1621 N. Main St. Office Hours: 8:30 Noon, 1:00 4:30 p.m. Look for us on Facebook

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1 Welcome to the Online Messenger ~ Carroll s First United Methodist Church 1621 N. Main St. Office Hours: 8:30 Noon, 1:00 4:30 p.m. Look for us on Facebook Carroll, IA Monday Friday Phone: (712) Website: carrollunitedmethodist.org carrollumc@msn.com Next Messenger: April 1st Volume 9 Issue 3 March 1, 2018 FUMC STAFF --- Dennis Bailey, Pastor ( ) pastor.dennis52@gmail.com Suzanne Olberding, Director of Ministries and Financial Secretary Sherri Hoaglund, Administrative Assistant Michelle Caltrider, Custodian Jason Bush, Youth Coordinator Saturday 6:00 p.m. Sunday 10:30 a.m. March 11th

2 Changes: God's Opportunity to Bless We all have changes in our lives. From day to day we need God to help us get through whatever may come our way. Some days we may be shouting, "Praise God!" while other times we may be crying out, "I need a miracle!" Whatever the day may bring, changes will come and we need to have a godly mindset in order to handle them. I was in a chapel service recently, and I kept thinking about all the changes that were going on in my life. Between the daily challenges that my husband and I have in our home with raising two teenagers, the constant transitions with our jobs, and the world around us in general -- they all speak of changes. As I thought about it, I felt God drop this pearl into my heart. It is the acronym for the word changes: Christ Has A New Gift Each Second Wow! We can look at each new day and even each second as an opportunity for God to bless us! Each moment contains a gift from God if we want to look for it. It can be in a smile from someone at work, an encouraging word from a friend, God's Word speaking to our hearts, or a pat on the back from our bosses. The list is endless. Let's not overlook the obvious ones like a promotion, good report cards from our children, a Sunday school child who calls us his or her hero, an unexpected financial blessing, a whole week without something breaking in the house, and good health. In Malachi 3:6God says, "For I am the Lord, I change not." Isn't that comforting? With all the changes, there is one thing that cannot change -- GOD. This includes His great love for us. He also says in His Word, "So God has given us both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can take new courage, for we can hold on to his promise with confidence" Hebrews 6:18 What has God promised you? He has promised to never leave you nor forsake you, no matter what. "For the Lord will not cast off His people, neither will He forsake His inheritance" Psalm 94:14 "...for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" Hebrews 13:5 So let the changes come. We will not walk in fear, but in faith! We will trust God with all the changes, and know that He is more than able to help us and that He even has plans to bless us. Every second, if need be, we can find a blessing. Changes can be our friend. Let's look for God in them SERMON TOPICS March 4 Zephaniah 3:14-20 God Loves, You, He s a Good Egg Clay Winterboer Looking at God s love and Majesty March 11 (Psalm 27:1; 4-5) John 3:14-18 The Focus of Faith There is a place for our central focus in our Christian walk. Focus is important because it keeps us centered, The focus is Jesus. Mark 18 (Psalm 42:1-6a) John 6:29-35 I Am the Bread of Life Jesus satisfies our soul. As we come to him we do not go away hungry. This is one of the great attributes of Jesus. March 25 (Psalm 24:3-10) Mark 11:1-10 The Triumphal Entry PALM SUNDAY Jesus comes on this Palm Sunday as the King into Jerusalem. But He is also one who can enter our life as King.

3 Lenten Study-Sundays at 4:00 p.m. from February 18 th thru March 25 th. More information later in the newsletter. Palm Sunday-March 25 th Children will proceed in waving palms and sing Holy Week- March 26 th thru March 31st Good Friday- March 30 th 7 am-7 pm A day of Communion with God (open sanctuary) Easter Sunday-April 1 st Sunrise Service at 7:00 am and Regular Worship at 10:30 am

4 The WE Team will be making plates of cookies and taking them to shut-ins on Wednesday, March 21 st. Cookie donations welcome, and help to prepare the plates and delivering are appreciated. Come help put a smile in someone s day and have fun visiting while you work. On Thursday, March 1 st, we will be hosting a district training called Ethics and Boundaries Training. We need help in the kitchen. There will be two shifts, one from 8-1 and the other will be from 1-clean-up. If you are able or interested in helping or providing food for the event contact Sara Anderson. Thanks. From February 25 th March 18 th we will be taking orders for the dedication of Easter flowers. The forms will be available in the back of the sanctuary or at the church office. Watch bulletins for more information. The World Day of Prayer Service will be held at The Church of Christ on Friday, March 2 nd at 5:30 p.m. The focus is on the creation story in Genesis and our responsibility to care for God s world. DATE: March 7 th TIME: 1:30 pm TOPIC: PLEDGE DAY PROGRAM: Phyllis Blanchard HOSTESSES: Marsha Nuckels & Ruth Schumacher FOOD PANTRY UPDATE In the month of January we donated $124 worth of items to the community of Concerns Food Pantry. At this time they are in need of MEN S DEODORANT AND RAZORS. Items for next month can be placed in grocery cart in Front Entry. Thanks you for your continued support of the Food Pantry.

5 March 1-31 THURSDAY March 1 9 a.m.-3 p.m. District Training FRIDAY March 2 SATURDAY March 3 SUNDAY March 4 9:15 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship-Choir 4:00 p.m. Lenten Bible Study MONDAY March 5 4:30 p.m. TOPS TUESDAY March 6 5:30-6:30 p.m. Mini-Methodist WEDNESDAY March 7 1:30 p.m. UMW 3:30-5 p.m. UM Kids 4:30-5:30 p.m. Confirmation 5:30-8 p.m. Youth Group (meal) THURSDAY March 8 9:30 a.m. Friends Breakfast at Family Table 6-7 p.m. Girl Scouts 7:30 p.m. Compassionate Friends FRIDAY March 9 SATURDAY March 10 9:30 a.m. Carroll Historical Society SUNDAY March 11 9:15 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship-Bells 4:00 p.m. Lenten Bible Study MONDAY March 12 4:00 p.m. German Club 4:30 p.m. TOPS TUESDAY March 13 1:00 p.m. Color Me Pretty WEDNESDAY March 14 3:30-5 p.m. UM Kids 4:30-5:30 p.m. Confirmation 5:30-8 p.m. Youth Group (meal) THURSDAY March 15 FRIDAY March 16 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Confirmation Trip SATURDAY March 17 SUNDAY March 18 9:15 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship-Choir 4:00 p.m. Lenten Study MONDAY March 19 12:30-5:15 p.m. Life Serve Blood Drive 4:30 p.m. TOPS TUESDAY March 20 11:00 a.m. Book Club at Queen Beans WEDNESDAY March 21 10:30 a.m. Swan Place Devotions 1:00 p.m. WE Team Cookies for shut-ins 3:30-5 pm. UM Kids 4:30-5:30 p.m. Confirmation Class 5:30-8 p.m. Youth Group (meal) THURSDAY March 22 12:00 p.m. Book Club at Queen Beans 6-7 p.m. Girl Scouts FRIDAY March 23 SATURDAY March 24 8:30 a.m. Girl Scouts 1:00 p.m. Cantata Rehearsal SUNDAY March 25 9:15 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship-Kids 3:00 p.m. Community Chorus Cantata 4:00 pm. Lenten Study MONDAY March 26 4:00 p.m. German Club 4:30 p.m. TOPS TUESDAY March 27 WEDNESDAY March 28 3:30-5 p.m. UM Kids 4:30-5:30 p.m. Confirmation 5:30-8 p.m. Youth Group (meal) THURSDAY March 29 FRIDAY March 30 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Communion with God SATURDAY March 31 COMMUNITY EVENTS -> Free Meal at St. John s Lutheran Church Wednesday, March 14th, 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. -> LifeServe Blood Drive here March 19th, 12:30-5:15. A Big Thank you to Sue Van Dyke and Bob Swartzendruber for all their help with organizing the decoration closet! Randy & Shauna Malloy in the loss of her mother Craig & Beth Rowles in the loss of his mother Community Chorus will present an Easter Cantata here on Sunday, March 25 th at 3:00 p.m. Duke Anneberg Deb Davis Pastor Bailey Joyce Paulson Pauline Lewman Gather at the Family Table for the Friends Breakfast on March 8 at 9:30 A.M. Fun times! Sunday Worship is shown on Mediacom Channel 6 and WIN Channel 97.2: Sundays at 5 P.M. and Wednesday at 8 A.M. Look for our sermons on our website: carrollunitedmethodist.org & watch our entire service on Facebook.

6 Points to Ponder Each week during Lent we will , post on our website and include in the bulletin a thought to ponder and pray about. You may join the list on the website, carrollunitedmethodist.org, to receive the s. May God bless you through these thoughts as we approach Easter. JOIN IN A GREAT LENTEN STUDY Our church will be holding a Lenten Bible Study in the Fellowship Hall from 4 to 5 PM Sunday afternoons during Lent. The study will begin with Sunday, February 18 and continue each Sunday through Palm Sunday. This will be 6 sessions of teaching using a video and discussion with the theme: If You Want to Walk on Water You ve got to Get out of the Boat. You don t have to be a Bible Scholar or to even have picked up the Bible for a while. Just come and enjoy the discussion, fellowship, and faith building.

7 Join us for Color Me Pretty Adult Coloring or other crafts. We will be gathering on Tuesday, March 13th at 1:00 P.M. Come join us for crafting, coloring and fellowship. Everyone welcome KITCHEN RENOVATIONS During this month the kitchen has been stripped down to the core. THANKS to all the guys who volunteered to help with this process. The appliances are ordered and the cabinets are being built off site. The electrician has been here to put in new circuits and wiring for the new appliances and lights. We also had some new plumbing installed. The new dry wall has been hung and the painting is done. Some of the cabinets have been installed. The confirmation Trip will be on March 16 th. Departure time will be 8 a.m. and return time will be around 8 p.m. the youth will participate in a service project at bidwell and later in the day enjoy a fun activity.

8 UM Kids March 7th: UM Kids will be at the church and we will be learning about being Humble. March 14: Service Week! Possibly working with the custodians at the schools. March 21: UM Kids Fun Week. Headed to the Movies to watch Peter Rabbit! March 28: Camp Week: We will be having a representative from Camp Okoboji come and talk to us about camp! Please do not let money be an issue for those wanting to attend camp!!! Thanks again!!! Suzi Olberding Carol Winterboer Sara Anderson In March we will be starting a rotation on Easter. We will be learning about the week from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. During this rotation we will talk about how sadness mingles with joy; God turns death into life. Sunday School Rotation If I Could Ask God Anything By Kathryn Slattery If Jesus Is God s Son Why Didn t He Save Himself from Being Killed? Since Jesus is God s Son, He could have stopped the people from killing Him, but He didn t. This is because more than anything, Jesus wanted to be obedient to His Father God in heaven. Jesus was obedient because He loved and trusted God. On the night before He was put to death, Jesus went to a garden called Gethsemane to pray. He was very sad and troubled. Jesus loved life. He did not want to die. Jesus fell with His face to the ground and cried out to God. Abba, Father, He said, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will (Mark 14:36). When Jesus said Abba He meant Daddy, or Papa. When Jesus said, Take this cup, He meant that His death would be like drinking a cup of poison. Jesus chose to be obedient and do His Father s Will By choosing to be obedient and give up His life, Jesus took upon Himself the punishment for all the bad things people do and think (1 John 2:2) Jesus died to save everyone who would believe in Him. That is why He is called our Savior. Mini Methodist will be meeting on March 6th at the church! We will be having fun and games!! Open to all 4 year old preschool and Kindergarten children. Upcoming Dates: April 17 Mini Methodist

9 Sunday A Worship true story is shown about on why Mediacom we sabotage Channel ourselves, 6 and feel WIN Channel 97.2: overwhelmed, Sundays set at aside 5 P.M. our and dreams, Wednesday and lack at 8 the A.M. courage Look for to our simply sermons be on ourselves... website: and carrollunitedmethodist.org how to start choosing & on Facebook happiness again! The Heavenly Bound Book Club Are you happy? It may be the wrong question. Most of us think we are relatively happy, while at the same time knowing that we could be happier -- maybe even a lot happier. Ordinary people and the finest philosophers have been exploring the question of happiness for thousands of years, and theories abound. But this is not a book of theory. Resisting Happiness is a deeply personal, disarmingly transparent look at why we sabotage our own happiness and what to do about it. invites you to join in the discussion.. The March dates are Tuesday the 20th, at 11:00 AM at Queen Beans or Thursday the 21st at 12:00 PM. The Queen Beans Coffee Bar provides a private Room (sometimes) and great food. It is Dutch treat. Our March book is The Feathered Bone by Julie Cantrell Feathers no matter what size or shape or color are all the same, if you think about them. They're soft. Delicate. But the secret thing about feathers is... they are very strong. In the pre-katrina glow of New Orleans, Amanda Salassi is anxious about chaperoning her daughter s sixth grade field trip to the Big Easy during Halloween. And then her worst fears come true. Her daughter s best friend, Sarah, disappears amid the magic and revelry gone, without a trace. Unable to cope with her guilt, Amanda s daughter sinks in depression. And Amanda s husband turns destructive as he watches his family succumb to grief. Before long, Amanda s whole world has collapsed. Amanda knows she has to save herself before it s too late. As she continues to search for Sarah, she embarks on a personal journey, seeking hope and purpose in the wake of so much tragedy and loss. Set amidst the murky parishes of rural Louisiana and told through the eyes of two women who confront the darkest corners of humanity with quiet and unbreakable faith, The Feathered Bone is Julie Cantrell s master portrait of love in a fallen world. More info & books are on the front desk counter. Get your book today!