First Presbyterian Church 115 - 6th Ave. NW P.O. Box 188 Co m e a n d S e e ! - J o h n 1 :4 6 Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Independence, Iowa 50644 RETURN SERVICES REQUESTED Phone: 319-334-3523 Fax: 319-334-4134 Email: [email protected] Website: fpcindependence.com When a couple received a rose bush as a gift, they planted and When a couple received a rose bush as a gift, they planted and When a couple received a rose bush as a gift, they planted and When a couple received a rose bush as a gift, they planted and cared for it, eagerly waiting for it to bloom. A few months cared for it, eagerly waiting for it to bloom. A few months cared for it, eagerly waiting for it to bloom. A few months cared for it, eagerly waiting for it to bloom. A few months later, a bud finally appeared. Day by day, it began to fill out. later, a bud finally appeared. Day by day, it began to fill out. later, a bud finally appeared. Day by day, it began to fill out. later, a bud finally appeared. Day by day, it began to fill out. The couple’s anticipation grew when they could see that the The couple’s anticipation grew when they could see that the The couple’s anticipation grew when they could see that the The couple’s anticipation grew when they could see that the rose would be bright red. rose would be bright red. rose would be bright red. rose would be bright red. One day, they were surprised to notice that the green around One day, they were surprised to notice that the green around One day, they were surprised to notice that the green around One day, they were surprised to notice that the green around the bud had been pulled away and the flower petals were torn the bud had been pulled away and the flower petals were torn the bud had been pulled away and the flower petals were torn the bud had been pulled away and the flower petals were torn apart. They asked their young daughter if she knew what had apart. They asked their young daughter if she knew what had apart. They asked their young daughter if she knew what had apart. They asked their young daughter if she knew what had happened. “I just couldn’t wait any longer,” she said, “so I happened. “I just couldn’t wait any longer,” she said, “so I happened. “I just couldn’t wait any longer,” she said, “so I happened. “I just couldn’t wait any longer,” she said, “so I blossomed it myself.” blossomed it myself.” blossomed it myself.” blossomed it myself.” The psalmist tells us to “Wait for the LORD … ” (Psalm 27:14, The psalmist tells us to “Wait for the LORD … ” (Psalm 27:14, The psalmist tells us to “Wait for the LORD … ” (Psalm 27:14, The psalmist tells us to “Wait for the LORD … ” (Psalm 27:14, NRSV). Instead of trying to help God along, let him bring NRSV). Instead of trying to help God along, let him bring NRSV). Instead of trying to help God along, let him bring NRSV). Instead of trying to help God along, let him bring things to fulfillment in his perfect time. things to fulfillment in his perfect time. things to fulfillment in his perfect time. things to fulfillment in his perfect time. KERYGMA FIRST PRESBYTERIAN C FIRST PRESBYTERIAN C FIRST PRESBYTERIAN C FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HURCH HURCH HURCH It is fashionable to stand on the brink of a new year and reflect on the year that was. Always one to be in fashion, kind of, I would like to take a look back on events from 2010 that represent how we are significantly moving in new directions. Project of the Year for 2009: Our church received the Chamber’s Project of the Year award in 2010 for our Backpack Program. This undertaking represents a major shift in how we go about doing mission and ministry. The important change here is partnerships. Successful and meaningful mission in the future will not be done by churches that take a “Lone Ranger” approach. With the Backpack Program we formed key partnerships with the Northeast Iowa Food Bank and the Independence Schools. Giving food to over 100 kids every week is important and notewor- thy. The partnerships that make it happen are just as noteworthy. Trivia Night: We began to host Trivia Nights in 2010. These evenings together are fun and very enjoy- able. They bring not just church people together, but community people as well. If all this event was about was fun and fellowship it would be worthwhile. But there is another dynamic that makes it significant. Each Trivia Night involves an offering for a beneficiary. We have given to various community ministries (like Help Our Teachers and Adopt A Family) as well as national ministries (like Haiti relief work). In times when the pressure on our church’s budget is growing, Trivia Night is an example of how we are looking for new, creative approaches to funding the ministry we want to do. 3 Baptisms in 4 Weeks: During the first 4 Sunday’s of Advent we baptized children on 3 of those Sunday’s. In addition we saw our worship attendance improve significantly in the last quarter of 2010. And it sure seems like there are a whole lot more kids coming up for the Children’s sermon. When you look around the sanctuary on Sunday morning you can’t help but notice that we are getting younger. It remains to be seen if this trend holds into 2011. But it does leave one with a feeling of confidence in the things we are doing and gives us optimism about the future. Many years ago we committed ourselves to adding value to our community. If our church, or any church, is going to do that we can’t keep doing things the way we always have. We must change how we worship. We must change our approach to ministry. We need to develop our leadership. In 2010 we saw two major ministry changes at work: we are forming key partnerships and finding new ways to fund what we do. Also in 2010 we saw an increase in our attendance and more kids in the church. Is that a barometer of how we are doing? 2011 is upon us. I will be curious what we see in the rearview mirror as we enter 2012. For now, we can enter 2011 feeling good about the direction we are moving and how God is at work in our midst. Pastor John R R Re e ev v v. . . J J Jo o oh h hn n n H H Ho o ou u ug g ge e en n n Home: (319) 334-5175 Email: [email protected] C C Ch h hu u ur r rc c ch h h O O Of f ff f fi i ic c ce e e Phone: (319) 334-3523 Fax: (319) 334-4134 Office: 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Monday - Friday Website www.fpcindependence.com S S St t ta a af f ff f f Mark Geertsma Christian Education Director Janet Harms Youth Ministry Coordinator Kathy Smith Secretary Email: [email protected] George Hemmer Custodian INSIDE THIS ISSUE 2 2 2 2 Mark Your Calendars Mark Your Calendars Mark Your Calendars Mark Your Calendars All in the Family/PW All in the Family/PW All in the Family/PW All in the Family/PW 3 3 3 3 Activities for Kids Activities for Kids Activities for Kids Activities for Kids 4 4 4 4 C C Ch h hr r ri i is s st t tm m ma a as s s P P Pr r ro o og g gr r ra a am m m P P Pi i ic c ct t tu u ur r re e es s s 5 5 5 5 Adopt Adopt Adopt Adopt- - -A A A- - -Family/ Family/ Family/ Family/ C C Ch h hr r ri i is s st t tm m ma a as s s A A Al l ll l l O O Ov v ve e er r r t t th h he e e C C Ch h hu u ur r rc c ch h h 6 6 6 6 J J Ja a an n nu u ua a ar r ry y y W W Wo o or r rs s sh h hi i ip p p S S Sc c ch h he e ed d du u ul l le e e Birthdays/Anniversaries Birthdays/Anniversaries Birthdays/Anniversaries Birthdays/Anniversaries 7 7 7 7 F F Fe e eb b br r ru u ua a ar r ry y y W W Wo o or r rs s sh h hi i ip p p S S Sc c ch h he e ed d du u ul l le e e Birthdays/Anniversaries Birthdays/Anniversaries Birthdays/Anniversaries Birthdays/Anniversaries