United Methodist Church Learn God ~ Love God ~ Share God ~ Serve God November 2018 Church Staff Rev. Brenda Whitford Lead Pastor pastorbrenda@centurylink.net Rev. Cheryl Weaver Associate Pastor pastorcheryl@centurylink.net Amy Loeffelholz Business Administrator amyloeffelholz@centurylink.net April Brandt Communications Associate/ Administrative Assistant plattevilleumc@centurylink.net Tracy Harle Housekeeping John Mulcahy Maintenance Ellen Carnahan Sunday School Superintendent ellen.carnahan@yahoo.com Ryan Pink Beyond Belief Band Director pinkry@uwplatt.edu Nancy Fairchild Organist nfairchild2@gmail.com Deb Putnam Mallow Ringers Director putnamd@uwplatt.edu Dean Goninen Redeemer Director dean@lifelineav.com Susan Schlager Parish Nurse smschlager@yahoo.com (608) 348-9575 WORSHIP HIGHLIGHTS November 4 th All Saint s Day 8:30 Special Music Mallow Ringers 11:00 Beyond Belief Band Communion at both services November 11 th Honoring our Veterans 8:30 Special Music TBD 11:00 Beyond Belief Band November 18 th Advent Sermon 1 8:30 Special Music Mallow Ringers 11:00 Beyond Belief Band November 25 th Advent Sermon 2 8:30 Special Music TBD 11:00 Beyond Belief Band Advent officially begins Sunday, December 2 nd but, with all of the Special Sunday Celebrations during the month of December, we will not have a full 4-week Advent worship series. In order to do that this year, we will begin early! The details are still being worked out so watch for more information. 1065 Lancaster St., Platteville, WI 53818 (608) 348-9508 plattevilleumc@centurylink.net www.plattevilleumc.org
United Methodist Church Page 2 I have officiated 74 funerals since I have come to serve the fine folks of the Platteville United Methodist Church. They are all sad in one way or another, but some have been wonderful tributes. As I prepare for a funeral, I ask questions that many families of the deceased cannot answer. What was your loved one s favorite scripture? What was your loved one s favorite hymn? Tell me about their faith. Sometimes I know the answers to the questions based on my interaction with the loved one, but it is not uncommon for nobody to know. As I have shared the sadness of this situation with many, a local organization asked me to create a program called, Preparing For Your Funeral. I have found the preparation for this program to be quite moving. I have gone over each of the funerals of the past 5 years, focusing mostly on the funerals of church members. It was in this focused attention that I was struck by just how much of a legacy so many people have left. We are who we are because of the legacies of those church members who have come before us. Our faith was shaped by their faithfulness. Our faith was shaped by how they taught and led. Our faith was shaped by their actions. At the Platteville United Methodist Church, we have 185 years of legacy that has made us who we are. That is utterly amazing! Every day each one of us is adding to the legacy of faith that we will leave behind for our family and our church. Together we continue to mold and shape the legacy of faith of our church. As we continue the conversation on how we focus on reaching out and making new disciples, it is important that we purposefully pay attention to that legacy. You have so much that is so very precious. We must reach out in new ways and make new disciples. As we do that, the legacy of faith you exhibit has so much to offer. This is such an exciting time to be the church! What a great future you are creating! I ll see you in church, where as we look to Jesus, our legacy of faith continues to grow. Thank you so much for the flowers and cards for Pastor Appreciation Month! The flowers were beautiful and the cards contained kind words. Thank you for your thoughtfulness! ~Pastor Brenda and Pastor Cheryl
United Methodist Church Page 3 We had a wonderful Stewardship Sunday! It was great to have so many people dedicate their Estimate of Giving Cards to God during worship. The fellowship and food at brunch was fabulous! Thanks to everyone who played a part in making the morning meaningful. If you were unable to attend, please bring or mail your Estimate of Giving Card to the church. LISTENING SESSION FOR 2019 GENERAL CONFERENCE The next listening session to learn about the work of the Commission on a Way Forward is Saturday, November 3 rd at 10:00 am at the Dodgeville United Methodist Church. This session will include a presentation and an opportunity to ask questions. The delegates will be in attendance at this session. BARELY SENIORS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8 TH A Potluck is at noon in Fellowship Hall. Table service and beverages will be provided. Barely Seniors please bring a dish to share. Program: Ken McAndrew, Grant County Veterans Officer, will discuss programs for veterans. We will also recognize veterans that are members of our church. BEYOND BELIEF We offer our deepest gratitude to Roxane Schult, who has been serving as director of our adult contemporary band, Beyond Belief, for the past three years. Roxane is stepping away as director and moving back to vocalist. Roxane s deep faith, her love of music, and her love of people has helped the band to thrive, and we are grateful for her leadership. Please welcome Ryan Pink as the new director of Beyond Belief. Ryan has been a part of Redeemer and Beyond Belief for 8 years. He has many musical talents including voice, piano, drums, and guitar. We are excited to have him in this new role!
United Methodist Church Page 4 WEDNESDAY NIGHT PROGRAMMING FOR NOVEMBER We began our programming on Wednesday nights late in September and we continue to refine what we do. We are having a great time! Everyone is welcome for the free dinner starting at 5:30 pm. Programming includes the Disciple Bible Study, Confirmation, and various Youth Groups. We hope to have other opportunities for adults in the future. If this is something that you are feeling called to do, please contact Pastor Brenda or Pastor Cheryl. Thank you to all of the wonderful volunteers, from those leading, to those cooking and prepping for the meal and cleaning up after. What a great opportunity to serve. MESSY CHURCH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7 TH - UPPER LEVEL IN THE WESLEY ROOM As part of Wednesday Night Programming we will have Messy Church on November 7 th. The meal will start at 5:30 pm in the Wesley Room and the program will be at 6:00 pm. This month we will be doing crafts that pertain to the story of Joseph and his Coat of Many Colors. This is a great opportunity to invite your friends and neighbors to a non-churchy kind of church! All ages are welcome! Youth Group for 7 th - 12 th grades will meet on Wednesday, November 7 th. We will have dinner at 5:30 upstairs and then we will meet for Youth Group. Youth Group for 1 st - 4 th grades and 5 th - 6 th grades will meet on November 7 th for Messy Church. On Wednesday, November 14 th and November 28 th we will meet in our regular classrooms. A huge thank you to all parents who have supported our youth groups as part of the Wednesday night programming! We are grateful for your commitment to helping your children grow in their faith. NOTE: THERE WILL BE NO PROGRAMMING ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, NOVEMBER 21 ST. Happy Thanksgiving! This fall you are encouraged to discover how cool it is to read your Bible and be rewarded with a Blizzard! Children 4 th grade and younger: read pages 265-472 in your Beginner Bible. The Bible Blizzard Blast runs through Sunday, November 18 th or until the Dairy Queen Certificates run out. Children 5 th grade and older, teens & adults: read the book of Matthew in your Bible. Write on a Blizzard card what your favorite story was and why and receive a Dairy Queen Blizzard Certificate!
United Methodist Church Page 5 SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS Each year our Sunday School Children support a mission project with their offering money and donations from the Coffee Hours that they host each month. This year our project is called Operation Snackpack. This past Spring we were contacted by the Platteville School District wondering if we could help them with a new project they were planning to start at the elementary schools for the 2018-2019 school year. There are families in our area that could use additional support putting food on the table. So, the school will be purchasing food to send home with those students in their backpacks to help supplement the family s meals for the weekend. We were contacted because there was no funding for this program, and they were wondering if we could help. It s wonderful that we are known in the community as a church that cares for and helps those who need support. Of course we said YES!!! We thought this would be a perfect mission project for our children this year. Please help support this children s mission by donating to the Coffee Hour that our Sunday School classes sponsor on the first Sunday of the month. We are teaching our kids to be the hands and feet of Jesus, by helping their brothers and sisters in Christ. CHILDREN'S BIBLE SUNDAY On Sunday, September 30 th the younger Sunday School children received their very own Beginner s Bible and two of the older children received their Hands-on Bible. Look at those smiling faces!
United Methodist Church Page 6 UNITED METHODIST WOMEN General Meeting : Tuesday, November 6 th at 1:30 pm in the Wesley Room. Program: World Thank Offering (remember to bring your thank offering) Host: Katie Cottingham Rebekah Fellowship Group: Thursday, November 15 th at 9:00 am in Wesley Room. Program and Devotions: Carol Lange, Charter For Racial Justice Host: Connie Cushman District Event: Saturday, November 10 th at Lodi UMC Day of Enrichment: Sacred Spaces of Community Keynote Speaker: Rev. Scott Carlson, District Superintendent Registration forms are available on the bulletin board in the hallway. ~Shalom, Susan Schlager UMW Christmas Fair - Saturday, December 1 st The Christmas Fair is fast approaching. Many items are needed to make this event a success: craft items to sell, items in good condition for Granny s Attic, cookies, jams, breads, sweet rolls, pies and candy. The annual Christmas Fair is the main event for UMW to raise funds for missions. Sign-up sheets for food donations and volunteering to help with preparations along with working the day of the fair will be in the lobby soon. If you have any questions please contact Susan Schlager. Thank you to everyone who sent cards, flowers, and prayed for me or visited me while I was recovering. ~ Myrtle Van Natta Thank you to my Church Family for all the love as I recover from my second heart surgery. ~Carolyn Woodward The family of Steve Freiburger wish to express their gratitude to Pastor Brenda, Pastor Cheryl, and the congregation for their prayers and support for Steve the past two years. We prayed for a miracle, a cure was not to be found. God did grant us the peace and strength to accept this and give him the care and comfort he deserved. He passed away peacefully at his home in rural Belmont on Sunday, September 30 th with his family laying hands on him and praying as he took his last breath. He will be greatly missed by his family. Thank you for your words of comfort, cards, and memorials and those that attended his Celebration of Life service. Your kindness will never be forgotten. ~Freiburger, Meyer, & Vargo Families
United Methodist Church Page 7 MISSION NEWS As the weather changes, our thoughts begin to turn to holidays and family gatherings. The Mission Committee is collecting items to be distributed to our Adopted Families before Thanksgiving. We would appreciate donations of the following items by Tuesday, November 13 th. Please put your items in the shopping cart in the lobby. Thank you! Canned fruit Pasta sauce Toilet paper Canned corn Potato mixes Kleenex Canned pork and beans Hamburger Helper Paper towels Canned green beans Mac & cheese Deodorant Canned soups Peanut butter Bar soap Canned chicken Jelly Shampoo Canned tuna Jell-O/pudding mixes Dish Soap Cereal Cake/brownie mixes Laundry soap Pasta Snack crackers Toothpaste Toothbrushes (adult & child sizes) During last month s distribution, due to mechanical problems the truck was over an hour late. Volunteers scrambled to get the distribution line running for 310 guests. Thank you to the PHS Boys & Girls Cross Country Teams for once again loading cars. Do you know a team that can help next month? Thanks to the Lancaster High School FFA who donated milk as well. The next distribution is Thursday, November 1 st. Please notify Deb Putnam at putnamd@uwplatt.edu if you can help out. Our next Family Promise host week Is Sunday, November 4 th through Sunday, November 11 th. At this time we do not have a family. However, Bob Plourde would like to create a volunteer list of people who are willing to be called upon when we do host a family. Please contact Bob at (608) 642-1018 to be put on the volunteer list. You do not have to be available for all of the Family Promise dates. COATS FOR KIDS Distribution will be Thursday, November 1 st during Ruby s Pantry from 4:00-6:00 pm. Those picking up coats should park on the side streets and enter and exit from the east door. Thank you to everyone who donated, and to the Platteville Cleaners for cleaning the coats! Any remaining coats will be donated to the Platteville Thrift Shop.
Platteville United Methodist Church Learn God ~ Love God ~ Share God ~ Serve God Platteville United Methodist Church 1065 Lancaster Street Platteville WI 53818 Phone: (608) 348-9508 platttevilleumc@centurylink.net Plattevilleumc.org www.facebook.com/plattevilleumc Non-Profit Organization U.S Postage Paid Platteville, WI Permit No. 97 Return Service Requested If you would no longer like to receive this newsletter, please contact the church office to take your name off the mailing list. Thank you! This year Veteran's Day will be Sunday, November 11 th and we have a unique opportunity to honor and give thanks for all those who have served. ALL SAINTS DAY On Sunday, November 4 th we will be remembering loved ones who have passed from this life to eternal life since last All Saints Day. If you have someone you would like remembered, please submit their name to the office so that your loved one will be included. Extra candles will be available for remembering those who have passed away in years past. One of the ways we will do that is to have a video featuring photos of those who served or are serving and are related to our congregation in some way. If you have a photo you would like to share, please submit it to the church office by Thursday, November 1 st. IMPORTANT: In addition to the photo, please make sure that you include the name of the soldier, branch they served in, and relationship to you.