Moving Beyond our Times of Crisis

If you do not read the Upper Room on a regular basis, May I take this moment to encourage you to do so. There is not a one of you out there in cyber space that can say that their lives are "All Together" that you don't need a little HOPE every once in a while! Today's (Monday, February 27th) simple devotion from this little book can provide that hope for you. But if you do not get it I encourage you to read Mark 5:21-42. A powerful story of how Christ can heal and wants to bring healing in your life. A story of doubt and disbelief, a story of miracles and faith, a story of us giving up control of our lives to Christ and letting Him run them. I know that when I try and run my own life I sure have a way of screwing things up! Out there this day sitting and reading this just as you are are, those who grieve the loss of someone dear, those who are unemployed, those with a loved in the hospital, those battling a serious illness or recovering from a surgery, those who are struggling with infidelity or pornography, those who don't know the love of a kind family and our lists go on and on. This day know that Christ loves you and there is a Church near you wanting to support,love and encourage you, a Pastor out there who will you can talk with and will pray with you.
Hear God's word this day from Philippians 4:19 "My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus".
I Love you all, Pastor Rick Dutchtown Church

"Our Niche"

For a brief week in the middle of February, I and 6 other guys took off the hats we normally wear in our every day lives and we put on our construction hats. For four short days we became carpenters and painters, cabinet makers and electricians. We hung new gutters and we laid new floors. Were we re-modeling our homes? No, we were working at a Disaster Relief site in Ashland City, Tennessee a small town just a but northwest of Nashville. There we also experienced a bit of a Men's Retreat. For in the morning's we shared devotion's that Christ had laid upon our hearts and in the evening we tackled those tough spiritual issues that often divide many of us, but here we valued each and every man's opinion and belief's. We fellowshiped around the table, eating more good food then our stomachs could hold. Around those same tables laughter was often heard and at times tears followed as we heard the harrowing stories of those who watched their homes torn apart by flood waters. Strong bonds are made in the many hours of "Windshield Time" we faced together driving from Northern Illinois to central Tennessee. It will be way to far off for me until I spend this time once again with new buds and old ones whom I have be blessed on many occasions to be able to lend a helping hand. So here's to Loren and to John, to Tom and to Paul and dare I not forget our pal Snotnose Tommy. See ya' next year guys! Pastor Rick Koch
Oh, if you want to be apart of this band of merry men come next year (Yes we would gladly take a few women as well) give me ring and let me know. We would love to have you!

Entertain Me

I often times find myself watching HGTV with Beckie. She loves to watch the "Fixer up" shows seeing as her husband is "Fixer up Challenged". Any way when the couple embarks on their home project they often times mention that one reason they what to re-model is so that they can "Entertain" more. What I really think they are talking about deep down in their heart is that they want to be in fellowship with those they enjoy having around them. Well I want to lift up to you several opportunities to be in Fellowship with your Church in the months ahead.
First, this Saturday as the first ever BFF (Building Faithful Friendships) takes place. A time to enjoy one an others company while learning how to bake Elaine Schreiners rolls and taste one or two! It all begins at 3:00 at Church. Next on Saturday February 25th we are going to the Sauk Valley Predators basketball game as a Church. The game is at 6:30p.m. at Sterling High School. Arrive early so that we can sit together. Then the next evening, Sunday the 26th, the High School youth will be gathering @ Pastor Rick's for Pizza and games at 5:30. As we look into March "Casting Crowns" will be in concert at the I-wireless center in Moline. Tickets are $18.00. Also singing are The Afters and Sanctus Real. I want to put a group together, let me know of your interest. I will be going! Let me throw one more date and event at you. On Sunday, April 29th we will be having our Women of Dutchtown Party! Yes this is the first you are hearing about this! Joe Leddy, can you be our cook once again? And the rest of you guys out there start thinking about how we will Entertain our Dutchtown women. Brothers and Sisters, Christian fellowship is vital to our Church and to each of our Spiritual lives. I hope that you will take part in some of the events I have lifted up and even more important that you will be in fellowship with your fellow Dutchtowners each and every Sunday as we worship our Lord Jesus Christ! See you all in Church and everywhere else Christ calls us to live life and laugh together!
Pastor Rick

Ministry as a Blessing

In a few short days I "Get To" go and do one of my favorite things that I cherish about ministry. I will be heading out once again with a few guys from Church to help out in a community that has been hard hit by some sort of natural disaster. This year we are once again going to Ashland City, Tennessee who was hit by a horrible flood almost three years ago now. It will be good to go back to the same site, which we rarely do, and to be able to see all of the other volunteer work that has been done in Christ's name by folks like myself who have adopted Disaster Relief work as one of their "Pet Ministries" as well. When you find your niche when it comes to ministering to people, your caring and your giving flow so naturally. You feel as if you are the one being blessed and not the other way around. At the end of the day, it's a good tired. And so "Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho it's off to work we go!"
But what about you? What ministry "Trips Your Trigger?" What do you offer in Christ's name that gives back unto you more then you give? I want to know. Not just about that ministry, but why it blesses you as well. Come to think of it, When we get back from out trip, the following Sunday is National Service Sunday. A day to be thankful for the ways God has called us to serve. It would be great if two of three you would be willing to share during worship about that ministry that is so dear to you and why. This isn't a time to boast on ourselves, but it is a time to boast of Christ for the many ways that he uses us to meet the needs of others. Please let me know if you are willing to share with your Church, on Sunday, February 19th. I Love you all and will see you when I get back home! Pastor Rick

Small Town Blessings

I live in the small town of Milledgeville. I pastor a Church out in the country that you can see as you make your way from Milledgeville to Chadwick. It is here, amidst these small towns, that God has called to minister. Small communities, like ours, dot the landscape throughout the mid-west and are often times passed over when people think about where they might live someday. Now I could tell you many reasons why I have chosen to make my home amidst these Illinois communities, but I just want to share with you one reason I am thankful for our small towns and why I see them as a blessing.
I am thankful for all of our small town businesses and our craftsmen. For my carpenters and roofers, for my electricians and plumbers, for my sheet rockers and painters. For those who lay carpet and for those who fix my air conditioner and furnace. For all of these folks are just a phone call away. And when I make that call, I always get a real voice and one that I am on a first name basis with. I am thankful for my auto repair shops and my florist, for my bank and local credit union, for the service they offer in a friendly in timely manner. I am grateful for my local lumberyard and those who cut our hair and of course for our doctors who meet our health needs. I thank you all who work to do their best on my behalf and to make our towns better. I also am thankful to to all of our Small businesses that offer employment to our towns, businesses that that are vital to the health of our communities. These businesses grow not from advertisements in the paper, but mostly by word of mouth, because of the fine work that they do and because they are my neighbors whom I shop with, whose kids go to school with one another, whom I see at ball games and in our Churches. Today I simply want to say "Thank You" for serving our small communities and for offering unto us the skills that you have learned and for offering them unto us in a friendly and timely manner. It is because of your faithful service to your towns that I and many others like me keep calling you back again and again when we need your help. And for those of you out there that live in some other small community, say "Thanks" to those who serve you as well.
Once again "Thanks a Bunch"! Pastor Rick Koch Dutchtown Church