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The Pastor's Corner for january 2021

1/4/2021

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Dear Friends in Christ, 

It is the beginning of a new year and with every new year comes an opportunity to reach out and claim God’s promises with new hope. That's part of why we celebrate the New Year. 

But perhaps there is another part to our need for celebration, particularly this year. Perhaps it has something to do with our need to put disappointments and fears of the past behind us. This past year was certainly not the easiest for any of us--no matter where in the world you make your home. The pandemic and all the disruption that it brought, wildfires, hurricanes, racial unrest, political divisions; for most of us, this past year was very difficult. 

So we go into this new year with many challenges facing us, personally, nationally, and globally. Yet, for all the challenges we have faced this past year, we go into the new year with hope. 

After months of sickness, death and economic disruption around the world caused by Covid19, there are, at last, and in record time, vaccines available to immunize people against the virus. Right now, the vaccines are being made available to those most at risk: healthcare workers, nursing home residents and staff, first responders. Yet, though it will still be several months before these vaccines are widely available to the general public, the end of this pandemic is at least in sight. And that is cause for tremendous hope. 

In the meantime, we will have to continue to take measures to contain the spread of the virus: masking when we are with others, social distancing, hand washing, and limiting our contact with those outside our household. But now we know that we will not have to do these things indefinitely. 

And there are many challenges that still lie ahead in the new year as we begin to rebuild our economy, and restore the relationships and rhythms of our lives that have been so disrupted by Covid19. And there is also the challenge of beginning to heal the deep political, economic, and racial divisions in our nation. But as we face these challenges, Christians can find comfort and hope in the knowledge that God is always with us, and is working for good in our lives and in the world. 

There’s a song, corny perhaps, but still a good reminder to us, "He's got the whole world in His hands." Perhaps what we need in times of uncertainty and challenge is to picture as we once did when we were kids, the big hands of God cradling the entire globe. 

Let us, therefore, be encouraged to look to the coming new year with confidence--not in ourselves, but in the goodness and grace of God.  

New Year's greetings and best wishes for the coming year, 
​
Pastor Carolyn 
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THE PASTOR'S CORNER FOR DECEMBER, 2020

12/7/2020

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Dear Friends in Christ,
 
This Advent and Christmas season is going to look different than past years. This year, because of 
Covid19, many congregations, including ours, will not be able to gather to worship in-person in our 
sanctuaries and worship spaces to light the Advent candles, sing the familiar carols, and hear the 
familiar scriptures that tell the story of Jesus' coming. 
 
But just because we cannot meet in-person that does not mean we cannot prepare our hearts and 
spirits for the coming of the one who is Emmanuel, God with us, and celebrate his birth. This year has 
been a dark and difficult year in many ways, and yet, in the midst of all that is happening, we can find 
hope.  

The gospel of John opens with powerful words of hope, reminding us that Christ is 

“5 The light [that] shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it."

And so this year let us celebrate Jesus’ coming as light in the midst of the world’s darkness, a reminder 
to us that God is still present and active, in our world and in our lives, no matter what our circumstances.   

To remind us of this truth, our Advent and Christmas worship series is  

I Believe, Even When….”   

The history of humanity is filled with pain–especially the pain that comes accompanied by fear and 
leads to oppression and violence of one people against another. This is the world into which Jesus was 
born and which his teachings would challenge and call for transformation. 
 
The theme song for this series is a poem whose exact origin is uncertain, but 
which is said to have been written by a Jewish prisoner during the terrible time 
of the Holocaust. The words of the poem are:  ​
I believe in the sun, even when it’s not shining. 

I believe in love, even when I don’t feel it. 
​
I believe in God, even when God is silent. 
​
This theme song for our season calls us to examine our tendency to annihilate fear by annihilating each other. The power of narrative and music will call us to a different response– transformation and reconciliation through hope, love, joy, and peace.  This Advent and Christmas, let us fill the night with music and light and affirm and act on the reasons why we can still “believe, even when” our world is turned upside down 
and we are discouraged and grieving. 

​Blessings, 

Pastor Carolyn
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THE PASTOR'S CORNER FOR NOVEMBER, 2020

10/29/2020

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Dear Friends in Christ, 

I want to say a few words here about hospitality. We tend to think of hospitality mostly as being friendly to guests who visit our homes and our church. Making them feel welcome and comfortable, and taking care of their needs. And this is an important part of what it means to be hospitable. 
 
But there is more to hospitality than simply being welcoming. Another part of being hospitable, of extending hospitality, to each other, is being able to agree to disagree with civility. This aspect of hospitality is particularly  important in our country today.  

In my lifetime, I have never seen us so politically, racially, economically, or spiritually divided as a nation, and there are many causes for these divisions. But in my perception, one reason for the strength of these divisions, and particularly out political and religious divisions, is the lack of willingness by people on both sides to simply listen honestly and engage in respectful conversation with people who hold differing views. Because social media allows us to filter our friendships, decide who we will or will not follow, chose what groups we belong to, pick and choose our news sources, and control what we see on our news feeds, too often we see only what confirms our own biases. I know that I have been guilty of this myself. This is one reason that I have chosen to get off of Facebook for the rest of the year. 

There are many issues on which people of faith hold strong opinions on both sides: politics, abortion, 
immigration, LGBTQ rights, gay marriage, military spending, health care, gun control, and government economic policies, to name just a few.  

Opinions on both sides of these issues are strong and emotions often run high. But the debates over these issues are not what disturb me. After all, in a democracy such as ours, such debate is our right and privilege. But what disturbs me is the tone of these debates.  

When each side is so convinced of the rightness of their opinion that the two sides no longer seem to be truly listening to each other, this becomes a problem. When this happens, genuine dialogue is no longer possible, and debate degenerates into name-calling and tearing down the other side.  

As Christians, to be hospitable, to live in harmony with one another and our neighbors, means making room for differing opinions. In all things, but especially in areas where there are strong differences of opinion and 
emotions are high, we are to remain hospitable to each other. This does not mean we always have to agree, but it does mean staying in dialogue and listening respectfully to each other. Nothing is gained, and much is lost, when we allow our differences to divide us. My prayer is that in the coming weeks and months, we will remember that we have far more that unites us than divides us, and learn, once again, to truly listen to and talk with each other.  
​
In Christ’s Love, 
Pastor Carolyn 
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the pastor's corner for october, 2020

10/6/2020

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Dear members and friends of Oakland UMC, 

I have been prayerfully considering how to move forward as I look ahead toward the time when the weather will put an end to our outdoor worship at Lions Park. Over the past several weeks, I have listened to many members of the church about their needs, concerns, and preferences for worship in this time of 
pandemic.  Here is what I have heard. 
​
  1. People want to worship on Sunday morning .
  2. Of those who want to meet in person, all want to meet in the church sanctuary. 
  3. All people want their concerns and needs respected.
  4. Some people will not attend in-person worship if they are required to wear a mask. 
  5. Some people will not attend in person worship unless everyone is wearing a mask. 
  6. Some people will not return to in person worship until they are sure the pandemic is over and they feel safe gathering with people again.  

So, given the six requirements above, in order to meet the needs, concerns, and preferences of as many 
people as possible, here is the new worship schedule that will begin on Sunday, October 18th.

For the people who will not attend in-person worship unless everyone is wearing a mask, there will be a 
service on Sunday morning in the sanctuary at 9 a.m.  with masks required.

For those who will not attend in person worship if they are required to wear a mask, there will be a service 
on Sunday morning in the sanctuary at 11 a.m. with masks optional.  

For those who do not wish to worship in person, we will continue recording the service on Saturday so that 
we can continue to offer online worship on FB and YouTube at 10 a.m. Sunday morning. 

I believe that this is fairest solution. One that best meets the concerns and needs of the members of our 
church family. 

Blessings, 
Pastor Carolyn 

New worship schedule:  

Beginning Sunday, October 18th we will have two in-person worship services in the building.  

9 a.m. worship - Masks required. 

11 a.m. worship - Masks optional. 

Recorded worship will continue to be available on Facebook and YouTube at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning 
for those who wish to worship at home. 
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tHE PASTOR'S CORNER FOR SEPTEMBER, 2020

9/9/2020

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THE CATERPILLAR DOESN’T KNOW 

The caterpillar doesn’t know there is another way of being. 
 It is content to simply be, a small creeping thing, 
 Happy, perhaps, not knowing, but limited. 
But one day, something within the caterpillar stirs, 
 Some instinctive impulse it must obey. 
 And it stops and finds a place of safety, 
 And spins around itself a cocoon. 
And there, in the darkness, it begins to die to what was, 
 So that it can take the shape of what it was always meant to be. 

 Such death is necessary for us, too, if we are to shape 
 What we were always meant to be. 
But we, unlike the caterpillar, can choose to ignore 
 God’s nudge to greater being, let self and soul remain limited. 
But if we choose to heed the nudge, 
 Then within the dark cocoon of our being, 
 The shape of grace that was always there 
 Begins to form and grow. Hidden, perhaps, 
 But felt as tremors of the mind and heart. 
And slowly, o so slowly, we begin to die to what we were 
 So that our soul can take the shape of God’s intention. 

I wonder, does a butterfly feel pain as it struggles to emerge? 
 Does it wonder why it must struggle – isn’t there and easier way? 
But the struggle is necessary – for what change ever comes easily? 
The struggle strengthens the wings of the soul to carry  
the new shape of life. 

One day I shall enter another cocoon – this one named death – 
 And I will emerge, transformed, transfigured by love. 
 To soar into eternity on wings of joy. 
 

Carolyn  Bowers 
Rainier, OR, July 16, 2012
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the pastor's corner for august, 2020

7/29/2020

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Dear friends in Christ,

In this article, I want to talk about a difficult subject: anger.
It seems to me that right now there is a lot of anger in our society.
I see it expressed on Facebook and other social media.
I see it on people’s faces and hear it in their voices when I watch the news.
It shows in the extreme political divisions that exists in our country.
It shows in the way people choose to express differing opinions on any number of subjects.

Now, anger in and of itself is not bad.

Anger, properly channeled, can lead us to take constructive action against injustice, racism,
inequality, or other wrongs.

But, unfortunately, anger is too often expressed in harmful, destructive ways. And it’s my
perception that this is often what happens when anger is a cover for other, less comfortable
emotions.

Right now, Covid-19 has upended our world, our nation, and our lives on so many different levels – socially, economically, physically, emotionally.

And though eventually we will come through this, right now, how the virus is going to affect our
country going forward, and when and how this pandemic will end is uncertain. And that
uncertainty itself adds another layer of disruption because it makes plans and decisions about
the future much more difficult.

Grief is a natural reaction to such an unprecedented, drastic and sudden disruption of just about
every aspect of our lives.

And fear is a natural and normal reaction to something as widespread, dangerous and
potentially deadly as the Covid-19 virus, which at this writing, has sickened over 41⁄2 million
people in this country and killed over 152,000.

But it’s my observation that our society doesn’t teach people to deal with grief or fear very well.

Fear and grief are uncomfortable emotions for many people.

So those emotions are often hidden behind anger.

For me, both fear and grief make me feel powerless and out of control. So anger, for me, feels
much safer. When I am angry I feel more powerful and thus more in control. But sometimes, my
anger causes me to lash out at someone in an unhelpful or even hurtful way.

Now, it’s OK for me to be angry.

It is not OK for me to act in hurtful or harmful ways because of my anger.

So in those times when I am feeling what seems to me to be an unreasonable amount of anger
at someone or something, and that anger threatens to boil over in a harmful or hurtful way, I
have learned to stop and reflect on my anger, and ask myself what it might be hiding. And I often
find that helps me get beyond my anger to so that I can deal with what I am really feeling.

It’s not easy for me to do this, but it is necessary for me to do it for my mental, physical, and
spiritual well-being.

Maybe some of you reading this find yourself struggling with anger right now.

If you do, it might be helpful to stop and take time for some self-reflection.

Don’t let your anger cause you to lash out at someone in a harmful or hurtful way.

Ask yourself, “Am I really angry, or is there another emotion hiding behind my anger that I need
to deal with?”

Take your anger to God in prayer and ask him to help you deal with what might be causing it, or
what other feeling it might be hiding.

Below is an excellent video interview with psychologist and best-selling author Brené Brown that I found helpful in understanding and coping with my feelings right now.

Take care and stay safe.
​
We are in this together.

Blessings,

Pastor Carolyn

Brené Brown: How to cope with grief, fear and anxiety during Corona
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pHIsPlhU7o
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THE PASTOR'S CORNER FOR JULY, 2020

6/30/2020

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​On Being Fully Alive

Have you ever tried to be fully present, fully awake,
For more than a moment, fully ALIVE?

To see, really SEE, the tiny birds,
Moving in and out to the not so gentle
Breathing of the tide, reflections following.
Twittering joy or gratitude for the sun,
The wind, the minute creatures
That they seek so ferociously in the sand?
To see them take flight, startled, perhaps,
Or simply for pure JOY.
Winging as one, wings flashing light and dark
As they skim the waves.
Only to land, like a skiff of seafoam,
On the edge of the surf,
Once more to join the waves’ dance?

Have you ever tried to be fully present, fully awake,
For more than a moment, fully ALIVE?
To see the seagull surfing the waves.
To feel the weight of the sun’s warmth on your back?
To smell the sour, salty scent of sand and seaweed,
crab and rock, fish and wood?
To watch the lines of surf, breaking, breaking, breaking,
Ever breaking, as they have since
God first spoke them into existence?

Have you ever tried to be fully present, fully awake,
For more than a moment, fully ALIVE?
To watch the gentle dance of the dune grass,
Partnered with the breeze?
To see the clouds move, hesitant, tentative,
Yet steady, persistent, from land to sea?

Have you ever tried to be fully present,
Fully awake, for more than a moment, fully ALIVE?
It is difficult, this aliveness.
How much easier simply to stay ASLEEP.  AMEN

Carolyn Bowers, Ocean Park Retreat Center, September, 2010
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The Pastor's Corner for June, 2020

5/29/2020

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The Dance

I try to pray, Lord, but I get in my own way.
Like a clumsy dancer
Or a tongue-tied poet.

Because I want to feel your presence,
Sense and touch you.
I want you to appear,
Like Jacob’s ladder
Or Moses’ burning bush.

I want to hear you speak,
As if my mere desire could
Summon or command your voice.

I know it doesn’t work that way,
Yet when I do not feel your face on me,
I turn my face away from you,
Like a spoiled child, Stamping my soul and heart
In anger at your seeming absence.

But the problem is with me, Lord, not with you.
You are not absent,
You are there whenever I am,
And even when I’m not.

Patiently waiting, desiring my presence,
Inviting me to dance, two left feet and all,
If only I would take your hand in trust,
And let you lead me.

I do not need to see you, Lord,
Or feel my hand in yours,
Or even hear the music very well.

It is enough for me to simply show up,
And join the dance. AMEN

Carolyn Bowers,
Mercy Center, Burlingame, CA
August, 2014
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THE PASTOR'S CORNER FOR MAY, 2020

5/1/2020

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Dear Friends in Christ,
​
I love to garden, a love I inherited from my maternal grandmother, who lived in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Growing up in Alaska, my siblings and I didn’t get to visit her very often. But I still remember her house on Fall Street and the large garden she always had, filled with a wide variety of vegetables, and all the beautiful flowers she had growing in her yard. She got a great deal of enjoyment (not to mention, a bounty of fresh vegetables) from her garden, and was proud to have one of the best looking yards on her street.

I think it was those childhood memories that kindled the gardening bug in me. And while I and/or the cats manage to quickly kill any plant that I bring into my house, I have a pretty good green thumb when it comes to growing plants and flowers outside. So every spring I look forward to being able to get my hands dirty planting my garden and my flower pots.

Over the past few days, as I was laying out my garden, filling my tubs and flower pots with soil, and planting my tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and flowers, I was reflecting on how different spring feels to me this year.

This spring, as you know, we are in the midst of a global pandemic. A virus has swept around the world like a tidal wave, upending lives and economies, and the whole world seems to have come to a screeching halt as we fight to defeat the invisible enemy of Covid-19.

Against this backdrop, planting my garden and my flowers this year felt particularly like an act of hope to me, because part of what I struggle with in the midst of this crisis is the sense of unpredictability that I feel.

For the first 3 weeks, particularly, the virus situation in this country was so fluid that it was difficult for me to think too far ahead because of the uncertainty of what each day would bring. But even now, after 5 weeks, when I feel a little more adjusted to what seems to be a “new normal,” there are still a lot of unknowns about the future.

So planting my garden this year gives me hope because it feels like I’m grounding myself (literally and figuratively) in something beyond the uncertainty of the present moment and what the future will bring. My garden brings me joy and gives me something to tend and nurture as well as something to look forward to with anticipation.

I know that life may not ever completely return to what it was before Covid-19, but this virus situation will not last forever and that we will get through it. So my prayer for each of you is that in the midst of all that is happening in our country and in the world right now, you find something that grounds you and brings you joy, hope and peace.

Blessings!

Pastor Carolyn
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Message From Pastor Carolyn Regarding Covid19

4/22/2020

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Mid-week Reminder Message for April 22, 2020

A big thank you to all who have continued to send your offerings to the church, and to those who have been able to go above and beyond their usual giving to help the church at this time. Because of your continued giving, even after 5 weeks without in-person worship we are only 25% behind in giving compared to last year. If you haven't already done so, you can set up auto pay giving through the church office by completing the attached form. Or you can arrange for Bill Pay through your bank and they will send a check by mail to the church each month.

We also understand if you are unable to give at this time because you have been laid off or been cut back in your work hours. Please know that we are here for you. If there is anything the church can do for you, please do not hesitate to call the church office at 712-482-5530, or Pastor Carolyn at 319-559-0678.

The church office will continue to be closed through the end of April. We will still be getting the mail and checking the church answering machine. If you need to get in touch with Pastor Carolyn right away, please call her at 319-559-0678.

You are invited to participate in the weekly Prayer and Share Zoom meeting. The invitation is below. if you have a computer or a smart phone with the Zoom app, you can simply click the link below to be taken to the meeting. If you do not have a computer or smart phone, you can join the meeting by calling the number below on your home phone or cell phone and entering the meeting ID number. Hope to see you there!

Pastor Carolyn is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Prayer and share
Time: April 24th 2020 06:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
        Every week on Fri, until May 1, 2020, 2 occurrence(s)
        Apr 24, 2020 06:00 PM
        May 1, 2020 06:00 PM

Weekly: https://zoom.us/meeting/u5IsfuqpqDwp_4j7X9GqhCZqvN51ZgoR-w/ics?icsToken=98tyKu-urzIpG9KSs1yCe7UvA539b9_2kk4aoPRlxTj0CwNpcxXYY7N4Nb1NXc-B
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/661931673      Meeting ID: 661 931 673
or
Dial   +1 312 626 6799      Meeting ID: 661 931 673
Dear Friends in Christ,

On Monday, the Administrative Council of Oakland UMC meet via Zoom to, among other things, begin planning for the time when we would once again be able to open our sanctuary for in-person worship after this time of necessary quarantining to slow the spread of Covid19.

At this time, we do not know when we will be able to resume in-person worship. Governor Reynold’s prohibition on gatherings larger than 10 currently extends through the end of April.  But because of the rapidly changing nature of the Covid19 situation in Iowa and in our nation, that prohibition could be extended into May. But no matter when we are able to return to worshipping in our sanctuary, we want to be able to do so as safely as possible for everyone.

When in-person worship resumes, we will continue to maintain safe social-distancing and hygiene practices to as much as possible prevent potential virus spread. Though we cannot guarantee 100% safety for those who attend worship, we want to do everything we can to minimize the risk of virus transmission, therefore:
​
  • The church building will be open for Sunday worship and funeral/memorial services only.  Sunday school is suspended until next fall. For now, meetings and other study groups will continue to be held online instead of in person.
  • Hand sanitizer and cleaning wipes will be available as you enter and exit the sanctuary.
  • Face masks will also be available for those who wish to use one.
  • Frequently touched surfaces will be sanitized before and after worship.
  • During worship, seating will be no closer than every other row.
  • Instead of passing the offering plate during the service, the offering plates will be placed at the entrance to the sanctuary so that worshippers can deposit their offering before or after worship.
  • On Communion Sundays, self-contained, pre-packaged cups containing grape juice and a Communion wafer will be used in place of a common loaf and cup. They will be available on the table outside the sanctuary for each person to pick up before worship.
  • Because safe social-distancing is not possible when gathering in the space outside the sanctuary, and because sharing food with people outside one’s immediate household is not recommended at this time, for now we are suspending Koinonia fellowship time following worship.
  • Even though we know that after being apart for so long, you will be glad to see each other, we ask that for the protection of yourself and others, you refrain from handshakes or hugs at this time.
  • For the protection of others, we ask that you please refrain from attending worship if you or someone in your household is sick, until you or they are fully recovered.
  • If, because of age and/or medical condition, you are in a higher risk group for contracting a more serious case of Covid19 if you are exposed to the virus, we ask that for your personal safety you consider staying at home and continuing to worship with us online instead of worshipping in person.

I know that these precautions may seem somewhat cold and impersonal, but please understand that they are necessary for now to maintain as safe a worship environment as possible during this time of Covid19. This virus will not be around forever, and it is my sincere hope that in time we will be able to ease some or all of these restrictions.

Thank you for your understanding.

Blessings,
​Pastor Carolyn
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OAKLAND IOWA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
​200 N Main St - PO #4, Oakland, IA  51560, ​
​Ph:  (712) 482-5530
Church email: oaklandumc@oaklandiaumc.org
​
​Web site: www.oaklandiaumc.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/oakiamethchurch

Church Office Hours:  T - F   9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Pastor in Office:         M - Th ​9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.​​

Pastor:  Rev. Carolyn Bowers
​Cell Phone
: (319) 559-0678
Email: ​pastorcb@oaklandiaumc.org
​
Lay Leader: Merlin Jones
Secretary:  Martha Isaacson
​Organist:  Marilyn Hackett
Choir Director:  Veva Larson​
​Custodian:  Trevor & Megan Jefferson