Rev. Dr. Okitakoyi

Michel Lundula Pastor

Jane Rowe Administrative Assistant

901 3rd AVE SE

Le Mars, IA 51031

Phone: 712-546-4037 Fax: 712-546-5771

office@lemarsumchurch.org

Office Hours

8:30 am—4:30 pm Monday - Friday

Prayer Chain

Connect with our prayer chain by e-mailing or

calling the church office or calling Mary Laughton

at 562-6584

laughmg@frontier.com

Change of Address?

Please let us know by e-mail or phone at the

church office office@lemarsumchurch.org

546-4037 Website:

www.lemarsumchurch.org

October 2017

United Methodist Church of Le Mars

“Transforming Hearts, Minds, and Lives

by the Gracious Love of Christ”

A few days ago during the time of my personal reflection, I felt the melody of the hymn

“Many Gifts, One Spirit” coming frequently in my mind. From my personal experience, I

could tell that God’s Spirit wanted to teach me something from this beautiful hymn. The

month of October comes with many opportunities to celebrate, acknowledge and

experience the work of God’s Spirit through our differences and many gifts. Through this

month we are going celebrate the World Communion Sunday, the Laity Sunday, and the

Annual Charge Conference. What do we know about these three celebrations?

The first thing I would like us to know is that all these three celebrations reflect the diversity

of human beings, ministries, and many gifts in the Body of Christ. They are also a response

to the work of God’s Spirit just as it was on the day of Pentecost. The World Communion

Sunday is observed in many Christian denominations on the first Sunday of October. On

this day, the Christians around the world will celebrates the unity of the Christian Church

and acknowledge the diversity of God’s people in the Body of Christ. This year, we will

observe the World Communion Sunday on October 1st during our worship and fellowship

time.

On Sunday October 15, we will have a double celebration at the

United Methodist Church of Le Mars (UMCL). The third Sunday of

October is commonly known in our denomination as Laity Sunday.

On this day, we will celebrate the ministries of all lay people. We will

also appreciate the blessing of each other in our church, regardless of

our gender, age, race,… in fulfilling the United Methodist Church

mission of making disciples of Christ for the transformation of the

world.

On the same Sunday (October 15) following the worship, we will celebrate our Annual

Charge Conference. The Charge Conference is a time to appreciate what God has done in

our church and to approve what the Lord is calling us to do in the next year. Unlike in the

past, this year each congregation/charge is going to have its own Charge Conference. As

for UMCL, Rev. Dr. Tom Carver, our District Superintendent, will be the presiding elder.

Friends, as we all believe in the work of God’s Spirit through each one of us, I would like to

take this opportunity to thank you all for your dedication and participation in the ministries of

UMCL with your many gifts and resources. It is my hope that the Spirit of God will continue

to strengthen our connection as we work together to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the

transformation of the world. Together we will continue to broaden God’s Kingdom on earth.

In Christ.

Pastor Lundula

“Many Gifts, One Spirit”

September Page 2

Do you need or know somebody who

needs pastoral visit? Please contact

our Church Office or our 2 X 2

Ministry at 712-546-4037.

Baptism

Do you have or know any family that

has children who need to be baptized,

please contact Pastor Lundula or the

Church Office at 712-546-4037.

Come and Celebrate World Communion Sunday

October 1st

, 2017

On this day, Christians around the world celebrate the Unity of the Christian Church, regardless of our geographic, linguistic, racial, cultural…differences.

10: 00 am: Worship Service with Communion — You have a dress from another part of the world? Wear it!

11:00 am: Fellowship with sampling of ethnic food

Disaster Relief

Combined Effort at UMCL

Our Missions Team has added the funds

collected for Disaster Bucket Missions along

with donations for UMCOR Disaster Relief and

then accepted a donation from VBS — for a

total of $2,122.71! Thank you to all who

contributed to this mission. UMCL will submit

this donation to UMCOR for Disaster Relief in

the hurricane stricken southern states.

Dresser Ministry

Receives Donation

UMCL thanks Greg and Ronda Jahn,

proprietors of Against the Grain Antique Shop,

for their generosity in gifting us an adorable

dresser for our dresser ministry. Their shop is

located at 17882 Nature Ave.

and we would encourage all of

you to take a trip out there and

look around. If you choose to,

please thank them again for

their generosity. Church Records

We are updating our church family membership

records for current addresses, phone numbers

and e-mails. We appreciate your help in reviewing

your family information telling us what changes

are needed such as college students current

addresses, or adult children who have moved.

October Page 3

Expanding Our Ministries Beyond Le Mars

After our visit at Gospel Mission in Sioux City

with the UMW last summer, we were invited

to join them in this ministry serving God’s

people. Pastor Lundula has volunteered to

lead the worship at Gospel Mission on the

first Friday of every month at 7:30 pm.

Everybody is welcome to join us at 500 Bluff

Street in Sioux City.

“Meeting the needs of

homeless for over

75 years”

Christian Needs Center A Note from Susan Van Driel . . . I want to let you

know that we are doing the Adopt-A-Family

program again this year. Like last year, we will be

buying each child that is signed up a coat, boots

and snow pants. If you want to donate to this

program or help in any way, please let me know.

christianneeds@outlook.com

October needs to fill the pantry include:

Pasta Sauce (no noodles), soup, canned

vegetables, cake mixes, diapers sizes 5 & 6, dish

soap, cleaning supplies.

Confirmation Field Trip to Beth

Shalom Synagogue

On Friday October 20,

our Confirmation

Students will be visiting

the Beth Shalom

Synagogue in Sioux

City, IA. If you are

interested in joining us,

please let Pastor

Lundula know.

Annual Charge Conference

Sun. Oct. 15 following worship in the

Sanctuary.

Presider is Rev. Dr. Tom Carver.

All Saints Sunday

Sunday, November 5th will be

All Saints Sunday. If you would

like us to remember your loved

one who passed away in the

past twelve months from Nov.

6, 2016, during the All Saints

Service, please contact the

church office.

Thank You . . .

My family and I would like to thank Aaron and Mel

Tolzin and our JOURNEY for doing some cleaning

work at the Parsonage. May God richly bless you.

The Lundula's

Sharing Table

Contributions of $316.97 have been collected thus far! Sharing Table funds are designated to pay for postage of School Kits presented at Ingathering and shipped overseas.

October Page 4

United Methodist Women

“We Are Called”

The United Methodist Women’s NW District

Annual Meeting was held here at UMCL on

Friday, September 22.

Our October Prayer

Dear God, help us to listen to your calling to

bring people to your saving Grace. Father, hear

our prayers as we pray for:

Our Staff Parish Relations Team as they care

for our staff. Father, help us to trust you and to

give us strength, courage and faith to overcome

the challenges of this life. Lord, we give you all

the praise and glory. We pray this in Jesus

name. Amen

Morning Prayer Coffee

Join us in Multi-Purpose Room

Wed. October 11 @ 10:00 am

Bring a Friend!

UMW Circle Dates

Wed. Oct. 11 Peace Circle @ 9:30 am

Thur. Oct. 12 Esther Circle @ 1:30 pm

Thur. Oct. 12 Priscilla Circle @ 7:15 pm

Mon. Oct. 30 Executive Board @ 9:30 am

UMW Missions Dinner

Sunday, October 1st

5:30 pm in Fellowship Hall

Guest Speaker

Christopher Miksch

Sharing His Recent trip to Albania

General Assembly & Officers

Evening Prayer Time

Join us in Multi-Purpose Room

Thurs. Oct. 19 @ 6:00 pm

For 45 Minutes of Prayer & Meditation

Bring a Friend!

September Page 5

Thank You . . .

To Glenda Drennen on behalf of Mavis

Kuper’s Estate for the generous donation to

Congregational Care. We appreciate your

kindness.

Church Camp Thank You’s

Thank you for scholarships and prayers when we attended Adventure Camp at the United Methodist campgrounds in Okoboji. We had a lot of fun meeting new friends, going on adventures, and learning more of God’s word. We are looking forward to going again next year! Thanks again for all your support. Camden Feuerhelm & Blake Daale

Thank you for the scholarships and prayers when we attended Boundary Waters Canoe Adventure camp in August. We traveled to beautiful Boundary Waters in Northern Minnesota and enjoyed camping, fishing, canoeing, and growing our faith. It was a great experience and we thank you again for all your support! Kelsey Feuerhelm & Brynlie Daale

Average Attendance at UMCL

2017 2016

January 112 81

February 134 94

March 128 132

April 186 94

May 101 101

June 92 105

July 81 112

August 116 116

September 116 103

Aug Income: $ 14,121

Aug Expenses: $ 14,725

Aug FIF Contributions: $ 11,914

Aug FIF Expenses: $ 8,290

The money class that will CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Take control of your financial future

once and for all. Sign up today—the class is still open! UMCL - 901 3rd Ave SE

Nine consecutive Mondays beginning October 1, 2017 | 6-8 p.m.

The cost for all the nine (9) sessions: $100 per family—scholarships available

Contact the Center for Financial Education to register

712-722-3527 or https://fpu.com/1049343 or

The United Methodist Church of Le Mars 712-546-4037

more info: daveramsey.com/findaclass

UMCL has financial aid available in the amount of $50 Scholarships for families enrolling and this class. Please call the church office 712-546-4037 or Pastor Lundula 712-539-1457 or e-mail office@lemarsumchurch.org or revlundula@gmail.com as soon as possible.