First Presbyterian Church of Litchfield, MN JULY 2016 NEWSLETTER. Pastor Gordy s Message

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1 First Presbyterian Church of Litchfield, MN JULY 2016 NEWSLETTER Pastor Gordy s Message By Pastor Gordy Pennertz Verse for July: So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest-time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith. Galatians 6: 9-10 My dear friends, July is a quiet month for First Presbyterian. Committees are quiet and session is not meeting. We are not shutting things down however. There will be home communions, two Bible Studies and of course we will worship every Sunday morning. The Sabbath is a day of rest. God commanded the Israelite people to observe every Saturday as a day where no work was done. In our busy, busy world today, Sabbath observance is the exception rather than the rule. But a time of rest, relaxation, restoration is critical to our health. Illnesses, disease, sickness result from neglecting our rest. Perhaps we can look at this July as a kind of Sabbath month, a time for us to make church less about the tasks we need to get done and more about worship, fellowship and the joy of the Lord. May God bless you as you celebrate the nation's independence. May we recognize more clearly our place as children of God as we take time to be still and know that the Lord is God. Grace and peace, Pastor Gordy Upcoming events: (Reminder, no session meeting in July) Sunday July 3 God Bless America service of Word and Music Monday, July 4 th, Independence Day Wednesday, July 6 Home communions Wednesday, July 13 The Story Bible Study Sunday, July 24 Wellness prayer service Wednesday, July 27 The Story Bible Study 14-Rosie Graphenteen 17-Luciella Rose Viehauser 17-Doug & Laurie Johnson BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES: 4-Jim Lundberg 5-Emily Morrison 20-Pastor Gordy and Julie Rae Pennertz 21-Carol Blunt 21-Savannah Joldersma 23-David Pennertz (30 th ) 24-Wade Viehauser JULY SERVING

2 3-David Pennertz 10-Stephanie Rech 17-Ruth Townsend 24-Susan Berg 31-Shirley Brooks USHERS: 3-Dwight Barrick LITURGIST: 10-Julie Rae Pennertz 17-Amy Levinski 24-??? (Need someone) 31-Shirley Brooks Money Counters: 3-Jayne Ackman & Judy Holmes 10-Beverly Driver & Jayne Ackman 17-Michael Joldersma & Julie Rae Pennertz 24-Arlyce Dedrickson and Gary Graphenteen 31-Michael Joldersma and Gary Graphenteen Communion Servers: Savannah, Michael, Susan & Judy Coffee Hour: 3-Katie Pennertz 10-Melva Burnette 17-Beverly Driver 24-Shirley Brooks 31-POTLUCK!! (Serving committee in charge of beverages etc) God Bless America. We will have a special service on Sunday July 3 recognizing the need our nation has of God's blessing while also celebrating the freedoms that are ours through the sacrifice of so many. We will sing a few patriotic songs and the sermon topic will deal with our nation as well. And our prayer time will be about our county's trials and needs. Come and celebrate and pray... and it might be a good Sunday to invite some friends! IT S POTLUCK TIME!! We are going to try something different for potluck this time as we would like people to sign-up and bring BRUNCH type foods. Since church is finished at 10:30 AM we thought a change for the summer might be fun. Egg dishes, pancake and French-toast bakes, bacon, sausage, muffins and breads, etc Let us know what you ll bring so we have the basis covered! Be sure to come and join the fellowship and FUN

3 SANCTUARY DUTY: July: Jayne August: Julie Rae Sept: David P. Oct: Amy L Nov: Rosie Dec: Shirley Jan: David P. Presbyterian Church Family, Thank you so very much for the prayers, cards, and condolences, following the loss of Wade's mom, Emily. So blessed to have a church family like ours. The Viehauser's Wade, Amy, Josh & Luciella JULY Liturgy 3-Psalm 30 Galatians (1-6) 7-16 Luke 10:1-11, Psalm 82 Colossians 1:1-14 Luke 10: Psalm 52 Colossians 1:15-28 Luke 10: Psalm 85 Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19) Luke 11: Psalm 107:1-9, 43 Colossians 3:1-11 Luke 12:13-21 THE STORY Bible Study: We are winding down in our study of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. In July we will be looking at the travels and writings, experiences and advice of the Apostle Paul. We will meet on July 13 and 27 th. Congratulations to the winners of this year s Father s Day Tie Contest! 1) Most colorful was Gary Graphenteen 2) Super Hero (Since that was the theme for SS.) was a tie between Pastor Gordy Pennertz and David Pennertz 3) Classic was Marshall Madsen 4) Most Creative was Dwight Barrick in his t-shirt with a bow tie imprinted on it and 5) Favorite went to Jim Lundberg with his train tie and matching t-shirt! Thank you to all the men who participated on such a HOT day! Deacons serving schedule: If you are in need of a deacon for rides, for help, for notifying someone is in the hospital etc Please contact the deacon of the month July: Julie Rae August: Harriet Sept: Julie Rae Oct: Amy V. Nov: Savannah Dec: Barb Bremseth Dec 24: Amy V/all

4 PRESBYTERIN WOMEN NEWS: The Lilac luncheon was discussed. We had a very good turn-out! It was decided not to make coleslaw next year as we had a good supply of salads. Barb Bremseth, Jayne Ackman, Shirley Brooks, Julie Rae Pennertz and Rosie Graphenteen attended the Minnesota Valley s Presbyterian Women Spring Gathering at Harrison Presbyterian church on June 7 th. It was an enjoyable day and the food was fabulous! Julie Rae Pennertz will be our new Missions Coordinator. Thanks to Julie Rae for taking over (Emily Osmundson will be greatly missed!) and we know that she will be a great leader for the missions projects. Rosie Graphenteen, Moderator Mary-Martha Circle NEWS: We are off until September. Please consider joining us then! Blessings! Bonvoyage and safe travels to Savannah and Michael Joldersma as they will be traveling with the group from MN to the Youth Triennium at Notre Dame. We look forward to hearing all about your adventure! We are looking for Sunday school teachers for fall, so PLEASE pray about teaching or helping the teacher! Session Minutes July 2016 Attendance: Sue Berg, Shirley Brooks, Arlyce Dedrickson, Gary Graphenteen, Judy Holmes, Michael Joldersma & Pastor Gordy Pennertz. Pastor Gordy opened the meeting with prayer. 1. Pastor's Training: Pastor Gordy distributed copies of part of his sermon on June 12. He reminded us that we are sinful people gathering to worship God. 2. Treasurer's Report: Sue will contact the waste management company in regards to lowering our bill. 3. Pastor's Report: Home communions were served with Harriet as the deacon. Home and nursing home visits were made. Judy will preach on Sunday, July 10. Amy L. will preach on Sunday, August 7, Use of church on Saturday, September 24, 2016 for a baby shower for baby Schneider. Pastor Gordy will do the Memorial service for Joyce McLaughlin on Wednesday, June 29, The next Wellness service is scheduled for Sunday, July Clerk's Report: Thirty-seven people took communion on Sunday, June 5. Communion servers for July are Sue Berg, Judy Holmes, Michael Joldersma and Savannah Joldersma. 5. Old Business: The audit for 2015 is a selfaudit under the direction of Michael and Pastor Gordy. The audit will be completed in July. Beginning January 2017, deacons

5 will be able to count offering with the elders. The church by-laws will be changed accordingly. 6. New Business: Nominating Committee for 2017 was placed on the agenda for the next Session Meeting. A review of the church's membership list was completed. 7. Prayer: Pastor Gordy used a Lutheran prayer for our nation and world - pertinent to the Orlando shootings. 8. Worship/Christian Education: Jayne is once again playing the organ and piano during worship. 9. Christian Community: The next meeting is Monday, June 27, at 3 p.m. 10. Buildings & Grounds: The ramp and steps at the front door will be dedicated on Sunday, June 19. Approved cost of restoring the church's foundation, using funds in building maintenance and undesignated funds. 11. Stewardship/Personnel: Kay has prepared a notebook with the procedures and forms needed to count offering and to record memorials. The notebook is in the office used to count offering. 12. Presbyterian Women: Current balance is $3000. PW wants to spend $2500 for the benefit of the church. Possible items for purchase include new coffee pots to set on tables and shelves in the nursery. PW is open to suggestions for spending from the congregation. The meeting was closed with the congregational blessing of one another. The next meeting is Tuesday, August 9. Respectfully submitted - Judy Holmes Our condolences go out to Bev and Bill Barr on the recent death of Bev s dad, Robert Sanders Sr. We also send our sympathy to Wade and Amy Viehauser and family on the passing of Wade s mom. May God bless their memories. Congratulations to Jim and Lila Lundberg on the birth of their newest great grandchild, Lila. Thank you and congratulations to Beverly Driver who was recognized in church on Father s Day for her work as Clerk of Session as well as her remembering everyone with her cards all the time. Thank you, Beverly for your thoughtfulness.

6 We were happy to have Shirley Good back in church with us after a month long battle with pneumonia! Take care Shirley! Do you have any news? Illnesses, joys, grandbabies etc? WE would love to share your information with everyone in our church family so they can pray for you and rejoice with you! Let Julie Rae know. Thanks and blessings! America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves. Abraham Lincoln Service to God and Country I showered and shaved. I adjusted my tie. I got there and sat. In a pew, just in time. Bowing my head in prayer, as I closed my eyes, I saw the shoes of the man next to me. Touching my own, I sighed. With plenty of room on either side I thought, Why must our soles touch? It bothered me, his shoe touching mine. But it didn t bother him much. A prayer began: Our Father, I thought, This man with the shoes has no pride. They re dusty, worn and scratched. Even worse, there are holes on the side! Thank you for the blessings.. the prayer went on. The shoe man said a quiet Amen as I tried to focus on the prayer. But my thoughts were on the shoes again. Aren t we supposed to look our best when walking through that door? Well, this certainly isn t it, I thought, glancing toward the floor. Then the prayer was ended and the songs of praise began. The shoe man was certainly loud, sounding proud as he sang. His voice lifted the rafters, his hands were raised high. The Lord could surely hear, the shoe man s voice from the sky. It was time for the offering and what I threw in was steep. I watched as the shoeman reached into his pockets so deep. I saw what he pulled out, what he put in, then I herad the soft clink as silver hit the tin. The sermon really bored me to tears, and that s no lie. It was the same for the shoe man as tears fell from his eyes. AS the end of the service as is custom here, we must greet new visitors and show them good cheer. But I felt moved somehow, and wanted to meet the shoe man. So after the closing prayer I reached over and shook his hand. He was old and his skin was dark, and his hair was truly a mess. But, I thanked him for coming and for being our guest. He said, My name is Charlie and I am glad to meet you my friend. There were tears in his eyes, but he had a large grin. Let me explain, he said, wiping tears from his eyes. I ve been coming here for months and you re the first to say hi. I know my appearance is not like all the rest, but I really do try to look my best. I always clean and polish my shoes before my long walk, but by the time I get here they are dirty, like chalk. My heart filled with pain and I swallowed to hide my tears, as he continued to apologize for daring to sit so near. He said, When I get here I know I must look a sight, but I thought if I

7 could touch you, then maybe our souls would unite. I was silent for a moment, knowing whatever was said would pale in comparison. I spoke from my heart and not from my head, Oh, you have touched me, I said, And taught me, in part, that the best of any man is what is found in his heart. The rest I thought, this shoe man will never know. Like just how thankful I really am, that his dirty shoe touched my soul. By Leanne Frieberg JULY Prayer List 1-Don & Jayne Ackman 2-Ryan Ackman 3-Joshua Anderson 4-Dwight Barrick 5-Joel Barrick 6-Mortie & Susan Berg 7-Carol Blunt 8-David Boll 9-Linda Karg 10-Heath Bozonie 11-Barbara Bremseth 12-Shirley Brooks 13-Dennis & Melva Burnette 14-CJ Crosbie 15-Roger & Mary Crosbie, Mariah & Katie 16-Arlyce Dedrickson 17-Beverly Driver 18-Bruce & Shirley Good 19-Gary & Rosie Graphenteen 20-Kay Hanson & Tim Lane 21-Greg & Karen Heath 22-Judy Holmes 23-Doug & Laurie Johnson 24-Jared & Courtney Johnson, Maci Alice 25-Michael & Rhonda Joldersma & Savannah 26-Sierra Joldersma 27-Ken & Harriet Koelln 28-Owen KRagenbring & family 29-Roger & Roz Landers 30-Jim & Lila Lundberg 31-Amy Levinski PEACE: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace On Quest for Peace We re told this is a true story, so it will be presented as such. It seems there once was a man who was an officer in the British Cavalry and he was sent to serve England in the Crimean War. There he became a part of history as one of the many ill-fated souls involved in the now famous Charge of the Light Brigade. Fortunately this soldier survived, but the scars on his soul would everafter not heal. The trauma of being in the midst of such carnage made him long for one thing: peace. After the war he tried to find peace in his native land, but, disillusioned, finally left to travel across the sea and start anew in the fresh, sun-scrubbed skies of America. Upon arrival he began a trek to discover the place that would be his home a place where peace would reign supreme. By the late 1850 s he found and purchase a small farm in the Virginia countryside that had become all he had hoped for. There was only one problem the farm on which he had chosen to retire was an area called Bull Run. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 Lord, make me an intrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness, joy. -St Francis of Asisi Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord, Jesus Chrust, through whom we have gained access by faith into His grace in which we now stand. Romans 5:1-2