The Messenger First United Methodist Church of Wausau 903 Third Street Wausau, WI 54403
NON PROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
JANUARY
PERMIT NO. 542
2015
WAUSAU, WI 54403
Church Purpose:
Sunday, January 11, 1st Sunday after Epiphany 8:00am - Morning Chapel 10:00am - Worship “An Oppressed People” Exodus 3:1-12 Sunday, January 18, United Methodist Women Day 8:00am - Morning Chapel 10:00am - Worship “The Other People” Judges 3
Sunday, February 1, 4th Sunday after Epiphany 8:00am - Morning Chapel 10:00am - Worship “A Comfortable People” Jeremiah 2:1-8; Ezekiel 22:23-31 Sunday, February 8, 5th Sunday after Epiphany 8:00am - Morning Chapel 10:00am - Worship “Different People?” Isaiah 56:3-8 *We observe Open Communion. All are welcome at God’s table.
THE MESSENGER
Sunday, January 4, Epiphany 8:00am - Morning Chapel with Communion* 10:00am - Worship with Communion* “A Minority People” Genesis 34
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF WAUSAU
Live and Share God's Love
Sunday, January 25, 3rd Sunday after Epiphany 8:00am - Morning Chapel 10:00am - Worship “A Comfortable People” Jeremiah 2:1-8; Ezekiel 22:23-31
Echoes There are, especially in the South, some churches that call themselves “Primitive.” There are Primitive Methodists, Primitive Baptists, and lots of Primitive Other Stuff. What those churches mean by that term is that they don’t do anything – anything – unless it is explicitly described in the New Testament. Sunday Schools? No; they aren’t mentioned in the New Testament. Missionary boards and sending agencies? No; not explicitly named in scripture. Musical instruments? Nope. Not in the New Testament. The idea seems to be that whatever the New Testament Church is described as doing is the way things ought to be – and the only way things ought to be.
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Sermon Series: Echoes for God’s People
FROM PASTOR JERRY’S DESK
Wouldn’t it be simple if we could do that? If we could just take the New Testament as the sole and final authority on everything, exactly as it is? What the NT says is final, and if the NT doesn’t mention it, then it’s wrong. But here are some of the consequences of that line of thought if we try to be consistent. Women would have to wear head coverings in church and could not have short hair (1 Cor. 11). Slavery would be perfectly fine (Eph. 6, 1 Tim. 6, Philemon, etc.). Not paying your full offering to church would be a capital offense (Acts 5). People from Crete would all be lazy, vicious, gluttons (Titus 1), and marriage would be a last resort, a necessary concession that God has allowed for weak people (1 Cor. 7). Sermons would last from dinner until midnight (Acts 20:7). It seems better to me – though admittedly much harder – to read the inspired words of scripture as the record of God’s people trying to find their way in a difficult world. Called by God, empowered by God, seeking God, they sometimes respond to their world in ways that demonstrate the very heart of God. Other times they screw up royally. Our task as interpreters of scripture is not just to do whatever they did in the Bible but rather to look to the witness of scripture for echoes of our own situation and learn from both the victories and the mistakes of God’s people. We’re going to explore this task in the coming weeks. On Sunday mornings, I will be preaching about some of those “Echoes.” We will look at seven different times when the community of the faithful (Israel in the Old Testament; the Church in the New) faced challenges in their society, how they responded, and – most of all – where was God in it all? We will encounter heroes worth emulating. We will encounter horrible mistakes worth avoiding. We will meet people of faith who fit easily and comfortably in their culture, and we will meet others who stand against culture for all they are worth. But mostly, I suspect, we will meet ourselves. Whatever we find, though, I can promise you this: we aren’t going to encounter scripture that serves as a straightforward blueprint for our lives. What we will find will be much messier and immeasurably more difficult than that: we will hear stories that invite us to think, to reflect, and then to choose our own way among the echoes.
Phone 715 842-2201
Website: www.fumcwausau.org
Worship at Forest Park a monthly service.
Giving thanks and giving back November 23, 2014
Preparing our house for the coming of Christ!
December hymn sing lead by Nancy Runner
Our men’s fellowship learning to bake pies!
Church staff having fun and fellowship during Christmas!
MUSIC - STORY -SONG ANNUAL LESSONS & CAROLS and SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRAM STAFF Pastor:
Gerald Morris
jerry@fumcwausau.org Music Ministry Coordinator: Susan Hamilton susan@fumcwausau.org Faith Formation Coordinator:
United Methodist Women Annual Baking Day, on Dec. 11th, for the Cookie Walk
2014 is over...Greetings to 2015! What a wonderful year it has been - however, I am left wondering where did 2014 go and what will 2015 bring for us? I cannot begin to show my appreciation to the people that have made all of our services possible the talent and dedication of all involved has shone through. I love and thank each and every one of you for making dreams come true. All of our choirs will be back in rehearsal on January 7, 2015 - let’s make 2015 even bigger and better!
Leo Jacoby
leo@fumcwausau.org Building Engineer: Andy White Accounts & Records Supervisor: Karen Kellbach karen@fumcwausau.org Secretary:
Arlene Trull arlene@fumcwausau.org
Karen and Steve Beck
Corine Laub and Tom Kelley
Web-site: www.fumcwausau.org E-mail: fumc@fumcwausau.org
CARE
Resources for Ministry Financial Update - November 2014 YTD Revenue Pledged Offering
Milestones
Expense $ 220,111.40
Salaries & Benefits
$ 210,286.74
Non-Pledged Offering
$
47,456.18
Programming
$
27,866.75
Other
$
38,196.52
Apportionments to Conference
$
50,369.00
Building Operating Expenses
$
60,450.61
Total Expenses
$ 348,973.10
Total Revenue
$ 305,764.10
Net YTD
$
-43,209.00
YTD 2014 Pledged & Non-Pledged Offerings compared to YTD 2013 YTD 2014 Total Expenses compared to YTD 2013 YTD 2014 Other Income compared to YTD 2013 YTD 2014 Endowment Transfer compared to 2013
$741.41 higher 5,164.77 lower 2,706.83 higher 10,000.00 lower
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Sacred Space: Caring for Our Place of Ministry In January, we will resume our Wednesday dinners in the Fellowship Hall, and it will become a place for the family to gather and grow. Then in late January, the Fellowship Hall will once again be the base for the community outreach to the homeless. It is a place for ministry. And thanks to the Aesthetics Committee and a litany of volunteers, that place for ministry is no longer a sickly pale institutional green. On December 6, that team completely repainted the Fellowship Hall, and - for good measure - scrubbed down the Chapel and Sanctuary. They worked from 7:00am until about 7:00pm, preparing our space for service. Thank you to these members: Nancy Bogumill, Bruce Brandenburg, Eileen Denfeld, Jerry Evans, Yvonne Firary, Terry Flath, Don and Sue Kissinger, Bonnie Goertz, Jen and Mickey Marzu, Beth, Brian, Courtney, Logan and Morgan Rohland, Alice and Stan Schacht, Vivian Thompson, Anna and Ella Weiland, Barb Weyenburg, Bob Wylie, and Diane and Mike Zahn. We are particularly grateful to Brian Rohland and Nancy Bogumill who used friendships and contacts in Page 10
the community to bring this project in at about a quarter of its actual cost. Heidi, from Sherwin Williams Paint provided paint at pennies on the dollar, and Dave St. Clair, Jr., and Inthasone Chindakone (Sing) from JAS Construction not only brought their professional painting equipment and scaffolding but stayed and put in around 16 hours of volunteer labor. Everyone worked hard that day to refurbish our own space, but no one worked harder than Junior and Sing. Thank you to all!
We grieve this month with John Ohnstad whose mother, Maxine, died on December 24 in Madison, and with all the family and friends of our own Ruth Church, who died on December 26.
We Celebrate the Downtown Memory Café As we end 2014 and look back over the year, several things stand out, but perhaps most exciting is a new ministry begun. The Downt own Memory Café was proposed by Charlie Schoenfeld, was embraced by our Ministries Council, was planned and conducted by the new Care Council, and has lightened the lives of dozens of people dealing with the effects of dementia since opening in May. Through the Café, we have seen members and guests find welcome and laughter in this place; and, as a church, we have seen members inspired to new levels of service. It has been a good year.
1
2 3 5
Alice Schacht 9 Peter Mattiacci Brad Opper Jennifer Johnson 12 Michael Turner Alonzo Dvorak Sandra Salzman Amelia Higgins 13 Debra Martin John Stange Susan Rye Grant Smart 15 P. Elaine Sorenson* Remi Taylor David Erickson Parker Frey 16 Duane LaCrosse
6
Mitchell Goertz
7
Gail Cain 20 Alan Hauber Scott Denfeld Lila Rouse Mary Towle Samantha Sutton 21 Mary Ann Dykes Christine Melville Arlene Gundelfinger Wib Johnson Michael Sydow LaRae Horton 22 Robin Jones Presley Wyrick
23 Stephen Moede 25 Gbemi Taylor Brittney Johnson 26 Don Misoni 27 Dorothy Hackbarth* Shirley Johnson Krueger Sophie Marschall Julie Willems Van Dijk Nathan Werhane Brady Dahl
19 Andy Sutton 31 Jeffery Koss
8
* Signifies an honored elder in a senior facility. We invite you this month to remember these members in your prayers. ———————————————————————————————— Savvy Seniors will not meet in January, having met on New Year’s Eve Day at the Mandarin. The next lunch will be at 11:30am on Monday, February 4 - place to be announced.
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Are We a Church That Cares for Each Other? Apparently So!
FUMC Wired Website: fumcwausau.org With links to the weekly sermon (text and podcast) facebook.com/WausauFUMC WiFi Network: FUMC Public (password: fumcpublic)
Many of you have seen this on our church Facebook page, but it’s worth noting again. A Wausau man has begun a 52week journey, planning to visit 52 different churches. We were his Week 7, on November 23. Now that was a good week for him to visit. That was the week we collected food, personal items, and money to fight Malaria; so he saw our heart for mission. But what he commented on was our love for each other. Some quotes from his blog: The entire congregation was proud of their church. The service began with the Welcome and Greeting. This wasn’t the typical, “make sure to greet those around you” type of forced handshakes . . . No, First United was a true church family. Everyone . . . got off their keisters and floated around . . . to have genuine conversations. Of all the churches I’ve visited, this one felt the most like going home to visit friends and relatives on Thanksgiving. Thank you for being the church that so joyously welcomed this pilgrim. To read the whole blog, go to: https://medium.com/52-churches-in-52-weeks/toilet-paper-puns-are-tearable-5ca68c46cb9e. Page 3
CARE / OUTREACH UNITED METHODIST WOMEN Circle Meetings January 14 Mary Faith Circle - 9:30am January 15 Love Hope Circle - 5:30pm (Bring finger food)
Other Upcoming Events: January 7 Sunshine Gals - 9:30am January 8 Executive Committee - 6:30pm January 18 UMW Sunday Installation of Officers - 10:00am UMW Unit Meeting & Brunch - 11:15am January 20 Book Review, Missions - 1:00pm The Mission Store reports that it sold $1,559.00 of Third World handcrafts at their December 14 store at our church. Thank you all.
...All the Time
Homeless Count, Breakfast, and, Now, Winter Closet January 28-29, 2015 Once again, our church will serve as the base for the United Way’s semi-annual count of the homeless population in Marathon County. Volunteers from around the county will meet in our Fellowship Hall on Wednesday, January 28, for instructions and coffee at 9:00 pm, then go out to count those in our community without shelter. The next morning at 7:00, back in the Fellowship Hall, we’ll be serving breakfast to the homeless and to community volunteers at “Project Connect” - a place where people may meet with representatives from agencies and programs that work with housing needs. And this year, our church is helping with a new initiative, a Winter Closet. We would like to give away winter coats, gloves, scarves, hats, boots, and any other protective gear that might help people who are often exposed to the cold. If you have winter gear in good condition that you could donate, please bring it to the church. Thank you to Pat Higgins and the men’s group for spearheading this drive.
Wednesday ChurchFamily Nights Many churches schedule activities for the whole family on Wednesdays. So do we! Be part of our Wednesday ChurchFamily Nights to build family, faith and church community connections, January 7-February 11.
Family Meal, 5:15-6:00pm Buffet table catered by The Mint Café at a reasonable cost. Weekly menu is posted in the Parlor and you can sign up to bring a dessert or salad in lieu of a donation. All ages welcome at this church family gathering. January 7: Baked Chicken January 14: Roast Beef January 21: Roast Pork Loin January 28: Swedish Meatballs February 4: Swiss Steak February 11: Roast Turkey
Children’s Music Class, 5:45-6:15pm This popular activity resumes January 7 in Bell Room.
Children’s Activities until 7:30pm Activities organized by age groups as appropriate from 5:45pm (and 6:15pm) until 7:30pm.
Adult Learning, 6:15-7:30pm
Africa ELI, 2013-2014
Imagine No Malaria
Our partnership with this program in South Sudan continues. To date, we have raised $2,176.00 toward their new well and the new classroom building.
Thank you to all who gave in to this Church and Conference-wide initiative in November. Our goal this year is $4,000, and so far we have collected $624.40.
COOKIE WALK REPORT
Bring 4th Food
The United Methodist Women would like to thank everyone who made our annual Cookie Walk successful again. It couldn't have been done without the bakers, decorators, bread makers, arrangers, sellers, dishwashers, Coffee Hour workers and especially the buyers! All the proceeds go to mission work locally, nationally and globally to help children, youth and women wherever there is a need. The remaining cookies and treats went to local missions including the Community Christmas Dinner. To find out more about the UMW, ask a United Methodist Woman. Also, learn more about us on Sunday, January 18th.
This month, our
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Disciples in the Making
4th Sunday Food collection (January 25) will be given to the Women’s Community
We are offering two opportunities during the six weeks before Lent begins: 1) a bible study with Pastor Jerry on the Book of Revelation; and 2) Cool Conversations for Couples.
Another Study on Revelation: Will This Stuff Never End? The Left Behind books just got another movie, with Nick Cage this time instead of Kirk Cameron. Once again, the End Times have elbowed themselves into the national consciousness - or at least the version of them that involves a Rapture and a SevenYear Tribulation and a Millennium of Christ reigning on earth before a final battle. But that’s all in the Bible, right? Well, let’s see. Let’s spend some time on Wednesday evenings looking at what the Bible actually says and how different people over the centuries have interpreted it. Some people seem to spend all their time in Revelation, as if that were all that mattered in scripture. Others spend no time there at all, as if it were an accidental download that God had meant to delete before printing. Let’s see if there is a way to take this book seriously without turning into more religious hacks predicting the date of the end, over and over. Beginning January 7, at 6:15pm, following the Wednesday night meals.
Twelve Days of Christmas Don’t short change yourself on celebrating the great feast of the Incarnation, which extends to January 6 in many traditions. We had an exciting Advent, including the Lessons & Carols service and the Children’s program. Then the gift of Pastor Jerry’s story on Christmas eve. Many thanks, by the way, to all who contributed to the children’s program. That morning we found out the girl playing the role of Mary was sick. Courtney Rohland rose to the occasion with only one walk through the script, which we have posted on Sermon Links at http:// fumcwausau.org/ Angels were superb—as is their nature. Children had a hand in writing the lines this year, and two high school youth, Sarah Cowan and Danielle Del Conte, have already volunteered to head the writing team for 2015. They welcome other collaborators.
Community Shabbat — January 23 The Community Shabbat is Mt. Sinai Congregation’s annual service and open house when they "slow down the service" and take time to explain the meaning of many of the prayers and rituals. Afterwards, gather for an Oneg Shabbat (a Shabbat social) when Rabbi Dan is available to answer questions. This year's Community Shabbat will be on Friday evening, January 23, 7:30-9:30pm. Groups and individuals are welcome to come, but they ask that we RSVP so they can get a sense of the numbers of visitors for the evening—sign-up sheet is in the Parlor.
Youth Lock-In — January 23 With a tie into the Shabbat service, Zoë Martin and Karli Johnson are planning a January Lock-In. You can contact them with your suggestions. Details are not final, but we will probably gather at 6:00pm at church to prep for the Shabbat—so our questions aren’t too dumb; stay for the social and then return to church for activities and overnight at church. We need adult chaperones, too! Notable Quote "Christians seem to think Christ is Jesus’ last name. What Jesus allows us to imagine—because we see it in him—is that the divine and the human are forever one. God did not just take on one human nature, although that is where we could first risk imagining it in the body of Jesus. God took on all human nature and said “yes” to it forever! In varying degrees and with infinite qualities, God took on everything physical, material, and natural as himself. That is the full meaning of the Incarnation. To allow such a momentous truth, to fully believe it, to enjoy it in practical ways, to suffer it with and for others—this is what it means to be a Christian! Nothing less will do now. Nothing less will save the world." — Richard Rohr
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FAITH FORMATION God Is Forming All of Us... New Year’s Resolutions Natalie Bannon [www.umcom.org/learn/best-newyears-resolutions-for-connecting-with-your-community] notes four common resolutions people make at this time of year: get fit, help others, spiritual boost and career improvement. Supporting a friend or partner in their goals is a way to connect with them on their journey. A United Methodist church in Iowa sponsors exercise groups. A physical fitness program is a way to welcome others and can lead to a consideration of spiritual fitness. One of the most common New Year's resolutions is volunteering to help others. Participating in or creating an outreach project builds our local church and community. Find ideas at umcom.org/rethinkchurch. Take advantage of service opportunities in the Wausau area. Are you resolving to pray more and make additional time to read the Bible? Consider starting a small group to encourage each other to keep this resolution. Abundant group resources are available. Intentional time to grow your spiritual life can also help manage stress. Another resolution people often make is to improve their work lives through new career opportunities. In Georgia the Roswell United Methodist Church offers a job ministry connected with Crossroads Career Network at www.crossroadscareer.org. What a blessing to help someone find work. As you craft a New Year’s resolution, consider how you might put some aspect of our baptismal vows into specific, practical action. Make your faith real, incarnate.
CORE Time Together At First United Methodist Church in Wausau, we talk and walk four purposes of Care, Formation, Worship and Outreach. When we spend CORE time together, we grow in our values and support others. I am the Vine, you are the branches. — John 15:5
CORE time together has two goals: 1. Know the Vine. Focus and try on for size one of our four purposes of being church. 2. Know the Branches. In the process of practicing a CORE purpose together, get to know others better. “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”— Matthew 18:20 ANYONE can initiate an invitation to spend CORE time together: 1. Choose a focus and share an invitation we can post in bulletins, Facebook, etc. 2. Read, consider, and RSVP to an invitation as they arise. Listen to the Spirit...keep it simple. Last Fall, because members took an initiative, we were blessed with two Hymn Sings, a Wednesday series on Prayer and another on Incarnation. What will be our Winter delight the next three months? What invitation can you create for “two or three” to gather a few times in the coming weeks?
The Baptismal Vows For United Methodists, the vows for baptism and for church membership are the same. “By one Spirit we are all baptized into one body” says the apostle (1 Corinthians 12:13): To renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of the world, and repent of one’s sin; To accept the freedom and power God gives to resist evil, injustice, and oppression; To confess Jesus Christ as Savior, put one’s whole trust in His grace, and promise to serve Him as one’s Lord; To remain a faithful member of Christ’s holy church and serve as Christ’s representative in the world; To be loyal to the United Methodist Church and do all in one’s power to strengthen its ministries; To participate faithfully in its ministries by one’s prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness; To receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. Page 8
Conversations for Couples "For the new year, we resolve to commit quality time to strengthen our relationship." Couples who make this, or a similar resolution, are invited to take a step with other couples on Wednesday, January 7— February 11, 6:15-7:30pm. We have invested in some “conversation starters” from www.bettermarriages.org/ to explore topics of interest, such as Communication, Feelings, Anger and Conflict, Relationship Assessment and Affirmation. Gatherings will include input, time for couple dialogue and some group sharing. Try out any or all of the scheduled times. Our goals include 1) better marriages and 2) improved couple-to-couple ministry in our church. Participating couples will decide what other resources we want to use—video programs or popular assessments such as “The Couple Checkup: Find Your Relationship Strengths.” We will also explore other marriage enrichment and peer ministry possibilities, including a Date Night or Church Dinner for Valentine’s Day.
OUTREACH January Mission Offering Community Meals Sometimes we start ministries ourselves: like the Personal Needs Closet and the Downtown Memory Café. Often those ministries become community ministries, as others get involved in them. Other times though, we’re the community getting involved in ministry begun by others. That is the case with the Community Meals that are served every Sunday evening at the First Presbyterian Church. We serve that meal every 5th Sunday and occasionally other times as needed. This month, our mission offering will go to underwrite the grocery bills of that ministry. And think about volunteering to help, too. We can use dishwashers, servers, greeters, and people to sit and talk. Gwen and Denny Carey head up this ministry and can answer questions if you have them.
A Year of Personal Needs, 2014 It hardly seems possible that we are closing our fourth full year of this ministry that has come to define our church in many people’s minds. (We began in September of 2010.) As you know, we are open only twice a month for two hours each time (1-3pm on the 2nd Tuesday; 9-11am on the 4th Saturday). By the numbers, here is what we have done this year. Number of separate visits: Number of different families: Individuals (in those families:
749 (avg. 33 visits each time open) 406 1,326
One concern that many have in any ministry like this is how we protect ourselves from being taken advantage of. The PNC is supposed to help people over a rough time, not provide a handout that enables people not to get a job. Of course there will always be those who play the charity system. With that in mind, we limit the number of times a family may visit the closet to four (4) times per calendar year. In light of that, here are some other numbers: Families who
used all four permitted visits: Families who visited us only once in 2014:
55 225
This corresponds to my own experience working at the closet. Very few people want to be there. Many are embarrassed to ask for help. Most only come when they can’t think of anything else to do. And we are there. Thank you. It’s been a good year.
Homegrown Mission Work We love to print reports like the one above, about the PNC, showing how the official ministries of our church - sponsored and carried out by our own members in our own building have done this or that great thing.
pictures on page 2.) Since starting out, Ray has invited others from our church to join him, involving Wes Ebert, Jerry Evans, and John Ohnstad. We are currently considering taking this ministry (Ramp Up Marathon County - RUMC) on as a part of our church’s Well, that’s good. But the task of the church, ministry, (which would make it the RUMC of FUMC) according to Matthew 28:18-20, is to make disciples. but the point is that Ray began the ministry on his own. With that in mind, the true measure of our success is not how many people we’ve given shampoo, but how many And let me tell you what Pat Higgins is doing. He’s of our own people are growing in ministry - which is the one who brought to the church the idea of the Winter something that doesn’t always happen in our own Closet for the Homeless (page 4). We’re already the base for the semi-annual homeless count, and we already ministries. serve breakfast the next morning. Why not also collect Let me tell you what Ray Nowaczyk has been up to. winter clothing to give away at the January 28-29 event? The community agency Faith in Action has recently Pat’s working with the United Way to coordinate this. discontinued that part of their program that builds ramps for people who have trouble with steps. So Ray and It’s good when the church starts programs as a some friends started doing it themselves. (Ray’s a group. But just remember, that’s not all the mission that skilled carpenter; he built the manger in the Christmas is being done. Page 5
Sunday
4
Monday
5
Tuesday
Wednesday 1
11:30am Savvy Seniors - The Mandarin
Office Closed 8:30am AA
Office Closed 4:00pm New Life UMC Meeting
8
9
8:30am AA 10:30am PNC Steering Committee 2:00pm Worship - Forest Park 6:30pm UMW Executive Committee
Office Closed 4:00pm New Life UMC Meeting
15
16
6
7
10:00am Program Staff
9:30am 5:15pm 5:45pm 6:15pm 6:15pm 6:30pm 7:30pm
11
13
14
10:00am Full Staff 1:00pm Personal Needs Closet Open 5:30pm Board of Trustees
9:30am 5:15pm 5:45pm 6:15pm 6:15pm 6:30pm 7:30pm
20
21
UMW Unit Meeting & 6:00pm Yoga Brunch 6:15pm NAOMI Martin 8:00am Morning Chapel Luther King 8:45am Education Hour Banquet 10:00am New Life UMC Worship 10:00am Worship 11:00am Coffee Hour 1:00pm Grapevine Faith Alliance Worship
10:00am Program Staff 1:00pm UMW Book Review Mission 6:00pm Staff-Parish Relations Committee 7:00pm Finance Committee
5:15pm 5:45pm 6:15pm 6:15pm 6:30pm 7:30pm
25
27
28
1:00pm Prayer Shawl Gathering 2:00pm Mt View Chapel Service 3:00pm Kennedy Park Chapel 6:00pm Care Council 7:00pm Welcome & Communications
5:15pm 5:45pm 6:15pm 6:15pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 9:00pm
12
8:00am 8:45am 10:00am 10:00am 11:00am 11:15am 1:00pm
18
Morning Chapel 6:00pm Yoga Education Hour New Life UMC Worship Worship Coffee Hour Confirmation Mentors’ Meeting Grapevine Faith Alliance Worship
UMW SUNDAY
19
11:15am
BRING 4th FOOD SUNDAY
8:00am 8:45am 10:00am 10:00am 11:00am 1:00pm
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Morning Chapel 6:00pm Yoga Education Hour New Life UMC Worship Worship Coffee Hour Grapevine Faith Alliance Worship
Sunshine Gals Meal Children's Music Class Adult Classes Nursery/Child Activities Jubilate Bells Chancel Choir
Mary Faith UMW Circle Meal Children's Music Class Adult Classes Nursery/Child Activities Jubilate Bells Chancel Choir
NEW YEAR'S DAY
Friday
31 NEW YEAR'S EVE DAY
Morning Chapel 3:00pm Communion - Communion - The Gardens 8:45am Education Hour 6:00pm Yoga 10:00am New Life UMC Worship 10:00am Worship - Communion 11:00am Coffee Hour 1:00pm Grapevine Faith Alliance Worship
8:00am
Thursday
3
10
17
8:00am Messenger Articles Due Office Closed 8:30am AA 4:00pm New Life UMC 10:30am Downtown Memory Meeting Café 5:30pm Love Hope UMW Circle 6:00pm Missions Team 6:30pm Worship Design Team
22 Meal Children's Music Class Adult Classes Nursery/Child Activities Jubilate Bells Chancel Choir
2
Saturday
8:30am
23 AA
29 Meal 7:00am Children's Music Class Adult Classes 8:30am Nursery/Child Activities Jubilate Bells Chancel Choir Point-in-Time Homeless Count
Office Closed 9:00am Personal Needs Closet 4:00pm New Life UMC Open Meeting 6:00pm Youth Lock-In 7:30pm Community Shabbat - Mt. Sinai Congregation
30 Project Connect Breakfast AA
24
31
Office Closed 4:00pm New Life UMC Meeting
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Sunday
4
Monday
5
Tuesday
Wednesday 1
11:30am Savvy Seniors - The Mandarin
Office Closed 8:30am AA
Office Closed 4:00pm New Life UMC Meeting
8
9
8:30am AA 10:30am PNC Steering Committee 2:00pm Worship - Forest Park 6:30pm UMW Executive Committee
Office Closed 4:00pm New Life UMC Meeting
15
16
6
7
10:00am Program Staff
9:30am 5:15pm 5:45pm 6:15pm 6:15pm 6:30pm 7:30pm
11
13
14
10:00am Full Staff 1:00pm Personal Needs Closet Open 5:30pm Board of Trustees
9:30am 5:15pm 5:45pm 6:15pm 6:15pm 6:30pm 7:30pm
20
21
UMW Unit Meeting & 6:00pm Yoga Brunch 6:15pm NAOMI Martin 8:00am Morning Chapel Luther King 8:45am Education Hour Banquet 10:00am New Life UMC Worship 10:00am Worship 11:00am Coffee Hour 1:00pm Grapevine Faith Alliance Worship
10:00am Program Staff 1:00pm UMW Book Review Mission 6:00pm Staff-Parish Relations Committee 7:00pm Finance Committee
5:15pm 5:45pm 6:15pm 6:15pm 6:30pm 7:30pm
25
27
28
1:00pm Prayer Shawl Gathering 2:00pm Mt View Chapel Service 3:00pm Kennedy Park Chapel 6:00pm Care Council 7:00pm Welcome & Communications
5:15pm 5:45pm 6:15pm 6:15pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 9:00pm
12
8:00am 8:45am 10:00am 10:00am 11:00am 11:15am 1:00pm
18
Morning Chapel 6:00pm Yoga Education Hour New Life UMC Worship Worship Coffee Hour Confirmation Mentors’ Meeting Grapevine Faith Alliance Worship
UMW SUNDAY
19
11:15am
BRING 4th FOOD SUNDAY
8:00am 8:45am 10:00am 10:00am 11:00am 1:00pm
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Morning Chapel 6:00pm Yoga Education Hour New Life UMC Worship Worship Coffee Hour Grapevine Faith Alliance Worship
Sunshine Gals Meal Children's Music Class Adult Classes Nursery/Child Activities Jubilate Bells Chancel Choir
Mary Faith UMW Circle Meal Children's Music Class Adult Classes Nursery/Child Activities Jubilate Bells Chancel Choir
NEW YEAR'S DAY
Friday
31 NEW YEAR'S EVE DAY
Morning Chapel 3:00pm Communion - Communion - The Gardens 8:45am Education Hour 6:00pm Yoga 10:00am New Life UMC Worship 10:00am Worship - Communion 11:00am Coffee Hour 1:00pm Grapevine Faith Alliance Worship
8:00am
Thursday
3
10
17
8:00am Messenger Articles Due Office Closed 8:30am AA 4:00pm New Life UMC 10:30am Downtown Memory Meeting Café 5:30pm Love Hope UMW Circle 6:00pm Missions Team 6:30pm Worship Design Team
22 Meal Children's Music Class Adult Classes Nursery/Child Activities Jubilate Bells Chancel Choir
2
Saturday
8:30am
23 AA
29 Meal 7:00am Children's Music Class Adult Classes 8:30am Nursery/Child Activities Jubilate Bells Chancel Choir Point-in-Time Homeless Count
Office Closed 9:00am Personal Needs Closet 4:00pm New Life UMC Open Meeting 6:00pm Youth Lock-In 7:30pm Community Shabbat - Mt. Sinai Congregation
30 Project Connect Breakfast AA
24
31
Office Closed 4:00pm New Life UMC Meeting
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FAITH FORMATION God Is Forming All of Us... New Year’s Resolutions Natalie Bannon [www.umcom.org/learn/best-newyears-resolutions-for-connecting-with-your-community] notes four common resolutions people make at this time of year: get fit, help others, spiritual boost and career improvement. Supporting a friend or partner in their goals is a way to connect with them on their journey. A United Methodist church in Iowa sponsors exercise groups. A physical fitness program is a way to welcome others and can lead to a consideration of spiritual fitness. One of the most common New Year's resolutions is volunteering to help others. Participating in or creating an outreach project builds our local church and community. Find ideas at umcom.org/rethinkchurch. Take advantage of service opportunities in the Wausau area. Are you resolving to pray more and make additional time to read the Bible? Consider starting a small group to encourage each other to keep this resolution. Abundant group resources are available. Intentional time to grow your spiritual life can also help manage stress. Another resolution people often make is to improve their work lives through new career opportunities. In Georgia the Roswell United Methodist Church offers a job ministry connected with Crossroads Career Network at www.crossroadscareer.org. What a blessing to help someone find work. As you craft a New Year’s resolution, consider how you might put some aspect of our baptismal vows into specific, practical action. Make your faith real, incarnate.
CORE Time Together At First United Methodist Church in Wausau, we talk and walk four purposes of Care, Formation, Worship and Outreach. When we spend CORE time together, we grow in our values and support others. I am the Vine, you are the branches. — John 15:5
CORE time together has two goals: 1. Know the Vine. Focus and try on for size one of our four purposes of being church. 2. Know the Branches. In the process of practicing a CORE purpose together, get to know others better. “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”— Matthew 18:20 ANYONE can initiate an invitation to spend CORE time together: 1. Choose a focus and share an invitation we can post in bulletins, Facebook, etc. 2. Read, consider, and RSVP to an invitation as they arise. Listen to the Spirit...keep it simple. Last Fall, because members took an initiative, we were blessed with two Hymn Sings, a Wednesday series on Prayer and another on Incarnation. What will be our Winter delight the next three months? What invitation can you create for “two or three” to gather a few times in the coming weeks?
The Baptismal Vows For United Methodists, the vows for baptism and for church membership are the same. “By one Spirit we are all baptized into one body” says the apostle (1 Corinthians 12:13): To renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of the world, and repent of one’s sin; To accept the freedom and power God gives to resist evil, injustice, and oppression; To confess Jesus Christ as Savior, put one’s whole trust in His grace, and promise to serve Him as one’s Lord; To remain a faithful member of Christ’s holy church and serve as Christ’s representative in the world; To be loyal to the United Methodist Church and do all in one’s power to strengthen its ministries; To participate faithfully in its ministries by one’s prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness; To receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. Page 8
Conversations for Couples "For the new year, we resolve to commit quality time to strengthen our relationship." Couples who make this, or a similar resolution, are invited to take a step with other couples on Wednesday, January 7— February 11, 6:15-7:30pm. We have invested in some “conversation starters” from www.bettermarriages.org/ to explore topics of interest, such as Communication, Feelings, Anger and Conflict, Relationship Assessment and Affirmation. Gatherings will include input, time for couple dialogue and some group sharing. Try out any or all of the scheduled times. Our goals include 1) better marriages and 2) improved couple-to-couple ministry in our church. Participating couples will decide what other resources we want to use—video programs or popular assessments such as “The Couple Checkup: Find Your Relationship Strengths.” We will also explore other marriage enrichment and peer ministry possibilities, including a Date Night or Church Dinner for Valentine’s Day.
OUTREACH January Mission Offering Community Meals Sometimes we start ministries ourselves: like the Personal Needs Closet and the Downtown Memory Café. Often those ministries become community ministries, as others get involved in them. Other times though, we’re the community getting involved in ministry begun by others. That is the case with the Community Meals that are served every Sunday evening at the First Presbyterian Church. We serve that meal every 5th Sunday and occasionally other times as needed. This month, our mission offering will go to underwrite the grocery bills of that ministry. And think about volunteering to help, too. We can use dishwashers, servers, greeters, and people to sit and talk. Gwen and Denny Carey head up this ministry and can answer questions if you have them.
A Year of Personal Needs, 2014 It hardly seems possible that we are closing our fourth full year of this ministry that has come to define our church in many people’s minds. (We began in September of 2010.) As you know, we are open only twice a month for two hours each time (1-3pm on the 2nd Tuesday; 9-11am on the 4th Saturday). By the numbers, here is what we have done this year. Number of separate visits: Number of different families: Individuals (in those families:
749 (avg. 33 visits each time open) 406 1,326
One concern that many have in any ministry like this is how we protect ourselves from being taken advantage of. The PNC is supposed to help people over a rough time, not provide a handout that enables people not to get a job. Of course there will always be those who play the charity system. With that in mind, we limit the number of times a family may visit the closet to four (4) times per calendar year. In light of that, here are some other numbers: Families who
used all four permitted visits: Families who visited us only once in 2014:
55 225
This corresponds to my own experience working at the closet. Very few people want to be there. Many are embarrassed to ask for help. Most only come when they can’t think of anything else to do. And we are there. Thank you. It’s been a good year.
Homegrown Mission Work We love to print reports like the one above, about the PNC, showing how the official ministries of our church - sponsored and carried out by our own members in our own building have done this or that great thing.
pictures on page 2.) Since starting out, Ray has invited others from our church to join him, involving Wes Ebert, Jerry Evans, and John Ohnstad. We are currently considering taking this ministry (Ramp Up Marathon County - RUMC) on as a part of our church’s Well, that’s good. But the task of the church, ministry, (which would make it the RUMC of FUMC) according to Matthew 28:18-20, is to make disciples. but the point is that Ray began the ministry on his own. With that in mind, the true measure of our success is not how many people we’ve given shampoo, but how many And let me tell you what Pat Higgins is doing. He’s of our own people are growing in ministry - which is the one who brought to the church the idea of the Winter something that doesn’t always happen in our own Closet for the Homeless (page 4). We’re already the base for the semi-annual homeless count, and we already ministries. serve breakfast the next morning. Why not also collect Let me tell you what Ray Nowaczyk has been up to. winter clothing to give away at the January 28-29 event? The community agency Faith in Action has recently Pat’s working with the United Way to coordinate this. discontinued that part of their program that builds ramps for people who have trouble with steps. So Ray and It’s good when the church starts programs as a some friends started doing it themselves. (Ray’s a group. But just remember, that’s not all the mission that skilled carpenter; he built the manger in the Christmas is being done. Page 5
CARE / OUTREACH UNITED METHODIST WOMEN Circle Meetings January 14 Mary Faith Circle - 9:30am January 15 Love Hope Circle - 5:30pm (Bring finger food)
Other Upcoming Events: January 7 Sunshine Gals - 9:30am January 8 Executive Committee - 6:30pm January 18 UMW Sunday Installation of Officers - 10:00am UMW Unit Meeting & Brunch - 11:15am January 20 Book Review, Missions - 1:00pm The Mission Store reports that it sold $1,559.00 of Third World handcrafts at their December 14 store at our church. Thank you all.
...All the Time
Homeless Count, Breakfast, and, Now, Winter Closet January 28-29, 2015 Once again, our church will serve as the base for the United Way’s semi-annual count of the homeless population in Marathon County. Volunteers from around the county will meet in our Fellowship Hall on Wednesday, January 28, for instructions and coffee at 9:00 pm, then go out to count those in our community without shelter. The next morning at 7:00, back in the Fellowship Hall, we’ll be serving breakfast to the homeless and to community volunteers at “Project Connect” - a place where people may meet with representatives from agencies and programs that work with housing needs. And this year, our church is helping with a new initiative, a Winter Closet. We would like to give away winter coats, gloves, scarves, hats, boots, and any other protective gear that might help people who are often exposed to the cold. If you have winter gear in good condition that you could donate, please bring it to the church. Thank you to Pat Higgins and the men’s group for spearheading this drive.
Wednesday ChurchFamily Nights Many churches schedule activities for the whole family on Wednesdays. So do we! Be part of our Wednesday ChurchFamily Nights to build family, faith and church community connections, January 7-February 11.
Family Meal, 5:15-6:00pm Buffet table catered by The Mint Café at a reasonable cost. Weekly menu is posted in the Parlor and you can sign up to bring a dessert or salad in lieu of a donation. All ages welcome at this church family gathering. January 7: Baked Chicken January 14: Roast Beef January 21: Roast Pork Loin January 28: Swedish Meatballs February 4: Swiss Steak February 11: Roast Turkey
Children’s Music Class, 5:45-6:15pm This popular activity resumes January 7 in Bell Room.
Children’s Activities until 7:30pm Activities organized by age groups as appropriate from 5:45pm (and 6:15pm) until 7:30pm.
Adult Learning, 6:15-7:30pm
Africa ELI, 2013-2014
Imagine No Malaria
Our partnership with this program in South Sudan continues. To date, we have raised $2,176.00 toward their new well and the new classroom building.
Thank you to all who gave in to this Church and Conference-wide initiative in November. Our goal this year is $4,000, and so far we have collected $624.40.
COOKIE WALK REPORT
Bring 4th Food
The United Methodist Women would like to thank everyone who made our annual Cookie Walk successful again. It couldn't have been done without the bakers, decorators, bread makers, arrangers, sellers, dishwashers, Coffee Hour workers and especially the buyers! All the proceeds go to mission work locally, nationally and globally to help children, youth and women wherever there is a need. The remaining cookies and treats went to local missions including the Community Christmas Dinner. To find out more about the UMW, ask a United Methodist Woman. Also, learn more about us on Sunday, January 18th.
This month, our
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Disciples in the Making
4th Sunday Food collection (January 25) will be given to the Women’s Community
We are offering two opportunities during the six weeks before Lent begins: 1) a bible study with Pastor Jerry on the Book of Revelation; and 2) Cool Conversations for Couples.
Another Study on Revelation: Will This Stuff Never End? The Left Behind books just got another movie, with Nick Cage this time instead of Kirk Cameron. Once again, the End Times have elbowed themselves into the national consciousness - or at least the version of them that involves a Rapture and a SevenYear Tribulation and a Millennium of Christ reigning on earth before a final battle. But that’s all in the Bible, right? Well, let’s see. Let’s spend some time on Wednesday evenings looking at what the Bible actually says and how different people over the centuries have interpreted it. Some people seem to spend all their time in Revelation, as if that were all that mattered in scripture. Others spend no time there at all, as if it were an accidental download that God had meant to delete before printing. Let’s see if there is a way to take this book seriously without turning into more religious hacks predicting the date of the end, over and over. Beginning January 7, at 6:15pm, following the Wednesday night meals.
Twelve Days of Christmas Don’t short change yourself on celebrating the great feast of the Incarnation, which extends to January 6 in many traditions. We had an exciting Advent, including the Lessons & Carols service and the Children’s program. Then the gift of Pastor Jerry’s story on Christmas eve. Many thanks, by the way, to all who contributed to the children’s program. That morning we found out the girl playing the role of Mary was sick. Courtney Rohland rose to the occasion with only one walk through the script, which we have posted on Sermon Links at http:// fumcwausau.org/ Angels were superb—as is their nature. Children had a hand in writing the lines this year, and two high school youth, Sarah Cowan and Danielle Del Conte, have already volunteered to head the writing team for 2015. They welcome other collaborators.
Community Shabbat — January 23 The Community Shabbat is Mt. Sinai Congregation’s annual service and open house when they "slow down the service" and take time to explain the meaning of many of the prayers and rituals. Afterwards, gather for an Oneg Shabbat (a Shabbat social) when Rabbi Dan is available to answer questions. This year's Community Shabbat will be on Friday evening, January 23, 7:30-9:30pm. Groups and individuals are welcome to come, but they ask that we RSVP so they can get a sense of the numbers of visitors for the evening—sign-up sheet is in the Parlor.
Youth Lock-In — January 23 With a tie into the Shabbat service, Zoë Martin and Karli Johnson are planning a January Lock-In. You can contact them with your suggestions. Details are not final, but we will probably gather at 6:00pm at church to prep for the Shabbat—so our questions aren’t too dumb; stay for the social and then return to church for activities and overnight at church. We need adult chaperones, too! Notable Quote "Christians seem to think Christ is Jesus’ last name. What Jesus allows us to imagine—because we see it in him—is that the divine and the human are forever one. God did not just take on one human nature, although that is where we could first risk imagining it in the body of Jesus. God took on all human nature and said “yes” to it forever! In varying degrees and with infinite qualities, God took on everything physical, material, and natural as himself. That is the full meaning of the Incarnation. To allow such a momentous truth, to fully believe it, to enjoy it in practical ways, to suffer it with and for others—this is what it means to be a Christian! Nothing less will do now. Nothing less will save the world." — Richard Rohr
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CARE
Resources for Ministry Financial Update - November 2014 YTD Revenue Pledged Offering
Milestones
Expense $ 220,111.40
Salaries & Benefits
$ 210,286.74
Non-Pledged Offering
$
47,456.18
Programming
$
27,866.75
Other
$
38,196.52
Apportionments to Conference
$
50,369.00
Building Operating Expenses
$
60,450.61
Total Expenses
$ 348,973.10
Total Revenue
$ 305,764.10
Net YTD
$
-43,209.00
YTD 2014 Pledged & Non-Pledged Offerings compared to YTD 2013 YTD 2014 Total Expenses compared to YTD 2013 YTD 2014 Other Income compared to YTD 2013 YTD 2014 Endowment Transfer compared to 2013
$741.41 higher 5,164.77 lower 2,706.83 higher 10,000.00 lower
————————————————————————————————————————————
Sacred Space: Caring for Our Place of Ministry In January, we will resume our Wednesday dinners in the Fellowship Hall, and it will become a place for the family to gather and grow. Then in late January, the Fellowship Hall will once again be the base for the community outreach to the homeless. It is a place for ministry. And thanks to the Aesthetics Committee and a litany of volunteers, that place for ministry is no longer a sickly pale institutional green. On December 6, that team completely repainted the Fellowship Hall, and - for good measure - scrubbed down the Chapel and Sanctuary. They worked from 7:00am until about 7:00pm, preparing our space for service. Thank you to these members: Nancy Bogumill, Bruce Brandenburg, Eileen Denfeld, Jerry Evans, Yvonne Firary, Terry Flath, Don and Sue Kissinger, Bonnie Goertz, Jen and Mickey Marzu, Beth, Brian, Courtney, Logan and Morgan Rohland, Alice and Stan Schacht, Vivian Thompson, Anna and Ella Weiland, Barb Weyenburg, Bob Wylie, and Diane and Mike Zahn. We are particularly grateful to Brian Rohland and Nancy Bogumill who used friendships and contacts in Page 10
the community to bring this project in at about a quarter of its actual cost. Heidi, from Sherwin Williams Paint provided paint at pennies on the dollar, and Dave St. Clair, Jr., and Inthasone Chindakone (Sing) from JAS Construction not only brought their professional painting equipment and scaffolding but stayed and put in around 16 hours of volunteer labor. Everyone worked hard that day to refurbish our own space, but no one worked harder than Junior and Sing. Thank you to all!
We grieve this month with John Ohnstad whose mother, Maxine, died on December 24 in Madison, and with all the family and friends of our own Ruth Church, who died on December 26.
We Celebrate the Downtown Memory Café As we end 2014 and look back over the year, several things stand out, but perhaps most exciting is a new ministry begun. The Downt own Memory Café was proposed by Charlie Schoenfeld, was embraced by our Ministries Council, was planned and conducted by the new Care Council, and has lightened the lives of dozens of people dealing with the effects of dementia since opening in May. Through the Café, we have seen members and guests find welcome and laughter in this place; and, as a church, we have seen members inspired to new levels of service. It has been a good year.
1
2 3 5
Alice Schacht 9 Peter Mattiacci Brad Opper Jennifer Johnson 12 Michael Turner Alonzo Dvorak Sandra Salzman Amelia Higgins 13 Debra Martin John Stange Susan Rye Grant Smart 15 P. Elaine Sorenson* Remi Taylor David Erickson Parker Frey 16 Duane LaCrosse
6
Mitchell Goertz
7
Gail Cain 20 Alan Hauber Scott Denfeld Lila Rouse Mary Towle Samantha Sutton 21 Mary Ann Dykes Christine Melville Arlene Gundelfinger Wib Johnson Michael Sydow LaRae Horton 22 Robin Jones Presley Wyrick
23 Stephen Moede 25 Gbemi Taylor Brittney Johnson 26 Don Misoni 27 Dorothy Hackbarth* Shirley Johnson Krueger Sophie Marschall Julie Willems Van Dijk Nathan Werhane Brady Dahl
19 Andy Sutton 31 Jeffery Koss
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* Signifies an honored elder in a senior facility. We invite you this month to remember these members in your prayers. ———————————————————————————————— Savvy Seniors will not meet in January, having met on New Year’s Eve Day at the Mandarin. The next lunch will be at 11:30am on Monday, February 4 - place to be announced.
——————————————
Are We a Church That Cares for Each Other? Apparently So!
FUMC Wired Website: fumcwausau.org With links to the weekly sermon (text and podcast) facebook.com/WausauFUMC WiFi Network: FUMC Public (password: fumcpublic)
Many of you have seen this on our church Facebook page, but it’s worth noting again. A Wausau man has begun a 52week journey, planning to visit 52 different churches. We were his Week 7, on November 23. Now that was a good week for him to visit. That was the week we collected food, personal items, and money to fight Malaria; so he saw our heart for mission. But what he commented on was our love for each other. Some quotes from his blog: The entire congregation was proud of their church. The service began with the Welcome and Greeting. This wasn’t the typical, “make sure to greet those around you” type of forced handshakes . . . No, First United was a true church family. Everyone . . . got off their keisters and floated around . . . to have genuine conversations. Of all the churches I’ve visited, this one felt the most like going home to visit friends and relatives on Thanksgiving. Thank you for being the church that so joyously welcomed this pilgrim. To read the whole blog, go to: https://medium.com/52-churches-in-52-weeks/toilet-paper-puns-are-tearable-5ca68c46cb9e. Page 3
Worship at Forest Park a monthly service.
Giving thanks and giving back November 23, 2014
Preparing our house for the coming of Christ!
December hymn sing lead by Nancy Runner
Our men’s fellowship learning to bake pies!
Church staff having fun and fellowship during Christmas!
MUSIC - STORY -SONG ANNUAL LESSONS & CAROLS and SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRAM STAFF Pastor:
Gerald Morris
jerry@fumcwausau.org Music Ministry Coordinator: Susan Hamilton susan@fumcwausau.org Faith Formation Coordinator:
United Methodist Women Annual Baking Day, on Dec. 11th, for the Cookie Walk
2014 is over...Greetings to 2015! What a wonderful year it has been - however, I am left wondering where did 2014 go and what will 2015 bring for us? I cannot begin to show my appreciation to the people that have made all of our services possible the talent and dedication of all involved has shone through. I love and thank each and every one of you for making dreams come true. All of our choirs will be back in rehearsal on January 7, 2015 - let’s make 2015 even bigger and better!
Leo Jacoby
leo@fumcwausau.org Building Engineer: Andy White Accounts & Records Supervisor: Karen Kellbach karen@fumcwausau.org Secretary:
Arlene Trull arlene@fumcwausau.org
Karen and Steve Beck
Corine Laub and Tom Kelley
Web-site: www.fumcwausau.org E-mail: fumc@fumcwausau.org
The Messenger First United Methodist Church of Wausau 903 Third Street Wausau, WI 54403
NON PROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
JANUARY
PERMIT NO. 542
2015
WAUSAU, WI 54403
Church Purpose:
Sunday, January 11, 1st Sunday after Epiphany 8:00am - Morning Chapel 10:00am - Worship “An Oppressed People” Exodus 3:1-12 Sunday, January 18, United Methodist Women Day 8:00am - Morning Chapel 10:00am - Worship “The Other People” Judges 3
Sunday, February 1, 4th Sunday after Epiphany 8:00am - Morning Chapel 10:00am - Worship “A Comfortable People” Jeremiah 2:1-8; Ezekiel 22:23-31 Sunday, February 8, 5th Sunday after Epiphany 8:00am - Morning Chapel 10:00am - Worship “Different People?” Isaiah 56:3-8 *We observe Open Communion. All are welcome at God’s table.
THE MESSENGER
Sunday, January 4, Epiphany 8:00am - Morning Chapel with Communion* 10:00am - Worship with Communion* “A Minority People” Genesis 34
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF WAUSAU
Live and Share God's Love
Sunday, January 25, 3rd Sunday after Epiphany 8:00am - Morning Chapel 10:00am - Worship “A Comfortable People” Jeremiah 2:1-8; Ezekiel 22:23-31
Echoes There are, especially in the South, some churches that call themselves “Primitive.” There are Primitive Methodists, Primitive Baptists, and lots of Primitive Other Stuff. What those churches mean by that term is that they don’t do anything – anything – unless it is explicitly described in the New Testament. Sunday Schools? No; they aren’t mentioned in the New Testament. Missionary boards and sending agencies? No; not explicitly named in scripture. Musical instruments? Nope. Not in the New Testament. The idea seems to be that whatever the New Testament Church is described as doing is the way things ought to be – and the only way things ought to be.
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Sermon Series: Echoes for God’s People
FROM PASTOR JERRY’S DESK
Wouldn’t it be simple if we could do that? If we could just take the New Testament as the sole and final authority on everything, exactly as it is? What the NT says is final, and if the NT doesn’t mention it, then it’s wrong. But here are some of the consequences of that line of thought if we try to be consistent. Women would have to wear head coverings in church and could not have short hair (1 Cor. 11). Slavery would be perfectly fine (Eph. 6, 1 Tim. 6, Philemon, etc.). Not paying your full offering to church would be a capital offense (Acts 5). People from Crete would all be lazy, vicious, gluttons (Titus 1), and marriage would be a last resort, a necessary concession that God has allowed for weak people (1 Cor. 7). Sermons would last from dinner until midnight (Acts 20:7). It seems better to me – though admittedly much harder – to read the inspired words of scripture as the record of God’s people trying to find their way in a difficult world. Called by God, empowered by God, seeking God, they sometimes respond to their world in ways that demonstrate the very heart of God. Other times they screw up royally. Our task as interpreters of scripture is not just to do whatever they did in the Bible but rather to look to the witness of scripture for echoes of our own situation and learn from both the victories and the mistakes of God’s people. We’re going to explore this task in the coming weeks. On Sunday mornings, I will be preaching about some of those “Echoes.” We will look at seven different times when the community of the faithful (Israel in the Old Testament; the Church in the New) faced challenges in their society, how they responded, and – most of all – where was God in it all? We will encounter heroes worth emulating. We will encounter horrible mistakes worth avoiding. We will meet people of faith who fit easily and comfortably in their culture, and we will meet others who stand against culture for all they are worth. But mostly, I suspect, we will meet ourselves. Whatever we find, though, I can promise you this: we aren’t going to encounter scripture that serves as a straightforward blueprint for our lives. What we will find will be much messier and immeasurably more difficult than that: we will hear stories that invite us to think, to reflect, and then to choose our own way among the echoes.
Phone 715 842-2201
Website: www.fumcwausau.org