February Newsletter

Pastor's Reflections:
There are so many things to pray about in our world and community. It seems like the Winter is just dragging on and it is only January. Many people are telling me about their feelings of depression. We wonder where to turn? We are provided an answer in Psalm 40:2 when it says " you set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure." There are many times when we feel as though we are dealing with life's situations all alone. It is during those challenging times that we need to turn to God. He is the rock that we must stand upon.
We are reminded of that each day as we watch and listen to the news accounts of the disaster in Haiti. So many of those who have survived that earthquake praise God when they are dug out from the rubble. Their faith is what has sustained them, just like it will sustain us in our days of depression and challenges.
Please remember to pray for the shut ins, those in nursing homes, those suffering depression, those who have fallen on the ice, those who are experiencing life style changes and most of all each other. Remember to check up on each other when you notice a difference in someone's daily routine that is an excellent indication that something is wrong. The most important thing that we can do each day is to pray to God for guidance and to sustain us. He will sustain us in our times of frustration and depression. Blessings Pastor Carl



Calling All Actors:

We will be doing a Maundy Thursday play again this year. This will be held on Thursday April 1 at the Malvern church. Last years play went so well that we will try another one this year. Please contact me (Pastor Carl) if you feel that God is urging you to participate. There will be parts for both men and women.

Habitat For Humanity Informational Meeting February 26 at 7 P.M. at Malvern community building. contact Brenda Koger for meal details. Marilyn Hoskins representative from Habitat for Humanity will be the speaker. All area men are invite.

February Opportunities of Service
February Ushers:
Brenda Koger and Cathy Stephens
February Liturgists:
2-7: Kim Frink; 2-14, 21, 28: Harold Tornquist
February Scripture Readers:
2-7 Brenda Koger, 2-14 Harold Tornquist, 2-21 Cathy Stephens, 2-28 Harold Tornquist
Barb Farmer will hold a Blood Pressure Clinic at the church starting at 10:15 a.m on Valentine's Day Feb 14th, 2010 in honor of American Heart Month. Be sure and come for a BP check and special treats!
United Methodist Women (U.M.W.)
Blizzard conditions made it necessary to cancel the regular U.M.W. meeting January 7th. The following Monday afternoon, the executive board met in Chairman Sharon Chickering’s home to plan the U.M.W. program for 2010. The World Day of Prayer service will be hosted by the Methodist Church on Friday March 5th at 9:30 A.M. Pastor Sarah Malone will be giving the program for the annual May Morning Breakfast on May 6th at 9:30 a.m.
A funeral luncheon was served for the family of Beatrice Anderson Saturday January 16th. Mrs. Anderson is Janice Freicks mother.
The next meeting will be 10 p.m. Thursday February 4th in the church. Bonnie Mansfield will present a program on Community Outreach. Mary Anna Hunt and Lola Hasselquist will be hostesses.
All women of the church are welcome to attend any meetings.
Upcoming Events
February 13th: Joint training for Disciples 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
February 14th: Laity Summit @ Griswold, 2:30 –5:00 p.m.
Febraury 14th: Blood Pressure Clinic at the church
February 17th Joint Ash Wednesday service @ 7:00 p.m. @ the Strahan church
February 26th: Habitat for Humanity meeting at the Community Building at 7:00 p.m.. Guest speaker will be Marilyn Hoskins.
March 10th @ 7:30 p.m. SPRC meeting
March 21: Joint Confirmation @ Malvern church during 11:00 service
April 1st: Munday Thursday play at the Methodist Church at 7:00 p.m.
April 2nd: Good Friday joint service with the Baptist and Strahan churches held at the Malvern Methodist Church at 7:00 p.m.
Opportunities to Serve
Please let Pastor Carl know if you are willing to fill the following positions as Judy is moving to Colorado April 2nd.
Newsletter; website, blog and face book updates; send emails; prayer shawls; SOS (support our soldiers); tape the Sunday service;
Hoarding What You Have
Wendy Pope

"I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back." Matthew 25:25 (NLT)

Devotion:
Reality shows are the craze today. You can watch children with problems set on the straight and narrow by The World's Strictest Parents. If you are not happy with your spouse, you can Wife Swap for another spouse while millions watch. The world is also even now invited into the private moments of drug and alcohol interventions.

One of the newest reality shows to hit the airwaves is called Hoarders. People on this show have made a lifestyle out of holding on to what they have. In Hoarders, individuals come face to face with the reality of their problem through intervention and encouragement to clear out their stuff.

Our key verse comes from a story of three servants who were entrusted by their master with his money while he was away. The first two servants pleased their master by multiplying or showing growth of what they had been given. The third servant disappointed his master. He had hidden the money, keeping it safe but also keeping it from earning interest. In other words, he hoarded what his master had given him. Why did he hoard what he had been given?

Scripture gives us the answer. The servant was afraid. He was so consumed by his fear that he did nothing. He was afraid of messing up. He was paralyzed by the thought of doing something wrong or reflecting poorly on his master. In fear, he hid the money and then gave it back.

As I pondered the events of this story my mind drew a picture, a picture I did not like. In the picture I was bowing before my holy Lord, giving back exactly what He entrusted to me, nothing more. I questioned, Am I responding to my Master as this servant responded to his master? Have I fully used or am I fully using, even developing, the gifts and talents He has entrusted to me? Am I hiding what He gave me in fear of messing up?

What about you? How would you answer these questions? It is easy to think we are not good enough or that we are undeserving of God's gifts. Our negative thoughts take us captive, leading us to believe we would reflect poorly upon our Lord if we dared to multiply and grow what He has given us. Today's devotion is our intervention. Now is the time to clear out what we've been hoarding or hiding. Praise God our intervention is not dramatized in front of millions of people. We stand before an audience of One - the only One who matters.

Dear Lord, I apologize for hiding and hoarding anything that You have given me. Help me be a good steward of everything You entrust to me. I want to be used to grow Your Kingdom. Supply the confidence I need to clean out my hiding places. In Jesus' Name, Amen.





Malvern United Methodist Church
201 E. 5th Malvern, IA 51551




















February Birthdays


Feb. 1st Gary McKinney
Feb. 2nd Roger Johnson
Feb. 3rd Audrey Smeester, Amanda Jensen
Feb. 4th Mike Chauvin
Feb. 5th Angie Doty, Gayleen Babcock
Feb. 6th Rebecca Kim
Feb. 7th Maxine Dickersbach, Jessika Lynn
Feb. 8th Darren Obrecht
Feb. 9th Heijeong Kim , Brooke Sell, Shelby Sommerla
Feb. 10th Janella Stephens
Feb. 12th Zach Hall
Feb. 13th Bev Dashner , Gary Hustak
Feb. 14th Lisa Powles, Joann Poort, Bob Lewis
Feb. 15th Bob Thaller
Feb. 20th Larry Williams




































Feb. 21st Jill Ford, Randi West, Brooke Chickering
Feb. 23rd Lyndsi Roenfeld
Feb. 24th Clay Chickering, Bob Baer
Feb. 25th Roger Salyers
Feb. 26th Marsha Jackson, Brenda Scott, Adam Obrecht
Feb. 27th Jessica McCain, Kurt Powles
Anniversaries
Feb. 9th Roger & Lavina Johnson
Feb. 11th Allan & Marilyn Burdic