A Joint Newsletter of St. John s Episcopal Church & Union Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ

Transcription

1 A Joint Newsletter of St. John s Episcopal Church & Union Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ 2018

2 CREATE-A CHRISTMAS and COLLEGE CARE CARD UPDATES Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! to the many people who made these special projects happen. With generous gifts from individuals and St. John s Thrift Store, 6 college students from both our congregations enjoyed greetings, prayers and healthy food as they wrapped up the semester with final exams and papers, AND 2 families and 1 elderly couple had their Christmas brighten through Create-A-Christmas. This included Smith Gift Cards to the 2 families. Wow! Also, huge thanks to Judy Graham & Jackie Sanchez who oversaw the buying and wrapping of gifts, and to all our elves who wrapped up the gifts: the Monday Morning Coffee group and others.

3 2017 Poinsettia s Flowers in Memory In Memory of Kerri Lewis; Our Parents Ruth & John Magnuson, and Si & Fern Realing From Chuck & Wilma Realing In Memory of the Wiekhorst and Brooks families From The Wiekhorst family In Memory of Arthur Crouch; Leonard Crouch; Robert Green Jr.; Eunell Pouncy; Gloria Knight From Carnell & Sara Green In Memory of Hugh & Elizabeth Crouch; Robert & Emma Green; Alta Johnson From Carnell & Sara Green In Memory of Russell and Corliss Kerr & Ray Harvey From The Kerr Family In Memory of Kenneth & Irene Gunn; Tommy & Leah Warren From Tim & Terry Warren In Memory of our loved ones no longer with us From Jack & Angie Bennett In Memory of our loved ones no longer with us From Jack & Angie Bennett In Memory of Valene Braithwaite From Debbie & Dennis Braithwaite In Memory of Crystal Hermansen & Dylann Wilkenson From Debbie & Dennis Braithwaite In Memory of Eric Fry From Forrest & Gay Fry In Memory of husband Michael Casey, and son C. Terry Laboria From Ruth Casey In Memory of Geraldine Stephens, Dick Paxton From Jackie Sanchez & Norma Jean Paxton In Memory of Our Parents Wayne & Maxine Rockhold From Cliff & Jackie Rockhold In Memory of our Parents Adam & Olga Christman From Cliff & Jackie Rockhold In Memory of Gerald Rouse & Laura Makie From The Makie Family Flowers in Honor In Honor of our 52nd Wedding Anniversary From Bill & Janet Hoyt In Honor of Emma King, Autumn King, Zoe King, Carly King, Kasyn Porter, Gunner Porter From Tim & Terry Warren In Honor of Family and Friends From The Beard Family In Honor of the members of St. John s From Don & Peggy Smith

4 St John s Episcopal Church 350 Mansface / P.O. Box 400 Green River, WY mansfacechurch@sweetwaterhsa.com St. John s January Worship Schedule January 7, First Sunday after Epiphany 11:00 Holy Eucharist or Morning Prayer Service Leader: Rev. Ruth Lauritzen Reader: Chuck Realing January 14, Second Sunday after Epiphany 11:00 Holy Eucharist Service Leader: Terry Warren Reader: Angie Bennet January 21, Third Sunday after Epiphany 11:00 Holy Eucharist: Service: Rev. Ruth Lauritzen Reader: Tony Harrell January 28, Fourth Sunday after Epiphany 11:00 Morning Prayer Service: Chuck Realing Reader: Wilma Realing The next Vestry meeting will be Sunday, January 14 after coffee hour.

5 The Priest s Corner In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan, earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, in the bleak midwinter, long ago. I always think of January when I hear this Christmas carol written by Christina Rosetti, especially the first verse. The festivities are over and here we are, stuck with months of horrible, cold weather ahead of us. However, what gives me hope and joy is that there is a Sunday in every week when I can get together with my church family and worship the Lord. That is a warm spot in my week. I am both pleased and nervous this month as Walt has left us for his next phase of life and we as a congregation are now in charge of ourselves. I am happy that I have been ordained and can provide Eucharist to our people. I am grateful for the many church members who continue to serve on Vestry and Churches Inc. Together we can continue to stoke the fire of love and service in our church and provide a warm spot for all of us this winter. ~Rev. Ruth Lauritzen

6 Please remember these families in your prayers Cherie and Jack Haire, Eleonore, Jose Alvarez, Margo, Jack, Kyle, Tim, Evie Grace Huebner, Kasyn, the Porter family, Marion, Kenny, Nathan and Briana Wolfe, Joan Palin, Gary Rieben, Kristin Gasaway, Friede Foster, family of Don Ruess, & Debbie and Kendra Thursday Night Book Study The Thursday evening Bible class is beginning a lectionary-based study of the scripture passages for Sunday. We meet at 6:30 p.m. and are usually home by 8:00 p.m. All are welcome. Timothy Warren 2 Emma King 5 Carolyn Carollo 10 Jeff Yennie 12 Dr. Russ Johnson 15 Chuck Realing 20 Kasyn Porter 20 Peggy Smith 26 Rick Porter 29 Teresa Shafe 29

7 PASTORAL PONDERINGS As I sit down to write this January epistle, Christmas music is playing. It s a little weird, timing wise, to be thinking about the new year when Christmas is still days away. But then again, January 1 st is as much a part of the holidays as Christmas. In fact, New Year s Eve falls right smack dab in the middle of the 12 days of Christmas. And then! After all that, on January 6 th, we begin the season of Epiphany! This is when we finally get to hear about one of the greatest parts of the nativity: the visit of the magi! Epiphany means revelation. The God-gift born in Bethlehem at Christmas is now revealed to the world. Throughout January and into February, we re invited to consider how we will respond to what God has given us in Christ. It s interesting that this season coincides with the beginning of the New Year, a time when many people make resolutions to do life differently in the year ahead. Something about the holidays (both the religious and the secular) makes us think about responding to the gifts of life and love in new ways. We resolve to be kinder, more generous and caring. We commit to laughing more, exercising and eating better. We dream some new dreams and dare to think more expansively about our lives and our world. It s a wonderful thing. Truly. I hope you will set aside some time during the 12 days following Christmas to consider the marvelous gifts of what is and has been, and then dream a bit about the year to come. Open yourself to the power, mercy and love that God has given us through Christ. In the stillness of your reflections, I pray that you will find much to make your heart glad. And in those places where life is hard, be hopeful. Dream about what can be. Choose joy over fear. Decide to love, and resist the power of apathy. Move into the New Year with peace and hope in your spirit. Live fully; love deeply. Peace and blessings always! Pastor Jenny Grief Recovery Method Hospice of Sweetwater County will be hosting an eight week long Grief Recovery Method Grief Support Group starting January 11, 2018 from 6:30 8:30 p.m. to help those in the community who are grieving from a loss (death, divorce, loss of job, health and more). The eight week program, to be held at White Mountain Library, is a support group created by the Grief Recovery Institute. It is designed to help those who are struggling with grief, and trying to move on, but don t know how. The White Mountain Library is located at 2935 Sweetwater Dr. in Rock Springs. Pastor Jenny will be leading these sessions. Narcotics Anonymous Mansface Church is home to the local NA chapter. Sunday night meetings are always an open meeting which means if you or a loved one is struggling with a drug addiction, you are welcomed to come. They meet at 8:00 p.m. in the Sunday School rooms.

8 Sunday, December 31: 10:00 a.m. Joint Worship Monday, January 1: Happy New Year! Office Closed Tuesday, January 2: Office Closed Sunday, January 7: Epiphany Worship & Communion Monday, January 8: 6:00/7:00 p.m. Diaconate/Trustees Sunday, January 14: 9:00 a.m. Worship & Faith Exploration 10:00 a.m. Fellowship 10:40 a.m. Council Mtg Sunday, January 21: 9:00 a.m. Worship & Fellowship Sunday, January 28: 9:00 a.m. Worship & Fellowship 10:10 a.m. Annual Meeting Janice Lundgren 1 Victoria Allen 3 Laurie Maddox 12 Lindsey Travis 13 Judi Laughter 16 Mary Curtis 22 Heidi Finn 23 Lacey Hart 25 David Westling 27 Cliff Rockhold 31 Devin & Laura Hart 16 WEEKLY CHURCH EVENTS: Sundays 9:00 a.m. Worship Mondays 8:45 a.m. Coffee Group Tuesdays 9:30 a.m. Craft Group 6:30 p.m. Quilters Check office calendar for scouts and other regular groups. Union Congregational Church will hold their annual meeting on Sunday, January 28 following our morning worship during fellowship time. This is when we hear reports from our committees, elect new officers and approve the budget. ANNUAL REPORTS DUE JANUARY 15

9 LIVING COMPASSIONATELY Friday evening, March 16- Sunday, March18 at Lakeside Lodge, Pinedale Cost will be around $125; includes 2 nights lodging (4 to a cabin) and 4 meals. Sign-up on the bulletin board by the office by January 21 st, $50 deposit due. Final payment due on February 25 th Union Congregational Church has joined Amazon Smile! For every penny you spend, Amazon donates a percentage back to us. Please help us by linking your amazon account with amazon smile. Just go to the link below and follow the steps. Don t forget to share it with your friends and family. Once you are registered remember to always start your shopping from for your purchases to count! (the best way to remember this is to bookmark it in your browser) Happy Shopping!!! Does someone s drinking bother you? Al-Anon can help. Meetings are held in Green River at 96 N. 1st E St., Green River, Wyoming on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm.

10 Support Union Congregational Church every time you shop at Smith s! Signing up is FREE and EASY! 1. Go to SmithsFoodandDrug.com/inspire 2. Sign into your digital account or choose Create an Account and fill in the information. 3. Link your Rewards Card, search Union Congregational Church Green River, WY or use NR617 and choose Save. What purchases qualify? Just about everything you purchase during your regular shopping trips! The only exclusions are alcohol, tobacco, postage stamps, Smith s Gift Cards, reloadable Gift Cards and Debit Cards, lottery and promotional tickets, Western Union, fuel, and sales tax. Remember, there s no cost to participate in this program, and you ll still earn fuel points on eligible purchases every time you shop. ***If you were previously linked you may need to re-link your account due to changes with the Smiths program. If you need help linking RayChelle can help you in the church office but please bring in your