The Poster is. May Breakfast. Graduates. Special Offerings. Pastor Kathy s

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1 FT. DES MOINES UNITED METHODIST CHURCH The Poster VOLUME 8 ISSUE 4 APR IL 2012 TAKE A LOOK AROUND All of us want our church building to glorify God and to be a welcoming place to those who enter our doors. The Trustees, who are entrusted with the ministry of the maintenance and improvement of the church building, would like your help as they consider possible future projects. Is there a specific area that you feel needs attention? Sometimes if a place is familiar and dear to us, we tend not to notice the wear and tear that others might see when they are entering for the first time. I invite you to walk through the church, both on the main level and upstairs, imagining you are a first-time visitor. Take note of the things that we might need to spruce up in order to give the best impression possible. Or, invite someone who has never been to our church to walk through with you and give you their honest impressions. Please make a list of the 3 or 4 things throughout the church that you think are most in need of attention, and give it to me or turn it in at the church office. Thanks for being another set of eyes! Pastor Kathy District Superintendent, Dave Weesner and his wife, Cheryl, are hosting a Holy Land Trip in For more information, contact weesdc@q.com. May Breakfast May Happening is the theme for this year s May Breakfast, being held on Saturday, May 5. Serving will begin at 9:30 a.m. Tickets cost $4.00 each and can be purchased from a UMW member or by contacting Sharon Peterson at Graduates Will someone in your family be graduating this spring? Please call the office ( ) with a bit of information about them/their plans/their degree. We ll be recognizing graduates on May 20. Special Offerings In the coming weeks, we ll have several opportunities to support local, national and international ministries. Food Pantry Sunday will be held on April 15. Our gifts, when paired with the gifts of other congregations throughout the metro area, help to feed needy families through the Des Moines Area Religious Council s 12 pantry sites. Native American Ministries offering will be received on April 22. The monies collected throughout the nation s United Methodist Churches are used to provide seminary scholarships and expands the Native American Urban Initiative. Blanket Sunday will be the emphasis on April 29. Blankets bring comfort, warmth and a way to gather possessions together following a disaster. Golden Cross Sunday collects money to support health and welfare ministries of our conference. Special envelopes will be in the worship bulletin on May 6. The Poster is published monthly by Fort Des Moines United Methodist Church, 6205 SW 9th St, Des Moines Iowa To contact us, phone , fax , or to church_ftdsmumc@ q.com Pastor Kathy s phone is INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Pastor s Ponderings 2 Food Pantry Tidbits 3 Wesley Woods 3 Calendar pages are inserted Information for The Poster should be in the Church office by the 29th of the month prior to being published. Office Hours 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon Monday to Friday Sunday 9:45 a.m. Holy Communion is the first Sunday of the month

2 P AGE 2 VOLUME 8 ISSUE 4 I cannot believe how early spring has arrived this year. Can anyone remember ever needing to mow the lawn in March? For a while I thought it was just going to be a short-lived warm spell and then we would return to winter, (although you might say, What winter? ) but I m beginning to believe that spring is actually here to stay. However, the April blizzard of 1973 still lurks in the back of my mind as a reminder that nothing is certain where Iowa weather is concerned! I will never forget that on the day those of us who were on the first ever Indianola girls track team were to be in our very first track meet, instead we were waiting for a blizzard to subside. The next day we began shoveling snow so deep that while walking to my aunt s house to shovel her out, my brother and I walked right over the top of a car that had stalled in the middle of the street. It was buried so completely that we didn t even know it was there. Yet, even with that April blizzard still in the back of my mind, I dare to believe that spring is here to stay! I love spring, with its message of life springing forth where there appeared to be none. Even during those winters when it seems it will never stop snowing and the world will be either brown or white forever, suddenly life springs forth and green appears. It s like the song Hymn of Promise declares, In the cold and snow of winter there s a spring that waits to be, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see. Even though it is sometimes difficult for us to believe, spring always arrives, and with it, hope of new life. How appropriate to celebrate Easter at this time of year. Easter, like spring, is a promise; a promise that darkness and death will not have the final word. It is a promise that there is hope of life even when it seems we are surrounded by hopelessness and death. Think of how things must have appeared as Jesus was taken down from the cross and placed in the tomb. When that stone was rolled in place it must have seemed to Jesus followers that every hope, every promise they had dared believe in, was dead and buried. But the stone was rolled away and Jesus walked forth from the tomb! And with him, every promise he had spoken and every hope he had inspired lived again. Easter is a promise that there is hope of life, even in the midst of death. It s a promise that hatred will not triumph over love. It s a promise that in the midst of our darkest times, God is there with hope for our hopelessness and joy for our despair. Pastor s Ponderings Helen Steiner Rice has written many inspirational poems. I came across one I especially like this week. It s one that expresses how she sees the truth of Christ s resurrection revealed in the coming of spring: I Know That My Redeemer Liveth by Helen Steiner Rice They asked me how I know it s true That the Savior lived and died... And if I believe the story That the Lord was crucified? And I have so many answers To prove His Holy Being, Answers that are everywhere Within the realm of seeing... The leaves that fell at autumn And were buried in the sod Now budding on the tree boughs To lift their arms to God... The flowers that were covered And entombed beneath the snow Pushing through the darkness To bid the spring Hello... On every side Great Nature Retells the Easter Story So who am I to question The Resurrection Glory. As we think about Christ s resurrection and see the promise of new life displayed all around us in the glory of spring, may we feel the hope and joy of the resurrection seep into our hearts and souls. May we be able to say with confidence, The Lord is Risen, the Lord is Risen Indeed! Pastor Kathy

3 P AGE 3 VOLUME 8 ISSUE 4 The Word from Wesley Woods Spring Clean Up Weekend April 20-21st; Friday, 9:00 a.m. to Saturday, 5:00 p.m. Call to let them know you are coming. Fishing Derby April 28, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Cost is $10 per person. Lunch will be provided. Prizes provided by Bass Pro Shop. Bring your own equipment. Sign up for camp now! Stop in at the church office, the Conference Center office, call or go online to to see what is offered and to register for the camp week best suited to your schedule. Concert Friends and former students will honor the late Alice Jordan with a concert on Sunday, April 22, at 4:00 p.m., in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, 1001 Pleasant St (park in the lot on the north side of the church). Participating in this event will be organists James W. Thrash, the American composer Michael McCabe, baritone Clay Hulsey, flutist Sandra Walcha, JoLee Scarborough, Kimberly Rockwell Baudino and Pastor Kevin LaGree. Alice Jordan joined First Church with her family in 1918 and became one of America s premier composers for the organ. The public is invited. For more information: christine@dmfirstchurch.org. Mark Your Calendar Central District Conference Thursday, April 19th, 6pm, Altoona UMC Central District Pre-Annual Conference Gathering Tuesday, May 22nd, 6pm, Oakwood UMC Vacation Bible School/Day Camp will be held July 9-12, at Christ Lutheran Church. Three Ways God Answers Prayers 1. Yes, I think your request can be arranged. Food Pantry Tidbits The Red Barrel Program turns 22 years old on April 18. The program originated from the End Hunger Program which began in Houston, Texas, in Members of Kiwanis program brought it to DMARC s Food Pantry in The idea behind the program was to give Des Moines residents the opportunity to donate food at supermarkets as well as at their churches. Today, the need still exists and shoppers in Dahl s, Fareway and Hy-Vee stores are regularly dropping their purchases of hunger sacks and individual food items into the red barrels. Kiwanis members are still helping by transporting the donations to the food pantry warehouse. In addition to grocery stores, you may see red barrels at many community activities, fund raising drives, birthday parties, weddings, and retail sales events. To find out more about the Red Barrel program or volunteer, contact John Robinson at jrobinson@dmreligious.org. 2. No. I have something better in mind for you. Your request would only make things worse. 3. Wait awhile. Some things take time and patience. Accept the promise that all things work together for good with those who love Me. Check Romans 8:28 Caring Hearts Need Care The Iowa Annual Conference Older Adult Council is sponsoring a workshop for caregivers and those who support them on Saturday, April 28, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at First United Methodist Church (1001 Pleasant St). The registration fee of $25, which includes materials, lunch and breaks, must be received by April 13. Contact Jane in the church office for a copy of the brochure and registration form. This conference is geared toward pastors, parish nurses, Christian educators, church Older Adult councils and caregivers. Tape Ministry The Membership Care and Outreach Committee offers cassette tapes of the worship services. If you are not presently on the distribution list and would like to obtain a copy of the tape weekly, contact Rod Kent at He generally delivers tapes on Mondays but other arrangements can be made if that doesn t fit into your schedule. Also, if you miss a service and would like a tape of a particular week, he will be glad to get a copy of that tape to you. Because of Easter...Because of Easter there is something even more certain than death and taxes: The Gospel of abundant and eternal life in Christ....Easter is life: here and hereafter....easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won t stay there....jesus didn t lose his life, he gave it....his life resurrected in us is cause to arise and celebrate every morning.

Address Service Requested Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Des Moines, IA Permit No. 11 Ft. Des Moines United Methodist Church 6205 SW 9th St Des Moines IA 50315-5516 Phone: 515.285.6545 Fax: 515.

4 Address Service Requested Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Des Moines, IA Permit No. 11 Ft. Des Moines United Methodist Church 6205 SW 9th St Des Moines IA Phone: Fax: The Fort Des Moines United Methodist Church: a community of faith in worship and action, open to all in the Spirit and Love of God. April/May 2012 Education Classes held Sept. 11, 2011 thru May 20, :00-11:45 a.m. Staff Rev. Kathy Sides Pastor Mildred Zeliadt, Organist Pamela Schisel Choir Director Ben Sides Choir Accompanist Jane White, Administrative Assistant Benny Hotopp, Custodian Lesson Texts You are invited to come to worship prepared by reading the text ahead of time. You may wish to bring your own Bible. 8th Acts 10:34-43 Psalm 118:1-2, Corinthians 15:1-11 John 20: th Acts 4:32-35 Psalm John 1:1 2:2 John 20: nd Acts 3:12-19 Psalm 4 1 John 3:1-7 Luke 24:36b-48 29th Acts 4:5-12 Psalm 23 1 John 3:16-24 John th Acts 8:26-40 Psalm 22: John 4:7-21 John 15:1-8 Events: Apr. 8th - Easter Sunday Apr. 15th - Food Pantry offering will be received Apr. 22nd - Native American Ministries offering will be received Apr. 29th - Blanket Sunday offering will be received May 5 - May Breakfast May 6 - Golden Cross Offering received May 20 - Food Pantry and Rural Life Offerings will be received.

5 April 2012 Monthly Planner Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday :00 PM Lenten Study :00 AM Easter Breakfast Food Pantry Blanket Sunday 7:00 PM Jews for Jesus Presentation 6:30 PM Finance Comm. 7:30 PM Trustees 7:00 PM Radio Club 7:00 PM SPPRC 7:00 PM Council 10:00 AM UMW 7:00 PM Maundy Thursday Service 6:00 PM District Conference 7:00 PM Good Friday Service 10:00 AM SHARE Iowa 4:00 PM Game Night Printed by Instant Calendar on 4/4/2012

6 May 2012 Monthly Planner Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday :30 AM May Breakfast :00 AM UMW Food Pantry :30 PM Finance Committee 7:30 PM Trustees 7:00 PM Radio Club 7:00 PM SPPRC 6:00 PM Pre- Annual Conference Jane on vacation 12:00 PM Meredith Lunch Offices closed 7:00 PM Council 10:00 AM SHARE Iowa 4:00 PM Game Night Printed by Instant Calendar on 4/4/2012

The Poster is. Ingathering Report. Join us for an Advent Journey. Nut/Cookbook Sales. Fun and Fellowship

The Poster is. Ingathering Report. Join us for an Advent Journey. Nut/Cookbook Sales. Fun and Fellowship FT. DES MOINES UNITED METHODIST CHURCH The Poster VOLUME 7 ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER 2011 Join us for an Advent Journey The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem by Adam Hamilton A Simple girl, an ordinary man,