There will be no regular meeting in March, but we will meet for “rip and roll” on March 1^st. On Sunday, March 4 World Day of Prayer takes place at Thabor Lutheran Church. Florence, Immy and Linda are on the committee from our church.

If you are attending the Covenant Church, you are a member of “Women’s Ministries.” Please come to our meetings and activities.

GPPP 11- Where Does God Want To Take You Next?

If someone said, “A lot of people talk about "life changing" moments or events in their lives...but this truly is mine. Pilgrimage has the power to not only change your heart, but also your spirit, your mind, and your soul. It’s a true transformation experience. I will never be the way I was before. This experience embodies Christ's spirit on earth,” would you sit up and take notice of what they were saying? Would you want what they had?

Great Plains Pilgrimage #11 will be held April 18-22, 2012. Pilgrimage is a three-day renewal retreat for Christian adults, that is designed to further the faith walk of the individual, and thereby strengthen churches. It possesses the ability to truly transform your Christian walk!

Where: The weekend is held at Camp Calvin Crest, just outside of Fremont, Nebraska, in their comfortable Retreat Center.

When: The weekend begins at 5pm on Thursday the 18^th of April and concludes by 4pm on Sunday the 22^nd of April.

What: The weekend is all-inclusive. Cost is $230 per person with scholarships available upon request. Food, fun, fellowship, worship, prayer, communion, teaching, praise, and laughter are all guaranteed!

Who: All ages, stages, and denominations are welcome!

How: Guest registrations are currently being taken and can be submitted to Dan & Shelly Story, or to the GPPP registrar listed on the form. There are information flyers and registration forms hanging on the bulletin board in the foyer. www.gpppilgrimage.org.

Membership Sunday- The New Membership Class has been ongoing since January. Those completing the class will be welcomed as new members of this church on Sunday, February 26 during service. Our family continues to grow. PTL!

Church Directory- A new church directory is in the beginning stages. First thing are pictures. Family and individual portraits are being taken at church on Feb. 4 and 5. A sign-up is in the foyer. A congregational picture will be taken on Feb. 5. Please plan on attending church that morning in order to be included!

jUNIOR hIGH yOUTH gROUP- Plans are being made for some special events for the junior high youth group in the next few months. First off, mark your calendars for Friday, March 16^th! We will be having our LOCK-IN that night, and many fun plans await us! Invite your friends get ready for a great night. Also, sometime this spring the youth group will be preparing and delivering a Sunday night meal to the Norfolk Rescue Mission. Watch for more information in the future. Lastly, it is my sincere hope that we will do a mission project or trip before the school year ends or possibly in the summer, and although the plans for it have yet to be made, I know will bless us greatly. Thank you to everyone who has brought us our snacks so far this year! They are wonderful!!

New Women’s Monday Night Study- The Wausa Community Women’s Ministry is hosting a new Monday night bible study starting Monday, Feb. 6^th, called “Brave” by Angela Thomas. This weekly, 7-session study takes place from 7-9 p.m. and is open to all women of the community. Books are available for $12. Contact Kathy Hennings for more information.

C.E. Board Highlights - The C.E. Board met on January 11^th at church. The meeting was opened with prayer and followed by election of officers. They are as follows: Shannon Knox, Chairperson; Deb Cayler, Secretary; Dennis Wamberg, Pastoral Relations Committee representative.

The returning members of the board explained to the new members what the CE board does. Basically, it oversees the Sunday School and Snack Shack activities, as well as other fellowship promoting activities.

Shannon reported that Snack Shack begins on the 12^th and that everyone is excited about getting started again. We should be looking for someone to be the “overseer” of the scheduling of dinners. The curriculum for Shack is based on Genesis. Anywhere from 25-35 kids come every Wednesday night for dinner and classes. There are two adult classes. April 25^th will be the last night of Shack for the year and celebrated with an awards night.

Next we discussed AWANA, including cost of the program and helpers needed for staffing. There was much more discussion about curriculum, rewards, and how this is an evangelistic endeavor that would be a strong draw for the kids in Wausa and surrounding communities. It was decided to ask a representative to come and give a presentation to our church. After that time, the CE board would be able to give a recommendation to the Church Board, on whether to implement the AWANA program.

Wednesday, February 22 is Ash Wednesday, and there won’t be any Snack Shack classes that night.

With an increase in people in the Sunday morning classes, Pastor would like to see a third adult, co-ed group start up in the fall.

(submitted by Deb Cayler and further edited for space by interim church secretary)

Gary & Mary Lou Sander Visit - On Saturday, February 11 at noon, Long-Term Missionaries, Gary and Mary Lou Sander, will be visiting our church for a one-time engagement. They will be here to share the work they are doing for the Lord in the country of Columbia. Please come and meet the Sanders for this potluck lunch at the church. More information about the Sanders can be found on the bulletin board at church.

Sweetheart Italian Dinner - The CHIC Girls invite you to a Sweetheart Italian Dinner on February 12^th at the church at 6:00 p.m.. You will be treated to dinner, dessert and entertainment for $20 per couple. What a sweet deal. Sign up in the narthex, or contact a CHIC Girl: Hanna or Rachel Knox, Reba Shimer, Breana Gallup or Tiara Wamberg.

Every Kid a Camper (EKAC) - The EKAC Committee met on January 20, 2012. Committee members for 2012 are: JoAnn Banks, Marcy Donner, Julie Nowell, Betty Banks, Rich Ketelsen, Tim Johnson, Janie Johnson and Matt Norlen. We will be having our usual fundraisers with a few adjustments.

The EKAC Dinner and Auction will be held on April 15, 2012, at the Wausa City Auditorium. We will be having hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, bars and salads again this year, and the Saturday Morning Men’s Group will be doing the grilling for us. We will also scale down the auction this year and just have a pre-tagged bake sale. We have been blessed financially so we are going to wait until next year to have the big auction. The dinner will be a free-will donation, and we are always blessed by the generous giving of the EKAC supporters.

The Snack Shack Camp Night will be March 7, so please let everyone know who wants to go to camp. We will be doing registration that night and getting a list of who wants to go to camp. The camps will be here to present information about their camps, and we will have a wonderful evening of fellowship.

The Labor Day Carnival will be held again on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. This is always a good opportunity to share about camp with the public and to provide a fun and safe place for the kids to play for the day. Please let us know if you have any game ideas or would like to be part of this great event.

Concrete for Christ - Greetings, Concrete for Christ Members and Supporters!!

The 2012 Concrete For Christ mission trip dates have been set as Friday, February 24 through Saturday March 3, 2012. As usual, we look forward to the people God will provide to accomplish the work at hand. Are you a carpenter, a plumber, an electrician, a handyman? Can you sew, paint or cook, wash dishes, sweep, and of course pray? We need you! At this time we have 15 people going – some names you might recognize: Fred Baedke, Dennis and Kay Kronberg, Marcy and Roger Donner, Jim Donner (Rog’s brother), Cindy and Brad Schaller, and Bruce Murdock.

We will be doing some construction projects, painting, sewing and repair, and there are always projects waiting for us. It is such a blessing to enjoy fellowship time with local believers and to help distribute food and bibles to people in need in McAllen and Mexico. The people are so gracious and grateful it is very humbling to realize what little we can give in the face of such a great need. God can do miracles!

At this point, we are planning to spend a day at the orphanage in rural Reynosa, Mexico. There is so much need there and so little time. We ask you to pray for safety as we cross the border so we can get many projects done in our short time there.

We had our potluck fundraiser on January 29^th, and raised $935.00 toward supplies. We will also be having a bake sale at the Senior Citizens Center on February 11^th. If you would like to bake or buy, we welcome either! If you would like to donate please make your check payable to Concrete For Christ. Above all else we ask you to pray for each member of the team, for the people we meet, and safety during our journey.

Concrete For Christ

C/o Wausa Evangelical Covenant Church

P.O. Box 164,

Wausa, NE 68786

Girls Night Live - Calling the Ladies…A concert, featuring Mandisa, will take place on the evening of February 18^th in Omaha. Kay K. is offering the use of her van so we can ride together and get a group rate, which requires a purchase of 15 or more tickets. So ask your friends, family and co-workers if they would like to go, and let Kay or Marcy know so they can get a list going.

“Girl's Night Live” is a night to enjoy great music, laugh till you cry, and be encouraged in your relationship with God and friends. What girl doesn't want a night like that? See the poster in the church foyer for more details.

Our Sympathies go to the families of these ladies, who passed away in January:

· The family of Carle Johnson

· The family of Eugenia “Jean” N. Norlen, Apr 9, 1926 – Jan 30, 2012, grandmother to our own Pastor Matt Norlen. She was preceded in death by parents, Lloyd and Clara Perfect; brother, Gail Perfect; sister, Clara Mae Seger; husband, Ralph A. Norlen. Survived by children: David Norlen (Pam), Gayle Shedd, Carol Medick (Jack), Greg Norlen (Cindy); 9 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and friends.

The family will receive friends Friday, (Feb. 3) 6pm to 8pm at the West Center Chapel. MEMORIAL SERVICE Saturday, (Feb. 4) 11a.m., First Covenant Church, 201 North 90 St., Private Interment, Hillcrest Memorial Park. Memorials are suggested to Covenant Cedars Bible Camp, First Covenant Church, or Alegent Health Hospice.

Notes from Friends and Family

(from Jan. 29) “Thank you for the love and support shown to Del and Carle Johnson over the many years they worshipped with you. I found a note from her saying about her death, ‘On to the next adventure. God only knows where.’ Thanks to Reverend Matthew Norlen for his comforting talk.” ~Karen P. Vaughn (Carle’s sister)

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(from Jan. 24) “Marty & I would like to announce the birth of our little girl, Kinslee Kate born Jan. 22 @ 5:25pm. She weighed 8lbs 5oz, and is 21 3/4inches long. We are so blessed, as she is perfect and I did not have to be induced, which was scheduled for Monday morning. She is welcomed home by Dawson, Kilee, Lincoln, and her mom and dad. Her grandparents are Jean & Ralph Holcomb, Meldean Ziehmer of Norfolk & Tom and Donna Ziehmer of Norfolk. Her great grandparents are Violet Thorell of Wausa and Dorothy Ziehmer of Meadow Grove.” ~ Kristal Thorell

~ Congratulations, Thorells!

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(from Jan. 15) “Dear Church Family,

Mike and I would like to thank you for your prayers during Hallie’s illness. We are so blessed to be a part of a family that we can count on to be there when the times are hard. Thanks to those of you who brought over supper. It was very good and very much appreciated.”

~ Mike Kumm family

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(from Jan. 30) “Dear Church Family,

We’d like to thank you for spending Sunday with us at our shower! Your love and support means the world to us! We would also like to thank Immy, Shelly, LaNell and Karla for throwing the shower! Thank you again for everything. God has blessed us with you and we are grateful!

~Love, Russell & Jules