Pastor Joel's Mid-Week Reminders for 1/3/2012
This entry was posted on 1/4/2012 7:08 AM and is filed under Mid-Week Reminders.
'Jesus
saw...the Spirit descending like a dove on
him.' St Mark
1.10
The
Holy
Spirit figures prominently in our readings
for this coming
Sunday, on which we celebrate the Baptism
of Jesus. Wow!
From a little infant in a manger to a
grown man in just two weeks??
Well, not literally, but the seasons of
the church year move us
rapidly now from Christmas to Epiphany.
During Epiphany season
our attention shifts to Jesus the man and
to what his ministry
reveals about the kingdom of God.
The often jolting shift from
Christmas holidays to the realities of
January brings us all down to
earth. Just as Jesus came down to earth
so that he might enter
fully into our world and into our
humanity. 2012 is a new
beginning for the world. And Jesus
himself becomes that new
beginning for humanity. Stay centered in
him, and all of life
will find its meaning through him. The
Spirit is God's
affirmation of who Jesus is...and of who
we are: children of
God.
REMINDER:
All
Officers, Ministry Team chairpersons, and
committee chairpersons need
to submit their 2011
Annual Reports
.
Please email them to Pat Haneberg, who will
edit and publish them for
our Jan 15 Annual Congregational Meeting.
CHRISTMAS
FOLLOW UP:
Many thanks to all who participated in our
outreach to the poor and
needy in our community. 37
boxes of food
were distributed to families through the
Salvation Army as a result
of your generosity and care. Cards and
gifts were mailed to
members of the military
serving overseas.
The Giving
Tree gifts
you gave went to a locally needy family. Operation
Burrito fed
about 200 homeless people on Christmas Day
morning. Sunday
School offerings
were designated for Palestinian Christian
children in Bethlehem,
Israel. Food items brought to church each
Sunday were
distributed by Marion
Polk Food Share to
the hungry and unemployed. A caroling
group
visited homebound members of our
congregation with gifts of song and
encouragement. And through it all, the love
of Jesus was shared
and multiplied!
SUNDAY
SCHOOL AND ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES AND
CONFIRMATION CLASSES RESUME ON SUNDAY,
JANUARY 8.
Also,
the Friday morning Bible study resumes this
week, January
6.
INVITATION
TO CONGREGATION:
Earl and Verna Dixon will be renewing their
wedding vows during
worship on Sunday, Feb. 5, the occasion of
their 50th wedding
anniversary. They invite the congregation
to a celebratory
lunch served immediately after worship.
DATES
AND EVENTS TO NOTE ~
Sunday,
Jan. 15.........Annual Congregational
Meeting with lunch
Monday,
Jan 16..........6pm, Elders
7pm, Church Council
Sunday,
Jan 29..........1pm, Disaster
Preparedness follow up training
Sunday,
Feb 5............10am worship, with
Renewal of Marriage Vows for Earl
and Verna Dixon. Lunch reception
follows.
Looking
ahead:
Wednesday,
Feb 22, Ash Wednesday: Lent begins
April
8, Easter Sunday
**Please
see the weekly bulletin, Spirit Call,
and master calendar for a
complete listing of dates and events.
