February 2018 Newsletter It seems that the calendar is having something of a joke on us Christians. This year Ash Wednesday, one of the most solemn days of the Christian year falls on that day of romance and commercialism, Valentine s Day. And to top that, Easter, a day of rejoicing in the resurrection, is also April Fools Day. What these coincidences mean, I don t know; probably nothing. But we do have a stretch of time between Valentine s and April Fools that is very important to Christians all the way back to the Early Church: Lent. In the early church, Lent was a time of preparation for baptism. With adult baptism being the norm, there was catechesis (teaching of belief) that happened for folks wanting to join the church prior to baptism. (Today we do this through Sunday school and most intensely during confirmation.) People would spend months or even years preparing for this momentous event. And it most often happened during the Easter Vigil, the night before Easter. But the forty days (not counting Sundays) leading up to their baptism was a very intense and important time for those who wished to be baptized. They would increase the intensity of their study, participate in times of personal reflection on their lives, and also fast and pray as a way to develop their relationship with God in Jesus. For us, though, with the preference for infant baptism, Lent has become something a little different. Instead of the time preparing for baptism, we in the Church are invited to a period of time where we recommit ourselves to the calling we have as part of Christ s body and work on turning again to God. For some this time means that they give something up (chocolate, meat on Fridays - me personally, I give up mariachi music). But another way to approach Lent is to take on something new as a way see the world differently and encounter God anew. I ve heard of some people taking up photography and making sure that they take several photos on a theme each day. Another practice, which we will be trying during our worship services in Lent, is silence. In place of the prelude after the welcome and announcements, we will take a couple of minutes to practice the uncomfortable discipline of silence when we are left only with our own thoughts and God. The trick is to try and quiet those thoughts in order to experience God more fully. It will be an experiment. Continued on pg 2
...Continued from pg 1 Also during Lent, we will have extra times to gather together to worship God and remember who and whose we are. Ash Wednesday we will gather at 6:30 p.m. to remember our mortality and our dependence on God. We will have the opportunity to be marked with the sign of the cross in ashes from the burned branches of Palm Sunday. We will also be strengthened for the Lenten journey by sharing the Lord s Supper. During Holy Week, leading up to Easter, we will gather again in the evening to celebrate Maundy Thursday, when Jesus washed his disciples feet and gave them a new commandment, to love one another. FEBRUARY 14 6:30 p.m. So, even though it seems that the calendar is playing a trick on us, Lent is a time for us to grow, and celebrate, and reflect on who God is and what has been done for us in Christ Jesus. May we all find ways to fill this season with meaning and growth. In Christ, Women s Association Martha Circle is meeting on Tues., Feb. 13, at 12:30 p.m. at Ann Tennyson s home for refreshments, Bible Study and fellowship. The study will be on Lesson 6. Naomi Circle is changing its date to Monday, February 19, at 10:00 a.m. when they will gather for refreshments, fellowship and Bible Study at Mary Dalton s apartment. Pledges will be collected for the calendar year to enable hosting a Christmas Gathering and other activities. Checks should be made out to: LHPC Women s Association.. Christian Education Connection Kids Sunday School class meets every other Sunday at 8:45 AM in the Learning Center. This Month: February 4 and 18 Teachers, Teacher Assistants and Snack Providers are always needed. Please sign up on the bulletin board in the Congregational Life Hallway. 2
Session notes from the regular session meeting held January 21, 2018. Session meetings will continue to be held the third Sunday of the month after worship. In the summer months (June, July and August,) we will meet the third Sunday of the month at 8:00 AM. Schedules for 2018 were distributed. The session along with the deacons share in the responsibility every Sunday and special services of unlocking all doors, greeting and welcoming host, locking all the doors/turning out all lights, and serving Communion. Committee assignments were made for Collaboration, Personnel, Nominating, Finance, Christian Education, Mission and Worship. The Annual meeting agenda was discussed. The Presbytery of Milwaukee will be served by two of our elders and our pastor. Nancy Molstad is beginning a two-year term on the Partnership Commission (similar to the session of a church.) Eileen Pierce is beginning a three-year term on the Nominating Committee. Will Houts has been elected Vice-Moderator of the Presbytery for 2018 and then assumes the role of Moderator in 2019. The next meeting of session will be February 18, 2018. The official record of each session meeting is posted once it s approved at the next meeting. Talk with any session member with The per capita apportionment for 2018 is: questions or comments. General Assembly $ 7.73 Kathryn Fresch, Clerk of Session Synod $ 5.40 Presbytery of Milwaukee $20.87 total $34.00 FINANCIAL UPDATE - As of December 31, 2017 Fav/(Unfav) Actual Budget Variance Total Income - YTD $ 163,775.77 $ 138,904.00 $ 24,871.77 Total Expense - YTD $ 201,045.82 $ 200,000.00 $ (1,045.82) Net Loss - YTD December 31, 2017 $ (37,270.05) $ (61,096.00) $ 23,825.95 Unrestricted Funds as of December 31, 2017 $ 162,429.60 (1) Included in June's Expense is the $30,000 debt forgiveness for early payoff of the land contract associated with the sale of the Brookfield property. This discount was an option provided to the buyer in the sale contract financing. 3
Deacons We welcome Mike Brady and Ken DeBoer as new deacons. Mike will be deacon for those whose last name begins with G - K, and Ken will have S - Z. Please contact Lisa Quinn, Will Houts or your deacon if you need the assistance of a deacon. We extend our sympathy to Diane and Ken DeBoer for the recent loss of Diane s father, Ray Doine. Please keep Diane s family in your thoughts and prayers. The Care and Concern of the Congregation is with: 4
February Family Prayer Calendar We are a connectional church connected in faith to God Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Jesus taught us that prayer connects us to the Divine and to each other. Each month we list our faith community. Every family has a date when we ask you to hold them in prayer. February Calendar 1. Art and Evelyn Petersen 2. Keith and Eileen Pierce 3. Nancy Pyeatt 4. Mahala Rankin 5. John and Carole Riedmaier 6. Dottie Russon 7. Jeane Satola 8. Lee Selig 9. AJ Sinner 10. Steve and Marcia Sinner 11. Todd, Lora and Fritz Stangler 12. David and Karen Stephan 13. Jennifer, Madeline, Olivia, and Katherine Stevens 16. David Truemner 17. Don and Peggy Waterman 18. Jason, Kris, Jared and Kelly Weber 19. Bill and Vickie Werner 20. Maggie and Willy Werner 21. Paul, Ashley, Brandon, and Olivia Yates 22. Peggy Yee 23. Jan Zimmerman 24. Bill and Judy Bauer 25. Karl Bertram and Maria Crowe 26. Marge Boettcher 27. Michael and Wendy Brady 28. Dan, Allison and Christine Brankle 14. Happy Taylor 15. Tom and Ann Tennyson 5
Living Hope Presbyterian Church Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Office Hours M 8:30-3 Tu & F 8:30-1 1 February 11:30 AM BEGIN Meeting 2 3 4 8:45 AM Sunday School 10 AM Worship w/ Communion 11 AM Fellowship 5 9:30 AM Bible Study 6 7. 8 9 10 11 10 AM Worship 11 AM Fellowship 11:15 AM Deacons 12 9:30 AM Bible Study 13 12:30 PM Martha Circle at Ann Tennyson s home 14 6:30 PM Ash Wednesday Worship 15 16 17 18 8:45 AM Sunday School 10 AM Worship 11 AM Fellowship 11:30 LUTB 11:30 Session 19 9:30 AM Bible Study 10:00 AM Naomi Circle at Mary Dalton s home 20 21 March Newsletter Deadline 22 23 24 25 10 AM Worship 11 AM Fellowship 26 9:30 AM Bible Study 27 28 1 March 2 3 6
Feb 4 Feb 11 Feb 14 Feb 18 Feb 25 Communion Servers Ken DeBoer* Tom Tennyson Judy Bauer Curtis MacDonald Ann Tennyson Eileen Pierce* Liturgist Ken DeBoer Ken DeBoer Judy Bauer Nancy Molstad Fellowship Hosts Curtis MacDonald Michael Brady Barry and Thelma James Rose Emanuele, Vickie Werner, Judy Bauer Joe and Kathryn Fresch Counters Marge Gauen Mike & Jenni Parnon Joan Junek Ginny Maurer Kathy Mathews Steve Sinner Dan Brankle Karl Bertram Sunday School Marcia Sinner Ann Tennyson Welcome Host/ Lock up Peggy Waterman Nancy Molstad Eileen Pierce Judy Bauer Judy Bauer Ken DeBoer Keith Pierce Keith Pierce Tom Tennyson Ushers Diane DeBoer Karl Bertram Karl Bertram Ann Tennyson Don Olson Barry James Barry James Don Waterman MONDAY BIBLE STUDY GROUP Bible Study meets Monday mornings at 9:30 AM in the Brookfield Room You are invited to join us!! The passages we study are the scripture passages for each upcoming Sunday. Even if you cannot attend our study group, you are invited to read through the passages prior to worship on Sunday. Lesson Date and Passages: For Sunday: 2/5 2 Kings 2:1-12; Mark 1:29-39 2/11 2/12 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:9-15 2/18 2/19 Romans 4:13-25; Mark 8:31-38 2/25 2/26 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; John 2:13-22 3/4 7
Larry Under the Bridge February 18, 2018 Please continue to give canned and boxed goods for the two food pantries we support. Donations are taken year round. Please sign up to pack or deliver lunches for our February Meal Packing on the Congregational Life bulletin board. Because of your generosity, we were able to purchase supplies for lunches from your donations. THANK YOU! January-Feb Mission Project As part of BEGIN, we have been asked to collect men's long underwear sizes L and XL only men's warm gloves wool socks Now through Sunday, February 4. Join with our other BEGIN partners for a celebration on Tuesday, Feb 6, 6-8 pm at Brookfield Congregational UCC, 16350 W Gebhardt Rd, Brookfield. LIVING HOPE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH W156 N4881 Pilgrim Road, Menomonee Falls WI 53051 Office hours: Mon 8:30-3:00, Tues and Fri 8:30 1:00 www.livinghopepcusa.org Transitional Pastor: Rev. Will Houts Email: Pastor@LivingHopePCUSA.org Office: (262) 599-8340 Cell: (262) 949-1830 Administrative Assistant: Lisa Quinn Email: Office@LivingHopePCUSA.org Office: (262) 599-8341 Clerk of Session: Kathryn Fresch Director of Music: Dr. Wallace Cheatham Session Members Judy Bauer, Dorothy Dieter, Joe Fresch, Kathryn Fresch, Curtis MacDonald, Nancy Molstad, Keith Pierce, Eileen Pierce, Marcia Sinner Deacon Members (designated last names) (A-B) - Julie Courtney (G-K) - Mike Brady (P-R) - Peggy Waterman Moderator (C-F) - Karen Stephan (L-O) - Ann Tennyson (S-Z) - Ken DeBoer 8