PASTOR'S CORNER

LOVING GOD

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.—Hebrews 10:25, NIV

As I write this article, I’m getting ready to go visit my father for a few days. Yes, a trip (even a short one) to Florida in the winter sounds great, doesn’t it? But, that’s not the real

reason that I’m going. If you take away all the perks of getting away—the warmer destination and so forth, what it really boils down to is that I love my father very, very much. That’s why I want to go see him … and to spend as much quality time with him as I possibly can. If I didn’t feel that way about Dad, there would definitely be something wrong with our relationship!

Our vision at the Dodgeville United Methodist Church includes first and foremost to … love God. So, how do we do that? One of the most obvious ways is to spend time with God and God’s people—to be an active part of the Body of Christ. Is that our greatest desire today? Though we can be involved with God and God’s people in a variety of ways, the entry-point into this ‘body life’ (a real 70s catch-phrase, but a good one) is … worship. We need to be worshiping together. If we’re not, there’s definitely something wrong with our relationship (with God and each other)!

I’m not pulling this important piece of advice out of thin air. As I vowed when I first arrived in Dodgeville almost 6 years ago, now, the only thing that I would be teaching is the word of God. And, that’s where this comes from, too. The Bible, in fact, tells us to meet together as believers and to encourage one another (see scripture above). It instructs us to regularly meet together. This is the first step toward really ‘loving God’—being present when the Body gathers … and worships, resetting our priorities and placing God in first place in our lives once again.

This is one reason that I encourage all Christians to find a good church, because the Bible instructs us to be in relationship with other believers. If we are a part of Christ’s body, then we’ll recognize our need to take our place within the body of believers. The church—our worship celebrations, primarily—is the place where we come together and have the opportunity to encourage one another as members of Christ’s body. Together, we have the opportunity to fulfill an important kingdom purpose right here on Earth! The question is, do we really want to spend time with God and God’s people as we’ve been instructed to?

The first sign of a healthy church is one whose members are present in worship regularly. Walking into the presence of God—through worship—with the Body of Christ is a number one priority in their life. How about our church? How about you? Do you desire to be a part of a healthy church? Do you desire a healthy relationship with God, above all else? It begins with regular worship; I look forward to that as I…

During our worship services on Sunday, March 14, we will be collecting a special offering for "One Great Hour of Sharing."  (Special envelopes will be included in the bulletin that week.)

• It took UMCOR Philippines staff and volunteers six hours to reach remote areas of the Philipines, devasted by two typhoons in September and October 2009.  They arrived in the rural areas with helping hands and supplies for those in need.
• Some 1,500 packages of food - purchased and assembled by local churches and volunteers - were distributed, and water purifiers were installed.  Health and sanitation has become a major concern in the wake of these disasters.
• UMCOR Philippines has worked almost non-stop, responding to regional disasters since the office opened in August 2009.  This new branch of UMCOR goes the distance and responds generously and compassionately because of your gifts through the annual One Great Hour of Sharing offering.
• Through this annual offering, you and your congregation can join other United Methodists to support humanitarian aid through UMCOR.  You can be assured that when catastrophes like the typhoons in the Philippines cause suffering, your church, encouraged by Jesus' love and compassion, will be in the lead to bring healing, hope, and refuge.
• UMCOR programs help some of the world's most vulnerable people.  We do not take anything from designated gifts to cover home office administrative costs because of the broad support of United Methodists through this annual offering.  UMCOR received no apportionment or World Service funds.
• UMCOR's ability to respond and remain until the job is done is in direct proportion to the generosity of United Methodists at this time of offering. 

Please give generously.  Thank you! 

A STEWARDSHIP MESSAGE FOR OUR CHURCH

#264 Giving is Loving

“Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – and place it before God as an offering.” Romans 12:1-2 The Message

One winter morning, two brothers decided to visit their neighbor. They had to cross a pond. But since it was frozen over, their father said they could walk across it. He sat on the porch with his binoculars to watch and make sure they would be all right. Along the way, the boys came across a crack in the ice. Their father watched as the 13 year old knelt down by the crack. He put his knees on one side of the crack and his hands on the other, and then told his 3 year old brother to walk across his back so he’d be safe.

We practice giving when we’re willing to put ourselves in the middle of a situation in order to help others get where they need to be. At times we’ll be able to actually offer our gifts as a means to move from one place to another. At other times, such as with the current disaster in Haiti, we aren’t able to be directly involved. However, our prayers and our gifts are providing love offerings as the money we send provides food, shelter, water and medicine to those in need.

We are so blessed that sometimes it’s hard for us to decide how we can respond to such overwhelming disasters. It’s not as easy as spreading ourselves over a crack in the ice so that someone can cross safely. How much is God calling us to give? Some have suggested one day’s salary.

A faithful response may also be as straightforward as making sure our giving allows our church to meet our primary mission goals first this year. Our apportionments are a – portion – meant – for – others. These are mission dollars that allow us to have the “bridging” structures in place to make sure that as soon as a disaster strikes, United Methodists are there offering help and wholeness in the midst of brokenness. What is God calling you to give today?

 Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation
750 Windsor Street Ste 305, P.O. Box 620
Sun Prairie, WI 53590-0620
1-888-903-9863 or wumf@wumf.org

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

Camp Scholarships - UMW offers scholarships to students attending United Methodist Church Camps.

General meeting - March 4, 7:00 PM
Prayer and Self Denial
(Bethel Horizons Retreat form and money due to Robin Digman at the meeting.)

• Program:  Evening Star
• Hostess:  Grace Post

2010 World Day of Prayer - March 5 - 1:00 PM

• Program prepared in Cameroon, Africa and presented by local churches
• Dodgeville United Methodist - host
• Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic, and Congregational members participating
• Coffee and bars served after service

Evening Star Circle
Monday, March 8, 7:00 PM
The meeting will be at the home of Robin Digman, 317 W. Merrimac St.

• Gayl Stewart will provide the treats, and Charlene Mingst will share a devotion.
• Guests welcome.

Upcoming events:

Coulee District Retreat - March 26-27, Bethel Horizons in Dodgeville - All women invited.
Experience spiritual enrichment, see old friends, and gain new ones

• Check in - Friday, March 26, 4 PM     Supper 6 PM, Study Session 7 PM
• Saturday - Breakfast 8 AM, Session 2 8:45 AM, meal, Session 3 1 PM, Sending Forth 3 PM

"24 Hours With God" 

• Bring your Bible, a notebook, and wear casual clothes  
• Forms available in the UMW mail slot beside the office    

Cluster meetings at Ridgeway UMC, April 12-15

RIDGEWAY GRACE UMC NEWS
Submitted by Anna Lynch

• The Grace UMW will be held on March 2, at 2 PM, with World Day of Prayer as our program.
• The council meeting was canceled until probably April (after UMW on April 3).
• Our pasty sale will be Saturday, March 6.  Please pick up before 11 AM.
• The SPRING CLUSTER MEETING will be held at our church on Wednesday, April 14, at 1 PM.
• Mission team will be Carol Lange, Rosemary Edwards, and Dee Gray.  We will meet in the lower level.
• We just lost a dear friend, 103-year-old Laura Thorpe.  The funeral and visitation was held at our church on February 17.
• Our prayers go to Wyatt Scheckel, Larry Wagner, Melva Phillips, Twila Norman, and Suzie Williams, as well as the earthquake victims and, above all, our military men and women...

Salvation

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."  Acts 16:31

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  (John 3:16)

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  (1 John 1:9)

"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out..."  (Acts 3:19)

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION HAPPENINGS
Submitted by Brenda Crowe

BLAST (Bible Learning Adventure STations)

On Sunday, March 7, the children will be treated to a very special movie, Veggie Tales - An Easter Carol, during Sunday school time.  Come and enjoy!

Starting Sunday, March 14, the children will be starting a new unit in our year of the Bible series.  It is entitled, "Bible Teachings."  The Bible is the speical book of our faith and contains God's teachings that help us know how God wants us to live.  Children will

• learn that, when we read the Bible, we can discover what God expects us to do and be;
• explore the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) and its importance;
• examine the Beatitudes and their meaning;
• study Christ's commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves;
• be challenged to think about ways Jesus' teachings were very radical and new.

Youth Group News

A ski trip/lock-in is being planned for Friday, March 5.  Tentative plans are to ski from 7-11 PM and return to the church for a lock-in, which will include youth from the Boscobel UMC.  Ski rental forms and snowboard rental forms are available at the church.  If staying for the lock-in, please bring comfortable clothes, games, and a snack to share, along with a pillow and blanket, if needed.  For more information, see Don Crowe.  Youth, grades 6-12, are encouraged to participate!

Adult Sunday School

The adult Sunday school class is continuing their use of The Grand Sweep 365 Days from Genesis through Revelations by J. Ellsworth Kalas.  However, we aren't going to do it in 365 days.  We have found that there is too much material to cover in one hour, so we are doing about only 4 days of reading per week.  This is the material we will be covering during the month of March:

• March 7 - Luke 1 through Luke 14 and Psalms 134 & 135
• March 14 - Luke 15 through Luke 24 and Psalms 136 through 138
• March 21 - John 1 through John 9 and Psalms 139 through 141
• March 28 - John 10 through John 21 and Psalms 142 through 147

We will be looking at the Easter story from John's and Luke's perspective during this month.  Join us in this great opportunity to learn more from personal study and shared conversation.

Palm Sunday

During Palm Sunday, we are asking all Sunday school participants to help us during the worship services.  We need people to wave palms at the start of both services.  Please pray about this and help us remember Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

SUMMER CAMPING

Besides all of the great camping opportunities that the Conference provides for youth and adults, our church has several sites reserved for family camping the weekend of July 16-18. 

For a relaxed weekend at Pine Lake Camp near Westfield, WI, plan now to join friends from the church.  If you are interested, contact Gayl or Roger Stewart at 345-5895, Tina Orfanos, or Doug or Robin Digman.

MISSIONS AND OUTREACH NEWS

Loose Change for Change - All loose change and bills placed in the offering on Sunday, March 28, will be earmarked for Interhope.

Cornerstone Party - The church will be hosting Cornerstone clients for lunch on March 17.  If you would like to help, you may do this by bringing food items that are indicated on the shamrock display in the fellowship hall.  Be sure that all food items are at the church by March 15, as all missing items will be purchased on March 16.  Questions - contact Juanita Starr.

Homeless Shelter - The Iowa County Homeless Shelter depends on local support, as there are no tax dollars to fund this activity.  You may help by making a donation to the church and designate it for that purpose.  Also, our volunteer shelter manager, Nancy Mortimer, says there is an ongoing need for linens, kitchen items, carpets (10 x 12) etc.  If you have working or usable items you are disposing of, please check with Nancy and see if it could be used at the shelter.  A great way to recycle and help maintain our shelter.

January Financials

• Monthly Income:                $9331.00
• Monthly Expenses Paid:  $14,376.00
• Net Income                       ($5044)
• Apportionments Paid                   $160                                            
• Unpaid Apportionments for month $1843

March Birthdays

• Phil Udelhoven - March 2
• Julia Harman - March 7
• Linda Reger - March 7
• Stewart Miller - March 8
• Greg Gorsline - March 13
• Art Humbert - March 14
• Dallas Starr - March 15
• Preston Phillips - March 16
• Tammy Steele - March 16
• Kevin Weier - March 24
• Cole Flynn - March 26
• Jesse Biddick - March 27
• Kyle Reger - March 29
• Jeff Athey - March 30
• Autumn Bell - March 31

Prayers
for Homes, Families, and Friends

• Rose Timbush
• Clemmie Bolant
• Shut ins
• Ernie Aschliman
• Ed Jewell
• Ora Kasten
• Betty Richmond
• Michael Aschliman
• David Tremelling
• Bill Lorenz
• Bill Leiser
• Matt Ripp
• Corny James
• Keith Bray
• Ethan
• Jan Nelson
• Ann Bristow
• Lori Olson Karns
• Kelly Buckingham
• Michelle Leeder
• Haiti Earthquake victims
• Mary Moore
• Harold Halverson
• Julia Harmon
• Eric Blabaum
• Bill Leigh

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

Buffet Fundraiser to Benefit United Fund of Iowa County - Monday, March 8, 5-8 PM at Dodgeville Pizza Hut

Fish Fry - Friday, March 12, 4:30-8:00 PM, St. Joseph Parish

Crop for a Cause - Saturday, March 13, 8 AM-4:30 PM, Dodger Bowl Lanes

The Rock & Worship Road Show - March 19, 7 PM, Alliant Energy Center, $10/door

Feed My Starving Children Assembly Days -  March 23-26, Hidden Valley Community Church

Calendar