Discovering. February News from the Session. Discovering The Will of God. February 2017 Newsletter

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1 February 2017 Newsletter February News from the Session After learning of Julie Peterson s resignation, the session voted at its January meeting to form a Transition Team. The team s focus is to help keep things at church running smoothly in this time without a pastor; specifically to ensure worship and pastoral care continues. One of the first tasks is to find someone to help carry out some of the typical duties of a pastor. We are looking to establish a contract with a part-time Bridge Transition Pastor. The details are being worked on as this newsletter is being published, so stay tuned for more information. The session and deacons are deeply concerned about pastoral care. As we work on putting together coverage from an on-call pastor, we have two leaders in place to take your calls for immediate needs: Ann Tennyson (deacon moderator) home /cell Kathryn Fresch (clerk of session) cell If you have any questions or concerns, please call a member of the Transition Team: Kathryn Fresch Eileen Pierce Keith Pierce Marcia Sinner A big thank you to the Deacons for hosting the In this issue: page Session Note 1 BLAST 2 Adult Ed/Bible Study 2 Women s Association 2 Heritage Presbyterian 3 Mission 4 Session Notes 5 Financial 5 Birthday 6 Care & Concern 6 Family Prayer 7 Calendar 8 Schedule 9 Worship in Feb. 10 Sunday, February 5 th reception to celebrate Julie s ministry. Discovering Discovering The Will of God Please join us at the next congregational gathering February 12 at 11:00 AM. The vision process has become even more important at this time as we will need to have it complete before we can begin a pastor search process.

2 B L A S T Feb 19: Teacher: Marcia Sinner Lessons: God s Instructions, Listen We finish our Feasting on the Word winter curriculum on February 19 and will be gearing up for Spring and Lent. The students have some exciting ways to put their faith into action during our Spring studies. When you see them, ask them what they learned in BLAST. Please top by and join in on the learning and the fun! We need volunteers to lead, assist and provide snacks. Please contact Marcia Sinner (414) cell, (262) home or at englandtrvlr@yahoo.com or sign up on the church bulletin board. Adult Education Pastor Julie and the Sunday morning group completed their book study of Waking Up White. The group will take a break for the next few months during this time of transition. Ideas for book or film studies are welcome. If you are interested in future leadership of or participation in the group, please contact Marcia Sinner. Wednesday morning Bible Study at 9:30 am will resume when we have a Bridge Pastoral Leader in place for Living Hope we hope to resume in Lent. Please watch the bulletin and March Newsletter for more specific information. Circles Women s Association: Circles will be studying and discussing Lesson Six in the Bible Study Who is Jesus? Naomi Circle meets on the 2 nd Monday of each month. On February 13th, we meet at 10:00 am at Mary Dalton s home. Contact Ginny Maurer if you have any questions about Naomi Circle Martha Circle meets on Tuesday, Feburary 14 at 12:30 pm for refreshments, Bible Study, and fellowship at Jan Davis home. Contact Peggy Waterman for more information. We will begin to collect pledges for the year. We help to support Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery of Milwaukee which holds two gatherings per year with speakers and programs, and works for justice, peace and a better planet. Our funds are depleted after hosting the Christmas Tea for Living Hope and Dickson Hollow. Make checks payable to: LHPC Women s Association. Please give generously. The Women s Association Board 2

3 Come to the Water on Sunday, February 19 Heritage Presbyterian Church All who thirst, come to the water! Come all who are weary; Come, all who yearn for forgiveness. The Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ has washed over us, and our Gracious and Holy God beckons and blesses us. Drink deeply of the living waters. The Heritage Congregation of Muskego has begun a new chapter in their life. As a church community, we have decided to focus on our strengths: worship, mission and music. Over the last few years, Heritage has been raising money to purchase water tanks for the Ribe Water Project in Kenya. We have also been blessed with the opportunity to attend and experience the Montreat Worship and Music weeklong conferences in North Caroline a number of times with youth, music directors and members. The Water Service: Sharing God s words through music, drama and beauty was developed through these experiences and we will be bringing this worship service to you on Sunday, February 19. We are grateful for the opportunity to share the things that we love with you as we worship the Lord together. If anyone would like to participate in the drama and readings or sing in the choir, we will have a rehearsal at 9:00 am before worship on Sunday 19th. All are invited! We would love to have you sing and help to lead worship with us. We will be collecting an offering for the Ribe Water Project as we learn all about what has already been accomplished, as well as what continues to be needed in Ribe, Kenya, and the difference that these donations and those from Carroll University have made in the life of that community. 3

4 In February & March, Living Hope is hosting a special food drive for the 2 food pantries we support: Below is a list of suggested foods. Please bring your items to the church collection area in the Gathering Space. boxed cereal pasta, rice, mac & cheese; canned fruit, vegetables, soups, SPAM, meals (chili, stews, etc.); peanut butter; baby items (diapers, wipes, baby food, formula.) Your Mission Committee thanks you! SAVE THE DATE Larry Under the Bridge Ministry Easter Sunday, April 16 after worship Mission Committee would like to again collect monetary donations for purchasing food to pack for our Larry Under the Bridge lunch packing. It costs about $200 to pack the lunches. Please mark any donations LUTB on your giving envelopes. Thank you! Here is a link to a news feature on LUTB: 4

5 A regular session meeting was held January 19. Examination of new elders was held. This is something we are asked to do by the PC (USA) and need to document in our official minutes that get reviewed by the Presbytery of Milwaukee. Marcia Sinner, Kathryn Fresch and Joe Fresch were asked to reflect on what their hopes were regarding their upcoming term on session. Some very thoughtful responses were offered. Keith Pierce has spent many, many hours revising our bylaws to reflect changes in the newest Book of Order and guidelines offered by the Presbytery of Milwaukee. He had sent them to the session members to read and study prior to the meeting and several elders had thoughtful questions. We spent quite a long time reviewing; tweaked a few minor things and came up with a final draft to bring to the annual meeting of the congregation for their review and vote on January 29. A Transition Team was formed to help the church run smoothly in this time without an installed pastor. Keith Pierce, Eileen Pierce, Kathryn Fresch, and Marcia Sinner will meet very soon and formulate a plan. The Finance Committee presented the end of year financial reports that happen to offer up some good news on the bottom line. The official record of each session meeting is posted once it s approved at the next meeting. Talk with any session member with questions or comments. Kathryn Fresch, Clerk of Session FINANCIAL UPDATE - As of December 31, 2016 Fav/(Unfav) Actual Budget Variance Total Income - YTD $ 188, $ 159, $ 29, Total Expense - YTD $ 204, $ 199, $ (5,125.73) Net Loss - YTD December 31, 2016 $ (16,072.85) $ (40,230.00) $ 24, Unrestricted Funds as of December 31, 2016 $ 43, submitted by Steve Sinner, Finance Chair 5

6 February Family Prayer Calendar Creator God, I give you thanks for. This day wherever they are, whatever they do make yourself known to them. Guide their feet as they travel across the room or across the country. Lift from them worries about life and fears of the unknown. Where there is need, fill it; where there is sorrow, comfort it; where there is loneliness, let friendship blossom. Celebrate with them the smallest joy or the largest achievement, bringing to their mouths praises for your abundant love. And Lord, as I pray for remind me to be a friend to them in whatever way you ask of me. This is my prayer in the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen. We are a connectional church connected in faith to God Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Jesus taught us that prayer connects us to the Divine and to each other. Each month we offer an alphabetical listing of our faith family. Each family has a date when we ask you to hold them up in prayer thank God for them, ask God s blessing upon them, ask God to surround them with grace, mercy, and any other need they may have. Offered here is a prayer to get you started. 1) Sue Malsack 2) Kathy Mathews 3) Char Mattson 4) Ginny Maurer 5) Anne Melvin-Rood, Kip Rood, Catherine & James 6) Pat Mitschrich 7) Nancy Molstad 8) Paula Moore 9) Priscilla Nealey 10) Don Olson 11) Jim and Bette Olson 12) Bruce & Kris Parker 13) Mike& Jenni, John, Sam, and Scott Parnon 14) Monica Partenfelder, Olivia Campbell and Mack Partenfelder 15) Scott Partenfelder 16) Bill and Pat Perkins 17) Ray and Arlene Petersen 18) Jeff and Julie Peterson 19) Keith and Eileen Pierce 20) Nancy Pyeatt 21) John and Carole Riedmaier 22) Dottie Russon 23) Jeane Satola 24) AJ Sinner 25) Steve and Marcia Sinner 26) Todd, Lora and Fritz Stangler 27) David and Karen Stephan 28) Jennifer, Madeline, Olivia and Katherine Stevens 6

7 Living Hope Presbyterian Church Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Office Hours Tuesdays 8:30-12:00 Wed and Fri 8:30 3:00 1 February 2 3 9:15 Worship 11 AM Morning Prayers* 4 Visioning Team Meeting with Jim Kitchens 10 AM 5 8:45 BLAST 10 AM Worship Pastor Julie s last day 11 AM Fellowship Office Closed 9 4 pm Transition Team Meeting AM Morning Prayers* AM Worship No Fellowship Today 11:00 Congregational Visioning Meeting AM Naomi Circle at church Arleen Goranson 14 12:30 Martha Circle at Ann Tennyson s pm Finance AM Morning Prayers* :45 BLAST 9 AM Rehearsal 10:00 Welcome Heritage Presbyterian March Newsletter Deadline AM Morning Prayers* AM Fellowship 12 PM Session March 10 AM Worship 11 AM Fellowship 2:00 PM Dementia Support Group Ash Wednesday 6:30 Worship *Friday Morning Prayers Join us in the Brookfield Room at 11 AM each Friday as we start the weekend together in prayer. 7

8 SERVING ON SUNDAYS IN FEBRUARY If you are unable to fulfill your role in our Sunday work together, please arrange for a substitute and let the church office know. Feb 5 Feb 12 Feb 19 Feb 26 Preaching Pastor Julie Rev. Jim Kitchens Heritage Presbyterian Church Communion Servers Nancy Molstad* Curtis MacDonald Julie Courtney Julie Camp Don Waterman Liturgist Joe Fresch Joe Fresch John Riedmaier Fellowship Hosts Bill and Pat Perkins No Fellowship Time today Steve & Marcia Sinner Todd, Lora, and Fritz Stangler Jean Freuck Don Waterman Jean Freuck Joan Junek Counters Peter Kirchhoff Judy Bauer Marge Gauen Ginny Maurer Dan Brankle Welcome Host/ Lock up Nancy Molstad Joe Fresch Ann Tennyson Ann Tennyson B.L.A.S.T. Marcia Sinner Marcia Sinner Nursery Help Vickie Werner Eileen Pierce Keith Pierce* Tom Tennyson* Tom Tennyson* Ken DeBoer* Ushers Karl Betram Barry James Ann Tennyson Don Waterman Ann Tennyson Don Waterman Diane DeBoer VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Do you notice the blank spaces by B.L.A.S.T. and Nursery help? Living Hope needs YOU! Please sign up on the bulletin board in the church hallway. 8

9 Worship at Living Hope this month: Feb. 12 Welcome Rev. Jim Kitchens join us after worship for our second visioning session. Feb. 19 Welcome Heritage Presbyterian sharing The Water Service: Sharing God s words through music, drama and beauty service and learn about their mission project the Ribe Water Project in Kenya, Africa. Feb. 26 Guest Preacher to be announced Wed., March 1 6:30pm Ash Wednesday Worship LIVING HOPE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH W156 N4881 Pilgrim Road, Menomonee Falls WI Office hours: Tues 8:30-12:00, Wed and Fri 8:30-3:00 Office: Office@LivingHopePCUSA.org; CCLI License # For immediate pastoral care concerns, please call Kathryn Fresch, Clerk of Session at For other pastoral care needs, please call Ann Tennyson, Deacon Moderator Pro-Tem at or cell Clerk of Session: Kathryn Fresch Administrative Assistant: Lisa Quinn Director of Music: Dr. Wallace Cheatham Nursery Attendant: Nancy Kapp Session Members Judy Bauer, Joe Fresch, Kathryn Fresch, Curtis MacDonald, Nancy Molstad, Keith Pierce, Eileen Pierce, Marcia Sinner, Steve Sinner, Tom Tennyson Deacon Members (designated last names) (A-B) - Julie Courtney (G-K) - Kris Parker (P-R) - Peggy Waterman Moderator (C-F) - Karen Stephan (L-O) - Ann Tennyson (S-Z) - Julie Camp 9