July 2008

Pastor’s Reflections I am really looking forward to Vacation Bible School this year. Exciting. Last month I joked a bit about being enlisted to teach the adult class.  The material is really exciting, though, and I hope you will consider joining the Adult Class as we dive into scripture.  The titles for the days are:        Sunday    Diving into Obedience        Monday   Diving into Kindness           Tuesday             Diving into Forgiveness           Wednesday        Diving into Boldness           Thursday            Diving into Belief You will not be asked to purchase any material for the class.  I plan to present the material with a short lecture and then use the class time for discussion of the material. The children gather at 5:30pm for supper.  The donation for the meal is $2.00.  We would like to invite you to join in the fellowship around the table.  For supper we will gather for singing at 6:00pm.  The adult class will start around 6:15-7:30pm in the Current Events Sunday Classroom.  You are welcome to come for the whole evening or pick and choose parts that fit your schedule. There will be a sign-up sheet in the sanctuary starting on June 29th.  I would invite you to sign up so we have a count, especially important for the cooks if you are planning to join for the evening meal. You will need to bring your Bible.  You are also encouraged to bring paper and a pen for different activities during the evening.  Looking forward to growing with you this year at VBS.   Pastor Bob

JULY ANNIVERSARIES 2          Christopher & Jennifer Sweet 3          Mel &Ruth Shimp 5          Jerry & Judi Ferguson 15        Keith & Bert Wilson 21        Doug & Charlette Hradek 25        Orville & Joy Luedtke 26        Lee & Katie Hovda 27        Vernon & Maxine Jones 30        Carol & John Essy

COMMITTEE MEETINGS   AD COUNCIL COMMITTEE—meets July 8 at 6:30 p.m. ENDOWMENT COMMITTEE—meets July 6 at 10:45 a.m. TRUSTEES COMMITTEE—meets June 16 at 6:30 p.m.

ANNOUNCEMENTS FELLOWSHIP TIME OFFERING: The money goes for providing coffee, supplies, and treats.  Thanks for your contribution. Proclamation Work Area   STARTING IN SEPTEMBER, the Stewardship Committee is going to offer a financial series on Discovering God’s Way of Handling Money.  It will benefit those who wish to learn “how to have their money work for them, instead of them working for their money”.  It will be a 6– or 8-week study, Monday evenings, from 7pm to 9pm.  A free course workbook will be given to you for your use.             Jerry Ferguson, from the Stewardship Committee, will be leading the class.  The sessions are:    Personal Financial Statement    Debt List    Financial Goals    Record Income & Spending    Giving-Estimated Monthly Budget    Work (adjust & balance your budget)    Save and Invest (begin your budget)    *Teach children to manage money There is also a section for prayer requests that may be made each session, if there is a need.            Pastor Bob will be working with the youth in the church with a session geared for their understanding for Teen Study sometime in the fall.   If you have a child in Middle School, both child and adult might want to take the course. The course will be offered to church members, and then to those outside of our congregation who are interested in learning a better way to handle their money. Nothing personal or financial is shared with others; this is a confidential course for each person attending.  Couples will share a work book and the church has covered the cost of the workbooks. Please contact the church office or Nancy Snyder (274-1902) if you have an interest in this class. We would like to know by the middle of August in order to plan our class size. Thanks, Nancy Snyder, Stewardship Chair DEADLINE—the deadline for items to be put in the July issue of “In Touch” newsletter is Monday, June 16th.

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES If your birthday and/or anniversary has not been listed in the newsletter or church bulletin, and you would like to make sure it is,  please call the office and let Pat know.  We would like to keep our list current.

SH! SH! SH!  It’s a surprise 60th birthday party for Dan Crawford DATE:  July 6, 2008 TIME:  12:30 pm ‘till the piano quits! LOCATION:  1040-21ST Street, Des Moines, IA Open invitation to anyone who knows Dan or has had business dealings with him. Come for food and drink NO GIFTS, PLEASE! RSVP to Rita Crawford (cell) 979-6481 or (email) gniklat@qwestoffice.net *********************  JEAN YUNGCLAS’ 79TH BIRTHDAY is coming up July 11th.  Rita Crawford is having cake and ice cream at Karen Acres Health Care Center, 3605 Elm Drive, Urbandale, Iowa, from noon through the evening (NO GIFTS, PLEASE).  Please stop by to wish Jean a Happy Birthday.  Your visit would be the best present she could get! ****************** THANK YOU’S – Betty & Bud Kaldenberg’s granddaughter, Carrie Manifold, had her thank you notes ready to mail to the Current Events Class, when they were blown away in thetornado which destroyed Parkersburg, Iowa.  She wants everyone to know that she is planning on sending thank you notes, but they will be somewhat delayed.

MUSIC NOTES        ♫         By Bert Wilson   Thanks to all those volunteers who are presenting Special Music this summer!    I sit in the pew on Sunday morning and hear a lot of good singing from a majority of you!  Plan on adding your voice to sing praises to God one Sunday a year!   Women of the Church  — Put August 10th on your calendar!  It will be your turn to sing!              Practices:  Wednesday, July 30th and August 6th—7:30 pm   Men of the Church — August 24th will be your turn to sing!              Practices:  Wednesday, August 13th and 20th —7:30 pm.

In Our Prayers