Grace Evangelical Free Church May -June 2016 News in Review Palm Sunday celebration was even more special when "kids of all ages" joined in. Easter morning breakfast set the stage for the church service celebrating the triumph of Jesus over death. He is risen indeed! In this issue... Everyone loves fellowship time before Sunday School. News in Review (pg. 1) Upcoming Events (pg. 2) Birthdays and Anniversaries (pg. 2) Book Review (pg. 3) Words from Pastor Mark (pg. 4) Getting to Know... (pg. 5) 1
Upcoming Events Worship Service at 9:00 am Sunday School at 10:30 am First Prayer May 2 at 7:00 pm June 6 at 7:00 pm Food Pantry (No more plastic bags needed) May 9 at 5:30 pm June 13 at 5:30 pm Missions Committee May 10 at 6:30 pm June 14 at 6:30 pm Children's Ministry May 16 at 6:30 pm June 20 at 6:30 pm Mother's Day Brunch May 7 at 10:00 am Vacation Bible School June 20-24 from 6:00-8:30 pm Weekly Events Wednesdays Bobcats- at Grace- 10:00 am Worship Team Practice- 6:30 pm 1 Corinthians Bible Study- 6:15 pm Thursdays Women's D-Group- 5:30-7:30 pm May 5 May 6 May 12 May 13 May 14 May 15 May 17 May 21 May 22 May 25 May 28 May 29 May 30 June 9 June 10 June 14 June 17 June 21 June 24 June 25 June 26 June 30 May - June Birthdays and Anniversaries Allie Downing Olivia Blanchard Dave & Gale Christopherson Brody Sargent Shirley Schuttinga Vicki Abbott Hannah Palmer Monty Freeman Fred & Joan Bown Steve & Lynn Sargent James Gray Jon Schuttinga Monty & Lori Freeman Rod & Carol Kuhn Becky Clausen Daniel & Andrea Palmer Becky Abbott Wilma Seymour Jana Krempasky Jon & Gwen Roen Les & Jeanie Mower Donna Andrus Helen Leach Carol Youngson Orlea Kester Roger & Kathy Kester Brett Blanchard Steve Sargent 2
Book Review One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp Thankfulness (Gratitude) is the soil in which JOY survives! And He took bread and gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them (Luke 22:19 NIV) Ann writes, "But there is more, and I read it. Eucharisteo, thanksgiving, envelopes the Greek word for grace, charis. But it also holds its derivative, the Greek word chara, meaning joy. Joy. Ah yes. I might be needing me some of that." Couldn t we all use some JOY? Ann is challenged to count 1,000 gifts, and so her story unfolds. Ann opens up her heart and soul and becomes vulnerable to her readers as she shares her struggles in finding that Joy. In Luke 22:19 Jesus broke the bread and gave thanks knowing what events were in store for Him. He knew He would be beaten, spat upon, mocked and crucified, yet He gave thanks. Ann writes. From all of our beginnings, we keep reliving the Garden story. Satan wanted more. More power, more glory. Ultimately, in his essence, Satan is an ingrate. And he sinks his venom into the heart of Eden. Satan s sin became the first sin of all humanity- the sin of ingratitude. Adam and Eve were simply, painfully, ungrateful for what God gave. Isn t that the catalyst of all my sins?" In another chapter, Ann writes, "Is that why the Israelites kept recounting their past--- to trust God for their future? Remembering is an act of thanksgiving, a way of thanksgiving, this turn of the of the heart over time s shoulder to see all the long way HIS arms have carried (us)." So I, too, started journaling my gifts. I numbered to 1,000. And then I found I couldn t stop counting. Every day there are numerous gifts. In order to see those gifts we need to have communion with Our Lord and Savior in order that we may know Him by praying, reading His Word and giving thanks! This is more than just a book. It is a life changer! Thanks go to Janet Miller for this book review. Thank You Thank you for the many prayers, thoughts, flowers cards, money toward memorial to MYEP (Iowa City agency that served Dan) & the delicious luncheon provided by church after the service. A special thanks to Pastor Mark for his blessed Gospel message at the service. Thanks to everyone who took time to attend the visitation/service. You have made this difficult time of our son/brother's passing so much easier. We rejoice through our tears that he is with his Savior & running free in heaven! We love all of you. Kathie and Doug Hutcheson 3
Love is Patient I find it interesting that the first description or activity of love mentioned in the great love chapter is patience. Love is patient, 1 Corinthians 13:4 tells us up front. Right away I m struck that this thing called love isn t going to be easy. Patience isn t something that comes naturally to me. I don t like to wait. Waiting means that I m not in control. Maybe that s the point. Perhaps that s why it s an essential component to loving others. Loving others isn t about me. It s about the other person or persons. And so, if I am more concerned about you, I ll be willing to be patient if that s what will help you, if that s what will be of benefit to you. I suspect a big reason most of us dislike waiting is because it s an inconvenience. But if I am primarily concerned for your welfare rather than my own, then I will be willing to be inconvenienced. Love absorbs losses so that another person gains. And so, love patiently suffers the inconvenience of waiting for the other person s sake. Foundational to our growing in patience is knowing and experiencing God s patience toward us. Over and over in the Bible we read that He is slow to anger. In 2 Peter 3:9 we re told: The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. And, one that really boggles my mind (as well as encourages me), Isaiah 30:18 reads: the LORD waits to be gracious to you. I encourage you to ponder God s remarkable patience toward you, and ask Him to help you grow in this essential aspect of love. For God s glory and your joy Words from Pastor Mark "Foundational to our growing in patience is knowing and experiencing God's patience toward us. " Pastor Mark. 4
Getting to Know... Les & Jeanie Favorite Scriptures Jeanie: Psalms 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made. Let's be rejoice and be glad in it." Les: Psalm 27:1 "The Lord is my light and salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; whom shall I fear?" Favorite People: Ruth and Paul Les and Jeanie's story starts in Dallas County where they both grew up on farms. Les had one older sister and Jeanie had one older brother and one younger brother. Les really enjoyed living on the farm and went to school for five years in a one room schoolhouse before his family moved to town. Jeanie went to a Methodist church in the country where she attended Sunday School and later MYF. Les also attended a country Methodist church. It was mostly a family church with the land donated by his great-great-grandfather Mowrer. The church was built by his greatgreat-grandfather, his great-grandfather and many uncles and cousins. The church, located 6 miles outside of Perry, is still being used today. Les and Jeanie's wonderful relationship started in a sandwich shop where Jeanie worked and Wes visited every night for coffee. Fast forward to the present and we find Les and Jeanie happily married for 57 years! They have one daughter, Janene, who lives in Norwalk with her husband, Jason. Their son, Jason, passed away on Good Friday in 2015. Their family has now grown by three grandchildren and eight greatgrandchildren. The Mowrers must love life in Indianola. They have lived here twice! The first time they lived in Indianola for four years. They then moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas, where they lived for five years. In spite of having made many friends and being very active in their church in Bella Vista, they returned to Indianola and will have will have lived here two years this June. They live at Meadow Glenn independent living. Jeanie enjoys walking, reading and being with people. In Bella Vista, she taught Bible Study in a nursing home, was on the Mission Board and sent greeting cards to missionaries. At their E.F. church in Arkansas, she was in a ladies' group called Deaconess and did all kinds of jobs in the church. Les likes antiques, classic cars and reading. In Bella Vista, he was chairman of the Mission Board and served on the Church Board. He has also taken mission trips to the Ukraine and Washington state to construct new churches. Throughout the years, Les and Jeanie have found that reading the Bible is a must. They take time in the morning reading God's Word and sharing devotions and prayers. The Mowrers have made Grace E.F. their church home because of Pastor Mark's in depth teachings and because of the old and new friends they have here. 5
About Grace EFC Glorifying God. Loving People. Teaching God's Word Our Mission: to glorify God through the power of the Holy Spirit by honoring Christ's name, teaching His Word, loving His people and expanding His Kingdom. Who We Are: We are part of the Evangelical Free Church of America. We are people from diverse backgrounds united by our love for God, for each other, and for the world. Our worship blends time-honored hymns in a modern style along with contemporary hymns and songs that honor and glorify Jesus Christ. Messages at Grace feature clear, systematic teaching of the Bible with timeless truths that apply to our lives. 108 N. Jefferson Way Indianola, Iowa 50125 Sunday Morning Worship: 9:00 AM Sunday School for all ages 10:30 AM 6