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September 2015
Church Press Newsletter
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Greetings!
Welcome! Please come in. "Wonderful, Merciful Savior" was written by Dawn Rogers in 1989. Her desire was to have each stanza focus on a Person of the Trinity: Stanza one on the our wonderful Savior, two on our Counselor, Comforter, and Keeper, and three on the Almighty, infinite Father. It's a beautiful song of praise. View the video, listen to or sing the words. It's time to praise the Trinity!
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A Concerted Study of God - Why?
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By Pastor Don Ginkel
 They say "Diamonds are forever!" Not really, but eternity IS forever. In algebra there is a word called infinity. If you multiplied a number by itself and kept on doing so, eventually the number would be so great it would lose all meaning. Have you ever wondered what it's going to be like to spend eternity with God?
Why have a concerted and focused study of God? Because we're going to live with Him forever! That's why Paul tells the Colossians (1:9,10) and us: ". . . we have not stopped asking God to fill you with the knowledge . . . growing in the knowledge of God."
Moses had been in God's presence for 40 days. He came down from the mountain, and Exodus 33:11 says, "The LORD would speak with Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend." What is amazing is that after all this, Moses wanted more. He wanted to know God better. He had talked with God face to face and yet he thirsts for more. Hence, the more you know God the more you want to know Him.
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord" (2 Peter 3:18). What does the word "grow" suggest? It suggests a continuing process of growth. What is the goal of this continuing process? To bring glory to God and to bless us. (Excerpts from Our Awesome God, pp. 15-17, by Don Ginkel. $6.95.) For pastors for September we'll send you one free copy including shipping. Email us and ask for 160F.
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| Requirements for Confirmation 1st & 2nd Year |
Ascension Lutheran Church (LCMS), Littleton, CO, Rev. John Larson, Pastor, has an excellent printed outline for Requirements for Rite of Confirmation. Besides required memory work, acolyting and ushering, there are three very important areas of activity.- Worship Service Review including Scripture readings, hymns, and sermon highlights.
- Sunday School Summary including text, topic, and 3 things you learned during this lesson.
- Community Service Summery. Complete 20 hours of community service and turn in details.
We have a 4 page print-out for the above. Run off hard copies for pastor. We highly recommend this program. Just click requirements. We suggest that the Pastor or instructor meet with students and parents to go over the requirements and answer any questions before classes begins. Also, and very important: "We require at least one parent (take turns) to audit the course." The class atmosphere goes up a big notch when this happens. Ask one mother to take care of the scheduling.
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| The Value of Leading from One Place of Ministry Long Term | By Rick Warren, Toolbox, August 13, 2015
 I recently had the privilege of honoring one of America's great pastors - a wonderful coworker in ministry, a powerful force for good in the city of Los Angeles, and a dear friend of mine. Bishop Charles Blake has pastored West Angeles Church in the heart of L.A. for forty-six years! That's what you call "putting down roots" in a congregation and city. There aren't many pastors who've cared for one congregation for that long.
A big reason why many churches are plateaued and declining is because they change leaders every few years. There's no way a church can grow healthy and strong if the office of the pastor has a revolving door. What would happen to a family that got a new daddy every 3 or 4 years? The children would have massive trust issues from not knowing who they could count on, and all kinds of emotional wounds, including a fear of abandonment, poor self-esteem, and a suspicious attitude in relationships. When so many pastors move around every few years, it's no wonder many churches are weakened by conflict, cliques, gossip, and distrust. [ read more]
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| Five Keys to an Incredible Greeters' Ministry | |
By Thom Rainer
Most churches can take five simple steps to create and/or improve their greeters' ministry and potentially see dramatic results. In our surveys of first-time guests, we hear repeatedly that one of the keys that caused them to return was a friendly first impression. Like it or not, it's often a make or break issue for the guest.
So how can you be certain that your greeters are doing everything possible to provide an incredible first-time impression? Here are five "best practices" where churches have dynamic greeter ministries, and where the return rate of guests is high. [read more]
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Try Another Way
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Have you ever shared the Good News of Jesus with someone and they just didn't seem to understand? Try another approach. We'll send you one 90-minute CD which has a presentation entitled: "I Have Good News for You About a Savior Who Saves You." It's by Pastor Don. It's free. We'll pay the shipping. Give it to someone. They can listen to it in their car. Then check back with them in a few weeks. Email us with the name of your church and address and ask for "Jesus CD."
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Stack of Stuff
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To learn just ask them
Want to learn? Eh, ya betcha! Say a neighbor has the neatest lawn in the neighborhood. Ask him how he does it. You know a pastor in your part of the country whose church is always growing. Ask him how he does it. You know someone who always seems to be happy. Ask him how he does it. When you ask, you honor the person and you learn.
Thom Rainer:
"Encourage people to speak to each other at the end of the service. If the service ends on time, encourage people to chat on the way out. Those who desire this interaction will do so. The rest have permission not to do so."
Try to "touch"
mail items only once in the interest of time management.
A video records it
A Planned Parenthood employee goes to lunch and while eating her salad says that the fees paid for fetal body parts adds tremendous "diversification of the revenue stream" for the Planned Parenthood affiliate. This is beyond sad.
Two questions for the agnostic
1. Do you ever hope that you could be wrong? 2. What if you are?
Experts tell us to make it a habit
Get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day for six days of the week (can include walking). For every 60 minutes you sit at your desk, take out 5 minutes to walk around. And, they say, make both a habit.
Make it Israel
If you are planning to travel in the future and haven't visited Israel, make it Israel. You'll be lifted up in mighty fashion.
A not so quotable quote from Paul Dickson
"Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time, and it annoys the pig."
There are all kinds of angels,
and, there is The Angel! "The angel of the Lord" (malak Yahweh). He appeared only in the Old Testament, never in the New Testament. He is a theophany, a manifestation of God before His incarnation. He is the preincarnate Son of God.
It makes an enormous difference
when people really believe that their church (pastor and people) truly loves them and cares for them. Do members not attending your church know?
Take a good look
at your desk top. Are things logically arranged for maximum efficiency? It pays to have everything on your desk where it should be, if it needs to be moved, or even if it should go to "file 13."
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A Nice Letter from Henderson, NC
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 At my church our attendance registration materials were very plain, the folders were torn and really battered looking, and all different kinds of pens. When I showed our Ministry of Worship Committee the burgundy church attendance materials you offer (and I eventually bought), they were excited about how pretty and fresh looking they were - with the matching dove over cross motif on the forms and the covers, and the pens inscribed: "Welcome to Our Worship."
I've been spearheading an effort to spruce up the appearance and appeal of our sanctuary, and these products will add so much. And, I appreciated the excellent prices. Thanks. - Dawn Kucera
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4 Keys to an Exponential Group Launch
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By Allen White
Some launches go better than others. Over the last 10+ years of group launches both in the churches I've served as well as churches I've coached, we have seen some significant progress and we've seen some incremental growth. Whether your launch feels exponential or expected really comes down to your grasp of four keys. [ read more]
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How to Stop Procrastinating in 10 Minutes or Less
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By C. E. Stowers, Rick Warren's Ministry Toolbox, August 6, 2015
Most of us know what we need to do, we just put it off. The problem with procrastination is that it becomes a way of life, a lifestyle. The more you do it, the better you become at it. The Bible has something to say about procrastination. "Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins" (James 4:17). I know the things I ought to do, but I don't do them. Here's why: [read more]
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This Will Make You Jealous of Angela Koobs
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 Angela Koobs is a farmer's daughter, married to a farmer in shining coveralls, and after 13 years, 5 moves and 6 different jobs - they've ended up right back on the farm where they started out. Only this time there's a barn full of cows and a house full of half a dozen home schooled kids.
Ann Vosskamp says: "This family? Is our real life people. Our kids love each other like kin and our men find each other every Sunday after the last hymn. Ang's washing machine is always running, she's always making food for someone who is hungry, and these people always laugh a lot, work hard together and never run out of milk. Every day Ang is humbly reminded how much she doesn't actually know and is astounded by His grace. Our just-down-the-road friends, Angela shares snippets of faith, family and farm." Just click Angela (Please, please read and view the amazing pictures).
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6 Tips for Staff Meetings That Don't Stink
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By Mark Dance, LifeWay, 7/23/15
 Is it fair to say that ministry staff rarely consider staff meetings the pinnacle of their week? I have personally led a lot of boring staff meetings, but I've also led a few that advanced the vision of our church and the unity of our staff. Here are six ways to help insure your staff meetings don't stink: [read more]
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What A Pleasant Surprise!
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 A few years ago Nadine and I attended a worship service expecting to hear the senior pastor preach. Instead, the youth pastor preached on Galatians 3:25-31 and titled his message: "The Gracious Heart of God: 'The Law Verses the Promise.'" We heard a most moving message. At the end of the message he said that he and the senior pastor would be at the back of church when the service was over to meet with anyone who would like to talk abut their relationship with the Lord.
During the reception of the offerings, three people could not wait for the end of the service, but came up to the front and stood there, heads bowed. Wow! Both the youth pastor and senior pastor immediately joined them, spoke with them, and prayed with them. Everyone at the service was deeply moved. Perhaps we, as pastors, should consider inviting people to meet with us after worship. You know when the "day of salvation" is - it's now. - DFG
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Bible Studies Just For Women
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We have seven Bible studies specially written for women by Dee Brestin, and they are reasonable priced.
- A Woman of Moderation dealing with eating healthy. Includes weight graphs, food program, etc.
- A Woman of Confidence based on 1 Peter
- A Woman of Faith based on Esther's life
- A Woman of Contentment from Ecclesiastes
- A Woman of Purpose. 12 studies from Luke
- A Woman of Beauty. 12 lessons from John 1, 2, and 3
- The Joy of Hospitality. How to serve at home and away
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Today be blessed by the Lord
and be a blessing to someone
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