A Word from our Pastor: Oplatek

At some point during this holiday season I will receive a card or two from Poland , where I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer, with a playing card-sized wafer inside. The wafer is thin, like a traditional white Communion wafer, and usually has a Christmas scene embossed on it. The wafer is called “oplatek” (oh-PWAH-tek) and is shared with loved ones and neighbors on Christmas Eve. Sharing oplatekwith my friends in Poland is one of my most cherished Christmas memories and I am delighted every year to receive these delicate wafers in the mail, knowing that I am still included in their tradition.

Before the traditional Christmas Eve dinner everyone present receives an oplatek and moves from one person to the next in the room, sharing good wishes to each one individually, usually for health and happiness in the coming year, but also more personalized wishes. It is also the time to forgive any wrongs between any two individuals that occurred over the course of the year. As the wishes are shared, the recipient breaks off a tiny piece of the oplatek to eat and then shares his or her oplatek with the giver, offering wishes of his or her own. It is an intimate and rather emotional custom with very few dry eyes in the room when all have shared with everyone else.

The sharing of the oplatek is rich with Christian themes, most notably with the sharing of the Communion-like wafer. In this sharing the Polish people are, in essence, sharing Christ’s love and forgiveness with one another, just as we receive these gifts around the Communion table. By everyone breaking off pieces of everyone else’s wafer, we are reminded of our unity in the body of Christ (“one bread, one body,” as we sing in a Communion hymn). And extending greetings of peace with one another, accompanied by three kisses on each other’s cheeks, is reminiscent of passing the peace at the beginning of a Holy Communion worship service.

If I were to share the oplatek with you at the beginning of this new year, I would wish each of you God’s blessings of peace, joy, and good health. I feel truly blessed to have served as your pastor during these past five years and I look forward to our continued ministry of sharing Christ with all people.

~Pastor Gail

Annual Meeting- Part II

The second part of the Annual Meeting of our congregation will take place on Sunday, January 28, at 9:40 a.m. in the Genszler room. The purpose of this meeting will be to adopt a Budget for 2007. Reports from the ministry committees will be available. The Stewardship Committee will present an update. Your attendance as a voting member is most important!

Annual Meeting Results

The following people were elected to office on Sunday, December 10: Jon Bemis, Eric Stuart, Pete Southwick and Robert Leet to the Congregation Council; George Dippold and Steve Farwig to the Foundation Fund Board of Directors; Andrew Campbell and Harland Lee to the Long Range Planning Committee; Nancy Mannchen to be our SCIO Representative; and Art & Ruth Perry, Cathy Britton, Charmaine and Earl Kneevers as our Synod Cluster Voting Members.

Monday Night Books

Monday Night Books will take place on Monday, January 22, at 6:30 p.m. featuring Pope Joan by Donna Cross. The legend of Pope Joan says that when her older brother died in a Viking attack, Joan assumed his identity and entered a Benedictine monastery. Eventually she is drawn to Rome and, still disguised as a man, rose to rule Christianity for two years. A full book description can be found on the kiosk in the gathering area, along with a sign-up sheet. Even if you have never attended a Monday Night Books group, you are welcome to come join the conversation!

Care for Creation
 

The Care for Creation Committee will meet on Tuesday, January 2, in order to finalize our plans for “hosting” All Committee Night on January 8. If you are interested in bringing care for creation into more areas of our congregation’s life together, please join us at 6:30 p.m. in the Bride’s Room!

In Deepest Sympathy

We offer our Christian love to the family of Wayne Kolzow at the death of his mother.

Donuts & Dialogue

First United is now in partnership with a congregation in the Meru Diocese of Tanzania ! The Maangashiny Parish has 917 members: 498 adults and 419 children. The district in which Maangashiny is located has four satellite churches and the diocese oversees an area of about 1,483 square miles. There are about 55,000 Lutherans in the area. The people are primarily subsistence farmers and animal keepers, and earn an average of $70-$150 US dollars per year. Find out more about the Meru Diocese, Tanzania , and our sister congregation during Donuts and Dialogue in January!

On Sunday, January 7, Chairperson Gail Showerman and the members of the Meru sister church committee will talk about what it means to be a sister congregation with a parish in Tanzania , Africa . A short video entitled: “Africans: the Real Church Growth Experts” will be shown, and the committee will answer questions and brainstorm about future ministry possibilities.

On January 14 we will have guest presenters Richard and Pastor Sue Lindberg. Sue and Richard visited the Meru Diocese in 1999 and have been part of the Meru Committee for the Greater Milwaukee Synod for the past 7 years. Richard and Sue are members of Florist Avenue Lutheran Church , Milwaukee , where the Mt. Meru coffee is ground and bagged. They have stories to tell and a video and display to share.

Pastor Ed and Gloria Weiskotten will be our guests on January 21. Ed, who is now retired, is also a member of the synod’s Meru committee, and is a long time advocate for global partnership inistries. Ed and Gloria will also share stories and pictures of the Meru Diocese of Tanzania . Please join us!

Find the Library - and use it!

Two new fun reading books have been added to the Church Library for your enjoyment! They are both currently available for checking out.

The Ride of Our Lives puts a whole new spin on family vacations. Mike Leonard, author and reporter for the Today Show, sees his parents aging and decides to treat them and his adult children to the ultimate five week vacation in a Holiday Rambler touring the USA . There are many hilarious stories and some serious events that keep the reader turning the pages. A DVD is included with the book.

Marley & Me, by John Grogan, is a must read for animal lovers. This feel good tale of what happens when a young couple brings home an extremely hyper puppy. This lovable ball of yellow fur teaches them how to be better people.

There are also two new novels in our Church Library which capture the events which inspired the writing of a pair of our most beloved hymns.

Finding Anna takes place during the 1871 Chicago Fire and follows that tumultuous rebuilding time. Christine Schaub tells of lawyer Horatio Gates Spafford living in Chicago with his family. Gates becomes involved in the aftermath of the fire, and ultimately moves his family to Europe . A tragedy at sea forms the gripping true story behind the hymn, It Is Well With My Soul.

The Longing Season is another novel by Christine Schaub. John ewton living in Plymouth , Massachusetts , in the 1700's, had a goal to quickly make a fortune. His destiny was to be found as a sea captain on a ship. He becomes a slave trader. On a journey to Africa , a storm at sea brings the young captain to his knees in fearful prayer, This event inspires him to write the hymn, Amazing Grace.

(Reviews by Ginny Mikkelson)

Christmas - A Big Thank You

Thank you to everyone who supported our Adopt-a-Family program in any way: by shopping, wrapping, sorting, typing, delivering, “adopting,” or by giving a financial gift! With your gifts of time and treasure, we were able to bless 310 local individuals in need with Christmas gifts and food cards!

Thank you for your generosity of time, talents, and treasure, to help so many in need! It is a tremendous joy to witness the TRUE spirit of Christmas through your many gifts of love! May the love of Christ dwell in your hearts this joyous season! ~the Social Ministry Committee

Parenting with Love & Support

Children’s Service Society of Wisconsin is offering “Options for Families: Parenting With Love and Support,” to be held at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1019 N. 7 Street, Sheboygan , on Mondays from 6:15-8:00 p.m. , beginning January 8. Topics covered are: ages and stages of development, play as a child’s work, discipline, communication, anger, self-esteem, stress, problem solving and safety. There is no cost, and free childcare is provided. If you are interested in attending, please call Children’s Service Society at 458-5062 to reserve a place.

Help is needed at Bridgeway

We need one more volunteer on Sunday, January 7, to help prepare an evening meal at Bridgeway. We do have one volunteer, but she needs a partner and transportation.

Bridgeway is a transitional housing facility for women with children, and is located at 1251 Geele Avenue . It is run by the Sheboygan County Interfaith Organization (SCIO). First United is a member of SCIO and has agreed to help with their evening meal programon the seventh of every month. This might mean helping the moms prepare, serve, and clean up the evening meal, or it might be playing with the children so the moms can make dinner. The food is provided, and the volunteers are invited and asked to stay for dinner to eat with the family. Can you help? Please sign up on the kiosk or call the office (452-2401). Thank you!

Grief Group to meet January 30

The cold, dark months of winter after Christmas can seem especially difficult and long when you are grieving the loss of a loved one. Well-meaning family and friends may say that you’ve grieved “long enough”, and that you need to “snap out of it,” or “get on with your life.” But you know that it’s not that easy. Grief is extremely hard work, and it takes time!

If you are grieving the loss of a loved one, please come to a meeting of Grief Support on Tuesday, January 30, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. , in the Genszler Room. Our time will include a devotional and prayer, a short video with Rev. Dudley Riggle on the “stages and length” of grief, and lots of time for discussion and sharing. Please feel free to invite family and friends!

- Deaconess Deb

Come with me to Anti-Racism Training!

I am looking for five people from our congregation who have a passion for justice for all people to come to an anti-racism training with me in January. The training cost and transportation is free, thanks to the support of our church council. My goal is to have a trained team that will actively help our congregation to take the steps we need to truly welcome and love people of all races and cultures. The training is called, “Understanding and Analyzing Systemic Racism,” and is led by Crossroads Ministry. It will be held Thursday evening, January 25, through Saturday afternoon, January 27. This training will help us to define racism, understand the causes of individual, institutional and cultural racism, and will offer strategies to help us begin to dismantle racism in our congregation and community.

Do you have a passion to learn more and be a part of this new ministry? Come with me! The registration deadline is January 5. Registration forms are on the kiosk. Give me a call! I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon! ~Deaconess Deb

Second AND Third Graders to receive Bibles

On Sunday, January 14, the Second and Third grade parents will present their children with The Kid’s Devotional Bible at the 8:30 a.m. service. Old Testament Bible instruction will follow the Bible presentation at 9:40 a.m. in Fellowship Hall and in the Chapel. New Testament Bible instruction will be held on Sunday, January 21, at 9:40 a.m. also in Fellowship Hall and the Chapel. Parents are encouraged to attend both sessions, so they can further help their children at home to understand the scriptures.

KIDDIE KEEP HELPERS

First United is seeking to hire a warm, nurturing person(s) to be in charge of our Kiddie Keep program. The ideal candidate will love caring for children and be our primary care giver on Sundays from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon , along with our adult and youth volunteers. Salary and flexibility in scheduling is negotiable. Please contact Mary Gorges in the church office to discuss specific details.

Great Beginnings Notes

Great Beginnings is now offering enrollment to congregational members and friends of Great Beginnings for the 2007-2008 school year. If you have, or know of, a child who will be three by September 1, 2007 , please consider enrolling them in our wonderful preschool. Enrollment information is available in the church office. If you have any questions, please contact Mary Gorges in the church office. Thank you!

Rainbow Kids

Rainbow Kids will be offering peer support to children ages 4 through high school age and to adults who are grieving a loss due to a death, divorce, separation, or abandonment. Two 14-week sessions will be offered this spring:

Church of Christ-Sheboygan
Monday, February 5-May 7
6:15-7:15 pm.

 First United Lutheran Church
Thursday, February 1-May 10
6:15-7:15 p.m.

There is no fee, but registration is required. Please call the Rainbow Kids office at 920-452-2838 for more information.

SUB SANDWICH SALE

Yes! Those delicious 6" subs that you had last year will be back!! Look for the order information in the upcoming weeks, and make your lunch plans for the Big Game!

Teacher Meeting
for
Traditional Sunday School Teachers
and Guardian Angels

The Sunday School Teachers and Guardian Angels will meet on Tuesday, January 9, at 6:30 p.m. , or Wednesday, January 10, at 7:00 p.m. , to discuss the second half of the Sunday School year. You only need to attend one of these meetings. If you cannot make it to either meeting, please contact Mary Gorges.

Good News Deadline

The next deadline for Good News articles is Monday, January 8. Please mail, email, or bring your article/s to the church office so that we can include it in the next issue. Thank you!

Winter Farmers Market Benefit
“Harvest of Hope”

Co-sponsors Churches Center for Land and People & the Harvest of Hope Fund are offering a Winter Farmers Market Benefit on Saturday, January 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ebenezer United Church of Christ on Taylor Drive . Products include grass-fed beef, pork, lamb, chicken, eggs, honey, sorghum, several cheese varieties, maple syrup, jelly, baked items, canned/pickled vegetables, Farmstead goat milk soap, wool and wool products, popcorn, potatoes and fall crops.

It’s open to the public! The foods and gifts you buy this season can help Wisconsin farm families through a crisis this winter. Farmers donate 10% of their sales to the Harvest of Hope Fund, and they pass ALL donations to farmers in need.

Boy Scout Troop 861 Events

Troop 861 will be staying in the Baden Powell Building at Camp Rokolio for an outing on February 23-25. The weekend trip will cost $20 per person. So far, plans include ice fishing, sledding and free time to explore the camp with a buddy.

First United wishes to thank the Boy Scouts for baking lots and lots of cookies which were given to our shut-ins!