A Note from Pastor Julie

Transcription

1 P. O. Box 36 Briggsville UMC, Moundville UMC, Trinity Endeavor UCC February 2013 I think it is so fitting that this month we celebrate Ash Wednesday followed by Valentine s Day. On Valentine s Day, our society celebrates love and, in a sense, we as a church are doing the same thing during Lent. We are celebrating and remembering the great love God has for us. What an awesome God we have! I invite you to join us as we study, pray and reflect on this love during the Lenten season. We begin our Lenten journey on February 13 with a worship service and distribution of ashes. This year the service will be held at Briggsville UMC beginning at 7pm. Our Stretch and Pray group will continue to meet on Saturday mornings with a special Lenten devotion each week. I will also be offering a Parish Wide Lenten Study based on Adam Hamilton s book, Why? Making Sense of God s Will. And our Women s Retreat Come Fill My Cup will be held March at Pine Lake Camp. See inside for more details on both of these and our Holy Week services. Finally, A short Lenten devotional entitled Called to Life, Called to Love will be available for your personal reflection. Written by Henri Nouwen, Called to Life, Called to Love takes us on a Lenten journey from Jerusalem to the foot of the Cross, helping us understand and discover the deeper meaning of Christian love. This booklet will help those seeking a more meaningful Lent. Copies will be available at each church for only $1.00. May you be blessed by the love of God this Lent. Pastor Julie A Note from Pastor Julie Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. (Joel 2:12-13) Inside this issue: Women s Retreat Lenten Study Youth Group News Communion Ministry February Birthdays & Anniversaries Calendar of Events 5 Prayer Circle 6 Deadline to submit articles for the March newsletter is February 22. How to Contact the Church Staff Pastor Julie Wilson Office (608) Cell (608) julsumc@gmail.com Secretary: Jennifer Gibeaut Office hours: Tu: 12pm- 4pm; Wed: 12pm-4pm; Thu: 12pm-4pm tuparish@gmail.com P.O. Box 36

2 Page 2 Lenten Study: Why? Making Sense of God s Will We will once again have a weekly Lenten study on Sunday afternoons. This study will follow Adam Hamilton s book, Why?: Making Sense of God s Will, which addresses some of the hard questions we face as Christians, such as why the innocent suffer and why some of our prayers go unanswered. The class will meet Sunday afternoons during Lent, rotating each week to a different church. We will begin the session with a potluck and fellowship at 12:30pm, and the study will be from 1:15-2:15pm. If you would like to purchase the book to follow along with this study, notify the church office; it can be purchased for $8. You can also download a digital version of this to your tablet computer. You can attend one, some, or all of these weekly studies; it s not necessary to attend all in order to appreciate the content. Lenten Study Schedule February 17, Briggsville UMC Why Do the Innocent Suffer? February 24, Moundville UMC Why Do My Prayers Go Unanswered? March 3, Endeavor UCC Why Can t I See God s Will for My Life? March 10, Briggsville UMC Why God s Love Prevails Stretch & Pray Need some stress relief? Join us Saturday mornings at Briggsville UMC from 8am-8:45am for a time of yoga stretching and prayer. Wear comfortable clothes and bring a towel or yoga mat if you have one. Exercise can be modified according to ability. We will be having a special Lenten devotional each Saturday during February and March. Thank you from Roberta & Jack Johnston: Thank you for all the love, attention, food, & cards. It is wonderful to be part of such a caring community. 20th Annual One Heart Women s Seminar Saturday, February 23, 2013, 8am-3pm Wintergreen Resort, Wisconsin Dells The One Heart seminar is a interdenominational day of worship, Biblical teaching, and spiritual enrichment for women. The name for this ministry comes from Acts 4:32:...all the believers were one in heart. The cost of the seminar is $35 for registration forms received after February 1. Registration includes morning coffee and a muffin, as well as lunch served by the Wintergreen. There will be three special speakers covering topics such as Joy in Jesus even when things go wrong and God s faithful presence in our lives. There will also be praise music and worship throughout the day. Registration forms can be found in the narthex of your church or call Bonnie at for more information. Come Fill My Cup : Trinity United Parish Women s Spiritual Retreat The 2013 Trinity United Parish Women s Retreat will be held at the Pine Lake Retreat Center on March The two-day retreat will begin on Friday night at 6:30pm and run until 4pm Saturday afternoon. The theme for this year s retreat is Come Fill My Cup. We will renew and refresh our spiritual cups. Using a cup as our guide we will examine our personal and spiritual lives to see where we need to be replenished. We will also have plenty of time to relax and experience the beauty of Pine Lake, plus some wonderful (and mostly healthy food.) Registration forms will be available in each church. Forms and registration fee of $60 are due by March 15 to Pastor Julie or the church office.

3 Feb. 3 Holy Week Schedule of Services February Greeters Briggsville: Maundy Thursday, March 28, 7pm Trinity Endeavor UCC Good Friday, March 29 Stations of the Cross, 12pm-5pm, Briggsville UMC Good Friday Service, March 29, 7pm Moundville UMC Easter Sunrise Service, 6am Moundville UMC Easter Service, 8:30am Briggsville UMC Easter Service, 10am Trinity Endeavor UCC Linda Bahr & Steve Krejchik Feb. 10 Lonny & Linda Kutina Feb. 17 Jeff & Lori Svuem Feb. 24 Matt & Judy Brunn Moundville: Feb. 3 Kathryn Moline & Eleanor Russell Feb. 10 Duane & Michelle Leofilos Feb. 17 Dennis & Sharon Trecek Feb. 24 Connie Hillison & Rose Babcock Endeavor: Feb. 3 Joanie & Terry Ingram Feb. 10 Betty Kindred Feb. 17 Bev & Joe Mueller Feb. 24 Kay & Phil Nelson Page 3 Youth Group Trip to the Kalahari on February 9! Youth Group (grades 6-12) and their friends are invited to a day of fun at the Kalahari Resort on Saturday, February 9. The Indoor Theme Park features over 100,000 square feet of family fun and excitement with an unprecedented array of indoor attractions and activities! Cost is $10 per youth (youth fund will pay the balance). Price includes pizza and soda. Chaperones are also needed; contact Ted Wilson or Pastor Julie. Return permission form and $10 by Feb. 6 so we can plan transportation. Lay Eucharistic Minister Training on Feb. 19 Since the earliest Christian times, communion has been brought as an extension of the table to those unable to attend congregational worship. Our Book of Discipline (which is our book of church regulations) specifically states that pastors are directed to train laity to distribute the consecrated Communion elements as soon as is feasible to sick or homebound persons following a service of Word and Table. (1117.9) If you are interested in becoming a part of this new and important ministry, please join us for this training on February 19 at 6:30pm at Briggsville UMC. If you have questions or if you would like to sign up, please contact Pastor Julie or the church office. Please also contact Pastor Julie or the church office, if you know of homebound or nursing home members or friends who would like to have Communion elements delivered to them.

4 Page 4 The 2013 Confirmation Class enjoyed a successful and enjoyable retreat at the Pine Lake Retreat Center on January 26 & 27. Pictured are Jackson Sveum, Paris Lindner, Katelyn Brunn, Ali Walker, Parker Lindner, Alex Braatz, Pastor Julie Wilson, Ted Wilson, and Leslie Evert. Thelma Gay 02/02 Bob Fredrick 02/04 Glenn Richmond 02/08 Doris Powell 02/10 Parker Braatz 02/10 Parker Lindner 02/12 Brenda Schehr 02/12 Caitlyn Garza 02/14 John & Sally McGwin 02/10 Joe & Donna Chvojicek 02/10 February Birthdays February Anniversaries Pailin Lindner 02/15 Nicholas Schehr 02/15 Cassidy Klawitter 02/17 Pat Cook 02/17 Angela Goetsch 02/19 Karren Watson 02/20 Hali McGwin 02/25 Agnes Alexander 02/28 Matt & Luann Friend 02/13 Bernard & Marlene Schwanz 02/23

5 Page 5 February 2013 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat MUMC Ad Council, MUMC, 7pm 6 Confirmation, 6:30pm, BUMC 7 Evening with the Bishop, 7pm, Dodgeville UMC 8 9 Youth Group Trip to Kalahari Ash Wednesday, BUMC, 7pm Lenten Study: 12:30pm, 1:15pm, BUMC Lay Eucharist Minister Training, 6:30pm, BUMC 20 Confirmation, 6:30pm, BUMC 21 Heritage House, 1pm Lenten Study: 12:30pm, 1:15pm, MUMC Youth Group, 7pm, MUMC Joint Children s Choir, 6:30pm, MUMC MUMC Adult Choir, 7pm, MUMC 28 Loose Change Mission for the Month of February: Hope House is Online!

6 Prayers for June Parrott, as she recovers from eye surgery. Prayers for Gary Skolarz while he recovers from knee surgery. Prayers for Ryan & Sharon Brancel and Jim & Carol Brancel, as they mourn the loss of their son and grandson, Gabriel. Prayers for those transitioning to nursing homes. Prayers for Joyce Martin, who has been diagnosed with cancer. Prayers for those killed in the nightclub fire in Santa Maria, Brazil. Prayers for Brenda Schehr, as she copes with health concerns. Prayers for Betty Lou Wade, who is challenged with health concerns. Prayers for Rose Babcock, as she copes with health concerns. Prayer Circle Please send us the names of those whom you d like included in the Prayer Circle. P. O. Box 36 Non-Profit Organization Permit #1 Ash Wednesday, February 13, 7pm, Briggsville UMC Address Service Requested