Harris & Lake Park United Methodist churches

The Connection

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The Harris & Lake Park

United Methodist Churches

Pastor: Emmanuel T. Naweji Harris UMC: 208 N. Main Lake Park UMC: 1471 135th Ave. Office: 1471 135th Ave. Phone: 712-832-3361 E-mail: hlpumc@yahoo.com Facebook Page: United Methodist Church of Harris & Lake Park Pastor’s Residence: 15 Arnold’s Entrance Lake Park, IA 51347 Phone: 712-339-7115 E-mail: revnaweji@yahoo.com Web: www.emmanuelnaweji.com Parish Secretary: Judy Taber Custodians Kelley Morgan, H, 702-526-1054 Mary Schmidt, LP, 712-331-1455

Worship Harris – 9:00 a.m. Lake Park – 10:30 a.m.

Sunday School—Sept. – May Harris – 10:15 a.m. Lake Park – 9:00 a.m.

Vol. 20, No. 8

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August 2018

Are you ready…

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 4 5-6 p.m. LP UMC open for prayer

5 11th Sunday after

Pentecost

6

7

Care Center Music

8 6:30 a.m. Men’s Bible

Study.

7:00 LP Ad Council

9

7:00 Harris Ad Council

10

Care Center Bingo

11 Bridal Shower for

Morgan Orwig 9:30 – 11:30 5-6 p.m. LP UMC open for prayer

12 12th Sunday after

Pentecost

13

14

15 6:30 a.m. Men’s Bible

Study

16

17

18 5-6 p.m. LP UMC open for prayer

19 13th Sunday after

Pentecost

20

21

22 6:30 a.m. Men’s Bible

Study

23

24 25

No prayer time due to wedding

26 14th Sunday after

Pentecost

27

28

29 30 31

Ila VonHoldt LP UMC hospice Marlene Loring H UMC knee surgery Sherry Ahrenstorff LP UMC chemo Gloria Thompson (Amanda Money’s grandmother) surgery

Allen Rowe H UMC Parkinson’s Shirley Fredericksen LP UMC surgery Karen Rehms LP UMC fragile health Rita Reimers LP UMC cancer Garrett Goodell LP UMC seizures Ardyce Rueter fragile health (mother of Lori Sheeler and Scott Rueter) Dave Lindemann Friend fragile health The men and women in the armed services, their families, and our churches.

We’d like to thank Pastor Emanuel and the church family for your support in the loss of our mother, Irene Kruger. Your prayers, visits, encouragement, and gifts are so greatly

appreciated. Thanks also to the loving hands and hearts that prepared and served the meal following Mom’s service. The Kruger kids and their families

UMC, Thank you to everyone who helped us confirmands through this journey and thank you for the beautiful ornament!

Love, Kelly Luitjens

Thank you for the flowers that I received after my surgery. They really brightened my day. In Christ’s love, Dawn Kinkade

To my church family, Thank you so much for the beautiful flowers delivered for my “visit” to the hospital! It was so thoughtful and I am enjoying them yet! Many thanks! Lola Read

Our sympathies to the Crist family on the loss of Johannah Crist. Johannah was a member of the Harris UMC. Her funeral was July 10.

Our sincerest condolences to the family of Lynda

Gilmore. Lynda passed away at Avera

McKennan hospital on July 16. She was a

member of the LPUMC.

Congratulations to Val and Harry

Riesberg on their newest addition,

Mark Joseph. Mark was born on July

17, weighed 8 lbs., 8 oz. and was 21 in.

long. He is the grandson to Mark

and Julie Dillehay. All are members of

the Harris UMC.

Hello Church Family, I hope you had a blessed month of July and have been enjoying your summer. I know in July Mother Nature gave more rain than we needed and some of our people’s homes had wet basements. Let me thank you all who found a way to care for somebody who needed help with their wet basement. God bless you for your time and gift! That was something, which took place last month, and now it's already August. I know you wonder, just like me, why time goes by so fast. Even though we cannot stop or change it, we can still prepare for what lies ahead of us in the future. How do we then prepare ourselves to face the future, and do it unafraid? Our future starts with August, the month where we are right now. I look at this month as the beginning of most of our church and school activities. Preparing ourselves to face the future, and do it unafraid, is done through Church and school. Why church and school? First, they both deal with the future of our communities, nation, and the world. They are about transforming and equipping our young people with skills and values to help them change the world now, and in the next ten to a hundred years in the future. Second, they both represent places where people (children, young and adults) open themselves up for learning and growing. Church and school are two very important environments where people go to seek spiritual, emotional and intellectual knowledge (or information). I don't want us to separate the two because church and school should aim at a common goal, which is to create space for kids, youth and adults to discover who God created them to be. Therefore, our preparation is through our church and school. And, August is the month during which you and I have to choose where to be and what to do. I personally encourage you to be at both places. The month of August is a good time of the year for you to let God use you through church and school. Most of our church activities start in September after Labor Day. This month, I, therefore, encourage you to pray about the way God may want you to serve God and God's people through our church. If you want to find a way you can serve through church, please, call the office at 712 832 3361, and I will help you with that. Here's our mandate, which we accomplish through church and school: "Train children in the way they should go; when they grow old, they won’t depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6. CEB). See you in worship! Pastor Emmanuel

Harris UMC

Attendance Offering June 24 25 $227.00 July 1 25 $1617.00 July 8 23 $653.00 July 15 32 $755.00 July 22 25 $1434.00 Total $4686.00 Average Weekly Attendance 26 Given to date $27.911.05

Lake Park UMC Attendance Offering June 24 92 $2,802.25 July 1 107 $3,246.25 July 8 96 $1,393.25 July 15 108 $1,621.00 July 22 – Not Available Total $9,006.75 Average Weekly Attendance 101 Given to date $81,846.37 VBS $75.00 VBS Mission Project $517.00 Peace with Justice offering $18.00

Harris UMC

Ushers Brett Tigges Noah Bosma Verlyn Jacobsma Flowers Rose Robertson

Lake Park UMC

Ushers Jon/Laura Martin Wes/Vivian Lynn Flowers Alice Anderson, Mavis Hornick

August 2018 1—Betsey Heuer and family 2— Joan Hoye 3— Joe & Mavis Hornick 4— Kirk & Trisha Ingham and family 5— Curt & Kim Ingwersen 6— Kyle/Britleigh Ingwersen & family 7— Amber Ingwersen 8— Brent Jacobsen 9— Ron & Kathy Jacobson and family 10—Jacob & Leah Johnson & family 11— Jeff & Stephanie Jacobsma and family 12— Verlyn Jacobsma 13— Tom & Lil Jansen 14— Ray & Arlene Jaycox 15— James Jerousek 16— Sara Joens and family 17— Nona Joens 18— Bob Joens and family 19— Nate Johnson 20— Gary and Diane Johnson and family 21— Jeff & Phyllis Johnson 22— Shirley Johnson 23—Carolyn Johnson 24—Matt & Molly Johnson & family 25— Eula Kennedy 26— Barb King 27— Dawn Kinkade 28— Keith & Dee Klaassen 29— Teachers in our school 30—Pastor Emmanuel 31—those fighting cancer

LP UMW NEWS

No meeting in August

Sanctuary Flowers August .............................. Alice Anderson

Mavis Hornick

Care Center Music Aug. 13 ....................... Jeanine Gunderson

Care Center Bingo Aug. 17 ............................ Darlyne Halquist

Rose Christ

Lilly Bosma played two piano

pieces in church on July 15.

Lilly is pictured here with her

piano teacher, Jane Heikens.

Thank you to our United

Methodist Church family

for the flower arrangement.

We are so thankful for

Kyven's health and we pray

God continues to bless him.

Kyle and Britleigh Ingwersen

Haitian Wildlife

August Harris Birthdays

6 Keith Klaassen

8 Lucas Jacobsma

10 Brian Lenderts

21 Emily Anderson

23 Derrick Dake

25 Leah Tigges

31 Valerie Riesberg August LP Birthdays

1 Jon Gunderson

1 Brienna VandeHoef

1 Grace Winters

4 Mike Vellema

4 Marc Oleson

5 Mike Baker

5 Travis Luitjens

5 Judy Siemers

5 Avery Jo VandeHoef

6 Bruce Goodell

7 Melanie Deets

7 Andy Preston

8 Nathan Kyle

8 Elizabeth Read

8 Tyler Jurva

9 Brock Garloff

11 Sherri Munster

11 Neal Luitjens

11 Ty Garloff

12 Jessie Paskert

13 Zachary Garms

13 Trevor Grussing

14 Maddox Rahe

17 Amanda Oleson

18 Ben Meyerdirk

19 John Weltzin

20 Cassie Martin

20 Rebecca Ramsey Mooney

21 Trisha Ingham

21 Nichole Rowe

21 Meggie Mitchell Widholm

22 Todd Ahrenstorff

22 Matt Johnson

22 John Crosby III

23 Robert Halquist

24 Philip King

25 Shirley Gillespie

25 Kyle Ingwersen

25 Joan Miller-Hoye

26 Jacob Newbrough

27 Ryan Rowe

28 Jennifer Lueders

28 Nicole Vabre

28 Brian Nebelsick

29 Joshua Bridgeman

31 Kyle Jacobsen

August Harris Anniversaries

8 Brett & Leah Tigges

11 Bob & Jane Crist 15 Noah & Rachelle Bosma

27 Calvin & Joni Harms

August LP Anniversaries

4 Jon & Peg Gunderson

5 Jeff & Phyllis Johnson

6 Scott & Jan Mitchell

8 Brad & Sherri Munster

16 Dan & Charlana Gubbins

17 Brian and Lindsey Adams

19 Allan & Wanda Garloff

20 Dr. Randy & Stacie Cornwall

23 Dr. Chad & Billi Niemeier

29 Daryl & Shakira Meyer

29 Keith & Judy Siemers

as the water was so cool and refreshing. Some of the braver ones climbed up on the rocks to jump or dive into the deep pool. Monday through Wednesday we worked on some of the same activities each day. The nurses, Beth, Toni and Jeri, worked at the medical clinic with Fabie and Yolande to do check-ups on the pregnant women and share some pregnancy advice with them. They were able to deliver and package prenatal vitamins for the women as well. Pastor Emmanuel and Daniel led a computer training with 14 people at the cyber café. The rest of the team continued with painting at the school. On Tuesday afternoon, Beth led a health/sex education training at the school for students 12 and up. She shared good information about body changes and answered some good questions about health and making good choices with students. On our last afternoon, we took a trip to Jacmel to visit some art galleries, shops and a few different beach areas. Some of us also ventured up the mountain to see the town of Ridore. As you can see, our trip was packed with activities and many ways that we built relationships & connected with the Haitian people. Each morning and evening our team shared in devotions and had time to reflect on the day and pray together. One of my favorite parts of the trip was seeing each of our team members using their talents and gifts to serve and love others. This mission trip was a great opportunity for all of us to be out of our comfort zones because it made us rely on God and others, not just ourselves. We also were able to leave money to help the school finish building one of the classrooms, the chicken group can repair and start with over 100 chickens in their chicken coop, the cyber café can repair the roof that is leaking and holding water and finish the back wall, and we left money for the clinic to purchase some of the medication they needed. Thank you so much for your prayers and support of this trip as a way for us to serve God in Haiti. This trip would not have happened without the support of our local churches here in Harris, Lake Park and the surrounding area. We plan on continuing the relationships and service in Haiti in the summer of 2020. Continue to pray with us for Haiti and the work we were a part of. Mesi anpil! Thank you so much! Sarah & Daniel Prevot & the Haiti team

Where Hope Shines, I Follow: 2018 Haiti Mission Trip We started our trip early on Tuesday, June 12th with 14 excited people. We headed from Minneapolis to Miami to join with our other 2 team members and flew to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. After arriving in Haiti, we had a bit of a struggle getting all of our donated items out of airport customs, but all of it made it through and we started the long drive to Musac. It was eye-opening for the team to drive through Port-au-Prince and see all the people, cars, motorcycles, trash and vendors along the road. Haiti living for the masses is much different than how we live here in America. The first full day in Haiti we visited all the different places that we would be working: the school, clinic and cyber café. We also toured the market and got to try lots of different Haitian street food. Later that day we organized all our supplies to bring to the school and clinic. Our first big day of work was on Thursday and we had many activities going on at the school. Pastor Emmanuel, Lisa Taber and Jim Gaffney started a 2-day leadership training at the school for community leaders. Beth, Toni and Jeri worked with all the school children to apply fluoride varnish on their teeth. The rest of the team played with kids for a while till we got the paint delivered and then we started painting one of the new school buildings. Friday was another busy day with painting and leadership training in the morning. Rachel and Lisa R. visited with a local group working with chickens and gave them some training and education. In the afternoon, we shared a meal with the school kids and played carnival games with them the rest of the afternoon. Rachel, Lisa R. and Mega prepared and led the games with the rest of us working with teams. It was fun to see their energy and excitement with the games and music. We ended the games with a big Haitian dance party and then all the students went to their classrooms. In the classrooms, we passed out the backpacks, toothbrush kits and portraits to all students. I remember hearing shouts of joy when the younger students saw the backpacks. The nurses finished the day by teaching the students proper tooth brushing techniques. It was a very fun and tiring day! Our team got to experience a very difficult and beautiful hike on Saturday. We went down the mountain to participate in a Kid’s Club program in La Voute. It was a beautiful way to see more of rural Haiti and many of the Haitian people walk up and down that mountain every day. We were thankful that it was only one time we had to do that.☺ We shared songs, games, a craft and meal with the kids at Pastor Nicodem’s Kid’s Club in La Voute. When climbing back up the mountain, many of us were helped by some motorcycles and our van driver. It is hard to imagine that people make that walk so often and while carrying heavy loads on their heads! We spent the rest of the afternoon at the beach near Jacmel. We ate some fresh seafood, swam in the salty sea water and purchased a few things from the many vendors there at the beach. Sunday was finally a bit more relaxing. We attended a local church and got to hear a men’s group sing and Kesnel preached. After church, Daniel’s family made us a big lunch at his home and we ate and relaxed in the cyber café before heading to the Bassin Bleu waterfall. The van ride to the waterfall took us very high and on some pretty rough roads. It was well worth it

Aug. 5 – 11th Sunday after Pentecost 2 Samuel 11:26—12:13a, Psalm 51:1-12 Ephesians 4:1-16, John 6:24-35 Aug. 12 – 12th Sunday after Pentecost 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33, Psalm 130 Ephesians 4:25—5:2, John 6:35, 41-51

Aug. 19 – 13th Sunday after Pentecost 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14, Psalm 111 Ephesians 5:15-20, John 6:51-58 Aug. 26 – 14th Sunday after Pentecost 1 Kings 8:22-30, 41-43, Psalm 84 Ephesians 6:10-20, John 6:56-69

Open to the Public • Everyone Welcome • 712.332.2883 • okobojiconference.org

This month we look at the opposite sides of the reading spectrum: the nonfiction story that grips us with its truth and then the fiction story that can weave a web of conflict and resolution. Deb Morrow, Church Librarian “The only way we win is to look out for one another,” was Ed Thomas’s mantra. “After the citizens of Parkersburg, Iowa, survive a tornado that nearly destroys their entire town, they are stunned by the murder of their beloved coach, Ed Thomas, at the hands of a former player. As the story of this hometown hero spreads across national news headlines, Ed’s family and the Parkersburg community reel from shock. What happens next in this incredible true story provides a lesson in grace and forgiveness to inspire not just the people of Parkersburg…but the entire nation.” The Sacred Acre: The Ed Thomas Story by Mark Tabb and the Ed Thomas Family. (Taken from book jacket.) P.S.—Our library also owns Sentenced to Life: Mental Illness, Tragedy, and Transformation. "Joan Becker has a generous spirit and kind heart that come forward in this book. By sharing her family’s experience she’ll help other families struggling with mental illness feel less alone. That’s a tremendous accomplishment when the illness causes feelings of isolation and hopelessness for parents who are desperate to help their suffering child. The mental health system can and should be better, and this book inspires all of us to do everything we can to make it so. " U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley

Jan Karon kept alive her dream to become a writer even when it took fifty years to leave her career in advertising and seriously put her pen to paper. After struggling and failing to get a novel underway she awoke one night to an image. It was an Episcopal priest walking down a village street. She named him Father Tim Kavanagh and that was the beginning of the Mitford Years Novels. Jan Karon writes “to give readers an extended family and to applaud the extraordinary beauty of ordinary lives.” These recently donated novels join our growing collection of Jan Karon books. #7 In This Mountain #10 Home to Holly Springs #14 To Be Where You Are

MICHAEL W. SMITH Surrounded By A Million Lights World Tour

Sunday, August 19 • 4 pm (gates open at 3 pm)

Preservation Plaza • Arnold’s Park, IA All Tickets $25 • Bring Your Own Lawn Chairs/Blankets

Presented by Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Lakefield, MN

School will be starting soon! It’s time to think about stocking the school kits with much needed supplies. Now is a great time to purchase these supplies while they are on sale. These can be brought to the church at any time. Thank you in advance for your help! Items needed:

3 Standard size notebooks, spiral or bound, wide-ruled (210-250 sheets total) 1 box of 24 crayons (ONLY 24!) 6 unsharpened pencils with erasers 1 hand pencil sharpener 1 eraser – 2 ½” size 1 metric ruler – 30 cm 1 blunt scissors

Remove scissors and pencil sharpeners from packaging.

Please do not use Ziplock bags.

Whitney Ranae Gath was baptized by Pastor

Emmanuel July 1 at LP UMC. Her parents are

Tyson & Roshay Gath and her grandparents are Dan

& Marilyn Gath, all of LP UMC.

Looking Ahead…

Sunday School will begin on September 9!