Hi, Everybody:
This Sunday, January 19, is the Second Sunday after Epiphany and Fill the Food Barrel Sunday. There is a Worship Committee Meeting following the second service, and the Nominating Committee Meeting is this week between services. I know that in last Friday’s email I said the Nominating Committee Meeting was last Sunday, but I was mistaken. My apologies to the horde of members who tried to break into the meeting last week to announce their last-minute candidacies.
While we’re on the subject of Keith’s mistakes, I also said last week was Fill the Food Barrel Sunday instead of this week. Not only that, but in this Sunday’s insert, it says next week is Fill the Food Barrel Sunday as well. My apologies to those who accidentally bring food for the poor three weeks in a row. Oh, and the lesson in the bulletin this Sunday is from 1 Corinthians, not Isaiah. My apologies to those who will think Isaiah has changed his name to Paul (Simon gets his name changed to Peter in the Gospel this Sunday, but that’s Jesus’ fault!).
Your 2019 Giving Statements are ready. Please pick yours up from the basket on the Media Table and save the church the cost of a stamp!
Third Tuesdays of the month are Daytimers’ Luncheon days. All are welcome to come this Tuesday at 11:30 am to eat and chat (“fellowship” in Lutheran parlance).
Next Sunday, January 26, will be RIC Sunday. The last Sunday of January is when many congregations celebrate becoming a Reconciling in Christ congregation. Since 1974, ReconcilingWorks: Lutherans for Full Participation has advocated for the full welcome, inclusion, and equity in all aspects of the life of the Lutheran Church for LGBTQIA+ people. What do all those letters mean? (even I had to look it up) According to the ReconcilingWorks website, it stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual/aromantic (I first read that as “aromatic” and was prepared to be highly offended). We will be marking our dedication to be welcoming to all people, including the LGBTQIA+ community, with a reading of our Welcome Statement during the service and, of course, rainbow-colored treats between services!
Also on January 26 there will be a Spaghetti Feed Meeting after the second service for all who are interested in helping to plan and help out with this year’s Spaghetti Feed. The Spaghetti Feed is slated to take place on March 14 from 4 pm to 8 pm. I’m sure we’ll need lots of volunteers to serve food, sell tickets, make prize baskets, set up, clean up, etc. Come to the meeting and advocate for rainbow-colored pasta!
February 2nd brings the annual Souper Bowl of Caring and Soup Potluck. We will be collecting money and non-perishable food for local food pantries as part of a nation-wide effort. Sign up at the Media Table to bring soup for the between-service potluck. It’s not a competition, but you can be justifiably smug if your soup runs out.
Our Annual Congregational Meeting is on February 9th at 11 am after a single worship service at 10 am. I’m sure there will be food involved, but of course you’ll really be there to discuss, vote, and plan for the future (and to make sure nobody volunteers you for anything in your absence).
See you in church!
-Keith