Banbury Ward of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Message from the Bishopric

I like the order of Thanksgiving and Christmas. In November we have a time for extra gratitude. A time to think of and appreciate the many wonderful things we have been given. This is followed by Christmas...a season of giving. It's early December, and this is the perfect time to take stock of our lives and consider where we might be able to give a little more. 

As I ponder giving, I find myself realizing that many of the most valuable things we can give are not those that get the most attention around Christmas time. I certainly feel there is great value in contributing money, clothes, food, and toys to those that struggle to meet their basic needs. These gifts lift spirits and give a boost to many who truly need it. However, when I think about the greatest gifts I've been given in my life, none of them focus on the items listed above. I think about love from those dearest to me. Loyalty and kindness from friends and co-workers. Mentorship and guidance from great leaders, teachers, parents, and grandparents. Forgiveness and understanding from those I have wronged. Patience from those that know my weaknesses best. A sense of safety and community from neighbors and acquaintances. Bolstering of faith from religious leaders and wonderful followers of Christ. 

This leaves me wondering if I sometimes miss the best opportunities that I might have to give. I have had opportunities to mentor, and I should remember how much value that had in my own life. I can be a better friend and neighbor. I can share more love through acts and words. I can more readily forgive and forget perceived or experienced wrongs. I can give strangers more understanding and benefit of the doubt. I can better appreciate children and youth for their wonderful potential and show more appreciation for the lessons they are still working to learn. 

Of course Christmas is the celebration of the Savior of the world. Perhaps the greatest question of the season is what can we give the Lord? He certainly doesn't need our material things (though I'm sure he appreciates us sharing them with his children in need). In many places in the scriptures (2nd Nephi 9:20 for one) we are told one of the things we can give or "offer" to the Lord: "And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit." We can truly appreciate the power and beauty of the plan of salvation with the Atonement at its center. This brings a sense of humility and deep gratitude for the opportunity to be clean and grow to be more than we are are on our own. We can follow one of the greatest verses in song which says "here's my heart, Oh, take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above." We can give him our will and more fully commit ourselves to him.

If there is one thing that is clear in living the gospel, it is that most of the greatest gains come from giving, serving, and sharing. Losing one's self. I invite you as individuals and families to take a moment to consider what you have to give. Look for the opportunities around you. Go the extra mile. Take the extra moment. Express your feelings of appreciate and admiration. I am sure that you are sometimes giving more than you realize with these actions. 

May you enjoy the richness of this wonderful season.

Spencer Miller

Banbury Ward Bishopric

• Upcoming Youth Events:

  • • Ignite Your Faith for Graduating Seniors - Held each month on Fast Sundnay at 7:00pm - It will grow your testimony, build your faith, and prepare you for discipleship, missionary activity, and life. All graduating seniors are invited to join in Gospel discussion each Fast Sunday at President Allan Hall’s home located at 1011 River Heights Drive in Meridian. The dress is casual. The desserts are stellar. The discussion will be epic. Help us spread the word! All high school seniors are encouraged to join in, bring your friends, and plan to attend this youth led discussion.

    • Summer 2025 Youth Camps - Block your calendars for the week of July 7-12, 2025. Please direct any questions or concerns to Bishop Price or President Lisa White.

• Ward Choir Practice - Sundays at 2pm at the church

• Church in January 2025 - Our ward will be starting at 10:30am

• December 8 - First Presidency's Christmas Devotional - 6:00pm - View a live stream of the devotional on the following channels:

• Broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org

• Gospel Stream app (English, Spanish, Portuguese and French)

• Church YouTube inspiration channel

• Gospel Library app

• BYUtv

• December 12 - JOY Luncheon - Noon at the Stake Center for Relief Society sisters 65+

• Dec 14 - Dec 31 - Light the World Giving Machines - Our stake is hosting the Giving Machines, located at The Village in Meridian, on their first day, Dec 14. The ribbon cutting is that morning at 10:00 am. Our ward will be responsible for directing people towards the Giving Machines, and enhancing the environment there, from 12:00 - 1:00. This will be our youth Combined Activity for December.  Please consider who else you could invite to come with you to experience the Giving Machines. Learn more here.

• December 16-20 - Meridian Temple Cleaning - Our stake has been asked to clean the Meridian Temple during the week of December 16-20. Our service to help keep the temple clean is extremely important. The dates and times to clean are on the sign-up genius. Here is the link: Temple Cleaning Sign-Up.  Here are the important details about the assignment:

1. Monday morning (12/16) 9:00 am-Noon (3 hour shift) Please arrive at the front doors at 8:45 am

2. Tuesday-Friday  (12/17-12/20) 9:45 pm-Midnight (2.25 hour shift) Please arrive at the front doors at 9:30 pm

3. To help with this assignment, you need to be endowed and you need to bring your temple recommend

4. Once you enter the temple, someone at the recommend desk will direct you 

5. You should arrive with "Church Dress", and clean and comfortable shoes.You will change into white scrubs, and you can wear white shoe coverings while you clean.

6. There will be a prayer meeting before you start to clean, which will include all the necessary instructions and assignments.

SERVICE/MISSIONARY OPPORTUNITIES

• BOISE AREA INSTITUTE SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES: We warmly invite you to join our active community at the Boise Institute! We’re looking for passionate individuals to help in diverse roles such as teaching, assisting, food preparation, and serving meals. Your unique talents, enthusiasm, and inspiration will contribute to a nurturing environment where young adults can truly flourish. As a volunteer, you’ll be essential in offering enriching educational experiences, promoting personal growth, and supporting spiritual development. Help us create a welcoming space where learning, fellowship, and nourishment blend seamlessly to bring everyone closer to the Savior. Your involvement will make a meaningful and lasting impact, and we can’t wait to welcome you into our community!

• We are currently looking for one or two assistants for our Thursday Midday Manna program. Your role would involve preparing and serving a light dish for about 30 young adults. If you’re interested, this can also be combined with teaching a class during or around the same time.

• Be able to serve at least 8 hours a week for a period of 12 to 24 months, Monday – Friday.

• Contact Brother Brendan Felix--208-371-3947 or Amy Groesbeck—(208) 695-4040 ; amy.groesbeck@churchofjesuschrist.org

• BOISE AREA SENIOR SERVICE MISSIONARY OPPORTUNITIES: Boise Welcome Center: Urban Ministry Resource Support-  A call in Boise Urban Ministries is a part-time service mission to care for the poor and needy in an assigned ward of the Boise Stake. Boise Urban Ministries service missionaries, usually called as couples, devote their time and energy to their assigned ward or branch. They assist in alleviating the welfare load of the bishop or branch president by helping individuals overcome personal challenges, improve their lives, and get back on their feet financially so they can focus on their spiritual progression.

• Serve on Sundays and other times during the week for a period of 12-24 months.

• Contact Elder Bret Vaterlaus, 208-866-0325

• Treasure Valley Branch (Swahili): An opportunity to serve as local service missionaries in the Swahili Group affiliated with the Boise Stake. Missionaries support the African saints who are members of the church in this congregation and live in the Treasure Valley.  They have a variety of needs as well and the missionaries are engaged in teaching, loving, serving, driving, and ministering to their needs while also being uplifted and strengthened by the great faith of these saints.

• Serve on Sundays and other times during the week for 12-24 months.

• Contact W Blake Bybee (Branch President) 208-244-2314 or Justin Bailey 208-891-8767

• Family History Invitation - This month, we invite you to think about your preparations to enter the temple. Please consider using the "Ordinances Ready" feature in the Member Tools App to help you take a family name to the temple. "Therefore, if we change our preparation to enter the temple, we will change our experience in the temple, which will transform our lives outside the temple." Elder Ulisses Soares, April 2024 General Conference

• We are inviting all ward members, young, old and in-between, to deepen their connections to their ancestors, both living and deceased, by adding a memory to your Family Search family tree in 2024 and/or by adding an ancestor to your family tree and/or by submitting an ancestor’s name to the temple for ordinance work.  If you do, then add a leaf or two or three to the ward tree on the bulletin board.  Let’s fill the tree!  If you need assistance with any aspect of your family history, please contact a member of the ward council or the ward Temple and Family History Leader.

• MISSIONARY MEALS

  • • • Just a friendly reminder that our day to feed the missionaries is on Fridays. There are a couple of options available.

        • • We can have them come teach a lesson in our home to us or friends, and then feed them.

          • We can provide them a meal to pick up and take home.

          • Please reach out to our Ward Missionary Leader, Daniel Michalsky if interested, and for further details and options.

• "To allow for greater access to the words of the living prophets, printed copies of Church magazines are now available at no cost. These magazines include the Liahona, For the Strength of Youth, and Friend. This policy will eventually apply to every area of the Church.

  • • • Members can use their Church account to choose their preferred subscription(s) on a yearly basis at MagazineSubscriptions.ChurchofJesusChrist.org"

      • Please contact a member of the Bishopric, Relief Society Presidency, Elders Quorum Presidency, or your ministering sisters/brothers if you have any questions about this change or if you need assistance with subscribing for no-cost print magazines.

• For temple recommend interviews with the Bishopric and other meetings with the Bishop, please call or text Phil Pfleger at (208) 409-9633.

• All temple recommend interviews with the Stake Presidency must be scheduled ahead of time. There are no walk-in appointments at this time.  For recommend renewal interviews, please visit https://calendly.com/minorth/temple to see available times and schedule an interview with the stake presidency.

• Photos for LDS Tools: If you don't already have a picture in LDS Tools you are encouraged to get your picture taken or upload a picture of your own.  You can also get your photo updated.  If you need help uploading your pictures, please contact Ann DeBurgh at 208-789-4148.

Worldwide Church Events

The following link will take you to the church website with a list of all the upcoming and recent church events

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/events/