MAY 2013

UPCOMING EVENTS!UPCOMING EVENTS!UPCOMING EVENTS!UPCOMING EVENTS!

Congratulations Congratulations Congratulations Congratulations totototo

Our Graduates:Our Graduates:Our Graduates:Our Graduates:

Eamon Adamson

Nichole Beier

Emily Cullison

Erin Cullison

Raymond Gregg

Meredith Murphy

Nathaniel Morgan

Daniel Patterson

Rebecca Thiel

Sara Wester

Clint’s Corner:Clint’s Corner:Clint’s Corner:Clint’s Corner: Partners in Ministry.

In the family I grew up in I have two sisters and no brothers. I thank the Lord for my sisters, one older, and one younger. They were and are good friends and made my experience growing up in our house a joyful one. Being the only boy, when I wanted to play sports at home, or play war, or “The A-Team,” which were always more fun playing with other kids, the only options I had were my sisters. And as you can imagine, they seemed to lose interest in these activities far more quickly than I did. So I became fairly content at playing these games by myself. One of the great joys of my childhood then was having a friend or two over to the house to play together. There is something about having a good partner with you when you are doing something you love. For the past nine months I have not had the partner in ministry that I had become so used to since Pastor Mark moved south. The Lord has provided help for me and has cared for you his people through His servants here at Oakdale, and I am grateful to Him. But now, the Lord has been faithful to call another partner here to serve along with me in the great ministry of the Gospel. I rejoice that Pastor Tim and Stacey Hunter and their children have arrived and have begun their service. I know many of you, especially those of you who have faithfully helped to lead and support Oakdale’s student ministry the past nine months are also rejoicing. The Lord has provided another gracious gift to our congregation in Pastor Tim and his family. Yet, maybe I more than anybody since I now have a new partner in the Gospel ministry here. Don’t worry, we won’t be spending our days playing “The A-Team” or basketball, but we will both be doing something we love together; working to equip the saints in order to build up the body of Christ. I hope you will welcome Pastor Tim and the Hunter family with thanksgiving. And that’s not all, next month in June we will also have another Pastoral Ministry Intern joining us on staff here at Oakdale. Troy Mattson is a recent graduate of Boyce Bible College in Louisville, KY. Troy believes he has been called to the pastoral ministry and is coming, much like Jordan Hecox did, to gain experience by serving in and learn-ing the Gospel ministry here at Oakdale. Troy will be getting married to Laura on June 9. They will then move to our area soon after their honeymoon. I look forward to introducing you to Troy and Laura when they arrive, in the meantime, please pray for them in this exciting time in their lives.

Rejoicing along with you, - Pastor Clint

Special Sundays in May.

May 5 – Installation Service for Pastor Tim

Hunter.

Sermon: Ephesians 4:1-16 “The Gifts Jesus Gives the Church.”

May 12 – Bible Instruction Class Sunday.

Brenten Barglof, Evan Thiel, and Cody Tjossem will be recognized for finishing the course.

May 19 – Graduation Sunday. We will recog-nize our high school graduates in this service. Sermon: Psalm 127 “God, Homes and Children.”

May 26 – Memorial Day Weekend

Biographical Sketch of Amy Carmichael:

Missionary to India.

Congratulations to:Congratulations to:Congratulations to:Congratulations to:

Cory and Chrysta VanderPloeg in the birth of Korbin Scott on April 20th. Congratulations to Grandpa and

Grandma Jon & Pam and to Great Grandma Gertie VanderPloeg.

You are invitedYou are invitedYou are invitedYou are invited to a Baby Shower

for Chrysta and Korbin VanderPloeg on May 23rd. at 7:00 pm

Men’s Bible Study Training.

On Wednesday nights men, there is an

opportunity for you to be trained on how to read

and study the Bible for the purpose of being able

to effectively teach the Bible to others. Come and

learn how to use the “Tools of Bible Study,”

following the meal and song service

in Room 110.

Our Sympathy to: Our Sympathy to: Our Sympathy to: Our Sympathy to:

Lorace and Arta Gregg and Vance and Susan Gregg and family in the passing of Lorace’s brother

Vernon Gregg.

Cody Stika in the passing of his brother Andy Stika.

Mark, Jan, and Britt Carlson in the passing of Jan’s mother Eleanor Brink.

Joel and Andrea Orthmann in the passing of

Andrea’s father Al Jensen.

Jim Halstrom, Dean & Diane Halstrom, and Helen Ames in the passing of Jim’s sister Ruby Pixler.

Memorial Services

will be held on Monday May 27th at Liberty Cemetery at 10:00 am.

In case of rain, the service will be at Meriden Community Center at 10:30.

Happy Mother’s Day! to our mothers Sunday, May 12th

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

Midweek Meal 6 pm

Service 6:30 pm

2

Women’s Reading

Group 9:00 am

3 4

5 Communion

Off: Missions/

Deacon

6

Prayer time 9:30

Staff Mtg 10:30 am

Elders Mtg

7:00 pm

7 8

Midweek Meal 6 pm

Service 6:30 pm

9

Women’s Reading

Group 9:00 am

Helping Hands

10:00 am

10

Just You and

at Hidden

11

Me Dad”

Acres

12 Mother’s Day

Offg: General Fund

13

Prayer time 9:30

Staff Mtg 10:30 am

14

Senior Saints

Day at Hidden

Acres

15

Midweek Meal 6 pm

Service 6:30 pm

16

Women’s Reading

Group 9:00 am

17 18

Nathaniel Morgan

Graduation open

house 1-5 pm

19

Offg: General Fund

Sara Wester

Graduation Open

House 4—8 pm

20

Prayer time 9:30

Staff Mtg 10:30 am

21

General Board

Mtg 7:00 pm

22

Midweek Meal 6 pm

Service 6:30 pm

23 Women’s Reading

Group 9:00 am

Baby Shower for

Chrysta VanderPloeg

7:00 pm

24

Memorial Day

May

25

Family Camp

27th

26

Offg: General Fund

27

Memorial Day

Services at

Liberty Cemetery

10:00 am

28 29

Midweek Meal 6 pm

Service 6:30 pm

30

Women’s Reading

Group 9:00 am

31

May 2013

3 Jeff Carlson 4 Bryon Kelley Kent Schlinz 5 Trygve McGill 6 Kari Wester 7 Rubyanna Hecox 8 Ryan Harper 10 Nancy Peterson

Dennis Freed Laurie Brunst

11 Shirley Powers 12 Eric Ivarson 14 Elise Anderson 16 Lorna Wilson 19 Tripp Pacza 21 Bruce Godbersen 23 Russell Godbersen 24 Carrie Dunnette 25 Mark Hecox 28 Cheryl (CJ) Powers 29 Cindy Godbersen 30 Kaysha Olsen 31 Julie Anderson Sara Wilcox

Happy Birthday! Women’s MinistryWomen’s MinistryWomen’s MinistryWomen’s Ministry

Women’s Reading GroupWomen’s Reading GroupWomen’s Reading GroupWomen’s Reading Group

Thursday April 2,9,16,23,30 9:00 am

Helping HandsHelping HandsHelping HandsHelping Hands Thursday May 9th at 10:00 am

Bring a sack lunch.

Attendance for March

AM SS Midweek 3/3 219 110 108 3/10 141 105 100 3/17 157/79 104 92 3/24 190 96 3/31 275 106

General Fund for March Giving: YTD Expenses: YTD $29,595.56 $96,246.22 $19,067.31 $50,601.57

Mission Fund Giving: Expenses: Year to date: $57,785.70 $34,664.84

May Birthdays

Nursery Schedule:Nursery Schedule:Nursery Schedule:Nursery Schedule:

Sunday School Worship Service 5/5—Beth James Lynn & Craig Ivarson Bob James Lorna Wilson

5/12—Val Rohwer Shirley & Kline Capps Dean Rohwer Emily Cullison

5/19–Theresa Gnade Pam & Jon VanderPloeg Joel Gnade Dave Wester

5/26-Brandie Dublinske Lorraine & Bob Mortenson Steve Dublinske Joleen Stout

5/1—Brandie Dublinske, Joleen Stout 5/8—Brandie Dublinske, De Tjossem 5/15—Brandie Dublinske, Laura Lundquist 5/22 --Brandie Dublinske, Audrey Adamson 5/29— Brandie Dublinske, Deb Zupke Family Night—Lloyd & Nancy Peterson

May Greeters

Head Greeter—Sue Peterson

Prayer Room Schedule:

5/5—Randy & Kay Jipp 5/26—Dan & Dee Murphy 5/12– Paul & Faye Ehmcke 5/19—Doug & Joleen Stout

Seven Things To Pray for Your Children. By Jon Bloom of Desiring God Ministries

Some years back a good friend shared with me seven Scripture texts that he and his wife prayed for their two daughters from the time they were infants. The girls are now grown. And it’s beautiful to see how God has (and still is) answering the faithful, specific prayers of faith-filled parents in the lives of these young, godly women. I have frequently used these prayers when praying for my children too. And I commend them to you (see below). But, of course, prayers are not magic spells. It’s not a matter of just saying the right things and our children will be blessed with success. Some parents earnestly pray and their children become a gifted leaders or scholars or musicians or athletes. Others earnestly pray and their children develop a serious disability or disease or wander through a prodigal wilderness or just struggle more than others socially or academically or athletically. And the truth is, God is answering all these parents’ prayers, but for very different purposes. That’s why Scriptures like John 9:1–3 are in the Bible. We must not too quickly assess God’s purposes because they can be opposite of our perceptions. God measures success differently than we do, which is why he often answers our prayers in ways we don’t expect. So pray for your children. Jesus promises us that if we ask, seek, and knock the Father will give us good in return (Luke 11:9-13), even if the good isn't apparent for 40 years. And because Jesus regularly asked those who came to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51), we know that he wants us to be specific with our requests. So, here are seven helpful, specific things to pray for your children: 1. That Jesus will call them and no one will hinder

them from coming. Then children were brought to him that he might lay his

hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the

people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me

and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom

of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went

away. (Matthew 19:13–15) 2. That they will respond in faith to Jesus’s faithful,

persistent call. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count

slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any

should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

3. That they will experience sanctification through the

transforming work of the Holy Spirit and will

increasingly desire to fulfill the greatest

commandments. And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God

with all your heart and with all your soul and with all

your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And

a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as

yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39) 4. That they will not be unequally yoked in intimate

relationships, especially marriage. Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what

partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what

fellowship has light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14) 5. That their thoughts will be pure. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is

honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever

is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any

excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think

about these things. (Philippians 4:8) 6. That their hearts will be stirred to give generously

to the Lord’s work. All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart

moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord

had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a

freewill offering to the Lord. (Exodus 35:29) 7. That when the time is right, they will GO! And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in

heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore

and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the

name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the

age.” (Matthew 28:18-20) Jon Bloom is the author of the forthcoming book Not by Sight: A Fresh Look at Old Stories of Walking by Faith (April 30, 2013) and

serves as the President of Desiring God, which he and John Piper

launched together in 1994. He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife,

Pam, their five children, and one naughty dog. © 2013 Desiring God

Tim Chester and Steve Timmis on living out 1 Peter 2:11-3:7.

“Mission by being good neighbors, good workers, and good family members – that is what Peter calls us to. In particular Peter calls us to a distinctive attitude to others. We live in a culture where it is all about me: my rights, my pleasure, my fulfillment. God’s people have an altogether different motto: ‘It’s not about me; it’s about God and others.’ That makes a profound difference when we enter the public square or the workplace or the home. ) “Peter calls us to a strategy of doing good: seeking to bless our neighborhoods, workplaces, and families. ‘I wish there were more people like you’ – that is what someone said recently to a member of my gospel community. We are called to be the people everyone would love to have as their neighbors. How do we thrive as God’s people on the margins of society? By living good and attractive lives. How do we answer the charges of critics and accusers? By living good and attractive lives. . . . . The truly Christian way of winning a good reputation for the gospel is for the local church to begin thinking seriously about what practical good can be done in its local community.” (Chester, Timmis, Everyday Church. 2012 p. 100, 102)