Calvary Free Lutheran Church PO Box 303 Arlington, SD 57212 605-983-5254

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August 2014

www.cflconline.org

From The Pastor’s Desk: Encouragements for Calvary

As we prepare to enter into our next Christian educa-tion season; the time when we return to our fall and winter schedule and resume all of our Sunday school classes, I felt led to encourage all of us in several key areas.

First, I would like to en-courage all of you to pray. Pray for the teachers and those whom the Lord has called to serve the congrega-tion, using their teaching gifts to admonish and teach the body of Christ. Paul states, "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of min-istry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to

"I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me (John 17:20&21 NLT)." Jesus also stated, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:35)." Our Sunday school time is a precious time where God knits us together as congregation as we grow in our knowledge of God, study-ing His holy Word together as a unified body.

The final thing I want to

the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God (Eph. 4:11-13)." This is our goal as a congregation and it is our call as the body of Christ. Let us pray that God would equip us to fulfill His call here at Calvary.

I would also encourage those who have not made a practice of regularly attending Sunday school to do so. It is a wonderful time of fellowship, growing in the Lord and grow-ing in our friendships with one another. Often in American congregations, individualism is practiced and no true sense of community exists. This is not the heart of our Lord. Jesus prayed the night before He died on the cross for our sins,

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encourage you to do is get to know some of those who are new to Calvary, or maybe those you may not know very well. Fellowship is one of the great blessings God has given to His Church. I would strongly encourage you to invite newer attendees of CLFC, or maybe those whom you have never taken time to get to know, over for dinner. This is another wonderful way to allow God to knit us to-gether as we seek a greater sense of community and unity within our congregation.

All three of these encouragements take effort and willing spirit. They may move us outside of our normal comfort zone. However, I am confident that the blessings you will experience will be well worth the effort! Building a greater sense of unity and community takes work, diligence and commit-ment. It also is a powerful way in which we can worship and honor God and His holy Word as we seek to do His will. My prayer is that we would experience in part as a congregation what all believers will experience for all eternity in God's eternal, unified kingdom. "May His kingdom come, may His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven!"

Blessings in Christ, ~Pastor Brian Ricke

Pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters Pray for Christians Facing Severe Difficulties

Mali The conflict between government forces and Islamic rebel groups in northern Mali has left Christians vulner-able to persecution, especially Christian converts from Islam. Medical workers and other aid organizations have left the area, travel is difficult, and resources are few, leaving many hungry and sick. Government forces deliver humanitarian aid to Muslims first and often have nothing left for Christians. In addition to fac-ing discrimination by the government, Christian converts from Islam are threatened by family members and often must flee for their lives. Pray for Pastor Behnam Irani Who is Back in Prison

Iran Pastor Behnam Irani has been returned to prison after being held in solitary confinement for weeks at an undisclosed location. Pray for Pastor Sergie Kosyak

Ukraine Evangelical churches in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk are being targeted by pro-Russian forces, which view the evangelicals as "sects" that support the Ukrainian government by praying for peace. VOM has received reports of at least nine attacks on Christians, churches and church-run drug and alcohol re-habilitation centers. Pray for Family of Murdered Pastor and Teenage Son

Colombia Members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) killed a pastor and his oldest son recently after the pastor refused to shut down his church or allow them to recruit his oldest son and daughter. Pray for Missionaries Reaching North Korean Defectors

Korea, North In May, a North Korean defector, "In-su," who is serving time in a prison in South Korea, received a parallel Bible and shared his testimony of how he had longed for a Bible of his own. Pray for Susan Ithungu and Her Testimony

Uganda Susan Ithungu was 13 years old in 2009 when she accepted Christ. The Ugandan teen stood up for her faith even though her father beat her and locked her in a room for six months with little food or water.

Material provided by The Voice of the Martyrs, PO Box 443, Bartlesville, OK 74003 1-918-337-8015, www.persecution.com, thevoice@vom-usa.org

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CFLC Church Council Minutes The CFLC council met on 7/10/2014. Joel Schneider called the meeting to order and led with scripture and prayer. Present: Joel Schneider, Larry Groon, Alan Boyd, Todd Smidt, Brian Ricke, Paul Danielson, Dan Kleinjan, Marty Haufschild and Jody Weiss. SECRETARY REPORT: The minutes from last month’s meeting were read by Jody Weiss. Motion made to approve minutes as is by M. Haufschild, 2nd by D. Kleinjan, motion carried. TREASURER’S REPORT: Treasurer’s report was given by Marty Haufschild. Total funds for the month of June = $50,532.00, General Fund Balance = $29,423.23. Motion made to approve by P. Danielson, 2nd by A. Boyd, motion carried. TRUSTEE’S REPORT: Discussed building proposal for addition from Bunker Construction. DEACON’S REPORT: “God’s not Dead” movie will be shown in September. Harlan Moss will be preaching instead of Brian on Aug 3 2014. PASTOR’S REPORT: Planning a congregational meeting for accepting new members in September. OLD BUSINESS: Heidi Spilde will become the new church secretary/custodian. She will be taking over Aug 1, 2014. NEW BUSINESS: Discussed about buying new tables for Adult Sunday School. Brian will be ordering 2 tables for fall Sunday school. There being no further business, motion to adjourn by D. Kleinjan, 2nd by T. Smidt, motion carried. Paul closed in prayer. Minutes recorded by Jody Weiss. Secretary: Joe Spilde

Prayer 101: How Do I talk to God? ~Billy Graham

Prayer is simply talking to God—and the most important thing I can say about this is that God wants you to

talk to Him! He loves us and He has promised to hear us when we pray. How can you learn to pray? First, un-

derstand why prayer is possible.

Prayer is possible because Jesus Christ has removed the barrier between us and God—a barrier caused by

our sins. You see, sin separates us from God, and because of that we have no right to come before Him. But by His death on the

cross, Christ paid the penalty for our sins and removed the barrier. God then gives us the privilege of coming into His presence

when we commit our lives to Christ.

The Bible says, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help

us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). If you have never done so, ask Christ to come into your life today.

Then understand that God now welcomes you into His presence and promises to hear you—and He cannot lie. The Bible says,

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (1 John 5:14).

Trust His promises and learn to bring every concern to Him in prayer.

A couple months ago we added

Joanna Weaver’s “Having a Mary Spirit” to our church library, and now we add her “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World.” This pa-­perback is subtitled “Finding Inti-­macy With God In The Busyness of

Life” and includes a 12-week

companion Bible study.

Weaver writes: The good news

is woven through the New Tes-

tament in a grace-filled strand

that shines especially bright in the Gospel stories of Mary

and Martha. The message is this: Salvation isn’t about what I do;; it’s about what Jesus did. She cites some interesting figures about worry. We worry

about: 40% are things that will never happen. 30% are

about the past-which can’t be changed. 12% are about criti-­cism by others, mostly untrue. 10% are about health, which

gets worse with stress. 8% are about real problems that can

be solved. Years ago Dr. Charles H. Mayo of the Mayo Clinic

pointed out that worry affects circulation, the glands, the

whole nervous system, and profoundly affects the heart.

Since then researchers have established connections be-

tween chronic worry and weakened immune systems, cardio-

vascular disease, neurological imbalances, clinical depres-

sion, and other physical and psychological dysfunctions-not

to mention specific anxiety related illnesses such as panic

attacks, agoraphobia, and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

When God tells us in the Bible not to worry, it isn’t a sugges-­tion. I’s a command. Worry and/or anxiety is specifically mentioned 25 times in the New Testament alone as some-

thing we should avoid.

Pastor and teacher Gary E. Gilley: Worry is allowing prob-

lems and distress to come between us the heart of God. It is

the view that God has somehow lost control of the situation

and we cannot trust Him. A legitimate concern presses us

closer to the heart of God and causes us to lean and trust on

Him all the more.

Oswald Chambers: Fretting is wicked if you are a child of

God...All our fret and worry is caused by calculating without

God.

In Philippians 4:6-7, we find three concise and practical

steps to victory over worry. 1. Be anxious about nothing.

2. Be prayerful about everything. 3. Be thankful for all

things.

Corrie Ten Boom: Any concern too small to be turned into a

prayer is too small to be made into a burden.

Will we pray? Or will we worry? We really can’t do both.

E. Stanley Jones: O Christ, do not give me tasks equal to my

powers, but give me powers equal to my tasks, for I want to

be stretched by things too great for me. I want to grow

through the greatness of my tasks, but I shall need your

help for the growing.

~Ferne Liebsch

Lines from the library

august birthdays

Brad Thuringer 8-1 Shellie Brandriet 8-1 Cheryl Anderson 8-3 Gunner St. John 8-3 Tiffany Nelson 8-4 Tanner Smith 8-6 Taryn Miller 8-6 Greg Tanner 8-10 Mike Nemitz 8-11 Scott Anderson 8-13 Amy Klinkel 8-13 Kristi Smith 8-13 Ryan Kleinjan 8-15 Arnie Hope 8-16 Elizabeth Haufschild 8-22 Maiya Timm 8-22 Tabitha Melby 8-24 Eric Asmussen 8-24 Alexis Thuringer 8-28 Peggy Johnson 8-30 Kyla Huntimer 8-30

august anniversaries Joe & Heidi Spilde 8-1-1998 Jerry & Betty Ellingson 8-3-1962 Larry & Joan Groon 8-5-1962 Ben & Erika Hauck 8-6-2005 Toby & Amber Rae Bryant 8-10-2002 Kevin & Kelly Nelson 8-13-1999 Leo & Blanche Tschetter 8-14-1960 Mike & Dawn Johnson 8-16-1980 David & Jodi Ulschmid 8-23-2003 Robert & Elaine Kohl 8-25-1957 If your birthday or anniversary is not listed, please let us know so that we can celebrate your special day with you!

Area Bible Studies

Please call or email for more information.

605-983-5254

info@cflconline.org

Arlington Wed. 8:30 p.m. At Calvary Free Larry- 605-983-3316 Lake Preston Wed. 7:00 p.m. Jan-605-847-4700

Oldham Wed. 7:30 p.m. Joel- 605-482-8404 Brookings Wed. 7:00 p.m. Bob- 605-693-4668

Family Bible Studies Friday 6:30 p.m. Elizabeth- 605-983-5098 Saturday 5:30 p.m. Jesse or Holli Spilde 530-5424 or 230-1052

Get Plugged In!!

Missionary Focus for the Month:

CALVARY FREE LUTHERAN CHURCH P.O. BOX 303 ARLINGTON, SD 57212

Missionary Focus for August ~Pastor Todd Schierkolk Family~

Pastor Todd and Barb Schierkolk and their three girls, Rachel, Megan and Kirstie began serving in Aguascalientes, Mexico in March, 1996. The Schier-kolk’s have started exciting ministries with kids and families. This is of the most successful ways they have found to reach people The Schierkolks, as a result of the violence in Mexico, were asked by the World Missions Committee to return to the United States in 2012. They re-turned to Mexico in January of 2013 to continue the work there. Birthdays: Todd: May 25, Barb: February 15, Rachel: September 18, 1991, Megan: June 9, 1994, Kirstie: June 16, 1998 Prayer Concerns: Praying for them as they travel, Pray for spiritual growth of youth/kid’s club and for the families of the children that they would be open to the gospel, Pray for Pastor Ricardo who has moved back to Aguascalientes, Pray for Pastor Ricardo as he faces opposition from some in his neighbor-hood, For God’s wisdom & open doors regarding the purchase of land for a church, For Meagan and Rachel in the US, Health of our family

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