March 2018 Volume 59 Issue 3 Inside This Issue...Mar 03, 2018 · I whom you have delivered. –...

Contact Us 515-967-2991

Pastor John Gaulke

[email protected]

Steve McLellan

Minister of Creative Arts

& Pastoral Care

[email protected]

Matt Osborne

Youth Director

[email protected]

Brandon Lindsey

Children’s Ministry Director

[email protected]

LeAnn Gaulke

Director of Small Groups

& Assimilation

[email protected]

Jane Burns

Financial Manager

[email protected]

Heather Mahoney

Executive Assistant

[email protected]

Sue Bennett

Administrative Assistant

[email protected]

Dear Friends, I love walking around the church when small groups are

meeting and stopping in for a minute to say, “Hi!” It warms

my heart to see so many people study God’s word

together – growing in their understanding of the Christian

faith. I am encouraged as I hear them laugh –

fellowshipping and sharing some great snacks. I smile

because I know they have discovered the joy of wrapping

their lives around one another and praying for each other. When you stop and reflect on what is most important in life

– when it’s all said and done – you are left with only one

word – relationships. One hour together on Sunday

mornings just doesn’t allow for much relationship building.

You can maintain relationships on Sunday mornings, but if

you want to develop depth you simply need more time.

Yes, the worship services are important, but it’s the

fellowship with each that knits our hearts together. In

essence we became what Christ intended us to be – the

Church. The writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us why it’s important that

we develop friendships with others. Listen to these familiar

words in The Message version: It’s better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the

work, share the wealth. And if one falls down, the other

helps, But if there’s no one to help, tough! Two in a bed

warm each other. Alone, you shiver all night. By yourself

you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst.

Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t

easily snapped. (Ecclesiastes 4:9–12, The Message) Christ said that He would build His Church and the gates of

hell would not prevail against it. How do you build a

Church? Not with brick, mortar, or stone. You don’t need

any stained-glass or carpet. Forget about a hammer or

saw – they are worthless. No, the kind of Church Christ was

talking about was a church of relationships. It is built one

relationship at a time.

March 2018

Volume 59 Issue 3

Adult & Women’s Classes 3

Touching the World 4

Student Ministries 6

Children’s Ministry 7

Music Ministry 9

Pastoral Care 10

Top Notchers 11

Announcements 12

Online Giving 14

AUMC App 15

Inside This Issue

Continued on page 2

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

That is why He chose twelve and not fifty to be His disciples. You can only build so many

significant relationships. Christ knew that and chose twelve. They in turn would go into the

world and make disciples. Remember Jesus’ words before He ascended to heaven, “Go

into all the world and make disciples.” That is the primary purpose of the church. And it

happens best in relationships. It is difficult to make a disciple without first having a

relationship with them. Thank you for all that you do to build relationships both here at Altoona United Methodist

Church and in the world. It matters – it matters for eternity. Together with you,

Pastor John

Volume 59 Issue 3 Page 2


Turkey Mission Dinner 2017 Update The annual Turkey Mission Dinner was held on November 11, 2017 and

was a great success. Through your generosity, over $124,000 was

donated. This money is already being used to help the poor, hungry,

hurting, and lost both locally as well as around the world.

Hope Ministries of Des Moines has already been presented a check to upgrade the security

systems across all of their facilities, providing greater safety and peace of mind for their

shelter guests, recovery residents, staff, and volunteers. A check was also presented to Les

DeRoos, a missionary in Haiti with Laborers with Christ, to continue our partnership with them

to provide the orphanage with sustainable food such as chickens to produce eggs and

meat, a tilapia farm to provide fish, and vegetables that can be grown and harvested.

Matt Osborne (youth director) and Brandon Lindsey (children’s director) have recently

returned from a trip to Haiti to look into possible projects for a missions team from our

congregation. Watch for more details about their trip and how you can get involved in the

mission project in the upcoming newsletters.

Our first Meals from the Heartland 50,000-meal packaging event

takes place all day Saturday, April 7. Signups to volunteer will

begin on Sunday, March 25 in the entryway. Contact Heather

Mahoney at [email protected], if you would like to get

your name on the list early! Remember, you get to keep your

hairnet as a souvenir!

Thank you again for your generosity at Turkey Mission Dinner 2017. We will continue to

update you as the money is dispersed to help those in need in our local community and

across the globe. Please remember to mark your 2018 calendars to help package meals

through Meals from the Heartland and build the walls for two houses through Habitat for

Humanity.

April 7 Meals from the Heartland packaging event (50,000 meals)

**Signups start March 25**

May 5 Habitat for Humanity wall build (two homes for Birdland area)

Oct 13 Meals from the Heartland packaging event (50,000 meals)

Watch the bulletin and weekly emails

to sign up to participate!

Missionary Moment


Through the funds raised at the Turkey Mission Dinner, we

support several missionaries. Each month we spotlight one of

these people so you can get to know them.

Cody and Vanessa Nelson were married by Pastor John almost

thirteen years ago at Mediapolis United Methodist Church.

They are now serving in the Middle East with their three

children. They moved from Iowa to the Middle East five-and-a-

half years ago and have since been learning the language

and culture, serving refugees and sharing truth and hope with

their Arab friends and neighbors.

In Cody’s words, from Cody and Vanessa’s most recent email update at the end of 2017:

“This was a year in which we saw God take things that did not exist or had not yet been fully

formed, and bring them into existence. At the start of the year SHINE was an idea being

planned by Vanessa and others without a specific group of women in mind to participate

in the program. In January, I had a lofty goal of sharing with 500 people, wondering who

might #1 be and hoping (praying) that in the midst of sowing that these seeds would reach

good soil and yield fruit. Now in December, we rejoice that SHINE reached and blessed a

community of women in Jordan, and since then has spread to three other groups in the

country. At the end of the year, I look back on the 79th person I shared with back in March,

who since then has committed to following Jesus and sharing this with his family members.”

Cody and Vanessa appreciate our support and prayers throughout their last five years on

the mission field. If you would like to receive Cody and Vanessa’s email updates, please

contact Heather Mahoney at [email protected].

In next month’s newsletter, we will learn more about Les DeRoos and his wife Catherine who

are serving in Haiti. Matt Osborne (youth director) and Brandon Lindsey (children’s director)

recently returned from a trip to Haiti with Les to determine a project for a missions team

from our congregation. More information to come!

Sunday March 25 we commemorate Palm Sunday by offering our praise to the One who

ultimately has been recognized world over as the Risen Savior. Today the world is looking for

a leader who will solve all the pain and sorrows of a world that seems impossible to fix. It was

such a time that the Messiah came into the world and by his amazing grace He still come

to us today. You can experience his love and grace even as you praise for it is written, “He

inhabits (lives in) the praises of His people.

Join us March 25th and experience God’s presence as you lift you heart and voice in

praise.

My lips will shout for joy

when I sing praise to you—

I whom you have delivered. – Psalm 71:23

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD. – Psalm 150:6

REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE FOR PALM SUNDAY & EASTER

Wednesday, March 21st: Rehearsal with Choir, Orchestra, Rhythm, and audio/video

personnel

WEDNESDAY March 21st DRESS REHEARSAL

Bell Choir: 6:15 – 6:30 p.m.

Adult Choir and Orchestra: 6:15 – 8:15 p.m.

Praise Band: 7:45 – 9:00 p.m.

Technical Team: 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.

PALM SUNDAY, March 25: Choir & Orchestra meet 7:00 a.m. (breakfast @ 6:45 a.m.)

Bell Choir 7:45 a.m.

Wednesday, March 28th: Easter Choir/Orchestra 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

EASTER SATURDAY, March 31st: Easter Choir/Orchestra/Audio & Video 5:30 p.m.

EASTER SUNDAY, April 1st: All Easter participants 7:00 a.m.

Wednesday, April 4: Choir and Orchestra rehearsals cancelled


Worship

Continued on page 10

The Handbell Choir is still looking for additional ringers. Music reading skill is helpful. We

provide training and lots of fun. If you want to get your “feet wet” at this, why not sub in for

a month or two this spring? Rehearsals are Monday nights at 7:00 p.m.

The AUMC choir continues to grow. You are invited to come and grow with us. We are

excited about music and worship and have fun doing it! I think you would enjoy it too!

Orchestra has some new music that challenges skills while providing opportunity to promote

powerful worship. If you play or have played at the high school or college level, this is a fun

outlet to use your talent.

Have you played in a band? Contact Steven McLellan at [email protected] or call

515-967-2991 if you would be interested in doing worship music here at AUMC.

Steve McLellan


mailto:[email protected]


Tuesday, March 13, Noon Potluck Program: Show & Tell (I Collect)

Bring a few items from your collection to share.

Could be sports memorabilia, Christmas ornaments,

war items, books, etc.

Noon in the Family Life Center

Bring a dish to share

Host/Hostess: Larry & Connie Ramseyer,

Janice Brouwer

Chairpersons: Dale Hartgraves

Bring a donation for Caring Hands Food Pantry

Tuesday, April 10, Noon Potluck Program: Eric Hansen “This is Iowa”

Noon in the Family Life Center

Bring a dish to share

Host/Hostess: Bob & Wilma Hall

Chairpersons: Terry & Mary Van De Pol

Bring a donation for the Caring Hands Food Pantry

Tuesday, May 8, Outing

Outing to Teen Challenge of the Midlands

Program

Lunch

Tour of the grounds

Carpool from church at 9:30 a.m.

Bring a friend, new people are always welcome!

Upcoming Get Together

Top Notchers A ministry for adults 55+

Men’s Breakfast

Saturday March 17th

8:00 a.m. in the Family Life Center


Regular office hours are:

Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Friday 8:30 a.m. - Noon

Pasoral Partners

Consider sending a DVD to a

homebound friend or loved one.

DVD’s are $5 each. If you or family member would like

prayer support or a hospital visit

please fill out the prayer request on

the back of the Connect Card or call

the church office at 967-2991. Please continue to remember the

ministries of the church in your

prayers. Pastor Steve

United Methodist Women

United Methodist Women will be meeting on Thursday, March 1 at

7:00 p.m. in the Large Conference Room (across from the office).

The program will be Prayer and Self Denial by Marla Carr. Mission

project will be collecting money for Bidwell Riverside for them to use as

needed. Martha Circle will meet on Thursday, March 15th at 11:00 a.m. at the Altoona

Perkins for meeting and lunch. Abigail Circle will meet on Tuesday, March 20 at 7:00 p.m. at the home of

Marla Carr. Save the Date: Sunday, March 11th for the UMW Tater Topper Luncheon!


UMW Annual Tater Topper Sunday, March 11th

Family Life Center

10:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Menu will be baked potato with choice of toppings,

sloppy joes, dessert and drink. We will be having a freewill offering for our

mission projects: Freedom for Youth, Bidwell Riverside, Children & Family

mission, local food pantry, New Directions at Hawthorn Hill, our church camp

fund and youth group, Trinity UM church breakfast club and our pledge to

national UMW for world wide missions.

Kids’ Connection Preschool is now accepting enrollment applications for

the fall of 2018. Forms are available at the

Welcome Center or the church office. For

more information, call Denise at 967-2991 or

email her at

[email protected]

Easter Lilies If you would like to order an Easter lily in memory or honor of

someone, envelope order forms are available at the Welcome

Center. Cost this year is $8.00 per lily. You can return your

completed form and payment to the box at the Welcome Center

by March 11th. You may pick up your lily to enjoy in your home

after the third service on Easter Sunday.

New Members Class

If you are interested in becoming a member of AUMC, our next 2

session class will meet on Wednesday, April 18th and Wednesday,

April 25th from 6:30 - 7:45 p.m. in NW Adult Classroom A, with the

receiving of New Members on Sunday, April 29th. For more

information or to sign up for this class, please contact the church

office at 967-2991 or email [email protected].

Childcare is available during the classes.


Altoona United Methodist Church has two electronic options for giving.

You can register to give regularly or make a one-time gift by going to our

church website, www.altoonaumc.org. Click on the Give tab.

Once you have clicked on the Give Online button, choose First Time? on

the left side of the E-Giving Login page. Enter your information, create a

password, and hit Submit. Your donation can come from your checking,

savings, debit card, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover. You

will have the option of making a one-time gift or a

recurring donation on a schedule that you set up. Once

you have registered, you have the ability to adjust your giving as desired

by logging in with your email address and password.

Another option for electronic giving is through our new church app. In the Worship menu,

choose Give Online and then follow the instructions above.

If you have any questions about this secure electronic giving option, please contact

Heather Mahoney at 967-2991 or [email protected]. She is happy to meet with

you to help you set up your account or answer any of your questions.

http://www.altoonaumc.orgmailto:[email protected]

Volume 59 Issue 3

If you would like to receive weekly updates via email, please go to the church website,

www.altoonaumc.org. Under the Connect tab, choose E-Mail Signup, enter your email

address, choose the email(s) you would like to receive, and they will begin arriving on a

weekly basis!

If you would like to be included on our email prayer chain list, please go to the church

website, www.altoonaumc.org, choose Prayer Chain Signup under the Connect tab,

enter your email address, and choose the Prayer Chain list.

Available for iOS and Android.
http://www.altoonaumc.orghttp://www.altoonaumc.org

March 2018 Volume 59 Issue 3 Inside This Issue...Mar 03, 2018 · I whom you have delivered. –...

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