Spirit Lake United Methodist Church 1812 Gary Ave. Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360 December 2017 Issue 12 United Methodist News Christmas is Coming I hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. Now it s time to turn our eyes toward Christmas. There will be a lot happening in our lives during the next month and a lot happening here at the church. I hope you set aside plenty of time in the midst of the busyness to pray, sing, fellowship and worship as we look forward to celebrating the coming of the Savior. Enclosed in the newsletter you will find an offering envelope. There will be multiple opportunities to give during the Advent/Christmas season, let me share two: The first is just to remember the church in your giving this Christmas and help us to end the year well and, thus, set the stage for a wonderful 2018. Second, Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday this year, so we will have 3 services on that day. The first will be a combined service at 10:00 a.m. Then, we will have two Candlelight Christmas Eve services that night at 5 p.m. (Contemporary) and 7 p.m. (Traditional). The offering we take up at all three services will be designated for two ministries Mercy Ships and Autumn s Center. Mercy Ships are floating hospitals off the coast of countries in Africa. Surgeons, nurses, and other medical professionals volunteer their time and talents to be the hands and feet of Jesus, giving hope and healing to families who have felt lost and broken by illness and physical handicaps. Autumn s Center is a counseling service located in Spencer, that ministers to abused and handicapped children in our area, many of them from Spirit Lake. Besides giving opportunities, I hope you will take advantage of opportunities to fellowship and share in the joy of the season. On December 10 the youth and children will be presenting a musical at the 10:30 hour on Sunday morning. On December 13th we ll gather for a turkey dinner during our Wonderful Wednesday. On Sunday, December 17, you can join the choir for an hour or so caroling at the nursing homes here in town. All of these are opportunities to anticipate and celebrate the miracle of Christmas. God has heard our cries, and has spoken. The babe in the manger is God s answer to our deepest longings and our deepest needs. Blessing to All, INSIDE THIS ISSUE Calendar..2 Gifts... 3 Service... 3 Missions... 4 Finance Updates.. 5 SLUMC Snip Its........6 Christian Ed...7 Upcoming Activities... 8 SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST Confirmation Update pg. 6 Alterative Giving pg. 5 *MUTUARE UPDATE* The most recent newsletter from Missionaries Larry & Jane Kies is available on the community bulletin board Duane
Spirit Lake United Methodist Church 1812 Gary Ave Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360 Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 92 SPIRIT LAKE, IA 51360 Phone: 712-336-3115 E-mail: office@spiritlakeumc.org Website: www.spiritlakeumc.org *Help us conserve time and paper by contacting the office if you have address update or would like to be removed from our mailing list UPCOMING ACTIVITIES Christmas Caroling All people who love to sing... NO APOLOGIES 2018 Please join the Chancel Choir on Sunday December 17 for a fun afternoon of caroling!! We will meet at the church parking lot at 2:00PM. After caroling we will go to the fireside room for Christmas cookies and hot chocolate. All ages are welcome to come. No Apologies for Teens, our large group gathering for 6th-12th grade students will take place on Wednesday, January 31 at the Clay County Event Center in Spencer from 6:30-8:15 PM Hear from Special Guests: Joshua Jordan and Jon Pausley
12:00 UMW 5:30 Wonderful Wednesday 10:00 Accura 10:30 Keelson 2:00 Staff Mtg 12:00 Prayer Care 2:00 Staff Mtg 7:00 MISSIONS 9:30 TRUSTEES 10:30 Contemporary Worship 11:30 2nd Service Coffee 6:30 NO APOLOGIES 2018 11:30 2nd Service Coffee 10:30 Contemporary Worship 9:30 Sunday School 8:30 Traditional Worship 31 TRADITIONAL OFFICE CLOSED 1 2 12:00 Kiwanis 4 9:00 Men's Breakfast 3 CONTEMPORARY 7:00 CHRISTMAS WORSHIP 12:00 Kiwanis 9:00 Protective Team 9:00 Men's Breakfast 28 27 5:30 Wonderful Wednesday 12:00 Kiwanis 26 Study 3:00 Friendship Bible Accura 5:00 CHRISTMAS WORSHIP 25 OFFICE CLOSED 10:00 COMBINED WORSHIP 24 2:00 Christmas Caroling 10:00 TOPS 9:00 Men's Breakfast @ NEWSLETTER DEADLINE 9:00 MUSIC STAFF 9:30 Sunday School 20 8:30 Traditional Worship 19 18 17 7:00 Staff-Parish 6:15 Finance 21 10:30 UMW Leaders Mtg 12:00 Prayer Care 9:30 Sunday School 10:30 Contemporary Worship CHRISTMAS PROGRAM 11:30 2nd Service Coffee 12:00 Kiwanis 9:00 Men's Breakfast 9:30 Welcov 10:00 TOPS 8:30 Traditional WorshipCommunion 11 14 5 29 OFFICE CLOSED 22 6:30 PM Girl Scout 13 Fellowship 6 30 Fellowship Pantry @ Spirit Life 8-10 - DC Food 23 16 Lock In Pantry @ Spirit Life 8-10 - DC Food 9 2 Saturday 2:00 Staff Mtg 15 8 1 Friday 5:30 Wonderful Wednesday 7 Thursday 9:00 Men's Breakfast 6 Wednesday 12:00 Prayer Care 12 5 Tuesday 10:00 TOPS 4 Monday 10 11:30 2nd Service Coffee 10:30 Contemporary Worship 9:30 Service Training 9:30 Sunday School 9:30 Blood Pressure Checks 8:30 Traditional Worship COMMUNION 3 Sunday DECEMBER 2017
CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS JINGLE BELL BEACH A singing competition of pitch perfect proportions. Our Children s and Youth Christmas Program will be held during our Contemporary Worship Service at 10:30 AM on Sunday, December 10th. No Sunday School Dec. 24 & Dec. 31 No Wonderful Wednesday Dec. 27 & Jan. 3 Christmas Program s will be held during Wonderful Wednesday and Sunday school class times. If it is possible, we would love to have all of the kids in Pre school through 8th grade be at Wonderful Wednesday and Sunday school We will be having our annual Christmas Turkey Dinner & Potluck on Wonderful Wednesday, December 13, 5:30 PM at Wesley Place for our final practices. Wednesday, November 29 Sunday, December 3 Wednesday, December 6 Sunday, December 10 (This is the day of the program.) Wonderful Wednesday rehearsal If your last name begins with A-O; please bring a side dish or salad to share. If your last name begins with P-Z; please bring a dessert to share. meet from 6:00-7:30 PM. Sunday school rehearsal meet from 9:30-10:30 AM. 7
CONFIRMATION UPDATE Zayda is a first grader in Guatemala. She has a large family, 2 sisters and 6 brothers, and loves being able to go to school. The Confirmation Class has taken on the challenge of helping to pay for the costs of Zayda's schooling. With a commitment of $28 a month they help to pay for the cost of attending school in Guatemala. Zayda Patricia Morales Zapeta SLUMC SNIP ITS A WONDERFUL Wednesday at UM Camp with music by Bill & Jackie Carpenter Great attendance at our Church Conference ATTENTION STUDENTS! The Iowa United Methodist Foundation will be accepting scholarship applications for the 2018-2019 academic year beginning December 1, 2017. Find out which scholarships are available by going to the foundation website, www.iumf.org/scholarship. All applications must be received by March 1, 2018. 6
JOYS & CONCERNS Concerns Elveda Ross Scott Montgomery s mom, Barbara Montgomery Estella Harmon Jennifer Wymer s dad, Ron Wolterman Doris Rouse Carol Shelton Coleen Daly Pat Fedders Mike Wiley *Please note that prayer concerns will remain listed for 2 weeks unless the office is notified. GIFTS Adopt A Day 12/5 Alan & Sue Blake 12/7 Jerry Cook in memory of Sandra 12/11 Denny Galloway's birthday 12/13 Dave & Carol Larson in celebration of Carol s birthday 12/21 Sarah Larson in honor of her birthday 12/24 The Wollmuth s MERRY CHRISTMAS! 12/25 Derek & Jessica Halquist 12/27 Larry & Lois Shaffer in honor of their anniversary 12/30 Marlin & Lola Kness in memory of their 57th Anniversary TV Ministry 12/3 Shirley Olson 12/10 Lavonne Hansen 12/17 Tom Crumlett 12/24 Larry & Lois Shaffer 12/31 Marlin & Lola Kness (57th Anniversary) 12/30 8:30 SERVICE Please help us serve others by signing up for Sundays.. 12/3 12/10 12/17 12/24 12/31 GREETERS Marlin & Lola Kness Darwin & Sally Will USHERS ADVENT READERS Wilma Matthes & Lavonne Kness 10:00 COMBINED Ray Tryon Confirmands COFFEE HOUR Health & Welfare Health & Welfare Health & Welfare Health & Welfare Health & Welfare WELCOME CENTER 10:30 Marlin & Lola Kness Wilma Matthes & LaVonne Kness USHERS Confirmands COFFEE HOUR Cindy Martens & Diana Heida Carol Larson WELCOME CENTER 3
MISSION OPPORTUNITIES Discovery House The Discovery House is a rewarding opportunity to serve others in our community. We can show the gift of hospitality the first Monday of each month by sharing a meal with our friends at Discovery House. Prayerfully consider this ministry, as we use our gifts in the service for others. The signup sheet and guidelines are on the Connections Table. UMCOR Blankets This winter, share warmth with neighbors near and far! Sign up at the Missions area of the Connections Table to provide warm, wool blankets to agencies across the country so they can help keep their communities warm. *A great gift idea! Mitten Tree Help fill our mitten tree in the Narthex with stocking hats, mittens, gloves and socks. They will be taken to the school nurse and given to children who need them. *SPECIAL NOTE: Homemade knitted items usually don t move as well, as they re not quite as warm or waterproof. Shepherd Ministry Once again the congregation will be delivering goodie boxes and bags to local facilities (the hospital, nursing home, gas stations, etc.) We will need donations of fresh fruit, baked goods and other treats. Please bring your donations to the church by noon on December 23. They will be delivered on Christmas Eve in between services. There is a sign-up sheet on the Connections Table for those willing to help bring food and those willing to help assemble the goodie bags. BACKPACK PROGRAM Did you know there are children going hungry every weekend in Spirit Lake? The school has a backpack program to send food home, and our church helps with this. This program is ongoing. There is a bin in the Narthex for your donations. Pudding Cups Jars of Peanut Butter & Jelly Pretzels Juice Boxes Cheese & Cracker pkgs Hormel Complete Dinners Pop Tarts Jiffy Peanut Butter To Go pkgs Chicken Noodle Soup Fruit Snacks Easy Mac & Cheese Mini Muffins *Monetary contributions are appreciated as it enables the pantry to buy food and items as they are needed.* 4
MISSIONS CONT. Alternative Giving This Christmas why not give a gift to relieve World Hunger in honor of your loved ones? Friends, teachers, grandchildren and others might be thrilled to know an animal or donation has been bought in their name. These gifts help struggling families lift themselves out of poverty. Heifer International www.heifer.org Heifer International's mission is to work with communities to end world hunger and poverty and to care for the Earth. Heifer helps bring sustainable agriculture and commerce to areas with a long history of poverty. Our animals provide partners with both food and reliable income, as agricultural products such as milk, eggs and honey can be traded or sold at market. Self-Help International https://selfhelpinternational.org/ Self-Help works to alleviate hunger by assisting the rural poor, small-scale farmers and related enterprises in developing countries. Headquartered in Waverly, Iowa, Self-Help is currently operating sustainable development programs in Ghana, West Africa, and Nicaragua, Central America. Church World Service www.cwsglobal.org Church World Service is a faith-based organization transforming communities around the globe through just and sustainable responses to hunger, poverty, displacement and disaster. YEAR END GIVING Update from the SLUMC Finance Committee, October 31, 2017: January 1, 2017 Balance= $22,493 17 Year-To-Date Giving= $296,915 Expenses Paid= - $312,141 Balance, 10-31-2017= $7,267 Outstanding Expenses = - $11,107 Therefore, we are reminded of the need to catch up on pledges & offerings so we may meet all financial obligations as we close out 2017. It is a blessing to include our church on our Christmas lists. Thank you, in advance, for financial and prayerful support.making a difference. REMIINDER - Gifts & donations for 2017 need to be received in the church office by Wednesday, December 27. Thank you for your generosity. A drop box is available at the west entrance for your convenience. 5