Biking is one of the things I really enjoy. Alice and I have taken a number of vacations to surrounding states to enjoy their bike trails. When we ride together Alice is usually behind me drafting, drafting is a technique where one follows behind the leader as they block the wind, thereby conserving energy for later. This is the strategy Alice employs particularly well when we ride our bikes in windy weather. My blocking the wind on the way enables Alice to blast past me on the final home stretch. This strategy makes me think how our spiritual journey can be likened to a bike ride. We all experience times in life where the winds blow fierce and seem to zap our energy. It's then that we need help. Who do we spiritually draft off of? Jesus invites all of us to follow him. But too often, we think we are able to handle everything that life has to throw at us until we get in over our heads and then it's often too late.
Drafting as a strategy is only good so long as you plan to employ it. Once you have spent your energy fighting the wind, you can't then blast past an obstacle. Jesus is always ready to serve as our windbreak in life. Matt. 11:28-30, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." It's our choice/freewill. We can be like Alice and find the windbreak [Remember there are still hills to climb, and obstacles to pass, but with Jesus' help we will have the strength to overcome them.] or we can be like The Rich Young Man [see Matt. 19:16-22] that trusted more in the things of this world than he did in Jesus. What's your choice?
Peace and Grace,
Pastor Lane
SUMMER CELEBRATION
Again this year we are combining our services this weekend to celebrate and promote VBS as we did last year. We will have special activities, food, and fellowship after the service. Plan now to join us and invite a friend and neighbor to join us too!
Look for more details coming soon in future announcements and the July Link.
Even though summer is upon us and many of us are busy enjoying summer activities, the needs of those less fortunate continue. Please consider a contribution to the Neighbor Helping Neighbor (formerly KAMA) fund to help the church fulfill its commitment to this important program.
Volunteers wanted for the Farmer’s Market Saturday mornings 8:00 a.m. to noon. Great opportunity to represent the church and promote Fair Trade Equal Exchange products. To volunteer call Heather at 842-3712 or Bonnie at 828-8750.
Our college scholarship endowment fund is used each year to benefit our college bound students with the high cost of education. By supporting the college scholarship endowment, Methodists act as good stewards of donated assets for our young people. The interest received from the endowment fund is used for scholarships while the principal remains intact allowing gifts received to continue to benefit students for years to come. Please write ‘college end’ on any gifts given to this fund and remember this qualifies as an income tax charitable deduction.
Peace with Justice Sunday is one of the six church wide Special Sundays of The United Methodist Church. Peace with Justice Sunday enables The United Methodist Church to have a voice in advocating for peace and justice through a broad spectrum of global programs.
METHODIST MEN
We have postponed the Methodist Men’s meeting until June 9, 2012 at 7:00 at Mr. C’s due to Annual Conference being the first weekend in June.
The June monthly communion will be held the second weekend in June due to the first weekend conflicting with the annual conference schedule.
The first meeting for the book study In His Steps will take place on Thursday, June 7 at 7:00 p.m. in EFH. Christians familiar with the acronym WWJD (what would Jesus do?) will find the genesis of the WWJD movement in the pages of In His Steps. Written by the 19th century pastor, theologian, author, and forerunner of the social gospel movement Charles Sheldon, In His Steps tells the story of Christians who challenge themselves to live as Christ would for a year. Although the book was originally published in 1896, modern readers will find themes that resonate with the current religious and political atmosphere. What does it mean to be a Christian and a citizen? Does the church reflect the teachings of Christ in daily life or are Sunday sermons and hymns merely virtuous platitudes? Follow the lives of seven Christians as they wrestle with the practical implications of living the gospel in Sheldon’s classic In His Steps. A limited number of books are available at no cost; please speak to Pastor Lane if you would like one. You may also read this book for free online (through the website, word document, or PDF file) or listen to a free audio book version at www.ccel.org/ccel/sheldon/ihsteps.
Zach Klobnak will present an organ recital on Friday, June 29, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church sanctuary. All are invited to come and enjoy the wonderful music.
Son World Adventure Park will be taking place Sunday, July 22 through Thursday, July 26 at FUMC.
Many helpers are still needed for VBS!! This is a great week for our church to reach out to the community and touch the lives of children with the love of God!! To be a part of this great week please let Heather know in the office or call Cheryl Hennefeld. The kids need our support to make this great week happen!!
A kickoff party for VBS will be held Sunday, July 8. Be watching for more details as this will be a great family weekend at our church!!
We will be promoting our church and our VBS celebration at Auld Park on Saturday, July 7 at the annual Family Fun Fair. Let Heather or Pastor Lane know if you would like to help with this outreach project. More details will be coming.
A few preschool openings are still available for next school year (2012/2013). If you know of someone that is interested in learning more have them call the preschool at 641-842-2193.
Please join us at one of the Sunday morning services on June 10 as we share a little bit about our trip. We will be doing a longer presentation during the Cinnamon Roll Sunday time on that day. Come for refreshments and stay to hear the youth talk about their experiences in St. Louis!!
Condolences to the family of Tom Tucker on his passing.
Condolences to John and Pat Haning on the passing of their sister-in-law.
Congratulations to Jill and Jeremy DeMoss who had a baby boy on May 17th. His name is Colson Rex DeMoss, weighed 9 pounds 9 ounces and 21 3/4 inches long. Big brother is Grant. Grandparents are Bill and Kitty Shepherd and Rex and Chris DeMoss, Great Grandparents are Shirley and Brenton Trabert.
Congratulations the MSPS students on a successful year that was concluded with an awesome concert and graduation ceremony! We wish you all a great summer!!
Congratulations to Bonnie Crook who graduated from the two year School For Lay Ministry program.
Thank you to the UMW ladies for helping to provide cookies and bars for the MSPS Spring Concert! A special thank you to Bonnie and Jack Crook, Donna Norton, and Mary Dee Dykstra for helping serve and clean up the reception that followed the concert!! Your help was greatly appreciated!! Miss Katie, Miss Nancy, Miss Carrie, Miss Jenny and all the MSPS families
A special thank you to readers, candle lighters, and all who helped us have a successful Memorial Day Service and a nice tribute to our loved ones who have gone to their eternal home. Memorial Committee
After attending the latest new member class we welcome the following new members: Paul Huyck, Nathan DeHeer, Lynn Ewers, Thomas Bailey, Terry Fenoglio, and Terri Carroll. We celebrate with them our renewed affirmation to the church of Jesus in and through First Church.
I plan to update the phone prayer chain in June. If you have any questions, concerns, or wish to serve in this ministry, please contact me at 641-842-2557. Thank you. Dorothy Danner
The School for Lay Ministry of the Iowa Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church is a program to facilitate the growth of Iowa United Methodist Churches and their Christian ministry by providing an alternative, supplemental source of educated leadership to local congregations and communities. The School for Lay Ministry identifies, trains and nurtures lay persons who meet entrance criteria and who have the desire to serve in, through and beyond the church in various ministries. The role of lay persons in the ministries of The United Methodist Church is expanding. The missional needs of our congregations require trained laity working together with ordained and licensed clergy. Participants in the Iowa School for Lay Ministry are prepared to fulfill a wide variety of roles in and beyond local churches. Classes are held at the Simpson Campus in Indianola. Each session starts with dinner Friday evening at about 5:30 p.m. and concludes Sunday at noon. For more information you may look on the www.iaumc.org website and/or speak to Pastor Brent or Bonnie Crook, who have both completed this program.
In conjunction with the Church Council study of Road Map to Renewal we are conducting a congregational survey to be completed by as many as possible in the congregation. Roadmap to Renewal invites the Church to go on a road trip to rediscover the mission and purpose. It invites us to open our minds and hearts to what God is calling your church to be and do. We would like 100% congregational participation as everyone’s ideas are important! The results of the survey will be compiled and discussed at the next Council meeting. Please complete the following two page survey and return it to the church office by Wednesday, June 13th. Thank you.
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CONGREGATION VALUES SURVEY
Select the top priority as “1” and rank the others 2 through 5.
Our church’s primary concern should be:
Charitable work
The spiritual needs of its members
Members helping each other
Ministry to young people and children
Teaching of God’s Word
Choose 5 items below that are MOST IMPORTANT to you and rank them in their order of priority, with “1” being MOST important and “5” being LEAST important.
_________ Ministry of social justice
_________ Discipleship
_________ Administration (finances, buildings, etc.)
_________ World missions
_________ Reaching out to the community
_________ Planning and setting goals
_________ Assimilating new attendees
_________ Fellowship
_________ Small groups
_________ Worship
_________ Prayer
_________ Training/equipping members to use their gifts
_________ Counseling/pastoral care
_________ Music ministry
What should we stop doing?
What should we start doing?
What should we continue doing?
The following questions relate to your personal view in regard to the church and its ministry. In response to the following statements, please circle the number corresponding your opinion:
Strongly
Agree
|
Agree
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Disagree
|
Strongly Disagree
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I want our congregation to grow in size and bring in new people.
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1
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2
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3
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4
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Our church should be open to innovation and change.
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1
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2
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3
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4
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I would prefer slow and steady change rather than rapid and progressive change.
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1
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2
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3
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4
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I would rather see the church accept things as they come instead of planning and setting goals.
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1
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2
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3
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4
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We should be more concerned about the needs of the community around us than the needs of our members.
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1
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2
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3
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4
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At church, my privacy is more important to me than intimacy.
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1
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2
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3
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4
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We should have different styles of services.
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1
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2
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3
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4
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Lay people should be involved in the church’s ministry.
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1
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2
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3
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4
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We have the right programs in place for young families.
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1
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2
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3
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4
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We have the right programs in place for teens and single people.
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1
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2
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3
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4
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We have the right programs in place for seniors.
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1
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2
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3
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4
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We have a good music program.
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1
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2
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3
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4
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Age: 21 or under 22-40 41-60 60+
Gender (M/F): ____________
Married or Single? ___________
Ages of children in household:
Boys: ______, ______, _____, _______
Girls: ______, ______, _____, _______
Others in my household have submitted a survey (Y/N): _________
Additional Comments:
Name (optional) _____________________________________________
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