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Hello once again… Events are moving faster than my packing process. According to my last conversation with the moving company they will need to load my things onto a van on Friday the 17th rather than Monday the 20th. This is because I will be sharing the van with a UM pastor in Council Bluffs who wants to move out before the flood waters get in the way. That means that I will have to leave AFTER the farewell on Sunday the 19th in order to meet the truck in Washington on Monday. What this means is that I now need help with packing. If you can help out during any of these times please show up at the parsonage—Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to noon or those same evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Don’t worry if you aren’t up to heavy lifting; some of what I need done is sorting and shredding paperwork. The Administrative Council meeting is this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Vacation Bible School registration is in the city park on Saturday the 18th. VBS itself will be at the Christian Church Monday through Friday, June 20-24. A light evening meal will be served for students, helpers, and teachers. Remember in prayer • Those who are battling cancer or are seriously ill • Persons recovering from surgery • Persons grieving the loss of loved ones • For the communities, businesses, and churches along the Missouri River • Our church family and Pastors Karen Hoff and Shirley Textor in this time of transition For this Sunday (12th) • Scripture: Acts 2:1-20 • Sermon Title: “When God’s People Gather” Reflection
LOVE & JOY TEXtor
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Hello again…
Remember that there is no Sunday School this week because of Memorial Day weekend. Summer Sunday School will begin the first week of June. It will be held during worship time with the children being dismissed following the children’s time. Annual Conference is in Des Moines June 4-7. Cathey Grosvenor and Rev. Textor will be attending. Their daytime emergency phone number at HyVee Hall will be 515-707-6538. During that time our secretary Sheryl Sindt will be on vacation. Bev Zuch will substitute for her. Looking ahead into June
For this Sunday (29th)
Reflection
LOVE & JOY TEXtor Hello again…
Our church community appreciation day activities went well—lunch for guests, library grounds clean-up, preparing pots and planting flowers, litter clean-up, thank you notes. Thirty-five or so of our church folk took part including 2 youth and 4 children. This would be a good project to continue in future years, perhaps with other community churches included. Our church related graduation activities are completed and the graduation ceremony and receptions are taking place this weekend. Congratulations to Quintin Forrester and Alex Gleaves Mary Applegate passed away this week. Her viewing is at the funeral home Friday night, her funeral is at our church at 10:00 a.m. Saturday morning, and the funeral lunch will be held at the Christian Church. This Sunday we will present Sunday School certificates to our children during worship; next Sunday the Sunday School will not meet. Hats off to all who help provide Christian learning and fellowship activities for our children! For this Sunday (22nd)
Reflection
LOVE & JOY TEXtor 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 Holy Week greetings…
Worship on Palm Sunday captured both the essence of the Parade of Palms and the story of Jesus’ Passion. We celebrated with palm leaves and a song by our children along with baptism and confirmation. Then, through scripture and meditation we entered into the solemnity of Holy Week. And we left worship having been inspired once again by the DVD “Watch the Lamb”. After worship three families gathered together for a potluck in honor of our new members. The food was abundant and delicious! You still have these Holy Week opportunities
This week please pray for
For this Sunday (24th)
Reflection
LOVE & JOY TEXtor 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
This week please pray for
For this Sunday (17th)
Reflection
LOVE & JOY TEXtor Would you believe—Holy Week is just around the corner!
Two coming church events you don’t want to miss out on—Confirmation on Palm Sunday April 17 and Saturday May 14 for activities to show our appreciation for the community of Oakland. This week please pray for
For this Sunday (10th)
Reflection
LOVE & JOY TEXtor Hi folks. It’s me again!
If our district schedules another Faith Fest next year, I hope that you will plan to attend. The music, all kinds of music, was uplifting, and the witnessing was definitely inspiring. Two coming church events to be mindful of—Confirmation on Palm Sunday April 17 and Saturday May 14 for activities to show our appreciation for the community of Oakland. This week please pray for
For this Sunday (3rd)
Reflection
LOVE & JOY TEXtor Spring has sprung—but it doesn’t feel like it! This Sunday (27th), is the District Sponsored Faith Fest at the Hancock UMC from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. It’s so close by that it would be a shame to miss out on this occasion of inspirational singing and witnessing. Also, if you attend, you’ll be able to support Merlin Jones who will be one of those sharing his witness. I have room in my car for four adults or five kids. If you’d like a ride, let me know. If you missed out on our 2nd Annual Chicken Delight Potluck, you missed out on a really fun time. We raised close to $500 for Heifer Project chickens. Ward and Nancy Young entertained us with “The Chicken Song” and led us in a little kareyolkee. And we topped off the event with the chicken dance—which hopefully helped some of us wear off those extra calories from all that delicious food! Two coming church events to be mindful of—Confirmation on Palm Sunday April 17 and Saturday May 14 for activities showing our appreciation for the community of Oakland. I invite prayers for these persons and circumstances--Edith Haines (breast surgery next week); Cathey Grosvenor and her brother Larry (their mother Dorothy Forristall is now under hospice care); family and friends of Merle Davis (she passed away today); Nancy Allen (a retired pastor and friend diagnosed with multiple myeloma); also for the ongoing threat of radiation in Japan; and peace for the citizens and leaders of Libya and other “hot spots.” For this Sunday (27th) • Scripture: John 4:5-42 • Sermon Title: “The Ripple Effect” Reflection 1. Why was it out of the ordinary for Jesus to talk to the woman at the well? (verses 7,8,9) 2. What does the Samaritan woman do when she realizes that Jesus is the Messiah? (v. 25,26) 3. Why does she leave her water jar behind? (v. 28) 4. Reflect especially on verses 35-42 and the importance of spreading the Good News that Jesus is the Messiah. 5. What happens to still water when a stone is dropped in? 6. How are you sharing the Good News that Jesus is our savior, God’s son? 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
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