During the big, heavy, wet snow we got a couple of weeks ago, I heard the sound of a roaring engine outside my window. My neighbor was clearing my driveway with his snow blower. It might have been a man playing with a toy he doesn’t often get  to use, but to me it was a wonderful sound. Random acts of kindness are unexpected, and people like my neighbor inspire me to “go and do likewise.”
If you’re anything like me, the new year already has you thinking about resolutions, goals, or one word that will be your guiding principle for the months to come. What if we devoted our minds and hearts to knowing and loving God this year? 1 John 4:9-11 speaks to this –
“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 
Knowing and loving God go hand in hand; the better we know God, the greater our capacity to love Him. And it shows. What better way to begin a year than by investing in the most important relationship in our lives.

Make plans to participate in Timothy’s Lenten season observances this year. On Ash Wednesday, February 14th, a traditional setting with Holy Communion and Imposition of Ashes will start at 6pm in the Auditorium. There will be no Ash Wednesday meal this year. The Maundy Thursday service on March 28th (traditional setting with Holy Communion) will start at 6pm, and the Good Friday service on March 29th (contemporary setting, no communion) will start at 6pm. Services on Easter Sunday, March 31st, will be 9am (contemporary setting; no communion) and 10:30am (traditional setting; no communion).

The Wednesday Lenten opportunities will revolve around the theme “Dining with Jesus.” From 6-6:30pm each Wednesday (Feb. 21 through Mar. 20), a meal will be available for families in the Auditorium. At 6:30, the pastors will lead an interactive service based on various meals in the Bible where Jesus led or was part of a meal. Timothy’s LWML will offer a meal on Feb. 21, menu to be determined.
LWML will allocate donations from the free-will offering as to 10% for mites, 45% for Hillcrest, and 45% TBD. For the other four Wednesdays (Feb. 28, Mar. 6, Mar. 13, Mar. 20), ministry groups are invited to “sponsor” a meal, the free-will offering allocated to a ministry of their choice or the general operating fund. Leaders from interested ministries should contact Diane Mayfield (816.228.5300 Ext. 8040) as soon as possible to sign up for your preferred date. The free-will offering for all the meals will be the only offering collected on Wednesdays during Lent; there will be no offering during the interactive service.

Be sure to mark your calendars to take in this creative approach to Lenten worship services!

January 21-27- Timothy Lutheran School Book Fair and Activities

Monday Dress: Timmy Gear    Activity: Cards for homebound members
Tuesday Dress: Favorite Thing in Creation     Activity: Board Games
Wednesday Dress: Chapel Family Choice     Activity: Zoo Mobile
Thursday Dress: Bible Characters       Activity: Bible Bee
Friday Dress: Dress Your Best     Activity: Grandparent’s/Special Guest’s Day, and Talent Show

*3rd Quarter Mission Project (all week) Collecting non-perishable items for LUMA and partnering with Thrivent Matching Funds

Verse for the week:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” Matthew 28:19-20

The Annual Voters’ Assembly Meeting was held last Sunday, with 70 voting members present. Timothy’s leadership appreciates those who could attend and understands that many interested voters were not in attendance due to the frigid weather conditions. Having already postponed this meeting twice, it was important to conduct this meeting as soon as possible. The recording of the meeting can be accessed here  “VOTERS MEETING” or on Timothy’s website  on the Home page.

The Voters approved the proposed slate of lay leaders, LCMS-rostered call to TLS Principal Ken Holland,  and the 2024 proposed budget (found on church website under Church link). Copies of the 2024-2028 Strategic Plan pamphlet were available but will also be worship bulletin inserts. Consolidation and Next Generation updates were also provided.