Thank you so much for the weekend off. It has been a long time since I didn't have to prepare for a Sunday sermon.
Before I get to other news, let me begin with the hard stuff. Our brother in Christ, Tom Anderson, passed on to join the Church Triumphant yesterday afternoon. I received word while I was traveling. I hope to visit with Jean today sometime, when it is convenient to her. I do not know whether she needs any big dishes of food, but if you choose to bring something by, I would recommend it be in convenient portions she can freeze and take out when she gets home from work. Plans for a funeral are on hold. Once I know more about this, I will pass it on to you. I will certainly miss Tom: his big and cheerful personality, his willingness to lend a hand or to visit the sick and elderly, his love for fishing and sharing his fish with others, and more. Thank you, Jesus, for Tom.
Special thanks to the following people:
Marge McKenzie for leading and preaching
Betty Faye Ragan for the musical leadership (we have missed you)
David Goldston for his dedicated service to making sure our worship space/s are comfortable and well-lit for us by the time we get there. And, for ensuring that the furnaces are now working again!
David Huffman, who checked on the manse during our absence
So, you heard right. We get to worship in our beautiful sanctuary again. If you are curious, the cost of repair was about $300. We pray that it will continue to work through the winter months. However, we are bracing ourselves for the day when we have to replace the outside units, which will cost a very pretty penny (around $7,000 each). We have a building fund, but it needs some replenishing in order to afford that job.
In other interesting news, one of the friends we visited this past weekend is one of the early developers of the PCR machine. PCR machines take samples of DNA and "grow" it so they can study it closely. His company is one of the many at the forefront of COVID research. He estimates that a vaccine could be developed before the end of December. Let us pray for the many who are striving to find answers to our world's problems.
Prayer Requests:
I do not have new prayer requests, as I missed church! Please let me know what your prayer requests are, so we can update the prayer list in the bulletin. Please gently hold the following folks in your prayers:
Jean Corey and all of Tom's children/grandchildren in their grief
Dora Maes, at the loss of her daughter 2 weeks ago
Persons experiencing isolation, depression or other mental health concerns
Glenda Coles - doing better with her neck problems
Susie Martinez - trying to move to new place, foot problems, back problems
Sheila Martinez - for overall health
Ryan's grandpa, Francis, who is having a hard time with health and the loss of his wife
Jonathan and Tess (relatives of Lucille Andrada) - COVID infections, getting better
Pat Sieglen - continuing to get better from surgery. This Friday is her late husband's birthday.
Elmer - continued physical pain
Sharon and Wayne Huffman - overall health
Healthcare workers worldwide - coping with shortages and "in the trenches" providing healthcare
For our community seeing more COVID cases
Phil Gallegos - health problems, having other difficulties
Kathy Martinez - many health problems, complicating her recovery from COVID
I appreciate your patience in waiting for the "digest" this week. I'm back and looking forward to seeing you again. This Sunday is Christ the King/Reign of Christ Sunday. It is the "last Sunday" of the liturgical year! That means Advent is coming and I will be looking for readers and candle lighters (maybe it will be you!).
I love you and missed you. See you very soon.
Blessings,
Rev. Amy