February 1, 2026 Annual Meeting

February 1st kicks off the February Sweetheart Food Drive - Sunday’s theme is Breakfast

February 5th is the deadline to submit your letter of interest and resume for the Community Engagement Specialist position - See more details by scrolling down.

February 10th or 11th Interviews for Community Engagement Specialist will be conducted

Back in the day, my cousin Willie once refused to get on the phone with my mom. “I’m too busy. Saying hello to Blanche takes a half-hour.”

        I am my mother’s son. So, throughout my ministry I have tried to keep church letter reflections to 100 words.

        Being at my limit, just let me quote Jesus on being succinct in prayer.

“When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. This is how you should pray, Our Father…” Matthew 6:7,9

Grace and Peace, Pastor Steve

The February Sweetheart Food Drive Is beginning. Each Sunday in February will have a theme and the theme for Sunday Feb 1st is Breakfast.  Suggestions include but are not limited to: Cereals, pancake Mixes, syrups, hot cereal, etc. If you are not able to bring something, cash donations are accepted in the jar on the display case in the narthex. Stay tuned to see what will be requested next.            

The Personnel committee, along with Session, are excited to announce that the Community Engagement specialist position is open for all church members or regular attenders.  Please review the job description here, and if interested please send a letter of interest and resume to this email:  Clerk Session clerkofsession@brightonfirstpres.org.  Personnel will be reviewing all applications and conducting interviews at 4:00 p.m. either on the 10th or the 11th of February.

Life’s most persistent question is, “What are you doing for others?”  Our congregation answered that question in the unselfish way you supported Mission Committee’s Christmas projects.  Giving Tree – 48 tags with gifts going to the Boys and Girls Club/Brighton; disabled children and adults from ARC; Ruth Presbyterian Church and 24 gift cards for low-income clients of the Pennock Center for Counseling.  

Boys and Girls Club – All stamps were covered for 200 Christmas cards.  Alternate Gift Giving - $286 was contributed to Heifer International; $490 to the Henderson Community Church food bank; and $2,215 for school fees for the HCOC in Zimbabwe.  Mission Committee thanks you for using your resources to reach out into our community and world.

A message from St. Jude’s Ranch for Children.

We would like to share with you that after 35 years, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children is ending its Recycled Card Program. The program, which formerly taught teens work skills by creating new cards from used greeting cards, is concluding due to a combination of challenges. Card sales have been steadily declining, and the organization has struggled with limited volunteer availability to manage the program’s operations. Moreover, our teen work-skills program has evolved, with a greater emphasis on our transitional living program that offers more comprehensive real-life training experiences.

The process of managing card donations has become increasingly complex and resource-intensive. Receiving large volumes of cards by mail, opening and cataloging submissions, and disposing of unused cards requires significant time and financial investment. These logistical challenges, combined with the reduced demand for recycled greeting cards, made the program increasingly unsustainable.

Despite closing this long-running initiative, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children remains committed to being a community of hope and healing for abused, neglected, homeless, and exploited children.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the many supporters across the country who have sent used greeting cards over the years, and we hope these loyal donors will continue to support our important work in helping vulnerable youth.

Ugly Quilts need blankets, comforters, mattress pads and/or drapes donations.  Please drop off donations in the boxes by the food pantry shelves or to the Ugly Quilts ladies on Monday mornings.

The Wired Word Discussion Group  This group meets in the Founder’s Room here at the church  Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m.  The group reads from a publication called The Wired Word, and after reading the articles, they discuss the various topics each week.  If you’re interested in joining this discussion group, you can contact Bret Sibley at sibleyhb22@gmail.com 

Women’s Bible Study:  The Women’s Bible study group meets the second Thursday of the month at 2:00 p.m. and tries to finish up by 4:00 p.m.  They meet in homes and take turns hosting and leading the Sessions.  If you’re interested in joining you can contact Connie Gauditz at cgauditz@comcast.net  or sign up in the church office where you can pick up the guide.

“Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you wait all day long.”     Psalm 25.5

Our church has had a long history of celebrating the birth of a baby whether our own child or a grandchild, niece or nephew.  We would like to continue this tradition. When you or someone in your family has had a new baby, please contact Jen in the church office.  Let her know the name of the child and their date of birth.   A rose bud for each child born will be on the communion table the next time we celebrate.

Philippians 4:4-7, Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We pray for our world, our nation and our community, that we may recognize the Prince of People in all places.

Donna Procoda, who will have oral surgery on Monday, February 2.

The family of Tom Littleton who passed away after a 6 year battle with cancer. He is now at peace with God.

Peace in our country.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Mark 11:24

JoAnn Raming 1/29

Hannie van Deventer 2/1

Marijo Hinton 2/1

Dave Rose 2/3

1 Chronicles 16:34, Give thanks to the Lord, for God is good and the Lord’s love endures forever.

We give thanks for all the many ministries we are privileged to do that are listed in our Annual Report.

We give thanks for the legions of ministries, acts of kindness, and caring that are done for us, our surrounding neighborhood, across the globe and for each other.

We give thanks for the moisture we received last week.

We give thanks for our worship and all our volunteers and worship ministers.

The historic Six Great Ends of the Church, the Six Great Goals of the People of God past, present and future begins with The Proclamation of the Gospel for the Salvation of Humankind.

When someone is insulting. Intentionally cruel. Acts unjustly toward my family. Intentionally or unintentionally insults my church family. When I watch the news. When someone is so sure their way is the only way. Sometimes I just don’t know how to respond, You know?

Sometimes I want to put up my dukes. Other times, I have a verbal response that is cutting right at the tip of my tongue. Other times, I give the stink eye. Honestly, I am ashamed to say, I have responded each of these ways. I get ashamed of myself, ask forgiveness, and try again next time.

However, if we can make ourselves take a deep breath, remember who we are; we can best respond by proclaiming the Gospel, the Good News given to save all humanity - then “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4.

“Turning the other cheek.”

“Praying for those who persecute us.”

These can be hard to do.  Proclaiming Christ’s peace is not as emotionally satisfying as a good retort, or a cutting remark. However, it is the way of the Lord.

Prayer – Dear God help me to proclaim you with my words and actions, even when, especially when it is hard. Give me strength. I know you are with me. Help me to remember, my brothers and sisters in Christ support and pray for me.. I pray in the name of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Psalm 34:3-5

3 Proclaim the Lord’s greatness with me;
let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and rescued me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant with joy;
their faces will never be ashamed.

Last Week’s Attendance:  63

If you can’t join us in person, please visit our website to view our services online.

Contact:  If you have any questions or need information, you can call the church office at: 303-659-2192, or you can contact our office manager Jen  at jen@brightonfirstpres.org or Clerk of Session, Kim at clerkofsession@brightonfirstpres.org.  You can also reach us through our website at www.brightonfirstpres.org