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

Banbury Ward Council Message

Banbury Ward:

This past Sunday was Stake Conference, and during our 7:00am leadership meeting, we had a wonderful discussion about ministering. Many great ideas were shared, but one comment from Sister Roth stood out to me. Maybe it was because she was talking about banana bread! She shared how she enjoys baking banana bread, and when she does, she simply makes a little extra to share with the families she ministers to. I loved the simplicity of that example. She wasn’t adding something complicated to her schedule or trying to be someone she wasn’t. She was simply using something she already enjoyed doing to bless someone else’s life.

Ministering doesn’t have to be difficult. Sometimes it’s just showing up with what we have and being willing to share it. Of course, ministering isn’t always easy, especially when the families we’re assigned to aren’t interested in visits or regular contact. In my home ward, my ministering companion is my 15-year-old son. We’ve been assigned two families. One has recently stepped away from the Church, and the other has kindly let us know they’re doing fine and don’t need visits. I’ll admit, it would be easy to leave things there. But I also recognize that I have an opportunity to teach my son what ministering looks like. I don’t want him to think that because someone says they don’t need anything, our opportunity to love and care for them ends.

So we’ve tried something simple. Every so often, we send a text message sharing a little about what’s happening in our lives. Maybe it’s something my son has been doing, a family activity, or a photo from something fun we’ve experienced. Nothing complicated. No expectations. Just an opportunity for them to get to know us beyond our names on a ministering assignment.

In John 13:34–35, the Savior taught: “That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” I think that’s really what ministering is about. Building relationships. Showing love. Finding small ways to let people know they matter. Sometimes we only see the families we minister to briefly at church, and there isn’t always enough time to really get to know them. Other times, we may not see them at church at all.

So here’s my invitation this week: Think about the families you minister to. Do they know who you are? Do you know what’s happening in their lives? Maybe you could invite them to a ward activity, drop off something you’ve made, send a quick text, or simply pray for them. And if you’re wondering whether something that small makes a difference, I’ll share one last thing.

As I was writing this spiritual thought, I realized it had been a little while since I’d reached out to our families. So I stopped writing and sent them both a message. They both responded! I’d call that a win. Ministering doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it starts with something as simple as making a little extra banana bread or sending a text message.

Thanks,

Brandan Fisher - Stake Counselor Assigned to the Banbury Ward

Tithing Declaration is now available with Bishop Bird.  To sign up for tithing declaration please use the following link or contact Brother Swenson at 208-447-8903.

https://calendly.com/banburyward/15min

• Sunday Youth Assignments

• • November Chair Set-up - Priests. Please come at 8:30am to help set up chairs.  December:  Deacons

  • November  Greeters - Messengers of Hope and Gatherers of Light

• Youth Sports & Activities Night - Every Saturday Night at 7:00pm - Join us each week for a fun filled night of sports and games! Bring your friends! (See flyer below) 

• November 2 - Red Cross Blood Drive - 8am-2pm at the Stake Center. See flyer below for more information.

  • This is part of our Stake's SEASON OF SERVICE. Please see the flyer below for more ways to become involved, including donating hygiene items for refugee families!

• November 5 - Stake Relief Society Hope Fireside - 7:00pm at the Stake Center. "The Power of a Covenant Keeping Woman" featuring Julie and Jason Kotter. Relief Society sisters and Young Women are invited to attend. (Church dress/nice casual)

• November 12 - JOY Luncheon - 12:00 noon at the Stake Center. For sisters 65+. Bring a friend and share the JOY!

• November 14 - Scouting for Food - Please leave canned food items out for pick up in the morning.

• December 1, Tuesday  Relief Society Dinner at the Roth's. More info to come!

• December 18 - Ward Christmas Dinner and Program - Friday, December 18 (STAKE CENTER), 6:00PM. More details to come.

• The Remember Him Area Initiative, which invites us all to focus on Becoming Lifelong Disciples of Jesus Christ, is featured on the Area website. All members are invited to:

  • • Share the Remember Him Video featured on the Area Website.

    • Invite families and individuals to visit the site and discuss the video message at home.

• Missionary Meals - We can invite the missionaries to dinner any day or night of the week; there is no longer the requirement to have a non-member present. Please reach out to our Ward Missionary Leader, Larry Nelson, if interested, and for further details and options. The missionaries will not be passing a calendar around, you will need to schedule directly with the missionaries. 

• Are you interested in being called as a Temple and Family History Worker with the assignment to work in the Family Search Center? Like a temple worker, this would be a weekly commitment, however each shift is only 2.5 hours. This is an extremely fulfilling calling and an opportunity for anyone to serve the Lord in a meaningful way.  Those who work at the center are witnesses to the miracles that happen there and the joy that the work brings into their lives.  Please reach out to a member of the bishopric if this is something you would like to discuss.

• "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 David Swenson at (208) 447-8903.

• 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.

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/