THE CROSS & THE FLAME

Transcription

1 THE CROSS & THE FLAME Viroqua & Liberty Pole United Methodist Churches P.O. Box 127, Viroqua, WI November 2016 Dear Friends, November 2016 November is known as the great month of Thanksgiving. November 6 th is All Saint s Sunday. (Nov. 1 st is All Saint s Day) It s a time to lift up those who have died since our last All Saint s Day Sunday, 2015 and during We light a candle for them and say some special prayers. God bless all those dear ones who have died and now are with the Lord. November 12 th at 6:03 pm will be a Clown Crew Show. Come one, come all to Viroqua UMC and enjoy the show. November 13 th is Veteran s Day Sunday. Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11th not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. November 20 th is the last Sunday of the Church Calendar year known as Christ the King Sunday. On this Sunday, Jesus is lifted up as the great King and Savior for all humanity. It is always the Sunday before Thanksgiving. At 7 pm, Nov. 20 th, there will a community-wide Thanksgiving service at Immanuel Lutheran Church (located by the Viroqua High School). This service is hosted by a few different churches on a rotation basis in the Viroqua area each year. Please bring food for the food pantry. And finally, November 27 th is Advent I. Depending on how the Church Calendar falls, sometimes there is a Sunday that falls between Thanksgiving and Advent I thus allowing for more lead time to decorate for Advent and Christmas. On Advent I, we will herald in the Season with both churches decorated for the Advent and Christmas Season. At 2:00 pm the same day, the Viroqua Community Bell Choir will perform at the Viroqua UMC. May God bless all our worship services and special activities. We have much to be thankful for, not only in the month of November, but, throughout the year! See you in Church, if not before! Pastor Jean Viroqua & Liberty Pole United Methodist Churches Mission Statement The Viroqua & Liberty Pole United Methodist Churches exist for the purpose of carrying out Christ s Great Commission by enabling all who come to personally know the joy of God s love and forgiveness and to lovingly share this joy in the fellowship of the church and in reaching people throughout the world.

2 2 THE CROSS AND THE FLAME TABLE OF CONTENTS November Scriptures... pg. 3 All Saints Day John Wesley... pg. 3 Care and Nurture Minutes... pg. 4 First Sunday of Advent... pg. 4 Monthly Devotional Fellowship... pg. 5 Newsletter Deadline... pg. 5 Anniversaries, Birthdays, New Members... pg. 5 Viroqua Finance Meeting Minutes pg. 6 Viroqua Administrative Council Minutes... pg. 6 Community Bell Choir Concert... pg. 6 John Wesley Quote - Thanksgiving REF: Wesley Christian Education Minutes... pg. 7 Viroqua UMW Minutes... pg. 7 Thank you to Our Veterans... pg. 8 Thank you note from Viroqua Community Theatre.. pg. 9 Presentation of Bibles... pg. 9 Food Pantry Donations... pg. 9 Advanced Lay Speaking Class for pg. 10 Liberty Pole Administrative Board Minutes... pg. 11 LEAPs, Sunday School, and Clown Crew Show... pg. 11 Viroqua Trustees Minutes... pg. 11 Viroqua UMC Admin. Council Minutes (back of calendar) Thanksgiving is inseparable from true prayer; it is almost essentially connected with it. One who always prays is ever giving praise, whether in ease or pain, both for prosperity and for the greatest adversity. The Cross & The Flame is published monthly by the Viroqua and Liberty Pole United Methodist Churches for our congregation and friends. We welcome you with open hearts, open arms and open doors. VIROQUA UMC/OFFICE 221 S. Center Ave. Viroqua, WI Phone: Fax: info@viroquaumc.org OFFICE HOURS 8:00 A.M. - Noon Monday & Wednesday 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. on Thursday & Friday (Church door opens at 9:00 a.m.) LIBERTY POLE UMC S 6759 St. Hwy. 27 Viroqua, WI Phone: STAFF Jean Waldron, Pastor Parsonage Phone: Pastor s Direct Line: jeanlwaldron@gmail.com Kristin Potochick, Secretary Office Phone: Viroqua UMC Service Assistants Ushers Nov. 6th - Greg & Mary Cheever Nov. 13th - Betty Ross/Lorna Peterson Nov. 20th - Layne & Janette Hanson Nov. 27th - Cavan Fang/Dan Casper Greeters Nov. 6th - Annabel McGarry Nov. 13th - David Peterson Nov. 20th - Dan Casper Nov. 27th - Shirley Gilman Liturgist - Sonja Bjerkos Liberty Pole UMC Service Assistants Ushers/Greeters Arden & Lynn Zitzner Billy,Tolla & Axell Lepke Seth Volden and Chandlor Volden Liturgist - Nov. 6th - Paul Adams Nov. 13th - Paul Adams Nov. 20th - Amy Hardy Nov. 27th - Amy Hardy

3 THE CROSS AND THE FLAME 3 All Saints Day Sunday, Nov. 1st Liberty Pole - Sunday, October 5th John Wesley enjoyed and celebrated All Saints Day. In a journal entry from November 1, 1767, he calls it a festival I truly love. On the same day in 1788, he writes, I always 11:00 find a.m. this - a 2:00 comfortable p.m. day. The following year he calls it a day that I peculiarly love. Adults/$8.00 Children 6-12/$ and under/$2.00 All Saints Day is an opportunity to give thanks for all those who have gone before us in the faith. It is a time to celebrate our history, what United Methodists call the tradition of the church. November Scriptures November 6, All Saint s Sunday Holy Communion by Intinction Psalm 34, rsp. 2 UMH 769 Daniel 7:1-3, Ephesians 1:11-23 John 11:32-44 Let Us Draw Near to God November 20, Christ the King Sunday Luke 1:68-79 Canticle of Zechariah UMH 208 Jeremiah 23:1-6 Colossians 1:11-20 Luke 23:33-43 Three Perspectives on Jesus November 13, 26 th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 118:14-29, rsp. 2 UMH 839 Isaiah 65:17-25 Hebrews 7:11-28 Matt. 26:26-29 Church s Relationship to Jesus Christ November 27, Advent I Psalm 72:1-17, rsp. 1 UMH 795 Isaiah 2:1-5 Romans 13:11-14 John 1:6-14 The Light (Interview with Isaiah)

4 4 THE CROSS AND THE FLAME Care and Nurture Committee Oct. 12th Present: Pastor Jean, David Peterson, Gloria Freilinger, Joanne Hornby, Mary Fox, and a visitor, Betty Ross. Pastor Jean opened the meeting with prayer. In review: Mary Fox has again sent many cards, and plans to send more at Thanksgiving time. The youth lock-in is being planned. Pastor Jean has begun the confirmation class. Looking ahead: UMW will be doing the October Fortney Hotel meal. Charge Conference is coming up fast and we went over the officers and members of the various committees in preparation. All Saints Day will be Nov. 6th and Veterans Day Nov. 13th. We plan to furnish a cake for the Veteran s Day Celebration. The Church of Christ will be in charge of the annual Thanksgiving dinner which is held at the Catholic Church. Pastor Jean has been calling inactive members to try to find out whether they are still wanting to be listed as members, or friends of the church. Joanne brought up the possibility of a Casserole Committee to bring a casserole to families with a death or serious illness. Cheese plates were suggested as appropriate in some situations, also. Respectfully submitted. Gloria Freilinger First Sunday of Advent November 27th PREPARE FOR ARRIVAL Prepare ye the way of the Lord. - Isaiah 40:3 Seat belts fastened and tray tables returned to an upright and locked position? Everything ready on the ground? Announcing the arrival! In a sense, the entire history of Israel is a preparation for the arrival of Jesus, in whom all history is fulfilled. God s Old Testament people knew something about preparation and anticipation. God prepared Abraham to be the patriarch of his people. God prepared Moses to lead the sons of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt. God prepared David to be anointed as king of the house and lineage of David. God prepared the people in Isaiah s day to recognize that we don t prepare the way for God; he will come in his own way. But come he will. As the last of the Old Testament prophets, John the Baptist did what God had said. He went into the wilderness and proclaimed that the Kingdom of God in Christ was at hand. We begin with a sense of quiet waiting, of turning away from all our efforts to prepare the way, to a time of listening to God s Word and his Way. Rather than focusing on our preparation, our attention turns to the one who is arriving. This is the Messiah promised of old, the Advent King of the Kingdom of God, David s Son and David s Lord. Announcing the arrival of the Savior of the world: God has come, in Christ! Lord, make us ready this Advent. Prepare us for the Way of the Lord. We are listening to our Word as you announce the arrival of our Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Amen. Prepare ye the Way By: Andrew Bartelt

5 THE CROSS AND THE FLAME 5 Happy Anniversary Pete & Shirley Gilman Marc & Donna Polsean Brandon & Lisa Ulberg November 12th (V) November 14th (V) November 14th (V) Welcome to our New Members Liberty Pole UMC Eric and Renee I. C. Baker joined on Sunday, October 16th. Monthly Devotional Fellowship Birthdays With wishes for many more! Isabella Thompson November 1st (LP) Melissa Vikemyr November 1st (LP) Ann Hudson November 2nd (V) Trygve Overbo November 2nd (V) Robert Starr November 9th (V) Brent Deaver November 11th (LP) Lorraine Gerdl November 12th (V) Tom Steele November 12th (V) Brandon Ulberg November 13th( V) Aaron Weiss November 16th (LP) Naomi Fanta November 17th (LP) Neil Funk November 19th (LP) Annabel McGarry November 19th (V) Janice Fortney November 19th (V) Benjamin Hanson November 22nd (V) Tom Haakenson November 25th (V) Signe Mikkelson November 25th (LP) Abagail Diehl November 27th (LP) Keegan Funk November 27th (LP) Jessica Bjerkos November 28th (V) Chandlor Volden November 28th (LP) Hailey Thompson November 29th (LP) We are a small Bible study group formerly led by John Eumurian, who is now living with his daughter, Jane, in Illinois. We meet once a month on Sunday evenings. We are currently using a daily devotional book by E. Stanley Jones as a guide: The Word Become Flesh. We will soon be deciding what book to use in Anyone interested in joining our group may contact either Kathy Hanson ( ), Avis Marino ( ); or Gloria Freilinger ( ). Newsletter Deadline The deadline for the December newsletter is November 26th. Please provide your submissions as early as possible so that we produce the best newsletter possible! Pat Matz November 30th (V)

6 6 THE CROSS AND THE FLAME Viroqua Finance Meeting Minutes - Sept. 27th Attendees: Aaron Hanson, Pastor Jean, Veryel Gerdl, Orvis Primmer, Betty Ross, Gregory Cheever, Sonja Bjerkos, Kathy Hanson Devotion: Pastor Jean Financial Secretary Report: Veryel gave report. It was accepted and approved. Treasurer s Report: Presented by Gregory. It was accepted and approved. Veryel brought up subject about Safe Deposit box. Trustee to follow up. Kathy talked about narrative Budget. Projected to complete by the Charge Conference. Viroqua Administrative Council Meeting Minutes - Sept. 27th Members Present: Pastor Jean, Gregory Cheever, Aaron Hanson, Veryl Gerdl, Cavan Fang, Bob Starr, Janet Welch, Barb Casper, Jolene Gudgeon, Kathy Hanson The meeting was opened with a devotion by Pastor Jean. We talked some about our September 6 meeting with Rick Churan from the United Methodist Foundation. He gave us lots to think about as we move forward. We decided by consensus to put together a Narrative Budget this fall. We chose the following areas of ministry: Worship, Spiritual Formation, Congregational Care, Hospitality & Outreach, Missions. A smaller group of us will meet on October 13 to put together the brochure. Greg will work on entering our budget numbers. Charge Conference will be held at 1:00 pm on October 23. We decided that the Administrative Council will host a potluck dinner after church that day. The Charge Conference will be led by the District Superintendent and include all the churches in Circuit 8. Jean presented the Charge Conference paperwork for our input. We reviewed the membership list and made recommendations about who should be contacted regarding the continuance of their membership. Meeting adjourned with the Lord s prayer. Community Bell Concert - Sunday, November 27th at 2:00 PM at Viroqua UMC We have a great program planned with some secular selections and traditional Christmas music. Vocal selections will be provided by Jacinta Henden and Hannah Marks. They are so talented. A special young lady will accompany the Music Box Dancer Bell choir selection with her dance routine. Brianna Yttri, granddaughter of Ole and Sherri Yttri from Twin Lakes will be our special guest. Brianna has taken dance lessons since she was 3 years old, she is now 10. She has performed in many recitals and competitions. She enjoys various dance forms, ballet, tap, contemporary and rhythm. She shares her talent at assisted living facilities once a month. She is choreographing this special number. Looking forward to seeing you there and get you in the spirit of the season.

7 THE CROSS AND THE FLAME 7 Christian Education Committee Meeting Minutes - Oct. 3rd Present: Kathy Hanson, Todd Overbo, Pastor Jean, Janette Hanson Approve minutes: Todd made a motion to approve minutes. Kathy seconded it. Reports: Sunday School: Sunday School started on September 25. A sample kit from Group (Hands-On curriculum) is being used for this fall. If we like it, we will order more after Christmas. The older class will be studying 8 different stories of Lost Cause Love throughout the year. The old Headstart room is now available to use for Sunday School. Thanks to Todd and Janice for decorating the hallway downstairs. Ideas for the Christmas program were brought up. Pastor Jean will look through her resources to find if anything will work. A meeting is planned for Monday, October 17th at 11:00 am to discuss ideas. Youth (LEAP s): The youth will be having a lock-in Friday, October 21st at 5 pm to Saturday, October 22nd at 9 am. Many fun activities have been planned. If kids are planning to attend, they need to have a permission slip turned in. Todd will get these to the youth. Confirmation: There are 15 confirmation students this year who are meeting from 4-5:30 pm on designated Sundays. Pastor Jean says that things are going well so far. Old business: MacInnis Scholarship: We have been giving $500 for scholarships in the past. Kathy mentioned that we may be able to give more money if we would like to. It is stated in the memorandum that a $500 scholarship is to be awarded, so we will need to contact the foundation if we decide to do this. VBS: VBS went well this summer - 36 kids attended! It worked well to use the overflow room, and it was great to have so many people help out. It was mentioned that next year a closing day performance might be added. New business: Committee leadership: Janette announced back in April that she will be stepping down as chair of the education committee. Kathy made a motion to elect Todd as the new chair. Janette seconded it. Viroqua UMW Minutes Oct. 6th Viroqua UMW Minutes - October 6th The Lydia Circle/UMW met on October 6th. Barb Casper was hostess. We voted to take money from the treasury for our Mexican sponsored boy s Christmas gift. Volunteers for the Fortney meal on the 16th are: Joanne, Betty, Hester, Janice Fortney, Barb and Ramona. Calendar: October 30th UMW Sunday November 3rd 1:30 p.m. Lydia Circle/UMW Joanne Hornby, hostess November 12th Day of Enrichment Waunakee Child Fund Lorraine Gerdl November 18th Vernon Manor Harvest Festival Party Gloria Freilinger December 1st Meet at church at 11:30 for Christmas dinner at Kickapoo Corners

8 8 THE CROSS AND THE FLAME With Special Thanks to Our Men and Women in the Armed Forces On Veterans Day and Every Day The following members of our church family faithfully served their country as members of the Armed Forces: Liberty Pole John Burckhardt Alan Christianson James Cocchiola Nancy Cocchiola Eldon Gardner Orvin Gardner Chase Hornby Cyndy Hubbard Sandra Marohl William Marohl Leon Mellem Michael Stephen Viroqua John Eumurian Harry Fox Veryel Gerdl Larry McGarry Ellsworth Olson David Peterson Robert Peterson Rick Schneiderman Gerald Schroeder Glenn D. Sniff Robert Starr Marlo Volden Dean Warren With love and gratitude we thank you for your service. Bless Them Abundantly: A Veteran s Day Prayer Dear Lord, Today we honor our veterans, worthy men and women who gave their best when they were called upon to serve and protect their country. We pray that you will bless them, Lord, for their unselfish service in the continual struggle to preserve our freedoms, our safety, and our country s heritage, for all of us. Bless them abundantly for the hardships they faced, for the sacrifices they made, for their many different contributions to America s victories over tyranny and oppression. We respect them, we thank them, we honor them, we are proud of them, and we pray that you will watch over these special people and bless them with peace and happiness. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. By Joanna Fuchs

9 THE CROSS AND THE FLAME 9 Thank You Note from Viroqua Community Theatre Presentation of Bibles at Viroqua UMC On Sunday, October 16th at Viroqua, Bibles were presented to: Gradyn Hanson Benjamin Ostrem Finn Brenneman Bring Forth A Harvest Of Thanks! Hard to believe, but Thanksgiving is less than a month away. As we anticipate our turkey dinners, the Viroqua and Liberty Pole UMCs invite everyone to get an early start on offering thanks by sharing God's blessings of food with those who may not have enough. Now through Thanksgiving, please bring canned goods, household supplies, and other nonperishable donations Clown for Crew the food Ministry pantry when you come to worship. The food pantry especially needs canned fruit and vegetables, mac & cheese, dry pastas, instant mashed potatoes, hamburger helpers, peanut butter, ramen noodles, saltine crackers with 4 rows in a box, breakfast cereals, and canned soups. Monetary donations are also welcome (make checks out to the church, put them in a clearly labeled envelope, and drop them in the offering plate). In these tough economic times the work of the food pantry has become more important than many of us can remember. Those served by the food pantry include the unemployed, underemployed, single-parent households, retired seniors, the mentally/physically challenged, people just released from prison, and those who find themselves in a financial crisis due to an unexpected situation. Most clients of the food pantry live in or near Viroqua. d Feeding the hungry is one important way that we show God's love to a hurting world. The need is great all year round, but during this season of Thanksgiving it is especially appropriate to share our blessings with our neighbors. So when you are shopping for your Thanksgiving groceries, don't forget to give people in need a reason to be thankful.

10 10 THE CROSS AND THE FLAME Advanced Lay Speaking Class for 2017 UNITED METHODIST POLITY Fulfills Advanced Course Requirement Dates: Sunday, January 8, 15, 22, 29, 2017 Time: 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Address: Elroy United Methodist Church, 125 Royall Ave., Elroy, WI Teacher/Instructor: Rev. Wesley Jacob Ph.D. Theme: This course in United Methodist Polity is designed to engage you in a dialog on the Constitution of The United Methodist Church, its Doctrinal Standard and Theological Task, the Ministry of All Christians, the Social Principles, and its Organization and Administration. Students will be introduced to Ordained and Licensed Ministry, Superintendency and Episcopacy, The mission and organization of the Local Church, District and Annual Conferences, Jurisdictional, Regional and General Conferences. They will review the work of the General Boards and Agencies and come to understand the church s Judicial Process. The Goal of this course: Through this course, students will gain insight into the tradition and practice of The untied Methodist Church. And be prepared to participate in the decisionmaking process the church prescribes for ordering the life of the community. It also will prepare students for a variety of leadership roles they may assume as lay or clergy leaders of the church. As you work through this course, you will be asked to complete a series of assignments that will introduce you to a variety of topics related to the organization, mission and ministry of The United Methodist Church. By the end of this course, you will have increased knowledge concerning: 1. The nature of polity 2. Fundamental documents 3. Authority 4. The Annual Conference 5. Supervision and Accountability 6. The ministry 7. Church membership 8. Governing the local church 9. The program of the local church 10. Church property 11. The judicial system 12. The general boards and agencies Prerequisites: This course is an approved class for those who are pursuing the path to Lay Speaking Ministry and is open to anyone who wishes to develop more confidence in preaching. In order to receive Lay Speaker credit for this course, participants must be active members of a United Methodist Church and must first have completed a Basic Lay Speaker course. Registration Cost: $30 made payable to the course instructor, wesley.jacob@wisconsinumc.org Sherry Malone South West District Office Manager Wisconsin Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church Registration deadline is December 15, 2016

11 THE CROSS AND THE FLAME 11 Liberty Pole Administrative Board Meeting - Oct. 4th Present: Renae Diehl, Barb Robson, Brian and Joyce Funk, Sandy and Bill Marohl, Pastor Jean, Alex Hornby and Tamie Thompson. Meeting was called to order by Sandy. Pastor Jean read a devotion "Little Crosses." Secretary and Treasurer's reports were read and approved. Old Business: Renae from Education Committee gave some dates for the children. There will be a Lock In at Liberty Pole on October 21st. The children will be providing music in church once a month. They will sing and play the bells. The Christmas Program will be on December 11th during the worship service. New Business: We will be honoring Beverly Bankes on Oct. 16th and having coffee after the service. Bev will be moving to live with her daughter. Thanks to Beverly for all her work and support of our church. Charge Conference will be October 23rd in Viroqua. Potluck at noon with meeting to follow. Motion by Bill and second by Barb to discontinue the Memorial and History Committee and to remove Cyndy from the WCCU account. Steve Thompson (Financial Secretary) and Brian Funk (Trustee Chair) will be added to the account. Motion carried. Budget for 2017 was discussed and approved. Charge Conference paperwork was completed. Decided to eliminate some committees and just appoint a coordinator for other existing committees. LEAP s The Lock-in at Liberty Pole included 7 youth and 3 grown-ups helping. Thanks to Alex and Renae for all their time. Our theme was First thing First. Camp fire, songs, S Mores, # of Objests and the Wrapped Gift games were also some of the activities. Sunday School We are still talking about Blind Bartimeaus and discovering everyone has a purpose. As we learned from the apple seed its purpose is to make a tree and produce apples and more apples until you have an Orchard. So our Purpose is to be Discovered and Learned and Lived Out. Clown Crew Clown Crew Show on Saturday, November 12 at 6:03 pm. There will be clowns and puppets and singing from LEAP s. todd Trustee s Meeting - Oct. 11th Present: Aaron Hanson, David Peterson, Pete Gilman, Pastor Jean Snow Removal Roy Gunn presented his snow plowing and removal proposal. It was accepted that Alex Miller do the snow removal on the sidewalks and clear the driveway at the Parsonage. Snow removal budget approved for $25,000. Motion was made and seconded that the parking lot will be open to the public. Next meeting November 8th, 2016.

12 Viroqua and Liberty Pole United Methodist Churches Post Office Box 127 Viroqua, WI PHONE: (Office/Kristin) /Office/Pastor Jean) FAX: Website: Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Viroqua, Wisconsin Permit Number 11 DATE SENSITIVE Return Service Requested Address Label THE CROSS & THE FLAME November 2016 EVENTS November Calendar enclosed Viroqua UMC offers 2 Sunday school classes from 9:00 am - 10:00 am SUNDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE Liberty Pole United Methodist Church 9:00 A.M. Viroqua United Methodist Church 10:30 A.M. SUNDAY SCHOOL Liberty Pole UMC 9:15 A.M. Viroqua UMC Adults-9:00 A.M., Children-10:45 A.M.