Conference has jumped on board with making sure to take part in this rare opportunity. One thing’s for sure, many people are focusing on what the year 20/20 might bring. It’s like the New Year’s Resolution to top all other resolutions.

Something else strikes as important as I think about this new year ahead and this idea of 20/20 vision. God hasn’t been waiting around for 2020 to guide us in what He would have us do, He has already been preparing the way for us. I don’t know for sure what 20/20 is going to bring, but I’m excited about the possibilities. We’ve already had many conversations about what it means to be a disciple and how we can continue to raise new disciples, we’ve seen ministry starts and ministry celebrations, and we continue to work together to bring the good news to the world around us. As we continue our work, I know God will be right there with us leading the way.

In Christ,

Mediapolis

601 North Street Mediapolis, IA 52637

9:00 AM Sunday School

10:00 AM Sunday Worship

Sperry

11756 Sperry Road Sperry, IA 52650

9:00 AM Sunday Worship 10:15 AM Adult Small Group

Mailing Address PO Box 38 Mediapolis, IA 52637

Office Telephone 319.394.3131 After hours emergency phone number: 319.768.8593

Office Hours Tuesday—Friday 9:00 AM—12:15 PM 1:30 PM—4:00 PM Closed Mondays

E-mail Office mepomethch@mepotelco.net

Pastor Bruce Smith pastorbrucesmith@gmail.com

Deacon Tracey Burgus tburgus@mepotelco.net

Web Site www.mepoumc.com

Facebook http:/www.facebook.com/mepoumc http://www.facebook.com/sperryumc

Connec A Publication of Mediapolis and Sperry United Methodist Churches. A Publication of Mediapolis and Sperry United

January 2020. Has anyone written it out yet? Doesn’t have an interesting ring to it? “Twenty Twenty.” To me, this is the most significant change of a year since 2000. Remember that transition?Y2K bug, and all? The world was going to stop in its tracks because all our computers used a two-digit year, and everything from banking systems to power grids would potentially come to a screeching halt if new code wasn’t applied by the change from 1999 to 2000.

We all had to get used to writing out a four-digit year in some form or another. For some of us, it was a matter of scratching out the 19__ on our checks so we could write 2000 instead. For others, it was kind of like this year. It felt nice to be a part of something so special as a new century and new millennium. In time, things got back to normal. We started writing ’02, ’05, ’19 for our years instead. Many of our checkbooks have even reverted to 20__ to give us back the comfort of shorter writing.

However, this year feels different. I imagine you’ve heard or thought about the new year 2020 as it relates to 20/20 vision, and this being a perfect year to focus in on specific goals and dreams. Companies are thinking about this, advertisements have followed suit, and even the Iowa Annual

January 2020

PAGE 2

minutes every day or to set aside a time to pray for others and listen for God to speak into their life? What if Christians resolved to show the love of Christ on a daily basis to those they come into contact with? What if Christians resolved to share their faith story with people they know who might be struggling? What if Christians would resolve to visit shut-ins, make phone calls, or send cards of encouragement to people who find themselves in need? How would this affect the communities that we live in, the world around us, and the movement of the Holy Spirit within each of us and within our churches? I wonder if God might be calling you and I to be more intentional in our faith or to reach out to the world around us in some new and exciting way. Whatever resolutions we may choose to make I pray that they would be centered around God’s call in each of our lives and as the body of Christ in the world.

Tracey

CONNECT

Communion will be celebrated on Sunday, January 5th

Game Time @ Prairie Ridge

Tuesday, January 7th

3:30 PM

Prayer Group @ Mediapolis Tuesday, January 7th & 28th

6:30 PM

2 or More Gathered Thursday, January 9th

12:00 PM

The Broadway

113 Broadway St, West Burlington This invitation is extended to all seniors

and singles who would like to join us.

Prayer Group @ Sperry

Thursday, January 9th & 23rd 6:15 PM

Breakfast by the Boys Sunday, January 19th

8:00-9:00 AM Sperry Fellowship Hall Everyone is welcome!

Care & Share Card Ministry

Monday, January 20th 1:00 PM

Rita Cortum’s home

Lay Visitation Ministries Updates and Information

From the Desk of Tracey Burgus

This Month…

JANUARY 2020

New Year’s Eve is a time to reflect upon the past year and perhaps make some resolutions in regard to the coming year. I was looking at some statistics from a study done in regard to New Year’s Resolutions. According to 2000 people who were surveyed, 60% admitted to making resolutions while only 8% of those making resolutions had successfully carried them out over the course of the past year. Some people jump on the resolution bandwagon and determine to lose weight or kick an unhealthy habit that they might have picked up such as smoking or drinking too much caffeine. Most resolutions that people make are centered around a change in their own behavior. As I sit here thinking about the whole idea of making resolutions, or indeed being resolved to do something, I wonder what would happen in the world if everyone made a resolution surrounding their Christian faith and then with determination carried it out. For instance… what if Christians resolved to read the scriptures for 15

NEED PRAYER OR KNOW

SOMEONE WHO DOES?

Organized prayer teams are available

to minister to your needs. Please

contact the church office with your

prayer requests.

MEAL MINISTRY

The purpose of our Meal Ministry is to

provide meals for families in our

congregation who are recovering from

an illness, surgery or childbirth. If you

are aware of anyone who may need

meals, please contact the church office.

Please call the church office if you

or a family member will be

admitted into the hospital.

Thank You!

PAGE 3 CONNECT JANUARY 2020

Senior High (Betzina Yaley | 319-759-3361 | mcygsr@gmail.com)

In December we studied a series called “Unwrapped” which prepared our hearts for Christmas, when we remember God’s Greatest Gift to us…His Son, Jesus. We celebrated together with a Christmas party on Dec. 18… food & fun!!

We are looking forward to a wonderful season of time spent with family & friends, but most of all, remembering to focus our hearts on our Lord & Savior, from whom ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!! HE truly is our reason to celebrate!!

DAY/DATE ACTIVITY/EVENT/TIME LOCATION

Wed, Jan 1, 2020 HAPPY NEW YEAR!! NO YOUTH GROUP

Wed, Jan 8 Youth Group/8-9:30pm Presbyterian Church

Wed, Jan 15 Youth Group/8-9:30pm Presbyterian Church

Wed, Jan 22 Youth Group/8-9:30pm Presbyterian Church

Wed, Jan 29 Youth Group/8-9:30pm Presbyterian Church

YOUTH GROUP NEWS

Junior High (Jenny McGhee | 319-752-7008 | mcygjr@gmail.com)

In December we finished up The Good Life series, learning: If we want the good life, we need to pursue patience. If we want the good life, we should be mindful of our words and choose gentle ones. We wrapped up December with a Christmas party where we enjoyed a mystery meal, a sock gift exchange and games.

We ask that you continue to lift these students up in prayer. We have a couple of students attending that have stated they don't believe in God. Ezekiel 36:26-27 says: "And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations." We are praying this for these students...that God would take out their stony, stubborn hearts and replace them with tender, responsive hearts. May your heart be tender and responsive too, especially during this holiday season. Merry CHRISTmas to all!

Day Date Time Event/Location

Wednesday 1/1/20 CHRISTMAS BREAK - NO YOUTH GROUP

Friday 1/3/20 7p-9p Movie Night

Wednesday 1/8/20 6:15p-7:45p Youth group @ Presbyterian Church

Wednesday 1/15/20 6:15p-7:45p Youth group @ Presbyterian Church

Wednesday 1/22/20 6:15p-7:45p Youth group @ Presbyterian Church

Wednesday 1/29/20 6:15p-7:45p Youth group @ Presbyterian Church

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

Church Office

Closed

2 3 4

5

Communion

6 7

Game Time

3:30 PM, Prairie

Ridge

Prayer Group

6:30 PM, Mepo

8

Awana Clubs

6:15 PM, Mepo

9

2 or More

Gathered

12:00 PM,

The Broadway

Prayer Group

6:15 PM, Sperry

ARK Meeting

7:00 PM, Mepo

10 11

12 13 14 15

Awana Clubs

6:15 PM, Mepo

16

SPRC

6:30 PM, Mepo

17 18

19

Breakfast By the

Boys

8:00 AM, Sperry

20

Care & Share

Card Ministry

1:00 PM,

Cortum’s

21

Ad Council

6:00 PM, Sperry

Ad Council

7:30 PM, Mepo

22

Awana Clubs

6:15 PM, Mepo

23

Prayer Group

6:15 PM, Sperry

24 25

26 27 28

Prayer Group

6:30 PM, Mepo

29

Awana Clubs

6:15 PM, Mepo

30

Trustees

6:30 PM, Mepo

31

Mediapolis

9:00 AM • Sunday School

10:00 AM • Sunday Worship

Sperry

9:00 AM • Sunday Worship

10:15 AM • Adult Sunday School 2020

Jan 1 Genesis 1-2; Ephesians 1; Psalm 148 Jan 2 Genesis 3-4; Ephesians 2 Jan 3 Genesis 5-6; Ephesians 3; Psalm 12 Jan 4 Genesis 7-8; Ephesians 4 Jan 5 Genesis 9-10; Ephesians 5 Jan 6 Genesis 11-13; Ephesians 6 Jan 7 Genesis 14-15; Matthew 1; Psalm 47 Jan 8 Genesis 16-18; Matthew 2 Jan 9 Genesis 19-20; Matthew 3; Psalm 11 Jan 10 Genesis 21-23; Matthew 4 Jan 11 Genesis 24; Matthew 5

Jan 12 Genesis 25; Matthew 6; Psalm 127 Jan 13 Genesis 26-27; Matthew 7 Jan 14 Genesis 28-29; Matthew 8 Jan 15 Genesis 30; Matthew 9 Jan 16 Genesis 31; Matthew 10 Jan 17 Genesis 32-33; Matthew 11; Psalm 131 Jan 18 Genesis 34; Matthew 12; Psalm 64 Jan 19 Genesis 35; Matthew 13 Jan 20 Genesis 36; Matthew 14 Jan 21 Genesis 37-38; Matthew 15 Jan 22 Genesis 39-40; Matthew 16

Jan 23 Genesis 41; Matthew 17; Psalm 40 Jan 24 Genesis 42; Matthew 18 Jan 25 Genesis 43-44; Matthew 19 Jan 26 Genesis 45-46; Matthew 20 Jan 27 Genesis 47; Matthew 21 Jan 28 Genesis 48-49; Matthew 22 Jan 29 Genesis 50; Exodus 1; Matthew 23 Jan 30 Exodus 2-3; Matthew 24 Jan 31 Exodus 4; Matthew 25

JANUARY DAILY BIBLE READING GUIDE

01/01 Korkee Carruthers, Nicholas

Isom, Brooke VanWinkle

01/03 Gary Earnest, Sarah Smith

01/04 Nick Breuer

01/05 Mindi Manning, Kari Stephens

01/06 Theresa Brown

01/07 Joni Hollingsworth, Dan Keitzer,

Logan Thie

01/08 Jerry Miller

01/09 David Hicks, Cara Hammond

01/10 Ed Schrock

01/11 Courtney Petersen

01/12 Linda Jones

01/13 Mark McConnell

01/14 Kathleen Dziulko, Dan Petersen

01/15 Caitlin Tade

01/16 Conner Kester

01/17 Rev. Mel Miller, Jonathon

Thomson

01/18 Bill Moehle, Mark Warth

01/19 Dixie Hauswirth

01/20 Sammy Dixon, David Steffener

01/21 Fred Carruthers, Connie

Garland

01/22 Ken Davis, Dan Green,

Mike Green, Cara Schnedler

01/23 Katie Powers, Natalie Whisler

01/25 Dee Green, Kyle Hicks

01/27 Bobby Thomson

01/30 Dale Edmonds

01/31 Joan Wunnenberg

01/14 Lee & Shelly Kerr

01/22 Stan & Pauline Palmer

01/27 John & Rita Cortum

01/28 Brent & Karen Eberhardt

In case of bad weather,

cancellations or changes

to the service schedules will

be posted on KBUR-KGRS

and on the home page of

our church website

www.mepoumc.com.

Meetings

Mediapolis ARK Committee Thursday, January 9—7:00 PM.

SPRC Thursday, January 16—6:30 PM at

Mediapolis..

Mediapolis Trustees Thursday, January 30—6:30 PM.

This Bible reading schedule is thematic or connective in nature. The goal is to make as many associations as possible between the different parts of Scripture while still reading individual books of the Bible from start to finish. Only the Psalms are not read in consecutive order. The Psalms are individually apportioned throughout the year to increase the number of connections that can be observed and appreciated.