February 2011
Glorify God
Keeping Our Focus on Jesus by Rev. Kermit L. Oppriecht, Associate Pastor/Temporary Head of Staff
February 6 Don McCurry
February 13 Salvation: Exclusive Yet Inclusive Keep the church as inclusive as God intended it to be. Acts 10:1 – 11:18 Steve Dickie
February 20 The Only Question That Matters The truth about Jesus is the only question that matters. Acts 9:1-31 Dr. Casey Casamento
February 27 The Mission of the Church Sharing the good news with others is the mission of the church. Acts 13-14 Rev. Jon Grissom
We are the body of Christ being missionaries when we worship God Almighty in all his awesome wonder and glory. Every time we gather to praise God, witnessing to the power of the risen Lord Jesus Christ whether on Sundays at 8, 9:30, 11 a.m. or 5 p.m., we are doing something so very right. Every time we stop to thank God and acknowledge his goodness, we give him the recognition he deserves and in some measure fulfill a part of what being a missionary is all about. We are the body of Christ fulfilling our mandate to be missionaries when we take time to grow and mature in our own discipleship. Each time we open the Scriptures, attend a Bible study or take part in a spiritual growth retreat, we are headed the right direction. There is no question in my mind that the Evil One is happy to use trouble and various difficulties to do everything possible to distract us and keep us from growing in our spiritual maturity. If we feel we have been caught in this trap, then the best thing to do is to be intentional about looking for a way to grow. It may be putting the Bible where we will see it every day. I know people who put devotional materials in their bathrooms and others who join a Sunday school or EDGE class knowing that iron sharpens iron. We also demonstrate renewed focus when we engage in acts of kindness and service that honor and give glory to God. Each time we minister to orphans and widows,
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Eastwind Newsletter
Photo by: John Moody
Message Series
“Y
ou either are a missionary, or you need one.” When Pastor McKechnie spoke those words in worship in January, they really impacted me. The more I have thought about it, the more I realize how much significance the concepts involved in this short statement have for us in this time of transition. What I mean by this is that during difficult or troubled times it is easy to become so distracted by the circumstances attached to problems that focus is lost on what is really important. We, the church at Eastminster, must never lose sight of who we are and whose we are. We are God’s children, the body of Christ.
care for the poor and marginalized and seek to share the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we fulfill what God has called us to be and do. We have a world around us both near and far that desperately needs us to keep our focus on being and making disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. I fear we have been distracted by recent events here at Eastminster, but I absolutely believe we have a God who is more than able and willing to empower us to overcome those distractions. Finally, I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to the many faithful leaders who have been and are giving direction to the kingdom work that continues to be accomplished through the church at Eastminster. The true measure of leadership is often best revealed during a time of crisis, and the past two months have shown this to be true once again. They have moved quickly to search for and bring an Interim Senior Pastor with what appears to be just the right mix of experience and gifting to enable Eastminster to move forward with confidence. They have moved forward to call an exceptional young man as our new Associate Pastor. They have initiated new and effective ways of communicating with our congregation to provide timely and accurate information. They have met frequently and fervently to give the time and energy needed to restore confidence and provide direction to the life of the body of Christ at Eastminster. God bless all of them. Pastor Kermit
The Journey
M o v i n g F o r w a r d Together.
Congregational Meeting February 6 Following the 9:30 a.m. service in the Sanctuary
H
ave you begun The Journey yet? The Journey is an online blog designed to keep you connected with Eastminster’s leadership during our time of transition. It’s the place to start for up-to-the-minute information on everything that’s happening here. The blog includes: • Late-breaking updates on session and leadership decisions • Weekly posts of encouragement from staff and elders • Frequent updates from the Transition Team • Online question submission to ask leadership anything you’d like • An eNews version of The Journey sent straight to your inbox every other Friday Visit The Journey anytime at eastminster. org/blogs/thejourney. Or read and interact with The Journey posts on our Facebook page at facebook.com/eastminsterwichita. Blog Bytes Snippets from recent blog posts. Read the full articles online at eastminster.org. Faith Like a Child: Jesus Would Like That by Mary Stephens, Director of Children’s Ministries • Posted 1.13.11 Matthew 18 contains an often-quoted passage describing when the disciples asked Jesus, “Who is the greatest in the
kingdom of heaven?” Jesus immediately calls a child over and says in verses 3 and 4: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” By posing the question the disciples were exposing their spiritual pride. Jesus said to be humble like a child. Humble. Modest. Unassuming in attitude and behavior. Place less value on own importance over someone else’s ... Keeping Our Focus on Jesus by Elder Susan Lear Posted 12.17.10 I read a story by Soren Kierkegaard about a gentleman in the 1800s riding home in his carriage on a dark but star-lit night. He’s got all the gas lights burning on the coach so he can see the road ahead just fine. But with all the lights burning he can’t see the stars very well. Now, says Kierkegaard, on the same dark night, there comes along a poor man with no carriage and no lights at all. You‘d think he’d get a glorious view of the stars above him. The only problem is, he is so busy looking down at his feet to make sure he doesn’t trip and fall into a hole, he doesn’t see the stars either! Then Kierkegaard asks the reader: “How many lanterns do you need for your journey?” How many material things do you need to live efficiently and still keep sight of Jesus? That’s an important question for me ...
A Congregational Meeting has been set by the session for Sunday, February 6, following the 9:30 a.m. service in the Sanctuary. At this meeting we will take up at least two items of business. One will be to vote on a motion by the APNC to extend a call as an Associate Pastor at Eastminster to Paul Bammel and the second will be to elect the Trustees for 2011. All members are encouraged to attend. If you didn’t get to hear Paul speak on January 23, you can watch or listen to his message online at eastminster.org/ worshipsermons/media.
Online Question Submission Got a question for leadership? We’d love to hear from you! You can now submit questions online to Eastminster leadership, and they’ll get back to you via e-mail as soon as they can. Just go to eastminster.org/blogs/ thejourney and click the button on the left that says “submit a question to leadership.” You might even see your question become part of a blog post on The Journey. Eastminster Presbyterian Church
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The
Fitting Room Putting On the Character of Christ
Women’s Conference speaker Kelly Minter shares about dressing ourselves in Christ-like virtues.
D
uring last year’s Eastminster Women’s Conference, guest speaker Kelly Minter led ladies through a life-changing study of the book of Ruth. Kelly’s laid-back, youthful and truth-telling style created a weekend full of connection, change, challenge and fun that women raved about for months. Many women shared how Kelly’s fresh take on the story of Ruth impacted their relationships with family, friends and the Lord. Kelly will again join us at the 2011 Women’s Conference, and this time she’ll share about putting on the character of Christ, as found in Colossians 3:12.
character was becoming lost in our culture. “I grew up with parents who raised my siblings and me with a strong emphasis on biblical virtues like patience, forgiveness, kindness, peace, etc. Not that I am good at all these things! But I did have the privilege of being taught them and they have served me so well,” she shares. “As I continue to live in our current culture I realize that biblical virtues are somewhat of a lost art. And since they mirror the character of Christ, and are so beneficial for our lives and the lives we come up against, I wanted to write about the ones specifically found in Colossians 3:12.”
“Peace, patience, kindness, forgiveness, joy and many other [virtues] are a lost art,” says Kelly. “We’re constantly fighting for them, if we even know they’re worth fighting for. When we grasp that Jesus is the embodiment of these characteristics, and we agree with him about the way he has asked us to live virtuously, it will change our lives — and the lives of those we come in contact with.”
Kelly says writing the study shaped her faith in new ways, especially in the area of becoming virtuous through Christ’s strength alone. “The main thing God taught me through writing The Fitting Room was that virtues are not something you can legalistically manufacture on your own,” says
The Lost Art of Virtue
As the daughter of a pastor, Kelly says she was inspired to write The Fitting Room study because she realized virtuous 4
Eastwind Newsletter
Kelly. “They are the outpouring of Christ’s life through us. Otherwise we’re stuck with superficial behavioral management which is maddening at best.”
About Kelly
Kelly’s wisdom and insight on Scripture has given her a career in writing and speaking to women. She’s easy to relate to and down to earth, which gives her a unique platform in her work. Beth Moore even led her online Bible study through Kelly’s book No Other Gods. But in the midst of her success, it’s Kelly’s genuine love for others and sharing God’s truth that makes her stand out. “I’m passionYou won’t want to miss Kelly Minter’s down-to-earth teaching style at the 2011 Women’s Conference!
Connect in God
ate about seeing women’s lives changed because of Jesus,” says Kelly. “When I can encourage and challenge women from the pages of Scripture it’s a fulfillment like none other.” Kelly’s unique combination of worship and teaching gives her a special way of reaching out to women at her speaking engagements. In fact, Kelly started out as a singer/songwriter in the Christian music industry. She now has several records to her name and continues to use her music as a part of her teaching. “I came to Nashville because I had signed a record deal with WORD records. I toured for a few years and then was offered my first book deal and wrote my first book. As my musical career struggled and waned I was offered an opportunity to write a Bible study for LifeWay. I accepted their offer and wrote No Other Gods based on confronting our modern day idols. After this study I wrote Ruth: Loss, Love & Legacy on the book of Ruth and have loved sharing these two messages across the country. As a result of these two studies I began to be asked to speak more often. Over time my career shifted from one of music to one of authoring and speaking. I still bring my guitar with me when I travel, and I still sing at the women’s events I’m privileged to be a part of, but mostly I teach women the Bible and share honestly from my heart.” Of course touring as a speaker and musician isn’t always glamorous. Kelly says she’s had a few “blooper” moments that have kept her laughing during her travels. “Years ago when I was touring as a musician I fell into a baptismal that was flush with the ground. There was a tarp over it but it was pre-show and the backstage was completely dark. I stepped right into it and down I went ... baptized twice for good measure!” Kelly’s love for others doesn’t stop at leading and teaching women. She also has a heart for world missions and is especially involved with an organization called Ray of Hope. “I work with [Ray of Hope] in the Amazon in Brazil ... I’m about to take my third trip there where my team and I jump on a boat and spend a week ministering to villages down the Amazon. We sleep in hammocks on the boat, essentially making it one big camping trip on the river. It’s one of the most incredible organizations I’ve gotten to ever be part of,” she shares.
The Fitting Room Can we really “dress up” in the character of Christ? How do we “clothe” ourselves with forgiveness, joy, patience and compassion? Join us at the 2011 Eastminster Women’s Conference as author/musician Kelly Minter shares from her upcoming book, The Fitting Room: Putting on the Character of Christ. Kelly will stitch together real-life stories with down-to-earth insights, and invites you to “put on” a life that’s tailored by the Master Designer just for you! WHEN February 11 - check-in 5:30 – 6 p.m., session ends at 9:15 p.m. February 12 - check-in 8:15 – 8:45 a.m., session ends at 2:45 p.m. COST Entire weekend: $45 Friday evening: $20 Saturday: $25 Fee includes dinner on Friday and light breakfast and lunch on Saturday, as well as all materials. NEW! When you bring a friend who’s new to Eastminster, your friend gets $10 off the registration fee. Be sure to note this on the form.
CHILD CARE Free child care for kids up to 5 years is available! Register below by February 1. REGISTER NOW! Register after Sunday services or at the reception desk during the week. Check out eastminster.org/fittingroom for links, details and info about Kelly!
Looking to the Future
Kelly says there are even more exciting things in store for her in the future. She’s writing her next study and says God is working in her immensely through the experience. “Right now I’m in the book of Nehemiah writing my next Bible study. In the opening verses of chapter 1, Nehemiah receives news that the city of Jerusalem is in trouble. The Bible says that Nehemiah mourned, fasted and prayed over these things. God is using this passage in my life to encourage me to further ask him for a heart that can break for others.” Eastminster Presbyterian Church
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Glorify God
The Psalms
by Dr. Tom Wine, Chancel Choir Director
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or musicians, Psalms are like the arias of the Bible. In an opera, the recitative tells the action of the story. Recitatives have a lot of fast moving words to deliver the plot. The aria lets the character reflect on the emotion of the moment. The action stops, and the singer can express a reaction to what has happened at that moment in the narrative. Perhaps this wealth of emotional content is why so many composers over the years have selected the Psalms as source material to write new melodies. (For example, the Eastminster music library has nine different settings of Psalm 23.)
The Psalms, 150 chapters in the Old Testament, were written over the course of almost 1,000 years. While about half of the Psalms are credited to David, many are anonymous songs of praise ... The Psalms, 150 chapters in the Old Testament, were written over the course of almost 1,000 years. While about half of the Psalms are credited to David, many are anonymous songs of praise which reflect the practice of the period when they were transcribed. These ancient hymns are divided into five separate books to correlate with the original Torah (the first five books of the Bible). Because many Psalms have a set structure, they lend themselves well to musical interpretation. Several Psalms use a common format of asking a question, expressing lament and then ending with words of praise. This poetic structure builds naturally in a musical composition. (Some composers use only the final verses of a Psalm to create an exciting acclamation.) 6
Eastwind Newsletter
During the months leading up to Lent, the Chancel Choir will feature anthems based on the book of Psalms. These include Psalms 33, 42, 66, 67, 72 and 100. The music represents a wide variety of styles, tempos and melodic ideas. The anthems are paired with the Psalm readings coordinated with the Gospel text used for each sermon. For that reason, one of the most popular musical Psalms, Psalm 98 “O sing unto the Lord a new song,” is not one of the selected anthems.
In February the choir will premier a new setting I wrote using Psalm 13. I selected this particular text as a source material because it is so dramatic in the way it moves the psalmist from mourning to rejoicing. The music opens with each section of the choir pleading with God, “How long will you hide your face from me?” The music is colored by an accompanying oboe player who at times echoes their sorrow, but also reaches upward in its melody as a call to the heavens. The middle section is somewhat demanding as the choir calls together for the Lord to look upon them. Again, the oboe is in juxtaposition to the voices as the singers move down toward “death,” the instrument reaches even higher in its melody. As a transition into the final refrain, I inserted a verse of the familiar hymn On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand. This seems to prepare the singer for the final exclamation, “I will rejoice … and sing to the Lord.” Here the oboe mimics a trumpet fanfare. I hope you enjoy our musical exploration of the Psalms as we move through the next several weeks. Be ready for a significant musical change when the church enters the season of Lent! For now, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” Dr. Wine directs the Chancel Choir at our 9:30 a.m. services. Rehearsals (Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.) are open to anyone with a heart for worship, and no experience is necessary.
Connect in God
The Runway
Claude Eldridge, Editor
Senior Spotlight: Jo Olander You would never guess Jo Olander is in her early 80s. She stays extremely active with weekly aerobics classes, frequent trips, Bible studies and prayer groups, and taking care of her home. She’s even taking a trip to Colorado in February to go snowmobiling. The former teacher’s vivacity for life carries over to her faith as well. She became a Christian at age 4, she says, and has been passionately pursuing a relationship with Jesus ever since.
Jo Olander displays some of her late husband, Carl’s, wood carvings of former presidents.
“I really feel like the Lord has looked after me all these years,” explains Jo. “In college you get interested in worldly things and having fun and meeting people, but it’s when you become serious about Jesus that life really begins.”
Jo says her faith has carried her through many bumps in life. “I think I’ve had a really great life. Of course it’s not been without its problems and struggles, but if you’re a follower of Jesus he will always take care of you,” says Jo. “It’s neat the way he looks after us. You really have to rely on him, especially at my age,”she laughs. Jo says she has had many “sections” of life that have all been very different. She studied home economics at Kansas State University and after beginning her teaching career she met her first husband, Bob. They settled in Junction City where she raised three sons. After her husband passed away in 1985, Jo met Carl Olander, a Wichitan who made wood carvings as a hobby. Bob had had Carl carve a statue of him, and after his passing Carl called Jo to come to Wichita and pick up the piece. “We got together through Carl’s woodcarving,” Jo shares, “and married shortly after.” Carl passed away five years ago, but Jo remains positive about life after the loss of two husbands. “I seem to spend more time with Jesus now. And I’ve received so much growth from being a part of Eastminster. I love the early Sunday class and our Tuesday prayer group,” she says. “But most of all I really love getting to know Jesus more and realizing that he’s not a person of rules and regulations, but all about love. That’s the most important thing in life.”
Upcoming Senior Events February 25 Joyous Marimba Melodies A catered lunch will be served at noon in Fellowship Hall followed by a delightful musical program presented by Juanita Cowan. Cost is $10. March 22 Tour of Envision Rehabilitation Center A box lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. The tour will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. Cost: $10.
April 29 Trip to Cy’s Restaurant and Karg Art Glass Gallery Begins at 11:30 a.m. Join us for lunch at Cy’s Hoof & Horn Restaurant in Sedgwick, and then we will travel to Karg Art Glass Gallery in Kechi for a tour at 1:30 p.m. May 16 Trip to Topeka Plan to take a bus trip with us to tour the State Capitol building and the Governor’s Mansion in Topeka.
Senior Committee Martha Buford
Warren Hillwig
Bill Chesnut
Bev Hoover
Mary Chesnut
Jim Mershon
Phyllis Ellis
DeAnn Most
Claude Eldridge
Lou Patton
Nancy Frazier
Reva Pyle
Gini Gear
Maxine Rhodes
Naomi Good
Marilyn Sheppard
Marilyn Gorham
Marty Weeks
Trudy Haag
Jean Wellshear
Eastminster Presbyterian Church
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Eastminster Presbyterian Church 1958 N. Webb Road • Wichita, Kansas 67206 316.634.0337 • www.eastminster.org
Worship Service Schedule Sundays at 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m.; 5 p.m. ekklesia The goal of Eastwind is to support the five Core Commitments of Eastminster Presbyterian Church: Know God, Grow in God, Connect in God, Serve God and Glorify God. Editor: Gail Adamo (gadamo@eastminster.org). Associate Director of Communications: Courtney Roberts (croberts@eastminster.org).
No ekklesia on Superbowl Sunday ekklesia won’t meet on Superbowl Sunday, February 6. We’re giving you the chance to reach out, throw a Superbowl party, spend the day in community and share your faith. It’s time for some hard-hitting, authentic and real relationship-building. After all, ekklesia means “the church” so we’re giving you the opportunity to get out and BE the church! Worship with us at 11 a.m. and then pull out all the stops to connect with friends as you watch the game. Learn more at ekklesiawichita.org/superbowl.
Meet Your Deacon Sunday, February 27 following all four worship services in Fellowship Hall Enjoy a special meet and greet time with the deacons. Deacons are ambassadors of the church who perform congregational care for
Celebrate Marriage Retreat
church members, so you’ll
Save the date! • March 4 – 6 Join us for our Eastminster Marriage Retreat at the beautiful Hyatt Place Inn in Overland Park. Great location, special luncheon powerful program, awesome people and dynamic talks make this the perfect opportunity to encourage and build up great marriages. Watch for more details coming soon!
deacon periodically.
hear from your assigned You’re always welcome to contact them if you’re in need of a prayer, support or have concerns. Don’t miss this time to connect with your deacon.