November 2016 Volume 57 Issue 11. Inside This Issue. Contact Us Continued on page 2. Dear Friend,

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1 Inside This Issue Turkey Mission Dinner 3 Meals from the Heartland Student Ministries 6 Children s Ministry 7 Music Ministry 9 Top Notchers 10 Announcements 11 Online Giving 13 AUMC App 14 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 LeAnn Gaulke Director of Small Groups & Assimilation leanngaulke@hotmail.com Jane Burns Financial Manager janeb@altoonaumc.org Sue Bennett Administrative Assistant sueb@altoonaumc.org Heather Mahoney Executive Assistant heatherm@altoonaumc.org 5 Dear Friend, November 2016 The Turkey Mission Dinner is just around the corner. On Saturday, November 12 th we will prepare, serve, eat and enjoy our best meal of the year. It s our best meal because it s the one meal that literally brings out the best in us. It crushes the selfishness within us and releases compassion for others for the least the hungry the poor. It is the best meal because it keeps on giving. With proceeds from last year s meal we packaged 51,000 meals in October and sent them to Haiti to help feed those displaced from Hurricane Matthew. Did you catch that math we served about 1000 people at our dinner and God took it and fed 51,000 people. I love God s math. Clean drinking water flows today in Peru and Africa because you gave so wells could be built. Today, in one of the most remote parts of Bolivia, people are picking fruit and vegetables because our meal gave them the funds to buy seeds, plants and an irrigation system. It truly is the meal that keeps on giving. Our church has had a long history of partnering with Heifer International, a ministry that helps impoverished people groups sustain themselves by raising livestock, growing food and selling handmade goods. This year they are asking for our help in Haiti as a result of the devastation caused by hurricane Matthew. Two large barns were destroyed along with all the goat breeding stock. The barns must be rebuilt and new livestock purchased. I couldn t help but think, What a great project for a church in Iowa we know barns! We are also partnering locally with Hope Ministries to help their women s shelter located on the east side of Des Moines. I am thankful that this ministry exists to help women and children facing homelessness, hunger, abuse, addiction and other struggles who need a safe place to stay. This ministry is much more than just a shelter. They provide counseling, education and life skills to help hurting families begin rebuilding their lives. Continued on page 2

2 Page 2 In addition to the two mission projects above, we use additional Turkey Mission Dinner funds each year to support various missionaries and mission opportunities both locally and abroad (Please see how last year s funds were distributed in the enclosed form). As I look over the list of the ministries and missionaries we supported as a result of last year s Turkey Mission Dinner funds, I am humbled. God continues to take what we give and multiply it into a miracle that touches so many people all over the world. It certainly is the best meal of the year. Please begin to pray about your role in this year s Turkey Mission Dinner. I have enclosed a giving envelope for you to bring to the Turkey Mission Dinner. Praying with you for a miracle, Pastor John Turkey Mission Dinner Praise & Prayer Service Sunday, November 6th 6:30-7:30 p.m. Communion will be served during the service. Nursery provided during the service

3 Page 3 Turkey Mission Dinner 2016 As in the past years, the money raised at this year s Turkey Mission Dinner will once again help those in need both locally as well as across the globe. Our local focus for this year s Turkey Mission Dinner is Hope Ministries Hope Center for Women and Children. At Hope Center for Women and Children, Hope Ministries provides safe, comfortable housing in a homey atmosphere complete with life recovery programming for women and children facing homelessness, hunger, abuse, addiction and other struggles. Most importantly, they provide unconditional love and Christian community. Globally, we will once again partner with Heifer International in their post-hurricane Matthew relief efforts. More than 6,500 Heifer project families were affected by the hurricane, primarily in the southern region of Haiti. These farmers' agricultural losses so far include more than 675 hectares of crops, over 4,000 goats, more than 60% of the poultry, and at least 15% of their pigs. According to Heifer Haiti Country Director Hervil Cherubin, Loss of crops, livestock, and housing will cause a real disaster in the coming months. People will not have food to eat or the ability to create income as there are no crops to sell. This will create a huge problem in rural Haiti if something is not done to help the agriculture in the next three months." With our help, the people of Haiti, aided by Heifer International, will begin to rebuild their lives. In addition to these two areas of focus, money from the Turkey Mission Dinner helps support missionaries and ministries serving those in need both here and abroad. Thank you so much for your generous giving. The Meal That Makes a Difference

4 Page 4 Turkey Mission Dinner Saturday, November 12th 4:30-7:30 p.m. This year s Turkey Mission Dinner will be on Saturday, November 12th from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mark your calendars now to be a part of this year s miracle! Sign-ups and tickets are available in the Narthex on Sunday morning or call the church office at Please join us in praying that this year s meal will help provide to those breaking free, both locally and around the world. WAYS YOU CAN HELP Help set up...make a donation of food/supplies...make a donation to purchase a turkey...roast a turkey...work in the kitchen serving or cleaning up. There will be a bake sale during the Turkey Mission Dinner. Proceeds will go to Turkey Mission Dinner projects. We need baked goods donated for this sale. Make your favorite cookies, cake, candy, bread, etc. to sell. Please package and pre-price your items and bring them to the Narthex by 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 12th. Do you make jewelry, paint, sew, crochet or knit? Could you make a themed gift basket? Making something to donate to the Silent Auction with all proceeds going to our Turkey Mission Dinner projects. For more information, please contact Jane Burns at or janeb@altoonaumc.org.

5 Page 5 With funds raised through the 2015 Turkey Mission Dinner, we packaged 51,624 meals for the hungry through Meals from the Heartland on Saturday, October 8 in our Family Life Center. These meals were all sent to Haiti to help those recovering from Hurricane Matthew. Thank you so much for being hunger fighters!

6 Page 6 Introducing Matt Osborne, our new Youth Director! Matt will be joining our staff in early December. Hello, everyone! I am so excited to be joining the Altoona United Methodist Church family as the Youth Director! I know that the Lord has tremendous things in store, and I wait with great excitement and expectancy to see how He is going to work in our midst. I am coming to Altoona from the small town of Brunswick, Georgia, where I spent the last two-and-a-half years as the Youth Director at a local non-denominational church. In addition to my work in youth ministry, I have spent the past four years as an on-air host for three local ESPN Radio affiliates in southeast Georgia. I also spent five years as a writer and editor for SouthernPigskin.com, a website dedicated to covering southern college football. In addition to being a big sports fan, I love to spend my free time playing the guitar, reading a good book or trying new food at a local restaurant. I am also up for a quick game of pickup basketball whenever the opportunity presents itself. As the second of four children, family is of the utmost importance to me. While all of my family currently lives back in my home state of North Carolina, I talk to them as frequently as possible, and look forward to the precious time that we are able to spend with one another. Above all else, though, my greatest passion in life is to see young people catch fire for the Lord! It is my desire to see every young person have an intimate encounter with Jesus so that they can experience the joy of living a life in Christ! ~Matt Osborne 6:30-7:45 p.m. Jr. High and High School Games, Fun, Food, Friends, Worship, Speaker, Small Groups Current Series: Shameless (Oct 26, Nov 2, Nov 9) Ever wonder how to take your life from shameful to shameless? Find out how in our series, Shameless. No youth group on Nov 23.

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9 Page 9 Worship The month of November contains one of the most talked about themes in the Bible. It even eclipses Christmas! It is because the Bible shows us that we are to live a life of thanksgiving every day, all day, 24-7 (see Phil. 4:4, 1 Thess. 5:16-18, and Psalm 100). We are instructed to pray with thanksgiving, give thanks for one another, and enter His courts with thanksgiving. Music is an awesome way to offer praise and thanksgiving for all God has done. WHY IS THE 2016 CHRISTMAS WORSHIP CELEBRATION BIGGER THAN EVER? This year we are planning to do the The Little Drummer Boy with not one small 8 year old on a toy drum, but have invited some of the best drummers from the Southeast Polk High School drum line to give this song of praise an exciting twist. And, we still have the best kids in Altoona presenting their awesome Christmas songs and our traditional Nativity scene with some surprises that could blow your mind. The Festival choir and orchestra have begun work on a slate of songs you re going to love. Please put this outreach in your prayers and get involved, invite a friend, or both! As mentioned, all the music ministries are now in full swing preparing for our outreach. The regular rehearsal schedules are listed below: Bell Choir Monday 7-8 p.m. - in the sanctuary Orchestra Wednesday 6 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary Chancel Choir Wednesday 6:30 7:50 p.m. - in the sanctuary Praise Band Wednesday 8 9:30 p.m. in the sanctuary Student Choir (Prek-6th Grade) during Sunday school Junior Choir (3rd - 8th grade) - Sundays 9:15-9:35 a.m. in the basement Two areas where help would be appreciated are: Audio and video help upstairs. This can include mixing the traditional service or the band as scheduled or running presentation software and camera for the live-stream. Photographer to create quality pictures to promo Christmas and future music events. MUSIC SCHEDULE FOR NOVEMBER Nov. 6 8:15 & 9:45 AM Sanctuary Choir & Orchestra 6:30-7:30 PM Worship Band Nov. 13 8:15, 9:45, & 11 AM Jr. Choir Nov. 20 8:15, 9:45, & 11 AM Bell Choir Nov. 22 6:30 PM Choir & orchestra rehearsal Nov. 23 NO REHEARSALS WEDNESDAY! Nov. 24 HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Nov. 27 8:15 & 9:45 AM Choir & Orchestra Steve

10 Page 10 Top Notchers A ministry for adults 55+ Upcoming Get Togethers Tuesday, November 8, noon Potluck in the Family Life Center Chairperson: Joan Nolin Host/Hostess: Darlene Watson & Pat Sutten Program: Squeeze Box Ministries with Keith Lambertsen from Garwin, IA. He is an accomplished accordionist, yodeler and washboard player. He has accumulated nearly 40 models of accordians including one approximately 90 years old. He gives the history of them explaining he similarities and differences. He will also be playing several number with our own Marilyn Cowell and her accordion. A free will offering will be taken for our guest entertainment Bring a donation for the food pantry Tuesday, December 13, noon Potluck in the Family Life Center Chairperson: Steve McLellan Host/Hostess: The Carrs & Cochlans Program: The Grand View University women s quartet, Kantorei, will be singing for our luncheon here at the church. This special Top Notcher s event features beautiful a cappella arrangements perfect for celebrating the Christmas season. The group is a subset of the Grand View Choir, which will be touring in Germany in the spring. Please bring an extra dish to share with the singers Bring a donation for the food pantry Bring a friend to any of these events, new people are always welcome!

11 Page 11 Adult Basketball AUMC Adult Basketball is starting again! Join us in the Family Life Center on Monday nights, beginning November 7th at 6:30 p.m. for some pickup games. No prior NBA experience is necessary! Contact Paul Mahoney at or for more information. Poinsettia Orders It is time to order poinsettias for the Christmas Eve Services. The cost this year is $8.00 per poinsettia. Envelope order forms will be available beginning November 6th at the Welcome Center and are due back by November 27th. Please deposit a completed form with your payment (cash or checks payable to AUMC) in the designation box located at the Welcome Center. You may pick up your poinsettia after the Christmas Eve Service. Turkey Mission Dinner Praise & Prayer Service Sunday, November 6th 6:30-7:30 p.m. Communion will be served during the service. Nursery provided during the service

12 Page 12 United Methodist Women UMW will meet on Thursday, November 3rd at 7:00 p.m. in the Choir Room. UMW will be having our Thank Bank program for November. Please remember to bring your Thank Bank or your donation towards this offering. We will be planning for our fruit baskets for Thanksgiving. Our mission project for the month is copy paper, toilet paper and paper towels for New Directions at Hawthorne Hill Ministries. Abigail Circle will meet at Connie Ramseyer s home on Tuesday, November 15th at 7:00 p.m. Martha Circle will meet, in Adult Classroom A, at church, on Thursday, November 17th at 9:30 a.m. Men s Breakfast Saturday November 19th 8:00 a.m. Family Life Center Pasoral Partners If you or a family member would like prayer support or a hospital visit, please fill out a Connect card on Sunday morning or call the church office at or after hours. Consider sending a DVD to a homebound friend or loved one. DVD s may be purchased for $5 each by filling out a DVD card at the Welcome Center or calling the office. Please remember the ministries of the church in your prayers. Contact Steve McLellan at to learn more about becoming involved. Church Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Friday 8:30 a.m. - Noon

13 Page 13 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.

14 Page 14 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.