APRIL (and everyday) FOOLS
Devotion: March/April 2008

Rev. John Calvin Rhoad Jr.

Happy April Fools!  So did you pull any little pranks?  I must admit, or confess really, that I still enjoy setting the clock 30 minutes early.

Yes, I hope TaiLi, soon forgives me for having a little fun and being a bit foolish; but it reminds me of what it says in 1 Corinthians 4:10 (Message Translation), “We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but He is strong; Jesus Christ is honourable, but we are despised.”

This verse speaks ironically.

It’s important that we never take ourselves too seriously, or as being too important, or more important than anyone else.

I suppose that is a large part about why I really do enjoy this day (April Fools) - because it is a chance to be humbled. Hopefully not too humiliated.

But a little humour in our day helps us all deal with many other more mundane routines in our lives.

I hope you have a great day and a good month.

And remember, Jesus really does love you, fool or not!

**click on photos to view enlargements**

Ardeth Needs Your Prayers and Cards Lay Pastor Ardeth Kocourek, who served Oahe Presbyterian Church a few years ago, has been having health troubles caused by radiation treatments many years ago. The radiation has resulted in deteriorated bones and ligaments in her torso. She has been undergoing extensive procedures at Mayo recently, which will be followed by physical therapy.   She needs your prayers and would, I'm sure, love to receive cards and letters, too. Her address is PO Box 506, Martin, SD 57551.  Friends will forward her mail to her. -- Kay Cee Hodson

April Happenings 2 VBS meeting/5:30 p.m. Mission Outreach/7:00 p.m. 5 Spring Cleaning…inside church 6 Spaghetti supper, “Amazing Grace” movie 8 PW at Glenda Woodburn’s/7:00 p.m. 11 POSD Council Meeting 10:30-4 p.m. Wedding rehearsal/5 p.m. 12 Divis-Nelson wedding/11 a.m.

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Presbyterian Women (PW) NEWS
by Candy Sowers

OPPORTUNITY TO DRAW FOR 2008 SECRET SISTERS STILL AVAILABLE

For those of you who weren't able to attend the Tea and would like to have a Secret Sister this coming year there are still names left to be drawn.  The Secret Sister table will be left up in the basement for the next few Sundays.  Feel free to take more than one name if you wish.  Once you have drawn please write down your name and the name/names that you drew on the slips of paper provided and put them in the vase on the table.  Then send a monthly card to your new Secret Sister.  Don't forget to include clues about yourself in the cards.  Also please remember to pray for your Secret Sister on a regular basis.

SECRET SISTER TEA HELD              

March has been a busy month for the Presbyterian Women.  March 9th we held our annual Secret Sister Revelation Tea.  The tea was planned by TaiLi Rhoad, Cindy Droppers and Candy Sowers.  Cindy (with some help from TaiLi and Candy) decorated the tables with Jelly Beans.  

The jelly bean prayer served as the theme for the event.  TaiLi opened with prayer, Cindy discussed different aspects of jelly beans and individual traits that each woman in our congregation contributes to make a colorful whole.  Candy shared a devotion from Quiet Moments with God called Tea for at Least Two. 

 The devotion focused on the history of the custom of afternoon tea and suggested that we need "spiritual tea-time" each day - a time of peace and refreshment in the presence of our loving Savior and a quick prayer or the voicing of praise to give our spirits a lift.  We enjoyed time together focusing on the beauty of the fellowship of the women in our church as we visited, shared stories and enjoyed wonderful desserts that PW provided.

PW MEETING HELD

March 11th we held our regular monthly meeting at Shirleen Fugitt's home.  Cindy led the business meeting.  We discussed the Secret Sister Tea, the upcoming salad luncheon, the Spring Gathering in Platte on 4/26, t-shirt information from Mary Jenner and then Peggy Meyer did a Mission report for the upcoming offerings. 

The Hunger Offering, Least Coin and regular offering were collected.  Bible study #8 based on Ruth 3, In God We Trust? was done at the conclusion of the meeting.  Following the meeting and Bible Study everyone enjoyed fellowship and a beautiful dessert provided by Shirleen.

HABITAT SALAD LUNCHEON

Saturday, March 15th several women attended a salad luncheon fundraiser for Oahe Habitat for Humanity and Pierre/Ft. Pierre Food Pantry sponsored by Christian Women in Action. 

We decorated a table featuring mission items using Peggy Meyer's inspiration.  Our table favors were jelly beans and the jelly bean prayer that had been shared at the Women's Tea.   The Cap Tree was the center of attention and many women were interested in the project.  The "decorations" were then moved to our church for our congregation to enjoy. 

After feasting on wonderful salads we were entertained by local women pastors who shared their stories and their music.  (A side-note regarding this event – the planning started as a result of the bus ride to the Women of Faith conference in 2007.  Many of our women were in that group.  One of the other women on the bus was impressed with the talents of the women ministers in the area and when she returned to Pierre she visited with others about sharing their stories and talents – it evolved into the salad luncheon that may become an annual tradition. 

My understanding is that the event raised over $1500 for Habitat for Humanity plus many cans of food for the pantry.

Candy

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Built With Love ~ Yolanda's Story By Isabel Theriot
When Yolanda Cerrato evacuated New Orleans for Texas on Friday, August 25, 2005, she thought of the trip as an opportunity to stock up on school clothes for her 25th year of teaching at Academy of the Sacred Heart School.  She had already made a reservation for herself at a hotel in Houston, Texas and had plans to shop at the Galleria there.  Thinking that she would be gone for only the weekend, Yolanda packed very lightly.  She drove away from her home with "an empty suitcase for the new clothes, two dogs, a bottle of water, and a bag of chips."  Like many New Orleanians, Yolanda expected to be back home by the end of the weekend.  But like most of the evacuees of Hurricane Katrina, getting back home would be a much longer ordeal. Hurricane Katrina made herself felt even before she blew onto the shores of Louisiana. Yolanda was part of the mass exodus of New Orleans that clogged interstate 10 and made the usual five hour trip stretch to 18 hours.  Yolanda finally arrived in Houston at 3 a.m. on Saturday morning and spent much of the next two days sleeping.  On Monday morning, August 29th, Yolanda called to check on an elderly neighbor of hers, who she often ran errands for, in New Orleans who had refused to evacuate.  He told Yolanda that he was fine and that the the hurricane hadn't done any damage to her house...he told her not to worry.  Emboldened by this report, Yolanda went to sleep that night without watching the news.  It wasn't until Yolanda went down for breakfast the next morning, August 30th 2005, that she learned that things were definitely not fine in New Orleans.  As she walked into the lobby of her Houston hotel, she saw a large group of hotel guests crowded around one television set.  When she saw their faces, she knew something was terribly wrong.  "Their faces looked like it was the end of the world."  Their words confirmed the looks on their faces.  "They said that there was no more New Orleans."  Yolanda heard what the people were saying, but she did not focus on it.  "I think I was in denial at first."  Aside from being in denial, there were other matters that needed to be dealt with.  She was preoccupied with where she would stay, if she couldn't go back to New Orleans as planned.  She knew that she couldn't afford to continue staying in the hotel, so she went with other evacuees to a Pentecostal church.  After sleeping on the floor of this church and then another for several weeks, Yolanda was taken in by a Houston teacher.  Not only was Yolanda able to stay at this teacher's home, but she was also given room at the teacher's school to teach students from Academy of the Sacred Heart who were displaced by the storm.  Being around people from New Orleans was good for Yolanda, her students, and the parents of the students.  "It was good for us to see familiar faces."  While the people of Houston and especially the school at which Yolanda taught were very good to her, she longed to return to New Orleans.  It wasn't just a desire for Yolanda;  it was a necessity.  She had to get back to her job. Yolanda returned to New Orleans as soon as people were allowed back into the city, in order to check on her house. She arrived with a great deal of hope. "I believe in miracles...I thought that everything would be fine." After breaking down the front door of her home, the hope that Yolanda had carried with her from Houston quickly dissolved. "It was horrible...there was mud everywhere, everything was upside down, the hardwood floors were buckling, and there was mold to the ceiling." Yolanda broke down, and, unfortunately, the bad news did not end there.
As Yolanda surveyed the damage to her home, she noticed that the new car belonging to her elderly neighbor was still parked in his garage; he had not gotten out of the city. Yolanda soon learned that the man had perished in his attic, after fleeing to the space to avoid the flood waters. This news and the realization that her home in New Orleans was destroyed left Yolanda totally demoralized. "I had no idea what I would do." One thought that entered Yolanda's mind was returning to her home country of Honduras. Yolanda knew that she would not be able to afford the repairs that her home needed, so she figured that she would leave the United States at the end of the school year and start her life over in Honduras. In the meantime, Yolanda and four other family members moved into a one bedroom apartment that her cousin owned, and she went back to work at Academy of the Sacred Heart school. In November of 2005, Yolanda began signing her name on lists that organizations who were beginning to gut the flooded homes of New Orleans were posting. She knew that, at the very least, her home needed to be gutted;  she had no idea that her signature on one of these lists would lead to the total renovation of her home. Soon after signing the rebuilding list that First Presbyterian Church of New Orleans had posted, Yolanda was contacted by Cliff Nunn, pastor of FPCNO. Cliff told Yolanda that he would send volunteers to take a look at her house. Yolanda was soon notified that not only would FPCNO help to gut her house, but they would help to rebuild it.  Yolanda was "pleasantly shocked." And so in October of 2006 the work on Yolanda's house began. Yolanda had begun living in a FEMA trailer on the front lawn of her damaged home, just as volunteers started working there. Seeing people working on her house offered hope and her teaching job preoccupied her time, but waiting for her home to be renovated was a depressing time for Yolanda. Her FEMA trailer was claustrophobic, and she had asthma attacks while living in it.   Also, she was the only person rebuilding on her block. Talking to the volunteers who worked on her house helped Yolanda quite a bit. As the volunteers renovated Yolanda's home, they did a great deal to mend her spirit. According to Yolanda, the volunteers "are great...they didn't just help with labor; they helped emotionally. Talking is therapeutic...they offered encouragement and hope." The rebuilding effort at her home has had another unexpected result. As many of the displaced residents of Yolanda's neighborhood watched her house being rebuilt, they gained hope and decided that they would rebuild too. Says Yolanda, "Three neighbors came back after seeing my house, three more are coming, and there is even a new person who is moving in next door to me." Yolanda was able to move back into her beautifully renovated home in October of 2007, and she feels that this would not have been possible without the help of First Presbyterian Church of New Orleans. "Without the help of First Presbyterian Church, I wouldn't be back in New Orleans...this is something that I never imagined possible." According to Yolanda, "It is the greatest expression of Christian love that I have ever experienced." NOTE:   Yolanda’s home was the project of the OPC Missioners last summer.   She was a tremendous inspiration to the South Dakota volunteers.	Cliff Nunn, pastor of FPCNO, and a volunteer survey Yolanda's damaged home.  This is Yolanda's house after gutting.  The waterline is visible on the door Yolanda's beautifully renovated kitchen is a testament to the amazing work of  volunteers
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OPC SPRING RUMMAGE SALE

It's spring time again and time to start going through those closets and sorting through that stuff that you plan on getting rid of "one of these days".  While you are doing your spring cleaning please keep in mind the Buildings and Grounds annual rummage sale.  The Committee has set the date.   This year it will be held on Saturday May 17, 2008 from 8:00 A.M.- 2:00 P.M. 

The plan at this moment in time is for the proceeds to go for a mission project close to home.  The Committee is in the process of  discussing the options with the Mission Committee and deciding exactly which mission project we would like to suppport.  Upon approval by the Session we will then get that information out to the congregation.

Thanks to your help we are again looking forward to a successful event.

  Cindy Droppers, Buildings and Grounds
 

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Easter, The Meaning For Your Life

Rev. John Calvin Rhoad Jr.

“For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead  comes also through a man.”  1 Cor. 15:21

      The resurrection of Jesus is singularly the most important doctrine of the Christian faith. Since the advent of the very first Christians there has been a great amount of debate over the centrality of the doctrine of the resurrection from the dead. The resurrection is convincing evidence in being able to prove Jesus’ deity and the reality of His subsequent death for our sins.

      The apostle Paul, himself, considered the resurrection to be the cornerstone of the Christian faith. For Paul argues, if Jesus did not rise from the dead the whole foundation on which Christianity stands firm would collapse. This is the argument presented in 1 Corinthians 15. Paul specifically tells us in 1 Cor. 15:14-17; “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless & so is your faith. More than that, we are then also found to be false witnesses about God...”  

      If we reflect on that statement not only would we be wrong about that which we proclaim, but we would be liars for expressing it at all. Paul continues on, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile.” Paul intends to specifically imply that we are wasting our time, in anything we ever do, if Christ really was not resurrected from the dead. The Christian faith and its claim to be “truth”, exists only if Jesus did rise from the dead.

      We might then ask of ourselves, why is that?

      It is because the heart, or central theme, of Christianity is in a living Christ. Just as death came through one man, so also does resurrection come through one man. I firmly believe that the resurrection of Jesus Christ has an important implication in salvation. The apostle Paul declares that the essence of the Gospel is to be found in the bodily resurrection of our Lord, Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus Christ equips us for our biggest worries in life; namely, the fear of living and the fear of dying.

      We might also consider this, how in the world could those desperate disciples, be infused with a renewed passion to declare a living faith after Jesus was crucified? They would not have been so strongly convicted except for the fact that Jesus Christ must truly have been resurrected. For us today, it is through the hope & confidence the resurrection of Jesus  that our Christian faith is founded. For the resurrection has personal significance, for it is a risen Christ we follow and through Jesus’ resurrection we find meaning for our life.

      Salvation for any of us is only made possible through the resurrection of Jesus Christ in a special and an important way. Throughout all of our life we then can have confidence and meaning to all that confronts us on a daily basis. This is true not only for what we might do, but particularly for what Jesus does and is for each one of us.

      Our faith allows us to live in the present, until Jesus Christ comes, with the meaning and purpose that He has given us. We live not only with the cross of Jesus Christ vertically breaking into our lives, but also with a corporate understanding of who and what we are. We are not just individuals, we can become a community of faith equipped to share together building each other up in faith. Then we are enabled, through the sure conviction of that faith, to go out and bind up the wounds of those around us sharing our reason to live.

      Remember these words of the apostle Paul; “For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.”  (1 Cor. 15:21). May the Lord, God, be praised for His glorious example to all of us represented at Easter, made real in and by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,  our Lord, our Saviour & our Redeemer. Amen.

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OPC ADDS TECHNOLOGY TO ITS WORSHIP

Early March saw our sanctuary enter the age of technology with the installation of a wireless projector in the sanctuary.

Glenda Woodburn purchased the projector on behalf of the Christian Education, Worship and Church Growth committees who donated their 2007 budgets to help finance the project.

Larry DeJong and Duane Jenner installed the projector and Pastor John immediately began to take advantage of our new projector and has enlivened the worship service with power point presentations.

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Resume of Jesus Christ
Address: Ephesians 1:20
Phone: Romans 10:13
Website: The Bible.

Keywords: Christ, Lord, Messiah, Master, Teacher, Redeemer, Saviour and Jesus

Hello. My name is Jesus Christ. Many call me Lord! I've sent you my resume because I'm seeking the top management position in your heart. Please consider my accomplishments as set forth in my resume.

Qualifications
I founded the earth and established the heavens, (See Proverbs 3:19) I formed man from the dust of the ground , (See Genesis 2:7)I breathed into man the breath of life, (See Genesis 2:7) I redeemed man from the curse of the law, (See Galatians 3:13)The blessings of the Covenant with Abraham comes upon your life through me, (See Galatians 3:14)

Occupational Background

I've only had one employer, (See Luke 2:49).I've never been tardy, absent, disobedient, slothful or disrespectful,  My employer has nothing but rave reviews for me, (See Matthew 3:15-17)

Skills Work Experiences

Some of my skills and work experiences include: empowering the poor to be poor no more, healing the brokenhearted, setting the captives free, healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind and setting at liberty them that are bruised, (See Luke 4:18).I am a Wonderful Counselor, (See Isaiah 9:6). People who listen to me shall dwell safely and shall not fear evil, (See Proverbs 1:33). Most importantly, I have the authority, ability and power to cleanse you of your sins, (See I John 1:7-9)

Educational Background

I encompass the entire breadth and length of knowledge, wisdom and understanding, (Proverbs 2:6).In me are hid all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, (See Colossians 2:3 ). My Word is so powerful; it has been described as being a lamp unto your feet and a lamp unto your path, (See Psalms 119:105)I can even tell you all of the secrets of your heart, (See Psalms 44:21).

Major Accomplishments

I was an active participant in the greatest Summit Meeting of all times (See Genesis 1:26).I laid down my life so that you may live (See II Corinthians 5:15).I defeated the archenemy of God and mankind and made a show of them openly (Colossians 2:15).I've miraculously fed the poor, healed the sick and raised the dead! There are many more major accomplishments, too many to mention here. You can read them in the BIBLE. You don't need an Internet connection or computer to access my website.

References
Believers and followers worldwide will testify to my divine healings, salvation, deliverance, miracles, restoration and supernatural guidance.

In Summation

Now that you've read my resume, I'm confident that I'm the only candidate uniquely qualified to fill this vital position in your heart. In summation, I will properly direct your paths, (See Proverbs 3:5-6), and lead you into everlasting life, (See John 6:47).

When can I start?

Time is of the essence, (See Hebrews 3:15).

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SECRET SISTERS REVEALED
Name:	Name Drawn:
Roberta Cahill	Ellen Hosman
Meleta DeJong	Wanda Wall / Shirley Eisnach / Peggy Meyer
Kate Divis	Marian Williams
Cindy Droppers	Peggy Bechtold / Kate Divis
Shirley Eisnach	Mary Edwards / Marilyn England
Margaret Ellefson	Sandy Nelson / Leona Kannegieter / Meleta DeJong
Shirleen Fugitt	Kate Nelson
Marcia Graves	Ruth Blewett / Tai Li Rhoad
Pat Henderson	Boots Johnson
KayCee Hodson	Lana Laurenz
Mary Jenner	Charlotte Hyde / Vicky Tipton / Ruby Jorgensen
Kay Johnson	Renee Sears / Shirley Jameson-Fergel
Ruby Jorgensen	Mary Sherman
Marian Williams	Gladys Maberry / Marcia Graves
Kate Nelson	Candy Sowers
Ione Manning	Tena Peterson
Peggy Meyer	Ruth Smith / Roberta Cahill / Marcia Chase
Tena Peterson	Paula Vockrodt / Stacy Johnson
Millie Ricketts	Ione Manning
Ruth Smith	KayCee Hodson / Millie Rickets
Candy Sowers	Margaret Ellefson / DeNeil Taylor
Glenda Woodburn	Marijean Peterson / Teddi Blewett
Mary Sherman	Pat Henderson / Cleo Thelen / Glenda Woodburn

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Wedding Panels Prepared for Kate's and Kendra's Weddings

Kate Divis, Cindy Droppers, Ruth Smith, Glenda Woodburn and Meleta DeJong gathered Easter weekend to stitch wedding banners in honor of OPC’s two latest brides to be ... Kate Divis and Kendra Woodburn.  Mary Jenner helped out with the stitching of the panels.  Kate will be marrying Chris Nelson on April 12th and Kendra and Michael Zuercher will be united in marriage on June 13th.

We need to get the lettering even.

SISTERS IN CHRIST JELLY BEAN POEM
--by Cindy Droppers

Sisters in Christ is what we are.  The same on the outside but inside different by far just like a jar of jellybeans all the same colors and shades but then on the inside the similarity fades.

Let’s take a look at each jellybean color we see Representing each Sister's different quality.

For Instance…

One Sister’s smile reminds you of a big yellow sun radiant and shining on everyone.

Another has earned big purple jewels in her heavenly crown for standing beside you no matter what’s going down.

Yet another could make you turn so very red if she told all your secrets rattling round in her head.

But you know that she is ever true blue and will always keep them between her and you.

The next will send your favorite orange flowers your way when she knows that you’re in the midst of a very bad day.

White’s for the times that another has wiped the slate clean forgiving you when you’ve been catty and mean.

Turning green with envy is something they will never do when good fortune suddenly blesses you.

Instead they will be tickled pink both inside and out at this turn of events that has come about.

Blacks for the times they will stand by you in your sorrow giving you strength and courage to face your tomorrow.

Yes, Sisters are a golden thread in the meaning of life always there for you in times of happiness, in times of sadness, in times of joy, and in times of strife.

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Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has Request From Congregations

Urgent need for clean-up buckets. A storm system boasting heavy rains and some snow has swelled creeks and rivers across much of the central United States — especially affected are Missouri and Arkansas.  Rivers in Missouri have been cresting well above flood level, and in many areas have exceeded the severe floods of 1993.  Arkansas is expecting its worst flooding in 25 years.  As floodwaters recede, families will face the daunting task of clean up and debris removal from the muddy waters. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has provided  $10,000 from One Great Hour of Sharing funds to the help families in their clean up efforts.  Materials to fill clean-up buckets are being purchased, and the Ferncliff Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, will coordinate volunteers to assemble the buckets. Clean-up buckets are one of the “Gift of the Heart” kits distributed through the Ferncliff Church World Service warehouse.  Please prayerfully consider helping with this effort by: 1. Putting together clean-up buckets and shipping them to Ferncliff, or 2. Making a gift of $50.00 (the suggested donation to purchase a bucket and its contents) designated for DR000151.

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MISSION OPPORTUNITY

--Ray Sowers, Stewardship Committee

Just Coffee, it is more than a cup of coffee.

Just Coffee is focusing on the direct causes of economic migration into the US.  We are sure that providing economic incentives to remain on cherished homelands with friends and loved ones will prove much more humane and effective than all the fences, cameras and agents. Why move if there are opportunities and the potential for financial success and family satisfaction at home?  

Just Coffee is a coffee grower cooperative based in Salvador Urbina, Chiapas Mexico, with facilities Agua Prieta, Sonora Mexico and Douglas Arizona.
We market a pure organic Arabica coffee that is grown, harvested and marketed in a spirit of Justice. Our members are from Mexico and the US.  We come from a coffee growing community in Salvador Urbina, Chiapas Mexico and from the US.  Our goal is to develop a Chiapan owned company providing viable economic incentives for young and old to remain on family lands.

Would you like to make a difference?  Place an order -

Order direct from the distributor at the website below.

Just Coffee sells several different varieties of coffee.
We have Arabica, Robusta and an Arabica/Robusta mix. We also have Decaf - Currently selling for $9.00 per pound. The coffee is available in both Regular and Dark roast. Roasted Beans are $8.00 and Unroasted Beans are $4.00 per pound

Shipping is $6.00 per 10 Pound increment. We also sell T-Shirts and Coffee Mugs with the Just Coffee logo on them. The shirts are $10.00 and the mugs are $5.00 

For more information or to order on-line go to http://www.justcoffee.org or call toll free: 1 (866) 545-6406. 

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