First Presbyterian Church

115 - 6th Ave. NW

P.O. Box 188

Independence, Iowa 50644

Come and

See!

- John 1:46

Non-Profit Organization

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

Independence, Iowa 50644

RETURN SERVICES REQUESTED

Phone: 319-334-3523

Fax: 319-334-4134

Email: fpcoffice@indytel.com

Website: fpcindependence.com

Heaven and hell tend to generate a great deal

of interest. This fall during our adult Sunday

School class we will be reading and discussing

two books on the subject. The first will be

“Heaven Is For Real” by Todd Burpo. It is

literally a view of heaven from a child’s eyes.

The second book will be “Love Wins” by Rob

Bell. It is a book about heaven and hell and

the fate of every person who has ever lived.

The class starts September 18. You can buy

the books yourself or contact the office to get

copies for you. All are welcome to join the

conversation.

HEAVEN CAN CAN’T WAIT

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the 9-11

attacks. On Sunday, September 11, during our

morning worship we will remember that day and

honor those who serve our country. Today we

continue to carry the scars of that tragic September

morning. Our world is marked by fear. We need

healing. And God has promised healing.

“If my people, who are called by my name, will

humble themselves and pray and seek my face and

turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from

heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal

their land.”

You are invited to join us to worship, pray, and

seek the Lord of hope and healing.

KERYGMA

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CFIRST PRESBYTERIAN CFIRST PRESBYTERIAN CFIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHHURCHHURCHHURCH

• Labor Day, September 5th • Patriot Day, September 11th • National Grandparents Day, Sept. 11th

• First Day of Autumn, September 223rd

• World Communion Sunday, October 2nd • Columbus Day Observance, October 10th • Reformation Sunday, October 30th

• Reformation Day, October 31st

Glenn McDonald in his book “The Disciple-Making Church”

writes:

“Jesus gave us a comprehensive but nonspecific vision at the

end of his ministry on earth: ‘Go multiply disciples in every

place on earth.’ Those are the only instructions we need.

At least 80 percent of American congregations have failed to

enroll in the fulfillment of their Lord’s primary vision. Custom

guides them a good bit – customs of inner-directedness, self-

preservation, and continual fixation on the ABC’s of

attendance, building, and cash. How can the power of the Holy

Spirit be released to transform ecclesiastical dry bones into life-giving vitality? We need

to adopt the customs or habits of the disciple-making church.”

Glenn McDonald does not tell us anything we do not already know. The church exists to

create followers of Jesus. Everyone nods their heads. But even as you nod your head the

next shoe drops: do you realize that many of the things we are doing are counter-

productive to the very thing you know Jesus has called us to be and do?

I am not currently aware of a church that is doing a great job of disciple-making. Most

churches do something, but every church can and should do it better. So what’s the

solution? We need to create a culture of disciple-making in our church.

In chapter 14 of his book Glenn McDonald talks about the habits which disciple-making

churches need to develop. He shares with us seven habits that will enable a church to

nurture followers of Jesus.

Stay centered through prayer and discernment

Embrace discipleship as a singular focus

Shift from a strategy of programs to a strategy of relationships

Emphasize the marks of discipleship instead of behaviors

Cultivate a culture of personal discipline

Utilize the power of a personal development plan

The board shifts from ABC’s (attendance, building, cash) to RPM’s (reproducible

relationships, permission to do ministry, master plan for discipleship)

This will be the subject matter when Glenn comes to lead the Presbytery’s Fall Leader-

ship Summit on October 8. I want to encourage our leadership and anyone who is

interested to attend the summit. It goes from 9:00 to 3:00 and will be held at St. Andrews

PC in Iowa City. Please contact me for details.

Pastor John

RRRReeeevvvv.... JJJJoooohhhhnnnn HHHHoooouuuuggggeeeennnn Home: (319) 334-5175

Email:

pastorjohn@indytel.com

CCCChhhhuuuurrrrcccchhhh OOOOffffffffiiiicccceeee Phone: (319) 334-3523

Fax: (319) 334-4134

Office: 8:30 am - 3:00 pm

Monday-Friday

Website www.fpcindependence.com

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Mark Geertsma Christian Education Director

Janet Harms Youth Ministry Coordinator

Kathy Smith Secretary

Email:

fpcoffice@indytel.com

George Hemmer Custodian

2222 All in the FamilyAll in the FamilyAll in the FamilyAll in the Family

3333 September Worship September Worship September Worship September Worship

Schedule/Birthdays/ Schedule/Birthdays/ Schedule/Birthdays/ Schedule/Birthdays/

AnniversariesAnniversariesAnniversariesAnniversaries

4444 October Worship October Worship October Worship October Worship

Schedule/Birthdays/ Schedule/Birthdays/ Schedule/Birthdays/ Schedule/Birthdays/

AnniversariesAnniversariesAnniversariesAnniversaries

6666 Operation Backpack/PW Operation Backpack/PW Operation Backpack/PW Operation Backpack/PW

7777 Youth News/Mission TripYouth News/Mission TripYouth News/Mission TripYouth News/Mission Trip

5555 VBS MemoriesVBS MemoriesVBS MemoriesVBS Memories

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 PAGE 2

On behalf of the Waterloo

Honor Flight program, we

thank you all very much

for you dedication and

commitment to helping

keep the Waterloo Honor

Flights in the air. Better

yet, you have helped to put smiles on the faces of

many WWII Veterans by helping to send them to

Washington, D.C. Your hard work has been

noticed and is very much appreciated.

Janet Liming

Thank you sincerely for your kind an

thoughtful expression of sympathy. Thank you so much for the beautiful

flowers.

Jere Graetz & Family

Dear Church Family,

I feel so blessed to have so many kind and generous people in my life. I deeply appreciate everyone’s guidance and advice while growing up in the church. Thank you so much for the Wal-Mart gift card. I will use it well. This fall, I will be attending the University of Iowa to double major in English and Journalism. Additionally, I am excited to say I will be running on the Iowa Women’s Track Team. Go Hawks!

Olivia Kaiser

Our thoughts of heartfelt sympathy Our thoughts of heartfelt sympathy Our thoughts of heartfelt sympathy Our thoughts of heartfelt sympathy are with the following families:are with the following families:are with the following families:are with the following families:

Barney FolandBarney FolandBarney FolandBarney Foland Entered Eternal Life on June 23rd

Randy SorgRandy SorgRandy SorgRandy Sorg Entered Eternal Life on July 11th

Evelyn GrayEvelyn GrayEvelyn GrayEvelyn Gray Entered Eternal Life on July 12th

Beulah HarmonBeulah HarmonBeulah HarmonBeulah Harmon Entered Eternal Life on August 4th

Please keep these families in your prayers.Please keep these families in your prayers.Please keep these families in your prayers.Please keep these families in your prayers.

It isn’t the things you do or say, it isn’t your looks or smile! Not what you wear, nor your winning ways! It is something finer. It is just your own personal self. It’s you, just as you are! Thank all of you for sharing my special 95th.

Carrie Bates

DEADLINE:

Newsletter articles must be submitted to the

church office by Wednesday, October 19th

to be printed in the

November/December Newsletter.

KERYGMA PAGE 7

09/04: Labor Day weekend. No HSF.

09/11: HSF 6:30-8:00 p.m.

09/18: HSF 6:30-8:00 p.m.

09/25: HSF 6:30-8:00 p.m.

10/02: HSF 6:30-8:00 p.m.

10/09: HSF 6:30-8:00 p.m.

10/16: HSF 6:30-8:00 p.m.

10/23: HSF 6:30-8:00 p.m.

10/30: HSF 6:30-8:00 p.m.

An amazing experience occurred in Nashville, TN July 9 - 16, 2011 when 13 youth

and 3 adult chaperones ventured to the Nashville Westminster Presbyterian Church to

live and work for one week. We were a part of the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

volunteers and our work was tiling floors, painting, cleaning, sheet rocking, hauling

supplies, putting down moisture barriers and working in a rescue mission with children.

PAGE 6 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

First Presbyterian will be partnering again with the Northeast Iowa Food Bank in providing food through the BackPack

Program to the kids enrolled in Calvary Evangelistic Center School, St. Johns School, and the Independence Community

School District for the 2011-2012 school year.

The goal of the BackPack Program is to send children in need home from school with foods that are shelf-stable, kid-

friendly and healthy. If the only meals children eat are at school, what do these children eat on the days when they’re not in

school? The BackPack Program addresses this question.

The BackPack Program provides an actual backpack or just the bag of food to children at the end of the school week to

combat weekend hunger. The program begins this month with the first assembly date food bags on August 24.

There is a need for volunteers for the 24th, whether individuals, groups or businesses to help the BackPack Program

assemble food bags. Open assembly dates:

September - 7 & 21 (both ICSD early out dates)

October - 5 & 19 (an early out date)

November – 2, 16 (both ICSD early out dates) & 30

December – 14

January – 4 & 18

February – 1, 15 & 29

March – 14 & 28

April – 11 & 25

May – 9

Assembly takes place in the Fellowship Room, every other Wednesday starting generally at 1:30 p.m.

Jon would like you to call him at 319-361-3126 or email at jholland@indytel.com or call the church at 334-3523 to help.

Presbyterian Women resume meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 6th at the church. The Hostess will be Fran Hood. Shirley Rozendaal will introduce the new study, “Confessing the Beatitudes”. Books are available for $8.50. Winona West will serve as Hostess.

Plans for serving the Federated Women’s Group from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. on September 30th (Friday) will be discussed.

Quilting Sessions this month will be September 13th and 27th from 9:00 a.m. until noon. A potluck luncheon will follow.

Ushers: Co-Head Ushers: Roger Bahr, Don Mumm

4, 11, 18, 25: Ruth Hamilton, Sandra Johnson, Shirlee Rathbun, Kate Risk

Elder Greeters:

September: Jon TeStrake, Pam Peterson

Greeters:

4: Leonard McClenathan, Mildred Hicks

11: Margaret Ownby, Winona West

18: Brooks & Hildegard Burkhart

25: _______________________________________

Acolytes:

4, 11: Brian Smith, Sean Geertsma

18, 25: Katherine Savage, Kaylee Eilers

Children’s Sermons: Nursery:

4: Youth 4: Mickey Geertsma, Avri Ruffcorn

11: Ryan Ruffcorn 11: Rachel Barloon, Katherine Savage

18: Mark Geertsma 18: Zach Bathen, Brian Smith

25: Ruth Liscum 25: Hannah Butler, Ericka Barloon

Flowers:

4: Randy & Debbie Blin In Honor of Jason & Jaclyn’s Wedding

11: _______________________________________

18: Chuck & Audrey Conklin in Memory of Son, Jeff

25: Frankie Bowden in Memory of Arnie Bowden

Bulletins:

4: _______________________________________

11: Ruth Hamilton In Memory of Douglas Hamilton

18: Monte & Lillian Cue in Memory of Mother, Helen Nellist

25: Frankie Bowden

Fellowship Treats:

4: Don Adams

11: Sunday School Potluck

18: Jon & Kim TeStrake

25: Trimble Family in Honor of Alison’s 8th Birthday

Coffee Preparation/Clean Up:

4: Frankie Bowden, Margaret Ownby

11: Wayne & Sondra Seward

18: Jon & Kim TeStrake

25: Tammy Bathen

1 Lucille Cottrell

Evelyn Gray

3 Adam Nash (Rouse)

Melissa Savage

4 Megan Sorg

6 Tonia Weis

9 Clarence Rouse

10 Doug Kaiser

Lori Siglin

11 Lonny Bathen

12 Jean Main

Dave Martin

13 Donna Jones

14 Roger Willey

15 Tammy Bathen

16 Jordan Geertsma

19 Marcia Henderson

20 Tony Rouse

Sondra Seward

21 Judy Olsen

Kyle Eilers

24 Shirley Rozendaal

26 Alison Trimble

3 Dale & Yvette Siglin

4 Mark & Leah Geertsma

9 Doug & Audra Kaiser

10 Tony & Dawn Rouse

15 Roger & Karen Bahr

28 Dick & Susan Watkins

29 Kevin & Pam Peterson

KERYGMA PAGE 3

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 PAGE 4

2 Presley Conklin

3 Joseph Kaiser

4 Marian Conklin

5 Nicholas Bellendier

7 Dorotha Sundquist

8 Judy Hess

Catherine Smith

9 Mari Butler

Eric Smith

10 Don Butler

11 Kathy Eilers

12 Mike Loveless

13 Jim Rozendaal

Laura Smith

14 Adam Ownby

15 Mary White

16 Angeline Sauer

17 Karl Klotzbach

20 Rick Frye

21 Lillian Cue

22 Scott Risk

24 Talon Rodriguez

27 Norman Frye Jr.

Mike Hamilton

Samuel Hamilton

28 Bette Butler

30 Marian Hare

12 Monte & Lillian Cue

Peter & Ann Koskamp

14 David & Chris Nelson

16 Allan & Marilyn Oline

18 Mike & Carrie Hamilton

Eric & Catherine Smith

Ushers: Co-Head Ushers: Roger Bahr, Don Mumm

2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Tim & Kathy Eilers, Cole & Gina Trimble

Greeters: Elder Greeters:

2: Loveless Family Oct: John Butler, Norma DeJong

9: Martin Family

16: Bonefas Family

23: Joni, Avri, & Anna Ruffcorn

30: Fran Hood, Jean Main

Acolytes:

2, 9: Joseph Kaiser, Kyle Eilers

16, 23: Brynn Martin, Avri Ruffcorn

30: Brian Smith, Sean Geertsma

Children’s Sermons: Nursery:

2: Youth 2: Chloe Kaiser, Katherine Savage

9: Lynda Fiester 9: Zach Bathen, Avri Ruffcorn

16: Janet Harms 16: Hannah Butler, Brian Smith

23: Melody Malek 23: Mickey Geertsma, Ericka Barloon

30: John Butler 30: Rachel Barloon, Katherine Savage

Flowers:

2: ___________________________________________

9: Dorotha Sundquist In Honor of Pastor John

16: Hamilton Family in Memory of Douglas, James & Celia and Aunt Ruth Hamilton

23: __________________________________________

30: __________________________________________

Bulletins:

2: Dorotha Sundquist

9: Wayne & Sondra Seward In Memory of Parents

16: Lee & Linda Bowden

23: __________________________________________

30: __________________________________________

Fellowship Treats: Coffee Prep/Clean Up:

2: _____________________________ 2: Frankie Bowden, Margaret

Ownby

9: Eric & Catherin Smith for Their 9: Wayne & Sondra Seward

Birthdays

16: Laura Smith for her 8th Birthday 16: Jon & Kim TeStrake

23: _____________________________ 23: Tammy Bathen

30: _____________________________ 30: Norm & Norma DeJong

Vacation Bible School was a huge success! I had a lot of fun. Thank you to everyone who helped.

Whether you donated materials, food, time, or maybe you prayed, it is still all greatly appreciated! I

could not have done it without you! Most of all, the smiles on the kids’ faces say it all!

Angie Bonefas

KERYGMA PAGE 5