January 2016 Volume 57 Issue 1. Inside This Issue. Contact Us Pastor John. Continued on page 2

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1 Inside This Issue Small Groups 3 Invasion Students 4 Children s Ministry 5 Music Ministry 6 Top Notchers 7 Chili Cook Off 8 Announcements 9 Online Giving 11 AUMC App 12 Contact Us Pastor John Gaulke johng@altoonaumc.org Steve McLellan Minister of Creative Arts & Pastoral Care stevem@altoonaumc.org Brandon Lindsey Children s Ministry Director brandonl@altoonaumc.org Travis Wentworth Youth Director Travisw@altoonaumc.org LeAnn Gaulke Director of Small Groups & Assimilation leanngaulke@hotmail.com Jane Burns Financial Manager janeb@altoonaumc.org Dear friend, Every year as the last few days of December fade away, January 2016 whether I like it or not, I spend some time evaluating the past year and contemplating what I need to focus on in the New Year. I don t always enjoy this practice, but I see the necessity of doing it. It is a time that helps me to see if I m growing in any areas other than just the numbers on the bathroom scale. As I look at the past year I, like many of you, begin to craft a few resolutions ways to help me achieve more in the upcoming year. And that s when the word more, blindsided me. The more I thought about more I realized that the idea of more would form the basis of an inspiring and helpful new sermon series. What if in 2016 each of us had more accomplishments and less regrets, more peace and less chatter, more adventure and less boredom, more gratitude and less selfishness, more time and less stress, more confidence and less fear I don t know about you, but I want MORE in Dr. Duane Vander Klok writes that most of us tend to think too small, pray too small, believe too small and live too small. We believe the lie that God may be able to do that for someone else, but not for me. This kind of thinking limits what God can do in us and through us. It can also keep us from realizing our full potential in life. In other words, we become content living a life of less. It s time we stopped listening to the enemy and started living up to the full potential that each one of us has in God. It s time we started to live a life of MORE. I invite you to join me each Sunday in January as, together, we discover how to have MORE in 2016! Striving for more with you, Sue Bennett Administrative Assistant sueb@altoonaumc.org Heather Mahoney Executive Assistant heatherm@altoonaumc.org Pastor John Continued on page 2

2 Page 2 Cancellation Notification Due to Bad Weather Tis the season for inclement weather! If we need to cancel church activities due to bad weather, we will take three steps to notify you. 1. An will be sent out to everyone on our weekly list. If you would like to join this list, go to the church website Under the Resources tab, choose E-Newsletter Signup, enter your address, and choose the Weekly Newsletters list. 2. Our website front page will have an announcement of the cancellation. 3. The cancellation will scroll on WHO Channel 13.

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4 Page 4 For many of us the new-year is a sort of awakening. You have a chance to look back on the last year and question all that was accomplished during the year. You may look back and see that you accomplished everything you wanted. If you are like me, though, you may be looking back on this year feeling more or less dissatisfied with your goals. Soon we will be looking forward to a new year, and that may be a rude awakening of sorts. While on the topic of Awakenings, Star Wars: The Force Awakens was absolutely tremendous. I cried a little bit, laughed a lot, and found myself imagining the possibilities of living in such a world. Honestly, it gave me much hope, you could say, A New Hope, for what God has in store for us in Star Wars: The Force Awakens was tremendous. As this New Year approaches at Light-Speed, I am reminded once again that everything I do is eternally important. As a student, and as a Christian I get to make choices every minute that impact not just me, not just those around me, but everything and everyone for eternity. As you make your new year s resolution, as you spend the Oh-So magical downtime with your family, I ask you to zoom out. I ask stand firm and steady in the day to day, the minute to minute. Take your perspective up to 40,000 feet. Go to where only Star-Destroyers, X-Wings, and Tie-Fighters dare to venture, and see your current situation from that perspective. Through the zoomed-out lens of eternity we find things far greater than lightsabers and BB-8. As we make 2016 goals feel free to shoot for the stars, because we have a force far greater within us than anything in Star Wars. We have the Holy Spirit, God himself! I am so excited to share this New Year with you! I look forward to my first Summer Games University with you. I am excited for our first lock-in together. I am most excited for the times that we get to spend in small groups whether at Invasion, Confirmation, or as a part of Leading Right Now. In all of these we take the approach of zooming out so we may understand best how God loves us and how he wants us to live. In 2016 Altoona United Methodist Church s student ministry has many goals, events planned, and great stories in the making. As we stay up all night to bring in the New Year we will have a chance to look ahead and get excited, and we will try to look back and improve. We will take bold steps of faith and step up in leadership. We will take a scary step; we will invite a friend into our lives. We will choose to snooze the alarm just once so we can wake up and start our day with something solid Jesus words. In everything we do, though, we will zoom out. We will remember that our choices have eternal impact and God has eternal grace. As life ebbs and flows we will be at peace and at rest in a savior who awakens and controls the forces of this life and the next. Travis Wentworth, Youth Director. Travisw@altoonumc.org

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6 Page 6 During the Christmas season we see a plethora of movies that speak of the search for spirituality, the epic battle for truth, and the struggle between good and evil (e.g. Star Wars, Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Chronicles of Narnia, etc). A book written nearly 2,000 years ago speaks of a church in the midst of an epic struggle to bring the Truth to their community and ultimately the world. It reads, For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. The writer went on to say, Worship We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. As we talk to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and your continual anticipation of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. As we begin the New Year I want you to know that I thank God for you and your faithful work and loving deeds. We indeed do talk to the Father about you and pray God s blessings on you in And we covet God s continual blessing on the worship as you continue to serve and pray for this ministry! Thank you! ON A SPECIAL NOTE - The music ministry is especially appreciative of the all the extra time and effort given by our choirs, orchestra, support team. I would like to recognize Carrie Forristall for her leadership with the children s choirs and Mike Maly for his leadership on the technical side. Mike and the tech team provided extraordinary lighting and sound for our Christmas outreach. JANUARY MINISTRY SCHEDULE We resume all regular rehearsals the week of January 4. I trust that our musicians enjoyed the short break over the Christmas and New Year holidays. The New Year is a great time to make simple changes or add new personal goals. If you have thought about building your spiritual life, your musical skills, and would like to meet some new people then please check out any of the groups listed here! Bell Choir Mondays from 7:00 to 8:00 pm in the sanctuary - (Starting January 11th) Orchestra Wednesdays from 6:00 to 6:45 pm in the sanctuary Adult Choir Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:50 pm in the sanctuary Worship Band Wednesdays from 8:00 to 9:30 pm in the sanctuary Junior Choir Sundays from 9:00 to 9:30 am in the basement below youth room. Steve McLellan If questions contact me at stevem@altoonaumc.org or

7 Page 7 Top Notchers A ministry for adults 55+ Upcoming Get Togethers winter Tuesday, January 12, noon Potluck in the Family Life Center Chairperson: Dale & Jan Hartgraves Host/Hostess: Mary Wood, Larry & Connie Ramseyer Program: Mike Chapman, creator of the Iowa History Journal, will review famous Iowans, like Nile Kinnick Bring a donation for the food pantry Tuesday, February 9, noon Potluck in the Family Life Center Chairperson: Marilyn Cowell Host/Hostess: Marilyn Cowell, Janice Brouwer Program: Daniel Finney, The Register s Metro Voice Columnist Bring a donation for the food pantry Tuesday, March 9 Sticks Factory Tour Chairperson: Marla Carr Carpool from church at 9:30 a.m. Cost of tour is $3/person Lunch in Valley Junction at 11:30 a.m. The office will be closed on the following days for the New Year s holidays: Thursday December 31st & Friday, January 1st New Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Friday 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

8 Page 8 4th Annual Chili/Soup Cook Off Sunday, January 31 5:00 p.m. Family Life Center Everyone, including small groups, are invited to compete, volunteer to judge or participate in a delicious meal. Come taste the varieties of chili/soup, enjoy the fellowship and cast your vote for the People s Choice award. Admission 1 canned good per person. All canned items will be donated to the Caring Hands Food Pantry. Each canned good donated will provide participants with a ticket to vote for their favorite chili /soup (People s Choice). The more items you donate, the more votes you may cast, so empty your kitchen cupboards and stock the Caring Hands Food Pantry s shelves! Winners announced 6:00 p.m. The People s Choice and other judged categories (Hot, Mild, Unusual and Non-Chili). How you may compete and win prizes If you or your small group think you have what it takes to be a Chili Cook-Off king/queen or judge, you may sign up by Wednesday, January 27 at or contact the church office at All chili entrants should be delivered to the church in an appropriate crockpot with electrical cord by 4:30 p.m. If your chili requires a special garnish, please provide an adequate amount as well as a ladle for each chili/soup entered in the competition. In addition to the People s Choice award, each category (Hot, Mild, Unusual and Non-Chili) will have a 1st place and Runner-Up award. Chili/soup will be scored blindly by our designated judges. SOUP and

9 Page 9 Purpose and Visioning Meeting On Sunday, January 31 after the Chili/Soup Taste-Off (6:30 p.m.) we will gather in the Sanctuary for our 6th annual Purpose and Visioning Meeting. We will share with you the church budget and leadership structure as well as the direction and goals for the year. You will receive a packet of information and resources to make sure that you are plugged in. Everyone is invited, and nursery is available. United Methodist Women UMW will not meet in January. They will resume meeting in February. Martha Circle will not meet in January. Abigail Circle will meet at Marla Carr s home on January 19th at 7:00 p.m. Men s Breakfast Saturday January 16th 8:00 a.m. Family Life Center PASTORAL CARE: Special thanks to our team that visits the homebound each week providing DVD s and words of encouragement to our members and friends who are no longer able to be at AUMC. Few ministries are as appreciated by the recipients as much as those who take time to visit a person whose world has grown smaller. We have opportunities for ministry in several areas outside of the traditional church programs. The Bible speaks of spiritual gifts and encourages us to share the in the areas he has gifted us. If God lays a burden upon your spirit to serve in an area not mentioned please contact us and we will connect you with someone who needs your gift. 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 card or call the church office ( ).

10 Page 10 We need your student s college address by February 1 to send them a Valentine care package by February 14. Please your student's mailing address to Jane Burns at janeb@altoonaumc.org, or drop it off at the church office. If you have previously submitted your student s college address, please check with Jane to ensure that we have the correct address for the year. Filing FAFSA for your college student? Tracie Pavon, a member of our church with 24 years of financial aid experience at Simpson College, has volunteered her expertise to help you with any questions that you might have when filling out your FAFSA form. You may contact her at and she will be happy to assist you. New Members Class If you are interested in becoming a member of AUMC, our next 2 session class will meet on Wednesday, January 27th and Wednesday, February 3rd from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. in the Chapel, with the receiving of New Members on Sunday, February 7th. For more information or to sign up for this class, please contact the church office at or sueb@altoonaumc.org. Childcare is available during the classes Altar Flowers 2016 Offering Envelopes Sign up at the Welcome Center or contact Boxed offering envelopes for 2016 will be Sue in the office at to provide available at the Welcome Center on or altar flowers in honor or in memory of loved after January 10th. Stop by and pick one ones or to celebrate a special day in up!

11 Page 11 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 to Register Now on the right side of the E-Giving Login page. Enter your information and create a Username and Password. You are then asked how you would like to make your donation. Your donation can come from your checking, savings, debit card, Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express. 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 Username 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.

12 Page 12 Available for ios and Android. If you would like to receive our weekly updates via , please go to the church website, Under the Resources tab, choose E-Newsletter Signup, enter your address, choose the Weekly Newsletters list, and you will begin to receive our weekly newsletters on Thursday afternoons in your box! If you would like to be included on our prayer chain list, please go to the church website, choose Prayer Chain Signup under the Resources tab, enter your address, and choose the Prayer Chain list.