1. Art and Diseño

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hear land connection
February, 2015
D ear friends,
Volume 21, Issue 2
By Pastor George
February is one of those months where nothing really exciting seems to happen. Weather is still too
cold and dreary to do a lot outside and Presidents day is not exactly the kind of holiday that brings deep
celebration. The most excitement seems to revolve around a little weather predicting rodent and
whether or not he will see his shadow. Of course this year we also have the added “excitement” of the
Super Bowl.
But in the middle of this month, there is a day that stands out--Valentine’s Day. As you know this is the
day when we express our love to those around us--sometimes with great fanfare and expense, other
times anonymously with a card. It is to be a day for tender moments and flowers and candy and jewels
and food. What a great time of year for this. In the midst of dreary days and dark, cold nights, there is
an opportunity to express love.
God has done much the same with us. We were living in the dark. We were dead and separated from
God because of our sin. We were in the midst of the gloom and lived a dreary existence away from
Him. Then suddenly, He reached out to us with an extravagant display of His love. He gave us a gift
that was priceless--His own Son, Jesus. “God demonstrated His own love toward us in that while we
were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). He has “rescued us from the kingdom of darkness
and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13).
Now even when surrounded by the darkness of our world, God’s love shines through. What an
incredible, magnificent, lavish, overwhelming experience. As we look at what it means to be a disciple
of Jesus, this is the starting point. God reached out to us with the gift of salvation through His Son.
When someone has given us a gift or has shown us love, our response should be to thank them and love
them back. We, above all people, ought to continually thank God for His great gift and love Him back.
In John 14, there is one indicator that Jesus said would prove our love to Him. Jesus said, “ If you love
Me, you will obey Me”. What better demonstration of our love for God could there be than for us to do
what He asks. It’s not because we are trying to earn His love. He gave us that before we even wanted
Him. It’s because we ought to. We now have the ability and the incredible privilege to show our love
for God through obedience. Let us continue to strive for purity, holiness and Christlikeness in our lives
as we walk according to the manual He has given us--His Word.
Love also goes to the next level. Jesus said in John 15:17, “This I command you, that you love one
another.” As difficult as it may seem at times to love God, it is often more difficult to love each other.
But as 1 John 4 reminds us, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (vs.12).
Loving each other is not an option as John goes on to say, “The one who does not love his brother whom
he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that
the one who loves God should love his brother also” (1 John 4:20-21).
Love can take many forms and look differently for each of us, but the bottom line is one of sacrificial
service. Jesus said, “Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
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Heartland Community Church ▪ 457 S. Woodlawn ▪ Wichita KS ▪ 67218
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Maybe that means you sacrifice your time to help. Maybe you sacrifice your money to provide for a
need. Maybe you sacrifice your pride by asking forgiveness. Maybe you sacrifice your comfort.
Maybe you sacrifice your privacy. Whatever it may be, it is serving the other person. And when we
do that, we truly prove that we love God and, guess what? It is a witness to the world of what a
Christian ought to be. John 13:35 says, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you
have love one for another.”
So it is not just for our own sakes or for the good of the other person or for the reputation of Heartland
that we learn to love each other. It is actually a tool to witness to the world about the nature and
character of our God. It is a proof that we truly belong to Him and follow Christ. As Francis
Schaeffer said, love is the mark of the Christian.
Loving God and others is a proof that we are His disciples. I pray that we may be able to live out our
love for God and each other in such a way that God is glorified and people will know that we follow
Him.
We have had a great month of learning and growing. We have some great adult Sunday School classes
starting now and I would urge you to make that a part of your Sunday. We are seeing new faces
almost every Sunday. Continue to reach out and greet them and make them feel welcome. In this
month of Valentine’s Day, let us use it as a month to truly love one another.
Thanks for the privilege of serving Him as your pastor. I love you all!
Yours in His love,
Youth Happenings!!
Youth Group Mission Trip: The Youth Group will once again be participating in a mission trip to the Omaha Indian Reservation in Walthill, NE. The trip
will take place June 6 – June 13, 2015. If you or your HS age youth (those entering 9th grade in the fall) are interested in learning more about the trip or if you already know you would like to participate in this trip, please let Rachel Bouma
know at [email protected]. Our initial confirmation is due February 1st
High School Ski Trip: The HS Ski Trip will be March 13 – 16 this
year. We will be driving to Winter Park on Friday, March 13 and returning on
Monday. If you are interested in going, please let Rachel Bouma know
[email protected].
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“READING FOR SPIRITUAL MATURITY”
BY PASTOR RICK FRANKS
Have you ever wondered how well we really know each other in the church? Even at Heartland, as
much as we love each other and seem to enjoy being with each other, how well do people really know
you? I recently have had several conversations with people where I have shared how much I struggle
with reading. Reading is a difficult task for me and one that requires constant work. When I share my
struggles, most people are surprised as they assume that I have always loved to read and that it comes
easily to me!
The reality is, I have simply come to realize how important it is for Christians to read. Over the years I
have noticed that many of the preachers I look up to, (both living and deceased), have at least one thing
in common; they read-and extensively at that. So while reading takes great effort for me, I have discovered it a task worth laboring for and one that produces great spiritual fruit. Therefore, while it still
does not come easily, I seek to read on a regular basis and the labor has proven to be profitable for my
spiritual life and those whom I pastor.
However reading materials of substance such as the Bible and other “soul-fattening” books (ie: works
that will increase your knowledge, your love for the Lord and your confidence in Scripture), is an art
that seems to be quickly disappearing; even in the church. The culture around us is doing everything it
can to encourage us to no longer think deeply, but rather to be satisfied with being entertained; to simply give in to what we want to do or think we ought to do without examination. Let’s face it, it is much
easier to give in to cultural pressures & expectations than fight for what would foster spiritual maturity.
But in Romans 12:2 we read,
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable
and perfect. (Romans 12:2 NAU)”
Paul commands us to give ourselves wholly to God because of His saving grace and the way we do so
is by the renewing of our mind. Therefore, as Christians we are to give ourselves to the reading of
God’s Word and other spiritually edifying teaching (i.e. “soul-fattening” books). So in light of these
truths, this month I would like to recommend several resources that may encourage someone who desires to develop the habit of reading. I think you will find each of these quite manageable, and yet
quite edifying. Many of these resources have been useful to me in developing daily habits of reading
books with substance, and very enjoyable in the process as well! Here are my selections:
A Long Line of Godly Men edited by Steven Lawson -- The first set of books that I
would like to recommend is a series of biographies of great Christian men. The series is
entitled A Long Line Of Godly Men Profile and put out by Ligonier Ministries. This series highlights different godly men, such as John Calvin, Martin Luther, George Whitfield, Issac Watts, Charles Spurgeon, Jonathan Edwards, John Knox and John Owen.
What makes these biographies different is that the first chapters usually outlines the
events of the man’s life and the rest of the book speaks of his contribution to the church.
I am currently reading Owen’s biography that addresses his emphasis on the Trinity and how this impacts the life of the believer. Approximately 150 Pages. http://www.ligonier.org/store/collection/longline-godly-men/
Other books I would recommend for your consideration are:
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The Faith Shaped Life by Ian Hamilton – This is one of my favorite books to recommend to people. The chapters are intentionally brief and packed with biblical teaching to
encourage and challenge both younger and older Christians; and above all to point us relentlessly to Jesus Christ ‘the founder and perfecter of our faith’ which is important as the
life of faith is not easy. The Christian is engaged in an unrelenting warfare with the
world, the flesh and the devil. Every step forward will be contested. The one thing that
will keep the believer on track and pressing on is moment by moment trust in God, in His
word, in the goodness and perfection of His purposes, and in His exceedingly great and precious promises. ‘This is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith’ (1 John 5:4). I have used this book in
my personal daily worship; reading through a chapter a day. It is concise, yet thought provoking. 160
Pages. http://banneroftruth.org/us/store/christian-living/faith-shaped-life/
Catching Foxes by John Henderson – This book/workbook is one that my wife and I
use on a regular basis for pre-marital counseling with engaged couples because it is designed to guide couples toward a Christ-centered and Christ-exalting paradigm for marriage. While meant for couples, I think it could be adapted by parents as well who seek
to train & equip their young adult children for marriage. 282 pages. http://
www.amazon.com/Catching-Foxes-Ph-D-John-Henderson/dp/1105894096
Reformation Heritage Study Bible by Joel Beeke, Michael Barret, and Gerald Bilkes
(editors) – I recently got this Bible for Christmas and love it. It does come in KJV only,
but the thousands of study notes with integrated cross-references; the articles on key
Christian teachings; concordance, color maps, daily reading plan; overview of twenty
centuries of church history; ancient creeds, confessions and catechisms with introductions; articles on how to live the Christian life and guidance on how to experience the
truths of the Bible make it an excellent study Bible. In addition to all that, I like that they
have included discussion questions for each chapter of the Bible that can be used for personal or family
worship. It is available in print or digital formats. 2216 Pages. http://www.heritagebooks.org/
categories/rhb-publications/bibles.html
The Hardest Peace: Expecting Grace in the Midst of Life’s Hard by Kara Tippetts –
While this is the story of a PCA pastor’s wife who struggles with stage four cancer, it is
written to everyone, not just those who struggle with cancer. Because every Christian
experiences difficulties in life, this book has something for everyone. Kara doesn't offer
answers for when living is hard, but she asks us to join her in moving away from fear
and control and toward peace and grace. Most of all, she draws us back to the God who
is with us, in the mundane and the suffering, and who shapes even our pain into beauty.
192 pages. http://www.mundanefaithfulness.com/the-hardest-peace-book/
Puritan Treasures for Today series – As you have probably noticed already, I really enjoy reading Puritan writers. One reason is that they think deeply about Biblical truths
that they might love God and others more completely. They exhibit a passion and love
for God that I only aspire to. But often, reading these giants of the faith is a bit unnerving. The Puritan Treasures for Today Series seeks to overcome that barrier by presenting
Puritan books that are convenient in size and are not intimidating in length. Each book is
carefully edited with modern readers in mind, smoothing out difficult language of a bygone era while retaining the meaning of the original authors. Books for the series are thoughtfully selected to provide some of the best counsel on important subjects that people continue to wrestle with
today. Titles in this series include Triumphing Over Sinful Fear by John Flavel; Stop Loving the World
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by William Greenhill; The Fading of the Flesh and the Flourishing of Faith by George Swinnock; Contentment, Prosperity, and God’s Glory by Jeremiah Burroughs and can be found at
Reformation Heritage Books. Approximately 150 pages. http://www.heritagebooks.org/
categories/RHB-Publications/Puritan-Treasures-For-Today/
If I may be of any assistance to you in your reading venture, please let me know. I would love
to know of others who are joining with me in seeking to increase their reading habits, and assure you that you will not regret doing so! I pray that you may grow in the grace of the Lord
Jesus Christ as you grow in your habit of reading God’s Word and “soul-fattening” books!
In Christ,
Pastor Rick
Heartland Presbytery
March 13 & 14, 2015
To be hosted at Heartland Community Church, Wichita, KS
Membership Class
Sunday, March 1, 2015
If you’re interested in becoming a member of Heartland Community Church, please join us on
Sunday, March 1 for a Membership class. The class will be from 3:00—6:00 p.m. in the church
library. Please RSVP to the church office to sign up for the class in advance at:
[email protected]
Looking Forward on the Calendar
March 1 Membership Class
March 6 & 7 Annual Women’s Retreat
March 13-16 High School Ski Trip
March 13-14 Heartland Presbytery (at Heartland)
April 17-18 Men’s Retreat (MorningStar Ranch)
June 6-June 13 Youth Group Mission Trip
Happy Valentine’s Day!!!
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February Birthdays
3
Larry Paarmann
Susan Shelden
Gary Wischmeyer
6
John Bouma
Mark Huenergardt
Morten Vigilius
7
Kirk Hansen
Stan Shelden
8
Dean Flaten
Women in the Church
Congratulations to our
Engaged Couples...
David Dirks & Kaitlin Vestal (March 21)
Nathan Franks & Sarah Waalkes (May 22)
Brandon Layton & Sarah Keely (June 5)
Ben Johnson & Elizabeth Franks (June 20)
BJ Brinkman and Miranda Sterling (June 27)
Casey Carmichael and Amy Alexander (June 27)
Grant Trembly & Lynsey Fortune (July 11)
Ben Franks & Cherie Farinola (July 18)
...and Expecting Families
Chris & Hannah Ladehoff (March)
Jens & Jennifer Lukoschat (March)
Dean & Lindsey Flaten (April)
Brian & Brian Nelson (April)
Stephen & Ashley Granberry (May)
11 Jon Larson
12 Cambell James
Jeff Vaughn
Justice Wegener
13 Timothy Franks
15 Rick Franks
17 Erika Petit
18 Gustavo Formenti
Jeff Morris
Abraham Nelson
22 Kristin Jackson
Seth Larson
Pete Neblett
24 Jordan Flora
Upcoming events:
26 Jaclyn Bouma
2015 Retreat - Mark your calendars for the 2015 Heartland
28 Sarah Willis
Women’s Retreat on March 6th & 7th at the Hilton Doubletree! The theme will be “From
From Garden to Glory”
featuring Courtney Doctor! Registration will be open for three weeks, beginning February 1st
and ending February 15th.
Questions? Contact Hannah Ladehoff at [email protected]
or Cynthia Shelden at [email protected].
Meals for New Moms, Illnesses and Bereavements - We are working on
creating a WIC Sign-Up Genius in order for our church body to care for each other. We will
include all the women in the church and will send out an invitation as needs arise. We ask that
each woman and family consider sharing a meal with a member in need as they are able. This
is a tangible way we can be the hands of Jesus to each other. If you need help signing up,
email Ann Harder, [email protected], or Hannah Ladehoff, [email protected].
Know of an expecting mother or engaged couple?
Let us know at [email protected]
See more info on Women in the Church on the bulletin board west of the women’s restroom!
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Nursery Schedule
Date
Sunday School 9:00a.m.
Feb 1
Erin Sundquist/
Cynthia Shelden
Ralston Family/Kayla Flora
Elizabeth Franks/
Lois Johnson
Feb 8
Ann Harder/Silvia Petit
Deb, Elizabeth & Jason Johnson
Sara Johnson/Jessica King
Feb 15
Chris & Kristin Jackson
Brinkman Family/Celeste Mathews
Heidi Whitman/
Elizabeth Franks
Feb 22
Willis Family
De Jong Family/Susan Shelden/
Ruth Waalkes
Sara Johnson/Lois Johnson
Mar 1
Kathy & Caleb Morris/
Hannah Larson
Ralston Family/Kayla Flora
Elizabeth Franks/
Nancy Hansen
Morning Worship 10:35am
Evening 6:00 p.m.
Worshipers In Training
Date
Music Leader
Teacher
Helpers
Feb 1
Anna Hetherington
Lois Johnson
Nancy Hansen/Tim Johnson
Feb 8
Lauren Johnson
Ruby Nelson
Gabrielle Phillips/John Hetherington
Feb 15
Rolaine Hetherington
Rolaine Hetherington
Hannah Larson/Daniel Johnson
Feb 22
Kayla Flora
Daphne Phillips
Sally Peterson/Rebekah Waalkes
Mar 1
Cynthia Shelden
Cynthia Shelden
Ben Waalkes/Sarah Franks
Prayer
Date
Prayer of Confession
Prayer of Thanks/
Supplication
02/01/15
Taylor Johnson
John Bouma
02/08/15
Chris Morris
George Bruce
02/15/15
Matt Kratz
Jeff Flora
02/22/15
Paul Kurtzweil
Gary Gensch
03/01/15
Eric Lamp
Bryan Hanning
Greeters:
For February:
Janet Ralston Family
Please arrive at 10:15 a.m.
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