It was announced on Sunday, Nov. 7 that Pastor Melody's appointment as Pastor of Polk City United Methodist Church will be ending on December 31, as she begins fulltime enrollment in seminary at St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City in January. Melody and her family will continue to live in Ankeny as she completes her Master of Divinity over the next four years. After that, Melody plans to pursue ordination as an elder in the United Methodist Church and return to appointed ministry in the Iowa Conference of the UMC. The Staff-Parish Relations Committee is in conversations with our District Superintendent about next steps for this pastoral transition. Please join us in prayer for this transition, and reach out to James Menke, chair of the SPRC, with any questions.

We're so excited to bring back the annual Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 4th from 10:00 AM - Noon in the Wing in the Woods. Bring the kids and gradkids for a pancake breakfast, cookie decorating, a Christmas craft, and - of course - a visit with Santa!

Children's Chapel kids (ages PK-6th grade) will be practicing "The First Christmas" to share with the congregation on Sunday, December 11th, at 11:00 AM (after worship). Join us for a special Coffee & Cookies fellowship time in the Wing in the Woods from 10:30 - 11:00 AM while the kids get set up for their program in the sanctuary! Then stay for their presentation of "The First Christmas."

As we come to the last month of the year, we wanted to give the congreation an update on our church finances.

Early in the year, we were projecting a $40,000 deficit at the end of the year based on the ministry budget and rate of giving. The leaders' council made the decision to suspend paying our dennominational apportionments, which totaled around $23,000, for the second year in a row. (Apportionments are like a tithe that each local congregation gives to the denomination to fund ministries at the local, state & global levels.)

A special offering at Easter brought an additional $6,000 to our operating funds. Throughout the year, our staff and ministry teams have made significant cuts to spending and have been able to cut the operating expenses by about 20%. However, we are still projecting a shortfall of over $6,000 at the end of the year.

2021 Approved Budget: $220,724 (including apportionments)

2021 Year-to-Date Expenses: $180,205 (without apportionments)

Your financial gifts to the church help to pay utilities and maintenance for church property, fund staff salaries, and purchhase supplies, equipment, and other support materials needed for worship and the various ministries of the church. We simply cannot be the church without your support!

Please consider making an extra gift to the church this month to help us end the year strong! You may also want to make a gift directly to our apportionment funds - look for that option in online or mobile giving, or designate "apportionments" on your check or envelope.

Thank you to those of you who have already completed your Time & Talent Commitments and Financial Pledge Cards for 2022!

So far, we have received pledges from 22 households. If we have not received your pledge, we encourage you to please return or complete your pledge card THIS WEEK so that we can faithfully move forward with an operating budget for 2022. We depend on your estimates of giving to help us make a budget that accurately reflects our capacity to fund staff positions and ministries.

Make plans to join our Alpha program on Wednesdays starting January 5th! We’ll meet for dinner around 5:45 pm and end at 8 pm each week through March 9th. Alpha is a series of sessions exploring the basics of faith in an open and informal environment. EVERYONE is welcome, no matter where you are in your faith journey! Talk to Angela Cupp if you have questions, click here for a quick intro, and plan to stay a few minutes after worship on Dec. 19 or Jan. 2 for a short introdution to Alpha!

The United Methodist Women are collecting winter mittens, gloves, hats & scarves of all sizes for all ages. These will be distributed by the NP Comet Cupboard food pantry ministry this winter for those in need. Winter items can be placed in the red barrel in the church entryway.

St. Luke’s Free Clinic and NP Comet Cupboard indoor food pantry are open on the first & 3rd Wednesays: Dec 1 & Dec 15

email dbequeai967@msn.com for info

call 515-238-6425 for more information

St. Luke's Free Clinic now has FLU SHOTS available for everyone age 2 & up, including the flu vaccine for those over age 65!

CAN I GIVE YOU A HUG?

This title was spoken by a food pantry visitor who was getting help for her family and son's family. DMARC wishes to continue and extend this feeling out to all of you who have helped them to feed the hungry this year. Times are weighing heavier now with winter and higher heating bills and higher grocery and gas costs leading to a great amount of turmoil for those challenged over the Holiday Season.

If you or someone you know needs assistance with food, utilities or access to other resources, contact Pastor Melody or refer to this Resource Guide provided by EveryStep Care & Support Services of Des Moines.