January 9, 2005

-Sunday Morning at 10:30

Matthew 3:13-16
“Doing What God Requires”

After Worship Join Us In A
Finger Food Pot Luck

By now, we have all seen the waves of water rolling onto beaches in resorts and cities in Asia. Worse is the stacks of bodies, mostly women and children. The death total increases almost daily, so far reaching 155,000. Thousands of tourists are missing, their bodies may never be recovered or identified. Their families are waiting for hope or closure. We who are here, wonder what we can do for them in their anguish and for the survivors with their many needs.
What we don’t remember is that we are there helping them. When we walked and contributed to the CROP walk or gave our gifts last year to Week of compassion, or bought a blanket for Blanket Sunday, we were giving for future needs such as this one. Added to our new contributions and the efforts of countries including our own military, we are bringing a cup of water, food, milk for babies and children, tents, blankets and medicine to treat those at great risk of the second wave of sickness and death. Please join in bringing an extra gift this next Sunday in the Week of Compassion envelope enclosed in this week’s Christian. God is depending on us to do what we can to meet the needs of all God’s family.

GIFT RECEIVED FROM LOIS HILL TRUST

Al Bondesen had a successful foot surgery last Wednesday to repair a Jones fracture (He had been suffering for 18 months before it was diagnosed.) Richard Shively is scheduled to be released to home on Wendesday but may get to stay an extra 2 days for more therapy. George Cook died December 23rd. A graveside service will be Friday at 10:00 AM at Crestlawn on Arlington Ave. A Memorial Service will be Sunday at 1:00 PM in the sanctuary. Florence Johnson was in a car accident (rear ended by someone on a cell phone) on Decmember 30th. She was taken to the hospital for tests and released. We thank Roger Moore for cleaning the stage, fixing pew racks, replacing lights, and repairing one of our broken podiums. We will have a Congregational Meeting January 16th after worship to elect leaders, diaconate and elders. Francis & Virginia Lowe send greetings.