February 2015 Volume 56 Issue 2. Inside This Issue. Dear friend,

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1 Inside This Issue Ash Wednesday 2 Small Group 3 Turkey Mission Dinner 4 Children s Ministry 5 Youth Ministry 6 Music Ministry 7 Top Notchers 8 Pastoral Partners 9 Preschool 10 Birthdays & Anniversaries 13 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 Cameron Scott Youth Director camerons@altoonaumc.org LeAnn Gaulke Director of Small Groups & Assimilation leanngaulke@hotmail.com Jane Burns Project & Special Event Coordinator janeb@altoonaumc.org Holly Brainard Administrative Assistant hollyb@altoonaumc.org Heather Mahoney Executive Assistant heatherm@altoonaumc.org Gary Nelson Financial Manager garyn@altoonaumc.org Dear friend, February 2015 There are times in our lives when our words seem to carry more weight than normal. Most of our words are just words, necessary for the normal functions of life, but not necessarily foundational. There are, however, moments when we realize that what we re about to say is historic in our life, like when I asked LeAnn to marry me. I was anxiously praying that she would say, Yes. I felt the weight of the words, Will you marry me? I knew that those words would change the landscape of my life forever. I also remember the last words that my father-in-law, my grandfather, friends and parishioners said to me. They were important words, words that took a lifetime to form. Some words just carry more weight than others. Jesus had been savagely beaten and was mercilessly nailed to a cross. He was bleeding, gasping, suffering and dying, and yet he managed to speak seven phrases before he died. His last words are foundational. They re full of incredible grace, unfathomable forgiveness and endless hope. Listen again to them: Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they don t know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34, NLT) And Jesus replied, I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43, NLT) When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, Dear woman, here is your son. And he said to this disciple, Here is your mother. And from then on this disciple took her into his home. (John 19:26 27, NLT)

2 Page 2 Then at three o clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani? which means My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? (Mark 15:34, NLT) Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, I am thirsty. (John 19:28, NLT) When Jesus had tasted it, he said, It is finished! Then he bowed his head and released his spirit. (John 19:30, NLT) They are powerful words, carefully chosen by the Word of God himself. They are lasting words with eternal benefits. I m excited for the new series that begins on Sunday, February 15 th, The Seven-Mile Miracle. I will be sharing about each of these sayings during the morning worship services. You also have the opportunity to join a small group to study each of Jesus last words in more depth. Pastor Steven Furtick will be teaching on video. What makes this series so outstanding is that it was filmed in Israel in the location where the seven sayings were spoken. I encourage you to make a point to attend the worship services and join a small group. I truly believe that this is a life-changing opportunity for all of us. I also feel that our study of Jesus last words literally red letter words will make our Good Friday and Easter services especially meaningful this year. Looking forward to joining with you in the study, Pastor John February 18th 7:45 p.m. Sanctuary Please join us for a special Ash Wednesday Service

3 Page 3 Adult Basketball AUMC Adult Basketball continues! Join us in the Family Life Center on Monday nights at 6:30 p.m. for some pickup games! Contact Cameron at or camerons@altoonaumc.org for more information.

4 Page 4 A check for $40,000 was mailed to Heifer International for the sustainable garden project in Bolivia. A check for $5250 was sent to the Food Bank of Iowa for the Southeast Polk BackPack Program. A check for $50,000 was presented to Teen Challenge of the Midlands for their dining room renovation and other projects. The flooring in the dining room at Teen Challenge has been completely replaced. A painting/work day was held in January at Teen Challenge during which a team replaced windows in the dining room, ceiling tiles in the hallway, worked on electrical issues in the dining room, and painted the dining room and hallway.

5 Page 5 For more Children s Ministries information, please contact Brandon Lindsey at brandonl@altoonaumc.org

6 Page 6 Invasion Students, Have you ever heard someone say: Every cloud has a silver lining? It means with every storm, with every cloud, there is something good about it. That's a nice little saying, but sometimes silver linings are hard to find in real life, aren't they? It's hard to see the good qualities when it comes to people at school who aren't so nice to you or teachers who make your day miserable. Maybe the hardest place to see a silver lining is your family. In the best situations, family members can be annoying, but for many of us it goes beyond that to real brokenness and painful memories. Very few families in history have experienced more brokenness than Joseph's did in the Bible. After his father played favorites and his brothers sold him into slavery, it must have been hard to believe any good would come out of his situation. But through his story, we see that God can use us to change our relationship with even the most difficult family members. And if we're willing to look for it, we may just find the silver lining in our family. Bottom Line: Your family may not act great, but you can still respond in a great way. Do you ever look at your family and wonder, "How on Earth did I end up with these people?" You've seen normal families on TV. Maybe you even know some families who seem normal, but that just doesn't look like the people who live at your house. This is especially frustrating since you're kind of stuck when it comes to family. You didn't choose them. And while you can "unfriend" someone you can't "unfamily" them. So what are your options when it comes to a family that often feels "less than ideal"? In the Bible, Joseph was faced with the same question. And though he had every reason to walk away from his family forever, what he did instead gives us a clue to how we can find the silver lining in our family story, even when circumstances aren't perfect. Bottom Line: Learning to deal with your family is as much about your future as it is about your now. Family isn't easy. And sometimes it's really tempting to give up or check out because you know that in a few short years you'll be out of the house, on your own, and surrounding yourself with people who don't embarrass you in public. But what if your exit strategy is flawed? What if just surviving your family now doesn't solve your problems but just brings them into the future with you? What if the things you do and say this week will actually matter years down the road and long after you stop having a curfew? Even after leaving his family's home, Joseph found himself in a number of situations where he had to live with and listen to people who didn't deserve his respect. In each relationship, as he practiced honoring God by honoring others, Joseph's attitude toward authority made all the difference for him and eventually for his entire family. Bottom Line: You can change the mood in every room you walk into. Have you ever walked into a room and been able to feel the tension? Or have you ever left a tense or awkward situation and felt yourself instantly relax? The truth is, every room and every situation has a climate, not just a temperature but also a feeling, a mood. But did you know that climate often depends on you? You know exactly how to crank up the awkwardness, the tension, the stress. But you also have the power to turn up the joy, the laughter, and make your house a better place to be. As we conclude the story of Joseph, we uncover two simple steps that forever changed the story of his family. And if we're brave enough to follow his example, they may change the climate at our home too. It s All In The Family, Cam For more Student Ministry information, please contact Cam Scott at camerons@altoonaumc.org

7 Page 7 MUSIC NOTES Blessings, The Lord saved me, so we will play songs on stringed instruments in the Temple of the LORD all the days of our lives. ISAIAH 38:20 In an article written by Ron Luce he asks the question, DOES GOD CARE ABOUT THE MUSIC I LISTEN TO? As you read through the Bible, you see it talks about angels making music to the Lord in heaven, complete with trumpets blasting and harps playing. Music was invented to glorify God. It was invented as a way of expressing His majesty. The Bible says that when you sing a song, let it be a spiritual song: Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord (Eph. 5:19). It all comes back to what do we want to place at the heart of our lives. If our spiritual and emotional health needs to be fed or renewed, if we believe the things of God are the key to our success in life, then we must pour into our heart and mind the words and music that nourish the eternal spirit. It is my goal to give you music that speaks to your heart. To present music that brings hope and encouragement from God when you go through difficult times. I hope we can give you something that lifts your heart and spirit through the week. Below is a list of opportunities to do music with us that glorifies our God. Monday Hand bell Choir meets from 7:00 8:00 pm in the sanctuary. Wednesday Orchestra meets from 6:00-7:00 pm in the sanctuary Worship Choir meets from 6:30 7:50 pm in the sanctuary Praise Band meets from 8:00 9:30 pm in the sanctuary. Sunday Children s Jr. Choir meets at 9:00 am in the basement This is the month we begin preparations for Easter with our orchestra, choirs, and other worship musicians. We would love to have you be part of one of our worship groups! Pastor Steve McLellan For more information on any music ministry, contact Steve at stevem@altoonaumc.org or

8 Page 8 Top Notchers News A ministry for adults 55+ February 10th Noon Join us on Tuesday, February 10th at Noon for a Potluck in the Family Life Center. Our guest will be Ralph Moisa, Native - American singer/ songwriter. Please bring a donation for the food pantry. March 10th Noon Our March meeting will begin with a noon potluck. Our guest entertainer will be Julie Moss, from rural Elkhart. She plays guitar and sings old - time gospel, country and yodeling. She comes highly recommended and we know you will really enjoy her program. A free will offering will be taken. Don't miss this outstanding program! United Methodist Women UMW will meet February 5th in the conference room at 7:00 p.m. Since we were unable to meet in January, we will be doing our pledge service for the program. Our mission project will be sweetened cold cereal for Trinity UM church for the breakfast program. Martha Circle will meet at 9:30 a.m. at the church on February 19th. Abigail Circle will meet at 7:00 p.m. at the church in Classroom B on February 17th. Mary Lou and Sherry will host. Mark your calendars for the UMW annual Tater Topper 10:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 8th in the Family Life Center. We will be having a free will offering for our mission projects: Bidwell Riverside, Children & Family mission, local food pantry, New Directions at Hawthorn Hill, our church camp fund and youth group, Trinity UM church and our pledge to national UMW for world wide mission.

9 Page 9 Pas oral Partners The church is a diverse place. The Bible speaks of spiritual gifts and encourages us to share the in the areas he has gifted us. If God is challenging you to find a place to serve that you have not seen mentioned, please contact us and we will look to connect you with someone who needs your gift. If you or a family member would like prayer support or a hospital visit, please fill out a card on Sunday morning or call the church office at or after hours. Consider sending a DVD to a homebound friend or loved one. Contact the church office at with DVD requests. Pastoral Partners is a prayer ministry that visits hospitals and provides support for people with special needs. Contact Steve McLellan at if you would like to know more about becoming involved. Saturday February 21st Men s Ministry All men are invited to join us for the Men s Ministry Breakfast on Saturday, February 21 at 8 a.m. in the Family Life Center. We will continue the study by Joe Gibbs called Game Plan for Life with session #4, The Enemy s Game Plan. Cancellation Notification Due to Bad Weather 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.

10 Page 10 Boy Scout Troop 63 Annual Chili/Potato Soup Supper Saturday, February 7 5:00-7:00 p.m. AUMC Family Life Center Free will donation Help send Troop 63 to camp! Please bring a non-perishable food item. Thank you for your support! Kids Connection Preschool Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser Family Life Center Sunday, February 15th 7:30-11:30 a.m. Pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, coffee, juice and milk. Free will offering. Thank you for your support! Kids Connection Preschool is now accepting enrollments for fall They are offering 2 or 3-day options for 3/4 year olds and 3- or 5-day options for 4/5 year olds. Forms are available at the Welcome Center or the church office. Contact Denise at kidsconnectionpreschool@altoonaumc.org or if you have any questions. Caring Hands Food Pantry Please consider making a donation to the food pantry. Donations may be placed in the cart to be delivered to the food pantry each week. Most needed items: PEANUT BUTTER PANCAKE MIX & SYRUP MACARONI & CHEESE SPAGHETTI SPAGHETTI SAUCE SPAGHETTI WITH MEATBALLS SOUPS, ALL KINDS CANNED VEGETABLES CANNED TUNA CANNED SALMON CANNED JUICES PASTA NOODLES MACARONI RICE EGG NOODLES BEEF STEW PERSONAL HYGIENE ITEMS SOAP SHAMPOO DEODORANT TOOTHPASTE TOOTHBRUSHES SANITARY NAPKINS DIAPERS DISH SOAP LAUNDRY SOAP

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. If we have missed your birthday or anniversary, please contact Holly in the office at or

13 Page Jim Herrington 1. Mary Van De Pol 1. Terry Van De Pol 2. Paige Dawson 2. Jackson Hageman 2. Travis Maak 2. Larry Ramseyer 3. Kathleen Deal 3. Larry Keller 3. Darlene Watson 4. Carter Bjorklund 4. Ruth Hamilton 4. Brett Timmins 4. Jim VanFosson 5. Norah Cassler 5. Michael Collison 5. Mike McKibben 6. Gary Parrott 7. Kris Arendt 7. Natalie Mootz 8. Zach Bjorklund 8. Kyla Burgett 8. Larry McCrory 9. Ben Cox 9. Ella Weispfenning 9. Colton Nolte 9. Connor Nolte 10. Matthew Brumm 10. Linda Cole 10. Ava Fischer 11. Jeff Maak 11. Heather Haag 11. Marlys VanManen 12. Tonya Boos 12. Penny Bos 12. Christina Glaub 12. Garrett Malaise 12. Meg Muller 12. Timothy Vaughan 13. K.J. Bills 13. Dennis Creveling 13. Austin Hess 13. Ian Palmer 13. Michael Sharp 13. Kyla Stout 13. Barrett Weispfenning 14. Joanne Andrews 14. Tanner Warren 14. Cheryl Weber 15. Isaac Forristall 15. Sarah Norton 15. Jody Person 15. Cori Sharp 15. Jennifer Voss 16. Nathan Cook 16. Cauri Douglas 16. Ben Fischer 16. Bennet Kruse 16. Chad Kruse 16. Paige Kruse 17. Holly Brainard 18. Sandra Conover 18. Lisa Kelderman 19. Janice Bogaards 19. Michayla Bradley 19. Jean Fuller 19. Shirley Johnson 19. Orrin Kelderman 20. Kasen Cochran 20. Melissa Nederhoff 21. Zachary Arendt 21. Thelma Thompson 22. Jeff Ebert 23. Eric Carr 23. Cale Hansen 23. Nicole Hasek 23. Matthew Swaim 24. Susan Dunlap 24. Morgan Panosh 25. Darci Clark 25. Lane Hansen 25. Lexy Rubi 27. Steve Dare 27. Ellie Snetselaar 28. Toran Billups 28. Tytus Forsberg 28. Mariel Lopez 28. Noah Lundquist 2. Toran & Shelene Billups 2. Ben & Janis Herman 5. Darrel & Carolyn Terpstra 15. Doug & Kyla Burgett 19. Matthew & Tami Hess 23. Ryan & Niki Rathert