VOLUME 29, ISSUE 4 APRIL 2017

of Lebanon Mennonite Church

ANNOUNCEMENTS

2100 S. Second StreetLebanon, OR 97355

541.258.5789

Heart BeatRejuvenation, Restoration and

Invigoration

Dear Church Family,

During the Creation Story from Genesis 1, after separating the light and the darkness, God created seas and dry land and placed vast vegetations (trees, grasses and shrubs) on the dry land and then proceeded to create planets, stars and whole solar systems throughout the universe.

On the fifth day of Creation God made all the animals, birds, creatures and fish that walk, swim or fly around the Earth. On the Final day of Creation God created people in his image and his commentary was “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31a)

After all this creation God took a break from all his work and rested on the seventh day. Genesis 2:3 states “And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested

LMC is now doing a monthly giving "box" instead of just at Christmas, for the food pantry. April is cereal month! We are encouraging everyone to bring cereal for our food pantry box.

Editor: Lynn BrubakerReporters: EveryonePastor: Brent Kauffman Purpose: To promote a

spirit of love and caring by getting the heartbeat of the church family in their individual and corporate life activities.

All information given to the newsletter must be signed if it is to be printed and if considered controversial may not be used.

Please direct any questions, comments or complaints to the editor or pastor.

VOLUME 29, ISSUE 4 APRIL 2017

from all the work of creating that he had done.”

Sabbath rest is holy. This is why we have the fourth commandment in Law given to Moses in Exodus 20. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (Exodus 20:8-11)

This is why thousands of years later as God’s people, we still observe a Sabbath (or rest/rejuvenation) day each week, but since Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, as Jesus’ followers we rest on Sunday rather than Saturday like the Jewish people.

For pastors, Sabbath rest is

different since typically Sunday is the busiest day of the week (which is why I rest on Mondays). Usually I don’t do any activities related to Lebanon Mennonite Church (LMC) congregational life on Mondays unless there is a surgery scheduled or an emergency arises. Typically I am busy with pastoral duties/activities 6 days/week and rest one day. Studies have proven that pastors are more effective and productive if occasional sabbaticals are taken which is why my contract from 1993 calls for a month of sabbatical for every year of pastoral ministry.

During my almost 24 years as your pastor, I have not used all the sabbatical rest allocated to me….but have been blessed by taking three other pastoral sabbaticals.

A sabbatical is not a vacation time where pastors travel to the nearest beach to bury our toes in the sand…..or drive to Disneyland to be entertained by Mickey Mouse….but rather to engage in opportunities that invigorate, challenge and stimulate life that regular weekly pastoral work schedules don’t allow.

LMC Church Board Minutes March 8, 2017

Present: Ike Kauffman, chair; Pastor Brent Kauffman, Julia Todd, Jill Nofziger, Adrienne Kume, Erika Harris

Brent opened with scripture from I Corinthians 3 and prayer.Minutes from Jan. 18, 2017 board meeting were read and approved.April calendar was reviewed, there are questions about Easter morning activities. The business meeting is April 23, 2017.

Commission reports:

Nurture: Nurture and Pastoral Care met on Jan. 22.

Resource: A suggestion has been made to illuminate the steps up to the sound booth. There is some graffiti near the front entrance which will be cleaned up. Duane Stutzman will work on the fence at the Micah House. There have been no more incidences of camping on the church grounds. Julia expressed a concern about heat in the large classroom, and would like the thermostats checked.

Pastoral Care: A recommendation was made that Dave Stutzman and Bob Buxman each receive $300.00 per week for

This is why I am using the time for an academic challenge of “the Jerusalem Seminar” (seminary/college class completed in January), a physical challenge (which is why I plan to begin a cross-country bicycle ride in San Diego, California on April 1) and also plan to spend some family time since each weekend is typically involved in LMC activities. I also plan to do work on our family property in Montana and hopefully engage/reconnect with the engineering-surveying practice while in Montana.

In addition to these activities, I will be attending other church’s worship services and gaining worship ideas from them.

I will miss each of you while we are apart and will be available to do memorials/funerals if I am close enough and the need arises. I am very excited about the list of speakers we have lined up to bring the “Message of Hope”/sermon during my absence. You will definitely be blessed to faithfully participate in worship here at LMC!

their services. The motion was approved. The board approved, by consensus, to hire someone to work in the nursery from 9 to 12 each Sunday. This is a temporary position. Julia proposed that a part time position of Sunday School co-ordinator be created for the remainder of this school year. This person would be responsible for curriculum, teachers, substitutes, and extra-curricular activities, as well as being a resource for teachers. This discussion will be continued at the next board meeting. Brent asked that this be a matter of prayer.

Treasurer: Thank you to Jill for the pie chart and the accompanying narrative.

Micah House: Advisory committee met with Dyllyn Hopkins on Sunday, March 5, 2017. See attached minutes.

Pastor’s Report: Brent expressed appreciation for the opportunity to study in the Holy Land. March 30th begins the bicycle trek. The remainder of Brent’s sabbatical time will be spent with family. Brent has been spending time with fragile people

in our church family. Pastoral Care is working on leadership during Brent’s sabbatical. The

Ash Wednesday service was here, and the Good Friday service will be in Albany. Laundry Love luncheon gave opportunity for discussion about what is working for each group involved. Brent will go with our youth to the conference in Orlando.

New Business: Very few nomination forms were turned in. The possibility of forming a nomination committee was discussed. Brent and Julia volunteered to take on this responsibility.

Next Meeting: April 12, 2017

Respectfully submitted, Vicki Williams.

Modern Day Proverbs and Some Old Favorites ~ Bits of Wisdom To Pass On

Golden Age SS Class LMC 2011A thankful heart creates a smoother road through life.

Focus not on the things you wish you had, but on the things you have, and be grateful.

Live this day as it was the last day of your life.

Whoever loves money never has money enough ~ whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.

Give a small offering to the Lord and receive a small blessing~

Give a generous offering to the Lord and receive a generous blessing.

Be fair, firm and always honest.

Walk fast through the woods and miss the beauty of nature. Walk slowly through the woods and enjoy God’s creation.

Doing the right thing reaps a reward from God; doing what’s right does not necessarily mean a reward from man.

The Bible teaches that the first shall be last ~ How much more generous our God than we are.

Humans are weak & limited until they surrender their abilities to the One who can transform them.

A good person basks in the delight of God and he wants nothing to do with devious schemes. (Proverbs 12:2 from the Message translation)

Keep your head in the game and make sure you are on the Lord’s team.

Working and striving to a make a living is meaningless if you lose your relationship with our Savior in the process.

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.

The good hate the badness of the bad, the bad hate the goodness of the good. (Proverbs 29:27)

Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; only fools despise wisdom and discipline.

(Proverbs1:7)

Don’t cry over spilled milk~ there are many who have no milk.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket~ share them with those in need.

Do not be quick with your mouth. (Ecclesiastes 5:22)

Use consistency, honesty and a generous portion of humor.

Ill gotten gain has no lasting value, but right living can save your life. (Proverbs 10:2)

Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent – the Lord detests them both. (Proverbs17:15)

War steals the youth of our nation and the potential to be more.

A wise child brings joy to a father~ a foolish child brings grief to a mother. (Proverbs 10:1)

Gray hair is a crown of splendor~ it is attained by a life of right living. (Proverbs 16:31)

God gives us many gifts – we have to open them (or use them) to know what they are.

Frogs sing in the rain – so should our praises be.

Any landing that you walk away from is a good one.

Always take off and land heading into the wind.

April Birthdays5th ~ Faye Dykast, 19275th ~ Kendall Leggate, 200412th ~ Sue Stutzman, 195417th ~ Sailor Brubaker, 200720th ~ Marilyn Lehman, 193522nd ~ Karen Litwiller, 194822nd ~ David Bain, 196322nd ~ Lynn Brubaker, 197023rd ~ Mike Baker, 195723rd ~ Chelsea Hodge, 199224th ~ Mike Rivers, 199224th ~ Joan Wimmer, 194824th ~ Gladys Mast, 193925th ~ Liz Baer, 198427th ~ Torsten Nilsson, 193327th ~ Mike Stutzman, 196529th ~ Andrea Gibson, 198430th ~ Chuck Bennett, 1933

Anniversaries66 years

4/27 ~ Earl/Grace Miller48 years

4/05 ~ Dale/Gwen Kropf41 years

4/16 ~ Chuck/Jannie Bennett26 years

4/27 ~ Doyle/Teri Nofziger16 years

4/07 ~ Louie/Marilyn Lehman 4/14 ~ David/Cecelia Wagner