November ONE

A PUBLICATION OF THE ELLIS COUNTY MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE

NOVEMBER 2011

GIVING THANKSvolunteers give up their own holiday to make one for others 6

FESTIVAL REFLECTSfestival of faith celebrates 20 years of faithfulness 8

2

page 2 NOVEMBER 2011

ONE

Volume 4, Issue 11

Pastor KEVIN DANIELSHays Christian Church

[email protected]

Pastor KEN EDIGERNorth Oak Community Church

[email protected]

Pastor KYLE ERMOIANCelebration Community Church

[email protected]

STEVE JOHNSONUnited Methodist Campus Center

[email protected]

Pastor LESLEY RADIUSTrinty Lutheran Church

www.trinityhays.org

Father MIKE SCULLYSt. Fidelis Catholic [email protected]

Pastor JERRY SPROCKFirst Baptist Church

[email protected]

ONE is the official publication of the Ellis County Ministerial Alliance,

which guides its mission, content and theme.It is printed by The Hays Daily News.

ONE advisory board

ONE and the Ellis County Ministerial Alliance encourage submission from ECMA congregations.

Photographs, stories, testimonies and other submissions should be directed

toward your church leaders or sent via email to [email protected].

The ECMA advisory board will choose appropriate and timely submissions for publication.

Inside

Page 4 ................................................................................................................. MESSAGE at the TOPBy Father Mike Scully

Page 6 ................................................................................... ‘FEAST CREATES ONE BIG FAMILY’By Klint Spiller

Page 7 ...........................................................................................................I AM THANKFUL FOR...By Community Children

Page 10 ......................................................................................................ENCOURAGING WORDSBy Pastor Kyle Ermoian

Page 10 ...........................................................................................................BIBLE READING PLANBy Pastor Steve Dinkel

The Ellis County

Ministerial Alliance board will meet at 10 a.m. Nov. 9 at First Presbyte-rian Church.

The columns in ONE

represent the views

of the author.

Dear ONE Reader

ON THE COVER: The faces of Ellis County Ministerial Alliance’s annual Thanksgiving Day Feast.

Entries from last month’s cover contest will be on display

at the Hays Public Library.

Can you believe it is already November?! Where did this year go?It seems like just yesterday my son still was in pre-

school, we were watching the Super Bowl and we were making summer vacation plans.

Now my son is in kindergarten (!), football season is half over, and vacation seems like a distant memory.

I think since Thanksgiving is right around the corner, we should take a minute to catch our breath and be thankful for everything that has happened in 2011.

If we can press pause for a moment and simply reflect on 2011, we can truly find many reasons to be thankful.

I know in my own life, many things — some bad, some good — have happened this year. Looking back, I certainly would not choose to live through the bad things again, but in the end we have grown closer as a family and I have grown closer to God.

Paul tells us all things work together for the good of those who love God, and I believe that to be true — though when in the thick of things, it’s hard to see.

Through life’s trials, we gain appreciation for the good times and we grow spiritually.

This month, I hope to take more time to stop and be thank-ful, and I encourage you to do the same.

If we never pause to reflect on where we’ve been and what we’ve done, we are destined to repeat ourselves and become stagnant. We need to take opportunities, such as Thanksgiv-ing, to really examine who we have become and what we’ve come through this year.

I am thankful for so many things, but the thing I am thank-ful for the most is the gift God has given to me in the person and work of Jesus. If not for Jesus’ birth, life, sacrificial death and resurrection, my life would be void and futile.

Take time to be thankful this November — for Jesus — for family and friends — and for life.

ecma presidentKevinDaniels

God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so you’re ready for anything and everything, more

than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it:

“He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out. This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extrava-gant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in

every way, producing with us great praise to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:8-11

For what am I thankful? I have so many things for which to be thankful I am not sure there is enough newsprint to cover all the items. One, I am most thankful for this time of the year, when many volunteers gather at Trinity Lutheran Church once a year to fill a truck full of essential sup-plies and quilts that will be distributed by Lutheran World Relief.

Lutheran World Relief works to fight poverty and promote a more just and

peaceful world by helping people help themselves.

Just a few weeks ago, an empty semi was dropped off in the Trinity parking lot. Later that evening, volunteers Ken and Muriel Greene, who have been do-

ing this volunteer work for 27 years parked their RV in Trinity’s parking lot, waiting for the sun to rise.

At about 7 a.m., churches from all across the region, including Colorado and Oklahoma began arriving with boxes of soap, quilts, school kits, personal health kits and layette kits. More than 11,700 pounds of supplies were loaded into the truck. Five hundred eighty boxes were strategically placed in the semi for its trip

to Minnesota where it then will be loaded onto freighters and shipped all across the world.

I am thankful for the many volunteers who collect the health care items of soap, washcloths, toothbrushes and combs. I am thankful for the many volunteers who lovingly sew quilts to be shared with God’s people all across the world.

Muriel Greene told a story of a woman in India who received a quilt. She was very sick. The volunteers followed up on her a little later and they found that even in her weakness she had made sure her quilt was divided so that her kids could have a blan-ket on which to sleep also. I am thankful in some small way, through our sharing our resources, we get a chance to be the hands and heart of God.

The Rev. Lesley Radius, www.trinityhays.org, is pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church.

3

ONEpage 3NOVEMBER 2011

(C3 is located just north of I-70 at exit 157, Hays KS 67601)

Come join us for a night of wonderful food, live entertainment and a great cause!

100% of proceeds go to missions!

If you would like to donate items or have any questions please call 785-625-5483.

December 10th, 2011Celebration Community Church

Doors Open for Silent Auction at 4:00 p.m.LIVE Auction at 6:30 p.m.

8th AnnualCommunity

MISSIONAuction

Tickets $10 in advance

$15 at the door

FAITH-FILLED DAILY LIVING: For what I am thankful

ABOVE: Jim Stramel, left, helps load supplies

onto a semi for Lutheran World Relief. RIGHT:

Members of Trinity Lutheran Church helped load a semi of essential

supplies and quilts for Lutheran World Relief.

COURTESY PHOTOS

pastorLesleyRadius

St. Joseph’s FOOD PANTRYOPEN: 9 a.m. to noon the first and third Saturdays of each month at

St. Joseph’s Parish Service Center, 210 W. 13thUpcoming dates:

Nov. 5 & 19; Dec. 3 & 17; Jan. 7 & 21

Jesus never spoke about past love relationships. He never had the occa-sion to give a high school or college

course on discovering romantic love and what it means in light of his teachings. Consequently, he did not speak about one of the most common situations young people must experience as they grow, namely a romantic breakup.

It is generally known people will not marry the first person they love. Granted, there are a few exceptions, but for the most part, the fact means people will have a “falling out” with people they once liked, even loved. This is the definition of a breakup. Many times, the breakup is hostile and angry, and burdens people for a long time.

Jesus might not have said anything about breakups, but he had much to say about forgiveness. In Mark’s Gospel, he even al-ludes to the fact one cannot pray properly if such a person cannot first forgive. Jesus says: “When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a griev-ance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions” (Mark

11:25). Jesus’ statement includes people we had a relationship with at one time.

In the song “Someone Like You,” Adele is speaking the mind of a person who has experienced a breakup, closing with a

thought of what she has to do. “I heard that you’re settled down,” she sings, “that you found a girl and you’re married now. I heard that your dreams came true. Guess she gave you things I didn’t give to you.

I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited, but I couldn’t stay away, I couldn’t fight it. I had hoped you’d see my face and that you’d be reminded that for me it isn’t over.”

That is to say, she is feeling revengeful, showing up uninvited, and wanting him to feel a little guilty. But, after some thought, she seems to get over her anger and sings: “Never mind, I’ll find someone like you. I wish nothing but the best for you too. Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead.” The lady learned the lesson of forgiveness.

Her song is a statement of what usually happens at a breakup. The lady who has experienced the breakup is angry, upset, and even shows up “uninvited” just to

make her once-upon-a-time boyfriend feel badly, it seems. But then she sees the error of her ways, and says she wishes him well. In doing so, she is following the directive

of Jesus, namely that no matter what the situation, we must work with a spirit of forgiveness. In a sense, the song is asking forgiveness for the lady’s jealous behavior, eventually wishing her friend “the best.”

Jesus’ words that direct us to forgive oth-ers are never easy because his words cover every situation of our lives, even when oth-ers have hurt us in some way. Young people especially must be aware of his words when they are recovering from breakups. Every Christian must be aware of them through-out their lives.

Good and gracious God, it is not easy to follow your Son’s law of forgiving others. Too often we are hurt, and want to get back at someone. Help us recognize our need to forgive everyone, no matter what the circumstances. Be with us, we pray.

Father Mike Scully is from St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays.

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ONE

As of Oct. 161. “Tonight, Tonight,” Hot Chelle

Rae — Luke 5:29-322. “Someone Like You,” Adele —

Mark 11:253. “Moves Like Jagger,” Maroon

5 and Christina Aguilera — Luke 10:38-42

4. “Pumped Up Kicks,” Foster the People — Luke 22:35-38

5. “Last Friday Night (TGIF),” Katy Perry — Luke 8:11-15

Father Mike’s gospels in the top 5

fatherMikeScully

MESSAGE AT THE TOP: Nothing but the best

Prairie Land FoodPrairie Pak: $26 (includes meats, fruits and veggies)Meat only: $14 (includes the meat in the regular Prairie Pak)Fruit & Veggie: $12 (includes the fruit and vegetables in the regular Prairie Pak)Specials: Four different specials are offered each month.Meat, Fruit & Veggie and Specials Paks can be purchased with or without the Prairie Pak,

giving you more flexibility when ordering; there is no limit.Order date: Nov. 7. Order locally and pay with check, cash or EBT food stamps. Or you

can order online at www.prairielandfood.com and pay with your debit card or check.Pick-up: 11 a.m. to noon, Nov. 19, Liberty Fellowship, 120 W. Ninth, Hays, and 11:30 a.m.

to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at St. Mary’s Gym, Ellis. For more information, call Liberty Fellowship at (785) 625-6245 or Linda Hagan (800) 298-

1989.We do not require a specific amount of time to volunteer. All we ask is that the volunteer

portion of the receipt is completed with something you have done to help someone else. We are not eliminating the act of volunteering, just the need to count the number of hours.

5


SubmittedIt’s time again for the eighth annual

Community Mission Auction with all of the proceeds going to need-meeting ministries in Hays and throughout the world.

At 6:30 p.m. Dec. 10, Celebration Com-munity Church will auction items and give away the money raised to organiza-tions such as last year’s recipients: First Call for Help, ECMA’s Second Mile Fund, Community Assistance Center, [alt]fest, Unite, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, Christian Challenge, Young Life, Gideons, Campus Crusade for Christ, Hays Helps Haiti, Mary Elizabeth Mater-nity Home, Birthright, Rachel’s Vineyard, Habitat for Humanity, Prison Fellowship, Samaritan’s Purse, World Vision, Voice of the Martyrs, local radio stations KPRD and Hays Family Radio, and several others.

The Community Mission Auction provides local businesses and individuals the opportunity to partner by donating products, services and gift certificates while others can bid on these items. For example, each year, Celebration Pastor Kyle Ermoian and wife, Debbie, auction a Chicago-style hot dog party for 20-plus guests.

Last year, more than $20,000 was raised in one night.

More than 200 items from local retailers and Celebration church members will be auctioned this year with all of the proceeds to be given to help fund more than 30 need-meeting organizations, ministries and mission groups in Hays and throughout the world.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door which includes catered food, bever-ages and entertainment.

“Whatever you did for the least of these … you did for me.” Matthew 25:40

For more information, call (785) 625-5483 or email [email protected].

Community Mission Auction to raise funds

for organizations

SubmittedWhile many families are busy with fall

activities, there still is a focus on filling empty shoe boxes with school supplies, toys, hygiene items and notes of encour-agement for needy children overseas. Hays is participating in the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind — Opera-tion Christmas Child — an effort that has hand-delivered 86 million gifts to kids worldwide since 1993.

This year-round project of Samaritan’s Purse is coming to its peak, as individu-als, families, businesses, churches and schools prepare to collect gift-filled shoe boxes during National Collection Week from Nov. 14 to 21. In Hays, shoe box gifts can be dropped off at Messiah Lutheran Church, 2000 Main, during the following times:

• 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14.• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 15.• 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 16.• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 17.• 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 18.• Noon to 2 p.m. Nov. 19.• Noon to 2 p.m. Nov. 20.• Noon to 3 p.m. Nov. 21.Operation Christmas Child, a project of

international Christian relief and evan-gelism organization Samaritan’s Purse, uses whatever means necessary to reach suffering children around the world with

these gifts of hope, including sea contain-ers, trucks, trains, airplanes, boats, camels and dog sleds. Tracking technology also allows donors to “follow” their box to the destination country where it will be hand-delivered to a child in need. To register shoe box gifts and find out the destination country, use the Follow Your Box donation form found at www.samaritanspurse.org/occ.

For more information on how to par-ticipate in Operation Christmas Child, call volunteer coordinator Rachel Albin at (785) 639-1325 or visit www.samaritans-purse.org/occ. National Collection Week for gift-filled shoe boxes is Nov. 14 to 21; however, shoe box gifts are collected all year at the Samaritan’s Purse headquarters in Boone, N.C.

Upcoming event brings community together for children worldwide

Get involved• PREPARE — Enlist families,

churches, scout troops, community groups and businesses to take part in creating shoe box gifts for needy chil-dren worldwide.

• PACK — Fill shoe boxes with school supplies, toys, necessity items and a letter of encouragement. Step-by-step shoe box packing instructions are available at www.samaritanspurse.org/occ.

• PROCESS — Sign up to join Op-eration Christmas Child volunteers at collection sites in Hays as part of the effort to prepare millions of shoe box gifts for delivery to underprivileged kids on six continents.

Thursday, November 26th

Pies donated by theChurches of Ellis County

EllisCountyAbstract andTitle Co., Inc.

Ellis CountyCommission

Thursday, November 24thThu

rsday, November 26th

Pies donated by theChurches of Ellis County


Ellis CountyCommission


www.myeaglecom.net | 877.613.2453

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Volunteer your time, call First Call for Help

623-2800

12 NoonNational Guard Armory

200 Main StreetHays, Kansas

ALL ARE WELCOMESend your tax-deductible donations to

ECMA

P.O. Box 173

Hays, Kansas 67601

Assisted Living Center

St. Fidelis Food BankThe St. Fidelis Church Food Bank, 601 10th

St., Victoria, is an ongoing effort to feed the hungry as Jesus requested. It supplies non-perishable as well as perishable foods. Sup-plies are limited to what we can receive from the state of Kansas and donations.

If you or anyone you know — friends, family or neighbors — would benefit from the Food Bank, contact the parish office at (785) 735-2777. If any parishioner or organization would like to contribute to the food bank, bring dona-tions to the parish office during office hours or call to schedule a convenient time.

6


ONE

By KLINT [email protected]

While others are giving thanks, about 100 volunteers will be giving Hays

residents a reason to be thankful.The Ellis County Ministerial Alliance

will host its annual Thanksgiving Day Feast at noon Nov. 24 at the National Guard Armory, 200 Main, in Hays.

The feast is meant to provide a meal for those who can’t afford a nice dinner, don’t have a place to go or simply are looking for a community event to attend.

The Rev. Lesley Radius, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church and one of the coordinators of the feast, said the event feeds approximately 400 people, so in order to pull it off, plenty of helping hands are needed.

“It is for the community, served by the community,” Radius said.

Many people find time out of their own holiday to spend the day volunteering.

Tom Griffith, who has been helping with the event for many years, entertains the audience with his street organ. He said he wishes there were more community events like it.

“Hays doesn’t have enough community events, but this is a nice one,” Griffith said. “I really like this one. ... If I can support it, I will.”

Bob Budke and his wife have helped in the serving lines and by carrying trays for the past several years.

Often having no major plans for the holiday with his kids grown up, it has been an easy decision to make, Budke said.

“There are probably others who can’t get away so it is more important for me to be there.”

Even those who cannot attend on Thanksgiving Day can find other ways to help.

Radius said they also need volunteers Nov. 19 and 23 to purchase and collect food at Dillons and Walmart and package the food, which will be given to those who need it at the dinner.

Feast creates one big family“Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the

name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20 ESV

STEVEN HAUSLER • [email protected] Boos, Hays, right, and Jesse Irwin, Hays, second from right, start off the line as volunteers fill plates with food during the 2010 Thanksgiving Day Feast at the Na-tional Guard Armory in Hays.

Amanda Gittinger, left, and Linda Stahl-man dish up pumpkin pie during the Thanksgiving Day Feast.

Natalie McCall will be out of town on Thanksgiving with her family, but McCall still intends to brave the cold and help the night before carrying groceries into the armory.

“(The feast) gives people a sense of normalcy,” McCall said. “Thanksgiving for me is a big family event, so helping people

come together as a giant family and help them celebrate is something I enjoy.”

Radius said she is thankful for all those who are involved.

“It couldn’t be done without the volun-teers,” Radius said. “The food wouldn’t be served. The groceries wouldn’t be packed. The people who give food also support

the event by buying extra groceries and giving it to us to give to the guests of the Thanksgiving dinner. It really is a commu-nity event.”

People interested in volunteering for the Thanksgiving Day Feast can do so by contacting First Call for Help in Hays at (785) 623-2800.

Bob Budke, left, and Kolby Hasel-horst get ready to hand out a bag of groceries to those who attended the feast.

Ways you can helpNov. 20 — 48 volunteers are needed

to collect food at Walmart and both Dillons locations in Hays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nov. 23 — 35 volunteers are needed to bag groceries at 5:30 p.m.

Nov. 23 — 15 volunteers are needed to set up and decorate tables at 6 p.m.

Nov. 24 — 75 volunteers are needed to greet, serve and deliver meals and clean up on Thanksgiving Day at the National Guard Armory.

To sign up, call First Call for Help at (785) 623-2800.

7

Feast creates one big familyHayden Bracken, 7, Hays Christian Church Logan Daniels, 5, Hays Christian Church Kamryn Daniels, 3, Hays Christian Church

— From Ruth Ann Fry’s Third Grade Class at Holy Family Elementary —

Jeffrey Heimann Aidan Normandin Cody Walters

Cheyenne Albrecht Emma Clouse Leah Mages

Jacob Pfeifer Allison Applequist Lucas Lang

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ONE

88.5FM

By GAYLE [email protected]

It’s amazing how little things change in 20 years.

At the first Festival of Faith in 1992, the congregation prayed for education, leadership and economic development to enhance the quality of life in Ellis County.

“Have you ever considered one of those to be the spiritual life of this community?” North Oak Community Church Pastor Ken Ediger asked during the 1993 Festival of Faith.

He took the stage again this year, point-ing out the community prays for similar issues today.

“Don’t minimize the fact that this com-munity came together for the first time in 1992 and made Jesus central,” Ediger said. “We exalted him together. Don’t minimize Jesus when you realize there are many blessings in this community that are the hand of God.”

The 20th annual Festival of Faith on Oct. 2 celebrated one of those blessings — the ability for the Christian community in Ellis County to come together under one roof, united in spirit.

The Festival of Faith is sponsored by the Ellis County Ministerial Alliance and Hays Area Chamber of Commerce.

The festival highlighted some of the dis-tinct, memorable moments from the first 19 festivals. It also reunited some former

Ellis County pastors with the festival.“It’s a joy to be back in Hays, Kansas, in

Hays, America,” said the Rev. Dave Wil-liams, a former pastor at New Life Center Assembly of God in Hays. He now minis-ters in the Denver area.

“I can tell you we don’t have gatherings like this. I sense the Spirit and his power here right now.”

Father Don Zimmerman, a former member of ECMA and now serving at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Man-hattan, sent his well wishes in the form of a letter read by Pastor Kyle Ermoian.

“I am confident that God has been glo-rified in all ways, and most certainly in the moments when Ellis County people came together and worshipped God,” Ermoian read.

The festival once again brought hun-dreds of Ellis County residents to Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center.

“The spirit of unity,” said Brenda Mar-kley, a parishioner at Westview Chuch in Hays, of the reason she tries to attend the festival each year. “I don’t feel the division of religions.”

And that’s exactly what the festival set out to do.

“We thank him (God) for these won-derful 20 years of so many blessings,” said Festival of Faith committee member Jean Ross. “And we ask, ‘Could you please give us 20 more?’ ”

20 festival years

RAYMOND HILLEGAS • [email protected] Markley, Hays, sings and prays along with the community worship band dur-ing the 20th annual Festival of Faith on Oct. 2 at Fort Hays State University’s Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center in Hays.

I am thankful for ...

... From St. Joseph Catholic Church parishioners

The freedom to exhibit and enjoy my faith.

My faith to bring me through the good times and the bad with raising both my children on my own and battling breast cancer this year along with helping my fiance with his home hemo dialysis.

My family, friends and my job.

My faith, family, friends that I live in the United States and am

able to live my faith and how I want to live my life. I’m also

thankful for all the good things that have happened in my life.

The material things God has given us, but mostly for our good health and the health of our children and grandchildren. We are also thankful for the freedom to worship where and how we want.

My wife and family, for my job and good health. I am

also thankful for the adoration chapel, our priests and sisters, our Catholic schools and for

my faith and trust in God.

9

St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church2901 E. 13th, Hays, Kansas, Parish Of�ces: (785) 628-1446Fax: (785) 623-4207, website: www.heartlandparishes.org

Rev. Daryl OlmsteadRectory: 656-0336

Mass Schedule:Saturday at 5 PM

Sunday at 9:30 AM and 11:00 AMDaily Mass - Wednesday, and Friday at 7:30 AM

Reconciliation: Saturday at 4:00 PM

St. Joseph Catholic Church and the Hays V.F.W. Post 9075 are sponsoring an

“ALL YOU CAN EAT BREAKFAST”22nd & Vine

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 137:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Proceeds to benefit the St. Joseph Parish Center Elevator Fund ProjectMenu includes:

Pancakes, Sausage, Bacon, Scrambled Eggs, Hash Browns, Biscuits & Gravy, Toast, Coffee

& Orange JuiceTickets May Be Purchased At TheSt. Joseph Parish Service Center

210 West 13thHays, Ks

St. Joseph Thanksgiving Dinner BuffetSunday, November 2011:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Kennedy Middle School CafeteriaDinner Tickets

Adults - $9.00 & children $6.00 (ages 5-12)Children 4 and under eat free

Menu includes:Roast beef, turkey, dressing,

mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, corn, bread and desserts!

Tickets may be purchased at the Parish Service Center until November 14

6—8 a.m. Monday through Friday

A better way to start your day!

6—8 a.m. Monday through Friday

A better way to start your day!

10


ONE

PRESENTS

THE CHRISTMASCOMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE

BENEFITTING

COMMUNITY

ASSISTANCE

CENTER

ST. JOSEPH’S FOOD

PANTRY

FEATURING

Dec. 23 7:00 pm

Celebration Community Church

Dear Reading Plan reader,It’s November. It has been a great year. I always am

amazed how God uses the passages I am reading that day to encourage me. This past month, the books of Timothy and Titus were exception-ally relevant. I believe the same will be true of this month’s read-ings. We will finish the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes this month. Both of these books have mountains of truth to consider. We have only one book left in both Old and New Testaments for next month. Then you will have completed the books of Poetry and Wisdom in the OT, and the entire New Testament — the finish line is in sight!

The New Testament will be excep-tional again this month. We will finish Hebrews, James, the writings of St. Peter, and John’s three letters. The passion, the commitment, and the core message of the Gospel (love) all will be expounded upon this month. Take ample time to consider all of these passages the Holy Spirit has inspired. Let’s finish strong. Read on.

Steve Dinkel is pastor of Liberty Fellowship, libertyis.com, or

[email protected].

NOVEMBER OLD NEW

Nov. 1...........Prov. 22 ............ Heb. 12Nov. 2...........Prov. 23 ............ Heb. 13Nov. 3...........Prov. 24 ............ James 1Nov. 4...........Prov. 25 ............ James 2Nov. 7...........Prov. 26 ............ James 3Nov. 8...........Prov. 27 ............ James 4Nov. 9...........Prov. 28 ............ James 5Nov. 10 .........Prov. 29 .......... 1 Peter 1Nov. 11 .........Prov. 30 .......... 1 Peter 2Nov. 14 .........Prov. 31 .......... 1 Peter 3Nov. 15 .......... Eccl. 1 ............ 1 Peter 4Nov. 16 .......... Eccl. 2 ............ 1 Peter 5Nov. 17 .......... Eccl. 3 ............ 2 Peter 1Nov. 18 .......... Eccl. 4 ............ 2 Peter 2Nov. 21 .......... Eccl. 5 ............ 2 Peter 3Nov. 22 ......... Eccl. 6 ............ 1 John 1Nov. 23 ......... Eccl. 7 ............ 1 John 2Nov. 24.......... Eccl. 8 ............ 1 John 3Nov. 25 ......... Eccl. 9 ............ 1 John 4Nov. 28 ........ Eccl. 10 ........... 1 John 5Nov. 29 ........ Eccl. 11 ........... 2 JohnNov. 30 ........ Eccl. 12 ........... 3 John

SCRIPTURE: Bible reading plan

pastorSteveDinkel

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, we are reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul

to “give thanks in all circumstances.” Is that even possible, or is it just plain ri-diculous to think of thanking God while we are hungry or in other great bodily need?

Giving thanks is easy when we see the noon table filled with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and all the trimmings.

Giving thanks is easy when you have to move some of the serving bowls onto the kitchen counter because they won’t all fit on the table even with the extra leaf inserted.

It is indeed proper to thank our God for the blessings of the earth which sustain our bodies from day to day.

As we all know, there are people in the world who suffer from a lack of food.

You know there are people who have not had family gathered around them for

many years. Some families have soldiers off to war. Some face poverty, sick-ness, turmoil and sorrow. Some families are deal-ing firsthand with recent death. What about you? Could you maintain an

attitude of thanksgiving even if all these were gone: goods, fame, child and wife? Could you say, “Thank you, Lord, for your loving kindness!” if He chose in His

perfect wisdom to take away rather than give?

It would be impossible to thank God in all circumstances if we did not see Jesus Christ risen from the dead, seated at the right hand of God. It would be im-possible to thank God in every situation if we did not see the nailprints of Christ’s suffering as the proof that whatever He should give us — whether pleasant or not — it is what is best for us. With that in mind, we can always give thanks.

Kyle Ermoian is the founding and senior pastor of Celebration Community Church.

ENCOURAGING WORDS: ‘Giving thanks in all circumstances’

pastorKyleErmoian

Have news from your church or faith-based organization?

Send it to [email protected].

11


PRO

FILE

OF

FAIT

H

BOB GIRARD pastorJerrySprock

Profile of Faith is compiled each month by Pastor Jerry

Sprock of First Baptist Church.

Hometown:I grew up on a farm in rural Clay County and later

moved into the small community of Clyde. After graduating from high school there in 1971, I moved to Hays and graduated from Fort Hays State Univer-sity in 1977, remaining here since that time.

Family:I have three grown children: son, Matthew; daugh-

ter, Rebekah, and husband, Andrew, and their two sons, Benjamin and Liam; and son, Joseph.

Occupation:I have worked in the accounting field since gradu-

ation, in the fields of insurance and real estate, office administration and, for the past seven years, as an inventory specialist at Sizewise Rentals LLC, the par-ent company of Wheelchairs of Kansas and Sunflower Medical.

Church:I have been a member of St. Joseph Catholic

Church since moving to Hays to attend college.

Church activities:Through my years in the parish, I have taught

religion and served and lectured at Mass. I am a team leader for the parish food pantry. I have been a longtime member of the Third and Fourth Degrees of Knights of Columbus.

Favorite Bible passage:There is so much inspiration and guidance for

humankind in Scripture from the Bible that to pick a favorite passage would be very difficult. But in light of the speed of living in today’s global society, I try to remain grounded in my faith and live a simple life-style with all of its blessings and faults. A passage that inspires that basic need for me to live my faith daily

comes from Jesus Christ’s own teaching.Matthew 22:36-40: “Teacher, which command-

ment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on those two commandments.”

How has faith affected your life?My faith was inspired at a very early age by the

example of my parents who lived the traits set out in the above passage. They experienced some difficult times and never attained great material wealth in terms of today’s standards, but because of their love of God and for each other, were able to endure life as it was handed to them. They did it always with a smile and a laugh, not knowing so much how they would make it through hard times, but know-

ing they would because of, first, their love of the Lord, and second, sharing what they had with their neighbors. They were very wealthy in faith, and they passed that on to us to be passed on to others and become our own legacy.

How does faith affect the Ellis County community?

Ellis County has been blessed in so many ways by having a thriving business community in light of harsh economic times, supported by a working city and county government, fine schools at all levels, including an affordable university, a state of the art medical facility, just to mention a few of the ameni-ties. It is ranked as one of the least-stressed counties in the United States. All of this would not be possible without the hard work ethic of the people and the benevolence of those people giving of their time and treasure back to the community. You can see pride from the beautiful architecture of the aged churches of all denominations throughout the community to the simplest of meeting places. This is a true example of church, the people more than the buildings. People working together for the good of all.

I thank God that ...... he has blessed me with good health, accented

with a perpetual smile and laughter, as well as provid-ing me all the skills and knowledge to be a part of this world and this community and to share those traits with everyone around me all the days of my life. I am especially happy he allows me to be his face and hands in doing my part to feed the hungry because even in all of the prosperity of a successful com-munity, there will always be the needy. Treat your neighbor as yourself because He has given us all the tools through our love for him to do so.

I am thankful for ...

... More from Ruth Ann Fry’s Third Grade Class

Family, faith, angels, love, guardian, God.

Annie Wasinger

Having a family who trusts in

God.Daniela Terrazas

My family, my friends and the land we have.

Zachary Meis

My mom and my dad. and for all they do for me

and my brother.Sasha Wasinger

Having God, family, friends, food and my dog, Jack.Sarah Braun

My family, friends, water, food, good teachers and God,

the maker of all things good.

Emilee AugustineGod, family, faith, friends, food.Shannon Ruder

12

Sponsoring

Churches

of ONE

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH

(ELCA)Lesley M. Radius, Pastor

2703 Fort St. 785-625-2044Sunday 10:15 a.m.(Holy Communion

is Celebrated Every Sunday)Fellowship Following Worship

www.trinityhays.org

November ONE

Documents

Transcript of November ONE