Office Offshoots JANUARY

This is a time when we live between the “already” and the “not yet.”  December is past (for the most part as I write this) and January hasn’t quite emerged yet.  We have almost completed 5% of the next century and we are anticipating what will happen in our personal lives in the next five years.  Will 2006 be a significant year of transition for Iraq and our country?  Will industry embrace a more earth–friendly use of energy?  How soon will we all be living in “green” houses that are much more friendly to the environment?  Or, 20 years from now will we be wringing our hands and saying the government should have been more proactive in making us do the right thing?

 

To be successful in embracing the future we must not be afraid to look back.  What have we done that is good and exemplary for our grandchildren?  What have we done that is not in their best interest?  What have we done as a congregation that is informative in setting a course for the future?  What kind of a congregation will we be when 2010 rolls around?  Will we have weathered the challenge of being weaned from support of the larger church?  Will our congregation be of such a size that we are growing in membership and program and are replacing the positions of those who for various reasons are not able to serve and share any more?

 

Yes, we live between hope and realization.  Dreams entice us to the future and present efforts of faith to bridge the gap.  We are the ones who will determine the answers to most of these questions.  We are the ones God has called to be faithful one day at a time as we live between the “already” and the “not yet.”

 

Let us be bold in our hopes and actions, thinking in new ways, acting with abandon, being the unimaginable in a place where God meets us in the tension of present and future.

 

Looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, let us run the race with light feet, joyful hearts, and an undying love.

 

Faithfully,

 

Pastor, Ray Larson

 

 

Bible study

Bible study is held Wednesdays at 9:45 a.m. Everybody is urged to join in a very interesting session led by Rev. Dean Williams.  The current schedule is:

 

January 4        “Get the Whole Word Now” Acts 18:24-19:10

January 11      “May I Say Who is Calling?” I Samuel 2:18-3:20

January 18      “Catching and Getting Caught” Johan 1:1-4:11

January 25      “When There is no Morey’s” Deuteronomy 18:9-20, I Corinthians 8:1-13

 

 

December DATES TO january

January 18             Session Meeting

                              Newsletter Deadline

                              Dinner for 6-7-8 Get-Together

 

 

DEACON OF THE MONTH for January is Gary Simons (218) 692-1242.  Remember to call the Church Office or Deacon of the Month if you hear of anyone with special needs.

 

 

FOOD SHELF

78 pounds of food and $204 was donated during November and December to the food shelf.  Way to Go!! 

During 2005 we gave 382 pounds of food and $1,314 to the food shelf.

 

 

Worship is at 10 a.m. during January.

 

 

Session Meeting — December 21

by Marie Fischer

 

December 21, 2005 Session Highlights are as follows:

 

·         A membership class will be convened in January/February for prospective members.

 

·         We are aware that attendance is down as is the possibility for prospective members. With this comes the need to consider several scenarios for change, possibly at the end of 2006, when we anticipate all of our regular reserve funds will be depleted.  The Session and Congregation are asked to consider our future with prayer for the continued progress of this congregation.

 

·         The Mission Outreach & Social Witness Committee’s recommendation to provide Unified Mission Support of $1,800 for 2006, following the formula of 20% to the General Assembly Mission, 15% for Synod Mission and 65% for Presbytery Mission, was accepted.

 

·         The Gifts and Memorials Committee, after review, recommends that an Endowment Fund be started with the $10,000 Bequest from Margie Hanson; provided that (1) this Congregation maintain control with recommendations by Finance & Stewardship and approval by Session, and (2) borrowing from the Endowment Fund will be permitted with a designated pay-back schedule in each case.  Rules will be determined by Session with recommendations by Finance & Stewardship.

 

·         In order to provide a rapid response to Natural Disasters, a Committee consisting of the Pastor, Clerk of Session, and the Chairperson of the Mission Outreach & Social Witness Committee, with a majority agreement, can designate the establishment of a pass-through fund, allowing members to contribute to specific Presbyterian Disaster Relief accounts via Crosslake Presbyterian Church.

 

·         The Annual Meeting is set for January 29, 2006, immediately following the service.  The Session Committees will prepare a Report of Activities from June to December 2005.

 

·         Henry (Hank) Butler and Dewey Krueger were appointed to the Audit Committee to audit records for the year 2005.

 

·         Mission Outreach & Social Witness Committee will set up a line item that can receive contributions for "Israel/Palestine Peacemaking Education Fund” for Chad Ellertson, a youth member of our congregation, who will travel to the Middle East with a PC(USA) group.

 

Session Minutes and Monthly Financial Reports are posted on the Bulletin Boards in the hallway.  Feel free to contact the Pastor, Clerk, or Session Elders for further information if you have questions or suggestions.

 

 

SUNDAY ADULT EDUCATION FORUMS

Everyone is invited to attend “The Sunday Morning Stretch” Forums at 9 a.m.  Come to learn and discuss with others as we seek to hear and apply God’s Word in our lives today.  A variety of topics are planned throughout the year.

January 1^st   New Year’s Day – No Forum

January 8^th  Video: “Daring to be Different…A Vision of Diversity” presented by Chad and Lorin Ellertson.  This video was produced by students and staff at Robbinsdale Senior High in Plymouth, MN, to teach the adult community about the impact of growing up in the 90’s as a person of “color.”  Chad, in 10^th grade at Pequot Lake High School, and Lorin, who teaches Social Studies in Brainerd, will add their perspectives.

 

January 15^th  DVD: “Living the Vision: Becoming a Multicultural Church” presented by Mary Johnson.  Several Presbyterian congregations are profiled who have crossed racial and cultural boundaries and barriers to include people from more than one racial/ethnic or cultural group.  Come to learn from their practices of mutuality and inclusion amidst diversity.

 

January 22^nd   Book Discussion: “Through the Eyes of the Victims: The Story of the Arab-Israeli Conflict,” by Alex Awad, led by Jo Bierman.  An opportunity for dialogue on the issues raised in the “A Land Divided: Palestine-Israel” series.  The book is available on the table in the Narthex, but it is not necessary to have read the book to attend and participate.

 

January 29^th  Book Discussion: “Through the Eyes of the Victims” continues.

 

Next month’s topics…Presbyterian history, Homosexuality and the Christian Faith, and Prayer…

 

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE “SUNDAY MORNING STRETCH”!

 

 

“SHARE THE BOUNTY”

Our “Share the Bounty” program has come to a successful end.  This year we asked for items like toothpaste, soap, shampoo, laundry detergent, etc.  Thanks to everyone who contributed these items.  Two-hundred and twenty-five pounds of personal items were donated to the local food shelves. Hopefully we helped “fill their gap.”

 

 

Financial Facts

 

Income vs. Expenses YTD Ending 12/31/05

 

Month of December Operating (General Fund) Income                                      $        10,782.75

Month of December Operating (General Fund) Expenses                                             12,555.68

      Month of December Deficit                                                                        $         (1,772.93)

 

Year-To-Date Operating (General Fund) Income                                               $       145,474.48

Year-To-Date Operating (General Fund) Expenses                                                    159,992.16

      Year-To-Date Deficit                                                                                 $       (14,517.68)

 

Month of December Non-Operating (Designated) Income                                  $        20,313.95

Month of December Non-Operating (Designated) Expenses                               $        11,784.52

 

Year-To-Date Non-Operating (Designated) Income                                           $        71,518.36

Year-To-Date Non-Operating (Designated) Expense                                         $        58,886.63

 

George Young                                                         Gene Clement                                       Dewey Krueger

Treasurer                                                                Financial Secretary                                Chairperson

218-692-2886 (Crosslake)                                        218-692-2628 (Crosslake)                      Finance & Stewardship

319-363-4932 (Cedar Rapids/Marion IA)                                                                              218-765-3654 (Merrifield)

 

 

“ANNUAL MEETING” (mid-year report of 2005) TO BE HELD January 29, 2006 FOLLOWING WORSHIP

All members and friends are invited and encouraged to attend the 1st Annual Meeting of the Congregation on Sunday, January 29, following the Worship service consistent with our new By-Law changes for the time period June 2005—December 2005.  A packet with information will be distributed on the Sunday prior to the meeting.  We look forward to seeing you at the meeting!

 

 

COOKS’ BOOK UPDATE

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Crosslake Presbyterian Cooks’ Book.  It has been a real success!  We have sold about 130 copies, and have a waiting list.  The third printing took place in late December to meet those requests.  A special thanks to Cheryl Cole for doing the printing and ordering the supplies.

 

 

DINNER FOR 6-7-8

The Dinner for 6-7-8 groups will be getting together for appetizers on January 18 at the Community Room where Ken and Marilyn Whitehead live.  If you haven’t been in a group and would like to be, come and join us.  Watch for additional details in upcoming Sunday bulletin inserts.

 

 

GIVE THE GIFT OF SIGHT

Most families are approached for donation at the time of a relative’s death.  Although talking about death is difficult, donations can provide comfort to grieving family members, as their loved one’s donation saves or improves the lives of others.  The gift of eyes is used to restore or enhance vision or in research and education that contributes to new sight-saving treatments.

 

Take time to talk about your wishes regarding donation with your family members and friends.  For more information about eye donation, call 1-866-887-4448 or visit the Minnesota Lions Eye Bank online at www.mnlionseyebank.org.

 

 

A SPECIAL THANK YOU…to the many people who were instrumental in providing the “Sunday Morning Stretch” Forum programs this past fall:

 

those who presented (Pastor Ray Larson, Rev. Dean Williams, D.J. Jeremiason, Elise Mink, Rev. Dave Schneider, Karen Olsen, Shannon Fortune, Rev. Roger Lynn, and Mary Anne Bennett)

 

those who planned and/or publicized (Mary Anne Bennett, Jo Bierman, Cheryl Cole, Rev. Roger Grussing, Greg Johnson, Mary Johnson, Pastor Ray Larson, and Karen Olsen)

 

those who provided support (Session, Membership Growth & Evangelism Committee, and Christian Education Committee)

 

and those who attended (members and friends of Crosslake Presbyterian Church)

 

THANK YOU ALL!!!

 

 

An old man who gets left alone!

Found out quick its nice to be known,

The Doctor said “Lady “I’m sorry to say”?

What we came here to look for, is really ok!

But your Heart says in the hospital you must stay.

This old man called a Deacon he knew,

His troubles were over, for into action she flew.

He got a ride to the hospital, and a couple dinners too,

There were even some hot dishes and cookies to chew.

The moral of the story is if you’re feeling blue

Call one of our Deacons,

Like the Wiessner’s do!

Our belated and heartfelt thanks

To our members each and every one of you.

 

Written by Bill Wiessner

 

 

CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING

Our church contributed over $600 to this special collection on December 18 and 24.  The receipts from the offering are distributed equally to the Board of Pensions and to National Ministries of the General Assembly Council.

 

Thank you for your generosity.

 

 

DEFINITION OF A PARABLE

A parable is a form of teaching by means of which moral or religious truth is set forth through analogy drawn from common experience.  It points out or merely suggests similarities which appear to exist between the natural and spiritual worlds.  Jesus used the parable extensively and deepened its spiritual content.  Jesus, through parables, proclaimed the nature of the Kingdom of God.  Parables written by participants of the recent Adult Forums on parables will be featured in upcoming Messengers.  Following is one of them:

 

The Parable of the Christmas Celebration

Written by David Fischer

Sven and his brother Ole both celebrated the Christmas season by decorating large Christmas Trees with ornaments and miniature crèches.  Sven would cut his tree from the state forest woodlot, while Ole, who lived in town, reused an artificial tree purchased from Wal-Mart.  Each claimed to be doing what was best for the environment.  Over the years each would take turns inviting the Church Bible Study group to their respective homes to view their tree and would lead a study of the Christmas Story.

 

Ole spent much time in effort and prayer preparing for the Study of the Christmas Story and all participants would gain much insight from him.  However, many of them would not return because when dinner was served, Ole, who at times was fixed in his ways, always served lutefisk.  Over the years, fewer and fewer church members came, so Ole ended up entertaining only the Church pastor, who, while was often challenged by Ole’s interpretation of the Christmas Story, attended primarily to eat the lutefisk.  In fact, several times, Ole provided the pastor thoughts which became the basis for very well-received sermons.

 

Sven, on the other hand, each year made less preparation for the Bible Study and often led the group into a discussion of pro football or activities of the Town Board.  However, he always served an excellent prime rib dinner and over the years attendance at his event caused his house to overflow with Church members.  Over time, the Bible Study time was forgotten and the evening became a fellowship event which charged a fee that was donated to mission activities.

 

Which brother did the work of the Lord?

 

 

Mission OUTREACH & SOCIAL WITNESS Committee Report

The following area organizations received funds from the Crosslake Presbyterian Mission Discretionary Fund this year, and thank you notes have been received from most of them.

 

The organizations each receiving $250 from us:

·         Bridges of Hope

·         Camp Knutson

·         Crosslake Library Fund

·         Presbyterian Clearwater Forest

·         Presbyterian Clearwater Forest—Red Lake Indian Camp Scholarship

·         Crisis Line and Referral Service

·         Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless

·         Salvation Army

·         Women’s Center of Mid-Minnesota

 

$350 were given to each of these organizations: 

·         Crosslake Food Shelf

·         Pine River/Backus Food Shelf

·         Lakes Area Food Shelf

·         Habitat for Humanity

 

Additionally, $200 was given through the Mission Outreach & Social Witness Committee by one of our members to be used for a specific Pastor affected by Hurricane Katrina.

 

$150 was given to Lakes Area Restorative Justice Project (LARJP) for training of our members and an additional $225 was given to reimburse LARJP for the extra cost they incurred in naming Crosslake Presbyterian Church on their insurance policy.

 

We gave a one-time hardship donation of $75 to Bridges of Hope to help a family start up a cleaning business, and we gave $200 to Gary Woehler as an honorarium for giving two presentations at Crosslake Presbyterian Church and to help defray his expenses in traveling to Guatemala to install a water syster.  This $200 was, in addition, matched by a member of the congregation.

 

The total of the above is $4,500 (excluding the $200 match for Gary Woehler and the $200 given for the Pastor affected by Hurricane Katrina).

 

The remaining $500 of our discretionary funds were left unspent due to the church’s budget shortfall.

 

 

Clavinova video

If anyone has seen or is in possession of the training video for the Clavinova, please let Judie Larson know or leave the video in the office.

 

 

PRESBYTERY MEETING HIGHLIGHTS FROM DECEMBER 3, 2005

First Presbyterian Church of Redwood Falls hosted the presbytery meeting.

 

Rev. Dr. Sue Coller was installed as Executive Presbyter of the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys.

 

The presbytery celebrated the ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Delhi, MN, which will close at the end of the year.

 

A new slate of officers and committee, task force and ministry action team members was nominated.

 

The Administrative Commission working with the congregation of Riverside Presbyterian Church gave a report.

 

A discussion was held regarding sending an overture to the General Assembly to replace the Statement on Post Viability and Late-Term Abortion (2003).

 

The new Hearts and Hands Initiative was presented by Elder Bev Raske and Elder Bea Ouranda.  The goal is to raise $60,000 over a three-year period. 

 

A new task force was commissioned to seek direction for the presbytery’s future mission and ministry in the St. Cloud/Sartell/Sauk Rapids area.  The task force will report back to the June 2006 Council meeting.

 

The new Presbytery Moderator and Vice-Moderator were commissioned.

 

All outgoing committee, ministry action team or task force members were thanked for their service to the presbytery.

 

The Personnel Committee recognized Elder Bev Raske for her work as Designated Executive Presbyter.

 

 

MESSENGER BY EMAIL

Did you know you can get the Messenger delivered to your computer each month rather than waiting for snail mail?  The Messenger is delivered to the majority of our members and friends by way of email each month.  If you would like to have the Messenger delivered this way, please let the office know.  Please provide your email address also.