4A | Iowa Conference Edition of The United Methodist Reporter September 26, 2008
The Iowa Conference Edition
of the United Methodist Reporter
September 26, 2008
Volume 155|Number 21
The Iowa Conference edition is a ministry
of the Communications Ministry Team of
Will Faith
the Iowa Annual Conference.
Men, women and children held the first were doing the Lord’s work with the help of
studded wall while it was nailed into place. all in our congregation. So many did so much
Bishop
Build It?
An air of excitement had spread through the that it seemed to enrich all of us and even
Julius Calvin Trimble
church congregation. We had neighboring restore our faith in each other. Differences of
dkbrockmeyer@iaumc.org
This is a story about a group of people in the
congregation, called the “Building
people drive by and would stop to help. Often opinion many times were set aside and
the workday would start with a couple of men compromise prevailed in the success
Editor
Committee”, who were motivated to build an
and by lunch time, possibly as many as twelve we achieved.
Arthur McClanahan,
addition on to the Embury United
Methodist Church. The 140 year old church is
would be there. Maybe it was the good lunches
Director of Communications
the women served. The women made sure they What a joyous day as we planned for our Open
amcclanahan@iaumc.org
located about 25 miles south of
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.
took their breaks, usually with a treat on the house. The people of our community had been
side with their cold drink. so generous to support our fund raisers and
Communications Ministry Team
now was our chance to show them the result.
Kevin Evers
In the early 1960’s a room had been added to
the existing structure as well as a basement.
There was a lot of camera clicking during this We (the congregation) had accomplished our
Communications Manager
time to keep track of the progress. The weather goal without borrowing any money. Our
kevers@iaumc.org
The Building Committee’s goal was to make
the church handicapped accessible. The existing
was pretty generous to us most of the time. building fund structure continues to this day
Every time we came up against a problem, we with preparations for other projects in our
Darci Hartman
fellowship room, kitchen, and restrooms were
down stairs and not easily accessible to many in
would have another meeting. The building remodeling of the church.
Communications Assistant
committee listened to the congregation and
darci.hartman@iaumc.org
our congregation. It was decided that a
fellowship room, new kitchen and bathroom
a great deal of discussion would develop over One of our first visitors at the open house was a
many topics to include why we were a church man in a wheel chair. He later complimented us
Communications Advisory Team
facilities were to be built on one level.
on a mission with passion and had no lack on the good job of seeing that it was
David Wendel, Chairperson
Could we do this? Where would the money
of faith. handicapped accessible. We then knew we had
accomplished our mission and goal. Many
Circulation
come from? Wouldn’t the labor costs,
After the building was closed in, the women plaudits and congratulations have to go to the
Jill Stanton
plumbing, heating and electric be very
expensive? Sand, rock and cement are costly
would stand inside and try to visualize the contractors, electricians, plumbers, cabinet
Pastoral Record/Clergy
items. So we say, “have faith, it will all work
new kitchen cupboards, stoves, sinks and makers, bulldozing workers, landscapers,
Rolls//Information Reports
people sitting at tables eating. It was farmers and youth workers. Without them, our
jill.stanton@iaumc.org
out.” While keeping the congregation up to
date on progress that was being made, we had
overwhelming to know all the planning, fund goal would not have been met. We held our
Production/Publisher
become blessed. Donations and silent auction,
raising, construction was becoming a reality and ground breaking service October 29, 2006 and
UMR Communications Inc.,
we held taco suppers, a Super Bowl soup sale,
our faith had prevailed. We had kept the faith. our Open house was September 9,2007.
Dallas, Texas
sold church Christmas ornaments and a
gracious couple held Thanksgiving and
Our workers never grumbled about working We have used our new addition so much we
The mission of the Iowa Annual
long hours after finishing their regular job, wonder how we did without it. We’re
Conference is: Making Disciples of
Christmas dinners with the proceeds going to
or working every weekend. They knew they always looking for a reason to use our kitchen.
Jesus Christ, Developing Leaders and
the building committee. We also sold church
Fellowship after church with coffee, juice and
Transforming the World.
cookbooks, one man did printing to Christ-
mas/note cards, another sharpened knives, and
home made rolls is the most popular. We still
The mission of the Communications
stand in the kitchen and pinch ourselves
Ministry Team is to provide and facilitate
made rolling pins and writing pens from an
that it is for good and that all things
an engaging, effective and empowering
oak branch that had been trimmed off during
are possible if you have faith and are
communications ministry by informing,
construction. A Spring Tea was also held and
servants of the Lord.
engaging and empowering.
luncheon was served at an estate auction of a
deceased member.
Iowa Conference Center
If you are in our neighborhood some
2301 Rittenhouse Street
We had raised about one third of the
Sunday morning, stop by and share our church,
Des Moines, IA 50321-3101
money needed, it was time to ask for
fellowship, and see what our faith did.
515.283.1991
Sincerely yours
www.iaumc.org
pledges. Our faith was still very
strong. Not surprisingly, our
The Embury Church Family
e-mail for news submissions:
membership responded
reporter@iaumc.org
quite generously. Our
Next Issues: Oct 10, 31 membership includes
Opinions are those of the writers and
many trades (carpenters,
do not necessarily reflect official United
electrician, plumbers, and
Methodist positions. News, opinions other needed crafts) which made
and editorials in Section Be (the United
us able to do most of the labor on
Methodist Reporter) are those of UMR
our addition with very little outside help. It
Communications in Dallas, TX.
was heart warming to see the men of the church
The Iowa Conference Edition is published
working together and making our goal a reality.
every other week.
At different times we had women, youth and
children all helping. I think it was a learn-
ing experience for several. Children who had
The United Methodist Reporter (USPS 954-500) is
published weekly by UMR Communications, 1221
grown up in the church and moved away, came
Profit Drive, Dallas, Texas 75247-3919. Periodicals
back to either help with construction in some
postage paid at Dallas, Texas and additional mail-
way, or donated items that were needed. Some
ing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to
of the workers took vacation time to help, while
The United Methodist Reporter. PO Box 660275, others missed days from their place of
Dallas, Texas 75266-0275. employment to get a certain project done for
the next phase or due to threatening weather.
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8