Brothers and Sisters,
I have gone through several different ideas and drafts of messages that I want to share with you, but none have felt right. Most of my thoughts have either felt inadequate, pushed, rushed or just wrong. Therefore, I would like to share with you my testimony of my Savior.
I know that we have a Savior who has Atoned for us. I know that God through his infinite goodness and understanding created a plan that functions even today allowing each of us to come down to this earth and receive a body of flesh and blood. A body allowing us to be tested and tried to see if we will follow our Savior. This opportunity is only successful if we allow the Savior to heal us, clean us and perfect us. I know that Christ suffered for my sins, he suffered for my transgressions and he also suffered to understand those parts of life that sometimes just don’t make sense. I know that he suffered so that he can extend his mercy to me and each of you.
I know that if we accept Christ as our Savior and try to become like him, there is a reward waiting for us to one day return to our Father in Heaven in honor and glory to live with him and his Son. I know that God loves each of us, and we are here on earth to prove we love him.
I am grateful for this chance, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Matt Rogers
Other Items:
Congratulations
Welcome home to Elder David Alder who has returned from his mission from Florida, Ft. Lauderdale Mission Spanish Speaking.
Calls and Releases:
Clay Davis has been released from his calling as an activity day leader, we would like to thank him for his service in this capacity.
Weekly Zoom Meetings. We will continue to have weekly Zoom meetings in our ward on Sundays at 10:00am. Please remember these meetings are optional and supplemental to your home-centered studies. The monthly schedules will be as follows:
· 1st Sunday: Under Direction of Bishopric
· 2nd Sunday: Relief Society
· 3rd Sunday: Sunday School
· 4th Sunday: Relief Society (10:00am) with Elders (9:00am or 11:00am)
· 5th Sunday: Under Direction of Bishopric
Two Firesides for the adult and youth this Sunday that is being organized by the Stake, please see their email for more information, these are the links of the two sessions. The one at 2:00 PM is for Youth and Parents, the one at 3:00 PM is for Parents and Adults.
In-Person Sacrament Meeting. Consistent w/the Stake Presidency’s email on July 27, 2020, the Elk Ridge ward will begin meeting for one (1) hour in-person sacrament meetings on September 6, 2020 and continue to thereafter meet for one (1) hour in-person sacrament meetings on the first Sunday of each month. We will have two (2) sacrament meetings on our designated Sunday each month.
The times and groupings for our Ward’s sacrament meetings are as follows:
9:00 a.m. – Members are invited to attend with the last names starting with letters “A-K”
10:30 a.m. – Members are invited to attend with the last names starting with letters “L-Z”
As a reminder, no one should attend who: (a) is not comfortable coming for any reason; (b) is sick or anyone in their family is sick, or has the potential of having been exposed to the virus in the last 14 day; and (c) anyone who had a COVID-19 test pending.
For those who attend:
· We highlight the recent council from our area presidency asking us to be good citizens and wear masks in public. This includes sacrament meeting. Masks are suggested for all who attend. Families are encouraged to come with their own mask.
· Ward leadership is required to wear a mask to set the example.
· Physical distancing should be observed before, during and after the meetings and in all places including the foyers of the building
In advance of meeting, we will determine safe places for you to sit in the congregation and will block off selected rows (including those nearest the pulpit). We will also adhere to all other guidelines recommended and imposed in the Stake’s July 27 email.
Please also note that we will be training our young men in advance of meeting so that the sacrament is administered in a sanitary and appropriate manner.
Finally, please remember that attendance is open to those who are comfortable under the circumstances while others should continue meeting at home even on the week of their assigned ward. In particular, we encourage members who are in high-risk categories to consider continuing to meet at home.
For those who stay home during our in-person meeting weeks and for all of you during the weeks when we do not hold in-person meetings, you may continue to administer the sacrament in your homes each week. The Bishop has asked President Hanks to direct the work of administration of the sacrament in our homes.