MAY 2025

THE CROWS NEST

SPRINGDALE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2025!

The swap will take place Saturday, May 17 from 10-Noon.  Cedar County Naturalist, "Miss. Sarah", will be handing out prairie flower seeds that morning and providing information!

SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE BED BUILD

REGISTER AS A PARTICIPANT OR VOLUNTEER HERE

AMPLIFY MEDIA

The church now has Amplify Media which is a multimedia platform and online streaming service created by the United Methodist Publishing House.  If you've participated in Adult Sunday School or confirmation, you've benefitted from this service.  It provides a library of resources, including videos, Bible studies, and other materials, for churches and small groups to use for discipleship and ministry by our entire congregation.  

If you are interested in checking out this service, please visit https://my.amplifymedia.com/amplify.  Click "Start Free Membership".  When prompted, enter FPJTMN in the Congregational Access Code box.  You will then create your own login using your name, email, and creating a password.  Lastly, click "Start a Free Membership" and you will be taken to the website for viewing content.

We hope you will find this to be a beneficial resource and encourages others to lead small groups in the future.

BETTER TOGETHER: Why Church Membership Matters

Membership has its privileges; at least that's what the old commercial said. The credit card company offers cash back to cardholders; the country club discounts rounds of golf for those paying dues; the coffee shop gives free beverages to loyal customers on their birthdays; and the gym lets members use all of the equipment as often as they like. The United Methodist Church, though, is a different kind of organization.

When performing at its best, the church focuses its attention and resources more on non-members than members. The mission statement of The United Methodist Church is "to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world" (The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church ¶120). This reminds us that while we seek to make members, our ultimate purpose is for the benefit of the whole world.

Church membership, then, is not about privileges like assigned pews, having say in important church decisions, or getting to the front of the line at potluck suppers. Rather it is a call to participate as part of a fellowship of followers of Jesus Christ who seek to make the world more like the Kingdom of God.

The Rev. Wilfried Nausner, Superintendent of The United Methodist Church in Albania and Macedonia, expressed it this way, "The task of any particular church and its members is to form the body of Christ. But it is not our task to make good members… Nobody can love the church in general or the universal church. It has always to be our neighbor that comes first."

Our membership ritual, part of the Baptismal Covenant, reflects these values.

A commitment to Christ

Those desiring to become professing members of a United Methodist congregation respond to a series of questions. They are first asked to renounce wickedness, evil, and sin, and to accept the freedom and power of God to resist evil, injustice, and oppression. Then they are asked if they confess Jesus Christ as their Savior, and trust and serve him as their Lord. The next question asks each to promise to remain a faithful member of Christ's church, and to serve as his representative in the world. Then, together with the congregation, all profess the Christian faith as contained in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, based on the Apostles' Creed.

Then there are two questions about church membership.

1. As a member of Christ's universal Church, will you be loyal to Christ through The United Methodist Church, and do all in your power to strengthen its ministries?
2. As members of this congregation, will you faithfully participate in its ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service and your witness?

Connected globally

Question 1 is about becoming a member of The United Methodist Church, a global web of local congregations. We describe this relationship as connectional. All members of every congregation are joined to all others across the globe, which is an exciting part of what it means to be the church.

Though we may never meet one another, nor each person who directly benefits from many United Methodist ministries around the world, we are making great things happen. Lives are being changed in ways no one of us, nor any single congregation, could do on our own. Being a connectional church makes ministry work possible, from global health to disaster recovery to missionaries to evangelism.

Connected locally

Question 2 asks new members to commit to the people with whom they worship every Sunday. We vow to be part of the body of Christ in our local community, and to support it well. We pledge to think less about our individual desires and more about the good of the whole.

We live into this vow when we teach a Sunday school class, serve as an acolyte or usher, or stand shoulder-to-shoulder working on a local mission project. We fulfill our promise by serving on committees, giving a portion of our income, and setting up tables and chairs. We are faithful when we support one who is struggling, visit another in the hospital, and support others in grief.

All in this together

When the new members finish their vows before the congregation, the worshipers then renew those same vows as a sign of our commitment to one another.

In this section of the service, the pastor asks the congregation to do all in their power to support the new members. When the members respond to this invitation, they renew their promise to faithfully participate in the ministries of the Church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness, that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ." 

In some circles, it is popular to talk about church membership as optional. The Christian faith though, was never intended to be a solo journey. The first followers of Jesus came together for teaching, meals, prayers, and more (Acts 2:42).

The same is true today. We are better together as part of a local congregation. We are better together as part of a worldwide church.

Membership may have its privileges, but in The United Methodist Church, our commitment to Christ and one another is far more important.

CONFERENCE, DISTRICT AND CIRCUIT NEWS

GV District Monthly Prayer List

4 - Burlington, First UM Church

11 - Burlington, Grace and West Hill UM Churches

18 - Burlington - Spring Grove and Long Creek UM Churches

25 - West Burlington UM Church

For More News Visit:

Iowa Conference

Golden Valley District

United Women in Faith

Everything Has Changed: Discipling Youth in a Transformed World

How have the challenges facing teenagers and their families changed? How do churches and adult leaders need to adapt in order to help youth grow into adult disciples of Christ today?

Mainline churches have traditionally sought to reach youth through models (like youth group and Sunday school) that were successful fifty years ago. But if students and families are living with significantly different challenges and values in 2025, how does youth ministry need to adapt? Join us for an educational session about what is happening with youth - including issues of social media, busy schedules, and mental health challenges - and an exploration of how youth ministry must change in order to disciple Generation Z.

Who: This event is intended to equip adult clergy and lay servant youth ministry leaders who currently work with youth or those who aspire to develop or improve their ministry with youth.

Register Here

Saturday, May 10, 2025

9:30 a.m.- Noon

Ames First United Methodist Church

Networking Lunch Included
Virtual option available for workshop

Wesley Woods Women's Retreat: Tending to the Gardens of Our Souls

Come join us for a weekend away filled with solid teaching from God's word, rest from responsibility, and fun with your friends!  You won't have to lift a finger!  Delicious food, encouraging worship, and a dynamic speaker, who will leave you ready to return to your home, families, and work feeling refreshed.  (women ages 16 and older)

May 9 -10, 2025   Registration is $150

This Retreat will focus on the following tools for the Weekend:
Theme: Tending to the Garden of our Souls

Tools for the Weekend are:
Scripture:  John 17

Book:  What to do When I am Gone A Mother’s Wisdom to Her Daughter by Suzy    Hopkins and Hallie Bateman

To register click here or email Shannon Bardole-Foley 

Sex Trafficking/Human Trafficking

Lovely Lane United Women in Faith is hosting a Sex Trafficking/Human Trafficking Informational Event.

Sex trafficking happens in the United States AND in Iowa! Iowa is a central transportation hub for moving victims to event locations where there are large markets for sex because of the high number of interstates crossing Iowa. The most significant event in the U.S. for sex trafficking is the Super Bowl. Come and learn about the issue. Awareness creates prevention for our endangered youth. Please come and bring your youth along. The presentation is appropriate for men, women, and juniors and seniors in high school.

Lovely Lane United Methodist Church
2424-42nd Street NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa  52402
It is on the corner of 42nd Street and Wenig road and next to Kennedy High School.

Saturday, May 3, 2025
Coffee and refreshments at 9:00 am 

Program by Chains Interrupted begins at 9:30 am

Church information page

Childcare is available upon request. Please call the Golden Valley District Office (319-382-0436) or email Ann.Zeal@iaumc.org to register by Wednesday, April 30. 

MINISTRY REPORTS

Springdale UMC Leadership Board meeting—4/28/2025

Attendance: Jo, Lynda, Rebecca, Paula, Amanda, Steven, and Jessica G.

Full Leadership Board: 5:00 p.m.

1. Opening Devotion and Prayer

2. March Minutes

   1. Amanda moved to approve the minutes.  Jo seconded.  Motion carried.

3. Trustees

   1. Farm ground sale?

      1. Different prices if can build a house or not

         1. $12-13k per acre ($110-$120k)

         2. $17-18k per acre ($170-$180k)

      2. Impact on Mather family with gift

         1. We must speak with Julie

      3. We need to review the lease agreement with Pedersen and determine if he or Haring will now be farming our ground.

   2. Current Building

      1. Accessibility Priorities

      2. Restrooms

      3. Randy Gruwell contractor - Jo will talk with him

   3. Siding on Bell Tower

      1. Steven contacted Travis Dimmer to fix the siding that was coming off

         1. He said he would charge just for the equipment rental and not his labor

   4. Carpet cleaning - stains are gone and it looks good.  The cost was reasonable and he guarantees the price into the future.

   5. Women’s restroom - toilet seems to still be running.

4. SPRC

   1. Upcoming Dates

      1. Annual Conference - Rebecca and Steven gone

         1. June 15 - Manda

      2. August 15-31 (3 Sundays) - Rebecca gone

         1. 17 - Steven

         2. 24 - Manda

         3. 31 - Steven

      3. May 25 Manda will be gone

         1. Paula will plan on doing the booth

   2. SPRC Evaluation

5. Stewardship

   1. Treasurer’s Report (Through 3/31/25)

      1. US Bank cds are closed out so we now only using one bank

      2. Amanda moved to approve the treasurer’s report.  Lynda seconded.  Motion carried.

   2. Financial Update for Newsletter

      1. Steven will get this information to Paula before May 1

   3. CCLI

      1. First uses streaming but doesn’t typically use the music online.  If we start streaming online, we will need to update our streaming plan and keep track of the songs we use.

      2. The Friends Church Zooms their worship and pauses during prayers and concerns.

      3. Sharon Center only streams their scripture and sermon.

6. Other

   1. Plant Swap

      1. Friday, May 16 5-8 p.m. donation drop off

      2. Saturday, May 17 8-10 a.m donation drop off  10-Noon Swap

      3. Miss. Sara from Cedar County Conservation will be there

   2. Homecoming Sunday

      1. June 22 - outdoor worship

   3. Cedar County Fair Church

      1. July 10  7 a.m. - 7 p.m. at Floral Hall

      2. VBS, craft, bracelets, kids bulletins, t-shirts?, postcard about worship

   4. Sleep in Heavenly Peace sponsorship and build

      1. Depending on how many beds you are wanting to have built, a 15 bed build, that would take roughly 1.5 hours of building beds and an hour before and an hour after to set up and tear down.  We would also need a place with electricity to build the beds. We would need at least 20 volunteers to help make the beds (preferably more). We supply all the tools and would have the wood delivered to the site beforehand.  It depends on the price of wood at the time, but a rough guesstimate for a 15 bed build would be $1000.

      2. What dates are available at Beranek park and get an invitation out to the circuit.  Circuit meeting again at the end of May.

      3. June 28 from 8-Noon

   5. Rebecca showed off our 150th Anniversary picture

      1. Lynda will make a card to attach with everyone’s name

   6. Goal Setting continuation

   7. Newsletter

      1. Pictures

      2. Amplify subscription

7. Goal setting

   1. Mission: To make disciples of Christ for the transformation of the world

   2. Vision: “Springdale UMC is a welcoming church family that worships passionately, nurtures each other holistically, and engages in ministries beyond our walls”

   3. Board: 1-year/3-year

   4. Church 1-year/3-year

8. Next Meeting May 27 at 5:30 p.m.

9. Closing Prayer

Springdale UMC Ministry Spending Plan 2025

2025 Budget  $48,531.00

We ask that you continue to prayerfully consider how you can continue being a strong steward through Springdale UMC with your time, talents, and treasurers.  As our membership vows state, we are to serve with our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness.

For more details about the financial situation, please contact a member of the ad-board or treasurer, Jessica Grace.