Sympathy
Our deepest sympathy to Alice Hadley and her family upon the passing of her husband Henry.  They own a cabin in Colorado and have been attending church here during the summer for the past several years.  Cards may be sent to Alice at 1772 County Rd. 1650 N., Urbana, Il.  61802.

Our deepest sympathy to the family of member John-Henry Lassen.  John-Henry passed away December 22, in Longmont.  Funeral services were held at Shepherd of the Hills.

Our deepest sympathy to Jean Wallace and family.  Jean’s father Louis Jansen passed away December 22, in Mesa AZ.  Cards may be sent to Jean at 417 N. 19th St., Canon City.

Our deepest sympathy to Tom, Diane and Mike Neverdahl and their family upon the passing of Tom’s son Tim, on Christmas Eve.  Cards may be sent to the Neverdahl’s at  3014 High St.  Canon City.  A memorial service was held at SOTH last month.

Our deepest sympathy to Jim and Diane West and family.  Jims mother Ella Jane West, passed away suddenly, last month.  She lived in Missouri .  Cards may be sent to the Wests,  at 9115 Hwy 67, Florence, CO 81226.

Milda Gades’ son , and Barb Pruetts’ brother  passed away last month.  Our deepest sympathy. Cards may be sent to Milda at 168 Willmoor Ct., Canon City.

THANK YOU!!
MANY THANKS to Kevin Rohrbach and Ben Larson, for  cleaning out the Storage Room…..it was an ALL DAY JOB!!  Thank you so much!!

Mahalo! Merci! Thank You! Thank You! Thanks a lot! So Gr-r-rateful!   Our Holiday Craft Sale was a great success, many hard working hands made it possibe and a special thanks to members; Jan Martin,  Eva Mae Radtke and Helen Dalzell.  Then there were donations from congregational members, thank you also and where would we be without  the shoppers??      All of you wonderful wonderful people made it possible for us to donate $950. to the Ruth Circle and they thank you. Oh yes and Diane Mann won the afghan!!     
Karen Barslou and "Crafting for Christ" Team

Baptism
Brycen Allan Lee Minton was baptized last month at SOTH..  He was born 9/13/11 in Canon City.  Brycen’s parents are Laura Sampson and Eric Minton.  His sponsors are Norma Hudson, Garland Cambell,  Kami Cooper, and Nicolas Sampson.

February 2012  E-Newsletter               Sunday Services: 9:00 AM Traditional / 10:45 AM Casual
C o n g r e g a t i o n     N e w s
            Birthdays
Feb. 1Wade Passero
Feb. 2Nellie Jarvis
Feb. 2Makayla Cumbie
Feb. 2Danyka Bendt
Feb. 3Rick Coulson
Feb. 3Kinley Norden
Feb. 4Jim Campbell
Feb. 4Hailey Richardson
Feb. 5Edith Emerson
Feb. 6Lisa Luedtke
Feb. 9Laneia Lundquist
Feb. 11Ray Quick
Feb. 11Barb Pruett
Feb. 11Rick Danforth
Feb. 12Linda Coffey
Feb. 14John Kelley
Feb. 14Fay Dauel
Feb. 15Clarence Ver Sluys
Feb. 15John Marietta
Feb. 15Sara Cumbie
Feb. 15Alissa Huber
Feb. 16Marvin Sampson
Feb. 16Tyler Burkart
Feb. 17Betty Fleming
Feb. 18Marcia Hollingsworth
Feb. 18Lucia McClure
Feb. 22Katelyn Mohr
Feb. 24Charles Cook
Feb. 25Diane Bush
Feb. 25Debbie Larsen
Feb. 25Stacy Gordon
Feb. 27Darrien Cooper
Feb. 28Robert Kippley
From the Pastor's Desk

"We" or "Me"?
During my sabbatical in the summer of 2010, I read the book “Evolution’s Arrow”.  It addressed the topic of evolution, and more importantly, where it is taking us.  It challenged my assumptions.

I use to think that evolution was the survival of the fittest.  In other words, the organism that was the strongest survived, and that which could not fight off the aggressor or adapt to its environment died.













If you attempt to pin down the ELCA, whether it teaches evolution or creationism, you will find it states evolution occurs within God's creation. This is one reason I’m an ELCA Lutheran.

My dog Joey just interrupted my concentration.  He’s at the door wanting to go outside to do his business.  Sometimes, I think he just wants a change of scenery.  So, outside we go, he sniffing the ground and me with head back looking up at the stars. 

What a view at 5200 feet above sea level.  Stars shining beautifully, all pushing light toward me, which originated thousands of years ago.  The light I am seeing is very old.  It left the stars years ago and is only now reaching our planet.  This can be hard for our minds to comprehend.

Maybe another way to think about this is to go outside and point up into the sky.  Ok, go ahead and do it. …  To the people in China, you are really point down.  Yes, down. This conversation would be unthinkable to the Biblical authors, so attempts to make the Bible into a scientific text book are ill advised.














The author of “Evolution’s Arrow” states:

Organisms that develop the capacity to mentally model their possible evolutionary futures face a common challenge: to find motivation and satisfaction in whatever actions and behaviors that are able to bring future evolutionary success.  The challenge is not only to see what is needed for future evolutionary success, but also to be able to do it.  Where necessary, they must cease to serve the beliefs, values and objectives established by their evolutionary past. They must develop the capacity to change the objectives established by their evolutionary past. They must develop the capacity to change their nature. (p. 16-17)

“Change their nature!”  Herein lies the problem—people changing their nature in order to progress successfully into the future.  Most of us are not even willing to question our assumptions about life, much less change our nature. But this is exactly what needs to happen if are going to evolve and thrive as a species.

What in our human nature needs to change?  We need to think more “we” and less “me”.















Everything we use and depend on is produced and brought to us by the coordinated actions of many other people. Almost everything made by humans is produced cooperatively. Even our mental lives are the result of many people contributing ideas.  Human society is a network of cooperative activity that interlink our lives. Each of our bodies is an organization of about a million billion cells, each specialized into many different kinds of teams to form organs such as the heart, stomach and bones. Digestion, transportation of oxygen to cells, and countless other activities takes enormous cooperation. Indeed, in our bodies, the only cells that refuse to cooperate are cancerous and will ultimately destroy us if they are not stopped.

Today is Martin Luther King day. His statement seems more important now than ever:

Through our scientific and technological genius, we have made of this world a neighborhood and yet we have not had the ethical commitment to make of it a brotherhood. But somehow, and in some way, we have got to do this. We must all learn to live together as sisters and brothers or we will all perish together as fools. We are tied together in the single garment of destiny, caught in an inescapable network of mutuality. And whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. For some strange reason I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. And you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be. This is the way God’s universe is made; this is the way it is structured." -Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,

“We”, rather than “me”.















What do the US postal service, public utilities, public education, highway department, Medicare and Medicaid, all branches of the military, fire department, police services, social services, governmental services, public transportation, United Nations, social justice programs, environmental regulations, Social Security, … have in common?  They start from the premise of “we” rather than “me”.

Some who prefer to put “me” before “we” call this Socialism and a sign of the degradation of our culture. They advocate the disbanding of organizations and programs that start from the premise of “we” and replace them with ones that focus on “me”.















Back to the book “Evolution’s Arrow” and how it changed my assumptions.  It’s not just the strong and mighty that dominate the evolutionary process.  Evolutionary research has shown that species that survive and have a robust future are those that cooperate together for the benefit of the whole.  Individuals in species that survive find that it’s in their best interest to cooperate for the survival of the whole.  This evolutionary process even takes into account “free riders” and the need for all to be engaged in whatever way they can to benefit the whole.   But, it all begins with the understanding that the starting and ending point is “we”.   

The Bible, Jesus and his parables and religion all call us to frame everything within the context of “we”.  We need a renewed appreciate of the “we”.  Indeed, the future of our survival depends upon it.
      ~ PB

Theological Pub
On Tuesdays, from 5:30—7:00 PM you are invited into the upper room of Michael’s On Main where we will discuss theological issues and strive to penetrate the mysteries of God.  You are invited to imbibe adult beverages or if you wish, sarsaparilla along with appetizers.  If anyone becomes unruly, they will be escorted by bouncers to rear of the building where they will be bound hand and foot and cast into the darkness where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.  This is open to anyone, men and women alike, who are over 21 years of age.  Discussion will be led by Pastor Bob.

Martino's Is On February 18th!!!
JOIN US…...as our fellowship hall is transformed once again into…... “MARTINO’S FINE ITALIAN DINING       RESTAURANT!’” 

This will take place on Sunday February 19th from 11:30am to 6:00pm.  You may dine in, but carry out and delivery orders will also be available.  Sign-up to reserve your time...sign-up sheets are available in the narthex.  Proceeds from your generous free will donations will help support the Sr. High  youths’ mission trip to New
Orleans.!

LENT BEGINS FEBRUARY 22nd
Ash Wednesday is February 22nd. We will have a supper served by the Mission Team at 6:00 PM with Pastor Don Farr from Loaves and Fishes speaking.  At 7:00 PM we will have a Service with the Distribution of Ashes and Holy Communion.

During the Wednesdays of Lent we will have Soup and Sandwiches at 6:00 PM followed by the popular Holden Evening Prayer Servoce at 7:00 PM.  To emphasize our theme this year of Passionate Spirituality, we will hear Faith Stories from members of our congregation as they share significant times when their lives have intersected with Christ. Our first speaker will be Katie Romano on February 29th.

Soup and Sandwich Schedule for February 29th
*Carol Reppert & *Darlene Rohrbaugh - Council Members who will coordinate this week.  See the Soup / Sandwich insert in the February Newsletter for more information.   These people will be invited to bring either soup or sandwiches. Carol or Darlene will be in touch with you:  Tom & Karen Hart, Bernie & Diane Mann, Darlene and Kevin Rohrbaugh, Ernie & Hazel Adolf, Brad & Sharon Knotek, Edie Cook, Lyle & Gini Woltemath, Jim & Coleen Doughty, Sharon-Fedde Mohr, Jim and Diane West, Dave & Nellie Jarvis, Doug & Kristin Threatt, Bob and Diane Bush, Dick and Carole Schoenrock, Bill and Beth Waters, Daryl and Cindy Robinson, Jerry and Karen Barslow, Jim and Carol Reppert, Jim Cambell, Gloria Kalmerton, Denzil and Ilse Muse, Jamee Amundson and Charles and Jean Wallace.
Evolution for bicycle enthusiasts.