Chapter 24 / Breaking Free from the Kingdom of Me
Only 14.3 acres in total land mass, it is a small kingdom unto itself. Located in three separate areas in the United States—part in Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Northern California—you can leave the United States and enter the Republic of Molossia. It is considered to be a micro-nation . . . a “nation within” our nation.
Molossia has its own flag, its own signs, and its own boundary markers. It even has its own tourist attractions. Kevin Baugh is the president, or Sovereign, over his own little kingdom. His space program consists of model rockets. The basic unit of currency in Molossia is the valora. The valora is linked in value to Pillsbury Cookie Dough. Three valora has equal value to one tube of cookie dough.
There is a railroad—model sized. The national sport is broom ball. And although his nation is landlocked, he claims a navy that is merely an inflatable boat. You can visit anytime you like. But—although it sounds fun—don’t think you can move there. He says there is not enough room. Kevin affectionately calls his nation “The Kingdom of Me.”
Don’t laugh too quickly. We may not have gone to the same extremes as Kevin Baugh, but we mostly live our lives as if we are rulers of our own kingdoms. What a surprise it is when we discover that we are living in a kingdom but it is not ours.
That’s the message of Jesus. He came saying, “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:15). Literally he says the kingdom is “at hand.” It is that close. All around us. Within reach.
His kingdom is not as a nation with armies and weapons but as a farmer who comes with seed and the seed falls on soil (Mark 4:3-9). Finding his kingdom is like finding a treasure in a field (Matt. 13:44). And his kingdom is worry-free (Matt. 6:25-34). Best of all, this kingdom has a king who is in control (Mark 4:35-39).
Jesus said “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. . .” (28:18). Kings say things like that. Unlike Molassia, if you want to enter and live in this kingdom, there is room for everyone. That’s not the problem. There is plenty of room in this kingdom for everyone.
But you need to know that there is only room enough on the throne of this kingdom for one King.
Sunday, March 15, 2015
TODAY: NEXT SUNDAY:
NURSERY:Cinda Faber, Paige FeddersSharla Gradert, Erin Miedema
Jan Fedders, Mikaela BroekJennifer Miedema, Olivia Fedders
USHERS: Brad Dekkers, Daryl Byker, Brent DavelaarNathan Broek, Brandon Dekkers, Art Hamming
GREETERS & COFFEE SERVERS:
Justin & Raelle Dekkers(4 doz cookies) Daryl Byker
Doug & Audrey Broek(4 doz cookies) Brent & Cindy Davelaar
ORGANIST / PIANIST: A.M. Celia Ten NapelCelia Ten Napel
P.M. Celia Ten NapelTammy Sieck
PRAISE TEAM: Youth GroupPastor, Kaitlyn, Pam, Cinda
LIBRARIAN: AM Jan FeddersPatsy Bootsma
OFFERING:AMChristian EducationBuilding Fund
PMCadets – LocalBuilding Fund
PRAYER FOR:
- Prayers for Patsy Bootsma who is dealing with some painful complications after her surgery. More tests are scheduled.
- Betty Juffer, Sadie DeVries and Gert Mulder who are under Hospice Care—and their families.
- Please pray for Gilbert and Mildred DeWeerd, Jason, Earl, Tim and Sylvia, Dick, Kory, Megan, Joanne, Deb and all the elderly.
THANK YOU for your prayers, encouragement and support as we grieve and celebrate dad’s life and legacy! My dad, Rallyn died Monday afternoon in the Sioux Center Hospital. He was 80 years old. Pastor Norlyn & Cherie.
NEXT SUNDAY MORNING will be Pastor Norlyn & Cherie’s farewell service. A farewell potluck is being planned - We will eat after Sunday School is done around 11:45. Bring a hot and cold dish. Drink, rolls and table settings will be provided.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
--SUNDAY SCHOOL / CATECHISM - There will not be any Sunday School/Catechism for 3 yr old thru 8th grade Sunday, March 15 and Easter Sunday, April 5. The kids, 3yr old thru 5th grade will be singing Palm Sunday, am service, March 29.
--TONIGHTwe host the combined service with Hawarden and Lebanon and Cadet Sunday. Please join the fellowship and worship.
--CHRISTIAN EDUCATION SERVICE AUCTIONis set for Thursday, March 19 at 7 pm at the Christian School. Please join us for a night of food, fun, and fellowship! If you have not turned in your slips yet, please do so soon! Please put them in Ryan and Angie Zomermaand's mailbox or you can email your donation to
--UNITY CHRISTIAN WILL PRESENT THEIR SPRING PLAY "Anne of Green Gables" on March 19, 20 and 21 at 7:00 p.m. (NOTE TIME CORRECTION) in the Unity Christian Knight Center. Tickets are $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for Pre-K through college. Since we now have numbered seats in the Knight Center, it is very important when you call for tickets that you are sure about the number of tickets you need. There will be plenty of seats for each night and all the seats are excellent for sight and sound. You can call for reserved tickets beginning Monday, March 9 at 8:00 a.m. by calling Unity (737-4114) or stopping by the UCHS office.
--BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS:Please put any bulletin announcements in Pam De Wit’s Church mailbox or via email () by NOON on Thursday, March 19.Thank You.
--BAKELESS BAKE SALE - Ireton Christian School is holding a Bakeless Bake Sale. Its easy! Just figure what you would spend on baking items and send the donation to Ireton Christian by March 20. Please put “bakeless bake sale” in the memo. Address is: 104 5th St., Ireton. Thank you in advance for your support of Ireton Christian School.
--YOUNG PEOPLE’S FUNDRAISER - The YPS are selling roast beef and cheese, ham and cheese, and sub sandwiches going on right now! This is their major fund raiser for the year! One of them should be contacting you within the next few weeks. If for some reason you are not contacted and would like some subs or know of someone that would like someplease contact any of the youth group kids or you can contact Angie Zomermaand. Thank you in advance for your support! We will be making the subs on April 8.
--A WARDEN AHEAD OF HIS TIME – Do criminals deserve “eye-for-an-eye” retribution? Tune in to hear Rich Rienstra, pastor of prisoner reentry and restorative justice ministries at Church of the Servant, speak about the late Dr. Garrett Heyns’ surprisingly modern view of restorative justice.Go to KDCR, 88.5 FM on Sunday at 2:30 P.M. to listen to Crossroad Connection - a restorative justice ministry of Crossroad Bible Institute.
ADVANCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
--COUNCIL MEETING will be on Monday- March 16 at 7:00 pm - Kelly, Lunch and Devotions
--UNITY CHRISTIAN 8TH GRADE DAYwill be held on Tuesday, March 24. All 8th grade students are invited to visit Unity from 9:20 a.m. until noon. We are excited for them to experience a tour of the school, to let our current students tell what they like best about Unity, and a chance to connect with teachers and meet new friends. The evening event for parents and students will begin at 6:00 with a burger fry and tours, followed by an informational meeting at 7:00 p.m.
--ICS PRESENTS THE 17TH ANNUAL BLUEGRASS GOSPEL CONCERT on Saturday,March 28. Featuring The Harper Family and The Garms Family. Show times: 2:30pm & 7:00pm B.J. Haan Auditorium. Tickets are $15 or $17 at the door. Tickets available at: A Touch of Class in Sioux Center, In-Weave in Hawarden, Iowa State Bank or Ireton Christian School in Ireton.
--OMELET SUPPER BENEFIT will be held for Doug Reuvers on Saturday, March 28 from 5:00 – 8:00 pm at the Demco Center in Boyden. The benefit will help defray medical expenses associated with Doug’s cancer treatments.
--PRAYER BREAKFAST at St Pauls Lutheran Church—Tuesday, March 31 at 6:00am.
--SUNDAY MORNING DRIVERS WANTED - Check the back table –If you signup—please call Chris on Saturday night. THANKS! To everyone who has helped already!!
COMMUNION SCHEDULE 2015
April 3 (Good Friday), May 17 or 24 Pentecost, (Memorial Day), July 12
Sept 13, Oct 25 (Reformation Day PM), Nov 1 (Advent)
WORSHIP SERVICES CALENDAR AND ACTIVITIES:
Mar 15 6:00 PM Combined Service at Ireton CRC – Cadet Service
Apr 3 7:00 PM Bob Pollema - Good Friday Service
Apr 5 6:15 AMEaster Cemetery Service
8:15 – 9:15 AMBreakfast
9:30 AMEaster Service – Bob Pollema
No PM Service
THE STORY:
15MarChp 24 No Ordinary Man: Matthew 5-7; 9; 14; Mark 4-6; Luke 10; 15; John 6
22Mar Chp 25Jesus, the Son of God: Matthew 17; 21; Mark 8-12; 14; Luke 9;22; John 7-8; 11-12
29Mar Chp 26The Hour of Darkness: Matthew 26-27; Mark 14-15; Luke 22-23; John 13-14; 16-19
PRAISE TEAMS FOR FEBRUARY and MARCH
Please note the change from the schedule handed out
Mar15 CherieYouth Group
Mar 22Pastor Kaitlyn, Pam DW, Cinda
Mar 29VerlaDon VS, Ryan Z, Jorja, Sydney
WEEKLY CALENDAR
Sunday, Mar 159:30 AMWorship Service
10:45 AM – 11:45 AMAdult Sunday School – “The Story “ – Chapter 24
6:00 PMWorship Service
Wed, Mar 186:30 – 8:00 PMGEMS
7:00 – 8:15 PMAdult Study “The Story” Bible Study – Chapter 24