March 25th 2:30pm @ LaPiazza
Those present:
Pastor Rich Moore
Amy Gursky
Tim Ergler
Dana Kegerreis
Chuck Kegerreis
Sue Fessenbecker
Items Discussed:
Pastors Meeting w/ Youth - Pastor met with most of the Youth Sunday Morning and items discussed for fundraising were:
- Spaghetti Dinner to Kick off Selling of Stock Certificates
- Spring Fling (name might be changed)
- Car Wash
- Movie Night
Spaghetti Dinner
Spaghetti Dinner will be held on Sunday April 15th at 5:30pm. The format of this dinner will be somewhat different than those in the past as we are asking everyone to be there at 5:30 so that we can, in theory, all sit down around the same to eat so that that a program by Pastor Moore can begin after dinner introducing the idea of Stock Certificates to help fund the South Dakota in July.
Each Youth going on the trip will be asked to serve and sit with the table they are assigned and promote the trip. The idea is that they will talk w/ those dining at their table about the up coming trip. Center Pieces will be some sort of conversation piece, (2 per table) to help initiate conversation.
Pastor Moore will then present the idea of the stock certificates to those present and then Blue grass entertainment and dessert to follow.
We will ask the congregation to make some special desserts for us.
Sharon Andrienne and Ed & Kay Turner have volunteered to help serve that night. Any youth going to the 10:30 service that day will be asked to stay and help arrange the tables for the evening dinner. Youth will be asked to then return to the church no later than 4:45pm.
Youth are asked to please wear Khaki/or dress pants (no jeans if possible), and a polo shirt or something similar.
Actions required:
- Dana and Chuck will be purchasing items needed for the dinner.
- Centerpieces (conversation pieces- Lakotatrip ) need to be made, any ideas or if you would like to help with this, please email Dana.
- Desserts will be requested at the next few services.
Stock Certificates
After the Spaghetti dinner Stock Certificates will be on sale after all services. Cost will be $50/share. Each Share purchased entitles the owner of the certificate to:
- Immediate call from the youth assigned their stock certificate (day of purchase) to thank them for purchasing the certificate
- Upon arrival in South Dakota- post cards/letters are to be sent to their
Stock holders.
- Mid trip, a second round of postcards/letters is to be sent.
- A Thank You/Stock holders dinner /picnic (one person per certificate) to be held upon return of the group on Saturday July 21, 2007. Youth can share, pictures/stories/ souvenirs etc. with their stock holders. All youth that went on trip are to be present for this dinner.
A schedule will be made up and Youth will be asked to sell the certificates after all services. If someone cannot make their scheduled time for selling they need to find someone else to fill in their slot.
Spring Fling
Tentatively set the date for the Spring Fling to be May 19th. Items discussed were Chicken BBQ and or Pig Roast, Yard Sale, bake sale and Car Wash.
Action Required:
- Amy to investigate the pro’s and cons of Chicken BBQ/ verses a pig roast.
- Dana to organize the Yard Sale
- Sue to organize Bake Table
Car Wash
Kids want to do a car wash perhaps while the congregation is having service.
No date set.
- Pastor Moore to see if a Car Wash is possible at the church
Movie Night
This idea was also presented; we think there might be copy right issues.
Action:
Deb Key will be contacted to see if she knows anything about Movie nights since she has been involved with the parents group at Twin Valley.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Newsletter April
Isn’t the aroma of fresh baked bread just magical? It is said that our sense of smell is the one most deeply attached to our memories. I guess that’s why certain smells can transport us to completely different moments in time. The aroma of fresh baked bread does that to me. One whiff and I am once again a child in my grandmother’s lap anticipating some celebratory feast with the whole family. One whiff and I am home.
I am often asked, “Pastor, what kind of bread should we use for Communion?” So, I thought I would make this third installment of “Why do we do that?” a message that addressed this question.
It is common for people to refer to Jesus’ Last Supper as the biblical point of reference for the kind of bread we ought to use for Communion. From this event we might quickly come to the conclusion that the bread for Communion ought to be some sort of unleavened bread, or matzo. After all, that is the proper bread that would be found on any table celebrating Passover, otherwise known as the feast of unleavened bread, which, technically speaking, is what the Last Supper was. According to the Exodus story, when the Children of Israel were leaving Egypt, they had no time to wait until their bread rose, so they baked it before it had a chance to rise (Exodus 12:39). Therefore the people celebrated the Passover with unleavened bread, and still do, to remember God’s deliverance for them from Egypt.
Our celebration of Holy Communion, however, is not a remembrance of Passover. Holy Communion is a present-tense partaking of our promised eternity in the Kingdom of Heaven. As we remember the mighty ways in which God has delivered His people through the events of ancient days, we remember as well the way that God has saved us now and continues to do so through the life, death and new life of Jesus. St. John wrote, “Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’’” Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty (John 6:31-35).
Holy Communion is so much more than merely a remembrance of Jesus’ Last Supper. It is the bread that came down from heaven. It is the bread which gives life to the world such that all who eat it will never go hungry. Holy Communion is, for the believer, a spiritual feast where we take in, quite literally, the grace of God. Therefore, we may want the loaf upon our worship table to reflect more than a memory of the Last Supper. We may want a fully leavened loaf of bread on our Communion table that reflects the fullness of life promised to us through faith in Jesus.
Such bread to us may seem like ordinary bread. It may not seem special enough. The flat matzo-like bread is so out of the ordinary that it may seem like it makes it more special to us. But, what’s really special about Communion? Is it that we use extra-ordinary bread? Or, is it that God changes the ordinary in us into something extraordinary for Jesus’ ministry? Through Communion God changes us, and for Jesus’ sake, prepares us for His eternal home.
This brings me back to where I began this letter. There’s really only one question to ask ourselves when considering what kind of bread we should use for Communion. It is this: Does this bread, this aroma, this taste, this texture--does it remind us of home? Not just any home, though, our eternal home, our home with Christ.
I am often asked, “Pastor, what kind of bread should we use for Communion?” So, I thought I would make this third installment of “Why do we do that?” a message that addressed this question.
It is common for people to refer to Jesus’ Last Supper as the biblical point of reference for the kind of bread we ought to use for Communion. From this event we might quickly come to the conclusion that the bread for Communion ought to be some sort of unleavened bread, or matzo. After all, that is the proper bread that would be found on any table celebrating Passover, otherwise known as the feast of unleavened bread, which, technically speaking, is what the Last Supper was. According to the Exodus story, when the Children of Israel were leaving Egypt, they had no time to wait until their bread rose, so they baked it before it had a chance to rise (Exodus 12:39). Therefore the people celebrated the Passover with unleavened bread, and still do, to remember God’s deliverance for them from Egypt.
Our celebration of Holy Communion, however, is not a remembrance of Passover. Holy Communion is a present-tense partaking of our promised eternity in the Kingdom of Heaven. As we remember the mighty ways in which God has delivered His people through the events of ancient days, we remember as well the way that God has saved us now and continues to do so through the life, death and new life of Jesus. St. John wrote, “Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’’” Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty (John 6:31-35).
Holy Communion is so much more than merely a remembrance of Jesus’ Last Supper. It is the bread that came down from heaven. It is the bread which gives life to the world such that all who eat it will never go hungry. Holy Communion is, for the believer, a spiritual feast where we take in, quite literally, the grace of God. Therefore, we may want the loaf upon our worship table to reflect more than a memory of the Last Supper. We may want a fully leavened loaf of bread on our Communion table that reflects the fullness of life promised to us through faith in Jesus.
Such bread to us may seem like ordinary bread. It may not seem special enough. The flat matzo-like bread is so out of the ordinary that it may seem like it makes it more special to us. But, what’s really special about Communion? Is it that we use extra-ordinary bread? Or, is it that God changes the ordinary in us into something extraordinary for Jesus’ ministry? Through Communion God changes us, and for Jesus’ sake, prepares us for His eternal home.
This brings me back to where I began this letter. There’s really only one question to ask ourselves when considering what kind of bread we should use for Communion. It is this: Does this bread, this aroma, this taste, this texture--does it remind us of home? Not just any home, though, our eternal home, our home with Christ.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Sermon: March 4, 2007
“The Road of Danger”
Luke 13:31-35
Two roads diverged in a wood and I—
I chose the road less traveled by.
And that has made all the difference.
—Robert Frost
This area of the world is one that, in my opinion, has two wonderful traits that drew me and Amy here to live. 1. The Amish provide a reminder of the blessings in living a more simple life. 2. Beautiful rural scenery. In my opinion the best way to enjoy this area, whether as a tourist or local, is to get off the main roads and get lost in the back roads. Just a couple of weeks ago Amy and took a drive. We didn’t take a map, we just drove looking for things off the beaten path. It’s a bit risky to do such a thing. But, maybe it’s the risk that makes the drive seem more adventurous. Maybe it’s the danger of getting lost or stranded alone that somehow makes a drive in the car seem much less monotonous like the usual commute and more like the fun of exploring new ground. Amy and I did this when we were in Ireland. We had a car and we were in a land that we had not ever set foot on. We drove hundreds of mile every day. We drove looking for the back roads. Along the back roads, the less traveled roads, there are sights that can not be seen, experiences that remain hidden, along the main roads. But, there are very good, very safe, reasons for staying on the main roads. The main roads offer much better signage. If on the main roads, you don’t have to travel blind for long before you come to another sign telling you where you are or what to expect on the road ahead. Also, along the main roads there is much higher volume of travelers, traffic. We may not like traffic, but we must admit that there is a certain level of security we all feel from the numbers of people we travel along side on the busy roads.
The road less traveled may indeed be the one that offers much more for us to appreciate God’s creative and adventurous spirit, but it is a bit more risky and dangerous to travel that road. So, to overcome this we now have GPS navigation, Global Positioning Satellite navigation. Now, we can travel the back roads all we want and a little voice in the dash board of our car talks to us about the pertinent information regarding our whereabouts.
While we have GPS to give us the security needed to empower us to take the roads less traveled in our physical world, what about our spiritual world? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a sort of GPS to help us navigate the decisions of life?
God invites us to choose the roads that are less traveled. On Ash Wednesday, I spoke of the road of humility. Last Sunday it was the road of truth. Next Sunday is the road of judgment. These are all back roads that we know lead to beautiful, wonderful scenery along God’s terrain of righteous living. But, they are also very dangerous roads as well. Today, we hear that Jesus’ way, the way in which we are asked to follow, is the less traveled road of danger.
Jesus is warned by a Pharisee that Herod is out to get him. These Pharisees do not offer the voice of concerned friends. The Pharisees were not interested in protecting Jesus from danger. They were trying to trap him themselves. The Pharisees urged Jesus to leave because they wanted to stop him. But, Jesus’ life, work, and death were not to be determined by Herod or the Pharisees, or anyone else for that matter. Jesus’ life was planned and directed by God.
This is a very important piece for we who are believers today to grasp. The less traveled road of danger that Jesus faced, was not of God’s doing. But, because the path of Jesus' life, work, and even his death were determined by God, it was inevitable that danger would come. Also, and equally important, is the point that Jesus was not going to be stopped by the threat of danger along his road. Oh, its not that he wasn’t afraid, or that he didn’t fear the cross that awaited him in the road up ahead. But, Jesus’ actions—every move he made—was being guided by the Holy Spirit. Just last week we read the text that immediately followed Jesus baptism where it says that Jesus was “filled with the Holy Spirit and driven into the wilderness.” Every step Jesus took was in step with God’s direction. So, when the Pharisees came warning Jesus to go another way. His response is not one of arrogance or ignorance. It is one of the truth. He is going to continue along the path he is on regardless of Herod’s threat.
This, my friends, is true for us today. When God is the one determining our path, danger will come. Why? Because, in so much as we are following Jesus, we too are on the road less traveled. There are far too many Christians today who have gotten the wrong idea about Christianity. They assume that if the follow Jesus, and become a Christian then all their troubles and worries will go away. WRONG! If anything becoming a Christian, following our Lord, will bring more danger your way. Why? Because to follow Jesus puts you on the road less traveled. You see, the road most traveled is the road that most people are on. Its risky turns, and unseen bumps are all very well known and documented. Therefore, the minute you turn off this road and venture down the path that Jesus invites you upon, you can bet that the people around you are going to say you’re going the wrong way.
Amy and I have experienced this over the past several months. Ever since announcing that we are adopting a child from Ethiopia there have been some who can think of only the same threats of the Pharisees. Their warning comes to us like this: Are you sure you want to raise a black child in this neighborhood? Why are you adopting from Ethiopia, isn’t there a risk that your child will have some sort of disease? These threats are sincere. The dangers are real. But, Amy and I must stay the course. To do otherwise would be to abandon the way in which our Lord has invited us to follow. It may be the dangerous road less traveled, but to do otherwise would be unfaithful.
You see, my friends, to remain faithful there are times when we must take risks and face danger. To choose a path that avoids risk and danger is to abandon our Lord, and that’s more foolish than the risk of following our Lord.
The Good News however, is that with Jesus we have a GPS. Oh, it’s not a voice inside a gadget on your dashboard. That speaks to you when you push a button. Its much more. It’s a voice from our Lord. It’s the presence of Christ among us. You don’t have to push a button. You just need to pray. Our GPS is God’s Promised Son. He guides us and shows us the way. And, we can trust him because he has already been down every road of danger we can think of. He’s been through pain, rejection, abandonment, torture, death. He’s even been to hell. And, after going through all of that he came back from the grave to meet us once again, forgive us once again, and invite us once again to trust him and follow him.
Yes, the road that Jesus calls us upon to follow him is one filled danger.
But, we have GPS, Gods Promised Son with us to guide us, and as far as the road of danger—-He’s already been down that road. So, we can follow boldly. We can face our fears. We can take the necessary risks for the sake of others.
Amen.
Luke 13:31-35
Two roads diverged in a wood and I—
I chose the road less traveled by.
And that has made all the difference.
—Robert Frost
This area of the world is one that, in my opinion, has two wonderful traits that drew me and Amy here to live. 1. The Amish provide a reminder of the blessings in living a more simple life. 2. Beautiful rural scenery. In my opinion the best way to enjoy this area, whether as a tourist or local, is to get off the main roads and get lost in the back roads. Just a couple of weeks ago Amy and took a drive. We didn’t take a map, we just drove looking for things off the beaten path. It’s a bit risky to do such a thing. But, maybe it’s the risk that makes the drive seem more adventurous. Maybe it’s the danger of getting lost or stranded alone that somehow makes a drive in the car seem much less monotonous like the usual commute and more like the fun of exploring new ground. Amy and I did this when we were in Ireland. We had a car and we were in a land that we had not ever set foot on. We drove hundreds of mile every day. We drove looking for the back roads. Along the back roads, the less traveled roads, there are sights that can not be seen, experiences that remain hidden, along the main roads. But, there are very good, very safe, reasons for staying on the main roads. The main roads offer much better signage. If on the main roads, you don’t have to travel blind for long before you come to another sign telling you where you are or what to expect on the road ahead. Also, along the main roads there is much higher volume of travelers, traffic. We may not like traffic, but we must admit that there is a certain level of security we all feel from the numbers of people we travel along side on the busy roads.
The road less traveled may indeed be the one that offers much more for us to appreciate God’s creative and adventurous spirit, but it is a bit more risky and dangerous to travel that road. So, to overcome this we now have GPS navigation, Global Positioning Satellite navigation. Now, we can travel the back roads all we want and a little voice in the dash board of our car talks to us about the pertinent information regarding our whereabouts.
While we have GPS to give us the security needed to empower us to take the roads less traveled in our physical world, what about our spiritual world? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a sort of GPS to help us navigate the decisions of life?
God invites us to choose the roads that are less traveled. On Ash Wednesday, I spoke of the road of humility. Last Sunday it was the road of truth. Next Sunday is the road of judgment. These are all back roads that we know lead to beautiful, wonderful scenery along God’s terrain of righteous living. But, they are also very dangerous roads as well. Today, we hear that Jesus’ way, the way in which we are asked to follow, is the less traveled road of danger.
Jesus is warned by a Pharisee that Herod is out to get him. These Pharisees do not offer the voice of concerned friends. The Pharisees were not interested in protecting Jesus from danger. They were trying to trap him themselves. The Pharisees urged Jesus to leave because they wanted to stop him. But, Jesus’ life, work, and death were not to be determined by Herod or the Pharisees, or anyone else for that matter. Jesus’ life was planned and directed by God.
This is a very important piece for we who are believers today to grasp. The less traveled road of danger that Jesus faced, was not of God’s doing. But, because the path of Jesus' life, work, and even his death were determined by God, it was inevitable that danger would come. Also, and equally important, is the point that Jesus was not going to be stopped by the threat of danger along his road. Oh, its not that he wasn’t afraid, or that he didn’t fear the cross that awaited him in the road up ahead. But, Jesus’ actions—every move he made—was being guided by the Holy Spirit. Just last week we read the text that immediately followed Jesus baptism where it says that Jesus was “filled with the Holy Spirit and driven into the wilderness.” Every step Jesus took was in step with God’s direction. So, when the Pharisees came warning Jesus to go another way. His response is not one of arrogance or ignorance. It is one of the truth. He is going to continue along the path he is on regardless of Herod’s threat.
This, my friends, is true for us today. When God is the one determining our path, danger will come. Why? Because, in so much as we are following Jesus, we too are on the road less traveled. There are far too many Christians today who have gotten the wrong idea about Christianity. They assume that if the follow Jesus, and become a Christian then all their troubles and worries will go away. WRONG! If anything becoming a Christian, following our Lord, will bring more danger your way. Why? Because to follow Jesus puts you on the road less traveled. You see, the road most traveled is the road that most people are on. Its risky turns, and unseen bumps are all very well known and documented. Therefore, the minute you turn off this road and venture down the path that Jesus invites you upon, you can bet that the people around you are going to say you’re going the wrong way.
Amy and I have experienced this over the past several months. Ever since announcing that we are adopting a child from Ethiopia there have been some who can think of only the same threats of the Pharisees. Their warning comes to us like this: Are you sure you want to raise a black child in this neighborhood? Why are you adopting from Ethiopia, isn’t there a risk that your child will have some sort of disease? These threats are sincere. The dangers are real. But, Amy and I must stay the course. To do otherwise would be to abandon the way in which our Lord has invited us to follow. It may be the dangerous road less traveled, but to do otherwise would be unfaithful.
You see, my friends, to remain faithful there are times when we must take risks and face danger. To choose a path that avoids risk and danger is to abandon our Lord, and that’s more foolish than the risk of following our Lord.
The Good News however, is that with Jesus we have a GPS. Oh, it’s not a voice inside a gadget on your dashboard. That speaks to you when you push a button. Its much more. It’s a voice from our Lord. It’s the presence of Christ among us. You don’t have to push a button. You just need to pray. Our GPS is God’s Promised Son. He guides us and shows us the way. And, we can trust him because he has already been down every road of danger we can think of. He’s been through pain, rejection, abandonment, torture, death. He’s even been to hell. And, after going through all of that he came back from the grave to meet us once again, forgive us once again, and invite us once again to trust him and follow him.
Yes, the road that Jesus calls us upon to follow him is one filled danger.
But, we have GPS, Gods Promised Son with us to guide us, and as far as the road of danger—-He’s already been down that road. So, we can follow boldly. We can face our fears. We can take the necessary risks for the sake of others.
Amen.
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