http://firstumcmarengo.org/index.php/site/index/ en katie.z.dawson@gmail.com Copyright 2010 2010-11-02T17:06:00+00:00 http://firstumcmarengo.org/index.php?/site/come_to_the_table_a_vision_and_mission_discernment_process/ http://firstumcmarengo.org/index.php?/site/come_to_the_table_a_vision_and_mission_discernment_process/#When:16:06:00Z Our congregation is in the process of listening for what God is calling us to be next.  Over the course of three years, we will be re-discovering our past, discerning where God is moving, and learning to embody God’s will in this time and in this place. Our congregation has dubbed this journey “Come to the Table.”  Like any good Methodists, we are brought together around tables often… whether it is for communion or for a potluck.  Hearing and then living out God’s dream for us is a lot like coming to the table for dinner.  Before we can eat, work has to be done to set the table.  Then, when all is ready, we will be able to stop and be nourished by God.  Finally, we will get up from the table and head back out into the world replenished to live out God’s mission. This journey began in the spring of 2010 and so far in the process we have spent some time looking back to set the table for the future.  We invite you to join us and to check out our “Come to the Table” updates regularly! 2010-11-02T16:06:00+00:00 http://firstumcmarengo.org/index.php?/site/our_mission_statement/ http://firstumcmarengo.org/index.php?/site/our_mission_statement/#When:03:15:00Z All Authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the close of the age. All Authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the close of the age. The paragraph immediately above has been the articulated statement of purpose of the First United Methodist Church, Marengo, Iowa, for the past several years. The statement of purpose was reaffirmed at each and every one of our administrative council meetings. God is expecting us to observe all that he has commanded. We are to have a concern for our church members and friends, for our community, for our nation and for all persons in the world. We are to reach out to all in our community with the message of repentance, forgiveness, love, salvation, relationship with Jesus Christ and reconciliation of all things to God the Father.   2008-01-18T03:15:00+00:00 http://firstumcmarengo.org/index.php?/site/our_pastor/ http://firstumcmarengo.org/index.php?/site/our_pastor/#When:03:09:00Z Click above to read more about our pastor - Rev. Katie Z. Dawson Rev. Katie Z. Dawson is the pastor at First UMC Marengo.  She and her husband Brandon are both from the Cedar Rapids area, but they lived in Tennessee while Katie attended seminary. Pastor Katie is a graduate of Simpson College and Vanderbilt University Divinity School, where she did her Masters of Divinity. During this time she has also been working on her ordination and is currently a provisional elder within the United Methodist Church. Pastor Katie likes to watch movies, try cooking new things, and play video games.  She is also interested in experimenting with many forms of worship (like Taize, emerging practices, ancient liturgies, etc.) and practicing spiritual disciplines. 2008-01-18T03:09:00+00:00 http://firstumcmarengo.org/index.php?/site/our_history/ http://firstumcmarengo.org/index.php?/site/our_history/#When:03:15:01Z Marengo was first settled prior to 1846.  There were two branches of Methodists who were pioneers, the Methodist Episcopal and the Methodist Protestant.  A Methodist preacher named Edward Twining was among the first to visit the county as early as the spring of 1846.  He was the first minister to officially solemnize marriages, by authority issued to him on October 8, 1846, by the county clerk.  As such, October 8, 1946 is the date which the church considered its official anniversary date.  Marengo was at first an appointment of the Bear Creek mission, of which Richard Swearingen was pastor in 1848. The Marengo Mission, Iowa City District, Iowa Conference, was organized in 1849 by H.W. Reed, presiding elder.  Asbury Collins was pastor.  The conference consisted of the pastor, Lewis Lanning, steward, and J.H. Richardson, leader.  While there is some disagreement as to where the first meeting place was, conventional wisdom is that the first religious services of a public character held in Marengo occured at Downard’s store, which was located west of the present day Post Office on West Washington Street.  The Marengo Mission would meet quarterly in the courthouse.  The meeting commenced on a Friday night and continued until Sunday night.  Several of the Methodist ministers during this time came from nearby counties. The first church was erected in 1851 on the corner of Court Avenue and Washington Street where the Gode building now stands.  A parsonage was also built on that site.  The first Sunday School was organized in 1853.  The circuit then extended from near Iowa City to the vicinity of Brooklyn, and south of Williamsburg. About 1888, a church was built on the corner of Marengo Avenue and South Street with a parsonage built to the west of the church. The church was dedicated by Rev. T.B. Mighes on March 11, 1888.  In 1900, $1,800 was raised to build a church tower, a brick walk and grading outside, and a new railing. Construction of the present church began June 7, 1915 and was completed March 1916.  It was dedicated on April 2, 1916.  The Kilgen pipe organ was purchased in 1927. The Marengo Church was known as the Marengo Methodist Episcopal church until 1939.  In that year the Methodist church reorganized by uniting three branches of the church.  The church was then called the First Methodist Church.  The United Brethren and Evangelical Churches united in 1946.  The union of Brethren and Methodists occured in 1968 thus giving the church its current name of First United Methodist Church. On May 6, 1969, a Uniting Conference in Des Moines created the largest Iowa women’s organization, which is currently known as the United Methodist Women. The present parsonage located at 1215 Howard Avenue was built in 1975. Reverend O’Toole did all of the woodworking on the inside of the parsonage.  Since then, the church has been redecorated and an elevator installed to provide additional access to the sanctuary.  The church celebrated its 150th anniversary in October, 1996. Several former pastors attended the event. 2008-01-16T03:15:01+00:00 http://firstumcmarengo.org/index.php?/site/being_united_methodist/ http://firstumcmarengo.org/index.php?/site/being_united_methodist/#When:16:12:00Z Follow this link for information on the United Methodist Church, what it believes, and what it stands for. United Methodists come in all sizes, shapes, colors, dispositions, outlooks and life stories, but share a unique history and faith perspective. Our members speak many languages and live in many countries. No matter how or where they serve Jesus Christ, United Methodists do God’s work in a unique structure—referred to as “the connection.” This concept has been central to Methodism from its beginning. Connectionalism comes to life through our clergy appointment system, our mission and outreach, and through our collective giving. We live out our call to mission and ministry by engaging in ministry with the poor, combating diseases of poverty by improving health globally, creating new places for new people and renewing existing congregations, and developing principled Christian leaders. No one congregation can do all these ministries, but together—through the power of our connection—we can make a tremendous difference. -from http://www.umc.org Our Faith: Beliefs, Discipleship, Church and Society, Mission and Ministry Our Church: History, Structure, Giving Our World: News, Methopedia, Global Health Initiative 2008-01-14T16:12:00+00:00