Take a moment and think about your community of faith ... it's easy to picture the congregation sitting together on a Sunday morning, singing a hymn and sharing a prayer together.  Maybe you picture a Sunday School class, a puppet performance, a choir practice.  That's part of your faith community too.  But don't you participate in your faith community online during the week too?  You bet you do! Perhaps you're thinking of your friends at church and some joy or pain that they are going through right now.  Perhaps you've already sent them an e-mail, text or Facebook post.  Hopefully you've added them into your prayers. Right now you are sharing the exciting news about PCM's new website with your community.

Our sympathy and prayers go out to the family of Mildred Stefffens who has died.  She is the mother of Trudy Foster and grandmother to Steffen and Tyler Foster. Funeral services are Saturday, Feb. 1, 11 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church, Seward NE.   Visitation Friday, January 31, 12 - 8:30 pm at Zabka Funeral Home.  The family will be receiving friends from 4 - 6 p.m. Friday at the funeral home and one hour prior the service at the Church on Saturday.  Burial at Utica Cemetery at 1:30  p.m. Saturday.

Going to a church for the first time can be a scary and nervous experience.  It's true!  Imagine walking into a place full of people who have known each other for years or even decades, and then picture their reaction to the stranger in their midst.  I could go on and on about how nothing bad will happen to you when you visit PCM for the first time (of course it won't), but maybe it'd be better and a little more fun instead if I gave you a list of some things you could look for or try out during your visit.  You'll get to know us a little better, maybe find a new way to experience the love of God, or just have a little laugh (maybe even at our expense!).  Enjoy!

Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church 26th& Farnam, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 31, 2013 

Fill the Mitten tree!  The mittens will be delivered to Stephen Center and the ESL Families on December 15.