AURORA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH PO BOX 36 AURORA MN 55705-0036 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED FEBRUARY 2015 NEWSLETTER AURORA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH PASTOR BARB HEGFORS OFFICE HOURS: PHONE: Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 218-229-2113 EMAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: http://auroramnumc.org Facebook.com Aurora UMC Pastor’s Ponderings ~ February 2015 Greetings in Christ, February 2015, the month that we celebrate “LOVE”, in so many ways. Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day, which encompasses both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln who were two great Presidents of our country, and then we have LENT. Now you say: How does Love and Lent go together? “Love” is a word that is thrown around more than a football at the Super Bowl. Everyone talks about love. I love this. I love that. I love your hair. I love that shirt. I love this team or that team. I love summer. I love Christmas. “I love you. You love me.” Love, love, love. Love is only love insofar as we have the actions to back up our words. In truth, our actions must be motivated by Christian love. Our love must be true in our actions. It’s not enough to do something out of compulsion or peer pressure. If we do something because we feel guilty about the situation, it means that it is not a matter of love. The commands of the Bible are clear. We are to obey God. It’s not an issue of being saved by what we do. It is a matter of God’s love being so evident in our lives that we can’t help but obey him. We have seen that the demonstration of God’s love in our life is shown in our true love for others. We cannot claim to love God if we do not love others. God’s will is that we follow his commandments and do what pleases him. I think of the Great Commandment given in Matthew 22:37-40, “You shall love the LORD you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it:: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” This Lenten season, be honest with yourself, open your heart, open your mind, open yourself to experience the greatness that God can and will give to you. Allow God to come to you. Perhaps it means starting to look at scripture for the first time, or deciding to participate in the noon or evening Lenten luncheon or suppers. Whatever it take, allow God’s presence to come into your life in new and exciting way. Take it on for 40 days! Blessings, Pastor Barb SCRIPTURE for February: February 1: Psalm 111 Mark 1:21-28 February 8: Isaiah 40:21-31 Mark 1:29-39 February 15: 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 Mark 9:2-9 February 22: Genesis 9:8-17 Mark 1:9-15 Communion and Souper Bowl Sunday 1st Sunday in Lent  . As we have in the past, we will again be a participant in Souper Bowl Sunday with the giving going to the Aurora Area Food Shelf. We have already registered on line and during the Super Bowl will be part of the total amount that is shared annually during this event. Since 1990 this event has tackled hunger and poverty with young people teaming up during the Super Bowl game to highlight hunger in their community. Since the beginning of this event more than 100 million dollars has been collected for area Food Shelves in local communities throughout the United States. This year is the 25th Anniversary of this event and the young people want to make this an important milestone in the Aurora Community. This is a wonderful way to participate because 100% of what is collected in the Aurora Area stays in the Aurora Area. Lent begins February 18th with an Ash Wednesday Worship service at 7 p.m. here at Aurora UMC. The offering for this service will benefit MEMA (Ministerial Ecumenical Mesabi Area) Fund. The next Wednesday evening, February 25th, the community Lenten Service will be held at Aurora UMC. The soup supper will be at 6 p.m. followed by the service at 7 p.m. The United Methodist Women will be preparing the soup supper and would appreciate help from all members. Help is needed with set-up, serving, and cleanup. Additional information will be forthcoming. Wednesday Evening Worship Lenten Schedule for 2015 Soup supper at 6:00 p.m. with Worship at 7:00 p.m. DATE February 25 March 4 March 11 March 18 March 25 CHURCH Aurora UMC Queen of Peace Catholic in Hoyt Lakes St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Palo St. John’s and Biwabik UCC Faith Lutheran in Hoyt Lakes PREACHING Pastor Brendan Johnston Pastor Barb Hegfors Father Steve Daigle Robert Graham Pastor Jerry Kosanovich Bible Study On Wednesday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. all are invited to join to study God’s Word. The group is currently studying the Gospel of Matthew. During Lent, the group will take a break to attend Lenten Worship Services. Bible Study will resume after Lent. Weekly Prayer References for the month of February Aurora United Methodist Church has committed to pray during worship and through the week specifically for God to renew each of our hearts and grow our churches through being better equipped disciples for Jesus Christ. Each week we will focus on a scripture verse and a specific prayer. We will introduce the scripture verse and prayer each Sunday during worship. The Reach*Renew*Rejoice team is asking you for your heartfelt participation in this project to Reach new people, Renew our Spirits and Rejoice in what we have accomplished through prayer. February 1, 2015 Scripture: 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. 21 Rather, as it is written: “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.” Romans 15:20, 21 (NIV) Prayer Thought: We are sent to proclaim the Good News. February 8, 2015 Scripture: 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NIV) Prayer Thought: God’s spirit within us is one of power and love. February 15, 2015 Scripture: 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:6-11 (NIV) Prayer Thought: It is God who strengthens us and sustains us February 22, 2015 Scripture: Scripture: The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. 4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. Isaiah 61:1-4 (NIV) Prayer Thought: God will restore the people and the Church Keeping You in Our Thoughts and Prayers: Joyce Baudek ~ Dan DeVaney ~ Deb Haveri ~ Jocelyn Gregorich ~ Kathy Jarvi ~ Doug Jussila Brenda & Steve Koskovich ~ Martha Kruckenberg ~ Dorla Langfeld ~ Lillian Latola Ellen Rodby ~ Bill & Marie Sedgemann ~ Florence Widstrand ~ Estelle Zabrocki Northern Pines Nursing Home Residents: Lil Moscatelli ~ Julie Pirnat ~ Margaret Scheunemann ~ Albin Zabrocki St Michaels: Bonnie Rasmusson Northland Village: Dan Croswell COMMITMENTS & NEWS PRAYER CHAIN 229-3161 = ANNIE HALBERG 229-2167 = Dorla Langfeld 225-3202 = Jane DeVaney 229-2682 = Joyce Baudek 229-3325 = Malinda Scheunemann Aurora Sunshine Chairperson is Annie Halberg. If you know of anyone who needs cheering up, is sick or hospitalized, or who had a family member pass away, please call Annie (229-3161) and she will send a card from the church. Coffee Fellowship for February (4 Sundays) 229-3424 = Alice LeMoine 229-2131 = Peg Bateman 229-2400 = Pat Barnes 229-3167 = Dorothy Fossell 229-2400 = Sara Barnes 229-0362 = Thea Riebel Ushers for February (4 Sundays) 229-3615 = Estelle Zabrocki 229-3421 = Alma Krikelas 913-707-3726 = Thea Riebel 229-2167 = Dorla Langfeld 229-3424 = Alice LeMoine 780-6612 = Marge Jussila 229-2176 = Deb & Ed Haveri 229-3501 = Ruth Maki 865-6966 = Ella Manwiller CHAIR PERSON IS HIGHLIGHTED AND UNDERLINED Acolytes for February (4 Sundays) February 1 = Kiarra Moehlenbrock February 22 = Emma Elo February 8 = Kaylee Kennedy February 15 = Autumn Gregorich BIRTHDAY GREETINGS THIS MONTH ARE EXTENDED TO OUR FOLLOWING CONGREGANTS: February 10 = John Jamieson February 11 = Shirley Limesand February 14 = Brenda Koskovich February 23 = Doane Scheunemann February 26 = Muriel Pehle