Come to worship

Sunday, May 22

This Holy Trinity Sunday we celebrate with Cross Lutheran Church. Holy Communion will be offered at 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. using the liturgy from Lutheran Book of Worship. Pres Hoffman will be preaching. The Cherub Choir will sing at the 8:30 a.m. service, and the Sanctuary Choir will sing at 10:45 a.m. Donuts & Dialogue will be led by members of Cross Lutheran Church. We will recognize all the volunteers who are so vital to the ministry of First United. This is also the last day of Sunday School!

Sunday, May 29

Summer worship begins

Our summer worship schedule begins on this Second Sunday after Pentecost with one service of Holy Communion at 9:30 a.m. There will be a special recognition after worship for Ronna Cline following her retirement as Financial Secretary.

Pastor Nelson’s Notes

Every once in a while as a church we get to celebrate the ministry of one of our “sons of the congregation.” Howard Knox was the first member of our congregation to go to seminary, be ordained, and now celebrates 50 years of service to our Lord through the ordained ministry. On Sunday, June 5, we will recognize Howard for his years of service and greet him at the coffee hour reception following worship.

Howard Knox and his wife, Pearl, joined First United in 1946. However, before arriving in Sheboygan, Howard served in the Navy during WWII. During the years they were in Sheboygan, Howard was the County 4-H Club Agent. At church they were involved in a most active way in the life of the congregation right from the start. They were part of the choir, church council, taught Sunday School, and confirmation. In 1952 they left for seminary at Northwestern in Minneapolis. On June 5, 1955, Howard was ordained at Epiphany Lutheran in Milwaukee. He first served the Lancaster/ Burton parish in Grant County. After 12 years he was called to serve as Synod Coordinator of camps and Director of Pine Lake Camp.

From January 1971 to April 1981 he served Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin. He completed his active ministry at Trinity Church, Kenosha, in August, 1985. During those over thirty years of ministry his wife, Pearl, was very active in church activities and community programs, especially the World Hunger and Women of the Church committees at the local and synod level. Howard’s main interests have always been youth and camping ministries.

Since 1988 the Knoxes have lived at Cedar Ridge Retirement Community in West Bend where they continue to enjoy national and world travel as well as the many programs offered at Cedar Ridge.

Howard and Pearl have two children, both baptized at First United. Their children attended Gustavus Adolphus College, an ELCA related school. John is now the Dean of the graduate school at Idaho State University. Nancy is now a teacher and church organist in Spring Valley, Wisconsin.

How blessed our congregation is to have served as a catalyst for about a half dozen persons over these 71 years of our existence who have chosen full-time church vocations. Please come and greet Howard and Pearl at worship on June 5. Howard wants to take a few minutes to tell the congregation “thanks” for our prayerful and financial support through his long ministry career. I look forward to seeing you at worship.

Pastor Karl

+ +++ +

We offer our Christian love to the family of Michelle Nolan-Olmsted at the loss of her grandmother; and to the family of Steve Haegler at the loss of his father.

Help for the Homeless

Lutheran Social Services/Project Youth provides Transitional Living Services for homeless youth and young adults. These 18-21 year olds are helped with safe and stable housing for up to 18 months so they can finish their education, find a job, and develop the skills to be successful.

They are in need of books and videos: books of fiction, non-fiction, and self-help/inspira-tional publications; and comedy, drama, documentary and action-adventure videos. If you have any of these items gathering dust around your home, please consider donating them. Contact Gary Wondergem, Project Youth Office, 458-7100, ext. 103.

Jackets!!

The temperature can’t seem to make up its mind these days, and a lot of people are leaving their jackets hanging in the hallway because of the sudden warmth! There is also a brown suede jacket in the church office - a couple Sundays ago the wrong suede jacket was taken home by mistake. Please check your closet to be sure you have the correct jacket. And please, check out the jackets hanging in the hallway if you are missing one! Thank you!

Kamana Update

First United sponsors the Kamana family, refugees from Burundi, Africa. Dad, Emmanuel, works full-time, third shift, for Seek, and is studying to get his driver’s license and G.E.D. Mom, Rebecca, cares for her four sons, keeps house, and three mornings a week she and three of her sons learn English and more at the Even Start program of the Early Learning Center near 12 th and Wilson. Pettin, the oldest son, attends school at Pigeon River. Drivers Dick Linde, Dean Pratt and Mikk Mikkelson make sure they get to school and back on time.

Sue Crisp, one of the teachers at Even Start, comments that Rebecca, Chauvin and Jospin are making great progress in their cultural acclimation pilgrimage.

The help provided by the church members is directed by the Refugee Committee which meets once a month. If you would like to join the Committee and serve in any way you need only to contact Linda Adams.

Enroll now for Preschool!

Great Beginnings still has openings for Fall. The format at Great Beginnings is designed to allow parents to choose options that best fit their family’s schedule. For more information, or if you are interested in seeing the preschool, call the church office!

Volunteer and Sunday School Recognition

A special thank you will be extended on Sunday, May 22, to all of you who volunteer at First United. Without the incredible help of our members, First United could not touch so many lives. So please be present so that you can be recognized and honored for your commitment to the spirit of our congregation!

This Sunday, May 22, will also be the last time that Sunday School, Youth Forum, and Adult Forum will meet until next fall.

VIL Picnic

The annual VIL picnic will take place on Monday, July 11, at 11:00 a.m. in fellowship hall, featuring brats and hamburgers served with baked beans and potato salad. Prior to lunch, you’re invited to bring a wrapped “white elephant” gift (NO new items, please) for an exchange game! Call the church office and indicate the number of brats and hamburgers you plan to eat to help the committee prepare!

Donuts & Dialogue

On May 22 our partners from Cross Lutheran Church in Milwaukee will be leading Donuts & Dialogue as well as participating in the 10:45 a.m. service. We have been partners with Cross for many years, offering financial support to this inner-city, multi-cultural congregation, and gaining many new friends and insights as well! Two of our members, Linda Radder and Pres Hoffman, have been active participants in this relationship with Cross and are always looking for more people to get involved. We will hear more from members of Cross about their unique ministry, in word and song, and as an added bonus, our own Pres Hoffman will be preaching that day! Come and learn more about this vital partnership on Sunday, May 22!

Worship Café: A Unique Summer Worship Experience

Marina Ministry has not only changed its name, but it has changed its location! Beginning Thursday, June 9, summer worship will take place in St. Andrew Lutheran Church’s courtyard, 1711 S. 11 th Street, which will be transformed into an outdoor café, complete with refreshments! We will gather with the other ELCA churches in Sheboygan and Sheboygan Falls at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday evening throughout the summer to worship God and to enjoy fellowship with one another.

Sunday, May 22, is the last day of Sunday School!

Mark your calendar that Sunday, May 22, is the last day of Sunday School, as well as Youth Forum and Adult Forum until we meet again in fall. But please join us for this final day!

Worship Responsibility Book

We have begun work on the next Worship Responsibilities Book. This book will include the months of July, August, September, and October. It would be 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. And, if you have decided you would like to be removed from a certain responsibility, please let us know that, as well.

We’re always looking for additional volunteers as Greeters, Acolytes, Coffee Host/Hostess, Assistant Ministers, Com-munion Helpers, Ushers, Van Drivers, or help on Lights & Sound, Altar Guild, Children’s Time Plus, or Kiddie Keep, please contact the church office. (Please indicate which service you prefer.)

It’s the efforts of our volunteers that make our worship services run smoothly! Thank you for all you do!

Global Mission Events Summer 2005

Come and celebrate God’s grace in the world at this summer’s Global Mission Events.

Global Mission Events are the ELCA’s premiere summer events, where congregations, families, youth and seniors discover a global community of God’s grace. Challenging speakers from all over the world and engaging Global University sessions will sharpen your sense of God’s mission and open new opportunities for participation.

A Global Mission Event is an adventure, a family reunion full of new faces and challenging ideas, a unique occasion to have fun and learn together with other mission-minded Christians.

This year’s Global Mission Events will be held: July 14-17 at North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, and August 25-28 at the Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland. Check the kiosk for more information. You may also register on-line at www.elca.org/gme.

Electric Blankets Needed

The First United Quilters are looking for your old electric blankets! These blankets can be used as liners for their quilts. If you have an electric blanket to donate, please bring it to the church office. (Mattress covers and old blankets can be used, as well!)

We’re having a Baby Shower!

We will be collecting baby items during the entire month of May, for the Lakota Indians of the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Approximately twenty two of our members will be going on a mission trip to Pine Ridge July 22-30 to build bunk beds and learn more about the Lakota people.

The Lakota Native American people are very poor, with many needs. To help, we will be collecting baby items of all kinds. Items most needed are disposable diapers, wet wipes, infant formula, clean new and gently used clothing, and baby blankets. Other items needed are: twin sized (only!) sheets and blankets, books on parenting, and children’s books in good condition. Financial gifts are also very much appreciated and will be used to purchase more items and pay for shipping. Please place donated items in the play pen in the Gathering area, and make checks out to First United, memo: South Dakota Mission Trip. Thank you!

Congratulations!

Our congratulations to Diane (Grosshuesch) and Terry Steiner who were married Saturday, May 14. May God bless them

as they establish their new life together!

WANTED: Clothes for the Needy

We are collecting new and gently used children’s clothing, sizes infant to pre-teen, including coats, shoes, and all kinds of everyday and Sunday clothing. These clothes will be given to the children of Wellington Park Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, and to their Clothing Pantry, which serves 35-60 families each month. Pastor Howard Fintzen is currently serving there as interim pastor.

Please bring your clothing items to the designated area in the Gathering area. All items must be CLEAN, UNSTAINED, and in VERY GOOD CONDITION! Thank you!

Book Review from our Church Library

WHY I AM A LUTHERAN

by Daniel Preus

Through a blend of understandable expla-nations and real life stories, this book explores the foundational teachings of the Christian church. In each chapter, Preus calls upon more than twenty years of pastoral experience to reveal Jesus as the center of the Christian faith. As he addresses central doctrines, such as sin and grace, law and gospel, the person and work of Jesus Christ, worship and sacraments, and the office of the ministry, Preus keeps the focus on Jesus Christ who is “always and only at the center of all Christian teaching.”

~Review by Ginny Mikkelson

Holy Knitters Update

The “Holy Knitters” continue to make prayer shawls and healing lap blankets (which will be given to men). Some of the Holy Knitters will soon be making mittens and hats for Adopt a Family and the Salvation Army.

If you would like to be a Holy Knitter, talk to Deaconess Deb or pick up a blue knitting instruction card on the round table in the office. We meet as a group on the second Monday of each month, from 5:00-6:00 p.m. in Room 8. During this time we ask God to bless our work and the people who will be receiving the shawls, and then knit, chat, listen to music and enjoy each other’s company.

Yarn can be purchased in the church office. Sample swatches and an order form are available on the round table.

We have a number of very dedicated knitters who are giving their time and resources to provide beautiful prayer shawls and lap blankets for others. We want this ministry to continue and grow, but are finding it to be a financial burden for some. If youwould like to help support our new Holy Knitters ministry, a gift of $11.00 can purchase enough yarn for one more prayer shawl. Your financial support is very much appreciated! Please make checks out to First United Lutheran Church, and write “Holy Knitters” on the envelope. Thank you!

~ Deaconess Deb

2 nd Annual SCIO Bike-A-Thon Scheduled!

Mark your calendar today! The 2 nd annual Bike-A-Thon, sponsored by the Sheboygan County Interfaith Organization, will be held on Sunday afternoon, June 26, 2005. The ride begins and ends at Salem UCC Church, 217 Salem Drive, Plymouth. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., with a group start at 12:30 p.m. There will be three routes: 15, 25 or 50 miles.

Registration fees are $15 if postmarked before June 17, or $20 if postmarked after June 17. Proceeds from the Bike-A-Thon will be used to support SCIO sponsored programs. Call SCIO at 457-7272, ext. 12, to receive a registration form, or through e-mail at scio@excel.net.

Women of the ELCA

As we come to a close of another year (of meetings, school, and such, that is), it’s time to think about the coming fall and new meeting times. It would be very helpful if all women’s organizations could supply the church office with fall schedules for the new WELCA booklet, as well as names of new members, addresses, phone number and address changes, and hostesses (if applicable). Please bring your lists to the church office no later than the first week in August. Thank you!

2004-2005

Sunday School Year Overview

Did you know we had almost a 100 volunteers help with Sunday School this year? We were truly blessed with many volunteers who cared about spreading the Good News of Christ to our children.

This year the 3-year olds-2nd grade (Traditional Sunday School) used curriculum from Augsburg Fortress. The youth heard different Bible stories each week to receive a basic overview of the Bible. They had lessons to encourage development of character and Christian values. Each week, children were sent home with a resource to help families nurture faith development.

The 3rd-6th grade (Five Star Sunday School) also used Augsburg Fortress curriculum. The youth experienced one Bible story across 3-5 weeks in a rotational classroom setting. More than one week was spent on each story to provide meaningful experiences that connected with children and supported all their learning styles. The curriculum covered the catechism and the church year. Children were encouraged to memorize the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, and the Lord's Prayer.

We would like to thank all the wonderful volunteers who worked hard at providing quality instruction to our children. Please take time to thank them for their dedication to our youth!

~Cathy Daharsh

Goodbye, Best Wishes and Thank You,

Ronna

Please join us on Sunday, May 29, following the 9:30 a.m. worship service to recognize and honor Ronna Cline for her 17 years of dedicated and accurate service to First United as Financial Secretary! Gratefully, she is not leaving our congregation, so we will all get to see her once in a while. So, plan to attend and wish her well as she enters retirement!

The Best of Dining out

Please join us for "The Best of Dining Out" in May! By request we're revisiting some of our previous dining out hot spots. On Saturday, May 21st, at 6:30 p.m. we'll be enjoying the comfortable and relaxed atmosphere of a bygone era at the quaint Villager Restaurant in Sheboygan Falls. The Villager is located at 124 Pine Street in downtown "Falls." Sign up today on the kiosk in the gathering area or call the church office at 452-2401 and give Debbie your reservation. We're looking forward to another night of food, fun, and fellowship!!