Strength for the Day. Keep Reading. God s Already Won the War. May 2016

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Peregrine Peters
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1 May 2016 Strength for the Day This is Easter, people! And we are Easter People! The Easter Season, also known as the Great Fifty Days, begins at Sunset on Easter Eve and continues through the Day of Pentecost. This is the most joyous and celebrative season of the Christian calendar year. Together we focus not only on Christ s resurrection, but also on his ascension and on the giving of the Holy Spirit, on the first Easter and on the Day of Pentecost. Think of it, friends. The spirit of the Risen Christ living within us. Christ in me as Paul wrote. But, as James Stewart in A Man in Christ writes, Christ in me means something quite different from the weight of an impossible ideal, something far more glorious than the oppression of a pattern forever beyond all imitation. Christ in me means Christ bearing me along from within -- Christ the motive-power that carries me on -- Christ giving my whole life a wonderful poise and lift, and turning every burden into wings. To be in Christ, to have Christ within, to realize your creed not as something you have to bear but as something by which you are borne, this is Christianity. It is more: it is release and liberty, life with an endless song at its heart. It means, feeling within you, as long as life here lasts, the carrying power of Love Almighty; and underneath you, when you come to die, the touch of everlasting arms. As spring continues to manifest itself in ever greener expressions of new life, may we all give thanks for the new and eternal life --- and the power for living --- that is within us because of Jesus Christ! Peace, Pastor Jamie Cutler God s Already Won the War Editor Ellen It occurred to me recently that if Satan had just let Jesus Christ show the world how to live according to God s Will, and then die of natural causes, evil would still have a shot at willing the war over humanity s eternal destination. But no...satan was so envious of Jesus that he had Him killed. What he obviously didn t realize is that killing Jesus was just one step in God s Plan for our salvation. Satan probably thought he d won a key battle when Christ s dead body was placed in the tomb. Obviously, it hadn t occurred to him that the Crucifixion had atoned for every sin any person ever has or will commit. Satan may have even patted himself on the back for winning that battle. cont page 3 May WUMC Events...2 Small Groups Grow Spiritually...2 Redeem Soda Tabs...2 Raising a Teen/Tween...2 Diapers for El Salvador...3 Flexibility with SCRIP...3 Food Pantry Needs...3 UMW 2016 PET Project...3 Magnificent May Days...4 Lunch Bunch...4 KoG & UMYF Party...4 Keep Reading Scrip...4 Thanksgiving Ingathering...4 Thank-You, Fundraisers...4 Servant Spelunkers...5 Senior Sunday, May Graduation Festivities...5 Bonus Trinity Meal...5 Book Talk...5 Serving God & Our Church Family...6 Stay Connected...7 Online Sermons...7 Contact Info...7

contact LuCinda Beltman. If you have young children, this group is for you. Redeem Your Soda Tabs Keep pulling soda tabs to benefit the Des Moines Ronald McDonald House.

2 Are You a Groupie Yet? With two weeks left in our current study, there s still time for you to join a small group. You re welcome to join any of the following: Sundays during 9:30 service contact Ann Ruble Sundays at 6:30 contact Bob and Martha Ward Wednesdays at 10:30 contact Ellen Pieper Thursdays at 6:15 contact LuCinda Beltman. If you have young children, this group is for you. Redeem Your Soda Tabs Keep pulling soda tabs to benefit the Des Moines Ronald McDonald House. Proceeds from recycled tabs help pay for operational expenses of The House. Collecting soda tabs is a great way to teach kids about the importance of recycling while raising funds to help children and their families. Some Houses raise thousands of dollars each year through soda tab collections. Raising a Teen or Tween? 2 If you re raising a teen or tween this small group may be a Godsend to you. This group is for those interested in working through issues of raising teens in the Christian faith. We ll begin with a book study of Raising Teens in an Almost Christian World: A Parent s Guide by Dietrich Kirk. Families with kid(s) this age are very busy, but we ll set a schedule that works for the majority of those interested, meeting as often as the group decides. If you re interested in learning more or signing up, contact Shari Butler.

from page 1 SURPRISE! But you can t keep a Good Man down, so three days later Christ was out-of-there. His Resurrection overcome the power of sin and death for all of eternity.

When the end of this world comes, as described in the Book of Revelation, those of us who ve accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior will begin our eternal stay with God in Heaven.

3 from page 1 SURPRISE! But you can t keep a Good Man down, so three days later Christ was out-of-there. His Resurrection overcome the power of sin and death for all of eternity. Can you imagine the shock (dare I say HORROR) Satan felt then? That step in God s Master Plan sealed the deal for us; Satan had officially lost the war. When the end of this world comes, as described in the Book of Revelation, those of us who ve accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior will begin our eternal stay with God in Heaven. However, there s much for us to do between now and that day. Jesus issued the Great Commission during His earthly ministry. In brief, He told us to share the Good News with everyone. As I see it, each time you keep the Good News of Salvation to yourself, you re letting Satan win another battle. Don t go there, please! Christ won the war for us; surely each of us can win some (many? most?) of the battles against temptation we face each day. For starters, you can share the Good News with others, whenever an opportunity presents itself. You can also live according to God s Will, to the best of your ability, by relying on the Holy Spirit. None of us will be perfect in this lifetime, but don t let that stop you from giving it your very best. After accepting Jesus Christ as the Master of your life, your thoughts, words, and deed should shine honor and glory on Him. You may be pleasantly surprised how good this makes you look, too. Diapers for El Salvador Flexibility with SCRIP Do you go to the store with the intent to purchase food for the Waukee Christian Food Pantry, but then forget? Here s a WIN-WIN solution Stop by the Connection Counter (C.C.) any Sunday morning and buy a gift card for Fareway or Hy-Vee. Then you can donate it to the food pantry or free clinic. These card(s) will be used to purchase needed items. As an added bonus, WUMC will receive 3% of each card you buy. Simply tell whoever s serving at the C.C. you want the card(s) donated to the food pantry or free clinic. They ll make sure your card(s) gets to them. Food Pantry Needs in May Special needs for the Waukee Area Christian Food Pantry in May are: Diapers, size 3 & up Shampoo 100% fruit juice Boxed "helper" meals UMW 2016 P.E.T. Project Landmines, birth defects, amputations, polio, and disease have left millions in desperate need of mobility. To go from dragging oneself in the dirt and mud to having three wheels to get around is a lifechanging event. A Personal Energy Transportation cart goes where the average wheelchair can t. P.E.T. recipients get their cart free-of-charge. Someone will provide a demo of these carts on June 5, including a demo you can see and test drive.. Folks from various Waukee area churches met on April 2 to convert T-shirts into diapers for babies in El Salvador. This group produced 164 diapers during their four hours together. These much-needed supplies will be shipped to El Salvador in early June. Thank you to everyone who was involved in making this shipment possible. If you re interested in working on diapers at home, please contact Cyndi Craigmile or Maureen Briles. They ll make sure you get the materials you need. 3

Magnificent May Days 1 ~ Allan & Gina Graham 2 ~ John Jackson 2 ~ Carley Larsen 2 ~ Peyton Krohn 2 ~ Bob Myers 3 ~ Conner Butler 3 ~ Grant Jensen 4 ~ Paul Clowser 6 ~ Michael & Kris Dykstra LeVere 6

Lyons 12 ~ Braden Menz 13 ~ Jarett Butler 13 ~ Karen Henderson 13 ~ Jerry Steele 14 ~ Steve Bramble 14 ~ Lauren Kratz 15 ~ Jim & Angie Gearhart 15 ~ Margaux Basart 15 ~ Miranda Basart 16 ~ Cooper

24 ~ Kevin & Shari Butler 24 ~ Wayne & Carol Guttenfelder 24 ~ Kailee Allen 24 ~ Kristin Larsen 24 ~ Alida Timmerman 25 ~ Garrett Slaybaugh 27 ~ Amy Showalter 28 ~ Mark & Becky Hayden 29 ~ Larry Reed

You re invited to meet with other WUMC friends at 11:30 for a blessing, food, and conversation. Hope to see you there. KoG & UMYF Party Our end-of-year KoG & UMYF party will be held Wed.

4 Magnificent May Days 1 ~ Allan & Gina Graham 2 ~ John Jackson 2 ~ Carley Larsen 2 ~ Peyton Krohn 2 ~ Bob Myers 3 ~ Conner Butler 3 ~ Grant Jensen 4 ~ Paul Clowser 6 ~ Michael & Kris Dykstra LeVere 6 ~ Katie Morrison 7 ~ Leonard Gutshall 7 ~ John Larsen 8 ~ Matthew Graham 9 ~ Emma Barnett 9 ~ Brian Cumpston 9 ~ Jessica Vaught 11 ~ Don Hartley 11 ~ Jennifer Corrigan 12 ~ Austin Lyons 12 ~ Kassidy Lyons 12 ~ Braden Menz 13 ~ Jarett Butler 13 ~ Karen Henderson 13 ~ Jerry Steele 14 ~ Steve Bramble 14 ~ Lauren Kratz 15 ~ Jim & Angie Gearhart 15 ~ Margaux Basart 15 ~ Miranda Basart 16 ~ Cooper Hanson 16 ~ Marilyn Miner 17 ~ Dan Dodge 17 ~ Sandy Swallow 18 ~ Randy & Debbie Lauer 18 ~ Makenna Mason 18 ~ Michael Schrodt 20 ~ Natalie Felt 20 ~ Deanne Lee 21 ~ Katie Wempen 23 ~ Craig Showalter 24 ~ Kevin & Shari Butler 24 ~ Wayne & Carol Guttenfelder 24 ~ Kailee Allen 24 ~ Kristin Larsen 24 ~ Alida Timmerman 25 ~ Garrett Slaybaugh 27 ~ Amy Showalter 28 ~ Mark & Becky Hayden 29 ~ Larry Reed 29 ~ Dillon Minshall Lunch Bunch Be a part of the Lunch Bunch on Thursday, May 19, in one of the party rooms at the Waukee Pizza Ranch. You re invited to meet with other WUMC friends at 11:30 for a blessing, food, and conversation. Hope to see you there. KoG & UMYF Party Our end-of-year KoG & UMYF party will be held Wed., May 4, 5:30 7:00 in Centennial Park. Our youth and their families are invited to come enjoy fellowship, hamburgers, and hot dogs. Drinks and tableware will be provided. Please bring a side dish, salad, or dessert to share. After eating together, we ll divide into several games in the park. If you plan to attend, please let Kim Magee know by May 3 how many people in your family plan to attend. 4 Scrip April Showers bring May flowers, Mother s Day, graduation, Father s Day, birthdays, and anniversaries. A gift card is a perfect way to give a gift both for the one you re honoring and WUMC. Our church receives a rebate of anywhere from 3% - 12% on SCRIP gift cards. Stop at the C.C. to purchase your gift cards. Thanksgiving Ingathering Our Thanksgiving Ingathering is a few months away, but we have many bags to make for this ministry. Cyndi Craigmile has cut-out more than 100 school bags, which now need to be sewn. If you can help complete some bags, please pick up a kit(s) at the Connection Counter. Each kit contains four school bags along with instructions. Please sign-out the kit(s) you take, sew them, and return them to the C.C. Thank-You Fundraisers Please take a moment to thank our brothers and sisters in Christ who are faithfully serving on our Capital Campaign Fundraising Team. These folks have invested much time and energies over the past several months to lead WUMC in raising the funds needed to build our new ministry center along LA Grant Parkway. Remember them also in your prayers by asking God to continue to strengthen their spirits and lead them, as they lead us, to a successful completion of our Capital Campaign. Our Fundraising Team includes: Pastor Jamie, Cyndi Craigmile, Josh Faber (consultant), Duane Magee (leader), Eve Patterson, Greg Ruble, Michael Schrodt, Rev. Bob Ward, Dave Wempen

Servant Spelunkers Needed CaveQuest VBS will be held at WUMC from 6:00 8:15 each evening, July 10-14 (Su Th).

We re looking for leaders to help with opening and closing, music, imagination stations, games, Bible stories, and creating our nightly closing video.

5 Servant Spelunkers Needed CaveQuest VBS will be held at WUMC from 6:00 8:15 each evening, July (Su Th). If you re available to help with VBS, we d love to have you join us; VBS requires lots of people willing to serve. We re looking for leaders to help with opening and closing, music, imagination stations, games, Bible stories, and creating our nightly closing video. We also need some small group leaders for crews of about five kids. That s a lot of helpers we re looking for, so please prayerfully consider how you can serve. Please sign the sheet at the C.C. if you can help. Bonus Trinity Meal Given the level of volunteerism drops in the summer, Trinity Supper Club needed additional dinners provided. Waukee United Methodist to the rescue... We ve agreed to provide a bonus Trinity Supper Club meal on Monday, June 20. We ll be serving breakfast for dinner that day... bacon, eggs, fruit, and of course, coffee cake. Watch for sign-up sheets in church on Sunday, May 29. Please keep your calendar open on June 20 to help serve. We ll meet at WUMC at 3:45 to carpool or you can meet us at Trinity ( th Street, Des Moines) at 4:15. You ll be back to Waukee around 6:30 to enjoy the good feelings of helping those truly in need. Senior Sunday, May 8 Our Waukee UMC Senior Recognition Day will be Sunday, May 8. The following high school seniors will be honored at the celebration of their choice: Noah Baumeister Mitchell Rossmann Madeline Chilton Rumer White Kelsey Kunath Katie Wempen Kaitlyn Menz Chandler Thayer Dillon Minshall Aaron Suhr Calvin Pieper Congratulations to all our 2016 graduates. Graduation Festivities Our church family has been invited to the following graduation open houses for: Maddie Chilton: Sat., May 7, 1 3:30 at Waukee Community Center Noah Baumeister: Sat., May 14, 3:00 6:00 at the Baumeister house (176 Marshall Dr, Waukee) Rumer White: Sat., May 14, noon 3:00 at the closed shelter in Centennial Park Dillon Minshall: Sun., May 22, 1:00 4:00, Alpine Dr, Urbandale Calvin Pieper: Fri., May 27 from 6:00 8:30, 115 N. Warrior Lane (Waukee Community Church) 5 Book Talk The recently published and New York Times bestseller, When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, will be the topic of discussion at our spring book talk. A reviewer from Amazon.com describes the book as being a powerful look at a stage IV lung cancer diagnosis through the eyes of a neurosurgeon. When faced with his diagnosis, Kalanithi is forced to see this disease and the process of being sick as a patient rather than a doctor. The result is not just a look at what living is and how it works from a scientific perspective, but the ins and outs of what makes life matter. Read this memoir and join the discussion at 7:00 on Monday, May 16, at Ann and Greg Ruble s home.

6 Serving God & Our Church Family If you d like to serve our church family as a greeter, usher, or communion server, please contact Char Beichley. She says, Volunteering as a servant of the Lord is sure to be a blessing in your life. 6

Stay Connected Curious about upcoming events at WUMC? If so, check-out any of these information sources: Facebook Be sure to like Waukee United Methodist Church while you re on Facebook.

Jamie Cutler: jamie@waukeechurch.org, ext. 202 Amanda Jacobson: amanda@waukeechurch.org, ext. 201 Deanne Caudle: deanne@waukeechurch.org, ext. 203 Kim Magee: kim@waukeechurch.

7 Stay Connected Curious about upcoming events at WUMC? If so, check-out any of these information sources: Facebook Be sure to like Waukee United Methodist Church while you re on Facebook. Weekly church bulletin The Vine Waukee Wire to subscribe send an to Twitter - search WUMC website - Contact Info Waukee United Methodist Church 650 Ashworth Drive, Box 26 Waukee IA Rev. Jamie Cutler: jamie@waukeechurch.org, ext. 202 Amanda Jacobson: amanda@waukeechurch.org, ext. 201 Deanne Caudle: deanne@waukeechurch.org, ext. 203 Kim Magee: kim@waukeechurch.org Char Beichley/Servers: cbeichle@hickorytech.net, Cyndi Craigmile: mcraigmile@aol.com, Shari Butler: , butlerhwky1@gmail.com Ann Ruble: ann@therubleproject.com, Melissa Stimple WACS Director, Prayer Request: pray@waukeechurch.org SignUpGenius: If you missed last Sunday or just want to hear Pastor Jamie's message again, visit our WUMC website ( and look under the Ministries tab. Waukee United Methodist Church 650 Ashworth Dr., Box 26 Waukee, IA

Strength for the Day. ~ Keep Reading ~ May 2015

Strength for the Day. ~ Keep Reading ~ May 2015 May 2015 Strength for the Day This is Easter, people! And we are Easter People! The Easter Season, also known as the Great Fifty Days, begins at Sunset on Easter Eve and continues through the Day of Pentecost.