Our Mission Statement:
We are a Gospel-centered community of people blessed by God to be a blessing to others.
Get involved!
Highlights of our upcoming events:
Help to feed the hungry in Des Moines.
-Our church participates in the annual Des Moines Area Hunger Hike, which takes place this year on October 9 at 1:30 p.m.
We welcome hikers and/or contributors to this cause. See the notice in our bulletin.
Mark your calendars for the Fall Festival on October 8.
-Now is the time to make crafts and gifts, and start baking, freezing, and canning. Volunteers are
also needed to help at the Festival. Sign-up sheets are on the bulletin board in the narthex.
Want to spotlight your event? Email the webmaster at popdsm@gmail.com and we'll put it here!
This month's letter from Pastor Roger Osbeck
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
"God helps those who help themselves." How many times have you heard this saying quoted as a lesson from Scripture? (it's not) You've probably
also heard the term, "Everything happens for a reason." Is that something you believe is true? There are several other sayings that are often passed along to each generation as truths that, perhaps, are worthy
to be examined in a brighter light for proper assessment.
Our Wednesday night program for the fall starts up again on September 14th. Meals will be served at 5:45 p.m. followed by Confirmation, POP Kids Club, and Adult Study at 6:30.
Our Adult Class will be discussing the sayings mentioned above along with a few others such as "God won't give you more than you can handle," "God said it, I believe it,
that settles it," and "Love the sinner, hate the sin."
We will be using a video resource entitled Half Truths, led by Adam Hamilton, pastor at Church of the Resurrection, a large Methodist congregation in the Kansas City area.
Pastor Hamilton describes this study in the introduction from his book of the same title: Most of us as Christians have things we believe, and tell others, and even count on, that we've not carefully examined. When those beliefs are
questioned we become defensive or irritated. We may even worry that if the beliefs aren't true, the rest of our faith may crumble.
I don't think this [study] will make your faith crumble. But to the degree that I'm questioning something you've held deeply and repeated often, it might unnerve or irritate you.
Here's why I believe it's important to examine these particular half truths. I think they can sometimes hurt people. I think they can lead people to conclusions about God that not only are untrue
but may push some people away from God.
Yes, there is some truth to be found in the "truths" we'll explore. I invite you, though, to consider whether these truths are as Christian or as true as you may suppose.
And, if I'm right, I hope you might think twice before you say them again.
More than that, I hope that examining these and other half truths will lead you to the greater truths we find in Jesus Christ.
I offer the same invitation to you as we go through this resource ourselves and discuss the content presented by Pastor Hamilton. By the way, you may want to purchase the book at a local bookstore or online in preparation for this study and
for your own reference. As we have used many of Pastor Hamilton's resources before, I have found much helpful information in his books that go well beyond what is presented on video.
We look forward to sharing another inspirational fall study with you as we continue further along the journey our life of faith takes us.
Peace to you. See you in church,
Pastor Roger
Outreach links:
Meals from the Heartland
Habitat for Humanity
Lutheran Services in Iowa
Lutheran World Relief
ELCA Malaria Campaign
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