Our Covenant Connections

Transcription

1 Our Covenant Connections November, 2017 We are quickly approaching the high holy day of the Congregational faith Thanksgiving. As we are learning in our New Member Class, Congregationalists trace our ancestors all the way back to the English Pilgrims and Puritans of the 1500 s. Each believed similar things. They sought to create a church more faithful to scripture and, therefore, to God. Each believed the Church of England was corrupt and needed to be changed. The Pilgrims believed the Church of England couldn t change fast enough so they separated from the Church of England to establish their own congregations. This is the group we celebrate as establishing Plimoth (sic.) Plantation in New England. The Puritans tried to reform the Church of England from within, without separating from it. This is the group that came to American (sic.) and established the Massachusetts Bay colony that we now call Boston. Each group endured persecution in England for their beliefs. 1 As we approach this day of great celebration and festivity, I am reminded of the bravery that these men and women showed. They stood up for their faith and spoke out against the Church of England. Their actions could have (and often did) cost them everything. They lost homes, families, friends, fortunes, and sometimes even their own lives. They possessed a remarkable determination in their desire and ability to follow Jesus. What the Pilgrims and Puritans objected to in the Church of England was any practice or belief not found in the Holy Scriptures. In particular, they objected to: clergy wearing clerical vestments, kneeling for the Lord s Supper, making the sign of the cross, the affairs of the church resting with the clergy, the Bible being read in Latin and therefore, not available to the laity, the numerous church rules being enforced by a hierarchical system of bishops, church law and the civil law being one and the same, the excessive taxation on the laity to support the church. 1 For them, their faith was not a Sunday thing. It was not something they made a little time for between other busy activities. For our ancestors, their faith in Jesus Christ, and the ability to practice it and pursue Him as they saw fit was at the very center of their lives. And they were willing to sacrifice whatever it took to make that happen. They were willing to pay a very high price to practice their faith. As I remember and celebrate this I can t help but be challenged by their resolve. What does my faith mean to me? What will I give up to make sure that I can follow Jesus as I see fit? What will I sacrifice to be able to practice my faith? How much does my faith mean to me? Is it just a Sunday thing, or is it at the center of my life? Would I give up everything, leave everything comfortable and familiar, and embark on a dangerous journey solely to practice my faith? This Thanksgiving as we remember all the many blessings we have, and as we take time to specifically thank God for all of His goodness toward us, may we also be challenged and encouraged by the faith of our ancestors. Happy Thanksgiving! 1 Mauro, Rev. Dr. D. Elizabeth, The Art and Practice of the Congregational Way, 2014, p Ibid., p Pastor Kevin Ministers: The People of the Church Pastor: Kevin Clark FCC associates with sister churches in the Wis. Congregational Association & National Association of Congregational Christian Churches

2 Church Council / Staff Moderator-Diane Williams Moderator Elect-Rae-Ellen Preuss Treasurer-Jean Brocker Secretary-Joanne Himebauch Budget & Finance-Prakash Mathew Property & Grounds-Jim Schuett Worship-Tom Rowntree Congregational Care-Sue Roberts Missions-Deb Maske Christian Education-Linda Haeger Staff Organist/Choir Director - Marni Wiggins Office Admin. - Judi Weyer Pastor Kevin Clark Servant Schedule Date Refresh. Ushers Nursery Liturgist 11/5 Business Meeting Group 1 Prakash 11/12 Group 2 Rae-Ellen 11/19 Naomi M Group 3 11/26 Women s Fellowship Group 1 Sunday School Linda G Cindy W Claire A Linda G Jan S Joanne H 12/3 Group 2 Prakash Claire A Notice: Photographs taken at church events are included in the newsletter, on our website and our Facebook page. If you would prefer not to have your photo posted to any of these forums, please contact the church office. Articles for the December Newsletter are due in the office by 8:00 am on Wednesday, November 22. Birthdays Rae-Ellen Preuss... 11/3 Carol Bartholomew... 11/4 Naomi Mathew... 11/4 Adeline Tritz... 11/4 Linda Garasimowicz... 11/7 Lydia Mathew... 11/10 Jerry Taylor... 11/10 Carl Geiser... 11/17 Amelia Ballard... 11/18 Benjamin Clark... 11/19 Dick Greenwald... 11/28 If you would like your birthday or wedding anniversary to be included here, please drop a note to the office. Budget and Election Meeting The Congregational meeting to approve the Budget for 2018 and to elect officers for the coming year will be held on Sunday, November 5 immediately following worship. This Sunday will also be the Celebration of Music, so please gather quickly to enable us to complete our business. 10/27/17 Income Expenses Over (Short) Offering 115, , , Other Income 4, Total 120, , /8 10/15 10/22 Attendance CONTACT US First Congregational Church of Mukwonago 231 Roberts Drive Mukwonago, WI Church Office office@fccweb.net Pastor Kevin Clark rev.kevinclark@gmail.com Marni Wiggins Organist/Choir Director... marnilynn@mac.com Prayer Chain... prayer@fccweb.net C.A.R.E. Ministry... care@fccweb.net

3 The October Council meeting was spent primarily in reviewing and approving the budget for We also approved the wording for a constitutional amendment to create the Memorial Committee as a Committee of the Congregation rather than a ministry team. We also had a brief discussion on whether the congregation needs a B-HAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal). We have been blessed to have a surplus last year, are on a track to have a budget surplus for 2017 and the budget being presented to the congregation has more anticipated income than expenses. The current budget has only about 3% of the money being spent on ministries. God did not give us this money to bury as we learn in the parable of the talents. Is it time for the congregation to start to think about new ways of reaching into the community and reach other lives for God? Is it time to start dreaming of what we can accomplish? Finally, at the November meeting the Council will be completing Pastor Kevin s annual review. The members of the Council would like to know what you are thinking. The members of the Council are listed on the page with Church Council/Staff. Please contact a member of the Council to share your views prior to our meeting on November 8. Diane Williams, Moderator We are in the midst of our Operation Christmas Child Shoebox collecting; a small box from us, but a big blessing to a child who does not have much. A blessing in Jesus name from us. Thank you to those who have already taken boxes. We have a few extras if you haven t been able to grab one yet! They are due back on Sunday, November 12. Remember to NOT put any shipping costs in the boxes, or fill out any form. All you need is the label on the top as to whether it is for a boy or girl and the age range of the child. We will bless them on Sunday the 12th and take a free will offering to help offset the cost of shipping. Stock the Pond For Mission School of Hope. To date we have raised $489 toward the projects of a renewable fishery and poultry farm; $145 from bottled water sales and $344 from our non-raffle baked good sale. We have a new campaign that we ll roll out very shortly. We re excited about it and pray that it will go well. We are setting an aggressive goal of $5,000 by the end of the year. We re enlisting the help of other WCA churches as well, but we are thinking that our church will step up to the challenge. Details to come! And in helping with our new goal, we are dedicating our Thanksgiving offering this year to the Mission School of Hope. Ringing of the Bells for Salvation Army at Pick n Save on Saturday, December 2nd from 9-2. Pick a time to ring the bells and help raise money for our local Salvation Army this Christmas. Sign up as a single or as a group and have fun with it! See the signup sheet on the connection table. Linda Garasimowicz Mission School of Hope Fish & Poultry Farm Fundraiser Following are the winners of the MSOH Raffle. Thank you for your support!! Kay s Mint Brownies ~ Jamie B. Elegant Farmer Pie ~ Chris L. Scotty Pop ~ Betty M. Beth s Cherry Pie ~ Jamie B. Ashley s Choc. Chip Cookies ~ Dorothy C. Cinnamon Rolls ~ Dorothy C. Thanksgiving Service There will be a lay led Thanksgiving Service on Thanksgiving Eve at 7:00 pm. We ask that each of you tell us some of the things for which you are thankful during the service. During the service, our Thanksgiving offering will be taken.

4 Fair Share Month It s November. The holidays, Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas and New Years are just around the corner. This is the time that I really start to think of the things for which I am thankful. Of course, family tops that list. But I have so many more things for which to be thankful. The first that comes to mind is faith, followed very closely by my church family. FCC has been a place where my faith has been able to stretch and grow. I have been able to try new things and I have learned so much. I am thankful for the pastoral leadership that we have with Pastor Kevin, but I am also thankful for the church family here. We have an active adult education class and we have additional opportunities to learn about our faith. We have a congregation that is concerned about reaching out beyond our doors, whether it is to the Mission School of Hope in Africa, the Gideon Society or Wycliffe Bible Translators on an international level, disaster relief on a national level, our backpack food ministry or the Mukwonago Food Pantry on a local level. Our congregation is also caring toward each other as shown through our Prayer Chain Ministry, our monthly worship at Linden Ridge, and the many ways that we enjoy fellowship together and support each other throughout the year. I would be negligent if I did not tell you that I am very thankful for the opportunity you have given me to be your Moderator this year. I appreciate the support and encouragement you have given me this year. I am especially thankful for the nine other members of the Church Council who have each been diligent in their work. I am especially thankful for the work of the retiring Council members, Jean Brocker, Linda Haeger and Sue Roberts. Each of them has put in many, many hours in making our new system work. Thanks especially to Jean for the many hours that she has spent working with Judi in the office to simplify our financial reports so that they are understandable to the members of the congregation. I wish each of you a joyous Thanksgiving and the best that all of the upcoming holidays have to offer. Diane Williams November is Fair Share Month. Fair Share is the amount of financial support that churches that are part of National Association of Congregational Christian Churches voluntarily pay to support the work of the Association (NA). In exchange, the NA provides many services to the churches. Two of the main services include support (including financial) of students in seminary (CFTS), and assistance to local churches in finding pastors. Pastor Kevin is a graduate of CFTS and our search committee had worked with the NA during the search that resulted in our calling Pastor Kevin. In addition, the NA also assists in the collection and payment of money to support missions throughout the world, including the Mission School of Hope. In the past, Fair Share Offerings have traditionally been collected in March. However, this has resulted in several problems. In order to be credited during the current fiscal year offerings must be received in the NA Office prior to March 31, so that often means that the check must be sent before the last Sunday of the month. Also, since that means that our offering is one of the last received, cuts may have already been made in current spending. Since Congregational Churches trace back to the Pilgrims, it makes sense to take the collection during the month of November and to celebrate our Pilgrim heritage at the same time. A Fair Share contribution is suggested at $15.00 per active member. Currently all of the money that our congregation gives to the NA Shared Ministries Fund (general operating budget) comes from the voluntary contributions of our members. You can make a contribution by putting checks or cash in the Fair Share envelopes in the pews of by including it in your offering and listing it as a Fair Share offering on your regular offering envelope. If November is not a good time for giving a Fair Share offering, contributions can be made at any time and designating it as a Fair Share offering. Diane Williams

5 UPCOMING FELLOWSHIP EVENTS 35th Annual Celebration of Music Thank You to all who attended the Salad luncheon & auction. We raised $ This money and other money raised is used to help to pay for The Upper Room, candles for the altar and cards/gifts for our shut ins and various other ways in which to help support the church. Also, remember your blessing bags can be taken home and brought back at your convenience (questions?? ask Sue or Shirley). Happy Halloween!!! Sue Roberts We hope you can join us for the 35th annual Celebration of Music at 2 PM on Sunday, November 5. Plan on an afternoon of musical entertainment from many talented Mukwonago Area musicians, including many members of our church, such as Ellie Wiggins and Linda Haeger, plus our own church choir. The Mukwonago Area Community Choir will be giving us a preview of their upcoming Christmas concerts. Please bring a donation for the Mukwonago Food Pantry. Christmas Gathering You are cordially invited to a Christmas Gathering at the Himebauch's home (100 Oakland Avenue) for Christmas treats and the Midnight Magic parade on Saturday, December 2 at 2 PM. The parade starts at 3 PM. We will have a bonfire in the yard near the parade route, but you are welcome to watch the parade from the living room, if you wish. Bring a lawn chair and a donation for the Mukwonago Food Pantry. Hope to see you there! MACC Christmas Concert On Sunday, October 8, Pastor Kevin and our Backpack Ministry Team did a Blessing of the Backpacks. We are so blessed to be able to help out nine families this year with a backpack filled with food every Friday. Thanks to the many friends and members of FCC for buying the grocery items each week and for donating funds. We are reaching out to families in the community with food and our prayers. Beth Petersen FCC will once again be hosting the Mukwonago Area Community Choir Christmas concert on Friday evening, December 8. Time yet to be determined. We will be collecting donations for the Mukwonago Food Pantry or the Salvation Army. Come and enhance your Christmas season by listening to some beautiful Christmas music. Joanne Himebauch

6 231 ROBERTS DRIVE MUKWONAGO, WISCONSIN «Final_Merge Mailing_Labels» «Address» «City», «State» «Zip» «Newsletter_Delivery_Preference» November, 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Pastor's Day Off :00 Bible Study 8:00 Men's Breakfast 6:30 Church Council 10:00 Made with Love 6:30 Quilters 11:00 Business Mtg. 2:00 Celebration of Music Pastor's Day Off :00 Bible Study 6:30 Scouts 11:00 Front Porch 6:30 Scouts Cmte Pastor's Day Off Articles Due 23 T hanksgiving :00 Bible Study 10:00 Made With Love 7:00 Thanksgiving Office Closed Office Closed 12:30 Women's Fellow. Eve Service 11:00 Front Porch 1:00 Linden Service Pastor's Day Off :00 Bible Study 6:30 Scouts 10:00 Made With Love 11:00 Front Porch