Newsletter — July 12, 2022

Join us Sunday mornings for worship at 10:00 am, with the option of in-person or on-line worship. Masks are optional for all activities in the church building, including 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

Emergency Pastoral Care Coverage while Pastor Rob is on sabbatical:

June 20-July 17: Marge Braden

July 18-Aug 19: Loretta Hunt

We are using the same book that Pastor Rob is studying, looking for our own insights as a faith community. Please note that the schedule has changed:

“Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in our Busy Lives”, by Wayne Muller.

Here is the updated schedule for study (following worship or the picnic, with the adult Sunday School zoom link):

July 17: Section 4, HAPPINESS (following worship)
July 31: Section 5, WISDOM (following the picnic, probably 12:00 noon)
August 14: Section 6, CONSECRATION (following worship)

The sections are short and include exercises to help us practice Sabbath. Read through the section before we meet, try out the exercises. Journal, or take note of, any topics of interest to you, any exercises you particularly liked (or didn’t like) or bring a Bible verse you would like to share that reflects the topics in the section. You are welcome to attend all sessions, or only some of them.

C & C after C – we’ll be having C & C after C (Coffee and Conversations after Church) again in a few Sundays. Please watch for sign-up sheets to participate in providing cookies coming soon. Please see Ruth Ewule if you have questions.

COFFEE and CONVERSATION will return Monday, July 11, and we will meet at the Panera, Apple Valley (in person only – no zoom).
Coffee and Conversation Mondays, from 9:00 am to 10:00 am.
During Pastor Rob’s sabbatical this summer, Bob Shepard will be leading the weekly coffee and conversation time with the above hours. Come as you are. It is open for you to pop in and out any time so feel free to drop in and say hello.

The session of elders of Spirit of Life is hosting our regular community PICNICS this summer while Rob has sabbatical. We ask those able to bring a side or dessert to share and the session will provide a main course. Dates will be July 31st, and August 28th and the time will be approximately 11:15am (immediately after worship) with games in the backyard for kids and food and fellowship for all.

Check out the FREE table at the back of the sanctuary. We’ve been doing a little cleaning and purging so if you see something on the table that you can use, please feel free to take it home and enjoy!

If you are looking for ways to help the people of Ukraine, here are a couple of effective organizations that are working to bring relief:
– Church World Service, which sponsors CROP Walks, also works in the areas of disaster relief and refugee resettlement and is actively responding in the Ukraine crisis. You can read about their efforts and donate here https://cwsglobal.org/appeals/ukraine-crisis-response-fund/

– Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is also actively involved, and you can read about their response here https://pda.pcusa.org/situation/ukraine/

It’s Back! Who remembers the “Change for change” bucket offering? Some are familiar with this, others may have questions. With the help of our children, we will continue collecting change in our metal buckets but going forward we’ll give on a monthly basis. Throughout the month, collect your change and bring it on the third Sunday (THIS SUNDAY, July 17)! This is a great teaching tool to help us show each other and the younger generation how fun it is to give when we hear the change drop in the buckets!

From Community Service: Our LITTLE FREE PANTRY has been of great use to our neighbors and is in need of frequent replenishment! We can now resume contributing canned items as well as other non perishables. Donations may be left in the little pantry or in the cabinet inside the church entry. Many thanks for your wonderful support of our pantry and neighbors!

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.

2022 Per Capita is $36.50