July 2018 Volume 59 Issue 7. Inside This Issue. Dear Friends,

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1 Inside This Issue Touching the World 3 Missions 5 Student Ministries 6 Children s Ministry 7 Music Ministry 8 Top Notchers 10 Announcements 11 Online Giving 14 AUMC App 15 Contact Us Pastor John Gaulke johng@altoonaumc.org Steve McLellan Minister of Creative Arts & Pastoral Care stevem@altoonaumc.org Matt Osborne Youth Director matto@altoonaumc.org Brandon Lindsey Children s Ministry Director brandonl@altoonaumc.org LeAnn Gaulke Director of Small Groups & Assimilation leanng@altoonaumc.org Jane Burns Financial Manager janeb@altoonaumc.org Heather Mahoney Executive Assistant heatherm@altoonaumc.org Sue Bennett Administrative Assistant sueb@altoonaumc.org Dear Friends, July 2018 LeAnn and I recently took some time to rest, reflect and study in Florida. We had a great time relaxing in the Sunshine State. One evening we went to the beach to watch the sunset and look for shells. In fact, every time we went to the beach we looked for shells we couldn t help ourselves. As we walked on the beach, waiting for the sun to set, I saw a number of colorful shells near where a lady was sitting. As I got closer I realized that they were hand painted. I asked her about the shells and she said that she often paints a symbol, a word, or a phrase on the shells and then places them in different spots along the beach so people can pick them up and be encouraged. She sets out decorated shells for all of the major holidays including Easter and Christmas. The shells that were around her beach chair that evening were painted with crosses. I was moved by how this lady walks the beach searching for shells to paint and after painting them puts them back on the beach for someone to find. I couldn t help but wonder why why did she do it? Doesn t she see how many people walk up and down this beach on a daily basis? Percentage wise she wasn t reaching very many people most people will never see one of her shells. Her patient and detailed work will mostly go unnoticed, but, and this is a big BUT, someone, while walking down the beach, will notice a painted shell and pick it up. Perhaps it will arrive at the perfect time at a time when the message on the shell will uplift and warm their heart. It will matter for that person. The problem for many of us is that we focus more on the obstacles rather than on the potential. If the lady painting the shells only focused on the large number of people walking up and down the beach, then she may have come to the conclusion that the impact of her few shells would be so insignificant that it wouldn t be worth the time or the effort. Thankfully she didn t let the thoughts of, Why bother, it s just not worth it, prevent her from reaching a Continued on page 2

2 Page 2 few. I learned a lesson on Bonita Beach an important one. Don t just focus on the crowd see the person. Take time make time to encourage the people you come in contact with each day. Think about that for just a minute. If each of us tried to encourage the people we see during the day then by the end of the day, together, we would encourage a crowd! The lady on the beach she was doing her part. Now it s time for me to do mine! It s time for us to do ours! Painting shells with you, Pastor John Praise & Prayer Service Sunday, July 1st 6:30-7:30 p.m. Communion will be served during the service. Nursery provided during the service

3 Page 3 The Turkey Mission Dinner is held annually in November. The money is used each year to help the poor, hungry, hurting, and lost both locally as well as around the world. On Sunday, May 27, Pastor John presented a check for $5,000 to Dr. Gary Rosberg for his organization, Impact Iowa. Impact Iowa s mission is to honor and strengthen Iowa s first responder and military marriages by providing relevant coaching, encouraging the development of community with one another, and rallying the support of the citizens of Iowa. Last fall was the inaugural Marriage Getaway for these heroic couples. One hundred thirty couples attended the weekend event. Altoona United Methodist Church was the first church to donate to the organization, giving $500 from 2016 Turkey Mission Dinner funds. This year s donation of $5,000 toward the 2018 Marriage Getaway is the largest gift from a church to date. Gary and his wife Barb s goal is to have 250 couples fully sponsored for this year s September event. Our $5,000 donation will send 20 couples to the conference to be encouraged, appreciated, and supported. Thank you so much for your generous giving. It is truly making a difference in our community and around the world. A check for $5,000 was presented to Dr. Gary Rosberg on May 27 Our congregation will again package 50,000 meals with Meals from the Heartland in our Family Life Center on Saturday, October 13.

4 Page 4 Please join AUMC s Bags of Blessing project by filling a bag for one or more of the organizations described below that we are supporting this summer. Gallon-size zipper bags with shopping lists will be available in the entryway on Sundays, July 8th through July 29th. Please return your filled bags to the entryway on or before Sunday, August 5th. Joppa Joppa is a volunteer-driven, interdenominational, nonprofit organization in Iowa that helps homeless people survive, get housing and rebuild their lives. Each week, Joppa volunteers visit people living under bridges, in tents, shacks, vehicles and those recently transitioned into housing. Joppa supports community services by meeting unmet needs, such as homeless nutrition, street nursing, job training, transportation and survival programs like winter heat and boots. Hope Ministries Hope Ministries operates three residential ministry centers in central Iowa for homeless men, women and children: Bethel Mission, a 110-bed emergency shelter for men; Door of Faith, a 102-bed long-term recovery center for men; and Hope Center for Women and Children, a 48-bed short- and long-term recovery center for women and children. We Care Kits are used as welcome bags for new guests at the shelters, giving them essential supplies along with a note of encouragement. By donating a complete We Care Kit, you will make a direct positive impact on a hurting man or woman in our community. We are filling bags for men staying at Bethel Mission and also women and children entering the Hope Center for Women and Children. Last summer, our church family filled over 300 of these bags for the poor, hungry, or hurting in our community. Let s make a difference again this year, one bag of blessings at a time!

5 Page 5 The Mission Committee is collecting supplies to fill school bags for children in third world countries and the US if needed. There will be a container located at the Welcome Center to collect your purchases. If you would like the Missions Committee to make your purchases for you, please make your check to AUMC with School Bag Supplies on the memo line. Please visit the Welcome Center in the Narthex for donation envelopes. Thank you in advance for your purchase of any of the below listed supplies as well as your financial gifts and time spent to make a difference in our world. School Bag Supplies (3) Wide ruled spiral or bound notebooks, 8.5 x 11, sheets each (1) 30 cm metric ruler (1) Box of 24 crayons (24 only) (1) 2.5 eraser (1) Metal blunt scissors (1) Handheld pencil sharpener (6) Unsharpened #2 pencils with erasers

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8 Page 8 Who Are You? (Who Do You Say I Am?) If you have gone through Psychology 101 you have probably heard the theory that everyone has basic needs. Maybe the most powerful need is the need to be loved and accepted. People do many foolish things to be accepted by a crowd that cares more about themselves than the people they use. God wants you to know that your performance for Him is not the factor that qualifies you for His love. I read a quote that says, The stronger our understanding of our identity in Christ becomes, the more our self-worth grows. So who does GOD say you are? Worship God says we are like clay jars that hold a great treasure. The clay part reminds us that the outside is nothing fancy, but the treasure inside is the reminder that the great power within is from God and not from us. (2 Cor. 4:7) With Him we have great value, worth, and potential! You might wonder, Would God really love me enough to take me and invest his great riches in me? The Bible says, But God s mercy is great, and he loved us very much. Though we were spiritually dead because of the things we did against God, he gave us new life with Christ He did this for those in Christ Jesus so that for all future time he could show the very great riches of his grace by being kind to us in Christ Jesus. (Eph. 2:4-7) Does God really love us enough to choose us? Are we valuable enough to be chosen by an Almighty God? Colossians 3:12 states, God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. Next time you sing Who You Say I Am remember God thinks you are awesome! Blessings, Steve McLellan Continued on page 10

9 Page 9 CHRISTMAS ETC. It s hard to believe I have already received 3 boxes of Christmas music. One more landed on my desk this week. We plan to be ready for August rehearsals in just a few weeks. As we prepare for a wide array of back to school music opportunities please include these ministries in your prayers. AUGUST: BACK TO SCHOOL SCHEDULE Bell Choir: Monday, August 27 at 7:00 p.m. Orchestra rehearsal: Wednesday, August 29 at 6:00 p.m. Worship Choir: Wednesday, August 29 at 6:30 p.m. Worship Band: Wednesday, August 29 at 8:00 p.m. Persons interested in being part of the worship band, the worship choir, orchestra, or bell choir may contact Steve McLellan at or stevem@altoonaumc.org

10 Page 10 Top Notchers A ministry for adults 55+ Upcoming Get Together Tuesday, July 10, Noon Potluck Program: Speaker Bill Friedricks, award winning author and Professor of History at Simpson College. His forthcoming book is on the history of the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation. Noon in the Family Life Center Bring a dish to share Host/Hostess: Jerry & Joan Nolin, Marilyn Cowell Chairpersons: Dale & Jan Hartgraves Bring a donation for the Caring Hands Food Pantry Tuesday, August 14, Noon Potluck Program: Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert Noon in the Family Life Center Bring a dish to share Host/Hostess: Larry & Dixie Hutzel Chairpersons: Terry & Mary Van De Pol Bring a donation for the Caring Hands Food Pantry Sunday, September 23, Fall Fest Program: Higher Power in concert Bring a friend, new people are always welcome! Bob & Wilma Hall will be celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary on July 10th! Their family would like to congratulate and honor them with a card shower. Cards may be sent to them at: 1416 Lake Shore Circle Altoona, IA 50009

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12 Page 12 Men s Breakfast Saturday July 21st 8:00 a.m. in the Family Life Center Adult Men s Softball Come Watch! Check the church calendar and bulletin for game times. Pasoral Partners Consider sending a DVD to a homebound friend or loved one. DVD s may be purchased for $5 each. If you or family member would like prayer support or a hospital visit please fill out the prayer request on the back of the Connect Card or call the church office at Regular office hours are: Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Friday 8:30 a.m. - Noon

13 Page 13 United Methodist Women UMW/Circles will not be meeting in July or August. Baptism Class Join us on Sunday, July 22nd at 9:30 a.m., in the Chapel. with Pastor John. This onesession class is to help understand the significance of baptism and to schedule a date. Contact the church office at or Sueb@altoonaumc.org with any questions. Splash Bash & Baptism Service Sunday, July 29th 6:30-8:30 p.m. Altoona Aquatics Center Meet at the Altoona Aquatic Center at 6:30 p.m. for immersion baptisms followed by swimming at the pool. Snacks will be provided! Please RSVP to the church office at or sueb@altoonaumc.org if you are interested in taking part in the special baptism ceremony. A Baptism Class will also be held on July 22nd at 9:30 a.m. in the Chapel to help you understand its significance.

14 Page 14 Altoona United Methodist Church has two electronic options for giving. You can register to give regularly or make a one-time gift by going to our church website, Click on the Give tab. Once you have clicked on the Give Online button, choose First Time? on the left side of the E-Giving Login page. Enter your information, create a password, and hit Submit. Your donation can come from your checking, savings, debit card, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover. You will have the option of making a one-time gift or a recurring donation on a schedule that you set up. Once you have registered, you have the ability to adjust your giving as desired by logging in with your address and password. Another option for electronic giving is through our new church app. In the Worship menu, choose Give Online and then follow the instructions above. If you have any questions about this secure electronic giving option, please contact Heather Mahoney at or heatherm@altoonaumc.org. She is happy to meet with you to help you set up your account or answer any of your questions.

15 Page 15 Available for ios and Android. If you would like to receive weekly updates via , please go to the church website, Under the Connect tab, choose Signup, enter your address, choose the (s) you would like to receive, and they will begin arriving on a weekly basis! If you would like to be included on our prayer chain list, please go to the church website, choose Prayer Chain Signup under the Connect tab, enter your address, and choose the Prayer Chain list.