The Keene Koinoia

Keene Evangelical Free Church Newsletter May 2011

Inside this Issue…

Pastor’s Corner
May 2011
Preparation…it can save your life! How many times
have we heard that in one way or another? Prepare for
accidents…get insurance. Prepare for death…get
insurance. Prepare for the game…practice some more.
Prepare for the future…save. I could go on and on.
Here is one you might not have heard for a while –
prepare for eternity…spend time with God.
I put a challenge before the congregation last Sunday
to ask God to prepare our hearts to truly celebrate the
Resurrection. My desire is for us to praise the Lord, to
seek forgiveness of sin through confession and sorrow,
to recognize God with us, and to prepare our hearts for
Christ‟s return. So here‟s the question: “How is it
going?” By the time you get this Easter will have
passed and we will have had celebrations around the
remembrance of the resurrection. Don‟t stop your
preparation! Is not our ultimate preparation goal our
own resurrection into eternal life with Christ Jesus?
Just „cause Easter is done and over for another year
doesn‟t mean we take a pause and sit back and do
nothing!
Paul spoke of the on going preparation as a race…an
urging [or straining] toward a goal. I watch our
neighbor run by our house again and again as he
prepares for his next marathon. What would be his
reaction if once past our house I would stop him and
say, “Relax, man, put your feet up! You don‟t have to
train any more, just show up on race day and you‟ll do
fine.” First, I think he would give me a “three stooges”
poke in the eye [not really, he is a great guy].
Secondly, he would keep on running. He understands
what it takes to run a marathon [I thought all you
needed was a little bit of insanity!].
Same with us friends, we must continue to prepare for
the bridegroom. Always looking toward that day when
He comes and calls for His bride, the church.
Therefore, go spend time with the groom.
Get to know Him more and allow Him to
communicate to you what you need to
do to prepare for His coming. Trust me,
Jesus loves to spend time with His
beloved!
For Christ,
Pastor Matt
Page 1 – Pastor‟s Corner
-Women‟s Circle
- Missions
Page 2 - Mother-Daughter Supper
-Happy Mother‟s Day Tribute
-High School Graduation
-Bible Study Update
-Royal Family Camp Visitation
-S.W.A.T. Senior Honor Banquet
Page 3 -Pastor‟s Instruction Class Graduation
-AWANA Ministry
-Summer Camp Promotion
-Things to Keep in Mind
-Coming Up at Keene
-Contact Information
Women’s Circle for May
Circle #1 headed up by Teresa and Jody V. are
responsible for serving at events taking place at
church in May.
Thank you ladies!
Missions
The Mission for May is for Mark and Martha
Hendrickson for LATN – EFCA in Costa Rica.
Chrissy Frerichs is traveling to China in May with a
group from Christ Community Church of Omaha.
They will be going to a special needs orphanage in
Beijing and ministering in other aspects to pastors and
families. Please be in prayer for all the preparation,
details and for the trip itself.
Kaylie Mellema is traveling to Uganda, Tanzania and
Kenya and Adventures in Missions this summer.
During this trip Kaylie will be disciple and trained in
various areas of ministry and missions and will also
have the chance to minister to people who need to
hear of salvation through Jesus. Please begin to pray
for Kaylie as God prepares her for this adventure and
during her ministry in Africa.

Church Newsletter 1
 Mother-Daughter Salad Supper
You are cordially invited to attend
Our annual Mother-Daughter Salad Supper
May 1, 2011
6:00 p.m.
Royal Family Camp
Dan and Sandy Fong of Kearney‟s Royal Family Camp will
be visiting during Sunday Morning Worship on May 1st.

Bible Study Resumes in May

Bible Study will resume in May on
Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.

Purses “R” Us
“Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God High School Graduations
who is our salvation.” - Psalm 68:19

Please bring a salad of any kind to share.

Axtell Community School
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Ladies of all ages are welcome! Invite your neighbors, co- 4:00 p.m.
workers, friends, mothers, daughters, grandmothers,
granddaughters, aunts, sisters and cousins! Wilcox-Hildreth School
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Don’t forget to bring along your purse! 2:00 p.m.
So that we can set-up properly for this special supper, Keene EFC has eight graduating seniors!
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please RSVP by Saturday, April 30 , by emailing Joy at
Heath Anderbery, Axtell
mj3asnell@rcom-ne.com, texting at 308-830-0030, or by
signing up on the sheet on the bulletin board. Thank you! Michaela Hinrichs, Wilcox-Hildreth
Julie Kring, Axtell
Erin Lambert, Axtell
Ben Mellema, Axtell
Happy Mother’s Day Bryce Runge, Axtell
Sunday, May 8, 2011 Lindsay Thomsen, Axtell
Dillion Thomsen, Axtell
Blessed be all mothers
Who have come into our lives
Whose kindness, care and loving Congratulations
Remain with us to guide. Class of 2011
Your inspiration in us
Made us strive in every way
Especially to remember
Helping others makes our day.

Mothers, this little tribute

Flows directly from my heart
S.W.A.T. Ministry
You are so loved and cherished
Invaluable, one and all, you are.

Susan Kramer S.W.A.T. Senior Honor Banquet

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Sunday, May 15

S.W.A.T. Youth Group members and their parents will be

having a banquet following Morning Worship to honor our
graduating Seniors!

Please look for an invite with specifics in the mail!

Church Newsletter 2
Pastor’s Instruction Class Graduation
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Summer Camp Opportunities
During the school year Sunday School hour, 7 and 8 Summer Bible Camp is fast approaching!
Grade students meet with Pastor Matt to study the Old Start registering for camp now. Check out the
and New Testaments, as well as the essential doctrines Timberlake Ranch Camp and Camp Joy information in
of the EFCA and basic Church history. Graduation is a the corner of the Fellowship Hall.
celebration and affirmation of what they have learned
about God‟s Word and His gift of salvation through a Funds have been set aside to give out to all those
personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They will be attending Bible Camp this Summer. (Exact amount TBA
sharing with the congregation during Morning Worship. as we gather final camp numbers.)
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When: May 22
Who: Ike Halsted
Marcus Kring
Alexa Hinrichs

Things to Keep in Mind…

AWANA Ministry
Our AWANA Ministry has come to a
close for this school year! We had a
fun year with between 30-35 students
learning about God‟s Word each week.
Thanks for your support of this essential outreach and
discipleship ministry to the students and families of the
Axtell community. We are grateful for your prayers.
Thank you to Leaders: Pastor Matt, Stephanie
Anderson, Jennifer Marsh, Teresa Bertrand, and Joy
Snell.
Thank you to Listeners and Helpers: Nancy Wells,
Delores Wendell, and Mark Bertrand.
Benevolent Offering
Month‟s that have 5 Sundays in them, we have a
Benevolent Offering. These monetary gifts are collected
to give to those seeking assistance from the church.
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There will be a benevolent offering on May 29 .
Memorial Day
Keene EFC will be helping serve at the Community
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Dinner in Axtell on May 30 . Please watch for more
details in the upcoming weeks.
Sunday School Fellowship Time
There is a sign-up sheet on the serving counter for
doughnuts and juice for Fellowship Time before Sunday
School. Fellowship time begins at 9:15 a.m. on Sunday
mornings. Thank you!

Thank you to Angie Fickensher for watching Leader‟s Coming up at Keene…

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“little ones” during first semester (before the arrival of June 3 & 4 – Church Family Camping Trip and Picnic
baby Krystal). at Harlan Co. Dam – Location and Time TBA

Thank you to everyone who provided cookies for our Keene Evangelical Free Church
weekly snack time! A special Thank You to Karen 662 F Road
Hanson for preparing treats with a devotional challenge. Axtell, NE 68924
(308)743-2611
Thank you to everyone who donated blue tape, stickers, (Church and Parsonage)
“Store” items, and monetary gifts, as well as those who Church Email: keeneefc@rcom-ne.com
helped with our Awards & Parents‟ Night ice cream Pastor Matthew J. Snell
sundaes and brownies. We give God thanks! Pastor‟s Cell (308)830-2603

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Church Newsletter 3