Greeting Friends,

I have had a stirring in my heart latelythat comes from a burning desire in mysoul. This stirring and burning desire wasignited after reading Psalms 46:10 (NIV),

“ Be still, and know that I am God; I willbe exalted among the nations, I will beexalted in the earth” They part of this thatgrab was the “ Be still, and know that Iam God.”

I know that we live in a fast pacedworld where we are constantly on thego…go…go. We are often going from onething to another or bouncing from onesituation to another. I find myself doingthe same thing. When I find myself in thewhirl wind of life I tend to be spirituallyexhausted and needing to find time to re-lax and rest.

When I find myself in need of beingrested and rejuvenated, I take time to bestill and rest in the presence of God. Maywe find time in our busy, fast pace world,to rest and be still in the presence of God.So that we can be rejuvenated andunleashed by the Spirit of God to do awe-some things!

May God bless and strengthen you asyou take time to relax and rest in the pres-ence of the Almighty.

Holding you in the light!

Pastor Thomas Carlson

From Pastor Thomas’ Desk

UMC MessengerG R O T O N / C O N D EA U G U S T 2 0 1 7

Pastor’s Schedule

Mondayin office 10 am - noonand 1 -3:30 pmTuesdaySermon Writing DayWednesdayin office 12 - 3:30 pmThursdayavailable by appt10 am-5 pmFriday andSaturdayDays OffEmergency Calls24/7

Groton UMW

Sunday school began in England asearly as 1751. Better known is RobertRaikes’ work in Gloucester 30 yearslater. Concerned about poor childrenwho worked in factories six days aweek and often turned to crime, heoffered classes on the only day kidswere free. Soon various organizationsoffered a loose network of such Sun-day schools, which taught basic readingand writing, using the Bible as a text.

Ten years later, Samuel Slaterstarted the first U.S. Sun-day school in his RhodeIsland textile mills. By themid-1800s, Sunday schoolattendance was an almost-universal childhood experi-ence. As society became

more secular and public education wasmandated by the 1870s, Sunday schoolsfocused on spiritual practices: prayers,hymns, catechism knowledge and Scrip-ture memorization.

Well into the 20th century, Sundayschool served as the church’s mainoutreach tool. Many adults fondly re-member their teachers and lessons,and Sunday school continues to play asignificant part in faith development.

Donald E Bartz died July 21st

Will be meeting Thursday, August10th, at 1:30 pm. Program will be byBritni Carlson

Hostesses are Caralee Heitmann &JoAnn Krueger.

Executive Meeting at 3 pm to Con-tinue the Date book plans for 2018,Newletter Update, budget plans, andplan UMW Sunday. Be saving CoffeeCans.

Nominations Committee will bemeeting soon. The Love Ribbon Grantis due to Conference by Sept 15th.The Eastern Sunrise Annual Retreat &Mtg.

Sunday School’s OriginsP A G E 2

U M C M E S S E N G E R

Marlys Rodman 397-4570Pat Dahlquist 397-2616Doris Zoellner 397-2417Marj Townsend 298-5221Ann Rix 397-8478Darlys Kampa 395-6996DeLoris Knoll 397-2681Gloria Pharis 397-2375

*If you are not on this list orthe email prayer chain, pleasenotify church office.We must have your permis-sion to start the Prayer Chain.So please call and request thisto be done. It is not automaticfor privacy reasons.

Groton UMC

CHURCH

INFORMATION

Pastor Thomas CarlsonOffice Phone

605-397-8270Cell Phone

605-277-8448Pastor Email

pastorthomas@nvc.net

Secretary Emailgrotonumc@nvc.net

websitegrotonumc.org

906 N 1st StGroton, SD 57445

Groton Screen& Projector Backup

Person Needed!Please Call Kay Daly

397-8389

Little Free Library has finished up summer2017 weekly story times. We read manybooks, participated in several activities, andenjoyed yummy snacks. About 30 children aweek took part in our story times. Severalpeople helped me as guest readers and/or do-nated snacks. Many thanks to Macy Knecht,Franne Sippel, Carol Knecht, Karla Pasteur,Meri Erickson and her “camp” crew, and Pas-tor Thomas. It is awesome to be able to havethis outreach program to offer the communityfrom our church. Let me know if anyone hasany ideas for next year. Thanks for a greatsummer! Kim Weber

A U G U S T 2 0 1 7 P A G E 3

Little Free Library

Aug 18 Hunter MaagAug 19 Jaeger Kampa

Sherwin & Christine NybergTia JohnsonWilliam Zoellner

Aug 20 Marc SippelAug 22 Belinda NelsonAug 23 Haley Erickson

Lisa PrayAug 25 Justin & Amanda MorehouseAug 27 Ellianna Jacobson

Rachel DobbinsAug 28 Rob & Jeanne WanousAug 29 Chuck PadfieldAug 30 Emma Jo Schinkel

Jase BahrNathan Atherton

Aug 31 Katelyn Hawkins

CondeAug 6 Loren & Pat SiefkenAug 10 Cindy SmithAug 12 Cody EvansAug 20 Richard & Jane WorlieAug 26 Pamela HansonAug 31 Collin Ragels

GrotonAug 1 Bert RaapAug 2 David Strom

Dylan GrafJessica & Brent Morehouse

Aug 3 Lance & Kristie HawkinsAug 4 Craig & Kim WeberAug 5 Gerald Rix

Tigh FliehsAug 6 Damian BahrAug 7 Kelli Hanson

Sherwin NybergAug 8 Brad & Diann Morehouse

Margaret & Clint Jr JacobsonYvonne Lange

Aug 9 Jackson WellsLoel Schott

Aug 12 Amber WolkenTom Lipp

Aug 13 Logan NilssonAug 14 Doug BahrAug 15 Bert & Jan RaapAug 16 Alissa & Michael Wells

Jenna & Nick StromJim JonesRose TewksburySam Furman

Aug 17 Chanda nilsson

A U G U S T 2 0 1 7 P A G E 4

Our Church Celebrations

Get MovingFaith is the word that describes the directionour feet start moving when we find that weare loved. Faith is stepping out into the un-known with nothing to guide us but a handjust beyond our grasp.

—Frederick Buechner

6 unsharpened pencils No advertisements, religious, patriotic, mili-

tary, or camouflage symbols Cartoon characters are acceptable

1 2-inch or larger-size eraser No advertisements, religious, patriotic,

military, or camouflage symbols Cartoon characters are acceptable

1 24-count box of crayons Only 24-count boxes

1 14x16 inch cloth bag Homemade or purchased bags are both accept-

able Heavy-duty fabric only, such as denim, cordu-

roy, drapery fabric, etc. No advertisements, religious, patriotic, mili-

tary, or camouflage symbols Closures are optional but must be buttons,

snaps, or Velcro sewn in middle of opening, ifused

School Kit Materials1 pair blunt scissors

Rounded tip only No plastic scissors

3 pads of paper Spiral- or top-bound pads 100-150 sheets of loose-leaf paper can be

substituted for 1 pad Combination of spiral, top-bound, side-bound,

or 1 subject notebook is acceptable No composition books No 3 or 5 subject notebook is acceptable

1 hand-held pencil sharpener Must be at least 1 inch long Remove from packaging

1 30-centimeter ruler Hard or flexible Cartoon characters are acceptable No advertisements

A U G U S T 2 0 1 7 P A G E 5

UMCOR School Kits Collection - Conde

Conde UMW

August 1610 am

LeaderDonna

Hearnen

Hostess PattyKnoll

Conde MISSION STATEMENT

“The Conde United Methodist Church is

seeking to satisfy the spiritual and

physical needs of all.”

Lucas Lee Hanlon was baptized July 2nd atthe Conde UMC. Parents are Julianne andKevin

Purchase Materials

or make a monetary

donation towards

this project!

Businesses must know their target mar-ket. Writers must know their target audi-ence. And we all make better decisions whenwe consider the target of our actions.

A college religion teacher set up a card-board target in his classroom. “Draw some-one who has upset you,” he instructed. Stu-dents sketched ex-boyfriends or -girlfriends,coworkers who’d mistreated them, child-hood bullies. Each, in turn, then placed theirdrawing over the bull’s-eye and took aimwith a bow and arrow. Afterward, the bull’s-eye was riddled with holes. The studentscongratulated one another … until theteacher pulled back the target, revealing Je-sus’ scarred, torn face.

Silence fell as he read: “Truly I tell you,just as you did it to one of the least of these… you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40, NRSV).

In choosing actions — no matter the hu-man target — remember who else will bestruck by your arrows. Let’s take aim withlove, not hurt.

A U G U S T 2 0 1 7 P A G E 6

Know Your Target

A U G U S T 2 0 1 7 P A G E 7

Kid Zone Camp Photos

September Responsibilities Check Kitchen Supplies for the month Check & Clean Oven and Fridge as nec-

essary Coffee Hour workers (make coffee, pro-

vide cookies, launder towels and removetrash)

2 Ushers for each Sunday Pickup ritual of friendship sheets Straighten the Sanctuary Pews Maintain the Altar Flower Arrangements Change decorations on tables in fellow-

ship hall with the seasons Take care of lawn as necessary Potluck 2nd Sunday (Rally Sunday) - give

church secretary details for bulletin Diann Morehouse and Carna Atherton-

Pray will be taking care of the banners,altar cloths, and candle maintenance

Chris & Sherwin NybergGloria & Harry Pharis Valerie Baker JoAnn & Richard Krueger Joey & Sabrina Padfield Chuck Padfield Randy & Rebecca Padfield Harlan & Peggy Place Carol & Luverne Strom Mark & June Thompson Joyce & Allen Walter Jeanne Wanous Kent Webb, Turner Jim & Judy Zeck

Honorary Members Ruby Luce Richard Voss Jean Walter Marjory Townsend Marie McClintic & larry Schnaidt Pat Dahlquist

A U G U S T 2 0 1 7 P A G E 8

Groton September Family Committee

GrotonStewardship

Report July 2017

AverageWkly Giving

$1,604

Needed Wkly forChurch Mission

$2,347

Average WeeklyAttendance Sunday

38

Total Building FundDonationsfor Repairs

$0

unaudited totals

Aug 3 Groton Prayer Group at 7 pm

Augs 6-9 Groton Vacation Bible Camp 6:30-8:30 pm

Aug 9 Groton Finance Mtg 6 pm

Aug 9 Groton VBS Campfire & Worship with family and friends at 7:30 pm

Aug 10 Groton UMW 1:30 pm

Aug 16 Conde UMW at 10 am

Aug 16 Groton Ad Council 7:15 pm

Aug 20 Newsletter Items Due

Our Church Happenings

If you are receiving a paper copy of this newsletter and wouldrather receive it via email, then please notify the church office atgrotonumc@nvc.net or call Kay Daly at 605-397-8389