Weekly Update

Greetings from Chicago!

Irene and I are on the road after visiting my mother in New Hampshire, and will be returning by Saturday.  We’ve made it as far as Chicago! I hope that you are all surviving the winter storms. Have you had the opportunity to attend a Stewardship Dinner?

This Sunday will be our Annual Stewardship Service . . . Brought to you by the Finance Committee. The Family Choir will be singing for the last time this spring. And the new art installation is up in honor of a long-time former member: John Page. Its all his art. Come,  it will be a good way to reflect on all this community means to you.

I want to remind you to please sign up for a Small Group!  . . . One change in the meeting day of a group, Mica and Brian’s group will be on the LAST Sunday  of the month, instead of the First. (See the full list below!)

Since I’ve been gone all week, I’ve not caught up on everyone to give you the Pastoral Update. But as soon as I hear things, I’ll let you know.

Thank you for all your words of support and encouragement. And thanks to Youth Advisors, Amy & Mike for helping out with tending the house and pet while we were away.

See in you church!
Eva

Join a Small Group!

We’d like to invite you to join a Small Group. This is an excellent way to get to know some people well, and work together on creating community while growing spiritually. We ask you to commit to regular attendance. Please RSVP to a Facilitator.
 
Sunday Afternoon (Last Sun. of month from 2-4pm)
Facilitators: Mica Lorenz and Brian Forster
Mica - 291-6509 or micalea@mchsi.com
Brian Forester 291-8427
Meeting at Mica’s House (has a cat)
1141 Independence, Waterloo
Start-up Meeting on Sunday March 2.

Sunday Evening (1st Sun. of month from 7:00-8:30 p.m.)
Facilitators: Kirby Sherman and Carolyn Hildebrandt
moosetrekker@aol.com & carolyn.hildebrandt@uni.edu
Meeting at church, for now. (Kirby has dogs, so this will be a pet-friendly group.)
Start-up Meeting on Sunday March 2.
 
Wednesday Evening (2nd Wed. of month from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m.) Couples’ Enrichment Group (straight or gay, must be committed)
Facilitators: Christine and Del Carpenter
delcarpenter@cfu.net    (266-0194)
Start-up Meeting March 12. (Will close after the April meeting.) Meet in church balcony.
Immediately following the Wed. evening Family Meal that begins at 5:45 p.m.  Childcare will be provided.
 
This will be an educational and fun group; NOT therapy.
The group will read and discuss either "The Five Languages of Love" by Gary Chapman or "The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work" by John Gottman.
The group will choose a book at the first meeting.
John Gottman writes, "Happily married couples aren't smarter, richer, or more psychologically astute than others. But in their day-to-day lives,  they have hit upon a dynamic that keeps their negative thoughts and feelings about each other (which all couples have) from overwhelming their positive ones. They have what I call an emotionally intelligent marriage . . . Just as parents can teach their children emotional intelligence, this is also a skill that a couple can be taught."
 
Waverly Wednesday Group (3rd Wed. of month, evenings) Facilitator: Chris Rediske
cheemel@excite.com, phone: 319-352-3444
Our Waverly Group will focus on being a book-discussion group. The books will focus on issues of Peace and Social Justice, Environmentalism, Gender Equality, Spirituality etc. Members of the group will have the opportunity to suggest books and take their turn in leading the discussion. Since this is a child-welcome group, no doubt issues concerning parenting will also arise. Start-up Meeting on April 16th.
 
Weekday Daytime Group
Facilitators: Esther Kieffer and Jim Paproki
emkieffer@cfu.net & jpaprocki@mchsi.com
266-1172 & 296-3737
They are still working on which day will work best, but if you’d like to be part of a group that would meet during the day, let them know!
 

Churning the Cream to find Butter, the sacred Self within each of us.