January Message from Pastor Bob Loffer

Dear Friends:

January is the first month of the calendar year and one of the seven months of 31 days. It is, on average, the coldest month of year within the Northern Hemisphere and the warmest month of the year with the Southern Hemisphere.

It starts on the same day of the week in April and July this year because 2012 is a leap year. It ends on the same day of the week as July. This year, January has 5 Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays.

January is named after Janus (Ianuarius), the god of the doorway; the name has its beginnings in Roman mythology, coming from the Latin word for door (ianua) – January is the door to the year. The month of January contains portions of two liturgical seasons. January 1 through January 5 is part of the Christmas Season. You know, the 12 Days of Christmas? January 6 is Epiphany Day and the days that follow are the days after Epiphany.

Epiphany means "manifestation,” “striking appearance," or Theophany, (meaning "vision of God," which falls on January 6, is a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God as a human being in Jesus Christ. Western Christians commemorate principally (but not solely) the visitation of the Biblical Magi to the Baby Jesus, and thus Jesus' physical manifestation to all people everywhere.

January may be a month in the bleak mid-winter, but it is also a time for us to renew our hopes for the coming of new life. January may be cold and miserable weather-wise, but it can still be warm and loving as we continue to celebrate the gift God gives us in Jesus. We can still make Jesus known to those we know. We can still share the incredible gift of God’s love with others. May 2012 be a year of wonderful sharing in the life of Faith. Happy January 2012!

Peace and Good Cheer,

Bob

Christmas Eve

6:00 P.M.

Advent Sermon Series

Restore Us, O God -- An Advent Series Based on the Psalm Readings and Linked to the Four Candles of the Advent Wreath

The first three psalms (80, 85 and 126, Advent 1, 2, 3) all contain the verb "to restore." This suggests a theme that speaks to the spiritual hunger within all of us -- that of having once known a very precious truth that has somehow slipped from our grasp. The human dilemma is that we spend a lot of time groping on our hands and knees in the dark, hoping to find a light that will reveal the meaning of life, or a lantern that will light our path. What we need is a Savior, the Light of the World, to come to us and reveal the truth, and perhaps to remind us that the treasure we've been seeking isn't the true treasure after all. Although the word "restore" is not used in the Psalm reading for Advent 4, clearly the writer feels that God's love for the people of God has been restored; once again, the love of God as evinced through God's faithfulness has been decisively demonstrated, and certainly the incarnational act is the ultimate evidence that God has not abandoned us, but rather loves us, is committed to us and indeed is among us.

Advent 1, November 27: Restoration of Hope

Advent 2, December 4: Restoration of Peace

Advent 3, December 11: Restoration of Joy

Advent 4: December 18: Restoration of Love

Advent Reflection

Dear Faith Friends,

Advent is the first season in the church liturgical year. It begins on the fourth Sunday before December 25 each year. Advent is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the Nativity of Jesus on Christmas.

Historically, the primary sanctuary color for Advent has been purple. There has been an increasing trend to supplant the color purple with blue as the primary color for Advent in the past several years. Blue is a color associated with hopefulness and promise. Advent, symbolized by the color blue, becomes a season of hopeful preparation for Bethlehem and the consummation of history in God’s rule on earth.

Advent scripture and music focus on God’s coming into the world in the past, our own preparations for God’s presence in our lives now, and our hopes for the presence of God in our world in the future. We combine our past, present, and future during Advent as we celebrate Emmanuel (God-with-us).

The season of Advent ends on Christmas when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Only then do we turn our thoughts to the stories of Jesus’ birth, the star, the shepherds, and rejoicing. Only when we have fully prepared through Advent can we sing the songs of Christmas and proclaim that God has come to us and remains with us now and always.

Prepare for God. Be ready for God. Don’t rush to the end! Don’t hurry by! Watch, look, hope, and know that in the preparing, the ready, the unhurried pace to grace, God can be seen and found. Mark Advent well so that Christmas Joy will be a real experience and not merely a nice feeling.

Peace and Good Cheer,

Rev. Bob

Mission 1: Results for Faith UCC

Between 11/01/11 and 11/11/11, Faith United Church of Christ joined the rest of the United Church of Christ in Mission 1. The national UCC asked local churches to contribute 11 million non-perishable food items to local food banks; raise $11,111 in on-line contributions to the Neighbors in Needs offering to fight hunger in this country and around the world; and send 11,000 letters to members of Congress asking them to adequately fund hunger programs in this country and around the world.

Our local goal was:
111 non-perishable food items
111 rolls of toilet paper (requested by local Crisis Center)
$111.11 to be sent to the national office for hunger relief
11 letters to be sent to Legislatures/members of Congress

The final tally for Faith UCC was:
113 food items collected (weighed in at 100 lbs of food)
123 rolls of toilet paper
$243.33 collected
23 letters sent

Thanks to all for the success of Mission 1!

-Missions Committee

Faith In Action's Readings with Soup -- 11/17/11 at 6:00 PM

Faith In Action is excited to revive it's Readings with Soup events later this month.  FIA is excited to feature Iowa City Writer, Joe Michaud!  Joe ran the Bookery for twenty-five years.  He is the author of Along the Iron Curtain, Booking in Iowa, and Iowa City, City of the Book.

Thursday -- November 17, 2011
6:00 PM Free Soup Supper
6:45 PM Program and Open Mike

Everyone is Welcome!  Faith United Church of Christ is located at 1609 DeForest Avenue in Iowa City.

Mission: 1 United Church of Christ Challenge

The first 11 days of November 2011 ---11/1-11/11 are days for the entire United Church of Christ to share in mission together. Nationally the United Church of Christ is asking local churches to contribute 11 million non-perishable food items to local food banks; raise $11,111.00 in on-line contributions for Neighbors In Need offering to fight hunger in this country and around the world; send 11,000 letters to members of Congress asking them to adequately fund hunger programs in this country and around the world.

Faith United Church of Christ is challenged by the Social Missions Committee to bring 111 non-perishable food items and 111 rolls of toilet paper to be delivered to the Crisis Center on November 12. The second challenge is to give and/or pledge funds to make a $111.11 contribution to the Neighbors in Need offering to fight hunger, on-line during worship November 6. Your financial contribution can be given to the church via cash or check between now and November 11. Please make sure you clearly identify your gift as one to Mission 1. The third challenge will be to sign a letter to either Senators Harkin or Grassley or Congressman Lobsack asking for support for funding hunger programs. Prepared letters will be available at the church from November 1 through November 10. You are asked to hand address the salutation of the letter to either Senator or the Congressman and then address the provided envelope. Letters will be collected and mailed on November 11, 2011.

These are significant challenges. This mission effort will have great impact in our community and in communities around the United Church of Christ. Let us all help make a better world by sharing as we can in this effort.