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Featuring the people and events of First Congregational Christian Church of Anchorage
March 2019
Minister’s Message “Preparing to Move”
Preparing to move is both exciting and frightening. I can remember our decision to move to Anchorage. It was full of dueling emotions. Driving up was so much fun, but finding a place to live didn’t finalize until we were halfway through the Yukon! The gospels, at least the first three, tell the story of
Jesus as on the move. His disciples and followers dropped what they were doing and moved. Jesus didn’t seem to have much sympathy either. He knew that his ministry was on the move, and if people were going to follow, they would have to get moving with him.
“Preparing to Move” is our 2019 Lenten theme. I have mentioned and preached on the many avenues of ministry that we are exploring as a congregation. We seem to be in a moment of reflection and examination of where the Spirit is leading us. That is what vitality looks like. Some of the inspirations will bubble up and fade away. Others will catch hold and possibly change the direction of our church for years to come. I cannot begin to predict which ones will do what. What we can do is prepare for when the lightning strikes and the call of Jesus beckons us to move.
Inside
Page 1 Minister’s Message
Page 2 Worship Ministry
Page 3 Fellowship Ministry
Page 4 Outreach Ministry Life & Learning Ministry Journey to Jerusalem
Page 5 March Schedule Taize Service
Page 6 April Aires Bell Choir News
Page 7 Just for Kids
Page 8 What is it? Puzzle Answers
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The preparations will begin in our planning meetings, small conversations, and community engagement. All of that is important. However, all of our planning and hopeful dreaming must be grounded in the worship life of our community. That is the space where we as a congregation open ourselves up to what God is doing. Those opportunities of service and worship are the grounding from which communal life takes hold.
For Lent we have multiple opportunities to gather for service and worship as we prepare to move and act as a congregation. Participating is part of that process, and we need each other as we travel through Lent. You are needed to help guide and discern, and part of that means attending to our communal life of worship as a congregation. Here is a brief list of what is happening during our preparation for Easter and our Preparing to Move. I hope to see you along the Way.
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner — 6:00 pm, Tuesday, March 5th Ash Wednesday — 7:00 pm, Wednesday, March 6th Taizé Tuesdays — 5:30 pm, every Tuesday until Easter Palm Sunday — 10:30 am, Sunday, April 14th Maundy Thursday — 6:30 pm, Thursday, April 18th at First Christian Church Good Friday — 7:00pm, Friday, April 19th at First Congregational Easter — 10:30 am, Sunday, April 21st
Blessed Lent, Rev. Jacob Poindexter
Worship Ministry -Claudia Kniefel, Chairperson
Forgiveness and Cranes
Jacob talked about forgiveness in his sermon last week (2/24/19), and at the same time I’ve been pondering a quote by Desmond Tutu, “We just need to stop pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.” The two things don’t seem to have much to do with one another until you remember that Bishop Tutu was a big part of the amazing reconciliation that occurred in South Africa following the end of Apartheid.
So yes, we need to forgive, but we need to understand the root of whatever the problem is, so we might better be a part of a solution. Now what about the cranes? You may have noticed the branches with the origami cranes that have “sprouted” in the front of the meeting house. This is another project from the fertile minds of our Thursday Creating Liturgia group. Cranes have become a symbol of hope and healing during challenging times like these. In these days when the sun is coming back to Alaska it seems fitting to
Claudia Kniefel hanging paper cranes on the tree branches.
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add the symbol of the cranes to remind us that there is hope and we are part of it.
So, let the cranes remind us to forgive our debtors as we ask God to forgive our debts, and to look upriver for the source of the problem rather than just pulling the bodies from the river, and above all never lose hope, faith and love.
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Fellowship Ministry -Lynn Barber, Chairperson
As usual, the Fellowship Ministry is planning a variety of upcoming events for March and April, including:
• Tuesday, March 5 – Shrove Tuesday Pancake supper, beginning at 6:00 pm
• Tuesdays in Lent (March 12 – April 16) – Taize services (see other newsletter
item for details)
• Friday Food and Fun, date TBA (probably March 15 or 22 at McGinley’s)
• Friday, April 12 - Game Night, beginning at 6:00 pm
The Thursday “Creating Liturgia” group making paper cranes.
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Outreach Ministry -Kathy Means, Chairperson March Musings
The days are longer, the sun is higher in the sky, and the dogs are racing through town. It’s spring!
Outreach will be hosting our annual Bean-a-fit for Bean’s Cafe during the March 31st potluck. We will feature this year’s award-winning bean soup recipes and have bags of bean soup mixtures to sell. Bring other foods to help fill out the meal. Donations for Bean’s Cafe will be accepted.
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Life & Learning Ministry -Marcie Errico, Chairperson In the spirit of the Loaves & Fishes miracle—turning a little into a feast, the youth are “sharing the love” as they wrap up the joint project with Outreach to gather large cans for Elgin Jones’ birthday for Kids’ Kitchen. With Elgin’s unfortunate passing this week, the youth will be honoring his memory, and his service to the children of Anchorage, by donating the money they raised from their centerpiece sales projects last fall to Elgin’s memorial service. When we get back from Spring Break, we’ll start on our donation drive for AKEELA House, but more on that next month.
Thank you to the whole congregation for supporting the youth as they learn to be good servants in the manner Jesus taught us.
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Journey to Jerusalem 2019
Be sure to check out the “Journey to Jerusalem” poster on the wall in the Narthex! If you are interested in participating in this “spiritual” walking journey, be sure to pick up a devotional booklet on the table below the poster.
There are many different ways to use this devotional on your journey. What’s most important is that you use whatever method works for you. There is no right or wrong way to do this! Here a few suggestions for making your commitment to physical and spiritual growth a fruitful experience;
If you wish, you can stay with the same passage for the entire week. At the end of each week, take a few moments to review what insights or reflections you may have had, and how God may be speaking to or leading you. There is an area in your devotional book for you to write your reflections, if that is something you would like to do.
Another option may be to join with others from our congregation in a Saturday walk at 3 pm for an hour, more or less. Again, the most important thing is that you find a way that works best for you and helps you be faithful to your commitment.
The Journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem begins March 3, 2019 – April 21, 2019.
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March 3 Life & Learning Ministry Meeting……….….12:00 pm
March 5 Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper……….….6:00 pm
March 6 Ash Wednesday Service……………………..7:00 pm
March 7 Investment Club……………………………….6:30 pm
March 10 Outreach Ministry Meeting………………….12:00 pm
March 12 Stewardship Ministry Meeting………………..3:30 pm
March 17 FCC Council Meeting………………………..12:15 pm
March 19 Taize Service…………………………………..5:30 pm
March 20 Fellowship Ministry Meeting………………….3:30 pm
March 26 Taize Service…………………………………..5:30 pm
March 28 Worship Ministry Meeting…………………….6:00 pm
March 31 Potluck: Bean-a-Fit (Outreach Ministry)…...11:45 am
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Lenten Taizé Services
We will again be having Lenten Taize-style services this year each Tuesday evening
from March 12th through April 16th. Each service will begin at 5:30 pm and will go 35-45
minutes. Services will include quiet chants, readings, responses, periods of silence and
communion. All are welcome to attend one or more of these services. If you play an
instrument such as guitar, recorder, violin, oboe, flute … and are interested in being part
of the instrumental accompaniment to the chants, please contact Lynn Barber
([email protected]) or Kathy Means ([email protected]) for further information
about the music to be played and time of practice.
March Services, Events,
and Meetings
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What is Happening on Sunday April 28? APRIL AIRES!!
It all starts Sunday after church on April 28. Right now, we are working on the details of what the acts will be and who will be helping. The schedule is as follows:
11:00-1:15 – Set up time for arts and crafts
1:30-2:00 – Arts and crafts exhibit viewing
2:00-3:30 – April Aires “Acts” (music, reading…)
3:30-5:00 – Reception with finger food
Other Help Needed for April Aires
1. On the day of April Aires (Sunday, April 28) volunteers are needed to stay after church and help Irene Stewart with setting up the arts and crafts display. In addition, people are needed to stay after April Aires is over to take down the display and help with cleanup.
2. People to make finger food for the reception following April Aires.
3. Someone to volunteer to be in charge of the reception. Please let us know if you can help in any of these ways as soon as possible.
All information and questions should be directed to co-chairs, Lynn Barber ([email protected]) or Caroline Valentine ([email protected]).
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Intergenerational Handbell Choir
Rehearsals for the Intergenerational Handbell Choir are every Sunday at noon up until Sunday, April 7th. The choir will be performing on the April 14th, Palm Sunday service.
Community Handbell Choir
The Community Handbell Choir is still open for new members! Choir practices are scheduled for 6 to 7:30 pm every Monday night at FCC. If you know of someone who may want more information, please contact Caroline Valentine.
Arts & Crafts Wanted!
We need people to provide arts and crafts for display on April 28th at April Aires. The arts and crafts display is coordinated by Irene Stewart. Irene encourages all artists to bring in their creations to share with others, whatever your specialty is; painting, photography, quilting, knitting, sewing, woodcarvings… Please let Irene ([email protected]) know by early April what you can bring!
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Puzzle Answers on page 6
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FCC People
Senior Minister
Rev. Jacob L. Poindexter
907-272-8363 (work)
Caroline Valentine, Organist, Director, Northern Lights
Ringers
Lori Wasco
Director, Chancel Choir
Laney Hanas
Acolyte Attendant
Contacts
Administrative Assistant &
Editor
Marcy File 272-8363
FCC Church Sexton
Scott McClure 272-8363
Wedding Coordinator
Sandra Skaggs 622-1777
Serving the NACCC
Sharon Higgins, Year-Round Delegate
Serving the PNACCC
Claudia Kniefel 2018 Delegate
Puzzle Answers: Ark; rain; animals; Noah; bad;
dove; two;
Rainbow
WHAT COLOR IS THIS? WHAT IS IT?
There seems to be little agreement on the color - red? Brown? Maroon? Burgundy? Who knows?
But there is agreement on what it is - it is a "Welcome to our Worship” book.
The Worship Ministry is hoping that people will get in the habit of signing it whenever they are in church on Sunday morning. It will support the pastoral care ministry of the church and help the Worship Ministry and Reverend Jacob serve the needs of the congregation better.
Remember…You can find the current monthly calendar on the Church web site (www.fccak.org). It’s updated almost daily, so you might want to make checking it part of your daily routine.
