February is the shortest month of the year. In many ways, it's a "bridge month" in that it connects January, which is typically the height of our winter weather, with March, which brings us multiple signs of spring. We will often see a mix of weather patterns in February - need we be reminded of last winter's heavy snow and sub zero temperatures during the last half of February - and let's hope and pray we don't have a repeat of such weather this year.

Rather than debating whether the groundhog saw his shadow or not and whether we will have six more weeks of winter weather, let me throw out some challenges for this bridge month of February:

•Make Sunday School-Small Groups a weekly priority every Sunday morning at 10 am.
•Be faithful in worship attendance. Join us as we continue in my sermon series on the fruit of the Holy Spirit based on Galatians 5:22-23.
•Support our ongoing collection of items for Zambia that is coordinated by our WMU.
•Attend our Winter Bible Study that continues on Sunday evenings at 5 pm. The study is on 2 Corinthians and is led by Dr. John Hurtgen.
•Support the Shoe-Per Bowl mission project in partnership with Audience 1. Donate new or gently-used shoes that will be sent to people around the world. Financial donations are welcome to help defer the shipping costs.
•Join us in observing Focus on WMU Sunday on February 14. Dr. Twyla Hernandez will share about her recent mission trip to Cuba which our church supported.
•Join us for Easter Cantata Practice on Wednesday, February 10 at 6 pm. We will be preparing a really powerful musical presentation for Easter Sunday. The children are also working on an Easter cantata. Bring your young ones to practice on Sunday evenings.
•Invite unchurched people to visit our church and then help in reaching out to them. Share Jesus with those who don't Him as Savior and Lord.

These are just a few of many ways in which Saloma Baptist is ministering to and positively impacting our community and world for Jesus Christ. We invite you to join us as we move forward as the people of Gof!