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I love the year end wrap-up, letters friends send, and news magazines and T.V. shows and so I figured we could do the same at St. Philip’s. It has been another year of grace for us with joyful ministry and shared challenges.

We began the year 2006 with a wonderful art display brought by our Engaging Youth in Worship Committee. That group also brought our first band to worship in May. We celebrated three ninetieth birthdays in the congregation. We baptized 3 babies. We had 3 deaths. Our youth had a great mission trip to West Virginia and our youth brought us another “Cricket County/City Cousins Christmas”. Flowers and trees were planted, the building repaired and new heating and cooling systems installed. We gave time and treasure to Lydia’s House, Festival of Sharing, Neighborhood Houses, Evangelical Children’s Home, Habitat for Humanity, Feed My People, St. John’s Outreach on North Grand, Joint Neighborhood Ministries, Our Churches Wider Mission and many more. We had a bar-b-que dinner, a bratwurst dinner, trivia night and a rummage sale. There was Sunday School, another amazing Vacation Bible School and adult education. We switched to Equal Exchange coffee and we had a Plow Sharing Christmas sale. I went on sabbatical and the church carried on.

In many ways it was just another ordinary year and that’s what is so wonderful. Year in, year out, we at St. Philip’s worship and play and work and share and care in the name of Jesus Christ. Year in, year out, we are a church together. So I thank all of you and I thank God for all of you. I also thank Kit, Shirley, Eula, Sarah, Pastor Anisa, Pastor Abby and the Church Council for their fine leadership.

We have had a blessed 2006 and we pray that 2007 will find us still working for the Kingdom of God.

Thank you for your gift of St. Nick’s bags, candy and toys, which you placed a value of $100.00, to benefit the children and families served by Evangelical Children’s Home. Because of your generosity, the children we serve can live, learn, and grow. They can heal from the hurts of their past. Most importantly, they can receive the care needed to help them feel safe and loved.

For over 148 years, Evangelical Children’s Home has been able to offer the children, youth, and families we serve innovative programs that help them succeed in life. Your help has made it possible for us to continue to be on the cutting-edge of helping those who need us the most.

If you would like to know more about the programs offered at Evangelical Children’s Home, please feel free to contact the Development Office in St. Louis at (314) 427-3755.

I just wanted to say thanks to the kids who put together the Halloween gift. It was great. I love getting mail. Sorry I’m replying so late but I lost the actual package so I didn’t have an address. Just wanted to say thanks once again and have a great day ! ! !

Thanks to Tim Kearns of Lasco Food Services who donated 28 cases of chicken soup mix to be used for our free soup lunches, for day care and food pantries in the area.

THANK YOU ! THANK YOU ! to those of you who purchased items from the “Christmas Decoration Recycle” table on December 3 rd. There were no prices, it was strictly donations. The $81.30 helped a mother of 4 whose husband committed suicide in September, Nurses for Newborns and Evangelical Children’s Home. An event such as this might be considered for next year, so when putting away this year's decorations put a few aside and we will see what happens.

We welcome into membership at St. Philip’s Roland and Dorothy Strobl and their daughter, Beverly. Please add them to your church directory:

If you have an item on one of these wish lists, a contact person is listed. Please call them.

Engaging Youth Committee
Contact: Terri Karcher
Children’s shoe boxes (or similar sized boxes)

Early Childhood Center
Contact: Sarah Spencer
New (or gently used) books appropriate for ages infant – 2 years old
Children’s toy instruments
Brio trains (or similar type)
Little People toys
Clothes/hats for dress-up
Area rug (6 feet by 4 or 5 feet)
Magnets set

On Wednesday, January 10 th at 12 noon we will have a soup lunch. Come and meet our church neighbors, get acquainted, and enjoy the soup and fellowship.

COMING EVENTS

January 1	Office closed – Happy New Year!
January 3	Choir practice 7:30 pm
January 7	Communion Sunday
January 8	Bible Study 8:30 a.m. Church Council Meeting 7 pm
January 9	Bell Choir 7 pm
January 10	Free Soup Lunch 12 noon Choir Practice 7:30 pm
January 11	Willing Workers 10 am
January 14	Birthday Sunday Engaging Youth Meeting after worship Senior High Superbowl Sub. Meeting
January 15	Church office closed – Martin Luther King Day
January 16	Women’s Fellowship Planning Luncheon Bell Choir 7 pm
January 17	Choir practice 7:30 pm
January 20	Guys and Dolls planning breakfast
January 21	Worship and Music Committee mtg. after worship
January 22	Bible Study 8:30 am
January 24	Choir practice 7:30 pm
January 25	Willing Workers 10 am
January 27	Sr/Jr youth – demolition ball and overnight
January 29	Bible Study 8:30 am
January 30	Bell Choir 7 pm
January 31	Choir practice 7:30 pm

LITURGISTS, USHERS, ACOLYTES AND CHILDREN’S TIME FOR JANUARY

My church is composed of people like me. We make it what it is. It will be friendly, if I am. Its pews will be filled, if I help fill them. It will do great work, if I work. It will make generous gifts to many causes, if I am a generous giver. It will bring other people into its worship and fellowship, if I bring them. It will be a church of loyalty and love, of fearlessness and faith, and a church with a noble spirit, if I, who makes it what it is, am filled with these traits. Therefore with the help of God, I shall dedicate myself to the task of being all the things I want my church to be.

Thanks to St. John’s Evangelical UCC Church for this article. Shirley saw it and thought it very appropriate to be included with the Crier.

BUT, …you will be pleased to learn that only .001% of all

deaths occur in worship services in church, and these are usually related to previous physical disorders. Therefore, logic tells us that the safest place for you to be at any given time is at church!

….And….bible study is safe too. The percentage of deaths during Bible study is even less.

So, for SAFETY’S sake…attend church, and read your Bible. IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!

And remember this: when you are living in the center of God’will, you are in the safest place on earth.

When I meditated on the word guidance, I kept seeing “dance” at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God’s will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn’t flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It’s as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other. My eyes drew back to the word guidance.

When I saw “G: I thought of God, followed by “u” and “i”. “God, “u” and “i” dance.” God, you, and I dance. As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

My prayer for you today is that God’s blessings and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday. May you abide in God as God abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.