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…but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.”
- Matthew 19:14
No doubt about it: children are a gift from the Lord;
the fruit of the womb is a divine reward.
- Psalm 127:3
“May the good Lord be with you
Down every road you roam…”
- “Forever Young” by Rod Stewart
(a song to his children)
When Tovi and Tai were young, Lori and I ran across a CD of songs and lullabies for children from around the world. Those songs hold a special place in our hearts and remain part of music we sing every now and again. In fact, Ankney Christian Church, we have sung one of those songs at the end of worship! The CD was titled “To such as these…”, which, of course invites us to finish the phrase: belongs the Kingdom of Heaven.
In our 50 years of life and ministry, Ankeny Christian Church has a long history of caring for, supporting, and nurturing the faith of children: from Sunday School classes and Christmas Programs, to church camp and puppet ministry, from VBS to PNO to Wednesday Night Mayhem, from our partnership with Ankeny Christian Childcare to the ways we include and welcome them in worship.
In response to the invitation to the 50th Anniversary Celebration, Rev. Angela Doty, one of those children who grew up in this congregation sent me an email. I’d like to share some of that email with you:
Dear Owen,
I received an invitation to the 50th celebration of Ankeny Christian Church and it made me smile. I am grateful for the spiritual formation, space to ask questions and grow, and support in life and in my ordination process the church offered me through my high school, college, and seminary years.
Following my ordination in September of 2000, I completed a two year CPE Residency through the VA Hospital at Mountain Home, TN and now I serve as Chaplain at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, IA since December 2002.
I have many profound memories of those years at ACC that shaped the way I heard and responded to God's call for which I am extremely thankful. One memory is a Sunday School class when I was in high school that has been a touchstone I have returned to time and time again. Another memory was the encouragement to counsel and then intern at the Conference Center where I met and was challenged by pastors and volunteers across the Region. And of course, I remember planning and sharing in my ordination ceremony surrounded by the support and love of that congregation.
I have been married to Chaplain David Doty for 27 years, he serves as Wing Chaplain at the 132nd Iowa Air National Guard Wing in Des Moines. We have two daughters, Elizabeth is 20, in her 3rd year at the University of Iowa, and Audra is 17, a senior at Southeast Polk High School.
Congratulations on 50 years of faithfulness! I'm honored to be a small part of all the ways God moves through the Church and manifests grace in the world.
Blessings,
Angela Doty
We continue our ministry to and care for children and their families. In the coming Sundays, we will journey through the stories of God’s covenant while engaging children and adults together in worship! Look for an article below for some more details.
Shalom,
Pastor Owen
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