As a mom, many times I was called Sarah’s mom or LeAnn’s mom. I really didn’t mind and I still don’t mind being associated with my daughters. Still, it is nice to be called by your name and not a title. It’s also nice to call someone by name and be able to introduce people to one another by name.  I really feel bad when I don’t remember someone’s name or think I should know it but the name will not come to mind. Names are so important, and I am so glad God helps me to remember as many names as I do. I know I couldn’t do it without him. Remembering new names takes me a while and I most always need to be reminded a couple of times before names stick in my brain. That is why name tags are so helpful at church. We can more easily remember others’ names by putting a name and a face together when we only see a name printed somewhere. God calls us each by name, so I feel it’s so important to do the same.  

A few numbers our congregation should feel good about:

• 215: Guests served at the First Teen Clothes Closet and through partnerships with other agencies
• 12: Communities from which guests came, including as far away at Coon Valley, Blair and Sparta
• 481: Pants, skirts and shorts distributed
• 444: Shirts, sweaters and hoodies handed out
• 60: Jackets and coats given to those in need
• 130: Pairs of shoes

We have a new book in the resource center that many of you may find valuable, Cancer—Now What? by Dr. Kenneth Haugk the founder of the Stephen Ministry Program. First Lutheran congregation member and Stephen Minister Randy Nedrelo recommends the book.

Despite the cold, the OWLs had a fun and heart-warming January. Many of us attended the new movie La La Land after a great lunch. Our potluck featured Pastor Ron Nowland, who gave a very interesting presentation on “Where Angels Come From.”

Our February potluck will continue with the theme of angels. Many of us have either been touched by an angel or been an angel to some else. For our program, we will be the program. Everyone should bring a story about either how they have been touched by an angel or have found themselves being an angel to someone else. If you have a special angel symbol in your life (a piece of jewelry, a Christmas angel, a piece of art) please bring it to show. Our potluck will be on the usual 3rd Wednesday, February 15, in the narthex at noon.

It was last summer when Pastor Stanton suggested the book Sabbath As Resistance as our Lenten study. It wasn’t far into this small yet packed book that I knew I would be challenged by the 6 chapters and that it would take courage to keep going, that it would require trust in the Spirit to take me to the places where I need to go to grow in my faith and understanding of scripture. As I made my way deeper into the book and my own reflection, I found God waiting with a gentle hand as new truths were revealed and my faith was strengthened. You see, I was sure I had it figured out, my life was good and I was doing a fair job of managing my time and life. God reminded me that while life is good, there is something better for me and for the world. Rest that is deeper than my usual. Rest that goes beyond the physical and moves into the emotional and spiritual.

Download here…

• Announcements as PDF
• Announcements via Issuu
• Insert: Sharing God's Story at Home

To view the PDF files you may need the free Adobe Reader or some other PDF viewer. Want to view all this on your iPad or Kindle? Check out these tutorials…

Download here…

• Announcements as PDF
• Announcements via Issuu
• Insert: Sharing God's Story at Home

To view the PDF files you may need the free Adobe Reader or some other PDF viewer. Want to view all this on your iPad or Kindle? Check out these tutorials…

Download here…

• Announcements as PDF
• Announcements via Issuu
• Insert: Sharing God's Story at Home

To view the PDF files you may need the free Adobe Reader or some other PDF viewer. Want to view all this on your iPad or Kindle? Check out these tutorials…

Download here…

• Announcements as PDF
• Announcements via Issuu
• Insert: Sharing God's Story at Home

To view the PDF files you may need the free Adobe Reader or some other PDF viewer. Want to view all this on your iPad or Kindle? Check out these tutorials…

The week after Christmas, my family made their way to the Bahamas so that the kids could join new classmates for the entirety of their second semester which begins (for Bahamians) on January 3. Schools in the Bahamas require uniforms. Indoor gymnasiums do not exist. My eldest will commute to school by boat. It promises to not just be a change of pace, but an experience that will transform their perspectives on the world.

Thanks to the generosity of our congregation and community, the First Teen Clothes Closet has full racks for nearly all items. There are a few specific needs for which we would still welcome donations now: coats, shoes, boots and items in hard-to-find XXL and larger sizes.

One of my favorite things about winter is having a cup of hot chocolate in a large mug I can wrap my hands around. Sitting by the window watching it snow with the mug radiating warmth and me curled up under a blanket is so calming and relaxing. It would be great if everyone who comes into our church would feel that way. A warm place to be, someplace where everyone is welcomed. We all can make this happen if each one of us does our part.

The OWLs had a fun and exciting December. We started the month with a wonderful Christmas concert at English Lutheran by the UWL combined chorus and orchestra. We finished with a Christmas feast and games at the potluck. A great time was had by all.