Riverside United Methodist Church

Riverside United Methodist Church Where the Spirit runs deep... P. O. Box 128 Park Rapids, MN 56470 February 2018 Vol. 18, Issue 1 The Pastor Shares... Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on February 14 th. This is a season of self-examination, repentance and preparation for the gift of resurrection on Easter Sunday. People often decide to give up something for Lent, or practice some other similar spiritual discipline. I must confess, I don t have a great track record in giving up things for Lent. One year I tried giving up Diet Coke. I had the habit of drinking a Diet Coke on my way to work, and then drinking another at lunch. If I needed a caffeine boost in the afternoon I would drink a third can. My efforts to give up Diet Coke didn t go well. If you have ever cut yourself off caffeine all at once, you know what I experienced. I developed the worst headache I ve ever had. If that wasn t bad enough, I became extremely irritable. That is not an admirable trait in a chaplain, a wife, a friend, or a mother! After making everyone around me miserable, I finally gave up in defeat, succumbing to the temptation to drink a Diet Coke. I m sure all my family sighed in relief! My second attempt at giving something up for Lent involved candy. (I have an enormous sweet tooth.) Giving up candy was especially difficult as I worked with a volunteer who loved to share candy with our chaplaincy staff. A full candy dish was a constant source of temptation! When Easter finally came, I dug into my candy stash. Wouldn t you know, as I was chewing on a jelly bean, a crown on my tooth came off! I do much better when I decide to add something to my life during Lent. This year, I am going to read a Psalm every day! I invite you to join me in finding something special or different to add to your daily routine to help make this Lenten season spiritually rewarding! In Christ s Love, Pastor Lori In This Issue Casting the net of Christ s love to all through Faith, Action and Compassion. Lent Youth & Education News Camp Registration Info! United Methodist Women Church Council Happenings What You Need to Know... In Our Prayers 2 3 3 4 5 6 7

Coming in Worship Whether or not you will be watching the Olympic games in February, it is hard not to admire the dedication and commitment of the competing athletes. The Apostle Paul frequently used metaphors taken from the world of sports to teach important lessons about living the Christian faith. This sermon series is a great preface to the season of Lent! Sermon Series: The Games: Faster, Higher, Stronger January 28: Training for the Games Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 February 4: The Power of the Team Scriptures: Hebrews 10:24-25, 12:1, Galatians 6:2 February 11: The Thrill of Victory, the Agony of Defeat When every breath is a struggle and filled with pain, the words that are spoken matter. What can Jesus final words from the cross teach us about life s greatest difficulties? Based on Adam Hamilton s Final Words From the Cross, each Sunday in Lent we will examine and get a better understanding of those words from the perspective of those who witnessed Jesus crucifixion. February 18: Father, forgive them February 25: Behold your son March 4: March 11: March 18: March 25: My God, why have you forsaken me? Today, you will be with me in paradise I thirst Into your hands I commit my spirit Ash Wednesday Worship Services This year Ash Wednesday falls on February 14 th. We will once again be worshiping on Ash Wednesday with Calvary Lutheran Church and Hubbard United Methodist Church. Services will be held at Calvary Lutheran Church, Highway 71 in Park Rapids with two services, offered at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. A meal will be served beginning at 5:00 p.m. John Newton, a slave-ship captain who became a minister and abolitionist, had a special affinity for grace. In fact, he wrote the hymn Amazing Grace to celebrate the freedom that God gives to Christians. I am not what I ought to be, Newton said. I am not what I want to be. I am not what I hope to be. But still, I am not what I used to be. And by the grace of God, I am what I am. Reprinted from NewsletterNewsletter.com - 2 -

Another Great Year of Programming! Riverside s Middle School and High School students are invited to be a part of fun and fellowship Wednesday evenings from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Dinner will be served in the Fellowship Hall at 6:00 p.m., followed by Bible study, activities, fellowship and prayer. We have some great things planned this year, so join us, and bring your friends! FEBRUARY SCHEDULE February 7 February 14 February 21 February 28 High School Youth Group Meets Ash Wednesday - NO YOUTH GROUP High School Youth Group Meets Middle School Youth Group Meets Release Time! Release Time fun continues Wednesday mornings! If your child is in elementary or middle school (1st - 8th grade), they are eligible to participate in this Wednesday morning program. A school bus will bring your child to Riverside Wednesday mornings for religious education and activities, but you must sign them up through the school. If you d like your child to participate, call the elementary office (237-6200), or middle school office (237-6300) to sign your child up. Sunday School Sunday School at Riverside is underway with a unique program called One Room Schoolhouse for students pre-school through 5 th grade. Students participate in a Sunday School opening session, a music component, along with teaching and craft segments! This is an exciting curriculum for students of varying ages. We d love to have your child join in this fun program! Sunday School is also available for Middle School and High School students. Camp Registration is NOW OPEN! The Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church offers many great camps each year to help children, adults, teenagers, and even grandparents grow in their faith through a great camp experience. Camp locations include Northern Pines (in Park Rapids), Koronis and Kowakan. The schedule of camping programs and registration information is available at www.campminnesota.org, and camping brochures are located in the kiosk outside the office. Camperships are available so that everyone can have a great camping experience. Information and applications can be found at www.campminnesota.org/camperships. - 3 -

Become Part of UMW All women are invited to become part of the United Methodist Women. Join a Circle (meet the third Wednesday of each month), focus group, or be part of activities of the United Methodist Women as a whole. Men are also invited to special study programs. Call the church office (732-5205) for more information. UMW Co-Presidents: Vicki Manners & Gail Gruis 5th 21st Active Circle Groups: Executive Board Meets Circles Meet Current Issue, Friendship Circle, Charity Circle For more information on the United Methodist Women visit: www.unitedmethodistwomen.org 2nd 5th 21st 17th World Day of Prayer UMW Executive Board Meets Circles Meet Circles Meet St. Peter s Catholic Church Friday, March 2, 2018 Join in celebrating this yearly international event. This year the focus will be on Genesis 1 with the theme, All God s Creation Is Very Good! The host country is Suriname. BOOK NEWS By: Gail Gruis Seamless Faith, by Traci Smith In Seamless Faith, the author shares dozens of simple practices to equip families to make faith a part of everyday life. The book is filled with traditions, ceremonies and spiritual prayer practices. Some of these take less than five minutes. Parents can rely on this book for years, and may even want a copy for themselves. Cow Pies and Bases, by Robert B. Coates This is a collection of short essays about growing up on a Wisconsin farm in the 40's and 50's. It was a simpler time, though the work was hard. Family and church were top priority. The author is a United Methodist minister and currently works part-time with the UM's International Restorative Justice and Peacemaking organization. He has a passion for writing. These stories are great to read aloud to others. This book can be found with the biographies in the Lounge. -4-

Your Church Council: What is Happening? By: Bert T. Swanson II, Chairman RUMC Church Council After a year of heavy recruiting by the Leadership Development & Nominations Ministry Team and other ministry team chairs, 18 ministry teams (MT) have been established to facilitate the work of the Pastors and to project, manage and set policies for Riverside UMC. Excellent people have stepped up to serve as ministry team chairs, vice chairs, secretaries, prayer team members, members at large, and ex-officio members. The Church Council (CC) consists of Pastor Chip Nielsen and Pastor Lori Nielsen, Bert Swanson, council chair; Dave Keller, vice chair and lay leader; Sue Meartz, secretary Sue Meartz; along with chairs of 18 ministry teams that include: Membership & Outreach, Staff/Parish Relations, Missions, Health and Wholeness, Education & Youth, Church & Society, UMM, Worship, Board of Trustees, United Methodist Women, Finance, Leadership Development and Nominations, Pastors and Staff, Memorials, Trust Fund and Stewardship. A full roster of each membership team is available by the mailboxes, or may be requested from the office. In addition to making policy, administrative and ministry decisions each month, council members also inform fellow council members of team accomplishments and concerns, as well as congregational issues. Some accomplishments of the Church Council include the following: Established a Church Council Retreat to share congregational concerns and ideas, and how to make RUMC a more welcoming church. Attended the District Renewal Institute at Hubbard United Methodist Church. Sponsored a bus trip to Moorhead, MN to view the illuminated St. John s Bible, plus much more at the Hjemkomst Center. Sponsored a Hero s Luncheon for all First Responders from Park Rapids and Hubbard County. Established a Leadership Development & Nominations ministry team. Established a Health and Wholeness ministry team. Facilitated placing a member of each team on the RUMC prayer team established by the Membership team Facilitated development of a Policies, Procedures and Guidelines document for all but two teams. Developed a RUMC Child Protection Policy (similar to a Safe Sanctuary Policy). Approved the RUMC Annual Budget. Unified RUMC and the Memorial Garden by establishing the Memorial Garden as a RUMC ministry team. Wrote monthly newsletter articles to communicate activities and information to the congregation. Worked with the Board of Trustees and the Memorial Garden in preparation, funding and implementation of getting the exterior of the church stained. Worked with the Board of Trustees and all ministry teams to develop a Church Utilization Policy which will be completed and approved in the very near future. Each ministry team takes the next step in their responsible area to implement many detailed activities to accomplish all the tasks that make Riverside function for God and for the Congregation. - 5 -

What You Need to Know... Update from Trustees - Progress on the New Stove The Trustees have investigated the options for a new stove for the kitchen. With the UMW approval, they have chosen one that s a little larger than the one we have now. And, they are switching this stove to gas as well. The estimate for the stove, including converting to gas and adding a fire suppression system is $16,808. After gifts we ve received, our Christmas Eve offering and the money we had left over after paying our expenses in 2017 to be put toward the stove, a balance of $5,500 still needs to be raised. Monthly Book Club and Bible Study Groups Monthly Book Club Our book group will be discussing The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver on Monday, February 19th at 2:00 p.m. in Riverside s Lounge. Books are available in the office. Check with Pastor Lori if you have questions or suggestions for future book club picks! Thursday Bible Study 8:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Study meets year-round in Room 5. New members always welcome. Tuesday Mornings - Coffee and Games in the Lounge Tuesday mornings from 10:00 a.m. to Noon, enjoy coffee in the Lounge. Meet a friend, check your Wi-Fi, read a magazine, or bring a favorite board game. Several tables play Scrabble, Cribbage or cards. Fresh bean-ground coffee! Membership and Outreach We have decided to eliminate the blue attendance slips! After giving them a fair trial, we learned they weren t accomplishing our goals of tracking attendance and capturing the names and contact information of our guests any better than the pew pads. We will do some research before we try another system. If your address or phone number changes, please let the office know! - 6 -

In Our Prayers Pray for those who are ill or recovering: Don & Janis Eckhoff, Gannon Wilkins, Al VanRoekel, Linda Meyer Pray for those grieving: The family of Mary Stibbe. Mary passed away December 12th. Prayers for our church & its ministries including: Missions in Laos; McCurdy School in New Mexico; Ministries at Red Bird Mission; Rev. Earl & June Harrison and the ministries in Jamaica; UMCOR. The Intercessory Prayer Team and Prayer Chains are available to help support you. Call the church office (732-5205) for more information, or if you are in need of pastoral support. Go Red for Women Sunday, February 4th, Riverside s Health & Wholeness team and the United Methodist Women are going red to promote heart disease and stroke awareness in women. Women are invited to wear red and will receive a red dress pin along with information. Men may also show support by wearing a red tie. Knowing how to prevent heart disease and stroke through education and lifestyle changes is a valuable tool in staying healthy. Go Red for Women is a program of the American Heart Association. 2018, American Heart Association. Also known as the Heart Fund. TM Go Red trademark of AHA, Red Dress trademark of DHHS. Winter Getting You Down? Come Paint With Us! Join us for a painting party Saturday, February 24th, from 10AM to Noon in the Fellowship Hall. With the guidance of Nate Luetgers, everyone will create a painting worthy of a place of distinction in your home! Cost is $25 and includes all supplies and instruction, and a soup and sandwich lunch. Sign up sheet on the bulletin board outside the office - OR - call the office at 218-732-5205. Meals on Wheels One week each month, members of Riverside deliver for Meals on Wheels. If this is a ministry you d like to be part of, talk to Pastor Chip or Sandy Drury. The scheduled weeks for 2018 are: February 19th - 23rd March 26th - 30th April 30th - May 4th June 4th - 8th July 9th - 13th August 13th - 17th September 17th - 21st October 22nd - 26th November 26th - 30th December 31st - Jan. 4th 2019-7 -

Enjoy The Messenger - your way! Riverside s newsletter, The Messenger, is available in a format that fits your lifestyle. You may receive it on your e-mail, regular mail delivery or on our website at www.riversideumcchurch.com. Articles must be submitted for publication by the 15th day of each month. Space is limited, and we reserve the right to review for content and appropriateness. OFFICE HOURS Monday thru Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. February Schedule 4 Go Red Awareness Sunday 14 Ash Wednesday (At Calvary Lutheran Church) 24 Winter Painting Party! CONTACT US: Riverside UMC P. O. Box 128 1005 Park Avenue N. Park Rapids, MN 56470 (218) 732-5205 e-mail: rumc@unitelc.com Visit us on the web at www.riversideumcchurch.com WEEKLY SCHEDULE Office Hours: Mon. -Thurs: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Sunday Worship 8:30 a.m. Traditional Service 9:30 a.m. Fellowship/Education 10:30 a.m. Contemporary Service Minnesota Annual Conference: www.minnesotaumc.org United Methodist Websites: www.rethinkchurch.org www.umc.org www.unitedmethodistwomen.org Casting the net of Christ s love to all through Faith, Action and Compassion. Nonprofit Org. U. S. Postage PAID Park Rapids, MN Permit #5 Riverside United Methodist Church P. O. Box 128 1005 Park Avenue North Park Rapids, MN 56470 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED