OAKLAND IOWA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
  • HOME
  • MINISTRY ACTION PLAN
  • CALENDAR/BDAYS
  • DAILY READINGS
  • LITURGISTS
  • NEWS
  • PASTOR'S PAGE
    • Meet Pastor Kim
  • WARRIOR WORSHIP (Recordings)
  • RESOURCES
  • AUTO-GIVING FORM

The Pastor's Corner for November 2015

11/5/2015

0 Comments

 
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

2 Corinthians 9:8-12 reads:

God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause. As the scripture says, “He gives generously to the needy; his kindness lasts forever.” And God, who supplies seed for the sower and bread to eat, will also supply you with all the seed you need and will make it grow and produce a rich harvest from your generosity. He will always make you rich enough to be generous at all times, so that many will thank God for your gifts which they receive from us. For this service you perform not only meets the needs of God’s people, but also produces an outpouring of gratitude of God. 

Among the many blessings I am thankful for, is the generosity of the Oakland United Methodist Church congregation. Sunday, October 25th was Ingathering and Mission Giving Dedication Sunday. During the worship service, we heard stories about people who have personally been blessed by the missions you have given to, people whose lives have been transformed through your giving. We heard about Lindsay who found hope at the Open Door Mission and Maggie who benefited from the work of Society of St. Andrews. We were introduced to John who is now living a changed life thanks to the Sienna/Francis House. We learned how the Heifer Project helped Oscar and his family make a living. We saw how lives are being changed through the work of the missionary we support, Larry Kies.  The 85 Layette Kits placed before the altar will bring much joy to new moms in Nigeria.
 
There are many more stories.

Sometimes the many needs of the world can be overwhelming. While it is true we cannot help everyone, we are called to do what we can. Every life matters. You may have heard the story of the Starfish. It goes like this:

Once upon a time, there was a man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day, as he was    walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up. As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a child, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The child was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean. He came closer still and called out “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?” The child paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.” “I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” asked the somewhat startled man. To this, the child replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.” Upon hearing this, the man commented, “But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!” At this, the child bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into ocean. As it met the water, he said, “I made a difference for that one.”

Jesus says, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Thank you for sharing what God has blessed you with. Your giving does make a positive difference in the lives of our brothers and sister near and far.
 
May you have a very Blessed 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pastor Karen
0 Comments

    Author

    Pastor Kim Dewey

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    January 2025
    October 2024
    August 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    October 2023
    May 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011

    Categories

    All
    April
    Bible
    Blog
    Church
    Corner
    Easter
    From The Pastor
    Graduation
    Hoff
    January
    Karen
    Karen Hoff
    March 2012
    May
    Methodist
    Newsletter
    Oakland
    Oakland United Methodist Church
    Oakland Unted Methodist Church
    Pastor
    Pastor Karen
    Pastor Karen Hoff
    Pastor's
    Pastor's Corner
    School
    United
    Vocation

    RSS Feed

OAKLAND IOWA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

​200 N Main St - PO #4, Oakland, IA  51560

​Phone:  (712) 482-5530

Church email: [email protected]

​
​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:  Kim Dewey

​Email: [email protected] 

Phone: 
 712-887-0263
Pastor Kim observes Sabbath each Monday.  In the case of an emergency,

please do not hesitate to contact her by call or text, and she will respond as

soon as possible.
​

All non-emergency calls, texts, and emails will be responded to the next day. 

Thank you for your thoughtfulness in assisting Pastor Kim with self-care in this

way.  it is greatly appreciated!


Organist:  Marilyn Hackett

​Lay Leader: Merlin Jones 712-482-3687

​Secretary:  Martha Isaacson 712-482-5530
​
​
​Custodian:  Trevor & Megan Jefferson