Murray
Presbyterian Messenger
August 2009
Dear Church Family,
Recently, one of my
pastor friends went on a trip to Scotland to help with an evangelistic outreach
event there. He enjoyed the beauty of
the Scottish highlands and the historic setting. Yet, my friend was shocked by the spiritual
climate in Scotland and how few young people were involved in the life of the
church. The average age in the Scottish
congregations is in the 70s. Only eight
percent of the people attend church.
Many people in the churches there don’t care about evangelism and
reaching out to those who don’t know Christ.
The result of this attitude has been devastating for Scotland. The de-Christianization of Scottish culture
has led to many social problems, including many broken families, a high rate of
alcohol abuse, and rampant immorality.
Many of these problems are now viewed as normal in their society.
I
have posted my friend’s account of what he experienced on the bulletin board
near the entrance of the church. If you
have an opportunity, please take time and read his story. We, as the body of believers, must make every
effort to ensure that what has happened in Scotland will not happen here! We must make sure that our inward
relationship with God is strong so that we can live for him outwardly in the
world. We need to minister to those in
our offices and in the marketplace. Our
Christian faith must be lived out beyond the walls of the church.
This
fall I will be preaching some sermons on the need for every member to have
their own ministry. Our church will also
be offering a class and discussion on how to integrate your faith with your
occupation. Do you view your faith as
irrelevant to your work or do you view your occupation as a Christian
calling? Several members of our church
will be sharing their own stories from the workplace. As we prepare to address this topic I would
like to recommend R. Paul Steven’s book The Equipper’s Guide to Every-Member
Ministry (1992).
I
hope you enjoy the rest of your summer and start thinking about the difference
you can make for Christ and kingdom in your workplace and in the world.
In Christ,
Jeff
Tanner Miner: Prayers for
healing and strength. (10072
Lakeview Drive, Plattsmouth, NE 68048)
Peggy
Etherington: Prayers
for Peggy and her family as they mourn Gary’s passing. (2518 Overlook Cir. Beaver Lake, NE 68048)
Charlotte Mars: Prayers for Charlotte and her family as they mourn
Paul’s passing. (1918 Beaver Lake Blvd. Beaver Lake, NE 68048)
Betty Tepner: Prayers for healing and strength for Betty and
strength for Dixie
Craft. (5309 Crogans Way Rd. Council Bluffs, IA 51501)
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 12th Street – Murray NE 68409)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Additional
Prayer Concerns:
Cathy Balfour as she battles cancer. (11509 A
Street-Avoca, NE 68307)
Nickey Johnson:
Prayers for Nickey and her family as they mourn the passing of her
mother. Continue to Pray for her father’s health.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Thoughts & Prayers for our
shut
ins:
Lottie Johnson: continual
prayers. (Ambassador, 1800 14th
Ave. #208, Nebraska City, NE 68410)
Mildred Moritz: continual
prayers. (1300 Avenue D-Plattsmouth, NE
68048)
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Remember
the members of our Armed Forces, who are serving overseas and stateside:
Dave Cook
Kris Kidd
Philmore Williams
*******************************
Continued
Prayers of comfort for:
The
Family of Charlotte Mars
The
Family of Peggy Etherington
The
Family of Nickey Johnson
Deacons’ Rummage Sale
The date is set!!! Mark your
calendars for Saturday, September 19th.
**Volunteers needed**
The Deacons need your assistance after church EVERY Sunday during
the month of August with set-up for the rummage sale. The Deacons would appreciate any help you can
give. Also, donations will be accepted
during set-up!!!
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Directory
Pictures
Family pictures will be taken after church
on 8/9 and 8/16 for our new church directory.
If you will not be able to attend church on those dates, please arrange
a make-up date with Krista McDonald (kristakay@alumni.wfu.edu
or kristakaybrinkley@yahoo.com
). Or, if you have a photo you would
like to submit, please complete the attached form and either send it by e-mail
attachment or regular mail. The church
e-mail address is on the last page of this newsletter and the regular address
is on the cover of this newsletter.
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Murray Presbyterian
Church Directory
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Please return this
sheet to the church office by
8/31/09
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You
may submit this form and picture electronically by replying to the August
newsletter
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Or
bring the form to the church office with a photo (please place together in an
envelope)
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We
will be taking family/individual pictures after church on 8/9/09 &
8/16/09
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1.
Names of all family members you want to include in the directory
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2.
Physical Address
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3.
Mailing Address (if different)
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4.
Home Phone Number
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5.
Cell Phone Number(s)
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6.
Email Address(es)
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7.
Photo Option
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I
have enclosed the picture I would like to use in the directory
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I/my
family will be at church on 8/9/09 or 8/16/09 to have our picture taken
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Join
the Women’s
Circle every
month, on
the second
Wednesday, at the church at 7pm!
This Month: August
12th
********************************************************************************
PLATTSMOUTH FOOD
PANTRY
Please
remember the food pantry and those in need as you shop at the grocery store
this month. If you have any donations
and you cannot get to the food pantry to drop them off, please bring them to
church and we will be happy to deliver them for you!
*********************************************
MEMBERSHIP CLASSES
If you are
interested in attending a Membership Class - Pastor Jeff McDonald will be glad
to talk to you! Please call (402)
682-1439
*****************************************************************************
*Denise
Ayers is
always looking for Liturgists.
If you are interested, please sign-up on the sheet on the back
table. Please participate and know that
your service to the church is appreciated.
A special Thank You to all who have done so in the past.
*******************************************************************************************Please visit our website at www.murraypresbyterian.com
to see the weekly bulletin, congregational life, and the monthly
newsletter!
Tell a
friend!!!!!
*************************************************************************
*Anniversaries
Happy
Anniversary to:
Paul & Karen Waters 8/14
Denise & Cole Ayers 8/19
*Birthdays
Happy Birthday to:
Where we’ve been in the Bible: Study Guide
(Paul’s Letters)
2 Corinthians (written about AD. 56)
-Corinth,
Greece—major ancient commercial center.
Corinth has been referred to as the Las Vegas of the ancient world.
-Paul defends his ministry against false
teachers—Judaizers.
-In 2 Corinthians Paul focuses on the
centrality of the cross.
-Paul encourages the Corinthian Christians
to be generous.
-Paul trusts in God for strength when he is
weak and things are difficult.
Philippians (written about A.D. 61)
-Philippi, Macedonia (Northern,
Greece). Military retirement community.
-Very generous in their giving.
-Paul calls the Philippians to imitate
Christ’s humility.
-He also instructs them to not put
confidence in ritual, but rather in Jesus Christ.
-The quarrel between Eudia and
Syntyche. Paul pleads with them to agree
with each other in the Lord.
-Paul tells the church at Philippi to put
into practice whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and
praiseworthy.
Colossians (written
about A.D. 61)
-Colosse—located in what is today
southwestern Turkey.
-Small town. Various cults have an extremely strong
presence in the community.
-Paul stresses that Christ is the Supreme
creator and ruler of the universe.
-He teaches that Jesus is not just a way to
God—Jesus is God.
-True fullness is to be found in Jesus
Christ and not human traditions—festivals, religious diets, etc.
-Paul urges the Christians in Colosse to
pray constantly and share their faith.
Philemon (written
about A.D. 61)
-Paul wrote this letter to a wealthy man in
Colosse named Philemon.
-Paul writes a very warm and appreciative
letter to Philemon asking him to welcome back a slave named Onesimus.
-Onesimus had apparently stole money from
Philemon and then ran away.
-Onesimus had a life
changing conversion to God and somehow became friends with Paul in Rome. Now Paul wants Philemon to welcome back
Onesimus as a brother in Christ.
1 Thessalonians (written
about A.D. 50)
-Thessalonica, Macedonia (Northern Greece).
-Thessalonica was a large commercial center
and a major seaport.
-Earlier Paul had started a riot there when
he visited the town and preached the “Good News.” (Acts 17)
-Paul gives thanks for the Thessalonian
Christian’s faith, defends his own ministry there, and rejoices that the
Thessalonian Christians have accepted the word of God as it truly is the word
of God (ch. 1 & 2). These believers
are doing a great job of sharing the faith.
-Thessalonian Christians are being
persecuted by unbelievers and tempted by Satan, but their faith is remaining
strong (ch. 3).
-Paul gives instructions in Christian
living—live a quite life, work, earn respect from outsiders by how you live
(ch. 4). Avoid immorality and love each
other
-Paul explains what will happen to
believers—both the living and the dead—at the time of the second coming of
Jesus (ch. 5). Encourage one another and
build each other up.
Galatians
-Galatia (Central Modern Turkey)
-Paul writes this letter to the church in
the region known as Galatia. Written
circa 47-48 A.D.
-The letter to the Galatians was written to
emphasize the complete sufficiency of justification by faith alone in one’s
relationship with God.
-This letter stresses that God has freed us
from the project of self-salvation.
-The Galatian churches—where many new
believers were Gentiles—were being strongly influenced to add traditional Jewish
beliefs and practices to their newfound faith.
-While it was quite natural for Jewish
Christians to continue to worship as they always had in the past, to require
the same for Gentiles was, to Paul, tantamount to promoting a different gospel.
James
-James was
written as a practical letter to Jewish Christians scattered throughout the
Mediterranean world.
-James was the
half brother of Jesus.
-Ch. 1:Don’t just
be a hearer of God’s Word (scripture), but be a doer. Be quick to listen and slow to speak.
-Ch. 2:
Favoritism is forbidden in the church.
We are not saved by deeds, but deeds give evidence that you have
faith. Intellectual assent to God is not
enough we must follow Him in our daily lives.
-Ch. 3: James
focuses on the need to control your tongue.
-Ch. 4:
Friendship with the ways of the world is hatred towards God. Christians are to submit themselves to God
and follow Him.
-Ch. 5: As we
face suffering we are to be patient and stand firm.
Submitting Information ForThe Bulletin Or
Newsletter
If
you have information that needs to be put in the Congregational Life or
Newsletter, please send an email to the church address, which is murraypresbyterian@windstream.net