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ST. STEPHEN – ELCAHonoring the Past – Welcoming the Future
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NEWSLETTERJANUARY, 2017
ST. STEPHEN LUTHERAN CHURCH –
ELCAPastor Gail Sowell424 N 3rd Avenue
Edgar, WI 54426Telephone: 715-352-2491 (St. Stephen Office)
715-352-2492 (Pastor Gail Home/Cell/Emergency) 715-352-2524 (St. John Office)
Church Web Site: www.ststephenedgar.com
PARISH STAFFPastor Pastor Gail Sowell
Home/Cell/Emergency 715-352-2492
St. Stephen OfficeSt. John Office
715-352-2491715-352-2524
Secretary Sherry [email protected]
715-355-9039
Outside Custodian Steve Doran 715-393-5080Inside Custodian Rachel Doran 715-393-5076
Organist Charlotte Otto 715-443-2007Handbell Director Marla Berg 715-302-4768Altar Guild Millie Borchardt/
Marge Copeland/Deb Pilgrim715-352-2451
Media Team Dale Pilgrim, Mark Schreier, Vern Spaulding, Rod Zietlow (Volunteers Needed)
2016 COUNCIL OFFICERSPresident Jeff Reiche 715-443-6203 [email protected]
Vice-President Kathy Schreier 715-352-2392 [email protected] Sherry Gayken 715-355-9039 [email protected] Rod Zietlow 715-370-7681 [email protected]
Financial Secretary Kristin Schreier [email protected] Mark Schreier
Dale PilgrimClarence Werner
715-352-2392715-352-2968
Trustees David HarmDennis Lang
Vern Spaulding
715-370-5463715-573-2974715-257-9390
Youth Liaison Volunteer Needed
INSIDE THIS ISSUEParish Staff/Council Officers/Contact Info.............1Pastor’s Ponderings for January..............................2January Birthdays and Anniversaries......................3Christmas Thank You/Address Update...................3Annual Meeting w/Reports Due.............................3Donations/Thank You.............................................4Council Meeting/Newsletter dates..........................4Senior Day/Quilting/Woodchucks..........................4Women’s Bible Study/Church Mouse....................5Children’s Christmas Program................................6First Communion Training.....................................7Confirmation Photos/Concerts................................7Thrivent/Walking Together/YAGM.......................7Volunteer Info/Services..........................................7January 2017 Calendar............................................8
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PASTOR GAIL’S PONDERINGS FOR JANUARY, 2017
This is a reflection (By Barry Black, copyright 2015, permission granted), entitled “I Am the New Year”:
I will help you say goodbye to the previous year filled with “yesterdays” and comprised of disappointments and surprises; losses and gains; failures and successes, defeats and victories; a year which may be remembered by recalling: fleeting moments; delightful memories and good times; the sobering reality of missed opportunity; the insight gained from daily living; the unexpected surprise of reconnecting with old friends. The joy of sins forgiven, golden words fitly spoken (Proverbs 25:11), and the fruit of obedience and pleasing the Lord.
Yes, the old year is a time in which we can recall with gratitude: blessings, protection, and rewards from the providential hand of God; grace that was sufficient for our every need; mercy received when justice would have just as easily been fitting for us. And realizing that even bad things that happened could have been worse . . . much worse.
May your past productively transition to the future as you experience: the warm daylight of lessons hard-learned, and the fading sunset of the pain that was long endured while living through them; the priceless value found in genuine friends, and the sober understanding of the shackles of superficial people who merely use us. The glorious journey of: the unmatched wealth in reading and studying the Bible, the unparalleled stability of Christian fellowship, and the unrivaled enjoyment of serving the Lord; and the wise departure from: the comfortable enticement of procrastination, the deceptive decoy of excuses, the childish pleasure of pettiness, and the dull applause of mediocrity.
I Am the New Year! I am: the challenge of new goals; the desire for spiritual growth; the continual burden for lost souls; the anticipation of answered prayer; and the eager expectation of Christ’s soon return for his Bride, the Church. I am the New Year, and I may be lived only one moment at a time. I am replete with the unknown and rife with: opportunities to trust; unexpected moments of blessing and delight; satisfaction for spiritual truth and hunger; motivations to give of your time and effort to people and projects; and the joy and privilege of serving the Lord in new and exciting ways.
YES, I AM THE NEW YEAR!
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JANUARYBIRTHDAYS
11 Copeland Todd12 Kohel Reid12 Spaulding Marilyn21 Haanstad Rick24 Schreier Kathy25 Steinke Deb26 Kohel Jace26 Ringle Jeff27 Heiden Rachel
JANUARYANNIVERSARIES
06 - Pilgrim, Doug and Denice20 - Aschbrenner, Allen and Mary Ann25 - Spaulding, Vern and Marilyn
THANK YOU to Charlotte Otto for organizing the Musical Prelude on Christmas Eve. Thank you to the Handbell Choir – directed by Marla Berg (to the regular members and Otto family members allowing us to enjoy the wonderful bell sounds); and THANK YOU to the following individuals for sharing their special musical talents during Christmas in honor of Jesus’ birth: Charlotte Otto, Vern Spaulding, Rachel Doran, Pastor Gail Sowell, Andrew Steffen, and Marlena Strasser.
ADDRESS UPDATE – the mailing address for St. Stephen Lutheran Church has changed. The street address remains 424 N. 3rd Avenue … but the mailing address is now PO Box 95 … as follows:
St. Stephen Lutheran Church424 N. 3rd AvenuePO Box 95Edgar WI 54426-0095
Please update your mailings.
ANNUAL MEETING of St. Stephen ELCA will be held on Sunday, January 22, 2017 @ 9:00 AM.
Non-financial annual reports should be submitted NOW !!
Financial reports must be submitted NO LATER than: Wednesday, January 11th; St. Stephen budget report by Sunday, January 15th.
They may be given “copy ready” directly to Sherry or sent to her at her email address: [email protected].
Following are the reports due: Audit Committee (who are the members?)Cemetery Committee (who are the members?)Circle of JoyCommittee Page Companion Church Synod ReportCongregation Trend Report Council Member PageCouncil PresidentCounting Committee (who are the members?)Crossways Camping Ministries Annual ReportEast Central Synod Financial ReportEndowment Fund Evangelism CommitteeFaith & Daily Life CommitteeFinancial SecretaryHistorian/Librarian ReportLutheran Social ServicesMedia and Webpage ReportMemorial CommitteeMission & Outreach ReportNomination CommitteeParish EducationPastor’s ReportPastoral Ministry/Parish RecordProperty CommitteeStewardship CommitteeSunday School SuperintendentSt. Stephen TreasurerWomen of St. Stephen ReportWomen of St. Stephen – Treasurer’s ReportWorship CommitteeYouth Report
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BLANKET SUNDAY – the total of cash and checks received for Blanket Sunday for Lutheran World Relief was $95.00. This is in addition to the 122 quilts (434 lbs.), 7 blankets (10 lbs.), and 21 health kids (38 lbs.) that were shipped in October.
THANKOFFERINGS (to show God joy and thanks for blessings) collected from the Thankoffering Service led in November by the women of St. Stephen totaled: $172.46.
GIVING TREE – a Thank You was received from the Homme Youth & Family Programs expressing their extreme appreciation for the many, many items “gifts” donated for the youth – ages 10 thru 18, in their Program (value of $400 + +).
THE EDGAR/MARATHON CIRCLE OF JOY thanks everyone for their donations throughout the year, especially appreciated during the holidays when there are extra needs.
THANK YOU – to all members of the Church Council who give of their time, and for their commitment to St. Stephen Church. A special THANK YOU to outgoing President Jeff Reiche whose leadership the past two years as President and previous two years as Vice-President and dedication to St. Stephen is an inspiration to all.
WELCOME to incoming President Kathy Schreier.
St. Stephen Council officers for 2017 are:President – Kathy SchreierVice-President – Vicki MaurerSecretary – Sherry GaykenTreasurer – Rod ZietlowFinancial Secretary – Kristin SchreierDeacons – Dale Pilgrim, Clarence Werner, Mark SchreierTrustees – Dennis Lang, Vern Spaulding, Dave Harm
Please keep these individuals in your prayers as they lead St. Stephen in the year ahead. If you have any concerns, questions, or input regarding any matter, speak with any Council member.
THE NEXT ST. STEPHEN COUNCIL MEETING – Tuesday evening, January 17th, at 5:00 PM.
ST. STEPHEN NEWSLETTER – The deadline for the February Newsletter is Wednesday, January 25th.
SENIOR DAY – is held the third Wednesday of each month – downstairs at St. Stephen. The next date is Wednesday, January 18th, at 1:00 PM. Senior Day is open to all seniors of St. Stephen and seniors in the surrounding Edgar community are also invited. CONGRATULATIONS to KINGS KORNER CHAMPION FOR DECEMBER – GISELA RINGLE
QUILTING – quilting sessions are held in the church basement on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of months October thru May from 1:00 – 4:00 PM. January dates are: January 5 and January 19.
A GREAT ! HUGE ! THANK YOU to all individuals who donate and contribute to make this project a successful accomplishment. Will we see new faces? More hands on the project? Sewing may also be done at home.
WISCONSIN WOODCHUCKS BASEBALLFROM: Bailey Schepp, Group Sales Executive [email protected] phone: 715.845.5055 ext. 107
Happy New Year from the Wisconsin Woodchucks! I hope you had a very pleasant holiday season, and that the beginning of 2017 is off to a splendid start. Although it is quite cold outside, baseball season is right around the corner, and it is not too early to start planning St. Stephen’s outing with the Wisconsin Woodchucks in 2017. I wanted to reach out now to let you know some of the exciting things we have planned for the 2017 season.
Friday Night Fireworks will be returning to Athletic Park, and we look forward to celebrating these games with our fans. We have a number of bobble head giveaways and traveling entertainment acts visiting us as well. Keep an eye out for the 2017 schedule and release of our promotional schedule.
I look forward to working with you again this year.
Your Ticket Home for the Summer !
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WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY – is held the 2nd Tuesday of each month in the St. Stephen Church basement (unless otherwise noted) starting at 1:00 PM. The date for January is: Tuesday, January 10th. Hostess is needed. The Bible Study lesson is from the Gather magazine (copies are available). Every woman that is a member of St. Stephen is a member of the women’s group. All are WELCOME and encouraged to participate (along with family and friends).
Thanks to all who joined in the Ladies’ Annual Salad Luncheon in December. Fifteen ladies attended – including several guests from St. John on N. Fun, fellowship, and Bible study enjoyed by all (see photos below).l
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As the ELCA observes the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in 2017, Gather magazine is offering Bible studies that enlighten and illuminate reformation and transformation.
Gather, the magazine of Women of the ELCA, offers a mix of articles, theological reflections, devotions, and stories of comfort and challenge that help readers grow in faith and engage in ministry and action.
In the spring of 2017, Kit KIeinhans, a professor at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, will share a four-session Reformation Bible study on “Galatians: Christian faith and Christian freedom.”
Biblical scholars describe Paul’s letter to the Galatians as the Magna Carta of Christian freedom,” Kleinhans writes. “Martin Luther called it ‘my Katie von Bora.’ Like his marriage to Katie, Luther’s relationship with Galatians was a rich and lasting one.”
In the summer of 2017, Kelly Fryer will explore “All Anew,” a three-session Bible study that shares the theme of the 2017 Women of the ELCA Triennial Gathering in Minneapolis, July 13-16. A pastor, teacher, entrepreneur and communicator, Fryer has written several faith-related books, including “Reclaiming the ‘L’ Word: Renewing the Church from its Lutheran Core.”
To get these Bible studies, speak to one of the women of St. Stephen or subscribe to Gather magazine at Gathermagazine.org.
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The spring event for the Wisconsin River Valley Conference will be held in April – date to be determined. The women of St. John's Lutheran Church in Wausau (town of Maine) will host the event. Watch the Open Door and future St. Stephen Newsletters for more details. It will be a good time!
Adventures of the Church (Mouse) Mice
O my, what a wonder-ful, wonder-filled Christmas season it was!Whole congregations singing like the heavenly angels, all the old songs, and even some new ones we hadn’t heard before. (Well, to be honest, I—Miri—had heard some of them, but there were a lot Tully and Twink hadn’t heard.) By the way, this was Twink’s anniversary of being adopted by Tully and St. John 2 years ago! Her real name is “Merry Twinkle,” but no one calls her that, unless she doesn’t hide well enough and is spied for a member of St. John, and then they either say “EEEK!” or say “Hi, Merry Twinkle.”) I’m glad the people at St. Stephen aren’t afraid of me! Some of the kids are disappointed if they don’t see me on Sundays! I guess you could say I’m the most popular mouse at St. Stephen! (Oops, did Jesus say something like “the humble shall be exalted and the exalted shall be humbled”? I guess there isn’t much that’s humbler than a church mouse.)HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL !l
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THANK YOU:
to Lori Guralski for directing the December 18, 2016, Children’s Christmas Program, “A Christmas to Believe In”
– and to the dynamic youth volunteer helpers: Travis Guralski, Devin Guralski, Katie Haanstad, and Marlena Strasser – and Thank You to Vern Spaulding for joining the children to wish all A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS !!
THANK YOU to the volunteers who helped with the light luncheon set up after the Program AND THANK YOU to all the parents of the children for their help and continued support and encouragement for their children to participate, and THANK YOU to ALL the children for an excellent performance … the participants included:
Narrator – Katie HaanstadNarrator – Devin Guralski Mary – Rebecca WernerJoseph – Connor Strasser Angel – Carlee FeltzElizabeth – Alexa MroczenskiZechariah – Zander ChenierHerod – Jace Kohel
Wise Men – Wade KohelAngels – Abby Falkowski, Addalynn FeltzShepherds – Reid Kohel, Ashley Krause,
Johnny KrauseAdvisors – Nick FalkowskiTownspeople – Mason Mroczenski, Kodi Werner
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FIRST COMMUNION – First Communion is set at St. John and St. Stephen on Sunday, February 5th. Pastor Gail has posted Saturday, January 28th, as the workshop date at St. John from 9:00 - 11:00 AM. Parents must attend this workshop. Please confirm with Sherry if that January 28th workshop date works for you.
Are there other parents interested in your child receiving First Communion? There is no set age to receive First Communion at St. Stephen. Youth of any age are welcome.
If you are interested, please give or send Sherry a note with your child’s name and birthdate, parents’ names, addresses, and phone numbers as soon as possible.
SEVERAL CONFIRMATION GROUP PHOTOS are missing. Do you have a group photo of the Confirmation Class that you can have reprinted for the Confirmation display downstairs? Missing years are: 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, and 2015. Please contact Sherry.
CONCERTS PLANNED – The Edgar Fine Arts Association has announced its 2017 concert schedule:Saturday, March 25 – “The Ole & Lena Story”
– a comedy showThursday, July 27, the kickoff to the Concerts in the Park
– “Not Really Willy” – a country music tribute Three additional concerts in the Park are being planned.Saturday, September 9 – “The Neil Diamond Show”
with tribute artist Keith AllynnSaturday, October 7 – “Tribute to John Denver”
with Layne YostNormal Edgar Fine Arts Association concerts are held in the Edgar Public School auditorium. The Concerts in the Park are held at Oak Street Park (unless bad weather).
CONGRATULATIONS! – Based on Thrivent Choice® participants’ recommendations, St Stephen Lutheran Church has received $443. The Thrivent Choice program helps Thrivent members make a positive impact in their communities.
DIRECT CHOICE DOLLARS® to St. Stephen Lutheran Church as follows:
1. Direct Choice Dollars online at www.thrivent.com/thriventchoice 2. Or, call 800-THRIVENT (800-847-4836) and state “Thrivent Choice.”
WALKING TOGETHER – 500 for the 500th … “Getting the WORD Out!” NWSW workshops – March 18, 2017, Davies Center, UWEC.
A SPECIAL HAPPENING FOR YOU – A Special Invitation from Claudette Harring, Liaison: Saturday, January 21 – at 2:00 PM at Immanuel Lutheran in Wausau. This will be a first-hand opportunity to learn about the wonderful ELCA program for Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM). The YAGM program is for young adults 21-29 years old, who are interested in giving service to their church. The 2017 program will provide opportunities for 70 young adults to serve in one of about a dozen countries. Joshua Armstrong served in the Madikwe Circuit of South Africa and is currently hired by the ELCA to share his experience on behalf of the YAGM program. Jonathan Ecker, a Wausau native, will also share his experience, having served in Uruguay. Please come and learn about this dynamic program that is focused on the young adults of the ELCA, and then share what you learn with your own church. Creating awareness as early as middle school may inspire our youth toward personal engagement when they become adults. Please feel free to invite others to join you. Share, invite and attend –Claudette (Claudette has indicated it would be helpful if we would let her know the number who may be coming from our church. She promises treats! Her email address is: [email protected] and phone number: 715) 241-8351; OR let me (Sherry) know and I will be in touch with her).
FREE – 2016 INCOME TAX PREPARATION Low-to-moderate taxpayers; emphasis on 60+. Appointments required at some locations. Call 715-298-5734 Weekdays 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM to schedule. Flyer on back bulletin board with dates and locations.
READ MAIL, PAY BILLS, BALANCE CHECKBOOK: Individuals 60 and older often need help taking care of paperwork. Call Faith in Action to help: Kelly Kaminski at 715-848-8783 or [email protected].
FOR ASPIRUS SERVICES – call the Aspirus Customer Contact Center at 715-847.2380.
ST. STEPHEN’S MONTHLY CALENDAR CAN ALSO BE VIEWED ON THE CHURCH WEB SITE AT www.ststephenedgar.com
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Check your Sunday weekly handout announcement page for updates.
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JANUARY, 2017MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 Epiphany of Our Lord
NO Sunday School10:30 AM Communion Worship
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Pastor Gail’s Day Off
3NON-FINANCIALANNUALREPORTS DUE
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6:30 PMConfirmation
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1:00 PMQuilting
6 7
8 Baptism of Our Lord
9:30 AM Sunday School10:30 AM Communion Worship
9Pastor Gail’s Day Off
NON-FINANCIALANNUALREPORTS OVERDUE
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1:00 PMLadies’ BibleStudy
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FINANCIAL ANNUAL REPORTS DUE
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15 2nd Sunday after Epiphany
9:30 AM Sunday School10:30 AM Communion Worship Installation of 2017 Council Officers
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Pastor Gail’s Day Off
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5:00 PMCouncil Meeting
BUDGET REPORT DUE
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1:00 PMSenior Day
6:30 PMConfirmation
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1:00 PMQuilting
20 21
22 3rd Sunday after Epiphany
9:00 AM ANNUAL MEETING 9:30 AM Sunday School10:30 AM Communion Worship
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Pastor Gail’s Day Off
24 25
NEWSLETTERDEADLINE
26 27 289:00 – 11:00 AMFirst Communion Workshop @St. John(Revised 1/8/17)
29 4th Sunday after Epiphany
9:30 AM Sunday School10:30 AM Communion Worship
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Pastor Gail’s Day Off
31 FEBRUARY 1
6:30 PMConfirmation
FEBRUARY 2
1:00 PMQuilting
FEBRUARY 3 FEBRUARY 4