Blog Posts

Me?

12/28/2018

A new year usually causes us to reflect on the past twelve months and look ahead to the coming year. That often leads to making some resolutions to improve one or more areas of our lives. That's not a bad thing to do, but most of those resolutions tend to focus on ourselves: how we can look better, feel better, experience more happiness, success, love, etc. What if we approached things with a different focus?

This Sunday, December 30th, we'll begin a new sermon series we're calling "Selfless". What are the things that God wants us to become? If we put energy toward the things that He desires in us, we will find that everything else will fall into place. Remember that Jesus said:

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously,
and he will give you everything you need. (Matthew 6:33)

I hope you'll be able to join us as we seek after Kingdom values in 2019!

LOVE

12/21/2018

When I was nine years old, I took tennis lessons and ended up winning the little tournament at the Mercerwood Shore Club my family belonged to. Here I am with my trophy. Having conquered tennis playing, I retired from competitive play.

Have you ever wondered why the game of tennis calls a score of zero as "love"? Though one theory claims the term is a corruption of the French l'oeuf (“the egg”) to describe the shape of the number zero, the Oxford English Dictionary suggests that love really does mean “love.” The only thing keeping a scoreless player on the court is the love of the game. (Obviously, that didn't apply to me).

This Sunday, December 23rd, we'll be talking about the fourth theme of Advent: LOVE. It was God's LOVE that lead to the Incarnation: Jesus giving up his status as God and emptying himself to the point of becoming a human and then suffering and dying in our place so that we could have a restored relationship with Him. That certainly is far from a zero! I hope to see you on Sunday.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship

On the evening of Monday, December 24th, we will hold our Christmas Eve service featuring the story of Jesus' coming to the earth as told through scripture and carols. It will also include our traditional candle lighting ceremony as we remember that the Light of the World arrived to a dark world and has filled us with His light to share with others. I hope you'll be able to join us for this special celebration of the reason for the season.

At the Christmas Eve service we will have a collection box for our Crisis Fund. We are entering a difficult season of the year in which many people find themselves in need. Our Crisis Fund exists in order to share God's love with those in our congregation and community in practical ways. Consider making a special end-of-the-year gift.

JOY!

12/13/2018

I'm confident that our Worship Celebration this Sunday will be much more joyful than this classic photo.

This Sunday, December 16th, we'll be continuing with our Advent series as we focus on JOY. It's an appropriate Sunday to feature our children and others who will be sharing their musical and other gifts during the service. I'll also be sharing some thoughts on JOY and the Angel's promise of "good news that will bring great JOY to all of the people".

We will also celebrate the artistic and crafting skills of members of our congregation as the Fellowship Hall is transformed into a gallery. I hope you'll join us for this JOYful celebration.

Spreading the Christmas Spirit in Twisp

A group of carolers representing a number of churches sang songs of Jesus' birth during the recent Mistletoe Madness shopping night in Twisp. It was a wonderful time and appreciated by business owners and shoppers. Kaile Ryan reprised her role as Frosty outside the PIC Pony. It was a fun night!

PEACE!

12/6/2018

When I was a little kid, I loved stickers. My Uncle owned "Palmberg Auto Supply" in Aurora, NE, and he gave me a box of stickers - mostly advertising NAPA and various car parts and products. I enjoyed adding to my box of stickers and one that I remember fondly was this iconic image of the era.

The "V for Victory" sign was re-branded during the Vietnam War by protesters who sought the end to conflict. This hand gesture became known as the peace sign (although, if you go onto social media you'll notice countless Japanese girls making this gesture and I don't think it has anything to do with peace - it's just what you do in a photo).

Peace is something that everyone wants to experience and so it's a wonderful message when the angel declares "Peace on Earth" and the prophet Isaiah tells us that the Messiah Jesus is "the Prince of Peace". But what does that mean?

This Sunday, December 9th, we'll be looking at the theme of PEACE as it is found in the Christmas story and how it can be experienced in our lives all year round. I hope you'll be able to join us.

Christmas Caroling Tonight!

Tonight, Thursday, December 6th, we'll be caroling through Twisp as a part of the "Mistletoe Madness" shopping night. We'll meet at the end of Glover Street near the big tree at 5:30 pm and then work our way down the street singing as we stop in at the different businesses. Plan on joining us for this festive way to spread the true meaning of Christmas through song!

Community Prayer Gathering - Friday, 12/7

This Friday evening, December 7th, there will be a community prayer gathering at the Community Center in Twisp focused on drug use in our valley. Everyone is encouraged to join together in prayer beginning at 6:00 pm as we pray for those caught up in this destructive behavior and seek God's guidance and power to bring the hope of experiencing freedom from its grip.

Bringing Our Gifts to the King

The Worship Service on Sunday, December 16th will be extra special because it will feature everyone's gifts!

Although we will be highlighting our children in the program, we're hoping for this to be a multi-generational celebration. We invite anyone to share their gift as a part of our worship service. We'll also be turning the Fellowship Hall into a gallery for people to display their art, photography, needle work, wood working, etc. Everything we've learned to do is a gift from God and can be used to give Him praise!

Sign up in the Fellowship Hall by this Sunday, December 9th, to make sure you're included. Contact Mandy Schmekel for more information (509-341-4257)

HOPE is on the way

11/29/2018

Hope is an interesting commodity - even a tiny bit of hope can keep some people going. That's true for Jim Carey's character, Lloyd, in this scene from the movie "Dumb and Dumber".

Most people are not this optimistic. They see hope as wishful thinking and would rather base their outlook on what is realistic. "Plan for the worst and hope for the best" is their motto. But all of us hope for the best.

This Sunday, December 2nd, is the beginning of the season of Advent: the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. This year we will be focusing on the traditional themes of HOPE, PEACE, JOY, and LOVE. We'll begin with HOPE, but not the "wishful thinking" type of hope. Biblical HOPE is not a question of "if". It's a sure thing because it's based on God's promises. Instead, the focus is on "when" the promise will be fulfilled. I HOPE to see you there!

Advent Candle Lighting

Would you like to participate in one of our Advent services by having you family light the Advent candle? I'll provide you with a short script to read before lighting that Sunday's candle. Let me know ASAP.

Get Your Picture Taken for the Photo Board

We want your photo to be added to our board in the Fellowship Hall!

This Sunday, December 2nd, will be another opportunity to have your picture taken by Anne Young. Just stop by Pastor Jeff's office before or after the worship service.

Times:
9:30-10:00 (prior to worship)
11:30-12:30 (following worship)

Of course, you can always submit a photo of your own to Danielle in the church office

Christmas Caroling!

This coming Thursday, December 6th, we'll be caroling through Twisp as a part of the "Mistletoe Madness" shopping night. We'll meet at the end of Glover Street near the big tree at 5:30 pm and then work our way down the street singing as we stop in at the different businesses. Plan on joining us for this festive way to spread the true meaning of Christmas through song!

Progressive Dinner

Now is the time to sign up to participate in our Annual Progressive Dinner. On Sunday evening, December 9th, we will be starting at the church for appetizers and then heading out to different homes for the main course and dessert. Be sure to sign up on the clipboards in Fellowship Hall so that you can be a part of this wonderful tradition.

Bringing Our Gifts to the King

The Worship Service on Sunday, December 16th will be extra special because it will feature everyone's gifts!

Although we will be highlighting our children in the program, we're hoping for this to be a multi-generational celebration. We invite anyone to share their gift as a part of our worship service. We'll also be turning the Fellowship Hall into a gallery for people to display their art, photography, needle work, wood working, etc. Everything we've learned to do is a gift from God and can be used to give Him praise!

Sign up in the Fellowship Hall by Sunday, December 9th, to make sure you're included. Contact Mandy Schmekel for more information (509-341-4257)

I remember...

11/16/2018

Check out this scene from one of my favorite goofy movies:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cHLoHou8uY

Memories are precious things: they remind us of joyful times, lessons learned, and even strengthen our bonds with others. That may be why the threat of memory loss is so fearful for us.

As we begin reading the book of Deuteronomy we see Moses emphasizing the importance for the Israelites to remember how God has lead, protected and provided for them and to remember the agreement they've made to follow God's law moving forward.

I hope you'll be able to join us this Sunday, November 18th, as we talk about how we can apply these things to our own lives individually and as a community of faith. We will also be welcoming some new members into the church.

Welcoming New Members

We're excited to welcome the following people as new members:
Blane and Sandra Anderson
Jeff and Susan Hamer
Ron and Jan Stan
Donnie and Lisa Wallis
Jill White

We're always happy to formally welcome people into Christ's body through membership. The next "Exploring Church Membership" class will take place sometime in February or March. Contact Pastor Jeff for more information.

CCC Annual Meeting

On Sunday evening, November 18, we'll hold our church annual meeting. We'll begin at 5:00 with a potluck meal and then gather to celebrate the past year and look ahead to 2019. We'll vote on next year's budget and vote on Council Members. And then we'll enjoy dessert together.
All church members are expected to attend. Non-members are welcome to participate, but will not be able to vote. I hope to see you there.

November Offering for Jamie's Place

Jamie's Place is a wonderful ministry providing elder care in a warm, group home environment. The Church Council has chosen to direct our special November offering toward this important local ministry. A basket will be set out during our post-service time in Fellowship Hall for you to place your offering (make checks payable to "CCC" and write "Jamie's Place" in the note)
You can learn more about Jamie's Place by going to their website: www.jamiesplacehomes.org

Christmas Caroling

Looking ahead to Thursday, December 6th, we'll be caroling through Twisp as a part of the "Mistletoe Madness" shopping night. We'll meet at the end of Glover Street near the big tree at 5:30 pm and then work our way down the street singing as we stop in at the different businesses. Plan to join us for this festive way to spread the true meaning of Christmas through song!

In the Soup

10/18/2018

I'm a big fan of the old sitcom, "Leave It To Beaver" (I own the DVD set). One of the classic episodes has Beaver and his pal, Whitey, wondering about a billboard in their town. The ad for "Zesto Soup" has a 3-D bowl that's steaming. As they debate whether or not there's actual steaming soup in the bowl, Beaver decides to climb up and see for himself. Unfortunately, Beaver falls into the bowl (empty) and cannot climb out of it. Eventually a fire truck rescues him.

I'm fairly confident that you've never found yourself stuck in a giant bowl of soup, but we've all experienced being "in the soup" (an old idiom for being in trouble). We often need the help of someone else - especially the help of God.

This week we've been reading though the first half of the book of Exodus in our Immerse: Beginnings bible reading experience (we still have a few more copies available or you can download a Kindle version from Amazon). The Israelites have been enslaved in Egypt for hundreds of years and are definitely in need of a rescuer. This Sunday, October 21st, we'll be taking a look at how God made a way for their rescue and began the process of giving them a future as His chosen people. I hope you'll be able to join us.

You've probably noticed that our church family photo board is empty. It was getting kind of messy and, more importantly, some of those pictures were pretty out of date! When your child is in high school, but the photo depicts an elementary version, it's time for an update!

We're blessed to have Anne Young as a part of our church family on a semi-regular basis. Anne's husband, Nathan, is co-owner of the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, and Anne is a professional photographer (check out her beautiful work at www.youngreflectionsphotography.com) She's graciously volunteered to set up a portable studio and take individual and family photographs for FREE!

On this Sunday, October 21st, you can get your picture taken before the worship service (9:30-10:00) or immediately following it (11:30-12:30). Go to my office (just down the hall from the kitchen) and be a part of our church family photo board! There will also be a make-up day available in December (TBD).

If, by chance, you would prefer to submit a photo, we won't turn you down. Just make sure that it's a fairly recent one. (Maybe someday we'll create a photo board with all of our high school graduation photos!).

Thanks, Anne!

CANDY CANDY CANDY CANDY CANDY CANDY CANDY CANDY CANDY

We're seeking to collect 100+ lbs of candy for our Trunk or Treat event on October 31st.

Each year 200+ children and their parents come to our church parking lot and trick or treat from one car trunk to the next. We set up a fire barrel, the White's offer hot apple cider, and Gene Westlund provides rides in his John Deere tractor train. It's a wonderful time to share the love of Jesus and build relationships with our valley neighbors.

You can drop off bags of candy at the church on Sunday. I'd also like to encourage you to participate in the event by decorating your vehicle's trunk and handing out the treats. It's a lot of fun! And you should consider attending the event (Wednesday, Oct. 31st, 5-6:30 pm) and being a friendly greeter for those who attend.

On Monday evening, November 5th, all women are invited to gather for our Annual Women's Soup Supper event. (6-8:30 pm)

The evening will feature good food, a beautiful atmosphere, soul-nourishing music, inspiring speakers, and warm fellowship.

Sign up in the Fellowship Hall

What to do about the river bank erosion...

The above photos were taken over a period of a week this past Spring. The actual loss of land this year was close to 35 feet and has been about 100 feet since 2009. Obviously something needs to be done to address this issue.

A number of people on our Church Council have been investing time and energy to seek out expert input toward stopping this continuing erosion. On Sunday, November 4th, immediately following the worship service, we will hold a congregational meeting to vote on whether to hire an engineering design firm to provide us with a plan. All members are encouraged to attend this important meeting.

Why?!

10/11/2018

One of the most common questions a toddler asks is, "Why?" I'm sure it has to do with child development and trying to find some understanding and control of their world. I'd need to break out some of my old psychology text books for a more thorough answer.

However, we never really grow out of asking "Why?" - especially when things don't go the way we think they should. I've had seasons in my life in which I seriously questioned why God was allowing certain things to happen to me and why He didn't intervene to make things right (including zapping the people I had identified as needing a good celestial zap!)

As we've been reading through the book of Genesis this week as a part of our Immerse Beginnings bible reading experience, the story has focused on Joseph. Talk about plenty of reasons to ask, "WHY?!!"

This Sunday, October 14th, we'll talk about how to handle being "in the pits". It's never pleasant, but the good news is that we're never alone! I hope you'll be able to join us.

You've probably noticed that our church family photo board is empty. It was getting kind of messy and, more importantly, some of those pictures were pretty out of date! When your child is in high school, but the photo depicts an elementary version, it's time for an update!

We're blessed to have Anne Young as a part of our church family on a semi-regular basis. Anne's husband, Nathan, is co-owner of the Old Schoolhouse Brewery, and Anne is a professional photographer (check out her beautiful work at www.youngreflectionsphotography.com) She's graciously volunteered to set up a portable studio and take individual and family photographs for FREE!

On this Sunday, October 14th, and next Sunday, October 21st, you can get your picture taken before the worship service (9:30-10:00) or immediately following it (11:30-12:30). Go to my office (just down the hall from the kitchen) and be a part of our church family photo board! There will also be a make-up day available in November (TBD).

If, by chance, you would prefer to submit a photo, we won't turn you down. Just make sure that it's a fairly recent one. (Maybe someday we'll create a photo board with all of our high school graduation photos!).

Thanks, Anne!

WE NEED CANDY!

No, not for me to snack on while I write my sermon (although, that sounds like a good idea, too). We're seeking to collect 100+ lbs of candy for our Trunk or Treat event on October 31st.

Each year 200+ children and their parents come to our church parking lot and trick or treat from one car trunk to the next. We set up a fire barrel, the White's offer hot apple cider, and Gene Westlund provides rides in his John Deere tractor train. It's a wonderful time to share the love of Jesus and build relationships with our valley neighbors.

You can drop off bags of candy at the church on Sunday. I'd also like to encourage you to participate in the event by decorating your vehicle's trunk and handing out the treats. It's a lot of fun! And you should consider attending the event (Wednesday, Oct. 31st, 5-6:30 pm) and being a friendly greeter for those who attend.

Say What?

9/22/2018

There's a funny scene in the very silly movie "Airplane" in which some black men attempt to communicate with the flight attendant, but she is unable to understand what they're saying. Up comes an older woman (played by Barbra Billingsley, the mother from "Leave It to Beaver") who offers to help by saying, "Oh stewardess. I speak Jive".

Have you been in a situation in which you couldn't understand what was being said? Have you ever felt that way about the Bible? While there are portions of scripture in which we may need the help of commentaries and theologians to fully comprehend, the good news of the message of the gospel is very clear. That's why we celebrate that one of the attributes of God's Word is its Clarity - that it is understandable.

This Sunday, September 23rd, we will look at how "God's Word Is... Understandable". This will be an important topic as we prepare for our "Immerse: Beginnings" reading experience through the first 5 books of the Bible - which includes some of the great stories of our faith along with some very difficult passages. I hope you'll be able to join us!

This Sunday, September 23rd, we will be putting our faith into practice as we go out to serve our community. Following our worship celebration, we will enjoy a BBQ lunch (NOT a potluck - just come and enjoy the meal) along with folks from 3 other congregations (Cascade Bible Church, the United Methodist Church, and the Friendship Church). Then we'll divide into work teams and serve others for a couple hours.

Here's a list of the types of projects:
* Yard clean up * painting * cutting and stacking firewood * writing encouraging notes * picking up trash
You should plan on wearing appropriate work clothes to church (you have my permission) or bring a change of clothing. It might also be good to bring some work gloves or other yard tools in case you need them.

Are you interested in the history of our church? Would you like to understand what makes a Covenant Church different from any other Protestant church? Have you considered becoming a church member?

You're invited to attend the Exploring Church Membership class on Sunday afternoon, September 30th, at the home of Pastor Jeff and Tami. Following our Worship Celebration, we'll have a light lunch and go through a fast-paced and informal time of answering these and other questions as well as sharing our own faith journey. Attending the class does not mean you must become a member, but it is a prerequisite to membership.

Let Pastor Jeff know of your interest (jeff.palmberg@outlook.com)

Join us this October and November as we read through the first 5 books of the Bible using the volume Immerse: Beginnings. Over the course of 8 weeks we will be reading approximately ten pages each day, five days a week. Each Sunday the message will be taken from a part of the previous week's readings.

We encourage you to pick up a copy of this unique volume of scripture at the church ($10 suggested donation) or purchase a Kindle version for your e-reader. You can also subscribe to the free podcast "Immerse Beginnings" to listen to a daily audio version of the readings. You're also encouraged to join one of the small groups which will be meeting during this 8-week time period. They will function similar to a book club in which participants will share what they discovered from the readings as well as what challenged them.

Learn more by going to the Immerse: Beginnings website at immerse.covchurch.org/beginnings
You can also find resources such as weekly video introductions and a family version you can use with your children.

Celestial GPS

9/14/2018

One of the most common desires that Christians express is that God would give them clear guidance about His will for their lives. Whether it's a big question (Who should I marry? What career should I pursue?) or the daily, small ones (How should I use my free time this weekend?), we long for clear direction and the confidence that we're following the mysterious "will of God".

The thing is: while we most likely will not receive audible directions from the Lord, God has already given us everything we need to know how to get in a right relationship with Him and how to live a life in the center of His will. The Bible is the Word of God and, as the catechism states, it is "the only perfect rule for faith, doctrine, and conduct". We need to put our trust in scripture and understand its necessity, sufficiency, clarity, and authority.

Our current sermon series, "God's Word Is..." will be continuing this Sunday, September 16th, on the topic of how the Bible is enough and all we need to know how to experience salvation and to know how to live life as a Jesus-follower. Do you believe the Bible is enough or are you relying on a bible teacher or other literature? I hope you'll be able to join us.

Sunday, September 23rd, following our worship celebration, we will put our faith into action by spending a couple of hours serving our community along with a few other congregations.

We'll enjoy a BBQ lunch here at the church and then divide into work teams to take on a number of projects such as picking up trash, helping the elderly, and writing encouraging notes to people.

You have my permission to come to church on the 23rd dressed for work. We'll finish up by around 3:00. Let's unite with our brothers and sisters from other churches in the valley and love our community in word and action.

Let's Start at the Very Beginning...

it's a very good place to start (as you "Sound of Music" fans well know). And that's exactly what we'll be doing this October and November as we read together through the first 5 books of the Bible using the "Immerse: Beginnings" volume. Over the course of 8 weeks, we'll read about 10 pages a day, 5 days a week, and experience scripture in a new way.

You can pick up a copy of "Beginnings" at church for $10 or, if you prefer, you can purchase a Kindle version from Amazon. There is also an audio podcast you can subscribe to so you can listen to it as you read or exercise or drive. We're encouraging everyone to join an Immerse Small Group during this time which will function like a book club: no "teacher", but just fellow readers sharing what they discovered, were challenged by, and what God is revealing to them through His Word.

You can learn more by going to the website www.immerse.covchurch.org/beginnings

Valuing Our Children

Children have always been an important part of our church family. Many of us have seen our children grow from being in the church nursery, through elementary years, and on through junior high and high school. Some of those former children of our church are now active as adults within our congregation raising children of their own among us.

But a larger portion of each generation is walking away from church and faith. Our legacy of faith is in danger unless we are intentional about how we care for our children and nurture them in their faith.

Thankfully, we are not alone in trying to address these issues. Our Denomination has developed a strategic approach to enable us to re-imagine our children’s place of priority within our church and God’s Kingdom. Legacy is a four-dimensional framework which will help us to reach, equip, and empower our children towards becoming the church of today and the future.

On Saturday, October 6th, Steve Burger, the Director of Children, Family, and Inter-generational Ministry for the Evangelical Covenant Church, will be meeting with our church leaders and those involved with our Children’s Ministry.

During a half-day experience, we will
· Assess and celebrate our current ministry
· Identify which area to focus on
· Dream of possibilities
· Turn the dream into a reality
· Develop a plan

Please join us in prayer for our time with Steve and consider joining us as we make strategic plans for a strong children’s ministry here at CCC. For more information, contact Naomi Murray at MountainFlowerFitness@gmail.com or 509-668-7517