September 2010 Archives

Life @ Montrose, Sept. 30, 2010

By Pastor Campbell on September 30, 2010 11:31 AM | | Comments (0)

WORSHIP THIS SABBATH
Gunnison (11 AM): Michelle Crawford is preaching.
Montrose (11 AM): Pastor Campbell is leading the Communion Service with a message entitled "Sacred Rhythms: Communion."

AGAPE FEAST IN GUNNISON THIS FRIDAY NIGHT
All Gunnison members are invited for a special Agape Feast at the Gunnison Church with a Communion Service at 6 pm this Friday evening. This will be a special time so please plan to come!

YOUTH CAMPING TRIPS THIS WEEKEND
By now all of our parents who have children in either Adventurers or Pathfinders are aware that this weekend there are two camping trips going on for each of our respective clubs for our young people. If you have any questions please contact Staci Nelson or Tavia Wilson. I was really impressed to see both clubs organizing all of their gear last night at the church.

DISCIPLESHIP NIGHTS ARE EVERY WEDNESDAY!
Tonight we have three options of things that are going on at the church:
For adults we have a prayer meeting series beginning on the book of Revelation with Pastor Campbell. Tonight we are continuing our study beginning with Revelation 1:9.
For children in grades 5-8 a new year of Pathfinders is beginning.
For children in grades 1-4 there will be Adventurers, and for younger children there will also be a "Busy Bees" program.

LIFE DISCOVERY GROUPS
Two weeks ago our elders discussed a new initiative for our congregation that a general expectation that everyone in our church should be involved in either some kind of ministry or small group for Bible study. On Sabbath, Oct. 9, our church service will be all about small groups for Bible Study--what is being dubbed "Discovery Groups" to examine current and relevant topic through the lens of focused Bible study. Immediately after church that day will be a forum led by Gordon Reichard about how this will work. Within two weeks of this launch our goal is to have at least three new Discovery groups. A sign-up sheet is available at church.

HELP KEEP SPRING CREEK ADVENTIST SCHOOL CLEAN!
This past Friday and Sunday Emma and I worked together to do our part in cleaning the school. If Emma can do it, so can you! We're looking for volunteers to help clean the school each week through the end of the school year. As you know our budget is tight so we're trying to do everything we can to cut back, which for this year the school board said we needed to ask for parents of our young people and church members to help out. It didn't take that long either. Our kids do a really great job at maintaining our school facility, too. Altogether we spent about two hours cleaning and we had fun doing it. Would you consider helping? Please contact Michelle Caviness for more information (michellecaviness@gmail.com).

LA VIDA MISSION SUPPLIES
On Monday, Nov. 1st, at 8 AM we will have the community services coordinator for the conference, Cathy Kissner, coming by with a truck to collect supplies from across the conference for La Vida Mission. For a list of things that are needed please see the church bulletin board. For more information feel free to contact Neal Kelley.

ABC BOOKMOBILE COMES OUR WAY ON OCT. 31
The next time our ABC Bookmobile is coming our way is on Sunday, October 31st, from 4:30 to 6:00 pm. The last day to order books will be Wednesday, October 13. To order something call (800) 765-6955.
 
THE PASTORAL PERSPECTIVE
Yesterday was an exciting day for me as I was able to spend the better part of the day on a spiritual retreat. Dr. John Bishop joined me and together we climbed Mt. Handies, one of Colorado's 14ers or mountains over 14,000 feet. We had a delightful time climbing. We discovered rather quickly that we had to pace ourselves, but we made it to the top! Along the way our ability to see farther and farther just continued to increase. It reminds me of how our spiritual sensibilities that when we recognize God's big plan or picture for our lives that He allows us to see farther and farther, and the view just keeps getting better. For me it was a special time because I was able to spend quite a bit of the time just meditating, reflecting on Scripture, and some times just talking to God. We all need times to recharge our spiritual batteries so to speak by just spending time alone with God in nature. For me this was one of those times.

This Sabbath was just an absolute delight as our Gunnison church family had a church retreat up in the Gunnison Mountain Park. We went for a nice nature hike and as always there was lots of food, and even better, warm fellowship. The fall colors were right at their peak so we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day to celebrate the Sabbath as a church family!

On Sunday night we had a lot of fun with some of our Campion kids (at least for those who were around and able to join us). We ended up having Mari, Kiev, and Kaileybeth. We also discovered the horrible reality of bad traffic on I-70 on a Sunday afternoon so we ended up picking up some pizza and ice-cream and just had some fun with them for about 90 minutes before their study halls started. We game them the care packages from our collective church families, which I could tell they were so excited to get! What wonderful young people we have at Campion. I'm told the school is having a great year with some 170 students who are enrolled.

Monday was an interesting day as our family was able to do some fun things in the Denver area that amazingly enough are both free: first we took a tour courtesy of my good friend Dr. Jonathan Vigh who is a research scientist for the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), which is a leading place for understanding the weather basically. Dr. Vigh's specialty is the formation of the hurricane eye. Emma learned how to stop a real miniature tornado. At first, when we asked her what a tornado is, she though we were saying "tomato" so she said it was something that she ate. So now she knows. And at least for a miniature one you just put your hand through the middle and it is gone! On a more serious note we learned all of the thousands and even millions of variables that makes the prediction of weather so very difficult. I now have a much better appreciation for the hard work that atmospheric scientists have in trying to understand and predict the weather. In the afternoon we had a lovely time at the Denver Mint. Did you know it costs 1.5 cents to produce a penny? Amazingly enough on some of the larger coins the Mint makes a "mint" so they turn a profit overall on making money.

On Tuesday we had conference committee, and then got home very late Tuesday night. I was really proud that I finally actually made a resolution on conference committee for a youth director position and that such a position be given priority (and that it passed!). I just wanted to make sure that you knew that sharing your pastor by allowing him to travel out to Denver for this meeting every two months does make a difference! So I am hopeful that we will have a new youth leader some time next year. I think that we can't do enough to support our young people both here on the western slope and across our vast conference. To have such a person to coordinate such efforts is vital to the health of our overall conference. At the same time funds are tight so we can help to do our part by continuing to faithfully give our tithes and offerings to help support the work of not only our local church, but also our collective efforts across this conference in helping to share the Lord with others. I also really appreciated Elder Thurber's vision that he outlined for the future of our conference, which I am sure that you will be hearing more about in the near future.

Life @ Montrose, Sept. 22, 2010

By Pastor Campbell on September 22, 2010 8:52 AM | | Comments (0)
WORSHIP THIS SABBATH
Gunnison (All Day): Pastor Campbell will be leading out in an outdoor church service/retreat (see announcement below).
Montrose: Pastor Don Andnerson is preaching a message entitled "The First Step to the Cross."
 
DISCIPLESHIP NIGHTS ARE EVERY WEDNESDAY!
Tonight we have three options of things that are going on at the church:
For adults we have a prayer meeting series beginning on the book of Revelation with Pastor Campbell. Tonight we are continuing our study beginning with Revelation 1:9.
For children in grades 5-8 a new year of Pathfinders is beginning.
For children in grades 1-4 there will be Adventurers, and for younger children there will also be a "Busy Bees" program.

LIFE DISCOVERY GROUPS
Last week our elders discussed a new initiative for our congregation that a general expectation that everyone in our church should be involved in either some kind of ministry or small group for Bible study. On Sabbath, Oct. 9, our church service will be all about small groups for Bible Study--what is being dubbed "Discovery Groups" to examine current and relevant topic through the lens of focused Bible study. Immediately after church that day will be a forum led by Gordon Reichard about how this will work. Within two weeks of this launch our goal is to have at least three new Discovery groups. A sign-up sheet is available at church.

GUNNISON OUTDOOR CHURCH ON SEPT. 25/AGAPE FEAST ON OCT. 1ST
On Sabbath, Sept. 25, the Gunnison Church is having an outdoor church service. Sean Sowers and the Bishops are planning the venue, but please plan to come for a fun day of worship in the out-of-doors. Then on Friday evening, 6 pm, Oct. 1st we are going to have an Agape Feast at the church, too. Please take note of both upcoming activities for Gunnison church members.

CARE PACKAGES FOR CAMPION STUDENTS
The week coming Sunday I will be going a day early for Conference Committee in Denver so that Heidi and I can take out our Campion students that evening (it's a surprise to don't ruin it!) for pizza and to do something fun with them. I'd like to bring a care package for each of our four students. So, if you would like to help, please bring a goody to church this Sabbath and put in the box in the foyer marked "Campion Students." Thank you for showing your support to our young people who are away from home!

HELP KEEP SPRING CREEK ADVENTIST SCHOOL CLEAN!
This past Friday and Sunday Emma and I worked together to do our part in cleaning the school. If Emma can do it, so can you! We're looking for volunteers to help clean the school each week through the end of the school year. As you know our budget is tight so we're trying to do everything we can to cut back, which for this year the school board said we needed to ask for parents of our young people and church members to help out. It didn't take that long either. Our kids do a really great job at maintaining our school facility, too. Altogether we spent about two hours cleaning and we had fun doing it. Would you consider helping? Please contact Michelle Caviness for more information (michellecaviness@gmail.com).

MONTROSE FALL CLEANING BEE
On Sunday, Sept. 26, there will be a church work bee in the morning. One of the major projects is to paint the trim of the church. Contact Lance Daniel, W. D. Hess, or Alice Carpenter for more information. Please come and help beautify our church facility!
 
LA VIDA MISSION SUPPLIES
On Monday, Nov. 1st, at 8 AM we will have the community services coordinator for the conference, Cathy Kissner, coming by with a truck to collect supplies from across the conference for La Vida Mission. For a list of things that are needed please see the church bulletin board. For more information feel free to contact Neal Kelley.

ABC BOOKMOBILE COMES OUR WAY ON OCT. 31
The next time our ABC Bookmobile is coming our way is on Sunday, October 31st, from 4:30 to 6:00 pm. The last day to order books will be Wednesday, October 13. To order something call (800) 765-6955.
 
THE PASTORAL PERSPECTIVE
Over the next two weeks we've got two baptisms, this coming Sabbath by Ben Robuck. Ben is a young person who comes frequently with his grandmother, Sandy, and who is related to Pastor Don Anderson (Sandy's brother). So we're delighted and grateful that Pastor Don can join us for worship in Montrose this Sabbath. As I studied with Ben he was so excited about being baptized that he just said he couldn't wait (and he has waited over a year!), but I could tell he really loves his uncle so I'm so thankful that Pastor Don could travel down here for this special occasion and bless us with the breaking of the Word. Next Sabbath we also have another baptism. Roberta Blackburn is someone who started coming back to church over the past 3-4 months and who I've also been studying with. She was raised an Adventist but left the church for most of her life and through a series of providential experiences (I'll let her share them with you when she is baptized) made a decision to be re-baptized. So I praise the Lord for His working in our congregation. Over the next two Sabbaths you will see a special Bible promise book circulating around at church for you to sign with notes of encouragement, a favorite Bible promise, or just to sign it. Would you please sign it when it comes by your way and encourage others to do the same?

This last weekend was appreciate my wife more weekend! She was gone with our youth leaders and teen leaders to Glacier View Ranch. Thank you *so much* for a number of you who watched our children during church at both services. Emma was particularly delighted to discover that Kate was at church in Gunnison--she commented: "Daddy, did you know that my baby sitter now goes to church in Gunnison?!!" She was so happy to know that she was going to church. :) As it turned out, being "Mr. Mom" is a lot of work and it helps me to appreciate just how hard Heidi works to keep everything going at home. So, for you Dads out there, buy your wife some flowers this week and tell her just how special she is to you. I suspect we can all do a little better (myself included) in showing those around us, who some times we take for granted, just how much we appreciate them.

Another important event in the life of our Montrose Church is nominating committee. This group does most of its work in the fall each year, but is a standing committee of the church for helping people find ways that they can serve. Our first meeting was last Thursday evening, and in the two hours that we met there was a warm and cordial spirit. I was particularly delighted that we made it through the five page list of positions in two hours. So, over the next week or two there will be a lot of phone calls made. I especially pray that you will carefully consider each request. It may not be that it will be a "fit" every time, but would you prayerfully consider the request? The nominating committee will meet again this Thursday evening. I really appreciate how our church presses together to share the load of labor. As a quick example, when deacons and deaconesses were discussed, we needed at least a dozen of each and as we looked at people who have served and who would like to serve we ended up with at least 15 people to serve in those roles (of course maybe not everyone may say "yes," but it indicates to me how so many hard working people in our congregation who are willing to work to make things happen).

This coming Sunday is the church work bee. I'll be able to join you for the first couple of hours in the morning, but I need to leave with my family by mid-morning so we can make the 350-mile drive to Campion so we can take our four young people out for the evening. Our young people are so important and we can't do enough to give them support and to help them. It also gives us a chance to go a day early for some family time on Monday (our usual day off each week) followed by Conference Committee on Tuesday. I realize this is a "kink" in my usual schedule but I will still be available by cell phone should you need to reach me. Some of you know that I love to collect coins so on Sunday I'm finally doing something that we have wanted to do all my life: we're going for a tour of the Denver Mint and then in the evening going to a Rockies game.

This week it appears that the fall colors are going to be reaching their peak. I love it! The aspen are just so spectacular. I hope you will remember how as the seasons change that God is the one who created all of this beauty for us to enjoy. He is also the one who turns our green and ordinary lives into something beautiful. It is the Master's touch. I hope and pray that He will touch your life in a special way today.

Life @ Montrose, Sept. 15, 2010

By Pastor Campbell on September 15, 2010 11:14 AM | | Comments (0)

WORSHIP THIS SABBATH
Gunnison (9 AM) & Montrose (11 AM): Pastor Campbell is continuing his series with "Sacred Rhythms: Service"
 
DISCIPLESHIP NIGHTS ARE EVERY WEDNESDAY!
Tonight we have three options of things that are going on at the church:
For adults we have a prayer meeting series beginning on the book of Revelation with Pastor Campbell. Tonight we are continuing our study beginning with Revelation 1:9.
For children in grades 5-8 a new year of Pathfinders is beginning.
For children in grades 1-4 there will be Adventurers, and for younger children there will also be a "Busy Bees" program.


LIFE DISCOVERY GROUPS
Last night our elders discussed a new initiative for our congregation that a general expectation that everyone in our church should be involved in either some kind of ministry or small group for Bible study. On Sabbath, Oct. 9, our church service will be all about small groups for Bible Study--what is being dubbed "Discovery Groups" to examine current and relevant topic through the lens of focused Bible study. Immediately after church that day will be a forum led by Gordon Reichard about how this will work. Within two weeks of this launch our goal is to have at least three new Discovery groups. A sign-up sheet is available at church.
 
TOWN HALL THIS SATURDAY EVENING
Please come to the church this Saturday evening at 7 pm for a town hall meeting on the church mission statement and core values as we conclude the Sabbath with a vesper's service and discussion about the direction of our church.


GUNNISON OUTDOOR CHURCH ON SEPT. 25/AGAPE FEAST ON OCT. 1ST
On Sabbath, Sept. 25, the Gunnison Church is having an outdoor church service. Sean Sowers and the Bishops are planning the venue, but please plan to come for a fun day of worship in the out-of-doors. Then on Friday evening, 6 pm, Oct. 1st we are going to have an Agape Feast at the church, too. Please take note of both upcoming activities for Gunnison church members.


CARE PACKAGES FOR CAMPION STUDENTS
The week after next I will be going to Denver for Conference Committee, and as part of the trip (this is a surprise so please keep it a secret!) I plan to stop by Campion Academy and bring our four students from the western slope care packages. Please bring any goodies for our young people to church on Sabbath, Sept. 25, and I will make sure that they get some yummy treats from back home! Thank you for caring!
 
MEN'S RETREAT THIS WEEKEND
This weekend is the annual men's retreat. More information is available on the bulletin board, but if you would like to go and carpool please contact Lloyd Wenzel or Neal Kelley.
 
LA VIDA MISSION SUPPLIES
On Monday, Nov. 1st, at 8 AM we will have the community services coordinator for the conference, Cathy Kissner, coming by with a truck to collect supplies from across the conference for La Vida Mission. For a list of things that are needed please see the church bulletin board. For more information feel free to contact Neal Kelley.
 
MONTROSE FALL CLEANING BEE
On Sunday, Sept. 26, there will be a church work bee in the morning. One of the major projects is to paint the trim of the church. Contact Lance Daniel, W. D. Hess, or Alice Carpenter for more information. Please come and help beautify our church facility!


THE PASTORAL PERSPECTIVE
The other day I was driving through the mountains and noticed the Aspen have begun to turn their brilliant hues of yellow and gold. How beautiful! Even as the seasons begin to change, and we discover some frost outside our back door, we see the beautiful hand of the Creator all around us. I'm so thankful that as the seasons change that we know the Lord continues to be right there by our side.
 
Over the past day our family has been claiming the promise of Psalm 37:3-8, which reads according to the NASB: "Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desire of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret; it leads only to evildoing."
 
I thought this passage of Scripture was especially signifcant because we live in an uncertain world: the economy is challenging all of us, but it doesn't do much good to always look at all of the challenges, but we are reminded to "trust in the Lord." How is your walk with the Lord today? If all we ever do is worry it gets us into trouble!
 
I'm so thankful for the steady confidence of someone like Georgia Freeman, our dear friend who we buried this past Monday, who even though she knew she was going to die that she trusted in the Lord. Her desire was that her service be a testimony of her walk with the Lord and an invitation for others to trust Him, too. The service was very well attended by people in our community whose life she impacted. We had people share stories from when she was a child in school--one person shared about how they learned to drive here at the Montrose High School in driver's ed. Another person shared stories about how life was hard during World War II. So we think we've got it tough now? He reminded me that there have been other tough times, too.
 
What I am most excited about is the new initiative to encourage small group Bible study, what one of our elders has suggested that we call "Discovery" groups. We will have a launch of this new program on the second Sabbath in October (Oct. 9) and we are going to begin passing around sign-up sheets. My vision for this church is to have every member involved in some ministry or small group. In order for each of us to grow spiritually we have to behold Him day by day--and there is no better way to do that than as a group to open the Word of God and study together. By beholding we become changed (2 Cor. 3:18). As we become more "loving and lovable" Christians we become contagious about our Christianity--other people want what we have!
 
I've been challenged to re-evaluate my own life this past week as I've read a new biography on the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas (a really great book by the way if you would like something to read). Life is complex. Most of the Christian church in Germany caved in to Hitler's Nazi regime, but not everyone did. I'm thankful for people who authentically lived their lives and who made a difference. That is the kind of Christian I want to become like day by day, and I hope and pray as a church community we can authentically show our community that is what we are about, too.

Life @ Montrose, Sept. 8, 2010

By Pastor Campbell on September 8, 2010 10:41 AM | | Comments (0)
WORSHIP THIS SABBATH
Gunnison: Gordon Reichard is preaching.
Montrose: Pastor Campbell is speaking about "Sacred Rhythms: Family Worship."
 
DISCIPLESHIP NIGHTS ARE EVERY WEDNESDAY!
Tonight we have three options of things that are going on at the church:
  • For adults we have a prayer meeting series beginning on the book of Revelation with Pastor Campbell. Tonight we are continuing our study beginning with Revelation 1:9.
  • For children in grades 5-8 a new year of Pathfinders is beginning.
  • For children in grades 1-4 there will be Adventurers, and for younger children there will also be a "Busy Bees" program.
SCHOOL BOARD THIS THURSDAY, SEPT. 9
School board will be at the church at 6:30 pm. Please plan accordingly!

NEW PROPOSED NOMINATING COMMITTEE FOR 2011
This Sabbath we have the second reading for the new, proposed nominating committee that our church family elected two Sabbaths ago. I was pleased that we had so many individuals cast ballots. The proposed nominating committee is as follows: Pastor Campbell, ex officio; Alice Carpenter, Joyce Corley; Lance Daniel; Jenny Enoch; Norman Graham; Dan Pierce; Debbie Short; Tom Watson; and Steve Wilson.

GUNNISON CHURCH MEETING NOW ON SEPT. 12
Our next church business meeting for Gunnison is scheduled for Sept. 12, 7 pm complete with pizza and afterward some games and other fun activities. Please plan to come!

GEORGIA FREEMAN FUNERAL SEPT. 13
A dear member of our church family, Georgia Freeman, passed away last week. Services will be at the Montrose SDA Church on Monday, Sept. 13, 2010, at 1 pm with Pastor Campbell presiding.
 
LA VIDA MISSION SUPPLIES
On Monday, Nov. 1st, at 8 AM we will have the community services coordinator for the conference, Cathy Kissner, coming by with a truck to collect supplies from across the conference for La Vida Mission. For a list of things that are needed please see the church bulletin board. For more information feel free to contact Neal Kelley.
 
WOMEN'S MINISTRIES RETREAT
Judy Kelley and Jerilyn Pester are planning a women's ministries retreat for our local church the weekend of Sept. 10-11 at the Kelley cabin. If you are interested in participating please contact either Judy (596-8512) or Jerilyn (209-5101).

HOPE CHANNEL BOOKS SALE
This next week, on Sept. 12, there will be a special book sale through Hope Channel and your local ABC. 

THE PASTORAL PERSPECTIVE
This past week I've been doing a lot of studying and reading up on small groups. I've also consulted with a few people such as Don James as NADEI (the North American Division Evangelism Institute at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University) about ideas for starting and effectively implementing small groups. Next week we will have an elder's meeting as we pray together to discuss how to best start small groups in our local church. We don't want to just talk about how important they are, we want to do them! So I know that I am committed to being a part of one of these small groups. Would you like to join a group? Please let me know because we will start with one or two groups initially and we want to know who is really committed to being a part of such a group.

This past Sabbath we had a lot of people away traveling. Church attendance was down in Montrose (98 people who were there) but attendance was up in Gunnison with 21 people, including several visitors. Over the weekend we were blessed to have some friends visit us, and we really enjoyed being able to take them to some of our favorite places in southwestern Colorado: the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Mesa Verde National Park. What a beautiful place we live in to be able to enjoy so much beauty! I learned something new about the ancestral Pueblo people of Mesa Verde: most of them died not from falling off a cliff (archeologists have found few skeletons with broken bones) but instead the average life span was into their 30s, and of those they have studied because of grinding the corn with the sandstone it wore down there teeth. So most of them died from tooth infections. What a terrible way to go! Despite that I am always amazed at what an amazing culture and the many things we can learn from this ancient people.

One of the interesting things that I have been following is the debate over religion in American public life. I read an editorial in this week's issue of Time about how many Americans mistakenly believe that Obama is a muslim. I find this very surprising, especially the high percentage among Republicans. The debate centers around whether a mosque should be built near the Sept. 11 towers. I find this especially interesting because my own family was affected directly on Sept. 11 as I've shared with most of you before: my Mom was on an American Airlines flight that morning and my father's office was destroyed although he fortunately escaped. I find it interesting that some Americans are so intensely anti-Muslim that they are against a mosque that is aimed at combatting radical Islam and promoting tolerance and peace while at the same time the same persons do not oppose all of the strip clubs that are along the same street! Some things just do not make sense. I also have to wonder why it is so important to make the president of the United States into our own image: that he has to be an Evangelical Christian. We've had a variety of US presidents with different religious convictions and backgrounds. The important thing is that we maintain a clear demarkation between church and state. And we need to get real and not pass around false e-mails that suggest that Obama is a muslim because it lessons our credibility and witness with others who know better and who then may think that we are gullible.

This past week was sad because on Thursday we lost a dear church member, Georgia Freeman. Please continue to pray for her family. Also, over the weekend I received the news that former Montrose SDA Church pastor, Jim Snell, passed away. An address is posted on the church bulletin board for those of you who would like to send a note of condolence. 

Last but not least, it is the time of year for canning. We were so appreciative of a box of peaches recently, and we've been thoroughly enjoying as many as we have been able to eat. We also "put up" the rest for the winter. Yesterday for supper we had a meal made up almost entirely of various foods from our garden. I wish I could show you a picture of the monster potato that we dug up this past week. I think the one potato could feed our entire family. So, as we enjoy our own harvests from our gardens let us not forget that we are serving in the Lord's garden (or "vineyard") as we wait for the Lord of the harvest to come again. And what a day that will be when we can celebrate with the Lord in heaven all together as a church family.

Life @ Montrose, Sept. 1, 2010

By Pastor Campbell on September 1, 2010 3:46 PM | | Comments (0)
WORSHIP THIS SABBATH
Gunnison: Pastor Ted Williams will be preaching about "Passoniate Patience."
Montrose: Pastor Campbell is speaking about "Sacred Rhythms: Prayer."
 
DISCIPLESHIP NIGHTS ARE EVERY WEDNESDAY!
Tonight we have three options of things that are going on at the church:
  • For adults we have a prayer meeting series beginning on the book of Revelation with Pastor Campbell.
  • For children in grades 5-8 a new year of Pathfinders is beginning.
  • For children in grades 1-4 there will be Adventurers, and for younger children there will also be a "Busy Bees" program.
MONTROSE CHURCH BOARD ON SEPT. 2
For those on church board the next church board meeting is this Thursday evening, 7 pm, at the church. If you have agenda items please contact our church board chair, Dr. Wes Cooper (249-5823).

NEW PROPOSED NOMINATING COMMITTEE FOR 2011
Beginning this Sabbath we have the first reading for the new, proposed nominating committee that our church family elected this past Sabbath. I was pleased that we had so many individuals cast ballots. The proposed nominating committee is as follows: Pastor Campbell, ex officio; Alice Carpenter, Joyce Corley; Lance Daniel; Jenny Enoch; Norman Graham; Dan Pierce; Debbie Short; Tom Watson; and Steve Wilson.

GUNNISON CHURCH MEETING NOW ON SEPT. 12
After a fun day of paintball this last Sunday we've pushed back our evening church business meeting on Sept. 12, 7 pm for pizza and afterward some games and other fun activities. Please plan to save the date!
 
LA VIDA MISSION SUPPLIES
On Monday, Nov. 1st, at 8 AM we will have the community services coordinator for the conference, Cathy Kissner, coming by with a truck to collect supplies from across the conference for La Vida Mission. For a list of things that are needed please see the church bulletin board. For more information feel free to contact Neal Kelley.
 
WOMEN'S MINISTRIES RETREAT
Judy Kelley and Jerilyn Pester are planning a women's ministries retreat for our local church the weekend of Sept. 10-11 at the Kelley cabin. If you are interested in participating please contact either Judy (596-8512) or Jerilyn (209-5101).

THE PASTORAL PERSPECTIVE
We were so pleased this past week to have some family come through Montrose. Heidi's aunt and uncle, Ronnie and Kermit Netteburg, were on their way back from Loma Linda University Medical Center where he just finished proton treatment for cancer. I'm so thankful to see him looking well and that he has been able to have such fine care. We listened in particular as he shared with me about providential opportunities he had to witness to other patients while they were going through the program together. I truly believe the Lord, if we listen to His voice, sends us Divine appointments. I know that Pastor Steve Gillham, from Cortez, also completed the same program. I'm so thankful for such a fine medical witness that we have through LLUMC and for the prayers of our church family for these two pastors.

I've talked with a number of church members who are eager to see small groups begin as we start the new school year. I think that this is one of the most important things that we can do as a church is to encourage people to study God's Word. There is power, as I preached last Sabbath, in the Word. Recently I came across some prayer journals that use a method called SOAP: S stands for Scripture; O for observation; A for application; and P for a specific prayer request. If you're looking for a great way to get into the Word I recommend that you try a Life Journal. If you want one you can order it online at: http://www.lifejournal.cc/ Also, by the way, several of you asked what was the name of the computer software for studying the Bible that I recommended this past Sabbath. It is "Bibleworks" and you can find out more about it athttp://www.bibleworks.com/.

Over the next two weekends (Sept. 11 and 18) I am going to host two forums at our church to review our church mission statement. The church board has spent time crafting this document, which reflects the direction of our church. If you would like to contribute and be a part of this process this is your chance! The more feedback we have from as many people as possible will help to make this the very best thing that we can for giving overall guidance as to what our priorities are as a church family.

I should also mention that Sunday was a busy day: we had a fun time with our Gunnison church family playing paintball. Everyone played very nicely, and a fun time was had by all. For those who didn't want to play we had a barbeque so that everyone could enjoy some fellowship. Then later on I was able to catch the tail end of the school corn roast. I've heard so much good feedback about how well things are going at the school. I'm so thankful that our school has had such a great start to the new school year. Let's please continue to pray for our young people, and especially, our teachers: Michelle Caviness and Allison Duncan.

Last but not least, please pray for Georgia Freeman, whose health is failing fast and is not expected to live long. I know that when I visited with her last that she solicited your prayers, and I ask that you please keep her and her family in your prayers during this time.
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