'SCOOP' on the web
On this page will be the
'SCOOP', updated as it is released.
Also see the 'SCOOP' on the web, archives.
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?
Consistory report
Thanks
Offering envelopes
Campus Ministry Meal
Women’s Sunday
HeBrews, SheBrews
Mardi Gras Pancake Supper
Cooperative Lenten Services
Fuel Fund
Missing something?
Firsts for First in 2003
The Woman's Guild Lenten brunch
February 2004
First United Church of Christ
Be Careful What You Wish For
A couple had been married for 40 years and were also celebrating their 60th birthdays. During the celebration, a fairy appeared and said because they had been such a loving couple all these years, she would give them each one wish. Being the faithful, loving spouse for all those years, naturally the wife wanted the two of them to have a romantic vacation together, so she wished they could travel around the world. The fairy waved her wand and presto. The wife had the tickets in her hand.
Next it was the husband’s turn, and the fairy assured him he could have any wish he wanted. He paused for a moment, then said, “Well, honestly, I would like to have a wife 30 years younger than I.” The fairy picked up her want and presto: he was 90 years old!
As we reflect on a year gone by and review plans and goals for 2004, what do you wish and hope for First UCC?
The mission statement from Article II of our First UCC Constitution gives us a fine guideline: “The avowed purpose of this church shall be to worship God, to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to celebrate the sacraments; to realize Christian fellowship and unity within this church and the church universal; to render loving service to all; and to strive for righteousness, justice and peace.”
In scripture this is summed up well in the Apostle Paul’s words recorded in 2 Peter 3:18, “But let us grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever!”
May this be so in our faith, and in our life together!
--Pastor Bob--
Dear Friends,
The month of January is drawing to a close. I seem to have lost sight of the “good intentions” I began the new month and new year with. So, I was excited to share with so many in the retreat we held on January 17. To reflect on the meaning of and need for Sabbath was helpful, to find within the renewal of a Sabbath experience, and to recommit to live Sabbath was very special to me. I hope it was for those who were able to with us. We look forward to the next retreat in March.
Brian and I thank all who came to our Epiphany Open House. It was wonderful to have you with us, to return hospitality that you have extended to us, and to become better acquainted with so many of you. We hope your New Year is rich and full.
The Annual Reports are out, and preparations are being done for the Annual Meeting. The congregational polity of Annual Meetings is one of the strengths in the United Church of Christ. We gather as the fellowship of Christ, ask and listen for the Holy Spirit in our midst, and work together in the direction of ministry we feel called to. In preparation for the meeting, reports are written, information gathered, compiled and printed.
It is amazing how many wonderful ministries were done in 2003. Truly we are the servant people of the servant Christ. We remember those who have died and the pains we shared in the past year. We rejoice in the memories of births and baptisms. And we look ahead at the promise of life together in the year 2004. I hope that each one will grow in faith and in relationship with Jesus Christ. I hope that the congregation will tighten the bonds of fellowship through the breaking of bread, the ministries and missions served, and through the worship of our God.
I rejoice to be here with all of you and in our mutual ministry.
Yours in Christ, Pastor Denise
Memorials received for: Valitha Sprecher
We thank the sponsors of the January radio broadcasts of our 8:00AM
Sunday worship:
Lucy and Lorene, Vera & Zona Dickerson, Ruth Hehenberger, Maxine
Cairns
Anniversaries
Pat and Carl Barrett, 25 years on Feb. 2
Shirley and Merton Moely, 61 years on Feb. 7
Our sympathies and prayers to the family of Eunice Becker, who died on January 25.
|
Birthdays |
|
| 1 | Mabel Kuhnau |
| 6 | Bill Wenzel |
| 7 | Jim Price |
| 14 | Vera Dickerson |
| 14 | Helen King |
| 18 | Sally Lawton |
| 18 | Jeanne Mueller |
| 19 | Maurice Schaefer |
| 21 | Lois Pieper |
| 21 | Theo Nelson |
| 22 | Ella Pacholke |
| 24 | Nettie Gander |
| 27 | Henrietta Fosnot |
| 28 | Cliff Pieper |
Greetings to all those celebrating birthdays and anniversaries in
Februaury
(We acknowledge birthdays 70 and over; anniversaries: first, all that end in 5 or 0, and all 50 and over.)
|
February |
|
| 8:00 | 10:30 |
| Donna & Art Seitz | Barth family |
| Brenda & Steve Ott | Terry Steuber |
The 2004 usher and communion server schedules will be mailed soon.
Sign up to greet! We like to have two people or couples at each service. (signup sheet is on table in narthex)
| 1 | Annual Meeting follows 9:00AM service |
| 2 | Sunday School staff – 6:30PM |
| 8 | Women’s Sunday with Holy Communion |
| 8 | coffee fellowship between services |
| 8 | Program Committee – 7:30PM |
| 11 | open house at church office, 6:30-8:30PM |
| 12 | open house at church office, 9AM-noon |
| 15 | Children’s Sunday |
| 15 | Fun & Float at high school pool, 1-3:00PM |
| 15 | Consistory – 7:00PM |
| 25 | Ash Wednesday cooperative service at First Presbyterian – 7:30PM |
| 26 | Building & Maintenance – 6:30PM |
by Margaret McFarlane
- Our "Bowling Bash" was a success! 25 people joined us at Riviera Bowl to either bowl or spectate.
- SUNDAY SCHOOL classes will not be held on Sunday, February 1 due to the Annual Meeting. During the 10AM Meeting, there will be a nursery available and videos for school age students.
- A new schedule of candlelighters is out Please call me at 643-6327 if your child would like to light candles at a Sunday service but did not sign up.
- Students who volunteered to "Greet" on their Time and Talent sheets will be assigned to the third Sunday of the month.
- The Sunday School Choir sounded great on January 18. We will be singing again on Sunday, February 15 at the 10:30 service. The Second Grade will do something special before the choir sings.
- February Fun & Float is on the 15th from 1:00-3:00. (see separate article below)
- March will be church camp month.
February Fun & Float
The Sunday School invites you to our annual swimming party! We will enjoy swimming and fellowship on Sunday, Feb. 15 from 1:00-3:00 at the Sauk Prairie High School pool. Everyone is welcome—there is no charge. We are inviting our Sunday School friends from Concordia and First Presbyterian. Each family is asked to bring a food item to share (chips, cheese, cookies, etc.) We will share the snack around 2:30. Plan on joining us for an afternoon of fun!
Church members offer free rides to worship services, church programs, and
businesses in the community.
Call Kelli Straight, 643-3719 or the church office 643-8387 to arrange
for a ride
From Patsy Hering:
Thank you so much for the prayers, cards, flowers, and gifts I received
while in the hospital and since I got home. A special thank-you to Pastor
Bob and Pastor Denise for all theirs prayers. God Bless all of you.
From Lawrence Gander:
I am extremely grateful to Pastor Bob and Pastor Denise for their visits
and prayers while in the hospital. Also many thanks to the congregation for
their visits, cards, and prayers.
From Bill Wenzel:
Thanks to all for their cards, letters of support, and phone calls during
my recent illness. I’m improving day by day!
From Michele Frey and family:
Our family would like to thank everyone for all their prayers, cards,
visits, and food during my hospitalization and my recovery at home. God
bless you!
Thanks to :
Linda Lange, Rick Chamberlin, & Dave Lendved, Jill Krenz, and their
FiNKS students for volunteering at the food Pantry in January.
Thanks to :
Those who helped assemble the Annual Report: Herman Zech, Lucinda Gruber,
Lilah Sprecher, Ruth Corrao, Evelyn Koenig, Gwen Walker, and Verna Wenzel.
This is a huge project—many hands make light work!
Consistory met on Thursday, January 15th with Sue Barth, Rick Chamberlin, Linda Lange, Nadene Litscher, Herman Tschudy, and Jamie Wittwer. Pastors Bob and Denise present
Pastor Denise thanked those who came to their Epiphany Open House. She shared work done in the past month in our church, community and in the wider church. She highlighted our upcoming retreat, the first of seven over a two-year period. The Organ bids are coming in, and the Organ Committee will meet January 22. She will be at a Cancer Residency at the UW Hospital January 26-28.
HeBrews and SheBrews, our office open house, will be February 11 & 12. Pastor Bob reported on a successful Salvation Army kettle effort with 31 from our church participating. Nine members of our church will assist with the food pantry. Our HELP project distributed toys to over 60 families. Pastor Denise will go to Concordia for the annual week of Prayer for Christian Unity pulpit exchange. Pastor Bob will remain here doing liturgy while Pastor Larry Collins preaches. Official acts for 2003: (Pastor Bob and Pastor Denise together) Baptisms:10, Marriages:10, Funerals: 14 (7 members). Church membership: December 31, 2002 - 521 2003 additions - 27 subtractions – 18. Membership as of December 31, 2003 - 530. 50 out of 52 2004 radio broadcasts are sponsored.
Bills and financial reports were reviewed and approved. We have nominees for Consistory and Pastor-Parish Relations. We reviewed “Firsts for First” in 2003. We reviewed “Plans and Goals” for 2004.
First UCC will be sharing a meal with the University Campus Ministry on Sunday February 8. The Campus Ministry serves college students at the Madison campus of the UW. Each Sunday evening they gather for worship and dinner. We will prepare the food, take it to Madison, share in worship with the kids, and serve the dinner. The students do the dishes! We are looking for help with preparing the dinner, and delivering it. Please contact Linda Lange, Pastor Bob, or Pastor Denise if you can assist.
On February 8 we will celebrate Women’s Sunday at both worship services. The theme this year is “I Love to Tell the Story”. The worship will be lead by women of our congregation. We are thankful for the gifts they have shared, and they do share. Thanks to Pastor Penny Roth for helping to put this service together.
This year’s annual church office open house is the library on Wednesday, February 11 from 6:30-8:30PM and Thursday, February 12 from 9AM-noon. Come for good food and conversation with the Pastors and other church members!
Our thanks to Rick Chamberlin for his creative title suggestion for our open house!
On Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday--Tuesday, February 24 at 6 pm-- FiNKS students will have a pancake supper. The celebration is the end of epiphany! The tradition comes from using up all the meat and fat before Lent begins, as during Lent no meat or fats were consumed. While we do not have the Lenten discipline of denial, we do gather on Wednesday nights for worship. Families, friends and FiNKS will be at the pancake supper. All are invited; please give a reservation to Pastor Denise.
We are please to share in a midweek series of Lenten services with First Presbyterian and Concordia United Methodist churches. The church season of lent begins with a Cooperative Ash Wednesday Communion service at First Presbyterian Church February 25 at 7:30PM.
The theme for our services this year will be, “Fruits of the Spirit;” on Ash Wednesday Pastor Jeff’s meditation will be “Peace.” We encourage all to join us!
There is an envelope to donate to the Fuel Fund in your offering envelope box. Please return your envelope this month.
If you didn’t receive your 2003 offering envelopes, Annual Report, or offering statement, call the church office at 643-8387 (our answering machine is always on). Also, talk to Sue if there are any problems with your offering statement.
January:
- Fifteen new members added in 2002/ entering the New Year our membership is 521.
- Youth coordinated “Souper Bowl of Caring” collection goes to Ronald McDonald House
- Dennis Kahn hired as new organist. Laura Maenche thanked for her fine, faithful work
February:
- Music Ministry Fund to receive donations for organ established at Annual Meeting
- Organ Committee continues research
March:
- Rummage sale for Juvenile Diabetes Research in Ed Bldg basement
- Cooperative Lenten theme: “Break the Silence”
- Linda Lange new co-coordinator of Members in Ministry (along with Kelli Straight) Thanks to Evelyn Accola for her work
- Sunday School sets up Cookbook Committee
- Monday evening series of prayer services for peace
- Pastors Bob and Denise, Herman Tschudy attend Safe Sanctuaries workshop
- Three stained glass windows return!
- Riedel hired as “sound architect” at 3% of total project cost
April:
- Sunday School “Fiesta Sunday”
- Good Friday--bloodmobile here
- Website is expanded courtesy of Kevin Perry
- Jamie, Linda and Pastor Denise attend ‘Inviting People to Church”
- Jeff & Sandy Weinke hired as co-custodians
May:
- Michael Davidson’s “Spring Concert”
- Pastor Penny and Bill Roth celebrate their 50th here
- We serve as “neutral site” for two Baraboo UCC candidates
- Finks (Confirmation) car wash earns money for two new wheelchairs
June:
- Pentecost; 15 confirmed
- Church purchases confirmation robes, youth make stoles
- Direct debit set up--8 giving units participating
- Lent project raises $1,745 for Mexican Children’s Refuge!
- Twelve summer campers registered!
July:
- Life Line medical screening offered here
- Pastor Denise jailed! (for March of Dimes)
- Chicago Folk service here
- Our work day at Habitat for Humanity house
August:
- Peace Singers from Waunakee at worship
- Organ research “field trip”
September:
- Adult Choir becomes “First” Choir
October:
- Sunday School begins recipe collection for cookbook
- Ed Bldg furnace fitted with new electronic ignition system
November:
- Church celebrates 30th anniversary of Pastor Bob’s ordination
- Pastors Bob and Denise attend “Barriers and Boundaries” workshop
- Children’s “totes” for worship
- Cindy Glessing hired as nursery attendant
December:
- After 6 Christmas concert
- Amazos at Women’s Guild Christmas
- Pastors Denise and Bob coordinate Salvation Army kettle drive in the Sauk Prairie area - $3,400!
Along with these “firsts” are the many ongoing study, worship, fellowship and service programs here at First UCC. We thank God for our cooperative ministry.
The Woman's Guild Lenten brunch will be Saturday, March 20th at 11AM
(This is a change from announced date.)