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Ione Community Church

Newslet ter

A Letter of ThanksDearest Ione Community Church,

We would like to express our thanks and gratitude to you for sharing your

wonderful pastor wit us. Stacy was such a blessing during out time of loss an

helped us probably more than she will ever know. My hope is that we were a

much comfort to her in her time of need as well.It was generous of you to allow Stacy those three months to be here in

Bakersfield with her family as well as with us, and there is no way we could ev

repay the debt. But, to try to show our appreciation we are sending two box

of Bakersfield’s own Dewar’s Peanut Butter Chews, a couple of bags of 

Caramel Corn made by our Christian Men’s Fellowship, along with a few car

Thank you again for allowing us to get to know (all over again) and love

Stacy, Jay and little Miss Lily.

God Bless You All,

Teriesa Smith, Elder Chair

Mill Creek Christian Church

UPCOMING

EVENTS

WEDNESDAY, 2/13

ASH WEDNESDAY

SERVICE Join us for a service of songs,

scripture and prayer at 6pm.

SUNDAY, 2/17

FIRST SUNDAY OF

LENT

SUNDAY, 2/24

SECOND SUNDAY OFLENT

DIACONATE MEET

AFTER COFFEE HOUR

MONDAY, 2/25

CHRISTIAN

EDUCATION

MEETING, 5:30PM

TUESDAY, 2/26

CHURCH COUNCILMEETINGWe will schedule the rest of the

quarterly meetings for the year. All

are welcome to attend Church

Council at 7PM

YOUTH MEETINGS

ARE ON WEDNESDAY

EVENINGS: ICY JR. @

6PM, ICY SR. @7PM

Friends,

It has been so good to be back with you again

We have been settling in again and in some w

feel like we were never gone, while in others, i

feels like we were gone forever. Your receptio

us has been very kind and I want to thank youagain for your care and understanding of me

during this time.My mom is doing well and is getting adjusted to life on her own, although th

is a huge transition for her. I think I am probably more worried for her than

she needs me to be, but call and check in frequently. She is planning to com

for a visit in April and is looking forward to seeing all of you.

I wanted to make sure that all of you know that Pastor Tim was called as the

permanent Pastor at the United Church of Christ in Condon. This is exciti

for both of our communities. I look forward to continuing to build a collegia

relationship with him - in person! I will keep you informed about when an

installation service will be.Again, it is so nice to be back with you all. I was filled with gratitude for the

leave, but am also filled with gratitude that you let me return. As always, I lo

forward to joining you in ministry.

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Sharing brings joy! The phrase rolls easily off thetongue, but it is no trite cliché! Rather, it expressesprofound spiritual truths — truths about a loving andcaring God — truths about a joyous generosity that

circles ‘round and dances into and through the humanexperience as we relate to others and to the Holy One! Sharing brings joy toothers.

Week of Compassion and One Great Hour of Sharing assistance, relief, and support have known comfortand joy through your sharing:

• families displaced by natural disaster or political unrest rejoice to receive food, shelter, and the comfort of a safe place to begin rebuilding their lives;

• the worried faces of mothers, whose children are threatened by food insecurity due to drought and famineare transformed to deep peace when sustenance arrives;

• a woman who has had to walk miles for potable water for her family smiles as she draws water from a

clean well near her home;• children arrive excitedly for the first day of class at the village’s new school.

We can clearly see that generous sharing brings joy to those who receive.

Sharing brings joy to us. Generous giving, practiced as a regular spiritual discipline, teaches us about joy. Welearn to see ourselves as vital parts of a cooperative sharing effort which expresses God’s love for the world.We see the delight of recipients and experience our own gladness. Others’ joy grows our joy. Grateful forGod’s extravagant gifts, the great happiness of others, and our experience of such delight, we discover wewant to be more generous, and so we are drawn into the circular rhythm of sharing that brings joy upon joy

Sharing brings joy to God. We know that God is always in the midst of our joy, but we also know that “Godloves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Can you imagine God’s joy when we share? Can your mind’s eye

see those things that cause rejoicing in the heart of the Divine?Scriptures tell us what brings God joy: steadfast love, justice, and righteousness, says Jeremiah (9:24), andthe well-being of God’s people (Psalms 35:27b). Certainly any manifestation of agape love, such as agenerous hand outstretched to help others (Matthew 22:37-40), brings gladness to God. Joy-filled sharing makes possible the well-being of God’s people. This is surely a delight to the Holy One!

When we see ourselves as part of all God’s children everywhere, we learn to be less fearful of a sense of scarcity that can inhibit our generosity. We come to understand that others who happen to be in need arenot simply recipients of our charity, but sisters and brothers with whom we are called to live justly and shareabundantly. Knowing we willingly share reminds them of who they are: beloved children of the Creator,family of us all, each one a person of sacred worth, also imbued with possibilities for sharing joy.

We will be accepting our Week of Compassion and One Great Hour of Sharing offerings onFebruary 17th & 24th. As you make your offering this year, remember the myriad ways your gifts bring joy — to you as God’s precious child, to all of God’s other cherished children, and especially to the Holy One.May your worship be joyful. May your sharing be delightfully abundant. May God be made glad by yourcheerful generosity!

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PO Box 346395 E. Main Stree t Ione, Oregon 97843

 Ash Wednesday Service, February 13, 2013

6pmAsh Wednesday, is the first day of Lent and

occurs 46 days before Easter. It is a movable

date, falling on a different date each year 

 because it is dependent on the date of Easter 

(which, somewhat strangely, is based on the f

moon after the Northern Spring Equinox). It can occur as early

as February 4 or as late as March 10.

According to the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus

spent 40 days fasting in the desert before the beginning of his

 public ministry, during which he endured temptation by Satan

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of a 40-day liturgical

 period of prayer and fasting that is meant to replicate that of 

Jesus’ time in the wilderness (It is considered 40 days instead

46 days because the Sundays are not included).

Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing

ashes on the foreheads of those in attendance as a sign of 

mourning and repentance to God. Please join us on the 13th f

a contemplative worship experience.

Ione Community Church