Giving Options During Virtual Gatherings As we move toward virtual methods of worship and ministry, we want to encourage your continued financial support of Roberts UCC. In addition to checks/cash mailed to the church, we have two easy options available to you: Electronic Giving and Online Payments. An electronic giving form authorizes Roberts UCC to debit your bank account for the selected amount you choose as a reoccurring transaction on the 15th of each month. Contact the church office if you'd like a form. To give online, visit www.robertsucc.org/giving. Simply click on the "GIVE NOW" button to be taken to a secure page where you can donate via Paypal or with your debit/credit card. This donation can be a one-time occurrence or a reoccurring monthly donation. The Giving page also features additional ways to support your church: AmazonSmile, SCRIP, Direct Your Dollars and Prayer. Connections Roberts Congregational United Church of Christ April 2020 Our mission is to connect with God, as we live by faith, are known by love, and cultivate hope. Scripture basis: We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God … your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1: 2-3) Roberts Congregational United Church of Christ 1001 Birch Drive | PO Box 116 | Roberts, WI 54023 Church Office: 715-749-3225 | https://www.facebook.com/RobertsUCC Office: [email protected] | Website: http://www.robertsucc.org Holy Week and Easter Services Holy Week and Easter services are to be determined. Please watch your email for more information on these services. If you do not have email, someone will be in touch to pass along the information to you.
Transcript
Giving Options During Virtual Gatherings As we move toward virtual methods of worship and ministry, we want to encourage your continued financial support of Roberts UCC. In addition to checks/cash mailed to the church, we have two easy options available to you: Electronic Giving and Online Payments. An electronic giving form authorizes Roberts UCC to debit your bank account for the selected amount you choose as a reoccurring transaction on the 15th of each month. Contact the church office if you'd like a form. To give online, visit www.robertsucc.org/giving. Simply click on the "GIVE NOW" button to be taken to a secure page where you can donate via Paypal or with your debit/credit card. This donation can be a one-time occurrence or a reoccurring monthly donation. The Giving page also features additional ways to support your church: AmazonSmile, SCRIP, Direct Your Dollars and Prayer.
Connections Roberts Congregational United Church of Christ
April 2020
Our mission is to connect with God, as we live by faith, are known by love, and cultivate hope. Scripture basis: We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God … your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1: 2-3)
Roberts Congregational United Church of Christ 1001 Birch Drive | PO Box 116 | Roberts, WI 54023 Church Office: 715-749-3225 | https://www.facebook.com/RobertsUCC Office: [email protected] | Website: http://www.robertsucc.org
Holy Week and Easter Services Holy Week and Easter services are to be determined. Please watch your email for more information on these services. If you do not have email, someone will be in touch to pass along the information to you.
I originally wrote this for the minister’s section of the Baldwin Bulletin. It bears repeating and passing along though in these turbulent times we are going through. God bless you all as we learn to live together through all of these changes. Peace, Pastor Burt
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with
hope. – Jeremiah 29:11
A Future with Hope… In this time of chaos and turmoil it is easy to get caught up in fear of what the future holds and have a hard
time finding hope. Especially as we become more and more isolated by a virus which we are still struggling to fully understand. Now, it even seems to attack us at the places where many turn to find hope in times like this – our places of worship! What are we to do if we can not even gather in our places of faith in order to find help and support for our spirits?
In a day and age when we are inundated with technology and ways in which to keep in touch, reach out,
and be connected there is still much hope for us in this arena. Our God has blessed us with so many ways in which to still find support even when we are not able to be in physical presence with each other. Now more than ever people are realizing how much we depend on our human interactions daily. Our God has a plan in all of this. Even if we are unable to see it, there is a light ahead of us leading the way. We will have to imagine ministry in new ways, find safe ways in which to seek out and give much needed support.
If you stop a while and watch, look around past the hoarding happening at the store and sometimes crazy
over-reaction to what is happening, you will start to see some things which are already beginning to change for the good. People spending more time together as family. People realizing how many elderly are affected by being isolated even further as the retirement homes and nursing facilities lockdown for the safety of their residents. People seeking out new ways to use the technologies we have to reach out in caring to the greater community. People going for walks as families as a way to get out of the house.
There are some hard times ahead yet. There are obstacles we are going to need to overcome. There are
behaviors we are going to need to change which will cause us periodic discomfort. Isn’t that true at any time in life though? Our current situation has just brought it into a very sharp focus in a very short period so we are forced to take notice. Imagine how different and wonderful things will be when we come out on the other side of this to the “future with hope” God promises us. Take heart that our God is with us in this season of Lent when nothing is happening the way it has in the past and we are forced to take stock of what is truly important to us.
Take time to pray for others; to show love and compassion where and how you are able. Know our God is
here with us now and we can trust there is a future with hope ahead. Be safe in our time apart so we might enjoy once again being together in that future. Dream of new ways to be together and let your spirits soar on the winds of hope as you look at the beauty of these new discoveries even in our current discomfort. Peace and God bless you all until we meet again!
Treasurer’s Report
Notes from the Treasurers: Detailed minutes of the Trustees meetings, including full financial statements are available upon request.
General Fund Financial Summary as of February 29, 2020
FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN The next manna meal packing will be May 2, 2020
(9-11am). Carpooling from Church will meet at 8am.
Please consider participating in this session. You’ll never regret it!
Due to the current situation with coronavirus, the food pantry will continue with regular hours
of Tuesdays & Thursdays – 9-11:30am and Wednesdays – 6:30-8pm.
However, until further notice, we are asking that patrons remain in their vehicles. Someone will
visit the vehicle and we will do curbside delivery of your pantry items.
**This meeting took place before restrictions were set due to the coronavirus… Multiple events have changed or have been cancelled**
Dawn Budrow (Moderator), Rachel Ackley (Deacons), John Stoffel (Trustees), Jennah Stoffel (Christian Education), Lori Jurek (Women’s Fellowship and S.H.I.F.T), Pastor Burt Williams, and Connie Mueller (Church Clerk). Meeting was called to order by Dawn at 6:00 P.M. Opening devotion was led by Rachel. Topic: Dealing with Stress. Minutes: February minutes were reviewed. Motion was made by Rachel to approve the minutes and seconded by Lori. Motion carried. Reports: Women’s Fellowship
• Spring Rummage Sale: April 24 & 25 • Discussed the phone and internet expense through Baldwin Telecom. Currently paying $287.00 per
month. John reported that this is a three-year contract that began Jan. 2019. Christian Education
• Bible Brunch will be held in the fall. • Last day of Sunday School: May 3rd. All boards and committees will be asked to participate in the
carnival sponsored by the Christian Education board on that day. Deacons will be asked to organize a church potluck. Women’s Fellowship is considering a quilt raffle (the raffle tickets to be sold several weeks prior to the carnival). Activities for the youth and the adults in attendance are being planned. The confirmands will be leading the “Confirmation Our Way” service that day.
Deacons • Lent and Easter prep
Maundy Thursday: Feet washing service Ecumenical services on Good Friday: 12:30 at Roberts UCC 7:00 at Cross Easter morning: lilies are being ordered. Members have the option of buying one of the lilies and taking it home following the Easter service. Any lilies not purchased will be taken to area nursing homes.
• Monthly, the deacons will be sending out cards as a form of outreach. • Council inquired about the requirements of the confirmands.
S.H.I.F.T. • Meat Raffle at Jonesy’s Bar and Grill on April 25th. Proceeds to go to the general fund. • Paul Oman, a pulpit supply minister, has a program called “Drawn to the Word.” Hoping to schedule
him for a Sunday service. Treasurer
• No treasurer’s report (Continued on next page)
MINUTES FROM REGULAR CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING OF ROBERTS CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
March 5, 2020
(Continued from previous page) Trustees
• Jo Fenstermaker will be leaving the trustees after the April meeting. • Filters have been cleaned in the kitchen and new fire extinguishers have been installed. • www.smile.amazon.com is open. A portion of one’s purchase price will be given to the church through
the use of this program. • Signage discussed. Signage to include information about the church website address. • Exploring getting carpeting for the altar area, the ramp, the stairs, and the three aisles.
Pastor Burt • Wedding held on Feb. 29th. • Spring Association meeting: April 18th. Seeking a delegate from the church to attend with Pastor Burt. • Pastor Burt began discussion about his three-month sabbatical that will be scheduled during or after his
fifth year of ministry. Purpose of this sabbatical is to allow for study and/or personal reflection. The pastor is currently is his third year of ministry at our church.
Business Discussion • Began review of constitution. All boards are to review its portion of the document and get revisions to
Rachel for the April Deacon meeting. Revision due by April Church Council meeting. A committee will be formed for the constitution review and recommendations.
Closing prayer led by Pastor Burt Next meeting: April 2, 2020 at 6 P.M. Motion was made by Rachel to adjourn. Respectfully submitted by Connie Mueller Church Clerk
MINUTES FROM REGULAR CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING OF ROBERTS CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
March 5, 2020
Free Money from AmazonSmile for RUCC AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices,
and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice.
This is a simple and automatic way for you to support Roberts Congregational United Church of Christ every time you shop, at no cost to you!
On your first visit to AmazonSmile, you need to select Roberts Congregational United Church of Christ to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. They will remember your selection, and then every future eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation.
To get started, visit www.smile.amazon.com and search for Roberts Congregational United Church of Christ from their list of approved organizations. It’s that simple! Remember to use the SMILE site rather than the usual Amazon.com site each time you make a purchase for a donation to be generated. If you have any questions, contact Lori Jurek.
Carol Moenke Marge Wolske Lisa Briess Earl Pechuman Mary Fredrick LaVere Wolske Amy Moshier Marlys McGaver Bernie McGaver Todd Knochenmus Evelyn Wood-Funkhouser Ericka Evans Schweitzer Spence Porter Baldwin Care Center: Marcia Graf Those serving on active Military duty. Those serving our state & community in Law Enforcement
RUCC Rummage Sale Due to the current situation with coronavirus, the spring rummage sale has been cancelled. Please direct questions to Judy Snoeyenbos at (715) 425-6730
MEET YOUR CHURCH LEADERS – RACHEL ACKLEY
Rachel is currently serving as the chairman for the Board of Deacons and has been a part of RUCC for 27 years. She has also served as the church clerk and moderator. “I love to serve the church by helping with the worship services to make them more for all,” says Rachel. Outside of church, Rachel likes to read, quilt, travel, health and nutrition, and taking care of her granddaughter. Currently she is the owner of Ackley Tree Service with her husband, Brent, which Rachel also says is her dream job. When asked where she sees God at work in her life, Rachel says, “I see Him in the learning I have done to forgive, the growth of my children, and the strength of the church to hang tight to our faith.”
MEET YOUR CHURCH LEADERS – LORI JUREK
Lori was born in Baldwin but has been a member of Roberts UCC her whole life. Lori says a fun fact about her is that she was baptized, confirmed and married here at Roberts UCC! She is currently serving on the Women’s Fellowship and SHIFT! boards. Previously Lori has served as Moderator, Clerk, a Deacon, and on the Search Committee. Lori says her parents have influenced her the most, “they are good people and I still watch/learn from them.” When asked what her favorite part of church is and if she had a favorite hymn, Lori told us she enjoys the relationships she has with other people, teaming with them to be in service to others. As for the hymn, she says, “’I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry’, it’s like a love song from God to humanity that reassures us He will be there with us throughout every stage in our lives.”
If you have placed someone on the prayer list, please update us on how they are currently. If you would like to add or remove someone, please contact Tiff in the office
