The OAHE MESSENGER July 2007 edition

July, 2007

Dear Friends,

July 1 is Immigration Day according to my Presbyterian Calendar. I am not really sure what this day in terms of the church means, but it does make me reflect upon our current national interest in immigration legal and illegal.

But before I get into that, my mind wanders to the fact that our religious roots are deep in the  rich soil upon which  wandering pilgrims from Abraham to  Ruth to  St. Paul  have trod.  Symbolically, it is the search for God’s sanctuary and truth. 

I think because of this I tend to think a bit more kindly upon our sisters and brothers who come to this country from all over the globe, but mostly from Mexico and Central America.  They all are seeking sanctuary from an abysmal life of grinding poverty. I have been to Southern Mexico and witnessed this poverty and it doesn’t surprise me that these people would do anything to escape it.

However, I also realize our country does need some rational policy of immigration and work permits for the lower tiered unskilled folk which will be good for everyone.  Let’s hope Congress and President Bush can get together on this one.

I am more concerned about those who are already here who have slipped under the radar and through the desert all these years.  Many of them are treated poorly by employers, and cited as a scourge by certain politicians and TV pundits.  I wish these people could live one day putting on roof shingles or picking melon in 100 degree heat.   In other words, these are people who need to be treated with more Christ-like compassion for their plight.  They need the sanctuary of our prayers and good will.

Maybe the Presbyterian Church wants us to reflect upon these things and pray for immigrants who are streaming here from Africa, Asia and Meso-America.  They, like our forbears, are looking for the land of milk and honey.  However they get here, I do hope we will offer them hospitality and our good wishes as fellow pilgrims to the Promised Land.

Peace,

John

July Birthdays   

July Anniversaries

July Happenings at OPC 

     

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RELAY FOR LIFE

By Margaret Ellefson / reflections of Candy Sowers

Began With the Beach Party

*Beach party time…organized by KayCee and encouraged by session… in less than three hours we filled 3,000 bags with sand for the luminaries…Missy and Pastor John won for the best dressed…Chris won the hardest-worker award…volunteers had a food-filled and fun-filled time…

Then the Luminaria Decorating

*Luminaries were decorated at church…cards and magazines were used for pictures…names were written with care and love on each bag…memories abounded…stories shared…

Followed by the Hot Dog Stand

*A fundraiser of selling burgers, dogs, chips, and sodas at Dakotamart had the blessings of the session…Ray and Thomas cooked while Cori, Bailey, and other women served….over $200 was earned…and we got a banner which was a good starting point for the Relay…

~~~ Please click on photos to view enlargements ~~~

Roberta and David Cahill	Bailey Bechtold, Candy Sowers, Cleo Thelen	The Hotdog Stand

Culminating with the “Walk Around the Track” *A challenge was given…there was competition between two teams (a men’s and a women’s) from Oahe Presbyterian…each raised a little over $800… Both the men’s and women’s teams wore OPC tee-shirts for the event. "Our Sign" "Our Tent" Dennie Pfrimmer, Mary Jenner, Glenda Woodburn The OPC Walkers stand ready to do their part of the relay. KayCee Hodson R. Woodburn, Duane Jenner and Larry DeJong taking a rest break. Larry and Sandy Nelson As the sun goes down the lights on the luminaries shine brightly.         *The time for the relay arrived…a big tent was set up early…the emotional first lap was led by the survivors… Jamie Goff shared her poem and needed help from a friend to complete its reading…a gentle shower began… a rainbow appeared, dim at first and then complete and brilliantly colored…a gift from God on this night of gifts…walking went on through the night…people visited between laps and during laps…the luminaries were lit… names were read…memories, thoughts, and feelings were shared…Lloyd and Meleta took pictures…music and entertainment were plentiful…the movie Happy Feet was available to watch…Dennis and other men came regularly after 2 AM…fresh faces were a joy to see…Thomas seemed to get a second wind and was one who walked and walked, providing inspiration…he even ran a mile with Pastor John about 3 AM…JOY, Joy, Joy!! Roberta brought coffee to help us make it through the early morning…the Team Spirit Award was given to the Oahe teams jointly…Thomas did not tally his laps and then even walked home…the rain came in full force as clean-up ends…thank God for such generous timing!...   *We all went home, tired yet uplifted…Relay for Life 2007 is a memory but not forgotten…Praise God!   *Oahe Presbyterian Church earned the “Spirit” award for the event.    Thanks to KayCee and Candy for all of the planning and hard work that caused the evening to be such a success.

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"BLUE CREW" Speaks at Fall Presbytery Meeting

Five members of the OPC group that traveled to New Orleans were able to be in attendance, in their blue PDA shirts, as Duane Jenner spoke to the attendees at the fall Presbytery meeting on OPC’s trip to New Orleans and the feelings that have resulted from such an excursion.  Those able to attend the meeting included:  Duane, Glenda Woodburn, Wanda Wall and Larry and Meleta DeJong.   Ruth Smith and Darin Johnson were unable to attend because of work commitments.

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 Focus on Mission
by Ken Meyer

God works in mysterious ways!

The mission goals of Oahe Church for this year have already been reached or surpassed.  However, as chairman of the Mission Outreach Committee, I must admit that our committee is not primarily responsible for this success.  Evidently, God approved our goals but chose others to lead in these achievements.

Our first goal was to increase the awareness of how much we already do in mission, as individuals and in groups.  Recognition of our mission efforts has expanded this year, both within our congregation and beyond.  The PNC, in the material they send out to attract the right pastor for us, emphasizes that we are strong in mission giving and in mission activity.  We have also had our mission work publicized in the local media and appreciated by the Presbytery of South Dakota.

Our second goal was to initiate one or more mission projects for us to focus on as a congregation.  This was not to replace or disregard the volunteer work and other mission projects that are ongoing, but was to be a complement to the first goal.  The committee-selected project did not get off the ground, but we have seen a coming together of the congregation in support of the work trips to New Orleans as well as widespread participation in this year’s Relay for Life.  Also, the caps for Africa project has spread beyond the PW members, with remarkable results.   

Our third goal was to maintain and increase participation in the four special offerings.  Thanks in part to the work of committee members Ray Sowers and Mike Fugitt, giving to One Great Hour of Sharing and the Pentecost Offering has reached record levels, both in dollars received and in number of contributors.  We expect that trend to continue with the Peacemaking Offering and the Christmas Joy Offering.

We are thankful that God is at work among us, using our talents for the betterment of God’s children all around the world. 

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As I was finishing up this month’s newsletter an email from Kate Divis “popped” up.  In reading it I was reminded that God has a way of sending his message to us through the most menial of details. 

The Penny                                         

 
Something to think about! 

You always hear the usual stories of pennies on the sidewalk being good luck, gifts from angels, etc. This is the first time I've ever heard this twist on the story.  This story ives you something to think about. 

Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home. My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend.

The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than her house.  The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live.  The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants.  Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely. 

As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband.  He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment.  

Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts. 

Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny. He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure.  How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up? 

Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She casually mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value.   A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before!  What was the point of this?

 "Look at it." He said. "Read what it says." She read the words, "United States of America"

"No, not that; read further."  "One cent?"

"No, keep reading." "In God we Trust?"

 "Yes!"  "And?"

"And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin.  Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it!

God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him?  Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment.  I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him.

For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me.

Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!"

When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I cannot change. I read the words, "In God We Trust," and had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the message. 

It seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the  last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful! And, God is patient.

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