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Volume 1 , Number 5
Dundee Presbyterian Church Newsletter March/April 2015
Check out photos from DPC Holy Week Events
Youth Mission Trip
The Youth are headed to Martin, SD
Kid’s Fruity Musical
The Kid’s Musical was a hit! P.6
A Word From the Pastor
Read about what’s next at DPC
April
Table of Contents
Upcoming DPC Events ........................................................... 1
Dundee Prayer Chain ............................................................. 2
DPC Day of Prayer & Fasting ................................................. 4
The Road to We’ve Got Spirit ................................................ 6
Holy Week in Photos .............................................................. 8
Alcohol Awareness .................................................................. 10
Youth Mission Trip ................................................................... 11
Dealing with History ................................................................ 12
Mission Sunday
Sunday, April 19th at 10am
Crescendo
Sunday, April 19th at 7pm
Last Faith & Family Night
Wednesday, April 22nd at 6:30pm
May
Day of Prayer & Fasting
Saturday, May 2nd noon (Chapel)
National Day of Prayer Service
Thursday, May 7th at 7pm (Chapel)
Mariners
Saturday, May 9th at 6pm
Mother’s Day
Sunday, May 10th
Book & Bake Sale
Saturday, May 15th 10am
Connections is
a bi-monthly publication from
Dundee Presbyterian Church’s
Markeing & Communications
Department. Our desire for the
newsletter is to capture and
share stories about how God is
working in people’s lives here at
Dundee. We hope you enjoy the
2015 Spring edition.
If you have a story idea please
contact Megan Cotton at
mcotton@dpcomaha.org.
Staff Newsletter Contributors Non-Staff Newsletter Contributors
Interim Senior Pastor & Head of Staff
Rev. Dr. R. Geoffrey Brown // gbrown@dpcomaha.org
Pat Berton
Jean Faulconbridge
Julie Hertzler
Director of Children’s Ministries
Keith Holmes // kholmes@dpcomaha.org
Photo Contributors
Director of Youth Ministries
Andy Menth// amenth@dpcomaha.org
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Megan Cotton // mcotton@dpcomaha.org
Megan Cotton
Keith Holmes
Editor in Chief & Graphic Designer
Megan Cotton
Presbyterian Women
Bible Study & Luncheon
Friday, May 15th 9:30am (Bible study)
Noon Luncheon
Graduation Sunday
Sunday, May 17th
Tower’s Last Sunday
Sunday, May 31st
Faith Community Nurse
Regina Wilson // trink04@hotmail.com
1
Saturday, May 2 nd , 2015
You may think, why a day set aside for prayer
and fasting? Or, “Oh that sounds scary!”
The focus for this fast and prayer is to seek after the
Lord God to work out His way in our church while
we surrender our ways to Him. It is for all ages, children and youth united with their family, couples, singles. Example: Families could give up all media for
the day and replace it with activities that focus on
prayer, scripture, creation. Keith Holmes and Andy
Menth are great sources of ideas for you; specific
ministry groups of the church could agree to fast
from food for 8 hours and during that time meet and
pray together. These are just ideas. Pastor Brown
and Tower are good sources for other ideas.
Well, neither prayer nor fasting are scary things. Just
think of it as removing something from your life for
a time and replacing it with God. The purpose of
this day is to give the people of DPC a day that we
corporately focus more on God than on our personal
needs. Fasting and prayer are a means of grace that
God has given His people in order that they might
grow in a personal relationship with Him. He meets
us where we are in our faith and draws us closer to
Him as we set aside the distractions of the world.
A prayer guide will be available to help direct
prayer for specific ministries and needs of the
church that day. The Prayer Ministry will be soliciting the ministry areas of the church for their
specific prayer needs to be included in the guide.
Why a day for DPC fasting and prayer now?
First of all, God initiated this thought in the hearts
of the leadership of the Prayer Ministry. They communicated this to the Session who then gave its approval. DPC is in great need of God’s direction and
provision at this time. We need pastors, finances,
and direction for every ministry within the church. It
is through repentance of the ways of man and the
world and submission to Christ our Lord and the
working of the Holy Spirit that transformation and
revival happens. Then God will be glorified in our
midst. By setting aside a day focused as a body of
Christ on God we call out to Him to be our guide to
move us from where we are to where He desires for
us to be as His church.
“No Christian should ever pray as if he
were changing the will of God. We pray
to conform our hearts to His will, which
is always to bless those who are obedient.” John MacArthur, Elements of True Prayer
What is fasting? It is a spiritual invitation to the
National Day of Prayer, Thursday, May 7,2015
people of God. Generally when we think of a fast
we think of abstaining from food for spiritual purposes. But a fast doesn’t have to be about food.
The purpose of a fast is to eliminate distractions of
the world in order to focus our heart, soul, and mind
upon God in prayer. Examples of fasts other then
food are media, materialistic pursuits, to do lists, socializing, whatever takes your focus away from God.
What is prayer? It is talking with God. It doesn’t
have to happen alone and in seclusion. Anytime,
any place, prayer can happen. After all, we are told
to prayer without ceasing which is praying continuously throughout our day (1 Thess 5:17).
Additionally, a time to gather for teaching and
prayer will be held in the Chapel on the May 2nd
from 12 noon – 1 p.m.
the power to help bring about change as we unite
together. Please say yes to prayer on May 7.
Prayer Opportunities
Prayer Class, Mondays, 1 – 3 p.m., April 13 – May 11
Prayer – Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God
by Timothy Keller will be the book discussed in this 5
week class held in the dining room annex. The book
may be purchased for $17 whether you are able to
attend the class or not. Contact Julie Hertzler to
register for the class and for information.
Sunday Mornings
8:30am North Annex
8:40am Parlor
Tuesday Evenings
5:30pm Chapel
Getting Involved
To become more involved with prayer at DPC
contact one of these Prayer Ministry partners: Mo
Anderl, Pat Berton, Karen Cote, Georgie Dudley, Jo
Fanders, Julie Garfield, Kim Hansen, Julie Hertzler,
Susan Mathers, Jeanne Niederhaus, Ellen Scott,
Fred Vogt, Kathy Wischow.
Men’s Opportunity
7 Sundays at 7:15am-7:45am
Pastor Brown is looking to recruit 7
men to pray with him once every 7
Sundays in our sanctuary on Sunday
mornings for 30 minutes from
7:15a.m. to 7:45 a.m. Email him your
yes at gbrown@dpcomaha.org.
Prayer is not a ministry within the church, prayer is
part of every ministry within the church. If not, the
church is just one more secular organization.
May the power and love of Jesus Christ be experienced
through prayer at DPC all to the glory of God.
Submitted by Julie Hertzler
The Prayer Ministry is encouraging the people of
DPC to join with millions of others throughout this
land to bring our nation before God’s throne in
humble intercession.
2
To assist you in joining this cause Pastor Brown’s
sermon focus for May 3 will be prayer and NDP
prayer guides will be available beginning April
26th. Look for them around the church. Also, a
NDP service will be held in the DPC Chapel, 7-8
p.m. on May 7. With our world and nation in turmoil
we can feel powerless to do anything about it. But
we are not powerless. With prayer, God’s power
can be unleashed throughout this land. We have
3
dd
Prayer Chain, Then & Now
Deadline:
On Sunday evenings Pat Berton and Julie
Garfield coordinate the prayer request
information they have received during the
week. On Monday evenings the email prayer
list is sent out. Contacting dpcprayerchain@
gmail.com, Pat, or Julie with prayer requests
before Sunday evening will insure that your
request is included in the week’s information.
40 years ago a prayer ministry began at
Dundee with the conception of a prayer chain
that has been operating ever since to the glory
of God. In the 1970’s our associate pastor was
Orville Roth. During a meeting, Pastor Roth’s
wife, Fran, said, “This church needs a prayer
chain.” Pat Berton took that as her cue to
begin one. From that time forward, until email
became the norm, there has been a group of
men and women, who received a call from Pat
and then called seven or eight others. At the
present time, Pat still has several people she
calls on a weekly basis. For some, Pat’s call
is not only a call to prayer but also a call of
care. Many are touched by Pat’s good cheer,
thoughtful expressions of friendship, and her
good listening ear.
Frequency:
Our aim is to have the prayer chain go out
weekly unless there is a crisis involving a
church member or their immediate family.
The hope is that individuals praying never
feel overwhelmed with requests or emails.
Updates:
We are thankful for those who have the gift
of prayer and take the needs and concerns
of the congregation before the Lord to ask
for his mercy, healing and guidance. We are
also thankful that many people desire to
have their needs brought before the Lord in
prayer. At times, however, the prayer list can
become quite long and full of names that have
been left on the list for many weeks without
updates. To keep the prayer list manageable
and current, the following guidelines have
been put in place.
Names will remain on the prayer chain for
two weeks with the following caveats:
1) If a surgery, baby delivery, or treatment
date is given and there is no follow up before
Monday, the name will be removed from the
prayer list. It is important for those submitting
requests to follow up.
Today, the email version of the prayer chain
reaches approximately 100 individuals. If
you would like to receive the prayer chain
by email, send your name and email address
to dpcprayerchain@gmail.com. This email
is accessed by a point person for the prayer
chain team who will give your request to Pat
for telephone forwarding as well as send
your request out to others on the email list
on Monday evening.
How to use of the prayer chain:
1) Anyone needing prayer can be added to
the prayer chain by anyone.
2) Prayer requests should be anonymous
or first name only unless the request is
submitted by the individual requesting
prayer or an immediate family member.
3) Keep details short and specific: The
prayer chain must avoid any information
that moves it from prayer chain to
newsletter or gossip column.
4
2) Churchmembers whohave long-term illnesses
will remain on the prayer chain indefinitely as a
reminder that they need prayer to sustain them.
Updates are always appreciated but we know
that sometimes the report doesn’t change much
from week to week.
“ Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and
supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance,
making supplication for all the saints…” Ephesians 6:18
Ways to submit a request
The best way to submit a request to the prayer chain is to email it directly to the prayer chain email
address (dpcprayerchain@gmail.com). This method is quick, easy, and fewer people are involved
in transmitting the request. You may also submit on the church website by clicking on “prayer” on
the home page. This will enable you to submit a request directly to the prayer chain email.
If the computer is not your thing, you may also communicate requests by using the prayer cards
in the sanctuary pews, by speaking with a pastor, Regina Wilson (one of the community nurses) or
Jann Glenn (the pastor’s secretary)
Thank you Pat!
Pat Berton, has not only been faithful to God’s call to the prayer chain, but also to many years of
teaching the Truth of Scripture. Next time you see her in the hallways of DPC, stop and say thank
you. God has done great work through her.
“Well done good and faithful servant..” Matt 25:23
5
We
had wanted to do another kid’s musical
since “Exodus: The Musical” in 2013. It had been so
well received, and had been a blast! However, our
church had many changes since. Could we garner
interest? Would there be people? We had a new
Children’s Director, Keith Holmes. Would he go for it?
Erban wrote and directed a play for us and allowed
me to create incidental music for it. She was always
creating opportunities for kids to shine from K-12. I
believe children develop boldness and confidence
if they are given opportunities to play important
roles in a small setting like their own church. My
children had those opportunities growing up in
Dundee Presbyterian Church (years ago!) and
today’s children deserve the same -- a feeling both
Andy and Keith shared with me.
I did my best sales job. It would take only six weeks
of rehearsal. It would spice up the lull after Advent.
“What will the musical be about?” Keith asked. “I
think the kids need to learn about how the Holy Spirit
develops our faith through our everyday problems,”
I suggested. “So the first scene will teach about
the Fruit of the Holy Spirit, followed by three agespecific vignettes, like Goofus & Gallant, remember,
from Highlights Magazine for Children?” I had not
written more than an outline by then.
Andy Menth, who was around for our first musical,
did not need any convincing. “I want to involve the
junior high, if we could?” I asked. “Come on down,”
he invited, “and make your pitch to the kids at Crash!”
And what a response from families! Thirty-three
young people ages 4 - 13 took part. Feeling the
extent of eagerness and talent I rewrote three of
the scenes to provide speaking roles for all but the
youngest children. And what great parents! Parents
helped teach the songs and manage the rehearsals.
Jackie McLellan helped the children create some
“fruit” for the set. Putting on a musical requires
a very reliable pianist. So when Nancy Edwards
agreed to accompany us I breathed a big sigh
of relief. Then I knew the performance would go
smoothly. Chuck Reagan rescued Keith and I from
microphone difficulties and readied the Chapel
for our invasion. Megan Cotton put together the
playbill and put in the T-shirt order (the kids looked
great in their Dundee Church logo shirts!).
Keith and Andy were great! Andy offered the
Underground as rehearsal area at 11 on Sunday
mornings. Keith offered publicity, and rehearsal time
during the 11:00 time slot, and time each Wednesday
at Faith & Family Night. His battle cry was: “whatever
you need.”
Then on March 1st at 3 pm the keyed-up kids prayed
with me, and proceeded onto the Chapel floor and
wowed their parents and parishioners. Singing and
dancing their way through five songs, everyone
remembered their lines! …and the Dundee mission
continues…!
My love of children’s theater stemmed from my own
3rd grade experience when my teacher Mrs. Helen
Submitted by Jean Faulconbridge
Keith, who has a theater background, became more
and more enthused as we spoke. “And you will direct
– and cast it?” he asked. I could tell by the gleam in
his eye, he was sold!
6
"
-Jean Faulconbridge
Holy Week
At Dundee Presbyterian
8
10
Alcohol Awareness Month
Drinking too much alcohol
If you are drinking too much, you can improve
your health by cutting back or quitting. Here
are some strategies to help you cut back or
stop drinking:
•Limit your drinking to no more than 1
drink a day for women or 2 drinks a day
for men.
• Keep track of how much you drink.
• Choose a day each week when you will not drink.
• Don’t drink when you are upset.
• Avoid places where people drink a lot
• Make a list of reasons not to drink.
increases people’s risk of injuries, violence,
drowning, liver disease, and some types of
cancer. This April during Alcohol Awareness
Month, we at Dundee Presbyterian
encourage you to educate yourself and your
loved ones about the dangers of drinking
too much.
Excessive alcohol use leads to about 88,000
deaths in the United States each year.
Alcohol abuse leads to many long term
health problems including:
•Chronic diseases
•Cancers
•Learning and memory problems
•Mental health issues
•Social problems
If you are concerned about someone else’s
drinking, offer to help:
• Local AA meetings (Thursday evenings at
Dundee)
• Encourage them to meet with a substance abuse counselor
• Discuss your concerns with a Faith
Community Nurse at Dundee
Excessive alcohol use is defined as:
•Men- 15 or more drinks per week
•Women- 8 or more drinks per week
Submitted by Regina Wilson
Content from US Department of Health
10
Youth Mission Trip
This summer DPC middle and high school students have the
opportunity to attend a mission experience! Please be in prayer for
our youth as we head to Martin, South Dakota July 26-31st.
Martin offers a mix of a small town South
serves children from those same neighborhoods and
is hosted just one block from our housing site. Various
activities allow for fairly relaxed evenings. Activities
might include an in-town scavenger hunt, hearing from
a local speaker, a small pow-wow put on by community
friends, and community cookout.
Service On Site
Dakota community with Native American heritage.
With the Pine Ridge Reservation wrapping around
to the north and west and the Rosebud Sioux Indian
Reservation just east, the location of the small town
provides unique access to the Lakota culture. The
history of this area is a somewhat painful one: under
the Homestead Act of 1863, the land in Bennett
County was deemed to be good “farming land,”
so it was taken from the native people and sold
to individuals who were moving into the newly
established Dakota Territory (now North and South
Dakota). This created deep tension and frustration
that still exists today between the whites and
natives in the area. Martin boasts a Native American
population of nearly 50%. It is also the county seat
of Bennett County, in which about 35% of the
population lives below the poverty line – nearly three
times more than the South Dakota state average.
Service On Site
During half the week, your students will lead Bible
lessons, games, reading time or crafts with community
children. During the other half of the week you will
serve through simple work projects such as yard work,
painting or cleaning.
YouthWorks Relationship
YouthWorks marked its first summer in Martin in 2001.
Over the years we have created good relationships
with the community, especially at the Bennett County
Schools, where we have stayed for the majority of
our time in Martin. It is not uncommon for community
friends to drop by throughout the day and interact
with teenagers and adults.
Community
Since Martin is located near Reservations but
not directly on one, this community is perfect for
groups who desire to dip their toes in a less-intense
intercultural experience, while still meeting very
real needs in the community. Home improvement
projects serve both the residents of Martin and
the nearby tribal housing development. Kids Club
Submitted by Andy Menth
www.youthworks.com
11
I want at this point just
Some Interim Pastor Thoughts on Our Transitional Time
Some
of you may be familiar with the tasks that face us during an interim time
between permanent pastors. The experienced teachers, as well as the books tell us it’s
necessary to walk through five developmental phases together. Maybe not in the following exact order, but nevertheless, taking a look at each one and encountering these
five phase with prayerful hearts and demeanors, as well as in relational connections with
each other in Jesus Christ—well, it’s important in our growth in grace.
So here are those “big five”:
to take a beginning look together at the first one,
the one in bold above.
•Living in the present while still accepting and
honoring the past.
•Reflections on “Coming to Terms with
History” (#1 Above)
•Movement through the grief process; closure
of relationships with the previous pastor—that’s
closure, not elimination or rejection.
The basic aim in our coming to terms with history is
to acknowledge the past and accept both its good
and bad by relying on the grace of God in Christ
the Lord to help us. Also important here is our
deciding what is important and worthwhile to carry
into the future as DPC’s Session, Deacons, staff
and congregation are led by the Holy Spirit. In the
midst of all of this we are asking, “Have we grieved?
Have we accepted the change that’s around us and
inescapable? Are we able to move on? Have we
expressed feelings together—both the sad and the
glad concerning the yesterdays of DPC?
Some indications of possible non-resolution
regarding the history of DPC:
•Continuing to dwell on the past with the wish to
take us back there…
1. Coming to Terms with History
2. Discovering a New Identity
Leadership Changes During the Interim:
3.Welcoming
Them, Discerning Them
4. Renewing Denominational Linkages
Commitment to New Directions in Ministry &
5.Welcoming
the New Pastor
12
Some strong indicators of resolution regarding the
history of DPC:
•Being stuck in grief, anger, denial, guilt,
alienation…
•Declining membership can come in here as a
possible indicator…
•Unwillingness to consider the “why” of DPC
traditions…
•Pastor Jordan’s ongoing influence blocking
openness to new and different directions and
leadership?
•Trying to clone the Pastor Jordan or find his or
her exact opposite.
•Stabilizing membership, monetary giving holding
steady, participation in programs remaining all right.
•Open to change and ready to try new ideas.
•Asking process questions openly and with
permission: Where are we going? What do we do
now? What do we cherish or want to begin?
•Investment in current and future issues in ministry
and mission.
•New mission statement or adaptations and
refinements, improvements.
•Healthy humor.
With you, I am aware that the above is only ancillary, not
conclusive. What I mean is it encourages our thought,
our vigilance, our perspectives, our conversations.
And in the midst of the ongoing dialogue of an interim
pastorate time, we talk. We discern. We pray. We stay
close to Christ and to each other. We stay hopeful. We
remain patient and persevering. And we worship God
like there’s no tomorrow.
For God will help us. He is our strength. Our rock.
Our fortress. Psalm 46 arches over DPC as the Lord
Jesus Christ walks us steadily into His tomorrow by
the strong arms of His Providence (Matthew 10:29-31;
Romans 8:28).
Blessings and love in Christ our Savior,
Interim Pastor Geoffrey
Dundee Presbyterian Service Times:
9am Rejoice! Service // 11am Traditional Service
If you have a story suggestion for an upcoming issue of Connections,
please contact Megan Cotton at mcotton@dpcomaha.org.