GRAPEVINE FROM THE PASTOR. Next Article Deadline: January 18

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1 Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors... The people of the United Methodist Church ST. LUKE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 623 Ontario Ave Sheboygan, WI Phone: Worship Times 9:00 am Sundays Worship Service 10:00 am Coffee Hour 10:30 am Sunday School all ages Church Staff Ric Olson Pastor Kathy Reid Co-Pastor Director of Adult Ministries Emily Gilbertson Dir. of Children s Ministries Josh Holte Director Of Youth Ministries Amy Holte Administrative Assistant Barbara Gruenke Treasurer Rick Thimmig Custodian Dawn Tracey Housekeeper Ann Hoppert-Keller Choir Director Faye Sippel Nursery Attendant GRAPEVINE Volume XXIII, Issue 1 January 2016 FROM THE PASTOR Dear St. Luke friends: I would like to share with all of you the news that I am retiring from St. Luke, effective June 31, I want to thank everyone for the wonderful opportunities for my wife Kathy and me to serve as your pastors over the last 4 years. I have enjoyed working with the leaders of this congregation and appreciate the support they have provided us during our years here at St. Luke. I feel that we have come a long way with the stability and healing needed when we came here four years ago. But I know that my strengths in ministry are not what this church needs going into the future. I am going to retire so that the Bishop and the cabinet can find the best pastor to take us as a church into the future. I believe we are ready to grow, to develop new ministries, to attract new families, to launch new ministries to the Hmong community, to balance the budget after many years, and be able to pay the apportionments in full again. While I look forward to enjoying my retirement, I will miss the strong, close relationships we have built here. I am looking forward to developing a smooth transition with the SPRC team, and with everyone s help. If you have any questions, please don t hesitate to let me know. Sincerely, Next Article Deadline: January 18 Articles for the January newsletter are due No Later Than Monday, January 18th.

2 2 GRAPEVINE VOLUME XXIII, ISSUE 1 Your Finance Team It is a bit early to talk about the end of the year finances. But, they appear to be better than last year. As of November, our operating checkbook is in the black. In layman s terms, Paul has repaid Peter. As of the first of December we had received 86 pledge cards toward the 2016 budget, seven of which were new pledges. The Finance Team wants to thank those that have taken part in the $10 Challenge and the Billing Tree. Those two activities generated over $9,000 for the church. The Billing Tree has given way to the Giving Tree for the Christmas season. We may continue both activities next year. More on that later. If you have any ideas that would improve the Challenge please let us know. At the December 12 th service, six young ladies from Kohler gave a presentation on a project of theirs to raise money to bring water to the arid African countries. To help them reach their goal of $10,000, the noisy offering was designated to their group, Girls Reaching Out. The offering for the month was $ This will help them provide a deep well for a needy African community. With the season upon us I wish all a joyous and fulfilling Christmas. May you receive many blessings. Winds of Worship Join us for worship and special music by Winds of Worship Flute Choir! Sunday, January 10 9:00 worship Meet Our Newest Members We welcome the Kim family into membership at St. Luke United Methodist Church! Jung Kim, Natasha Kim, Jace Kim, Adanna Carlos, and Danell (D.J.) Carlos. Jung works at Sargento, and Natasha at St. Nicholas Hospital. The family enjoys watching movies together, cooking and baking, fishing, trail walking, and family board games. The family have been regularly attending at St. Luke. Jung has helped with the Tech. Team in video taping the church service. Pan MIA A metal pan that is approximately 6 x 9 with 1 sides is missing in action. This favorite pan was last seen in the church kitchen on Wednesday, December 2nd after providing scones to our dedicated St. Luke Staff members for a Christmas Tea. Please check your inventory of metal pans at home to see if you may have mistakenly picked this pan up. This pan has provided many delicious meals and it is sadly missed by its owner, Connie Meyer.

3 VOLUME XXIII, ISSUE 1 GRAPEVINE 3 Children and Family Ministry Emily Gilbertson Welcome to Winter! I hope everyone enjoyed the Christmas and Advent season. I hope that you and your families were able to spend refreshing and relaxing times together. Now, we enter into the season of Epiphany. Long ago, the wise men entered the streets where Jesus and his family lived. Jesus was probably a toddler by the time the wise men arrived at his doorstop. Can you imagine your young child starring up into the faces of these important, most likely highly decorated men? Maybe they were tall. Maybe they wore colorful robes. They were definitely not from Nazareth or Bethlehem. They were from regions far from Jesus' home. They shared nothing in common but the bright star in the sky. Stars guide us. Stars give us light. Stars give us hope. January often sees very little light, but it does see countless stars. Take a moment as the skies clear and star gaze with your children. Talk about the patterns they might see or try to count as many as you can. Talk about what they think and why you think the wise men knew what to do. Then, read Matthew 2:1 12. Sunday School Children gather in the chapel for a brief time of reflection and prayer. Then, they will break into their classrooms: Preschool - Kindergarten Room 112 1st-3rd Grade - Great Room 4th-5th - Room 109 If you have questions about supplies, please contact Pastor Kathy. I will be out of the office. I will have limited access to , but will check it as often as I can. I am on temporary leave due to a family emergency. Thank you for your prayers and support. We sincerely appreciate them. No Moms Connect or Parenting with a Purpose at this time. Thank you for your understanding.

4 4 GRAPEVINE VOLUME XXIII, ISSUE 1 St. Luke United Methodist Church Annual Chili Cook-Off And Silent Auction Sunday January 31st, 2016 at 12:00 PM One of the HOTTEST events of the year! Whether you want to cook and compete... or just want to eat, you re bound to have a whole lot of FUN! All proceeds and donations from this event benefit the United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMYF). A group of our youth will be traveling to Kentucky this summer to serve in missions with ASP (Appalachian Service Project). We thank you for your support!

5 VOLUME XXIII, ISSUE 1 GRAPEVINE 5 January 31st at 12:00 p.m. Dear High School Parents and Youth: The Chili Cook-Off is almost here! This event is a St. Luke tradition and greatly supports our fundraising efforts for ASP. Certainly, there is no better time for fellowship in our church than this! We are counting on your help and support to make this event successful. HELP THAT IS NEEDED: DESSERTS: The Chili Cook-Off is known for its great desserts that families of our high schoolers have been making for years. It is important to have a variety - from cheesecakes, to tortes, to cakes and pies. All desserts are welcome and really needed. Please deliver them to the church kitchen on Saturday, January 30th at 1 PM, or no later than 9 AM on Sunday, January 31st. SILENT AUCTION: Students attending ASP are required to bring an item (or volunteer a service to be auctioned) to the silent auction, and all other youth, parents, and members of St. Luke are also encouraged to bring items for the auction. SATURDAY, Jan. 30th 1:00 PM Set-up Fellowship Hall. High School youth will be cooking their entry. SUNDAY, Jan. 31st Desserts must be delivered no later than 9 AM 12:00 PM Chili Cook-Off begins 1:30 PMish Clean-up help - many hands make light work to take down tables, haul trash to the dumpster, and wash lots of pots.

6 6 GRAPEVINE VOLUME XXIII, ISSUE 1 Thank you!!! For jumping into the spirit and making this event a success - we need everyone. Please return the sign-up sheet NO LATER THAN, SUNDAY, Jan. 17th. Josh Holte Youth Director Parent(s) Name(s): I am able to make a dessert, and can drop it off on. I am able to help set up on Saturday, January 30th. I am able to help clean up on Sunday, January 31st. Student(s) Name(s): I am able to make a dessert, and can drop it off on. I am able to help set up on Saturday, January 30th. I am able to help clean up on Sunday, January 31st. Chef Sign-Up Sunday, January 31, 2016 At 12:00 PM Name: Chili Name: Phone Number: Theme: Address: Please Return to Josh Holte by January 17th josh@stluke.net

7 VOLUME XXIII, ISSUE 1 GRAPEVINE 7 24 Bonnie Winkel 24 Danika Magritz 25 Patricia Andrew 25 Timothy Kemmis 25 Daniel Landgraf 25 David Wortz 25 Eric Roehrborn 28 Robin Nitsch January Birthdays 2 Marjorie Sonnenburg 2 Carolyn Augustson 2 Jeanine Claypool 2 Meghan Stone 5 Christopher Kiehl 8 Jung Kim 9 Joan Cecil 11 Ross Claypool 13 Connie Meyer 13 Jordyn Thaves 13 Michael Covey 14 Julie Magritz 16 Steven Schmitt 18 Leah Vitse 21 Holly Kemmis 21 Ericka Koepp 22 Arthur Kiehl 23 Sydney Wickland 24 Mark Winkel 29 Elaine Jacks 30 Gerriann Porter 30 Sarah Winker 31 Janice Thaves 31 John Verhelst 31 Kayla Ortigoza January Anniversaries 2 Bret & Sarah Winker 7 Marsha & Vytas Kerpe 20 Anthony & Linda Chvarak 21 Jim & Karen Mani 25 Gary & Janice Richardson Those with recognized birthdays and anniversaries are members and friends of St. Luke United Methodist Church. If we have missed you or made an error, please contact Amy at amy@stluke.net.

8 1 New Year s Day 2 3 Epiphany Sunday 9:00 am Worship Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat *NO SUNDAY SCHOOL 10 9:00 am Worship 10:30 am Sunday School 17 9:00 am Worship with the Youth Praise Band 10:30 am Sunday School 24 9:00 am Worship 10:30 am Sunday School 31 Chili Cook-Off 9:00 am Worship 10:30 am Sunday School 4 6:30 pm Music Coord. Meeting 11 6:30 pm SPRC 18 2:30 pm UMW Board Meeting 6:30 pm Trustees 5 9:30 am Jesus & Java 12 9:30 am Jesus & Java January 9:30 am Jesus & Java 9:30 am Jesus & Java 6 5:00 pm Youth Praise Band 6:00 pm Confirmation 6:00 pm AA 7:00 pm Choir 13 5:15 Pizza Break 6:00 pm Confirmation 6:00 pm AA 7:00 pm Choir 20 5:00 pm Youth Praise Band 6:00 pm Confirmation 6:00 pm AA 7:00 pm Choir 27 5:15 pm Pizza Break 6:00 pm Confirmation 6:00 pm AA 7:00 pm Choir 7 6:00 pm Finance Meeting 14 11:30 am Christ Meal pm Circle of Creative Crafters 7:00 pm Admin Council am Food Pantry pm Circle of Creative Crafters am-9pm Circle of Creative Crafters