Home Happenings

October 29, 2020

Christmas eve candle lighting on November 8

YES… on Sunday night, November 8, at 5:30 PM we need you to bundle up and come be part of our Christmas Eve Candle Lighting service!  Since we won’t have in-person multiple packed out services, the Worship Team decided to take a video of us coming together outside to film in advance the Silent Night candle lighting ritual. We will use this video on December 24! Your household will join others as we line our driveway and parking lots with everyone. We want to record our joy as we pass the light one to another. Long term forecast says 50 degrees, so don a sweater or coat for the filming.

Here’s how it will work. After you park your car, we will hand you your candle(s). Then you go take the next spot in line. Members of households can line up shoulder to shoulder. Households will be two arms lengths apart. Greeters will be there to help you find your spot. We will start filming at 5:30 PM, so arrive about 10-15 minutes prior.

Imagine if you will, our annual Christmas Eve service on December 24. When we get to the singing of Silent Night at the end of the service, can you envision seeing all the faces from our congregation moving across your screen? We may not be physically together, but we certainly will be reminded of being together.  Please mark your calendar as we prepare for the birth.

October 1, 2020

Staff Perish Relations Committee –Personnel
Volunteer and Communications Coordinator
The North Liberty First United Methodist Church is recruiting for a Volunteer and Communications Coordinator who will work alongside the Associate Pastor to expand our social media presence. Additionally, this position will coordinate individuals volunteering time to use their gifts and passions within a ministry
setting.

Qualifications and Aptitudes:

· Must be proficient in use of: Website design, Website maintenance, social media engagement, Excel, Word, Adobe Pro and other computer applications as needed.
· Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, conflict management skills, and current computer skills.
· Must possess a history of effective ability to work cooperatively with large groups of people such as our congregation, diverse individuals, and develop cohesive teams of volunteers.

This is a part time position (8 to 12 hours per week) which would occur at the church during business Hours and on Sunday morning during worship service.

Office Manager

The North Liberty First United Methodist Church is also recruiting for an Office Manager who will be responsible for overseeing daily office activities and performing related administrative duties. This person should have an understanding of church operations, be detail oriented, and a self-starter with little supervision from the Pastor(s).

Qualifications and Aptitudes:

· Must be proficient in use of: Microsoft Office, Excel, Word, Outlook,
· Must be willing to become proficient in Adobe Pro and Power Church and other computer applications as needed.
· Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, conflict management skills, and current computer skills.
· Must possess a history of effective ability to work cooperatively with all persons on an individual basis and with large groups of people such as our congregation.
· The ideal candidate is detail oriented, personable, can work independently with little supervision, takes initiative to start or complete necessary tasks
· Print, copy and scan.

This is a part time position (12 to 16 hours per week) which would occur at the church during business hours.
Ministry Purpose for both positions: To be an active participant in working toward the Vision and Mission of North Liberty First United Methodist Church.
Interested parties can send their resume and cover letter to SPRC Chairperson, Wendy Fahlgren,
wfahlgren@msn.com

A Place At The Table –
Thank You Church!!!!

Last month, our sermon series and church family focused on “A Place At The Table” — reaching out beyond our walls and the entire month was a wonderful success! Each week, we had a special opportunity for our congregation to “drive-thru” the church parking lot to share something special….
Sept. 6: We brought in place settings for the Inside-Out program, which helps people coming out of prison receive a few kitchen essentials that they need. Richard Grugin said “So far, we have made 20 kits of 2 or 4 table settings with many more boxes of new, unopened sets, as well as more boxes. There are some larger sets we will give to families.” He guessed our church donated about 50 place settings. Additionally, “We used $$ donated to add towels, dish rags, scrubber sponges, and dish detergent to each kit. Additional $$ will be used
to buy toiletries for the backpacks we prepare.”

Sept. 13: We were asked to help supply masks for children who would be going back to school and couldn’t afford masks. Pastor Beth reported we got donations of @ 100 masks. Sept 20: We were asked to help support our NL Food Pantry with donations of food and toiletries. Emily, the Pantry Volunteer & Service Coordinator, shared that we were able to supply the pantry with 403 1/2 lbs. of food and 114 1/2 lbs of toiletries.

Sept 27: COMMUNION — it was an opportunity for us to come to the church and take communion and/ or pick-up additional communion for others who could not get to the church. We had a number of people stop by and partake of communion as well as taking some to share with others for a total of 68.
What a wonderful church family to reach beyond the usual giving and help with each of these very important ministries. If you still want to contribute, feel free to stop by the church office and drop off for any of these ministries! THANK YOU CHURCH-you truly made “A Place At The Table”!!
Lynn Jansen

NEWS FROM PASTOR ALECIA’S STUDY…
EXPANDED 10:00 WORSHIP IN OCTOBER

Starting October 11, at 10:00 am, we will be offering expanded worship
opportunities at First UMC:
· We will continue Live Stream coverage of worship which you can find at NL
Streaming on Facebook

· Pending approval from our District Superintendent, On-Site participation in the sanctuary for up to 100 people.
While the Live Stream will look familiar, there will be some differences in the On-Site experience from prior to the pandemic. If you are coming to the On-Site, we will open the doors at 9:50 AM. An usher will greet you and help direct you to your seat To be in the On-Site service, masks are required. We will have extra masks available if you have forgotten one. Seating will be reduced to 100 and spread throughout the space to allow for distancing. We won’t be handing out bulletins; however, you can download one to your phone if you like! Prayer requests can be filled out and placed in the offering boxes, which will be located at the doors. The coffee bar will be closed; however, you may bring in your own! Passing of the Peace will now be Waving in the Parking Lot! The nursery will be closed. We will start with worship only at this time. Praising God is still happening!
Watch for a video walking you through the new format.

For the Sake of Life
This is a season of saying ‘yes’ to life. While one season shifts to another, if we
look we will find flourishing and abundant life all around us. This we do instead of
focusing on what isn’t working. Saying “yes” to life in Christ offers us the
opportunity to see the assets that create possibility and that create new ways of
flourishing together in this world.

WORSHIP ONLINE WITH US.  Beginning March 22 join us online for worship!  At this time we will hold one service at 10:00 AM.  We invite you to stay at home! Here is the link:  www.facebook.com/108329567465372/videos/ 

Each worship will be a full service, conducted by a team of 6-8.  There will be opportunities to sing, pray, listen and serve.  If you have children, invite them to participate as well.

So grab your cup of coffee, your Bible and expect to find God’s presence with us this week.  God’s church is alive, well and re-imagined!

Head on over to our COVID-19 UPDATES tab to find more information on all of our ministries online offerings.

Upcoming Important Dates :

May 2020, Scavenger Hunt Challenge Winners!! Thank you to all teams who participated in spreading God’s love !

Save The Date!