FAMILY NIGHT POT LUCKS A WORD FROM TOM, THE INTERIM SEARCH COMMITTEE UPDATE. Tom, the Interim. February 2018 Newsletter

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1 February 2018 Newsletter A WORD FROM TOM, THE INTERIM My commute from da Bay as people often call Whitefish Bay, is shortened by radio news as found on National Public Radio and so this morning I heard the following or something like it: If hypocrisy were helium all our voices would be higher and many of us would float away. And I will admit not only did I laugh at that but it also caused me to examine my own willingness to engage in hypocrisy large and small. In many ways, that is why we begin our worship each week with a prayer of confession because we know that in so many ways despite our best intentions we fail to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God in so much of our lives. Now I am not here to beat anyone over the head with this but just to remind me (especially me because ministers too often believe they have God in their pocket) and you of the dangers of thinking what I do is always the right thing. It is so easy to fall in love with my ideas and my desires and forget especially in a worshiping community such as Peace UCC that we are in this together and those who may not agree with me are not the enemy. They are simply seeing things differently. AND the real challenge of congregations like Peace is that we are a democratic institution which means compromise isn t just some esoteric idea but the reality we live out and with. Decisions here are made by leaders elected by the congregation and entrusted with the day to day responsibilities of making what they feel are the best decisions for the rest of us. Those decisions are crafted with care, diligence, and, most of all, prayerful consideration. To agree or disagree with them is each member s right but keep in mind disagreement should not lead to disagreeableness. We should try always to seek to walk a mile in their shoes before we get too upset. One of the signs I keep posted on my office wall is a phrase I try to keep in mind. It says to whose benefit is this ministry. It reminds me that we are in this together and my role is to enable ministries which benefit not just me but all members. So the next time my voice goes up an octave please grab my hand so I don t float away!! See you in church or sometime soon I hope. Tom, the Interim FAMILY NIGHT POT LUCKS As part of our Confirmation and Christian Education program we are hosting Family Night Pot Lucks on February 7 th, April 4 th, and May 2 nd beginning at 5:00 p.m. We will join in fellowship and creativity to break bread together. Families of any size are invited to participate. Whether you are a family of one or a hundred and one please join in this monthly gathering. We will share soup, fellowship and then join in a mission project together. This is part of our Christian Education/Confirmation Program BUT all are welcome to join us. What a great way and time to invite non-members to gather with members of Peace Church? I m looking for soup recipes that are done in a slow cooker? How about sharing it with me so I can make it for one of our Family Night Pot Lucks? it or bring it to the church office and I ll try not to mess it up!! Pastor Tom SEARCH COMMITTEE UPDATE The search Committee has completed the Local Church Profile and has submitted this to our Association Minister Jane Anderson for approval. Once approved, the profile will then be uploaded to a website so any interested parties can view it. If they like what they see, their next step is to submit their information to the association where some initial vetting takes place and if found to be a viable match with us their information is forwarded on to us as a candidate. Our profile was compiled with the information we received back from the church survey that each member received in early November. The overwhelming response for you was to look for a shared or part-time minister for our congregation, which is what we submitted to the association. As soon as we have approval of the profile and are told we are good to go, the Search Committee will meet again with Rev. Anderson to discuss the process for properly vetting and reviewing applications and how the interview process will work. We will definitely keep you all posted as these events occur. As with prior communication, we will not be able to disclose specific details around the candidates, but we will keep you posted as to how many we receive and where we are with each candidate throughout our process. Thank you for your patience as we go through the vital task and thank you for your continued

2 prayers that we find the right minister for Peace UCC. Search Committee members: Paul Cooney, Brian Horn, Janel Feldner, Tony Reese, Laurie Sommers, Todd Schneider Council liaison and Kay Wachal Pastor/Parish Committee liaison. ANNUAL MEETING Please mark your calendars for our Annual Meeting which is scheduled for Sunday, February 18th immediately after the 9:00 a.m. worship. Please take this opportunity to attend this important meeting. It is your right and privilege to vote for our open positions on the Council and Endowment committees. See you there! If anyone is willing to serve on the council or endowment committee, please contact Carla Zander as soon as possible. THE 2017 ANNUAL REPORTS will be available in your mailboxes shortly. WORSHIP SCHEDULE FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY Sunday, February 4, :00 a.m. Worship/Communion 10:00 a.m. Coffee Hour & Fellowship Sunday, February 11, :00 a.m. Sunday Worship/Mini-Missions 10:00 a.m. Coffee Hour & Fellowship 10:00 a.m. Council Meeting Wednesday, February 14, :00 p.m. Ash Wednesday Service with communion (all Confirmation & Christian Education students to attend no classes that evening) Sunday, February 18, :00 a.m. Sunday Worship 10:00 a.m. Annual Meeting/Coffee Hour Wednesday, February 21, :00/7:00 p.m. Soup & Substance at Faith United Methodist Church Sunday, February 25, :00 a.m. Worship 10:00 a.m. Coffee Hour & Fellowship Wednesday, February 28, :00/7:00 p.m. Soup & Substance at Brillion Community Church DATES TO REMEMBER February 7 - Pot Luck for all members of Peace Church at 5:00 p.m. (See Family Pot Lucks article above for more information) February 11 Mini Missions - Samaritan s Purse February 11 Council Meeting immediately after worship February 18 Annual Meeting after Worship FINANCIAL GIVING January 1-26, 2018 Sunday school Children - $13.00 Loose Collection $0.00 General Fund - $2, E-giving to General Fund - $2, Initial Offering - $43.00 Bulletins - $85.00 CHICKEN FRY MARK YOUR CALENDAR CHICKEN FRY Sunday, April 8, 2018 Serving from 11:00 a. m. 1:00 p.m. Carry-outs are available Prices: Adults (1/2 chicken) $12.00 Children ages 12 & under only $6.00 FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS February 4 Karla Miller February 5 Steve Miller February 5 Alijah Stackhouse February 6 Reina Eijtjes February 10 Barb Kesler February 12 Paul Cooney February 17 Todd Hillmann February 17 Lenroy Haese February 18 Ken Kuchenbecker February 21 Treyton Krahn February 24 Timothy Kuchenbecker February 25 John Seefeldt February 28 David Van Deraa FEBRUARY ANNIVERSARIES February 2 Tim & Hilde Krahn

3 CONGRATULATIONS Congratulations to Alyssa Sommers, daughter of Dave and Laurie Sommers and granddaughter of Alice Horn who was married on Saturday, January 20, 2018 to Mike Schmelter. We wish the couple much love and happiness as they begin their married lives together. LENTEN SCHEDULE 2018 Ash Wednesday/Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion, Feb. 14 at 7:00 p.m. at Peace UCC Wednesday, February 21 Faith United Methodist Church, Brillion Topic: Father Forgive Them Wednesday, February 28 Brillion Community Church Topic: Today You Will be with Me in Paradise Wednesday, March 7 Zion United Methodist Church, Forest Junction Topic: I Thirst and It is Finished (Also hosting is Peace E&R, Potter) Wednesday, March 14 Holy Family Catholic Church, Brillion Topic: Women Behold Your Son Wednesday, March 21 Here at Peace United Church of Christ Topic: Why Have You Forsaken Me? COFFEE HOUR February 4, 11, 18 & 25 need volunteers CONFIRMATION PARENT HELP OUT February 7 Pot Luck & time with Todd Schneider (Vande Hey Family) February 14, 21 & 28 No Classes (Students should attend Ash Wednesday Service and the Soup & Substance at local churches) SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS Grades Pre-School 2 from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. February 7 (together) Pot Luck & making cards Teacher: Need volunteer February 14 No Class (attend Ash Wed. Service) February 21 Teacher: Joselyn Heritage Helper: Morgan Janas February 28 Teacher: Need volunteer Helper: need volunteer Grades 3-6 from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. February 7 (together) Pot Luck & making cards Teacher: Becky Fischer February 14 No Class (attend Ash Wed. Service) February 21 Teacher: Amber Horn-Leiterman February 28 Teacher: Becky Fischer GREETERS February 4 Carol Reese February 11 Dave & Laurie Sommers February 14 - (Ash Wednesday) Dale Klika & Derek Vande Hey February 18 Eric & Danielle Burich Family February 25 Lillian Kuchenbecker ACOLYTES February 4 Joshua Schuh & Derek Vande Hey February 11 Jacob & Nathan Schneider February 14 (Ash Wednesday) Rachel Fischer & Aubrie Williams February 18 Grant & Trent Leiterman February 25 Morgan Janas & volunteer SUNDAY HELPERS February 4 Carla Zander February 11 Dave Sommers February 14 (Ash Wednesday) Carla Zander February 18 Dawn Voight February 25 Steve Smith LAY READERS February 4 Carla Zander February 11 John Seefeldt February 14 (Ash Wednesday) Sue Cooney February 18 Tony Reese February 25 Cindy Riha

4 USHERS February 4 Chad Klika February 11 Chuck Burich February 14 (Ash Wednesday) Roger Schwahn February 18 Paul Cooney February 25 Tony Reese MISSION AND OUTREACH Love Baskets: The church continues to receive beautiful thank you notes from people expressing how touched they felt by your Christmas Love Baskets. We will print a portion of these notes as they come in. - I received a love basket of goodies and would like to thank the friends and families of Peace UCC. Merry Christmas and May God bless all of you. - Thank you for the basket full of goodies. What a nice gesture. God Bless you. - Thank you so much for the basket of fruit and goodies. I enjoyed every bit of it. Bless you for your kindness. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year for you and your families - Thank you so very much for the love basket. It is very thoughtful of all of you and we certainly appreciate the prayers that go along with it can t get enough of them. We can t thank you enough for your kindness. - Thank you for thinking of us this holiday season. We enjoyed it all, loved the basket also. Peace, good health and happiness to you and yours. Again thanks. Our health is on the up-swing. - Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you for the gift basket. Also thank you for your kindness, with your thoughts and prayers as I make my final journey in this life. My cancer is not curable. Someday we will all meet again. Thanks so much. House in Haiti: A Christmas card was received from Food for the Poor that read: Blessings to all. Thank you for your continued support and for hearing the cry for the poor. May the light of His love shine upon you this Christmas Season. We have been promised information on the construction of our home in Haiti from both Food For The Poor and Deacon Dennis Bennin. Patrick s Patches: The rooms at Patches looked very different on a recent visit gone were the tables and tables of new and gently used toys. Gone were the racks of winter coats and warm snow pants. Gone were the racks, tables, and totes of clothing donated by members of Holy Family and area concerned citizens. Your basket of new socks was empty and I am sure some very lucky feet are warm and cozy because of your generosity. It takes an unimaginable amount of time for the volunteers at Patches to make Christmas a little happier for so many people and their dedication never ceases to amaze me. They are always so very thankful for the ways we help their ministries. Please remember our church collects both winter coats and back-to-school supplies year round for Patches. Please mark your donations and leave them at church. Mini Missions for February: The mini-missions for February will go to Samaritan s Purse-Children s Heart Program. About one out of every 100 babies has a heart defect that surgeons can routinely repair. Unfortunately, many of them are born in poor or remote places where their families cannot access the cardiac care they urgently need. Through their Children s Heart Project, Samaritan s Purse transports boys and girls from places like Bolivia, Mongolia, and Uganda to hospitals in North America. Doctors, hospitals, and host families and churches donate their time and services, but airfare is a major cost typically $2,200 per person for international flights. You can share in this cost so that they can offer life-saving surgery and the unsurpassed hope of the Gospel. But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation (Psalm 13:5). Our Linus Project mini missions for January collected $ Thank you to all our wonderful members who donated toward this worthy blanket project.

5 PEACE UCC COUNCIL MINUTES JANUARY 14, 2018 Call to Order: Meeting called to order at 10:00 a.m. Present: Rev Tom Williams, Carla Zander, Dave Sommers, Dawn Voight, Sandy Kuchenbecker, Steve Smith, Todd Schneider, Lois Schwahn Other: Tony Reese, Kay Wachal, Joe Barth, Chuck Burich Secretary s Report: Motion to accept last minutes By Sandy Kuchenbecker, seconded by Dave Sommers Treasure s Report: Balance as 12/31/2017: Current balance 1099 and W2 s will be mailed this week Budget needs to be approved prior to February 2 nd. Motion to accept treasure report by Dawn Voigt, seconded by Sandy Kuchenbecker Pastor s Report: Held a Christian education pot luck on January 10 th ; Times of the classes were changed, please review the schedule for changes Will be out of office on January 24 (Meeting),25 (Vacation), 29 th (Attending seminar on Lakeland on Mark for Lent) NO CONFIRMATION ON WED, January 24; Sunday school is still being held Brought notes from meeting with Ecumenical Group Committee *All committees: Please send the council secretary any upcoming meeting schedules so they can be added to the church calendar. Stewardship: o None Christian Education: o See Pastor s Report Building and Grounds: o Furnace for the fellowship hall is malfunctioning; Roger will call Fuhrman on Monday morning o Roger confirmed snow equipment is functional, however, the tractor has a sensitive neutral switch; please hold in neutral when starting. Pastor Parish: o Reviewing concerns brought forth by a letter from several members of congregation Mission and Outreach: o See minutes from Mission meeting for more information: Jan; Project Linus Feb: Samaritans Purse Mar: Guide Post Apr: Autism Month May: Relay for Life Pastoral Search Committee o Profile has been completed and was sent on 1/12/2018 to the Association for next steps o Congregational survey has shown that the church desires a shared or ½ ministry Old Business: None New Business: A discussion with Pastor/Parish that were in attendance concerning issues brought forth by members of the congregation A reminder that we practice safe sanctuary, the congregation has declared that the doors are to be locked during service and there must always be a minimum of 2 members of the congregation to make visitations Rev. Tom s contract was discussed and will be presented to Pastor in the coming week. Adjournment: March 21 pm for our hosting of Lenten service

6 Review/Approval of church budget meeting January 28 am Next council meeting: February am Motion to Adjourn made by; Steve Smith, seconded By Sandy Kuchenbecker Respectively submitted by Todd Schneider MESSAGE FROM REV. ANDERSON ASSOCIATION MINISTER The No s No s of Parking Lot Conversations How often have you walked out of church to your car only to be stopped by another member wanting to engage you in a conversation about what just transpired at the meeting you just attended? Or, how often have you left worship, only to overhear the chit chat in the parking lot about the pastor s sermon? Or how often have you participated in a conversation in the parking lot that began, Did you hear what happened to Joe? Or, Did you hear what Mary said? We ve all been privy to, or joined in, such conversations. I believe that the intent of such conversations come from a place within all of us that cares. Many of us care deeply about our church family, want to be involved in what s happening in our church life, and are committed to improving our spiritual lives. That church meeting may have spurred great ideas that we want to continue to talk about on our way out of church. We may have received news of someone in our community who s hurting and may want to talk about how we can help. We may have been inspired and challenged by our pastor s sermon and want to process it with someone else who was in worship. Yet, I also know that such parking lot conversations, and many others like them, can be turn negative quickly. The conversation in the parking lot does not allow other committee members to participate in the conversation, adding their own ideas or responses. The parking lot sermon talk that never gets to the pastor, doesn t allow his or her voice to be a part of the conversation. And we all know from that elementary game of Telephone that not always what is said, is what people hear. And, how often do our genuine concerns and desire for care include the one who is in need. Isn t the respectful response being to ask the person what they need or how we can be helpful? Parking lot conversations can be helpful or they can be the source of great consternation, distress and even a source of real harm for our church family, the body of Christ. I have seen the long-term effects of such communication patterns within our churches and it s not pretty divisiveness and division, derision and distain long-term debilitation, if not permanent damage to the body of Christ. Ephesians 4 says that we are to build up the body of Christ. speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body s growth in building itself up in love. If, friends, this is our plumb line, then we must pause and ask ourselves, are our parking lot conversations, however well-intended, building up the Body of Christ? The next time we are privy to such parking lot talk we might pause and ask ourselves the following questions: Who benefits from this conversation? Who is being cared for here? Is the one who is in need of care included in the conversation? Who is included, and who is excluded from this conversation who needs to be included? It may be that the conversation needs to be tabled to a time when those who need to be included can join the conversation. Is this the right and respectful place for this conversation? Does this conversation demonstrate God s love and grace? Does this conversation help promote God s greatest desire for the common good of the whole community? I recognize we may not be able to give perfect pause for such reflection in the moment. But, choosing to practice putting the parking lot conversations on pause on a regular basis and asking such questions of ourselves and others can help transform our church communities and build healthy communication patterns which will serve us well and help build up the Body of Christ. Blessings and Peace, Rev. Jane B. Anderson