AN OASIS IN THE CITY

SEPTEMBER 2015

Readiness

ELIM CHURCH

AN OASIS IN THE CITY

One or two hours. That’s what the realtor told us is the poten-tial turn-around time if someone wants to see your house. You see, Judy and I recently put our house on the market and since we’ve never done this before, we’re learning a lot about readi-ness. I was under the impression that we would have a day or two of lead time before some strangers would come through our home. Not so much. One or two hours. What this means in real life is that every morning, before Judy and I leave the home, we need to ready the house—make sure everything is in order, do some light cleaning, etc. Now, you might be thinking that I’m using our narrative to get to the teaching in the Scriptures that we must always be ready for the return of Jesus Christ. Clearly, there’s some truth to that.

But I’ve been reflecting lately on what Peter wrote when he said:

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believ-er, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. –1 Peter 3:15-16

I used to think this Scripture was a call to always be ready to present the gospel—to “witness,” if you would. And, undoubtedly, there’s some evangelism tucked away in the passage, but I think Peter is calling us to a kind of readiness that is willing to give hope to people right where they are in life. And I like how Peter frames up that readiness—“do this in a gentle and respectful way.” I was once challenged in a talk given by Rick Warren to be sensitive to the many ways in the course of one day I can speak value into someone else. It was a fascinating challenge, because Warren had come to the conclusion that what people in our lives really need is hope. Hope that they’re not alone Hope that their sins will be forgiven Hope that the depression will lift So, let’s all sign on to readiness—not because we have anything to sell, but because we do regularly have people walk into our lives who are looking for hope.

Dan Rotach, Lead Pastor

The Forecaster Page 2 September 2015

Elim Church

Dan Rotach Lead Pastor

Ext. 106 [email protected]

Becky Hanson

Pastor of Community Care Ext. 108

[email protected]

Chuck Fleming Pastor to Seniors

Ext. 109 [email protected]

Conner Simms

Student Ministries Pastor Ext. 107

[email protected]

Mayme Simms Children’s Pastor

[email protected]

Kiah Andersen Early Childhood Director

[email protected]

Eric Fleming Office Manager

[email protected]

Melanie Eslinger Worship Coordinator

[email protected]

Leadership Team Communication:

[email protected]

Hope Ave Ext. 108

Elim Preschool

Michelle Espelien Elim Preschool Director

612-789-1063 [email protected]

Leadership Team Update

About one year ago, Elim was notified of the passing of Gladys Noren of Bis-mark, ND. Although Mrs. Noren hadn’t been at Elim for decades, she loved this church. Her estate gift to us was nearly $170,000. The Leadership Team was humbled and grateful to receive such a generous sum of money. With this gift Elim:

• paid off its line of credit, • replaced flooring in the atrium, • purchased a new church van, • reconditioned the piano in the sanctuary, • upgraded the sound system in the sanctuary, • resurfaced both parking lots, and • renovated two rooms in the church office.

None of these projects could have been completed without the time, talent, energy and expertise of our members. Thanks to Rick and Beth Dischinger, Larry Bonasera, Clayton Nolby, Duane Metz, Jeff Wilson, and Jan and Don Heide for turning this financial gift into blessings we all enjoy.

Together on the Journey, Cassie Champion, Elim Church Chair

New Flooring In Atrium Stop in the Atrium to enjoy the new flooring. However, please note that to keep the flooring looking nice, pads have been placed on the bottom of all chair legs. If you move chairs within the building, please ensure that the ones with the pads are returned to the Atrium space. Thanks for helping keep this area beautiful.

All-Church Picnic—Sunday, September 13 Let’s celebrate our church and the kickoff of a new season of ministry! Meet at Logan Park, across from Elim on 13th Ave., following church.

Elim will provide hamburgers and hot dogs (and all the fixings), plus plates, utensils and beverages. Please bring a salad or chips to share and your own lawn chair. Lawn games are optional.

We will party together! Come ready to relax and enjoy new and old friends. There will be games and lots of laughter.

Please talk with Pastor Becky if you have any questions or comments.

The Forecaster September 2015 Page 3

Elim Preschool News Jill Jezierski

An often-heard comment from parents who bring their sons and daughters to Elim Preschool is “the teachers really love working with children and provide a safe place for learning and growing.” Indeed they do!I am proud to recognize an exceptional preschool staff that expand and deepen our ministry here in North-east Minneapolis. Their commitment to children is amazing and the dedication they have to God in their jobs is the heart and soul of Elim Preschool. Would you commit to praying for them as we begin our new year in September? Remember… spiritual power and unity result when you pray for them by name: Director: Michelle Espelien

Teaching Staff: Melany Figueroa, Mary Knighten, Jeanette McGhan, Lisa Minnema, Izy Mortenson, Allison VanLoon

Special Project Consultant: Pam Thompson

GriefShare is a thirteen session, Christ-centered support group for those journeying through one of life’s most difficult experiences—grieving the loss of a loved one. GriefShare will meet weekly, beginning Wednesday, September

16. Group members will gain access to valuable GriefShare resources to help them deal with loss and look forward to rebuilding life. Dennis & Jill Jezierski will act as facilitators. For more information, contact Dennis or Jill.

How GriefShare Works:

1. Video seminar with experts—Each week, the GriefShare group will watch a video seminar featuring top experts on grief and recovery subjects. These videos are produced in an interesting television magazine format featuring expert interviews, real-life case studies, dramatic reenactments, and on-location video.

2. Group discussion with focus—After viewing the video, group members will spend time as a support group, discussing what was presented in that week’s video seminar and what is going on in their lives.

3. Personal study and reflection—During the week, group members will have the opportunity to use a workbook for further personal study of the grieving process and to help sort out emotions through jour-naling. The group will spend time discussing questions and comments from the workbook study.

You’re Invited! Wedding Shower For Deirdre (Olson) and Ron Gentolizo—Saturday, September 12, at

6:30 pm, in the Dining Room—Bring the entire family to celebrate with Deirdre, Ron and Taly

as they begin their new life together! Be ready to play crazy games, smile and laugh, and eat

delicious snacks. This is a no-gift event, but we will shower the Gentolizos with words! Bring

a Bible verse, advice, or a blessing to share, and we'll compile it in a book for them. Fancy

paper will be available. Contact Leslie Smith or Lisa Venkatrathnam with questions.

September 2015 Page 4 The Forecaster

Stewards Update Rick Dischinger, For The Stewards

Conner spoke well in his sermon on Joshua (August 16) about changes and waiting and leaving be-hind. God’s promise to never leave us or forsake us… applies even in the “first world” problems of our lives, like painting and parking lots, carpet and sound systems. One of the changes that is happening at Elim is lighting! Several of the retired men of the church have been busy replacing light fixtures and bulbs to help brighten rooms, save energy and be good stewards of our resources. The dining room has been com-pleted, including the recessed fluorescent lighting, which has been upgraded to T-8s! If you get the chance stop into the pre-school rooms which no longer feel like you are in the basement! The additional light is invigorating! Those little minds who attend pre-school in the Fall may just begin to see the light! ☺ Another change is taking place in the Hope Avenue clothes closet. Room 301 has been cleaned and paint-ed and will soon become the new location for the Hope Avenue clothes closet. Room 306 will be vacated and will become additional storage for the needs of Hope Avenue. In addition, the screens on the north side of the building as well as shingles have been damaged by recent hail and we will be looking to replace and repair along with maintaining and painting the exterior trim. Thanks to all those who help to keep Elim looking nice and inviting!

Seniors’ Lunch—Tuesday, September 1, at Noon Learn about—and sing—some of the great hymns of the Christian faith. Ed and Joyce DeHaan will lead this program. Bring a friend, and food to share with the group! See you there!

Mariners’ Breakfast—Tuesday, September 8, at 9 am Breakfast in September will be at Fat Nat’s Restaurant, located at 2700 39th Avenue NE, in St. Anthony.

MerryMakers’ Outing—Tuesday, September 15, leave Elim at 8:15 am The outing in September is the annual bus trip, which this year includes stops at the Franconia Sculpture Park, the Museum of Wood Carving in Shell Lake, WI, Comstock Creamery (where you can purchase cheese, ice cream and fudge), plus Artists in the Park in Deer Park, WI. In addition, there will be plenty of food, including a coffee stop at the Center City Bakery, and lunch at the Spooner Market and Grill. Cost is $20.00, which includes the bus ride and the stop at the wood carving museum. If you have any questions, contact Larry or Dorothy Larson. Invite a friend, and RSVP by Wednesday, September 10.

Life Group Events

The Unlimited / Kidz Klozet The Unlimited is now accepting donations of gently-used, stylish, FALL and WIN-TER clothing—clean and on hangers. We can also use shoes and other accessories. Kidz Klozet is looking for clothing for kids of all ages, along with shoes, coats, back-packs… anything kid-appropriate, we can use!

You may drop off donations on Sundays in the old entry, behind the sanctuary. Dur-ing the week, the office accepts donations during regular office hours. We are always in need of grocery or shopping bags. The Unlimited and Kidz Klozet are open the first Thursday of every month, from 9 am—noon. Kidz Klozet is open the second Sunday of the month, from 8-10 am.

The Forecaster September 2015 Page 5

Missions Moment: “Eternity In Their Hearts” Charlie Burt

Is it possible to know God’s plan for mankind? Has God revealed it to us? A Book Review and a Warning In his classic missions book, Eternity In Their Hearts, author and former missionary Don Richardson de-scribes the overarching story line of the Bible, God’s plan of redemption for mankind through both the Old and New Testaments. The book is divided into 2 parts, the “Melchizedek Factor, A World Prepared for the Gospel,” God’s general revelation, and the “Abraham Factor, The Gospel Prepared for the World,” God’s special revelation. The theme in part one is the subtitle of the book: “Startling Evidence of Belief in the One True God in Hundreds of Cultures Throughout the World.” In Chapter 1, “The Peoples of the Vague God,” Richardson tells the story of the “Unknown God” at Athens in Acts chapter 17, and how Paul used a “redemptive anal-ogy” to proclaim the biblical one true God. Subsequent chapters tell of numerous cultures around the world whose beliefs in the one true God paral-leled passages in the Old Testament. Richardson advocates studying cultures to find analogies within the culture that can be used as an “eye opener” to relate to the gospel. The Karen people of Burma (now My-anmar), believed for generations that someone would bring them a book that would tell them of the one true God. In 1828 when Baptist missionaries George and Sarah Boardman arrived in Burma they had no idea that their Bible was the book Karen people were waiting for. Richardson tells of many other people groups that had biblical truths built into their cultures and the redemptive analogies that led many of them to believe the gospel. Part two describes “The 4000 Year Connection” (from Genesis 12:1-3 through the Book of Acts), in which God would bless the Jewish people (vs. 1, top line of the covenant) and all the peoples of the earth would be blessed through Abraham’s Seed, Jesus (vs. 3, bottom line). Both the Jews and the apostles, however, got hung up on the top line (Gen. 12:1) of the covenant. Even though the Old Testament includes many occasions when gentiles were blessed and prophesies stating that they would be blessed in the future, their ethnocentricity blinded them to the bottom line. The Gospels record Jesus blessing gentiles on numerous occasions (for example, Mt. 8: 5-13; Mt. 15: 21-28). He also reminded a Jewish congregation about gentiles being blessed and His words incited their wrath (Lk. 4: 24-30). In the Book of Acts, the apostles were reluctant to move out of Jerusalem to proclaim the gospel even after persecution broke out. The apostles finally got it right, but not before the Christian lay people were already proclaiming the gospel to the gentiles. This book is a fascinating assurance that God is in control and will accomplish His purposes. There is a copy of this book in the Elim library. There is a movement which seeks to undermine the clarity of the gospel. Just as racist pride hindered the proclamation of the gospel to the gentiles, the pride of the Emergent Church movement seeks to confuse people into believing we can only come to conclusions regarding the scriptures through discussions among ourselves, reducing biblical doctrines to opinions. This false humility results in quotes like the following from one of their leaders, Brian McLaren: “I don’t think we’ve got the gospel right yet... I don’t think the liberals have it right… But I don’t think we have it right either. None of us has arrived at orthodoxy.” (Christianity Today, Nov. 2004) Without the gospel, which is clearly defined in I Cor. 15: 1-3, the mission would be over. We would have no good news, just good advice. The Apostle Paul intended for his letters to the churches to be understood by the common people. That includes us. To learn about the emerging church check out this site. http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/GTY107

Elim Church 685 13th Avenue NE Minneapolis, MN 55413 612.789.3591

www.elimchurch.com

Time Sensitive Information

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

• Seniors Lunch, Noon

2

• Jesus Calling, 6:30 pm, Prayer Room

3

• Kidz Klozet/ Unlimited open, 9:00 am-Noon

4

• Men’s Group, 6:30 am, DR

5

6

• Hope Avenue, 8:00-10:30 am

• The Gathering, 10:00 am

• Worship, 10:30 am

• Discipleship Class, Noon-1 pm

7

8

• Mariners Breakfast, 9 am

9

• Seniors Bible Study, 1:00 pm, Dining Room


10 11


12

• Deirdre (Olson) and Ron Gentolizo Wedding Shower, 6:30 pm, Dining Room

13 FALL KICK-OFF


• Kidz Klozet, 8:00-10:00 am

• Adult Sunday School, 9:00 am


• Worship (Communion), 10:30 am

• All-Church Picnic, 11:40 am


14 15

• MerryMakers Outing, leave Elim at 8:15 am

16


• Grief Share, 6:30 pm, Lounge

• ECK/ECY, 6:30 pm

17 18


19

20






21

• Elim Book Club, 7:00 pm, Lounge

22 23




24 25


26

27

• Health Clinic, 8:00-10:00 am






• Health Clinic, Noon-1:00 pm

28 29 30

• Seniors Bible Study, 1:00 pm, Dining Room




Documents

AN OASIS IN THE CITY