Pastor Angie's In-Spire-ations January 2019


Happy New Year!  Ah the time of resolutions for so many.  Truth be known, I’m not big on New Year’s Resolutions.  I find it hard to keep up with them and then feel bad because I didn’t.  I DO, however, make it an annual practice of re-evaluating my spiritual practices.
Pastor Chris gave us a new perspective about the Magi and helped us understand the meaning of Epiphany.  In case you weren’t there, Epiphany is the revealing of Christ to the Gentiles through the visitation of the Magi or the Three Wise Men.
Epiphany also means to have an insight or a realization.  When we put those things together and consider them for our spiritual journey we may be led to ask three questions that popped up in my “Sacred in the Ordinary” journal. 
·       “How am I noticing the revelation of God in my life?”
·       “What gifts to I have to offer Jesus?”
·       “In what ways am I being invited to grow?”
Asking yourself questions like these on a regular basis can be a great tool for spiritual growth.   What will you do this year for ongoing spiritual growth?  Want to try something new, but not sure what?  I would love to talk with you to help you figure that out if you want.  Just contact me through the church.
On another note:
We are continuing to work with Quechua Benefit.  I am happy to say that the reports from the staff in Peru have been so positive about the work our team provided while in country, that I have been invited to join their board and help them develop more missions that function as ours did.  I am so proud of our team and SO grateful for the support of all of you.  I have not made a decision about the board at this time, however, I will be advising them about how we prepared for the trip to help others engage in mission in similar ways.  Here are some updates:
A second house has been leased so more students can move from Casa Chapi to the higher grades!  They are working on preparing the new house and stocking it with things they need.
We are remaining in touch with them through letter writing and a mission project at St. John’s Lutheran School, providing financial support for their wish list through our Christmas Transformation and one other way we would love to have you engaged.  We want to let the children and staff know all year long that we have not forgotten them and we are praying for them.  We have their birthdays and want to send cards.  If you want to send cards, please have them labeled and in the “Quechua Benefit” file in the office by the 15th of the month for the following month (i.e., Jan 15 for Feb).  We will be posting the January and February calendars and including a list of birthdays in this newsletter.  This is one gift we can all offer Jesus…to continue to build this relationship with the people of Quechua Benefit.

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