Changes and Challenges”,

Phil Carver on “Worship Mu-

sic Trends”, Kevin Evers on

“Changing the World, One

Status Update at a Time”,

Rev. Jan Hibben on “Keeping

Our Children Safe”, Rev.

Paul Smith on “Leading

through Transitions”, Shari

Miller on “A Deeper Sense of

Community through Photog-

raphy & Personal Storytell-

ing”, Rev. John Gaulke on

“Learning How to Dream

Again”, and Rev. Thom Bry-

ant on “The Road to Recov-

ery”.

This will be a wonderful

and inspirational day you

will not want to miss. I hope

you will mark your calendar

now to join us.

We will be having a

special guest preacher on

Sunday, January 13, 2013.

Bishop Julius Calvin Trim-

ble, our Iowa Annual Con-

ference Episcopal leader,

will be with us in worship.

Along with Bishop Trimble,

our Central District Super-

intendent, Rev. Dave

Weesner, and our Field

Outreach Minister, Rev.

Karen Nelson, will be with

us in worship. This will be

a wonderful day and op-

portunity for you to meet

our church leadership.

What is worship other

than people coming to-

gether to find their self-

worth in relationship with

God our creator, Jesus

Christ our redeemer, and

the Holy Spirit our sustain-

er?

On this special Sunday,

January 13th, we will have

only one worship service

at 11:00 AM. I pray we will

fill the church with people

eager to hear the gospel

proclaimed by our Bishop.

Our lay leader, Curt

Thompson, will be leading

worship at Park Centre so I

can welcome Bishop Trim-

ble and other honored

guests.

In the afternoon we will

be hosting the Central Dis-

trict Leadership Training

Event here in our church

from 2 - 5 PM. Bishop

Trimble will be addressing

the entire body followed

by the keynote speaker,

Dave Busiek, KCCI’s News

Director.

Session presenters in-

clude Rev. Jill Sanders on

“Moving to the Single

Board Model for Adminis-

trative Leadership”, Rev.

Ed Kail on “Rural Ministry:

From Pastor Gary’s Heart

January 2013 Volume 47, Issue 1

F i r s t U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h

N ew t o n , I o w a

The Messenger

How to contact us:

210 N 2nd Ave E

Telephone: 641-792-4648

Fax: 641-791-7213

firstumc@pcpartner.net

www.newtonfirst.org

Our Office Staff:

Gary Marzolf, Pastor

Shirley Birkenholz,

Joy Osborn-Daniels,

Dorothy McFarling,

Church Office

Elsie Ulland,

Coordinator of Lay Min-

istries & Parish Visitor

Inside this Issue:

Hospitalizations, 2

Sympathies,

Elsie’s Article

January Calendar 3

Birthdays, 4

Anniversaries

Shut-in List 5

Baptisms,

Thank Yous 6

Remembering Our

Military 7

Military, Lighthouses 8

Hospitalized IMMC: Ken Schafer, Adam Hunter

Released: Harold Wright, Bob Thorson, Marjorie Vermillion, Whitney Baethke & baby girl

Sympathies Our deepest sympathies to Ann Straight and family on the death of her husband, Wayne Straight; and to Diane & Larry Plumb & family on the death of Diane’s father, Robert Allen.

We wish you an abundance of God’s peace in your loss. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you…. Do not let your hearts be troubled.” John 14:27

Congratulations to…. Brian Birkenholz who received his master’s de-

gree in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State

University.

United Methodist Women The United Methodist Women will meet on

Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013, at 12 noon in the

church dining room. Esther Circle will be hostess

for the noon luncheon. All ladies of the church are

invited to come. Working gals: If you’re on your

lunch hour, come eat and stay as long as you can.

The program will be announced in the Sunday bul-

letin by our UMW president.

The UMW Board will meet at 11 AM also on January

2nd prior to the noon luncheon.

A New Year Poem

Another fresh new year is here…

Another year to live!

To banish worry, doubt, and fear,

To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me

To live each day with zest…

To daily grow and try to be

My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity

Once more to right some wrongs,

To pray for peace, to plant a tree,

And sing more joyful songs!

—William Arthur Ward

A Note from Your Coordinator of

Lay Ministries Happy New Year! I hope 2013 brings lots of good things

your way.

Oftentimes a new year brings changes and that will be

the case here at First United Methodist Church. Holy

Conference will be meeting on Saturday, January 5th, to

discuss the new format and make plans for the new year

with these changes in mind.

You may already know that the committees will be re-

named Ministry Teams. The word “Committees” will

not be part of our vocabulary anymore. The Ministry

Teams will have designated responsibilities. Many of the

members of the teams will have two-year commitments

instead of three years. If you have been called to serve

on a Ministry Team, you are aware of the timeline chang-

es.

To help the Ministry Teams with their important work,

Cluster Groups will be assigned on a short-term basis to

complete tasks and projects. The Every Member in Min-

istry Menus will be used to fill these groups, and there

will also be opportunities for you to volunteer your work

on the Cluster Groups. When the tasks are completed, the

responsibilities of the Cluster Group for that particular

event will be done.

Ministry Teams will have new and returning members.

Shirley Birkenholz will send out reminders to you about

the date and time of your meetings. It will be important

for you to attend the meetings so the work of the team

can be done and decisions made with all of your input.

Mark the dates of your meetings on your calendar so it

will become a priority for you.

I would like to thank those of you who have served so

faithfully this past year in so many ways. I also want to

thank those of you who will be serving on the Ministry

Teams and Cluster Groups in 2013.

We’re looking forward to a good year with lots of new

and exciting things for our church family.

—Elsie Ulland,

Coordinator of Lay Ministries

Get Moving Faith is the word that describes the

direction our feet start moving when

we find that we are loved. Faith is

stepping out into the unknown with

nothing to guide us but a hand just

beyond our grasp.

—Frederick Buechner 2

(see separate January, 2013 calendar in PDF attachment.)

January 2013

3

January Birthdays Jan 1st - Marilyn Tish Jan 2nd - Roger Gilbreaith, Deb Lindstrom, Colette Lothe Jan 3rd - Teresa Robson Jan 4th – Darvin Graham Jan 5th – Stan Heidemann, Anna Latcham, Joshua Pline, Kevin Reynolds, Annette Sheets Jan 6th - Tim Conn, David Drew, Kathy Eason, Cori Latcham, Bonnie

Logan, Tad Newel, Kelly Zielaskowski Jan 7th - Tonia Flora, Laura Hartgers, Rusty Lane Jan 8th - Wilma L. Davis Jan 9th - Stan Clement, Silas Hanneman, Sandra Morgan Jan 10th – Shane Griffin, Joe Klingensmith, Ken Lehr-man, Cyndi Tish Jan 11th - Echo Hartgers, Bev Klingensmith, Doug Wilson Jan 12th - Gary Marzolf, DJ Mott, Keith Welling Jan 14th - Dorothy Balbiani, Sally Hurt, Amy Joswiak, Beth Pline, Pat Spellman Jan 15th - Jason Blount, Tanya Lorence, Lelah Main, Ford Thompson, Dorothy Wood Jan 16th - Linette Bowser, Steve Bewyer, Jackson Hartzell, Kathy Milburn Jan 17th – Amanda Crise, Rhonda Guy, Pat Martens, Abigail Newel, Larry Pauley, Phyllis Snook Jan 18th – Melva Waite Jan 19th - Kimberly Morgan, Shaina Squire Jan 20th - Brian Birkenholz, Mary Holwell, Marjorie McCardell, Travis Shanks Jan 21st - Nick Bunse, Jacob Hartgers, Bryar Hill Jan 22nd - Nancy Andersen, Vern Bryan, Steve Her-rin, Carolyn Ogg, Barb Richards, Jeanne Sandholm Jan 23rd - Doris Cabalka, Connor Gosselink, Amanda Hoffman, Pam Yoakum Jan 24th - Jon Bovenkamp, Maryah Wildes Jan 25th - Jeff Emmack, Tate Schnathorst, Jordyn Shipley, Kay Stewart, Lee Tharp Jan 26th – Gatlin Chambers, Nicole Hoskins Jan 27th – Mel Lust Jan 28th - Pat Bates, Doug DeMeyer, Tim Dykstra, Ellen Mathes, Mary Pretzer Jan 29th – Jeanna Barcus Jan 30th - Chase Plumb Jan 31st – Amy Dykstra, Nykole Hernandez, Zachary Oldham, Rick Squire

Men’s Breakfast The Saturday morning Men’s

Breakfast meets the first Satur-

day of each month. We hope

to see you on Saturday, Janu-

ary 5th, at 9 AM in the church

dining room. All men are wel-

come to join in this

time of food and fel-

lowship. 4

January Anniversaries Jan 5th – Rick & Phyllis Rewis Jan 6th – Tom & Jen Cannon, Frank & Mary Dawson, Rick & Carol Flanagan Jan 12th – Russell & Velda Clayton Jan 13th – Randy & Judy Brisel Jan 19th – Al & Joan Kinrade Jan 23rd – Nick & Allie Trammell Jan 24th – Robert & Sandra McCloney, Cody & Stacey Simbro Jan 26th – Steve & Joan Hoelscher Jan 27th – Roger & Nancee Etter Jan 29th – Katie & Brent Warning

If you are 60 years of age and older, we hope you will

join us for some coffee, snacks and fellowship on the

first Monday of every month. We’ll meet on Monday,

January 7th, at 10 AM in the church dining room. The

group always has a good time and would love to have

you attend!

Nut Sale

Nuts sales have been brisk. We have sold out of several

kinds but we still have some good-quality nuts and

chocolate items. Gets yours today for some good snack-

ing.

Purchases can be made on Sunday mornings in the nar-

thex or in the church office during the week.

Wilma Anderson Careage 2130 W 18th St S Newton IA 50208 Bob Beintema Careage 2130 W 18th St S Newton IA 50208 Jason & Ruby Blount Careage 2130 W 18th St S Newton IA 50208 Mimi Chabot Careage 2130 W 18th St S Newton IA 50208 Dorothy Siems Careage 2130 W 18th St S Newton IA 50208 Wayne Tinnermeier Careage 2130 W 18th St S Newton IA 50208

Esther Barr Heritage Manor 1743 S 8th Ave E Newton IA 50208

Harriett Morgan Heritage Manor 1743 S 8th Ave E Newton IA 50208

Alice Brodersen Nelson Manor 1500 1st Ave E Newton IA 50208

5

Members in Area Care Facilities

Please use your hands for God and go visit these people and hug them, write

them an encouraging note, and please fold your hands to pray for them.

“Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God.

I am the Lord!” Leviticus 19:32

Shirley Fifer Newton Health Care 200 S 8th Ave E Newton IA 50208 Hazel Kleinendorst Newton Health Care 200 S 8th Ave E Newton IA 50208 Grace Dickey Newton Village 122 N 5th Ave W Apt 218 AL Newton IA 50208 Pat Bates Park Centre 500 1st St N Apt 75 AL Newton IA 50208

Dorothy Davis Park Centre 500 1st St N HC Newton IA 50208 Wilma L Davis Park Centre 500 1st St N Apt 76 AL Newton IA 50208 Marguerite Farren Park Centre 500 1st St N Apt 43 AL Newton IA 50208

Marje Logan Park Centre 500 1st St N HC Newton IA 50208 Lillie Magilton Park Centre 500 1st St N Apt 73 AL Newton IA 50208

Tye Mentzer Park Centre 500 1st St N Apt 67 AL Newton IA 50208 Loren Nearmyer Park Centre 500 1st St N Apt 65 AL Newton IA 50208 Carolyn Ogg Park Centre 500 1st St N HC Newton IA 50208 Fred Pittman Park Centre 500 1st St N Apt 61 AL Newton IA 50208 Alice Ringgenberg Park Centre 500 1st St N Apt 66 AL Newton IA 50208 Harold Sparks Park Centre 500 1st St N GV Newton IA 50208

Bob Stanley Park Centre 500 1st St N GV Newton IA 50208

Melva Waite Park Centre 500 1st St N HC Newton IA 50208

Carolyn Cannon Baxter Health Care 407 S East Ave Baxter IA 50028

Updated 12/18/12

Home Mission Sunday Home Mission Sunday will be

January 6th. This month, the Sal-

vation Army has requested pa-

per products, personal hygiene

items and diapers. You can

bring your donations with you to

church that morning and put

items in the wicker baskets at

the church entrances. Thanks

for your generosity!

UMW Book of the Month “Cry of the Giraffe” by Judie Oron

One girl’s courageous journey from exile

and slavery to hope in a new land.

This is based on real events and mirrors the experi-

ence of thousands of Ethiopian Jews who fled from ha-

tred, persecution and brutality to a new life in their

spiritual homeland. The author risked her life to help

Wuditu accomplish this.

Scholarships Available The Iowa United Methodist

Foundation is reminding

everyone of the availability

of scholarships for students

from Iowa who are planning

to attend a university, col-

lege or vocational institution

and also the availability of

scholarships for seminary

students who are from Iowa

and attending an approved

United Methodist Seminary. Please visit www.iumf.org

and click scholarships for more information and appli-

cation forms.

Sacrament of Baptism Bryar Paige Hill, daughter of Jen-

nifer Hill & Juan Hernandez, and

Alexandra Nicole Doepp and

Jordyn Noelle Doepp, daughters

of Samantha & Kristopher Doepp,

received the sacrament of baptism

on Sunday, December 9th, in our

sanctuary.

Thank Yous Thank you to Pauline Hesson and all her assistants

for another wonderful children’s Christmas pro-

gram.

The United Methodist Women would like to thank

everyone who donated cookies and candies for our

annual cookie walk this year. With your help it was

another successful year. We didn’t have as many

cookies donated but still came out very well on our

sale. Thank you to everyone who came and helped

with the event. Thanks to those who decorated

cookies on Friday and everyone who pitched in

moving the cookies to the tables and setting them

up for selling. We also want to thank all of the men

who came and helped with moving the tables and

getting the round tables back up for Sunday morn-

ing coffee time. Linda and Steve Osborn, thank you

for your work on the sign to advertise our cookie

walk.

Thanks to all who donated mittens, gloves, hats,

scarves and socks to the mitten tree. We collected

around 150 different items that will be delivered to

the Salvation Army and distributed to local families.

“Dear Church Friends, Thank you all so much for

showing me such compassion during the passing of

my dad. We received many cards and phone calls,

and it really meant a lot to me. What a great group

of people. Thank you.” —Diane & Larry Plumb

(in advance) Those who donated money for the

Christmas dinner and who are helping on Decem-

ber 24th and December 25th to make and serve the

meal. Special thanks to Pauline Hesson for coordi-

nating the meal, buying the groceries and being

available on two very busy days with the meal.

(in advance) The ushers, sound person, organist,

choir director, communion ladies, and all others tak-

ing part in our Christmas Eve services.

6

Sunday, January 13th

One-combined worship service

here at 11 AM.

MA3 John Barker

Petty Officer, Naval Police

US Naval Air Station

8214 A Chukar St

Fallon NV 89406

Grandson of Larry Longren

Major Kevin Ehresman

42308 Klamath Ln

Quartz Hill CA

Son of Ron & Joanne Ehresman

Dawn Engle

Iowa National Guard

1434 S 15th Ave W

Newton IA 50208

Daughter of Don & Janice Engle

Sgt James L Ferguson

20683 Waalew Rd #26

Apple Valley CA 92307

US Marine Corps Active Reserve

Son of Sheryl Ferguson

7

Remembering Our Military

"For those who will fight for it -- FREEDOM -- has a flavor the protected shall never know." - L/Cpl Edwin L.Craft, Marine who served in Vietnam

The Nurture Committee reminds us to thank God

for those protecting us and our freedoms,

especially these individuals serving in the military.

Let us pray daily for God's protection for each of them.

Staff Sgt Jason Fields

US Air Force

5045 E Cream Cut Parkway

Tucson AZ 55756

Son of Loren & Shari Fields

Sr Airman Kyle Gilbreaith

100-2 Locke Ln

Minot Air Force Base

Minot ND 58704

Son of Roger & Cathy Gilbreaith

Spec Luke Guy

Iowa Army National Guard Reserve

920 Oak Crest St Apt B

Iowa City IA 52240

Son of Mark & Linda Guy

Grandson of Paul & Jane Guy

Staff Sgt Lucas Hoskins

P O Box 49 CMR 447

Stuttgart, Germany

APO AE 09020

Son of Craig & Kim Hoskins

Chaplin Major Steve Peters

Iowa Air National Guard

1908 N 30th Ct

Fort Dodge IA 50501

Son of Betty Peters

AIC Beau J Plumb

Imagery Analyst, Intel Division

Hickam Air Force Base, HI

Son of Larry and Diane Plumb

Sgt Robert Streeter

Army Reserve

307 E 13th St N

Newton IA 50208

Nephew of Linda Osborn

Sgt 1st Class Eric Thompson

Iowa Army National Guard

1455 N 11th Ave E Apt 2F

Newton IA 50208

Son of Curt Thompson

Grandson of Ford Thompson

Sgt Daniel Zelman

Army Reserve

c/o Max Jay

1507 S 13th Ave W

Newton IA 50208

Grandson of Max & Verla Jay

First United Methodist Church

210 North 2nd Avenue East

Newton, IA 50208

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

NONPROFIT ORG

US POSTAGE PAID

NEWTON IA

PERMIT NO 236

Support for Our Military For the love and generosity shared by so many,

many of the congregation, the Nurture Committee/

Military Focus thanks you with all our hearts - and

with a special 'Shout Out' to the members of the U.

M. Men for their abundant contribution. We were

excited to be able to send gifts of remembrance at

Christmastime.

Of the 13 military persons who are connected in

some way to members of First UMC, 9 are actively

serving and the other 4 reserves could become

actively deployed again at any time.

We sent gift cards which they can spend at the PX

on any military base. Wouldn't it be fun to be a fly

on the wall and watch them shop!

You will find mailing addresses listed on page 7 of

this newsletter. Please be encouraged to send off a

personal note. They are sacrificing a lot to protect

us, so we want them to know that they are in our

prayers and in our minds.

God Bless Them, Every One!

For the Dark Times Lighthouses are now a

popular decorating

theme for living rooms,

calendars, cards, screen-

savers, towels and more.

Pastor Gary has collected

lighthouses for years and

has some on display in

his office. Many images

are infused with shim-

mering light to symbolize

Christian faith and hope.

Yet the purpose of a lighthouse isn’t to look pretty

against a sunny sky—although it does—but to illu-

mine a ship’s way beneath heavy, dark clouds or a

moonless night. Indeed, the lighthouse itself

doesn’t even light up until its surroundings grow

dark!

Surely Jesus loves to share our joys, and we praise

his glory during life’s bright times. But God’s pri-

mary purpose for coming to live among us was to

save us from the storm of sin; to illumine our path

through the darkness of death, in all its forms; to be

the light guiding all people safely home. Jesus’

light shines for us day and night, rain or shine, to

bless us with faith and hope.

8