This week at Elkhart Valley (May 28-June 3)

June 3 our worship will be at Camp Mack. After worship on Vesper Hill on June 3, you are invited to eat lunch at the camp ($7 per person age 9 or older, $3.50 for children 3-8, children under age 3 eat for free). Camping in the Northeast cabin area will be available on June 2 ($14 for a cabin or bring your own tents/campers).

Come and celebrate with two of our high school graduates!
- Levi Mevis, Sun., June 3, 3:00-7:00 p.m. in the cabin
- Adam O’Haver, Sat., June 9, 2:00-5:00 p.m. in the cabin

All Church Bible School will be Sunday, July 8. Make plans to attend and bring a friend!

Representing Jesus

Dear friends,

Our worship Sunday will be at Camp Mack at 10:30 a.m.!

Tony Campolo tells the following story:

A believer wanted to serve the Lord, but had no clear sense of leading. Finally the brother concluded that there was something he could do. He could take the youth group to the old folk’s home. Once a month the youth group of this church went to the old folk’s home and put on a little church service for the people who were there. He went with the youth group and he stood in the back of the room. The young people were performing and this old man in a wheel chair rolled over, rolled his chair over to where this man was standing, took hold of his hand and held it all during the service. That was repeated the next month and the next month and the next month and the next month and the next month. Then they went one Sunday afternoon and the man wasn’t there. The brother asked the nurse in charge, "What happened to that man?" "Oh," she said, "He’s near death. He’s just down the hall, the third room. Maybe you should go in and visit him. He’s unconscious, though.

The brother walked down and went into the room. There were tubes. You know how people are when they are just about gone - and lying there was quite a tough scene. The man went over and took hold of the hand of the gentleman in the bed. He said a prayer. Just instinctively led by the Spirit, he said a prayer. And when he said "Amen," the old fellow squeezed his hand. He was so moved by that squeeze of the hand that he began to weep. He shook a little. He hurried out of the room, but as he was leaving the room, he bumped into this woman who is coming into the room. She said, "He’s been waiting for you. He said he did not want to die until Jesus came and held his hand and I tried to tell him that after death he would have a chance to meet Jesus and talk to Jesus and hold Jesus’ hand. But he said, ‘No. Once a month Jesus comes and holds my hand and I don’t want to leave until I have a chance to hold the hand of Jesus once more.’" [Rev. Dr. Tony Campolo, "Being Upbeat in a Downbeat World, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 2002.]

We never know when we will be called upon to represent Jesus! Let us live in ways that show Jesus to the world and continue his work, Peacefully. Simply. Together.

Blessings,
Pastor Beth

This week at Elkhart Valley (May 7-13)

Tuesday, May 8, 2007
3:00 p.m. -- Christian Education Commission
6:30 p.m. -- Ministerial Commission
7:00 p.m. -- Trustees Commission

Thursday, May 10, 2007
7:00 p.m. -- Council Meeting

Sunday, May 13, 2007
9:30 a.m. -- Sunday School for all ages
10:30 a.m. -- Worship

This Sunday, May 13, will be our Tools and Blankets Sunday. We will take a special offering to support Church World Service's Tools and Blankets programs around the corner and around the world.

Harnessing the energies of love

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, the Roman Catholic theologian, once wrote:

“Sometimes after the mastery of the winds and the waves and the tides; after the mastery of the sun and the sea and the laws of gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love. And when we harness the energies of love, for the second time in human history, we shall discover fire.”

What if we harnessed atomic fusion? Wow! But what if we harnessed the energies of love? The world would then be transformed.

I trust that every person who reads this is living to bring about God's realm in the world. The trouble comes when we forget that work is our focus. We plod along trying to do the right thing and share the love of God but we sometimes forget we are a part of a major movement. We have been charged with living everyday in ways that bring God's realm into being. The work you do, the thoughts you think, the love you share, all contribute to God's work. Thank you!

And may your week be blessed.
Pastor Beth