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Note:  This website continues to be developed. Questions or concerns regarding the Montesano Church of God should be emailed to: goodnews@mchog.org

 





Our web site is up and on-line.  It is a work in progress and is continually being up-dated.  All the links are working.  If you experience problems let us know.  If you have a dial-up connection please be patient as it may take a few moments for this site to load completely...

We invite YOU to come back and visit with us often.




Watch archived services from the
2010 North American Convention





The following groups are hosted this SUMMER by MCHOG...

A TIME OF PRAYER


Each Wednesday from 10:00 - 11:00 A.M. in the Fireside Room. Come and pray for others and the needs of our church.


Women of Faith
second Tuesday @ 7:00 P.M.


Board of Elders
third Tuesday @ 7:00 P.M.


XYZ group
third Thursday @ 11:30 A.M.

Senior Exercise Group (Montesano Community School) is on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 8-9 in the Youth Room


Girl Scouts meet on selected days… some Wednesdays and some Fridays. They change their meetings around so they vary.


All groups meet only during the “school year” and scouts are just getting started with their year.


High School - various activities


CASA for volunteer training on an as needed basis




Keeping in shape is great,
But soul-building reaches much more discipline than body-building.
Choose the trainer of your spirit well




9:30 a.m. Fellowship, juice and coffee in the Fellowship Hall

9:45 a.m. Worship Service in the Sanctuary
Ask someone,
"Would YOU like to come to church with me?"



A highly successful program CONTINUING this Spring...
in the Youth Room downstairs
It has been said that nothing you do for children is ever wasted. They seem not to notice us, hovering, averting our eyes, and they seldom offer thanks, but what we do for them is never wasted...

11:00 - 11:25 a.m. Grab a cup of coffee or glass of juice and head for a Sunday School class.   Classes are available for ALL ages.

11:30 a.m. Sunday School
A class for ALL ages

12:15 P.M. Dismissal

We provide a Nursery for all services...


Marc Rice
Senior Pastor

Darla Sauer
Administrative Assistant
Her office hours are Tuesday - Thursday - 8:30 A.M. - 11:30 A.M.
Friday 8 A.M. - 10 A.M.

e-mail
goodnews@mchog.org

web site
www.mchog.org




The Main Thing, Part 2

by Doug Talley

How does a person become a Christian in your church? When I ask pastors and lay leaders that question, they give me a strange look. Most have never thought about it. Few seem to really know the primary way(s) that happens in their church. Which usually indicates to me it probably isn’t happening… or it rarely happens.

If a church is transforming lives through Christ, then people are being intentionally won to a personal relationship with Jesus. There won’t just be a single way people come to Christ, but there will be one or two primary ways it happens. If the pastor and leaders cannot identify how that is happening, it probably isn’t and it needs some attention if accomplishing the mission is the main thing. In a lot of churches winning people to Christ is a verbal value (claim it is important) not a behavioral value (actually do it). It can’t be a true value and the main thing if it isn’t happening.

How do people in your church come to Christ? Answers I’m often given include people sharing their faith and winning someone to Christ or a person making a commitment at a worship service. My follow up question is, “How many people did persons in your church win to Christ in the last 12 months? How many people made commitments to Christ in your worship services the last 12 months?” Rarely does anyone know. They often guess maybe a couple.

Why don’t we know how people are coming to Christ in our churches? Why don’t we know how many come to Christ in a year? Why? Don’t get offended by this, but I think the reason is because it really isn’t important to us (behavioral value) and we don’t have an intentional system for seeing that it happens. It is haphazard. When something is haphazard, it isn’t really important. It isn’t the main thing. We aren’t haphazard about the things that are really matter to us. Besides, how do we do discipleship (make better disciples) if we don’t know who has made new commitments to Christ?

Years ago a primary strategy many churches used to win people to Christ was the altar. At the end of a worship service, people would come to the altar and commit their lives to Christ. That wasn’t the only reason people went to the altar, but a primary reason. Even if a person committed his or her life to Christ during the week, the trip to the altar was often confirmation of that commitment. (Sometimes we got a little carried away with this method as if it was the only way a person could get saved.) Many churched people still think this is the primary way it is happening or should happen, but from what I see and hear it isn’t happening much. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as long as it is happening some other way.

Years ago some churches used Evangelism Explosion. They followed the program, and people were trained how to share their faith, and people were won to Christ. I am not suggesting we need to use a particular program. Rather, I am emphasizing that we need to be intentional about it.

Some churches do a gospel presentation in a special class they offer to people who are new to the church. They want to make sure that as people become part of the church, they are certain about their relationship with Jesus Christ and understand what it means to be a Christ follower. They are trying to be intentional.

One church that is accomplishing the mission of making more and better disciples has a “Yes Table” – that’s what they call it – out in the courtyard (OK… the church is in Hawaii). Each Sunday people are invited to make a commitment to Christ and are encouraged to stop by the “Yes Table” and talk to someone or ask questions. Each Sunday people come to Christ through the ministry of that church. They are effectively using the “Yes Table” to move people along in the discipleship process.

Back to my original question: How do people in your church come to faith in Christ? Think before you answer. And be really, really honest. If you aren’t clear on the answer to that question, neither will the people in your church be. And if you aren’t clear about it and aren’t intentional in making sure it is happening, it probably isn’t. At least not very often.

If you aren’t sure of the answer to that question, take some time and talk to the Father about it. Ask Him for direction. He loves it when we ask those kinds of things. I guarantee He will answer!

I’d love it if some of you would email me to tell me about ways people in your church come to Christ. One pastor recently told me of a major men’s event they had in which several men made first time decisions for Christ. Awesome!

Blessings,





ever with you
close beside you
in the daylight
in the darkness
at each moment of each day
I am in you
I am love
I am God




ON THE AIRWAVES…



Christian Radio Station KLOVE 88.1 FM
By Molly Barker
When I first started attending our church, I was looking for ways to worship outside of Sunday mornings. Music became a natural way to do that for me. I stumbled onto KLOVE, a listener supported radio station that plays contemporary Christian music. This station is more on the softer side of the genre so you won’t find many songs where you can’t sing along or understand the words. The main focus of the station is to provide music without commercial interruption. They do this much like public television stations do – pledge drives a couple weeks each year. This means the rest of the year there is more music, more special interviews, more prayer, and more teaching. I love hearing the stories of the musicians and how they came to Christ. I have found myself pulling over on the shoulder while driving so I could pray with them with a listener who has called in with a prayer request. The stories behind how an artist was inspired to write a song are also touching and help me better connect to the music. Live music on the morning show is a regular feature. You can find out more about their mission by viewing their website at www.klove.com. The next time you are in the car (or cleaning the house, working in your garage, etc) I encourage you to tune your radio to 88.1 FM. You might just find yourself singing along to a new song on Sunday morning like a pro!


SOUTH WIND RADIO


By Will Whitney
I love the Lord and the Church of God. You see me serving in many ways. As chair of the Christian Education Committee, usher with Team A, assistant librarian, web master and whatever else God leads me to do. This isn't about what I do at the church. It's about a passion I had since age 6 and how after retiring from 30 years teaching I was able to realize this dream. And in a very different way than I could have ever imagined.

In 2000 I found a site on the Internet that told about how a person could start an online radio station. All my life I wanted a radio station. I thought this would be something to look into. After a lot of planning and work I launched on December 1, 2000, "South Wind Radio." We streamed "Southern Gospel" music. I had lived in East Tennessee thirty years and came to love this genre of music. Last year we added Bluegrass and Country Gospel. We have recently added what we call World Music, featuring music from other countries. The beginnings were a learning experience in broadcasting. As time went by we learned and soon had an award winning stream.

We began that day in December with a dial up connection and just one listener. Today we broadcast in MP3 Pro Stereo on a broadband cable connection from our servers in California. We have literally thousands of listeners around the world.

When we began we purchased all our music. Today we receive music directly from the record companies, radio compilations, and the artists themselves. Rarely do we buy music. Yes, we do pay royalties on every song we play. We program several syndicated shows including Bill Gaither's "Homecoming Radio" , "Gospel Country", "The Sunrise Show" and Wagon Traxx" Our World Music is currently programming the music of Libera. A unique boy band from London, EnglandOver the years we have received e-mail from many folks. Some are requests for songs, some are from people who hear the music and it reminds them of their parents or some event in their life. Often we receive notes from the artists themselves thanking us for playing their songs. We even received an e-mail from the U.S. Attorney General's Office in Washington, D.C., saying they listened to SWR in their offices. They thought we ought to go on satellite radio. I don't think we are ready for that.

The most moving e-mails come from someone in the Republic of Belarus and I want to talk about these. The fall of 2007 an e-mail came from a 12 year old boy who heard the music we play. Since that day we have continued to correspond. His e-mails are interesting. Even though he can read, write and speak Belarusian, Russian and English his e-mails are flavored with an accent. As time goes by I am learning a lot about a little country the size of Kansas with a population of 11 million. A country I never even knew existed until just recently. A country on the other side of the world.

I learned that during Hitler's reign of terror during World Was 2 there was much destruction in Belarus and one fourth of the population was killed. Stalin and other Communist dictators killed or imprisoned another one fourth of the people. The Chernobyl accident in April 1986 caused untold ecological and economic damage. 99 % of Belarus was contaminated with fallout. The long term consequences of this accident are still unknown.

The nuclear disaster is another story of my involvement with the Children of Chernobyl USA project, Show God's Love program and the orphanage in Rudensk, Belarus.

The saddest thing of all is that this area of the world suffered from intense spiritual darkness. In 1932 Stalin made the following decree.

"On May 1, 1937 there must not remain on the territory Of the U.S.S.R. A single house of prayer to God and the very concept of "God" will be banished from the Soviet Union."

Prior to 1991 the Republic of Belarus was part of the vast Soviet Union. Under Communism, religion was brutally suppressed for over 70 years. All religious traditions and icons were destroyed. Many people were killed or jailed for trying to maintain their faith. Atheism was taught throughout all aspects of society, destroying the faith of millions over three generations. Since the fall of the U.S.S.R. The church has come back and the people are open to the good news of Jesus Christ.

Some folks have asked "Why" I do what I do. I look at it as "Presenting Christ to the world one song at a time." It is my ministry. Music is a universal language, as I found out from the boy in Belarus. If a song makes an impression in someones life and draws them closer to the Lord then I did my job.

I invite you to listen to South Wind Radio on the Internet. A broadband connection is best. You can access us at www.southwindradio.com or www.live365.com/stations/177286. Download a FREE player 365 or become a VIP member.
Thanks for listening...


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YAY! IT’S ALMOST HERE



As International Youth Convention (IYC2010) quickly approaches, I am ever so excited! I can hardly wait to see all God has in store for me on this trip. Time has just flown by, because it seems like almost yesterday, I was getting on a plane to go to San Antonio, Texas for my first ever IYC in 2008.

During the past two years, I feel that I’ve grown so much in my walk with God. After my awesome experiences at two different and inspiring Leadership Summits last summer I find that I’m learning more and more about who I am and what my Heavenly Father is calling me to do with my life.

Another great event in my life occurred on Father’s Day when I preached for the first time. I’ve spoken here and there in church about my experiences at conferences I’ve gone to, but I’ve never had to research and fully prepare a sermon on my own.

About a month before Father’s Day, I was at work, cleaning the law office, listening to some great Christian tunes when I was almost bombarded with ideas and illustrations of preaching on Father’s Day.

Over the course of a few days, I continued to have a desire to preach, and so I obediently followed what I felt was the Holy Spirit’s direction and asked my dad if his father’s day present could be me preaching the sermon. He enthusiastically agreed and tonight here I sit writing this newsletter article after presenting my gift in church earlier this morning.

It was a great experience and I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to let the Holy Spirit use me to reach His people.

As I continue to prepare for IYC, I get more excited by the moment. After meeting a bunch of the students on the IYC student leadership team at Leadership Summit last year I can hardly wait to see them again. I am also excited to get closer with Amy Barker and to meet some new friends since we are going with another youth group. I know I will have an amazing time and I look forward to sharing with you about this life changing experience!

Have a blessed summer; I’ll see you soon!
Courtney Rice


SONQUEST RAIN FOREST


COMMUNITY BIBLE CAMP


JULY 12-16



Once again the combined churches of Montesano are sponsoring Community Bible Camp for those age 4 through 6th grade. This year the Montesano Assembly of God has joined with the Montesano Church of God, St. John’s Catholic Church, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Montesano United Methodist Church, Montesano Presbyterian Church, First Baptist Church and the Calvary Chapel to provide an exciting week full of activities. Community Bible Camp (CBC) runs the week of July 12 through 16. CBC begins each day at 9:00 a.m. and runs through 12 noon, with the exception of Friday, when the children who have been attending will perform for their families and the community at large. This program will be held in the right here in our sanctuary. Throughout the week, each day will begin at the Montesano Church of God with groups moving throughout the day at the Catholic, Episcopal, and Methodist Churches (all within a one block radius). Registration forms are available at any of the local churches or by calling the church offices. Registration is also open each morning at the Montesano Church of God.

Each year the children also have a community service project where they bring food and paper products (including soaps, diapers, wipes, etc) for the Montesano Food Bank. Items are collected each week and on Friday we load up a truck and present the food to the Montesano Food Bank. What a way to show the community God’s Love!

In the past there have been upwards of 200 children who have attended CBC. We look forward to another great year of sharing what God has in store for us.

Invite a friend to join you and we will see you at the SonQuest Rain Forest!

PRAYER HOUR
EVERY WEDNESDAY


Do you ever wish you were closer to God? Do you sometimes feel a twinge of guilt for neglecting prayer? Do you envy the people who seem to have it all together? Do you long for peace and stillness of heart?

Many people today think they cannot pray. They view praying as a special gift of church activists, the elderly or saints. If you are among these people, or if you just need encouragement for your ongoing prayer journey, take heart.

Every Wednesday from 10:00 - 11:00 A.M. there will be a prayer hour in the Fireside Room. Bring your prayer concerns and join other prayer warriors for an hour of prayer each and every Wednesday. Prayer isn’t for specialists; prayer is for you and for me.





To The Least of These


The web site of our Church of God Career Missionaries to Haiti


The Ackermans - Our missionionaries to Haiti




SMALL GROUP NEWS


By Jerry Phillips
The Small Group that meets at Norm and Donna Smith's home will continue to meet through the summer months and for the balance of the year.  We begin a new study of the Gospels in a few weeks, using the Bible and "Just Like Jesus" by Max Lucado as resources for discussion.  You will find a welcome ... always room for more friends!  Lucado's book can be ordered from www.amazon.com in large or common print size, new or used, at reasonable prices.  Jerry Phillips is the leader for this group.  Call 249-3862 for directions or more information what takes place at the Smith home each Wednesday, 7:00 - 8:30pm.


MISSING IN CHURCH!



I was thinking as I sat in church, looking over several empty pews, “Where are you today?”

It occurred to me that many times we come to church when we need the church. When we are going through a difficult time or a crisis, we may find it easy to attend. However, when we don’t need the church we find it easier to stay away.

But, did/do we ever consider that at that time we don’t necessarily need the church, the church may need us? There may be other hurting people, or those going through crises that need us to be there for them?

We may just be too tired or have too much going on in our lives and find it easy to stay home – but please consider these thoughts today…God may need you to be in church to meet a need that is sent your way. It may be something as simple as smiling at the person in the next pew, encouraging the person next to you or giving a hug to someone as you pass through the aisle.

I know that I miss you when you are gone and I also hope my presence is missed when I am away.

“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25

See You in Church!
Janet Rice


ANNUAL BUDGET TIME NEARS!



It is hard to believe but we are nearing the end of the 2009-2010 Budget year! Where has the time gone? Be watching the bulletins and the bulletin board for news on upcoming meetings regarding the upcoming budget process. June marks the end of our third quarter of the 2010 budget. Be thinking of what you see as a need in the church as we plan ahead for 2011. Committees will be receiving their “preliminary numbers” in July and August.


SERVANTKEEPER UPDATE



In the last budget year the church purchased the ServantKeeper Software product with the intent of streamlining the way we reach our church family. If you have already turned in your questionnaire, Thank You. If you have not, please pick up a copy at the Welcome Desk, fill it out and return it to the Welcome Desk or the office.

For those of you who are out of town, we ask that you give us some basic information for use in our newsletter mailing, whether it be by e-mail or by the US Postal Service. Just answer these few questions and send to us either by e-mail or by the postal service.

Name ___________________________________
Address _________________________________
City/State/Zip _____________________________
Phone (If you wish) _________________________ How do you wish to receive your Monte Messenger? E-mail: (include your address)
US Postal Service? _________________________
While we understand that we have asked this same information before, we are wishing to make sure you are receiving your Monte Messenger in the way you prefer.

We look forward to hearing from you all very soon!


PRAYER CHAIN



It's time to update the "chain" again! If you have changed your email address, phone number, etc this is a good time to let me know. There is a form available at the Welcome desk.

To be on the prayer chain, all you do is bring concerns of the congregation to the LORD through prayer. If a person desires to be a caller, they only get 4-6 people to call. Others like to be contacted via email, which I and Laura do.

If some one tells you of a prayer concern, make sure we have permission to put it on the "chain" .

Thanks for all those that have been involved!
Sandy Casberg


GRIEF SHARE SERIES CONTINUES



Led by Bob Worman, the Grief Share Program is held each Thursday evening at 7:00 in the Fireside Room. This 13 week series includes a video series designed to help you successfully travel the journey from mourning to joy. Each session stands alone so you may join in at any time. For more information, pamphlets are available at the Welcome Desk area or contact the church office at 249-3242.



THANK YOU!!


Montesano Church of God,
Thank you for the graduation gift. It will be much appreciated as I move to Seattle this fall to study Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington.

Again, thank you.

Sincerely,
Chad Porter

To our church family,
We are just so overwhelmed by the love you all have shown us. We can’t thank you enough for your prayers and support and we look forward to telling you about our experience at IYC!

God Bless,
Courtney Rice and Amy Barker


CONVOY OF HOPE


COMING TO GRAYS HARBOR



Businesses, churches, and community organizations on Grays Harbor are partnering to help the less fortunate during the county’s first ever Convoy of Hope outreach this September. Convoy of Hope is a nonprofit organization that provides resources to organizations and churches to meet physical and spiritual needs for the purpose of making the community a better place.

The goal of the Convoy of Hope event is to reach out to Grays Harbor children and families by meeting some of their most basic needs. Thousands of pounds of free groceries will be distributed along with hot dogs, clowns, medical exams, family portraits, haircuts, job interviewing training, games and activities for children, and live entertainment. There will also be a job fair. There are donations of more services coming in on a regular basis and all the services are free. There will be a prayer tent available for anyone with spiritual needs. This will truly be a Christian fair.

This event will be held on Saturday, September 18, beginning at 10 a.m. The place is the Olympic Stadium in Hoquiam (which has been donated free of charge for the day)

This huge event will require hundreds of volunteers. They are in need of help in the medical tent, hair stylists, photographers and service in many other places. They will need help in watching the children while their parents are elsewhere and there is lots of room to help put groceries in sacks. They are also in need of some prayer warriors.

The Mission/Outreach Committee wants you to be aware of this opportunity for ministry in our area so you may consider becoming a part of this event by volunteering your skill or helping wherever you can. This is a fabulous way for students who are in need of community service hours for high school to serve. If you feel led to help with this enormous outreach event, you may volunteer by calling (360) 591-6168 or log onto www.graysharborconvoy.org

For more information about Convoy of Hope log on to www.convoyofhope.org


BLOOD DRIVE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!



Volunteers are needed for the upcoming Blood Drive on July 20. Please see Pat Schmidt or call the church office if you can help with this outreach.

MONTESANO FOOD BANK NEEDS YOU!



A collection box is located in the Narthex for you to place your non-perishable and paper/soap products in. Doris Parnel will take all donations to the Montesano Food Bank for you. Thank you for your donation!


NEW ELDER ELECTED



Patsy Aubuchon has been elected to serve on the Board of Elders following a special called business meeting on June 6. She will serve out a term through the year 2012. Welcome to the Board of Elders, Patsy.


LOOKING TO SEPTEMBER…



Be watching the bulletin board, bulletins and the September Monte Messenger for exciting happenings in September. You will be treated to the beginning of Sunday School Classes for all ages with exciting activities for the new school year. There will be a special recognition for our Seniors, as well as a presentation on Children of Promise and a visit from the Gideons. Keep your eyes on future publications and the website… www.mchog.org to learn more about what is planned for the upcoming months at the Montesano Church of God.




Xtra Years of Zest News



XYZ POTLUCK LUNCH



Those with some eXtra Years of Zest will be gathering for lunch on Thursday, July 15. This month they will meet at 12 noon, due to the Community Bible Camp on that day. Bring along a dish to share and enjoy a time of great food and fellowship.

The August XYZ Potluck Lunch will begin at the regular 11:30 time in the Fellowship Hall.


A REMINDER


FOR THE AUGUST 2010 MONTE MESSENGER.

Articles for the August 2010 Monte Messenger are due by Sunday, July 25th.   Turn your articles in to the church office or send them to Darla via e-mail at goodnews@mchog.org to have them included in the upcoming August 2010 edition of the Monte Messenger.   The 25th day of the month is now set as the day to have articles in to the church office for submission into the following month’s Monte Messenger.   This is done in an effort to make sure the newsletter is out in time for planning your activities for the upcoming month.