February Shine

Liberty Pole, February 2021 New Hope Volume 13.2 & Retreat United Methodist Churches “Let the light of Jesus shine through you!” Worshipping in Person Inside this issue: We all want to know – when will be able to worship again in person? We all miss *Beginning Our Lenten Journey 2 our personal connection with each other, especially as we are knocking on the *Office Hours one-year milestone since we first made the decision to suspend in-person worship. *A Mission Moment The current guidance we have from the conference and the Wisconsin Council of *Sunday School Fun 3 *Share God’s Word! Churches is to wait until at least 50% of those who attend worship are vaccinated, *February Prayers so it will be helpful for leadership to know when you do receive a vaccine. The 4 *Upcoming Church Meeting boards of our congregations are evaluating the current situation in our area. For *Worship @ Home now, all three congregations will continue to remain online only. When we do *Journey through the Bible! 5 return to in-person worship, we will still need to *Your Church Needs You! wear masks, remain socially distanced with limited *Love & Lent Studies *No Limits! Connect Online 6 capacity, and use sanitizing measures. *Music & Worship Team FOR NOW – We are opening participation for In- *A Time of Repentance 7 person worship on Saturday mornings at 9:15 at *Shining Celebrations 8 New Hope, when the weekly service is recorded. *Prayers Needed Please call Pastor Pam by Friday to reserve a spot. *Events calendar 9 We can include a few people each week, with Upcoming Events masks, social distancing, following CDC guidelines. Liberty Pole Board Meeting When the weather allows, we may shift to outdoor worship opportunities. If you nd Tue. Feb. 2 , 6:30 p.m. would like to be included in planning these, please contact Pastor Pam or Ad Board Communion Sunday chairs: Retreat – John Hanson; Liberty Pole – Sandy Marohl; New Hope – Charlie Sun. Feb. 7th Groves. Drive Up Church ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> † <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< Sun. Feb 14th Drive Up Church – February 14 @ each church Make plans now to drive to church on Sunday, February 14th during the regular Ash Wednesday worship times to receive a bag of items that will help and guide you and your Wed. Feb. 17th family during Lent. Like what was done for the Advent season, the dedicated Staff Retreat Board Meeting Wed. Feb. 17th, 6:30 p.m. Parish Relations Committee has put together bags for each family with items for the entire family to enjoy. You can come any time during your regular worship Confirmation Class time to receive your bag, to greet our confirmation students at Liberty Pole and Every Sunday @ 4 p.m. Retreat, and to drop off any offering or gifts. If you are a member of one church and plan to drive up to another church, please let Pastor Pam know so your bag Wednesday Bible Study can be at the right church! We also have a few extra Noon @ New Hope bags made up for guests, so if you are not a member of our churches and would like a bag, please feel free Food Pantry Open to stop by. Every Thursday th 9 – 11 a.m. On February 14 , come to: Retreat UMC between 8 and 8:45 a.m. Liberty Pole UMC between 9:15 and 10 a.m. New Hope UMC between 10:30 and 11:15 a.m. Shine! - February 2021 – Volume 13.2 Pg. 2 Beginning Our Lenten Journey This month, we move into the season of Lent, the stretch of weeks which invite us to reflect on what is really important in our life. Theologically, there are three aspects of Lent that we use to conduct our self-examination: prayer, fasting, and giving. Each one of these aspects leads us into a different corner of our faith life and our relationship with the Lord. On February 14 at our drive-up church, every family in our churches will receive a bag of tools to assist in guiding this Lenten journey. Lent reminds us that Christ too, took time to reflect on His own life. During his 40 days in the wilderness, Christ confronted temptations and gave us examples of how we also can defeat the evil desires we face; the earthly lures which are designed to draw us away from faithfulness. Our primary focus in Lent is prayer. Talking to God. Listening to God. Thinking on God’s Word to us. We tend to make prayer a lot more complicated than it needs to be. Talking to God is like talking to your best and dearest friend, to one who already knows your heart. Nothing you disclose to God is a surprise. You can be your genuine self in everything you think, say, and do. Complete transparency, honesty, and openness in prayer lifts every burden from your soul. It is my sincere prayer that each of us will commit ourselves to a renewed relationship with God and that for these days of Lent, we will focus each day on binding ourselves to Christ. In fact, let’s make this our daily statement: Today I focus my actions, thoughts, associations, habits and intentions to bind myself to Christ. May you be made whole in Christ this Lent. In the peace Christ give us, ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> † <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< Pastor Pam’s Weekly Office Hours Monday – Thursday Saturdays 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. By appointment The pastor is often away from the office for visitation or meetings. Please call the parsonage (608) 648-2528 and leave a message or contact by cell phone (text or call) at (989) 666-1277. The Driftless Regional Ministry office is located at E2286 Hwy 82 in De Soto. Liberty Pole, New Hope & Retreat United Methodist Churches – Visit us online at: www.driftlessministry.org Shine! - February 2021 – Volume 13.2 Pg. 3 A Mission Moment This often is the quietest time of the year for many of us. We are regrouping after the holidays, the weather is cold so we stay home and inside. We also get to hear and listen to sermons on following Jesus. Now is a great time for each of us to plan how we can follow Jesus and take part in Christian mission. Before long, we will be planning the items needed for our annual ingathering; our food banks are still functioning; people still have health concerns; there are many shut-ins; we can begin to plan for the reopening of our churches; we can begin planning for a summer vacation Bible school program. There must be something on this list that calls you. Feel free to expand on this list, and decide how you can be a missionary of today. Now is the time when we can answer the call and follow Jesus. Your sister in Christ, Barb Robson ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> † <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< Sunday School Fun! In the beginning of February, Sunday School Fun will explore God’s Love for us! We will end the month with the beginning of Lent. Stories and games and songs fill up 20 minutes fast. Request a Sunday School FUN Pack by messaging us on Facebook or e-mailing [email protected]. Sunday School Fun can be viewed any day and anywhere! It’s a great way to share God's Word with kids. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> † <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< 3 Easy Ways to Share God’s Word How can we answer our call to share God’s Word? It seems so hard, but verily I say to you it’s just a few clicks and a couple of calls a week. 1. When you read a post on New Hope and Retreat United Methodist Churches Facebook page, like it and share it. 2. When you watch a worship service, like it, share it and invite someone to watch it with you. You will be surprised by who says yes. Follow up with people who do watch with a message or phone call. 3. Share Sunday School Fun videos on your page and invite families to the Sunday School Fun event. If you need assistance with this, please contact Christine 648-2254 or [email protected] I Praise God we have the technology, the resources, and ability to connect virtually. In Christ, Christine Harrington Liberty Pole, New Hope & Retreat United Methodist Churches – Visit us online at: www.driftlessministry.org Shine! - February 2021 – Volume 13.2 Pg. 4 Prayers for February Each day of the week, use this simple prayer starter as part of your conversation with God. Copies of these prayers are distributed on the last Sunday of each month in the bulletin; extra copies are available to place in different locations to help us remember to pray. MONDAY Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of life. Help us through prayer to live a full and healthy life and to help others by prayer and communication with your Holy Spirit so they may enjoy health and the fullness of life. Amen TUESDAY Dear God, Thank you for listening to us every day. You make us stronger to make it through the rough patches. Be with us always, Amen WEDNESDAY Lord, give me wisdom today to be a good listener. Help me listen carefully to my family, to my friends, and most of all, to You. THURSDAY Loving God, I know You have placed me where I am for Your purposes. I know others are watching the way I live. Help me always to be an enthusiastic Christian with a faith that inspires others. FRIDAY Lord, I want to understand Your Word more clearly. I want to use the Bible as my guide and learn to rely on the promises in Your Word.

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