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The Key Newsletter
July 2017 Volume 4 Issue 7
Sunday WorshipSunday WorshipSunday WorshipSunday Worship Emmanuel UMC Worship 9:00 a.m.
First UMC Worship 10:30 a.m.
First & Emmanuel United Methodist Churches 408 11th Street Worthington, Minnesota 56187 Phone: (507) 372-2939
Inside this issue... From the Pastor 2 July Calendar 6-7
July Worship Themes
3 June Highlight Reel Better Together Event, Breakfasts
8-9
Church Softball, Love Inc.
4 Birthdays & Anniversaries, Care Center Info
10
Israel Trip, Bible Study
5
July Calendar of Volunteers , Youth group info
11
Church office email: [email protected]
www.firstumcworthington.com
Sign up sheets are in the Narthex for The Banquet.
he July 4th celebrations we participated in my home town were always filled with celebration and wonder. The nearby community of Coleraine always had a 4th
of July parade, with a carnival occupying the playground. City Band concerts filled the afternoon with patriotic music. The air was permeated with the aroma of grilling hot dogs and hamburgers. We would see our classmates that we hadn’t seen in what - five weeks? Later that night, the fireworks display was set off from the peninsula overlooking Trout Lake and we’d watch and ooh and aah as the day came to a spectacular close. It was just a unique time to celebrate what it meant to be an American.
I wonder how we are doing with what it means to be an American to-day. This time is also a unique time in our nation’s history and we are experiencing things we have not seen or heard of - ever. It’s tough sometimes, I admit. I know that being an American means so many things to so many people. It’s a noble thing - to be an American. But it is only noble when at the core of the identity, when the payers of patri-otism are stripped away, when the red, white and blue banners begin to fade, the only thing that means anything is who we are in Christ.
I really believe that is what it means to be an American… to be a fol-lower - a disciple - of Jesus. You can tell me that the Constitution guarantees us freedom of religion and not everyone needs to be a Christian. You can tell me that it’s a protected right for others to wor-ship whatever they desire, even if the object of that worship is not God. You can tell me these things, but I also have the right to disagree with those perspectives. I believe the founders of this nation would be ap-palled at those notions. Faith was so important to them. Belief in God was so important to them. It amazes me that we’ve strayed so far from that perspective (of course, assuming that it is true). Nonetheless, I hope that your 4th of July will be a time filled with celebration and
wonder - and faith. Faith in God.
Blessings to you!
Rev. Dr. Daren Flinck
July 2017 The Key - page 2
Sunday, July 23 7th Sunday after Pentecost
“The Golden Ticket”“The Golden Ticket”“The Golden Ticket”“The Golden Ticket”
“Everybody has the opportunity to cash in on the golden ticket of everlasting life!”
- based on Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43
Sunday, July 30 8th Sunday after Pentecost
Rev. Kristi Franken, preaching
“Everything Happens “Everything Happens “Everything Happens “Everything Happens for a Reason”for a Reason”for a Reason”for a Reason”
“To your knowledge is this a biblical Statement “Everything Happens for a
Reason” or is it just a half truth of life?” - based on
Deuteronomy 30:19-28
July 2017 The Key - page 3
“Worship the Lord with gladness...” - Psalm 100:2a
July Worship: “Come and worship the Lord!”
Sunday, July 2 4th Sunday after Pentecost
Rev. Richard Ricker, preaching
“How We Welcome”“How We Welcome”“How We Welcome”“How We Welcome”
“How well do we welcome others in Jesus’ name?”
- based on Matthew 10:40-42
Sunday, July 9 5th Sunday after Pentecost
Holy Communion
“Puzzles of Life”“Puzzles of Life”“Puzzles of Life”“Puzzles of Life”
“Paul offers an answer to the puzzle of why do we do what we don’t want to do.”
- based on Romans 7:15-25a
Sunday, July 16 6th Sunday after Pentecost
“Text: Message”“Text: Message”“Text: Message”“Text: Message”
“Communication breakdowns are not so healthy when we are trying to create an up-
link with the Lord”
- based on Psalm 119:105-112
First United Methodist Church StaffFirst United Methodist Church StaffFirst United Methodist Church StaffFirst United Methodist Church Staff
PastorPastorPastorPastor: Rev. Dr. Daren Flinck Office ManagerOffice ManagerOffice ManagerOffice Manager: Susan Noerenberg Custodian: Custodian: Custodian: Custodian: Sarah & Chad Nickel
Office: (507) 372-2939 Fax: (507) 372-2404 Address: 408 11th Street, P.O. Box 668, Worthington, MN 56187
[email protected] www.firstumcworthington.com
HS Youth Director: HS Youth Director: HS Youth Director: HS Youth Director: Sandi Mead MS Youth Director: MS Youth Director: MS Youth Director: MS Youth Director: Lisa Gerdes
July 2017 The Key - page 4
Love Inc. Items Needed:Love Inc. Items Needed:Love Inc. Items Needed:Love Inc. Items Needed: � Office volunteers are needed both for receptionist and for Clearinghouse for about 3 hours a week - training is provided. We’d love to have you join us!
� Window AC Units , � Fans (box, standing, whatever)
July 2017 The Key - page 5
Invitation to Travel to the Holy Land:Invitation to Travel to the Holy Land:Invitation to Travel to the Holy Land:Invitation to Travel to the Holy Land: Imagine walking where Jesus and his disciples walked along the shore of Galilee. Picture yourself standing across from the Tem-ple Mount in Jerusalem, preparing to walk into the city. Think of it - Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found; Masada, the ancient stronghold above the Dead Sea; Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. Perhaps walking into the city of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday has only been a dream… until now. Tour host Vicki Tiede (daughter of Gary and Sally Hibma) is inviting us to join her on a learning trip to Israel in March 16-27, 2018. Sally has travelled with Vicki on a similar tour and would love to give you a first hand account of what this trip might mean to your faith journey. Pas-tor Daren and Nancy Flinck have also been to the Holy Land and are looking forward to returning.
Are you interested? Sally or Gary Hibma or Pastor Daren for more details. There is still plenty of time to register for this once in a lifetime opportunity. So far we have seven people (Gary & Sally Hibma, Pastor Daren & Nancy Flinck, Ryan & Naomi Hill, Erin Lo-renz) who have registered with several others who are still think-ing about it - the window for paying for the trip is no later than December 1st. We are trying to get people registered by August 31. Think about it - pray about it - find out about it.
Summer Bible Study Series @ First:Summer Bible Study Series @ First:Summer Bible Study Series @ First:Summer Bible Study Series @ First: Join us for an exciting look at the story of the Mission of Je-sus. Beginning on Sunday, July 9th at 5:30 pm at First UMC, this five week series will look at the various locations and meaning of the mission of Jesus. It’s easy to think of the Bible as a collection of short stories, but each one makes up a greater story – one sto-ry of a God who created the universe and entrusted it to His hu-man partners to care for it. They were unfaithful, and it fell back into chaos and sin. But God didn’t give up on His creation. He decided to redeem it, preparing the way through His covenant with Israel and finally by sending His son, Jesus, to become the cornerstone of it all through His life, death, resurrection, and as-cension. What would this mean for a people oppressed by the Roman Empire, and what does it mean for believers today? Join us as we follow the rabbi through the world of Jesus, hiking through the Galilee region, exploring the ruins of Rome, and kneeling on the stones of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem as you discover how the gospel of Jesus confronts the gospel of Imperial Rome. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCyL2Opv8GI
July 2017 The Key - page 8
Celebrations: Our VBS this year had almost 30 kids participating, having a great time - hats off to Lisa and all of the volunteers for their fantastic efforts. Chad Nickel has passed his boiler’s license for the custodial position. We host-ed the Oromo Evangelical Church yearly conference in June. The sanc-tuary, fireside, library, offices, and nursery carpets have been profes-sionally cleaned. The Foundation board celebrates having a new mem-ber in Kari Meyer - great to have Kari aboard! Our church softball team is undefeated at 5-0 this year (but it’s early yet). The front sidewalk has been caulked and sealed and some concrete repair will take place later this summer. All of our air conditioning units are working at this time! Yay!
Challenges: We are missing two of the new regular season banners for the sanctu-ary - if anyone knows where they are please contact the office. The Friday women’s coffee group isn’t going as well as hoped - not very many are participating (two or three each time). We will continue to have this event through July and perhaps evaluate its continued effec-tiveness. We still have roof leaks in various locations (no surprise to anyone). The trustees are aware of it and are going to meet this sum-mer and try to outline the church’s upcoming major expenses (replacements for roof, boiler, air conditioning, and parsonage roof).
Current Focus: We are working on replacing the education wing doors on the north and south end in hopes of making the church more secure and weather ef-fective (about $10,000 which the trustees will take care of out of their funds). In addition, the carpeting will be replaced in the chapel at some near future date (again, the trustees have the needed funds). The bushes will be trimmed in the front of the church. This summer, Pastor Daren will be on vacation on Sunday, July 2nd (Rev. Richard Rickert, retired pastor from First Lutheran Church here in Worthington, will be preaching on that day) and on Sunday, August 27th (former pastor Gor-don Orde will be in the house that day!) The missions team is hosting the Taco Salad lunch on Sunday, June 25th to raise funding for the Ban-quet and other mission outlets. We are serving at the Banquet on Thursday, July 20th at 5:15 pm - sign up sheets are available. Scott Belz will be driving the bus this year - foot shoes and all! The finance team is planning a stewardship campaign for this fall.
Here are the highlights from the Covenant Council meeting,
held on Thursday, June 15, 2017:
July 2017 The Key - page 9
The missions team also sent monies for project ag-grad and our cove-nant missionaries the Groves - who we hope will be here at First Church in latter November - early December. We are also encouraging persons to sign up for Better Together food drive July 25th - contact Jeanette McCormick at First Lutheran Church to volunteer ([email protected] or call 376-6148) - no donations are being sought, just volunteers to help pack food (which will remain local).
Cutting Edge Issues: Item #1: Planning for the Future First Church is sponsoring a workshop for looking at the future on Satur-day, June 17th at 9:00 a.m. - looking at where we’ve been, how we are doing, what we are planning for next year, and what we might do differ-ently. Everyone is invited to come and share their perspective.
Item #2: 2017 Current Financial Picture We looked at the figures on our financial progress. We remain behind in our apportionment payments (owing still for May), but we do believe we will be able to make an apportionment payment this month, meaning we will only be 1 month behind! Yahoo! Thank you to everyone for your faithful giving! The next council meeting is set for Church Meeting Night, Thursday, July 27th at 6:30 p.m. (because of the Banquet volunteer mission).
Respectfully Submitted,
Rev. Dr. Daren Flinck
Better Together Event:Better Together Event:Better Together Event:Better Together Event: The “Better Together” program is a community program designed to ending hunger, enriching lives. The program set-up is similar to “Feed My Starving Children” but is done through “Outreach, Inc.” What will happen: prior to each shift, people from various culture(s) will present some educational aspect about their culture (5-10 minutes). The partici-pants will package meals of four different types: macaroni and cheese, pasta, rice and beans and oatmeal. This event will take place on July 25th at the American Reformed Church with the following shifts availa-ble: Set-up 12:00-1:30; 1st Shift: 1:30-3:30; 2nd Shift: 3:30-5:30; 3rd Shift: 5:30-7:30; Cleanup 7:30-8:30. For more information please go to http://outreachprogram.org.
Men's & Women’s Breakfast Group:Men's & Women’s Breakfast Group:Men's & Women’s Breakfast Group:Men's & Women’s Breakfast Group: All guys are invited to come to breakfast every Wednesday at the Blue Line Café at 7:00 am & all gals are invited to come to breakfast every Friday at Hy-Vee at 9:00 am... start your midweek day with a dutch treat of good food and great fellowship!
July 2017 The Key - page 10
Happy Birthday!
Happy Anniversary! 11 11 11 11 Justin & Charity Steinle 28 28 28 28 John & Pamela Soderholm
15 15 15 15 Christopher & Charisse Hill 29 29 29 29 Eldon & Susan Bents
21 21 21 21 Michael & Janelle Johnson 31 31 31 31 Jim & Iris Pierce
Emmanuel 17Emmanuel 17Emmanuel 17Emmanuel 17 Melvin & Margaret Janssen
Prayer ChainPrayer ChainPrayer ChainPrayer Chain Please send requests to our email or phone prayer chain:
[email prayer chain] [email prayer chain] [email prayer chain] [email prayer chain] Bob & Judy Emary [email protected] or (507) 376-6895
[phone prayer chain] [phone prayer chain] [phone prayer chain] [phone prayer chain] Janelle Johnson (507) 376-5479.
Also watch for prayer updates in the Prayer Corner of the
Our Care Center Residents:
Crossroads Care: First UMC Members: Dorothy Lease Emmanuel Members: Myrtle Klumper South Shore Care Center: Marge Wendt Julane Coyer Gardenview: Norma Eikenberry Mary Jane Brown Center: Ruth Welch Maple Lawn Care Center: Lois Harstad
FIRST UMCFIRST UMCFIRST UMCFIRST UMC
1 1 1 1 Ariana Lopez
2 2 2 2 Sheila Kluever
4 4 4 4 Mary Monthei
Marcus Maras
6 6 6 6 Riley Nickel
8888 Lance Geertsema
Jeffrey Grimmius
Jacob Monthei
9 9 9 9 Jeffrey Ludes
12 12 12 12 LaDee Grant
15 15 15 15 Rick Hansen
Logan Steinle
16161616 Lola Davis
18 18 18 18 Peyton Nickel
Raeya Hietbrink
19 19 19 19 Judy Mitchell
20 20 20 20 Meredith Moore
Clara Jewson
Patricia Karl
21212121 Debra Gerdes
Nathan Yager
Brody Bonsma
22222222 Debra Steinle
Jolene Kuhl
23232323 Sarah Nickel
24 24 24 24 Nan Hoffenkamp
26 26 26 26 Gene Mitthun
27272727 Lance Homan
29 29 29 29 Gary Hibma
31 31 31 31 Kurtis Hedrick
EMMANUEL UMCEMMANUEL UMCEMMANUEL UMCEMMANUEL UMC 3 3 3 3 Jean Doeden
17 17 17 17 Melvin Janssen
21 21 21 21 Skeeter Doeden
22 22 22 22 Ruth Welch
July 2017 The Key - page 11
Calendar of Volunteers:
Communion: Merle Belz
Sound Tech Bus Nursery Greeters Ushers
2 Deb Steinle
2
2 Rick Dalrymple Burdell Kuhl
2 Lisa Gerdes Claire Ludes Jeff Ludes
2 Jeff & Cheryl Homan Jim Nickel
2 Conrad & Judy Schmidt Jorge & Julie Lopez
9 Rick Dalrymple
9 Jeff Ludes
9 Jim Nickel
9 Amy & Kylee Shirbroun
9 Robert & Ellen Darling Arlo & Judy Mogck
9 Rick & Dianne Dalrymple Marlene Miller Kari Meyer
16 Kari Meyer
16 Davis Moore
16 Galen & Sherry Benton
16 Jill & Liz Spiegelhoff
16 Mike & Janelle Johnson Doris Palmer
16 Bob Emary Merle Belz Burdell Kuhl Clyde Scheevel
23 Rick Dalrymple
23 Colby Nickel
23 Larry Hyink Eldon Bents
23 Ellen & Ashley Hoefker
23 Pat & Rick Bretzman Clyde Scheevel
23 Nancy Galland Burdell Kuhl Eldon & Susan Bents
30 Deb Steinle
30 Kip Jenson
30 Scott Belz Kurt Geertsema
30 Lisa Gerdes Claire Ludes Jeff Ludes
30 Dave & Lorraine Carstensen Merle Belz
30 Doris Palmer Burdell Kuhl Ron & Pat Huisenga
Emmanuel UshersEmmanuel UshersEmmanuel UshersEmmanuel Ushers
2 Jason Barrie
9 Kevin DeSmith
16 Jason Barrie
23 Kevin DeSmith
30 Jason Barrie
Youth Group (September-May)
Wednesday 5:45 to 6:15 pm
Sunday 9:00 to 10:00 am
Middle School Youth: Grades 6-8 Lisa Gerdes
Senior High School Youth: Grades 9-12 Sandi Mead
Retu
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erv
ice R
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ed
Susan N
oerenberg
, Editor
Published m
onthly by First & Emmanuel
United M
ethodist Churches
408 11th Street, P.O
. Box 668
Worthington, M
N 56187-0668
