Thursday Announcements for January 7, 2021

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:

• Committees or Groups who submit reports will be asked to do so by the 15th so we can get them out to you along with the agenda and log-in information well in advance of the meeting. We will also include a primer on using Zoom. You can download the (FREE) Zoom application for either PC or Mac.
• Voting on new Vestry Members and Wardens and resolutions will occur through Zoom.
• If you don’t have access to a computer and want to attend and vote, we will have limited space available in the parish hall for about 30 folks. You can sign-up to reserve a seat by calling the office. However, we are asking that only those who can’t access online use this option.

 
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)