Together in Christ,
Pastor Lane
Formational Scripture Reading:
Make listening for God's voice a top priority. Focus your attention on what God is saying to you as you read. Listen for God to speak to you in and through, around and within, over and behind the words. Keep asking yourself, "What is God seeking to say to me in all of this?" Allow the text to become an instrument of God's control in your life. Respond to what you read with your heart and spirit.
Let your response take place down in the deeper levels of your being. Ask yourself questions such as: How do I feel about what is being said? How am I reacting? How am I responding down deep within myself? What is going on inside of me? Then begin to ask yourself "why" questions: Why do I feel this way? Why am I responding in this manner? Why do I have these feelings within?
Let this exercise be an opportunity to get in touch with the deeper layers of your being. What do your reactions tell you about your habits, your attitudes, your perspectives, your responses and your reactions to life? Are you beginning to see something about yourself? Thomas a Kempis said, "A humble knowledge of ourselves is a surer way to God than is the search for depth of learning." That humble knowledge of yourself can come when you read Scripture if you balance your cognitive response pattern with this affective response from deep within your being.
Prepare to read by quieting yourself. You can't run in, sit down, pick up the text and read Scripture formationally. You have to "center down," to use the old Quaker phrase-become still, relinquish your agenda and acknowledge the presence of God. You may have to relax first in order to do this. When you do this, you may find that no word addresses you out of that text on that day, but the constant discipline of preparing yourself and entering into formational reading will itself be spiritually forming to your soul.
Allow the two kinds of reading—informational and formational—to work together. You may begin reading a Scripture passage with informational dynamics, but then you must be sensitive to the need to move to the formational dynamics of reading. Allow yourself to become open and receptive to the intrusion of the living Word of God into your garbled, distorted self. You may get tripped up on an informational point and need to move back to an informational mode. There is a necessary interplay between these two approaches, but you'll ultimately need to arrive at a disciplined development of the formational mode of approaching the text. As we become skilled at shifting to that inner posture of becoming listeners, we develop "ears to hear." We become receptive and accessible to being addressed by the living Word of God.
Let this exercise be an opportunity to get in touch with the deeper layers of your being. What do your reactions tell you about your habits, your attitudes, your perspectives, your responses and your reactions to life? Are you beginning to see something about yourself? Thomas a Kempis said, "A humble knowledge of ourselves is a surer way to God than is the search for depth of learning." That humble knowledge of yourself can come when you read Scripture if you balance your cognitive response pattern with this affective response from deep within your being.
Prepare to read by quieting yourself. You can't run in, sit down, pick up the text and read Scripture formationally. You have to "center down," to use the old Quaker phrase-become still, relinquish your agenda and acknowledge the presence of God. You may have to relax first in order to do this. When you do this, you may find that no word addresses you out of that text on that day, but the constant discipline of preparing yourself and entering into formational reading will itself be spiritually forming to your soul.
Allow the two kinds of reading—informational and formational—to work together. You may begin reading a Scripture passage with informational dynamics, but then you must be sensitive to the need to move to the formational dynamics of reading. Allow yourself to become open and receptive to the intrusion of the living Word of God into your garbled, distorted self. You may get tripped up on an informational point and need to move back to an informational mode. There is a necessary interplay between these two approaches, but you'll ultimately need to arrive at a disciplined development of the formational mode of approaching the text. As we become skilled at shifting to that inner posture of becoming listeners, we develop "ears to hear." We become receptive and accessible to being addressed by the living Word of God.
HOSPITAL VISITATIONS
FUMC AT HELPING HANDS
April is FUMC’s month to help with grocery assistance at Helping Hands Food Pantry. On April 9 and April 23 volunteers are needed from 10:15-11:00 to unload the truck and 11:00-3:00 to sack and handout groceries.
BLANKET SUNDAY
April is FUMC’s month to help with grocery assistance at Helping Hands Food Pantry. On April 9 and April 23 volunteers are needed from 10:15-11:00 to unload the truck and 11:00-3:00 to sack and handout groceries.
BLANKET SUNDAY
Come join us Cinnamon Roll Sunday, March 11th at 9:30 a.m. in WFH to hear the Blanket Sunday presentation. Collection for Blanket Sunday will take place on March 17th and 18th during regular services. 
UMW EXECUTIVE MEETING
BELL CHOIR PRACTICE
CAR POOL TO MEDORA
EDUCATION MEETING
GOOD FRIDAY DAY CAMP
Good Friday Day Camp Workers Needed: If you would like to help invest in the future of the church by helping 3 through 11 year olds learn about God and the true meaning of Easter, join us for a planning meeting on Tuesday, March 6 at 7:00 p.m. in the library.
FAMILY FUN NIGHT
Hoagies will be made and ready for pick up on Thursday, March 15 after 6:00 p.m. Thank you to everyone that ordered!!
PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION
Youth Group Dates for March Sunday, March 11 and Sunday, March 25 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the church.
Youth Fundraiser - Dinner and a Movie! Come to dinner and stay and enjoy a movie on Saturday, March 31. The youth will be accepting free will donations for the dinner and movie. All proceeds will be going toward their mission trip to Chicago this summer. Watch for more details!
Thank you to everyone that donated cans to our can drive! It was a great success!!
CONDOLENCES
Condolences to Ron Steenhoek and family on the death of his brother.
CONGRATULATIONS
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Geoff Shultz on his retirement from teaching!Congratulations to Lori Pearson on her retirement from teaching!
You are invited to donate altar flowers in memory of a loved one or in celebration of a special occasion (a birthday, anniversary, new job, new baby, etc.). To arrange, please contact the florist of your choice. Payment and delivery arrangements are to be made directly with the florist. It is important to note and remind the florist that all altar flowers must be delivered to the church by Friday at Noon. In addition, you must contact Heather at the church office at 641-842-3712 or fumchurch@iowatelecom.net to notify her of the day the altar flowers will be used as well as if you would like a dedication to be included in the weekly announcements. Make sure that you let her know the special occasion, a brief message that you would like printed, and/or who they were given by.
WHAT’S NEW?
WHAT’S NEW?
Saturday, March 31st from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
AND
Sunday, April 1st-Wednesday, April 4th 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m
LENTEN ACTIVITIES
Wednesday, February 29 – Wednesday, March 28
ECUMENICAL LENTEN SERVICES(FUMC CHAPEL/WFH) (Message 12:00-12:30) (Meal 12:30-1:00)
Wednesday, February 29 – Wednesday, March 28
LAY SPEAKER LENTEN DEVOTIONALS (WFH)(Meal 5:45 to 6:30 p.m.) (Devotion 6:30 to 7:00 p.m.)
April 1, Palm Saturday/Sunday, Regular worship times
April 5, 7:00pm Maundy Thursday service
April 6, 7:00pm Good Friday service
April 8, Easter Sunday, Regular worship times
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