July 2014

Vision

Statement

We are here to

reflect God’s glory

in our congregation,

in our world,

and in our hearts.

Forgiven by Christ,

we forgive.

Accepted by God,

we accept.

Empowered by

the Holy Spirit,

we equip, enable

and inspire God’s

household to

servant leadership.

A NOTE FROM HOMEA NOTE FROM HOMEA NOTE FROM HOMEA NOTE FROM HOME

Woe to you, for you build monuments for the prophets - the very ones your own people put to death! Luke 11:47

Last week I came across a piece of history: words written back in 1855 by the great, black editor and abolishionist, Frederick Douglass. They are harsh, convicting words guaranteed to put a damper on nearly any-one’s Fourth of July Celebration.

“What to the American slave is your Fourth of July? I answer, a day that reveals to him more than all other days of the year the gross injus-tice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him your cele-bration is a sham; your boasted liberty an unholy license; your national greatness, your sound of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your de-nunciation of tyrants, brass-fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parades and solemnity, are to him mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy—a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages.”

As harsh as Douglass’ words are, they are important for us to remem-ber, this week in particular because they remind us that “the great American experiment”, the revolution that we celebrate each July, is either a continuing proposition or it is nothing at all. Human trafficking, the rising sex-trade, and increasing poverty in our own country all chal-lenge our resolve to continue the revolution into the future rather than simply celebrate its past. So how will we respond to that challenge? Looking forward or looking back?

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Paul

Calendar of EventsCalendar of EventsCalendar of EventsCalendar of Events———— July 2014 July 2014 July 2014 July 2014

SUNDAYSUNDAYSUNDAYSUNDAY MONDAY MONDAY MONDAY MONDAY TUESDAYTUESDAYTUESDAYTUESDAY WEDNESDAYWEDNESDAYWEDNESDAYWEDNESDAY THURSDAYTHURSDAYTHURSDAYTHURSDAY FRIDAYFRIDAYFRIDAYFRIDAY SATURDAYSATURDAYSATURDAYSATURDAY

1111

2222

9:30 am CCM (offsite)

6:00 pm Summer Games

3333

4 4 4 4 Church closed for 4th of July

5555

6666 Communion

[Middle School Youth Mission Trip thru 7/9]

7777

9:15 am ESL

7 pm Children’s Council

7 pm Boy Scouts

8888

6:30 pm Mental Health Group

9999

NO Summer Games

6:00 pm SPPRC

10101010

7 pm Stewardship

7:30 pm VBS plan- ning mtg.

11111111

9:15 am ESL

12121212

9:30 am—12:30 pm International Ladies Fellowship

13 13 13 13

14 14 14 14

9:15 am ESL

10 am Happy End- ings book club

6:30 pm Education

15151515

10:30 am-5 pm JFON Office Hours

5:00 pm JFON Clinic

6:30 pm VBS Staff Orientation

16161616

9:30 am CCM (offsite)

6:00 pm Summer Games

6:30 pm VBS Staff Orientation

17 17 17 17

18181818

9:15 am ESL

12 noon Green Tm.

6:30 pm VBS Staff Orientation

19191919

8 am—Noon Trustees’ Outdoor Work Day

20202020

5:00 –8:30 pm VBS

21212121

9:15 am ESL

5:00 –8:30 pm VBS

22 22 22 22

5:00 –8:30 pm VBS

23232323

5:00 –8:30 pm VBS

NO Summer Games

6 pm Prayer Shawl Group

24 24 24 24

5:00 –8:30 pm VBS

7 pm Stewardship

25252525

9:15 am ESL

26262626

27 27 27 27 VBS Sunday & All-Together Sunday (only 1 service, @ 9:30 AM)

10:30 am Sum- mer Brunch

28282828

9 am Prayer Shawl Ministry

9:15 am ESL

6 pm Library Team

7 pm Boy Scouts

29292929

30303030

9:30 am CCM (offsite)

6:00 pm Summer Games

6 pm Prayer Shawl Ministry

31313131

CCM = Care Center Ministry

ESL = English as a 2nd Language

2

SUMMER VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CV HABITATSUMMER VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CV HABITATSUMMER VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CV HABITATSUMMER VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CV HABITAT

Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity is asking CR area congregations to build with them this

summer! Weekday and Sat. opportunities are available likely thru September. Habitat’s

A Brush with Kindness aims to engage one-time and regular individual volunteers, compa-

nies, faith-based organizations, and community groups in serving neighbors in need. No

prior experience or skills are necessary; they provide tools, materials and on-the-job train-

ing. Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age. View all volunteer opportunities at

cvhabitat.volunteerhub.com or contact Nate (366-4485, ext. 104 or volunteer@cvhabitat.org).

Lovely Lane Worship

July 6: Independence Sunday / Holy Com-munion—8:00, 9:15 & 10:30 am services Scripture: Genesis 12:1-5 Sermon: “Outside the Comfort Zone”

July 13: 8:00, 9:15 & 10:30 am services Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 Sermon: “God’s Strange Growth Strategy” by Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders

July 20: 8:00, 9:15 & 10:30 am services Scripture: Luke 10:38-42 Sermon: “God is Texting” by Marci Wittles, Certified Lay Servant

July 27: ALL TOGETHER WORSHIP & VBS Sunday 9:30 am service ONLY Scripture: Esther 7:1-6 Sermon: “A Daring Delivery” by Marci Wittles, Certified Lay Servant

Join us for a Summer Brunch in the Fellow-ship Hall after worship.

WorshipWorshipWorshipWorship

in Julyin Julyin Julyin July

THANK YOU to all those who signed upTHANK YOU to all those who signed upTHANK YOU to all those who signed upTHANK YOU to all those who signed up to provide special musicto provide special musicto provide special musicto provide special music

this summer during worship!this summer during worship!this summer during worship!this summer during worship! We have been and will continue to be treated We have been and will continue to be treated We have been and will continue to be treated We have been and will continue to be treated

mostly to music by some of our talented young peoplemostly to music by some of our talented young peoplemostly to music by some of our talented young peoplemostly to music by some of our talented young people ————whether through singing or playing an instrumentwhether through singing or playing an instrumentwhether through singing or playing an instrumentwhether through singing or playing an instrument such as the piano, trumpet, flute, violin, or viola.such as the piano, trumpet, flute, violin, or viola.such as the piano, trumpet, flute, violin, or viola.such as the piano, trumpet, flute, violin, or viola. On VBS Sunday, July 27th, VBS kids will On VBS Sunday, July 27th, VBS kids will On VBS Sunday, July 27th, VBS kids will On VBS Sunday, July 27th, VBS kids will share songs learned during the previous week.share songs learned during the previous week.share songs learned during the previous week.share songs learned during the previous week.

CWM-Children’s Weekday Ministries Lovely Lane Preschool,

Trinity Lane Preschool,

& Before and After School Daycare

Our summer program is well underway with

a full schedule of planned activities. During

June the kids have gone swimming, bowling,

mini golfing, and to 2 movies (“The Croods”

and “Lego Movie”). They have also visited

the Raptor Center, the Old Creamery Thea-

ter, the Splash Pad, the Ceramic Center, the

Pierce gym, and gone to the Linn County

Fair. They were treated to art classes with

Mr. Barnes along with visits from a magician,

a storyteller and Papa Balloon, plus a work-

out session with Lisa Bata. Planned activities

for July include fieldtrips to Texas Roadhouse

and to Pinicon Ridge Park to go fishing, plus

more art classes and a Lego Challenge.

You are Invited!! Summer You are Invited!! Summer You are Invited!! Summer You are Invited!! Summer Games at Lovely Lane UMCGames at Lovely Lane UMCGames at Lovely Lane UMCGames at Lovely Lane UMC

Wed. nights from 6:00-7:00 pm

Come for games, snacks, and short devo-

tion!

Bring a friend!

Summer Games Schedule for July,

6:00-7:00 PM:

July 2—Summer Games

July 9—No Summer Games due to Middle

School Service Trip

July 16—Summer Games

July 23—No Summer Games due to VBS

(Youth invited to help)

July 30—Summer Games

Hope to see you at Summer Games!!!

Questions? Call Jenny Seylar at 319-594-

0506.

Middle School Youth Mission Trip

LL middle school youth will be going to Pictured Rocks United Methodist Camp in Monticello, IA, July 6-9. They will do ser-vice work in the morning and camp activi-ties in the afternoon and evenings. The trip will culminate with the Christian Rock of Francesca Battistelli at the Delaware County Fair. It’s not too late to join us!

For more information, contact Jenny Sey-lar, Youth Director (jennys@lovelylane.org). Please pray for these 6th-8th grade youth!

HIGH SCHOOL MISSION TRIPHIGH SCHOOL MISSION TRIPHIGH SCHOOL MISSION TRIPHIGH SCHOOL MISSION TRIP

TO POSSIBILITY ALLIANCETO POSSIBILITY ALLIANCETO POSSIBILITY ALLIANCETO POSSIBILITY ALLIANCE

From June 13-19 our Senior High Youth spent time on a mission in Missouri. Nine youth and four adults learned about permaculture, ate or-ganic, and lived without electricity or cell phones. They milked goats, fed chickens, harvested mul-berries and survived ticks, mosquitoes and horse apples! They shared devotions each morning and evening and concluded their trip with a visit to the historic town of Hannibal.

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

Lovely Lane’s UMW will not meet in July or August but will help host the brunch Aug. 31st after the 9:30 combined service. We invite all LL women to join us Sept. 11th at 1 PM when our program will be on Human Trafficking (Putting an End to It). Judy McDowell is the program coordinator; Carolyn Selfridge and Jayne Woodson will host.

We’d like to provide LL women the opportunity to grow spiritually within a loving, caring fellowship and we welcome all women to join us. In order to do this, we welcome your ideas and input about pro-grams or events you’d like us to sponsor; what type of circles we could form where women of shared interests, such as working women and/or young mothers, might come together in Christian fellowship. Circle formats may be as varied as the wo-men in them—from traditional to modern, study groups to social groups, Bible studies to sharing such interests as cooking, quilting, or just meeting for coffee. Have a good summer and we look forward to seeing you this fall!

UMW TUESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY

The UMW Bible Study group will NOT meet during the summer. Beginning Sept. 9th, we will re-sume meeting each Tuesday AM from 9:30 - 11:15. We invite you to join with us in the fall as we resume our study of Ezekiel.

MISSION U (formerly Iowa Conference School of Christian Mission)

Mission U is where we stretch our minds and open our hearts while having a lot of fun. This year’s theme is Make It Happen. Mission U will be at the Iowa Valley CE Conference Center in Marshall-town with summer school July 13th-16th and the Fall Mission Event Oct. 17-19. Studies offered are about current issues impacting society: How Is It With Your Soul? (spiritual growth); The Church and People With Disabilities (social issue); and The Roma of Europe (geographical). Scholarships are available; call Cheryl Murphy (377-6205) for more info.

Especially For YouEspecially For YouEspecially For YouEspecially For You, Mercy Cancer Walk, Mercy Cancer Walk, Mercy Cancer Walk, Mercy Cancer Walk October 5, 2014October 5, 2014October 5, 2014October 5, 2014

Save the date in October for this year’s “Especially For You” Cancer Walk. Members of the Health & Wholeness Committee will be accepting your registrations for the walk/run during the month of August. The cost this year for the walk is $30.00.

If you have any questions, please call Nancy Miller @ 393-6340.

AED Training To Be Held in August

AED (Automatic Electronic Defibulator) training will be held on Sunday, August 24th, at 9 AM and 11:30 AM. Deanna Brennan, a nurse and AED certified instructor, will be doing the demonstrations. We urge all church members to attend these short sessions to learn how an AED works. If you have any questions, call Nancy Miller @ 393-6340.

Special Opportunities

Sue Moss is hoping to start a new small group called Saddles & Scriptures. As the

name implies, it will combine a love of horses and a love of God. The group could

go in several different directions; it will be up to participants to decide what it will

encompass. The group will make use of several resources including an online re-

source “Inspired by Horses – Uplifting wisdom and spiritual encouragement from a

Christian perspective.” Website developer Maureen Gallatin believes “horses have

a special mission to help us to develop faith in God, confidence in ourselves, and

effectiveness in working for the greater good.” Meeting dates, time, and place(s)

for Saddles & Scriptures TBD.

Please sign up on the STUB on Sunday if you are interested and/or have friends

who may be interested, or contact Sue Moss in the church office

(suem@lovelylane.org or 393-6674).

MG Interested in a mission to Guatemala?

When? March 13-23, 2015

Where? In the mountain villages of San Juan and San Pablo La Laguna, Solola,

Guatemala

What? Cinderblock home construction, cement mixing, block laying, wall plaster-

ing, painting, playing Spanish charades, loving cute children, serving Jesus

With whom? Working among the Tz’utujil, a small indigenous tribe living on the

shores of the most beautiful lake in the world

How much? $1500 including airfare, but fundraisers will help with that

Why? Cuz we love Jesus and want to help his sisters and brothers

Who’s in charge? Pastor Paul—this will be his 6th mission trip to Guatemala

What now? Sign up on the STUB on a Sunday or contact Pastor Paul if you’re

interested (paulw@lovelylane.org)

Saddles & Scriptures

May financial totalsMay financial totalsMay financial totalsMay financial totals

Cash inflow, May ‘14: $40,953 Cash outflow (paid bills), May 2014: $45,187

Cash inflow, Jan.–May ‘14: $228,247

Cash outflow (paid bills), Jan.–May ‘14: $228,253

Unpaid bills, Jan.–May ‘14: $15,006

Presence: Worship Attendance

6/1 6/8 6/15 6/22 6/29 221 203 231 239 183

HAPPY ENDINGS

Happy Endings, the book discussion

group, will meet on Monday, July 14th, in

the church library at 10:00 AM. The book

we will discuss is The Husband's Secret by Lianne Morarity.

On August 11th we will go to the New Bo

Book Store at 10:00 AM for a presentation

by the owner on new books that may be of

interest to us. Following the presentation

we will go to Parlor City for lunch.

The book we’ll read for September is The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro.

If you have any questions, please contact

Nancy Miller at 393-6340.

Our Ministry Teams at Work Small Group News

Green Team

♦ Helping with summer brunch 7/27

♦ Lighting in Sanctuary—awaiting the

Alliant analysis

♦ Rain Garden work days have been

set for June 21st, July 19th & Aug. 23,

8 AM to noon all 3 days

Missions

♦ Helping Hands Progressive Dinner—

Sept. 12; main course at Lovely Lane

♦ 25 Flood Buckets for distribution in

Iowa

Health & Wholeness

♦ Helping with summer brunch 6/29

♦ AED training—Aug. 24, 9 & 10:30 AM

♦ “Moovie” for neighborhood & church

on Aug. 22, 7:00—9:30 PM

Hospitality

♦ Scheduled committees for summer

brunches after the All-Together wor-

ship services in June, July & Aug.

♦ Sept. 12 will host main dish for a fund-

raiser for Helping Hands’ Progressive

Dinner

10

YOUNG FAMILY FELLOWSHIP

The members of Young Family Fellowship

bid a heartfelt farewell to the Schenk family

as they move to Minneapolis, MN,

and a HUGE THANK YOU to Jessica

and Brent for their YFF leadership

over the past year!!!

YFF will not meet during the months of July and August.

Stay tuned for YFF news in the Fall.

Friendly Fellowship Friendly Fellowship Friendly Fellowship Friendly Fellowship will not meet during July or August. See you all in the Fall!

Concerns & Celebrations Thank you for your prayers, presence, gifts & service!

Prayer concerns: *Donna Hobson & family – upon her husband Tom’s death; his funeral was @ LL on 6/26 *Arlene Allison – hospitalized with pulmonary embolism *Denise Abbott – recovering from cancer sur-gery *Bev Munnik – health issues *Regina Culbertson – had emergency surgery in late May *Jason Blum – had gallbladder surgery *Monica Fergus – had cancer surgery *Erika Serbousek – surgery for broken nose *Mardell Adams – recovering from surgery *Julie Woods – recovering from a fall *Ric Gerard – wound infection *Sue Moss – bad case of poison ivy or other & for her dad to gain strength after hospitalization *Lynn Lewis’s mother – hospitalized *Ellen Stevens’ son, JP Noeller – health & fam-ily issues *Karon Niebuhr’s brother, Brian – prayers for speedy recovery with no complications after colon surgery *People & churches of Rock Valley, Lester & Rock Rapids

Celebrations: *Great CWM preschool graduation ceremonies *The Lovely Lane congregation raised $347 for gas for the senior high mission trip to Missouri *Nathan and Katie Romig, LL visitors – birth of a son, Henry Romig, born June 4th *HS Youth on Mission Trip to Possibility Alli-ance in MO *Great annual conference in Des Moines AND our conference goal of raising $2 million for Imagine No Malaria was exceeded *Father’s Day Flood Bucket Offering raised $1,044 w/75 items collected from the congrega-tion (& 25 buckets donated by Sherwin Williams) *Year-to-date 30% of Lovely Lane Member households have recorded 3,200+ hands-on-ministry hours! *Baptism of Leo Kenneth Wear, infant son of Seth & Jenna Wear *25 Flood Buckets were completed & taken to St. Jame’s UMC for distribution as needed

Thank You NotesThank You NotesThank You NotesThank You Notes

Following the 8:00 service June 8th I left my purse under the pew. Since I came with my daugh-ter and son-in-law, I didn’t miss it until I got home and had no keys to unlock the door. What a terrible feeling, but we went right back and found it safe in the office. My heartfelt thanks to those who found it, tried to make contact with me and kept it safe until I returned. It’s nice to be part of such a caring congregation. Thanks again. Karmen Shedenhelm

United Methodists, you did it again! Because of your support of Imagine No Malaria, you’ve given another community in Africa reason to celebrate. People in the Bo District of Sierra Leone are danc-ing in the streets because Imagine No Malaria is distributing nearly 400,000 long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets this month. Producer Jan Snider, photographer Mike Dubose and writer Kathy Gilbert are in Sierra Leone covering not only the net distri-bution, but also the distribution of Vitamin A and de-worming medication to children. United Methodist Communications

Thank you for all the caring notes, cards, and well wishes that I received after my surgery at St. Luke's on June 4th. As much as I didn't want special at-tention this time around, I sure appreciated mem-bers of our congregation making their love felt any-way. Special thanks to Wanda Whitford for the great potato salad and to Pastor Gayle for fitting me into her busy schedule. Thanks, everyone! Mardell Adams

YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND NOTES OF ENCOUR-AGEMENT AND CARING to Don & Wanda Whitford’s son, Scott, while he journeys toward health and wellness as he battles brain cancer. His wife, Mary, also lives with can-cer while together they parent some wonderful children.

Please send your upbeat and faith-filled messages to: Scott Whitford 3561 E Melody Lane Gilbert, Arizona 85234

Scott has received lots of sad news so let’s send him some Good News! Thanks for sharing and caring! (Send prayers straight to God. No address needed!)

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Lovely Lane Staff

Lead Pastor………………………………Paul Wilcox Associate Pastor..................................Gayle Wilcox Office Manager.........................................Sue Moss Director Children’s Weekday Min.....Carolyn Barnes Youth Director…………………………..Jenny Seylar Christian Educator.............................Deidra Benser Director of Music……………….……Matthew Burrier Organist………………….………......Dennis Ramsey Children's Choirs…..Carla Jesse & Matthew Burrier Director of Handbells…………………..Gayle Wilcox Volunteer Coordinator…………………..Susan Blum Nursery…………...Erika Serbousek, Shelbie Wood, McKenna Woods & Tara Weber Wedding Coordinator….......................Becky Wood Custodians.............................Denise & Wes Abbott Audio/Visual Coordinator…......................Eric Wylie Treasurer……………………………...Marcie Stumpf Webmaster……………………………..Shelly Turner

Summer Worship Schedule

Sunday Worship—EXCEPT last Sunday of the mo. 8:00 am Traditional 9:15 am Traditional 10:30 am Traditional (Blended* on 2nd & 4th Sundays)

Sunday Worship—LAST Sunday in June, July & Aug. ONE “ALL TOGETHER” BLENDED SERVICE @ 9:30 AM (Dates: 6/29, 7/27 & 8/31) followed by Fellowship & a Summer Brunch in the Fellowship Hall

*Blended = a mix of traditional & contemporary

EMBODYING ... DISCERNING ... DISCOVERING ... THE WILL OF GOD

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Find out more about us:

Website: www.lovelylane.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/lovelylaneumc Phone: 319-393-6674