Mission Statement
Open Doors; Open Hearts; Open Minds
Pastor
David Godwin
Church Office 712-423-1115
Lay Speakers
Treasurer
Onawa – John Lee
Turin – Elaine Nichols
Custodians
Onawa – Dawn & Russell King
Pianist
Michael Johnson
Turin Music
Kathy Johnston
Council Chairman
Onawa – Karen Wiedenfeld
Turin – Gene Broer
Trustees
Turin – Troy Johnston
Onawa-Michael Johnson
Staff Parish Relations
Elaine Nichols -Turin
Janice Keller- Onawa
February. It is the shortest month of the year, and after all the holiday fun with Christmas, and then the New Year celebration it seems that February doesn't have much going for it does it?
This year even Ash Wednesday is in March.
There is Groundhogs Day, Super Bowl Sunday, Presidents Day, Washingtons Birthday, and Valentine's Day I guess. However these are not holidays that we Methodists celebrate, as a church anyway. Valentine's Day can be an excuse to get flowers and chocolate for the one you love. Which only reminds the rest of us how sad, pathetic, and lonely our lives are. Which makes us think of the Valentine's Day massacre but let's face it we really, really, really don't want to think about that either.
There are several what I would call made-up holidays that I guess are important to some people like National Women's Physicians’ Day, National Singing Day, World Read Aloud Day, National Wear Red Day (don’t forget to wear red on National Wear Red on February 7th), and even a National Love Your Pet Day.
Well, you get the idea there just doesn't seem to be that much going on in the Church this year in the month of February.
Maybe this February could be a month of prayer and reflection for us…
Have we resigned ourselves to the way things are? Our God is the God of hope, the resurrected Christ is proof of that. Have we sometimes found it easier to look at the world around us and just say to ourselves, “well, that’s just the way it is.”
While I am writing this, I have been ill for the last four weeks and I am sick and tired of being sick and tired! Right now, it would be easy for me to say what the heck! I give up! But I am not giving up!
Remember the first Sunday in February is not just Groundhogs Day, it is Communion Sunday. Which do you think is more important?
We who believe in Christ should be celebrating what Christ has done for us! We should be telling others that Jesus has extended the same invitation to them!
Pastor David
*If any birthdays, anniversaries, or prayer requests are missing, please notify Connie King. Make your prayer requests known...We are happy to pray for you or someone you love. Please feel free to let Connie King know your concerns and we will activate the Prayer Tree. Due to privacy concerns we will not activate the prayer tree without your permission.
February Anniversaries
UMC Prayer Tree Connie King 423-2594
Shirley Hiller Janice Keller 433-4191 423-2781
Karen Wiedendfeld 433-1938
United Women of Faith will meet for a noon luncheon February 5th. Everyone bring a favorite dish. We will meet upstairs. Peggy Kunkel and Kathy Marvin will be hostesses. Kathy Marvin will present the lesson.
Early one brisk, foggy February morning low in the sky, I saw a lone snow goose. Flying overhead, above a cold frosty cornfield. the gander strong wings flapped wildly loose. Fighting the wind, he seemed to honk: Wait for me! Wait for me! Wait for me! Headed southward on his annual migration The loner’s echo seemed a desperate plea!
Many flocks of wild geese have departed, A couple of months ago, early this year. In V formation they flew high in the sky. Why is this snow bird so late to appear? How will he spend his days, I wonder? With spring weather only 6 weeks away, Will he meet his crowd coming back home? Will you find a feathered mate along the way? As I gazed into the murky, overcast sky And intently observed the lone snow goose, These questions I amazed in my puzzled mind, While the gander’s strong wings flapped wildly loose.
Clara
Jean Hanline
Scheduled Events
February 5 Women of Faith Potluck Noon
February 5 Turin Ad. Bd. Mt. 7 P.M.
February 12 Onawa Ad. Bd. Mt. 7 P.M.
February 23 Onawa Potluck following Worship
Onawa /Turin United Methodist Church
P.O. Box 57
Onawa, IA 51040