March 2021

Giving of Yourself During By Shirley Nelson

Points of Contact

• Lay Pastor—Shirley Nelson The streets of New Orleans were virtually empty this year as Corona virus- # 712-281-0432 or related problems limited access to Bourbon Street, shut bars and prevented # 712-373-5368 the usual million Louisiana people from celebrating Fat Tuesday. On top of [email protected] Covid, there were freezing temperatures in the South. Available for contact all the time.

• Anthon Ad Board Chair:

Andrea Mitchell Originally people celebrated “Fat Tuesday” by eating richer, fatty foods before • SPRC Chair: beginning their time of during Lent. By gorging themselves with their rich, Andrea Mitchell and fatty foods, they would miss it less when giving it up for Lent. Some would say Shirley Nelson that it was a time for good Christians to get all of their sinning out of the way

before Lent. Some say it was a time to sin big so you have something to feel really sorry about during Lent. But I believe that the real theology behind it all is Anthon United focused on remembering that there is a time to celebrate in the Lord, but there is Methodist Church is also a time to reflect, to fast, to pray, to prepare. located at 401 East Bridge Street. Has anybody asked you yet what you are giving up for Lent or do you sacrifice something for Lent? I remember when I was young, people saying they were Church e-mail: [email protected] giving up alcohol or chocolate or eating out during Lent. Giving up something for their Lenten sacrifice was what everybody did. Today, there are also positive Church website: things we can do instead of giving something up. Some people are purging their www.arbumc.com closets during this time, getting rid of at least one item a day during those 40 days, bagging it up and giving it to one of the many agencies that can use FaceBook Page: Anthon United clothes and other items. Others are collecting one food item a day for the food Methodist Church bank donating 40 items at the end of Lent.

Office Hours: We may not think of giving up something, but we can think of taking on Wed. & Fri. something? For instance, instead of giving up chocolate for Lent, maybe we 11am – 1pm should vow to read the Bible for half an hour every day during Lent or we could #712-373-5288 do something good for someone everyday during Lent. It shouldn’t be about just giving something up as a sacrifice, but giving of yourself to others who need help.

Any way you look at it, we are on our 40-day journey to the celebration of Sunday and the resurrection of Christ the Lord. And so, as we look forward to the celebration, let us also walk with Jesus during the bad times as well as the good NOTE: times. As true friends of Christ, we should watch, pray, and stand by Him on We’re trying to get Maundy Thursday. We should not flee from Him at the cross on Good Friday and all available e-mail we should stand by him now as we walk through the 40-day Lenten journey. addresses into our computer! Please Shirley send yours to the church so we can get you in our contact list!!! Continuing Lenten Service are Wednesday at 6:30 pm at AUMC

March 5 World Day of Prayer

March 8 Finance/Board Meeting at 7pm.

March 14 Daylight Saving Time

March 17 Mapleton’s Open Cupboard Food Distribution

March 28 Palm/Passion Sunday Beginning of Holy Week: Maundy Thursday and Good Friday Services To Be Determined Services The 40-day Lenten journey began on Ash Wednesday, February 17th with a service of imposition of ashes. At the end of the service, ashes were placed on the foreheads of those attending, as the words, “Remember, from dust you came and to dust you will return”, were placed on their forehead.

From the Pastor’s Desk We are in need of volunteers to furnish transportation to and from Sunday services for those of our congregation who may need a ride. Please contact Shirley or Church office if you are able to help. Please leave message.

Reminder

Easter is Sunday is April 4th. If you want to purchase an Easter Lilies for the sanctuary, please have it delivered to the church the week before.

Thank you Thank you for all the thoughts on prayers coming our way on the death of my sister, Alene Johnson, on January 15th. Alene passed away from the Covid virus. She grew up in the Anthon United Church, where she was baptized and confirmed

Special Prayer Needs:

OUR COUNTRY, OUR SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN, our church, Bishop Laurie Haller, our community leaders, our president, our farmers, Tracy Lewis, Steve Diamond, Bobby Lewis, Cal & Joyce Gothier, Lyle & Sally Schram, Kenny Anderson, Joe Harbaugh, Anita Cooch, Nina Osborne, Beulah Sand, Ernestine Steinhoff, Brian & Sheryl Ashley, Tom & Cindy Herrick, Eleanore Lewis, Fran & Keith Determann, David Beach, Jerry & Shelley Boggs, all our surrounding students and teachers, and to all the families who have lost a loved one this last month. Remember our Nursing Home Residents! Be A Part: If you would like to be part of the prayer support for our church, send us your name and email to be added to the email list of pray-ers.

Tithes and Offerings Parsonage

The parsonage is looking for a double or queen size Jan. 31 $ 1,322.90 Feb. 21 $ 1,600.00 bed. Please contact JoLynne or the church office.

FINANCE/ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD MEETING FEBRUARY 8, 2021 Marilyn Hladik called the meeting to order with 6 members present: Roger & Marilyn Hladik, Deanna Adler, JoLynne Reimert, Andrea Mitchell, & Lay Pastor, Shirley Nelson. JoLynne read a devotion. The Treasurer’s report was reviewed. Andrea made a motion to pay February apportionments. Roger seconded the motion & it carried. Shirley presented those present with some apportionment information from a webinar she watched. JoLynne stated that she had received a phone call from St. John’s Methodist Church in Mapleton. Our last check(July 2020) for Pastor Jen had been lost in a pile of paperwork. JoLynne checked to make sure the check, in fact, had not cleared the bank. She told Mapleton to process the check.

Board meeting was called to order by President, Andrea Mitchell. The only correction in the minutes was the fact that only $600 for January apportionments was paid, instead of $620, so $640 will be paid in February. Marilyn made a motion to approve the minutes with the correction. JoLynne seconded and it carried.

LAY PASTOR’S REPORT: Pastor continues to make phone calls along with sending cards. She will be sending out birthday & anniversary cards as well. A Lenten Bible Study, “Seven Last Words”, will begin on Sunday, Feb. 21. Ash Wed. services will be held on Feb. 17 @ 7:00 & will be advertised. There will be a baptism for Marly Maynard, daughter of Dylan & Ashley Maynard, on Sunday, Fe. 28. District Superintendent, Ron Carlson, will be attending. District Pastor’s meetings will begin in February in Kingsley. Shirley & JoLynne have been working on the Statistical Report, due Feb. 15. Shirley has also been bring Barb Madsen to church & took a shut-in member to a Dr.’s appointment.

FINANCE REPORT: The balance in our checking account at the end of January was $23,437.33.

TRUSTEES REPORT: Roger reported that Wayne Fundermann had to come and reset the furnace for the north end of the church. Roger & Marilyn also have faucets dripping in the kitchen due to the extremely cold weather. A new radon test has to done as the original sat too long. JoLynne had Twitchell Electric unplug the pipes that go to the washing machine as she noticed water on the floor the last time she did laundry. He also replaced the plastic dryer vent with a metal one.

TEACHING REPORT: JoLynne is planning some fun activities for Valentine’s Day as it is on a Sunday this year. Andrea stated that she would be gone Sunday, Feb. 14 so Roger said that he would cover.

OUTREACH/MISSIONS REPORT: It was decided that because of COVID, there would be no Easter Food Baskets this year. Marilyn is going to do some checking to see what we can do for a Blanket Mission Project. We will begin collecting kit items in the Spring.

WORSHIP REPORT: It was decided that the older Sunday School kids would provide some kind of program for Palm Sunday with the younger Sunday School kids possibly singing a few songs for Easter Sunday.

NURTURING REPORT: N/A

UMW REPORT: N/A

SPRC REPORT: A February 21st meeting has been set to complete the “Another Set of Eyes” form.

OLD BUSINESS: Souper Bowl Sunday was postponed to Sunday, Feb. 14th.

NEW BUSINESS: A small committee was formed to make the decision as to when church should be cancelled due to inclement weather: Andrea, Roger & Marilyn, & Shirley. A unanimous decision was made by all present that services for Sunday, Fe. 14th would be cancelled because of the predicted bitterly cold weather. The Souper Bowl/Valentine’s Day Soup Luncheon has been indefinitely postposed for now. Next meeting will be Monday, march 8th @ 7:00 p.m. with devotions by Marilyn. Shirley closed with prayer. Respectfully submitted, JoLynne Reimert, Treasurer Anthon Box L Anthon, IA 51004-0602 Stamp

Address Service Requested

Address Label

March Liturgist Responsibilities March Birthdays & Anniversaries

Mar. 7 JoLynne Reimert Zach Gothier 3 Mar. 14 Jerry Klindt Bill & Marge Speirs 5 Roger & Shirley Nelson 6 Mar. 21 Andrea Mitchell Courtney Redenius 8 Mar. 28 Marilyn Hladik Trisha Thiessen 9 Apr. 4 Jake Mitchell Walter Hill 10 Marge Speirs 16 Joe Harbaugh 18 March Children’s Story Responsibilities Jennifer Adler 20 Mar. 7 Rhonda Beeson Alison Hill 22 Mar. 14 Becky Marshall Elijah Voss 23 Mar. 21 Roger Hladik Ralph Diamond 29 Phil Adler 31 Mar. 28 Shirley Nelson Apr. 4 Rhonda Beeson

*If you are unable to attend, please find your replacement and let the church know by email.