December

2020
The Cornerstone
Volume 42 Number 12

Minden United Church of Christ

Pastor Brian Wohlhuter
Phone 712-483-2903
Parsonage 712-407-2370
106 Lincoln St. Box 218, Minden, IA 51553
Web page:mindenucc.com
Email: mindenucc@walnutel.net
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 4 5

Isaac Gardner Danny Martens Patty O’Neill Duane McDonald

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Worship 10:00 Sharon Siebels Morgan Benes Richard Dau Kiya Morrissey
Steve Bintz Jimmy Martens

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Worship 10:00 Shelli Handy Sandra Price Cindy Manhart Mary Moeller
Konner Handy
Dee Thoms

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Worship 10:00 Rochelle Parks Tracy Wohlhuter Jerry Murley

Miranda Ring
Service 6:00 pm Marissa Ring
Vicki Palmer

27 28 29 30 31

Worship 10:00 Mary Campbell Aubrey Burmaster

Bonnie Dollen
 Budget Meeting and
Annual Meeting January 10, 2021

SUNDAY SCHOOL Group 3:16 is

HAS BEEN
POSTPONED. MORE
postponed. Keep
INFORMATION watching for more
COMING SOON details.

Christmas Eve Service 6:00pm

Worship at the
Church

on Sunday at 10:00 a.m.

Face Masks Suggested

and on Facebook Live

Christmas Eve Service 6:00pm

Minden United Church of Christ

December 24, 2020

Obituary for Victor Thorton Bird
Victor Thorton Bird III, son of Victor Bird II and Dorothy (Book) Bird, was
born October 28, 1945 in Omaha, Nebraska. He attended Thomas Jefferson
High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he graduated. After high school,
he enlisted into the United States Navy.

After his honorable discharge, Rick drove truck over the road. He then
worked as a diesel mechanic for some time before working at Oriental
Trading in Underwood, Iowa for eleven years. Lastly he worked with his
daughter Angie at Taylor Oil in Shelby, Iowa. Rick was always willing to help
family and friends with odd and end jobs when needed.

Rick loved playing golf, watching dirt track racing, and fishing. He enjoyed
visiting the casinos, or playing a good game of cards among friends and
family. He like to watch NASCAR and cheer on the Kansas City Chiefs,
Kansas City Royals, and Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Rick died at his home in Persia, Iowa on Friday, November 6, 2020,

attaining the age of seventy-five years and nine days. He was preceded in
death by his parents.

He is survived by his children Gayla Laackmann of Council Bluffs, Iowa;

Ronald (Cristina) Laackmann of Portsmouth, Iowa; Charles Bird of
Hancock, Iowa; Angela (Travis) Hargens of Avoca, Iowa; significant other
Patty Neuman of Persia, Iowa; 17 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren;
siblings Phil (Jane) Bird of Overland Park, Kansas; Suzanne (Frank) Franco
of Omaha, Nebraska; Roxanne (Brian) Shepard of Council Bluffs, Iowa;
Michael Bird of Harlan, Iowa; nieces and nephews, other family members
and friends.
December 6, 2020 December 13, 2020 December 20, 2020

December 24, 2020 December 25, 2020

Service 6:00pm

December 31, 2020

A sacred
summary

The simple shepherds

heard the voice of an angel
and found their Lamb;
the wise men
saw the light of a star
and found their Wisdom.

—Fulton J. Sheen

Special dates
• Second Sunday of Advent, December 6, 2020
• Third Sunday of Advent, December 13, 2020
• Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 20, 2020
• First day of winter, December 21, 2020
• Christmas Eve, December 24, 2020
• Christmas Day, December 25, 2020
• New Year’s Eve/Watch Night, December 31, 2020
Advent, which marks the beginning of the church year, is “the first gleam of
Christmas,” writes W.E. Sangster. “It heralds the entrance of the Divine into
human history; it is heaven descending to earth; it is a great event casting
its brilliance before it.” Sangster adds: “It is as though a trumpeter had
taken his stand upon the turrets of time and announced the coming of the
King. ‘Get ready,’ he seems to say. ‘Get ready. He is coming!’”

Holly

Holly was first used by pagans to decorate for the festival of Saturnalia. When
Christians began celebrating Christmas in honor of Christ, they adapted that
decorating practice to reflect Jesus’ life and death. Holly’s pointed leaves
symbolize the crown of thorns and its red berries symbolize Christ’s blood shed
on the cross. Because holly thrives and its berries retain their brilliance even in
harsh winter conditions, non-Christians saw it as a symbol of eternity — which
is fitting for Christians as well.
Minden United Church of Christ
Box 218, 106 Lincoln Street
Minden, Iowa 51553