Newsletter — December 6, 2022

Join us Sunday mornings for worship at 10:00 am, with the option of in-person or on-line worship. All are welcome!

You may also 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

Children’s Sunday School goes through December 18th from 9:30-10:15, upstairs in the SS room. Kids can Zoom in for SS if they can’t attend in person. Class is suspended on Dec 25. (Christmas weekend) and Jan. 1 (New Year’s weekend).

Meet in the Middle meets Wednesdays. Time together will begin at 4:30 and include snacks, group guitar lessons for older kids /playing for younger kids, singing, Holy Moly video and lesson, and conclude with dinner for kids, youth and adults 6:00- 6:30 dinner. Monetary donations for dinner appreciated. If you’re unable to join in person, jump on zoom with this new link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85002502767.

Children’s Christmas program practice will be during M&M on Wednesday, December 7 and 14th. Videotaping for some parts will be Saturday, December 10th in the morning. Program will be during the December 18th, Sunday 10 am service.

Confirmation Class will be for 7th and 8th graders, on the 2nd Sunday of the month after church. Next class is December 11th. Note: we will also plan for a retreat in March or April.

Giving Tree
Community Service team will be collecting gift cards for our own Church families to help them with their Christmas holiday expenses. Please donate gift cards for Target, Walmart Aldi, or Cub in amounts of $25 or more. Please write the $$ amount on each gift card. There is a collection box in the front entryway through Sunday, December 11th.

If your family is in need of help with their Christmas expenses, please let Pastor Rob know.

The Christian Ed committee will be putting together Christmas treat bags for the children. If you would like to donate any pre-wrapped candy/treats or small favors for the bags, please bring them to church by December 11th. They may be placed in the basket below the table in the front hall. We will be giving them to the children on December 18th

Our Children’s and Adult Christmas program will be during worship on Sunday, December 18th. Bring your family and friends and join us at 10am! The children have been practicing their parts and the adult choir has been rehearsing.

(Monday) COFFEE and CONVERSATION Join Pastor Rob and others on Mondays, 9:20-11:00am. CC is available in person at the church and via zoom. Come as you are. This is a gathering online and in person. It is open for you to pop in and out any time 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
One tap mobile +13126266799,,286584190# +19292056099,,286584190#

The next GriefShare Program will be February 2, 2023 through May 4, 2023 (no meeting Maundy Thursday), 6:30 pm at Spirit of Life Church, Apple Valley. This program features biblical, Christ-centered teaching that focuses on grief topics associated with the death of a loved one. The 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.

If you have a prayer request you wish to share with our Spirit Care Prayer Team, please email our deacon, Chris Sachs. Word it as you wish it to be submitted, and we will post it for our prayer team.

Thank you! Armful of Love 2022 was a success! With your help, we provided gift cards for holiday presents and groceries to nearly 500 families, or 2,163 individuals, in our community. Thank you for supporting Armful of Love. We are grateful for the individuals and organizations that donated money or gift cards to support this program. We raised about $143,000, and our dedicated volunteers distributed that to families so that they could purchase gifts for their children and provide a holiday meal. We would not be able to provide this service to families in our community without your generosity. On behalf of the Dakota County families served by Armful of Love, thank you for your generous contributions that make this program possible.

Note: The church office will be closed December 12 – 14, as well as December 26-29.

2022 Per Capita is $36.50