This month's attendance was terrific - eleven women! It was great to have Stephanie join us for the first time, too. Our study this month looked at the concept that we CAN find laughter in the pain and difficulty of our lives. God gave us the the gift of laughter, and we should use it to remind ourselves that even when we are hurting, the joy of the Lord is our strength!
Music Programs
This week, due to some scheduling conflicts, we moved our Thursday music rehearsals to Monday. The Jr. Band and Worship Team are coming along nicely, and we are always excited to hear their ministry of music!
Home League
This past weekend Carol P., Ellen and Captain Ronalee attended the Divisional Women's Retreat in Spokane, WA. What a great weekend! The theme was "S.P.A.", meaning "Spiritual and Physical Attention". We were challenged all weekend to seek God for rest, and rejuvination through Bible Study, exercise, and laughter!
At our regular Home League Meeting on Tuesday, we spent the entire two hours working on important projects for our upcoming Victorian Tea and Bazaar Mother's Day weekend. We cut ribbon, edged paper, glued.....folded and sent invitations.....priced items for sale....there is still so much to do! However, we are well on our way to a fantastic, quality event. Thanks to Carol P. for leading us, and for a terrific devotional encouraging us to find the best in each other.
Next Tuesday we will not be meeting at our regular time. Rather, we will be meeting at the local Home Town Buffet at noon for our annual luncheon, where we will celebrate our successes of the year, and crown our "Woman of the Year" for 2007!
Please check the Calendar of Events on the Corps website to see what our program will be from week to week - we have interesting programs, field trips, parties, and special speakers planned for the rest of 2007.....Come join us at 10:00 am each Tuesday!!
Sunbeams
This week we decided to do something completely different - and it was so much fun!
The Sunbeams all loaded into a van, and drove to a local yogurt shop that was handing out free yogurt all evening! It was a neat surprise for the girls, and quite a sight to see 10 girls and leaders huddling under the awning (it was raining....we're in the Northwest!) as they ate their cones. After the yogurt shop, the girls went to the pet store to look at all of God's creation. Their favorite thing to look at? The fish! The animal they deemed the "creepiest"? The ferret!
Explorers
This week the younger boys began a baseball badge. They spent the evening out behind the Church learning to hit a baseball off of a tee, and will soon be learning the rules of the game. Ahhhh.....baseball! America's pastime!
Girl Guards
This week the older girls had a great devotional focus on what it means, exactly, to be a Christian. You would have been proud at some of the thoughtful answers the girls gave! They continue to work on their "Focus On The Arts" badge, enjoying expressing themselves through painting.
Rangers
The Rangers headed outside for some sports and recreation this week - but were rained on! So, instead they shifted gears and spent time talking about math and science, space and time.....itsn't it great that these boys are not just athletes, but have intelligent minds, as well?
Acquire The Fire
On Friday and Saturday, several of our teens went into to Portland to attend the Acquire The Fire youth evangelism conference. The conference focused on what it means to boldly to proclaim Jesus Christ, and our teens truly were inspired and moved to take on the challenge of sounding the battle cry!
Thanks to Quinton for coordinating the logistics, and to Captain Ron and Stephanie for coming along as support!
Sunday School
Our Sunday School contest continues to be TONS of fun, with a handful of people starting to come to Sunday School every Sunday who normally only come to our Worship Service (including adults!!!). The red team is still in the lead, but the blue team is closing in fast.....only time will tell which team is going to win the giant banana split!!!
Remember, each team gets points for attendance, bringing offering for World Services, bringing their Bibles, bringing visitors, and there are mystery "bonus" points each week for the team who can answer a trivia question. (This week's question was, "What two Old Testamant books come before and after the book of Joel?". The Answer: "Hosea and Amos". Thumbs up to Captain Ronalee for being able to answer that question before anyone else!)
We invite YOU to join us, every Sunday, at 9:15 am for Sunday School.....we have classes for all ages, including adults!
Sunday Worship
Message
Working through our series on the book of Mark, we find that he writes his gospel to an audience of Romans. With the Romans conquering different regions it became apparent that many would become servants of the Romans. Mark not only showed, he emphasised the Servant-side of Jesus and His Ministry. The key verse for our series is Mark 10:45, where Jesus says, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
So far we have:
- Mark 1 - Jesus as Servant
Now we find in Mark 2:1-3:12, Jesus the Servant offers:
- Forgiveness
- Fullfilment
- Freedom
What more could we ask for? Have you accepted His offer?
Next Week: The Servant's Kingdom - Mark 3:13-4:34
This Week's Schedule
Tuesday - 10:30 AM - Home League
Tuesday - 4:30 PM - Sunbeams and Explorers
Tuesday - 6:30 PM - Bible Bowl
Wednesday - 4:30 PM - Girl Guards, Rangers, and Adventurers
Wednesday - 6:15 PM - YPL and Jr. YPL
Wednesday - 6:30 PM - Bible Bowl
Wednesday - 7:00 PM - TOPS
Thursday - 4:30 PM - Band Rehearsal
Thursday - 5:30 PM - Worship Team Rehearsal
Thursday - 6:30 PM - Bible Bowl
Sunday - 9:15 AM - Sunday School
Sunday - 10:30 AM - Worship Service
Sunday - 11:00 AM - Junior Church
Upcoming Events
May 4-6 - Youth Councils and JR Retreat
May 12 - Home League Annual Tea and Bazaar
This Week's Birthdays and Anniversaries
NONE THIS WEEK
Prayer List
- Please pray for Dolly Sewall, one of our Home League ladies, who has been hospitalized after a serious fall.
- Please pray for our Business Administrator, Steve Rusk and his wife, Kelly. Both are recovering from illness.
- Please pray for Lisa's Aunt who is recovering from a stroke.
- Please pray for Julie’s husband who is facing medical concerns.
- Elvira Varner’s aunt, Elfiede was recently hospitalized with broken ribs. Lift her up in prayer.
- Please pray for Linda Turner’s sister, Connie, who is dealing with a possible diagnosis of cancer.
- Please pray for Pat Johnston, as she continues to recover from her illness.
- Please pray for Linda and Ed – relatives of Pat Johnston.
- Please pray for Judith, the wife of our Custodian, Jerry Edwards. She has learned she has inoperable cancer, and the situation is serious.
- Please pray that God would show YOU how you can better be involved in our congregation!
- Please pray for God’s peace and perfect will to reign in the midst of violent world conflict – specifically in the middle east.
- Please pray for Betty Johnson’s son, Michael, who recently returned to Afghanistan with his Reserve unit.
- Please pray for Julie’s Grandmother, Evaleen, who is suffering severe complications due to diabetes.
This morning we had the wonderful privilege of enrolling Marie as our newest Church member. Enrolling a Soldier is a sacred event, and this morning was no different. Marie's comitment to Christ, and desire to make a public covenant was a reminder to everyone present of what it means to be a Soldier of Christ. Although we will be "losing" Marie soon as she marries Erik and joins him in Denver, it was a thrill to be a part of such a special time of dedication!