St. Croix Valley Church October

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Mark Pearson
6 years ago
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Remembering with Thanksgiving And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him who have been called according to His purpose for we are more than conquerors through Him who

1 Remembering with Thanksgiving And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him who have been called according to His purpose for we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:28, 37 I have occasionally experienced writer s block when a manuscript or sermon deadline is hanging over me. But that certainly isn t a problem at the moment. These past four months have provided countless thoughts and feelings that I m not accustomed to having nor to sharing: as rapid turnover of change in friendships, work, and residence. Anyone who has experienced the sudden rush of emotions and changes that are companion to life s transitions knows that normality screeches to a halt. Breathing stops. Heart beats are lost. Your thinking is clouded as the future disappears. Suddenly you re squeezed into the suffocating confines of loneliness and even emptiness. I know others report feeling a strange peace in the midst of such a time, but that doesn't easily occur for everyone. I feel great love and thanksgiving in the midst of our current transition. Lori and I will be serving and leading the Coon Rapids UMC starting Janaury1, 2016, as Intentional Interim Minister. Our time there will be anywhere between six and eighteen months. Just as in accepting the call to come to St. Croix Valley for a season, we now feel the tug and affirmation of the Spirit to pastor in Coon Rapids for a time. And we covet your prayers and support! Austin Walker will be your new Pastor if you partner with Embrace Church. I trust you will receive him and Calli and their three children (Emerson, Silas, and Scarlet) into your loving care. He is a remarkable evangelist and compassionate man. I will be praying for you all as you get to know one another. In this same vein, I will not be available for officiating at special events in the Valley once my new appointment begins. It is good and right for Austin to have unhindered freedom in developing new relationships with all of you. SCVUMC has taught me much in this new Interim role about listening, learning and loving. And through it all we have each grown in our relationship with Christ and trust of His purposes. Among the many good things that have come from this changeover, I have learned again how to surrender completely, to let go and let God. This may be the hardest lesson that any believer has to learn sooner or later. And yet, in the midst of life s uncertainties I have discovered new layers of faith, hope and love. Indeed, I rejoice in the very preciousness of life! How good it is that the Lord has allowed us to live it connected to one another! In the end, I want you to know that whatever we go through in life, it s not about us. It s about what God will do through us in order to grow His kingdom. Its Romans 8:28 all over again. God isn t finished with any of us yet. We will celebrate Christ s life-in-us again this Sunday, our last worship service as St Croix Valley Church. The message will bring us into the light of God s truth and mission; the music will lift our spirits to joy and thanksgiving; the prayers will draw us into Christ s heart; Holy Communion will strengthen our inner being and cleanse our soul; the friendship of believers will comfort us in love; and we will go forth, enlivened again, to know Christ deeply and make Him known passionately. And you will be Embraced as a new creation! I love you all and always! Forever In His Grace, Jeff

2 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you. Who are my mother and my brothers? he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God s will is my brother and sister and mother. (Mark 4:32-35) Dear SCVUMC, As I write to you in your last week as St. Croix Valley Church, I think of these verses from Mark. I find these words of our Lord reassuring. Here Jesus teaches about our true identity and He redefines family. Who are my sisters and brothers? Those who belong to Jesus Christ! Jesus is not disparaging his own family (undoubtedly He loved them dearly!) as much as He is letting us know that those who walk by faith in Christ, those who live by the grace of God and in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit are the children of God and belong in the family of Families. Who are my brothers and sisters? Just look at those around you. I know this week you are looking around at your SCVUMC brothers and sisters with special thankfulness and appreciation. You are drawing to a close this chapter of your life as family and that surely also involves grief and uncertainty. I pray you would keep these words of Jesus close. Your immediate family situation (congregation) will indeed change, but God will not leave you orphaned. New brothers and sisters are joining your circle. If you allow Him, God will transform your Family relationships in new and powerful ways. I can t thank you enough for being Family to me. You have raised me and loved and supported me regardless of years and distance. Your financial support of my seminary education has been invaluable, and your love and prayers during Theo s illness were a profound blessing. I am happy to share with you that in December I will graduate with a Masters of Divinity and then I hope to become a pastor. You have made this possible, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you St. Croix Valley brothers and sisters in Christ thank you Family! May God bless you and keep you on your journey. Jennifer Merriman Ryden

give a special thank you. Please feel free to bring appreciation cards to drop in the baskets.

3 At church on Sunday there will be four baskets put out on a table. One for each of the Office Personnel and one Other. Jeff Utecht - SCVC Pastor Lori Aldean - Church Administrator John Anderson - Children's Minis tries and Events Coordinator Others - Others that you would like to give a special thank you. Please feel free to bring appreciation cards to drop in the baskets. I will also have paper, pens and envelopes available it you would like to leave a note. The cards and notes will be presented to them during service on Sunday (11/1). Sandi Justin Remember to set your clocks back Saturday night before turning in. Daylight Savings has ended.

St. Croix Valley Church October 29 2015 Be sure to grab a copy of the NEW St.

If you won t be in church and need one mailed to you, send an email to lorialdean@gmail.

net or call Elaine Anderson at 651-439-3041 If you want to continue to pray for people, send

Information for Pastor Jeff and Lori Utecht 13836 Maryland Ave. Savage, MN 55378 jm30ute@aol.

4 St. Croix Valley Church October Be sure to grab a copy of the NEW St. Croix Valley UMC church directory on Sunday. If you won t be in church and need one mailed to you, send an to lorialdean@gmail.com or call Send your prayer requests to grandmalaine@comcast.net or call Elaine Anderson at If you want to continue to pray for people, send Elaine an or give her a call telling her you wish to be on the prayer chain list Contact Information for Pastor Jeff and Lori Utecht Maryland Ave. Savage, MN jm30ute@aol.com Lori Aldean will continue to assist the administration of St. Croix Valley Church until the end of the year. You can reach Lori or Sandi through at lorialdean@gmail.com or at

Dear St Croix Valley UMC, Lea Ann and I walked into SCV as a young couple trying to make our way in this world. She was 19 and I was 21.

During that time we served any way we could.

..Lea Ann and I matured and grew into Christians that wants to make a difference in other people's lives.

My heart is saddened that our beloved church has come to end. But, I am simultaneously excited to see where God will use Embrace in the Valley.

It was the same Celebration hymnals you were selling! Our secretary needed a new desk and she was thrilled to get the desk and credenza.

5 Dear St Croix Valley UMC, Lea Ann and I walked into SCV as a young couple trying to make our way in this world. She was 19 and I was 21. We had just gotten our first real jobs! We were blown away with the love shown us at your church. We loved it so much, we attended there about 12 years. During that time we served any way we could. I think back to the change we experienced from the time we walked in to the time we decided to answer God's call and move to Kentucky...Lea Ann and I matured and grew into Christians that wants to make a difference in other people's lives. The ministry of SCV changed our lives forever and left an indelible fingerprint on our spiritual lives and our current ministry! My heart is saddened that our beloved church has come to end. But, I am simultaneously excited to see where God will use Embrace in the Valley. I want to sincerely thank you for the hymnals, desks, tables, and Bibles. We have already put them to good use. We were looking for hymnals and I had decided on one. It was the same Celebration hymnals you were selling! Our secretary needed a new desk and she was thrilled to get the desk and credenza. The desk set will belong to a future hire (sometime next year) and I have no doubt that they will appreciate it! The piece I am most excited about is the conference room table. I have fond memories of junior high Sunday school and Bible Studies happening around it! I love that our church will use it in one of our Sunday School classrooms! We love and miss you all! Please stop by southeast Iowa and see us! Pastor Mark Clark Living Hope Bible Church 201 West Walnut Street Eldon, IA

6 Aldersgate United Methodist Church of St Louis Park, MN 85-2 seater pews BONUS this is the church where Paul Bauduin is the pastor! To my friends of the former St. Croix Valley United Methodist Church October 13, 2015 I greet you in the strong name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am writing not only for myself but in behalf of the congregation I am presently serving, the Janesville United Methodist Church of Janesville, Iowa. We want to thank you for passing on the various items from your sanctuary. We are in the process of moving into a building program and the items will be well used and appreciated in the future. On my own behalf as a former staff person ( & ) I want you to know that my years at St. Croix Valley Church were happy, rewarding and I trust fruitful. I have often missed the Valley and all of you over the years and have utilized the lessons I learned there from the likes of Rev. Robert Laidig, Doug Clausen, George Martens and many others, too many to name here. While I understand your reasons for becoming an "Embrace" church, I am saddened a bit that it worked out this way. However, I believe God has great things in store yet for the people of the Valley who call themselves United Methodist. My thoughts and prayers are with you as you go through this time of transition. Best regards and prayer Rev. Mike Reed Carey

7 Congratulations Jamie Goete on your new position as the Early Childhood Coordinator for Embrace.

As You Have Promised, Lord

LESSON THIRTEEN As You Have Promised, Lord References Luke 2:21-38; The Desire of Ages, pp. 50-58 Memory Verse Jesus Christ... by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope (2 Thessalonians