Pastor: Rev. Don & Rev. Cindy Morrison Custodian: Sara Ell Administrative Asst: Sara Ell

Organist: Ann Shriver Treasurer: Tracy Crail Choir Director: Cheryl Ketchem

Financial Secretary: Denise Helmick

Eagle Grove United Methodist Church Love God, Love Others, Change the World

“Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World”

421 West Broadway Street ~ P.O. Box 101 ~ Eagle Grove, IA 50533

Church Office: (515) 448-4701 Dial-a-Devotion (515)448-3355

Website: eaglegroveumc.org Office E-mail: egumc@goldfieldaccess.net

From the Pastor’s Desk

We are running out of room on our fireplace mantel for all our Christmas stockings,

and I'm thankful for that. No, we don't have a fireplace, but we've always found a

place for our Christmas stockings, no matter which parsonage or home we're living

in. Year after year we hang our stockings with care, working hard to make room

for new stockings as the needs present themselves.

We've had a gain of two daughters-in-law and three grand-daughters. In addition,

each of the respective families have a dog. The dogs are part of our families, so they

too need a stocking hung. If they are good, which they aren't always, they will get a

dog biscuit in their stocking on Christmas morning.

The family fireplace mantel serves as a metaphor for much of what Christmas is all

about. It's been at the heart of the Christmas experience. Beyond the stockings there

is the need to find room for family members to sleep when they come during

Thanksgiving and Christmas visits and find those folding tables and chairs we put

away 'some place.'

The Christmas story is about 'making room' in the Inn for Mary, Joseph and Baby

Jesus. The shepherds cried out when they discovered that room had been prepared

for even them, the outcasts. This whole idea of 'making room' begs the question:

Are all our Christmas festivities really just about us or are we making room for

shepherds and God-only-knows who else, too?

This whole season is about God making room. This whole season can be about us

asking ourselves the question: who can I/we make room for this Christmas?

Have a merry and blessed Christmas and New Year season.

See you Sunday or Sooner, Pastors Don and Cindy

Sunday Schedule: 9:00 a.m. Sunday School

10:30 a.m. Worship

11:30 a.m. Fellowship

Wednesday Schedule: 5:15 p.m. Adult Bells

5:50 p.m. Chancel Choir

Friday Schedule:

9:00 a.m. Covenant

Prayer

Please check the Calendar of

Events for the full schedule.

December

Sunday Worship December 03 89 10 122 17 196 Total 407 Sunday School December 03 10 17 Total

At the start of a new year, we remember that God continually gives us new chances.

What does Jesus say to a woman caught in adultery?

A. “Go, and from now on sin no more.”

B. “Not even in Israel have I found such great faith.”

C. “Peace be with you.”

D. “Tell no one what I have done for you.”

Donations may be placed in the

cupboard at the front entrance of

the church.

The items in this cupboard are

meant to go to the Eagle Grove

Service Center Food Pantry. If you

should need assistance, please

contact the service center M/W/F

from 1:00-3:00 p.m. , 510 S Jackson,

448-3743. For further assistance

please contact Pastor Rich Taylor

with the Eagle Grove Area

Ministerial Association at the

Samuel Lutheran Church,

201 N Lincoln, 448-4450

Thank you.

Resolve to “be there”

Let our New Year’s resolution be this: We will be there

for one another as fellow members of humanity,

in the finest sense of the word.

—Goran Persson

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No

Report

Given

Supporting Members and Friends of Eagle Grove United Methodist Church

Tracy Crail, our Church Treasurer sent me an email dated December 16th with her projections for what we

need in offerings through December 31st to meet our financial goals for 2017. This amount is as of Decem-

ber 16th and so does not include the December 17th offering.

Tracy, myself, Pastor Cindy and the Finance Committee are asking you to prayerfully consider the infor-

mation she has provided and respond in your end-of-the-year giving to the church.

Eagle Grove UMC is truly blessed with the many blessings of time given, talents shared and service of-

fered. The gifts we share support the ministry of this church and we thank you in advance for your generos-

ity.

Tracy’s report:

“Based on what I have right now for bills through the year-end, here are the projections for what we need

for offerings through 12/31:

We have $7,500 in bills, which includes $828 for furnace service and $3,450 if we were to pay the rest of

our General Church apportionments. That brings the total amount needed to $11,000.”

So again, thank you for your support. We are doing great things together. Have a blessed and Merry

Christmas and Happy New Year.

Pastors Don and Cindy and your church Finance Committee

Why do people give? Two small boys went into the dentist's office one day and waited for the dentist to get through with his appointment. When he came into the waiting room, the older of the two brothers spoke up. Doctor, I want a tooth taken out, and I don't want any gas, and I don't want it deadened be-cause we're in a hurry. The doctor smiled and said, "Well, you're quite a brave young man. You want a tooth pulled, and you don't want any gas, and you don't want it deadened." And the older brother said, "that's right, because we're in a hurry".

Well, okay said the dentist, but show me, which tooth is it? And the older brother turned to his younger brother and said, "show him your tooth Albert"! The world is full of people like that, isn't it? People who want to see things happen and get things done, but who want someone else to pay the price and suffer the consequences. That's not the way it works. We have to get into the dentist chair ourselves. (Maxie Dunnam) At a conference on philanthropy a number of years back a speaker was asked why people give. An-swering the question, the speaker stated that people give because their nature demands it. He ad-vised that the donor should know God as the giver of every good and perfect gift, and his/her giving will then become an act of religious worship, motivated by spiritual commitment. And people give because their commitment demands it. How true that is. -Parish Publishing, LLC

Mon. 01 Happy New Year!! Office Closed

Wed. 03 10:00 a.m. Member Care Team

(Fireside Room)

5:15 p.m. Hand Bell Rehearsal

5:50 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal

Thur. 04 8:45 a.m. UMW Ex. Board

(Fireside Room)

9:30 a.m. UMW Unit Meeting

(Fellowship Hall)

Fri. 05 9:30 a.m. Covenant Prayer

Sun. 07 Communion

9:00 a.m. Sunday School

Confirmation

10:30 a.m. Worship

11:30 a.m. Fellowship

Tues. 09 7:00 p.m. Board of Trustees

Wed. 10 2:00 p.m. Martha Circle

(Fireside Room)

5:15 p.m. Hand Bell Rehearsal

5:50 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal

Thurs. 11 9:30 a.m. Rebecca Circle

(Fireside Room)

10:00 a.m. EGAMA @ UCC

2:00 p.m. Esther Circle

(Fireside Room)

Fri. 12 9:30 a.m. Covenant Prayer

Sun. 14 9:00 a.m. Sunday School

Confirmation

10:30 a.m. Worship

11:30 a.m. Fellowship

Wed. 17 5:15 p.m. Hand Bell Rehearsal

5:50 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal

Fri. 19 9:30 a.m. Covenant Prayer

Sat. 20 7:00 a.m. Men meet at Family

Table

Sun. 21 Hand Bell Choir

9:00 a.m. Sunday School

Confirmation

10:30 a.m. Worship

11:30 a.m. Fellowship

Turkey Supper Ticket $$ Turned in

Mon. 22 Newsletter Articles Due

Wed. 24 5:15 p.m. Hand Bell Rehearsal

5:50 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal

Thurs. 25 9:15 a.m. Newsletter Folding Team

(Fireside Room)

Fri. 26 9:30 a.m. Covenant Prayer

Sat. 27 43rd Annual Turkey Supper

4:00 p.m. Deliveries

5-6 p.m. Carry Out

5:30-7 p.m. Dine In

Sun. 28 Children’s Choir ~ Noisy Offering

9:00 a.m. Sunday School

Confirmation

10:30 a.m. Worship

11:30 a.m. Fellowship

Wed. 31 5:15 p.m. Hand Bell Rehearsal

5:50 p.m. Chance Choir Rehearsal

SLAM KICK OFF

6-7 p.m. Jr. High SLAM

7-8 p.m. Sr. High SLAM

(Note: No Meal provided)

Please note that the Eagle Grove Food

Pantry is in great need for paper products.

Thank you.

Thank you for serving your church and congregation by giving your gift of time.

Worship Leader—Liturgist 07 Susan Stein

14 NEEDED

21 Dave Poncin

28 NEEDED

A/V Technicians

Sound Visual 07 Brittney Osborn Cael Wesselink 14 Lionel Johnston Emma Johnston 21 McKenzie Crail Brandon Crail 28 Peyton W. McKenna W.

Greeters 07 Beverly Vance Mary Ellen Wolfe 14 Don & Donna Chambers

21 NEEDED 28 Connie Jorgensen Carol Wood

Worship Acolytes

07 Brook Osborn Tarissa Middleton 14 Lilianna & Hunter Greenly 21 Anna & Eli Withers 28 Tucker Woodbeck Azlyn Amonson

Dial A Devotion 448-3355

02 Janet Kramersmeier 09 Paul Wilde 16 Sharon Seibert 23 Valerie Mohr 30 Dave Poncin

Please let the office know if you are able to help out with all areas needed.

Nursery Attendants Carol Porter 14,28 Deann Morgan 07,21

Prayer Concerns “Dear God, thank you for Your promise made true in Christ Jesus to give strength to the weary and to give freedom from the pains of this life. We ask

that you be with our Brothers & Sisters to give them the strength they need and relieve them of their pains. Amen.”

Dick Dyas is having some trouble and asked to be put on the prayer list, cards and well wishes can be sent to the Rotary

Senior Living North Home.

Bill Rutledge has developed Parkinson’s and Atrophy of the Brain.

Sara Ell and her family are expecting a baby, Sara is due February 2018. Please keep Sara and Baby in your prayers

as this pregnancy is a higher risk pregnancy than previous. UPDATE: 12/20/17 We had a check up yesterday morn-

ing and discovered our baby girl is growing like a weed, she now weighs 6 1/2 pounds and we still hopefully have

a good month to go!!! The Braxton Hicks have transitioned to Pre-term Contractions and as of this week & next

week medication will be given to stop labor. Doctor said that if labor begins after next week he will not stop it,

so we could have a baby sooner than later!!! He would ideally like her to wait until at least February 1st to make

her arrival so if everything is going good he will not go in and get her until then. We ask that prayers be said

that she is healthy at what ever point she decides to make her appearance.

Doris Porter has been having some health issues.

Deena Pyle is the daughter in law of Bernice Pyle. Bernice asked that we pray for Deena as she has been diagnosed

with the early stages of Alzheimer.

Sadler—Amonson Family Please keep both the Sadler and Amonson Families in your prayers with the recent passing

of Dick Sadler and daughter Maria Sadler– Amonson. Many prayers are needed during this time of loss.

Shelly Stone is a close friend of Barb Johnston, Shelly has been diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer and has recently had

surgery.

Todd Wilcox is put on our prayer list by Barb Johnston. Todd is the bother of Tracy Wilcox, (Barb’s son in law that

recently passed) Todd is having some issues with his heart and recently has had an angiogram.

Amy Cooper the wife of Pastor Jason Cooper of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Amy has been diagnosed with Can-

cer. Amy will be given treatments at Mary Greeley in Ames. Doctors are positive that this cancer will react favorable

to treatments.

Eileen Reed My defibrillator suddenly shocked my heart back into rhythm, at the time my heart was beating very fast.

The doctor told me without my defibrillator I would have passed out and died in the middle of my living room. The rep-

resentative from the Boston Scientific Company found a broken wire and one other issue with the defibrillator. I had

my defibrillator replacement surgery, all went well! Prayers answered. Thank you!

Prayer List Policy To add someone to the prayer list, you may call or visit the church office during office hours, or you may announce it during worship.

Always get permission from the individual first, otherwise they will not be added to the prayer list.

Please be sure to update the church office on the status of the person, so we can be sure to have a current prayer list. If the church has not been updated on the prayer request for 2

consecutive months the request will be removed.

If you should have any questions please contact the church office, thank you.

Advent Giving ~ A Time of Sharing

Poinsettia

In Memory of Dixie Ralston by Jim Ralston

In Memory of Charles & Marjorie Bartley by Their Family

In Memory of Putty Derscheid by The Derscheid Family

In Memory of Cecil & Laura Wilde by Clarence & Betty Wilde

In Memory of Mike & Nellie Adams by Clarence & Betty Wilde

In Celebration of Christmas by Chad & Wilde and Family

In Memory of Jay McCollough by Marge McCollough and Family

In Honor of Dean & Yvonne Rassmussen by Marge McCollough

In Memory of Cecil & Laura Wilde by Dean & Marilyn Helmick

In Memory of Clyde & Edna Helmick by Dean & Marilyn Helmick

In Memory of Denae’ Schaumburg by Dean & Marilyn Helmick

In Celebration of Our Children, Grandchildren & Great Grandchildren

by Del & Janet Kramersmeier

In Memory of Henry & Jessie Schultz by Donna Hossman & Family

In Memory of Francis Hossman & Kay Jessen by Donna Hossman & Family

In Memory of Roger “Putty” Derscheid by Jerry, Mark & Nathan Spangler

EGAMA Crisis Fund & Food Panty

In Memory of Charles & Marjorie Bartley by Their Family

In Celebration of Christmas by Henry & Gladys Kroon

In Memory of Art & Fran Wesselink by John & Sue Wesselink

In Memory of Shirley Loustad by John & Sue Wesselink

In Memory of Robert Wolfe by Mary Ellen Wolfe

As I project our expenses through the end of the year, we need approximately $9,000 in our last two weeks to

cover everything, with the exception of our apportionment balance (approx. $19,500). For giving to be credited

in 2017, we need to receive it in the office no later than December 31st.

Thank you again for your generous giving. If you are unable to attend church, you are still able to give by

dropping off your offering in the church office or by mailing to EG UMC, PO Box 101, Eagle Grove, IA 50533.

Treasurer’s Report General Fund

YTD

November 11/30/2017

Beginning Balance 3889 9959

Receipts

General Fund 10319 117642

Missions 36 4849

Transfer In 2884 14160

Facilities Usage 400 2396

Miscellaneous 0 319

Other—Turkey Supper 0 4807

Total Receipts 13639 144173

Expenses

Programs 332 3160

Office 326 4619

Personnel 6573 79156

Building 2379 28401

Miscellaneous 0 213

Iowa Annual Conference 0 3603

Fundraisers 0 2033

Reimbursed Expenses 3108 28137

Total Expenses 12718 149322

Checkbook Balance 4810 4810

Designated Funds 6041

Excess / (Shortage) (1,231)

Holiday Greetings!!! Hope all had a great Holiday season, we are both doing fine and are sending greeting from Missouri. If you happen to be in the area or passing through do stop and visit, it would be great to see you. Our weather has been beautiful, so we walk every day. God Bless and Miss You All, The Kroons’ Chub & Gladys

The Eagle Grove UMC Member Care Team would like to

set up a Military Caring program, please contact the

church office if you know of any individuals who are

serving in any branch of the Armed Forces. Please be

sure to get all necessary information such as Name,

Branch, Address, Etc.

Also, if you wish to join this

program to send out cards and

care packages please speak to a

member care teammate.

Thank you and God Bless.

Thank you to the SPRC, Administrative Council and the Eagle Grove United Methodist Women for your generos-

ity. Myself and family are truly blessed and we can not thank you enough for the monetary gifts we received. It

will be used during my maternity leave as income for our family.

Also, thank you to all who have helped me out during my pregnancy with office coverage and manual labor and

etc.

And Thank you to all who have brought in Christmas Goodies, Cards and well wishes this Holiday Season for

myself and my family.

We as a family feel the love and are truly blessed to have so many caring for us.

God Bless you and yours, The Ells

Thank you to all of Mom's church

family for the sympathy expressed to

us through cards or on-line, at the

funeral, and through service at the

luncheon afterwards.

Your pastors and musicians and the

young man running the sound board,

all made the funeral service exactly

as Mom would have wanted.

Marie's whole family felt the comfort

of this home-coming for her.

Diane Gearhart Shannon,

in behalf of Marie Gearhart's family

Cindy and I want to take this opportunity to Thank you for the

Christmas gifts that we received as well as the many Christmas

wishes and words of encouragement that we have received since

we started here November 1st. It has meant a great deal to us.

We both want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a blessed

& happy New Year.

Pastors Don & Cindy Morrison

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

to all my friends at the Eagle Grove

United Methodist Church. I miss you

all but enjoy my kids and grandchil-

dren.

Thank you for all your well wishes dur-

ing my recovery.

Sincerely,

Dottie Voigt

The United Methodist Women had a busy 2017 that was suc-

cessful. Many thanks and congratulations to the members for

the hard work, many shared talents, needed donations, and

the love. God has blessed us and given us direction for serv-

ing Him.

Pat Manues, President of United Methodist Women

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN NEWS

Ex. Board * 1/04/2018 8:45 a.m. Fireside Room

Unit Meeting 1/04/2018 9:30 a.m. Fellowship Hall**

Martha Circle 1/10/2018 2:00 p.m. Fireside Room ***

Rebecca Circle 1/11/2018 9:30 a.m. Fireside Room

Esther Circle 1/11/2018 2:00 p.m. Fireside Room

* All Executive Board Members include: Officers—Mission Coordinators—Circle Chairman.

**Martha Circle is in charge of refreshments and Lesson

“Creation: A sacred encounter with God” Page 15

*** Bring Food Pantry Items

Important Dates to Remember

January 27th Turkey Supper

Bible Verse for Month

“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” Proverbs 16:9 NLT

Are you cleaning out drawers or a space of storage or a box of “things” and are not sure what to do

with the “things”? April is the City Wide Garage Sales and our church is going to be a part of this

event. A space has been cleaned out for storage of boxes of “things” that are donated by YOU!

Bring items (NOT CLOTHING) that are gently used, not broken, and clean. It is great if “things” are

boxed and not just put some place on a shelf. The room in the basement where paper products are

stored has been cleaned and has room for your “things”.

This is a fundraiser and needs to be supported by everyone in the church. So simplify your home

by donating to the Eagle Grove United Methodist Church Garage Sale in April of 2018!

S.L.A.M

(Spreading the Lord’s Awesome Message)

Will begin

Wednesday, January 31st.

Jr. High will meet 6-7 p.m.

Sr. high will meet 7-8 p.m.

Please note there will be no meal provided,

so please be sure to grab a bite to eat be-

fore attending, thank you.

Member Care Team ...

Is looking for individuals to help out in the following areas:

For more information on how to help

in these areas of ministry to our congregations and the community please contact the church office.

Thank you & God Bless!!

Take Time

Take time to live:

It is one secret to success.

Take time to think:

It is the source of power

Take time to play

It is the secret of youth.

Take time to read:

It is the foundation of knowledge.

Take time for friendship:

It is the source of happiness.

Take time to laugh:

It helps to lift life’s load.

Take time to dream:

It hitches the soul to the stars.

Take time for God:

It is life’s only lasting investment.

- Mounds Park UMC

St. Paul, MN

Confirmation Schedule:

Beginning January 7th @ 9:00 a.m.

Room 102 in Educational Building

Confirmation will meet every Sunday morn-

ing from January 7, 2018—March 18, 2017.

Winter Gift “God … does great things beyond our knowing. He says to the snow, ‘Fall to the earth’; like-wise to his heavy, drenching rain. He shuts up all humankind indoors, so that all people may know his work” (Job 37:5-7, NABRE). Snow, ice and cold can make winter a hassle. “Snow days” due to a blizzard may thrill stu-dents but usually inconvenience parents. But now and then, winter blankets the earth so heavily that it seems to quiet everything. We’re granted permission to hunker down at home, snuggle close with family or pets, enjoy a book or movie, make cocoa or cookies, and rest.

It’s like a surprise Sabbath — the gift of grace-time — when no one’s expected to get out the door or the driveway. Perhaps indeed, as Job declared, God sees fit on such days to put our busyness on hold and shut us all indoors so we pause and remember his work — his place — in our lives. Praise God for snow days!

—Heidi Mann

A penguin “parable”

During storms, emperor penguins huddle for

warmth, taking turns at the center and on the pe-

rimeter of the group. While incubating eggs, up to

6,000 male penguins have been observed cluster-

ing for shelter against the harsh Antarctic winter.

Partially grown chicks gather in protective

“crèches” (French for “cribs”); often surrounded

by a colony of adults, these groupings ward off

predators and cold.

In stormy times, humans also need supportive

groups; we can’t survive alone. A church family

allows us to take turns giving and receiving care.

Amid social upheaval, injustice, illness, natural

disaster and any loss or crisis, God invites us to

gather for protection and warmth. In the church

community, we support and strengthen one an-

other and are empowered to go out again into the

less-sheltered world. ~Unknown

Three questions

There’s a tale of a traveling priest who was confronted by a

soldier in pre-revolutionary Russia. Rifle in hand, the soldier

barked, “Who are you? Where are you going? Why are you

going there?”

Instead of answering, the priest asked how much the sol-

dier was paid — and offered double if the soldier would

challenge him with those three questions each day as he

passed by.

Those three important questions can guide us on our jour-

ney through the brand-new year ahead. For Christians,

thankfully, the answers are clear:

Who are you? “I’m a child of God!”

Where are you going? “I’m going out into the world!”

Why are you going there? “I’m going out of love for

Jesus, who died for me!”

Place these questions and answers in a spot where you

can see them each day. Then go forward confidently, know-

ing “whose” you are and what your purpose is. ~Unknown