THE CARBON CLIFF UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

WORSHIP HOUR 8:45 A.M.
COFFEE HOUSE 9:00a.m. to 11:00a.m. ON TUESDAYS

Pastor - Howard Ross

Lay Leader-Wendy Baker          Liturgist-Nancy Gardner/Wendy Baker

                           PRAYER PARTNERS FOR JULY

                           July 6 - Wendy and Joann
                           July 13 - Nancy and Bob
                           July 20 - Audrey and Beverly
                           July 27 - Don and Dorothy
                           August 3 -


At Carbon Cliff we all know you, we all care about you, and we all strive together in a church family to do the work of Jesus Christ.
........................Robert Gardner


     The Carbon Cliff United Methodist Church is a small, but very active church. The average Sunday morning attendance is 30 people with members coming from as far away as Rock Island, Davenport, and Cordova. The church has a Community Coffee House on Tuesday mornings and a Prayer Partner Ministry. We also take communion to those unable to come to church. The Parish has also implemented a Project NOW summer lunch program held at our church for the children of Carbon Cliff. Our worship service is relaxed and informal. The Carbon Cliff Church features the advantages of a large church through the Twin Rivers Cooperative Parish with all the features of a small, country-like atmosphere.


As you journey through life
Take time to pray
And meditate on the joys
That you choose to come your way.

Remember God has an answer
To every single prayer.
Even in times of struggle
God keeps you in his care.

God will lift you up
When you are feeling down
And when life gets crazy
God will turn it around.
 The challenges God sends
Are lessons of love and light
Meant to bring you closer
As God keeps you in his sight.

Pray that all is right
When everything seems wrong
And trust that great joy
Has already come along.
Written by Marla Wienandt


OUR CONGREGATION IN MISSION
     Contributing to missions is a major aspect of our church program. February's project was participating in Souper Bowl Sunday. We collected 275 cans of soup, vegetables, and fruit, 36 boxes of cereal, 71 jars of jelly and peanut butter, and $464. We give thanks that we had the opportunity, ability and the desire to share our many blessings with others who are in need.
           

Left - Shelby is the chairperson of Souper Bowl Sunday. Right - Shelby is giving the final count to the congregation.




VISITING PASTOR
           

Mike Rayson was the visiting pastor on Sunday, January 28. He inspired us with his message and music.





KNOW YOUR PASTOR
 

                                                  


     Howard Ross has had a connection with the Carbon Cliff United Methodist Church for many years. He and his wife, Toni, were members of Aldersgate when they were part of the two-point charge with Carbon Cliff. Howard remembers playing softball with Bob Goettig and Lewis Needham. He preached at our church several times before the Parish was formed and has been a guest pastor many times since the Parish was formed.

     Several years ago Howard and Toni were directed by God to enter His service by becoming pastors. They are both part-time local pastors and are involved in a course of study. They were attending classes at Mt. Vernon, but are now attending at Springfield. They are both working toward full-time pastoral ministry. They both will go where God sends them. They both enjoy working with smaller churches and Howard also enjoys working with the contemporary worship service. Toni is currently the pastor at Grace and Hampton.

     Howard grew up in Geneseo and graduated from Geneseo High School. While in high school he played in the band and the Drum and Bugle Corps. After graduation he attended Illinois Wesleyan majoring in biology and chemistry. While in college he participated in a half-semester internship at Argonne National Laboratory and worked on an environmental impact statement for Three-Mile Island after the accident. His first job after graduation was at a lab in Chicago. He then worked at the Waste Water Plant in Davenport for six years. He currently works for the East Moline Water Plant and has been there for the past sixteen years as a chemist. Howard met Toni at the Geneseo Happy Joes. He saw her seated “across a crowded room” and tried to impress her by putting different things in his pop to cause various chemical reactions. The chemistry was right, she was greatly impressed, and they were married in 1984. And, she has continued to be impressed as they will soon be celebrating their 25th Anniversary.

     Howard and Toni have been blessed with two wonderful children. Most of us know Nathan and Nikki as they have been active in the Parish for several years. Nathan is currently at Iowa State University where he is majoring in civil engineering with an emphasis on structural engineering. His goal is to design and build buildings. In addition to his studies he is a community advisor on his hall floor and also plays the drums with the Faith Spring Band for the Wesley Foundation Contemporary Service. He spent the past summer studying in Spain as he has a minor in Spanish. Nikki is a senior at UTHS. During her high school experience she has been very active in drama participating in every play either on stage or directing. She has been very active in the youth programs in the Parish. She serves on the Parish Administrative Board as the youth representative, is president of FISH (Fellowship in Someone’s Home), is involved with ROK (the Christian group at UTHS), and is a state officer in Rainbow for Girls. She hasn’t decided on a college, but she is leaning toward Iowa State. She wants to major in psychology and religion. Her career goal is to be a missionary, counseling inner-city youth in South Africa.

     Howard has many interests in addition to his church involvement. He enjoys reading all kinds of books. His favorite is science fiction and his favorite author is C.S. Lewis as he combines the spiritual with the fantasy science fiction. He also enjoys movies and often finds ways of incorporating them in his message at our Church and at Starting Point. Howard finds golf challenging and is learning to play the hammered dulcimer. He and Toni are also both active in Walk to Emmaus and Chrysalis.

     Two years ago Howard had a life-changing experience as he was diagnosed with diabetes. He is now much more aware of his diet and exercises on a regular basis. He is also aware of the importance of physical discipline as well and spiritual.

     Howard is looking forward to working with our church family at Carbon Cliff and to the things we can accomplish together. He feels it is important to listen to what we are doing and also to listen to our dreams and ideas for our Church. He wants to know our feelings and to help us relate to God on a deeper level. He believes it is important to serve not only those who can attend church, but also to those who can’t. His first Sunday he took Communion to Ethel and visited with her for quite a while. We at Carbon Cliff are looking forward to a meaningful and spiritually rewarding relationship with Howard and feel we are very fortunate to have him as our primary Pastor and a member of our church family.



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Driving Directions

  • From Henry County (Colona, Level Acres) follow Route 84 into Carbon Cliff. Turn right at Second Street and go one block.
  • From Upper Rock Island County (Hampton, Rapid City, Port Byron) follow Route 84 into Carbon Cliff. Turn left at Second Street and go one block.
  • From Rock Island, Moline, East Moline, and Silvis, travel on the one-way going east to Route 84 and continue into Carbon Cliff. Turn left at Second Street and go one block.


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This page has been visited since June 1, 2000

This page was updated on February 10, 2008.