September 2018 Volume 59 Issue 9. Inside This Issue. Contact Us

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1 Inside This Issue Small Group Study 3 Turkey Mission Dinner 4 Touching the World 5 Student Ministries 7 Children s Ministry 8 Music & Pastoral Ministry 10 Top Notchers 13 Announcements 14 Online Giving 15 AUMC App 16 Contact Us Pastor John Gaulke johng@altoonaumc.org Steve McLellan Minister of Creative Arts & Pastoral Care stevem@altoonaumc.org Matt Osborne Youth Director matto@altoonaumc.org Brandon Lindsey Children s Ministry Director brandonl@altoonaumc.org LeAnn Gaulke Director of Small Groups & Assimilation leanng@altoonaumc.org Sue Bennett Financial Manager sueb@altoonaumc.org Heather Mahoney Executive Assistant heatherm@altoonaumc.org Brenda Cort Administrative Assistant brendac@altoonaumc.org Dear Friend, There have been a number of appointments, over the years, that I didn t want to attend. I never liked going to get my sports physical in high school the older guys told me to be aware of the cough (only guys will understand this). I complained every time my dentist appointment popped up on the calendar, How could six months have passed already? I was never a fan of parent-teacher conferences I knew that the parent-teacher conference always led to a parent-child conference for me. And I m not looking forward to the special General Conference of the United Methodist Church that is on the calendar for February. Like most denominations, the United Methodist Church is wrestling with issues surrounding human sexuality. The heated debate about the issues of gay marriage within our denomination has escalated and led to the calling of a special General Conference, February 23-26, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri. The purpose of this General Conference is to try to find unity and a possible way forward on this issue. This General Conference will set the direction and tone for our denomination and whether we will stay united or seek a way to separate. It is vitally important that every United Methodist study, share and pray about these important decisions. To help everyone understand these issues, I will lead a special study on Human Sexuality on Sunday evenings 6:30-8:00 p.m. during the month of September. All sessions will be live-streamed and archived on our website. We will study biblical approaches to human sexuality as well as all the proposals headed to the General Conference. Please make plans now to attend these informative and important teaching sessions. You may be like me and wish this date was not on the calendar, but it is, and it is necessary. The confusion and chaos within our denomination is a constant reminder that we need to do something. I hope you join me in praying for our church, our denomination, and those who will represent us in St. Louis in February may God grant them, and us, wisdom and direction. Praying with you, Pastor John September 2018

2 Page 2 Human Sexuality Discussions - Sundays in September 6:30-8:00 p.m. Like most denominations, the United Methodist Church is wrestling with issues surrounding human sexuality. The heated debate about the issues of gay marriage within our denomination has escalated and led to the calling of a special General Conference, February 23-26, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri. The purpose of this General Conference is to try and find unity and a possible way forward on this issue. This General Conference will set the direction and tone for our denomination and whether we will stay united or seek a way to separate. It is vitally important that every United Methodist member study, share and pray about these important decisions. To help everyone understand these issues, Pastor John will lead a special study on Human Sexuality on Sunday evenings 6:30-8:00 p.m. during the month of September. We will study biblical approaches to human sexuality as well as all the proposals headed to the General Conference. Please mark your calendars for these important meetings. Men's Study - Fight by Craig Groeschel Join us in September as we begin a men's 5 week study about winning the battles that matter the most. We will meet on Wednesdays (beginning Sept. 5th) from 6:30-7:45 p.m. or Fridays (beginning Sept. 7th) from 6:00-7:00 a.m. Study guide $8. Sign up at Welcome Center. Contact Brandon Lindsey for more detailed information. All men welcome! Women's Mentoring Opportunity The Women of Hope are in need of strong, Christian women to help guide them to a relationship with Christ. Their life recovery programs for single women and mothers with children are designed to address the root causes of homelessness, chronic poverty, addiction and other life struggles, so the residents can become productive members of society. We will be having the director of Women of Hope, Elizabeth Spragg, presenting an informational meeting about what it means to be a mentor to these women. Please join us to find out more information on mentoring and if it would be a good fit for you. The meeting will be on Saturday, September 15th from 10:00-11:00 a.m. in the Chapel at AUMC. Coffee and snacks provided. Nursery provided during the service

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4 Page 4 Turkey Mission Dinner Saturday, November 10th 4:30-7:00 p.m. We are excited to announce this year s Turkey Mission Dinner is on Saturday, November 10, 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. As you remember, last year s dinner blessed many in the Des Moines area and around the world. We sent funds to Haiti through Les DeRoos, a missionary with Laborers with Christ, to continue our effort to provide sustainable food such as chickens to produce eggs and meat, a tilapia farm to provide fish, and vegetables that can be grown and harvested for the orphanage where Les is ministering. Locally we helped Hope Ministries upgrade their security systems at all five locations. Because of your generosity, we were able to package 100,000 meals through Meals from the Heartland and also build the walls for two homes through Habitat for Humanity. We sent monthly support to several missionaries and presented Dr. Gary Rosberg with a check to support his work with Impact Iowa. Thank you! Mark your calendars now to be a part of this year s miracle! Sign-ups begin October 14 and tickets will be distributed beginning October 21. Please join us in praying that this year s meal will once again be a blessing that will change lives. 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. Do you like to bake? Roll making days are October 26th and 27th. You and other volunteers will produce over 1,000 butter horn rolls that will be devoured during the dinner. Sign-ups for roll making supplies and workers will be available October 7 and 14 in the entryway. Please contact Tori Hanson at if you have any questions.

5 Page 5 The Turkey Mission Dinner is held annually in November. The money is used each year to help the poor, hungry, hurting, and lost both locally as well as around the world. Last fall our congregation constructed the walls for a home through Habitat for Humanity. This home is located in the Birdland pocket neighborhood at 2460 Saylor Road and was chosen by Deven and Tara. In 2013 Deven and Tara landed in San Antonio, Texas after resettling from Nepal. Deven described their first eighteen months, There were cultural differences, food, and language, all new things to adjust to. After a little over a year in Texas, Deven and Tara moved to Iowa to be closer to family. Left to right: Tara, Prayag (5), Deven, Pastor John, & Pratik (11) These days, Deven works toward his Associate s Degree and is on track to graduate in Tara hopes to start college when Deven completes his degree. Pratik studies at Goodrell Middle School and likes to play soccer. His younger brother Prayag wants to buy a really fast Lamborghini sports car. Prayag holding the key to the family s new home After learning about the Habitat homeownership program from family and friends, Tara and Deven applied and were accepted to the program in November Tara and Deven look forward to the safety, privacy, and space that homeownership holds. They will be living in a community of friends and fellow Habitat homeowners in the Birdland pocket neighborhood. On July 24, Pastor John participated in the dedication of this new home by presenting the couple with a Bible, reading a scripture and leading a prayer. We are now in the process of setting up a volunteer day in the Birdland neighborhood to continue working on one of the homes we built the walls for last May or on a neighboring home. Volunteers could potentially be painting, landscaping, installing trusses, siding, installing windows, you name it. As always, no construction experience is necessary. Habitat staff will provide the safety gear and safety orientation, as well as further instruction. Watch the bulletin and newsletter for more details! Our congregation will again package 50,000 meals with Meals from the Heartland in our Family Life Center on Saturday, October 13. Mark Your Calendar!

6 Page 6 Thank you Altoona UMC for your generous giving to our Bags of Blessings project. A total of 242 bags were filled for Hope Ministries Bethel Mission & Women and Children s Center as well as Joppa Ministries. These bags are a blessing to those in need in the Des Moines area. Thank you again! Terri Simmons from Hope Ministries picks up completed Bags of Blessings Join us on Saturday, October 13 to package meals with Meals from the Heartland in our Family Life Center. Many volunteers are needed to meet our 50,000-meal goal! Sign ups for the one-hour shifts will begin Sunday, September 23 in the entryway. Bring your family, coordinate with your small group, or come on your own! All ages are welcome! Contact Heather Mahoney at heatherm@altoonaumc.org or for more information.

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10 Page 10 Worship A NEW SCHOOL YEAR, A NEW LIFE-SONG When the author of this Psalm penned the words, sing new songs of praise to him, he may be saying something even more significant than, "It's time for the music ministry to learn a new song". Sing new songs of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp and sing with joy. For the word of the LORD holds true, and everything he does is worthy of our trust. ~ Psalm 33: 1, 3, 4 There is a plethora of new songs in every style of music. But God intended us not to just have a new song but to have a life-song. It s the kind of song that changes the way you think, believe, and act. It is a song that reminds us that, the word of the LORD holds true, and everything he does is worthy of our trust. The people of God in the Old Testament used songs to celebrate victories in their life. When something good happened, like crossing the Red Sea alive and untouched, they wrote a song about it. Each struggle they overcame became the opportunity to put a musical and lyrical hook into their hearts that would remind them of God s faithfulness and love to them through all generations. May God bless with a new song of praise and you begin a new school year! Continued on page 11

11 Page 11 SAVE THE DATE: December 2: Candles, Carols, and More, Bells Christmas Concert with Christmas Cookies Sunday at 2:00 p.m. December 16: Christmas Worship Celebration with choirs, orchestra, and the works in all 3 services. We have great new music planned for fall and Christmas. You are invited to join one of our groups. The Bible promises God s spirit will live richly within you when you sing Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. It s the type of worship that encounters God. The groups leading us in worship are listed below. There is room for you in the music ministry! Contact (515) or stevem@altoonaumc.org for more information. FALL REHEARSAL SCHEDULES: Monday: Bell Choir 7:00 8:00 p.m. Sanctuary Wednesday: Orchestra 6:00 6:45 p.m. Sanctuary Choir 6:30-7:50 p.m. Sanctuary Worship Band 8:00 9:30 p.m. Sanctuary Sunday: Jr. Choir 9:15 9:30 a.m. Basement (west side) Pasoral Partners 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 request on the back of the Connect Card or call the church office at

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13 Page 13 Top Notchers A ministry for adults 55+ Upcoming Get Together Sunday, September 23, Fall Fest 9:45 a.m. Program: Higher Power in concert 9:45 a.m. Performance under the tent West lawn of the church Tuesday, October 9, Noon Potluck Program: Senior Living Speaker from Des Moines University Noon in the Family Life Center Bring a dish to share Host/Hostess: Mary Wood Chairpersons: Marla Carr Bring a donation for the Caring Hands Food Pantry Thursday, November 15, Outing 8:15 a.m. Outing: Old Creamery Theatre and Amana Bus Trip Visit the Amana Colonies Lunch at the Ronneburg Restaurant Show - Away in a Basement at 2:00 p.m. Arrive back in Altoona around 6:15 p.m. Cost is $93 per person, checks to AUMC (minimum of 38 passengers) Sign up NOW at the Welcome Center Chairpersons: Marilyn Cowell Sunday, December 2, 3:00 p.m. note the date change Program: Carols, Cookies & Candles AUMC Bell Choir Performance Sanctuary & Chapel Bring a dozen cookies to share! Bring a friend, new people are always welcome!

14 Page 14 Men s Breakfast Saturday - September 15th 8:00 a.m. in the Family Life Center United Methodist Women Salad Supper - Thursday, September 6th at 6:30 p.m. in the Family Life Center Bring a salad to share. Speaker: Marilyn Burrch, District Spiritual Growth officer will be giving us highlights from the Spring Days. Abigail Circle: will meet Tuesday, September 18th at 6:30 p.m. at the home of Mary Lou Granquist for a salad suppler. Martha Circle: will meet on Thursday, September 20th at 9:30 a.m. in the Chapel for an organizational meeting for the upcoming year. September 22 - Annual District Meeting at First UMC, Indianola. Terry Hernandez of Chrysalis Foundation will be speaker on Iowa Women and Income Equality October 7 - UMW Conference Annual Meeting at Knoxville UMC October 27 - Central District Mission Event at UM Conference Center, Sarah Paulos (our spring breakfast speaker) will have the program from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with a more in-depth workshop. New Members Class If you are interested in becoming a member of AUMC, our next 2 session class will meet on Wednesday, September 19th and Wednesday, September 26th from 6:30-7:45 p.m. in the Chapel, with the receiving of New Members on Sunday, September 30th. For more information or to sign up for this class, please contact the church office at or brendac@altoonaumc.org. Childcare is available during the classes.

15 Page 15 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 First Time? on the left side of the E-Giving Login page. Enter your information, create a password, and hit Submit. Your donation can come from your checking, savings, debit card, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover. 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 address 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. Regular office hours are: Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Friday 8:30 a.m. - Noon

16 Page 16 Available for ios and Android. If you would like to receive weekly updates via , please go to the church website, Under the Connect tab, choose Signup, enter your address, choose the (s) you would like to receive, and they will begin arriving on a weekly basis! If you would like to be included on our prayer chain list, please go to the church website, choose Prayer Chain Signup under the Connect tab, enter your address, and choose the Prayer Chain list.