Farrar/Mingo Methodist Church Connection

SUN MON TUE WED THUR FRI SAT

1

Farrar Bible Study 7 pm

2 3 4


5


6 7

8

Farrar COC committee

Farrar Soup Supper 5 pm

Confirmation Class 12:15

Mingo Pizza/Movie party


9 10 11

Farrar Board Mtg 7 pm

12


13 14

RUSH YF

meeting

3:30 pm

15


16 17 18

Mingo Board Mtg


19


20

Newsletter items DUE to Denise Fick

21

22

Confirmation 12:15 pm

Farrar S.S. Bake Sale


23 24 25


26


27

28

Bob Moreland Benefit

Dinner @ Farrar UMC

4-7 pm

FEBRUARY 2015 *Bible study at Mingo, 2 pm on the second and third Wednesday’s of each month; 10 am Wednesday’s

otherwise. Open to all who wish to attend. For more information, contact Pastor Curtis DeVance.

Feb 1 Emma Hay

Feb 1 Dave & Carol Kimberly

Anniversary

Feb 3 Susanne Stock

Feb 5 Lily Webster

Feb 5 Hugh & Peggy Vespestad

Feb 6 Rodney Altes

Feb 7 Dean Stewart

Feb 8 Betty Tiffany

Feb 10 Gene Beals

Feb 12 Bob Moreland

Feb 12 Diana Halfhill

Feb 17 Barbara Leonard

Feb 19 Deanne Vespestad

Feb 20 Karen Carney

Feb 20 Jerrica Beam

Feb 22 Erin VanPeursem

Feb 27 Marilyn Heydon

Feb 28 Joseph Jackson

Feb 28 Joyce Maggard

Feb 28 Laura Harder

Join me in saying “ ” to our members celebrating this month!

Farrar and Mingo United Methodist Churches

Rev. Curtis DeVance

PO Box 9

Mingo, IA 50168

Non Profit Org.

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Permit No. 003

Mingo, IA 50168

CONTACT US

Farrar United Methodist 11180 NE 134th Avenue

Maxwell, Iowa 50161 515.387.8783

Email: [email protected] Website: http://farrarumc.org

WORSHIP & SUNDAY SCHOOL @ 9:00 am

Mingo United Methodist 202 W. Main St., PO Box 9

Mingo, IA 50168 641.363.4229

Children’s SS @ 9:30 am Adult SS @ 9:45 am

WORSHIP @ 10:45 am

Rev. Curtis DeVance,

Pastor

Iowa Methodist Conference – New Website!

Earlier in January, the Iowa Conference introduced their

updated website— http://iaumc.org—Check it out!

NEW! You can also view this newsletter at HTTP://FARRARUMC.ORG

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FARRAR / MINGO METHODIST

CHURCH CONNECTION

Farrar United Methodist Church

11180 NE 134th Avenue

Maxwell, Iowa 50161

515.387.8783

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://farrarumc.org

WORSHIP & SUNDAY SCHOOL @ 9:00

Mingo United Methodist Church

202 W. Main St., PO Box 9

Mingo, IA 50168

641.363.4229

Children’s Sunday School @ 9:30

Adult Sunday School @ 9:45 am

WORSHIP @ 10:45 am

February 2015

Iowa United Methodist: ▪ www.iaumc.org

Who Are You Really?

When St. Paul encountered some new Christians during his sojourn in Ephesus, Greece, he inquired as whether they had received the Holy Spirit when they became believers? Their now famous answer was that they never even heard that there was a Holy Spirit! (See Acts 19:1-6).

We cannot use the same excuse today because indeed we at least have heard that there be a Holy Spirit. However, there is a similar question that may be asked even today: What, don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit? That’s right; do you know that your body, your b-o-d-y, is the residence of God’s Holy Spirit? That is the question that St. Paul asks in his first epistle (letter/book) to the Christians in Corinth (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). The significance of his question is that because our bodies indeed are the temple of God’s Holy Spirit, we should not in any way defile that Temple (our body)! We are charged with taking the very best care of the residence of God’s Holy Spirit!

“Paul uses the words ‘You should know’ ten times in this letter, and only once in other letters (Romans 6:16). The Christians at Corinth were very proud about their ‘knowledge’. But they had not really understood the nature of the Christian church.

There were many temples in Corinth. They all had idols but none of them contained a real god. The Christians in Corinth had God among them by means of [H]is Holy Spirit. Therefore they were like a temple. Because there is only one God, there was only one true temple in Corinth. The spiritual temple of Christians existed to show that the only real God is holy. But the bad behavior of the Christians at Corinth was stopping the work of the Holy Spirit. Their jealous quarrels were destroying God’s work. The Christian church was becoming like a weak building. God would punish those who were destroying [H]is church. Paul does not say how God would punish them. But he is probably thinking about the day of judgment.”

I still like my slant because it harmonizes with St. Paul’s later reference in chapter 6, verses 19-20 of this same 1st Corinthian epistle:

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, …, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price [Jesus’s death on the Cross]; therefore glorify God in your body.

Wow! If it does not glorify God, don’t do it!!”

- Pastor Curtis

MINGO’S JANUARY CHURCH BOARD REPORT

The Administrative Board met at the church on January 21, 2014 at 7:00 pm with Bob Leonard, Luanne Heffelfinger, Janice Gregerson, Mildred Borts, Carol Kimberley, Marilyn and Bob Matthews, Lowell Halfhill and Pastor Curtis DeVance present.

The meeting was led by Chairperson Bob Leonard and began with a prayer given by Pastor Curtis. Janice moved to accept last month's secretarial report as was printed in the newsletter. Motion was seconded by Carol and passed.

Treasurer Luanne presented the financial report for approval which showed $10208.09 in the account on December 1. Deposits for the month were $6195.00. Expenses were $6171.53 plus a payment of $200.00 for a deposit on note and $1341.65 to pay off note at the bank. This left a balance of $8689.91 in the account on December 31. Bob Matthews seconded Luanne's request for approval of the report. Approval given. Luanne also passed around a financial summary for the past year.

Carol reported on finding a replacement for a Church School Treasurer and told that Janet Beem is willing to take that position if approved by our board. Carol then moved that Janet be given this position. Motion was seconded by Bob Matthews. Motion passed.

A thank you card from Mike and Jolene Brady thanking us for our love and support was passed around for all to read.

Bob Leonard told that he had filed the biennial report of the church to the Iowa Secretary of State.

Pastor Curtis reported that he will be on vacation February 13th through the 18th and that Scott Green of Newton who provides a ministry called "Last of These" will be our speaker on February 15.

Carol moved that our local mission giving for the month in the amount of $50.00 be sent to Bidwell Riverside in Des Moines. Motion was seconded by Marilyn and passed. Bob Matthews moved that the meeting be adjourned. Motion was seconded by Janice and passed. All joined hands and prayed "The Lord's Prayer" together in closing.

Mildred Borts, Recording Secretary

Farrar-Mingo 2014-15 Confirmation Class Schedule

Mark you calendar with the remaining Confirmation classes, held in the Mingo Adult Sunday School classroom. Sundays from 12:15 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

February 8 & 22

March 8 & 22

April 12

May 3 — Confirmation Sunday

Beautiful jewelry for sale! The women of Mingo’s Uganda pen-pal church have asked us to help them. They sent us necklaces, wrap bracelets and earrings they have handmade. There is a beautiful range of colors and styles. Necklaces are $15, bracelets are $10 and earrings are $5. This helps the women become more self-sufficient and earn a living. We will have these available for a few months, so think about Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Graduation Day, birthdays, or "just because I love you" days for the women in your life.

Contact Jeri or Jolene at Mingo if you are

interested.

Ready or not, it's time to start planning our 2015 Vacation Bible School! If you're

interested in helping out this year, come enjoy lunch with us at the Sunday School

Valentine Party downstairs in Fellowship Hall after Children's Time (just after 11

a.m.). We'll eat some pizza and discuss various VBS theme kits and information

while the kids enjoy their movie & Valentine goodies. If you aren't able to make it to

this first planning meeting but would like to be included in the planning stages,

please let one of the VBS team members know: Farrar = Shonda Hay, Jenny Heydon, or Denise Fick

Mingo = Tawnya Vry, Janet Beem, Kent & Dawn McKee, Lori Pease, Jeri

Heffelfinger, or Mike & Jolene Brady

Mingo Sunday School Pizza & Movie Valentine Party

Mark your calendars now for our special party on Sunday, February 8th ~ we’ll watch a movie, eat pizza, plus enjoy some special Valentines! The party begins downstairs after Children’s Time.

FARRAR UMC BOARD MEETING MINUTES—JANUARY 2015

The Jan. 14th, 2015 church board meeting was called to order by Mike Murphy at 7:00 PM. Those present were Pastor

Curtis, Mike M, Warren N, Ed C, Norm Mc, Denise F, Chris H, Betty B, and Cindy L. Pastor opened the meeting with

prayer. Mike passed out copies of the Farrar Church bank accounts, locations and amounts. Betty read the minutes of

the Dec. meeting. Ed moved to approve the minutes as read with Chris seconding. Motion carried. In the absence of

Fred, Mike distributed copies of the Dec. treasurer’s report as follows:

Balance Carried Forward Dec.1, 2014 $20,266.04 Deposits $9,252.00 Total Bal. + Deposits $29,518.04 Disbursed $3,748.24 Bal. on Hand Jan. 01, 15 $25,769.80 Betty moved and Ed seconded to approve the report as presented. Motion carried. Pastor Curtis reported that he will be on vacation Feb. 12th thru 19th. Scott Green from Newton will be the replacement

pastor for the Sunday he is gone. In case of emergency while he is gone, contact Ed Craig for information on who is

covering for him. He distributed copies of listings of the special offerings the United Methodist Church takes during the

year, Rainbow Covenant criteria, and Duties for Ushers in our church. A couple of suggestions were made to be added

to the duties. Denise will make a new copy and distribute. A copy will be at the back of the church also.

Ed and Norm reported on the Parsonage Committee. The bank account is at the Colfax Bank titled “Mingo-Farrar

Account”. Monthly statements of the account will be provided to Farrar in the future. Any money generated by the

parsonage will remain in this account as of now. Taxes have been paid twice a year for an annual amount of $2,406.

Denise reported that she purchased a new copy machine for the church basement for $100 with Ink costing $100.

Denise and Cindy request that you have them show you how best to operate the machine the first time you need to use

it or get a lesson in case you plan to use it. Thanks to Denise and Cindy for getting the newsletter out for January. The

deadline to get articles or announcements in the newsletter is the 3rd Friday of the month.

Warren reported on the Church on Church Committee. Topics discussed at the Jan. 4th meeting were directory

updates, care pkgs. for military personnel, visitor’s Sunday, Bible study groups, church membership Sunday,

information/technology issues, calendar, copy machine, bazaar, and Bondurant Living Magazine. Next meeting is Feb.

1 after church. All those interested in moving the mission of the church forward, try to attend.

Norm has checked on prices to copy update pages for the directory, but printing on slick paper is expensive.

The Wedding Policy needs to be updated to inform people that the projector and screen may be used if desired. After

discussion, Betty moved that anyone wanting to get married in the Farrar Church has to use the current pastor of the

church and be receptive to counseling from our pastor. Motion carried.

Visitor’s Sunday is Jan. 18th. Denise is in charge of gifts and booklets for visitors. She has been working on a

pamphlet also.

It costs as much or more than the value of the Christmas boxes we filled this year to have them mailed to the Billy

Graham project. Shonda has suggested that we continue with the boxes, but deliver them to a local charity. This was

agreed on by consensus.

Warren moved and Pastor Curtis second to accept the slate of officers and committee assignments submitted by the

Nominations Committee. Motion carried.

If anyone is interested in church membership, please direct your inquiries to Pastor Curtis.

By consensus we agreed to send the local mission giving to Bob Moreland. Warren moved and Ed seconded to

adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. We closed by praying the Lord’s Prayer. Thanks to Denise for bringing cookies

and making coffee.

Betty Byers, Recording Secretary

ELECTROIC VS. HARD COPY—For many of us,

we’re finding ourselves in an ever-increasingly

electronic world. Would you prefer to receive your copy of the Farrar/Mingo newsletter via email versus regular mail? We’ve had a few members tell us they prefer viewing their newsletter electronically, on their computer or electronic device. If this is for you, please email Denise—[email protected] . And if not, no worries. We’re not about to give up sending out a hard-copy in the mail. REMINDER: Send your monthly newsletter

information/announcements to Denise –[email protected]—no later

than the third Friday of each month. Your timeliness and cooperation in meeting the due date—helps to ensure our newsletter team has the necessary time needed to produce and send out to our members by the first of each month.

Pastor Curtis Vacation: Feb. 13 - 18

Pulpit Supply, Sunday Feb. 15th: Scott Greene of Newton St. Luke UMC and Least of These Ministry

Clergy Emergency Coverage:

Rev. RD Streeter (Pastor, Colfax UMC)

(Cell) 515-418-3931

Farrar Problem Resolution: Ed Craig, Lay Leader

(Cell) 515-238-2751, and/or Mike Murphy, Board Chair (H) 515-967-0501

Mingo Problem Resolution: Lowell Halfhill, Lay Leader (H) 641-363-4349; (W) 641-363-4516

Our January meeting started by watching music videos and discussing our time with Bidwell. We all felt it was a good experience. Our lesson was on prayer and how God answers all prayers. It may not be the answer we want or in the time frame we want. We also talked about how prayer isn't all about asking for stuff, but thanking God and asking for forgiveness. To explain further we watched a couple of clips. We discussed our next meetings and how March is always a busy month for us. We are planning on going to Faith and Family Night at the Iowa Energy and going to the movie Do You Believe along with having our normal meeting. We ended the meeting with a few games and then our usual Joys and Concerns and Prayer Circle.

Our next meeting will be Sat. Feb. 14 at 3:30 in the upper YF room at the Mingo Church. RUSH is open to kids grades 7-12.

The Farrar UMC Communications & Technology team has been working to improve and

update our communication methods and use of technology in the church and with their

members. We’ve appreciated all of your feedback and look forward to hearing more

about how we can continue to improve.

Projector & screen: Installed in the sanctuary for use during worship to display responsive

readings, hymns, announcements, and more! The feedback has been very positive!

Text Messaging: Members were asked to sign up to receive timely information regarding

committees, all-church, Sunday school, and other targeted updates on their cell phone.

This new use of communication has been well received and is proving to be very helpful for

those last minute reminders and announcements.

Website: Earlier in 2014, we introduced our new website—http://farrarumc.org. This has been

a nice addition to our span of communications and provides a great way to share our

church’s happenings with others. An electronic copy of the monthly newsletter can also be

accessed on the site. Recently, a couple of our members , wintering in the south, shared

how much they appreciated the online newsletter copy so that they keep up on what was

happening while they were away.

Social Media: In an effort to reach an even wider audience, the team started a Facebook

page—Farrar United Methodist Church.

Our team invites you to visit our Facebook page and website today! If you have questions

or feedback, please send it to farrarumc.org — Thanks!

Michael & Lowell Halfhill would like to invite you to view Michael’s

sermons, online via YouTube. Search for “Piedmont Park Church”.

for your children’s

electronic devices! Scripture is built into the content, so your children can

interact with it from within the context of the Bible. App includes profiles of

people of the Bible, places and artifacts from the Bible, as well as providing

Biblical answers to questions that are common to kids. Interactive games too!

Farrar’s Annual

Sweetheart Soup

Supper

Sunday, February 8th @ 5-7

2015 Farrar UMC Ingathering Items Thank you to everyone who contributed time, materials and money for the 2014 Ingathering. We hope you will join us for our 2015 Ingathering—we appreciate your support! FEBRUARY

1 new wash cloth & hand towel

(15”x25’”to 17”x27”)

MARCH

1 new toothbrush in

original wrapper-adult size

APRIL

1 bath size bar of soap

(in wrapper 3 oz. size or larger)

MAY 1 large sturdy comb (not pocket size)

JUNE

1 finger nail clipper with nail file

JULY

6 band aids (3/4”)

“Thank you for your kind expressions of care and

sympathy during Ken’s illness & death.

They will never be forgotten.” - Donna Beals

OUR UGANDA CONNECTION—Mingo UMC

Letters from Florence & Our Sister Church

Florence has sent several emails to us over the holidays -- here are 2 recent messages. The Mingo SS, youth and church congregation gathered together $130 to send to her, Pastor Perezi and the church/school children as a Christmas gift. With this gift, they were able to purchase chicken, fruits and vegetables to accompany their rice meal on Christmas day. This was a wonderful treat and they were so grateful because they had never received a gift like that EVER BEFORE! We also sent a donation of $65 as a Christmas gift to Florence herself, with the stipulation that she had to spend it on herself (because we felt she would not do that without our specific request). We were also able to send the first proceeds of the women's holiday jewelry sales ($265) along with the same wire transfer. They were flabbergasted and so happy. Thank you to everyone who has helped (& continues) to support our dear friends! We are truly making a difference in their lives in so many ways! Mike & Jolene Brady

Dec. 21, 2014

My Dear Ones,

Oh my, indeed this is a big surprise to me!! What a wonderful Christmas surprise!! Thank you very very much for loving and thinking about us dear!!

Special thanks to the children for their love and care towards me!! This is a very big blessing to me!! I do not remember when I last rewarded myself during such a period of time! My heart always goes out to bring joy to someone else, am glad that this time I will do it for myself! My heart overflows with joy and excitement for your generosity. You all are such a great blessing to me. May God richly bless and prosper you. May He enlarge your territories and give you peace. May the Lord always meet you at the point of your need. As the Bible says that ''a soul that refreshes shall be refreshed'', May He refresh you thus!!

We are so excited about how God understands and meets us at the point of our need!! My darling, I was not able to complete the payments of teachers' salaries!! I have been looking to God to put for me a way out! I can't imagine how God works out issues. He is Our great Jehovah Jireh!! Continued...

It is amazing, to see how much you have gathered from the jewelry so far!! If we were able to sell them thus here, we could have to set up a big business as ladies here! Our God is wonderful!! I am overwhelmed with joy.....here I shout out to God for Joy....''HALLELLUJAH TO THE AWESOME GOD..............!!'' I pray that if it be God's will, we shall meet while here on on planet earth, and we shall have big hugs........... praise the Lord!! SEKUKULU EYESANYU [Merry Christmas] TO YOU, THE ENTIRE FAMILY AND THE CHURCH IN IOWA. Love to you all. Florence. January 5, 2015—Best wishes and love for the new year to you and our Iowa church family!! We always start the year with some devotion time of prayer and fasting. We usually hold it between the ending week of December through January!! This season the vote fell on me to be the one leading prayers during last week! This has kept me busy through the week. We come together from 9:00am for devotional time up to 1 or 2 pm according to the days guidance, then we praise and worship, share the word and we pray for various prayer request up to 4:30pm. A few of us at a time!! Your Christmas gift came through so well, we received the money, we had a glorious festival time!! I invited some friends for our Christmas meal. I used part of my Christmas gift money to pay the balance of the teachers' salaries. We hope to use part of the money on the church building. We are highly grateful to all of you!! The ladies are thankful and so excited about their jewelry income, it is unbelievable to them!! Brother John from Nairobi returned home this time with our tool for making bricks. We hope to start off with the work as soon as we get the materials for making the bricks. Just keep us in your prayers!! We are told that for the type of bricks we need, it consumes a lot of cement. BUT, we are confident, we are building the most high God a place from where His name will be called upon, HE IS JEHOVAH JEHIREH....... HE WILL PROVIDE FOR THE WORK IN JESUS' NAME AMEN!!!!!!!!! I love you and pray that the Lord blesses and prospers you, the church family and the works of your hands!! During our prayer and fasting time, we are praying for your family, the Io-wa church and friends prayer requests, I wish to pray for them during this special season of prayer. The many wars we experienced in Uganda trained us to pray for long hours, we do not feel it tiresome to pray for so long, we only enjoy it. It is such a refreshing moment in the Lord, we pray, read the Word, get a quiet time before God, meditate, praise worship share the Word, testimonies, revelations, etc. Time flies when you don't know!! Our people are not good time keepers, some come late!! LOVE AND PRAYERS FOR ALL OF YOU!!! - - Florence LOVE AND PRAYERS FOR ALL OF YOU!!

Local C

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Big Daddy Weave & Jason Gray February 13, 2015 Lutheran Church of Hope 925 Jordan Creek Parkway West Des Moines, IA 50266 Cost: $23.10, $28.25 or $38.55 ...for $15.00 more you will receive the VIP Package: EARLY ENTRY, Q&A WITH ARTISTS, TOUR LANYARD and MORE! More info: visit www.life1071.com

A.C.T.S. Network Church's Annual Joint Worship Services Guest Speaker, Don Piper "90 Minutes in Heaven" Sunday, February 15, 2015 Norwalk Performing Arts Auditorium Norwalk, IA Childcare for preschoolers and under & children's program for K-2nd graders will be offered during both services. For more information, contact: Rev. Kiboko I. Kiboko 515-981-4251 Email: [email protected] Don Piper’s first book, 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death and Life, remained on the New York Times best-seller list for nearly four years. Following his radio and television broadcasting career, Don pursued a calling that he had had on his life since adolescence and became an ordained Christian minister. During his service as a pastor, in fact on his way to church, Don Piper was killed in a horrific car crash in 1989. A pastor who was on that lonely highway behind him, felt called by God to pray over Don's dead body and did so for ninety minutes. Others who were told of the accident, but not of Don's death, also prayed. After an hour and a half, as the pastor prayed over Don's lifeless body, Don began to sing a song! Don Piper returned from the gates of Heaven to endure 13 excruciating months of hospitalization, 34 major surgeries, including some never before attempted in the United States, and years of painful therapy and rehabilitation. He now shares his incredible lessons of answered prayer, miracles, overcoming tragedy, pain and loss, and the reality of Heaven.

A Night of Gospel Centered Worship w/ Meredith Andrews March 5, 2015 7:00 - 8:30 pm Cost: $15 First Church of the Open Bible 2200 Beaver Ave Des Moines Proceeds will benefit Freedom for Youth, a Des Moines ministry for at risk youth! More info: visit www.life1071.com

Chris Tomlin March 31, 2015 Wells Fargo Arena Des Moines Cost: $42.75 or $31 ( plus fee )...for $22.75 more you will receive the VIP Package: Meet & Greet and your picture w/ Chris Tomlin More info: visit www.life1071.com —> Christian concerts and activities are coming to the Des Moines area. The Youth are invited to attend these concerts. The Youth fund will help cover the costs to attend these events. If the YF group is not able to officially attend as a group, the youth may still attend with a parent. -- just let us know!

Documents

Farrar/Mingo Methodist Church Connection