Sowers Seeds. Go to our Homepage: Dear Friends,

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1 Go to our Homepage: Dear Friends, Sowers Seeds I can t help but ponder the weather as I listen to the wind whip by the building. Today is one of those days when the highest temperature is found early in the morning and then it proceeds to drop all day. It seems like all is changeable isn t it? It was wonderful to have a brief bit of warm up where we reached the low forties during the weekend. I can t help but feel a bit bemused and amazed by the weather. Isn t it fascinating how we perceive the weather? What we well know is that in the midst of January and February when the mercury creeps in to the forties, fifties, or even the sixties people will appear in shorts, be out running and in general drinking in the warmth and the sunshine. I find people even smile a little more on such days. We can make ourselves believe that spring is really on the wing. Yet, when it dips in to the fifties or upper forties in May or early June you see people huddled for warmth and bundled up in sweatshirts. Isn t it interesting what we become accustomed to? In the winter time we think one set of temperatures is warm and hopeful, but by late spring we think the same temperatures are cold and forbidding. The objective number hasn t changed, but the world around us has changed so it makes all the difference. When the twenties and thirties or lower seem to be the rule the fifties and sixties feel wonderful, but when the seventies and the eighties are our daily norm we shiver and put on another layer. I always chuckle when I go down to Florida and see a person in a winter parka at fifty-two degrees. I tease my friends in Palm Beach Gardens about having thin blood. Yet, I know it is all a matter of perspective and what we are used to in our life and living. I can t help but ponder the world we live in and what we have a habit of getting used to. Is it possible that with minor alterations, the things that we could do and be would make all the difference in our surroundings and the people we come in contact with? That is, could we be the proverbial sixty degree day in the midst of a cold winter that so many seem to be living through? Can you imagine the warmth it would bring if we smiled just a little more or stopped to listen when someone said with a sigh in their voice that they were, fine. There are even moments in our lives when our first impulse is to be generous, but then our sensible side kicks in and we pull back a bit. What if we just didn t pull back? Sometimes when we are hear a remark that is unkind, angry, or vitriolic we think, Well it wasn t about me so I will say nothing. What if in that moment we took a loving but firm stand and said, You know I don t agree with that sort of talk or conversation. To go a step further, when all about us seem to be dividing in to right/left, conservative/liberal, or Republican/Democratic what if we said, Yes we are all entitled to our beliefs, but God keeps inviting us to be reconcilers, and even though we don t see eye to eye we don t need to foster division any longer. I have notion that people would be able to warm their hearts, hands, and souls, by the fires of the gentle goodness that we all have to offer to the world. Perhaps, at first, such behavior is a discipline, but in due time it will be our everyday manner of being. May we bring warmth, light, love, and hope to all the places where we find ourselves. All the Best and God s Blessings, Pastor John January 31, 2019

2 Vacation Bible School will take us July 8-12, 2019 with a program & potluck on Scholarship Applications are due by March 15, 2019 Be sure to get your paperwork started if you would like to apply for the FCC Scholarship through the church. The application process takes some work, so give yourself plenty of time! See Erin Sack for more info. 2 Please mark your calendars and consider now what you can do to help with this year s VBS. July 14 th. NOTE: We have already had some volunteers step up; Hope to hear from you as well! Emily Bean, Debbie Phillips & Dea Nicodemus, VBS Co-Directors Annual Valentine Dinner Saturday, February 23 rd 6:00pm Eagles Club Contact David Bryant or Richard Sack. Deadline: February 17 th

3 Pray for those who have lost a loved one Bill Wallace December 10, 2018 Lyle Williams December 26, 2018 Blair Ledet January 21, 2019 (Donna Bailey s son) Pray for our out-of-town Active Duty Personnel Melissa Van Valkenburgh, Lucy Collings, Hannah Bond, Dustin Phillips, Rob Widmyer, Jim & Rachel Sullivan, Christin Collins, Nickalas Derringer, Rose Uy, Nelson Hanson Cameron Brown 3 Praises for the temporary end of the government shutdown and blessing to all affected by it. Laney Mellott & Ruth Kenton Happy to have my son, Steve, visiting. Jim Bliss Although it has been many, many years since my family attended your church, I would like to ask that you post the passing of my brother, Jeff Brunk, son of Les and Mary Brunk. Jeff spent many years living in Leavenworth and graduated from high school in Leavenworth. He passed away on January 13, 2019 at the Kavanaugh Hospice House in Des Moines, Iowa. Thank You, Debbie Taubert Bill Nowlan fell and hurt his back. Kathy Powell Prayers for Those who need jobs and those with health issues. Ruth Kenton & Fran Gast Gary Lindsay- open heart surgery on Thursday. Scarlet Ross Prayers for Rev. Jay & Pat Gideon- the death of their son Chris, in December. Mary Sue Winneke Amanda & Dave as they struggle with his care. Linda Bohnsack Prayers of love & healing for Pearl Stonebraker. Judy Wesley Prayers for Judy Wesley s friends, Ron & Deedee Sterk- as she is forced to make some very difficult decisions for his healthcare. Continued prayers for Kathy Ramirez/ Aunt Rita Hirtz- as they have diagnosed her with bone marrow disease. Pearl Stonebraker is back at Twin Oaks. Please pray for Jerry Moore medical issues. Chelsea Moore Pray for those in the Hospital Betty & David Wimer- Healthcare Resort Lillian Edmonds-Selas- Piper Assisted Living Pearl Stonebraker- Twin Oaks #417 Barbara Kessler- Twin Oaks Ongoing Cares & Concerns Steve Martin, Alice Bushman, Gene Allen, Marilyn Vance, Noah Kincaid, Kathy Ramirez, Rose Marie Theel, Ruby Corbet, Don Bohnsack, Katie Boyer, Betty & David Wimer, Winnie Henderson, April Shea, Brian Onasch, Pearl Stonebraker Please help us update our Active Duty list with members or those in direct relationship with our members.

4 Children & Youth Ministry Mission Statement We seek to grow spiritually, serve and invite children, youth and families to participate in missions. Values 1. Mission We serve together in a world of need. 2. Family We are there for one another in good times and bad. 3. Empathy We seek to understand each other s feelings. 4. Acceptance We all belong. 5. Integrity We try to live what we believe. Children s Church Schedule February 3, 2019 Treehouse Treasures Lakeside Learners Emily Bean & Margaret Collins Bonnie Williams & Marji Dickson Ride Share Would you like to help when someone wants to come to church but needs a ride? Please call the Church Office and we will add you to our list of drivers! ~ Board Meeting ~ Tuesday, February 12 th Kitterman 4

5 Bring Your Souper Gifts Sunday February 3 rd Needed: Soups, dry ingredients to make soup, crackers AND CASH DONATIONS Backpack Buddies is in need of extra funds to finish out the year. Please consider an extra donation to a great cause for our community! Just drop it in the offering plate Sunday, marked for Backpack Buddies. Thank you for your continued generosity! ~ Christian Education Meeting ~ Thursday, February 7 th 4:30pm in the Kitterman Room 5

6 February 1 st Kenna Spain February 3 rd Debbie Alvarado Jeff Porter February 4 th Terry Nicodemus February 6 th Sandra Ramirez Stacy Unruh Attendance January 27 th 8:30am Worship 59 11:00am Worship 36 Sunday School 43 Visitors 4 Offering January 20 th General $4, Building Backpack Buddies 7.00 Shelter Sunday School 9.25 Total $5, Total 95 6

7 First Christian Calendar January 30-February 7, 2019 Wednesday, January 30 th Prayer Group Kitterman 8:15am Girl Scouts Fellowship 5:30pm Elders Meeting Kitterman 7:00pm Thursday, January 31 st Girl Scouts Kitterman 3:00pm Carillons 6:30pm Chancel Choir 7:30pm Sunday, February 3 rd Souper Bowl Sunday Boy Scout Sunday Worship Sunday School 8:30 & 11:00am 9:45am Monday, February 4 th Prayer Breakfast Pullman Place 6:30am PEO/Diane Euler Kitterman 4:30pm Wednesday, February 6 th Prayer Group Kitterman 8:15am Girl Scouts Fellowship 5:30pm Thursday, February 7 th Christian Ed Mtg Kitterman 4:30pm Carillons 6:30pm Chancel Choir 7:30pm Homebound Communion Group I: Danielle & Diane Euler Group II: Fran Gast & Brian Onasch Sunday s Servers February 3 rd 8:30am Service Lay Leader: Dea Nicodemus Elders: Richard Sack & Mary Sue Winneke Greeters Main: Kylie Dickson Narthex: Scarlet Ross Servers Bonnie Williams*, Melissa Wilson Scarlet Ross & Kylie Dickson Communion Prep & Clean-up Susan Hoins 11:00am Service Elder: Sue Hubert Scripture: Penny Paradies Greeters Main: Kim Kincaid Narthex: Caitlin Onasch Servers: Linda Kesinger* Doug Euler & Brian Onasch Communion Prep: Susan Hoins Clean-up: Doug Euler Hospital Visitation Feb 3-9 Cushing Richard Sack & Mary Sue Winneke St John Sue Hubert *Captain The driver listed for Sunday will pick up for both worship services. Call if you need a ride to church. Let the driver know which service you plan to attend. 7 Sunday, February 3 rd Please call the office (913)

8 Contact US Telephone Number: (913) Church Office Hours Monday-Friday, 8:30 4:00 Church Website: Pastor: Reverend John Sowers: (309)