Murray Presbyterian Messenger

October 2009

Dear Church Family,

Are you interested in helping Christians in the two-thirds world? Do you want to learn more about the difficulties Christians experience in foreign lands? If you do please don’t miss our church’s Missions Sunday on October 11^th. On Missions Sunday our church will be hosting the Sudanese Presbyterian Choir from Omaha and hear one of their church’s leaders speak. After our Missions Sunday worship service there will be a soup luncheon.

The Sudan is a war torn country that has experienced great poverty and conflict. It is located in the northeastern part of Africa and is the home to many Christians who have been persecuted by the Muslim military regime. Many of these Sudanese Christians have fled to the United States and to Omaha and have started their own churches. Our presbytery has worked to form relationships with the Sudanese Presbyterian Fellowship and has been actively helping them as they start their new life in Nebraska.

The mission committee of our church is seeking to develop a relationship with the Sudanese Presbyterians in Omaha and we are exploring ways that we can help them. We are also interested in supporting missions in the country of Sudan. Supporting different missions projects is central to the life of any healthy church. Will you join us as we seek to make a difference for Christ and his kingdom in this far away land?

During the luncheon members of the Sudanese Presbyterian Church in Omaha are going to be sharing their lives with us. Please plan on attending our Missions Sunday service and luncheon so that we can develop relationships and meet Christians who have personally faced the problem of persecution. Our church’s mission committee wants to raise our mission awareness and keep us focused on the “Great Commission.”

Lets seek to proclaim Christ to the whole world so that people can come to know how wonderful and amazing our savior is. To God be the glory!

In Christ,

Jeff

Fay Jose: Prayers for healing and strength for Fay. (703 8^th Ave. – Plattsmouth, 68048)

Tanner Miner: Prayers for healing and strength. (2004 Splitt Drive – Murray, 68409)

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 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 Nickey and her family as they mourn the passing of her mother. Continue to Pray for her father’s health.

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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 Nickey Johnson

Sr. High Youth Group

Sunday, Oct 11, 4:30pm

The Murray Presbyterian Church youth group will be going to a concert at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church on October 11^th. Two contemporary Christian bands--"Avalon" and "Selah"--will be performing.

We will be going out for pizza before we go to the concert. Please meet at the church at 4:30. We will drive together to the Plattsmouth Pizza Hut. This will be fun way for our youth group to kick off the year!

If you are interested in going, please contact pastor Jeff at (402) 682-1439. We need to know if you can go by Sunday, October 4th.

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Sunday School Rally Sunday

Everyone had a wonderful time at Rally Sunday on September 13th. The kids enjoyed popcorn, a prince and princess bounce house and lots of tattoos during the Sunday School hour. The newly formed children's choir, Wonders of Worship (WOW!), sang "This Little Light of Mine" during the worship service. Everyone enjoyed pizza and more bouncing after the service. Thanks to all who made the start of the new Sunday School year a big success!!

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Deacons Rummage Sale

A great big “thank you” for all your help in making the Deacon’s rummage sale such a huge success. We made approximately $1500 to assist our community this year.

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Prayer Chain

Please call(235-3323)or e-mail(Harold-laverne@inebraska.com) LaVerne Ebner if you have anything to put out on the prayer chain – no matter how small you may think it is!

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Murray Presbyterian Church

T-Shirts

We have a few shirts left (Youth Small and Large; Adult Small and X-Large). If you would like one, please see one of the Deacons. The cost to you is $3.00.

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Join the Women’s Circle every month, on

the second Wednesday, at the church at 7pm!

This Month: October 14th

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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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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.

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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:

Steve & Cindy Burg 10/2

Jay & Janelle Sorenson 10/7

Bruce & Carol Heylmun 10/8

*Birthdays

Happy Birthday to:

Where we’ve been in the Bible: Study Guide (Paul’s Letters)

Study Guide

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.

1 Peter

-1 Peter was written by Peter to suffering Christians who were experiencing persecution.

-Written to various churches in northern Asia Minor (present day Turkey). Written in the 60s.

-Peter reminded them of their heavenly hope and eternal inheritance so that they would be strengthened to persevere in the midst of suffering.

-He emphasized that believers are called to live lives of holiness and love in the midst of trials.

-Live like living stones who are built into a spiritual house with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone.

-Respond in a godly way to suffering and persecution. Suffering can produce maturity in the Christian.

-Resist Satan and realize that there are other Christians suffering throughout the world.

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