The Lamplighter

PASTORS PEACE

Zion
United Church
of Christ
May 2016
Inside This Issue

1 Pastors Peace
2 Palm of Prayer
3 Worship Ways
4 This Months Events
5 Community & Conference Clamor
6 Butterfly Room
7 Celebration Occasions
8 Worship Whirl
No matter who you are or where you are
on life's journey, you are welcome
here. We believe in extravagant welcome. This is why we insist that God's communion table is open, not closed, and
God's gift and claim in baptism are irrevocable. We advocate justice for
all. Our congregations extend hospitality
as a sign of God's inclusive love. We
teach that evangelism - offering bread to those
in search of it - is God's mission. Our perspective is global, not provincial. We work with - not
against - people of other faiths. Why?
Because God is still speaking!

"Of One Mind"

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then
you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-God's good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2
What is the pattern of this world? How are we a part of
the pattern? How does each one of us see the pattern
repeating through each generation? How do we repeat
the pattern that we see and are a part of? What are results that occur from following the pattern
of the world? Is it joy or sorrow, growth or
stagnation, forgiveness or grudge?
May 15 we celebrate Pentecost, the
birthday of the church (remember to wear
red!). Peter and 120 disciples were gathered together, waiting for the promised
Companion to come. They had celebrated Pentecost for 3500 years; it was
the celebration of First Fruits, from the
Law of Moses, God's covenant with God's people. But
Jesus had changed everything through his death and resurrection, bringing the new covenant of love through his
sacrifice, death and transformation in resurrection.
"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of
a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole
house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to
be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on
each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled
them." Acts 2:1-4
The Scripture goes on to say that folks from "every nation under heaven," were there for the celebration and
they were drawn toward this new thing that was happening before their eyes and in many of their hearts. They
were confused and awestruck, yet they understood what
was being said, even though they all spoke different languages. About 3,000 were baptized and added to the
number of disciples that day!

Zion United Church of ChristEstablished 1880

105 N. Mary, Mayview, Missouri 64071-8224
Phone and FAX: (660) 237 - 4355

However we imagine the scene on this Day of

Pentecost, some 3500 years after the first,
something extraordinary and life-changing happened
to those present. It changed some dramatically; I
imagine for others it took time. And others mocked
them, thinking they were drunk--yeah, drunk on the
Spirit of God! Whether or not this is in our
experience, we must admit that relationship with God
changes us. We are drawn to, tempted by, and are
often held captive by the pattern of this world, but we
are called every moment of every day to allow Spirit
in to change our lives, so that others can be
encouraged to seek and embrace this change in their
lives because of what they see in us!
We cannot go on living in our old
ways. As it has been said throughout
the years, we must die to our old way
of living and be reborn into the new, to
be transformed by the renewing of our
minds!
What does this mean, to become of one mind?
How can this happen? Do I dare allow the Spirit to
turn my life upside down? Yes, yes, and yes! It
won't necessarily be easier, yet can you imagine
sorrow turned into joy, stagnation into growth, and
grudge turned into forgiveness? As we live into the
mind of Christ within our diversity as creatures of the
world, we begin to change it.
Let's light the birthday candles of Pentecost in our
hearts and be set on fire!
With the Spirit's Spark,
Pastor Kristin

The Lamplighter

PALM of PRAYER 8 But God

demonstrates His own love toward
us, in that while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 (NASB)

Concerns Please continue to surround in love

and prayer, those experiencing health difficulties
& or recovering from surgery, the loss of family
and friends, & those adjusting to new seasons in
their lives: Kenton Dittmer, Josephine Ryan,
Irene Miller, Honey Tyler, Mark Aversmans son,
Jim & Sharon Wampler, Karen Neher, Shirley
Nowack, Carol Schemmer ; family and friends of
Catherine Dittmer, Danya Dittmer; the election
of our nations leaders; first responders; military
personnel and their families; families around the
world that are in the midst of tensions, conflicts,
acts of violence and wars which are going on in
different parts of the world.

Joys
Easter Joy!!! Baptisms of Trinity Jannae
Alvested and Rachael Renae Begemann;
welcome to new members Amber Brianne Bertz,
William Douglas Ogan II and Rachael
Begemann! Garrett Fiegenbaum and Seth
Bayless won 1st place at Odessa High School
for a Math contest!! Happy 90th birthday to
Emma Jean Lear, sister of Dorothy Begemann.
The growing and ever-evolving Community
Garden!

One must still have chaos in oneself to be able

to give birth to a dancing star.
~ Friedrich Nietzsche
Pastoral Visits and Prayers
Please feel free to contact me at any time if a
pastoral care visit or prayer request is in your heart.
The best way to reach me is at the parsonage, 660237-4902, and the next best option is my cell @ 660641-1038. Blessings! Pastor Kristin

Rachel Begemann, Pastor Kristin, Trinity Alvested

WHO KNEW?
Spring Fever
Four high school boys afflicted with
spring fever skipped morning classes.
After lunch they reported to the teacher that they
had a flat tire. Much to their relief she smiled and
said, "Well, you missed a test today so take seats apart
from one another and take out a piece of paper." Still
smiling, she waited for them to sit down. Then she said:
"First Question: Which tire was flat?"

The Kentucky Derby is the most

popular and oldest horse race in the
world. The race is 1.25 miles long,
Grade I stakes horse race for three-year-old thoroughbreds
on a dirt track. It is held annually at Churchill Downs
racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky. The Kentucky Derby, run
on the first Saturday in May of every year, is the first leg of
the elusive Triple Crown races. It is followed by the
Preakness Stakes two weeks later in Baltimore, Maryland
and the Belmont Stakes, 3 weeks after the Preakness in
Elmont, New York.

ZION UCC WORSHIP WAYS

BOARD of CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
On May 1 after Worship the Board of Christian
Education will be hosting a luncheon and discussion on curriculum for adults this summer and fall.
We will also have a discussion, led by Tresina
Alvested, on engaging in the process of becoming
an Open and Affirming (ONA), congregation. Open
and Affirming (ONA) is the United Church of
Christ's (UCC) designation for congregations,
campus ministries, and other bodies in the UCC
which make a public covenant of welcome into
their full life and ministry to persons of all sexual
orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.
On Mother's Day, May 8, all mothers will receive
a carnation and all graduates will be recognized.
A special offering designated for The House of
Hope will be collected during Sunday School.
On May 15 we will celebrate the birthday of the
church, Pentecost--wear red to represent the fire
of the Holy Spirit!
VBS will be held during June, July, and August
during Sunday School. Our Summer Schedule
begins June 5th with the Adults vs Kids kickball
game, Sunday school 9 AM, Worship at 10
AM.

SAIL
SAIL held its 8th Annual Community Clean-Up in
Mayview on April 9th. It was a chilly day and turnout was light. However, we covered most of the
streets in Mayview and picked up many bags of
trash and quite a few old tires. Everyone enjoyed
the wiener roast lunch, before moving up the
street to the Community Garden.
We were joined in the Community Garden by a
few people from Mayview as we helped to
prepare the soil and plant flowers and vegetables.
On April 14th a dozen Zion ladies went to lunch
at Simple Life in Concordia. On May 17th, members of SAIL and anyone who would like to join us,
will be going to Blue Springs Terrace for a Work
Day (morning) with lunch afterward. We will plan
to leave from church at 8:30 am.

YOUTH YAK
Our 2016 graduates are Garrett Fiegenbaum
and Ty Wagner. Congratulations! Their graduation will be on Thursday, May 12, 7pm at UCM in
Warrensburg. Makenzie Koch will be graduating
from MU.

Donovan and Austin Aardema Faigh are continuing with their work in Confirmation. One more year!
All youth are invited to participate in the Community Garden on Marshall Street.

MISSION COMMITTEE
Festival of Sharing Kit collections begin in May.
We would like to thank members for their past contributions and encourage them to continue to support this mission project. During the months of May
thru September we will highlight a kit and request
donations. The month of May features the Hygiene
Kit.
1 hand towel 16 x 28 (no fingertip or bath towels)
1 washcloth
1 wide-tooth comb
1 nail clippers
1 bar of bath size soap (in package)
6 standard size Band-Aids
1 toothbrush (in original package)
Please place all items in a one-gallon plastic bag
with a zipper closure.
Strengthen The Church (STC) is a special mission
offering to reimagine and build the future of the
UCC. Shared at the conference and national levels,
STC largely supports youth ministries and full-time
leaders for new churches in parts of the country
where the UCC voice has not been heard. Zion will
collect this special offering on Sunday, May 15th.

EXPRESSION SESSION
THANK YOUs

Dear Zion UCC,

Your Lenten Study collection of $88.00 is truly a blessing
to the Steppingstone Auxiliary, for it will be put to good
use in taking care of the ongoing needs of the young people of the Steppingstone Program. Thank you so much for
your loving support.
Stepping stone Auxiliary , Jeanie Adkins
Dear Friends at Zion,
Our family would like to thank you for the many phone calls
and prayers surrounding our daughters injuries. She has
made great strides and is much improved. Continued prayers
are appreciated and thanks again for your love and friendship.
Bill and Judy Begemann
Dear Members of Zion,
Thanks so much for your well wishes, prayers and cards. My
kneecap is healing nicely and my mobility is much improved!
Jenny (Hop-a-Long) Holt

The Lamplighter

Sunday School9:30 A.M.

Worship10:30 A.M.
May 1, 2016
Communion
Congregation Luncheon
May 4, 2016
Choir 7:00 PM
May 5, 2016
Ascension Day
National Day of Prayer Service: The Crown
Odessa , 6:45 AM
Copyright 2011 The Zondervan Corporation

May 8, 2016
Mothers Day
Graduates Recognizing
Confirmation
May 9, 2016
MLK Jr. Meeting Salem UCC 5 PM
May 11, 2016
Choir 7 PM
May 15, 2016
Pentecost Sunday-Wear RED!
Strengthen the Church Offering
May 16, 2016
BCE 7:15 PM
May 17, 2016
SAIL-Work Day Blue Springs Terrace
May 18, 2016
Lamplighter Info. Due
May 22, 2016
Confirmation
May 24, 2016
Comm. Garden Mo. Extension Education 10 AM
May 30, 2016
Memorial Day
Office Closed
June 5, 2016
Summer Schedule Begins
9AM Sunday School, 10 AM Worship

COMMUNITY, COUNTY &

CONFERENCE CLAMOR
Mayview MO Foundation
Thanks to the outreach efforts
of Elaine Hudson, the Univ of
MO Extension office is playing
a key role in the Mayview
Community Garden! The extension office provides a free gardening program,
Getting Healthy through Gardening, where participants learn how to plant and care for a garden,
how to prepare healthy dishes and be physically
active. The program includes six lessons that are
taught while participants are planting, weeding
and harvesting. The first official planting day was
April 9th, followed by April 16th, where participants
planted peas, beans radishes, corn and flowers.
Kathy Smith from the extension office spoke
about the benefits of gardening for healthy living.
Adult volunteers will be working at the garden
most Saturdays and Tuesdays, 10:00 AM to
12:00 PM. Youth from the community are encouraged to join in the experience and will receive a
coupon for a free treat from local restaurants for
their participation. Kathy Smith from the extension
office will be back at the
garden on Tuesday, May
24th to provide another lesson of healthy living and
benefits of gardening. All
ages are needed and welcome to come and join the
fun!
Pictured: Martha Hawthorne, Lily Jennings, Juanita Wright, Kathy Smith, Univ.
Extension Service, the Haywood Family, Jake, Clarissa, Allison, Mason and
baby girl .

National Day of Prayer

The local National Day of Prayer event will take
place at the Crown in Odessa on May 5 at
6:45am, followed by a breakfast at 7:30. Pastor
Kristin will be participating and anyone else
who would like to attend is welcome! Let's get
together and pray for our communities, schools,
local and national leaders, and for our world!

MMSUCC Conf Annual Gathering (CAG)

Mark your calendars for this year's Conference
Annual Gathering to be held at the Holiday Inn
Executive Center in Columbia, MO, June 9-11.

Together in Faith
Attending the installation of Rev. Cathy Jurgens
at Immanuel UCC in Sedalia on April 17th,
these long-time Mayview community acquaintances enjoyed the opportunity to re-connect
and share a few memories.

Electronic Waste Event

Saturday, May 21, 2016 from 9 am to 12 noon
Lafayette County Road Shed
19717 N Outer Rd Higginsville, MO 64037
http://www.trailsrpc.org/solid-waste/hhw-e-waste-events/

INSPIRATION STATION
Think on This...People invest time and
energy into developing their career, their
bodies and relationships, but often neglect
the spiritual dimension of their lives. How
do you actively pursue spiritual growth?
25

She is clothed with strength and dig-

nity, and she laughs without fear of

the future. Proverbs 31:25 (NLT)

Pictured L to R: Elaine Hudson, Martha Hawthorne,

Julie Bales, and Leora Bremer.

Growing apart doesn't change the fact that for

a long time we grew side by side; our roots will
always be tangled, Im glad for that.
~Ally Condie

The Lamplighter

BUTTERFLY ROOM
3 And

if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I
am, there ye may be also. John 14:3 (KJV)

We don't 'lose' our mothers the reality is more violent than that
David Ferguson
Two dear friends of mine lost their mothers this month, a high school friend and an old love. Ive been sitting
here trying to write condolence cards to them, but the inadequacy of everything Im trying to say, especially
having lost my own mother 18 months ago, is leaving me stymied.
Im so sorry youve lost your mother, sounds like they might have left her at the mall or in their other pants.
It doesnt even begin to convey what I understand about losing your mother, that even if her death came
peacefully after a long struggle, it still feels like a wrenching severance, an amputation.
We have not lost our mothers. We say that to be polite, but in truth, we have become un-mothered, like
Marie Antoinette was un-headed or that wilderness hiker who sawed off his arm was un-handed. It feels violent. It feels raw and fundamental, a pain that reaches all the way down to your ligaments and bones. Our
mothers were our first firmament, literally, our first homes, the universe from whose substance we were
formed.
And while this is a pain that all creatures who are born must face, it does not make saying goodbye to your
mother any easier to do.
To my grieving friends I would say: Brace yourselves. Grief on this scale is like a physical object that the
body must expel.
My uncle fought in Vietnam and was close by when a fellow soldier stepped on a landmine and died instantly.
My uncle survived, but with serious injuries. For years after, pieces of shrapnel would occasionally begin to
work their way up and out through his flesh.
Grief is like that its inside you and it has to come out. There are no shortcuts. Be prepared for sudden explosions of feeling that overtake you at inappropriate times. Once, upon seeing a mother with twin toddler sons
at the local grocery store, I had to abandon a nearly full cart of groceries and rush out of the store to go cry in
the car in big, ugly, gulping sobs.
Over the course of the first year, I became quietly obsessed with Victorian mourning customs. I checked the
calendar periodically to see at what points it was appropriate to exchange black crape for bombazine, at what
date the black ribbon should be taken down from the houses front door, and how long as a male member of
the family would it be appropriate to wear a black armband or hat band, a signal to the world that says: Be
kind to me. I am in pain.
Nowadays, of course, we dont do any of that. We take a few days off of work and then were back in the
game, ready or not. Please, no crying in the break room, like Joan Holloway on Mad Men said. Theres a
place to do that like in your apartment.
Were left to wander back into the world, where everything looks the same, but for us, every movement and
every breath feels weighted down by this suffocating cloud of sadness. What are we supposed to do with that?
How are we to function?
My high school friend, a West Point graduate who has done multiple tours of duty in Afghanistan, wrote to
me: For the first time in my life, I know sorrow. Ive felt sadness, deep sadness, but this is another thing.
She will always be with you, say the well-meaning, but if thats true, I want to know why I still feel so miserably alone. Why cant I talk to her or smell the sweet, clean scent of her hair when I hug her one last time?
Theres nothing good that comes out of the death of someone you love, but I have learned this: the magnitude and bottomlessness of the pain you feel is a testament to the love you shared. And while I dont ever expect to arrive at a point in life where Im alright with the fact that my mother is gone, I know that I am so, so
lucky to have loved and been loved that much by anyone.
That may be small consolation against the howling wind of sadness that is blowing through my friends lives
right now, but its the best that I can offer. That pain youre feeling is directly proportional to how much you
loved and were loved.
It does not ever, apparently, go away altogether, but over time the howling diminishes to a roar, which degrades to a sigh and you find yourself able to go about your life again, though sadder, different. Be gentle and
kind to yourself and honor each stage of what youre feeling and, as much as you can, be thankful for your
mothers
love.

The Lamplighter

Celebration Occasions
May Birthdays
Date

Birthday

Trey Hoeppner

10

Warren Hawthorne

12

Wilbur Neher

15

Darrell Fiegenbaum

19

Dorothy Begemann

22

Jesse Engel
Phillip Hoeppner

23

Robert Brueggenjohann

31

Teresa Begemann
Juanita Wright

Office Hours
Pastor

Admin. Assistant

Tuesday
8:00 AMNoon

Tuesday
10amNoon

Wednesday
6:008:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AMNoon

Thursday
10amNoon

Serving Souls
May

ACOLYTES

GREETERS

Trinity Alvested

Juanita Wright & Laura Nolte

Macey Begemann

Garrett F. & Matthew E. &

Adam H.

15

Alyssa Hoefer

Laura Nolte & Judy Pragman

22

Austin Faigh

Norma Mittelhauser & Jeanette

Starkebaum

29

Donovan Faigh

Roger & Mary Ellen Thomson

Administrative Affairs
May Anniversaries
20

Robert & Amy Hoefer

23

Mike & Amy Burns

31

Ronnie & Martha Hawthorne

Reminder!
The deadline for submissions for the
June newsletter is
Wednesday, May 18, 2016.
Send your submissions to:
jennyholt14@gmail.com or
zionuccsecretary@hotmail.com
Or Call (660) 237-4923

Reverend
Kristin Aardema Faigh

Home(660) 237- 4902

Church (660) 237-4355
pastorkristinatzion@yahoo.com
Cell (660) 641-1038

Council President

Juanita Wright
(816) 633-8818
wanitaright@gmail.com

Cole Courtway
Admin. Assistant

(660) 237- 4355

zionuccsecretary@hotmail.com

Jenny Holt
Newsletter

(660) 237 - 4923

jennyholt14@gmail.com

Teresa Begemann
Organist

(816) 633 - 4133

tjbegemann@yahoo.com

Dawn Stuart
Custodian

(660) 237 - 4355

Zion United Church of Christ

105 North Mary St.
Mayview, Missouri 64071-8224
Generous - Loving - Dedicated Christians
Sunday School 9:30 am
Worship at 10:30 am
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

The Lamplighter
May 2016

Zion UCC Mission Statement

The avowed purpose of our church shall be:
To worship God, to proclaim and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to celebrate the Sacraments; to experience Christian fellowship, to build unity, and to practice charity within this congregation and the wider church; and to share this witness of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

Winter Worship Whirl

Traditional Worship

10:30 AM

Sundays

Come As You Are Service

10:30 AM

Monthly - 3rd Sunday

Sunday School

9:30 AM

Sundays

Communion

10:30AM

Monthly 1st Sunday & Special

Holidays

Church Council

7:15 PM

Monthly

Board of Christian Education

7:15 PM

Monthly

SAIL (Serving All in Love)

7:00 PM

Monthly - 4th Tuesday