Life can be hard and sometimes feel like a rollercoaster of twists and turns, ups and downs. We know many people in our church and our world are facing challenging times. Resilience is the ability to withstand hardship and bounce back, and in this series we are going to learn about resilient faith from the life of Joseph. His story touches on doubt, struggle, frustration, temptation, questioning, and more. If you relate to any of these feelings, we hope you’ll join us!

Care for Creation Listening Posts

And Jesus said to them, “go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.” Mark 16:15

God has entrusted us to care for the earth and each other. This earth is our home and we have a responsibility to make sure it is taken care of and will be here for generations to come. The First Lutheran Church Care for Creation team is seeking your responses to the following questions:

• What does “Care for God’s Creation” mean to you?
• What are you currently doing to help care for God’s creation?
• What concerns you most for future generations regarding God's Creation?



There will be a table in the gathering space throughout January with members of the team present to listen to your thoughts and hopes concerning care for God's creation. The team hopes to incorporate what is heard into a plan of action. We hope you stop by and visit with them!

Join us as we read about Amos, who is often called a prophet of doom. When you begin to read his prophecy, it doesn’t take long to realize that nickname fits. On the surface, his prophecy doesn’t sound like a happy formula for the good life. However, every condemnation he gives serves as an invitation, a cry for us to “seek God and live” (Amos 5:4). You’ll be invited to live faithfully, humbly, justly, prayerfully, and hopefully. This kind of living will bring us and others around us peace and true prosperity.



Books are $22.00 and will be available in advance. No preparation is required before the first session.

Whether you are newly engaged or have been married over 50 years, this event is for you. By joining us you will get to know other couples in our church, have some fun, and learn useful tips for your relationship. In these gatherings, we have been learning 5 habits for healthy marriages. The habit for this session is: Stay Pure.

Wow! Our 2023 Advent of Gratitude outreach was ELCA Good Gifts, and we’re happy to share that through your generosity, $8,888 was donated to purchase gifts that grow the church, fight hunger, and transform lives. Your chosen gifts included: goats, chicks, piglets, honeybees, mosquito nets, roosters, a vegetable garden, water filters, latrines, microloans for women, school fees and uniforms for girls, school supplies for children, feeding refugee families, Bibles, and feeding people at a soup kitchen. Thank you for your amazing generosity, and for making a difference around the world!

PRAYERS



HEALTH CONCERNS:

Renata Grant, Ann Hanson, Marlys Dehnke, Dale Graff, Verdell Berger, Michelle Rhen, Janet Bohnen, Tom Koudela, Claude' Martin, Randy Mickelson, Tom Grotjohn, Valerie Daniels, Roger Riley, Deb Martinson, Tiffani Murray, John Stanz, Lois Lundberg, Jan Hammer, Lynn Tvrdik, Rodney Haarstad, Tom Howard, Dave Blom, Lance Schoeberl, Colleen Schoeberl, Bonnie Svir, Bob Neessen and Cade Sievers.

GRIEVING:

Joan Holverson, Darrel and Jan Holverson and family on the death of Joan's husband, Larry.

Pastor PJ Malin, Julie, Ayden and Addison on the death of Julie's grandmother.

Dale Graff on the death of his brother, Harvey Graff.

Alexandra and Jacob Thorstad and family on the death of Alexandra’s grandmother, Evelyn Grove.

Helen Johnsrud on death of her brother, Jerry Lee.