january First Presbyterian Church Racine, Wisconsin Open Road of Joy

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1 FIRSTNEWS MONTHLY january First Presbyterian Church Music, Racine, Wisconsin January 2012 mission, ministry Where tradition meets today s world! Open Road of Joy Archbishop Desmond Tutu wrote these words fourteen years ago in light of the millennium, but they strike me as particularly appropriate for us as a church as we look to this year in our life together. Look back from where we have come. The path was at times an open road of joy, at others a steep and bitter track of stones and pain. How could we know the joy without the suffering? And how could we endure the suffering but that we are warmed and carried on the breast of God? We are His children, created in His image, made for love and laughter, caring and sharing. I am filled with hope for the future. In spite of much to the contrary, the world is becoming a kinder, safer place. It is God's world and He is in charge. His gifts of goodness and kindness, reason and understanding, science and discovery are showered upon us. Revel in these gifts, enjoy them, share them, and this new millennium will become a highway of peace and prosperity for all. I know, I know. It s still just January. First Presbyterian Church s 175 th Anniversary year doesn t start for another month. But let s get ready. And by ready I mean ready to revel in the gifts that God has given us, to enjoy them and share them. Let 2014 be for us an open road of joy as we seek Christ s heart in our worship, mission, and fellowship, and let us celebrate God s gifts as they are revealed and put to use all along the way. With You in Christ,

2 2014 Edition; Volume 1 ORGANIZED IN MUSIC, MISSION, MINISTRY... WHERE TRADITION MEETS TODAY S WORLD 716 COLLEGE AVENUE RACINE, WI Pastor Ben Johnston-Krase Visitation Pastor Steven C. Fringer Director of Children and Youth Ministries Nikki Blanks Organist Gerald E. Buck Choir Director Alejandro Alumbreros Music Leader Mark Paffrath Handbell Choir Director Nancy Buck Office Administrator Julie Nondorf Financial Secretary Doris Deschler Thank you to all who have served as volunteers for Perk n Pour, our Sunday morning coffee fellowship time. The schedule for 2014, beginning in March, will be sent out in January. Please call Ginny Holle at or her at: dholle@wi.rr.com if you wish to change your turns or cannot continue to help with this or want to be added as a Perk n Pour volunteer. Sexton Leneen Schrieffer FirstPresRacine@wi.rr.com Web site: Pastor s blog: SayingGraces.com PLEASE RECYCLE

3 Session News Mission Cornerstone Your Session invites you to attend the 2013 Annual Meeting, which will be held on Sunday, January 29th, immediately following service in the sanctuary. There will be no Sunday school or adult education on the 29th; however, childcare will be provided in Ihrman Hall so that all can attend. A delicious pot luck meal will follow in the downstairs dining room. Copies of the annual report will be available in service beginning on January 22nd. Hope to See You There! Deb Capener Clerk of Session Thank you all for your generous support! The following organizations were the grateful benefactors of your gifts this Christmas through the Alternative Market. Together, we raised $2, for: Medical Benevolence Fund Deacons Fund Next Generation Now Health Care Network Heifer International The HOPE Center God Bless Each of You in This Wonderful Season! Kathi Wilson Mission Committee SENIOR GEMS NOT JUST FOR GIRLS! This month, the Senior Gems will meet on Tuesday, January 14th at 11:30 a.m. We ll cozy up in Ihrman Hall for a blended soup luncheon, followed by a planning meeting for our upcoming year. Bring your favorite can of non-cream soup and join us for a fun time of fellowship. All are welcome! FINANCIAL and STEWARDSHIP UPDATE Happy new year everyone! Thank you for your generous contributions last year of both time and finacnes! November 2013 was a good month for us compared to November Total income was $25,583 compared to the previous November of $21,460. We are ahead of prior year in total income for 2013 with year-to-date income of $282,515 compared to $260,727 in 2012 (the difference is +$21,788 or +8.4%). We are still tracking slightly behind our budgeted income based on 2012 s pace by about ($6,500) or (-1.8%). Our full-year financials are now projected to be a deficit of close to ($10,000). Costs in November 2013 continued to be right on plan. Costs were $27,244 resulting in a net loss of ($1,661) for the month. November 2012 we had higher costs of $28,486 for a much bigger net loss of ($7,026). Year-to-date 2013 costs are now $327,602 for a net loss of ($45,087). At this point in 2012 we had costs of $302,765 with a net loss of ($42,038). Costs are up in 2013 primarily due to planned payroll increases. Ed Holle Treasurer

4 Our next meeting will be on January 17, 2014 at Evelyn Vanderheyden s home, 5000 Graceland Blvd., Apartment 247, We loved her lasagna so much last time that this meeting will be a pot luck fellowship. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. - Psalm 119:105 If you haven t been able to join us before, please come and start the new year off right. We d love to meet a few new faces and make a few new friends! Please RSVP to Evelyn at Let s read the Bible in a year! Mindful of our 175 th year as a church family, we ll begin this coming February. Pastor Ben and others will lead us in this year-long commitment as we explore the scriptures together. We will be using The NRSV Daily Bible: Read, Meditate, and Pray Through the Entire Bible in 365 Days, available online, or you can order a copy through the church. Would you like to lead a Daily Bible discussion group? Don t worry you don t need a seminary degree! Just agree to host a few people (or maybe a few more) in your home, at the church, in a coffee shop, at the gym wherever! Then once a week or once every other week, get together, discuss, share insights, and pray. The sign-up is posted in Ihrman Hall, but you can also register by calling the church office. Be sure to let us know if you want us to order a Daily Bible for you, and tell us if you re willing to host a group! Happy Birthday, January! Isabella Antonneau Jan. 1 Nathan Antonneau Evelyn Alumbreros Jan. 3 Zachary Carpenter Kim Plache Jan. 4 Roberta Moulds Christopher Shelton Jan. 6 William H. Christensen Jan. 7 Doris Fisher Jan. 8 Susan Barry Jan. 9 Tammy LaMarr Joshua Nitz Nancy Tobias Madeline Ford Jan. 10 Sylvia Johnston-Krase Kay Mahl Jan. 10 Sarah Seversen Jacob Warren Logan Lehmann Jan. 12 Adam Joseph Nielsen Jan. 13 Jean Rowland John Daniels Jan. 14 Amanda Hansen Pamela Wortley Molly Hall Jan. 15 Evan Humphreys Ross LaMarr Jan. 17 Harrison Rose Jan. 18 Julie Voigt Elisabeth Blandford Jan. 20 Cheryl Nitz Jan. 22 Julie Taggart Jan. 22 John Brooke Jan. 23 Janet Hoffman Bea Sondergaard Gabrielle Elzinga Jan. 24 Shawna Lehmann Dennis Reeser Jan. 26 Olivia Karls Jan. 27 Lincoln Pitts Jan. 28 Susanne Doe Julia Reeser Jack Rowland Amy Walton Karla Johnston-Krase Jan. 29 Charles Knoedler Jan. 30 Bethany Nichols

5 Montreat Conference Center is one of three national conference centers affiliated with the PC(USA). It is annually visited by over 35,000 people seeking physical and spiritual renewal in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina. We will come together as a community of faith in this sacred place. Free of distraction, we will focus on the God who accepts us just as we are. While we have fun with friends, we will celebrate God through meaningful, creative, and interactive worship. Youth will be inspired and challenged to affirm and deepen their sense of Christian identity. The Montreat Youth Conference is designed for high school students, entering freshmen through graduated seniors, and their adult leaders. It is a unique gathering of young people from all over the country for a week of study, worship, and recreation. Activities include morning energizers, music, keynote, small group meetings, afternoon recreation activities, and evening worship. Curious? Check out: Total cost: $ per young person includes registration, housing and meals The Presbytery of Milwaukee is generously covering costs associated with transportation Montreat is making available an additional scholarship We anticipate the final cost to families to be $550 per person Since registration is limited to 40 participants-taken on a first come basis, act quickly To share in this exciting opportunity, contact Pastor Ben for a registration form right away! Join us for the New Year s first FIRST 5:07 But me? I will enter your house because of your abundant, steadfast love. (Psalm 5:07) The History Celebration Committee invites you to celebrate the 175th anniversary of our church your way! We re calling it, The 175th Celebration Challenge. Individuals, families, friends (and enemies) can create their own 175th celebration. My challenge is to sell 175 jars of Salt of the Earth seasoning. Here are a few ideas for how you can make create your own challenge: Folks can combine 175 hours or minutes of service Collect 175 pairs of socks to donate Run 175 miles in a year with a pledge for each mile Anything related to 175 that benefits others will work Please join us in the chapel on Sunday, January 5th at 5:07 p.m. for an intimate, contemporary worship experience, followed by a delicious pot luck meal. Join us as we share in the excitement of celebrating our 175th Year! Bruce Armstong, Celebration Committee

6 Dear Church Family, First of all, I want to thank you all for the outpouring of love and support you have shown during my first semester at McCormick Theological Seminary. It has been wonderful to have so many of you express interest and concern in my journey through seminary! My first semester got off to a challenging start, but once I was able to create a schedule that works for me, I really started to enjoy my seminary experience. I am making a lot of new friends, learning a lot of new things and beginning to discern what God might be calling me to do when I graduate. I have now completed the following classes: Introduction to Biblical Studies, Introduction to Preaching, and Exodus and Pilgrimage in Faithfulness. During January, I will take a Greek language intensive. And in the spring semester, I will take Greek II, Introduction to Theology, Reform Worship and Sacrament, and Biblical Foundations of Jewish and Christian Differences. If you d like to know more about my seminary experience, please don t hesitate to , call, or talk to me at church! Thanks again for all your support! Nikki Blanks Larry & Ellen Cardwell January 1, Years Mike & Amy Pirtle January 3, Years Les & Ann Lucareli January 9, Years James & Kathy Yonker January 16, Years Myron & Mary Ann Stahl January 28, 1967 Parish Nurse Notes 47 Years It s easy to exercise when the weather is nice and the great outdoors beckons, but even the most dedicated individuals might find their resolve weakening once the snow flies. It s important to fight winter sluggishness, though, and explore ways to continue to exercise 3-4 times per week. Sticking to your routine through the winter allows you to maintain your level of conditioning. It can also help offset stress and the tendency to overeat that occurs during winter. And, of course, the usual benefits of regular exercise physical and psychological wellness and the prevention of diseases and disorders continue to be important no matter what time of year it is. To accommodate Wisconsin weather, consider the following: On certain days, you ll need to find an indoor exercise venue. There are many options: health clubs, home equipment, apartment facility work-out rooms, community centers, senior centers and shopping malls. Each site has different benefits. You may need to look at a couple of different venues so you can continue strength training, aerobic exercise and general conditioning. Wherever you choose to exercise, be sure to allow extra warm-up time so your body can deal effectively with the change in temperature between indoors and outdoors. If you are exercising outdoors, be sure to dress appropriately. Always wear a hat, warm socks, and gloves, and make sure your shoes have good treads to prevent slipping. If you need a little incentive to stick with your winter exercise program, pick a partner who will work out with you. Make sure the activity and its location are convenient and, if you have to drive to it, keep your workout clothes and equipment in the car. Track your progress on a chart or in a phone app this will offer encouragement to continue. Finally, talk with your doctor if you have questions. He or she can recommend alternatives and address any problems or concerns you may have. May you and your loved ones experience a joy-filled and healthy New Year and Epiphany Season. Blessings, Peggy Taylor, RN, Parish Nurse

7 History corner It was the best of times it was the worst of times to quote Dickens. White settlers, first from the New England States, came to the Village of Racine in hopes of buying land at $1.25 per acre. Native Americans were moving away, not by their choice, wildlife was aplenty and syrup and sugar from the maple tree were available. The settlers moved to their new land as farmers and started to sell off the lumber to build a new community. It was also a time of economic and social unrest. It was hard to get credit and the abolitionists were starting to make some noise. If you lived in the village and were not a hunter times were tough. You needed the lumber sawed to build buildings and you had to trade labor to survive. You could not find salt to put on your potatoes if you had potatoes. It was such a time on January when "A meeting of professors of Religion was held agreeably to previous notice at the house of Timothy Wells for the purpose of consulting and taking measures for the formation of a Church of the Presbyterian or Congregational order. Rev. Cyrus Nichols was chosen as Moderator. Alfred Cary was appointed Clerk. The meeting was opened by singing, and prayer was offered by the Moderator. After consultation and a free expression of opinion of all present it was resolved that it is expedient that a Church be organized in this place. Whereupon Rev. C. Nichols, J. Sage, T. Wells, and Alfred Cary were appointed a committee to propose a confession of faith and Covenant - to be presented at the next meeting. The meeting adjourned and closed by singing the Doxology. Alfred Cary, Clerk" Deborah CIRCLE The next meeting for Deborah Circle will be on Monday, January 6, at the church. The pot luck meal will center around the theme of Our Favorite Winter Comfort Foods and will begin at 5:30 p.m. Bring a favorite food selection you love to have when the cold weather sets in! It can be anything main dish, side dish, snack, dessert, or even a breakfast/ brunch choice. All are welcome to attend. and no advance notice is necessary since this is being held at church. SPECIAL SUNDAY SCHOOL DATES IN JANUARY The 5th of January will mark the beginning of a new Sunday school semester and Sunday School will resume! Additionally, please note that on Sunday, January 26 th, there will be no Sunday school because we will have our annual Congregational Meeting, and we want all of our Sunday school teachers to be able to attend! There will be childcare provided in Ihrman Hall during the annual meeting. Chapel Art Show News Coming up in the New Year - BENDING, BREAKING & REBUILDING... The holiday art show will remain on view in the chapel through New Years as many have not yet seen the gorgeous painted ceramic pieces for sale. You don t want to miss them...affordable, unique and lovely. We will take down everything in the holiday show on January 12, and start putting up the Epiphany / Early Lent art exhibit: Bending, Breaking & Rebuilding, that week. If you or any of your artistic pals including young people have anything to exhibit please bring it to the Chapel on Sunday, January 12, or during the following week. Artwork that hangs needs to be framed and have a wire on the back for hanging. Please clearly include (on the back with a label) contact information and price, if for sale. For more information, please contact Ellen Cardwell or ERCardwell@aol.com.

8 Don t Miss the Annual meeting! Sunday, January 26th, in the sanctuary immediately following service Childcare will be provided in Ihrman Hall during the meeting A delicious pot luck meal in the downstairs dining room will follow the meeting Copies of the 2013 Annual Report will be available beginning January 22nd Join us at Discovery Day! F e b r u a r y 8, , I n M i l w a u k e e "Catch the Vision and Dream the Dream" at Discovery Day Led by the captivating and creative worship group, Holy Enchilada, we will discover new ways to be leaders in our churches through worship, music, community involvement, Christian education, connect with friends new and old. And once again Discovery Day will be held in conjunction with the Stated Presbytery of Milwaukee Meeting. In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men (and women) shall see visions, and your old men (and women) shall dream dreams. Acts 2:17 Date & Time: February 8, 2014 from 9:00am to 4:00pm Where: Crossroads Presbyterian Church in Mequon What: Meaningful worship, thoughtful Presbytery meeting, delicious food, great workshops All people and all ages are invited to deepen faith and enhance leadership at dynamic, exciting, inspirational, Discovery Day. For more information, workshop schedules, registration, sign-ups, and the event map, go to: