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Faith Friday for February 2, 2007

“Listen, God! Please, pay attention! Can you make sense of these ramblings, my groans and cries? King-God, I need your help.
   Every morning you'll hear me at it again.”

Psalm 5:1-2, the Message Bible

We are given many gifts when we believe in God.  One such gift is the opportunity we have to share all of our emotions with God, big or small.  God does not want to hear from us in just our happy times, but our sad and angry times too.

When I was a freshman in college, my parents separated and began the process of getting a divorce.  I was so angry.  I was mad at my parents, and mad at God.  It didn’t seem fair to me, not at all.  I was fortunate to be surrounded by friends who loved me and helped me through it.  But I also needed sometime to set things straight with God.  So, I yelled at God.  I remember doing this a couple of times clearly.  Once, in the chapel at school, yelling silently in my prayers.  The second time was when I was home for the summer, walking in the woods, literally cursing God out.  I knew that God could handle my anger, and would surround me with love, much like the hugs of my grandma when she knows I am angry.

These Psalms of Lament as they are called give us the opportunity to be angry towards God, and to come to God with all the sorrows on our hearts.  It is my prayer that you find comfort in sharing all of your emotions with the one who created all of us and our emotions.

Questions to consider:

Have you ever been angry at God?

How can you best tell God about your feelings?  Is it talking, writing a letter, drawing, or some other way?

Prayer:

God, thank you for making us all different and unique.  Be with us and help us in times of sorrow and trouble.  Help to remind us of your love as we share all of our emotions with you.  Amen

-Scripture from the Message Bible

Happening this week:

Breakfast Club will be held in the Tower this Sunday…Lots of Doughnuts!!!

Breakfast Club will be at the Schuchard home on February 11^th, and at Jenna’s February 18^th.

We are looking for host homes for March for Breakfast Club.

Do you have a MySpace or a Facebook profile?  Add Jenna, and get information about upcoming events there too!

Souper Bowl Sunday:
This Sunday, 140 million people all over the world will tune in to the Super Bowl football game. There will be parties with abundant food, friendship and fellowship. At the same time, there will be people worrying about staying warm, finding shelter and a warm meal. Please join young people around the US as they demonstrate God’s love by loving their neighbors through the Souper Bowl of Caring. It’s a simple, yet significant act of caring for others. Drop $1 in the soup pot as you leave worship next Sunday. Those who need help may not know that you cared, but God will. And our young people are developing hearts for giving that can last a lifetime. Please support their efforts.  We are looking for youth to help hold soup pots and give an announcement in church.  If you would like to do this, please contact Jenna.

Pastor Tom Tribute Night- February 7^th 7-8:30pm.  For all 7-12 graders.  Let’s take a night to tell Tom how much he has meant to us.  There will be activities, ice cream cake, and lots of laughs!  Jenna will be setting up about 5:30 that afternoon, and would love help.

Jenna is looking for dishwashers for all Lent Suppers, and clean up help on the 21^st and 28^th of March.  Please let her know if you can help.

Registrations due this Sunday!!!

Ski Trip, 2/15-16, $40 (We will be leaving after school on the 15^th!  I read the calendar wrong!)

Middle School Quake, Bismarck, March 2-4^th, $100

Senior High Construction Zone, Minneapolis, March 23-25^th, $125

YOU MUST REGISTER BY FEBRUARY 4^TH FOR THESE EVENTS.  NO LATE REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED!!!

Do you have a picture of Pastor Tom?  Jenna is working on an evening for our youth to get together and honor the ministry Pastor Tom has done with them.  Jenna is looking for pictures of Tom with our youth.  These may be pictures of our current 7-12th graders being baptized, getting confirmed, at VBS, or at a youth event with Pastor Tom.  You will get the pictures back when we are done with them.  Please turn in your pictures with your name on the back to Jenna by February 4th.

Do you have a prayer request?  Please let Jenna know so she can add you to her prayer list.  Also, if you would like the prayer request to go into the bulletin or on to a Faith Friday, please say that.  You can tell her or email her your requests.

Do you need information about an upcoming event?  Do you have a question to ask Jenna?  Just hit reply to this email!  Very easy!

***If you have any questions, please contact Jenna***

~Would you like to write a devotion for a Faith Friday?  Do you have a specific topic you think should be covered?  Please let Jenna know!~