On Vacation
Pastor Gilson will be on vacation from Monday, January 30th, through Sunday, February 5th. He will be back in the office on Monday, February 6th. Pastor Kurt Overway will be our guest Pastor on February 5th. Pastor Gilson's Sunday morning Bible study will begin on February 12th. In the event of an emergency, please contact Keith Ramthun at 231-301-5070.

Meet our Transition Team
Brad VanBergen, Erika VanBergen, Keith Ramthun, Greg Neubauer, Karen Neubauer, Ron Bailey, Alan Mayville, Tom Mott, Russell Baumann, Ellen Grimm, & Terri Zeller. The role of the transition team is to collect and compile information from YOU, our church family, and to keep us progressing forward toward the call process! There is a Transition Team meeting scheduled for Sunday, February 12th, at 11:30 am (after 2nd service).

Spiritual Gifts Workshop
Join us for the Spiritual Gifts Workshop on Saturday, February 4th, from 9:00a - 12:00p, in the Fellowship Hall. Come and learn about spiritual gifts and discover which ones the Holy Spirit has blessed you with. Candy Stevens will facilitate this study.
Please sign up. The deadline is 1/29!

Attention Board Leaders
Your annual reports are due to the on January 31st!

MPS Baby Bottle Drive
If you have not yet returned you Baby Bottles please get them back here as soon as possible! Thanks!

Family Ice Skating
Sunday, February 5th sign up on the sign up sheet.

News from Faith Lutheran Church
All are invited to the installation of Pastor Matt Gunia, their new pastor! The Installation is Sunday, February 5th, at 3:00 pm There will be a potluck to follow!

Blood Drive
Wednesday, February 8th, 10:00 am - 3:15 pm Consider donating blood here and receive free Chick-fil-A (while supplies last). If you want to help with the drive, connect with Russell. He needs People to help sign participants in, set up and tear down, pick up food, and someone who is willing to talk to people as they recover after donating.

Country Meats
Our youth is selling beef sticks this year. Half the cost is profit for our youth. This fundraiser runs through February 12th. The order forms and money need to be turned in to Alicia Koski on the 12th. As of right now, pick up date is 2/19. Talk with a youth to see what is all available.

Good Shepherd Preschool
We're selling Cookie Dough and Carmel Corn for $20/each. Order yours today on the Sign Up Board. Monies raised will help buy supplies for next year. Your support is appreciated!

AmazonSmile Rewards
The AmazonSmile program will be ending February 20th. Amazon will honor the program through that date. For more information as to why and where they will be focusing their efforts can be found on their website.

"I Have Good News for YOU!" ~ Wednesdays at 6:30 pm
This is a new bible study on Wednesday nights from 6:30-7:30, beginning February 8th. (Please note date change). If you every had any questions like, "Why do we do this?" "What does this symbol mean?" No questions are out of bounds! This study will go for about 10-12 weeks depending on you! Anyone interested in joining St. James or just wants to be a better equipped follower of Jesus will love this study! Must sign up so we can get you a book.

Reading the Bible Together ~ Thursdays at 10:00 am
Beginning on February 9th, (please note date change) a daily reading plan will be followed and each day we will read God's Word individually then gather on Thursday mornings to share. This will be a more of discussion-based study as we read the entire Bible in a year. Let's see how the Holy Spirit is working in and through that WORD!

The Word Works! Exploring the appointed readings
Please Note Date Change!
Sundays at 9:30 am, Beginning Sunday, February 12th. Plan to come each week or just drop in for an in-depth study of the appointed bible readings from this morning. Class will meet in the church from 9:30-10:20. Each week is only on that day's readings and requires no preparation.

Next Youth Night
February 12th at 6:00 pm, 6th - 12th grade. Bring a friend night.

Alaska Mission Trip Game Night!
Friday, February 17th from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Come play games, win prizes, and support our team! Check out the facebook event page.

Women of St. James-Retreat
Saturday, March 11th from 9:00-1:30pm Join us for fellowship, study in the Word, and worship. Once again the men of our church family will be preparing our lunch. The friendships that we share are one of God's treasured gifts. Please join us! Questions-call Ellen Grimm at 730-1726.

Junior High Youth Gathering
Frankenmuth ~ June 2nd - 4th Check out the youth board for additional information. (Personal note, this was one of Russell's all time favorite youth gatherings that he has ever been a part of... just FYI)

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Church Tent Use
Two tents were purchased in memoriam of Mert and Dorothy Raschke. The tents are 20 ft x 30 ft and are available for rent to St. James members. Family and friends may use the tents but members must call to schedule and submit the fee. The rental fee of $25 per tent per day is to cover replacement parts and the purchase of additional tents. To rent the tents call Melinda O'Connell at 894-9535. There is a crew available to help with set up and take down. Make checks out to St. James Lutheran Church. Availability is first come, first serve.