This week's devotion is written by Pastor Beth Wartick.

When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
John 20:22‭-‬23 NRSV

This is part of a conversation Jesus had with his disciples on the day of his resurrection. After meeting with Mary Magdalene at the tomb, he reunited with ten of his other disciples and gave them the Holy Spirit with the instruction to forgive sin. Jesus also says that along with the power to forgive, the Holy Spirit gives the power to not forgive. It sounds like a lot of power, and it is! To forgive, or not forgive: that's the question.

In Greek, the word that means forgive also means release. In other words, forgiveness is connected to letting go. 

This time of year we can see an excellent example of the necessity and beauty of letting things go just by looking to the trees. Take a look at the nearest maple or oak tree: see how its leaves are turning red, yellow, and orange? They may already be falling from the branches to carpet the ground beneath them. It is beautiful and even necessary for trees to release their leaves when the season changes. 

If trees don't let go of their leaves? Well, that's not good. Several years ago, I had an eight-year-old maple tree in my front yard. One fall, for some reason, it just didn't drop its leaves as the other trees did. Some of the leaves fell, but most stuck onto the branches. I was curious what would happen if it didn't let go of the leaves. 

One day, I found out. Continue reading...

Congregational Update from Pastor Beth & Council - 10/12
Throughout this pandemic, RLC has held the values of meeting spiritual needs of our community and meeting public health needs as high priorities. As we see both an increased longing to gather in our sanctuary for worship and a decrease in covid-19 cases in Polk County, Council is planning for a return to indoor worship beginning October 31. We expect that there will continue to be safety precautions, including the requirement of masks for worshipers over age 2 and social distancing between households. More details will be in next week's email, so please read next week's email carefully.

Christian Education (Preschool-high school) - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85048124376?pwd=bVB5SWtWdHRHdTVsd2t2U0llOGJZQT09
Confirmation - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82829069738?pwd=dWprMG1qSXZKZlFrdkl3eTVsS3FzQT09
Adult Education (Sunday at 9:30) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86934555363?pwd=dzduWEt0MnFqU1RZMWNoMy9RVjhDUT09 


Local and national public health leaders continue to urge eligible Iowans to be vaccinated: for yourself, your family, and your community. If you have questions about vaccination, speak with your healthcare provider. If you need help scheduling or getting to an appointment, contact Pastor Beth.

What are the expectations for those gathering in the church building? Wear a mask at all times, regardless of vaccination status.
When is worship? 10:45am (streamed on www.youtube.com/ResurrectionLutheranChurchAnkeny)
When is Sunday School/Adult Ed? 9:30am on Zoom
 

Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do good. Work for justice. Help the down-and-out. Stand up for the homeless. Go to bat for the defenseless. (The Message)

Resurrection Lutheran church became a member of AMOS a few years ago.  What is AMOS? A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy (AMOS) believes in the inherent dignity of each person, and every person's ability to take action. We seek to channel individual action into a responsible and powerfully organized force for the common good. 

In the next few weeks we will provide links to AMOS successes.  In celebration of 25 years of AMOS working in central Iowa, we have pledged an additional $500 to the AMOS mission and are asking our members to support this commitment with individual free will donations.

AMOS aims to encourage fundamental and sustainable change that is good for the community its members live in.  The members do this through listening to community members’ needs and by developing relationships with elected and public officials in an effort to improve and influence public policy.  Here is one of the AMOS successes:

AMOS Secures $5 Million in New Funding for Longterm Workforce Development in Iowa

If you are so moved please donate to this mission.  You can submit a check to church for AMOS, you can indicate you’d like additional funds through Tithely to apply to AMOS, or you can support the organization directly at INVEST - AMOS (amosiowa.org)

Continuing Sunday, our adult class will spend seven weeks "Making Sense of Martin Luther" together from 9:30-10:30. You don't need any preparation ahead of time, but if you want some extra resources, you can order your own copy of this book to add detail between the classes.

The food pantry cart is full and we are looking for a volunteer to take the items over to IMPACT Food Pantry.  Please contact the office if you can volunteer.  Thank you

Trunk or Treat is October 27 from 6-7 pm and the Christian Ed board is looking for people to decorate their trunk and or donate candy for the event. Please contact Keri Bolles or Grace if you are willing to decorate a trunk or donate candy (you can even donate money for Keri to purchase candy on your behalf).

At Trunk or Treat, a trunk will be collecting donations for the ARL. Click here to see the ARL's wish list.  

Saturday Bible Study. We are meeting at Linda Baker’s home, 1101 NW Wagner Ct, Ankeny, 8:30am on Saturdays. If it’s nice weather, we are on her deck. We study the Sunday lessons and it is open to all. Please contact Linda at 515-419-3021 if you have questions.

Lois Porth is making both adult and child size masks, if you would like one please contact her at 515-401-7454 or you may stop by the church and pick one up.

LIFT (Ladies In Fellowship Together) is now meeting at Main Street Cafe, 2510 SW Birch Drive, Ankeny at 9 am on Tuesday mornings.

Giving 
At Resurrection, we understand sharing from the resources with which God has blessed us to be an act of faithful discipleship. As we gather in person and online, there are many ways you can contribute to our mission:

1. If you’re using a giving envelope, the envelopes are designed to be mailable. Seal your envelope tightly, place a stamp, and mail it to the church, or drop it in the offering container during in-person worship.
2. Give online. Set up your one-time or recurring gift. Easy! And, you’re in control of any changes to your giving — which funds you give to, amount, timing, reporting! Set up account and give online
3. Give with the Tithely giving app.

 
Create your giving account, and manage your giving from the convenient app. Download the GREEN Tithely giving app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

If you’d like to set up automatic giving, but prefer to have help setting it up, call church financial secretary Andi Donaghy, 515-681-5031. She can help you set up an automatic recurring gift. Please have your bank’s routing number and your bank account number available when you call.
 
 “Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:7-8 

Mowing Schedule
Oct. 4—Matt Ahrens
Oct. 11—Ken Carlson
Oct. 17—Jerry Humpfer
Oct. 25—Doug Keifer

Tai Chi Classes
Fall Tai Chi at RLC (914 NW Ash St, Ankeny) will run from September 8 (Wed) thru October 16 (Fri) on Wednesdays & Fridays.
Wednesdays will be at RLC from 8:30-10 and Fridays will be online on ZOOM from 8:30-9:30.
Some Wednesdays we'll be outside...at the Ankeny Pavilion....I'll send an email on Monday or Tuesday to indicate where we will meet
Due to the increase in Corona Virus in Polk County, the church has returned to all people in the church needing masks, so please come prepared.

8:30am-9:00am - warm ups, continuing introduction to Yang24 and review of other forms
9:00am-9:30am - Qigong - various
9:30am-10:00am - refreshing Yang24 and moving on to Yang40, this 1/2 hour will expect more experience from the participants
For 1 hour of class, choose either 8:30-9:30 or 9-10 as appropriate...You are welcome to attend the full 1.5 hours. This session of 12 classes (6 weeks of Wednesdays and Fridays) will end on Friday October 16. The following session will start in November.  I'm cutting back a bit as I get older and slower ;-)

The fee for September/October session is $20...you may bring a check or cash to class or send a check to:
Deanna Jens
1112 NW Abbie Dr
Ankeny, IA 50023

As always...come when you can and leave when you must. if you have any questions please contact Deanna Jens, Certified Instructor, teaching: Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention, Tai Chi for Diabetes, Tai Chi for Rehabilitation, Yang10, 5 Animal Frolic DeannaTC4U@aol.com 515-720-6457 (cell)   

If you, or someone you know, are unable to get food, medicine, or other supplies, please contact the church office and they will have a member get in contact with you for assistance.