July 17, 2020
The Weekly Wind
News and Updates from Polk City United Methodist Church
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THIS SUMMER WE’RE OFFERING WORSHIP IN A NEW WAY AT A NEW TIME!
As we wait for a time when it is safe to gather indoors, we are excited to offer an outdoor worship option in addition to our online worship.
 
Being able to provide both an outdoor and online worship experience gives us all the ability to worship together in spirit!
 
The in-person outdoor worship service will be held at 9:30 AM in the greenspace at Polk City UMC , at the north end of the property, and will follow  CDC  and  Iowa UMC  guidelines for safety during the pandemic.

Online worship will be live-streamed to our Facebook page at 9:30 AM at Facebook.com/polkcityumc , and then made available as a recording on our website later in the day at polkcityumc.org/online-worship
Such large crowds gathered around Jesus that he climbed into a boat and sat down. The crowd stood on the shore waiting for His teaching. And so Jesus began to teach in parables. – Matthew 13:1-3 
A good story has a way of touching our hearts. From childhood on, we love to hear them! Jesus had a way of telling stories that were able to touch hearts, teach minds and transform lives! This summer, we're turning to Jesus, the greatest storyteller of all time, to tell us stories about the Kingdom of God.

Join us for this summer worship series, July 19 - August 30, as well as a special children's story time that will be shared through all of our digital media each week!
WHAT TO EXPECT AT OUTDOOR WORSHIP
Even as we enter Yellow Light Status for cautiously gathering in-person, we encourage those who are at a higher risk for serious illness due to COVID-19, or those who do not feel comfortable gathering with others, to continue worshiping online safely from home.

Our Congregational Reentry Team asks that those who choose to worship with us in-person plan to follow our safety guidelines, which are based on the CDC Guidelines for Faith Communities and the Iowa Conference UMC Guidelines for Reentry .
RESTROOM USE DURING WORSHIP
While the main building will be closed on Sundays during Outdoor Worship, we will have the Wing in the Woods open for restroom use only.  Only one person at a time will be allowed in the building   (except for parent/guardian accompanying child) . Also,  each person who enters the building is asked to use the provided disinfecting spray or wipes to disinfect any surfaces touched while in the building   (handles, light switches, etc.) . Thank you for understanding.
MISS A WEEK OF WORSHIP?
Get caught up with online worship and weekly GPS (Grow-Pray-Study) Guides with devotional resources that go with the sermon series. You can find both here: 
FREE CLINIC REOPENING WITH RESTRICTIONS
St . Luke's Free Clinic will be open on 1st & 3rd Wednesdays from 6:00 – 8:00 PM with restrictions:
 

Patients will enter from the second door on the east side of the Church, marked Clinic Entrance. Masks are required. If you do not have one, we will provide one for you. Patients will be screened outside that door and temperatures taken.  

We will not see patients with known COVID-19 exposure, with respiratory symptoms, or that have temperatures of 100.4 or above. Only one patient will be allowed in clinic at a time.  After screening, patients will wait in their vehicles until called.  

If you have questions, you may call Tess Young at 515-238-6425. 
MISSION & OUTREACH
NP Comet Cupboard Tiny Food Pantry
On Saturday, July 11th, the NP Comet Cupboard will offer another Bag of Food.
Because of the generosity of so many, we are able to add items beyond the basic bag.
Individuals can choose from an extra table of food to better supplement their family needs . The impact of both
programs (mini food pantry and the bag of groceries) rounds out our church motto of "Feeding Hungry Souls in
Every Season" in a much different level of commitment to our neighbors.

If you can donate food items, there are plastic bins outside the front
doors of the church. (Each basic bag is valued at $25.) 

For the Comet Cupboard mini-pantry kids items are very popular. SpaghettOs, drink packs, Nutella snack packs,
Mac-n- cheese microwavable single packs and snacks (that don't melt in the heat)

Thank you for your continued support! For information please contact Dixie Bequeaith  dbequeai967@msn.com .
In the memo line of your check, or from the online giving menu, use "NP Comet Cupboard"
If you or someone you know would like to request a bag of food,
please fill out the request form below.
Updates from the DMARC Food Pantry
I have an update on the food benefits for the children in Iowa who receive free or reduced-price meals at school. Iowa will be distributing $307.80 to each child(estimate there will be a quarter of a million or 247,785 children in need) For those in the SNAP(food stamp program), money should be received by July 15th. Others should receive special "P-EBT" cards in the mail July 14-21. The money, more than $76 million, represents what the federal government would have spent on school meals if classes had not been suspended in March due to the virus. Federal officials are distributing the money through state governments.

A reminder from the Des Moines Area Religious Council(DMARC) food pantry warehouse:
The food pantry delivery service is available for people to call who are unable to visit a pantry or do not have someone to pick up food for them. DMARC is asking that only those with health, transportation or defining circumstances use this service. Please call 1-833-362-7220 M-F 9am-Noon to request delivery. The food will be delivered no contact the next business day from 9am-noon.

HUNGER NEVER TAKES A VACATION!!!
We continue in the COVID-19 Pandemic halt to our lives. If you would like to help our hungry neighbors, who are suffering during this Pandemic, please consider making a check out to Polk City United Methodist Church and in the memo write DMARC food pantry. Please mail to Polk City United Methodist Church,1421 West Broadway, Polk City, Iowa 50226 Attention Finance Secretary. If you wish to give on the church's electronic site please use  polkcityumc.org/give . Our help is greatly needed at this time.


Thank you for all that you do!!
Linda P.
BAGS FOR BIDWELL
For the month of July, the Mission Committee would like to collect “Bags for Bidwell.” If you have any plastic bags from the grocery store or any recycle or reusable cloth/plastic bags and not sure what
to do with it? Bring it to church and place it in our “Bags for Bidwell” bin. We will place a plastic tub outside our church entrance for the collection, so you can drop your bags off anytime. Please contact
Mai Golbuff or Linda Pennington with questions or concerns, thank you and God bless.
Equal Exchange Products Available

We serve Equal Exchange Fairly Traded coffee at our worship receptions and at our special events in the Church and The Wing.  This is a mission our church has supported for many years.
 
We also have Equal Exchange products for sale in a display in our narthex.  If you want to try the coffee, chocolate chips, or K-Cup products, please contact me and I will meet you at the church and get them for you.  
 
Why do we use Equal Exchange Fairly Traded products?

IT'S BETTER FOR OUR PLANET:
  1. Hard working third world farmers grow these products and care for their land.
  2. Shade farming preserves forest cover and protects the habitats of birds and wildlife.
  3. Diversified crop planting promotes biodiversity and improves the health of the soil.
  4. Most Equal Exchange products are certified organic and produced without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides.
 
Please help support this mission and buy Equal Exchange products.  

Thank you,
Deanna Deason
515- 984-6563
SUMMER DEVOTIONALS
This summer is a perfect time to start a new practice of reading a daily devotion. The Upper Room is providing this free PDF download with daily devotions for July and August.
The Upper Room is also offering many more spiritual resources for spiritual wellness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Contact Us
Christine Perry
Administrative Assistant
Lauren Wilken
Director of Children/Youth Ministry
Melody Webb
Pastor
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