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The OAHE MESSENGER
Oahe Presbyterian Church
"A friendly and caring church growing with God
and community."
Pierre, South Dakota ~ December 2008 edition |
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By Rev. Johnny Rhoad
 I
love the snow as it comes each year in late Fall or in the
winter - I find it peaceful and it brings me joy in my heart
- yes, I know many of you find it a nuisance, you are likely
happy when are doing without. But there is a special wonder
with snow. For it to snow, many things need to happen. The
weather drops and it becomes more frigid. Moisture has to be
present in the sky that is almost miraculously turned into
snow. I am sure there are many more things that I do not
know that must happen for the snow to form and then fall to
the earth. But, what I do know, is that scientists have
discovered every snowflake that falls to earth is different.
There is never two snowflakes, of the billions that fall,
that are exactly alike.
What a
wonder! Yet, it is the same with God’s creating us - God
made us all individually - not one of us is quite alike and
yet, God’s love has been imparted to all of us, because we
are no less than God’s children - children, that are loved
and cared for.
There was one
special child, that was delivered by God, through a wondrous
and miraculous virgin birth - a child that was unique
amongst all of us - yet that child was human, real flesh and
blood. That child’s name was Jesus. Jesus was, and is, God’s
enduring gift for you. Jesus was born for you. Jesus is a
wonder! But most important, Jesus is real. Real, just as the
snow falling in the late Fall or a winter sky is real!
We know with
certainty that Jesus is a historical figure - and Jesus was
born, an infant, in the lowliest of states and conditions.
God wielding miraculous, almost inconceivable power - the
ultimate miracle, intended for the salvation of humanity.
God intends Jesus to be your salvation. Mary, the earthly
mother of Jesus, sang a song that is recorded in Luke
Chapter 1, “He
who is mighty has done great things - holy is His name. His
mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to
generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has
scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.”
Jesus
represents God’s unfailing love for us. God recognized our
need for an eternal and enduring advocate so that we might
be restored back to God. This was Jesus.
The Old
Testament prophet, Micah, presented a very clear image of a
coming Saviour to the world over 700 years before the actual
birth of Jesus (722BC) . Micah 5:3-5 proclaims; “The
One to be Ruler…
whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting." He
shall give them up, until the time that she who is in labour
has given birth... He shall stand & feed His flock in the
strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD
His God…
He shall be great to the ends of the earth; and this One
shall be peace.”
 Jesus
is the eternal ruler, the one who brings everlasting peace.
God has a plan. Micah’s prophetic words were hope. We need a
Saviour. We need hope.
I really do feel it is in a special way - when we see the
snow fall, when we feel the bitter cold - our hearts can be
warmed when we consider the wonder - the true & grandest
miracle of all history. God’s
enduring gift to us - a gift of Hope - our Saviour, Jesus
Christ.
May Advent and this Christmas time be a blessing! Let it
snow!
Please click on photos to view
enlargements.
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The Difference
I got up early one morning
And rushed right into the day.
I had so much to accomplish
That I didn’t have time to pray.
Problems just tumbled abut me,
And heavier became each task.
“Why doesn’t God help me?” I wondered.
He answered, “You didn’t ask.”
I wanted to see joy and beauty,
But the day toiled on, gray and bleak;
I wondered why God didn’t show me.
He said, “But you didn’t seek.”
I tried to come into God’s presence;
I used all my keys at the lock.
God gently and lovingly chided,
“My child, you didn’t knock.”
I woke up early this morning
And paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish
That I had to take time to pray.
Author
Anonymous
Contributed by Ardeth Kocourek |
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Poinsettias
We would
like to enhance our sanctuary during this
Christmas season with poinsettias or other
Christmas flowers. They may be brought to the
church any time before Christmas. If they are
in memory of or in honor of someone, please
notify Meleta DeJong.
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Christmas Program
and Brunch
Sunday, December 14th
Worship 9:00
Brunch to Follow
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Oahe
Presbyterian Women and the Capitol Christmas Tree |
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For the
last two years the Presbyterian women have been
knitting and crocheting baby caps for babies in
Africa. The caps are used as incentives for the
mothers to seek prenatal care at the clinics. In
2007 over 600 caps were sent to Malawi via the
Presbyterian Distribution Center. A second shipment
will be sent following the holidays and is
tentatively scheduled for the Congo.
A
special thanks to Margaret for donating the photos
to the newsletter. |
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Decorating the tree at the Capitol Building. |
Candy
Sowers, Kate Nelson, Kate Divis Nelson, Margaret
Ellefson and Mary Jenner |
Please click on photos to view
enlargements.
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OPC,
ONIDA and BRITTON CHURCHES PLANNING MISSION TRIP
The
three churches are in the planning stages for a
mission trip to the Texas Gulf Coast to aid a former
South Dakota Presbyterian pastor, Gene Straatmeyer,
in the repair of his home and retreat center in High
Island, Texas. The group of missioners will be
staying in High Island which is a small community
northeast of Galveston Island. The trip is
scheduled for the second week in February and help
is as needed there as much as it was in New Orleans
following Katrina. Ike struck the Texas gulf coast
on September 12, 2008.
In its brief lifespan
of only 13 days, Hurricane Ike wreaked great deal of
havoc. Affecting several countries including Cuba,
Haiti, and the United States, Ike is blamed for
approximately 114 deaths (74 in Haiti alone), and
damages that are still being tallied, with estimates
topping $10 billion. Many shoreline communities of
Galveston, Texas were wiped from the map by the
winds, storm surge and the walls of debris pushed
along by Ike - though Galveston was spared the level
of disaster it suffered in 1900.
At this time there are three
individuals from OPC planning on heading down to
Texas. If you are interested in joining the group
or assisting financially, please contact Rolly
Kemink, Duane Jenner or Larry DeJong. |
 December
Birthdays |
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2 |
Randy Sears |
19 |
Marijean Petersen |
| 4 |
Glenda Woodburn |
22 |
Helen Hill (Helen will be 102) |
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15 |
Shirleen Fugitt |
22 |
Dan Vockrodt |
| 17 |
Candy Sowers |
23 |
Ruby Jorgensen |
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18 |
Ruth Smith |
30 |
Michael Tisland |
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NOTICE
Pastor John Calvin Rhoad, Jr. and family will
be flying to Malaysia on December 15th returning
December 28th.
In Pastor John’s absence his father, Pastor
John Calvin Rhoad, Sr. will be at Oahe Church.
We thank the senior Rhoads for traveling from
Edmonton, Canada to spend the holidays with us.
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 MODERATOR’S
CONFERENCE
LOUISVILLE, KY
--Meleta DeJong
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My time in
Louisville was spent at the Moderators' Conference attending
workshops and visiting with the moderators and moderators
elect of Presbyteries and Synods. Most will be installed
and will serve in 2009.
While there I
learned that:
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a) many of the
attendees have the same trepidation about moderating their
particular presbyteries as do I;
b) other
presbyteries have the same issues and concerns as do we in
South Dakota and that many are working on the same cluster
system as are we; |
The Rev.
Byron Wade
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c) I could
actually learn more from visiting with the other moderators
to be than from the actual speakers;
d) the
conference would make no differentiation between pastors and
laypeople making for a very comfortable learning experience;
e) moderators
must be prepared; be prepared; be prepared; be prepared….;
f) it’s okay
to make mistakes and they can be undone; and
g) I was very
fortunate and appreciative of the opportunity to spend time
with moderators from around the United States and Puerto
Rico. It truly was the opportunity of a lifetime.
Due to the
recent death of a close relative the moderator of General
Assembly, Bruce Reyes-Chow was unable to attend and the vice
moderator, The Rev. Byron Wade took his place.
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TWO
FRIENDS
Two friends were
walking through the desert. During some point of the
journey, they had an argument, and one friend slapped the
other one in the face.
The one who got
slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the
sand, “TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE”.
They kept on
walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to
take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the
mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him.
After he
recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone, “'TODAY
MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE'.”
The friend who
had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, “after I
hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a
stone, why?”
The friend
replied, “When someone hurts us we should write it down in
sand where the winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But
when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it
in stone where no wind can ever erase it.
LEARN TO WRITE
YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE.
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It has been said that...
it takes a minute to find a special person,
an hour to appreciate them,
a day to love them,
but then an entire life to forget them.
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 What
Is the Christmas Joy Offering?
A
Presbyterian tradition for almost seventy years,
A
Presbyterian tradition for almost seventy years, the
Christmas Joy Offering is one of the four special offerings
designated by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) to provide congregations direct ways of
supporting specific causes that help those in need.
 December
Happenings |
 3 |
Hanging of the Greens |
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9 |
PW
at the home of Ruth Smith |
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 14 |
Christmas Program and Brunch
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15-28 |
Rhoad Family on Vacation |
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 17 |
Christmas Caroling |
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 24 |
Christmas Eve Service
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