Greeting Friends,

As I began to focus on the prepara-tion for Lent, my mind began to thinkabout how sometimes in our lives wehave a season where it seems like we arerunning in circles, from one event to an-other, we seem to just go go go. We livein such a fast pace world.

My mind went to Romans 15:13 “Maythe God of hope fill you with all joy and peacein believing, so that you may abound in hopeby the power of the Holy Spirit.”

I believe that Lent is a great time tofocus on emptying ourselves. This allowsus to be filled with the very breath of Godthat gives us joy and peace as we walkwith Him. May the power of the HolySpirit surround us with renewed hope aswe prepare for the journey to the crossthis Lent.

I would like to invite you to join usfor a time of focusing on our walk as wegather every week for a time of commun-ion and prayer. May we find time to slowdown as we come and sit in the presenceof the Holy Spirit! It is my hearts prayerand soul desire that each one of you willfind rest this Lenten season.

Holding you in the light!

Pastor Thomas Carlson

From Pastor Thomas’ Desk

UMC MessengerG R O T O N / C O N D EF E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8

Pastor’s Schedule

Mondayin office 10 am - noon

and 1 -3:30 pmTuesday

Sermon Writing DayWednesday

in office 12 - 3:30 pmThursday

available by appt10 am-5 pm

Friday andSaturday

Days OffEmergency Calls

24/7

Feb 20 - New Bible Study

Groton UMWFeb 15th, Thursday

1:30 pm

Program by

Jolene Townsend

Hostesses

Jolene Townsend &

Marj Townsend

Janice Herman passed away

January 10th

and God's purpose for hislife. God placed Paul in acommunity that sharedGod's love with him, andPaul underwent several years of training inpreparation for his ministry.

Discover how to discern and followGod's leading, explore ways God can use youand your life experience, respond to God'ssignals, endure hardships and doubts, andpersevere with hope and faith. Rediscoverthe truths that you are wonderfully made,created for purpose, and equipped to live alife of significance. Join us in traveling to-gether to find your purpose.

Tuesday 10 AM Bible Study will start anew study by Rob Fuquay “Which Way,Lord?” for Lent. All are welcome to join us.

As Christians, we hunger to know andlive out God's purposes for our lives. But howdo we know for certain that our choices aremoving us in the right direction?Which Way, Lord? will help you understandGod's desire for your life by unpacking yourexperiences alongside those of the apostlePaul.

Through many detours, adversity, andtime spent thinking about his life, Paul com-pletely reoriented his understanding of faith

P A G E 2

U M C M E S S E N G E R

Marlys Rodman 397-4570Pat Dahlquist 397-2616Doris Zoellner 397-2417Marj Townsend 298-5221Ann Rix 397-8478Darlys Kampa 395-6996DeLoris Knoll 397-2681Gloria Pharis 397-2375

*If you are not on this list orthe email prayer chain, pleasenotify church office.We must have your permis-sion to start the Prayer Chain.So please call and request thisto be done. It is not automaticfor privacy reasons.

Groton UMC

CHURCH

INFORMATION

Pastor Thomas CarlsonOffice Phone

605-397-8270Cell Phone

605-277-8448Pastor Email

pastorthomas@nvc.net

Secretary Emailgrotonumc@nvc.net

websitegrotonumc.org

906 N 1st StGroton, SD 57445

Feb 14 7 pm at ELCA

Feb 28 7 pm at ELCA

Mar 14 7 pm at UMC

Mar 28 7 pm at UMC

Apr 11 7 pm at ELCA

Apr 25 7 pm at ELCA

May 9 Community Service Project TBA

UMYF Schedule 2018

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 P A G E 3

No Sunday Schoolon February 18th

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 P A G E 4

truth in love, we will grow to become in everyrespect the mature body of … Christ” (Ephesians4:15).

7. Enjoy without complaining. “Do everythingwithout grumbling or arguing” (Philippians 2:14).

8. Trust without wavering. “[Love] alwaysprotects, always trusts, always hopes, always per-severes” (1 Corinthians 13:7).

9. Forgive without punishing. “Forgive as theLord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13).

10. Promise without forgetting. “A longingfulfilled is a tree of life” (Proverbs 13:12).

—From various websites; all Scriptures NIV

1. Listen without interrupting. “To answerbefore listening — that is folly andshame” (Proverbs 18:13).

2. Speak without accusing. “Be quick to lis-ten, slow to speak and slow to become an-gry” (James 1:19).

3. Give without selfishness. “The righteousgive without sparing” (Proverbs 21:26).

4. Pray without ceasing. “We have notstopped praying for you” (Colossians 1:9).

5. Answer without arguing. “Better a drycrust with peace and quiet than a house full offeasting, with strife” (Proverbs 17:1).

6. Share without pretending. “Speaking the

10 biblical ways to LOVE

A preacher who had always feared deathfelt powerless to comfort others who werefacing it. Toward the end of his life, he movedto another house. When all the furniture hadbeen packed, he lingered in the home wherehe’d raised his children and prepared manysermons. An assistant interrupted those reflec-tions by saying,“ E v e r y t h i n g ’ sgone, sir, but thenew house is bet-ter than this one.Come away.”

The preachernever forgot thislesson. God hasprepared for hischildren a homeinfinitely betterthan earth — “aneternal house inheaven, not builtb y h u m a nhands” (2 Corin-thians 5:1, NIV).

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 P A G E 5

Our New Home

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 P A G E 6

Lent calls us to examine our beliefs, con-fess and dispose of old grudges and selfishhabits, dust off our Bibles for a new routineof study and prayer, air out our hearts andbrighten up our attitudes. “Lent cleaning” letsthe Holy Spirit freshen our faith — and it’snever too early for that.

Although Lent starts early this year, be-fore spring appears in many areas, it’s an ap-propriate time for spring cleaning. Indeed,Lent comes from old German and Englishwords for “spring.” So, while it might be toosoon to open windows or hang clothes on theline, now is ideal for some spiritual springcleaning.

an early start to spring cleaning

Feb 19 Gaylene VossRobin O’Neill

Feb 20 Darin GubinJim & Judy ZeckMichael Wells

Feb 21 Joe NelsonWyatt Morehouse

Feb 22 Anthony SchinkelFeb 23 Karl RekowFeb 25 Brent Morehouse

Greg HeitmannCondeFeb 4 Donna WalterFeb 5 Richard SandersonFeb 9 Vicki StarkFeb 10 Greg & Vicki StarkFeb 15 Tim & Betty GeistFeb 19 Tyler StarkFeb 22 Horace Walter

GrotonFeb 2 Journey ZierothFeb 4 KayLynn Overacker

Tim OlsonFeb 5 Scott Eisenbeisz

Todd ThurstonFeb 7 Gary VossFeb 8 Gage Sippel

Larry WheetingFeb 10 Alan & Jolene Townsend

Andrea & Scott EisenbeiszBrenda MadsenDion BahrJune ThompsonNori Hinman

Feb 11 Oliver AndersonFeb 12 Skyler Kramer

Yvonne LorenzFeb 14 Diane NissenFeb 16 Pernell Graf

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 P A G E 7

Our Church Celebrations

Groton UMC Mission

Enriching Spiritual

LivesthroughCHRIST

March Responsibilities Check Kitchen Supplies for the month Check & Clean Oven and Fridge as necessary Coffee Hour workers (make coffee, provide

cookies, launder towels, and remove trash) 2 Ushers for each Sunday Straighten the Sanctuary Pews Change the banners as needed as per schedule

in book or on poster board in library Maintain the Altar Flower Arrangements Shovel snow from doorways before church Potluck 2nd Sunday - give church secretary de-

tails for bulletin Change decorations on tables in fellowship hall

with the seasons

Kay & Doug DalyBrent & Jessica MorehouseAngela & Perryn DobbinsAndrea & Scott EisenbeiszMarva & Lon GellhausMendy & James Jones, Marlee, AustinRobin O’Neill, GradyJesse & Jaymie OverackerMarjorie & Roger OverackerHarlan & Peggy PlaceAlan StromJim & Judy ZeckHonorary Members Ann Rix Doris Strom

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8 P A G E 8

Groton March Family Committee

Conde MISSION

STATEMENT

“The Conde

United

Methodist

Church is

seeking to satisfy

the spiritual and

physical needs of

all.”

GrotonStewardship

Report Dec 2017

AverageWkly Giving

$2,138

Needed Wkly forChurch Mission

$2,347

Average WeeklyAttendance Sunday

65

Total Building FundDonationsfor Repairs

$50

Feb 1 Groton Prayer Group 7 pm

Feb 2 Groton MOMs Group 9:30 am

Feb 10 Groton Parents Night Out 6-10 pm - Education Fundraiser

Feb 14 Conde Ash Weds Service 3 pm

Feb 14 Groton Ash Weds Service 6 pm

Feb 14 Groton Youth Group at 7 pm at ELCA Church

Feb 15 Groton UMW 1:30 pm

Feb 18 Groton No Sunday School

Feb 20 Groton Tues 10 AM Bible Study starting new Lent Study

Feb 21 Groton Time of Communion & Prayer 7 pm

Feb 21 Groton Ad Council 7 pm

Feb 28 Groton Time of Communion & Prayer 7 pm

Feb 28 Groton Youth Group 7 pm at ELCA Church

Our Church Happenings

Page1. Page TitlePage2. Page TitlePage3. Page TitlePage4. Page TitlePage5. Page TitlePage6. Page TitlePage7. Page TitlePage8. Page TitlePage9. Page Title