Upcoming Events Sunday Worship Times:

8:45 and 10:30 AM in the

sanctuary

August 5-6—Tuesday & Wednesday, Maranatha Annual Blood Drive in the Ministry Center. Tuesday, 12:30 - 6:30 PM and

Wednesday, 8 AM– 1PM.

August 7—Thursday, Corporate Prayer at 7:00 PM

at Maranatha.

August 8—Friday, Helpers w/ wheelbarrows & rakes needed to spread the bark/mulch on the flower beds, 3-?

PM at Maranatha.

August 10—Sunday, Missionary visit by David & Tina Brogan, missionaries to Birmingham, England will speak briefly at our morning

worship services.

August 16—Saturday, “No God, Know God” Concert at the Soul Garage. Admission is $5/person and doors open at 5:30 PM; concert starts at

6:00 PM.

August 17—Sunday, Picnic/Potluck and Baptism Service at Silver Lake (Grant County Park Pavilion at 12:30 PM. Interested in being baptized?

Contact a pastor for details.

August 24 & 31—Sundays,

Pre-registration for Children’s Fall Sunday School, AWANA, & Nursery in the Welcome

Center between services.

Maranatha Evangelical Free Church August 2014

Maranatha Ministry Minute

As we begin looking ahead into our fall season, there are some

important changes we wanted to make you aware of that directly

impact many ministries.

First, as was announced on July 27, 2014, Pastor Tony will now be

able to devote his full attention to the youth program. After many

meetings and heartfelt discussions, we feel this will put Pastor Tony

in the best position to use his passions and God-given talents.

We are grateful for his service these last two years and look forward to seeing

the fruits of his labor.

To that end, Heather Cox will be taking the lead as our Children’s Ministries

Director. Heather has had this role before and looks forward to partnering with

the Children’s Ministry Team and launching our fall programs fully charged and

fully staffed. Heather’s heart is to instill in our children the love of Jesus and a

deeper awareness of how much God loves them. Please be in prayer for our

children and youth as these ministries move ahead.

Secondly, Lucas Neraasen will be assuming the Worship Arts leader position

beginning on August 3rd. Lucas and his wife Cheyenne are serving on staff at

YWAM Northwoods. He will provide much needed continuity to our Worship Arts

Ministry. Lucas has faithfully served in this capacity before and we look

forward to seeing his gifts and talents on display as he leads our congregation in

weekly worship.

We regularly receive questions from the congregation with regards to where we

are in the search process. The surveys are in, the results have been tabulated

and the search team continues in their efforts to whittle down the process to

find the man God has chosen to lead us in this next season. The next step is

the formulation of a profile that will be used on a ministry matching website

developed by the EFCA and one of the primary tools for pastoral placement

within the EFCA. Thank you for your continued prayers on this and look for

upcoming announcements regarding corporate prayer opportunities. Our next

corporate prayer will be Thursday, August 7th at 7:00 PM in the sanctuary.

You will see lots of focus on vision and mission in the coming months. The

goal is always to understand what we do and why we do it. The “what we do”

is to make disciples and the “why we do it” is to bring God glory in all we do.

Let the mission and vision of Maranatha always be clear and the reason why we

do what we do. Thanks for all you do in His name.

Darren Cox on behalf of the Maranatha Elder Board

August 2014

Youth on a Mission—To Chicago

All on the Altar When you were a kid, did you ever miss the school bus, or a ride to somewhere you were supposed to be? It is a sinking, out-of-control feeling. I used to have to walk ¾ of a mile to the bus stop. This wouldn’t be a bad thing, but my mom insisted that we eat a pancake and egg each morning before heading out the door. It gets real hard to run that far on a heavy stomach. Better planning on my part would have saved my linear panic run for the bus. “I just don’t have time for that anymore.” I hear this quite often these days. My question to you is, “What are you doing with your time?” I find time to do lots of things. I like cooking, being creative, gardening, or spending time reading. I love spending time on the phone with my kids who have now launched lives of their own. I like being involved in their lives even though two of the three of them live over four hours away. I like to think they still need me. Truth is, I love being their mother and staying connected with them. Finding time to spend with them is important, so I do that. I also like hiking and kayaking—both of which I don’t do as much as I would like—because it takes greater blocks of time and commitment for me to do. I love spending time with great friends enjoying nature and relaxing. These things are important to me, but not as important as family. I want to commit more time to do these things, but I have responsibilities. My responsibilities take precedence. We all want more time, more peace, more quiet, more time to do things well. In CS Lewis’ novel “The Screwtape Letters” the character

Screwtape is sending his nephew Wormwood a series of letters of how to foil and discourage Christians. The plans God has for His people is different from what the enemy has for mankind. Screwtape makes a proposal to let man think that his life is his own, and his time belongs to himself. For Screwtape the best way to separate God’s people from Him is to wear us down with lies that hold selfishly onto worldly things, while the higher calling is neglected. Screwtape tells his nephew“...the safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” Ephesians 2:10 says: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” What are your responsibilities, your highest calling, and what are the tyrannies that tie up time? Is your heart

committed? Lay out the big things, then examine the lesser things. Do you have something that appears big, but is not “best,” taking up your time? There’s an old song that goes something like this: “You have longed for sweet peace, And for faith to increase, And have earnestly, fervently prayed; But you cannot have rest, Or be perfectly blest, Until all on the altar is laid. Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid? Your heart does the Spirit control? You can only be blest, And have peace and sweet rest, As you yield Him your body and soul.” Is your life laid on the altar for God to use and control? I hope that you make time so He can bless you. Don’t overlook opportunities to belong to something bigger than yourself. We always need someone to be praying for the church, for the body of believers world-wide, and for our neighbors. An opportunity for Corporate Prayer will come on Thursday, August 7th at 7:00 PM here at Maranatha. It just might be the blessing you are looking for. In Christ, carmen

Young Adults Ministry

Cook-Out

At

Don & Susie Stiver’s

Maranatha Men’s Softball

Going into

Championship

Play-Offs

Maranatha Men’s Division III Softball

Team will play against Mary’s Midway

Team on Wednesday, August 6th at

7:30 PM at Gilbertson Field north of

Rainbow Hardware on Hammond

Avenue. This will be for the Rice Lake

Slow-Pitch Division III Title. Come

cheer on the team!!

Please include these people in your prayers:

Jim Delany, Ethan Peterson, Lillian Bjugstad, Violet Fossum, Marilyn Longseth, Clarence & Nancy Peters, Stan Oftedahl, Marv Oftedahl, Darlene Strohmeyer, Howard Stone, Lois Clement, Ray Caldwell, Scott Franson, Don & Nadine Murley, Pat Swanson, Connie Blix, Edith Gauthier, Nona Schreiber’s sister and husband Bill, Roccy Raymond, Chasta Cimfl’s aunt, Bob Lindner’s sister Linda Schatz and cousin Dennis, Keven Jensen’s mother MaryAnn, Jeannine Zook’s dad Bill, Mike Green’s father-in-law Tom, Paul Murry’s brother Benny, Glen Wegner’s brother Greg, Esther Swan’s brother David and sisters Freida and Barbara, Kathy Johnson’s mother Irene Vaughn, Lee & Shelby Wohlk’s grandson Jesse, Cheri Kromrey’s sister, Fran Reich’s children, Lillian Bjugstad’s son Mark & nephew Evan, Elfriede Harwart’s children, Don & Bernadette Park’s son Bruce, Becky Brunette’s cousin’s daughter Raegan, Linda Godfrey’s sister, Jane Gudim’s mother Dorothy, Sandy Hodge’s sister Jo and daughter Karen, Leah Margan’s niece Leanna, Mary Benson’s sister Darlene, Patricia Young’s brother Harlan, Mary Graese’s sister Corinne, Leslie Jaastad’s friends Renee,

“But God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld His love from me!” Psalm 66:19-20

Brady & little Remedy, Rick & Laura Hill’s brother-in-law Rick and dad Jim and friend Margo.

Residents of Nursing Care: Rice Lake Convalescent Center: Ruth Fredrickson-Olson. Heritage Manor: Clarence & Nancy Peters

Serving in the military: Roccy & Diann Raymond’s Daughter Shelley is serving in Turkey. Debbie Stoeberl’s nephew Jacob Polzin is serving in the Navy in the Persian Gulf. Mike & Lori Green’s son Kyle is serving overseas in the Navy. Dave & Darlene Strohmeyer’s daughter Dawn is serving in the Middle East. Jim & Laurie Caple’s son Stephen is serving as lieutenant in the Air Force in the Middle East.

Praises: The safe birth of Adalee & Aalijah Nelmark to parents Dustin & Esther on July 20th. Two children accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord & Savior at VBS. The successful youth short-term mission trip to Chicago. Lives were changed.

Congregational Care - Prayer Concerns

Pastoral Search Update What's been happening since our last report from July? The congregation has turned in over 110 surveys (If you have-n't seen the results pick up a copy at the Connecting Point). There was a Natural Church Development Survey done by 30 ministry leaders. A Ministry Match is being completed by the search team and elders to enter into the EFCA web site that we will use for the senior pastor search (match). If you would like to take a look at what we are using go to ministerconnection.net. All the information is coming together. It's exciting to see God bringing us together as we move forward to completing the task of calling a new senior pastor.

In His service,

The Search Team

Silver Lake

Baptism Service

Sunday, August 17th at 12:30 PM If you are interested in being baptized, please contact one

of our pastors at 715-234-8313 or

blerch@maranathafree.com

paul@maranathafree.com

tony@maranathafree.com

Grill out and all-church potluck at Grant Park Pavilion at Silver Lake begins at 12:30 PM.

People with last names beginning with

A-H bring hot dishes to serve 10

I-P bring salads, vegetables, or fruit (10 servings)

Q-R bring ketchup, mustard, pickles, or diced onions

S-Z bring dessert.

See you there!!

Maranatha Blood Drive—Tuesday & Wednesday, Maranatha Red Cross Blood Drive in the Ministry Center. Tuesday, 12:30 - 6:30 PM and Wednesday, 8 AM– 1PM. We still need volunteers, so sign-up at the Connecting Point. Also all blood donors welcome!! Corporate Prayer: Thursday, August 7th at 7:00 PM at Maranatha. Helpers needed: to spread the bark/mulch on the flower beds, Friday, August 8thm 3-? PM at Maranatha. Bring garden forks, wheelbarrows &/or rakes to help the process go faster. Thanks! Missionary Visit: David & Tina Brogan, our missionaries to Birmingham, England will be at Maranatha on Sunday, August 10th for morning worship services. They will present their mission vision for Christian and Muslim relationships in United Kingdom. “No God, Know God” Concert at the Soul Garage on Saturday, August 16th. Admission is $5/person and doors open at 5:30 PM; concert starts at 6:00 PM. Concert features rap group “the watchmen,” rock band “Escorting Courtney” and Worship by “Breaking Chains”. Silver Lake Picnic/Potluck and Baptism Service—at 12:30 PM at Grant County Park Pavilion on Silver Lake, Sunday, August 17th. Potluck will include those who names begin with A-H please bring hot dish to serve 10, I-P bring salads, vegetables, or fruit (serve 10), Q-R bring ketchup, mustard, pickles, relish or diced onions, and S-Z please bring dessert. If you are interested in being baptized, please contact a pastor before August 14th. Thank you. Master Food Preservers present canning class at Maranatha, using the kitchen Monday night, 4:00-10:00 August 18. to preserve peaches and pickles. We will charge $10 per person to cover the food and book costs; each participant goes home with jars of food and instruction books. To register by August 13th or for more information contact Mary Holmes at 715-418-9761 or m-holmes@bethel.edu. Preregistration for Children’s Fall Sunday School, nursery and AWANA will begin on Sunday August 24th & 31st in the Welcome Center (Lobby). Parents, please drop by and preregister your children. Thank you. Women's Bible Studies begin the week of September 15 — The Patriarchs: Encountering the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob by Beth Moore Patriarchs is a 10 week journey through Genesis 12-50. Discover God's pursuit of a relationship with man, and marvel as His plan to bless all people unfolds. Full of twists and turns, ruin and redemption, revelation and mystery this Bible study keeps participants captivated by the God who stars in it! Explore concepts such as blessing, covenant, and promise, and the bearing each has on a New Testament believer's life today. Group members will also study the Hebrew names of God introduced on the early pages of Scripture. Many of the most profound and enduring concepts in the whole counsel of God's Word are initiated in this marvelous book of beginnings. Watch for further information. Contact: Mary Holmes m-holmes@bethel.edu or 715-418-9761. No Children’s Sunday School for the month of August. Have a great month and we will see you September 7th for the kick-off of our Fall Sunday School. Nursery is still available for ages 0-30 months in the nursery for the month of August. Continue to Pray for our Pastoral Search Process: Please keep the pastoral search team in prayer as they continue in the process of search for our new Senior Pastor. Team members include: Jane Farm, Mary Graese, Frank Helquist, Bill Lerch, John Peterson, Roccy Raymond, Doug Ripplinger and Stacey Wenzel. Pray for the team as they seek God’s guidance . Sonshine Ladies Bible Study meets every Thursday In the Conference room at Maranatha at 1:30 PM. For further information, contact Val Caldwell at 715-234-4432 Service Times : Sunday services are 8:45 AM & 10:30 AM. Nursery is available for infants through 36 months in the main church for all services.

3340 S. Main Street

Rice Lake, WI 54868

Phone: 715-234-8313

mefc@chibardun.net

Maranatha Evangelical Free Church

We’re on the Web!

www.maranathafree.com

August 2014

August Announcements