December Newsletter

Presidency Message by Jan Welling
How is it that time keeps ticking by so fast? Thanksgiving has come and gone and Christmas Day will be here before we know it. I love hearing what everyone does during the holidays. I find myself searching out new ideas and different ways to make the holidays more meaningful for myself and my family. It puts a smile on my face when I hear my kids get excited about things that we have done in the past that they look forward to doing again. These traditions bring us together as a family. Traditions help us bond and have memories that last throughout the years.

What are some of your traditions? We all have them whether we recognize them or not. It might be hanging Christmas lights, making goodies for neighbors, gingerbread houses, or maybe caroling. Some traditions help us better focus on the reason for the season – Jesus Christ’s birth. One of our favorite Christmas traditions is focusing our scripture reading around Christ’s birth and life during the month of December. The kids also love getting together with their cousins and reenacting the nativity. I have to take a step back during the hustle and bustle and ask if the traditions we are creating are uplifting, bringing us closer to Christ, and inviting the Spirit into our lives.

Did you know traditions are important? They help provide something steady, reliable and safety in a confusing world. Not only at this time of year, but year round. Sister Cheryl Lant, former primary president asks, “How should we determine what our traditions will be? The scriptures give us a great pattern. In Mosiah 5:15 it states, ‘Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works.’ Our traditions of Sabbath day observance, family prayer, family scripture study, service activity in the Church, as well as patters of respect and loyalty in the home, will have a great effect on our children and our future. If our lives are based on the teachings of the scriptures and of latter-day prophets we cannot go wrong.”

I hope you enjoy this time of year and continue to find traditions that bring you closer to Christ, now and in the future. It is such a special time of year! Let us take a step back, slow down, keep our focus, and create traditions centered on Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas!



December Birthdays
1 Tammy Rose
9 Deanna Sumner
12 Amy Hafey
14 Mindy Cornelsen
14 Terry Maupin
15 Traci Goodwin
16 Loretta Wagner
17 Susan Schilling
18 Makayla Denton
19 Jessica Humrich
23 Lacee Hartvigen
31 Terisa Eshbaugh
31 Stephanie Hendrickson



Lesson Schedule – (Ezra Taft Benson)
Dec 6 Presidency Message by Lisa Lara
Dec 13 Stake Conference
Dec 20 #24 “A Christ-Centered Life”
Dec 27 “Behold Thy Mother” by Elder Holland



Upcoming Events
Dec 5 – Ward Christmas Party 4:15 Santa, 5:00 Play & Dinner
Dec 10 Relief Society Christmas Dinner 6:30 “Finding Joy in the Light of Christ”
Dec 12 Stake Conference Adult Session 7:00
Dec 13 Stake Conference 10:00
Dec 16 Ward Temple Day



Other Opportunities
Dec 15 Lunch Bunch at 11:00 am at Marty’s
Dec 16 Book group 7 pm at Marty’s they will discuss the book - “A Christmas Carol”
Thursdays 9:00 am playgroup (ask Jan)
Saturdays 8 am basketball Stake Center
Mon & Wed 9 am Aerobics