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