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FOOD BANK GARDEN
A nice note of appreciation was sent to VLC by the Food Bank for the produce given this past year. 

UN WEEK OF INTERFAITH HARMONY
UN Week of Interfaith Harmony will start on Sunday, Feb 6th at 5pm and will feature a potluck dinner at two different churches. One will be at our church, and the other will be the Church of Latter Day Saints.  Members of the larger interfaith community will be asked to attend a potluck held at either church.  At these dinners we will get people to sit with those of other traditions and invite them to be in a focused dialog.  This will enable us to know one another better and share experiences. The sign-up sheet is in the fellowship Hall. Each potluck dish should have the ingredients listed in consideration of those with food allergies.

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY GROUP
Our next meeting will be Thurs. Feb 17th at the home of Kathleen Odekirk. We will have a Valentine’s Sweet Party.  Bring a sweet (cookies, candy, cake, fruit) to share and a paper heart with a favorite verse from the Gospel of John.  In sharing, we’ll learn the meaning of the quote for the giver. All women welcome to join us.

ADULT FORUM TO START on February 20th at 9am in the pastor’s office.  This is your opportunity to discuss questions of and about faith.  This forum will be held every first and third Sundays.

IN MEMORIAM
Carl Nelson, long time member and husband of Hazel, passed into his Savior’s care on January 20th.  A memorial service will be held for him on Saturday, February 12th at 1pm.

CHOIR REHEARSALS
Marita Ericksen our musical director will conduct rehearsals on Feb 3, 10, 17, & 24 at 7pm..  The choir will perform Feb 13th and 27th at the 10:30 worship service.

PASTOR KRISTY DANIELS WILL PREACH on March 6th.  Pr. Daniels is the pastor at the Church of Steadfast Love at the Compass Center.  We need volunteers to set up the Lenten cross  on our front lawn after the service.

GREETINGS FROM ELISTA
A few weeks ago, I wrote an e-mail to our sister congregation in Elista.  In their reply, they tell us that the congregation is facing some difficult times.  Due to various reasons, they do not have a steady location for worship and fellowship.  Our financial contributions have been received thankfully, yet were not sufficient any longer to cover the expenses for rent.  In order to maintain some form of worship, members from Elista were invited to participate at special services in Volgograd.  Larger copies of the above pictures (from Volgograd, with Pastor Oleg Stulberg) are posted in our fellowship hall.

THE FAMILY CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE
This Service was a tremendous success.  The Sunday School/Youth of our congregation participated in the play “Christmas in a Box”, which was meaningful for all who worshipped.  Thank you to all who made this such a special evening.

THRIVENT MEMBERS
From Jan 24th through Feb. 28th you can make the connection and help support Lutheran social ministry across the US and in the Northwest by voting for Lutheran Services in America (lsa) during the Winter Voting Event.  Vote online at Thrivent.com/choicevote, or return the card in the winter issue of the Thrivent magazine, or by calling 800-847-4836 and saying “Thrivent Choice” and then making your vote.  A vote for LSA helps fund hundreds of Lutheran social ministries.    You can also support Lutheran Community Services Northwest through Thrivent Choice by directing charitable dollars to organizations you wish to support.

ASH WEDNESDAY IS MARCH 9TH
The first Sunday in Lent is March 13th.  We will start our lenten study and worship services on Wednesday March 16th.  The topic information will be forthcoming.

HATCHERY IN ETHIOPIA
The NW ELCA is partnering with the Ethiopia Mekane Yesus Church (the Lutheran church in Ethiopia) to open a chicken hatchery in Ethiopia.  Day old chicks will be sold to benefit the community with protein (from chicken and eggs) and jobs. The Ethiopian Church plans to use the proceeds for educational development for lay leadership training & seminary scholarships.  Donations may be given through your congregation or sent to Ethiopia Business Venture c/o NW Washington Synod Office, 5519 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98103.  More information is in the Fellowship Hall.

IFCH MEALS PROGRAM
VLC is participating in the IFCH (Interfaith Council on Homelessness) meals program. You can be scheduled for the week of your choice.  Dinners will be every Tuesday and Thursday. Usually two people or two families team up to act as dinner hosts for a given night. All meals are at the Presbyterian Church. Meals are served from 5:30 to 7pm. Usually the hosts bring hot food cooked at home to the church at about 5pm.for reheating in the church ovens and last minute preparations. For more information, and to volunteer, call Ed at 463-7976.

You can also help support with monetary donations by mailing your check to IFCH, PO Box 330, Vashon.  IFCH is a 501c3 organization and all contributions (money or food costs) are tax deductible.

COMPASS HOUSING ALLIANCE
The Compass Alliance is asking for items for their 2011 auction.  The suggested donation items are on the sheet in the Fellowship Hall.  Forms and envelopes are provided.  The deadline is Feb. 11th.

CONSIDERATION OF OTHERS
Please refrain from wearing fragrances to worship services or church events. Many persons suffer from allergies.

A SERVICE of PRAYER and HEALING
We will have the opportunity to quietly gather for prayer and healing in the Lutheran church sanctuary from 6 – 6:30 p.m. the first Sunday of each month. Our next service will be February 6 at 6pm.

Regardless of who you are and what you carry, you are welcome in this place. Come to pray aloud or silently.

Come forward to be prayed for through naming your concerns or retaining your silence.
Or...simply come to sit for a while and unwind with your own thoughts.
No pressure, no intrusion...A simple service without music...without liturgy...in a candle-lit sanctuary where we gather to hear a few readings, pray and be prayed for, and sit and just be.

The Rev. Jeff Larson, Ph.D. is a Lutheran minister and clinical psychologist called by Vashon Lutheran Church to provide counseling services to the community. As a member of the body of believers he feels that spiritual health in its many shapes and forms is key to attaining psychological and physical health.

Worship Assistants

REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS:
Ray and Gerri White (cancer);Fred Losornio; Terri Hitch; Stephanie Lee & family. Also remember those in care facilities: Carl Nelson, & Oda Sorensen. Contact Gail Larson  (567-4779) to initiate a prayer request. 

INTERCESSORY PRAYER GROUP will meet at 9:00 AM on Tuesdays at the VLC library. Please call Gail Larson (567-4779) for prayer requests.

REFRESMENTS AND FLOWERS
We need people to sign-up for refreshments and flowers for Sundays. Please see the list in the Fellowship Hall.

STAFF AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
STAFF
Rev. Bjoern E. Meinhardt
Rev. Jeffrey Larson, PhD (Counseling)
Secretary Cheryl Prescott
Church Office: 463-2655

CHURCH COUNCIL
President: Jack Lincoln
Vice-President: Michael Goth
Secretary: Mary McFarlin
Treasurer: Elaine Lester
Property Manager: Patte Wagner
Stewardship: June Langland
Member at Large: Laura Goth

2011 ALTAR SERVANTS
Jan.        J. Williams
Feb.        G. Yates
Mar.        S. Lincoln
Apr.        K. Stamper
May        S. Lee
June       H. Nelson/B. Snaza
July        N. Jungmann
Aug.       M. Koch/P. Cleland
Sept.      D. Helgeson
Oct.        P. Wagner
Nov.        B Snaza/H. Nelson
Dec.        K. Tkoch/D.Botten

LESSONS FOR FEBRUARY

5 Epiphany        Feb 6, 2011
First Reading        Isa 58:1-12
Psalm            112:1-10
Second Reading            1 Cor 2:1-16
Gospel            Matt 5:13-20

6 Epiphany        Feb 13, 2011
First Reading        Deut 30:15-20
Psalm            119:1-8
Second Reading            1 Cor 3:1-9

Gospel            Matt 5:21-37
7 Epiphany        Feb 20, 2011
First Reading        Lev 19:1-2, 9-18
Psalm            119:33-40
Second Reading            1 Cor 3:10-11, 16-23
Gospel            Matt 5:38-48

8 Epiphany        Feb 27, 2011
First Reading        Isa 49:8-16a
Psalm            131
Second Reading            1 Cor 4:1-5
Gospel            Matt 6:24-34
Gospel            Matt 4:12-23

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Gary Peterson      Feb.  1
Elaine Lester        Feb.  3
Terry Chappell      Feb. 17
Don Ward            Feb. 17
Maryatha Miller      Feb. 18
Pam Brown-Ebright  Feb. 19
Nathaniel Larson      Feb. 22
Gail Larson              Feb. 23    

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Jack & Susan Lincoln        Feb. 02
Frank & Patricia Erickson   Feb. 14
Michael & Laura Goth       Feb. 15

DAYS OF REMEMBRANCE
2/2    Weds    The Presentation of Our Lord
2/3    Thurs    Ansgar, Archbishop of Hamburg, missionary to Denmark & Sweden, 865
2/5    Sat    Martyrs of Japan, 1597
2/14    Mon    Cyril, monk, 869; Methodius, bishop 885, missionaries to the Slavs
2/18    Fri    Martin Luther, renewer of church, 1546
2/20    Sun      Rasmus Jensen, first Lutheran N.A. pastor 1620
2/23    Weds    Polycarp, Bishop Smyrna, martyr, 156
2/24    Thurs    St. Matthias, apostle
2/25    Fri    Elizabeth Fedde, deasoness, 1921

BAPTISM SCHEDULE FOR 2011
During 2011, baptism will be a special part of our worship on:

• April 23rd, Sat, Easter Vigil
• Jun 12th , Sunday, Day of Pentecost
• November 6th, Sunday, All Saints Sunday
• December 25th, Sunday, Christmas Day

VASHON THRIFTWAY 1% COMMUNITY DONATION PROGRAM
Remember to save your Vashon Thriftway receipts to be used for our missions program. Thriftway will donate 1% of the total to VLC. Remember the rules:
• Cash register receipts must be from Vashon Thriftway.
• Cash register receipts must be for purchases made by members of Vashon Lutheran Church.
• Receipts turned in cannot be more than one year old.
• Purchasers must sign each receipt, and indicate their phone number.
• Receipts may be placed in the indicated receptacle in the Fellowship Hall.
Thanks for helping
Stewardship Chair

Articles for The Mouse, due February 20th