1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

From the Pastor’s desk…

Where the Map Begins

This is not

any map you know.

Forget longitude.

Forget latitude.

Do not think

of distances

or of plotting

the most direct route.

Astrolabe, sextant, compass:

these will not help you here.

This is the map

that begins with a star.

This is the chart

that starts with fire,

with blazing,

with an ancient light

that has outlasted

generations, empires,

cultures, wars…

But step out

and you will know

what the wise who traveled

this path before you

knew:

the treasure in this map

is buried not at journey’s end

but at its beginning.

—Jan Richardson

This happens every year. The new year begins with Epiphany, a star-fueled journey that took longer than expected, found

more than they dreamed, and is still finding its way home by another way. In Matthew’s Gospel, we are told these wise

teachers, being warned in a dream, chose a different path homeward. We never hear if they ever found home, or if they made

home another way.

What we do know, is that they put their trust in God, and their friendship in one another. This year, as you follow your own

star-fueled faith, what new ways is God inviting you to discover? What new paths, people, ministries, possibilities are you

being invited to explore? And know, that no matter what path you follow, your friends here at Wakonda, are seeking alongside

you. We have already bravely begun something great, and I for one am excited to see where God leads us in 2019.

Happy New Year, dear ones.

Peace,

Pastor Robyn

January 4, 2018, 2018 Volume 63, Issue 1

Wakonda Christian Church 3938 Fleur Drive DSM IA 50321 515-285-8394 Office Hours 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sr. Pastor Robyn Bles 402-301-9170

Inside this Issue

1. Pastor’s Report

2. Preschool Registration

3. January Sermons Youth News Prayer Concerns

4. Christmas Clean Up Calendar

5 & 6. Outreach News

WAKONDA NEWS

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2019-2020 Registration

Registration for the 2019-2020 school year at Wakonda Preschool has begun. Our program is sponsored by the Wakonda Christian Church.

Through exposure to developmentally appropriate learning situations and tools with which to learn, we attempt to provide an atmosphere

that will help your child to grow socially, physically and intellectually. Our goal is to provide a Christian atmosphere of

warmth, understanding, and caring: a place for your child to be that special, unique person that God so lovingly created, and a place where

learning is fun as well as meaningful. A place where children can learn how to make a friend, and how to be one!

Wakonda Preschool offers classes for children ages two, three, four,

and five years old. All three, four, and five-year olds must be potty-trained. Below are the options to register for at each age level.

All morning classes meet from 9:00 - 11:15 a.m.

All afternoon classes meet from 12:30 - 2:45 p.m.

2 year olds 2 days - Tues & Thurs mornings

3 year olds 2 days Mon/Wed or Tues/Thurs

3 year olds 4 day Mon - Thurs

Pre-K 4-day mornings or afternoons Mon-Thurs

Transitional Kindergarten Mon – Thurs *This is a class that meets from 8:45-2:45 and is for children that

are 5 by September 5, 2019 or by teacher referral.

A registration fee must accompany the registration form for each student. Registration as listed above is on a first come, first

serve opportunity. Please contact the Preschool office (285.8401) for a simple Registration form to fill out

Your deposit is due at the time of Registration by check or online through our secure payment system on our website and

is nonrefundable. If you have any questions, please call the Preschool office at 285-8401 or email me at jamievansickle@wakondapreschool.com

Thank you for your interest in Wakonda Preschool for your child's early childhood education.

Jamie VanSickle, Wakonda Preschool, Director

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Prayer Concern

Sharon Bohnenkamper – (Norm and Pat’s sister) broken leg Jim Christensen – (friend of Burnett’s) colon cancer Darcy – (friend of Haupert’s) cancer Velma Duckworth & Family – Richard’s passing 12/30 Ryan Feldmen – (Walag’s neighbor) – brain cancer Bill Gales – (BIL of Tony Mangin) stage 4 oral cancer Duane Givler – health concerns Helen L. Givler – (Pat Robbins and Norman’s sister-in-law) health concerns Angela Graeve – (friend of Brents) heart issues Owen Graeve - (friend of Brents) 3 yo old son of Angela needs heart surgery Rhonda Grieser – health concerns Jody – (Mabels’ home health worker) fibromyalgia complication Denny Jones - (husband of Kay) – recovery from surgery Carrie Knowlen – (Sharon Newman’s sister-in-law’s sister) breast cancer Nancy Koll – cancer treatment in Omaha Dave Lawson – recovery from surgery Nancy McDonald – (McDonald’s daughter-in-law) cancer Pat Mangin – (Tony’s brother) broken hip Paula Meyer – (friend of Lori Lawson) breast cancer Tammy Moyer – (daughter of Gary Thompson Sr.) health concerns Barb Munsell – health concerns Beth Ornduff –cousin Bill, cancer

Bob Peabody (brother in law of Sharon Newman) Heart problems Phil Potter – (brother of Lorretta Quinnett) back surgery Mike Rosenberg – (nephew of Kathy Darr) lung cancer Morna Rutledge – health concerns Jessica Stapleton (Gary & Virginia Thompson niece) – cancer Terry Webb – (Mabel Motts nephew) – end stage liver cancer Churches in our Region - First Christian Church, Adel, Iowa; Minnesota Korean Dordom Church, Crystal, MN (emerging Congregation); Woodward Christian Church, Woodward, Iowa

Youth & Children News

Wednesdays at Wakonda will resume Wednesday, January 9th!! We look forward to starting off the new year with the fabulous children and youth of Wakonda! For January we’ll start the year off with some games and dreaming for the Spring semester. One of the plans for the semester is Mission Trip Fundraising. Our Mission Trip is scheduled for July 6-12 at the Urban Mission Inn in St. Louis. Sunday School for all ages resumes on Sunday, January 6th.

Special Events for January

• Wednesday, January 23: CYF (High School) Youth and Parents

A Mission Trip meeting on our St. Louis Mission Trip

(July 6-12), at 6:30

• Wednesday, January 20: Chi Rho (middles school)

and CYF (high school) youth ice skating.

Meet at Church to carpool.

Worship Texts & Titles: January

6 – Epiphany – The Gift of the Magi’s Yes! Matthew 2:1-12

13 – Finding Home – Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

20 – The Life of the Party – John 2:1-11

27 – No One Likes a Know-it-all Luke 4:14-21

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

6

8:45 a.m.

Sunday School

10:00 a.m.

Worship

7

9:30 a.m.

Al Anon Mtg.

6:30 p.m.

Literacy Center

6:30 p.m.

Disciples III

8

5:30 p.m.

Aerobics

9

8:30 a.m.

Property Meeting

9:30 a.m.

Silver Crowns

6:00 p.m.

W@W

10:30 p.m. AA

10

5:30 p.m.

Aerobics

7:00 p.m.

Total Praise

10:30 p.m. AA

11

10:30 p.m. AA

12

9:00 a.m.

Christmas

Cleanup

Aerobics

13

8:45 a.m.

Sunday School

10:00 a.m.

14

9:30 a.m.

Al Anon Mtg.

6:30 p.m.

Literacy Center

Disciples III

15

5:30 p.m.

Aerobics

16

9:30 a.m.

Silver Crowns

6:00 p.m.

W@W

7:30 p.m.

Board Meeting

10:30 p.m. AA

17

5:30 p.m.

Aerobics

7:00 p.m.

Total Praise

10:30 p.m. AA

18

10:30 p.m. AA

19

9:00 a.m.

Aerobics

20

8:45 a.m.

Sunday School

10:00 a.m.

Worship

11:00 a.m.

Elders Meeting

21

9:30 a.m.

Al Anon Mtg.

6:30 p.m.

Disciples III

22

5:30 p.m.

Aerobics

23

9:30 a.m.

Silver Crowns

6:00 p.m.

W@W

7:30 p.m.

Outreach Meeting

10:30 p.m. AA

24

5:30 p.m.

Aerobics

7:00 p.m.

Total Praise

10:30 p.m. AA

25

12:00 p.m.

Newsletter

Article

Deadline

10:30 p.m. AA

26

9:00 a.m.

Aerobics

27

8:45 a.m.

Sunday School

10:00 a.m.

Worship

28

9:30 a.m.

Al Anon Mtg.

6:30 p.m.

Literacy Center

Disciples III

29

5:30 p.m.

Aerobics

30

9:30 a.m.

Silver Crowns

6:00 p.m.

W@W

10:30 p.m. AA

31

5:30 p.m.

Aerobics

7:00 p.m.

Total Praise

10:30 p.m. AA

February 1

10:30 p.m. AA

2

8:00 a.m.

B.O.B.

9:00 a.m.

Aerobics

Christmas Clean Up We all enjoyed the beautiful Christmas decoration. Now the time has come to put the Christmas

stuff away. We will be doing this Saturday January 12th starting at 9:00 a.m.

The more the merrier and the quicker it gets done!!

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Outreach Outreach Outreach Outreach MMMMiiiinistriesnistriesnistriesnistries At At At At WakondaWakondaWakondaWakonda Christian ChurchChristian ChurchChristian ChurchChristian Church The ChristThe ChristThe ChristThe Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) ian Church (Disciples of Christ) ian Church (Disciples of Christ) ian Church (Disciples of Christ) InInInIn Mission Work Together: Mission Work Together: Mission Work Together: Mission Work Together: ⧫⧫⧫⧫ January 4January 4January 4January 4,,,, 2012012012019999, Page 1, Page 1, Page 1, Page 1

“JAN. 13TH IS FOOD COLLECTION

SUNDAY” REMEMBERREMEMBERREMEMBERREMEMBER!!! !!! !!! !!! YOU CANYOU CANYOU CANYOU CAN

Bring NonBring NonBring NonBring Non----Perishables, Personal Perishables, Personal Perishables, Personal Perishables, Personal

Items and/or a Monetary Gift.Items and/or a Monetary Gift.Items and/or a Monetary Gift.Items and/or a Monetary Gift. To support the Des Moines Area Religious Council Food

Bank in addressing Food Security Issues in our community

MONTH

DMARC non-

Perishable

Foods

DMARC

Personal Items

TOTAL

DMARC

ITEMS OCT 91 112 203

NOV 52 105 157

DEC 78 20 98

For Steve Mohr and Elaine Conkel for overseeing the

Angel Tree Project – Beginning to End.

For Angel Tree Greeters [of the caregivers with their

gifts] – Dave & Marsha Lund, Ray and Jo Burnett, Dari

Ehlis, Dave Sharpe, Jean Williams, Margaret Page, Susan

Theis, Richard & Emily Guentert, and Elaine Conkel.

For Sharon Newman who hosted the Alternate Gift Market table, and kept good track of all the gifts and

donors.

For all the church members who donated Angel Tree

gifts &/or cash, brought toys for Bridwell Riverside

Cntr., & prayed daily for those on the Missionary List. For Pat Dawson & Donna Munsell, plus all their

volunteers who oversee & organize our five Homeless Shelter Meals each year.

For Anita Schlenker & her volunteers who regularly

prepare & deliver tasty Breakfast Casseroles to the Salvation Army. For Brents Oliphant & her volunteers who charm children

into good learning disciplines through our Literacy Program.

Above is the Biblical theme of the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the Disciples of Christ denomination which is meeting here in Des Moines, July 20-24, 2019. To read about 6 worship speakers during the event go to https://ga.disciples.org/worship/

Add these dates to your personal calendar right away.

Pray every single day for the biennial gathering & reflect on John 15:1-5.

Register NOW to attend the worships, the displays, the workshops, the meals and the mission projects. (Even though, all evening worships are open to the General Public without a paid registration, you support the event with your $$s.) So register at: https://ga.disciples.org/registration/

Volunteer to work as a host during the event, when the request for workers is made. (It lowers your registration fee.)

When the business docket is released make yourself aware. (All can attend & be informed by the business sessions, though only voting representatives can vote.)

On your computer you can view a General Assembly video at https://ga.disciples.org/promotion/

Widen your knowledge of the DOCs.

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DURING ADVENT YOU GAVE $425 TO 7 DIFFERENT NEEDY CAUSES !!

SITIES, AN

During Advent Forty-four gift cards, each related to a child who has an incarcerated parent, were selected by members of the church. You purchased and wrapped all the requested gifts for the 22 children

scattered among seven families. AND, in addition to those presents, cash gifts were donated – sufficient to provide each of the seven caregivers an extra $100 cash certificate to use for their family’s Christmas needs.

As a result of your generosity each of those children received two neat gifts this year - all because of the love of the Christ Child which emanated through your benevolence. Bless you each one for adding a moment of joy to the lives of deserving children and their caregivers!

Outreach Outreach Outreach Outreach MiMiMiMinistriesnistriesnistriesnistries At At At At WakondaWakondaWakondaWakonda ChristiChristiChristiChristian Churchan Churchan Churchan Church The Christian Church (DThe Christian Church (DThe Christian Church (DThe Christian Church (Disciplesisciplesisciplesisciples of Christ) In Mission Work Together: of Christ) In Mission Work Together: of Christ) In Mission Work Together: of Christ) In Mission Work Together: ⧫⧫⧫⧫ January 4January 4January 4January 4,,,, 2012012012019999, Page , Page , Page , Page 2222

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS ?CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS ?CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS ?CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS ?

For The Hanging Of The Greens For The Hanging Of The Greens For The Hanging Of The Greens For The Hanging Of The Greens

Advent Service Advent Service Advent Service Advent Service You BroughtYou BroughtYou BroughtYou Brought

81818181 Presents for ChildrenPresents for ChildrenPresents for ChildrenPresents for Children

To support the family and children’s ministries of the Bidwell Riverside Center.

ThankYouThankYouThankYouThankYouThankYou

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pray for a different Missionary each week, and read the Lectionary Scripture for that week.

Wk. of January 06 – Cara McKinney

In Mexico – Matt. 2:1-12

Wk. of January 13 – Kearstin Bailey

In Greece – Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Wk. of January 20 – Paul Turner

In Dem. Repub. Of Congo – Jn. 2: 1-11

Wk. of January 27 – Rosalind Gnatt In Germany – Luke 4:14-21

Wk. of February 03 – Ben Drolet In Lebanon – Luke 4:22-40

YOUR GIFTING TOUCHED the following

Helping Agencies in the Greater Des Moines area -

giving many individuals and families a brighter

Christmas:

1) Habitat for Humanity; 2) Y.E.S.S. [Youth

Emergency Services and Shelter]; 3) Meals From

The Heartland; 4) Central Iowa Homeless Shelter

and Services; 5) Bidwell Riverside Services; 6) Shelter Suppers from Wakonda Christian Church;

and 7) Hope Ministries.

NEXT DISCIPLES MISSION OFFERING IS “WEEK OF COMPASSION” – FOR DISCIPLES WORLDWIDE DISASTER RELIEF