Pastor S Corner
PASTOR’S CORNER
September is often a month of new beginnings. School starts again and Sunday School will begin again, too on September 11th. This month we will also begin another growth opportunity. It is called “The Community Bible Experience.” What is the Community Bible Experience? It is an eight-week reading schedule for reading through the New Testament. Biblica, in partnership with the New International Version of the Bible, has developed a New Testament, which they have entitled, “The Books of the Bible”. What is different about this version? The books are placed in a more chronological order. Also, the chapter and verse numberings are eliminated so it reads more like a book.
Those who are interested in being involved in the Community Bible Experience will be given a reading schedule and a ‘Books of the Bible’ addition of the New Testament. The cost of the Bibles is $5.00. Those who follow the schedule will read for about ten to fifteen minutes a day, five days a week. At that rate, one can read through the New Testament in eight weeks. Statistics show that many Christians have never read through the entire New Testament. This event will provide a great opportunity to get into God’s Word. Small weekly ‘book club’ type discussion groups will be offered on Wednesday evenings beginning September21st, to promote further understanding and support. Plus, it is just plain fun. Sign up at the Sign Up Central location in the church foyer.
If you have access to the internet, learn more about The Community Bible Experience at CovChurch.org/CBE. There are also resources for downloading an audio version of the Books of the Bible as well as daily email updates on the same site.
I first became aware of this growth opportunity at our Northwest Conference Annual meeting back in April. It is my belief that as we read God’s Word together, we will grow in our relationship with God and with one another. The more we are in the Bible, the more we can apply it into our lives. The more we apply God’s word in our lives the more we will change the world an advance the Kingdom of God. Be sure to take advantage of this wonderful event.
Pastor Dan
UCC YOUTH
This summer was truly a busy time, but it was also a great time for our students. Now that we have rebranded ourselves as CREW (Christians Ready Equipped and Willing) I am looking forward to a brand new year to really dive into what does it mean to be Christians who are Ready, Equipped, and Willing to share the reason for the joy that we have in Christ. (1 Peter 3:5)
This summer we had many things going on. We sent over 20 students to Bible camp between Jr. High and Sr. High and 8 students to MUUUCE in August where we learned that we are unique pixels and we are a part of the bigger picture, which is God’s story.
We took several students to Sonshine where first we fried in the major heat, and then we almost drowned in all of the rain. Ok not really but we did have great time with each other and a great time listening to great music and praising God with thousands of other people.
Thank you to the families that hosted the youth “hang outs” this summer, Morhlands, Kellers, and Elmers-THANK YOU!
So what is next for CREW? Well the answer is this: We will get started with our weekly Wednesday meetings on September 14th.
We are switching to the 2-hour format so we will start at 6:15p.m. and go until 8:15p.m. We are going to start by focusing on our theme verse
1 Peter 3:15 for a couple weeks and then move on to the Dare to be a Daniel curriculum. Sunday school will be starting September 11thand the High School students will be studying a curriculum called “Echo the Story” where we will be able to read the Bible and be able to engage with the story more through using our creativity.
One more thing coming up for our students will be Lake Beauty’s FORGE Retreat, which will be available for students who are in 7th-12th grade. This will be a great time for our students to get away from their daily life for a few days after school starts and get into God’s nature to become closer with Him. I am very excited for this event and I hope we can have many students go to this.
This upcoming school year is going to be really awesome and I am really looking forward to the way God is going to work in the lives of our students and in the life of our youth group and church.
*Please keep up to date with everything that is CREW by going to our Youth Group website and/or following us on Facebook.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact meCell #: 763-242-7237
Email:
OFFICE HOURS
Monday: Day Off or by Appointment
Tuesday: 9am – 3pm
Wednesday 10am-9pm
Thursday: 10am-3pm
Friday: 10am -3pm
Saturday: By Appointment
Sunday: 7:30am-12pm
Thank You!
I would like to sincerely thank everyone for the prayers, cards, memorials, and heart felt concerns for our family in the death of our father, Laurence Nilssen.
May God richly bless you all
Sincerely, Brenda Cogbill & families
LITTLE LAMBS
I tried to teach my child with books;
He gave me only puzzled looks.
I tried to teach my child with words;
They passed him by often unheard.
Despairingly, I turned aside;
"How shall I teach this child," I cried.
Into my hand he put the key,
"Come," He said, "Play with me."
~author unknown
For His Children
Gina and Little Lambs Staff
MISSION MOMENT
Our featured missionaries for September are Pete and Cindy Ekstrand. Pete and Cindy will be leaving Africa on July 7th and will head to the US for a 6-month home assignment
They will be visiting partner churches and will be here at United Covenant on September 25thto share at our church service and Sunday school hour that day.
Potluck has been rescheduled to coincide with their visit on Sunday September 25th. Please mark your calendars for this special visit and bring a dish to pass.
A love offering will be taken that day for their ministry.
Peter & Cynthia Ekstrand
Democratic Republic of the Congo
2016-2017
Pete and Cindy Ekstrand were commissioned as Covenant long term missionaries at the 1981 Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Following French studies in Belgium, they arrived in Zaire in July 1982. Upon evacuation from Zaire in 1997, the Ekstrands spent two years in the States before returning in 1999 to Yaoundé, Cameroon, where they served as the Africa regional coordinators for 10 years. Pete and Cindy changed ministries and countries, and returned to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) in March 2010.
A highlight during their recent term (June 2014 to July 2016) has been working with Rev. Elenga, the CEUM (Covenant Church of Congo) facilitator of the Community Health Evangelism (CHE) ministry. “We have to have a spiritual lesson each week,” said one of the men in Bogbakole after the Bible lesson led by Rev. Elenga. “We are learning a LOT. We have had our eyes opened,” commented others. After hearing the story of Jesus healing the blind man using spit to make mud to put on his eyes, one man commented, “Spit is seen ashaving no value,as being worthless, but we need to see all things as having value and use them.” Pete comments, “God is transforming lives as these men and women learn about using local resources and community ownership to address the needs in their villages. “
The Ekstrands’ ministry in Gemena, DRC also involves advising church leaders, participating in women’s ministries, teaching English, providing administrative support, and hosting visiting teams. A typical day includes staff devotions, working with Congolese colleagues on joint projects, email communication, and visiting with people who stop by the house.
Pete and Cindy are missionaries because they have sensed God’s call and direction to serve Him in DR Congo. Cindy says, “We want to do all we can to see God’s kingdom expanded in Congo. We also desire to develop relationships with nationals such that we learn from them more of what it means to serve and bring honor to Christ. We enjoy living in the CEUM headquarters community - having the president, vice-president and other CEUM leaders as close neighbors allows us to interact socially and engage in frequent discussions about ministry.”
Peter received his BS from the U of Florida, (1979, Vegetable Crops, Gainesville FL), and his MATS from North Park Theological Seminary (1986, Chicago). Cindy received her BS from the U of Florida, (1979, Plant Science, Gainesville FL). The Ekstrands have three grown children (Rachel, Carl, Sarah) and 4 grandchildren.
Pete and Cindy are members of the Evangelical Covenant Church in Pomeroy, Iowa.
PRAISE ITEMS
*The Community Health Evangelism (CHE) vision seminar and teaching on leadership at Gbado-Gboketsa went very well. We are grateful for these opportunities to teach others.
*Our very informative visit to the Inke refugee camp 20 kms from Gbado-gboketsa
PRAYER REQUESTS
*Wisdom and discernment as we plan withRev. Elenga plan for the expansion of the CHE ministry during our home assignment.
*The CEUM Counsel or Administrative Council meeting. The church is wrestling with some important restructuring which is on the agenda for this meeting. PRAY for safe travels to and from.
*Grace, love and compassion for all those coming to see us as we prepare to leave.
*Inke Refugee Camp- In May we visited the Inke camp for refugees who fled the violence in the Central African Republic. Around 20,000 refugees call this camp home. Covenant World Relief has given the CEUM several grants for the refugees so we visited since we were so close by at the time.
CHE MINISTRY Needs your support
While we are gone on home assignment Rev. ElengaLiwawa will continue training the Community Health Evangelists (CHEs) in Botakambia and Bogbakole. In addition, he will start training CHE committees in 2 to 3 more villages. In one of these he will work with the existing CEUM public health structure which includes a village committee plus men and women assigned to oversee the health status of their neighbors. We envision that these people called RECOs (from a French acronym) could function as CHEs with additional training and resources. Rev. Elenga hopes to start this training soon, but he also needs to have cataract surgery as he cannot see out of one eye. We are researching where to have this done.
In preparation for being gone we are working hard to get the tracts used to teach Gospel and health lessons translated, typed and read to print. And, we're making sure there is enough financing to continue. Right now our project account is very low so we ask you to consider giving to CHE initiative in Congo
There is a board in the foyer for ways you can donate to projects that are being done in the church. We need funds to help with the cost of materials for these projects. When donating for the building projects please designate in the memo of your check. Thank You!
PRAYER
Sweet Hour of Prayer
Tuesdays 8:00 a.m. in the UCC Library
Anyone is welcome to come. Please write your prayers, with or without your name, on the prayer cards provided in the pews. Place them in the golden bowl located in the foyer. They will be kept confidential asking the Lord to give you encouragement, growth in your faith and abound in thanksgiving with praise. Colossians 1:3 “We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you”.
Sunday School!
Sunday School for All
Starts on September 11th,8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
This will be a celebration of a new Sunday School season at United Covenant Church. Please meet in the church sanctuary for announcements, promotions, new Bibles, new curriculum, and music.
Heart Shaper curriculum by Standard Publishing, is focused on helping kids love God and His Word. Heart Shaper helps kids develop the ability to study God’s word on their own by teaching bible skills they’ll use the rest of their lives. Kids can study and apply God’s Word from toddlers to teens as they are presented in age appropriate ways.
*Sunday School, ages 3- grade 5 will be a rotation form. There will be snacks, games and crafts that enhance each lesson.
*Toddlers/ Preschool - begin to understand that the Bible is God’s special book, point to and repeat simple Bible words.
*Pre-K and early Elementary – sequence events in Bible stories and find verses in the Bible. (Teachers – Phyllis Luhman and Susie Thayer)
*Middle Elementary/Pre-teen – grasp why it’s important to read and study the Bible as God’s Word and accept its absolute truth. (Teachers- Heidi Clausen and Jen Tanner)
*“Craft Sundays” will be planned by Amber Schone and Gina Arntz
*“Game Sundays” will be planned by Dirk and Dayna Prindle.
*Lesson dramas will be presented by Lucas Carlson and high school youth.
*Music by Leah Pearson and high school youth.
*Pre-Confirmation - Grade 6 students will be working through the book What the Bible is All About. (Teacher- Norma Otto)
*Confirmation students in grades 7 and 8 will continue THE JOURNEY . (Teachers- Pastor Dan Pearson, Gretchen Wallberg, and Lynn Pickard)
*High school students will begin a new curriculum called ECHO the STORY. From creation to the formation of the church, students enter into each story making observations, drawing, writing and participating in group dialogue. Teacher – Zach Klein
*Adults will be offered a variety of Bible focused studies for small groups.
*Opportunities to serve by donating wipes for hand washing, Chex cereals, raisins, white or butterscotch chips, Teddy grahams, small paper cups, coffee filters.
*Adult classes need facilitators for a variety of units. See Lynn Pickard if interested.
2016 Gold and Silver Schedule
September 15th: United Covenant Church Clear Lake
MORE THAN 100 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES PARTICIPATED IN FREE KIDS’ CARNIVAL
AT UCC RECENTLY
Complete with balloon animals, a bounce house, a fish-for-prizes pond, face painting, and cotton candy, the Kids’ Carnival held recently at United Covenant Church in Clear Lake was a huge success.
“The turn-out for the event, over 100 children plus their families, was amazing,” said Leah Pearson, one of event coordinators.
Children from Clear Lake, Amery, Clayton and several surrounding communities enjoyed over a dozen activities and free food.
“We wanted area communities to come and enjoy a free, family-friendly event with no strings attached---and more importantly---to share the love of Jesus,” Leah said. She thanked everyone for the many donations including Nilssen’s Market in Clear Lake for donating all of the hotdogs and the many families who came out to share in the festivities. Leah added, “We had 39 workers, 18 of them youth---that’s such a blessing to have so many hands to work together!”
Happy Birthday
1st: Robert Benson7th: Gretchen Wallberg
10th: Mark Vold
11th: Mikayla Peterson, Olivia Peterson, Craig Moriak
12th: Lynn Schone15th: Keith Anderson
16th: Dani Meyer
21st: Dan Matson, Kim Gorres, Ruth Rickson
26th: Art Moore27th: Elizabeth Grahovac
29th: Doug Schone30th: Al Trepanier
Happy Anniversary
1st: Mike/Lynn Pickard8th: Alvin/Phyllis Paulson
15th: Keith/Jan Anderson16th: Joel/Vicky Markuson
September 2016-10:00 a.m. Worship Schedule
Music Team: Service Leader:
4th: 1 4th: Jim Mohrland
11th: 211th: Cary Eastvold
18th: 318th: Keith Anderson
25th: 425th: Casey Keller
Hymn Leader: Piano:
4th: Pam Moriak 4th: Leah Pearson
11th: Sue Spurrell11th: Heidi Clausen
18th: Lucas Carlson18th: Sheryl Forshier
25th: Pam Moriak25th: Karna Markuson
Reader: Nursery:
4th: Mike Pickard 4th: Brenda Cogbill/Olivia Peterson
11th: Tami Linden 11th: Lynn Pickard/Ruth Elmer
18th: Sue Spurrell 18th: Phyllis Luhman/Mikayla Peterson
25th: Lynn Schone25th: Heidi/Hailey Clausen
4th: Jim/Cindy Mohrland, Larry Benson/Jack Tanner
11th: Jan/Keith Anderson, Larry Benson/Jack Tanner
18tht: Jeff/Jane Warren, Larry Benson/Jack Tanner
25th: Doug/Norma Otto, Larry Benson/Jack Tanner
October 2016-10:00 a.m. Worship Schedule
Music Team: Service Leader:
2nd:1 2nd: Dirk Prindle
9th: 2 9th: Derrick Meyer
16th: 316th: Jim Mohrland
23rd: 423rd: Cary Eastvold
30th: 130th: Keith Anderson
Hymn Leader: Piano:
2nd: Sue Spurrell 2nd: Leah Pearson
9th: Lucas Carlson 9th: Heidi Clausen
16th: Pam Moriak16th: Sheryl Forshier
23rd: Sue Spurrell23rd: Karna Markuson
30th: Lucas Carlson30th: Leah Pearson
Reader: Nursery:
7th: Cindy Morhland 7th: Katie Jurisch/Olivia Peterson
14th: Lynn Schone14th: Phyllis Luhman/Mikayla Peterson
21st: Sue Spurrell 21st: Heidi/Hailey Clausen
28th: Tami Linden28th: Erin/Lucas Carlson
30th: Mike Pickard30th: Lynn Pickard/Lily Elmer
7th: Jim/Cindy Mohrland, Larry Benson/Jack Tanner
14th: Jan/Keith Anderson, Larry Benson/Jack Tanner
21st: Carl/Ethel Paulson, Larry Benson/Jack Tanner
28th: Doug/Norma Otto, Larry Benson/Jack Tanner
30th: Bob/Mary Benson, Larry Benson/Jack Tanner
(Ushers Dave/Dylan Clausen)