Make a generous contribution, thanks to IRS rules! Upcoming Summer Events Treasurer s Report Sun, May 27: Memorial Day,

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1 110 N. Third Street, River Falls, WI Rev. Chris Myers: Office MAY 15, 2018 Where is God? One of the revelations of faith that came later to me in life is this: the primary way God works in the world is through people. While God is God and can choose to act however God sees fit, the primary (but not only) way God seems to work in the world is through people. God worked through Adam and Eve to name the animals and tend the garden. God worked through Sarah and Abraham to give birth to the Jewish nation. God worked through Moses to free Israel from slavery. God worked through David to establish the nation of Israel. And when Israel forgot it s call and purpose, God called prophets like Amos, Micah and Isaiah to challenge them, to be the people God created them to be. And when God wanted to do God s most important work ever, God did it through a young woman named Mary, who gave birth to Jesus, and through Joseph who would care for and protect him. The gospel of John says it this way: the Word became flesh and lived among us (John 1:14). The churchy word for this is incarnation. It means God takes on flesh, God becomes Emmanuel, God with us. And here is the thing this still happens today! I was reminded about this again as I worked with our 12 young people who were confirmed this year. When I asked the question where is God in your life, I was mostly left with blank stares. But when I suggested that God may be present in their lives through the love, care, attention and grace of others, we quickly made a big long list of ways God is present in their world. God is present through parents who love and provide for them a church who guides them in way of faith and life a community that provides safe schools and opportunities coaches and teachers who try to teach and model ways of living for them friends who love (and sometimes frustrate) them Then we made a list of all the concrete ways God has worked and is still at work in their lives just through our confirmation program: our class time, trips to feed people through Feed My Starving Children, three Confirmation retreats, the Big Trip to Boston, opportunities to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner multiple times, the care of our deacons who threw them a great big party on the eve of their confirmation, a congregation that regularly prays for them. The list goes on and on. So the question for all of us answer is this: Where is God at work in your life now? Who are the people God is placing in your life to teach you? Change you? Support you? Forgive you? Love you? Pastor Chris No matter who you are. No matter where you are on your spiritual journey, you are welcome here! As Jesus courageous disciples, living God s grace, we strive to: ~ Worship faithfully ~ Welcome openly ~ Grow spiritually ~ ~ Care passionately ~ Serve generously ~

2 Make a generous contribution, thanks to IRS rules! According to an article in the December 4, 2017 edition of US News & World Report, if you are in the fortunate position of not needing your distribution for living expenses and are charitably inclined, you can avoid income tax on your required withdrawal by donating your money directly to a qualifying charity. What a great way for you to support the many ministries of the First Congregational AND reduce your tax bill. Generally speaking, you must meet the requirement of being age 70 1/2 or older to make a tax-free charitable contribution. If you are, you could be able to transfer up to $100,000 per year directly to a charity without paying income tax on the transaction. If you file jointly, your spouse could also make a charitable contribution of up to $100,000. For more information, please consult your tax consultant. Treasurer s Report Week of May 6, 2018 Year to Date General Fund Income* $ 8,621 $ 194,057 General Fund Operational Needs $ 8,920 $ 160,560 A full accounting of all income and expenses is available in the church office. *Includes annual and monthly gifts. Upcoming Summer Events Sun, May 27: Memorial Day, beginning of summer schedule: Worship at 9:30 am with Coffee Fellowship following Sun, June 3: Graduation Sunday come wish our High School graduates well! Sun, June 10: Chordsmash live in worship Scott Perau s high energy barbershop group Sun, June 17: Father s Day: Join us as we bless all those called to be fathers Sun, June 24: Summer Choir (meet at 8:30 am, sing at the one summer 9:30 am worship service) E-Giving More and more parishioners are signing up for e-giving. It is quick, easy, and safe. It is designed to help both you with your home budgeting and financing of church ministries which continue even when you are away. Simply complete the application form found in the sign-up area to enroll. Questions can be directed to our church treasurer Missy Luedtke. If you already give electronically, please use the e-giving bookmarks in your pew as the offering plate is passed. Building Fund Update During 2017, the committee began implementing our third capital campaign and monitored industry interest rate increases to maintain the lowest possible costs. The committee carries over the policy of keeping 18 months worth of payments in reserve. Mortgage Summary As of March 31, 2018 Original cost of Facilities Expansion Project $2,386,970 Remaining amount on Bank Loan $705, Cash on hand in the Building Fund $96, Interest Rate 4.25% Monthly Payment $8, Interest paid each month $2, We received $314,704 in pledges for the period of 2017 to Easter Although we did not raise enough to pay off the mortgage by 2020, we did receive commitments to continue making our mortgage payments. The committee had been monitoring the interest rates & were made aware of rate increases. We chose to re-mortgage the building loan January 2018 locking in our current rate of 4.5% for the next 5 years. Based on the anticipated rate increase, we will save $4,124 in interest over the next 5 years & possibly more as we expect rates to continue to rise. This will give us interest rate protection for the next 5 years when the loan balance will be about $350,000. We thank the congregation for their generous support! Techies Needed! - Know websites or graphic design? Like working with computers & computer systems? If you have techie skills & would like to share them, we would like to gather a church tech team who can advise church staff on computer & technology issues. The group would meet quarterly. Please give us your contact info & area of interest/expertise & we will convene the group. Bless you! May 15, 2018 Page 2

3 Summer Program Please register your children for VBS and the summer musical. Registration forms are available on the church website and in the church office. Please let Stacy Myers know if your child needs transportation between Kids Club and church. The Musical (completed grades 1 8): June 18 21, 9:00 am 12:00 noon (performance on June 21 at 6:30 pm) VBS (pre-school completed grade 5): July 30 August 2, 9:00 am 11:30 am Please remember that we will need many, many adult and teen volunteers to help with VBS. Mark your calendars now and sign up now! Book Group Meeting The book group s summer meeting will be Tuesday, June 26, at 3:00 pm at the church to discuss The Chilbury Ladies Choir by Jennifer Ryan. The story details the creation of a choir in a small English town in WWII. Women's empowerment is a theme. Copies are available in church office. Men s Group Gathering! Our newly formed men's group meets every other Tuesday in the Fellowship Hall for coffee, treats, conversation and fellowship. Our next gatherings are Tuesday, May 15 and 29. Thanks to our leadership team of Mike Gardner, Roger Kampstra and Brad Williams who helped organize this group. Join us! Softball News It s that time of the year when the temperatures are finally getting warmer and the grass is getting green that we think of fun outside activities like SOFTBALL. Once again our church will sponsor a softball team in the River Falls Church Family League. The family league is a co-ed division allowing players to play at the age 14. The league prefers players to be 14 years for safety reasons and city league rules. The co-ed description requires teams to have three women on the field at all times, so ladies please don t be afraid to sign up and play. The games are played on Monday evenings at Hoffman Park. Games will begin the first Monday after Memorial Day and continue until the second week of August. Practices will begin soon. Come join in the fun and laughs. If you are interested in playing on our team, please sign up on the softball signup sheet in the gathering area. If you have questions contact Matthew Thurston at (715) or Deb Hoffman at (612) Thanks to Those who angels who helped move one of our church members recently To those who provided meals to the Mills and Lueck families Our Deacons for serving the confirmation banquet to over 70 people! Our Welcoming Committee for sponsoring the New Member dinner (and the Endowment Grant committee for helping to fund it!) Trustees for cleaning up our church grounds All who helped at the Relay for Life Plant Sale Those who helped connect with our new Church Interns at the 2018 Intern Draft we have 23 10th 11th and 12th graders involved! May 15, 2018 Page 3

4 Adult Forum The Adult Forum meets Sundays, 9:00 10:00 am. All are welcome! May 20: Pentecost and the Mission of the Church, Stacy Myers On the Day of Pentecost, often considered to be the Birthday of the Church, come to explore the history of Pentecost, the significance of Pentecost for the earliest Christians, and the identity and mission of the Christian Church that came into being on Pentecost Spring Break Mission Trip It is time for another Spring Break Mission trip! We do this trip every second year (when spring break does not coincide with Holy Week ). The trip is geared for youth age 14 to college. A limited number of adult spots are available as well. We spend the week working on houses (painting, light construction and demolition, landscaping, etc) in Biloxi through our UCC partner agency Back Bay Mission ( The cost about $500 per person for the week including all transportation, meals and housing. Dates are March 23-30, 2019 (RFSD spring break). Space is limited to 22 people and this trip ALWAYS fills up. An organizing meeting will be held in the fall. Please add the date to you busy calendars if you are interested! For more info please see Pastor Chris or Carol Merriman. Pastoral acts Confirmation Sunday was May 6. We had 12 Confirmands: Ethan Cernohous, Nyssa George, Dennis Grisar, Zac Johnson, Zach Martin, Maddie Morrow, Meridith Okal, Sophia Okal, Kim Swanson, Erin Syverson, Maria Tiede, Olivia Vanasse Trudy Papp baptized on April 29 NEWSFEED From The Investment Committee Committee Members: Kris Roen, Jean Smith, Bob Gustafson, Mike Gardner, Wendy Querna, Brad Williams/Vice Moderator, Fred Trautmiller/Advisor, Chris Myers/Staff DID YOU KNOW The Endowment Fund was established in Stay tuned for more next quarter! That the total Invested fund balance as of 12/31/2017 was $1,286, The funds are invested at United Church Funds (UCF), a UCC ministry. The categories that the Investment Committee keeps track of are: Endowment, Scholarship, Discretionary, Music and Brazil Funds. $300,000 was loaned to the Building Fund when renovations were done. About the different ways this Endowment Fund Interest earnings have helped our congregation by: *Mission Trips, Funding for new programs and ministries, Youth activities, Church camps, Musical equipment, Local-National-International Missions.. That the Investment Committee was established in That the Investment Committee members are appointed by the Moderator and Church Council. That the Investment Committee consists of 5 Church members, Pastor Chris, Moderator and an Investment Advisor. May 15, 2018 Page 4

5 Upcoming Youth Events Sunday, May 20 Lawn Games and Lunch! Come kick off summer on the last day of Sunday School. Fun Lawn Games for kids of all ages and a picnic style lunch will be served. June TBD Thursday, July 12 Come to church and help prepare and deliver a meal for the Simpson shelter. Friday, July 13 Come to the church lawn for Summer fun picnic food at 5:00 and then we will watch the River Falls Days Parade together. July 30 August 2 Vacation Bible School Wednesday, August 1 River Falls Fish Game Meet at the field at 7:30. Sustainable Living: Tip of the Month This time of year, many of us spend more time outdoors enjoying the nice weather. On your next walk through the neighborhood, consider bringing a few plastic bags with to collect any trash that accumulated over the winter. It's a simple activity that the whole family can participate in, and it will make your neighborhood much more inviting to come home to. Cleaning up even just a few pieces of litter can make a big difference. Daily Devotional to Your Inbox Did you know that the UCC has a daily devotional that can be sent directly to your each morning? Containing a scripture verse, short devotional and prayer, and written by various UCC pastors, you can sign up for this free devotional by going to: Communion Preparation for Children and Families First Congregational Church has a folder of resources to assist families as their children begin participating in the sacrament of baptism. The materials include a Q & A page for parents; an interactive newspaper for children; a statement of UCC beliefs; and a book for children that explores the biblical story of communion. The book includes a note to parents helping them to use the book as the basis for conversations with their children about communion. If your child is ready to begin participating in communion or if your child already participates and you are interested in the materials, please contact Stacy Myers or the church office. An excerpt from the information for parents: When do children at First Congregational Church begin taking Communion? There is no uniform age at First Congregational Church when children begin participating in the Lord s Supper. Some children are pre-school age, others are in elementary school, and some wait until confirmation to begin taking Communion. The Bible and church history do not give decisive guidelines about the age to begin celebrating the Lord s Supper. The decision about when people are welcome at the Lord s Table has largely been made by local worshipping communities. Our practice is to include children when they and their parents think they are ready to participate. How will I know when my child is ready? Some parents choose infant communion for their children. Many parents wait until their children express an interest. Typically children are ready to participate in Communion when they start asking questions about this sacrament. One important theme of Communion is inclusion: All are welcome at the table of the Lord. If a child feels excluded, it is a good time for that child to begin participating. May 15, 2018 Page 5

6 Why Lay Academy Submitted by Jean Smith Lay Academy is a ministry of the Wisconsin Conference that engages lay people in spiritual growth and development through theological education. Anyone who longs to grow in faith, discover new ways to serve God and their community, and deepen their knowledge of Christian tradition, ministry, and mission is welcome. This is the introduction on the WI Conference UCC website (wiucc.org) describing Lay Academy. Having just finished the two-year Faith Foundation portion of Lay Academy, I would say this statement lives up to what is said. These past two years, Suzanne Hagen and I have studied the Old and New Testament, reflected on theology, studied spiritual practices, and learned about Interfaith work to just name a few topics. Speaking for myself, I found the experience very much worth my time and my effort. If you are thinking about Lay Academy and want to know more please contact the church office or feel free to talk to me or Suzanne about it. We would be more than happy to share more information with you about the benefits of this course. Help Wanted! Much of the ministry of the church is done through teams and committees. The Nominating Team is looking for people who wish to serve in the following areas beginning in September: Christian Education 1 team member needed Works with staff member Stacy Myers in the area of education (Sunday and Wednesday School, Adult Ed, Confirmation) to ensure the Gospel is taught to all ages. Meets monthly on the third Tuesday of each month. Deacons 1 team member needed Works with Pastors Chris and Dave in the area of worship to welcome people into worship, serve communion and other special events (confirmation, baptism, graduation, etc. Meets monthly on the third Tuesday of each month. Endowment Grant Full! Works with Pastor Chris to evaluate grant requests from church groups and teams to enhance church and mission. Meets every second month on Monday nights. Discipleship 4 team members needed Works with Pastor Chris to ensure the mission of the church is fully funded. Meets most months on the third Tuesday of each month. Mission Education 1 team member needed Works with Pastor Dave to ensure the Christian gospel is proclaimed through concrete action and education. Meets monthly the third Tuesday of each month. Music Full! Works with Marsha Pearson (Music Coordinator) to provide music to enrich the life of the church and to oversee the music programs of the church. Meets monthly on the third Tuesday of each month. Trustees 2 team members needed Works with Missy Luedtke (Treasurer) and Tim Bylander (Building Supervisor) to ensure the healthy functioning of the building, grounds and finances of the church. Meets monthly on the third Tuesday of each month. Welcoming Ministry 1 Team member needed Works with Pastor Dave to provide a welcoming environment to the church. Meets monthly on the third Tuesday of each month. Youth Teams 4 Team Members Needed Works with JaNae Westrich (Youth Minister) to plan programs and mission trips for 6-12 th graders. Meets monthly on Wednesday nights and as needed. If you are interested in serving in any of these capacities, or just want more information about them, please see the description of these teams and committees on the bulletin board or talk to a member of the Nominating Team: Neal Prochnow, Lu Lueck, Carole Mottaz, Dianne Barnes, Vicki Sippel, Alan Tuchtenhagen May 15, 2018 Page 6

7 , located here at church, provides a social respite for individuals with dementia and their caregivers. They are open every Tuesday. Please contact Norma Revels or Bonnie Jones-Witthuhn if you are interested in knowing more. Yoga Class Come and join a delightful group of people that enjoy the flexibility and exercise that yoga offers. The yoga group (men and women) meets Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9:00-10:00 am in the youth room. Jan Hansen is the certified instructor. A donation is requested and is shared with local charities during the holiday season. We all look forward to seeing new faces. Cribbage Night Barry Butenhoff was the overall winner and he had the high hand of the May game. Cribbage will take a break for the summer and resume on the second Monday of each month beginning September 10. Spirit and Health The Spirit and Health group is going on summer break. Look for us to resume the first Wednesday after Labor Day, September 5, at 6:00 pm. If you have questions, call Rebecca at (262) Have a spirit-filled and healthy summer! Save Your Family Fresh Receipts! ARC gets $1,000 for every $150,000 in receipts, so every dollar counts. ARC is the agency funded by local churches to help address the immediate needs of people in our community (rent, utility, gas, repair help). A box for receipts is on the back table. Donations Needed for Our Neighbors Place: Laundry detergent and dryer sheets NEW men s and women s socks and underwear Pull-ups (especially sizes 4/5/6) and baby wipes Toilet paper, paper towels, kleenex Monetary donations are always VERY appreciated. Donations may be dropped off between 10 am-4 pm Monday-Thursday and by appointment on Fridays Community Dementia Friendly Series River Falls Public Library from 6:30 8:00 pm May 22 Round Table Discussion Networking and collaboration opportunities for caregivers and the community. June 26 Dementia Capable Community A conversation about the process for our community to become Dementia friendly. Special Offering On May 20 Pentecost Sunday we ll share in the national Strengthen the Church Offering of the United Church of Christ. This is one of our denomination s special, focused offerings taken throughout the year. Strengthen the Church funds help start new congregations and grow current local churches in sites across the country, and supports future church leaders committed to revitalizing and renewing communities. Half of the Offering supports ministry in Wisconsin, and half goes to strengthening the church nationally. Envelopes for this Offering will be available in the pews on May 20. Your gifts are most welcome! May 15, 2018 Page 7

8 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST STAFF Chris Myers - Pastor Dave Ostendorf - Minister for Community and Outreach Stacy Johnson - CE Minister JaNae Westrich - Youth Pastor Missy Luedtke - Office Assistant Neal Prochnow - Moderator Scott Perau - Choir Director Marsha Pearson - Music Coordinator/Organist Terry Mithun - Organist Ross Fugl - Bell Choir Director Tim Bylander - Building Supervisor Dave Mountain - Custodian Office Phone: Office office@firstchurchrf.org Website: PASTOR S HOME PHONE NUMBER Chris Myers chris@firstchurchrf.org FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 110 N. Third Street River Falls, Wisconsin NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #53 RIVER FALLS, WI ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED MAY 15, MAY 2018 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Men s Group 8:00 am 12:00 pm Investment Com Confirmation Meeting Banquet 6:00 pm 6:00 pm Jubilee Ringers Free Counseling 6:00 pm Spirit & Health Mtg Center 3:00-8:00 pm 6:30 pm All Confirmation Bible Study 1:00-2:30 pm Book Group at Suzanne Classes Go Bowling 7:00 pm Chancel Choir Hagen s 3:00 pm Spring Clean Up 5:30 pm 6 Confirmation Sunday 8:00 am Music Practice 9:00 am Worship Service 9:00 am Adult Forum 10:00 am Coffee Fellowship 10:30 am Worship Service 10:30 am Sunday School 11:00 am WEVR Broadcast 13 8:00 am Music Practice 9:00 am Worship Service 9:00 am Adult Forum 10:00 am Coffee Fellowship 10:30 am Worship Service 10:30 am Sunday School 11:00 am WEVR Broadcast Relay for Life Plant Sale 20 Music Sunday 8:00 am Music Practice 9:00 am Worship Service 9:00 am Adult Forum 10:00 am Coffee Fellowship 10:30 am Worship Service 10:30 am Sunday School 11:00 am WEVR Broadcast 11:30 am Last Day Lawn Games 27 9:30 am Worship Service 10:30 am Coffee Fellowship 11:00 am WEVR Broadcast 7 Pastoral Relations Meeting 1:00 pm Meeting 5:15 pm 14 Scholarship Meeting 4:00 pm 8 Bible Study 1:00-2:30 pm Cribbage 7:00 pm 15 Men s Group 8:00 am Bible Study 1:00-2:30 pm Wellhaven Gathering 3pm Boards & Committee Meetings 6:30 pm Church Council Meeting 7:30 pm Memorial Day Office Closed Scholarship Meeting 4:00 pm Strategic Planning Meeting 6:30 pm 29 Men s Group 8:00 am Endowment Grant Requests Due 9 6:00 pm Jubilee Ringers 6:00 pm Spirit & Health Mtg 6:30 pm Church Intern Fair 7:00 pm Chancel Choir 16 6:00 pm Jubilee Ringers 6:00 pm Spirit & Health Mtg 7:00 pm Chancel Choir 23 Bell and Choir Party 6:00 pm Baccalaureate at RFHS 7:00 pm 10 Newsletter Deadline 17 Free Counseling Center 3:00-8:00 pm 24 Newsletter Deadline Querna Wedding Rehearsal 4:00 pm Office Closed Querna Wedding 4:00 pm 26