This week we started two new projects - quilting squares, and cutting the bookmarks to be used for our Easter nursing home visitation. Many ladies continued on old projects - painting, counted cross stitch, crocheting, and knitting. All 20 of us were very busy!
Our program, brought to us by Carol T. and Lavella, taught us of the history of Ireland as well as a few tradtions of St. Patrick's Day. We were all surprised when Rhonda sang an absolutely beautiful Irish lullaby for us. We had no idea she could sing so well! Carol P. was the hostess and provided a delicious lunch of corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes. If you weren't there, you really missed out!
It was fantastic to have Pearl P. join us for the first time today. After some years attending the Home League in Portland, she has decided to join us here in Vancouver. She spent time today teaching some of the ladies how to crochet - we are so glad to have her.
Next week, Rhonda will bring us a program based on one of her favorite subjects - CATS!
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
Sunbeams, our scouting and character building group for girls age 7-11, finished the Native American Lore emblem this week by making corn bread from scratch. Corn was the staple diet of the Native Americans in several regions of the USA, so this was a fun project! When the bread was ready, it was shared with all of the other children in youth programs at dinner time, who declared it "really, really good"!
Girls, come join us on Tuesday afternoons at 4:30PM for a lot of fun and a great time of learning together!
Adventure Corps
On Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 4:30PM, we have a great scouting program for boys called "Adventure Corps".
On Tuesday, the boys aged 6-10 had so much fun! They are learning about communication and spent the hour using walkie talkies to try and find each other on our property in a type of "scavenger hunt". The laughter and smiles we saw as they "played to learn" was infectuous!
The older boys (ages 11-15) met on Wednesday, and are focusing on the Creative Art badge. This past week they were reminded that art work is all around us - even on cereal boxes, in comic strips, and through television commercials! As they continue working on this unit, they'll be reminded of the Creation Story, and that God is the ultimate artist.
YPL
This week the the teens and pre teens met together for a Game Room night. They started with a really funny devotional based on Ephesians 4:17-32, focusing on watching the way we talk and making a clean break from profanity, put-downs, and general "nastiness". They even watched a video paradoy of "The Osbournes", called "The Osgoods"! Everybody learned an important lesson on how our mouths can get us into trouble.
We enjoyed the first Wednesday with extended daylight by spending some time just playing outdoors. It's starting to feel like Spring!
Attendance for the night was 13 - some of the regular attenders weren't with us, and a few stubborn teens decided to leave before the devotions even started - too bad! They really missed out on learning about God's Word and how it works in real life!
Our teen fellowship (ages 12-18) and pre teen fellowship (ages 10-11) meets every Wednesday night at 6:15 pm. You don't want to miss what we have in store each week! If you want more information on upcoming programs and events, please contact Quinton Markham.
Nursing Home Ministry
We are currently preparing to visit several nursing homes in honor of the Easter celebration. During the week of April 1, more than 850 residents will be visted and left with an Easter bookmark and an Easter War Cry! If you are interested in helping with this special, seasonal visitation please contact Captain Ronalee or Mark Stearns.
We also conduct Worship Services for the residents of the Discovery Nursing and Rehab center two Thursday mornings each month. We invite you to join us for this wonderful ministry - just check the Calendar of Events on the Corps Website to see when our next visits are scheduled.
Jr. Band
Last Sunday, our Jr. Band did a FANTASTIC job providing music in our Sunday Worship Service. They not only played the music for two hymns, but played a special number for the offertory. We were so proud of them!
The brass band practices every Thursday at 4:30pm, and we could always use more players. If you are a young person, interested in learning more about music while making friends, please contact Quinton Markham!
Bible Bowl
Our teens have been working VERY hard since last Fall to learn as much as they can about the book of Acts, in preparation for our Divisional playoff competition on March 31. We have two teams this year, and with only two weeks to go until the big day they are studying and practicing harder than ever.
Please keep our two teams in prayer during this crucial time. If you are interested in going to the March 31st competition to cheer them on, please contact Quinton Markham for details.
Girl Guards
Our older girls (ages 12-18) meet each Wednesday night at 4:30. However, this week they met a 2nd time when six of the girls went to Stephanie's house on Friday night to watch a movie called, "A Night With The King". This fantastic film about the story of Esther had the girls really drawn in! It was a great time for them to learn about ancient cultures and customs, Biblical history, and the real life lesson that God uses the most unusual situations, and the most unlikely people, to bring about His perfect will and plan even when things seem impossible.
Sunday Worship
Wow! The service went great. Our first with a digital projector. I hope you it was helpful to the worship experience. This is not meant to entertain you, but to provide a richer experience of worship as we look at God' Word together each Sunday.
This week's sermon took us through Doctrine 10 of The Salvation Army Doctrines now.
So far our sermon series has looked like this:
- Doctrines 1: The Bible
- Docrtines 2 and 3: The Trinity: God
- Doctrine 4: The Trinity: Jesus Christ
- Doctrine: The Trinity: Holy Spirit
- Doctrines 5 and 6: Salvation Provided
- Docrtines 7 and 8: Salvation Received
- Doctrine 9: Salvation Maintained
- Doctrine 10: Sanctification
Three points this week worth remembering:
- The Nature of Sanctification
- God's Provision for Sanctification
- Our Response to God's call to Sanctification
To be "made holy". This should be the desire of every believer: to personally experience the Holiness of God.
The transformation that sanctification requires and provides is effected by the indwelling Spirit of God.
Sanctifying faith can be described in the same language as saving faith. It is the act of personal heart trust by which the seeker commits himself to God and accepts as his own the sanctification which God so freely offers.
Well this sermon was kind of technical in nature. My attempt to define and describe sanctification barely scratched the surface. But I hope it was enough to help you as you progress in your Christian growth and draw closer to Him who has called you.
Next Week: Doctrine 11 - Man's Destiny
This Week's Schedule
Monday - 6:30 PM - Women of the Word
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 - Jr. Legion
Wednesday - 6:15 PM - YPL
Wednesday - 7:00 PM - TOPS
Thursday - 10:00 AM - Worship Services at Discovery Nursing Home
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
Sunday - 12:00 PM - Monthly Pot Luck Fellowship
Upcoming Events
March 31 - Divisional Bible Bowl Tournament at Camp Arnold
April 8, 9:00 AM - Easter Pancake Breakfast
April 13-15 - Divisional Women's Retreat
April 20, 21 - Acquire The Fire
May 4-6 - Youth Councils and JR Retreat
May 12 - Home League Annual Tea and Bazaar
This Week's Birthdays
- Kaytlin Lickar - March 20
Prayer List
- 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.
- Please pray for Julie’s nephew, who was injured in a motorcycle accident.
- 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 recovers at home. She is in good spirits, but still weak.
- Please pray for Linda and Ed – relatives of Pat Johnston.
- Please pray for Judith, the wife of our Custodian, Jerry Edwards. She just received the news that 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.
It was nice to have Erik Dabis back with us for a Sunday. The Intermountain Divisional Music Director even humbled himself to play with our worship team. By the way, speaking of the worship team, have you noticed the addition of Danny on Bass Guitar? Be sure to let him know how good he's doing.