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Pastor Bob’s Moment
Pastor Denise’s Page
Memorials report
Radio Ministry
In our church family
Ushers
Monthly Schedule
Sunday School news
Would you like a ride?
Thanks
Consistory report
Epiphany open house
ONE-DAY RETREAT
Ecumenical Pulpit Exchange
Pastors’ office hours change
What goes up . . .
Our turn at the Food Pantry
Salvation Army Christmas kettles
10 minutes could save your life!
Offering envelopes
A pat on the back
Afternoon Bible Study
January 2004
First United Church of Christ
“And I am sure that God who has begun this good work within us will keep right on helping us
grow in grace until God’s task within us is finished… Philippians 1:6
On the back of an offering envelope was this good thought: “An ancient Hebrew book tells of an
older man who planted a tree. A friend said to him, “Do you expect to harvest fruit from that
tree?” He replied, “All my life, I have been enjoying the fruit from trees planted by my
ancestors. Should I not in turn plant for the benefit of those who will follow me?”
As we enter a New Year, we thank God for those whose faith and work have blessed and benefited
us in the past year. Truly the church we support and the hours we spend in Christian service
build faith foundations for future generations. We all depend on the foundations, structure,
and love that have guided us in the past. May we in turn light the light we have been given.
May we renew a commitment to share the gifts God has blessed us with. While this is little
less than the will of God for our lives, and while this may bless us and our children, this is
also a firm foundation for others who will follow.
We are building something here made not with wood, or stones, or steel but of more delicate
things—the minds, hearts, and spirits of all. The third verse of the hymn We Would Be Building
reminds us, “O keep us building, Savior; may our hands ne’er falter when the dream is in our hearts, when to our ears
there come divine commands and all the pride of sinful will departs. We build with you; O
grant enduring worth until your promised realm shall come on earth.”
May God bless our New Year! Pastor Bob
Dear Friends,
What a joyous time! The Christmas season is filled with festivities, friends, and family, and
great joy as we recall the birth of our Savior – Jesus. I thank all who have helped to make
this time in our church life special. And thanks to all who have remembered my family and I
with greetings, and gifts. We are grateful for your gracious kindnesses.
With the New Year, come new calendars and new resolutions. Many of us want to be more
intentional in developing our spiritual life, the disciplines that sustain it, and to practice
more regularly those actions. Pastor Bob and I are planning a series of retreats for 2004.
The first retreat will be on January 17. It will be from 9am-3pm here at our church. I
encourage all of you to look at your calendars, to be thoughtful and prayerful about the idea,
and to make time to attend the retreat. In this first retreat we will explore: Sabbath,
Looking at transforming Human Doing into Human Being. The retreat theme is based on a book,
Practicing Your Path. The book looks at seven spiritual disciplines that are components of
classical Christian spirituality. It is written by Rev. Holly Whitcomb, a UCC pastor in the
Milwaukee area. “It is a treasure for anyone seeking renewal and growth on the spiritual path
.” writes Joyce Rupp I hope we see you there.
The “Brew with Bob, Drink with Denise” has a new name and a new date! “He brews, She brews”
will be in February. We offer evening hours this year so those who work can stop by for a
visit. The dates are Wednesday, February 11 from 6:30–8:30pm and Thursday, February 12 from 9
am – 12 noon.
Looking at the way the programs fall during the week and the needed time for preparation, I am
changing my office hours to Monday 10-1, Tuesday 10-12, Wednesday 10-1. I am available by
appointment, also.
It is a joy for me to be in ministry with all of you. May God bless us in this year, so that
our work will be to His glory.
Yours in Christ, Pastor Denise
Gifts received in memory of:
Marjorie Selden, Mary Winiger Behrens and Don Hehenberger
Gifts received in honor of Pastor Bob’s 30th anniversary of ordination
We thank the sponsors of the December radio broadcasts of our 8:00AM Sunday worship:
The Barth family, Bev and Herb Feierabend, Emily and Bill Fuchs, Georgia and Frank
Selden
Anniversaries
Verla and Ellis Buroker, 60 years on Jan. 1
Alberta and Lawrence Meier, 61 years on Jan. 20
Birthdays
Alice Malone 4
Zona Dickerson 5
Maxine Cairns 8
Ida Nelson 11
Jack Kirner 18
Harry Mann 19
Barb Meyer 20
Priscilla Loether 20
Inez Jonas 28
Ruth Corrao 30
Dorothy Knutson 30
Greetings to all those celebrating birthdays and anniversaries in January! (We acknowledge all
birthdays 70 and over; anniversaries: first, all that end in 5 or 0, and all 50 and over.)
|
January |
|
| 8:00 | 10:30 |
| Sherry & Russ Pieper | Mildred Steckelberg |
| Gary Dickerson | Bill Steckelberg |
| Walt Dickerson | Clifford Wittwer |
|
February |
|
| 8:00 | 10:30 |
| Donna & Art Seitz | Barth family |
| Brenda & Steve Ott | Terry Steuber |
Sign up to greet! We like to have two people or couples at each service. (signup sheet is on table in narthex)
Attention ushers, communion servers, and new members: If you want to be added to or deleted from the 2004 schedules, please contact the church office by Jan. 15.
| 4 | Consistory dinner - noon |
| 11 | Open House at Pastor Denise’s, 2-4PM |
| 15 | Food Pantry packing – 9AM |
| 15 | Consistory – 7:00PM |
| 17 | RETREAT, 9AM-3PM |
| 17 | Food Pantry, 9-11:30AM |
| 18 | Pulpit Exchange |
| 18 | children’s Sunday |
| 19 | Finance Committee – 7:00PM |
| 22 | Building & Maintenance – 6:30PM |
| 22 | Organ Committee – 7:00PM |
| 25 | Holy Communion Sunday |
Sunday worship: 8:00AM (broadcast over WRPQ AM740) and 10:30AM (childcare provided)
Sunday School: 9:10-10:10AM for ages 3 to adult
FiNKS: Wednesdays at 6:30PM
by Margaret McFarlane
- Classes will resume on January 4 at 9:10AM. We will celebrate January birthdays.
- Pastor Bob and Mert Moely assembled the outdoor nativity scene. Our thanks to them.
- Thanks to Phil Bongard for painting the outlines for the windows we decorate for the Christmas season. Thanks to the students and adults who helped paint them.
- We received 57 bags and 3 cases of items from our Harvest Home Table, weighing 552 pounds. Thanks to all who contributed! Thank you to Pastor Bob, Al Maenche, and Mark Hodges (Pastor Denise’s dad) for packing, loading, and transporting everything to the Food Pantry.
- The students did a wonderful job on the Christmas program. They deserve lots of praise for their hard work! Thanks to the staff and parents for helping make the program a reality.
- The Sunday School choir will sing on January 18 at the 10:30 service.
- We are planning a bowling party on Sun. January 11 from 1-2PM at the Riviera Bowl. The price is $2.00 per bowler (spectators are free). The Sunday School will pay the balance.
- If we cancel Sunday School due to bad weather, you will receive a phone call from one of the staff.
- A personal thank-you for my gifts from the Sunday School. You are so special!
Care Driver rides are available to:
Church Local
--Annual Meeting – Feb. 1 --dentist, doctor, optometrist
--worship services --hospital and Maplewood visits
--Prayer Group, Bible Study, Meditation --bank, errands
Call Kelli Straight, 643-3719 or the church office 643-8387 to arrange for a ride.
From Pastor Bob and Pastor Denise
Dear Friends, Thank you for every expression of your love and caring during this Christmas
season!
From Hazel Boettcher
I would like to thank Pastors Bob & Denise for prayers and visits at the both the Sauk Prairie
and Madison hospitals. Also, thanks to the Marie Circle and all who sent cards.
Consistory met on Thursday, December 15th. Present were: Pam Alwin, Sue
Barth, Rick Breininger, Mike Brzezinski, Linda Lange, Nadene Litscher, Herman
Tschudy, Jamie Wittwer, Pastors Bob and Denise and visitor Steve Rheingans
Pastor Denise reviewed the Saturday services and the celebration of Pastor Bob’s 30th
ordination anniversary on 11/23. She shared thanks to those who worked on the Music Festival,
the Women’s Guild Christmas and the Sunday School Children’s program. The Community
Thanksgiving worship went well with several of our youth participating. The fine “After 6”
concert was well attended. H.E.L.P has received an abundance of toys to distribute, and the
Salvation Army bell ringing went well with 36 from our church participating. A new Bible study
will begin in mid-January.
Pastor Bob thanked all who made the 30th ordination celebration a memorable event. Our church
donated over 40 pies for the Community Thanksgiving Dinner!
Pastor Bob and Sharon will be visiting family Dec.18-21 and 24-27. Pastor Denise and Brian will
be gone Dec. 30 – Jan. 3.
Forty-two of our 2004 radio broadcasts are sponsored. With the addition of new member Betty
Erickson, we’ve had 26 member additions this year and six member funerals. The Consistory
accepted the list of ten names for the inactive list. These people will be sent letters
encouraging them to re-activate their membership.
Building and Maintenance reported mortar work done in the outside stairwell ($95).
We’ve secured a current estimate for sanctuary basement kitchen countertops. Our seven year
old elevator needs work done on the hydraulic system. The elevator, is safe to use in the
interim.
Members in Ministry coordinator Linda Lange reported 13 November member visits. Liz Bongard
recently reached a milestone of 75 visits. All other boards and committees will meet in
January or February.
Consistory discussed the 2004 budget which will include cost of living (2%) pay raises for all
employees. Consistory discussed position candidates. Herman, Jamie and Pam have agreed to
additional 3 year Consistory terms. Consistory Dinner will be January 4th. Pastor Denise
discussed the upcoming church retreat on Saturday, January 17, 9AM-3PM here at the church.
Epiphany celebrates the Wisemen’s visit to the Christ Child; on the Sunday near Epiphany, you are invited to visit Pastor Denise and Brian. They will host an open house at their home on January 11 from 2-4pm. There will be wonderful food and great conversation! The Cole’s home is located at 712 Forest Glen Circle (behind The Pines Assisted Living). You are not required to bring gold, frankincense, or myrrh--just yourself!
“Our physical paths and our spiritual paths are not so different one from the other. We do not just slip into a satisfying spiritual life. We practice it. We practice it again and again and again. We can grow enormously by practicing alone, but it also helps to have others show up to pay attention with us. It is a delight to share the motivation and inspiration of companions: to benefit from their joys, their struggles, their empathy, and their support.”
Pastor Denise and Pastor Bob will lead a one-day retreat on Saturday, January 17, 2004. The retreat will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 3:00 p.m. Practicing Your Path: Sabbath is the theme. The retreat is about Sabbath-keeping: learning what Sabbath is, exploring why it is vital to your spiritual life, and discovering creative and sustaining ways to observe it.
Please contact the church office or Pastor Denise or Pastor Bob for more information or to register. Registrations are due by January 16. Lunch will be served. Please bring a journal or notebook to write in.
On Sunday, January 18th we’ll celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with a pulpit exchange. Pastor Denise and a lay reader will participate in the service at Concordia United Methodist. Pastor Larry Collins from First Presbyterian will be here, with Pastor Bob as liturgist for the day. Plan to be with us!
Looking at program needs and preparation time, we are making changes to the office hours for Pastor Bob and Pastor Denise. Pastor Bob will have Tuesdays off, and Pastor Denise will have Fridays off. Please note these new times which begin in January 2004. Both Pastors are available by appointment as well.
| Pastor Bob | Pastor Denise |
| Monday 9-12 | Monday 10-1 |
| Tuesday – off | Tuesday 10-12 |
| Wednesday 9-12 | Wednesday 10-1 |
| Thursday 9-12 | Thursday out-of-office work |
| Friday 9-12 | Friday – off |
What goes up must come down. The program committee will take care of putting away our beautiful decorations this year.
The Sauk Prairie area churches and service organizations take turns helping at the Food Pantry. On January 15 we need volunteers to help pack boxes at 9:00 for about an hour. On Saturday, January 17 we need volunteers to help with distribution from 9-11:30AM. Youth in 4th grade through high school are welcome to assist with this. If you can help please sign up at the back of church, or call Gwen Walker at 643-3230 or the church office, 643-8387.
Salvation Army Christmas kettles
For many years, Denman and Ramona Kraemer coordinated the Salvation Army Christmas bell ringing/ kettle collection in our community. Last year, they were unable to continue so Pastor Denise and I picked up this project.
The Salvation Army helps the less fortunate in so many ways, with fuel and electric bills, with healthcare supplements, with food, and shelter, and with disaster relief. The group helps within the school systems and assists those who are transient with immediate aid. I write vouchers to help students in our schools, as well as adults and families in the community.
Our thanks to those from First UCC who helped in this year’s kettle drive. Our church provided 21 adult ringers and 15 youth ringers. Nearly $3,500 was collected. Thank you!
10 minutes could save your life!
Life Line Screening will be at the Sauk Prairie VFW on Monday, January 19. This is the same company that was at our church last summer. They offer carotid artery, abdominal aortic aneurysm, peripheral arterial disease, and osteoporosis screening. Tests cost $45. Pre-registration is required: 1-800-407-4557. Details on flyers in literature racks and on bulletin boards.
Envelopes were mailed on December 30. Please let us know if you do not receive yours.
A pat on the back, a tip of the hat, and a great big THANK YOU to:
- Those who made it Christmas:
Dennis Kahn, Kristy Litscher, the Choir & Men of A-Chord; Laura Maenche; all guest musicians and vocalists; all who helped with decorations; Margaret McFarlane for planning and directing the Sunday School program and for her work as coordinator of our H.E.L.P. project; ushers and communion servers; and last but not least, office manager Sue, and Chris, Sandy & Jeff—our custodial staff. Your time, talent, and efforts during this season are GREATLY APPRECIATED! - Those who sponsored Poinsettias:
Pastor Bob & Sharon; Sharal Steuber; Doris Steuber; Liz Bongard; Toddy Loether; Ruth Hehenberger; The Von Behren Family; Shirley & Merton Moely; Verna & Bill Wenzel; Jim & Joni Schwenn; Kim & Rick Peters; Judy Weinke; Lorraine & Harland Hartmann; Iola Kamrath & Louie Weber; Barth family; Bernie Sherwood; VaLera Accola; Sherry & Russ Pieper - Our Advent Candle Lighters
Buford Wicklund, Deb & Arnie Wells, Linda & Dick Lange, Liz Bongard, Barb Brock, Peggy Ganser, Evonne Kundert and the Alwin, Anderson, Franck, and Kreutzmann Families. - Those who assisted with H.E.L.P.
The H.E.L.P. (Help Excite Little People) project was again a great success! The toys and teen items were made available to 60 adults. Many thanks for all the wonderful donations. We had a nice variety of good, used toys and many brand new things. As always, the monetary donations were appreciated, and were used to buy some trucks, games, batteries, and items for teens. My sincere thanks to all the “elves” who helped with publicity, cleaned toys, repaired items, or helped during the distribution:
Janiece Brickl, Sue Lloyd, Pastor Bob, Pastor Denise & Brian, Amanda McFarlane, Pastor Bob Sr. & Gladys, Ruth Corrao, Verda McFarlane, Bernie Sherwood, FiNKS students, Alberta Meier, Mildred Steckelberg, Sr. FiNKS, Shirley Mitchell, Doris Steuber, FiNKS guides, Sherry Pieper, Kelli & Jordan Straight,
Lucinda Gruber, Doris Witte
Thank you all for making the holidays brighter for Sauk Prairie children!
Margaret McFarlane, H.E.L.P. Coordinator
New Thurday afternoon Bible study begins Jan. 15. Let Pastor Denise know if you are interested in participating.