Volume 18 March 2014 Issue 2

Rooted

Relational Reaching

Friday, April 18 - 6:00 pm to 12:00 am When we think of "church" in America, we think of going to meet at a building, singing, praying and hearing a message from a pastor or teacher. But in many places around the world, "church" meets in a home, an apartment, and sometimes even in secret. These small groups of Christ-followers often meet for many hours in study, prayer, and fellowship. Secret Church is our "house church" where we meet for an intense time of Bible study—lasting 6 hours. This is not for the un-committed or faint at heart. But if you desire to know God more deeply through His Word and know His church more fully around the world, then please join us for Secret Church. From the moment we wake up in the morning to the moment we lie down to sleep at night, how does the death of Christ on the cross transform every detail of our day? How does the cross compel disciplines like prayer and Bible reading or a reg-ular routine of fasting and worship? How does the cross change the way we view our jobs throughout the day as well as the way we rest and relax? What, if any, unique effect does the cross have on the ways we spend our time, set our priori-ties, make our decisions, and love our neighbors? How does the cross change the way we view food and exercise, sports and entertainment in this world? The Bible says, "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). So how do we do that? And how does the cross of Christ inevitably enable us to do that? During Secret Church, as we explore the implications of the death of Christ for our daily lives, we will discover the exhilarating joy that is found in following Jesus to the glory of God on a moment-by-moment, day-by-day basis.

Event information: Event begins promptly at 6:00 p.m. on Good Friday, April 18. Registration check-in begins at 5:30 p.m.

Costs/Registration: Cost is $10.00 per person and includes Secret Church study guide and snacks. Sign up to participate by placing your name on the sign-up sheet located in the church Fellowship Hall by Sunday, March 30.

The objective of Secret Church is not just to come and learn for one night but to take what we’ve learned and pass it along to others. We want to use what we’ve learned during this gathering to make disciples of Christ—both locally and globally.

Wednesday Meal Served from 5:30 – 6:10

Cost = $3.00 per person up to a maximum of $12 per family (4 and under eat free)

Classes for All Ages 6:30 – 7:30

Join us each Wednesday evening!

Please take a few moments to stop into the Prayer Room located next to the Church Office and pray over the baby blanket displayed there. The blanket will be donated to the Alpha Center. Pray for the baby and the baby’s mother who will receive the blanket.

Secret Church

Wednesday Night Encounter

Prayer Blanket Ministry

No one needs a course or class on how to be out. Most people already are. In fact, Jesus said that’s the way it’s going to end up – with most people out. (See Matthew 7:21-23.) We don’t need to be taught how to be half-hearted either. At least half, if not more of the people who claim to be Christians have got that one down real good.

In his excellent book ALL IN, Mark Batterson says, “We all want to spend eternity with God. We just don’t want to spend time with Him. We stand and stare from a distance, satisfied with superficiality. We Facebook more than we seek His face. We text more than we study The Text. And our eyes aren’t fixed on Jesus. They’re fixed on our iPhones and iPads – emphasis on “i.” Then we wonder why God feels so distant. We wonder why we’re bored with our faith. It’s because we’re holding out.

We want joy without sacrifice.

We want character without suffering.

We want success without failure.

We want gain without pain.

We want a testimony without the test.

We want it all without going all out for it.

It’s not enough to sit in a church service for sixty or ninety minutes. Churches are filled with spiritual sightseers who feel like they’ve done their religious duty by sitting and listening.”1

Is that you? Or are you ALL IN?

Mark goes on to say, “We want everything God has to offer without giving anything up. We want to buy in without selling out.”2

To put it another way, we want blessings without burdens, heaven without hassles and success without sacrifice. We want God to go ALL OUT for us, but we don’t want to go ALL IN for Him.

Batterson says, “Most people, in most churches, think they are following Jesus …” but the reality is “they have invited JESUS to follow them.”3 They call Him Savior and Lord, but they call the shots. They don’t pray: ‘God, what would you have me do?’ They

pray, God, here’s what I want you to do.

Is that you?

Mark says, “You are one decision away from a totally different life.” So what is that ONE DECISION?

Going ALL IN for God. ALL IN. NOT SOME IN, HALF IN OR EVEN MOSTLY IN. ALL IN!!

So what’s the secret to being ALL IN? Craig Groeschel says: “Stop skipping church whenever you feel like it because you stayed up late the night before or there’s a game on or you want to go to the lake or for whatever other reason you want to make up. Stop being a phony. Wholeheartedly commit your life to Christ. Stop just going to church and consuming. Get yourself and your family involved. Make a difference. Serve. Tithe. Give offerings. Pray. Engage in the life of the church. Grow spiritually. Stop pretending. Do something different.”4

Go ALL IN! Be ALL IN! All the time … everywhere you go … everything you do. If you’re not there, get there … now.

Halfway is no way to live. Half-hearted won’t get you where you hope to be, need to be and want to be. Half-hearted won’t get you on the football team or the cheerleading squad. Half-hearted won’t get you the job promotion or seal the deal on that important project. Half-hearted won’t help you have a better attitude or get you a better marriage. Half-hearted won’t help you lose weight or get in shape. So why would anyone ever believe half-hearted would work with God?

Half-hearted won’t get you a double portion of God’s blessing. Flakiness won’t get you God’s favor.

Mark Batterson writes …

“Jesus didn’t die to keep us safe. He died to make us dangerous.

Faithfulness is not holding the fort. It’s storming the gates of hell.

The will of God is not an insurance plan. It’s a daring plan.

The complete surrender of your life to the cause of Christ isn’t radical. It’s normal.

It’s time to quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death.

It’s time to go ALL IN and ALL OUT for the ALL in ALL.”5

You are one decision away from a totally different life!

So, are you ALL IN?

_________________________

1. Mark Batterson, All In (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2013) 77-78. 2. All In, 25. 3. All In, 16. 4. Craig Groeschel, Fight (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2013) 146. 5. Mark Batterson, All In (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2013) 13-14.

FROM DAVID’S DESK…

Mark your calendars now and plan to be part of the group heading to Diamond Willow Ministries in Ft. Thompson,

South Dakota, located on the Crow Creek Reservation, the

weekend of

April 26-27

This outreach event is open to everyone wanting to visit and learn more about this exciting mission that we sup-port financially on a monthly basis. In addition to learn-ing more about DMW firsthand, there will be an oppor-

tunity use our hands to assist in some of the needs there which may include

Helping to construct the Mato Family Center

Kitchen related needs Help preparing for summer camps

Stay tuned to the weekly bulletin for more details.

A sign-up sheet will be available soon.

Are you interested in playing on the church coed softball team this season? Please sign up on the sheet located in the Fellowship Hall as soon as possible. This season’s games will be played on Monday evenings. If you have any ques-tions, contact Chase Hoffman via Facebook or by calling or texting him at 605-360-7233.

Help to decorate the sanctuary for Easter Sunday by do-nating funds to purchase Easter Lilies. The cost is $10 per lily purchased. Donation envelopes are located on

the information table in the Fellowship Hall. Please indicate on the envelope if you wish your lily to be listed in memory

of or in honor of a loved one or friend. Place your completed envelope in

the collection box, hand it to Pastor David or leave it in the Church Office.

Diamond Willow Service Trip

Easter Lilies

Library Corner

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism by Thomas A Vonhagel. Meet the Christians who have influenced the history of the Church in this collection of biographies that spans thousands of years. Read and be inspired!

When It Hurts Too Much to Wait by Larry Richards. We’ve all had those times we’ve prayed, asked for guidance, tried to do God’s will, and then noth-ing happens – or so it seems. The pain doesn’t stop, the answers don’t come, and we are left with questions and unmet needs trying to understand. While there are no easy answers, Larry Richards offers some insights from scripture and personal experience that can help in those times when you seem to be stuck in life’s “waiting room.” He offers wisdom and encouragement for those difficult times when all you can do is wait for God’s timing.

Church Softball League

All adults are invited to join the choir as we re-hearse this year’s Easter Cantata “Footprints in the Sand: A Journey to the Cross and Beyond.” The cantata will be presented on Palm Sunday morning. March’s rehearsal schedule is as fol-lows: March 2nd 5:30 – 6:30 pm

9th 5:30 – 6:30 pm 13th 7:00 – 8:00 pm 23rd 5:30 – 6:30 pm 29th 5:30 – 6:30 pm

This is a great opportunity to use the musical gifts God has given you. Come join the fun! Questions? Please contact Charlie Shafer, Direc-tor.

Easter Cantata Practice

Without a doubt, Moses was the greatest character in all of the Old Testament. From his incredible birth and boyhood as a prince in Egypt all the way to his unique death and burial on Mt. Nebo, Moses stands alone. He was God’s choice to deliver Israel from slavery. He was the first recipient of Scripture. He was a type of savior in the Old Testament. The ex-

emplary life of Moses serves as an inspiration to us all. Join us each Wednesday evening beginning Feb-ruary 5th as we embark on this exciting 9-week Char-acter study.

Volunteers are needed to mow the church lawn on a rotating schedule this spring and summer. If you would be willing to volunteer your time and energy, please sign-up on the sheet located in the church Fellowship Hall. A mowing sched-ule will be handed out as the mowing season draws closer. Questions? Please contact Pastor David.

Moses: Prince of Egypt

Yard Work Volunteers Needed

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

30 B—Joanne Ling

A—Mike & Sue Jen-sen 9:30 Sun. School 10:30 Worship

2:00 Sandra Lerdal Baby Shower

31 B—Angela Hall

1

2

9:30 Sun. School 10:30 Worship

5:30 Cantata Practice

3

4 B—Terry Fraker

5

Encounter 5:30-7:30

6

7

8

9

9:30 Christmas Program 10:30 Worship

2:00 Kayla Hall Baby Shower 5:30 Cantata Practice

10 B—Blaine Lentz B—Roy Orth

11

12

B—Karen Blegen

Encounter 5:30-7:30

13 7:00 Cantata

Practice

14

15

16

9:30 Sun. School

10:30 Worship

17

18

19

Encounter 5:30-7:30

20 B—Madilyn Hurst B—Paul Menefee

21 B—Alexia Miller

22 B—Larry Kutz

23

9:30 Sun. School

10:30 Worship

Noon Fellowship

Dinner

5:30 Cantata

Practice

24 B—Dawn Jaqua B—Angie Miller

25

26

Encounter 5:30-7:30

27

28 29 5:30 Cantata

Practice

"Our purpose is to make disciples for Jesus Christ, of our family, friends, neighbors and all peoples, throughout Sioux Falls, the

surrounding areas and ultimately the world. By the empowering of the Holy Spirit, we will invest all facets of our lives in order that

all may be presented complete in Christ to the glory of God."

CHURCH STAFF

Minister ……………………………………. David Hall E-Mail: dhall.opcc@midconetwork.com

Cell Phone: (605) 212-4536

Sunday School Classes ……………………… 9:30 a.m.

Sunday Worship Celebration ………………. 10:30 a.m.

Wednesday Night Meal……………………… 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday Night Encounter………………….6:30 p.m.

811 S. Gordon Drive

Sioux Falls, SD 57110

(605) 339-4145 E-Mail: office.opcc@midconetwork.com

Address Service Requested:

The summer camp schedule for Camp Nebowa has been set. This year’s theme is “Identity,” based on Ephesians 4:22-24. Pick the week(s) that work best for your children and mark the dates on your calendar now. Be on the lookout for registration material to be available in the near future. Questions? Talk with Pastor David. CAMP SESSION DATES Leadership (Grades 10-12) June 6-8 Blast #1 (Grades 7-9) June 8-13 Jam #1 (Grades 5-6) June 15-19 Teddy Bear (Grades 1-2 w/parent) June 20-21 Extreme (Grades 10-12) June 22-27 Women's Retreat (Grades 10-Adult) June 27-30 Discovery (Grades 3-4) July 10-12 Jam #2 (Grades 5-6) July 13-17 Blast #2 (Grades 7-9) July 20-25 Sports Camp (Grades 5-7) July 27-31 Exile (Grades 9-12) August 1-3 Crafty Camp (for Women) September 12-14

Nebowa Christian Camp 2014