Coulee Dam Ward Newsletter

03/24/2020

The Area Presidency letter:



Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We extend our love to you and want you to know we are praying for your safety and well-being.

The next few weeks and months will likely be a time of significant challenge and economic struggle for many as efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 continue. We assure each of you that our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, are mindful of us and our individual needs. We can turn to Them for peace and comfort.

Sunday, March 29, 2020, is a fast Sunday. It is also the weekend just prior to April general conference. As an Area Presidency, we invite you to join us in a special day of fasting and mighty prayer. The purpose of this fast is five-fold:

1. To ask the Lord to bless and inspire our Church and government leaders and their efforts to protect the health and well-being of all people and to find solutions to address the challenges we are facing in all nations.
2. To pray for all those who are suffering the physical, emotional, and economic impact of COVID-19, that they will be blessed according to their needs.
3. To pray that the hearts of people everywhere will be softened and turned toward the Lord in humility and that faith in Jesus Christ will increase on the earth.
4. To pray for spiritual strength to overcome fear and anxiety, for inspiration to protect ourselves and our families, and for the awareness and ability to minister to those in need.
5. To pray for increased understanding and personal revelation in preparation for general conference and the prophetic guidance and messages regarding the bicentennial of the Restoration.

Like the prophet Enos, we too can turn to the Lord in mighty prayer in behalf of ourselves, our families, our nations, and those in need. He will hear and answer our humble prayers.

We hope you will invite others of faith to join with us in uniting our faith and prayers. As you do, please consider a generous fast offering and, based on your personal circumstances, a donation to the Humanitarian Fund. As an Area Presidency, we will be looking for significant and meaningful ways to address the immediate and growing humanitarian needs of our Area. We encourage you to listen to and share President Russell M. Nelson’s recent media posts on hope and love with your family and friends.

We invite you to join us in a special day of fasting and mighty prayer and to unite with others as we pray for heaven’s help and blessings.

Sincerely,

The North America West Area Presidency

03/24/2020

The Bishop has asked me to post this letter that he has sent out in email. In the email he attached the letter that many of us received in our email from the Area Presidency. Assuming that some of you may not have received that letter, I will copy it and put it in a different post. Sorry if this is confusing, but we are trying to reach as many of you with as much information as we can.

Sisters and Brothers,

I am forwarding this request from the Area Presidency, as some of you may not have seen it. It dovetails nicely with our intended fast and preparation for General Conference.

In response to my message of yesterday, Sister Child said that parents of Primary Youth can "access the primary lesson manual through the gospel library app. They list many activities that are focused for younger or older kids. It would be a great resource during this time. Also The Friend which can also be accessed through the app gives Family Home Evening Lessons ideas that are so fun and engaging for kids." Thank you Sister Child.

As many of you may have heard, Governor Inslee has issued a mandatory "stay at home" order. We are examining how this order will affect your receiving the sacrament and we will let you know as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Bishop Foster

03/23/2020

A message from the Bishop:

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

I hope this finds you well and having enjoyed this beautiful Sabbath. We are truly blessed to live is such a wonderful area.

We are especially fortunate to live in these days and have inspired leadership of prophets and apostles. Even though we are living in the trying times of health issues, we have been told to prepare for situations such as this, even telling us that, ". . .if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." (Doctrine and Covenants 38:30).

I have been asked to remind you that the Columbia River Temple is temporarily closed. From the Columbia River Temple, "Based on First Presidency direction, temple activities have been temporarily adjusted. This temple has suspended all operations and ordinances until further notice. If you have an existing appointment for a sealing or your own endowment, you will be contacted by temple staff. Please check this page frequently for updates. Thank you." From the Spokane Temple, "Based on First Presidency direction, temple activities have been temporarily adjusted. Where possible, living sealings and associated living ordinances will continue to be performed. If you have an existing appointment for a sealing or your own endowment, temple staff will be contacting you to confirm or adjust the appointment as needed. The performance of proxy ordinances is suspended until further notice. As long as the temple remains open for living ordinances, names may be submitted for the prayer roll. Please check this page frequently for updates. Thank you."

While the temple schedules may be temporarily adjusted, the opportunity for us to participate in gospel centered learning continues. Your Ward Primary, Sunday School, Melchizedek Priesthood, Relief Society, Young Women's and Young Men's presidencies have put together a list of lesson schedules that were posted here earlier today. Please take the time to continue your gospel study and strengthen your testimony.

As we learned in this last week's study of Jacob, challenges in our lives and to our faith will come, but we can be ready by seeking the Spirit, studying the scriptures and words of the Prophets, and gaining our own testimony of Jesus Christ. When we do, we will be prepared spiritually and able to stand in peace.

Because of the blessings of technology, we can even participate in activities such as family history, self reliance education, and missionary work. As was expressed by the 1st Presidency this morning, we even have the privilege of communicating with each other. Because have been asked to maintain social distancing, it does not mean we have to maintain social silence.

I bear you my testimony that God lives. His Son, Jesus Christ is the Savior. We are blessed to be alive, even in these times. Rejoice! In the Name of Jesus Christ.

I love you and pray for your welfare.

Bishop Foster

03/21/2020

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A message from the Bishop:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I have had some inquiries as to the Sacrament, which I hope this note will answer.

The First Presidency requested that the Sacrament be provided to the members at least once a month. As you will see, Branches and Wards throughout The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will do this differently. Please refrain from comparisons, as circumstances in each unit and the members therein vary.

The administration of the Sacrament is the responsibility of a Bishop. Therefore, holding the Sacrament in the home is also under the discretion of a Bishop and permission to do so must come from that office. While we all want and have come to rely upon having the Sacrament each Sabbath, as a Bishopric, we have felt impressed to follow the direction of the 1st Presidency in having the Sacrament in homes one time in March, and that on the 29th. Frequency of the administration of the Sacrament will be re-evaluated as we move forward.

While it is true that some homes have the blessing of a priesthood holder, others do not. With this, to get the Sacrament to these families, we are asking Ministering Brethren to go to them and perform this service. In this time of health uncertainty, we need to minimize these interactions for all concerned.

Those homes with a priesthood holder could have the Sacrament each Sunday, but this would be insensitive to individuals and families not so blessed. Therefore, we are asking all of us to participate in the body of the Ward and share alike in the blessings we have of the Sacrament. To those who have the priesthood in your home, this is a good time to exercise the compassion spoken of by Alma to "mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort" (Mosiah 18:9). To those who do not, you are a valued part of the Ward body and the blessings of the priesthood are extended to you with equality.

Brothers and Sisters, please prepare for the Sacrament on March 29 through prayer and fasting. The Lord loves each of you and will bless you through your obedience.

Sincerely,

Bishop Foster

03/15/2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In this time of difficulty, we send this message to encourage you to be of good cheer and recognize the blessings we have in such abundance. Our Church leaders have been inspired in giving us the "Come Follow Me" program and reminding us that the Church is here to support us in our individual and family efforts. Please stay strong in daily participation in this wonderful program and you will have added peace to your souls.

In following the direction of the 1st Presidency, the Elder's Quorum Presidency will be organizing the administration of the Sacrament for the members of the Coulee Dam Ward. The 1st Presidency has requested that the Sacrament be provided to the members at least once a month.

As a Bishopric and in consultation with President Miller, we are asking you to prepare to have the Sacrament in your homes on March 29. Those homes with a worthy Melchizedek Priesthood holder will have permission to administer the Sacrament for their family on that day. For those of you in other circumstances, your ministering brethren will contact you to make arrangements for a time for this sacred ordinance on that day.

As March 29 will be Fast Sunday, we also invite you to participate with us in a special fast for two blessings. First, we ask you to call upon the Lord for His blessings in the current health crisis. Second, we invite you to supplicate the Lord to prepare us for the blessings we have in store in the upcoming General Conference.

This Conference promises to be an historic event. To help you prepare additionally, we remind you of President Russel M. Nelson's invitation to read the Prophet Joseph Smith's account of the First Vision of the Father and Son in the Pearl of Great Price.

May the Lord bless you.

Sincerely,

Bishop Foster

03/15/2020

https://youtu.be/E1i5-ew2l9k

President Russell M. Nelson shares a message of hope and peace during the March 2020 COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak. He encourages members to take care of t...

03/13/2020

Bishop Foster asked me to post the following:

Due to health concerns of COVID-19 all church meetings and activities have been cancelled by the First Presidency until further notice. General Conference will still go on but you will need to view it on ChurchofJesusChrist.org or other media from home as there will be no broadcasts at chapels. If you have a need please contact your ministering brothers or sisters. Stay safe and healthy.