Cross Notes for March 19, 2021

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First Church
Cross Notes

March 19, 2021

We are happy to announce that we will resume in-person worship on
Easter Sunday, April 4^th
at 10:30 AM!

All covid protocols will still be in place so be sure to wear your mask and social distance.

We can’t wait to see you!

If you are not yet comfortable joining us in-person,
you may still watch online.

This Sunday,
March 21, 2021

In-person worship has been suspended until Easter due to Covid-19.

Be sure to join us on Facebook or YouTube to participate in live stream worship at 10:30 AM.

If you subscribe to our YouTube channel you will receive a notification when anything new is posted.

The annual Palm Sunday Observance will be held on March 28th, 3:00 PM, live streamed from Capitol Hill Lutheran Church. (No Procession due to the pandemic.) The service will invite us to raise our voices for peace, justice, and an end to racism. The keynote speaker will be The Rev. Lizzie Gillman, with scripture reading by The Reverend Zebulun Treloar. The link will be available from the Des Moines Faith Committee for Peace Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Des-Moines-Faith-Committee-for-Peace-440186426119102, or Capitol Hill Lutheran Church’s website: http://chlcdesmoines.org a few days before the service.

Easter Flowers

This year Easter is April 4^th. If you would like to donate a plant, please donate online today (March 19) at https://dmfirstchurch.org/welcome/online-giving/
under Easter (you may select type of plant online).

All plants are $12.00. You may choose from: lilies, hyacinth, daffodils or tulips. After Easter you may stop by the church and pick up your plant. Thank you for beautifying our sanctuary!

Volunteers are needed to help prepare the evening meal for the Central Iowa Shelter on Friday, April 2.

If you are able to help, please contact Shirley at shirley.christoffersen@dnr.iowa.gov or call 276-3112

COFFEE CART PRODUCTS ON SALE!

Because we haven’t been able to worship in person due to the pandemic, Coffee Cart sales have been greatly diminished. As a result, many of the products have passed the “Best By” date. So we will be offering them at a discount while they last. Here are some of the bargains: Green Tea: $2.50; Almonds: $6.50; Olive Oil: $10.00; Candy Bars (all flavors) $2.00. To take advantage of the sale, please contact Lisa Karen (OfficeManager@DMFirstChurch.org or 515-244-6209) and arrange a time when you can pick up your order at the Church. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

Want to serve but wondering how to do it in the middle of a pandemic? Do you have a lot on your plate, and want a super simple way to make a difference?

Like us on Facebook!

Interact with our posts from the comfort of your home - you can even wear your favorite jammies or sweatpants! With a simple click or tap, you can like, share, and follow First Church's content, helping to boost our online visibility and grow our church.

And for extra credit, if you have any content you would like us to share, please let us know!

Easter Offering

This year our Easter Offering will be divided between DMARC food pantry and salary support for our missionary, Chin Cho.

The pandemic has caused many people a great deal of hardship and the need for food has greatly increased. Between March and June of last year due to high unemployment, 4,687 people used the food pantry for the first time and the need continues.

Each year First Church has committed to pay $1,700 toward the salary support of a United Methodist missionary. As you know, we support Chin Cho. His work with the people of Mongolia is important and we are blessed to be able to be a part of it.

Your Easter offering can be made online at the church website or you may send a check to the church with Easter Offering in the memo line.

Thanks for your generosity.

UMCOR Sunday

When disaster strikes around the globe and responders scramble to help survivors, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is prepared to act. That is because our generous giving on UMCOR Sunday lays the foundation for UMCOR’s ministry of relief and hope. Donations UMCOR receives through this special offering, along with other undesignated gifts received throughout the year, cover their operating costs, making it possible for UMCOR to use 100% of all other contributions on projects donors specify. UMCOR does not receive any United Methodist World Service or apportionment funds so, without our offerings, UMCOR would not exist.

Through UMCOR, United Methodists extend loving care to suffering people throughout the world in Christ’s name, working with United Methodist churches and other local partners to address immediate relief and achieve sustainable recovery. As flooding, storms and wildfires impacted communities across the United States, we responded. When Indonesia went through a series of deadly disasters, we responded. When hurricanes struck Honduras and Guatemala, we responded. And when the next mass crisis occurs, we will be prepared to respond because you gave.

We are taking UMCOR offerings thru the month of March. Please give generously so that we may continue to be prepared to meet the needs of children, families and communities who have experienced devastation in the wake of disaster. Together our reach is beyond measure. You may donate online (Special Sundays, UMCOR) or send a check (with UMCOR in the memo line.)

Our Journey of Prayer

You can join us Monday-Friday at either 7:00 AM or 8:00 PM for 15 minutes of prayer. These prayer times will be held on Zoom. Hop on whenever you are available. To get the Zoom links, contact Lisa Karen at the church office. Links are also available on our website. There is a different link for the AM prayer time and the PM prayer time. We would suggest getting both links so you can join us at either time.

This 12 week time of prayer, reflection and discernment is important for our lives and for the life of the church so we hope you will make this a priority.

Click here for a full copy of the Prayer Journal.

Video of Sunday Worship and the weekly journal will be posted on Mondays on the church website.

Anti-Racism Task Force

First Church is pleased to announce the formation of an Anti-Racism Task Force. The purpose of this group is to educate members of the congregation on issues related to race. They will be providing relevant information and making available studies and other activities.

If you would like to join this task force, please contact Christine.

Mental Health Clinic

Many people are experiencing changes in their mental wellness-to-illness continuum.

If you're experiencing a mental health crisis, UnityPoint Health – Behavioral Health Urgent Care is open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 1250 East 9th Street in Des Moines. (515) 263-2632

This is a walk-in clinic for adults and/or children, staffed with professionals to determine if the feelings are a temporary situational effect or of clinical concern. Either way, they can suggest resources and/or referrals to help.

Did you know that you can now give online? Go to the church website www.dmfirstchurch.org. On the left hand side of the page you will see online giving. Click there and you will be directed to the giving page. If you would rather, please feel free to mail your weekly check to the church. The address is 1001 Pleasant St. Des Moines, IA 50309. Thank you!

Caregivers at Unity Point can use some encouragement as they prepare for what might be coming. If you would like to offer a word of encouragement, click link here:

https://www.unitypoint.org/desmoines/thank-you-caregivers.aspx

Worship ~ We Welcome Everyone

First United Methodist Church, at the top of 10^th Street in downtown Des Moines, strives to love others as Christ loves us and, in doing so, to be the Body of Christ in word and deed.

As the Body of Christ, we welcome all of God’s children, knowing that each is created in the image of God. We welcome people of all gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, races, ethnicities, family configurations, and physical and mental capabilities to join us in full participation as we come together to worship God and then go out to share God’s love in the world around us.

Check out our Website:
DMFirstChurch.org

Please "like" us on
facebook.com/dsmFirstChurch

Follow us on YouTube:
DSM First Church UMC

Click above for the most recent issue of the LIGHT.

LIGHT Articles are due by the 20th of each month.

Click here for the
church calendar!

WWW.DMFirstChurch.org

Our mailing address is:

First United Methodist Church
1001 Pleasant Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 244-6209

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Des Moines First United Methodist Church · 1001 Pleasant St · Des Moines, IA 50309-2611 · USA