Keeping On Keeping On
August 15, 2004
Hebrews 11:29-12:2 Ralph DiBiasio-Snyder
Introduction to the Scripture Reading
The 11th chapter of Hebrews begins by saying the "Faith is the substance - assurance, reality - of things that we hope for; it is the evidence, even the proof of things that we do not yet see with our eyes, but we see them in our spirit. Then the writer gives examples of people in the Old Testament - Abel and Enoch, Noah and Abraham and Moses - who were motivated by faith, and accomplished great things by acting on what they believed God was saying to them.
Today's reading picks up with the great crossing of the Red Sea, the escape from bondage in Egypt.. And then we hear a list of more examples of faith, named and unnamed. And we learn that living by faith did not mean living in comfort and ease! Faith did not shield these faithful people from the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune." But somehow they endured, and in sorrow and even death they could not be defeated. The reading ends with an image that is especially appropriate for this the first weekend of the Olympic Games. Listen now for the Word of God.
<
< <
Shuttler Ronald Susilo said: "Money is not the main thing. The incentive is there to give us a morale booster, to give us further encouragement to do well in Athens."
At a meeting of the members of the First Congregational Church and Society of Oshkosh held in the Church Parlors Jan 16, 1884, the following resolutions were adopted.
Whereas the members of this church and Society learn with profound regret that our beloved pastor Kerr C. Anderson, feeling that his duty calls him to another field of labor, desires to sever his connection with this Church and Society: Whereas, for seven years in his labors among us his untiring devotion to the best interests of the Society, and his example as pastor and citizen have been a power to build up and strengthen the bond of union between the Church and the Society, and likewise to establish a feeling of strong friendship between pastor and people, and Whereas, relations so pleasant and so long continued can but intensify our regret that we must part with him at this time, Therefore be it Resolved by this Church and Society that in accepting his resignation, we do with heartfelt regret, and that, although he is to continue his labors as pastor elsewhere, it be our sincere desire that the pleasant feelings now existing between him and this people may continue long after our separation. Resolved that we cordially commend him, his beloved companion, and his children to the good people with whom he is about to become associated, and that we express as our hope and prayer that open hands and kind and loving hearts may greet them.
And then we have this astounding (to anyone in professional ministry at least!) entry: "Resolved, that the collections taken on the First Sunday of each month during the ensuing year, be for the use and benefit of our Pastor in addition to the Salary agreed upon. The Resolution prevailed." (May 7, 1883)
In 1881 alone Clerk Orlando E. Carrier who himself had joined the church in 1857 records these deaths:
Sumner Bartlett
January 1st, 1881?Death came to us very suddenly, and bore away from Earth to Heaven, one of our most dearly beloved standard bearers, one who for more than twenty years, had been a faithful teacher in the Sabbath School, and for nearly thirteen years a deacon in the church. May we long remember, and be very slow to forget the example, and Christian words of our mutual friend and brother Deacon Sumner Bartlett. Truly it may be said of Bro Bartlett that "He rests from his labors, and his works do follow." [Later his widow and son gave "the town clock" in the church tower in memory of Sumner.]
Joseph Jackson
June 2, 1881?Again our Heavenly Father speaks to this church, and city. We find on our church Record, the name of Joseph Jackson heading a list of twelve persons, who assembled in the school house of the village of Oshkosh on the 11th day of July 1849 for the purpose of Organizing a Church. And at that meeting the Cong. Ch. of Oshkosh was Organized. Mr. Jackson remained a member of the church until April 27th, 1860, when he was chosen Deacon, and for nearly or quite every Communion Service during the last 21 years he has officiated as Deacon, up to and including March 13th, 1881. When . . . we stood by the side of his casket, at the church, and bade him a long farewell, we felt like repeating the Hymn, the first verse of which reads as follows, viz.
Asleep in Jesus! Blessed Sleep
From which none ever wake to weep
A calm and undisturbed repose
Unbroken by the last of foes.
At a meeting of the first Congregational church of Oshkosh held on the 5th of October 1881 the following preamble and resolutions were adopted.
Whereas, by the affictive [sic] dispensation of Providence in the removal by death of the much respected and greatly beloved member of our church and Society, Deacon Joseph Jackson, the whole community and Society are stricken with grief,
Therefore, Resolved, That his integrity of character, purity of morals, and consistent Christian deportment united with his unostentatious liberality and great benevolence in all public and private charities, embalm his memory in the hearts of all connected with this church and society.
Resolved, That while we bow with submission to this affictive dispensation, we tender our heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family of the deceased and mourning his loss, we would commend his example to the living as eminently worthy of imitation.
Reverend K.C. Anderson, Pastor O.E. Carrier, Clerk
Florence had sent Carol a note praising the programs she had set up for Women's Fellowship. The note expressed the happiness Florence and other older women felt because the younger women were "taking up the torch." Carol said reading Florence's note brought back memories of her: "Her zest for life right to the very last visit to a friend in Florida, where she became ill. Her dedication to learning and teaching; her love and devotion to family, friends, and the church. The store of treasured quotations from which she drew."
Carol Niendorf recalled the paper Florence wrote for the 120th anniversary of the church. One quote in the article went, "?Time goes? Ah, no,' said the Chinese sage. ?Time stays. We go.' Thus great and good people have gone, but Time has stayed." At her memorial service, Reverend Nels Nordstrom said,
Her going leaves a large emptiness in our personal lives. In times of trouble and sorrow she was quietly but constantly there. Her calm presence, her soothing words, her lovely notes, all brought healing wholeness to our wounds. Her going will take away a certain indescribable "something" from the spirit of this church. During times of divisiveness, she spoke words of brotherhood. She was, in short, the leaven of grace in the bread of the church. Here was often the still, small voice heard over the roar of the storm. "Blessed are the meek," said Jesus. "Blessed are the peacemakers."
Lloyd and Ginny Jones
Floyd DeVoe
Helen Charbonneau
Gretchen Siebert
Bernice Dahlke
Edith and Bernice Porterfield
Florence Steves
Dorothy Wentdorf
Gerald Reed
Herb and Charlotte Krahn
Melitta Arps
Dan and Orabelle Hanson
Gene and Ginny Williams
Marilyn Patterson
Harry Kuettner
Stan Linton
Russ and Margaret Niermeyer
Milt and Margaret Seefeld
Gudrun Garmager
Elnore Congdon
Hazel Rasmussen
Marianna Scoville
Jo Quast
Ray and Midge Pierson
Evelyn Baxandall
Jon Laehn
Louis and Mildred Lyon
Wally Ackerman
Vi and Bob Conlee
Bob Hackbarth
Bertha Merker
Alberta Kimball
Bob Robertson
Mack McCain
Norma and Myron Gruenwald
Margaret Raatz
Jeanne Becker
Ethel Kuebler
Florence Freiberg
Phil and Alyce Rhyner
Joan Patterson
Sally Weiland
Esther McCarthy
Pat Norgord
Gen Kusche
Elaine Steinhilber
Duane Steinhilber
David Gahr
Gladys Jores
Gwen Fiss
Audrey Marquart
Agnes Buettner
Marilyn Whiting
Charles Bowerman
Dick O'Hara
Harold Hanson
John Moore
Bill Sanders
Jim Griner
Becca Nash
Grace James
Caroline Moenning
Duane Clendenning
Val Carlson
Dorothy Kutz
Claire Witherbee
Jack Ward
Betty Strehlow
Ken Roehl
Mary Fallon
Jim and Dorothy Johnson
Ron Jones
