WORSHIP. Shepherd of the Hill Lutheran Church Pastor Mary Eide Office: or

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1 Shepherd of the Hill Lutheran Church Pastor Mary Eide Office: or January 2016 Newsletter January has been declared Wear your Name Tag Month With all the new faces around church lately, we thought it might be easier to learn names if we wore our name tags for a month. Name tags are found outside the sanctuary on the wall by the lift/elevator. Please be sure to place them back on the wall after worship! If you are unable to find one for yourself, please let Melisa know and she will make one for you! JAN. 24 TH after worship with potluck (see signup sheet in Gathering space) Reports due to Melisa by Jan. 6 th Please to sothlc@sothem.org MEET MORE OF OUR NEW MEMBERS We are Darren and Tammy Schlewitz. Our children are Cullen age 12 and Jillian (aka Jilly) age 9. Cullen plays football and baseball. Jilly is in dance, basketball, softball, and riding lessons. Darren is a garbage man at Advanced Disposal and Tammy is a nurse in the Chemotherapy/IV department at Mayo- Menomonie. We have lived in the Elk Mound area for about 10 years. We live on a small hobby farm with many animals. We have Dexter cattle, a breed of miniature cattle, fainting goats, dairy goats, a pony named Stella, and many, many chickens. Cullen and Jilly are very active in 4-H and show most of the animals at the Eau Claire County Fair. In the past we attended Epiphany Lutheran Church and St. Paul's in Fall Creek (Darren and I are both from Fall Creek.) We are excited to be joining Shepard of the Hill Church! WORSHIP Would you like to share your gift of music during worship? Please let our musicians (Michelle Young or Jennifer Kinblom) or Pastor Mary know if you d like to play a musical piece or sing a special song during worship. This next couple is not new to the church, but they recently exchanged vows. Congratulations to Chris Langer and Trish Diercks who became Mr. and Mrs. Langer on December 5 th. pg. 1

2 Building Fund: In memory of Dale Smith from Judy & Lynn Dieter, In memory of Gerri Kinblom from Jim & Louise Peterson-Sneen. In honor of Sonny & Joanne Knutson from Duane & Anita Clemmens. General Fund: In memory of Gerri Kinblom from Vanshonhaven. In honor of Sonny & Joanne Knutson from Keith & Rita Lee, Sonny & Joanne Knutson, and Steven & Ruth Alf. Memorial Fund: In memory of Dale Smith from Michael Hanneman, Karen Dustrude, Stephen & Katherine Bye In honor of Sonny & Joanne Knutson from LaVerne Ausman, Carol Stuckert In memory of Lillian Hardy from Keith & Rita Lee, Loren & Diane Hanson Food Pantry: Elk Mound Lions Club, Elk Mound HCE and Trinity United Methodist Church W-ELCA: In memory of Dale Smith from Keith Flick, William & Jeannine George, Roger Schaaf and Gordon & Deborah Lind. Special gifts are up to date as of December 14 th. If a gift was given after this date it will be reflected in February s Newsletter. EDUCATION 7 th and 8 th Grade Confirmation Schedule in January we ll be back on our regular schedule for every Wednesday this month, finishing up our study of the Apostles Creed and moving on to the Lord s Prayer. Sunday School...will get back into the swing of things beginning January 3 rd. Don t forget that there is a Bible study in the Library for anyone 9 th grade or older. Women s Bible study Wednesday, January 27 th at 1pm. See Pastor Mary for a copy of the Bible study to prepare ahead of time. OUTREACH Sig Olson has had some health issues that have caused him to move from the Elk Mound area to the following address. Feel free to send cards to him, he misses his church family: Sig Olson moved to 601 Hagen Ave., New Richmond, WI Hats, Mittens and Coats Now that the snow has begun to coat the earth and the winter winds have begun to blow, the children need those cold weather items of clothing. New or gently used/clean items can be donated. Hats and mittens/gloves can go on the tree; coats and snow pants can be placed on the clothing rack downstairs or left by the Mitten tree in the Gathering area upstairs. ITEMS needed at the FOOD PANTRY: shampoo, personal care and baby items, and detergent are always appreciated. A special thanks to Faylene Howe, who is stepping down from her leadership role with the Food Pantry. She has been a gift to this ministry, and we a so very thankful for all the time, energy and compassion she s devoted to the Elk Mound Community Food Pantry. pg. 2

3 THANK YOU So much happened throughout the month of December, and there are so many people to thank. The 7 th and 8 th grade Confirmation students, Kayla Ruppelt, Addison Young, and all the adults who made our Christmas Caroling such a success! Linda and Bob Dempski for making our delicious Chili Supper for after our caroling. All the folks in the area who donated items of food at the recent Christmas concerts, for the Food Pantry. The entire Sunday School staff and students for all their hard work in putting on, what we anticipate to be a fantastic Christmas Program! Youth who shared their musical gifts this month. All those who peeled potatoes, mashed them up, made the lefse mix, rolled and cooked the lefse. All those bakers who made the delicious sweets for the bake sale. The Advent readers and candle lighters. Those who decorated the tree (oh and those who carried it in) The Lee s for donating the tree again this year! Those who donated items for the United Way Christmas for Kids Our dedicated Library workers (Carol Stuckert and Faylene Howe) who make sure we have books to read. Quilters making LWR quilts and some special request quilts You for your generous use of the time, talents and treasures God has given you to ensure his work is done. Food Pantry volunteers Mounders Meals volunteers The MANY Ruby s Pantry volunteers who cared for our guests. Sandy Barth, Anita Clemmons and Keith Lee for help with Confirmation class Michelle and Jennifer, our wonderful musicians who make our worship time so special Our choir members on Christmas Eve And our paid/unpaid staff/volunteers that keep this congregation going and keep our building looking so good. Bottom line it takes a whole lot of people and resources to do God s work. Thank you all once again! ACTIVITIES/ ENTERTAINMENT Calvin Krantz s 90 th Birthday Celebration following worship on January 3 rd, thanks to his daughter Julie. Your presence is present enough for Cal, so please just come and enjoy the celebration. (Birthday cards are okay but please no presents.) Annual Meeting and potluck will be held after worship on January 24 th. Your presence is needed to vote on matters of the church, and to help establish a shared dream for Shepherd of the Hill. What is God calling us to DO and BE in the world? Clean Sweep Sunday will be January 31 st. We ll be having a quick bite to eat before we start vacuuming and cleaning the carpets throughout the church building. What s that popular and time-tested saying, Many hands make light work. pg. 3

4 HAPPY NEW YEAR GREETINGS EVERYONE!! As I type this message I m looking out the window of my office and see white snow on the ground, trees empty of foliage and a whitegrey winter sky that blocks the warmth of the sun. I know that within only a couple of hours the sky will be darkening and I ll be struggling with an innate need to run home and cuddle up on the couch to hibernate in the warmth of our home. I find my mind drawn to the hymn In the Bleak Midwinter. Maybe you remember the lyrics of the hymn s first verse: In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan, earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, in the bleak midwinter, long ago. BLEAK to often over the years I ve found myself focusing on the bleakness of the winter, and in so doing I ve missed out on the blessings and beauty this season offers us. A book I read once helps me to see the good the winter season has to offer us, and I wanted to share some of the author s insight with you. The change in climate and the darkness of the season leads many of us to slow down maybe even go to bed a little earlier. Instead of running around doing numerous outdoor activities, many of us find ourselves seeking the warmth and safety of our homes more often in winter. Rest. Regeneration. These are TWO of the blessings this season offers us and it s exactly what the natural world around us is ALSO doing right now. The soil in our farm fields, vegetable gardens and flower gardens ALSO needs rest in order for it to be regenerated in the spring. This time of rest prepares and repairs the soil for new life to grow within it the coming seasons. Likewise, the slowed pace of the season gives US time to be regenerated giving us time to sit back and reflect about our lives, our desires and our relationships. Self-reflection is something that can help bring healing and a new sense of purpose in our lives. It allows us to deal with some of the issues and hurts of the year, and place them into perspective. It can help us realize that while 2015 may have brought difficult changes in our lives, there is hope present in the anticipation of what a New Year can bring. My prayer for all of us, is that we can look beyond the bleakness of the winter season and see within it the opportunity to find rest in God and to experience the peace that comes from an unhurried pace. I also pray that we can find within the Bible readings of our Christmas and Epiphany seasons the True Light of the world Jesus Christ who ultimately offers us a rest and peace unlike anything we can find in this world. It is through Jesus that we can/will find the strength and wisdom we ll need to make the most of the opportunities and challenges we will face in Seek Him first. May the Lord bless you and keep you all the year through, Pastor Mary Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! It dawns on me, as I sit here putting the newsletter together, that I have never personally written anything in it. Sure, I take other people s words and move a few things or make a correction, but nothing truly from me. Well here goes! Can you believe the Christmas season is upon us and in full swing? Not sure how that always sneaks up on me every year, but it does pg. 4

5 I am so blessed to have found this church and all of you! Each and every time I walk through these doors I am hit with the love God floods us with. It comes out of all of you and washes over everything around you. And yes, it is felt! So thank you to all of you and your families, for making my family feel so much a part of this amazing church. And thank you for allowing me the opportunity to use my talents to serve in the office. I find the positions rewarding and they fill my heart with joy. I pray that you all have a very Merry Christmas filled with wonder and joy; that the New Year finds you happy and healthy. And that in the hustle and bustle of everyday life we remember to take the time to see the stranger next to us and show them the love God has shown us. Sincerely, Melisa Topper Office Secretary and Bookkeeper MONEY MATTERS 2016 Giving Envelopes these are not either on a table in the Gathering Area, or located in your mailbox. Electronic Giving you also have the option to give electronically by signing up for Simply Giving or scheduling an EFT (electric funds transfer) from your bank. For those of us who don t carry a checkbook around, both of these options allow us to give to God s ministry on a regular basis without the worry of whether or not you have the checkbook with you. Laminated I give to God s work through Simply Giving or EFT cards are next to the communion slips in the Gathering area, if you d like to still place something in the offering plate. General Fund and Benevolence Fund these are the two options provided on our Offering Envelopes. What are these funds used for? General Fund is where we pay all our General Operating expenses (mortgage, payroll, utilities, insurance, maintenance, equipment like our lift/elevator and copier, worship supplies, postage, office supplies, Lutheran subscriptions and education). In fact, almost all of our expenses are paid with offerings earmarked for the General Fund. Memorials can also be given to the General Fund to help ensure we are able to pay our bills, without having to use funds donated towards the specific areas of ministry listed below. pg. 5

6 Offerings for Benevolence are used to donate to other ministries doing God s work in the world, with funds first going to the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin, Luther Park Bible Camp, and Lutheran Social Services. Once our offerings to these three entities meets the budgeted amounts, the council decides on a quarterly basis where additional funds given to Benevolence are distributed. What other needs are there in the church that I can give to, and how can I do this? You can also add on your giving envelope and check memo line amounts given to other ministries: Good Samaritan (food pantry, gas and food vouchers, etc.), Mounders Meals (weekend meals), Luther League (youth group), Luther Park Scholarship (to encourage students to attend Bible camp). You can also make a check payable to Ruby s Pantry if you d like to donate to this ministry which assists with hunger and emergency situations in the area. FUND BALANCES Balance on Hand 11/30/2015 Checking 12, BALANCES IN FUNDS Benevolence General Operating Good Samaritan Memorial Fund (Undesignated) Credits (ins) November 2015 Debits (outs) November 2015 General Operating Offering $14, General Operating $10, Benevolence $ Benevolence $0.00 Building $ Building $0.00 Good Sam $ Good Sam $ Hunger $80.00 Hunger $ Sunday School $92.16 Sunday School $0.00 Luther Park Scholarship $0.00 Luther Park Scholarship $0.00 NYG $0.00 NYG $0.00 Luther League $0.00 Luther League $0.00 Memorial $ Memorial $0.00 $15, $11, Mortgage as of 10/7/2015 $232, pg. 6

7 Shepherd of the Hill Council Minutes December 13, 2015 Meeting called to order at 11:18 AM by Barb Vadnais, President. Members present: Tricia Langer, Kris Jenson, Sarah Larson, Rita Lee, Heidi Schiszik, Steve Sweeney, Barb Vadnais, Jim Vesper, and Pastor Mary Eide. Melisa Topper was in attendance for the initial part of the meeting. Members absent: Jordon Delong, Betty Heltne, Mike Schiszik Pastor Mary led us in prayer. Jim Vesper made a motion to accept the agenda, seconded by Tricia Langer, motion passed. Heidi Schiszik made a motion to accept the 11/15/15 and 11/18/15 minutes, seconded by Sarah Larson, motion passed. Sarah Larson made a motion to accept and place on file the November s treasurer s report, seconded by Kris Jenson, motion passed. People are currently handing in receipts for items for reimbursement. Next year, we encourage people to hand in receipts for reimbursement on a quarterly basis. There was a long discussion on how better to report our financials to the congregation. We will continue to report the credits (ins) and debits (outs) for the month. We will report monthly on the balances on the following funds- General Operating, Benevolence, Memorials, Luther League, and Good Samaritan. All fund balances will be reported at the annual meeting. The council will continue to determine the distribution of the Benevolence monies. New Business: Tim Jenson reported on the cost of a Rug Doctor, wide-track model. To purchase one would cost about $690. In October, the council had approved spending up to $500 on a carpet cleaning machine. Council thought it would be best to rent the machine first and see if it meets our needs prior to purchasing the machine. Pastor Mary made a motion to rent a wide-track Rug Doctor for two days, seconded by Steve Sweeney, motion passed. The council is suggesting that the carpet cleaning be done on a Sunday after church and finish on Monday. We are suggesting that we begin the carpet cleaning on Jan. 31 st. We will be in need of volunteers to help. We will need some people to provide vacuums to prep the carpet before cleaning. The printer in the church office is not working well. Pastor Mary said she doesn t use her office printer. We will move that printer into the church office. Faylene Howe would like to step down from the leadership role for our Food Pantry. We will need a volunteer to fill that role. One of the responsibilities in this role is reporting on the use of the Food Pantry. Sue Suechting currently does the ordering from Feed My People for Mounder Meals. Pastor Mary said Sue would be willing to order food for our food pantry from Feed My People. We will ask current Food Pantry volunteers if they are interested in this role. If not, we will seek a volunteer from the congregation. Heidi Schiszik made a motion to evenly split the Feed My People partnership cost ($100) between our Food Pantry and Mounder Meals, seconded by Kris Jenson, motion passed. pg. 7

8 A Braun Elevator service man was here to troubleshoot why the phone didn t work in the elevator/lift. We need that phone working to pass inspection. Heidi Schiszik made a motion to pay the Braun Elevator service call bill ($470), seconded by Kris Jenson, motion passed. To get the phone working in the elevator/lift, we need a new phone or a second phone line. New phone will cost $660. That phone is a direct line to 911 in case of an emergency. A second phone line will cost us an additional $30 a month on our phone bill. Heidi Schiszik made a motion to purchase the new phone, seconded by Sarah Larson, motion passed. Kris Jenson made a motion to distribute the Benevolence fund monies ($2503) in the following manner: NW Synod- $253, NW Synod Resource Center- $250, Good Samaritan Fund- $500, Malawi Famine Relief- $500, Prison Ministry $500, and American Lutheran Home- $500, seconded by Heidi Schiszik, motion passed. Keith and Rita Lee will donate the Christmas Tree for church. All reports for the Congregational Annual Meeting report are due on Wed., 1/6/15. Annual meeting is on 1/24/16. Kris Jenson made a motion to accept the following membership requests: renewal of membership by the Ken Millermon family, request for new membership by Heather Helberg, and request for transfer of membership from English Lutheran to SOTH by Jennifer Mark, seconded by Tricia Langer, motion passed. Old Business: The clothing from the school s clothing drive was brought to our church. The clothing that was not given away at church or at Ruby s Pantry, was donated to Easter Seals. We have 3 candidates for church council- Ken Millermon, Keith Lee, and Sandy Barth. Committee Reports: Property: No report Education: December 20 th will be the Sunday School Christmas program at church. Practice will be from 9 AM to 1 PM on Dec. 19 th. Youth: Luther League purchased a few more gifts for our adopted church family. Items donated by congregational members were collected today. Evangelism: No report. Social Concerns: Christmas cards are being sent to elderly/shut-ins of the congregation. 112 Mounder Meals are being packed each week. Both the Elk Mound High School and Middle School will be collecting items for the food pantry at their respective band/choir concerts on Dec. 14 and Dec. 15. The food pantry continues to be utilized. Winter coat, hats, and mitten collection is an ongoing process.. Worship: No report. Stewardship: No report pg. 8

9 Ruby Pantry: Next distribution is on Dec. 16, We will continue with distribution on the third Monday of each month. January s date will be Jan. 18, Pastor s Report: Congregation Christmas caroling on Dec. 9 th went very well. 8 adults and 17 students participated. One group went to Eau Claire and another group to Colfax/Elk Mound. They had a chili supper upon their return from caroling. Thank you to the Dempski s for great food. Pastor Mary s continuing education classes thru Vibrant Faith University begin on January 11 th. The Winter Theological meeting for rostered leaders will be held Feb 14-15, Pastor Mary will be on vacation from January th. Save the date of March 12 th for the Synod s Walking Together workshop. It will be held at the Davies Center, UWEC. Cost will be $15 which includes lunch and 5 workshops. The Synod Assembly will be held on Sat., May 21 st at Trinity Lutheran Church in Eau Claire.. Annual Meeting: Our annual meeting is set for Sunday, January 24, We will have a pot-luck dinner after church and then the annual meeting. Audit committee: Anyone interested in doing the audit prior to the annual meeting, contact Pastor Mary, Barb Vadnais, or Heidi Schiszik. We need 3 people. We still need volunteers. We have a copy of the ELCA s audit process recommendations. Those guidelines will help speed-up our audit process. Next meeting: January 17, 2016, after church. Heidi Schiszik made a motion to adjourn at 1:23 PM, seconded by Sarah Larson, motion passed. We closed with the Lord s Prayer. Minutes submitted by Rita Lee, Secretary pg. 9

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12 Shepherd of the Hill Lutheran Church 207 University Street Elk Mound, WI pg. 12