JUNE 19,2022
Notes from the Pastor:
Don’t stay away from God.
It’s great to take vacations. To travel and spend time with loved ones or doing things that you enjoy. It’s great to have kids involved in summer activities. Baseball, softball, 4h, swimming, and camps. The list could be a mile long! It’s great to get to sleep in occasionally.
But – the truth is – we miss you at church when you are gone. Not because we need your money. Not because we want to be able to keep the doors open. We miss you! We miss hearing the joys and concerns in your lives. We miss praying for you and thinking about you throughout our week. We miss worshipping with you.
More than we miss you, God misses you. Yes, you can worship God out on the mighty Wapsi river while fishing. Yes, you can promote teamwork, sportsmanship, and unity at kids’ summer sports. Yes, you can worship wherever.
The church was made for worship – particularly for a group of believers. And, as much as we’d like to say that we see God show up in our lives during our weeks and how God’s house includes all of God’s creation, you’d have to admit that when brothers and sisters in Christ gather to worship and pray, it reminds us of the Almighty maybe just a little bit more.
By all means – enjoy your summer. Don’t forget worshipping God, together if possible. Our God is amazing and worth our worship.
Amen.
Hello from the Youth Director!
As our Sunday School year winds down and it’s time for summer, I’m feeling very grateful for so many things! We finally settled into some curriculum that works, albeit different for each class! This past month the Caterpillar group continued to travel through the Bible A – Z, the Chrysalis group has taken the hands-on approach and learned about what happened after the Resurrection, and the Butterfly group has had more practice with the Bible, learning about people, places and stories of the New Testament. This group also suggested we collect money for Ukraine and as a result, this past week I sent off $393! We also have a great head start with quarters towards a special gift to send Mwanzia next year. Many thanks to all that donated!
We spent our last Sunday together with the whole group watching videos about the men and women on the posters we have been looking at for a couple years in our Opening room! We had already talked about David, but got to learn about Esther, Deborah, Moses, Joshua, and Joseph. Then, what better way to end the morning than with an ice cream party!
I would like to thank all of the classroom teachers from this year – Megan, Lindsey, Heather, Becky, Brookelyn, Mikayla and Madisson. I would also like to give a special shout out to Chloe Borst – she has been by my side each Sunday since I began three years ago, helping me and going wherever she is needed in the classrooms. Most recently she led the opening when I was gone – the children love her and I will miss working with her!
As I step away as Youth Director, I would like to thank everyone for the opportunity to play such an important role in the education of the children in our parish. I take with me many memories – which surprisingly includes creating take home Sunday School lessons through a pandemic! As I’ve often asked the children: How will people know that you have Jesus in your heart? Through your attitude and actions of course! A lesson for us all 🙂 Take Care!
Blessings,
Trish Laetare
Next Mission Project
JUNE 1 TO 30, 2022
We will be collecting rolls of paper towels for our food pantries throughout the month of June. Bring them to worship with you, and we’ll be sure our food pantries get them!
Wapsi Valley Parish – seeking to hire a Christian Youth Director
Seeking a follower of Jesus who is interested in directing all children and youth activities in Olin Community and Oxford Jct. UMC’s. Duties currently include overseeing all aspects of our Sunday School programs and participating with each town’s Vacation Bible Schools, with the potential to develop youth programs in both communities for grades 7 and older.
A qualified candidate would be a faithful follower of Jesus, work part-time (including Sunday morning) up to 15 hours a week, and be able to self-direct all these activities.
Please contact the Wapsi Valley Parish for more information and how to apply. Phone: 319-484-2137 or email: parish@netins.net!
We would like to put in a section with church members birthdays and anniversaries. If you would like your important dates put in the monthly newsletter, please either sign up at church, call the office 319-484-2137, or email the church at parish@parishnetinsnet
$150 BEEF CERTIFICATES
GIVEN FROM STEVE BARBER TO
PASTOR JEN FROM JONES COUNTY CATTLEMEN
FOR THE OLIN & MORLEY
FOOD PANTRY
JUNE 2022
SUN MON TUES WED THU FRI SAT
| REGULAR WORSHIP OXFORD JUNCTION 9 AM OLIN 10:30 AM | 2 FOOD PANTRY 3-4 PM | 3 IOWA ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN DES MOINES | 4 GOD’S GARAGE SALE 8:30-11:00 |
| 5 PENTECOST PASTOR IN DES MOINES TERRY HOY FILLING IN | 6 | 7 | 8 OFFICE OPEN 10-4 PM | 9 LADIES GROUP 1:30 OLIN | 10 | 11 GOD’S GARAGE SALE 8:30-11:00 |
| 12 REG WORSHIP WITH COMMUNION | 13 | 14 FLAG DAY | 15 OFFICE OPEN 10-4 PM | 16 FOOD PANTRY 3-4 PM | 17 | 18 GOD’S GARAGE SALE 8:30-11:00 |
| 19 REG WORSHIP | 20 | 21 FIRST DAY OF SUMMER | 22 OFFICE OPEN 10-4 PM | 23 | 24 | 25 GOD’S GARAGE SALE 8:30-11:00 |
| 26 REG WORSHIP | 27 OFFICE OPEN 10-4 NEWSLETTER WILL BE MAILED OUT | 28 | 29 PASTOR ON VACATION NEXT 4 DAYS | 30 |
Wapsi Valley Parish UMC 