VBS July 2011 "Big Apple Adventure"

We had a wonderful group of kids this year.  Our theme was "Big Apple Adventure" and the sanctuary was transformed to look like New York City.  We learned about what the Bible says about Faith, Love, Trust, Others and Life.  A fun and exciting time was had by all as we sang, danced, crafted, listened and ran around like kids do.  On our largest days, we had 8 in the younger group and 8 in the older group - praise God for such a great turn out!

Our fearless leaders were:
Millicent Gillogly - 1st grade and up (along with materials and scheduling)
Gina Gilliland - age 4 to 6

Other volunteers:
Faye Craig - Doug Fourtner - Hannah Fourtner - Alice Hansen - Christine Kingman - Emily Kingman - Joye Kohl - Ruth Sumner

Thank you for everyone that volunteered, drove kids and brought snacks!  

What a wonderful way for kids to learn about their Savior.

*****
I apologize that these pictures weren't up sooner.  I was trying to figure out how to get some more group photos.  I (Hannah) was teaching the younger set and so almost all of these shots were with the youngsters.  Please send any pictures you may have to the church e-mail and I'll be sure to post them! info@mtrepublicchapel.org.  Thank you.

Church Bazaar 2011!

The Church Bazaar was a hit again this year thanks to a LOT of hard work!

Our brave Bazaar organizers, Barbara Orr and Pat Froelich.
Thank you, ladies!!!

Marsha White with some of the jean aprons she helped to make.

Lots of baked goodies for sale!

Brandt approves of the cookies.

Elaine Consolo and Gina Gilliland help sort through everything.

Christine and daughter, Maggie Kingman, fold linens.

One person's junk is another one's treasure!

Clothing

Books

The outdoor equipment tent

Charissa and granddaughter of Donna Rowland, McKenzie, have a race!

The many donated raffle items.

Gerry Zimmerman and Gaye Klooster sell raffle tickets.

Alice Hansen draws her own husband's name
after Don Froelich shakes 'em up!

We promise it wasn't rigged. Marsha White did the same thing!

Dave Gillogly, Bob Stage, Rick White and Chuck Sumner relax after clean up.

Paul Kloster and Don Froelich visit after a busy weekend.

Thank you to EVERYONE who volunteered, donated and supported this year's Bazaar.

I'm sorry I couldn't post pictures of all of you.

Transitions and News

This past month and a half has been a whirlwind! We (the Fourtners) arrived on June 17th and, after a two week transition period, Hailey preached her last sermon on July 3rd. We have settled nicely into the beautiful log parsonage and are very thankful to be here. Everyone has been so welcoming and helpful! We have also enjoyed the surrounding area and were able to go sledding in July up on Beartooth Pass. We had a little bit of fun with the drifts on the side of the road.


In recent news: the chapel has a lawn! In June, the ground was leveled and turf was laid on the eastern side of the chapel building so we now have a nice, green spot to drink coffee and fellowship.


A moose has brought her calf regularly into the meadow behind the chapel. It has been fun to watch this little guy grow up.


We are so excited to see what other wonders God has in store for us here in Cooke City!

In His Grace,

The Fourtners

One Year

Yesterday marked two events of 2010: the onset of winter here in Cooke City and my one year anniversary here at Mount Republic Chapel of Peace. It was not the first day of being on my own here, but the first service I attended with the anticipation of being on my own in a matter of weeks. As I stood at the pulpit and went through the now very familiar routine, I couldn't help but think of how scary it all seemed one year ago. Your faces staring back at me were all completely unfamiliar, with the exception of Sheri and Del, the gracious souls that were housing me during those days of transition, and the church service, though very familiar to me in many ways from my experience of ACMNP and attendance at previous MRCP church services, seemed entirely foreign.

That day posed so many questions with unknown answers. Where was I and how did I get here? Who were you people? Why did you live in possibly the most isolated place in the lower 48? Would you like me? Would I be a good preacher? Would I be a good teacher? Was I cut out for full-time ministry? Did I really think that women should lead churches? Would I be lonely? Would I fit in? Could I really handle a Cooke City winter on my own? Would my car do okay here? Would I make friends? Is there anyone else my age? Was I prepared to be the pastor of the only church for 60 miles in any direction? Was God laughing at me? What the heck was I doing here?!

One year later, I think I have the answers to the majority of my questions that day. It's been a fabulous year, filled with many new experiences, friendships, lessons, and memories. Looking back I can see why God has brought me here, at least in part, and how he has used me. That's a great gift that I recognize won't be the case for every ministry or experience I'm involved in. But it is the case here and it's a knowledge that propels me forward in the ministry God has called me to here as winter settles in for round number two and I think of what next to preach and teach on. I am so blessed by all of you, now both near and far.

The Montana Rescue Mission

Mt. Republic Chapel of Peace supports five ministries that serve people in Montana, the U.S. and the world. This week a group of servants took a trip over the Beartooths to Billings, to the Montana Rescue Mission, a ministry that serves the needs of men, women, and children in Billings without homes and hot meals. MRM is a wonderful organization, run by faithful stewards of few resources, driven by loving hearts and a faith in a God who can change lives. They know because several of the full-time staff members were themselves once residents in the building.

After a grand tour of the building facilities, we were served a wonderful (and unexpected!) lunch before heading upstairs to the two rooms were had traveled three hours to paint! It was a joy to serve the ministry in even a small way such as that, but also to think of those who would occupy those two rooms for a time and call them "home." It's often in the small things, such as clean, painted walls, that give a person a sense of dignity and self-respect, making that person without a home, still feel like a person. Even small acts of service can truly be a blessing to the world and to individuals. We were glad to be a part of the Mission that day.

Round Two

I initially took this post of INTERIM pastor anticipating my time here to be 3-5 months. Then it turned into 7 months. Then 10 months. Now I'm looking at a round-two winter, extending my time here to 19 months!!!! As unexpected as it is, I am delighted at the opportunity. Winter is, by far, my favorite time of year here in Cooke City - which is good since it dominates more than six months of the year! Not to mention the three months of the year when it tries to dominate!
It seems that this year winter has come a bit earlier than others. One year ago yesterday, Seth posted about how he woke up to a light frost and anticipated snow to fall within a few weeks. A few weeks ago I woke up to a hard frost on many mornings and the mountains have been white now for a couple weeks! The ground around Cooke City has had snow on it one morning already!


If you have checked this blog with any regularity, you've noticed that I have not updated it in a long while. I'm not a blogger, per se, and find it difficult to force myself to do so. I will do my best though. If you haven't already checked out the new church website, do so! http://www.mtrepublicchapel.org/. There are many great pictures from the summer on it!

Idolatry, and Conversations About It

Winter is showing her true fierceness here in Cooke City these days. She dumped over a foot of snow at the chapel two nights ago and is now keeping us locked inside with temperatures holding steady at -30 F. The real issue here is not that it's too cold, but that it's too cold to ski; but since my arm and shoulder are sore from shoveling snow yesterday in an attempt to free my car from the white knuckles of winter , I guess I wouldn't be out skiing even if it was a reasonable temperature!

Tonight was going to be our first evening of Bible study in the Crandall Community, but the voice of reason has forced its postponement until next week.

We did, however, have a wonderful Bible study here at the Chapel last night! Since November we have been plowing our way through the Old Testament Story, looking at God's work of redemption in Israel and in the world. Each week we see more and more of who God is and who we are through the example of Israel and her idolatry. Last night was our first look at the divided monarchy, focusing entirely on the northern kingdom: Israel. There was much bloodshed to discuss as we read about kings like Jeroboam, Jehoash, Jehu, and wives like Jezebel. The northern kingdom was destroyed by Assyria in 722 BC and the people scattered throughout the land known today as the Middle East, and they were destroyed because of their idolatry and their disobedience toward God their creator. In Lev. 26 and Deut. 28, we see how God promised Israel that if they would obey him, then he would bless them greatly, but if they disobeyed and did not follow his commandments, then he would not protect them from their enemies, would destroy their land, and would scatter them among their enemies. For over five hundred years God was patient with them, continually demonstrating compassion and grace despite their evil and wicked ways, despite the fact that they were worshiping two golden calves and Baal and many other gods, despite the fact that they did not trust God to protect them but paid tributes of money to foreign kings. God was gracious, but he also had a promise to keep, which he did in its fullest in 722 BC.

Israel broke the first two commandments time and time again: You shall have no gods before me and you shall make no graven images. Idolatry was at the heart of Israel's sin. But what does this look like for us as Christians living in America in the year 2010? I am not compelled to worship the sun when it peaks over the mountain at 11:45 a.m., nor am I inclined to hike to the peak of Mount Republic and erect an altar there to the god of the mountain. Nonetheless, this does not mean that I am in my heart any different than Israel. I am still prone to idolatry, even if it looks different on the outside from what it did 3,000 years ago, because I am still from Adam, and the same desire that afflicted Adam is the same desire that afflicts me - I want to be God. If I myself am God, then I am the creator, the controller, and the determiner of reality. It means that I decide what is or is not good, what is or is not obedient, and what is or is not honorable. I am not in subjection to anyone but myself, but decide for myself how to live my life. Adam and I are no different. Israel and I are no different. And even though idolatry here in America may not be as blatant or objective as it was for Israel or even as it is in many regions of the world today, it is nonetheless equally as pervasive and destructive. And it is equally as deserving of punishment. But as God was with Israel, so God is with me - gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love...

...even if it is -28 at 11:00 a.m.!