June 2015 The Circuit Writer

Transcription

1 First United Methodist Church Canton United Methodist Church 1221 Wesley Drive, Rice Lake, WI NON-PROFIT ORGAN. U.S. POSTAGE PAID RICE LAKE, WI PERMIT NO. 17 Address Service Requested June 2015 The Circuit Writer First United Methodist Church 1221 Wesley Dr., Rice Lake, WI (715) Fax: (715) Website: Sunday School: 9:00 am (will resume in Sept.) Sunday Worship Service: 10:30 am All our Rice Lake worship services can be heard on your telephone by dialing (715) Canton United Methodist Church /8 Ave., Rice Lake, WI Office: 1221 Wesley Dr., Rice Lake, WI (715) Sunday School: 9:00 am (will resume in Sept.) Worship Service: 9:00 am June Volunteers Ushers 7 Cecil & Sally Deutsch and Russell & Karen Rindsig 14 Mike & Dawn O Brien and Bill & Nancy Zabel 21 The Wille Family 28 The Morse Family Counters Connie Kilcoyne Greeters Liturgists 7 Becki Lindeman 7 Mary Pautsch 14 Betsy Gerland 14 Lisa Mink 21 Esther Bandli 21 Helen Anonich 28 Lisa Mink 28 Pat Asuma Committee of the Month *Connie Kilcoyne * Ron & Jeanne Parker Shirley Peterson Jim & Rebecca Wallin Jodi Rettenmund Mike & Heather Madison Jerry & Shirley Olson Betty Sharp Pastor James Altman Cell# In Case of Emergency Office Manager- Stephanie Byrnes-Hampton Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:00am-4:00pm

2 F I R S T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H O F R I C E L A K E C A N T O N U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H C I R C U I T W R I T E R Reverend Jim Altman June 2015 Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors It must be one of those cosmic coincidences, for in the last month I've been directed to three different books on one of my favorite subjects, finding contentment. There was a new UMW study book on finding happiness, "Created for Happiness", a book on the gifts of aging, and "Travels with Epicurus," by Daniel Klein. Three hundred years before Christ, Greek philosopher Epicurus taught that the purpose of life was to discover happiness. I think God may be trying to tell me something. No, it's not to cheer up, but rather that, in today's unhappy culture, we all need to recover the wherewithal to rejoice and be glad in every day, not just the sunny ones. Author, psychologist, and former Trappist monk, Thomas Moore has pointed out the many ways that Jesus was very Epicurean, in the sense that Epicurus originally intended it. First, consider how many times we find Jesus of the gospels having dinner with friends and foes alike. Epicurus believed that one of the keys to happiness was to be able to escape the pressures of commerce and politics and to engage in fellowship with men and women over simple meals. "True friendship, connections made with other human beings, affords a comfort like no other... the comfort of personal communion." And, it's not so much about what you eat at those dinners, either. "Eating without a friend is the life of the lion or the wolf." Jesus said, "Do not be anxious about tomorrow; about what you will eat or what you will wear." (Matthew 6) To the twelve he said, "I no longer call you servants, but friends." (John 15) Judas was included in that. The lion and the wolf are legendary predators, symbols of competition and success, but there's little love in their lives. Yet, Isaiah prophesied the wolf and the lamb lying down together. (Isaiah 11) Revelation saw Jesus as both lion and lamb together, but with his lamb-ness being most prominent. (Revelation 5) And, "I am the Good Shepherd," he declared, "I know my own and my own know me." (John 10) Epicurean communities were also noted for egalitarianism; one's age, sex, religion, or station made no difference. Jesus' disciples included men and women, Jews and Greeks, rich and poor, tax collectors and Pharisees, and so on. All he asked of them was that they follow him. And neither law nor tradition nor custom nor convention got it the way of fellowship. As Paul said, "Neither death, nor life, nor things present, nor things to come, nor heights, nor depths, nor powers, nor principalities, nor anything else in all creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:38). Jesus longed to eat with his friends. He longed to be with them in lonely places. He wasn't keeping score. "Abide," he said, "abide." (John 15) Scriptures & Sermons June 7 1 Samuel 8:4-10, 19 Mark 3:20-35 "Unrestrained" June 14 Russ Rindsig preaching 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 Psalm 20 2 Corinthians 5:6-17 Mark 4:26-34 June 21 Psalm 9:9-20 Mark 4:35-41 "You Never Even Called Me By My Name " June 28 Psalm 130 Mark 5:21-43 How Low Can You Go?" Rejoicing and being glad, true and abiding happiness, begins when we can gather as friends over simple food and in simple fellowship. It begins when we can pull away from our wolfish and leonine ways and learn to enjoy each other as simply human beings. It happens when we can love one another as Jesus loved us. Is God trying to tell you something?

3 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday :00 UMW 3:00 Nurture & Membership Care 3:15 FUMY After service < WI Annual Worship Conference 6:30 pm Still Mine Movie & Ice Cream Social > Newsletter Deadline 8:00 Trustees 10:30 Prayer Shawl & Potluck Steph is out of the office 6-9 pm Salvation Army Disaster Training 8:30am- 4:30pm Salvation Army Disaster Training Museum Service 9:00 Men s Breakfast 9:00 Newsletter Folders 7:00 Ad Council 3:00-7:00 Strawberry Fest 7:00 Finance 28 FUMY Car Wash after service July 1 July 2 July 3 July 4 Save the Date: Park Service August 2nd

4 Canton United Methodist Church News Romans 8:38-39 For I am certain that nothing can separate us from His love: neither death or life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, neither the world above nor the world below----there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord. June Birthdays 1- Stacy Demers-McFarland 6- Lloyd Snyder 15- Logan Rowe June Anniversaries 12- Dan & Diane Siewert 17- Rick & Sue Boortz 18- Lloyd & Rose Snyder If you know of someone s birthday or anniversary that is not listed but would like to be then please let me know. Otherwise, I just copy and paste it from year to year. Priorities My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, You re tearing up the grass. We re not raising grass, Dad would reply. We re raising boys. Harmon Killebrew I was shocked a few weeks ago when not one soul in the Canton Church admitted to reading the Newsletter. IF you read this, and tell me, you can be rewarded!! On May 31st, Julie Burma will be our speaker, and will tell us of her work in Africa. Julie's husband Lance and her siblings have made many trips to Africa to work with Julie! "Ebola and Mosquitos No More" will be a Power Point presentation. Sunday School has been making mosquitos, so bring a few extra dollars and "buy" a mosquito, the money will go to MNM project. May 31st is also a "FIFTH" Sunday, and we will be honored with Blue Grass Music. Please come and hear the talent from our area! We are coming to VACATION time...and that doesn't mean vacation from church! God doesn't take His vacation...so please honor him when you are away from "home". We will go to Ohio the end of June, and I will be able to go to the church I attended in my youth, and I feel so blessed! Lis'un up ya'all! Some people have trouble with all those 'shall' and 'shall nots' in the Ten Commandments. Folks just aren't used to talking in those terms. So, in middle Tennessee, they translated the 'King James' into 'Jackson County' language...no joke---posted on the wall at Cross Trails Church in Gainesboro, TN... (1) Just one God (2) Put nothin' before God (3) Watch yer mouth (4) Git yerself to Sunday meetin' (5) Honor yer Ma & Pa (6) No Killin' (7) No foolin' around with another fellow's gal (8) Don't take what ain't yers (9) No tellin' tales or gossipin' (10) Don't be hankerin' fer yer buddy's stuff Now that's plain an' simple. Ya'll have a nice day! "Be Blessing"!

5 June 2015 A STEWARDSHIP MESSAGE FOR YOUR CHURCH #15-6 Giving is a Form of Praise Praise God s glorious name; bring an offering and come into his Temple. Psalm 96:8 It s summer time and the ice cream carts are starting to make their rounds. In some places the vendors are on motorized carts, others use push carts and some ride bikes. All of them are eventually surrounded by excited patrons of all ages looking for a cool treat. Is ice cream a need or a want? That is the question late at night when I want something cool and sweet, but it s the last thing I need! Ice cream isn t the only temptation we face as summer begins to emerge. Vacations, graduations, family reunions, picnics with family and friends all call for extra travel and special food items. With these pressures and temptations we may be wondering how we can be faithful stewards, especially in these tough economic times. Each of us has to answer this question in our own way. What is God calling us to give? Praising God is something we all NEED to do as Christians to feed our souls. We need to continue praising God through our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service and our witness even as the temptations of summer abound. As you consider your gifts, choose an amount to dedicate in praise to God that allows you to feel at peace. Choose a regular amount of 1%, 3%, 5%, 8%, or 10% and offer that gift first, before you buy extra treats this summer. If you re preparing for a vacation this summer, even if you re staying a lot closer to home than usual, consider this: It s a lot easier to send your offering to the church before you go on vacation than to come up with two Sundays worth when you get back. If you give it to God first to say thank you for the opportunity to go on vacation, you ll have a sense of the peace that comes from following the Great Commandment Jesus gave that we should love God FIRST with all our hearts and souls and minds and strength and our neighbors as ourselves. Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation 750 Windsor Street Ste 305, P.O. Box 620 Sun Prairie, WI or wumf@wumf.org Announcing: Two Stewardship Training Events this summer co-sponsored by the Foundation STEWARDSHIP MATTERS: Inspiring Kingdom Investors to Give Toward the Mission on Friday, July 17th Trinity Church Beaver Dam, 9:30 am 4 pm Led by Jason Moore and Jean Nicholas Register at STEWARDSHIP RETREAT Pine Lake Camp August 14-15, 2015 Visit our website for a preview, and for the registration link. For more information, call us at or An Attitude of Gratitude Being grateful is a way to control toxic stress. Try something for the next month: Either journal or share verbally with another person what you are grateful for each day and end your day with a prayer of gratitude. When we end our day with a focus on our gratitude, we tend to sleep better, with more REM cycles (Rapid Eye Movement) and less unwanted wake ups. A good night s sleep is essential to good health, and good health is important for a good life. It is said that even on a bad day there is something good. However, we need to get rid of the ANTS (automatic negative thoughts) to see the good. Finding a way to share our gratitude helps us remove the ANTS from our brain, giving us greater power over our fears, anxieties, bitterness and insomnia. It helps us build enthusiasm and more joyful, positive relationships. Intentionally focusing on our gratitude helps us to see the hidden gift even in the hard times. The Serenity Prayer can also help on sleepless nights: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

6 United Methodist Women Next : June 3 at 1:00 pm. Star Circle Serves. UMW Reading Program and book titles are available through our website: Check it out! June Birthdays 1- Jodi Rettenmund 2- Jeanne Parker 3- Jared Taylor 4- Harriet Larson 6- Pat Moin 9- Lorraine Gustafson 10- Tim Kraczek 11- Herbert Melbye 12- Robert Rettenmund 17- Lauren West 18- Ben Bandli 18 Donna Heidenreich 18- Dale Larson 18- Matthew Rindsig 23- Tom Barkley 24- Isabella Wallin 26- Brandon Larson 27- Cheryl Aune 27- Rob Berger 27- Hazel Severson 29- Rachel Madison June Anniversaries 3- Don & Mary Cherry 12- West & Linda Dufner 13- Gil & Helen Bennett 15- Russ & Karen Rindsig 24- Pudge & Janet Kohel 29- Dave & Rayne Semple 30- John & Lori Rae If your birthday or anniversary is not listed then please call the office at or me at ricelake@wisconsinumc.org and we will make sure to add you. Congratulations to the Following Graduates Graduation Recognition will be held Sunday, May 31st. Rachel Madison- She graduated from University of Wisconsin LaCrosse on May 10th. She will have a major in Psychology and a double minor in Sociology and At Risk Child and Youth Care. She will be starting in graduate school this fall at University of Minnesota. Jonathon Moin (grandson of Pat Moin) will be graduating from Barron High School and has already enlisted in the Navy with plans to become a pilot. Barron West graduated from Madison and is getting ready to take his test to become a CPA. Morgan West graduated from Cornell. Sarah George graduated from Carroll College in Waukesha. The Origin of Father's Day One Sunday in 1909, Sonora Smart Dodd listened to a sermon honoring mothers. Her mother had died some years before, so her father had raised her by himself. Dodd wondered why there wasn t a day to honor fathers, so she arranged a tribute to her father at a church in Spokane, Washington. The date was June 19, Many people believe this was the beginning of Father s Day. Another account holds that a West Virginia church held a tribute service for fathers in 1908, following a mine explosion that killed 360 men. Regardless of which story is correct, President Calvin Coolidge was the first president to designate a special day to honor fathers. In 1924, he proclaimed the third Sunday in June as Father s Day.

7 Dealing with Dementia? Still Mine, written and directed with clarity and concision by Michael McGowan, based on the story of the real Craig Morrison, is about living in a place and feeling that connection to the land, to life. It is about a husband and wife, partners through six decades, grappling with issues of aging, and how to spend what time together remains with grace and dignity. And Irene is starting to forget things, to show signs of frailty, to wander off while Craig stubbornly ignores citations, defies stop-work orders and the entreaties of his grown-up children as he builds a new home for the two of them. The close bond of this man and woman - captured in sweet, funny, intimate exchanges - is in danger of fraying, falling apart. James Cromwell stands sturdy and tall, seasoned by the years, not unlike the spruce trees on the 2,000 acres that his character, Craig Morrison, presides over and looks at home driving an old red pickup around the Fundy Bay coast of New Brunswick, milling lumber, bringing strawberries to market. He could have lived here his entire life. Bujold's portrayal of a woman losing her memory, and her sense of place in the world, is deeply affecting. Look into her eyes: You can see her soul, quavering. Join us, Sunday Evening June 7 th, at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary for Ice Cream, Coffee, Popcorn and a Movie. Save the Date for Redistricting Celebrations Bishop Jung invites us to join in the July and August services celebrating the five new districts and district superintendents of the Wisconsin Annual Conference that will be effective on July 1, A time of fellowship will follow each service. The dates and times are as follows: North West District/ District Superintendent Kate Croskery Jones on Saturday, July 18 at 10:00a.m. at Lake Street UMC in Eau Claire. WANTED Knitters and Crocheters for Prayer Shawl June 18th at 10:30 will be our last meeting followed by a potluck until September 17th. Please join us!

8 FUMYouth Group FUMY has been spending a great deal of time outside, walking in ditches and cleaning up the Rice Lake First United Methodist Church adopt-a-highway stretch of road. It took us a few weeks to complete this project due to the number of people we had cleaning and the weather. Darcy Henderson helped us by being our ride to and from the worksite. We finally completed the project on Wednesday, May 13 and went out for ice cream to celebrate. We also need to send a HUGE thank you to Nancy Kahl for making food for the group weekly! FUMY will be raising money this summer through car washes. We do not yet have these planned, but signs will go up in advance. We all look forward to a restful and fun summer!