Life @ Montrose, June 9, 2010

 

Gunnison: TBA

Montrose: Pastor Campbell is speaking.

 

The theme for this year's Vacation Bible School is "On the Sea with Jesus" that will take place at the Montrose Adventist Church from July 5-9. For more information please contact Allison Duncan at 209-5336.

 

We're wrapping things up for this year with two more classes left--next Tuesday evening by special request I am doing a lecture on the history of Shepherd's Rod and the Branch Davidians (postponed from last week). If you would like to learn more about this divergent group in Adventist history please come and we'll have a fun time learning together.

CHURCH RETREAT AT RIDGWAY STATE PARK, JULY 9-10
Dr. George R. Knight, professor emeritus of church history from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, is our featured speaker for our church retreat at Ridgway State Park. We have rented both sides of the pavilion so you are welcome to bring your friends and family for this exciting weekend. We will begin with a Friday (July 9) evening hotdog roast/bonfire followed by a vespers program with Dr. Knight. We will continue with church service at the Pavilion the next morning (July 10), some time for afternoon fun and hiking after a potluck lunch, and then another evening vespers with Dr. Knight. This promises to be a fun weekend where we will learn from one of the best-known writers and speakers in the denomination. Please plan to make sure you are there and if you have friends from out-of-town be sure to invite them to come visit!

PROPOSED MISSION STATEMENT
"Our mission as the Montrose Seventh-day Adventist Church is to lovingly lead people to become disciples of Jesus Christ."

"We seek to accomplish this through:
Inspiring worship services
Quality Adventist education
Contagious evangelism and outreach
Selfless community service
Family activities that appeal to all ages
Fellowship and small groups"

I've heard nothing but overwhelmingly positive feedback about our 2010 Western Slope Camp Meeting. A few people have even suggested that they don't think we can do better than we did this year, but I believe with the Lord's help we can continue to keep this up. From my perspective camp meetings aren't about information--they are about transformation! Also, if you have positive suggestions about how to improve camp meeting for next year please let me know. I let one thing slip and that was getting a survey passed out on Saturday night about ideas and suggestions for next year. So I'm doing this through this e-mail. If you have a speaker you would like to see come, a topic discussed, or some logistical aspect that you would like to have the camp meeting planning consider (basically all of the western slope pastors in conjunction with our conference leaders) please let me know and I will be happy to share your idea(s).

This week I am the hospital chaplain. I always find my visits with various individuals so meaningful. Yesterday I listened to a lady talk about her life--she eventually broke down and cried. "I didn't think anyone cared anymore," she said. We then had a season of prayer. Today when I went back the person was sleeping so being at the hospital gives me an opportunity to share Jesus with others, and some times people even ask what church I'm from so I get to tell them and it leaves them with a positive (I hope by God's grace!) impression of Adventism.

I was especially appreciative of Lloyd Wenzel and Ted Dickerson taking me as their guest to the weekly Rotary club meeting. While there I heard an update from Sue Montgomery who manages The Dolphin House (www.dolphinhousecolorado.com). For those of you who may not be aware it is a place where victims of sexual abuse can go to be interviewed by law enforcement and other agencies. It is intended to be a safe place. She said that statistically this year that they believe they will have a record yet (how sad!) of victims at their center--over 200 for our community at the rate things are going for this year. They are looking for 200 people to make a commitment of $25 a month for a year to help support this agency. The $25 per month over the course of the year covers the approximate cost that it takes to interview and take care of one child who comes in. I was also surprised at several other people who I've gotten to know in town who are members of Rotary.

We're especially appreciative of LD Mechanical, which this month is installing a new heating system at church. Several people have asked what is going on so if you see pipes or noises during the week there is a good chance that these men are working at the church so please be careful not to trip over anything!

I had to cancel prayer meeting last night because of several emergencies: among them was the fact that Eulah Hawk's younger sister committed suicide earlier this week. Please pray for her and Sam and the rest of their family (per their request). We have other families in our church who continue to need our prayers as well.

Last but not least I received a letter from the conference auditors who checked our church books, and we can thank Dick Walters once again for all of his hard work! We're really blessed with some talented individuals and being treasurer is one of those thankless jobs that we don't take the time to always say "thank you" so if you get a chance give him a phone call or drop him a card to express your appreciation.