United Methodist Church Rev. Jerry Swanberg 501 2nd Street, PO Box 307, Maxwell, IA Website:

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1 United Methodist Church Rev. Jerry Swanberg 501 2nd Street, PO Box 307, Maxwell, IA Website: Pastor s home phone: Pastor s cell: Office: Issue 2018-#1 January/February 2018 Christmas Eve Service Inside this issue: Christmas Eve Service 1 Holiday Affair/SPPRC 2 Financial Report Slate of Officers Slate of Officers (Continued) 5 Ad Council Report 6 Visit the church s website for additional Photos Change of Address If you have a change in your mailing address or address, please let Marie Huggins know or send your new information to: office@maxwellumc.org. Baptism Morgan Marie Wierson, daughter of Joe & Kelly Wierson, was baptized on December 17, Grandparents: Doug & Julie Wierson and Steven & Margaret Witmer. Baptism Information Correction Fraya Noelle Gardner daughter of Jeremiah & Heather Gardner was baptized on September 3, Leota Hudson was listed in error as grandparent. Leota is a great aunt. Grandparets: Jody & Candis Gardner In Memory of William Harrington December 3, 2017

2 Page 2 Issue 2018-#1 January/February 2018 Holiday Affair Successful! could be better. 4 factors that may have contributed to increased attendance: (1) better publicity, (2) good weather, (3) wagon rides, and (4) Sunday night vs Saturday night Cookies $ Soup Free Will Offering $ Total Income $1, Expenses: MACC Rental $ Music $100.00* Supplies $ Total Expenses $ Profit $1, Visit the church s website to view Cookies included 20 small bags of kettle corn donated by Blacks, sold $5/bag for $85 of the cookie total. Thank you sent to Pat and Steve *music: $50 to Deb Mitchell which she donated to SSNOW, and $50 to Blessing Box-Elkhart food pantry donated by Mark Sandbulte. David Shold, wagon driver from Roland, donated $71 carrot cash back to free will offering saying he does it for the smiles. He was given a box of cookies and sent a thank you with pictures of some of the smiles and invited back for next year. He also rotates his worship with area churches and joined us once before the event and will be back, so please welcome him. Pastor Jerry and Beth met and decided to reserve Sunday, December 2, 2018, based on sharing of duties for the 2018 Holiday Affair. Beth admits it has gotten too big for one person to chair-a nice problem to have and apologizes to everyone that didn t get soup! Her suggestion is to set up sub-committees she will oversee and consult based on extensive notes from this year. It is her hope that would overcome some of this year s glitches. She welcomes suggestions for improvement and comments on what worked well. It was intended to have a host sit with the free will offering box to welcome and count people eating, but that was just one thing missed when the crowd arrived. additional Holiday Affair photos. SPPRC Beth Wehrman attended a day of Ethics Training with Pastor Jerry October 12 in Belmond. Thank Yous Pastor Jerry and some staff were gifted goodie plates and notes of thanks for their special service throughout the year. Personal thanks to Pastor Jerry for his strong leadership. It has been a good year at Maxwell Methodist and we are blessed. Hospitality Matt, Jalane, Adelynn, and Alden Vaughn were cookied and have been attending. Thank you for helping them feel welcome. Shut-in Goodie plates were delivered this week to members, friends of the church, and our renters. Thanks to those who donated and delivered to help spread Christmas cheer! Given By Jacobson Family Jacobson Family Coral Myers Shirley McBride Lee & Sheri Sharp Dick Milligan Witmer Family Gordon & Pat Smith Ted & Leota Hudson Jody & Candis Gardner Ted & Leota Hudson Jody & Candis Gardner James & Rachel Viers Family Jennifer Viers Ted & Leota Hudson Doug & Brooksie Miller Poinsettias In Memory Of Don Jacobson Eunice Mansfield Eva Milligan Arlene & Buss Witmer & Judy Witmer Clark Orville & Isabel Smith Jim & Marjorie Gardner Lawrence & Billie Horn Melissa Viers

3 Page 3 Issue 2018-#1 January/February 2018 Financial Report/Status 2017 Has God blessed our congregation in 2017? The answer is a resounding yes! From a financial perspective we can truly say, bless the gifts and the givers Total year giving to the general fund: $61, YTD giving (with Christmas Eve offering yet to be factored in): $66,264 an increase of $4504 Thank you all for making 2017 a banner year. This means, of course, all our bills were paid in full, and we have a healthy carryover to start out the new year. Happenings at Ssnow! Pastor Appreciation Day The kids sang in church the last Saturday of October, and celebrated Pastor Appreciation Day. We presented Pastor Jerry with a cape and mask deeming him the sidekick to Jesus, who is the only true Superhero. The kids had fun with this and Pastor Jerry did too. Thanks for everything you do for Ssnow, Pastor Jerry! Mission Project The kids were presented with an idea for a mission project. The idea was to choose a name from the Tag Tree to adopt for Christmas. Everyone thought it was a perfect time of year for that. So, the kids either brought money or donated items for a 4 year old girl. I m happy to say that we were able to purchase a winter coat along with a hat and mittens, pajamas, numerous outfits, a couple of Barbies and a baby doll that giggles, and a mermaid pillow along with a few other things. I m so proud of these kids for being so selfless and for thinking of others, especially this time of year. Christmas Program It was an exciting time at Maxwell United Methodist Church! The kids had rehearsed for 6 weeks and did a wonderful job of performing the Christmas program, A Super Christmas! Great job to all the kids! We hope you all enjoyed it. Visit the church s website to view photos. Grant Some of you may have known that I applied for the 2018 Matthew 25 Grant. I m happy to say that Ssnow was awarded $1, from this grant. The money will be used to purchase children s bibles that will stay in the classroom. I m very excited about this! We are now on Christmas break until January 3 rd. When we come back the kids will be learning the books of the bible, not only the books in order but also who wrote the book and what can be found in it.

4 Page 4 Issue 2018-#1 January/February Slate of Officers Ad Council Position 2018 Chairperson Ad Council Doug Miller Lay Leader Pam Travis Lay Member Doug Miller Treasurer Sheri Sharp Financial Sec y/stewardship Rich Wehrman Membership/Historian Marie Huggins Council Secretary Marie Huggins Worship Chairperson Rob Bacon & Carol Bacon Co-Chairperson SPPR Chairperson Beth Wehrman Trustees Chairperson Gordon Smith Memorial Chairperson Shirley McBride Newsletter Marie Huggins Worship Team Position 2018 Worship Chairperson Rob Bacon Pianist Deb Mitchell Communion Setup Denise & Adam Vallandingham Vestments Mary Fullerton Ushers/Greeters Pat Smith Fellowship Scheduler Helen Jacobson Discipleship Team Position 2018 Sunday School Coordinator( Mary Fullerton Prayer Ministries Beth Wehrman Missions-Helping Hands Steph Thompson Missions-Ingathering Brooksie Miller Missions-Open Door Sheri Sharp Board of Trustees Jim Loonan Juanita Loonan Gordon Smith, Chair Brian Fullerton Adam Vallandingham

5 Page 5 Issue #2018-#1 January/February Slate of Officers (Continued) Stewardship-Finance Team Financial Secretary Worship Leader Church Treasurer Chairperson Trustees Chairperson Memorials Lay Member Chairperson Ad Council SPPRC Representative 2018 Pastor Jerry Swanberg Rich Wehrman Rob Bacon Sheri Sharp Gordon Smith Shirley McBride Pam Travis Doug Miller Rich Wehrman Staff-Pastor-Parish Relations Rob Bacon Mary Fullerton Pam Travis, Lay Leader Beth Wehrman, Chair Shirley McBride Sheri Sharp Doug Miller, Ad Council Chair Nominations Committee Carol Bacon Beth Wehrman 2020 Hospitality Team Rich & Beth Wehrman, Chairperson Jim & Juanita Loonan Doug & Brooksie Miller January/February Fellowship Schedule Jan 7 Leota Hudson & Wanda Swanberg Jan 14 Beth and Rich Wehrman Jan 21 Jim and Juanita Loonan Jan 28 Pat and Gordon Smith Feb 4 Callie and Ken Sandquist Feb 11 Sheri & Lee Sharp Feb 18 Sandy & Larry Jacobson Feb 25 Shirley McBride & Helen Jacobson

6 Page 6 Issue #2018-#1 January/February 2018 Ad Council December 17, 2018 Minutes of October 8, 2017, Ad Council meeting sent electronically were approved. Treasurer s Report: Motion carried to approve. The 2018 budget was also presented and approved with the addition of a line item project fund. In addition to this item, another line item was approved Pastor s Discretionary Fund for $500 beginning with the 2017 year and continuing for Recording Secretary Report: YTD 2017 General fund total = $65,120 (w/potentially 3 Sunday s left) 2016 yr-end General fund total = $61,760 so we re ahead already by $3,360. Charge Conference Report: The Charge Conference was a different format than in previous years. The new format did not allow individual church groups to review their reports. Re-shingling garage: Re-shingling the Schauper garage was completed in October (Insurance carrier notified December 19, 2017, project completed.) Old Settler s Profit: 40 $10.28 = $ New Website: New website by WordPress is now live. A few of the changes were noted and changes in functionality. Old computer on floor at back of sanctuary: Tyler Spurgeon who lives beside garden is interested in the equipment. After reformatting the hard drive, it will be given to Tyler. Portable Mics: Wires in the portable mic are broken. Cost at Riemans is $325 to replace the portable mic Pastor indicated he had checked with Douglass Communication Ottumwa (who installed our multi-media system) for prices and what would work best with our system. Doug indicated the headsets are very fragile and the wires break easily if moved very much. He suggested getting lapel mics. Motion carried to purchase a lapel mic at $90 and a new headset at $275. SSNOW classroom space: Due to the number of children now attending SSNOW, the group has outgrown present space and has divided into two groups. Arrangements were made for the Open Door to move into the prior Nursery room with the northeast corner room be used as a second classroom by SSNOW. This arrangement is working well but it was mentioned that some of the rooms need repairs. This was referred to a committee to bring back some suggestions. Motion detectors: are not functioning both entrances. The Trustees will have an electrician check. New West Door: Two bid have been received; one for a little over $6,000 and one for $4,400. The new doors would be handicap accessible with electronic button to open door and include a 2 rise to make entrance level for wheel chairs, etc. Motion carried to proceed with approving the bid for $4,400 plus electrician costs to make the west door compliant with handicap accessibility. Funds are available from the building fund or the parsonage fund. South door latching problem: This has been repaired by the trustees. Closing door to Wesley Cafe during service: It was concluded the men would take care of this each Sunday. Overhead prayer list: In the future the prayer list will be updated the beginning of each month. Names will now be on the prayer list for the current month only unless requested otherwise. Holiday Affair Report: The 2017 Holiday Affair was a huge success. The net profit was $1, The MACC has been reserved for Sunday December 2, 2018, for next year s celebration Budget: The projected budget was included with the Treasurer s Report. A $500 line item entitled Pastor Discretionary Fund was added beginning in Communications: Was not discussed Slate of Officers: No confirmed nominee to fill Nominations for Committee Reports: Missions: The Mission Team is planning to go to Texas the last week in February Trustees: Per Fire Department requirements fire smoke detectors have been added and purchased 3 larger fire extinguishers for the basement. Railing on east side of main entrance will be removed until repairs may be made. SSNOW: Mary Fullerton reported SSNOW has received a $1,000 grant for the SSNOW program. She plans to purchase Bibles for the kids and use for SSNOW expenses. She reported the kids will be singing for the Christmas Eve service. Open Door: The Open Door continues to serve 10 to 12 families. Memorial Fund: Shirley McBride reported this fund has around $ Hospitality Team: Cookied Matt & Jalane Vaughn and their children Adelynn and Alden. UMW: The UMW had served cookies and drink at Bill Harrington s Celebration of Life Service on December 16, Meeting adjourned around 12:45 p.m. Marie Huggins, Ad Council Secretary