christmas thank you notes · 4 tims tales january 2019 a heartfelt thank you for our staff...

January 2019 Tims Tales

Christmas Thank You Notes Many thanks to all who helped make these events possible, and to those who participated. You made the difference!

Hanging of the Greens

Gift Making

Advent Wreath Readers

Sunday School Christmas Program

Caroling

Cantata

Decorating the Sanctuary and Great Hall

Christmas Eve Service

January 2019

St. Timothys United Methodist Church 266-0464 www.sttims-umc.org

2 Tims Tales January 2019

Our Church’s Financial Update

Through November, we are still in good shape financially. The balances for our general, capital, and memorials funds are still high, but our expenses for the general fund for the year are still more than our income. We expect to eliminate most of that deficit in December. Next year will probably be a different situation. I’ll explain the difference in the stewardship article.

At the end of November, we had $31,517 in our general fund bank account, $18,499 in our capital fund bank account, and $5,996 in our memorials fund bank account.

Through November, we received $241,406 for the general fund, which includes pledges, plate money, church use, and miscellaneous giving, $17,458 for the capital improvement fund, which is used for capital projects, and $500 for the memorials fund, which is used for other special projects and causes.

On the expense side, we spent $249,982 from our general fund through November and $20,315 from our capital improvement and $0 from our memorial funds. Including November’s payment, we’ve made all of our conference apportionments payments for the year. We had a credit going into the year, so we didn’t have to make a payment in December.

Thank you for contributing to the life of our church, whether it is your financial giving, attending and participating in worship, Sunday school, or special events, being on a church committee, or volunteering to do something else.

Try to keep up with your pledges to the general and capital improvement funds throughout the year. If you have any questions about our church’s finances or want a copy of the latest balance sheet or treasurer’s report, contact the church office or me.

Al Yakish, Finance Committee Chair

January 2019 Tims Tales 3

We celebrated the end to our stewardship campaign in worship on Nov. 18. So far, we’ve received 61 pledges for 2019 totaling $233,092 for the general fund and $17,613 for the capital fund. Last year, we had 67 pledges totaling $248,472 for the general fund and $20,524 for the capital fund. If you haven’t turned in your pledge card yet, please do so now. We’re hoping to receive at least 7 more pledges for 2019 from people who pledged in 2018. We want to finalize our general fund budget for 2019, and we need your pledges to do it. If you lost your card, or didn’t receive it, you can get one with an envelope from the church office or the information table across from the office. There will be a stack of giving envelopes on the information table too.

I’ll try to explain the financial situation I expect to see in 2019. At our last leadership council meeting, we approved a general fund expense budget of $303,526 for 2019, an increase of 4.8% from this year’s budget total of $289,618. If we receive the 7 pledges I hope to receive, our pledge income will be about $251,596 for the general fund and $18,133 for the capital fund. Compared to the pledges we received for 2018, this is only a 1.3% increase in the pledge total for the general fund and a 12% decrease in the pledge total for the capital fund. I’m not worried about the capital fund. We have sufficient balances in the capital and endowment funds plus the income we expect to receive next year to cover the anticipated capital projects for 2019. I’m worried about the general fund. I don’t think we will receive enough pledge income plus our plate money and church use income to cover our anticipated expenses for the general fund. I think we will come up about $10,000 short. The good news is we will start the year with a pretty good general fund balance. If our cash flow gets in trouble sometime next year, though, we will have to delay or not pay all of our apportionments for the year, or we will ask our members to give more. This is not something to worry about right away, but I think it will be a problem going forward unless we can increase our income or reduce our expenses. In the meantime, I encourage everyone to only spend what needs to be spent. I will keep you updated throughout the year. If you have any questions, please contact me. Thanks for everything you do for St. Tims.

Al Yakish Finance Committee Chair


A heartfelt thank you for our Staff Christmas Gifts. We deeply appreciate your

thoughtfulness.

St. Timothys Staff

Pastor Wendi will be out of the office January 8th thru January 22nd. Rev. Gayle Wilcox will fill the pulpit January 13th and Rev. David Glenn-Burns on the 20th. In case of an emergency, please contact the office.

REMINDER: January 21st the office will be closed in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Congratulations! Andrea Weiss &Jake Huntley

on their engagement!


Your generous contributions to the 6 Cunningham families for the Adopt-a-Family program was awesome. The value of the wrapped gifts for the 25 people was about $3100, plus $515 for uniforms, $480 for food gift cards, $46 for fruit baskets, & $16 for fudge. That totals over $4150 that was given from your hearts for these families.

An estimate of the value of the 152 items on the “mitten” tree was $600. Many of these items were socks and underwear requested by Cunningham School. They are sure to help !

Thank you to the helpful gift wrappers: Phil Patton, Jay & Kathy Agness, Connie Wrage, Pat Dreyer, Diane Helmrichs, Sue Ilax, Jayne Phelps, Jean Meehan, & Carolyn Scoville.



I'm so excited to tell you about our experience delivering the gifts to Cunningham School families this year. I think Terry & Diane Helmrichs, Jay Agness, Greg Cooper, Pat & Mike Dreyer, and Wendi would all agree that it was an awesome experience. The husband of one lady with 2 small children had just died 4 months ago, and she was having a hard time. She even gave us a very nice thank you card when we deliv-ered the gifts. Another lady with 5 children is getting dialysis 2 days a week and has been on the kidney transplant list for 2 years. She has a rare blood type and must have a live donor. Something you might think about.... One lady said very sincerely that she definitely is going to visit St. Tims. A man and his daughter from Liberia was staying with friends but had to get their own place. He just moved in an apartment, but there was no furniture except a mattress leaning up against the living room wall. He is the man who asked for “eating plates & eating spoons, drinking cups, pots & pans, etc.” He had worked last night but got up early for us. One was a Spanish-speaking family, so we didn't learn much from them. However, ALL were so very sincerely grateful & thanked us over & over again. They hugged and hugged each of us. This is an experience that you just had to be there to under-stand the feelings we received. So thank you, once again, for your generous giving from your abundances and from your heart. Carolyn


January 13: Human Relations Day offering On Human Relations Day United Methodists are called to celebrate everyone’s potential to do great things, to empower those living on the margins of society, to invest in at-risk youth, and to make a difference together. This special offering finances the programs of Community Developers, United Methodist Voluntary Services, and local church youth offender rehabilitation programs.

The January through July Sunday School offering will go to Red Bird Mission in the Appalachian Mountains in Kentucky. It is located in an isolated area, cut off from the educational and medical services of the county seat. The Mission provides education, craft-making for retail, elderly housing, literacy, medical services, and assistance in upgrading their below-standard housing. Chronic

poverty, a lack of jobs, poor housing conditions, and a rugged mountainous terrain are some of the obstacles to achieving a livable life in the area.

A Friends of the Family offering will be taken on January 20. Cedar Valley Friends of the Family provides safe shelter, confidential support, and housing assistance to individuals and families in crisis due to homelessness, domestic

violence, human trafficking, and sexual assault. Through prevention education and community engagement, they seek a future free of violence and homelessness.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING & CARING: The Sunday School offering of $600 for July through December has

been sent to CFUM (Children & Family Urban Movement) at Trinity UMC in Des Moines. CFUM makes a purposeful difference in the lives of children and their families who live in the poverty-stricken inner city with substandard housing, new immigrants, and racial tensions.

The Thanksgiving offering of a generous $2500 was given for NE IA Food Bank. This amount will help their many programs that served over 46,000 food-insecure people last year.


Souper Bowl of Caring - Sunday, February 3 Souper Bowl of Caring is a 27-year old nationwide program that works to fight hunger and poverty in local communities around the time of the Super Bowl football game, which is February 3rd this year. It began with a simple prayer from a youth group: “Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those without a bowl of soup to eat.”

By giving directly to St. Tims Food Closet, we will help provide food for the hungry and compassion to those in need in our own community.

You will have 2 ways to contribute to Souper Bowl of Caring:

place a generous offering in the baskets as you come forward for communion.

eat soup after church in Fellow-ship Hall with your free-will offering going to the Food Closet.

To make us more aware of “hunger,” you will be served only soup & crackers.

Help St. Tims share God's love by helping to tackle hunger in the Cedar Valley.

PLEASE REMEMBER:

The Cabinet of Bishops is suggesting that we pause to pray from 2:23 to 2:26 each day for the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference to be held Feb. 23-26, 2019 in St. Louis, MO.


Sunday School teachers please sign up to teach for January and February. Also, REMEMBER that Youth Sunday School will resume January 13th. It will start after Young Disciples time until the end of worship service.. When communion is scheduled, the youth classes will not be held.

Adult Sunday School continues to meet at 9:00 AM. Christian Education Committee

DR. WALTER CUNNINGHAM SCHOOL FOR EXCELLENCE St. Timothy's Partner in Education WELCOME TO 2019! Cunningham is up and running and accepting all your help in collecting the following:

HY VEE RECEIPTS now on hand $233,323.33 worth $933.29 BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION 451 worth $45.10

MILK MOOLA BAG TOPS AND BOTTLE CAPS worth $348.35

LOTS OF INK CARTRIDGES HAVE BEEN DONATED. Thanks to these donations, the school has been able to get things for the classrooms

to help the students. IS ANYONE INTERESTED IN HELPING WITH THESE PROJECTS? We would be happy to give you a few tips on organizing them. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP! Dick & Joyce Capps

Attention All Snow Birds! If you are leaving us for the cold, winter months, please don’t forget about us! We would like to keep in touch, so that we can keep you informed. Call or send an email to the church office to make sure that we have your current contact infor-mation.

Safe travels, and we will see you in the Spring!


Thank you from Wendi

to everyone who helped and attended the parsonage open house and also for remembering me this Christmas Season with your prayers, cards, gifts, and time.

Your kindness is so typical of your warm and caring spirits. May you and yours be as richly blessed.

Wendi

January 15—Jan 2019 First United Methodist Church Cedar Falls

Would you like to help serve a delicious & healthy home-cooked meal to those who…

Can’t afford to purchase the groceries,

Or don't have access to appliances to cook it,

Or don't want to eat alone,

Or just enjoy socializing with a variety of folks,

Or gratefully appreciate your work & tasty meal?

What a joy it is to see them ponder which dessert to choose, to see their big smiles, and to hear an energetic and sincere “thank you”!

Contact Carolyn Scoville to volunteer to prepare food at 12:30, serve at 4:15, do dishes & cleanup at 5:00, or provide a pan of bars

Call Bob Huber about helping to set up tables.


Remember, if you know of upcoming events our youth are involved, in please let the office know so we can share it in our newsletter and announcements Pictures of events are always appreciated. Below Left to Right: Odessa & Lane Rodenburgh and Taylor Vessel performing in “A Christmas Carol”


Service of the Holy Baptism—December 23rd Larkyn Theoline Towner Reid

daughter of Krysten & Dan Reid and little sister to Rayne and Oren


Africa University “The Faith We Sing” hymnal project continues into 2019. This United Methodist university was established in 1992 in Zimbabwe and is partially supported by local church apportionments. Their chapel seats 500 and HYMNALS ARE NEEDED! St. Tims goal is to purchase 500 hymnals at $7.99 each! To contribute put cash in a special offering envelope or write

a check payable to St. Tims with “AU Hymnals” in the memo. Thank you for your support.

Pastor Wendi presenting Bibles December 9th to: Upper Left: Archer Kracke Upper Right: Lloyd Waldron Lower Left: Colin Steuben


Terry and Diane Helmrichs would like to say thank you to everyone for the cards and prayers received on the passing of Terry’s father.

Martin Luther King Jr Day January 21st. It is a day to celebrate the life & achievements of Martin Luther King Jr, an influential American civil rights leader. He is most well known for his campaigns to rid racial seg-regation on public transportation and for racial equality in the United States. “Life's most persistent and urgent question is 'What are you doing for others?'”

quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In Case of Snow or Ice If a snow or ice weather event happens on a Sunday morning, Pas-tor Wendi and Greg Cooper (Trustees) will decide whether to cancel Sunday School and Worship. During the week, activities will be cancelled when metro schools have been closed.

News stations KWWL and KCRG will be notified. You can also check our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sttims-umc for a cancellation notice. Emails will be sent to mem-bers if possible.

Most importantly – remember – when deciding whether to venture out, choose to be safe!


St. Timothys Leadership for 2019 Leadership Council - meets 3rd Wednesday of odd months at 5:00 pm Sharon Walker (chair) Committee Chairs: David Walker Al Yakish Greg Cooper Darline Balm-Demmel Craig Hoffman Emily Borcherding Merlin Taylor Brenda Hoffman Tony Reid Lois Taylor Jay Agness Bob Huber Carolyn Scoville Alice Sawin LuAnn Buchholz Also: Pastor - Wendi Gillan Lay Leader - Spencer Luvert Recording Secretary - Sally Yakish Lay Member to Annual Conference - Al Yakish Finance Treasurer - Robin Cooper Office Manager - Patricia Harkin Financial Secretary - Dorinda Pounds Assistant Financial Secretary - Barb Hugi Membership Secretary - Merlin Taylor Librarian - Maelou Baxter Historian - Pat Dreyer Finance Committee - meets 2nd Wednesday of every month at 5:00 pm Al Yakish (chair) Patricia Harkin Lois Taylor Robin Cooper Dorinda Pounds David Walker Greg Cooper Sharon Walker Craig Hoffman Wendi Gillan Spencer Luvert Bob Rule Barb Hugi Audit Committee - Annually in January LuAnn Buchholz (chair) Al Yakish Stewardship Committee - meets as needed Darline Balm-Demmel (chair) Al Yakish John Rothlisberger Alice Sawin Board of Trustees - meets 1st Tuesday of every month at 6:30 pm Greg Cooper (chair) Wendi Gillan Mike Kellner Russell Peterson Glenda Riddle Spencer Luvert Jean Meehan Terry Helmrichs Al Yakish Mike Dreyer Endowment Trustees - meets quarterly Craig Hoffman (chair) Sue Ilax Bob Clark Diane Helmrichs John Rothlisberger Gifts & Memorials - meets as needed Lois Taylor (chair) Becky Bierwirth Jeanne Robinson Carl Kittle Nominations - meets as needed Wendi Gillan Spencer Luvert Robyn Rodenburgh Merlin Taylor Jay Agness Glenda Riddle


Reaching & Receiving - meets 2nd Tuesday of every month at 5:30 pm Emily Borcherding (chair) Sally Yakish Merlin Taylor Bob Huber Al Yakish Louise Odle Newcomers Team - meets as needed Merlin (chair) & Lois Taylor Al & Sally Yakish Bob Huber David Glenn-Burns Carolyn Scoville Louise Odle Calling Caring Committee - meets as needed Wendi Gillan Kathy Agness Robin Cooper Merlin Taylor Lois Taylor Margaret Reid Bob Huber Teri Sheehan Jani Rothlisberger Barb Dahlen Food Closet Committee - meets as needed Bob Huber (chair) Ginny Rule Al Yakish Denise Peterson Mary Hansen Mary Hansen Wendi Gillan Sue Ilax Lois Taylor Christian Education - meeting times TBD Alice Sawin (chair) Wendi Gillan Jake Huntley Sunday School Teachers Alice Sawin John Rothlisberger Sheri Steuben Miranda Kracke Robyn Rodenburgh Darline Balm-Demmel Brenda Fit Jen Waldron Special Events - meets as needed Brenda Hoffman (chair) Robin Cooper Jani Rothlisberger Jan Kellner Jen Waldron Lyn Countryman Carol Luvert Missions Ministry - meets 2nd Wednesday of every month at 6:00 pm Carolyn Scoville (chair) Phil Patton Connie Wrage Jay Agness Diane Helmrichs Church & Society Ministry - meets as needed Tony Reid (chair) LuAnn Buchholz Bob Huber Phil Patton Bill Teaford Tom Pounds Worship Ministry - meets 1st Wednesday of odd months at 7:00 pm Jay Agness (chair) June Niedert Andrea Dryer Russ Clarke Spencer Luvert Janet Kreb Jake Huntley Wendi Gillan Ginny Rule (Altar Care) Altar Care Committee - meets as needed Ginny Rule Teri Sheehan Carol Luvert Staff Parish Relations Committee - meets 4th Wednesday of every month David Walker (chair) Phil Patton Spencer Luvert Barb Hugi Kate Kitzman Andrea Dryer Sue Ilax Jack Steuben Barb Dahlen Staff Pastor - Wendi Gillan Office Manager - Patricia Harkin Director of Music - Jake Huntley Custodian– Dennis Grovo Organist - Janet Kreb Accompanist - James Jenkins


Sun Jan 06 9:00 AM Adult Sunday School 10:15 AM Worship - with Communion 11:15 AM Refreshments following Worship Mon Jan 07 7:00 PM Al-Anon meeting Tues Jan 08 6:30 PM Board of Trustees meeting 7:00 PM Worship Ministry meeting Wed Jan 09 9:00 AM Friendship Breakfast - Village Inn 5:00 PM Finance Committee meeting 6:00 PM Missions Ministry meeting 7:00 PM Chancel Choir rehearsal 8:00 PM Handbell Choir rehearsal Sun Jan 13 9:00 AM Adult Sunday School 10:15 AM Worship - Youth Sunday School after Young Disciples Time 11:15 AM Refreshments following Worship Mon Jan 14 7:00 PM Al-Anon meeting Tue Jan 15 Community Meal at First UMC, CF 7:00 PM Reaching and Receiving meeting Wed Jan 16 5:00 PM Leadership Council meeting 7:00 PM Chancel Choir rehearsal 8:00 PM Handbell Choir rehearsal Fri Jan 18 1-4 PM St. Tims Food Closet Sun Jan 20 9:00 AM Adult Sunday School 10:15 AM Worship - Youth Sunday School

after Young Disciples Time 11:15 AM Refreshments following Worship Mon Jan 21 7:00 PM Al-Anon meeting Wed Jan 23 9:00 AM Friendship Breakfast - Village Inn 5:00 PM Staff Parish Relations meeting 7:00 PM Chancel Choir rehearsal 8:00 PM Handbell Choir rehearsal Sun Jan 27 9:00 AM Adult Sunday School 10:15 AM Worship - Youth Sunday School

after Young Disciples Time 11:15 AM Refreshments following Worship 5:00 PM 500 Marathon—1st game Mon Jan 28 7:00 PM Al-Anon meeting Thur Jan 31 5:30 PM Church & Society meeting


Prayers and Concerns

• Maelou Baxter

• LeRoy Bierwirth

• Those suffering from loss

• Those touched by the many

natural disasters

• The border immigration crisis

• Delegates to the 2019 Special

Session of the General Conference

• An end to the violence in the world

• All who are shut-in

• The individuals and their families that are experiencing

medical issues

• Women at the Well Ministry

• Our military members and their families

• Rev. Paul Wilcox , N.E. District Supt.

• Iowa UMC Cabinet

• Bishop Laurier Haller

Pat and Mike Dreyer would like to thank everyone for the cards and prayers received on the passing of Pat’s brother-in-law.


Christmas 2018 Memories Above: Cunningham School Children Caroling at St. Tims

Below : Christmas Caroling

Right Top: Christmas Caroling.

Right Middle: Youth Christmas Program

Right Bottom: Christmas Cantata



St. Timothys Food Closet The St. Timothys Food Closet is open on the third Friday of each month, from 1-4. We help 15-20 families per month. Most of our food is purchased through the NE Iowa Food Bank, with additional items being purchased elsewhere. This is where you can help! We need your donations of nonfood items to assist our clients in obtaining things that cannot be

purchased with other food assistance programs. Your donations of the following items can be placed in the “Food Closet” box in the Narthex:

paper towels deodorant Kleenex laundry soap fabric softener pet food dish soap cleaning supplies lotion shampoo toothpaste napkins conditioner toothbrushes toilet paper feminine hygiene products

Thank you for your generous support!

500 MARATHON It is again time to dig out the card decks and score sheets from last winter and join in some fun and fellowship on those cold winter Sunday evenings! That's right! The 500 Marathon will be in full swing again this winter.

The people who played last year and anyone else interested in playing are invited to join in the fun. We’re looking for people willing to play every night as well as people willing to just be a sub. This is a great way to get to know our fellow church friends in a relaxed setting with food. Come join the fun!

Plans are to play at the church the fourth Sunday evening of the month - 5:00 p.m. (January 27, February 24, March 24, and April 28). Each couple is asked to help host one night by bringing snacks and drinks to share. The last round will be a potluck at the church. Please let us know that you want to join the fun. Lessons will be available if requested. To add your name to the list or for more information, contact Al Yakish.


Tims Tales is published monthly by St. Timothys United Methodist Church 3220 Terrace Drive, Cedar Falls, IA 50613

Wendi Gillan - Pastor, [email protected] Patricia Harkin - Office Manager, [email protected] Jake Huntley - Director of Music Ministries Janet Kreb - Organist James Jenkins - Accompanist Dennis Grovo - Custodian

Keeping up with St. Timothys Worship CD: Even if you didn’t make it to Sunday’s Worship Service, you can keep up with the current worship service or listen to a previous service with a CD available from the church office.

If you cannot make it regularly to church, please contact the church office to be added to the CD distribution list.

Call Patricia at (319)266-0464 or [email protected].

Email Connection: Get a weekly update as well as special announcements. Subscribe by sending your email address to our office manager at [email protected].

Newsletter: Receive our monthly newsletter, Tims Tales, in the mail – contact the office with your mailing address.

Facebook: Like us on Facebook to get all the latest posts www.facebook.com/sttims-umc

Newsletter Deadline Please submit news for the February issue of Tims Tales to Patricia at [email protected] by Tuesday, January 22nd.

Our Witness of Inclusion The congregation of St. Timothys United Methodist Church in Cedar Falls celebrates God’s gifts as a faith community built upon the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. We are called and strive to be an open, loving, and caring congregation; to proclaim Jesus’ love and justice to all; and to live out God’s unending love through the inclusiveness and welcoming of all persons, including those of all sexual orientations and gender identities.


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christmas thank you notes · 4 tims tales january 2019 a heartfelt thank you for our staff...

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