united methodist news · 4/3/2018 · 1 easter sunday! communion 11:00 8:30 traditional worship...

April 2018

Issue 4

Spirit Lake United Methodist Church

1812 Gary Ave.

Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360

United Methodist News

Lessons from the Playground by David Staal

The paved area behind our school featured six basketball backboards and rims; two for sixth-graders, two for fifth, and one each for third and second grades. First graders and kindergartners could watch, but had to stay out of the way. Recess has its own set of unwritten, yet tightly enforced rules for how playground life works. Ask any grade school student. As a third grader, I knew the rules. So when Tracey, a classmate, committed one of the few basketball infractions (thou shalt not trip the player with the ball—intentionally), I called it. He disagreed. I stood my ground. Words became shouts became shoves, and someone threw a punch. One of us hit back. The action on all courts stopped to watch. The playground monitor whistled at us right as the bell rang to return inside. Our friends stepped between us and around us, preventing anyone from identifying the fighters so no one would be sent to the principal’s office. After all, recess has its own set of unwritten, yet tightly enforced rules about how playground life works. Once back in our class, Tracey and I sat at opposite ends of the room—both still visibly steamed. Emotions were so obvious that our teacher, Ms. Lybrook, asked me to join her in the hallway. Everyone, including me, assumed I was in trouble for the fight. With a tender voice that I’m sure mimics an angel, she said, “You’re upset. Go ahead and tell me what happened.” After describing the egregious act Tracey committed, and my appropriate call for justice, I started to cry. She gently took my hand with one of hers and wiped away my tears with her other. As she did, we talked about how the playground is supposed to work; Ms. Lybrook seemed to know a lot. Then she said, “Some people just don’t understand things like you do. Now, why don’t you go get a drink at the fountain and you won’t be so upset.” In that moment, I learned that a few sips of cold water actually do a great job to wash away upset feelings. The fact that some people don’t understand things the way I do has also stayed with me across the decades that followed. So did the power of forgiveness, which Tracey and I extended to one another when he joined us in the hallway. With closer scrutiny, this episode illustrates two truths that transcend time to benefit anyone who serves children. When working with kids, learn to embrace interruptions. Why? Because children have this way of occasionally leaking out a little bit of what real life looks like and feels like—according to them. The best children’s curriculum available will never match the effectiveness of talking with a child about life in the way he or she really experiences it. Rather than always correcting kids, which emphasizes the negatives, look for the good side—it’s in every student’s heart just waiting to be invited out. Yes, rules must be in place. Yes, consequences must exist. Yet, so must patience. And grace. And compassion. And love. Anyone can blow a whistle to end a disruption. The extraordinary ones, though, care more for little hearts than following a plan. They’ll stop everything to make a difference; it’s an unwritten rule of how their lives work. Thank you, Ms. Lybrook, for

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Calendar……………………………..2

Gifts ......................................... 3

Service ..................................... 3

SLUMC Snip Its……...…..……...4

Missions .................................. 5

Christian Ed……………………...6-7

SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST

Confirmation Sunday - April 22nd

SLUMC Apparel pg. 4

APRIL 2018

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

EASTER SUNDAY!

COMMUNION 8:30 Traditional Worship 9:30 Blood Pressure Checks 9:30 Sunday School 10:30 Contemporary Worship

2

10:00 TOPS 11:00 Staff Mtg 12:00 Prayer Care 6:00 Discovery House Meal

3

4

9:00 Men's Breakfast 5:30 - 6:00 Wonderful Wednesday

Community Meal 6:00 Kid's Club/Confirmation/High

School 7:00 Chancel Choir

5

2:00 Women's Bible Study 6

10:30

Women's

Bible Study

7

8

CAMP SUNDAY 8:30 Traditional Worship 9:30 Sunday School 10:30 Contemporary Worship

9

10:00 TOPS 11:00 Staff Mtg 12:00 Prayer Care 6:00 Women's Bible Study

10 11

9:00 Men's Breakfast

9:30 UMW ECUMENICAL BRUNCH 5:30 - 6:00 Wonderful Wednesday



12

7:00 Men's Bible Study 12:00 Kiwanis 2:00 Women's Bible Study 7:00 Praise Team

13

10:30

Women's

Bible Study

14

8-10 AM - DC Food

Pantry @ Spirit Life

Fellowship

15

8:30 Traditional Worship 9:30 Sunday School 10:30 Contemporary Worship

16

10:00 TOPS 11:00 Staff Mtg 12:00 Prayer Care 6:00 Women's Bible Study

6:30 TRUSTEES

7:00 MISSIONS

17

9:30 Communion @

Welcov 6:15 FINANCE 7:00 STAFF-PARISH

18

9:00 Men's Breakfast @ Accura 5:30 - 6:00 Wonderful Wednesday



19


20

10:30

Women's

Bible Study

21

22


CONFIRMATION SUNDAY

23

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE 10:00 TOPS 11:00 Staff Mtg 12:00 Prayer Care 6:00 Women's Bible

Study

24

9:00 MUSIC STAFF 3:00 Friendship Bible

Study

5:30 ADMIN COUNCIL

25

9:00 Men's Breakfast 7:00 Chancel Choir

26


27

10:30

Women's

Bible Study

28

9:00 AM

Confirmation

Rehearsal &

Breakfast

8-10 AM - DC Food

Pantry @ Spirit Life

Fellowship

29


30

10:00 TOPS 11:00 Staff Mtg 12:00 Prayer Care 6:00 Women's Bible

Study

1

2

9:00 Men's Breakfast 7:00 Chancel Choir

3


4

10:30

Women's

Bible Study

5

SERVICE

Lola Kness

Jean Anderson

Melody Peyton

Kaitlin Gondreau -currently serving in Iraq.

(Cards/notes can be left at the church office)

Scott Montgomery’s mom, Barbara Montgomery

Jennifer Wymer’s dad, Ron Wolterman

Coleen Daly

Pat Fedders

Mike Wiley

4/1 David & Carla Bjork—He Is Risen!

4/2 Gary & Bev Hurley

4/7 Don & Marge Gregerson

4/14 Sue Bremer in memory Wendell McBreen

4/16 Craig & Sharol Andersen in celebration of their 58th wedding anniversary

4/20 Doug & Donna Fisher in memory of their daughter Sara Fisher (Mae Weaver’s granddaughter)

4/22 Gail Vanderzwaag in memory of her husband Glen

4/29 Marilyn Reno

TV Ministry

4/15 Sue Bremer in memory Wendell McBreen

4/14 Craig & Sharol Anderson

4/29 Shirley Olson

SLUMC’s service is on Mediacom channel 22 at 9am Friday mornings and Monday’s at 9am when possible

*PLEASE NOTE—COMMITTEES WILL NO LONGER BE HOSTING COFFEE HOUR AFTER THE 8:30 SERVICE .

PLEASE CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING TO HOST OR HELP SERVE

8:30 4/1 4/8 4/15 4/22 4/29 GREETERS

USHERS Bob & Sharon

Kelley Bob & Sharon

Kelley Bob & Sharon

Kelley Bob & Sharon

Kelley Bob & Sharon

Kelley

COFFEE HOUR SLUMC Pat Ellis

Linda Moore Gloria Currell

Charlene Thomsen Annette Fairchild Sharol Anderson

WELCOME CENTER

10:30 4/1 4/8 4/15 4/22 4/29

USHERS Confirmands

COFFEE HOUR Join us at 9:30 Confirmation

Sunday

WELCOME CENTER

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Wayne & Margaret Northey on the appointment of their son, Bill Northey, to the USDA as the Under

Secretary for Farm & Foreign Agricultural Service.

NEW!!!! SLUMC Apparel

Update your wardrobe with a new top embroidered with SLUMC’s logo. Order forms can be found in the Narthex

along with actual samples of the different options. Youth sizes available!

SLUMC SNIP ITS Celebrating Deanna’s 50th year as our church organist

The confirmands having a 2AM adventure to Walmart during their lock-in!

Kids club creating 'trees' with good fruit,

(kindness, generosity, humility & more)

Kristen is home!

Mark your calendar! Señor Cliff Hinderman will be joining us at both services on May 6th. Come

and greet him and hear about his ongoing Mission with the Indian population in Oaxaca, Mexico.

We always enjoy this Cinco De Mayo Sunday!! Join us!

Tacos will be served at Wesley Place following the 10:30 service.

A free-will offering taken, with proceeds going to Cliff’s work in Oaxaca.

THANK YOU! Thank you to everyone who brought soup for Souper Bowl Sunday. We gathered 145 cans of soup,

which were divided between the BackPack program, Upper Des Moines Food Pantry and Discovery

house. They were greatly appreciated!

DISCOVERY HOUSE We continue to provide a meal for Discovery House the first Monday of the month, and have been pleased at everyone’s

participation. They are grateful, and it gives us a chance to get better acquainted with Discovery House and

their program. Sign up for a month and you will be blessed and glad you’ve participated.

BACKPACK PROGRAM The school has a backpack program to send food home, and our church helps with this. This program is ongoing.

There is a bin in the Narthex for your donations.

*Monetary contributions are appreciated as it enables the pantry to buy food and items as they are needed.*

CONFIRMATION SUNDAY APRIL 22 10:30 AM

Congratulations Confirmands!

Kailee Jo Brant

Daughter of Ben & Amy Brant

Jacob Michael Cornwall

Son of Randy & Stacie Cornwall

Preston David Gaskill

Son of David & Becky Gaskill

Gracie Ray Hamm

Daughter of Jeff & Shawna Hamm

Sarah Elizabeth Larson

Daughter of Duane & Lisa Larson

Tiffany Elizabeth Lowry

Daughter of Aaron & Elizabeth Lowry

Owen Connor Meerbeek

Son of Jonathan & Sarah Meerbeek

Megan Leigh Sandison

Daughter of John & Cathy Sandison

WE HONOR OUR GRADUATES

Sunday, April 29

We will honor our 2018 High

School Graduates at both services!

Please contact Tammy Branum if you are

graduating form High School this year.

We will need a Senior Photo as well as a brief

summary of your plans after graduation.

Thank You!

Our final Wonderful Wednesday for the year will be on April 18th.

We will have our last meal of the year as well as the final meetings for our Kids Club,

Confirmation, and Youth Groups.

Our Wednesday night activities will resume in the Fall!

Thank you for a WONDERFUL Year!!

Sunday, May 13th will be the last day for

Children’s Sunday School until we resume in the fall.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION APPRECIATION

Sunday, May 13

At both services we will recognize and show

appreciation to all of our Sunday School &

Wonderful Wednesday Teachers & Helpers!

Join us for a reception in their honor with

Refreshments & Coffee in Paige Hall at 9:30 AM

between services.

CAMP SUNDAY

APRIL 8

Derek Bergman from the Lake Okoboji United Methodist Camp will be here

to share a message about camp at both services.

We would like every one of our kids to be able to attend camp this summer.

Jesus said to let the children come to Him and we feel that camping is one of

the best ways to learn about Him. We will pay 100% of the cost for each of

our kids that are active in one of our youth programs (Sunday school, Kids

Club, Confirmation, Youth Group) to attend one session of camp at Lake

Okoboji United Methodist Camp.

If you are able to afford part of the cost of camp, please donate that amount to our camp fund.

We ask everyone to prayerfully consider donating to our camp fund to help provide our kids with

this awesome opportunity. Part of this year’s Easter offering will go towards sending our kids to

camp! Please contact Tammy Branum if you have any questions.

SHIPWRECKED

RESCUED BY JESUS

Kids discover how Jesus rescues us through life’s storms!

This year Vacation Bible School will be a 2 Day Event!

Tuesday and Wednesday June 5 & 6

Kids age 3 through 5th grade will participate in memorable Bible-

learning activities, sing catchy songs, play teamwork-building

games, make and devour yummy treats, experience one-of-a-kind

Bible adventures, and test out Sciency-Fun Gizmos they’ll take home and play with

all summer long. Plus, kids will learn to look for evidence of God all

around them through something called God Sightings.

VBS will run from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Kids & Volunteers need to bring a sack lunch.

Before Care and After Care will be available starting at 7:45 AM and ending at 4:45 PM

Watch for more details coming soon!

LIVING FAITH

Learn what living with wholehearted devotion to God

really looks like. We will take an honest look at our

current lifestyles and relationships and ask, how am I

really communicating my faith to those around me?

When people see me do they clearly see the love of Jesus? We will take cues

from Paul, James and John to help us understand how genuine faith plays

out in difficult circumstances and how we can stay true to the gospel and

effectively share it with others.

This 5 week Women’s Bible Study begins Thursday, April 5.

Choose a time that works for you!

Thursdays: 2:00 PM or

Fridays: 10:30 AM or

Mondays: 6:00 PM

Spirit Lake United Methodist Church

1812 Gary Ave

Spirit Lake, Iowa 51360

Phone: 712-336-3115

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.spiritlakeumc.org

Non-Profit Organization

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT NO. 92

SPIRIT LAKE, IA 51360

LAST CHANCE!!!!!!

NEWSLETTER CHANGES

Beginning in May the newsletter will be sent via e-mail and available on the

website. Hard copies will be mailed only if they have been requested. If you prefer

receiving hard copies, please contact the office or sign the sheet in the narthex. The

deadline for sign up is April 16th.

Benefit for Melody Peyton

When: April 28th, 5-8PM

Where: Okoboji Brewing Company

What: Free Will Offering

Dinner, Music and Silent Auction

*All proceeds will go to Melody and Robert to

help with traveling expenses, lost wages and

anything else they need.

If you would like to help or furnish needed

items please contact [email protected]

united methodist news · 4/3/2018 · 1 easter sunday! communion 11:00 8:30 traditional worship...

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