HAPPY NEW YEAR from All Souls! Many wishes for a 2016 of Health and Happiness. May the Love of God and the Peace of Jesus be be at the forefront of your new year and your heart.
Please take the time to read the articles and information in this week’s “GOOD NEWS” including clicking on our prayer list and pray for the requests there. Feel free to forward this newsletter to a family member or friend, or share it on your facebook page or twitter by using the “like” and “share” icons at the top of the page.
This weeks readings and question of the week:
Take time to mediate on God’s word and prepare for worship this Sunday. And as you meditate on them, consider the Question of the Week:
What “recalculation” of my schedule or priorities must I make to answer the challenge of today’s Gospel to chart a direct route to a personal encounter with God-made flesh?
Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1-2,10-13
Ephesians 3:2-3. 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12
Isaiah 60:1-2
Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the LORD will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you.
Hopelessness is a common description of broken people. They have no where to turn, nothing they can do to change the circumstances of their lives to where it is livable. The theme of light shining in darkness is the most powerful message to give to such hopeless people. No matter how black the darkness and difficult it seems to shrug it off, one needs only think of how turning on a light can bring a whole change to the dismal situation. We of course this light is not ourselves in our best moods or modes, but the light that comes from God when He sent Jesus Christ into the world. He is the Light that shines in every Christian life.
Dear Father in Heaven, we have the light but those around us are in the darkness. We have resources but no understanding how to distribute those resources. We are accountable but often live irresponsibly. Lord, now is the time for your light to shine. Now is the time for You to shine brightly into our lives. Rid our hearts of every dark blot. Remove all those things that are used to block your light from shining in our souls in its full glory. Now is the time for the light to shine forth in tremendous glaring light into the dark world. We must wait no longer. We must take responsibility that we have failed the world in bringing the light to them. We must now arise and shine. In Christ’s glorious Name we pray, Amen.
CHILDREN’S EDUCATION IN JANUARY
January 13 and 20 is Children’s Ed Sunday! So we invite your kids and grand kids to join Joan for Children’s Ed after church on these dates!
BOARD GAME POT LUCK – JANUARY 16, 6pm, Pine Room
We all love our pot lucks! So make plans to join us in January for out potluck on Saturday the 16th at 6 pm in the Pine Room.
In addition to bringing your favorite foods to share – in January – bring your favorite board game! Board games are part of every family – so after pot luck, we will play some board games as a the All Souls Family!!! Lets get ready to have some fun!!
If you have ideas for future pot luck activities – please let anyone on the board know your ideas!!!! Winter/Spring potlucks:February 20, March 12, April 16.
HOSPITALITY COORDINATOR AND HELPERS NEEDED!!!!
As shared at the annual meeting, we are looking at hospitality coordinator or co-coordinators and helpers. This is for the fellowship hour after the Sunday services but also for pot-lucks and other social activities we might have. There were a lot of great ideas presented and we would love to have people to help out; plan; coordinate etc. If you want to be part of this team please see Wendy or any board member for more information or to volunteer!
How are you doing answering this past week’s
question of the week?
“Beloved, we are God’s children now.” How well do I live up to being “a child of God”?
We all love our pot lucks! So make plans to join us in January for out potluck on Saturday the 16th at 6 pm in the Pine Room.
