Rev. Dr. Okitakoyi

Michel Lundula Pastor

Jane Rowe Administrative Assistant

901 3rd AVE SE

Le Mars, IA 51031

Phone: 712-546-4037 Fax: 712-546-5771

office@lemarsumchurch.org

Office Hours

8:30 am—4:30 pm Monday - Friday

Prayer Chain

Connect with our prayer chain by e-mailing or

calling the church office or calling Mary Laughton

at 562-6584

laughmg@frontier.com

Change of Address?

Please let us know by e-mail or phone at the

church office office@lemarsumchurch.org

546-4037 Website:

www.lemarsumchurch.org

March

United Methodist Church of Le Mars

It’s Never too Late…

“Transforming Hearts, Minds, and Lives

by the Gracious Love of Christ”

Six years ago, I decided to attend a funeral service of a friend’s brother in Hawkeye, IA. This is a small town in the northeast corner of the state. According to my GPS, it was supposed to take me about an hour to get there. However, after about forty minutes of driving, I realized that the time I had in my mind and what my GPS told me were different. The feeling of being lost started growing in me while I was wondering whether to obey to my GPS or to go back where I started to make it a new beginning.

In middle my confusion; I decided to stop somewhere to ask a farmer who was working in the field about how much time it could take me to get to Hawkeye. Surprisingly, that man assured me that I was on the right way and it was going to take me about 30 more minutes to get there. Seeing how disappointed I was since the time for the funeral was getting closer, the farmer asked me, “Are you ok?” I said to him, well, I am going to a funeral but it seems like I took a wrong way and I am going to be late. He looked at me and said, you know what, it’s never too late, you can use this country road, you will get there earlier than if you continue on the highway. Following the instruction of that man, I made it earlier than what I thought.

Friends, the season of Lent is a journey that leads us to the historical and memorable celebration of Easter. Sometimes we start our journey with many good motivations to commit ourselves in various spiritual disciplines. Due to many things that happen in our daily lives, sometimes we lose the focus on our destination.

As that farmer reminded me, it’s never too late to stop and reflect on where we started our Lenten journey without losing the focus on how far we still have to go to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord. It’s never too late to engage in spiritual disciplines such as prayer, scripture reading, daily devotion, sharing an act of love with your neighbor or a stranger, visiting a homebound, or any other discipline that helps us grow in relationship with Christ.

May your Lenten journey be inspired and spirit filled as we prepare our hearts, minds and spirits to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In Christ,

Rev. Dr. Okitakoyi Lundula

Noisy Money

For Josh’s Ride

March 2018 Page 2

“The Sayings of Christ on the Cross”

“Father Forgive Them For They Know Not What They Do”

“Today you will be with Me in Paradise”

“Here is Your Son. Here is Your Mother”

“My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me”

“I Thirst”

“It Is Finished”

“Father, Into Your Hands I Commit my Spirit”

Easter Lilies

For Easter Sunday we traditionally adorn the alter with fresh Easter Lilies purchased by families who wish to either honor or memorialize their loved ones. This year’s cost is $15.00 and our order needs to be in by March 5th. Please call the office 546-4037 or email office@lemarsumchurch.org to place your order and share your loved ones names.

These lilies can be taken home after the 10:00 am Easter Worship Service.

Combination Door

Dear UMCL Family, as we care for one another and also for the safety of our Church Building, the Board of Trustees would kindly like to invite the Church Family to always use the Main Entrance on the Southside during the working or meeting hours. During the worship hours both, the Main Entrance and the Double door on the Northside will be open. If you would like to use the Combination Door for reasons like offloading items to bring in the building, please make an arrangements with the church office.

World Day of Prayer

Will be

celebrated in Le Mars at a

community worship service

this Friday, March 2nd at

1:30 pm at St. John’s

Lutheran Church .

Building Use

Please call or email the Church office to

schedule any and all activities at the Church.

In keeping with our Safety Guidelines, we must

know who is in the building at all times. All

activities must be scheduled

through the Church office and

scheduled on our calendar.

office@lemarsumchurch.org

712-546-4037

March 2018 Page 3

United Methodist Women

Peace Circle Wed. March 14 @ 9:30am

Church Fellowship Hall Hostess & Program: Ruth Postma

Esther Circle

Thurs. March 8 @ 1:30pm Church Fellowship Hall

Hostess: Mary Laughton Program:

Priscilla Circle

Thurs. March 8 @ 7:15pm Hostess: JoAnn Petry

Program:

Executive Board Mon. @ 9:30am

Our March Prayer Father, help us to be a transforming Church by the

gracious love of Christ. We pray that through the

power of the Holy Spirit, You guide us to be

disciples who will bring people to You. Father, hear

our prayers for our Worship Team, it is a privilege

and freedom to continually worship You through

music, prayers and hearing Your Word. Gracious

God, this month as we continue our Lenten journey

through the passion of Christ, may we always

remember the sacrifice of Your Son on the Cross for

the Salvation of the world. Amen.

Lenten Sacrificial Breakfast All women of the Church are invited to UMW’s

Lenten Breakfast on Wed. March 28 @ 9:30am in

Fellowship Hall. Please invite a friend also! RSVP

by calling office or use sign-up sheet in FH.

2018 2017

January 123 112

February 115 134

Income General Fund $ 21,242

Expenses General Fund: $ 15,542

FIF Contributions: $ 1,944

FIF Expenses: $ 8,290

Average Weekly Attendance at Worship January Financials

Through March 25, K4C will be collecting loose change or any

monetary gifts during Children’s

Time. Their Noisy Money will be

given to Josh’s Ride. This is a

local no-profit organization

based in Le Mars; its purpose is

to see all the children with special needs from Le Mars

and the surrounding area ride a bicycle. As of today, our

K4C have collected $359.23! Please support our

children’s ministry.

K4C Mission Project: Noisy Money

Evening Prayer All Are Welcome—Open to All

Join us in the Fellowship Hall for 50 Minutes of

Prayer and Meditation

Wed. March 14 from 6:50 -7:40pm

Together we Pray & Fellowship

March 2018 Page 4

Dresser

Ministry

We now have a couple who will be

receiving one of our baby dressers. They

will need it around the middle of April when

their new little angel arrives. Please help

us to fill up their dresser with little boy

items. Dressers are on display in the

Missions area along the north part of

Fellowship Hall. Please see the sign-up

sheet along with instructions for keeping

track of our donated items.

Thank you,

Missions Team

Soles for Souls

Yes we will be

participating in this

program during Lent. A

collection spot will be set

up in the basement for

gently used shoes. We

are collecting ONLY thru Easter!

Jail Outreach

Our Missions Team is planning another Jail

Outreach for Plymouth County inmates at

Easter. Pizza and cookies will be

delivered!

Small Group Ministry

Dinner for 6,7 or 8

If you interested in joining our Small

Group Ministry, please contact the

Church Office at 712-546-4037.

Special Thanks to those who

signed up. We are looking

forward to enjoying our

Fellowship together.

UMC PRAYER WALL

The UMCL Prayer Team would like to inform the

Church family that we now have a PRAYER WALL in

the South Hallway in our church building. The Prayer

Wall will help us to engage in prayer for ourselves and

help others beyond our Congregation. You will find

prayers for Hope, Healing, Addiction, Thanksgiving/

Praise, Marital Concerns, Salvation, those who are

Grieving, Anxiety/Stress/Worry, Forgiveness and

Depression. Feel free to take one of these prayers for

yourself or somebody who may need your support.

March 2018 Page 5

What do the Jewish Passover and Jesus' last supper have in common? Avi Snyder, with Jews for Jesus, will answer that question as he, presents "Christ in the Passover" at the United Methodist Church of Le Mars on Tuesday, March 20th at 7:00 PM. You will gain wonderful insights on how the pieces of God's plan of salvation fit together, and you will remember this visual display of the Passover pageantry for years to come. Join us for Christ in the Passover from Egypt to Calvary to what it means for us today. Invite a friend or relative to enjoy this learning experience.

Our Lenten & Easter Events

Lenten Series on “The Sayings of Christ on the Cross” continues every Sunday. Wednesday, March 14 6:50 – Evening Prayer in the Fellowship Hall Tuesday, March 20 7pm – Christ in the Passover by Avi Snyder from Jews for Christ. Sunday, March 25 10am – Palm Sunday Thursday, March 29 7pm – Maundy Thursday Service with Communion

8 pm – Movie Night: The Passion of the Christ Move in the Theater (open to all)

Sunday, April 1 8am – Early Easter Service with Communion

led by Pastor Lundula and Confirmation Students 9am – Easter Breakfast served by JOURNEY 10am – Easter Sunday Service with Communion 11am – Easter Eggs for Kids for Christ in our Green Space

Remember to pray through our Lenten Prayer Calendar