Pastor's Messagefrom Reverend Cindy's desk... I Bridges take us
from where we are to where we want to go. The "Bridges to the Future"
campaign will raise $4.2 million for facility improvements for campus ministry
and camping and expanding the Kingdom through church growth and development. Over 17 months,
churches and individuals will be asked to prayerfully consider how they can
participate in the future of the United Methodist Church in Kansas through
"Bridges to the Future." The funds will be used to fulfill the capital
improvements dreams for Camp Lakeside, Camp Horizon and six of the seven state
universities' campus ministry programs. They will help revitalize existing
congregations and start new ministries in growing areas and with ethnic
populations across the conference. The Kansas West
Annual Conference voted to approve this campaign in May 2007 after the adoption
of strategic plans for camping, campus ministry, church revitalization, church
growth and ethnic ministries in 2006. A feasibility study conducted by Tyler
Associates of Dallas, Texas, showed strong support for raising funds for the
capital needs of campus ministry, camping and church growth and development. For
more information about the projects and survey results visit www.kswestumc.org. Graced to Serve, Cindy
A Note From Pastor Mehl My doctor in Hill City gave me some advice that I have tried to remember.
He said, “Mehl, you need to concentrate on just one thing at a time.”
He was noticing how scattered I was, thinking in too many different
directions. Perhaps a similar way to state the above is “just be in the moment.”
We can stress ourselves out by living too much in the past or in the
future. Yes, we can think about
those things, but living in the present is more peace-filled. Jesus taught the disciples
saying, “do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of it own. Today’s
trouble is enough for today.” I
believe that Jesus was the kind of person who lived in the moment.
Each moment of his ministry therefore became very special. What are you doing right
now? Are you living in the moment?
Hope to see you in church! Pastor Mehl **Rejoice, rejoice! Pastor Mehl has a new
appointment! He is going to be the
Senior Pastor at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Wichita.
The church is located at 13th and Broadway.
Pastor Mehl will begin at St. Paul on July 6.
Study Guide Daily Bible Study “Loving Acts of God” Monday, April 28 Please
read Genesis 1. We cannot have a
Bible study on the loving acts of God without mentioning the act of creation.
What a loving act God did in creating this wonderful world.
We are not sure how creation happened.
The intricacies and details are beyond us.
Yet, what is clear is the God had a hand in creation.
Today look around and observe beauty of creation.
See the new life that is springing up and rejoice on our Creator God. Tuesday, April 29 Please
read Genesis 17: 4-8. Abram
was an ordinary person of his day. He
was married to Sarah. He had a
brother named Lot. God made a very
special promise (covenant) to Abram, which we read about in our scripture.
The promise was that he would be the father of many nations, he would be
fruitful and that he and his ancestors would possess the land of Canaan.
The love of God reached out to this man and the impact of this loving act
would have far reaching affects. How
has God reached out in love to you? Wednesday, April 30 Please read
Deuteronomy 5: 6-21. The Ten
Commandments were given to Moses on Mt. Sinai.
The commands were given to the Hebrews in order to help them obey God.
If they would obey the people would be God’s treasured possession.
Giving the commands was an act of love.
The people did not see them in this way.
Instead the Hebrews decided they knew best and went their own way in
disobedience of God. We may think
that laws are a kind of gift but without laws there would be unrest.
Incivility would prevail. Read
the 10 Commandments over. How
relevant are they today? Thursday, May 1 Please
read Luke 2: 1-20. Perhaps the
greatest act of God’s love we read about in our scripture today.
The passage tells us about the Incarnation.
At the proper time God sent his Son Jesus to the world.
God reached out in love to broken humanity.
Through Jesus the world would learn about God.
People would understand what being a disciple was all about.
Even though Christmas is far from this time of year, meditate this great
act of love. See John 3: 16. Friday, May 2 Please
read John 15: 13 and I John 3: 16. Jesus
taught that the greatest act of love was to give ones life for another.
This act of love is precisely what Jesus did.
He gave his life to the ransom of many.
We remember Jesus and his sacrificial love at the time of Lent.
We meditate on his suffering and death on the cross. Yet, it is hard for
us to fully comprehend this act of love. Let
us be thankful for all the acts of love that have come to us through our God.
Can you think of other acts of love from God?
If so, write them down and rejoice. |