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| Newsletters > Good News > 02-21-07 | ||
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Desert Water, by Alexander M. Jacobs Lent always takes us on a journey with Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem, from the place of faith to the place of rejection, from the safety of home to the danger of the halls of power. We continue to journey with Jesus in our own faith life. As a way of beginning this journey I offer this poem.
It is dark. The people in joyful fear gather ‘round the feathered water, the window, opened in hope that the wind will stir the now still water, whispering breath of some far off presence will whoosh through rustling our ragged, dry, fragile souls - and we remember.
We remember the hands in the water signing, sealing, “In the name of . . . , in the name of . . . , in the name of . . . .” We remember the hands chaffed red in ritual washing, wringing, purifying our diapers; the hands in the sink juggling dirty dishes, pausing to provide a cool glass of water; the hands on the hose on a hot summer day, strong hands on the side of the bath tub with a towel ready. We remember all those hands and all that water poured and drawn, splashed and sprayed for me - and you!
We remember those same hands letting go, launching us out, leaving us with only untested promises to eat. How we feared the desert in front of us, waterless places empty of guests. Places beyond hope, desolate, dusty desolate, delicate beyond imagination.
We know a journey not begun is not a journey yet. We waited for one more dream, one clear and blessed moment without the struggle, without the doubt.
We prayed for the prophet’s long awaited voice, “Peace! Peace! In the desert even --------- Peace!”
Now we have come back, parch-mouthed, silenced by hope, to stand, to wait --------------- the desert wind.
Donuts & Dialogue Donuts and Dialogue will continue its new look at the Book of Revelation, led by Pastor Jacobs, which began Sunday, February 11. Even if you haven’t been to the first class, please join us in the Genszler Room at 9:40 a.m. each Sunday morning!
New Member Workshops Our New Member Workshops will conclude on Sunday, February 25, at 9:40 a.m. in the Chapel (next door to the Genszler Room, just off the Gathering Area). If you are looking for a new church home, we invite you to this workshop, even if you haven’t attended a previous class, to talk about what it means to be a member of a congregation and how you might grow in your faith life at First United. New members will also be received at the 10:45 a.m. worship service this morning. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Gail at 452-2401.
Lenten Worship Begins The season of Lent begins this month on Ash Wednesday, February 21. On that day First United will offer two worship services in the Sanctuary: one at 10:30 a.m. and the other at 7:00 p.m. Lenten worship will continue on the Wednesdays of February 28, March 7, 14, 21 and 28, with two services offered at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel, and 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. And all are invited to the soup suppers offered prior to each Wednesday Lenten service (except Ash Wednesday), beginning at 5:30 pm. in Fellowship Hall. Confirmation Students! A reminder to all 7 th-9 th graders that, during Lent, your attendance at worship is required! Check-in will be at the Welcome Center in the Gathering Area before worship. If you are unable to attend, please contact the church office before worship so that your absence may be excused. On the first and third Wednesdays of the month (except for Ash Wednesday), the 9 th grade mentees will meet with their mentors immediately following worship. On the first Wednesday of the month they will meet one-on-one to discuss their selected topics; on the third Wednesday of the month all mentors and mentees should gather in the Chapel for a large group session. Call Thom Nicla or Pastor Gail if you have questions.
Lenten Soup Suppers Soup Suppers will be offered during the five weeks of Lent, beginning Wednesday, February 28, at 5:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Soup, prepared by Bill and Pam Gottsacker of City Streets Restaurant, will be served along with rolls and beverages. Peanut butter and jelly will also be available for the kids. If you’d like to share a dessert with those attending, we’d be so grateful! So, please join us each Wednesday during Lent for a great soup supper and great fellowship!
Soup Supper Clean Up The 7th and 8th Grade Confirmation students and their small group leaders are asked to help with clean-up after each of the Wednesday Lenten Soup Suppers. Guides and students need to report to the Fellowship Hall no later than 6:00 p.m. on the night your group is scheduled. The schedule is as follows: Feb. 28 7th Grade boys - Group #1 and 7th Grade girls - Group #4 Mar. 7 8th Grade boys - Group #7 and half of 8th Grade girls - Group #9 Mar 14 7th Grade boys - Group #2 and 7th Grade girls - Group #5 Mar 21 8th Grade boys Group #8 and half of 8th Grade girls Group #9 Mar 28 7th Grade boys - Group #3 and 7th Grade girls - Group #6
Monday Night Books Order now! The next Monday Night Books will take place on Monday, March 26, at 6:30 p.m. , featuring The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier. The City, as described in the book, is inhabited by the recently departed who reside there only as long as they remain in the memories of the living. 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!
Grief Support - February 27 Come for a time of grief support on Tuesday, February 27, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. , in the church library. We will watch a short video and then talk about how we can help ourselves and others who are experiencing grief. We will also have a short memorial reflection, so please bring a picture of your loved one and/or one or two items that remind you of them to the meeting. As always, please invite family and friends to come with you. Light refreshments will be served. Please call Deaconess Deb (452-2401) if you need childcare.
Good News Deadline Articles for the next issue of the Good News should be in the church office by Monday, February 26.
9th Grade Confirmation Students! The deadline is...
The following materials are due in the church office the week of February 18:
Sign-up sheets for the Confirmation Interview with Pastor Jacobs or Pastor Gail are on Debbie Frick’s desk in the church office. Interviews must be completed by March 29. Your paragraph summarizing an All Committee Night committee meeting is also due by Thursday, March 29. Don’t forget your sermon notes! Twelve are required to be confirmed and you have plenty of time during Lent to catch up! If you have any questions or concerns about the requirements for Confirmation, please contact Thom Nicla or Pastor Gail (452-2401). Thank you from Troop 861 First United Church, On behalf of Boy Scout Troop 861, I want to thank you for your recent donation. We strive to provide a quality program for the boys and every contribution is put to good use. Thank you for your continued support of Troop 861. ~Sincerely, Jim Wheeler, Treasurer, Troop 861
Special Offerings for the Lenten Season A special offering on Ash Wednesday will be designated for Lutheran Social Services (LSS). Lutheran Social Services is the social ministry arm of ELCA congregations. Each year, LSS touches the lives of over 100,000 people through a variety of compassionate social services from adoption to counseling to older adult services. As a non-profit agency, LSS relies on the generous support of churches, corporations, foundations and thousands of individuals to continue its mission. Thanks to your compassion and giving hearts, last year more than $4,892 was given to LSS to support its very important services. On the Wednesday worship services throughout Lent, special offerings will be designated for Crossways Camping Ministry. Crossways is an outdoor ministry of the ELCA, providing camping/retreat experiences for youth and families. Three camps re located here in Wisconsin , and our own First United 7th and 8th Graders will attend a Crossways camp this summer.
Valentines for College Students A special thanks to all the bakers who provided Valentine treats for the college students of First United. Our 7 th and 8 th grade youth created thirty-two college care packages that are sure to be appreciated by those hard working, hungry college students. Thank you bakers, treat providers, teachers and 7 th and 8 th graders for your ministry!
Many thanks to you! 2006 was a year that showed the very generous spirit of this congregation. Total giving was $987,529 - nearly a million dollars! Thanks to everyone in the congregation for their most charitable support of the ministries here at FULC. You have made a difference! A very big thanks to the 93 individuals/ families enrolled in the Simply Giving program (electronic funds transfer), or the credit card offering program for 2007. That’s 12 more enrolled households than last year, and total giving by all enrollees of $24,915 each month! Giving through these programs helps keep offerings more secure, makes recording contributions fast and efficient, and helps giving amounts stay consistent throughout the year. Thank you!
Roof Repair Update Have you seen the new display in the Gathering Area? It’s there to show the progress we’re making toward paying for our new roof. Each colored tile represents a $10,000 increment, and as we reach the next increment a sticker is attached to the tile that says “You did it!” Hopefully this visual will help us to know how far we’ve come, and how far we have to go to complete the payments for our new roof. Currently, we have received $54,364 in roof repair donations, so we have 5 tiles complete. Thanks to all who have contributed toward the roof! And keep your eye on the display board!
Pray for the Maangashiny Parish As we begin our new companionship with the Maangashiny Parish of the Meru Diocese of Tanzania , the most important thing we can do for them is to pray:
We continue to offer a prayer concern each week in our Sunday bulletin. There will also be prayer concerns on the table by the Tanzanian bulletin board in the Gathering Area, which you can take home with you. As our relationship grows and we get to know the people better, we will have many more specific prayer requests. Another way you can support the people of Tanzania is to buy Mt. Meru coffee! Buying this coffee helps the farmers in the Meru Diocese earn a fair wage for their work and helps them provide for their families. Mt. Meru Coffee is available in regular and decaf, ground and bean, and is available on a table by the Tanzanian bulletin board in the Gathering Area. We are looking for more members for our Tanzanian Committee! If you are interested and want to get involved, please join us! You an call Gail Showerman at (920) 876-3165, or Deaconess Deb (452-2401), and watch the bulletin for our next meeting.
Great Beginnings Notes What an exciting time to be a preschooler at Great Beginnings! In January we turned up the heat and filled our pool with warm water for our annual Pool Party! We are now busy planning and preparing for “Arts and Carnival Night” on Tuesday, March 6, at 6:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. The theme this year is “Spring Fling.” There will be games and activities for all, and a wonderful display of artwork done by the kids will be on display. If you know of a family looking for a preschool Great Beginnings is now offering enrollment for the 2007-2008 school year. And if you have a child who will be 3 years of age by September 1, 2007 (or know someone who does), please consider enrolling them in our wonderful preschool. Enrollment information is available in the church office, or you can call Mary Gorges or Cindy Wigdahl at 452-2401 if you have questions. All retirees are invited to a Potluck Luncheon on Monday, March 19, at 12 noon in Fellowship Hall. You are invited to bring a dish to share if you are able, and we ask that you bring your antiques and crafts to show! Please call the church office if you plan to attend, and inform us as to what dish you plan to bring, if you are able.
Pastor Jacobs will be offering a brief (30 minutes) Bible Study on Wednesdays after the morning and evening worship services. In keeping with the theme of The Two Roads, each week will focus on a different person that Jesus meets on the Road from Galilee to Jerusalem , from Safety to the Cross:
Holy Communion Prep Second graders will prepare for their First Communion on the Sunday mornings of February 25, and March 4 and 11. Parents are encouraged to also attend! These classes are required of all students in 2 nd grade (or any student who has not received instruction) who wish to receive their First Communion on Maundy Thursday, April 5, at the 7:00 p.m. worship service. If you have any questions, contact Pastor Gail or Mary Gorges at 452-2401.
Anti-Racism Committee Six of our members, Patty Aker, Ellen Cheney, Marianne Comstock, Lana Roever, and Virginia Mikkelson, traveled with me to Milwaukee for three days in January to attend anti-racism training that was facilitated by Crossroads Ministry and sponsored by our synod. The training was very well done; it was powerful, informative, and possibly even life-changing! Because of what we’ve learned and experienced together, we have formed a new “anti-racism committee” and have begun to make short-term and long-term goals. We are following the vision of the Greater Milwaukee Synod’s Anti-Racism Team, who are committed to: “welcome, value, and honor all people, and to create a climate in which all people feel welcomed to participate in the life of this church.” We have many hopes and dreams for the future of First United, and invite you to join us! Ask Patty, Ellen, Marianne, Lana and Ginny about their personal experience at the training, and then check the bulletin for the time and place of our next meeting. See you there! ~Deaconess Deb
In Deepest Sympathy We offer our Christian love to the family of Diane Steiner at the death of her sister-in-law; to the family of Heidi Brown at the death of her grandmother; and to the family of Joan King at the death of her aunt.
Medical Supplies are needed “Bread of Healing” is a medical clinic that is organized and run by Cross Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, one of our Partner congregations. This clinic offers free primary medical care to people in the Milwaukee area who can’t afford health insurance. This care includes medical exams, lab tests, and follow-up care. The clinic is non-profit. Everyone, including the doctors and nurses, volunteer their time and services. The Bread of Life Clinic is in need of medical supplies. Please help by donating the following items:
(pick up at a pharmacy without a prescription)
They are also in need of 8 ½ x 11" computer paper, pens, pencils, labels (1 x 2 5/8"), UN-used cosmetics, all kinds of hygiene products, especially soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant and shampoo, and gift cards to Staples or Office Depot (to buy office supplies). ~The Social Ministry Committee
Come to Praisefest April 22! Do you enjoy singing and listening to praise music? Mark your calendars for a fun, worship-filled day of music, scripture, prayer, community, and lots of food! Praisefest is an annual worship celebration with the members of Cross Lutheran Church and all of their partner congregations. Because Cross is one of our partner congregations in Milwaukee, we are invited to come and sing our praises with them and the members of Ascension Lutheran Church, Waukesha, St. Mark from Neenah, and Immanuel, Watertown. The worship itself consists of praise music that is sung by choirs or vocal groups from the various congregations, mixed with short scripture readings and prayer. The atmosphere is casual, fun, and exhilarating! It would be great to have a group from First United represent our congregation by singing a song of praise! So if you sing and/or play an instrument, especially piano or guitar, and want to be part of this, please sign up on the kiosk! Praisefest will be held at Cross Lutheran Church , Milwaukee , at 3:00 p.m. A delicious potluck dinner will follow, so there will be time to meet and get to know the members of Cross and talk to their other partners. So plan to come, whether you plan to sing or just go to listen! Sign up on the kiosk if you would like to carpool. Directions to Cross are also available on the kiosk.
Holy Knitters need your support Once a month we set aside an hour to sit and knit, crochet, offer a prayer, and talk. We read the many thank you cards and notes that people send us, thanking us for the prayer shawls and lap blankets that they were given. Thank you notes like this one: “What a wonderful surprise - the beautiful ‘healing lap blanket’ delivered to my husband! He couldn’t believe that some women who he doesn’t even know would make such a beautiful gift for him, and that they were praying for him as they worked on it! What a wonderful ministry your women have taken on - using your creative gifts to serve God and bless hurting people! Thank you so very much!” Do you knit or crochet? Join us on the second Tuesday of each month in Room 8, from 5:00-6:00 p.m. , and then stay for the All Committee Night dinner in the Gathering Area. Can you financially support our knitting ministry? Your donations help pay for the yarn and help make our ministry possible!
Lost & Found Missing a backpack, or a cake carrier, or maybe a piece of jewelry? Well, on the round table in the church office are numerous lost items! There is also a box of items in the hallway where coats are hung. Please take a moment to check it out!
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