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SEPTEMBER

CHAPEL
CHIMES
growing in faith...sharing Gods love
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Septem iversaries
Ann

KEEFERS KORNER
I must admit to no originality this month. I am a little distracted by
preparations and theme papers for my Course of Study classes, and ask
your understanding as I share with you a nice article I read some time in
the past. As we live in a rural and agricultural environment, I feel it can
offer an interesting insight to our lives as good neighbors, as good
Christians. I have no author to credit for this tale.
There once was a farmer who grew award-winning corn. Each year
he entered his corn in the state fair where it won a blue ribbon. One year a
newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting
about how he grew it. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his
seed corn with his neighbors.
How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your
neighbors when they are entering corn competition with yours each year?
the reporter asked.
Why sir, said the farmer, didnt you know? The wind picks up
pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my
neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the
quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors
grow good corn.
This farmer is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His
corn cannot improve unless his neighbors corn also improves.
So it is with our lives. Those who choose to live in peace must help
their neighbors to live in peace. Those who choose to live well must help
others to live well, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it
touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others to find
happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.
The lesson for each of us is this: If we are to grow good corn, we
must help our neighbors grow good corn.
May God continue to richly shower us with His blessings. And
may we understand that, as we care for others, so we are cared for. It is in
the vein of that forgive others, as we are forgiven.
See you in church, Pastor Mark

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Shawnda Groth
Logan Burt
Mackenzie Burt
Steve Wiese
Ashley Arnote
Brent & Susan Beichley
Tina Mann
Riley Ormston
Scott Wiese
Sara (Koster) Schrodt
Noah Bandstra
Wyatt Himes
Marci Krull
Brent Beichley
Jacob Farrington
Tyler Krull
Bob Wiese
Jordan Gaulke
Gordon Zink
Daniel Kenya
Jake Sullivan
Karys Handorf
Matt & Steph DeSchamp
Grant Stanley
Tammy Backoff
Korissa Yergler
Bob & Marcia Wiese
Dustin Bessman
Derek Mann
Tim & Danae Handorf
Kristi (Svendsen)
Farrington
Connie Buchman
Lee Wegner Groth
Kyle Drahozal
Denise Kemp

Cha
pel N ew s
_
CHAPEL CHILDREN'S CHURCH:
BUILDING FAITH ONE BRICK AT A TIME

New and exciting things are coming for children's church this year! We
will be learning all of our Bible lessons with LEGOS!!! We'll still have
snacks, sing songs, and have Bible lessons, but all of the lessons will be
reinforced by building! To help us with this, we are asking any Chapel
families who have extra Legos at home, maybe from children who have
grown up, to please donate those Legos to Chapel. You probably won't
get them back (it would be very difficult to keep them sorted), but we
would appreciate it so much!! If you don't have any Legos at home, you
could even purchase some for us to use. Any and all of the Legos will be
put to good use!
Our first Children's Church date is September 13th at 10:30 am in the
Fellowship Hall and will be held the second Sunday of each month
thereafter. We hope to see many children at Childrens Church this school
year!
Please provide snacks and drinks for approximately 15 people. We have a
child who is allergic to peanuts so please be sure your snack does not
contain peanuts. Please trade with another family or let any leader know
if you are unable to donate.
Sept 13: Owen Collins & Matthew DeSchamp
Oct 11: Carter Anderson & Caden Slifer (note change)
Nov 8: Max & Lincoln Handorf
Dec 13: Betula & Dinjinia Zeller
Thank you for your help!
~ Childrens Church leaders, Ann Jackson, Bill & Tammy Backoff, Janice
Collins, Tricia Slifer
_____________________________________________________
September SS Teachers
Openings (9:30-9:40): Heidi Langenbau
Preschool - Kindergarten: Heidi Langenbau
Grades 1-3: Ann Jackson
Grades 4-6: Bill & Tammy Backoff
JH/HS: Cathy Vint
M&M: Vaugn Kloster
October SS Teachers
Openings (9:30-9:40): Lynn Handorf
Preschool - Kindergarten: Cindy Krull
Grades 1-3: Barb Plaehn
Grades 4-6: Lynn Handorf
JH/HS: Ann Jackson
M&M: Mike Vint

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Sep

Thurs, Sept 3: 7 pm, UMW;

Program Janice Collins & Cindy
Krull(shepherdess Linda
Frazier), program; Spiritual
Growth report Marcia Wiese;
Hostesses Sue Koster, Karen
Collins; Election of Officers,
Janice Collins, Claire Handorf,
Connie Buchman (elect pres, v
pres, sec, treas, membership,
social action, ed & inter, spirt
growth
Fri, Sept 4: 11 am Graveside
service for Earl Hoing, Chapel
cemetery; lunch at
Peace Chuch
Sat, Sept 5: 9 am 4-H
Sun, Sept 6: 9:30 am SS
10:30 am Worship, communion;
New Life Application SS Class for
younger through middle-age adults
in nursery!
Mon, Sept 7: Labor Day
Fri, Sept 11: 11:30 am,
Volunteers serve Gladbrooks
senior citizens at Chapel; Sue
Koster & Karen Handorf, chairs
Sun, Sept 13: 9:30 am
Sunday School; 10:30 am
Worship, Mission Minute;
Childrens Church (Treats: Owen
Collins, Matthew DeSchamp);
Ad Council (Sue Koster, Amy
Niedermann, lunch)
Thurs, Sept 17: 7 pm,
Volunteers meeting at church;
devotions Sue Koster; lunch
Kathryn Burt & Phyllis Mann
Fri, Sept 18: Newsletter items
due to Amy Niedermann or Sue
Koster; NE District Annual meeting,
Osage
Fri, Sept 18, & Sat, Sept 19:
Womens Retreat at FBC, Mtown,
by Amelia Kenya; contact Lois
Groth
Sun, Sept 20: 9:30 am
Sunday School 10:30 am
Worship; Noisy Offering; Self
nomination forms due in offering
plate or to nominating committee
and committee chairs reports to
Amy Neidermann for Charge
Conference; 6 pm at Ron & Lois
Groths, Adult Bible Study
Sun, Sept 27: 9:30 am Sunday
School 10:30 am Worship
Mon, Sept 28: 9:00 am Prepare
newsletters for mailing, Fellowship
Hall; 6 pm Cub Scouts

Cha pel N ew s
Charge Conference Report Deadline

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Looki

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Kathryn Burt, Allen Burt, Linda Havelka, Lori Somers and Stan Koster,
Amy Niedermann may have already contacted you regarding reports
for our Annual Charge Conference. The conference does not require
reports from the committee chairs so no need to complete those this
year. The deadline for completing forms is September 20. This date Sun, Oct 4: Nomination
is very important so that our secretary will have enough time to get the committee deadline for 2016
booklets ready. Our Charge Conference is scheduled for Tuesday,
leadership positions; CROP
October 27, at 6:30 pm at Traer UMC.

___________________________________________________ Walk, meet at Peace Church to

walk trail; Garwin UMC in charge,
Confirmation
lunch afterwards
Confirmation classes will be starting this fall for students in
seventh through ninth grade. Letters have been sent out to the
Sun, Oct 18: 1:30 pm, Bridal
families of Madison Krull, Andrew Collins, Presley Bland, Brook
Shower for Siera Richter &
Rosacker, Austin Strayer, Logan Anderson, Grace Schewe, Madisyn
Matthew Schwartz in Fellowship
Anderson, Jace Hlas, Zach Krull, Angel Schewe, Nicolas Collins,
Hall; Dee Burt, chair
Cooper Langenbau, Frances Jackson and Ross Murty.
Classes will be held from September through our confirmation Tues, Oct 27: 6:30 pm, Charge
service which will be held on Palm Sunday, March 20, 2016. Classes Conference at Traer UMC, 512
will be held twice a month, generally on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays 4th St.
from 6:00-7:30 pm, with families of confirmands rotating providing
Sun, Nov 22: 2:00 pm at
supper for the group.
Westbrook, Pastor Mark will
Here are the tentative class dates: September 9, September
organize NW Tama Co.
30 (NOT September 23, as GMG 7-12 Parent Teacher Conferences
Thanksgiving service
are on the 23rd), October 14, October 28, November 11, SUNDAY,
NOVEMBER 22 after worship; not November 25, December 9,
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20 after worship; not December 23, January
13, January 27, February 10, February 24, and March 9.
Students should plan on attending all Confirmation classes and
attending worship weekly. As we encourage students to grow in their
faith, regularly attending worship will aid this growth. There will be
assignments related to worship that can only be completed by
attending. In addition, confirmands will be expected to sit together in
the front two rows on the west side of the sanctuary.
We are very excited to begin this process and see where the
Lord leads us! Please be in prayer for the confirmands, their families
and their leaders as we embark on this journey together! Please
contact Pastor Mark or Ann Jackson for questions and comments.
________________________________________________________

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The Svendsen family all

celebrated Shirleys 80th birthday by
vacationing Out West. Happy
Birthday, Shirley!
Help Wanted!
Three Chapel ladies are soon to
Each of Chapel's confirmands are in search of a willing mentor for
be 80 or just celebrated their
their journey; must be willing to meet with their confirmand once a
birthdays: Shirley Svendsen (July
month and pray for their confirmand daily; need NOT be a Biblical
27), Kathryn Burt (Aug 25), Phyllis
expert; If interested please contact Ann Jackson, 641-750-0472
Mann (Nov 11)
___________________________________________________ The third Sunday of each month is
Noisy Offering Sunday Bring
UMW
your lose change from the week
Thurs, Sept 3: 7 pm, UMW; Program Janice Collins & Cindy
Dan Beane is visiting son Doug
Krull(shepherdess Linda Frazier), program; Spiritual Growth report
and family in Nova Scotia until
Marcia Wiese; Hostesses Sue Koster, Karen Collins; Election of
Officers, Janice Collins, Claire Handorf, Connie Buchman (elect pres, September 16.
vpres, sec, treas, membership, social action, ed & inter, spirt
growth

Cha pel N ew s
Please Turn in Forms
Have you turned in your self-nomination forms for 2016 for
various church responsibilities? If not, contact the nomination
committee of Lori Somers, Tina Mann, Connie Appelgate, Susan
Beichley, Carol Lamer, Barbara Burt or Claire Handorf, or put
forms in the offering plates ASAP as they are due September 20
The nomination committee needs to have all positions filled
by October 4 so that Amy Niedermann can prepare the
packet for Charge Conference, which is Tuesday, October 27, at
6:30 pm at Traer UMC. Thank you for your willingness to help.
___________________________________________________
Thank You
The Wolfe Ranch project has been completed. The project was
smaller than expected, so Matt Jackson, Chris Krull and Kendall
Collins re-hung some gates after church August 9. It was a good
day, and Jennifer Daniel thanks Chapel for helping her.
________________________________________________________

Ladies Retreat
Amelia Kenya, a Chapel friend, is leading a womens retreat on
Friday night, Sept 18 (6-9 pm) and Saturday, Sept 19 (8:30
am-4:00 pm) entitled Prayer and Spiritual Warfare. Contact
Lois Groth for tickets - $25, including three meals; or just Sat,
$15.
___________________________________________________
All-Church Bible Study
Adults are invited to a Bible Study at Ron & Lois Groths home,
starting Sun, Sept 20, from 6-7 pm. Both men and women will
meet together briefly, then the men & women will separate for a
Bible study, and briefly meet again at the end. Contact Susan
Beichley if you would like to order a book. Lynn & Claire Handorf
will lead the first lesson.

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Concer
Janice Collins, surgery July 23,
cancer
Donald Mann, fell recently, four broken ribs,
compression fracture in back, Grandview
Nursing Home, Rm 401, 910 E Olive St,
Marshalltown, IA 50158, 1
Austin Strayer, breaks in fibula & tibia by
his ankle; surgery was Aug 3; will be in a
splint/ cast for about six wks
Jim Fleming, eye health
Marla Hlas, back trouble
Kenneth (Pete) Hoing recently moved
from The Embers to Southridge Nursing
& Rehabiliation Center, 309 W. Merle
Hibbs Blvd, Marshalltown, IA 50158. He
is in room 215.
David Burt, recuperating at Oakview, 511 E
Center St, Conrad, IA 50621; brother-in-law
of Kathryn Burts
Family of Tonia McBride who lost her
cousin, 23, to suicide
Family of DeeDee Yager, who passed away
of cancer; Claire Handorfs college
roommate
LaRae Appelgate Little, migraine strokes;
pray that her eyesight and balance will be
completely restored; Myrene Appelgates
daughter
Glenyce Sievers, knee replacement,
immobilizer for six months, Karen Handorfs
cousin
Family of Leona Schultz, 95, who passed
away August 13; Donna Lynchs aunt;
Chapel enjoyed Christmas caroling to her
for many years
Family of Mary Jane DeSchamp Sieh, who
passed away July 23; mother of Matt
DeSchamp
Family of Lori Petermeier Balmer Frost, 54,
passed away of cancer
Our students and teachers
Ryan Hook, low immune system
Lindsey Groth, cancer

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___________________________________________________
Life Application Sunday School Class
A younger middle age adult Sunday School class is starting
Sept 6 in the nursery. We are hoping that especially all parents
of children in Jr Sunday School will come! The lessons will be
July 26: 36
based on scripture, they will be easy to teach, and you will be
Aug 2: 59
Aug 9: 64
able to apply them to your daily living. Please come!

Wo

Aug 16: Visitation Sunday

Aug 23: 63

Cha pel N ew s
Who Are the Chapel Volunteers?
All women of the church are invited to join the Volunteers, who are a group of women who help fulfill Chapels
mission to grow in faith and share Gods love. They meet twice a year, usually in September and March, to plan
seasonal activities for Chapel. They may not participate in each of the following events each year but some past
activities have included:
1. Plan either Easter Sunrise program or breakfast (may rotate with youth).
2. Help furnish lunch for funerals, Baccalaureate and Charge Conference when Chapel hosts, and other
events when needed.
3. Go on a day trip in spring or summer.
4. Coordinate fall activity, like hayride.
5. Serve senior citizens dinner.
6. Organize Hanging and De-Hanging of the Greens throughout church.
7. Decorate a Christmas tree for Festival of Trees at Gladbrook.
8. Plan Christmas caroling.
9. Provide food baskets or boxes of candy when caroling.
10. Plan a holiday outing.
11. Help furnish food for Garwins Live Nativity.
12. Coordinate fundraisers, such as the Chapel cookbook.
13. Send cards to hospitalized (follow card and gift suggestions).
They invite all Chapel women to attend their fall meeting on Thursday, September 17, in the Fellowship Hall at
7:00 pm. Thank you in advance, Chapel ladies, for helping out when asked!
______________________________________________________________________________________________

Prayer for Our Students

Lord, we pray for the protection of our students;
We ask that you would guard their heart and their mind in Christ Jesus,
That you would wrap them up in Your love,
And deliver them from all evil.
Lord, we pray that you would give them great enthusiasm for their studies;
May you inspire them each and every day;
May each class bring fresh inspiration to their work;
May each moment be filled with the energy they need for their tasks.
Lord, we pray that they would know the hope to which they are called,
That their life would be transformed by revelation from Heaven,
That You would inspire their direction,
And gently lead them into their destiny
Lord, we especially pray for their friends at school and college May they come to know Your goodness and love,
To walk in Your freedom and grace
All the days of their life
Amen.

Cha pel N ew s
Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Romans 12:2
The Transformers went to Belize with a project planned: to transform a porch and paint the house being used as a dormitory
for the youngest boys at Cayo Deaf Institute. The teams goal, however, was to seek and desire Jesus so that our minds
would be renewed in Him.
We left the U.S. at 6 a.m. on July 20, and by 4 p.m. (Belize time), we arrived at Cayo Deaf Institute, accompanied in the team
van by Dan Beane (who had arrived in Belize a few days earlier), Yoselin, and Franklin. Yoselin and Franklin were deaf
members of the team; Yoselin helped in the kitchen and Franklin helped with the work project. Preliminary work on the
project began immediately, and then we were welcomed with a barbecue supper served at the home of Marvin and Lena Plett
and family, current directors of CDI.
The next 13 days were spent in a flurry of different activities. Most days included work on the projects at the school,
sometimes working an hour or more before breakfast to beat the heat of the day. The projects included tearing off the rotting
porch and building a new porch, stairs, and roof (assisted by carpenters), painting the entire house, and finishing painting two
sides of the laundry building. On two evenings we were assisted in our work by youth groups from Spanish Lookout
churches: power washing the house to prepare for painting and painting trim on the house. For 3 days, CDI was the
launching point for Deaf School, when approximately 30 volunteers went out to individual homes of deaf persons to teach
sign language to entire families in their homes. In the process, we ate with the group of 40 people mornings and evenings,
and with their leaders at lunch. Pedro, his wife, Janice, and daughter Romela, whose house we were renovating, also joined
us for some meals. We were guests for meals in homes around Spanish Lookout three times, and we were treated at
restaurants twice by friends from the community.
One morning was spent visiting Xunantunich, a Mayan excavation site. Weekend visits began on Saturday afternoons, with
visits in both Spanish-speaking and Mennonite homes. The weekend hours were spent getting acquainted with the families
and attending worship with them in their churches. Time for relaxing at CDI was spent swimming in the river or enjoying a
bit of breeze in the shade while sitting on Dans porch. We saw iguanas, geckos, large toads and cockroaches, kwash
(coatimundi), and the CDI family dogs. We heard jungle sounds at night on Dans porch, geckos on the walls, monkeys in the
trees by the sawmill, and Marvins infectious laughter. We experienced crossing the river on the ferry, cranking the ferry
ourselves, learning and using some sign language, playing volleyball, painting a home in a Spanish-speaking village on what
seemed like the hottest day of the year, playing futbol (soccer) in the street of the village, and meeting new friends. We
learned what it is like to live without air conditioning or a microwave or cell phones. Every evening that we were together,
we had devotions as a team. Each night a different team member led the devotions, providing opportunity for reflection,
study of Gods word, prayer, and transforming of our minds. What a precious time it was to call upon God and grow closer
as a team. A special farewell meal was served to the Transformer team on Sunday evening, August 2, by the CDI board of
directors, prior to a community memorial service for Sarah Beane. A service of praise songs, prayers, messages, and
reflections honored Sarahs life among her friends in Belize.
We left CDI on Monday, August 3, and traveled to Belize City to return our rented van and catch the water taxi to the island
of Caye Caulker. Monday evening and Tuesday were spent de-briefing our experience, snorkeling the coral reef(and
swimming with rays and sharks), trying new foods (fry jacks), and relaxing.
During debriefing we discussed how our experience had transformed us and how we would integrate our experiences and
transformation into our lives as we returned home. After an early morning water taxi ride and then a ground taxi ride to the
airport on August 5, we said farewell to Belize, arriving in Des Moines around 10 p.m. A luggage miracle occurred, as Jays
checked bag was nowhere to be found in Atlanta, but arrived with us at the airport in Des Moines. What a joy it was to have
Dale and Cooper Langenbau and Cimber and Austin Strayer chauffeur us home.
We are blessed to have been held in prayer by our Chapel congregation while we were in Belize. Thank you to everyone who
supported us through financial gifts, acts of service, and prayer as we sought Jesus, served Him, and were transformed
through the renewing of our minds.
Susan Beichley for the Transformers:
Dan Beane, Randy Beichley, Susan Beichley, Cole Langenbau, Tyson Strayer, and Jay Beichley
And our Belize Transformers: Yoselin and Franklin

PICTURES FROM BELIZE AND

CHAPEL SPECIAL MUSIC

Seated on the steps of the new porch are the Transformers, joined by CDI director Marvin Plett, his daughter, Janine, and
resident of the house, little Romela. (Top, L-R) Tyson Strayer, Cole Langenbau, Yoselin M., Franklin M., Jay Beichley, Dan
Beane, Randy Beichley, Marvin Plett, Susan Beichley, Janine Plett, Romela Montoya

One day the group went out to a Spanish speaking village and painted a house for a family who had come from Guatemala
a few years ago. The picture shows the team with members of the family.
The Transformer team completed work on a house at Cayo Deaf Institute that serves as a home for the youngest boys
attending CDI. A new porch and stairs with a roof replaces the old porch on the house. The entire house was also painted by
the team. The Transformers are: (L-R) Cole Langenbau, Dan Beane, Yoselin M., Susan Beichley, Randy Beichley, Jay
Beichley, Franklin M., Tyson Strayer.

(L-R) Elsor (son), mother Sandra, daughters Sandra and Olga Transformers Randy, Jay, Susan, Cole, Tyson, and
Franklin

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Special music August 9 with the Jr. Sunday School children. Thanks to Marci Krull for organizing and to Trisha Slifer for

CHAPEL
CHURCH
growing in faith...sharing Gods love
A monthly publication of
Chapel United Methodist Church
1597Abbott Avenue
Gladbrook, Iowa 50635

Pastor Mark Keefer (319) 479-8502; cell (319) 239-4743;

mdkeefer@windstream.net
Secretary Amy Niedermann- (641)499-2530; cell (641) 691-3315
amyniedermann@ymail.com
Group Email: chapel@iastate.edu
Chapel Blog: http://chapelfriends.blogspot.com

Ushers
Sept

Musicians

M&M

M u s i c & F l o w e r s Childrens sermon

Lynn Beichley & Marcia Wiese & Vaugn Kloster

Darrel Burt
Sue Koster
Kendall & Diana
Collins

Marla Hlas

13

Tom Handorf

20
27

Shirley Svendsen
Allen & Dee Burt

Childrens Church: Owen

Collins &Matthew
DeSchamp
Cathy Vint
Pastor Mark

Rick Bessman & Marcia Wiese & Mike Vint

Chuck Rosacker Sue Koster

Pre-K:Heidi Langenbau (opening)

1-3: Ann Jackson
4-6: Bill & Tammy Backoff
Jr/Sr: Cathy Vint
Adult: Kathryn Burt

Contact usher if nursery

attendant is needed.

Connie Buchman

11

Matt & Ann Jackson Childrens Church: Carter

Anderson & Caden Slifer
Dan Beane
Marci Krull
Lee & Patti Cornwell Pastor Mark

18
25

Sunday School

Contact usher if nursery

attendant is needed.

Oct

Nursery

Marla Hlas

Pre-K: Cindy Krull

1-3: Barb Plaehn
4-6: Lynn Handorf (opening)
Jr/Sr: Ann Jackson
Adult: Kathryn Burt