This Sunday:

"Jesus Blesses the Little Children"

Mark 10:13-16

In-person only at 9:00 AM (Traditional Fourth Sunday Service)

In-person and Live Stream to Facebook and YouTube at 10:30 AM

Dear friends,

This Sunday we are celebrating our 4^th Sunday. That means that we will have a traditional service at 9:00 am with hymns, a sermon, and Holy Communion. At 10:30 am we will worship with our Family Service, which includes contemporary songs, the Itty-Bitty Choir, a brief message and Holy Communion. I hope that you will join us for one of these worship services.

As we look towards the end of the month, we are preparing for our Annual Meeting (January 29, Noon). One of the items on the agenda will be to affirm the board’s approval to allow Patti and me to take a Sabbatical next year (2024). As a part of this process, I was encouraged to focus on things that bring me life. If there are aspects of my life that I love, it would be the time I am allowed to spend in biblical studies and early church studies. I also love the hospitality aspect of discipleship, in particular, cooking. I am also replenished when I am spending time with family, and I would love to recover my love of singing. One other thing I would like to learn more about is writing.

So, these are the different aspects of my proposal. Patti and I hope to study in the footsteps of Paul in Greece and Turkey, along with a side trip to Rome. I would also like to take a Mediterranean cooking class in Italy. Closer to home, I will take singing lessons, spend a couple of weeks with our children and grandchildren at family camps and take a writing course. Now most of this would not be possible unless there was funding for much of it. Hence, the board has been assisting me in writing a grant proposal to receive funding for this sabbatical. I will not know until September if I will receive it, so it is a matter of waiting. However, if you attend and sign on with your support for this opportunity, it will help our chances to receive the grant.

Thank you for your continued love, support and prayers. We hope to see you in worship this Sunday!

Pastor Steve

• David Cole's dad, Wally, passed away this week. Prayers for comfort for their family.
• Prayers for Uncle Ronnie, that he stays safe and receives the help needed from his family.
• Prayers for Keith and his family as they navigate some hardships.
• Prayers for pain relief and improvement for John Dahlgren as he is experiencing severe back pain.
• Prayers for Theresa Nguyen following a cancer diagnosis.
• Prayers for Miss Brooke's daughter and their family as they navigate her health and treatment.
• Kayla, Aurien Preiss' half sister in Nebraska had back surgery recently, and is still in severe pain. Prayers for pain relief and a fast recovery.
• Aurien Preiss' sister, Penny, has a severe upper respiratory infection. Prayers for quick healing.
• Prayers for continued improvement for Carol McNulty, Aurien Preiss' mom, as she continues with physical and occupational therapy.
• Prayers for comfort and peace for Marjorie Reese as she is entering her final stages of life.
• Prayers for healing for Jennifer, niece of Kathleen Reese.
• Prayers for health and peace for Dana Engstrom's father.
• Prayers for Bonnie Straley’s brothers, Len and Larry and also his wife, Ann, for healing; and also Daphne and Cassidy for God’s guidance.
• Prayers for continued healing for Jennifer Coughenour's mom, Lavita Costley, following a hospitalization.
• Prayers for comfort and healing for Sharon Dalbke, niece of Ron and Phyllis Ostrand, who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor.
• Kent, a friend of Jeff Clarke and Debbie Campouris, is in need of continued prayers as he navigates his diagnosis.
• Dana Engstrom, the preschool director, is battling long COVID. Prayers for complete healing for her.