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Saturday, December 31, 2016

2017 Activity Calendar

press forward
& HOLD FAST

Our new Relief Society Meeting night 
is the first Thursday of the month.


February 9th, 2017-   Get to know you activity with 4th ward

March 2nd-  Relief Society Activity 6:30 pm

March 25th- Women's General Broadcast at the church
                            Soup and Salad dinner
April 14th-  Temple Trip 7:30 pm

June 1-  Relief Society Activity 6:30 pm

July 14th- Temple Trip 7:30 pm

August 27th- Visiting Teaching Conference

September 7th- Relief Society activity 6:30 pm

September 23rd- Temple Trip 10:00 am

September 30th- Women's General Broadcast at the church
                                     Soup and Salad dinner

October 21st- Temple Trip 10:00 am

November 2nd-  Relief Society Activity  

December 3rd- Relief Society Christmas Lesson


Save these dates!  We look forward to hearing what our 
Committee has planned for these activities. 

Temple dates will be added soon!
Presidency Message-
By Jackie Fischvogt

Every family is unique, but every family needs love, fun, opportunities to work or serve, and a spot to call homeA ward family is no differentWe have been sent from our Heavenly Father to this earth with the shared goal of becoming like the Savior.  To help us meet this goal, Heavenly Father has organized the church into “families” called wards where we learn to put Christ at the heart of everything we doAs we serve one another physically and spiritually, work to serve in our community, and take time for fun together, we begin to love one another and see each other as children of our Heavenly Father. (What Makes a Family?, Carol Lynn Pearson) Additional articles which inspire our mission as a ward family can be found at  LDS.org  Talks titled:  Creating Places of Security, Sisterhood, and First Observe, Then Serve.

Saturday, December 3, 2016

Presidency Message-
    More than 700 years before his birth, Isaiah gave us a beautiful prophecy of Christ in one sentence.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. [Isaiah 9:6]
        On New Year’s Day 2000, the Twelve Apostles came out with a document called The Living Christ. I have posted a copy on our Relief Society blog. It is a reminder of who he is and the role he will still play in the future.  It begins like this. “As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.” Several years ago, the Young Women made a little flip chart of The Living Christ that had pictures and a phrase on each page. I kept that in my purse and while I was waiting in the car sometimes I would look at it and try to memorize it as some of the Young Women were doing that for their Faith project.  Reading that all of the time ,I developed such a feeling of awe and gratitude for the Savior and role that he chose to play in the Plan.  
            This season we are reminded of his humble beginning as a baby in Bethlehem. The ending words to the song,   Oh Come All Ye Faithful  come to my mind as I  think of that scene.
“Oh Come Let Us Adore Him, Christ, the Lord.”

-Teresa Vincent
The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints
As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.
He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.
He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.
We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history,
neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.
He rose from the grave to “become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Cor. 15:20). As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. He also ministered among His “other sheep” (John 10:16) in ancient America. In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised “dispensation of the fulness of times” (Eph. 1:10).
Of the Living Christ, the Prophet Joseph wrote: “His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:
“I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father” (D&C 110:3–4).
Of Him the Prophet also declared: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
“For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—
“That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (D&C 76:22–24).
We declare in words of solemnity that His priesthood and His Church have been restored upon the earth—“built upon the foundation of ...

apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Eph. 2:20).
We testify that He will someday return to earth. “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isa. 40:5). He will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him. Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and the desires of our hearts.
We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.
© 2016 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Gone But Not Forgotten
Help Spread Some Christmas Cheer!

Here are our two missionaries addresses!
Regular Mail is $1.10 and letters can take up to a month.


Elder Chase Spurling
Gral. Lavalle 1828
1646 San Fernando
Buenos Aires, Argentina


Jenessa Vincent
Brazil Fortaleza East Mission
Rua República da Armênia, 765
Parque Manibura
60821-760 Fortaleza - CE
Brazil

Friday, November 4, 2016

Merry Meals
              December 7th
         11 am - 2 pm
          at Teresa Vincent's house

Come help prepare a dinner that will be delivered to some of our own members!  

or 5:00 pm
Come and help dish up the food into carry-out containers

Bring your kids-there will be toys,  and we'll listen to Christmas music while we cook together! (A simple lunch will be provided)

The Youth and their Leaders will deliver the food that evening.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016








Columbus 1st Ward Christmas Party
Friday, December 9th 6:30pm
Dinner -- Entertainment -- Santa & Mrs. Claus
All Invited!



Babysitting for Busy Moms Activity
Do you ever wish for some time to go Christmas shopping without the kids?
Well, your wish just came true!  
Just sign up in the Relief Society binder on Sunday so we know you’re coming, and we will have our fabulous Activity Day Girls and their helpers ready to play with your darling children while you go do some damage at the mall!
November 17th
6:30-8:00 pm

Jackie Fischvogt’s home

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Presidency Message
November 2016

As each day passes, we witness untold conflicts and perils all around us.   These distracting and offensive things are a prophesied part of the times we live in.  We have been warned about these times through the scriptures and our prophets, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that terrible things are happening, but it is still very disconcerting to live through so much evil all around us.  And to top it off, we have also been warned that in the last days even the “very elect … according to the covenant” will be deceived. Those of the covenant include the sisters of this Church who have been baptized and made covenants with their Heavenly Father. Even we are at risk of being deceived by false teachings.
The good news is that even though there is so much evil, there is also increased light and truth.  It also encircles us, and it is there for the choosing and grasping.
It is becoming a necessity that we live in such a way to have the Holy Ghost as our constant companion.  The Sacrament becomes ever more important, as we recommit each week to DO certain things, so that we can HAVE certain things, i.e., keep the commandments so we can have His spirit always.  We need to be praying for the gift of discernment so we can navigate the upside down world of good being called evil, and evil, good.  We need to stand in holy places so we can tell the difference when we’re not.  We need to acknowledge that we will not always, every single day, be strong.  We need to lean on others we trust during those times, and then when we are strong, lift those around us who weakened.  We need to find joy each day, because it is there!  But if we don’t look for it we can get overwhelmed by negativity and not realize the joyful moments.  We also need to realize that we need to set examples for those coming behind us.  They need us to teach by our actions, not just our words.  They need to know we have struggled, but we have also found our answers.
I know that we can overcome anything when we put our trust in God.  We are the elect, according to the covenant, and with that comes great promises!  We can be armed with God’s power, and His name can be upon us, His glory round about us, and His angels can have charge over us. Draw upon those promises!  Ask for them in your life. 
With love, and trust and faith in each one of you,

Tracy

Thursday, October 20, 2016

The Art of Bread Making Activity
October 20, 2016

Kayla Jones has an amazing talent of making artisan bread. She not only taught us how to make the bread, but also the science of making bread. Some people took some dough home to bake in their own oven. The follow are pictures of people "folding" the bread, not "kneading" the bread.  Mikell Murray shared some thoughts on the importance of baking, "Psychologists say cooking and baking are pursuits that fit a type of therapy known as behavioral activation. The goal is to alleviate depression by boosting positive activity, increasing goal-oriented behavior and curbing procrastination and passivity.
“If the activity is defined as personally rewarding or giving a sense of accomplishment or pleasure, or even seeing the pleasure of that pumpkin bread with chocolate chips making someone else happy, then it could improve a sense of well-being,” says Jacqueline Gollan, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
Ms. Tafoya, a clinical counselor, says preparing and sharing food with others is therapeutic because it’s central to who we are as human beings. “The ability to eat and share food is very, very primal,” she says. “Eating or breaking bread with someone has healing capacities beyond anything that we can really quantify."



Monday, October 17, 2016

General Conference October 2016


Did you get to enjoy all the sessions of General Conference this month? 
Here are some one sentence summaries of each of the talks.

Women’s Session

Sister Jean B. Bingham, first counselor in the Primary general presidency

Understand that as we embrace and encourage improvement in others, we do not belittle our own progress or the progress of others.

Sister Carole M. Stephens, first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency

As we invite the Savior into our lives, we do not have to be alone as he helps carry our burdens and heal us.

Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, Young Women General President

Women need to be steadfast in their testimonies of the gospel and they can be strengthened through: (1) acknowledging the centrality of the Godhead; (2) understanding the need of the restoration; and understanding temple ordinances and covenants.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency

Strengthen your faith and learn to act on God’s will.

Saturday Morning Session

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency

Don’t take for granted the gospel of Jesus Christ in your lives, and allow our love of God to motivate us to share these great truths with others.

Elder Robert D. Hales, Quorum of the Twelve

We can endure this life and our sufferings by leaning on the Holy Ghost, accepting Christ’s help as well as accepting the service of others.

Carol F. McConkie, first counselor in the Young Women General Presidency

Prayer is a gift from God, who will answer the prayers of those who ask, seek and knock.

Craig C. Christensen, Presidency of the Seventy

Gain a testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith through considering his fruits, recognizing the blessings we have because of his service and the study of the Book of Mormon.
Elder Juan A. Uceda of the Seventy
Just as God doesn’t ignore our voice when we pray, we should not ignore His voice when he answers our prayers.

J. Devn Cornish of the Seventy

Stop comparing yourself to others and instead allow the atonement into your life to show you progress from your old self to your current self and to who you want to become.

Elder Neil L. Andersen, Quorum of the Twelve

You are an important puzzle piece in God’s grand puzzle; he needs you to not get discouraged in sharing the gospel with others so that puzzle can be completed.

Saturday Afternoon Session

Elder Quentin L. Cook, Quorum of the Twelve

Be cautious of the stumbling blocks keeping you from living the gospel and instead look for the stepping stones to Christ.

Elder Gary E. Stevenson, Quorum of the Twelve

Since the Book of Mormon is the keystone of testimony, “as you look to the (Book of Mormon), you look to the Lord.”

Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Quorum of the Twelve

God loves you and you can return the love by keeping the commandments.

Elder Mark Bassett of the Seventy

Trust in the Lord, have patience and use faith in obtaining knowledge from God.

Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita of the Seventy

“Be ambitious for Christ” as we endure our trials with patience and faith.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Quorum of the Twelve

Elder Oaks said members of the Church have a duty to share the gospel with others and then provided seven ways members can sincerely participate in missionary work.
Priesthood Session
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Quorum of the Twelve
Home teaching isn’t a checklist item, but a calling to be “God’s emissaries to his children.”

Elder LeGrand R. Curtis Jr. of the Seventy

Choose to “discover the power of the Book of Mormon” and be patient in receiving your answer of its truthfulness.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency

Evaluate your discipleship (using the example of Alma the Younger and Amulek) and choose to follow Christ.

President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency

We must reach down to lift up our brethren, especially the younger priesthood brethren.

President Thomas S. Monson, President of LDS Church

As we follow the guidance in the Word of Wisdom and take care of our bodies, we will be blessed.

Sunday Morning Session

President Thomas S. Monson, President of LDS Church

Since we have the truth of the gospel, we have an obligation to share it and live it.

Elder Russell M. Nelson, Quorum of the Twelve

As the Savior focused on joy through the atonement, we too should focus on and feel joy through our trials.

Elder Peter F. Meurs of the Seventy

We need to improve our sacrament observance, which is an ordinance that helps us “more fully turn our hearts and souls to God.”

Sister Linda S. Reeves, second counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency

The atonement is a miracle that allows us to be clean from our sins through repentance.

Elder M. Russell Ballard, Quorum of the Twelve

If you are contemplating leaving the Church, don’t leave; and if you see fellow members considering leaving the Church, help them to stay.

Dean M. Davies, first counselor in Presiding Bishopric

Worshipping through the Spirit blesses us with light and knowledge.

Lynn G. Robbins, Presidency of the Seventy

Righteous judgement, discipline and sacrifice play an important role in our development.

President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency

What we do on the Sabbath matters.

Sunday Afternoon Session

Elder David A. Bednar, Quorum of the Twelve

We need to strive not only to know about the Savior, but to know Him personally.

Brother Brian K. Ashton, second Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency

Repentance plays a vital role in Heavenly Father’s plan and is a tool that Heavenly Father expects us to use.

Carl B. Cook of the Seventy

We need to be willing to serve in callings where the Lord needs us.

Elder Ronald A. Rasband, Quorum of the Twelve

Remember your divine heritage and remain steadfast in the gospel through your trials.

Elder Evan A. Schmutz of the Seventy

Trials can be signposts on our personal path of discipleship, and we should apply eternal principles in dealing with our own tribulations.

Elder K. Brett Nattress of the Seventy

The gospel is about the one, and parents can apply simple principles to help teach their children.

Elder Dale G. Renlund, Quorum of the Twelve

Repentance is a choice — don’t make excuses, but instead take action.