From the Pastor DECEMBER 2015

Transcription

1 DECEMBER 2015 Inside this issue: Sunday Worship 2 Christian Ed Updates 2 Christmas Dinner 5 Calendar 7 Birthdays & Anniversaries 8 From the Pastor At the start of The Hobbit by J.R.R.Tolkein, Gandalf searches out a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins. The wizard announces I need someone to go on an adventure. Bilbo declines at first, but in the end finally agrees. The novel tells of the journey Bilbo makes to help the dwarves reclaim the gold which had been stolen from them. Before Bilbo agrees to go on the journey, the dwarves ask Gandalf does Bilbo have what it takes to do the job? Gandalf is confident: There is a lot more in him than you guess and a deal more than he has any idea of himself. When we travel, we often learn not only about the culture, history, and geography of the place we visit. We also learn about ourselves. Until Bilbo said yes to the journey he didn t know what he was capable of. Until the disciples said yes to following Jesus, they also did not know what they were capable of either. Will you take a journey with me? The Journey is our theme for Advent. As a faith community we will be taking The Journey along with Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, the shepherds and wise ones. Our travels, guided by the Biblical stories of the nativity, will take us on a spiritual quest for the newness of life that Christ brings. Each worship service starting November 29th is being planned and led by the worship committee, the youth (led by Emily Moll, our youth ministry coordinator) the children (led by Yulia Yankovskaya, our children s ministry coordinator) and myself. Charlene Flgyt and Aimee Lutz will be leading Advent vocal and hand bell choirs respectively, and John Ellington, Laurie Willhouse and Ellie Kennedy will be providing special music on Christmas Eve. Every Sunday a pilgrim will lead the start of worship, carrying his lantern, seeking the One who can grant us mercy, bring us redemption and peace. I invite you come along on the Advent journey and join me for these creative worship services. If entered into with the right spirit, this Advent journey just may teach you some new things about God and about yourself. May our journey to the manger this year be a time when together we will witness the birth of something new in our lives, in our hearts, and in our world. Grace and peace. Pastor Marianne

2 Page 2 Sunday Worship... Pastor Marianne December 6: Joseph of Bethlehem: Mercy. Matthew 1:18-24 with Holy Communion. Advent choir will sing. December 13: Elizabeth in Judea: Encouragement. Luke 1: Hand bell choir will join in worship. December 20: From Nazareth to Bethlehem: Perseverance. Luke 2:1-7. Advent Choir will sing. December 24: 7:00 p.m. Candlelight Christmas Eve Worship Service. The Manger: Presence. Childcare provided. December 27: Service of Lessons and Carols with Christmas Hand Bell Ring and Sing Choir. New Nursery Care Provider Joins FUMC... Pastor Marianne We welcome Tina Ward to our staff as our new nursery care provider. Tina will be working in the nursery every Sunday morning, as well as Christmas Eve. She will be assisted in her work each week by an adult or teenage volunteer. Tina is a member of our church and was in our church youth group for seven years. Upon graduation from high school she served as a Sunday School teacher for the fifth grade class. Tina s work history includes experience doing nursery care for the Ho-Chunk tribe. She is the mother of Carter and her mom Mary is a long-time member of our church as well. Please join me in welcoming Tina to our staff! When children arrive in the nursery they put a sticker next to their name, and in that way adults in the nursery have them signed in. The nursery will be staffed from 9:15am on Sunday morning until after worship. Christian Education Update... Yulia Yankovskaya There is much going on in Christian Education at First United Methodist Church! During SPIRIT nights this fall, children have learned new songs and have done "The Revival" study. "The Revival" study helped children to get acquainted with John Wesley and learn more about Prayer, Holiness, Faith, Grace, Good Works and Perseverance. As part of practicing Good Works, children made Thanksgiving cards for Meals on Wheels. During the season of Advent on Wednesday nights, children are learning Christmas carols and preparing for the Christmas season with the study The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem. Children will be also making table decorations for the community dinner held at FUMC on Christmas day. Thank you to Jim Cotter, Rajean Bender, and Mike Pullen who have been helpers teaching S.P.I.R.I.T. night! Thank you to Kurt Goeckermann and Michael Lutz who have been S.P.I.R.I.T. night cooks for several years. Thanks also to Shirley Mendez and Heidi Hughes for always being there to help set up, and to Victoria Sanchez and Randy Greenwood for tasty additions to the meals! Our Sunday School teachers this year are Brenda Schick (2- and 3-year-olds), Yulia Yankovskaya (4- and 5-year-olds), Gayla Holzem (grades 1 and 2), Janet Brice (grades 3 through 5), and Emily Moll (middle and high school). We are delighted to welcome Tina Ward as our new Nursery Care provider! Tina is staffing the nursery every Sunday from 9:15 a.m. through the end of worship. Nursery Care will also be provided on Christmas Eve from 6:45 to 8:15 p.m. Beginning January 3rd, 2016, the Sunday School hour will be extended: Sunday School will run from 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. each Sunday morning. Thank you to parents, grandparents and all other members and friends for their support of our Sunday School and S.P.I.R.I.T. night programs!

3 Page 3 Pilgrims Group... Pastor Marianne A monthly group to continue education/advocacy and support for addressing the issue of climate called the Pilgrims meets on Friday, December 11th at 6pm in fellowship hall. We ll begin with a potluck dinner and discussion of Environmentally Friendly Things Anyone Can Do by Carol Olson (copies are available on the table in fellowship hall). We ll spend time in three different work groups (education/teaching, hospitality and ritual) and do some planning. We ll share in a meditation on Lovingkindness from the Buddhist tradition and create an altar of symbols of what we each hold sacred/to be of ultimate value. (You are invited to bring something from home for this purpose.) All are welcome including those new to the group. Please RSVP to Pastor Marianne at Marianne@wisconsinumc.org if you are able to come. Monthly meetings will continue on the second Friday of the month throughout Soles for Souls... Mary Krszjzaniak The Women s Bible Study Group is working with an agency called SOLES4SOULS, a global social enterprise committed to fighting poverty through the collection and distribution of shoes and clothing. They hope to collect 200 pairs of shoes by December 31. There is a box in Fellowship Hall where members can donate gently used or new shoes to be sent. If more than 200 pairs are collected, the extras will be given to the FUMC Free Clothing Store. Have questions? Contact Mary Krszjzaniek at (608) Thanksgiving Food Box Update... Peter and Mary Ellen Murray Once again our Baraboo community has shown its generosity in providing more than 170 boxes of food for a Thanksgiving meal at home. In addition to the food boxes there is more than $3000 to provide each with a voucher for a frozen turkey, a dozen eggs and a gallon of milk. Thank you all for your wonderful support again this year. Pastor Marianne Cotter Office Administrator Lisa Thomas Youth Ministry (PreK 5th) Yulia Yankovskaya Youth Ministry (6th 12th) Emily Moll Church Council Chair Chris Kuter Finance Chair Peter Murray FOSB Chair Mike Snyder Lay Leader Mike Pullen Mission Coordinator Judy Ellington SPRC Chair Alice Schellenberger Treasurer Joan Fordham Trustees Chair Bob Holzem UMW Chair Alice Schellenberger Membership Secretary Pat Bullard Oak Park Place & St. Clare Meadows Services The Oak Park Place Service will be held on Tuesday, December 1 at 10am. The St. Clare Meadows Service will be held on Tuesday, December 15 at 3:30pm. Hope to see you then! Pastor Marianne can be reached at the office or by cell phone

4 Page 4 UMW Update... Janet Brice No executive board in December. Circle/Reading Group December 16 at 4:00pm in the Conference Room (note change of date) Looking ahead: Brunch and World Thank Offering Program January 9 10:00-12:00 Singer Fellowship Hall Pasty Sale January 23. Baking begins at 8am. Thanks for your continued support of our projects! Hanging of the Greens... Pastor Marianne Our annual Hanging of the Greens will be on Wednesday, December 2nd. A potluck dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m., and we will decorate the sanctuary for Advent/ Christmas after dinner. Please sign up on the sheet in Fellowship Hall to let us know what you plan to bring. SPIRIT night activities will be going on as usual that night and the hand bell choir will rehearse in the sanctuary at 6:30 p.m. We will decorate Fellowship Hall and sing Christmas carols to conclude the evening! (The Worship Committee will decorate the sanctuary during the Advent/Christmas season this year). Giving Tree Makes Wishes Come True... Judy Ellington Once again we have an opportunity to make Christmas wishes come true for children in Sauk Couny. The Sauk County Giving Tree creates tags which identify children's needs and wishes. Taking one or more tags from the tree allows you to be a part of making dreams come true for children whose families are unable to afford to buy presents. Please return the UNWRAPPED gift with ATTACHED tags by December 6th to the church. Thank you! Christmas Caroling December Pastor Marianne We ll meet at the church at 2pm and go Christmas caroling at Our House, possibly other assisted living residences and the homes of several church members who find it difficult to get out in the winter. When we re done singing, we ll head for the parsonage for some food and fellowship. Pastor Marianne and Jim Cotter will provide chili, cornbread and cider. (You can bring something to share if you d like). Sponsored by the Centering Prayer Group. Everyone is welcome children, youth and adults. We can take the church van to minimize the number of drivers required. Please sign up on the sheet provided in Fellowship Hall. Adopt a Resident Program... Contributed Would you like to brighten the life of a nursing home resident? Is your family interested in adopting a grandma or grandpa? St. Clare Meadows Care Center is hosting an Adopt- a- Resident program to match residents with caring individuals and families in the Baraboo area. Participants will commit to visiting their resident at least once a month, and fun socials will be hosted at the Meadows for residents and their sponsoring families. With Christmas just around the corner, the Adopt-a-Resident program offers a convenient way for families and individuals to connect with those of a different generation. For more information, contact Chaplain Ellen Williams-Masson at or Ellen_WilliamsMasson@ssmhc.com.

5 Page 5 Page 5 12th Annual Community Christmas Dinner... Keri Olson First United Methodist Church will host the annual Baraboo Area Community Christmas Dinner on Friday, December 25 at 12:00 noon in the Singer Fellowship Hall. The free dinner is an opportunity for people to gather for a hot, homecooked holiday meal with all of the trimmings. All are welcome. How might you help with this important event in our church? Gifts of your time and talent: Volunteers are needed to set tables and prepare the meal. On Christmas Day, volunteers will be needed to greet, serve the meal, provide music and help with clean-up. Gifts of food: Donations of salads, desserts, turkeys and hams will be appreciated to serve the anticipated large crowd. To volunteer your time or donate food, please contact Judy Ellington at There are also sign-up sheets in the Singer Fellowship Hall. To place a reservation (encouraged, though not mandatory) or to schedule a take-out order, please call the church office at UW-BSC Holiday Concerts... The UW Baraboo-Sauk County Campus and Community Choir will hold two Holiday Concerts at FUMC: Sunday, December 6 at 2pm, and Tuesday, December 8 at 7pm. Native American Flute Ensemble... Pastor Marianne Are you interested in having your child/youth have the chance to learn how to play the Native American flute? Dan DeForest, the Native American flute player who shared in worship leadership on October 25th is willing to come and teach a group of children and youth about how to play the Native American flute. The teaching would be done during SPIRIT night in March and the flute ensemble would share in worship leadership in April. If you are interested in having your son/daughter take part in this project, or would like to be part of the planning, please sign up in fellowship hall. Staff Update... Pastor Marianne Dear Members and Friends of First United Methodist Church, I am writing let you know that Randy Greenwood, our custodian, is no longer employed by the church. We appreciate all that Randy has done over the years to take care of our building and grounds. We continue to support Randy in our prayers, and hope he ll be a participant in our church programs in the future. The trustees will be overseeing the church cleaning and maintenance through the end of this year. In January, the Staff Parish Relations Committee will begin the process of hiring a new custodian. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Alice Schellenberger (Chairperson of Staff Parish Relations Committee) at or Bob Holzem (Chair of the Board of Trustees) at

6 Page 6 Journey From Darkness into Light An Advent Poem by Janet Brice The world is in darkness. Light one candle and Spark a glimmer of hope. Light two candles and Set a lamp unto your feet. Light three candles and A comforting beacon will Guide you along the path. Light four candles and Look to the Star of the East Which will guide you at last to The Light of the World. Special Music December Church Meetings Dec 7 Church Council 7pm Dec 16 UMW Circle 4pm From the Archives...Janet Brice From the diary of Reverend Benson, who was our church s pastor in the 1880s. Dec 6 Dec 13 Dec 20 Dec 24 Dec 27 Advent Choir Bell Choir Advent Choir John Ellington, Ellie Kennedy, Laurie Willhouse To Be Announced November 30, 1885 (130 years ago) The quarterly meeting is over. My salary fixed at $1,000 and a donation. I will try and live on this amount, but for my family and myself I must be careful. My P.E. did good since, though his sermon was not a strong effort. His manner will help him along. The Lord help us in spiritual work of this charge. Mrs. Benson is still at daughter s caring for her as she remains still quite ill. The Lord raise her up. I am determined to devote all controlled energies to the work of a revival of religion in this church. December Worship Schedule Date Greeters Ushers AV Booth Church Opener Liturgist 6 Rajean Bender Tim O Keefe & Beckett Mike Pullen Alice Schellenberger Don Fox 13 Mondy Shogren Don & Diana Fox Jerry Jackson Mondy Shogren Chris Kuter 20 Youth Ministry Youth Ministry Michael Lutz Jim Cotter Mike Pullen 24 Gladys Orton TBD TBD Judy Ellington Alice Schellenberger 27 Karl & Jean Krueger Richard and Gladys Orton Alice Schellenberger Karl & Jean Krueger Kathy Shrake * If you switch with someone, please contact the church office.

7 December 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 29 First Sunday in Advent 30 5pm Girl Scouts 1 10am Service at Oak Park Place 5:30pm UW-BSC Choir 212pm Rotary 1:30pm Sauk Co HHS 4pm UMW Exec 5:30pm SPIRIT/Hang. of the Greens 6:30pm Handbell 3 6:30pm Advent Choir EST. OF GIVING CARDS DUE 9am Adult Class 9:30am Sunday School 2pm UW-BSC Choir 7 7pm Administrative Council 8 7pm UW-BSC Choir Concert 9 12pm Rotary 1pm Sauk Co. HHS Women s Group 5pm Kids Ranch Bd. 5:30pm SPIRIT Night 6:30pm Handbell 10 6:30pm Advent Choir 11 6pm Pilgrims Potluck am Adult Class 9:30am Sunday School for Adults & Child. 14 5pm Girl Scouts 6pm Centering Prayer 6pm PEO 15 3:30pm St. Clare Worship Service 16 12pm Rotary 4pm UMW Circle 5:30pm SPIRIT Night 17 6:30pm Advent Choir am Adult Class 9:30am Sunday School for Adults & Children 2pm Christmas Caroling & Chili pm Rotary 6:30pm Women s Bible Study 24 9-noon Reduced Office Hours 7pm Christmas Eve Service 25 12pm Christmas Community Meal am Adult Class that Meets in Conference Room 28 5pm Girl Scouts 6pm Centering Prayer Pastor on Vacation 29 Pastor on Vacation 30 12pm Rotary NO SPIRIT NIGHT 31 9-noon Reduced Office Hours 1 2 Office Information The church office is open on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m until 2:00 p.m. Please keep this in mind when leaving a message via phone or . Newsletter info needs to be submitted to the office by noon on the last Friday of the month.

8 615 Broadway St. Baraboo, WI Phone: December Birthdays Sawyer Bennett... 1 Aaron Haskins... 2 Bill Mossman... 3 Deacon Ohan... 4 Laura Kuball... 6 Sara Clark... 8 Nicholas Greenhalgh... 8 Robert Dewel... 9 Ida Johnson... 9 Adrian Flygt Warren Trager Phillip Pointon Tara Zitzner Chelsea Fenske Kimberly French Alexander Zitzner Tyler Fenske John Hehenberger Marty Frey Ava Wolf Caroline Schick Peter Shrake Elise Lewison December Anniversary George & Joyce Burgess... 22