Announcements for week beginning Sunday, August 29
September 8 Open House
We’ll be celebrating the kickoff of our Fall Programming opportunities with an Open House and picnic on our green-space from 5-6:30 pm. Come enjoy the evening, have a burger, and stick around for the Wednesday night activities. Check out the third floor youth area to see what’s been done this summer. How can you help? Donate a bag of baby carrots or some cookies or bars. Mark the tear off sheet.
Prayer Room
Linda Sharp is organizing the prayer room ministry this fall. Please consider praying for our church, our city, our nation, and the world for one hour a week in the chapel. It’s amazing how fast that hour goes by. Indicate your preferred time in the bulletin, and drop it in the offering plate or at the church office.
A Note About Parking
With 8th Street closed just to our east, more people have been using our block for parking. We’d like to keep as many of the good, close parking spaces as we can for our members who don’t get around so well. So, if you don’t have any trouble walking, how about parking a little further away, and enjoying a longer walk through our neighborhood? We have parking lots off of Clay Street and 7th Street, and there’s plenty of parking on the streets around Lincoln School.
Don’t want to be rude ...
but let’s be direct. For a couple of weeks there has been a plea in the bulletin for volunteers to run the worship projector. There have been no responses. Next week, we begin our new schedule with worship in two different rooms at the same time of 8:30 a.m. One projector operator cannot cover both rooms at the same time. If we have to choose which service gets the video - Transformation will be the winner. There are many who find the large type of the screen easier to read than the small type in the hymnals and bulletins. Operating the worship projector is an opportunity for you to assist others in worship - it is a gift of service to your church. If, out of the 150 or so folks who attend 8:30 Traditional, we can’t get about four to volunteer to be a part of a rotating schedule of projector operators, we simply won’t have the projector in this service. It is not a hard job, you can be trained very quickly, and if you screw up, you’re among friends. Please let Chris Congdon know if you can help. Sign up on the bulletin tear-off, email chris.congdon@aboutfirst.com, or sign up online.
Help at the Food Bank Sept.7
The folks at the Northeast Iowa Food Bank look forward to working with a group from FUMC on Tuesday, September 7 from 6:30 p.m. until about 8:30 p.m. If you would like to be a part of this, please contact Lisa Congdon in the church office at 266-1713 or email lisa.congdon@aboutfirst.com., or sign up on the tear-off sheet in the bulletin (drop it in the offering plate). You may carpool from the church (parking lot at 6:10), or you can meet the group at the Food Bank at 6:30 (106 E. 11th Street, Waterloo). Kids are welcome to help with adult supervision. With warm weather here I will remind you to wear closed toe shoes for safety – no sandals.
Be a Sunday School greeter
Sunday School for all ages begins September 12 at 9:45. We could use a greeter or two each Sunday in September to help children (and adults) find their classrooms. Mark the check-off sheet if you would like to help.
Sunday Morning Fellowship
I want to thank everyone for the past year for helping with the wonderful treats for our fellowship! A big thank you for those that have agreed to continue this next year! We always have such a variety and such yummy treats that are enjoyed by many! I am looking for someone to work the 2nd and 5th Sundays. Fellowship time starting in September will be from 9:30-10:45.
I also could use 2 more people to bring treats on the 1st and 2nd Sunday’s if you would like to do that also!
I would greatly appreciate the help and will be glad to talk to anyone that is interested! My email is jrechkemmer@gmail.com or call me at 266-9982. Jill Rechkemmer
Adult Sunday School info
Information on the eight adult classes will be published in the September AboutFirst newsletter.
Youth & Family Adventure
It’s a day of fun at Adventureland in Altoona, Iowa, September 18th, 2010. We will leave at 8 am and return approximately 9 pm. Bring a friend! The cost is only $20.00 to get in. You have to bring extra money for food and souvenirs. Turn in a permission slip and money to the church office no later than Sunday, September 5th. This trip is a drug free and alcohol free. For each youth and family member attending this awesome event Adventureland is willing to donate $2.75 to support the United Methodist Youth Service Fund that is raised all for the youth to be used by youth. Please come and have a fun filled day! Steve Braudt can answer all your questions.
Ingathering Kits
Check out the Ingathering bulletin board for lists of the items needed for all Ingathering kits. If you were a member of Joy Circle in the past, Jill Rechkemmer is planning a get-together in October to compile Layette Kits and Birthing Kits. Contact her for more details, or check the upcoming newsletters.
Help Needed
Pastor Cindy Finn of First UMC in Colfax reports that URGENT HELP is needed to muck and gut homes damaged in the recent flooding in central Iowa. The fire station in Colfax is ready to accept volunteers. Some of us here in CF have experience in this area! Please call Wendy at the EMS Office at 515-674-9113 if you are able to help.
Parenting Class begins in Oct.
Ever wondered what you could give to your children that would truly make them happy? Not happy for the moment, like an ice cream cone, but happy for a lifetime. Value Packed Parenting; Raising Rock Solid Kids in a Pleasure Driven World, by Kevin Leman can give you the tools to improve communication and relationships. The first lesson is “ The Ten Best Gifts You Will Ever Give Your Kids.” Other lessons include “How to talk so kids will listen, and how to listen so kids will talk”; “Birth Order”, and “Standing up to the new Goliath”,(internet, media and technology influences). The seven lesson class is designed with a DVD presentation followed by group discussion. A workbook is available for $10, so please sign up for one of the following classes: Sunday Mornings during the SS hour in the Parlor beginning October 2nd and Wednesday nights starting October 6th at 5:30 pm. In the words of Kevin Leman, “ It’s never too late to become a better parent”. Join us as we walk this road together as a faith community! Class facilitator: Janet Williams
Understand the Old Testament
Pastor Steve and Janet will be leading a Short- Term Disciple Study on the Old Testament this fall. The study invites participants to hear the story of God and God’s calling of the people of Israel through many “voices” of the Bible. This overview of Old Testament scriptures will include looking at history, culture and prophecy to better understand how it relates to us as 21st Century Christians. The study will be 8 weeks beginning Sunday, September 19 at 6:30 p.m. Classes will be 90 minutes. We will read portions from Genesis to Malachi. Cost for the study book is $11.00. You can sign up on-line or use the sign-up sheet in front of the church office.
“Good and Beautiful God”:
Falling in Love With The God Jesus Knows
The aim of this book and class is to help people discover the God Jesus revealed. Each chapter deals with false concepts and the true one, namely, the narrative of Jesus. Each chapter also contains a soul-training exercise to help imbed the narrative of Jesus more deeply into our minds, bodies and souls. These exercises are not meant to make you more religious or impress God. They are meant to help you see and understand the world as Jesus did.
Discover a new way to experience life.
Jan Hoover will facilitate the 9 week class on Wednesday mornings at 9:00 beginning September 15. Shelley Schlatter will facilitate the class on Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:00 beginning September 16. Cost of the book is $15 – please sign up by September 3 to be sure you get a book
Pastor Tim’s 1st Corinthians Study
Pastor Tim will be leading a Wednesday evening study of the book of 1st Corinthians. The 8 week study will begin September 29, 5:30-6:45. No cost for the study, but you’ll need to bring your Bible.
Financial Peace University
What would your life look like if you had NO DEBT and were really IN CONTROL of your money? Financial Peace University is designed to teach you and your family how to get out of debt and build wealth. Dave Ramsey, explains how money really works in an easy-to-understand style for everyone from teenagers to retirees. This 13-week video-based class will begin Thursday, September 16. A 45 minute preview session will be offered Thursday, September 9 at 6:30. The cost for the class kit is $100 per household and includes a book, workbook, audio CDs of all the lessons, and more. Sign up (and pay) by September 10. Give yourself or a friend the gift of Financial Peace. See Barbara or Rex Pershing or Lisa Congdon if you have questions.
Sweeter than Chocolate:
An Inductive Study of Hebrews 11
Christa Reynolds will be facilitating a six week inductive study of Hebrews 11 beginning Monday, October 4th at 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM. The Precept.org website describes inductive Bible study as “Observation, Interpretation, [and] Application. Precept’s method uses an investigative approach that takes each person to the text directly. If you can read a newspaper, you can study the Bible.” “In just six lessons you will learn the big picture of the Bible using God’s summary in Hebrews 11. Discover insights, practical wisdom, and deep truths that will strengthen your walk and relationship with Jesus Christ. The cost of the book is $24.99. In order to have a book ordered for you, please register and drop off your check at the office by September 20th (payable to FUMC). After September 20th, there is still time to join the study; however you will need to order your own book from precept.org.
To preview the first chapter of the book… visit “precept.org”, click “store”, and type in “Hebrews 11” in the keyword search box.
Get in the Act:
Join the adventure, challenge, and ministry of a unique outreach to the Cedar Valley! Lampost Theatre Co. announces AUDITIONS for Pyrates, an original productions featuring Lampost’s unique blend of music, comedy, and message. We need a large cast, singing and non-singing roles ranging from high school through senior adult. No experience necessary! Auditions are Aug. 30 @ 7pm, Aug. 31 @ 4pm & 7pm. More information available at the info table, or contact: www.lampost.com or 277-8034.
Upper Room daily devotional
Check out the literature rack across from the office for the latest “Upper Room” daily devotional booklet. Each page includes a passage to look up in your Bible, a short verse to supplement that passage, and a brief story or meditation written by people from around the world. The daily devotion ends with a suggested prayer. It’s a great resource to get into God’s word and put it into practice every day. Each booklet covers two months, and at $1.25 the price can’t be beat.
Cedar Cabin Update
After receiving no inquiries from the congregation the Trustees have contracted with a local realtor in Clear Lake. If you are interested in the Cabin, please contact Julie McQuaid of McQuaid Agency, Office: (641) 357-3330.