Vol. 0205

We Are Not Alone In Our Struggles How Are You?

Life Line Screening, a leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, is pleased to offer a preventive health event at Wesley United Methodist Church on 2/6/2018. Five screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems related to: blocked arteries which is a leading cause of stroke; abdominal aortic aneurysms which can lead to a ruptured aorta; hardening of the arteries in the legs which is a strong predictor of heart disease; atrial fibrillation or irregular heart beat which is closely tied to stroke risk; and a bone density screening, for men and women, used to assess the risk of osteoporosis. Register for a Wellness Package which includes 4 vascular tests and osteoporosis screening from $149 ($139 with our member discount). All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete. There are three ways to register for this event and to receive a $10 discount off any package priced above $129, please call toll-free 1-888-653-6441 or visit http://lifelinescreening.com/communitycircle or text the word circle to 797979.

The Church at the Heart of the City

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Life Line Screening Wesley Hosting Health Screenings January 2018

Stuffed Zucchini (Koosa Mehshee)

8 Zucchini (no more than 6” long) 1 C. Rice Stuffing 6 C. Water 1/2 C. Tomato Paste 4 Cloves Garlic, Mashed 1 Tsp. Dried Mint Pepper to Taste Core zucchini, leaving 1/4 inch walls, rinse in cold water and drain. Fill the zucchini with the rice stuffing about three-quarters full. Mix together the water with the remaining ingredients. Bring to boil and make a thick tomato paste. Drop the stuffed zucchini in the boiling sauce and cook for 30 minutes over medium heat. Gently move the zucchini to a serving plater and the liquid into a soup dish. Enjoy!

- Wadad Ailabouni

Worship at Wesley

9:00 am Sunday Worship Childcare provided

10:00am Fellowship Hour 10:30 am Sunday School

(September-May)

Office Hours: Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 12:30 pm

Pastor Lourdes Magalhaes Hablo Eapañol/ Falo Português

205 E. 3rd Street, Marshfield, WI 54449 wumc@solarus.net l www.wumcmfld.org

715.384.2292

“Like” Wesley on Facebook at:

www.facebook.com/wumcmfld

Opportunity to Serve!

Want to be a volunteer at Wesley UMC? Please let the office know and we can get you plugged in! God Bless your initiative!

How is everything? “Everything is fine!” These are common phrases among people, exchanging daily greetings.

Nevertheless, how many times do we have to lie to ourselves and to others when we say that things are fine when in reality our world is falling apart.

Heath vs. Illness Money vs. Work

Affection vs. Family Those are the areas everybody struggles with, no matter of what age, sex, social class, style of dressing, how you speak, what car you drive, your intellect—not much goes beyond these in life.

Despite of everything going well, for me, there is a sign of sadness in my heart and I do not know why.

What choices do I make that can help me to improve so I can be completely happy and keep at peace or keep me the same as years go by.

What is missing in my life that leads me to destructive choices instead of healthy choices?

As Christians, we believe in the Bible truths to help us to a happier, more meaningful life as we move on our journey to the New Year.

Yes, spiritual life is an answer to many of our struggles. The point is how am I developing my relationship with God?

These are the things we normally check : * Exercise Prayer * Read the Bible * Attend church services regularly *Help the poor *Tithe * Listen to Christian music *Volunteer to many social projects * Do no harm

I have to tell you one thing my dear friend, you can do everything religion asks for and yet not have Jesus in your heart. God’s plan for the world is to have a relationship with us. That was the Lord expectation had when he created paradise; to have a daily relationship with you.

You can develop it this new year with us. Alone we may get discouraged to continue, but when we have someone helping us, we achieve much more and life makes sense in a much more positive way. So I invite you to follow the pattern and if you are not attending any church, we would love to be able to coach you to develop a close relationship with God. (continued inside)

How Are You?

- Sunday School for all ages, will dive into a new quarter Sunday, January

7th at 10:15 am. - The kids are going through a series called “Deep Blue” which is an

interactive study that includes lots of colorful posters, learning sheets and multimedia.

- The youth are working their way through a series that includes an “Anti-Workbook” as they learn about ordinary people in Biblical history who did extraordinary things.

- Additionally, confirmation classes will begin in this month on Thursday evenings from 6-7pm. Sixth graders on up are invited to journey through an excellent program designed to engage youth in a way that not only teaches them about Christianity, but engages and encourages them in a way that helps them grow in their faith in personal and practical ways.

- Youth (and all ages!) are also invited to sing in our Wesley choir. For Christmas several of our youth participated in the service and it was wonderful!

Wesley Happenings

Monthly Mission Never Forgotten Honor Flight

All Youth Are Invited …Continued

Collage of Last Quarter A Season of Hope

Never Forgotten Honor Flight is an amazing

organization that flies veterans to Washington

D.C. to see the memorials that stand in their

honor.

The organization is based in Wausau, Wisconsin

and was formed in November of 2009. They are

an affiliate of the national Honor Flight Network

group. There are now 131 “hubs” or cities from

which flights originate in 45 of our States.

The Honor Flights receive no government

funding and are supported by private and

commercial donors as well as donations from

many other sources.

Volunteers organize everything for the

veterans— arranging the travel to and from

Washington and arranging all transportation

activities and meals while the veterans are in

Washington, D. C. - there are no paid staff

members.

Total number of veterans on waiting lists in USA:

27,272.

I suggest you try it and after a while you will see improvement in your whole life. This is free and it is God’s grace offered just to you. All are welcome. 1. You are loved. Never forget that. You might feel alone and forgotten, but God is with you and He loves you more than you can imagine. We often don’t see things clearly when we’re in pain, but never lose sight of this fact: You are loved. - “I have loved you with an everlasting love” Jeremiah 31:3 2. You are not defined by your failures. Don’t believe the lie that your identity is wrapped up in your failures. God says you are a Masterpiece! “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 3. This isn’t the end of your story. Never mistake the end of a chapter with the end of the story. God has promised to work every detail of your life together in a beautiful way. He’s looking at your life with an eternal perspective, so He sees the big picture. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 4. Keep an attitude of gratitude. We can’t always control what happens to us, but we can always control how we choose to respond. In those moments when I choose to keep a positive attitude and thankful heart regardless of what you’re going through. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 5. God’s plans for your life are even better than your own plans. God’s plans are almost always different from our plans, but His plans are always perfect! If things in your life aren’t working out like you had hoped, it may be because God is trying to redirect you towards a much better plan. “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 6. God will never leave your side. He will be by your side to the end so never lose hope! “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 7. Keep going. Don’t quit. You’ll get through this. “And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” Hebrews 12:1-2

- Rev. Lourdes Magalhães

7

Wesley Kids Zone These are questions that were handed

out at a New Year’s party I attended with

friends. I wanted to share them with

others as I found them really helpful for

processing what this last year held for me

and what I want to aim for in the 2018

New Year:

1. What were the memorable events of

this year that captured your attention. In

your home and family? In your vocation?

In your community?

2. Who were the significant people in

your life?

3. What sources instructed or challenged

your heart and mind?

4. Did you have recurring questions you

struggled with during the year? What

were they? Any answers? What questions

are you still facing in this new year?

5. In what areas of your life did you

grow? Were these areas related to your joy or your pain?

6. What are your regrets? How would you do things differently? What did you learn?

7. What service did you give to others which was the most meaningful? Receive from others?

8. What do you feel is the message of the year? What do you think God might be saying to you?

9. Do you have a verse, an imagine, a word, or a poem to guide you into the new year?

10. What is it you wish? How would you answer Jesus' question to you, "What are you looking for?" (John 1:38)

and also "What do you want me to do for you?" (Like 18:41)

— Emily Windheuser

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