For any information needing to be published in the Marion Methodist newsletter, please contact the church office. ([email protected]) e mission of the Church is to make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Issue No. 2 January 27, 2017 LABEL HERE 1298 7th Avenue Marion, IA 52302 Return Address Service Requested Marion First United Methodist Church Corner of 12th Street & 8th Avenue Sunday Morning Worship 7:45 AM Early Worship - Chapel 8:30 AM Spirited Traditional - Sanctuary 9:45 AM Contemporary Praise - Sanctuary Church School for children and adults 11:00 AM Contemporary Praise - Sanctuary Kids’ View - Room 350 Visit Us Online www.marionmethodist.org Website - Calendars, Church Info, and More www.facebook.com/marionmethodistchurch Facebook Twitter www.twitter.com/marionmethodist YouTube - Sermon Videos www.youtube.com/marionmethodist Google+ plus.google.com/100713709205136037587 iTunes Podcast - Sermon Audio itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/marion-methodist/id562893153 Upcoming Sermons January 29 - Pillars: What keeps the “Church” the “Church”? February 5 - Enemies: How has the world tried and failed to destroy the Church? Each week on Tuesday, the church sends out an email detailing the events taking place in the next seven days, and devoting some space to explain a little more about one of the multitude of ministries and missions in which we participate. To sign up to receive this email each week, please contact the church office at (319) 377-4856 or by email at [email protected]. e United Methodist Church is part of the church universal, so our roots are shared with all of Christianity. To grow a deeper understanding of our theological roots, we share with you 8 figures that (while not all inclusive and certainly we only have room for brief summaries of their lives and impact) had significant impact on the church of their day and how their ministry influences us still today. ree questions will guide us: • Who is this person? • What did he contribute to the church? • How does his contribution still influence the church? POLYCARP is considered, along with Clement of Rome and Ignatius of Antioch, to be one of the three chief apostolic fathers of the Christian faith. Born in 69 AD and directly discipled by the Apostle John, POLYCARP lived in the most formative era of the church when it moved from the age of the original disciples of Jesus. Born into a Christian family, POLYCARP claimed Christ at a young age. ough uneducated, he was a strong and direct preacher and thus was appointed the Bishop of Smyrna (located in modern Turkey), a post he held until he was martyred in 156 at the age of 86. His contribution to the church is significant.He mentored Tertullian, who would later become one of the great writers in our tradition in the faith, along with many others. His passion in life was to make disciples of Jesus Christ. POLYCARP was known as the greatest defender of the faith against Gnosticism. Gnosticism is a set of ideals/beliefs that in simplistic terms prescribe that knowledge is the way to salvation. e main proponent of Gnosticism in his time was Marcion, who in their meeting POLYCARP addressed simply as the “son of Satan.” POLYCARP was unmovable in his commitment to scripture and apostolic teaching and brought many from the Gnostic movement to salvation in Jesus Christ. POLYCARP likely wrote many things, but only his pastoral letter to the church in Philippi is preserved to this day. In his 86th year, suddenly the Romans decided to arrest him. Concurrent to his arrest, POLYCARP had a vision that he would be burned alive. When the soldiers came for him, he simply said: “God’s will be done.” According to the account of his death, which was written just a few months later, he asked not to be nailed to the stake saying: “He who grants me to endure the fire will enable me also to remain on the pyre unmoved, without the security you desire from nails.” His chronicler writes that as “he burned it was not as flesh but as baking bread or refining gold or silver.” POLYCARP’s contribution to the church is significant but, for the sake of brevity, three things we must attend to in the church today are: 1. Hold fast to the doctrine taught in Scripture and by the apostles. (is means that while creativity in methodology may be necessary in every generation, the message of Jesus’s disciples is not to be changed, manipulated or interpreted.) 2. Fight heresy on every front that the apostolic faith may remain always pure. (Always there will be challenges based on human ideas that prescribe an easy or more comfortable way of discipleship and/or different pathways to salvation other than Christ alone. ese are not to be embraced but fought with tenacity because they have been and will be the destruction of many souls.) 3. Preach and teach in harmony with the scriptures and the apostolic tradition. (e gospel and tradition directly handed to the disciples by Jesus himself are enough. No new message is necessary or useful for the salvation of souls and transformation of the world.) God bless the memory of this saint and let us in our time hear, discern, pray over and seek to obey his message. Pastor Mike
Transcript
For any information needing to be published in the Marion Methodist
Upcoming SermonsJanuary 29 - Pillars: What keeps the “Church” the “Church”?February 5 - Enemies: How has the world tried and failed to destroy the Church?
Each week on Tuesday, the church sends out an email detailing the events taking place in the next seven days, and devoting some space to explain a little more about one of the multitude of ministries and missions in which we participate. To sign up to receive this email each week, please contact the church office at (319) 377-4856 or by email at [email protected].
The United Methodist Church is part of the church universal, so our roots are shared with all of Christianity. To grow a deeper understanding of our theological roots, we share with you 8 figures that (while not all inclusive and certainly we only have room for brief summaries of their lives and impact) had significant impact on the church of their day and how their ministry influences us still today. Three questions will guide us:
• Who is this person?• What did he contribute to the church?• How does his contribution still influence the church?
POLYCARP is considered, along with Clement of Rome and Ignatius of Antioch, to be one of the three chief apostolic fathers of the Christian faith. Born in 69 AD and directly discipled by the Apostle John, POLYCARP lived in the most formative era of the church when it moved from the age of the original disciples of Jesus.
Born into a Christian family, POLYCARP claimed Christ at a young age. Though uneducated, he was a strong and direct preacher and thus was appointed the Bishop of Smyrna (located in modern Turkey), a post he held until he was martyred in 156 at the age of 86.
His contribution to the church is significant.He mentored Tertullian, who would later become one of the great writers in our tradition in the faith, along with many others. His passion in life was to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
POLYCARP was known as the greatest defender of the faith against Gnosticism. Gnosticism is a set of ideals/beliefs that in simplistic terms prescribe that knowledge is the way to salvation. The main proponent of Gnosticism in his time was Marcion, who in their meeting POLYCARP addressed simply as the “son of Satan.” POLYCARP was unmovable in his commitment to scripture and apostolic teaching and brought many from the Gnostic movement to
salvation in Jesus Christ.
POLYCARP likely wrote many things, but only his pastoral letter to the church in Philippi is preserved to this day.
In his 86th year, suddenly the Romans decided to arrest him. Concurrent to his arrest, POLYCARP had a vision that he would be burned alive. When the soldiers came for him, he simply said: “God’s will be done.”
According to the account of his death, which was written just a few months later, he asked not to be nailed to the stake saying: “He who grants me to endure the fire will enable me also to remain on the pyre unmoved, without the security you desire from nails.” His chronicler writes that as “he burned it was not as flesh but as baking bread or refining gold or silver.”
POLYCARP’s contribution to the church is significant but, for the sake of brevity, three things we must attend to in the church today are:
1. Hold fast to the doctrine taught in Scripture and by the apostles. (This means that while creativity in methodology may be necessary in every generation, the message of Jesus’s disciples is not to be changed, manipulated or interpreted.)2. Fight heresy on every front that the apostolic faith may remain
always pure. (Always there will be challenges based on human ideas that prescribe an easy or more comfortable way of discipleship and/or different pathways to salvation other than Christ alone. These are not to be embraced but fought with tenacity because they have been and will be the destruction of many souls.)3. Preach and teach in harmony with the scriptures and the apostolic
tradition. (The gospel and tradition directly handed to the disciples by Jesus himself are enough. No new message is necessary or useful for the salvation of souls and transformation of the world.)
God bless the memory of this saint and let us in our time hear, discern, pray over and seek to obey his message.
Pastor Mike
Marion Methodist is Praying for: Prayer is a powerful way of caring for each other in our Marion Methodist family. There are several avenues open to everyone – the prayer cards on Sunday morning and the prayer wall which is available 24/7, are two that are used most often. You can have a more active part in entering into prayer for each other. Check out the prayer wall frequently as prayers are submitted there often. Each time you visit, and pray for one of the requests found there, click the “I Prayed For This” tab; more prayers are always better.
Prayers of thanks for all the hard work that the members of the Build Follow-up Task Force have done. Pray for them as their work winds down with the completion of the Build campaign in March:
Kent Mattison Linda HeneckeMark Klopfenstein Cheryl KlopfensteinDorene MacVey Kate GoshonKirk MacVey John TerryMike Morgan
Candy for the Transform CampaignConnie Leahy is making candy to help the TRANSFORM Campaign! Orders are being taken thru March. Peanut Brittle is $8.00, Peanut Coconut Brittle is $8.50, and Cashew Brittle is $9.50. Each bag of candy is approximately 16
ounces. $5.00 from each item sold will be donated to the Transform Campaign. If you would like to purchase some, please contact Connie Leahy at (319) 215-5906, or by email at [email protected]
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH - MARION, IOWA NOMINATIONS FOR OFFICERS AND MEMBERS
of CHURCH COUNCIL, COMMITTEES AND WORK AREAS
January 1 to December 31, 2017(#)denotes term year...most offices have three-year terms
CHURCH COUNCIL MEMBERSSenior Pastor------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mike MorganYouth and Mission Pastor----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Keith Nester Chairperson of Church Council ----------------------------------------------------------------Ryan Colerick (19)Business Administrator-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John TerryLay Members to Annual Conference (2)----------------------------------------------- Marty Labs, Tim AtwoodRecording Secretary --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Karen SchmitzStaff-Parish Relations Chairperson---------------------------------------------------------------- James Riley (17)Endowment Foundation Chairperson------------------------------------------------------ Leah Rodenberg (17)Finance Committee Chairperson ------------------------------------------------------------- Alex Mussman (18)Church Treasurer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Jan DickinsonMemorial & Special Projects Chairperson ----------------------------------------------------- Irma Pearson (18)Trustee Committee Chairperson--------------------------------------------------------------- Christa Martin (17)Director of Music ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Peggy RosencranzUnited Methodist Women’s President-------------------------------------------------------------- Debbie LiscumUnited Methodist Men’s President -------------------------------------------------------------------- Walker KellyChurch Historian--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mark Morgan Diaconal Minister ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Myrna CarterBoy Scout Institutional Representative -------------------------------------------------------Pastor Mike MorganDirector of Pastoral Care----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vicki StandleyDirector of Adult Education & Discipleship----------------------------------------------------------Jen DigmannDirector of Children’s Education & Discipleship----------------------------------------------------- Luann ByerlyMarion Senior Living Board Representative----------------------------------------------------------Ken StanfordMarion Food Pantry Representative-----------------------------------------------------------------Gary FrederickMarion Cares Board of Directors-----------------------------------------------------------------------Nicole Riley
CHURCH COUNCIL - MEMBERS AT LARGEClass of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2019Ron Knapp Keith Musser Lori BiertzerKim Knapp Joey Svejda Eddie RoseSusan Harthun Sarah Svejda Katie FeldmanMatt Kearns Jamie Wilson Jeff Lam Andrea Kearns Brianna Wilson Shari FosterBecky Cravens Dave Marsden Cara Matteson Abby Martin
COMMITTEESSTEWARDSHIP & FINANCE: Chairperson – Alex MussmanClass of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2019Jen McDonald Alex Mussman Jean HammillTim Lewis Paula Fields Shannon Booth BiberdorfJoyce Dayton Bill Stevens Corey Miles Church Treasurer – Jan Dickinson
FOUNDATION: Chairperson – Leah RodenbergClass of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2019Sharon Davis Leah Rodenberg Carma WieseGary Frederick Jerry Van Dyke Brandon FairbanksDell Reighard Jim Dwyer Bruce Taylor MEMORIAL & SPECIAL PROJECTS: Chairperson – Irma PearsonClass of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2019Carol McNeil Mary Lee Parks Cara MattesonKay Stanford Kate Goshon Steve LindellJohn Brockardt Connie Jirouch Ila Mae Greer Kim Knapp Irma Pearson
NOMINATING COMMITTEE: Chairperson - Pastor Mike MorganClass of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2019Gretchen Lawyer Tami Schlamp TBAJoan Padley Sharon Emerson TBACurt Liscum Sherry Alexander TBA STAFF PASTOR-PARISH RELATIONS: Chairperson – James Riley Vice-Chair – Chris HauserClass of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2019Kathi Decker John Collins Tammy HuckfeltJames Riley Ken Jolliffe Kelly BuckleyDavid Dix Chris Hauser Brenda Lindell TRUSTEES: Chairperson – Christa Martin Vice-Chair – Diane BysClass of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2019Claire Atwood Diane Bys Eric DaltonChrista Martin Lee Coppock Dustin KernRon Boss Tim Michels Guy Trimble
FLY: Chairperson – Keith NesterAmy Keating Ryan Phillips Susan KnightJoan Padley Sue Flater Jan DickinsonBeth Hilkerbaumer Jill Hanson Donna WolmuttDenise Harriman Melissa Walker Carolyn Munson
Building Committee: Chairperson – Chuck AlexanderChuck Alexander Brad Shuver Mike MorganDan Cudworth Connie Miller Keith NesterGene Gerber Sean Poston John Terry Dennis Goemaat Linda Peyton Tom Padley Brenda Hollinger Matt Wildman Valerie Lawrence
First, a big thank you to the Marion Methodist members for your support of the Churches of Marion Food Pantry !! In 2016 the volunteers served 3,281 households representing 9,266 people !! We are open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-3pm.
We are taking the next steps to strengthen the organization to make sure we can deliver for our clients in the future. Two areas that require more attention are purchasing teams and volunteer coordination. A brief description follows:
Purchasing Teams: We have established two, three person teams to buy food for the weekly needs. Teams 3 & 4 are the next targets. That means that each team will be required to purchase food needed for distribution that week. This once per month activity will require about 2-4 hours total. One of the three team members will be responsible to notify the team of the purchase time and be accountable for the debit card. The goal is to have many doing a few things , not a few doing many things.
Volunteer Coordination: This activity involves having three volunteers for each distribution. A monthly schedule is set and communicated. Many distribution teams are scheduled at the same time each month so the repeat contact is minimized. Also, there is a list of volunteers who are “on call” if a sub is needed. The time required is hard to estimate but should not exceed a couple of hours per week. When it is fully computer automated it will likely be less.
Please contact Gary Frederick, 319-560-2742(cell) if you are interested in joining the Churches of Marion Food Pantry Volunteers!! Thank you.
What ’s Next?
TV BroadcastMarion Methodist worship services are typically rebroadcasted on Mediacom or ImOn Channel 4 at 7:00 PM on Monday evenings. There is a multiweek delay between when a sermon is preached and when it airs on TV.
Meal Schedule:
2/1 Dairy Queen2/8 Pizza Hut
Powerhouse meets every Wednesday. From 5:45 pm to 6:15 pm we have a Family Meal (Free Will Offering) and from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm we have activities for all ages.
Preschoolers: Kids may forget what you say - but they remember what they discover on their own. Get them “Hands On” with God’s Word. (Room 205)
Kindergarten - 5th Grade: Meet a Jesus that is real and relevant in your everyday life! Discover Jesus in you. (Room 303/305)
4:12 Youth Group: Junior High Small Groups 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm. High School and Junior High Worship 7:15 pm - 8:30 pm (Sanctuary)
Adult Classes: Come for a midweek boost. Check out classes at www.marionmethodist.org
Nursery: Offered in the Nursery room located near the elevators
Hospitality CenterThe Connections and Hospitality Team at Marion Methodist welcomes you to use the Hospitality Center. During normal weekday business hours, the 8th Avenue (Overhang entrance) church doors are open. The Hospitality Center is located right inside the doors and has a Keurig individual serving hot drink machine and lots of “K-Cups” from which to select. You are invited to come into the church and:
• Meet with friends in the Hospitality or Family Room
• Pray in the Prayer Room• Use the free Wi-Fi to do your devotions or just
have some quiet time
In addition, all of these things are available to you on Sunday afternoons while you wait for your child in bell choir or 19:14 puppets. Take advantage of your church facility as a welcoming place for your friends and family.
Engaging the Scriptures – Church Wide devotional readingsPastor Mike has chosen 112 days of Biblical Devotional Study that parallel the sermon series he and Keith will be teaching. These studies are all found on the You Version of the Bible, an app that has been installed on over 260 million computers, tablets, and phones. Their promotional material proclaims: “God is near, and so is His Word. As you wake up. While you wait. When you meet a friend. Before you go to sleep. When the Bible is always with you, it becomes a part of your daily life.”
You Version can be installed easily at www.youversion.com, and you are encouraged to join us. Here are the first two studies.
January 29 – February 4 This is why (7 days) This 7 day plan walks through the “why” behind the “what” of serving and being a part of the local church.
Anticipating the New KitchenI’ll tell you what excites me about the new kitchen, but I don’t have enough space to write it all so I will just hit the highlights.
1. Clean and bright. The new kitchen will be not only clean, but much easier to keep clean and well lit.
2. Functionality. Right now food prep and dirty dishes work side by side and cross one another. This is not efficient or, necessarily, as sanitary as it could be. The new kitchen will have defined and separate areas for these functions.
3. Cooking. We will have plenty of space to prepare and cook food. Lots of space to spread out and work on different dishes.
4. Cleaning. The new dish washing area, located away from the food prep area, will include a modern, efficient dish machine and dish return area where we can work without being crowded as we are today.
5. Storage. The kitchen will have a nice-sized pantry for storage and enough floor space in the kitchen for even more storage or the addition of other appliances as our future needs may dictate.
Clean, well lit, efficient and spacious. Every kitchen geek’s dream. And as a kitchen geek, it is both a dream realized and a prayer answered.
Mike Richmond
Look for more excitment as we anticipate the new building in upcoming issues of the Marion Methodist.
New Member ClassJanuary 29, 2017
Have you been attending Marion Methodist for a few months or even a few years? And have you decided it’s time to become an official member of our church?
Then please join us for our next New Member Class on Sunday, January 29, 2017 at 12:15pm. We’ll start with lunch in Room 106, then move to Room 104 for the class. We’ll finish the afternoon with the Membership Service in the Chapel at 3:15pm.
If you’re interested in being part of this class or have questions, please contact Karen Schmitz at 377-4856 or [email protected].
UMCOR Health Kits
It’s that time of year again - time to be thinking about donating health kits to UMCOR (United Methodist
Committee on Relief). The need is always great.
This year we’re going back to the previous way of donating kits – ziplock bags will be available with the health kit list inside. Pick up as many bags as you’d like, fill them with the required items, and return them to the church or church office.
We have always been a generous church, and I certainly expect it to continue. Thank you.
The annual UMM Sweetheart Supper will be held on Thursday, February 9. The menu will be choice of chicken or ham with baked potato, vegetable, salad, and dessert. Ticket prices are $35 per couple or $18 for single tickets. Great time, great fellowship, great food and wonderful entertainment will make this an evening to remember.
Phun Philanthropic Phebruary XIVOne of the ways we at Marion Methodist “fight off winter” is Phun Philanthropic Phebruary. Phun Philanthropic Phebruary is an opportunity to resist the dreariness of February in Iowa by having a little fun in church while worshipping, serving God and his people. Check out what to BRING, WEAR and expect some twists at worship.
FEBRUARY 5 Phun: Wear the colors of any team you support. Philanthropy: Souper Bowl Challenge Bring your cans of soup to benefit the Marion Food Pantry and place them on the altar. Pastor Keith Nester takes on Simon Campbell in the challenge this year.
FEBRUARY 12 Phun: Wear your “Cause” day. (If you have shirts, pins, buttons, that support a cause, from habitat to Cancer Society to youth leagues, etc…it’s a good way for us to better “see” who we are and what we support.) Philanthropy: Ingathering Kits for UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief)
FEBRUARY 19 Phun: United Methodist Women Sunday Philanthropy: Ingathering Kits for UMCOR
FEBRUARY 26 Phun: Wear Camp T-Shirts or “camping” clothes. Camp Breakfast is all morning in Fellowship Hall Philanthropy: Camp Offering-every $ helps towards a Camp Scholarship. A gift of $295 pays for a week of Summer Games University.
Yea, it’s goofy, and yea, it’s gimmicky, but it also should be good phun! We have a great time every year, so c’mon to church in Phebruary and let’s have some PHUN in God’s house with God’s people!
The Marion Methodist newsletter deadline scheduleArticles for our Marion Methodist need to be submitted by due date at 12:00 PM. You may email them to: [email protected] with [newsletter] in the subject line. Please send any information or images as an attachment. If you do not have access to a computer, you may call or bring to the office items to be published. We ask that you honor the deadlines listed below:
Date Arrived in Mail Date Articles Due2/10 2/1
2/24 2/15
3/10 3/1
3/24 3/15
3/29 4/7
Church InformationMarion First United Methodist ChurchCorner of 12th Street and 8th AvenueChurch Office1298 7th AvenueMarion, IA 52302Office: (319) 377-4856
Maintenance, Leon SmockAssistant/Evening Custodian, Gary Barr
Our Congregation Shares Its Concern & Christian Love...DEATHS: January 7: Charlie Kress, husband of Pat KressJanuary 7: Annette ZinkJanuary 12: Caleb McGowan, son of John McGowanJanuary 14: Marjorie Clemetsen, mother of Kimberly (Eric) Brown. Grandsons include Christopher, Casey, and Sean Brown.BIRTHS: January 5: Jace Harland Fawcett, son of Seth and Rashelle Fawcett. Grandparents Ron and Jan Fawcett. BAPTISMS:
WEDDINGS:
January / FebruarySunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
18:00am Quilters (Room 104) 9:15am Sarah Circle (Carnegie - LL) 6:30pm “Cast of Characters” by Max Lucado (Room 103) 6:30pm Love to Stay - Engaged Couples (Room 104) 6:30pm Care Ministry (Room 106) 6:30pm Basic Bible - Exodus (Room 105) 6:30pm Choir Practice (Choir Room) 6:30pm 4:12 Youth Group - Junior High (Sanctuary) 6:30pm Financial Peace (Room 107) 7:15pm 4:12 Youth Group - Senior High (Sanctuary) 8:00pm AA Support Group (Chapel)
26:00am Men’s Breakfast & Bible Study (Fellowship Hall) 5:30pm Revelation Part 2 (Room 104)7:00pm UMW - Bookends
88:00am Quilters (Room 104) 9:30am Susanna Circle (Carnegie - LL) 6:30pm Choir Practice (Choir Room) 6:30pm “Cast of Characters” by Max Lucado (Room 103) 6:30pm Basic Bible - Exodus (Room 105) 6:30pm Financial Peace (Room 107) 6:30pm 4:12 Youth Group - Junior High (Sanctuary) 6:30pm Care Ministry (Room 106) 7:15pm 4:12 Youth Group - Senior High (Sanctuary) 8:00pm AA Support Group (Chapel)
We help folks in need by supplying items for the Marion Churches Food Pantry. You may bring the following items to church any time during each month. Please put your contributions in one of the grocery carts located in the Narthex or at the 8th Avenue glass doors, or in the Mission Depot in Fellowship Hall dining room or the Church Office. January: Macaroni and Cheese February: Canned FruitMarch: Peanut ButterApril: Macaroni and CheeseMay: Toilet TissueJune: Soup
