Tag: Prime Time events

It’s a new year and a new beginning. I hope you have made a commitment to be “all in” serving the Lord this year.  As always, the seniors have some fun activities planned for this year, plus a service project for the quarter. January will be filled with movies!

First, we are going to the Science Center OmniMax on Thursday, January 12 at 10:00 a.m. We will watch the movie, Born to be Wild. This is the true story of two individuals who have dedicated their lives to helping orphaned animals return to the wild. Cost for seniors is $9. We will have lunch afterwards at Zia’s on the Hill with an opportunity to visit the Missouri Bakery. Remember, the bakery only takes cash so be prepared. Don’t forget to sign up in the Connection Center.

On Monday, January 30, we will be watching a movie in our Dining Room. Join us at 11:00 a.m. and have a lunch of sandwiches, chips and dessert for $7. If it is available, we will watch the movie I Heard the Bells. The film tells the story of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and the tragic and inspirational events that led him to write the poem, “Christmas Bells,” which would later become the Christmas carol, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” Sign up so that we can plan for lunch.

I pray that your New Year is off to a great start and that this will be a year of great spiritual growth for you and your family.

I hope your 2023 is full of grace and peace and love! Also, I hope you can join in the activities we have planned for our seniors this first quarter of the year. So, get out your calendar and write these down, but remember to be flexible as many places are still understaffed and not always keeping a regular schedule.

In addition, we are working on a two-night trip in late spring or early summer to the Creation Museum and Noah’s Ark in Kentucky.

Christmas can be super stressful and busy. Here are 10 ways to focus on Jesus this Christmas:

1. Seek out quiet moments for yourself. Take 5 minutes to focus your mind and heart on Jesus.
2. Make time for your Bible. Read Luke 2:1-20 or do some research on passages in the Old Testament that point to Jesus.
3. Ask for Jesus’ advice. Make your day a constant conversation with Him.
4. Volunteer. Serve others in your community.
5. Pray. Write down everything that is stressing you out and tell Jesus. Then ask Jesus to help you keep your focus on Him the rest of the day.
6. Spend time with your loved ones and be a Mary not a Martha.
7. Celebrate Advent. Don’t search the Bible for how to do it. It’s not even in the Bible. Find your own way.
8. Give gifts with a purpose, like a new Bible, a journal, or a devotional book.
9. Say no.
10. Embrace imperfection. No family is perfect. Let Jesus make up the difference.

Make sure you remember Jesus is why we celebrate Christmas.

By the time you read this, we will be marching quickly toward Christmas, my favorite season of the year.  I love the lights, the decorations, and the generosity of God’s people who are willing to give to those they don’t even know. So, my last expression of gratitude for this season of thanksgiving is that I am thankful for God’s perfect gift of Jesus, our Redeemer.

We have some unique ways to prepare us for the Christmas holidays. On Thursday, December 1, the bus will leave the church at 5:00 p.m., and we will head to Big Joel’s Safari Winter Wonderland in Wright City. This unique venue has lots of animals and lots of lights. There are firepits to get warm, snacks and S’mores kits, and opportunities to feed the animals. I hope you will join me, bring some kids with you and some adults who still have that childlike wonder! The cost of admission is $8. Eat before you come because we will not be stopping for dinner.

We will also be going to The Way of Lights at Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville on Monday, December 19 at 4:00 p.m.  This display is free, but donations are accepted. They no longer have their buffet, so I have chosen Eckert’s restaurant for dinner in Belleville. We will eat first and then go through the light display. We can only take 28 so get your name on the list if you want to go. Sign up in the Connection Center!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! It is also the busiest! I hope you have been trying my thankfulness list at the end of your day to prepare you for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I trust that you were encouraged by Matt’s sermon on change. We know that this change in our church was initiated by God when he called Pastor Zach to a new church and now, He is calling us to join Him in this period of change. Of course, it will be hard but remember, when God starts a change, He always wins. I can’t wait to see what He will do!

We have a lot of Christmas events planned this year! Our first one is a trip to see the animals and the lights at Big Joel’s Winter Wonderland in Wright City on Thursday, December 1 at 5:00 p.m. Admission is $8.00. There are fire pits to get warm at and s’mores kits for sale. Bring your grandkids for this unique light display. The bus will leave church at 5:00 pm. Eat dinner before you go, but there will be snacks available to purchase at Big Joel’s.

The second event will be The Way of Lights at Our Lady of the Snows on Monday, December 19. The bus will leave church at 4:00 p.m. This Christmas light display focuses on the birth of Jesus, the one true light of the world.  There are activities in the Visitor Center. Our dinner spot for the night will be determined soon, but we will eat before The Way of Lights. Cost: Free admission for the display, but donations are accepted; bring money for dinner.

Then we have our church Christmas presentation on December 16 at 7:00 p.m. and December 17 and 18, both at 3:00 p.m. Invite your friends and family to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Support all the love and hard work that goes into this free gift to our church and community each year.

Thankfulness

For November, I have a challenge for each of you I think might change your heart towards an attitude of gratitude. For years I have challenged myself at the end of the day to thank God for 10 good things that happened that day. I would like to challenge you to write down just 5 things at the end of each day you are thankful for, not repeating any the next day. After Thanksgiving, read your list and see all the wonderful things God does every day. For example, here is how God has blessed me so far today: 1) I arrived safely to church in the rain and my umbrella did not turn inside out; 2) We had a great staff meeting where we made some major breakthroughs; 3) I had lunch with Kyle and Ty who were willing to spend time with a woman at least 10 years their senior! 4) We were able to authorize some benevolence help for a member in need; 5) I got to spend some time in prayer with my fellow staff members. Try this for the month of November and see if this makes an impact on the way you think and your thankfulness for how good God is to you each day.

Senior Planning

Join us on Thursday, November 10 at 11:00 a.m. for a free lunch from McAllister’s and a presentation on Senior Planning. Our speakers will help us to know things that we need to get taken care of before it is too late. I hope you will come to this informative session with time for questions. A signup sheet is in the Connection Center.

Sunday Night Connection

I hope you will consider joining with the entire church for our first Sunday Night Connection on November 6 at 5:00 p.m. We will have a cornhole tournament and firepits, smore’s and hot dogs. Bring a chair, but don’t forget to sign up in the Connection Center!

On Friday, October 28, we will be visiting the Economy Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank with lunch following at Crown Candy!  The Economy Museum takes you on a hands-on journey through interactive exhibits, games and videos. You will learn about everything about inflation to the global economy. You even get to go home with a bag full of shredded money.  You can try to use this to pay for your lunch at Crown Candy.  Good luck!

On Thursday, November 10 at 11:00 a.m., you are invited to a FREE McAllister’s boxed lunch and a presentation on Senior Planning. You will be given information on everything from setting up power of attorney, deciding on advanced health directives, and estate planning. There will be a presentation, a time for questions, and some planning documents distributed. This is never a topic that we enjoy but it only makes sense to prepare in advance for our future. I hope you will plan to attend.

Mark down these dates for our two Christmas events: Thursday, December 1 at
Big Joel’s safari (bring your grandkids); and a trip to see the lighted display at Our Lady of the Snows on Monday, December 19. Get ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus!

I love fall! The changing leaves, firepits, s’mores, hot chocolate, long sleeves, and the promise of snow in the near future. I know, I know. Some of you are still stuck on the “s” word I said in the last sentence! But I love the God who created each one of us with our unique personalities and passions. There is never a dull moment in God’s world.  He likes seasons too, and our church is about to enter a new season. While we are sad to see our pastor and his family move on, we must remember that God has called them to a new place to serve and bless a new body of believers.

At the same time, we know God’s plans for us is also for a hope and a future. If you set your alarm for 9:38 (a.m. or p.m.) as Zach asked us to and you are praying Matthew 9:28, you have already been praying for our new pastor.  God already knows who our next shepherd will be, and he is preparing his heart even today. It’s time to get ready for our next season!

In the meantime, we have some exciting events coming up that I hope you will join us at and invite some friends along. On the evening of Saturday, October 15 we will meet at the JCCA to listen to story tellers in a program by the St. Louis County Library. There will not be a bus or transportation for this trip, but groups are gathering at 6:00 p.m. to eat together at Bandanas on Dorsett beforehand. The storytelling begins at 7:30 p.m. at the J. Mirowitz Performing Arts Center, 2 Millstone Campus. This is a unique opportunity you don’t want to miss.

Then, on Friday, October 28, we will go to the Economy Museum. Admission is free. We will explore the economy and money in an interactive way. You will learn everything from how people make decisions about money, how the economy affects you, and even have the opportunity to try to lift a 28-pound gold bar. If this doesn’t entice you, we are having lunch at Crown Candy afterward! Enough said!

Enjoy the change of seasons. God is in control!

Thanks for all your help pursuing the good of our community during Impact Week. The Bible does not mention retirement so we need to keep on keeping on being the hands and feet of Jesus doing whatever we can until He calls us home. I appreciate all your hard work!

Our next event is an in-house movie. We will have lunch followed by the movie, The Insanity of God, on Wednesday, September 28 at 11:00 a.m. Lunch price is $7. This movie is the true story of missionaries Nik and Ruth Ripkin. They will tell the story of being taught by persecuted believers how to follow Jesus, how to love Him, and how to walk with Him day by day even when it doesn’t make sense. Prepare to be challenged.

On Saturday, October 15 we will meet at the JCCA to listen to story tellers in a 5:30 p.m. program by the St. Louis County Library. There will not be a bus or transportation for this trip, but I have heard groups are gathering to eat together at Bandanas on Dorsett beforehand. There will be room at my table for anyone who wants to join me.

Finally, on Friday, October 28, we will go to the Economy Museum. Admission is free. We will explore the economy and money in an interactive way. You will learn everything from how people make decisions about money, how the economy affects you, and can even try to lift a 28-pound gold bar. If this doesn’t entice you, we are having lunch at Crown Candy! Enough said!

Again, thank you for all you did this week for our community and your continued service to the church!