The Lamplighter
PASTORS PEACE
Zion
United Church
of Christ
June 2017
Inside This Issue
1 Pastors Peace
2 Palm of Prayer & Worship Ways
3 Eco-Justice Notes
5 This Months Events
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 wel-
come. This is why we insist that God's com-
munion table is open, not closed, and God's gift
and claim in baptism are irrevocable. We advo-
cate justice for all. Our congregations
extend hospitality as a sign of God's in-
clusive 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!
Zion United Church of ChristEstablished 1880
105 N. Mary, Mayview, Missouri 64071-8224
Phone and FAX: (660) 237 - 4355
The History of Fathers Day in the United States
"There are two stories of when the first Fathers Day
was celebrated. According to some accounts, the first Fa-
thers Day was celebrated in Washington state on June 19,
1910. A woman by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd came up
with the idea of honoring and celebrating her father while
listening to a Mothers Day sermon at church in 1909. She
felt as though mothers were getting all the acclaim while fa-
thers were equally deserving of a day of praise (She would
probably be displeased that Mothers Day still gets the lions
share of attention).
Sonoras dad was quite a man. William Smart, a vet-
eran of the Civil War, was left a widower when his wife died
while giving birth to their sixth child. He went on to raise the
six children by himself on their small farm in Washington.
To show her appreciation for all the hard work and love Wil-
liam gave to her and her siblings, Sonora
thought there should be a day to pay
homage to him and other dads like him.
She initially suggested June 5th, the anni-
versary of her fathers death to be the
designated day to celebrate Fathers Day,
but due to some bad planning, the celebration in Spokane,
Washington was deferred to the third Sunday in June.
The other story of the first Fathers Day in America
happened all the way on the other side of the country in Fair-
mont, West Virginia on July 5, 1908. Grace Golden Clayton
suggested to the minister of the local Methodist church that
they hold services to celebrate fathers after a deadly mine
explosion killed 361 men.
While Fathers Day was celebrated locally in several
communities across the country, unofficial support to make
the celebration a national holiday began almost immediately.
William Jennings Bryant was one of its staunchest propo-
nents. In 1924, President Calvin Silent Cal Coolidge rec-
ommended that Fathers Day become a national holiday. But
no official action was taken.
In 1966, Lyndon B. Johnson, through an executive
order, designated the third Sunday in June as the official day
1
 History Of Fathers Day in the U.S.
to celebrate Fathers Day. However, it wasnt until
1972, during the Nixon administration, that Fathers
Day was officially recognized as a national holiday."
Taken from A Brief History of Father's Day, Brett & Kate McKay, June
11, 2008
God is regularly referred to as "Father". This
is the relationship Jesus has with God, as a father.
When we think of father, however, every one of us
has a different understanding of what that means, and
certainly each of us has a different relationship with
our fathers--some fabulous, some fair, some difficult,
some downright ugly, and some, non-existent.
This also reflects our relationship with God.
Our relationship with God can certainly be
like a parent/child relationship. We are all considered
God's children. Yet there are those whose relationship
with God does not reflect that, and they might be
driven away from the concept of parent because that
concept is not safe. This experience needs to be hon-
ored.
A benign, and powerful, description or desig-
nation of God is as Creator and Creating. This under-
standing of God meets us where we are, as we are
God's creatures and God creates through us.
This Father's Day is a day of creating, as is
every day. How will you and your family spend this
day? Will it be in celebration with dinner, cards and
gifts? Will it be in recognition of some deeper mean-
ing as you may embrace an upcoming birth, or maybe
even a death? Will it be in reconciliation or rebirth of
relationship? Will it be ignored?
Whatever the intention for this Father's Day,
one thing seems clear--we have all been given the gift
of life, however the gift may be understood. Every-
one of us has a father (and a mother), known or un-
known. This day might be a time to step back from
the busyness of life and reflect upon what the concept
of father means to you, and perhaps to use the Crea-
tivity that flows through each of us to express in love
God's Way, and perhaps special love to our dads!
In Creator's Spirit,
Pastor Kristin
Pastoral Visits and Prayers
Please feel free to contact me at any time if a pas-
toral care visit or prayer request is in your heart. The
best way to reach me is at the parsonage, 660-237-
4902, and the next best option is my cell @ 660-641-
1038. Blessings! Pastor Kristin
The Lamplighter
PALM of PRAYER
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: Trey Hoeppner, ear tubes; Wayne
Bakers mom passed away; Monica Baird; Aus-
tin Aardema Faigh; Julie Begemann; Kathy
Wooden; El Dean Dickmeyer, broken ribs and
left collar bone; the election of our nations lead-
ers; 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
Being a community, in Christ!
ZION UCC WORSHIP WAYS
YOUTH YAK
Congratulations to gradu-
ates of every kind!
Austin and Donovan
Aardema Faigh will be confirmed as mem-
bers of the church on June 4, Pentecost.
Adam and Alyssa Hoefer are excel-
ling in their sportsask them what theyre
doing!
SAIL
Thank you so much members of
SAIL for the beautiful Confirmation Banquet
you put on! The boys were very touched.
Reminder: Amy Nolte and Don Ken-
nedy will experience a great potato bar/
salad bar luncheon and Wedding Shower on
June 11, right after church. Congregation,
please remember to bring dessertsall are
welcome. They are also registered at Bed,
Bath and Beyond.
On June 15, at 9:30am, all women
are invited to meet at the church to carpool
to Powell Gardens a Ladies Day Out!
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TREASURERS TWITTER
Eco-Justice Notes
Churches and Political Speech
Copyright 2017 - Eco-Justice Ministries
"Churches should not be endorsing politi-
cians. We should be getting politicians to en-
dorse our values."
I can't find the source for that comment.
My recollection is that it came from Martin Luther
King, Jr., but it may have been a different wise and
faithful church leader with clear priorities and alle-
giances. (Information on a correct attribution is
welcome!)
I raise that topic, of course, because of one
piece of yesterday's news. In a Rose Garden cere-
mony on the National Day of Prayer, surrounded
by "religious leaders" of a certain political leaning,
Pres. Trump signed yet another executive or-
der (#34 of his short tenure). This one is titled,
"promoting free speech and religious lib-
erty." (NPR has the full text of the order, with
helpful annotations and comments.)
This new order -- and I'm only going to
deal with the first part of it -- is a threat to the po-
litical democracy of the United States. More im-
portantly, though, the perspectives it embodies are
a threat to the church.
There is one very important detail to ad-
dress right at the start. US tax law, and specifically
the Johnson Amendment, does not single out churches
to constrain their political
speech.
At yesterday's signing
ceremony, Trump made the lu-
dicrous statement, "For too long
the federal government has used
the state as a weapon against
people of faith." The US tax
code does place some narrow
restrictions on any agency
which has applied for, and been
granted, tax exempt status.
Churches and other religious
groups are a small part of that
group, which also includes uni-
versities, hospitals, and a raft of
social service agencies.
Forbes has a list of the
100 largest U.S. charities for
2016, with a tally of their private donations received.
All of these, and countless others with smaller budg-
ets, are free to speak out on political issues, and to en-
gage in lobbying. They cannot, though, support or op-
pose specific political candidates. That is the only re-
striction on political speech, and it applies to all tax-
exempt institutions, not just religious ones.
Non-profit organizations have to file a tax
form every year, the dreaded 990. (Many local
churches don't have to file the 990 directly, because
they are under the umbrella of their denomination's
filing -- which is actually a tremendous gift and an act
of trust toward churches.)
Eco-Justice Ministries is a non-profit corpora-
tion, with 501(c)(3) tax status. We file the 990-EZ ver-
sion of the form -- which I would say is misnamed
with that EZ tag. 15 pages into the filing, part V, ques-
tion #46 asks, "Did the organization engage, directly
or indirectly, in political campaign activities on behalf
of or in opposition to candidates for public office?"
We always answer, "No". We'd be in trouble if we
said yes.
The next question (part VI, question #47)
asks: " Did the organization engage in lobbying activi-
ties or have a section 501(h) election in effect during
the tax year?" We generally answer, "Yes". Those ac-
tivities and expenditures then have to be described on
Schedule C, part II-B. We are quite free to speak and
3
act on political issues, with no threat to our tax
status, and without any censoring of our message.
All non-profit entities, not just religious
ones, have to live with this minor restriction. That's
part of the deal of being tax-exempt, and being able
to receive tax-deductible donations. It is an inflam-
matory distortion to see this as an attack on religion.
The Johnson Amendment of 1954 -- which
established that prohibition on supporting or oppos-
ing candidates -- has turned out to be a valuable pro-
tection of our political system. By keeping non-
profits out of electoral politics, it has made it possi-
ble to do a better job of tracking the money in poli-
tics.
Campaign finance disclosure would be im-
possible if non-profits could endorse candidates. The
IRS says, "A tax-exempt organization is gener-
ally not required to disclose publicly the names or
addresses of its contributors set forth on its annual
return."
Imagine an individual or business that wants
to hide their political contributions. So they make a
$50,000 donation to Outspoken Community Church,
and the church then puts up billboards and runs ads
in support of Candidate X. There's no way to see
who bankrolled that campaign effort. That's why
three US Senators recently wrote that undoing the
Johnson Amendment "will effectively lead to the
elimination of our nation's campaign finance laws."
Yesterday's executive order can't undo the
Johnson Amendment. It only instructs the IRS to
hold off enforcing that law. But the repeal of the
"Johnson Amendment" is being written into tax leg-
islation now being developed in the House of Repre-
sentatives. Yesterday's executive order may be one
way of seeing how much the public complains about
the negating of this tax provision.
There's already too much "dark money" in
US elections. Our system suffers when we don't
know who is funding political campaigns. Allowing
religious organizations to be another conduit for un-
disclosed contributions is a real danger to our de-
mocracy.
Allowing churches and other faith groups to
get involved in electoral politics is also very bad for
the church. It distorts our goals and priorities.
The perhaps-MLK quote at the top of today's
commentary shows what happens. Faith groups
should be making clear statements about our values
and beliefs. Those will -- I hope -- be far more vi-
sionary than any political platform. Our proclama-
tions should be aspirational challenges to our mem-
bers and our communities. We should be asking all
candidates how they intend to make progress to-
ward the principles that we cherish, and critiquing
them on where they fall short. (Voter guides that
objectively measure candidates on important is-
sues and values are allowed under tax law.)
But when we start to endorse candidates,
we're letting them set the agenda, and define the
goals. We're effectively saying, "I'm with her" or
"I'm with him", when we should be saying, "I'm
with God." As any politically diverse congregation
will demonstrate, people who say "I'm with God"
can take starkly opposing political stances.
Putting our focus on candidates distracts
faith communities from our deeper mission. The
Union for Reform Judaism -- the largest Jewish
denomination in the country -- said Trump's move
could open the floodgates to turn worship services
into campaign rallies. The CEO of the Minnesota
Council of Churches said, "We are concerned the
order will pollute the integrity of the voice of
faithful, turning some faith communities into parti-
san political tools under the banner of religion."
Churches, other faith communities, and all
non-profits have to do a delicate balancing act. We
must be engaged with the important issues of our
time. We must speak out and lobby on matters that
are central to our mission. But especially in faith
communities, we must always keep rooted in our
core beliefs, looking toward principles that are
more profound and more complex than any candi-
date can offer.
Letting faith communities endorse candi-
dates is bad for the country, and bad for the
church. The executive order is a half-step in the
wrong direction. Legislative action that would take
the Johnson Amendment out of the tax code would
be a huge mistake.
So contact your US Representative, and tell
them to preserve the Johnson Amendment. (That's
lobbying, not a candidate endorsement, so Eco-
Justice Ministries can urge you to do that!)
Shalom!
Rev. Peter Sawtell
Executive Director, Eco-Justice Ministries
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 The Lamplighter

Sunday School9:00 A.M.

Worship10:00 A.M.
June 4, 2017
Pentecost
Kickball
Confirmation: Austin & Donovan Aardema Faigh

June 8-10, 2017

CAG

June 11, 2017

Sunday School
Guest Speaker CASA Robin
Wedding Shower Amy & Don Copyright 2011 The Zondervan Corporation
New Life Home Open House 3pm
Lafayette Cluster & Western Asso-
June 12, 2017 ciation Representatives
Steppingstone 9:30am
Council 7pm Rev. Tommy Faris, Pastor of Salem
UCC in Higginsville was elected to represent
June 15, 2017
Ladies Leave Church for Powell Gardens 9:30a the Lafayette Cluster on the Western Asso-
ciation Council at the meeting on Saturday,
June 17, 2017 April 22nd in Higginsville. Also elected from
Habitat for Humanity Run Walk in Lexington the Lafayette Cluster were: Pastor Bob as
7:30am Chairperson of the Council; Betty Thaller
( Trinity UCC, Lexington) as Vice-Chair; and
June 18, 2017 Dennis Zeller as the returning Treasurer.
Fathers Day

June 23, 2017

Wedding Rehearsal

June 24, 2017

Amy Nolte & Don Kennedys Wedding 5pm

June 25, 2017

60th Anniversary of UCC!

se Ice

5
 The Lamplighter
BUTTERFLY ROOM Thats ok. You may have no idea what you need. In
3 Andif I go and prepare a place for you, I will that case, talking to a counselor might be helpful.
come again, and receive you unto myself; that Counselors can hear where you are, and may hear
where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:3
things you cant; they may be able to help you de-
(KJV)
velop strategies that work for you.
Introduction: What is Greif?
Grief is your natural response to
So When Do I Get Better?
loss. Grief isnt something you choose to experi-
The loss that caused you to grieve probably
ence; it just happens. Everyones grief looks dif-
isnt going to go away. Likewise, your grief isnt some-
ferent. You and someone else in your family may
thing thats just going to go away. Its not something
experience the same loss, but chances are youll
wrong with you that needs to get fixed. But it will
grieve differently. And you will grieve differently
change, over time. The intense crazy feeling wont
from one day to the next or from one minute to
last forever. You may find it helpful to journal or talk
the next.
with a counselor periodically so that you can reflect on
the ways you have changed, and the ways your grief
What Kind of Losses Cause Greif?
has changed. These changes are normal, and not
Grief is a response to loss. That might
feeling overwhelmed does not mean you have
mean a loss of a loved one through death. But it
stopped grieving, nor stopped loving the person you
might also mean losing your health, your physi-
lost. It only means that you are adjusting to a new nor-
cal ability, your job, or a beloved pet. Loss could
mal to a world that has been forever changed.
mean divorce, miscarriage, infertility, moving, or
being deployed. Loss happens in the context of
Its Complicated
sad events, such a death or a separation, but it
Grieving a loss is never easy, but sometimes,
also happens in the context of happy life events.
its justcomplicated. It might be complicated be-
For instance, new parents experience many
cause your relationship to the person who died was
losses while also rejoicing in the birth of their
complicated maybe you have fond memories from
child: loss of freedoms, loss adult conversation,
your childhood but more recent painful memories both
or loss of the life they had as a couple. Feeling
of which are now swimming around in your head.
that loss does not mean you are depressed or
Maybe there were things unsaid between you, or
secretly unhappy. It just means that life is some-
things you wish could be unsaid. Maybe the loss itself
times complicated, and some experiences are
was particularly traumatic, sudden, orcomplicated.
both happy and sad.
Maybe this loss is just one in a string of tragedies
threatening to overwhelm you. There are a million rea-
What Does Grief Feel Like?
sons why this could be a complicated experience for
Grief can feel like sadness. It can also
you, and none of them mean theres anything wrong
feel like a zillion other things: anger, betrayal,
with you. But now, more than ever, might be a good
loneliness, fear. You might feel grief as emo-
time to connect with a counelors. When life gets com-
tions. You might cry and know that you are sad.
plicated, you deserve to have a team of folks around
You might also feel grief physically. You might
you, helping you navigate it all.
feel a knot in your stomach. Your heart might
race. You might feel tired or have a headache.
Grief That Has No Voice
You might feel everything all at once, and feel
When you grieve, you will undoubtedly also
mad/sad/crazy and just want to scream. You
mourn. Mourning is the action all the ways in which
may feel like youre just drowning and over-
we give voice to our grief. And we learn how to mourn
whelmed. Or you might feelnothing. You might
by those around us our families, our faith communi-
just feel Sometimes grief just feels numb.
ties, our ethnic groups. This means emotive expres-
sions like crying and wailing, for some. But it also
People Keep Telling Me to Let It Out
means public acts like attending funerals, making
Well-meaning people will say lots of un-
shiva calls, visiting cemeteries, hanging black drapes,
helpful things to you when youre grieving. There
or wearing black clothes. Participating in mourning
is no right way to grieve. Many people cry, some
rituals does not make your grief go away, but it does
scream, some stomp their feet. But other people
give it a voice. It gives it a name, and a place in the
sit quietly. Others run. They draw, paint, and
world. Sometimes, though, your grief doesnt have a
write poetry. They sculpt. They hug a close
voice. The word for this is disenfranchisement.
friend. They want to be alone. You may want to
talk. You may not want to talk. You may want to 6
talk one minute and then change your mind.
 The Lamplighter
Celebration Occasions Office Hours
June Birthdays
Pastor Admin. Assistant
Date Birthday
Tuesday
9 Ernie Pragman
8:00 AMNoon
10 Matthew Elder
11 Elaine Hudson Wednesday
6:008:00 PM
16 Amy Nolte
Greg Huenefeld Thursday
19
Vernon Koch 8:00 AMNoon
21 Dwight Dickmeyer
Marvin Huenefeld Friday
Trenton Bainbridge 10am-2pm
23
Mitchell Bainbridge
Calle Hoeppner
24 Seth Bayless
27 Alice Huenefeld Serving Souls
June ACOLYTES GREETERS

4 Calle Hoeppner Carl & Helen Hoeppner

11 Brooklyn Murry Scott & Amanda Hoeppner

18 Austin Faigh Marvin & Alice Huenefeld

25 Donovan Faigh Kenny & Mildred Jungerman

June Anniversaries

3 Will & Beth Ogan

Administrative Affairs
4 Scott & Amanda Hoeppner
Olin & Carla Struchtemeyer Reverend Home(660) 237- 4902
Kristin Aardema Faigh Church (660) 237-4355
20 LeRoy & Doris Van Cleave pastorkristinatzion@yahoo.com
Cell (660) 641-1038
28 Marvin & Joyce Schemmer Robert Hoefer
Council President ahoefer1@hotmail.com
(660) 584-3804
Cole Courtway (660) 237- 4355
Reminder! Admin. Assistant & zionuccsecretary@hotmail.com
Newsletter
The deadline for submissions for the
July newsletter is Teresa Begemann (816) 633 - 4133
Friday, June 16, 2017. Organist tjbegemann@yahoo.com
Send your submissions to:
Dawn Stuart
zionuccsecretary@hotmail.com Custodian (660) 237 - 4355

7
 Zion United Church of Christ
105 North Mary St.
Mayview, Missouri 64071-8224

Generous - Loving - Dedicated Christians

Sunday School 9:00 am

Worship at 10:00 am

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

The Lamplighter
June 2017

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 Sacra-
ments; to experience Christian fellowship, to build unity, and to practice charity within this congre-
gation and the wider church; and to share this witness of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

Summer Worship Whirl

Traditional Worship 10:00 AM Sundays
Come As You Are Service 10:00 AM Monthly - 3rd Sunday
Sunday School 9:00 AM Sundays
Communion 10:00AM Monthly 1st Sunday & Special
Holidays
Church Council 7:00 PM Monthly
Board of Christian Education 7:15 PM Monthly
SAIL (Serving All in Love) 7:00 PM Monthly - 4th Tuesday