JUNE 2013 Brooklyn Evangelical Free Church BANNER Administrative Staff Senior Pastor John Mochel 201 S. 11th Beresford, SD 57004 763-2423 Cell 605-351-6630 Associate Pastor David Stimes 505 W. Oak Beresford, SD 57004 763-5988 Cell 605-212-3368 Administrative Secretary Marlene Akland 46916 296th St. Beresford, SD 57004 957-4372 Office Staff Hours Monday Friday mornings 957-4372 Church E-mail brooklynchurch@knology.net Inside this Issue: Pastor s Perspective Calendar Ministry Schedule SPROUTS Haitian s Heart for God Business Meeting Mondays In the Park for Moms Prison Lighthouse Fellowship Benefit Concert Senior Rides to Worship Missions Trip to Victory Heights Summer Sunday School Ruth By Pastor John Mochel You really ought to get out your Bible and read the book of Ruth before you continue reading this article. That way you'll know what I'm talking about. Ruth is short and very easy to read. You'll have lots of questions. In any case, if you don't read it right now, at least read it when you're done reading this. Ruth is one of my favorite books in the Bible. It is intensely personal, deeply emotional, and surprisingly hopeful. Ruth is really a story about Naomi that takes place in Bethlehem. For Naomi it begins badly. She loses her husband and both sons in Moab, far from home, and returns only with her daughter-in-law, Ruth. Naomi wanted Ruth to leave her, just as everything else good has left her. But Ruth would not leave. In fact Ruth binds herself to Naomi with words as strong as a marriage vow. Ruth said, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said no more to her. Ruth 1:16-18 And, so, Naomi returned to Bethlehem. But she looked so bad that people couldn't believe it was her. In fact she was feeling very sorry for herself. She said to them, "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. "I went out full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?" Ruth 1:20-21 Mara means "bitter." Naomi was bitter. She said this with Ruth standing right next to her. In her bitterness she failed to appreciate the friendship and the gift from God in Ruth. Once in Bethlehem, Ruth takes initiative and goes out to find food for Naomi. The two of them are desperate, poor, and have no possibility of a good future. But, Ruth happens upon the fields of a close relative, one who has right to purchase Naomi and her property, a kinsman-redeemer. His name is Boaz and he is a good and godly man. Naomi wonders then if the Lord might actually be thinking of her. So then Naomi comes up with a plan. It is scandalous. Naomi washes Ruth and dresses her up and perfumes her and sends her at night to where Boaz sleeps after the work in the fields is done. You hardly need me to tell you what that means! And Boaz, when he wakes to find Ruth under his covers, is scared almost to death! But, then, when Boaz realizes who she is, he does something so kind and gracious that it makes me cry. He praises Ruth for her kindness. He calls her a woman of excellence. He promises to redeem her. He gives Ruth food. And, he plans out how to make sure that no one knows that she was there in the night. Ruth becomes, in the eyes of Boaz, a better person than she is. And, so, because Boaz loves Ruth and redeems her, she becomes a person with a future and a hope and Naomi with her. Boaz makes Ruth better than she is. You see, In this story Boaz is a likeness of who Jesus will be for us. Jesus is our (continued on page 2)
(continued from page 1) redeemer like Boaz is the one who redeems Ruth and Naomi. We are desperate. We have nothing to offer. We have no future and no hope without Jesus. The only way to come to Jesus is how Ruth came to Boaz, throwing herself at him and hoping for grace. When we do this with Jesus, He makes us better than we are. In our misery, helplessness, and hopelessness, Jesus rescues us, redeems us, and makes us part of His family. He makes us beautiful and gives us a future and a hope. He graciously gives us a place in His plans. When the Lord gave Ruth and Boaz a child the townswomen recognized the blessing of God on Naomi. Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed is the LORD who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel. "May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him." Ruth 4:14-15 This child would be the grandfather of King David. Do you see? The Lord was never against Naomi. Even when she thought He was, the Lord was working secretly to bless her. When Naomi and Ruth saw the opportunity and threw themselves in desperation at the Lord's redeemer, they found that he rescues them and gives them a better life than they could ever hope for on their own. This is what Jesus does for you and me. Semi-Annual Church Business Meeting On Sunday, June 2nd, we will have an all church potluck following morning worship. Everyone is invited! After the potluck we will hold our mid-year Business meeting. Proposed agendas are available by the bulletins in the foyer. S enior Adults are invited to call the church office for a list of people who would be willing to give them a ride to Sunday worship. (957-4372) CONCERT TO BENEFIT PRISON LIGHTHOUSE FELLOWSHIP Faith Baptist Fellowship in Sioux Falls will be hosting a benefit concert on Sunday, June 9, 7:00-9:00 pm. with Christian artists Wes Hampton, Doug Anderson and Natalie Cromwell (Gaither-like music). A free-will offering will be received during the concert for Prison Lighthouse Fellowship. If you are interested in going and would like to carpool, call Sandy Fahlberg at 957-4381. Missions Trip to Victory Heights Camp Scheduled for June 11-15 Randy Hansen is organizing a second missions trip to Victory Heights Camp by Chadron, NE June 11-15. They will be painting, cleaning and doing some construction work to prepare the camp for another camping season. No specialized skills are needed, just willing hands. Please talk to Randy if you are interested in going. All ages are welcome! M ondays in the Park for Moms will begin on June 10th. Ladies of any age are invited to the Beresford park every Monday at 10:15 am for a time of fellowship and Bible study. Little ones will be looked after by older kids as they play. Contact Amy Stimes with any questions. Listen to the prayer of a Haitian believer: Haitian s Heart for God Lord, help us to sow good seed, since we will be the ones eating from the harvest. From: God Is No Stranger, translated by Eleanor J. Turnbull, Light Messages, Inc. 2004 Summer Sunday School Begins June 2nd Beginners (3 yrs-pre K) taught by Peggy James, meets in lower level, northwest room K-5th Grades (combined class) taught by various volunteers, meets in lower level K/1st grade room, continuing Firm Foundations, Creation to Christ Junior High (6th-8th grades) meets in lower level Junior High room High School led by Dale Swanstrom, meets in the youth building behind the church Young Adults led by Pastor Dave, meets in room south of library at the top of the foyer, Video series on Romans 12 by Chip Ingrim Adults led by Pastor John, meets in fellowship hall, continuing study of 2 Samuel Senior Adults led by Arlyn Abrams, meets in library, continuing study of Acts
JUNE MINISTRY SCHEDULE June 2 AM: Genesis 9:18-28 Communion Potluck/Business Meeting following worship Theme: Family Disfunction NO Evening Service June 9 AM: Genesis 10:1-11:9 Theme: Corruption Into All the World Again PM: Evening Service June 16, Father s Day AM: Genesis 11:10-12:3 Theme: Another New Beginning NO Evening Service June 23 AM: Genesis 12:4-20 Theme: A Promise of Prosperity PM: Evening Service June 30 AM: Pastor Dave Stimes PM: Evening Service JUNE /JULY WORSHIP INVOLVEMENT Date Greeters Nursery Storytime Special Music Hospitality 6/2 Cowan Family Kristy Sveeggen Marlene Akland None None Tiffany Hoffman Sophie Leikvold 6/9 Robby/Lori Dressen Shellie Sveeggen Mary Auch Missions Moment Mary Auch Kelsie Leikvold Kelsey Phelps 6/16 Norman/Karen Erickson Nancy Swanstrom Arlyn Abrams Lindsay Zylstra None Sophie Leikvold Aerica Schroeder 6/23 Brian/Peggy James Judy Ward Linda Glanzer Paul Aamot Karen Erickson Kelsey Phelps Emily Stimes 6/30 Reid/Marilyn Jensen Janice Abrams Joyce Horstman Eleanor Akland Sandy Fahlberg Hailey Sveeggen Rachael Stimes 7/7 Louis/Joan Latendresse Karla Bovill Nancy Mochel John Fahlberg Kerri Latendresse Rachael Stimes Hailey Sveeggen 7/14 Mitch/Kerri Latendresse Sandra Carnes Karmon Schroeder Missions Moment Robin Leikvold Anita Wyatt Kori Sveeggen 7/21 Karl/Robin Leikvold Karen Erickson Amy Stimes Linda Glanzer Judy Ward Kori Sveeggen Anita Wyatt 7/28 David/Marsha Nelson Vicki Fader Teresa Wyatt Gina Mees None Nadine Wyatt Peter Auch June Song Leader: Ric Morren Pianist: Julie Morren Sound System: Ben Fahlberg Ushers: Paul Aamot, Robby Dressen Dan Erickson, Tarin Fahlberg July Song Leader: Peter Fahlberg Pianist: Doreen Fahlberg Sound System: Stuart Sveeggen Ushers: Mark Horstman, Reid Jensen, Mitch Latendresse, Karl Leikvold
T he Deacon board is seeking congregational input for the nomination process heading into the annual congregational meeting in December. Your suggestions for officeholders would be appreciated, and will be considered by the Deacon board with regard to term of office and membership status. Prayerfully consider who you believe might be a good fit for the various positions on the ballot. The Deacon board desires to present a ballot to the annual meeting of the congregation that is ready for voting with no nominations taken from the floor at the meeting. The ballot is on the back of this page. Please give your responses to Pete Fahlberg or any deacon board member today! Thank you. Aamot, Glenadene Aamot, Paul Abrams, Arlyn Abrams, Janice Adams, Doug Adams, Rita Akland, Daryl Akland, Marlene Anderson, Gertie Anderson, Kay Anderson, Roy Arends, Darlene Auch, Duane Auch, Mary Babb, Jim Babb, LeeAnn Bos, Frieda Bovill, Gary Bovill, Linda Carlson, Juna Carlson, Oliver Carlson, Pam Carnes, Clifton Carnes, Sandra Charrlin, Allan Charrlin, Jan Corwin, Doug Corwin, Nancy Cowan, Timothy Decker, Julie Edblom, Beverly Erickson, Dan Brooklyn Membership List Erickson, Kate Erickson, Karen Erickson, Norman Evenson, Ed Evenson, Sue Fahlberg, Deb Fahlberg, Doreen Fahlberg, Fred Fahlberg, John Fahlberg, Sandy Fahlberg, Maye Fahlberg, Peter Fahlberg, Wesley Fray, Carolyn Glanzer, Charles Glanzer, Linda Grieb, Eileen Grieb, Tammy Horstman, Joyce Horstman, Mark James, Brian James, Peggy Jensen, Marilyn Jensen, Reid Kennedy, Darlene Kennedy, Robert Klemme, Mike Klemme, Stephanie Malloy, Kevin Malloy, Lydia Merriman, Larry Merriman, Marty Mochel, John Mochel, Nancy Morren, Julie Morren, Ric Nielsen, Gwen Norman, Lorraine Ostrem, Arlan Ostrem, LeRena Peterson, Susan Sandval, Leona Schroeder, Gale Schroeder, Karmon Skyberg, Kim Skyberg, Gene Steadman, Robert Steadman, Jan Stimes, Amy Stimes, David Swanson, Darlyne Swanson, Thure Swanstrom, Dale Swanstrom, Freeman Swanstrom, Lorene Swanstrom, Nancy Twedt, Constance Twedt, Norman Twedt, Patricia Voog, Vera Ward, Dennis Ward, Judy Wyatt, Garet Wyatt, Teresa
Sign up to drive seniors to Sunday Morning Worship! If anyone would be willing to occasionally drive seniors to church for Sunday morning worship, please use this sign up sheet. We will be making a short list of people that our elderly brothers and sisters can call if they need a ride on Sunday. Name Phone number