The Messenger May 2017
HOPE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Sunday 8:30 am - Havelock, 752 Dean Street
Sunday School 9:00 am - Pocahontas
Sunday 10:00 am - Pocahontas, 306 2nd Avenue NW
Pastor Jerry Miller email: pastorhopeumc@ever tek.net
cell Ph. 712-335-2273
Church Office Mon.-Fri. Hours: 9:00-3:30pm
email: [email protected] Ph. 712-335-3663 Fax: 712-335-3406
Keep in touch with Hope UMC: hopeumcia.org
Hope UMC—Pocahontas, Havelock & Plover
REMEMBER THE FOOD PANTRY!
the 2nd Sunday of every month is
Food Pantry Sunday
Please bring registrations to the church office.
***One Service at the
Pocahontas Center***
Please make plans to join us on
May 14th and May 28th
for one service at the
Pocahontas Center at 10 a.m.
We hope
to see
you there!
Faithfully Serving Christ Together
What a Joy it was to welcome 13 New Members on April 30 to Faithfully Serve Christ
through the ministry of Hope UMC.
We were blessed to welcome with joy and thanksgiving twelve (12) youth who made their
Profession of Faith. Three (3) received the Sacrament of Baptism and nine (9) Confirmed
their Baptism. We also welcomed Becky Ives who transferred her membership from The
Shared Ministry of Rolfe.
Together with these youth we all renewed our Baptismal Covenant and our Membership
Vows to faithfully participate in the ministries of the church by our prayers, presence, gifts,
service and witness. May we all faithfully serve Christ together.
Bring a friend to worship with you. Pastor Jerry
Hope UMC Confirmation Class 2017
row 1: Ally Ernst, Bobby Ernst, Sadie Andersen, Kristen Davis
row 2: Caleb Freeburg, Chase Cook, Jake Ferguson, Josee Slama
row 3: Christian Davidson, Ruger Bunda, Hannah Grothaus, Riley Hopkins, Pastor Jerry
Summer 2017 Lake Okoboji United Methodist Camp!
Without a doubt, UM Camp Okoboji is the greatest camp around! Their 100+ years of service is solid proof! If you have never been to this camp, once you experience UM Camp Okoboji, you will want to return summer after summer.
We want everyone who wants to go to camp to be able to go. The church asks that parents or guardians pay 25% of the cost of camp if they are able to. We also can’t stress enough that if you are not able to pay the 25% ~ DO NOT let this stop you or your children from attending camp!
There are many funding resources available to allow anyone who wants to go to camp to be able to go. Please bring ALL camp registration forms to Pastor Jerry [unless you are paying 100% of the cost yourself]. Let him know at that time if a scholarship is needed in order for someone to attend camp.
If you have any questions about camp, please talk with Pas-tor Jerry. 712-335-3663 Thank you.
Let’s Go to Church Camp!!!
BEST.WEEK.EVER!
PLEASE bring all camp registrations to the office unless
you are paying 100% yourself. Thanks.
ANNIVERSARIES AND BIRTHDAYS
Lectionary Scriptures
May 7 Acts 2:42-47, Psalm 23, 1 Peter 2:19-25, John 10:1-10
May 14 Acts 7:55-60, Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16, 1 Peter 2:2-10, John 14:1-14
May 21 Acts 17:22-31, Psalm 66:8-20, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21
May 28 Acts 1:6-14, Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35, 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11, John 17:1-11
June 4 Acts 2:1-21, Psalm 104:24-34, 35b, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13, John 7:37-39
Bernard & Dawn Gathers 5/3
Allan Jr. and Cathy Minkler 5/19
Gary & Mona Zhorne 5/24
Duane & Beth Wiemers 5/25
Jim & Kari Swanson 5/26
Carol & Leo Hallman 5/28
Bill & Sarah Hubbell 5/28
Donnie & Carol McLain 5/29
Sue & Donn Wasko 5/29
Sybil Kinney 5/2
Heidi Freeburg 5/3
Brad Arnold 5/4
Beth Wiemers 5/4
Darvin Hauswirth 5/5
Anna McNeel 5/8
Donn Wasko 5/10
Angela Cook 5/14
Justin Peters 5/14
Kris Hauswirth 5/14
Philip Minkler 5/18
Floyd Nielsen 5/19
Ryan Baade 5/21
Chase Cook 5/21
Lori Barth 5/22
Olivia Anderson 5/24
Marty Rotert 5/25
Bob Reinhart 5/25
Colton Freeburg 5/26
Amy Miller 5/26
Terrie Allen 5/28
Kay MacVey 5/28
Doug Anderson 5/29
Hailey Ferguson 5/30
Emma Fosburgh 5/31
Carmen Hubbell 5/31
Justice Point 5/31
Be Our Guest!
Peace Circle is hosting a special event
Plover Center Hope United Methodist Church
May 10 at 2 p.m.
Peggy Studer will present highlights from her trip to Israel.
Refreshments to follow.
VBS NEWS!! June 26-29, 2017
SAVE THE DATES!!
Hope United Methodist will be teaming up with the Ingham Okoboji Lutheran
Bible camp for VBS Day Camp again this summer! At Day Camp, kids will encounter a fun week packed with Christ-centered activities, games, arts and crafts, songs, skits and Bible-based les-sons.
A team of Christ-centered, trained and energetic staff from Ingham Okoboji Camp will once again be leading the week's activities here at Hope UMC, Poca-hontas Center! We would like to put together a prayer team to begin praying for this important event. If you are interested in being "on the team" please con-tact a member of the Education
Ministry Team or the church office. Covering all these young people in prayer is such a gift!
Our VBS theme this year is "Rooted" based on Colossians 2:6-7. The Education Team is excited to be working and
preparing the way for the Okoboji staff to arrive in late June. Please be watch-ing for future bulletins, newsletters and of course those clipboards for ways you can help make this year's VBS a blessing for kids in our community. Join us this summer and get "ROOTED"!!!
WORSHIP ASSISTANTS †
May 7 Brian & Shela Blomker Communion Stwd's
May 7 Carol McCurdy Liturgist
May 7 Bryan & Melissa Rahn family Fellowship
May 14 Donnie McLain Liturgist
May 14 Mother's Day - Volunteers Fellowship
May 21 Judy Pursley Liturgist
May 21 Carol McCurdy Fellowship
May 21 Keith & Kathy Johnson Fellowship
May 28 Brian Blomker Liturgist
May 28 Brian & Shela Blomker Fellowship
May Caleb Freeburg Acolyte Poc
May Hunter Grothaus Acolyte Poc
May Steve Hopkins Usher Poc
May Butch Clark Usher Poc
May Floyd Nielsen Usher Poc
May Don Ayers Usher Poc
May Greeters -
north door: Martie Nedved
south door: Dixie Gottsch
east door: Don Ayers
west door:
DATE
POCAHONTAS
HAVELOCK
PLOVER
TOTAL
Apr. 2 91 43 134
Apr. 9 81 31 112
Apr. 16 135 50 185
Apr. 23 95 30 125
Worship Attendance at Hope UMC
HOPE
UMC
FREE SATURDAY SUPPER
Saturday ~ May 20, 2017
Serving from 5 - 6:30 p.m.
At HOPE UMC, Pocahontas Center
There will be many opportunities to help
prepare, serve and clean-up.
Watch for the clipboard in worship
Or call 712-335-3663
UDMO Food Pantry Sunday
May 14, 2017
A reminder from the Missions Committee
We have the buckets and we have the sweaters.
Now we need you to help fill the cleaning buckets and complete the layettes.
Check the tear-off lists in each center to see what is still needed. And…. monetary
donations are also appreciated. Just indicate “kits” in the memo line of your
check. Please bring your items by May 21 and place in the marked boxes at each
center. Thank you!
___________________________________________
Safe-T Home Update
We have received $4,390 towards
our 2017 goal of $7,000 to provide
the funds for the building of a Safe-
T Home in Haiti. Thank you for
your generous gifts.
New Pastor Announcement:
The Staff Parish Relations Committee is pleased to announce that Pastor Elijah Nagbe has
been appointed to become the pastor of the Hope Parish of Pocahontas, Havelock and Plover
beginning near July 1 of this year.
Pastor Elijah is a member of the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
He has been in the United States for 28 years and has served churches in Missouri and Okla-
homa. He is currently living in Pennsylvania and has three daughters – Setonee (14), Emily
(12) and Mboweh (6). Setonee will be joining Pastor Elijah here in Pocahontas.
We are looking forward to welcoming Pastor Elijah into our church family and the community.
____________________________________________________________________________
Read some classics from the HUMC library!
C.S Lewis books available for check-out:
Mere Christianity (inspirational)
The Problem of Pain: How Human Suffering Raises Al-
most Intolerable Intellectual Problems (inspirational)
The Great Divorce: A Fantastic Bus Ride from Hell to
Heaven—A round Trip for Some but not for Others
(fiction)
Biography of C.S Lewis:
C.S. Lewis: Author of Mere Christianity by Sam Wellman
Leadership Team Meeting
April 20, 2017
Place: Pocahontas Center, 7:00 pm
Attendance: Pastor Jerry, Chris Radig, Melissa Rahn, Carol Hallman, Allan Frevert, Elaine Cook, Moira Hop-
kins, Linda Ferguson, Brad Cook, Dixie Gottsch, Judy Timan, Don McLain, Carol Mc Curdy and Judy Pursley
Chris opened the meeting by reading part of chapter 2 in Membership to Discipleship and discussing his feel-
ings about the chapter.
Minutes were silently read and Allan made a motion to approve the minutes as read. Linda seconded.
Minutes were approved.
Treasurer's Report: In March we had $14,568 available. We had $14,432 in expenses leaving us with $136
in cash at the end of the month in the general account. In February we transferred $3,200 out of Soup and
Pie to pay our monthly bills. In March we were able to repay Soup and Pie that amount. We will be two
months behind on paying our Apportionment payment as we just don't have the available funds to pay
them. We will move the remaining funds in the non-budget item Carpet to the line item Capital Improve-
ment as the carpet has been paid for. Pastor's Spiritual Renewal line item, which is an endowment, has re-
mained the same for many years. In April, we have $5,500 in bills yet to pay plus we need $6,568 to catch up
our Apportionments. Allan made a motion to approve the treasurer's report and Carol H. seconded. Motion
carried.
The Leadership Team discussed what parts of chapter 2 in Membership to Discipleship captured their atten-
tion and why. They then shared responses to the Reflection Questions in the book to give to the Education
Ministry Team to continue leading us in making this shift.
The Leadership Team then looked at the worship attendance report. We have 146 active mem-
bers: Pocahontas has 112, Havelock 19, and Plover has 15 that attend regularly and give regularly. We were
asked, "What is God asking of us as we examine our current reality and plan for our future?" Allan present-
ed a detailed proposal for changes of the Hope UMC Blend. The centers would become individual centers
and share a pastor. Pocahontas Center would pay 75% of the costs and Plover and Havelock Centers would
each pay 12.5%. Between them they would have a quarter time pastor and one service per week between
the two centers. There were other division of funds, duties, etc. also stated. Allan and Linda will contact Tom
Carver, District Superintendent to let him know what we are thinking. Then we will meet with the other cen-
ters to discuss the proposal.
Ministry Team Reports:
Worship Team: Carol H. said that we had a very nice Maundy Thursday service. Many positive comments
were heard about the Good Friday service. The choir will sing April 23 & 30 and then in May. Joy Bells will
play on April 23.
Education Team: Moira reported that we had Camp Sundays at the centers and will not be having a Senior
Recognition Sunday in Pocahontas Center. We have only one senior, Dane Hubbell. They are planning a
brunch at Havelock to honor him. VBS is June 26-29 and the team is working on that.
Outreach Team: Elaine said that they have been working on a budget and making long range plans. They are
reaching out to the community with invitation postcards and other means.
Mission Team: Dixie told us that the clipboards have been prepared with tear-off strips for items to be includ-
ed in the cleaning buckets. We are hoping for 12 buckets. They are going to be promoting the Safe-T-Home
that will be at the Clay Co. fair in Spencer. So far we have $4,390 of the $7000 needed for the Safe-T-Home
that we are sending to Haiti. The Saturday Night Supper is coming up April 29. The next meeting will be May
8th.
SPRC: Linda told us that our incoming pastor is Elijah Nagbe. He is from Liberia and has been in this country
for 28 years. He and his wife have three daughters: 14, 12 and 6. He is currently in Pennsylvania. His intern-
ship was in the Humboldt-Gilmore City Church. He will be here July 1. The team is planning a goodbye pot-
luck for Pastor Jerry and Amy.
Trustees: Brad said the lights in the sanctuary have been changed. Ladies (probably Joan Reinhart and Shela
Blomker) cleaned up the refrigerator in the Friendship Room. Brad and Linda F. have done a parsonage walk-
through and noted what needed to be worked on. They haven't scheduled a spring work day yet.
UMW: Judy T. said that there were 26 in attendance at the meeting today. The next one will be May 10 and
Peace Circle will be in charge of it.
Pastor called our attention to the letter from Tom Carver thanking us for paying our full apportionments for
last year. On April 30 we will have Confirmation /New Member Sunday. We will have 3 youth baptized, 9 con-
firmed, and 13 new members.
Pastor closed with a prayer and a reminder to study chapter 3 for the next meeting on May 11.
Submitted by Judy Pursley
Leadership Team Secretary
May Events
May 4: Charity Circle - program: Ernella VanHorn
May 4: Truth Circle - program: Karen Boyd
May 6: Invitation to a 9:30 a.m. Friendship Brunch at St. Peter Lutheran.
program: Quilts of Valor; Prayers & Square Quilts by Mary Behrends of Lone Rock, IA.
May 10: Peace Circle - program: Candace Larson
May 10: Peggy Studer will tell about her trip to Israel at 2 p.m. Call Dixie (335-4032) to pool rides from Pocahontas to Plover.
May 14: Mother's Day
***Thank you to everyone who helped with kitchen cleaning!!
A good attendance of 26 were enthused and encouraged by Carol Helland's program of Days for Girls Organization given April 20th in the Hospitality Hall. Carol, of Ames and Kay Hertz, of Des Moines as well as our District Shepherdess, Pat Frantz, of Laurens were special guests. A monetary donation from UMW and Peace Circle was given in support of Days for Girls.
Bible Verse: 1 John 4:10 - "This is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us and
sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
JOY BELLS ARE ON THE MOVE!
In May the Joy Bells will be on tour! Our first stop will be May 10,
2017 at 4:00 p.m. at Arlington Place. On May 17, 2017 at 4:00 p.m.
we will be playing at the Pocahontas Manor Care Center. Friday,
May 19, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. will be our final stop at the Pocahontas
Catholic School for their Volunteer Recognition Mass. You are all
invited to come and listen to the Joy bells at any or all of these places. We would like to take
this opportunity to thank all of you for your support throughout this past year. We will take
the summer off and see you again in the fall after school starts.