Monthly Newsletter |
October 2020 Newsletter
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405 Emma
Chenoa ,
Il
61726
September 30, 2020
Over the last several years, and
perhaps especially over the last few months, I have become increasingly
convinced that focusing and dwelling on politics poisons your soul. Our
world, as I am sure you have noticed, is becoming increasingly politicized.
Every single aspect of life is becoming turned into an ultimatum on what
“side” you are on. Everything
has been turned into a right vs left, us vs them
issue. I simply cannot believe that this is healthy. It isn’t healthy for
our nation, for our communities, for our homes, for ourselves?
Just look at how angry everyone is all the time. As we
become more and more politically-focused, the number of people who say
they’re unhappy or suffering with depression rises higher and higher.
Communities, even families are becoming more and more divided. This is what
happens when we stop seeing each other as people, and instead view each
other as foes to be defeated in debate, or crushed for supporting the wrong
candidate, or to be cut out of our lives for backing the wrong cause.
A significant part of the issue,
I believe, is that the focus in politics is so often put on the negative. It
isn’t enough to speak of the things we stand
for, we have to spend as
much or more time speaking of things we are
against. Even statements framed as being positive
often end up being passive-aggressive digs at the opposition.
St. Paul, writing in chains waiting to have his trial
before Caesar had learned something in 60 AD that we would do well to
remember in 2020: Everybody needs a whole lot less politics in their lives,
and a lot more Jesus.
Here’s
what he writes in chapter 4 of Philippians: “Finally, brothers, whatever is
true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is
lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is
anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
How often do we struggle to do that? It’s so easy to get
sucked into the ways and habits of the world when it comes to what we focus
on and how we speak. But what the media and activists would have us focus on
and make most important in our minds and lives are not the good, lovely,
honorable things of God. Rather, they would have us focus on the bad, ugly,
shameful things of this sinful world. They would have us replace the worship
of God with the worship of presidents, legislators, and judges.
My encouragement to you is to turn out the world and tune
in to God. Take your anxiousness, and your frustration, and hand them over
to God. Find comfort in His love and mercy. Receive His peace as you trust
that He is in control and will provide for His people both now and forever.
For as St. Paul goes on to say, “What you have learned and received and
heard and seen in me-practice these things, and the God of peace will be
with you.”
Be filled with the grace of our Lord Jesus, and the peace
and joy which He alone provides.
In Christ,
Pastor Jeremy
Here's the link to sign up for services. All of the
October
services are there, so if you are signing up for more than one at a time, please
double check your dates and the number of people you are signing up.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904054CACAB2AA6F49-october
| Date | Attendance | Offering | Missions |
| 09-06 | 62 | 5011.76 | 55.00 |
| 09-13 | 71 | 2624.00 | 45.00 |
| 09-20 | 64 | 1383.00 | 45.00 |
| 09-27 | 52 | 1334.0 | 25.00 |
| Ladies Restroom Renovation | 48.00 | ||
|
NEEDING OUR CONTINUING PRAYER Rose Bailey
[friend of Norman Beitz Alma Brucker Michelle Darguzis Jim Erdman Stacie Hensley |
 |
|
Barbara Lambert
[mother of principal at PCJH] Donna Leonard
[friend of Roger & Pat Wahls] Trent Nelson [Natashia
Nelson’s father-in-law] Carla Nobis
[at Good Samaritan Home] Dr.Jim
May [cousin of Pat Wahls] Thom Palmer
[high school friend of Pat Wahls] Elaine Rhoda Dwight Schuler Gerald Schuler
Beverly Sohn Rick Trachsel [cousin of Roger Seeman] Jalene Wollford
[grade school student at St. Mary’s,
Please notify
Joy if anyone could be removed from the Prayer
List. |
|
With the
Annual Voters’ Meeting
coming up, two new Elders are needed, anyone interested please talk to
a current Elder or Pastor.
Thanks
to the following for their ministry in delivering Peace Meals this month:
Sharon Barrett, Carolyn Shane, Fred Rhoda, Diane Brandt, Greg and Lois
Pulalski, Joe and Judy Bertsche, Loren and Joy Poppe, David Coan and Jim
Meyer.
|
S |
incere thanks and appreciation to Kurt Rhoda, Greg and Lois Pulaski for all
their efforts in getting the rental house in shape for us to move into after
our fire.
We are overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of this family of God
towards us.
We are truly blessed.
Our thanks to all of you.
Loren
and Joy
Note: Our church will not be participating in the
Garage Sales this weekend in Chenoa.
From our Parish Nurse Pam Norris
Until further notice, routine blood pressure checks will
be suspended.
Prayer Tops Pinot
During anxious times when you need to relax, consider
wrapping your hands in prayer versus wrapping them around the neck of a
bottle of wine.
Research suggests that prayer can calm your nervous
system, make you less angry and make you less reactive to negative emotions.
One study found that people who pray 20 minutes a day
experienced greater reductions in anxiety and stress. Researchers found that
participants felt a sense of emotional support and a connection to God –
someone that had more power than them and who was actually in control. That
same study found that prayer was more beneficial than meditation.
Source: The Week, printed by
permission of Better Health
From our current seminary student who writes:
To the Ladies Group and the saints at St. Paul’s,
Grace to you and peace in the
name of Christ. I pray that you are all well and staying healthy.
My family and I are doing well. Amadeus is growing so fast [he is
almost 2]. Bethany is due September 26th,
so soon we will have 2 boys in the house! Fall quarter will be busy
with an infant, but I am excited nonetheless. I have been busy this
summer as the summer sacristan at the Seminary chapel. It has been a
fun job and I have learned a lot. Thank you all so much for your
prayers and continued support, especially during all this Covid craziness.
You are all in my prayers continually. The Lord bless you all and keep
you from all harm.
Gunnar Campbell
Our former seminary student, Dan Golden sent the
above letter.