St. Martin's will have its Annual Congregation Meeting on Sunday Jan. 17 at 1 pm in the Fellowship Hall. A potluck luncheon will begin right after the 11 am worship, and the St. Martin's Symphonic Winds will play waltzes and polkas. Please bring a dish to share. Members will be voting for new Church Council and School Board members, and on the 2010 budgets.

   You also are encouraged to come to these events:

• Jan. 10: 2010 Budget Forum. Learn more about St. Martin's proposed 2010 budget at our Budget Forum on Jan. 10 at 10 am in Rm 230. Copies of the proposed budget are available in the Lobby. Members will vote on the 2010 budget at the Annual Congregational Meeting on Jan. 17 at 1 pm in the Fellowship Hall.

• Jan. 17: "Dreams Can Come True" Adult Forum session led by the St. Martin's Church Council. Join the St. Martin's Church Council at 10 am in the Fellowship Hall to talk about what our dreams are for the congregation in the future.

   Mark your calendars and register online now for the St. Martin's Women's Retreat at Camp Chrysalis on Jan. 22-24. Cost is $125, which includes meals, lodging and a workshop on "Spirtuality & Creativity" with St. Martin's member and artist, Bunny Oliver.

New Members
at St. Martin's

   St. Martin's welcomed its newest members into the congregation on Dec. 20. They are: Casey & Eric Dusza with son Gavin; Scott Doering & Cherie Townsend; Alma Kuttruff, and Andrew Baumgartner.

   Have you ever wondered what you would do if you won the lottery? Pay off bills, take a trip, buy a house? At one time or another, most of us dream about what it would be like if we had extra money. We know that money does not bring happiness or spiritual fulfillment, but sometimes we can use money to make our community better -- if we use it well.

   Here at St. Martin's, we've been blessed with so many gifts. The leadership has always taken great responsibility to use those gifts wisely and always in the service of God and others. Sometimes that means watching our expenditures closely and not spending on "extras." But sometimes we dream about what we could do if we had extra money.

   The staff was asked what they would do with just $2,000 extra dollars:

• "I would get audio equipment and training to make quality recordings of our worship services and music for electronic use and for shut-ins."

• "I would buy vinyl mats for the men who use our Freeze Night Shelter."

• "I'd like to see the Sunday School hallways spruced up to be more inviting: warmer colors on the walls, preschool-style room numbers above each door, murals, etc."

• "I would use it as seed money for a spectacular Christmas concert featuring all of St. Martin's musicians and storytellers."

• "I would give it to the pastors of Agua Viva Lutheran Church in Laredo. As mission pastors, their salaries were cut by 30 percent this year."

• "I would bring our Christian library up to date, and make it exciting and useful for our members."

   These are just a few ideas from staff members. What are your dreams for St. Martin's? Who could we reach and what could we do if we had more funds to do it? Would it be a new staff person, a service ministry, a building improvement, a new evangelism tool? What could we do at St. Martin's if we let ourselves dream?

   Come to the Adult Forum on Jan. 17 at 10 am in the Fellowship Hall and share your dreams for St. Martin's with the Church Council.

1. Save the date -- Sunday Feb. 21 -- and make plans to attend.
2. Share a talent with the congregation at the Variety Show at 1 pm
3. Donate an item to the auction. We accept all gifts of time, talent or treasures.

Notes from across the congregation
 

• Jan. 10: Parents & Promises Lesson, led by Sharolyn Browning, Child & Family Minister. Everyone is invited, especially parents, to a discussion about Baptism and Communion. You will come away equipped to help children be a part of the sacraments of Christ's family and have for yourself a renewed joy in the grace we all share.

• Jan. 17: Dreams Can Come True, led by the St. Martin's Church Council. Join the St. Martin's Church Council to talk about what our dreams are for St. Martin's in the future.

• Jan. 24: Lutheran Campus Ministry, led by Rev. Paul Collinson-Streng and the students of Lutheran Campus Ministry. The campus pastor from UT's campus ministry and student members of the program will talk about their work.

• Jan. 31-Feb. 14: Christian Imagery in Harry Potter, led by Ed Shirley, professor of Religious Studies at St. Edward's University. Our favorite St. Edward's professor will share an abbreviated version of his very popular university class here at St. Martin's. This is not to be missed!

• Feb. 21-Mar. 28: See Through the Scriptures, led by Harvey & Betsy Kitzman. Get a full Bible overview with the popular Crossways program. Books will be provided; please come with your NRSV Bibles.