“You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God. Teach me Your way , O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.  I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And I will glorify Your name forevermore. For great is Your mercy toward me, And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.”

            I was reflecting on the excitement of this month which holds many activities and events. Spring is here! Of course we knew that having already celebrated Easter; but now we can certainly feel the warmth and length of each new day.

            It is also the time to see the school schedules wind down for each of the students. And what particular excitement, anxiety, hopefulness, apprehension...  for those who are qualified to graduate. Graduation, after the culmination of 13 years of schooling certainly places a wide range of emotions on our young adults.

            We rejoice this year with two high school graduates from our midst. We certainly hope that they realize the challenge and call of Psalm 86 and that this time of life offers a new beginning. Taking what has been learned and becoming poised to be challenged with many new opportunities. May we all celebrate with them and their families and may we all, once again, affirm our shared faith:

            Oh LORD, you are our one true God and You alone are the source of all wisdom and true knowledge. May we collectively rejoice and acknowledge this truth in, and through, the educational opportunities that you have provided for us by your grace and mercy to all of us. I believe that we all know that it pleases you if we live an honest and holy life pursuing the educational opportunities that are provided for us.

            Oh LORD, as these youth are completing this phase of study may they be encouraged to continue to daily grow in wisdom and understanding. May we also be humbled and reminded of this reality for us, as well. And may we not be proud, for vain reasons of accomplishments that You have granted unto us; but let us be humble and let us all be truly grateful for this day.

            And may we turn ever closer to you, oh LORD, our God. And may we all, daily prepare ourselves, for Your call and leading for our lives.

            Thank you for granting opportunities to continually learn - and may we realize this extends for a lifetime, not just the years of a formal education. And may our prayers extend to the young adults that are graduating: God, strengthen their resolve to continue to learn and grow in faith for the sake of the Gospel and all that has been granted to them; first and foremost, by the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus, and through the enduring witness of the Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer, we pray. Amen.

Rev. Johnny Rhoad

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Inventory Completed

The Buildings and Grounds Committee has finished doing a complete inventory of the church and the grounds. We do this every so often so that if we would have a fire or some other catastrophe we would have a complete listing of what we own for our insurance company. Now that we have our inventory list up to date we are asking that when you donate something to the church that you let someone on the Buildings and Grounds Committee know so that we can keep our list current. Those on the committee are Mary Jenner, Ellen Hosman, Chris Nelson, Dan Vockrodt and Ken & Cindy Droppers.

While we were doing inventory we discovered that there are some items missing. So we are asking you to help us keep track of things by following the guidelines in the Procedure for Borrowing Items From Oahe Presbyterian Church, approved by the Session in 2002. When you want to borrow an item or items from the church please talk to Cindy Droppers or give her a call at 224-6668. If you are given the ok to borrow something you are asked to PLEASE SIGN IT OUT on the clipboard for this purpose located in the kitchen. You are asked to return the borrowed items as soon as possible. When you return it PLEASE SIGN IT BACK IN again. Thank you.

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*Please click on photos to view enlargements*

PW NEWS

Hurricane Ike - 32 Weeks Out
--Gene Straatmeyer

Seven months and one week ago a destroyer named Ike blew and washed into our fragile community. In its wake, millions of tons of debris have been landfilled elsewhere – if a football field was piled high with debris and the football fields were stacked on top of each other, their length would be higher than the Empire State Building. Ike created millions of tons of junk. Although a lot of it has been banished, there is still a lot left.

People are slowly returning, most of them in trailers they have purchased themselves or that FEMA has furnished for them.  Yet, about a month ago, FEMA refused to pay the rent at hotels for 1,200 residents of Galveston County and we have no idea where they landed.  We are certain some of them are on the street – some (maybe many of them) who didn’t need public assistance before the hurricane.

“Cleanup” is still the majority word here but “building boom” is beginning to take hold. Tons and tons of sand have been moved back to the beach.  Even though there is no building of new homes on the first two rows next to the ocean, those in rows three and further back from the beach are being restored or rebuilt. 

The big bottleneck presently is Texas Windstorm Insurance.  Ike will wipe them out financially, so, in my opinion, they are trying to save every nickel possible.  The big argument is what damage was caused by the wind and what was caused by the ocean surge?  Right now it appears Texas Windstorm has settled on 11.2% caused by the wind and 88.8% caused by the water.  So that means all those who only had windstorm insurance will get little money with which to rebuild and that doesn’t make them happy.  This across-the-board settlement for everyone doesn’t take into account the tornadoes that always hang around hurricanes. Various reports say there were up to 15 tornadoes during Ike’s fury. We believe a tornado tangled with our son’s home – as well as our daughter’s.  Their subdivisions are like Parkersburg, Iowa after the hurricane flattened half of the town. There will be many, many lawsuits against the insurance companies because they claim everyone’s house had exactly the same damage from the wind.

Since Texas Windstorm hasn’t settled, FEMA won’t pay off what they are bequeathing to those who lost their homes.  Our son Mike is an example.  He had windstorm, but no flood insurance.  Until windstorm settles, he can’t get FEMA money to start to rebuild.  He recently purchased a used travel trailer, moved it next to his lot on his neighbor’s slab and is waiting for a settlement so his new home can get started.  He would have qualified for a FEMA trailer, but those who do may have to live where FEMA says – and usually they are located in FEMA trailer parks some distance from Crystal Beach. He would rather live here where his work is. The recession will not hit him – the hurricane brought tons of work with it.

Businesses are coming back.  The Big Store has been here about a month.  Gas can be purchased at two stations.  The bank has reopened in the Big Store. A liquor store constructed a new building, will open soon and the bars are doing good business. One drunk missed a curve at High Island and paid for it with his life. A hit and run accident the other evening left a young man severely injured – and I would imagine booze played a part in that needless incident.  Illegal gambling is back.  Several nights ago the owner left the building that everyone knows is used for gambling and when she was nearly home, she was robbed of $2,000.  The sheriff and his deputies are looking for the thieves – but the victim of the robbery has not been charged with running a house of gambling.  And this from a new sheriff who campaigned on a platform of reining in illegal gambling!  His excuse may be that they are considering a bill in the Texas Legislature to allow gambling.  Rumor, which I don’t know to be either true or false, says gambling interests along with developers are buying up land for hotels and casinos if gambling is legalized. An irony that I have heard is about the person who owns the building where the illegal gambling is now taking place -- he won’t allow liquor to be sold.  It is against his religion.

The Mardi Gras parade was bigger than usual.  All the construction companies on the Peninsula participated as well as many subdivisions who have never taken part. The Easter Sunrise Service on the beach was held with about 300 in attendance.  Only one pastor lives on the Beach.  He asked me to participate but we were on a trip to the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary for their spring series of lectures.  We needed a break from this desert/lake.

Yes, desert!  Ike stole all the grass and now when the wind blows, so does the sand.  We had about an inch drift on our  eleven foot high deck the other day. Another problem is that they are ripping out almost all of the trees and brush, because there is no other way to get out the debris entangled in them so the Peninsula looks like a nude beach with a few houses popping out of the sand here and there. When it rains, there is no place for the water to go since Ike filled all the ditches and culverts with sand. Recently we had six inches of rain and most of the beach looked like a large lake. The main road into our subdivision was underwater and so we had to drive through water about a foot deep to get to the highway.

The Churches are still struggling.  The Catholics decided not to rebuild their two churches, one in Port Bolivar and the other in Crystal Beach.  The churches in High Island had little damage, so they are back in business.  The Pentecostal Church in Gilchrist, which is a slab, is meeting on a nearby cement slab.  I have heard nothing about the totally destroyed Baptist Church in Gilchrist. The Baptist Church building in Port Bolivar is still ailing. Here in Crystal Beach, the Church of Christ is meeting in a tent.  The Baptists and the Methodists are the furtherist along in the rebuilding process.

As in any disaster, the poor are the big losers.  The powers that be do not want to rebuild the public housing in Galveston.  Here on the Beach, Galveston County Restore and Rebuild (GCRR) is working along with the Bolivar Peninsula Community Outreach (BPCO - of which I am the president and Jean is the volunteer social worker) to keep the poor in our community.  With the help of two mostly Presbyterian work crews from South Dakota, we nearly have one 87 year old back in her house.  Jean has about 25 other cases pending and about four of them are ready now for remodeling and restoring.   However, this is difficult work. It wears hard on our compassion.  We haven’t seen such great need since Africa.  There are so many people who need help and little money or locals to help. We have just recently struck a partnership with Catholic Charities and as soon as we get an office prepared in the community building, they will be bringing in up to three paid social workers who will then work with volunteers like Jean and the South Dakota work crews to get the people who need it most back into their homes.  Right now we are only working on homes that can be restored.  We are looking toward a government grant in the future that will allow monies to help those whose homes were blown and washed into Galveston Bay.

On the other hand, the number of volunteers is growing.  Over Spring Break we had masses of college and high school students here cleaning up debris.  It is great to see Church groups appearing in the now-familiar white vans, unloading, getting their feet muddy and their hands dirty.  But what we really need in the weeks, months and years ahead are skilled laborers, like the South Dakota groups.  We need electricians, plumbers, contractors and painters.  We have a place for 15-20 volunteers to stay at the Presbyterian Retreat Center in High Island. Volunteers who want to help the Peninsula for a week or more, almost have to stay there since the ferry into Galveston is a bottleneck as is the long distance drive to the Peninsula through Winnie, TX.  If your church or area churches are interested in bringing skilled labor our way, we will have rewarding work for all of them.

We have been in our house since last November 1 and it is slowly getting back to normal.  Son Mike rebuilt our garage.  He also rewired under the house and did the necessary plumbing.  After a tutorial from the repair man, I have learned how to run our complicated sewer system.  They are as fickle as a flea and when they aren’t treated right a red light comes on and a loud, shrill sound screams from its innards.  It gets one’s attention (and everyone else’s too) within a half mile.

We have to get our sand lawn leveled out – with Mike’s tractor – and then a friend of ours will lay new sod down.  After that the house needs painting – and then everything still won’t be alright because most of the homes in our neighborhood aren’t being lived in and so they aren’t being fixed or lawns aren’t being seeded.  Consequently, the desert will last for some time.

Our biggest loss from Ike was the death of our beloved dog Malawi.  We brought him back from Africa where we purchased him as a pup.  He is the subject of three books written by Jean, the latest about ready to go to press, “Tales of an African Dog in Texas.”  Pre-Ike he had a nice big yard but Ike pushed those boundries into Galveston Bay.  After Ike we had a makeshift gate for him on our deck.  He managed to wiggle it open and about an hour after we let him outside on the deck, we noticed he was gone.  I found him lying alongside the highway, probably run over by one of the debris trucks whose speed is always way past the speed limit.  Many tears have fallen to the sandy ground of Crystal Beach as we continue to mourn the passing of this super hound from Africa.

If anyone reading this would like to organize a work crew of mostly skilled workers, we would be glad to get you working on the Peninsula.  I preached in our church last Sunday and there were five Presbyterians in the congregation from New Jersey who had spent a week in the Galveston area.  Bolivar Peninsula was at the center of Ike’s destruction.  No other place has had such extensive damage as this barrier sand bar and it is hard to attract work crews our way.  We would like to invite your church to help.

Besides, we are becoming the forgotten hurricane victims.  Everyone remembers Katrina.  Ike caused the third largest dollar amount of damage in US history.  On our recent trip to Dubuque, I wanted to see if there was any truth to that claim.  I asked about a dozen people at gas stations, cafes and motels, strangers to me, about Ike.  Not one of them knew when or where it occurred.  We need help.

Dr Gene and Mrs. Jean Straatmeyer	These were taken in Crystal Beach in February, 2009
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The Engineer and the Social Worker are At it Again!

Last fall Larry DeJong and Duane Jenner spent a day at Camp Pioneer laying out stakes for a possible roadway into the camp.   This spring they have spent an afternoon in Rapid City and at Camp Rimrock measuring the roof on the lodge and getting bids from Knechts and Lowes in preparation for the week of roofing the lodge by members of OPC and Onida churches.

The plan is to spend the week of July 6-12 at the camp adding a new brown metal roof. to the lodge.  Workers will be able to participate in the roofing project by working days they are able   Lodging and meals will be provided.   Contact Lyman Chase, Larry, Duane or Rolly if you have questions concerning the project.

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Christian Education News
--Paula Vockrodt

The Christian Education Committee is reorganizing into the Christian Education/Church life committee.  We have been offering "traditional" Sunday school classes for the adults and youth for many years and have seen a steady decline in participation.  So after much prayer and consideration, we are going to incorporate Christian Education themes, studies, scripture, etc. into monthly Church Life events.  We hope this will appeal to a wide variety of members and friends of OPC and be able to reach out to more in the community.  What we have planned so far is:

May 3--High School Senior Recognition Sunday with recognition of Bailey and Thomas during worship and a reception during fellowship.

We are trying a "Go Green" theme for summer months of June-August with A Bike Trek to church (or walk or drive) on June 21, July 19 and August 16 after each worship service having time for reflection, fellowship and of course food.

Sept. 13--Potluck Lunch with viewing of the movie "Fireproof"

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Vacation Bible School Plans

Oahe Presbyterian Church and the Pierre UCC Church is making plans for this summer's Vacation Bible School. VBS Camp E.D.G.E. (Experience and Discover God Everywhere) will be June 22-25, 5:30-8 p.m. at the Pierre UCC.

Camp E.D.G.E. is an action-packed, adrenaline-filled expedition that teaches kids their strength and might come from God. Through rockin' contemporary music, larger-than-life recreation games, mind-boggling science activities, and cool, challenging crafts, our kids will learn how to live on the E.D.G.E. in their faith.

Families-mark your calendars and make plans for your children to attend Camp E.D.G.E. VBS is open to to all children from age 3 to those in grade 5. Extended family, friends and neighbors of your children are welcome to attend!

We are looking for volunteers from OPC to help with the music study portion of VBS.  Please contact Pastor Rhoad or Paula Vockrodt (224-6776) if you can help.

Thanks for your prayerful consideration!

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'Church has learned better how to talk about difficult issues...'

---by Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE - Three top leaders of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have sent a letter to the denominations presbyteries and congregations praising the tone of debate on potentially divisive matters and "giving thanks for a faithful and diverse church." The letter came after deciding votes were cast over the weekend on Amendment B, which would have replaced G-6.0106b - the commonly called "fidelity and chastity" clause governing the sexual behavior of church officers - with different language.

The amendment has been defeated, but by a much narrower margin than in two previous votes on G-6.0106b, which was voted into The Book of Order in 1996.

April 28, 2009

To Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) presbyteries and their congregations:

Grace and peace to you in the name of our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Among the hundreds of actions taken by the 218th General Assembly (2008) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) last summer were ten amendments to the church's Constitution and four ecumenical statements that were then sent to all 173 presbyteries for ratification. Each of these items needed 87 votes, or a simple majority of the presbyteries, to be adopted or defeated.   While presbyteries have until June 28 to vote, the Office of the General Assembly has now received official notification from enough presbyteries to know the outcome of each item.

With just a few dissenting votes, presbyteries approved historic covenants and agreements with the Roman Catholic Church, the Episcopal Church, the Korean Presbyterian Church in America, and the Moravian Church. In addition, the General Assembly Council will have a new name - the General Assembly Mission Council - which will put the word "mission" front-and-center to reinforce the work of the council.

Slightly less unanimity but substantial support was shown by presbyteries as they approved amendments addressing the leadership of certified educators at presbytery meetings, as well as adding the vows of membership to the Book of Order. Also adopted was a change in the Rules of Discipline that expands the role of alternative forms of resolution.

The proposed amendment that would have replaced the current language of G-6.0106b with new language is the only amendment that did not receive approval by a majority of presbyteries. This item in its current form will continue to be part of the Book of Order.  We have witnessed and heard many different stories as the amendment on G-6.0106b was debated. In this and other deliberations, we as a church have learned better how to talk about difficult issues in a spirit of trust and faith. We may not always agree, but we have never forgotten that those with whom we disagree are still our brothers and sisters, as together we strive to reflect our common calling to be ambassadors of Jesus Christ.

By God's grace, the Holy Spirit is at work, strengthening our commitment to one another through this denomination. We give thanks for a diverse and faithful church that challenges us all to serve with integrity and offer our gifts enthusiastically. Thanks be to God for our life together.

The Reverend Bruce Reyes-Chow,Moderator of the 218th General Assembly (2008)
Elder Linda Bryant Valentine, Executive Director, General Assembly Council
The Reverend Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly

http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2009/09349

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May 30th Rummage and Bake Sale

Want to De-clutter  This year’s rummage and bake sale will be Saturday, May 30, 2009, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.   We hope the event will give you an opportunity to de-clutter your house and garage (and perhaps your life!) while helping raise funds for church projects.

 As Gail Blanke, author of Throw Out Fifty Things : Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life, says, we all have 50 things cluttering our lives that we need to toss out or give away.  Once we do that, we can make room in our lives for the things that really matter.   Maybe May 30 can be that start for all of us.

Rummage sale donations may be brought to the church the evenings of Thursday, May 28, or Friday, May 29, from 6-8:00 p.m.  Please use the  lower level back door to make hauling-in easier.  Donations may also be brought the morning of the sale.  Please pre-mark all items except clothes.

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 at 224-4236.  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, May 29, or the morning of the sale.   All items sell well.  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 work on sale day.  If you can help, please see the sign-up sheet in the narthex  Thanks, everyone!  Your help always makes the sale successful and fun.

-– Buildings and Grounds Committee

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(click on invitation to view enlargement)

Invitation to attend the Open House for Thomas Butler on May 17, 2009 from 5-7 p.m. at the Governors Inn Breakfast Room.

SUNDAY, MAY 3^rd BUSY DAY FOR OPCer’s

Sunday a.m. worship … Senior Sunday where both Bailey Bechtold and Thomas Butler were honored.	Sunday p.m. the OPC ladies were invited to Onida First Presbyterian to attend their “66th” annual Mother’s Day Tea.  Speaker at the event was Gail Duenwald of Hoven and MC was Colette Kemink.
Then Sunday evening members and friends of the Onida Church were invited to attend a potluck at OPC and hear Kay Olson of Sioux Falls First Presbyterian tell of her pw mission trip to the Czech Republic, Hungary and the Ukraine.   The presentation was very educational and informational.

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Relay For Life

What comes to mind when you think of this event? Walking laps with friends? Lighting of the luminaries at dusk? Raising funds for cancer research? A tentful of OPCers sharing stories?

I've participated in this event for many years because my life had been 'touched' by cancer.  Friends have been diagnosed.  I've helped friends undergoing treatments.  I've given friends shots. I've lost friends and given a eulogy at a funeral.

But this past year, my life was consumed with spending time and caring for my mother after her cancer diagnosis.  We were fortunate - in a bittersweet way.  She didn't need to endure any chemotherapy or radiation treatments.  We had precious time with her before the aggressive, end-stage cancer took her life in less than three months.

Relay for Life has new meaning for me this year.  Does it for you?  Join our team.  Walk with us.  Talk with us.  Raise money for cancer research if you are able by selling/buying luminaries.

The Relay is set for July 24 and 25 at Steamboat Park.  Talk to either Candy Sowers or me about how you can participate.

--Ruth Smith
(leave a message at 224-8293)

PS - Our Relay team will be conducting a fundraiser in conjunction with the church rummage sale.  We're thinning out our gardens. Watch for pots of hostas, lilies and other plants to brighten and enhance your landscaping projects!

Relay for Life 2009

Can you be a Clipper for Me? This year, I’m serving on the community’s Relay for Life organizing committee and am in charge of the luminaries.  I hope to “commission” several of you to help me the day of the Relay with various aspects of my job. 

However, there is one project that I need many hands helping me before the Relay.  That project is clipping pictures that used by Relay teams to decorate the luminaries.  The pictures can be of almost anything and everything wildlife, flowers, tractors, sports, flags, cartoon characters, hobbies, occupations, etc..  The possibilities are endless.  The wider assortment of pictures we have, the more likely it will be that someone will find “the” perfect picture to decorate a luminary in honor or memory of a loved one who as battled cancer.  And we need lots of pictures. 

Nearly 2,000 luminaries are expected to line the walking path at this year’s Relay for Life on July 24-25. Pictures can come from most any where: magazines, newspapers, and old calendars are especially good sources.  Other items that can be collected and used on luminaries are stickers and bric-a-brac. 

Please keep your eyes open at rummage sales for scrapbookers selling their unused embellishments and stickers, too.

A collection box for pictures and other items to decorate the luminaries  is in the narthex of the church.  Donations will be collected through Sunday, July 19th.

Thanks so much.  You are a great bunch of people.

May God bless, 

--Kay Cee Hodson