Within the Church we find the love and compassion of Christ our Lord!
Within the Church we find hope!
Within the Church we who are all sinners, find
forgiveness!
Within the Church we find true prayer, and the
answer to all prayers!
Within the Church we find truth, and are no longer misguided!
Within the Church we are all spiritually filled, and go hungry no more.
Within the Church we truly find spiritual joy, rather than sadness in our lives!
Within the Church we find salvation, and now know the correct path to take during our lives!
Within the Church we partake of the Holy Mysteries that cleanse us and nourish us all!
Within the Church we behold all who indeed nourish us with spiritual guidance towards the Kingdom of God!
Let us spiritually make every effort to attend the many services offered to us even during the summer months in realizing God never goes on vacation. God will accompany you during your vacation! God will also be present when you return! Remember God is with you and loves you! Have a spiritually rewarding summer!
FAMILY FUN FAIR
Come join First United Methodist Church on Saturday, July 7 as we participate in the Family Fun Fair at Auld Park. The fair will run from 9:00 a.m. until Noon with lots of games and activities for kids and families. This is a great way for our church to be seen out in the community so come join the fun and help work in the booth if you have a few minutes. Volunteers to help with this event are encouraged to contact Heather at the church office. Two shifts will be available 9:00 to 10:30 and 10:30 until Noon. Help promote our fun loving church to the community!!
VBS 2012
Son World Adventure Park will be held July 22 –26 from 6 to 8:15 pm each night. Dinner will be served from 5:30 to 6:00 each night. This is an exciting week for the children of our church and community. We are currently in need of some servants that would be willing to help with the sites for each night. We are also looking for group leaders that will take the kids from site to site. If you would be willing to give of your time for this great event please call Heather at the church office or contact Cheryl Hennefeld.
SWEET TONES
We are looking for youth wanting to play hand chimes. Ruth Beebout has gifted the church with two octaves of new hand chimes. We will begin practice sometime during the second week in July. If you are interested contact: Bonnie C at 641-828-8750 or bjcrook@iowatelecom.net with the day of the week and the time that would work best for you to practice.
NATIONALS PANCAKES
Pancake workers needed for Nationals on Wed - Sat, August 8-11. Our Church hospitality is appreciated by the visitors and the chamber. Sign-up sheets are in the foyer. Call Kay Jensen at 842-5325 with questions.
IN HIS STEPS BOOK CLUB
The schedule is as follows for the “In His Steps” book club:
· Thursday, July 12 at 7:00 p.m. EFH
· Thursday, July 19 at 7:00 p.m. Homebuilders Room
· Thursday, August 2 at 7:00 p.m. EFH
· Thursday, August 16 at 7:00 p.m. Homebuilders Room
There is still room for others to join. Please contact Pastor Lane if you are interested in joining.
UMW INVITATION
The Albia Unit of Trinity United Methodist Women has invited the women of our church to a salad luncheon on Thursday, July 12, at noon in the Trinity Fellowship Hall. Taylor Helm will share about her trip to Nigeria. They have asked for an approximate number coming by July 10 so please call Pat Haning, 842-2790, if you plan on attending. We will car pool from the church at 11:15.
MSPS
There are currently only a few openings left at MSPS for the 2012/2013 school year. If you or someone you know is interested in preschool for 2 year olds through 5 year olds, please call the preschool at 641-842-2193.
THANK YOU
My family and I want to thank everyone for their prayer, cards, gifts and memorial contributions on the passing of my father Lester Riggle on June 17th. I also want to thank those that cover for me during my bereavement leave and filled the pulpit during that time; thank you Phyllis, Joyce and Pastor Brent. We felt all of your prayers and so appreciate your care! God is good! Pastor Lane and Family
Thank you to everyone who sent cards and flowers and for your prayers. They helped so much after my surgery. Donna Cowman
Dear Church Family, Thank you so much for the scholarship. It will be put to good use in the fall. Once again thank you for the scholarship and all that you do for me. Timothy Shepherd
Thanks for your continued support of my academics and future career. It has been great having such a wonderful church family at home through the past few years. Thanks again for your generosity, kindness, and prayers. God Bless, Kaurie
I would like to thank my church family for the scholarship money I received. It will be a big help this upcoming fall as I continue my academic career, at the University of Iowa. Thanks. Kaleb Robuck
Iowa Annual Conference recognizes and appreciates the commitment of Christian stewardship of Knoxville, First United Methodist Church through the connectional system with 100% support in 2011 of: General Church Apportioned Funds, Conference Ministries, and Conference Missions.
Knoxville United Methodist Church received an Honorable Mention for the 2011 Rainbow Covenant Award.
A certificate of appreciation was awarded to Knoxville First United Methodist Church in recognition of 100% payment of South Central District Asking for 2011.
Thank you for your generous gift to the United Methodist Committee on Relief. 100% of your contribution will go to Disaster Response, United States, Advance #901670, through The Advance, the designated giving channel of The United Methodist Church. Your gift received on 05/02/2012 for $855.00 is supporting UMCOR’s response to disasters in the United States.
ADDRESS CHANGE
Loretta Kono - Park Centre,
500 1st St. N., Apt. 100
Newton, IA 50208
CONDOLENCES
Condolences to the family of Betty Tonda on her passing.
Condolences to Peg Stevenson and family on the passing of her brother.
Condolences to Phyllis Force and family on the passing of Jack Force.
Condolences to Julie Petersen and family & Brian Bishop and family & Angela VandeKamp and family on the passing of their mother/grandmother.
Condolences to Pastor Lane Riggle and family on the passing of his father.
CONGRATULATIONS
Bill and Kitty Shepherd have a new granddaughter Clara Kay Seney born on June 4th. Clara has 2 big sister’s Ella and Ava. They all live in Grinnell with Mom and Dad Sarah and Kevin.
CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED
The church office will be closed on Wednesday, July 4 for the Independence Day Holiday. In addition, Heather will be taking additional vacation days the rest of that week (Thursday, July 5 and Friday, July 6). During this time, if you are unable to reach anyone at the church office, please leave a message church voicemail and/or call the parsonage at 641-842-2076. Thank you.
UMW UPDATES
The Knoxville UMW has been very active. We have had an opportunity to go international. Abe, from Ames, who is originally from the country of Jordan, did a lot of checking on our Almost Free Shop - what our goals are, where our money goes, etc. He also did some shopping before he approached us with a request. He asked what we did with our off season clothes when we changed over. Finding out that we donated them to some other group he asked if he might have them to ship to the country of Jordan. Since Helping Hands and Salvation Army really prefer not to get out of season clothing due to storage issues, we agreed to let Abe have them. We folded them, put them in labeled bags, and helped him put them into a ten foot moving van. The first of June he shipped them out and they will arrive in Jordan around the first of September - in time for the starting of fall there. They are placed in the market at a very low price. All that Abe's group needs to do is to recover their cost of shipping. Jordan has many refugees from Iraq and Syria, as well as other countries, that fled their home country with only the clothes on their backs. Abe asked to pay for the clothing, but we told him that we would have given them to Salvation Army or Helping Hands anyway. So he asked if he could make a donation - which he did. God is good and works in wonderful ways.
“SON WORLD ADVENTURE PARK KICKOFF” ON JULY 8TH
Join us for church and stay for the party!
On Sunday, July 8th, join as for a combined church service at 9:30 and stay for the food, games, fun, and fellowship on the FUMC lawn at 10:30. This is the perfect opportunity to invite friends and family that don’t normally attend church to come and visit for the day. Registration materials for VBS will be passed out and a drop box for completed forms will be available. The theme for the day will also be carried through the services as everyone will be encouraged to wear their amusement park attire for the day. Please plan to join us for a fun filled day as we kickoff “Son World Adventure Park”. Don’t miss the fun, fellowship, and opportunity to get others to church! Volunteers are needed to help with the set up and tear down of inflatables, games, tents, food, etc. on July 8th for this event. Please contact the church office if you are available to help.
INDEPENDENCE PRAYER
Dear Lord,
There is no greater feeling of liberation than to experience this freedom from sin and death that you have provided for me through Jesus Christ. Today my heart and my soul are free to praise you. For this I am very thankful.
On this Independence Day I am reminded of all those who have sacrificed for my freedom, following the example of your Son, Jesus Christ. Let me not take my freedom, both physical and spiritual, for granted. May I always remember that my freedom was purchases with a very high price. My freedom cost others their very lives.
Lord, today, bless those who have served and continue to give their lives for my freedom. With favor and bounty meet their needs and watch over their families.
Help me to live my life in a way that glorifies you, Lord. Give me the strength to be a blessing in someone else's life today, and grant me the opportunity to lead others into the freedom that can be found in knowing Christ.
Amen
We’re no longer bound by sin and death.
That “independence” is worth celebrating every day!
