June

June

June

June

Dear Church Family,

June @ 1stu U First United Church of Gridley

Open Bibles One Another Beautiful FeetSpiritual Growth Authentic Worship

United by common faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

July 2014

Inside this newsletter:Andy’s Letter

Dominican Republic trip First U News

Milestones/AttendanceJune Photos

Near the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” In contrast to the fool, the wise person not only hears the words of Christ, but puts His Word into practice. From mid-February to mid-June we heard the words of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, but, as Jesus said, merely hearing the words does not make us wise. Rather, we must be doers of His Word.

Though we’ve moved on to a new series in the book of Jonah, it’s wise for us to think back about which truths impacted us from the Sermon on the Mount, and whether or not we have responded in obedience to Christ. In fact, one way that we can spur one another on in faith (Heb. 10:24), is by ask-ing one another questions like, “What were the main take-aways for you from the Ser-mon on the Mount?” or “Is there any truth from the Sermon on the Mount that is still on your mind?” We need not be threatened by such questions, as though they are a spiritual quiz, rather, they can be a simple way that we can encourage one another to be doers of the Word.

For me, Jesus’ emphasis and instruction about prayer in the Ser-mon on the Mount has remained on my mind. Seeing how Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for showy religion while instructing his dis-ciples to pray like a child speaking to a Father has been a much needed word for my own practice of prayer. I realized that a huge impediment to prayer in my life has been self-reliance. Only when

we come like children to “Our Father in Heaven”, in a state of need, depen-dency, and submission to His will be-ing done on earth as it is in heaven, does real prayer happen. When I’m prayerless, it’s pride in my own supposed ability or pursuit of my own miniature kingdom. Jesus assures us that when we come to the Father with a heart of hum-

ble surrender that our heavenly Father knows how to give good gifts to those who ask Him (Mt. 7:11). Jesus’ words pertaining to prayer have not only been a needed rebuke, but also an encourage-ment to pursue a more prayerful life.

There is spiritual danger in hearing sermons, preaching sermons, or study-ing Scripture and not actually putting into practice the words we encounter. I urge you to consider what truths you have taken away from the Sermon on

the Mount, to prayerfully put His Word into practice, and to dis-cuss with other believers how to live out the counter-cultural way of the Kingdom. As we seek obedience to the word of Christ on the narrow road, we can do so with the hope that when the storm came upon the wise man’s house, “it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock” (Mt. 7:25).

The Men’s Ministry meets at 7 a.m. on the first and third Saturday of each month for breakfast, Bible Study, and fel-lowship. All men are invited. See Grant Stauter, our disciple-ship pastor, with questions.

Grace and peace,Andy

Pastoral Staff Andy Huette, Sr. PastorGrant Stauter, Discipleship Pastor

406 W 7th Street, PO Box 280, Gridley, IL 61744 Phone 747-2299 web:www.1stu.org

Youth GroupsOn Summer Break

Sunday Worship ServicesMorning Worship 9 am-10 amJ.A.M. (ages 3 - PreK) 9 am-10 am every SundayChildren’s Church (grades K-5) 9-10 am 1st & 3rd SundayCommunion and One Another lunch 4th Sunday

Our new youth leaders were commissioned on June 22: Danny Kaupp (Sr. High); Jordan McKinsey (Jr. High); Seth Foor (Jr. High); Jordan Krone (Sr. High). Grant Stauter will provide oversight for the men.

The Missions Team hosted a brunch for Joe and Amy Flam-mer and their adoptive families on June 15. Joe and Amy are church planters in New Zealand and are supported by First United. We cel-ebrated a milestone birthday with Amy a few days early.

Women’s Fellowship served about 128 people at the Spare & Share Volunteer Appreciation Banquet on June 17. Bri Sanders, Susan Johnson and Jennifer Morrison did much of the cooking.

“Is there any truth from the Sermon on the Mount that is still on your mind?”

Our Local Outreach Team provided a break-fast bar for our June One Another meal.

Interested in adopting a mission-ary? Please see Katie Zeller, Kan-sas Krone, or Keri Hany.

“Regardless of how busy we become with all things Christian, we must remember that the most transforming practice available to us is the disciplined intake of Scripture.” —Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, p. 29.

Check out this classic book in our library under the Spiritual Growth category.

Open Bibles

2 3

Attendance & Offering 6/1 290 $5,243 6/8 295 $6,805 6/15 244 $6,820 6/22 256 $5,164

July Milestones Birthdays1 Marsha Albritton1 Elly Huette2 Lois Burke4 Hannah Ludy4 Pam Neal6 Benjamin Porzelius7 Jeff Benedict7 Alex Poppen8 Zack Moulton9 Finn Zeller10 Randy Barth10 Lydia Hall12 Jack Erwin14 Grant Morrison15 Stephanie Richard21 Madalynn Morrison21 Gracie Schultz22 Creed Welsch25 Grace Edwards25 Chris Gentes26 Lucas Allen26 Amanda Carls26 Nadine Finck26 Heather Stanhouse27 Calee Schultz31 Marqui Krone Anniversaries05 Alan & Linda Schoppet 08 Grant & Jil Stauter 09 Paul & Susan Laiming 16 Tim & Cindy Fairchild 20 Randy & Mandy Barth 21 Kenny & Dianne Kuerth 21 Bob & Anne Wettstein 21 Delmar & Cathy Smith 24 Frankie & Nadine Finck 25 Brian & Susan Buchanan

It’s not too late to register! First U’s Vacation Bible School

First United is sending a team of 21 to the Dominican Republic July 1-8. They will work with staff from GO Ministries in various ministry settings.

Their itinerary includes three days work-ing on a construction project; touring vari-ous G.O. ministries as well as the Seminary of the Americas; serving meals at a feeding center; and leading two VBS sessions.

They leave from Bloomington at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, July 1 and will return at 8:43 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8.

Our team members are: Doug and Patty Baird; Jeff, Denise, Tanner, and Addison Benedict; Denny, Dee, and Max Foor; Pen-ny Grusy; Dee Kitchell; Jordan and Marqui Krone; John and Tonya Krone; Joshua and Kansas Krone; Jordan and Alissa McKinsey; and brothers, Justin and James Frobish from St. Petri Church in Flanagan.

The team has had two training sessions and will have their final session on June 29. Training has included reading “When Helping Hurts,” taking a cross-cultural quiz, learning about the cross-cultural differences between the U.S. and the D.R. from Sandy

Egli at Heart-to-Heart Services. The final session will include special speaker, Krista Kuniyoshi who will address how to be a gra-cious guest in another culture as well as dy-ing to self while on a mission trip.

Team members will be blogging daily about their trip activities at First U’s mission blog: www.1stumissions.blogspot.com. If you are not already a prayer partner for a team member, please follow the July prayer calen-dar to include them in your daily prayers.

The team will share some of their experi-ences during our worship service on July 27 and at the beginning of the One Another meal that day. The meal is hosted by First U’s missions team and the D.R. team.

Each First U team member paid $450 of their own money towards the trip. Part of the per person cost required by G.O. included a $600 donation to their ministries. Thank you for supporting our team and the work of G.O.

Try Your Hand at Pasta-MakingWho doesn’t love pasta? Especially home-

made pasta?Women’s Fellowship is starting a delicious

new fundraiser: they’re making tortalloci, a big version of tortellini filled with spinach and cheese. Proceeds of the pasta sales are earmarked for missions and special needs.

Everyone is invited to sample the pasta at our One Another meal on July 27. One pound bags will be available for sale that day. Sales will be limited to two pounds per per-son. After the 27th, you may purchase pasta on Sundays from Katie Zeller. Special orders

will be taken for orders over two pounds. Order forms will be available at the Welcome Center.

All women are invited to help make the pasta. Watch the bulletin for dates and times. We need help mixing and rolling out the pasta, filling it and then cutting and forming it.

Questions? Please see Katie Zeller.

“Torta” means “cake” or “round bread.”

The Italian suffix “acci” means “roughly made.”

But this is not a roughly-made cake. It’s a hand-made pasta pock-et. And it’s delicious.

Going and Sending to the Dominican Republic

Goals specific to this trip1. Promote the Core Value of Beautiful Feet so that it becomes a core value of individuals within our congregation.

2. Promote the Core Value of One Another as the team prepares to go and then serves together on the trip.

4. Expose and educate our congregation to the work of missions in a cross-cultural setting.

5. Give First U parents who go on the trip, personal exposure to missions with the hope that they will teach and encourage their children to become go-ers and send-ers.

6. Put into action—personally and through our work—the principles taught in the book, “When Helping Hurts.”

Trip ObjectivesBring glory to God through:• Our work while there• Our relationships with each other before, during and after the trip• Our hearts for the children and the villagers we may meet• Our support for the mis- sionaries we work with

Christ in Youth (CIY) is an annual event for the Sr. High Youth Group. They spend five days on the campus of Western Illinois Uni-versity focusing on Bible study, small group discussions, nightly teaching and worship.

This year, 20 students are attending CIY from July 21-25. Our leaders are Danny Kaupp, Seth Foor, Chris Zeller and Courtney Kaupp.

Christ in Youth - CIYThis summer, the Sr. High Youth Group is

breaking from the regular Wednesday meet-ings but have special events planned through-out the summer. July events currently on the calendar are: July 16 Pizza/Movies Family CenterJuly 21-25 CIY Macomb ILJuly 30 Capture the Flag Tim Kaupp home

Summer Events

Sr. High Youth Group - Summer 2014

Date/Time: July 21-25 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Leaders will be present to greet children by 5:45.Classes: for Pre-School, K-8th grades, Adults. There will be two preschool classes. Dinner: served in the Fellowship Hall from 4:45 to 5:30 for VBS workers and their fami-lies. We will pray at 5:30 each night. Opening/Closing: We will begin and end in the Family Center. Kids can go directly to their class area in the Family Center.Registration: Register children in the west foyer. Parent Pick-Up: Children in 3rd grade & under will stay in their designated roped off area in the Family Center until their parents come to them and acknowledge the leaders. They are to say “I see my mom, dad, etc . . .” like they do at school. 4th and 5th grade stu-dents may go directly to their parents.

Closing Program: Friday night at 7:30 p.m. The children will also sing in Sunday’s wor-ship service on July 27. Missions Offering: The offering will go towards purchasing Spanish Bibles for GO Ministries in the Dominican Republic. There will be a Boys vs. Girls contest on the amount collected.Coordinators: Peggy Poppen, Kaylene Bu-tikofer, Erin Kaupp.

What to expect at VBS: Songs, Games, Crafts, Refreshments, Bible Stories, Missions, FUN! Photos from 2013.

Got a Youth Groupquestion?

See these guys

Sr. HighDanny Kaupp , Jordan Krone

Jr. HighSeth Foor, Jordan McKinsey