From the Pastor’s Heart
From the Heart
April 2008
Spiritual maturity is an experiential process. A case can be made that none of us reach spiritual maturity in this lifetime. Spiritual maturity can be likened to going for a walk – we get where we want to go only if we intentionally place one foot in front of the other…again and again and again. The Apostle Paul said that spiritual growth is an ongoing process. “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14). In reading Paul, we find that he never assumed he had already reached the goal of perfection.
Spiritual maturity is learning to walk in obedience to God’s word. I recall watching a pair of beautiful Percheron draft horses pull a stone sled in competition. It was obvious they had not pulled together for very long. In fact, the younger horse appeared a bit unruly, disobedient you might say. They alternately surged against the sled’s dead weight, but were never able to obey the driver as a team. Needless to say, they didn’t move beyond the first elimination round. They hadn’t yet learned to walk in obedience to the Master’s commands.
Hundreds upon hundreds of books have been written about spiritual maturity, or as it is commonly referred to, spiritual growth – what it is, what it looks like, how to encourage it. But the reality is that the process of spiritual growth is a lot like the saying, “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” So, frustrated church staffs abound – trying this formula and that to get members and others interested in intentionally walking with God and being obedient to God’s word.
Perhaps we should come at it from a slightly different angle. Perhaps the question should be “What causes spiritual growth?” Well, if that is the real question Christian writer and teacher Herb Miller has a list for us to think about. According to a survey of American Christians, there are seven experiences that provide primary sources of spiritual growth.
· Worship – focusing on God and sensing God’s presence
· Music – feeling moved to give God greater attention
· Prayer – relating to God in intentional interaction
· Fellowship – receiving and reacting to God’s love through others
· Preaching – hearing God speak to me through interpretation of biblical text
· Service – giving God’s love to others through time and talent
· Stewardship – giving money to help with God’s work in the world
As we continue our preparations to receive the director God sends to us to lead our new Family Life Program, it would be profitable for us to consider our areas of strength and areas of potential growth using this list as a guideline for our conversations. What must we be doing to help each other on our spiritual growth journey through life? Which of the seven areas listed above are strong links that foster spiritual growth in us and those who visit? Which are in need of revamping and revitalizing so that the full impact of God’s grace and love can be experienced through them? These are not idle questions to consider. The answers we find and the choices we make will impact both our lives and the future generations of SUMC.
The writer of Hebrews prayed for his intended readers (and we accept that he was praying for us as well), “Hebrews 13:20-21 says, “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
RUST COLLEGE A’CAPPELLA CHOIR
The world renowned Rust College A’Cappella Choir from Holly Springs, Mississippi will be appearing in concert at the Stewartville United Methodist Church in Stewartville, Minnesota on Thursday, April 24, 2008, with the concert starting at 7:00 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public. A free will offering will be taken to support the College.
The Rust College A’Cappella Choir, under the direction of Mr. Zebedee Jones, is one of America’s premiere choirs. The choir features a broad repertoire of classics, semi-classics, Negro Spirituals, opera, contemporary, sacred and traditional gospel music. The A’Cappella Choir has captured the attention of prestigious audiences worldwide. Some of their appearances include the 1982 and 1983 World’s Fairs, European Ambassadors of Friendship tours and annual tours throughout the South and Midwest. In 2001 they performed at the Africa University in Zimbabwe, Africa. They have made frequent guest appearances on regional radio and television programs including the International Protestant Hour which is heard in the United States and over 100 foreign countries. They have also participated in the Annual American Negro Spiritual Festival held in Cincinnati's historic Music Hall.
The A’Cappella Choir was organized by the late Natalie Doxey who charmed audiences with her moving arrangements of Negro Spirituals and classical music in the 1930’s and 1940’s. The choir serves as a public relations entity to spread the good news about Rust College. Rust College is a Church related, four year, predominately Black, fully accredited Liberal Arts College with an enrollment of over 800 students. Located in Holly Springs, Mississippi, the institution was established in 1866 by the Freedman’s Aid Society of the Episcopal Methodist Church to educate the newly freed slaves.
Rust College offers strong academic programs in Mass Communications, Computer Science, Biology, Chemistry, Pre-medicine, Pre-law, Business Administration, Accounting, Social Work, Primary and Secondary Education and Mathematics. The College offers BA and BS degrees in over 20 areas. Dr. David L. Beckley is the current president of Rust College and is the third Rust alumnus to hold that position.
George’s host family sign up sheet.
NEED A RIDE?
Would you like to attend Sunday morning worship, but do not have transportation? If so, please call the church office (533-4625) and someone will return your call to make arrangements to provide transportation to church.
Children's Time ~
April
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Date |
Leader |
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6th |
Tanya Loker |
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13th |
Mary Jo Olson |
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20th |
Ronda Miner |
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27th |
Ronda Miner |
If you are unable to serve as scheduled, please find a substitute and call the church office by
Wednesday at 533-4625 or call Barb Warren at (507) 867-3006.
Lay Readers ~
April
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Date |
Lay Reader |
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6th |
Stacy Harreld |
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13th |
John King |
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20th |
Judy Finley |
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27th |
Judy Finley |
If you are unable to serve as scheduled, please find a substitute and call the church office by Wednesday at 533-4625 or call Wilma Menshik at 533-9591.
PRAYER PAGE
ANNOUNCEMENT:
Volunteers are needed for the next “Feed My Starving Children” mission trip to Eagan, MN on Saturday, June 7th, 2008 from 9-11am. Please sign up at the Mission Table in the Narthex. All ages are welcome.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
REMEMBER to put some quarters in your pocket before church on the first Sunday of the month for the
Sunday School Quarter Drive.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
SUMC has been invited to send volunteers to participate in a SE MN UMC work camp in Rushford, MN. This three or four day work mission opportunity is being hosted by Red Wing UMC and the Gateways connectional ministries group to which our pastor/church belongs. Participants will spend Sunday evening through Wednesday or Thursday of the following week. The dates being considered are April 20-24 and May 18-22. Please contact Pastor Jef if you are interested in sharing your time and construction skills to further the recovery process from last Augusts’ devastating flood.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
NURSERY CLEAN UP: Have an hour to spare? Come help us do a little spring cleaning in the nursery! During the Sunday School hour on April 6th (10:30-11:30), many hands make light work! See Gretchen Thomason if you have questions.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
As we settle into what can be the remaining long days of winter, please consider using your talents in the creation of Prayer Shawls. During the past year the SUMC prayer shawls have brought tangible, visual reminders to many of our church family and friends of the prayers and well wishes of our congregation. Thank you for all your time and efforts to keep this ministry alive in our church. Health & Wellness Ministry Team.
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April Mission Moment
Missionary Family – Graners
It would be a real blessing if each one of us could go out to all nations and make disciples of all peoples as Jesus required of His disciples in Matthew 28:19, but most of us would have problems recruiting people for Christ even if it were possible for us to travel around the world. We have trouble recruiting people for Christ right here in Stewartville because for most of us, that is not our talent. We do, however, have our Missionary family, Gordon and Ardell Graner in far off Bolivia who are recruiting people for Christ in our name. To stay in Bolivia and continue to work for the Lord, they do need our support, both our prayers and our financial support. Our Mission offering in December and in April is used to satisfy our commitment to the Graner’s support, so when the black bags go around on the fourth Sunday of April, April 27th please be generous so that we all do our part to keep Gordon and Ardell working for the Lord there in Cochabamba, Bolivia. The Eternal Faith Fund will be matching our gifts up to $300.00, so your gift goes twice as far. Any funds that we raise above our Covenant commitment will go toward Thiu Rancho, the Graner’s work project there in Bolivia. We can’t all spread the word of God to all the nations, but we can all support those wonderful people who do have the talent and the will to do so.
Gifts and Memorials Ministry Team Meeting Minutes
March 18, 2008 7:00 p.m.
Present: Stacy Harreld, Vickie Howard, Dave Serrano, Jean Schendel, Barb Buchanan and Marc Warren.
Guest: George Menshik
Absent: Donna Babcock, Russ Kidd and Deb Wempen.
Meeting called to order by Chair, Jean Schendel.
Quorum for the meeting was met.
Opening prayer was given by Marc Warren.
Secretary’s report - The secretary’s report was reviewed by everyone. Dave made a motion to approve as written, Stacey seconded. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s report - Dave did not have a report to present.
Request for funds –
There was one request for funds this month.
Sue Churchill presented a request for $1,500 to purchase permanent name tags for everyone at church. This would replace the paper ones we are currently using. Dave made a motion to approve the $1,500 for the name tags. Stacy seconded. Motion approved.
Scholarship Update -
Dave reported that we still only have one application for the scholarship. Stacey confirmed that she will contact the Faith United Methodist church in Spring Valley to review if more than one application comes in.
Endowment Giving -
There was some discussion again on having an endowment speaker come to our church. It was discussed to have someone come into our church to speak in the fall. Jean routed a brochure from another church that talked about endowment giving to the church. We talked about getting prices from area printing vendor to see what it would cost to redo our current brochure.
Jean handed out the terms for the Helen Hagen fund. Everyone reviewed and discussed this to make sure we are using the money according to her wishes.
Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, April 15th at 7 p.m.
Stacey made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Vickie seconded. Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted by, Vickie Howard, secretary
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Greetings in the name of our God of Grace - who calls us to love everyone unconditionally as He loves us, and to live justly as we remember that all things are a gift from Him.
This is a short update on the Advanced Lay Speaking Class that SE District will offer this spring.
The topic will be the Social Principles of the UMC. The class will be held on Saturday, April 26, in Racine UMC (about 20 miles south of Rochester on Highway 63).
Pastor Rob Kopp will lead the class with assistance from the District Lay Speaking Team. More information will be sent shortly, but I wanted to let you know the date so you could start to make plans!!!
Please share this information with friends and others who might be interested. The Advanced Lay Speaking class is NOT JUST for Lay Speakers who desire to do pulpit supply. It is also for anyone who desires to learn to lead faithfully and to live faithfully each day. These classes are an opportunity to nurture ourselves and each other as we grow in our faith and our understanding of our responsibility as children of a loving God, to live a life which reflects God's love for everyone.
Happy Birthday to the following church members and friends who celebrate April birthdays! Do YOU have an April birthday? Is YOUR name on the list? If not, please call or drop a note to the church office to let us know. We don't want to miss the opportunity to wish you a very Happy Birthday!
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Alta |
Morris |
14-Apr |
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Laura |
Warren |
2-Apr |
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Samuel |
Renken |
16-Apr |
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Glen |
Douglas |
3-Apr |
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Chad |
Thomason |
16-Apr |
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Helen |
Swain |
3-Apr |
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Joan |
Engel |
17-Apr |
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Astrid |
Hoberg |
4-Apr |
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Jared |
Bushman |
19-Apr |
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Joshua |
Beddow |
5-Apr |
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Erik |
Horsman |
20-Apr |
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James |
Beddow |
5-Apr |
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Kristina |
Babcock |
21-Apr |
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Jennifer |
Bleifus |
6-Apr |
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Timothy |
Warren |
21-Apr |
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Jake |
Whiting |
6-Apr |
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Lisa |
Malone |
22-Apr |
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Vicki |
Meredith |
7-Apr |
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Amanda |
Miner |
22-Apr |
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Raymond |
Babcock |
9-Apr |
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Nancy |
Urban |
23-Apr |
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Andrew |
Finley |
11-Apr |
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Justin |
Teske |
24-Apr |
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Carla |
Thompson |
11-Apr |
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Tammy |
Ecklund |
26-Apr |
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Ashley |
Achilles |
13-Apr |
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Carol |
Rauen |
27-Apr |
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Barbara |
Hill |
14-Apr |
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Catherine |
Podein |
28-Apr |
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Dalton |
Miller |
14-Apr |
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Zachary |
Yeadon |
29-Apr |
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Ryan |
Podein |
30-Apr |
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Neil |
Wienk |
30-Apr |
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