The Moons are back in town with their newly adopted son, Gavin Thomas - who is the newest hit in the ward :-). Gavin was 9 lbs 2 oz, happy and healthy and Kristin is delighted to share him with others.
We had a few releases and sustainings. Releases were: Yadira C as the 3rd counselor in the RS presidency and Mariann C from the RS weekday committee. Lauren S was sustained to the fellowshipping committee.
Martine J spoke on motherhood and mentioned mothers from each of the scriptures; the Old Testament says to honor your father and mother, Mary from the New Testament, the 2,000 Stripling Warriors and their mothers from the Book of Mormon, Emma from the Doctrine and Covenants and Eve from the Pearl of Great Price. Lauren S, new to our ward, spoke on mothers and service and said that public service is our rent for our place here on this earth. Lauren also retold the story of the statue of Christ that was damaged during WWII and was left with no hands and now bears a plaque that says, "We are His hands." Randy S and Marcia R did a flute/piano duet of Love at Home that was beautiful!!! Bob B spoke and told 2 stories; one about a quadriplegic who didn't let his disabilities stop him or get him down. The story was of a friend who has been dealing with depression and tried to end her life, but a friend happened to stop by and get her help. He said that he gave her a jar and a bunch of marbles and told her that she was to think of the good in her life and put a marble in the jar for everything good thing she could think of. Bob pointed out that we each have lives with the jar half empty and the jar half full and it all depends on what we choose to think about and focus on as to whether we see the good or see the bad.
Eric S did a great job of teaching the Sunday School lesson on "Beware Lest Thou Forget" on Deut 6,8,11 & 32. It was stressed that we should build upon the Rock of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Relief Society lesson, on prophets, was wonderfully taught by Mariann C. Here are a couple of my favorite quotes from the lesson:
“The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff [2004], 199).
If we obey, the Lord promises, “The gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory” (D&C 21:6). When we do as our prophet directs, blessings pour down from heaven.
Make it a GREAT week!!!
With much love,
Debbie
P.S. I feel badly that I don't get to report on the Gospel Essentials, 30-year old Sunday School, Family History or Priesthood, so I will gladly accept other's reports or I might attend the other classes every so often myself :-).
A few calendar items - to see the more items or more details, check out the website, asingleplace.com and click on the "activity list" link on the right hand side.
Family Night, May 10 at 7:00 at the Pinto's
Dance Instruction, May 13th at 7:00 at the Bryan building
Irvine Stake food storage cooking class - on rice, May 15th at 9 am in the stake center - taught by Br. Wong
OCBC dance, May 15th at 8:30 in Anaheim
