Oct 2019 Evangelical & Reformed United Church of Christ Volume 868 On the Journey . . . Rev. Dr. Bob Gross OCC Because of you, whether we’re serving up hot meals at the Hope Center, tying up quilts for the Women’s Center, making crafts at Vacation Bible School, celebrating the gift of baptism in worship, or so many other ways, lives are being changed. We grow in faith and discipleship as we engage with those we serve, and their lives are transformed as they receive the love and care we offer, whether through the sharing of our gifts of service or our gifts of presence. None of us do this alone. Your active participation and generous support make all this possible. Because of you Evangelical & Reformed United Church of Christ changes lives. Because of You Changes lives
Transcript
Oct 2019 Evangelical & Reformed United Church of Christ Volume 868
On the Journey . . . Rev. Dr. Bob Gross OCC
Because of you, whether we’re serving up hot
meals at the Hope Center, tying up quilts for the
Women’s Center, making crafts at Vacation Bible
School, celebrating the gift of baptism in worship,
or so many other ways, lives are being changed. We
grow in faith and discipleship as we engage with
those we serve, and their lives are transformed as
they receive the love and care we offer, whether
through the sharing of our gifts of service or our
gifts of presence. None of us do this alone. Your
active participation and generous support make all
this possible. Because of you Evangelical &
Reformed United Church of Christ changes lives.
Because of You
Changes lives
Evangelical & Reformed United Church of Christ, 413 Wisconsin Ave, Waukesha, WI 53186 Page 2
October Notes from Sunday school Mary Ann Proffitt, Christian Ed Director
“Deep Sea Discovery: Diving into the Bible!”
We got off to a great start this year with our Opening Day of Bible Baseball!! We had an awesome morning swinging our bats & learning about the Bible at the same time. We also had a concession stand, sang “Take me out to the Ballgame” (a few times) & even watched the racing sausages!☺ Our Preschool/Kindergarten class even had a turn! It was lots of fun!
Our grade school students started their first rotation this last week on “Exploring the Bible”! They’ll be focusing on learning about the structure & categories of the books of the Bible, practicing locating scripture, becoming familiar with the names of
the books of the Bible & learning that the Gospels are the first 4 books of the New Testament. They ’ll learn this through cooking where they ’ll be making Bible Brownies. They’ll have to look up specific verses in the Bible that contain the ingredients they need to make the brownies. They’ll also play games such as Giant Tic-Tac- Toe, Bible Balloon Race & Bible Book Mix-up to become more familiar with the books of the Bible & learn how they are categorized. Finally, they’ll use computers to learn more about the Gospels in the New Testament. Our Preschool/Kindergarten class has started a
unit on God making the world & in October they will be moving on to the stories of Noah’s Ark & Abram. They’ll be doing all kinds of fun activities such as making Creation Clues Cards, Rainbow books & Follow God suitcases.
They’ll be making it rain on Noah’s ark, painting rainbows & making a trail mix to share, to name just a few activities. The kids will learn that God wants us to listen to him & make good choices, that He cares about us & wants us to follow Him. The kids will bring home a Heart Tugs family resource sheet every week that is a great way to talk with them about what they experienced in Sunday school. The back page always has some family suggestions & a “Daily Talks with God” section that gives you some prayer ideas for your family. This is a great way to start some family prayer time at the dinner table or before bedtime☺
Oct 6 – Sunday School/Youth Group Coffee Hour
Oct 26 – Fall Festival • 4:30 – 7:30 pm
Nov 3 – Family Sunday
Nov 10 – Pajama Sunday – Decorate the Tree
Dec 1 – Family Sunday
Dec 14 – Christmas Program Practice • 10am - 12pm
Dec 15 – Christmas Program (during worship)
Dec 22 & 29 – No Sunday School due to Holidays
Please let Mary Ann Proffitt know if you have any questions or concerns! May God our Father & the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace & peace.
Because of You OUR cHILDREN LEARN about god
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Youth Group News Mary Ann Proffitt
Thank you! To those who donated
money & said prayers for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Walk. Together we raised $270 & had a beautiful day for our walk! Nearly 44 million Americans experience a mental health condition in a given year. That is 1 in 5 Americans. Our Waukesha NAMI organization served 6000 people this last year for no charge. They are making a difference in our community. We hope you’ll consider joining us for this walk next year.
Haunted House & Culver’s Fun Night
Saturday, October 5th 7- 9 pm
We’ll be meeting at the Waukesha County Fear Grounds for the Anarchy Haunted House at 7 pm. We’ll then go to Culver’s on Main St/164 for custard etc. You’ll need to bring $15 for the
Haunted House plus money for Culvers. Please sign-up at the welcome table so we have enough supervision/ transportation. Parents should pick up at Culvers by 9 pm.
Apple Picking/Baking
Unfortunately, due to scheduling conflicts, we’ve cancelled the event planned for October 12th. We tried very hard to make a date work without success. Instead, we have decided to do a pie sale in November. See below. YUM!!
Ham Supper
Saturday, October 19th 4 - 7 pm
Youth are asked to sign up to help in the dining room with cleaning, resetting tables & distributing water, milk & coffee. You can receive volunteer hours for this activity.
Baking Buddies
Tuesday - Thursday, October 22nd – 24th from 6 - 7:30 pm.
The youth will be having a cooking class for kids with special needs, here at church. Please sign-up to help!
Fall Festival
Saturday, October 26th 4:30 - 7:30 pm
Please sign-up at the welcome table to help with running games, clean-up or set-up for Fall Festival. You can receive volunteer hours for this activity.
Fall Yardwork
Sunday, October 27 10:30 am - 12pm, then back to church for lunch & back to work, if needed.
This event is to help those in our church that may need some help with fall yard clean-up. Please talk to Mary Ann Proffitt if you are in need of assistance & we’ll schedule a time. There is no make-up date scheduled at this time if there is bad weather.
Down Day
Thursday, October 31st 9 am - 4 pm at church.
The youth will hang out at church, play games, watch movies & order out lunch.
Please bring $5-$10 for lunch. Another adult chaperone will be needed for this event to occur so please consider helping out & let Mary Ann Proffitt know! Thank you☺
Volunteering at St Vinnies
Saturday, November 16th 9 am – 12 pm & then lunch at Culver’s
We’ll be meeting at church at 8:45 & then traveling to St. Vinnies. We’ll be pulling tags which is taking all the old tags from the clothing racks & shelves & either throwing them away or baling them depending on what they are. Rachel will direct us again.
Youth Delicious Pie Sale
Sunday, November 24th after worship
The youth will be baking pies Saturday, November 23 (during
Crafters Corner) 9 am to 3 pm to sell after the worship the next day. All donations will be given to an organization in our community that has yet to be determined. We’ll have whole pies, half pies & slices of delicious pies!!!
Youth Group Meeting
Sunday, October 13th
10:30 am at church.
We’ll also be packing the college boxes that day.
Meetings are typically the 2nd Sunday of every month to discuss mission work, events & activities, for students 7th grade through high school. Everyone is welcome!
Because of You
OUR YOUTH Enjoy time together
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Women’s Fellowship Sue Manzke, President
Happy Fall Everyone!!! Our weather has been spectacular!! I hope you’re all enjoying it!
We are madly getting ready for our Annual Ham Supper & Shoparama.
Mark your calendar for October 19th. Our menu will remain as good as it always is . . . consisting of Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, Corn, our famous
SQUASH & all homemade desserts! You certainly don’t want to miss this amazing meal. Be sure to spread the word to your family & friends!!!! We will be more than happy to get you hooked up with some extra flyers or posters if you would like them. Please let Sue Manzke or Diane Backler know that you would like some. Tickets will go on sale soon!! Get yours right away to avoid a long line at the dinner! See PAGE 10 for details.
There are sign-up sheets on the welcome table if you’re interested in helping! We appreciate & need lots of volunteers!!! Sign-up to help at the dinner or bake a dessert! Those homemade desserts are what complete our dinner!!
We have 12 wonderful vendors for your shopping pleasure!! Ali Strandt & her OnzieTwozie business, Deb Hink & her Always Sew Crafty business which offers a number of beautiful handmade items like Cozy Collars, Heat Packs, Bird Nesters & Soup Bowl Cozy’s just to mention a few. There will also be Pampered Chef, Perfectly Posh, Tastefully Simple, Thirty-One, Norwex, Kelly’s Krafts & a Laser Engraving business called Stone & Laser Solutions. This year Women’s Fellowship will also have a table with some new soup mixes & dip mixes that we will make & package ourselves! You’ll love them!!!
Kringles will be sold again this year.
We’re not sure on the pricing yet but will get the info to you soon. You can also get a sell sheet from Sue Manzke so that you can sell at your apartment building or place of employment . . . just ask!
On November 2nd we will be having our Annual Fall Women’s Retreat. This event is OPEN TO THE
PUBLIC!! It is called Lord Flip my House!! Please see the event flyer on PAGE 13 &/or check your weekly bulletin for more information.
Keep up the good work on your projects for the Hat/Mitten/Scarf tree!! If you’re in
need of yarn, please let Sue Manzke know & she can “hook” you up!! We really had some absolutely beautiful things on our 2018 tree. Let’s go for 200 this year! Thanks again!!
Don’t forget our Angels Express program developed
for anyone in need of a meal or two . . . someone who is ill, has a significant other in the hospital, or just needs a hand. If you or someone you know could use a little help, please let Pat Kruse know. She’ll contact the person & make needed arrangements.
For those of you who are new to our church or those who just didn’t know . . . We prepare &
serve a funeral service luncheon to help families
through their grief. We ask what you’d like us to serve (within reason) & share what we’ve done in the past. You only need to pay for the purchased food. In most cases, we’ll also provide homemade desserts free of charge. In the event you need our service, please just let Pastor or Sue Manzke know. Many families also make a donation to Women’s Fellowship but are not required to do so.
As always, please remember to put things away & clean-up after yourselves. That includes the counters, sinks, refrigerator, freezer, ovens & stove. Please be aware & respectful of others by doing your part & leave the kitchen better than you found it!!
Please do NOT dump beverages in the garbage cans . . . dump them in a sink, rinse & dry thoroughly & throw the cups away.
Our next meeting will be Monday December 9th at 6:30 pm. Normally we meet on the first Monday, but I’ll be out of town that day . . . so it has been moved to the 2nd Monday!! Hopefully we won’t have a blizzard or anything!! Please bring a friend . . . someone new who hasn’t come to our meetings! The more the merrier!! New ideas are always welcome!!! Plus of course we ALWAYS have a really yummy dessert....so come have some fun with us!!!
Because of You
OUR families Support each other
Evangelical & Reformed United Church of Christ, 413 Wisconsin Ave, Waukesha, WI 53186 Page 5
Family Fun Time Events Greg & Mary Ann Proffitt
Fall Festival
Saturday, October 26th 4:30 pm until 7:30pm It’s once again time for some fellowship & fall fun! Bring your favorite crock pot of chili & be a part of the Great Chili Cook-off. Don’t cook chili? How about baking a pie & entering it in the Great Pie Judging contest? Chili & pies will be judged by 3 members of our church & then enjoyed by all. Don’t
cook or bake? How about decorating your car trunk for fall & handing out candy to the kids for the 5th annual “Trunk or Treat” event! Participate in one or all of these great activities. There will also be carnival-like games for the kids to enjoy!
Please sign-up at the information table by October 24th. Hope you’ll come & join in the fun! Invite your friends & neighbors! See flyer on PAGE 10 for more details.
Book Club
Join us Tuesday, November 5th at 6:30 pm. Bring a friend! We’ll be discussing
“Mama’s Boy” by Dustin Lance Black. “Dustin Lance Black wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay for Milk & helped overturn California's anti-gay marriage Proposition 8, but as an LGBTQ activist he has unlikely origins - a conservative Mormon household outside San Antonio, Texas. His mother, Anne, was raised in rural Louisiana & contracted polio when she was two years old. She endured brutal surgeries, as well as braces & crutches for life & was told that she would never have children or a family. Willfully defying expectations, she found salvation in an unlikely faith, raised three rough-&-rowdy boys & escaped the abuse & violence of two questionably devised Mormon marriages before finding love & an improbable career in the US civil service.
By the time Lance came out to his mother at age 21, he was a blue-state young man studying the arts instead of going on his Mormon mission. She derided his sexuality as a sinful choice & was terrified for his future. It may seem like theirs was a house destined to be divided & at times it was. This story shines light on what it took to remain a family despite such division - a journey that stretched from the steps of the US Supreme Court to the woodsheds of East Texas. In the end, the rifts that have split a nation couldn't end this relationship that defined & inspired their remarkable lives.
Mama's Boy is their story. It's a story of the noble quest for a plane higher than politics - a story of family, foundations, turmoil, tragedy, elation & love. It’s a story needed now more than ever.” Come & enjoy an evening of discussion, dessert & a lot of fun! Everyone is welcome! Church Bowling Night
Friday, November 15th 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm Fox View Lanes Waukesha
The cost is $11 per person & includes 2 games of bowling, shoes, pizza & soda. Come have
a great night out, bring your kids & invite some friends! Please sign-up at the welcome table so we know how many lanes we’ll need. Pay your money to Mary Ann Proffitt.
Crafter's Corner
Saturday, November 23rd 9:00 am to 8:30 pm Bring your favorite crafts & invite a friend or two & join
in an afternoon of fellowship & fun! Everyone is welcome. We’ll be having a Thanksgiving meal theme so sign-up at the welcome table to bring your family’s favorite dish. Suggestions may include: Turkey &
gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, mac & cheese, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, fruit, snacks or any other sides you can think of☺ Come for lunch or stay for the whole day!
Because of You
Have fun together
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The Giving Tree Program
Please remember to prayerfully consider giving to the Giving Tree anytime through the year. Write Giving Tree on the blank line at the top right of your giving envelope. The Giving Tree Program is designed to give anonymously to families & individuals with short term financial needs. The Giving Tree Program is funded through Christmas Eve donations, weekly envelope donations, or special gifts from individuals or groups. Funds are kept in a separate account administered by a treasurer appointed from the Women’s Fellowship membership.
The Community Outreach & Vitality Committees Dan & Kris DeKarske, Mary Gross, Brian Van Buren & Sue Kuhtz
Family Promise
A huge THANK YOU to the following individuals who volunteered &/or donated supplies to "Family Promise" the week of August 25th: Donna Leuzinger, Sue Buyatt, Linda Hink, Debra Hink, Karen Olson, Rev. Bob Gross, Ron Knutson, Dan & Kristine DeKarske, Sue Kuhtz & Laura Kuhtz.
This has been said many times before, but you really do make a difference to these families in need. The "Family Promise" staff & the Delafield Host Church thank you!
Please contact Sue Kuhtz if you can volunteer in the future or have questions. Check the Welcome Table for future supply needs. Our next "Family Promise" volunteer week at our Host Church in Delafield will be the week of November 17th.
Check us out on YouTube!
If you can’t make it to worship, you can still watch & listen to the sermon online. Feel free to share our messages with your friends, neighbors or anyone in need of spiritual encouragement. Hit control & click the link below to check out many of our past messages on YouTube.
Evangelical & Reformed United Church of Christ, 413 Wisconsin Ave, Waukesha, WI 53186 Page 7
Serving Schedule Brigette Unger, Church Office
Thank you for your faithful commitment to one or more of our serving teams. We couldn’t do it without you. Below are the assigned servers for October, November & December. If you find that a change is necessary, please remember that it is YOUR responsibility to find a replacement & to let the office know no later than 8 am Thursday morning before the Sunday you’re scheduled to serve so the correct information is noted in the bulletin & the proper name tags are set out.
If you need to call in due to sickness or something unexpected at the last minute, please contact the serving Deacon or someone on the serving team you are scheduled for . . . messages left in the office after Noon on Friday, will not be received until Monday.
If you’d like to join a serving team, please contact the church office & let us know of your interest. We can use your help as Usher, Greeter, Host, *Soundboard, **Childcare Worker or Liturgist.
* Requires training ** Requires Background Check
• Please remember to let the
church Office know if you
are available to help on
Christmas Eve in any of
the needed spots.
Because of You
Serves others
Evangelical & Reformed United Church of Christ, 413 Wisconsin Ave, Waukesha, WI 53186 Page 8
Welcoming Ministry Ron Knutson
I recently finished reading a book for Lay Academy called “Life of the Beloved” by Henri J.M. Nouwen. The book was inspired by a request from a journalist friend of his to write a book explaining spiritual life in terms that he & his secular friends could understand.
The book was intended to be a letter to a Jewish New York intellectual friend named Fred, whom he met when Fred interviewed Nouwen while teaching at Yale Divinity School. They formed an unlikely bond & became lifelong friends, sharing each other’s deepest longings, fears & doubts. After some years of knowing each other, Fred asked Nouwen to say something about the Spirit that his friends & he “could hear.” As Nouwen stated in his prologue: “He was asking me to respond to the great spiritual hunger & thirst that exist in countless people who walk the streets of big cities.” This book is the result of Fred’s request & its tone is indeed that of a dear friend talking intimately & warmly to a “fellow-traveler searching for life, light & truth.”
The heart of Henri Nouwen’s teaching in this book is his conviction that regardless of our religious tradition, we are beloved by God, but our ability to share that gift of beloved-ness with others is only as great as our ability to claim it for ourselves. Why is it always easier to believe someone else is beloved by God than to believe I am? Nouwen believes “self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life, because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the “Beloved.” He speaks of listening for that voice & believes once we hear it, we will keep trying to hear it ever more clearly. “Like discovering a well in the desert, once you have touched wet ground, you want to dig deeper.”
So Nouwen believes the most important spiritual journey of our lives involves claiming the truth of our belovedness & living into that truth by becoming the beloved . . . ”letting truth of our Belovedness become enfleshed in everything we think, say or do.” To do this, we must explore ways the Holy Spirit moves in our lives. Becoming the Beloved happens as Nouwen says “When our deepest truth is that we are the Beloved, when our greatest joy & peace come from fully claiming that truth, it follows that this has to become visible & tangible in the ways we eat & drink, talk & love, play & work.” He believes we become the Beloved of God when we:
1) claim that we are TAKEN/CHOSEN.
2) know that we are BLESSED.
3) acknowledge that we are BROKEN.
4) submit to being GIVEN.
Each of these four ways is explored beautifully & helpfully in simple terms, with real life examples. He speaks in the context of natural cycles & has a truly moving reflection on the relationship between life & death. “As the Beloved, I am called to trust that life is a preparation for death as a final act of giving.” He distinguishes between a
“good death” & a “bad death.” Without being unrealistic about the pain of death & loss, he speaks convincingly of our lives being like a seed that must die to bear fruit. “How different would our life be, were we truly able to trust that it multiplied in being given away! How different would our life be if we could but believe that every little act of faithfulness, every gesture of love, every word of forgiveness, every little bit of joy & peace will multiply & multiply as long as there are people to receive it . . . & that—even then—there will be leftovers!” One fascinating insight I gleaned from this book’s pages is the notion that there is a distinction between talents & gifts & that sometimes—perhaps often—our true gifts are buried beneath our talents. “We may have only a few talents, but we have many gifts. Our gifts are the many ways in which we express our humanity. They are part of who we are: friendship, kindness, patience, joy, peace, forgiveness, gentleness, love, hope, trust & many others. These are the true gifts we have to offer to each other.” That is something I’ll be thinking about for a long time. As Pastor Bob begins a new sermon series entitled “The Outsiders” I will be reminded about those “gifts” that I can use to express that love & hope to those on the fringes that Jesus always attempted to reach out to.
Because of You
OUR cHURch Changes lives
Evangelical & Reformed United Church of Christ, 413 Wisconsin Ave, Waukesha, WI 53186 Page 9
Council Meeting – September 9, 2019 Recorded by Shelby Perez
Present: Rev. Bob Gross, Jamie Knoll, Sue Kuhtz, Dennis Hink, Mary Ann Proffitt, Ray LaBarge, Joe Perez, Sue Buyatt, Linda Hink, Toni Knutson, George Golding, Sandy Anderson-Payne, Scott Donovan, Shelby Perez, Jenn Wray, Mark Maile, Terry Sasse Excused: Nancy Witt, Mariann Maile, Brian Van Buren, Trish Bakalars. Meeting called to order by Toni Knutson at 7:03pm. Christian Ed/Youth: Full report is available in office. Treasurer’s Report: Ray LaBarge made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report, second by Sandy Anderson-Payne, 11 yes votes, 0 no votes, 0 abstentions. Financial Secretary Report: Budget meeting scheduled for September 16th at 6:00pm. Senior Pastor Report: Full report is available in office. Elders: Communion sign-up for October 6th was passed around. Trustees: Full report is available in the office. Deacons: Council reviewed attendance trends for the summer. Vitality: Began a new book study, will be introducing to congregation after Vitality completes it. Welcoming Ministry Team: Ray LaBarge made a motion to rescind the previously approved motion on April 8th for Welcoming Ministry Team to send a letter to the congregation, second by Terry Sasse. 11 yes votes, 0 no votes, 0 abstentions. Stewardship: Preparations for 2019 stewardship drive have begun. Membership: New members class to begin in October. Security: Full report available in the office. Community Picnic: Waiting on final figures and statements. Scholarship: 2020 budget submitted. $1500 awarded to Shelby Perez as budgeted.
Old Business Personnel Update: Updates on both the Treasurer’s position & Pastor of Visitation position. Pastor Bob has suggested rolling the Pastor of Visitation’s duties into the Senior Minister’s duties. Pastor Bob left the room for the conversation regarding the positions. Shelby Perez made the motion to combine the Pastor of Visitation position with the Senior Minister Position & un-list the Pastor of Visitation position, second by Sandy Anderson-Payne. Paper ballot vote: 10 yes votes, 1 no vote, no abstentions. Lausitz Brass: We are hosting the brass octet on Wednesday October 16th. Linda Hink volunteered to be the committee head for the hosted event. See flyer below. New Business Financial Secretary: Council reviewed the role of the Financial Secretary as laid out in the church constitution. Sandy Anderson-Payne made a motion to nominate Rick Sasse to the position of Financial Secretary, second by Jamie Knoll. Paper ballot vote: 9 yes votes, 1 no votes, 1 abstention. Terry Sasse stepped out of the room for discussion and vote. Next Month Council Meeting: 6:30pm start for financial training for the Council with Mark Mattiacci. Next prayer: Shelby Perez Ray LaBarge made a motion to adjourn, second by Sandy Anderson-Payne. 11 yes votes. Meeting adjourned with the Lord’s Prayer.
PLEASE NOTE: All church
members are invited to
attend Council meetings.
Because of You
Plans for the future
Evangelical & Reformed United Church of Christ, 413 Wisconsin Ave, Waukesha, WI 53186 Page 10
Scholarship Recipients
HART SCHOLARSHIP Daniel Golding UW Platteville, Agribusiness
We received a thank you card from The John Kennedy Family
“Thank you to everyone at your church that helped with the Hospitality Lunch after
Carole Kennedy’s memorial service. During a time like this we learn how much our
family& friends really mean to us. Your expression of sympathy will always be remembered.”
Sincerely, John Kennedy
Sunday flowers . . .
Church Office
We have several openings to provide Sunday flowers in honor of a birthday, celebration of a special occasion, in memory of a loved one or just to be a blessing.
Please see the Flower Sign-Up sheet at the Welcome table & pick a date
that works best with your schedule.
We received a thank you card from Alex Tran
“I very much appreciate the care package of treats! It was an unnecessary, but thoughtful gesture.
The cookies have already been eaten!”
Thank you, Alex ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We received a thank you card from Emily Tran
“As I begin this new dauting journey into grad school, I wanted to sincerely thank you for your support and the
support you have given me throughout my entire college career. College is challenging as is and your continued grace
in helping lessen its financial burden has never gone unappreciated. Likewise, the care package of I received
certainly kicked my spirits up!”
Thank you so much for everything, Emily -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We received a thank you card from Sammi Donovan
E & R UCC, “I want to thank you for your generosity and love. I was so excited to receive your care package and e reminded
of the love of God and my church’s endless love for its congregation. It’s difficult to be far from home but this
was a gentle reminder of home.
I appreciate this gesture very much. I know that the other students appreciate this gesture as well. I hope to
attend my home church again soon and finally have found a church home down in Indianapolis while I am
down here attending school. Thank you again for sending this along, it certainly made my day!”
Love, Sammi
Bible Study
Join us Wednesdays at 1 pm for a study titled, “What is the Bible?” It provides a broad overview of the Bible, including chapters in how to select a Bible suitable for your needs, how the Bible is organized, how the collection of books that comprise the Bible were chosen, different ways people approach the text & what archaeology has to tell us about the text & its stories. It will be an opportunity for those new to Bible study to have a solid introduction to biblical scholarship & an opportunity for those who’ve studied the Bible for years to take a step back & shore up their foundations.
Please let us know you’ll be coming by calling the office or signing up on the sheet at the Welcome Table.
Because of You OUR church Is appreciated
Evangelical & Reformed United Church of Christ, 413 Wisconsin Ave, Waukesha, WI 53186 Page 12
Stewardship: Because of You, E & R Changes Lives Chris Wray, Stewardship Committee Chair
In a few weeks, we’ll be starting our yearly stewardship campaign and pledge drive. This year our theme is "Because of You, Our Church Changes Lives." That is a bold statement, but it is true in so many ways. At our last stewardship meeting, we discussed the different things that we feel people value in our church. The list included things like Sunday Worship, Sunday School, Coffee Hour, Bible Study, and the many things that we do for the community. We were unable to identify what the "top" values were because everyone one of those things was "Changing Lives" in one way or another. As we think about Stewardship over the next couple months, we ask that you keep that theme in the forefront:
Our Church Changes Lives. In what ways has the church changed your life? Have you seen someone else's life changed within our church? How has the church changed people's lives outside our doors? All of those things would not be possible if it wasn't for You! You make a difference in so many ways. Our church is a community of followers of Christ, and it is the work of every one of YOU that makes us who we are. "Because of You, our Church Changes lives."
Because of You OUR church Changes lives
Evangelical & Reformed United Church of Christ, 413 Wisconsin Ave, Waukesha, WI 53186 Page 13
About Our Church . . . “Our Mission is to foster the spiritual growth of a
Confirmation Leaders: Mary Ann Proffitt/Rev. Bob Gross
Treasurer: Sue Kuhtz
Organist/AM Choir Director: Rueck Ruecktenwald
Evangelical Choir Director: Chris Wray
Pianist: Joel Matthys
Custodian: Don Backler
Pastoral Office Hours:
Pastor is currently hosting open office hours on Mondays from 2 - 4 pm & Wednesdays from 9:30 - 11 am.
If you'd like to speak with him, please stop in or call during these times. If these times don't work for you, please call him at (440) 506-3258 to set up an appointment. He is willing to meet you in the office, your home or at a local business for coffee or lunch.
Classes, Groups, Clubs, Meetings:
Coffee Hour: Every Sunday • 10:00am
Confirmation Class: 1st. 3rd, 5th Sun (Sep-May) • 10:30am
Trailblazers Class: 2nd & 4th Sun (Sept-May) • 9:00am
Youth Group Meeting: 2nd Sunday • 10:30am
Evangelical Choir Practice: Every Sunday • 10:30am
Women’s Fellowship: 1st Mon of even months • 6:30pm
Council Meeting: 2nd Mon of the month • 7:00pm
Christian Board of Ed: 3rd Mon of odd months • 7:00pm
For your concerns, suggestions or compliments, please contact a member of the committee or fill out one of the cards near the drop box to the left of the bulletin board. Thank you! * Chair
