the messenger - wordpress.com · 2013. 12. 11. · nov. 12, 2015 place: pocahontas center, 7:00 pm...
TRANSCRIPT
The Messenger December 2015
HOPE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
WINTER WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Sunday 8:00 am - Plover, 202 Smith Street
Sunday School 9:00am - Pocahontas
Sunday 10:00 am - Pocahontas, 306 2nd Ave NW
Pastor Jerry Miller email: [email protected]
cell Ph. 712-335-2273
Church Office Mon.-Fri. Hours: 9:00-3:30pm
email: [email protected] Ph. 712-335-3663 Fax: 712-335-3406
Keep in touch with Hope UMC: hopeumcia.org
Hope UMC—Pocahontas, Havelock & Plover
Christmas Caroling
Wednesday, December 16th
5:30 p.m. meeting at the church.
Children's Christmas Programs
will be held during worship on December 20th.
Christmas Eve Worship
December 24th at 5:30 p.m.
Candle light service at the Pocahontas center
Christmas Preparation
“Jesus’ birth was not a one-time occurrence. Every
Christmas has the possibility of Jesus being born again in our
lives and in our world.” –JC
“The first people who got the news about the baby were a
bunch of shepherds, guys working the graveyard shift in
the middle of the night.” –JA
“On the darkest days, we can still find light in people and in the most unlikely places.” - LR
“Make no mistake; God is calling you and me to be signposts for others.” - JL
“What happens when a church starts believing that God has given them the gifts that they
need to share with the community and the world? New life happens!” -RB
SENT, Delivering the Gift of Hope at Christmas, will be our Advent & Christmas Small
Group study and worship theme this year. Copies of this book are still available in the
office [$10] for you to read and enjoy this all church study and worship theme as we prepare
to celebrate Christmas.
The five weekly themes are:
1. Jesus Reconciles
2. Jesus Sets Us Free
3. Jesus Is God With Us
4. Jesus Brings New Life
5. Jesus Changes Everything
I look forward to sharing this Advent & Christmas focus with you as we prepare our hearts
to celebrate and proclaim that God’s love for the world was born in Jesus Christ who is alive
in us and still very present in the world today.
Bring your family & friends with you to worship, Pastor Jerry
December 24th the Candle light
service will be 5:30 p.m.
at the Poc. center.
Christmas Caroling
Wednesday, December 16th
5:30 p.m. meeting at the Poc. center.
Afterward there will be a light Soup & Sandwich Supper!
Everyone is invited to
come sing along!
Children's Christmas Programs
will be held during worship on
December 20th.
8:00am - Plover "A Promising Season"
A young person, not certain why she
volunteered for service to others dur-
ing Christmas break, learns how some
of the main players in the Christmas
story lived out their promises to God.
10:00am - Pocahontas
The Night in Bethlehem
Four Books for the 2015-2016 UMW Reading
Program are now on the book cart in the Fel-
lowship Hall.
Those who completed this program last year
by reading at least five books, one in each cat-
egory, were Donna Hull, Judy Timan, Pat Nel-
son, Shela Blomker and Joan Reinhart.
Decorating, baking, shopping, OH MY! If you need a quiet break to remind you of
the "Reason for the Season", the Hope UMC library has several books to help
you refocus.
Inspirational fiction:
The Christmas Candle by Max Lucado
The Christmas Box, The Gift, Finding Noel, and The Christmas List all by Richard Paul Evans
Inspirational:
The Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren
Youth:
Mandie and the Unwanted Gift by Lois Gladys Leppard
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski
Leadership Team Meeting
Nov. 12, 2015
Place: Pocahontas Center, 7:00 pm
Attendance: Pastor Jerry, Chris Radig, Allan Frevert, Judy Timan, Ray Timan, Don Ferguson, Linda
Ferguson, Dixie Gottsch, Moira Hopkins, Kathy Johnson, Donnie McLain, Melissa Rahn and Judy
Pursley.
Chris opened the meeting. Pastor read from our Stewardship study book Earn. Save. Give. He
then said a prayer.
Don motioned and Kathy seconded that the minutes be approved. Motion carried. Charge Con-
ference minutes were next. Pastor made mention that he looked them over before turning them
in and that they were OK. Dixie motioned to approve them Donnie seconded it. Motion passed.
A combined Treasurer’s and Finance Ministry Team Report was given by Allan. We received
more this year to date than in 2014 by $3,378, but have $871 less cash in Budget Account than
last year. Some of the line items are over budget, but the overall categories are below budget. A
motion was made by Allan to accept the Treasurer’s report. Seconded by Don. Approved. Allan
said that the Finance Team is looking into programs and companies that will give us the option of
paying our tithes online.
Chris said that he didn’t have any numbers for the Soup and Pie supper. Dixie said that the VFW
donated Soup Bowls for it and the Lutheran Church donated crackers. She feels that they need
thank you notes sent to them and volunteered to send them.
Pastor asked what caught our attention at the Charge Conference. A discussion followed.
Ministry Team Reports:
Judy T reported for the Worship Team. Decorating the church for Advent and Christmas is on
Nov. 29th, with a light lunch afterwards. Christmas Caroling is Dec.16th. Dec 20 is the Children’s
Christmas program in worship and on Dec.24th is the Christmas Eve Service at the Pocahontas
Center.
Moira said that Education meets next Wed.
Dixie said that the next Mobile Food Pantry is on Jan.27th. The Mission Team is sending $250
each to Women at the Well, a United Methodist congregation inside the Women’s Prison at
Mitchellville; Upper Des Moines; and Justice for Our Neighbors. A $100 gift will be added to the
total collected for Imagine No Malaria.
Linda said that SPRC does not meet until Jan.
Trustees: Don told us about the painting of Plover Center. They will go with the lowest bid of
$1100/unit for the Pocahontas Center windows. Donnie said that he and two of our worship
accompanists went to Des Moines to two music stores. There they tried out the pianos and
have chosen a Yamaha as a replacement for our piano. Our piano is difficult to tune and
doesn’t hold a tune long. We will try a smaller grand piano for free from Dec. 9th to 20th or
24th. Pastor noted that the Dress Rehearsal for the Community Chorus/Band will be on the
9th and the Community Chorus/Band Concert will be on the 13th.
UMW: Dixie said that Corrine Peterson will be a guest at the Nov.19th meeting. Vespers will
be on Dec.2nd at 6:00pm.She told us that Upper Des Moines desperately needs Hamburger
and Tuna Helper, Instant Potatoes, Jams and Jellies, Pancake Mix and Pancake Syrup, Canned
Fruit, Spaghetti Sauce, Saltine Crackers, Soups, Dish Soap, and Shampoo. NOT needed are
canned corn, green beans, tuna, peanut butter, and pasta.
Nominations: Slots still have to be filled on some of the committees.
Next meeting will be on Jan. 14th at 7:00pm.
Donnie closed with prayer.
Submitted by Judy Pursley
Leadership Team Secretary
Capital Improvement Projects
The Trustees have identified the following priorities that
need to be cared for. Please consider a special gift to
the Capital Fund “above & beyond” your regular giving.
1) One AC unit for the Poc. sanctuary needs replaced.
$3,500.DONE! PRAISE GOD!
2) Windows in the Poc. Fellowship Hall need replaced.
$1,100 / unit, $15,000 total
3) Plover entryway and sanctuary need painting. The
bid for this work is $2,150.00.
Thank you for your faithful, generous and joyful giving
to the ministry, mission and upkeep of Hope UMC..
- The Finance Ministry Team
Thanksgiving Ingathering Report
United Methodist Churches across Iowa gathered at five sites November 7th for the
36th annual Thanksgiving Ingathering. The final numbers haven’t been announced
but the total cash and the value of in-kind gifts total over $1 million.
Thank you to the members of Hope UMC who purchased supplies and assembled:
• 20 health kits
• 55 school kits
• 3 layette kits
• 9 LIT kits (Several have asked what this is. The LIT [Literacy] Kit provides supplies for Nigerian
adults who take literacy classes in their church to learn to read and write in the Hausa language. Be-
cause of high motivation to be literate, these adults take classes seriously and within a few months are
proficient in these skills and are able to read the Bible they receive for graduation.)
Thank you to the sewers and knitters who made:
• school bags for the school kits plus 12 empty bags were sent
• 26 sweaters – 3 sent in the layette kits plus 23 more
• 123 baby caps for health clinics in Nigeria
• a child’s quilt for the auction
Thank you for donations for the toothpaste and shipping costs of $216.
And, thank you for your contributions of $842 to Church World Service for
blankets. The total cash and value of in-kind gifts from Hope UMC was
$2,745.
_______________________________________________
Imagine No Malaria
So what has happened since the United Methodist Church began this
campaign? The death rate from malaria in Africa has been cut in half,
thanks to highly coordinated international partnerships. In 2010, a child died every 30 seconds from
malaria. In 2013, a child died every 60 seconds, but a child is also living every 60 seconds – a child
who would not have survived in 2010. Today those statistics are even better.
Thanks to the efforts of United Methodists across the connection, the church has reached 90% of its
goal of $75 million to combat suffering and death from malaria. Iowa has surpassed its $2 million
goal. We have traveled far toward eliminating death and suffering from malaria but we aren’t done.
During December the children will collect a noisy offering during the children’s sermon. As you drop
your change in the can, give it a good shake praising God for the lives that are being saved. Every
$10 provides one treated net that can protect an entire family.
WORSHIP ASSISTANTS †
Dec 6 Joan Reinhart Greeter
Dec 6 Carol McLain Liturgist
Dec 6 Ginger Ernst Comm Stwd's
Dec 6 Karen Hauswirth Fellowship
Dec 6 Pat Nelson Fellowship
Dec 13 Donna Hull Greeter
Dec 13 Melissa Rahn Greeter
Dec 13 Linda Ferguson Liturgist
Dec 13 Tim & Elaine Cook Fellowship
Dec 13 Leo & Carol Hallman Fellowship
Dec 20 Judy Pursley Greeter
Dec 20 Betty Abrahamson Greeter
Dec 20 Carol McCurdy Liturgist
Dec 27 Donna Hull Liturgist
Dec 27 VOLUNTEERS Fellowship
Dec Joe Hopkins Acolyte Poc
Dec Caleb Freeburg Acolyte Poc
Dec Bill Plantz Usher Poc
Dec Kevin Hauswirth Usher Poc
Dec Duane Wiemers Usher Poc
Dec Steve Hopkins Usher Poc
Lectionary Scriptures
Dec. 6 Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 1:68-79, Philippians 1:3-11, Luke 3:1-6
Dec. 13 Zephaniah 3:14-20, Isaiah 12:2-6, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18
Dec. 20 Micah 5:2-5a, Luke 1:47-55, Hebrews 10:5-10, Luke 1:39-45
Dec. 27 1 Samuel 2:18-20,26, Psalm 148, Colossians 3:12-17, Luke 2:41-52
DATE POCAHONTAS HAVELOCK PLOVER TOTAL
November 1 108 38 146
November 8 110 34 144
November 15 134 99 35
November 22 77 29 106
Members celebrating Anniversaries & Birthdays!!
Mike & Mary Loterbour 12/3
Bruce & Carolyn Wheatley 12/11
Don & Linda Ferguson 12/27
Brian & Shela Blomker 12/28
Mary Phillips 12/3
Morgan Olson 12/3
Linda Ferguson 12/5
Gary Zhorne 12/6
Allison Barnhardt 12/6
Lavonne Severson 12/7
Arnie Lubinus 12/10
Dixie Gottsch 12/11
Deb Schendel 12/12
Claire Cooke 12/12
Steve Trimble 12/15
Austin Hauswirth 12/16
Gage Bunda 12/17
Justin Shearer 12/17
Nick Wiemers 12/18
Adam Barnhardt 12/20
Dean Williams 12/21
Bryce Long 12/23
Andy Harms 12/24
Roger Allen 12/26
Reed Westerman 12/27
Cole Bennet 12/30
Shylar Boysen 12/31
Worship Attendance at Hope UMC