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THANKSGIVING DINNER CELEBRATION

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22

This is a wonderful yearly event to gather with other church members and friends here at Ames FUMC to rejoice in our blessings and recount how God has been at work in the lives of one another during this past year. Serving will start at 11:30 a.m. on Sun-day, November 22th. Turkey and dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn and rolls will all be provided, along with bev-erages. In the interests of good stewardship, a freewill offering will be received to help pay for some of the costs. It is recommended that a minimum $7 donation per person be given if possible.

For the Thanksgiving Dinner YOU are asked to bring your own table service and a food dish to share --- if your last name begins with: A - L… bring a salad of choice M - Z….bring a dessert of choice

HONORING OUR LONGTIME CHURCH MEMBERS

AS WE CELEBRATE OUR 150TH ANNIVERSARY

On Sunday, November 8th, during both worship hours, we will take a moment to give recognition to the persons who have been members of this church for fifty (50) years or

longer. We have over 80 such members in our midst. Those gathered will meet following each worship service for a group picture. There will be a special 150th anniversary cake served during our coffee hour that morning, too.

And then, please remember to mark your calendars for December 12th when we will be serving “Pie and Coffee” (just like this church used to do at special times during the year in its 150 years’ history) before and after the community-wide TUBA CHRISTMAS. Joyce Crotty is chairperson for this event. Stay tuned for details. We will need volunteers to help with serving and clean-up. But more importantly, we will be asking EVERY church family to provide 1 freshly baked pie. We are hoping for a wonderful variety!

I pray you are feeling deep gratitude as you enter this month of November 2015. Hopefully you will be able to take some time in these days ahead to “count your blessings”. Be thankful that you are alive today. Find ways to celebrate how all of life is a gift from God!

Take time to remember the countless saints of God who have touched and shaped your life. Some of those saints are folks who have been right here alongside of you in this congregation, as well as those saints you have known beyond these church doors.

Celebrate all the men and women, youth and children, whose courage and care, understanding and joy, generosity and delightful quirkiness are an inspiration to you. Seek to grow in thanksgiving to God. Living a life of gratitude is a great way to live in this world!

To love the God who is our source and our destination, who is love itself; and to do so with every fiber of our being---heart and soul, mind and strength---is to grow into the fullness of life that is God’s gift to us. It is to surrender our lives in order that we might find them. We each do this in our own unique way. I believe in the saying that “Our life is God’s gift to us; what we do with it is our gift to God.” For me personally, loving God does not call us to be any other than what we already are; in fact, it calls us to become completely who we most truly are to be.

I also believe that loving God is something we do together as a congregation. Finding our way to love God with everything we are is something we need help and support to do; with laughter and with tears and, as often as we can manage it, speaking the truth to one another in love. In community, we find encouragement and support. We hold each other accountable in the vows of membership we make in order to belong and join together as a church. We are reminded through scripture and tradition and through our give and take with one another that our true purpose is to love God and neighbor. Together we learn from one another what it really means to love God. We learn by seeing other people do it in their own unique ways. We learn to become ourselves by watching others who are a bit further along the journey.

The older I grow the more everything seems like a sermon illustration to me---and the more I see the face of God in all of your faces as a congregation---and the more I understand what an early church father, Iranaeus, meant when he said that “The glory of God is a human be-ing fully alive; and to be alive consists in beholding God.” Those words resonate with me as I also think of the words of Thomas Merton

who was overwhelmed one day back in 1958 at a busy corner in Louisville, Kentucky, watching people when he said, “There is no way of telling people that they are all walking around shining like the sun.” I have grown to understand that because indeed YOU are. God bless you…and may you be a blessing to others! “They lived not only in ages past, there are hundreds of thousands still.

The world is bright with the joyous saints, who love to do Jesus’ will. You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea, or in church,

or in trains, or in shops, or at tea: for the saints of God are just folk like me,

and I am to be one , too.” ---“I Sing a Song of the Saints of God” by Lesbia Scott, 1929

THE ELEVENTH HOUR - LEST WE FORGET

At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day Of the eleventh month

We stand for two minutes of silence To honor our fallen, our daughters and sons.

They went off to war, to places unknown

They knew not what they'd face They knew not if they'd return

But they went bravely, to keep our home safe.

Please bow your head for two minutes For those men and women so brave

It's only two minutes for them on this day But it's their whole lives for us that they gave.

“I am the church! You are the church! We are the church together! All who follow Jesus, all around the world! Yes, we’re the church together!” This joyful hymn by Avery & Marsh (#558) expresses well the unity we share on World Communion Sunday, All Saints Sunday and every day insofar as we are living as faithful enthusiastic disciples of Jesus Christ; reaching out in love for the transformation of the world. November is here; a month of celebrating the end of harvest season for farmers in Iowa. It is a time of thanksgiving and thanks living as we bring our tithes & offerings to God in gratitude and praise while making faith pledges for the coming year. As we wrap up the church year and get our heads around the arrival of another Advent and Christmas, we contemplate 2016 and all that it will bring. This is a time to renew commitments to humble service among the hurting, poor and marginalized of the world. It is a time of growing to know and be more like Jesus as we allow God’s Spirit to transform us from the inside out. I now have been among you at First United Methodist Church as part-time Minister of Visitation two full years. As I begin my third year, I am blessed to be of service to old and new friends. I grieve with you over the passing of dear saints of God… and I rejoice with you over births, baptisms, confirmations, weddings and other milestones of grace, growth and goodness. I feel blessed to be called to this ministry and am grateful for your support and kindness. I thank you for sharing your journeys through life, both the good and the difficult. I pray that I might be a resource of light, healing and comfort to all as I join you in trying to be church, the face of Christ in the midst of a broken hurting world. Thank you for praying for me, our staff and our entire church family. Together, may we sense a new depth of hope, joy and love for Christ and the faith our ancestors passed on to us. In November, I will be working with the Member Care Committee, Stephens Ministers and others planning our Blue Christmas worship service December 20, 4:00 p.m., in the chapel. It is geared to comfort those who are grieving as we light candles and recall dearly departed loved ones. We are also planning/coordinating the annual distribution of small poinsettias to our at home members and others who might benefit from this token of hope and cheer. If you would like to join in this ministry, please fill out the form on page 6 of this newsletter. This is a ministry we can all feel very good about. God bless you in this season of thanks. Shalom,

Pastor Dave

ALL SAINTS’ SUNDAY DEDICATION OF MEMORIALS AND GIFTS

November 1

“O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.”

We will be observing All Saints Day Sunday, November 1. During both the 8:30 a.m. and the 11:00 a.m. worship celebrations, we will name and remember all members and friends of the church who have died during the past year. On this day we will also dedicate any memorials and gifts that have been given to the church for service to this congregation and to the glory of God. We invite you to be present for this yearly worship service when we remember our deceased loved ones in a meaningful way. Thank you to Margy Howarth and Deb Benefield for contacting the families via letters and for Peg Pearce and Jan Tryon for setting up the candles on the communion table. Thank you to Louise Yager (chair of Gifts and Memorials Committee) and Jan Tryon and Bob Fowser and Glendora Clark and Harriett Ringgenberg for reading the names and helping persons to light the memorial candles on this Sunday. Remember that you can ALWAYS send a special contribution to acknowledge and honor a loved one for a special occasion such as a birthday or an anniversary or give a memorial gift to the church at the time of a loved one’s death. We will be remembering those who died since last year through the end of September 2015.

Delivery Of Poinsettias To Homebound Persons In Our Church

A wonderful Christmas tradition at FUMC is delivering small poinsettias to in home or special friends in our church family. They will be available in worship on Sunday, December 6. Please take them with you as you leave worship. If you can assist with this ministry, please fill out the following form and drop it in the offering plate.

Yes, I would be able to deliver (a) poinsettia(s) to special friends on the afternoon of Sunday, December 6. Name____________________________________________ Phone___________________________________________ Contact Pastor Dave, 232-2750 or daveshogren6@msn.com or pastordave@fumcames.org if you have questions. Thank you for your willingness to help with this project!!

Blue Christmas to be offered Again for this Advent- Christmas we offer an opportunity for persons who are holding sadness and loss in their hearts to gather together for a time of support, solace and worship. We will meet in the chapel at 4:00p.m. on Sunday, December 20, to share in a very quiet devotional time. We gather to remember that we are not alone in our grief and uncertainty. Amidst the glitter and excitement of the holidays, loss and grief can be especially difficult, and we find ourselves praying, “God of the Manger, tell me it’s alright to cry at Christmastime…”

VISITING FRIENDS Are you interested in joining our “Visiting Friends Ministry”? Here are the qualifications: compassion and the desire to visit one-on-one with another person who may be in need of some company. If this sounds like something you would like to do, please contact Lynn Potthoff - 206-892-8311, Pastor Dave or the church office at 515-232-2750.

EDUCATION NEWS Nicole Smith, Christian Education Director

WHAT’S UP WITH OUR YOUTH GROUPS IN NOVEMBER?

Middle School Youth will meet on November 4 for a time of fun and study as they discover what the Bible says about “helping each other”. Then, on November 11th and 18th, they will be learning more about the witness and work of our Ames city police. The members of the group will be invited to come and help decorate the church for the holiday season on Saturday morning, November 21. There will be no meeting on November 25 due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Confirmation Corner - Where do you see God? Who is Jesus? What is the Holy Spirit? These questions and more have gotten the confirmation class thinking and talking recently. As we move into November, we’ll continue to explore worship and holy communion along with a review of the Bible. We’ll also be busy helping around the church with coffee time on November 15 and 29, hanging the greens on November 21, from 9 a.m.– noon and our Thanksgiving dinner on November 22. The confirmands are great workers and they like to help, so if you know of a way they might be involved with an activity or help out around the church, talk to Pastor Fred or Carol Miller. There is no class on Wednesday the 25th of November which is the day before Thanksgiving.

Senior High Youth will continue in November to have fun and talk about sharing their faith as they also hear from an ISU student who will come to share his/her faith story and journey. The youth will also be engaged in a mission project as well. There will be no meeting on November 25th due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

ALL YOUTH are invited and encouraged to be part of a Sunday morning class and to join “Up with Puppets.”

The Connections Young Adult Sunday School Class

We are currently doing a book study on The Shack. We are reading a few chapters a week and having discussions on Sunday mornings. There are extra copies of the book available and anyone is welcome to

join at any time. We meet in the Sarah room at 9:45 a.m. If you have any questions, contact Sandee Bodholdt at bodholdt@isunet.net.

EDUCATION NEWS Nicole Smith, Christian Education Director

Ames First's Children's Musical Ensemble

We are excited to announce the start of a musical ensemble for children in grades 2-6. We have so many talented young children/youth in our church that we want to give them the opportunity to shine. We

will start with a focus on vocal music and gradually work in instrumental aspects to this too! Nicole will be leading the group with assistance from local music teachers and ISU music students. The first practice for this group will be Wednesday, October 28 from 4:45-5:30 in the Multipurpose room. The group will meet weekly on Wednesdays from 4:45-5:30 in preparation for a performance at the 11:00 worship service on Sunday, December 6. If your child is interested in being a part of this group but can't make it that day, or if you'd like more information, please contact Nicole Smith at Nicole@fumcames.org or 232-2750.

Attention Fourth and Fifth graders (or their parents) -

We are busily planning our upcoming Christmas program “The Christmas Story” which will be held during the Sunday school hour on the morning of Sunday, December 13. If you are interested in being involved, please check your family’s calendar carefully to make sure you will be able to take part in this.

We have enough parts for everyone who wants one in our program. At this time, we need to know who is willing to have an acting part which would need to be memorized, an acting only (like a movie extra) part, a speaking part which could be read, and/or singing solo or duet. We will be practicing the whole group songs during Sunday school. There will also be an opportunity for solos or small groups if you are interested. Extra practices outside of the scheduled rehearsal times may need to be set up for solos/duets/small group songs. Here are the rehearsal dates for people with acting/speaking or singing parts. The rehearsals will be in Room E206 and/or the Sanctuary.

Saturday, November 21, 2:30-4:00 (run lines, get basic blocking) Saturday, December 5, 10am-11:30am—LINES MEMORIZED!! (Rehearse blocking) Sunday, December 6, 9:45-10:45 (regular Sunday School-run full program-maybe twice) Saturday, December 12, 10am-11:30am (finalize costumes, sets, run full program)

Please contact Nicole Smith if you want a part in the program or not.

EDUCATION NEWS Nicole Smith, Christian Education Director

The Christmas Story — From the Mouths of Babes

This year’s children’s Christmas program is going to comprise of recordings of younger children telling the Christmas story as they think it is. I would like to have any children willing to sit down for a few minutes with me tell me their version of the Christmas story while I record it. Those recordings will then be compiled to put together the Christmas story from the children’s point of view.

Please let me know by Sunday, November 1, if your child is interested/available for this. We will record the week of November 2-8. All ages of children are welcome…and ALL versions of the Christmas story are too! Please don’t coach your child beforehand. We want this to be directly from their memories.

Thank you! Nicole & The Christmas Program Crew

Children’s Sunday School for November

During the month of November, the children and families will be hosts for coffee hour November 1, 8, and 22. Second and third grade will host November 1, Fourth and Fifth grade will host November 8, and Kdg. and First grade will host November 22. Parents will be getting sign up information in the coming days. In the meantime, be sure to mark your child’s class date down. While one of the rotations will be to host coffee hour and then to work on the class Christmas program song following, the other groups will be a rotation in art and one in drama focused on learning about John Wesley. The 2 & 3 year old and preschool classes will not host coffee hour but will still participate in opening music and then head to their classrooms for lessons on Jacob and Esau as well as the Christmas story. On November 15, there will be a whole group session on Thanksgiving and practicing the Christmas songs. On November 29, there will be a whole group Christmas program rehearsal followed by a lesson on Ad-vent. Full dress rehearsal for the Christmas program will be during Sun-day school on December 6.The children’s Christmas program will be Sunday, December 13 at 10:00am.

EDUCATION NEWS Nicole Smith, Christian Education Director

Wednesday Night Kids’ Club for November

During the month of November, the Kids’ Club will focus on an Advent study called Sent. “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them. . .’’ - John 17:18 God sent Christ into the world as our Savior. That’s what Christmas is all about. In turn, Christ sends us into the world. But do we really understand how, where, and why we are sent? This Advent study challenges us through story, art, and Bible study to discover what it means to be Christ’s hands, feet, head, and heart.” They will meet on November 4, 11, and 18 from 6:30-7:30. The group will not meet on November 25 due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

We are planning a Family Mission Trip to Wesley Woods on November 7th. We will plan on leaving Ames at 7:30 a.m. and arriving at Wesley Woods at 8:30 a.m.

We will work from about 9:00 a.m. until around 4:30 or 5:00 p.m. with a lunch break around Noon. Please bring a sack lunch to eat and dress appropriately for working outside. There will be showers available.

We can stay overnight if there is interest. Please let me know if you would like to spend the night.

If there is interest in staying overnight, we would need to bring bedding and we would eat supper around the camp fire. S’mores would be on the menu too. We will return to Ames on Sunday Morning.

Please spread the word and let everyone know. They can contact me for details.

I hope to see you there! Thanks! Ken

December Dates to Remember December 2-A Kids’ Club Advent Celebration December 6-Dress Rehearsal for Children’s Christmas program during Sunday School December 9-Christmas Caroling!! December 13-Children’s Christmas Program December 16-Family PJ/Christmas Party December 20-Happy Birthday, Jesus Sunday School Celebration December 23-No activities December 27-No Sunday School

Adult Christian Education Opportunities for November Be sure to check out any of our exciting Sunday school classes on Sunday mornings from 9:45-10:45. Coffee Talk will wrap up current study and then lead into an Advent study. They meet in the Conference Room. Faith and Reason meets in Room E110 and will continue their discussions on being Christian in today’s world. Through the Bible, currently studying the Devotional Life of John Wesley, meets in Room E109. Wednesday Night Adults will meet November 4, 11, 18 and December 2 for their Advent Study called Sent. This study, written by Jacob Armstrong and Jorge Acevedo takes us into story, art, and bible study to help us understand how we are “sent” in Jesus’ name. God sent us Jesus, a baby, who is our savior. How can we go out and be the hands and feet of Christ? Join the group from 6:30-7:30 in the Conference Room.

L2IFE Groups Starting Soon! The groups have been formed and you should be hearing soon from

your group leader. We have groups who will meet once a month nearly

every evening of the week, some mornings, and some afternoons! If

you are still interested in joining a group, be sure to fill out the survey

found at the office or online at http://fumcames.org/life-groups/. Some

groups are full but others do have some spot open still. And we can al-

ways start another new group! If you have any questions about this ex-

citing way to grow your faith outside of the church building, feel free to

contact Nicole Smith, Mike Evans, Carrie & Chad Copley, Cami & Rich

McColley, or Dean & Judy Sampson-Our Learning and Living in Faith

Everyday Team.

CROP WALK TOTAL RAISED FROM AMES FUMC TO DATE IS...

$4918!

If YOU would like to add a bit more to help us cross over to $5000, please place your cash or a check made out to CWS (Church World Service) in an offering envelope and place it in today’s offering.

Thank you!

GREETERS FOR NOVEMBER 2015 1st 8:30 Terry Dewald and Jay Fredrick 11:00 Delores Ball and Marilyn Gibbs 8th 8:30 Chuck Bell and Loren Mortvedt 11:00 TBA 15th 8:30 Chad and Carrie Copley 11:00 Jerri Adams and Jan Bortz 22nd 8:30 UP with PUPPETS and Adult (will advise if/when can) 11:00 UP with PUPPETS and Kathy Van Pelt 29th 8:30 Jim and Susan Converse 11:00 Pete and Sally Peterson

Hanging of the Greens!

Mark your calendar: Saturday, November 21!

Please join your Worship Arts Team to prepare and decorate your church for the Advent season. We will begin at 9am and go until fin-ished, usually around noon. We have tasks for all ages and skill levels from climbing ladders to reach the top of trees to sitting and sorting ornaments and bows! You don’t have to be here the whole time. We will take whatever time you can share. We always provide drinks and homemade treats!

If you have questions, contact any of your co-chairs. Suann Evans, Mary Schrunk and Carol Miller.

POINSETTIAS FOR CHRISTMAS

Christmas is just around the corner. (Really, it is!)

We are excited to offer two different sizes of poinsettias this year! You may choose a 7½ inch pot for $15 or an 9 inch pot for $24.

Please, place your order by December 7. After all of the Christmas services, you may take your plant home. Remember what you ordered so you know what to pick up. We are also offering the Alternative Mission Gift again this year. The money will go to local missions.

POINSETTIAS

Name________________________________________________ Given in memory of _____________________________________ Given in honor of _______________________________________

Colors/Size

_____ White 7½ in. plant _____ White 9 in. plant

_____ Pink 7½ in. plant _____ Pink 9 in. plant

_____ Red 7½ in. plant _____ Red 9 in. plant

_____ Jingle Bells 7½ in. plant _____ Jingle Bells 9 in. plant

_____ Ice Punch 7½ in. plant _____ Ice Punch 9 in. plant

_____ Marble 7½ in. plant _____ Marble 9 in. plant

My check is enclosed for the amount of _________. Please write

Poinsettias in the memo line.

ALTERNATIVE MISSION GIFT Name _______________________________________________ In Memory of __________________________________________ In Honor of ___________________________________________ My check is enclosed for the amount of _________. Please write Alternative Mission Gift in the memo line.

Coffee-Hour Refreshment Hosts for November and December

During the month of November you will find members of our CEMT Committee and children from our Sunday school classes serving you during the refreshment and fellowship time on Sundays. On November 15th and 29th you will see members of our Confirmation class and their parents/mentors assisting. In December, as the holidays arrive, our social time will be hosted by members of our Staff Parish Relations Committee and our Worship Committee. Thank you to EVERYONE for your donations to help purchase coffee, juice and treats. Also, for those times when we need YOU to pitch in to help with set up or clean up. THANK YOU!

WANT TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT OPERA?

The Ames’ chapter of the Des Moines Metro Opera Guild has started to hold their monthly meetings here in our multiple-purpose room on the second Tuesday of each month starting at 7:30 p.m. In October, they hosted a group of ISU students who are part of the university’s opera studio getting ready for a production of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” at Fisher Theater on November 5-8. The November meeting on November 10, will feature a program titled “Earlier Recordings of Opera” by Laurent Hodges. He will be playing and discussing selections of the earliest recordings dating back to the late 19th century. All are welcomed to attend.

FOOD BANK NEEDS DONATIONS

The local food banks such as, MICA, are always in need of donations. Items that are especially needed are: soup, ramen noodles, protein beans (canned), hamburger helper, pasta and pasta sauce, toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, soap, and laundry soap. Bring your donations with you to worship and place them in the grocery cart by the south stairway. Thanks for the help!

FOOD---FAITH---CLIMATE---connecting the dots!

A workshop on this subject matter of how food and faith and climate all relate together, a program by Iowa Power & Light, will be held on Sunday, November 15th from 2:00-3:30 p.m. at Collegiate United Methodist Church in Ames. The event is being co-sponsored by Bethesda Lutheran and St. John’s By the Campus. The cost is $20. For more information contact www.programs@IowaIPL.org or call 515-689-1112

Good Neighbor Annual Combined Choir Concert November 8, 2015

Collegiate Presbyterian Church - 159 N. Sheldon Ave., Ames 2:00 PM (doors will open at 1:30)

Plan to attend the annual Good Neighbor Concert November 8 at 2:00 p.m. at Collegiate Presbyterian Church. The concert will feature ng performances by more than 15 choirs and musical ensembles, with a mass choir conducted by Doug Sweeney (choir director of Collegiate Presbyterian Church). Ellen Johnsen will be ringing a lovely handbell solo and the Chancel Women's Choir will be singing.

This is always a wonderful event and a great chance to hear lovely music and raise money for a great cause.

Free will donation going to support Good Neighbor Emergency Assistance.

Report from Good Neighbor Emergency Assistance

On October 20, GNEA board met at the Good Neighbor office at 613 Clark Ave. For the first quarter (July through September) the following households have received assistance, Rent and/or Utility Assistance to 103 households (amount is determined based on family situation), Healthy Food vouchers to 340 households (each voucher is worth $30/household), Gas vouchers to 78 households (each voucher is worth $25/household). The FY 13-14 quarterly comparisons for Rent and/or Utility Assistance was 113 households, Healthy Food vouchers was 340 households, Gas vouchers were 66 households. This is the general trend observed in past years and funding generally increases with the arrival of the holidays. Good Neighbor received its second delivery of books through “Raising Readers” program. The first shipment of books consisted of 75 books and nearly all were distributed minus a few books written in Spanish. The second delivery will provide for a wider range of readers and the children of clients find it very exciting to get to pick out a book to take home with them. Mike will meet with representatives for the city of Nevada in November to request support for the Good Neighbor Rent/Utility Assistance program. An additional fund raiser will be on November 22 at Worldly Goods on Main Street Ames, which will be allowing a percentage of all daily sales to be donated to Good Neighbor. This would be a good time to do some of your Christmas shopping and donate to the Good Neighbor voucher program. The next board meeting will be held on November 17 at noon at the Good Neighbor Office at 613 Clark Ave. Submitted by Steve J. Hanlin board representative for First United Methodist Church

CONSECRATING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS TO GOD NOVEMBER 14-15

On November 14 and 15 we will be inviting our members and friends of Ames First United Methodist Church to return their financial estimate of giving card for 2016. Thank you to all who are currently giving their financial resources this year! Truly, without your consistent support our congregation’s ministries and missions could not happen.

There are two reasons we ask you to fill out and return a commitment card each year. First, it allows the church to better plan for ministries in the new year because we can base our ministry budget on the dollar amount our members and friends hope to give. Secondly, the act of filling out a card is a way of inviting you to set a goal for your financial giving to your church during the coming year of 2016.

Many of you have already shown yourselves to be grateful givers to God. We would like you to pray about and consider what you can pledge for the coming year. We do encourage you to give the biblical tithe, 10% of your income, to the church. If you can’t take that step, then perhaps this can be a year when you move toward a tithe by making an increase in what you will give. For all of us serving on the church’s Stewardship Committee, giving to this congregation’s ministries and missions is one of the great blessings in life. We find great joy in knowing that by giving to the Ames First United Methodist Church, we can be a part of something bigger than we are.

We know that some folks here in our congregation are struggling financially and may not be in a position to give right now. We do care about you and if there is any way we can be of support to you---by praying with you, praying for you, talking with you, or providing other assistance---please contact us by visiting with our senior pastor, Rev. Fred Lewis.

An estimate of giving card will be mailed to you prior to this Consecration Weekend so be looking for it in the mail…and we will have extra cards here that day. Please take a few minutes to pray about your financial giving for 2016 and fill out the front of the card. Then bring the card with you to worship on November 14 or 15 when we will collect estimate of giving cards at the end of the worship celebration. If you are unable to be with us in worship that weekend, then you can return the card to the church office during the week or bring it to worship with you the following weekend. Returning your card is essential to us and it also marks your desire to remain an active part of this congregation.

Thank you for all you do to further the mission and work of the Ames First United Methodist Church. You make a difference here!

In Christ, Greg Fuerst, Chair of the Stewardship Committee; Chad Copley, Janet Rathe, William Edwards, Bruce Wight, Joel Sullivan, Bob Blattert,

Terry Goodman, Carol Miller, Dale Vander Schaaf, Pete Peterson, Bob Studer, and Rev. Fred Lewis

“All to Jesus I surrender; Lord, I give myself to thee; Fill me with thy love and power; let thy blessings fall on me.

I surrender all. P. S. If you have been fairly regular in your church attendance over the past several weeks, you are aware that we have been singing our way through the gospel hymn “I Surrender All” as a part of our fall stewardship program. This particular hymn was written in 1896 by a man named Judson W. Van DeVenter who was an evangelist here in the Midwest. He says that he wrote the words at a time in his life when he had endured a long struggle in his faith and finally surrendered and dedicated his life to active Christian service. The words were then put to music by his friend, Winfield Weeden, and became a popular gospel hymn at the turn of the century (just about the same time when our Ames First UMC was getting started 150 years ago). Hopefully it is a hymn to help you renew your commitment to Jesus as one of his disciples and to give God thanks. Earn ALL you can. Save ALL you can. Give ALL you can. --- John

Wesley’s “Simple Rules for Money”

ATTEND OUR ANNUAL CHARGE CONFERENCE: This year’s theme is “Discipleship: It’s All About Relationships”

Each year the congregation gathers in what is called a Charge/Church Conference to conduct business that is mandated by our United Methodist Book of Discipline. There will be an opening and closing worship. A wide variety of reports will be acted upon such as our goals and visions for 2016. The report of the Nominating/Lay Leadership Committee will be voted on as a way to elect our church leaders for the New Year. Our Staff Parish Relations Committee will offer the proposed financial compensation for our staff and it will be reviewed and acted upon. A church membership report will be given with names of persons to be removed --- members are considered active in our congregation if they attend worship and yearly contribute financially. The meeting is led by our District Superintendent, Rev. Harlan Gillespie. Our gathering will be held on Sunday, November 23, at 3 p.m. in the multiple-purpose room. Our Field Outreach Minister, Katharine Yarnell, will be present too, for some teaching and resourcing. ALL elected church leaders are encouraged to attend as well as any members of the congregation.

MISSIONS ALIVE!

We are well on our way of achieving “Rainbow Covenant” status in our Iowa Annual Conference for our first, second and third mile giving to missions (locally, nationally, and globally). Each color spectrum of the rainbow has a certain per dollar goal per member attached to it. This year we are basing our goals on a membership of 1100. We try to raise $12 per member to meet the Rainbow Covenant. Here is what we have given to so far in 2015:

Red—World Missions--$1: a. An orphanage in Goma, Africa, that cares for refugee children. b. A program in Guatemala that is called, The Indigenous Women Vegetable Gardening and Leadership, that equips and empowers women to use organic family and community gardens to augment the Mayan women’s food security and leadership. c. The Hope Secondary school that serves Palestinian children and is located in west Bethlehem. Most of the school’s 120 students are poor and have some kind of physical or mental challenge. Orange –National---$1: a. Church and Community Worker program that provides for home missionaries right here in some of the poorest areas of our nation. b. Red Bird Mission in Kentucky that serves the people of Appalachia. c. The Tree of Life ministry in South Dakota that provides for a sharing of faith through offering a variety of support to Native Americans. Yellow---United Methodist Committee on Relief---$1: a. Church World Service blankets b. Disaster Response both international and national c. Refugee Response internationally d. Solar Oven Project in Haiti which is a hunger ministry e. The Medicine Box ministry which provides for essential medicines

and medical supplies nationally and internationally. f. UMCOR Sager Brown Depot which is a warehouse that receives,

holds, and processes the material goods for the work of UMCOR. Green---World Hunger & Poverty Relief---$6: a. Heifer Project b. CROP Walk c. Food at First d. MICA Food Pantry Blue—(Iowa Annual Conference Missions in Iowa) ---$1 a. Bidwell Riverside in Des Moines provides a variety of services to the

poor in central Iowa/Iowa. b. Shesler Hall in Sioux City is a community living center for women

with special needs. c. Hawthorn Hill in Des Moines provides housing for homeless families d. Self-Help International in Waverly works to alleviate world hunger by

helping people help themselves Indigo--- (Iowa Annual Conference Parish Development)--$1:

a. Builder’s Call (United Methodist Builders) to assist in developing churches all across Iowa.

b. Women at the Well a UMC congregation inside the walls of the Iowa Correctional Institute for Women at Mitchellville.

Alongside all of these mission projects there are additional ones such as all the Special Sunday Offerings for missions and our support of oversees missionaries, Jeff and Ellen Hoover. Plus, there are a variety of local missions we support as a church through member donations and through our Foundation.

THANK YOU to all those who give to our missions and especially to those who pledge an extra $52+ a year just for missions.

Thank you! Wade and Callie Siskow, 2015 Mission Chairpersons.

FOUNDATION THOUGHTS FOR NOVEMBER:

You can share your faith beyond your lifetime by careful estate planning which includes your church in your will. During your lifetime you will have the joy of knowing that whatever you do not use

in this life will continue in ministry through your church after your death.

Consider naming the church as a secondary or back-up beneficiary of a life insurance policy or even your retirement plan in case other

beneficiaries named are deceased at the time of your death.

Your gifts to your church are testimony to your faith and the confidence you have in your church. Both lifetime gifts and gifts given through your will, express your feelings in a meaningful way.

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY

How would you like to be able to invest in First United Methodist Church? Member Investment Certificates are now being offered to FUMC members and their families. Investment Certificate rates are considerably above current CD rates offered by local financial institutions. Your investment will be used to reduce the bank loan cost for financing our beautiful new addition. If you are interested, or would like to know more, information packets are available in the church office. If you would like to have a packet mailed to you, just call the office: 232-2750.

Current Rates (effective through 12-31-15) Note Term Annual Interest Rate One Year 1.15% Three Year 1.75% Five Year 2.20% Minimum Investment: $2,000 Maximum Single Certificate: $50,000

WORSHIP COMMITTEE NEWS ENCOURAGES US ALL TO BE ENGAGED IN WORSHIP

The Worship Committee met on October 7th and cared for a number of regular business items and reports. One item was recruiting members of the congregation to help with the “sanctuary care” (volunteering to come at least once a month to ensure the sanctuary is “in order” and pews are equipped with hymnals, songbooks, bibles, and so forth). They spoke about plans for this year’s “Noel! Advent Lunches” to be held on December 2nd, 9th, and 16th. They will co-host these lunches with the UMW. They also approved purchasing new pew-sized Faith We Sing songbooks to replace ones that are well-worn and the brand new Worship & Song songbooks with monies from Gifts & Memorials. Discussion was held once again about the future of our Saturday at First worship service with the group encouraging church staff to do a survey of those who attend.

WELCOME & MARKETING COMMITTEE: HELPING US TO REACH OUT WITH WARMTH AND HOSPITALITY

Co-chairs, Del and Georgia Bluhm, are leading the committee. They are at work on our behalf trying to develop a year-round plan of advertising and marketing. They recently were awarded a grant by our Ames First UMC Foundation to help with these costs. Joyce Crotty is going to work with specialists in the field to help us develop such a plan of outreach. Joyce helped us get new “welcome cards” in the pews---have you noticed them?! Be sure to use them. This group also takes either freshly baked bread or cookies to new people who visit our congregation in worship at least twice in a row or thereabouts through the labors of Carol Crawford and Vicki Gray. Anne Nelson and Sally Peterson work to staff our Welcome Center and keep items there updated for people to pick up and use. Be sure weekly to stop by the Welcome Center and see “what’s new” or to just say “hi!” to whoever is staffing the center that day. One of the newer initiatives of this group has been to recruit greeters for the south entry door as they come to worship on Sundays. Elizabeth Orcutt-Kroeger will be helping the congregation to make and deliver “Christmas Eve bags”.

THE JOY OF BELONGING

Would you like to learn more about Ames First UMC and join with us as a church member? We make it fairly simple for folks. Visit with Pastor Fred about it. He will be holding a get-together at 10 a.m. on Sunday, November 15 in the church’s fireside parlor, located just off of the sanctuary.

November 15---Pray for Peace & the ending of Gun Violence

Iowa United Methodists and United Methodist across our nation are being encouraged to stop and pray for peace and the end of gun violence on Sunday, November 15. In addition to prayer we are called to find and act on ways that will bring peace. It is time for the church to speak out against gun violence in our nation. The Iowa Board of Church & Society writes that news from the Children’s Defense Fund tells us that guns remain the second leading cause of death among children and teens and the number one cause among black children and teenagers. US children and teens are 18 times more likely to die from a gun than their peers in 25 other high-income countries. A child or a teen dies from a gun every 3 hours and 18 minutes. Child and teen gun deaths rates remain higher than in the early 1960’s. The Iowa Board of Church & Society challenge us when they inform us that there has not been one week in 2015 that has not had a mass shooting and when they write: “You are the body of Christ in a world that is bleeding out due to gun violence---may the Holy Spirit lead you in a ministry of peace-making.” Let us pray for the victims of gun violence and tell their stories; and, let us pray for the perpetrators and for those who reach for violence that they might learn new ways.

THE UTILITY CALENDAR --- A WONDERFUL GIFT TO GIVE TO YOUR CHURCH

The cost of keeping First UMC warmed (or cooled), lighted and supplied with water, costs like it does in our own homes. The utility costs here at the church are BUDGETED at about $130 a day to pay the bills. As a means of helping with this expense, the Stewardship Ministry Team and the Finance Committee would like church members to consider signing up “for the Utility Calendar.” The Utility Calendar is posted downstairs in Fellowship Hall and it works very simply. You pick a day or days that have special significance to you. It might be your anniversary, a birthday, a holiday, a day in memory of a loved one, or any special and significant day. Note that you may share your day with several others---and more than one contributor may sign for any day. Sign your name on the calendar day(s) and take your contribution to the church office. Our goal is to receive 365 contributions of $130 each to cover the church’s utility bills. With your help, we know we can do it!

Rides for Sunday morning worship.

Need additional folks to add to list of possible drivers. Please contact Jerry Giebelstein@ 515-460-2099 or Mary Schrunk@ 515-681-1777 to offer service for this vital ministry.

If you travel from Green Hills, Windsor Oaks or Northridge Village please let us know if you can take an extra rider or two on Sunday mornings.

YEAR END GIVING: Why It Makes Sense to Give Now!

First Church’s Stewardship team and pastors would like to remind you of these seven ways to give an extra gift to our church as we come to the end of the year. We know that many will be giving gifts to our family and friends so why not reflect on how we’ve been blessed by our church family and express our gratitude with an extra financial gift in response to God’s blessings. Many of these ways may aid you as you work on your taxes in regards to charitable giving.

EXTRA Cash Gifts: This is a wonderful way to show your sup-port to your church.

Giving Appreciated Property: If you own investments that have increased in value (stocks, bonds, real estate, or mutual funds), you can donate them to a church.

Giving and Retaining Income for Life: Did you know you can give to our church while retaining income from the gift for the rest of your life? A charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder trust enables you to receive income that is flexible or

guaranteed. Giving Unneeded Life Insurance: Do you own a life insurance

policy that is no longer needed? Consider giving the policy to the church. This is a great way to benefit the church that you

support. Memorial Gifts: As you think of those special persons (teachers,

pastors, relatives, friends, or loved one) who have touched your life, you may want to do something “just right” to demonstrate that they are remembered. A memorial tribute (given at any time) can be an inspiring way to salute those who have enriched our lives.

Wise Tax Planning: An extra year-end gift may add just enough to allow you to take advantage of your full itemized deduction on your income taxes.

Expressing Your Faith: For many Christians the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons are times to give gratitude for God’s greatest gift to us, Jesus Christ.

WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?

Is there a “For Sale” sign in your neighborhood? Or perhaps a “Sold” sign? Take a walk around where you live, and if you notice that you have some new neighbors, why not say “hello!”? In addition to maybe seeking information about grocery stores, mechanics, medical care, and other services, your new neighbor might like to know where they can go to worship. Give them that information---and hand them one of our bulletins or tell them about our website and even perhaps offer to bring them or meet them here at church on an upcoming Saturday or Sunday. YOU ARE THE BEST ADVERTISEMENT FOR YOUR CHURCH!

COMING IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER FOR YOU:

November 1 …All Saints Sunday (Daylight Savings Time also ends this day) November 8 …Recognizing our Church Members who have belonged for 50 years or longer! Annual Good Neighbor Concert in the afternoon at Collegiate Presbyterian Church November 14 and 15….Celebration of OUR Stewardship Weekend!

November 21…Decorating the Church for the Holidays, starting at 9 a.m. November 22…All-Church Thanksgiving Dinner, serving starting at

11:30 a.m. OUR Annual Charge Conference at 3 pm here in the MPR December 2, 19, and 16…”Noel! Luncheons” at noon, featuring

area musical groups December 6…”Fill the Pews” Celebration December 6….Poinsettia Delivery December 9…All Church Caroling Party December 12…TUBA Christmas for the Ames Community at 1:30! Pie & Coffee Fundraiser 11 am-1 pm and 2:30-3:30 pm December 13….Sunday School Christmas Program at 10 a.m. December 16…. Children and Family Annual Pajama Party for Christmas December 20….Up With Puppets December 20….Blue Christmas Service - 4:00 Chapel December 24…Christmas Eve Worship 4:30---7:30---10:30 December 27…Chancel Choir’s Christmas Cantata with one worship at 9:30 a.m. December 31…New Year’s Eve festivities - “Noon Year’s Eve”

PLAN TO BE HERE ON “FILL THE PEW” SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6th

Chad Copley and Joel Sullivan (members of our Stewardship Committee) are leading the charge to have our congregation “fill the pews” at BOTH worship services on Sunday, December 6th, as the Advent-Christmas holidays really get going! Those of you who are “regulars” in attendance at worship, are invited to bring friends and co-workers and neighbors with you on that Sunday (especially those who do not have a church home). You may also want to review our church membership guidebook directory and see the names of church friends who you know have not been around lately and invite them to come to worship with you! As we are celebrating our 150 year history in the life of this community, it’s a great time to tell others about your church home and the work of ministry and mission that we do.

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DON’T FORGET! CHANGE YOUR

CLOCKS! NOVEMBER 1,

IT’S TIME TO FALL BACK!!