Prayer requests: Wisdom for Brian as he consolidates the SIM worldwide financial reports. For God’s people in Nigeria and for Ruth’s health.

Contact brianclark@comporium.net

Venturing is a program of the Boy Scouts of America whose purpose is to provide positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults.

Venturing has become the fastest growing program of the BSA. Seventy percent of all Venturing crews nationwide are chartered to religious organizations.

Crew members focus on one specific program track but are not limited to one track. Programs include sports, religious and community life, arts and hobbies, outdoor and Sea Scouts. The Venturing crew to be chartered by The Lake of the Woods Church would be outdoor program focused.

For more information contact Michael or Maka Hanson at micmaka@comcast.net or (540) 661-6351

Why Venturing?

• Most people are familiar with the excellent programs offered by both the Boys Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of the USA. These programs start generally at the age of 5-7 and continue to age 18. The highest dropout rate of BSA and GSUSA members is during the mid-teen years. Venturing however is not for young boys and girls but rather for young adults, ages 14 -21. Venturing provides an opportunity for these young adults to interact with others of their own age and interests. Venturing is time well spent for our youth.

How is Venturing Organized?

• Venturing Crews are sponsored by a community organization. The chartered organization is responsible for selecting leadership, providing a meeting place, and promoting a good program.
• The crew committee is a group of adults who guide the crew program and activities and manage record keeping, finance, leadership recruitment and registration.
• The crew is led by youths who are elected to the positions of president, one or more vice-presidents, secretary, treasurer, quartermaster, guide and historian.
• An adult advisor and associate advisors provide guidance while allowing the youth to lead the crew.

Check out this video to see what Venturing is like:

In the Sanctuary, the envelopes are in the pew racks. In the Worship Center, you will find them on the tables in the back.

Just as Advent prepares us for the coming of Christmas, the season of Lent prepares us for the coming of Easter.

Lent spans 40 weekdays, beginning on Ash Wednesday, and climaxing during Holy Week with Maundy Thursday and Good Friday and concluding on the Saturday before Easter.

For us it is a time marked by prayer and preparation for the remembering Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday.

An Ash Wednesday service will be held at 7 p.m. on Feb. 22. Join us for this service and other Lenten events for a more fulfilling Easter.
Rushing into Easer without Ash Wednesday is like crossing the finish line without running the race; it’s an empty finish.

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of spiritual renewal The ashes remind us of our mortality and need to come to God in repentance.

The cross before the crown!

Lenten programs for all ages

Adult activities

“Questions of Life,” a Lenten series for adults will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Feb. 28 to March 28.

Come explore the issues of faith and Christian discipline that move us toward being like Jesus in our journey with Him. Session topics to include, “Who Is Jesus?,” “How Does God Guide Us?,” “Why Trust the Bible?,”  “When God Doesn’t Seem to Answer Us,” “What Does ‘Faith’ Mean?” and more.

Drawing upon the Alpha small group material, this series led by Pastor Tom Savage and the Rev. Lee Moore invites our qustions and is an opportunity to discuss the meaning of life in a relaxed, friendly setting. It’s a time to learn why the beliefes of Christianity stand up to the challenges of our age.

Registration begins next Sunday and online on this Web site. Come and learn. Come and be prepared for helping others.

Youth Activities

We encourage teens to attend the Ash Wednesday Service and to feel free to skip youth group that night. A five-week Lent study begins for all teens from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Wenesday, Feb. 29, following the soup supper. The teens will be using the same Alpha curriculum as adults will be using upstairs.

Children’s Activities

Lent “B” series Children — Wednesdays in the Discovery Zone preschoolers will be learning that they can be brave with God and the elementary students will be learning how to be…according to Ephesians.

Other Lenten dates to mark:

• April 1 — Palm Sunday
• April 5 — Maundy Thursday
• April 6 — Good Friday
• April 8 — Easter

Come explore the issues of faith and Christian disciplines that move us towards being like Jesus in our journey with Him. Session topics will include:

• Who is Jesus?
• How does God guide us?
• Why trust the Bible?
• What do I do when God doesn’t seem to answer?
• What does “faith” mean?

The adult sessions will be led by Pastor Tom Savage and the Rev. Lee Moore and begin in the Worship Center.  The youth sessions by Youth Pastor Adam Colson wll meet downstairs in Higher Grounds.

It’s a time to learn why the beliefs of Christianity stand up to the challenges of our age.

As families experience the same curriculum, it should make for rewarding discussions at home.

Started in London in 1979 as a brush-up course for rusty churchgoers, the Alpha Course has become a worldwide phenomenon and is now held in 163 countries. It is estimated that more than 13 million people worldwide have attended an Alpha Course.

To learn more about Alpha visit www.alpha.org.

There’s no need to worry about dinner on those nights as the church’s traditional Soup Suppers will be available in Friendship Hall.

Check out Bear Grylls of “Man vs. Wild” on the National Geographic Channel in the video below for a sample of what’s in store for us.

For more information on the ISI Conference, click here for more and to register.

For more information on the Weekend Retreat, click here for more and to register.

For more information about Men’s Ministries here at LOWC,

If there is no cross, there is no crown.

In the words of Mark Tooley, president of The Institute on Religion & Democracy, “the National Prayer Breakfast is a mostly admirable tradition that provokes politicians into at least momentarily expressing high-minded religious principles.”

Click here for more about Missions and Benevolence

There will be family-friendly, indoor church-wide golf  and delicious food. Register online now.

Click the image for more informatio

Mother of Preschoolers be thinking about the MOPS International Convention  coming soon in Aug! Click the images for more information!