Greeting Friends,As I was reflecting and thinking about

July 4th and the freedom we have gainedbecause of those whohave laid down theirlives for us I could nothelp but think aboutJohn 15:13, Greater lovehas no one than this: tolay down one’s life forone’s friends.

This verse has a two-part meaning. The firstpart is the great sacrificethat God did for us whenhe sent his Son to thecross so that we couldlive for an eternity! It isbecause of this great sac-rifice that we have ourfreedom, which is onlyfound in Christ. When I think about thisconcept, the chorus word from “The SolidRock”, comes to mind.

On Christ the solid rock I stand.All other ground is sinking sand,All other ground is sinking sand!

The second part is the great sacrifice thatour military and armed forces make for us.

Our country would notbe what it is today if itwere not for the menand women who havemade this sacrifice forus! So be sure to stopand shake a hand of aveteran to show themyour appreciation!Thank you to our veter-ans you have blessed uswith a great sacrifice!

May God richly blessAmerica!!!!Holding you in the life!

Pastor Thomas Carlson

From Pastor Thomas’ Desk

UMC MessengerG R O T O N / C O N D EJ U L Y 2 0 1 7

Pastor’s Schedule

Mondayin office 10 am - noonand 1 -3:30 pmTuesdaySermon Writing DayWednesdayin office 12 - 3:30 pmThursdayavailable by appt10 am-5 pmFriday andSaturdayDays OffEmergency Calls24/7

Thank you to Judy, John and LeeAnn who dropped off a bench at thechurch in memory of Mom (AudreyPadfield).

Thank YouP A G E 2

U M C M E S S E N G E R

Marlys Rodman 397-4570Pat Dahlquist 397-2616Doris Zoellner 397-2417Marj Townsend 298-5221Ann Rix 397-8478Darlys Kampa 395-6996DeLoris Knoll 397-2681Gloria Pharis397-2375

*If you are not on this list orthe email prayer chain, pleasenotify church office.We must have your permis-sion to start the Prayer Chain.So please call and request thisto be done. It is not automaticfor privacy reasons.

Groton UMC

CHURCH

INFORMATION

Pastor Thomas CarlsonOffice Phone

605-397-8270Cell Phone

605-277-8448Pastor Email

pastorthomas@nvc.net

Secretary Emailgrotonumc@nvc.net

websitegrotonumc.org

906 N 1st StGroton, SD 57445

One Sunday as she was getting readyfor church, a grandmother received a callfrom her daughter. “Can you watch thekids while we’re out of town nextweek?” the daughter asked.

Grandma was so thrilled she put anextra $5 into the offering plate thatmorning.

The next Sunday, after her threeyoung grandchildren had returned home,she put in an extra $20.

Why Grandma Gave

ber the word to “The Solid Rock”, OnChrist the solid rock I stand. All otherground is sinking sand!

The pearls remind of who Jesus Christ is,He is our King and we are beloved chil-dren of the one true King. He love andpower washes away our sins!

The wooden crosses remind us of thegreat sacrifices that Jesus did so we couldlive for eternity!

The Food print ribbon reminds us that weare not alone but on a path together withJesus and others!

Our prayer Jars are reminder for us topray. The prayer jar is meant to be placedsomewhere you will see it and remember topause, pray and reflect.

We place the following in our jar to re-mind us about our own discipleship walk. Af-ter all He is the one that answer our prayers! The sand reminds us of our journey with

Christ. We can also be reminded of thepoem “Foot prints in the sand” Christ isalways walking with us and sometime heis carrying us!

The Rock reminds us that Christ is ourRock and Redeemer. We can also remem-

J U L Y 2 0 1 7 P A G E 3

Prayer Jars

Pastor

Thomas’

UMW

Program in

May

NO UMW

Meetings in

July at

Groton and

Conde

changing renewal in Adam Hamilton’ssix-week, DVD-series, John: The Gos-pel of Light and Life. You’ll follow thelife, ministry, death, and resurrectionof Jesus through the Gospel of Johnand understand the context of someof the best-known verses in the NewTestament. Everything you need forthis special study including the entireGospel of John in the CEB translationprinted in the book.

July 11 we will start a 6 week study onthe book of John by Adam Hamilton. Every-one is welcome to join us.

The Gospel of John is the most deeplyspiritual of the four gospels. This writing isfilled with rich images and profound truths,but John notes that his aim in writing the gos-pel is that readers will not only believe inJesus Christ, but that they “may have life inhis name.”

Adults, youth, and children alike can ex-perience a season of spiritual growth and life-

J U L Y 2 0 1 7 P A G E 4

Tuesday 10 AM Bible Study

tor told his fellow passenger: “All theconductor looked at was your ticket.He did not inquire about your char-acter. He didn’t care who you were— whether you were a good or moral manor a criminal. So it is with salvation. Youneed only God’s ‘ticket to heaven’ stampedby the blood of Jesus Christ.”

On a train trip, a pastor struck up a con-versation with a seatmate who thought char-acter and good works led to salvation. Thepastor wasn’t making progress but had a re-alization when the conductor collected tick-ets, quickly checking the date before stamp-ing each one.

After the conductor passed by, the pas-

Your Ticket is Stamped

Little Free Librarymeet, the story is followed by a shortactivity and a light snack. This sum-mer there will be an occasional spe-cial treat... surprise guest authors!Contact Kim at 380-7148 if you knowany authors, have any ideas, want tohelp with an activity or donate asnack, or would like to read a storyas a guest reader! Hope you can joinus!

Little Free Library. Since openingthe Little Free Library at our church in2015, our summer story time hasgrown. Summer 2017 story time forall ages will be on Weds starting June 7at 10:30 am and run through July 26.There will be NO story time on Wed,July 5 and on any rainy days. Thebooks we share often teach an impor-tant lesson to children. Each time we

July 19Carol Strom

July 22 Chanda & Logan NilssonJoyce Walter

July 24 Maggie OliverRoger & Pam Rix

July 25 Hannah WebbJuly 26 Angela & Perryn Dobbins

Laila RobertsPat Knecht

July 27 Damian & Erin BahrRyland StromTony Madsen

July 28 Craig WeberJuly 29 Curtis KruegerJuly 30 Judy Zeck

Megan & Seth EricksonJuly 31 Lynette SeversonCondeJuly 3 Guy & Renee HanlonJuly 6 Shanna GeistJuly 23 Patty KnollJuly 27 Horace & Donna Walter

GrotonJuly 1 Charity Hinman

Graham RoseJuly 4 Seth EricksonJuly 5 Allen & Joyce Walter

Jasmine SchinkelJuly 7 Ida Hannon

Julie MorehouseJuly 8 Kelby HawkinsJuly 10 Pernell & Noella GrafJuly 11 Roger & Marjorie Overacker

Scotty HinmanJuly 12 Ashtyn BahrJuly 13 Jolene Townsend

Stephanie TownsendJuly 14 Ava Kramer

Christine NybergJuly 15 Margaret JacobsonJuly 16 Linda Thurston

Richard VossJuly 17 Mackenzie AthertonJuly 18 Doug & Kay Daly

Josh & Merrie AthertonKaitlin O’NeillKevin Pray

J U L Y 2 0 1 7 P A G E 5

Our Church Celebrations

J U L Y 2 0 1 7 P A G E 6

Each month I receive an ideapage for newsletters and thismonth it suggested to go backto the past newsletters to addsome fill. So, I decided to goback 10 years and check outthe newsletter and I found mygrandson! Nice. I am going tofind the first newsletter I haveand put some articles on thenext page 7. So, enjoy know-ing it is years ago! Kay

Church History2007

for 1998 will be installedduring church service Dec 7.

The next UMW Meeting willbe Dec 17. There will be apotluck dinner at 12:00 pm.The hotdish will be furnishedby the UMW executive commit-tee. The meeting will followat 2:00 pm. Program leaderswill be Marjorie Townsend andJolene Townsend.

The Groton UMW met on November19. Ann Rix presented a programbased on a giving thanks theme.

Marvel Johnson and CarolynSnyder attended the UMW Retreatin Aberdeen on Nov. 7-8. Theyreported an inspirational timeof fellowship and reflectionbased on a body and soul cur-riculum.

UMW officers and coordinators

J U L Y 2 0 1 7 P A G E 7

Groton UMW Notes - 1997

Approved presenting the 1998Budget as proposed by the Fi-nance Committee to the ChargeConference for adoption. Thetotal budget is $68,774, ap-proximately $1000 lower than the1997 budget.

The proceeds from the sale ofthe donated stock shares will beplaced in the General Fund ac-count for use as needed forregular expenses. This is persuggestion of the donor.

The next meeting will be Dec10 at 8:30 pm. All church mem-bers are invited to attend.

At the Nov. 12 meeting, thefollowing items were on theagenda:

JoEllen Herman of Conde hasbeen hired as Church Secretary.She plans to be in the office onThursday or Friday each week.

The Men’s Dinner yielded ap-proximately $745 profit. Theproceeds will be used to buy aCD player and portable micro-phone.

An ad hoc committee to de-velop a plan for storage of allchurch property will be named byPres. Earl Ruden.

Groton Ad Council - 1997

Articles

from

20 Years

Ago

1997

Pastor

Emil H

Eberhart

Conde Administrative Board - 1998

Patty Knoll presided at the January 21, 1998 meetingof the Conde Administrative Board.

Since there does not appear to be a special need inthe community at this time, the Christmas Eve offeringwill be sent to the Abbott House in Mitchell.

Bishop Coyner will be in the Groton-Conde Parish onMarch 1st.

Important upcoming dates will be included in the cal-endar on the newsletter.

Check & Clean Oven and Fridge asnecessary

Coffee Hour workers (make coffee,provide cookies, launder towels andremove trash)

2 Ushers for each Sunday Pickup ritual of friendship sheets Straighten the Sanctuary Pews Maintain the Altar Flower Arrangements Change decorations on tables in fellow-

ship hall with the seasons Mow the lawn as necessary Diann Morehouse and Carna Atherton-

Pray will be taking care of the Banners,Altar Cloths, and Candle Maintenance.

Sharon & Larry WheetingCaralee & Gary HeitmannErin & Damian BahrKarla & Russell Davidson, ClaireCharity HinmanCurtis KruegerAM & Laurie MitchellJustin & Amanda MorehouseBetty StromCheri & Tom StromAlan & Jolene TownsendAnita & Gary VossHonorary Members Deloris KnollAugust Responsibilities Check Kitchen Supplies for the month

J U L Y 2 0 1 7 P A G E 8

Groton Family Committee - August

Conde MISSION

STATEMENT

“The Conde

United

Methodist

Church is

seeking to satisfy

the spiritual and

physical needs of

all.”

GrotonStewardship

Report June 2017

AverageWkly Giving

$1,492

Needed Wkly forChurch Mission

$2,347

Average WeeklyAttendance Sunday

38

Total Building FundDonationsfor Repairs

$0

July 6 Groton Prayer Group 7 pm

July 10 PPRC at 7 pm in Groton

July 11 Groton Tues 10 AM Bible Study resumes

July 12 Groton Finance Mtg 6 pm

July 19 Groton Ad Council 7:15 pm

July 23 Newsletter Items Due

Aug 1 UMW Reading Program Year End

Our Church Happenings

If you are receiving a paper copy of thisnewsletter and would rather receive it viaemail, then please notify the church officeat grotonumc@nvc.net

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