United Methodist Church of Le Mars Transforming Hearts, Minds, and Lives by the Gracious Love of Christ October 2017 Rev. Dr. Okitakoyi Michel Lundula Pastor Jane Rowe Administrative Assistant 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.org 546-4037 Website: www.lemarsumchurch.org A few days ago during the time of my personal reflection, I felt the melody of the hymn Many Gifts, One Spirit coming frequently in my mind. From my personal experience, I could tell that God s Spirit wanted to teach me something from this beautiful hymn. The month of October comes with many opportunities to celebrate, acknowledge and experience the work of God s Spirit through our differences and many gifts. Through this month we are going celebrate the World Communion Sunday, the Laity Sunday, and the Annual Charge Conference. What do we know about these three celebrations? The first thing I would like us to know is that all these three celebrations reflect the diversity of human beings, ministries, and many gifts in the Body of Christ. They are also a response to the work of God s Spirit just as it was on the day of Pentecost. The World Communion Sunday is observed in many Christian denominations on the first Sunday of October. On this day, the Christians around the world will celebrates the unity of the Christian Church and acknowledge the diversity of God s people in the Body of Christ. This year, we will observe the World Communion Sunday on October 1st during our worship and fellowship time. On Sunday October 15, we will have a double celebration at the United Methodist Church of Le Mars (UMCL). The third Sunday of October is commonly known in our denomination as Laity Sunday. On this day, we will celebrate the ministries of all lay people. We will also appreciate the blessing of each other in our church, regardless of our gender, age, race, in fulfilling the United Methodist Church mission of making disciples of Christ for the transformation of the world. On the same Sunday (October 15) following the worship, we will celebrate our Annual Charge Conference. The Charge Conference is a time to appreciate what God has done in our church and to approve what the Lord is calling us to do in the next year. Unlike in the past, this year each congregation/charge is going to have its own Charge Conference. As for UMCL, Rev. Dr. Tom Carver, our District Superintendent, will be the presiding elder. Friends, as we all believe in the work of God s Spirit through each one of us, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your dedication and participation in the ministries of UMCL with your many gifts and resources. It is my hope that the Spirit of God will continue to strengthen our connection as we work together to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Together we will continue to broaden God s Kingdom on earth. In Christ. Pastor Lundula Many Gifts, One Spirit
September Page 2 Come and Celebrate World Communion Sunday October 1 st, 2017 On this day, Christians around the world celebrate the Unity of the Christian Church, regardless of our geographic, linguistic, racial, cultural differences. 10: 00 am: Worship Service with Communion You have a dress from another part of the world? Wear it! 11:00 am: Fellowship with sampling of ethnic food Dresser Ministry Receives Donation UMCL thanks Greg and Ronda Jahn, proprietors of Against the Grain Antique Shop, for their generosity in gifting us an adorable dresser for our dresser ministry. Their shop is located at 17882 Nature Ave. and we would encourage all of you to take a trip out there and look around. If you choose to, please thank them again for their generosity. Disaster Relief Combined Effort at UMCL Our Missions Team has added the funds collected for Disaster Bucket Missions along with donations for UMCOR Disaster Relief and then accepted a donation from VBS for a total of $2,122.71! Thank you to all who contributed to this mission. UMCL will submit this donation to UMCOR for Disaster Relief in the hurricane stricken southern states. Church Records We are updating our church family membership records for current addresses, phone numbers and e-mails. We appreciate your help in reviewing your family information telling us what changes are needed such as college students current addresses, or adult children who have moved. Do you need or know somebody who needs pastoral visit? Please contact our Church Office or our 2 X 2 Ministry at 712-546-4037. Baptism Do you have or know any family that has children who need to be baptized, please contact Pastor Lundula or the Church Office at 712-546-4037.
October Page 3 Confirmation Field Trip to Beth Shalom Synagogue On Friday October 20, our Confirmation Students will be visiting the Beth Shalom Synagogue in Sioux City, IA. If you are interested in joining us, please let Pastor Lundula know. Annual Charge Conference Sun. Oct. 15 following worship in the Sanctuary. Presider is Rev. Dr. Tom Carver. Sharing Table Contributions of $316.97 have been collected thus far! Sharing Table funds are designated to pay for postage of School Kits presented at Ingathering and shipped overseas. All Saints Sunday Sunday, November 5th will be All Saints Sunday. If you would like us to remember your loved one who passed away in the past twelve months from Nov. 6, 2016, during the All Saints Service, please contact the church office. Christian Needs Center A Note from Susan Van Driel... I want to let you know that we are doing the Adopt-A-Family program again this year. Like last year, we will be buying each child that is signed up a coat, boots and snow pants. If you want to donate to this program or help in any way, please let me know. christianneeds@outlook.com October needs to fill the pantry include: Pasta Sauce (no noodles), soup, canned vegetables, cake mixes, diapers sizes 5 & 6, dish soap, cleaning supplies. Thank You... My family and I would like to thank Aaron and Mel Tolzin and our JOURNEY for doing some cleaning work at the Parsonage. May God richly bless you. The Lundula's Expanding Our Ministries Beyond Le Mars After our visit at Gospel Mission in Sioux City with the UMW last summer, we were invited to join them in this ministry serving God s people. Pastor Lundula has volunteered to lead the worship at Gospel Mission on the first Friday of every month at 7:30 pm. Everybody is welcome to join us at 500 Bluff Street in Sioux City. Meeting the needs of homeless for over 75 years
October Page 4 United Methodist Women We Are Called The United Methodist Women s NW District Annual Meeting was held here at UMCL on Friday, September 22. Our October Prayer Dear God, help us to listen to your calling to bring people to your saving Grace. Father, hear our prayers as we pray for: Our Staff Parish Relations Team as they care for our staff. Father, help us to trust you and to give us strength, courage and faith to overcome the challenges of this life. Lord, we give you all the praise and glory. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen Morning Prayer Coffee General Assembly & Officers Join us in Multi-Purpose Room Wed. October 11 @ 10:00 am Bring a Friend! Evening Prayer Time Join us in Multi-Purpose Room Thurs. Oct. 19 @ 6:00 pm For 45 Minutes of Prayer & Meditation Bring a Friend! UMW Circle Dates Wed. Oct. 11 Peace Circle @ 9:30 am Thur. Oct. 12 Esther Circle @ 1:30 pm Thur. Oct. 12 Priscilla Circle @ 7:15 pm Mon. Oct. 30 Executive Board @ 9:30 am UMW Missions Dinner Sunday, October 1st 5:30 pm in Fellowship Hall Guest Speaker Christopher Miksch Sharing His Recent trip to Albania
September Page 5 Thank You... To Glenda Drennen on behalf of Mavis Kuper s Estate for the generous donation to Congregational Care. We appreciate your kindness. Church Camp Thank You s Thank you for scholarships and prayers when we attended Adventure Camp at the United Methodist campgrounds in Okoboji. We had a lot of fun meeting new friends, going on adventures, and learning more of God s word. We are looking forward to going again next year! Thanks again for all your support. Camden Feuerhelm & Blake Daale Thank you for the scholarships and prayers when we attended Boundary Waters Canoe Adventure camp in August. We traveled to beautiful Boundary Waters in Northern Minnesota and enjoyed camping, fishing, canoeing, and growing our faith. It was a great experience and we thank you again for all your support! Kelsey Feuerhelm & Brynlie Daale Average Attendance at UMCL 2017 2016 January 112 81 February 134 94 March 128 132 April 186 94 May 101 101 June 92 105 July 81 112 August 116 116 September 116 103 Aug Income: $ 14,121 Aug Expenses: $ 14,725 Aug FIF Contributions: $ 11,914 Aug FIF Expenses: $ 8,290 The money class that will CHANGE YOUR LIFE Take control of your financial future once and for all. Sign up today the class is still open! UMCL - 901 3rd Ave SE Nine consecutive Mondays beginning October 1, 2017 6-8 p.m. The cost for all the nine (9) sessions: $100 per family scholarships available Contact the Center for Financial Education to register 712-722-3527 or https://fpu.com/1049343 or The United Methodist Church of Le Mars 712-546-4037 more info: daveramsey.com/findaclass UMCL has financial aid available in the amount of $50 Scholarships for families enrolling and this class. Please call the church office 712-546-4037 or Pastor Lundula 712-539-1457 or e-mail office@lemarsumchurch.org or revlundula@gmail.com as soon as possible.