Ten Guidelines From God
(I received this in an email from Ardeth Kocourek earlier
this summer and thought it to be excellent advice for all of
us.)
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY:
Please be aware that there are changes YOU need to make in
YOUR life. These changes need to be completed in order that
I may fulfill My promises to you to grant you peace, joy and
happiness in this life. I apologize for any inconvenience,
but after all that I am doing, this seems very little to ask
of you. Please, follow these 10 guidelines:
1. QUIT WORRYING:
Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit and worry.
Have you forgotten that I am here to take all your burdens
and carry them for you? Or do you just enjoy fretting over
every little thing that comes your way?
2. PUT IT ON THE LIST:
Something needs done or taken care of. Put it on the list.
No, not YOUR list. Put it on MY to-do-list. Let ME be
the one to take care of the problem. I can't help you until
you turn it over to Me. And although My to-do-list is long,
I am after all God. I can take care of anything you put into
My hands. In fact, if the truth were ever really known, I
take care of a lot of things for you that you never even
realize.
3. TRUST ME:
Once you've given your burdens to Me, quit trying to take
them back. Trust in Me. Have the faith that I will take care
of all your needs, your problems and your trials. Problems
with the kids? Put them on My list. Problem with finances?
Put it on My list. Problems with your emotional roller
coaster? For My sake, put it on My list. I want to help you.
All you have to do is ask.
4. LEAVE IT ALONE:
Don't wake up one morning and say, "Well, I'm feeling much
stronger now; I think I can handle it from here." Why do you
think you are feeling stronger now? It's simple. You gave Me
your burdens and I'm taking care of them. I also renew your
strength and cover you in my peace. Don't you know that if I
give you these problems back, you will be right back where
you started? Leave them with Me and forget about them. Just
let Me do My job.
5. TALK TO ME:
I want you to forget a lot of things. Forget what was making
you crazy. Forget the worry and the fretting because you
know I'm in control. But there's one thing I pray you never
forget. Please, don't forget to talk to Me -- OFTEN! I love
YOU! I want to hear your voice. I want you to include Me in
the things going on in your life. I want to hear you talk
about your friends and family. Prayer is simply you having a
conversation with Me. I want to be your dearest friend.
6. HAVE FAITH:
I see a lot of things from up here that you can't see from
where you are. Have faith in Me that I know what I'm doing.
Trust Me; you wouldn't want the view from My eyes. I will
continue to care for you, watch over you, and meet your
needs. You only have to trust Me. Although I have a much
bigger task than you, it seems as if you have so much
trouble just doing your simple part. How hard can trust be?
7. SHARE:
You were taught to share when you were only two years old.
When did you forget? That rule still applies. Share with
those who are less fortunate than you. Share your joy with
those who need encouragement. Share your laughter with those
who haven't heard any in such a long time. Share your tears
with those who have forgotten how to cry. Share your faith
with those who have none.
8. BE PATIENT:
I managed to fix it so in just one lifetime you could have
so many diverse experiences. You grow from a child to an
adult, have children, change jobs many times, learn many
trades, travel to so many places, meet thousands of people,
and experience so much. How can you be so impatient then
when it takes Me a little longer than you expect to handle
something on My to-do-list? Trust in My timing, for My
timing is perfect. Just because I created the entire
universe in only six days, everyone thinks I should always
rush, rush, rush.
9. BE KIND:
Be kind to others, for I love them just as much as I love
you. They may not dress like you, or talk like you, or live
the same way you do, but I still love you all. Please try to
get along, for My sake. I created each of you different in
some way. It would be too boring if you were all identical.
Please, know I love each of your differences.
10. LOVE YOURSELF:
As much as I love you, how can you not love yourself? You
were created by me for one reason only -- to be loved, and
to love in return. I am a God of Love. Love Me. Love your
neighbors. But also love yourself. It makes My heart ache
when I see you so angry with yourself when things go wrong.
You are very precious to me. Don't ever forget.
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Touch someone with your love.
Rather than focus upon the thorns of life,
smell the roses and count your blessings! |
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Summer News
Please
click on photos to view enlargements |
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Coming out of the
Oahe Chapel following worship in June. |
Pastor John preaching
at Oahe Chapel. |
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The photos above
are courtesy of Lloyd Kannegieter. |
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Church School begins
September 14 for all
ages
at 10:30 am |
Oahe Presbyterian and Habitat House
At the beginning
of 2008 the mission outreach committee decided it wanted to
make it known to the Pierre/Ft. Pierre communities that
there really was a Presbyterian Church in town. Then the
Habitat for Humanity house came along and enhanced that
opportunity for us.
In May a group
of OPC’ers and a group from Onida First Presbyterian
shingled the Habitat House in 3 hours and 15 minutes leaving
quite an impression with the Habitat crew. Not only was
quality work accomplished in a short period of time but
friendships abounded as a result. [and not one person fell
off the roof in the process.]
In August Oahe
Presbyterian were requested by the Habitat committee to put
the finishing touches on the house by adding doors and
trim.
Soon the Habitat
family will be moving in to their new home with its pink
bedrooms for the girls and a brand new stove and
refrigerator donated by Whirlpool. The dedication for the
house was held Saturday, August 30th.
The work was
rewarding [and yes, exhausting] but the friendships made
have been priceless.
Yes, we are
getting the word out that Oahe Presbyterian not only exists
but that the members are a pretty talented and friendly
bunch. Praise the Lord for the opportunity!
Thanks to all
who assisted with the Habitat for Humanity home!
--Meleta
DeJong, Mission Outreach Committee
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South Dakota is one small town...
By KayCee Hodson
 The
phrase certainly didn't originate with me, but South Dakota
is aptly described as "One small town with very long
streets." That truism was reinforced for me last month.
Every few months, I send a letter off to Harriet and Wendell
Andrews, our dear OPC friends who moved to Tea. I tell them
what's happening around town and at the church.
My last letter,
though, took a detour. In a very blonde moment, I put Sioux
Falls on the envelope, rather than Tea. Everything else was
correct: their name, house number, street, and zip code.
The post office, however, chose to deliver the letter to
Sioux Fall s,
which has a street by the same name and a house with a
number that matches. So that's where the letter arrived.
The lady of the
residence, Evie, got the letter, saw my return address, and
said to herself, "H'mm. That name sounds familiar. Ah, yes.
That's my friend Betty's niece. I wonder why she's writing
me." Evie then realized the letter wasn't addressed to her
but to two people she didn t know.
She called my
Aunt Betty, who lives on the other side of the state in
Belle Fourche, got my phone number, and called me. Evie and
I chuckled over the coincidence of the woe-be-gotten letter
arriving at her house and how she knew of me. Bless her
heart, Evie then readdressed the letter and sent it to the
Andrews in Tea.
Yes, South
Dakota is one small town with very long streets, and many
kind friends and neighbors live along those streets.
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Ecumenical
CROP walk - Church World Service
CROP is simply an acronym for
“Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty”.
Last year the Ministerial for Ft. Pierre
& Pierre, determined that ecumenically they wished
to sponsor this mission and outreach effort which
has its origins through the 60 year
inter-denominational work of Church World Service.
Now again, this year an ecumenical
effort is being extended by our ministerial to see
greater involvement by our various Churches and
congregations by participating in this walk.
If you would like to take part in the
walk it has been organized to begin on the front
steps of the South Dakota Capitol on Saturday,
September 13 at 9am.
The route will extend downtown to the
Legion Building and back again to the Capitol.
Your prayers are coveted for this
mission as well as any financial donation. 25% of
funds collected will go directly to PARS, our local
food pantry, and assistance agency; and the
remaining 75% we be used for worldwide hunger relief
efforts. |
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Oahe Olympics
and
Potluck |
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To
kick the church school year off there will be
an Oahe Olympics at the church.
We will start
with various games/sporting events for all ages
at 4 pm with a potluck dinner at 6 pm.
It will be a
great time of fellowship and fun while
participating in a little friendly competitive
spirit.
See
you on September 14th!!
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Minute
For Mission: Five for Five Campaign Celebration
CANDIDATES SOUGHT FOR INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
Critical
needs have been identified.
PC(USA)
mission leaders are asking the church to help them identify
qualified candidates for international mission service.
Eighteen international "critical needs" are posted on the
PC(USA) ministry opportunities Web site
http://www.pcusa.org/msr/mission.htm.
Scattered around the world, they call for a variety of
skills and gifts. World Mission is asking individual
Presbyterians to consider their own call and giftedness for
mission service and encourage others to do likewise.
"Many
times people hear a call to service after somebody has
affirmed their giftedness," says Hunter Farrell, World
Mission director. "I would like Presbyterians to think about
individuals who worship in the pew behind them on Sunday
mornings, who serve on the congregation's Mission Committee
with them, or who work with them on presbytery projects and
in other areas of ministry."
The church
is seeking to reverse a 50-year trend of decline in the
number of mission co-workers who serve internationally. The
General Assembly Council developed a budget, which the
General Assembly approved in June, that will enable the
number of mission co-workers to climb from fewer than 200
today to 215 in 2009 and 220 in 2010.
Visit
http://www.pcusa.org/mission. For more
information about mission service, e-mail the Mission
Twelve
new Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mission appointees
completed orientation last month and have begun their
international assignments
K. J. Bae
joins his wife, Sook Hee, in Seoul, Korea, and assists her
work with the Women Ministers Association (WMA) of the
Presbyterian Church of Korea. The WMA offers a ministry of
compassion to battered women and teenagers and empowers
female clergy by offering them counseling and continuing
education.
Paul and
Darlene Heller are serving with the Ministry of Hope, a
crisis nursery in Mzuzu, Malawi, Paul as director and
Darlene as matron. The Ministry of Hope, based in Lilongwe,
Malawi, operates a nursery in that city and feeding centers
in six villages. The nurseries care for children born with
AIDS or who have been abandoned in other life-threatening
situations.
After
taking a study leave to pursue doctoral studies in Germany,
Jane Holslag is returning to her service as a professor of
theology and English at LCC International University in
Klaipeda, Lithuania. She also works with congregations in
the Evangelical Reformed Church of Lithuania and with the
theological faculty of the University of Klaipeda. She is a
member of the Presbytery of Los Ranchos.
Amy
Robinson is U.S. coordinator of Pasos de Fe, one of six
ministry sites along the U.S./Mexico border that are part of
the Presbyterian Border Ministry (PBM). A joint mission of
the PC(USA) and the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico,
PBM's ministries include evangelism, new church development,
and community health and development.
Doug and
Liz Searles are consultants and evangelists working in
church growth, small group development, music ministry, and
an English as a second language (ESL) program with the
Evangelical-Reformed Church in Poland.
Lora and
Bruce Whearty are working in educational mission in schools
related to the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus,
based in Addis Ababa.
Three other PC(USA) mission
workers now serving overseas participated in the July
orientation, but their names and specific assignments are
not being released because of security concerns. Two are
serving in educational ministry in Asia and one is working
in health care in the Middle East.
Also attending orientation was
Bob Louer, a recent seminary graduate who is being sent to
Zambia by Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York
City. He is the congregation’s second global mission fellow.
AND BRIEFLY . . .
• PRESBYTERIAN DISASTER
ASSISTANCE is supporting
humanitarian relief efforts to help refugees and those
displaced by fighting in the embattled former Soviet
republic of GEORGIA. Read the PNS story at
http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2008/08587.htm
• The PC(USA)'s anti-hunger
partner BREAD FOR THE WORLD (BFW) has launched a new e-mail
newsletter for "busy pastors" and other church leaders.
“Bread for the Preacher” features preaching aids and worship
resources surrounding issues of hunger and poverty. To sign
up visit BFW's Web site:
http://www.bread.org
• BREAKING GROUND IN MALAWI.
"Thanks to gifts from partner churches, we will soon break
ground on a hostel for female students," writes Debbie
Chase, PC(USA) mission worker at the College of Theology,
University of Livingstonia, in Mzuzu, Malawi. "We hope that
the new hostel will open doors for more women to answer the
call to the ministry of the Word and Sacrament. In the past,
five Synod of Livingstonia female candidates for ministry,
two now ordained, have gone to Zomba Theological College, in
Zomba, which can accommodate only five Synod of Livingstonia
students each year."
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There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.
--J. Muste
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The
Library Corner
 By
Candy Sowers
Our library has
been moved (thanks, Buildings and Grounds) and it is time to
READ. I was surprised by the variety of materials that are
available - books, magazines, cds and maybe even a tape or
two.
We have some
books that still need to be cataloged but I borrowed one of
them anyway and I think there are others who would enjoy it
too.
I am reading
"Quiet Strength, The Principles, Practices, & Priorities of
a Winning Life" by Tony Dungy with Nathan Whitaker. I'm
probably not the biggest football fan in the congregation
but I had heard about Coach Dungy and his coaching style.
"Tony Dungy led
the Indianapolis Colts to Super Bowl victory on 2/4/07, the
first such win for an African American coach."
What strikes me
is his faith and the way that is playing out. I am really
enjoying reading his story. I will return it to the library
soon so you can read it if you would like!
Take a few
minutes and check out the selection. You might be surprised
too.
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Here’s a tidbit as donated by Candy...well worth
remembering.
|
Subject: BIBLE |
B==basic
I==info
B==before
L==leaving
E==earth
|
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NEWS OF OAHE AS REPORTED TO CLUSTER 4
The Habitat for
Humanity house was dedicated yesterday (Saturday) and the
family will be moving in. Duane Jenner gave a report at
church Sunday, 8/24. We also had a Minute for Mission
promoting Five for Five. Our congregation has done Five for
Five for several years. We also do several other projects as
we learn of special needs.
Wednesday,
August 27th we provided a lunch for the crew that has been
doing road construction beside the church thanking them for
their work. Thanks to KayCee Hodson who thought it would be
good outreach and the hospitable thing to do.
August 31st
Pastor John conducted services at two nursing homes in
Pierre, Mary House and Golden Living Center, in addition to
regular worship.
September 5th to
7th or 8th the Oahe Presbyterian Women will kick-off their
year with their annual retreat at Camp Rimrock. There will
be worship, the first two Bible studies, lots of fun,
fellowship, music and quiet time (oh I forgot the food,
especially lots o f snacks!)
September 14th
we will kick-off our school year with a Potluck and Oahe
Olympics. We are looking forward to some competition and
lots of fun we'll do challenging things like putting, lawn
darts, horseshoes and maybe a few card games...
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 PEACEMAKING
OFFERING TO BE TAKEN IN OCTOBER
The Peacemaking
Offering was created in 1980 to support the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) to live out a deeper commitment as part of
our faithfulness to God. Each congregation is encouraged to
retain 25% of the offering to use for local ministries of
peacemaking within the church; 25% is used by presbyteries
and synods and 50% is used by the General Assembly
ministries through the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program. |
September
PW
2008-2009 Meeting Schedule
