This time between Easter and Pentecost is called the Great Fifty Days.  This is the time when the first century disciples met with the risen Lord and learned much about what his ministry here on earth really meant.  It is a time when the disciples discovered their leadership abilities and the church began to takes its form.

Worship was being created as a public institution.  The disciples lead in public singing of praise to God, reading and interpreting the Scriptures, public times of prayer and corporate times of affirming God’s goodness, grace and presence were being formulated.

For us, in this twenty-first century, much of worship seems fairly settled and sometimes too automatic.  I sometimes wonder if our traditions have become so ingrained that they have lost some of their meaning and freshness to us.  But, our affirmations, both public and private still tell us of God’s goodness, grace, and presence with us.

Pentecost is often celebrated as the birthday of the church.  This is the time when the Holy Spirit was given in as a permanent counselor and encourager for us.  This is the time when Peter’s sermon so moved the people that 3000 were baptized and taught what membership in the Body of Christ meant.

As we approach Pentecost, let us think together about the meaning of church membership, about the importance of belonging to the Body of Christ, and what a new indwelling of the Holy Spirit would accomplish in our lives and our communities.

Announcements:

1. Church World Service and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance are desperate for CLEAN-UP BUCKETS for the flooded areas of northern Arkansas and southern Missouri.  One bucket cost approximately $50.  Donations may be made to fund #DR1000151.  Or, if you would like to make the bucket itself, the list of ingredients is in the Festival of Sharing pamphlet from last year.  If there are buckets available by May 31^st, I will take them to Presbytery meeting and we can send them together with others.

2. Church World Service has sent the following report of kits distributed in 2007.  Many of these kits came from you through the Festival of Sharing.

SCHOOL KITS --83,663 total, 875 in the US,

HYGIENE KITS --104,322 total, 10,092 in the US

BABY KITS --10,320 total, 1,695 in the US

CLEAN-UP BUCKETS--1,239 total, 1,239 in the US

WOOLEN BLANKETS --13,380 total, 8,160 in the US

LIGHT BLANKETS --44,850 total, 2,900 in the US

The Tri-County Specialized Ministry is please with the continued support to the Birk Memorial Fund.  This fund is a scholarship program available to graduating high school seniors who are college-bound and have actively participated in the worship of one of our three churches (Range Line, Longwood and Otterville).  The amount of the scholarship is determined by the number of candidates each year and the amount of money available that year. 

We encourage all youth to be active in church worship.  They are the future of our churches, and this fund is one way that we can support their efforts to continue their education.

Providing financial assistance for these future leaders will continue to be an important goal of the TCSM Council.  If you agree and want to help, you may send your tax deductible contributions to:

The Leo Birk Memorial Scholarship Fund

% Jim Bales, Treasurer

2100 W. Main

Sedalia, MO 65301

Thank you for your help in making this a living memorial.                   From your TCSM Council

Section L

Spring is here, at least the calendar tells us so! Doesn't feel like it most days, but the grass is getting green, flowers are blooming, and the birds are singing, what more could we ask for? 

Easter is past, it was a cold day, but we had a great Easter Service.  Breakfast was afterwards—about all the pews were filled. Thanks to the good cooks for all of the donated food, especially the "off the farm" brown eggs that the McMackins furnished.  April PW met Wed. the 3^rd with Edrie Walk, and five of us there. Edrie has been under the weather with an allergic reaction to medication, so we were glad to be able to meet with her.  Our devotional was from Horizon magazine.  We had lesson #7, “Back from the Brink,” from Ruth 2.  The lesson stressed that God's call and care come through people and coincidences.  There are two more lessons on Ruth in the study book and then we will be studying Luke.  

Our collection was $30. It was voted to pay our commitment fee, so a check went to MUPPW treasurer.  Betty had the financial report; we had a few small bills to pay.  We had a church supply book that had banners, so we picked out the ones we wanted, four in a set, and Sharon will order them. She has money donated by the Longwood School Reunion, so the women will make up the difference of the cost. 

Spring Gathering of PW, will be Thurs. April 24^th, at Otterville Church.  Registration will be at 9:00 and coffee time also.  We pray for a good day for traveling.  We will also be celebrating the 20^th birthday of PW.  Back in 1988, is when the Presbyterian Church in the US, and the United Presbyterian Church USA joined together to become one group.  Some changes were made, but some of the mission work is the same.  We have the same purpose.  Here it is: 

“Presbyterian Women Purpose:

Forgiven and freed by God in Jesus Christ;

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves,

·   To nurture our faith through prayer and Bible study,

·   To support mission of the church worldwide,

·   To work for justice and peace,

·   To build and inclusive and caring Community of Women that strengthens the Presbyterian Church (USA) and witnesses to the promise of God's Kingdom.” 

Next meeting will be Thurs. June 5^th lesson #8, Ruth 3.

God Bless all.  We love God because we know who he is.  God loves us despite who we are. God's unconditional love for us should motivate us to love others unconditionally.  From "God is in the Small Stuff."

This is actually a joy, and maybe a concern too, but it is good to see Ray Scheese back from his heart attack. Stay well, Ray!

April

May

If you have church news that belongs in our paper, please let us know, bring it to church, or send it to the address on the cover page.  Thanks for your help!

Section O

Sunday School each Sunday at 10:00 a.m., Worship at 11:00 a.m.

Choir practice each Wed. evening at 6:00

The Otterville Presbyterian Church will host the Spring Gathering for MUP on Thursday, April 24th.  The Moderator of PW for the Synod will be one of the speakers for the day.  Students from the High School will be serving lunch.  Mary McLaughlin will bring a humorous look at “Women, Politics and Justice”.  The day will close with worship, communion, and the necrology report for 2007.  Mrs. Helen Coffelt, Range Line Presbyterian Church, will present special music on the cello. 

The following are the results of the third quarter honor roll at Otterville School:

Eagle Excellence Club (All A’s):  Brian Blankenship and Brittney Castle

Gold Honor Roll: Macheznie Craig, Kayla Griffin, and Chelci Stone.

Purple Honor Roll: Garret Thompson

Garret Thompson also took third place in Algebra I at the CCAA Math Contest in March.  The Otterville team finished in

Three youth and two Adults went ice skating and had dinner at a Chinese restaurant on Saturday, March 28th.  Everyone had a good time with lots of laughs and memories to be cherished.

Five children gathered on Saturday, April 5^th for Super Saturday.  They built bird houses, created numerous animals and heard the creation story.

The next Super Saturday is May 3^rd from 10:00 a.m. until Noon.  We will be making flowers celebrating the May flowers that come from April showers.  Everyone needs to bring a sack lunch.

Watch for special summer events in next month’s newsletter

Glenn Cave continues to battle health issues.

Johnnie Mae Kreisel was admitted to the hospital but continues to make good progress.

The Westminster Group met on Wednesday, March 19th in Wear Hall.  Everyone enjoyed the meal and fellowship around the table.  Jim and Rita Henson presented the program on expectations and cooperation.

The Westminster Group will meet again on Wednesday, April 16th.  Everyone is invited to be a part of this group.

Johnnie Mae Kreisel sent us this insert that she had saved from one of the neighboring churches. 

Before U were thought of or time had begun,

God stuck U in the name of his son.

And each time U pray, you’ll see it’s true,

You can’t spell out JesUs and not include U.

You’re a pretty big part of His wonderful name,

For U, He was born; that’s why He came.

And His great love for U is the reason He died.

It even takes U to spell crUcified.

Isn’t it thrilling and splendidly grand

He rose from the dead, with U in His plan?

The stones split away, the gold trUmpet blew,

And this word resUrrection is spelled with a U.

When JesUs left earth at His upward ascension,

He felt there was one thing He just had to mention.

“Go into the world and tell them it’s true

That I love them all—Just like I love U.”

The Presbyterian Women met on Monday, March 17th in Wear Hall.  Much of the discussion surrounded preparation for the upcoming Spring Gathering they will be hosting.  A report was given on the collection for Cangleska Women’s Shelter.  Otterville collected 18 boxes of fabric, clothing, and other materials to be used by the women in this shelter. They were sent on April 3 and will arrive shortly in South Dakota.

The lesson on Ruth was presented by Pat Roller.

April

May

Thanks to Johnnie Kreisel and others who contributed to the gathering of the news!

Section R

Winter is almost over!!!  I say almost, because the weather man says we may have snow on March 10th -- and those of us who are from Missouri know that the weather can change in a minute.  But, the apricot tree is in full bloom and the jonquils are putting on their yellow coats, so spring can't be too far off.  And then we will complain about it being to hot, to dry or ---.  Maybe we can't count on the weather being what we expect, but we can count on God being the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Isn't that a wonderful thought?  He is there for us all the time and sometimes we forget to invite him to walk with us. We are like the weather - changing all the time.  Let us not forget to invite him to guide us in all we do and say!!!  What a beautiful Easter morning - the sun almost came out and there were a few flakes of snow - but those who braved the weather celebrated that first Easter morning at the 1^st Baptist Church in Houstonia.  There were 47 from Range Line in attendance along with another 50 from the churches in Houstonia. 

Presbyterian Women will host the annual Birthday Celebration of women’s work in the General Assembly on May 7^th.  All the PWs in the area have been invited to our party and it will begin at 1:30 pm.  We hope to have a great time of worship and fellowship.

The senior class members at Northwest High School and their parents have been busy this school year hosting money making events for the annual senior trip, and they had their last event recently.  The seniors are now busy finishing their school work and packing their suit-cases so they will be ready to catch the bus for their May 9-17 trip to Florida and places to the South.  They certainly appreciate all the assistance they have received - from junior magazine sales to the Senior Smorgasbord.  Seniors from our area are: Jodie Alexander, Will Alexander, Austin Blackburn, Stephanie Harms, and Andrea Reid - Congratulations and may God be with you as you start another phase of your life.

Those students from our area who were inducted into the National Honor Society were: Cole Alexander, Britney Bales, Quentin Johnson and Danni Zimmerman - keep up the good work!!!

Congratulation to Caitlyn Alexander for placing 8^th in pattern/functions, and 6^th in probability/statistics at the Central Missouri State University Math Relays.  There were 90 7^th grade students involved in the relays.  Be sure to check the school Calendar that was sent from the School recently for “End of School” events and support all our Kid's.

The Ministers in the Houstonia-Hughesville area are sponsoring the Annual Baccalaureate service at the high school on May 18, 2008, for the graduating seniors.

May our thoughts and prayers be with all the high school, jr. high and elementary students as they do the MAP testing the week of April 14-18 and some also the 21-22. Do your Best!!!

A total of 10 boxes (125 lbs) of sewing articles have been sent to the Cangeska Women’s Shelter in South Dakota. This project is aimed to help people in that area learn a new trade to enable them to become self-sufficient.  The Deacons would like to say “Thank you”, to everyone who donated.

Do you have “old cell phones” laying around that you don't use anymore?  There is a use for them - they are being reconditioned and sent to the Troops in Iran.  So remember to donate them.  Bring them to church and the Deacons will send them to the recycling place.

The Deacons are again collecting cereal, pretzels, nuts, etc for party-mix.  They are planning another mailing to Troops before Memorial Day.  So--- please help them.

Donations are being accepted for local children who recently lost their father.  Ask any of the Deacons for more information.

Keep saving your “Box Tops for Education” coupons which are found on many of the items we buy at the grocery store.  These will be given to the local school to redeem for supplies and equipment.

Please keep in your Prayers:

Plans for Vacation Bible School.

Irvin Robb, as he recovers from a fall where he hurt his nose.

All the High School Seniors as they begin another chapter of their life.

Edith and Don Hofmann, as Don is in a nursing home.

Tyler Reid as he enjoys time at home (from Iraq)

Also Cristy Karrick, who is home on leave.

All who suffer from various ills.

Robert Schlender who was injured in wreck.