Thank you to those who have been so generous in helping with the relief efforts in Haiti. As we look at this months offering we are able to see how our giving is helping those in need. Our Easter offering goes to the Iowa Conference to support our apportionments. It helps to support our Conference as well as combine efforts with other churches to help with relief ministries. In our own area this offering has helped with flooding, homeless shelters, camping ministries, breakfast programs for families in need. And in the recent months to help with Haiti.

We also are offering our One Great Hour of Sharing offering this month. This special offering supports the operating expenses of those who bring healing and help to areas like Haiti. It’s nice to know that 100% of our gift goes directly to where the suffering is happening.

We hope you will consider to give this month to these special offerings.

Pastor Bailey will be leading an exciting Lenten study during the month of March called “24 Hours That Changed the World”. This will be a guided journey portraying the last days of Jesus’ life. There will be a DVD presentation by Adam Hamilton (The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection), a time for questions and answers, and a look at the scriptural accounts. The study will be held for the remaining four Sundays of March, ending with Palm Sunday. Each session is a study of its own so if you miss one that is okay. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. There will be coffee and cookies and the nursery will be provided if it is needed (we hope it will be). This is a great way to grow in your faith during the season of Lent.

The mission team will be hosting the annual Pancake Supper on Thursday, March 18th from 5:00-7:00 pm. We will be serving delicious pancakes, sizzling sausages and ham, and delightful applesauce. Coffee, milk, or water will be available. A free will offering will be accepted. The fellowship will be great, come and enjoy. All proceeds go to missions. See you there!

Parents we need your help! We would like to start having a regular, once a month meeting for our 6th—8th graders. We will meet on Sunday evening from 6-8 pm at the church. Come enjoy a pizza party starting Sunday, March 7th. Please encourage your kids to attend. Help us build up our Jr. High Youth program. Kids are always welcome and encouraged to bring a friend!

The Independence Area Food Pantry will participate in the Feinstein Foundation Challenge. Food and Funds donated from March 1– April 30, 2010 will be reported to the Foundation which will divide $1 Million dollars among non-profit agencies throughout the country to help fight hunger. Please donate generously to the Independence Food Pantry - the more donated , the more money we will receive from the Feinstein Foundation!

The Pre-school - 5th graders will be making special crafts to sell before and after worship on Sunday, March 21st. All items will be a free will offering and the money will go to “Help for Haiti”.

We are also sending home little white church banks with the children to collect money during Lent. We hope you will help support our children’s efforts to Help Haiti.

The March UMW unit meeting will take place FOLLOWING the Lenten Lunch at St. John’s Church. The Lenten lunch is at noon on March 4th, and the cost is $6.00. The Unit meeting will meet at our church in Wesley room following the lunch (a little after 1 pm). All are invited to attend.

UMW Lenten Bible Study will begin on Tuesday, March 2nd at 9:30 am. Phyllis Davis has books for anyone interested. We will meet in room 104.

World Day of Prayer, March 5th
Friday, March 5, at 1:00 pm is the time set for the annual World Day of Prayer. Hosts will be the women of St. John’s Parrish. The theme, “Let Everything That Has Breath Praise God” will be celebrated around the world. Worship begins at the first sunrise in the Pacific region and follows across Europe, to the Americas and the rest of the world. The members of St. John’s are asking that anyone who wishes to sing in a community choir be at St. John’s at 12:00 for a practice of familiar songs. The service is at 1:00 pm followed by a fellowship time with refreshments. For more information call St. John’s Parrish at 334-7191.

Looking for interested goodie makers to help provide goodies for Fellowship coffee on Sunday mornings. If you would be interested, call Karyl Hand at 334-6601, to find out more information.

Thank you to everyone for your cards, thoughts, prayers and kindness shown during our loss of Amy’s step-father, Roger Meyer of Postville. All are greatly appreciated!

-Dean, Amy & Abby McGraw

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The family of Ken Coulter wishes to express our sincere thanks to our relatives, church-family, friends, and community, for the cards, gifts of food, flowers, memorials, and personal condolences at the time of Ken’s death. I want to extend my thanks to the Ambulance Crew, Ann and Ron Gitsch, Bill Coulter, LuAnn Brodigan, Rev. Dennis Bailey, and BCHC personnel for their support during this traumatic time. Special thanks to the Veterans of Post #2440 for the Military Rites, to Rev. Bailey, Jim Brown, Mary Schubich for the beautiful service at our church, and the United Methodist Women who provided the lunch. The support given to our family from everyone was a wonderful tribute to my beloved husband, Ken. May God Bless those who touched his life in any way.

-Bev Coulter, David & Jeannie Coulter, Karen & Michael Young, Deb Coulter, and their families

The church is offering Easter Lilies in memory of loved ones for the Easter season. The cost of the Lilies are $12.50. If you would like to purchase a Lily in memory of a loved one please call the church office (334-3689) by March 25th.

3-7-10 “Fruit-bearing Repentance” Luke 13:1-13
Jesus was asked about two tragedies...Herod’s murder of Galilean Jews during their sacrifices and a tower falling on some in Siloam. The question was, “Were they worst sinners than others?” “No!” Jesus says. But if we don’t repent and have “fruit” in our lives that shows our repentance, then something far worse will happen to us...and it is eternal.

3-14-10 “The Grace of Our Heavenly Father” Luke 15:1-3; 11b-32
On this Communion Sunday we will look at a very special passage of Scripture that emphasizes the gracious love of our Heavenly Father. He is always ready to forgive. We just need to come to our senses and return to Him.

3-21-10 “Unashamed of our Love for God” John 12:1-8
How do you show your love for God? Can we love him with unashamed worship and adoration? Do you hold back in your own life in the way you live, act, or speak because you are afraid of showing your love for Jesus openly? Mary (sister of Martha) had no problem openly showing her love for Jesus. We’ll look at what this means for our lives.

3-28-10 “All Hail King Jesus” Luke 19:28-40
Jesus enters Jerusalem for the last time. He comes as a king and will be crucified in just days to come. This entry is one that helps even his disciples to understand his “Kingship”. Yet little did they know that his kingdom will not be of this world but will come to those who worship and adore Him.

You and your friends are cordially invited to
Independence, Iowa Women’s Connection
Monday, March 8th at 6:30 pm
Independence Pizza Ranch
Supper $8.75

Feature: Em & Jerry’s Coffee Co.
And Emilea’s Woodshop by Tami Fenner
Music: Vocal/Guitar by Gary Wilson
Speaker: Betty Brandhorst, Waterloo, IA
Radio talk show host and seminar speaker
Reservations call Donna at 334-4990

(A little boy sat down at the kitchen table with his crayons and a big sheet of blank paper, and he started to draw. His father, noticing the youngster hard at work at the table, stopped to look. “What are you doing, son?” “I’m drawing a picture of God,” said the little boy. “But son,” said the father, “You can’t draw a picture of God. Nobody knows what God looks like.” The little boy thought for a moment and said, “Well-they will when I get through!”) Good for him!

We sure have a group of good looking FUMC families. They are celebrated in the new Pictorial directory and hopefully you have gotten your book if you had your picture taken. The committee of Lori Derr, Mary Burkett, Merry Christensen, Marilyn Jensen and Donna Jorgenson spent a lot of time working on this and did a wonderful job of coordinating everything and putting together a great book. It is so nice to have an updated “put a face to a name book”. Many others helped with the hosting and we just appreciate all the hard work everyone did. Coming soon will be a poster with everyone’s picture on it. It will be very unique.

The class that meets in the Prayer room will start a new study on Sunday, February 21st entitled “ Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White” by Adam Hamilton. It meets right after church so bring your refreshments and join in the interesting discussions.

If you are interested in attending “His Women Seminar” on Saturday, April 17th at the Crowne Plaza in Cedar Rapids please contact me as soon as possible. It is from 9am-3pm and includes a meal for $30. This year’s seminar will feature nationally known speaker and singer Tammy Trent and recording artist Rhonda Funk. Several women from our church went last year and said it was very good and plan to attend again. I have to order tickets by March 10th, so if you are interested please let me know soon. You can go to the website, www.HisWomenSeminar.org to find out more.

March brings signs of spring, new life, Palm Sunday, Lenten Study and luncheons, and our prayers for “slow” melting. Pray for our staff as they prepare for spring events and Easter celebration. Praise God for warmer weather and sunshine.

“How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him.” Psalm 147:1. Remember, praise is a type of prayer. Think of all God does for us each day and praise Him. He is leading and guiding our lives. He is leading and guiding our church. Pray we follow His lead.

Pray for the Early Out Program, Sunday School classes, youth group and Sunday Services. Each week many people pass through our doors, ask God to bless them and help them to receive what God would have for them. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Ps. 147:3. May First UMC be a place of mending and healing hearts.

Blessings,
Mary Ellen

March 2010 Youth Schedule:

Jr. High Youth group: Sunday, March 7 at 6:00 pm - Pizza Party at church.

Sr. High Youth group: Wednesday, March 24 at 6:00 pm

March 2010 Sunday Helpers Schedule:

March 2010 Acolytes: Abby McGraw & Paige Davis
April 2010 Acolytes: Melissa Dryml & Tristan Ludwig

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