Sowers Seeds. Go to our Homepage: Dear Friends,

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1 Go to our Homepage: Dear Friends, Sowers Seeds February 21, 2019 It seems that many in Leavenworth are in a state of expectation. We know that weather has certainly been predicted for Tuesday of this week, and we know that the modeling is predicting as much as three to five inches of snow. Of course weather forecasting is slightly beyond the educated guess territory in this current age so now and again storms are much less than we imagine them to be and sometimes they are much more than we expect them to be. Yet, there is not much that we can do to change the path of a weather related event that is heading towards us. That is not too say we can t be ready for a storm. We can, with the right sort of food and provisions in our homes, be well fed and safe if we cannot get out of the house. We can have batteries, blankets, and flashlights at the ready if the force of a storm takes our power out or if our furnace chooses that time to go on the blink. Yet, we cannot move the physical building to avoid a storm. Sometimes storms come, but storms also always go. What we are charged with is trying to prepare ourselves the best way we know how for the storms of life. You and I both know that weather can be a real problem sometimes. When the roads and walks are challenging it is best to be careful and circumspect of getting out, and if there is not a great call to be out it makes sense to stay home where it is warm and safe. One of the reasons I try to drive an all wheel drive vehicle is because I know pastoral emergencies don t always happen when the weather is fair and sunny. One way or another I am confident I will have an all wheel drive vehicle again, either because my Lincoln can be repaired or because I have started over and purchased another reliable vehicle to drive. I really didn t expect the storm of life that is a blown stoplight and a hit and run driver be the next weather systems. Sometimes weather just pops up like a sudden summer thunderstorm, and all we can do is respond in the moment the best way we know how. Yet, if we have a strong sense that clouds will part, the sun will return, and temperate breezes will blow again all will be well. In fact, I would argue pleasant days mean more if we have experienced days that have been less than pleasant. When our winter thaw comes and we are confident that the spring is really underway it is going to feel wonderful because this has been a winter in the truest sense of the word. So it is in our lives. There are times when our hearts and our lives are lodged very really in a winter of discontent, and we can even come to believe when sadness and hurt tarries too long at hearth and home that it will be an endless winter, but in good time the ground will thaw, green shoots will emerge from the earth and tiny buds will be found on the trees. However life can be different in that a winter of a personal nature may not be shared. Some people linger in sadness and coldness while still others feel moderate temperature, gentle zephyrs, and radiant sunshine. Knowing this, we are invited to engage people and one another with that full measure of compassion and grace. Truly, the life story we know the best is often our own. (continued on page 2)

2 (continued from page 1) You may ask, But John how do we prepare for the storms of life? Our storms are best managed when we have done that soul earth work if you will. It is when we strive to draw near to the Infinite I Am in prayer and in contemplation. Our storms and frustrations are also best managed when we look at them from a standpoint of what we have instead of what we lack. My car was damaged, but I have my health, insurance, a fairly good sense of humor, and a supportive biological and church family to help guide through this time. What more could I really ask for?? I am blessed, and this is only an inconvenience. The storms of life also remind us that there are things that are perishable and imperishable. Sometimes we place more confidence and stock in those things that are perishable, and storms are often a good reset and reminder. No matter what falls away or is dented, God is still God and walking with us through storms or sunshine. Sometimes life is a matter of following the one who walks both beside us and ahead of us at the same time. Storms of life will topple us, but they leave us stronger, wiser, and more faithful having had the experience. All the Best and God s Blessings, Pastor John Ash Wednesday Worship March 6 th ~ 7:00pm 7am Wednesday morning Communion Services beginning March 13 th. Lenten Study ~ Sundays March 10 th through May 12 th - 4:00pm - Kitterman The Return of the Prodigal Son by: Henri Nouwen 2

3 Praises! Eli & Felicia Bagley celebrated their 6 th wedding anniversary Saturday! Prayers for many more years of love and happiness! Pray for Gene Allen s Family as he passed away Saturday. Services will be at Davis Funeral Chapel; Friday, Feb. 22 nd. Visitation 4pm-6pm and Funeral at 6pm. Pray for Betty Wimer s Family as she passed away Tuesday morning. Visitation will be at Davis Funeral Chapel, Monday, Feb. 25 th from 5-7pm. Funeral will be Tuesday, Feb. 26 th at 10am at First Christian Church. Prayers for Missy Davis friends, Lou Ann, who was diagnosed with ALS. Brian & Caitlin Onasch requests prayer for Mom, Elainewent home Monday and hopefully will start chemo soon. Prayers for Felicia Bagley s neighbor who is 7 months pregnant and is in need of everything for her baby. Pat Swartz friend, Jayne B., was diagnosed with cancer. Tuesday, Feb. 19 th would have been Matt s 29 th Birthday. Teresa & John Groves Ruth Kenton s friends, Lee & Curtis grandson passed away last week- 14 years old. Prayers for Jacob Hayes, he is to have surgery on Wednesday. (Kat & Keegan s uncle.) Joan Brown Pray for those who have lost a loved one Lyle Williams December 26, 2018 Blair Ledet January 21, 2019 (Donna Bailey s son) Gene Allen February 16, 2019 Betty Wimer February 19, 2018 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 Pray for those in the Hospital/Rehab Lillian Edmonds-Selas- Piper Assisted Living Pearl Stonebraker- Twin Oaks #417 Ongoing Cares & Concerns Steve Martin, Alice Bushman, Marilyn Vance, Noah Kincaid, Helen & Bill Nowlan Kathy Ramirez, Rose Marie Theel, Ruby Corbet, Don Bohnsack, Katie Boyer, 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 CWS KITS CWS BLANKETS IMPACT REPORT: 2018 The Church World Services Kit and Blanket Programs are two of the many ways CWS shares in a hope-filled tomorrow. Your support truly makes a difference in the lives of children and families the world over. We will have a special offering for this program March 17 th & 24 th. 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 24, 2019 Treehouse Treasures Lakeside Learners Chelsea Moore & Ruth Kenton Diane Euler & Missy Davis Daylight Saving Time Begins March 6 th Evangelism Meeting Tuesday, February 26 th 1:30pm in the Kitterman Scholarship Applications are due by March 15, 2019 Time is getting short! Only one more month to have all your paperwork in to the committee. See Erin Sack for more info. 4

5 Saturday, March 2 nd 3:30pm-5:30pm Come and celebrate Dr. Seuss birthday with games, food, crafts and endless fun! Make it even more fun by dressing up as your favorite character! Ages Preschool to 5 th Grade Vacation Bible School will take us July 8-12, 2019 with a program & potluck on July 14 th Please mark your calendars and consider now what you can do to help with this year s Please contact: VBS. Emily Bean, Debbie Phillips & Dea Nicodemus, VBS Co-Directors ~ Elders Meeting ~ Wednesday, February 27 th ~ 7:00pm ~ Kitterman 5

6 February 25 th Betty Hartley Tommy Powell February 26 th Joyce Bachtel Ralph Hansen Nancy House Attendance February 17 th 8:30am Worship 34 11:00am Worship 25 Visitors 0 Total 59 Offering February 10 th General $2, Souper Sunday Youth 3.00 Backpack Buddies Shelter Pastor s Fund Total $2,

7 First Christian Calendar February 20-27, 2019 Wednesday, February 20 th Prayer Group Kitterman 8:15am CMF Mtg Kitterman 6:30pm Thursday, February 21 st Carillons Chancel Choir 6:30pm 7:30pm Saturday, February 23 rd Cub Scouts Fellowship 5:00pm Valentine Banquet Eagles Club 6:00pm Sunday, February 24 th Week of Compassion Special Offering Worship 8:30 & 11:00am Sunday School 9:45am Re-Energized Youth Kitterman 5-7pm Monday, February 25 th Prayer Breakfast Pullman Place 6:30am Tuesday, February 26 th Evangelism Mtg Kitterman 1:30pm Sunday s Servers February 24 th 8:30am Service Lay Leader: John Groves Elders: Erin & Richard Sack Greeters Main: Max Matousek Narthex: Scarlet Ross Servers Ruth Kenton*, TBD Max Matousek & Bonnie Williams Communion Prep & Clean-up Nancy House 11:00am Service Elder: Danielle Euler Scripture: Danielle Euler Greeters Main: Eli Bagley Narthex: Caitlin Onasch Servers: Doug Euler* Eli Bagley & Brian Onasch Communion Prep: Nancy House Clean-up: Eli Bagley *Captain Wednesday, February 27 th Prayer Group Kitterman 8:15am Girl Scouts Fellowship 5:30pm Elders Meeting Kitterman 7:00pm Hospital Visitation Feb 24-Mar 2 Cushing Erin & Richard Sack St John Danielle Euler 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 24 th Joyce Bachtel (913)

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