A d o r a t i o n E v a n g e l i c a l L u t h e r a n C h u r c h ETCE ERA... O u r M i s s i o n C o n t i n u e s PASTOR Rev. Tim Singleton Office: 414-281-0414 Mobile: 414-345-7368 Email: adorationpastor@gmail.com Eternal God, grant us gratitude enough to look backward and be thankful; courage enough to look forward and be hopeful; faith enough to look upward and be humble; kindness enough to look outward and be helpful. Amen. Adoration Evangelical Lutheran Church Congregational Budget & Financial Meeting Sunday, January 18, 2015 Please plan to stay following worship to discuss financial committee reports and the 2015 proposed budget for the future ministry of our church. Your attendance is important. STAFF Lori Hamilton... Secretary Office: 414-281-0414 Email: adorationelca@hotmail.com Barb Regent...Music Director Email: regent@execpc.com Janet McGinty...Choir Director Email: smcginty@wi.rr.com Gina Alba... Interior Custodian Email: galba512@yahoo.com OFFICE HOURS Monday-Thursday... 9:00-2:00 INSIDE THIS ISSUE New Year s Prayer... Pg 1 Congregational Meeting... Pg 1 From the Pastor... Pg 2 Confirmation Class... Pg 3 New Members Class... Pg 3 Church Council Highlights... Pg 4 Stewardship... Pg 4 Lamp of God s Presence... Pg 4 Flowers... Pg 4 Our Adoration Family... Pg 5 Birthdays & Anniversaries... Pg 5 Many Thanks... Pg 6 News & Notes... Pg 7 Youth News... Pg 7 Meru & Mulala...Pg 7 Kid s Page... Pg 8 Calendar... Insert JANUARY 2015 VOLUME #20, ISSUE #1
GOD S PRISM The Seasons of Advent, Christmastime and Epiphany all share the theme of the spiritual Light of God. And Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the one who shines God s eternal Light on us and the whole world. Jesus said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life (John 8:12). In other words, through Jesus of Nazareth, our risen Lord and Savior, the spiritual Light of God is revealed to us in specific ways. Through Jesus Christ, God s Light is not only reflected to us by Jesus, but also completely and fully refracted through Jesus to us. Consequently, through our Lord Jesus who is God s Prism, we see the Light of God refracted into its specific spectrum of colors for us to see and understand. So, as God s Prism, the eternal, spiritual Light of God is made understandable and receivable through Jesus birth, life, baptism, temptations, teachings, parables, miracles, Eucharist, suffering, crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and ascension. Through all of this, the rainbow of God s Light is shed upon our lives to guide us spiritually, mentally, emotionally, morally, ethically, socially, and so on. Jesus said, If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him (John 14:7). Therefore, as we avail ourselves of this rainbow of God s Light through the Word and Sacrament of Christ our Lord, we will abide in God s grace and truth. And the continuing challenge to us all is that this grace and truth of God in Christ will never fit nicely into either a staunchly Liberal perspective or a staunchly Conservative perspective. Nor does Christ fit nicely into a loose Universalist faith or a strict Fundamentalist faith. Jesus Christ is God s grace and challenge to everyone. And he stands for both social responsibility and personal responsibility. Revealed through Jesus Christ and his Apostles, may the New Covenant rainbow of God s Light grant us the new life of a born again spirit (see John 3). May Christ s New Covenant rainbow of God s Light fill us, challenge us, change us and renew us. Amen. Blessed Epiphany & Happy New Year! Pastor Tim Hilary and I would like to thank all the folks who came to our Singleton Family Open House event at our new home on December 7th. Thank you for your house warming cards and gifts, and thank you most of all for your love and fellowship! We would also like to thank everyone for all the Christmas cards, gifts and well-wishes we have received during these twelve days of Christmastime. Thank you and may God bless all of you! 2 ETCETERA Our Mission Continues
Confirmation Students and Parents Classes will resume on the second and fourth Thursday of the month. We will meet at St. Stephen the Martyr beginning January 8 at 7:00 PM. NEW MEMBERS CLASS AND OFFICIAL WELCOME!!! Are you interested in joining Adoration, or do you know someone that is looking for a new church home? Please join Pastor Tim for a New Members Class on Saturday, January 31, at 10:00 AM. At this class you will learn about the Lutheran Faith and about Adoration Lutheran Church. (If you are a long-time Lutheran, you will still learn something new about your own faith tradition that you didn t know before.) All participants in this class will be officially welcomed into our congregation on Sunday, February 22, during the worship service. 7 UP S FOR THE NEW YEAR 1) WAKE UP - Begin the day thanking the Lord. It is God s day. Rejoice in it. 2) LOOK UP - Open your eyes to the Lord. Ask for God s strength and blessing for the day. After all, he is your Rock, Fortress and Redeemer. 3) DRESS UP - Put on a smile. It improves your looks! It says something about your attitude. It enables Jesus living within you to shine for others. 4) SHUT UP - Watch your tongue. Don t gossip. Don t be judgmental. Say nice things. Be sympathetic. 5) STAND UP - Take a stand for Christ. Resist evil. Do good. Have the courage of your Christian convictions. 6) REACH UP - Spend time in prayer talking to God by sharing your adorations, confessions, thanksgivings and supplications to the Lord, and by listening to him through attentively reading the Bible and applying its message to your life. 7) LIFT UP - Be available to help those in need - serving, supporting, and sharing. Try to find Jesus in others and serve him who lives in others. ADORATION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 3
Here are some of the items discussed at the December Church Council meeting: Parking sign for Pastor is complete. There will be a meeting in January to discuss future rummage sales. Mike Roshar is meeting with personnel. All Divine Intervention meals are now scheduled for Adoration. An update on our pledges was reported. We will consider request from Crosstown Harmony to use our facility. NEXT COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 AT 6:00 P.M. For more information on any or all of these items, please check the complete minutes of the meeting posted on the kiosk in the Gathering Space - or contact one of your Council representatives. The contact information for Council members can be found on a board in the entryway at church. Thank you to all the members who have filled out a commitment card and completed a time and talent sheet for the year 2015. Stewardship is our response to God s abundant love how we care for and share God s generous gifts to us. Your response of support and participation to the ministry here at Adoration Lutheran Church is helpful as the church council plans for next year. As of the end of the year, 57 pledges totaling $128,874.40 have been received. An additional 6 Simply Giving members bring total commitments for 2015 to 64 members totaling $138,878.40. Our total amount pledged is greater than the amount reported last year at the end of the year. Thank you! Commitment cards are still available on the table in the narthex. Place your completed card in the offering plate or turn it in at the church office. Simply Giving forms (electronic giving) are also available there. Thank you again to all as we bring the best of the first fruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God. (Exodus 23:19a) The Lamp of God s Presence A light shines in the darkness... There is a sign up sheet posted on the bulletin board in the main entry way of the church. If you would like to offer the lamp as a memorial, or celebration, please fill in your name and reason on the appropriate date on the chart. The cost is $4.00 per week and can be added in the personal remembrances section on your weekly envelopes or by using one of the special envelopes located next to sign up chart on the bulletin board. Altar Flowers The 2015 Flower Chart has been posted in the main entry way of the church. If you would like to help decorate our sanctuary with one of the weekly arrangements, just sign up on the chart. Remember to print your name and the reason you are offering the flowers (birthday, anniversary, memorial, etc.) The cost is $30.00 and can be added to your weekly offering by marking it on the personal remembrances section of your envelope, or by using one of the flower envelopes located next to the chart on the bulletin board. 4 ETCETERA Our Mission Continues
BIRTHDAYS 1/4 1/5 1/6 1/7 1/8 1/11 1/11 1/13 1/13 1/14 1/16 1/16 1/16 1/17 1/18 1/20 1/20 1/21 1/21 1/21 1/24 1/26 1/26 1/26 1/27 1/29 1/30 1/31 Richard Voegeli Clayton Herlache Crystal Willms Robert Young Larry Farkas Judy Goodwin Kerry Lindahl Rodney Mendini Ashley Pinterics Dolores Prasser Owen Schultz Evan Williams Jamie Hoffmeier Cliff Krebs Patricia Koch Kim Czerwinski Chris Dudzik Joann Voegeli Lindsay Hagfors Cody Hagfors Zackary Kokalj Joshua Pettke Ronald Kerlin Adam Klimers Lani Rupaner Robert Yersin Barb Bauer Mason Kode Owen Williams Jennifer Nowak Sydney Ahlborn Jan Ward Tom Czarapata ANNIVERSARIES 1/7 1/17 Chris & Jessica Dudzik David & Christina Cason Have you moved or are you planning on moving? PLEASE notify the church office if you have an address change. This will allow for accurate church records and also will save the church returned postage. Thank you! Sharing with you the Glory, the Wonder, the Miracle of this Holy Season of Light! Happy New Year! Pastor Tim Janet McGinty Gina Alba Barb Regent Lori Hamilton AAA NEWS Congratulations to our new officers for 2015! President JoAnn Voegeli Treasurer Joani Bettin Secretary Carol Langhoff Thank you to our outgoing officers: Wayne Duris, Judy Goodwin, and Betty Wing. Our next general meeting will be held on January 6 at 1:00 PM. AAA welcomes all adults of Adoration to join them in fellowship. The Worship & Music Committee will meet on Wednesday, January 14 following worship. The Prayer Circle begins prayers for your loved ones on request to the church or by contacting Judy Goodwin at 414-281-9368. The Season of Light! BIBLE QUIZ Who rebuked people for bringing their children to Jesus? We celebrate the Wisemen coming to worship the Christ child in Bethlehem as the Light that comes to shine and embrace the world. A. The religious leaders B. Jesus himself C. The disciples D. Roman soldiers Answer: (See Mark 10:13) Special Dates Epiphany of our Lord January 6, 2015 Baptism of our Lord January 11, 2015 ADORATION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 5
The Auction Committee Would like to thank everyone who participated in the tenth annual We Love Our Church Auction. We were able to bring in $1,413.00. The people of Adoration have always rallied together to accomplish a goal and this year the auction was no exception. All the funds will be put in our general account so that we can continue the work God has put before us. God Bless you all, Mardy and Ted Lazaris. The Social Ministry Committee A sincere thank you to everyone who contributed to our partnering with Lutheran Social Services in the collection of Christmas presents, hats, mittens, and scarves. Your generosity helped make a brighter and warmer Christmas for many children and families in need. Special Thanks to Mary Edge for THANK YOU to the following individuals and families for beautifying our church this holiday season with poinsettia plants. Sharon Anderson George & Gloria Becker Nancy Czarapata Jim & Judy Goodwin Jim & Wendy Haas Linda Kolar-Wood Dolores Prasser Tim & Katie Schmidt Sue Szemborski The Partnership Committee Thanks all who donated Christmas items to the Christmas resale. The sale provided a wonderful way to freshen up your holiday decorating, while raising money for education to our partnership in Tanzania. $684.75 will be sent to Tanzania to help the poor to go to school. her dedication of knitting hats for our Mitten Tree. ELCA World Hunger A thank you from Daniel Rift, Director of ELCA World Hunger. Your special partnership and financial support provide hope and peace for so many families through the ministries of ELCA World Hunger. I give God thanks for you as together we celebrate the season and remember what God first gave to us. 2014 Year to Date Offerings of $ 1,839.00 for ELCA World Hunger. 6 ETCETERA Our Mission Continues The Evangelism Committee Expresses thanks to everyone who helped support this year s Cookie Sale. Special thanks to those who made cookies, those that helped box and work the sale. Without all of you, this outreach project would not have been a success. We had many neighbors visit to make purchases. $1,049.00 was received. Thrivent matched $500.00 of the profits, which were designated for Ascension Food Ministry and the balance went to Adoration s general account. Thank you again for your support! To the Willms and Worzalla families for serving dinner to our homeless neighbors at Divine Intervention during the month of January. The AAA Group Would like to thank all of the members who contributed cash donations towards the gifts that were sent to the military of family and friends of Adoration. Southwest Interfaith A thank you from Diane May, Director of SW Interfaith. Just a note to thank your congregation for your donation for our Outreach Program. Your financial support is vital in our being able to provide services for our older adult neighbors. We thank your for your generosity. We are truly blessed by everything your congregation have done and continue to do for our Interfaith Program.
Memo from Meru The Greater Milwaukee Synod Winter Annual Gathering for Youth & Young Adults (SWAG) is being held at Blue Harbor Resort in Sheboygan. The event will be held Friday, January 23 - Sunday, January 25. This year s theme is Rooted, and the theme verse is Colossians 2:6-7 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Those interested in attending SWAG should contact Jessica Hodgson for more details. RUMMAGE SALE - 2015 At the present, the Evangelism Committee is making plans to have a rummage sale again in 2015. The dates would be June 4-6. A chairperson who would handle the organization and preparation for the sale is still needed. One person has volunteered to learn the ropes for a future sale, but cannot take the total responsibility this year. There have been many volunteers each year for the sale and hopefully this will continue in 2015. The rummage sale is a well organized event and provides inexpensive goods for our community as well as fund raising for the church. If you would be willing to serve as chairperson, contact Wayne Duris, Sue Szemborski, Kathy Wakefield or Sharon Anderson This message is from Pastor Abdiel Ndosi, who used to be the General Secretary of the Diocese of Meru. He now is the Pastor and Head Master at Morogoro Seminary in Mogororo, Tanzania which is a little bit South and East of the Diocese. His smile would light up a room, he has been a blessing to me. ~ Sandy Ringwall Dear Friends, Christmas has come. Merry Christmas. Let us all join hands and celebrate the birth of the son of God, whom God has sent us with great love for our salvation. Although Christmas is celebrated each year, yet every year is different from the previous one because on the one hand we have grown up and have received many blessings from God, and on the other we are given another opportunity to wait for new blessings which will be reveled to us as we go through 2015. Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. (Luke 2:14) Happy New Year 2015! Ndosi & Family SW INTERFAITH SW Neighborhood Outreach Program is a non-profit organization for older adults. Their mission is to link older adults with a caring community. Judy Goodwin is Adoration s representative and needs an alternate to help on the Interfaith board. This is a wonderfully fulfilling volunteer opportunity. Contact Judy at 414-281-9368 if you are interested, or if you would like more information. Happy New Year! H old fast to your faith (Hebrews 4:14) A ssemble with the saints (Hebrews 10:25) P ray earnestly every day (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18) P ray for great blessings (Malachi 3:10) Y ield not to temptation (1 Thessalonians 5:22) N eglect not your talents and opportunities (Galatians 6:10) E xamine yourself daily (2 Corinthians 13:5) W ork diligently for the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58) Y ield your members to righteousness (Romans 6:11, 16) E xercise yourself in godliness (1 Timothy 4:7) A im for a perfect, mature faith (Hebrews 6:1) R edeem the time (Ephesians 5:15-16) May God grant you... 12 months of Happiness 52 weeks of Laughter 365 days of Success 8,760 hours of Good Health 52,600 minutes of Fun 3,153,600 seconds of Joy...in the New Year. ADORATION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 7
Adoration Lutheran Church 3840 W. Edgerton Avenue Greenfield, WI 53221 Phone: (414) 281-0414 Fax: (414) 281-1094 Email: adorationelca@hotmail.com Website: adorationlc.org Facebook: facebook.com/ adorationlutheran Non-Profit U.S. POSTAGE PAID Milwaukee, WI Permit No. 2449 Address Service Requested Pastor: Rev. Tim Singleton Worship Times: Sunday Morning...9:00 AM Wednesday Evening.6:15 PM JANUARY 2015 Volume #20, Number #1 Published Monthly Dated Material Please Expedite Mission Statement: Living in God s love we share the good news of Jesus through spirited worship, serving God in our daily lives, creating a welcoming space to all, providing outreach, educating the young and old, and creating worldwide partnerships. Reconciling in Christ: Adoration Evangelical Lutheran Church identifies itself as a Reconciling in Christ congregation and publicly welcomes all persons to full membership and participation in the ministry we share without regard to race, ethnicity, social status, ability, gender identity or sexual orientation. KIDS PAGE