What's happening in December...

Advent started on Sunday, November 29th! Join us for a special advent journey of sharing discovering the Child called Jesus! What a special month we are going to have at Anoka Wesleyan!

Christmas Caroling is a highlight of every December! Bundle up and join us at 5 pm on Sunday evening, December 6th, as we go caroling around the Anoka community!

The ladies of the church will be having their annual Christmas party on Thursday evening, December 10th...join us for "Holly and Ivy" at 7 pm at the church. It will be a very special night of fellowship!

Our Sunday School Christmas program will be Sunday evening, December 13th, at 6 pm. Our theme for this year is "Jesus, God's Gift To The World"! Each class is preparing their own presentation plus there will be music, skits, and other surprises! Afterwards, join us in the fellowship hall for a piece of Jesus' birthday cake!

Start the Christmas season right by attending the candlelight service on Christmas Eve at 6 pm. Come and rejoice in the birth of our Savior...come and worship Him!

Pastor Doug and Suzi wish you a most blessed Christmas!

What's happening in November...

Choir practice starts Sunday evening, November 1st! Come and sing a joyful "noise" unto the Lord! We meet at 5 pm each Sunday evening and will be performing on November 22nd and

then a couple different times in December!

It has been awesome to see the number of Gift Paks already brought to church for World Hope! We need them all turned in by Sunday, November 8th, so that we can get them mailed before Thanksgiving! Touch the heart of kids around the world by preparing a special pack! For more detailed information, see
http://www.worldhope.org/hopeforchildren/overview.htm Thanks for making a difference.

We will be having our annual harvest supper on Sunday evening, November 15th at 6:00 pm. Turkey with potatoes and gravy will be provided. Sign up for the trimmings you would like to bring! Come for a special evening of sharing together in food, fellowship, and fun!

Our special Thanksgiving Eve service will be Wednesday night at 7:00 pm! Come join us for a special evening of giving praise and thanksgiving to our Savior and God!

Sunday, November 29th will be the first Sunday of Advent! Join us for an exciting adventure as we celebrate JESUS!

Congratulations to our Graduates!

Our best wishes are extended to our three graduates - Christine Carroll, Chris Jewell and Samantha Schauer! The Lord has a special plan for the next chapter of your life! "Trust in the Lord with your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He WILL direct your path! Congratulations!

Special Homecoming Weekend

We want to celebrate "family" on June 27th and 28th! Join us for our special homecoming weekend as we rejoice in 46 years of ministry to the Anoka Community! It will start with a picnic at the church on Saturday afternoon starting at 4 pm. ne Sunday morning, we will have our Sunday School hour start with opening exercises at 9:15 am followed by a celebration Worship Serivce at 10:45 am. After our time of worship, we will have a catered dinner at the church. The cost will be $10.00 per person. We'd love to hve you join us for that weekend! If you have any pictures from your time at Anoka Wesleyan or any special memorabiliat to share, please bring it.

Easter Activities

Join us for our Easter activities!

Maundy Thursday Service and Communion at 7 pm on April 9th

Good Friday the church will be open from 1-5 pm for you to come and go as you wish. Why not stop in and spend a few moments with the Lord in prayer, thanking Him for His willingness to die on the cross of Calvary for your sins.

Easter Breakfast on Sunday, April 12th, at 8:00 pm

You won't want to miss our Easter Celebration Service at 10:45 am - the choir will be presenting a musical entitled "In Christ Alone". Christ the Lord is risen!!!

Our Sympathy

Our sympathy is extended to George and Sharon Austin. George's mother, Frieda M. Austin, 92, died Monday, February 9, 2009 at the Ebenezer Care Center, in Minneapolis, MN.
Services were held on Friday, February 13, 2009, at 11 AM at the Brand-Wilson Funeral Home with Pastor Paul Knott officiating. Burial was in Parkview Cemetery, Hastings, NE. Condolences may be sent to the family from www.brandwilson.com.
Frieda was born June 13, 1916 to Jacob and Marie Leonhardt in Grand Island, NE. She married Harold Austin, November 18, 1945; in Hastings, NE, he passed away October 21, 1998. She was employed at the Navel Ammunition Depot during her early years and taught Sunday school and Bible School.
She is survived by 2 sons, George and wife Sharon of Brooklyn Park, MN and David of Meadow Vista, California. 4 Grandchildren and 4 Great Grandchildren. 1 brother, Bill Leonhardt of Waverly, NE and 3 sisters Helen Dake of Lincoln, NE, Edna Smith and Ruth Barfknecht both of Hastings, NE.
She was preceded in death by her husband Harold, her parents, and 3 brothers, Jake, Henry and John.
Memorials may be given to World Hope International.

Valentine's Day With Jesus

Jesus does not send perfume

To linger in the air

Instead He sends salvation, sweet

To show how much He cares.

He doesn’t bring me candy hearts

In boxes of delight

Instead He always lets me know

I’m precious in His sight.

He doesn’t send out pretty cards

Trimmed in shades of red

Instead He gave His life for me

His precious blood was shed.

He doesn’t hand out fancy gifts

Like we would send to mother

Instead He sends a message clear

To always love each other.

He doesn’t give me teddy bears

That whimper, “please be mine”

Instead He gave His heart to me

I wear it all the time.

He doesn’t give me roses, pink

For all the world to seeInstead He gave eternal life

That’s good enough for me!

Copyright © by Marilyn Ferguson 2003

Wise Men Still Seek Him

Happy New Year, my dear friends! 2009...oh, my! The beginning of a new year...and with that, I've started my list of "expectations" for this next year. My list has several things I'd like to accomplish this new year...things that are most attainable and most will help me focus more on my Savior. Let me share just a couple of them with you...
Yesterday my favorite pastor shared a message on the wise men and the good examples they are for us in 2009! As a child, the lengthy journey of the wise men was a very special part of the Christmas story. (Does anyone remember the musical "Amal and the Night Visitors" that was an annual special on television? It was a favorite of mine!) They indeed were diligent in their travels...they came seeking the Child...they were seeking the Truth. They had traveled for thousands of miles to find "this one who has been born King of the Jews". They didn't expect God to come looking for them...to prove who He was...they were indeed "wise" as they were seeking Jesus. The chief priests and teachers of the law in that day were well aware of prophecies of ruler to be born in Bethlehem..they were well aware of the promised Messiah (Micah 5:2), but were not searching for the Truth.
These wise men also showed us worship. The Magi came with their expensive gifts - gifts which would be worthy of a King - and they were overjoyed when they say the child (oh, I can almost see them dancing around!) BUT then they bowed down and WORSHIPED! They were willing to give him what was valuable to them...gifts of gold, of frankincense and myrrh. Oh, my friends, Jesus is worthy of the best we have to give when we come to worship! I want to worship Him with my very best...
But as I studied that passage of Scripture, there was one last thought which I wanted to share with you. I determined that I want to be as responsive to God's leading as the wise men where...they were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod and returned home another route. They recognized the Lord's leading and they obeyed without any questioning. This next year, I want to walk in such close communion with Him - not only in the major decisions of life but in the day to day choices that I find myself making - that when decisions or choices come, there is no hesitation but a certainty of knowing what the heart of God is in the matter and to know His peace....
A new year is here and I'm excited. What are your expectations for 2009?