Newsletter – February 1, 2022

Join us this Sunday morning for worship online at 10:00 am.

We’ll anticipate resuming in person worship (with masks) on February 13.

All are welcome! Session requires masks be worn for all indoor church activities (worship, M in M, Sunday School, etc) regardless of vaccination status. Thank you for your cooperation, and for your care for our community, as we continue to deal with this pandemic. For the immediate future we will not have congregational singing indoors.

Online worship is here to stay for the many reasons; you may join us online.

Find worship live on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/spiritoflifeav
Join us live on Zoom by clicking https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83600960782
You can stream the service later either on Facebook or on YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC-G31isag0NKhIT0cat91qA

News from Christian Education Committee:

Adult Christian Education class will resume a week from Sunday, on February 13.

We will continue the series of videos “Uncomfortable conversations with a Black Man”, produced and hosted by former NFL player Emmanuel Acho, starting with the video at 11:00 am following worship. As many of you know, the NFL season is winding down now leading up to the Super Bowl on February 13. Emmanuel sat for an extended interview with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and that conversation is split into two videos. We will watch the first part of that conversation on February 13. You can view this week’s video ahead of time, if you want to, at this link: https://uncomfortableconvos.com/episode/episode-8. You have the option of joining by Zoom, by clicking the link at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84136883066; or, if you are fully vaccinated and masked, you are welcome to gather in the conference room.

Note: Due to increase in Covid numbers, there will not be Children’s Sunday School this Sunday. Tentatively we’ll start Sunday school again February 13th.

Note: Due to increase in Covid numbers M&M will resume meeting on Wednesday, February 16th.

GriefShare Program Restarting Thursday, March 3 6:30 pm at Spirit of Life Church. This program features biblical, Christ-centered teaching that focuses on grief topics associated with the death of a loved one. The DVD seminar features nationally respected grief experts and real-life stories of people, followed by a small group discussion about what was viewed. Past participants have related how helpful the information and follow-up discussions were to them. Many grieving people find they are only beginning the work of healing when friends or family have returned to their daily life routines. Too often people, including Christians, tend to bury their grief instead of allowing it to do the God-given work for which it is intended. Don’t allow fear of what others may think to keep you from what could help you. Confidentiality is very much a part of this program. Please contact Bob Shepard or Jacqui Hicks for more information or to sign up.

The Community Service team once again invites you to join us in donating for “Souper Bowl” Sunday. The big event is Sunday February 13. At the present time cash donations are recommended. Please indicate “Souper Bowl” on your check or online. Cash donations can be stretched to provide more food, but once we are present in the building, bring cans of soup and indicate who you think will be the Super Bowl Champs! Soup collected will be donated to our local food shelf. You are invited to participate in a bracket tournament – one entry per can of soup. There will be prizes!

Next week we will be selling Easter flowers and gift cards. The sale will be fully online and will open 2/14/22 and close 3/10/22. Items will be available for pick-up on Sunday 4/10/22. Contact Becky Brandt with questions. Watch for link to come soon.

Winter Chrysalis, 2022, registration is open!
Theme: We are more alike my friends, than we are unalike. ~ Maya Angelou
Dates: Feb. 18 – 20, 2022
The times, they are a’ changin’. So, for us to meet in person in close quarters, Clearwater and the Chrysalis Steering Committee will be requiring that every person is fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated means either: *you have recently received a booster shot OR you have received your first 2 vaccination shots within the past few months and you are not eligible for the booster yet.
The following actions and documentation are required from every camper:
– Proof of covid vaccinations – bring to camp either your vaccination card or a picture of your card on your phone. AND
– Proof of a negative rapid in home Covid test taken Friday morning, Feb. 18, before camp. Take a picture of your results to also bring with you to camp. So, we are kindly suggesting you look for your rapid test now and tuck it aside for camp, so you are prepared.
Another change for this year is the registration process. Clearwater is preparing a new registration system, but it will not be ready for our Chrysalis registration. Your registration is due by Feb. 11th. So, here is what you will need to do: Go to https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1tAlO0HlTF1dUvb71PhkaebkzW8_lR3lajeFAcVQgeC0/edit
If you are unable to register online, call Barb and she will help you register. 612-669-9700

From Community Service: During the winter months, the donations to the Little Free Food Pantry (located at the entrance of the driveway) need to be modified to tolerate the extreme cold temperatures we can see here. Please review the attached list of items for what to consider donating; ideal items are dried and in bags, like dried beans, rice, oatmeal, cereal, etc. And, remember the motto of the Little Free Food Pantry movement: Take what you need, leave what you can.

Spirit of Life is working to be sustainable through recycling. By introducing more recycling collocated at the location of most trash cans, we can significantly reduce the amount of waste being sent to the landfill while showcasing that reducing waste can be easy. Help us to celebrate sustainability while enjoying the event. Clean plastics, tin/metal and paper should go into the recycling bins and everything else should go into the trash. Thank you! Please see Pastor Rob, any Elder or member of the staff with questions.

Volunteers Needed:
We need one person each Sunday to serve as a Greeter and one person each Sunday to serve as an Usher for Sunday worship. We need two volunteers for each week. Please let Becky Brandt know what dates you are available to help and she will build a calendar. Thank you!

Meet with Pastor Rob for Coffee and Conversation Mondays, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Come as you are. This is a gathering online but it is open for you to pop in and out any time during the two hour time frame so feel free to drop in and say hello. *Note, same time and same login, recurring meeting each week. Join Zoom Meeting at https://zoom.us/j/286584190
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If you have a prayer request you wish to share with our Spirit Care Prayer Team, please email the office at [email protected] AND Pastor Rob at [email protected]. Word it as you wish it to be submitted, and we will post it for our prayer team.

2022 Per Capita is $36.50