The weekly Newsletter of
ALL SOULS ECC
A Welcoming Family of Faith!

Thank you for all those who joined us for our “Blessings, Hopes, and Dreams” New Years Day Service. It was nice to share together as the All Souls family. For those not able to attend, we hope to see you real soon in 2017.

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 listed 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 gifts will I bring with me to offer as I discover Christ in others?

Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1-13
Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12

Matthew 2:9-11

And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

The wise men presented Jesus with appropriate gifts-gold represented royalty and honored Jesus as a king. The incense honored Jesus as their God and myrrh represented burial signifying Jesus’ death. But I wonder what they did with these gifts. Did they hold onto them and give them to Jesus when he grew up? Did they use the incense and myrrh to freshen their house as these things were highly aromatic? Did they sell or trade the gold to have money for provisions? Obviously Jesus himself wouldn’t have need for these things as a baby.

So, although the wise men’s gifts were for Jesus no doubt Mary and Joseph were the ones who benefitted from them. When someone gives us a gift we don’t need or can’t use what do we do with it? We re-gift it; we pass it on to someone else who could use it. We might be a little embarrassed if the gift-giver found out about it but at least our intent is to bless someone else. It might make us feel better to know that God is a re-gifter too. God takes what is presented to him and re-gifts it; he blesses someone else with it.

Edited from Derrek Tuper “Its a Gift”

January 21 – 6:00 pm – Pine Room
Game Night Potluck!

Bring your favorite board games, friends, and family!!!!

SAVE THE DATES – 2017 POT LUCKS & Other Socials

Please mark your calendar for these dates in 2017! Pot lucks all begin at 6:00 pm in the Pine Room (basement of Calvary).

Themes and/or activities will be announced for each month – so watch for those in the Good News! If you have ideas for activities, games, or themes for the pot lucks, please contact Wendy or any board member!

Saturday, January 21
Saturday, February 18
Saturday, March TBD
Saturday, April 8
Saturday, May 20
Wednesday, May 28
(Friendly’s Family Fun Night & Fundraiser)
Saturday, June 20

Saturday, September 23 – ANNUAL PICNIC

Saturday, October 21

Sunday, November 5 – Annual Meeting & Potluck

December 9 – Cookie Bake

How are you doing answering this past week’s question of the week?

To whom do I need to bring a special greeting of Christ’s peace, with the assurance of supportive friendship, this New Year’s Day?