Pastor’s Ponderingsfiles.ctctcdn.com/41791e10301/1d23d5d6-312d-4fe4-8668-3f...Pastor’s...

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1 Pastor’s Ponderings "“Krino” Central United Methodist Church 201 S. 5 th St. Milbank, SD 57252 605-432-4766 Worship Times: 8:30 am Traditional 9:50 am Blended 11:00 am Contemporary 9:45 am Sunday School Lead Pastor – Rev. Thom Bowsher [email protected] Emergencies: 432-5363 Associate Pastor – Rev. Dr. DeVern Schwenn [email protected] Emergencies: 432-5050 Youth Director – Melissa Gall [email protected] Children’s Minister – Kristy Liebe [email protected] Office Manager – Jen Aden [email protected] Office Assistant – Sandy MacMillan [email protected] Custodians – Todd & Peggy Morton I was reading Matthew 7 the other day and just as I began reading something new and fresh flooded my mind. Have you ever experienced that? You’ve read a passage of scripture numerous times and all of sudden this new insight comes screaming off the page. Well, it happen to me once again. Matthew 7 is about being judgmental and hypocritical. When it comes to this passage of scripture, it’s all I have ever read or heard. Typically it goes something like: “A person is a hypocrite if they judge someone else when at the same time they’re doing the same thing”. This is true. We know this, right? It’s very biblical and it’s a social truth as well. Now, even though this is the primary point, there’s a little gem in verse 5 that’s very significant. Have you ever given that verse much attention? The other day I did, and this is where the light came on for me. Jesus says in that verse: “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Said another way: “Take care of you own issue first, then you will be able take care of the other person’s.” Interesting isn’t it? When a person gets right with an issue they may have, they can then see clearly, so that they can then help someone else dealing with the same issue. WOW! This notion of judging others stretches a person to overcome their own issue first and then extend love and grace by helping others, instead of being critical of their behavior and actions. As disciples of Jesus Christ we’re always being stretched. Often times to the point where we’re made to feel very uncomfortable. I think Jesus’ words in Matthew 7 are a great example of that. But stretching us isn’t necessarily a bad thing and neither is judging. The Continued on page 2 Where Can You Find Us? Radio: Sundays on KMSD 1510 at 11:00 am, our 8:30 am service is broadcast. Television: On ITC Cable Channel 95 our service airs on Mondays at 10:00 am and 7:00 pm; on Midcontinent Cable channel 3, the previous week’s service airs on Sundays at 5:30 pm and the current week’s service airs on Mondays at 11:30 am and Tuesdays at 2:30 pm. ITC customers with digital cable may watch the sermons free through their On Demand service. Web: Facebook and www.milbankcentral.org and #graceiscentral

Transcript of Pastor’s Ponderingsfiles.ctctcdn.com/41791e10301/1d23d5d6-312d-4fe4-8668-3f...Pastor’s...

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Pastor’s Ponderings "“Krino”

"NEW BEGINNINGS"

Central United Methodist Church 201 S. 5th St. Milbank, SD 57252 605-432-4766

Worship Times: 8:30 am Traditional 9:50 am Blended 11:00 am Contemporary

9:45 am Sunday School

Lead Pastor – Rev. Thom Bowsher [email protected] Emergencies: 432-5363

Associate Pastor – Rev. Dr. DeVern Schwenn [email protected] Emergencies: 432-5050

Youth Director – Melissa Gall [email protected]

Children’s Minister – Kristy Liebe [email protected]

Office Manager – Jen Aden [email protected]

Office Assistant – Sandy MacMillan [email protected]

Custodians – Todd & Peggy Morton

I was reading Matthew 7 the other day and just as I began

reading something new and fresh flooded my mind. Have you ever

experienced that? You’ve read a passage of scripture numerous times

and all of sudden this new insight comes screaming off the page. Well,

it happen to me once again.

Matthew 7 is about being judgmental and hypocritical. When

it comes to this passage of scripture, it’s all I have ever read or heard.

Typically it goes something like: “A person is a hypocrite if they judge

someone else when at the same time they’re doing the same thing”.

This is true. We know this, right? It’s very biblical and it’s a social truth

as well.

Now, even though this is the primary point, there’s a little gem

in verse 5 that’s very significant. Have you ever given that verse much

attention? The other day I did, and this is where the light came on for

me. Jesus says in that verse: “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of

your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from

your brother’s eye.” Said another way: “Take care of you own issue first,

then you will be able take care of the other person’s.”

Interesting isn’t it? When a person gets right with an issue they

may have, they can then see clearly, so that they can then help

someone else dealing with the same issue. WOW!

This notion of judging others stretches a person to overcome

their own issue first and then extend love and grace by helping others,

instead of being critical of their behavior and actions.

As disciples of Jesus Christ we’re always being stretched. Often

times to the point where we’re made to feel very uncomfortable. I

think Jesus’ words in Matthew 7 are a great example of that. But

stretching us isn’t necessarily a bad thing and neither is judging. The

Continued on page 2

Where Can You Find Us? Radio: Sundays on KMSD 1510 at 11:00 am, our 8:30 am service is broadcast. Television: On ITC Cable Channel 95 our service airs on Mondays at 10:00 am and 7:00 pm; on Midcontinent Cable channel 3, the previous week’s service airs on Sundays at 5:30 pm and the current week’s service airs on Mondays at 11:30 am and Tuesdays at 2:30 pm. ITC customers with digital cable may watch the sermons free through their On Demand service. Web: Facebook and www.milbankcentral.org and #graceiscentral

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Krino - Continued from page 1

the truth of the matter is that judging can actually have a positive perspective to it. The original Greek for “judge” is: “Krino” (kree-no), which can be either negative or positive.

So if we look at krino from the positive perspective, we judge someone out of love and grace and try to help the person. This is what Jesus is saying in Matthew 7. A person should seek to pass krino-ment for another’s benefit – not to hurt others.

My guess is that many of you do just that. You may not even realize it, but every time you reach out to help another person thorough something they’re struggling with you’ve krino-ed out of grace and love. I don’t know about you, but I think it’s pretty amazing.

So keep on krino-ing, from a positive perspective of course

Serving Christ, while growing in Christ,

Pastor Thom

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5

JANUARY RECAP

On Wednesday, January 13, our yoUnited program kicked off another semester! Both the middle school and high school aged yoUnited groups participated in a lesson called “Build Your Kingdom Here.” Youth looked at the lyrics to the popular Christian Song “Build Your Kingdom Here” by Rend Collective and talked about what it means to build God’s kingdom here on earth.

Because our Christmas parties scheduled in December were snowed out, we decided to celebrate Christmas in January! Middle Schoolers played games in the Youth Room on Wednesday, January 20. They brought snacks and had a time of fellowship. High schoolers also brought snacks, and played a version of the “White Elephant” gift exchange game.

UPCOMING EVENT REMINDERS

Wednesday, February 10, Ash Wednesday. Middle School yoUnited will meet from 6:00 pm – 6:45 pm in the Youth Room for Youth Group. We are encouraging middle schoolers to attend the Ash Wednesday service being held in the Sanctuary at 7:00 pm with their families.

High School yoUnited will attend the Ash Wednesday service at 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary. This is the Youth Group activity for the evening – once the service is over, Youth Group is concluded for the evening as well.

Wednesday, March 23. No regular Wednesday night activities.

Sunday, March 27, Easter Sunday.

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LENTEN OFFERING 2016

Lent begins early this year. Ash Wednesday falls on February 10. The Missions Commission of Central Church has designated this year’s Lenten Offering to be divided between the Zimbabwe Farming Project and an Education Fund for the McCarthy Children in Sierra Leone.

The Zimbabwe Farming Project funds will be used to expand the acres farmed and to establish a method to perpetuate the program. (see the article below).

The Education Fund is new to the Sierra Leone ministry. In August of 2015, a long-time employee at the Gess Eye Clinic, Reginald McCarthy, passed away from diabetic complications. He left a young wife and a preschool aged son and daughter. Reginald was particularly close to all of us who have served in Sierra Leone as he was so helpful with driving and translating for us. He spent many years as the trusted pharmacy dispensing technician at the eye hospital. Life will be extremely difficult for his family without his income; therefore, we would like to receive gifts that we can offer toward the education of his children. The cost is about $300.00 per year per child to go to school in Sierra Leone. If anyone would like to contribute, gifts will be received through this year’s Lenten offering.

ZIMBABWE MISSIONS TRIP

Mutambara Mission in Zimbabwe is excited to welcome three visitors for six days during February! Dr. Lowell Gess and Roger Reiners will focus on the needs of the eye clinic, evaluating and repairing equipment. Arvid Liebe will support their work and assist with administration at the farm. He will also bring needed repair parts for the tractors that are actively in use at the mission. Please pray for safe travel for these men and that their work will be successful and give glory to God! Below is a picture- of the eye clinic at Mutambara Mission in Zimbabwe.

THANK YOU FOR THE HATS, MITTENS, AND SCARVES!

The Missions Commission would like to thank everyone who helped fill the "Hat

& Mitten Tree" this season. Your donations provided 80 warm stocking hats, 30

pair of gloves & mittens, 2 pair of snow pants, and 6 pair of snow boots! Most of

the items have been donated to Milbank Koch Elementary School for the school

nurse to disperse as necessary. 35 hats remain available for other schools in the

area. Thank you for providing warmth in our community!

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MEALS ON WHEELS DURING FEBRUARY

Central United Methodist Church will be delivering the Meals on Wheels this month. Meals are delivered Monday through Friday each week – no Saturday’s or Sunday’s. We have drivers lined up for the first week, but drivers are needed for the last three full weeks of February. Three drivers are needed each day to pick up meals at Trevett’s Café between 10:50 and 11:00 am. Each delivery route should take about 30 minutes to complete and Trevetts provides delivery instructions. You may volunteer for one day or for a week. If you are interested in helping deliver meals, please sign up at the Welcome Center. If you have any questions you may contact Sue Stengel at 432-4919 or 432-6030.

VALENTINES “CUP O’ JOY”

The Fellowship and Service Committee invites you to enjoy a Valentine treat and flavored coffee on Sunday, February 14. How perfect that this day to celebrate love is on a Sunday! We can spread a little love within our church family. Join us after first service or come early for the 9:50 am service and grab a quick treat and some fellowship on your way to church.

REVEREND RANDY CROSS

The Reverend Randy Cross our D.S. (District

Superintendent) will be here on Sunday, February

21, and will be our guest preacher at all three

worship services. Following worship we will have a

meal and a continuation of the Charge Conference,

where we will share the joys of ministry in 2015. The

Church Council will then meet with our D.S., who will

lead in a discussion on accidental vs. intentional

ministry and prayer. This will be a great chance for

you to meet our new District Superintendent and

share in celebrating 2015.

Pastor Thom

Spread

A Little

Love

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2016

Lenten

Calendar

Donations Benefit:

Seed & Fertilizer-Zimbabwe

Farming Project

Education Fund for

the McCarthy children -

Sierra Leone

The Missions Commission of

Central Church invites you to count your

blessings during the season of Lent and

share with one or both of the selected

projects for this year’s offering. You may

designate a specific project listed below

or your offering may be

divided to support each of the two

projects equally.

Your donation will Benefit:

Seed & Fertilizer for the

Zimbabwe Farming Project

And/Or

Education Fund for the

McCarthy Children—Sierra

Leone (Reginald McCarthy was an

employee at the Kissy Eye Clinic, who

passed away.)

Thank you for sharing!

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CHRISTIAN BOOK CLUB

Central Church is beginning a Christian Book Club.

Anyone is welcome and there is no cost to you. Snacks

will be served and everyone will be given a chance to pick

a book. An informational meeting will be held in the

Youth Room on Tuesday, February 16, at 6:30 pm. The

first book will be handed out at the time. If you are

interested, please sign up at the Welcome Center so that

we have enough books available for everyone.

LENTEN SERVICES SCHEDULE

Ash Wednesday 7:00 pm, February 10 "Dust to Dust" - Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Lenten Series 6:15 pm at Central Church - "Renegade Gospel" by Mike Slaughter February 17 - "The Rebel Jesus" - John 14:1-7 February 24 - "Renegade Life" - Acts 17:1-9 March 2 - "A Very Important Question" - Luke 9:18-20 March 9 - "Seeing Jesus Today" - John 12:20-21 March 16 - "The Way of the Cross" - Luke 9:21-26

_____________________________________

Palm Sunday - March 20 "Expectations" - Mark 11:1-11

Maunday Thursday – 7:00 pm, March 24 "Got Humility?" - John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Good Friday 7:00 pm March 25 Central/Parkview Combined Service

Easter - March 27 "Resurrection Hope" – John 20:1-18

We encourage you to make plans to participate in these preparations for Easter.

LENTEN MEALS

Supper will be served prior to the Lenten service each Wednesday evening during Lent.

The meal is prepared and served by a church group seeking to raise funds for their project.

Donations cover the cost of the meal and provide for the fundraising. Supper is at 5:30 pm. If

your group would like to provide one of these Lenten meals, call the office at 432-4766 to

schedule. At this time all weeks are open except February 24. FYI: It is recommended that

committees or groups who serve a Lenten meal provide the makings of the meal. If you decide

to turn the food bills into the office, this will reduce the funds available for your fundraiser by

that amount.

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NEW YEAR’S EVE COMMUNION

This year, the Worship Commission offered a personal time for reflection and communion in the sanctuary on New Year’s Eve between 4:00 and 7:00 pm. Each person could read a short meditation and follow the communion liturgy independently.

Being a new event, a handful of people participated but, those who did participate found it to be a meaningful time of reflection and renewal as the New Year began. Worship Commission

AUTOMATIC CLEARING HOUSE (ACH)

No longer will you need to remember to bring your checkbook or that seemingly nonexistent thing called “CASH” to church. ACH (automatic debit) giving is now available at Central as an alternative to writing a check to the church each week or month. You can elect to have a withdrawal done on the 1st or the 15th of each month. The sign-up forms can be found in the Church Office and periodically in the bulletins. For more information please contact Adam Koplin or Jason Kettwig.

Sunday, February 28, serving starts at 9:00 am

with a short program

at 10:00 am.

PASTOR DEVERN’S CELEBRATION OF MINISTRY

Please note: There will be No Sunday School or 9:50 am Worship Service!

Menu: Egg Bake, Casey's

donuts, fruit, flavored

coffee (gluten free options also)

There will be a place provided to

leave cards for Pastor DeVern.

Central Rays Articles for March are due, Thursday, February, 18.

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WINTER WEATHER CANCELLATION POLICY

If Milbank Schools are cancelled because of inclement weather, then the church will be closed and all church

activities for that evening are also cancelled.

TAKING A”JOURNEY OFF THE MAP”

IS JAM’S ADVENTURE FOR 2016

We have started our “Journey Off the Map” for Wednesday night JAM. We are learning about Jesus, how He is our Guide through life, and that we need to know, trust, and follow Him. The music is very engaging and the actions that go with the music keep us moving. Crafts are made each week to emphasize the point the kids are learning. Games also reinforce the lesson. An object lesson brings the whole point together.

This last week the kids learned through an object lesson in which we used a clear glass of water to represent us, then added a drop of food coloring to represent sin in our lives, and when we ask Jesus into our lives and for the forgiveness of our sins that He can take away. We added bleach to the water mixture, which turned the water clear again. We are looking forward to going on mini- mission trips to “Journey Off the Map” together.

It’s never too late to join us on this adventure! Hope to see you there!

My walk with Christ has taught

me that my plans always need to be

adjusted to fit with His plans for me. One

of the ways God has shaped my life is

through the unexpected opportunities

that He has given me. I’m thrilled

sometimes and embrace these

opportunities; other times I really need

to be dragged to where I should go.

That has been the case with the

opportunity for me to be the new

Visitation Pastor for Central. I really

wasn’t sure I wanted to take on this job.

I had lots of things holding me back, but

at the heart of the issue, I really desired

to be obedient to God’s will in my life. I

really feel that it has been God’s will that

I take this job and serve Him in this way.

After making the decision to take

the job, I have been so excited! I love the

idea of getting to know the people of our

congregation better. I look forward to

visiting with people. The thought of

bringing various ages groups together for

activities really sounds amazing. I have so

many ideas and thoughts going through

my head. I can’t wait to see what the Lord

has planned for this opportunity!

Kristy Liebe

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Our People in Military Service: Marty Nygren

Our People in Overseas Mission:

Staff at Gess (Kissy) Eye Clinic Agape School for Boys, Kenya Solar Oven Partners, Rick Jost Dr. Emmanuel Mefor, Mutambara, Zimbabwe Mission

Our People in Care Facilities: Park Place:

Nadeane Buri Dorothy Bishop Dorothy Bracht Deloris Richards

St. William’s: Marie Buri Wava Butler Del Cardwell Shirley Hanson Kathy Trapp

Golden Living Center: Mavis Knaus Emmet Stengel

Jenkins Living Center: Betty Dammer

Rita’s Elderly Home Care:

Wilbert & Arlys Helmbrecht

Long Term Prayer Requests: Deb Pauli Cheryl Pauli Ralph Schmidt Tim Lenards Jesse Bergerud Ken & Anna Mae Frost Ione Brehmer (mother of Renae Fox) Paula Berry Matthew Smith Mary Warrey (If you have any updates or know of a name that should be removed, please call the church office.) Committee of the Month: Missions Commission

Church of the Month: Peace Evangelical Lutheran

CHIRSTMAS EVE OFFERING The Christmas Eve offering was a big success again this year! We raised $4,404 for our Milbank schools.

Community Bible Study will hold a visitor’s night on Monday, February 15, when a 12 week study will begin on I and II Timothy and Titus. All are welcome to learn more about CBS when the class meets from 7:00 to 8:30 pm here at Central Church.

Worship music, small group discussion, and a teaching time are included as the class meets each Monday.

For more information, or to enroll in Community Bible Study, call Pam Nelson at 605-880-2884 or Norma Kruger at 605-432-6252.

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Back Pack $663

Gess UMC $65

Sunday School $87

UM Special Offering $93

UMCOR $73

Total Budget Offering $28,072 Total Budget Goal $44,468

Dear Central, John and I want to thank you for your generous financial and prayer support and for the very helpful box of office supplies. We are encouraged by your letters, gifts, and willingness to work with us as we invite people to participate in the gospel message through relationship with Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:16-18 Grace & Peace to you in Christ, John & Alyssa Quade

We would like to thank the pastors of Central Church for allowing us to have our father’s funeral there and letting Dad's Pastor officiate. Everyone who took time out of their day to serve us, from the ushers to the kitchen staff, truly went above and beyond what they needed to. For all the support given to us by your presence, cards, and prayers. Thank you for being such a blessing to us during this difficult time. God bless you, The Family of Victor Mews

Dear Pastor Thom and the People of Central Church:

I want to express my appreciation on behalf of the Milbank School District and staff for your generous Christmas offering to the Milbank School District. This support is greatly appreciated. This is the third year that we have received a gift from Central Church. The original gift allowed the District to set up a fund for therapeutic counseling for students and families and to also help fund assemblies and speakers that we would not otherwise be able to fund. Although many students helped by counseling services did not need to access the fund, we would have never been able to offer this needed service without the gift from Central. This has allowed us to leverage the gift and help even more students and families. This gift has been a huge blessing to many people and our intention for this year’s gift would be to continue to use the gift in a similar way in the coming year. I continue to be honored and blessed to be in this position and witness the difference this gift has made in the lives of students and staff. I also feel fortunate to be a part of a church that ministers to our community! With Greatest Appreciation, Tim Graf Superintendent

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We are continuously trying to update our lists. Please notify the church office with any additions or corrections at [email protected] or 432-4766.

Feb. 1 Tayla Ninneman Feb. 3 Arlene Knaus Charles Trapp Tanner Bock Feb. 4 Noah Falk Paige Korstjens Feb. 5 Bill Rise Brenda Nomeland Feb. 6 Boyd VanVooren Oliver Folk Feb. 9 Cheri Mielitz Agnes Grabow

Feb. 12 Doug Stengel Melissa Gall Hannah Pauli Feb. 13 Adam Folk Breanna Schmitt Feb. 14 John Winquist Feb. 15 Alexander Biel Feb. 16 Barb Schultz Shawna Carlin Feb. 17 Rev. DeVern

Schwenn Stacy DeBoer Feb. 18 Brandon Trapp Feb. 19 Clarice Buhler Tim Brown

Feb. 20 Mildred Treis Feb. 22 Jessica Graham Isaac Graham Feb. 23 Justin DeVaal Amy Yamaura Feb. 24 Jeny Koplin Jean Graf Mark Bierschbach Feb. 25 Gregory Grabow Feb. 27 Cadi Soward Feb. 28 Conner VanVooren Feb. 29 Peggy Ahles

Feb. 1 Steve & Peggy Ahles Feb. 2 James & Sherri Veen Feb. 4 Brandon & Kelsey Peery

Schulte, Anne Arredondo, Susana *Bohn, Marge Brown, Tim & Jennifer Cross, Delwyn & Deloris Fields, Jerry & Marylynne

Grabow, Elli Hofman, Don & Nancy Hupke, Dave & Darcy Krahn, Sue Ann Lindeman, Gary & Cheryl Nomeland, Steve & Brenda

Seehafer, Jeff & Holli Smith, Darrel & Florrie Steege, Duane & Jerelynn Vander Wal, Paul & Dawn Wendland, Jim & Sheri Winquist, John

Feb. 17 Tom & Marlee Hunt Feb. 21 Arvid & Alvina Boerger Feb. 25 Jim & Teresa Grorud

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KIDS HOPE

November is National Prayer Month for Kids Hope. I would like to invite you to pray for

the Kids Hope program during this month. There are over 1200 programs around the USA. That

means there are many children impacted by Kids Hope USA, but we couldn’t continue without the

power of prayer! So, please join us in lifting up this life changing program in prayer!

NO SUNDAY SCHOOL

There will be NO Sunday School on

February 28. During that time Pastor

Devern’s Celebration of Ministry will take

place. We hope you and your family will

come celebrate with us.

One last note, please continue to help your son/daughter remember to bring their Bibles and Sunday School bags each week and ask them about their monthly memory verses. They are earning points by doing each of these things when they attend Sunday School. The points are then redeemed at our “store” for things like (Bible covers, books, movie passes, playdough, pencils, and the ever popular….candy.)

This year our Sunday School offerings have been designed to show the kids how working together we can support several projects both in our town and beyond. Our December offering went to purchase 2 gifts for the Angel Tree (one for a boy and one for a girl.) In January & February we are collecting money to support the Backpack program. It costs about $6.00 per filled backpack and our goal is to fill 25 backpacks ($125 total.) We are well on our way with $87 at this time. Thanks for helping the kids learn the importance of giving at a very young age.

Sunday, February 28, we will celebrate the ministry of Pastor DeVern Schwenn and his wife Joan. They have been a huge part of the life of Central for several years and we will be honoring them with a brunch and program in the Fellowship Hall on that morning. The kids have been asked to sing as a part of that service. We will not be holding regular Sunday School classes on that day to allow families to enjoy this time of celebration together and bless DeVern & Joan by our presence and gift of singing. Thanks for your help in allowing this to be a special day for the Schwenn’s.

90 DAY TITHING CHALLENGE

Just a reminder to prayerfully consider signing up for the 90

Day Tithing Challenge. The tithe is a very practical and tangible way

to put God first. If you are not tithing already, a great way to start is

with the 90 Day Tithing Challenge. If God doesn’t hold true to His

promises of blessings when you take the 90 Day Challenge, Central

UMC will refund 100% of your tithe. No questions asked. The sign-up

sheets are located in the pew offering envelope slots and in the

Church Office. For more information, contact Adam Koplin or Jason

Kettwig.

“Throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it” (Malachi 3:10).

SUNDAY SCHOOL

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READING THROUGH THE BIBLE

In my storage shelves is a box with a red ribbon around it. It holds the letters Kenne and I exchanged during the years we were apart at tech school and college. During February - the Valentine month - I sometimes get them out and re-read them, remembering how our ideas of love developed and how they have grown.

God reveals himself progressively from the beginning of Genesis until we see the glorious revelation of the King of kings and Lord of lords in Revelation.

Any time is a good time to begin reading with us. Comments are made on FaceBook and printed weekly. These can be emailed or a hard copy is available at the Welcome Center. Join together as we read God’s love letter to us! (Bibles available at the church office for $10.50.) Sheila Dailie

PRAYER IS URGENT AND IMPORTANT

Most of us can pray the Lord’s Prayer from memory. This model from Jesus focuses on God, but includes our needs. Praying for each other and our struggles is a vital part of fellowship.

For several years, I’ve been using Scripture prayers to guide my thoughts and intentions. One of my favorite passages is Ephesians 1:16-19.

This morning my Bible reading app centered on Colossians 1:9-13, Paul’s prayer for the believers in Colossae. Some of the things Paul prayed included 1) complete knowledge of His will, 2) spiritual wisdom and understanding, 3) lives that honor and please the Lord, 4) produce good fruit, 5) grow to know the Lord better, 6) be strengthened in his power, and 7) filled with joy.

Somehow, God connected Paul’s prayer with an idea from Steven Covey about how we often deal only with the urgent items - surgeries, illness, and loss - while neglecting the important things, like spiritual growth and wisdom. This leads to burn out and dissatisfaction, for the weekly prayer list is consistently long.

In Covey’s First Things First book, some of the important, but not urgent items include preparation, prevention, planning, relationship building, and empowerment.

When was the last time you made a list of important but not urgent matters to pray over your loved ones and the people in your church family?

Try praying a few verses of Scripture for people in your life. Here is one to get you started. Lord, I pray that _______ will trust in You with all her heart, leaning not on her own

understanding but acknowledging You in all her ways. As she does this, Lord, lead and guide her steps and make her path straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6 based on NIV84) (http://forthefamily.org/scriptures-pray-children/)

You might discover that God opens up “showers of blessing” Ezekiel 34:26 as you pray His Word and His blessing into the lives of those around you. Sheila Dailie

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SUNDAYS

8:00 am Choir Practice 8:30 am Traditional Worship 9:45 am Sunday School 9:50 am Blended Worship 10:00 am Prayer Group 11:00 am Contemporary Worship

MONDAYS

5:30 pm CBS Leader’s Meeting 7:00 pm CBS Classes

WEDNESDAYS 5:30 pm Lenten Meal 6:00 pm JAM Activities

6:00 pm MS yoUnited 6:15 pm Lenten Services

7:20 pm HS yoUnited TUESDAYS

6:30 am Men’s Study

9:30 am Staff Meeting

2:30 pm Life Quest