The AdvenChur APRIL 2008
Potluck dinner and party following the worship service on Sunday, April 27th. The elementary Sunday School and the CIA Club theme since Christmas has been Mission Possible. They have been learning that all things are possible with God. As one of their projects, they are inviting their families and friends to come that Sunday to meet YOU! Some of these families may never have been inside a church and we certainly want to make them feel welcome and show them God’s love.
So bring a couple of dishes to the dinner and plan to spend some time making new friends. See you there!
To all who came to have their picture taken for the Church Photo Directory we want to thank you for participating. It was a good day with 39 families coming. If you couldn’t make it to the sessions and want your picture in the book, see Pastor Kevin or Carole Lewis about what you should do.
Saturday, April 5, at 10:00 am all those who volunteered to help clean the church weekly are requested to come to an organization meeting. At that time, the trustees will be helping set up a cleaning schedule and giving out instructions and lists of weekly cleaning projects. If you can’t come, see either Gail Garey or Wes Lewis for more information.
Then a Spring Cleaning Day has been scheduled for Saturday, April 26, at 9:00 am. Everyone who can is asked to come and help with an overall church cleaning. Classrooms, offices, and kitchen need cleaning as well as church pews needing vacuumed and wood polished, windows washed, light fixtures and fans cleaned, etc. etc.! Just bring some cleaning supplies and come to help.
Sunday, April 20 at 11:30 am we will be serving a ham ball dinner at the Community Center as a fund-raising event for the church. In addition to the meat, the meal will consist of scalloped potatoes, green beans, rolls & butter, lemon dessert, and drinks for a free-will donation.
In a couple of weeks there will be a sign-up sheet on the back table for
you to help with food donations. All proceeds go into the church budget
and air-conditioning season is on the way, so help where you can!
A CROSS IN
THE SAND
by
Lana L. Comstock
I wasn’t abused as a child. I just felt, well, lonely, neglected and unloved. I don’t think it was my parents’ fault necessarily. I just wasn’t a happy kid.
My family did not attend church. I had never
even set foot in one. We weren’t rich, but we had enough money to take a
beautiful trip to
One morning in
About four inches down, my shovel clinked on something. I was always dreaming of finding lost pirate treasures or being the first one to find an unopened genie bottle. Therefore, it wasn’t a stretch for me to think I had hit the jackpot. However, my little shovel had uncovered a treasure of a much different sort. It was a small, silver cross. I turned it over and over in my hands, looking at it as the sun made it glow brightly. Etched on the back of the cross were words I could just barely make out: “Jesus Christ is Lord.” I wasn’t sure what that meant. I never showed anyone the cross, but kept it hidden as one of my prized possessions, only taking it out when no one was around. To me, it wasn’t just a cross; it was a sign.
During high school, I was a typical teen. I sought out fun and trouble, but rarely got caught for it. My life was going downhill fast, but I thought it was perfectly under control, except for the emptiness inside that I couldn’t account for. Sometime during my sophomore year, I decided I wanted to know about God.
Most of the church services I attended with my friends were good, but one was life-changing. As the music began to play, I was consumed, and I felt Him. He was the One I had been searching for. He was the One who had been calling me. The pastor called for those who didn’t know Him to come forward. I couldn’t have stopped my feet if I had wanted to. He prayed, I prayed, and my life was never again the same. I went home and wept with joy. A seemingly lifelong void was finally filled. For some reason, I am quite sure my search began the day I hit metal with my little shovel and found a cross that said, “Jesus Christ is Lord.” Now I no longer have to dig to find my treasures. All the treasures I’ll ever need are just a prayer away.
(How many in Villisca are looking for something or someone? Are you showing Jesus?)
HAPPY
APRIL BIRTHDAY TO:
Becky Dolch (5); Wilma Freshour, Kelsi Oberhauser, & Courtney Means (6); Chad Means (8); Millicent Copelin (9); Marlis Currin & Denise Bergren (12); Leo Heard (13); Cindy Howard (16); Luella Kernen (17); Gaillyn Garey (19); Betty Lindberg & Ruth Lewis (18)
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO:
Brenda & Doug Parker (3); Russ & Janet Morrison (4); Don & Kathy Myers (10)