Valley Visitor

Missouri Valley Christian Church March, 2014

The

Nathans Scribblings...
For many Christians the idea of being Christian gets reduced to just saying the right things, looking the right way, and going to church. The problem is: none of those things mattered to Jesus. He was never interested in the way we present ourselves, but rather who we were. He is interested in followers who are concerned with the needs of the lost and the hurting around them. He is interested in followers who are willing to sacrifice their time, resources, and energy to helping the less fortunate. He is interested in followers who are willing, once again, to be the ones called upon to help the helpless and undeserving. He is interested in followers who sacrifice personal comfort, safety and security to be Gods light in the darkness. Now would you say this describes you? Look, it is natural for us as humans to get into ruts. We like to coast. We like to set our life on cruise and keep the path straight and easy. We do not have to pay as much attention and we can relax. This is true of me when I choose to take 29 to Council Bluffs instead of the Old Highway. On 29 I can zone out and not have to bother too much with driving. The issue, though, is that when we do this we miss out on real life. More importantly, we miss out on the meaningful life God has planned for us! The life He has for us is one of adventure: one off-roading the back roads! Is it easy? No. Are there bumps? Yep. Are there peaks and valleys? You bet! But it is ENGAGING! In the month of March we will be having a study using the material: Unstuck: Moving from the Mundane to the Meaningful. The goal is for us to begin to grow beyond Christianity that is selffocused into a Christianity that is others-focused. The classes will be meeting Sunday mornings in the Center at 9:00am, Tuesday mornings in the church at 10am and Tuesday evenings in the church at 7pm. During these sessions we will be examining the ways we can increase our faith through determined action in our community and around the world. I hope that you will join us in one of these sessions starting the first Sunday in March.

Lord, Hear Our Prayer

Larry Axtell...continuing need Sonny Campbell...learned that he has 7 tumors on his brain. He must have radiation before continuing his IV chemo Irene Carrier...continuing need

Krazy Wilson ... 2 Robert Prucha ... 3 Ella Myler ... 4 Steve Bennett ... 5 Joan Finken ... 7 Lael King ... 8 Raine King ... 8 Carson Wendt ... 8 Bug Cunard ... 11 Keziah Humbert ... 11 Martin Hedegaard ... 12 Susana Miller ... 12 Marg Ruffcorn ... 12 Robbie Davis ... 14 Gerry Sue Rinella ... 14 Ashley Leusink ... 15 Madisyn Smith ... 27 Rozanne King ... 28 Janice Allen ... 29 Elijah Humbert ... 29

Jan Colglazier...continuing need Lorraine Conkling...is being treated for breast cancer Connie Cunard...is recovering after the removal of her right leg Brian Day...continuing need Sawyer Godsey...16 month-old girl from Shelby with Myloid Leukemia Duane Kraushaar...is being treated for ulcers Its the time that we dread each year when we either lose an hour of sleep or we arrive at church when it is just ending! Set your clocks AHEAD one hour on Saturday, March 8th.

Roger Loehr...health concerns

The family of Jean Mentzer... Jean passed away on February 19. Services will be held in Omaha on Saturday, March 1 Don and June Robinson...June has been moved to the Alzheimers Unit at Longview and is in hospice care Carolyn & David Snyder...are Viola Stephens daughter and son-in-law. David has Parkinsons and is now in a care facility. Tom Stewart...continuing need Thank you to all who have been so generous during our Hope Tote campaign with The Open Door Mission. Please bring your filled bags to the church by SUNDAY, MARCH 16TH. Matt and his Sunday Night Fusion Group have been volunteering at the mission and they will be delivering the bags for us the next time they go. The Fusion Group is made up of High School students who meet weekly for Bible Study.

Don & Loretta Bertelsen March 7 ... 63 years Wayne & LoAnn Irvin March 10 ... 25 years Krazy & Jan Wilson March 10 ... 19 years

Mark Weatherwax...continuing need Katie Wehring...continuing need Donita Wimer...continuing need Always keep the MVCC Ministers, Elders and Deacons in your prayers.

Missouri Valley Christian Church

119 N. 4th Street Missouri Valley, IA 51555
Address Service Requested
Nathan Slaughter, Senior Minister Matt Zingraf, Associate Minister Debbie Bennett, Childrens Minister James Doty, Office Administrator

Non-profit Organization Postage Paid Permit #28 Missouri Valley Iowa 51555

Phone: (712) 642-4179 Church Website: www.missourivalleychurch.org Email: nathan@missourivalleychurch.org matt@missourivalleychurch.org debbie@missourivalleychurch.org

Serve in Missouri this Summer (July 2-6) ... Is God Calling You to Go?

Do something different this July 4th. Be part of an MVCC Work Group going to Shiloh Christian Children's Ranch ( July 2-6 ). In the past we have gone to the Shiloh site near Kahoka, Missouri and have built fence, poured concrete, built picnic tables, hung drywall, built raised garden beds, fished, gone swimming, eaten too much and enjoyed the fellowship of Shiloh's staff and kids. This is a great time for young and old alike to serve God and others. For more information on the Shiloh organization, go to www.shilohranch.org . For information about being a part of the work group contact Jim Marsh at 402-681-7032.