From Pastor Blaine

Pastor’s Thoughts

Pictures From the Harvest Festival

You can click on pictures to enlarge.

Getting ready to take off on the hay ride…

Getting ready to cook those hot dogs and toast those marshmallows!

Had to use a lot of these yummy candies to make…

A nice gift jar!

Decorating our cans…

Time out for something to eat!

Here’s our decorated treat cans!

Harvest Festival

 

Don’t forget to come join the fun at the Harvest Festival,

Sunday, October 25th 4:00- 6:00!  Hope to see you there!

From the Secretary

All hands on deck for the Harvest Festival, the latter part of October. 
Or may it be said, let*s have a happy hoedown.  Candies are being
collected from parishioners for the craft project, pumpkins and/or
colorful squash for autumn decor, and food for the famished hayride
revelers.  A sign up sheet in the Fellowship Hall for some of these
items will be available.
*
The Zach family has made a lovely effort putting together music for
Sunday services.  They appeal to congregants for ideas on special songs
or arrangements to be used on occasion.  If you have a favorite CD or
title, please talk to Jan.
We appreciate Joan Tiemeyer for many years working as editor of our
beloved newsletter.  Nevertheless, she is planning to retire from this
duty in December.  If anyone would like to take up the baton, give it a
go, try on a new hat, please let Joan know, so she may help with needed
advice.  Marcia has thought about it, though feels she wouldn’t be able
to follow through consistently with the responsibility. An alternative
solution is being considered. However, if you have dreamt of being the
elegant editor of an informative flyer, don’t hesitate to hail Joan and
hash over the details.
The socializing after church is an enjoyable mainstay of our
fellowship.   Those who provide treats are very much appreciated by the
congregation.  Some have intimated, however, that less is more, or
healthy is happy.  It seems to me though, that we are very blessed to
have so much high quality sustenance of any kind from so many talented
cooks and hosts.
Thank you.  Marcia L., Secretary

Mission Accomplished

 

Four weeks ago the congregation was challenged to collect sneakers, gym shoes and baseball caps for the Syrian Refugee Crisis.  Results were tremendous as 70 pairs of shoes and nearly 200 baseball caps were received.  They will be mailed out the week of October 1st and should reach their destination in Greece in 6 to 7 weeks.

While the crisis is enormous our prayer is that those who will receive and wear the shoes and caps will sense the love and care through this small effort.  Remember the words of Jesus, “As you do unto the least of these my brothers you do unto me.”

Please be in prayer that the boxes arrive in good condition and that those who will wear them will find peace and safety for themselves and their families.

A special thank you to our partners in this ministry. United Faith Community Church, Valley, Nebraska and First United Methodist Church, Hamburg, Iowa.

Will keep you posted if a notice of reply is sent.

Pastor’s Thoughts

All of us have things that scare us. For some it's thunder and
lightening; others the dark, snakes, spiders, flying, and some at the
end are scared to die Halloween is a time when young children dress up
and try to scare someone in their costumes and masks. They'll run up
behind us and yell BOO! Most of us will act scared even if we're not.
Scaring people can be fun.
*There are other occasions that being scared is real and frightening.
The Lord doesn't want our hearts to be afraid or scared.  Jesus promises
that he'll be with us when we feel afraid. In I John 4:18 the Bible
states,"Where Gods love is, there is no fear, because Gods perfect love
drives out fear." Gods love for us enables us to depend on him whenever
we 're afraid. We don't have to fear. The 23rd Psalm states, "Yea though
I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;"
Why? For thou are with me.  Gods love and presence is with us wherever
we are and we go. We don't have to be afraid.
The next time we experience fear or the emotion of being afraid remember
the words of Psalms 27:1, "The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom
shall I fear?" The  Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be
afraid? May our loving Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ bless and keep each
and every one of you in His loving care

Pastor Blaine