We received this email from Pastor Esteban at Iglesia Santa Cruz. Please pray for the families in their congregation affected by the recent rains, and prayerfully consider his request.
Dear Friends, Family and colleagues,
We hope that this email finds you well. We are sending this urgent email to ask for help for our community. The recent rains have washed away many of the fields and left our community jobless. The devastating rainstorms have turned almost all of the fields into rivers and many others have washed away the crops. We are asking for monetary donations to help our fieldworkers cover some of their urgent needs. We usually don’t ask for a lot but, we see the urgency in our people and know it’s time to go to work. Our families need your help! Please help us help them.
Blessings,
Rev. Esteban Salazar
Iglesia Luterana Santa Cruz
624 E.Camino Colegio
Santa Maria,California 93454
Worship at Mt. Carmel
Please click the image to view the bulletin
REMINDER: If you cannot join us in person for any reason, please use the link below to join us on Zoom.
COMMUNION: All are invited to join in communion. If you are on Zoom, please prepare your elements (crackers or bread, and juice or wine) before service begins.
Most of our worship services and activities are held in-person and on Zoom. If you would like to join from home, please use the links listed here. We look forward to seeing you!
Our longtime custodian, Tony Bloodworth, is retiring after 15 years of faithfull service to Mt. Carmel. Please help us send him off in style with a potluck meal after church on Sunday, February 5. Cyndi Rollefson is coordinating the potluck sign up. Additional help is needed for set up and clean up.
A free-will offering will be collected for Tony at the potluck.
This Sunday, January 22 - We will meet in Quist Hall for part two of the series on Detrich Bonhoffer using a recent Amazon Prime DVD, “Bonhoffer, Agent of Grace”.
The film tells the story of Bonhoffer’s work during WWII assisting in the German resistance against the Nazis, speaking out for the Jews, and serving as a spy until he was imprisoned and executed by the Gestapo. Pastor Richard will provide some background on Bonhoffer’s life and work in addition to the movie.
Next Sunday, January 29 - Council Town Hall and status report by Call Committee. We'll meet in the Sanctuary.
Remember when we had fresh flowers every Sunday for worship? The fresh flowers are returning on January 8. Here's how it works....
Go to the Flower Sign Up poster in the narthex.
Write your name next the date you would like to sponser the altar flowers.
Take the flowers home after church. You paid for them, they are yours.
Sponsors pay to cover the cost of the bouquet at the beginning of the month.
As most of you are aware, our long-time florist retired last year. They were very generous in keeping our cost the same for approximately 15 years! The cost of flower arrangements has risen significantly in that time and we must make concessions to keep the cost down. Cal Poly Floral will provide arrangements for us in January for $50 for one bouquet.
Please contact MaryAnn in the church office with any questions.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Daisy Wiberg, Administrative Specialist with the City of SLO, updated us on the City’s current response to homelessness and the planning that is being done to prevent homelessness. As requested, she has sent along information and links for those who are interested:
40 Prado Donations
These are the items that their Executive Director highlighted as their greatest needs:
Donations can be dropped off directly at 40 Prado or, if there is interest, call Patti Frey (805-235-1938) and she will coordinate delivery with Daisy.
City of SLO Strategic Plan Review
Here is a link to the site where upcoming City Council Agendas are posted. The Strategic Plan will be included on that site a week in advance of the 3/21 City Council meeting, and Daisy will keep Patti posted if it will be shared through another channel before then. https://www.slocity.org/government/mayor-and-city-council/agendas-and-minutes
Thank you for your support. Please continue to help those struggling with food insecurity at our sister congregation. Items that are always needed are:
MASA ~~ RICE ~~ FLOUR ~~ OIL
We'll gladly do the shopping if you perfer to make a cash donation on Sunday.
If you're not sure what to bring, or want to add some variety, here is a suggested donation schedule: