Zion s Outpost Branch Newsletter 2012 Branch Yearly Theme: Embrace the Truth and Look Upward February Theme: Keep My Commandments Vol. 27 No. 2 The Church of Jesus Christ February, 2012 2012 Study Scripture Calendar: The theme calendar with weekly scripture readings was prepared by Seventy Gary Whiting. If you desire to have one, contact the Editor of this newsletter. February Theme: Keep My Commandments WEEKLY READINGS: Week 1-4; Genesis 14:33-36 Week 5-11; Mosiah 3:6-11 Week 12-18; Isaiah 56:1-7 Week 19-25; Doctrine and Covenants 6:3 Week 26-29; Doctrine and Covenants 24:3-4 The following is a quote from the branch calendar: The commandments of the Lord are often considered to be limiting, but this opinion is not based on an understanding of the Lord s motives and desires. God seeks our welfare and good. This is instantly obvious when one considers the length to which God has extended Himself in order to save us. Jesus Christ came to show us the truth of our situation and apply the Truth to our lostness and set us free. It makes no sense for God, who came to set us free, to give us commandments that limit our liberty and maturation. Instead of making our lives grievous, God s commandments are given that we any have abundant joy. Because we were created in the image of God, we have been designed to live with God and where He is. This is the promise of the gospel. By our fallen natures we can neither see the way to our heavenly home nor do we have the strength to obtain that home ourselves. In the commandments of God is the map showing us how to make our way to the home prepared for us and the power to make the journey and find our rest in God s house. Keeping the commandments is key to becoming a kingdom citizen. It is embracing the Truth. Read the Family Devotion in this newsletter for more about this month s theme. F.Y.I. Branch Work Day: On January 14 progress was made on the painting of the upstairs at church and the library room is now completely painted. Our thanks to the those who labored that day: Brent and Jacob Burford, Bob Skeen, Martha Van Nordstrand and David Newman. The next branch work day will be on March 10. The Facilities Committee will meet on February 4 at 9:30am to plan the work day. All committee members are requested to advise David N. of your intended attendance for both the meeting and the work day. Upgrading the Church Sound and Visual: The IT Department is working hard on improving the visual and audio equipment so that we will be able to record by DVD and eventually broadcast via the internet. Soon the Sunday services will be available on the church web-site. We will keep you abreast of the progress made. Independence District Women s Retreat: February 10-11 is the retreat at the Remnant Gathering Place in Independence, MO. All Restoration women are welcome to attend. See pages 5-6 for more info. Church Spring DEEP Cleaning: March is designated as the month for doing some DEEP cleaning in the church building. In February you are asked to sign-up for those areas you will volunteer to clean. The master sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board in the hall. All available hands are needed. We appreciate your efforts to keep the Lord s house in a clean order. Joint Worship Services: Seventy Gary Whiting will be speaking on the topic Building a House Unto the (F.Y.I. Continued on page 3)
The Zion s Outpost Branch Newsletter is published monthly through the Publications Department of Zion s Outpost. The editor is Presiding Elder David Newman, editorial staff Debbie Newman. The newsletter is used to inform members, friends and seekers of the events taking place in the Branch and to promote the work of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is available at no charge to those asking for subscriptions. Contributions to its publications are appreciated. If you wish to submit articles, please e-mail them to debnewman@cox.net or mail to 382 Hillsdale, Wichita, KS 67230. Submit by 1st of each month. Contact us: 6300 N. Tarrytown Park City, Kansas 67219 316-744-1020 www.zionsoutpost.net Sunday Services 9:00 am Prayer Service on First and Third Sundays 9:30 am Family Worship on all other Sunday mornings. Page In this Issue 1 2012 Study Scripture Calendar; F.Y.I. 3 F.Y.I. continued; Family Devotions; Planning Ahead 4 Women's Department; Please Pray For ; Zion s; Busy Bees 5-6 The Independence District Women s Retreat info 7-9 Branch Event Calendars for February, March & April 10 Dates to Remember Vol. 27 No. 2 Page 2 ZION S OUTPOST PUBLICATIONS GOOD NEWS CONCORDANCE Book of Mormon/Doctrine and Covenants $30.00 (1 volume) Old and New Testaments (2 volume set) $50.00 Full set (3 volumes) $75.00 9:45 am Sunday School 11:00 am Worship Service 5:00 pm Study Class Third Sunday is Potluck Lunch following the 11 am service Sacrament Service at 11:00 am on First Sunday and 5:00 pm on Third Sunday each month Wednesday Night 7:15 pm Prayer and Testimony Service BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS The Book of Mormon is Christian $5.00 The Parable of the Olive Tree $5.00 Conversion Table: RLDS to LDS Doctrine $5.00 and Covenants A Word of Consolation $5.00 The Voice of Captives $5.00 That Ye May Be Forgiven $5.00
F.Y.I. Continued from page 1 Lord at the first Joint Worship Service on January 29. Efforts are being made by the Joint Conference of Restoration Branches and the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in jointly sponsoring a 5th Sunday Preaching Series. The first service on January 29 will begin at 6pm at the Remnant Church Gathering Place in Independence, MO. The following services will be April 29, July 29, September 30 and December 30. All services can be viewed via the internet through video streaming by going to this web-site: www.livestream.com/remnantchurchofjesuschrist. Family Devotions From the pen of Leonard J. Lea...Views from the Mountain, Herald House, Independence, Missouri 1961, pages 61-62 Keep My Commandments. All hymns are from The Hymnal, Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Herald Publishing House, Independence, Missouri; Fourth Printing 1959 Sing Hymn: #388: Jesus call us Prayer: Story: Keep My Commandments The commandments of God, whether positive or negative, are always based on something as we will find if we pursue the matter far enough that has to do with our own good. He does not pay us with bribes for obedience, nor does he punish us with his vengeance when we disobey. The good or ill that comes to us as a result of what we do is the natural result of the things themselves. The old, old laws of the Scriptures how foolish, how arbitrary and unreasonable some of them seem today. And yet, if you investigate the conditions of the times, you will probably find some problem of health or sanitation, some moral question, some grim necessity confronting an ignorant people, and this was God s way of trying to help them. But often they were stubborn (they were very like us, those ancient peoples) and they disobeyed. As a result they suffered, and they saw their suffering as a punishment inflicted directly upon them by the wrath of God. They didn t see the real causes. Like them, we often cry, Oh, why has God done this to me? The answer most generally is, He didn t. Or we ask Why has God permitted this to happen? Maybe he had nothing to do with it. It isn t because he wants something more to punish us for and make us miserable. It is because he sees farther than we can he sees everything that is, and is to come and he knows what is best. If we do not obey him, if we follow the wrong path, we get in trouble, not because he put it there to punish our disobedience, but because he had already seen the trouble in that course, and has sought to warn us. He speaks directly and imperatively; he can t argue with us because he knows how silly we can be in an argument. He can t explain the reasons for things because we are not ready or able to understand them. He must speak in commands, as we do to children, because he knows what is best. We have the right to understand, sometime. He doesn t command blind obedience. He simply commands obedience. The blindness is our own. When we grow up to spiritual maturity we may understand his will concerning us, and give that complete submission which comes from the combination of trust and faith we have added to our slowly growing body of knowledge. But understanding is something we can develop only slowly, and generally later in life. It cannot be thrust upon us without capacity or preparation. However, we must live now, even before we can understand. So God gives us his law directions, warnings, prohibitions, and commands. If we are wise we will obey. Family Discussion: Share about your obedience to God s commandments even when you didn t understand his will concerning you. Sing Hymn: #386 My God and Father Closing Prayer: Vol. 27 No. 2 Page 3 Planning Ahead PLEASE MARK THESE DATES ON YOUR CALENDAR March 11 2am Day Light Saving Time Begins March 18 10:30am ZO Branch Election of Delegates for the International Conference of the Church to be held April 15-21 April 15-21 International Conference of the Church June 24-30 Family Missionary Reunion in Lamoni, IA Branch Work Day Dates: March 10, May 5, July 7, August 11 & September 8 ~All work days begin at 9:30am~
WOMEN S DEPARTMENT: Dear Sisters in Christ, Six women meet at my home on January 16th for our WD meeting. We enjoyed fellowship around our table as we shared our salads for dinner. January s lesson study of The Vision and the Work that followed our dinner set the stage for the study of this year: Catch the Vision ~ Engage in the Work. Our next meeting will be at Sister Debby Smith s home on February 9 at 6:30pm. Our guest program leader will be Seventy Gary Whiting will help us understand the preparation of our witness for the topic Proclaiming the Good News. In this newsletter is information on the Independence District Women s Retreat to be held February 10-11, 2012. This is a retreat that all Restoration women are invited to attend. I encourage you to attend, if possible, and I ask that you to keep the retreat in your prayers. May God s richest blessings be with you as you Catch the Vision and Engage in the Work! Your Servant and Sister in Christ, Debbie Newman Zion s Outpost Women s Department Leader ~2012 P.S. Please pray for those gathered for the WD meetings on the second Thursday of each month. PRAYER REQUEST: Please Pray For Vol. 27 No. 2 Page 4 Work of the Seventy: 1 in Kyrgyzstan for 6 months and 1 in Maine for 2 months Teaching the Gospel in the Wichita area Zion s Busy Bees Quilt Group: The next planned meetings are February 13 & 27. For more details concerning the meetings and quilt projects, contact Sandy Whiting or Martha Van Nordstrand. See pictures to below of their latest creations. Left: Naomi Burford proudly displays her completed nick scarf Below: Raeann Edson [on right] and Sandy Whiting hold up Raeann s quilt top Bob Skeen hernia Katina Adame [Laurie Drope s niece] breast cancer Jared Adame, Katina s 8 year old stressed by mother s illness Jeff Drope Bell s palsy relief Virginia & Rex Hurst physical strength Charlene Meyer job search
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Zion s Outpost Branch 6300 Tarrytown Park City, KS 67219 Phone: 316-744-1020 E-mail: branch@zionsoutpost.org www.zionsoutpost.net FEBRUARY 2012 NEWSLETTER DATES TO REMEMBER: February 9th Women s Dept. Meeting 6:30pm February 10th - 11h Independence District Women s Retreat All Restoration Women are Welcome see flyer on bulletin board or Debbie N. for details March is Branch Spring DEEP Cleaning Month March 3rd 9:30am Facilities Committee Meeting to plan branch work day for March 10th March 8th Women s Dept. Meeting March 10th Branch Work Day March 18 Election of Delegates to the International Conference of the Church in April 10:30am April 8th Resurrection Day special early service April 12th Women s Dept. Meeting 6:30pm April 14th Women s Gathering, Independence, MO April 15-21 International Conference of the Church at the Gathering Place, Independence, MO April 28th 9:30am Facilities Committee Meeting to plan branch work day for May 5th May 5th Branch Work Day May 8 Women s Dept. Meeting 6:30pm