Visit Our New Website ... www.anokawesleyan.com

Our church now has a website which contains the same information that is on this blog plus it has audio recordings of each Sunday's morning message.   Thanks for visiting this blog.   We will be discontinuing it at the end of February 2014.  Please go to www.anokawesleyan.com for information on Anoka Wesleyan Church.  Thanks!

"I Love Jesus" Banquet

Our teens are having a special fundraising event for camp registrations!   Plan on joining us on Sunday evening, February 9th, at 6 pm for our "I Love Jesus" banquet.  Cost for a ticket is $10.00.    Sign up today...it will be a special evening as we celebrate the love of Christ!

Sanctity of Life Sunday

Yesterday was “Sanctity of Life” Sunday at AWC.  We shared an awesome video from “Be A Voice”.  ‘From the formation of a child’s first tiny cell to life’s final breath, all life has dignity and value because each and every one of us is made in the image of God. And that is why when we talk about being “pro-life,” it’s not just about a political issue. It’s a world view…it’s a life-view. It’s a way of looking at each human life that transcends culture, class, race, age and opinion.’   May we indeed view every life as beautifully unique, formed in His image and deeply loved by Him — and by us!  Have an awesome week!

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/socialissues/promos/advocacy/be-a-voice.aspx

Made New

The Wesleyan Church released a new video last week...share it with your friends and invite them to join us at AWC!  We are made NEW in Jesus Christ!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoBuTcsqYL0

Happy 2014!

Today was the first Sunday of the new year...what will 2014 bring?  Deuteronomy 11:12 says "The eyes of the Lord your God are always on [the land], from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year." We don't know what tomorrow will hold, but we know who holds the future...His eyes will be upon us if we are faithful to Him from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014! Yes, God's faithful care will extend to every day of the new year...isn't that an amazing promise for us to claim in 2014!  "Great is Thy faithfulness...."

Wise Men Still Seek Him!

We hope you had an awesome Christmas!!! This Sunday will be the finale of our "First Christmas" series....and you'll be meeting the men who were wise...men who traveled a long time to meet, following a star that would leave them to the place where the Christ Child would lived...can't wait to see you!

 

 

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve!  Start your Christmas by coming to our Candlelight Service at 6 pm where you will be meeting the Innkeeper!    Wasn't it awesome to hear the kids sing "Emmanuel" at the Sunday School Christmas Program and also yesterday morning during the worship service?  Emmanuel....God with us!   I love my devotions this morning..."Just as Jesus came to bring the presence of God into our world (Emmanuel...God with us), so too we are called to bring His presence into our world...this Christmas, we can give the gift of God's likeness through us.  When our lives reflect the God who lives in us, we can be different from the world, and the difference can bless others with the transforming presence of His love and grace."  (ODB)  Look forward to seeing you tomorrow night! 

Fourth Sunday of Advent - Come and Be Blessed By Mary

Last weekend was so very special! Thank you to everyone who had a part in the Sunday School Christmas Program...it was awesome! We're getting close to the end of Advent...how quickly the time has gone! On this Fourth Sunday of Advent, we will be privileged to meet Mary...to hear "her song"...the mother of our Savior! Can't wait to see you on Sunday! 

And don't forget to start your Christmas festivities by coming to our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service on December 24th at 6 pm!

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Matt Kimbrough!

It's The Shepherds!

We will be celebrating the third Sunday of Advent during the morning worship service (10:45 am) by meeting the shepherds who received the amazing news of Christ's birth on that silent night!  And that evening will be our Sunday School Christmas Program at 6 pm...our theme for the night is "Where Is Baby Jesus?"  It will be an awesome night of celebrating the Christ Childs!  Wait till you hear the musical the kids will be doing! They are awesome! See you Sunday!

Christmas Caroling - Second Sunday of Advent

December 8th will be the second Sunday of Advent and we will be "meeting" Joseph during the morning worship service!   You won't want to miss meeting him! 

In the afternoon, we will be going Christmas caroling starting at 4 pm!   It is always such a special time of sharing Christ's birth in song!  If you know of a shut-in who would be encouraged by a visit, let Pastor Doug know.  We hope you will join us!!  

Don't Miss "The First Christmas"...Starts December 1st Through December 29th

Tomorrow begins the first Sunday of Advent...Pastor has been working on an awesome series about the first Christmas! You won't want to miss a single week as we think about the meaning of Christmas in our own lives...tomorrow come and meet Elizabeth! May this Christmas season come alive in each of our lives as never before!!! Can't wait to see you tomorrow!

The Empire State Building and Multiple Myeloma

We received an e-mail last week from Cheri Austin, George and Sharon's daughter that I thought I'd share with you. Cheri has been selected to run up the Empire State Building to raise money for Multiple Myeloma (the type of cancer Sharon had as well as Gary Semmel and John Miron). She will run up 1,576 steps to the top of the Empire State Building and hopes to raise at least $2,500 for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. If you would be interested in sponsoring her, please use the link in this email to donate online quickly & securely. You will receive email confirmation of your donation and Cheri will be notified as soon as you make your donation. Thanks for praying for her in this endeavor!

http://www.active.com/donate/2014MMRFRunUp/CheriAustin

A Special Night Of Sharing Together...

These last few months have been most precious time of worship and knowing His close presence during our morning worship services! How I love gathering with my church family each week! We have a special event planned for giving thanks this Sunday evening as we gather together for our annual Harvest Dinner at 6 pm. Are you coming? I hope so! Turkey, ham, dressing and potatoes will be provided!

Sunday, November 3rd, Will Be Quite A Day!

Don't forget to turn your clocks back at 2 am on Sunday, November 3rd!!  Daylight Savings Time comes to an end for 2013...and you get an extra hour of sleep!!!  It is a good time to also change all your batteries in your fire alarm detectors!! 

Will look forward to seeing you in God's House...what a special day it will be as we worship together in the morning and then in the afternoon at 3 pm we will witness the marriage of Jayme Kueckel and Chris Jewell!  May our precious Savior be the strength of your marriage…the center of your lives…the guide of your future…the source of your love!

October Is Pastor Appreciation Month

October is Pastor Appreciation Month! How thankful I am for Pastor Doug...for faithfully speaking the Truth each week into our lives, for his love and care for the flock at Anoka Wesleyan, and for his desire to see each person give themselves wholly, fully, radically over to the Lordship of Jesus Christ...and yes, even for his corny jokes! Thanks for being a man of God, Pastor Doug, who has been faithful to God's calling upon your life!

An Awesome Time At FMSC!!

What an awesome time we had at Feed My Starving Children last Friday! The whole group packed 73 boxes of food which will feed 43 children for one year which amounts to 21,768 meals! The two tables where we were at did 27 of the boxes! Amazing! The food is shipping out this week to Uganda! Pray that it will safely arrive to this African country and that it will be a blessing both physically and spiritually! We'll be doing it again soon! Why not join us next time! Special thanks to those who were part of the AWC team this year - Tim and Brenda, Ken and Jenni, Jayme, Sierra , Monique, Pastor Doug and Suzi. 

Happy Fall! Some Dates To Save For The Rest Of The Year

Last evening's session of "The Truth Project" was phenomenal.  To see our place in God's "larger story" is fundamental to an accurate understanding of almost every aspect of our lives.  Lord, help us to never be apathetic to what is happening in our life!

Fall has come and before we know it, 2013 will be a memory!   The 2013-2014 church directory was distributed which has dates of events for this next year, but wanted to make sure you "save the following dates" for our special times of ministry together!
 

 

Saturday, October 12th - Church Cleaning Day from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm
Friday, October 18th - Feed My Starving Children
Tuesday, October 29th - The Vibrant Church Seminar with Dr. Stan Toler
Thursday, October 31st - Trunk or Treat at the church
Sunday, November 10th - Harvest Dinner
Wednesday, November 27th - Thanksgiving Service
Sunday, December 8th - Christmas Caroling
Sunday, December 15th - Sunday School Christmas Program
Tuesday, December 24th - Christmas Eve Service

Save The Date - October 18th!

Reserve Friday evening, October 18th, for a very special time at Feed My Starving Children in Coon Rapids! We'll be packing meals from 8 pm to 9:30 pm! We want to fill all 12 spots for that evening (and can even do more!!!)    Let me know if you'll be joining us!

http://www.flickr.com//photos/fmsc/show/

 

 

You Have A Date Tomorrow - Church Worship and A Picnic!

Tomorrow is the Lord's Day!   I'm looking forward to seeing you at church!  And don't forget about the Sunday School picnic after the service at Orono Park in Elk River - shelter #2!  We'll plan to eat around 1 pm.    Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided plus beverages and tableware!  It's going to be a warm day, but it will be very nice by the lake!  Plus, the Amazing Mr. Jewell is bringing his boat!   And the best part of all will be the time of fellowship with the family!  I hope all of you can come!  Bring your whole family Don't forget your lawn chair, a dish to share and come ENJOY!