Family and friends of Sioux Vasarella.
Jon Cook; Millie Mutka; Barb Zima and her friends Stefan Sladek, Dave Butschli, Mick, Steven and Marilyn Hummel; Gregory Bowens; Laurie Nelson; Amber Ross’s daughter Linda; Randy & Diane Niemczyk’s daughter Julia VanAvery, niece Sarah Joda, and their dear friend Denise Hazel; Dick Volland; Valeria Hesselberg; Chris Markussen; Anne Verona’s sister/brother-in-law Pat & Woody Woodworth; Dawn Gonitzke’s brother Scott Premo; the Ebert’s friends William Charaf, Patricia Kulzick and John Oliver; Ashley Clark’s friend Michael Loomis; the Waggoner’s sister-in-law Cheryl Busse; Karen Engels and her niece Lisa and friends Bob and Dawn; Ann Carlson’s people Stacy, Enid, Carolina, Curt, and Troy; and peace for all nations and comfort for those in distress.
PRAYER LIST PROCEDURE – Submit your prayer requests to the office in writing, by phone, by email or in person. If requesting prayers for someone other than yourself or an immediate family member, please obtain permission – unless the circumstances are public in nature.
WORSHIP ON FACEBOOK – Live on Facebook on Sundays at 9:00 & posted later for viewing.
GUESTS – if you are visiting us today, please sign our book at the entrance to the sanctuary.
EGG UPDATE – our hens have started laying again – but not with any consistency so egg delivery isn’t coming back for awhile. At this time – we do not need any more egg cartons.
SOMETHING ROTTEN – our very own Benjamin Braunel is part of the production crew for “Something Rotten” being presented at the Northland Pines Auditorium. Show time is today, Sunday Feb 16 at 2:00pm. Senior tickets are free (62+) and Adult tickets are $5.
(Since this is being sent before Sunday – the other showtimes are Friday, Feb 14 at 7:00 pm and Saturday, Feb 15 at 7:00 pm. Word on the street is that tickets are selling fast! (Seriously – I really heard this out and about yesterday) Another quality show put on by Northland Pines!)
QUILTERS UNTIE! – I mean unite to tie. Tie one on with the quilting group as they assemble quilts. Meet every first and third Wed of the month 9:30 to 11:30 am.
COMMUNION CARDS – there are yellow communion cards in the Narthex. If you were at the Annual meeting and took communion – you do not need to fill one out. These cards only need to be filled out once a year.
PANCAKE/PACZKI SUNDAY – is March 2nd after Worship. A not-to-be-missed event! Pancake breakfast will be served by Burt Johnson and Ann Carlson. FOUR different flavors of paczki! Prune, raspberry, lemon and chocolate.
MEAL TRAIN – we have started a meal train for Barb Zima. The website is https://www.mealtrain.com/trai…. No food limitations. Check the website for available dates and to see what others have made so she isn’t getting a tuna casserole every night. Due to a variety of illnesses going around – please plan on dropping off meals. Phone calls are always appreciated.
THRIVENT CHOICE DOLLARS – Attention Thrivent Members, you can support the ministries of Prince of Peace through the Thrivent Choice Dollas. Login into your account at Thrivent.com. For more details check with Mike Bishop or Pastor Grant.
WINTER DOLDRUMS GOT YOU DOWN? – get your Vit D checked! If your Vit D is low – you’ll be feeling low as well.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH – there is a handout in the Narthex celebrating women during Black History month! Read about numerous powerful women who have changed our world. Thank you, Chris Ebert, for providing such a valuable resource.
BAD RIVER – if you missed the movie last time – here is another chance to view it. Tuesday March 4th. At Nicolet College in Rhinelander. At 5:00 pm there will be a meal and fellowship. At 6:00 pm there will be a drum ceremony, followed by the movie. Admission is $8. Reserve your seat online at nicoletlive.com. Bad River chronicles the Wisconsin-based Bad River Band and its ongoing fight for sovereignty.
FUN FACT – The other day Sandy Bishop, Pastor Grant and I were talking about something. We all had to “knock on wood” to make sure we were kept ‘safe’. Why do we “knock on wood”?
Knocking on wood (also phrased touching wood or touch wood) is an apotropaic* tradition of literally touching, tapping, or knocking on wood, or merely stating that one is doing or intending to do so, in order to avoid “tempting fate” after making a favorable prediction or boast, or a declaration concerning one’s own death or another unfavorable situation.
There are connections between ancient spirituality and trees influencing fortune. In the pre-Christian beliefs of the Germanic people, for example, three Norns send fate up into the universe through a tree. Languages descended from these people include concepts such as “knock on wood”, “touch wood” or “three times wood”, although only the first two expressions are in the descended English language specifically. Meanwhile, the ancient Celtic peoples also believed that the act of touching wood called on spirits or gods of the trees. Christians tie the practice to the symbolism of the wood of the cross of crucifixion. Folklore researcher Steve Roud suggests that the widespread, modern use however derives from a form of tag called “Tiggy Touchwood” in which players are safe from being tagged if they are touching wood.
*apo·tro·pa·ic ˌa-pə-trō-ˈpā-ik
: designed to avert evil
an apotropaic ritual
Etymology
Greek apotrópaios “averting evil, that should be averted, ill-omened” (from apotrop-, stem in nominal derivation of apotrépein “to turn away from, turn aside, avert”
NOTES FROM ANN: Happy Valentine’s Day to one and all! This will be a ‘cheat day’ as the ladies from the Gather magazine have a way better message than anything I can give you today.
“Jesus doesn’t simply say love your neighbor. Jesus says, “love your neighbor as you love yourself” (Matthew 22:39). If we don’t love ourselves, how can we claim to love our neighbor as we love ourselves?
For so many years, I have made loving myself someone else’s job, instead of taking on this holy task myself. Now, however, I have entered a chapter of my life where this work is my singular focus. In every moment, I am committed to the practice of loving myself.
Some days are better than others. Some moments I have to remind myself that I am worthy of deep, abiding love. But here’s what I’ve learned: the more love I lavish on myself, the more love I have to share with others.
I think this is what Jesus intended when he said to love others as we love ourselves. Jesus knew that love multiplies. It does not diminish. It always finds a way and the more we nurture it, the more we have to give.” Copyright © 2025 Women of the ELCA.
Too many of us are more than willing to spend our time caring for others – loving others – and fail to take time for ourselves. Jesus said some powerful words “love your neighbor as you love yourself”.
Your challenge this week is to bestow some love on yourself. Be your own Valentine. Whatever that may look like – make sure you treat yourself. Maybe it is taking time for a bubble bath; a time out without your phone or computer; a meal out; a special treat you save for special occasions; or having an extra helping – whatever it is – take the time for YOU!
The picture below is from the night of Feb 11 – Burt was coming in from doing chores when he noticed the gorgeous halo around the moon! He called me to come outside so I could see it too.
Feb 12’s full moon is called the Snow Moon. Venus, named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty, is currently at its brightest for the year and can also be viewed in the night sky. AND – don’t forget – the parade of planets is still occurring. Throughout the second week of February, six planets will be visible in the evening sky — Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Tho the last two may require a telescope. I know its cold out there – but this is something to bundle up to see. Planet parades aren’t rare – what makes this one unique is we get to see the ‘bright’ planets.