September 2018 Volume 65, Issue 8 Page 1 First UMC Mabaan UMC Partnership Anniversary Last year, on September 16, 2017, at a Special Charge Conference the Covenant Partnership between the Mabaan (South Sudanese) Faith Community which has since been recognized as the Mabaan United Methodist Church and First United Methodist Church was officially approved by both communities and authorized by Heecheon Jeon, Conference Superintendent for the Central District. We hadn t exactly waited for things to be official! During the summer of 2017, the Mabaan Community had moved into our shared facility on July 31 st and we had already held a celebration and recognition event, which many of you were able to attend, on September 10 th before things were official on the 16 th. Our two communities have spent the last year getting to know each other and beginning to build relationships together. We have shared joys and sorrows together. Some of us have worshipped at each other s services. We have spent time in study, and learning, and fellowship. While we look forward to many more opportunities of shared ministry, we already have much to be thankful for and much to celebrate from this past year. On Sunday, September 16, there will be a reception time to mark the one-year anniversary of the First UMC Mabaan UMC Partnership. The celebration time will be in Fellowship Hall on the lower level of the building and will be between the end of the First Church service (approximately at 11:30 am) and the beginning of the Mabaan service (approximately at 12:30 pm). Please plan to stay a bit late or come a bit early to celebrate this important anniversary!
2 - THE LIGHT September 2018 September Worship Volunteers Ushers for September Craig Strayer (Head Usher) Junella Schultz Josh and Will Sadler Delvin Sadler (Balcony) September 2 Greeters John & Kari Walker Information Desk Volunteers Welcome! Call the church office and let Lisa Karen know if you can help out this day! Reception Desk Ann Herteen September 9 Greeters Information Desk Reception Desk September 16 Greeters Information Desk Reception Desk September 23 Greeters Information Desk Reception Desk September 30 Greeters Information Desk Reception Desk Dean & Sally Hosfelt Mandy Chouangmala John & Kari Walker Don & Trudy Gurnsey John & Kari Walker Lucille Nichols Arnie Brown & Ann Herteen Tom & Donna Gruis Joan & Frank Hanna David & Betty Stout Tom & Donna Gruis David & Betty Stout Hey kids join us on Sunday, September 9 th at 9:15 am as we begin a new year of Sunday School. Children ages 4 grade 2 will meet in room 112. Those in grades 3-8 will meet in room 107. Hope to see you there!
3 - THE LIGHT September 2018 On Saturday, August 4 th, women from First Church gathered for a Sweet Life Cafe retreat. The event was held in the Cafe at the West Des Moines United Methodist Church. During the day we discovered that life is sweet when we: Trust God Make time for friends Are nourished by God Savor time with God Serve others Share it with others Those who attended appreciated the opportunity to meet new people and spend time with God. A big thanks to our facilitators and those who attended. Small group conversation was an important part of the day. Preparing a small gift to spice up the life of a friend.
4 - THE LIGHT September 2018
5 - THE LIGHT September 2018 Now is the time school supplies are on sale so, if you plan to donate for the Thanksgiving Ingathering this fall and want to take advantage of the savings, these are the items needed for each school kit: 6 unsharpened pencils with erasers a 2 ½-inch eraser 1 hand pencil sharpener (larger than 1-inch) 1 box of 24 crayons 1 blunt-end metal blade scissors a 30 cm metric ruler and 3 70-page wide-ruled spiral or bound notebooks BELATED 90 th Birthday to David Taylor!!! David turned 90 on July 10 th! Grace Green-Dickerson September 6 Marie Franz September 24
6 - THE LIGHT September 2018 On August 7, 2018, Tom Glenn passed away. He had joined First Church on April 27, 2014. Please keep Twila and the Glenn family in your thoughts and prayers. Our charge/church conference is scheduled for October 21 at 2:00 PM at Indianola, First UMC. Mark your calendar now for Sunday, October 28. Plan to attend our UMW (United Methodist Women) Mission Fundraiser in Fellowship Hall following worship. Our program, CHANGE YOUR MIND: Understanding Mental Health will focus on raising awareness that we all have mental health just as we all have physical health and that we all need to look after it. You'll have the opportunity to enjoy a tasty lunch while supporting mission programs in the U.S. and around the world. Save the date for the Amos Annual Salad Luncheon November 18, right after church Hear what Amos has been up to this past year.
7 - THE LIGHT September 2018 Measuring Your Discipleship Pathway Progress We are on a journey of discipleship. When you are on any journey it is important to periodically stop and check the map (or GPS) and see where you are. Ask yourself Am I regularly attending worship? Am I living a life of generosity? Am I continuing to read and study God s word? Am I daily spending time in prayer? Am I being a doer of the word by serving others? Do you enjoy spending time with young people? Do you enjoy sharing your faith with a new generation of disciples? If so, we have a place for you to serve. We are beginning a UMYF (United Methodist Youth Fellowship) group. Beginning in October they will meet the 2 nd and 4 th Fridays of the month from 6:30-7:30 PM Since all of our current students are boys it would be great to have a male leader to assist those who have already committed to helping. If you are interested in helping, please contact Pastor Eric. Bus Driver George Keagle Retires Long-time First Church Bus Driver George Keagle retired in late July from his faithful service driving the bus on Sunday mornings. George was an avid bicyclist and rode his bike rain or shine, in both sweltering hot and frigidly cold weather to get the church in time to run the bus route. In appreciation for his years of service, George was given a gift certificate to Rasmussen s Bike Shop. The church received this note from George: Many thanks for the gift certificate. My summer bike will get a well deserved and much needed tune-up at Rasmussen s this fall. The pleasure has truly been mine in driving the FUMC bus. I ve enjoyed the association since I first started January 2010. Best Regards, George Keagle Our new First Church bus driver is Tammy Nelsen. If you haven t yet had the opportunity to meet Tammy, please welcome her to First Church and thank her for her service with us.
8 - THE LIGHT September 2018 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID DES MOINES, IA PERMIT NO. 4308 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED 1001 Pleasant Street Des Moines, IA 50309 (515) 244-6209 DMFirstChurch.org DEADLINE FOR THE OCTOBER ISSUE OF THE LIGHT IS SEPTEMBER 20 First UMC is excited to announce that starting in October we will begin a UMYF (United Methodist Youth Fellowship) group. If you are in Middle School or High School, this group is for you! We will meet the 2 nd and 4 th Fridays of each month from 6:30 7:30 PM. Our first meeting date is October 12 th. We will have pizza so come hungry! Looking forward to seeing you!
Two Bible Studies Offered this Fall On Wednesday evenings in September and October two Bible study opportunities will be provided. An Introduction to the Gospel of Mark is a four-session introduction to Mark s gospel. The study material will probe questions raised by this gospel and encourage participants not just to study the gospel but also to reflect on what the gospel means to them. The four sessions will explore some questions such as: What is known about the author? When, where, to whom, and why was the Gospel of Mark written? What does Mark mean when he says Jesus is The Son of God? What is Mark's understanding of a life of discipleship? and What is the importance of the events of the passion and resurrection, which take up almost half of Mark s gospel. There is no cost for the study material. Participants will read the Gospel of Mark outside of the sessions. An Introduction to the Gospel of Mark will be offered on September 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 6:00-7:00 PM in Conference Room 1 on the main level of the church. In order to ensure enough study materials, please indicate your interest in attending by calling (244.6209) or emailing (officemanager@dmfirstchurch.org) the church office or by signing up on the attendance slip on Sunday mornings. Psalms is the most commonly read book of the Hebrew Bible and there is much we can learn from studying it. This three-session study on Psalms leads participants through the book, particularly studying how the Psalms were collected and ordered and how they can speak to us today. Two specific genres of psalms, psalms of lament (complaint songs) and psalms of worship will be covered. Specific psalms are explained in depth in each of the three sessions. The Psalms Study will be offered on October 3, 10, and 17 from 6:00-7:00 PM in Conference Room 1 on the main level of the church. There is no cost for the study material, but to ensure enough materials are available and to help with planning, please indicate your interest in attending The Psalms Study by calling (244.6209) or emailing (officemanager@dmfistchurch.org) the church office or by signing up on the attendance slip on Sunday mornings beginning in mid-september.
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Communion, Food Pantry Sunday 9:30 AM Grapevine Service at Spaghetti Works, 310 Court Ave. 10:30 AM Worship 12:30 PM Mabaan Worship 3:00 8:30 PM Meal Prep - Kitchen 6:30 PM FUMC serves Central IA Shelter 1420 Mulberry St. Sunday School Startup 9:15 AM Sunday School 9:30 AM Grapevine 10:30 AM Worship 11:45 AM Chapel Communion 12:30 PM Mabaan Worship Labor Day Office Closed 6:00 PM Gospel of Mark Study CR1 5:30 PM Chancel Choir 7:00 PM Foxhall AA 7:00 PM WhiteChapel Chimes 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Prayer Group 9:15 AM Sunday School 9:30 AM Grapevine 10:30 AM Worship 11:45 AM Chapel Communion 12:30 PM Mabaan Worship 5:30 PM Outreach Meeting CR1 9:00 AM Staff Mtg 6:00 PM CCYC CR1 6:30 PM Capitol City AA 6:00 PM Gospel of Mark Study CR1 5:30 PM Chancel Choir 7:00 PM Foxhall AA 7:00 PM WhiteChapel Chimes 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 9:00 AM UMW Leadership LIGHT Deadline Meeting CR1 Prayer Group 6:00 PM Gospel of Mark Study CR1 1:30 7:00 PM Meal Preparation - Kitchen 4:45 PM FUMC serves at Trinity (CFUM Supper Club)- 1548 8th St, DM 5:30 PM Chancel Choir 7:00 PM Foxhall AA 7:00 PM WhiteChapel Chimes 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 9:15 AM Sunday School 9:30 AM Grapevine 10:00 AM Meal Prep - Kitchen 9:00 AM Staff Mtg 10:30 AM Worship 11:45 AM Chapel Communion 12:30 PM Mabaan Worship Prayer Group 12 FUMC serves at Connection Café, 815 High St., DM 6:00 PM Gospel of Mark Study CR1 5:30 PM Chancel Choir 7:00 PM Foxhall AA 7:00 PM WhiteChapel Chimes 30 Oct. 1 Oct. 2 Oct. 3 Oct. 4 Oct. 5 Oct. 6 9:15 AM Sunday School 9:30 AM Grapevine 10:30 AM Worship 11:45 AM Chapel Communion 12:30 PM Mabaan Worship Prayer Group 3:00 8:30 PM Meal Prep - Kitchen 6:30 PM FUMC serves Central IA Shelter 1420 Mulberry St. 11:30 AM Theology of the Ordinary 6:00 PM Psalms Study CR1 5:30 PM Chancel Choir 7:00 PM Foxhall AA 7:00 PM WhiteChapel Chimes