Sunday, August 31st

We will be meeting this Sunday to view another new "Nooma". This one is entitled "She". Karen will be in charge of the class this Sunday as Rusty and I are going to spend the weekend at the island since Monday is a holiday for both of us and we need a rest! Don't forget that the following Sunday will be our first lesson in the 40 Days Study and we will all be attending the first church service followed by our class. I understand there will also be a covered dish lunch which would also be fun for all of us who are participating in the study to attend.

Message from Terry & Brooke!!

I've been wondering how your simple church 'project' is doing and I just
came across your card with the address.

We're in the middle of the book in the summer Sunday School class Terry
and I lead and we seem to have some enthusiasm building. In comparison
with the author's ideals the shortcomings at Quincy UMC are painfully
obvious. The class is fairly well agreed that we should be growing
spiritual mature Christians and probably are but if so, 'it just sort of
happens'. And so far we can't define spiritual maturity or the kind of
disciple we'd like to see. We'll revisit this for one or two sessions
after we finish the book. We've had more consistent attendance of 15 or
16 than we've had the last couple of summers.

We're enjoying being here now but as it gets colder in October and
November we'll start looking forward to heading south. Right now there
isn't much diference in weather. We're having a week or so of 90 degree
heat and humidity. This should be temporary. At least here we have a real
house with central AC rather than a 'tin box'. We're busy. My thing right
now is paint the wood window frames on the church. Terry's back and leg
have been behaving and she's spending more volunteer hours at the nursing
home.

And how is everyone doing there, the cancer survivor, the new baby, etc?
Best wishes to all and for a Simple Church.

Brooke and Terry Althoouse

NOOMA: OPEN

Sunday August 24, 2008 Lost and Found Sunday School will meet in Room 9. We will be watching a new Nooma release on Prayer.

Its ironic that we engaged in a major discussion last week where Karen Darkwater shared her call to prayer for shoes for her son who desperately needed and wanted shoes for school. In "OPEN" Rob Bell gives us perspective and insight into our struggle with the idea of "what should we be praying for" since we may not trust that God will answer our prayers or that our petitions to God are not worthy.

Be thinking and praying for some of your prayers that have been answered and those prayers that have not been answered. This message from Rob Bell will help answer your questions and concerns over Prayer.

See you in Sunday School.

Yours in Christ,

Rusty & Dani

List so far of 40 Days participants

I have created a list on the right upper corner of the blog of who has signed up so far to participate in our class' 40 Days Group. I will just keep adding as people let me know!

40 Days Study

Well, we decided today in class that we will do the 40 days study in Sunday School. We have agreed that whoever participates in the study will attend the first worship service on those Sundays and then we will have our class afterward. We should be finished during those six Sundays at about 11:30 so their should be no problem with child care or meeting up with family and friends for lunch, etc. after church. We will have to limit those who participate to about 15 people so if you want to be in our group, you need to let Rusty and I know ASAP and we will get a list set up.

If you have committed to be in a different group or just don't want to participate in this particular endeavor, then you'll only be on your own in terms of Sunday School for six weeks. In the meantime, I guess we'll just keep doing our Nooma dvds until the 40 Days gets kicked off on September 7th!!!

Mars Hill/Rob Bell

Well, as you can see above, I have added the feed from the Mars Hill Church which has the weekly podcasts. Of course, it will probably include podcasts for their business and announcements as well but you'll probably be able to figure that out. Just click on the one you want to listen to. You can also download the files to your ipod or other MP3 player if you want to listen to them while you're walking, etc. Some cars now support MP3 files so you can download the file to a CD and listen to it in the car if you have that application.

The Mars Hill podcasts are not just Rob Bell. They also include messages from the other staff members and pastors of the church.

40 Days study

I got an email from Laura and she said it would be all right for us to do the 40 Days Study as a Sunday School class. There are some parameters to that choice though. .Those of us who participate in the study have to covenant to attend the same worship service during the six weeks of the study. So, we will have to decide whether to attend the early service and then have our 90 minute class after or have the 90 minute class first and then attend the late service together. I don't think that should be much of an issue.

Second, we must open the class to other members of the church if they should wish to participate at that time. Laura said we could have up to 15 participants. So, everyone in our class needs to decide whether or not they will be participating in the study on Sunday mornings or not so we can get a head count. If you don't want to participate in the 40 Days Study, then I guess you'll just have to skip Sunday School for 6 weeks. Participation must be a real commitment for the 6 week duration. We'll discuss this Sunday so hope you have a chance to read this post before then!