News and Updates from Polk City United Methodist Church
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CONTACT INFORMATION FOR PASTOR MELODY
please note: the
pastor.pcumc@outlook.com
email address is no longer valid;
please check your saved contact information and make sure you have her correct
email address and phone number
PHONE: 314-630-0768
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Update on In-person Gathering
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Even though Iowa's governor made an announcement this week that houses of worship can begin to reopen in some parts of the state, Polk City United Methodist Church will refrain from any in-person gatherings, including worship, until at least June 1st when we can reassess the situation in Iowa.
The number of positive cases in our state, and in Polk County, continue to rise, and we are still weeks away from the anticipated peak in the number of positive cases in our area. Therefore, out of an abundance of caution, and in compliance with a request from the Bishop of the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, our doors will remain closed at this time.
We miss seeing all of you, and continue to pray for the day when we can safely gather in-person again. But for now, we stay home so that when we do gather again, no one is missing!
Please continue to stay home, stay safe, and keep looking for the things that bring you joy!
Blessings,
Pastor Melody
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May 3rd: Sharing Communion in Online Worship
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On Sunday, May 3rd, we will be sharing communion as part of our online worship service that day. Join us live at 10:30 a.m. on
Facebook
. (Available on
YouTube
and our
website
by 5:00 p.m.)
Plan ahead now so that you can prepare your own elements as you gather for worship that day: coffee and donuts, milk and toast, juice and waffles, bread and wine, etc.
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May 10: Honoring Moms and Those Who Mother Us
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We're putting together a special video to honor our mothers this year
(those who are our birth mothers, our spiritual mothers, or who mothered us in any way).
We'd love for you to
send us your photos
so that we can celebrate these special people in worship that day!
Everyone
: send us a photo of you with the one who mothered you
Moms
: send us a photo of you with your kids
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May 17th: Special Worship with Bishop Deborah Kiesey
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Iowa Bishop Laurie Haller sent a message to all Iowa United Methodist Churches last week announcing a mandatory 3-day renewal leave for all clergy and staff, to be taken sometime between now and May 31st.
The purpose of this is to provide rest, renewal, and sabbath for all who have had to shift quickly to learn new skills and new ways of being the church amid a time of crisis and physical distancing; caring for our spirits is essential for
all of us
in these difficult times.
To make this possible for each congregation, the Iowa Conference of the UMC is providing a special worship service led by retired UMC Bishop Deborah Kiesey. Bishop Kiesey is an Iowa native who has lived and served in various places in our state, including Sioux City, Mason City, Washington, Mount Pleasant and Iowa City.
We will hold this special service on Sunday, May 17 so that Pastor Melody and the staff can take their renewal leave the week of May 11-15.
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May 24th: Celebrating Our Graduating Seniors
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On Sunday, May 24, we'll have a special moment in worship to celebrate all those who are graduating from high school and college this year! Please send us some photos of your graduating student for a worship video we'll be putting together.
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Some Good News - Stories of Resurrection and Hope
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Easter Series April 19 - May 31
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With the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down schools, restaurants and "non-essential" businesses, forcing us all to stay home, no less causing tremendous illness, suffering, fear and even death, we could all use some good news!
Join us for an online worship series about the stories of Jesus' resurrection appearances, as well as stories from around our community where we are seeing Jesus show up amid this time of crises!
Be sure to visit our online worship page to download a bulletin, request prayers, make your offering, and find links for children's Sunday School videos & printable activities:
polkcityumc.org/online-worship
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Share your good news with us!
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- Where have you seen God at work during this time of pandemic?
- Where have you experienced faith that has gotten you through times of doubt or fear?
- Where have you witnessed acts of love and kindness in your family, through your work, or in the community?
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We want to share
#SomeGoodNews
each week as part of our online worship!
Those submitted by Thursday each week will be shared the following Sunday.
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Service Spotlight - NP Comet Cupboard Tiny Food Pantry
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On May 2nd from 11am - 2pm there will be a "Bag of Food" distribution in the North Polk School District.
The unemployment continues to rise and so does the food usage at the
NP Comet Cupboard
s in Polk City and Sheldahl.
If you or someone you know is in need of a bag of groceries, please fill out the information in the request form linked below.
You will choose your pick-up location in the request form.
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If you can help, we're filling each bag with $25 worth of groceries and a $10 milk card. Your donation of $35 can fill one bag, which will provide a week's worth of meals for a family of four! Our goal is to provide 100 bags of groceries for individuals/families in need!
You can donate here:
polkcityumc.org/give
(select "NP Comet Cupboard" from the drop-down menu)
or by sending a check made out to Polk City United Methodist Church with "NP Comet Cupboard" in the memo line. Mail to 1421 W Broadway Street, Polk City, IA 50226, Attn: Finance Secretary.
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Updates from the DMARC Food Pantry
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As stated by Matt Unger, CEO of The Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Food Pantry Warehouse: IOWANS DO NOT LET THE VULNERABLE FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS
In this uncertain pandemic situation that we are in, I listened to an interview on the DMARC site(www.dmarcunited.org). Matt Unger is interviewed by Anne Discher of the Child and Family Center. It is a podcast called A Deeper Dive/ Uniting Against Hunger in Iowa's Capital City.
Matt stated that 20%-30% of their present clients are new. On this interesting turn of events, many regular clients have lessened due to the increase in SNAP, food assistance, or WIC benefit changes due to this pandemic. Also, those original lower income clients, most likely are afraid of the Covid virus and with a more probable lack of health insurance, they are trying to stay their distance from those who have the virus. The new clients are the newly unemployed first time users, using it for stability. The mobile pantry sites have been kept very busy.
The problems that DMARC is seeing, presently, is lack of certain food items that they can purchase, as we have seen for ourselves on grocery shelves. They are in the situation that DMARC needs to buy more now and finds that foods are increasing in cost due to that lack in the food chain.
The recession that we experienced in 2000 has never healed itself. Wages are not up to living expenses. In 2019, each month, use increased 10%-15% up into present day need. So, in the long term, our nation has not healed from a previous recession and we are moving into a new time of great uncertainty.
HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO HELP-money is the number one donation that is appreciated. If you wish to donate please write a check out to Polk City United Methodist Church and in the memo put DMARC food pantry or donate on our electronic site( polkcityumc,org/give). Also, as Matt said, #1 stay at home, share posts about helping and please keep the monetary donations coming in. THANK YOU FOR NEVER FORGETTING.
A BIG Thank You to Terry and Jill Stockstrom for signing up to take DMARC food in for April but we are leaving it to assist the very busy North Polk Comet Cupboard, at the moment. So Proud of that outreach to our community and Dixie Bequeaith's hard work organizing the Cupboard!!
Any questions? please contact, Linda Pennington penningtonl@q.com DMARC Delegate
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Christine Perry
Administrative Assistant
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Lauren Wilken
Director of Children/Youth Ministry
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