In Touch

NOVEMBER 2009

PASTOR’S REFLECTIONS

THANKSGIVING SERVICES:

I want to invite you to put the Thanksgiving Service and Soup Supper on your schedule. We will join Windsor Presbyterian Church on Sunday, November 22, 2009. We will gather for worship at 5:00pm in the sanctuary. You are invited to join in for a soup and bread evening meal following the worship service. If you are interested in providing either soup or homemade bread, please give the office a call and let us know what you want to provide. This is a wonderful opportunity for our two congregations to gather in worship and fellowship. The Thanksgiving Offering will be designated for some local mission project in our area.

THANKSGIVING DAY DINNER:

We have shared together with a church Thanksgiving Day Dinner for the past five years. I am suggesting that we have a dinner for those who are staying in Des Moines or have no plans for the holidays. In the past, many families have joined the church to incorporate it into their seasonal planning. If you are interested in attending, we are asking you to call the church office and sign up for the meal. We need to know how many will be coming with you and also what you would like to bring to the meal.

People in the past have brought one or two items that they consider their specialty dishes. We usually eat around 1:00pm on Thanksgiving Day in the East Fellowship Hall. People will start to gather before that time. We also need folks to help set up and tear down. Let us know if this meets a need for your family. We usually make a decision if there is enough interest several weeks before the date so we do need to have your commitment as soon as possible.

I’m asking you to call Julie Culbertson at 279-4551 to register the number attending and to make arrangements on what you wish to bring.

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CHRISTMAS SHARING PROGRAM – It seems impossible that the Christmas Season is upon us, but a trip to the Mall has foretold the arrival of the Season. Each year, for as long as can be remembered, Windsor UMC has participated in the Bidwell-Riverside Christmas Sharing Program. This program allows families to pre-register, and through a process, be accepted to receive gifts and food for the Christmas Holidays. A Christmas tree will be placed in the back of the sanctuary for anyone wishing to contribute gifts toward this program. You may also sign up for sorting/distributing and other volunteer services related to the distribution of gifts by calling 244-6261. (I would not wait to call if you are interested, as the slots fill up). The dates they need volunteers are December 17, 18 & 19. They will make sure that each child (newborn through 16 years of age) receives a gift along with new underwear, socks, hats and mittens.

Items needed:

TOYS—Consider toys that foster creativity and learning

SOCKS—Size infant to adult

UNDERWEAR—Diapers are needed as well as underwear for children through adult

MITTENS—One size fits all in sizes infant to adult

HATS—Size infant to adult

(Many of the children wear adult-sized clothing)

We must have the items to Bidwell Riverside by December 19th, so please bring your gifts before that date.

Pastor Bob

Your contribution(s) to our Thanksgiving altar would be appreciated. Dried flowers, nuts, gourds, dried corn, pumpkins, “fruits of the harvest” are needed for the Sukkoth Booth. This booth was a custom of the Jewish people as they gathered for the Festival of Harvest. They built their structure as a place of prayer to thank God for the harvest. If you have anything to share, would you please have it in the church office by Wednesday, November 11. Your items will be returned to you.

Thank You,

Mary Ellen Lewis

BIBLE STUDY PROGRAM

Nov 1    Matthew 9:18-38/Leviticus 5-6/Proverbs 21
Nov 2    Matthew 10:1-25/Leviticus 7-8/Proverbs 22
Nov 3     Matthew 10:26-42/Leviticus 9-10/Proverbs 23
Nov 4    Matthew 11:1-19/Leviticus 11-12/Proverbs 24
Nov 5    Matthew 11:20-30/Leviticus 13/Proverbs 25
Nov 6    Matthew 12:1-21/Leviticus 14/Proverbs 26
Nov 7    Matthew 12:22-50/Leviticus 15-16/Proverbs 27
Nov 8    Matthew 13:1-23/Leviticus 17-18/Proverbs 28
Nov 9    Matthew 13:24-58/Leviticus 19/Proverbs 29
Nov 10    Matthew 14:1-21/Leviticus 20-21/Proverbs 30
Nov 11    Matthew 14:22-36/Leviticus 22-23/Proverbs 31
Nov 12    Matthew 15:1-20/Leviticus 24-25/ Ecclesiastes 1:1-11
Nov 13    Matthew 15:21-39/Leviticus 26-27/Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26
Nov 14    Matthew 16/Numbers 1-2/Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
Nov 15    Matthew 17/Numbers 3-4/Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:16
Nov 16    Matthew 18:1-20/Numbers 5-6/Ecclesiastes 5
Nov 17    Matthew 18:21-35/Numbers 7-8/Ecclesiastes 6
Nov 18    Matthew 19:1-15/Numbers 9-10/Ecclesiastes 7
Nov 19    Matthew 19:16-30/Numbers 11-12/Ecclesiastes 8
Nov 20    Matthew 20:1-16/Numbers 13-14/Ecclesiastes 9:1-12
Nov 21    Matthew 20:17-34/Numbers 15-16/Ecclesiastes 9:13-10:20
Nov 22    Matthew 21:1-27/Numbers 17-18/Ecclesiastes 11:1-8
Nov 23    Matthew 21:28-46/Numbers 19-20/Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:14
Nov 24    Matthew 22:1-22/Numbers 21/Song of Solomon 1:1-2:7
Nov 25    Matthew 22:23-46/Numbers 22:1-40/Song of Solomon 2:8-3:5
Nov 26    Matthew 23:1-12/Numbers 22:41-23:26/Song of Solomon 3:6-5:1
Nov 27    Matthew 23:13-39/Numbers 23:27-24:25/Song of Solomon 5:2-6:3
Nov 28    Matthew 24:1-31/Numbers 25-27/Song of Solomon 6:4-8:4
Nov 29    Matthew    24:32-51/Numbers 28-29/Song of Solomon 8:5-14
Nov 30    Matthew 25:1-30/Numbers 30-31/Job 1

ANNIVERSARIES

Nov 17 Robert & Sheryl Sharp
Nov 23 Harry & Madalene Cannon

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Proclamation—Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 5:30pm
Nurture—Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 6:30pm
Outreach—Monday, Nov 9 at 5:30pm
Trustees—Tuesday, Nov 10 at 5:30pm
Ad Council—Tuesday, Nov 10 at 6:30pm

STEWARDSHIP THOUGHTS FOR NOVEMBER

November—our special month of Thanks!

FOUR WAYS WE CAN BE THANKFUL:
We can be thankful God answers our prayers. Isaiah 65:24
We can be thankful for God’s provision for our needs. Matthew 14:19-20
We can be thankful for God’s blessings. Philippians 4:6
We can be thankful for God’s character and wondrous works. Psalms 7:17
And there are many other things each of us are thankful to God for, one of them being WUM Church, Pastor Bob and Julie and the many members who care for one another and care also for others outside of our church building.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Nancy Snyder, Stewardship Chair

NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS

Nov 6    Corey Suckow
Nov 6    Carter Pauley
Nov 8    Marcella Kerns-Scott
Nov 8    Julie Kennedy
Nov 9    Chuck Fenimore
Nov 9    Jerry Ferguson
Nov 11    Lloyd Peterson
Nov 11    Sharon Davis
Nov 14    Forest Weber
Nov 17    Lisa Essex
Nov 20    Brian Eckhart
Nov 26    Deidra Doggett
Nov 28    Payton Wyer
Nov 28    Marilyn Peterson
Nov 29    Candy Bidler-Hurley
Nov 30    Mildred Hall

MEN’S FISH FRY DINNER & FELLOWSHIP

Friday, November 6, 2009 at 6:00pm
Cost:     $5.00
Menu:    Walleye/Northern/Crappie
    Onion Rings
    Baked Beans
    Baked Potato
    Bread/Dessert/Drinks
Tickets can be purchased from Pastor Bob, Bob Snyder or the stop by the church office.

NURSERY HELPERS

Nov 1    Dottie Abrahamson
Nov 8    Eleanor Bidler
Nov 15    Stephanie Liggett
Nov 22    ?
Nov 29    Dean Jurgensen

NOVEMBER GREETERS

Nov 1    (west) Mel & Ruth Shimp
             (east) Jeanne & Doug Sears
Nov 8    (west) Arvin & Grace Olson
             (east) Chuck & Bonnie Fenimore
Nov 15   (west) Todd & Mary Treese
              (east) Judy Davidson & Leona Knorr
Nov 22   (west) Myrna Bruner & Zola Moore
               (east) Ted & Judy Grob
Nov 29   (west) Francis & Julie Kennedy
               (east) Carroll & Eleanor Bidler

THANK YOU!

Thank you for being so thoughtful.
Thank you for helping so much.
Thank you for giving so freely.
Thank you for making a difference.

I could go on and on listing Thank You’s to the members of Windsor Church who donated
merchandise, baked goods and most of all—time, to make the fall rummage sale successful.
Special Thank You’s go to Verlene Slack and Rosemary Walkup for co-chairing this successful sale—WOW!! Together we can make a difference!

Grace Olson
UMW President

MUSIC NOTES
By Bert Wilson

On Sunday night, November 22 --- we will again have our annual combined

Thanksgiving service at the Windsor Presbyterian Church.

The combined Chancel Choirs have been asked to sing again.

So mark your calendar for 5:00 pm that night for the special service and 6:00 pm for all the wonderful, tasty soups to be served!

YOUTH BELL CHOIR

Practice will begin on Wednesday, October 28 from 5:45 pm to 6:30 pm. It is for children 2nd grade through 8th grade.

Sharon Davis,
Director

CONGRATULATIONS,
WINDSOR METHODIST WOMEN!

We have received recognition as a five-star unit for 2008. We were also recognized for participating in the Mission Today Program and for completing Two Mission Studies.

As a reminder to everyone, the following statement is our purpose:

“The organized unit of United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.”

Working together we are achieving our purpose and we do make a difference in the lives of
others through our mission giving.

At our general meeting in November, we will “joyfully” distribute our earned funds to numerous local missions. Throughout the year, your service will bless many families and children with needed foods and other necessaries of life.

Blessings to each of you,

Grace Olson
UMW President

DID YOU KNOW THIS ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR
(at church)?

DICK THOMAS – During my first 18 years, home was a farm near Dow City, Iowa. It was there I attended a small consolidated school. My family was active in a small Methodist congregation in Dow City. The old high school building is no longer there. The church of Prairie Gothic design, built in 1879, still stands.

I did a stint in the Army which included an assignment in Korea. Following a family tradition, I enrolled at Iowa State and earned a degree in economics.

After knocking around the country a bit and trying a variety of jobs, I settled to teaching in high school. I taught at Oakville, Johnston and, finally, at East High in Des Moines. During this period, I obtained a M.A. in history.

Thomases

MARILYN THOMAS – I was born and raised in Des Moines, east side, where my home church was Union Park United Methodist.

After East High, I attended Simpson and Drake, before graduating from Iowa University with a BA in education. Dick and I met in Cedar Rapids and married in 1958. Last year we celebrated our 50th anniversary.

After our children arrived, I studied nursing at DMACC and worked for many years as an R.N. at Veterans Hospital.

We have two daughters; Kathy, of Savannah, Georgia; and Linda, who lives in New Orleans, Louisiana.

I enjoy travel, reading and membership in P.E.O, the Urbandale Garden Club, the Sierra Club and the Audubon Society.

Dick and I have been Windsor members since 1964. I enjoy being the historian for Windsor, a member of the UMW, Mary Elizabeth Circle and the Current Events Sunday School class.

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Are you wrinkled with burden? Come to the church for a face-lift.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

DEADLINE – the deadline for items to be put in the December, 2009 issue of “In Touch” newsletter is Monday, November 16, 2009!

ADDRESS CHANGE – If you move and your address changes, would you please let us know so we can update our church directory. This includes new phone numbers and changes in your email address as well. Our monthly newsletter mailing depends on having current mailing information

In Our Prayers