The Crossroad A Monthly Publication of the Spring Green Community Church. Kendall Harger

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1 Volume 8, Issue 11 December, 2011 In This Issue P. 2-3 Ministry updates P. 4 Ministry Updates P. 5 Nursery/ Children s Church P. 6 Calendar P. 7 What Matters Most P.8 Upcoming events/ financial P. 9 Birthdays/ Anniversaries The Crossroad A Monthly Publication of the Spring Green Community Church Kendall Harger It is the end of one year and the beginning of a new year, a great time to reflect and to plan. Reflect on 2011 while making December the best month of the year and plan for 2012 while making January the best start of a new year ever. God already knows about December 2011 and He already knows all about What is He looking for out of our lives as we end and begin? The following sermon series will help all of us end this year and begin another one. December All is NOT Calm (Experiencing God when everything changes.) During this series, we will look at the changes that took place in the characters lives surrounding the Christmas story and how they experienced God, and apply what we learn to our lives when we face changes in life. 4 th All is Not Calm for Zechariah 11 th All is NOT Calm for Mary 18 th All is NOT Calm for Joseph Saturday, December 24th 6 p.m. All is NOT Calm for the Shepherds Sunday, December 25th NO Service - Worship with your families. January st A Clean Slate, A Fresh Start (Making the most out of what I ve been given.) 8 th State of the Church (Vision for SGCC church 2012 and beyond.) January 15th February 26 th Wake up and Smell the Coffee (Living life wide awake) During this series, we will follow the life and mission of Nehemiah. What can we learn from this man who took on an impossible mission and succeeded, even against enormous odds, by trusting in God? 15 th Wake up my Passion (Look through God s eyes.) Nehemiah 1 22 nd Wake up my Courage (Trust God.) Nehemiah 2: th Wake up my Wisdom (Skillful negotiation of life.) Nehemiah 2:10-20 February 5 th Wake up my Community (Do my part.) Nehemiah 3 12 th Wake up my Commitment (Give my all.) Nehemiah 4 19 th Wake up my Giving (Loving others.) Nehemiah 5 26 th Wake up my Reliance on God (He is able.) Nehemiah 6 Beginning in January 2012, the newsletter will come out every other month-january, March, May.

2 Page 2 FRIENDS NIGHT Age Level: 4K 6 th Grade Date: Wednesday, January 11 th April 25 th Time: 6:00pm 7:30pm Cost: $20 per child for entire semester (includes supplies and take home journals) Or $1.50 per child each week What I need to do: 1) Fill out a registration form for each child. 2) Pay at time of registration, or pay each week by putting your money in the provided donation box. 3) COME! On Wednesday, January 11 th ready to learn and have fun with friends! Call SGCC for registration If you have any questions, call Juli Friends Night Team Nancy Accola Rita Marit Jan Drachenberg Kathy Mims Mike Miller Christy Gruber Paul Kardatzke Bill Mims Becky Miller Kathy Kieler Julie Kardatzke Lloyd Miller Roger Creasey Vicky Meinholz Fay Cozine Jan Anderson Marcia Creasey Kendall Harger Alex Harger Madeline Miller Lindsey Drachenberg Joe Meinholz Laura Meinholz Lauren Drachenberg To all my dear friends at SGCC- A big Thank you for all the food, cards, and prayers since Marv went home to be with the Lord on November 12, for air mattresses, pillows, and linens, and to Pastor Harger for all the time spent with Marv and me. But most of all Thanks for all the HUGS and whispers of love. Nora Moe

3 Helping Hands Womens Ministry Page 3 Purpose: To show God s love by serving others in the following ways: 1. To provide meals to individuals and families who are experiencing illness or other health issues such as hospitalization or birth of a baby or other emergency circumstances. 2. To be the first contact for funerals to provide the kitchen crew. 3. To provide kitchen crew for other in-church meals (potlucks) or activities. Each woman currently attending SGCC will be placed on one of six teams, and will be notified via or mail by Cheryl (Helping Hands Coordinator) of their team assignment. Each woman is assigned to two months of the year and will be contacted as we begin by their Team Leader and then notified just prior to the month they are serving in as a reminder. If there is a family in need during December, contact- Shirley Coppernoll, , or the church office, New Team Leaders are: Robin Walker January/July Julie Kardatzke February/August Pearl Meixelsperger March/September Mary Robson April/October Marcia Creasey May/November Shirley Coppernoll June/December May we always have Martha hands, with Mary hearts. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others...matthew 20:28 Christmas Eve Candle Light Service Saturday, December 24th 6 p.m. (no service will be held on Sunday, December 25) The GriefShare cycle will end on Dec. 6th with a memorial service at 7 pm. The spring cycle of GriefShare will begin on Tuesday, February 7th, at 7 pm If you have questions, please contact Rita Marit , Amy Mellor , or Rose Ellen Schneider

4 Page 4 If you are interested in volunteering to purchase or deliver Angel Tree gifts this year, please contact: John Schneller Angel Tree is a ministry to provide children of prison inmates with gifts from their parent. Food Pantry served140 families in November. Thanks to all who assist in serving. Cookie Walk and Bazaar Don t forget to attend the cookie walk / bazaar on Saturday, December 3. You may also contribute cookies, or homemade gifts or craft items. Please bring items to the church between 3 and 6 pm on Friday, Dec. 2. Please have gift or craft items priced. If you are bringing cookies, please provide us with the name of the cookie so that we can make a sign for the cookie tray. The Gently-Read Christian Book Table will be available again this year if you would like to pass on of some of your Christian books. The Kitchen Table will be available for home baked items including jellies, jams, and pickles as well as baked goods other than cookies. Fresh baked goods may be brought to the church before 9 am on Saturday. If you can t get items to the church on Friday afternoon, contact Rose Ellen Schneider, , to make other arrangements.

5 Spring Green Country Christmas Soup Supper Saturday, Dec 3rd (serving) 4:00-7:00 p.m. Spring Green Community Church Adults: $5.00 advance / $6.00 at door Children (10 and under): $3.00 advance / $4.00 at door WARM UP AND WACH THE FIREWORKS INSIDE! Tickets on sale at the church office: Carry Outs Available Meal includes: Your choice of Chili, Chicken Noodle or Potato Soup, Bread, Salad, Dessert and Beverage (milk, coffee, water) Page 5 December December 4 - Julie Kardatzke & Andrew Pardee December 11 - Susan Glass & Laura Meinholz December 18- Kathy Kieler & Lorri Frisch December 25 - Merry Christmas God Bless these hands that serve! December 4 - Marcia Creasey Nancy Accola & Sandi Chastain December 11 -Terri Pardee Andrew Pardee and Christy Gruber-Gratz December 18 -Becky Miller Madeline Miller and Jeanie Welsh December 25-Merry Christmas

6 Page 6 Online Perpetual Calendar Continually Updated For the latest information, SU/TD = Set-up/ check Tear-down the church website at and click on online Calendar

7 Page 7 What Matters Most It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him. Over the phone, his mother told him, Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday. Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days. Jack, did you hear me? Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It s been so long since I thought of him. I m sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago, Jack said. Well, he didn t forget you. Every time I saw him he d ask how you were doing. He d reminisce about the many days you spent over his side of the fence as he put it, Mom told him. I loved that old house he lived in, Jack said. You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man s influence in your life, she said. He s the one who taught me carpentry, he said. I wouldn t be in this business if it weren t for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important. Mom, I ll be there for the funeral, Jack said. As busy as he was, he kept his word..jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser s funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture. Jack stopped suddenly. What s wrong, Jack? his Mom asked. The box is gone, he said What box? Mom asked.. There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he d ever tell me was the thing I value most, Jack said. It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it. Now I ll never know what was so valuable to him, Jack said. I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom. It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. Signature required on a package. No one at home, please stop by the main post office within the next three days, the note read. Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. Mr. Harold Belser it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack s hands shook as he read the note inside. Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It s the thing I valued most in my life. A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filled his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved: Jack, thanks for your time! -Harold Belser. The thing I valued most was...my time. Jack held the watch a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. Why? Janet, his assistant asked. I need some time to spend with my son, he said. Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time! Author unknown

8 Page 8 Upcoming Events and Dates to Remember Saturday, December 3-9 a.m.- 3 p.m. -Bazaar, Cookie Walk, & Luncheon Saturday, December p.m. - Soup Supper Monday, December 19-9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. -Food Pantry distribution Monday, December 19-4:30-6:30 p.m.- Food Pantry distribution Saturday, December 24-6 p.m. Candlelight Christmas Eve Service Sunday, December 25 - No Service, worship with your families. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Weekly Giving for October/November 2011 October 30 - General Fund - $3, Food Pantry - $ November 6 - General Fund - $4, Benevolence - $ Food Pantry - $1, November 13 - General Fund - $6, Benevolence - $5.00 Food Pantry - $ November 20 - General Fund - $2, Food Pantry - $1, November 27 - General Fund - $3, Food Pantry - $1, Need a good book? Stop in and check one out from the church library!..faith is not believing God can, faith is KNOWING God WILL!

9 Page 9 December Birthdays Paul Marit Elaine Reese Viola Lamont James Kardatzke Christopher Kardatzke Phoebe Butteris Jordan Wahl John Walker Jenna Wahl Dick Kraemer Mike Kieler Kristi Hills Jeanie Welsh Austin Dederich Dennis Butteris December Anniversaries Lee Weiand & Elaine Reese It is when we forget ourselves that we do things that will be remembered. Prayer Shawls We are always looking for men and women who love to knit or crochet or quilt to make prayer shawls or blankets. Prayer shawls or blankets are made for people, not necessarily in our congregation, who are dealing with a death, a chronic illness, a hardship, etc. While the blanket or shawl is being made, the maker prays for the person who will receive it, and the situation they may be in. If you are interested in getting involved in this ministry, please contact Rose Ellen Schneider or call the office

10 Spring Green Community Church 151 E. Bossard Street Spring Green, WI (608) Fax Website: sgcommunitychurch.org Address Service Requested The Crossroad a monthly publication of the Spring Green Community Church Purpose: Winning people to faith in Jesus Christ and equipping them for personal ministry Objectives: Evangelism Worship Discipleship Ministry Motto: Experiencing God s Love Together Ministers: Every member of the Body of Christ Worship and Children s church 10:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:15 a.m. K thru adult DivorceCare Mondays 7:00 p.m. GriefShare Tuesdays 7:00 p.m. Food Pantry Distribution Third Monday of each month, 10:30 Noon and 4:30-6:30 p.m. lifegroups various days and times. Check or bulletin for details. Office Hours: Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Member of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches and Willow Creek Association of Churches