1250 Leonard Point Rd. Oshkosh, WI Interim Minister, Steve Davidson

Transcription

1 St. Paul s United Church of Christ 1250 Leonard Point Rd. Oshkosh, WI stpauls@ntd.net Interim Minister, Steve Davidson The Season of Advent, 2018 While... Stark rays of early light cut through the proud evergreens lining our yard, I lace 'em up and head out for a morning run. Chad describes what I'm about to do as an "energetic walk"; I'll take it. That second helping of cheesy potatoes, the signature dish of our family, sits heavy and needs to be resolved. A bracing frost holds the greens that line the path that, for the next hour or so, offers gracious hospitality. Majestic geese, some gliding overhead in cloudless, azure sky, some hunkered down on the Milwaukee River that runs along the path, engage in apparent controversy, perhaps deciding when to return to more receptive climes. The poetic harmonies of Rachel Field come to mind: "Something told the geese it was time to go, Though the field lay golden, something whispered, 'Snow!' Leaves were green and stirring, berries lustre-glossed, But, beneath warm feathers, something cautioned, 'Frost! pg. 1

2 Eavesdropping on their controversy, I am mindful of the return of a vulnerable couple long ago to an easily-missed swell in the road... to be enrolled," as it says in The Book. Like these geese, they have to go; have to return to their home country. Caesar saw to that! Upon returning, celestial wonderment lines the night sky. Things are never the same. A mile down the path, with geese above in perfect formation, I return to Christmases of long ago. I see an eight-year old Scott in front of a pile of clothes pins, creating toy soldiers that adorn our tree to this day. Over time, cats and dogs have taken a toll, but a few remain. New job in hand, Scott and family return recently to Charlotte, NC. On Christmas day, we will fly down, eager to see the entire "gaggle," especially a new great grandchild we have not seen... and Ian, our first grandchild, born twenty-eight years ago on Christmas day. Scott called that day and said, "Unto us a child is born... and his name shall be called... Ian. And from Charlotte, we'll repair to Clemson, South Carolina, there to bring Christmas cheer to my mom, still flying high at 103! Two years ago, like migrating geese, we are in the air again, returning to Todd and family for a "Dickens" Christmas in the UK. Two days in, I suggest we create a cookie crèche. With cookie dough flying in all directions, we bring to life those huddled that holy night. It's not just every day that we enjoy a tasty crèche, but I return to that memory often, with heart warmed. With a warming sun overhead and geese filling the morning sky, I turn home, a four-year old Chad in heart and mind. There he is in a department store, stopping to admire a musical ornament on an artificial tree. Even at age four, his musical passion finds voice. We hear him say in hushed tones, "I 'whished' I could show my best friend, Teddy." Often, on Christmas Eve during the Chicago years, we sit in a pew, listening to Chad and The Chicago Children's Choir sing portions of Britten's "A Ceremony of Carols." As I plod along, those harmonies linger. From our home north of Milwaukee, we routinely migrate to Evanston to sit at that family table, as we did over Thanksgiving, there to inhale an ample dose of turkey and... cheesy potatoes! But most of our migrating these days has been in the other direction. With birds pointed south, I point north to Oshkosh and St. Paul's United Church of Christ. Over the summer months, I sign on as interim pastor and teacher of that church. And, while I'm heading north, Carol drives to a newly-appointed art studio not far from our home at Cedar Community, there to bring life in pastel to the glory of creation. Without Carol's steady, yet gentle, hand, and the hands of a few other artist friends, that art studio would not exist. pg. 2

3 With the end of my "run" in sight, I see majestic kings, paying proper homage to the new-born King, then returning"... to their own country by another way." Transformed, they return with newfound hope. Given the cultural malaise that currently plagues, we are informed and inspired by the journey of the wise kings, that we, too, will hope and work for our eventual return to those values that hold us and free us to soar together like high-flying geese, now on their way to safe harbor. Over time, Fred Buechner, noted theologian and author, has informed my journey. In a slender volume titled, "A Room to Remember," Buechner promotes a return to that which provides hope for a day of peace. Buechner urges us to"... remember those moments in our lives when Christ came to us in countless disguises through people who... strengthened us, comforted us, healed us... And, because we remember, we have this high and holy hope." Our lasting friendship gives hope for the living of these days. The run is now over. It's time to return home to Carol, as always with love, there to remember, to hope and then to work for a day of, Peace, On Sunday, December 16 th, a group of singers left the church after worship and headed to the homes of several St. Paul s members to share some Christmas music. Included were the Joachims, Davidsons, Marcia Marks, Lynn Wood, Mary Jaynes, Deb Wriedt, Sherri Landig, Rena Gomach, and Barb Jones. Treats for the shut-ins were prepared by Barb Jones and Barb Loomans! (The shut-ins even offered us treats before we left!) Thank YOU! Thank YOU! Thank YOU! I want to say a big Thank YOU to all who participated in our Adopt-a-Family program. It was a huge success. The families were blessed with many gift cards as well as having all the requested items purchased. I appreciate how both churches worked together in this program. WE are a giving church. Blessing to all and a Happy New Year! Sherri Landig pg. 3

4 Your 2018 Giving Statements will soon be available for pick up in the Narthex. Please pick yours up and save us the postage! CHURCH MEMBER BUSINESS DIRECTORY If you have a business that you would like to tell other St. Paul s members about, please complete the form below and return to the church office. This will be published in the membership directory in January. Last Name: First Name: Telephone: Name of Business: Type of business or service provided: Business address: City: State: Zip: Business Phone: Business Business web site: HOW ABOUT PROVIDING THE ALTAR FLOWERS FOR WORSHIP? We still have only a very few members signing up for this. Consider providing the flowers some Sunday. They can then be enjoyed by you and brighten the day of some shut in. P.S. We also need people to provide the bulletins for a Sunday morning. You ll receive credit on your Giving Statement if you contribute to either of these worship opportunities. To help us take down the Christmas tree Saturday, January 12 1 PM? Worship bulletins on Dec. 23 rd remembered Erv Hable given by Dorothy Hable. pg. 4

5 SEARCH COMMITTEE It is still not too late to return your questionnaires regarding what you are looking for in a settled pastor. The Search Committee will be meeting in January to start reviewing the questionnaires and start putting our profile together. If you need an additional questionnaire, please ask me or Liz. Thank you! Deb Wriedt Are you over 70 1/2 and own an IRA? If you do, you have to take out a required minimum distribution (RMD) each year. Congress made the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) for IRA holders. In a QCD, an individual can fund gifts directly to charities from your IRA and count towards your RMD. Distributions that qualify as a QCD receive favorable tax treatment as they are not included in your gross income but count towards your RMD. Talk to your accountant for further details. SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGING Many thanks to St. Paul's members and families for ringing the bells for the less fortunate at Fleet Farm on Saturday, December 15 th. The following members helped bring cheer to the holiday season: Kathy Thomsen, Lynn Rollmann, Spaulding family, Joachim family, Jim Beck, Borgmann family, Gassere family, Debbie Wriedt, Annette Reichard, and Chris Reichard. You will see a thank you note from the Salvation Army below: Dear Anne Gassere (St. Paul's UCC Oshkosh), On 12/15/2018, your kettle shift raised $ for The Salvation Army programs and services. Every dollar you helped collect will fuel critical services for individuals and families in need through assistance programs, disaster relief efforts and so much more. Visit salvationarmy.org to read about the help available in your community. We hope you ll consider signing up for another shift and share the joy of bell ringing with family and friends who are looking for ways to serve their communities! Thank you for Doing the Most Good. Merry Christmas and God bless you, Director of Volunteer Services - The Salvation Army pg. 5

6 A superb CAST OF CHARACTERS for a Christmas pageant on December 16 th during worship were: Jim Beck, Kate Gassere, Deb Wriedt, Allison and Ryan Borgmann, Pastor Steve, Bettcher family; Readers: Anne Gassere, Rev. Harley Tretow, Jack Meyer. Those who are recuperating at home or in care centers: Jeanette Cummings, Eileen Redemann, Betty Bettin, Lori Abraham, Dorothy Hable, Carla Gearnhardt, Ruth Hauser, Karen Kentopp, Faye Lindemann, Curt Bahr, Rev. Harley and Shirley Tretow Haitian Student sponsored by St. Paul s: Corriolant Yves St. Paul s friends and family: Mary Jaynes sister Sue and daughter Carrie, Timmy Romanesko, Mike Hrnak, Larry Klausch IF it is decided to cancel Sunday worship services due to bad weather, there will be an updated message on the church telephone answering machine immediately. Phone to get the latest information. St. Paul s Annual Congregational Meeting will be held on Jan. 27 th, 2019 following worship at 10:30 AM. We will: Review 2018 annual reports of groups and financial reports. Review/approve a 2019 budget. Hear Sustaining Fund reports. Hear any business from the floor. We encourage you to set aside time for your church as it does its business and charts its future. MUELLER, KIM 01/07 KELLY, LINDA 01/12 KRAUSE, CAROL 01/22 ERDMANN, EVERAL 01/23 STANG, MEGAN 01/26 BETTCHER, MIKE 01/28 pg. 6

7 Remembered David Schmitt given by Bob, Kristin, Caitlyn and Alyssa Schafer Remembered Bob and Charlotte Oberbruner given by Betty and Sam Adams Remembered Thurston and Dottie Adams given by Betty and Sam Adams Remembered Ed and Rita Korducki given by Laura Jackson Remembered Robert Sladek given by Fr. Mike and Cathy Bober Remembered Jack and Lorraine Becker given by Mary Schmitt and Ellen Becker Remembered Warren Redemann given by Eileen Redemann and family Remembered John and Mary Boss given by Kathryn Thomsen Remembered Lois and Earl Liverman given by Sherri Landig The Christmas tree, given by Mary Schmitt and Ellen Becker, remembered Jack and Lorraine Becker and David Schmitt. The two large red poinsettias on the Credence Shelf remembered Mr. & Mrs. F. H. Below, Mr. & Mrs. Gordon Cameron and Cameron Gassere given by the Cameron and Gassere families. Please Help Volunteers are needed for 2019 to prepare Communion once a month and deliver altar flowers to shut-ins on the Sundays they have not been reserved. Please sign up in the Narthex. For questions or help, contact Lynn Rollmann or the office. WHITEMARSH, CHI & KEN JUNGWIRTH (#12) 01/01 MEYER, JOHN & JANET (#54) 01/23 RUDY, LYLE & SHARON (#54) 01/23 pg. 7

8 Lynn Rollmann and Barb Jones for December communion preparation and clean up plus poinsettia set up. Faithful Sunday van drivers Anne/Paul Gassere and Dennis Krause. Carol Krause for a great year of managing our SCRIP program. Dennis Krause for his behind the scenes maintenance tasks including lighting repairs. Rena Gomach for weekly computer preparation work for worship services. Sherri Landig for sound/computer screen work on Sunday mornings. Sherri Landig for organizing the Adopt-a-Family program during the Advent season. Jack Petersen for continuing to send birthday and anniversary cards to each member during the year. Anne Gassere for organizing Salvation Army Bell Fleet Farm. Mike Bettcher, Sherri Landig, Pastor Steve and several Emmaus members for help with putting up the Christmas tree. Families that helped with special Advent readings on Sundays during Advent: Joachims, Spauldings, Borgmanns, Ellen Becker and Mary Schmitt. Sherri Landig and Bill Joachim for set up/take down of individual candles for Christmas Eve worship. Thank you for purchasing and ordering SCRIP cards this past year. We hope you will continue to get SCRIP cards in the future. If you have never ordered or haven t ordered in a while, please consider getting SCRIP in This is a GREAT fundraiser for St. Paul s. If you are new to this program or need help, call our SCRIP Coordinator-Carol or the church office. (Contest winners in the December contest were Annette Reichard and Liz Joachim) NEXT ORDER DUE SUNDAY, JANUARY 6 TH pg. 8

9 ST. PAUL S COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Members present: Debbie Wriedt, Barb Loomans, Rena Gomach, Mike Bettcher, Sherri Landig as well as Pastor Steve and Liz Joachim Absent were Ellen Becker and Lowell Reepsdorf. With a quorum present, Mike acting as leader called the meeting to order and Pastor Steve opened with a prayer. Pastor report included the following points: Reflection on our 12-2 joint service and decorating of the Church. Next year it is important to make plans earlier. The pageant plans are coming along. Caroling plans are being made and stops are in the planning stage. There will be a 5 p.m. service for Christmas Eve. Pastor will be visiting his Mom for Christmas. During his absence, Father Mike will do the service on the 30th. Pastor relies on feedback on what he is doing. He has met with Debbie and is offering tips for the Search Committee to consider. Minutes from previous meeting were reviewed. Barb motioned to accept them as presented. Rena seconded and motion carried. Treasurer s report was reviewed. Having no questions, Rena motioned to accept the report as presented and pay bills as monies become available. Debbie seconded it and motion carried. Council decided to drop the report from Faith Formation as we currently have no program. Going forward, we will have updates on Opportunities for Intergenerational Events shared in our minutes and bulletins. Building and Grounds information was shared. It seems there is a bit of a problem with spilled wax from candles as well as black scuff marks in the fellowship hall. These issues will be looked into. The basement light will be fixed. The back door lock is in need of repair. These too will be addressed. No correspondence. Budget was the next item of business. A preliminary budget was discussed. Steve suggested that next year we might look into sending the budget with the pledge cards so that the congregation knows what we are up against. He also suggested a narrative form might be a better format and easier to understand. Council will discuss this in June. The tree will be removed on Saturday the 12th of January at 1p.m. The decorations will also come down then. All help will be appreciated. Comments included that Liz is looking into a better light for Larry to use when playing the organ. Rena was thanked for her years of service on our council. Meeting concluded with the Lord s Prayer at 7:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Sherri Landig pg. 9