Pastor Bailey will be offering a great opportunity during Lent to study scripture, have fellowship together, and to learn more about prayer. The study will be held during six Sundays in Lent, starting with Sunday, February 10. It will begin with a meal at 5:15 p.m. and the study at 6:00 pm. The study will last about an hour. There will be a nursery provided for our families.

This is a particularly important study that is based on a DVD series by Jim Cymbala who is the founder of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Church. Cymbala has written many books on faith and prayer. Such as “Fresh Wind Fresh Fire” and “Fresh Power”. Come and join us in this renewing time during Lent.

The Ministerial Association will be sponsoring a series of Lenten luncheons. The Lunch/Worship schedule will be from 12:05-12:55 pm on Thursday’s beginning February 14th. The cost for the meal is $6.00 per person. We hope you can come enjoy this time of worship and lunch during the Lenten season.

February 14-- Community Senior Center 400 5th Ave NE (Rev. Bill Black)

February 21-- First United Methodist Church 313 2nd Street SE

February 28-- Immanuel Lutheran Church 512 5th Street NE

March 6-- 1st Presbyterian Chruch 115 6th Ave NW

March 13-- Community Senior Center 400 5th Ave NE (Rev. John Cupryna)

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE
6:30 PM
February 6th
Come and Worship

2-3-08 “Getting a Glimpse” (Matthew 17:1-9)
This is the scripture about the mountain-top experience of Peter, James, and John. Yet it is also the “glimpsing” of who Jesus really is. How does it affect Peter and the disciples? And why can’t they just stay on the mountain with their awesome and wonderful feelings? Jesus leads us to mountain-top experiences but also more to times of “valley” living.

2-10-08 “Lead Us Not Into Temptation” (Matthew 4:1-11)
Temptation is a part of our lives. The good news is that Jesus, Himself, went through temptations and came out the victor. What is temptation? What temptations do we experience? And how do we overcome them? Good questions as we begin the Lenten season.

2-17-08 “A Change of Heart” (John 3:1-17)
In this familiar passage of scripture we hear Jesus talk to the great theologian Nicodemus. Nicodemus, even though he was a part of the religious ruling body called the Sanhedrin, was having trouble understanding Jesus’ words. He had trouble understanding that the Kingdom of God was “within”. How is your heart relationship with God these days? Again, a great question during the Lenten season.

2-24-08 “Are You Thirsty?” (John 4:1-15)
This portion of scripture shares about a wonderful encounter Jesus has with the woman at the well. It is well worth reading the whole account but for our purposes we will look at the first fifteen verses. These verses help us look at our own “thirst” and the inability to quench that thirst other than through Jesus Himself. Are you thirsty? Let Jesus provide you “living (continuous) water”.

The Independence Area Food Pantry extends their heartfelt thanks for your continued donations you so generously give to our many clients. Your support and all of your help during the 2007 year was a blessing.

Thank you,
Frankie Bowden, Director

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Your thoughtfulness is appreciated. We really appreciated the program that you allowed us to participate in at Veterans day 2007. Your Patriotism and Pride in our Country is greatly appreciated by us all.

VFW Post #2440

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We appreciate all the thoughts and prayers thus far as Eric has embarked on this new journey. Please keep Eric and Echo Company in your prayers that they will all return home safely. Our family is blessed to have such a warm and loving church family especially in times of need. If you would like to write to Eric, his address is: HM3 Bantz, Eric 2/24 E CO Unit 43495 FPO AP 96426-3495 Cards will be most welcome as they set up camp and begin their mission. I will get a list of needed items once I hear from Eric for anyone wishing to send a package. Cards require only 41 cents postage. Flat rate boxes are available at the post office and will require a customs form.

God Bless,
Jerry & Kelley Wells and family

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Thanks to everyone for your prayers, visits, cards & concerns for me during my recent illness. A special thanks to Rev. Bailey for his prayers and visits. Also a special thanks to the caring person, who went out of their way to stop in and say Hi to me every day and for the prayers that were said. Everything meant so much to me.

Charlene Wilson

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My family and I would like to thank you for your prayers, cards, and concerns during my recent illness. A special thank you to Rev. Bailey for his visits and prayers with me during a time when I really needed it. We truly believe in prayer and feel that it is your support that helped me and my family get through this difficult time.

God Bless you!
Jessica Franzen and family

The UMW will meet on Thursday, February 7, 2008 in the Wesley room for a 12:30 dessert lunch. This will be the annual pledge service and the program will be presented by Joann Wehner. Make a 2008 New Year’s Resolution to faithfully attend all UMW meetings. You will be spiritually up-lifted.

The UMW will also have a Lenten study, “God’s Mission, God’s Song”; held on Tuesday, February 5, 12, 19, 26 and March 4 at 9:30 am in room 104. Books are $7.00 each. Join us for a great study. Notice dates are changed from our UMW booklets.

Share the goodness of life with those who hurt. Giving to One Great Hour of Sharing enables the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to keep our promise that 100 percent of your designated gift goes entirely to specific causes. If you would like to be involved in helping with this mission please use the designated envelope with the newsletter and check out the web site www.UMCOR.org for more information on how you can help those in need.

The church is offering Easter Lilies in memory of loved ones for the Easter Service. The cost of the Lilies are $12.00. If you would like to purchase a Lily in Memory of a loved one please call the church office (334-3689) by Thursday, March 14th.

Reminder: We have many on going activities and bible study’s open to anyone that would like to join in. Women’s Bible study meets on Thursday’s at 5 pm, Book club meets once a month to discuss books, and Sunday school for kids - adults is offered Sunday morning at 10:15. Take a chance to use these opportunities to help strengthen your faith and build your spiritual relationships.

Attention: The wood doors to the Sanctuary are going to be replaced with new doors. If anyone would have a use for these doors please contact Ron Melick (319-327-0844) or Bill Stamper (334-4261).

We will be sending gift certificates, small devotional items, and some treats again to our college students. If you would like to help financially with this please put your donation in the basket in Wesley room or mark an envelope “college care packages” and put it in the offering plate or bring it to the church office before Monday, February 25th. The names of the college students are listed below. If we have missed anyone or if they have graduated, please contact Sue Knott or Linda Stamper.

University of Iowa

It’s hard to believe with all the snow, ice and cold that we have had that we should even be thinking about Summer Camp...BUT...it will warm up someday. If you have gone to camp before then you probably received a camp booklet in the mail. Some of you may be interested and don’t know much about it so if you think you and/or your child would be interested in going to a church camp please let me know.

Mary Ellen Earles and I will travel to Hastings, MN for training on a curriculum study called “The Truth Project”, a Focus on the Family presentation which will be on Saturday, Feb. 9th. Please keep us in your prayers for safe travel and good understanding and direction of what they have to teach.

Pastor Bailey will be having a Lenten Study on Sunday evenings starting Feb. 10 at 6 pm. There will be a light meal before starting at 5:15. This will be a time of fellowship and sharing. A nursery will be provided.

After School Kids started again and we have 28 children attending. We are about 1/2 way through and feel that it has been a blessing to all of us involved. It takes a lot of energy, a lot of helpers, and a lot of support to have a successful program. Thank you to all who have helped in any way.

As you have noticed some of your fellow church members have been reading the scripture on Sunday mornings, so if you would like to help in this way please let me know...of course the same goes for the Children’s Sharing time too.

It’s time to prepare for the College Care Packages. It’s very important that we get the names and current addresses of your college student. The names are listed on page 5 of the newsletter. If we have missed someone or if your student has graduated please contact me or Sue Knott.

Keys of Effective Prayer:

1. Spend much time thanking and worshipping the Lord Jesus for His sufferings and death on the Cross. Praise Him for dying for you, even though your sins tortured Him. Thank Him for His great Love for you.

2. Ask the Lord WHO He wants you to pray for. He’s the Initiator. Your prayers of anxiety and despair don’t carry much weight, but agreeing with His prayers brings results. (Romans 8:26-27)

3. Ask the Lord WHAT He wants you to pray. Usually He will give you a verse of scripture or impress a word or phrase on your heart. When you pray what He’s praying, you will discover the power of “praying WITH the answers” rather than “praying FOR the answers.”

4. Avoid the future tense in your prayers. When you know WHO and WHAT the Lord wants you to pray for, you’ve tapped into the Divine confidence of knowing God’s will (1 John 5:14-15). God’s will has already been paid in full at the Cross, so you can focus on praising Him that this is already yours, rather than begging and wishing for it to happen.

5. Praise God daily with the prayers He’s given you. Daily proclamation doesn’t manipulate or change God, but it helps keep your heart in a place of believing. And believing is one of the major conditions of receiving (Mark 11:24).

February 2008 Jr. High Youth Schedule:
2/15-- Waterloo Blackhawks Hockey game. Must order tickets by February 6th to attend.

February 2008 Sunday Helpers Schedule:

February 2008 Acolytes: Austin Rasmussen & Mitchell Cabalka
March 2008 Acolytes: Chantele Thompson & Lizzy Jacobson

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