FARMERS AND GARDENERS
The Student Connection is looking for people to grow pumpkins, gourds, and squash for Stuco’s annual pumpkin sale. If you have extra space in a garden or field, call Sandy Ubben at 319-215-6961for seeds in the next few days. Plant, water, weed and harvest. Then place your produce on the flat rack at the Stuco building toward the end of September or contact a Stuco board member to help you harvest.
Church Cleaning Date Changed
Due to the upcoming concert being held in our church, the spring cleaning of the church has been moved back one week to the week of July 2nd through July 6th. Please pass the word around. Thank you.
Let's Play Ball!
The Stout Astrodome in care of the Reformed Church of Stout would like to invite you to participate in our church league softball, The league is mildly competitive coed slow pitch softball. We encourage anyone from 14 yrs old and up to participate. There is a league fee of $75.
We will start our season with a tournament one July 7th during the town Freedomfest. Followed by Tuesday night and possible Thursday night games for 6-8 weeks depending on how many teams are participating Each team will play once a week. If there is an odd number of teas there may be a bye week.
If you’re congregation doesn’t have enough for your own tea, please consider teaming up with another congregation or asking friends, neighbors or coworkers to join your team. We also have teams not affiliated with a church just a town. we can also put you with another team if you want to participate but do not have a team. We consider this a mission outreach of our church and hope that it can be for yours as well.
We will have a new concession stand with handicap and standard bathrooms on it. We have made our goal but if you’d like to donate to that project we would appreciate it, Any extra funds will be used for our next goal of dugouts and fencing repairs.
If you cannot get a team together please participate as a spectator as we have bleachers and benches and plenty of room for lawn chairs.
You will need to either be a team representative for AEPC or a play on another team. Please let us know if you have a team or intend on being on another team by June 10th so we can get a schedule made and handed back out.
Contact information stoutastrodome@gmail.com or
Brad Eiklenborg - 319.269.2019
Brent Smiens - 319.215.7252
Lee Aswegp - 319.415.6657
Nolan Junker - 319.404.8389
News from the Burdsall's
Hello!! Feels like we have had a busy few weeks and a lot to write about and update on. Hopefully this won’t get too long! Wanted to start with some thoughts from my weekend. I was able to attend Without Borders, a conference put on by Crescent Project specifically about reaching out to Muslim women. It was packed full of information, practical tips, testimony, and managed to be informative, worshipful and inspiring all at once. If you ever get a chance to attend, I would recommend.
The info at the conference was great, but a couple challenges stood out to me, dealing with how much importance Jesus has in our life, and also how we view God’s power. The message was reiterated that when we reach out to Muslims, we are not trying to “convert” them, we are sharing Jesus. Of course we pray that once they see Jesus they will want to be with him, but we have to remember that this is God at work and not our own strength alone. And to share Jesus well, we first have to love Jesus deeply ourselves, and love others with the love He pours into us for them.
Then, I heard over and over from women that had come either from persecuted parts of the world, or from a culture where conversion was forbidden. Many had lost everything because of faith in Jesus, but what each one said was that Jesus was enough.
“What is more I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” Philippians 3:8
I love that verse, but haven’t before considered the real power behind Paul’s words, and it was convicting to hear this message shared. Is Christ enough for me? Can I say that? I stress about sharing my faith because someone might not talk to me afterward. I stress about following God to London because it means so much change and upheaval. It was hard to reach out to our Muslim friends in Sioux Falls because it took up so much time. The other question then is why isn’t Christ enough for me? Am I holding back because of fear, or a lack of belief in God’s power? Do I hesitate because I wonder if He will really work?
I wanted to share because I think many of us in the western world forget that God is powerful. We see miracles done around the world within the persecuted church and we forget that the same Spirit and power and miracle worker lives in us here, we have just gotten bogged down with too much “stuff” to see and remember his power. We need to see Him as enough for us, and rest in His hands rather than in the changing world around us. Praying for you all and praying for myself- that we can all remember and take to heart that God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love. (2 Timothy 1:7)
In His Grace,
Colleen, for Scott and the kids
New Legacy Project Coming To Town!
The New Legacy Project is coming to Aplington at the Presbyterian Church on June 27, 2018 to perform at 7 pm. This is a group of gentlemen from Nashville that provides inspiration through music and humor. Their music is a blend of country gospel, traditional, and popular worship music. Maybe you have heard their new hit "God of the Empty Grave".
Come and join the fun and fellowship to hear more about God.
Admission is FREE but there will be a love offering during the performance.
VBS
There's something new this year for VBS! Bible School will be divided into 2 separate weeks for different age groups. Those going into 6th- 8th grade will meet at the Stucco Center on June 11-13, Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, from 2-5:00. Students are to be dropped off and picked up at the Stucco Center. Anyone needing a ride can call Adam Dohrn at 319-404-1582.
PreK through those going into 5th grade will be meeting June 18-21, Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 - 11:30. (PreK is a child who is 4 years old.) Drop off and pick up will be at the Presbyterian church.
Helpers are needed for June 18-21. This includes adults and any middle schoolers that are available to help. Please contact Julie Klahsen or Marty Stahl.
Sign up sheet is on the bulletin board.
Baccalaureate Services
The seniors will be attending Baccalaureate Services this year at the Aplington Evangelical Presbyterian Church on May 16 at 7 p.m. Come and join in the celebration and support the 2018 graduating class with worship, fellowship and scripture.