New Year's Day - Game Night!

In place of our regular worship gathering on January 1, Watershed will be meeting at New Covenant Bible Church for a game night to celebrate the new year. We'll be meeting in the Middle School room, which is down in the NCBC basement. Arrive anytime after 7:00pm and bring your favorite board games!

NCBC is located just behind Mike McGrath's on Center Point Rd. Park in the West lot and enter through the green door on the south side of the building. Go down the stairs and the Middle School room will be the second room on your left as you walk North.

We ask everyone coming to please bring a snack or drink to share.

We hope you can make it!

QUICK UPDATE: If the door happens to be locked when you arrive (sometimes the janitor does that, not knowing folks are downstairs), call Steve's cell and he'll come let you in: 350-9700.

Tonight's Gathering Cancelled - Dec 18

After careful consideration, we have decided to cancel tonight's worship gathering (Dec 18) due to the impending storm. I realize the storm hasn't hit us yet, but based on the radar and the prediction for ice/sleet, we feel that its better to err on the side of caution. We don't want to risk anyone getting in an accident trying to get to Watershed, or getting home afterward (by 9 we'll be in the thick of the storm). The area colleges have also cancelled their evening activities and we tend to follow them.

In addition, Karen McCaa our scheduled speaker was coming up from Iowa City and did not feel safe making the drive up and back with the icy conditions. So altogether we feel it is best to cancel tonight's gathering.

Stay safe and stay dry! And have a Merry Christmas!

This Thursday -- Open Mic Night

As a reminder, this Thursday's Watershed gathering will be Open Mic night. Be thinking about what you're thankful for in this Thanksgiving season, and plan to share some of your thoughts with the rest of the group.

Also, after Watershed we will have a social time with refreshments. See ya there. :-)

This Thursday - Last Park Night!

This week we will be meeting at Daniels Park for our Thursday gathering. Folks plan to be there by 5:30-ish, but show up whenever you'd like. Feel free to bring your own food to grill. We'll sing a few songs and have a brief devotional by Leah Romaneli at 7:30.

A map is in the following link. From H Ave NE, go north on Oakland Rd NE (Oakland is a one-way). Take the northmost (second) entrance into the park. We'll be at the upper pavilion.

http://tinyurl.com/67oy8w

Hope to see you all there!

-Steve

*Friday Update* Service Project: August 14th

Fri Update: About 10-15 people made it out to Springville and, somewhat surprisingly, we were able to do a good amount of cleaning and put a first coat on about half of the shed. We will need to put another coat on, as well as paint the other half. The plan is to meet at Maranatha at 8:30am on Saturday, and head out to Springville and work on it until it's done. If you're able to join us, that would be great. Thanks!

Thu Update: The radar is showing rain for this evening (Aug 14), but we're going to try our luck. We may not get to paint, but we'll do some more prep work at least (power-washing, etc). We may not stay as long as planned though, so if you were planning to come late you should still call Joe (431-9495) and see what's up.

Check back again tomorrow (Friday) to see if we'll be painting on Saturday!

Next Thursday (August 14th) is our next service project! This month, we're going to be going out to Chris Thompson's parents' house to do some painting and possibly housework. His parents are older and not in the best of health, so this is a good way to help them out and minister to them.

We will primarily be painting a shed, but before painting we'll need to power wash the shed to erase some chalky film deposit. In order allow as much time as possible, we'll be meeting at Maranatha at 5pm, however if you can't make it that early, you can meet us "on location" whenever you're available -- we'll be there till 8:30 or 9pm probably.

After it gets too dark to work (or when we get our task done), we will hang out for a while and enjoy some smores. :-)

Here's a link to directions from Maranatha Bible Church. And here's a satellite view of the yard -- the shed is the larger building northeast of the house.

Special Event: Guthridge Park

This Thursday is an unusual 5th Thursday of the month. In honor of this, we are going to have a special evening at the park. We're going to meet at Guthridge Park in Hiawatha at the "Red" Pavilion at 7:00. We will bring some usual games -- like frisbee and Mafia or board games in the pavilion. There may be special appearances of games related to bean bag toss or water balloons. If you have some other games, feel free to bring those as well.

As in previous events at parks, we will have the grill hot (at 7pm this time), so if you'd like to bring meat to grill (or other food) feel free.

We won't have a regular worship/devotional session on this particular evening -- it's just a casual time to hang out with friends and have some fun. Hope to see you there!

July Park: Bever Park

Our location for our meeting on Thursday, July 24 is Bever Park. We'll be at Bever Pavilion (click for a map). It's at the east entrance to the park. Come early to grill and chill, and our worship time will start at 7:30.

This Week - Meeting at Maranatha

Just a quick reminder that this Thursday is a "regular" worship gathering at Maranatha Bible Church. See you there!

Watershed Serving at Mission of Hope

As was announced last Thursday at Watershed, we will not have a normal Watershed meeting this Thursday, July 10th. Instead, the following Monday, July 14th, we will be preparing and serving a meal at Mission of Hope. Mission of Hope is serving meals twice a day for the community, focusing on those displaced by the recent flood.

We are in need of a number of volunteers to make this opportunity a success. Here are the options:

• Providing Food (bring food to Mission of Hope on Jul 14 or work out an arrangement with those preparing other food)
• Preparing Food (? - appx 6:30pm)
• Serving Food (5:15pm - appx 7:30pm)
• Cleanup (appx 7:00pm - appx 9:00pm)

If you have questions or would like to sign up contact Joe Clark, or leave a comment here.

Watershed at Palisades St Park

This Thursday, June 26th we will be having our Watershed gathering outside at Palisades-Kepler St Park. Feel free to come anytime after 6pm for food and fellowship and a chance to enjoy the great outdoors. There are grills at the park, but you will need to bring your own food/drink. Also feel free to bring a frisbee or a ball to kick or throw around. We will start a time of worship at 7:30. We will also have a fire and smores afterwards so plan to stick around. If you came out to Palisades last year, you'll remember how much fun it was. You don't want to miss out!

Here is a map showing how to get to the park, which is off US 30 going east toward Mt Vernon. Here is a map of the park. We have reserved Shelter #1. 

Helping Mission of Hope Flood Relief Center

We as the Watershed community have the opportunity to come alongside and help the Mission of Hope organization as they minister to the flood victims in the area. They have opened their doors as a relief center. We will be collecting food and supply donations at our Watershed gatherings for the next several weeks (see list below).

They can use our help in several different ways:

Prayer. Pray not only for the people affected by the flood, but also for the staff serving them...that they may remain able and faithful servants to our King

Food. They/we will be serving at least two meals per day (currently planning on lunch and dinner), and also are giving a bag of non-perishable food items away.

Supplies.

Biggest Needs:

• men's underwear
• men's clothing, esp larger sizes
• white socks
• jeans
• shorts
• toilet paper
• paper towels
• towels

Other Needs:

• clothing
• toiletries/hygeine products
• cleaning supplie

Time. They will need volunteers to work in the kitchen, food pantry, provide transport, sort and distribute clothing, provide prayer and counseling, answer phones, make calls/recruit, etc. A special need right now is nightly cleanup from 9pm - midnight.

To sign up to volunteer, call Cathy or Pastor Ron at New Beginnings Church Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm at (319)294-5393, or email at newbeginningschurch2002@hotmail.com

July's Park - Bever Park

Just wanted to let everyone know that we have updated the Summer Schedule to reflect that we now have a park reserved for the 4th Thursday in July. We'll be gathering at Bever Park in the Bever Pavilion.

Also, we are investigating whether the floods have caused problems at Palisades Kepler State Park where we are scheduled to gather on June 26th. Be watching this blog for updated information. As of right now, we are planning on still going to Palisades.

Saturday Serving Project Update

As you may have guessed, the rain and flooding has forced us to cancel the painting project schedule for this Saturday. However, we are planning to do flood relief work instead, so we will still meet at Maranatha at 8:30 am. We will have details for you then. Since circumstances are changing rapidly it is hard to plan very far in advance.

If you are unable to make it to Maranatha tomorrow morning but are still interested in meeting us somewhere to help, or if you have any other questions, please give John a call @ 319.431.0083.

Serving those affected by flooding

I'm at work downtown, and we're putting our disaster recovery plan into action with some temporary work locations. And for people that just work downtown, that's fine.

But people who live near downtown, or in other areas affected by the flooding river, need help. Serve the City has a page dedicated to emergency flood assistance. I think they are coordinating with Linn County Emergency Management. It sounds like the needs are constantly changing, so check the emergency flood assistance page and call in.

Also, check Erin's post below or the various news outlets (KCRG, Gazette, etc) for more ways to serve.

Another serving opportunity - Sandbagging

Since this is a "serving" week in the summer schedule, this seems appropriate to post...

Want to help your community and neighbors?  Make sandbags!  They are doing them 24 hrs. a day all week.  For more info (like where to go), see to KCRG's website.

No Watershed on Thurs (June 12), Service Project on Sat (June 14)

We will not be gathering this Thursday (June 12th) but will be having a service project on Saturday the 14th instead. We will meet at Maranatha Bible Church at 8:30am to receive instructions and then drive to our location, and work til 4pm.

We are partnering with an organization called Brighten and several area churches to help paint and repair the outside of several homes in the Wellington Heights neighborhood. We will specifically be scraping and painting the 2nd story of one home. We will be working on ladders and scaffolding, but for those who aren't a big fan of heights, we will have work on lower levels for you as well. All you need to bring is some old clothes that you don't mind getting dirty and stained with paint. All the other stuff we need will be supplied to us. I've been told the old paint we are scraping off is lead-based, so I will provide some face masks for us to use.

We hope to see as many of you out there as possible, so please consider serving the people in our community alongside other young adults.

Parkersburg Tornado Help

As was announced last night, a group will be heading to Parkersburg Saturday, May 31, to help with some cleanup effort. The plan is to meet at the Hiawatha Casey's, at the corner of Center Point Road and Boyson, by 8:00am. People will then carpool up to Parkersburg (80 miles) and report to the United Methodist Church. A volunteer station is set up there, and they will give instructions on where to go.

The only thing you should have to bring is safety glasses and work gloves (hard-soled shoes recommended). If you have a sledge hammer or shovel, you may wish to

At this time no clothing donations are needed, and it seems the Butler County site has taken down the list of items to donate. We will consider collecting donations as a follow-on effort in the weeks ahead.

Directions from Casey's to the P'burg Methodist Church:
http://tinyurl.com/5r8tal

For information for volunteers:
http://www.butlercoiowa.org/


I will be heading up earlier in the morning with a few other folks, but John Connelly will be at Casey's with map printouts for you.

Thanks to everyone who is giving their time for this!

-Steve

Summer Schedule

Along with my personal announcement, we also announced the summer schedule (beginning in June). The easy way to remember it is as follows:

1st Thursday - Regular (7:30 pm @ Maranatha)
2nd Thursday - Serving
3rd Thursday - Regular
4th Thursday - Park (come early to eat, worship at 7:30, locations to be announced)

There is a 5th Thursday in July, and the leadership team is trying to come up with some sort of special event for that night (outside worship night? some other event?).

If you want a "hard" schedule, copy the following, paste it in your own word processor, and print it out (or just stick it in your own calendar program on your computer or the Internet):

June 5 - Marantha, 7:30 pm
June 12 - Serving (time and location to be announced)
June 19 - Marantha, 7:30 pm
June 26 - Palisades-Kepler State Park - Shelter 1 (6:30 pm Bring-your-own Picnic &/or Hiking, 7:30 pm Worship, Fire afterwards)

July 3 - Marantha, 7:30 pm
July 10 - Serving (time and location to be announced)
July 17 - Marantha, 7:30 pm
July 24 - Bever Park, 7:30 pm (come early to picnic)
July 31 - Special Event

August 7 - Marantha, 7:30 pm
August 14 - Serving (time and location to be announced)
August 21 - Marantha, 7:30 pm
August 28 - Park-to-be-announced, 7:30 pm (come early to picnic)

Sept 4 - back to weekly schedule at Maranatha

We'll try to keep this updated as serving opportunities and parks are confirmed. Here's to a great summer!

A Time for Everything

For everything there is an appointed time,
and an appropriate time for every activity on earth:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to uproot what was planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to search, and a time to give something up as lost;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to rip, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silent, and a time to speak.
A time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 – NET)

This is only the 2nd (and last) time that I have posted the same thing on my personal blog as I have posted on Waterblogged, the “official” blog of Watershed. But I felt it best to put this in both locations since it concerns Watershed and myself.

Last night at Watershed, I announced at the beginning of my message that I am stepping down from leadership of Watershed. Anytime a leader announces they are “stepping down” immediately questions arise: “What’s wrong?” “What did he do?” “Is there some scandal I don’t know about?”

So let me start by saying that nothing’s wrong. I’m fine. My marriage is fine. I’m doing well spiritually. I don’t have some unconfessed sin I am needing to deal with.

Also, Watershed is fine. In fact, it is going great and could possibly be at its healthiest point ever in its 4 1/2 years of existence.

So why would I be stepping away if everything is “fine”? Simple: obedience.

Now I must confess that my obedience has come slowly. I have sensed that God has wanted me to do this for several months. But I like Watershed – I like the young adults who come, I enjoy teaching, I enjoy worshiping alongside of those who come, and more. And so I fought against what I knew God was telling me to do.

But by February, I knew I had to obey. This feeling wouldn’t go away after much prayer and counsel.

This summer seemed to make the most sense for a transition, so I will be transitioning out of leadership during June, July, and August. The leadership team (made of Steve Adolphs, Matt & Amber Schouten, John Connelly, and Bill & Sue Lottes) will continue to protect the vision of Watershed. At this time we don’t have a solid answer on how we will oversee the teaching schedule since I have been doing that pretty much by myself. But I have no fears that we, with God’s guidance, will come up with a great solution.

I always knew my time with Watershed would some day come to an end, but I always thought it would happen when I died or God moved me to a different ministry. But I’m obviously not dead, and I don’t have other plans in mind. So my plan is to just pour into my family more and the ministry I was called to first as the young adult pastor at New Covenant. But I am remaining open to whatever the Lord wants to do with my life.

I want to thank all of the young adults that worshiped together through the gatherings of Watershed. Seeing you worship, give of your time in serving, and caring for one another and those outside of Watershed has been an inspiration to me. When we tried to start Watershed back in 2003, many people said we were crazy – it wouldn’t work. There was no way you could have people from many different churches come together without it wrecking. I think they would be right if Watershed was a man-birthed organism. But from the very beginning, we knew that God was leading and creating this unorthodox ministry. And we simply chose to follow Him in faith. That is why I believe Watershed is as strong as it is right now.

I’m excited about the future of Watershed. I wish I could be intimately involved to watch it closely, but God either has different plans for me or for Watershed (or both). I’m excited because last week around 10 people stood up saying they were feeling some sort of call from God to go overseas for a long term commitment (a year or more). I’m excited because I see people worshipping authentically through the songs and as they listen to the messages. I’m excited because I see new people being welcomed naturally. I’m excited because God is clearly doing something by moving me out, and we get to place our faith in Him and follow His lead just as we did when we started this crazy thing.

I’m not leaving Cedar Rapids anytime soon – so to any Watershedders reading this – if you see me around, please stop me and say hi. I’ll want updates! But not only will I want to know what’s going on with Watershed, but also I’ll want to know what God is doing in your life. So I encourage you to keep going deeper, to get in over your head so that the “river” of Jesus Christ can take you wherever it/He wants.

Still going deeper with you,
Erin

Bringing Relief to the Cyclone Victims in Myanmar

If you haven't heard by now, a major cyclone slammed into Myanmar (also known as Burma). Current estimates report that 22,000 people have died, another 40,000+ missing, and possibly a million people homeless. Right now, water and food are difficult-to-get necessities. Electricity is out, so news is slow to travel. But the government of Myanmar, which has been very closed to other countries as well as the gospel, is suddenly opening up - they realize they can't handle the magnitude of this tragedy themselves.

Since most of you can't just pick up what you are doing to fly over and help in relief efforts, I thought many of you would be willing to help give financially to help. Here are 3 reputable organizations that will bring relief in the name of Christ and have strong financial accountability:

• Gospel for Asia
• Samaritan's Purse
• World Vision

To give, simply click the link above for the organization you want to donate through. Each link goes directly to each organizations page concerning the cyclone, as well as directions for how to give.

Young Adult Worship Service at Mission of Hope

I got the following email. Thought it might interest some of you! The speaker has given the message at Watershed 3 different times in past years, and those of you who have not heard her would probably benefit the most. Plus, she's a personal friend of mine. :o)

-------
Mission of Hope is having a worship service designed especially for youth and young adults!

Saturday, May 10th
6:30 PM
Mission of Hope - 1537 1st Ave SE
Message - Karen McCaa
Music - "Happy-Go-Lovely"

Join us for a positive and uplifting message by well-known and loved Christian motivational speaker, Karen McCaa. A counselor at Kirkwood Community College and traveled speaker for Nike Co., Karen comes to us from Indiana, and her teachings are universally respected and cherished by all who hear her. Karen pours out her heart as she shares personal stories and Biblical teaching that will be sure to inspire and motivate us to lead lives that honor & follow our Lord Jesus Christ.

In addition, local young band "Happy-Go-Lovely" returns to Mission of Hope to lead us in worship! It's guaranteed to be a night of fun and revelation!

Please forward this invitation, invite your children, bring a friend. Hope to see you there!
Tina

Tina Herring
Worship Coordinator
MISSION OF HOPE
(319)362-5559

Spiritual Q & A - The Answered Questions

We held our Spiritual Q & A last night. While many across Iowa were questioning who to caucus for, we were asking questions about life, the Bible, spiritual matters, and more. I must say there were some GREAT questions asked, and I wish we could have gotten to all of them.

Below are the questions we DID get to. The other questions we didn't have time for will be posted in separate posts with comments open.

------
- What is the "year of Jubilee"?

- My friend proclaims Christ, but is considering moving with her boyfriend. She says the Bible has nothing to say about this issue. What does the Bible say about this issue?

- If a person is in a relationship with a non-Christian, should that person continue the relationship or break it off and have a "hole" in their heart? Also, would Jesus be upset if that person wants to stay in the relationship?

- What are some good verses or passages that can encourage others in their faith?

- What is faith, and is it blind?

- My parents are new believers and are unfamiliar with the Bible. Where would you recomend they start reading in the Bible?

- How can we be joyful, knowing that some people will not be with God in eternity?

- When studying the historical books of the Old Testament, how do we "put ourselves in the Israelite's Place" - reconciling the ethics of a nation at that time - military conquest, plunder, putting the conquered "to the sword" vs. our ethics since the time of Christ - "love your neighbor", "peace", etc.?

- Many Muslims believe Allah is the same as the Christian God - how does the Christian church view the relationship between Yahweh and Allah?

Question - Church

How should we address the fact that the Church as a whole is miserable, poor, blind, and naked?

Question - Matthew 6

What does "the eye is the lamp of the body" and "if the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness" mean in Matthew 6?

Question - Bible Translations

Note: There were two different questions related to this topic, so they are both being put in the same post.

What is/are good translations of the Bible? Why? What benefits? Ease of understanding?

Which translation of the Bible is the best to read? (i.e. most accurate)

Question - Obedience

How can we grow in obedience?

Question - Worldliness and Holiness

What is Wordliness?

-OR-

How do we become holy?

Question - Taming the Tongue

The Bible says the mouth is like a wild animal that cannot be tamed - how does the Lord teach us to control our tongue?

Question - Guidance Scriptures

This spring I will be graduating from school, but I don't know where I'll end up when I find a job. What verses would be helpful in guiding me on trusting God to help me through this big change in my life?

Question - Sabbath?

Should we observe a Sabbath? Why?

(Preferably answer in terms of the Covenant Theology vs. New Covenant Theology vs. Despensationalism debate)

Question - Christianity being purified?

Is Christianity going through a purification process?

e.g. Catholics -> Methodists -> Baptists -> Pentecostals

Spiritual Q & A

Just a reminder: this Thursday, Jan 3, we will have a "Spiritual Q & A" night. Bring your spiritual questions (or a friend with spiritual questions), and I will do my best to try and give you an answer from the Scriptures.

I thought some of you might like at least 24 hours to think of what questions you might like to ask or who to invite, thus the quick blog post.

See you tomorrow night (if you don't go to the caucuses).

Post Abortion Study

I got the following in an email. As I got ready to delete it, I thought there might be someone from within Watershed that might benefit or know someone who would benefit from this Bible Study. All the needed information is below. Something like this could be really helpful to someone, especially as we get ready to go into a new teaching series called "Baggage" starting Jan. 10th.

-------

Next Post-Abortion Healing Bible Study (PAS) class starting Jan. 21:

Are you grieving over an abortion in your past? Did that choice leave you with regrets? Do you wonder if God could ever forgive you? Do you wish there was someone safe you could share your secret with? You are not alone. *Approximately 43% of women have experienced an abortion in the U.S. by the time they reach age 45. There is hope and there is healing.

Please contact Marilyn by Jan. 18 if you'd like more information or to be included in the next PAS class at Aid to Women: 364-8967 or marilyn.s@ aidtowomen.com.

Class will begin Jan. 21, meeting on 11 consecutive Monday evenings, 7-9 p.m.,
after normal business hours. ATW: 701 Center Pt. Rd. N.E., just north of Coe College.
Class and materials are provided at no cost.

One woman had this to say about the class completed at Aid to Women:
“I just want to thank you for what you did for me. I can’t hardly believe how differently I feel…. Thanks so much for helping me along my healing path.”

Please come. All calls are confidential.

*Alan Guttmacher Institute