Trinity UMC
Trinity UMC
To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Trinity United Methodist Church 838 North 25th Street Fort Dodge, IA 50501 515-573-3519 www.trinityumcfd.org facebook.com/trinityumcfortdodge
May 2017
FINANCE UPDATE Year to Date 03/31/2017 Planned receipts - General fund Total Planned Expenses
Bills not yet paid: 2015 Apportionments 2016 Apportionments 2017 Apportionments Other Bills TOTAL UNPAID:
$ $ $
$ $ $ $ $
Previous YTD 03/31/2017
71,627.94 $ 83,612.06 $ (11,984.12) $
63,688.56 76,001.62 (12,313.06)
6,515.25 46,687.84 15,421.74 1,240.65 69,865.48
Sanctuary renovation loan balance: $ 125,701.62 Sanctuary long term loan payment: $ 1,427.86 per month (Maturity on loan June 5, 2029) Loan payments are made from the Building and Maintenance Fund income ** There are other non-planned income and expenses such as memorial money and various other giving's that have special purpose needs and expenses. A COMPLETE COPY OF THE MONTHLY FINANCIALS CAN BE REVIEWED OR HAVE A COPY MADE FROM THE CHURCH OFFICE. PLEASE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS DIRECTED TO THE OFFICE TO BE FORWARDED TO THE FINANCE CHAIR.
LOVING, LEARNING & LEADING
In September, I was chosen among pastors and laity in the North Central District to participate in a training series called “Loving, Learning, and Leading.” It is a program of the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church and based upon the work done by Spiritual Leadership, Inc. (SLI). Its purpose is to develop spiritual leaders and deploy them in communities to create transformative environments and fruitful ministries. Each month, a small group of pastors and laypersons have been gathering to build a team of folks who trust each other and God, deepen their spiritual cultivation, and learn the methodology for creating effective ministries that can assist others to enrich their personal capacities to make disciples and transform the world. Sometime after the next few months, if not sooner, I will be asking some of you to participate in this SLI process. Meanwhile, I attend these monthly meetings with what is called the District Operational Team. We share personal stories, pray together, go through SLI PowerPoint presentations, study the Bible, read recommended books and articles, and have discussions related to spiritual life and action. One of the major goals of this project is to put together a strategic plan to help develop and facilitate other teams that will strengthen their spiritual leadership for effective ministry. One interesting aspect of the SLI process is the development of a covenant. The covenant our district team has developed consists of a variety of multifaceted processes: from praying with and for each other and respecting and trusting each other to having the courage to take risks and meet challenges, develop visionary spiritual leadership for Christ as well as encourage fun and laughter while continuing to grow. When an atmosphere is one that is comfortable, easy, and enjoyable, it is conducive for cooperation, collaboration, and action. Hence, we are preparing ourselves to help the churches in the district light a stronger fire for the Lord through loving, learning, and leading! Now, what’s fascinating about this process is that a particular personality type is not required. Anybody and everyone could be involved in this dynamic approach to spiritual development and creative ministry. For example, I am more introverted than I am extroverted, but in a group where the covenant is so attractive, meaningful, flexible, and understanding, it is not insurmountable to overcome such reserve in the company of those who are similarly goaloriented. As a matter of fact, it makes me and others with that personality aspect more willing to interrelate, share thoughts and feelings, and discover affirmation. The experience of reciprocity is both heart-warming and infectious! Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was right: Whene’er a noble deed is wrought, Whene’er is spoken a noble thought, Our hearts, in glad surprise, To higher levels rise. Honor to those whose words and deeds Thus help us in our daily needs, And by their overflow Raise us from what is low.
−Dr. B.
Each generation has its own battles, losses and victories! Broadcast Journalist, Tom Brokaw, dubbed the generation born in America and during the Great Depression in the 1930s and who would fight the Second World War: “The Greatest Generation.” And in many ways they had more than their share of battles, losses and victories of all kinds and deserve Brokaw’s accolade. A later generation with whom I am very familiar faced its own issue of maintaining “hope” in a world that had its own reasons to give in to despair. Faced with the reality of nuclear war via the Cuban Missile crisis, the deaths of John and Bobby Kennedy, as well as Martin Luther King Jr., the struggles of the Vietnam War, the wars in Bosnia, Iraq, Somalia, Afghanistan, Syria and the conflict with terrorism—not to mention the domestic struggles like cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, mental illness and obesity—the generation I am thinking about has struggled with keeping hope when there are far too many reasons to despair! But a hero for every generation, Jesus, kept his eye not on the cross as some claim but on the gracious God whom Jesus called “abba” or “daddy.” A person who understands what each generation has faced [but in particular the generation that I know best] and the God who standing watch, is the German New Testament theologian, Jürgen Moltmann. Moltmann concludes his little book: “The Experiment Hope,” with these words: “The practical responsibility of Christian hope has not become easier in recent years. Of course the necessity of opening up new life and freedom for the hopeless, the hindered, the sick, the oppressed, and the guilty is recognized everywhere…. What we considered possible only a few years ago has been made impossible with violence. The practice of hope becomes concretely stronger in suffering … and will have to be proved in resistance. The verse from the early poem … [of] Engeborg Bachmann is therefore more pertinent than ever: ‘The uniform of the day is patience and its only decoration the pale star of hope over its heart…’” So my generation and its offspring have flirted with despair in all of its seductive shapes and forms. But for persons of faith and hope the words of James Russell Lowell keep my faith and hope alive! “Once to every man and nation, Comes the moment to decide, In the strife of truth with false-hood, For the good or evil side; AND, BEHIND THE DIM UNKNOWN, STANDETH GOD WITHIN THE SHADOW, KEEPING WATCH ABOVE HIS OWN.” Peace and hope, Pastor Ron
Gene Joseph Boland Gladys Long Ilene Smith Rowena Bastian Nick Montgomery
Shane Corey Lloyd Corey George & Jean Montgomery Rachel Bell Pastor John Hembry Carol Corey Joe Lennon Craig Kristensen Doris Ross
Harold Jones Deb Shelton
We are currently updating our prayer requests. Please let us know if there is anyone you would like added. Thank you and have a blessed month! Service Men & Women TUMC College Students Give a call Show you care!
ANNOUNCEMENTS ******************************************************************** VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL Mark your calendars! The dates for VBS are June 26th-30th (Monday-Thursday) from 5:308:00 p.m. We are looking for volunteers to help in all areas. If you would like to donate your time and talents to help in making VBS happen, please contact me for more information. Call or text Rachel at 515-408-1197 or email me at [email protected]. ******************************************************************** CONFIRMATION Congratulations to our recent confirmands! The following youth were confirmed on April 30 th. Please pray for and support these individuals as they grow in their faith and relationship with God and our church. Emma Alstott Jacob Totten Jerry Chada Jace Ulrich Tristin Doster Elijah Yates Matthew Surles-Davis ******************************************************************* SUNDAY SCHOOL Our last day of Sunday School before the summer break will be Sunday, May 21 st. The kids will be singing on that Sunday, so please have them here each week to prepare. Watch for summer kids programming information coming soon! Plans are in the making!! ******************************************************************* RISE FEST! RiseFest 2017 will be held June 16-17 in Sheldon Iowa. This concert includes many popular Christian recording artists over the 2-day event. Some big names are Crowder, Tenth Avenue North, Newsboys, TobyMac and Building 429. Cost for the weekend is $30. Please let me know ASAP if you are interested in going! ******************************************************************* MOVIE NIGHT th Our next movie night is Friday, June 9 . Movie title yet to be determined. If you have a movie that you think would be good and appropriate for all ages, please let me know. Call or text Rachel- 515-408-1197 or email me at [email protected].
Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Ft. Dodge IA 50501 Permit No. 448
Return Service Requested
A huge “Thank you” to all who donated items, set up, priced, worked or stopped by to purchase items and give us moral support at our garage/bake sale. A special “Thank you” to Jean Warg for donating our advertising. The garage sale cleared $937.49 which will go to our Renovation Project. The UMW bake sale/coffee time brought in $506.35 which will be used for mission projects. Our next sale will be the first week in November. Please keep that in mind if you are cleaning our or downsizing. We would like to thank the Shelton family for donating eggs for the Maundy Thursday meal and for the Easter breakfast. It is greatly appreciated!
To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Trinity United Methodist Church 838 North 25th Street Fort Dodge, IA 50501 515-573-3519 www.trinityumcfd.org facebook.com/trinityumcfortdodge
May 2017
FINANCE UPDATE Year to Date 03/31/2017 Planned receipts - General fund Total Planned Expenses
Bills not yet paid: 2015 Apportionments 2016 Apportionments 2017 Apportionments Other Bills TOTAL UNPAID:
$ $ $
$ $ $ $ $
Previous YTD 03/31/2017
71,627.94 $ 83,612.06 $ (11,984.12) $
63,688.56 76,001.62 (12,313.06)
6,515.25 46,687.84 15,421.74 1,240.65 69,865.48
Sanctuary renovation loan balance: $ 125,701.62 Sanctuary long term loan payment: $ 1,427.86 per month (Maturity on loan June 5, 2029) Loan payments are made from the Building and Maintenance Fund income ** There are other non-planned income and expenses such as memorial money and various other giving's that have special purpose needs and expenses. A COMPLETE COPY OF THE MONTHLY FINANCIALS CAN BE REVIEWED OR HAVE A COPY MADE FROM THE CHURCH OFFICE. PLEASE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS DIRECTED TO THE OFFICE TO BE FORWARDED TO THE FINANCE CHAIR.
LOVING, LEARNING & LEADING
In September, I was chosen among pastors and laity in the North Central District to participate in a training series called “Loving, Learning, and Leading.” It is a program of the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church and based upon the work done by Spiritual Leadership, Inc. (SLI). Its purpose is to develop spiritual leaders and deploy them in communities to create transformative environments and fruitful ministries. Each month, a small group of pastors and laypersons have been gathering to build a team of folks who trust each other and God, deepen their spiritual cultivation, and learn the methodology for creating effective ministries that can assist others to enrich their personal capacities to make disciples and transform the world. Sometime after the next few months, if not sooner, I will be asking some of you to participate in this SLI process. Meanwhile, I attend these monthly meetings with what is called the District Operational Team. We share personal stories, pray together, go through SLI PowerPoint presentations, study the Bible, read recommended books and articles, and have discussions related to spiritual life and action. One of the major goals of this project is to put together a strategic plan to help develop and facilitate other teams that will strengthen their spiritual leadership for effective ministry. One interesting aspect of the SLI process is the development of a covenant. The covenant our district team has developed consists of a variety of multifaceted processes: from praying with and for each other and respecting and trusting each other to having the courage to take risks and meet challenges, develop visionary spiritual leadership for Christ as well as encourage fun and laughter while continuing to grow. When an atmosphere is one that is comfortable, easy, and enjoyable, it is conducive for cooperation, collaboration, and action. Hence, we are preparing ourselves to help the churches in the district light a stronger fire for the Lord through loving, learning, and leading! Now, what’s fascinating about this process is that a particular personality type is not required. Anybody and everyone could be involved in this dynamic approach to spiritual development and creative ministry. For example, I am more introverted than I am extroverted, but in a group where the covenant is so attractive, meaningful, flexible, and understanding, it is not insurmountable to overcome such reserve in the company of those who are similarly goaloriented. As a matter of fact, it makes me and others with that personality aspect more willing to interrelate, share thoughts and feelings, and discover affirmation. The experience of reciprocity is both heart-warming and infectious! Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was right: Whene’er a noble deed is wrought, Whene’er is spoken a noble thought, Our hearts, in glad surprise, To higher levels rise. Honor to those whose words and deeds Thus help us in our daily needs, And by their overflow Raise us from what is low.
−Dr. B.
Each generation has its own battles, losses and victories! Broadcast Journalist, Tom Brokaw, dubbed the generation born in America and during the Great Depression in the 1930s and who would fight the Second World War: “The Greatest Generation.” And in many ways they had more than their share of battles, losses and victories of all kinds and deserve Brokaw’s accolade. A later generation with whom I am very familiar faced its own issue of maintaining “hope” in a world that had its own reasons to give in to despair. Faced with the reality of nuclear war via the Cuban Missile crisis, the deaths of John and Bobby Kennedy, as well as Martin Luther King Jr., the struggles of the Vietnam War, the wars in Bosnia, Iraq, Somalia, Afghanistan, Syria and the conflict with terrorism—not to mention the domestic struggles like cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, mental illness and obesity—the generation I am thinking about has struggled with keeping hope when there are far too many reasons to despair! But a hero for every generation, Jesus, kept his eye not on the cross as some claim but on the gracious God whom Jesus called “abba” or “daddy.” A person who understands what each generation has faced [but in particular the generation that I know best] and the God who standing watch, is the German New Testament theologian, Jürgen Moltmann. Moltmann concludes his little book: “The Experiment Hope,” with these words: “The practical responsibility of Christian hope has not become easier in recent years. Of course the necessity of opening up new life and freedom for the hopeless, the hindered, the sick, the oppressed, and the guilty is recognized everywhere…. What we considered possible only a few years ago has been made impossible with violence. The practice of hope becomes concretely stronger in suffering … and will have to be proved in resistance. The verse from the early poem … [of] Engeborg Bachmann is therefore more pertinent than ever: ‘The uniform of the day is patience and its only decoration the pale star of hope over its heart…’” So my generation and its offspring have flirted with despair in all of its seductive shapes and forms. But for persons of faith and hope the words of James Russell Lowell keep my faith and hope alive! “Once to every man and nation, Comes the moment to decide, In the strife of truth with false-hood, For the good or evil side; AND, BEHIND THE DIM UNKNOWN, STANDETH GOD WITHIN THE SHADOW, KEEPING WATCH ABOVE HIS OWN.” Peace and hope, Pastor Ron
Gene Joseph Boland Gladys Long Ilene Smith Rowena Bastian Nick Montgomery
Shane Corey Lloyd Corey George & Jean Montgomery Rachel Bell Pastor John Hembry Carol Corey Joe Lennon Craig Kristensen Doris Ross
Harold Jones Deb Shelton
We are currently updating our prayer requests. Please let us know if there is anyone you would like added. Thank you and have a blessed month! Service Men & Women TUMC College Students Give a call Show you care!
ANNOUNCEMENTS ******************************************************************** VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL Mark your calendars! The dates for VBS are June 26th-30th (Monday-Thursday) from 5:308:00 p.m. We are looking for volunteers to help in all areas. If you would like to donate your time and talents to help in making VBS happen, please contact me for more information. Call or text Rachel at 515-408-1197 or email me at [email protected]. ******************************************************************** CONFIRMATION Congratulations to our recent confirmands! The following youth were confirmed on April 30 th. Please pray for and support these individuals as they grow in their faith and relationship with God and our church. Emma Alstott Jacob Totten Jerry Chada Jace Ulrich Tristin Doster Elijah Yates Matthew Surles-Davis ******************************************************************* SUNDAY SCHOOL Our last day of Sunday School before the summer break will be Sunday, May 21 st. The kids will be singing on that Sunday, so please have them here each week to prepare. Watch for summer kids programming information coming soon! Plans are in the making!! ******************************************************************* RISE FEST! RiseFest 2017 will be held June 16-17 in Sheldon Iowa. This concert includes many popular Christian recording artists over the 2-day event. Some big names are Crowder, Tenth Avenue North, Newsboys, TobyMac and Building 429. Cost for the weekend is $30. Please let me know ASAP if you are interested in going! ******************************************************************* MOVIE NIGHT th Our next movie night is Friday, June 9 . Movie title yet to be determined. If you have a movie that you think would be good and appropriate for all ages, please let me know. Call or text Rachel- 515-408-1197 or email me at [email protected].
Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Ft. Dodge IA 50501 Permit No. 448
Return Service Requested
A huge “Thank you” to all who donated items, set up, priced, worked or stopped by to purchase items and give us moral support at our garage/bake sale. A special “Thank you” to Jean Warg for donating our advertising. The garage sale cleared $937.49 which will go to our Renovation Project. The UMW bake sale/coffee time brought in $506.35 which will be used for mission projects. Our next sale will be the first week in November. Please keep that in mind if you are cleaning our or downsizing. We would like to thank the Shelton family for donating eggs for the Maundy Thursday meal and for the Easter breakfast. It is greatly appreciated!
