St. John s United Church of Christ Schwarzwald

Transcription

1 St. John s United Church of Christ Schwarzwald The Small Church with the Big Heart That Does Great Things! W3401 Orchard Road, Elkhart Lake, WI 53020; Phone: Schwarzwald@tds.net; Website: Schwarzwalducc.org facebook.com/stjohnsuccschwarzwald Pastor Melinda Feller Cell Phone: revfellerucc@gmail.com Pastor s Day off - Monday Council President Diane Weiland Church Treasurer Tanya Gosse Church Secretary Vicki Wagner s Hours: Tuesday-8:00 am to 2:00 pm; Wednesday-8:00 am to 1:00 pm; Friday 8:00 am to 12:00 pm Sunday Worship Service at 9:15 am (fellowship time to follow service) Sunday School at 10:30 am (September to May) If you are interested in making St. John s your church home or need pastoral care, please contact the church or Pastor Melinda at the phone numbers listed above. Should your call be answered by the answering machine, please leave a message. November December Mary Marthas Women s Guild

2 Some of you may be aware that my sabbatical time is quickly approaching. With the Church Council engaged in Shared Ministry conversations, they and I felt it best for me to take my sabbatical January 1 March 31, 2019 rather than June 1 August 31, 2019 as originally planned. Shifting the dates earlier benefits the ministry of St. John s, but it has meant some quick planning. You will be receiving (if you have not already received) a letter from the Church Council detailing pastoral coverage while I am on sabbatical. A pastor-on-call has already been secured to cover all pastoral needs, and President Diane Weiland is quickly filling up the pulpit supply dates. It is hoped, and expected, that all will continue smoothly at St. John s while I am gone. The Church Council also sees this as a time to experience what less than full-time ministry may feel like as we consider Shared Ministry with another church. I anticipate that it will be a positive experience on both sides. Some of you have asked about my sabbatical plans. Given the shift in dates, I have adapted my travel plans. Currently, I have a trip planned to Israel in January for ten days. I last visited Israel on my first sabbatical in I am looking forward to seeing some of the same sites again, while also visiting some new ones not included in my first trip. On my first trip to Israel, I found it incredibly moving to walk where Jesus walked and to witness first-hand what the sites looked like that I had only read about in the bible. I anticipate this trip will be as moving and rewarding. In February, I will be traveling to Kanab Utah to volunteer at Best Friends Sanctuary for a week. Best Friends is the largest no-kill shelter in the country that specializes in hard-to-adopt animals. While vacationing in Utah last December, I accidently found Best Friends and knew I wanted to return to help. I was inspired by their mission and vision, and their commitment to not giving up on any animal. I ll be working in the Bunny House in the mornings and in Cat World in the afternoons. I am also trying to plan a week-long spiritual retreat. This would be a time to disconnect from electronics and reconnect with God through prayer, study, reflection, and reading. I have a couple of possibilities for a retreat location that I am waiting to firm up. Along with that, I keep pulling books from my bookshelves that I want to read. I doubt I will get through them all! This will be the fourth sabbatical in my ministry one in 1996, another in 2001, and the last in I have always found my sabbaticals to be a time of renewal and refreshment, allowing me to reenter God s ministry with a fresh perspective, a revitalized spirit, and new energy. I trust I will discover the same on this sabbatical, and for that I am incredibly grateful that you have given me this time away. Shalom, Pastor Melinda

3 Sabbatical for Ministers The Benefits for Pastors and Congregations (This article is reprinted from an earlier one written by our Pastoral Relations Committee.) What is a Sabbatical? Clergy have great responsibilities and the many challenges that come with working in the ministry can take its toll. A sabbatical is an extended leave from the duties of the church, a period of rest for the body, mind and soul and; a time for renewal and development of relationships with God and others. The Wisconsin Conference of the UCC recommends a 13-week sabbatical after every five years of service in a church setting. St. John s provided for this in their covenantal agreement with Pastor Melinda when she began her ministry with us July, Why is a sabbatical needed? Ministry is a lifestyle which requires a commitment to serve. This means clergy are always on the clock and have a continuous responsibility of tending to the members and meeting the needs of the congregation. The stress that accompanies the call to ministry can have considerable negative effects. Allowing pastors to take a temporary break is important for those who are committed to ministry for the long haul to bring healing, hope and renewal for the pastor. The church that cares for its pastor cares for itself. Misconceptions about sabbaticals. It s common for people to view a sabbatical as a long vacation when in reality a sabbatical differs significantly from a vacation in many aspects. It is a time of solitude with God, a respite for improving one s health, a time to truly and completely disconnect from routines, responsibilities and relationships. As such, during the sabbatical year, vacation time is still offered to the pastor. When will the sabbatical begin? There are rhythms and seasons in a church s life that need to be considered in scheduling a sabbatical. For instance, in most churches, the fall seems to be far busier than the summer. The Church Council and the Pastoral Relations Committee have already begun conversations with Pastor Melinda about her sabbatical. Together, we are tentatively looking at the summer of How does the congregation function during Pastor Melinda s sabbatical? The Church Council has set aside funds each year since Pastor Melinda began her ministry with us. These funds will be used to procure pulpit supply and needed pastoral care during her sabbatical. Often, area clergy (active and retired) will provide pastoral care for a small fee or gratis. Furthermore, during a sabbatical, the church promises not to use this time to make major decisions that should involve the pastor s input. How does the congregation benefit from Pastor Melinda s sabbatical? St John s will discover a new appreciation for the minister by assuming the multiple responsibilities, tasks and assignments in which Pastor Melinda has been engaged. As a congregation we ll obtain a better understanding of what it is like to be the pastor. Studies show the sabbatical essentially helps to retain the minister because the congregation and pastor learn to care for one another. Sabbatical for Ministers The Benefits for Pastors and Congregations (Continued on Next Page)

4 Sabbatical for Ministers The Benefits for Pastors and Congregations (Continued) How does Pastor Melinda benefit from the sabbatical? Pastor Melinda will have time to decompress from the pressures, demands and expectations of ministry. She ll have time to clearly evaluate her calling, find a renewed commitment, passion and explore ways for living life and ministry more creatively. The leave actually gives time for God to develop a stronger relationship with Pastor Melinda. Can I reach out to the minister during her sabbatical? If you are able to connect with Pastor Melinda on a social basis without discussing church business or pastoral care needs, feel free to contact her for dinner, shopping, etc. What happens when Pastor Melinda returns from her sabbatical? Shortly after Pastor Melinda returns, she ll share with us an overview of activities and learnings from her sabbatical. We expect Pastor Melinda will continue as our pastor and teacher for many more years, but the covenantal agreement stipulates she must remain with us for at least one year after the completion of the sabbatical. Conversely, we ll be expected to share what the learned as a congregation during her absence. Bible Readings for November Season After Pentecost All Saints Day November 1, 2018 Twenty Fourth Sunday after Pentecost November 4, 2018 Twenty Fifth Sunday after Pentecost November 11, 2018 Twenty Sixth Sunday after Pentecost November 18, 2018 Thanksgiving Day, USA November 22, 2018 Twenty Seventh Sunday after Pentecost November 25, 2018 First Reading Psalm Second Reading Gospel Isaiah 25:6 9 Revelation 21:1 6a John 11:32 44 Ruth 1:1 18 Psalm 119:1 8 Hebrews 9:11 14 Mark 12:28 34 Ruth 3:1 5; 4:13 17 Psalm 146 Hebrews 9:24 28 Mark 12: Samuel 1:4 20 Psalm 16 Hebrews 10:11 14, (15 18), Mark 13:1 8 Joel 2: Timothy 2:1 7 Matthew 6: Samuel 23:1 7 Psalm 93 Revelation 1:4b 8 John 18:33 37

5 On Sunday, September 30 th, Kay and Don Fischer were received into membership. We welcome them into the family of St. John s United Church of Christ, Schwarzwald! Welcome Kay and Don! If you are interested in becoming a member of St. John s, please contact Pastor Melinda. Congratulations to Sarah Westermeyer and Pete Salnick who were married here at St. John s UCC on Saturday, October 20 th, God s Blessings to Sarah, Pete and their family! Thank you for the Millhome Gardens Gift Certificate for Pastor Appreciation Day. It is one of my favorite stops in the spring where I get my two hanging baskets of streptocarpella for the front porch. I'll look forward to using it next spring and remembering your kindness, generosity, and love. - Pastor Melinda On Sunday, October 28 th, we will observe All Saints Day. Along with lighting candles for St. John's members who have died since our last observance (Marion Schulz, Gerald Voss & Roy Luebke), congregational members may also light candles for loved ones and pets who have passed away.

6 INFORMATIONAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING On Sunday, November 4, immediately following worship, there will be a congregational meeting to provide information and to seek input and feedback from the members of St. John s about the planning your Church Council has done thus far about Pastor Melinda s three month sabbatical (January 1 March 31) and what it means to move from full time pastoral ministry to approximately 70 75% pastoral ministry. Each member will receive a letter with more information about this meeting. This is an informational meeting only. There will not be a vote of any kind at this meeting. The Church Council encourages you to put this date on your calendar now and to plan to be present in worship and at the informational meeting following worship on Sunday, November 4. The Church Council is seeking to get your feedback and input about the planning we have done so far and wants to know your questions and concerns to guide our further planning. The Intergenerational Service Group is selling VandeWalle's candy bars ($1.00 each). 1/2 of the proceeds will go to our mission partner Mano a Mano and the other 1/2 to the groups travel expenses to the Twin Cities. See any of the following folks for your candy fix: Hannah & Tanya Gosse, Tim Keenan, David & Helen Schmitz, Vicki & Dave Wagner, Judy & Age Wagner, Michelle Wagner, Diane & Keith Weiland, Janet Wesener, and Pastor Melinda. MISSION Thank you to all who participated in our October Mission Sunday which included the Sheboygan Food Bank and the Prayer Walk at Christopher Farm and Gardens. We had over 25 people involved. We raised a total of $ Half of the amount ($437.50) will go to the Rays of Hope Food Pantry in Kiel and the other half ($437.50) will go to CROP (Christian Rural Overseas Program) Hunger. (Check out the pictures on the next two pages.) For our NOVEMBER Mission Project on Sunday, November 18 th, we will be assembling Salvation Army Christmas Boxes for the elderly living in our area. We have committed to putting together 27 boxes. On the Giving Tree and in the Baskets (located on the table in the Narthex), we have the star tags for you to choose. After selecting one or several stars, we ask you to purchase the exact size of the item listed. Bring your items along with the stars and place under the table. Stars will be available until Sunday, November 4 th. All of the items need to be back at church by Sunday, November 11 th. We will assemble our boxes on Mission Sunday, November 18 th following worship service. For our DECEMBER Mission Project, we will again be ringing bells for the Salvation Army! Detailed information will be in upcoming newsletters and bulletins.

7 SHEBOYGAN COUNTY FOOD BANK

8 PRAYER WALK AT CHRISTOPHER FARM & GARDENS

9 UPDATE ON LAKELAND UNIVERSITY AND CAMPITAL PLEDGES It s with great pleasure I write this article updating you on the progress on paying the pledges the congregation made in June of 2015 to Lakeland University and the Conference Campital Campaign. I am delighted to report that we have completed paying the $5250 pledge we made to Lakeland University in memory of Dr. Reinhard Ulrich. Congratulations, you did it! The update regarding our larger pledge to the UCC Conference for repair and maintenance work on our two church camps, Pilgrim Center and Moon Beach, is equally heartwarming! The original pledge affirmed by the congregation in June of 2015 was for $15,750. To date we have paid $11, The remaining balance is only $ I am confident we can work together to pay the remaining balance to honor our commitment to the Conference. That amount is only approximately $20 per member. For most of us, that s a meal out or maybe an evening at the movies. Church camp experiences for the young people of our churches are such a valuable experience in their faith formation. And we are so lucky in the Wisconsin Conference to have such outstanding camp facilities and wonderful camp leadership. Please consider using the line labeled Lakeland & Camp Campaigns on your offering envelops between now and the end of the year to make contributions toward paying off the balance to the Conference Campital Fund. No more money will be given to Lakeland; all contributions will go to the Conference for the needs of the two church camps. Diane Weiland, Church Council President CHURCH TREASURER POSITION AVAILABLE As most of you know, our current church treasurer, Tanya Gosse, has taken a new job and moved up to northern Wisconsin. We have tried to have her continue as church treasurer, but it has been difficult for both Tanya and the church. Therefore, we are seeking applicants for the position of church treasurer here at St. John s UCC Schwarzwald. The position is very part-time, but is paid. Applicants need to have the following qualifications: Has accounting degree or previous experience in accounting Has experience doing payroll Has experience with Church Windows or is willing to learn Church Windows Can be a church member or can be someone from outside the church If you or someone you know is interested, please have them contact the church office, Pastor Melinda, or Diane Weiland, Church Council President.

10 CHURCH CUSTODIAN NEEDED We are seeking a new church custodian. This position is a very part-time position. Currently, the position is budgeted at $10 per hour, up to 5 hours per week. It involves basic weekly cleaning tasks, such as tidying up the sanctuary, vacuuming all the carpeted areas, emptying garbage and recycling containers, cleaning the 3 bathrooms, checking and refilling toilet paper, paper towels and soap containers as needed, dry mopping (or wet mopping in the winter) the tile floors in the entryways and under the pews, dusting, and any general cleaning that is needed. (A complete Church Custodian Job Description can be obtained from the church office.) If you are interested or want further information, please contact Diane Weiland, Church Council President, at (home), (cell) or by at Diane.Weiland40@gmail.com. Applicants do not need to be members of St. John s UCC Schwarzwald. EVANGELISM COMMITTEE MEETING October 11, 2018 Attending the meeting were Trudy Koenig, Janet Wesner, Helen Schmitz and Pastor Melinda. Three new church signs are up. Janet is looking into putting a sign up at 32 and Orchard Road. New St. John s information pamphlets are in a basket in the Narthex. At this time, we have enough baby blankets on hand. The Evangelism Committee is going to make a welcome bag for new members. Some items suggested to put in the welcome bag are: St. John s pamphlet, postage stamp pad, cookies, coffee mug or water bottle. Janet s term is up at the end of this year. Trudy is going to call some church members to replace Janet. Our next meeting is scheduled for Sunday, November 25 at 10:30 am. The Mary Marthas On September 20 th, the Mary Marthas hosted an informational meeting with regard to Sex & Human Trafficking in the Sheboygan area. We were educated from Beth (former employee at Safe Harbor) and Detective Tamara Remington from Sheboygan. Thank you to Tammy Endries for setting up this discussion. On October 18 th, the Mary Marthas visited and played Bingo with Harvest Home residents. The residents enjoyed the game and our visit and encouraged us to come back again sooner! We also judged the four homes with regard to their Halloween decorations! Thank you again to Tammy for setting this up. For our next outing, we will visit Connie Hahn s home on November 15 th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Vicki Wagner will provide devotions. This is also the planning meeting for the upcoming couple of months. For December, we will again participate in the Making Spirits Bright activity which involves the entire church! More details will be in the December newsletter. Vicki is in charge of this activity.

11 For the month of November, we will be collecting Cereal which includes boxed cereal, instant cereal, etc. The collection box for the Food Pantry is located in the Narthex near the west entrance, under the fire extinguisher. All nonperishables are taken to Rays of Hope Food Pantry in Kiel, WI. Check out Scrip before and after worship! Christmas is right around the corner! Order all of your gift cards, today! If you don t know if Scrip has a certain gift card, just ask! Deb or Denise will be in the Narthex every Sunday! St. John s UCC Online Giving: Contributions Made Easy Simplify your life, and support ministry and mission! Do you pay most of your bills on-line? Do you wish you could continue your giving to St. John s even when you re on vacation or away from home for an extended period? Did you know that if you are able to pay your bills on-line through your financial institution s website, you are probably able to schedule regular payments be sent to St. John s as well? It s as simple as setting up St. John s as a payee and then scheduling the amount and frequency of the payments. These payments would be mailed to St. John s as a check by your financial institution. All you need is our address: St. John s UCC; W3401 Orchard Road, Elkhart Lake, WI Ph: We re asking that, at this time, all monies sent via this process will be designated for General Fund. Please continue to use your giving envelopes for Missions, Building Fund, etc. You will continue to receive your donation statement for tax purposes, and, of course, you can change or cancel your automatic payment (donation) at any time. This payment process will allow you to make contributions without having to lift a pen to write a check or reach into your wallet for cash! It gives you peace of mind knowing that your offerings and gifts are received in a timely fashion... whether you are in church every week or only occasionally. Just as the expenses of the church continue, so will your gifts. We currently have a number of members who are giving their contributions to St. John s through online giving. Here s what they say: Of course it is the convenience through our Credit Union, we do not have to make out checks each week/month or have cash available to put into the offering envelopes. I think the biggest thing for me is that I know my obligation to the church is met each month even if I am not able to make it to church each week. A check is made out to the church at the beginning of each month with no effort from us. I love knowing that my offering is going to St. John s whether I m able to attend church or not. St. John s is important to me and my offering is now part of my monthly budget which is a good feeling. Due to the busy nature of our lifestyle, we like the autopay feature at our local credit union when donating to St Johns UCC because of its convenience. From a personal standpoint, it makes budgeting easier too! If you have questions about this payment process, please contact Judy Wagner or Tanya Gosse.

12 Church Council Meeting October 14 th 2018, 11:00 AM The meeting was called to order by President Diane Weiland at 10:38 AM. Discussion agenda highlights: 1) Shared Ministry: The council reviewed pastoral expectations at less than full-time ministry and what it might look like with other potential churches. The Church Council will provide an update at a congregational meeting following worship on 11/4/ ) Sabbatical: Pastor Melinda s sabbatical is scheduled to occur for 13 weeks from January 1 st March 31 st. Estimated cost (~$2800) will consist of General Pastoral Coverage, pastoral visits, mileage, and pulpit supply. The pulpit supply schedule is currently in development. There will be an Ash Wednesday worship service but no Wednesday evening Lenten services this year. 3) Treasurer Position: Tanya Gosse will serve as our treasurer until the end of 2018 or until we identify a new treasurer, whichever comes first. In the meantime, the Church Council will explore using Remote Access to Church Windows to allow her to remain in the current position for longer. Pastor Melinda will also seek input from other churches. Consent agenda highlights 1) Gerald Voss Memorial: The Church Council approves of using the Gerald Voss memorial of $300 to help pay for the Sunday School curriculum for the winter of ) Upcoming Worship Services: The Church Council approves Diane Cayemberg (a recent seminary graduate) to preach on Sunday, Nov 25 th and Sunday, Dec 30 th while Pastor Melinda is on vacation. The meeting was adjourned and closed with The Lord s Prayer. Ross Bender, Secretary St. John's UCC - Monthly Report of Income / Expense 2018 Actual Actual Sept. 9 Mos. Total Income $55, $144, Total Expense 25, , Difference $ 29, $ 26, Are you interested in reading Scripture on a Sunday morning? Please consider signing up (sheet on Pastor s office door) and helping Pastor Melinda with worship. You will receive your scripture to read via no later than Friday morning. Don t forget to sign up to sponsor bulletins on any Sunday. You can also bring flowers in honor of OR in memory of someone. The signup sheet is on the bulletin board in the Narthex. The price to sponsor bulletins is $15.00 each Sunday. You can include the amount in your offering envelope but please make sure to note it on the envelope.

13 Penny Pail$ Salvation Army Food Boxes In November, the Sunday School will again be participating in St John s November Mission Project, the Salvation Army Food Boxes. The children will be taking their offering and The children had a friendly competition collecting pennies. During the months of September and October, our penny collection went towards our October Mission Project Prayer Walk at Christopher Farm & Garden. We were split between the green and the gold teams. The Green Praying Hands were the winners, coming in at $ Congratulations to the Green Praying Hands! However, the Gold Crosses came in at a very, very close 2 nd. They collected $ Thank you everybody for your participation! purchasing food items to fill two boxes. This is a great opportunity allowing the children to have a hands on experience. Nov 4 Nov 11 Nov 18 Nov 25 Dec 2 Dec 9 Saturday Dec 15 Dec 16 Dec 23 Dec 30 Sunday School Schedule 10:30 11:30 Sunday School 10:30 11:30 Sunday School Children sing during church service Mission Service Sunday 9:15 10:00 Sunday School during worship service 10:00 11:00 Mission Project 10:30 11:30 Sunday School Chimes play during church service 10:30 11:30 Sunday School 10:30 11:30 Sunday School Chimes play during church service 10:00 12:00 Christmas Program Practice 9:15 Christmas Program No Sunday School No Sunday School No Sunday School

14 St John s UCC Music Notes Thanks to all the handbell players for sharing their talents on Sunday, October 21 st! Thank you to the Chimes for playing on October 14 th. They did an awesome job! Handbell Schedule Practice Practice Practice Performance Practice Thursday, November 1 5:30 pm Thursday, November 8 5:30 pm Wednesday, November 14 5:15 pm Sunday, November 25 9:15 am Thursday, November 29 5:30 pm Emily Westermeyer played Soaring for the congregation as well. Thank you Emily for sharing your musical talents with us! Your musical was beautiful! Chimes Choir Schedule Practice Practice Performance Sunday, November 4 10:15 am Sunday, November 11 10:15 am Sunday, November 25 9:15 am

15 If you are interested in sponsoring the US flag that flies outside in front of the church, please see David Schmitz for the cost & more information. 11/01 John Taber 11/03 James Holler 11/06 Marlene Horneck 11/08 William Endries 11/09 Timothy Haack 11/12 Ethan Koenig Miles Piekarski 11/17 David Schmitz Greyson Schmitz 11/18 Carl Johnson Olivia Leider 11/21 Hudson Hansen 11/23 Jeremy Endries 11/24 Martha Rietbrock 11/05 Scott & Beth Woepse 11/13 Jeremy & Haley Werdeo 11/15 Terrance & Rhonda Brockmann 11/21 Herbert & Rosemarie Dickman 11/23 Peter & Trudy Koenig 11/24 Peter & Trudy Moehring 11/27 Tim & Diane Keenan 11/28 James & LaVerne Laack We re Recycling The garage will be open before and after church for you to deposit your used beverage cans for recycling. No other cans and no glass, please. Please place in a clear garbage bag. If you have an that you would be willing to share with the church, please send it to: Schwarzwald@tds.net. Through and Mailchimp, you will receive the monthly newsletter, Pastor Melinda s articles, weather related cancellations and more! If you changed your , please send the correction to the above . If you have moved or are planning on moving, please send your change of address to the church office. Thank you! If your birthday or anniversary is incorrect, please contact the Church Secretary. Donation Jar Reminder.there is a donation jar in the back on church on the refreshment table to help defray the costs.

16 St. John s United Church of Christ, Schwarzwald W3401 Orchard Road Elkhart Lake, WI Happy Thanksgiving!