Thank you, God, for guiding us through this time of reflection and repentance. May we turn our eyes, ears, heart, mind, and soul to You and be open and receptive to Your teachings this Lenten season.

When the World is Churning...With everything that is happening in our world and in our community, I have spent a great deal of time praying and reading scripture lately.

Leaning into God's word is my safe place.

Just last night, as I was praying, a prayer that our friend, Jane Davis shared recently came to mind and it brought me comfort. So, I wanted to share this in the hope that when the world feels heavy, you too will find peace in our Savior.

Blessings, Beth

From Jane...
When the world is churning, uncontrollably, from one end to the other.

God always brings my soul back here.
He displays a glorious sunrise...
He guides my gaze to the "I am with you" reminder on the table...
beside the flickering candles, my instruction, "Abide in Him"...
nestled amidst various paintings, the sign that reads, "Come Holy Spirit"...
and the waft of drifting incense that reminds me that He's here.

He's HERE, now.
He's in the midst of every situation and crisis.
He's in the north, south, east, west, and center of our world...
your world.
And this puts my heart at peace.
I can breathe.
I can listen to His calming voice.
I can know He's ever-so-close.
So can you.

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."
​
John 16:33

We appreciate all the support, help, prayers, and team effort involved to provide for our community.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent.

Forty days from today, not including Sundays, will be Easter.

On this day we need to acknowledge what needs to change in our lives so that we can come to a fuller life in the Risen Lord at Easter.

When we receive ashes on our foreheads, we remember who we are: “From dust we came, and to dust we will return.”

We remember that we are members of the body of Christ and the ashes are signs that we are all in this sin business together, and the difference between the good in us and the bad in us is sometimes frightfully thin. We often fall short of the Faith we claim. We have treated people as things, and we have treated things as if they were valuable people. And so, we look into our hearts and pray: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in me.”

Lent is a season that reminds us to repent and get our lives centered, our priorities straight, and our hearts clean.

This holy season gives us a new chance to say “yes” to God and his plan for us!

Blessings,
Beth Palmer

What a great sermon series this has been!
We are so blessed to be able to share the love of Christ with others.

Love God, Love Others, Make a Difference!

Thank you church family for living this mission statement out in real life.
You are each a blessing, indeed!

____________________________

​ERT Workday Saturday,
February 14
Our ERT/Disaster Outreach Unpaid Servants are still hard at work helpiong our neighbors in need.

There is a workday scheduled for Saturday, February 14 beginning at 9am.
Volunteers can come and work for as long or as little as your schedule allows.

No training necessary. If you are interested,
contact leader David Newbarry at 512-663-6998 to learn more.
​

Our love and prayers go out to longtime member of our church family, Raymond Hardee.

Early Tuesday morning, a fire broke out in Raymond’s house.

We are so grateful to God to be able to share that Raymond, his son, Todd, and their dog, all got out without any injuries.

Sadly, Raymond’s home and all belongings, including vehicles, were a total loss. We have reached out as a church family to help with some immediate needs and we will share any information for more assistance as we become aware.

I know that we all join together in thankful praise that Raymond and Todd are safe and will continue to blanket them in prayer as they recover.

Blessings,
Beth Palmer
​

I hope everyone stayed safe and warm over the weekend!

Thankfully, this storm was not as harsh as the one in 2021. With less ice on trees and power lines, many of us kept electricity. Such a blessing!

I also want to thank all of the emergency management personnel, first responders, linemen, EMS, nurses and other medical staff at hospitals and care facilities, Calvary Temple Church who provided a warming center and shelter, everyone who regardless of the cold weather, still showed up and made a difference in the lives of so many in our community!

THANK YOU!!!
​

I am praying for you this morning...

How bright is your light these days? Is it a flicker? Is it still trying to start? Does it reflect and illuminate God's love to everyone around you?

I've heard it said that sometimes the only Bible some people will read, is the life and example we live.

Think about that. What kind of example is your life to others? Do others see Jesus in you, and me?

Keep your light shining, with humility and sincerity.

"Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven."
–Matthew 5:16

Dear Friends,
​
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
May the peace, joy, and love of Christ's birth fill your heart and home this Christmas season. Wishing you a blessed and Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with God's grace.

An Abundance of Gratitude and Shared Blessings
Words cannot truly express the depth of our thanks. Ray and I want to extend our deepest, most sincere gratitude to each one of you for your faithful and unwavering support throughout this past year. Because of your incredible generosity and prayer-ful partnership, the ministries here in Costa Rica are doing well!

Here is a glimpse of the impact your love has made:
The children’s home is growing and has now begun construction on its third house! To date we have had the privilege of ministering to over 160 children. The clinic is expanding its capacity and will be welcoming a full-time doctor starting in January. We are overjoyed to be building two new churches and a parsonage in the country's northeastern sector, wonderfully supported by dedicated mission teams from churches in the States. Enrollment at both the Methodist school and seminary is up, a fantastic sign of growing faith and education!

Looking Ahead to 2026
As we look forward to the coming year and all the exciting new work it will bring, we also want to share a practical challenge. Our personal vehicles, which are essential for the daily ministry, are getting quite old. Ray drives a 2006 Tundra, and Lidia has a 2007 Sequoia. We truly love our Toyotas—they are workhorses that stand up to the ruggedness of the Costa Rican roads, and parts are easy to find. However, we have now reached the point where the yearly maintenance and repair costs are exceeding the cars' value. We are prayerfully moving forward to begin a Car Replacement Fund. The wonderful folks at the Methodist Church in Uvalde are assisting us by receiving and setting aside financial gifts for this specific purpose. Gifts for that purpose can be designated “Zirkel Car Fund.”

Family News and Continued Prayer Requests
Our family is doing well. Sarah is just days away from graduating with both of her master’s degrees! (MDIV & MBA) Please continue to pray with us for God to open the right door for her future career, as she is actively seeking employment. Emma begins her final semester in her master’s program in January and will start working part-time in a hospital Emergency Room in College Station. We are so proud of her dedication!

Ray’s recent health issues have persisted, and he has undergone a variety of medical exams at Houston Methodist. (A few more to go!) While he is feeling somewhat better, the mystery of the "good days and bad days" continues. We ask each of you to please keep praying for a clear diagnosis and complete healing as we place this fully in God’s hands.

As the year ends, we want to thank you for your incredible generosity and investment in our lives and ministry. We are grateful for each one and look forward to seeing many of you in the States over the holidays or in Costa Rica during 2026.

Praying your Christmas season is richly filled with the peace, love, and profound joy found only in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

With Deepest Love and Gratitude,
Ray and Lidia