"Here Comes the Sun"

"Here comes the Sun, doot'n do-do, here comes the sun, and I say it's alright" O.K. a bad rendition of the the Beatles song. Get over it! Yet they have point. When the sun is not readily shining high in the noon day sky, people get down! Farmers get antsy, constructions workers fall behind. Gloom and doom seem to hang over everything. But when the sun shines brightly, like today, wow, stuff gets done and people are happy. The same is true when we do not let the true Son to shine in and through our lives. We fail to let Jesus fill us with hope and joy, by forgetting to pray or leaving our Bibles on the coffee table to collect dust. We wallow in self pity because we are not active in worship where the Son shines through and gives us what we need to get through our grueling weeks. So today make it a point to let the Son shine into your heart and then to share HIs light and warmth with others in need. "Here comes the Son, doot'n do-do, here comes the Son, and I'm alraight!" Love ya' all Pastor Rick

"Getting to Know You"

Hey Church and other interested Readers,
A long time ago there was a song that went something like this, "getting to know you, getting to know all about you". Now I know that this dates me but I have a reason for reaching way back into my musical archives. Two weeks ago while at Beckie's family reunion there were several families who had not attended for awhile and it was good to see them. One person in particular caught my attention for they had a son in his mid-twenty's, Ryan, who was deaf. I'm a people watcher and I noticed that not only did folks not go out of there way to get to know Ryan, but they seemed to almost avoid him. After all how do you talk to a deaf person if you cannot Sign? Oh, I was one of those folks! Anyway it was now Sunday morning, our last day. I was up early, as usual, and so was Ryan. I got some coffee started and he was elated being a big coffee drinker himself. He went outside and sat alone and I knew God was telling me to get my fanny over there and get to know him. So I pulled my bag chair up to wear he was sitting, got out one of my business cards (I can hear the Disaster Relief guys chuckling as I say this) and handed it to him as a way of introducing myself. We shook hands and then began to Get to know one another. I had a yellow pad and pen with me, so I started writing down stuff and then he would write back. This went on until his mom joined our conversation and then she "signed" eveything that was said during our conversation. It was a great morning of coffee drinking and getting to know my new 2nd cousin on my wifes side. As we were about to leave I went to say good-bye to Ryan and told him that I hoped to see him in two years and also maybe on the Canoe trip. He smiled, nodded yes and then hugged me with tears in his eyes, and then mine began to flow.
How well do you your neighbors, those who sit in the pew behind you. Hospitality is a Christian trait that we often fail to practice today for we are afraid to step outside of our comfort zone. When are you going to step outside of yours? Love you all, Pastor Rick

Blessings from this week and from Sunday

Blog from Marla: Blessings from the week....
Dutchtown was in charge of the Grace Meal last Tuesday, June 21st. The Grace Meal is an opportunity for Senior Citizens from the community to get together for fellowship and a meal. It is held at 11:30 AM on the 3rd Tuesday of most months (none in August and Jan. & Feb. are "iffy") at the Lutheran Church. The Churches take turns in preparing and serving the meal. Last Tuesday there were 32 meals served at the Church and 3 meals delivered to a few who couldn't come to the Church to eat. Inge, Lynne, Sara and I prepared the meal and had a good time hosting and serving it. Gene Korf has been a regular attendee and Jr. and Darlene Adolph came this time too and seemed to enjoy the fellowship and the food. The next Grace Meal is July 19th with the Lutheran's in charge. Please let me know if you can attend so we have a count for the Lutheran's to know how much food to prepare.

This was also our week to deliver meals each day. This ministry is called "Golden Meals". The Bird House prepares the food and volunteers from the Churches pick them up and deliver them to those who have called in. Currently, we deliver to five homes each week. These are two very important ministries and feel free to share this with others in our community that you have contact with so we can reach additional "seniors" who may not have heard of them.

Blessings from Sunday...
Erin Hartman blessed us once again with her beautiful choices of music. Her music before the service started really helps to quiet my heart and prepare me for worship. Her choices this Sunday were many "seasoned hymns" that couldn't help make you smile and bring you into that special place. Beckie picked some very special hymns for the service as well. How can you not feel God's presence when you sing "His name is Wonderful" and "Just a Closer Walk with Thee"!!

We are so blessed to have so many talented musicians at Dutchtown. They spend a lot of time during their week preparing their music for us and I like to listen to them to let them know how much I appreciate their dedication and talent, but mostly it just clears my mind and I can focus on why I'm sitting in this place called Dutchtown.

Wonder what God has in mind for me this week!!!

Marla

Yes, You can be Healed!

Many people when they hear the word "Healing" in relationship to the Church, their thoughts turn to Preachers on TV placing thier hands on folks and then seeing those in wheelchairs walk, the blind see and those with cancer made clean. Yes it can happen that way, but all too many times it does not. So is there a healthy way to view Healing in the life of the Church? I encourage you to read James 5:13-19. In this passage we find what I believe to be the Christian way to view healing. It begins and ends with lots and lots of prayer. James tells us that if anyone is sick that they should call upon the elders of the church to pray over them. Now elders does not mean older people. It means those that are mature in thier Christian faith. Those who are looked up to in the Church. And then it says that we are to Confess our sins to God. Not to any man or woman but to God. To cleanse ourselves of anything that would inhibit God from blessing us. Then next we are to have those elders Anoint you with oil. Why oil? Well, for one God tells us to do it this way. It has been the practice of priests for hundreds of years to use oil to anoint a new King, to use oil when a new priest who is installed. And so now God tells us to put oil on the forehead of the one seeking anointing. A Ritual where we are calling upon God our Father to bless the one who has come to be anointed. Then we are to lay hands upon that person and pray for thier healing. Now we put ourselves into God's hands. He can heal us of whatever it is that ails us. But you might simply be healed with a calm or Peace of Mind as you go through a painful situation. That is healing as well, the peace of God. You might be told "No" like Paul was and that God will use you mightily through your painful situation. You might come to experience a healing by simply knowing that your Church stands with. You could be healed of a bad attitude or habit. You could be healed of a broken heart from a relationship gone bad. Anyway, this coming Sunday as a part of worship we will be having an Anointing Service, an altar call for those of you who are in need of Christ's healing touch. I invite to this special to give to Christ your aches and pains, your worries and sorrows, your brokenness. And then leave it up to Christ how He decides to heal you. May Christ's blessing be upon you all and may you know His power this coming Sunday. See you all in Church, Pastor Rick

Take Christ With You

Hey Church and other interested Readers!
As Summer is now upon us, many of you, including myself, will be taking a little vacation time. Time well deserved and well needed for all. But as you take out your "Packing List" of things that you need to bring along, allow me to add one more item. Do not forget to take along Christ. To take along with you your devotional reading material and of course your Bible. To remember to pray daily and often, especially at those meals you have on the road. Let those around you know of your faith. Now notice I did not say remember that you are a Church Member, remember the Church. The reason I did not say that is that if you practice your faith in Christ while on vacation, if you continue to put Christ first, the whole Church thing will take care of itself. That will simply come natural to you. So, at the top of that packing list I simply encourage you to write down "Jesus" and then see just how much better that "Down Time" goes for you and your family. God Bless you all in your travels this Summer. And may you make many fond memories!
I love you all, Pastor Rick

That Personal Touch

Hey Church and Others Looking at our site!
I am beginning to embrace these new ways that we have today to communicate with one anothew. I like e-mail, web-sites and Facebook. I am learning more each new day about Blogs and texting. I really don't like texting and then there is that Twiiter thing! Anyhow each of these can be helpful tools for the Church and myself. But, I fear that many are starting to let these ways of communicating to replace the best way God has given to us to communicate and that is with a personal touch. We can never let these replace face to face conversations, we can never let them replace the ministry of Christ. People need personal contact, they need a personal touch. And that is just what Christ did. and that we are to do. I love to visit with people whether it be in thier home, in a hospital or a nursing home. This past weekend I enjoyed the conversations I had with folks as we walked around the track at the Relay for Life. Whether those talks were with fellow Dutchtowners or friends from the community of new people I just met. Nothing can replace place those talks! Let use these new communication tools to enhance our ministry here at church, but may we never allow them to be a substitute for visiting with one another. If you ever need to just talk face to face and e-mail or a phone call won't do, lets get together and talk or have a cup of coffee together. I look forward to seeing you all soon. Pastor Rick

Monday Morning Musings -- From June 6

Hey Church!

    Lots of stuff to talk about on this fantastic Monday Morning!. So let's get to it. For some odd reason today, I feel like SWEEPING. I just cannot figure out why?  And to top it all off SWEEPING makes me happy, go figure.

    Enough about housework and onto God's work. What a great Sunday. I began this Sunday with a sermon series of sorts. Throughout the Summer I will be talking about the different appearances that Christ made after His resurrection. Did you know that were 13 different times that Jesus appeared? Also I have begun a new way to tell the Children Story which I borrowed from Mike and Mandy's Pastor. It's called, "Stump the Chump". Each Sunday a different child  will take home a backpack that I have given them and on the following Sunday they bring it back with an item in it. I look in the bag as the children sit for Children story and then come up with a Biblical Children story on the spot. Should be fun.  

    Also this past Sunday was the day we found out who was going to Kiss the Goat, as we wrapped up our "Coins for Cabinets" fundraiser. I would like to thank our contenders, Paul Skoog, Beth Anne Baughman, Dave Dublo and Cooper Pauley. Folks it was not even close! Coop won hands down and boy did he give that goat a big smooch! Way to go do Coop! All together these four raised $184.63.

    We were also blessed with special music by Lauren & Megan Woolcock, teenage sisters from Mt. Carroll. Next Sunday Darin Baughman will be singing. We ended the morning eating a Brunch hosted by the Church Board. Great turn-out for the food and fellowship.

    Hey, in the next few weeks check out our new and improved web-site and we now have a Face book page, Dutchtown Church of the Brethren. Please post your Church pics or news on it.  

    Last, but not least some Relay for Life items. There are still a few of you out there who have out paid for your shirts. Please get that money to me soon. Thanks. This Saturday the Walk begins at 5:30p.m. Our Team Walk is at 6:30. This is where we will line as teams in our Shirts and go around the track. You are encouraged to take part in as much of the Walk as you want. I have schedules for the night if you would like one. I also have Luminaries sheets o you want to have one in me,mory of a loved one. They are $10.00 per person. You need to bring with you a lawn chair , flashlight, food & drink, comfy walking shoes, clothes to change into for special walks and little money for on-site fundraisers. If you have any questions, give me a call. Please keep the Walk in your prayers.  Well I know that I have rambled on long enough. I had better get to some other stuff.

Love you all and as always, See ya' in Church Pastor Rick

Hey Church, Now if I do this right this posting should go to our web-site, our Facebook page and to you facebook page for tose of you who have become a friend. I think that is how it works? If not Kali will correct me! Anyway, a couple of things going on this week. I want to challenge all you guys out there. While watching a Cub/Cardinal game last week they were talking about have a 'Shave-out" day. A day where men would not shave to save water. I cannot remember how many gallons it said we wasted every day when we shave bit it was massive. Anyhow, mu wife has agreed to let me NOT shave three days a week and I challenge you to nto the same. I promise I will always be clean shaven for funerals or wedding and on most Sunday's.
On amonther note I still need help with the Callto worship on Sunday. I need someone who once served in the military, someone who graduater High School in the last 4 years and some one who would call themselves a disgruntled worker. Each of you would read no more ten two lines in our Call to Worship. Let me know.
Lastly, I hope to see many of you on Saturday at the Rlay for life. It looks like it will be great weather, even a little cool late that night. It looks as if we have a few shirts left over. If you want one let me know. They are $12.00. Time now to see if I followed Kali's instructions!
Love You all Pastor Rick

Marla's Test Blog

This is a new blog from me while Kali is attempting to teach me how to do it. Wish her luck!

Tuesday Morning Blog!

Hey church I am learning to blog for the first time. I sure hope this works for this message is to go to the web-site, our new facebook page and to our e-mail. Pastor rick