from the desk of pastor ted…

Inside this issue:

Mardi Gras Dinner 2

Men’s Bible Study 2

Property Team 5

Thank You 5

Lent and Holy Week 6

Summer Worship 6

Ruth’s Pantry 6

Library News 7

Anniversary Celebration 8

2018

From the Desk of Pastor Connie…

Grace Lutheran Church of Winchester

Ruth’s Pantry

needs canned soups and cereal (hot or cold)

Greetings,

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

I found an old manuscript of my father’s, Rev. Charles Murnan, in

which he wrote about Ash Wednesday. “Ashes are not a symbol of

fear, that in our death it will be said, ‘Dust to dust and ashes to ashes,’

but are rather a symbol that in the death of Christ we have been

signed with His cross and sealed in our Baptism to His death and res-

urrection. It is a day of affirmation. We can look at all of life, even our

own, and see that it is in God’s keeping that we can look all the way,

even to the end of our life, with confidence. Our union with Christ in

faith is a union with His death and resurrection. Lord, make us with the

ashes that identify us as your people, sealed by Your Holy Spirit and

marked with the cross of Christ forever. Amen.”

The cross of Jesus is the power of God’s healing love, which gives

hope and new life. The cross is both the sign of death and redemption

for all and calls us to repentance. To die to sin. As Christ died for our

sins, so we can live in Christ. He has made it possible to be “right” with

God. Now we can change, grow, be disciples, and invite others to fol-

low Christ. Lent is an ancient practice for Christians, to prepare the

soul for the grand celebration of Easter, God’s gift of salvation in the

Risen Christ.

Ash Wednesday calls us to a journey inward where we encounter and

confront all the things that cause separation between God and our-

selves. It calls us to a personal and private journey, in the sense that

we look deep within at ourselves and not at others. This season of

Lent ask yourself the question, “How is it with you and the Lord?” Je-

sus raises the issue of self-examination by saying, “Where your treas-

ure is, there your heart will be also.” St. Augustine wrote, “Our hearts

are restless, until they find their rest in thee.”

There is no way to take this Lenten journey without looking inward . . .

without self-examination. In one of his speeches Martin Luther King,

Jr. said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Self-examination (Continued on page 2)

GLOW

During Lent, OWLS is com-

bined with the Wednesday

noon soup luncheon. There will

be NO OWLS on February 8.

Instead, the first Lenten Soup

Luncheon will be on Ash Wednesday, February

14. Lenten worship services will be held at 11:00

a.m. The Soup Luncheon will follow the worship

service at about noon.

As always, everyone is invited to enjoy the fel-

lowship of Grace members and guests while en-

joying a soup luncheon. “Potluck” items to com-

plement the soup luncheon are welcome but def-

initely not necessary.

OWLS

Mardi Gras Dinner The Mutual Ministry team will be hosting a Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday (Shrove Tuesday) dinner on Tuesday, February 13, from 5:30-7:00.

It will be a time for fellowship and an oppor-tunity for the congregation to continue to get to know and learn more about Pastor Connie and her family during this first year of her min-istry with Grace.

The Mutual Ministry team will be providing the main course and several side dishes. Every-one is invited to bring a dish to share, if they wish, but it is not required. Please come any-time between 5:30-7:00 p.m. for food, fellow-ship, and some Mardi Gras fun.

A free-will donation will supplement the Con-firmation Camp funds.

FVLH One- and 2-bedroom apart-

ments are available at Lin-

wood Place, a ministry of Fox

Valley Lutheran Homes, sup-

portive independent living is a

faith-based senior community.

Call Becky, John, or Brian to

arrange a tour. Becky (734-7225), John (419-

5754), Brian (840-3578)

Men’s Bible Study The weekly Men’s Bible

Study has resumed. The

“guys” are meeting at 7 p.m.

on Wednesdays. They are

working with a Bible study

series called The Story. This involves a short

video and then a discussion of the video. Study

books are available at church but are not neces-

sary for those who wish to participate. Join the

guys to grow your faith!

begins when we hear the simple words on

Ash Wednesday, “Remember that you are

dust, and to dust you shall return.”

As you begin your Lenten journey, look to the

cross of Christ and contemplate what chang-

es you need to make, to place God and your

spiritual life higher on your list of priorities.

Peace in Christ,

(Continued from page 1)

Pastor Connie

GLOW

2 Leona Umland 8824 Umland Road Larsen, WI 54947

5 Arden Eckstein 3960 W. Larsen Road Larsen, WI 54947

8 Clara Ingles 946 W. Cecil Street Neenah, WI 54956

Grace Lutheran Church of Winchester 8396 Steeple Hill Drive, Larsen, WI 54947

E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.glcw.org Phone: 920-836-2382

The Congregation Council Karen Bramer 920-707-1537 [email protected] Ryan Olson, President 920-729-6599 [email protected] Mark Rieckmann 920-727-1079 [email protected] Richard Terio, Secretary 920-540-1482 [email protected] Pete Uvaas, Vice President 920-470-1714 [email protected] Dayna Williamson 920-836-3211 [email protected] David Wisnefske, Treasurer 920-470-1711 [email protected] Pastor Connie Bramlett 920-205-2649 [email protected] Other Key Contacts Building and Grounds 920-470-2574 Rob Nelson, Chairperson Financial Clerk/Communications Alissa Olson 920-277-7619 [email protected] Ruth’s Pantry 920-475-9639 [email protected]

Facebook — Gayle Wisnefske — [email protected] Organists — Todd Repp, Jessica McGinnis, Carol Reichert, Gerry Marks

Custodians — Gene Walter, Kendrick Beal Power Point Master — Patti Nelson

Love flows from Grace

May you have the power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ!

12 Iona Anderson 8281 Anderson Avenue Larsen, WI 54947

19 Evelyn Schierland 8913 County Road M Larsen, WI 54947

28 Germaine Anderson 1447-7 Tullar Rd. Neenah, WI 54956

mailto:[email protected]

February 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

2

3

4 8:15 a.m. Worship

Service 9:30 a.m. Sunday

School and Confir-mation

9:30 a.m. Adult Forum 10:30 a.m. Worship

5 9:00-11:30 a.m.

Ruth’s Pantry 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Ruth’s Pantry

6 8:00 a.m.

Weigh-In Group

7 6:30 p.m. Worship 7:00 p.m. Confirmation 7:00 p.m. Men’s Bible

Study

8 6:30 p.m. Council

Meet-ing

9

10

11 8:15 a.m. Worship

Service 9:15 a.m. Anniversary

Celebration in the dining room/Loving Memories

9:30 a.m. Sunday School and Confir-mation

10:30 a.m. Worship

12 9:00-11:30 a.m.


Ruth’s Pantry

13 8:00 a.m.

Weigh-In Group

5:30 p.m. Mardi Gras Potluck

14 11:00 a.m. Ash Wednes-

day Worship 12:00 p.m. Soup Luncheon 5:00 p.m. Cackles and

Cards 6:30 p.m. Ash Wednesday

Worship 7:00 Confirmation 7:00 p.m. Men’s Bible

Study

15 6:00 p.m. Meals Ministry

16

17 8:00 a.m.

Meals Minis-try





19 9:00-11:30 a.m.


Ruth’s Pantry

20 8:00 a.m.

Weigh-In Group

6:30 p.m. Property Team

21 11:00 a.m. Lenten Worship 12:00 p.m. Soup Luncheon 6:30 p.m. Lenten Worship 7:00 p.m. Confirmation 7:00 p.m. Men’s Bible

Study

22 23

24





26 9:00-11:30 a.m.


Ruth’s Pantry

27 8:30 Sewing

Circle 8:00 a.m.

Weigh-In Group

28 8:30 a.m. Sewing Circle 11:00 a.m. Lenten Worship 12:00 p.m. Soup Luncheon 6:30 p.m. Lenten Worship 7:00 p.m. Confirmation 7:00 p.m. Men’s Bible

Study

1 6:30 p.m. LYF Meeting

Council Highlights

GLOW

February Worship Assistants—8:15 Altar Assistant — Paula Nyback

February 4 — Usher Team 3 Greeters — Paula Nyback Lay Reader — Paula Nyback Communion Assistants — Team 3

February 11 — Usher Team 4 Greeter — Germaine Anderson Lay Reader — Paula Nyback Communion Assistants — Team 4

February 18 — Usher Team 1 Greeter — Randy & Patti Doverspike Lay Reader — Paula Nyback Communion Assistants — Team 5

February 25 — Usher Team 2 Greeter — David & Jan Olson Lay Reader — Paula Nyback Communion Assistants — Team 1

The January Council meeting was canceled because of the weather. The Council will meet at its regularly scheduled time (6:30) on February 8.

February Worship Assistants—10:30

February 4 — Usher Team 3 Greeter — Ray & June Breaker Lay Reader — Patti Nelson Communion Assistants — Team 3

February 11 — Usher Team 4 Greeter — Jane Moderson Lay Reader — Patti Nelson Communion Assistants — Team 4

February 18 — Usher Team 1 Greeters — Emert & Sally Stacker Lay Reader — Patti Nelson Communion Assistants — Team 5

February 25 — Usher Team 2 Greeters — Linda Breaker Lay Reader — Patti Nelson Communion Assistants — Team 1

Thank You A special thank you to everyone for the prayers and cards and loving concern for Emert. —Sally Stacker

Our Christmas services were beautiful—the dec-orations as well. The OWLS Christmas lunch and the music by the McGinnis family and the poin-settias we received were also wonderful. How blessed we are. Thank you! —Ray and June Breaker

Thank you for the lovely poinsettia and card at Christmas time. —Betty Nelson

Dear Members of Grace: Thank you ever so much for the lovely poinsettia plant! It truly perks up my room. I am so appreciative of your thoughtfulness. May our Lord bless you all and keep you safe. —Sue Neabling

A big thank you to all members of Grace for the prayers and cards I received during my five-month hospital and nursing home stay. Thanks to Pastor Connie and Mary Alice for the plant and for bringing me communion. I appreciate it all. —Wayne Mathison

The pretty little red poinsettia plant is still giving me joy on these cold winter days. Thank you so much. —Betty Uvaas

Property Team The Grace Lutheran Property Team has been

busy in past many months fixing and improv-

ing our church building. At one time, the group

had a surplus of funds in the neighborhood of

$30,000.

Those funds have been mostly used for vari-

ous projects, including the floor in the hallway,

some painting, air conditioning for the offices

and work room, landscaping, signs for the

parking lot, and the dishwasher.

It would be appreciated if members could

ADD a few dollars to their weekly or monthly

giving for repairs and maintenance. If you can

do that, include it with your regular giving and

mark on the envelope that it is for the Building

and Grounds. Thank you!

GLOW

Book Review—Poppy

Ruth’s Pantry

Our Ruth’s Pantry ministry is shared by all of us

as members of Grace. It takes the commitment

of the congregation to keep the Pantry humming.

General financial support keeps the lights on and

the furnace running. Many members donate gro-

ceries, garden produce, and clothing items. Fi-

nancial donations help to purchase food and

special holiday meals. Many of you have volun-

teered in various ways. We express our sincere

thanks to everyone for the support of this im-

portant ministry.

This month we want to share some of the feed-

back we get from the guests we serve at Ruth’s

Pantry. Our guests truly appreciate the help they

get at the Pantry. Everyone we serve thanks us

for the groceries they receive each week. Some-

one we prayed with thanked us for the prayer

support and told us they felt loved and cared for

at the Pantry. A woman told us she was standing

(Continued on page 7)

Poppy — Angel of Love, by Barbara Larriva

It is great to have an exciting life as a movie ac-

tress with a loving husband and plenty of money,

but when Allegra lost her husband and is es-

tranged from her son, age and loneliness take

their toll. Now she is in the hospital with a cancer

diagnosis and is choosing not to have chemo or

radiation. She really does not care if she lives or

dies.

Enter Poppy, a cheerful little girl who is deter-

mined to bring some love and happiness back

into Allegra’s life. Some things seem a little sus-

picious, and Allegra is a hard nut to crack. But

with all the things that happen . . . . Well, I hope

by now you find this charming little book hard to

put down until you are finished.

Reviewed by Kay Wisnefske

Lent & Holy Week Worship Services during lent will be at 11:00

a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Holy Week services will be as follows:

Maundy Thursday—11:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Good Friday—6:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday—6:00 a.m., 8:15 a.m., and

10:30 a.m.

The Easter Breakfast is under consideration.

Check your weekly bulleting announcements

for more information.

Summer Worship The summer schedule will begin on Sunday,

May 6. There will be one worship service each

Sunday at 9:30 a.m. This schedule will extend

through the Labor Day Weekend.

There will be no Sunday School on May 6 be-

cause the Congregation Meeting will be held

following the worship service at 10:30 a.m.

Mark your calendar for the date of the Con-

gregational Meeting and plan to attend.

The final day of Sunday School for the 2017-

18 school year will be on April 29. Confirma-

tion classes will continue to meet on Wednes-

days at 6:30 until May 16.

The

Forty

Days of

Lent

GLOW

Library News Biblical Archaeology Review Magazine

I ordered this subscription for myself as I enjoy

reading about ancient civilizations and what ar-

cheology can tell us about such. The latest one

talks about all the civilizations that inhabited Jeru-

salem and some of the amazing finds due to the

fact that there were garbage dumps on two sides

of Jerusalem for centuries – 7 civilizations down.

The one written about in the January/February

issue is a first century Early Roman landfill. An-

other article is titled: “Migration and Immigration

in Ancient Israel.” Pictures show college students

working on a “Middle Bronze Age” site in North-

ern Israel. It boasts the oldest and largest wine

cellar found in the ancient Near East as well as a

Canaanite palace decorated with Minoan style

floor and wall paintings.”

When I am done reading the issues I have been putting them in the gathering area at Grace in case anyone would like to read them. There is no check out for them. Help yourself. If you find things in them that are interesting, let me know. I probably will not renew my subscription unless others are interested. I have a biography of Jeru-salem to read instead. It is supposed to read like the biography of a person, but this is a biography of a city. —Sandra Terio

in the grocery store feeling scared and wor-

ried since she did not know how she would

make it through the month. She said she just

prayed to our Lord for help. She heard about

our pantry and was very thankful for the food

she received. Others have told us they would

be able to prepare a Thanksgiving meal with

the turkey and fixings given out at Thanksgiv-

ing. Many of our guests are happy to find

clothing for their children or themselves. It

was fun to see faces of children light up as

they chose a new hat or pair of mittens for the

winter. We want to thank our Sunday School

kids for all of the wonderful hats and mittens

they donated!

Both of our “Giving Tree” families were ex-

tremely grateful for the gifts they received

from our congregation members. Both fami-

lies asked us to pass on their thanks to all of

you who donated gifts. One mom felt over-

whelmed by Grace’s generosity. Another

mom said it took such a load off of their fami-

ly. She was worried about Christmas since

they had had a very tough year.

These are just a few examples of the grati-

tude we have witnessed as we serve guests

in the name of Jesus. Please continue to pray

for the ministry we all share at Ruth’s Pantry.

Respectfully submitted by Chantelle Beal on

behalf of your Ruth’s Pantry Board.

THANK YOU NOTES:

“Ruth’s Pantry:

I cannot tell you how much you help me make

it through the year. I thank the Lord for people

like you. Merry Christmas and Happy New

Year to all of you.”

“To the Members of Grace Lutheran Church

and Ruth’s Pantry:

“Words cannot express how delighted we

were by the gifts we received for our family’s

Christmas. Thank you for your generosity,

(Continued from page 6) kindness and thoughtfulness. Our daughters

have loved the clothing and toys, and it has kept

them busy during the cold spell! Please share

our thanks with all of the members of your

church community. The support we receive from

Ruth’s Pantry is appreciated all year long, and

especially this holiday season. Thank you, and

God Bless!”

NOTE: The Pantry is still in need of a driver! This

would be someone willing to use their pickup

truck to haul the Pantry trailer to Feeding Ameri-

ca in Appleton to pick up the food a couple of

times each month and bring it back to Winches-

ter. (Reimbursement for mileage is available.)

Grace Lutheran Church of Winchester 8396 Steeple Hill Drive Larsen, WI 54947 www.glcw.org [email protected] 920-836-2382

2018

Upcoming Opportunities February 11 — Sunday — “If Dishes Could Talk”

February 11 — Sunday — 34th Anniversary Cele-bration for Pastor Connie and Arden in the dining room.

February 13 — Tuesday — Mardi Gras Potluck at 5:30 p.m.

March 2 — 7th & 9th Grade Confirmation Retreat

March 17 — Saturday — First Communion Train-ing

March 22 — Thursday — 6:00 p.m. Mutual Minis-try Meeting

March 29 — Thursday — Maundy Thursday Din-ner for age 80+ members.

March 29 — First Communion Celebration at the 6:30 Maundy Thursday Worship Service

April 6 — Friday — 9th Grade Confirmation Re-treat

Anniversary Celebration

Please join Pastor Connie and Arden in cele-

bration of their 34th Wedding Anniversary.

The “party” will be on Sunday, February 11,

following the 8:15 service. The celebration will

include a reception with cake and punch in the

Grace dining room.

from the desk of pastor ted…

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