Wesley United Methodist Church
April 2021
Holy Week
Maundy Thursday
Easter Sunday
Together we will share Communion
Easter Egg Hunt
Needed: Rummage - Baked Goods - Workers
Rummage Sale scheduled for May 7 & 8
The rummage and bake sale is a fundraiser for camperships and after a summer without camp, because of Covid-19, kids are excited to go this summer!
It's Time To Register For Camp!
Register For Camp Soon!
There has never been a time when camp is more needed than now. Camp means time out of the house, away from screens, making new friends, trying new things, and spending time in nature. All of this can be safely experienced at camp!
Many of this summer's events are filling up quickly! Check out the current camp sessions and events and sign up for a camp at your favorite Dakotas UM Camps location: Wesley Acres, Storm Mountain, or Lake Poinsett.
Register soon to reserve your spot and to take full advantage of the Early Bird discount is $5.00 off per night at camp. So, a two-night camp would be $10.00 off. Early Bird deadline is April 30!
We know many are facing challenging financial situations around COVID-19. Please don't let this stop you from signing up for the camp of your choice. We are committed to ensuring that anyone who wants to go to camp can go. Dakotas UM Camps has scholarship funds available to campers who need them most. Check our website for more information on financial assistance and to apply for a campership!
Bring your friends and save! For each new camper (someone who has not attended a Dakotas UM Camps camping event in 3 years) you or your child bring to camp in 2021, you will receive $25.00 off the price of your camp. This is our way of thanking you for helping us make camp even better by bringing along a friend! Just list the friend when you register for camp, and the discount will be applied when they register.
Camping is Back! YEAH!!
From the Wesley Neighborhood Outreach - Camperships
This is what WNO has decided for Camperships this year. Please let me know if you have any questions.
1 WNO will pay up to $250.00 for any child going to camp for the Summer of 2021. One campership per child per summer.
2 WNO or Wesley will not be responsible for transportation to or from camp. Parents are responsible for taking to and picking up their kids from camp. Families or children attending camp can carpool, but this will not be arranged by Wesley or WNO.
3 No rainchecks for next year.
4 If you decide to register your child for camp, please use the code “wesleycamp” and once everyone is registered, WNO will let parents know how much they have to pay. Parents can pay their part to WNO, and then we can send one check to the camping office.
5 If you have already registered your child and had to pay a deposit, that money will count towards your out of pocket. If it less than the amount you as a parent are supposed to pay, you can pay the difference to WNO. If it is more than the amount you are supposed to pay, WNO will reimburse you the difference.
Friends to hold up and remember:
Prayers for all affected by COVID-19
Ernie Griner - Diagnosed & testing medications
Trish Garcia - recovering from surgery on 3-19
Tyra Roberts - continued prayers
Della Witcomb - passed her driving test!
Leland Bachtell – home hospice
Jeanette Portice – prayers for continued health
Kolby Bohmbach – Continued prayers for good test results
Jim Hansen’s brother- in-law Greg- needs a transplant
Felsheim Family – working to keep Bennett safe from virus
Karen Renken- continued prayers for healing
Bob Whiting’s daughter Robyn – needs a kidney transplant
Nila & Karen’s sister-in-law Karen - continued prayers
José Garcia’s mom, Maria Herrera - breast cancer
Earl Angle – continued prayers as he moves to Good Sam on the hill
Pat Patterson – continued prayers
Judy's daughter-in-law Sara Martin Tulio- diagnosed with breast cancer
April Birthdays
02 Nathan Loaeza
05 Amy Loaeza
07 Maya Arnold
10 Randy Garner
12 Jeff Thompson
13 Lee Bachtell
14 Margeann Dewes
17 Chuck Griner
17 Kyle Dammer
21 Micah Griner
23 Ragnar Benson
27 Kirk Van Den Oever
28 Tanisha Arnold
29 Richard Twedt
Men's Bible Study
Our Members and Friends in Care Facilities or Under Home Care
Edgewood Vista: Jackie Dreyer
Edgewood South: Judy Schaap
Good Sam / Hill: Linda Varud, Earl Angle
Luther Manor: Marguerite Cunningham; Faye Pigott
Leisure Living in Hartford: Nona Robinson
Southridge: Guy Varud; Cleova Frahm;
VA in Luverne: Bob Morrison
2204 E. 11th: Deb Stoakes
News from Kidz Count!
Kidz Count is fully functioning and well! We have been doing several community service projects, which included making Christmas place mats for the St. Francis house, writing cards for Vets at the VA hospital, cleaning up trash in the parking lot and giving food to the St. Francis house.
We have several fun things planned for spring. There is a new STEM trailer as part of the South Dakota after school network that has several STEM activities for us to try. We are connecting with the Outdoor Campus via Zoom to learn about Native American games and other science activities in April. We are learning about different habitats by converting our rooms to beaches, oceans and forests! In between all of these activities we are still teaching about healthy snacks, practicing reading and math and learning/practicing social skills.
As always, we really appreciate the collaboration and support that Kidz Count has with Wesley UMC and the Wesley Neighborhood Outreach. We serve up to 40 children each day giving families support and the knowledge that their children are safe and well cared for. And for that, the staff and volunteers of Kidz Count say Thank YOU! Without this partnership, we couldn't do what we do every day!
We will be open for the summer in the mornings, so watch for updates on that!
Please contact Saundra Larson, 605-906-2736 for any questions or ideas you may have.
A Matter of Balance
We have been working with Sanford Health to bring A Matter of Balance class to Wesley sometime this summer. The course consists of 8 sessions lasting two hours each. Each session entails doable exercises as well as suggestions about how to arrange your living space to decrease the chance of falling.
One might think that falling less often is just a matter of being more cautious. But there’s more to it than that. Ultimately the goal is to keep individuals as independent as they are able to be. Nationally, every 11 seconds an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall and every 19 minutes an older adult dies from a fall. We would like everyone live a longer, safer, life.
A specific date hasn’t been set yet. We will let you know when we have a date and time. Encourage anyone you know, especially those who live alone, to consider taking the class.
General Budget update @ March 31, 2021
· Income 3 months 2021------ $36,799.00
· Expense 3 months 2021----- $43,294.58
· Expense exceeds Income ---$(6,495.58)
Don Armstrong, Treasurer
Building and Grounds @ February 28,2021
Previous Balance -----$18,246.13
Amount Received -------- $585.00
Interest Earned -----------------.14
January 31 Balance ---$18,831.27
Donna Wallin, Treasurer
HyVee Cards
Marcy and Doug Bird have Hy-Vee gift cards for sale in all denominations. They make good gifts for friends and relatives. And they help fund projects at the church and help the UMW meet their pledge to missions. It’s a win-win. You get a convenient way to buy groceries and also send a gift to your church at no extra cost. Call them at: 336-8828 or drop them a note.
New Event Coming to The Journey
The first of the series is April 18th and Robert Blackburn will talk about his personal journey with Christ and where it has brought him!
Plan on attending, whether live stream or in person, Robert's testimonial. He is the first of many who will share how their Journey brought them to Christ.
We are all at different places on our own faith journey and hearing from others may assist us to find a closer relationship to Christ and each other.
From the Parish Nurse
I’m sure we have all read in the news about COVID-19 variants—that is, a mutated virus. The most prominent variants are coming from the U.K, South Africa, and Brazil, as well as several from the U.S.
What is a variant? It is a mutation of the COVID-19 virus. Viruses frequently mutate. Given the world-wide spread of COVID it is not surprising that we are seeing mutated versions of the original virus.
How do we protect ourselves from the variants? The same way we do with the original COVID virus—wear masks, wash hands frequently, practice social distancing, and avoid crowds.
Are the current vaccines effective against the new strains? Fortunately, yes they are. While the vaccines may not be quite as effective against the variants as it is against the original virus, it is still effective. I have heard that some people are holding off getting vaccinated because they are waiting until a vaccine comes out that will protect them against the variants. Researchers are strongly suggesting that you don’t wait since the vaccines are effective against the variants as well as the original virus. If a booster becomes available at a later date, we can all get the booster. In the meantime, it is wise to get vaccinated.
Isn’t it wonderful that God makes all of us differently. We all have our own special gifts. I could never in a million years have figured out how to develop a vaccine to fight a deadly disease but I don’t have to. Someone else was given that particular gift. And we are all the grateful recipients of that gift. Praise God! Get your COVID shots.
United Methodist Women
United Methodist Women have been meeting via Zoom for the last three months but have decided to start meeting in face-to-face again in April. You will get a call from someone in your circle letting you know when and how you will be meeting. It will probably still be a good idea to maintain social distance and wear masks for the first few months we meet. It will probably be safe to relax that stipulation when everyone in your circle has become fully vaccinated against COVID. Yes ladies, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We are starting to get back to some form of normal again.