The Keene Koinoia

Keene Evangelical Free Church Newsletter July 2011

Pastors Corner
It Is Time! There is nothing like being in a locker room right before a championship game. You can slice the air of anticipation and nervousness with a knife. You can taste the desire to succeed. Each player is in their own world for a time, when the game comes closer the guys would begin to join together in talk of bravado and hype. The level would slowly increase until you were sure the locker room would explode! Suddenly the coach would appear and everything went silent until he would yell, Its Time! Then, like a bomb going off, there would be a roar and out we would charge to conquer our foe. Right in the middle of a good old fashion tongue lashing, Hosea makes this comment: Sow for yourselves righteousness, Reap the fruit of unfailing love, And break up your unplowed ground; For it is time to seek the LORD, Until he comes and showers righteousness on you [Hosea 10.12]. Hosea was like a coach. His team wasnt doing so well though. There was no championship game waiting for them. Actually, there was going to be imprisonment and banishment coming their way if they didnt change their attitude and actions. But like any coach worth their salt, Hosea also wanted to encourage his team and remind them of the basics, the fundamentals. In the midst of all Israels chaos you heard these three simple words: It is time! For Israel, it was time to seek the Lord. They had been depending on their own strength for everything [v.13]. And they had been failing miserably. It was time to return to what they do bestseek relationship with the only True and Living God. What about youread the verses around v.12does this describe your life? If so [and it will sometime], it is time! Time to re seek the Lord in your life. Depend on Him, not on yourself. Hosea gives us the time tested advice of the Truth: because you will reap what you sow! It is time! Dont wait a second longer! Seek the Lord!
Gods Blessings, Pastor Matt

Inside this Issue

Page 1 Pastors Corner -Womens Circle - Missions Page 2 - VBS Theme and Information -VBS Work Days -VBS Program -VBS Items Needed Page 3 -Bible Study in July -Play Dates in July -Evening Fellowship -Summer Sunday School -The Case of the Missing Pitchers -Coming Up at Keene -Contact Information

Womens Circle for July

Circle #3 headed up by Stephanie and Mary are responsible for serving at events taking place at church in July. Thank you ladies!

Missions
The Mission for July is Jim and Terri Wilson with Press On Youth Ministry in Kearney. Kaylie Mellema is traveling to Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya and Adventures in Missions this summer. During this trip Kaylie will be disciple and trained in various areas of ministry and missions and will also have the chance to minister to people who need to hear of salvation through Jesus. Please begin to pray for Kaylie as God prepares her for this adventure and during her ministry in Africa. She will be keeping a blog during her trip at kayliemellema.weebly.com. You can also stay connected the her team by visiting http://expedition.adventures.org/

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VBS 2011 July 18th-22nd 9:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. (Bring a Sack Lunch) July 24th - VBS Program Kids 4 yrs. to Completed 6th Grade Welcome!
Inside Out & Upside Down on Main Street is full of fun, music, games, projects, snacks, lots of other kid-friendly activities. But Main Street is not just about fun and games its about changing lives and helping kids see how Jesus can make a difference every day. Each day kids will be challenged to talk about Jesus parables, put the Word on the Street into action, and make choices that serve others!

Items and Donations Needed for VBS

Below is a current list of items that are needed for VBS. This list will change weekly as more items are requested and fulfilled. Be sure to check the bulletin, Fellowship Hall, or blogspot for updated weekly lists.
The following items are needed ASAP for decorating and preparations for workdays for decorating, staging, and backdrops: Large sheets of cardboard Large sheets of poster board or foam board Cardboard tubing 2x2 wood boards Rubber cement Things we could borrow for decorating and will return: The theme is Mainstreet so anything you have around that you might see on a main street or community: Artificial trees and shrubs in pots Park Benches Awnings Mailboxes (toy or real) Lamp Posts Plastic Fire Hydrant Traffic Lights or signs Toy or real gumball machine Please begin collecting and bring to church: Empty toilet paper rolls Dimes, nickels, and pennies (these are needed for an activity and then will be donated for our missions project. Items needed for crafts: Patterned and bright colored rolls of duct tape Ivory Bars of Soap Grape Kool-Aid Packets A Food Processor that might be collecting dust Heavy Duty,. Large-Size Round Paper Plates (not Styrofoam) 9 oz. Plastic Solo Cups Old Magazines with kid-type pictures in them (i.e. Family Fun) Markers (water-based and permanent) Ribbon (variety, but will need some yellow) Yarn (yellows, browns, blacks) Glitter Glue Quart-size Ziplocs Velcro dots Wax Paper Googly Eyes Glue Dots and Craft Glue

Check out our VBS Website on the Church Blogspot at http://keeneefc.blogspot.com under the VBS tab. Here you can register children, register to volunteer, get a sneak peek, and find out how to donate items for VBS.

VBS Workdays
In preparation for VBS this month, we will have workdays on th th th July 6 , July 13 , July 15 , and setting up after church on th Sunday the 17 . Even if you cannot help during VBS week your help is welcomed during the workdays! There is a sign-up sheet in the Fellowship Hall if youd like to volunteer in a specific area or go to the blogspot and fill in the information for volunteering. If you are unable to come to workdays, but are willing to work on things at home, let Stephanie, Pastor Matt or Joy know.

VBS Program
The VBS Program featuring many of the things that took th place during the week of VBS will be on Sunday, July 24 at 10:30 a.m. All kids that participated in VBS and their families are invited to attend. There will be an All Church Picnic after the program. Come and enjoy and see how God worked in the lives of the children, leaders, and helpers.

Food Items Needed Week of VBS (If you plan on providing one or more of the following items, please let Angie F. or Nurita know): Two 5lb. bags of sugar 4 bags of Mini Marshmallows Two 10lb. bags of flour or Four 5lb. bags Gummy Lifesavers 2 dozen eggs 2 jars of Grape Jelly 2 lbs. of butter 4 buckets of Ice Cream 10 cans of white frosting 100 total Pointed Waffle Cones 3 large bags of pretzel sticks 6 pkg. of yeast 4 large bags of M&Ms Quart-Sized Ziplocs 8 jars of Peanut butter 5 bags of celery 100 8 in. Tortillas 10 lbs. of Ham Sliced 100 mozzarella cheese sticks or 100 American Cheese Slices If youd like to provide a monetary donation to help cover costs of VBS items, please place donation in offering plate marked VBS. Thanks!

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Bible Study
Bible Study will be at 7:00 p.m. on July 6th, 13th, and 27th. th No Bible Study July 20 .

Summer Sunday School

Summer Sunday School classes continue throughout July and August. The classes are grouped accordingly: Kids Pre-K through 6 grade Jr. and Sr. High Adult Class Anyone willing to teach on or more weeks of the Kids Class please sign-up in the Fellowship Hall. Materials for teaching will be provided, or you are welcome to use your own Sunday School lesson ideas.
th

Play Dates at Yanney Park in July July 14th and 28th

Moms, grandmas, aunts, babysitters, any women with kids of all ages are welcome to come and hang out and enjoy all there is to do at Yanney Park in Kearney. The Splash Park Playgrounds Fishing Biking Walking And More We will be there at 10:30 a.m. Come anytime and stay as long as you are able. Bring a snack or even a picnic lunch for you and your kids and enjoy fun and fellowship with other church moms and their kids. st Mark your calendars for August 1 There will be a special Play Date that evening at the Waterpark/Swimming Pool in Hastings. From 5-8 p.m. it is $1.00 admission! More details will be coming!

A Case of the Missing Glass Pitchers (Dun Dun Dah)

The church is missing several glass pitchers from the kitchen. If you have any information regarding The Case of the Missing Glass Pitchers, please contact Detective Joy or check your cupboards and return to the kitchen as soon as possible. Thanks!

Evening Fellowship
Family Horseshoe Tournament Sunday, July 10, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.

Coming up at Keene
August 1 Play Date at Hastings Water Park August 3 No Bible Study August 7 Communion and Missions Offering - Evening Fellowship at 6:30 p.m. August 10, 17, 24, 31 Bible Study August 11 Play Date at Yanney Park at 10:30 a.m. August 21 Back-to-School Church Potluck -Second graders receive Bibles

Bring the whole family out and compete against other church families in a friendly game of horseshoes. Everyone please bring a snack item of any kind to share. Hot dogs will be served for supper. Mark Your Calendars th The next Evening Fellowship will be on August 7 . If you love homemade ice cream, you wont want to miss it!

Keene Evangelical Free Church 662 F Road Axtell, NE 68924 (308)743-2611 (Church and Parsonage) Church Email: keeneefc@rcom-ne.com Pastor Matthew J. Snell Pastors Cell (308)830-2603 Stay up to date on blogspot keeneefc.blogspot.com For general communication items for bulletin, announcements, newsletter, etc. email to: keeneoffice@rcom-ne.com

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