Weekly Announcements

Education

WE'RE OFF ON AN ADVENTURE!

On June 23-27 let's head north for Vacation Bible School! At True North VBS, we'll be on the ultimate Alaskan Adventure where we'll learn to trust God in the wild world. VBS is from 9 AM-noon and all 4 year olds-5th graders are invited to join our Alaskan adventure as we sing cool songs, experience some wild Bible stories, play exciting games and do some cool experiments!!

Registration for VBS is now open. Register your kids (or grandkids) today by visiting this link: vbspro.events/p/peacewaverlyvbs

Adventure Guides Needed!

Middle schoolers, high schoolers and adults, we need your help in our Alaskan adventure! Help is needed both the week of VBS as well as leading up to it. If you'd be willing to serve at True North VBS this summer, please sign up using the registration link above and select volunteer registration or contact Hannah McLaughlin (dce@peacewaverly.org)!  Can't join us but still want to be a part of VBS?  We have a wish list of items that you can help provide! See our donation display, or visit our Amazon wish list (https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/26XDWD87RS4V3)  to donate.

SPEAK AGAINST PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE

"Physician-assisted suicide (PAS), authorizing vulnerable end-of-life patients to obtain a doctor’s prescription for lethal drugs to kill oneself, is an attack upon human dignity.  Despite this, more than ten states have legalized this catastrophic idea of suicide with a physician’s assistance and activists are intensifying their efforts to remove regulations governing the practice of PAS. It is crucial that we educate elected officials about the grave risks associated with PAS.  PAS places vulnerable people at greater risk of abuse and coercion, discriminates against the elderly and persons with illnesses and disabilities, fails to adequately protect patients who may be nearing the end of their life, and uses experimental drugs that are not FDA approved. These dangerous practices undermine the integrity of the medical profession and are contrary to a physician’s societal role as a healer.  States have broad powers to protect human dignity at the end of life and now more than ever, it is essential for them to use their authority to protect the health and well-being of their citizens. All patients should receive the best palliative care possible, addressing feelings of hopelessness and depression after receiving a difficult diagnosis, rather than sending them to their grave.  Inform your elected officials on the dangers of PAS. Together, we can be a voice for life!  For Life, Rebekah Gantner, Government Affairs & Public Policy Manager, Americans United for Life .  Click here:  https://aul.org/pregnancy-centers/say-no-to-assisted-suicide/?vcrmeid=3Y4cB53mxkSyhrkh8xsC6Q&vcrmiid=uCx4_QFvVkKEnpcdAVBcWA

VOCATIO:  HIGH SCHOOL RETREAT

June 21-27, 2025.  Find God’s calling and direction for your high schooler's life! Concordia Seminary, St. Louis invites ninth- through 12th-grade students to attend Vocatio: High School on the campus of Concordia Seminary. This retreat encourages high school men and women to explore many aspects of the Seminary, including worship and devotions, sessions with professors, and even some fun and recreation! Registration is $200 and closes May 31. Register today!  ask.csl.edu/register/2025VocatioHS?bbeml=tp-_n2kCRmCCEGtkX_6dmGkzA.j_rFV3tmgpU6xBko6a3VJiw.rNlUf7FnN5kigf1bIUFeiJg.lym04pCjZUkaijh4jovbuNg

"STAND WITH WOMEN" ADVANCES

Nebraska state senators just overcame a four-hour filibuster and advanced LB 89, the Stand With Women Act, through the first round of debate on a 33-16 vote.  This is a big step to address growing concerns from parents and athletes about fairness and safety in female sports and the protection of private spaces—and it wouldn’t have been possible without you!  We needed 33 votes to end the filibuster and advance the bill, and your tireless prayers and advocacy made the difference.  LB 89 must go through two additional rounds of debate before it is sent to Governor Pillen’s desk.  If your senator voted “Yes,” please contact their office and thank them for their vote. Senators need your continued support and encouragement. If your senator voted “No,” please urge them to support the bill going forward to ensure that girls’ sports are fair and private spaces remain private.  We are one huge step closer to protecting the safety and privacy of women and girls in Nebraska. Please continue to pray for our representatives and the bill’s successful passage. NFA will keep you updated when the bill is scheduled for the next round of debate and how you can take action.  Your prayers and support are making a difference!  Nebraska Family Alliance.  SEE HOW YOUR SENATOR VOTED HERE:  nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_votes.php?KeyID=12140&sm_guid=ODYxNzM0fDY0MjIzMzYwfC0xfHBhc3RvckBwZWFjZXdhdmVybHkub3JnfDc5MTk0NTd8fDB8MHwyNTg1MjA5NTl8MTA3MHwwfDB8fDg1Njk0Nnww0.  CONTACT YOUR SENATOR HERE:  nebraskalegislature.gov/senators/senator_find.php?sm_guid=ODYxNzM0fDY0MjIzMzYwfC0xfHBhc3RvckBwZWFjZXdhdmVybHkub3JnfDc5MTk0NTh8fDB8MHwyNTg1MjEwNzZ8MTA3MHwwfDB8fDg1Njk0Nnww0

SURFER BETHANY HAMILTON SPEAKING AT GALA

Last fall, over 1,000 Nebraskans gathered at the Life & Liberty Gala—a sold-out event—to celebrate historic legislative victories and honor the leaders who are standing in the gap to advance family, freedom, and life.  On the heels of a historic move by the Legislature to advance legislation protecting girls' sports, Nebraska Family Alliance (NFA) is excited to announce that renowned female athlete and advocate, Bethany Hamilton, is confirmed to keynote our 2025 Life & Liberty Gala on Saturday, August 16th, in Omaha, and tickets are on sale now!  Bethany Hamilton is a professional surfer, author, and Christian speaker who has inspired millions with her courage and unwavering faith. After surviving a shark attack at the age of 13, Bethany returned to competitive surfing and now uses her platform to share the hope of Jesus Christ. She is passionate about empowering women to live boldly in their faith and founded the Friends of Bethany Foundation to encourage young people and families facing adversity. As a wife, mother, and advocate for faith and family, Bethany’s powerful testimony will leave you encouraged and inspired.  I hope you and your family will join us for the 2025 Life & Liberty Gala on Saturday, August 16th, at the CHI Health Center in Omaha!  NFA is offering a variety of ticket levels and sponsorship opportunities for the gala. I encourage you to visit our website to check out the special perks offered in our table and sponsorship packages. Consider purchasing a table for preferred seating and entry into our VIP reception, advertising your business at the gala, or becoming a sponsor to meet Bethany Hamilton!  I can't wait to see you on Saturday, August 16th, as we celebrate the incredible progress we've made for pro-life, pro-family, and religious freedom protections in Nebraska. Life and liberty are winning, and NFA is honored to stand for Biblical principles in the public square.  Our vision is to see Nebraska become a place where God is honored, marriages and families thrive, life is cherished, parental rights are protected, and religious liberty flourishes.  We pray that the 2025 Life & Liberty Gala will encourage and inspire you to partner with NFA in our shared vision for Nebraska.  Nate Grasz, Executive Director, Nebraska Family Alliance.  For more info: nebraskafamilyalliance.org/2025gala/?sm_guid=ODYxODcyfDY0MjIzMzYwfC0xfHBhc3RvckBwZWFjZXdhdmVybHkub3JnfDc5MjE3NDl8fDB8MHwyNTg1Mzk0MjV8MTA3MHwwfDB8fDg1NzA4Nnww0

IS BIBLE ENGAGEMENT ON THE RISE?

An estimated 10 million more adults qualified as Bible users in January 2025 than in 2019, the American Bible Society (ABS) said in its new State of the Bible release, but usage still lags pre-COVID-19 readership by 14 million adults.  While the ABS has an admittedly low bar for Bible usage – three times a year outside of organized church worship – at least a quarter of U.S. adults turn to the Bible on their own weekly or more frequently.  “For the first time since 2021, we’re seeing an increase in both Bible use and Scripture engagement, particularly among younger adults and in men,” John Farquhar Plake, ABS chief innovation officer and State of the Bible series chief editor, said April 10in releasing the findings. “People are curious about the Bible and Jesus.”  Specifically, 41 percent of adults, or 110 million, ranked as Bible users by ABS standards, up from 38 percent, or 99 million, last year, researchers said. The numbers compare to pre-pandemic levels of 49 percent, or 124 million, in 2019, and a high of 50 percent, or 128 million, in 2021.  Scripture engagement, a more robust category that measures the centrality of the Bible in people’s decision-making and how it impacts their relationships, increased to 20 percent in January from 18 percent the previous year. But it lagged behind the 25 percent in 2019.  In 2025, a majority of U.S. adults, 54 percent, were decidedly Scripture-disengaged, compared to a minority of 47 percent in 2019. Others were in a category described as the movable middle, those open to the Bible as a source of spiritual wisdom.  “Together (the Church) must respond with creativity and innovation,” Plake said. “Opportunities like this don’t come along every day, so we need to listen carefully and respond to our neighbors with grace, hope and truth.”  While Boomers utilized the Bible more frequently in 2024 and 2025, at 45 percent and 46 percent respectively, Millennials led the way in progress, with usage rising to 39 percent in 2025 from 30 percent the previous year.  Still, Millennials remain the least Scripture engaged at 17 percent, a metric that increased this year from the 2024 level of 12 percent.  Researchers offered no reasons for the increases, but noted a cultural attraction to creative media featuring the lives of people featured in Scripture, such as “The Chosen.”  “Can we credit a particular TV show or ad campaign with these increases? Our research does not directly address motivations, but it is clear that people are looking for answers … increasingly in visual media,” researchers wrote. “These sorts of public presentations reinforce the quietly faithful lives and creative outreach of millions of Christians eager to share with their neighbors the ‘greatest story ever told.’”  In its 15th year, the State of the Bible expands its resources this year to include with each chapter the State of the Bible Podcast, a series of short videos offering insights from research findings, and a toolkit for church leaders.  Research findings are gleaned from a nationally representative survey performed for ABS by NORC at the University of Chicago, using their AmeriSpeak panel. The data came from 2,656 online interviews conducted Jan. 2-21 with American adults in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Fellowship 

LORD, IN YOUR MERCY, HEAR OUR PRAYER:

Led by Prayer Team Leader, Dennis Bauer. 

Send prayer requests to prayers@peacewaverly.org, or 402.450.3357.

Health Concerns: Terry (friend of Dick Rockenbach), brain cancer; Lyle Hall, blood infection; Jett Schere, arm fracture; Joanne Lubben and family (mother of Jen Tietjen), health; Carolyn Galligan, surgery recovery; Eric (friend of Dick Rockenbach), health issues; Phyllis Ohlmann (mother of Brad Ohlmann), cancer; Todd (friend of Bob Rankin), cancer; Dennis Bauer, cancer; Stacey Wheeler, cancer; Patti Scheel (sister-in-law of Patti Haertel), cancer; Judy Dovenbarger (friend of Lyle Hermance), cancer; Rita Nelson, surgery recovery; Lyle Hall, surgery recovery; Lilo Johnson, Parkinson’s; Ren Beck (brother-in-law of Maggie Ropte) cancer; Marcia (friend of Lanel Fenster) and family, cancer and illness; Alan (uncle of Julie Wilshusen), cancer; Amber (friend of Olivia Wheeler), cancer; Rogene Isaacson, cancer; Rev. Brad Birtell (Uncle of Hannah McLaughlin), cancer; Jay Berry, health; Amy, cousin of Lanel Fenster (cancer); Brad, Bruce Nelson’s brother (continued healing and pain relief); The Bassinger Family (health)

For the Bereaved:  Julie Wilshusen and family at the death of her uncle, Alan; Brian Behlen and family at the death of his mother, Ardith; JJ Washburn and family at the death of her father, Jim Wilkinson; Scott Reiner and family at the death of his grandmother, Barbara Klimes; Rita Nelson and family at the death of her father, Bob Thies; Dianne (sister of Maggie Ropte) and family at the death of her son; Jean McGill and family at the death of her mother; Ginny Oliver and family at the death of Jim Oliver

Those Serving in the Military:  Piper Haen (Pv2 Haen Piper, 1985 Cooksey St., 102B Fort Leonard Wood MO 65473), Leah Rasmussen, Adam Haeffner, Rev. David Edwards (our adopted chaplain) SLD45/HC, 357 Titan Road, Patrick SFB, FL 32925

Out of the Area Members:  Gabe Wilshusen; Taylor Casteneda; Stephanie, Bryer, and Larson Cecrle; Christian Dauel; Anna Manning; Maggie Reed; Jared Ohlmann

Shut-Ins:  Dennis Bauer, Dick Mohlman, Renae Johnson, Judy Steffen, Lilo Johnson, Lyle Hall

College / Early Career:  Nikolai Buss, Treyton Cockerill, Adellin Doyen, Trae Greve, Jacob Kleinbeck, Lucas Kleinbeck, Leah Rasmussen, Conrad Schroeder, Drew Sondgeroth, Cole Sorensen, Haley Williamson, Henry Angle, Meagan Dauel, Josh Giesler, Rachel Haeffner, Patrick Haen, James (JT) Berry, Ryan Etheridge, Toby Becker, Alex Etheridge, Adam Haeffner, Drew Hollibaugh, Garrett Jenkins, Nathan Krenke, Drew Miller, Logan Ropte, Judson Tietjen, Carson Vachal, Kemper Reed, Jaidon Bell, Dain Frazier, Piper Haen, Hayden Knickerbocker, Noah Knickerbocker, Meghan Krenke, Selah Muench, Grant Schere, Audrey Sorensen, Madelyn Stone, Michael Williamson, Jordyn Behlen, Jaxon Kleinbeck, Josh Larsen, Ethan Rosenthal, Derek Walker, Tucker Bliss

SUPPER EXPRESS: 4/30: Soup!