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FATHER MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS 1) The funeral service for our dear Ruth Masid will be this Saturday at 10:00 A.M. Seating in the church is limited to immediate family, but you can join us online using the usual link on our website. Ruth was a longtime faithful member of this parish, and although she hasn’t been able to attend in person for several years, she will be deeply missed and never forgotten. I will always remember her smiling face in the front pews. 2) Don’t forget to get those Annual Meeting reports in this week! We will put them together with minutes and agenda and send the Annual Meeting packet out by the 27th, along with a link to the Zoom meeting. If you need help figuring out how to use Zoom to join a meeting, here is a link to a short YouTube video The Annual Meeting is Sunday, January 31st at 11:30 A.M. If you don’t have access to a computer to join that way, we have limited seating in the parish hall, call Gina to sign up. 3) We have wrapped up our 2021 Pledge Campaign, and since this year was so different we have a slightly different approach. If you sent in or emailed or called with a 2021 pledge amount, we will use that number for our records. If you haven’t contacted us but have been a giver in the past, we have used your 2020 pledge/giving amount as your 2021 pledge. This is really just so that we can plan and make reasonable budget assumptions for this year. Please remember that a pledge is not a contract and everybody’s life changes so estimates of giving are just that – not set in stone – so feel free to adjust as the year goes on. I will say more in a letter that is coming soon, but I do hope you know how much I appreciate everything that you do and give and share that keeps this ministry alive and growing. You really are amazing. GINA’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Happy Birthday!! Lynn Okicki January 17 Ben Shaver January 17 Saydee Peterson January 17 Ben Sauer January 20 Gina’s Schedule -- Starting Tuesday, January 19th, I will back to my regular “In Office” hours - Tuesday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Wednesday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 2020 Giving Statements – The Giving Statements for 2020 were emailed out today and those who do not have an email address, I have printed the statements and they have been mailed out 1/14/2021. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me during my office hours or send an email to stfrancis@allophone.com. ***Daily Devotion for Thursday January 14, 2020*** CALLED AND KNOWN The 5 Steps – Pause * Listen * Think * Pray * Go Pause Take, o take me as I am. Summon out what I shall be. Set your seal upon my heart, And live in me. from "Take, O Take Me As I Am" by John L. Bell (1995) Listen Lord, you have examined me. You know me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up. Even from far away, you comprehend my plans. You study my traveling and resting. You are thoroughly familiar with all my ways. There isn’t a word on my tongue, Lord, that you don’t already know completely. You surround me—front and back. You put your hand on me. That kind of knowledge is too much for me; it’s so high above me that I can’t reach it. Psalm 139:1-6 Think Have you ever had a really special friend? This person might have been able to complete every last word of your sentence. Sometimes our friends may even know us better than we know ourselves, and they’re able to speak into parts of us we didn’t even know existed. How does it feel to be known and loved like that? Regardless of how strong an earthly friendship might be, moments of conflict may arise. As imperfect people, we may make an ill-timed joke, feel snubbed in the school hallway or all together lonely and left out. The best friendships leave room for apology and reconnection despite difficult moments. If all that could be true about a relationship with another imperfect person, consider how much deeper that bond might be with the one who created you. God knows you better than your best friend – good moments and bad – and still loves you immensely. There’s no conflict there; simply an invitation to accept God’s love and grace and an invitation to share those with others. Daniel Potter Pray Thank you, God, for being the perfect friend – one who knows me so intimately, who understands me so well, who celebrates joys, and who mourns my sorrows. Remind me today that there is no conflict in our relationship, but simply an invitation. Give me the peace that comes from being known by you and the strength to follow wherever you may lead. Amen. Go The Creator of the Cosmos, the one who formed all that was or is or will be, is the same God who breathed breath into you, the one who knit you together, the one who knows you best, and the one who calls you. Know this gift more deeply today, and share it as freely as you received it: You are called and known. ***These daily devotionals are available at www.d365.org Gina’s Office Hours Tuesday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (In Office) Wednesday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (In Office) Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (In Office) FATHER MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS 1) Mark your Calendars for our Zoom Annual Meeting Sunday, January 31st at 11:30 A.M. This being our first (and fingers crossed only) online annual meeting, there will undoubtedly be hang-ups, glitches, and mistakes, but we have to do what we can to get our parish business accomplished, even when large gatherings are not possible, so this is what we have. I promise we will do our level best to make it work in spite of the difficulties. Here are a couple of accommodations:
2) The online coffee breaks using Zoom will cut back to one online coffee break session per week on Tuesdays at 9:15 A.M. We will end about 9:45. There’s no agenda. It’s just a chance to say “Hi” to parish friends and chat about whatever comes up. 3) Thanks to Steve Trickler for this update on local vaccine availability: “To sign up for COVID-19 vaccine shots, adults 75 and older should call the message line 308 262 5764 and leave their name, date of birth, county of residence, and phone number. They will be contacted several weeks later with the particulars.” GINA’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Happy Birthday!! William Schnell January 7 Jane Wisniewski January 7 Quinn Mackrill January 11 Barbara Martinson January 11 Catherine Wisniewski January 12 Prayer Requests: Due to my working from home two days a week (for now), please send me your prayer requests by Wednesday each week to ensure they are in the next Sunday’s Bulletin. ***Daily Devotion for Thursday January 7, 2020*** CHRISTMAS LIGHT The 5 Steps – Pause * Listen * Think * Pray * Go Pause Once the decorations come down, where do you notice the Christmas lights still shining? Today, take a few moments to notice and remember the people, places, and experiences where you are continuing to see Christmas light. Listen When they heard the king, they went; and look, the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Because they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by another route. Matthew 2:9-12 Think Gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Gold is as relevant today as it was in the time of Jesus. A valuable item exchanged for goods or services. Frankincense and myrrh do not hold the same value to us, though. In ancient times, frankincense helped make temples smell like special places. Myrrh was an ingredient in oil that priests used to bless people. They also had other uses, like in medicine. They were so valuable that they were gifts given to kings and rulers. Often, they were given out of fear instead of generosity. The ancient world was full of rivalries and wars between this king and that ruler. That is why the wise men bringing Jesus these gifts is so interesting. They see the light of the star in the sky and are filled with joy. The real gift is not the items themselves but the joy with which they are given. These gifts of joy announce a new kind of ruler is in the world — a Prince of Peace. Patrick Kangrga Pray God, help me know that the greatest gift you gave was Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Help me share the gift of joy and peace and love and light wherever I go. Amen. Go Is the Christmas light still shining bright in you? Take that light out into the world. Live brightly so that others may take notice and be reminded of God's love and light. ***For those of you that would like to access these devotionals daily, you can go on this website: www.d365.org Gina’s Office Hours Tuesday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Work from Home) Wednesday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Work from Home) Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (at the Office) |
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