The Tower March 2021 - Decorah First United Methodist Church
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
The Tower March 2021
(While Physical Distancing ~ Staying Close at Heart)
Decorah First United Methodist Church
302 W. Broadway, PO box 221, Decorah, Iowa 52101
Email: decorah-first-umc@iaumc.net Website: decorahfirstunitedmethodist.org
Pastoral Care: 563-277-1595
March is here! So much has changed in our congregation, community, and world
since last March. If someone had told us one year ago that our world would be
Happy March turned upside down in the coming year, I don’t think any of us could have grasped
what that concept might mean. March normally brings hope of new beginnings
By: Nancy Ruen with the arrival of Spring. While we reflect during this season of Lent, let us
remember the dark days that we have endured in the last year while understanding
that they can in no way compare to the dark days that Jesus endured for us. With
the hope of vaccinations on our horizon, we also have the everlasting hope of
Christ’s gift of his life. Blessings to you all as we move forward into this year with
hope in our hearts.
Continued Status during Covid19 Physical Distancing
We continue with the same plan to keep our members safe and healthy. Stay safe,
physical distance, wash your hands, and wear your mask so we can gather again
safely. Get your vaccination as soon as it is available and as your healthcare
provider recommends for your safety. The end of our physical distancing is within
reach if we all stay safe!
We pray for all of our church family who feel isolated and away from loved ones.
Please know that your church family always surrounds you with prayers and love
during times of trial and healing. Please let Pastor Mee know of any concerns.
2
March Zoom Worship Leaders
Liturgist Message of Praise
Mar. 7 Sally Stromseth Barb Dale
Mar. 14 Pam Ransom Sally Stromseth
Mar. 21 Sherry Schilling Steve Luse
Mar. 28 (Palm Sunday) Ann Duder Nancy Ruen
Join us whenever you are able to keep in touch with our church family! Thanks to all who continue to help make
Sundays our special day! We would love to have new volunteers to share their gifts to God by sharing
readings and messages of praise (musical or visual). Please call Pastor Mee and volunteer today!
March Birthdays please e-mail church office with any errors or additions
• 4th-Lorraine Rear, Mark Rhodes
• 6th-Nancy Limberg
• 9th-Karen Van Der Maaten
• 10th-Tina Shedinger
• 13th- Marc Folkedahl
• 16th-Andrew Rhodes
• 20th-Mary Lou Hageman
• 22nd-Carter Rissman
• 27th-Barb Dale
• 29th-John Lubke, Mark Landas
• 31st-Leslie Smith
3
Announcements
• Daylight Savings Time begins March 14 Let’s all spring forward!
• Sherry Schilling sends thanks for all who have donated peanut butter and plastic bags in the recent month!
• Prayers for Darlene Gaske and her family as she has been under Hospice Care.
• Prayers for 4 year-old Lewis Lechtenberg, grandson of Leroy and Deanna McClintock, as he recovers
from surgery and is awaiting follow-up treatments.
• Congratulations to Andy and Karen Van Der Maaten on the birth of their new grandson to daughter Maria
and her husband Alejandro.
• Jim and Phyllis Nesteby are celebrating a new great-grandson!
• Keep the people of Texas in our prayers as they continue long recovery. UMCOR Advance number
901607 will get them quick and efficient relief.
Sympathies are sent to those mourning the passing of their loved ones.
à February 7 Keith Lawrence
à February 11 Ed Roed (brother of Elaine Thompson)
à February 14 Mike Blevins
à February 15 Paul Johnson (father of Andy Johnson)
Book Club Information
March 16 7:00 PM The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead Jane
If you are currently not in the group but would like to receive a Zoom link to join the
discussions, please send Candace Arp an email and you will be added to the list. Her email
is darpcarp@hotmail.com.
Food Pantry Update
The Food Pantry continues to serve many in our community. They are always looking for donations of hygiene
items such as bar soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, feminine pads, deodorant and baby items including diapers (size
4-5 popular). Blessings to all who give what they can!
4
From Our Parish Nurse Deb Tekippe
Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many of us to put on hold some of our routine health
care needs.
March is national Colorectal Awareness Month.
According to the National Institutes of Health, colorectal cancer is the fourth most common
cancer in the U.S. and the second leading cause of death from cancer. Mayo Clinic notes that it is
also one of the only cancers that can be prevented with screening, and that’s good news for you
and me.
The American Cancer Society recommends that screening for those of us at average risk should
start at age 45. This has recently been changed from age 50. There are a couple of ways available
to detect colon cancer. The first is stool-based tests. These are done in the privacy of your own
home, and specimen is sent to a lab. Visual exams such as colonoscopy allow your Doctor to
look for polyps and remove them if they are present. Your doctor can discuss which option is the
best for you. The important thing is – do something!
Signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer
• A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool, that
lasts for more than a few days
• A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that’s not relieved by having one
• Rectal bleeding with bright red blood
• Blood in the stool, which might make the stool look dark brown or black
• Cramping or abdominal pain
• Weakness and fatigue
• Unintended weight loss
If you have any of the above symptoms, contact your provider and discuss what options are best
for you.
Be well!
Deb Tekippe, RN
5
Sunday School Corner from Miss
Sally! March
Greetings to our Sunday School kids, teachers, and church family. After a siege of bitterly cold weather,
we can look forward to somewhat warmer temperatures as the year moves closer to Spring. The snow
may pile up during March, but there is hope for the green to return in the fullness of time!
During the time of Lent, when we used to have choir practice in preparation for Sunday morning
services, our anthems were in the minor key. The minor key sounds sad, gloomy, or dark. I often
thought of the minor keys as the black keys on the piano when I was taking piano lessons a hundred
years ago. The major key, which we sing most of the rest of the year and particularly on Easter Sunday
morning, sounds bright, cheerful, and hopeful. During Lent our thoughts go to remembering Jesus, his
teachings, and his compassion for people. Lent, for me, is a time to spend reflecting on my own faith
journey. While I can reflect in the minor key, I can hope for the major key to give me guidance.
Palm Sunday is celebrated this year on Sunday, March 28th. We think of Jesus riding on the donkey
while the bystanders covered the road with palms ahead of the procession. What would it have been
like to be there? As a child, I remember thinking about the kids that would have been there with their
parents that day watching the parade. Would they have been curious and excited? Would they have
squeezed through the adults in order to see better? As an adult, I wonder more about whether the kids
knew what was happening. Did the parents know what was happening? I imagine the disciples didn’t
really know what was happening. It might have been possible that there were people lining the road
that day wondering what all the fuss was about. Maybe they’d not even heard of Jesus yet. As Sunday
School teachers, we help our children learn about Palm Sunday as a celebration and a waving of
palms during church and again in Sunday School...the major key.
6 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them and set Him on them. And a very great multitude spread their garments on the road: others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” Matthew 21:7-9 In Jesus’ time, the rest of that fateful week was in the minor key. But wait, the major key returns on Easter Sunday morning when sorrow turns to joy for all of us! In Christs’ love, Sally
7
8
Nathan Rhodes was caught on camera by his mother, Britt, during their Zoom Sunday School lesson
during Advent! Thanks to students and awesome teachers for keeping God’s Word alive during the
pandemic.
17 Valentine Gift Care Packages Sent
Our youth gathered safely and packaged the wonderful treats that were donated and mailed 17
packages to our church members who are away at college! Thanks to all who donated items and to
the youth for their work(fun) and to Pastor Mee and Emily for sneaking some pictures! Also a sweet
Thank You note received!
9
Pastor Mee has received information from Bryan Johnson who is the Director of Camps and Retreats
with Iowa Conference. They are requesting donations to help with their ministry. $140 helps a camper
for a day. $700 helps a camper for a week. Their goal is to reach $200,000 and they are half-way
there. If you are interested in helping out, please reach out to Pastor Mee and she will get more
information to you.
UMW Corner
The church women of Decorah will be thinking about World Day of Prayer on March 5. The women of Vanuatu wrote the program this
year. The theme is "Build on a Strong Foundation", taken from Matthew 7: 24-27. Many of us have attended this event over the years
and have donated to Church Women United. If you are interested in donating, checks may be made out to Church Women United with
WDP in the memo. They may be sent to Sherry or the Office. Sherry will get them sent to CWU. Thank you, ladies.
We are all thinking, when will we be meeting again? Let's keep praying that the vaccine will be distributed and help stamp out this
virus...then maybe we will see each other again. In Christian Love, Pam
Ringing of the Bells in Somber Remembrance
As our nation’s deaths rise above 500,000 and the number of positive cases and deaths continue to
rise in Iowa, our county, our town, people are deeply facing greater hardships related to Covid-19.
Decorah church congregations continue to ring bells on Monday mornings at 11:00. Please take time
to join in reflection and prayer, whether we can hear the bells wherever you are or not.
10
The Finance Committee would like to thank everyone who has responded with their designated
pledges for 2021. If you are in need of changing your Authorization Giving form, please find the
form attached below and return to the church
2021 AUTHORIZATION FOR DIRECT GIVING
(Reference: Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization)
I authorize the First United Methodist Church(FUMC), Decorah and the financial institution named below to
initiate debits from my checking/savings account. This authority will remain in effect until I notify FUMC in
writing to cancel it in such time as to afford the financial institution or reasonable opportunity to act on it. I can
stop payment of any entry by notifying my financial institution 3 days before the account is charged.
I hereby authorize the withdrawal from the following account as noted below:
Amount withdrawn: ____________________
Frequency please choose one: ______ monthly – 25th of each month
______weekly – each Monday
Name of Bank: _______________________________________________________
Bank Transit No:________________________________________________________
(This is the first set of numbers located at the bottom of your check.)
Account No:_________________________________________________________
(This is the second set of numbers located at the bottom of your check.)
Bank Telephone No:_____________________________________________________
Bank Contact:__________________________________________________________
This shall by your good and sufficient authority for so doing and will remain in effect until First Untied
Methodist Church receives notification in writing.
Signature:__________________________________________________Date_________________
*Please enclose an unsigned check or deposit for the account marked “VOID”*11 ATTENTION ALL COLLEGE BOUND MEMBERS! This is a final reminder of the scholarship offered by Decorah First United Methodist Church (DFUMC) in honor or Arthur and Elsie Buntrock who were active members of this congregation. A portion of their daughter’s estate has been put into a trust. The annual income is distributed to people seeking to further their education. In order to apply, you must be a member of DFUMC and be enrolled in a college, university, trade or professional school, graduate studies, or some other valid form of education. You may receive the grant twice only. Applications should be mailed to the church and and must be received by Friday, March 5, 2021. The recipients will be announced in May. The application is included following this article.
12
2021 APPLICATION
ARTHUR AND ELSIE BUNTROCK MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Given by Decorah First United Methodist Church
302 W. Broadway, PO Box 221
Decorah, Iowa 52101
NAME___________________________________________ DATE_________________
ADDRESS___________________________________________________________________
PHONE NUMBER________________________________________________
Are you a member of the First United Methodist Church, Decorah, Iowa? ________ Year of joining
Have you previously received any grant from this Scholarship? ____________
Grants are available two times.
If you have received a grant, When? _______________________
Please state your program of post-high school education, including and career goals and the school
you are or intend to be enrolled in.
Please state in concise form your current Christian belief and church commitment and how your faith
affects your career goals and choices.You can also read
