There has been a delay in the anticipated arrival of our new church directories due to unforeseen circumstances and processing procedures. The committee has approved the proof book and hopefully we can expect to receive them in January. We will let you know as soon as they arrive to pick up your copy for those who participated.

The Iowa United Methodist Foundation has scholarships available for the 2010-2011 school year. This year the deadline date has been extended to March 15, 2010. To see all the scholarships available please go to www.iumf.org. Upon completion, the application forms and all supporting documentation may be sent to:

Iowa United Methodist Foundation
2301 Rittenhouse Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50321

Dates are filling up fast for the 2010 radio broadcast. If you would like to sponsor a radio broadcast please call the office at 334-3689. The cost of a broadcast is $90. If you see a date that you might be interested in, please call early in the year. Sometimes if you wait too long the date may already be filled. The following dates are available for 2010:

January 3, 10, 24, 31
February 7, 21, 28
March 21
April 11, 25
May 2, 9, 16, 30
June 6, 13, 20
July 4, 18
August 1, 8, 15, 29
September 26
October 10, 17, 31
November 14
December 5, 26

A big THANK YOU to all who participated in the Volunteer-Coop Gift Tree project this year. We had 62 angles and all were taken within a week of having them on the tree! The volunteers who picked them up on Thursday commented on how generous all of you were on the amount of gifts you gave to your chosen child. There will be some very happy children who receive these on Christmas morning. On behalf of the Mission Team, we give our sincere thanks to all of you who helped in any way with our projects. As I said before, we have a very loving church-family who support our missions 100% all the way.

We are welcoming two new members to our team this year. Tammy Brown and Eula Martin will come aboard in January. Jesse Peterson and Karyl Hand will be leaving us and we want to extend our deepest thanks to them for all they did while serving on this team.

Next year we will start our Mission Projects with the Annual Pancake Supper in March. I personally want to thank all of my team members for their great support in making this an easy job for me. They are the best!!!

Bev Coulter,
Mission Team Chair

You and your friends are cordially invited to Independence, Iowa Women’s Connection Monday, January 11, 6:30 pm The Homestead Restaurant Supper $8.75

“Sacks on First Street”
Speaker: Stephanie Wolf, Marion, IA
Music: Saxophone Solo by Buffy Constant
Reservations: Call Donna at 334-4990

1-03-10 “He makes Everything New” Revelation 21:1-5
A new year...a new slate…a new start. All of these thoughts are pleasant to us. How can we start a new year clean and with hope? Only Jesus promises to make all things new. What can that mean for us?

1-10-10 “Give us Liberty, Lord Jesus!” Luke 4:14-21
Jesus’ ministry and purpose was to set us free. What is it that has you in bondage? What can Jesus free you of this year? Jesus is the true “liberator”.

1-17-10 “Teach Us to Love Each Other” 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
This year can we let love rule our hearts? St. Paul, the apostle, seemed to think that living a life of love was the greatest of all. How do we live the “agape” way; loving without any strings attached?

1-24-10 “What Will Love Look Like?” Matthew 25:31-40
Jesus explains that loving others needs to be an “action”. What will love look like in our lives? It has to be outward living. It will mean looking for the hungry, the naked, the poor, the thirsty, the sick, and the imprisoned. How many persons can we set free through our merciful living this year?

1-31-10 “Jesus is the Lamb of God” John 1:29-34
On this Sunday we will be celebrating, for the first time of the new year, Holy Communion. Jesus comes primarily as the “Lamb of God” who takes away the sins of the world. What does this mean? What does this mean to you? He can wash away our sin!

The special offering in January is offered on the Sunday before the birthday observance of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. where United Methodist congregations observe Human Relations Day. The special offering supports Community Developers, United Methodist Voluntary Service and Youth Offender Rehabilitations programs. This Human Relations Day helps strengthen outreach to communities in the United States and Puerto Rico and encourage social justice and work with at-risk youth. If you would like to help support this special offering, please designate your gift Human Relations Day on the memo line of your check or use the envelopes enclosed in the newsletter.

The new offering envelopes for 2010 will be mailed on December 29th. You will receive them in time for the first Sunday of January. PLEASE DISCARD any un-used 2009 envelopes! We assign new envelope numbers for 2010. If you use the old envelopes credit might go to the wrong person. This will keep our records accurate as we enter them into the computer. Thank you for your help.

There will be a new Bible study starting on Sunday, January 17th during the Sunday School hour entitled “ENOUGH, Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” by Adam Hamilton. We will meet in the Prayer room. Hope to see you there.

Also, we will undecorated the church on Saturday, January 9th at 9:00 am. Please come and help.

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go, He’s the one who will keep you on track.” Proverbs 3:5-6 from the Message Bible. (I thought this is a good Scripture to remember for 2010.)

Pray: Top of a new year - seek God for His plans for you, what would He have you to be doing with your time, energy and money this year? Does He desire for you to make some adjustments?

Pray: For our UMC ministry and staff as another year of work begins and another time to reflect on the past and what God is speaking to the church for this year.

Pray: For all of us to grow in our faith and to put it into practice. Help us to hear from God and sense what He would have us to be deleting or adding to our agendas.

Pray: Teach us to be grateful and thankful for what we have and to be content with our circumstances whatever they are. Help us to appreciate the simple and to encourage one another.

NEW BIBLE STUDY: Stonecroft study, “Knowing God’s Will” Explore principles in the Old Testament book of Ruth to learn how to determine God’s will. (8 lessons) will begin Monday, Jan. 18th at 4:30-6:00 pm at Mary Ellen’s, 410 4th St. NW, 334-2864. Please let Melody or Mary Ellen know if you would like a booklet ($7). Friends of UMC are welcome.

Women of Faith “Over the Top” for 2010 will be October 22-23 at the X-Cel Center in St. Paul. Butler’s Travel Service, Bette Butler is taking a bus (or two) and the cost for tickets, bus and one night in motel will run $231 per two in a room. (If 4 in the room, cost a bit less). The hotel is the Best Western Normandy Inn. They leave very early on Friday, and attend the Friday session and Sat., then return home Saturday night. Deposit of $100 due by Aug. 1. and balance due Oct. 1. If you are interested, submit your name, address and phone to Bette Butler, 334-2416, bbutler@indytel.com. First 50 get a $10 discount and she has 35 names already.

Thank you so much to all my friends for the many prayers and kindness which include flowers, goodies, cards, and gifts. It all is appreciated so much. I can’t thank my church family enough.

Leona Shaffer

The office is starting to accumulate various hats, gloves, socks, and a sippy cup. If you are missing any of these items stop by the office to claim them.

Sr. High Youth Schedule:

• Wednesday, January 27th at 6 pm-- in fellowship hall
• Friday, February 26th-- Hockey game

January 2010 Sunday Helpers Schedule:

January 2010 Acolytes: Erik Gruber & Brett Bowers
February 2010 Acolytes: Chantel Bowers & Brittany Thompson

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