From the Pastor’s Heart
From the Heart
May 2008
We can’t ignore the 800-pound gorilla in the room, so I might as well say it. What an emotional rollercoaster we have all been on these past few months! Whenever unexpected news is received (especially news that has a short-term negative impact), we typically go through a process called stages of grief. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross lines out five stages of grief we must work through to restore a sense of balance to our lives:
1. Denial: "It can't be happening."
2. Anger: "Why me? It's not fair."
3. Bargaining: "Can’t we delay this for a year…two…ten?"
4. Depression: "I'm so sad, why bother with anything?"
5. Acceptance: "It's going to be OK."
We must deal with each of the stages in turn and not avoid or skip over one to address another. For instance, we cannot truly accept a change in our lives if we are still angry about what has occurred. Many of us have been dealing with life changes that were unexpected and have a dramatic impact on our lives: medical issues that are life-threatening, economic issues that require us to make purchasing decisions we haven’t had to make before, relationship issues that create new understandings of what it means to be separate yet still connected, and vocational issues that give us pause to evaluate what it means to be faithful to our purpose in life.
Many of us have shared our love and understanding with each other as these and other life changes have entered our lives and insisted we pay attention to them. As we have supported each other, we have grown in our understanding that we are truly conduits of God’s love and grace; that we are members of a community of faith, a local expression of the family of God who counts it a privilege to be connected to one another.
Living outside our comfort zones and embracing that which is foreign to us is not easy work. We are typically creatures of habit. Dealing with the unexpected takes energy. Fortunately, we are a people of hope and we know that as God’s plan and purpose there are blessings awaiting those who are patient and faithful. We find new energy in the active presence of God’s Holy Spirit walking alongside us as we make decisions, chart new courses to follow, and step out onto new-to-us pathways. The harsh newness of a life change begins to soften at the edges and we establish new realities in which we find comfort…and joy.
I encourage each of us to support one another in this season of change, this transition from what was comfortable to what will someday be comfortable again. Do not hurry the process. Do not skip over things we need to process or lessons we need to be learn (or re-learn). Savor the bittersweet moments that are a part of saying goodbye to that which we have come to enjoy and look forward to (like an old sweater that wards off the chill before the dawn) even as we say hello to new possibilities, new relationships and new friends.
To everything there is a
season,
a time for every purpose under the sun…
a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance ...
May God’s blessings continue to enrich our lives and our ministry as we move boldly into a new day. As people of hope, we trust in God even as God is faithful to us.
Feed My Starving Children
Feed My Starving Children is a wonderful program designed to fight starvation that started right here in Minnesota in 1987. A philanthropist in Minneapolis was concerned with the incidence of hunger and starvation in the world and wanted to do something significant to alleviate that hunger. Many organizations are active in hunger relief, but he felt that it was more important to furnish the actual food rather than simply providing money. He worked with Cargil Foods scientists in the Twin Cities to develop a food product that would meet the needs of the world’s hungry. The requirement was to provide a product that contained the nutrition needed for a good diet, but would meet the taste requirements of most of the Third World countries. This meant that it must be a rice-based product since rice is the principle food in the majority of the Third World countries. The final requirement was cost. It must be cheap to provide maximum nutrition at the least possible cost per serving. The results of this effort became the “Feed My Starving Children” project in the Twin Cities. Low cost rice for high calories is combined with high-energy soy protein, nutritious vegetable chicken extract, and finally, dehydrated vegetable flakes for color, taste, minerals, and vitamins. These ingredients are packaged by volunteers in heat sealed plastic bags that when mixed with water and cooked will provide six nutritionally balance meals. The ingredients are purchased in bulk and are packaged entirely by volunteers, which keeps costs low. For several years, we of the Stewartville United Methodist Church have had the opportunity to support this program. This is a particularly exciting program for us because we support this program not only with our treasures, but also with our service since we have the opportunity to actually assemble the bags of food that will be going to these hungry, starving children. On June 7, 2008 we will be going to the Feed My Starving Children facility in Egan Minnesota to work for two hours assembling thousands of these bags of food that will be shipped all over the world. We will be working from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and will leave from the church about 7:30 a.m. People from ages 7 to 90 can sign up for this trip. Youth and families are especially encouraged to go. You will find a sign up sheet on the Mission table in the Narthex. Additionally, on Sunday, May 25th, our second “black bag” offering will go to support this Feed My Starving Children project. With our service and with our treasures, we have the opportunity to help provide food for hundreds of thousands of hungry children, women, and families around the world. The cost of the materials in this program is covered by voluntary donations by people such as us. $50.00 will provide food for ten children for a month. $36.00 will provide a nutritious, high protein meal for 200 starving street urchins in Haiti. This food is distributed by organizations working in countries where the need is desperate and includes such groups as our own UMCOR, Church World Service, Catholic Charities, and others. These organizations using Feed My Starving Children food packages are relieving hunger in many countries of Africa as well as such places as Haiti, India and countries in South and Central America. Last year, Feed My Starving Children through their partner organizations distributed over 16 million meals worldwide. We can be a significant part of this wonderful work. When the black bags of the second offering go around on May 25th, dig deep and be generous. A dollar will provide six meals, but twenty dollars will provide 120 meals, so dig deep, and lets all make a big difference in the lives of many of God’s children. Please be generous with your treasures, and also be generous with you time by signing up to assemble these packages of food on June 7th at Feed My Starving Children in Egan, MN.
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 ~
May
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Date |
Leader |
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4th |
Pastor Jef |
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11th |
Sunday School Puppet Group |
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18th |
Ronda Miner |
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25th |
Ronda Miner |
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 ~
May
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Date |
Lay Reader |
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4th |
Mary Jo Olson |
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11th |
Mary Ann Carlson |
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18th |
Emily Tompkins |
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25th |
Cody Warren |
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.
PRAYER
PAGE
ANNOUNCEMENT:
The UMW 45th Annual International Luncheon is planned for Wednesday, June 11th at Noon. Tickets are $9 and can be purchased by calling Audrey Farnsworth at 533-4454. The theme this year is “Pretty Purses and Fancy Footwear”. Decorating will be Tuesday evening the 10th of June. We are looking for knick-knacks of shoes for table decorations and fancy, vintage, international shoes/slippers/boots/purses to have as an entry display. If you can loan something please leave at the church with your name on the item(s). This year, profits will be used for Trustee prioritized projects and kitchen hospitality items. If you cannot attend, but would like to participate, please consider a donation. Hope to see you there!
ANNOUNCEMENT:
Lydia Circle is collecting used cell phones. They will be recycled, resold, or redistributed, often allowing someone to have a cell phone that could not otherwise afford one. There is a box located near the entrance doors of the church for the collection. Please leave attached batteries, but keep all other accessories and chargers and be sure to remove all personal information before donation. All used cell phones four years old and newer will be accepted. Thank you~Faye Finley
ANNOUNCEMENT:
Thank you very much for your prayers, cards and well wishes as I recuperate from hip replacement. Support from many of you was felt and appreciated. God Bless, Jan Durbahn.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
On March 30th through April 5th, seven members of SUMC and 1 person from Waseca traveled to the MMDCenter in Chatham, IL for a week of mission work. From sorting kit supplies, sewing, building shipping crates and so on, all attendees voiced a positive experience. Join us in 2009 on June 7th –13th.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
The MMDCenter will have a truck at the annual conference the end of May to collect flood buckets, layette kits, health kits, sewing kits, and any other supplies listed on their website. Please check the mission table for supply lists and needs. Leave donated items at the mission table for delivery to the annual conference by Sunday, May 25th. Questions call Tanya Oberg at 288-7152.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
Volunteers are needed for the next “Feed My Starving Children” mission trip to Eagan, MN on Saturday, June 7th, 2008 from 9-11am. Please sign up at the Mission Table in the Narthex. All ages are welcome.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
REMEMBER to put some quarters in your pocket before church on the first Sunday of the month for the Sunday School Quarter Drive.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
SUMC has been invited to send volunteers to participate in a SE MN UMC work camp in Rushford, MN. This three or four day work mission opportunity is being hosted by Red Wing UMC and the Gateways connectional ministries group to which our pastor/church belongs. Participants will spend Sunday evening through Wednesday or Thursday of the following week. The dates being considered are April 20-24 and May 18-22. Please contact Pastor Jef if you are interested in sharing your time and construction skills to further the recovery process from last Augusts’ devastating flood.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
Please consider using your talents in the creation of Prayer Shawls. During the past year the SUMC prayer shawls have brought tangible, visual reminders to many of our church family and friends of the prayers and well wishes of our congregation. Thank you for all your time and efforts to keep this ministry alive in our church. Health & Wellness Ministry Team.
George’s Love Offering article.
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Gifts & Memorials Updates:
There were no new requests for funds this month. Mark is going to find a speaker on endowments for some time in September or early October. A Helen Hagen Scholarship recipient has been selected and will be announced on May 18th in church. The school will also be notified so the person will also be recognized at school. After further discussion, it was decided not to update the endowment brochure as previously planned. ~~Chair, Jean Schendel.
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The Stewartville Morning Lions Club appreciates the invitation from your Methodist Church to use your beautiful facility for our general meetings on the third Saturday of each month at 8:30 a.m. We are an international service organization with our priorities in the following order:
1. God and Family
2. Our Jobs
3. Lionism
Our meetings are open to all interested people; we’d love to inform you of our projects. On behalf of 72 members I thank you again.
Yours in service,
Lions President: Dave Hoot
1st Vice President: Del Jahns
2nd Vice President: Cindy Bushman
3rd Vice President: Ernie Moeller
Happy Birthday to the following church members and friends who celebrate May birthdays! Do YOU have a May 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!
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Lavonne |
Bartelt |
1-May |
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Adam |
Payne |
14-May |
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Mona |
Norman |
1-May |
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Sharon |
Bleifus |
15-May |
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Ruby |
Swain |
1-May |
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Frank |
Harreld |
15-May |
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Donna |
Whiting |
3-May |
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Issac |
Olson |
15-May |
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Jason |
Griffith |
6-May |
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Joan |
Clark |
18-May |
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Jeremy |
Griffith |
6-May |
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Cleone |
Norman |
18-May |
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Mitchell |
McGuire |
6-May |
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Scott |
Warren |
18-May |
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Kelsey |
Montgomery |
6-May |
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Angeline |
DeBoer |
20-May |
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Dorothy |
Womeldorff |
6-May |
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Joey |
Wannarka |
21-May |
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Jeanne |
Stafford |
7-May |
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Fern |
Waugh |
24-May |
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Logan |
Heintz |
8-May |
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Tehya |
Mrotek |
27-May |
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Harold |
Barrows |
9-May |
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Brianna |
Reed |
27-May |
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Rachel |
Holst |
11-May |
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Kelly |
Robertson |
27-May |
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Britanney |
Truax |
11-May |
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James |
Warren |
27-May |
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Andria |
Jensen |
13-May |
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Collin |
Fanton |
29-May |
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Courtney |
McGill |
13-May |
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Abby |
Holst |
29-May |
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Sharon |
Rieken |
13-May |
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Monica |
McGuire |
30-May |
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Olivia |
Renken |
31-May |
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WE NEED EVERYONE’S HELP!!!
Attached at the end of this month’s newsletter is a “New” Membership Form. We have been working diligently to update our records so the new Pastor can more easily become familiar with our congregation; however, we are finding that there are a few errors, and a lot of missing information. This information is vital not only so that our new Pastor and/or Family Life Director can use it, much of it is also used in our annual reporting to the church conference and may ultimately be used by some adventurous genealogists. Therefore, we are asking that each family member that attends Stewartville United Methodist Church to please complete and return the form to the church office as soon as possible. This could save a phone call to you in the near future. We realize many of you have already completed this information, but we ask that you help us in this effort to complete and update our records in a more timely fashion. If you know of families that attend SUMC and don’t receive the T& T, please let Tara know and we will get a form out to them as well. Thank you for your help in this effort.
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May 2008 |
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National Day of Prayer
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Family Fun Night 6:30 PM
Connie M. Recital Practice 3-8pm
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Connie M. Piano Recital 6-10pm |
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9:00AM Worship Confirmation Sunday 10:15 AM Sunday School 10:30 AM Adult Discussion Group
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7:00 PM Personnel Mtg.
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6:30 PM Choir 7:30 PM Worship Meeting |
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9:00AM Worship/Teacher Recognition Sunday Children Singing & Assisting w Children’s Time. 10:15 AM Last Day of Sunday School 10:30 Adult Discussion Group Mother’s Day
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7:00 PM Finance Meeting |
6:30PM Choir 7:30 PM Trustees Meeting |
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Rehearsal for wedding |
Vrieze/Hanson Wedding at SUMC
Dick Harreld/Katie Van Roekel Wedding |
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9:00AM Worship/ Senior Recognition/Brunch 10:30 AM Adult Discussion Group
5:30 Pm Praise Px
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7:00 PM G & M Meeting
T and T deadline |
6:30 PM Choir
7:30 PM H and W Meeting |
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