BIBLE FACTS ON TODAY’S READINGS Mark 1:29-39 - Mark's gospel situates most of Jesus' ministry in the northern region of Galilee. In synagogues and private homes Jesus embodies the coming reign of God in word and deed. This passage exemplifies the paradoxes in Mark: Jesus enacts divine power, yet also desires his identity to be hidden. The Christian communities in the 70s gathered in homes and hearing Mark's gospel are aligned with Peter's family and the disciples, recognizing the hidden messiah and serving one another. The theme of unclean spirits is continued, in the references to demons. Isaiah 40:21-31 - Chapter 40 begins Second Isaiah, which took shape about 550 B.C.E. following the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 587. Isaiah 40–55 proclaims the hope that God will restore the city and will end the people's political exile, which the poet likens to God's powerful conquering of chaos at creation. Scholars view theologians such as Second Isaiah as history's first monotheists: even though the chosen people are exiled away from their holy land, God is still their God, since their LORD God is the only God, with power over the whole world. 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 - In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul has been explaining his understanding of what the gospel is, what an apostle is, and the relationship between an apostle and a worshiping community. He stresses the freedom granted by the gospel and the paradox of Christian freedom, which is to serve others, since Christ's "law" of love has replaced the Jewish law of Torah. In verse 1 he states that he has seen the risen Lord, yet in verse 22 he asserts a willingness to be weak. PASTORAL CARE OR EMERGENCIES Pastor Barb will be on vacation from February 1st to February 17th.  If there is a pastoral need or emergency please contact Diane Gehrts (815-541-4549), or Bob Stark (815-776- 0315), who will contact the pastor on call. NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS ELECTED New Church Council members were elected at our Annual Meeting last week. We would like to congratulate Larry Cording and Julienne Strasser who join the council and thank Vickie Sershon and Ron Schultz for their outstanding work on our behalf over the past 3 years. A short Council Meeting was held after the Annual Meeting and we are pleased to announce that Diane Gehrts will continue on as President, Jim Cox will assume the Vice President position and our new Secretary is Tammy Winter.  Serving with them are Larry Cording, Mel Ehrler and Julienne Strasser. May they continue to be guided by the Holy Spirit as they lead our congregation.   SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY Souper Bowl Sunday was a great success, and the Youth collected a total of $347 for World Hunger.  We would like to thank all of those who contributed food and all those who attended the Souper Bowl Lunch. PLEASE REMEMBER THE FOOD PANTRY THIS WEEK   We have a grocery cart in the entry way to receive your gifts.  The local food pantries benefit from our giving, and our donations stay right here in Jo Daviess County helping our neighbors in need. This month the need is soup, cereal, canned meats (tuna, chicken), pancake mix/syrup and one-box meals. ELCA WORLD HUNGER LEADERSHIP GATHERING  Becky Wright will be attending the annual ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering from Feb. 9-12 at Gateway Trinity Lutheran in Fort Myers, FL.  She will be representing the Northern Illinois Synod World Hunger committee.   A SIMPLE SURVEY If you have not yet completed the Simple Survey which was first handed out at church on January 29 please get one from the Welcoming Center and take about 10 seconds to fill it out. Put it in the basket in the Welcoming Center designated for that purpose. ADULT FORUM  Adult Forum will not meet for the next two weeks.  We resume Lesson One on the Gospel of John on February 19th.  All are welcome to join us in Classroom 3 (lower level). DEVOTIONAL MATERIAL Pick up your January - March Portals of Prayers.  They are on the Welcome Center table.  Beginning January 1, 2012  you will be able to go to www.shepherdofhill.com and read an on-line devotion provided by Luther Seminary in Minneapolis-St. Paul.   It is short, to the point and even has the scripture passage included.   Don't forget to get your day started or ended on the right note by doing a brief devotion with scripture.  BEEF NOODLE/CHILI SUPPER Christ Lutheran Church, 600 North Main Street, Stockton, Illinois is hosting a Beef Noddle/Chili Supper on Monday February 6, at 4:30 -7:00 pm. The menu includes: chili, beef noodle soup, ham sandwiches, relishes, cookies and drink. The cost is Adults $5.00 and Children under 10 years old $3.00. Carry-outs are available, call 815-947-2033. Proceeds to help seminary student Sharron Arnold. SUITS MAILING ADDRESS We have added Jeaneen Suits to the Prayer list.  She has had a significant illness and will be in rehabilitation for quite some time.  We would like to suggest that if folks wish to, they can send a card. The mailing address is: 681 Greenfield Road, Sugar Grove, IL  60554.  Duane needs our prayers and support too.     Sunday Worship Services with Holy Communion 8  & 10 am, (Pastor Chris Stienstra preaching) Sunday School 8:45 am (No Adult Forum) Choir Practice 9 am Monday  - Tuesday Quilting 8:30 am - 3 pm Wednesday - Thursday Office Open 11 am - 2 pm Friday - Saturday - Sunday Worship Services 8  & 10 am (Kari Gehrts preaching), Sunday School 8:45 am (No Adult Forum) Choir Practice 9 am     UPCOMING EVENTS  Wednesday , February 22th     Ash Wednesday Service 7 pm Week of February 5, 2012 Service Family     8 am - Bob & Barb Stark 10 am - Terry Sigafus & Judy Communion Acolytes 8 am - Brittany Brown 10 am - Brendan Carlborg Readers 8 am - Barb Stark 10 am - Judy Sunday School Cookies Virgie Anderson & Bonnie Dal Ponte Tellers Sarah & Joann Hesselbacher Hospitality Barb Stark & Jan Schultz SERVING US  February 12^th  JAMES ANDERSON ANDREW BOTTELL (Eva Koehn’s niece’s Son-In-Law) TAYLOR DANIEL (Nancy Sell's granddaughter) TERESA FOLKS COLLEEN HANSEN (Jim Hansen's Sister-In-Law) ANITA HANSON BONNIE HUBER (Kathy Kent’s Mom) RON KAPPES BROOKE KELEHER (Laura Duerr) CARL LANTAU (Tammy Winter’s Grandfather) PASTOR LAURA KOPPENHOEFFER LIAM PETELLE (Edie Petelle's grandson)  NORMA PRAHL (Israel, Krueger) LENORA BRANDT ROOT (Betty Holland) BROOKE SCHUBERT ALISON SCHWARTZ (Esther Huizenga) JOHN SINCOX CLINT SITZMANN (Diane Gehrts) MARY ANN STADEL JEANEEN SUITS DAVID SURFACE (Sandy Wilke’s Son-in- law) TONYA SAKOWICZ (friend of Hansen’s) KARLIE WHITE MEN AND WOMEN serving in the armed forces PEACE IN THE WORLD