Good Afternoon, Church!
How are you hanging in with this cold weather? Are your pipes still warm and cozy? I hope so. This morning it was -28 at my house! Yikes, that’s cold!
Here’s the news for the week:
Invitation to the Beth El Synagogue, Friday 1/28 at 7 pm
In the wake of last week’s hostage situation at a synagogue in Texas, some of our Jewish brothers and sisters are experiencing fear and anxiety around anti-Semitism in America. Consequently, Renee Stauffer suggested that we reach out to our local synagogue, Congregation Beth-El, to let them know that we’re thinking of them right now and to offer that, if appropriate, some of us could join them at their next worship service as a gift of presence. They were really touched by our regard for them and have invited us to join them on Jan. 28 at 7 pm.
If you would like to attend, their policy is that you must show proof of vaccination and wear a mask. If this is something you would like to do, and you are eligible, please email me a picture of your vaccination card and I will forward it to Sharon Williams, so that they know how many of us will be coming.
Rev. Rich Hinkle will be preaching on Sunday, 1/30
Communion on February 6
It’s been a while since we’ve celebrated communion together, so we will be gathering around the bread and wine during our online service on Feb. 6. Bring a cracker, piece of bread, or chip to your living room worship that morning (along with whatever you have for a drink), and we will remember and give thanks for Jesus together.
Annual Congregational Meeting, Feb. 6
Following the worship service on Feb. 6, you are invited to jump on a zoom meeting for us to gather together for our annual congregational meeting. I will send out the zoom link closer to the actual day.
*For those of you who are responsible for sending in reports, and haven’t yet, please get them in to me soon!
Upcoming Poor People’s Campaign Activity
Raamitha, from the Poor People’s Campaign wanted us to know about this upcoming events:
North Country Poor People’s Campaign Healthcare Rally 1/30
For the last two years access to healthcare and its cost has been at the forefront of many of our minds. Our healthcare system puts profits before people. Please join the North Country Poor People’s Campaign as we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and rally at your local hospital to highlight this plight. The event at each location will be about 30 minutes long and include quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. relating to healthcare followed by public comment and discussions. Also at this event, the North Country Poor People’s Campaign will launch their healthcare survey, a tool to gather testimony from North Country residents on their healthcare experience. These testimonies will be presented to elected officials as we fight for accessible, affordable, quality healthcare in the North Country. Join us in our fight for affordable and accessible quality healthcare on Sunday, January 30. We will rally outside the hospitals in Massena at 10 am, Ogdensburg at 11:30 am, Gouverneur at 1 pm, and Potsdam at 2:30 pm. See you at your local hospital!
Covid Prayers
Friends, this has been a hard week for folks in our church family. Some of us have come down with covid and others are in isolation, awaiting test results. Please be praying for each other right now– not only for physical health, but for mental and spiritual well-being.
Bald Eagle Fun!
In the midst of all of the cold, Covid, and everything else going on in the world, it’s vital to our well-being (that is, maintaining a sense of shalom in our hearts) to find bits of joy and fun where we can.
This week Bob Pickard emailed me a link to a live-feed cam that’s been watching a momma bald eagle sitting on a nest of eggs in Florida. Experts think that one of the eggs will hatch TODAY(!) and the other will hatch in the next couple of days. If you’d like to check out this spectacular miracle of birth, click on the link: https://hdontap.com/index.php/video/stream/nefl-bald-eagles
Dear Hearts, no matter the circumstances you’re going through today, I hope that the light of God is shining brightly in your heart. This Sunday we will be talking about the secret strength that joy brings to us when times are tough. I hope you’ll join us to sing Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee from the top of your lungs (in your living rooms, so you don’t have to be embarrassed that anyone is listening)! 🙂
Find some joy today!
Pastor Katrina