1. OAKLAND UNITED METHODIST NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
CHURCH U.S. POSTAGE PAID
200 North Main
PO Box 606 OAKLAND,
Oakland, IA 51560 IOWA
Phone: 712-482-5530
Parsonage ph. 712-482-5539 PERMIT NO. 5
E-mail: oaklandumc@frontiernet.net
www.oaklandiaumc.org
Address Service Requested «Mailing label»
«Address1» Vol. 18, No. 7 July 2010 A Newsletter to Inspire and Celebrate Oakland United Methodists
«Address2»
«City State» «Zip code»
Baptism of Maverrick
Kalb, June 13, 2010
Pictured are sponsor
"We invite all persons to be a part of our Community of Faith by participating in worship, education, fellowship and Christian service." Ronny Waggoner and
Maverrick s mother
Nicholle. Rev. Textor
Disciple Express and Maverrick.
Maverrick s parents are
Jesse and Nicholle Kalb,
July Calendar of Events (Jesse was to the left of
Rev. Textor.)
Sunday, July 4 -10:30 a.m. Worship in the park w/communion
Sunday, July 11 -9:00 a.m. Sunday school for all ages
-10:00 a.m. Worship w/communion
-11:00 a.m. Koinonia
Thursday, July 15 7:00 p.m. Administrative Board meeting
Sunday, July 18 -9:00 a.m. Sunday school for all ages
-10:00 a.m. Worship
-11:00 a.m. Koinonia
See inside for
Friday July 23 -5:00 p.m. Wedding rehearsal pictures of
Vacation Bible
Saturday July 24 -4:00 p.m. Palmer Hamilton wedding School
Sunday, July 25 -9:00 a.m. Sunday school for all ages
-10:00 a.m. Worship
-11:00 a.m. Koinonia

2. Disciple Express Disciple Express
MOM'S EMPTY CHAIR It's not spooky because he promised,
A woman's daughter had asked the local 'I will be with you always'.
minister to come and pray with her mother. 'Then just speak to him in the same way
When the minister arrived, he found the you're doing with me right now.'
woman lying in bed with her head 'So, I tried it and I've liked it so much
propped up on two pillows. that I do it a couple of hours every day.
I'm careful though. If my daughter saw me
An empty chair sat beside her bed. talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a
The minister assumed that the woman nervous breakdown or send me off to the
had been informed of his visit. funny farm.'
'I guess you were expecting me, he said.
The minister was deeply moved by the story
'No, who are you?' said the mother. and encouraged the old woman to continue on
The minister told her his name and then the journey. Then he prayed with her,
remarked, 'I saw the empty chair and I anointed her with oil, and returned to the
figured you knew I was going to show up..' church.
Two nights later the daughter called
'Oh yeah, the chair,' said the bedridden to tell the minister that her mama
woman. had died that afternoon.
'Would you mind closing the door?' Did she die in peace?' he asked.
Puzzled, the minister shut the door. Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock,
'I have never told anyone this, she called me over to her bedside,
not even my daughter,' said the woman. told me she loved me and kissed me on the
'But all of my life I have never cheek. When I got back from the store an
known how to pray. At church I used to hear hour later, I found her . But there was
the pastor talk about prayer, but it went right something strange about her death
over my head.' Apparently, just before Mom died,
she leaned over and rested her head on the
I abandoned any attempt at prayer,' chair beside the bed. What do you make of
the old woman continued, ' that?' The minister wiped a tear from his eye
until one day four years ago, my best friend and said, 'I wish we could all go like that.'
said to me,
' Prayer is just a simple matter I asked God for water, He gave me an ocean.*
of having a conversation with Jesus I asked God for a flower, He gave me a garden*
Here is what I suggest. I asked God for a friend, He gave me all of
'Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in YOU...
front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the If God brings you to it, He will bring you
chair. through it.

3. Disciple Express Disciple Express
Greetings from the Dir. Of Recovery! Brief news summary of the 2010 conclude the day.
Flood recovery in Eastern Iowa is still going strong. I annual conference session Members of the 2010 Iowa Annual Conference
have heard reports from various sources that there is a
Radical Hospitality: Offering God s Love was the session supported a resolution calling for continuing
rumor going around that flood recovery of closing down intercessory prayer for comprehensive immigration
theme of the 167th yearly gathering of the Iowa
NO WAY! We are still going strong in Oakville and reform that is fair and just. The substitute
Annual Conference. Former Bishop Rueben Job,
with Block by Block in Cedar Rapids. At Annual statement recognized that God calls for love and
Bishop Arthur Kulah of the Nigeria area and Rev.
Conference I reported that Oakville has brought back 177
Doug Ruffle, director of the Office of Congregational justice for everyone.
residents with a goal of bringing back 300 that s
Development of the Greater New Jersey Conference Four special offerings raised more than $26,000. The
inspiring. They have a vision to rehab 25 homes in
were guest preachers and speakers. The Conference, approved 2011 budget is nearly two percent lower
5 years. For volunteer information, contact Tanya than the 2010 budget. Only one health care option, a
which was live streamed in its entirety, was an
Lantz at 319-759-7685. In Cedar Rapids Block by Block high-deductible plan, will be offered in 2011,
experience of worshipful work from beginning to
is still working hard to rehab flood affected homes. We
end. Meeting from June 5-8, the Conference returned significantly lowering the initially proposed 23
currently have 19 blocks signed on which amounts to 253
to Des Moines for the first time in over 20 years, Hy- percent increase from Wellmark.
homes and approximately 85 are currently being worked
Vee Hall of the Iowa Events Center was dedicated to
on. We don t plan on closing down any time soon if at
service by Resident Bishop Julius Calvin Trimble as Membership stands at 184,376, a 1.6 percent decrease
all and volunteers are STILL NEEDED!! Our greatest
he prayed, Dear friends, rejoice that God, who moves from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at
need for Block by Block currently, is semi-skilled or 60, 715, a 2 percent decrease. Some 413
hearts and transforms lives, moves us here and will
skilled volunteers in the fall. Registration for
continue to transform lives as we gather here as we congregations received persons on profession of
volunteering can be found at www.stormrecovery.org or faith. 561 congregations paid apportionments at 100
begin, let us now consecrate it for service and
blockbyblockcr.org percent and an additional 51 paid at least 80
celebrate its holy use.
percent. 515 congregations conducted a total of 2,482
We have 100 s of volunteers coming this summer and we The Service for the Ordering of Ministry celebrated baptisms. (For more pictures and articles go to
will keep moving forward in the recovery process. This is 42 elders, deacon and course of study graduates. Six iaumc.org.)
going be EXPLOSIVE year for flood recovery-come and persons who completed the Course of Study, sixteen Partial Shot of
be a part of it! were commissioned for the work of an elder, one was the Worship
Becky Wood ordained deacon, and fifteen were ordained as area at Hy-Vee
elders. Bishop Arthur Kulah challenged those waiting Hall.
Director of Recovery and Volunteer Coordinator to be commissioned and ordained to Invite Jesus into
your church. Invite Jesus to come in to your
Oil spill touches Louisiana churches sermon. Your head and heart will be open and you
will receive new ideas.
The Rev. Kirby Verret is working all sides of the Gulf
Coast oil spill disaster that threatens both his small The Iowa Annual Conference has a tradition of seeing
Louisiana church and his community. He is trying to tend the work of and hearing from a conference artist. Rev.
to his 178-member Native American United Methodist Ted Lyddon Hatten said, in his remarks, Let s quiet
congregation at Clanton Chapel in Dulac, offering the confusion, disarm the mistrust, honor our
support to families and people who fish for a living. And differences, and deepen our experience of the
he is negotiating with British Petroleum, which wants Divine. The Memorial Service, held Sunday
access to the large, centralized sewer system built after afternoon, remembered 20 clergy and 24 clergy
Hurricane Juan in 1985 on the church s property and spouses who died during the past year. Retired Bishop
space to house cleanup teams on church grounds. r Rueben Job spoke to the Conference during a
presentation of the Garrett Evangelical Seminary,
which is establishing a chair in spiritual disciplines in
A shot of the stage during setup.
Bishop Job s honor. Dr. Ken Sloane shared the new
rock the church energies of Rethink Church to

4. Disciple Express Disciple Express
NURSERY
JULY BIRTHDAYS
VOLUNTEERS 1 Chris Whitehill
2 Carol Kroft
July 4 Kristy Rieken 4 Dawn Samson
Scott Harris
11 Lisa Pierson
5 Todd Bentley
18 Gloria Gleaves Dallas Bane
6 Collin Sowers
25 Carol Wilson
7 Eileen Haines
Lisa Rollins
Liz McMahon
USHERS, NURSING HOMES - Remember those in the
9 Veva Larson
Bo Reed
GREETERS, nursing homes with cards and visits.
10 Kim Bane Schwarte
Oakland Manor: Mary Applegate, Janis Hannah Hummel
CANDLELIGHTERS Dobernecker, Margaret Alff, Dorothy Forristall 12 Shirley Frizzell
Oakland Heights: Eileen Haines, Lucille Bentley Danene Hildebrand
July 11: Mitch and Penny Anderson Griswold Nursing Home: Merle Davis 14 Pam Ehmke
Mike and Kristy Bane Primrose: Lois Allen 15 Wayne Bryant
Dakota Feigenbutz
Candlelighter: Dallas Bane
17 Roger Schnack
July l8: ReAnn Hildebrand Keagan Allensworth
19 Dana Harris
Claire Palmer Kathi Sharp
Mary Waggoner Brogan Allensworth
$2500
20 Merv Larimore
Barb Schorsch
21 Jared Schwarte
Candlelighters: Conner Rankin & Anna Hildebrand 22 Collin Applegate
Andrew Krueger
July 25: Dave and Sheila Applegate
23 Walt Keast
Paul and Debbie Rollins PROJECTION 25 Kyle Hackett
26 Erin Pierson
Candlelighters: Kyra Martens & Sarah Jones
SYSTEM Justus Brammer
KOINONIA (No more phone call reminders) The projection system has been ordered but we still
27 Landen Pedersen
29 Joyce Shiffer
July 11 Pam Ehmke lack $2500. paying for it. If you would like to Jonathon Schwarte
help, please put your donation in the offering plate
July 18 volunteer needed 30 Jacob Miller
with a note saying projection system or 31 Joyce Henry
July 25 volunteer needed mail it to the church. Daryl Henningsen
Aug 1 volunteer needed Sara Haines
Christen Nolte
Aug 8 volunteer needed
If you are able to furnish Koinonia on any of the
above 4 Sundays please contact Jean Blackburn.

5. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Disciple Express
FOR PASTORAL CARE GREAT BIG
When you or a family member is hospitalized or face
a crisis which pastoral care is needed, please
communicate that need directly to Rev. Textor
weekday mornings at the church (482-5530) or direct MY APOLOGY TO RYAN! THANK YOU!!!
your call to her home phone (482-5539). If she is not In the senior picture last month I named Ryan Thank you to all the wonderful help during
available to her home phone, please leave your Henderson that should have been Ryan Vacation Bible School. My apologies if
message on her answering machine. Hildebrand. Sorry for the error. your name has been omitted, but there were so many helpers. The
event was very successful. We had 51 attendees to the week long
activities. Also thank you to all who contributed financially or by
If you need the prayer chain started on the weekend or
on Monday when the office is closed, please call Rev.
THANK YOU!!!! furnishing food. . And thank Pastor Earlin and the Christian
Church for co-sponsoring. Without all of you we could not bring the love of God to so many.
Textor at 482-5539. I would like to thank the committee for giving
me the scholarship for $250.00. This money will
be used to help pay for some of my college Decorations & Set-up Sharon Jones
expenses. I appreciate the support that the Discovery Leader Merlin Jones
OFFICE HOURS Oakland United Methodist church has provided
Pam Ehmke
Recreation Leader Sean Ehmke
Our secretary, Sheryl Sindt, is in the church office me. Kristy & Marty Rieken
from 9:00 a.m. to noon Tuesday through Friday. Rev. Again thank you. Dinner Coordinator Mischa Martens
Dave & Shelia Applegate
Textor will be in her study from 10:00 a.m. to noon Ashley Way Dinner Helpers Lynelle Jeppesen
Tuesday through Friday. Rev. Textor can also be Mark & Mischa Martens
reached on her home phone (482-5539). ORGANISTS NEEDED Suzanne Johnk
Lindsey Henderson
The church building and office are closed on Emerson UMC is looking for an organist for one Registration Leigh Bell Gloria Gleaves
Mondays. Sunday a month permanently. If interested,
Kristy Bane Leigh Bell
Office phone 712-482-5530 please contact Sue Newsome at 712-824-7295.
Church e-mail address oaklandumc@frontiernet.net Mark Jeppesen Frances Rollins
Church address 200 N. Main, Oakland, IA 51560. Debbie Kester
The Atlantic, First UMC is looking for an Suzanne Johnk
Church web page www.oaklandiaumc.org
Organist/Pianist for the month of August. If Directors Kristy Rieken Nursery Leader Cyndy Haines
you, or anyone you know, is interested, please
contact Mary Ward at 712-249-1530. Pam Ehmke Nursery Assistant Cory Reichart
Bible Story Tellers Rev. Shirley Textor Cadet Leaders Hayden Haines
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God. CONGRATULATIONS Marty Rieken Lisa Pierson
Quiet moments, worship God OAKLAND UNITED Loree Hamilton Barb Schorsch
Painful moments, trust God METHODIST CHURCH!!!! Bible Story Helpers Sarah Jones Sheila Applegate
Every moment, thank God. Your contribution to the Bishop s challenge, F I Andrew Jones Dick & Louise Merkle
T, in the amount of $126.25 put together with the Craft Leader Rev. Earlin Shanno Suzanne Johnk
rest of the Southwest District was taken to Annual
Conference last month. During the session Craft Assistants Norma Bolton Kyra Martens
various District Superintendents stood and Lisa Rollins Holly Hinkhouse
is July 22 proudly announced their contributions of $1,000 Music Leader Robin Jefferson / Laura Cathey Grosvenor
to $2,000. Then our DS Brian Milford stood and Moore
9:00 A.M. announced over $4,000 was taken in by our
Music Assistant Sharon Jones Marsha Beedle
district. He was very proud and pleased.

6. Disciple Express Disciple Express
Administrative Board Meeting in the newsletter to see if someone would take it for (Ad Board minutes cont d) 4TH OF JULY WORSHIP IN THE PARK
the hauling away.
May 20, 2010 New Business: The Riverside Church Association is
Rev. Textor reported that the youth group took sponsoring a 4th of July worship in the
Present: Rev. Shirley Textor, Bernie Bolton, Norma District Conference: Rev. Textor attended
pictures at their end of the year meeting and at the
Bolton, Jean Blackburn, Barb Schorsch, Dick Merkle, District Conference and enjoyed the reports of the park. Service will be at 10:30 a.m. in
Senior Breakfast. Some of these pictures will appear
Dave Applegate, Skip Applegate, Marty Reiken and other churches. A camp witness spoke about her the gazebo. There is limited seating at
in the newsletter. positive experiences at church summer camp. The picnic tables so some may want to bring
Peggy Bentley.
Calendar: District Committees were decided and the District lawn chairs.
In Need of Prayer: A lengthy list of prayers for
Volunteer asking will be $4.00 per member being Communion will be offered and color coded envelops
health concerns was named. Rev. Textor opened the 5/23 Sunday School Recognition
divided by $2.50 for Carter Lake United will be provided for the different church collections.
meeting with special prayers for all named. 5/30 Offering for Bishop s Fit Offering Methodist Church, $1.00 for Hispanic Ministry
Secretary s Report: The April meeting minutes were and .50¢ for Emerging Ministries. David
presented. Norma motioned to approve the minutes
6/5-8 Annual conference in Des Moines
Weesner from Salem Methodist Church is 4TH OF JULY PARADE FLOAT
and Skip seconded the motion. The minutes were 6/6 Summer Sunday School begins at 9:00 becoming a District Superintendent and Rev The Sunday school is sponsoring the Methodist
approved as read. 6/7-11 Vacation Bible School Textor requested prayers for Salem as they Church float for the 4th of July parade. Anyone
Treasurer s Report: Dick answered questions about welcome a new Pastor and make the adjustments wanting to help please contact Pam Ehmke. The
6/17 June Administrative Board Meeting that come with new leadership.
the Treasurer s report. There have been a few parade begins at 5:00 p.m. Come join the fun.
parsonage maintenance items that has put that account Missions Committee: $177 was collected for Women Annual Conference: Annual Conference will
at the Well.
over budget. Apportionments are paid through March. be held in Des Moines on June 5th-8th. The Calling all Iowa State Fair Fans!
Barb motioned to accept the report. Dave seconded Education Committee: Marty reported for Kristy Bishops FIT Offering will be collected on the last
the motion and the report was approved. that Summer Sunday School will begin on June 6th and Sunday in May and sent to conference with Rev. Non-Stop Fun! August 12-22, 2010
Finance Committee: Barb reported that Marty and it will be held at 9:00 before church. Bible School will Textor. Pension & Health Care costs will be a The Iowa State Fair will be here before we know it
Skip had taken on the challenge of the Service portion be on June 7-11 and the committee is looking for topic of discussion at convention. and once again the Iowa United Methodist Church will
of our Commitment Drive. Marty spoke about the volunteers to help with both projects. With no other business to be discussed, Barb have a presence in the air-conditioned Varied
form that will be updated listing all of the options Memorial Committee: It was reported that the UMW motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:05 p.m. Industries Building.
available to members to serve the church. This form has sent money for a bench to be placed in our Bernie closed the meeting with prayer. We need volunteers to staff the booth from 9am to
will be sent in the newsletter and available at church. Memory Garden in memory of Mildred Dobbs. 9pm on a daily basis, and have divided those 12 hours
Respectfully Submitted,
Commitment Sunday will be June 13, 2010. into three 4-hour shifts, with a need for 4 people to
Old Business: Peggy Bentley
Trustees: Dave updated the Board on the projects work in the booth for each shift. Groups we love
Scholarship Committee: Peggy Bentley you! Can you send 12 people for the day and take
that the church Trustees are involved in at this time. Recording Secretary
reported that she had met with Barb and the turns volunteering?
Bids are being obtained for a new kitchen floor. The
scholarships that were awarded went to Chelsey
furnace/air conditioner repair was made by Shift times are:
Grobe, Wesley Henry, Chad Obrecht and Ashley Way.
Schechingers. The projector cabinet is almost
The Don Knudsen Scholarship was awarded to 2 9 am 1 pm
complete and the wiring for the projector is ready to be
seniors who later changed their college destination, so AIR CONDITIONER REPLACED
shipped to Dave for installation. Bernie reported that 1 pm - 5 pm
at this time no award will be made. The air conditioner in the adult lounge area has
the organ is not functioning properly and needs to be
repaired. Summer Koinonia was discussed. Jesse has quit working and is beyond repair. Bids were 5 pm 9 pm
asked to take the summer off from finding volunteers taken and the new unit will hopefully be installed In return for your time volunteering, we will provide
Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee: No report soon. If you would like to contribute to the
to serve koinonia each Sunday. Jean volunteered to do free admission into the Iowa State Fair for the day you
from chair. Rev. Textor reported that the committee is expense of the new unit please make your check
the calling for the summer months. After discussion, work.
working on a church-wide birthday party. out with notation to new air conditioner .
it was decided to keep it after church as always.
Pastor s Report: Rev. Textor asked that an old piano If you are interested in volunteering, please contact
The care of the Memorial Garden was discussed. Darci Hartman at darci.hartman@iaumc.org and
be removed from the storage room and disposed of.
Several people would be willing to volunteer to help provide the information requested.
The Board decided to first ask the congregation if
with a work day. Norma will contact Tami Skank to
anyone had use of the old piano. It will be published
see if we can coordinate something with her.(cont d)