Attention High School Seniors and Undergraduates. The United Methodist Foundation has scholarships available for 2009-2010. Please check out the web site www.iumf.org. Applications and supporting documents must be postmarked by February 15, 2009.

Simpson College also has a grant available for deserving United Methodist students committed to helping others through service to the community. Qualified and deserving students will receive between $12,000 and $15,000 in gift assistance from the college through the United Methodist Service to Community Grant. If you think you would be interested in anyway please contact Melody in the church office at 334-3689 for more information.

This last fall our church congregation, in a generous act of giving, was able to pay off the cost of a new boiler system. The cost of that system was $80,000. Our congregation gave sacrificially in order to keep us from incurring debt into the year 2009. It was paid off in a matter of 4 months. Though cost of the new boiler was not actually “ministry” money, it was highly important because the keeping of our church building going in the winter and throughout the year is how we “do ministry”. Our church needs to celebrate this great show of commitment and generosity. We also need to praise God who was and is our Provider.

Now for the harder news: Because of some changes in our economy and in the financial status of some of our congregation we experienced, for the first time in the12 years of my stay here, a drop in the estimated giving for the coming year through our Consecration Sunday program. This was combined with an increase of our expected apportionment giving for 2009. Because of this combination the Finance Committee had to sit down and to do some hard planning in setting the budget for 2009.The outcome was that our budget had to be cut 2.6 % . The good news is that we are able to keep our church staff in full and continue to be a viable and strong ministry for the Lord in 2009. You need to be proud of your Finance Committee for the hard work and the faithfulness they have shown. Our church will continue to be a “light in the darkness.”

Some of the areas that were cut were areas we have dreamed about for new ministries. Hopefully, in the next couple of years, we will be able to include them again. God will provide as we get an overall understanding and continue to learn to be generous and thankful “givers” - putting God first in our personal financial life. We are learning more and more to truly trust in God for all of our needs.

Let’s continue to celebrate the generosity and commitment of our church’s people. Let’s continue to thank God for His wonderful love and grace and bountiful provision for His church’s ministry and in our personal lives. And let’s thank God for His vision and His guidance for our church’s ministry... in the past, in the future, and for today!

-Rev. Bailey

Dates are filling up fast for the 2009 radio broadcast. If you would like to sponsor a radio broadcast please call the office at 334-3689. The cost of a broadcast is $90. If you see a date that you might be interested in, please call early in the year. Sometimes if you wait too long the date may already be filled. The following dates are available for 2009:

• January 4, 25
• February 1, 8, 15, 22
• March 1, 22, 29
• April 26
• May 3, 17, 31
• June 7, 14, 21
• July 5, 19
• August 2, 9, 30
• September 27
• October 11, 18
• November 8
• December 27

You and Your friends are invited to:

Ribbons Ribbons Ribbons

Monday, January 12, 6:30 pm
Independence Pizza Ranch
Supper $8.75

Featuring Children’s Hair bows by Kim Decker, Music by Angie Embray, and Speaker Connie Beard Reservations call Shirley 334-2882

Thanks so much for the prayers, calls and cards and especially for Rev. Bailey’s visits when Jack had his heart attack. Prayers mean so much and we are so thankful. -Jack & Dorothy Swarts

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The Hancock family wishes to thank the congregation for their many cards, expressions of concern and prayers for Gene. They are sources of strength and help in this time of great need. Thank you so much. -The Hancock Family

1-04-09
“The New Year: One Day at a Time” Matthew 6:25-34
We begin a new year. Jesus has good words about how to face the future. No Worry! Trust! Give tomorrow to God! Seek God’s rule and His righteousness and all will be well. One day at a time.

1-11-09
“The New Year: Turning Things Around” Matthew 3:13-16
The new year gives us the opportunity for change. In the New Testament even Jesus went under the waters of baptism to be an example to all of humanity for the need or repentance and change. What in your life is a struggle for you? How will God help you to overcome your struggle? This Sunday we will search what it means to let go of the past, to turn things around through repentance, and to trust in God’s help in every area of our life.

1-18-09
“The New Year: Listening to the Call of God” 1 Samuel 3:1-10
The need to listen for God’s voice in our life is imperative for a Christian. As a boy Samuel learned a most important lesson on quieting down enough to listen. Because of this he became a great leader for the people of God. We all have the call of God upon our lives. What is He calling you to do this year?

1-25-09
“The New Year: Where Is Your Home?” John 15:5-8
The Psalms continually talk about God being our place to “abide in”; a place to call our “home”. The word means to “live” or to “remain” (to stay) in God. Jesus shares this very important concept with His disciples as He is going to the cross. There is a need to focus on staying close to Jesus for our security and for Him to produce fruit in our lives of joy, peace, love, kindness, gentleness, patience, etc. Where will you find your security and your strength this year? Where will your “home” be?

Calling all helpers...please help us UN-decorate the Church on Saturday, January 10, 2009 at 9:00 am. We would appreciate all your help. (Have you ever thought of climbing up on the ledge around the sanctuary? The Barker kids have grown too tall for this job and are looking for shorter replacements. Come see how they do it.)

The new offering envelopes for 2009 will be mailed on December 31st. You will receive them in time for the first Sunday of January. PLEASE DISCARD any un-used 2008 envelopes! We assign new envelope numbers for 2009. If you use the old envelopes credit might go to the wrong person. This will keep our records accurate as we enter them into the computer. Thank you for your help.

The special offering in January is offered on the Sunday before the birthday observance of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. where United Methodist congregations observe Human Relations Day. The special offering supports Community Developers, United Methodist Voluntary Service and Youth Offender Rehabilitations programs. This Human Relations Day helps strengthen outreach to communities in the United States and Puerto Rico and encourage social justice and work with at-risk youth. If you would like to help support this special offering, please designate your gift Human Relations Day on the memo line of your check.

2009!!! It will be a good year and we can thank God for that!

Remember the John 3:16 Bible Study in the prayer room will start up again January 11. Anyone can attend.

The Wednesday Early Out After School Program will meet January 14th and 28th. There is still room for your help.

And last but not least we will UN-decorate the Church sanctuary on Saturday, January 10th at 9:00 am. (It comes down much faster than it goes up!) We appreciate your help!

PRAY: 2009 has arrived with a clean number of days. Let’s remind ourselves to set a time for prayer, bible reading and worship. Daily connection with God makes everything go better. Why not make it a New Year’s goal to spend some time daily with the Lord?

PRAY: Our staff at UMC works tirelessly to keep the ministry going. Let’s pray for them often for their health, the programs, the ministry to people and for God to be near them each day.

PRAY: Our nation will celebrate as we welcome a new President in January. Pray for a safe and healthy transition for all concerned. Pray for all the new appointments and for our nation to remain One Nation, Under God, Indivisible with Liberty and Justice for All.

On Sunday, January 21st we will have Faith Experience at UMC and will include the Prayer Partners since the weather “ruled” in December. Please come and we will have some winter fun together and grow in our faith walk. It will be 6 p.m. and more details will follow when it gets closer. May God grant you peace as you celebrate each day the birth and life of Jesus Christ.

Jr. High Youth Group will not meet in January, but we have a busy February scheduled. More info to come.

January 2009 Jr. High Youth Schedule:
1/14-- 6:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall
1/28-- 6:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall

January 2009 Sunday Helpers Schedule:

January 2009 Acolytes: Erik Gruber & Matthew Beebe
February 2009 Acolytes: Mitchell Cabalka & Austin Rasmussen

If you have a news item that you would like posted here, send it to us!