Dauner News Update October 2008
The month of September, the starting point of our church calendar, always has the hopeful taste of new beginnings mixed with a hint of anxiety. Will our outreach ministries be effective? Can the Marseilles church gear up for another year of counter-cultural spiritual survival? How will the new CEM students rise to the challenge of intense mission activity?
Here is a rundown, in the form of pluses and minuses, of how things came out this year.
Club Cool Starts Out With a Bang
++ Many were wondering if our outreach ministry to elementary school children could survive the departure of former Club Cool directors Diana and Garth Hutchinson. Philippe, Dolores and Kathy, seconded by a whole team of assistants from the congregation, stepped into the breach to ensure that this weekday Bible class would continue to serve the children of the neighborhood. Newcomers more than made up for the graduation of the older Club Coolers to the next age group. A very respectable attendance of 26 kids for the first week increased to 32 by week two. This does not include the half dozen parents who stay to listen to the lessons.
– Diana and Garth are still irreplaceable.
Senior Retreat
+ This three day retreat for seniors at Bonnefoi Retreat Center does immense good for the older members of our churches. The spiritual uplift is immediately visible and carries lasting dividends.
– The attendance remains low from churches other than Marseilles. I really don’t know how to get more people to come. If they only knew what they were missing…
CEM Students Jump In Head First
++ Our four 18-year-old CEM students — Sarah, Kathleen, Anne and Jania — seem to have foregone the three months that it usually takes to adapt. From Day One of CEM, they plunged into a strenuous schedule of Bible classes, church ministries and community service. They show exceptional initiative and are willing to tackle just about any task that comes their way.
+++ Sarah Hutchinson received Christian baptism during a Sunday afternoon ceremony in the Mediterranean just a week before CEM began.
– No young men enrolled in CEM this year.
Bible Camp Sunday
+ A special program was organized on Sunday, October 5, for the parents of the young people of Marseilles who attended Bible camp in July: potluck dinner, camp games and quizzes, a video of the Harmony Bible Camp 2008. A dozen kids were at Sunday services for the first time.
– Not many unchurched parents were in attendance. We will try something else next year!
Committee of servants
+ Earlier this year, the Marseilles church chose twelve mature members to take responsibility for various aspects of church life. Since then, the group has bonded quite well and is becoming more and more involved in the everyday running of church life, especially mutual aid and support. A real encouragement.
Upcoming October Events
October 17
The wedding of recent converts Sabrina Timericht and Jacob Amghar. Both are ethnic Berbers and former Muslims.
October 23-28
Mission trip to Poland by the Harmonie Chorale and CEM students.
October 30-November 3
Teen Spiritual Retreat at Bonnefoi Center.
Prisca and I will never tire of thanking you for your solidarity with us in this ministry. The sacrifices you make are essentially “behind the scenes”; you make them for the love of God and his glory, with no regard for worldly recognition. Psalm 11 says that the Lord sees and loves righteous deeds. We see yours and they are an inspiration to us when we need to be inspired.
Max and Prisca Dauner