CHRISTMAS HAMPERS
THANK YOU! - 8 Christmas hampers were assembled and delivered on December 18th & 19th.  Thank you to all those who contributed their time, talent and treasure!
Laurel Armstrong

LADIES GROUP
Thank you to Bev & Lilla for arranging and hosting our wonderful luncheon on Saturday December 8th at Partners Deli in the Pavilion at Kildonan Park.
 It was great!!!

SUNDAY SCHOOL
Thank you to Val Kunkel and all of the Sunday school staff and students for all of their hard work on the Christmas Concert.  It was great!
 Sunday School starts January 13th.

THANK YOU!
Thank you to everyone for the wonderful 10th anniversary dinner held at the church on December 2nd.  The tables were decorated beautifully, 2 lines for food (fantastic idea), the wonderful meal, prepared by great cooks, that all enjoyed immensely, the slide show, speeches, guests and the fellowship! A great time was had by all!

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS
Volunteering is a year-round activity for many people.  The church couldn't run without all the people who are willing to give their time, share their gifts or help out whenever asked. 
As you look around you at church you realize that someone must be watering and looking after our plants, shovelling our walkway, getting communion ready and cleaning up after service, greeting members and visitors, bulletins, newsletter items, making and hanging our lovely banners, spring cleaning, Sunday school leader and teachers, group leaders, council and committee members, counting the offering, reading the lessons, assisting with communion, singing in the choir, all the people that provide music for us on Sundays, husking corn, bringing dainties, making coffee, cleaning up, ringing the bell, oh no - there goes that other bell downstairs, replacing lights, fixing things as needed, building things as requested, yard work, yard sale, driving people to church, Christmas hampers, food bank, bible study, prison ministry, hospital visits, singing at senior homes, N.E.S.T. and justing taking care of each other, etc. (in case I missed anything/anyone).
Thank you for everything you do all year long. You make this world a better place for everyone.

LUTHERAN URBAN MINISTRY
The Lutheran Urban Ministry has now moved to 743 Ellice (at Beverly) on the second floor.

YOUTH WORSHIP SERVICE
The next Youth Worship Service for the MNO Synod is on Sunday, January 20th at 7 p.m. at St. Stephen's / St. Bede's in Winnipeg (99 Turner Ave.)

LUTHER VILLAGE
Ice Cream Social - entertainment by Juno award winner... Jacques Chenier
Sunday, February 3, 2-5p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 211 Kimberly.  Tickets are $10, children 3 and under are free
Hockey Night - Manitoba Moose vs Toronto Marlies at MTS Centre on Saturday, February 16th, 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15. Call Amy @ 222-9470 or LV office @ 783-3337 to order tickets or email: luthervillage@kenora.com. Order and payment deadline Wednesday, February 6, 2008. See bulletin board for more information about both events.

BILLIOUS POND UPDATE!
Just after Christmas I had the pleasure of dropping off another cheque to New Life Ministries for monies donated for our C.D.  God has blessed the C.D. in a way far beyond anything we could have imagined.  Recently we received a phone call from Alberta, a Christmas card from Connecticut and an e-mail from New Brunswick telling us that they're still  listening to and enjoying the C.D.  Even Esther Haab (Switzerland) told us the C.D. is played constantly in their home.  How's that for sharing the Gospel with the world!
Bill Rumley

NEWSLETTER ITEMS
Items for the February newsletter can be given to Teresa Rumley or emailed to treerumley@shaw.ca by Sunday, January 20th.

 Thank you!

Poet's Corner

Recipe for a Happy New Year
Author Unknown

To leave the old with a burst of song
To recall the rights and forgive the wrong;
To forgive the thing that binds you fast
To the vain regrets of the year that's past;

To have the strength to let go your hold
Of the non-worthwhile of the days grown old;
To dare to go forth with a purpose true;
To the unknown task of the year that's new,

To help your brother along the road
To do his work and lift his load;
To add your gift to the world's good cheer,
Is to have and to give a Happy New Year.

MNO SYNOD MUTUAL MINISTRY COMMITTEE
The Synod Mutual Ministry Committee supports the bishop and support staff by serving as advocate, mentor, listener, coach, encourager and confidant. Its primary purpose is to affirm and strengthen the mission of the synod and monitor the well being of your bishop and support staff.
This committee will normally be the contact point for congregations and individuals to express concerns and issues regarding the bishop and support staff of the MNO Synod.
The Mutual Ministry Committee is a response to the gospel's admonition to love and care for one another. It provides an opportunity for early intervention and the potential for early resolution of different points-of-view. This committee also accepts expressions of appreciation on behalf of the Synod Office.
The members and contact numbers of the committee are:
                                                           Phone                E-mail
Norman Coull (Chairman)                    885-1692          ngcoull@mts.net

Pastor Bruce Gelhorn                          661-2562           bgelhorn@mts.net

Erin Kangas                                        282-2666           the_manor@shaw.ca

Pastor Kolleen Karlowsky-Clark         275-0894           klkc@mts.net

Pamela Ring                                        832-5052            pmring@shaw.ca