The Messenger December 2015

HOPE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

WINTER WORSHIP SCHEDULE

Sunday 8:00 am - Plover, 202 Smith Street

Sunday School 9:00am - Pocahontas

Sunday 10:00 am - Pocahontas, 306 2nd Ave NW

Pastor Jerry Miller email: pastorhopeumc@evertek.net

cell Ph. 712-335-2273

Church Office Mon.-Fri. Hours: 9:00-3:30pm

email: hopeumc@evertek.net Ph. 712-335-3663 Fax: 712-335-3406

Keep in touch with Hope UMC: hopeumcia.org

Hope UMC—Pocahontas, Havelock & Plover

Christmas Caroling

Wednesday, December 16th

5:30 p.m. meeting at the church.

Children's Christmas Programs

will be held during worship on December 20th.

Christmas Eve Worship

December 24th at 5:30 p.m.

Candle light service at the Pocahontas center

Christmas Preparation

“Jesus’ birth was not a one-time occurrence. Every

Christmas has the possibility of Jesus being born again in our

lives and in our world.” –JC

“The first people who got the news about the baby were a

bunch of shepherds, guys working the graveyard shift in

the middle of the night.” –JA

“On the darkest days, we can still find light in people and in the most unlikely places.” - LR

“Make no mistake; God is calling you and me to be signposts for others.” - JL

“What happens when a church starts believing that God has given them the gifts that they

need to share with the community and the world? New life happens!” -RB

SENT, Delivering the Gift of Hope at Christmas, will be our Advent & Christmas Small

Group study and worship theme this year. Copies of this book are still available in the

office [$10] for you to read and enjoy this all church study and worship theme as we prepare

to celebrate Christmas.

The five weekly themes are:

1. Jesus Reconciles

2. Jesus Sets Us Free

3. Jesus Is God With Us

4. Jesus Brings New Life

5. Jesus Changes Everything

I look forward to sharing this Advent & Christmas focus with you as we prepare our hearts

to celebrate and proclaim that God’s love for the world was born in Jesus Christ who is alive

in us and still very present in the world today.

Bring your family & friends with you to worship, Pastor Jerry

December 24th the Candle light

service will be 5:30 p.m.

at the Poc. center.

Christmas Caroling

Wednesday, December 16th

5:30 p.m. meeting at the Poc. center.

Afterward there will be a light Soup & Sandwich Supper!

Everyone is invited to

come sing along!

Children's Christmas Programs

will be held during worship on

December 20th.

8:00am - Plover "A Promising Season"

A young person, not certain why she

volunteered for service to others dur-

ing Christmas break, learns how some

of the main players in the Christmas

story lived out their promises to God.

10:00am - Pocahontas

The Night in Bethlehem

Four Books for the 2015-2016 UMW Reading

Program are now on the book cart in the Fel-

lowship Hall.

Those who completed this program last year

by reading at least five books, one in each cat-

egory, were Donna Hull, Judy Timan, Pat Nel-

son, Shela Blomker and Joan Reinhart.

Decorating, baking, shopping, OH MY! If you need a quiet break to remind you of

the "Reason for the Season", the Hope UMC library has several books to help

you refocus.

Inspirational fiction:

The Christmas Candle by Max Lucado

The Christmas Box, The Gift, Finding Noel, and The Christmas List all by Richard Paul Evans

Inspirational:

The Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren

Youth:

Mandie and the Unwanted Gift by Lois Gladys Leppard

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski

Leadership Team Meeting

Nov. 12, 2015

Place: Pocahontas Center, 7:00 pm

Attendance: Pastor Jerry, Chris Radig, Allan Frevert, Judy Timan, Ray Timan, Don Ferguson, Linda

Ferguson, Dixie Gottsch, Moira Hopkins, Kathy Johnson, Donnie McLain, Melissa Rahn and Judy

Pursley.

Chris opened the meeting. Pastor read from our Stewardship study book Earn. Save. Give. He

then said a prayer.

Don motioned and Kathy seconded that the minutes be approved. Motion carried. Charge Con-

ference minutes were next. Pastor made mention that he looked them over before turning them

in and that they were OK. Dixie motioned to approve them Donnie seconded it. Motion passed.

A combined Treasurer’s and Finance Ministry Team Report was given by Allan. We received

more this year to date than in 2014 by $3,378, but have $871 less cash in Budget Account than

last year. Some of the line items are over budget, but the overall categories are below budget. A

motion was made by Allan to accept the Treasurer’s report. Seconded by Don. Approved. Allan

said that the Finance Team is looking into programs and companies that will give us the option of

paying our tithes online.

Chris said that he didn’t have any numbers for the Soup and Pie supper. Dixie said that the VFW

donated Soup Bowls for it and the Lutheran Church donated crackers. She feels that they need

thank you notes sent to them and volunteered to send them.

Pastor asked what caught our attention at the Charge Conference. A discussion followed.

Ministry Team Reports:

Judy T reported for the Worship Team. Decorating the church for Advent and Christmas is on

Nov. 29th, with a light lunch afterwards. Christmas Caroling is Dec.16th. Dec 20 is the Children’s

Christmas program in worship and on Dec.24th is the Christmas Eve Service at the Pocahontas

Center.

Moira said that Education meets next Wed.

Dixie said that the next Mobile Food Pantry is on Jan.27th. The Mission Team is sending $250

each to Women at the Well, a United Methodist congregation inside the Women’s Prison at

Mitchellville; Upper Des Moines; and Justice for Our Neighbors. A $100 gift will be added to the

total collected for Imagine No Malaria.

Linda said that SPRC does not meet until Jan.

Trustees: Don told us about the painting of Plover Center. They will go with the lowest bid of

$1100/unit for the Pocahontas Center windows. Donnie said that he and two of our worship

accompanists went to Des Moines to two music stores. There they tried out the pianos and

have chosen a Yamaha as a replacement for our piano. Our piano is difficult to tune and

doesn’t hold a tune long. We will try a smaller grand piano for free from Dec. 9th to 20th or

24th. Pastor noted that the Dress Rehearsal for the Community Chorus/Band will be on the

9th and the Community Chorus/Band Concert will be on the 13th.

UMW: Dixie said that Corrine Peterson will be a guest at the Nov.19th meeting. Vespers will

be on Dec.2nd at 6:00pm.She told us that Upper Des Moines desperately needs Hamburger

and Tuna Helper, Instant Potatoes, Jams and Jellies, Pancake Mix and Pancake Syrup, Canned

Fruit, Spaghetti Sauce, Saltine Crackers, Soups, Dish Soap, and Shampoo. NOT needed are

canned corn, green beans, tuna, peanut butter, and pasta.

Nominations: Slots still have to be filled on some of the committees.

Next meeting will be on Jan. 14th at 7:00pm.

Donnie closed with prayer.

Submitted by Judy Pursley

Leadership Team Secretary

Capital Improvement Projects

The Trustees have identified the following priorities that

need to be cared for. Please consider a special gift to

the Capital Fund “above & beyond” your regular giving.

1) One AC unit for the Poc. sanctuary needs replaced.

$3,500.DONE! PRAISE GOD!

2) Windows in the Poc. Fellowship Hall need replaced.

$1,100 / unit, $15,000 total

3) Plover entryway and sanctuary need painting. The

bid for this work is $2,150.00.

Thank you for your faithful, generous and joyful giving

to the ministry, mission and upkeep of Hope UMC..

- The Finance Ministry Team

Thanksgiving Ingathering Report

United Methodist Churches across Iowa gathered at five sites November 7th for the

36th annual Thanksgiving Ingathering. The final numbers haven’t been announced

but the total cash and the value of in-kind gifts total over $1 million.

Thank you to the members of Hope UMC who purchased supplies and assembled:

• 20 health kits

• 55 school kits

• 3 layette kits

• 9 LIT kits (Several have asked what this is. The LIT [Literacy] Kit provides supplies for Nigerian

adults who take literacy classes in their church to learn to read and write in the Hausa language. Be-

cause of high motivation to be literate, these adults take classes seriously and within a few months are

proficient in these skills and are able to read the Bible they receive for graduation.)

Thank you to the sewers and knitters who made:

• school bags for the school kits plus 12 empty bags were sent

• 26 sweaters – 3 sent in the layette kits plus 23 more

• 123 baby caps for health clinics in Nigeria

• a child’s quilt for the auction

Thank you for donations for the toothpaste and shipping costs of $216.

And, thank you for your contributions of $842 to Church World Service for

blankets. The total cash and value of in-kind gifts from Hope UMC was

$2,745.

_______________________________________________

Imagine No Malaria

So what has happened since the United Methodist Church began this

campaign? The death rate from malaria in Africa has been cut in half,

thanks to highly coordinated international partnerships. In 2010, a child died every 30 seconds from

malaria. In 2013, a child died every 60 seconds, but a child is also living every 60 seconds – a child

who would not have survived in 2010. Today those statistics are even better.

Thanks to the efforts of United Methodists across the connection, the church has reached 90% of its

goal of $75 million to combat suffering and death from malaria. Iowa has surpassed its $2 million

goal. We have traveled far toward eliminating death and suffering from malaria but we aren’t done.

During December the children will collect a noisy offering during the children’s sermon. As you drop

your change in the can, give it a good shake praising God for the lives that are being saved. Every

$10 provides one treated net that can protect an entire family.

WORSHIP ASSISTANTS †

Dec 6 Joan Reinhart Greeter

Dec 6 Carol McLain Liturgist

Dec 6 Ginger Ernst Comm Stwd's

Dec 6 Karen Hauswirth Fellowship

Dec 6 Pat Nelson Fellowship

Dec 13 Donna Hull Greeter

Dec 13 Melissa Rahn Greeter

Dec 13 Linda Ferguson Liturgist

Dec 13 Tim & Elaine Cook Fellowship

Dec 13 Leo & Carol Hallman Fellowship

Dec 20 Judy Pursley Greeter

Dec 20 Betty Abrahamson Greeter

Dec 20 Carol McCurdy Liturgist

Dec 27 Donna Hull Liturgist

Dec 27 VOLUNTEERS Fellowship

Dec Joe Hopkins Acolyte Poc

Dec Caleb Freeburg Acolyte Poc

Dec Bill Plantz Usher Poc

Dec Kevin Hauswirth Usher Poc

Dec Duane Wiemers Usher Poc

Dec Steve Hopkins Usher Poc

Lectionary Scriptures

Dec. 6 Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 1:68-79, Philippians 1:3-11, Luke 3:1-6

Dec. 13 Zephaniah 3:14-20, Isaiah 12:2-6, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18

Dec. 20 Micah 5:2-5a, Luke 1:47-55, Hebrews 10:5-10, Luke 1:39-45

Dec. 27 1 Samuel 2:18-20,26, Psalm 148, Colossians 3:12-17, Luke 2:41-52

DATE POCAHONTAS HAVELOCK PLOVER TOTAL

November 1 108 38 146

November 8 110 34 144

November 15 134 99 35

November 22 77 29 106

Members celebrating Anniversaries & Birthdays!!

Mike & Mary Loterbour 12/3

Bruce & Carolyn Wheatley 12/11

Don & Linda Ferguson 12/27

Brian & Shela Blomker 12/28

Mary Phillips 12/3

Morgan Olson 12/3

Linda Ferguson 12/5

Gary Zhorne 12/6

Allison Barnhardt 12/6

Lavonne Severson 12/7

Arnie Lubinus 12/10

Dixie Gottsch 12/11

Deb Schendel 12/12

Claire Cooke 12/12

Steve Trimble 12/15

Austin Hauswirth 12/16

Gage Bunda 12/17

Justin Shearer 12/17

Nick Wiemers 12/18

Adam Barnhardt 12/20

Dean Williams 12/21

Bryce Long 12/23

Andy Harms 12/24

Roger Allen 12/26

Reed Westerman 12/27

Cole Bennet 12/30

Shylar Boysen 12/31

Worship Attendance at Hope UMC