Tanzania Rally Day

Join us Sunday, September 9, for our African-themed Rally Day event right here at First United! The day begins with worship at 9:30 a.m. The service will feature a dance processional, African hymns, Holy Communion, liturgical dance, a Psalm reading in Swahili, and The Liturgy of Joy. We’ll also have guest Tanzanian students from Carthage College who will actively participate in the service. Following worship there will be Mt Meru coffee and select tea served in Fellowship Hall as we recognize Pr. Jacobs’ service!

In keeping with the African theme, you’re invited to make drums, beaded necklace, and add your hand print to a quilt block, which our quilters will use to make a quilt to send to our sister congregation, the Maangashiny Parish in Tanzania . For those not interested in crafts, there will be a Tanzanian video and music, as well as a computer slideshow to entertain you.

J Lunch begins at 11:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. There will be a traditional African stew and rice, fruits, salads, and desserts. Hot dogs will be offered for children. A freewill offering will be taken.

And there will be games outside, such as bubble blowing and a fish pond for preschoolers; elementary age can participate in sack races and the bean bag toss; middle schoolers can enjoy group building games from the Peace Camp experience. There will also be a dunk tank, Bingo, croquet, and bocce ball.

. You may also want to look for the educational display with solar powered flashlights and a cooker, and other items to assist you in learning more about the African way of life. You might even see some of our members wearing lapa skirts to bring a traditional look to our celebration.

We are looking for African art for decorating (Thursday, September 6 from 8:30-10:30 a.m. and Saturday, September 8 at 10:00 a.m. ), still need some food items, and help setting up and decorating, serving and cleaning up. Please check the kiosk.

Please join us for this great event honoring our sister congregation in Tanzania !

Rally Day Special Offering

Special offerings on Rally Day will be given to the Fund for Leaders in Mission-Seminary Education. The vision of the Fund for Leaders in Mission is to provide support to all qualified students preparing for ordained or rostered lay ministry through one of the eight ELCA seminaries.

Thanks for your support of Christmas in July!

Thank you to all who donated school supplies and to all who supported this program through special offerings! With your gifts we were able to provide 45 backpacks filled with school supplies to local children in need. Patty Aker, Carol Gould and Lee Anne Gilson sorted the supplies and filled the backpacks. Special thanks to Becky Ley and family for keeping the Christmas tree “decorated” with school supply tags. Thanks again for making a difference in a child’s life!

~The Social Ministry Committee

Bible Study Opportunities

First United offers a number of opportunities to study God’s word together. Listed below are a few you can choose from:

Morningstar: This men’s group meets for an early morning breakfast and Bible study each Tuesday morning at 6:30 p.m. in the Genszler Room. Contact Louis Milsted (565-2531) for more information

Morning Glories: Women of the congregation meet each Wednesday morning in the Genszler Room at 11:30 a.m. for study and fellowship. Everyone brings a sack lunch. Contact Jean Craney (467-2546) for more information.

Mom’s Bible Study: The moms of our congregation meet each Wednesday morning at 9:15 a.m. for coffee and Bible study, beginning September 12, in the library of our church. Child care is provided. Contact Michelle Johnson (208-7883) for information.

Women’s Circles

There are also three Circles at First United. Because these Bible studies are held in individual’s homes, the size of each group is kept to a minimum. If you are interested in joining one, please call the contact person of that Circle.

Martha Circle : This Circle meets the third Tuesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. Each month there is a Hostess and Co-Hostess, as well as a Study Leader. Refreshments are served. Please contact either Pat Hansen (458-3329), or Jean Craney (467-2546).

Naomi Circle : The Naomi Circle meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. This group also has Hostesses, Co-Hostesses and Topic Leaders, and refreshments are served. Please contact Terri Koch (459-7828) if you are interested.

New Spirit Circle : This Circle meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m., also with refreshments. If interested, contact Deaconess Deb at 452-2401.

W .O .M .E .N of the ELCA

The new 2007-08 booklet of First United’s women’s organizations schedules is printed and ready to be picked up in the church office.

Confirmation

Check the Confirmation Date for 2008!

Please note that Confirmation Sunday will be held on Sunday, May 4, and not the Sunday after Easter as in year’s past. Please mark you calendar with this important information!

In Deepest Sympathy

We offer our Christian love to the family of Mike Speckmann at the loss of his father; to the family of Rod Ganser at the loss of his mother; and to the family of Kevin Maslanka at the death of his father.

Grief Support Group will meet September 25

Whether we like it or not, life is filled with constant change. Sometimes those changes mean saying goodbye to someone we love, or care deeply about. Day after day, God invites us to readjust our lives to a new world without this person who we have loved. How can we adapt? How can we continue to trust in God’s support, grace, and love in the midst of our grief?

If you are grieving the loss of someone you loved, come for a time of Grief Support on Tuesday, September 25. We will meet in the Church Library from 6:30-8:00 p.m. to talk, listen and support one another. Friends and family are always welcome!

YOU ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE
in the next
“Building Bridges” Anti-Racism Training - October 19-20!

* Biblically Based

* Led by Lutheran Human Relations

* Recommended for Youth & Adults

* Synod-Wide Training

Facilitators will be Marilyn Miller, Miguel de’Jesus, and Pastor Mark Thompson.

The event will run from 6:00-9:00 p.m. on Friday, October 19, and from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 20, right here at First United! Cost for the entire training, materials, a light meal on Friday, snacks, and a lunch on Saturday is only $75. Scholarship assistance is available upon request. Participation in the entire training is requested. Registration forms are available on the kiosk in the Gathering Area. This event will be limited in the number of participants, so please register soon! Contact Deaconess Deb if you have any questions. See you there!

Nominations Committee seeks candidate suggestions

In the next few weeks you will find a survey in the Sunday Bulletin and the Good News asking for your suggestions as we seek qualified committee people to serve in various elected and appointed positions of our church. Your suggestions and ideas about possible candidates are very helpful, and you should also feel free to nominate yourself for a position that interests you. Please return the completed surveys to the church office.

Men’s Group

First United has a Men’s Group which meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at 1:00 p.m. , and is open to all men of the congregation. Please contact either Joe McKillips or Bob Thiel to learn more!

Calling all Youth!!

First United offers two choir opportunities for the youth: The Cherub Choir, for ages 4 through Grade 2, and The Christus Choir, for Grades 3-8. The Cherub Choir meets each Wednesday evening from 5:00–5:30 p.m. in the Music Room, and the Christus Choir rehearses from 5:30-6:15 p.m. , also in the Music Room. Pizza is offered for supper most Wednesdays ($1 per slice), serving from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Jeanne Mueller is again directing, and is looking forward to seeing old and new faces this year on Wednesday, September 12!

Help, Please

The tape of Pastor Gail’s final sermon here at First United on Sunday, July 29, has disappeared! She needs a copy of this tape for her Doctor of Ministry in Preaching Program, and we need it at church for our records. If you mistakenly took it home, please bring it to church and drop it in the church office! Thank you!

Sanctuary Choir

The Sanctuary Choir, under the direction of Wayne Wildman, begins rehearsals on Wednesday, September 5, at 7:15 p.m., and offers special music during our worship services two to three times a month, and on all holidays.

Bell Choir

The Bell Choir, also under the direction of Wayne Wildman, meets each Monday evening from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the church. Rehearsals begin Monday, September 10. If you have any questions about any of our choirs, please contact the church o
office.

Good News Deadline

The deadline for the next issue of the Good News is Monday, September 10. This issue will be in the homes on Wednesday, September 19. Please bring your article/s to the church office, or email it to dfrick@firstuni.org. Thank you!

High School Mission Trip 2008 Appalachian Service Project - September 24 Meeting

A June 14-22 Mission Trip is being planned for eight High School youth and four adults to the Appalachian Region. A lot of planning needs to go into this trip, and registrations will be due by October 31 of this year! Please come to an information and organizational meeting on Monday, September 24, at 6:00 p.m. in the Youth Room, if your would like to join us next year. All students in Grades 9-12 are invited to apply. Registrations will be taken on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Let’s go CAMPING!!

This is a reminder to sign up your family for a weekend of camping at Kohler-Andrae, September 24, 25 and 26! There is still space available. Please sign up at the Youth & Family Kiosk in the Gathering Area! If you have questions, please contact Thom Nicla.

Aerobics

There is an aerobics class here at First United each Wednesday morning, at 9:30 a.m. , incor-porating weights and dancercize. All are invited to join! Call Darlene Thiel for more information.

Sunday School Teachers, Guardian Angels, Confirmation Guides, and Confirmation Mentors

The success of our children and youth programming begins with a dedicated group of volunteer adults. We need you! Please consider joining this group of dedicated adults as a Sunday School teacher, Guardian Angel, Confirmation Guide or Confirmation Mentor! We are currently looking for adults willing to act as substitute teachers for Sunday School and Guardian Angels, and for a team of teachers for the first and second grades. For more details on how you can share your faith with our children and youth, please see Thom or Mary in the church office. Blessings are guaranteed!

Great Beginnings Preschool
enrollment

Our wonderful pre-school is currently accepting enrollments for this school year, 2007-08! The annual Parent’s Orientation has already taken place with our teachers, Sandy Gosse and Erin Mueller, but there is still time to enroll your 3 or 4-year old in our program. And please spread the word to your family and friends! Contact Mary Gorges for more information.

All Committee Night

The ministry groups of First United will once again begin meeting to make plans for the 2007-08 season, beginning Monday, September 10. Dinner is served at 6:15 p.m. in the Gathering Area, followed by individual committee meetings. All of our committees are looking for new members, so please give serious thought to participating. Please call the church office for more information and contact people!

VIL Trip – Christmas Show in Wisconsin Dells

The VILs invite you to join them as they travel to the Broadway Dinner Theatre on Saturday, December 1, for a holiday celebration in the true style of a New York City Christmas spectacular, complete with a live nativity scene featuring camels, sheep and donkeys. The cost is $59 per person, which includes the meal, transportation and all gratuities. The bus leaves First United at 8:30 a.m. for a lunch at noon , followed by the revue at 1:30 p.m. Please call the church office to reserve your seat today! (Those who have already signed up, payment is due to reserve your seat!)

Lutheran College Fair

Bishop Paul Stumme Diers and Paul Mittermaier will be leading a college tour to four of our ELCA colleges over the Teacher Convention break of October 25-28. High school sophomores, juniors and seniors are encouraged to participate. Please watch for more details in the coming weeks.

There is also a Lutheran College Fair being offered in Waukesha on Sunday, August 26, from 4:00-6:30 p.m. at Country Springs Hotel/ Conference Center , just off I-94. It’s a great chance for parents and students to meet with admissions reps from about 18 different ELCA, LCMS and WELS colleges/universities. There’s a workshop at 4:00 on Financial Aid and Planning for College, and then there are the great Hors d’oeuvres from 4:30-6:30 p.m. If you are interested in either of these opportunities, please contact Thom Nicla.

Keeping in Touch

We’d love to keep in touch with our college students - especially on Valentine’s Day as the youth of our church put together “Sweets” for all college students! We’ll also send you the Good News throughout the year, and any other special information that comes our way. Email your address to us - office@firstuni.org, or have your parents give us a call. May God bless your endeavors at school this year!

The 25th Annual
Sheboygan & Plymouth Crop Walk
for Hunger

First United is hosting the 25 th Annual Crop Walk on Sunday, October 21. The Walk begins and ends at the Deland Center on the Lakefront. Registration begins at 12:30 p.m. , and the walk begins at 1:00 p.m.

The CROP Walk is a joint church and community event aimed at raising funds to help impoverished people fight hunger, and 25% of the funds raised are returned to our local food pantries. The other 75% is used in over 80 overseas countries.

Please get involved by becoming a “walker,” or by giving a pledge to one of the many walkers. CROP Walk pledge envelopes can be picked up on Thursday, September 13, from 4:00-6:30 p.m. , here at First United. If you have any questions, please contact Joanne D’Alton at 803-0742.

Fill the Food Barrel - It’s Empty!!

You can also help feed the hungry by filling our food barrel right here at church! Please bring non-perishable food items, such as soup, Mac & Cheese, canned meals, peanut butter, etc., to church with you the next time you come, and deposit them into the barrel located near the triple door entrance to the church. Thank you!

Lutheran World Relief

The Lutheran World Relief Semi-truck (formerly Boxcar) will be in Sheboygan on Saturday, October 27. And we need your help to fill it! The following items are needed:

Blankets, quilts, wrapped bars of soap, sewing kits, school & health kits; NO CLOTHING is requested! Look for details on kits in the next issue

Cash donations are also needed, and can be sent directly to: Lutheran World Relief, 390 Park Avenue S. , New York , NY 10016.

If you are willing to help load the Semi- truck, please contact the church office and volunteer!

Donuts & Dialogue

Our Sunday morning adult forum, Donuts and Dialogue, will kick-off the new year on Sunday, September 16, at 9:40 a.m. , in the Genszler Room. Everyone is welcome to join us each Sunday as the topic changes weekly, and we have many different guest speakers with much to share. And, of course, there’s donuts to eat!!

10th Anniversary Celebration of Meru-Synod Companionship

As a partner congregation with a parish in Tanzania , members of First United are invited to a special 10 th Anniversary Celebration of the Companion Synod Program with the Diocese of Meru, Africa . This celebration will be held at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Menomonee Falls , W156 N8131 Pilgrim Road, on Sunday, September 30, at 3:00 p.m. There will be music, a dinner, celebrations ( a bishop’s cake) and a silent auction including wood carvings, art, wine and vacation getaways. The cost of the dinner is covered by generous donations, but we need a count of how many people to expect. Reservations can be made to John McGroarty at 262-966-9805, or mcgroartyj@wis-pak.com by September 14.

The synod expects between 3 and 10 delegates to arrive September 22 from the Diocese of Meru (depending on how many can obtain visas to visit the United States ) and stay through October 4. There will be activities throughout those two weeks, but the big celebration will be held on Sunday, September 30. Please sign up on the kiosk if you plan to attend. We will carpool if there is an interest.

Sheboygan County Interfaith Organization

Listed below are some of the programs that could use your help. Please read through them, and offer your help!

Volunteer Transportation Drivers: Variety of hours and options available (daily, weekly, monthly, part-time casual). You pick and choose how much time you can volunteer. Medical transportation, doctor appointments, transportation to out of county hospitals, counseling sessions, etc. If you can provide this valuable and rewarding service, please contact Judy Tauschek at 457-7272 ext. 11.

Above & Beyond Volunteers: Our friends at Above & Beyond Children’s Museum are looking for volunteers. Contact Char Pachniak at 458-4263 for information.

Working Women’s Wear: Donations accepted on Saturdays only from 10:00 a.m. - 12 noon , or by appointment.

Bridgeway Needs: All types of cleaning supplies for the kitchen, bathroom, for glass, floors, laundry detergents, bleach, antibacterial wipes, dryer sheets, stain treaters, etc. Fall and winter clothing needed for children include jackets, raincoats, snowsuits, boots, hats, mittens and scarves (in good condition!). Other wants/needs include: a Wind Tunnel vacuum cleaner, and a large plastic outdoor locking storage shed.

You can also help by collecting the following to purchase needed supplies for our daycare and home: gallon milk jug covers from Kemps and Kwik Trip; all McDonald’s receipts; Campbell soup labels; and box tops for Education tabs. All donations can be dropped off at the SCIO office at 1251 Geele Avenue . Please call 457-7272, ext. 13, before coming. Thank you!