September 2016 “For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ” Hebrews 4:12 Remember to Bring in Your Hy-Vee Receipts Grocery, gasoline, and prescription receipts count. Our church receives a $1000 check from Hy-Vee for $150,000 in re- ceipts. Please make sure the receipts are from the Brookings Hy-Vee Store only THANK YOU TO EVERYONE! Goal: $150,000.00 Received: $82,995.72 Need: $67,004.28 Regular Sunday Schedule September - May 9:00 am Sunday School 10:00am Fellowship Hour 10:30am Worship Service Lord’s Supper—First Sunday of each month Summer Sunday Schedule June - August 9:30am Worship Service Nursery care is available on first floor during Sunday School and Sunday Worship Church Office Hours Monday & Tuesday 9:00am - 12:00pm 1:00pm - 3:00pm Wednesday & Thursday 9:00am-12:00pm 1:00pm-4:00pm Friday 9:00am - 12:00pm Pastor’s Office Hours Tuesday - Thursday 9:00am - 2:00pm Friday 9:00am -12:00pm Don’t Forget! Worship Returns to 10:30am September 4 Worship on the Farm September 11 at 10:30am The Fosters have invited us out to their farm (3911 18th Street, Brookings) for our worship service and a pot- luck as we celebrate the beginning of our Sunday school year! Join us, invite your friends, and bring some food to share! Pastor Krise will be giving a report from the 222nd General Assembly of the Presby- terian Church (USA) on Sunday, September 25 at 11:45am in the fellowship hall. A light lunch will be served. All are invited to come and hear how God is at work in our denominaon!
Transcript
September 2016 “For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing
soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12
Remember to Bring in Your Hy-Vee Receipts Grocery, gasoline, and prescription receipts count. Our church receives a $1000 check from Hy-Vee for $150,000 in re-
ceipts. Please make sure the receipts are from the Brookings Hy-Vee Store only
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE!
Goal: $150,000.00
Received: $82,995.72
Need: $67,004.28
Regular Sunday Schedule
September - May
9:00 am Sunday School
10:00am Fellowship Hour
10:30am Worship Service
Lord’s Supper—First Sunday of
each month
Summer Sunday Schedule
June - August
9:30am Worship Service
Nursery care is available
on first floor during
Sunday School and
Sunday Worship
Church Office Hours
Monday & Tuesday
9:00am - 12:00pm
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Wednesday & Thursday
9:00am-12:00pm
1:00pm-4:00pm
Friday 9:00am - 12:00pm
Pastor’s Office Hours
Tuesday - Thursday
9:00am - 2:00pm
Friday
9:00am -12:00pm
Don’t Forget!
Worship Returns to
10:30am
September 4
Worship on the Farm
September 11 at 10:30am
The Fosters have invited us out to their
farm (3911 18th Street, Brookings) for our worship service and a pot-
luck as we celebrate the beginning of our Sunday school year!
Join us, invite your friends, and bring some food to share!
Newsletter Assembly Volunteers led by Marlys Kelsey
Social Media
Facebook
www.facebook.com/fpcbrookings
Twitter twitter.com/FPCBrookings
If you would like our team of prayer volun-teers to be praying for
you or a loved one, con-tact Jan Jones at 692-
5325, [email protected], or any of the other prayer chain volunteers: Dolores Canaday, Arlyce Thorne, Lee Peterson, Karie Rottluff, Harold & Marge Poppen, Linda Barnett, Ann Spitzenberger, Susan Smith, Judy Smith,
Bonnie Foster, and Kristie Berglund.
Prayer Families Prayer is an important part of a Christian’s life in the community of faith. As members of that community you are encouraged to pray for the people listed each week during your time of daily prayer. The families and individuals are selected at random. September4: Kristie Berglund; Neal & Julie Foster
September 11: James, Kay, Jacob, Emily, Adam, Brenna, & Daniel
Langland
September 18: John, Jessica, & Brock Peterson; Judy Sebring
September 25: Stanley, Julie, Stanley Jr., Dylan Scubelek; Adele
Sudlow
I would like to thank everyone
who sent a card, brought flow-
ers, or made a visit while I was
recovering from hip surgery.
Healing is slow, but
progressing okay. Stoney Brook Suites will be home for an
Come and See Dear friends, I recently encountered some interesting research about why church members tend not to invite others to church. Here are the top ten rea-sons people gave: 1) I just don’t think about it. 2) I’m afraid I’ll be rejected. 3) The music isn’t that good. 4) The preaching isn’t strong. 5) We’ve got too many church problems right now. 6) Our church is already overcrowded. 7) No one ever challenged me to invite anyone. 8) I don’t know how to start the conversation. 9) It’s the Spirit’s job—not mine—to bring people to church. 10) It’s too far for people to come.
I’m curious about your experience with inviting others to church. Is it something you think about doing? What holds you back? Have you had any positive experiences? We’re talking a lot about outreach these days—and rightly so. We are hoping and dreaming about the future of our congregation and we want there to be lots of people who get to be part of that future. Here’s the simple truth: The number one most effective way to grow a church is through personal invitation. In fact, more than one recent study has shown that large percentages of peo-ple without a church home (or with little church background at all!) would consider attending a church if someone from that church simply invited them. What I love about this is that it is precisely what Scripture teaches us to do! Check out this brief episode from near the beginning of John’s Gospel (1:45-46), when Jesus is just starting to make himself known to people and call them to follow him.
45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Naza-reth, the son of Joseph.46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Na-thanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.
Nathanael is the classic skeptic here—he hears about Jesus and he thinks, “Not a chance!” But because Philip invites him simply to “Come and see,” he ends up having a powerful encounter with Jesus and joins his rag-tag group of disciples. Are there people in your life who don’t have a church home? How might the Spirit be leading you to reach out to them and invite them to “come and see”? Grace and peace, Pastor Kristie
Thank you very much for the prayers,
concerns, and cards
during my hospital stay and my recovery at home.
- Marjorie Poppen
Deacons’ Note A big, big thank you to the volunteers who delivered 60+ Dining meals this
month. There were more "opportunities" this time around than I have
experienced before. Family loss, hospital stays, and substitutions all played
a roll this time. Thanks to Nelda Holden and Jeanne Manzer and Elijah for
delivering meals for two weeks; to Harold and Marge Poppen and Emma
Moerke; to Roger and Marvis Jenner; to Art and Marge VanderWaal; to Julie Scubelek and her
substitutes; and to Richard Canaday for filling in the empty slots where needed. We delivered 24 to 30 meals each day. That is a great service to a lot of people not able to shop or
prepare their own meals. The hospital is not delivering meals any longer so this service is even
more necessary. Our next turn at delivery will probably be in the cold, snowy, slippery weeks, so if
you feel more able to help deliver I pray that you will volunteer and give our "regulars" a winter
vacation. If you can drive but need a "navigator" or "runner" we can help you find a partner. If you
can "navigate" or "run" we can partner you with a driver. Again a huge thank you.
FYI...John Peterson delivered 22 items to the Food Pantry in July. Thank you for your
contributions. Can we double that for August?
Dolores Canaday Moderator, Deacons
2016 Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July
Income 20,941.78 12,235.00 17,256.68 12,042.38 15,887.61 9,354.98 11,503.32
Presbytery Resolution on Predatory Lending Measures
At the July 8-9, 2016 meeting of the Presbytery of South Dakota, a resolution was passed that encourages
all congregations to educate their members about the vote on predatory lending that will come before the
people of South Dakota in November. Currently South Dakota places no limit on interest rates for payday
loans; we feel people should be aware that the average interest on payday loans in South Dakota is 574%.
The presbytery’s concern is that the poor are being exploited by some of these companies and thus limits
need to be set.
There will be two somewhat confusing items related to this issue on the ballot: Amendment U and Initiat-
ed Measure 21. Amendment U appears to set an 18% limit on interest rates, but it does not limit actual
written agreements, and thus may end up protecting predatory lenders and their current practices. Initiat-
ed Measure 21 puts a real 36% limit on payday loans, car title loans, and installment loans.
If you are interested in learning more about this issue or the upcoming vote, we have an information sheet
available in the church office.
MEN’S BROTHERHOOD Andrew L’Amour
September 2016
Scripture Reading: “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sick-ness.” Matthew 9:35
Quote: Prayer is the best medicine. God is the best doctor. - Anonymous
Men’s Brotherhood Notes: We did not have Men's Brotherhood this summer. Our next meeting will be September 15. We hope to see you then. Spread the word and invite others to join us. Watch for other upcoming Men's Brotherhood activities a we start the fall season.
Prayer Concerns: Pray for the sick.
Action: Let them know you are with them in thought and hope for recovery.
Something Sacred – This past year has been an interesting one for me health wise. A year ago in July when I was in my neurosurgeon's office for a consultation we decided to try cortisone shots for my back. I had three over the next 6 months and decided they weren't working. In addition to that I was doing a lot of walking all through the winter and actually logged a mile a day for 143 straight days. Many times during great episodes of intense pain but I thought I should do it.
Finally I had had enough of the pain and decided maybe I should try back surgery. A CAT scan revealed a kid-ney stone which I needed to have removed prior to back surgery. It wasn't causing me any pain then but it could mess up recovery they felt so out it went.
Surgery went well and as anyone knows who has surgery, they want you up moving around as much and as soon as possible so no rest for the weary as my mother would say. They worked me hard and got me out of there quickly but it was mainly because I was recovering pretty well. Home I went with restrictions but I was free and actually feeling good.
A couple of reviews of my progress and x rays later and I have been given a go ahead to resume normal activ-ities. I need to do some strengthening exercises and riding my bike to get myself in shape but it has gone even better than I had hoped.
Part of my recovery was obviously the gifted hands of the surgeon who performed the procedure. The follow up skilled care of the nursing staff I am sure played an important part also. Both gave me the confidence that I could accomplish the expected recovery which since then has occurred over this past three months. I had a lot of people praying for me. Many people told me they held me in their thoughts for recovery and for that I thank them all.
I believe in the power of prayer. We often don't see the results we hope for so if we get discouraged it is like-ly because of that, but we are commanded to pray without ceasing. Pray for faith that we can understand the will of God if our answers to prayer are not the ones we were hoping for. I received successful back sur-gery and should make a complete recovery. Some people do not get the results they hoped for or die even though we prayed for their healing. We must trust that God understands their situation much better than we do. But prayer is not a magic hocus pocus we trot out to get God to do what we want. It is an act that brings us all together – God, the person or situation we are praying about, and us. It is a connection to weld and mold us into a people who perform acts of compassion and caring for one another. It helps unite us all with the Holy Spirit. That is the real power of prayer - spiritual healing. Praise God!
PRESBYTERIAN CIRCLE
Presbyterian Circle will meet on Sept. 20, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. in the Central
Meeting Room. We will study Lesson Nine, “New Clothes” from the
Resurrection study guide written by Pastor Kristie. Marvis Jenner and Marlys
Kelsey will be our hostesses for the September meeting.
For our mission project, please bring socks for the Domestic Abuse
Shelter.
We have been unable to find a moderator for Presbyterian Circle so will need to discuss the
future of Circle at this meeting. Please keep this in your thoughts and prayers and bring
your ideas to our meeting.
Presbyterian Circle is open to all the women of our church. Please contact Dolores Canaday
(692-2037) or Marvis Jenner (692-9136) if you have any questions about Presbyterian Circle.
Marvis Jenner
Co-Moderator
Thank you for your support:
Words cannot adequately express my sincere gratitude to all your support of my dreams and ambitions while I attended high school and in the coming year while I study in Graz Austria. It is a real blessing to have a church family that is so wonderful, I thank you very much for gifts given to me for graduation and to those who attended my fundraising Austrian supper that was held at the church. I am very grateful for the use of the kitchen and fellowship area and to those who helped put it all together with your assistance it went smoothly and was a great time spent together. Also a thank you to those who pur-chased my art I pray that it will brighten and bring peace to your homes. This will be a year of many transitions and exciting moments for me and your continued prayers would be greatly welcomed as I will also be thinking of and missing you from Austria. My love and prayers to all, I will be very excited to share all my experiences with you when I re-turn. Thank you again for your love and support - DOHA.
"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. II Peter 3:9
God's ways are so much better than our ways even though they don't always make sense to us. But
God's timing is always right. It sometimes seems that God is not listening when we pray for an un-
saved loved one. We know that is not true. God is working things out in His time, and that is always
the right time.
During one of my regular visits to Segregation, an inmate told me he had been going through a dis-
couraging time. He said, "There is so much negativity in here that sometimes it overwhelms me."
What has helped him is his daily devotions and Bible readings. One of the monthly magazines I bring
him is Turning Point, by Dr. Jeremiah. He said, "Reading this is what brought me through!"
One man in Segregation has been taking some Christian literature from me for about five months.
About a month ago I gave him a Bible Study on the Bible basics. A few weeks later he told me he had
practiced a pagan religion for 28 years. Now he was ready to get into the Bible and told me he want-
ed to be a Christian. I asked him if he had made a commitment to the Lord and had invited Jesus into
his life. He said he did not know how to do that, so I explained it to him. He told me he wanted to do
that and we prayed together for him to ask for forgiveness as well as asking Christ to be Lord over his
life. His mother is a Christian and had been praying for him all those years! He told me after we
prayed that I should come back later because he was just overcome by emotion. God's timing is al-
ways right.
Another inmate told me that he has a great testimony for God because of all the things he has been
through in his life. He said God had done great things because he had great faith at times in his life. I
told him, "You come to the Lord empty of yourself. All the things you think you have to offer God are
useless to Him. We have to die to our idea of what we will bring to God." It was like the Holy Spirit
gave him understanding. He said, "I never thought about it that way before. I always thought I had
things to offer God and He would be happy with me." None of us come to the Lord with anything, we
always come empty of ourselves so He can fill us.
Your financial gifts and prayers are such an encouragement to me. I am thankful to the Lord that He
enables me to encourage, counsel, and lead some of the inmates to Christ because of your support!
In Christ,
Harlan Moss
Your gifts are appreciated and tax deductible. The checks can be made out to and sent to: South Da-
kota Prison Chaplain’s Association (SDPCA), P.O. Box 90509, Sioux Falls, SD 57109-0509. Please des-
ignate my name in the memo section of your check. My phone: 605-940-4220 email address:
