Trinity UMC Trinity United Methodist Church

838 North 25th Street

Fort Dodge, IA 50501

515-573-3519

www.trinityumcfd.org

facebook.com/trinityumcfortdodge

December 2016

To make disciples

of Jesus Christ

for the

transformation

of the world.

A huge “Thank You” to everyone who

contributed items and/or worked at the Fall

Rummage/Bake Sale. A special “Thank You’

to Jean Warg who took care of our

advertising. The Rummage Sale netted $1,037

which will go to the Renovation Fund. The

UMW Bake Sale brought in $464.

Memorializing our friends that have served

our Lord with us at Trinity UMC over the

years has been a significant action to many on

Memorial Sunday each year. Sometimes,

during Holy Communion when that takes

place we hear the words “..with Your

people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise Your

name and join their unending hymn.” Those from among us that have

joined the “company of heaven” include Ruth Ann Hazelbaker, Rev. Bob Marin,

Carol Husske, Elizabeth Millang, Ardetta Carlock and Harlan Ross.

We enjoyed their friendship and we, and others, were blessed by their

faithfulness and service. May God give us the grace to follow in their

example.

If you would like your giving to be counted towards 2016, it needs to be postmarked by December 31st or brought in to the office by 3:00 pm on Friday, December 30th. Saturday

worship service giving WILL count towards 2016. If you have any questions, please call the office at 515-573-3519.

Year to Date Previous YTD

10/31/2016 10/31/2015

Planned receipts - General fund 215,461.12$ 230,208.53$

Total Planned Expenses 222,517.97$ 245,871.07$

(7,056.85)$ (15,662.54)$

Bills not yet paid:

2015 Apportionments 26,061.00$

2016 Apportionments 40,838.00$

TOTAL UNPAID: 66,899.00$

Sanctuary renovation loan balance: 153,095.57$

Sanctuary long term loan payment: 1,427.86$ per month

(Maturity on loan June 5, 2029)

Loan payments are made from the Building and Maintenance Fund income

** The are other non-planned income and expenses such as memorial money and various other giving's

that have special purpose needs and expenses.

FINANCE UPDATE

DIRECTED TO THE OFFICE TO BE FORARDED TO THE FINANCE CHAIR.

A COPY MADE FROM THE CHURCH OFFICE. PLEASE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS

A COMPLETE COPY OF THE MONTHLY FINANCIALS CAN BE REVIEWED OR HAVE

Please Join Us! You are invited to the annual U.M.W. Christmas

brunch on Saturday, December 10th at 9:30 am in the

Fellowship Hall.

Bring a small

breakfast/brunch dish to share.

Special Mission Recognition

pins will be presented, Officers

for 2017 will be installed and a

program on “Christmas

Remembered’’ will be presented.

Gene Joseph Boland

Terry & Sue Ellis

Gladys Long

Ilene Smith

Rowena Bastian

Nick Montgomery

Shane Corey

Lloyd Corey

George & Jean Montgomery

Craig Hatlestad

Rachel Bell

Pastor John Hembry

Carol Corey

Joe Lennon

Craig Kristensen

Doris Ross

Harold Jones

We are currently updating our prayer requests. Please let us know if there is anyone you would like added. Thank you and have a blessed month!

Service Men & Women

TUMC College Students

Give a call

Show you care!

I am intrigued by the account of Jesus’ birth as told by Luke. Over the centuries a great deal of tradition has developed over what Luke both tells us and doesn’t tell us about the night that has become sacred for us. In particular, what Luke tells us in only a passing reference: “Mary was engaged to Joseph and traveled with him to Bethlehem. She was soon going to

have a baby, and while they were there, she gave birth to her first-born son. She dressed him in baby clothes and laid him on a bed of hay, because there was no room for them in the inn.” [Luke chapter 2, Good News for Today’s Family] We are to infer from Luke’s skimpy details that no room was left in the Inn proper and that the innkeeper sent Joseph and Mary to the Inn’s stable for shelter from prying eyes. [Eyes that probably had no respect for a vulnerable couple.] Inn’s were not individual rooms for rent but one large open room. Giving birth, especially for the first time, demands privacy! Cows, donkeys and chickens would pay little attention to the birth of a human. Animals give little heed to their own giving birth let alone humans. While Luke places no value on the Innkeepers morals, Luke infers the Innkeeper 1] either directed Mary and Joseph to the stable out of compassion or2] did not stand in the way as the weary couple left the over-crowded Inn and made their way to the welcoming shelter of the stable. While some interpret Luke’s words to suggest the Innkeeper was insensitive to couple, and perhaps downright evil for turning a pregnant woman about to give birth away, I like to think of the Innkeeper as being hospitable and offering the couple about to be a family, the best the Innkeeper had: clean hay, water and privacy! In our imagination we can dream of giving up our best accommodations for Mary and Joseph and the soon to be born Savior of the World. But it is not ours to give except in our fantasies. The Innkeepers action was a once in a life time opportunity. So we would do well and learn from Luke’s nameless Innkeeper’s actions and simply pledge to do our best in every human situation that confronts us. We can offer each person we met hospitality and grace. And then it will be a “Merry Christmas!” And just perhaps Charles Dickens’ character, Tiny Tim’s observation will be come true: “God bless us all!!!”

- Pastor Ron

LIFE & LEGACY OF J. PHILIP WOGAMAN

Let me tell you about a person with whose ideas I have resonated for decades. His name is

Dr. J. Philip Wogaman. I did not meet him many times, but he was a close friend and former

pupil of one of my mentors, Dr. Walter G. Muelder. For nearly thirty years (1966-1992), he

was a professor of Christian Ethics at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., where

he also served as dean from 1972 to 1983. He left the school in 1992 to become the senior

pastor of Foundry United Methodist Church there in the nation’s capital.

Two of his most famous parishioners were Sen. Robert Dole and Pres. Bill Clinton. As a

matter of fact, while Clinton was facing many challenges during his two-term administration,

Wogaman was one of his major counselors. Wogaman was ordained in the United Methodist

Church in 1957, after completing his master of divinity degree at Boston University that year.

Subsequently, he earned his Ph.D. in 1960 at B.U. Wogaman was a delegate to the UMC

General Conference four times! During his retirement years, he has kept busy—serving as

interim president at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado, and as the senior pastor on

an interim basis at St. Luke UMC in Omaha, Nebraska. He is an emeritus professor at Wesley

Seminary.

Most importantly, for me, is his writing endeavors. He has penned books on economic

justice, making good moral decisions, political ethics, and issues of war and peace. Recently, he

has written on being a pastor, a book that introduces Christian ethics, and some of the lessons

Christians can learn from other religions. What is noteworthy about Wogaman’s publications

is that they are clear, easy to understand, and helpful in elucidating fine differences of

perspectives—primarily those that are in tension with each other. One can just imagine his

calm presence as he explains his viewpoints as well as positions contrary to his own.

One subject upon which Wogaman and I disagree is that of resolving international conflict.

Although he is an advocate of nonviolence, generally speaking, he believes there are times

when war is necessarily the last resort. Consequently, he is a supporter of the just war

theory. We have had several discussions about pacifism—the opposition to making war—

which is a stance supporting the mentor we have in common, namely, Muelder. And that is

where his ability to make fine lines of distinction and his graciousness shone immensely.

I happened to write my doctoral dissertation on pacifism in Muelder’s social ethics.

Happily, the text was selected to be published in a distinguished dissertation series! In the

process of publication, I had to identify scholars who would substantiate

my work. Guess who came forward? Yes, Wogaman did! In his remarks,

he demonstrated how he has pacifist tendencies but has decided on using

the criteria of the just war theory. In my thesis, I was forced to criticize

my mentor, even though I largely shared Muelder’s point of view.

Wogaman indicated that he appreciated my wrestling with the subject

matter of addressing and redressing international conflicts.

There are a number of people with whom I share common ground,

and I have often adopted aspects of their thinking. Wogaman is one of

those individuals. His intelligence, his demeanor, and his strong inclination

towards justice and truth are, to me, simply unimpeachable!

- Dr. B.

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