From the Board President

Recently someone posted a piece on Facebook that had an interesting Huffington Post article someone had written about religion that I found most interesting.

It talked about how what people were most attracted to with a church was seeing that the church was more about living the teachings than just talking about them. They said how many people are turned off over lawsuits regarding forcing the 10 commandments or nativities to be put up at places and that maybe instead of fighting those fights, other things need to be done.

The article talked about a church in Washington State I believe, where the pastor had gone to Africa and saw children orphaned due to the AIDS epidemic and many who had the disease themselves.  His church was small and not growing and was best known in their community for their Christmas program.  He was thinking the problem he had seen was so big that there was nothing he could do.  He was however able to do something and eventually many other organizations and people in the community became involved and that church became known for the mission work and all the good they were doing in a land far away.

I found this piece most inspirational.  First, it shows that no matter how small you may be you can still make a big difference.  I believe that is something our little church can get behind.  Also, showing your love and compassion for others and trying to live a life of giving is seen in a very good light by others and draws them towards you and your works.  That seems to be a lesson good for anyone.

Paul  Bennett

RAK Witnessing

Random Acts of Kindness Week

By our lives and our actions, we can be a witness to others.  Many times our actions speak louder than words.  Remember, strive to be “doers” and not just “hearers.”  Try to live your life so that others see the light of Jesus in your words and actions.

Matthew 5:16

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

RAK Listening

Random Acts of Kindness Week

Be of service by listening.  Sometimes you don’t have to say or do anything but just listen.   By listening we can provide comfort and support.  There is great power in a simple hug.

“The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.” Ralph Nichols

RAK Hospitality

Random Acts of Kindness Week

Be of service in Hospitality… friendly reception and treatment of guests or strangers. After all, isn’t being a good host or hostess another way to be kind? Making others feel comfortable and welcome?  When you show an interest in others, you will brighten their day.  There is always an opportunity to make people feel welcome and ensure that their time spent with you is memorable, whether it be in your home, church or place of business.

A Little Kindness for Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day…what a perfect day for a random act of kindness.

Give some Valentine cards anonymously. Remember how much fun it was to give and receive valentines when you were young?  Who says it has to stop when you grow up?  Spread some love!

Surprise someone with some baked goods, who doesn’t love that?!

Perhaps some flowers would be nice!

Don’t let this special day pass you by without doing at least one act of kindness!

RAK Common Courtesy

Random Acts of Kindness Week

Be of service using common courtesy of greetings and acknowledgement.  The very basics of common courtesy, please and thank you. Sadly those seem to be forgotten words in our society today. Just because you are busy, doesn’t mean you should forget to be polite. Do your best to be considerate of others.

RAK Week is February 11-17, 2013

RAK  (Random Acts of Kindness)

The message Sunday was “The Humility of a Servant.”  One of the things Pastor Pritchett mentioned to us is that we need to be “doers” of the word, not just “hearers.”  We need to fulfill this obligation that Christ asks of us by being of service to others. As I was listening, I thought, wow, this really ties in with it being RAK week.

Pastor Pritchett challenged us to go out and do what Jesus asked us to do, whether it be for a neighbor or a stranger.

There are many ways we can be of service to others and as we are being a service to others are we not also performing an act of kindness?

Be of service of small things. It doesn’t have to be something big. Do something kind for someone that only you yourself know you did.  Don’t let the left hand know what the right hand is doing.

Reminder…Sunday, February 10th

 

Valentine Fellowship after worship.
Bring a snack and join the fun!

Pastor’s Thoughts

All of us know what fences are.  We’ve put them around our homes, we’ve built them to keep livestock in, and we’ve formed property lines with them.  We live in a world full of fences.  Daily we face barriers between rich and poor, conservative and liberal, men and women, people of color and people without color, between clergy and the laity, between one denomination and another, and the list could go on and on.  Part of the calling as Christians is that we act the roll of a wrecking crew, a demolition team if you so will.  Christ sends us to tear down fences and to undermine walls and remove high barriers.

Many fences are lovely antiques whose owners value them dearly.  They have been handed down for generations in the family.  Some walls are strongly built, heavily guarded, and defended at all cost.  We are told that if they fall the whole country will fall with it.  Some of these walls are adorned with our own achievements, titles, favorite objects, attitudes and bias.

These walls cause many, including myself, to grow weary, the glazed look during a message, the whispering, the wisecracks, the same excuses, and reasons.  I know what she’s going to say, or there he goes again, or that’s the same old thing.  There are days when we are tired and fed up with taking walls down brick by brick only to have someone else start mortering them back together.  Jesus Christ, Himself, began the demolition.  With His own body. He experienced the walls dividing rich and poor, Jew and Gentile, male and female, bond and free.  God is asking us to do the same.  As we tear down we are building up.  The bricks we pull down go into building something else.  One day all people will walk freely among one another.  There will be no walls.  Scripture states, “Do not grow weary of well doing.  For the Kingdom of God, which has no fences, is coming.”  Let each of us destroy a fence and build the Body of Christ up in unity and oneness of purpose.

Pastor Blaine Pritchett

Student of the Month Garett Graham

Garett is the son of Erica and Terry Graham and grandson of Jerry and JoAnn Birkby.

First I would like to say thank you for remembering me last year, it really helped me start off my first semester at Peru State College.

I am a sophomore this year and am enjoying my time here. I have made many friends and memories that will last a life time.  What you may not know is I am on the football team at Peru.  Football is a true passion of mine but not the only reason I am going to school.  My reason for attending Peru State College is to get a degree in Elementary education, preferably to work with children with special needs.  I also plan to get my coaching certificate so I can be a football coach.

There are great things about college that I would like to share with the younger generation the first being with a college degree you are prepared to get a better job and second I encourage everyone to be involved in some sort of group.  Being on the football team has made me get out of my room and meet new people, now I have more friends than I can count.

I want to say thanks again for what the church is doing, the donations are much appreciated by me and the rest of the college students.  The money is very helpful and is being used wisely.  Thank you very much.

If you would like to send a note of encouragement, his address is:

Garett Graham

600 Hoyt St. DH1010

Peru, NE  68421