Here we go again; another start to another year - how are you New Year's resolutions coming along. It seems that Thanksgiving was here and gone before we could catch our breath. And then of course there was the Advent season with the lighting of Advent candles featuring Hope, Peace, Joy, Love and of course the Christ candle. This activity was interspersed with the

children's program. With all of the church activities and for certain our family and personal and school activities going on... it is always a busy time of the year. Hopefully you accepted the offer of the most precious gift from God... the gift of Immanuel "God with us" in Jesus, born in a manger. If you received this gift anew in your "heart", then you are already seeing that it is a gift that keeps on giving and never wears out. But the gift does need a fresh battery, a more resilient battery. This of course is seen or accomplished by praying fervently and passionately, and also reading God's Holy Word which is alive and active for us to see God's plan and will, guidance and direction for our lives. I guess that is where resolutions could get fortified. Hopefully you haven't resolved to "have more fun do-ing stuff, fulfilling 'your' wants, wishes and desires" only. Maybe this year you can strive to have an attitude of gratitude more often...like every day. Or, perhaps you can strive for a more thankful heart... a heart focused on God rather than self. A life that follows the example of Jesus and His prescription for new life, again focused on what God wants from you rather than aiming only at what pleases you. Maybe we can let His light shine within and through our lives as opposed to letting our "light" shine, which actually represents darkness. Maybe we can be kinder to one another and encourage and support one another ra-ther than ignoring each other. Maybe we can concentrate on giving God more of our time, energy, skills and other resources... sort of dedicating our selves to serving God and sharing His Love with others. Of course, Scripture points out that we don't succeed in life according to our strengths... but in our weakness we need to submit to the guidance and direction for life. We definitely need to be more open and sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit because in our weakness we will find God's strength for a sanctified lifestyle dedicated to furthering His Kingdom. If Jesus needed the active support of the Holy

United Methodist Church

January 2020

Colesburg United Methodist Church P. O. Box 171 500-1st St. Colesburg, IA 52035

Phone 563-856-4145 E-mail: coleumc@iowatelecom.net Roger White, pastor Phone 563-920-2623 E-mail: jer_3133@hotmail.com Website: www.colesburgiaumc.weebly.com

January Schedule Jan. 5 Communion/2nd offering for Del-Clay Jan. 12 2nd offering for Missionaries Jan. 14 6pm — SPRC/7pm — Ad Board Jan. 26 2nd offering for YFC

**Youth for Christ meets at 7pm on Wednesdays**

Spirit, I am thinking that we might need the Holy Spirit's intervention as well. And since we are speaking of Jesus, we might as well mention Prayer. I hope you realize how often Jesus knew that He needed to pray to achieve God's goals/plans for His life...especially (maybe) His wilderness experience and in the Garden of Gethsemane. Hopefully we all understand the essential need of corporate prayer... either meeting together for prayer or at the very least praying at the same time wherever we are. This is a very important ideal to uphold, besides your individual prayer times. There are so many "resolutions" that we can partake of that will bolster our Christian life and give glory and honor to God...... we just need to get our hearts in the right focus (on God and not always 'ourselves'. Church attendance and Bible Studies might just help direct our focus in life as well. Also, making it a priority to have our children attend church and Sunday school will add credence to their faith journey as well. And we just might try to be a paramount example of faith in action for our younger people. So, if you are a resolution mak-er (it's ok if you have broken them all ready), please consider adding more time working on your relationship with God and let church, prayer and the reading/study of His Holy Word guide your steps in this coming year. As you "Await the Already", may you be strengthened by the Holy Spirit so that you may encourage others to seek Jesus with their whole heart. See you down the road....Pastor Roger.

Bible Readings for January

Week beginning January 5 — Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12

Week beginning January 12 — Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17

Week beginning January 19 — Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 40:1-11; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42

Week beginning January 26 — Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1, 4-9; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23

Let’s remember the following:

Those in Nursing Homes: Rhea Klaus, Edgewood Clay Ash, Vinton Wanda Keck , Edgewood LaVera Schenke, Edgewood Susan Elledge, Edgewood

Those in Assisted Living Facilities: Gilda Miller, Guttenberg Wilma Lincoln, Edgewood Eleanor Phillips, Edgewood

Remember in prayer: Larry and Jane Kies-Zimbabwe Tracy and Brandi Welterlen Guilli Kruse Wilma Lincoln Josh Steffen Janice Klaus Those serving in the military: Jim Pensel — Navy, San Diego Joshua Brookhiser — Air Force Kaleb Payne — Army

Attendance & Income Totals– Amount needed each week—$1,338 Attendance Budget $ November 24 38 935.00 December 1 56 1065.00 December 8 103 1876.00 December 15 47 1045.00 December 22 57 1278.00

Other Income Totals: Youth For Christ 173.35 Sunday School 102.00 Christmas Is For Kids 548.00 Basement Rental (2) 90.00 Harvest Home 6162.60

January Jan. 5 Roger Handke Jan. 6 Stephanie Kieffer, Rita Moser, Kayla Brown, MacKenzie Moser Jan. 7 Marge Fensterman Jan. 8 Troy Helmrichs Jan. 9 Floyd Sampson, Bailey Klamfoth Jan. 10 Joyce Craft, Gavin Thurn Jan. 12 Elaine Sampson Jan. 14 Greg Payne Jan. 16 Brett Pensel Jan. 18 Brady Hartgrave Jan. 19 Jill Lueken Jan. 21 Lenny and Janet Phelps — anniv. Jan. 22 Kerry Timmons Jan. 23 Merle Oberbroeckling Jan. 25 Tim Williams, Aaron Atkinson Jan. 27 Gene Schenke, Robin Niehaus Jan. 28 Lyle Herman Jan. 29 Tia Kulper

Backbone Area Youth For Christ are selling nuts — cashews, pecans,

harvest medley, and sweet/salty mix.

Each bag is $14.

Please see Jean Wiskus.

Local veterans were honored during morning worship on Nov. 10.

Front: Pastor Roger White, Floyd Sampson, John Ross, Fred Phelps,

Linford Kinyon Back: Carl Borrett, Clarence Hansel, Dennis

Walthart, Mike Letz

Several from the Colesburg United Methodist Church went caroling on Sunday afternoon,

December 8th. They shared carols at the Edgewood Convalescent Home and the

Lincolnwood Assisted Living. Those attending included: Carl Borrett, Pastor Roger White,

Mary Scherbring, Trent Holthaus, Mary Borrett, Ann Glime and Jenny Atkinson.

Administrative Board Meeting Colesburg United Methodist Church

The Ad Board of the Colesburg United Methodist Church met on December 10 at 7:00 PM with the following in attendance: Pastor Roger, Tom Klaus, Jean Wiskus, Gary Timmons, Steve Schwietert, and Ann Glime. Pastor Roger opened the meeting with a devotional from Billy Graham entitled “The Night of Light” based on John 8:12.

The October secretary’s and the October and November treasurer’s reports were read and approved. (There was no Ad Board meeting in November.)

SPRC – December is staff appreciation month. We celebrated with Pastor Roger on Sunday, December 8th with donuts and coffee. The Ad Board approved the purchase of Colesburg bucks for Rebecca Hansel for serving as secretary and janitor and for the Sunday School teachers and helpers, as a sign of our appreciation of their time and effort. Outreach – Ornaments centered around the nail were made for Colesburg Christmas. These will be handed out to families attending the event on Saturday, December 14th. Seven members of the congregation went Christmas caroling on December 8th. They shared carols with folks in the Edgewood Nursing Home and Lincolnwood As-sisted Living. Education – The Christmas program was shared on Sunday, December 8th. The program went well and the chil-dren and youth did a great job! There will be no class on December 29th due to the holidays. Worship – Advent devotionals were ordered, delivered and mailed prior to December 1st. Christmas Eve service will be held at 7:00 PM.

Trustees - Janice Scherbring has donated painting of the church done by Donald Dodge. It was decided to hang it in the copy room. The windows for the Sunday School rooms in the basement are in the church garage. They will be installed soon. We have received news that there will be $250 in the Arleen Troester Scholarship this spring. It was moved and passed to have Spring Green care for the lawns at the parsonage and the church.

Pastor’s Report – Pastor Roger enjoyed the Sunday School program and thanked the teachers and helpers for their assistance in preparing for the program. He enjoyed and appreciated the donut and coffee time and the thoughtful gifts. Confirmation is going well. The Christmas Eve candlelight service will be held on December 24th at 7:00 PM. There were eight people involved in the Bible study, Awaiting the Already, on December 5th. Pastor Roger shared that the Iowa Annual Conference is doing some reorganizing. Our church is a part of a cir-cuit with the churches in Strawberry Point, Manchester, Delhi, and Buck Creek. Our district has joined with the North Central district in sharing a secretary. Tom reported that our apportionments have been paid in full.

We will be collecting pop tops for the Ronald McDonald House in Iowa City. The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 PM. Respectfully submitted, Ann Glime

It was Christmas Plain and Simple in Colesburg this year… The children and youth of the Colesburg United Methodist Church led worship on Sunday morning, December 8th. They participated in the lighting of the Advent candles, shared prayers, read the scripture story of Jesus’ birth in Isaiah and Luke and shared Christmas carols with the congregation. Following worship, they presented each person with a candy cane with the story of the candy cane attached. The children involved in the program include: Parker Hoisington, Bristol Kulper, Kelly Lincoln, Kinnick Matt, Kayden Matt, Isaac Han-sel, Ella Matt, Carter Bailey, Eli Bailey, Joseph Eglseder, Canton Bailey, Colton Hoising-ton,Rebekah Eglseder, Rachel Eglseder, Elsie Lincoln, Lane Kulper, Carson Ingles, Con-nor Ba,iley, Cooper Ingles, Maci Bailey, Haley King ,Holden Salow, Sage Hoisington, Nora King, Zander Hoisington

Worship Assistants

Greeters Jan. 5 Clarence and Pauline Hansel Jan. 12 Janice Klaus, Tom Klaus Jan. 19 Patti Schenke Jan. 26 Jim and Janice Scherbring

Candlelighters Jan. 5 Rachel Eglseder, Joseph Eglseder Jan. 12 Carter Bailey, Eli Bailey Jan. 19 Brianna VanGroll, Tiffany Pensel Jan. 26 Kinnick Matt, Isaac Hansel

Liturgists Jan. 5 Doug Hansel Jan. 12 Jeff Lincoln Jan. 19 Cooper Ingles Jan. 26 TBA

Ushers Jan. 5/12 Lee Wiskus, David VanGroll,

Gary Timmons Jan. 19/26 Perry Sampson, Gregg Snook,

Trent Holthaus

Special Offering Jan. 5 Rachel Eglseder, Joseph Eglseder,

Isaac Hansel Jan. 12 Carter Bailey, Eli Bailey, Colton

Hoisington Jan. 26 Kinnick Matt, Isaac Hansel, Cooper Ingles

Communion Stewards Jan. 5 Gary and Carol Timmons

January 2020

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4

5

COMMUNION

2nd offering For

Del-Clay

7

8

9 10 11

12

2nd offering for

Missionaries

13

14

6pm — SPRC

7pm — Ad Board

15

16

17 18

19

20

21

22

23

24 25

26

2nd offering for

Youth for Christ

27 28 29 30 31

Worship each Sunday at 9 am,

fellowship time following. 10:15am — Sunday School