“To know and follow Christ and to help others know and follow Christ.”
JUNE > 2016
1340 3rd Ave SE | Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 | 319.363.2058 | stpaulsumc.org
1340 3rd Ave SE | Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
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Forward in Faith
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9 We’re grateful for the energy and gifts Pastor Allison has shared with all of us through Children’s messages, Café Chats, and leadership. And, we welcome Keith Pitts into his new expanded role, beginning this summer (see SPRC article and their letters inside on page 9 for details).
Passing the Baton
may 29 > Placed for Good june 05 > Guest Preacher: Jennifer Petersen june 12 > Placed for Good: Creation june 19 > Placed for Good: Sent june 26 > Placed for Good: the Gifted july 03 > Placed for Good: Shared Life
sermon series
Psalm 96
Sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord! Bless his name! Share the news of his saving work every single day!...
From Pastor Sherrie Lead Pastor
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Hello!
I’m told that June is the month that holds the most transitions and changes for families. Routines change for students, parents, and organizations, including the church. When change comes, some anxiety goes alongside.
With changes in staff, construction zones moving ministries around, PDO and FOCUS being hosted in neighboring churches for a year, combining our Worship Café services, accessing ‘myStPauls’ membership portal on our new web site, our ongoing Visioning process, the United Methodist General Conference actions for our denomination, and many new members of African heritage joining St. Paul’s, we’ve got a
lot going on right now! Whew! We continue to change and grow in diversity and beauty in God’s kingdom.
Recently, I described the upcoming summer at St. Paul’s to a few faithful people from some other denominations. One of them said, “It sounds like an explosion of the Spirit…” To think that our walls will literally come down and our welcome will widen to the community in membership, partnerships, technology connections, hospitality spaces, and visioning vitality, the Spirit certainly is moving!
If you’ve found yourself to be anxious in any of these transitions, the psalmist reminds us to find the song in each season. (Psalm 96,
above!) It’s a song of God’s saving work every day. It’s a song of truth that never changes and unites us across time and place. It is a song that soothes the soul and sounds like hope!
Join us for worship now through mid-July, where our songs and sermons remind us that we are “Placed for Good.” It’s our commitment to the place we find ourselves in creation, in neighborhoods and communities, in God’s story now and forever.
Gathering, Forming Sending… by God’s grace, from the center of the city.
Grace & peace, Pastor Sherrie
Worship Sunday
18:15 am | Communion Worship {Chapel} 19:00 am | Traditional Worship* {Sanctuary} 10:20 am | Sunday School for Children, Youth, & Adults 10:30 am | Worship Café-Contemporary {Wesley Center} 11:30 am | Worship Café-Contemporary {Wesley Center} 12:00 pm | African Nationals Worship {Sanctuary}
TGIW {Thank God It’s Wednesday}
16:00 pm | Activities for all ages.
Thursday 10:30 am | Neighborhood Worship {Chapel}
Saturday 12:00 pm | African Nationals Worship {Room 117}
View Worship *Sunday’s 9:00 am traditional worship
may be viewed on: Mediacom Cable Channel 117-1*
*(for digital TV’s that do not have a cable box)
Mediacom Cable Channel 4**
**(for TV’s with a cable box) at 6:00 pm Wednesdays
ImOn Channel 4 at 10:00 am Thursdays
Invite someone to join you and worship God!
St. Paul’s Lemonade Stand opens on Thursday, June 2, 2016 from 1:00-4:00 pm on the corner of 3rd Avenue and 14th Street. Delicious lemonade, cookies, and treats for pets will be served every Thursday during the months of June, July, and August. The Lemonade Stand offers fun, fellowship, conversations, and smiles to members of our surrounding community. Please contact Janet Webster at 393-5709 if you would like to volunteer.
Why Hospitality? “Say hello to each other with a holy kiss…” ~ Romans 16:16a. I’m usually one of the first people here on a Sunday morning, but the
last Sunday of my family leave, Stephanie, Charles, and I attended worship together. That morning we were warmly greeted in the parking lot and as we entered the building and as we entered the sanctuary and as we were ushered to a seat that would be suitable for a couple with a baby in tow. I love our ministries of hospitality at St. Paul’s! Yet, it is quite an undertaking each week to offer such a warm welcome.
Why do we take hospitality so seriously at St. Paul’s? One might think it is a simple matter of kindness: it is better to enter a place where someone greets you than one where you seem to go unnoticed. That’s very true, but, for Christians, hospitality is about more than that. For us, offering hospitality is a matter of discipleship. You see, Jesus’ ministry was one of gathering and noticing and welcoming people to him. That is still his work: our future hope is to join with Jesus at God’s kingdom banquet where Jesus is the host who has prepared a place for us. When we offer warm welcome to others, we show that the work of Jesus is our work too.
Yes, hospitality is the work of all disciples of Jesus; all of us! And, while I’m not asking you to go around kissing everyone as the apostle Paul instructed the Romans, I would encourage each of us to be intentional in making St. Paul’s a welcoming place for all we encounter here!
Pastor Jonathan
Welcoming
The Neighborhood Meal Enrichment Program provides warm, nutritious meals for our community.
The Neighborhood Meal & Enrichment Program (NMEP) Needs You!
The Neighborhood Meal and Enrichment Program provides a warm, nutritious meal for (but not limited to) the Wellington Heights, Mound View, and Oak Hill neighborhood children and their families. Noon meals are provided at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church Monday through Friday, June 6 - August 19. The meals are prepared and served on site. Six community churches have helped to sponsor the program for over 25 years. A total of 6,251 meals were prepared and served during the summer of 2015. Opportunities to serve include food preparation, serving in the kitchen or dining room. There is even a sit down job. To volunteer, look for the sign up table in the main hallway between services.
VBS Leaders Needed We need shepherds for preschool through 4th grade as well as assistants for recreation, science, and reading/games. Youth 5th grade and up can help! Talk to Pastor Allison for more details!
Pathfinders Fun Day, May 29 On the last day of spring Sunday School, 3 year olds through 4th graders should come ready for fun! If it’s nice out, we’ll play on the playground. If not, we’ll watch a movie. Either way, come to room 307 for fellowship time with your church friends!
Dates to Know May 29 > Pathfinders Fun Day
June 5 > No Children’s Sunday School
June 12 > No Children’s Sunday School
June 19 > Summer Sunday School for Preschool through 4th grade starts in room 317 at 9:00 am
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Children’s Discipleship Questions? Contact Pastor Allison at allison@stpaulsumc.org or 363-2058.
Vacation Bible School, June 10-12 Register now for VBS either online or by picking up a form at church. Kids age 3 through completing 4th grade will learn to be “Rooted in God’s Love” during VBS. It’s free this year, so join us for food and fellowship Friday, June 10, 6:00-8:00 pm, and Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12, 10:30 am-12:30 pm. Lunch will be available afterwards on Saturday and Sunday. We expect VBS to fill up, so register soon!
Our Parents’ Day Out 4 year olds graduated on May 11. We’ll miss you, and have fun in kindergarten!
Summer Sunday School Starts June 19 Children’s Sunday School during the summer will be held in room 317 at 9:00 am. This will help with shared spaces during construction and hopefully give more children a chance to attend. Children are, of course, welcome to attend 9:00 am worship if that’s what their families prefer. Sunday School will go back to the normal 10:20 am time in the fall. There will be no children’s Sunday School June 5 and 12.
Family Mission Trip: You’re Invited! The annual mission trip is intergenerational this year, so families with children finishing kindergarten and older can go along as a family to serve God’s kingdom together July 17-23. Pick up an informational packet from the youth room 110 or talk to Keith Pitts at kpitts@ stpaulsumc.org.Preschool listening ears.
Youth Discipleship
Adult Discipleship
We are now entering into our season of missions in Word Ministries here at St. Paul’s. As we have spent the last year planning and fundraising for the three trips we will take, there are a couple things that have stood out to me.
First, I notice the level of love, support, and giving the people of St. Paul’s for our youth and their calling to be the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus Christ. It is a rare thing to see such support for the youth ministries of the church. Second, I notice the passion and excitement our youth have for serving Jesus Christ in mission. Of all the alternative opportunities our youth and sponsors have to go and have fun, they choose our trips. They choose heat, sweat, tears, cuts, bruises, and freedom to help those who are suffering, hurting, and less fortunate. This summer we will be fixing two camps, three parachurch organizations, and repairing homes for those
Youth Summer Missions
Summer Faith Forum You are invited to a Summer Faith Forum...”Living Our Faith in Today’s World.” Classes will be held weekly, beginning Sunday, May 29, 10:20-11:20 am in Wesley Center (at least for the first weeks).
Agenda • 10:20 am – Informal time, conversations with new or old friends • 10:35 am – Opening Devotions, pausing to praise God • 10:45 am – A pertinent topic, addressed by a presenter, followed by discussion • 11:15 am – Closing • 11:20 am – Adjourned & sent to “live our faith”
Schedule of Presenters & Topics May 29 – Rev. Jerry Oakland, Introduction to the series, with comments about the UMC General Conference
June 5 – Rev. Tom Sears, Biblical Foundation for Social Justice
June 12 – Vonda Birchmier, Slavery Still Exists – Even in Iowa
Future topics might include: Climate Justice, Domestic Violence, Art and Faith, Sermon Discussion, Palliative Care, Heroin Addiction
Goals: 1. To provide a meaningful Christian growth experience in a new time, place, and format. 2. To invite 10:30 am worshippers to a new faith formation experience. 3. To get people together – so we get to know more people. 4. To provide a springboard for further study and/or action. 5. To explore issues and concerns of our society in the context of our faith.
Nancy AntonJensen, Adult Spiritual Formation Chair
who can’t afford to fix them. Please pray for our teams as they represent Jesus Christ and St. Paul’s in the mission field to which they have been called. All for the Glory of God!
Blessings, Keith
Thank You Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers! Together, the Spirit Night Chick-fil-a fundraiser was a blessing! Congratulations to “ALL” the Plincko and wheel spinning WINNERS! Because of all of you, our youth council raised $51.08 for missions.
Tamera Preston, Youth Council Fundraising Chair
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Sending UMW
June 5: His Hands Healing Ministry July 3: Matthew 25 August 7: Food Bank-Fill the Truck
Upcoming Special Offerings
Willis Dady Seeking Sunday Meals Provided Willis Dady Homeless Shelter is seeking a few volunteers to provide a Sunday afternoon meal. The shelter asks to either prepare and serve, or just drop off a meal for 25-30 clients between 11:00-11:30 am on a Sunday. If need be, the meal may be dropped off Saturday any time after 2:00 pm. However, the food should be cooked and need only warming if delivered on Saturday.
This is the current list of Sundays that we still need church communities to deliver meals: • July 3 and 28 • August 28 • September 4 and 25 • October 2 and 30 • November 6 and 27 • December 4 and 25
Willis Dady is a small building so they really only need maximum of 8 people to serve meals. If you would like to sign up to serve/provide a meal, please contact Joseph Sorensen at Willis Dady directly at 362-7555.
June 5 Mission Partner Offering- His Hands Free Medical Clinic His Hands provides free medical, chiropractic, women’s health, mental health, physical therapy and dental services in the Wellington Heights neighborhood. Their mission is bringing glory to God by meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those without adequate resources. They are seeking medical volunteers, social work volunteers, administrative/ clerical help, and prayer support for patients. Contact His Hands at 862-2636 if you are interested in volunteering. His Hands is a new mission partner for St. Paul’s, and we are excited to partner with them!
UMW Upcoming Events Reminder to UMW Members
Have you participated in one of the 2016 Reading Program Plans? If so, please submit the following information before June 1, 2016.
1. Your name and address 2. Which of the four plans you chose 3. Titles of each completed book along with its category Send your information to me by e-mail, regular mail or take it to the church office and put it in the UMW basket.
Kay Cline, Secretary of Program Resources & Supportive Services
UMW please save the dates: (Check with your circle chairs for more info)
• Day Trip to Iowa City (Dream Center, Wesley Foundation, and R Place): July 14 • Mission u, Marshaltown: July 17-20 • Kool Kool Salad Luncheon (Fundraiser for Youth Mission Projects): July 28 • District Mission Study Day at CR Salem UMC: August 11, 9:00 am-2:00 pm • Retreat at Clear Lake: August 19-21
Day Trip to Iowa City, July 14 St. Paul’s UMW planned a day trip to Iowa City this summer. We will gather at the annex for an 8:30 am departure time on Thursday July 14. We will tour the Dream Center, Wesley Foundation, and The R Place in Iowa City. Mark your calendars and plan to spend a day with your UMW sisters. Reservations are required to assure adequate transportation and lunch reservations. Sign up in the church office (363-2058) or email Dixie Allen at dixieofcr@mediacombb.net. There is no charge for the trip, except the cost of your lunch. This event is sponsored by St. Paul’s United Methodist Women.
Save the Date: Trunk Sale, September 24 There will not be a Thrift Mart this fall, it’s true, but UMW will sponsor a “Trunk Sale” on September 24. Gather up items you would like to sell out of the trunk of your car. Money raised will help support the Missions of UMW and the church, just as they have from Thrift Mart. This will be a great opportunity to try something new!
Caring
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Last month, I attended the Stephen Ministries Leadership Training Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. Stephen Ministers are trained individuals within the local church to offer one-on-one Christian caring. The ministry follows the direction in Galatians 6:2, “Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” The Leadership Training conference was developed to train Stephen Ministers and those interested in Stephen Ministries to be leaders in the local church program. A Stephen Minister Leader has many responsibilities within the local church including, raising awareness, recruiting and training new Stephen Ministers, leading current Stephen Ministers in continuing education, and helping facilitate small groups. The conference I attended included
more than 330 attendees from 35 different states and 4 countries. It was a fulfilling week of learning, training, advice, companionship, and prayer. I attended 25 90-minute sessions over the course of seven days, covering various topics, including how to motivate and encourage other Stephen Ministers, and how to identify those individuals who could benefit from a caring relationship with a Stephen Minister. I want to thank St. Paul’s UMC for the support in giving me this opportunity, and I look forward to using my training in the service of St. Paul’s UMC through Jesus Christ. If you have any questions about Stephen Ministries, I encourage you to call me or any of the Stephen Minister Leaders. My phone number is 319-398-9773.
Kevin Lodge, Stephen Leader
New Stephen Minister Class Your Stephen Ministry program is exploring the interest of a new class to become a Stephen Minister. If you have an interest in joining this rewarding group please let us know. The training would take place from late August until before Thanksgiving and we need at least six people. to learn more about this training directed at helping others who are experiencing difficulties in the lives and in need of support. For more information contact Nancy Nygren at 319-550-1455.
Mike Dulaney, Stephen Leader
Stephen Ministries Leadership Training Conference
Upon admission to the Emergency Room or the Hospital in general, the admission people are to ask you your church preference. Sometimes people are unable to answer these questions because of speech impairment or other impairments. If they fail to ask the question, please inform them your church preference. Whoever accompanies the person should answer this question for them. We do not want to miss the opportunity to visit our church members or those who designate
St. Paul’s as their church preference. Someone from the church, either our pastors, our parish nurse, Mary Horn, or three of our Stephen Leaders, Pat Bunch, Nancy Nygren, and Elaine Oxenford take turns visiting those of our members in the hospital every day but Saturday. On Sunday, John Nollsch and Any Bruner and whoever else wants to join them, go to sing to them after the 9:00 am church service.
Elaine Oxenford
Did You Know?
Prayer Requests for this devotion of caring will be added upon request and updated weekly. Communicate by use of the prayer request boxes, phone 363-2058, use the Prayer Request form on our website stpaulsumc.org or e-mail: silg@stpaulsumc.org. Include a permission to share with others, or a request for confidentiality.
Prayer Prayer Devotions The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
~ Psalm 27:1
Hear our prayers for… • Peace and reconciliation in places of conflict throughout the world and for those serving through our military. • Those struggling with addictions and mental health issues. • 50th wedding anniversary of Sandy and John McGee on May 15, 2016 • For our Congregational Ministries and God’s continued blessings!
Continued healing & grace for... • Gary Wallace • Tracey O’Shea (relative of Tamara Young) • Raine Allen (Dixie & Roger Allen’s granddaughter) • Joyce Johnson (Tim) • Martha Justice • Pam Oltmann • Max Fitz • Martha Grayson (Dave Mahlke’s sisiter) • Betty Cuthbertson • Helen Hixson • Mark Sawyer (cousin of Melissa Williams) • Joanne Havran (Leo) • Helen Cheney (Willard) • Grace Judd • Ethan Craig Miller (son of Angela & Jeff Miller, great-grandson of Max & Jean Fitz, grandson of Deann & Dan Zenor) • Diane Olsen (Frank) • Carol Cassells
• Alice Ndayizeke • Judy Franta • Anna Habonimana • Macumi Elias • Kristin Simon • Lori Anton (sister-in-law of Nancy and Brice AntonJensen) • Mina Arbore (John) • John McQuilkin (Jean Kwader’s father) • Clarence and Janette Mowery • Maria Bowman (Dan & Sally McAleer’s niece) • Mike Myers (Suzanne) • Isaiah Hatfield (premature infant son of Anya and Elizabeth Hatfield, grandson of Amy and Scott Bruner) • Whit Bohning (Linda Hadley’s great grandson) • Ryan Vick • Pam Anslyn (friend of Angela Stookey) • Marilyn Everett (Tamara Young’s mother) • Jan Keene (Kevin) • Scott Spoerl (Barb Newhall’s grandson) • Devin Simon (Kristin Simon’s nephew) • Heidi DeJong (Chaun) • Angela Stookey • Kris Yahn (Steve) • Quinn Anton Jensen (Nancy and Brice AntonJensen’s son) • Matthew Hudson (Fran Nathanson)
The Church of Jesus Christ... • Hillcrest family Services, and Gary Gansemer, & Staff (May 22) • North Liberty First-New Horizons, and Pastor Alecia Williams & Josh Rath (May 29)
• Iowa Annual Conference (June 5) • Central City, First, and Pastor Josh Hansen (June 12)
Memorial prayers for the families and friends of... • Dennis Dunek • Francis Molitor • Lynn Asprooth • Fran Richardson • Shirley Nebergall • Marcia Clemmons (Jerry)
Those under Hospice Care... • Scott Spoerl (Barb Newhall’s grandson) • Corrine Smallridge (Vicki Comer’s mother)
The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
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Open Chancel Flower Dates St. Paul’s Flower Ministry has dates available for chancel flower memorials. The dates available are as follows: June 12, June 26, July 24, and September. Please contact the church office if you would like to reserve a date for chancel flowers.
Etc. Campbell’s Soup Labels for Bidwell For several years Bidwell Riverside Center, a United Methodist sponsored agency in Des Moines, has requested Campbell’s soup labels to support their programs. As of July 1, 2016, this program is phasing out at Bidwell. If you have some labels collected, please bring them to the church office by June 1 so Grace Noonan can get our last batch sent.
Nursery Staff Needed St. Paul’s is looking for additional nursery staff. Staff employees must be at least 18 years of age, will need CPR and First Aid (church provided). Hours available are: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursday 6:30-9:00 pm and Sundays 8:00 am-12:00 pm. Please contact Lu Wherry (319 929-0132) if interested, or with questions.
Enjoy Singing? Want to give Sanctuary Choir a try? Summer Choir will begin June 1! Come join us for our summer series and find out what it’s like to sing with the choir. Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings 7:00-8:00 pm and we will sing in traditional worship through July 24. Contact Joel Foreman 319-360-2713 with any questions.
One of the valuable kits that we are invited to send through our United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is the sewing kit. According to our Iowa Ingathering publicity, “Sewing Kits foster independence rather than dependence. Cottage industries often grow out of sewing classes where these kits are used to practice skills.” Our kits will be shipped to developing countries where learning to sew is a valuable skill.
Do you have some cotton blend fabric which you planned to make into a quilt or pretty dress? Do you like to look at colorful sale fabric where you can even use a coupon? Then think of the Ingathering! (Please note that all items do need to be new.) If you wish to contribute any of the items, we will put the kits together to take to our annual Iowa Ingathering on November 5 at the Cedar Falls Site. Keep this project in mind over the summer and bring items to the Connection Center whenever it’s convenient for you. We will need all items by October 1 so we can assemble the kits.
The following items create a complete Sewing Kit: • 3 yards cotton or cotton blend fabric (one piece) • 1 sewing scissors • 1 new spool matching thread (med to large size) • 1 package hand sewing needles • 5-8 matching flat buttons on card (in original package)
Thank you so much! Barb Oakland and Myrna Cooney
from your St. Paul’s Ingathering Team
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2016 Guidebook Staff at St. Paul’s UMC is in the process of updating information for our 2016 Guidebook. Please go to our website at stpaulsumc.org and create a member log in at myStPauls to update your contact information. Please contact the church office with questions.
Sewing Kits for November Ingathering
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Two Announcements from Staff- Parish Relations Committee Three weeks ago I shared with you the fact that the church council decided to create a new position, Associate Pastor for Children, Youth, and Families. The council also expressed to the conference superintendent, Rev. Kiboko, our desire that Keith Pitts be appointed to that position. We have received word that, indeed, Bishop Trimble will appoint Keith to be one of our associate pastors, as a licensed local pastor, effective July 1. At that time he will be given the privilege and responsibility of administering the sacraments as well as serving as a pastor in the Iowa Conference. Before long the Staff-Parish Relations Committee will work with Pastors Sherrie, Jonathan, and Keith to develop specific responsibilities for the new position. Please congratulate Keith Pitts on this next step in his call to ministry.
Secondly, I want to share with you that Pastor Allison Warren also has received an appointment by Bishop Trimble to serve a church. The Bloomfield United Methodist Church, in southeast Des Moines, will be blessed with Pastor Allison’s gifts for ministry and by her gracious and energetic spirit. Bloomfield is a growing congregation and recently completed an addition to their historic building. Her ministry in Des Moines begins July 1. She will be with us for Vacation Bible School and then leaving in the middle of June. Please congratulate Allison Warren on this next step in her path of ministry.
Jerry Oakland, SPRC Chairperson
Thank You, St. Paul’s!
The past 8 years have been full of growth, joys, sorrows, and fun! Thank you for getting me started in ministry
and for partnering with me and encouraging me. The children of St. Paul’s are in good hands with so many faithful, creative, and committed disciples leading them. On behalf of all of the children and myself: thank you! I also want to thank all of you who attended my party, sent cards, and gave love gifts. I wish I could write you all individual thank-you notes, but I fear it would be an overwhelming task. Know that I thank God for each of you. I’ll be here at St. Paul’s through Vacation Bible School and then have some time to move to my new church. Starting July 1, I’ll be appointed to Bloomfield United Methodist Church in Des Moines where I’ll be the only pastor. I’m excited for this new role and ask for your continued prayers just as I will continue to pray for you!
Blessings, Pastor Allison
Excited About New Role
I am really excited about what is ahead for the children and youth ministries of St. Paul’s. As I
I enter into my new role here,
I am humbled by the absolutely amazing people that make up both the youth and children’s ministries. I have been truly blessed over the last year and I am looking forward to the new things God has in store for us as we fulfill our calling to make disciples for Jesus Christ. Please know my office is always open and there is always candy if any of the children or youth want to stop by for a high five, hug, or something sweet.
In His service, Keith
St. Paul’s is Moving Forward in Faith
Electrical Service ‘Pre-project’ electrical work is complete! We’re now powered by our new transformer, underground service, and circuit controls. Overhead electrical service wires in the alley are gone, and power poles have been ‘shortened’. We even salvaged two pieces of the infamous ‘leaning’ pole (see photos).
We’re waiting for communication wiring to be removed from the poles and moved underground by the various service providers. When this work is finished, the power poles will be removed.
Project Funding Approximately one third (1/3) of the total pledged dollars have been received to date. We had anticipated that this would occur, and we give thanks for all who have contributed and are faithfully meeting their pledge commitment! You are encouraged to remain ‘current’ in your contributions to the ‘Forward In Faith’ capital fund
so the amount of short-term construction loan borrowing can be minimized.
Interesting fact More than 30 members have already paid their pledges in full!
Design Work Your Building Committee members continue to meet as a team, and to interact with our architects and general contractor to review design details and cost information. Please note these near-term calendar details: • Construction Drawings and Documents should be complete by May 27. • General Contractor will solicit and receive bids from subcontractors during the month of June. These bids will form the basis of a ‘Guaranteed Maximum Price’ (GMP) for our project. • Assuming a satisfactory GMP is obtained, St. Paul’s UMC will work through our ‘district approval cycle’ during the month of July.
• Our ‘Forward In Faith’ Facilities Renovation Project Kick-Off is currently planned for Sunday, July 31! Save this date so you can participate!
Be sure stop by to look at updated floor plan drawings in the Parlor or main hallway.
A heartfelt thank you is given to all who continue to help move our building project forward. And…. thanks to everyone for remaining “flexible, positive, and proactive!”
Rejoice! Together we continue our journey Forward in Faith! John & Lois Mather
Bridge Team Leaders
Financial
Plans, Plans & More Plans It is good to have this passage from Jeremiah as a reminder that God has a plan for us, just like He had for the Israelites. A great deal of planning is going on with the realignment of locations for ministries. As space becomes more precious with the upcoming construction projects, it is imperative that we communicate the ‘when, where and who’ plans to as many people as possible so we don’t have any ‘collisions’ on events; a situation where two (or more) groups show up and want to use the same location for a meeting. Suzette is working to update the schedule with these changes so monitor the St. Paul’s website and other communication channels for the latest on moves.
Giving Statements There still might be some issues to contend with on giving statements. Shelby has worked to isolate those individuals who have expressed challenges to accessing their giving statement. If you are one of those individuals, thank you for your patience through this challenge. Keep Shelby updated on this as she works to determine
a common denominator for this issue. One other thought to keep in mind with the statements is the request to review them to make sure that the contributions you have made are being allocated to the correct account. With pledges having been received for both the Operating Budget (Forward in Fruitfulness) and the Building Fund (Forward in Faith) unlabeled contributions are left to the discretion of staff as to where they should be applied. We want to catch any misdirected contributions as soon as possible. Your assistance in this is greatly appreciated! If you need to contact Shelby by email, her address is sroth@stpaulsumc.org. Thanks for your patience as we work through areas of challenge.
Finances The Financial Report through April is nearly complete. The deficit for the month is higher than budgeted but this is reflective of lower than anticipated contributions. Anticipated year-to-date deficits were budgeted at nearly $70,000 but through April the figure stands at nearly $87,000. Total Contributions are at 91.70% of
budgeted figures a little more than $30,000 behind budget. The African National Grant has been incorporated into the Financials such that the net impact to the Statement is $0. We are applying the offerings received as part of the Non-Pledged figure.
Mission Partner Offerings The mission partner offerings received since the last Outlook are as follows: • Linn Community Food Bank: $821 • Neighborhood Meals: $1,087 • Ingathering: $355
The upcoming Special Offerings for June are June 5 – His Hands Free Medical Clinic. This clinic provides free medical, chiropractic, women’s health, mental health, physical therapy and dental services in the Wellington Heights neighborhood. They are seeking medical volunteers, social work volunteers, administrative/ clerical, and prayer support for patients. His Hands is a new mission partner for St. Paul’s.
In His Service, Garr Page
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