Newsletter of Archer United Methodist Church July 2018—Volume 7

United Methodist Iowa Annual Conference Report 2018

Pastor Derrick and Theodora Okine, Albert Okine as a Diakonos, and Dudley & Carol Mc Dowell
attended the United Methodist Annual Conference at the Iowa Events Center Hy-Vee Hall in Des
Moines on June 8-11. The theme of the conference was “Creating Difference Makers in New Com-
munities of Faith”.
Worship services, reports, workshops, presentations by church related organizations, legislative is-
sues, resolutions, election of officers and approval of a budget of $14,288,286 (a decrease of
$505,925 or 3.42%) were interspersed throughout the conference.
Saturday afternoon was the Retirement Celebration with the Rev. La Tonya Calderon as the speak-
er and an offering of $5,850.50 for Nigerian students attending two Iowa UMC colleges.
Sunday morning was the Ordering of Ministry Service led by Bishop Laurie Haller with the recogni-
tion of 7 Course of Study Graduates, Pastor Derrick was commissioned as 1 of 6 Provisional El-
ders, and Pastor Michael Fillmore, the new pastor at the Hartley UMC and Sanborn UMC, was or-
dained as one of 5 new Ordained Elders. An offering was received for mental health.
Sunday afternoon was the Memorial Service led by Bishop Bruce Ough for 50 pastors and spouses
who have passed on in the past year.
On Monday morning was the acknowledgement and presentation by the Diakonos with an offering
of $8,587.
Also Monday morning was the Fixing of Appointments Service led by Rev. Dr. Harlan Gillespie.
Dr. Gillespie also led the service on resolutions for closure of six churches and transferring of mem-
bers to other churches and the discontinuation of the Union Memorial Church at Milford.
There was much good discussion, many prayers, and good fellowship among the delegates.
Pastor Derrick will be presenting a more comprehensive and detailed report in the near
future.

During conversations on the way forward for the UMC, it was agreed that we need a non-anxious
presence and peace to engage in different ministries which impact diverse people for God. It was
moved that, all members of the UMC should observe -four minutes of prayer- from 223pm to 227pm
daily till February 2019.
In conclusion, Bishop Ough suggested five steps: July Ushers:
i-Don’t decide before the council of bishops Kit Roed
Dean Johnson
ii-Practice respectful conversations Mark Lane
Sean Lane
iii)Be sure to listen to and value the voices
iv)Stay focused on the mission of God
v)Pray daily from 223pm-227pm and fast very often. Congregation must be engaged in prayer while
surrendering to the Holy Spirit of God.
We appreciate the opportunity to represent the members of the United Church of Primghar at this
conference.

July
GREETERS LITURGISTS FELLOWSHIP
1st: J oint Ser vice at Refor med Chur ch
8th: Bar r y & Linda Nieuwenhuis Sean Lane Jim & Pam Thornton
15th: Alvin & Sadie Stor m Dudley McDowell Tom & Glenna Farnsworth
22nd: Dave & Opal Finley Carol McDowell Wayne & Sheryl Storm
29th: Dudley & Car ol McDowell Steve Landhuis Bill & Karen Engeltjes
 SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
9:00 UCP Church Office 6:30 pm
Worship– Com- Closed Love, INC at
munion UCP
10:00 Archer
Joint Service at
Reformed

8 9 10 11 12 13 14
9:00 UCP 2:00pm UCW 6:30 pm
Worship Guest Day Love, INC at
9:30 Archer UCP
Sunday School
10:30 Archer
Worship

15 16 17 18 19 20 21
9:00 UCP 7:00 pm VBS
Worship Program at
9:30 Archer ARC
Sunday School Vacation Bible School 9 am—2 pm @ 6:30 pm Love,
10:30 Archer American Reformed Church INC at UCP
Worship

22 23 24 25 26 27 28
9:00 UCP 9:00 am
Worship Newsletter
9:30 Archer Assembly
Sunday School
10:30 Archer Pastor Derrick on Vacation
Worship

29 30 31
10:00 am Joint
Worship Service Pastor Derrick on Vacation July 26th—August 22nd
at Archer UMC
Pastor Marv
Lindley—Guest
Pastor
If you are aware of someone in need of a pastoral call, please inform Pastor Derrick at 605-691-6020. He
would rather hear from multiple sources than from no one at all. In these times of privacy rights, hospitals
and nursing homes may not divulge information relating to a resident or patient, so it is very important that
members and/or their families let the Pastor know of all needs for pastoral care.