Lewis Lake News. January Our Stories. New Member Interviews. Inside this issue:

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1 January 2016 Lewis Lake News Our Stories By Pastor Bob O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old: Psalm 44:1 The new Star Wars movie is still in it s first week of showings in the land as I write this. It sounds like it is breaking all kinds of records for money made on the first weekend. People have come up with all kinds of ways to be one of the first one s on their block to have seen this new flick. I have not seen it, nor have I taken the time to have read much about it. My guess is that there are lots of space ships buzzing around shooting at each other, there are strange-looking creatures doing the same, there is mystery and intrigue, and all fairly much works out in the end. They claim there are only half a dozen or so basic plot lines that make up the core of just about every movie ever made. So we may not know all the details, but we can pretty much guess how things are going to go. Every culture has to have its stories. Stories, in the form of movies, are our culture s way of explaining what the world is all about. This world is made up of forces that are in conflict with each other, each one trying to win the day for their side. There is good and evil, though the evil sometimes has a little good in it, and the good often as a little evil mixed in. But in the end, though there may be a reversal or two along the way, good always wins out. This is very important to my wife especially. If she reads a book, and it does not end well, in the garbage it goes. Bad endings are unacceptable. I don t know how the latest Star Wars movie ends, but I would guess that good triumphs, though perhaps the bad guy somehow (Continued on page 9) STAFF Rev Robert De Young, Pastor bobdy75@gmail.com Betty Kilian, Secretary betty@lewislake.org REGULAR SUNDAY SCHEDULE 8:30 AM * Worship 9:40 AM * Sunday School 10:30 AM * Fellowship 11:00 AM * Worship Office phone: Visit our Website: lewislake.org Find us on Facebook Pastor Bob & Sandy De Young 1011 Grand Street, Ogilvie MN Text Pastor Bob, Inside this issue: Big Things In January 2 Women Ministries 3 New Member Interviews If you have attended Lewis Lake 101 classes and are ready to become a full member of Lewis Lake Covenant Church The next step is to meet with the Elders and tell your faith story! Two evenings have been set aside for this Wednesday, Dec 29 and Tuesday, Jan5th. Both evenings begin at 6:30 p.m. Sign up in the fellowship for the evening that works in your schedule. Help Wanted 5 Prayer Opportunities 6 Notes of Thanks 7 Thinking God s Thoughts 8 December Pictures 10+

2 Page 2 Lewis Lake News Covenant Prayer Week The First Full Week of January Each Year Prayer Church - Wednesday, January 6 At 6:30 P.M. II Chronicles 7:14 is a call directly from God to His people. It says: If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. This is an invitation to you to bear witness to the Lord by setting aside your normal Wednesday night activities and responding specifically to God's call to come together for united prayer. We will come together in faith and do exactly what God is calling us to do in II Chronicles 7. Come and join us for a time of spiritual refreshment! Prayer Guides are available by the bulletins 1 per family for devotional use during the week. Celebrating Margie Burk 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, January Church Margie s Family invites you to a meal and fellowship. Your presence is your gift :) Annual All Church Potluck Meal & Business Meeting Sunday, January 17th The All Church Potluck Meal Follows The 2 nd Service Sign up in the fellowship hall to help with setup and cleanup of the meal The Annual Business Meeting Follows the meal Lewis Lake Church Members are encouraged take part in electing a 2016 Council as well as voting on budget, building, and other items. All who are part of this Lewis Lake family are welcome to attend. Nominations For 2016 Church Council Are Open The person you nominate must be a member of Lewis Lake. Guides, including membership lists, and ballots may be found in the fellowship hall and by the secretary s office. Prayerfully consider saying, Yes, I will be on the ballot! if you are nominated and called. Financials, Letters of Greeting And Ministry Team Reports All Items For The Annual Meeting Booklet Are Due To Betty By January 11

3 January 2015 Page 3 Lewis Lake Women Ministries Annual Supper & Business Meeting January11 The Lewis Lake Women Ministries Team invites ladies of all ages to our Annual Meeting on Monday January 11th, starting with serving you a meal at 6:25 pm. Together we will look over our annual budget, talk about the past year and share hopes and opportunities for the future year. Please sign up n the WM board in the fellowship hall, by January 3rd, or call the Church office so we may be prepared with enough food for everyone. Bring an item for the Refuge Black Dog Shelter to our Annual Meeting. Check the list on pg 4 of this newsletter. Twelve Women will finish up on Saturday January 9 th at 8:30 a.m. Your host this month is Melodee Hall, Gal s Saturday Morning Coffee Shop Group Rachel Hauger invites anyone who would like to read and discuss Cast of Characters: Common People in the Hands of an Uncommon God by Max Lucado to join with others of the same mind at the Fish House Coffee Shop in Mora. Every other 8:30 a.m. starting January 9 The first time the group will just get to know each other and discuss the plan for the study. The book study will begin on January 23rd, so any who wants to join has until then to find a copy of the book. The book you are looking for is pictured in the margin. Knit Together - A Group For All Needlework Enthusiasts, Meeting Wednesdays, January 6 & 20 in the home of Elke Olson. Please contact Elke, for directions. Save The Dates March For Renewal 2016! If you enjoy women s conferences, this is for you. Renewal is an effort of our Northwest Conference Women Ministries, and very reasonably priced. Last year the cost for both days was $ Watch the WM bulletin board in the fellowship hall for information and registration forms as they become available. Those who are able to get away for both days will share motel rooms and split the cost. Accommodations should be made as soon as the info is made available, in order to assure we are all in the same place. So, keep a close watch on the announcements!

4 Page 4 Lewis Lake News A Note About The Lewis Lake Caregivers There When You Or Someone You Know Need Them Our Caregivers are ready, able, and willing to help in many ways including transportation to an appointment, someone to sit with you in a waiting room, help with a move, meals during a time of need, visitation, yard work and etc. Should you or someone you know who is not connected with another church be in need of help, please call the Church office and let Pastor Bob or Betty know. They will contact someone who is a good fit for the help needed. The Caregiver Team is always in need of more helpers. If you are willing to be on the call list of those willing to help, please talk to Michele Seefeld, Earl & Phyllis Bracewell, Doris Monson or Butch & Marilyn Bachman. You may choose what help you are willing to provide transportation for example. You are free to say yes or no to requests based on your availability and comfort with providing the help needed. Lewis Staff Pastor Bob or Betty are the first ones to contact with a need. Items We Collect To Help Others... Non Perishables and Empty One pound peanut butter jars and lids for the Ogilvie Food Shelf A red container is in the north or side entry. Box Tops for Educations & Labels For Learning for Ogilvie School The collection envelope is on the north wallboard in the fellowship hall. Used Cell Phones for the Mora Crisis Pregnancy Center The collection box is on the shelf by the drinking fountain in the back hall. Aluminum Cans for our CHICsters Bring bagged cans to Church Talk with Betty about where to put them. Place single cans in the blue container inside the kitchen door. Most needed items for The Refuge Black Dog Shelter A yellow container is in the front entry. Paper products, Laundry soap, Gift Cards from WalMart or Cubfoods, Fuel Cards from Superamerica, Holiday, WalMart or Casey s. Little things that add up to big things If The Weather Outside Gets Frightful Stay Safe Cancellations to Worship Services and other Events, due to inclement weather, will be: * Posted on the home page of lewislake.org * Broadcast on local FM radio stations: KBEK 95.5, WCMP 100.9

5 January 2015 Page 5 If You Are Looking For A Place To Serve At Lewis Lake Our Present Needs: Individuals who are willing to play piano during Sunday worship services Individuals who know how or are willing to learn the audio/visual side of worship and be on a rotation or sub list Individuals, Couples, Families who will usher especially those who are not currently greeting or volunteering in the nursery Sunday School nursery volunteers If any of these fit you or you would just like to give it try, contact: Melodee Hall Nursery Dana Nielsen Usher Chad Rolf AV Diane Sutton Piano Pond Etiquette All adults are asked to instruct the kids/youth in their care concerning throwing rocks and other debris in the pond or on the ice. The plan is to develop the pond into a lasting asset to the grounds. Everyone s help is greatly appreciated :) If you would like to be involved in the planning and development of our pond, talk to Duane Munsterteiger. Need Help Finding Your Place Of Service? Discover your spiritual gifts, personal style, and God-given passion for serving. Network is a six week process to help you understand who God has uniquely made you to be and guide you to a place of meaningful service at Lewis Lake. Betty Kilian is looking to put together a Monday or Wednesday Evening Group by mid January. The sessions will begin at 6:30 p.m. and run approximately 2 hours each. The cost of materials is $10 per person, payable the first night. If you are interested, please sign up in the fellowship hall by January 10th and let your preference be known.

6 Page 6 Lewis Lake News Pray For Our Short-Term Jamaica Missionaries Please be in prayer for the upcoming Jamaica Mission Trips for Rich Hall, Claire Belkholm and Cindy Belkholm. Pray for preparing them spiritually for the trip and prepare them for the work that will be done as they serve in the mission field. Allow the funds to come in for cost of trip and for the supplies to be taken with. The dates for Cindy & Claire are February 25-March 8 We will let you know as soon as a date is set for Rich Prayer Partners For Our CHICsters A No Gift Zone One cannot walk back to the fellowship hall without passing the bulletin board above the drinking fountain. The pictures of 21 youth are displayed on that board, each of them planning to attend CHIC CHIC is an intense triennial conference for high school youth of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Here at Lewis Lake, we call these youth CHICsters. We are seeking to help the congregation know our CHICsters in a way that is only possible through prayer. To that end, 63 bookmarks have been made 3 for each of the youth. The bookmarks have a picture of one CHICster, their name, and some ideas for prayer. We are asking for 63 adults who would be willing to devote time over the next 3 years in prayer for one CHICster. You will chose a bookmark from the Christmas tree on January 3rd and record who you picked on a master list. The plan is to introduce the CHICsters and their prayer partners and plan events that bring you together in getting to know you events While we understand the desire of some to do more by way of gifts and such, we ask that you let your prayers and face-to-face greetings be your gift. Thank You and Well Done Good & Faithful Servants!! Ushers, Singers, Greeters, Nursery Volunteers, Custodians, Grounds Keepers, Decorators, Readers, Coffee Makers, Behind the Scenes Special Project Volunteers, Encouragers in spoken/ written word or deed, Snow Movers, Bakers, Deliverers, Givers, Actors, Puppeteers, Teachers, Leaders, Students, Musicians, Drivers, Visitors, Dish Washers, Shoppers, Walkers, Designers, Planners, Craftsmen, Callers, Those Who Sew, Counters, Recorders, Prayer Warriors, Card Senders, Audio/Visual Techs, Pond Tenders, Construction Workers, Dirt Movers, Maintenance Crews, Caregivers, Busy Bag Refreshers, Pew Card/Envelope & Pencil Tenders The ministries & future of this Lewis Lake Church rest on your foundation.

7 January 2015 Page 7 Thank you for your prayers for me when I had my knee surgeries. Also thank you to those who were so helpful in getting my harvest and work done this summer and fall; and for the cards, visits and gifts. I have been blessed. Jerry Sutton To all who were in any way responsible for all the wonderful goodies delivered to our door, thank you so much. They were delicious and so much appreciated. Donna & Steve Pearson Thank you for the bag of sweet treats. It was a wonderful surprise for my family! Merry Christmas! Becci Steffen The year 2015 has been an amazing study in contrasts. On the one hand, it has been one of the most difficult years of our time here at Lewis Lake, with some very challenging situations coming before us. But, on the other hand, 2015 has seen some of the most wonderful things happen as well. As the Christmas season has arrived we have never felt more blessed and encouraged. Sandy and I have been so blessed by all of your expressions of support and love, coming to us in words spoken, in favors extended, in cards and by way of gifts. We thank all of you so very much for all you have done to bless our lives. Your support is being used by God to continue to give us strength for this wonderful work that we share together. Thank you all, from the bottom of our hearts. Pastor Bob and Sandy My sense of being loved by my Lewis Lake Family has always been strong, but never more so than during this past and most challenging year. Thank you for the grace you extend in allowing me to be myself. Thank you for your patience when I make mistakes. Thank you for your forgiveness when my bad self rises. Thank you all for your concern, generosity and thoughtfulness at Christmas time and throughout the year A special thank you to those who have prayed and offered hugs and helping hands. You are an amazing gift from God and I look forward to the adventure He has planned for us together in ministry! With a very grateful heart, Betty

8 Page 8 Lewis Lake News Begin The New Year Following Pastor Bob s lewislake.org! DATE BOOK SCRIPTURE Thinking God s Thoughts A Bible Reading Discipline For 2016! Week of Jan. 3 Week of Jan 10 Ephesians 3:1-6 3:7-13 3: : :1-6 Ephesians 4:7-12 4: : : :25-27 Meet With Pastor Bob Each lewislake.blogspot.com A simple 5 day/week Bible Study Week of Jan 17 Week of Jan 24 Ephesians 4: :1-6 5:7-14 5: :22-24 Ephesians 5: :1-4 6:5-9 6: :13-18a December 24, 2016 ~ ~ Blog ~ Ephesians 2:1-5 If you want to understand the world, what is the true condition of the world and all of us in it, Ephesians 2:1-5 is one of the best places to look for the answer. God did not create the world to be like this, but it became this way when sin popped into existence through the disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve. Things changed after that and they became as we read now in these verses. And how are things now? People are dead in sin v.1. We are not dead in every way, but we are in the most important of ways. People who are dead in sin are stuck in lives of sin v.1b-3a. People are following Satan s ways, living for the passions of our flesh and mind. The result is that we are now under the wrath of God v.3b. All mankind is under the just wrath of God for all are truly sinful and we have all truly sinned. God has now made us alive and has saved us by His grace v.4-5. We are under the wrath of God, but God s love is also there, making a way for us to find life for that part of us that is dead, if we will receive it. This is reality. This is how things really are for all people. Getting in touch with reality is one of the most important things a person can do in life. We criticize people when they are out of touch with reality, don t we? So let s embrace reality as we join ourselves to the God who loves us and wants us to have life full and free.

9 January 2015 Page 9 Council Report The Church council met on December 14, 2015 The church financial report from November was reviewed and approved. Income: $19,452 Expense: $9,778 The Building Project update was given by Jerry Tvedt & Brian Belkholm. Brian reported that we have about $380,000 into the building so far. Several miscellaneous decisions were made about building details. Committees were formed to deal with nursery and kitchen layout. The budget for 2016 was finalized and approved. We clarified issues in our bylaws concerning the Missions Team and the Finance Team. This will need to be approved at the annual meeting. We continued to clarify our thinking on a new staff position. A meeting was set for January 11 to continue the discussion. Several others points of business were discussed, but these are the highlights. Continue to pray for our Church Council as we strive to move forward in ministry. (Continued from page 1) escapes, living to cause trouble for another day and another movie. The truth is, stories and movies actually have the power, to some extent, to form your view of the world. When people look around at the world and at other people, their understanding of what they are seeing is informed greatly by the stories they listen to and the stories they tell. It is fun to go to the movies and I recommend it. But are you living in a Star Wars world? Has your worldview been shaped and formed by those theatre stories? The sons of Korah declare in Psalm 44:1 that they have listened to the stories about what God has done, in the days of old! The stories that shaped how they understood the world were the God stories, stories about how God created all, how God fought against evil, about how God redeemed mankind in the most amazing of ways! Our kids are growing up in a world of story telling, and it is having a powerful impact on their understanding of what this world is all about. Secular stories are not bad. No need to ban our kids from the movie theatre. But are we making sure they hear the Godstories too? In this new year, let s be purposeful about listening to God s stories and letting our minds be formed by that. Instead of Star Wars, let s set our hearts on the God of the stars. In this new year, let s be purposeful about listening to God s stories and letting our minds be formed by that. Pastor Bob

10 Page 10 Caroling & Cookie Packing Lewis Lake News

11 January 2015 Building Snow Removal, Doors, Windows, Wrap, Shingles! Page 11

12 Lewis Lake Church Life ~ January 2016 Begin The Year With A Corporate Prayer Experience Invite The Powerful Presence Of The Holy Spirit Into Our Lives & This Place Wednesday Evening & Every Day During Prayer Week