news

Mark’s Moment This month we celebrate Valentine’s Day. It is a day we send our love to those close to us via a card, phone call, text, box of candy, flowers, and many other ways. In Christ we have the greatest Valentine’s gift. Billy Graham wrote, “God’s love is unchangeable; He knows exactly what we are and loves us anyway. In fact, He created us because He wanted other creatures in His image upon whom he could pour out His love and who would love Him in return. He also wanted that love to be voluntary, not forced, so He gave us freedom of choice, the ability to say yes or no in our relationship to Him. God does not want mechanized love, the kind that says we must love God because that is what our parents demand or our church preaches. Only voluntary love satisfies the heart of God. On the human level, we frequently love the one who loves us. In the spiritual realm, people do not grasp the overwhelming love of a holy God, but we can understand God’s love by getting to know Him through Jesus Christ. No one can grasp the love of God of the universe without knowing His Son.” (Hope For The Troubled Heart) I’ve told you many times in the past 13 years that I love you. Please don’t take those three words lightly. There is a deep commitment in my heart to love each of you as individuals and together as a congregation of believers. Let’s celebrate God’s love together now and for all of eternity. On Sunday, January 12th, I announced my plans to retire effective July 1, 2020. I have purchased a condo in Belmond, Iowa where my son, Andy, and his family live. It will be great to be near my family. I served churches in North Central Iowa for 25 years before coming to First Christian in Newton in 2006. I have many friends in the area. I love First Christian Church and I could not ask for a better place to finish ministry. You are an amazing congregation with a bright future. I am excited for you as God leads you in calling your new pastor. I love you! Mark

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH | FEBRUARY 2020

Faith

Page 2

Scout Sunday, February 9, 2020 Scout Sunday is the day designated to recognize Scouts, Leaders and the blessings that Scouting brings to the congregation, our nation and the world. Since the inception of the Scouting movement, religious faith has played a major role in character development of Scouts, which is one of the primary aims of both the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of the USA. “It is the mission of the Boy Scouts of America to serve others by helping to instill values in young people and, in other ways, to prepare them to make ethical choices during their lifetime in achieving their full potential. The values we strive to instill are based on those found in the Scout Oath and Law.”, while “Girl Scouts prepares girls to empower themselves and promotes compassion, courage, confidence, character, leadership, entrepreneurship, and active citizenship.” Scouting is a powerful force to help with character development and faith in God is at the heart of the programs. In their oath and promise, all Scouts pledge to serve God. Why should a scout pledge duty to God? In the words of Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, “Religion is essential to happiness. This is not a mere matter of going to church, knowing Bible history, or understanding theology. Religion…means recognizing who and what is God, secondly, making the best of the life that He has given one and doing what He wants of us. This is mainly doing something for other people.” In fact, it was Baden-Powell’s emphasis on reverence that led the Boy Scouts of America to adopt “A Scout is Reverent” as the twelfth point of the Scout Law. Some people say that obedience to the twelfth point will ensure that the other eleven have been obeyed as well. Today we celebrate that our youth and leaders are adhering to these concepts and rejoice that God is with them as they grow. Scout Handbook explanation of the twelfth point of the law: “A Scout is reverent toward God. A Scout is faithful in their religious duties. They respect the beliefs of others.”

Page 3

Family Unity Night Menus

February 5th: chili or tomato soup

crackers & cheese carrots, celery & dip

fruit & cookies

February 12th: hot ham & cheese sandwiches

tater tots baked beans

carrots, celery & dip fruit & cookies

February 19th: taco burger

doritos lettuce salad

fruit & cookies

February 26th: beef & noodles

green beans carrots, celery & dip

fruit & cookies

(menu subject to change)

February Serving Schedule February 2nd

Elder Acolyte Home-Bound Elders Serving Deacons Video Projector Greeters (North Door) Greeters (West Door)

Craig Phillips Madison Cunningham Craig Phillips, Vicki Gunsaulus Jim & Nancy Wobschall, Connie Palmer, Sue Pickett Julie Dodds Mike & Wanda Sell Bobbie Schroyer

February 9th

Elder Acolyte Serving Deacons Video Projector Greeters (North Door) Greeters (West Door)

Bonnie Barnett Sadie Stiles Rowe Vansice, Joyce Guthrie, Deanna Schafer, Jerry Hannagan Julie Dodds Linda Hewitt Carol Davidson

February 16th Elder Acolyte Serving Deacons Video Projector Greeters (North Door) Greeters (West Door)

Betty Southern Bernard Griggs Bruce Curtis, Shelly Thomas, Randy Gunsaulus, Kyle Abel Julie Brown Carole Price James Macksey

February 23rd Elder Acolyte Serving Deacons Video Projector Greeters (North Door) Greeters (West Door)

Tiff Williams Gracie Elliott John & Liam Dougan, Mike & Cindy Sell Julie Brown Steve Roth Jim & Betty Southern

February Preparing Deacons Bruce & Bev Curtis

FEBR

UA

RY

202

0

Sun

Mon

T

ue

Wed

T

hu

Fri

Sat

1

2 Grou

ndho

g Da

y 10

:00 a.

m. -

Wor

ship

Servi

ce

11:15

a.m.

- C

offee

Fell

owsh

ip

7:00

p.m.

- S

cout

meeti

ng

3 7:00 p

.m. -

Boy

Sco

uts

Pa

ck 35

6

4 6:00 p

.m. -

Cub

Sco

uts

Pa

ck 35

4

5 Fam

ily U

nity

Nig

ht

5:15 p

.m. -

Pup

pets

5:45p

.m. -

Sup

per

6:15 p

.m. -

Clas

ses

6 5:30 p

.m. -

Cho

ir

7

8 7:00-

9:00 a

.m. -

Mas

onic

Lodg

e Pan

cake

Bre

akfas

t

9 Scou

t Sun

day

10:00

a.m.

- W

orsh

ip Se

rvice

11

:15 a.

m. -

Coff

ee F

ellow

ship

10

7:00 p

.m. -

Boy

Sco

uts

Pa

ck 35

6

11

6:00 p

.m. -

Cub

Sco

uts

Pa

ck 35

4

12

Fam

ily U

nity

Nig

ht

5:15 p

.m. -

Pup

pets

5:45p

.m. -

Sup

per

6:15 p

.m. -

Clas

ses

13

5:30 p

.m. -

Cho

ir 14

Va

lentin

e’s D

ay

15

16

10:00

a.m.

- W

orsh

ip Se

rvice

11

:15 a.

m. -

Coff

ee F

ellow

ship

17

Pres

iden

ts D

ay

6:30 p

.m. -

Fait

h Circ

le 7:0

0 p.m

. - B

oy S

couts

Pac

k 356

18

19

No

Opa

l Circ

le Fa

mily

Uni

ty N

ight

5:1

5 p.m

. - P

uppe

ts 5:4

5p.m

. - S

uppe

r 6:1

5 p.m

. - C

lasse

s 7:3

0 p.m

. - E

lders

meeti

ng

20

Marc

h Ne

wslet

ter

Artic

le De

adlin

e 5:3

0 p.m

. - C

hoir

21

22

23

No C

hild

ren’

s Wor

ship

10:00

a.m.

- W

orsh

ip Se

rvice

11

:15 a.

m. -

Coff

ee F

ellow

ship

24

7:00 p

.m. -

Boy

Sco

uts

P

ack 3

56

25

6:00 p

.m. -

Cub

Sco

uts

Pa

ck 35

4

26

Ash

Wed

nesd

ay

Fam

ily U

nity

Nig

ht

5:15 p

.m. -

Pup

pets

5:45p

.m. -

Sup

per

6:15 p

.m. -

Clas

ses

27

9:00 a

.m. -

New

slette

r

Tea

m 5:3

0 p.m

. - C

hoir

28

29

8:00 a

.m. -

Disc

iples

Men

Page 3

3 Matt Gunsaulus 5 Jodi Albertson 6 Steve Roth, Norma Stecker 7 Joan Rusk 10 Richard Roberts, Raymond Stecker 12 Sandra Hannagan 13 Gracie Elliott 14 Dorothy Hallam, Helen Halter 15 Dan Crook, Donna Cook, Kelli Huyser 16 Virginia Perrin 17 Nile McCoy 21 Dick Meyer 22 Tammy Welcher, Paula Odekirk, Alex Klyn, Brooke Henning Josh Weithers 24 Kim McQuin 27 Mary Ann Versteegh, Dane Warnick 28 Jim Wobschall

2 Mike & Cindy Sell 7 Marlin & Sharon Browne 10 Mike & Nancy Carney 14 Scott & Julie Creech

Page 5

Christian Women’s Fellowship

Coffee Fellowship:

February 2nd & 9th: Opal Circle - Carol Macksey

February 16th & 23rd: Property - Mike Sell Opal Circle will not meet in February. Faith Circle will meet Monday, February 17th at 6:30 p.m. at the home of Betty Southern. The service project for the month is Church World Service blankets. These blankets are given to the homeless, refugees, and victims of natural disasters. Please see the information in the narthex along with a sample blanket. Donations can be placed in the bed display.

Disciples Men Disciples Men will meet Saturday, February 29th at 8:00 a.m. at the Hy-Vee Market Grille. All men are welcome to attend.

Thank You Thank you for the many thoughts, prayers cards, memorial gifts and expressions of sympathy at the death of my sister. Your kindness and caring is so appreciated. I am grateful to have such a loving church family. Joyce Guthrie

Pastor Mark Young 314 E. 2nd St. N. Newton, IA 50208

Phone: 641-792-5850 E-mail: fccnewton@gmail.com Web: http://fccnewton.org

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)