Laurens United Methodist Church 201 W. Main St., Laurens, IA 50554 The Newsletter Volume 26 Issue 6 February 11, 2019 Rachel Potter Gives Presentation at United Methodist Men s Meeting Photo & article submitted by Monty Potter Rachel Potter presented to 12 people at Methodist Men on Saturday, February 2. Rachel spent the summer in Tanzania serving with STEMM (Siouxland Tanzania Education Medical Ministries). STEMM is a spirit led, relationally driven nonprofit organization, compelled to transform lives through Christ in Tanzania. During her 3 months stay she was able to teach Bible stories in the local Christian school, serve at the lunch program, and do marketing and PR work for STEMM. Rachel was also able to visit her World Vision, sponsor child, Neyesu. After returning home and seeing all the good that World Vision is doing in Tanzania she has taken on the role of Child Ambassador. Through this position, she is helping to find sponsors for children all over the world. Wed., Feb. 13th: Book Club @ 9 a.m. Thurs., Feb. 14th: Brain Trauma Support Group meeting @ 6 p.m. (Wesley Room) Fri., Feb. 15th: Men s Bible Study @ 7 a.m. Sun., Feb. 17th: Youth Group (Sr. High) from 6-8 p.m. here at LUMC Choir practice @ 7 p.m.
There will also be a Silent Auction!
Valentine s Day St. Valentine s Day falls on February 14th of each year. Although the name is Saint Valentine s Day, most people refer to the day as Valentine s Day, or even the Feast of Saint Valentine. It was originally a day to celebrate Saint Valentinus, who performed weddings for soldiers who were not allowed to marry. He was imprisoned for this, as well as for ministering to Christians. Saint Valentinus wrote a letter to the daughter of his jailer before he was executed. His letter was signed From your Valentine. He was buried on February 14th. Valentine s day was not associated with romantic love until the Middle Ages. By the 1700s in England it began to resemble the Valentine s Day we know today. At this time lovers began to express their love with gifts of flowers, candy and cards, which were called valentines. Interesting facts: On Valentine s Day every year, there are at least 36 million heart shape boxes of chocolates sold. There are enough candy hearts made each year to stretch from Valentine, Arizona to Rome, Italy, and back again! The number of these candy hearts produced is approximately 8 billion. There are approximately 50 million roses given on Valentine s Day around the world. The phrase to wear your heart on your sleeve has historical meaning. In the Middle Ages young people would draw the name of their valentine from a bowl. They had to wear the name on their sleeve for one week. Approximately 15% of women send themselves flowers on Valentine s Day. Valentine s Day is the second most popular day of the year for sending cards, second only to Christmas. In 1537, King Henry the Eighth declared that February 14th was a holiday. King Henry the Eighth had most of his wives executed because they did not give birth to a son. At least 9 million people buy their pets a gift on Valentine s Day! On Valentine s Day, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell, applied for his telephone patent. There are approximately 1 billion Valentine s Day cards exchanged every year in the U.S. alone.
The cancelled UMW meeting will NOT be rescheduled in February. We WILL have the luncheon and pledge service at our March meeting. If you had your pledge prepared and would like to get it to Angie Sobotka before the meeting you may do so. The new time for our March meeting activities is now: Executive at 10:00, Meeting at 11:00 and Luncheon at 12:00.We hope our working members can join us for the luncheon at noon. ~Wendy RACHEL CIRCLE meeting Thursday, February 21 9:15 A.M. Hostess: Wesley Room Devotions & Lesson: Virginia Otto Serving: Linda Olson
The Hands of Hope Puppet Troop will resume on Wednesday, February 27th @ 7:00 p.m. Hope to see all of you puppeteers there! In case of inclement weather, church cancellations will be aired on KAYL (101.7 FM), KICD (107.7 FM & 1240 AM), and KJYL (100.7 FM) radio stations. Cancellations will also be posted on our church facebook page (Laurens United Methodist Church), our website (www.laurensumc.org) and Channel 4 (KTIV). Thank you to everyone who participates, helps, performs & serves each Sunday morning to help make our fellowship & worship service a wonderful & meaningful experience for all in the glorifying of our Lord. March-April 2019 issues of The Upper Room are now available in the church library and narthex for you to pick up at your convenience. Watch our worship services online at your convenience at www.laurensumc.org Click on Sermons Worship services may be viewed on local Channel 2 every Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.
Contact information: Pastor Ed Frank: Pastor s Cell phone: (712) 577-3605 Pastor s Email: swmreved@hotmail.com Autumm Brazel, Executive Secretary: Office (712) 841-4476 Email: methodistsec@laurens-ia.com Linda Olson, Custodian Office Hours: 8:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M. Monday Friday visit our website at: www.laurensumc.org Stewardship for Sunday, February 11, 2019 Weekly Year-to-date Special Total Receipts for Feb. 11th: Projected Budget Needs: $ 1,597.50 $ 4,022.07 $ 13,388.10 $ 24,132.42 $ 75.00 Attendance for Feb. 11th: Sunday School ~ 49 Worship ~ 80 PRAYER REQUESTS: Julie Schossow (recovering from knee replacement surgery), Carol Schmidt, Don Hertz, Gloria Bell, Denny Waters, Pete Davis, Carolyn Garton (hospice), Deb Buse, Jamey Turner, Amy Gustafson, Emmaline Roenfeldt, Edith Colleen White, Gabrielle Wingler, victims of natural disasters, our schools (safety), our military, our nation (unity), our world (peace). Sunday, February 17, 2019 WORSHIP Adult Sunday School @ 9:00 a.m. Sunday School (kids) @ 9:10 a.m. Fellowship Coffee ~ 9:30 A.M. Worship ~ 10:30 A.M. Choir performs Liturgist ~ Thaine Hopkins Pianist ~ Kaye Van Genderen Ushers ~ Matt Hertz, Pat Sullivan, Monty Potter and Jerry Sobotka Greeters ~ Gerald & Leoma Hopkins Acolytes ~ Clayton Rubel and TBA Children s Sermon ~ Pastor Ed Frank