1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

Circuit writer
April 2015
Reading Scripture
Thank you to Taylor Loerch, Ella Gerlitz, Randy Meissner, Vern Unrath for
reading Scripture in March. Thanks so much for your ministry.
Ushering
Thank you to the Mike Loerch family for ushering in March. Thank you for
your ministry.
Mandan United
Methodist Church
610 12th ST NW
Mandan ND 58554
Communion Helpers
Thank you to Glenn & Amy Watson for preparing Communion in March.
Thanks for your ministry.
701-663-8909
E-mail
[email protected]
Website
mandanumc.com
We are looking for a few more people to usher, take care of coffee clean up and
read the Scripture. There is a sign up sheet in the new hallway if you would like
help with these things. Thank you.
We are on Facebook
Pastor
Rev. Bruce Adams
Prayer Vigil
Thursday, April 2nd through
Friday, April 3rd
Just as Jesus asked his disciples to
“keep watch and pray”, so we are
called to hold vigil through the long
night and pray as Good Friday
approaches.
A prayer vigil will begin on
Thursday, April 2nd at 9 p.m. and
continue through Good Friday until 6
p.m. Each prayer time slot is an hour
and you may pray at home or at the
church. The sign-up sheet will be on
the table outside the sanctuary on the
east side. Please indicate if you will be
praying from home.
During the prayer vigil, the south
door by the parking lot will be opened.
Please use this door only.
Scripture references, pray
suggestions and other material are
available to assist you as you pray and
read.
Thank you for your
continued support and
contributions to the Building
Fund, Principal Only and
Apportionments .
After the March payment
was made, $806.00 went to
the principal and $613.47 went
to interest. We also made
and extra $1,590.00 payment
for the principal, which brings
the balance to $148,390.
Thank you to everyone who
has been contributing to the
“Principal Only” so we can get
the balance paid down so we
don’t have to pay so much
interest.
Office Administrator
Belinda Van Dyke
Director of Family
Ministries
Lisa Rhodes
Open Minds,
Open Hearts,
Open Doors
Where People
Believe, Belong &
Become
April
Anniversaries
April Birthdays
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
12
13
17
18
19
20
21
24
25
26
28
29
30
Hans Bjugstad
Taylor Loerch
Marilyn Hust
Beverley Austin
Lexi Dirk
Clarence Hust
Alan Reetz
Darel Horner
Wanda Markel
Jake Keller
Shayla Newgard
Gerry Caya
Keith Suko
Floyd Hopfauf
Brian Bonnet
Hope Bonnet
Amie Forde
Connie Daniels
Larry Leingang
Rydel Samuelson
Joy Schneider
Jamie Wetsch
Ryder Alyea
Lexa Eckroth
Betty Leingang
Clyde Sayler
Marlys Friesz
Thomas Hogan
Mryna Petermann
Arva Dell Ost
Althea Kessel
Megan Neuberger
Ryan Wetsch
Barb Franke
Hadlee Mathison
19
20
22
24
29
Charlet & Dion Feigitsch
Jack & Bertie Kroh
Pat & Oscar Hillius
Curt & Darlene Swanston
Karri & Sheldon Landeis
OFFICE NOTES
The next newsletter will be going out,
Thursday, April 23 at 1 PM
The office hours are from 9:00 AM—11:30 AM
If you would like Pastor Bruce to give you a call
or a visit, please call the church office or
indicate that on the friendship registers in the
pews.
If you are in the hospital, please call the church
office to let us know. Sanford has switched to a
different computer system, and clergy are not
able to pull up names of people at this time if
they are in the hospital.
The next Ad Board Meeting will be this
Saturday, March 21. at 8 AM
If your birthday or anniversary is not listed, please call
the church office and your birthday can be added to our
list.
Friday Nite Lite
March 20th
We will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and the first day of Spring at Friday Nite Lite on March 20 th.
From 7 to 11 p.m., we will enjoy tasty treats, games and just hanging out. Open to all youth sixth through
twelfth grade; bring your friends and $2 for food. We’ll leave the “Lite” on for you!
Prayer Concerns
Marcy Hopfauf
Gene Keller
Cooper Peterson
Dennis Heck
Richard Geist
Family and friends battling cancer
Sheldon Landies’ mom, Gloria & Kari’s mom
Several unspoken requests
Arlen Ruff’s sister
Pastor Bruce’s sister-in-law
Darwin Vander Vorst
Mandan Living Center
Helen Keller
Jean Jordan
Faye Caya
Prim Rose
Pearl Heid
Old Mandan Care Center
Althea Kessel
Good Samaritan Home
Kate Bauer
Missouri Slope
Muriel Boyum
Have you considered putting the church in
your will?? Have you considered
giving
to the Youth Endowment Fund?? Check it
out.
If you have any questions, talk with
Pastor Bruce.
Thank you to our many performers
who shared their talents during our St.
Patrick’s Day Celebration and Talent
Show! We are so blessed to have so
many gifted musicians, readers and an
emcee that kept us in stitches!
Thank you to the Fellowship
Committee for planning and hosting our
fellowship!
Last Supper Observance Meal
March 27, 2015
The disciples and the Teacher met in an upper
room that Thursday night of the Passover
celebration. After a week that had begun with a
parade in Jesus’ honor and had been highlighted by
tense moments and great teaching, the thirteen were
ready to share this feast. Little did they know that it
would be the last meal they would eat together.
None of the men knew the great fear, violence,
death and miracles they would experience in the
next several days. They saw only their Master
washing their feet, sharing in dinner conversation
and offering frightening insight into events they did
not understand.
You are welcome to come together at a banquet
table and reflect upon the events of that night as
Jesus gave the disciples the new covenant of
forgiveness for the sins of many. The Last Supper
Observance will be held on Friday, March 27th at
6 p.m. in the fellowship hall. A meal will be
served and communion will conclude our time
together.
This event has become an important part of our
Lenten journey to Easter and the members of the
Fellowship Committee pray that you will take part
in this special event.
The supper will include meatballs, baked potato,
green beans, roll and dessert.
Please RSVP on the sheets on either side of the
sanctuary by Wednesday, March 25th. A free will
offering will be taken to defray the cost of the meal.
Wednesday All Church Family Meals
Each Wednesday a meal is served at 5:45 PM. All are welcome to attend. No cooking! The first
Wednesday of the month is potluck and the rest of the month the meal will be prepared for YOU. Below
is the menu for April. There is usually a sign up sheet (not mandatory) in the new hallway if you would
like to bring an ingredient for the meal. Come join us!
April 1
April 8
April 15
Potluck Meal
Tacos
Pulled Pork & Pulled Chicken Sandwiches,
baked beans and chips
Tater Tot Hotdish
Spaghetti
April 22
April 29
SEE YOU THERE!
MEN’S CLUB
The Men’s Club held their meeting in March. Randy
Meissner gave a talk on the Lay Ministry and how he
has been involved with it. If anyone would like to hear
his talk, you can check out the CD of his talk, by
calling the church office.
The Men’s Club will not meet until fall. They had a
lunch after worship on the 15th. Delicious pulled pork
and pulled chicken BBQ sandwiches and baked
potatoes with toppings and chili was served for a free
will donation, which will go for camperships for kids
to go to summer camps. Thank you to everyone who
prepared the food, served the food, and helped to clean
up. Thank you to all donations! After expenses, about
$250 was donated! The next lunch after worship will
be in the fall. Watch for more details.
.EARLY DISMISSAL
There will be an early dismissal on
Wednesday, April 15. Wonderful Wed.
will begin at 1:45 right after school until
5:30 PM.
HE IS RISEN!
HE IS RISEN INDEED!
Easter Sunday, April 5th
7:30 AM. - Easter Sunrise Service to greet
our risen Savior! This service will be led by
the youth Group.
8:15 AM. - Easter Breakfast hosted by the
youth group after the Sunrise Service.
9:00 AM - Sunday School classes will meet
on Easter morning.
10:30 AM. - Easter worship Join us for the
joyful proclamation that He Is Risen!
Easter Breakfast
April 5th at 8:15 a.m.
The Youth Group will be hosting the Easter
breakfast to be held after the Sunrise Service at
8:15 a.m. Easter morning. Chef Carolyn will
be delighting your taste buds with a menu
guaranteed to satisfy your hunger! A free will
offering will be taken to benefit youth ministry.
2015 Vacation Bible School
Dig out your electric socks and hire a Sherpa! We are going to climb Everest!
Cold is something we know about here in North Dakota. Mountains, on the other hand, are a rare sight on
the prairie. Good thing we have a knowledgeable guide as we traverse this new terrain – God!
Everest is our theme for Vacation Bible School 2015, which will be held July 27 th through 31st. We
will learn to Conquer Mighty Challenges with God’s Mighty Power! Be sure to write this on your calendars.
Don’t miss the fun!
Upcoming Events
May 13th ~
Last Day of Wonderful Wednesday & Youth Group for the school year
May 17th ~
Last Day of Sunday School for the school year
High School Graduation Recognition & Reception
May 31st ~
Kite Flying event
June 13th ~
1K/5K race
Good Friday Service
Led by the Reflections Clown Team
“Weak and wounded sinner; lost and left to die.
Raise your head for love is passing by.
Come to Jesus. Come to Jesus. Come to Jesus and live.”
Chris Rice
Good Friday is a love story. A love story between God and us. A love so fierce that He would rather die
than live without us. A love fierce enough to save us from ourselves at any cost. The price for our
redemption was His live. A life He laid down willingly. For us.
Celebrate the love on Good Friday with the Reflections clown team as we remember Jesus’ life, His death
and His resurrection. Invite your friends, family, neighbors and coworkers and come as you are.
The Good Friday Service will be held on April 3rd at 7 PM. Enjoy this interactive service led by our
unique ministry team as we continue our journey through Holy Week to the empty tomb!
UMW Rummage Sale
The UMW Rummage Sale will be held Saturday, April 18 from 8 AM—3 PM.
What is needed to have a rummage sale? First of all —YOU, YOU, YOU, and YOU!!
YOU are needed to collect your extra items. It is always someone else’s treasurer.
YOU are needed to help set up tables for the treasures on Sunday April 12 after church.
YOU are needed to help the following hours April 13—18
5 PM—8 PM each evening the week before the sale to help unpack and arrange items as they
come in. We’ve made this a party time, taking turns bringing supper and treats. Last year we had 5 ladies
helping. Two ladies were 83 yr. old, one was 85 and one was 92 yr. and one lady was younger at 70 yr.
old. This means we are all a year older so, we welcome old and young to come and help with the set up
during the week. Items can also be brought in the morning from 9:15—11:30 AM.
Saturday begins early —
7:30 AM — there’s always someone wanting to get in.
8 AM — Open doors. Several of YOU are needed to greet the people at both entrances —
downstairs and upstairs and give them a plastic bag for their treasures. (If they get a bag at the door they
pick more items).
Several of YOU are needed to walk around to answer questions, straighten items up, and help people
look for items and to be friendly.
Several of YOU are needed to take money.
3 PM — Many of YOU are needed to help to pack items not sold to be given to charity and to help
clean up. A few of YOU who have muscles (strong men, women and youth) to help carry items out.
It is a lot of work, but SO worthwhile and if we have lots of people to help do these things, it makes
things easier for everyone. Plus, you get to meet people from your church family you may have not met
and/or worked with before. You visit with the customers which is always fun too. But best of all, it is
raising the money to send kids to camp during the summer.
A few years ago, the UMW received a thank you note from a little girl who thanked us for the money
for her and her brother to go to camp. They wouldn’t have been able to go without it. They had so much
fun and you get to be part of that by helping with the Rummage Sale! Please consider helping this year. It
is a lot of fun. Call the church office or sign the sheet in the new hallway.
SEE YOU THERE!
FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
“Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we
do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially
to those who belong to the family of believers.”
Galatians 6:9-10
At times of our life it is easy to get tired, even when you know you are doing something
good. I want to encourage you to remain faithful, to your call in Christ Jesus. Encourage
each other in love. Sometimes all we need is someone to say thank you, or good job, or I
appreciate you. Keep going!
It is said of Henry of Bavaria that at one time, becoming weary of court life, he determined
to enter a monastery. When he presented himself to Prior Richard, the faithful monk gave
him the strict rules of the order. The king listened eagerly and enthusiastically expressed
pleasure at the prospect of such complete consecration.
Then the prior insisted that obedience, implicit and expressed was the first requisite of
sainthood. The monarch promised to follow his will in every detail. “Then go back to
your throne and do your duty in the station God assigned you,” was the prior’s word to
him. The king took up his scepter again, and from then until he died, his people said of
him, “King Henry has learned to govern by learning to obey.”
I do not know what God has called you to today. We need to seek God’s will for us every
day. However, I know that when we serve God it gives us great joy. So I want to
encourage you in your journey of serving Christ.
Pastor Bruce