Graduation Sunday
Sunday was really special as we honored our three graduates. Our kids who are now juniors in high school, and their families, hosted a Sunday morning breakfast for the graduates and their families. They had a really fun time sharing memories. Below is a picture outside the church of our graduates (David White, Beaonca Brown and Grant Broz).

During Sunday's worship service, after the traditional picture presentation, Pastor Darren recognized the graduates, prayed for them and they were given a beautiful leather bound study Bible. Congratulations to each of you!

David and Grant after the graduation ceremony. Yes, the diplomas were signed!

Being A Husband: Leading in Love
Join us on Sundays when we take a look at the first letter written to the Corinthians. This will be a fresh look with a perspective from God's Word as we address family issues on parenting, husband and wife relationship, and the call to singleness. Summer worship time is 10:00 am.

Sermon Series Next Six Weeks:
Being Single: A Call to Undistracted Service
Being a Husband: Leading in Love
Being a Wife: Submission? What!?
Being a Parent: Wisdom and Authenticity
Being Adopters: We Were All Orphans Once
Being Divorced: Can We Separate What God Has Joined
Being Remarried: Can We Be One Again?

Fantastic Fun For Frontline Folk
The school year is winding down for our students. In June, we will welcome Sarah Vandeberg as our summer intern. She is currently in Nepal serving and will join us when she returns. Sarah grew up in our church and was very active in Student Ministries. Sarah is looking forward to serving in her home church. She is a third year student at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Awana Awards Night
Last Wednesday night was a night of accomplishment recognition. The clubbers worked very hard this year and enjoyed the results of that hard work. Below are some of the smiling faces.

What defines me is my relationship with Jesus

A link to a very special website was sent to me yesterday and I was able to listen this morning to a very important message at that site. I am asking you to listen also. Please listen all the way to the end because it will impact you greatly. It is a story of Rachel Barkey who is dying of cancer. She is 37 years old and has two small children. It will encourage your walk with Christ and will help keep your eyes focused on Him through all circumstances.

She says, “Cancer does not define me. Neither does being a wife or a mother. All these things are part of who I am but they do not define me. What defines me is my relationship with Jesus.”

Rachel Barkey has enjoyed many of the best things life has to offer... most precious to Rachel has been the joy of discovering daily the beauty of her personal relationship with Jesus Christ. A journey that started in her childhood, gained momentum as a student at a university, and has been the source of strength, courage, and hope in her five-year battle with cancer.

Go to Death is Not Dying and listen to Rachel's message she gave in March to over 600 women.

Jeanne

Another Girl's Great Getaway

Below is a picture of a few of the ladies who had a fun night at the bowling alley in Rush City last Friday night.

We understand it was a night of agony...

and a night of ecstasy!

Thank you Chris for planning another great getaway of fun and fellowship!

I am so thankful this morning.

A whole new world has opened up for me…. I can see this morning! This morning I saw the clarity of my granddaughter’s big beautiful brown eyes and long black eyelashes. I saw the greens keeper on the golf course out my back window and the beauty of the manicured greens he keeps up so faithfully. I saw a tiny white piece of paper along the road today as I drove to work. I saw the crispness of the green leaves just budding on the trees. I see a brightness and a clarity in the world around me and I am thankful.

Anyone who knows me well and who has been praying for me knows the frustration I’ve experienced of not seeing clearly. I have been to eye doctors numerous times over the last four years and we have tried this contact lens and that contact lens and nothing has worked very well. This week I tried another type of contact lens (kind of my last resort before surgery). This lens was very hard to get use to, it hurt and was uncomfortable. But I “bit the bullet” and am resigned to getting use to these. I think they are going to work and I just can’t believe what I’ve been missing out on. I can actually stand a number of feet away and see what is on the computer screen (my nose use to be up against the glass just to see what I was typing). I can see normally and am so thankful.

There is a down side though. I didn’t know my keyboard needed cleaning. I didn’t know there were smudges on the wall and I didn’t know my car needed a vacuum. Better get to work!

Jeanne

Awana Awards Night -Tonight!
Lighthouse @ 6:00 pm

It has been a great Awana year! Thank you to Rachel Baltes for her leadership role as Awana Commander this year. We really appreciate all her work! Join us tonight at the Lighthouse as the clubbers receive their much deserved awards. The kids really worked hard and learned many, many Bible verses.

National Day of Prayer

2009 Prayer For Our Nation
-by Beth Moore, NDP Honorary Chairman

Father in Heaven,
We lift our eyes toward Your Throne, where You reign in righteousness.
Your Word assures us that when Your people cry out in sincerity and humility,
You will never turn a deaf ear to us.
We call upon You now, seeking Your forgiveness and favor.
Look over this fevered landscape and heal us, Lord.
Drop knees to the floor and raise eyes to the sky, for we know where our help comes from.
Unite these States again in devotion to You, and blur every dividing line.
Do not give us over to our sins. Give us, instead, over to passionate prayer that moves Your heart.
“May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You.”
In the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ

Amen

Check this Out!

Teacher Appreciation DayThank you to all teachers for the years of dedication and hard work you have placed into many individual lives. We so appreciate you! We want to recognize the teachers from our church who have chosen teaching as a profession: Rachel Baltes, Gene Carlson, Todd Johnson Kari Johnson (sub) and Sarah Roubinek. Thank you to our teaching assistants: Jaci Broz, Karen Carlson, and Chris Johnson.

Reminders

You've heard it before so this is just a reminder of upcoming events.

Girl’s Great Getaway
Ladies Bowling Night, Friday, May 8 at 6:30 pm. We’ll meet at church at 6:15 pm and carpool down to Chucker’s Lounge & Bowl in Rush City. This will be a night full of fun and laughter! For more info contact Chris Johnson.

EFCA Night at the Dome
All North Central District EFCA congregations are invited to join Elim Care, a senior adult healthcare and housing ministry of the EFCA to watch the Minnesota Twins take on the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday, June 2 at 7:00 pm. This is a wonderful event for our church, youth group, small groups, and families so start getting your “team” together today! Tickets must be purchased by May 25 by calling 1.800.33.TWINS and give group code- “EFCA”. Price for seats: 1st Base Lower Level- $23 and Left Field Lower Level- $10.50. Let’s all go to the ball game!

Golf Tournament
The Pregnancy Resource Center Annual Golf Tournament will be held June 8. Tee-off is at noon at Bulrush Golf Club, Rush City. 18 holes, entry fee $50/player. Get your foursome together today. Please contact the Center (629.2792) if you would like to participate and/or have questions. Help support this ministry! Thank you.

Spring Business Meeting
Just a reminder that Sunday, May 31 is the Spring Business Meeting with a Fellowship dinner before the meeting. This is an important meeting as we will be voting on by-law changes.