The Joy of Restoration
Restoration: The action of returning something to a former owner, place, or condition; an act of restoring or the condition of being restored: such as. a : a bringing back to a former position or condition : reinstatement the restoration of peace. b: restitution;
How are we being “restored” by God on a daily basis? When will we be fully restored?
What is the difference between restoration and redemption?
During the month of January, we will be looking for the answers to the questions above as well as understanding the Joy of Restoration we find in the baptized Jesus, and in being joined with him in baptism. During the service on January 9th, we will be looking at the importance of our baptisms.
On another note: I wanted to thank all of you for making the Advent Season and Christmas Eve so special. I appreciated all the kind words concerning the services. As well, I want to thank all of you who sent me Christmas cards and presented gifts to me during the season. I will always cherish those memories.
Pastor Steve
FCC News & Information
Women’s Circle Mission
November 2021 through October 2022
At the October 11, 2021 Women’s Circle meeting, we decided where to focus our
mission goals for the next year. After recently visiting Shriner’s Hospital (where
we presented them with 28 walker bags made by the Women’s Circle) we found
out they can also use them for bags for their beds to keep their books, glasses etc.
in and talking with the Mary McCauley, Donations Coordinator, she made us
aware of some of the needs for the children. Each time a child comes in for an
evaluation or procedure they are given a choice of a few gifts to take home. They
can use cloth bags of various sizes and the following list of items. We felt we
would like to collect from the congregation these items and take the bags and
items to Shriner’s Hospital three times a year.
Please see list below:
• All toys must be new and still in original packaging.
• Handmade blankets and cloth items must be clean and free of pet hair,
odor and fragrances due to potential allergies.
• No toys with sharp edges or violent themes such as swords, guns and/or
fighting action figures.
• All donations must be free of rubber or latex.
In-Kind Donations
Headphones or ear buds, Bluetooth speakers
New unwrapped toys, dolls
Small toys…yo-yo, dominoes, Hot Wheel style cars and trucks
Toys for children under 2 years which make noise and board books
Back Packs and school supplies, lunch sacks
Painting sets, paint brushes, canvas and paint by number kits
Playing cards and cards games (UNO, Old Maid, Go Fish)
Latex free sports balls
Board games (all ages)
Coloring books – non violent
Crayons, colored pencils, markers
White and colored chalk
Nerf balls
Books for all ages and preferred chapter books for older children
Kinetic Sand
Journals/diaries
Small bottles of bubbles for respiratory therapy
Legos (all ages) K’Nex sets
Craft activity kits, science experiment kits, jewelry making kits group or single
activity
Current DVD’s G, PG 13 no R
Chapter books all ages
- New Year’s Day, January 1, 2022
- Epiphany, January 6, 2022
- Baptism of the Lord, January 9, 2022
- Religious Freedom Day, January 16, 2022
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 17, 2022 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January 18-25, 2022
| A Prayer for Epiphany
O Lord Jesus Christ, heavenly King, thank you for bringing both Jews and Gentiles to hear your voice. Enable us to follow your holy Word, as those from the East followed the leading of a star. Give us grace to confess your holy name. Rule us by your Spirit, so that the joys of your birth may increase in us. Hear our prayers and cries. Accept our offerings, which you yourself have given us: the gold of our faith, the incense of our prayers, and the myrrh of our contrite hearts. Deliver us from the destructive ways of sin, and lead us in the ways of peace and in the paths of righteousness. Grant us all, when this life is done, a participation in the joys of the Year of Jubilee in heaven, where we shall praise and serve you and the Father who live and reign in unity with the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen. —Wilhelm Loeh (adapted)
So Help Me God No matter how firm our resolutions, we can’t make ourselves better people by ourselves. God empowers our good works when we rely on his aid. H.P. Nichols, a 19th-century poet, wrote: If I resolve, with the new year, a better child to be, ’Twill do no good at all, I fear, but rather harm to me, Unless I try, with every day, no angry word to speak; Unless, each morn, to God I pray to keep me mild and meek. Then let me try with all my might, and may God help me too, Always to choose the way that’s right, whatever act I do. Facing the Future Don’t worry about the future. Worry quenches the work of grace within you. The future belongs to God. He is in charge of all things. Never second-guess him. —François Fenelon
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God, you are always doing “a new thing” (Isaiah 43:19) in the world and in my life. On the cusp of this new year, open my heart to your good plans.