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| Newsletters > Good News > 05-03-06 | ||
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Come to worship...
Sunday, May 7 On this Fourth Sunday of Easter we will celebrate Holy Communion at 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. , using the liturgy from Lutheran Book of Worship, Setting 2. The Bell Choir will ring at both worship services. Donuts & Dialogue will continue the “town hall” meeting format as we prepare for Pastor Karl’s retirement.
Sunday, May 14 On this Fifth Sunday of Easter we will celebrate Holy Communion at 8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. with Holy Baptism at 10:45 using With One Voice liturgy. The Christus Choir will sing at 8:30 a.m. , and the Sanctuary Choir at 10:45 a.m. Sunday School teachers and volunteers will be recognized today.
A Word from our Pastor: Doctor of Ministry Update As many of you know, I am enrolled in the Doctor of Ministry in Preaching program through the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago . I began this three year program last summer with a three week residency in Chicago and spent this past year working with nine parishioners from First United to carry out a preaching project. My project focused on preaching three sermons of comfort and hope as we anticipate Pastor Karl’s retirement. I preached those sermons in Sep-tember, November, and January, each one followed by a reflection paper and evaluation by those same nine parishioners. I completed the final paper during Lent and received excellent marks from my advisor. The second year cycle has already begun with the shipment of books for this summer’s residency. This summer I will take a course on preaching as a performative act, which will focus on the use of the body and voice in preaching. Then I will take an elective course on preaching the Old Testament, which will be beneficial to my overall project that utilizes the Exodus story as its foundation. The third week is a colloquy group which will aid me in planning my preaching project for the coming year. The general focus will be preaching during the interim period of our congregation, but I will need to narrow that down this summer. I have learned so much about transitions this past year through the Doctor of Ministry program, and I hope that you have benefitted from the sermons I preached. This program could not have been more timely and I am grateful for your support and interest this past year. I am also most grateful for the nine parishioners who offered their time and insight over the past year in sermon formation exercises and feedback sessions: Ellen Cheney, Marianne Comstock, Wayne Homstad, Sue Kieffer, Mike King, Sandy Loth, Louis Milsted, Nicole Thomas, and Scott Winkler. Blessed Easter! Pastor Gail
Good News Deadline The next deadline for Good News articles is Monday, May 8. This issue will be in homes on Wednesday, May 17. Thank you!
Welcome to the Ten-to-ONE Campaign of the Greater Milwaukee Synod, an Easter journey to raise awareness, hope, and money to address the scourge of hunger in our world today. As a lifestyle to which Jesus calls us, we are invited to maintain our concern for the poor throughout the seasons of the year, and the seasons of our life. The Ten-to-ONE Campaign builds on the strengths of our church, with our long-held commitment to the hungry, evidenced by the effectiveness of Lutheran World Relief and the ELCA Hunger Appeal. Add to this our local efforts through our ministries with the poor, and our global partners, and we have an effective climate in the ELCA for fighting poverty. The Ten-to-ONE Campaign is an opportunity to contribute from our abundance, spiritually, and financially, to respond to the acute need of making hunger history. Not a single penny of the money will be used by the Greater Milwaukee Synod office, but rather will be distributed 50% to Lutheran World Relief and the ELCA Hunger Appeal, 30% to global partners in Tanzania and El Salvador , and 20% for local ministries fighting hunger and poverty. Together let us share in this, our duty and delight, to feed the hungry. It is my hopeful expectation and common joy that every one of the 950,000 baptized members of this synod will give at least $10 to this campaign to raise $1 million to make hunger istory. ~Bishop Paul Stumme-Diers **Envelopes are available in the gathering area for each individual of our congregation in which you can make your $10 (or more!) contribution. You may put it in the offering plate or send it to the church office. On June 1, at our Synod Assembly, we will be having a ceremonial ingathering of the money raised for this campaign. Two town hall meetings will take place on April 30 and May 7, during Donuts and Dialogue, with the focus of our conversation on the interim period after Pastor Karl retires on July 31. Pastor Gail and members from the newly-formed transition team (NOT the call committee) will briefly share information about the interim period and answer any questions. The meetings are meant to be informal and conversational. Both will take place between services, at 9:40 a.m. , in the Genszler Room chapel. All are welcome!
Sheboygan Area Lutheran Singles The May calendar for the Sheboygan Area Lutheran Singles is available in the kiosk in the gathering area. This group exists to support Christian singles of all denominations and includes all who are widowed or divorced. Questions? Call 457-6336 or 458-6605.
EASTER EGG HUNT Take a warm April afternoon, sun shining down on woods, creek and meadows, a large, white Easter Bunny, lots and lots of brightly colored eggs; add a healthy dose of 80+ children with baskets; and turn them loose! Thank you to the parents and grandparents who took time to bring the children to our annual Easter Egg Hunt! And thanks to all of the Easter Bunny helpers, and the volunteers who set-up and cleaned up. See you again next year! ~Louis and Joyce Milsted
On Sunday, May 21, there will be only one worship service, a festive service, at 9:30 a.m., celebrating Pastor Karl’s 26 years of ministry here at First United. Bishop Paul Stumme-Diers will be our guest preacher that morning. Immediately following worship, the congregation is invited to attend a dinner and program in Pastor Karl’s honor at Range Line Inn in Kohler. By now you should have received your invitation to the dinner, and information regarding the scrapbook we will be making for him. The deadline for dinner reservations is May 5 th! Register early as seating is limited! If for some reason you did not receive an invitation, please contact the church office today!
The President’s Purview Spring is here, Easter and Confirmation have been celebrated, and Pastor Karl’s retirement is just around the corner. May 21 st we will celebrate Pastor Karl and Kathy Nelson’s ministry with First United. July 16 th we will say good-bye to Pastor Karl and Kathy during his last worship service as our Senior Pastor. Time is passing too quickly. The Council has been preparing for this transition by updating FULC policies, learning about the call process, and beginning conversations with the Greater Milwaukee Synod. In order to best provide leadership during this time we have created a Transition Steering Team to guide the congregation through this process. This is not the Call Committee or the MET process team. This is a group of five individuals from the Council and the Personnel Committee who will provide communication, leadership and continuity through this pastoral transition time. This team will oversee and coordinate the pastoral transition process as laid out by the ELCA Call Process Manual thus allowing the FULC staff to continue their daily work without disruption. The members of this team are Maria Arena (Personnel), Jonathan Bemis (Council), Cathy Britton (Council), Wayne Homstad (Personnel) and Carol Kolzow (Council). During Donuts & Dialogue on April 30 th and May 7 th we will be having “town hall meetings” to share information and answer your questions about this process. Please come and join that discussion! ~Cathy Britton, President
Our Preschool and staff are outstanding! First United has a strong commitment to early childhood education, and has been blessed with a wonderful staff which as served and nurtured our preschoolers during the last 35 years. As we prepare for another outstanding year, we want to wish our teachers, Ramona Trudeau and Elaine Jacks, good luck as they move on to new professions. They have shared their talents with us for many years and our children have been blessed by their dedication. We continue to seek applications and resumes from qualified, gifted teachers who love to encourage growth and learning, and wish to offer a Christian atmosphere where pre-kindergarten skills are developed. We plan to fill the Lead Teacher/Director position as soon as possible so that creative ideas and themes may be implemented for the upcoming school year. Please send your application/resume to the church office. New in the Library The new LARGE PRINT section of books has a home of its own, after a wait of over a year. The books are in about the middle of the west wall in the Church Library. Not a large selection at this time but...constantly growing. Come and check them out and make suggestions for additional books, LARGE PRINT or regular size, that you would like to see in our First United Library. See you soon!
VILs: Movie and Ice Cream VILS...join us on Monday, May 15, at 1:00 p.m. in the Genszler Room to view a feature film and treat ourselves to ice cream afterwards. Ideas for the movie are still being discussed, so please give us your suggestions on a great movie that the entire group can enjoy!
VILs Summer Picnic Summertime is the time for picnics, and Louis and Joyce Milsted have invited you to their home for a cookout and picnic on Monday, June 12. We will share a great picnic lunch together at 12 noon , followed by a walk through the Milsted’s beautiful yard and wooded paths. Please contact the church office to sign up, and plan to meet at church at 11:30 a.m. if you would like to car pool.
And sign up now to enjoy the sights and sounds of the season as we attend the Fireside Christmas Show on December 6. The cost is $69.
Confirmation : Congratulations to all our 9th Graders who Affirmed their faith on Sunday, April 23 Sarah Amundsen
In the coming weeks, we will begin work on the next few months of Worship Responsibilities. This book will include the months of July, August, September and October. IT WOULD BE SO HELPFUL if you would call the church office if you know of certain dates you will not be available during these months so that we can work around you. **If you have decided you would like to be removed from a certain responsibility, please let us know that, as well. Thank you!
“Greatest Need” offerings for May This month’s “Greatest Need” offerings (indicated on your church envelope) will once again be directed toward the Household of Faith Fund (HOFF). Your gifts to this fund are used to address financial emergencies for families and individuals in need. Your kind gifts make it possible for the ministry and mission of First United to continue to provide support and service to many. Watch the church bulletin and Good News for further information throughout the year for special giving opportunities.
Memory Care Connection May 7 Alzheimer’s disease currently affects five million Americans, including one in ten aged 65 and older. The incidence is expected to triple by mid-century. Through education and support, we can learn about early detection and other community resources, which will help to improve our quality of life. The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) is holding its first Memory Care Connection on Sunday, May 7, to raise awareness of brain health, Alzheimer’s disease, and other dementias. In partnership with them that day, we will provide a display table in the Gathering area with educational booklets and other helpful information from the AFA. We hope you stop by and check it out! ~The Social Ministry Committee
We Keep “ Knitting Away ”! Did you know that the Holy Knitters group was just organized about a year ago, yet has already given away between 80 and 100 handmade prayer shawls and lap blankets?! This dedicated group of women continue to prayerfully knit and crochet, hoping that their finished product will bring happiness, hope and warmth to someone who is struggling in body, mind, or spirit. The Holy Knitters meet as a group on the second Monday of each month, from 5:00-6:00 p.m. , in Room 8. Anyone who knits or crochets - or who wants to learn - is invited and welcome to come and join us! We have a few prayer shawls available, so please contact Deaconess Deb if you know someone who would benefit by receiving one. We are always in need of yarn to continue our ministry. Because each shawl and lap blanket uses three skeins of Lion Brand Homespun yarn, financial donations given to the Holy Knitters are very much appreciated. Please make your checks payable to First United, memo: Holy Knitters. Thank you!
We need Holy Communion bread bakers for September. Bread recipes are available in the church office. Please contact LeeAnne Gilson if you are willing to help bake. Preschool Openings Are you looking for a great preschool program for your child, or do you know of any other family looking for a preschool for their child? An Enrollment Night for next year’s classes will be held here on Thursday, May 18, at 6:30 p.m. Great Beginnings Preschool still had openings for 3 and 4 year olds, and our Christian-based program allows the parents to choose any number of days per week to attend. To take a tour of our classrooms, or for further information about Great Beginnings, please contact the church office.
Plan to attend the final All Committee Night on Monday, May 8. We won’t meet again until September, so please make every effort to attend. Dinner begins at 6:15 p.m. in the gathering area, after which all committees will behold individual meetings. Anyone interested in getting involved in any of the church committees is encouraged to attend.
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