Mission Trip to Mexico

Hello, friends. Laurie Rahn received and update from our team in Juarez, Mexico.



Hello, everyone!
Just thought I would send you all an update on our group in Mexico. After a longer-than-expected trip from Colorado to Mexico, all seems to be going well. They had their first work day yesterday in 105 degree heat. There were a few people who had to sit down and felt a bit dizzy but no major issues with the heat. Since there are so many people, they are building 17 houses! They worshiped together last night and will be going to the Mexican church tonight. Since they got into Juarez so late Saturday (or early Sunday I should say) they did not go to church Sunday morning. There will be a variety show on Wednesday night and Thursday they dedicate the houses.

Keep raising them up in prayers so that this trip brings them closer in their relationships with God and with each other.

God's peace,

Laurie

safeTALK - Suicide Prevention Training

The Outreach Committee presents an opportunity of critical importance and you are invited...

Thursday, June 19th @ 6:30p.m. Southern Hills will host "safeTALK" a free, suicide prevention training presented by a HELP!Line Center suicide prevention specialist. The interactive training will last 2 - 2.5 hours and will help participants learn how to recognize persons with
thoughts of suicide and to connect them to suicide intervention resources. Participants will also learn the TALk steps, receive hands-on training and leave with a pocket card reminder of the TALK steps.

To participate, please put your name on the sign up sheets that will be in church on Sunday or email Jen Abels at jenabels@iw.net so that we have an idea of how many people will come. The training can accommodate up to 30 participants - so please invite your friends, neighbors, and co-workers! The trainers have stated that anyone over the age of 15 is welcome to attend.

Banner for the Phil Joel / Casting Pearls Concert

If you would like to help promote the upcoming Phil Joel and Casting Pearls concert on your website or blog you can use the banner we're using. All you need to do is add the following HTML Script to your website.

<a href="http://southernhillschurch.blogspot.com/2008/04/we-mentioned-in-earlier-post-that-next.html"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2247/2455112721_39466b2815_o.jpg" /></a>

Just copy and paste the script above to your website and it will place the banner, with a link, there for you. The banner image is located on my Flickr account, and is available to anyone. I use the Phil Joel/Casting Pearls Banner Small on this blog. Feel free to look at both banners and pick the size that works best for you website. Each banner has a link above it labeled, "All Sizes." This will give you even more size options.

The banner will appear as follows:


Thanks for helping us out!

Phil Joel and Casting Pearls Official Press Release

NATIONAL RECORDING ARTISTS PHIL JOEL AND CASTING PEARLS COMING TO SOUTHERN HILLS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN SOUTH DAKOTA AMERICA

For Immediate Release
5/6/08

Phil Joel, former bassist with the Newsboys, and pop/rock band Casting Pearls will be coming to Southern Hills United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on May 21st, 2008. Through this tour Phil Joel and Casting Pearls will be promoting songs from their new albums due to release in late 2008.

This high energy tour will be sure to thrill and encourage audiences of all ages. To find out more information about the tour please visit www.castingpearls.com/philjoeltour.

For more information or to purchase tickets please contact:

Southern Hills United Methodist Church
605-371-2065

Reminder: If you have news about what's going on at Southern Hills that you'd like to share with everyone please email the information to Mike Colwill at kanteker@gmail.com. We'd like to promote all of the great activities and ministries that we support. Thank you!

Phil Joel and Casting Pearls Concert Details

We mentioned in an earlier post that the next concert was on its way to Southern Hills Church. You've been waiting patiently for the details to that concert, and now I have them for you.

Phil Joel

WITH

Casting Pearls

LIVE AND ON TOUR
SPRING 2008

May 21, 2008
7:00 PM
Southern Hills Outreach Center
3400 East 49th Street
Sioux Falls, SD

Tickets: $9 at the door * $7 in advance * $5 for Groups
Tickets available at:
Crossroads Book & Music
Southern Hills United Methodist Church

Preacher Feature

Dear Friends,

Some of you may already be aware of this, but I want to let all of you know. At the end of May, I will be leaving for a Renewal Leave.

Kathy and I will leave sometime in the week following the Phil Joel/Casting Pearls Concert and will return to the office in the first week in August. During that time, Ron Kramer will be your pastor in emergencies. Ron is a retired pastor from the Iowa Conference who is currently serving as the pastor for Ben Clare/Rowena. He has been a District Superintendent in the Iowa Conference and will serve you very well in my absence. We are in the process of filling the preaching duties with lay people from our congregation. You have heard these people preach and know, as I do, that they will do an awesome job. Jorjann and Pat will pick up the additional administrative responsibilities. You all know the awesome work they do and I know they will do an incredible job for this congregation. If you have emergency needs during my absence, please contact either Pat or Jorjann. They will make the contact with Ron if he is needed.

Kathy and I plan to spend the time we are gone doing a bit of traveling in the northeastern part of the United States. The remainder of the time will be spent harassing our children and grandchildren. A lot of our schedule will depend upon how my dad and Meta do in the next few weeks. As you can tell, our plans are fairly loose and that is just the way we want it to be.

We are grateful for the time to rest and refresh our minds, hearts and bodies. Not every pastor is part of a congregation that allows their pastor to participate in a renewal leave. You have not only allowed that leave, but have actively encouraged it. I pray that all of you will remain committed and engaged in the ministry of our congregation throughout the summer. We have huge commitments and responsibilities, and your continued support and involvement is crucial through the upcoming summer months. Please take your responsibility for prayers, presence, gifts, and service seriously this summer. We will be with you through our continued offerings, and in our thoughts and prayers. We will spend the summer worshipping with other churches and exploring some optional worship experiences. Thank you again for the opportunity! Love to you all!

Steve

Rent-a-Kid

Youth Group Mission Trip Fundraiser

Rent A Kid

Sunday, May 4, 2008 ~ 10:15-10:45 AM

If you have odd jobs that need to be done and need some help, this would be a great time to Rent A Kid! You will bid on the dollar amount, then the bidder and youth will work out between them as to what they will do and when. This is a great opportunity to get some extra help, and at the same time help our youth with their mission trips.

Small Group Chatter

There’s right, and there’s wrong. You get to do one or the other. You do one and you’re living. You do the other, and you may be walking around, but you’re as dead as a beaver hat.

John Wayne

Tuesday was Earth Day! I was driving home and heard the disk jockey share how he was going to celebrate. He chose to live another day on earth. I thought wait a minute, how does that celebrate earth day? A day later, I get it (sometimes I’m a slow thinker). Our life is a gift! We are a gift to each other! And we are a gift to the earth (when we take care of it)! Sometimes we don’t feel like a gift or that anyone cares. Stellar Kart sings an awesome song “Me and Jesus”. Someone loves you even when you don’t think so, don’t you know, you got me and Jesus. By your side, through the fight, you will never be alone. Don’t you know, you got me and Jesus. God’s greatest gift is his son Jesus, who says “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 As for me, I choose life!

May’s Mission of the Month is our Youth on Fire who ambitiously are planning two mission trips this summer: one to Sisseton, South Dakota and one to Mexico. For 20 youth and 4 adults to attend both trips, total cost is $9870. Through deposits and fundraisers, the youth have worked very hard to raise $5200 to date. $2670 is still needed. Realizing the important impact mission trips have on the faith of our kids, we would like to fully support them as a church in their endeavor. Please consider supporting our youths’ mission trips this month either through the mission of the month or by participating in Rent A Kid on May 4th to get some odd jobs done around the house. Thanks for supporting the future of the church.

Zechariah’s DiscipleshipTeam will be serving and greeting during May! You are graciously being greeted by: Bruce & Brenda Berger, Ed & Bev Durst, Tim & Anita Hakin, Ken & Wendy Hoyne, Jeff & Gwen Jares, Donn & Pat Johnson, Paul & Margaret Johnson, John & Kelly Kemp, Jim & Kathy Larson, Gary & Nita Mehlbrech, Jeff Peek, and Quentin & Barb Weidner. Thank you for sharing and serving!

Zechariah was a Jewish priest, a minister of God who worked at the temple managing its upkeep, teaching the people the scriptures, and directing the worship services. Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were both holy and obedient; they were well along in years and had stopped even asking for children. While burning incense one day, the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah to deliver God’s message that Elizabeth would have a son, whom we would come to know as John the Baptist. Responding in disbelief, Zechariah was unable to speak until it became a reality.

The true way is Life!

In Christ, Jorjann