From the Pastor’s Heart         

 From the Heart

  January 2008

"For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son…" "… and when they had opened their treasures, they presented to him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh."

Tradition in the Protestant community is to observe Epiphany Sunday on the Sunday closest to January 6^th which is the twelfth day after Christmas.  This year January 6^th falls on a Sunday so our Covenant Service will also be a celebration of Christ’s epiphany – God “showing” us or “making known” to us or “revealing” to us that Jesus is Lord and King of all.  We recall the honor given him as the Three Magi sought him out and presented him with gifts fit for a king.

When we look back, it is a long journey from the first Sunday of Advent to Epiphany Sunday.  We have had to let go of things that were holding us back, preventing us from fully accepting God’s love.  We have had to acknowledge gifts that we possessed, but had been unwilling or unable to share with others here at SUMC.  We had the opportunity to grow in grace and mature in faith as we walked with God and each other.

At the January 6^th worship service we will give voice to the ongoing transformation of spirit that is occurring within us and within our congregation.  During the service, we will use a portion of the Wesleyan Covenant liturgy as we commit ourselves for the coming year to living as believers and serving others in Jesus’ name.  The service concludes with a sharing of Bread and Cup as we fellowship together at the Lord’s Table.  This is one of the worship services for 2008 that everyone should make an effort to be in attendance.

The season of Lent begins very early this year.  Ash Wednesday is February 6^th.  Unlike Christmas which is connected to the solar cycle and is set on the same date each year, Easter is marked by the lunar cycle and thus has a variable calendar date (this year Resurrection Sunday will be celebrated on March 23).  We will once again begin observing Lent with a traditional Imposition of Ashes service the evening of February 6^th, followed by five Wednesday nights of Lenten gathering in preparation for Easter morning.

This letter is flowing onto the page in a “stream of consciousness” format, so I guess I’ll go with the flow.  I hope everyone is excited about the new ministry programming that was approved at the Dec 9, 2007 church conference.  The new Church Leadership Council will hit the ground running to ensure the program gets off to a great start.  I know I am excited, even though there is a mountain of details to take care of before we actually hire a new Family Life Director.  I feel so blessed to be a part of a congregation that has forward momentum and is willing to create the foundation today for successful and rewarding ministry five, ten, twenty years into the future.  Of course, for our vision to become reality we must all pitch in and support both the process and the leadership that are setting our course into tomorrow.

Let us begin this New Year together in prayer.  Will you pray with me?

Come, Holy Spirit. Spirit of the Risen Christ, as we enter 2008 we ask that you be our light, our guide, and our comforter even as you bless us with strength and courage to be holy servants.  Be present with us in this new year of opportunity and promise.  Gift us with meaningful spiritual growth.  Bless us with your graces and gifts, your forgiveness and unconditional love, your holy and divine countenance. 

Come, Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.
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 Blessing today and always, Pastor Jef

Mission Moment------

Located in Chatham, IL, the Midwest Mission Distribution Center (MMDC) opened for ministry in March 2000.  It is a not-for-profit agency related to the IGRC and North Central Jurisdiction of the UMC.  The mission of MMDC “is to compassionately help God’s people in need locally, nationally and around the world and to offer a center to fulfill the call for service to our neighbors in Christ’s name.”

Volunteers pack kits (health kits, flood buckets, school kits, layettes and others); sort donations, sew and box goods for shipment.  A newly expanded warehouse is used for storage, loading trucks and shipping containers and unloading goods.  A workshop on the campus is used for building Project Schoolroom desks and for other projects.  There is a dorm equipped with kitchen and laundry facilities as well as RV parking.  Staff housing was built by volunteers also.  “The MMDC borrows no money and has no indebtedness.”

Shipments included lately were for disaster relief for those recovering from floods, fires, tornadoes and hurricanes (including flood and health kits for SE Minnesota in August 2007).  Humanitarian aid, medical and educational goods have been shipped nationally and internationally.

During its first 6 years, over 1400 shipments/disbursements were made.  In 2006, over 239 tons of materials and supplies were sent from the center.

The MMDC is only able to carry out its mission because of volunteers and financial donations it receives.  In 2006, volunteer hours were over 30, 700---members of SUMC contributed hours of service in 2007 during a week early in the year.  (Don’t forget to mark your calendar for 2008 for March30-April 5^th).

As MMDC does not borrow money or operate with indebtedness, financial gifts are also important.  There are many ways to contribute to MMDC.  Their endowment fund has grown to over $140,000.  There is a general fund along with other specific funds when needs are identified.  The recently completed warehouse expansion was one such special fund.

The January mission moments will help support the general fund of MMDC.  As the black bags are passed, please be generous, so that this center, so near our back yard, can carry out its mission and continue to serve those in need locally, nationally and internationally as we are all encouraged to do as Christ instructed and minister/tend to the needs of others in all the ways we can. 

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Midwest Mission Distribution Center Mission Trip:  Open to youth through adults.  Departing March 30 and returning April 5^th of 2008.  All skills and abilities can be used.  Lodging will be in the campus dorms.  Costs are:  project fees ($50); dorm ($15/night) and share of food and gas.  If you have questions please contact Tanya Oberg at 288-7152.  Further informational meetings for attendees will occur closer to the departure day.  Please sign up at the Missions Table in the narthex.

                            NEED A RIDE?

Would you like to attend Sunday morning worship, but do not have transportation? If so, please call the church office (533-4625) and someone will return your call to make arrangements to provide transportation to church.

Children's Time ~

                          January

If you are unable to serve as scheduled, please find a substitute and call the church office by                                                                                                                                                           

                                    Wednesday at 533-4625 or call Barb Warren at (507) 867-3006.

Lay Readers ~

                                       January

If you are unable to serve as scheduled, please find a substitute and call the church office by Wednesday at 533-4625 or call Wilma Menshik at 533-9591.  

2008 Organizational Chart---

                              PRAYER PAGE

THANK YOU:

     Thank you to the UMW for your thoughtfulness at this Holiday Season.---Marge Gardner

THANK YOU:

     Many thanks to the UMW for the beautiful card and poinsettia.---Tara

ANNOUNCEMENT: 

     On January 27, 2008 SUMC will be celebrating United Methodist Women’s Sunday.  This will be a worship service of music and mission. 

THANK YOU:

    Thank you to everyone at SUMC for your gift and especially for your thoughtfulness during this holiday season--Tara

THANK YOU:

     Thank you to all those who acted as Lay Readers during the year 2007.  May God bless each of you—Wilma.

OPEN HOUSE :

     On JANUARY 5th - Please accept this invitation to attend a Twelfth-Night open house to be held at the home of Pastor Jef and MaryJo Olson.  The Twelve Days of Christmas ends on January 5th and we wish for you to join with us in celebration the last day of the Christmas Season and the ushering in of Epiphany (the revealing of the infant Jesus to the world).  The hours are from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.

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 Happy Birthday to the following church members and friends who celebrate January birthdays!  Do YOU have a January birthday?  Is YOUR name on the list?  If not, please call or drop a note to the church office to let us know. We don't want to miss the opportunity to wish you a very Happy Birthday!!

          3----Chris Stafford                                                                                      20---Daniel Clark

          5----Cynthia Lichty                                                                                    22---Deb Reiland

          5----Hans Fjelstad                                                                                      23---Darlene Beach

          6-----Vickie Howard                                                                                    23---Don Podein

          6-----Natasha Stoltenberg                                                                         27---Virginia King

          6----Christine Oberholtzer                                                                         27---Virginia Winch

          8----Ashley Rudloff                                                                                   28---Autumn Lee

         10—Isaac Griffith                                                                                        29---Richard Rowley

         13---Paula Blazing                                                                                       29---Ann Stevenson

         13---Madeline Marshall                                                                              29---Michelle Otterbein

         13---Sara Zent                                                                                              29---Tara Stockman

         13---Dorothy Lichty                                                                                    30---Carmen Beddow

         14---Brandon Wannarka                                                                            30---Rebecca Reed

         16---Faye Finley                                                                                          30---Owen Renken

         16---Allison Dotzenrod                                                                              30---Kaye Wiger

         17---Geraldine Teske                                                                                  30---Molly Christenson

         17---Carter Gross                                                                                         30---Marlene Wyant

         20---Dave Serrano                                                                                       30---Joseph Finley

                                                                                                                                                31---Deb Serrano

                                                                                                                                                31---Donna Babcock