The Messenger Volume 8

Colo & Collins United Methodist Churches August 2015

Pastor Lewis Flanigan

Church Phone: 641-377-2534 Email: coloumc@yahoo.com

The Body of Christ As I sit here at the desk, I am recovering. Recovering

from a very hectic vacation. We all know that we are

supposed to return from vacation relaxed and ready to go.

But, we also know that isnt going to happen very often. Pam and I traveled over 5,000 miles in a two week

periodby car (and some by bus)! I think we had a good time, at least I know I did. We went to some places we

had not seen in over 50 years, and to some we had never seen. We did learn two things. Next time we

will not try to pack so much into so little time. Second, we will not go to the desert southwest in the

summer time.

We arrived back from vacation a few days early, believe it or not; so I decided to catch up on a few

projects around the house. Projects that needed to be done, but I had put off doing them. I must say, after

doing them, I know why I put them off.

Before leaving on vacation, I left instructions with one of our leaders. I said, Im going on vacation. Dont call me unless the church is on fire. On second thought, dont call me then. If the church burns down, we will rebuild after I get back. When I was in school to become an ordained pastor, those were words that the pastor of 1

st Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA said that he had given to his staff before

vacation. Because, he said, when the pastor is on vacation, the pastor needs to be on vacation. [Thankfully, there was no firebut there was a flood, of sorts, and there was a break-in at both churches. But, thats another story or two.] Besides, I think, the pastor is not the Body of Christ. The pastor is simply a part of the Body of Christ. Life, and ministry, in the local church should continue to go oneven when the pastor is away. It did in Colo and Collins during this past two weeks.

In Collins, one of our newer members went into Hospice, and subsequently died while I was gone.

Thanks to Rev. Tom Poppe for providing pastoral care; but the members of the Collins church provided

care, support, and encouragement to Janet, while Gary was in Hospice. That is the Body of Christ in

action.

In Colo, there were many plans under way while I was gone. After all, Colo Crossroad Days were

scheduled for the weekend I got back. Plus, Vacation Bible School is coming. Needless to say, these all

were carried out well! That is the Body of Christ in action.

While on vacation, we learned that our granddaughter, Sam Webb, was going to be confirmed in

Sumner, IA, on the Sunday I was supposed to be back. Since it was Crossroad Days, and worship was

going to be in the park, I emailed and asked the Pastor Parish Relations Committee for permission to be

gone. They all said yes, and members of the church took care of my responsibilities that Sunday. Thank

you for that opportunity to be gone on such short notice. That is the Body of Christ in Action.

My point in all of this is that we, together, are the Body of Christ. We are beginning our 9th

year

together, and I look forward to seeing what God is going to do through us this year. Thank you for all

you do as part of the Body of Christ!

Pastor Lewis

August Bible Verse: Psalm 100:1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.

I want to first thank all the Tea Hostesses from our Wedding in the Garden Tea we had the last of May. Those setting tables were: Kathy Mens, Nancy Tucker, Joan Hanson, Stacie Hostetler, Mary Jane Christy, Sharon Wilson, Mary Eley, Bonnie Florke, Vicki Walter, Amy Edel and Dee Handsaker Miller and the Handsaker Family and myself. Everyone did such a fantastic job and we appreciated all your hard work. We had thirteen beautiful tables and many, many complements from our guests. They thought it was incredible that our small church could put on such an event and it wouldnt have been possible without all the outstanding help I got. Thank you to all the ladies who shared their wedding dresses with us. It honestly took your breath away to see them all displayed in the sanctuary and what wonderful stories we heard! A special thank you to my committee: Sharon Wilson, Nancy Tucker, Edy Miller, Mary Jane Christy, Kathy Mens, Katy McKinney, and Sandy HIll for making

all of it possible. We raised over $1000.00 from the tea and had 100 guests attend.

July found Katy McKinney, Mary Eley, and Jan Robinson chairing the Pulled Pork dinner at the church during Crossroads Festival. It was a delicious dinner and we thank everyone for helping, furnishing, and attending. Those helping in the kitchen or dining room and keeping things running smoothly were the following: Meghan Eley, Jack McKinney, Sam McKinney, Vickie Wilson, Joyce French, Karla McCollom, and Brandi Robinson., Jillian Gibbons, Ruth Wilson. Thank you to our very professional money takers, Nancy Tucker and Betty Henderson and a special thank you to Joan Hanson for sharing her (or Waynes) flowers with us. We had a profit of around $700.00. Thank you!!

The UMW Committee on Nominations (Sandy Cutler, Joan Hanson, and Mary Jane Christy) will need their list of 2016 officers to me by the middle of August. Please consider taking an office when called. The Executive Committee will be meeting the end of August.

Summer will be over before we know it! The September Unit Meeting is September 3 at 9:30 AM at the church. Program is Dorothy Dadisman, Hostesses are: Elaine Stucky, Joan Hanson, Mary Eley, and Jane Coughenour.

In Christs Name, Susan McKinney UMW President

Newsletter desired??? Do you read this newsletter? Would you read

it on-line? Beginning with this newsletter, we will begin emailing it to all on our email list, and

we will begin posting it on the Colo UMC

Facebook page.

If you would prefer to receive it in either of

those venues, and not by the postal service,

please let us know. If you would prefer to stop

receiving this newsletter at all, please let us

know that as well.

SCHOOL KITS

In countries where children dont have books, school supplies or classrooms, a school kit may

be their only educational resource.

3 notebooks, approximately 8 x 11 wide ruled (210 to 250 sheets total) spiral or

bound

1 2 eraser

1 blunt scissors (metal)

1 30cm metric ruler

1 hand pencil sharpener

1 box of 24 crayons (only 24)

6 unsharpened pencils with erasers All items are placed in a sturdy cloth bag, 14 wide x 16 long (finished size) with 22 handles. Place all loose items on top of paper. Turn

items sideways and slide into cloth bag. Fold

over top of bag so loose items dont fall out. Do not put loose items in zip lock bags.

(Value $11 plus $2 shipping.)

Empty school bags are also needed and are

valued at $3 each.

LAYETTE KITS 1 receiving blanket

1 undershirt or onesie (small size)

2 diapers and 2 diaper pins

1 baby wash cloth

1 lightweight gown or sleeper (small size)

Wrap all items in the blanket and pin. Place

in appropriate size zip lock bag.

[Value $20 plus $2 shipping)

Please bring any item(s) you might have or

purchase for these kits to the church between

now and October 15th

!

Thank You, Thank You! Thank you to all who helped in any way during Gary Hemanns bout with cancer. A special thank you to all who lent their support and encouragement during the Memorial Service and luncheon.

--Janet Freyermuth & the Hemann Family

Confirmation Organization Meeting On Sunday, August 23rd, 7:00 p.m., all potential Confirmands and their parents are invited to meet with Pastor Lewis at the Colo UMC. At that time, we will set the dates and times for Confirmation Classes. Confirmation, this year, is open to all youth entering the 6th grade or older.

Pastoral Office Hours Pastor Lewis keeps no set office hours. Call for an appointment (404-273-4803). He will be in and out of the Colo office on Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday mornings. On most Tuesdays, he will be at coffee in Collins and then at coffee in Colo. Coffee is at the Community Center in both towns.

Messenger Deadlines/Assembly All articles to go in the Messenger are due in the church office by noon on the 20th of each month. You may submit an article by sending it in the mail, email, or putting it in the Secretary folder on the office door. [Church mailing address is P.O. Box 266, Colo, IA. 50056. Email is coloumc@yahoo.com] Make sure to mark your article for the Messenger. Each month, the Messenger will be folded on the 4th Thursday of the month, at 9:30 a.m. in Colo. All volunteers are welcome and encouraged! [In August, that will be August 27th.]

United Methodist Mens Group All men are welcome to join us at Nilands Caf at 6:30 a.m., the second Thursday of each month. The next gathering will be August 13th. (Each person pays for their own breakfast.)

AUGUST BIRTHDAYS

Colo

2nd Pam Flanigan 3rd Bradly Johnson 4th Deb Buffington, Catherine Carroll, Randy Watts 5th Dorothy Sowers, James Collins 7th Contasha Patterson, Earl Otto, Patrick Watts 8th Amy Kohlwes, Jennifer Kelly, Elizabeth Goerner 9th Ethan Wild 10th Bradley Cerka, Julie Willis 13th Elyse Fisher 14th Barbara Maley, Jane Snodgrass 16th Sandy Hill 17th Tanner Clatt, Emma Cerka 18th Steven Cutler, Robert Meyerhoff 20th Ashley Cran, Joyce French, June Gross 21st Amy Edel 22nd Al Kemmerer, Craig Mansfield, Ellen Woods, David Voyna 23rd Quin McCollom 27th Betty Lou Mansfield 28th Joseph Yeazel 29th Riley Handsaker 31st Letha DeMoss, Mike Hostetler

Collins

3rd Tammy Kingman Tillman, Samuel D. Cross 5th Matt Cochran 9th John Kasper 11th Chuck Struthers 14th Deb Shipton 17th Ruth Baldwin 18th Pauline Thomas 23rd Alyssa Holsinger 24th Bob Schmitt 28th Armand Christain 29th Emily Cummins, Jamie Enfield 30th McKinzie Briggs 31st Steve Shipton

Collins August Anniversaries

9th Neil & Karen Cochran 25th Doug & Beth Atwood 30th Don & Elaine Burk

August Dates to Remember

Sundays, August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

9:00 am Collins Worship

10:30 am Colo Worship

11:30 am Colo Fellowship

Tuesdays, August 4, 11, 18, 25

5:30 to 6:30 pm Colo Food Pantry Open

Fridays, August 7, 14, 21, 28

9:30 to 10:30 am Colo Food Pantry Open

Thursday, August 13

6:30 am United Methodist Men at Nilands

Tuesday, August 18

6:00 to 7:00 pm Maxwell Food Bank Open

Wednesday, August 19

9:30 am Pastor at LTC/Windsor Manor

Thursday, August 20

Articles for September Messenger Due by Noon

Sunday, August 23

7:00 pm Confirmation Organizational Meeting

Tuesday, August 25

Pastors Monthly Day of Spiritual Renewal

Thursday, August 27

9:30 am Assemble Messengers Volunteers Welcome &

Encouraged

W.O.W. Worship on Wednesdays

Again this Fall, beginning on Wednesday,

September 9th

, we will again be offering Worship

on Wednesdays (W.O.W.).

While the time will still be the same, 5:30 to

7:15 p.m., there will be some minor changes this

year. We will shorten the time for meals, to add

a few minutes of class time. Once a month or so,

we will have a special time together during the

normal music time. However, W.O.W. will still

be the fast-paced, active time together from last

year.

We are beginning to look for teachers/leaders

for the coming year. Please pray about helping

with this ministry. The leaders we are looking

for are:

Music Leader

Pre-K K Teacher

1st Grade Teacher

2nd

Grade Teacher

3rd

-4th

Grade Teacher

5th

-6th

Grade Teacher

Youth Leaders

Adult Teacher(s)

Substitutes for any or all of the above

and, of course, those who will volunteer to plan,

prepare, serve, and clean-up for the meals. As

we did last year, we are looking for groups

within the church who will take a week each

month (such as the 1st, 2

nd, 3

rd, or 4

th

Wednesday).

If you would be willing to serve in any of

these capacities, please circle the one(s) you are

interested in, sign below, and return this portion

to the church office. Or, simply tell Erin

Hulshizer, Andrew Short, or Pastor Lewis where

you would be willing to serve.

Signature: __________________________

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

Thank you to all who helped with V.B.S. Camp Discovery this year! What a great week we had. On the first night, you could feel the

excitement of those children who had been to

V.B.S. before; and see the apprehension of those

who were coming for the first time.

All of this takes a great deal of organization!

Andrew Short and Erin Hulshizer have been

meeting on an almost monthly basis, planning

and getting things ready. There were multiple

changes this year to the structure and design.

Now, they will evaluate which ones worked and

which ones didnt work as planned. If you have any insights, please share.

Also, V.B.S. would not be possible without

all of the volunteers! Over 30 people helped as

area leaders, registrars, walkers, meal preparers and servers, and with snacks. Thank you.

And, of course, we are appreciative of our

teens!!! What a great group of teen-agers we

have. They stepped up and helped however they

were asked, and never complained.

Finally, we wish to say thank you to Teressa

Hackenmiller, Paul and Karen Cody who

allowed us to partner with Thrivent to help pay

some of our expenses! We always appreciate

those who help us pay the expenses.

Thinking of expenses, we almost missed the

United Methodist Women who budget for

Vacation Bible School every year.

Thank you, everyone!

The date hasnt been set yet; however, one Sunday in August there will be a Taco Lunch after church in Colo. Please keep an eye on announcements to see when the date is set.

Colo & Collins United Methodist Churches Non-Profit

602 Fourth Street U.S. Postage Paid

P.O. Box 266 Permit # 2

Colo, IA 50056 Colo IA 50056

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

ADDRESS LABEL

August 2015 Messenger

Watch out for children going back to school this month!