Category Archives: Pastor Sarah

Alisa, Boone FUMC, Fisheye, Pastor Sarah

Can I Get Confirmation?

April 13, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

Last Sunday was Confirmation Sunday at the church. I wasn’t directly involved in the confirmation process, but my morning was filled with church activities.

As a member of the Methodist Men, I was there to help prepare the Confirmation Breakfast for the confirmands, their families, and their mentors. During a break in the action I ran up and fixed the network problems of our financial computer. During the church service I ran the PowerPoint portion of the worship. After the service, once again as a member of the Methodist Men, I helped serve treats and beverages as part of Fellowship.

However, what matters to this post is the PowerPoint part of my day. Since I was running PowerPoint, I was up in the balcony. I don’t normally take photographs during worship service, because the people around me consider it to be a distraction.

However, since I was in the balcony and since Alisa is in Haiti doing God’s work (similar to the time I went to fake Haiti, but with less time laying on the beach and bartering over hat prices I’m sure) I decided to snap a few photos, so she could see them on her return.

Anna’s Faith Statement

Mackenzie’s Faith Statement

I’d just like to say that the two confirmands that read their Personal Faith Statements to the congregation were VERY impressive! If I had a transcript of their words, I would’ve published both of them.

Alisa, Boone FUMC, Holidays, Pastor Sarah, Teresa

Jesus Eggs!

April 5, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 3 Comments

On the Saturday before Easter I was sitting in a darkened in theater in Ankeny experiencing the “tortures of the damned” that is watching BATMAN VS. SUPERMAN, my phone buzzed. Since the movie picture had lost my interest moments into it, I felt no guilt in checking my text message. After all, I was probably already checking the score of the Oklahoma-Oregon game any ways.

The text message was from my church’s (the church I attend) Youth Minister Alisa wanting me to simultaneously run a photo booth and take pictures of our Sunday School Easter Egg Hunt.

You all know how I feel about multi-tasking.

So here are a few of the pictures almost exclusively from the Easter Egg Hunt.

But on the positive, If Easter was today, I could actually multi-task and run a photo booth and take pictures at the same time.

Angie, Art, Bill, Kim, Pastor Sarah, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 29 – SHAPES

April 4, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett

SHAPES is definitely one of the harder compositions to think about conceptually. However, there were a few submissions this week.

Here is a look at the submissions for SHAPES:

Sarah Karber

Angie DeWaard

Christopher D. Bennett

Kim Barker

Bill Wentworth

But enough living in the past. What is this week’s theme?

RUINS!

It is a shame for me that RUINS wasn’t the theme for last week. I spent a pretty awesome weekend in Kansas and that entire state is basically one large ruin. For example, the Theme Release Photo was taken in the Kansas town of Hatfield Green. Pretty much the entire block that house is on was filled with abandoned houses. So mark Hatfield Green on your places to visit. At least if you love old and dilapidated as much as I do!

So what is a ruin?

The physical destruction or disintegration of something or the state of disintegrating or being destroyed.

Go out and take a picture of an old building or house that has been abandoned. Don’t know where one is? Try the entire town of Beaver, Iowa. An old abandoned car would be another prime example. The Iowa Hawkeyes basketball roster. Another good example.

So get off the couch. Grab your camera. Get out there and take a picture of something physically disintegrating. Before you become an example of a ruin.

HOUSEKEEPING

PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

The Photography 139 Shameless Self-Promotion Division is pleased to announce that Nicole Nickens is that latest person to show class, taste, and sophistication by becoming a Photography 139 email subscriber. A brief introduction of Nicole (since time is short this morning). She is an active member of my church (not so much my church, but the church I attend) and a mother of Tyler. If you see Nicole out and about on the mean streets of Boone, feel free to show her the Super-Secret Photography 139 Handshake and give her the knowing glance.

SOME GALLERIES OF NOTE

A reminder that you can check out all the submissions for all the themes of the WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE by clicking on the link below:

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE

You can also follow the progress of the SELF-PORTRAIT PROJECT by clicking on the link below:

SELF-PORTRAIT PROJECT

Soak in that beard. It will only be around for 2 more days. Tops.

As always, I’m eager to see everybody’s submissions for this week’s themes!

Angie, Art, Bill, Kim, Movies, Nature, Pastor Sarah, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 27 – TREE

March 21, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

There aren’t as many people out there that are as passionate about a TREE as they are about their PET. However, the people that have passion are very passionate.

Here are this week’s submissions for TREE:

Bill Wentworth

Kim Barker 1

Kim Barker 2

Sarah Karber

Angie DeWaard 1

Angie DeWaard 2

Angie DeWaard 3

Christopher D. Bennett

It should be noted that we are officially at the halfway point of this project and it has yet to have a single strike against it. Therefore it is somewhat safe (as safe as a UNI lead anyways) to assume that this project will return for a second year. Which means, you should start thinking about themes you want to see for next year. I might be open to suggestions. Although I might not.

On a week where I’m not as rushed, I will publish the full list of 52 themes, so you know what is out there.

How about next week’s theme?

SILHOUETTE!

I’m 100% sure that everybody knows what a tree is. I’m about 98% sure everybody knows what a SILHOUETTE is, but just in case, here is a definition.

the dark shape and outline of someone or something visible against a lighter background, especially in dim light.

The best way to tackle this is to photograph something that is backlit. Preferably something that has an interesting shape. Size or action.

You get it. And I can’t wait to see what people submit.

HOUSEKEEPING

A quick note from THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SECRET DIVISION.

It is troublesome that people have actually been paying attention to my blog post titles lately. I mean, that means I don’t completely exist in a vacuum and that is scary. While I’ll be glad to occasionally answer a “what does that mean” blog title question, I am glad to solve another mystery that I’ve recently been asked.

How do I decide the order of the pictures in the WEEKLY CHALLENGE posts?

I believe when I was asked this question, the person thought I ranked them. I don’t. Believe me. I don’t. I upload all the submissions at the same time, so I post them in the order that they get uploaded. So pictures submitted that are smaller and have a name that is near the front of the alphabet, that picture will probably be near the top. Larger files are usually towards the bottom.

I’m not here to judge art. Unless it is Andy Warhol’s art. That guy sucked. See FACTORY GIRL is you don’t believe me. If it is in a movie it has to be true.

Angie, Animals, Carla, Dustin, Kim, Michelle, Naima, Pastor Sarah, Shannon, Teresa, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 26 – PET

March 14, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 4 Comments

Quick post today:

Lots of submissions for PET! Here they are:

CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT

ANGIE DEWAARD

CARLA STENSLAND

DUSTIN JACKSON 1

DUSTIN JACKSON 2

DUSTIN JACKSON 3

KIM BARKER 1

KIM BARKER 2

SARAH KARBER

TERESA KAHLER

SHANNON BARDOLE

MICHELLE HAUPT

Great submissions! Keep the momentum rolling with this week’s theme:

TREE!

Should be an easy one! Everybody has access to a tree or even trees!

No HOUSEKEEPING this week.

Angie, Kim, Music, Pastor Sarah, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 20 – MUSIC

February 1, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

This week’s theme was MUSIC. There must not many lovers of MUSIC out there as participation took a bit of a dip this week. That is okay, because the submissions were great. Hopefully next week’s theme trips more triggers.

The submissions for MUSIC:

KIMBERLY BARKER

CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT

ANGIE DEWAARD

SARAH KARBER

Time to reveal this week’s theme:

LANDMARK!

While there aren’t many music lovers out there, maybe there are numerous LANDMARK lovers out there.

What is a LANDMARK?

Something that a town might be known for. A famous thing. Like the Campanile at Iowa State or the water tower in Ogden. Something that if you were giving directions, you would reference. At Milton Lott’s Grave, take a right. Right into the river.

Time for a reminder of the rules.

RULES

1. The picture has to be taken the week of the theme. This isn’t a curate your pictures challenge. This is a get your butt off the couch (my personal experience) and put your camera in your hands challenge. Don’t send me a picture of you next to the Eiffel Tower, when I know you were in Iowa all week.
2. Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by noon on the Monday of the challenge. It should be pointed out that this blog auto-publishes at 12:01 on Mondays. So it wouldn’t hurt to get your picture in earlier.

That is it, them’s the rules.

HOUSEKEEPING

PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

Nothing new to report. Nobody showed their keen intellect and sophisticated tastes by becoming an email subscriber to this here blog.

Maybe you have a keen intellect and sophisticated tastes and would like to become an email subscriber to this here blog, but don’t know how.

It is easy, just send an email to this email: bennett@photography139.com indicating that you would like to become an email subscriber. The benefits are… well there are just too many to describe at this time.

PHOTOGRAPHY 139 ONGOING PHOTO PROJECT DIVISION

A reminder that the THE SELF-PORTRAIT PROJECT is ongoing and you can check it out by following the link below:

THE SELF-PORTRAIT PROJECT

That is it for today. I look forward to all the LANDMARKS that end up in my inbox.

Angie, Art, Carla, Derrick, Dustin, Flat Earth Joe, Jill, Pastor Sarah, Shannon, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 19 – GRAFFITI

January 25, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 3 Comments

It is exciting times around the PHOTOGRAPHY 139 WORLDWIDE HEADQUARTERS. There is a first time submitter in Dustin Jackson this week.

Dustin is a very talented photographer and I would encourage you to follow him on his Facebook page, if you haven’t. I would post a link, but then I’d have to go on Facebook and this has been a pretty great week so far. My disdain for humanity is at a low and I don’t want that to go away right now.

Maybe later.

Either way, I’m super excited to have Dustin as a fairly regular contributor. I’m expecting great things from him!

Here are this week’s submissions for GRAFFITI:

ANGIE DEWAARD 1

ANGIE DEWAARD 2

DUSTIN JACKSON

CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT

SHANNON BARDOLE

SARAH KARBER

CARLA STENSLAND*

KIM BARKER

But what is this week’s theme? Well, you don’t have to wait any longer!

MUSIC!

As always, you can define MUSIC any way you want. For example, I know people that define Five Finger Death Punch as music, whereas I do not. Good luck to everybody participating.

A quick review of the rules.

RULES

1. The picture has to be taken the week of the theme. This isn’t a curate your pictures challenge. This is a get your butt off the couch (my personal experience) and put your camera in your hands challenge.
2. Your submission needs to be emailed to bennett@photography139.com by noon on the Monday of the challenge. It should be pointed out that this blog auto-publishes at 12:01 on Mondays. So it wouldn’t hurt to get your picture in earlier.

That is it, them’s the rules.

HOUSEKEEPING

PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DIVISION

I told you this is a great week! I get to proudly announce that there have been not ONE, but TWO people that have exercised their keen intellect by displaying both their taste and sophistication by becoming Photography 139 email subscribers. Please welcome aboard Dustin Jackson and Derrick Gorshe. If you see them out and about walking the mean streets of Ogden or Ames, feel free to give them a knowing glance.

I’ve known both Dustin and Derrick for what feels like forever. All of us used to toil in the mines of the Evil Clown Empire in another life. Back then Dustin used to go by the moniker Action Jackson and Derrick used to go by the name D-Rock. They are also both amazing cooks and are both married to smart, beautiful, strong, amazing women. I’m going to guess this is the result of their keen intellects and their sophisticated tastes.

Dustin and I were founding members in an underground beverage society that supported and encouraged the drinking of Jones Soda. We once fought the good fight against Jones Soda suppression that the local Hy-Vee was engaged in. Although we lost the battle, Hy-Vee definitely knew they were in a fight.

Derrick and I were once in the faux jam band Bratwurst Explosion. We definitely rocked many a faux stage in our day. Derrick, to his credit, also rocked many a real stage in his youth.

Derrick is also the twin brother of longtime Photography 139 supporter Jill Gorshe.

Dustin does not have a twin, but I don’t hold that against him. As long as he keeps feeding me homemade pretzel buns!

Welcome aboard Dustin and Derrick. I know you shall fare well.

PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS COMMENTARY DIVISION

In the last couple of weeks, both Russell Kennerly and Jason Baier have earned their own avatars for use in the COMMENTS section of this here blog. Hopefully, they won’t be the last and hopefully, they will put these to good use in the future.

PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SECRET HANDSHAKE DIVISION

It is with some sadness and a certain degree of remorse, that I’ve had to fold the PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SECRET HANDSHAKE DIVISION. They just weren’t making satisfactory progress. While I never like to see people put out of their jobs, sometimes, it just has to be done. I have given them the requisite pretzels, to let them know that they are being closed down.

So now and on into the future, we will go back to pretending that there is a super-secret Photography 139 secret handshake. Isn’t pretending more fun anyways?

*Technically I took this photo, but Carla told me to take it because she couldn’t.

Carla, Kim, Pastor Sarah, WPC - Submissions

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – WEEK 18 – STORE

January 18, 2016 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

Some of the regulars weren’t out and about this week, but that is okay, because there was a first time contributor in Sarah Karber! I’m expecting big things from her in the future!

Here are the submissions for STORE:

Kim Barker

Carla Stensland 1

Christopher D. Bennett

Carla Stensland 2

Sarah Karber

But enough living in the past. Let’s look at this week’s theme:

GRAFFITI!

I know the weather is cold, but hopefully a few of us can get out there and find some GRAFFITI to photograph this week. Although I can think of lots of warm bathrooms that have graffiti. But maybe that is just a guy thing.

HOUSEKEEPING

Nothing new to report. No new email subscribers this week. No website changes. No movement by the Super Secret Handshake Team.

Alisa, Andy, Mission Trip, Pastor Sarah, Youth Group

You Can Sit With Us

December 10, 2015 Christopher D. Bennett 4 Comments

WHAT FOLLOWS IS A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY 139 SHAMELESS MISSIONARY DIVISION…

As many of you may or not know, for the last several years I have helped chaperon my church’s Youth Group’s Mission Trip. We have went to Kansas City, Minneapolis, Kansas City, and Martin, South Dakota.

Next June, the Youth Group will be going to Milwaukee and I will be going with them again.

It is one of my favorite weeks of the year because there is no other week of the year where I grow more as a person and as a christian. I often describe it as the best free vacation a person can go on.

The truth is while it is debatable whether or not it is a vacation (depends on what you enjoy… I enjoy hard work, Bible study, and working with kids… sleeping on the floor… maybe not so much) but it isn’t free.

It costs in excess of $500 per child to send these kids out into the world to do God’s work.

Therefore, the Boone First United Methodist Church Youth Group has began the earnest work of raising funds to cover the costs of their trip. Last Sunday they cooked and sold chili. Their next project is to sell shirts with a message of hope and acceptance.

I could describe the message of the shirt, but why come up with my own words when Pastor Sarah has already explained is so well:

It all started in High School Sunday School at Boone First United Methodist Church with a discussion about the need for kindness in this world. Even small acts of kindness can have large effects on the people they touch. So the youth started to brainstorm ideas of how to make a difference around them. Part of the solution: a simple t-shirt that could invite people to know they are friendly, welcoming and inclusive. Help us make a bold statement with this Tshirt that bullying is “out” and kindness is “in.” Although the funds support the youth mission trip, we found this message to be important beyond age and church walls. Join us in creating a movement to show ways we can be nice to others in every aspect of our lives, including the clothes we choose.

Here is a look at the shirt.

FRONT

BACK

You are probably thinking, “Wow! What an amazing shirt! How much does one cost!”

A Unisex shirt is $19.99
A Ladies shirt is $21.99
A Long Sleeve shirt is $24.99
A Hooded Sweatshirt is $39.99

There are two ways to order. The easiest is just to follow the link below and order the shirt yourself:

WEAR YOUR WELCOME

Another way would be to give me your order and I’ll get it placed. The advantage to that is that it will save you $5 shipping. The deadline to order is December 20th.

Thanks for your consideration!

Might as well share a few of my favorite mission trip photos from over the years:

That should just about cover it.

Alisa, Black & White, Boone FUMC, Candid Portrait, Event, Pastor Sarah, Youth Group

PET

September 22, 2015 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

Sunday was my church’s annual block party to kickoff Sunday School. Once again, I manned the PET Obstacle course. Only this year it was more like a PET Area, with a couple of chairs thrown out there.

There were way more people there this year, so it was more than just me and one kid hanging out for two hours. So that was cool.

Some pictures.

Jentry

Anna

Anthony

Mackenzie

Jentry Bustin’ a Move

This is what you do when the Methodist Men are cranking out the Lecrae Pandora Channel.

More Dance Moves

Alisa videoing Pastor Sarah

Pastor Sarah

Dick, My Partner in Crime

This was just a small part of a great weekend that included FNSC, lots of scraping, the Majors Family Reunion, and concluded with a 5 year old’s birthday party. Other than the lack of sleep, it was a pretty great weekend.

And it is like the old saying goes: You can sleep when your house is painted.