september 2019 volume 60 issue 9 inside this issue · 09.08.2019 · i love a good parade with all...
TRANSCRIPT
Contact Us 515-967-2991
Pastor John Gaulke
Steve McLellan
Minister of Creative Arts
& Pastoral Care
Matt Osborne
Youth Director
Brandon Lindsey
Children’s Ministry Director
LeAnn Gaulke
Director of Small Groups
& Assimilation
Sue Bennett
Financial Manager
Heather Mahoney
Executive Assistant
Brenda Cort
Administrative Assistant
Dear Friends,
I love a good parade with all the decorated floats, marching bands, and candy. What would a parade be without candy? It’s best to arrive at the parade early, unfold your lawn chair, and take a seat until the parade passes by. That’s the key – passing by – you don’t see the whole parade at once. It’s only the part in front of you that captivates your eyes.
We leave the order of the parade to someone else. Someone who sees the entire parade at once. I wonder if that is how God sees our history. Each generation as a float in God’s grand parade. Each generation working to shine the Gospel’s light to its generation. Once, while watching a parade, I think I caught a glimpse of God’s parade from His perspective. I think I can best express my thoughts with you by sharing a little history about hymns I enjoy singing.
We begin in small home in Germany. It is 1483, and boy is born to a poor family. His dad is a miner and tries hard to provide for the family. This boy would grow into a man determined to bring God’s Word to the masses. He translated the Bible into the common language of the people so they could read and study it for themselves. His name was Martin Luther, and of the over 100,000 hymns that Germans have written, his hymn “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” is probably the most famous.
In the year 1708, Charles Wesley was born in Epworth, England. During his lifetime Charles would write an amazing 6,000 hymns to reach his generation with the gospel. Some of his hymns, still loved today, include, “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus,” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “Love Divine, All Love Excelling,” and “Jesus, Lover of My Soul.” Perhaps his most famous hymn is the one he wrote on the one-year anniversary of his conversion, “Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing.”
Several years ago I received two new CDs. What was unique about these CDs is that I personally knew the people that wrote each of the songs. One of the CDs is entitled, “Worship.” It is a great CD, and when listening to it, I find myself doing exactly what the title states–worshipping God. Second, Adam Culver and his band “Stainless” released a CD entitled, “The Early Years.” Adam is the son of Kermit Culver, the man who led me to the Lord. What a joy it is to listen to his songs about the Savior’s love.
September 2019
Volume 60 Issue 9
Small Groups 3
Missions Update 4
Student Ministries 5
Children’s Ministry 6
Music 8
Top Notchers 10
Announcements 11
Online Giving 14
AUMC App 15
Inside This Issue
Continued on page 2
Volume 60 Issue 9 Page 2
I was listening to Adam’s CD and reflecting on my own salvation way back in 1977 when I think I caught a glimpse of God’s parade. Not just one float, but the whole parade. Martin Luther, Charles Wesley and Adam Culver all share a common desire to reach out to their generation with music that speaks of God’s redeeming love. Hundreds of years separate them, and their songs use different instruments, different melodies, different rhythms, and different lyrics, but they clearly convey the same Gospel message. I am reminded of the passage in chapter 13 of Hebrews, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Each float in the parade looks different, but it is a part of one parade. Each generation must strive to reach its generation with the Gospel. The years will pass and the styles will change, but the message will always be the same. God knows the order, and He has placed us into this world for such a time as this. We are one link in a long chain of servants of Christ called to share the Gospel. You might have guessed that our next series, Care 2 Share, will help us focus on what God focuses on – people. It’s going to be a great series, and it just might change your life and someone’s else’s life for eternity.
Participating in the parade with you,
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Turkey Mission Dinner 2018 Update
Saturday, October 12 Meals From the Heartland packaging event in the Family Life Center
If you are on Facebook, you may have seen a shout out to AUMC by Hope Ministries. “"Does it seem like we mention Altoona United Methodist Church often? That's because we do! There's really no end to their generosity and compassion for people in need. Their support recently allowed us to purchase new cups for our Hope Cafe...we serve meals to hundreds of hungry men, women and children every day, so this will help us a ton. As always, we're so grateful for your partnership and kindness, Altoona UMC!” Using funds raised at the Turkey Mission Dinner 2018, we purchased 30 dozen 8 oz., plastic, dishwasher safe cups for use at Hope Café, Door of Faith, and Hope Center for Women and Children. Another project made possible by the Turkey Mission Dinner is the upcoming Meals from the Heartland packaging event which will be held in the Family Life Center on October 12. Signups for one-hour shifts will begin September 22 in the entryway. Come help us package 50,000 meals for the hungry!
Summer 6/Stuff the Truck THANK YOU! With your cooperation and generosity, on July 28 we were able to STUFF THE TRUCK! Hope Ministries provided the truck, and AUMC provided the stuff. Donations included Summer 6 Most Needed Items of toothpaste, toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, razors, and deodorant. Also donated were clothing, shoes, and canned fruit or beans. Great job, AUMC! We can really STUFF A TRUCK!!!!
Louis Dawson, food services supervisor for Hope Ministries
Friday, October 25 &Saturday, October 26 Roll Making Saturday, November 9 2019 Turkey Mission Dinner
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
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Hard as it may be to believe, school has already started back for the students in Ignite.
Per usual, the summer was a time of tremendous spiritual growth for many of our young people. Through events such as our Mexico mission trip, Summer Games University and numerous park outreaches to share the love of Christ with our community, we have created many memories which we will cherish forever. Above everything, we give the Lord praise for these memories, because they all testify of His goodness and faithfulness to us.
With the school year now back into swing, we are excited to return all of our Youth Small Groups. These groups, which meet on Sunday evenings, place heavy emphasis on the reading and studying of Scripture, as well as give the students a safe space to discuss challenging issues with people who love and support them. We have been so encouraged by the growth that we have seen in our student participants since we introduced these groups, and we are excited to see how God will continue to use these groups to grow and mold us into His image.
This school year also brings with it the start of the newest Confirmation Class at Altoona UMC. We expect to have a rather large group of Confirmation students this fall, and we are looking forward to being able to walk them through the fundamentals of the faith. The goal of Confirmation Class is to teach our students what it means to be a follower of Jesus, and then to give them the practical tools necessary to continue to grow as disciples.
I ask that you please continue to keep our student ministry in your prayers as we seek to honor the Lord in all that we do. We continue to acknowledge that any “success” that comes in our ministry is only God’s doing. We are totally dependent on His Spirit to come and do what only He is capable of doing, which is why we are so appreciative of your prayers. God bless!
Matt Osborne, Youth Director
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WHO MAPS OUR PRIORITIES? As fall rolls around and we begin to have new opportunities for our time, we must ask ourselves “which direction do I go?” School begins, fall sports kick into action and there are multiple church activities...the list goes on and on. How do you know what to support? Maybe more importantly, how do you know what to say no to? Do we cater to our children and let them choose? Do we take the reins and direct them towards what we as parents believe is important? Or does God have a different plan? I don’t know how many times Sven has heard me yell at the television both to cheer on or complain about the 49ers. As I think back, I wonder how many times he has seen the same excitement from me about my walk with God. It’s easy to be loud and open about earthly things. We see it everywhere...from the clothing we wear, to TV and movies, and all over the media. It’s acceptable to cheer on our team and favorite players. It makes us feel good to show up on the first day of school or work in Nike shoes or an Armani suit (for those of you who have seen my “wardrobe”, you know I had to ask Kara about brands of suits). Are we sharing the same enthusiasm with our children about God and the importance of a relationship with Him? Sven knows the 49ers colors, but I wonder how often he sees my true colors for God? Twenty years ago, Wednesday night was considered a night for family and for God. You would never see a sports practice, dance recital or school play on that night. Since then, the secular world has slowly taken over. We want our kids to be bigger, stronger and faster. We want to give them every advantage on the field and in the auditorium. However, are we stopping to think about the long term? I don’t mean five years, I mean generations. What disadvantages are we providing our kids, and in turn their kids, by not prioritizing God first? Matthew 6:21 says “for where your treasure is, your heart also will be.” Are we treasuring God and his gift of life more than anything else in this world? Are we showing our children this path? In response, Matthew 16:26 states “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” There is a balance to be found...God is not saying not to enjoy anything but Him. We just have to make sure we are not trading treasure for our soul. Which priority map are we following? Brandon Lindsey Children’s Ministry Director
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Midweek programs will start on September 11th. Prek and K-3rd grade Midweek classes will meet in the
2+ room and FLC respectively from 6:30-7:45pm. 4th-6th graders will meet in the basement for Grapple.
Games, activities
and a small group
atmosphere.
Regular Midweek
hours apply.
(6:30-7:45pm).
Saturday, September 21st 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
FOOD--GAMES--INFLATABLES--FUN
EVERYONE WELCOME
Family Fest
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I love seasons! Alaska had four seasons. Spring started and ended on the Memorial Day weekend. Fall was the same except it was the Labor Day weekend. It took 2-3 days for all the leaves to come out in the spring and about the same amount of time for them to fall off in the fall. Fortunately, not all of the seasons of life go quite that quickly, but for all of us time slips by much faster than we ever imagined! The key is to make each day matter. I have a quote on my refrigerator that says in essence, “How we spend our days, of course, is how we spend our lives.” We build our lives one day at a time, and before you know it they are history. I was reading that life expectancy is somewhere around 83 now. That writer followed up by saying that his children are teenagers and his kids are looking at someone who is two-thirds dead. It gave me a sobering chuckle. In light of the fact that I have passed the two thirds mark, the church and I have negotiated a part time arrangement for serving at AUMC. I will continue to direct the groups listed in the newsletter. It will be a significant change in moving to 20 hours a week, but it does allow more time to pursue needs and interests that have been put on the back burner for too long. I think I can make it work. With this extra time you can be sure everything left on the music worship bucket list will be beyond “better than ever”. Looking forward to seeing you all in September, Steven McLellan
Music Notes “For everything there is a season,
and a time for every matter under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV)
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WORSHIP MINISTRIES FALL REHEARSAL SCHEDULES: Sundays, starting September 8
Junior Choir 9:15 – 9:30 a.m. basement (west side) Mondays, starting September 9
Bell Choir 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. sanctuary Wednesdays, starting September 11
Orchestra 6:00 – 6:45 p.m. sanctuary Choir 6:30 - 7:50 p.m. sanctuary Worship Band 8:00 – 9:30 p.m. sanctuary There is room for you in the music ministry! Contact Steve at(515) 967-2991 or [email protected] for more information.
Music Notes COMING UP!
Starting the week of September 9 the music groups listed below will begin their fall and Christmas rehearsal schedules. Why not consider becoming part of one or more of these music ministries.
Interdenominational Hymn Sing - Sunday, October 6 Altoona United Methodist Church is sponsoring a Hymn Sing for the Altoona community. A special choir is being formed for this city wide event. Two rehearsals are scheduled for a city wide choir. Anyone interested is invited to participate. Rehearsal dates and times are: September 29th at 2:00 p.m. and October 6th at 2:00 p.m. (prior to the Hymn Sing). The 2019 Christmas Celebration This year we will have a Christmas Charity Concert with the Des Moines Metro Brass, our Worship Choir, Orchestra, and Handbell Choir. The time of that concert is Sunday evening, December 8 at 5 :00 p.m. here at Altoona United Methodist Church. In conjunction with this concert we are in the process of scheduling an additional concert or two in a separate venue.
SEPTEMBER WORSHIP SCHEDULE
September 15 Choir in first service
“The Old Church Choir”
September 22 tentative – Jr. Choir
in all services
September 29 Choir in first service
“Bow the Knee”
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Tuesday, September 10, Noon Program: Des Moines Symphony Director, Joseph Giunta Potluck—Smoked Pork provided Host/Hostess: Larry & Connie Ramseyer Bring donation for the food pantry Sunday, October 6, 3:00 p.m. Program: Interdenominational Hymn Sing
with other Altoona Churches In the Sanctuary Refreshments provided Tuesday, October 8, Noon Program: Reverened Jim Erickson, Missionary to Africa
and Ryan Hubbert with information on Medicare Potluck—Italian Host/Hostess: Mary Wood Bring donation for the food pantry Tuesday, November 12, Bus Trip Where: Gladbrook, Iowa to tour Matchstick Marvels, lunch at Spanky's Restaurant and a movie at the local theater. Leave the church north parking lot at 9:00 a.m. Return to church around 4:45 p.m. Cost is $58 per person. Minimum of 40 passengers required. Amount due by Sunday, September 29th. Checks made out to Altoona UMC. Sign up and pay at the Welcome Center! More details available at the Welcome Center.
Upcoming Get Together
Top Notchers A ministry for adults 55+
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If interested in being part of the joint choir, contact one of the people
listed above. Also, see page 9 for more info about joint choir rehearsals dates and times.
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Puppet Camp Sunday, September 8th
1:00-5:00 p.m. Family Life Center
If you are interested in the puppet ministry, please join us for a puppet camp. Anyone
is welcome, grade 4 through adult, whether you are currently in puppets or if
you want to try it out. Puppet practices start September 15th at 5:00 p.m. and Skit practice at 6:30
p.m. in the Family Life Center.
FOR TURKEY MISSION DINNER
Do you like to bake? Roll making days are
October 25th and 26th. You and other volunteers will produce over 1,000 butter horn rolls that will be devoured
during the Turkey Mission Dinner. Sign-ups for roll making supplies and workers will be available in October.
No UMM meetings for the summer.
Meetings will resume in October.
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United Methodist Women UMW Salad Supper - September 5th at 6:30 p.m. Bring a salad to share with everyone. Program: Stories of women in UMW over the 150 years WANTED: OLD PICTURES OF ALTOONA UMW Bring to the salad supper or contact Sherry at [email protected] or call 262-2235 Abigail Circle: September l7 at 6:30 p.m. at Mary Lou Granquist home for salad supper Martha Circle: September 19 at 9:30 a.m. at Perkins Sept 13: Central District Annual Meeting, at Aldersgate UMC, Urbandale Sept 24: Climate film "Paris to Pittsburgh" 6:30p.m. at Aldersgate UMC, Urbandale
This is a free screening of the National Geographic film about actions around the country on climate change after the US pulled out of the Paris Accord and features Iowa efforts and a positive message. Contact Sherry about car pooling. Oct 4: Iowa Conference UMW Ubuntu Day—Work for local missions: Food Bank of Iowa warehouse, Bidwell Riverside Center and Hawthorn Hilll or stay at Staves UMC and make crafts for those in need. Oct 5: Iowa Conference UMW Annual Meeting, Staves UMC, Des Moines.
Speaker: Rev Dionne P. Boissiere. She is first women of African descent to hold the significant position of chaplain of the Church Center for the United Nations in New York. The center is owned and operated by United Methodist Women. It is the home to over 50 denominational offices, religious and secular non-governmental organizations that are commissioned to liaison with UN officials and governmental delegates.
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Altoona United Methodist Church has two electronic options for giving. You can register to give regularly or make a one-time gift by going to our church website, www.altoonaumc.org. Click on the Give tab.
Once you have clicked on the Give Online button, choose Sign In on the top right of the E-Giving Login page. You can then enter your email address and password (if you have already set up an account) or click on Register for an
Account. You can choose whether to log in with your phone number or your email address. Enter your information, and hit Register. Your donation can come from your checking, savings, debit card, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover. You have the option of making a one-time gift or a recurring donation on a schedule that you set up. Once you have registered, you have the ability to adjust your giving as desired by logging in with your Email address (or cell phone number) and Password. Another option for electronic giving is through our new church app. In the Worship menu, choose Give Online and then follow the instructions above. If you have any questions about this secure electronic giving option, please contact Heather Mahoney at 967-2991 or [email protected]. She is happy to meet with you to help you set up your account or answer any of your questions.
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If you would like to receive weekly updates via email, please go to the church website,
www.altoonaumc.org. Under the Connect tab, choose E-Mail Signup, enter your email
address, choose the email(s) you would like to receive, and they will begin arriving on a
weekly basis!
If you would like to be included on our email prayer chain list, please go to the church
website, www.altoonaumc.org, choose Prayer Chain Signup under the Connect tab,
enter your email address, and choose the Prayer Chain list.
Available for iOS and Android.