United Methodist Church of Le Mars Transforming Hearts, Minds, and Lives by the Gracious Love of Christ April 2018 Rev. Dr. Okitakoyi Michel Lundula Pastor Jane Rowe Administrative Assistant The Main Actor Forever 901 3rd AVE SE Le Mars, IA 51031 Phone: 712-546-4037 Fax: 712-546-5771 office@lemarsumchurch.org Office Hours 8:30 am 4:30 pm Monday - Friday Prayer Chain Connect with our prayer chain by e-mailing or calling the church office or calling Mary Laughton at 562-6584 laughmg@frontier.com Change of Address? Please let us know by e-mail or phone at the church office office@lemarsumchurch.or g 546-4037 Website: www.lemarsumchurch.org O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever! I remember while at college, I enjoyed watching action movies. In many of these movies, it was easy to recognize main actors in their role of rescuer or savior or winner or conqueror. In the critical scenes of some of these movies, the appearance of the main actor on the screen always brought joy, hope, courage, and the assurance of victory. After the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, His disciples went through a difficult time of fear, anxiety and hopelessness. His sufferings and the time in the tomb, made them even forget what He shared with them. However, His resurrection transformed feelings of the disciples. His appearance gave them hope to believe that Christ is risen indeed, and the courage to continue proclaiming His resurrection. As we look at the world surrounding us today, there are moments when our minds also get enslaved by the fear caused by different realities and challenges of this life. In the middle of economic crisis, distress, violence, injustice, sicknesses, death, etc. the risen Lord is still our main actor who appears at the right time to rescue, give peace, comfort and heal broken hearts, encourage and deliver us from temptations. Friends, the Christ we proclaim is not dead, but He is risen indeed. By saying Christ is risen indeed, we affirm the fulfillment of the word of God, we celebration His resurrection and we also proclaim our victory over the power of death and other challenges of this life. It is my prayer that your Easter Celebration will be filled with joy. No matter what circumstances you face, remember, the Risen Lord is your Main Actor forever. Rejoice and sing Alleluia for Christ is risen Indeed! In Christ, Pastor Lundula Psalm 118:1-2
April 2018 Page 2 BLAST & Confirmation Serving Lunch Join us on April 15 after the worship for a FREE LUNCH in the Fellowship Hall. A freewill offering using proceeds to buy an outdoor water fountain for the Okoboji Church Camp. Served by JOURNEY On Easter Sunday from 9 to 10 am. Don t miss it. UMCL MISSION TRIP TO OKOBOJI CAMP On May 5th, we have a Mission Trip to Okoboji Camp. We will spend our time at the camp cleaning up, painting, staining, etc. We may also participate in the installation of our Outdoor Water Fountain. We need parents, mentors, adults to go with us. Call or Email the church at 712-546-4037/ office@lemarsumchurch.org, sign-up in the Fellowship Hall if you would like to join us. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CONFIRMATION STUDENTS Join us on Sunday April 22 during the worship to celebrate the Confirmation of our Youth. UMCL FAMILY NIGHT Wed. April 15 As we look forward to Closing our School Year Activities on Wed. April 25, UMCL MEN would like to invite everybody to join our K4C, BLAST and JOURNEY for a Family Night full of FOOD, GAMES, FUN, From 6pm to 8:30pm in our Green Space. In case of rain, we will be inside/downstairs. Don t Miss it!!! Our JOURNEY will lead the worship on Sunday April 29. Let us be there to support our youth as they continue to grow in faith and service to the church. 2018 Noisy Money Congratulations to our K4C on their Noisy Money Ministry. They raised $1,001.69 that will go to Josh s Ride. Thank you so much UMCL family and the Mission Team for your support.
April 2018 Page 3 UMCL invites children 3rd thru 5th grades (6th in fall) to experience the ride of a lifetime with God at Rolling River Rampage our 2018 Vacation Bible School! This whitewater rafting adventure includes exciting new music, amazing science, creative crafts, fun recreation and memorable Bible stories that will help children know God is always with them as they ride the rapids of life! The adventure runs from July 16th-19th (Monday-Thursday. A Free-will meal at 5:30 pm followed by VBS from 6-8:00 pm. Camp Nite is ALL NEW! Kids4Christ will have the Camp Nite on Wednesday, April 4th and BLAST will have theirs on Wednesday, April 18th. Please note that there will be no meal this year. The camp ambassador will give each child a catalog and a letter sharing UMCL s camp policy for registration as well as financial help. Camps run from June 18 thru August 11. Please see Diane Hodson about financing camp and Barb Johnson about registering for camp. Camp... The Adventure of a Lifetime! UMC PRAYER WALL The UMCL Prayer Team would like to inform the Church family that we now have a PRAYER WALL in the South Hallway in our church building. The Prayer Wall will help us to engage in prayer for ourselves and help others beyond our Congregation. You will find prayers for Hope, Healing, Addiction, Thanksgiving/Praise, Marital Concerns, Salvation, those who are Grieving, Anxiety/Stress/Worry, Forgiveness and Depression. Feel free to take one of these prayers for yourself or somebody who may need your support. Celebrate With Us!!! The Lundulas would like to invite the UMCL Family to celebrate the Graduation of Berth Lundula and Nicolas Lundula (Pastor s Young Brother) from Morningside College with Bachelors in Organizational Management. The Graduation Party will be on Sunday May 13 at 4 pm at the United Methodist Church of Le Mars (901 3th Ave SE Le Mars, IA 51031) (Downstairs Fellowship Hall) To help us plan this celebration, please add your name to the signup sheet in Fellowship Hall by April 25! Or Email: lundulafamily@gmail.com
April 2018 Page 5 United Methodist Women Peace Circle Wed. April 11 @ 9:30am Church Fellowship Hall Hostess & Program: Ruth Postma Esther Circle Thurs. April 12 @ 1:30pm Church Fellowship Hall Hostess: Mary Laughton Program: Priscilla Circle Thurs. April 12 @ 7:15pm Hostess: JoAnn Petry Program: Executive Board Mon. April 30 @ 9:30am NW District Study Mon. April 16 @ 8:30am Grace United Methodist Church Marcus, IA United Methodist Women at Work These projects were supported in 2017: Shesler Hall Back Pack Program Christian Needs Center Center for Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Le Mars Ministerial Association Gospel Mission Pastor Neighbor Helping Neighbor Fund Larry & Jane Kies Missionaries Henry Muller Hall Compassion Education Ministry UMW NW District Donation Meal-On-Wheels Sponsored Church-Wide Rummage Sale Purchased Additional Silverware Valentine Care Packages Library Books To join a UMW Circle, please contact Mary Laughton 562-6584 for more information UMCL February Financials Income General Fund $ 16,716 Expenses General Fund: $ 17,705 FIF Contributions: $ 2,276 FIF Expenses: $ 8,290 Average Weekly Attendance at Worship 2018 2017 January 123 112 February 115 134 March 127 128
April 2018 Page 6 Colin Wise says... Thank you for the care package. It helped me while studying for tests, and it brightened my week! Emily Ashenfelter says... Thank you so much for the delicious care package! I expect to complete my master s program this summer. Thank you again for your thoughtfulness. Berth Lundula says... Thank you so much for the care package! I enjoyed it with my family. I expect to complete my Bachelor s program this Sping at Morningside. Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness. Nicole Schimek says... Thank you so much for thinking of me. My friends and I enjoyed the care package. It was a great surprise. Christian Needs Center writes... Thank you for your donation to our Adopt-A-Family program. Also thank you for your continued support of our Center. Welcome our New District Superintendent: Rev. Ron Carlson Bishop Laurie Haller has appointed Rev. Ron Carlson to begin serving as the Northwest District Superintendent beginning July 1, 2018. Ron has been serving at Eldridge -McCausland UMC.