Murray Presbyterian Church

Murray Presbyterian Messenger

July 2008

A Message from Pastor Jeff……….

Dear Church Family,

In a recent sermon I talked about the passion that the apostle Paul had to know Christ. This is a something that we need to be concerned with as well. Our goal is not to just know about God, but to know him in a personal and intimate way that is relational.

We live in an era that teaches us to put the focus on ourselves and on human thoughts. The result of this is that God then becomes remote. Another problem that we have is that we live in an age of skepticism about God. Since the seventeenth century there have been many forces that have sought to undermine the Christian faith. Belief in Christ and trust in the Bible as God’s word is seen as outdated.

Yet we join with Christians around the world and those who are a part of the historic Christian church and affirm that God can be known and that He reveals himself to us in Holy Scripture. How do we turn our knowledge about God—that we learn from scripture—into knowledge of God?

Let me suggest that we first have to realize how much knowledge of God we lack. We can’t measure our knowledge of God by how much of the Bible or how much theology we know. We definitely need to grow in our knowledge in both these areas, but it is true that you can be a theologian or biblical scholar and still not know God. We must measure our knowledge of God by how we pray and by what goes on in our hearts. In order to truly know God we also have to seek him as our savior. In the Bible Jesus gathered around him ordinary people and they came to know him. We can come to know God today by seeking out those who have already found Him and are now a part of the community of faith.

J.I. Packer offers some sage advice on how we can turn our knowledge about God into knowledge of God. He notes that Christians should turn each truth that we learn about God into a matter of meditation before God. This then leads to prayer and praise to God. He writes,

Meditation is the activity of calling to mind, and thinking over, and dwelling on, and applying to oneself, the various things that one knows about the works and ways and purposes and promises of God.[1]

As a congregation we need to put Christ at the center of our lives. We need to trust God more and grasp a clearer understanding of his greatness and our own sinfulness. Let us humble ourselves before him. In times of doubt we need to argue and reason with ourselves so that we can move from the dark clouds of doubt to a clearer apprehension of his power and glory. By mediating on God and his attributes we will become more and more aware if His encouragement and comfort.

In Christ,

Jeff

Prayer Concerns

Don Loftin: Prayers for healing & strength. (9500 Milford Rd.-Beaver Lake, NE 68048)

Dave, Jenny, Samantha & Ella Cook: Prayers of strength for the family & healing for Ella.

(9923 12^th Street – Murray NE 68409)

Jane Pool: (Julie Nickels sister) Prayers for strength & healing. A few cards or notes would help lift her spirit.

(328 Auburn Way – Coppell, TX 75019)

Grace Weisz: Prayers for healing from pneumonia. (2600 Adventureland Drive – Altoona, IA 50009-9610)

Additional Prayer Concerns:

Steve Burg’s Dad as he deals with the after affects from the accident.

Barb Koester’s niece, Marcia McKay and her son-in-law, Phil Bridges.

Cathy Balfour as she battles cancer.

(11509 A Street-Avoca, NE 68307)

Nickey Johnson: Prayers for her parents, especially her Mom.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Thoughts & Prayers for our shut ins:

Lottie Johnson: continual prayers.

(1750 S. 20^th Street-Lincoln, NE 68502)

Mildred Moritz: continual prayers.

(1300 Avenue D-Plattsmouth, NE 68048)

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

*Remember the members of our Armed Forces, who are serving overseas and stateside. We especially pray for those stationed in the Middle East.

*Philmore Williams – Stationed in Germany

********************************************

Continued Prayers of Comfort for:

The Family of Charles Spangler

The Family of Haley Eldred

The Family of Barbara Wohlfarth

The Family of Rick Riekemann

The Family of Char Gochenour

Kris Johnson, daughter of Joyce & Bill Johnson, sister of Melanie, lost her battle to cancer on Friday, June 13, 2008. Please continue to hold her family in your prayers as they make their way through this difficult time. To send a card to her husband, Brad, & boys:

If you are interested in attending Membership Class - Pastor Jeff McDonald will be glad to talk to you!

FOOD PANTRY for July

Becoming a Contagious Christian

This is an exciting six-session study that the adult Sunday School completed and Pastor Jeff and Marci Wordekemper are setting up another time so that more people can participate in these wonderful lessons. There are inserts on the back table @ church – If you have any questions please see Pastor Jeff or Marci! Thanks! J

Denise Ayers is always looking for Liturgists. If you are interested, please let her know. If she asks you – please participate and know that your service to the church is appreciated. A special Thank You to all who done so in the past.

If you have an interest in sending your child to Camp Calvin Crest this year – we have the information in the office and there are scholarships available.

“Black Brothers”, with Dr. Rick Black, who was the school superintendent for Conestoga and a member of this church, perform during our Worship Service and enjoy fellowship with a hometown barbeque following worship.

Krista and I would like to thank the church for having such a nice wedding shower for us. We were amazed by your love and generosity. Also, we appreciated seeing so many of you at the wedding. It was a great time and you were so kind to give us so many nice wedding gifts. The financial gift the church gave us was also very generous and appreciated.

We feel blessed living in Murray and we enjoyed the barbeque we had a couple of weeks ago. Both of us look forward to many good times like this in the future. Thanks again.

If you have information that needs to be put in the Congregational Life or Newsletter, please contact Karen Savage by calling her at 402-227-2031 or emailing her at tksavage@alltel.net. You can also leave a note in her mailbox in the storage room, not sure which one it is anymore, or send an email to the church address, which is murraypresbyterian@windstream.net Thank you!

Thanks to everyone who has helped Murray Presbyterian in our Mission projects in the month of June!

On Sunday afternoon, June 29 we had a hard working group go to the Sudanese Presbyterian Church near Cummings and 45^th. Yard work, painting, cleaning along with donating an area rug, 5 fans, sewing supplies and cleaning supplies all helped to make it a very productive time. Our efforts were much appreciated by the congregation. Workers included Jeff, Krista, Cheryl, Denise, Dalton, Ann, Patti, Joe, Kelsey, Lindsay, Lois, Laurie, Elizabeth and Marci. (Hopefully I haven’t forgotten anybody.) Thank you also to all those who donated supplies and to Nancy Peters and her crew for the delicious lunch to send us off well fed.

We also were able to respond to a request of the Des Moines Presbytery by contributing 5 flood clean-up buckets at about $50 each. Thanks to everyone who donated money and to Peggy for helping me shop. It is such a good feeling to know that we are doing something to help our neighbors!

Please stay tuned for more opportunities to serve and let me know if you become aware of ways that we can show our love – especially in the Murray area.

Baby Kits & Clean Up Buckets

All items should be new. Wrap Items inside one of the receiving blankets & secure with both diaper pins. (Approximate Value: $39.00)

15. One 6-14 oz bottle of insect repellent (drops or lotion – not aerosol)

Please purchase all liquids in plastic bottles. Send only new, unopened materials. Put all items in plastic bucket – packing securely to avoid damage during shipment, and seal lid with packing tape.

If you are unable to do the shopping and would like to contribute money towards these kits, please let me know as I would be happy to purchase the items and put the kits together.