The H arvest. PdC UMC. Join us Sunday, August 30th 10am Worship Service The Keystone Barbershop Chorus from Elkader, IA will be leading worship!

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1 The H arvest 2015 C om bined N ew sletter of the: Prairie du Chien U nited M ethodist Church E astm an Salem U nited M ethodist Church W auzeka St. Paul s U nited M ethodist Church Welcome to the combined newsletter of the Prairie du Chien, Eastman and Wauzeka United Methodist Churches. We hope you enjoy it and welcome your feedback! Be sure to check out the full color version of this newsletter at, PdC United Methodist Church Annual PdC UMC Tuesday, August 18th 6:00pm at the North Shelter on St. Feriole Island. Bring a guest, a dish to pass. Everyone is welcome!! PdC UMC The United Methodist Women will be hosting a ladies retreat on Wednesday, August 12th 9am-2:30pm Led by Noreen Kahler Bring a sack lunch and a friend! Everyone is welcome! Join us Sunday, August 30th 10am Service The Keystone Barbershop Chorus from Elkader, IA will be leading worship! Monthly Newsletter In an effort to save on postage and supplies, please let our secretary, Jennifer, know if you would prefer to receive your newsletter by in a pdf format. Not only would you help us save on postage and paper, you would receive your newsletter much sooner and in full color! If interested please Jen at pdcumc@mhtc.net or call the church office at PdC Search PdC United Methodist Church Eastman Search The United Methodist Church of Eastman Wauzeka Search United Methodist Church of Wauzeka, WI Invite your friends to like us!

2 Dear Friends: Thank you for your gracious reception of Dave and me into your church and community. Few situations strain graciousness more than rapid change, and a pastoral transition in the United Methodist Church is certainly rapid change! We saw the movie Inside Out on our sabbatical Sunday July 5, and a question one of the emotions running Riley s life probably Sadness spoke out loud has crossed my mind several times since: Can you die from moving? Your help in our move by introducing yourselves (more than once if necessary), sharing information at meetings, getting the pastor s office into good shape, and assisting me in worship by teaching me some of your customs and some of the idiosyncrasies of your physical plant has been a precious gift, and an irreplaceable means of lowering anxiety to a level where it won t kill you. It is very good to be with people who understand that at the core of ministry in the name of Jesus Christ is hospitality. I d like to use my letter to you this month to tell you a little bit about myself. I was born in Viborg, South Dakota in 1954, the daughter of a United Methodist pastor (my father) and a music and English teacher (my mother). I have one sibling, a sister, who is a piano tuner and technician in Milwaukee. I grew up in small towns around South Dakota as our family followed my father s career of going where he was sent. We lived in Spearfish when I graduated from high school in 1973; I then left South Dakota to attend Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. Following my graduation from Morningside in 1977 with majors in music and religion/ philosophy, I attended Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville, Tennessee, and completed a Master of Divinity degree in I then returned to South Dakota to serve as a pastor in the Dakotas Conference, where I was ordained an elder in I had three appointments there, as pastor of the Mobridge United Methodist Church, associate pastor of the Watertown First United Methodist Church, and chaplain at Dakota Wesleyan University, a small United Methodist college in Mitchell. In 1988 I enrolled at the University of Chicago Divinity School to work on a Ph.D. in the History of Christianity, thinking I would pursue an academic career related to my passion for spiritual formation. My work focused on the Christian mystics of the high and late middle ages. When I finished qualifying exams in 1992, I moved to Milwaukee where my sister and her family had offered me a place to live while I researched and wrote my dissertation. After a year of this work, I found myself out of money and out of heart and without a job, the dissertation being still unfinished. I asked the Wisconsin Conference if they would have a place for me to serve part time while I finished writing. The conference accepted me, and in my first appointment in Wisconsin I met my now husband Dave on a blind date arranged by a member of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee which had interviewed me. We were married in 1994, and since that time the bishop has been willing to appoint me to churches within an hour s drive of our farm located between Fennimore and Montfort, and the churches have been graciously willing to accept me. Dave now raises Christmas trees and grain and produces maple syrup; he also has several decades of experience raising livestock. My marriage changed my career plans. With Dave s encouragement and support I finally finished the dissertation and earned my degree in 2000, but have never pursued academic work. About this I have only very occasional regrets, as life with Dave and the churches of southwest Wisconsin has been delightful. Prairie du Chien is the eighth church I have served in our area. The others are Livingston/Arthur/Stitzer ( ), Mineral Point/Linden/Bethel ( ) and Lancaster ( ). I truly look forward to the possibilities before us as we begin ministry together here, and to the pleasures of getting to know you. Grace and peace to you, Pastor Barb Cook ~A N ote from P astor B arb~ Page 2

3 ~H appening s In E astm an & W auzeka~ (or a view of our world from Pastor Lynn s windshield) Another successful SIDEKICK MISSIONS highlights the summer of many of our youth AND ME! An amazing trip to Denver, Colorado included more obstacles and challenges than we have ever had to overcome in the past BUT all things are possible with God as this experience showed us all. We are already making plans for 2016 and have new youth anxious to take on this walk with Christ. It s said it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it takes the support and efforts of an entire congregation to give our youth the experience and opportunity to serve Christ that this mission trip provides. Thank you to each and all for your work and prayers! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Hannah Boland, Dayne Krachey, Megan Klema, Nellie Groom, Brooklynn Nagel, Allison Oswald, Siena Krachey, Macy Curtis, Owen Feye, Dani Boland, Emma Payne, Sarah Shepard [left] Brooklynn Nagel with part of her squad (homeowner at center) in Estes Park. [right] Phyllis Groom & Rachel Jones excited about the first day of work! Speaking of being in servant ministry the Wauzeka and Eastman congregations welcome Pastor Mike & Linda Christensen into our ministry! As many of you know, Pastor Mike retired on June 30 of this year. By rule of the Wisconsin Conference of the U.M.C. retired pastors are not allowed to return to the church from which they are retiring for at least one year. So Mike & Linda will be attending our two churches for spiritual growth/enrichment and the opportunity to continue to serve Christ as they have throughout their lives. It is a JOY to have them among us! As always, we are TOGETHER in Christ s Ministry! Pastor Lynn

4 ~H appening s In E astm an & W auzeka~ E VBS August NEW TIME = 5:00-8:15 pm Monday through Thursday supper included All ages are welcome (must be potty-trained)! Registrations snail mail or to Pastor Lynn Schreck Rd. Gays Mills OR phone Check FB for registration attachment THANK YOU!!! to the Fennimore U.M.C. for all the decorations and supplies AND to those who helped transfer a trailer full from Fennimore to Eastman: Judene & Mark Schlee, Bob Sheckler, Jeremy Glasbrenner, Dick & Tracy Feye, Pete/Cindy/Jacob/Ben Payne Wauzeka s annual Riverside worship service will be held on August 2nd at 10:00 am. The Lutherans and Methodists will gather at Scott s Shelter at the riverside park in Wauzeka. A joint choir will lead the singing and the service will be followed by a potluck picnic lunch! NOTE: for those from Eastman who are unable to come to Wauzeka, please come to worship at 8:30 am in the Eastman Church. (E) COTR CLEAN UP 4 MISSION For next year s mission trip, the Eastman Youth will be CLEANING UP the parking lot after Country-on-the-River Sunday, Aug. 9. Last year the Youth Group GLEANED just over $900. However we need all youth, their families AND supporters of mission work to help. We ll start at noon on Sunday and work until our backs or our schedules halt the effort! Our sympathy and prayers go to the family and friends whose loved ones have found new life with Christ Roger & Gary Yttri (father + brother of Kathy/Jeff Cuchna) Virginian Romanek (mother of Don & Mike Atkinson) Krissy Colson (daughter of Butch & Ruth Colson) Myra Lang (sister of Bob/Pat & Leslie Jr./Audrey Hazen) Dale Seeley (brother of Ann Weldy) Wauzeka Birthday s: 1 Bonnie Lorenz, 2 Heather Hanson, 3 Crystal Krachey, 26 Dale Curtis, 30 Mary Chunat Eastman Birthday s: 2 Cory Geisler, 11 Jazlyn Sheckler, 15 Dorothea Walker, 30 Michelle Routt Happy Anniversary: 4 Brandon & Michelle Routt, 27 Ed & Darlene Reichmann Page 4

5 ~H appening s In E astm an & W auzeka~ SUNDAY AUGUST 23 rd Pete Payne Family Benefit fun for all at the SENECA TOWN HALL Dinner starting at 11:00 am Live Auction at 2:00 pm * Basket Raffle * Gun Raffle * Pull Tabs * 50/50 * Dice Game for Kindle Fire HD7 * Homemade Quilts * & More Pete was diagnosed with limbic encephalitis. This is an auto-immune disorder where the body produces too many anti-bodies. They are pooling in Pete s brain causing short-term memory loss. At this time there is no cure, he must be tended to around the clock, and can no longer work. New or Like-New auction items can be dropped off at No Bull s Party Place in Seneca. QUESTIONS? Rita Trautsch or Ann Wallin or Lynn Shreck DATES to REMEMBER: 2 Wauzeka Riverside service & Potluck, 10:00 am Eastman Service 8:30 am 8 Wauzeka graveside service & lunch for Dale Seeley 9 Eastman COTR Clean Up, Noon at grounds/parking lot in Bridgeport Eastman VBS G-FORCE 5:00-8:15 pm 17 Eastman Committee Meeting 6:30 pm 19 Eastman Administrative Council Meeting 7:00 pm 20 Wauzeka Committee Meeting 100 pm 23 Payne Family Benefit, 11:00 am SNOW FENCE IN JULY?? That s right! Thanks to the generous spirit of St.Paul s UMC, the Wauzeka Day Care Center is using the church while their facility is being remodeled and expanded. The fenced in area provides a safe playground for the kids. We are thrilled that our building can be put to such good use in benefiting the community! EASTMAN - Special thanks to the crew who served the Crawford County Dairy Kick-Off Banquet: Sally + John Light, Paul & Taya Granzow, Steve Achenbach, Darlene Payne, Rose Achenbach, Bonnie Sheckler! the Strawberry Dinner planning, recruiting, preparing, serving and clean up committee: Jessica Granzow, Kari Kronberg, Maggie Payne, Teesha Smethurst! This was their last year with the Strawberry Dinner. They are seeking a new challenge for 2016 On the frontline of hospitality, our GREETERS are: Wauzeka Eastman August 2 Riverside Service 10 am 8:30 am August 9 Ken & Sharon Dearborn Wilma Schreck August 16 Ed & Darlene Reichmann Darlene Payne August 23 Mary Chunat Larry & Sherry Folyer August 30 volunteer needed Granzow Family Eastman Blessed Brew will resume on Sept. 6 th

6 ~N ew s You Can U se~ Twix Bars (makes a 9 13 pan of bars) Crust: 1 C salted butter, room temperature 1 tsp salt 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 C powdered sugar 2 C flour Caramel: 2 1/2 C caramel squares (you will need to buy 2 bags) 3 Tbsp heavy cream Chocolate: 2 C milk chocolate chips Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 300 and spray a 9 13 pan lightly with nonstick spray. In a large bowl, beat the butter until soft, then add the salt, vanilla and sugar. Beat until smooth. Add the flour and carefully combine. Press mixture evenly across the bottom of the pan and bake for about 35 minutes until the edges begin to brown. Set aside to cool completely. 2. Melt the caramel squares and cream in a medium microwave safe bowl in the microwave. Heat for 3 minutes on high, stopping to stir after each minute. Spread the melted caramel over the cooled crust and place in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes to allow the caramel to cool. 3. In a small microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips for 2 minutes, stopping to stir after the first minute. Spread evenly over the cooled caramel and return the pan to the refrigerator until the chocolate is set. Cut into squares to serve. Our District Superintendent Scott Carlson and District Office Manager Sherry Malone ask each month for prayers of some of our sister United Methodist churches. All United Methodists in the Southwest District are invited to pray for the following congregations in August: August 3-9: Oakley: Union UMC their 41 members and their pastor Vicki Brantmeyer August 10-16: Oregon: People s UMC their 395 members and their pastor Jason Mahnke August 17-23: Pardeeville UMC their 343 members and their pastor Kerry Wilson August 24-30: Platteville UMC their 362 members and their pastors Brenda Whitford and Elizabeth Whitford In September, prayers from fellow United Methodists will be requested for our congregation at PdC. If you have specific prayer requests for the congregation you would like to pass on to other United Methodists in our district, please let Jen know by August 15 so that she can forward them to the district office. Volunteers are Needed Hands of Hope (formerly Faith In Action) Is in need of volunteers for a variety of things. For more information and details please contact the Catholic Charities office at Community Christmas Dinner plans for the Community Wide Christmas Dinner are underway and donations are greatly needed. If you can donate, please bring money to the church office and Jen will forward to the appropriate place. Page 6

7 ~ N ew s F rom the PdC O ffice~ Treasurer s Report Treasurer: Jen Kapinus General Receipts for July: $ Expenses for July: Accompanist $ Apportionment $ Guest Speaker $ Copier Maintenance $ Health Insurance, Pension $ Insurance $ Janitorial Services $ Pastor Housing & Cont. Ed $ Payroll $ Church Utilities $ Supplies $44.70 Total Expenses $ July has been a very challenging month financially. With the change of Pastors, we paid two salaries in July. We do not have our school rent in any of the summer months and giving has dropped in the summer. Reminder to please keep up with your giving in the summer months. Coming Soon. Sept. 14th Regular Office Hours Resume Sept. 13th Church School Resumes Oct. 2nd & 3rd Fall Rummage Sale Oct. 18 & 23rd Trick-or-Treat for Unicef Oct. 25th Fall Harvest Festival- The DisChords will lead worship Nov. 1st All Saints Day Op Santa & Cap & Mitten Tree Collection Begins Nov. 25th Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service, details to be announced Dec. 2nd UMW/Martha Circle Christmas Party at 5:30pm PdC Birthday s 3 Mary Stuckey 7 Roberta Dillman 7 David Hand 9 Ron Lasaskie 13 Friday Wiles 13 Bonnie Roberts 15 Linda Konichek 15 Melissa Heisz 21 Adam Steiber 22 Paul Jones 23 Krisalyn Steiber 24 Ryan Whalen 25 Lowell Ahrens 26 Amanda Meyer 28 Dwaine Zlabek 30 Scott Whalen H appy A nniversary!! 2 Harvey and Mary Stuckey 6 Jeff and Cindy Balk 20 Richard and Sharon Martin 23 Robert and Sharon Bartholomew 26 Dr. Ren and Beverly Whitaker In for August Greeters: Aug. 2 Jo Cox Aug. 9 Gloria & Mattie Hutson Aug. 16 Eric & Diana Temte Aug. 23 Madonna Toberman Aug. 30 Phil & Marilyn Bouzek Ushers: Jim & Mary Atkinson (Ushers are needed for September) Accompanists: August 2 Lori Frailey 9 Volunteer Needed 16 Noreen Kahler 23 Lori Frailey 30 Sue McDonald Page 7

8 ~PdC V B S Pictures~ VBS was held June 22 through 26. The theme for this year was Son Treasure Island. The children learned that God's Love - is shown in Jesus; is kind and patient; is for everyone; is forgiving; and never fails. The bright, colorful posters in the sanctuary and the halls are from the lesson packs. Some of them have these lessons printed on them. There were two classes, four teachers, and four teenaged assistants. Dorothy Birrenbach and her kitchen crew served wonderful dinners and snacks each evening. Special thanks go to them and everyone who donated food or money toward the meals. Thank You to all volunteers - teachers, assistants, and kitchen crew, this couldn't happen without you. Sunday School classes will resume on Sunday September 13th at 8:45 am. Page 8

9 ~H appening s in PdC~ Thanks to those who volunteered and stopped at our Brat/Hot Dog stand at True Value on July 11th. Around $200 was raised and applied to our General Fund. Thanks to Friday Wiles for volunteering in the office when Jen can t be here! BIG THANKS to our generous volunteers for the floor stripping/ waxing, cleaning of the carpet in the Fellowship Hall, and washing windows and screens throughout the entire church building! Your time and efforts are VERY much appreciated!! Mark Your Calendars Friday Oct. 2nd & Saturday Oct. 3rd will be the days for the annual Fall Rummage Sale at the PdC UMC. Set up will be Thursday, October 1st. Volunteers are needed. Start collecting your rummage sale donations and drop them off at the church beginning Sunday, September 27th. Check It Out.Please! Another well known writer from Crawford County has passed away at the grand age of 101. Longtime columnist Pearl Swiggum died July 17, Pearl was born in Towerville and lived most of her life near there. She married Tillman Pink Swiggum in They were successful farmers, one named Stump Ridge Farm. When she worked for the Crawford County Independent in Gays Mills she named her column after their farm. She wrote her column, Stump Ridge Farm until 2004 when she retired at the age of 90. Her style was homespun and rambled mixing bits of wisdom with hints about making life and taking care of her beloved cows (and other critters). At the age of 80 she took up square dancing! She was once a speaker here at our church to a group of ladies. I was surprised to find that our library does not have her book printed of her selected columns. Pearl Swiggum was syndicated in Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois. My mother bought one of her books and I am going to dig for it to add to our library to put with Ben Logan s The Land Remembers. These two well known authors gave wonderful insight to our great Crawford County! Mary Don Olson Church Librarian aka Mert The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable a perpetual series of occasions for hope. - John Bachan Scrip Card Ordering Orders for Scrip are placed every Monday morning by 10am. Orders can be placed on Sunday s with Juanita Dyer or during office hours with Jen. Orders are usually available for pick up or delivery on Thursday mornings. If you haven t started ordering Scrip yet, talk to Jen in the office for details. Page 9

10 ~H appening s in PdC~ Church World Service TOOLS & BLANKETS create a rainbow of help and hope each time the right tool is placed in the hands of people in need. A simple truth: Ordinary things-things that we often take for granted like blankets... clean water...education tents...garden tools...seeds-can make a world of difference for people devastated by tragedy, as well as those working to build a better life for themselves and their communities. Tools of hope empower people and bring a better tomorrow! Envelopes will be available on Saturday and Sunday s or you can send a check to the church office, please mark it Tools & Blankets. Upcoming Second 50 Events Everyone age 50+ is welcome! For rides, please contact St. Peter s Lutheran Church. August pm Helping Father Fagan Kurt & Mary Jorgensen present Medical Mission to Tanzania Reminder: If you have Kwik Trip Milk caps please bring them in before August 9th. Friday Wiles is planning to take them to LaCrosse and turn them in. Thanks! Save time, simplify your life, and support the church! Our new electronic Contribution program is an automatic funds transfer program that will allow you to make contributions without having to lift a pen to write a check or reach into your wallet for cash! Here is how it works: you authorize a specified amount of money to be electronically transferred directly from your checking or savings account to the Church account. You also specify the frequency of the transfer to allow you to keep your check register up to date. Talk to Jen in the office for details! Building Use: if you want to use any of the church facilities or borrow anything from the church you need to make arrangements through Jen in the office. Page 10

11 PdC August 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 5pm Contemporary am Pastor Meet & Greet 10am 3 4 9am Committee Meeting 5 7am Men s Breakfast 4:45 Finance Committee Meets pm Contemporary 9 9am Fellowship 10am 10 6:45pm Trustees Meeting 7:30 Church Council 11 6pm SPRC Meeting 12 7am Men s Breakfast 9-2:30 UMW Retreat 13 10am Great River Care Center pm Contemporary 16 9am Fellowship 10am pm Church Picnic 19 7am Men s Breakfast 10am Prairie Maison 20 10am Walter Schmidt pm Contemporary 23 9am Fellowship 10am 24 Pastor Barb Off pm 2nd 50 Event 26 7am Men s Breakfast at Coaches pm Contemporary 30 9am Fellowship 10am Keystone Chorus 31 Page 11

12 Prairie du Chien United Methodist Church 625 S Dousman Prairie du Chien, WI Address Service Requested TO: 2015 Eastman & Wauzeka Pastor Lynn Schreck Wauzeka Sunday mornings & Sunday School 8:30 am Communion 1st Sunday Eastman Sunday mornings at 10:15 Sunday School 10:15 (except 1st Sun. of month) Communion First Sunday Rock Solid 1 st Wednesday, 5:30-7:15pm Contact Info: Find us on Facebook, search: Wauzeka: United Methodist Church of Wauzeka, WI Eastman: The United Methodist Church of Eastman Pastor Lynn Phone: sschreck@centurytel.net Prairie du Chien Pastor Mike Christensen Sunday Mornings 8:45am Children s Church School 9:00am Fellowship Hour 10:00am Traditional Communion served first Sunday Saturday Evenings Contemporary Service every Saturday at 5pm Communion served first Saturday Contact Info: pdcumc@mhtc.net Phone Facebook: PdC United Methodist Church Office Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Friday 8:30-12:30