The Country Church Herald
St. Mark's UCC
JULY, 2008
From the Pastor
This month St. James’ marks an important anniversary, the 145th year of the founding of the Congregation. A special time of worship is being planned for the 20th to celebrate this anniversary with the Adult Choir singing, the Sacrament of Holy Communion being shared, the Dedication of the completed stained glass windows in the narthex, and a reception will follow the worship. This is a listing of the events as of this writing. There may be more as the date approaches. These will be announced.
Let us remember our history as two sister churches working together. The first resident pastor called to St. Mark’s was the Reverend Casper Viehe in 1863. Pastor Viehe also conducted bi-weekly worship at the church in Town Meeme, which became named St. James’. This arrangement of sharing soon became permanent.
Let us reflect on 145 years of sharing as sister churches. First of all, let us thank God for the wisdom and guidance given to us down through these 145 years. The Holy Spirit is with us because many arrangements between neighboring churches do not last very long. I was an associate Pastor at a group of churches that lived for about four years before division ended the cooperation. When I share with other clergy that the St. James’/St. Mark’s has been for our length of time, they are amazed. Their response is, “God is surely with you, guiding and blessing you” as well as other similar statements. Issues are resolved in a spirit of cooperation, in the ways of God.
Let us give thanks to God, for in the name of our Savior and with the presence of the Holy Spirit, we live and work together to share the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Let us celebrate our sharing in the name of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Faithfully,
Pastor Kesting
Monthly Highlights From Our Church Groups
St. Mark's Consistory
President Richard Vandoske called the meeting to order on June 9th at 7:35 p.m. Pastor Kesting offered an opening prayer. The Secretary’s and Treasurer’s reports were read and approved. Janice Marcheske made the motion to approve the reports and it was seconded by Mark Jurk. Motion passed.
Building & Grounds:
We discussed the present water issues in the church basement and Darwin Meissner will be contacted to put in the tiles and do the work. The congregation approved the new roofing, which will be installed by Kaltenbrun Roofing Company from Sheboygan in August of this year. The church culverts need to be inspected and cleaned out. The two Queen Anne styled chairs and bench have been placed in the narthex and were given in memory of Serena Grunwald by the Grunwald family. Thank you! Thank you to Ralph and Betty Sixel and one other family for sharing the cost of replacing the cloudy protective windows on the east and south sides of the original church building.
Old Business:
Lindsay Wassell has printed a new church brochure for the Evangelism Committee.
The Worship committee will meet on June 24th. Dr. Christensen will meet with Pastor Bill on July 7th. Lorri Stewart contacted us regarding an update on how the congregation is doing with regard to the goals which were submitted to the CDR team for the Stiger Fund. Janice Marcheske will attend the Evangelism Workshop on November 14-15th. St. John’s Schwarzwald will be presenting a Stewardship Workshop on Saturday, October 18th. Janice Marcheske and Margene Reyer will attend the workshop and if anyone is interested, please contact Pastor Bill for more details. The Safe Sanctuary Committee will be selected and they will meet this summer. Congratulations to Bonnie Wassell for being a first year Lay Academy graduate. On Sunday, June 22nd will be the Hundt Baptism and we will also celebrate Children’s Day. If anyone is interested in the workcamps at Pilgrim Center on September 19-21, and September 26-28th, or the Back Bay Mission trip to Mississippi on August 24-29th please contact Pastor Bill.
New Business:
The home communions have been completed. Vacation Bible School will take place at St. James on Friday, July 11th and Saturday July 12th.
The next consistory meeting will be held on Monday, July 14th at 7:30 p.m. The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. with a motion made by Mark Jurk and seconded by Richard Vandoske. Motion passed.
Janice Marcheske, Secretary
St. Mark's Sunday School News
Sunday, June 22nd, was Children’s Day, and it was enjoyed by everyone who attended. Thanks to the Consistory for organizing the event, and thanks also to Dave and Cindy Call, who set up the games. We heard a lot of positive feedback about both the food and games.
Please make sure to get your forms back for Vacation Bible School, being held at St. James on Friday, July 11th from 9 – 3:30, and Saturday, July 12th from 9-11:30. St. James does a great job with this event, and the kids enjoy the games and lessons.
The Sunday School teachers’ meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 21st, at 6:00 p.m. Please call Pastor if you have anything you’d like added to the agenda.
Deanne Schultz, Sunday School Newsletter Coordinator
St. Mark's UCC Ladies Aid News
In June we enjoyed a lunch together. We will do the same on Wednesday, July 2. You will be contacted if there is any change of plans.
Pastor, on behalf of Hazel Schuette
Youth News
Summer Volleyball
We have as many as 14 players. We are having fun. We are a young team with several 7th and 8th graders. We have parents and grandparents in our cheering section. We have new team shirts which are yellow with blue lettering.
The rest of the schedule is:
6th - Bye, probably a practice
13th - Home vs. Bethel
20th - at Our Shepherd
27th - all teams off for the 4th
All games start at 7pm. Warmup at 6pm.
The tournament is Aug. 3 at 12:15pm at the park behind the VFW Hall in Cleveland.
National Youth Event
This event is a United Church of Christ event which is held every four years. About 3000 youth will gather for four days of worship, workshops, faith, fun and fellowship. This will be held at University of Tennessee, Knoxville from July 24-28. Transportation will be by coach bus from Wisconsin. Youth ages 13-18 can go to this. Anyone interested, contact Pastor. Scholarships available.
Grow Through Fellowship
Moon Beach
St. John’s UCC (Schwarzwald) Women’s Guild invites you to join them for a bus trip to Moon Beach Camp on Wed., August 20, 2008. We will leave St. John’s parking lot at 7:00am and return by 6:00pm. Cost is $40 and includes lunch.
RSVP: Church Office 565-2631
e-mail: Schwarzwald@tds.net
Timber Rattlers Game
Our Northeast Association sponsors this event for Saturday, August 23. The cost is $12 per person. This includes a ticket to the game at 6:35pm versus the Quad Cities River Bandits, food starting at 4:00pm, and fireworks after the game. Registration deadline is July 24. Pastor has registration forms.
Paul Todd in Concert
St. Peter’s UCC, 424 Fremont St., Kiel, will be hosting a concert featuring Paul Todd, a critically acclaimed prolific writer, entertainer, composer, arranger, and singer. The concert will take place on Tuesday, July 22 at 7:00pm. Tickets are available at the church office M-F, 9am-noon, and are $15 – adult, $5 – 12 & under. Call 894-2404 for more information.
News to Know
Global Ministries Thank You
Global Ministries is very grateful for St. Mark’s donation of $25 and St. James’ donation of $50 in recognition of Linda and Bruce Hanson’s presence with your congregations. Special giving such as yours is treasured by Global Ministries, as it opens new doors of opportunity and service with our international global partner churches and programs around the world.
Missionaries Bruce and Linda Hanson (Honduras) were reappointed at the April Common Global Ministries Board meeting for new terms of service.
Update: Missions in China
Recently we received word from our Global Ministries of the United Church of Christ that the 50 millionth Bible has been printed in China. These Bibles are in the Chinese language thus helping to spread the Gospel in that country. Plans are being made to distribute some of these Bibles at church services during the Olympics.
Church Camping
Brochures and registration forms are available at the back of church. Our outdoor ministry provides valuable experiences to persons of all ages.
Like last year, Katie Belitz is working for the summer at Pilgrim center. Thus, you will know someone at this camp.
Graduate Information Needed
Anyone graduating from high school, technical school, college or university, please contact the church office, 693-8361, so that we may properly acknowledge your achievement.
Graduates
Andrew Schroeder has graduated from Sheboygan North. He will be attending UW-Whitewater in the fall majoring in Business.
Brittany Stolzmann has graduated from Sheboygan North. She will be attending the University of Minnesota in the fall majoring in Family Counseling.
Andy Taylor has graduated from Howards Grove High School. He will be attending Lakeland College studying Accounting in the fall.
Matt Roelse has graduated from Sheboygan North. He will be attending UW-Madison studying Business in the fall.
Mission Trip
Bethel United Church of Christ, Ada, is organizing a Mission Trip to Back Bay Mission, Biloxi, MS for August 24-29. There are several openings available. Cost for lodging at Bach Bay is $50. The group is responsible for its own meals while there. Programming and work assignments will begin Monday morning on the 25th and conclude on Friday evening on the 29th. The weather will probably be hot and muggy. Contact Pastor for more details.
Cabin Building Pilgrim Center
St. James’ in their generosity has provided funding for one cabin of this project. In the current camp brochure, there is an explanation of how and when these cabins are to be built. This explanation is on page 16, listing the dates of September 19-21 and 26-28. Please think about helping on this project. More details as they become available.
Flood Relief
As of this writing, One Great Hour of Relief offering has granted $1000 to our church in Columbus, WI, $2000 to Trinity UCC in LaCrosse, and $2000 to Church of Peace in Fond du Lac. These are examples of our gifts at work.
Also, there is a box in the lobby of each church to benefit the food pantry at Church of Peace, Fond du Lac. The two largest food pantries in Fond du Lac were flooded. We are a part of many churches who are helping feed our hungry neighbors. Please bring non-perishable food. This effort will probably last throughout the month of July.
Visiting Nurse Association of Wisconsin
Aurora Visiting Nurse Association’s Hospice program is seeking applicants for its volunteer training program. Graduates of the training will provide support in the community to the terminally ill and their families, either thru direct care or by assisting in other aspects of the hospice program.
If you are interested in a volunteer position that could change your life and make a difference in the lives of others, call Jane Shea, VNA Hospice volunteer coordinator, at 458-4314, ext. 3032, or call toll free at 800-686-4314.
Sunny Ridge
Sunny Ridge can offer a great variety of avenues for volunteer service including; assistance with special events and trips, program sponsorship, seasonal projects, providing entertainment or transportation for our residents, monetary donations and individual resident support.
For more information contact Lauri A. Trad, Activity Director, at 453-7067 Monday – Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm.
145th Anniversary - St. James’
On Sunday, the 20th, will be a special worship marking the 145th year of our congregation. At this special worship, the choir will be singing; the Sacrament of Holy Communion will be shared; the new stained glass windows in the narthex will be dedicated; a reception will follow the worship and perhaps other events.
Please be present on this special day at 10:30am
Cell phone
Pastor has a cell phone which he carries with him except on worship times. The number is
920-207-7209.
Please remember that the church office phone number is 920-693-8361. There is an answering machine on this number.
New Confidentiality Laws
There have been some recent changes to the confidentiality laws. These changes make it difficult for pastors (and also other people) to obtain information about anyone in the Hospital. If you or a loved one will be in the hospital and wish pastor to know about it, please call him at 693-8361. Otherwise he may not be able to find out.
Receive Your Church Newsletter Online
If you are interested in receiving your monthly newsletter strictly via the Internet instead of the hard copy please send an e-mail stating such to Karen Marx at skmarx@tds.net. Each month an e-mail will be sent to notify you when the updated Country Church Herald is available Online.
Come One, Come All
To Our Vacation Bible School Outreach!
When: Friday, July 11th, 9:00am – 3:30pm (lunch provided) and Saturday, July 12th, 9:00am – 11:30am
Where: St. James’ UCC Church
Why: Besides VBS being such a blast, we will learn more in depth
about helping people in need. Like the Apostles, we want to
touch others with our giving. We will learn more about our
sponsored child and learn the benefits of volunteering in our
own church. The younger children will also study Moses with
their favorite, Mrs. B.
If you are interested in this great learning experience, please fill this sheet out with your information and have turned in by July 1st.
Parents: If you have any questions, concerns or would like to volunteer
your time, please call Randy @ 693-8275 or Linda @ 775-3628.
Registration Form:
Name: _________________________________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________________
Phone: _________________________________________________________________
Emergency Contact: _____________________________________________________
Allergies: ______________________________________________________________
Grade Last Completed: __________________________________________________
ST. MARK'S JULY SUNDAY USHERS
Ed & Gertie Free, chairs
Brice Karstaedt
Brian Karstaedt
Mark Grunwald
ST. MARK'S CANDLE LIGHTERS
June, July, August -
No Candle Lighters Needed
ST. MARK'S JULY CELEBRATIONS
Birthdays
1 - Crystal Van Eps
4 - Brandon Cyr
7 - Kathy Gabsch
10 - Emily Binversie
11 - Tim Hundt
12 - Steven Schnelle
13 - Crissy Athorp
14 - Gerald Thiel, Lindsay Summers
15 - James Schuette, Jan Strysick
16 - Deanne Schultz, Anna Marie Bramstedt
19 - Allen Gabsch
20 - Jane Vandoske
21 - Emily Schultz
22 - Owen Bramstedt, Janice Marcheske
25 - Jay Schnelle
26 - Cheryl Amir, Alissa Schnelle, Scott Goeke
28 - Helen Sommer (93)
30 - Wayne Grunwald
31 - Amy Schnelle
Anniversaries
1 - Ralph & Betty Sixel (64)
2 - Tom & Heidi Konz
3 - Bob & Shirley Guenther
6 - Richard & Mary Lou Sixel
8 - Larry & Sandra Perronne
9 - Bob & Tara Vandoske
23 - Tim & Wendy Schueler
26 - Tim & Deanne Schultz
30 - Steve & Karen Marx
In Sympathy
Our sympathy to Karen Spindler and family on the death of her uncle Wally Damrow on June 14.
Our sympathy to JoAnn Grant on the death of her sister, Marie Rooker, on June 17.
Our sympathy to Tammy Grunwald on the death of her grandmother, Emma Deckert, on June 17.
Our sympathy to Vernon Wernecke on the death of his brother Lloyd who died this June in New Mexico
In Celebration
Tristin James Hundt, son of Tim and Cindy, was baptized on June 22 at St. Mark’s. He was born March 28, 2008. His sponsors are Maureen Hundt and Brian Schley. Congratulations!
If there is a correction for the birthday or anniversary list, please
contact the church office, 693-8361. Thank you.
BACK