The OAHE MESSENGER April 2007 edition

Dear Friends,

Did you know that in John 20, Mary at first did not recognize Jesus because she was thinking about his death and not much about his resurrection?  Her focus was on the grave.  She could not see because she was still in the “dark” about Jesus.  She began to weep at the empty tomb.  His body had obviously been stolen.  Why else would he have not been there?

But then her eyes were opened and she finally recognized Jesus whom she had been speaking to!Here she saw the power and glory of God at work.

There is the sense of the Greek meaning “to see” in a deep insightful manner. Mary began to have insights about the meaning of the resurrection and God’s power.  She began to see, really see.

Isn’t that what draws us to Easter whether you are a regular church attendee or one that maybe just visits on Easter?  We are all trying “to see” and participate in that divine reality of Resurrection.

Hopefully you will begin to have a new Easter insight. Perhaps you may view with the eyes of faith the incredible love that manifests itself in the unlimited love of a God who gave us Jesus Christ. 

So begin the process of new sight and look beyond the grave and into the sunlight of God’s embodiment of love, Jesus Christ.

Easter Peace,

John  

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~~ Please click on pictures to view enlargements ~~

April Anniversaries         Leonard and Marijean Petersen      4/28/1960

April Birthdays   ROBERTA CAHILL 4/1 MELETA DEJONG 4/12 MARK SMITH 4/18 BAILEY BECHTOLD 4/21 LEONA KANNEGIETER 4/24

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April 14 Rummage and Bake Sale Fast Approaching

It‘s hard to believe that spring is almost here.  That also means the church’s annual rummage and bake sale is just two weeks away.

This year’s sale will be Saturday, April 14, 2007, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.  Proceeds this year will be used for Larry DeJong and his crew‘s mission trip to New Orleans.

Donations may be brought to the church the evenings of Thursday, April 12 or Friday, April 13, from 6-9:00p.m.  Donations may also be brought the morning of the sale.  Please pre-mark items. Blue painter’s tape works well as it is easy to see on the item and also easy to remove after the sale. 

If you will be out of town the week of the sale but have items to donate, please contact Cindy or Ken Droppers at 224-6668 or Kay Cee Hodson at224-4236.  Also, please contact one of them if you need a pickup and some strong arms to haul any larger items you want to donate. They‘ll recruit some help. 

Baked goods may be brought to the church the evening of Friday, April 13, or the morning of the sale.   All items sell well, and buyers usually snap up everything offered.  Breakfast items (muffins, rolls, etc.) and pies are always popular. 

Workers are needed to prepare for the sale and also on sale day.  If you can help this year, please see the sign-up sheet in the narthex.  Different shifts on sale day are available.

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Mission Program:

“What is Islam?” and “The Artab-Israeli Conflict”

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Annual Elder and Deacon Retreat   

The elders and deacons of Oahe Church held their annual retreat on Saturday, March 3rd.  Purpose of the retreat this year was to revise the church's vision and mission statements thereby assisting the PNC in completing the Church Information Form.

OPC/ONIDA on Mini Mission Trip    March 2007  From Sunday, March 18 to Tuesday, March 20 the Lodge at Camp Rimrock was undergoing a new appearance.   Rolly Kemink of Onida plus Duane Jenner, Cindy Droppers and Larry and Meleta DeJong of OPC spent 2 ½ days at Camp Rimrock cleaning the kitchen (Cindy) and painting the common room and one of the bathrooms.  The Brian Jenner family came to visit the crew on Sunday evening and on Monday evening, Doug Hoffman, camp director, joined the group for dinner. The painters painted Sunday afternoon to Tuesday afternoon. Please click on photos to view enlargements “the pastor” (Rolly Kemink) “the painter” (Duane Jenner) “the cleaner” (Cindy Droppers)       “the trimmer” (Larry DeJong) “the very noisy visitors” “the job is complete”

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Lenten Soup Suppers      

Thank you to everyone who helped with the Ash Wednesday and March 21st soup suppers.  Turn out was good for both meals.   Marcia Graves made a whole roaster of Kniffla -- a potato and dumpling soup and several people made Broccoli, Wild Rice, Taco and vegetable soup.  We had a great variety of breads and Ellen Hosman surprised us with Hawaiian bread for each table in March.  Lots of people pitched in for greeting, set up, serving, and clean up.  We appreciate all of your help.

Candy Sowers and Paula Vockrodt

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Christian Education

The Christian Education committee had their first meeting on February 22nd.  Committee members are Kate Divis, Chris Nelson, Renee Sears, Missy Slaathaug, Megan Vockrodt, Ron Woodburn, Paula Vockrodt, Candy Sowers and Pastor John.  We did some brainstorming.  We discussed the Sunday School program, Youth group, Vacation Bible School, and ideas for adult studies including book discussions, music origins and contemporary music, Dr. Ahmad's visit and other study options.  We are going to review catalogs and continue to visit with people in the congregation to get an idea of people’s interests. 

There are several events coming up for youth and adults: the Youth Triennium at the University of Purdue, a Middle school camp at Rimrock along with other camping opportunities and Synod School for adults and/or families in Storm Lake, Iowa.  We also have some mission opportunities that we are considering.

We would love your input and if you are interested we could always use more committee members!   If you have any suggestions please contact Paula, Candy or any of the committee members - would you like to read some more books?  Do you have any titles in mind?  Would you like another film night?  Are there any topical studies you would like to look at?  PLEASE let us know.  We hope to have an exciting year with opportunities for spiritual sharing and growth.

Paula Vockrodt and Candy Sowers

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Help Wanted          

At OPC

Do you love books, enjoy organizing things, want to find you niche in the church but have limited time constraints?  We are looking for someone to work in the library.  We have some good books and we need someone to promote them and help us expand the library and organize it for maximum use.  Interested?  Talk to Paula Vockrodt or Candy Sowers.

At Camp Rimrock

Doug Hoffman, Camp Director, is looking for a camp cook ($350/week), assistant camp cook ($300/week), and a maintenance person ($350/week).  If you are interested in a 3 month position, please contact Doug at: posdcamps@yahoo.com 

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Celebrate the Gifts of Women

The Oahe Presbyterian Women held the worship service on Sunday, March 4th, to honor the "Celebrate the Gifts of Women" Sunday.  The PW also provided the anthem, "Down to the River to Pray" during the service.''  In the afternoon the group held a tea for all the women in the church.  Annually the women of the church gather for tea and goodies and spend the afternoon in fellowship.  At the tea secret sisters are revealed and names drawn for secret sisters for the coming year.  It's always a fun time with much laughter and visiting.  Cindy Droppers led the introductions; Candy Sowers read an article on sisters of the heart and Ruth Smith, Kate Divis, Shirleen Fugitt, Margaret Ellefson, Peggy Meyer and Glenda Woodburn put on a skit as the program.   Each of the PW members brought a treat to share.

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The Pursuit of Happiness            

No, this isn’t about the movie.  It is about finding contentment through service to the Lord.

It’s the Easter season and the time of the year where we receive the One Great Hour of Sharing offering.  One of the recipients of the OGHS offering is the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Fund.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (or PDA) is a service of the Presbyterian Church, USA.  This is a service that reaches out to communities across the world in times of disaster.

Larry and I became personally acquainted with the end result of this offering during our first trip to New Orleans.  As volunteers we reached out to help others and in turn received blessings in abundance.

PDA is about helping others – reaching out with financial support, with reconstruction assistance, with the materials needed to rebuild.  The volunteers that come along to assist in the process extend assistance to others by helping to rebuild, by cooking, by cleaning, by giving a hug or a smile of encouragement.  The latter two are just as important as the talent needed to help rebuild.

Volunteers from across American and Canada meet in these circumstances with relationships developing among them through a common love of our Lord and service in his name.

Some people spend their entire lives running around trying to catch the elusive concept of happiness and then at the end of their lives wonder what happened and what they had missed.  Volunteering through PDA allows one to find joy while serving. Sleeping on the floor; showering outside; dining with strangers scan turn into the most profound of experiences.

Happiness may not be easily obtained but contentment can pop up in the midst of disaster.  Working hard with friends, old and new, can bring laughter and joy even while covered with dry wall dust and termite caused wood splinters.

The joy of working for the Lord, of sitting on the back stairs of the church watching the sunrise, of tripping over face first onto one’s “bed” in exhausting but knowing the task was well done – these are the fruits of contentment.  These are our gifts from God and will exceed anything we could purchase or find while running around looking for happiness.

PDA not only aids those in need but provides the opportunity for us all to serve the Lord and ultimately be victorious in our own pursuit of happiness.

As noted in the OGHS brochure the blue tee shirts of the PDA are gaining familiarity around the city of New Orleans as volunteers reach out to aid the citizens.  So if you are feeling down and out and are having difficulties finding your own little bit of happiness, think about trying on the blue shirt of PDA and heading down to the gulf coast.

If that’s not an option then lets show others that we care by donating to the One Great Hour of Sharing offering.

There is a gospel song entitled, “God Put A Rainbow In The Clouds”.  The words are as follows, “When it looked like the sun wouldn’t shine anymore, God put a rainbow in the clouds.”  We are that rainbow.  Please give generously.  

Meleta DeJong

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