January 2016 Newsletter

Presidency Message by Jan Welling
We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! The beginning of a new year is already here. With the New Year many minds see this as a renewal, a new start, a fresh beginning - and I agree. I also believe that we can have this opportunity often. Each month, week, day, hour, and minute can be a fresh start if we make it one. My favorite is the opportunity and blessing we have to partake of the sacrament each week. When we do this we renew covenants made and recommit ourselves to always remember Jesus Christ. Also, promising to keep his commandments and to be willing to take upon us the name of Christ. When done with a sincere heart we are promised to have his Spirit with us. What an amazing blessing! I look forward to it and need it every single week.

I love the way Sister Cheryl Esplin explains it. It is a “renewal for the soul”. She tells us, “The more we ponder the significance of the sacrament, the more sacred and meaningful it becomes to us.” This was what a 96-year-old father expressed when his son asked, “Dad why do you go to church? You can’t see, you can’t hear, it’s hard for you to get around. Why do you go to church?” The father replied, “It’s the sacrament. I go to partake of the sacrament.” May each of us come to sacrament meeting prepared to have “a truly spiritual experience, a holy communion, a renewal for [our] soul.”

As we try to make changes to improve ourselves, I hope that we will remember the blessing of taking the sacrament. It gives us the strength we need to improve every aspect of our lives each day. I know that when I take the sacrament with the right mind set I feel its strengthening influence throughout my week. When I go about my days remembering who I have promised to follow I have a different attitude about things. I can feel the Spirit with me more constant. I feel more love and peace in my life. Life is good, but it’s even better with our Savior by our side.

January Birthdays
6 Ranya Kelly
9 Janet Bunn
9 Linda Spano
10 Brittany Jackman
23 Ethel Glammeyer
23 Larkin Harman
23 Debbie Orvin
30 Suzi Erekson
31 Susi Maximoff

Lesson Schedule 
Jan 3 Presidency Message by Marty Rozeski
Jan 10 #1 “Jesus Christ – Our Only Way to Hope and Joy”
Jan 17 WARD CONFERENCE
Jan 24 TFOT “Be an Example” and “Keep the Commandments” by President Monson
Jan 31 Bishop Instructions

Upcoming Events
Jan 13 Ward Temple Day
Jan 17-31 Temple closed

Other Opportunities
Jan 12 Lunch Bunch at 11:30 am at Wendy’s (58th & Independence)
Jan 20 Book Group 7 pm at Kyle Koyle’s “Deception Point” by Dan Brown
Jan 28 Project Night 7 pm at Jan Welling’s
Thursdays 9:00 am playgroup (ask Jan)
Saturdays 8 am basketball Stake Center
Mon & Wed 9 am Aerobics