GOWRIE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH The Lifeline. A Word from Your Pastor

Transcription

1 GOWRIE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH The Lifeline A Word from Your Pastor V O L U M E 2 5 I S S U E 1 2 D E C E M B E R December, that busy, harried me of year when we try to remember that Jesus was born for us. Somemes it s hard to remember the reason for the season, with so many other things going on at the same me, things like: programs, family gatherings, office pares, gi--buying and gi--giving, decorang, baking, etc. It, as I said, is a busy me of year. I am among a group of people who believe Christmas signifies the depth of God s love for us even more than Good Friday does. I truly believe God came to earth in the form of Jesus the Son to show us what we don t understand about our God. Things like LOVE for all the people, especially the oppressed. Things like FORGIVENESS (70 mes 7 and more). Things like MERCY for any who are suffering, even those of a different race or naonality. Things like pu9ng our RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD ahead of relaonship with our own family. Things like accomplishing victory through NON- VIOLENCE. God was and is our savior, even before Jesus death. The Israelites sang of God as their savior throughout the Old Testament. The birth of Jesus was/is another way to show that God connues to be our savior. The confirmaon class learned a great story about what Christmas means: It was Christmas Eve. Outside was a raging blizzard. Inside, the fieen-year-old, who was waing for his family to come home from church, heard a thumping. Thump, thump against the window. He stepped outside and saw a small flock of birds seeking shelter from the icy blast. Unable to find refuge, they were banging against the glass. Just a few yards away was the garage and shelter. The teenager got a flashlight, opened the garage door wide, and showed them the way. The birds would not follow. He got parakeet food and sca(ered it along the path and on the garage floor. Sll, the birds thumped against the window pain. If only I could become a bird for a few moments, he thought, they would trust me and I could show them the way. Just then the midnight church bells rang. (Claim the Name: Confirmaon teaching plans for 6-15 weeks, Cokesbury, page 28) Jesus, our Savior. God s own self come to earth in most humble surroundings to show us the WAY. Fragile fingers sent to heal us. Thanks be to God for this most generous and gracious gi-. See you in church, Global Ministries will allocate the matching funds dollar for dollar up to the first $500,000 in gi-s to Advance projects received online on December 3, 2013, between 12:00 a.m. EST and 11:59 p.m. A maximum of $10,000 per individual gi- to a project will be dispersed as matching funds. A project may receive a maximum of $50,000 in matching funds. For more informaon visit umcmission.org

2 Wesleyan Core Terms Gratude and Benevolence The Wesleyan tradion expresses love for God and love for neighbor with these two words: gratude and benevolence. Our love for God springs from a grateful heart. We are thankful to our creator for everything, but especially for loving us. When we know how much God Holiday gi ideas... Cindy Youngquist, Countryside Ministries Stephen Ministry Leader The Holidays are quickly approaching and I find it so hard to believe.where has this year gone? The Holidays made me think about gi-s. I visit many nursing homes, care centers, rerement villages and the homebound and I know how hard it is to find that perfect gi- for our loved one, so here are a few ideas that might be helpful to consider. These ideas may help solve wondering what to give as we need to remember if the gi- is instantly useful or for the shelf? Don t give stuff where there is no space in which to show them off or to store. Photos: Always are welcome, but for those living in a small area it is o-en hard to find a good display area. Pu9ng the photos together in a montage framed for a wall or pu9ng them in a small album that can be carried in a pocket to show off to friends they meet might be nice. Clothing: Always a treat to get a nice sweater or jacket but remember to watch for zippers and hard to use bumons. Velcro is a great way to go. Also gicerficates make the gi- even bemer, but some- mes it is hard for the loved one to get out and redeem it so you might have to offer to take them to the store to help them buy that item themselves. Sports Fan: Treat the person to a couple of ckets to a game for their favorite team, again offering to take them to the event. A-ernoon games are probably best. T H E L I F E L I N E loves us, we can not help loving God in return. Grateful love for God leads us to love others because of God s love for them. Benevolence means having a good will toward all those around us. We wish the best for them, and we act in ways that promote their well-being. Carrying out benevolence means first, PAGE 2 doing nothing harmful; and second, doing all that we can to be useful. Living in thankfulness to God and goodwill toward others shows that love is truly at the center of our lives. It is the genuine expression of our faith. This article comes from the Wesley Study Bible, Common English Version. Sweet Tooth: Remember to check first about the health of the recipient, if they are on a sugar restricon or a special diet. There are many things on the market any more that can make it safe. Newspapers, Magazines, books: On a limited income it is hard to keep up with subscripons. Buying a subscripon might be a fun gi- or when picking out a book consider those with large print. If you are not certain try only a couple of issues and see if it is something that is enjoyed before buying a year. Magnifying Devices: These are handy and come in many sizes and strengths. Some are sized to fit a whole page. This can help with a telephone book, a medicine bomle or reading that favorite magazine. Games: Jigsaw puzzles seem to be a favorite since they can be le- out and something worked on as me permits. Playing cards is a good choice, but it is nice to know your person you are buying for as decks of cards don t wear out real o-en. Another idea is a card shuffler. There are other available games like cribbage, monopoly, dominos, chess. Stamps, postcards, gree#ng cards, note paper: These are welcome gi-s as everyone likes to keep in touch and remember friends with cards on their birthdays and during the Holidays. Lo#ons and Colognes: Be sensive to your persons allergies or feelings about some fragrances as somemes they might bother them, but if you know them buying some powder or room spray or loon can be a real handy gi- to give.

3 PAGE 3 MITTEN TREE LIKE US ON FACEBOOK Please donate new mi1ens, hats, gloves, and scarves for this year s Mi1en Tree. The Mi1en Tree is located at the back of the Sanctuary. Half of the donated items stay here locally and the other half are sent to another organiza#on providing support to those in need. Please help to keep children warm this winter. Lets go caroling!! QUICK NEWS the church office at gowrieumc@wccta.net to be added to our weekly distribuon list. DECEMBER 15th; 5 p.m. Meet at the church to go around and spread some Christmas joy. Soup and treats will be served following the caroling around 6 p.m. WEBSITE Our website has a new look. If you haven t been there in a while, check it out. gowrieumc.com Memorial Poinse.as will be placed on the altar again this year through out the month of December. Please have your Poinse9as delivered or bring them by the Church anyme beginning December 1. Let the office know if you would like a memorial listed in the bullen. Memorials will be in the bullen December 22nd and December 24th.

4 PAGE 4 Get involved. They need our help. BIDWELL S NEEDS FOR CHRISTMAS Bidwell s Christmas sharing program is funded by the generosity of caring people and is not part of their mission s opera#onal budget. Please consider dona#ons of the following: Gi? Cards in increments of $20 from local stores such as Wal-Mart, Target and Hy-Vee; new toys (especially ones that foster crea#vity and learning); financial contribu#ons to purchase food items for a Christmas dinner. Remember, they always need good, used clothing for their clothing distribu#on center. They give away 12,000-13,000 items of used clothing each and every month to the poor. Rev. Jane is happy to deliver items to Bidwell when she travels to Des Moines. CHRISTMAS MUSIC SUNDAY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22 DURING WORSHIP Please join us for a service full of Christmas music. The Bell Choir and Church Choir will perform to get us into the Christmas spirit. Please join us for a 90th birthday celebraon in honor of Annice Patton Sunday, December 8th 11:15 a.m. (following worship) Light lunch will be provided. Gowrie United Methodist Church, dinning room Cards can be mailed to Annice PaMon at P.O. box 127, Gowrie, IA /1 ELLA FARNHAM 12/3 KELLY STEWART 12/5 RYAN ADAM 12/6 ROGER BRANDES 12/7 DAVID JOHNSON JEZIKA JOYCE 12/9 JOE HARRISON 12/10 RICHARD MONSON 12/11 OWEN NUSS JANE SHEPHERD 12/12 BEN LEWMAN ANNICE PATTON SAM TVRDIK JOHN VINCHATTLE 12/13 STEVEN WOODRUFF DOUGLAS ZIEMER 12/14 DILLON SYTSMA JOHN THIELMANN VIVIAN WILL 12/15 LINDSEY OSORIO 12/16 ALEXANDER STEWART 12/17 RICHARD DEAN 12/19 JONATHAN ELMORE SHAWN EVERHART JEREMY VILES 12/20 PENNEY BLUNK 12/21 ESTHER LONG KENDALL SANDGREN 12/22 DAVID STOKESBARY 12/24 NOAH SLAWSON 12/26 TIMOTHY BRANDES ARLENE FISH MARJORIE JOHNSON 12/27 SAMUEL SYTSMA 12/29 RACHAEL ELLER 12/30 ZOE SCHNEIDER 12/31 PEARL VEN HUIZEN

5 PAGE 7 The purpose of the United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose PURPOSE is to know God and to experience freedom as a whole through Jesus Christ; to develop creave, supporve, fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through parcipaon in the global ministries of the church. December 7th Christmas Bazaar 8-11 a.m. Kitchen Joy Circle Dining room Faith Circle December 10th Receipts form to District Treasurer December 12th 9 a.m. Book Club 12 p.m. Christmas Concert Meet at 12 p.m. to share rides to Fort Dodge, ICCC. December 15th Membership Reports to District Membership Nurture and Outreach. UMW Minutes The Gowrie unit of the United Methodist Women met on November 7 th 2013 at the Gowrie United Methodist Church. Joan Orness read several inspiraonal readings. Special guests that day were Leah Gilbert, Mary Beyerhelm Huey and Connie Harris- Execuve director of Crisis Intervenon Services. DSOC talked about domesc violence and sexual abuse and homelessness, they have a hot line, 24/7 all services are free and confidenal. There will be no UMW on December 5 th. We all enjoyed a delicious snack. The meeng was adjourned at 3:30 p.m. We had a nice thank you from Bruce and Terry Towne, for our donaon. Iowa Central Christmas Concert Thu, December 12, 1pm 3pm Where: Decker Auditorium (Meet at the church at 12 p.m. to share rides.) Join the ICCC Music Department for their annual Holiday Concert - free admission! GOWRIE UMW CHRISTMAS COFFEE & BAZAAR GOWRIE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7th 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. COFFEE-BAKED ITEMS CANDY COOKIE WALK HANDMADE RAG RUGS HOMEMADE RYE BREAD HOMEMADE NOODLES CRAFT ITEMS T H E L I F E L I N E

6 PAGE 8 PRAYER CONCERNS & CELEBRATIONS Darlene Eklund, Linda Harrison, Geri (Judi Warrick s sister in law) If you have a prayer request, please call or the church office. If you are requesng for someone other then yourself, we will need to have their permission before calling on the congregaon and prayer chain. We would also like to publish answered prayers. Please let us know when a crisis has been resolved, a sickness has been healed or a blessing has been received. Thank you! T H E L I F E L I N E Church Council Minutes Gowrie United Methodist Church October 23rd, 2013 Minutes from the September meeting were read and accepted with corrections. Treasurer's report was approved. Old Business: The Youth car wash planned for October was canceled Carpet project Need additional baseboard in the old kindergarten room. Carpet for the upstairs tabled until Charge Conference November 11. New Business: The Church's Memorial Policy was discussed and remains unchanged. Electronic options for giving tabled to next meeting. Nominations proposed restructuring our organization for 2014 was tabled until the new pastor is in place. The January retreat may offer some training in this area. Soup Supper will be October 30 th. Work Areas: Education: Christmas program planned for Sunday, December 15 after lunch, to coordinate with Zion. Missions: Blanket Sunday will be October 27 th. November 3 rd will be the Heifer Project Kickoff. November 17 th Taco Bar after church. The Habitat for Humanity will be meeting October 23 rd to vote on a home. UMW: Ask Trustees for shelving in the kitchen pantry. Memorial: See New Business. Finance: The council approved the 2014 budget, up $898 from last year. Trustees:: Needed: new door handle for the nursery and accordion doors need to be fixed. Paint for the old quilt room (kindergarten room) Lay Member: Jeff reported a good turnout to the men and women's Walk to Emmaus. S/PPRC: Modest salary increases. Lay Leader: Mary expressed her sincere thanks to the board for their support over the past years as Lay Leader. Next meeting: Charge Conference on November 11 th, 2013 at 6:30. Addendum: Meeting Final bill for the Asbestos removal rec'd. Total cost was $6k this makes a $4k shortage in the carpeting budget. Approval given to cash in a $4k CD to pay full bill for downstairs and at maturity of a $6k CD, this will be put into the Money Market account.

7 PAGE 9 Anyone is considered youth group. Please come check out what we are doing!!! Youth group regular meeng (4 p.m. 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month) Youth Strike For Christ; January 31 February 2 Youth Strike for Christ JANUARY 31 -February 2, 2014 MarrioM Hotel & MarrioM Hotel & Iowa Events Center, Downtown Des Moines, Iowa 7 th -12 th Grade A Youth Event sponsored by The Iowa Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church Registra#on forms available by contac#ng the office. UpStream Ministries NEW YEARS EVE GAME NIGHT! TUESDAY DECEMBER 31st 6:30 p.m. 12:30 a.m. The home of Kae and AJ Dorsey nd St. Gowrie Please bring your own drinks and a snack to share. You re Invited Wednesday, December 11th Sunday School Christmas Program 6:30 p.m. Preceding the program at 5:00p.m. there will be a Youth Strike for Christ Pasta Dinner Fundraiser. EVERYONE is encouraged to come show your support to the youth group and the children.

8 Pastor: Jane Shepherd Secretary/Editor: Katie Dorsey Inside Custodian: Diana Clancy Outside Custodian: Lyle Barkley Parish office: Fax: Pastor Home: Rev. Jane s revsdnj@wccta.net Sunday Worship10:15 a.m. Office Hours: Mon-Fri. 8:30-Noon Website: gowrieumc.com Check us out on Facebook! ******************************************************************************************************* Church Council: Vern Bauer, Chairperson Berna Tucker, Secretary Mary Patterson, Lay Leader Jeff Patterson, Lay Member to Annual Conference Joe Harrison, S/PPRC Chairperson Alan Wooters, Finance Chairperson Diane Boerner, Financial Secretary Deb Tvrdik, Treasurer Tyler Farnham, Trustee Chairperson Gary Vosberg, At-Large Member Rachel Farnham, Evangelism Chairperson Lisa Willardson, Education Chairperson David H. Anderson, Missions Chairperson Aydan Farnham, Youth Member Judi Tjepkes, UMW President Nancy McCard, Memorials Chairperson Shirley Wooters, Worship Chairperson Katie Dorsey, Membership Gowrie United Methodist Church 1306 Market Street Gowrie, Iowa U.S POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #22 Gowrie, IA RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED label