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Together For Joy
This is the fourth in a series for our Fall Stewardship Program, Together For Joy
Dear RLC Family,
“Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy.” + Psalm 98:8
“Together.” We used to think we knew just what that word meant, didn’t we? We never used to wonder, most of us, how the definition might be stretched, how important togetherness might become or how clever we’d need to become in order to make it happen.
But haven’t these past years changed and challenged things? Amid a sea of confusion, fear, and discord, we felt a renewed longing for some kind of joy, precisely when it was harder to gather in the way we had been used to, and we rejoiced as we once again came to coffee shops, dinner parties, choir rehearsal, Sunday morning worship, fellowship hour. Even as we’ve come back, we find ourselves missing things the way they used to be.
So we all stretched, hard. Flexed more than we thought we could. Groaned and reached and complained and expanded and swore (only a little!) and wept (sometimes a lot!). In the past year:
- Our Sunday School team valiantly taught kids online and then gathered them again in the classroom while reminding them how to behave in person
- A few people took on the mammoth task of streaming worship every week, a gift that continues to prove its value
- Dedicated volunteers took on extra property responsibilities as our mowing needs increased
- We hired a new custodian who has kept our building clean; thanks Ryon!
- A monthly casserole hand-out morphed into a community meal, so our neighbors can get a meal and a welcome, and our community grows stronger
- We’ve collected over 50 school kits, dozens of baby kits, and other donations for Lutheran World Relief
And in the end, we were together, weren’t we? When we logged on for Zoom meetings, streamed worship services, got together in the parking lot, gathered our youth together for trunk-or-treat, commissioned our Peru Mission Trip, blessed our Global Greens Garden, we were together in joy, weren’t we?
And now that the world feels a little more open than it used to, it’s safe to say that we may never appreciate the gift of in-person church more than we do now: the beauty of worship, the power of music, the sweetness of sacraments, the dignity of service — always together for joy in community with God, whose love covers every distance and heals every heart.
By now, you should have received from the Stewardship and Finance Board a pledge card and a prayer. If you missed it, find the pledge card at this link. I hope you will join me and the rest of our RLC family in praying over your pledge card as we discern together our giving for the coming year. So much is different; so many circumstances have changed. But here’s what I know: with God’s help, the new song we create, in person and in spirit, will be well worth the rejoicing!
See you on October 22/23. We will gather these pledges in worship this weekend. If you're unable to join us at RLC, you can email your giving commitment directly to our financial secretary, Andi Donaghy.
Pastor Beth Wartick
Adult Education
October 23: Manna & Mercy: The Wilderness School
October 30: Manna & Mercy: The Covenant and the Covenant Gift
On Wednesday, October 19, RLC will host a free community meal from 5:15-6:45 pm. All are welcome. If you'd like a good meal or a friendly conversation, we've got you covered. See you there! Bring a friend!
The RLC Book Club will meet on Thursday, October 20, at 1:30 P.M. at the Church. Plan to join us as we discuss this month's book The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths. Bring your beverage and...Let's read!
Join us on Thursday, October 20 at 7:00 pm for Pub Theology at Uptown Garage Brewing, 305 SW Walnut. Whether you have joined in the past or want to give it a try this time, please make sure to send your current email address to: srkirstein@gmail.com so we can make sure you receive the “homework”
You are invited to the RLC Chili Cook-off and fundraiser! This will take place at 5:30pm on Sunday, October 23 at RLC.
Come with an appetite. Please plan to sample different chili's and vote on your favorite! We will also have some warm fall drinks and s'mores! Everyone of all ages are invited and you can bring friends along!
In addition to the most popular chili receiving a prize, there will also be a prize for the chili that raises the most money-- so come ready to support your favorite chili with an open wallet. Proceeds will support the RLC general fund.
We also need chili cookers! Do you have a chili recipe you love? Please consider signing up to prepare a crockpot full of chili. Those tasting the chili will vote on their favorite. Please plan to arrive with your crockpot by 5:15pm. If you would like to provide chili, please sign up at this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4FABAA22A2FD0-chili , sign up at church or let Sarah Nelson know that you're interested- sarahkeller07@gmail.com
Meal Train for baby Dennis Parks
Taylor Honadel and Matt Parks, along with big brother Brayden, are excited to welcome baby Dennis into their family on October 24. We all know how exciting and challenging the first few weeks are, so let's all show them support by preparing and dropping off a meal or by picking up carry out and dropping it off. To sign up and get details: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4FABAA22A2FD0-meals
You’re invited to RLC’s Halloween Costume Party for spooky family fun on Wednesday, 10/26 from 6 – 7:30 PM! Please invite other families as well and share this Facebook invite https://facebook.com/events/s/halloween-party/1148035202459223/. There will be game stations, activity/craft stations, and food (including loose meat sandwiches, pizza and walking tacos), and a spooky haunted house to walk through (haunted house opens at 6:30). If you’re coming to the party and have time to bring a snack or treat to share, we will gladly take your treats even if you have not officially signed up. Part of the fun is all the yummy food people bring to share with the families and volunteers!
Individually wrapped candy/snacks donations for game station are needed by Sunday, 10/23. Thank you to all who have brought some in already!
Can you help at a game station? We could still use a few more volunteers! We’ll do ALL the prep and setup, just need you to come from 6 to 7:30 PM to assist children in playing one of the games. Please use the sign-up sheet at church or this electronic Halloween Party signup. We also welcome sign-ups to bring snacks to share! Costumes encouraged, but not required! Thank you!!!
Fellowship: Sign up online (https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0b4fabaa22a2fd0-fellowship1) or on the sheets in the coffee area to volunteer as a snack provider or server.
Director of Youth and Family Ministry position update
Last week, Council talked about the staff position and RLC's current needs. We were in agreement that we will work to create an updated job description and fill that position as soon as possible.
This week, the leaders of the cottage meetings will share what they learned from the congregation, which, in clarifying our goals and needs as a congregation, I think will also give us a better sense of what RLC needs for this staff person and help shape the job description. That summary will go out to the congregation sometime in November, after Council gets to see it.
Over the next week or so, pledges will come in from RLC members for their giving commitment for next year's budget. The response from those pledges will help us see what our financial resources are to support this position, and may impact whether we look for a part-time or full-time staff person.
I will work with RLC's Personnel Committee and Staff Support Committee, as well as the Council, to create a job description that reflects our needs and resources as a congregation. Once we have an approved job description and salary range, we'll post that job description. As we receive applications, we'll do interviews until we find a candidate who is a good fit for RLC.
Please keep this process in your prayers! I'll share additional updates as the process unfolds.
Pastor Beth
Please consider sharing Fall/Halloween greetings with those members of our congregation who are unable to enjoy the season in the way we may take for granted.
Roger & Lucy Boelman, Rock Creek Senior Living,3602 NW 5th #214, Ankeny, IA 50023
Derek Carlson, 2504 NW Chapel Drive, Ankeny, IA 50023
Gerald Fieser, 501 SE Trilein Dr., Ankeny, IA 50021-3432
Janet Hammond, 1201 SE Mill Pond Ct. #135, Ankeny, IA 50021
Joan Hurd, Good Samaritan Ctr, 700 West Main Street, Canistota, SD 57012
Helen Johnson, 1201 SE Mill Pond Ct. #347, Ankeny, IA 50021
Denny Lincicum, Rock Creek Senior Living, 3602 NW 5th Street #9, Ankeny, IA 50023
Pearlyn Reitz, 826 SE Sharon Drive, Ankeny, IA 50021-3604
Cyndy Sardeson, 810 SE Innsbruck Drive, Ankeny, IA 50021-3621
Esther Schmitt, 2571 Guthrie Avenue Apt. #2414, Des Moines, IA 50317
Jim Scherf, 305 NW 9th Street, Ankeny, IA 50023
Ken Schumacher, Sunrise Retirement Community, 5501 Gordon Drive East #104, Sioux City, IA 51106
Tom & Chris Yancy, 2008 SW 35th Street, Ankeny, IA 50023
Saturday Bible Study. We are meeting at 8:30am on Saturdays at RLC
LIFT Ladies' Group meets at 9 am on Tuesday mornings at Main Street Cafe - Ankeny
ROG Men's Group meets at 9 am on Wednesday mornings at Hy-Vee North - Ankeny
Saturday, 5 pm October 22
Usher - Open
Reader - Carly Montgomery
Communion - Open
Sunday, 8:15 am October 23
Ushers - Brennan Cleveland
Greeter - Shannon Simons
Acolyte - Hailey Allbee
Reader - Renata Eustice-Cleveland
Communion Assistant - Andi Donaghy
Sunday, 10:45 am October 23
Ushers - Jerry Tonneson
Greeter - Open
Acolyte - Open
Reader - Terry Luloff
Communion Assistant - Sonya Miller
Mowing Schedule
Oct. 17—Jerry Tonneson
Oct. 24—Mark Aarsvold
Oct. 31—Matt Ahrens
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