Greetings everyone… I know that I announced this vacation as a working one. However, I could have done without the sick part! While I achieved the crucial tasks of finding a place to live, of testing places to eat out, of acquiring a bank and a library card, and signing up for the Curves exercise program, I spent the rest of the time with the dentist and the doctor and feeling blah—my usual throat, voice and cough problems, plus putting my back out of place. Finally, May 14 is upon us and we’ll be carrying out activities to show our appreciation to the Oakland community. If you won’t be available to help with your presence or physical participation, be sure to pray for the event itself. This Sunday we are honoring our two Riverside graduates--Quintin Forrester and Alex Gleaves. Be sure to bring a food dish and join these two and their guests at an after church brunch/potluck. The RCA sponsored Baccalaureate service will be in the evening at 7:30 p.m. at the Oakland Christian Church. I’d appreciate your prayers for my voice to hold out for the two events. Our special missions offering this week is for tornado recovery assistance for the Mapleton community. I served as pastor in that community for 7 years and have a special place in my heart for them. Oh, if you haven’t done so, be sure to express your appreciation to our missions committee for two recent outstanding events—the Chicken Delight Heifer Project Fundraiser and notes and gift cards for area service men and women. For this Sunday (15th) • Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33 • Sermon Title: “Take My Hand” Reflection
LOVE & JOY TEXtor
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Greetings and salutations…
Holy Week is now upon us. This Sunday is Palm Sunday. We’ll have our usual procession of palm leaves by the children and adult helpers. We’ll also confirm six youth (Kyra Martens, Hannah Hummel, Hayley Haines, Grace Gleaves, Andrew Jones, and Sarah Jones) and baptize two of them (Hayley Haines and Hannah Hummel). It’s been a privilege to work with these seventh and eighth graders, and I hope that you’ve thanked them for their able assistance with worship these past months. Also, if you haven’t done so, be sure to thank Emma Ehmke for joining the adults who have been leading us in our praise songs. Also deserving thanks are Cyndy Haines and Sheila Applegate who cleaned up in front of the church. If you haven’t already done so, this Sunday you’ll have a chance to write a note to one or more of our service men or women. Be ready with the message you’d like to send. Holy Week
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For this Sunday (17th)
Reflection
LOVE & JOY TEXtor It’s almost Spring!
And we’re going to kick off the season with our second annual Chicken Delight potluck (20th). Bring your donations for Heifer Project chickens. Bring along a dish containing eggs or chicken; drinks and table settings will be provided. After the meal you are invited to join in our celebrative chicken dance. Then, shake off the blues of winter by attending a Southwest District Faith Fest service of inspirational singing and witnessing at the at the Hancock United Methodist Church from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday the 27th. I have room for four adults or five kids in my car. If you’d like a ride, let me know. We can’t begin to imagine, even with all the photos and videos, the devastation in Japan from the earthquake, tsunami, and now the threat of radiation. But we can pray long and hard for the people involved. If you’d like to supplement your prayers with gifts now, check with the Red Cross or other reputable organizations. In due time, we will also take an offering for relief and recovery efforts. It’s a troubled world we’re living in. In addition to our own concerns, our prayers for peace are sorely needed. Please plan to show up Saturday, May 14 to help us as a church show that we care about our community and the persons who work to make it a good place to live in and conduct business. We’ll be serving a meal in honor of our town council and town workers. There will be other hands-on activities as well. Stay “tuned” in for further details. For this Sunday (20th) • Scripture: John 3:1-17 • Sermon Title: “Nick at Night” For Reflection
LOVE & JOY TEXtor Greetings and salutations! Good news. We have some people who are finally feeling better and willing to give up their place on our prayer list for others! We’re glad that Ilene Parkhill is feeling better and able to continue her chemo treatments. Also, Gloria Gleaves had an epidural this week and we’re hopeful that it will help relieve some of her pain. However we do need to direct our prayers toward the family and friends of those grieving the loss of loved ones. And we need to broaden our horizons and pray ardently for peace. The present turmoil in various countries is a visible sign of this need. Thanks to all of you who donated food or time to assist with the Klindt family funeral luncheon in Carson. This is an excellent example of taking “church” into the community. Be aware that we still need senior high youth group counselors for the last three Wednesdays in March and first three Wednesdays in April. If you can help, contact Mark Martens. Be sure to keep these March activities in mind--Ash Wednesday (9th) with worship at the Carson United Methodist Church at 7:30 p.m., our Heifer Project Chicken Delight potluck (20th) and Faith Fest (27th), a service of inspirational singing and witnessing at the Hancock United Methodist Church from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Have you saved Saturday MAY 14th to help our church show their appreciation for our community through activities by our children, youth, and adults? For this Sunday (27th) • Scripture: Matthew 6:24-34 • Sermon Title: Seek Ye First For Reflection 1. To serve God or money – why can’t we do both? 2. How does serving God differ from serving money? 3. Why should we give our primary allegiance to God? 4. How does this passage describe God’s love for us? 5. What does this scripture say about having trouble or bad times? LOVE & JOY TEXtor It’s me again… Don’t forget our movie night this Saturday at 6:30 p.m. We’re showing a movie for the young at heart—“The Santa Claus” with Tim Allen. This is an occasion for all age groups so come and bring guests with you. The movie is free, and there will be cookies and drinks available at intermission for a free will offering. Our Sunday School Christmas program will be during worship the 19th. The Christmas Eve Service is Friday the 24th at 10:00 p.m. Please pray for Ilene Parkhill who has gone to stay with her daughter in Virginia for the duration of her chemo treatments. Her address will be in this Sunday’s bulletin. Also keep in mind Shirley Frizzell. Her knee replacement is doing well, but she has had a prolonged stay in the hospital to get her potassium level back on an even keel. In addition, several families who have lost loved ones recently can use your prayers and words of support. For this Sunday (12th) • Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-10 • Scripture: Matthew 11:2-6 • Sermon Title: Signs of the Kingdom For Reflection 1. This is the third Sunday of Advent; the theme is joy. Where do you see joy reflected in our scripture passages? 2. What words and phrases in these two scriptures are similar? 3. Why do you think John the Baptist might have been wondering if Jesus was really the Messiah? 4. How did Jesus respond to John’s question? 5. The sermon has to do with signs of the kingdom. Where do you find signs of the presence of God’s kingdom in our time and in our midst? May you be blessed as you wait and prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus and at the same time live in anticipation of his glorious appearance and final triumph. LOVE & JOY TEXtor Greetings!
Hope Thanksgiving was a great time for you and that you didn’t spoil it by getting trampled during the Black Friday shopping frenzy! In addition to other prayer concerns, be sure to add to your list Ilene Parkhill who began chemo treatments this week. The chili supper-nativity set display was a fun fellowship event. The chili was excellent and Anita McMartin was the pleased winner of the nativity set offered as a door prize. You can read more about the event in future bulletins or newsletters. Keep these three December events in mind – 1) movie night featuring “The Santa Claus” at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday December 11, 2) Christmas program during worship December 19; and 3) Christmas Eve Service Friday the 24th at 10:00 p.m. For this Sunday (5th) • Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10 • Sermon Title: The Jesse Tree For Reflection 1. This week I’ll be referring to the Jesse tree. If you can’t make it to worship and don’t know what a Jesse tree is try to Google it. Let me know what you find. 2. How was Jesse related to King David? 3. Why is the royal line of King David important to Christians? 4. What is Isaiah’s vision of God’s kingdom; how does he describe the ruler of this kingdom? 5. What part did trees or wood products play in Jesus’ life and death? LOVE & JOY TEXtor Dear friends,
Be sure to pray for meaningful Thanksgiving activities this coming week and next. Also keep in mind those serving in the military on our behalf. And remember in prayer persons with serious health concerns and persons who are homebound or in nursing homes or in hospitals during the holiday season. Be sure to keep these activities in mind: Bernie and Norma’s 50th wedding anniversary open house this Saturday, Hanging of the Greens right after worship Sunday (hope you can be there to help out), RCA sponsored Thanksgiving Community Meal at the Community Building at 6:00 p.m. the 21st, and our chili supper/nativity display on the 27th. If you have one or more nativity sets you would be willing to loan us for the occasion you may bring them to the church office anytime before the 27th. For this Sunday (21st) * Scripture: Matthew 4:1-4 * Sermon Title: Starving Souls For Reflection 1. “The hunger of the stomach is mild when compared to the gnawing hunger of the heart.” What connection do you see between this statement and today’s scripture? 2. What life circumstances might contribute to the hunger of the stomach? 3. What life circumstances might contribute to the gnawing hunger of the heart? 4. In what ways does the Christian faith address the hunger of the stomach? 5. In what ways does the Christian faith address the gnawing hungers of the heart? 6. What does celebrating Thanksgiving have to do with any of this? LOVE & JOY TEXtor |
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