New Year’s Eve

Remember, New Year’s Eve Watch Night at Marcia Little’s home 6:00 p.m.     Bring a snack and a game of your choice. Come join us as we welcome in New Year 2013!

Recipe for a Happy New Year

Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor and hate, cleanse them completely from every clinging spite; pick off all the specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past-have them fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time.  Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts.  Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many people spoil the whole lot this way) but prepare one day at a time.

Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad dressing- don’t do it), prayer, meditation, and one well-selected resolution.  Put about one teaspoon of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor.

Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve Service

Sunday School Program

Thank you to these little angels for delivering the Christmas message to us Sunday. They did a great job! I only wish I could have got a better picture. My camera was not cooperating.

Pastor’s Christmas Message

The sounds of Christmas are beautiful, music fills the air.  In congregations large and small we sing the hymns of Christmas; “Silent Night” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “What Child Is This, Who, Laid to Rest?” just to name a few.  Shopping malls play music as we walk and shop from store to store.  Outdoor malls like Village Point play their music through outdoor speakers, and although the air is chilly the music warms our hearts and memories.  Radio stations air the top 100 songs of Christmas from Elvis, Andy Williams, Perry Como and countless others that allow us to reminisce about our childhood memories of Christmases long ago.

However the greatest lyrics composed for the world were the ones sung by angels to the shepherds; “Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth Peace Goodwill to All Men.”  The anthem still rings today, for peace and goodwill is still the elusive dream of all nations and people.

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.  Let us ascribe to be peacemakers in and to our world.

Pastor Blaine Pritchett

“Gems”

So many times in our lives we have a “Gem” that we do not recognize enough and say, “thank you” to our God.  In this Thanksgiving time (everyday should be) but in my story I come forward to share what our Church Community Building has meant to me and my family.

I awoke to this “Gem” in our community the night I arrived home from the recent Halloween Party.  Rev. Pritchett and his committee had gone to lots of work to provide fun for 26 youths in attendance.  All of the material was provided to each one to decorate a pumpkin, also 4 sugar cookies were decorated by each one.  Lots of “finger licking good” going on.  Decorations for the room were furnished by the D.J. Graham family.  Parents and Grandparents enjoyed the hayrack ride with the youth.  The men oversaw the firepit for roasting hot dogs, marshmallows and Smores.

When I sat down to have my sandwich last Sunday I looked around Fellowship Hall witnessing family and friends and with many hugs homoring lifetime Percival resident Isal Bohlen with a Memorial Service.  How many of those gatherings have we witnessed in past years.  There has been a community church to provide services to worship God, Sunday School, receptions, weddings, Boy Scouts, 4-H clubs, funerals, voting and dinners.  At one time high school plays were put on-on the stage.

I will never forget the one night of our Christmas party and a blizzard was brewing.  We could not get our car out of the garage.  You know what?  The party was held and Santa made it from Nebraska City.  Imagine at one time there were 3 churches in Percival.  Rev. F.M. Sisson a pastor in 1927 believed in the need for a community building and a fund drive was started and became a reality.  The on section of the building (dining room and Sunday School room) was the original Methodist Church built in 1888.  The Sanctuary was constructed from the Congregational Church built in 1896.  The Baptist Church built in 1876 was dismantled and used for a parsonage which is Violet Berry’s home now.  The home of the Don Shipley’s was also built with material from the Baptist Church.

In the year 2000 a celebration was held of the Tri Federation of these churches, history proves this is very historical.  Our programs read “Faithfulness Sustains the Generations.”  In recent years a wonderful display on walls in glass cases was prepared by Lynn Handy.  In picture we could view history of Percival and especially our men and women who served in the armed forces.  This “Gem” was a top priority to keep safe with the approaching flood and after returning home.  May each one of us show our gratitude to the volunteers and congregation who worked so hard to help us feel we were “going home!”

Mary Lou Sherwood

A Caroling We Will Go ♪ ♫

This Sunday, December 9th, we will meet at the church at 2:30 p.m. to go caroling.  Hot soup, sandwiches and dessert after caroling at Park Washington. Everyone welcome! Please join us!

A Note from the Board Secretary
It is time to think of the Christmas season, as Advent is upon us, and other events, including caroling on the 9th-meeting at the church at 2:30 p.m., a children’s program on the 16th, and a Christmas Eve Service at 5 o’clock in the evening.  Then, of course, everyone is invited to bring a snack and game to Marcia’s home on New Year’s Eve, starting at 6:00 p.m. for rousing fellowship. And remember, Bible Study is discontinued during December.
Please enjoy these special holiday moments with family and friends and stay safe.  Take extra time while traveling. Buckle the seat belt.  Remember, often, less is more; so take it easy, rather than race through the season.
Board Secretary
Marcia Little

Student Profile, Katelyn Johnson

Hi everyone!  This year I’m a senior at the University of Iowa.  I plan on graduating in May, with a BA in English, a complete 180 from the Pre-Med focus that I started college with.  Until I graduate, I will be finishing up with classes and job hunting, mainly in the big cities in the Midwest or on the East Coast.  As of now, I am planning on working for a few years in college admissions or academic advising before returning to graduate school to get my Masters in teaching or higher education.  I’ve loved my experience at the University of Iowa and I wouldn’t change it for the world.  However, I’m also really excited about graduating and taking the next step forward in my life.

Katelyn Johnson

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant

College Transition, Iowa Link Program

Undergraduate English Student

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

Katie would love to hear from you! Here is her address:

Katelyn Johnson

332 Linn Street Place- #416

Iowa City, Iowa 52240

The congregation of Percival Community Church wishes Katie every success as she pursues her chosen career.