didn’t. Instead he encouraged me to follow my dream. His words have often helped me when things seemed to go amiss around a church that I served. (I’ve served five churches over the last 16 years.) One of the things he told me was to “learn to love people even when they are hard to love.” He went on to say that he had never quite learned to do that and that loving people in spite of their unlovable ways would be key to being a good minister. I don’t know if I have truly learned how to always love people even when they are being hard to love, but I try. What I have learned is that loving people as God loves us is not easy, but it is necessary to be a good Christian, let alone a good minister.
We seem to live in a world that has forgotten what it means to love one another, let alone to love as God loves. We seem to live in a culture that would rather point out what is wrong about us rather than what might be good about us. In fact it seems we live in a time when people have forgotten what Paul instructed the Philippians to do in Philippians 4:8 “Finally brothers, (and let’s add Sisters) whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” What would happen if we changed our attitude about people and looked upon the things that were right about them? What if we focused in on those things that we liked about a person? Would we find them easier to love? Would we find that being around people was more enjoyable? Would we find humankind easier to deal with? Would we find that the work we have to do would go faster and is even more enjoyable? We have to wonder, don’t we?
My Grandma and I used to sit on her front porch and watch the people go by. She would tell me about those people. Sometimes her stories were funny, but never in a way that put someone down or belittled them. Sometimes her stories were sad because life is sometimes sad. But she never said anyone was bad or mean or had ever done anything wrong. She spoke well of people and more often than not, she would lift her hand and wave and they would wave back. Was it just because she lived when people in general were gentler, and kinder and more respectful of people then we are now? When did it change and how can we change it back?

Hope to see you Sunday
Pastor C J

CJ' s REFLECTIONS

2012-01-11T10:55:00.000-08:00

CJ's Reflections

As I write this I am looking out the window at a calm and clear lake in southern Virginia. My children were raised here on this lake. Here I taught them to swim, canoe, water ski and fish. While we lived here I worked as a life insurance agent. One of my duties was to process death claims. I quickly learned how important it was for families to talk openly about their final wishes. This has powerfully been reinforced recently with the demise of two people I have grown very close to. The first, Milan, had time to make his wishes known to his family and those that he loved. The other experienced a sudden and unexpected event that took her life. She was unable to share with her family what her wishes might have been. Fortunately, she had shared some of her thoughts with me and that seemed to help the family greatly.
Death is an uncomfortable subject for many but it is something that we all should talk to someone about. While funeral arrangements are certainly important, it is just a part of the end of life planning discussion.
Modern medical advances are wonderful and save lives everyday. They have returned people to productive meaningful lives that would not have been possible even five years ago. However, these same life saving techniques can be a way by which the dying process is unnecessarily and unkindly prolonged. These medical advances don’t always bring about the desired results. It is appropriate to try them if there is a chance to restore one’s quality of life. If we (each of us) have conversations with our loved ones and let them know how we would like them for to handle those “end of life” situations, it may make hard choices easier on them and alleviate some of the guilt people often feel after having to make those difficult choices.
Funerals are also easier for families to plan and execute when guidance is given in advance. Having conversations about this emotionally charged topic is difficult and there are resources available to help. For example, a lawyer can document your wishes in a living will. Everyone should also have a health care power of attorney, with family members either having copies of these documents or having them on file with your doctor.
Most funeral homes well help you pre-plan a service in advance for little or no cost, until the services are performed. Some will also give you forms to record your own wishes that family members can refer to in the event of your passing. A final will is necessary even if you do not have a large estate. Leaving directions for loved ones will make a difficult time for your family easier to handle.
I will also help anyone who would like to have a conversation with their families. I have a list of questions to get the conversation started in a helpful manner. Knowing what you’d like to say before the discussion begins will minimize stress levels for all. The best time to approach this topic is before you get sick. Write your wishes down and revisit them often. Wills can be changed. Please love your family enough to give them some guidance before they have to make choices none of us want to make.
Hope to see You Sunday
Pastor C. J.
P. S.
Thank you for the wonderful Christmas gift and card. I have not yet decided what I am going to do with it but am thinking of a couple of options that were not possible without your generosity. Thank you one and all.
Pastor C. J.

CJ' s REFLECTIONS

2011-12-18T12:59:00.000-08:00

CJ'S REFLECTIONS

The Christmas season is in full swing. Bright colors are bountiful in all the stores. Go shopping just about anywhere and you will hear bells ringing. People smile more and laugh more and greet you in a cheerful way. I love the Christmas season. Its cold outside and I have seen faint whispers of snow in the air but little on the ground. Children look at the flyers in the paper with longing eyes and parents are hiding gifts away from seeking eyes and hands. It’s Christmas and it’s special to us all. Plans for family gatherings are being made, grocery lists are being written and baking of cookies, cakes, pies and Christmas candies is in full swing. Trees with bright decorations have sprung up in living rooms and wreathes hang on the doors, for some there are bright lights shining from the eves of houses. Presents are being wrapped and placed under those trees and I promise each present will be shaken as soon as Mom or Dad turns their back. Cards are being written and mailed and received, all of which adds to the specialness of the season.
But is this really what makes this season so special? Last night I sat at home and read the Christmas story again from the Bible, something that I do each year. It’s a story I have told youth groups with out reading and then dared them to find out if I missed anything. The kids then read the story aloud taking turns. This is what happened the last time I did this. At the end of their reading of the story I asked, “Did I miss anything”. Dead silence from otherwise noisy kids. After a few minutes one young boy said I don’t know. I got into the story so much as we read it I forgot what you said or didn’t say. Another said “you talked about the shepherds and the wise men but did you say anything about the angel.” A young lady answered him by saying “Ya, she had the angel in there but she didn’t say what the shepherds gave Jesus.” “They didn’t give him gifts” replied the first boy. “I think she got it all in there.” “But I want to know something else. It’s Jesus’ birthday right? Why do we get the gifts instead of Him?”
What is it they say… “out of the mouths of Babies.” The Christmas season is a celebration of the birth of Jesus and we run around like chickens with our heads cut off trying to out give one another with Christmas gifts. No, I’m not trying to be Scrooge here, but how many of us ever stop and think about giving a gift to Jesus? How might we go about giving a birthday gift to Jesus? I’ve done this for years. Each year I pick out one person I know who is not going to have much for Christmas. I give them something unexpected. One year it was to a single mom with three kids. I bought a small toy for each of the kids and a knit scarf for the Mom. I put the gifts out side the kitchen door with a note which read “to the Jesus that is in each of you.” Their names were on the gifts but not my name. The gift was to Jesus from me and Jesus knows who gave it, not the people who received them.
Another year I gave a wall hanging of Jesus which I had made, to a church that had helped me through some personally hard times. The note read “To the Jesus that shines through you all”. The gifts are not big but I hope they have made an impression on those who have received them. One of the impressions I hope that has come through is for these people to realize that because of something they did or said, I caught a glimpse of Jesus in them. I also hope that they realize that this very special season isn’t so much about what we get or give. Rather it is about Jesus, the one who gave us Himself, the biggest and best gift of all.

Marry Christmas
and Happy New Year
to you all!
Pastor C. J. Latham

CLUSTER TEN EVENTS

There are no Cluster Ten Events planned for December or January. Some winter events are being planned, we will let you know when what and where as soon as they are planned. So keep watching for up coming events.

NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL FRONT

The Rev. Michael Kinnamon, general secretary of the National Council of Churches (NCC), is stepping down for health-related reasons. Michael Kinnamon, who is native of Iowa has had a large impact on the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and has been a leader in the Ecumenical movement for many years. He is a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) clergyman and a long-time educator and ecumenical leader, Kinnamon brought a long record of ecumenical activity to his office. He was General Secretary of the Consultation on Church Union, which became Churches Uniting in Christ, from 1999 to 2002.
He also served as executive secretary of the WCC's Commission on Faith and Order from 1980 to 1983 and had a major role in drafting the World Council of Churches' major planning document, "Toward a Common Understanding and Vision of the WCC."
He has been the Allen and Dottie Miller Professor of Mission, Peace and Ecumenical Studies at Eden Theological Seminary since 2000. He was professor of Theology and Ecumenical Studies at Lexington Theological Seminary in Kentucky, from 1988 to 2000 and was dean of the seminary from 1988 to 1998.
Kinnamon was also Assistant Professor of Theology at Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, from 1983 to 1988 and Acting Dean from 1986 to 1988. He was a visiting professor at United Theological College and South Asian Theological Institute, Bangalore, India, in 1987 and 1997.

NOTES FROM THE PARISH NURSE

Is it a Cold or the Flu? Good question! If your temperature spikes to 100 degrees or higher, it is most likely the flu! In either case the treatment is basically the same “Stay home and drink a lot of fluids. Do not ignore chest!! It can develop into more serious problems in a hurry! This may sound like old news to many, but reminders are never out of date!
May God continue to bless you and yours with a very Happy holiday Season.
You are always in my prayers Barbra Riley

THE HISTORY BOOKS ARE READY

Bonnie Cox, Mary Ruth Pierschbacher, and Mary Louise Reeves have been working very diligently on compiling a comprehensive history of the Chariton Christian Church Disciples of Christ. We are happy to announce that the compiling stage is complete as is the copying and binding. The books are now available to the congregation. 55 copies have been made available and a donation of $7.00 is requested to off set the cost of ink and paper. This history covers the church from the time of its conception to the 40th celebration of being in the present building. There are many pictures and a complete list of ministers who have served the congregation to date. We ask that you take one copy per member only at this time. If you want extra copies you may put your name on a list for extras or for the second printing if needed. We thank the ladies who have worked so had to compile this histor

CJ's REFLECTIONS

2011-11-17T12:17:00.000-08:00

CJ'S REFLECTIONS

My reflections today are based on something that Heather Michael brought to our attention last spring. In one of her Sunday school classes there was a session on Communion and what it means when the Wine (in our case grape juice) and Bread are “consecrated”. Now that’s a word we don’t hear very often. What does it mean for something to be “consecrated”? Is it the same as having something concentrated? No, it’s far different. We don’t concentrate the juice and then add the water back into it later. What we do, is to pray for the Bread and for the Juice and what is prayed for in this manner becomes consecrated. By that I mean holy because of what it stands for. The bread and the wine are symbols of the body of Christ. The night Jesus met with the Disciples in the Upper Room, He blessed the Cup and the Bread and said this is my body broken and poured out for us. We are to take and eat and remember him through the bread and juice.
It’s not holy because its bread and juice. It’s holy because of who it represents. When we eat the bread and drink the juice it does not magically turn into Jesus’ body and blood. It remains what it is, bread and juice of the vine. We take communion because Jesus told his disciples to eat of the bread and to drink of the vine and that when ever we do so we are to remember Him. It is in the remembering of Him that the Holy happens. It’s in the prayers the elders say and yes even in the words I say and for that matter it’s in the song we sing leading up to our communion time. The Holy happens when we speak the name of Jesus. We are called to His table together as His disciples and are reminded that we gather there to remember the one who began it all by breaking bread and pouring a cup full of wine and instructing His disciples to do like wise as a way of remembering Him.
It’s holy because we believe that at the communion table we gather to remember the one who is Holy. If we believe that He is with us there at that table and that He is in the bread and the wine as He is in all things. What do we do with the bread and the wine that is left over after everyone has taken communion? If the bread has become holy because it has been “Consecrated” by the Elders prayers do we then throw it down the drain or in the garbage? Here is where I’m going back to Heather’s Sunday School Class lesson. I’m going to quote it:
"Once the elements are blessed, the minister or anyone else may eat the bread and drink the juice, or the leftovers must be poured onto the ground for birds or other animals. They may not be thrown in the trash or poured down the drain".
Because they have been consecrated- or made holy- the bread we eat and the juice we drink not only help satisfy our physical hunger, but they are also a symbol for filling our spiritual hunger. In other words, it helps us remember Jesus- who Jesus was, what Jesus taught us, and the example He set for us in order to know how to live together as God’s children.
This is a simple little lesson that makes sense if we stop and think about it. If you had something that you knew was HOLY would you just throw it down the drain or into the trash? I wouldn’t and I doubt that you would either. So what is it that we should do with what is left over? Simple we pour the juice out on the ground behind the church or down the hill beside the church. There it will go back into the ground and Mother Nature will use it in her own ways. The left over bread should be left on the ground for the birds to find or other animals. Some have been doing this since Heather brought it to our attention last spring, and I hope that others will start doing this after reading this newsletter. Isn’t it more in keeping with the teachings of Jesus to share with all of God’s creation the blessings He has given to us?

Hope to see you Sunday!!!
Pastor C. J. Latham

CLUSTER 10 EVENTS

On October 23, at Four O’clock P. M. in Corydon we gathered and celebrated Heritage Days! No one was brave enough to dress up but we had a good time anyway. There was a Men’s quartet from Osceola featuring our own Mike Deatz. Our choir sang and Ella McDermott sang her solo again. Rev. Ruth Ann Jones from Osceola shared a story about baptism and Pastor CJ shared a story about Raccoon John Smith and the Methodist minister who almost got baptized, which brought a good laugh to all.
A planning team did meet at 3:00 O’clock that afternoon to plan other upcoming events for us to be DISCIPLES TOGETHER! So watch for more Coming Events beginning the first of the year.

NOTES FROM THE PARISH NURSE

I trust you are all managing your allergies and preparing for the winter months ahead with positive precautions against the “Flu Bug”, it is time to get those shots again. Start thinking about the dangers of “black ice” and packed down snow and how to handle those hazards along with all the other related problems associated with the coming winter months. My prayers are with you all and may God continue to bless you and yours.
Barbra Riley

Thanksgiving Offering Goes For What?

Disciples Seminary Foundation sponsored four students who traveled to Haiti in solidarity with our Global Ministries Church Partner CONASPEH. Jerri Handy, Lizzy Beach, Sharon Mann, and Lindsay Million were the first Disciples/UCC team to provide crisis relief for the earthquake-stricken country. In reflecting on the trip, DSF student Jerri Handy said, “I am so thankful to belong to a great Church who understands the need to respond with physical presence in times like these.” Danielle Cox, a student at Lynchburg College, spent two months studying in India through Lynchburg’s international studies program. During her time in India, Danielle worked with the Hope Foundation teaching geography and English in the slums of Cheinnai. “Because of my Disciples education, I understand my life work as vocation. I am now exploring seminary and God’s call to ministry,” Danielle shared.
These stories are among examples of how Disciples students are educated in a service-learning model. Your gifts to the 2011 Thanksgiving Offering support the care and nurture of servant leaders.
The Thanksgiving Offering benefits the colleges, universities, seminaries, and divinity houses affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). These learning communities are an extension of the church, challenging students to understand and respond to God’s call to serve. Your support provides scholarships, church relations programs, and chaplaincy offices. Most importantly, your support of the 2011 Thanksgiving Offering helps Disciples raise up servant leaders!

THE HISTORY BOOKS ARE READY

Bonnie Cox, Mary Ruth Pierschbacher, and Mary Louise Reeves have been working very diligently on compiling a comprehensive history of the Chariton Christian Church Disciples of Christ. We are happy to announce that the compiling stage is complete as is the copying and binding. The books are now available to the congregation. 60 copies have been made available and a donation of $7.00 is requested to off set the cost of ink and paper. This history covers the church from the time of its conception to the 40th celebration of being in the present building. There are many pictures and a complete list of ministers who have served the congregation to date. We ask that you take one copy per member only at this time. If you want extra copies you may put your name on a least for extras or for the second printing if needed. We thank the ladies who have worked so had to compile this history.

CJ' s REFLECTIONS

2011-10-24T07:14:00.000-07:00

October 11, 2011
Wow! What a great day we had yesterday. It was good indeed to see the church that full and so excited. The music was great, the choir sang beautifully and the couple from Lacona, Albert Butler and Annie Rankin, who sang added a wonderful touch to both services. It was also great to have two former ministers, Rev. Dr. John Gran and Rev. Eldon Jandebeur join us in the celebration and from the Region, Rev. Dr. Jim Wakelin, Partner in Regional Ministry spoke in the afternoon service. We had representatives from the Presbyterian Church, the Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church, during the morning service, showing the Ecumenical ties that we share with other churches here in the community. In the afternoon service Rev. Ruth Ann Jones and her husband Ed joined us from the Osceola Church showing the partnerships we have within Cluster Ten.
The whole day was a great reminder of how truly blessed we are and how far we have come in the Lord. I still remember the old church building from when I was a kid. We did not attend there but a few times but I remember it and the warmth that I felt when we did. That warmth didn’t come from the building, it came from the congregation and it’s the same feeling that was in the air yesterday. Everyone was excited to see each other and to just be together and that is as it should be. We celebrated the anniversary of moving into this building but it was more than just an anniversary. We also remembered those who laid the foundations for what we have and what we have is more than just a building. We are one body of the family of God. Yesterday we rededicated the building, yes but we also rededicated ourselves to be a part of the continued building of this church. Does that mean we are in a building program? Yes it does, but in this program, there is no brick or mortar in sight. In this building program it’s about building our relationships with each other and with God, and His Son through the Holy Spirit. It’s about learning to know God better and to walk close day by day with Jesus. It’s about being there for each other when trials come our way, and giving to each other a helping hand or even a shoulder to lean on when needed.
The times in which we now live are very different than when this congregation came into being in 1856. The times have even changed over the last forty years. However, the foundations that this congregation was built on have not changed. God is still God and regardless of what society says, we still need Him in our lives. He still loves us and has blessed us so very much. His blessings have not stopped nor can we stop being a blessing in this community. Come on folks, let’s truly get on board with this building program and reach out to our neighbors and bring them in. God loves them, do we? If we do lets share with them, what God has done for us! Maybe if we let them know what God is doing here, they would come to see for themselves and find out just how Great God truly is.
Hope to see you Sunday
Pastor C.J.
PS. Thank You to all who helped make this such a special event and helped clean up the church.

Hey… did you enjoy the picnic? I sure did. The games were great and the food was good too, and Mike made us proud with his solo for communion and with leading us in a musical grace. But, if you thought that was fun what till you hear what’s coming up next!!!!
On October 23, at Four O’clock P. M. in Corydon we will gather and celebrate Heritage Days!
Everyone is invited to dress in the period of the decade in which they were born. Example: I was born in the 50’s so I’m looking for a poodle skirt and saddle shoes. However there is a second choice. If you don’t want to come dressed in the decade you were born come dressed in the era the church was born. The Christian Church Disciples of Christ was founded in 1802. So come dressed as a pioneer. Maybe David will dress up like Raccoon John Smith again. We will have an old fashion hymn sing and some of the choirs from the cluster churches are going to sing. Mike will be leading the music and singing with a quartet from Osceola.
The Corydon Church will provide beefburgers and we are to bring salads and desserts.
A planning team will meet at 3:00 O’clock that afternoon in Corydon to plan other upcoming events for us to be DISCIPLES TOGETHER!

1st Annual Congregational Gathering
Our new way of doing ministry together in the Upper Midwest Region begins Saturday, October 15, 2011 from 10A.M. to 4:30P.M. in West Des Moines Christian Church. We still need two representatives to attend.
Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President of the greater church will be with us for the installation of Rev. Bill Spangler-Dunning as Regional Minister and President.

I trust you are all managing your allergies and preparing for the winter months ahead with positive precautions against the “Flu Bug”, it is time to get those shots again. Start thinking about the dangers of “black ice” and packed down snow and how to handle those hazards along with all the other related problems associated with the coming winter months. My prayers are with you all and may God continue to bless you and yours.
Barbra Riley

The Disciples Mission Fund
History of the Disciples Mission Fund In 1909, two committees were appointed to develop a means by which congregations could contribute to a common funding system, benefiting the whole church. In 1941, after 32 years of conversation, Unified Promotion began. Unified Promotion was a covenantal agreement in which congregations agreed to contribute ten (10%) of their local operating receipts to the common mission fund of the church. In exchange, the General church would reduce Special Offerings from fifteen (15) to six (6) and ministry would no longer contact congregations directly for operating gifts.
Unified Promotion would later become Basic Mission Finance, which now exists as Disciples Mission Fund.
About the Disciples Mission Fund
Disciples Mission Fund is the common fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Disciples Mission Fund supports 72 ministries of wholeness as close as your local congregation and reaching around the globe. As a Global Mission church, we understand that equipping congregations for mission includes learning from, learning with and offer support to our partners beyond the borders of the United States and Canada.

CJ' s REFLECTIONS

2011-09-15T17:50:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I had the unique opportunity to sit out on a dock fishing and listening to the high school football game being played about four city blocks away from the pond. I wasn’t listening to a radio. I was hearing the announcer call the game play by play, and he was coming across loud and clear. Even if I had not wanted to listen to the game I would have been, because sound travels and the pond I was fishing at isn’t that far from the football field. Sadly I didn’t do any better fishing than the kids were doing on the ball field. But that time wasn’t wasted for me or for the kids on the ball field. I’m sure that they learned something though the experience of the game if it was about team work or about how the game is played or maybe they learned something about how to lose gracefully. All I did that night was feed the fish. I only caught two neither of which where really keepers so I released both of them to hopefully grow and be caught another day. I left the pond a little disappointed as I’m sure the football team left the ball field feeling about the same way having lost the game. That’s life full of little disappointments right?

But I said I had not wasted the time did I learn something about not catching fish? No those lessons I learned years ago fishing in Old City Lake as a kid. What I did as I sat there fishing was far more important than not catching fish. I listened to the game yes, but I also spent time talking with God. Quieting my spirit and at times just listening to nature. I watched the sunset and relaxed, something that I needed very much.

This experience reminded me that we all need to take sometime to quiet ourselves and be alone one on one with God. I will admit that when our lives are so busy it’s hard to find time to just be with God. Perhaps we all (myself included) need to make an appointment with God once in awhile and take those appointments as seriously as we do Doctor appointments. Perhaps that would help us keep them. Perhaps if we started meeting with God one on one we would be more open to meeting with God on Sunday morning. Perhaps if we met with God in prayer more often we wouldn’t have to see the Doctor as often. Perhaps our blood pressures would go down if we learned not only to spend time with God but learned to spend some time just relaxing.

I know that there are some ladies in the church who get together just to play games. We do this once a month. We get together and have a meal but more than that we play and laugh and enjoy one another’s company. Perhaps we all need to be part of a group that can just laugh together. I know that no matter what has been going on all week, no matter how tired I am, I walk away from that fellowship feeling refreshed and lighter at heart. The Friday night I went fishing and caught no keepers I was disappointed, still I walked away from that pond feeling refreshed and renewed as though a weight had been lifted from me. Why, because I had spent some time fellowshipping with God in His creation. For my efforts God gave me a beautiful sunset and a laugh or too. You see while I was fishing I threw out the line, the bobber went one way and the worm went the other. Guess if I’m going to go fishing I better learn how to put the bait on the hook better.

Hope that you will take some time to spend time with God this week.

Hope to see you Sunday

Pastor C.J.

CLUSTER NEWS

Cluster Ten is gathering at East Lake Park in Osceola for a picnic. For the last five years I have been hearing how the “cluster used to” do this very thing and how much fun it was. Well, we are bringing it back, and I hope that we will have a good turn out on September 25 at 6:00P.M. The picnic’s the “cluster used to” have where fun because people showed up for them. I hope you will come out for this one. Jane and David Beatty will be leading the games for all ages. David Neas pastor at Corydon will have a grill for you to fix any meat that you want him to cook for you (bring your own meat). The rest of the meal will be cover dish so we are asked to bring salads and desserts and drinks. Michael Deatz is going to sing during the communion service. And Pastor C.J. will be conducting a short business meeting to inquire about future events. Creston is coming and some from Mount Ayr are planning to come. First Christian Church in Osceola will be hosting the gathering. Hope many of you will plan to join in with the festivities.

1st Annual Congregational Gathering

Our new way of doing ministry together in the Upper Midwest Region begins Saturday, October 15,2011 from 10A.M. to 4:30P.M. in West Des Moines Christian Church

1. Share ministry ideas

2. Encourage common ministries to arise in the group

3. Commission Ministries Operations Council

4. Chose a representative operations Council

Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President will share with us in this new form of Ministry and preside in the installation of Rev. Bill Spangler-Dunning as Regional Minister and President.

Each congregation is invited to send 2 lay representatives

· Let’s send our most creative!

· Let them be multigenerational representatives!

· Those with bold new ideas!

· Send our most passionate!

The noon meal will be a potluck lunch so we need to take a side dish. The region is providing the meat.

Who will go for us? If you would like to go see either Larry Michael or Pastor C.J.

News on the Nation level

Disciples across the nation will be

Planting Seeds of Hope

Special offering for Reconciliation

September 25 & October 2nd

The 2011 Reconciliation Offering will be received in congregations on September 25th and October 2nd. Reconciliation Ministry Offering is used to fund our Church’s mission priority to become an pro-reconciling/ anti-racist church through experiential education, inclusive worship and intentional dialogue across difference. Funds from this offering provide Youth and Young Adult camps, training programs, leadership development, and resources to promote small group study and community-building.

Pastor CJ
Chariton Christian Church
Disciples of Christ
Chariton, Iowa

CJ' s REFLECTIONS

2011-08-16T12:34:00.000-07:00

I remember playing in the living room with my cousins while Mom and Grandma fixed supper for a family gathering. We were good kids but every once and a while, there would be those moments all kids have. Moments when what was going on, ought not to have been going on. In those moments there would be a squall or a loud thud and from the kitchen would come “What are you kids doing?” Our reply would be “nothing”…. While our “nothing” was always something but we didn’t necessarily want our parents or even grandma to know what our “nothing” was. However, they always found out. That’s what parents do. Parents and Grandparents know when a child says “Nothing” something is going on and it most likely needs someone to put a stop to it before something or someone gets broken. I marvel at how parents know when they hear silence coming from the kids play room that play has stopped and mischief has began. The question is still “What are you kids doing?” and the answer is still “nothing” and that nothing is still always something.
I wondered as a kid, how my parents could know I was doing something they didn’t want me to do, even if it was as simple as getting cookies out of the cookie jar before supper. They may not have seen me get them, or even heard the jar being open but darn if they didn’t seem to catch me every time I tried it. As a parent I didn’t question the ability though I’m sure my kids did. As a grandparent I marvel as my daughter can tell what her kids are doing even when she’s not in the room. Is this a gift that God gives parents? Perhaps, but I think there’s more to this ability then might meet the eye on first glance.
I don’t have it with my grandchildren I don’t see them enough to have it and I think it’s a gift that comes by knowing our kids and grandkids, and perhaps each other. Ever walk into a room and catch someone even an adult with their hand in the “cookie jar”, knowing full well that they would be doing that before you saw them?
When we see someone regularly we get to know their habits and their thinking process. I can almost anticipate how the ladies at the Harbor House Christian Book Store’s Bible Study will answer my questions. How come, because we have been studying the Bible together for so long that I’ve learned how they think. Therefore I can usually word the questions to direct the conversation in the direction I want to take the study. (Oh to be sure they manage to catch me off guard now and then, but that’s okay too because when they do they make me think in new ways. It keeps it interesting to say the least.)
Knowing our friends and neighbors well enough to catch them in those “Nothing” moments means something else. It means that we have cared for them enough to get to know them in personal familiar ways. Do we know God in that way? Have we talked to Him enough that He knows how we think? Have we learned enough about Him to know how He thinks? Have we gotten to know Jesus well enough to recognize His still soft voice over the racket in our lives?
I have been reading the Psalms a lot lately. I do that from time to time for a number of reasons mostly because they focus in on most every emotion we humans go through. This week I have been reading and contemplating Psalms 1.
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. Have you ever asked yourself why such a person is blessed? Could it be because such a person spends his or her time with God instead?
But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night. If we are thinking about God and God’s law then maybe if God asked us “What are you doing” we could answer “Nothing, just thinking about you”. Wouldn’t that be better then having God catch us with our hands in the cookie jar?
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
How I long to be like that tree with my roots going down deep in drawing water from God’s river. How can I do that? Simple, but it has to start with knowing God, with planting ourselves at His feet and drinking in all that He has for us.
Hope to see you Sunday
Pastor C.J.

The Cluster Ten, gathering in Mt Ayr was an eventful day. There were not a lot of people there but those who gathered shared an experience that was worth the trip to attend. We had three from our church Mary Davis, Michael Deatz, and Pastor CJ. There were about 25 from five churches gathered.
We had some good fellowship time and got the opportunity to learn a little about our sister churches in the cluster. The Member’s Class for Adults “Learning to be Disciples Together” focused on Church History, Church Structure, Prayer, Baptism (its different forms and meanings), and Communion & Worship. This event will be repeated sometime next winter as a number from other churches wanted to be there but for different reasons could not attend at this time.
Our next event will be a picnic at East Lake in Osceola. It will be pot luck with a grill for those who want to bring their own meat and cook it there. Save the date of September 25 at 6:00 p.m.

It’s time to register for SCHOOL FOR CONGREGATIONAL LEARNING.
Keynote speaker is Christian Piatt. Christian Piatt has conducted workshops and preached nationally on congregational transformation making the church come alive again. The School will be held this year at First Christian Church of West Des Moines. You will have the opportunity to hear Christian Piatt twice and to attend two workshops of your choice.
One of the workshops will be led by Pastor CJ and Larry Michael. It is for Elders and is entitled Elders and Pastor as Team. There will also be a mission project going on during the day.
Child care is being offered for those who have children but those registrations need to be sent in ASAP.
The registration fee of $20.00 includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Registration forms are in the church office.
Pick up yours today!

New offering this year at the Conference Center that you may wish to attend is Senior Adult Retreat
A retreat to “Renew you Mind”! Senior adults will have a camp experience the weekend of September 11-13 and learn from keynote speakers about the brain, aging, lifelong learning spiritual practices and the tools of technology you can use today! The cost for this retreat is $100.00 and includes 2 nights in the lodge and meals. For more information call 515-255-3168 or go to www.uppermidwestcc.org.

News on the Nation level

Disciples center staff moves back into its office building on July 28th.

Disciples Center staff in Indianapolis is thankful for their safe return to permanent offices at a special afternoon session on the 28th of July. Fire and smoke damage at the Disciples Center caused the building’s more than 170 people to relocate in mid-April to temporary office space. However, weeks of cleaning and repairs by professionals skilled in remediating office structure following the smoke damage is now complete. All staff moved back into the building July 21-22.
Among others groups, building staff expressed appreciation to the Insurance Board for its excellent customer services during the renovations.
“It’s great to be back in our space and as part of the process to have had some significant renovations to the building,” said Associate General Minister and Vice President Todd Adams, who managed many aspects of the renovation.
General Minister and President Sharon Watkins blessed the space at the gathering.

CJ' s REFLECTIONS

2011-06-26T15:08:00.000-07:00

I have a good friend whom I have know for most of my life. She has often been there for me when I needed guidance and support. Never really telling me what to do but always supporting the choices I’ve made even when I didn’t make the choice she wanted me to. There have been times when I relied on this person to help get me through some pretty rough times. One of the things that she would say to me was: “remember God will never put more on you then you can handle.” For the last few weeks it’s been my turn to be there for her as she has had to handle some trying times. And I smiled a little when I said to her “Remember God will never put more on you then you can handle” turn about is fair play after all. J

But truly we need friends who will love us enough to go through the hard times of life. We need them to remind us that God really won’t put more on us then we can handle. And laugh with us when we make the observation that we wish God didn’t think we where quite so strong.

This prompts a question. How do we obtain a strong faith? If faith comes to us when we trust in God, doesn’t He have to stretch our faith from time to time so that it will grow? How does He stretch us?

There are a couple of ways that I think God stretches us. I think he stretches us when we go through the tight times in life. I know that I have grown stronger because of some of the things that I have gone through in life. Having a husband commit adultery was hard. Going through trying to put the marriage back together and failing was also hard. But I learned so much about the need to forgive, the unforgivable, that I gained a new understanding of what God’s forgiveness is all about. I also learned that to forgive doesn’t always mean that you go on as though nothing happened. Forgiveness has to be accepted before things go on. If we cannot forgive ourselves then it is impossible to accept the forgiveness of others. It may sound strange to say, but having to forgive my husband taught me more about the need to truly forgive myself so that I could accept God’s forgiveness.

The other way that I think God stretches us is by giving us opportunities to step beyond the norm of our lives and do new things for him, things that on our own we might never dream of doing. Let me give you an example: When I was a student pastor I served a small congregation of about thirty people. I asked different people to take part in the service and one of the things they did was read scripture. At the time I was using two texts each Sunday they read one, and I read the primary text I was speaking on. Kind of the same way we do it when we use two texts on Sunday mornings. The Lay leader reads one and I read the other. When we started this I was told don’t ask Mike it would scare him to death to have to read in front of everyone. For a long time I didn’t ask Mike but then one morning I asked him if he would read the next Sunday and gave him the text. Mike agreed and on the appointed Sunday he stood up and read to everyone’s amazement. That afternoon I went to his home for a visit and thanked him for reading. He said. “I was scared to death but I know that God wouldn’t have had you ask me if He didn’t think I could do it.” God stretched Mike’s faith that day and the next Sunday he came to church carrying a brand new Bible that he couldn’t wait to show me and said, “it’s for the next time you ask me to read.” After that Mike was one of our most eager readers. Mike never finished high school but he can read his Bible aloud because he believed God wouldn’t ask him to do something that he couldn’t do.

I wonder how is God stretching you? Are you going through a rough time making you depend on him a little more then usual? Is God asking you to do something that you’ve never done before and have been to shy too try? Maybe it’s stepping out and joining a committee to do a project for the church. Maybe it’s taking part in the worship service in a way that you’ve never done before. Maybe God’s just reminding us that He’s there. Maybe God’s trying to see where we are with him?

Hope to see you Sunday

Pastor C.J.

The Cluster Ten, gathering in Creston was great. There were not a lot of people there but those who gathered shared an experience that was worth the trip to attend as we dedicated 208 Hygiene Kits and sent them off to Church World Services. I can not help but wonder if some of our kits have made their way to Joplin Mo. As we sent the kits to Mo. and they send the kits out from the nearest warehouse when a natural disaster hits. Wouldn’t it be neat if the ones we helped were from our neighboring state?

We had some good fellowship time and got the opportunity to learn a little about our sister churches in the cluster. We were provided with some great desserts. Michael Deatz provided and helped with some wonderful music and will be teaching us a song used during the service. Hope you’ll think about going to the next Cluster event.

Mark your calendars for the next Cluster event to be July 30th. This will be a Member’s Class for Adults “Learning to be Disciples Together”. We will be looking at Church History, Church Structure, Prayer, Baptism (its different forms and meanings), and Communion & Worship. This event will take place in Mt. Ayr from 9:30 to 4:30. Lunch will be provided for a free will offering.

Rev. Bill Spangler-Dunning Regional Minister& President is now on a 3 month sabbatical. Each regional minister is requested to take a 3 month sabbatical once every seven years. The reason behind this is that the stress of During Regional ministry is very demanding on the Minister and on their families. Bill has been in Regional Ministry for close to ten years and has never taken a sabbatical to refresh and renew himself. So when he was called as permanent regional Minister in April, it was with the understanding that he would take a sabbatical, starting in May.

While Bill is on sabbatical leadership for the region will be provided by four Ministers in Partnership. They are; beginning with our area Jim Wakelin, Bill Mitchell, Julie Gibson, and Tammy Rottschacffer.

One new staff member has been added to the Regional office in Newton Mrs. Amber Elliott who well be serving the region as Administrative Assistant.

General Assembly

General Assembly is coming upon us quickly our representatives will be preparing to attend soon. Each has received their business dockets and are studying them. More and more of what happens at Assembly will be available to see and study, which you can do by logging on to the Assembly web site through Christian Church Disciples of Christ.org and follow the links. Our representatives are Anna Ruble, Mary Louise Reeves and Rev. C.J. Latham. They will be attending business meetings and worship service as well as taking part in workshops though out the assembly.

Report from Week of Compassion

A number of Disciples families in the Joplin area lost homes and their possessions in the storm. The sanctuary and fellowship hall at South Joplin Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was damaged, and has now been gutted following the storm. About 600 gallons of water was pumped from the basement. First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), which was not damaged, is serving as a donation and distribution center for both volunteers and supplies. First Christian was also the site of a joint church service with South Joplin and First Community Christian, an independent church, where the worshipers joined together in prayer and reflection on Sunday, May 29.

Week of Compassion has already responded with solidarity grants for the Joplin community. To learn more about how your gifts through Week of Compassion can make a difference to those affected by the storms, go to: www.weekofcompassion.org

Pastor CJ
Chariton Christian Church
Disciples of Christ
Chariton, Iowa

ALL CHURCH BIRTHDAY PARTY & OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS

2011-06-24T23:49:00.000-07:00

SUNDAY, JUNE 26 - 5:30 P.M. CHURCH FELLOWSHIP HALL

We will be holding our "ALL CHURCH" birthday party complete with table decorations and cake for each month of the year. A light meal of hamburgers, hot dogs and chips will be provided and then we will celebrate with ice cream and cake.

JULY 3rd - 10:00 a.m. - CHURCH ON THE SQUARE

JULY 3rd - 3:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. KIDS FISHING DERBY AT CATTELL'S POND

6:00 P.M. - FREE BBQ MEAL AT SODA POP SALOON FOLLOWED BY
ENTERTAINMENT WITH THE DIAMOND TRIO BAND.

9:30 P.M. - FIREWORKS DISPLAY WATCHING FROM CATTELL PROPERTY WITH
CAMPFIRE AND SMORES FOR THE KIDS!

JULY 30th - MEMBERSHIP CLASS AT MT. AYR

DAVID ROZGA STORY UPDATE

2011-06-09T13:14:00.001-07:00

The article which follows was first posted about a year ago. Since that posting the Rozga family has appeared on 20/20 and before the State legislature, telling their story and doing all that they can to stop the tragedy caused by the drugs called Spice and K2. However, little has been done. The shame for this inaction falls squarely upon the legislators who continue to stall action on bills which could save lives, families and communities’ needless pain and suffering. My question is, How many of our children have to die before Spice and K2 is prohibited? If you have not read about the Rozga family’s tragedy read last years posting as re-posted below.

Often when tragedy strikes we desperately want or need to blame someone or something for what has happened. Often we search for a cause in hopes by doing so we think we can figure out the why and the how of such a tragedy. We want to desperately be able to stop it from ever happening again. This desire often works for the good because it inspires many good and important innovations in our society. For example, after a tornado hit and killed a number of people in one small town in Ohio in the early 1900’s sirens were installed in that town and in many small towns across the Midwest as a warning system giving people the opportunity to seek cover before a tornado could strike. They could not stop the tornados but the sirens have prevented many deaths and injuries. Because of flash floods in Tennessee a number of dams have been built providing safety and electricity to hundreds of thousands. Because of the ever increasing rate of deadly car accidents, seat belts were invented and by law we must now wear them. It is for our own good and a buckled belt might save our lives. Medical advances save lives that would have been lost just ten years ago and we marvel at what doctors can now do that they could not do before. All because someone somewhere wanted to keep someone else from losing a loved one in a tragedy that could be avoided.
Our society is facing a new form of tragedy and it is time that we all get involved and put a stop to it before another person is lost. The tragedy is with our young, and with our not so young. It involves anyone who seeks to have an unnatural high by putting a foreign substance into their body. This is often done by ingesting some chemical or by smoking something that was never intended to be smoked. These people are playing a dangerous game and we need to stop them for their own sake and for the sake of our society. We have lost far too many bright and promising young people and there are far too many whose minds will never be the same.
How can we put a stop to this tragedy in the making? First of all we must stop hiding our heads in the sand. We must understand and accept that the “War on Drugs” isn’t over and it hasn’t been lost unless we give up, which we can never do. The battle against illegal and legal drugs has expanded to include many everyday products that we would never think of as a drug. The newest of which is an incense called K2. Kids are buying this across the counter in Tobacco Shops and off the internet. Its effects the mind much like Marijuana and though it is sold as an Herbal incense it can have tragic consequences for those who smoke it. One sad example is the young man from Indianola, Iowa, David M. Rozga (18) who after smoking K2 with some friends, had a bad reaction and as a result took his own life. This promising young man was taken tragically from his parents, his brother, his grandparents and from his community. What he might have become and what he might have done in our society and for our society will forever be an unknown…… all because of K2. This substance should be illegal! It should never be sold over the counter or on-line to a minor or to an adult. Call your congressman today and tell him/her that you want K2 banned from Iowa and throughout the country. Do it because it’s the right thing to do! Call for the sake of our kids. Call because you want to stop the tragedy K2 causes to families and in our communities. Make the call, write the letter, do what ever it takes but stop the sale of K2 today!

Pastor CJ
Chariton Christian Church
Disciples of Christ
Chariton, Iowa

CJ' s REFLECTIONS

2011-05-17T16:13:00.000-07:00

I am setting at my desk, listening to the rain fall softly outside my window which is open to the clean spring air. I like winter but I’m very glad that spring is here. It has giving me the opportunity to air out the office and the house. (But it also reminds me that it’s time to do some old fashion spring cleaning, but the newsletter needs to go out this week so the spring cleaning,… well maybe tomorrow.) The coming of spring signals more than the passing of time it’s a new beginning and a time when life is renewed all around us. There are so many things about spring that I like and enjoy. Spring for me always starts with Easter which is of course a renewal of life too. Its fun to watch the trees come back to life and to watch the flowers grow. The grass turns green and the sound of lawns getting mowed fills the air, as does the smell of grass clippings. Which reminds me, there’s a flower garden in my front yard that is bugging me to come pull out the weeds and there’s a shade tree down beside the house which just longs to be set under. Pulling weeds or setting under a shade tree which should I choice to do? My mom used to tell me when you have a choice to make look at the pros and cons of each. So here goes. If I pull the weeds the flowers will grow better and the garden will look nicer. If I sit under the shade tree I can relax, read a book and maybe talk to God. Oh, wait; I could talk to God while I pull weeds, that’s not a pro or a con to either one. If I pull the weeds I’ll feel better because I will have accomplished something. If I set under the tree the weeds will still grow, and be there when I do get around to them, they’ll just be harder to pull. Guess I better pull the weeds before they get any bigger. Flower garden wins. But then so does the shade tree. Because after I pull the weeds I can go over, drink some ice tea and relax under the shade tree. Why is it that we have become a society of “either or” rather than both?
Why do we choose to do one thing rather then choosing to do both things? Have we become so short sighted that we can not see the possibilities of a world where both can happen? My choosing to weed the garden and sitting under the shade tree is perhaps a very simple example however it is just one example of choices we make all the time. We make it each Sunday when we choose to come to church or stay home. Do we go on vacation to see family or do we take a trip to Florida? Heather Michael found a way to make that a both this year. The family is going to Florida together with both sets of grandparents. It could have been an “either or” but Heather looked for a way and found it, to make the trip “a both”. Could it be that we don’t see possibilities for the doing the “a both” in our lives because we don’t take the time to look for new ways of doing things so that life doesn’t have to be an “either or” but rather it can be “a both”?
I choose to sit out under a tree and read a book. Can that also be a time spent with God? If I chose to read the Bible would it not be? Or if I chose to weed the garden and pray as I do it is that not spending time with God? God doesn’t want us just to come see Him on Sundays He would rather share our lives daily and be a part of our lives. Why have we assigned Him only to the Church, can’t we take God with us when we take a walk in the woods? Why do we not take God with us more? Could it be that we have gotten too caught up with making choices rather then finding a way to do both? Why do we not come to church for one hour and then spend the rest of the day on the lake or shopping or even taking a picnic with the family? Why does it have to an “either or” why can’t it be both?
I think I’ll start looking for the ways to make my life richer by doing the “both” rather than the “either or”. Maybe, just maybe, it will bring some renewal to my life as I do. Maybe it would to yours too.

Hope to see you Sunday
Pastor C.J.

Thank You to those who found out when my Birthday was and sent cards even though I didn’t let Ella put it in last month’s newsletter. It was a great day that I celebrated in my own quiet way.

The next Cluster Ten, gathering will be in Creston. There will be a dedication serve for the Hygiene Kits going to Church World Services on May 15th at 2:30 p.m. There will be a coffee and cake fellowship time prior to the dedication service. Please plan to attend. We can car pool to Creston from the Church. We have a number of Kits here at the church but if you have not yet brought yours to the church please do so Sunday.
Mark your calendars for the next Cluster event to be July 30th. This will be a Member’s Class for Adults. We will be looking at Church History, Church Structure, Prayer, Baptism (its different forms and meanings), and Communion & Worship. This event will take place in Mt. Ayr from 9:30 to 4:30. Lunch will be provided for a free will offering.

We have been invited to take part in a celebration of Rev. Don Hiscox’s Ministry. Don has served this region faithful for the last 10 years and is retiring as of July 2011. There will be an Open House in Don’s honor Saturday, May 14th. From 1 to 4 p.m. with a program at 2 p.m. The event will be hosted by Capitol Hill Christian Church in Des Moines, Iowa. Watch for more information in your bulletins.

CJ' s REFLECTIONS

2011-04-14T16:27:00.000-07:00

Have you been watching the Decorah eagles? My cousin Allen sent me the link about a month ago and I have been peeking in on them from time to time. It has been quite amazing to watch the eaglets hatch, though I was not lucky enough to have peeked in on them at the time they hatched. Still it has been quite interesting to view them.

I have never seen an eagle up close. So to watch the mother eagle just sit on the nest was one thing but then the father showed up and I got to see them both up close. They are truly magnificent birds.

What has surprised me in watching these large birds of pray is how gently the mother bird turned her eggs and how attentive she is to the chicks now that they have hatched. I have only seen the father once but at that time the chicks had not hatched. He seemed to be very concerned as he nudged the mother off the eggs so he could look at them. He had brought her food and made sounds as though he was trying to encourage her. Then the male eagle stretched out his wings and flew off. Watching him stretch out his massive wings and so gently lift off the nest amazed me and I so wanted him to come back and do it again but he hasn’t been back when I’ve had time to peek in on them.

All three of the chicks are hatched now and they are moving around far more then I would have thought they would at a week or two old. Part of me wishes I had more time to watch them but I feel blessed to be able to see the little that I have seen of them. Oddly they have made me to think about one of my favorite scripture verses from the Old Testament. Isaiah 40:31 “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary they will walk and not be faint.” (NIV)

This verse has seen me through some very rough times. It seemed like a promise that things would get better if I just trusted in the Lord. However, after watching the eagles this verse has taken on a somewhat broader meaning. Watching the mother eagle tuck an egg in under her wing using that sharp and deadly beak made me see how the eagle’s wing could also be a place of warmth and comfort and even protection. As I thought about that, I remembered Psalms 91:4 & 5 “he will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,…” (NIV) For those little eaglets the mother’s wings are protection, warmth and comfort. I doubt that they know how far they are from the ground or even what the ground is. Right now their world is rather small; it consists of their nest and their parents who feed them. They are secure in their surroundings and all is right in their little world. However their world will change very quickly and when it does they will have to learn to fly on their own wings and soar high up in the sky.

The length of the father’s eagle’s wings rather amazed me. I knew they were large birds, I’ve seen them soaring over the church a couple of times but to see the wings stretched out up close covering the cameras whole view really impressed me. I could hear the force of air moving as the father flapped his wings and lifted off the nest. It spoke to me of power and strength in a new way. Isaiah implies that we too can have that power and strength if we hope in the Lord.

To hope in something means that we trust something good will happen. To hope in someone means that we trust the person we hope in, to be a person of integrity. To hope in them is to trust them to be honest and fair in all of their dealings. To trust in God is to have faith that what God has promised He will provide. To trust that He will be true to his word and all that he does. To trust in God is to look beyond ourselves and to accept that there is something, someone out there who cares for and about us. To believe what the scriptures tell us about God and about the Son and yes even what they tell us about the Holy Spirit is true and then to make it all real to us and to our lives.

Who would ever guess that watching eagles nest and hatch out their young would make anyone stop and think about God and all that he does for us. But then I’ve always thought that God was all around us. Maybe you’ve had the same experience as you have viewed the Decorah eagles. Maybe you have thought about other scripture verses as you viewed them. I’m told that I’m not alone in watching the eagles. I hope that I’m not alone in thinking about God either. At times it amazes me how God seems to remind me that he is around. So many of the simple everyday events of life seem to point me to God, reminding me that He is truly all around us if we will simply take the time to look for him. I hope that you are finding the same thing true in your life.

Hope to see you Sunday

Pastor C.J.

NEWS FROM CLUSTER TEN

Many people have looked for ways to help out the people in Japan after the earthquake and its continuing after shocks. The web sight for Week of Compassion says “While monetary gifts are the most effective and immediate way to respond to the crises in Japan, CWS hygiene kits would also be appreciated. The kits that were already sent to Japan were those pre-positioned in our CWS warehouses in the region. Those warehouses will need to be restocked.” Cluster Ten has already devised a way for you to help out by helping to restock the hygiene kits so there will be some if another disaster hits.

Cluster Ten, gathering will be in Creston. There will be a dedication serve for the Hygiene Kits going to Church World Services on May 15th at 2:30 p.m. There will be a coffee and cake fellowship time prior to the dedication service. Please plan to attend. We will car pool to Creston from the Church.

The Kids have been invited to a Pizza Party in Osceola on the way home from Creston. Please let Pastor C. J. know if you want to attend so she can RSVP to Osceola.

DISCIPLES NEWS FROM THE REDGION

Special Called Regional

Assembly was held April 9th

The "Called Assembly" gathered to ask questions about, and ultimately vote on, new ways to do ministry as “Disciples Together”. Some of these new ways were proposed by the Vision Task Group's "Proposed Regional Redesign". The assembly was held at Highland Park Christian Church in Des Moines. The vote passed and the new design will go into effect this October.

Rev. Bill Spangler-Dunning has been named Regional Minister and President of the Christian Church Disciples of Christ in the Upper Midwest Region. Bill has been serving for the last two years as Regional Minister during Transition. We welcome Bill as our called Regional Minister knowing that he will do his best to be a faithful leader in the region.

We have been invited to take part in a celebration of Rev. Don Hiscox’s Ministry. Don has served this region faithful for the last 10 years and is retiring as of July 2011, but with accumulated days of and vacation leave, his last day was March 31. There will be an Open House in Don’s honor Saturday, May 14th. From 1 to 4 p.m. with a program at 2 p.m. The event will be hosted by Capitol Hill Christian Church in Des Moines, Iowa. Watch for more information in your bulletins.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

July 9-13 Nashville, TN

The churches representatives to this assembly will be Mary Louise Reeves, Anna Ruble and Pastor C. J. Latham. They will be voting on matters of the greater church. Including the question of who will lead the denomination for the next six years. Rev. Dr. Sharon Wilkins has been nominated to serve a second six year term. There are 13 other resolutions coming before the assembly as well. You may read about them at www.disciples.org. Besides the business meetings there will be 10 hours of continuing educational classes offered and C. J. will be taking advantage of some of those classes as they will be free. 50 hours of resource groups ranging from one-to two-and a half hours covering topics and practices under the areas of justice, leadership, mission, spiritual disciplines and vital congregations. These work-shops open to clergy and laity alike, are being offered for congregational enrichment.

The lighter side of assembly will be a Sunday evening concert featuring some of Nashville’s finest musicians, who happen to also be Disciples: Gabe Dixon, rock artist and songwriter Craig Wiseman. And a sure crowd pleaser will be Fred Craddock who will host an evening of story telling on Tuesday night. This should be a great Assembly.

Pastor CJ
Chariton Christian Church
Disciples of Christ
Chariton, Iowa

LITTLE HOUSE RAFFLE

2011-04-11T07:08:00.000-07:00

Only a couple weeks left to purchase your raffle tickets for the little house that was built by members of the Chariton Disciples of Christ Christian Church. This little house comes complete with the trailer and will be delivered anywhere in Iowa. We will also be drawing for a very nice hand made wooden jewelry box made and donated by Larry Michael and a hand made Afghan made and donated by Pat Blubaugh. There will also be 4 - $25 gift cards donated by Hy-Vee Food Store in Chariton. You can see the little house at the Frontier Trading Post and Soda Pop Saloon out East of Chariton on Highway 34. Cindy has tickets there as well. If you want to send a check for tickets to Chariton Christian Church at 1100 Ilion Avenue, Chariton, Iowa 50049 your tickets will be mailed to you. All proceeds go to support the Church.

CJ's REFLECTIONS

2011-03-22T13:07:00.000-07:00

I enjoy it when people ask questions. I don’t care if I’m teaching or if it’s two of us talking by ourselves. Questions tell me that I have connected with the person and that they want to know about something. Sometimes I don’t have all the answers to the questions I am asked and that’s okay too because, that gives me the opportunity to look something up and learn something new. Most often questions are a good thing and give both the asker of the question and the receiver of the question a chance to learn something new and learning something new is always a good thing.
Recently I was asked a question about the robe, I wear on Sunday mornings. The person asking the question is also a minister and is looking to get one as well. She likes the one I have and wanted to know where I ordered it from and why I chose that robe over the many others available. I told her that my robe was chosen because of the meaning behind it. The style is a little different then most robes but then I’m a little different too, so I guess we were meant for each other.
My robe was a gift from my home church in Lynchburg Va. where I was ordained. It is called a Shepherd’s robe. This robe is worn as a sign of being the shepherd of God’s sheep. My flock of course is the congregation I serve. The way this robe is designed makes it impossible to put on without crossing yourself and it came with a prayer that is said as you put it on. The prayer is simple and I recite it in my mind every time I put that robe on as I make the sign of the cross over my heart. It goes like this: Dear God in Heaven be with me as I shepherd your sheep. Help me to love them as you love them. Help me to feed their souls with your words. Now and always, Amen.
I chose to wear this robe because it is a reminder to me that I am just the care taker of the flock I shepherd, but the flock belongs to God. It’s not my church that I serve but His and His people.
The stoles I wear have meaning behind them as well. They are all hand made and I know the people who made them. This fact makes them very special to me. They are in the Liturgical colors and I wear them depending on the season of the year we are in.
On Ash Wednesday the season of Lent began. The Liturgical color is violet. Violet represents repentance and Royalty. (Christ is King.) Lent is a season when we are called to reflect and repent of our sins as we prepare for Christ to rise from the dead on Easter Morning. (The season of Lent lasts for forty days.) This, of course begins the season of Easter (it also lasts for forty days) and the colors well change to white the color for holiness. My robe also changes. This one is white and represents the fact that I am the servant of God as we all are. (This robe was made for me by my mother. It is worn also for baptisms and weddings, because they are both Holy Sacraments.)
On Pentecost the colors change to Red representing the flames that danced on the heads of the Apostles. Pentecost is the shortest of seasons and lasts for only one day. The red Stole is worn only on Pentecost or as a sign of prophesizing. (Meaning here speaking forth God’s word not telling future events.) I wear my red stole only on Pentecost and the one I wear was a gift from the first church I served as pastor. It was presented to me by the chair of the board of that church when I was ordained and she drove from Kentucky to Virginia to do so.
The longest season is called the ordinary times and the color for that season is green, which stands for growth. I have two Stoles that can be worn during this time. One is green with white butterflies (the butterfly is a sign of the resurrection). The other depicts the story of Noah’s ark.
Advent is the next Liturgical season but really it’s the first because it is the beginning of the Liturgical year. The color is blue, it stands for a waiting the coming King. My blue stole has candles on it in keeping with the Advent candles we light each Sunday of Advent. Lastly there is the season of Epiphany and the Liturgical color is green. Epiphany lasts for eight weeks.
Only the ordained clergy normally wear robes, because they have been set aside to serve the Lord in this special way. There are a good number of responsibilities that go with putting on that robe. Preaching and teaching are the least of these responsibilities. More and more Lay Ministers are beginning to wear robes and for the same reasons they to have been set aside by the church for the task of shepherding Gods flocks. The robes are not robes of honor, rather a sign of servanthood. When I put a robe on and pray that prayer I am putting myself a side to do God’s work in a special way which He has called me to do and which the church has called me to do here. The stole is like the yoke used to guide oxen. The oxen are bound to the will of the farmer when they wear the yoke. When I put on a robe and or a stole I am asking God to have his way in me and through me. After all I am just one of His servants.
Hope to see you Sunday
Pastor C.J.

It is not often that I bring you news from the Cluster but this time I am making up for lost time. There are three up coming events for the cluster and Chariton Christian Church is taking a lead roll in all of them. The First is a cluster meeting to be hosted by Chariton Christian Church’s Seeker Class on March 28th at 7:00 pm. The entire Cluster is invited here to meet with Rev. Bill Spangler-Dunning Regional Lead Minster during Transition. Bill will be leading a presentation of the new purposed changes for how the Regional Church operates. It is important that we know about these changes and how they will affect us. There is a called Assembly to be held in Des Moines on April 9 to vote on them. We can send the pastor and two lay people to this meeting as voting delegates. Please mark your calendars and do your best to attend this meeting. IT IS IMPORTANT!!
The second event in the cluster will be on April 1 and will be held at the Christian Church in Osceola. It is for children wishing to know more about what baptism is. Four churches are joining together and developing a retreat like PASTOR’S CLASSES for 5th graders through High School. The four Ministers will be teaching classes on baptism, what it means to be a church member, Church History, Communion, & prayer. It will be an over night retreat. (Lock in style) It will begin on Friday night and run though Saturday afternoon the participants will be home early afternoon on April 2. Pastor CJ is organizing the event with the other ministers now and anyone who is interested in attending should contact her for more information.
Third we will be Making Health Kits for Church World Services and having a blessing service for them. These Health Kits will go to Church World Services to replenish there supplies of kits which have been sent to Japan. There well be a service of dedication location and time to be announced. These are the same health kits that we put together when Haiti was hit by the Earthquake.

Attention all Campers! The camp information for this summer is in and its time to start making plans. If you are wanting to go to camp this summer, please see Pastor C.J. or Ella for the forms that you need to fill out. The sooner you get your reservation in the better. There are camps for all ages and from grandparents to third graders. You can go Canoeing or Horse back riding. There will be crafts and swimming, a goofy golf course, bon fires, a fishing pond and singing around the camp fire. It all means fun, fun and more fun. Which camp do you want to take part in?

Special Called Regional
Assembly to be held April 9th
The "Called Assembly" will gather to ask questions about, and ultimately vote on, new ways to do ministry as Disciples Together. Some of those ways are outlined in the Vision Task Group's "Proposed Regional Redesign". The assembly will be held at Highland Park Christian Church in Des Monies. You can learn all about this Event by attending the Listening Station hosted by our Church on March 28th.

General Assembly
July 9-13 Nashville TN
Those wanting to attend general Assembly need to register now to save $50.00 per registration. This is where the general business of the greater church takes place and we are allowed to send two voting delegates to assembly pus our pastor. If you want to attend please talk to CJ or Ella and get registered before April 1st.
General Assembly is much more then long business meetings though they are an important part of Assembly. There are all kinds of learning opportunities and wonderfully enriching Worship Services which well touch your heart and your soul. You will hear from the leaders of the Church how Disciples of Christ are making a difference in the world and how we truly are being “a movement of wholeness in a fragmented world.”
This is a wonderful opportunity to attend a close by General Assembly. The next General Assembly will be in 2013 in Orlando FL.

CJ's REFLECTIONS

2011-02-17T12:17:00.000-08:00

As I was driving up to the Ministers Institute in January I got to thinking about change. I knew the Institute was going to be on change and how to coach people with life time changes. I starting think about how I’ve changed my own thinking as I have learned things partly through the aging process and partly because of getting a education, I will admit that my thinking process has changed a lot during my life time.
Going to college at the very young age of 42 was an eye opening experience. Living in a college dormitory with nineteen and twenty year olds and being 44 was a challenge to say the least. I hoped it would keep my thinking process young and open to knew ideas. The jury is still out on that one… but what this experience did teach me was… even those younger then I can get caught or stuck on old ideas who’s time has passed. I was once told by a fellow student that “you o- l- d folks shouldn’t come back to college, college is for the young.” Regardless of what she at the age of 19 thought the fact is that on many college campuses about 1/5th of the students are over forty. More and more 30 some things and 40 some things are heading back to college to get new degrees or to get as I did a BA degree for the first time at the ripe old age of 45. Some of them are doing it through the internet allowing them to stay at home and work while getting the education they need to compete in this changing world. Even when I was in college that had not started happening yet, but it is very much the new wave of the future.
We are being told that there is an increasing need for “Electrical plug ins” for cars at hotels as more and more cars are being built which use electrical power rather then gas. This is a change in the making and I can not help but wonder how far it will go and what it will be like … say fifteen years from now.
I drink milk made from Almonds and wonder am I putting some cow out of work. I eat crab meet made from white fish and wonder how can they make it taste like crab. I love crab cakes, I can’t afford them but I love them, and the white fish seems to somehow deceive the taste buds well enough, but how can they do that.
I put water in the coffeemaker and somehow it knows to give me just one cup at a time and there’s no pot I just hold the cup up against a button and out comes the coffee. Fewer spills and good coffee I’m not complaining but were did the pot go.
We live in a world of change and its changing our lives everyday if we are ready for it or not, if we want it or not. So where is there constancy in our lives? Hopefully that constancy is right here in the church. Not that things don’t change around here they do. But God hasn’t changed He still loves us and cares for us. The basic of our faith are sound and they haven’t changed. Jesus was born of a virgin and died on a cross so that we might be saved from sin. That’s what the bible taught fifty years ago and that what it teaches us today. We sing some new songs but we still sing some of the old favorites too. We have some new faces but we welcome the long time members too. Perhaps the best thing about the church is that here we can find balance between the new and the old and be at peace with both.

Hope to see you Sunday
Pastor C.J.

In May of this year, Rev. Don Hiscox will turn 65, and along with that milestone has announced plans to retire from active ministry. After a long ministry with the National Benevolent Association, Don began his service as Associate Regional Minister since May of 2002 and has served this region faithfully through a significant time of transition and staff realignment. Most recently that continuing shift has recognized his passion for clergy and congregational care. During the past two years, Don has not only continued his work with congregations and pastors in their own seasons of transition, but has drawn upon his long years of relationships as our Regions primary representative to the General Church.
It is, then, with a profound sense of gratitude that we prepare for the completion of Don’s formal ministry among us. Don’s last day in the office will be March 31, though with granted leave-time his first official day of retirement will be July 1, 2011.

2011-02-17T12:12:00.000-08:00

What an enchanted evening we had on Valentines Day. 72 of us gathered to celebrate the idea of Love. Live music was provided by Mike Deatz and Karen Cross, while a lovely meal was served. Then we adjourned to the sanctuary for more music performed by Cindy Reyes and Harry Dixon. We want to extend a big thank you to all four of them for making the evening so very special. Also thank you to all the kids who served the meal and helped clear the tables. To all the kitchen help and all the cooks who made the wonderful Lasagna. A great big THANK YOU to Nick and Deb Cattell, Joan Michael, Donna Criswell and Pastor C J for putting the evenings activity together and making it such a memorable night. Also thank you to Mary Louise Reeves for taking pictures.
A service was held in which nine couples reaffirmed their wedding vows. These couples represented 369 years of married life and they where willing to do it all over again. What a magnificent way to say “I love you” to that very special person. After the service a reception was held for all the brides and grooms of the night.
The tips which were collected will be placed in the furnace fund to help replace the other two furnaces. A total of $233.57 after experiences was donated. Thank you one and all.

Left to right: Tom and Betty Nelson, 47 Kynard and Peggy Siglin,42 Jay and Amber Nickelson, 10, Richard and Mary Davis, 49 Harry and Denise Dixon, 23 Jim and Loretta Crozier,52 Steve and Brenda Shenefield, 35 Jim and Anne Kerns, 53 and Ray and Mary Jo Morse58.

VALENTINE'S DAY

2011-02-09T12:19:00.001-08:00

THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL LASAGNA SUPPER ON VALENTINE'S DAY, MONDAY FEBRUAURY 14th AT 6:30 P.M. AT THE CHARITON CHRISTIAN CHURCH FOR ANYONE WANTING TO ATTEND. CALL THE CHURCH AND MAKE A RESERVATION AHEAD OF TIME. THERE WILL BE LIVE MUSIC AND GAMES FOR THE KIDS AND MAYBE EVEN A VERY SPECIAL SURPRISE BUT YOU HAVE TO BE THERE TO SEE WHAT IT IS GOING TO BE AS IT IS A BIG SECRET!!!!!

Severe Weather the World Over

2011-01-27T10:35:00.000-08:00

Severe Weather the World Over: Week of Compassion Responds to Those in Need.
As you have undoubtedly seen in the news, Brazil is facing its worst climatic catastrophe in decades, after nonstop heavy rain in the southeast caused floods and mudslides in many cities, especially the state of Rio de Janeiro. Millions of people are affected. A total of 630 people have died. Authorities fear the death toll could climb as rescue workers retrieve more victims buried under collapsed homes and buildings. Your Week of Compassion gifts are contributing to that response—which will be ongoing. ACT members Koinonia, Lutheran Foundation of Diaconia (FLD), Ecumenical Coordinator of Services (CESE), Diaconia and Christian Aid-Brazil are acting together to support the affected population. Community-based churches in the cities have already deployed emergency response and offered solidarity with the victims. A rehabilitation project, under the coordination of Koinonia and the accompaniment of other ACT member organizations in Brazil, will also be drawn up. Week of Compassion will continue to support these efforts. Our hearts go out to the people of Brazil.

Queensland Flooding Update
The effects of these devastating floods in Australia will be felt for a long time, not just in the communities that have been washed away, but also in the national economy as stock and crops have been destroyed and mines temporarily closed. The flooded regions are greater in area than France and Germany combined.

Please pray for the work done by our church through Week of Compassion. For more information go to the Week of Compassion web sight.

Pastor CJ
Chariton Christian Church
Disciples of Christ
Chariton, Iowa

CJ's REFLECTIONS

2011-01-27T10:30:00.000-08:00

It's winter, and it’s Iowa and all of us know that it is cold outside. The kids may be hoping for a snowy day and closed schools, while most of us older folks long for spring, warmer weather and much more sunshine. Which makes me wonder… is hoping for something the same thing as longing for something?

The kids may hope for snow and they may get that hope fulfilled but the weather man has been known to be wrong and snow has been known to fall somewhere else, not here. It doesn’t matter how much the kids hope for snow. The weather has little regard for what we hope for or hope doesn’t happen. On the other hand those of use who long for spring and warmer weather know with some certainty that spring will indeed come, all in due season. We aren’t hoping for that which may or may not happen, we long for that which will happen even though it might not come as fast as we wish it would. Spring will come as it does every year. Just as the sun rises every morning.

Yes there is a difference between hoping for something and longing for something. A few years ago I had some Jehovah Witness come to my door and ask me if they could share with me their “hope for salvation”. Now this was before I became a minister and I told them I would listen to them if they would listen to me. I don’t remember all of the conversation but I know what text I used to state my case.

This in a nut shell was my case. “If someone came into a store you were in and said there was a house on fire on your street, you would sure hope that it wasn’t your house that was on fire. To that they agreed. On the other hand if you were in a store and someone came in and said the house next door to your house was on fire you would be thankful that it wasn’t your house though you would be sad for your neighbor. Then I asked them which case they would like to have happen to them. They agreed that they would prefer the second case over the first. Then I quoted John 20:31 “But these are written so that you may come to believe (know) that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.” I then told them that I was certain of my salvation. Because I believed that Jesus was the Messiah I did not have to hope for salvation. I had received it when I believed in Jesus. Therefore, because I believe that Jesus is the Messiah then, I can long to be with Jesus with some certainty that I will in due season, enter into His eternal presence. I don’t have to settle for a hope of eternity. I have the assurance that someday I will see my Lord. I’ll take that assurance over a hope any day, won’t you?

Hope to see you Sunday

Pastor C.J.

CJ' s REFLECTIONS

2010-12-18T13:48:00.000-08:00

I have done something this year for the first time even though it was something that I always wanted to do. The something is an advent study and it was done at two locations. The first was Harbor House and the second was at Northridge Assisted Living. Both studies are being attended only by women. The first group varies in age from late fifties to mid seventies. The second group I believe is in their late eighties and early nineties. Both groups have averaged six to eight attendees. This helps to make group discussions very open and quite comfortable for the groups and they have been very good about sharing their thoughts. It has been very striking to me on how differently the two groups respond to the same questions. I have been wondering why their responses have been so incredibly different. Today as I was thinking about this I began to think about the life experiences of the two groups as I have heard them. I also began to think about how the two groups, which average twenty to thirty years apart in age, view things through different lenses. And yet there doesn’t seem to be a generational gap between them they agree largely in their answers to the questions. What varies is how those answers are expressed.
I asked both groups to describe their favorite memory of a Christmas. Both groups talked about how something special happened, often a birth of a child or grandchild made Christmas special. For a couple of the younger group, it was how they received support from their church in a time of grief that had made Christmas special to them. For the older group it was that someone they did not expect to visit who did come that had made Christmas special to them.
I asked both groups: What is your favorite Christmas song and why. You would think that the same songs might be named for both groups. The songs named were all hymns in both groups which didn’t surprise me but only two of them were the same ones. Silent Night, Holy Night and Joy to the World were suggest in both groups but the reasons were different. The group at Harbor House named Silent Night because “it tells the Christmas story so well” and it does. The group at Northridge said, “Because it’s so peaceful.” And it is. Both groups are right about the song. But I wonder what in their life experiences is it that makes one group think about peace while the other focuses in on the story of Christmas. Could it be that the first group is struggling with the commercialism of Christmas more then the other group is? During my lifetime I have seen the Christmas shopping season grow. While Christmas has always been on December 25th . Why do we need more time now then we did in my youth to buy Christmas presents? Could it be that we have forgotten what Christmas should be about?
The reason I have always wanted to do an Advent Bible Study is simple. I truly fear that Christmas is in danger of being lost in the hustle and bustle of the Christmas shopping season. Fewer and fewer people come on Christmas Eve for the Candlelight Service because that is when their families are opening Christmas gifts. My folks didn’t always go to church but we went often went on Christmas Eve. When my kids were small we usually went to a church on Christmas Eve (not always our own) before we went to the grandparent’s house or we would stop on our way home from the grandparents.
The thing is that Christmas Eve is truly the Holiest night of the year, why do we neglect being in church to worship the one the season is supposed to be all about? All during advent we have heard, that Advent is the season of hope, peace, love, and joy. It is the season that is supposed to prepare us for the coming of Christ. I wonder would we have been like the shepherds found in Luke 2: 8-20. If the angels appeared to us and said “To you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” Would we drop every thing to go and find that child?
Wishing you the joy, peace, hope and love that is at the heart of the Christmas season.

Pastor C.J.

Are you making plans for summer vacations? If so you might want to consider attending 2011 General Assembly, July 9th -13th in Nashville, Tennessee. For more information go on to the internet at www.disciples.org/ga. or talk to Pastor C.J. We can send any number of attendees but we need two voting delegates plus the pastor to represent the church during the business meetings of the greater church.

News from the Lucas County
Inter-Church Council

The Lucas County Inter-Church Council is pleased to announce that it will be expanding its Ministry to the people of Lucas Country starting the first of January. In addition to the food pantry located at 410 South 7th St. Chariton, Iowa, and the Medical Aids Loan Closet we will be serving as the drop off sight for Crisis Intervention Services, which operates a facility for victims of Domestic Abuse, and Sexual Assault with professional personal advocacy assistants for those who need such a service. This organization services Mahaska, Marion, Lucas and Keokuk Counties.
Donations to this cause may be made at the Ministry Center, which is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:15 A.M. to 11:15 A.M. Items needed are: Paper products such as toilet paper female products, diapers, paper plates, paper towels toiletries-- such as: soap, shampoo, deodorant, tooth brushes and tooth paste. These items should be clearly marked to go to “Crises Intervention”. For more information, please contact either Cheryl Downard at the Scicap office or Rev. C. J. Latham at Chariton Christian Church.

Fourth Sunday of Advent - - Love

2010-12-18T13:41:00.000-08:00

Fourth Sunday of Advent --------- Love ---- Dec. 19, 2010
Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7
Theme: Love
(Three readers) Where the reader sees three dots there should be a pause.

I stand in wonder at the sight of a tree, reaching high its arms, as though in simple, humble prayer. I see its beauty as its tiny lights shine bright in the cold dark night. I see it standing there with a family surrounding it and wonder what it all means.
I stand in awe of all that is happening around me, of the changes I see everyday. The world seems to be spinning faster and faster and I feel as though it is out of control. Will it ever slow down? Then a hand reaches out and takes mine and I feel safe and welcomed and I am not alone.
I stand lost and alone, forgotten in all the hustle of the season. Will I be remembered or will the bewildered faces of countless people keep passing me by without seeing that I am here? Will all my days go on unmarked in the annuals of time? Is this what it means to be unloved?
We stand together forgotten and unloved in the world. But that is not true. No, it is not true! We have not been forgotten, nor have we been abandoned. The light has come to the world, shining brightly in the sparkling lights of a Christmas tree. Let each light remind us that we are loved.
Yes, the world is always changing and it can be a frightening place for those who long for simpler times. But we are not alone, nor are we forsaken. There is a Wonderful Counselor, who is with us always. Is that not love?
I no longer stand alone and I know that I am not forgotten. Isaiah speaks of a Child who has been born for us, all of us. Come hear his words. (read Isaiah 9:2-7)

Prayer: God of Creation, and Mighty God who is Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, all this and more. We come to you out of a hurting, tormented, fearful and hateful world. We come confessing our need and our longing to feel your presence and your love in our lives. We come seeking to be refreshed and restored by your peace, to be lifted up by the joy that only you can bring. We welcome the hope that you bring and long to know your peace and joy in our lives. Therefore we say, “Come Emmanuel”… be “God with us” this day and always, Amen.

ADVENT MEDITATIONS 2010

2010-12-15T14:08:00.000-08:00

Advent Meditations 2010
By Rev. C.J. Latham

First Sunday of Advent --------- Hope ------Nov. 28, 2010
Theme: The promise of God to his children the coming of the one who would bring Hope.
Scripture: Psalm122, & Isaiah 2:1-5
Where the reader sees three dots there should be a pause.
(Need -- Two Readers.)

In this world our attention is drawn to many things we would rather not see. Life’s experiences can burden our hearts and our spirits, and make us feel a sense of hopelessness and despair.
In the eyes of many we see the despair they feel. We hear the anguish in the voices of the unemployed as they seek that which they can not find.
We can sense the feeling of hopelessness as we listen to the newscasters give the projections of where the economy is going. Do we not all feel overwhelmed and wonder… how we’ll make it through these challenging times?
In this world lost in its own violence, … we see in the eyes of our service personnel the loneliness they endure far from home. We hear their cries of longing and we feel their desires for peace, and again, we wonder how we’ll make it through these challenging times.
Have there ever been times like these before - times when the world felt such hopelessness? Where did people turn? What gave them hope and where will we find the strength that brought others through times such as these?

This is the season of Hope. But where is our hope? Isaiah was God’s messenger of hope. Perhaps his words are for us as well. Perhaps our hope is found in the promises of God.

Read Isaiah 2:1-5 (Lighting, the candle of HOPE.)

Prayer: God of Creation, we come to you out of a hurting world. We come confessing our need and our longing to feel your presence in our lives. To be refreshed and restored by you. We welcome the hope that you bring and say “Come, Emmanuel,” … be “God with us” this day and always, Amen.

Second Sunday of Advent ------ Peace ------ Dec. 5, 2010
Theme: The coming of promised peace.
Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10
(Two Readers) Where the reader sees three dots there should be a pause.

This world is a remarkable place. Its mountains reach high, seemingly scraping the sky above. There is wonder in those mountain peaks towering so majestically. There is a calmness about them which beckons me, and I long to run and hide from the cares of this world.

The cares of this world! There are so many cares in this world. Everywhere we look there is violence. Wars rage and our children become fatherless orphans. Poverty levels sore and domestic violence increases. Where, oh where will it all end?

This world is a remarkable place. Its lakes are crystal clear. They lap at their shorelines, whispering words of quiet comfort. I wish I had a boat to sail away, and drift quietly along without a care.

I wish the world could get on your boat and have so little to care about. Let’s come back to reality. This is supposed to be a season of hope. If God is our hope then where is our peace? Is this not a time of promised hope and peace?

This world is remarkable because it was created by a remarkable God. One who knows and cares for all of His creation. He made a promise long ago that one day the world would know His peace. It’s found in Isaiah 11:1-10. (Read text)

The root of Jesse… Isn’t that the baby Emmanuel, the one who is to be God with us? “Oh Come, … Emmanuel Come”.

Prayer: God of Creation, we come to you out of a hurting, tormented world. We come confessing our need and our longing to feel your presence in our lives, to be refreshed and restored by your peace. We welcome the hope that you bring, and long to know your peace. Therefore we say, “Come Emmanuel” … be “God with us” this day and always, Amen.

Third Sunday of Advent -------- Joy ------- Dec. 12, 2010
Scripture: Isaiah 35
Theme: The joy of the redeemed.
(Single Reader) Where the reader sees three dots there should be a pause.

“To hold a new born baby, what joy it brings,” was a line in one of the Bill Gather’s songs back in the 1970’s. There is a lot of truth to that line and to the feelings one has just by holding a new born in their arms. A new born child brings joy to a family and all who know that family. It is as though that new born is a promise of possibilities to come. This newborn’s future is a mystery to be discovered, yet the possibilities seem to be unlimited.
Even in this troubled world a new birth still brings that unexplainable joy. Can you imagine the joy that came to Mary and Joseph when Jesus was born?
Can you imagine what the Shepherds felt as they heard the angles sing about the coming of this one called Emmanuel? Can you imagine what it was like for Isaiah to proclaim that this joy, this unspeakable joy, was coming to a lost and hopeless world? Hear his words --- (read Isaiah 35)

Prayer: God of Creation, we come to you out of a hurting, tormented, fearful world. We come confessing our need and our longing to feel your presence in our lives, to be refreshed and restored by your peace, to be lifted up by the joy that only you can bring. We welcome the hope that you bring and long to know your peace and joy in our lives. Therefore we say, “Come Emmanuel”… be “God with us” this day and always, Amen.

HOUSE RAFFLE

2010-11-29T06:09:00.000-08:00

Finally got the little house totally done. Inside is finished in knotty pine and has a nice old blackboard on the wall. Has 5' opening doors on the back and double side door. Comes with the trailer. We are giving the house away and raffle tickets are $1.00 each. We also have a nice handmade aphgan, handmade wooden jewelry box and 4- $25 Hy-Vee gift cards. The house is currently at the Frontier Trading Post so you can get tickets there or get them from me. Check out the Trading Post if you can as it is really neat and they have tons of gifts and antiques.
All proceeds go to help out the Chariton Christian Church.

2010-11-16T14:40:00.001-08:00

ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS TO GENERAL BOARD THAT WATKINS SERVE A SECOND TERM AS GENERAL MINISTER AND PRESIDENT
The Administrative Committee has unanimously agreed to accept the Review/Search and Call Committee's recommendation that the name of General Minister and President Sharon E. Watkins be forwarded to the General Board as the next step in the GMP re-election process. Affirmative votes at both the General Board and General Assembly, would allow the General Minister and President to serve an additional six-year term, running from July 2011 to July 2017.

News from the Lucas County Inter-Church Council

2010-11-16T14:34:00.000-08:00

News from the Lucas County
Inter-Church Council
The Lucas County Inter-Church Council is pleased to announce that it will be expanding its Ministry to the people of Lucas Country starting the first of December. In addition to the food pantry located at 410 South 7th St. Chariton, Iowa, the council will also be offering a Medical Aids Loan Closet. Individuals needing items such as walkers, canes, crutches, bath chairs, etc. (sorry, no hospital beds) may barrow these items from the loan closet for as long as they are needed.
Donations to the loan closet are requested from the community, and may be made during regular business hours at the Ministry Center, which is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:15 A.M. to 11:15 A.M. All donations to the Loan Closet should be in good, useable condition. All items will be inspected for usability before they are loaned out. For more information, please contact either Cheryl Downward at the Scicap office or Rev. C. J. Latham at Chariton Christian Church.

CJ'S REFLECTIONS

2010-11-16T14:26:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is upon us: we have already enjoyed our Thanksgiving meal at the church and I know that many of you are looking forward to enjoying your own private celebrations with family and friends soon. This time of year is one of my personal favorites. I, like many of you, hold special memories of family gatherings with grandparents, aunts and uncles and don’t forget the cousins all gathered around a huge feast with pies for desserts. There was always the football game on T.V and usually a game being played in the yard. Lots of laughter and hugs and there was always some Aunt wanting to know if I had a new boyfriend.
Granddad would always say a prayer, same one every year. Most of us older kids could mouth the words because we had heard it year after year. Granddad’s prayer was a simple prayer. Though I really didn’t give it much thought as he said it back then, now it means a lot to me. As I remember and repeat his prayer now, it touches my heart deeply.
His prayer went something like this: “God of Heaven, we thank you for your many blessings. For our good health and for our family gathered here. We thank you for the food that we are about to eat and ask you to bless the hands who have prepared it. We ask you to bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies and us to your service. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.” Granddad wasn’t a poet and he never used a lot of flowery words. He loved his family and that was all that seemed important when I was a child.
He never had a lot of money but he managed to raise eight kids during the great depression. All of those children came to serve God in some way. One of his son’s became a minister and one grandchild became a minister too. Most of us are church members some more actively than others, but believers nonetheless. Did Granddad’s simple prayer have an influence on us? I can only speak for myself and I know that for me, it did. Granddad taught in his simple prayer more then you might think. First of all he made it clearly known who God was - He was the God of Heaven and Granddad taught that God blessed us not with just the food on the table but with many things. He taught us that good health was important and that we needed to be thankful for it. Granddad often said if you have your health you can work for what you need. I believe he had a point. Granddad always seemed happiest when the family was gathered even in the midst of the chaos of a truly ‘full house’, when there were 16 aunts and uncles and 26 grandkids running around. He taught us to be thankful every time the family got together because he was thankful we were together, too.
Granddad always thanked God for whatever was on the table and acknowledged that it didn’t get there by itself. He always asked God to bless the hands that had prepared the food. The lessons there are many - we should be thankful for God’s provisions but that doesn’t mean that we just set back and wait for God to do our bidding - we need to put our hands to work and help God make it happen. It also taught me to be thankful for all the hands that help to do God’s work. Even though Granddad was looking at Grandma when he said it, he knew that all the women in the family had helped put the meal together.
The longer I am a minister the more this line in Granddad’s prayer means to me: “Bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies and us to your service.” Granddad didn’t just say this line on Thanksgiving; he said at every meal. Thus he reminded us that with what we received from God we are to serve God. Our bodies needed nourishment and God gave it to us in the form of food. Once nourished, we were to do God’s work, not just once in a while, but every day of our lives. Every day we are to give back to God from what he has blessed us with. How do we do that? We share our blessings with others. God has loved us; how have we shown that love to strangers? God has fed us; who have we fed? God has given us good health; how have we used our good health to help others be healthy? God has blessed us with all kinds of things? In what ways have we been a blessing to others?
As we gather with friends and family this year, I hope you will remember my Granddad’s simple little prayer. I hope that you will be thankful for the opportunity to be with your families and friends, for the good health that you enjoy and the food that you eat. I hope you will ask God to bless all the hands which, worked to prepare that food. And I hope that you will ask God to continue to bless yourself as you seek to serve him.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Pastor CJ

Advent Meditations 2010

2010-11-16T14:25:00.001-08:00

WIN THIS HOUSE!!!!!!!

2010-11-07T06:40:00.000-08:00

WIN THIS HOUSE!!!
THE CHARITON DISCIPLES OF CHRIST CHRISTIAN CHURCH IS RAFFLING OFF THIS ADORABLE LITTLE HOUSE. USE IT FOR THE KIDS OR GRANDKIDS FOR A PLAYHOUSE OR USE IT FOR A GARDEN SHED OR WORKSHOP. THE HOUSE IS 6'X10' AND COMES WITH THE TRAILER SO YOU CAN HAUL IT HOME. 5' REAR DOOR OPENING AND ALSO SIDE DOOR THAT OPENS. OLD SCHOOL HOUSE CHALKBOARD AND KNOTTY PINE INTERIOR WALLS.

ALSO HAVE OTHER PRIZES OF 4- $25 HY-VEE GIFT CARDS, HANDMADE WOODEN JEWELRY CASE, AND LARGE HANDMADE AFGAN TO HELP KEEP YOU WARM ON THOSE COLD WINTER NIGHTS.

DRAWING WILL BE HELD ON EASTER MORNING 2011. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO PURCHASE TICKETS CALL 641-774-2434 OR VISIT US ON FACEBOOK OR ON OUR BLOGSITE AT
http://charitonchristianchurch.blogspot.com/ ALSO ON OUR WEBSITE AND YOU TUBE. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FOR $1.00 EACH

PASTOR'S CORNER

2010-10-18T13:07:00.000-07:00

Each October the Christian Church Disciples of Christ celebrates the Month of Ministry. It is not intended to focus solely on what ministers do in the course of ministering to the church; rather it is to focus on what the congregation does in ministry. Just as each congregation celebrates this month differently each congregation goes about ministry in different ways. Our congregation does ministry very well. It shows compassion to those in need to members and non-members alike. One part of ministry falls under the category of “Out Reach”.
Some congregations look at “Out Reach” as projects or programs that bring new people into the church. These programs or projects are often judged by the number of new members who actually join the church. If one or two people join the church the program or project might be classified as unsuccessful and never tried again. However, if three new families join, the program or project might be called successful and tried over and over again with less and less success. When this happens “Out Reach” becomes a numbers game and personally I think everyone loses when churches fall into a numbers game to measure their success in “Out Reach” or in ministry. It seems a shame whenever doing God’s work is limited to counting heads rather than reaching souls for God. If we win over one soul have we not won a victory for God? If we reach out and touch one life in the name of Christ are we not doing what Jesus called us to do?
Other churches look at “Out Reach” as projects that help the greater church such as special offerings to different arms of the church. By this I mean special offerings such as Week of Compassion, Reconciliation, Higher Education, New Church Starts and so on. These are all important and it’s very important to support these offerings, however “Out Reach” should not be limited to the congregation just giving money so that others can do God’s work.
How does our church do “Out Reach”? Some might say that we don’t do anything in “Out Reach” because we don’t have large numbers of new people joining the church. However, in reality we do much more than we give ourselves credit for. The monthly offerings going to the ministry center is a form of “Out Reach” that makes a difference in many, many lives, which are touched in the name of Christ. None of the people receiving these gifts may ever enter the church or become members, nonetheless we are doing God’s work as we bring in those gifts and see that they are given to those in need. We give to the special offerings which are asked for and support all kinds of different ministries. We also host the Annual Crop Walk. In this kind of “Out Reach” we do better than some, but there is still room for improvement.
But the kind of “Out Reach” we need to add to our ministry is of a more personal nature. I have been thinking about this for sometime and what I am asking you to join me in doing, is quite simple and might make a big difference in people’s lives. We can share with people where we go to church and what we like about the church and then invite them to join us. When someone new moves to town invite them to come to church and even offer to go and pick them up and bring them. When we have a special event we can invite others to come and join us in the fun. But are there other ways to do “Out Reach” as well?
One project I did last spring as “Out Reach” for the Church was to teach a Bible Study at Harbor House Christian Book Store. Because of that study one non-attending member returned to the church. I have agreed to teach another Study during Advent. The reason for going to the store rather then teaching the study here is to meet non-church goers on natural ground. The idea is that a non church goer might be more comfortable somewhere other than at a church. If the person becomes comfortable around me perhaps they will venture into the church on a Sunday morning. But even if they don’t, I have the opportunity to touch a life for God. It seems like a win, win possibility.
I’m open to other ideas and hope if you have one you will share it with me and maybe work the idea with me as well. Like most everything, doing ministry together works better when it is done in partnership.

Hope to see you Sunday
Pastor C. J.
A Personal Note. Thank You for all the Cards, Prayers, Messages of support, meals, and for the rides. I am feeling stronger each day and walking better step by step. Your thoughtfulness and acts of kindness have touched me very deeply.
Thank You.
Pastor C.J.

PASTOR APPRECIATION MONTH

2010-10-12T15:05:00.000-07:00

October is Pastor Appreciation Month and so we here at the Chariton Christian Church would like to take this time to express our appreciation to our Pastor, CJ Latham. CJ is at home recovering from knee surgery at this time and we send her all of our love and prayers for a speedy recovery. The following is just a few of the things CJ did last month as stated in her monthly report:

Led 4 worship sevices, one at Red Haw

Wrote 4 and taught 3 Sunday School Lessons for Mary Louise's Class

Made 4 hospital calls

Made 5 home visits

Had 3 counceling sessions

Worked 4 days at the Ministry Center

Attended 3 committee meetings

Attended one ICC meeting

Visited all members living at Northridge twice

Attended CWF meeting

Taught one Bible study at Autumn Park

Attended one Ministers meeting at Methodist Church

Met with the Elders

Visited all members living at the Manor

Lead one worship service at the Manor

Attended one meeting about grants for non-profit Leaders in Lucas County

Visited our members in Corydon Nursing Home

Attended 3 breakfast meetings with Clergy women

Attended 3 prayer meetings on Monday mornings

Officiated one internment service for Leona Polser

Wroye articles for the newsletter

Wrote one Pastor Corner for the Newspaper

Performed other normal administartive duties

We certainly do not have to worry about CJ staying busy as she does all this and much more month after month and her work here at the Chariton Disciples of Christ Church is very much appreciated. We love you CJ. Get well soon!

In Appreciation your Chariton Congregation Members

PLAYHOUSE RAFFLE

2010-10-01T15:26:00.001-07:00

The Chariton Christian Church is raffling off a very cute little playhouse/shed. It is 6'x10' and comes with the trailer so you can just hook onto it and haul it away. It has a 5' door in the side and a walk door and two windows in the front. It has very nice vinyl siding and soffits and facia are covered in metal. It has knotty pine carsiding on the inside with a large chalkboard on one wall. This would make a great little garden/toolshed or playhouse for your kids or grandkids. Tickets are $1.00 each. To get your tickets call 641-774-2434 or email to nbc1@mchsi.com.

K2's TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES/ THE DAVID ROZGA STORY

2010-09-25T15:38:00.000-07:00

This was an older post but has been updated and right below this post is another post about a speech that Senator Charles Grassley gave in front of the State Senate. Please hold your mouse on Senator Grassley's name and click on it to view his speech. This is a problem that demands our immediate attention so please read and view this information ASAP. Our prayers are with the Family of David Rozga as they deal with the loss of their child.

Often when tragedy strikes we desperately want or need to blame someone or something for what has happened. Often we search for a cause in hopes by doing so we think we can figure out the why and the how of such a tragedy. We want to desperately be able to stop it from ever happening again. This desire often works for the good because it inspires many good and important innovations in our society. For example, after a tornado hit and killed a number of people in one small town in Ohio in the early 1900’s sirens were installed in that town and in many small towns across the Midwest as a warning system giving people the opportunity to seek cover before a tornado could strike. They could not stop the tornados but the sirens have prevented many deaths and injuries. Because of flash floods in Tennessee a number of dams have been built providing safety and electricity to hundreds of thousands. Because of the ever increasing rate of deadly car accidents, seat belts were invented and by law we must now wear them. It is for our own good and a buckled belt might save our lives. Medical advances save lives that would have been lost just ten years ago and we marvel at what doctors can now do that they could not do before. All because someone somewhere wanted to keep someone else from losing a loved one in a tragedy that could be avoided.
Our society is facing a new form of tragedy and it is time that we all get involved and put a stop to it before another person is lost. The tragedy is with our young, and with our not so young. It involves anyone who seeks to have an unnatural high by putting a foreign substance into their body. This is often done by ingesting some chemical or by smoking something that was never intended to be smoked. These people are playing a dangerous game and we need to stop them for their own sake and for the sake of our society. We have lost far too many bright and promising young people and there are far too many whose minds will never be the same.
How can we put a stop to this tragedy in the making? First of all we must stop hiding our heads in the sand. We must understand and accept that the “War on Drugs” isn’t over and it hasn’t been lost unless we give up, which we can never do. The battle against illegal and legal drugs has expanded to include many everyday products that we would never think of as a drug. The newest of which is an incense called K2. Kids are buying this across the counter in Tobacco Shops and off the internet. Its effects the mind much like Marijuana and though it is sold as an Herbal incense it can have tragic consequences for those who smoke it. One sad example is the young man from Indianola, Iowa, David M. Rozga (18) who after smoking K2 with some friends, had a bad reaction and as a result took his own life. This promising young man was taken tragically from his parents, his brother, his grandparents and from his community. What he might have become and what he might have done in our society and for our society will forever be an unknown…… all because of K2. This substance should be illegal! It should never be sold over the counter or on-line to a minor or to an adult. Call your congressman today and tell him/her that you want K2 banned from Iowa and throughout the country. Do it because it’s the right thing to do! Call for the sake of our kids. Call because you want to stop the tragedy K2 causes to families and in our communities. Make the call, write the letter, do what ever it takes but stop the sale of K2 today!

Rev. C. J. Latham

Senator Chuck Grassley

2010-09-25T15:22:00.000-07:00

Senator Chuck Grassley

PASTOR'S CORNER

2010-09-11T19:45:00.001-07:00

What does it mean to worship God? This question came from my son when he was about 11 years old. I don’t remember what I told him but I do remember what he told me it meant to him. Which was “worship means you have to set still and be quiet and listen and it hurts sometimes.” Jamie was hyperactive and sitting still and being quiet especially at the same time went very much against his nature, so for him at times it probably did hurt. Recently I was confounded with this same question. This time by an adult who wanted to know why we needed to attend church.

What I have learned in 16 years of ministry is that worship is more than what we do in church. Coming to church and praising God is part of worship to be sure, but true worship is more than that. True worship comes from the heart. It comes when we open ourselves to the presence of God. We do that in many different ways, which might be called spiritual disciplines. These disciplines of worship according to Richard Foster come in three categories: inward, outward and corporate.

Inward disciplines are what we practice in privacy. It is the time we spend one on one with God. When no one else is around to see or hear that which we say or do. It can be prayers that are deeply personal. It can be our private reading of scripture and allowing God to talk to us through it in a special way. Inward worship is made up of the things that we share with Jesus and NO ONE else.

Outward disciples affect how we interact with others and in the world at large. Outward disciples could be our core beliefs or to state it another way, our ethics. When we base our conduct on Christian principles we will practice Christian ethics. How we live our lives can be seen by all who know us which explains why Richard Foster referred to them as outward disciplines. It’s out there for everyone to see, even when we think no one is watching.

Corporate disciplines are practiced with others. This is where group worship or church attendance comes into the picture. How do we as God’s family come together and together open ourselves to God’s presence? We do it in our prayers be they said by the preacher an elder or as a unity prayer. We do it in the litany’s we read (call to worship, etc…) and the scriptures we read. It is all this and it is more… it comes in how we greet one another and how we reach out to each other in times of need and in how we share the joy’s of our lives. Corporate worship is only part of worship. However to really be worshipers we need to have a balance between all three. Inward, our private time with the divine,… outwardly living our lives to his glory… and corporate spending time with God and his people. Let one slide and be neglected and all three will soon suffer. Stop attending church and being with God’s family and we might start depending on ourselves rather then God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. We run the risk of letting our souls become weak and malnourished. We need balance to keep us spiritually healthy and spiritually fit.

Pastor C. J. Latham

Pastor CJ
Chariton Christian Church
Disciples of Christ
Chariton, Iowa

CJ' s REFLECTIONS

2010-09-11T19:42:00.000-07:00

“I want” two small and simple words that we very like put together about ever day. “I want an apple.” “I want a new car.” “I want it to stop raining.” Who hasn’t said something along these lines? We all have said it so often that we don’t even think about what we are saying anymore. Our society has said we are supposed to want all these things and more,… it has gotten almost to the point, where I want and I need seem interchangeable. Lately I’ve been thinking about this almost to the point of feeling guilty about wanting even simple things like an apple. Not long ago someone asked me if wanting something that we don’t have is selfish or self centered. I replied that it might depend on what it is and why we wanted what ever it was.

Is there a difference in wanting something so that we can help others? For example a new car: If I have a car that runs and gets me from here to there, is that good enough, but what if I want a new van so that I could take groups of people places. Is that a selfish want? No, wanting something to help others wouldn’t be selfish. It would be Christ like in some ways. Jesus was all about helping others. On the other hand wanting a new car because we are tired with the old car, might fall under the selfish category. So, is wanting something we don’t have wrong?

I recently read that the very first thing Jesus did was to call disciples and the first thing he asked them according to John 1:37 was to effect “what do you want?” Matthew 20:21 &32 also says Jesus asked people “What do you want me to do for you?”

Then again in Mark 10:36 & 51. Jesus asks the same question “What do you want me to do for you”? Even in John 5:6 we see Jesus asking the paralyzed man if he wanted to be made well? If having personal wants is wrong why does Jesus ask about them? Why would he grant them, if having them was wrong to begin with? Perhaps having personal wants isn’t what’s wrong. Perhaps what is off is the why we want what we want. Who will our wants benefit? Is there a responsibility that comes with receiving what we ask for?

Jesus kept company with people who wanted something from him. In fact many of His interactions with people dealt with two things: the first is the true nature of people’s desires. The second dealt with how people turned those desires into spiritual practice and how they make space for God in their busy lives. Does that mean our wants effect our relationship with God?

Think about these three incidents if you will.

Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42) Martha wants Mary to help her prepare a meal for Jesus. Jesus says to the effect “Martha stop your busyness for me and be with me”. Are we so busy working for God that we have no time for God?

How about the man who was cured of demon possession? (Mark 5:1-20) The man called Legion wanted to go and be with Jesus. However, Jesus said “No, go back and witness by telling your story to those who you know.” I can not help but wonder how many lives he changed through his witness. If we were healed, who would we witness to?

Lastly, how about the rich young ruler who asked for eternal life? (Mark 10:17-22) To this request Jesus says; “Yes, but first go sell everything and give it to the poor then come follow me.” But the rich young man didn’t want eternal life enough to give up what this life had to offer him and he went away from Jesus sad. What are we willing to give up for Jesus, who gave himself for us?

Perhaps the thing to keep in mind when dealing with our wants is how those wants will affect our relationship with God. Will they bring us closer to God or will they become a stumbling block between God and ourselves?

Hope to see you Sunday

Pastor C. J.

The School for Congregational Learning was a big success. We had seven individuals attend on August 28. The next Disciples together event will be the Regional Assembly October 9th at the Conference Center in Newton. The theme for this event is Disciples Networking. Hope you will consider attending. It will be a fun day of fellowship with Disciples from across the region, with food booths from many Churches, music from great singers and inspiring speakers. Hear the latest news from across the Region and what is ahead for the region. For more information and registration forms, check with Ella. It would be good to have a group to represent our church.

CJ' s REFLECTIONS

2010-08-13T11:04:00.001-07:00

When my children where small they liked to watch Sesame Street with Kermit the frog. Kermit being a frog is of course green. He had a hit song back then entitled “It isn’t Easy Being Green”. I do not remember all the words to this song, however I have been thinking about it lately. The main point of the song was that it’s not easy to be different from everyone else, even though we are all different from each other in many ways. What troubles me about this is the fact that some people seem to go to great lengths to prove they are different, and not always in ways that come across as positive. These differences make their lives harder quite unnecessarily, because in reality they are not all that different than everyone else. Others seem to go in the opposite direction and go to great lengths trying to blend in. What ever happened to being who we are as people?

Putting up on a false image can be disastrous. Trying to be someone we were not created to be, could be compared to living a lie, which drains our energy , damages our health and our souls. It creates stress in a world that is already far too stressful and often drains our finances.

I know two individuals who have gotten themselves into dire straights because they have tried to be something they are not. One young man in his early twenties has tried to make himself out to be a tough guy but in reality is quite gentle and very caring. His tough guy image includes tattoos, multiple-body piercings, and blue hair all of which turns people off and keeps him from getting employed any where. This image serves to keep people away from him, yet he is quite lonely and tells me he wishes people would accept him for who he is? But how can people accept him for who he is, until he accepts himself for who he truly is?

The other individual is older and has lived his life as though he had a great paying job but he doesn’t. In reality, he has been spending every dime he gets to impress others. He wears brand name clothes, eats out at expensive restaurants a lot and drives an expensive new car which the bank is now about to repossess. His health is suffering as he has a bleeding ulcer due to the financial stress that he has put himself under. His friends don’t drive new cars nor do they wear expensive clothes. Neither of these men live in town but both of them live in fear of being discovered for what they are… fakes.

The first one says he’s different and wants others to know that it’s okay to be different. However when he talks about what he wants in life he’s not all that different. He wants a good job, a family and a nice place to live. Isn’t that what we all want? The other guy has gone to great lengths to appear acceptable. He doesn’t run with a lot of wealthy people. Most of his close friends are friends from work. So why did he think he had to put on this false front? What is it about our society that teaches us to try to be something we are not?

I can’t help but think of what the Psalmist says in Psalm 139:14 “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;...” If we believe that all of God’s works are wonderful, … shouldn’t we accept that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” too? If we are made by God how can we improve on that creation and why should we change that creation artificially? Perhaps the key to being accepted by others is first found in accepting who God made us to be and being the best “me” that God made us to be.

At the conclusion to Kermit’s song he decides its better to be green then to be something that he is not. Perhaps finding peace with who we are comes in part when we, like Kermit, accept its okay to be who we are, and stop trying to be that which we are not.

Hope to see you Sunday!

Pastor C J

Pastor CJ
Chariton Christian Church
Disciples of Christ
Chariton, Iowa

CJ'S REFLECTIONS

2010-07-17T21:55:00.000-07:00

I was once told “life is what happens to us when we are on our way to -----------”. I have been pondering this idea and I have come to the conclusion that such a statement makes life a giant question mark. It makes life sound as though we have little or no control over what direction our lives take. It makes life sound as though it is all happenstance or left to chance. I don’t agree with this idea, I believe that we can choose the direction our life takes and that our choices are important and that we need to take responsibility for them.
Most of us choose what kind of careers we would have, who we would marry and where we would live out our lives. All of these choices gave direction to our lives. We chose which books we read, which TV shows we watch and where we spend our vacations. These choices, also give direction to our lives. Because each choice we make influences other choices in a never ending sea of choices. Hopefully we are making the right choices, so we can live long and happy lives.
We choose to spend time reading the Bible or watching the ball game on TV. We choose to walk to the store or drive the car. We choose to come to church or stay in bed an extra hour on a Sunday morning. In the choices we make we, choose the direction our lives will take. We can not affect the ball game from our living rooms, but we might learn something new about God that would affect our lives if we read the Bible instead of watching any TV program. If we walk we get exercise, which helps to keep us healthy longer. (Walking also cuts down on pollution and the cost of gas, which helps us stay healthier as well.) If we stay in bed rather then coming to church we might gain another hour’s sleep but couldn’t we do the same thing just by going to bed earlier? If we come to church we might gain a closer relationship with God? And which one would benefit us most in the long run?
Choices are great and we face many of them everyday of our lives. The choices we make say something about our priorities in the lives we lead. I often hear “I would do that but I just don’t have the time.” The truth is we have time for that which is most important to us largely because we make the time. I proved this fact to myself recently when I attended my Aunt Jackie’s birthday party. My cousin Carol has been asking me to come up for a couple of months and I said “I just don’t have the time.” Jackie’s party was special, yes, but it was important to me to be there, so I took the time to go. My aunt is in failing health and may not be with us long. I wanted to see her one more time. Guess what? Things here at the church didn’t fall apart nor did I get that far behind. I made a choice to go and now I’m very glad I went. Oh, I also found a way to stop and see two other aunts and an uncle and of course my cousin. How did I have the time to go? I made arrangements and went because I chose to. Family is important to me and I finally made the time to let them see they are important to me.
I wonder how often do we put aside that which is really important, to do that which is really not important in the long haul of things. I fear far too often for our own good. Perhaps we should contemplate what Joshua said to the Israelites.
“But if you don’t want to serve the LORD, you must choose for yourselves today whom you will serve. You may serve the gods that your ancestors worshiped when they lived on the other side of the Euphrates River, or you may serve the gods of the Amorites who lived in this land. As for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15
What do we say about our faith with the choices we make?
Hope to see you Sunday!
Pastor C J

Zack and Garret Herndon attend camp! That’s right Zack and Garret were two of the Pee-Wee Campers at the Christian Conference Center in Newton from July 6th through July 8th. (Their sister Alyssa will be attending the camp later this month.) Kids from across the region meet at camp and make friends as they learn Bible stories and what it means to be Disciples together. This year we have three campers and hope that next year even more of our kids will be able to experience the great time that Zack and Garret had. Zack and Garret both greeted Pastor C.J. and their Mom, Tammy Herndon with “I had a ball, can I come back next year!”

K-2 ! Something We All Need to Know and Do Something About!

2010-07-10T12:01:00.001-07:00

Often when tragedy strikes we desperately want or need to blame someone or something for what has happened. Often we search for a cause in hopes by doing so we think we can figure out the why and the how of such a tragedy. We want to desperately be able to stop it from ever happening again. This desire often works for the good because it inspires many good and important innovations in our society. For example, after a tornado hit and killed a number of people in one small town in Ohio in the early 1900’s sirens were installed in that town and in many small towns across the Midwest as a warning system giving people the opportunity to seek cover before a tornado could strike. They could not stop the tornados but the sirens have prevented many deaths and injuries. Because of flash floods in Tennessee a number of dams have been built providing safety and electricity to hundreds of thousands. Because of the ever increasing rate of deadly car accidents, seat belts were invented and by law we must now wear them. It is for our own good and a buckled belt might save our lives. Medical advances save lives that would have been lost just ten years ago and we marvel at what doctors can now do that they could not do before. All because someone somewhere wanted to keep someone else from losing a loved one in a tragedy that could be avoided.
Our society is facing a new form of tragedy and it is time that we all get involved and put a stop to it before another person is lost. The tragedy is with our young, and with our not so young. It involves anyone who seeks to have an unnatural high by putting a foreign substance into their body. This is often done by ingesting some chemical or by smoking something that was never intended to be smoked. These people are playing a dangerous game and we need to stop them for their own sake and for the sake of our society. We have lost far too many bright and promising young people and there are far too many whose minds will never be the same.
How can we put a stop to this tragedy in the making? First of all we must stop hiding our heads in the sand. We must understand and accept that the “War on Drugs” isn’t over and it hasn’t been lost unless we give up, which we can never do. The battle against illegal and legal drugs has expanded to include many everyday products that we would never think of as a drug. The newest of which is an incense called K2. Kids are buying this across the counter in Tobacco Shops and off the internet. Its effects the mind much like Marijuana and though it is sold as an Herbal incense it can have tragic consequences for those who smoke it. One sad example is the young man from Indianola, Iowa, David M. Rozga (18) who after smoking K2 with some friends, had a bad reaction and as a result took his own life. This promising young man was taken tragically from his parents, his brother, his grandparents and from his community. What he might have become and what he might have done in our society and for our society will forever be an unknown…… all because of K2. This substance should be illegal! It should never be sold over the counter or on-line to a minor or to an adult. Call your congressman today and tell him/her that you want K2 banned from Iowa and throughout the country. Do it because it’s the right thing to do! Call for the sake of our kids. Call because you want to stop the tragedy K2 causes to families and in our communities. Make the call, write the letter, do what ever it takes but stop the sale of K2 today!

Rev. C. J. Latham

CJ's REFLECTIONS

2010-06-23T07:11:00.000-07:00

What is prayer? Is it simply talking to God about those things that burden us? Is it asking for healing for self and or others? Is it simply telling God just how awesome we find Him? Is praying simply focusing in on God, entering into His presence as a being, or is there more to prayer and being in the presence of God? Is prayer a time for us to come clean with God and confess all that we have done or not done? Just what does it mean to pray? The above questions are all questions which have been asked over the course of my ministry. And, yes prayer can have all of these elements at times. Or it can have only some of them or even just one of them.
Prayer is talking to God about those things that trouble us. But let’s not limit our prayer time to just when we are troubled though I confess, when I’m troubled praying about the problem is often the first thing that I do. However to limit our prayer time to only when we are troubled, limits God to being only our rescuer and isn’t He much more than that?
I do believe in asking God to heal us and I believe that he always answers that prayer in one of three ways. He heals us physically of what ever illness we may have; He may choose to heal us spiritually and give us peace with ourselves and Him as well as others, or with the allotment healing of taking us home to be with him. If we pray only for healing again doesn’t that limit who God is for us, and makes Him only our healer isn’t He more than our healer?
Have you ever been so struck by the beauty of a sunrise or sunset that your breath is taken away from you and you say “Oh God that’s beautiful!” If you have, have you not just whispered a prayer of praise? Prayers aren’t necessarily long and they aren’t necessarily wordy. They can be as simply put as the awe we experience upon seeing the natural beauty of creation and thanking God for sharing it with us or giving it to us.
Prayer is talking with God but genuine prayer steps beyond mere words to the inner space of our souls. It steps beyond the boundaries of space and time and into the very presence of the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is our guide and empowers us to reach beyond ourselves and find that special place, that special time with God. This isn’t hard, though it often feels difficult when we first begin. Or, maybe I should say unfamiliar which might make us feel uneasy with it at first.
I’m not sure what your experiences with prayer have been, but I for one had to be taught how to pray or maybe I should say shown how to be comfortable with prayer both privately and with doing public prayers. Now after years of practice I feel comfortable praying in public and do it so often that prayer seems as natural as breathing. The fact is I don’t always realize that I have begun to pray until I stop. Like seeing the beauty of nature I confess there are just times when God so awes me that I just thank him without realizing that I’m doing it. I wonder was that what Paul had in mind when he said to “pray without ceasing”? Did he mean for us to live life in such a way that at any given moment we could be transformed from here into the presence of God by a thought or event such as seeing something awesome in God’s creation? Gee, wouldn’t such a life be wonderful and peaceful as well as fulfilling? I hope I make it there someday and I hope you do too.

Shalom
Pastor C. J.

Foot Note from the Pastor
It was disturbing to say the least when the church was broken into on June 5th. No money was taken because past history has taught us not to keep cash in the church building at anytime. At this point the only thing we know is missing is the church’s digital camera. All the pictures had been down loaded so what was taken from us can be replaced. Two windows were broken and Larry Michaels has boarded them up and ordered new ones. They should be here in a couple of weeks. Larry will see to replacing them with a little help from others. It is sad that anyone would ever consider breaking into a church. Unfortunately we are not the only church this has happened to nor will we be the last one. It is fortunate that we will be able to repair everything and put the church back as it was. However, I’m more concerned about our spirit’s getting back to normal. We are a loving church and a welcoming congregation. Let’s keep it that way. The question was posed to me Sunday “How do we pray for who ever did this?” We pray for their souls. Even though we can not post the Ten Commandments in the court house any more they are still enforce and God is still telling us do not steal. A wrong has been committed. We may never know who did it, but we can still pray that they repent of their sin and turn to God and we can do so asking God to forgive them. But at the same time we also need to forgive them. As we ask God to forgive, let us do so in the spirit of forgiveness. Praying in the spirit of forgiveness is the fastest way for us to regain our peace and to continue in harmony with God and with our fellow man.

2010 General Board Met In Indianapolis For Its Annual Meeting. The report from Home Mission’s follows: Ron Degges, president of Disciples Home Missions, presented the report for the church's six program ministries: Disciples Benevolent Services (DBS), Council on Christian Unity, Disciples of Christ Historical Society, Division of Overseas Ministry/Global Ministries, Higher Education and Leadership Ministries, and Disciples Home Missions. Highlights included the fact that the Division of Overseas Ministries/Global Ministries has worked with 16 regions, which have officially voted to be 'Global Mission' Regions. Disciples Home Missions continues to equip congregations and leaders to be the church of the 21st century by providing such things as new models for training and empowering clergy, holding youth service, and working in partnership with other church ministries to increase educational efforts for congregational health and vitality. It was noted that Disciples Benevolent Services established three additional chaplaincy care ministries last year and renewed its partnership with the Southern Christian Services for Children and Youth in Mississippi. (For more reports see www.Christian Church Disciples of Christ.org)

Camp information is out with days and camps for all ages. From elementary School age groups to grand camps for Children and grandparents. There will be equestrian camps and canoe camps for the teens. These fill up quickly so we must get your request for them in soon. A fun time will be had by all who go to camp. There are some scholarships available from the CWF and from the region so that everyone who wants to go can. Please talk to C.J. or Ella if you would like more info about these. Also as you plan your summer fun remember August 21 is the day for School for Congregational Learning. See C.J. or Ella for more information.

Be Alert!! Mixing prescribed medication with any over the counter medication can be lethal!!! As can taking someone else’s medication as well as being illegal.
Don’t take the chance!
Your pharmacist is a good source of information if your doctor is not available. Even ASPIRIN with some prescribed Medication can be dangerous!
When any medication is in your system, it may cloud your best judgment, ASK BEFORE ACTING!
May God continue to touch you, heal and guide you and yours!
Blessings from Barbra Riley

As we have been studying the idea of transformation we have also been studying and learning about prayer. We would like to be able to share some of those things with the congregation and perhaps even with the community. We have set aside October 16th as a possible day to have a one day prayer retreat here at the church. Our focus will be different forms of prayer. We hope that you will be thinking about coming to join us as we spend the day discovering new ways of praying.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

2010-05-16T20:55:00.000-07:00

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
JUNE 21 – JUNE 25
THEME – SON QUEST – RAIN FOREST

FOR ALL CHILDREN
PRE-KI– 6TH GRADE

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK

2010-05-16T20:50:00.000-07:00

My New Testament professor in college often said that we would be doing “ministry in the in between times”. For the longest time I wondered what in the world he meant by the “in between times”. Finally I worked up the courage to ask this learned man to define what he meant by the “in between times”. His response startled me and made me stop and think about what it meant to be in congregational ministry. What Dr. Price of Lynchburg College said was; “most of the people you will minister to will already have a relationship with God. This relationship will take one of three forms.
Some of them will have a very deep relationship and will be seeking to make that relationship even deeper. These people will be a joy to minister to because they will come to you eager to learn. But be ready. These people will also have much to teach you as a person and as a minister. Never stop learning from them.
Others will have a relationship with God that is comfortable and they will not want to deepen that relationship because it is comfortable and they are happy with the way things are. These people won’t come to your Bible Studies but they will listen closely on Sunday Mornings and will also teach you much about being comfortable with God. And perhaps even with yourself. But please I challenge you to never get so comfortable with God that you stop seeking to learn something new about Him. If you do you will lose your edge in ministry and your ministries will suffer for it.
Still others will have just begun their walk with God and these people will drive you nuts or keep you on fire for God, one or the other. It will be your choice. These people are so eager to learn that they will come to every Bible Study, every Class, every everything you offer because they can’t seem to get enough of God. They will be full of questions, many you may not have ready answers for. My challenge to you is to always stay open to them and try to stay ahead of them if you can, but you won’t… still try anyway. And when they come to you, pray before you open your mouth or you might just put your foot in it.”
Then He stopped and looked hard at me and said “always remember that you are ministering to God’s people. It does not matter where they are on life’s journey. They are “in between the discovery of God and God’s presence.” How you lead them during this time of “in between” matters to them and to God. Help them grow or help them to be comfortable, but always help them to know that God is with them at this time.
It’s the best time to be ministering to people and it’s the hardest time to minister to people. It’s easier to bring someone to the Lord than it is to keep them coming to the Lord during the time of “in between”.
Then he asked me… Are you up to ministering in the time of “in between?” I said I was but in honesty he had just scared the dickens out of me. How can anyone person be up to all that I wondered. That was also the day I learned to pray “God be with me now, I need you” something that I pray over and over just about every day.
Dr. Price was right in many ways. Those new Christians who can’t seem to get enough of God do keep me on my toes and they keep me looking things up and learning and it feels impossible to stay ahead of them even though I try. I thank God for them, they keep ministry exciting and full of wonder and awe.
Those who are comfortable with God don’t seem to ask me much, but they sure have taught me a lot about being comfortable with God. They have also taught me to be comfortable with the person God made me to be, along with being comfortable with them. I thank God for them too.
Those who have a really deep core relationship, with God continue to challenge me to deepen my relationship with God. They also keep me studying and learning and I thank God for them too.
I feel blessed to be able to journey with all of God’s people during this time of “in between”. Dr. Price also said “you are lucky, ministering during the “in between times” is the greatest adventure you can take with any one.” To that I’ll say thanks for allowing me to come along on your adventure and thanks for being part of my adventure with God. I wonder where else God will take us next.

Shalom
Pastor C. J.

Disciples News on the National Front
Since we are in the Age of computers here are some Popular Links you might enjoy. They might help you know more about who the Disciples of Christ are and what we are about. Just go to Christian Church Disciples of Christ.org and look for these links.
· The Design of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
· General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
· Congregational Web Sites
· Resources for Congregations
· Special Day Offering Resources
· Calendar of Events
· Lectionary
· Stewardship Resources
· Volunteering Opportunities

Notes from the Parish Nurse
To assist in the control of elevated cholesterol, thus aiding in the reduction of possible heart disease:
· The recommended daily allowances for the average adult are foods prepared without saturated fats, and avoiding excessive fired foods.
· Egg substitute is best or limit eggs to 2 per week.
· No whole milk, Ice Cream, gravies or alcohol: Period!
· Sherbet is allowed, and flaxseed sprinkled over food and cereal appears to be a plus, and palatable.
· Cholesterol readings to target range from 133-200
Eat hearty but healthy, and may God continue to bless you and yours with good health.

Thank You to all of our Church Women United Ladies for all there hard work on May 7th. They had wonderful treats and a very nice program.

MAY NEWSLETTER

2010-04-21T12:33:00.000-07:00

I often have trouble thinking of a topic for this part of the newsletter. However this month there can only be one thing coming from my desk, but I really don’t know how to say all that I am feeling and thinking and have experienced over the last couple of weeks. Most, if not all of you, know that on April third, Larry and Joan Michael drove me to the hospital and I was taken to emergency surgery to have a strangulated hernia repaired. Larry then agreed to read the Sunrise Service out at Red Haw and preach the Easter Morning service.
The response of the congregation to this event has really shown the love of Christ and the meaning of being part of a Christian Family. Ministers often talk about being part of the family of God and we often get a glimpse of the family helping one another. Normally this is done while setting on the sidelines watching as the congregation reaches out and ministers to a fellow church members in supportive ways. This time I was the one in need of help and support and I want to thank all of you for being there for me and helping me. Kind expressions in cards, flowers, Blue Bunnies, and visits help the healing process more then we might think. Knowing that things here at the church where taken care of and that things went on as planned even though I was not here was a huge comfort. I felt your prayers and your love and I knew that even though I was very sick and in a lot of pain I would be okay because I would be cared for by the Family of God.
Living so far away from all of my family doesn’t mean that I don’t have family with me. You have shown that very clearly and I love you all for it. Thank you for setting up at the Hospital and making sure that the surgery went well, for the Elders prayers, for the visits. Thank you Sharon and Ashley for taking care of the dog until my Foster Sister got here. Thank you to those who keep my Cousin informed so she could keep my kids and mother informed. Thank you for the meals that just showed up and to those who helped clean up the house. Thank you for the flowers and the phone calls for the little ways you let me know that you cared and for all that you all did.
In Seminary we talked a lot about what it means to be the family of God. You all filled those expectations and more. Being the Family of God is not a theory or an ideal it is simply caring for and about all of Gods People even when or especially when they can not take care of themselves. Being the Family of God is an action; it is putting action to our faith, and letting God love through us. It is a beautiful thing to see and even more wonderful to experience and be a part of.
I feel honored to be a part of this family of God and I feel honored by it because I realize that you care for me as much as I care for you. In that we all honor God our Father.
Thank you so very much!

Shalom
Pastor C. J.

Disciples News on the National Front
The new Church count is now up to 657. The Pentecost Special Offering May 16 & 23 will help start even more new churches.
Disciples are helping to share the witness of Christ by supporting the growth of new churches throughout the United States and Canada. Through the New Church movement, 657 new churches have been started since 2001, a benchmark that puts Disciples well on their way to start 1,000 new churches by 2020.

NOTE FROM THE PARRISH NURSE

2010-03-22T13:07:00.000-07:00

Disciple News in the Region and Around the World

Cluster Ten met with about 65 persons lay and clergy Christian Church Disciples of Christ members in attendance. Regional Minister Don Hiscox spoke about the denomination’s mission to Haiti before the earthquake, and Russ Melby spoke about the mission of Church World Services to Haiti after the earthquake.
The Chariton Christian Church had five members representing the church and delivered 41 health kits which where added to health and infant care kits from all of the churches in the Cluster. These kits will be sent to a warehouse in Maryland until they are needed and then will be shipped to help those who suffer from other natural disasters.
Don Hiscox reported that three main dominations supported the work of Church World Services. With the Disciples of Christ giving the most per capita, the other two supporting dominations are Presbyterian and United Methodist.

I am pleased to report that many of you escaped the flu this season by diligent attention to preventive maintenance measures, no doubt.
We may also have escaped some frostbite incidents with the recent warming trend. Black-ice is still a treacherous possibility however, so remain alert and watch your step!
My home-bound visits were limited this past month, but, please know you were, as always in our prayers.
Looking forward to sunshine and flowers, and continued good health for all!
May God continue to bless and heal you and yours! Barbara Riley

Make Holy Week Holy

During Holy week we will have a number of opportunities to make the week special.
Palm Sunday is March 28 and we will be celebrating Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
The Maundy Thursday service is on April 1 at 7:00p.m. The worship Committee has worked very hard to provide a meaningful service. This will tell the story of Holy Week though Scripture and song. We hope you will come and enjoy the benefit of their labors.
The red room will be set up on Good Friday for a prayer vigil. Please come in and pray during the prayer vigil. A sing- up sheet will be available this Sunday to reserve a time.
The Lucas Presbyterian Church will hold a Good Friday service which we have been invited to take part in. Meet at the Gazebo in down town Lucas at 6:30 to walk the cross up to the Church. The service will be at 7:00p.m. Walking the cross is a unique experience and we hope that you will come and be part of it. The service at the church will be based on The Last Seven Words of Christ.
Easter Sunday Sunrise service will be at Red Haw at 6:00 a. m. Please come and gather near the stone shelter. There will be a Pancake Breakfast at the church fallowing this service.
During the Easter morning service the choir will sign and we will be have a service of Baptism as Amber Nickelson will have completed pastors class.
This promises to be a very special Easter and I hope that everyone will take full advantage of all of the opportunities being offered.

FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK

2010-03-22T13:05:00.000-07:00

Easter is quickly approaching and I realized recently that it will be our fourth Easter together. That realization caused me to spend some time reflecting on our journey together in ministry and I thought I might share with you some of the things that you have taught me about ministry. Does the idea that a congregation could teach a minister about ministry surprise you? Well, to be honest, the first time I realized that a congregation taught me something about ministry was a huge surprise to me. I thought that learning about ministry happened in seminary. Nonetheless I learn from you, the congregation, all the time. So here is some of what you have taught me.
One of the things I learned early on in the ministry here was the fact that this congregation wanted to be church together. What is it that I mean by “church together”? Simply put, I mean that the congregation knew that to do ministry… real life changing ministry… it needed everyone to contribute something to the ministry. It also knew that everyone young and old needed to be cared for and loved. What I have seen at this congregation that I have not seen at all the congregations I have served, is ministry to its members by its members. This kind of ministry builds and nurtures relationships between members. One really neat thing about this ministry is that often those nurturing ministries are member instigated and member led. This means these ministries are members reaching out to members in ways that say we care about each other.
Another thing that you have taught me is that numbers alone don’t have to determine what a congregation can or cannot do in the name of Christ. Churches much larger then ours haven’t been able to put mission trips together like the one our teens did in 2008. The attitude in which the entire congregation approached that project was an attitude of let’s make this happen for the kids and it did largely because everyone supported the idea and the kids. What was accomplished on that trip was more than rebuilding a house, it also taught life lessons to all those who went on the trip and for all those who supported the trip.
This also showed me that at Chariton Christian Church Disciples of Christ there was a spirit very much alive and very much at work in its people and that the people of the church where willing to be used by God.
But please don’t think that this spirit stopped working just because the mission trip is over. It’s still very much alive and at work. That spirit comes out every time the youngsters collect the offerings for the ministry center. This outreach project is also member led and was member inspired. It also came out when we put together 41 health kits for the Cluster event last week. Those 41 kits, and all the supplies that we sent to the ministry center speak to the fact that this congregation cares about its neighbors, be them here in town or on the other side of the world.
Then there was that spaghetti dinner! Not only did we raise a lot of money for the insulation project, we also saw everyone pitch in and help clean up. But I never heard anyone ask anyone else to do something, everyone just worked as a team and got things done, laughing all the way.
The Bible teaches us that we are to love one another as God has loved us. I truly believe that we as a congregation do that very well. What may be most amazing about this fact is, we love each other in a world that seems to say that caring and loving one another is a thing of the past. It seems that we live in a world which says “look out for yourself first and foremost, and let the other guy take care of himself.” Rather then going with the crowd through the wide gate, we have chosen to walk though the narrow gate and follow Christ.
One of the things that Christ did was to build relationships with all of his followers. One of the things that we have been doing over the last three years is to build a relationship with one another. That relationship is a two-way street, I give to you that which the Lord has given to me, and I also receive from you that which the Lord has given to you. And together we serve the Lord.

Shalom
Pastor C. J.

SPAGHETTI DINNER A HUGE SUCCESS !!!

2010-03-16T15:46:00.000-07:00

The spaghetti dinner that was held on March 7th was a huge success with more than $1500 being raised. The money will be added to existing funds to be used to help insulate the Church. Thanks to all involved in helping with the event.

2010-02-22T12:12:00.000-08:00

Okay I admit, I grew up in another era. When I was a kid, if the telephone rang it made a ringing sound. It didn’t sing to us. It sat on my dad’s desk and there was only one phone in the whole house and there was a wire that attached it to the wall. We listened to the ring so we could tell if it was for us, or someone else because it was a party line. We dreamed of a color TV with 24 inch screens and Hi-Fi’s to play our vinyl records on. I thought I hit the jack pot when I was given a radio that fit in my pocket. Playing games with the family happened at the kitchen table and more often than not involved a deck of cards. That was real entertainment. In the winter we also did puzzles on the same kitchen table.
Having confessed all this I will also admit that I’m feeling a bit uneasy with all this new technical stuff. My daughter is trying to convince me that I need an IPod and I have no idea what she is talking about so why do I need one. I just got used to the GPS telling me where to go on a road trip, now I need an IPOD? Worse of all she placed a video of my grandson walking on her face book page and tells me I need to go there to see it. The GPS won’t tell me how to get there I’m sure. When I was her age home computers were for the rich and the Internet had not been invented yet. Yes, this is a different age all together. There are days when I feel very lost in it. How about you?
It’s not that I’m against all this new technical stuff it’s just that I don’t understand it. Please don’t text me. Yes I can now get the message, but it takes me a while. However forget my texting you back I don’t have a clue of how to do that and I’m not welling to learn. Please just call me the old fashion way and let me hear the Cell phone in my pocket sing to me, it’s a nice little tune though it still makes me jump. Besides I want to hear your voice, I can tell a lot about how someone is doing by hearing their voice. It’s an important part of how we communicate and tells me things a text message never will.
With all this said, I want you to know that you can teach old dogs new tricks (not that I’m admitting to being old). Deena McSparen showed me how to get on Face Book and I have seen my grandson walking. I have even reconnected with a few cousins who are also on face book. It wasn’t near as hard as I had made it out to be in my mind.
The TV in the living room is no longer 35 years old and I have learned how to operate it. I even think I have everything hooked up to it right. I have gotten a video game and am learning how to play it. Never thought I would be bowling in my living room or play tennis by myself.
As you heard a couple of Sunday’s ago, Nick Cattell has set up what he calls a blog sight for the church and we are now on the internet. This is another first for me, and for the church, and it’s quite nice. The blog can be found at http://charitonchristianchurch.blogspot.com I hope that you will go to the internet and check it out. Nick has done a nice job with it and the pictures are great.

Thanks to Nick and Deena, and at my daughter’s insistence, I have been pulled kicking and screaming into the technical age. I still don’t understand it all, but it’s not so bad and I’m finding it’s really kind of fun.
All of which teaches me something that is important. I have now done that which I often challenge others to do. I have faced my fears of all this technical stuff and it has not “over come” me and I have not made the entire Internet crash or blown up any computers. All this new technical stuff that confuses me only has power over me when I choose to give it that power. Yes, I can learn how to handle this technical stuff if I take the time to just do it.
Could it be that a lot of our fears are that way? Could it be that if we face the very thing that frightens us we would find that it’s not as bad as we thought it might be?
The Bible teaches us that fear is not of God. Could it be that we should trust God more and give Him the power over that which frightens us? Could it mean that God will give us the strength and wisdom to face and handle the things that frighten us? If we just ask him to?

It wouldn’t surprise me, how about you?

Shalom to you

Pastor C.J.

Disciple News in the Region and Around the World

This Month we are combining the regional news with the greater picture. Largely because this month they go hand in hand as the Cluster plans an event that combines both the region and world events. Rev. Bill Spangling-Dunning has been challenging the Regional Churches to come up with different ways to be Disciples Together. Cluster 10 has come up with its own way of being Disciples Together and helping out Haiti at the same time.

The Cluster will meet at the Osceola Christian Church on March 14 at 4:00 pm to hear what the Disciples of Christ Church and Church World Services are doing to help in Haiti. There will be two speakers Don Hiscox will describe the mission of the Christians Church (DOC) in Haiti before the earthquake and Russ Melby will describe the mission in Haiti that is taking place now. An Evening Meal will be served by the Churches’ Youth. Free well offering.

Each church is being asked to make Hygiene Kits or Infant Care Kits and bring them to the Event. Along with $3.00 each to pay the cost of shipping the kits to where they are needed. These kits will go to Church World Services to re-supply their warehouse as it was emptied at the time of the earthquake.

The kits are simple to put together. They are as fallows:

Hygiene Kit:

· one hand towel measuring

· Approximately 16”X 28”

(no fingertip or bath towels)

one washcloth
one wide-tooth comb
one nail clipper
one bar of soap (bath size in wrapper)
one toothbrush (in original packaging)
six standard size Band-Aids
Place all items in a one gallon plastic bag with a zipper closure, please do not add toothpaste. Cartons of toothpaste that have an extended expiration date will be added to Hygiene Kit shipments just prior to shipment.

Baby Care Kit:

· Six cloth diapers

· Two T-shirts or undershirts (no onesies)

· Two washcloths

· Two gowns or sleepers

· Two diaper pins

· One sweater or sweatshirt (can be hand-knitted or crocheted)

· Two receiving blankets (one can be a hand-kitted or crocheted baby blanket)

Items must be new and under 12 months in size. Wrap items inside one of the receiving blankets and secure with both diaper pins.

This is for all of the churches in the cluster Laity and clergy. We hope that you will come be Disciples Together with us in Osceola and learn about the good work that Disciples are doing in Haiti.

Notes From the

Parrish Nurse Barbara Riley

February is Heart Month

So take care. We only have one. First thing is to maintain a healthy life style. Some health tips to alert and assist in avoiding major health issues as follows:

Mini-Strokes xx-tia’s

Weakness, dizziness, numbness, double vision, headache and, or difficulty speaking. If you have any or all of these warning signs consult your physician. Take care in this icy weather.

God Bless You and Yours.

Pastor CJ
Chariton Christian Church
Disciples of Christ
Chariton, Iowa

PASTOR'S CORNER

2010-02-11T17:25:00.000-08:00

Pastors Corner

The season of Lent is now upon us. It begins on Ash Wednesday which was the 17th, and culminates with Easter Sunday forty days later not counting Sundays. The number of people who know little or nothing about Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent still serves to amaze me. But then who’s to blame for this lack of knowledge or understanding. Personally I blame us ministers. We have done little to inform people about the seasons of the Christian Year and seem to assume that because we know what they mean and why we observe them, everyone else does as well. When I stop and think back to my first encounter with Ash Wednesday Services I realize how unfair this assumption is. Most people even those in the church don’t know the meaning behind the seasons unless someone teaches them. Perhaps part of the reason people don’t take time to attend Ash Wednesday Services is that they don’t know the meaning behind it and for many that makes it just so much meaningless ritual that church people do. However, Ash Wednesday is far from meaningless when you know its meaning and how it came to be practiced.
Lent is a season of penance, it is a season when Christians in general think about the sacrifice made for them by Jesus on the Cross. We often look at the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness before starting his three year ministry. But that’s not what Ash Wednesday is all about. The Service of Ashes, as it is sometimes called, began in the Ninth Century in France. It became a general custom by the Eleventh Century and has much more to do with the individuals identifying themselves with Christ, than it has to do with Christ’s wilderness journey.
During the service participants are encouraged to privately confess to God their sins and to repent. They are then invited to receive the sign of the cross on their foreheads. When they receive the Ashes it symbolizes their acceptance of the fact that Jesus died on the cross for those sins and they have been forgiven through his blood. They keep the ashes on their foreheads during the rest of the day as a testimony of the forgiving grace of God.
I was once asked where the ashes come from and the answer is also symbolic. The ashes are created by burning dried palm leaves used in the Palm Sunday Service from the year before. Palm leaves remind us of the Triumphal Entry Jesus made riding on a donkey into Jerusalem. A day which, is celebrated the Sunday before Easter Sunday and begins what is often called Holy Week. This reminds the participants that Jesus was and is triumphant over our sins and we are a people who have been forgiven.
Does this service make us perfect? No, we are still human and as humans we will never be perfect. It does remind us that we are forgiven and as others see the ashes on our foreheads they know two things, first we have repented of our sins and second have received Gods forgiveness through His Son. Hope you took the time this year to attend the Ash Wednesday Services at your Church and if not, that you will next year.
Shalom (Peace to You)
Pastor C. J. Latham

CHILDREN'S TIME

2010-02-11T17:14:00.000-08:00

UPCOMING EVENTS

2010-02-11T16:54:00.000-08:00

SUNDAY MARCH 21st-----POT LUCK AND SILENT AUCTION. PLEASE BRING ITEMS TO THE CHURCH PRIOR TO THAT DAY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE

MINISTRY CENTER

2010-02-03T15:55:00.000-08:00

The Congregation supports the efforts of the Lucas Country Inter-church Council by collecting donations for the ministry center. These pictures where taken last November as the church celebrated the fall harvest by bringing donations for those in need on the local level. One Sunday each month is designated as Ministry Center Sunday and the children collect whatever the congregation brings. February is Laundry supplies Month.

From the Pastor's Desk

2010-01-26T15:08:00.000-08:00

The weather is now right cold and I’m glad to be inside where it is warm. Which, reminded me of one reason why I like winter in Iowa. It gives me time to read! I love to snuggle in a nice warm blanket the dog laying beside me and the light shining over my shoulder while I read a good book. The nights are long and I walk the dog early then settle in for the night. The fact is I read perhaps twice as many books in the winter than I do in the summer. My choice of reading material seems to be basically books about life in Biblical times, the life of Christ, or spiritual matters in general.
Another minister told me that reading this material wasn’t pleasure reading, it was work related reading and that I needed to read for pleasure too. Which I concede to a point he’s right, what I read for pleasure does relate to being a minister. However, it was my choice of reading material before I became a minister, why does it have to change just because I am a minister now?
This also goes as evidence that it does matter what we fill our minds with. Would I have become a minister if I had not chosen to read the books I did say twenty-five years ago? Perhaps I would have but, then if I had chosen to read law books I might have become a Lawyer instead. If I had chosen to read medical books I might have become a Doctor. What I chose to read taught me more about Jesus and as I learned more about Jesus I wanted to learn even more about him. As I read more about prayer I learned how to have a deeper prayer life, and the more time I spent in prayer. As I read about how others experienced God in their lives I began to understand more of how God was working in my life. As I read I grow spiritually and I began to have a deeper relationship with God and I began to want to share those findings with others.
My choices have brought me on quite a journey, and I’m very pleased that I have made it. Take a minute and think about where your reading choices might be leading you. Think also if you will, where your TV viewing choices might lead you. Then ask yourself is that somewhere you really want to go?
What we fill our minds with does matter and it affects the choices we make in life!Perhaps we need to think about the TV shows we watch the web sights we visit and the novels we read. Are they places we would invite Jesus to join us? Are they places where we might find God? If not maybe we shouldn’t be there either.

Shalom to you
Pastor C.J.

Rev. Dr. Sharon Walkins, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ’s) General Minister and President recently returned from a trip to the Middle East. Rev. Dr. Walkins along with fifteen other American Religious leaders including Jewish and Muslim leaders took part in the trip as part of an initiative of the National Inter-religious Initiative seeking to promote peace in the Middle East, and particularly in the Israel/Palestine region. Together the group made a call for active, fair and firm U.S. Leadership in the New Year to restart negotiations for a two-state solution involving an end to occupation and security for Israel and Palestine both. {For more information you can go to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) web-sight at www.disciples.org or a copy of the article can be obtained in the church’s office.}

Transformational Team

“Thinking out side of the box” has become a catch phase for the need to do something new or something different. However, there are times when we need to think inside the box and revive some of the things we “use to do”. These “we uses to do’s” were good ideas then and they might be the best ideas now. Who knows until we give them a try.
One of the topics the Transformation Team has been talking about at our meetings centers around ways to build community within the church and ways to build community out side of the churches four walls. This discussion was brought up partly by the sledding party Sarah and Luke Wills had for all the kids in the church. I didn’t get to attend but a great time was had by all. (Check out the pictures on the board Sunday thanks to Sarah) Sledding parties is one of those things we “use to do”. It may be an old idea but its fun and people who laugh and play together build community together.
One hope for the New Year is that we can have some more fun nights and maybe even a couple of family nights. These times would be for the church to come together as family for fun and just play together. This isn’t a new idea either but, the best way to build community is to spend time together in community.
A healthy community needs to work together, play together and worship together. We are pretty good at doing all three; however we sometimes forget the play part. We all have a tendency to get so involved with living life that we forget to live life.
If you have some ideas about ways in which we can build community within the church and outside of the church. Talk to one of the members of the Transformational Team or drop your idea by the office and C.J. will take it to the Team.

A positive attitude is a most important factor in the healing process. As we welcome this new season of our lives in 2010, do so with anticipation, joy and peace.
Enjoy and Anticipate!
May God continue to bless you
and yours, stay positive and keep the faith!