"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
There are people who have the ability to retell a story with such clarity and intensity that you emotionally connect with their words and feel as if you are reexperiencing their particular circumstance right along with them. Over Christmas break, I had the opportunity to reconnect with a group of friends, one in particular who has this gift. As we came to the topic of most frightening parenting moments, she had the ability to demonstrate her effective communication skills as she recounted her Disney World Christmas experience with us.
She began her story by vividly describing how crowded Disney World was during the Christmas season of the particular year that they visited, and how long it took to enter into each attraction. As her family tried to make it through the most magical place on earth, she kept emphasizing to her son, who was six-years-old at the time, how important it was for him to hold onto her hand and stay with her. Things were going along perfectly, until the moment arrived when he actually saw a life size Mickey Mouse greeting visitors in the distance. Overcome with enthusiasm and exuberant joy, her son dropped her hand and immediately raced through the crowd towards Mickey. Stunned by how quickly he disappeared, her reaction time could not catch up to his incredible pace, and he instantly vanished from her sight.
After ten minutes of frantically searching and screaming his name, she and her husband finally were able to locate him being consoled by another caring mom; my friend hugged him tighter than he ever experienced. By the end of the story, the raw emotion had resurfaced and she was in tears again, and all of us were right with her!
As we begin this New Year, let us all remember that our Heavenly Father wants us to experience 2023 by holding onto His hand each and every day. Each step of the way, Jesus wants us to cling to Him and walk at His pace. He doesn’t want us to try to get ahead of Him or lag behind the path that He has planned for us. He is always present and our source of wisdom, comfort, and strength throughout each daily event, and He has us constantly in His sight.
What peace and joy it is to have such a faithful traveling companion!
Wishing you a very joyous and Happy New Year in Him!
Mrs. Palka
PRAYER REQUESTS:
*Praise God for all of the blessings that He has waiting for us in 2023!
*Please pray for our congregation's homebound members as our school pen pals write encouraging cards and letters
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Friday, January 6
Oakland County Hearing Screening for grades Pre 4, K, 2nd, and 4th
Save the Date for 8th Grade Destination Imagination Event - Details coming out soon
Monday, January 23
7th grade Class Trip and LOC meeting 6:32 p.m. Room 301
January 23 - January 27
National Lutheran Schools Week! Be prepared for a fun week of celebrating as we thank God for our school!
Fabulous Friday Parent Coffee Hour Rescheduled to January 13th!
Due to numerous circumstances, our monthly "Fabulous Friday Parent Coffee Hour" needs to be rescheduled to next Friday, January 13th, from 8:00 - 8:40 a.m.
Please join us outside the main church entrance as we enjoy warm coffee, fellowship, and Mr. Welte's patio heaters! We hope to see you there!!
Winterfest at the Wixom Campus
The Wizard of Oz!
Audition Information
St. Matthew is proud to announce plans for our 2023 spring musical, The Wizard of Oz!
Auditions for the musical will be held after school on Tuesday and Wednesday January 17th and 18th, and are only open to students in our 5th through 8th grade classes. All actors who audition are guaranteed a part in the show.
Actors who wish to audition should view this Audition Preparation Guide to help them get ready, and then use this Sign-Up Sheet to select a time for their private audition.
Looking ahead to high school decision-making or know someone who is? Lutheran Northwest is hosting an Open House on Wednesday, January 11! Prospective families with students at all grade levels are invited to learn more about us during this informative evening. Guided tours will cover the full range of the high school experience at Lutheran Northwest: acclaimed academics, awesome athletics, amazing fine arts, active student life & leadership and, above all, a caring, Christ-centered family. Meet our administrative team, members of our faculty, and current students! Tours begin every 10 minutes from 6:30 - 7:30. (Plan an hour for the entire experience.) Visit our website at www.lutherannorthwest.com/events to pre-register. Questions? Call our Admissions Office at 248-852-6677.
If you are already certain that Lutheran Northwest is the place for your student but haven’t yet applied for admission, now is the ideal time to take this step and join the Crusader family! We are currently accepting transfer applications for Spring Semester, as well as freshman and transfer applications for Fall 2023 atwww.lutherannorthwest.com/apply.
