Strength for the Day. Improving Our Sunday Roll Call. March 2015

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Conrad Jessie Watson
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1 March 2015 Strength for the Day March is here. And with it, the oh-so-welcome sight of longer days with more glorious sunlight! One of the "I AM" sayings of Jesus we're studying this month during our Lenten journey is "I am the light of the world." Light is a symbol of God and of God's life-giving and life-sanctifying activity found throughout the Bible, all the way back to Genesis. Not only did Jesus call himself the "light of the world" who gives the "light of life" to those who follow him (John 8:12), but he also said that those who follow him are "the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14). I was reading about light recently. From a physics standpoint, light is produced when atoms are subjected to a higher energy source than themselves, whether that's through a brighter light, heat, or electricity. Some electrons in the atom are excited to a higher orbit around the nucleus than before. When the electrons return to their ground state (their normal orbit or energy level) they emit or give off a photon: a particle of light energy. Humans harness these photons in a number of ways. Two are interesting to consider for our lives as Christians. One is through a laser. Laser is an acronym for Light Amplification (by ) Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Stated very simply, a laser works by stimulating the electrons of atoms in a certain substance to a higher state and capturing in a tube the photons produced as they return to their normal state. Many of the photons in the same wavelength bounce back and forth between the two ends of the tube, aligning themselves. One end of the tube is a full mirror which reflects all of the photons back to the other end. The other end is an only partially coated mirror, which lets some of the photons pass through and travel in a pointed direction. cont. page 3 Improving Our Sunday Roll Call We'll begin taking weekly attendance by using church attendance folders in our pews, beginning March 1. Our Worship Leader will remind us at the beginning of each service to complete the attendance pad and pass it down the pew to the next person. Once it reaches the end of the pew, it should then be passed back to its starting point. On the return trip we'll be able to see the names of our pewmates, which should help us match-up names and faces. In addition to increasing name recognition and promoting fellowship, these attendance folders will help church staff to better track when members are absent from church for an extended period of time. This will in turn enable our Member Care Team to more effectively reach-out to those individuals to offer care, support, or encouragement when needed. For instance, a call from Member Care may lead to the realization a member has been hospitalized or unable to leave home due to illness. Members of our church family can then be rallied together to provide meals or even companionship. If you receive one of these calls from a Member Care teammate or a church employee, please keep in mind you're being contacted out of love and support, not with the intention of causing guilt. cont. page 4 ~ Keep Reading ~ March WUMC Events...2 Noah's AARP...2 Building Committee Update...2 Walk Into the Garden...3 Warm-Up with Lunch Bunch...3 Book Talk...4 Nigeria Bound...4 World Day of Prayer...4 Playgroup Plans...4 Marvelous Days in March..5 First Wednesday Fun...5 Winter Weather Policy...5 Joyful News...5 Our 2015 Graduates...6 Thursday Night Study Group...6 Trinity Meal...6 Thanks for the Diapers...6 Most Wanted Foods...6 Supporting Birthday Joys Carpenter's Club...6 Youth Discipleship News...7 Keeping Connected...8 Easter Baskets of Love...9 Garden Getaway...10

March WUMC Events 1 (Su) Communion Small Group 9:30 2 (M) Playgroup 9:00 Mission Quilters 6:30 4 (W) Small Group 10:30 5 (Th) Small Group 6:30 & 7:00 Prayer Experience 5:30 6 (F) World Day of Prayer

) Small Group 10:00 8 (Su) Daylight Savings Time S.S. Singers 9:30 Small Group 9:30 ATF Baked Potato Fundraiser, 10:30 1:00 9 (M) Trinity Meal Prayer Shawl 6:30 10 (Tu) Member Care 6:30 Imagineering 7:00 11 (W) UMW 9:00 Small Group 10:30 Bells, K.

C. 6:30 Chancel Choir 7:30 Praise Band 8:15 12 (Th) Prayer Experience 5:30 Trustees 6:00 Small Group 6:30 Finance 7:00 13 (F) Acquire the Fire (Minnesota) 14 (Sa) Acquire the Fire (Minnesota) Small

2 March WUMC Events 1 (Su) Communion Small Group 9:30 2 (M) Playgroup 9:00 Mission Quilters 6:30 4 (W) Small Group 10:30 5 (Th) Small Group 6:30 & 7:00 Prayer Experience 5:30 6 (F) World Day of Prayer (UMW 9:30) 7 (Sa) Small Group 10:00 8 (Su) Daylight Savings Time S.S. Singers 9:30 Small Group 9:30 ATF Baked Potato Fundraiser, 10:30 1:00 9 (M) Trinity Meal Prayer Shawl 6:30 10 (Tu) Member Care 6:30 Imagineering 7:00 11 (W) UMW 9:00 Small Group 10:30 Bells, K.O.G., UMYF, C.C. 6:30 Chancel Choir 7:30 Praise Band 8:15 12 (Th) Prayer Experience 5:30 Trustees 6:00 Small Group 6:30 Finance 7:00 13 (F) Acquire the Fire (Minnesota) 14 (Sa) Acquire the Fire (Minnesota) Small Group 10:00 Noah's AARP Work Project Scheduled Our Noah's AARP group will be meeting at Waukee Area Christian Services (food pantry and medical clinic) on Tuesday, March 24, at 6:30, for a very special evening together. We'll learn about things the Waukee Area Christian Services makes available to our community, tour the areas they use at Westview, and then prepare Easter baskets that will be given away to their families with children. (Look for information at church about how you can help provide items for these baskets.) The work is easy and greatly appreciated, so mark your calendars and meet at the Westview Church, east of the high school on the corner of Boone and University, at 6:30 on the 24 th. Please enter the door on the southwest and go downstairs to the food pantry. (There will be a sign-up on the Connection Counter so we can have an idea of how many to expect.) 15 (Su) Acquire the Fire (Minnesota) No S.S. Small Group 9:30 16 (M) Mission Quilters 6:30 17 (Tu) St. Patrick's Day 18(W) Small Group-10:30 Bells, K.O.G., UMYF, C.C. 6:30 Chancel Choir 7:30 Praise Band 8:15 19 (Th) Lunch Bunch 11:30 Prayer Experience 5:30 Small Group 6:30 Ad Board 7:00 20 (F) First day of Spring 21 (Sa) Small Group 10:00 22 (Su) Camp Sunday Small Group 9:30 23 (M) Prayer Shawl 6:30 24 (Tu) SPRT 6:30 25 (W) Small Group 10:30 Bells, K.O.G., UMYF, C.C. 6:30 Chancel Choir 7:30 Praise Band 8:15 26 (Th) Prayer Experience 5:30 Small Group 6:30 28 (Sa) Garden Getaway, 8:30 4:30 Small Group 10:00 29 (Su) Palm Sunday Small Group 9:30 30 (M) Playgroup 10:00 Our Building Committee Sayeth... Our WUMC Building Committee is pleased to announce they'll be presenting information about our new facility in March. Information will be shared with our church family at all three celebrations (8:15, 9:30, and 10:45) on March 8 and 29. They'll provide information about the site property layout PLUS the architect's conceptual drawings and building costs estimates. Committee members will be available after each service to answer questions and share the excitement. 2

from page 1 Depending on the level of the excited state of the photon particles, and if they have been focused into a tighter beam of light by passing through another lens as they leave the laser

surgical precision. The Church functions much like a laser when we are working together at our best.

3 from page 1 Depending on the level of the excited state of the photon particles, and if they have been focused into a tighter beam of light by passing through another lens as they leave the laser tube, the laser light can do anything from helping a presenter pointout something on a screen to an audience with a red dot, to helping an engineer build something by cutting through metal with surgical precision. The Church functions much like a laser when we are working together at our best. When we come together for worship and allow the greater power or energy of the Holy Spirit to excite our spirits and elevate us to a higher plane through singing praises to God, through joining our spirits with the Spirit of the Risen Christ when we pray, when we hear God's word read and preached, when we celebrate Communion --- we become like those electrons that have been excited to a higher orbit. And when we as the church, decide to pursue a congregational ministry --- when a few or several or all of us agree and work in unison, march in step, and start a new mission project, or offer a new worship service, or try a new model for children and youth ministry or plan to build a new church, or start a new group, or whatever --- when our power as a congregation is focused and released into the world ---- wonderful and mighty things will happen. The light of Christ never shines so brightly! And as Jesus said, "people will see our good works and praise our Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16) Now, the other way those who follow Jesus Christ act as light to the world is more like a flashlight or a street light. The same excitement Walk Into the Garden Looking forward to spring after a long winter? Invite your friends and take a break in the Garden an all-day women's retreat on Saturday, March 28, from 8:30-4:30. Cost is $25. Please register at the Connection Counter by Sunday, March 15. happens to the electrons through a greater energy source causing them to create photon light particles as they return back to their lower or ground state. But instead of harnessing and focusing and pointing many photons in a singular direction --- individual photon particles of light are diffused and scattered over a wide area. The light beam is not as powerful as a laser, but it certainly is useful in many ways --- illuminating a dark path or street so we can find our way home, pointing out obstacles or other dangers that could cause us to stumble or hurt us, helping us to find something or someone that we couldn't otherwise in the dark, and helping us to not only feel safer, but be safer. When we as individual Christians let the light of our love shine into the various places that the daily orbit of our lives take us --- we help illuminate the darkness of other people's lives --- helping them to avoid the obstacles and dangers of this world, but more importantly, find the path that will lead them to life; to Jesus, who is the light of life. Friends, as you revel in the increasing light of the coming spring, may you rejoice in the light of God, in whom there is no darkness at all. Let your light shine! Peace, Pastor Jamie Cutler Warm-Up with Lunch Bunch Celebrate the end of winter and the beginning of spring with lunch at the Pizza Ranch at 11:30 on Thursday, March 19. It's always a celebration when we get together to share a meal and fellowship, but the timing of this Lunch Bunch makes it extra special. See you in the south party room on the 19 th. 3

from page 1 In an article written by Thom Rainer (president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources) entitled The #1 Reason for Decline in Church Attendance, the author notes that "members are less

" WUMC is a church that cares deeply about its members and strives to provide a strong network of support and fellowship to all who enter our midst.

Hopefully it will also bring all of us closer to one another and to the Christian lifestyle we seek each day. Amen!

4 from page 1 In an article written by Thom Rainer (president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources) entitled The #1 Reason for Decline in Church Attendance, the author notes that "members are less likely to be absent if they know someone misses them." WUMC is a church that cares deeply about its members and strives to provide a strong network of support and fellowship to all who enter our midst. Our new approach to tracking attendance should help strengthen our network of support and fellowship to all who enter our midst. Hopefully it will also bring all of us closer to one another and to the Christian lifestyle we seek each day. Amen! Nigeria Bound The two solar-powered refrigerators we purchased for use at clinics in Nigeria: Are packed with 500 reusable cloth diapers; Will be loaded on a container scheduled to leave March 10; and Should arrive at Pero and Jalingo, Nigeria in late May or early June. Please take a moment to sign one of the signs in our fellowship area, wishing our fellow Christians in Nigeria well as they use the refrigerators to benefit those whom they serve. The spring Book Talk group will meet at 7:00 on Monday, May 18, at Ann and Greg Ruble's home (4 Sugar Creek Lane). We'll be discussing the book, Triumph Over Destiny by Peladija Woodson-Diers, an author from Oelwein, IA. An Amazon books reviewer writes the following: Triumph Over Destiny is a compelling true story of survival, great courage, love and one's destiny. Karoline Rink was living a happy life in the small, alpine village of Bleiberg, Austria in At fifteen and a half years old, she was already working alongside her father in the lead mines to help her family survive the harsh economic times that resulted from World War I. Karoline, had dreams and faith that her future would be full of adventure from travels out into the wider world. She was certain that love and a family waited as well. Karoline, as did all of Austria, knew of Hitler's rise and how his Nazi force had invaded, then annexed their beloved country. Little did they know in 1938 that Hitler's rise to power was the beginning of the all-out terror, destruction, horror, and death that became World War II. What Karoline could not know was how these events would spiral in and around so very close as to alter her life's journey irrevocably. More information is given about Peladija Woodson-Diers and how her book was written at or may be found by searching online for her name. World Day of Prayer is a time of prayer concentrated on mission work and the promotion of world peace through involvement in mission work worldwide. This year, we'll be called to consider Jesus' words to the disciples after washing their feet: "Do you understand what I have done for you?" World Day of Prayer is Friday, March 6 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Playgroup Plans for March Our Church Family Ministries Team has arranged the following play dates for March. If you have a little one, please join our Playgroup at: Tot Lot (second floor of Waukee Public Works building) at 9 am on Monday, March 2. Valley West Mall at 10 am on Monday, March 30, to visit the Easter Bunny. 4

Marvelous Days in March 1 ~ Bob Messinger 2 ~ Gina Graham 3 ~ Chuck Black 3 ~ Judy Corbett 6 ~ Michael LeVere 6 ~ Dustin Stevens 6 ~ Stephanie Wanned 7 ~ Emma Bailey 7 ~ Beth Baumeister 7 ~ Jane

17 ~ Pat Gutshall 17 ~ Colleen Monahan 18 ~ Andy Cutler 18 ~ Alicia Evans 18 ~ Calvin Pieper 19 ~ Reese Connor 19 ~ Jean Corrigan 19 ~ Jeff Menz 20 ~ Kelsey Kunath 21 ~ Janice Hanks 21 ~ Ayla Krohn

Beglinger 29 ~ Steve Hawbaker 29 ~ Gabbie Magee 29 ~ Don Morrison 30 ~ Dick Applegate 30 ~ Bob Rhinehart 30 ~ John Shaffer 31 ~ Mark Craigmile 31 ~ Brett Thayer If the Waukee Schools are cancelled or

.. Happy March everyone from your Joyful Noise friends. Spring is (hopefully) just around the corner. We had a fantastic February.

5 Marvelous Days in March 1 ~ Bob Messinger 2 ~ Gina Graham 3 ~ Chuck Black 3 ~ Judy Corbett 6 ~ Michael LeVere 6 ~ Dustin Stevens 6 ~ Stephanie Wanned 7 ~ Emma Bailey 7 ~ Beth Baumeister 7 ~ Jane Clowser 7 ~ Logan Pekarek 10 ~ Susan Dunn 10 ~ Becky Hayden 11 ~ Kenny Lee 13 ~ Molly Bramble 15 ~ Joe & Theresa Swaim 16 ~ Mirranda Krohn 16 ~ Alissa Mills 17 ~ Ashleigh Baumeister 17 ~ Kennedy Dunn 17 ~ Pat Gutshall 17 ~ Colleen Monahan 18 ~ Andy Cutler 18 ~ Alicia Evans 18 ~ Calvin Pieper 19 ~ Reese Connor 19 ~ Jean Corrigan 19 ~ Jeff Menz 20 ~ Kelsey Kunath 21 ~ Janice Hanks 21 ~ Ayla Krohn 25 ~ Pamela Garr 26 ~ Cameron Cutler 26 ~ Laura Allen 26 ~ Ron Plagmann 27 ~ Dawson Barnett 27 ~ Nick Bender 27 ~ Dawson Dunn 27 ~ Graham Johnson 27 ~ Berta Swain 28 ~ Sophia Beltman 29 ~ Linden Beglinger 29 ~ Steve Hawbaker 29 ~ Gabbie Magee 29 ~ Don Morrison 30 ~ Dick Applegate 30 ~ Bob Rhinehart 30 ~ John Shaffer 31 ~ Mark Craigmile 31 ~ Brett Thayer If the Waukee Schools are cancelled or dismissed early because of inclement weather, all church functions will be cancelled that evening. Cancellations will be posted on the WUMC website, and on KCCI and WHO TV. Joyful News... Happy March everyone from your Joyful Noise friends. Spring is (hopefully) just around the corner. We had a fantastic February. Our themes included Feelings; Valentine's Day; Dental Health; and Our Bodies. We had lots of fun at our Valentine's Day party, playing games and checking out all of our cards from our friends. Our themes for March will include: Dr. Seuss (whose birthday is March 2); our five senses; colors (during this week we'll have color days: Mon=red, Tues=green, Wed=purple, Thurs=blue, and Fri=yellow); spring; and then Easter week. We've been getting lots of interest for fall enrollment. Graduation is coming in May and almost half of our class will be heading to kindergarten. We'll be starting a fundraiser for Joyful Noise very soon, too, selling spring bulbs and plants. If you're a gardener or would like to liven up your yard a bit, please consider buying from us. For more information, contact becki@waukeechurch.org. All proceeds will be used to help cover the cost of mulching our playground. (Donations are also gladly accepted.) This is something we plan to do as soon as it gets nice and muddy. Have a fabulous month 5

office and share your information with us. Most-Wanted Foods The Waukee Area Christian Food Pantry is especially interested in donations of pizza mix/sauce, pepperoni, and canned chicken this month.

6 Honoring Our 2015 Grads We want to make sure we honor all WUMCers who are graduating from high school this spring. So far, we're aware of the following graduates: Maddie Allen Sophie Erickson Matthew Graham Kaitlyn Soughan Maegan Tyrrell Nathan Wanned If your name is missing this list, please call the church office and share your information with us. Most-Wanted Foods The Waukee Area Christian Food Pantry is especially interested in donations of pizza mix/sauce, pepperoni, and canned chicken this month. Carpenter's Club Fires-Up for Summer Carpenter's club meets on Wednesday nights at 6:30. We're working on making Burning Bush Firestarters for summer sales. All ages welcome, and no experience necessary. Thursday Night Study Group Our Thursday Night Study group will meet on Thursday, March 5 at 7:00 in the church. We'll be studying chapters 7 and 8 of The Girl's Still Got It by Liz Curtis Higgs. This month we'll see changes in Naomi and Ruth's relationship and in Naomi's outlook. See you there! Trinity Meal We'll serve the evening meal at Trinity UMC again on Monday, March 9. If you'd like to help serve this meal (for your first or 50 th time), please sign-up at the Connection Counter. The list of food items we need to have donated is also available there. We'll leave WUMC around 3:45 that afternoon and return by 6:30. Thanks for the Diapers Thank you to everyone who helped produce over 500 diapers last month to ship to Nigeria. We'll meet again in June with our friends from St. Boniface to make diapers. If you're interested in working on diapers at home, please see Cyndi Craigmile or Maureen Briles for supplies. 6

the Waukee Area Christian Food Pantry. Each class put together two bags, which our Kids of God (KoG) delivered to the Pantry on Feb. 25.

7 Sunday School Singers Our Sunday School singers will sing at our 9:30 celebration on Sunday, March 8. Sunday School Break Our Sunday School classes won't meet on March 15, due to Spring Break Supporting Birthday Joys Our Sunday School youth and adults decided last fall to provide Birthday Bags for the Waukee Area Christian Food Pantry. Each class put together two bags, which our Kids of God (KoG) delivered to the Pantry on Feb. 25. Each bag contains all the items needed for a great birthday party: cake mix, frosting, streamers, plates, cups, forks, a tablecloth, invitations, and even a Happy Birthday banner. This is just one of the missions supported by our Sunday School offering. Thank you to all our Sunday School kids and adults who contributed to this wonderful ministry. Camp Sunday Be There Please be extra certain your kid(s) are in Sunday School for Camp Sunday on March 22 so they can learn about camping at United Methodist camps. There will be camps for all ages, with all sorts of great activities. Besides, WUMC will pay 50% of a member's camp fee, up to $100. Be sure to catch this wonderful opportunity on March 22; if you have questions, contact Kim Magee. 7

8 Keep Yourself Connected You can rely on the following sources for information about upcoming church activities. You do, however, have to take the initiative to read them FaceBook Weekly bulletin The Vine Waukee Wire Twitter (search WUMC website ( including our WUMC calendar Play It Again... If you missed last Sunday or just want to hear Pastor Jamie's message again, visit our WUMC website ( and look under the Ministries tab. Celebration Times 8:15-9:15 Blended 9:30-10:30 Sunday School (for all ages) 9:30-10:30 Traditional 10:45 11:45 Contemporary & Children's Church Contact Info Waukee United Methodist Church 650 Ashworth Drive, Box 26 Waukee IA Rev. Jamie Cutler, waukeechurch.org, ext. 202 Amanda Jacobson, ext. 201 Deanne Caudle, ext. 203 Jacqueline Conley, ext. 204 Kim Magee, Prayer Request, SignUpGenius, Waukee United Methodist Church 650 Ashworth Dr., Box 26 Waukee, IA

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Your Life Covered by Grace

Your Life Covered by Grace April 2016 Manna Strength for the Day Editor Ellen When reading the Holy Bible, many people avoid the Old Testament like the plague and flip directly to the Gospels. The first time I read the Bible cover-to-cover