January 15th, 2020

Hello Church Family and Friends!

I hope that you have been able to stay warm and off the roads! My kids have been out from sun up past sundown, playing in the snow with our neighbors. Sounds like we may have rain by this weekend, so no excuses for not joining us this Sabbath ;).

Here is what you need to know:

  • Steve Ebsen is speaking this week.
  • Next Sabbath, the 25th, is our Potluck Sabbath. We are having a soup theme, so please bring a big pot of your favorite soup to share. Bread and crackers will be supplied.
  • We will have a guest speaker, February 15th, Colette Newer, Director of Outreach Ministries of our Washington Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists. We will be hosting a potluck that Sabbath, Haystacks. You will be contacted to volunteer from a list of haystacks ingredients one week prior.
  • We are happy to report that the cold weather shelter is running smoothly, and the janitorial company has been doing a wonderful job! Please continue to bring warm socks and any XL and larger clothing items for cold weather for residents in need.
  • Men’s Retreat coming up, cost is $180 per person. Please contact Ron Everett for details, sponsorship and stay tuned.
  • Melissa Baskett is stepping down from Lead Deacon, we will be needing a replacement. Please contact Melissa if you are a Deacon and would like to be considered.

As many of you know, we have welcomed a 13-month baby into our home late last year. With two older children, 11 & 8, I felt reasonably comfortable stepping into this role. I had done my research, finding out what music to play, how to facilitate naps and sleep, familiar toys, etc. The first few days, I tried to replicate everything, with limited success. But as the days passed, I started to learn that instead of trying to recreate the environment baby was so familiar with, the road to success was to learn together what our new normal would be, and with much better success. I started to think, how many times have we read a book, listened to a testimony, watched an infomercial, and tried to replicate other’s results by following others’ instructions exactly? But, what if we were not meant to follow other people’s recipes for success? Friend, each of us has a path that God has laid out for us that is unlike any other person’s. Let’s stop trying to imitate other people’s lives and live the one that God has for us. Acts 20:24 says “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Let’s set our aim for spending time with God each day to learn what life worthy of calling has been prepared for us.

Can’t wait to see you Sabbath!