Murray Presbyterian Messenger

June 2009

Dear Church Family,

The scriptures declare that we are to go out and make disciples. In June our church made a great effort to be faithful to our scriptural calling. Through our Vacation Bible School and the Power Team Crusade we attempted to make Christ known in our own community and encourage people to become followers of Christ.

This year’s Vacation Bible School was a fun action packed week. Our church and the Murray Christian Church were both decorated like swamps. The kids loved the environment and it was great to see so many kids growing in their knowledge and understanding of the Christian faith. A big thanks to all the VBS volunteers for helping to make VBS such a great success!

Also, in June our church held the Power Team Crusade. This was a different way of doing evangelism in the community. From time to time it is important that churches try different ways of reaching the community with the Good News. The Power Team shattered the stereotypes that some people have about the Christian faith. They presented the gospel message in the context of doing amazing feats of strength. It was an exciting week and the Holy Spirit really work in our midst! The total attendance for the five-day event was over eight hundred and forty people. Approximately one hundred and fifty people accepted Christ or recommitted their lives to Christ at the end of the nightly Power Team programs. Praise God! One hundred and thirty seven people signed response cards. The Power Team Crusade follow up committee is now working diligently to contact those who signed cards.

I was really encouraged by the Power Team’s ministry and by the number of people who accepted Christ or recommitted their lives to Him. It was also fantastic to have so many members of our church helping with various aspects of the crusade. It was a real team effort. Another important accomplishment was the great way in which we worked alongside the members of the Murray Christian Church and the Plattsmouth Bible Church. The overall witness of the Christian community is strengthened when we are able to work together to carry out the “Great Commission.”

The work of the crusade is not over. If you wrote names on the Power Team ten most wanted list and people from your list came to a Power Team program make sure that you follow up with them. It is essential that we keep trying to reach out and encourage people to accept Christ and live lives of discipleship. May God encourage us as we seek to be faithful to Him.

In Christ,

Jeff

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Lindsey & Jim Drake: Prayers for healing. (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)

Karen Savage: Prayers for healing and strength. (P.O. Box 17 – Murray, NE 68409)

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)

Dennis Gochenour: Prayers for healing and strength. (404 N. Elm Street – Weeping Water, NE 68453)

Nessie Swedlund: Prayers for healing and strength. (P.O. Box 61 – Murray, NE 68409)

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Additional Prayer Concerns:

Cathy Balfour as she battles cancer. (11509 A Street-Avoca, NE 68307)

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

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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)

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Remember the members of our Armed Forces, who are serving overseas and stateside:

Dave Cook

Kris Kidd

Philmore Williams

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Continued Prayers of comfort for:

The Family of Charlotte Mars

The Family of Peggy Etherington

4^th of July

Deacons’ & Manse kitchen fundraiser

12-5pm

The Deacons will be selling pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, baked beans, and homemade ice cream during the 4^th of July celebration in Murray. Come support MPC!!!!

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Directory Pictures

Family pictures will be taken after church during the month of July for our new church directory. If you will not be able to attend church during the month, please send a picture of yourself or family 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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Join the Women’s Circle every month, on

the second Wednesday, at the church at 7pm!

This Month: June 8^th

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Deacons’ Rummage Sale

This is a reminder!! Please continue saving your “treasures” for the Deacon’s rummage sale. The date has been set – Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 19^th.

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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!

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“Relay for Life”

Thank you to the team leaders, all the participants and financial donors! Our team raised almost $3000!!!!! When the final tally is in, our team could qualify as a “Silver Donor” team!! Way to go MPC!!!!

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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

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*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!!!!!

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Anniversaries

Happy Anniversary to:

Richard & Helen Worthan 7/31

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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