December 29, 2013

THIS WEEK:

Monday:

  *Cards of Peace @ Salem – 8:00 A.M.
  * Making cards for “Cards of Peace” @ Salem,                          
           9:00 A.M.

 

Wednesday:

  *Happy New Year!!!

  

Thursday:

  * DeWall Circle @ Salem -  2:00 P.M.

  

Saturday:

  *Men’s Breakfast Study @ Salem – 7:00 A.M.

Remember this week:

Edris Wiese (N)
  Colonial Manor Nursing Home, 3207 220^th Tr.,
   Amana, 52203

 

(See complete listing in newsletter)

LIFT UP IN PRAYER:
Glenn King (VH), Lois Stull (E), Larry Parizek (E), Barb (Kozlik) Petersen (formerly of VH), Lucylle Struve (VH), Evelyn Brecht (N), Elmer & Thelma Rohlena (N), Delbert and Barb Hastings (N), Steve Bridgewater (VH), Faith Baldwin/Monmouth – Pastors Judy and Merle Paulsen

COMING UP:

Parish Meetings @ Norway, Wed., Jan. 8
  SPPRC – 6:00 P.M.
  PEC – 7:00 P.M.

Those needing to attend the SPPRC at 6 are: Lois Stull, Ruth Laackmann, Shirley Pender, Dorothy Blackburn, Joan Mithelman, Larry Carlson, Pat Gorkow, Dawn Arnold, Sally Donald.

Those needing to attend the PEC at 7 in addition to those listed above are: Betty Klemmensen, Wayne Klemmensen, Brenda Selk, Dorothy Blackburn, Joan Mithelman, Bruce Miller, Nola Moser, Norway Trustee Chair, Salem Ad Council Chair, Darla Wenndt, Salem Trustee Chair, Gina Embray.

 

Dorcas Circle @ Salem, Wed., Jan. 8 – 7:00 P.M.

 

Elberon Ad Council, Thurs., Jan. 9 – 7:00 P.M.

      

OTHER THINGS:

Attention church treasurers!
The cut-off date for 2013 apportionment payments is January 8th, 2014.  All apportionment/gift payments received in the conference office by this date will be included on the December 2013 statement.  Any apportionment payments received after this date will show in 2014 as a prior year gift paid.



 

December 22, 2013

THIS WEEK:

Monday:

  *Cards of Peace @ Salem – 8:00 A.M.

 

Tuesday:

  *Christmas Eve Services:
       Salem – 5:30 and 10:00 P.M.
       Elberon – 7:30 P.M.

 

Wednesday:

  *Merry Christmas!!!

  

Thursday:

  *Coffee & Devotions w/ Rose @ Keystone
   Care Center – 9:45 A.M.

 

Saturday:

  *Men’s Breakfast Study @ Salem – 7:00 A.M.



Basics for Advent:

The God of Those Ends, That Justice, and Such Reversals with Us

…. Since today’s gospel is Matthew’s account of the birth of Jesus, it may seem we are beginning to celebrate the Christmas Season already today. Matthew, however, is less interested in the birth itself, and more interested in its meaning: “God is with us,” and more particularly, this God, the one born in these odd circumstances, is with us. The God who is with us in Jesus is the God prophesied by Isaiah, the one proclaimed by Paul and John the Baptist and Mary, this God whose presence changes and often reverses everything. This God is with us.… It is this “God with us” who will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead as harbinger of new creation. And it is this God with us whose incarnation and birth we celebrate during the Christmas Season and seek to follow all the days of our lives.

 

 

 

LIFT UP IN PRAYER:

Lois Stull (E), Larry Parizek (E), Barb (Kozlik) Petersen (formerly of VH), Lucylle Struve (VH), Evelyn Brecht (N), Elmer & Thelma Rohlena (N), Delbert and Barb Hastings (N), Steve Bridgewater (VH), Williamsburg, St. Paul’s – Pastors James & Helen Parks

 

 

 

Remember this week:

Karen Wiese (E)

  Keystone Care Center,

  250 5^th St.,

  Keystone, 52249

 

(See complete listing in newsletter)

 

 

 

COMING UP:

Making cards for “Cards of Peace” @ Salem, Mon., Dec. 30 – 9:00 A.M.

 

DeWall Circle @ Salem, Thurs., Jan. 2 – 2:00 P.M.

 

 

OTHER THINGS:

Attention Salem!

Due to the devastation in the Philippines, the quarters collected during church will be sent to the Philippines to assist the many needing fresh water. JAMS and Sunday School kids will be collecting quarters through the end of December as well as during our regular quarter collecting during the church service.

 

Salem will be without a church custodian for the winter and the Trustees are hoping interested individuals could assist by choosing a week to do the cleaning.  A sign up sheet is posted on the bulletin board.

 

Attention church treasurers!

The cut-off date for 2013 apportionment payments is January 8th, 2014.  All apportionment/gift payments received in the conference office by this date will be included on the December 2013 statement.  Any apportionment payments received after this date will show in 2014 as a prior year gift paid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 15, 2013

THIS WEEK:

Sunday:

  *Children’s Christmas Program during worship
   & Soup Dinner following @ Salem.

 

Monday:

  *Cards of Peace @ Salem – 8:00 A.M.
  *Christmas Potluck and Carol Singing @
   Elberon, 6:00 P.M. Everyone is welcome.
   Please bring food to share. Drinks and table
   service will be provided.

 

Tuesday:

  *Communion Service @ Keystone Care Center
    9:45 A.M.

 

Wednesday:

  *Prayer Time @ Salem – 9:00 A.M.
  *Morning Coffee Study @ Van Horne
     9:30 A.M.
    *Confirmation @ Van Horne – 3:30 P.M.
    *JAMS @ Salem – 3:30 P.M.

 

Thursday:

  *Coffee & Devotions w/ Rose @ Keystone
   Care Center – 9:45 A.M.

 

Saturday:

  *Men’s Breakfast Study @ Salem – 7:00 A.M.



Basics for Advent:

Expecting Reversal of the Powers That Be.

Isaiah and the Song of Mary tell us to expect God to turn the world order upside down, for there is to be springs in the desert (Isaiah), and for the mighty to be cast down, the lowly lifted up, and the rich sent away empty (Luke). James reminds us to wait for such reversal with patient expectation and without anxiety, like a farmer waiting for the crops to bring the harvest (James). And Jesus assures the followers of John the Baptist that John’s confidence in Jesus’ role was not misplaced, not with arguments but with a simple direction: “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard here—blind people receive sight, poor people receive good news, deaf people now hear, and dead people are raised. The reversal hoped for was already happening everywhere around Jesus. And it’s still happening today. May we have hearts to expect it, eyes to see it, and lips to bear the good news!

 

 

LIFT UP IN PRAYER:
Larry Parizek (E), Barb (Kozlik) Petersen (formerly of VH), Lucylle Struve (VH), Evelyn Brecht (N), Elmer & Thelma Rohlena (N), Delbert and Barb Hastings (N), Steve Bridgewater (VH), Anamosa – Pastor Laurie Riley



Remember this week:
Karen Wiese (E)
  Keystone Care Center,
  250 5^th St.,
  Keystone, 52249

 

(See complete listing in newsletter)

 

 

 

COMING UP:

Christmas Eve Services:

Salem – 5:30 and 10:00 P.M.

Elberon – 7:30 P.M.

 

Coffee & Devotions w/Rose @ Keystone Care Center, Thurs., Dec. 26 – 9:45 A.M.

 

Making cards for “Cards of Peace” @ Salem, Mon., Dec. 30 – 9:00 A.M.

 

OTHER THINGS:

Attention Salem!

Due to the devastation in the Philippines, the quarters collected during church will be sent to the Philippines to assist the many needing fresh water. JAMS and Sunday School kids will be collecting quarters through the end of December as well as during our regular quarter collecting during the church service.

 

Salem will be without a church custodian for the winter and the Trustees are hoping interested individuals could assist by choosing a week to do the cleaning.  A sign up sheet is posted on the bulletin board.

 

 

 
  

December 1, 2013

THIS WEEK:

Basics for Advent:

Remembering the end.

In the end is our end, our purpose for engaging and joining God’s reign wherever and however we can. Ignorance, warfare, and strife will end among nations (Isaiah and Psalm), So we are invited to learn all we can, seek peace, and work for reconciliation here and now, and to end any habits that support them. Christ will return at a time when life seems normal (Matthew). So we are called to be ready and make ourselves ready every day, day by day.

Monday:

  *Cards of Peace @ Salem – 8:00 A.M.

 

Wednesday:

  *Prayer Time @ Salem – 9:00 A.M.
  *Morning Coffee Study @ Van Horne
     9:30 A.M.
  *Confirmation @ Van Horne – :30 P.M.
  *JAMS @ Salem – 3:30 P.M.
  *Dorcas Circle @ Salem – 7:00 P.M.,

 

Thursday:

  *DeWall Circle @ Salem – 2:00 P.M.
 

  Saturday:

   *Men’s Breakfast Study @ Salem – 7:00 A.M.

LIFT UP IN PRAYER:

Pam Claassen (VH), Larry Parizek (E), Barb (Kozlik) Petersen (formerly of VH), Lucylle Struve (VH), Evelyn Brecht (N), Elmer & Thelma Rohlena (N), Delbert and Barb Hastings (N), Steve Bridgewater (VH), Alburnett-Prairie Chapel – Pastor Jon Moss


Remember this week:
Edris Wiese (N)
  Colonial Manor Nursing Home,
   3207 220^th Tr.,
  Amana, 52203
 

(See complete listing in newsletter)

 

 

 

Attention!

Those that would like to contribute to those affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines can do so through UMCOR Advance #982450 (International Disaster Response). Please eartag your offering with this number and place with your regular offering.

 

 

 

COMING UP:

Rose to Continuing Ed (pastoral care specialist program) @ Des Moines, Tues., Dec. 10.

 

Coffee & Devotions w/ Rose @ Keystone Care Center, Thurs., Dec. 12 – 9:45 A.M.

 

Children’s Christmas Program & Soup Dinner @ Salem, Sunday, Dec. 15. Program during worship and soup following.

 

Christmas Potluck @ Elberon, Mon., Dec. 16 – 6:00 P.M. Everyone is welcome. Please bring food to share. Drinks and table service will be provided.

 

OTHER THINGS:

I want to thank everyone for the cards, visits and phone calls I received while in the hospital at St Lukes and Virginia Gay.  I really appreciated it a lot. I am doing good and getting around good with the walker. Otto has been really a lot of help to me and has taken good care of me.   Thanks again everyone.   

God loves you and so do I.              _Pam Claassen

 

Attention Salem!

Due to the devastation in the Philippines, the quarters collected during church will be sent to the Philippines to assist the many needing fresh water. JAMS and Sunday Schools kids will be collecting quarters through the end of December as well as during our regular quarter collecting during the church service.

 

 

 

 

 

November 24, 2013

THIS WEEK:

Sunday:

  *United Methodist Student Day (UM Special
   Offering), please place your offering in the
   envelope provided or eartag your check and
   place with your regular offering. If you’re not
   prepared today you can give at a later time.

 

Monday:

  *Cards of Peace @ Salem – 8:00 A.M.
  *Making cards for “Cards of Peace” @ Salem
    9:00 A.M.
  *Norway UMW – 7:00 P.M.
 

Wednesday:

  *Prayer Time @ Salem – 9:00 A.M.
  *Morning Coffee Study @ Van Horne
     9:30 A.M.

 

Thursday:

  *Happy Thanksgiving!!!

 

  Saturday:

   *Men’s Breakfast Study @ Salem – 7:00 A.M.
   *Salem Hanging of the Greens - 10:00 A.M. 
    Everyone is welcome to help!

LIFT UP IN PRAYER:

Pam Claassen (VH), Larry Parizek (E), Barb (Kozlik) Petersen (formerly of VH), Lucylle Struve (VH), Evelyn Brecht (N), Elmer & Thelma Rohlena (N), Delbert and Barb Hastings (N), Steve Bridgewater (VH), Cedar Rapids, Bertram & Buffalo – Pastor Jennifer Seylar

 

 

 

Remember this week:

Karen Wiese (E)

  Keystone Care Center,

  250 5^th St.,

  Keystone, 52249

 

(See complete listing in newsletter)

 

 

 

COMING UP:

Hanging of the Greens service @ Elberon, Sunday, Dec. 1 during regular worship.

 

Dorcas Circle @ Salem, Wed., Dec. 4 – 7:00 P.M.

 

DeWall Circle @ Salem, Thurs., Dec. 5 – 2:00 P.M.

 

 

OTHER THINGS:

The Van Horne Lions will be having a breakfast today, Sunday, Nov. 24, 9-noon at the new Community Building.

 

Attention Salem!

Due to the devastation in the Philippines, the quarters collected during church will be sent to the Philippines to assist the many needing fresh water. JAMS and Sunday Schools kids will be collecting quarters through the end of December as well as during our regular quarter collecting during the church service.

 

 

 

 

 

November 17, 2013

THIS WEEK:

Monday:

  *Cards of Peace @ Salem – 8:00 A.M.
  *District Pastoral Interviews @ Salem, 1:00-
   6:30 P.M.
  *Kids Hangout @ Elberon, 4:00-5:30 P.M.

 

Tuesday:

  *Communion Service @ Keystone Care
   Center, 9:45 A.M.

 

Wednesday:

  *Prayer Time @ Salem – 9:00 A.M.
  *Morning Coffee Study @ Van Horne
     9:30 A.M.

 

  Saturday:

   *Men’s Breakfast Study @ Salem – 7:00 A.M.

LIFT UP IN PRAYER:

Pam Claassen (VH), Larry Parizek (E), Barb (Kozlik) Petersen (formerly of VH), Lucylle Struve (VH), Evelyn Brecht (N), Elmer & Thelma Rohlena (N), Delbert and Barb Hastings (N), Steve Bridgewater (VH), Tiffin, Grace – Pastor Beverly Marshall-Goodell



Remember this week:
Millie Ohde (E)
  Keystone Care Center,
  250 5^th St.,
  Keystone, 52249

 

(See complete listing in newsletter)

 

 

 

COMING UP:

United Methodist Student Day (UM Special Offering), Sunday, Nov. 24.

 

Norway UMW, Monday, Nov. 25 – 7:00 P.M.

 

Thanksgiving Day, Thurs., Nov. 28

 

Hanging of the Greens service @ Elberon, Sunday, Dec. 1 during regular worship.

 

OTHER THINGS:

The Van Horne Lions will be having a breakfast on Sunday, Nov. 24, 9-noon at the new Community Building.

 

 

  

November 10, 2013

THIS WEEK:

Sunday:
  *International Day of Prayer

 

Monday:
  *Veterans Day
  *Cards of Peace @ Salem – 8:00 A.M.

 

Tuesday:

  *Rose to Continuing Education (Pastoral Care
   Specialist Program) @ Des Moines

 

Wednesday:

  *Prayer Time @ Salem – 9:00 A.M.
  *Morning Coffee Study @ Van Horne
     9:30 A.M. Will study Luke 3:1-20
  *Confirmation @ Van Horne – 3:30 P.M.
  *JAMS @ Salem – 3:30 P.M.

 

Thursday:

  *Coffee & Devotions w/ Rose @ Keystone
   Care Center - 9:45 A.M.

 

  Saturday:

   *Men’s Breakfast Study @ Salem – 7:00 A.M.



Rose Marie is on vacation through Tuesday, Nov. 12 and Brenda is gone through Mon., Nov. 11. The emergency contact during this time is Judith Bunyi pastor of Wesley UMC, Vinton. You can contact her at: 319-472-2581 or jbunyi88@yahoo.com



LIFT UP IN PRAYER:
Pam Claassen (VH), Larry Parizek (E), Barb (Kozlik) Petersen (formerly of VH), Lucylle Struve (VH), Evelyn Brecht (N), Nancy Bicket (N), Elmer & Thelma Rohlena (N), Delbert and Barb Hastings (N), Steve Bridgewater (VH), Coralville, New Horizons – Pastors Alecia Williams and Josh Rath

Remember this week:

Edris Wiese (N)
  Colonial Manor Nursing Home, 3207 220^th Tr.,
   Amana, 52203

 

(See complete listing in newsletter)

 

 

 

COMING UP:

Norway UMC Lunch & Bake Sale, Sat., Nov. 16, 11:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. Please support Norway in this fundraising event.

 

District Pastoral Interviews @ Salem, Monday, Nov. 18 – 1:00-6:30 P.M.

 

Kids Hangout @ Elberon, Monday, Nov. 18, 4:00-5:30 P.M.

 

Communion Service @ Keystone Care Center, Tues., Nov. 19 – 9:45 A.M.