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Senior High and
College Students!
There is still time to sign up for the Return to Iowa mission trip from July 22-26! We will be helping with flood repairs in the Cedar Rapids area (where we helped sandbag last year during the flooding). Everyone entering 9th grade in the fall of 2009 or older is invited. The cost will be $50.
Please contact Jan Harris (224-2904) or Linda Kaufman (228-5209) to sign up or if you have any questions.
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Stephen Ministry
In this time of economic uncertainty, many of us are in turmoil, upset, unsure of what to do and feeling that we have talked until we can't talk to our family and friends anymore. There is another person that you can turn to for encouragement and prayer during this time. That person is a Stephen Minister trained to listen, encourage without judgment, to just "be there" for you. Can we help you by sharing God's love with you in this ministry? Please give this opportunity some thought. Contact one of the Stephen Leaders to learn more about this support system by calling the church office or one of us personally. Rev. Karen Taylor, Debbie Danner, Janice Patillo or Jo Perrin.be recognized by a sign on the hospitality table.
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SPONSOR THE HOSPITALITY TABLE
Celebrate your anniversary, the birth of a child, any significant happening in your life, or just say thanks by sponsoring the Sunday morning hospitality table refreshments. For a small donation of $70 you will cover the cost of our donuts. Donations given by others that morning will go to support various church ministries. Your sponsorship will be recognized by a sign on the hospitality table. Call the office, 229-8108, for more information or to get the remaining spots.
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OFFERING ENVELOPES
There are 138 packets of envelopes that have not been picked up yet. If you have been receiving offering envelopes in the mail, your next set of envelopes is available to pick up in the narthex. You may use the envelopes either weekly or monthly, as best meets your needs. When you get to your last, or second to last, envelope, you MUST turn in the reorder card that came with your envelopes, email or call the church office to request more. New envelopes may be picked up at the Information Desk the next week. |
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Greetings!
We are back from Annual Conference! Karen and I were both reappointed to First UMC for the coming Conference year. It is going to be a very good year and we are looking forward to all it will hold for this great congregation. It is really an impressive experience to attend Annual Conference. Of course, it sometimes feels like a long time to sit, and there are lots of papers. But, it is inspiring to hear and see the work of the Annual Conference. I can't begin to tell you everything. But, some examples stand out in my mind. Central Methodist University appears to be thriving. It is not simply that the institution is doing well. Hundreds of young people are educated in an environment of faith and integrity. They go from there to serve in communities all across the state and nation in a variety of endeavors. We heard a report from the director of Lydia Patterson Institute. Located on the border between the United States and Mexico, Lydia Patterson has enriched the lives of thousands of individuals. Right now it is a safe haven for many persons in the midst of a violent time. We heard about the impact of thousands of mosquito nets purchased by United Methodists in Missouri. There are little children who will have the opportunity to grow up healthy because of this effort. The partnership with the United Methodist Church in Mozambique continues to reshape the reality of that poor nation. You have had a strong role in that transforming reality because of your participation in this partnership. Well, I could go on, but I simply want to say that our system works and works well. When one begins to get a sense of what happens in the world because of the United Methodist Church, there is a deep feeling of gratitude.
Wednesday evening we had our Spring Church Conference. The only item on the agenda was the election of lay officials for the coming year. I want to thank you who were in attendance. I want to thank all of you who expressed your willingness to serve. We have a strong slate of leaders who are gifted in a wide variety of ways. I look forward to working with all of you! Members of the Committee on Lay Leadership also deserve a hearty word of thanks for the excellent work they did to prepare for the Church Conference!
I have received numerous comments about how meaningful worship was last weekend. I can only say "Thank You" to Reed Alberg, Jo Perrin, and the Reverends Stuart Herrick and Gordon Smith.
Rev. Karen will be preaching this weekend. Support her with your prayers and come with a sense of expectation. I look forward to the weekend and seeing you. We were only away one weekend, but it seems longer to me. It will be good to be back in place at home for worship!
Blessings to you,
Steve Campbell |
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COLLEGE-AGE CLASS FORMING
If you are home for the summer or live here year round, join us for a new college-age class beginning June 28 at 9:10 Sunday School hour.
We will meet downstairs in room 012 and begin a 4-week study by Dave Ramsey called Generation Change.
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ELECTRONIC GIVING
We live in a time when computer technology is a routine part of our everyday living. We are becoming more comfortable with e-filing tax returns, online bill payments, and searching for information on the internet. First UMC is trying to keep up with the vast use of computer technology, as well. Electronic giving is an easy way to be a faithful giver to the Church. During times of absence from worship, electronic giving can provide the convenience of continued payments toward your pledge. It's as simple as calling the Church office, and filling out a form. You can start or stop the process at any time. Thank you for considering electronic giving to your Church.
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Join "Connections"
 If you would like to explore a deeper connection with God within a small group community, Connections invites you to join us on Sundays at 10:40am in Room 100. Connections is a group for adults who are interested in developing meaningful relationships with God and each other. If you would like more information, please contact Stephanie Marker at 220-9094 or stephaniecmarker@yahoo.com.
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