FriedensNotes
Week of February 27, 2005
Nothing Is Too Hard
"Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?" (Jeremiah 32:27) A rather sickly woman had been deserted by her husband. He left her with three preschool children, a mangy dog, a broken-down, second-floor flat and many bills. One morning she discovered that the mutt had chosen her only good pair of shoes as a chew stick. The youngest baby had cried the night through with colic. As she was preparing breakfast, the power went off because the bill hadn't been paid. Then the dog decided to play tug of war with the tablecloth, pulling all the dishes and food onto the floor. Just then she heard a commotion out in the street.
Running to the kitchen, she opened the window and a man below yelled out, "Garbage man." Her only reply was, "Okay, send it up." Times were like that for Jerusalem too. The Chaldeans had raised siege mounds around the city.
Famine and pestilence stalked the streets. Jeremiah was on the verge of losing all hope for survival. But in the midst of this doom and gloom, God said to him, "Is there anything too hard for Me?" Life gets rough sometimes.
Illness strikes, financial troubles threaten us, family problems dog our steps. At best, most people just hope they can scramble to the top as each new load of garbage gets dumped on them. But you don't have to live like that. God says, "Things can be better for you because I am with you-and nothing is too difficult for Me." Even your most troublesome circumstances simply become a stage on which God demonstrates that nothing is hopeless with Him. Take confidence in the fact that the omnipotent God is on your side. When God says "nothing is too hard," He means "nothing"!
- Woodrow Kroll, http://www.backtothebible.org/devotions/features/lessons/55
Parenting Classes to Start
A new Sunday discussion group on parenting pre-adolescent children will begin on March 6. The group will meet at 9:15 a.m. at church between worship services and will be studying "Establishing Effective Discipline for Your Children" by Dennis and Barb Rainey. Dads are especially encouraged to get involved. There also are home discussion groups meeting on Monday, Friday and Sunday for those who can't make it on Sunday or want to complement the Sunday discussions. Cost for the book is $10. Sign up in Fellowship Hall or call Dan and Vicki Benson, 268-0755.
Strategic Planning
It's time for Friedens to lay a prayer foundation and form a committee to help develop a 5- and 10-year ministry plan to influence the greater Port Washington area for Christ. If you're interested fill out a slip in this week's bulletin or call the church office at 284-2471.
Children's Church
During the 10:30 a.m. worship services in May, Friedens will test run a new Children's Church, which is different from Sunday School. To find out more, attend an information meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 3, at church.
Indoor Golf Outing
The Second Annual Friedens Family Indoor Golf Outing has been set for March 11 at the church. Tee times start at 6:30 p.m. "Sponsors" are needed to design each of the 18 holes. Contact Pastor Don, 284-2471, for more information.
Faith in the Workplace
Faith in the Workplace, a ChristianityToday.com channel, provides inspiration and advice for Christians in the marketplace. Sponsored by Regent University School of Business, it addresses "Living Your Faith at Work," "Leadership and Management" and "Personal Development."
True Love Waits, Family Style
True Love Waits, sponsored by LifeWay: Biblical Solutions for Life, is an international campaign that challenges teenagers and college students to remain sexually abstinent until marriage. The program encourages families to be committed to living pure lives together. Suggested usage plans help guide leaders in preparing a specialized focus for a youth group. The site includes resources for Bible study, commitment cards for students and parents, a planning manual and more.
Lessons from a Seasoned Christian
Learn three tips from an 85-year-old on how to make your life more fulfilling and fruitful.
Bible Quiz
Crime and criminals are as old as mankind. The Bible, which records the world's first murder in Genesis 4:8, often reads like a police blotter. Test your detective skills and your Bible knowledge by matching these suspects to their crimes. For the clues, go here.
Who's the Most Influential?
Time magazine's cover recently featured the "most influential evangelicals in America. Here's a thought: "The most influential evangelical, after all, is the unsung Christian who quietly and faithfully demonstrates Jesus' love to his neighbors and coworkers. So who leads the evangelical movement?
This Week's Bible Reading Plan
Join with other Friedens family members in reading through the Bible in 2005. Here's this week's reading plan:
- Feb. 27 - Numbers 15-16; Mark 6:1-29
- Feb. 28 - Numbers 17-19; Mark 6:30-56
- March 1 - Numbers 20-22; Mark 7:1-13
- March 2 - Numbers 23-25; Mark 7:14-37
- March 3 - Numbers 26-28; Mark 8
- March 4 - Numbers 29-31; Mark 9:1-29
- March 5 - Numbers 32-34; Mark 9:30-50
You also can find each day's readings, along with Bible study tools and other helps online. Also look in the FriedensBote each month for a monthly reading plan and for bookmarks in the west foyer.
Mark Your Calendars
- Sunday: Blaze (6th-12th grades) 6-8 p.m. at church.
- Monday: Church Education Meeting at Katos next door to church, 7 p.m.
- Tuesday: "Basic Bible Doctrines" 11:30 a.m. at church, Pastor Don; High School Discipleship night, 7-9 p.m., at Ferrells', 375-1009; Christian Recovery Group, 8 p.m. in church library, (414) 745-6430.
- Wednesday: AWANA for children age 4 through 6th grade 6:30-8 p.m. at church, Geralynn Esselman, 284-9598; "Basic Bible Doctrines" at church, Pastor Don, 6:30 p.m. at church; 6th-8th grade guys Bible study, 6:30-8 p.m. at Schuettes', 284-1072.
- Thursday: Prayer group, 6:30 a.m. in Pastor Mark's office; Choir rehearsal, 6:30 p.m.; VBS informational meeting, 7 p.m.; Children's Church information meeting, 7 p.m.
- Saturday: Men's Breakfast, 8 a.m. at church; Worship, 5 p.m.
- Sunday: Worship at 8 and 10:30 a.m.; Growth Groups at 9:15 a.m.; Women's Ministry Fair, after 10:30 service; Blaze summer mission training, 4-6 p.m., followed by regular Blaze (6th-12th grades), 6-8 p.m.
Helps and Hollers
- Volunteers are needed to help in the sound and video ministry. Call Mike Bendt, 284-5499, for more information.
- Volunteers are needed for Early Childhood Ministry to man the nursery during worship and during Sunday morning growth groups. If you're not attending an adult growth group, this is a great opportunity for service, even if it's only one Sunday every other month or so. Call Kathy Kato at 268-6999.
- Pray for Friedens family members enduring cancer and other health issues, including Dawn Uselding, Peg Bannon, Warren Grady, Jeff Starr and Brandon Novack. " Pray for Friedens family members who are out of work or underemployed, including Bridget Huston, Paul Kopp, John Newton, Charles Nitzke, Dan Dufner and Paul Olivent. Do you know anyone in similar straits? Send the church an e-mail or call.
- For other prayer requests, call the church HEARTS Line, 284-7007. If you'd like a request added to the HEARTS Line, call the church office, 284-2471.
- Food Pantry needs this week include cereal, soup, canned dinners, pineapple, pancake mix, syrup, peanut butter, toothpaste, toothbrushes and cash donations. Donations may be placed in the shopping cart in the west foyer. If you or someone you know needs help, please contact the church at 284-2471.
FriedensNote is the weekly e-mail newsletter of Friedens Evangelical Church, 454 N. Milwaukee St., Port Washington, WI 53074. For more information on the church, call (262) 284-2471 or visit our website, www.friedenschurch.org. If you'd like to subscribe, unsubscribe, or have questions, e-mail us at friedens@sbcglobal.net, with "FriedensNote" in the subject field.
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454 N. Milwaukee Street, Port Washington, WI 53074
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