The Caller

April 2018

Striving to Remain Calm

Ecclesiastes 10:4

 

You may be able to relate to an experience like this. Early this past Sunday morning, Ecclesiastes 10:4 was the focus of my meditation in God’s Word. “If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.” The NET Bible notes give two options for the point of this proverb. First, it may communicate the idea that a calm response can diffuse a king’s anger. Second, it may communicate the idea that a calm heart in the midst of rising tension will keep a person from doing things that could offend the king. Either way, the focus is on the good that results from calmness or a calm response.

 

Based on that idea, I wrote the following in my journal: “I will strive, with the help of God's grace, to remain calm and composed in the situations I face today. More can be accomplished by not allowing myself to become riled up.” Later in the day, the rubber hit the road. After worship, my youngest son, Joseph, was not all that hungry. He was more tired than hungry. So, I took him downstairs to his room for a nap. As soon as we walked into his room, he said to me that he wanted to wear his T-Rex shirt. (Joseph is totally into dinosaurs right now.) I suggested to Joseph that we should wait until the next day to wear his T-Rex shirt. (In my mind, there was nothing wrong with the shirt he was already wearing.) Instantly, the crying began. Tears began to fall. And there was nothing I could do to console him. And then I did it. I raised my voice at Joseph. I spoke strongly to him about immediately stopping his fussing. As you can imagine, that only made things worse, not better. I gave in. I changed Joseph’s shirt to his favorite T-Rex shirt, grabbed a book off the bookshelf, and settled him into my lap to read with him before putting him into his crib.

 

Then it hit me. I had already failed in my desire to strive to be calm and composed in the situations I faced that day. How is it that I can so quickly go back on the commitments I make? I had just resolved six hours earlier not to do what I had just done. I said a silent prayer, asking the Lord for His forgiveness. And I asked Joseph to forgive me as well.

 

This seems to be the cycle we all face. The good we want to do, we struggle to do. The bad that we do not want to do comes all too easily for us. Kind of sounds like Romans, chapter seven, doesn’t it? Happily, our Lord Jesus is in the position of continually forgiving us for our failings and shortcomings. Let’s continue to grieve our sin, but also continue to rejoice in the forgiveness Jesus provides.

 

By the way, in this Holy Week, we’re reminded of Jesus remaining calm and composed before His accusers, both the Jewish religious leaders and Roman officials. We saw in Mark’s Gospel this past Sunday that Jesus’s calmness was amazing, both to Pilate and the Roman centurion involved in Jesus’s crucifixion. With God’s grace, let’s strive to follow that example. We will not be perfect in doing so, as my example makes clear, but there is a lot of good we can do by remaining calm in challenging, tense-filled moments.


Pastor Jeff


Sunday, April 1st (Easter Sunday)


No Bible Study This Sunday


10:00 a.m. Worship Service


Greeters: Troy Hilt Family

Pianist: Tema Trumbo

Song Leader: Leisha Hilt

Elder: Brad Matthies

Deaconess: Leisha Hilt

Older Children's Church: Keely Loyd and Makaila Matthies

Younger Children's Church: Julie Brunk and Hadleigh Hilt


Sermon Passage: Mark 15:40-16:8


Sunday, April 8th


9:00 a.m. Bible Study

10:00 a.m. Worship Service


Shut-Ins: Royce Cook and Eddie Brunk

Greeters: Troy Hilt Family

Pianist: Tema Trumbo

Song Leader: Laura Brunk

Elder: Royce Cook

Deaconess: Leisha Hilt

Older Children's Church: Paula Keller and Carter Matthies

Younger Children's Church: Crystal Schultz and Grace Landers


Sermon Passage: Joel 1:1-20


11:30 a.m. Fellowship Lunch (Hosts and Hostesses: Kyle Schultz Family and Laura Pugh)


Monday, April 9th


7:00 p.m. Church Board Meeting (Fellowship Hall)


Sunday, April 15th


9:00 a.m. Bible Study

10:00 a.m. Worship Service


Greeters: Troy Hilt Family

Pianist: Susan Dinkel

Song Leader: ?

Elder: Brad Matthies

Deaconess: Leisha Hilt

Older Children's Church: Matthisen Witzel and Grace Landers

Younger Children's Church: Hadleigh Hilt


Sermon Passage: Joel 2:1-17


Sunday, April 22nd


9:00 a.m. Bible Study

10:00 a.m. Worship Service


Greeters: Troy Hilt Family

Pianist: Susan Dinkel

Song Leader: Leisha Hilt

Elder: Royce Cook

Deaconess: Leisha Hilt

Older Children's Church: Judy Reynolds and Makaila Matthies

Younger Children's Church: Jessica Matthies and Carter Matthies


Sermon Passage: Joel 2:18-32


Friday, April 27th


7:00 p.m. Marriage Friday Dinner and Discussion (Fellowship Hall)


Sunday, April 29th


9:00 a.m. Bible Study

10:00 a.m. Worship Service


Greeters: Troy Hilt Family

Pianist: Susan Dinkel

Song Leader: ?

Elder: Brad Matthies

Deaconess: Leisha Hilt

Older Children's Church: Crystal Schultz and Grace Landers

Younger Children's Church: Paula Keller and Hadleigh Hilt


Sermon Passage: Joel 3:1-21

Prayer Requests


Barb Barnhart (recovering from a broken femur; now back home), Rodney Bracelin (continual health), Compassion kids in Brazil, Esther Confer (breast cancer), Dean Dinkel (cancer surgical recovery), Henry Dinkel (cancer), Ron Donner (Paula Keller's brother-in-law; health concerns), family of Teresa Douthit (died, February 23rd, 2018), Sheree Downs (recovery from eye surgery), Rebecca Dranchak (surgical recovery), Ellen (Fern Forsythe's sister; surgical recovery), Ron Ewing, family of John Finley (died, February 24th), Fern Forsythe (recovery from cataract surgery), Tina Fort (Shirley Watson's daughter; cancer), Tori Gano (surgical recovery), Doyle and Doloris Hall (Fort Collins), Wyatt Hilt (recovery from motorcycle accident), Dan and Sheree Keller and Campus Crusade staff, Pete and June Lauer (Brad Matthies’s and Leisha Hilt’s grandparents; health issues), Ann Matthies (Brad and Leisha's mother; recovering from gall bladder surgery), Gerri McCurry (recovery of strength), Megan (radiation treatments), family of Wilma Neilan (died, February 24th, 2018), family of Joya Neville (died, March 16th, 2018), family of Branson Peacock (died, February 22nd), Kevin Ritchey (continual recovery after motorcycle accident), Rolle Stephens (friend of Brad Matthies; pancreatic trouble), Taven (in need of adoption), Jo Turbeville (recovery of health), Cole Vap (Perry and Paula Keller's nephew; health concerns), Shirley Watson (surgical recovery), Carol Weeks (stage four melanoma cancer), and Rob Webb (health concerns)


*Those residing in care/assisted care facilities: Gladys Cullum (St. Francis), Joan FINLEY Davis (California), Janetta Evins (St. Francis), Ron and Dot Hill (Greeley, Colorado), Margaret Hilt (St. Francis), Ella Mae Keller (St. Francis), Don Love (Kansas City), Debra McCurry (St. Francis), Jane Milner (Goodland), Florence Peacock (St. Francis), Fleda Raile (Goodland), and Kenneth Roberson (St. Francis)

Offering Update

February Offerings: $4,237.00

February Expenses: $5,524.34

Last Sunday’s Offering (March 25th): $2,010.00

March Offerings (to date): $6,860.00

Spring Cleaning

With Spring in the air, the thoughts on the part of some of us turn to Spring cleaning. Maybe that includes reorganizing a few closets. Donating some items you have not used for a while to the Methodist Thrift Store. Rearranging furniture and dusting in places that have not been dusted in a while. Maybe, for some of you, Spring cleaning will include some adjustments to your giving to the life and ministry of our church family. If a little dust has collected on your giving, why not check out our online giving options and set up a recurring gift to our church family? Visit the “Giving” tab on our website, www.firstchristianstfrancis.com, today.

April Item for Operation Christmas Child


It's time to start thinking about getting ready for this year's Operation Christmas Child shoebox packing party. For April, we're looking for donations of of stuffed animals. You can drop your donation off in the basket in the lobby.

A few Sundays ago, Tim Raile provided us some projects for our church building and parsonage which need our attention. Would you be willing to consider one or more of these projects, supporting them with labor, labor and cost of materials, or donations? Sign-up sheets are available in the lobby.


Church Building


Exterior


  • South Sidewalk, replaced
  • Bell Tower, painted (Tim and Margaret Poling have volunteered to donate.)
  • Exposed Electric Wires on North Side, fixed (Tim Raile has volunteered to provide both labor and cost of materials.)
  • Caulk Gable Ends (Tim Raile has volunteered to provide both labor and cost of materials.)
  • Caulk and Seal North Side Stucco to Sidewalk (Tim Raile has volunteered to provide the labor and cost of materials.)
  • South Door Painted, Sealed, and Adjusted (Perry and Paula Keller have volunteered to provide the labor.)


Regular Maintenance


  • Fertilize/Herbicide Blue Grass (Perry and Paula Keller have volunteered to provide the labor.)
  • Apply Weed Control on Buffalo Grass on West Side (Troy Hilt has volunteered to provide the labor and cost of materials.)
  • Apply Soil Sterile to East Parking Lot and Control Weeds Throughout the Summer


Interior


  • Fellowship Stairway Area, painted and cracks filled (Tim and Robyn Raile have volunteered to provide the labor and cost of materials.)
  • Fellowship Hall, painted and cracks filled (The Bracelins and the Dinkels have volunteered to provide the labor and the cost of materials.)
  • Downstairs Bible Study rooms, plaster fixed
  • Pastor's Office Door, fixed
  • Entry Area, refreshed and brightened (Pam, Taighe, and Talexa Weeter have volunteered their labor.)


Parsonage


Short-term Needs


  • Fix or Replace Rear Door and Walk-in Garage Door
  • Finish Back Splash in 1/2 Bathroom
  • Replace Old, Broken Mini-blinds Upstairs
  • Fix or Replace Water Heater
  • Add Water Softener


Mid-term Needs


  • Kitchen Cabinets Replaced (Tim and Robyn Raile have volunteered to donate $1000.)
  • Paint Upstairs
  • Paint Outside Siding and Soffit
  • Partition Laundry from Kitchen for Noise Reduction
  • Update Kitchen Appliances
  • Fireplace Repairs
  • Back Patio Cover


Long-term Needs


  • Concrete Patio Removed and Replaced
  • Replace Upstairs Carpet with Hard Floors

Invitation to Work in Vacation Bible School This Summer

Deb Grace has extended an invitation to any in our church family who would like to help with this year's Vacation Bible School at the United Methodist Church. The dates of this year's VBS is July 16th through July 20th. If you are interested in helping, please get in touch with Deb at 785-772-1152.

Join Dennis Kramer for a Missions Trip This Summer

Dennis Kramer with Dayspring Outreach Ministries invites anyone from our church family who is interested to join him on an upcoming missions trip to Mexico. The dates for the trip are June 1st through June 7th. The cost for the trip is $485. (That cost does not include transportation expenses from here to South Texas, the meeting point before crossing the border into Mexico.) If you are interested and would like more information, please contact Pastor Jeff at 785-772-6138.

April Birthdays and Anniversaries

3 - Gloria Bracelin

3 - Emily Loyd

4 - Paula Keller

10 - Susan Dinkel

12 - Grady Brunk

13 - Phil Crawford

13 - Robyn Raile

15 - David Meyer

23 - Lileigh Landers

23 - Carter Matthies

26 - Daryl and Keely Loyd

28 - Dylan and Emily Loyd

You'll Find Us on the Web at

www.firstchristianstfrancis.com

By Jeff Landers
Our address is: 118 E. Webster St., St. Francis, KS 67756
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