On March 14, 2023, ten members and friends of Spanish Springs Presbyterian Church held a dog food and cat food bagging party at the Fellowship Hall in the church. Quart and gallon sized baggies were filled with dry pet food to be given to clients at the Community Food Pantry on 12th Street in Sparks. There is a great need for those who are food insecure to obtain pet food for their four-legged family members. Donations included 61 units of dog…
I am writing this on November 22, just six weeks after I started serving Spanish Springs. I feel like I have been here longer—in a good way! I have met a lot of people and gotten a good sense of the health of the congregation. I feel more connected that I would expect after such a short time. Kudos to the Session and Deacons for giving thoughtful attention to bringing me on board. November 27 was the first day of…
IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR WHEN PEOPLE ARE weighing in on their least favorite Christmas songs. “The Little Drummer Boy” is often at the top of the list. How many “rum pa pum pum’s” does a person need to hear in December? Or a lifetime? “Feliz Navidad” also makes many people’s lists. In the true spirit of unity, this song manages to be irritating in two languages. At First Presbyterian Church, we have a tradition with Christmas hymns. We always sing…
I am so pleased to be writing to introduce everyone to Rev. Tom Willadsen. My first sight of Tom was watching a video sermon in which he had on a robe and used a walking staff, and both Bob and I nicknamed him “Moses” after that. Tom was born in Berwyn, Illinois, and moved to Peoria when he was still an infant. He has an older brother, Alan, who lives in Peoria and is a CPA and a commissioned lay pastor. He…