May/ June 2018 Messenger

Transcription

1 New London Presbyterian Church Pastor s Corner A final act of blessing In my final weeks with you, I find myself thinking back to the beginning: first hospital visits, my ordination and installation, cups of coffee in your homes, and learning about the community. Remember the time I got my cardinal directions mixed up and pointed the wrong ways during Communion, threw water on you from the font and Easter eggs at you with absolutely no warning, and learned to cut meat for the canner for the first time. The times I showed up at events, invited the children to see Communion up close and personal, and used visual art to tell the story of Moses one summer. Packing meals for Take Away Hunger, walking through Burlington during the CROP Walk, and led the Bible lesson during vacation bible school on a knee scooter. It is these moments, and so many more, that I will carry with me when I leave at the end of May and seek wisdom from as I begin the next phase of my faith journey in a new place. Of course, there are also the lessons learned from times when I tried something and failed, whether because I didn t honor an important tradition, lost my temper, and didn t remember something I should have, or assumed my experiences and thoughts were universal. What will you carry forward in your memory that will help as you move on to the next phase in your faith journey? What lessons and new ideas will you be open to because of our time together. As I prepare to say Godspeed to you all, I am reminded of a quote from A.A. Milne that helps me in times of transition and anytime I am feeling uncertain about the next steps in my journey: You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thins is, even if we re apart, I ll always be with you. Wherever our paths take us from here, God will be present with us to nurture, guide, challenge, and prepare us for new opportunities to care for the most vulnerable in our communities. Trust that God has already given you what you need to carry out all sorts of ministry in the community: sharing the love of Jesus with children, serving meals at the Fellowship Cup so people can make connections with one another, offering compassion and support during times of grief and times of celebration, sharing God s word over the airwaves and anything else the Holy Spirit raises for you to consider. More than anything else, I will remember all the times we laughed together, shared some of our most vulnerable moments, and began to see the world in new eyes. As the author of 1 Corinthians says in verses 4-9, I thank my God always for you, because of God s grace that was given to you in Christ Jesus. That is, you were made rich through him in everything... God is faithful, and you were called by him to partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Do not be afraid for God will be with you in all your days. And now, in the words of my favorite blessing: May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand. Thanks be to God. Amen. Blessings, Aimee

2 General Fund Financial Summary Information YTD Jan Mar 2018 Febuary 2018 March 2018 TOTAL INCOME TOTAL EXPENSES $24,012 $22,938 NET INCOME $1,074 TOTAL INCOME $6,559 TOTAL EXPENSES $9,253 NET INCOME -$2,694 TOTAL INCOME $9,677 TOTAL EXPENSES $7,185 NET INCOME $2,492 ~ ~ ~ RADIO BROADCAST ~ ~ ~ Our church service is broadcast on KILJ (105.5) each Sunday. Our monthly cost for broadcasting the service is $220. Contributions from our church family and listeners keep this long time mission project going. Our broadcast reaches not only travelers, but also those who cannot get to church, including some of our own church family members. As our funds are dwindling down, we are reaching out to see if you will consider a donation to the fund. Donations can be mailed to: Presbyterian Church, 400 N. Elm St, New London, IA Please include Radio Fund in the memo portion of your check or if Making a contribution in the offering plate, please write Radio Fund on the offering envelope. Thank you for your contributions and continued support PER CAPITA Have you ever partnered with a friend to sponsor an angel from our Angel Tree at Christmas time or treat someone to lunch on their birthday? When did you last pay dues to an organization that you belong to? Much like our membership dues to organizations, the monies given towards this year s per capita go to our presbytery, synod, and denomination to maintain our connections with one another, further the ministries of Jesus Christ in our region and around the world, and share the costs that belong to the church. At the national level, this money funds work, such as helping us discern our vocations, participate in national and global ecumenical events, and support General Assembly, our biannual national gathering. In our synod, the allocated money supports the staff and covers committee expenses that impact ministries in our region. Finally, at the presbytery level, per capita helps connect pastors and congregations together for mission and support, provide opportunities for growth, and prepare for presbytery meetings. For 2018 our per capita amount is $37.00 for each member of the congregation. Please prayerfully consider paying this separately from your tithe or offering so we may better serve our local community.

3 Women s Activities The PW will hold their regular meeting on May 21, 2018 at 1:30 in the afternoon. The devotions will be given by Betty Grove. Chris Selby will present the program and the hostess will be Nella Elliot. ALL WOMEN OF THE CHURCH ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL THE WOMEN S ACTIVITIES. COME AND ENJOY THE FELLOWSHIP May 9 ~ Fellowship at the Methodist church at 6:00 P.M. Please bring a photo of your mother and a brief story to share. There is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board. Please RSVP by May 4 th. May 7 ~ Canning day! Please bring a sharp knife and a cutting board. May 14 ~ Fellowship~ Place and time to be determined. Sign up sheet is on the bulletin board. Please indicate if you will be driving yourself. We will have fellowship on June 11, The place and time has yet to be determined. If you have any suggestions, please let Betty or Nella know. Circle of Love Circle of Love will meet Wednesday, May 23 with Pam Williamson as hostess and Karen Johnson in charge of the program. Please remember that this is a changed date. This is the last meeting before summer. Our next meeting will be in August when we begin making noodles.

4 Mission and Outreach Our One Great Hour of Sharing event raised $ Thanks everyone so much for your GENEROUS contributions. Our church will be serving lunch at the Fellowship Cup on Wednesday June 20, If you would be willing to help provide food or serve, please contact Betty.

5 Christian Education On Sunday, May 20, we will be recognizing our graduates during the morning service. We will also be giving Bibles to Allie Wagner and Goldie Grove who are completing kindergarten and our second and third grade students: Conner Sizemore, Conor Johnson, Hayden Wellington, and Liam Garvey. Please help us celebrate with our youth as they reach these milestones. Session members Reminder: meetings are on the 2 nd Wednesday of every 7:00 p.m.

6 Vacation Bible School will be held July We are looking forward to spending the week with your children. Please be on the lookout for s and fliers in your mailboxes this June. Any questions please feel free to call Jane Simmons at (319)

7 Our congregation and friends are recognizing Pastor Aimee as she leaves us and looks to new opportunities. We appreciate all of the spiritual guidance, care and concern she has given us the past six years. Please come to bid farewell to Pastor Aimee and wish her the best in her future after the service on Sunday, May 27. It is difficult to end our relationship with Pastor Aimee, but we wish her the best for her future. She has the opportunity to remain in the manse until the end of September so you may still see her in New London and can keep in touch.

8 Our annual Rummage Sale will be held on May 5, 2018 from 8-1. There are sign up sheets on the bulletin board for food donations and pie. Please remember to sign up for a time to work that day. Donations should be at the church by Thursday at 8:30 A.M.

9 May Wed., May 2, 7:00 p.m., Session meeting Sat., May 5, 8:00 a.m., Garage sale Sun., May 6, 10:30 a.m., Sunday morning worship & Children s Sunday school Mon, May 7, 8:30 a.m., Canning session, fellowship hall Weds., May 9, 6:00 p.m., May Fellowship, New London United Methodist Church Sun., May 13, 10:30 a.m., Sunday morning worship & Children s Sunday school Mon., May 14, 11:30 a.m., Women s fellowship Weds., May 16, 7:00 p.m., Baccalaureate, sanctuary & fellowship hall Sun. May 20, 10:30 a.m., Sunday morning worship & Children s Sunday school 4:00 p.m., Worship, New London care center Mon., May 21, 1:30 p.m., Presbyterian Women (day women s group) Tues, May 22, 4:00 p.m., Presbytery meeting, Washington Weds, May 23, 6:30 p.m., Circle of Love (evening women s group) Sun. Mar. 27, 10:30 a.m., Sunday morning worship & Children s Sunday school 11:30 a.m., Reception for Pastor Aimee June Sun., June 3, 9:30 a.m., Sunday morning worship Tues., June 5, Bingo, New London care center Sun., June 10, 9:30 a.m., Sunday morning worship 10:30 a.m., Summer annual meeting Mon., June 11, 11:30 a.m., Women s Fellowship Weds., June 13, 7:00 p.m., Session meeting Sun., June 17, 9:30 a.m., Sunday morning worship 4:00 p.m., Chapel, New London care center Weds., June 20, 10:00 a.m., Prepare the Fellowship Cup Sun., June 24, 10:30 a.m., Sunday morning worship & Children s Sunday school PRAYER CHAIN If you would like to be included or excluded on the Prayer Chain, let Aimee know. REMINDER when moving: If you or a family member receives the newsletter by mail, please let us know when you or they move so we can update our records.

10 MAY JUNE BIRTHDAYS 1st Colton Moore 2nd Micah Alden 4th Brad Selby 6th Donna Brinkmeyer 7th Donna Colton 7th Chase Smith 9th Brittony (Williamson) Cummings 10th Kristin (Borton) Stuekerjuergen 20th Britt Noel 22nd Linda Raub 22nd Aubree Moore 23rd Janae Lemley 23rd Freda McKinnon 27th Bailey McAllister 27th Lauren Grove 27th Olivia Grove 30th David Mixon 31st Karen Osborne 31st Israel Noah Lemley BIRTHDAYS Lonnie Borton 4th Landon Summers 7th Kevin McCabe 9th Kari McAllister 9th Delpha Wallingford 13th Jason Lemley 15th Michala Alden 17th Parrish Blow 17th Lavelle Hibbs 17th Kinley Wagner 19th Rebecca ( McAllister) McIntosh 21st Mary Shelledy 23rd Sharon Borton MAY 1st REMINDER: Bring non-perishable foods for donation to the Felowship Cup, on 4th Sunday of each month. 25th ANNIVERSARIES Jen and Damon Loyd 27th Robert and Cynde Lemley 27th Pam & Reggie Williamson 30th Mick and Darlene Lutes JUNE ANNIVERSARIES 5th Don and Karen Johnson 5th Billy & Venus Robinson 7th Becky and Josh Walker 8th Jennifer and Doug Lee 10th Ron and Melody Raub 10th Chris and Sonja Carmon 12th Matthew and Jennifer York 20th Dick and Thelma Lane 21st Adam and Linda Raub 25th Rod and Shelley Smith REMINDER: Ruth Ann Corporon does the courtesy cards for our church. She does a great job of sending out Birthday, Anniversary, Get Well and thinking of you messages proving she knows about it. So if there s someone you know who needs an uplifting message, please call Ruth Ann ( ) and let her know. If you like to read, don t forget to check out the books we have in our Library.

11 NLPC MISSION STATEMENT Inspired by the powerful, creative force of God's love, our mission is to glorify God in ways both great and small by growing spiritually, nurturing children, impacting our community, and using our gifts in service to THE MESSENGER: Published bi-monthly by the New London Presbyterian Church, 400 N. Elm St, New London, Iowa 52645, The messenger is also posted on the church website and linked to their Facebook page: at: or at fnewlondon. If you d like to help reduce paper & mailing cost and receive the newsletter by , please send a message to revaimee@mediacombb.net. Paper copies are typically available at the church for two Sundays and those not picked up after printing, will be mailed. If someone has been removed from or if someone needs to be added to the mailing list, please let Pastor Aimee know. Postmaster: Send address changes to The New London Presbyterian Church % The Messenger, 400 N. Elm St. New London, Iowa, God. Our leadership team seeks to nurture God s blessings in our lives in a variety of ways. Will you please pray about how God may be calling you to serve in our congregation? If you would like to share your gifts with others or have questions, please contact Pastor Aimee or one of elders listed below Session Members BUILDING & GROUNDS: Rod Smith and Ron Raub CHRISTIAN EDUCATION: Jane Simmons & Dick Lane CLERK of SESSION: Chris Selby FELLOWSHIP: Cathy Wright FINANCE/ MEMORIALS/ STEWARDSHIP: Lyn McAllister & Bob Wehrle MISSION/OUTREACH: Betty Grove WORSHIP: Bob Lemley ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Staff: Pastor: Aimee Goldmeyer Manse Phone: revaimee@mediacombb.net Office hrs: vary; check weekly Church Secretary: Apryl Johnson apryl.ash@gmail.com Treasurer: Brittony Cummings Custodian: Jamie Loyd Organist & Choir Director: Nella Elliott Church phone: Church Address: 400 N. Elm St. New London, Iowa Church Website: Church Facebook link; nchurchofnewlondon. Information for the July/ August newsletter is due by June 20, 2018 Thank You!

12 NEW LONDON, IOWA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF NEW LONDON, IOWA 400 N. ELM NEW LONDON, IOWA ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED March/ April Messenger