THE PROVERB Called by God through Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit to worship, grow and serve. The Proverb Jesus said to him, Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe. (John 20:29) MAY 2017 Pastor s Message Session Notes Congregational Meeting Committee Chairs Budget Statistics Building & Grounds Worship Committee Volunteer Opportunity Cards & Gift Received Bulletin Board Birthday List Book Club National Day of Prayer May Calendar KETTLE MORAINE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH N66 W32690 Highway K, Hartland, WI Telephone: 262-966-2410 Website: www.kmupc.com E-mail: kmupcnews@gmail.com STAFF Minister: Rev. Matthew Lee Secretary: Stephanie Flessert Handbell Director: Emily Guderyon Choir Director: Stephanie Flessert Custodian: Sue Weber 53029 Ahh, Doubting Thomas. I do enjoy this text, and mainly for pastoral reasons. Doubting is difficult for the doubter. It is as though someone s pulled the carpet out from underneath our faith in God. Life often then loses its glamour. And we can begin calling many things into question. In short, doubting is no picnic. Why then, would I enjoy such a text? Because the very words, Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe, which sound like a curse when we doubt, are actually a blessing from an active and living God. Let s take a closer look at doubt and see why. First of all, doubt and questioning are not synonymous. Proverbs 14:15 tells us, the gullible believe anything they re told; the knowledgeable sift and weigh every word. That verse is important. Faith does not mean we follow blindly. Faith calls us to question and wrestle with God s Word. How does this Word fit in my life? Questioning is a path towards growth in wisdom and life as we prune the branches of our life. Faith is work. Doubt, on the other hand, goes a bit further. Doubt calls God and his ability into question. We may doubt intellectually as our faith is challenged: Aren t all belief systems the same? We may doubt emotionally over our faith: "Why does God allow this suffering?" Or we may doubt because we have been blindly following and not doing our own pruning. Any way you look at it, I like to think of doubt as the extra pruning our lives may need. As I wrestle with my doubts, I find the problem is not God, but I had a poor understanding that needed straightening out. I just hadn t done enough pruning. Back to our Doubting Thomas verse: Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe. This is not a condemnation from Jesus. For we have not seen and we do believe. In fact, our doubting itself shows our belief. We cannot doubt something we do not have! Rather this is a blessing for we have a God who comes to us in the midst of our doubts, just as Jesus did with Thomas, to keep
Page 2 - The Proverb May 2017 our resurrection faith alive. God comes to us in many and various ways: words from a friend or loved one; a song on the radio; something we see on TV or the internet that answers our concern; maybe our doubts are answered while out driving our car. However it happens, God comes to us just as Jesus did with Thomas. Yet, doubting is difficult. For that reason, I want to address one more question: what do we do in the midst of doubt? In Mark 9:17-25, a man comes to Jesus looking for healing for his son. The man says, If you can, will you heal him? Jesus replies, If I can? There are no if s among believers. Anything can happen. The man cries out, Then I believe. Help me with my doubts! Jesus then heals the man s son. I find that man s cry helpful in the midst of our doubts: Lord, I believe. Help me with my doubts! That cry is helpful, because our God is alive and active. So active that God took the initiative on instilling faith in our lives. In John 15:16, shortly before Jesus is betrayed, he reminds his disciples, I chose you, you did not choose me. Our God chooses us, and take that initiative seriously. So seriously, that on the day of his resurrection, when the disciples were locked up in a room with fear, Jesus entered into the midst of them and renewed their faith with a word of peace. And because Thomas wasn t there and he was still struggling, Jesus came back again to keep his faith alive. And our God will keep coming back to us, for our God reigns sovereign chooses to keep us in his blessing. God s peace, Pastor Matt SESSION NOTES: Kathy Lembke (Clerk of Session) 262-367-8966 / klembke@franzengraphics.com Session will meet Thursday, May 18 at 6:30 p.m. This month s meeting includes plans on how we can develop our congregational focus of Mission, Prayer, Hospitality and Music, and how we can teach members what it means to be a Christian in today s world With several members help, we are looking forward to a more organized approach to home visits and new adult education opportunities. We did have one motion for business: Pastor Lee has a friend who has requested using our church as a venue for a one time musical event next year. Watch for details in the near future. I also want to thank Heidi kemos for her efforts as a Session member and chairperson on Christian Education. She has asked to step aside for now as her time commitment to her family and job fill her days and then some. I think we all understand that being a parent of a young child takes everything you have to keep afloat. I know I have certainly been there. We are in the process of approving someone who stepped up to help fill out her term. We are also 2 more people short to fill the Mission Committee and Stewardship Committee chairs. If you would like to know about how you can help, please contact me. We would appreciate you joining the Elder Team. Reflect God s love in everything you say and do! Respectfully yours, Kathy Lembke, Clerk of Session
Page 3 - The Proverb March May 2017 2017 CONGREGATIONAL MEETING Sunday, May 14 (After the worship service) We will hold a brief meeting to approve Scott Meyer stepping in to fill the remainder of Heidi Kemos term as Elder. NEW COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS / LEADERSHIP: CLERK OF SESSION: Kathy Lembke (Clerk of Session) 262-367-8966 / klembke@franzengraphics.com BUDGET & FINANCE: Robert Flatt (chair) 262-369-9891 / rsflatt@sbcglobal.net BUILDING & GROUNDS: Hans Guderyon (chair) 262-352-3788 / guderyonh@gmail.com CHRISTIAN EDUCATION: To be determined MISSIONS/EVANGELISM: Phyllis Warden (chair) 262-646-3873 / flipwarden@hotmail.com WORSHIP: Kitty Schultz (chair) 262-966-7059 / kitty1948@att.net TREASURER: Scott Meyer (chair) 262-397-8365 / smeyer374@gmail.com PERSONNEL & STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEES: responsibility of Session NOMINATING: Kathy Lembke 262-367-8966 / klembke@franzengraphics.com BUDGET & FINANCE COMMITTEE: Robert Flatt (chair) 262-369-9891 / rsflatt@sbcglobal.net * not included in Sunday totals STATISTICS for APRIL DATE ADULT ATTENDANCE CHILD ATTENDANCE TOTAL ATTENDANCE DEPOSIT April 2 60 9 69 $ 2487.45 April 9 79 17 96 $ 2547.00 *April 13 (MTh) (38) (38) TOTALS AVERAGES April 16 103 7 110 $ 2676.00 April 23 52 3 55 $ 1184.00 294 74 36 9 330 83 $ 8894.45 $ 2223.61 BUILDING & GROUNDS COMMITTEE: Hans Guderyon (chair) 262-352-3788 / guderyonh@gmail.com SPRING CLEAN UP: Saturday, May 13 from 9 a.m. to Noon. Come for all or part of this opportunity to beautify our church property. Bring your gloves and equipment, we will provide the exercise and fellowship!
Page 4 - The Proverb May 2017 March 2017 WORSHIP COMMITTEE: Kitty Schultz (chair) 262-966-7059 / kitty1948@att.net Next Meeting: Wednesday, May 10 at 3 p.m. UPCOMING WORSHIP SERVICES 10 A.M. Sunday, May 7 Communion service. Joint Choir with St. John s Lutheran Church sings. Sunday, May 14 Mother s Day service. Guitars play. Sunday, May 21 Last day of Sunday School. Handbells play. Sunday, May 28 Memorial weekend. MAY LECTIONARY READINGS May 7 Fourth Sunday of Easter Acts 2:42-47 Psalm 23 1 Peter 2:19-35 John 10:1-10 May 14 Fifth Sunday of Easter EARLY MORNING PRAYER GROUP Meets every Thursday at 7 a.m. All are encouraged to join in. Acts 7:55-60 Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 1 Peter 2:2-10 John 14:1-14 May 21 Sixth Sunday of Easter Acts 17:22-31 Practices are on Wednesdays Due to Wednesday Lent services practice times may vary. Handbells (4 pm): Emily Guderyon (262) 719-2909 Choir (5pm): Stephanie Flessert (262) 966-0863 Guitar Group: as needed Talk to Emily or Stephanie about joining any of these groups. Or volunteer to provide special music some Sunday! We always welcome new musicians of all ages! Psalm 66:8-20 1 Peter 3:13-22 John 14:15-21 May 28 - Seventh Sunday of Easter Acts 1:6-14 Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11 John 17:1-11
Page 5 - The Proverb March May 2017 2017 In 1987 the Hartland Area Food Pantry was started by Joy Vilter. It was sponsored by the area churches. The sponsoring churches include: Kettle Moraine United Presbyterian Church, Divine Redeemer Lutheran Church, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Church of the Resurrection, Our Savior s Lutheran Church, St. Anskar s Episcopal Church, St. Charles Catholic Church, St. John s Lutheran Church, and most recently, Lake Country Unitarian Universalist Church. We also have representation from Elmbrook Church. We at Kettle Moraine United Presbyterian Church have one person representing our church. We need another person to serve on the board. The board meets every other month on the second Monday at 7 p.m. The meetings are usually about an hour in length. The board makes decisions on how best to serve our clients living in the Arrowhead School District. The pantry can be a busy place and volunteers need to be prepared to be on their feet. It is open each Wednesday from 1:30 3 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 11 a.m. The duties are not difficult but one needs to be able to lift full grocery bags, restock shelves, and clean the pantry before we close each day. Please consider volunteering even if it is twice a month. We have specific jobs so some orientation is involved. Each time a large donation takes place, a request for volunteers to check dates, sort and shelve the donations goes out by email. The volunteers and clients are great to work with and this community service is needed and valuable to our area. ADDRESS/ 555 S Industrial Dr., Hartland, WI 53029 (across from Lake Country Racquet & Athletic Club) PHONE/ 262-367-6373 WEBSITE/ http://business.hartland-wi.org/list/member/hartland-area-food-pantry-1513 HOURS/ Wednesdays 1:30 3 p.m. and Saturdays 10-11 a.m. Dear Kettle Moraine United Pres, 2017 We wish to thank you for continuing to welcome us into your church and congregation. We enjoyed having the chance to share God s Word through our performance of Grace Wins. We also appreciated the opportunity for fellowship and raising funds for our youth mission trip this summer. With God s Love, Southminster Pres. Youth God bless you and your congregation this Easter with a renewed spirit, a steadfast hope, and a deep joy in Jesus our Resurrection and life. May we each be bridges for all who seek his mercy. Happy Easter! St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish Evangelization Committee North Lake, WI * Delivered to us for our Easter service along with the lovely lily pictured!
Page 6 - The Proverb March May 2017 2017 GRADUATION! We will recognize our graduates in June. Please let the office know if you have anyone graduating from high school or advanced education. NEWSLETTER CHANGE The deadline for items for the June/July issue will be Saturday, May 20. Due to the secretary s vacation from June 22 July 4, this issue will cover June thru mid-july. We have another trip planned from August 17-29, so the following July/August issue will cover July 15 thru Labor Day weekend, with that deadline being Wednesday, July 5th. Please note that there will be just 2 summer issues. The September issue will come out after Labor Day. That deadline will be Tuesday, August 29th. Please pay careful attention to the deadlines, as I will be pressed to get everything finished upon each return. Thanks for your understanding! Thanks! A great big Thank You! to the Deacons for their Easter donations and all of the members who helped out and attended the Easter Breakfast. It was a wonderful success! MAY BIRTHDAYS PRAYER REQUESTS Please contact Donna Anderson to have requests put on our e-mail and phone prayer chains. Donna s cell phone number is (262) 391-8736. Or e-mail her at: ddanlw@aol.com. Members may also submit prayer request through our website: www.kmupc.com. MINISTER S OFF DAY Mondays are Pastor Matt s off day. He is accessible by cell phone, in case of emergencies. Texting him is best: 608-921-1029. BOOK CLUB: Stephanie Flessert (coordinator) 262-966-0863 / slflessert@yahoo.com Monday, May 15 at 3:30 p.m. at church. Book: The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers. There are multiple copies of the book in many formats in our library system. Our meeting will be at Judy McBroom s home. New readers welcome! Please let Judy know if you are attending. 5/4 Spero Kemos Sam Salzman Ethelou Washburn 5/5 Frank McLeod 5/7 Laurie Flatt 5/9 Ella Mae Clausen Aryn Sobchak Lauren Sobchak 5/11 Mary Kemos 5/16 Brooke Blaha 5/17 Bob Flatt 5/20 Tim Klink 5/29 Owen Salzman 5/30 Ella Flatt
Page 7 - The Proverb March May 2017 2017 Many Christians are unaware that they live in a nation that has a law in place requiring our President proclaim a National Day of Prayer each year on the first Thursday in May. The President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals. (Public Law 105-225) As citizens and residents of the United States and as believers in Christ Jesus, we not only have a spiritual responsibility according to 1 Timothy 2:1-2 to pray, but a civic duty as well to heed our President s call to stand in the gap for our nation. Who but God s people have the ability to enter into the very throne room of Heaven with prayers and petitions! Our theme this year is For Your Great Name s Sake! Hear Us... Forgive Us...Heal Us! Taken from Daniel 9:19, which says, O Lord, Listen! O Lord, Forgive! O Lord, Hear and Act! For Your Sake, O My God.... As the 2017 National Day of Prayer on May 4th approaches, thousands of individuals, churches, and communities will be working to rally millions of Christian s to once again heed this call! Monday, May 1 9:30 am PW Meeting FH Wednesday, May 3 4 pm Handbell Practice S 5 pm Joint Choir Practice S Thursday, May 4 7 am Morning Prayer N Sunday, May 7 (Communion) 10 am Worship Service S 10:15 am Sunday School LL 11 am Coffee Hour FH Wednesday, May 10 3 pm Worship Comm. Mtg. MR 4 pm Handbell Practice S 5 pm Guitar Practice S Thursday, May 11 7 am Morning Prayer N Saturday, May 13 9am-Noon Spring Grounds Clean Up Sunday, May 14 (Mother s Day) 10 am Worship Service S 10:15 am Sunday School LL 11 am Brief Congregational Meeting S Monday, May 15 3:30 pm Book Club Judy McBroom s home 6:30 pm Deacons Meeting FH Wednesday, May 17 4 pm Handbell Practice S Thursday, May 18 7 am Morning Prayer N 12:30 pm Women of Faith FH 6:30 pm Session Meeting MR Saturday, May 20 - NEWSLETTER DEADLINE Sunday, May 21 10 am Worship Service S 10:15 am Last Sunday School LL 11 am Coffee Hour FH Wednesday, May 24 5 pm Choir Practice S Thursday, May 25 7 am Morning Prayer N Sunday, May 28 10 am Worship Service S Wednesday, May 31 5 pm Choir Practice S LOCATION KEY CR Choir Room FH Fellowship Hall LL Lower Level MR Meeting Room N Narthex O Church Office PO Pastor s Office PWP Presbyterian Women Pavilion S Sanctuary
KETTLE MORAINE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH N66 W32690 Highway K Hartland, WI 53029