animals were donated from various families or training stables. Mostly retired show horses that the owners could not bear to put down but were well past any use. The idea of their beloved horse roaming in some beautiful pasture, ministering to a troubled youth was a lovely picture. The reality was many of the horses were not fit to be around youth, especially those with trouble regulating their emotions. We received many a temperamental horse that would rather kick a kid than let them go for a ride.
So, it was no big surprise when one nice, fall day we had a group of excited board members and donors show up with a new set of horses. The trailer backed up and Dean and I were standing by with lead ropes and fresh stalls ready for our next set of retired show horses. Out stepped two breathtaking Friesian horses with their manes flowing in the wind, Sonny and Carla. We were encouraged that these were not the normal worn-out show horses so often donated to the ranch. Friesians are an expensive breed of draft horse known for their beauty and gentleness. Our board members were very excited that such expensive horses had been donated to the ranch and we were instructed to give Sonny and Carla nothing but the best of care and attention. The hope was that Sonny and Carla would be used to teach youth how to ride and to train the pair to pull carriages for ranch events. The next week we started work by doing simple ground exercises with each horse to get to know them better. Sonny was a younger male who wanted to be the boss and Carla was the older mare who was the boss. The two were inseparable, but they would push each other around nonstop. Carla by herself was a wonderful horse and took to training well. She was often used in lessons and we could always count on her to be gentle and patient. The problem was Sonny, being the bigger horse, thought he should be treated with all the respect he demanded without being expected to do any work. Sonny was gentle and would never kick or bite, he would simply refuse to move. Sonny would literally throw his weight around until he got his way. The only person who could handle him was my husband, which made Sonny useless around the kids. We still had hope of the pair being able to be a team and pull a carriage. We were making some progress with Sonny and Carla, but more often than not we would have to separate Sonny to work out his attitude. One night we had worked with Sonny, and he seemed ready to cooperate. So, we harnessed the pair together in the arena for a short lesson. I held the reins from the ground on the inside while we worked to get the pair to walk in a circle together. They walked successfully around me a few times and we were just about to end the lesson when Sonny got in a mood. He stopped working, refused to go forward, and began backing up. In a stubborn fit, Sonny backed up, threw his weight around, and sat down, pulling the harness and bit down on Carla. I could tell Carla was hurt by her dazed expression, and Dean and I rushed to get Sonny up and tend to Carla. We got the pair unhooked, Sonny secured, and we were by Carla’s side all in a minute. When we reached Carla, to my horror, I saw that her tongue was severed almost in half from Sonny’s weight coming down on her bit. Thankfully the vet was able to come quickly and Carla was able to fully heal in time. Sonny had gotten his way again and he couldn’t care less about the damage done to Carla. This was a real-life lesson I will never forget of what unequally yoked looks like. In the Bible, there are a few passages that sound so harsh, one of which is in 2 Corinthians 6, where the Apostle Paul makes a reference to not being unequally yoked to someone. Some have interpreted this to mean exclusion or the ostracizing of others, that somehow, as believers, we should stay away from unbelievers, the typical us vs. them interpretation. These kinds of interpretations are the type of lazy theology that leads to self-righteousness. Instead, let’s consider Sonny and Carla’s saga. After the accident, we did not keep Sonny and Carla separate, because they were friends. But we no longer trusted Sonny to be a teammate with Carla. Sonny refused to share the load with Carla and he always put himself first. As a believer, there are many people I cannot cut out of my life because they are my people, and I love them. They are friends, family, and neighbors. Yet some of these dear people are not my teammates. They push and pull for their own needs and rarely have the capacity to consider my needs. I can spend time with these loved ones, but when I need a teammate for heavy spiritual lifting, they are not the ones I call on. I call on the people in my life who are willing and able to pull with me. I look for those who understand the yoke of Christ and know how to use it. Prayer warriors who pray, teachers who have wisdom, friends willing to work through hard times, and compassionate people who know when to put others first. If I yoke myself to someone who is not able to pull those kinds of loads with me then one or both of us is bound to get hurt. As you read through 2 Corinthians 6, ask God to give you insight into the people in your life who are able to be good spiritual teammates for times when you have a heavy spiritual burden. Allow those people in when the load gets heavy. Love those who, for whatever reason, are not able to be equally yoked at this time. After all, God loves them as much as He loves you. In His Name, Bonnie
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A few memories and other verses pop up in my mind when I read this call to worship. The memory of driving through the Canadian Rockies for the first time is so different from the flat farmland that surrounded my hometown. We were so overwhelmed by the raw majesty and power of those mountains that my dad and I burst into hymns. 'For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.' 1 Corinthians 4:20 The memory of standing in the Badlands, staring at a dead tree in the center of a clearing. A bird came to land on its nest there and the Lord reminded me, like a whisper, “I provide for this bird and I will provide for you.” 'Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in all the earth.' Psalm 46:10 The memory of the rich, dark brown soil of my family’s backyard garden where the strawberries were so beautiful and delicious that our neighbors came with pots and pans when we offered to share. When we went back to visit our friends in Ohio, I was reminded of how beautiful and alive farmlands are. 'Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Let all creation rejoice before the Lord. ' Psalm 96:11-13 The memory of seeing the lakes of the Northwest for the first time and being blown away that the water could actually be that blue, that I could see my feet, and that the rocks at the bottom could be so many different colors. I can still see the sun glinting off of Lake Coeur d’Alene and marveling at the royal blue color of the water. 'Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place.' Chronicles 16:27 The memory of walking to the car with my son on a grumpy morning and hearing a bird singing. It reminded me that God was with us. We stopped and listened together. I remember choosing to join in the joy of worshipping our Creator and how he transformed our day. 'Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.' Psalm 150:6 I could go on and on. I bet you can, too. This world is filled with reminders of the God who made it and us. They fill my heart like a roaring waterfall. As soon as I turn my ears to hear it, the sound becomes overwhelming. The world trembles before Him. It sings His praises. When I read, "Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth". I find myself joining in that mighty song.
In His Name, Naomi
![]() Given a little over 60 years ago, his speech can still bring one to tears and inspire other to participate in nonviolent protest movements worldwide. Not only do we remember Dr. King on the third Monday of January (his birthday is actually January 15th), but we are also encouraged to volunteer and improve our communities — to serve. Hopefully, the day provides us an opportunity to educate people about social justice and use nonviolence to promote change in our society. Which brings me to the Angels around us. Being on staff, we have the privilege of being behind the scenes and seeing so many of our quiet volunteers who weekly make a difference in our church family and our community. Probably the most obvious volunteers are those who make our Sunday services special. There is the entire Praise Team — all of those amazing musicians and singers. Our chancel and bell choirs rehearse weekly and bring moments of joy to our service. And there is the tech team — up in the balcony they do their best to seamlessly present and broadcast our Sunday service. The Welcome team greets everyone as they enter Krueger Hall, answers questions, and assists in getting folks connected to others. They welcome us as we enter the sanctuary and serve as ushers during our offering — jobs they are so dedicated to as we love and grow our church. Some might argue, the most important Sunday volunteers are the donut brigade! They arrive early Sunday morning after picking up the sugary treats, cutting and arranging them on trays, and placing them in Krueger Hall for all to enjoy. We can’t leave Sundays without mentioning our Sunday School volunteers. With our classes growing, we’ve hired primary classroom teachers, but they couldn’t do their job without the help of other adults present. You might not know who these many are, but our Sundays would be very different without them. There are many other, less visible volunteers you may not know about. Of course there are the many church committees, chaired by Elders and Deacons but are supported by many volunteers: Adult Discipleship, Facilities, Community Outreach, Family Ministry, Finance/Stewardship, Human Resources, Missions, Nominating, Welcome/Membership, Worship Planning. Additionally, there are our wonderful Deacons and Bible Study leaders. Weekly mailings go out to those who are homebound or have difficulty accessing our eNews electronically. These women come in each week to stuff, label, and mail out copies of Pastor McLane’s sermon, the weekly eNews edition, and any other important bits that might appear and need to be passed on to these treasured friends. On Fridays, our knitting ladies gather (men are welcome) in the Fireside Room to knit, crochet, and pray as they create beautiful shawls and blankets. Available to anyone who might need to be lifted in prayer and surrounded by love and warmth, these comfort gifts can be found in the Fireside Room. Our Reception Committee not only makes sure that the tables in Krueger Hall are seasonally decorated, but they also help with other services and events at the church, such as funerals and memorial services. Do you know that there are weekly pickleball games in the gym? Not only does this group of intrepid athletes get in a little exercise, but they’re also the ones who make sure the pew card holders in the Sanctuary have Connection Cards, giving envelopes, and sharp pencils. Small things but so important. Twice each year, the Facilities Team hosts clean-up days. This might be for needed repairs, removing leaves in the fall, or merely grounds cleanup. The volunteers who appear work together to make sure our campus is pristine and welcoming. There are also our secret gardeners who keep our flower beds along Lakeside Ave colorful during the spring and summer. The Love 1st Neighborhood Closet, housed at and staffed by 1st Pres, serves our greater community. The Closet serves homeless and low-income at-risk families with children in grades K-8. Our Closeteers escort families as they ‘shop’ for brand-new clothing, footwear, outerwear, and personal hygiene and laundry products. Last but not least, Family Promise. Our volunteers help set up and take down, provide and serve meals, and host as overnight chaperones. 1st Pres hosts families experiencing homelessness as they journey towards sustainable independence several times each calendar year. I haven’t mentioned names for fear of inadvertently leaving someone out. As I close, I also fear I may have left out yet another volunteer opportunity and pray for forgiveness if I have. There are so many who silently serve. That said, with our abundance of volunteer opportunities, I pray you might be inspired to consider how you can participate in our church family. Call the office if you have a desire to serve and would like some guidance. In His Name, Janet
perspective, I learned so much about the Japanese, and I think you may agree with a few things that stood out. If we all gave them some thought, it might bring us some resolutions into the New Year.
Traveling, especially overseas, is not for everyone. No matter where they are, I still think anyone can take these critical character traits and use them in their everyday lives. Incorporating these values into the new year can bring profound changes:
By integrating these principles, you can cultivate a more peaceful, harmonious, and fulfilling life throughout 2025. I would love to know if anyone has any other ideas for incorporating values into the new year. I cannot wait to swap stories with anyone in our congregation who is of Japanese heritage or has also been lucky enough to travel to Japan. O-Genki De (all the best), Tracee
Culture Center. I hope you find some encouragement as you continue to read. In His Name, Heather ![]() The ultimate luxury in this life is not to travel globally, eat amazing food, stay in beautiful hotels or homes, have exciting experiences, become famous, or make tons of money. The ultimate luxury is to care for your soul -- to feed on God’s nourishing truth, develop a rich prayer life, pour your heart out to God on long walks outside, revel in the works of God all around you, meditate on God‘s fulfilled promises, unburden yourself by listening to soaring hymns and spiritual songs, serve your church in humble but meaningful ways, show love to the lost and needy, confess your sin to the God who delights to forgive you, and generally rejoice in the warm goodness of the Father who treasures you, the Son, who redeemed you, the Spirit who strengthens you. Of course, it is good and right to enjoy all sorts of God’s blessings in this life. Don’t be a gloomy miser in the name of Jesus. Celebrate God’s kindness in all sorts of things. Eat good food; drink delicious drinks; go on fun trips; work hard in your vocation; watch good movies; laugh a lot; indulge in unhurried conversation; visit beautiful places; make wonderful memories, and all to the glory of our gracious God. Don’t feel an ounce of guilt over these things. Recall to mind regularly that God is honored in our small joys as he is in our spiritual service. In fact, in the life of the mature Christian, the two blend as time goes on, and all of life (not just the roped-off sections of it) becomes worship. All of life becomes a celebration. All of life becomes praise and glory to God from the overflow of thankfulness for our salvation.
We all have much to grow in… But here is the good news: through the regular application of gospel grace, God will take “cold men”… and make us “warm men”— men like Jesus. ~Dr. Owen Strachan
after the last jingle bell has been laid to rest until next December. Not in the Stone household! Last night, after the kids had gone to bed, Charley and I spent the better part of an hour carefully removing each ornament, wrapping it in butcher paper, and placing it in storage to recover from a particularly difficult season (Leighton believes that each ornament deserves a place in the grandstands as his toy motorcycles jump distances that would make Evel Knievel gasp). As we did our regretful duty, we couldn’t help but voice our sadness that the Christmas season is over. Like many of you, Christmas is a time for life. It is a celebration of the good gifts that God has given us. Joy is the theme, and we indulge it at every opportunity. Our Christmas tree stands at the center of this season of gratitude, and dragging it from the living room, its branches dropping needles in protest of its unjust sentence, feels not like life, but like death. Reflecting on this dichotomy—life and death—I was reminded of my favorite poem, one I have shared before. I believe that good things never go out of style (just ask Taylor Swift), so I thought I would share it with you again. It is a poem about life and death and how the two are drawn together in the birth of Jesus Christ. A child is born, the old world is put to death. Joy!
In Christ, McLane
touched my heart and gave me a sense of peace and more importantly hope.
The document was from Orchard Ridge Senior Living. It was written by Ann Johnson, who is not only one of our members but also the Executive Director of this facility. For those of you who may be new to our community and/or our church, I would like to give you a little background on this establishment. First of all, it has been operational for over 100 years. During that time, it has grown and changed in some ways, but it has not changed its mission. This organization exists to provide compassionate and sometimes charitable care to individuals who find that they can no longer remain safely at home by themselves. This can be due to aging, illness, or other medical problems. Many residents enter the facility initially with insurance coverage but often their benefits run out during their stay. That is where Orchard Ridge's Resident Relief Fund becomes available to these people. None of them will ever be asked to leave due to financial issues. And at this point, their care is paid for solely through donations from area Churches such as First Pres and also individuals like you and me. No one ever expects that they will be in a position where they can no longer take care of themselves financially or physically. But unfortunately, the unthinkable can happen. And it happens more often than you may think. Examples of patients currently at Orchard Ridge receiving charitable care include a 62-year-old with early onset Alzheimer’s, a young man who suffered a traumatic brain injury in his 20s, a 40-year-old with ALS, and a myriad of other scenarios. These are the types of situations that are hard to plan for, especially as we get older, and of the 67 current residents, 29 are over the age of 90. However, as Ann so wisely stated in her letter, "God does have a plan”, which is why this organization exists. I do have some personal connections to this facility. A number of years ago, it was my honor to have served on the Board of Directors for six years. Having this role gave me a real appreciation of the respectful care and dignity these residents are offered. And currently, my youngest son works there as a nurse. He has learned so much about compassionate care and the importance of respecting each person he cares for. We both have been blessed to have had these experiences. I hope this information helps you understand what amazing work is done by Orchard Ridge and how our church helps fund the Resident Relief Fund. And please remember God does have a plan. For you, for me, for all of us. As it says in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding: In all your ways submit to Him and he shall make your paths straight.” In His Name, Ellen
and celebrations of the Christmas season.
As I reflect on the gifts we celebrate throughout the Advent season, I love inviting JOY into the season of hustle and bustle; it’s a season where I tend to experience many of the emotions of our human existence. For me, in the reflection of pain and sadness that often comes up at the holidays, is a deep gratitude and joy. It’s gratitude and joy for those we’re missing around the table because they were here and loved us so well. At Christmas, we celebrate a God who entered the world as a baby, to experience life WITH US and redeem us from death. What hope, peace, and JOY come with the celebration of a God who loves us in such a tangible way. This week’s Advent Challenges are probably two of my favorites. Our family loves music, and we love to have a good ole family dance party in the living room. It brings me much joy to watch our daughter dance with pure jubilation. We also LOVE receiving Christmas cards each year! Our daughter loves looking at pictures of friends and families she recognizes from real life, and we tell her stories about the friends she has yet to meet. Then, I hang them up on the wall and there they stay… until this year. Part of this week’s Advent Challenge is to take those cards off the fridge, or wherever you have them, and take a moment to pray for each of those families that sent you well wishes this Christmas season. Just as they have brought JOY in sharing their lives with you, you can pray blessings of JOY for their family as well. What a fun and intentional way to pray for and with JOY, in our season of waiting for the Light of the World! Joyful blessings, Kierstie
just a few years prior in my first church home, The Church of Christ in Amity, Oregon. These elements were sort of strange and a bit ‘woo woo’ to me. My church experiences were minimal; including some Vacation Bible School (VBS) weeks, a few Sunday school classes at a Baptist church — they provided The Joy Bus that children could just hop on and go to church (you could do that in the olden days) — and a bit of Methodist youth group gatherings. So, I’m sure you can excuse me that with my limited and shotgun-style church experiences, the depth of the traditional worship aspects caused me to wonder if I had mistakenly stepped into a Catholic church. I didn’t know a lot about church stuff, but I knew there were rules to being a Catholic: 1) You should be one to attend. 2) I wasn’t one. Once I convinced myself that 1st Pres was not a Catholic church and I wasn’t breaking any religious rules, I came to not just being comfortable with these traditional elements, but to find an interesting level of comfort and an assuring peace in them, as I do in the Contemplative service at 10:30 a.m. It was like a warm invitation to step into the current of a river flowing for centuries and join a rich and deep ensemble of believers. Now, thirty years into a faith journey, I ironically find myself reading and studying several Catholic theologians, teachers, and authors as I look for how my God Creator, Father Encourager, and Mother Heart would have me mirror the life and love of Jesus Christ. One of these Catholic mentors is Henri Jozef Machiel Nouwen (January 24, 1932 – September 21, 1996). He was a Dutch Catholic priest, professor, writer and theologian. ![]() Today, I am happy to share with you an Advent meditation on the purpose of ‘remembering’. It has been my experience that remembering the myriads of ways and innumerable times our Lord has been faithful in my life is the most effective means to trusting in His grace and mercy for the present moment and future needs. May this meditation encourage you that the gifts of Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love are ours now and into the future. We only have to remember all the evidence of the mercy and grace given in the past. Blessings, Yvette
spot (weeks later, I found the resume on the desk – unopened). This was surprising as I did not truly have the experience needed to work this new position, but I’ve rarely been afraid to try something new. On the other hand, my family had a LOT to say about it. Steve was pretty sure I would not fit in, and both kids thought I was nuts. Little did I know that God was placing me in this experience to teach me a multitude of lessons.
Steve was right — I did not fit in. I had never worked in a food service job before and didn’t know anyone at the store. But I quickly learned so many things about life, meat and the Pacific Northwest. Meanwhile, my mom was convinced that the saw would ruin all her investments in my piano lessons and music career. However, I enjoyed what I was doing and learning, so I kept showing up! Eventually, I became part of the small seven-person team. Fast forward a couple of years, and I find myself with three jobs that I enjoy immensely and a side gig at the meat market on the holidays. They let me come in and man the cash register for the busy turkey season and the crazy busy prime rib season. The team there knows me better than anyone at school does, simply because of the time we’ve spent together wrapping thousands of pounds of hamburger into one-pound packages, processing a variety of game, and learning how to sell a steak. Our lifestyles are vastly different in some cases, but in others, not so much. I love seeing the different ways that our team takes care of our customers in these busy (and sometimes stressful) times. I have also been witness to the thoughtfulness and consideration our team shows to one another. One of us was sick, so another gave up his opportunity to leave early so she could get some extra rest. One volunteered to carry out turkeys for the older generations, never complaining when I yelled his name that he had to go out into the cold or that I was interrupting his task. One has impeccable customer service phone skills. Someone was continuously checking to make sure that I was okay, even though they were the ones running around like crazy trying to provide top-notch customer service. They would even notice that I was low on bags, needed more water in my water bottle, was out of jerky bags, etc. One of them found the perfect solution to the fact that I’m tall and the cash register was relatively low. People want to connect. They want to share. I love being on the praise team at 1stPres because you can hear the congregation singing with you and it’s fantastic. The sound creates an overwhelming sense of joy, and it’s always such a rush. The same is true of leading the choir, but I’m usually a lot more nervous, so I don’t notice it nearly as much. When I get to talk to every customer at the meat market, it’s a rush. I met a guy from a local band who volunteered to help me out with a community service event I had coming up. I’ve talked to so many people who shared who was coming to dinner and why they were looking forward to the day. All the guys love sharing their Traeger stories and how they will fix their main dish this year. I want to leave you with a lesson I’ve learned and one that I will carry with me, particularly through the month of December. Sometimes working in the service industry is a little dicey. Things will inevitably go wrong, mistakes will be made, and customers might be dissatisfied. In most cases, I can maneuver the situation to keep the line moving and the customer satisfied. However, in the situations where I feel overwhelmed, I know that the owner, Tim, and the team are right beside me when we navigate stressful times in the store. My goal this year is to keep my perspective and bounce back quickly in times of stress and hardship, knowing that God has placed the people and circumstances in my life to not only teach me things, but to grow from every experience. And for what it’s worth, Mom, I’ve never been allowed to touch the saw, and rarely the slicer, at the meat market. :) In His Name, Renee |
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