Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
It’s that time of year again. Time to celebrate our birthdays together! The All Church Birthday Party will be held on Sunday, August 19. This year we will do things a little differently. We invite you to join us for a light meal at 6pm (food and drink will be provided). Larry and Jane Kies, missionaries serving Africa University in Zimbabwe, will be our special guests. Jane is a United Methodist missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries teaching intensive English to students from non-English-speaking countries at Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe, southern Africa. Jane was born in Ndola, Zambia and grew up in Africa and England. Jane’s husband, Larry, Is also a United Methodist missionary with the General Board of Global ministries serving as technical advisor to the Africa University Farm. Larry grew up near Jessup, Iowa, where his parents gave him his love of farming and sense of global mission. Larry and Jane have four children. The Kies will share about their missionary experiences following the 6 pm meal. Around 7pm we will gather around our respective birthday tables and enjoy celebrating our birthdays together. We hope you can join us for this special time in the life of the church!
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, July 1 marks the one year anniversary of our time in ministry together. I thought for this month’s newsletter it might be fun to do an “Oakland UMC Year in Review.” Following are some of the highlights of the last 12 months:
Thank you for participating in the many ministries of our church by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness. It has been a joy and a blessing to serve as your pastor this past year. It is hard to put into words how thankful I am for all of you. You have shared the love of Christ with me in so many ways. I thank God for all of you and for the good we have been able to do in Jesus’ name. May God continue to bless our time together as we seek to love God with all of our heart, our soul, our mind, and our strength and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
And All God’s Children Said, “Amen.” Pastor Karen Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As I was looking at the calendar I have hanging in my office, I was reminded of several special dates in February. The 2nd is Groundhog Day. Maybe the infamous groundhog won’t see his shadow and spring will come early this year. Yet, even if spring doesn’t come early aren’t we thankful for the mild winter we have had! February is the month we celebrate Lincoln’s Birthday, Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day, Washington’s Birthday, and this year Leap Day. And some of you will be celebrating family birthdays and anniversaries this month, also. Our church calendar for February is busy, as well. In addition to our ongoing ministries, the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University classes begin on the 1st, the various church committees will be getting together to make plans for this new year, the church will be hosting the Date Night Challenge Event, and on the 22nd the Lenten season begins. February 22 is Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Lenten season. Lent is a season of 40 week days and six Sundays and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes from the word lencten, which means “spring”. The season is a preparation for celebrating Easter. Historically, Lent began as a period of fasting and preparation for baptism by converts and then became a time of confessing sins and seeking forgiveness by all Christians. Lent is a time to get closer to God. Lent is a journey from self-serving to self-giving. People may give up something they enjoy for Lent or fast for certain meals. Others give up a favorite activity, like watching television or internet browsing. Giving up things we enjoy become love gifts to God, given to God with love and thanksgiving. Making a sacrifice, even a small one, helps us to recall the great sacrifice God made for all of us. Lent is an invitation to “be with Jesus,” to seek His face and enjoy His presence. I encourage you to make the Lenten season a time to begin or renew or deepen your relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We invite you to join us for our Ash Wednesday Service at 7:30pm on February 22, at the Sharon Presbyterian Church and our Sunday morning worship services at 10am. Let us join together to spiritually prepare for Easter. There is nothing more important than drawing closer to the One who loves you so much that He gave His only Son to die for you so that you may have life and have it abundantly! And All God’s Children Said, “Amen.” Pastor Karen Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In this constantly changing uncertain world that we live in, we need our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In uncertain times, it is good, in fact necessary to remember that the God we worship remains the same. God does not change. Our money says, “In God, We Trust.” This statement is a statement of faith, one we can profess in the good times and the bad. Regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in, God is here with us –loving us, forgiving us, guiding us, caring for us. We serve a God who loves us more than we can even begin to imagine. Psalm 100 instructs us to: “Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness. Know that the Lord is God. It is He that made us, and we are His. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, And his faithfulness to all generations.” Coming before the Lord with thanksgiving is a good thing to do. Someone once told me that grateful people are happy people. And I believe that to be true. Remember the old hymn, “Count Your Blessings, Name Them One by One.” Counting our blessings helps us to maintain a positive hopeful outlook on life. As we praise God for all he has done for us and through us, we naturally draw nearer to God, feel more of His presence, more of His peace and joy and grace in our lives. This Thanksgiving Season may we all take the advice of the Psalmist . Let us gather together, as the children of God ,to worship our Lord and Savior and thank God for our many blessings. Have a Blessed Thanksgiving. And All God’s Children Said, “Amen!” Pastor Karen Pastor Karen would like to make some home visits. If you would like her to visit you, please call the church office. |
AuthorPastor Kim Dewey Archives
March 2024
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