Jan 27th Weekly Connection

2019 Meeting Schedule - See sidebar to the right...

MINISTERING INTERVIEWS - SUNDAY FEBRUARY 10th from 2:15-8:00pm

Thank you to all who have already signed up!  If you have not yet signed up, it is not too late!  This will be our only day for interviews this quarter and ask that you please take a few minutes to come talk with a presidency member as a companionship if at all possible, including Young Women.  Contact Cheryl Carter for available times. Signups will go around one more time during Sunday School this coming Sunday as well.  If you will be out of town on February 10th and cannot attend, please contact a presidency member.  We look forward to visiting with each of you soon! ♥Valerie, Stephanie and Yvonne

It's a Wrap.... What will you do with it now?

"Sharing the Restored Gospel" by Dallin H. Oaks - led by Julie Peterson

Julie began the discussion by talking about the many big changes in the church over the years....the sisters remembered:

• When Primary and Relief Society were in the middle of the week
• When there were 3 meetings on Sunday: Priesthood early in the morning, Sunday School later in the morning and Sacrament meeting in the afternoon. The sacrament was taken at Sunday School and Sacrament Meeting

She also asked how everyone was doing with the "Come Follow Me" home family study. People have chosen different times to do their study, some just before church, some after and some during the week.

Julie feels the importance of this program is so that everyone can be with their family, talking and learning of Christ.

"This is a joyful privilege...Sharing the gospel with God's children."

"Gospel 101"

When we talk about sharing the gospel with others, what are some of the suggestions we always hear? The sisters responded with:

1. Always have a Book of Mormon handy
2. Bear your testimony
3. Be a friend
4. Be an example
5. Serve
6. Pray for people specifically
7. Invite and include people
8. Open your mouth
9. Let your face show that you follow Christ and love His church - The world is aware of the smiles (countenances) on the faces of the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

When sharing the gospel, we need to keep in mind that the path to the Savior is not the same for everyone...we are all at different levels. The Lord knows where we each are and what we need...

Julie shared the following cartoon to illustrate how we, our skills, and our progress are at different places.

Julie told the story of a less active person she knows who started coming to church and felt that everyone was very interested in her. But when she stopped coming, everyone seemed to lose interest. People notice these things.

We often make people feel our desperation when we want them to join the church or become more active. It would be better to show them our love, and the peace the gospel brings us rather than the desperation. 

We need to be careful not to judge someone because where they are on the path to the Savior.

It's during the hard times in our lives that the gospel can make a difference...that's when the Lord's help and peace can help and enter in.

We should remember that when someone is ready to accept the gospel in their life happens on their time table, not ours.

Our #1 goal should be to want people to come to Christ, and they will do it 1 step at a time, not all at once. We don't know where they are truly at or what's going on in their lives...our job is to LOVE them regardless.

Our efforts should always help someone on their  path to help them take one more step towards the Savior, whatever that step may be.

"When we seek to introduce people to the restored gospel, we should do this in ways that are authentic and in loving concern for the individual."  - Dallin H. Oakes

Upcoming Lessons

February 10th - Women and Gospel Learning in the Home - by Henry B. Eyring
Click this link for the lesson

Feb 24th - Sisiters Participation in the Gathering of Israel - by Russell M. Nelson - led by Julie Peterson (Ward Conerence)
Click this link for the lesson

Birthdays

  

27-Alissa Allen

30-Rachael Tippetts

31-Julia Witham

Upcoming Events - Mark your calendars

Ward Conference:  February 24th

Ministering to our Sisters

"We receive the Holy Spirit best when we are focused on serving others. That is why we have the priesthood responsibility to serve for the Savior."

- President Henry B. Eyring

​Ministering Interviews

MINISTERING INTERVIEWS - SUNDAY FEBRUARY 10th from 2:15-8:00pm

(Note the date change - if you had signed up for a time on the previous date we have left it the same.  If that time does not work for you on the 10th contact Cheryl Carter to reschedule.)  Signups have been going around the past couple of weeks and will continue to until the interviews.  If at all possible please come as a companionship (including daughters with their mothers.)  We look forward to visiting with each of you soon.

------------------

The elders quorum president and the Relief Society president communicate important needs directly to the bishop and will receive counsel and direction from him.

"A new name, new flexibility, and fewer reports will not make one ounce of difference in our service unless we see this as an invitation to care for one another in a bold new holier way."  

MINISTERING WEBSITE

Prayers for....

Please keep Charai Layton and her family in your prayers...she is currently in the ICU getting help with some breathing issues - extra prayers welcomed!

Also, keep Cliff Dunston and Judy in your prayers...Cliff has returned home and is making improvements, they would love to have visitors and welcome your prayers.

Pray for Mel Williamson and her baby.

Pray for those you minister to...

Do you know of anyone in need of our prayers?  Please contact a presidency member.

Service Opportunities 
Please contact Shauna Keech if you can prepare a batch of soup to be frozen for the Laytons

Take a moment and drop a letter or a card to one of our missionaries:

"Just Serve"

A great resource to find service opportunities in our community.

Elder Ethan Graham

Taipei Taiwan Mission

ethan.graham@myldsmail.net 

Sister Jordan Fitting

California Ventura Mission

3301 W Gonzales Rd

Oxnard, CA 93036

jordan.fitting@myldsmail.net

Sister Sadie Sterrett

Illinois Chicago Mission

Sadie.Sterrett@myldsmail.net

Elder N.K. Novilla 

Paraguay Asuncion North Mission

Avenida Santisaima Trinidad N. 1280

C/Julio Correa

Casilla de Correo 1871

Nathan.Novilla@myldsmail.net

Saratoga Springs Stake Institute

Open to all men and women

Course of Study: Pearl of Great Price

Tuesdays 10:00-11:15 am

Starts January 8, 2019

Saratoga Springs Stake Center on Tanner Lane

Teachers: Betsy Jones and Sue Spencer

Come join us for an inspirational lift to your week!

Click on this link for the schedule of YSA activities

LDS Tools Info

1.  Are you using LDS Tools on your phone or tablet? 

We encourage you to use LDS Tools to access the ward directory, Your Ministering Assignments, Calendar, Temple Info, Missionary Info and more!

2.  Do you have a current photo of you and/or your family? 

Please take a few minutes and follow these instructions. 

3.  Is your contact info correct?  

If not and you need to change or update your info, go to your name in the directory (on a mobile device) and touch the red circle with a pencil and you can edit from there.  If you are signed on at lds.org, click on your name and then the edit button.

4.  Do you know how to access your ministering assignment?

On your mobile device click on your name.  Directly underneath your name is a blue bar that says:  contact, household, membership information, callings and classes and ministering (you must scroll across to access each of these headings.)  Click on ministering and it will list those that minister to you and who you minister to.

Do you have any other questions about LDS Tools?

Jan 20th Weekly Connection

2019 Meeting Schedule

12:00-1:00pm Sacrament Meeting

1:10-2:00pm Sunday School or Priesthood/Relief Society

1st and 3rd weeks - Sunday School

2nd and 4th weeks - Relief Society, Priesthood, YM/YW

5th week - under the direction of the Bishop

(Primary has singing time and class time each week.)

Gospel Home Study - time decided by each individual family

It's a Wrap.... What will you do with it now?

Relief Society Presidency Message - Val Green

As I visited Primary with my granddaughter this past Sunday, I felt such love and gratitude for those who teach our children.  Teaching our children is such an important responsibility and our children are so blessed to have these amazing leaders and teachers in our ward! While there I also thought about my many previous years of serving in Primary and remembered how I didn’t feel a part of Relief Society.  Perhaps it’s because I did not understand what Relief Society is or even the purpose.

Relief Society is the women’s organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Its purpose is to help prepare women for the blessings of eternal life as they increase faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and His Atonement; strengthen individuals, families, and homes through ordinances and covenants; and work in unity to help those in need.

Relief Society is for ALL women in the church 18+.  It’s not just a Sunday class we attend.  It’s an organization where we lift one another and work together in helping each other regardless of what our calling is.  I hope each of you feel a part of this.  The First Presidency stated, “We testify that the Lord has restored the fulness of the gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith and that Relief Society is and important part of that restoration.”

As we work to better ourselves this year, I hope we can take to heart the Purpose of Relief Society.  Perhaps we can ask ourselves if we are doing all we can do to help those we minister to become more converted to the gospel and have a deeper more meaningful relationship with our Savior.  I encourage you to have gospel discussions and share testimonies of our Savior with those you minister to as well as any other sisters you feel inspired to share with.

Sisters, our presidency loves you!  We pray for you and hope you feel our Savior's love and the peace He can bring to your lives everyday as you go through good and hard times.  I know our Heavenly Father wants us to have joy in all things and I know we can through Christ's atonement!

With Love,  Valerie

Upcoming Lessons

January 27th - "Sharing the Restored Gospel" by Dallin H. Oaks - led by Julie Peterson
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/10/sharing-the-restored-gospel?lang=eng

Birthdays

  

21-Alisa Harper

27-Alissa Allen

30-Rachael Tippetts

31-Julia Witham

Upcoming Events - Mark your calendars

Stake Relief Society Activity (All Mia Maids and Laurels invited too!)

"Becoming New in Christ" Saturday Jan 26th 9:00-11:30am Tanner Lane Bldg

Come join us for a spiritual renewal as we start a fresh new year.  Three exceptional speakers, music, and light brunch.  Invite your neighbors and ministering sisters!

Laurel Day - Becoming New in Christ

Colleen Scoresby - Feeding your Faith

Kathy Kinghorn - Christ-centered Healing from Trauma

“Therefore if any woman be in Christ, she is a new

creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Ward Conference:  February 24th

Ministering to our Sisters

Sister Jean B. Bingham, Relief Society General President, has said: “Sometimes we think we have to do something grand and heroic to ‘count’ as serving our neighbors. Yet simple acts of service can have profound effects on others—as well as on ourselves. What did the Savior do? … He … smiled at, talked with, walked with, listened to, made time for, encouraged, taught, fed, and forgave. He served family and friends, neighbors and strangers alike, and He invited acquaintances and loved ones to enjoy the rich blessings of His gospel.

​Ministering Interviews

MINISTERING INTERVIEWS - SUNDAY FEBRUARY 10th from 2:15-8:00pm

(Note the date change - if you had signed up for a time on the previous date we have left it the same.  If that time does not work for you on the 10th contact Cheryl Carter to reschedule.)  Signups have been going around the past couple of weeks and will continue to until the interviews.  If at all possible please come as a companionship (including daughters with their mothers.)  We look forward to visiting with each of you soon.

------------------

The elders quorum president and the Relief Society president communicate important needs directly to the bishop and will receive counsel and direction from him.

"A new name, new flexibility, and fewer reports will not make one ounce of difference in our service unless we see this as an invitation to care for one another in a bold new holier way."  

MINISTERING WEBSITE

Prayers for....

Please keep Charai Layton and her family in your prayers...she is currently in the ICU getting help with some breathing issues - extra prayers welcomed!

Also, keep Cliff Dunston and Judy in your prayers...Cliff has returned home and is making improvements, they would love to have visitors and welcome your prayers.

Pray for Mel Williamson and her baby.

Pray for those you minister to...

Do you know of anyone in need of our prayers?  Please contact a presidency member.

Service Opportunities 
Please contact Shauna Keech if you can prepare a batch of soup to be frozen for the Laytons

Take a moment and drop a letter or a card to one of our missionaries:

"Just Serve"

A great resource to find service opportunities in our community.

Elder Ethan Graham

Taipei Taiwan Mission

ethan.graham@myldsmail.net 

Sister Jordan Fitting

California Ventura Mission

3301 W Gonzales Rd

Oxnard, CA 93036

jordan.fitting@myldsmail.net

Sister Sadie Sterrett

Illinois Chicago Mission

Sadie.Sterrett@myldsmail.net

Elder N.K. Novilla 

Paraguay Asuncion North Mission

Avenida Santisaima Trinidad N. 1280

C/Julio Correa

Casilla de Correo 1871

Nathan.Novilla@myldsmail.net

Saratoga Springs Stake Institute

Open to all men and women

Course of Study: Pearl of Great Price

Tuesdays 10:00-11:15 am

Starts January 8, 2019

Saratoga Springs Stake Center on Tanner Lane

Teachers: Betsy Jones and Sue Spencer

Come join us for an inspirational lift to your week!

Click on this link for the schedule of YSA activities

LDS Tools Info

1.  Are you using LDS Tools on your phone or tablet? 

We encourage you to use LDS Tools to access the ward directory, Your Ministering Assignments, Calendar, Temple Info, Missionary Info and more!

2.  Do you have a current photo of you and/or your family? 

Please take a few minutes and follow these instructions. 

3.  Is your contact info correct?  

If not and you need to change or update your info, go to your name in the directory (on a mobile device) and touch the red circle with a pencil and you can edit from there.  If you are signed on at lds.org, click on your name and then the edit button.

4.  Do you know how to access your ministering assignment?

On your mobile device click on your name.  Directly underneath your name is a blue bar that says:  contact, household, membership information, callings and classes and ministering (you must scroll across to access each of these headings.)  Click on ministering and it will list those that minister to you and who you minister to.

Do you have any other questions about LDS Tools?

Jan 13th Weekly Connection

2019 Meeting Schedule

12:00-1:00pm Sacrament Meeting

1:10-2:00pm Sunday School or Priesthood/Relief Society

1st and 3rd weeks - Sunday School

2nd and 4th weeks - Relief Society, Priesthood, YM/YW

5th week - under the direction of the Bishop

(Primary has singing time and class time each week.)

Gospel Home Study - time decided by each individual family

It's a Wrap.... What will you do with it now?

A Witness of God" by Neil A. Maxwell - led by Brianne Ballard

Sister Ballard gave various Sisters a piece of paper, she asked them to come up front and figure out what they were for. They quickly discovered they each had a different puzzle piece, and put the puzzle together. The phrase the puzzle said was “Served by grace through Faith”. One Sister's piece did not fit into the puzzle, it said LOVE. She stated it made her feel left out...not being able to understand why. Sister Ballard had the final piece that hers fit in.   It stated “God is Love”. Her piece fit perfect with this puzzle. We all have a fit in a puzzle. And it changes as we stand as a witness to others.   

Various Sisters stated: we need to look for inspiration, and act upon impressions. 

Another Sister stated she was having a hard time with a family member. She finally turned to Christ, asking for help. She was able to forgive the person, although she does not know if she has been forgiven, but it is important to her that she is able to move forward with peace.   

Sister Ballard said she had a friend who served a mission in India, towards the end of the mission he had given out a copy of the Book of Mormon. This made him a wanted man, and had to leave the country, because as a missionary he could not proselytize to the people. His mission had been one of service and loving the people.  

It was shared that the world isn’t perfect, and people are not perfect. You never know what is going on with those around you. Christ teaches us to be kind, and not judge.   

We should not feel guilty because we don’t live up to what we believe are expectations set by others.   We see people around us who are perfect...Home is always clean, kids are dressed perfect, and always clean, and obedient, perfect meals on the table. In reality most families are not this way. We have dirty rooms, that we quickly pick up when someone says they are coming by, or we wash the kids up quick, and put them in the best clothing they have before taking them out. You don’t see the arguments that goes on with them, or the teasing, or the face making the kids do.   

Another Sister said life experiences change how we see things. And when we learn from the experience, the lesson is coming through Christ, if we only live the experience that lesson is coming through Satan.   

Joseph Smith at age 14, did one small simple act. He prayed to know the truth.  He wanted to know what to do. And as we all know he was given the truth in which he should follow, and how this changed the world.  

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we need to stand as a witness in our words, and actions. Notice when an opportunity comes our way to share our knowledge of Christ with our neighbors, friends, or someone else who happens to cross your path. 

Upcoming Lessons

January 27th - "Sharing the Restored Gospel" by Dallin H. Oaks - led by Julie Peterson
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/10/sharing-the-restored-gospel?lang=eng

Birthdays

  

21-Alisa Harper

27-Alissa Allen

30-Rachael Tippetts

31-Julia Witham

Upcoming Events - Mark your calendars

Stake Relief Society Activity (All Mia Maids and Laurels invited too!)

"Becoming New in Christ" Saturday Jan 26th 9:30-11am Tanner Lane Bldg

Come join us for a spiritual renewal as we start a fresh new year.  Three exceptional speakers, music, and light brunch.  Invite your neighbors and ministering sisters!

Laurel Day - Becoming New in Christ

Colleen Scoresby - Feeding your Faith

Kathy Kinghorn - Christ-centered Healing from Trauma

“Therefore if any woman be in Christ, she is a new

creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Ward Conference:  January 27th

Ministering to our Sisters

"Brothers and sisters, we have a heaven-sent opportunity as an entire Church to demonstrate “pure religion … undefiled before God —“to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light” and to “comfort those that stand in need of comfort,” to minister to the widows and the fatherless, the married and the single, the strong and the distraught, the downtrodden and the robust, the happy and the sad—in short, all of us, every one of us, because we all need to feel the warm hand of friendship and hear the firm declaration of faith." - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

​Ministering Interviews

It's a new quarter and that means ministering interview time again.  It was such a privilege meeting with so many of you last quarter and look forward to meeting with many more of you this quarter (the goal is meeting with every companionship 4 times a year.)  These interviews are not a way to make anyone feel guilty or inadequate - quite the opposite actually and we really hope you felt love and encouragement as we met with you!  It's not an easy task meeting with so many of you as well as time consuming for us so we are going to do it a little differently this time.  We are going to conduct interviews for an extended time for 1 day only - February 10th from 2:15-8:00 pm.  All we ask of you is to coordinate a time with your companion on that day and take 15 minutes to come visit with a presidency member (at least one of you come if the other is out of town.  If both of you are out of town please take a few minutes to contact a presidency member.)  Sign-ups will go around to the different auxiliaries starting January 13th.   After talking to so many of you we conclude you are all doing better than you think! Keep moving forward and celebrate each success big and small! We look forward to visiting with you soon.

The elders quorum president and the Relief Society president communicate important needs directly to the bishop and will receive counsel and direction from him.

"A new name, new flexibility, and fewer reports will not make one ounce of difference in our service unless we see this as an invitation to care for one another in a bold new holier way."  

MINISTERING WEBSITE

Prayers for....

Please keep Charai Layton and her family in your prayers...she is currently in the ICU getting help with some breathing issues - extra prayers welcomed!

Also, keep Cliff Dunston and Judy in your prayers...Cliff has returned home and is making improvements, they would love to have visitors and welcome your prayers.

Pray for Mel Williamson and her baby.

Jen Miller's mom passed away unexpectedly this morning - keep their family in your prayers.

Pray for those you minister to...

Do you know of anyone in need of our prayers?  Please contact a presidency member.

Service Opportunities 
Please contact Shauna Keech if you can prepare a batch of soup to be frozen for the Laytons

Take a moment and drop a letter or a card to one of our missionaries:

Elder Ethan Graham
Taipei Taiwan Mission
ethan.graham@myldsmail.net 

Sister Jordan Fitting
California Ventura Mission
3301 W Gonzales Rd
Oxnard, CA 93036
jordan.fitting@myldsmail.net

Sister Sadie Sterrett

Illinois Chicago Mission

Sadie.Sterrett@myldsmail.net

Elder N.K. Novilla 

Paraguay Asuncion North Mission

Avenida Santisaima Trinidad N. 1280

C/Julio Correa

Casilla de Correo 1871

Nathan.Novilla@myldsmail.net

Just Serve 

Saratoga Springs Stake Institute

Open to all men and women

Course of Study: Pearl of Great Price

Tuesdays 10:00-11:15 am

Starts January 8, 2019

Saratoga Springs Stake Center on Tanner Lane

Teachers: Betsy Jones and Sue Spencer

Come join us for an inspirational lift to your week!

Click on this link for the schedule of YSA activities

LDS Tools Info

1.  Are you using LDS Tools on your phone or tablet? 

We encourage you to use LDS Tools to access the ward directory, Your Ministering Assignments, Calendar, Temple Info, Missionary Info and more!

2.  Do you have a current photo of you and/or your family? 

Please take a few minutes and follow these instructions. 

3.  Is your contact info correct?  

If not and you need to change or update your info, go to your name in the directory (on a mobile device) and touch the red circle with a pencil and you can edit from there.  If you are signed on at lds.org, click on your name and then the edit button.

4.  Do you know how to access your ministering assignment?

On your mobile device click on your name.  Directly underneath your name is a blue bar that says:  contact, household, membership information, callings and classes and ministering (you must scroll across to access each of these headings.)  Click on ministering and it will list those that minister to you and who you minister to.

Do you have any other questions about LDS Tools?