Lisbon United Methodist Church

200 East Market St, Lisbon, IA 52253

Phone: 319-455-2000

email: lisbonumc@iowatelecom.net

Website: lisboniowaumc.org

Facebook: Lisbon United Methodist Church

Pastor Joshua Swaim

Worship Schedule

Sunday School 8:30 am (September-May)

Worship 9:45 am

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being

united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any

common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and

compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being

like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit

and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition

or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above

yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but

each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians

2:1-4)

As Paul makes clear to the church in Philippi, a

Christian’s life and witness will be exemplified by certain

characteristics once it is rooted in the love of Jesus. The

most basic identifying marker of a life that has been

transformed by the love of Jesus, will be one who

humbly puts others interests’ ahead of their own. This is

what Jesus was talking about when he said, “this is how

the world will know you are my disciples, they will know

by how you love one another.”

As we have all faced a new world together over the

last few months, loving God, and loving our neighbor,

has been the guiding factors for making decisions on

how to best move forward with worship and other

gatherings. We have also used this passage from

Philippians to guide our decisions on how to best

proceed. These decisions have included many tough

calls, having to cancel and/or postpone many in-person

gatherings. It has also provided opportunities to

innovate new ways to worship and gather online!

Please be assured that Lisbon UMC will continue to

witness to Jesus by glorifying God in all we do. One of

the best ways to do that is to prioritize the safety and

health of all when we gather together. This is why we are

being cautious in our return to in-person worship and

will be taking extra safety precautions when we do

return.

With that said, Lisbon UMC leadership has begun to

plan and implement our phased return to in-person

gathering. We are balancing factors of trying to

minimize physical exposure and transmission of covid-19

virus against the need to see one another in-person. We

all know that things will look different for the time being,

and we will all need to make sure we are patient and

compassionate with each other as we move forward

together. Again, our number one priority is to keep

everybody safe!

Our plan, as of the writing of this letter, is to gather

outside our building for in-person worship beginning

June 14th. At that time, and during the rest of the

Sundays in the month of June at least, we will plan to

meet for worship outside on the west side of the church

building. The plan (pending city approval) is to block off

the street on the west side of the building so people can

sit in lawn chairs (at least six feet apart) in the street and

parking lot area. Those who need to stay in their cars

will be able to pull into a parking spot. Please look for

more details regarding what this will look like in the

church emails, website, and Facebook page that will be

published over the next few weeks. We will be

practicing social distancing and wearing face masks

during these worship services to ensure the safety and

health of people who choose to attend.

For those who do not feel they are able to attend in-

person worship right now, we understand, and want you

to know that we will continue to have online worship

available for you to join us!

Thank you to all who have continued to participate in

our ministries during the past few months with your

prayers, presence (online), gifts, witness, and service.

Please continue to pray for God’s guiding hand to direct

all the decisions made as we move forward together.

We praise the Lord for his faithfulness in these uncertain

times and pray for continued ways we can connect

people to Him!

God bless you,

Pastor Josh

If you or a loved one is hospitalized, in need of prayers

or would like a visit from Pastor Josh, please contact

the church office at 319-455-2000.

Lisbon United Methodist Church Finances

The state has begun the process of opening back up as

Governor Reynolds has deemed that the COVID-19 curve

has been flattened sufficiently to allow us to the return

to some sense of normalcy, including church worship

services. The opening will be conducted in phases,

involving precautions to protect against further

community spread of the virus. As of this writing, the

Lisbon United Methodist Church is still forming a plan to

return to worship service, possibly in June we will be

back together.

The Sunday May 17 Gazette reported that 26% of

Believers say that their sense of faith or spirituality has

grown stronger as a result of the outbreak. I have seen

this with our own congregation, although far apart, the

congregation has come together to support the church

during this time. Pastor Josh has driven this point home,

that a strong foundation deeply rooted in faith can help

us to weather the storms that life brings our way,

including COVID-19.

Connecting People To Jesus – The on-line weekly

Sermon Live Broadcasts have proven to be highly

popular with our congregation and those beyond our

church community (see chart below). The Sermon Live

Broadcasts can continue to be viewed either live or

playback on the Lisbon United Methodist Church

website, www.lisboniowaumc.org, or on the Facebook

Lisbon United Methodist Church Page.

Pandemic Blessing – Our Church is seemingly surviving

the COVID-19 Pandemic, we appear to have come

through stronger, together. We are truly blessed to have

a grateful and generous Church Community. Through

April, the Church donations are actually slightly ahead of

the 2020 Year To Date Budget. So, thank you to all who

have been willing and able to support the Church during

this time.

As we continue forward into the Summer months, please

consider the available on-line giving options:

(1) Electronic Giving - Website

Go to the Lisbon United Methodist Church website

(https://lisboniowaumc.org/) to find the Electronic

Giving link, create an account, and schedule recurring

payments.

(2) Electronic Giving – QC Code

(3) Mail A Gift/Donation Check

Lisbon United Methodist Church, 200 E Market St,

Lisbon, IA, 52253

Russell Rasmussen, Finance Chair, Lisbon United

Methodist Church (319) 329-1637

After restrictions are lifted please consider

joining one or more of our study groups.

This is a great opportunity for further study

of the teachings of the Bible and Christian

fellowship.

Small Group Studies These studies are open to ALL. Come join one or

more to hear the word of God and build a

lasting relationship with Him and fellow

Christians.

The Men’s Breakfast @ Gwen’s group will not resume meeting at this time. We will keep you updated when this will begin again. This group meets for a devotional reading from My Utmost for His Highest, prayer, breakfast and Christian Fellowship.

Sisters in Christian Study (SCS) - The SCS group has decided that even with the Church back open for services that the meetings will not restart in June. At the end of June, they will revisit what is happening and decide on meeting in July.

All are welcome as we continue our study with Max Lucado’s book on Fearless.

In his book Fearless, Max Lucado offers hope and calm in a time of unprecedented fear in our nation and the world. Fearless draws from Jesus’ encounters with people in frightening

situations giving evidence that we can trust God through these scary times. In six sessions, Max takes a close look at our greatest fears and offers scripturally based reassurance and guidance through even the toughest moments of our lives. Let Max Lucado show you how to find a sense of peace and security in today's troubled world. Women in Christ (WIC) – The WIC ladies have decided that even with the Church back open for services that the meetings will not restart in June. At the end of June, they will revisit what is happening and decide on meeting in July. WIC meets the first Friday each month, March through December at the church. We welcome any woman in our church to become a part of this group as we study Dr. David Jeremiah's book, Overcomer.

In this 10-lesson Overcomer book study guide, David Jeremiah uses Paul's description of spiritual armor as an outline for exploring the Christian's call to be an overcomer. This is not a technical description of Roman armor, but an applicational study of what it

means to stand firm and overcome sin, the world, and the devil. In Christ, the believer has everything necessary to live a victorious, overcoming life. When we "put on " Christ, we are putting on all the spiritual armor we need.

Young Women Bible Study - For women between the ages of 25 – 45 will be held at 7:00 pm on the 2nd Wednesday of every month. If you would like more information or have any questions, please contact Daphne at 815/238-5631. Tuesday Morning Bible Study-This group meets every Tuesday morning at 10am in the Church library. The group is currently doing an indepth study of I Corinthians. The study will not restart in June. At the end of June, the decision will be made to restart in July or not. Anyone wishing for more information please call 319-455-2000 or email lisbonumc@iowatelecom.net

Ushers June 7th June 14th June 21st June 28th

Nursery Closed for the summer. For information or to volunteer in the nursery beginning next fall, contact Daphne Booth or Katie Ortgies.

!! ATTENTION !!

The Christian Education committees of both the Lisbon and Mount Vernon United Methodist Churches have decided that Vacation Bible School will not be held this summer as was previously planned. We are looking forward to seeing you at Sunday School in the fall.

THANK YOU!!!

*Reminder: Please have all articles/information for the June newsletter to the church office by June 22.

We will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:15-16

Medical Equipment

The Lisbon United Methodist Church welcomes anyone in the community to borrow from our medical equipment closet. You may stop in, call the church office at 319-455-2000 or email lisbonumc@iowatelecom.net for information regarding a time to pick up the equipment.

We currently have the following items available: Shower chairs Wheelchairs Bed wedges, bed rails Canes Walkers, walker trays and baskets Crutches New commode Stool rails Walking boot Emergency Response System Scales BP cuff that will plug into phone jack for relaying information to the doctor.