March 2018 The Messenger page 1. The Messenger

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1 March 2018 The Messenger page 1 The Messenger March 2018 A monthly publication from First United Methodist Church of Boone. In this issue From the Pastor 1 Thanksgiving Ingathering 2 Thank You s 2 Holy Week Events 3 Worship Volunteers 3 United Methodist Women 4 Church Directory 5 Conference News 5 Office Help 5 Budget Report 6 Calendar 7 Coffee Fellowship Schedule 7 District Conference Leadership Event 8 First UMC - Boone 703 Arden Street PO Box 206 Boone, Iowa The mission of the Boone First United Methodist Church is to glorify God by nurturing disciples to live and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. Hatch em - Match em & Dispatch em From the Pastor February 14th was the beginning of Lent Ash Wednesday. We had an Ash Wednesday Service that night. It was also Valentine s Day. That night we also had a spaghetti supper fund raiser for the youth mission trip. I made the comment during Sunday worship Hey, why don t you give up Valentine s Day for Lent this Year? Bring your sweetheart out for spaghetti and ashes! Not real sure how well that went over. In the Protestant tradition, giving something up for Lent has always been hit or miss we tend to associate that with other denominations and other traditions. Here s a little background on the history and meaning of sacrificing something for Lent. The tradition of giving something up for Lent goes back to the very early church. Converts to Christianity had to go through a years-long process of study and preparation before being baptized (and thereby joining) the Christian community. This joining of the community always happened on Easter. When candidates were ready, they spent the 40 days before Easter in purification and enlightenment a reference to Jesus 40 days of trial and temptations in the wilderness. The goal was to stop being tempted by the world s agendas. The rest of the Christian community began observing these 40 days in order to be in solidarity with the converts, and to examine their own behavior to see if it was consistent with the teaching of the Gospel. The annual tradition grew from there. I often find that when folks make sacrifices during Lent it generally takes the form of chocolate or Mountain Dew. There s nothing wrong in giving up chocolate or Mountain Dew and there s nothing wrong if you continue to eat chocolate or drink Mountain Dew. I ve encountered folks who were absolutely miserable during the season of Lent as they gave up chocolate or Mountain Dew (not kidding) and it showed in their relation-ships as well. Is that really what Lent is calling us too? Perhaps what we give up are not so much items during Lent as it is attitudes. An attitude of entitlement. An attitude of being argumentative. An attitude of indifference. The list could go on. What we are called to give up during Lent are those things that would lead us into a life of decay. If Mountain Dew is doing that by all means, give it up! But if it s something more than that, something deeper than that it s probably a good time to figure that out. During Lent, join me in taking the time to reflect and examine our hearts and our behaviors. That is never a bad thing to do. Blessings Pastor Doug HOLY WEEK EVENTS Join us as we celebrate Holy Week at the end of this month and welcome Easter Morning on April 1 st. Our Holy Week and Easter Sunday schedule is available on page 3 of the newsletter.

2 March 2018 The Messenger page 2 THANKSGIVING INGATHERING United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Thanksgiving Ingathering will be November 3rd, NEW THIS YEAR they are only accepting health hygiene kits, school kits, cleaning buckets, and empty school bags. Kits offer love and hope to people made vulnerable by disaster that surrounds them. This will be the 39th year for this project. Bidwell Riverside THANK YOU! Our Christmas offering this year was directed to Bidwell- Riverside. We received a "Thank You" from them with a personal note from Tim Shanahan, Executive Director of Bidwell-Riverside. "Boone 1st UMC Friends! WOW! What a very generous donation for Bidwell. Really appreciate the support for our services for those in need! Tim" Our offering was in the amount of $1,682. Bidwell-Riverside is at 1203 S.E.Hartford Avenue, Des Moines Bidwell builds Hope by providing food, clothing, and childcare to people in need. Their mission is to provide services to individuals and families which will meet immediate needs and to work in cooperation with those persons and the community to develop programs and policies which will promote continual improvement in their lives. They have a full time preschool for children ages 18 months to 5 years with a certified staff. They have a food pantry providing for Des Moines south side emergency food needs. They also have a clothing distribution center with good, clean, affordable clothing for all ages. Christmas sharing provided gifts and food to over 600 families. Assistance is given to homeless women and children providing guidance, financial assistance, and supplies to aid women as they establish a home. They also provide personal care products i.e. shampoo, soap, and baby care items. Free clothing/household items are available to victims of disasters or anyone without financial resources. Emergency financial help is offered with utility disconnects and rent assistance. Bidwell-Riverside Center is related to the Women's Division of the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church. In addition funding comes from the Iowa United Methodist Women, Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Churches, churches of many denominations and individual donors. Other support comes from grants and gifts from businesses and corporate foundations. Bidwell- Riverside Center provides equal opportunity to all persons in programs, services, and employment without regard to age, sex, race, or national origin. In the local budget of our United Methodist Women we send $1. per member to Bidwell-Riverside. Thank you to all who helped with this mission giving. THANK YOU!! Dear Friends Thank you for your support for the Stork s Nest through your donation. Your donation supports mothers and families who rely on the Stork s Nest to access prenatal and postpartum health education, community resources, and needed items to care for their newborn. Sincerely, Azure Christensen, Foundation Executive Director Dear Friends in Mission Thank you for your gift received of $3,100 to the UMCOR / General Board of Global Ministries. We are pleased to announce that 100% of your contribution will support the hurricane disaster response in the United States. Your gift enables United Methodists to partner with one another in mission and ministry around the world. May God grant you a sense of hope and joy as you continue your support for mission. Grace and Peace, Roland Fernandes, General Treasurer & Russell Pierce, Executive Director. IMPACT Community Action Partnership Dear Church Friends Thank you for your continued support for the Boone Resource Center. The Center will continue to see an increase in almost all of the services and programs offered. From October 1 st to December 31 st, the Center distributed 710 food pantries and approved 537 applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. For the last three months of 2017, your congregation has donated $270 and over 571 pounds of food and personal care items. Thank you, Amber Ahrens, County Coordinator, IMPACT Community Action Partnership. CONNECTIONS Are there any questions you have about First UMC in Boone or United Methodism? Take a peek at these websites boonefumc.com check us out on our website. You will find just about anything you need to know about us. There is also a link to our church facebook page. We re here with Open Hearts, Open Minds, and Open Doors. iaumc.org looking for information concerning the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church? This website provides directories, news and features, and a wealth of information regarding the work, mission & vision of the United Methodist Church.

3 March 2018 The Messenger page 3 First UMC March Worship Participants Greeters March 4: Fred Grow, Gene Stewart, Norm Stolte, Tim Hooper March 11: John & Jeri Nerem, Kio Dettman, Fred Grow March 18: Mark & Nancy Edelman Paul & Linda Millis March 25: Doug & Vicky Van Dyke Dean & Ellen Weaver Ushers March 4: Verla Morgan & Barbara Shedd March 11 Vi Woodcock & Loryl Cole March 18 Kio Dettman & Erva Lu Hutchings March 25 Phil Meier & Daren Dill Acolytes March 4 th Wyatt Sharp Wesley Sharp March 11 th Braedon Majors Joey Hutchings March 18 th Brooke Rice Maci Mosher March 25 th Brooke Rice Vivian Rice Power Point March 4 th Laura Mehlhaus (9:00) Chris Shannon (11:15) March 11 th Danis Langen (9:00) Chris Shannon (11:15) March 18 th Jentry Schoff (9:00) Chris Shannon (11:15) March 25 th Nicole Nickens (9:00) Chris Shannon (11:15) Nursery March 4 th Katelyn Mehlhaus Mackenzie Mosher March 11 th Katelyn Mehlhaus Ally Burke March 18 th Katelyn Mehlhaus Jentry Schoff March 25 th Mackenzie Mosher Ally Burke Sound Tech March 4: not available at time of printing March 11 not available at time of printing March 18 not available at time of printing March 25 not available at time of printing Please join us we celebrate Holy Week Sunday, March 25 th PALM SUNDAY 9:00 am Traditional Service 11:15 am Contemporary Service Tuesday, March 27 th LENTEN STUDY 10:00 am & 6:30 pm Thursday, March 29 th MAUNDY THURSDAY 7:00 pm Maundy Thursday Communion Friday, March 30 th GOOD FRIDAY 7:00 pm Good Friday Service Sunday, April 1 st EASTER SUNDAY 6:30 am Son-Is-Risen Easter Service Our youth will be leading us in an engaging celebration as we greet the Easter morning. 7:30 am Easter Breakfast Join us for Easter breakfast after the Son-Is-Risen service. All are welcome. 9:00 am Traditional Easter Service One of our regular services at First UMC. It features many traditional elements of worship hymns, music anthem, pipe organ, liturgy. 11:15 am Contemporary Easter Service This is our other service at First UMC. It features a more relaxed and casual style of worship. The music features our praise band sharing a contemporary as well as diverse genre of music. Join us for any of the worship opportunities that we offer during Holy Week. If you like, join us for all of them! We ll be here with Open Hearts Open Minds Open Doors

4 March 2018 The Messenger page 4 United Methodist Women Calendar March Refrigerator & Freezer Cleaning: Leah --March 7 th 11:30 am Executive Mtg. in Wesley Room 1:00 pm General Meeting in the Parlor Program: Dorcas Hostess: Martha --March 8 th International Day of Bell Ringing for Women s Rights. The church bells will be rung on the hour from 8 am to 5 pm. --March 8 th, 9 th, 10 th Fresh Baked Cinnamon Roll Sales --March 15 th District Mission Eagle Grove 9:00 am CIRCLE MEETINGS --March 15 th --March 21 st 7:00 pm Martha Circle 9:15 am Eve Circle (Wes. Rm.) 9:15 am Leah Circle (Fell. Hall) 1:30 pm Dorcas Circle (Wes. Rm) For additional information contact your Circle Chairperson or one of the following --Jan Carpenter Tamara Peterson Church Office or check the bulletin board outside the Fell. Hall. UMW News International Women s Day is celebrated around the world on March 8. This day was first celebrated in 1911 at Copenhagen city in Denmark and is a national holiday in some countries. It is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women around the world. Here at Boone First United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women will celebrate by ringing the church bells on the hour from 8 am to 5 pm. So listen for the bells on March 8. Don t forget to pick up the fresh baked cinnamon rolls you ordered from UMW. The freshly baked rolls will be ready on March 8-10 from 8 am to noon. On the 8 th, please pick up your rolls in the music room downstairs. On the 9 th and 10 th, please pick them up in the Fellowship Hall. If you are unable to get them before noon, you can pick them up from the office during office hours (1-5 pm) on Thursday and Friday. You can stop in and have a fresh roll and cup of coffee for $2 in the Fellowship Hall. The United Methodist Women District Mission Study on Missionary Conferences of the United Methodist Church in the United States will be held in Eagle Grove on March 15 th from 9 am to 2:30. Jon and Leila Disburg who served 5 years in the Alaska conference will be presenting the program, which will include information on the Alaska Conference, the Oklahoma Missionary Conference, and the Red Bird Missionary Conference. If you are interested in attending, contact Jan Carpenter. We will leave from the church parking lot at 8 am. United Methodist Women 150 th Birthday United Methodist Women will be celebrating their 150 th birthday on March 23, It all began on a dark and stormy night when eight women gathered at the Tremont Methodist Episcopal Church in Boston, Massachusetts to hear the wives of two missionaries from India. They told how women were being denied medical care in India because male doctors were not allowed to treat them. These eight women decided that they would raise money to send a female doctor and teacher to India. They contacted other Methodist Women and thus began the Women s Foreign Missionary Society a forerunner of today s UMW. By the fall of 18690, they were able to send a teacher, Isabella Thorburn and Dr. Clara Swain to India as the first missionaries of the Women s Foreign Missionary Society. Eventually the Isabella Thoburn College, the first Christian college in Asia, and the Clara Swain Hospital were eventually established in their honor and still exist today. We have a proud heritage of supporting women, children, and youth worldwide as well as in our own communities, but our work is not done. From 2016 to 2018 more than $100,000 was allocated for US and international missions. Five years ago, as UMW began preparing to celebrate our 150 th year it was decided to establish a Legacy Fund, a permanent endowment that will support the future of generations of United Methodist Women. March 23 has been established as A Day of Giving to celebrate the dedication and foresight of our foremothers in mission. See the UMW bulletin board outside fellowship hall to find out more about the Legacy Fund and the history of United Methodist Women. Pictured above are the founders of the Women s Foreign Missionary Society. Seated left to right, Mrs. Thomas A. Rich, Mrs. Edwin W. Parker, Mrs. William Butler, Mrs. Lewis Flanders. Standing, left to right: Mrs. Thomas Kingsbury, Mrs. William B Merril. Not pictured: Mrs. HJ Stoddard and Mrs. OT Taylor.

5 March 2018 The Messenger page 5 OFFICE HELP Help in the office when I take vacation and/or sick days is invaluable! Many ladies have helped for several years and my heart is so blessed for them giving of their time for my time off. At the present time I am in need of a few more ladies that would be willing to be put on my call list. Usually you would cover the morning from 8-12 or 12-4 or if you wanted to work a whole day with a 1hr break for lunch that would be ok. Some ladies have had to stop due to personal reasons. The longer the list the less often you would need to work. All that is required is to answer the phone, get the mail and sort it and check office (will train & very easy). You would not have to do any other computer work. ALSO, I have 5 teams of three people that come on Friday morning every 5 weeks to fold the Sunday bulletins. At present I need two more folks (man or woman) to replace ones that had to drop from their team. Please call the church office as soon as you are able to volunteer for one of these openings. My thanks and appreciation, Donna Iowa UMC Bishop Laurie Haller s Statement About the Florida School Shooting On the afternoon of Ash Wednesday, seventeen students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Florida were killed by alleged gunman, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, who used a semiautomatic AR-15 rifle. This was the eighth school shooting in the US in 2018, and we are only 47 days into the year. Our American love affair with guns and the challenge of passing gun legislation is well portrayed by the sign on the United Methodist Building in Washington D.C., which is the only non-governmental building on Capitol Hill. The sign was changed after Wednesday s shooting to read, How long, O Lord, until Congress acts to prevent gun violence. At the same time as we pray for the families of those who have lost loved ones and acknowledge the courage of those who gave up their lives to protect the students, we must ask ourselves the hard questions. How is God calling us to live out our faith by making a difference in the effort to stop gun violence in our country? Will we speak up when we observe others behaving in ways that portend violence? How will we respond when we see dangerous social media posts? Will we continue to contact our state and national legislators to enact stricter gun control laws? How is God calling you to act? CHURCH DIRECTORY UPDATE Please note the dates available for the new church directory photos Session 1: May 9-12 (Wed. thru Sat.) Session 2: May (Wed. thru Sat.) Session Times: Wed. Fri. 2 pm 9 pm Saturday 10 am 5 pm. We already have a few volunteers but need to put together a committee of about 5 people to organize, schedule appointments, schedule folks to help at the photo sessions, and do the layout for the Directory. Please call the church office (ASAP) if you are willing to help. More details coming soon! Contact the Newsletter Editor Please send your information, articles, comments and questions for the Messenger to the church office address bnfumc@mchsi.com Conversation on A Way Forward Bishop Laurie Haller and members of the Iowa Conference General Church Delegation will lead a special presentation and conversation about the Commission on the Way Forward proposals. These proposals address the way(s) in which we might maintain church unity concerning human sexuality issues. When Sunday, March 4, 2018 at 2:30 to 5:00 Where Garner UMC 885 Maben AVe Garner, IA Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. -Prayer of St. Francis

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7 March 2018 The Messenger page 7 March 2018 First UMC - Boone Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 5:30 Parent s Anonymous 2 1:00 Boone Ecumenical Women World Day of Prayer First Presbyterian 4 3 rd Sunday of Lent COMMUNION 9:00 Traditional Service 10:00 Coffee Fellowship 10:10 Sunday School (Pre K 6) 10:30 Adult Class / Young Adult 11:15 Contemporary Service 2:30 A Way Forward event 6:00 Education Comm. 5 6:45 Finance, Outreach, Trustees, Worship Comm. 7:45 Admin. Council 6 10:00 Lent Study 6:00 Free Clinic 6:30 Lent Study 7 11:30 UMW Exec. Board 1:30 UMW General 2:00 Staff Meeting 6:00 Youth Night Events 6:00 Bell Choir Rehearse 7:00 Chancel Choir Reh. 8 Cinnamon Roll Pick Up UMW Bell Rinning 9:30 Pastor s Boone 5:30 AKTION Club 9 Cinnamon Roll Pick Up 10 Cinnamon Roll Pick Up Remember to adjust your clocks!! 11 4 th Sunday of Lent 9:00 Traditional Service 10:00 Coffee Fellowship 10:10 Sunday School (Pre K 6) 10:30 Adult Class / Young Adult 11:15 Contemporary Service :00 Lent Study 6:30 Lent Study 14 2:00 Staff Meeting 6:00 NO Youth Night Events 6:00 Bell Choir Rehearse 7:00 Chancel Choir Reh. 15 9:00 UMW District Mission Eagle Grove 7:00 Martha Circle :00 District Conf. and Leadership Connection Event Webster City, Faith 18 5 th Sunday of Lent 9:00 Traditional Service 10:00 Coffee Fellowship 10:10 Sunday School (Pre K 6) 10:30 Adult Class / Young Adult 11:15 Contemporary Service :00 Lent Study 6:00 Free Clinic 6:30 Lent Study 21 9:15 Eve & Leah Circles 1:30 Dorcas Circle 2:00 Staff Meeting 6:00 Youth Night Events 6:00 Bell Choir Rehearse 7:00 Chancel Choir Reh. 22 4:00 Memorial Comm. 5:30 AKTION Club 23 10:00 Fold Newsletter 24 Family Movie Night 25 Palm Sunday 9:00 Traditional Service 10:00 Coffee Fellowship 10:10 Sunday School (Pre K 6) 10:30 Adult Class / Young Adult 11:15 Contemporary Service 26 6:30 SPRC 27 10:00 Lent Study 6:00 Free Clinic 6:30 Lent Study 28 2:00 Staff Meeting 6:00 Youth Night Events 6:00 Bell Choir Rehearse 7:00 Chancel Choir Reh 29 Maundy Thursday 7:00 Maundy Thursday Service 30 Good Friday 7:00 Good Friday Service 31 Fellowship Hall Reserved COFFEE FELLOWSHIP SCHEDULE 2018 January Admin. Council April United Meth. Men July Choir October SPRC February Worship May United Meth. Women August Trsutees November Taylor Estate March Health Ministry June Outreach September Finance December Memorial

8 March 2018 The Messenger page 8 District Conference and Building Leadership Connection Event This will give clergy and lay leadership from local churches a chance to meet before the busyness of spring after Easter. I expect all clergy serving local churches to be present along with laity from their local churches, such as members of their councils/boards. In addition, lay members to Annual Conference, UMW and UMM leaders of their local churches, elected leaders for district and conference committees, boards, and agencies, and all active and retired pastors and pastors on leaves of absence are encouraged to attend the district conference with voice and vote. This year s conference will act on nominations, receive reports, celebrate ministries and persons who are making a difference for Jesus Christ in their local communities and/or around the world, and include Building Leadership Connections on topics such as: Administrative Council/visioning, Trustees, Finance, SPRC, Christian Education and Youth. We will also have special information concerning Lay Servant Ministries and Conference Apportionment giving everyone will want to be sure to hear and see. When Saturday, March 17, 2018 at 9:00 to 11:30 Where Webster City, Faith UMC