February 2013 Volume 25, Number 2. Forecaster

Transcription

1 February 2013 Volume 25, Number 2 In this issue: Salem Youth Leader Building Commi ee Report Forecaster Fas ng for Lent Scripture Readings For February Fas ng for Lent Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fas ng, with weeping, and with mourning. Joel 2:12 Since I became the pastor at Salem in 2008, I have encouraged our congrega on to fast during Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday (February 13). This is certainly not an expecta on but rather an invita on. Fas ng is a spiritual discipline; it means abstaining from food for spiritual purposes. Fas ng and prayer go together. Therefore we devote the me normally used for ea ng to reading scripture and prayer. Furthermore, the feeling of hunger is a reminder to draw near to God. Doing so o en leads to greater in macy with the Lord and to hearing more clearly what the Lord is saying to us. While there are interes ng physical things that happen when we fast, far beyond anything physical is the spiritual. This is a discipline that helps us hear from the Lord and be in the Lord s presence. such as those who are diabe c or pregnant. Please do not abstain from food if it is unhealthy for you. There are other ways to fast. For instance, we can abstain from the internet, chocolate, television, or something else. It must be something important to you daily. This is the prac ce of giving up something for Lent and would be given up from February 13 un l Easter Day, March 31. The major work of fas ng is in the realm of the spirit. Keep prayer and fas ng together. If you choose to par- cipate in this spiritual discipline, please let Pastor John know and if you have any ques ons or need help with how to fast. This year, we will focus our fas ng for God s leading regarding our building project and capital campaign. Financial Report Leadership Board Report Gambling and the Casino Vote Jesus teaches us in the Sermon on the Mount (Ma hew 6) about giving, praying, and fas ng as virtues of the kingdom people. Jesus does not say, If you fast. Rather he gives direc- ons for When you fast. S ll, some people are not able to fast from food,

2 Page 2 I cannot imagine a be er place to be! Mac Cain Youth Director at the Salem UMC We must love God and hate our sin! Our mission statement here at Salem is as followed: The Salem United Methodist Church exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transforma on of the world. O en mes we seek transforma on; whether it be in our own lives or in others. It s easy to say that we all want to be transformed in some way or another but in order to actually be transformed we must do a few things. Number one being, we must love God and hate our sin! For if we truly love God we are not perfect, no, but we are ac vely comba ng the sin and nega ve in the world with love and posi vity. Secondly, and as when my transforma on happened, is when we realize that the change in our behavior is a side affect, if you will, of our rela onship with Christ. That means that as we grow closer to Christ all those other things begin to fall away. Now if you ask some people like my mother or old youth pastor they would tell you that I made the decision to go into Youth Ministry a long me ago. My mom would tell you I came home from a summer camp and told her of all the amazing things God had done that week and how I could not wait to be used by God in that way. My old youth pastor would tell you a similar story. Now if you ask me, I would not agree with those statements. Number one because I don't remember going to camp at that young of age or the way God was at work back then, nor do I remember having that conversa- on with my mother. Although I do remember all the winter retreats and the way God was at work then, I don't remember thinking that this was my calling. In the summer of 2009 I worked for a non-profit called D.O.O.R. back home in Miami, FL. D.O.O.R. is a service orientated non- profit in which Youth Groups would come to us for week long mission work serving in a community and taking public transporta on every where. It was during this me that I remember thinking that I belong here in ministry with youth, God had pulled me through so much craziness, I wanted to be used as a tool to transform today s youth as I was! But when I went back to college I let that feeling slip away. When I moved to Cedar Rapids in March of 2012, I began working with the youth of FUMC in Marion as a small group leader, and that was such an awesome experience and slowly that feeling I felt back in 2009 came back and I wanted more. I wanted to be a youth pastor and I wanted it to start happening now! During the summer of 2012 I had my first interview at Oakwood UMC in Pleasant Hill, Iowa. It was a great church with many kids that I met at summer camp just weeks before my interview, but I was not hired. That was a hard pill to swallow at first but I knew that if God wanted me somewhere else he would open up a new door for me! A month or two later I got a call from Salem. Now here we are and I cannot imagine a be er place to be! Peace and Joy to you, Mac Cain

3 Page 3 Worship: Transfiguration and Lent In February, the Season a er Epiphany ends with Transfigura on Sunday (February 10). Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, February 13. We will gather with our brothers and sisters at St. Mark s UMC to mark the day. Like Advent, Lent is a season of prepara on. The origins of Lent lie in the prepara on of the catechumen before bap sm on Easter. The liturgical color is purple. At the heart of the Chris an faith is our par cipa on in the life, suffering, death, resurrec- on, and ascension of Jesus Christ as Lord In remembering the mystery of our redemp on in Christ through the seasons of Lent and Easter, we are formed in the pa ern of his death and resurrec on and his life-giving Spirit (The New Handbook of the Chris an Year, p ). Come and worship! Feb 3 Fourth Sunday a er the Epiphany Jeremiah 1:4-10 Jeremiah s Call and Commission Psalm 71:1-6 God Is My Rock and My Fortress 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 The Gi of Love Luke 4:21-30 Jesus Reads and Preaches in the Synagogue Holy Communion Come and Worship! Sundays 9:00am Contemporary Feb 10 Transfigura on Sunday Exodus 34:29-35 The Shining Face of Moses Psalm 99 The LORD Is King 2 Corinthians 3:12 4:2 Transformed by the Glory of the Lord Luke 9:28-36 (37-43) The Transfigura on 11:00am Traditional Feb 13 Ash Wednesday Joel 2:1-2, A Call to Repentance and Prayer Psalm 51:1-17 Prayer for Cleansing and Pardon 2 Cor 5:20b-6:10 Be Reconciled to God Ma hew 6:1-6, Almsgiving, Prayer, and Fas ng Feb 17 First Sunday in Lent Deuteronomy 26:1-11 When You Come into the Land Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 Assurance of God s Protec on Romans 10:8b-13 Salva on Is for All Luke 4:1-13 The Tempta on of Jesus Holy Communion Feb 24 Second Sunday in Lent Genesis 15:1-12, God s Covenant with Abram Psalm 27 The Lord Is My Light and Salva on Philippians 3:17 4:1 Our Ci zenship Is in Heaven Luke 13:31-35 Jesus Laments over Jerusalem

4 Page 4 February Birthdays and Anniversaries 2 Meg Dunnwald 2 Marge Ebinger 2 Marcia Humphrey 3 Deb Black 8 Khloe Rand 8 Roberta Sweet 9 John Louk 14 Kyler Soukup 16 Tim Nolan 20 Melissa Jacobus 21 Pam Moore 25 Jane Knapp 26 Ryan Rand 27 Evelyn Prasil 28 Lester Mikulecky 14 JoEllen & Jim Jacobus 14 Shari & Dan Kendall Salem s Record of Generosity In Support of Our Ministry Goals as of December 31, 2012 Actual Budget Variance BUDGET GIVING Offerings given toward budget $230, $228, $2, Other budget income $12, $12, $ Total Budget Income $243, $240, $2, BUDGET EXPENSES YTD budget expenses paid $208, $215, ($6,574.82) Unpaid Appor onments * $23, $23, Total Budget Expenses $232, $238, ($6,574.82) TOTAL BUDGET INCOME OVER/ (UNDER) EXPENSES $10, $1, $9, *Appor onment Update To date Salem has paid 40% of Conference Missions and Conference Ministries; Paid 100% of General Church and District Asking.

5 Page 5 February 2013 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 8:00 am UMM Mee ng/breakfast 3 9:00 Contemporary Worship 9:00 Lec onary Class 10:10 Sunday School 10:10 Fellowship Time 11:00 Tradi onal Worship 5:00 Financial Peace U :30 am Prayer room 6 6:30 pm Youth Group 7:30 pm Choir Rehearsal 7 6:30 pm Building Commi ee Mee ng :00 Contemporary Worship 9:00 Lec onary Class 10:10 Sunday School 10:10 Fellowship Time 11:00 Tradi onal Worship Food Bank Sunday Noon - Women's Care Group mee ng 5:00 Financial Peace U. Pastor returns from Renewal Leave 11:30 Golden Links 1:00 pm Building Commi ee Interviews Ash Wednesday First day of Lent 7:00 pm Ash Wednesday Worship at St. Mark s UMC 4:30 pm Staff Mee ng 5:55pm Rachel Circle 17 9:00 Contemporary Worship 9:00 Lec onary Class 10:10 Sunday School 10:10 Fellowship Time 11:00 Tradi onal Worship 5:00 Financial Peace U :30 am Prayer room February Forecaster ar cles due 5:15 pm Leadership Board mee ng 20 10:30 am Pastor s Bible Study 6:00 pm Prayer Service 6:30 pm Pastor s Bible Study 6:30 pm Youth Group 7:30 pm Choir Rehearsal 21 6:30 pm Building Commi ee Mee ng :00 Contemporary Worship 9:00 Lec onary Class 10:10 Sunday School 10:10 Fellowship Time 11:00 Tradi onal Worship 5:00 Financial Peace U. 12:30 Cards & Fellowship 10:30 am Pastor s Bible Study 6:00 pm Prayer Service 6:30 pm Pastor s Bible Study 6:30 pm Youth Group 7:30 pm Choir Rehearsal

6 Page 6 Building Commi ee Report by Linda Curson The Building Commi ee held a ques- on and answer session on January 7, 2013 with the Design-Build Firms that were asked to provide a proposal. We look forward to their proposals being returned on February 4 and their presenta ons on February 11. A er the presenta ons, a firm will be selected and offered a contract. This will allow work to begin on a conceptual design for our building. Upon receipt of the conceptual design, it will be shared with the congrega on and with the District Building and Loca ons Commi ee for approval. Thank you for your con nued prayers for the Building Commi ee. Please do not hesitate to contact any member with ques ons. We look forward to an exci ng 2013 with much progress made toward the building expansion project. As always, we con- nue to pray for God s will and direc- on in this endeavor. Invitation to Lenten Discipline Dear brothers and sisters in Christ: The first Chris ans observed with great devo on the days of our Lord s passion and resurrec on, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence, fas ng, and prayer. This season of forty days provided a me in which converts to the faith were prepared for bap sm into the body of Christ. It was also a me when those who had commi ed serious sins and had been separated from the community of faith were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. The whole congrega on was thus reminded of the mercy and forgiveness proclaimed in the gospel of Jesus Christ and the need we all have to renew our bap smal faith. You are invited, therefore, in the name of the Lord, to observe a holy Lent, by self-examina on, penitence, prayer, fas ng, and almsgiving; and by reading and medita ng on the Word of God. And, to make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us bow before the Lord, our Maker and Redeemer. A er Ash Wednesday, we will have a 30 minute prayer service each Wednesday during Lent at 6:00 pm in our sanctuary.

7 Page 7 United Methodist Women Rachel Circle will 5:55 pm, February 14 th at the church. Sharon Busch will provide the light meal and something chocolate. We will discuss ac vi es for this year among other things, so mark your calendar and bring some crea ve ideas for our 2013 program. Also, prayer partners will be revealed. Sarah Circle will not be mee ng in February. The response to the Grant School project was overwhelming once again showing the generosity of the Salem Congrega on. We hope it was a fun project for those of you who par cipated. Sharon Busch, President Our February project will be collec ng personal products for the Women s Prison Ministry. Regular size shampoo, condi oner, bath gel, deodorant, lo on and other products of your choice can be placed in the UMW tub. These items are greatly appreciated by the women. Women s Care Group The Women s Care Group will be mee ng on February 10 a er the second service. Note that this is on the 2 nd Sunday of the month not the third. We will be making Valen nes for Taylor Elementary staff and students. Each person is asked to bring by Kristy Flack two packages of s ckers for the Valen nes. Also remember to bring cookies to share at fellowship me. Kristy Flack and Sheryl Hansen, Co- Chairs Winter Weather Alert With winter here and the poten al for snow, ice and severe cold making travel treacherous, we offer this reminder on how you can know if events are canceled at Salem due to safety concerns. Check the messages on the bo om of your TV screen on KCRG (9), KWWL (7), and KGAN (2). In general, when the Cedar Rapids Public Schools cancel due to dangerous weather condi ons, Salem will also cancel ac vi es. We will also contact the TV sta ons to have Salem s informa on added to their lists, but since the school district s informa on is o en the first and most prominently shown it will be a quick check method for you. The Salem Website ( ) and Facebook page( salem.cr) will also have cancella on informa on when it becomes necessary.

8 Page 8 Missions By: Dolly Akers Special Mission Offerings 2013 Jan 13 - food bank Jan 20 - Human Rela ons Day (UMC special offering) Feb 10 - food bank Feb 24 -Mission Offering Ma hew 25 Mar 10 -food bank Mar 10 -One Great Hour of Sharing (UMC special offering) Mar 31 -(Easter) 5th Sunday Mission Offering - Imagine No Malaria April 14-food bank April 14-Na ve American Ministries Day (UMC special offering) May 12- food bank May 26- Peace with Jus ce Sunday (UMC special offering) June 9 - food bank June 30-5th Sunday Mission Offering - Books without Borders Global July VBS support July 14 - food bank July 28 - Mission Offering JFON (Jus ce for Our Neighbors) August August 11 - food bank Undy Sunday support (Aug-Sept) August 25- Mission Offering - Heifer Sept 8 - food bank Sept 29-5th Sunday Mission Offering Blanket Sunday October Crop Walk support October 6 - World Communion Sunday (UMC special offering) October 13- food bank November Ingathering support November Golden Links Food Baskets support Nov 10 - food bank Nov 24 - United Methodist Student Day (UMC special offering) December Christmas Is Not Your Birthday (during Advent/Christmas) Dec 8 - Dec 29 - food bank 5th Sunday- Christmas Is Not Your Birthday Mission Offering Local Shelters 300 hats, scarves and pairs of mi ens and gloves from your Mi en Tree dona ons have been delivered to Asbury preschool, eleven local elementary schools and two local middle schools. Your generous sharing of Salem warmth is greatly appreciated.

9 Page 9 Gambling and the Casino Vote A March 5 referendum has been set in Linn County to see if voters support a proposed casino in Cedar Rapids. There are many unanswered ques ons about the proposed casino. S ll, if the voters decide in favor of a casino, then the Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission will determine whether or not to issue a license. The United Methodist Church teaches that gambling is not good stewardship. Further, there is no character and no jus ce in the lure of easy money. The money generated will primarily fund huge profit for the owners/operators. Do we really want to be that kind of a community? The following is the official posi on of the church: 163 G) Gambling Gambling is a menace to society, deadly to the best interests of moral, social, economic, and spiritual life, destruc ve of good government and good stewardship. As an act of faith and concern, Chris ans should abstain from gambling and should strive to minister to those vic mized by the prac ce. Where gambling has become addic ve, the Church will encourage such individuals to receive therapeu c assistance so that the individual s energies may be redirected into posi ve and construc ve ends. The Church acknowledges the dichotomy that can occur when opposing gambling while suppor ng American Indian Pastor John Louk tribal sovereignty and selfdetermina on. Therefore, the Church s role is to create sacred space to allow for dialogue and educa on that will promote a holis c understanding of the American Indians historic quest for survival. The Church s prophe c call is to promote standards of jus ce and advocacy that would make it unnecessary and undesirable to resort to commercial gambling including public lo eries, casinos, raffles, Internet gambling, gambling with an emerging wireless technology and other games of chance as a recrea on, as an escape, or as a means of producing public revenue or funds for support of chari es or government. (The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2008) While it could be argued that Cedar Rapids does need economic development, recrea on facili es, and other forms of entertainment, gambling is about as uncrea ve as we can get when it comes to entertainment and economic development. That, along with the witness of the Church, speaks against a casino being part of our community. For more informa on or to join with those who are working to oppose the proposed casino, visit New Curriculum for Adult Sunday School Class We would like to invite everyone to par cipate in our new Adult Sunday School curriculum called, BALANCING LIFE S DEMANDS; Biblical priori es for a busy life, by Chip Ingram. This Sunday school class meets in the east outback room (nursery building) from 10:10 to 10:45 am. Feel free to join our class at any me, but we hope you ll start off with us February 3 rd. Ronda Drahozal This curriculum has 30 minute DVD lessons with opportuni es to discuss a erwards. There are ten sessions, but we may have to extend this curriculum longer in order to get discussion me in. Hope you will join us to learn biblical truths and to encourage each other to live life fully Christ s way. Thank you, Ronda Drahozal Bi-monthly Saturday Paren ng Group Paren ng, our greatest joy and our greatest challenge. We would like to invite any parent, guardian, or grandparent who would benefit from the camaraderie and encouragement of others to meet: Star ng February 16 th, Saturday mornings from 8:30 to 9:30 am, at Coffee Smiths (off Edgewood Road SW). We will begin this group with a Ronda Drahozal bi-monthly discussion of the book, Power of a Praying Parent, by Stormie Omartan. Ques ons? Contact: Ronda Drahozal: or yahwehgroupie@hotmail.com or Joni Salazar: salzar412@mchsi.com

10 Page 10 Report of the Leadership Board Mee ng Notes Trustees, SPRC, and Stewardship subgroups met at 5:15, with the en re Leadership Board coming together at 5:45. Leadership Board Chair, Paul Meyer led devo- ons on Luke 10:38-42, the story of Mary and Martha, then led the members present in prayer. Trustees - Building Superintendent Louis Busch reported that we have been contacted by the consul ng firm represen ng the city concerning the future widening of 33 rd Avenue (adding a turning lane) and the sidewalk that will be required. At this me the city is planning to offer $66,000 to Salem for the land that will be used for the project. The project is five or more years away, with the excep on of reconstruc on of the end of the sidewalk at the intersec on of 33 rd Avenue and Coyote. That small part will be done sooner where it is part of the exis ng north south sidewalk along Coyote. If the money is received from the city it would be held to pay for the actual construc on of the east west sidewalk along 33 rd, for which we will then be assessed. At this me the consul ng firm needs to know if Salem will object to the widening and sidewalk project. The LB members agreed that we will not fight the project, and the money would be held to only be used for the future sidewalk accessed costs. New windows for the classroom building have been purchased and will be installed very soon. Roof repair was done on the classroom building and the SW corner of the main building just prior to the ice/snow storm in late December. The current renters of the parsonage are s ll interested in buying. They have both started in new jobs and are working to secure a mortgage. LB members present agreed to con nue ren ng to them for now, and to talk with them and re-evaluate in 3 6 months. Paul Meyer and Jan Johnson will contact Tim King about con nuing work on the Building Use Policy. Ronda s Adult Sunday School Class has made a request for upgrading the basketball, so ball, horse shoe, and fire ring facili- es and ligh ng the cross in Salem s backyard. They would also like to have equipment for the sports purchased, and look at adding playground equipment. Salem s youth could use these items and they would be available for neighborhood youth to enjoy also. Concerns were expressed about insurance liability if non Salem members use the outdoor sports facili es. Contac ng our insurance carrier for informa on will need to be done. No one is sure what needs to be done to establish electricity to the cross. It has lights on it that New Crea on had used. Louis Busch will look into this. A ques on was asked about the Master To Do List. It is the understanding of the Trustees that Louis Busch keeps maintenance needs list. Other items, such as the above request from the Sunday School class would be part of a separate list. Stewardship Judy Cowan reported that we had $22, giving income over expenses for Barb Soukup had taken part in a Webinar from the Conference on Stewardship. She reported that it was stressed that churches should remember to be grateful for giving rather than expec ng giving. She also men- oned that another par cipant in the Webinar had told about having a puppet play for his church s stewardship campaign. Barb suggested that perhaps the Salem puppets could do a play as part of the kick off for our poten al upcoming building project capital Campaign. The video that Frank Conrad did this past fall about stewardship was again praised and it was asked if we would be having more such videos. The Stewardship subgroup members said that similar videos are planned to be used occasionally throughout the year. Imagine No Malaria The Conference is asking each church in the Conference to set a goal of giving $100 per member for the Imagine No Malaria campaign. It was noted that if Salem begins a capital campaign in 2013 for a building project, that the Imagine No Malaria goal might be in- mida ng for us. The Stewardship sub group will work together with the Missions Commi ee to decide how, when and how o en to present the Imagine No Malaria campaign. Judy Cowan noted that she could use more volunteers to help count the offering each Sunday.

11 Page 11 Leadership Board Report Con nued from page 10 SPRC - Last year s LB mee ng for the spring ministry appraisal review was a very long mee ng. Paul asked if we should plan a separate mee ng for this year. LB members felt that ge ng everyone together on an addi- onal night would be difficult so suggested that the forms be handed out ahead of me in order that they be filled out by individual members and brought to the appraisal, hopefully making the process go faster. Ministry Sunday Frank Conrad reported that the SPRC would like to have the Ministry Fair on Sunday, February 24 th. LB members suggested that it be between worship services rather than in the a ernoon. Representa ves of outside ministries that Salem supports (such as Greene Square Meals, Ma hew 25, Linn Community Food Bank, Way Point, local shelters, and Mission of Hope) will be contacted to see if they would like to par cipate. Percy Caviness had worked with the SPRC on ideas for the Ministry Fair project, so she will be contacted for input, too. Deb Black talked with the SPRC sub group about the possibility of paying Shelley Johnson for her hours helping in the nursery during the Contemporary service on Sundays. Salia Henderson is there every week, but other than one week each month, it has been very difficult to find a volunteer to be the second adult. Shelley has been working in the nursery as a volunteer the other three weeks for a couple months now. The SPRC members recommend a 30 to 90 day trial period for Shelley during which me they will converse with Salia and parents of kids in the nursery. part of their land, the Salem LB members present this evening agreed, by consensus, that they are leaning toward presen ng to the Salem congrega on with a Church Conference a recommenda on that the purchase of the land represented by Op on 3 be allowed by Mr. Kern. It would be a ma er of Op on 3 or nothing." We are not amenable to any other proposed op ons made by Mr. Kern. The road to be constructed by Mr. Kern using Op on 3 would allow access to the Salem property from the north, but would not have any lots/houses backing onto our property. Where Are We Going? - A list of upcoming leadership training events and Webinars was given to the LB members present. A ending the District Leadership Training that will be held at the Shueyville UMC on January 27 th was especially encouraged. Ronda Drahozal led the LB members present in prayer at the close of the mee ng Informa on to Share/Decisions to Make We have received informa on from Dus n Kern, the developer of the land adjacent to Salem s land on Blairs Ferry Road (a.k.a. BFL). The trustees of the Bap st church which owns the land immediately to the west of our BFL are recommending to their congrega on that they sell 2.2 acres at the north end of their land for $30,000 per acre to Dus n for a road and lots. Dus n has previously made sugges ons for three op ons that Salem might consider allowing him to buy from the north end of the BFL. Op on 3 that would allow him to buy approximately 1.5 acres which would give him space to build a road, with lots for houses only on the north side of the road has been discussed and prayed about by the LB members for a few months. With the informa on that the Bap st church is probably going to allow the sale of Next mee ngs: February 19, 2013 at 5:15pm March 19, 2013 at 5:15pm

12 The Forecaster 02/ rd Avenue SW Cedar Rapids, Iowa RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Salem s Sunday Morning Schedule 9:00 am Contemporary Worship Sanctuary 9:00 am Lec onary Class (Adult Sunday School) Classroom Building - Room 4 9:00 am Nursery Available -infants thru 4 years old Nursery Building 10:10 am Kid s Sunday School (Preschool thru Teens) Classroom Building Rooms :10 am Adult Sunday School Class Nursery Building 10:10 am Fellowship Time Fellowship room 11:00 am Tradi onal Worship Sanctuary 11:00 am Nursery Available infants thru 4 years old Nursery Building Salem Office hours: Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (excep ng standard holidays)