Murray Presbyterian Messenger

May 2009

Dear Church Family,

Greetings in the name of our risen savior Jesus Christ! It is spring and its getting a little greener and its starting to warm up. I hope you’re enjoying the weather and the change of seasons. Things have been busy at the church this past month with Holy Week services and our fiesta dinner, which was fantastic. A big thank you to all who made the pies and helped organize and cook the Mexican themed dinner. It was a big success! As we moved into May I want to shift your attention to two big events that will take place in June.

The first event is our Vacation Bible School (June 8-12). Our VBS program this year is titled “Crocodile Dock.” This is going to be an exciting ‘swamp themed’ program. Make sure to get your kids signed up. If you are interested in serving as a volunteer please contact Lori Coulby (293-9302).

The other event that we have planned for June is the Power Team crusade that we are sponsoring along with the Murray Christian Church and the Plattsmouth Bible Church. The Power Team is a group of champion power lifters. These amazingly strong athletes are going to break bricks and bend steel with their bare hands, do other unbelievable feats of strength, and share their Christian testimony. This event has the potential to have a lasting positive impact in our community. Pastors Larry Hammons, Mike Wolfe, and I agree that God could really work in incredible ways through this Power Team crusade.

In order for this event to be a success we need your help! There are several volunteer teams that we need people to sign up for. The table near the entry way has a sign up sheet that explains the different teams that we need. Please consider how you could help and sign up! Also, pray that the Power Team would reach those who have never experienced the life changing power of Christ in their life. Pray that the Holy Spirit blesses the plans we have made and pray that the event would go smoothly.

The Power Team crusade will start on June 17^th and end on June 21^st. The first night—Wednesday the 17^th—will be at our church. We will be having a pizza party before the program. Make sure to invite as many people as you can to our kick off night program at the church. The next four nights of the event will take place at the Conestoga High School Gym from June 18^th through the 21^st. On Sunday morning one of the Power Team members will preach in our Sunday morning worship service.

I am very excited for our church this summer and I look forward to seeing how God works in our midst as we seek to be faithful to Him.

In Christ,

Jeff

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)

Nickey Johnson: Prayers for healing and strength. (922 N. 9^th St. Plattsmouth, NE 68048)

Additional Prayer Concerns:

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

# 118-Lincoln, NE 68502)

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:

Philmore Williams

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Continued Prayers of comfort for:

The Family of Charlotte Mars

The Family of Peggy Etherington

Join the Women’s Circle every month, on

the second Wednesday, at the church at 7pm!

This Month: May 13^th

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Finance and Stewardship Committee Report

The church session has asked for a quarterly report on the status of the church general fund in order to keep our members aware of our financial standing. The following update is provided for your information.

During the first quarter of 2009 (January – March) our total income was $15,288.84. Our total expenses were $20,021.69. As you may have gathered from these figures, we are incurring approximately $1,575 more per month in expenses than we receive in income.

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“The Group”

Will be meeting on Sunday May 3,^rd at

5:30 p.m. at the park in Murray. Hot Dogs and hamburgers will be provided. Please bring

side dish and desert. Also, bring your kids!

There is a nice playground at the park.

For more info call Krista: (719) 688-8936.

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Deacon’s Rummage Sale

This is a reminder!! Please continue saving your “treasures” for the Deacon’s rummage sale – coming – This Fall!!

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Baccalaureate

Our church is hosting Conestoga’s Baccalaureate on Friday, May 8^th at 7pm at the H.S. We need volunteer Hosts and Hostesses, along with donations of cookies and/or brownies. The sign-up sheet is on the back table. If you wish to participate, but are unable to sign-up at church, call the church and we will add your name to the list. Thanks!

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~Coming~

Vacation Bible School

June 8 – 12

Volunteers needed

Please see or call Lori Coulby or Sherrill Konfrst

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Apportionment

Please prayerfully consider assisting the church with apportionment this year. ($26.94) Thank you.

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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***

“Relay for Life” began in the mid-1980’s in Tacoma, Washington by a surgeon wanting to make a difference and enhance the income of his local American Cancer Society. He organized a 24-hour run where he ran/walked the entire time, and friends paid $25 to run or walk 30 minutes with him. He completed a total of 83 miles that “day” and he raised $27,000. Today, “Relay for Life” continues and has gone national as an overnight relay organized annually to celebrate survivorship and raise money for research for each local American Cancer Society.

This year Cass County’s “Relay for Life” will take place on June 27^th at 7pm on the Plattsmouth High School track. Murray Presbyterian Church is organizing a team in remembrance of Kris Johnson. If you would like to be a member of our relay team, please sign-up on the poster at the back of the church. Cancer survivors are free; all others are $10. All will receive a “Relay for Life” T-shirt.

Several fundraisers have been organized to raise money for our church team. The first is a bake sale during the Murray garage sales this weekend (May 1 – 2). All baked goods you wish to donate for this fundraiser need to be delivered to Joyce Johnson (301 W. Young Street – Murray). All those wishing to purchase baked goods, visit Joyce’s home during the garage sale!! The second fundraiser will be a garage sale at the Honaker’s home (10186 Sydney Lane) during the Beaver Lake annual garage sales on Saturday, June 6^th. The last fundraiser organized at this time involves “pink flamingo” yard decorations. If you are the “chosen one,” and you find pink flamingos decorating your yard, you have three choices. 1. Leave them there for all to see, 2. Pay $10 to have them removed, or 3. Pay $15 to have them removed and placed in a friend’s yard. For more information, please contact Krista McDonald, Melanie Honaker, or Sherrill Konfrst.

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I would like to thank all of you for all your prayers and cards.

I really appreciate all you do.

Karen Savage

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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 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 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:

Brian & Toni Ann Johns 5/5

Bill & Joyce Johnson 5/18

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.

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