St. James United Methodist Church. Dearest Friends,

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1 St. James United Methodist Church AWARE January 2016 Pastor: Mark Klaisner Lay Leader: Larry Gyrion Staff Parish Relation Chairperson: Gary Linstad Administrative Board Chairperson: Deb Kraemer Children & Youth Ministries Coordinator: Margie Trueblood Director of Music & Organist: Andy Lambrecht Treasurer: Chris Bahr Finance Chair: Jon Krein Trustees Chair: TBA Lay member to Annual Conference: Larry Gyrion Missions & Outreach: Kay & Charlie Christenson Worship Team Leader: Cal Christenson Membership Care & Hospitality: Dave Brusewitz Website: Bill Kraemer Custodian: Todd Trueblood Administrative Assistant: Deb Kraemer Dearest Friends, Greetings and peace to all of you in the name of Christ our Lord! We hope that your Christmas season was a time of peace, hope, joy, and love. The end of one year and the beginning of another is usually a time to look back to what has been and to look forward to what can be. To look back or not to look back includes both the positive as well as the negative things. To look forward to what can be or should be possible is also an important exercise. The prophet Joel, inspired by God, spoke as follows: I will pour out my Spirit on all humanity. Your old people shall dream dreams and your young people shall see visions. It is important to dream, to try to imagine how, for example, we can help in some small way to make the world a better world. I have a dream, these words have been immortalized by Martin L. King. The dream was a clear vision of where he wanted to take his people: calling them from bondage to freedom. It was like an Exodus event. Not all of us are called in this way to be leaders. But all of us are called to make our own contribution to its realization. All are called to make a difference in our own and others lifestyles. In short, each and every one of us is called to share the Kingdom of God. Another great visionary of our own time is Nelson Mandela. In just a few short sentences he described his life s journey as The long walk to freedom. St. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, writes about the mystery hidden for all ages in God, and which now has been made known to us in Christ. It is the dream or vision of God s plan for the world and the mission of the Church in that plan: to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth. Jesus, our Lord and savior, became Emmanuel (God with us) to give us full freedom as sons and daughters of God. In Jesus and with Jesus we can realize all our dreams and hopes because he said: Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart: and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light. Continued

2 Continued from front page. As we begin 2016, we greet you and convey our richest blessings as you begin this journey. We extend our wishes that the New Year be one filled with faith, hope, love, joy, and prosperity for us all. Lets this time be an opportunity to deepen your faith, and to seek in every way to be the eyes, hands, and feet of Christ to the community we serve. May our Lord and Savior be someone to whom we can turn in our weak, joyful and painful moments. May God, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer be our rock, our shelter and our strength at all times and places. Wishing you God s richest blessings! Shalom Pastor Mark Ongoing Activities Lunch Bunch: 12:15 p.m. on Mon., January 11. At Solea, 1104 Mutual Way. Ladies Night Out: 6:00 p.m. on Mon., Jan., 18 at El Jaripeo, 1821 E. Main Street, Little Chute. Wednesday Bible Study is taking a break until March. January Celebrations Birthdays 1/2 Betsy Rath 1/3 Bob Olson 1/3 Michelle Price 1/6 John Lind 1/7 Marge King 1/11 Bill Kraemer 1/12 Emily Milbach 1/17 Chet Luce 1/24 Roy Duhm Anniversaries 1/12 Chris and Shelby Andrews Sermon Series: Half Truths They are simple phrases. They sound Christian like something you might even find in the Bible: Everything happens for a reason, God helps those who help themselves, God won t give you more than you can handle, God said it, I believe it, that settles it, and love the sinner, hate the sin. We ve all heard these words. Maybe we ve said them. They capture some element of truth yet they also miss the point in very important ways. Join us as we search for the whole truth. DATES TO REMEMBER: January 3 Food Pantry Collection Take down the Christmas Greens 10 Administrative Board 30 Boy Scout Pinewood Derby February 13th 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Pie and Book Sale April 1-3 Annual St James Get-Away Men s Walk to Emmaus Women s Walk to Emmaus SEE UMCSJ.ORG FOR DETAILS. January 3 Does Everything Happen for a Reason? Deuteronomy 30:19-20 January 10 Does God Help Those Who Help Themselves? Psalms 10:14, Psalm 18:6, 16 Psalm 121:1-2 January 17 God Won t Give You More Than You Can Handle? I Corinthians 10:13, Psalm 46:1-2 January 24 God Said It. I Believe It, and That Settles It? Deuteronomy 23:12-14 January 31 Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin? Matthew 7:1-5

3 Annual Book and Pie Sale February 13, 2016 From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you are interested in a 2016 Upper Room Disciplines devotional, we have extra copies in the office. They are $10.50 each. Watch your inbox for information on how you can sign up for the Right Now Media, learning tool. It is free to all members of St James. Check it out! It s like the Christian Netflix. Boxed offering envelopes are available at the connection center for those who would like to use them in For Sale: St. James has two head to head vaults in Mausoleum B at Highland Memorial Park available for purchase. Interested parties should contact the church office at or office@umcsj.org

4 Photos from the Holiday Fair. Cookies Crafts Soups & fellowship!

5 Photos from the Children s Christmas Program.

6 What is Walk to Emmaus? Men s Walk: April Women s Walk April At Lake Lucerne UMC Camp, Neshkoro Space is limited! Register early to reserve your spot! The Walk to Emmaus is an experience of Christian spiritual renewal and formation that begins with a 3-day short course in Christianity. It is an opportunity to meet Jesus Christ in a new way as God s grace and love is revealed to you through other believers. Christ will meet you wherever you are on your Christian journey. If you are looking for personal spiritual growth, Walk to Emmaus is one of the best things that you can do for yourself. What Happens on the Walk? You will enjoy 3 days of singing, learning, laughing, worshipping, reflecting, praying and participating in small groups, in an environment that removes the hustle and bustle of everyday distractions. This is time for you to set aside to explore your relationship with God. Discussions center around fifteen talks given by laity and clergy. These talks present the theme of God s grace, how that grace comes alive in the Christian community, and how it expresses itself in the world. What Happens Afterwards? You are invited to have a closer walk with Christ for the rest of your life. Is God Calling to You? This is one call you won t want to miss! Sponsorship is required. Cost $175 per person, which covers all food and lodging from Thursday evening to Sunday afternoon. Partial and full scholarships are available upon approval. Informational brochures are available. You may also contact Deb & Bill Kraemer (dkraemer@new.rr.com or ) or Kay, Charlie, & Cal Christenson, ( ). Others who have also attended are: Larry & Sherri Gyrion; Ed & Sharon Ramsaroop; Anna Graf, Sherry Schreiner; Bob Strutz. and Pastor Mark and Connie Klaisner. Missions Offering Your mission offerings for January and February will go to support the work of UM- COR. Confirmation class begins Wednesday, January 6, at

7 ANNUAL GETAWAY WEEKEND April 1-3, Friday evening to Sunday mid-morning. Join with other St. Jamesians at a rustic cabin in a wooded setting with all the modern conveniences. Mt. Morris Camp & Conference Center W6016 Blackhawk Road Wautoma, WI Private rooms and baths, towels & bedding Common area with kitchen, fireplace, couches, chairs... Read, walk, explore, make puzzles, play games, visit, nap, sing, etc., etc., etc. Discussion periods available. Topic to be selected. Closing worship on Sunday morning. 5 meals included plus the snacks & beverages you bring. All for $135 per person. Limited to 20 people. Please contact Lloyd Eggert at to sign up. Hope you can join us.

8 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 Happy New Year Office Closed 3 Epiphany Sunday/Communion Food Pantry Collection 8:00 a.m. Choir 8:20 a.m. Praise Team 9:00 a.m. Worship 9:15 a.m. Sunday School 10:15 a.m. Fellowship Time 10:30 a.m. Adult Sunday School 4 Boy Scouts 5 5:45 p.m. Accountability Group Choir 7:30 p.m. Praise Team 6 Confirmation Class Christian Education Meeting 7 8 Office Closed Pastor s Day Off st Sunday After Epiphany 8:00 a.m. Choir 8:20 a.m. Praise Team 9:00 a.m. Worship 9:15 a.m. Sunday School 10:15 a.m. Fellowship Time 10:30 a.m. Administrative Board Meeting 11 12:15 p.m. Lunch Bunch 5:30 p.m. Girl Scouts 12 5:45 p.m. Accountability Group Choir 7:30 p.m. Praise Team 13 Confirmation Class Office Closed Pastor s Day Off nd Sunday After Epiphany 8:00 a.m. Choir 8:20 a.m. Praise Team 9:00 a.m. Worship 9:15 a.m. Sunday School 10:15 a. m. Fellowship Time 10:30 a.m. Finance meeting 10:30 a.m. Adult Sunday School 18 6:00 p.m. Ladies Night Out 19 5:45 p.m. Accountability Group Choir 7:30 p.m. Praise Team 20 Confirmation Class Aware Deadline 21 Boy Scouts Den 2 & 3 22 Office Closed Pastor s Day Off 23 9 a.m.- 12 pm North East District SPRC Training 24 3rd Sunday After Epiphany 8:00 a.m. Choir 8:20 a.m. Praise Team 9:00 a.m. Worship 9:15 a.m. Sunday School 10:15 a. m. Fellowship Time 10:30 a.m. Adult Sunday School 25 5:30 p.m. Girl Scouts 26 5:45 p.m. Accountability Group Choir 7:30 p.m. Praise Team 27 Confirmation Class Office Closed Pastor s Day Off 5-8 p.m. Derby set-up 30 8 a.m.- 12 pm Scout Pinewood Derby 31 4th Sunday After Epiphany 8:00 a.m. Choir 8:20 a.m. Praise Team 9:00 a.m. Worship 9:15 a.m. Sunday School 10:15 a. m. Fellowship Time 10:30 a.m. Adult Sunday School

9 Jan GREETER Julie Remmel Rose Ann Luce Kim Robinson Donna Eggert Mike Hert SOUND Sierra Gyrion Bill Kraemer Connie Klaisner Bill Kraemer Bill Kraemer USHER CAPTIAN Connie Klaisner Dave Brusewitz Wayne DeGrand Connie Klaisner HOSPITALITY Nancy Adkins Diane Linstad Jon & Kathy Krein Tom & Mary Schemm The Gyrion Family Ethel Duhm Diane DeGrand Faithfully Fit ACOLYTE Maizy Van Linn Kirsten Runyon Avery Lang Ashlynn Gyrion Hunter Price LITURGIST Nancy Adkins Deb Kraemer Connie Klaisner Lloyd Eggert Cal Christenson CHILDREN S TIME Pastor Mark Mary Schemm Diane Linstad & Sarah Runyon Kathy Krein Margie Trueblood NURSERY TBA Carrie Walters Maria Genke Stacy Olson Jayne Lang COUNTERS Dean Adkins & Dean Adkins & Dean Adkins & Dean Adkins & Dean Adkins & COMMUNION SERVERS Charlie, Kay, Cal Christenson, & Kristen Langlais N/A N/A N/A N/A KWIK TRIP CARDS Chris Bahr Rich Stewart & Betsy Rath Tom Schemm Rich Stewart & Betsy Rath

10 St. James United Methodist Church 100 W. Capitol Drive Appleton, WI Return Service Requested Affix Postage Here Mailing Label To receive this newsletter through and to receive weekly e-news from St. James UMC, please send your address to St. James United Methodist Church Pastor Mark Klaisner Margie Trueblood Children & Youth Ministries Coordinator Office Hours 9 a.m. 1 p.m., Monday Thursday Bulletin Information & Announcements Due Monday of each week Newsletter Submissions Due 20th of each month For more information, go to umcsj.org Andy Lambrecht Music Director, Organist alambrecht917@gmail.com Deb Kraemer Administrative Assistant office@umcsj.org Aware is published monthly by St. James UMC, 100 W. Capitol Drive, Appleton, WI.