Vol 20 July 2020 ISSUE 7 The United Methodist Messenger Join us for Worship on Facebook Live: Saturday- Casual @ 5:30 p.m. Sunday - Traditional @ 8:30 a.m. Sunday School @ 9:45-10:45 a.m. (During School Year) Coffee & Fellowship in FLC @ 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Sunday - Contemporary @ 11:00 a.m. Who’s Minding the Store? With Pastor Phil Webb no longer being our pastor starting July 1, and with Pastor Kiboko Kiboko starting two months later on September 1, please be aware of how things will be taken care of in the interim. The Office will still be open for staff to work. You can call them at 732- 5458 for access to the building. The hours are posted elsewhere in this issue of The Messenger . Marjean and Lynn, and perhaps some volunteers will be answering the phone. Marjean will be having surgery and will be out of the office for 4-6 weeks. The rest of the staff will take care of office things. When Will In-House Worship Services Resume? Dr. Carl Turner, Ad Council Chair, will be pulling together a team of church members to discern when and how it can happen. Stay tuned for more information on that. We don’t know when, as Covid-19 numbers in our county are still rising. What About Worship? We will still be worshiping online, with people being able to join in worship via our website (www.slumc.weebly.com) and the Church Facebook page. Even after we’re worshiping back in our Sanctuary, we are planning for the worship services to also continue online. Our July preacher will be Jaye Johnson, a Congregational Excellence Leader for the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church. He and his wife Amy met at BVU, and they worshipped and got married in our church. He is an outstanding pastor and you will gain much from his sermons. Our August preachers will be members of our Congregation. Continue to worship with your congregation! What If I Need a Pastor? Call the church office and ask for Lynn. If it is for a funeral or memorial ser- vice, the office staff will help find a pastor to assist you. Also, Ron Carlson, our District Sup’t. will assist us in finding a pastor, as well. What About Church Administration? Committees will meet at the discretion of their chairpersons. If anyone has questions about the administrative questions about the church, Carl Turner (Ad Council Chair) and Arvid Baughman (Lay Leader) can be contacted. They also will be in contact with our District Sup’t. as need- ed. The Church Is Still the Church! Even in these strange times, we are here to serve and help. Our build- ing may be closed, but the Church is still open! God bless you!
Transcript
Vol 20 July 2020 ISSUE 7
The United
Methodist Messenger
Join us for Worship on Facebook Live: Saturday- Casual @ 5:30 p.m. Sunday - Traditional @ 8:30 a.m.
Sunday School @ 9:45-10:45 a.m. (During School Year) Coffee & Fellowship in FLC @ 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Sunday - Contemporary @ 11:00 a.m.
Who’s Minding the Store? With Pastor Phil Webb no longer being our
pastor starting July 1, and with Pastor Kiboko Kiboko starting two months
later on September 1, please be aware of how things will be taken care of in
the interim.
The Office will still be open for staff to work. You can call them at 732-
5458 for access to the building. The hours are posted elsewhere in this issue
of The Messenger. Marjean and Lynn, and perhaps some volunteers will be answering the phone. Marjean will
be having surgery and will be out of the office for 4-6 weeks. The rest of the staff will take care of office
things.
When Will In-House Worship Services Resume? Dr . Car l Turner , Ad Council Chair , will be pulling
together a team of church members to discern when and how it can happen. Stay tuned for more information
on that. We don’t know when, as Covid-19 numbers in our county are still rising.
What About Worship? We will still be worshiping online, with people being able to join in worship via
our website (www.slumc.weebly.com) and the Church Facebook page. Even after we’re worshiping back in
our Sanctuary, we are planning for the worship services to also continue online. Our July preacher will be
Jaye Johnson, a Congregational Excellence Leader for the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church.
He and his wife Amy met at BVU, and they worshipped and got married in our church. He is an outstanding
pastor and you will gain much from his sermons. Our August preachers will be members of our Congregation.
Continue to worship with your congregation!
What If I Need a Pastor? Call the church office and ask for Lynn. If it is for a funeral or memorial ser -
vice, the office staff will help find a pastor to assist you. Also, Ron Carlson, our District Sup’t. will assist us
in finding a pastor, as well.
What About Church Administration? Committees will meet at the discretion of their chairpersons. If
anyone has questions about the administrative questions about the church, Carl Turner (Ad Council Chair) and
Arvid Baughman (Lay Leader) can be contacted. They also will be in contact with our District Sup’t. as need-
ed.
The Church Is Still the Church! Even in these strange times, we are here to serve and help. Our build-
ing may be closed, but the Church is still open! God bless you!
Page 2
Rev. Phil Webb Lead Pastor
Dear Friends;
As I sit down to write my last article for The Messenger, I think about a power out-
age that my house and 71 other homes in Storm Lake had last night, Monday, June
22. I was in the middle of packing while listening to something on the TV. Then it
went dark. I managed to use what light was still coming in the window to write
down where I was in what needed to be done when the power came back on. Things
were on hold. In mid-March, when we shut down our building, I reminded us that
we would be on hold for a lot we held familiar and even comforting. But while we’re
on hold, we remain being held by the One Who made us, Who redeems us, and Who
sustains us.
As I prepare to cease being pastor of the Storm Lake UMC at the end of June 30, and
start as pastor of the Asbury UMC in Webster City at the beginning of July 1st, I feel
sadness at leaving a church and community I find so remarkable and love so dearly.
I feel sadness at not being able to say “good-bye and God bless you,” in the tradi-
tional ways. But the time has come.
I have felt frustrated by our new reality, and yet, while the building has been closed,
you, the people who are the Storm Lake United Methodist Church are continuing to
be Church. You are still faithful and vibrant and in service to your fellow human
beings in the name of Jesus Christ. God bless you so much for keeping ministries
alive and significant in the midst of these days. You, the Storm Lake UMC, will
continue in ways yet undiscovered, and will continue to build the Kingdom of God
within the spheres of your influence. You will proclaim the Gospel, embodies by the
reminder of Jesus to love God with all our being, and to love our neighbor as our-
selves. You pray with each other and hold each other up, as well as those beyond the
church walls.
While I cease to be your pastor, I will not cease being your friend. While I won’t be
returning to officiate at Baptisms or Weddings or Funerals, I will still care about
you. I have been the pastor of enough churches that I have experienced the joy of
evolving friendships developing with former parishoners, as the “pastoral” relation-
ship ends, and the friendships deepen.
Thank you for being the wonderful Church you are. Know that you are truly blessed
to be receiving Kiboko and Betty Kiboko to this Church and Parsonage. Get to
know them. Support them. I’ve known them for over 30 years, and you will be well
served.
So now, let me close my final letter in the same way I’ve closed the worship ser-
vices.
We go with God. God our Creator, Who is the first One to ever whisper to you for
me the words, “I Love you.” We go with God His Son, Jesus Christ, Who has gone
before us in death and given us the gifts of salvation and resurrection. And we got
with God the Holy Spirit, Who is always present with us for guidance, comfort, and
strength. We all go with, and abide in this God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Love in Jesus,
Phil Webb
Page 3
Phil used this benediction at his daughter’s college baccalaureate and wanted to share it with you upon
his leaving this church for another.
May God permeate you with gratitude for each day.
May God guide you to practice generous hospitality to all you meet.
May God disturb you, that you may act wisely against the injustices you encounter.
May God possess you with compassion, that you may love without condition.
May God invade you with courage, that you may stand boldly for the way of peace.
May God ignite in you the passion to pursue your dreams for a better world.
May God nourish you with friendships that nurture your body, mind, and spirit.
May God overwhelm you with the joy and hope of this life you have been given.
May God proclaim from your mouths, words of kindness, wisdom, honesty, knowledge, peace, and loving
truth.
May God open your ears, that you may receive and manifest words of kindness, honesty, knowledge, peace,
and loving truth.
May God lay in your eager hands, acts of reconciliation, of healing, and of building community.
May God guard your heart, that you may face your fears, and realize the full unfolding of your life.
May you be given the stamina to walk the path of God.
May you be saturated with the vision God gives all people, that you may become the person you were created
to me.
May God fling the doors of infinite possibilities wide open before you, as these familiar doors are closed be-
hind you.
Go in the knowledge and faith of Jesus Christ, our Teacher, Sovereign, and Savior.
AMEN!
Greetings,
I would like to make a donation to help with the Carillon Bell’s mainte-
nance. I live just a few blocks from the church and winter and summer, es-
pecially summer when I am outside, I love to hear their songs. Thank you
for continuing to have them play. They don’t distract anything, they just add
to the small town ambiance and cause us to stop and listen.
Sincerely, Carol Peterson
Page 4
Everyone struggles sometimes. A difficult medical diagnosis, the loss of a job, the death of spouse, aging
parents, financial stress - every life includes rough spots. Feelings of pain, sadness, frustration, abandonment,
fear and shame can leave us isolated and alone. But, we aren’t meant to make the journey on our own, cut off
from people who love us and want to support us.
We have pathways that lead to care:
* Homebound Communion is always available to shut-in or ill church members. Please contact the office to
request communion.
* Homebound or Shut-In Members: If you are a shut-in or know a shut-in who needs care, please contact the
church office (732-5458) and ask for Lynn who will be happy to set up a time to visit with you.
* Bulletin/Messenger Prayer List: Please email the prayer contact to initiate a prayer request
([email protected]). If you would like the pastor to contact you regarding your concern,
let us know directly. Please note that concerns on the prayer list will be handled with sensitivity
and respect.
* Pastor Care: Pastor Phil is available to listen, encourage, provide spiritual support, pray with
and refer to appropriate resources. Please contact the pastor directly or call the office for a confidential
appointment.
* Hospital Visits: The pastor or ministry helper are available to visit members before, during or
after a stay in the hospital. Please be sure to call or have a family member call the office or the
pastor if you’d like a visit..
We want to be there for you!
During the COVID-19 Quarantine we are not able to visit shut-ins or nursing facilities.
We have two high school students who are raising chickens and ducks as a 4-H project. They are selling the farm
fresh, free range chicken and duck eggs for $3.00 a dozen. If you are interested in purchasing some of these omega
-3 rich farm eggs, you can contact Amelia or Nathan Stark at 712-749-0941.
Thank you to the VBC volunteers!!! Our first ever virtual Vacation Bible Camp would not have
happened without many delightfully talented volunteers. Special thanks to Cheryl Baughman and
Jean Bellinghausen for bringing the Bible stories to life in such an authentic and entertaining man-
ner. Special thanks to Nancy Sliefert for get the fun gizmos up and
running plus sharing some great riddles and jokes in the Imagination
Station. Special thanks to Marjean O’Bannon for making the Bible
point applicable to our everyday life in the Kid Vid Cinema. Spe-
cial thanks to Lynn Snyder for recording every center and putting
the segments together so professionally for the daily presentation on the church website.
Special thanks also to Kathy Wadsley for her help in rewriting some of the segments to fit
our video presentation. Also a big than you to Dale & Kim Carver for helping with the
set. Our online Rocky Railway VBC is both entertaining and educational. If you have
time, be sure to take a peek on our church website slumc.weebly.com! It will be posted
on the website until July 12th.
Unfortunately, we have decided it
is best to postpone our 150th Celebration
activities until next year. But we still
want to celebrate our members who are 90
years young and will be contacting you to
be able to visit with you.
We also would like everyone to
write about your experiences in our church
for you and your family, how this
pandemic has affected you and your
family, and anything else you would like
to add. What would we like to tell or
show people who will read these accounts
100 years from now.
We hope everyone can stay safe
and well and soon we will be able to
worship together.
Storm Lake
United Methodist Church
Save The Date
150th
Anniversary
Celebration
Postponed until 2021
9:30 am Fellowship Time
10:30 am Worship w/Special Guests
Dinner to follow
Page 5
School Supply Giveaway This Year
B.L.E.S.S. will have a school supply giveaway this year! It will be a combination of a call-in/drive thru pick up & some supplies given directly to the schools for distribution.
We will be setting call in times, taking the student’s information, give them a pick up number & time frame so we can pre-fill the backpacks and then just deliver them to the student in their vehicle on distribution day. This will be the best way for us and the students to stay safe.
There are some supplies we are still in need of such as spiral notebooks, Ziploc bags, baby wipes and plas-tic pencil boxes. There will likely be other items when the lists are posted.
We really do appreciate your ongoing support for this program!! B.L.E.S.S. would not exist without you and your support!! Thank you!!
Please follow us on Facebook for additional updates!
Page 6
Donna Spooner Kim Piercy Kipp North Aila Nesbitt Sarah Dvergsten Lois Vetter Shaun Sievers Alyssa Eaton Dan Bogaard Dustin Robinson Grant Z. Ross Brown Maridee Bohlmann Nancy Hoch Courtney Campbell Chuck Olsen Dexter Meseck Susan Friday Pat Cone Tate Franzmeyer Bruce Norris Catherine Campbell Elayne Grapenthin (Vivian Kaufman’s sister) Tom Hummel Gwen Henrich Brenda Nickolisen Vicki Sharon Sanford Jim Gaes Cassidy Gransow Ashlee Sammons Jennifer Sammons Jim Moody Jeremy Hansen Suzi Krajnyak Amie Campbell Amanda North Willis All who are affected by COVID 19
Those serving in the military:
Brandon Cressler Cody Medsker Tyler Munden Trevor Bremer Sean McIntyre David Henson Shawn Barnett Sean Licari Dr. Collin Schultz Brandon Edwards
PRAYER FOR THE SICK
Father God, we lift up all those who
are facing illness today. We ask that
you would bring healing, comfort
and peace to their bodies. Calm
their fears and let them experience
the healing power of Your love! In
Jesus' name. Amen!
Celebrating a birthday 80 and above for July
Shirley Strait 7/21
Gwen Henrich 7/30
Harold North 7/09
Celebrating anniversaries of 25 years and more for June
Don & Caroline Kluver 7/07 (64 years)
Don & Phyllis Jackson 7/14 (52 years)
Mick & Karen Salmen 7/27 (46 years)
Bryce & Kathy Ponsor 7/27 (29 years)
Fred & Cheryl Zemke 7/25 (28 years)
If you are not listed on the birthdays or anniversaries list, it is because we do not have the information in our records. Please contact the office if you would like to be included.
(Please contact the office with anyone you would like added/removed to these lists.)
Our mobile directory contains contact information for families of the United Methodist Church and is an easy-to-use tool to help you stay connected. PLUS, you will see portraits of families that participated in our recent photography event. To access the mo-
bile directory go to our church website slumc.weebly.com and click on the Membership Directory tab, and then on the button. You will be asked for an Access Code. You will need to call the church office for this code at 732-5458. To update your contact information please contact Lynn at 732-5458 or
From the Librarian
Page 7
July 2020
We’re on the Web!
www.slumc.weebly.com
Follow us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Storm-
Lake-United-Methodist-
The Library is open for business!
Please call the office before coming to the church.
Marjean will open the doors when you arrive.
We have hand sanitizer for use before going into the library.
Browse to your hearts content. Check your book (s) out. Use hand sanitizer on your way out!
THANK YOU to the individuals that have been stopping by our
church library and checking materials out! We are so lucky to have
the variety of books and DVDs for all ages. We even have Books
on CD.
On the library table is still the display
of books that are available to us help cope
through these challenging times. Max Luca-
do has a couple of the books: You’ll Get
Through This and Anxious for Noth-
ing. We also have a variety of devotional
books available to check out.
General Ministries Fund
2020 BUDGET $364,000.00
Goal by May 31 $181,999.99
Rec’d by May 31 $153,185.77
Worship Attendance Sat. 5:30/Sun. 8:30 & 11:00
Coronavirus Outbreak—No Services at church building
