Sampler of Spirited Living Feeling moved to “do something”? Join this six-week series and try out seven lifestyle practices. Led by Judy Fitzgibbons, starting January 15th and 16th. Registration begins December 29th. Call the office, sign up on Sundays at a Connection Center or email or text Judy at judy@fitzgib.net.

Winter Retreat for Confirmation (7th & 8th Grade) Join us as we travel to Camp Courageous in Monticello for our winter retreat on January 17-19. In this retreat we will encounter the commandments and the example of Jesus, recognize the need for trust and for action in response to Christ’s call, and strengthen our relationship with Jesus. We will be Challenged to Walk the Talk. 

2020 Morning Meeting - January 18, 2020; 8:45-11:45 am, Wesley Center If you are serving on any of our committees or teams please be sure to mark your calendar for this event. This is also open to all members of St. Paul’s. It’s a good way to start the new calendar year! Learn about a Unified Board concept; Learn about L3 : Loving, Learning, and Leading; Hear updates for 2020. RSVP to Church Office (office@stpaulsumc.org) or 319.363.2058 

Join an artist talk on Sunday, January 19 at 10:30 am. Helen Hunter is a ‘late blooming’ artist. She wished she could paint watercolors, but with no formal training how could that happen? That wish became reality though when she read in an artist book that “you can LEARN to paint.” Helen is a member and past president of Creative Artists, a member of Iowa Artists and the Iowa Watercolor Society. Prior to learning to paint, Helen authored three books and published numerous articles and stories in magazines & newspapers.

Join us for an afternoon at the movies! Gather your family and friends and join us on Sunday, January 19th at 3:00 pm at Marcus Theaters (5340 Council Street NE, Cedar Rapids). We will watch A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Be sure to register and pick up your ticket in the church office (office@stpaulsumc.org). The theater has 114 seats! Donations for movie tickets are welcome; suggested donation $8.

Attention Cookie Makers! We are looking for cookie donations for our Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. evening celebration. If you would like to make a dozen cookies (or more), please let Pastor Jonathan know (jheifner@stpaulsumc.org). We would need cookies in the office Sunday, January 19th.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, January 20 Join us Monday, January 20th for our Martin Luther King Jr. activities. Free meal at 5:30 pm, service at 6:30 pm. This year’s theme will be “Voices from Our Beloved Community: Call and Response.”

Let’s Practice Prayer! Start your year with peace and presence. When you think of prayer, it isn’t just sitting silently in a room by yourself on your knees. There are lots of ways to pray, even for those of us who don’t sit still well!  Join others as we practice and explore mandala, sensory, kinesthetic, meditative prayers and more. Two sessions are Wednesdays 6:00-7:00 pm, January 22 to February 19 or Sundays 10:20-11:20 am, January 26-February 23 in Room 319 (Adult Resource Room). Contact Nancy AntonJensen (nantonjensen@gmail.com) or the office for information.

Intergenerational Mission trip Informational Meeting (Incoming 9th graders-adult) This summer those who will have recently completed 8th grade through adults will have an opportunity to join St. Paul’s on a mission trip to Missions, SD to work with Tree of Life Missions, July 19th-25th. We will be holding two opportunities to learn more about this mission trip, with no expectation to decide at these meeting to go on the trip. Come learn more and ask some questions. January 22nd at 7:30 pm and February 9th at 11:30am in the Youth Room (Rm 110). Tree of Life Ministry is a part of the working hands and feet of God to the Lakota Nation residing on the Rosebud Reservation, serving body, mind, and soul. We feed, cloth, shelter, and love. We demonstrate His love, power, and grace to a broken, hurting society. More information can be found at: https://www.treeofliferelief.org/

Experience The wonder of Narnia with Club 56 (5th & 6th Graders) Come join us on January 25 from 1:00-8:00 pm in Narnia (A.K.A. St. Paul’s UMC). With creativity and friendship, we’ll explore this magical story that will take us on a physical and spiritual journey from exile to the land of Narnia. We will learn about the person God wants us to be. Sign up online: https://forms.gle/LgGL76sbXfRsVShS8 or by contacting Becca Nims (rnims@stpaulsumc.org)
 

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Mister Rogers’ cultural impact remains lasting and relevant. Built around the idea that all people deserve love, respect, and to be heard, we’ll explore these values for ourselves through a 5-week series, and study groups for all ages. How can we create our own beautiful day in our neighborhood?
Sermon Series:
    •    January 26:  Feelings Are Okay
        > Anger, pain, and Other Emotions
    •    February 2: Prodigal
        > Conflict, reconciliation, and Prodigal Behavior
    •    February 9: Anything Mentionable is Manageable
        > Speaking about the unspeakable
    •    February 16: Forgiveness and Reconciliation
        > Holding On and Letting Go
    •    February 23: Practice, Practice, Practice
        > Patterns of Living and Spiritual Practices

Mid-High Mission Trip Informational Meeting January 26th at 11:30 am in the confirmation room. Come learn about our mid-high summer mission opportunity for 6th-8th grade students to Minneapolis, Minnesota through Urban Immersions July 14th-17th. On this trip you will have the opportunity to do a combination of: service projects and educational activities centered around discussion, simulation, and experience. Participants engage in narratives of poverty and privilege throughout the Twin Cities Metro. Participants develop skills and are given the tools to become agents of change in their own communities. More information can be found at https://www.uisr-mn.org/about-uisr No expectation to sign up at this meeting. Come learn more about the trip and ask some questions. 

Advocacy Day is a day to learn about issues and bills in the state legislature. You will have an opportunity to learn, develop talking points, and meet with your legislators to express your viewpoints. Join us Thursday, January 30th to attend the 2020 Advocacy Day with Bishop Laurie Haller at Wesley UMC-Des Moines (800 E 12th St, Des Moines) from 9:15 am-3:30 pm. Questions contact Deb Streff at debstreff@gmail.com.

7th-12th Grade Ski Trip Join 7th-12th graders from across Eastern Iowa for a fun lock-in and day of skiing, snowboarding, or tubing at Sundown Mountain Resort, January 31-February 1, 2020. Friday evening, we will gather at Grand View UMC, Dubuque for pizza, games, worship and a service project. Saturday morning we will eat breakfast and then hit the slopes. We will head home on Saturday around 3:30 pm. $35 per participant Sign up online https://forms.gle/R4r7RFB1U2mYGyjB9 or contacting Becca Nims (rnims@stpaulsumc.org).
 

BIG Game Party - February 2 All ages are welcome to join the St. Paul’s Youth Ministries for the 4th Annual “Big Game” Party from 5:00 pm - end of game in the St. Paul’s Youth Wing (Rooms 101-110) Bring a food item to share. The youth ministry will provide drinks. Invite friends to come cheer with you or play games and chat! Questions? Contact Becca Nims, Youth Ministry Director, rnims@stpaulsumc.org.

“myStPauls” MEMBER LOGIN: myStPauls is St. Paul’s United Methodist Church’s secure online member portal. Members are able to: view church directories, view their class rosters, email class members, update their personal information and photos in the church database, view church calendars, and view their giving records. The online member portal is not available to the general public. Church members must register for a login to access myStPauls. Contact the church office if you have any questions.