Connec A Publication of Mediapolis and Sperry United Methodist Churches. May 2018 Mediapolis 601 North Street Mediapolis, IA 52637 8:25 AM Sunday Worship 9:35 AM Sunday School 10:45 AM Sunday Worship Sperry 11756 Sperry Road Sperry, IA 52650 8:45 AM Children s Sunday School 9:30 AM Sunday Worship 10:45 AM Adult Sunday School Mailing Address PO Box 38 Mediapolis, IA 52637 Office Telephone 319.394.3131 After hours emergency phone number: 319.394.3546 Office Hours Tuesday Friday 9:00 AM 4:00 PM E-mail Office mepomethch@mepotelco.net Pastor Bruce Smith pastorbrucesmith@gmail.com Tracey Burgus tburgus@mepotelco.net Web Site www.mepoumc.com Facebook http:/www.facebook.com/mepoumc http://www.facebook.com/sperryumc I have to admit, I pulled some horrible shenanigans on Facebook after our last snow. I posted a picture of a blizzard with a label that basically said: In about 2 months the days will start to get shorter; which means, Winter is right around the corner! That is NOT what we want to think about right now, is it? It seems like Winter just hung on for all it was worth this year. Not only that, there are still a few folks hanging on to that Christmas Spirit out there. I ve seen a lit tree every so often, sometimes lights still in the windows, even Micah is having a mid-season crisis. He keeps seeing that larger-thanlife Santa at Kline s during their retirement sale, and thinks Santa is going to come live at his house and be his bestest friend ever. I keep telling myself, This, too, shall pass. I am definitely ready to move on to warmer weather! Now that it finally feels like Spring, there sure is a lot of catch-up to take place. Farmers are working hard in the fields, flowers are finally in bloom, there is more green than white you get the picture. And in no time at all, Spring will feel like a fleeting moment as we all gear up for Summer. There are only a few more weeks left of school, pools and aquatic centers will open (providing we don t experience a 5th winter), and many will finalize plans for their summer vacations. As excited as we all are for some of these things to take place, let s not let this season escape us so quickly. Perhaps we can apply the same statement to our worship time together. We re still in the Easter season, but it seems that in no time at all we re going to be in what the Christian calendar refers to as Ordinary Time. Let s not let the Easter season escape us so quickly. Instead of feeling like we re in ordinary time, let s make it an extraordinary time. The intent is to recognize new life given through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, to celebrate that new life, and to allow this new life to grow within us. As we finish up with the Easter season, let s take the opportunity of this extraordinary time to take part in mission opportunities through our gifts and our giving, to grow closer with our God, and to grow closer with one another as well. More to follow in the weeks ahead! In Christ,
This Month... @ Mediapolis Tuesday, May 1 st & 22 nd 6:30 PM @ Sperry Thursday, May 10 th & 24 th 6:15 PM Communion will be celebrated on Sunday, May 13 th Breakfast by the Boys Sunday, May 13 th 8:30-9:30 am Sperry Fellowship Hall Everyone is welcome! 2 or More are Gathered Monday, May 14 th @ Noon Big Muddy s 710 N Front St, Burlington This invitation is extended to all seniors and singles who would like to join us. Care & Share Card Ministry Monday, May 21 st 1:00 PM Rita Cortum s home Lay Visitation Ministries Updates and Information From the Desk of Tracey Burgus We have been waiting with anticipation for Spring to finally arrive and stick around. It appears that it may have finally happened! This is the time when the Earth is renewed with new life appearing everywhere around us. From the new green leaves on the trees, grasses greening up and growing, and flowers opening their petals to the sunlight, to the birth of brand new life from farm animals and wildlife, there are abundant miracles all around us. These are the seasons that we love to be outside and to experience the greatness and the vastness of God s creation. These are also very busy months of the year for us. If we are not intentional about making our prayer time, devotionals, and church attendance priorities, they can quickly be pushed to the side by a sea of other activities and obligations. In the midst of our activity it is important for us to remember those who are homebound and living in care facilities who love to receive cards and notes and want to see our face when we drop in for a visit Likewise, there are people in need of our intercession who are facing difficult situations in life and a church body that need our constant prayerful support and presence. So, have you formed a plan for keeping your focus on the Master in the weeks and months to come so that you are energized for all of the tasks at hand and able to truly enjoy all of the blessings and activities that He sends your way? If you already have a commitment to prayer and listening for His voice that you follow throughout the year, may you stay strong and continue in that. If not, I hope you will take a few minutes and form a plan that you can commit to! Blessings! Tracey MEAL MINISTRY The purpose of our Meal Ministry is to provide meals for families in our congregation who are recovering from an illness, surgery or childbirth. If you are aware of anyone who may need meals, please contact the church office. NEED PRAYER OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO DOES? Organized prayer teams are available to minister to your needs. Please contact the church office with your prayer requests. Please call the church office if you or a family member will be admitted into the hospital. Thank You! PAGE 2 CONNECT MAY 2018
Sperry UMC 2018 Vacation Bible School June 18th 22nd 9:30 AM - Noon Age 3 thru 5th grade Join us for this white water rafting adventure of a lifetime as we learn that God is always with us as we ride the rapids of life. Team Members Needed for a River Adventure! We re going Rolling on the River for VBS this year, and we need you to come along for the ride! For more information or to volunteer, please contact: Tanya Smith at 394-3546, tanyasmith728@gmail.com or sign up on the tab in the bulletin. July 9 13, 2018 Wednesday, May 16 7:00 PM Mediapolis Community Auditorium Sponsored by the Mediapolis Area Churches Bulletin: Wednesdays at noon Newsletter: th 20 of each month MA Y 2 0 1 8 Graduation Sunday Join us as we honor our on during the morning worship services. Grinnell College Grinnell, IA Register online @ sgu.camp or contact the church office for more information. For current 6th 12th graders May Schedule: May 2nd: May 9th: May the 4th be with you! Dress up as a Star War s character Extra points for dressing in theme! All Club Award Night C O NNE C T PAGE 3
Senior High (Betzina Yaley 319-759-3361 mcygsr@gmail.com) Junior High (Jenny McGhee 319-752-7008 mcygjr@gmail.com) It s hard to believe that the school year is wrapping up already!! And that means MCYG is also wrapping up for the summer, but there is still time for a couple more events! Wednesday, May 23 End of Year Party @ Yaley s. 7-9pm. Bonfire, night games & s mores!! Fri, June 22 Sun, June 24 Local Mission Trip @ Big Hollow. Service projects, camping, fun!! Senior High took a deeper look at what Easter really means & why it really matters to us. Easter matters because without it, our faith would be in vain! Easter matters because God sent His Son, Jesus Christ for us! And that means that His love for us is infinite & that He cares about us in the here & now. We ended the series by watching the movie The Easter Experience & it challenged us to put ourselves in the Easter story along with Mary Magdalene, the Thief on the cross & Mary, Jesus mother asking us again, how great an impact has Christ s death & resurrection truly made in our lives?!! We ended our MCYG year with Senior night & Nancy Carter was our guest speaker. She challenged our graduating seniors to stay strong in their faith as they step into the next phase of their lives. We re going to miss our seniors very much!! Signup for our Local Mission trip is by May 15th. Contact Betzina Yaley or Jenny McGhee for more information. Thank you for your support of MCYG! Your prayers & many contributions are vital to this ministry & we appreciate you so much!! We ll see you in the Fall! Sr High Wed (5/23): 7:00-9:00 PM End of Year Party @ Yaley s House Fri (6/22) - Sun (6/24): Local Mission Trip @ Big Hollow Jr High (6th-8th) Wed (5/2): 6:30-7:30 PM 8th grade only @ Presbyterian Church Q&A prep for High School Fri (6/22) - Sun (6/24): Local Mission Trip @ Big Hollow PAGE 4 CONNECT MAY 2018
Mediapolis 8:25 AM Sunday Worship 9:35 AM Sunday School 10:45 AM Sunday Worship Sperry 8:45 AM Children s Sunday School 9:30 AM Sunday Worship 10:45 AM Adult Sunday School Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Game Time 3:30 PM, Prairie Ridge 6:30 PM, Mepo 2 Awana 6:15 PM, Mepo 3 4 5 6 7 8 Family Ministries Meeting 6:30 PM, Mepo 9 UMW 2:00 PM, Sperry 10 6:15 PM, Sperry SPRC 6:30 PM, Sperry 11 12 Awana Club Awards Night 6:15 PM, Mepo 13 Communion Breakfast By the Boys 8:30 AM, Sperry 14 2 or More are Gathered Noon, Big Muddy s 15 Ad Council 6:00 PM, Sperry Ad Council 7:30 PM, Mepo 16 Baccalaureate 7:00 PM, Mediapolis Community Auditorium 17 ARK Meeting 7:00 PM, Mepo 18 19 20 21 Care & Share Card Ministry 1:00 PM, Cortum s 22 6:30 PM, Mepo 23 24 6:15 PM, Sperry 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
MAY DAILY BIBLE READING GUIDE May-01 Ruth 3-4; Proverbs 31 May-02 Psalms 1:119-88 May-03 Psalms 89:119-176 May-04 Judges 1-2; Psalms 50 May-05 Judges 3-4; Psalms 20 May-06 Judges 5-6; Psalms 121 May-07 Judges 7-8; Psalms 83 May-08 Judges 9; Psalms 120 May-09 Judges 10; Psalms 44; Judges 11 May-10 Judges 12-14; Psalms 143 May-11 Judges 15-17; 2 Peter 1 May-12 Judges 18-19; 2 Peter 2 May-13 Judges 20-21; 2 Peter 3 May-14 1 Samuel 1-2; Psalms 113 May-15 1 Samuel 3-6; Psalms 97 May-16 Psalms 124; 1 Samuel 7-9 May-17 1 Samuel 10-12; Titus 1 May-18 1 Samuel 13-14; Titus 2 May-19 1 Samuel 15-16; Titus 3 May-20 1 Samuel 17; Psalms 27 May-21 Psalms 55; 1 Samuel 18-19; Psalms 42-43 May-22 1 Samuel 20-22; Psalms 52 May-23 Psalms 54; 1 Samuel 23-24; Psalms 63 May-24 1 Samuel 25-26; Psalms 7 May-25 Psalms 57; 1 Samuel 27-29; Psalms 31 May-26 1 Samuel 30-31; Psalms 18 May-27 2 Samuel 1-3; Psalms 141 May-28 Psalms 58; 2 Samuel 4-6 May-29 Psalms 21; 2 Samuel 7-9 May-30 2 Samuel 10-12; Psalms 51 May-31 Psalms 36; 2 Samuel 13-14 5/01 Adam Dziulko, Cathy Larson, Russell Moehle, Caitlin Smith 5/02 Kim Hollingsworth, Claire Schmidt 5/03 Melonie Baggot, Jordan Steffener 5/04 Bev McKasson, Maggie Wright 5/05 Matt Cummings, Rodger Knock, Rodney Knock, Tanya Smith, Rachel Wilson 5/06 Brent Hicks, Clint Parry, Gloria Warner 5/07 James Perry 5/08 Dan Vorwerk, Ray Wilson 5/09 Marie Dideriksen 5/10 Corky Cover, Maddie Hollingsworth 5/11 Sara Petersen 5/12 Mickey Hobbs 5/13 Tammy Magel 5/15 Georgia Allen, Heath Hillyard 5/16 Jodie Bruce 5/18 Mike Chenoweth, Aiden Schmidt, Kathy Thomson 5/19 Dean Mumme, Erma Perry 5/20 John Cortum, Tom Jones, Leighton Schulte, Toby Whitaker 5/21 Arnie Crouch 5/23 Nathan Aamodt, Ryan Hunerdosse 5/26 Ben Skelley 5/27 Conner Bush, Lyn Isom, Martha Shelman 5/28 Troy Stephens 5/29 Dennis Breder 5/04 Chris & Lishay Allen 5/05 Brian & Linda DeSpain 5/10 Ken & Gail Davis 5/11 Ken & Kathleen Dziulko 5/13 Kerry & Julie Renfro 5/18 Fred & Gwen Scholer 5/21 Arnie & Jane Crouch 5/26 Evan & Jodie Bruce Chuck & Carol Staley 5/29 Brian & Emily Borrison 5/30 Brian & Lyn Isom Meetings Sperry UMW Wednesday, May 9 2:00 PM. Hostess: Terry Hicks; Lesson: Carolyn Weyer. SPRC Thursday, May 10 6:30 PM at Sperry. Sperry Ad Council Tuesday, May 15 6:00 PM. Mediapolis Ad Council Tuesday, May 15 7:30 PM.