Keep in touch with Hope UMC: hopeumcia.org Hope UMC Pocahontas, Havelock & Plover

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1 The Messenger MARCH 2015 CAMP PROMOTION SUNDAY March 22, 2015 Bryan Johnson, Site Director at Lake Okoboji UM Camp & Retreat Center will be speaking at the Plover and Pocahontas centers during morning worship services. HEIFER PROJECT PROMOTION Special Missions Ministry Team focus for our church during March. Special offering is March 29th. The kids will be picking the animals, so... EVERYBODY PITCH IN! Keep in touch with Hope UMC: hopeumcia.org Hope UMC Pocahontas, Havelock & Plover HOPE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH WORSHIP SCHEDULE Sunday 8:00 am - Plover, 202 Smith St. Sunday 9:15 am - Havelock, 752 Dean St. Sunday 9:15 am - Sunday School/ 10:30 am - Pocahontas, 306 2nd Ave NW Pastor Jerry Miller pastorhopeumc@evertek.net cell Ph Church Office Mon.-Fri. Hours: 8:30-4:30pm hopeumc@evertek.net Ph Fax:

2 From Fellowship to Hospitality The Leadership Team of Hope UMC is reading and discussing the book Shift, Helping Congregations Back Into Effective Ministry. We are reading and discussing a chapter each month to discover how we can apply what we are learning about Effective Ministry Practices. The first topic we discussed was Shift 1: From Fellowship to Hospitality. We learned that generally speaking, Fellowship is inwardly focused with people we already know and Hospitality is outwardly focused toward welcoming people we do not yet know. We encourage everyone in the congregation to intentionally practice the following two welcoming behaviors. 1) 3-minute rule: For 3 minutes after the close of the worship service, make a point of engaging in conversation with guests and people you do not know first rather than just talking with your friends. 2) 10-foot rule: Be intentional to have conversations with everyone within a 10 foot radius of where you are sitting either before or after the worship service. These two welcoming behaviors can be practiced in other settings as well. Always be sure to greet guests and people you do not know first. Speak to others within 10 feet of you first before you have conversations with your friends that you already know and talk with regularly. I am looking forward to this learning opportunity with the Leadership Team as we strive to be faithful and fruitful for the kingdom of God here in Pocahontas County. Bring a friend with you to worship, Pastor Jerry

3 HOW WE WORK: Heifer partners with community groups to form development plans and to train beneficiaries in animal well-being, agroecology, water quality, gender equity and community development, among other topics. The training enables them to care for livestock, grow crops sustainably and further lift themselves out of poverty. OUR STRATEGY: Heifer ' s recipients agree to share one or more of their animals ' offspring and the training they receive with others in need in what Heifer calls Passing on the Gift. This unique development tool multiplies the benefit of the original gift and allows recipients to become donors. Heifer partners are also taught to prevent overgrazing, collect manure for organic fertilizer, plant trees and manage resources for long-term success. HISTORY: During the Spanish Civil War, as relief worker Dan West ladled rations of powdered milk to refugees, he realized that this simple form of aid would never be enough. After returning to the United States, West formed an organization dedicated to ending hunger permanently. Five years later, on June 18, 1944, the first shipment of dairy cattle left the United States bound for Puerto Rico in what would become a campaign that would change the lives of millions. NOW: Heifer International is a nonprofit, organization dedicated to ending hunger and poverty and caring for the earth. Heifer currently provides livestock, trees, seeds and training in environmentally sound agriculture to families in more than 30 countries, including the United States. WE WILL BE LEARNING more about Heifer International during the month of March. The children will be learning and sharing their offering in Sunday and Wednesday School. We will receive a Special Offering in worship on March 29th. Thank you for your generous support of this Life-Giving Ministry.

4 Help HOPE UMC bring HOPE to the millions living in poverty through a gift to Heifer International The Mission Committee of HOPE UMC needs YOU to help bring HOPE to families around the world by giving the gift of farm animals. Since 1944, Heifer International has helped more than 22.6 million families in more than 125 countries move toward greater self-reliance. For Heifer families, animals can provide nutritious food like milk, eggs and meat, and income for housing, health care, school fees and other needs. Today, Heifer animals are spreading over the Earth as each participating family passes on the gift of one or more of their animal's offspring to another family in need.. This miracle of birth, creates a chain of giving that continues for years. During the month of March the Wednesday School and the Sunday School classes will be filling ark banks and each of you is encouraged to make a donation (just write Heifer on the memo line of your check). We'll let the kids select the animals but just so you have an idea...a heifer is $500, a water buffalo - $250, a goat or sheep - $120, rabbits - $60, honeybees - $30, a flock of ducks, geese or chicks - $20. We can help change the world, one family, one community, at a time. And it all starts with a gift -- a gift that keeps on giving. Thank you. Special Offering on March 29th

5 Special Offering Sunday, March 15th Save Campbell Soup Labels _for Education ( UPC bar code symbols ) and Box Tops for Education. Thank you for your continued support. These may be placed in the shoebox found on a north kitchen shelf at Pocahontas : labeled soup labels / box tops for Education. These are used for mission support.

6 Please join us in welcoming Bryan Johnson, the Site Director of UM Camp & Retreat Center in Lake Okoboji is coming to visit Hope United Methodist Church in Plover and Pocahontas on Sunday, March 22, 2015!

7 Lent Luncheons Schedule The luncheon will start at 12 noon and finish by 1:00 pm (for those who need to return to work). We will gather, share the meditation, then eat so that people can stay and fellowship at their leisure. The luncheon is a major way that we add funds to the Pocahontas County Ministerial Account for benevolence. This is an ecumenical effort to BE the church in this county. March 4, Pastor Joy at Hope United Methodist March 11, Pastor Jerry at Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic March 18, Father Bormann at Hope United Methodist March 25, Pastor Joy at Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic Joy Bells are working on new (more difficult) music and introducing mallets and new techniques. We are looking forward to the challenges. We have a busy spring schedule and hope that you will be able to join us for some of the performances. Remember to invite all family and friends to come and listen to and enjoy the bells. March 15 - Hope UMC, Pocahontas 10:30 am service April 12 - St Peter s Lutheran Church, Pocahontas, 9:00 am service April 26 - Faith Community Church, Hwy N65, 10:00 am service May 6 - Arlington Place, Pocahontas, 4:00 pm May 13 - Pocahontas Manor Care Center, Pocahontas 4:00 pm UPPER DES MOINES FOOD PANTRY Bring your contributions for the Food Pantry to church with you on March 1 & 8 (or any Sunday) or stop out at Upper Des Moines on Hwy 4 North, in Pocahontas, and help to stock their pantry! Requests for March: Saltine crackers, Tuna helper, Spaghettios, Instant potatoes, canned Frosting, Cake mix. Also, dish soap and laundry detergent.

8 In Sympathy ~ the family of Bernard Johnson Members celebrating Anniversaries & Birthdays! Danny & Sharon Hauswirth 3/1 Jack & Sue Gould 3/23 Jeff Shearer 3/3 Carol McCurdy 3/5 Judy Pursley 3/6 Allan Frevert 3/6 Jessica Hopkins 3/6 Mary Loterbour 3/7 Audrey Simonson 3/9 Harla Vial 3/13 Merlin Tuma 3/14 Caden Freeburg 3/14 Zoanne Kerns 3/14 Jack Gould 3/15 Eldon Hawk 3/15 Louis Hammer 3/15 Bill Plantz 3/18 Doug Ferguson 3/19 Alex Radig 3/19 Rachel Kerns 3/20 Marcia Leu 3/22 Hanna Hubbell 3/23 Sherry Williams 3/23 Abe Barnhardt 3/25 Cheryl Sindergard 3/25 Caleb Freeburg 3/28 Connie Sievert 3/29 Joan Reinhart 3/29 Tonya Anderson 3/31 Bridal Shower for Chris Cook & Julie Hallman There will be a Come and Go Shower honoring Julie Hallman, daughter of Leo & Carol Hallman on March 28, 2015 in the Fellowship Hall from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. with a program at 10:00. Julie is the bride elect of Chris Cook, son of Tim & Elaine Cook. All friends and relatives are cordially invited to come. Christian Ashram ~ It is that time of the year again to think about the Christian Ashram family retreat. The dates are July Jerry Vogt will be the main speaker. Bible study will be Roger Criser, who led a mini-retreat one weekend at our church. Diana Crouch is youth leader. Exciting news! We will be meeting at Griswold, IA Creighton University Retreat center. It has 153 wooded acres. the cost is reasonable and scholarships available. See Mary Turner for more details. The Tuesday 2:00 afternoon Bible Study group, led by Mary Turner, will begin meeting again in March. Watch your bulletin for the date.

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10 Lectionary Scriptures March 1 Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Psalm 22:23-31; Romans 4:13-25; Mark 8;31-38 March 8 Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; John 2:13-22 March 15 Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22; Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21 March 22 Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 51:1-12; Hebrews 5:5-10; John 12:20-33 March 29 Liturgy of the Palms - Mark 11:1-11; Psalm 118:1-2, Liturgy of the Passion - Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Mark 14:1-15:47 March 30 Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 36:5-11; Hebrews 9:11-15; John 12:1-11 March 31 Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 71:1-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; John 12:20-36 WORSHIP ASSISTANTS

11 Hope UMW: March 2015 Bible Verse: " Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them, and I will love them. And I will reveal myself to each of them. " John 14:21 NLT 1. Pocahontas Center serving, up-date : Committee # 1: ( Dixie, Martie N., Connie) will serve March 4 Lenten Lunch and Committee #2 will serve the March 18 Lenten Luncheon, then back to Committee #1. 2. March Altar flowers (Pocahontas): Truth Circle. 3. Food Pantry ( UDMO) Remembrance Day is March 1 and 8. Special Needs : Cakes / Frostings; main dish items -- Instant potatoes, Spaghetio's, Tuna Helper, Saltine crackers; household items : Dish soap, Laundry detergent. 4. UMW March 19, at 1:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Pastor Jerry will present an Easter program and Joan Reinhart will prepare the worship Center. The serving committee is Charity Circle. 5. Be making plans to attend World Day of Prayer on March 6 at Evangelical Covenant Church. If you would like to pool rides, please call to make arrangements. MARK IT ON YOUR CALENDAR. 6. There will be an Executive Meeting at 12:30 in the Friendship Room March 19 th. Closing Thought: All good things come from God, and Easter is one of His greatest gifts! Rejoice in the Easter Season, UMW Pres. Dixie There's a special loneliness for those who find themselves single again. But now there's help... BEGINNING EXPERIENCE OF NORTHWESTERN IOWA will be holding their next weekend for divorced, widowed, or separated persons on March 6-8, 2015 at Camp Okoboji in Okoboji. Through talks, group dialogue, and personal reflection, persons of all faiths have an opportunity for growth, healing, and closure on the past in order to begin anew. Guidelines recommend that participants be widowed at least one year, divorced at least six months or separated 6-9 months prior to divorce. If you have any questions, or need an application, please contact me, Ginger Ernst at Worship Attendance at Hope UMC DATE POCAHONTAS HAVELOCK PLOVER TOTAL February 1 No church due to bad weather February February February

12 Leadership Team Meeting Notes February 12, 2015 Place: Pocahontas Center, 7:00 p.m. Attendance: Pastor Jerry, Donnie McLain, Allan Frevert, Elaine Cook, Carol McLain, Sharon Hauswirth, Moira Hopkins, Linda Ferguson, Carol Hallman, and Dixie Gottsch. Donnie called the meeting to order. Pastor Jerry gave devotions from the book "The Shift", ending with prayer, The minutes were presented and unanimously accepted as printed. Allan gave the treasurer's report. Income funds available for January 2015 are $46, compared to $47, in the year Cash in Budget Account at the end of January 2015, compared to year 2014 is $26, to $28, A motion by Dixie to accept this report, seconded by Allan and was carried, Chapter 1 of "Shift" was discussed and comments shared on how to make positive changes in welcoming guests to our services. All were given a couple of minutes to write what part of Chptr. 1 captured their attention as important ideas. As we "talk the talk" we all must "walk the walk " in welcoming guests who enter our church so there is a GOOD first impression left with them. Ministry Team Reports Education: Moira reported on plans of partnering VBS with St. Peter Lutheran church Mon. July 20 to Thurs. July 23. This will be a 5 hour day from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. for students ' in Kindergarten through 5th grade. We will utilize the summer lunch program offered at the High School cafeteria as part of the day. More details are being discussed and arranged for possible host families, chaperones, drivers, etc. Evangelism: Team did not meet but Elaine passed around the sign-up sheet for Greeters. Missions: Dixie, with the aid of Pastor Jerry said the main focus was on Heifer International to be promoted during the Lenten season. A little information was heard about the Mobile Food Pantry being organized for Pocahontas County. More about this is forth coming later.

13 SPRC: Linda reported there was no February meeting. Finance: Allan said there would be a March 12 th meeting at 4:00 p.m. with Kevin Gowdy, United Methodist Foundation Director, to inform the committee about the Foundation and investment funds. Worship: Carol H. reported the time change for Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18th to be at 5:30 p.m. instead of 7:00 p.m. Hope United Methodist will also host the Good Friday evening service at 7:00 p.m. April 3 rd. Pastor: Pastor Jerry thanks our congregation for the monetary support of the Pastor's Discretionary Fund. There have been many calls for need of assistance from this fund. In looking ahead we are reminded of the following: + March 4th Lenten Lunch at Hope UMC at 12 noon + March 11th Lenten Lunch at ROL Catholic Church at 12 noon + March 18 th Lenten Lunch at Hope UMC at 12 noon + March 25 th Lenten Lunch at ROL Catholic Church at 12 noon + April 2nd Maundy Thursday service, at Hope UMC Pocahontas at 7:00 p.m. + April 3rd Good Friday Ecumenical evening service hosted by Hope UMC in Pocahontas at 7:00 p.m. The next meeting will be March 12 th at 7:00 p.m. in the Pocahontas Center. Donnie adjourned the meeting and Pastor Jerry closed the evening with prayer. Submitted by Secretary Pro-tern, Dixie Gottsch DO WE HAVE YOUR CURRENT ? If you currently aren't receiving notices from the church/pastor, please send us an so that we add your address to our mailing group. Also, please specify if you'd like to be on the Prayer Chain! hopeumc@evertek.net Thank you!