Felipe N. Martinez, associate executive presbyter, Whitewater Valley Presbytery, (and former Pastor of this church).

As a person of faith, I would say that a family weathering tough economic times would do well to remember God, remember community and remember that our children are watching.

My dad was a public school teacher in Mexico, where I grew up. Since dad did not earn very much, money was always tight in our household. As I child, I remember once sitting on my mom and dad's bed talking with mom when dad walked into their bedroom. He had just cashed his paycheck. Thus began a sacred ritual. Dad handed the money over to mom, and she distributed the bills onto little piles on the bed: first their tithe, next groceries and utilities, and finally she handed some money back to dad for his expenses. For my benefit, she narrated the distribution emphasizing we first remember God, even in tough times. Remembering God meant kneeling to pray at the foot of that same bed before we all headed out to school or work. Remembering God meant a trust that in life and in death we belong to God, in the ups and downs of life, we are God's children under God's care.

We are called to remember community in difficult times both to offer and receive support. The relationships we nurtured with neighbors in happier times create a loving context to offer help when hard times come. The community's love  with neighbors in happier times create a loving context to offer help when hard times come. The community's love shown bringing over a casserole or raking leaves for a friend in need is consistent with our call to love God with our whole being and our neighbors as ourselves.

Finally, remember that our children are watching us as we face these challenges. We model how our faith in God is the foundation of our lives, so that even in desperate times our children see we do not lose hope. 

FEBRUARY

Usher: Terry Sirois

                FLOWERS

5          Dennis & Leslie Dietrich

12        Charlotte Sirois

19        Jim & Yvonne Miller

26        Bernie & Bonnie Lavoie

               BIRTHDAYS

  3        Carol O’Connell

  4        Jenna Clare Young

  4        Zoey Kate Smith

  4        Marie Koster

  5        Cindy Dandurand

  6        Sarah Klepk Colclasure

  6        Larry Thorson

  6        Genola Chinn         

  7        Devin Statler

  7        Alexandra (Allie) Hutchinson

  8        Al Pelehowski

  9        Emma Tolly

  9        Denise Nicholson

10        Brittany Carlson

12        Sharon Styck

13        Kadie Alizabeth Cotton

13        Lana Jenkins

13        J Davis

14        Connor Henry Cotton

15        Heather Peters

16        Oral Hudson

17        Brent McKay

17        Glenn E Smith

19        James Klepk

19        Nichole Nicholson

19        Mason Paul Beaupre

19        Chelsea Penley

22        Roger Styck

22        Josh Laney

22        Allen Duby

23        Jackie Boomsma

24        Dale Tolly

25        Rachell Blomer

26        Donald Duby

26        Blayne Nusbaum

26        Mallory Boomsma

27        Stacy Styck

27        Leslie Dietrich

27        Jennifer Wilkinson

                    ANNIVERSARIES

  1        Bernie & Bonnie LaVoie

  7        Dale & Pam Tolly

Joy: Taylor O’Connell is home from Afghanistan.

Prayer Concerns:

Please remember that those who cover pastoral emergencies DO NOT have access to hospital information and therefore, if you need assistance or would like a visit, you must call the church office 815-427-8430 or email us at stanne1st@hotmail.com. 

Our church, particularly our Session and Trustees, during these  difficult financial times.   Tara Statler (Health issues). Erin Forestier (Carole & Bob Millers granddaughter Health Issues) Melissa Kud, Leo & Theresa Demers granddaughter ( unborn baby with multiple health issues but  is improving). Donald Duby, Jr (Health Issues).  Erin Tolly Anderson (safe pregnancy). Marty Webber (Health issues).    Mike Link (Brain Cancer). Stacie Styck (home). Jim Miller’s brother, Richard  (cancer is back.    Gary Beaupre (Health concerns).  Mary Pray (Dennis Meier’s mother in law, Merkle Knipprath, Health Issues).  All our Soldiers and their families. Our Elderly (who are struggling to pay for medication, utilities and  food). The Unemployed with families to support.  Don & Charlene Duby (home)  Charlotte Sirois. (home). Cleva Dyon (Westwood Oaks). Ron Meier (under hospice care at Home). Berry & Valrie Theesfeld (Momence Meadows.) Donald Bonvallet (Miller). Joyce Theesfeld (Villa).  Eunice Kroll  (Debbie Blomer's mom).

Health Issues). 

Ash Wednesday Service 

Our Ash Wednesday Services will be held on Wednesday February 22 at 7:00 p.m.  and  will be led by members of our Session/Worship Committee.    Please come and join us.

Special thank you to our Session Members and their families who have been cleaning the church each week.   Anyone who would like to help out, please contact Everett Smith or Carole Miller. 

 EXPLANATION OF GOD:

(This was written by an 8-year-old named Danny Dutton, who lives in  Chula Vista , CA. He wrote it for his third grade homework assignment,  to 'explain God.)

      ‘One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace  the

      ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of  things on

      earth. He doesn't make grownups, just babies. I think because they  are

      smaller and easier to make. That way he doesn't have to take up  his

      valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave  that to

      mothers and fathers.'

      'God's second most important job is listening to prayers An awful  lot

      of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things,  pray at

      times beside bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio  or

      TV because of this. Because he hears everything, there must be a

      terrible lot of noise in his ears, unless he has thought of a way  to

      turn it off.'

      'God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which  keeps

      Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting his time by going  over

      your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you  couldn't

      have.'

      'Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there  are

      any in Chula Vista . At least there aren't any who come to our  church.'

      'Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking  on

      water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who  didn't

      want to learn about God. They finally got tired of him preaching  to

      them and they crucified him. But he was good and kind, like his  father,

      and he told his father that they didn't know what they were doing  and

      to forgive them and God said O.K.'

      'His dad (God) appreciated everything that he had done and all his  hard

      work on earth so he told him he didn't have to go out on the road

      anymore. He could stay in heaven. So he did. And now he helps his  dad

      out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important  for

      God to take care of and which ones he can take care of himself  without

      having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important.'

      'You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you  because

      they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time.'

      'You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God  happy,

      and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God!

      Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun like  going

      to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn't come out  at

      the beach until noon anyway.'

.

                     BENEFIT FOR DON DUBY JR

SUFFERING FROM BONE CANCER

WHERE: AROMA PARK AMERICAN LEGION POST #1019 739 SOUTH SANDBAR ROAD KANKAKEE, IL 60901

PHONE: (815) 939-9438 DATE: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2012

TIME: 4:00 P.M. TO 10:00 P.M.

$10.00 ADMISSION TICKET INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING: MEAL - HOG ROAST, BARBEQUE, SALADS, CHIPS DESERTS AND MORE

CASH BAR

LIVE BAND: FEATURING: THE GOOD OL' BOYS

RAFFLES:

51" FLAT SCREEN TV (SAMSUNG)

WHOLE HOG

ANTIQUE 1952 SINCLAIR GAS PUMP RESTORED

50/50 DRAWINGS

MANY BASKETS TO BID ON

LAB WORK AT NORTHLAKE VILLA

Concerned Action For the Elderly (C.A.F.E) is offering the facilities at Northlake Villa, to Riverside Lab Outreach Program.

On Wednesday mornings at 8:30 AM, Riverside Lab will have an attendant present to draw blood. This will be open to the entire community of St. Anne, not only the elderly, hopefully saving on trips to Kankakee.

This will work just like going to the Lab at Riverside or St. Mary’s.   Proof of insurance and physician order will be the same. Your physician just needs to fax orders over to Riverside Lab stating draw to be done at Northlake Villa.

Questions may be addressed to Jim Byrne, Lab Outreach Mgr,  (815)928-6048 or Linda Duby, Exec. Director CAFÉ, at Northlake Villa (815)422-0359.