Pastor Strutz will record and post a daily message on the RLC YouTube Channel. (The Resurrection Channel). The first is titled Father Forgive Them... ...more
Easter brings us victory over death and gives us new life.
The young man across the table from me was in tears. There was no doubting the depth and sincerity of his pain. “I’m tired,” he said. “I’m tired of the struggle. I’m tired of the temptations. I’m tired of the devil’s attacks. Sometimes, I wish I was dead.”
His anguished words hit home. Memories of my own guilt came flooding back into my mind. I could not help but think of the times when I was similarly disgusted with my own weaknesses and my own failures. He and I both know we are supposed to be dead to sin and alive for Christ. He and I both know the weariness that comes from repeatedly falling short... ...more
Many congregations throughout the synod have been, or soon will be,
forced to find alternative ways to gather around God’s Word. My wife and
I have already spent two Sundays worshiping at home via the online
worship provided by my congregation. I’m gratified that so many
congregations have moved so quickly to continue to serve their members
with the comfort and guidance of the Scriptures.
This Sunday evening, Palm Sunday, I will be delivered a brief
message to the members of our synod in an online video broadcast. I invite you to
access that message online...
The Resurrection Church will again be blessed with a Vicar for next year. The call date is May 21st and of course we will attend if allowed.
We want to thank Vicar Vicar Seth Krueger and his wife for all the work they have done this year especially in light of our current challenges. They have been a true blessing to the RLC Family.
If you are struggling with obtaining supplies, or need help getting to necessary appointments - or if you know someone who is - please contact either...
Ministry Coordinator (Kathy) at:
ministrycoordinator@rlcverona.com or 608-848-4965;
Bill Baumann at:
baumaw@tds.net or 608-845-7032.
We have people available and willing to help wherever possible.
Here is a way YOU can make a difference!
This is a limited time offer... for those needing relief during COVID-19- there still is time!
This is a special opportunity from Thrivent, For every $2 given Thrivent will donate an additional dollar.
Here are some resources for both adults and children for both devotions and various activities to help fight the "stuck at home" feeling.
Devotions Based on Chris Tomlin Music: YouVersion offers several devotion plans, ranging from 3 to 7 days, based on albums released by Chris Tomlin. Each day of these has a devotion based on a song and a Scripture reading. (It’s fun to play the song from YouTube first, too!)
Time of Grace: This website has written blogs, video devotions, and tons of other great resources to help you grow in your faith. You can subscribe for daily emails, or follow on your favorite Social Media channel.
How Great is Our God: A 7-Day Journey Through the Universe with God, published by Louie Giglio. Each day shares scientific facts about our world or universe, places these wonders in a faith context, provides a guided prayer, and a Scripture lesson.
30 Virtual Tours for Kids: A Google Doc with links to zoo webcams, tours of children’s museums, and more!
We pray for the safety and health of all during this time of coronavirus. As God`s people have both prayed in days of trouble and used the gifts God`s hand provided, as well as taken precautions, here are the steps we will be taking at RLC.
At this time, all events will take place as scheduled, including midweek and Sunday services. Please stay home if you are feeling ill. We will certainly fill in for you if you are scheduled to usher, greet, serve, play piano, etc. But please be safe and stay home if you are not feeling well.
If the government or other authorities would at a future time mandate we may not gather, as good citizens respecting the government, we will refrain from meeting. We are discussing options to provide God`s Word via technology as much as we are able.
Pastors and Vicar are always available to bring communion to you if you are not well or if meeting is not possible.
Changes to Note:
At this time, refreshments for Sunday services are planned, but we will ask servers to serve food and no one serve themselves. For your safety, we recommend you wash your hands thoroughly in the restrooms before getting refreshments and refrain from touching your face, nose, mouth.
We love greeting, but we will refrain from shaking hands. Also, hand sanitizer will be available at multiple locations at both facilities. There is a shortage of hand sanitizer, so if it is feasible, consider using soap and water in the restrooms.
We will not offer communion in the common cup. All those distributing communion have been following clean hands guidelines; this effort will be more obvious and intentional.
Our fellowship and cleaning teams have adopted new practices to minimize exposure as much as we can. All common surfaces will be disinfected before each event and after. Fellowship snacks will be served by servers wearing gloves to minimize risk as much as possible. The cleaning teams will be using an appropriate disinfectant in their weekly cleaning that has proven effect on other Coronaviruses.
We understand things are changing from day to day and hour to hour. We appreciate everyone`s understanding. We apologize for any inconvenience, but more than anything want everyone to be safe and stay well. Again, if you do not feel well, please stay home.
Please continue to pray for God`s love, guidance and power to remain with us during this time of pandemic. We will continue to update you as the pandemic situation unfolds.
Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you and you will honor me. Psalm 50:15
Pastor Nathan Strutz Pastor Andrew Ewings Vicar Seth Krueger Kathy Delikat, Ministry Coordinator
Kathleen Notes: “Like Arrows™ is an on-time, revolutionary call to biblical parenting. It inspires, entertains, and stirs us all to live a more Christ-centered life. Like Arrows has hit its mark and will no doubt create a ripple of lasting, positive change in families and individuals, as well as setting a standard for generations to come.” - Dove.org Review
Free showing of “Like Arrows”
presented by In The Moment Child & Family Therapy and the RLC
Outreach committee on Friday, March 6, at 6:00pm in Verona. Great movie
for parents and grandparents!
When conflict, rebellion and resentment overwhelm their family, Charlie
and Alice are forced to change their parenting strategy, and are
surprised to find effective, life-long solutions were closer than they
imagined.
Any family not sending their children to a WELS school due to cost?
WI Parental Choice Program (WPCP) is now accepting applications through April 16, and they use pretty generous income limits. Free tuition for Westside Christian, Lakeside, or Luther Prep. Each of these schools also has financial assistance programs if a family does not qualify for WPCP.
Excerpts on income limits (Adjusted Gross Income) for 2020-21 school year:
*As determined by the (AGI) on the federal income tax return for the prior calendar year.
For more information, contact Philip Meinel at themeinelteam@gmail.com or visit
the website: https://dpi.wi.gov/sms/Choice-programs.
Guardians that reside in the same household are married, their income is reduced by $7,000 when determining income eligibility for the program (i.e. married family income minus $7,000). For example, if a family of four with parents that are married has an income of $60,000, subtract $7,000 from their income and compare that amount ($53,000) to the income limit for a family of four in the appropriate table below. Family size includes parents/legal guardians and their children by birth, marriage or adoption that reside in the same household as the student applicant. ...more
~The meeting began with a devotion from Ephesians 4. Keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace
.
~Pastor Strutz shared updates on progress toward congregational ten year goals (by 2028). Grow: 700 in weekly worship. Spread: 1000 members. Plant: 4 sites.
2019 ended with an average of 235 in weekly worship and 404 members (the same as at the end of 2018 and 2017).
~And two sites, with a third in Fitchburg being pursued.
~The following membership changes were approved by the congregation.
Transfers in: Rachel and Maverick Cate, Phyllis Monigold, Michael and Mary Bradley, Jeff and Cathy John.
Welcome by adult confirmation: Kevin Keith, Gina Kleiser.Welcomed into God’s family by baptism: Amelia Heyer, Mason Perez, Coral Kleiser.
Released at their request: Kevin Korth, Corey Pope
Transferred to other WELS congregations: Paul and Laura Konkol, children Owen and Addison; Brooke and David Erikson, son Logan; Isaiah Dumas.
~The council has approved conducting an Every Member Visit. There are four reasons for this Every Member Visit.
1. To share God’s Word with God’s people. 2. To share the exciting things God is doing at Resurrection. 3. To hear honest and personal feedback on our multi-site strategy. 4. To determine the level of commitment of our congregation for Fitchburg ministry.
~Visitors will be identified and trained in February, with visits taking place in March, April and May. Please welcome a visit and share your input.
~The treasurer reported with gladness that offerings through the first six months of the ministry year are 1% (about $3000) higher than budgeted and spending is slightly below budget.
~Outreach events are planned around Easter at both locations. Easter for Kids: April 4 in Verona and April 11 in Monroe.
~Canvassing dates will be planned prior to Easter for Kids. Dates set for March 21 in Verona and March 28 in Monroe.
~Inreach team is investigating ways to encourage members and prospects with young children to be more active in worship by providing a children’s church during worship.
~The technology use to connect our two sites had issues. Work is being done to either improve technology or find alternate ways to keep our campuses connected for congregational meetings, input, and communication. Thanks to all for your patience and understanding. ...more
Resurrection Lutheran Church has supported our member families who choose to make use of Christrian education for high school. We intend to continue this support, but we want to determine the best way to do this. As part of that discussion, we are considering joining the Lakeside Federation. This is a collection of congregations in the relatively close geographical area around Lakeside Lutheran High School in Lake Mills, Wisconsin. The congregations help fund the school. As part of the federation, families received reduced tuition. Church leadership would like to hear from you, our members, about this option. We will be hosting a focus group following Bible Study and Sunday School at 11:30 a.m., Feb. 9, in Verona. A presentation will be given by Pastor Ewings, followed by the focus group discussion.
We invite everyone to attend, but we especially encourage families with young children. There is a lot to discuss and learn about this opportunity, and we really want you to be a part of it. Most importantly, we want to hear your critical thoughts and feedback.
"Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. The mighty LORD is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress." Psalm 46
We thank all members who have shared input and prayed as we discuss how best to bring God`s Word and Sacrament to God`s people during this time. As of this writing, state law prohibits gatherings of ten or more people. There are many Biblical issues involved. God commands us to gather for worship to hear his word and encourage fellow believers. Biblical examples show this was done in person.
The Bible also commands that we obey government authorities and help and be a friend in every bodily need. We understand that some people feel a strong need to gather for worship. Others have a strong need to avoid gathering to avoid spreading the disease and showing love to our neighbors. It is important that we not judge those who might feel differently on this subject, but instead show kindness and respect to all views that come from loving, Christian hearts and are striving to follow God`s Word.
Praying and considering all options, the council has decided that while face to face gathering for worship is still ideal and always will be, for this time we will be offering worship online. Details for how to view and participate in worship has already been emailed to the membership. Feel free to share it with your friends and neighbors. The recording will include as much of the service as possible, with a live audience of less than 10, to enhance singing.
This decision was made taking all points into consideration and with much prayer and concern for all members, as well as the perception in our community. We look forward to resuming in person worship as soon as possible.
Pastors and Vicar are willing to meet with anyone individually to share God`s Word and serve communion. This could be done at either facility or in your home. Pastors and Vicar are also happy to meet and do a personal worship service with you.
We ask for your continued prayers at this time. We continue to trust our unchanging God and his promises. "All things work together for good to those who love God." "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! Jesus has overcome the world."
Pastor Nathan Strutz Pastor Andrew Ewings Vicar Seth Krueger Kathy Delikat, Ministry Coordinator ...more
June 25-28, 2020, in Athens, Georgia, at The Classic Center, 300 N Thomas Street. Instructions for making hotel reservations are on th lodging page of the LWMS website: Central office@LWMS.org.
Early registration ends April 1, 2020, at the cost of $195. More information about the convention is available on the above website, or you can contact Jean Schoenike at 608-325-9491 or schoenikejp@charter.net.
For first time convention attendees, there is a "Send One Sister" stipend from our Capitol Circuit for $250 to help defray the cost of registration. You can apply for this stipend by conatacting Jill Doering at midoering42@hotmail.com or call 920-648-3338 by March 15. ...more
Through the support and prayers of WELS members, WELS has surpassed its goal of receiving $2 million to support a theological education facility in Vietnam. This funding will pay for the land, building construction, and the first two years of operating expenses.
The communist Vietnamese government invited WELS in 2018 to build this facility in Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi to train leaders of the Hmong Fellowship Church (HFC).
“Since I became Christian in 1994, I’ve been searching and praying for a church body that would bring me the true Word of God,” says Rev. Zang, one of the HFC leaders who is receiving training. “I have been to much training in the last several years, but none like WELS. Finally, God sends a church that teaches the true Word of God to Vietnam. The Word of God has brought peace to our community, and we are sure that our salvation is only found in Christ Jesus.”...
Summer camp registrations go live at noon on Saturday, Nov 30th, for a gift that can impact your child for the rest of your child`s life!
Here`s what campers say about Camp Phillip:
- I went to camp expecting to make friends . . . but I ended up with family. - Friendships are made that last a lifetime. - Camp is the first place people liked me for being me. - It`s about being yourself . . . and not being judged for it. - Most important is renewal in Christ. - There`s nothing more encouraging than being with 100 people who share your faith. - I would trade any day in the real world for a minute at camp.
I would like to give a massive thank you for the incredibly thoughtful care package I received this week. It’s so encouraging to be reminded of the incredible congregation full of kind hearted and generous people that I miss every day. It definitely brightened my day and I truly appreciate it. Thank you again!!!
Ken Notes: We have actually received several written thank you notes from our students as well! Alas accurate transcription is not a skill I have. Please now that your gifts to our students are truly appreciated!
Recently the Board for World Missions decided to pull our East Asia Team missionaries and families out of their focus country because of security concerns. The government of their focus country is now regularly detaining, interrogating, and deporting any Westerner or group suspected of religious activity. Many mission organizations, large and small, have already pulled their operations out of the country over the past few years.
The East Asia missionaries and their families are being relocated to a nearby country...
Edna, age 95, of New Hope, formerly of Madison and Montevideo, MN. Born in 1924 to Wareham and Grethe Paul in Dunn Center, ND. In 1941 she married Clarence Helmstetter in Belgrade, MN. They were blessed with five children. In 1985, Clarence passed away in Montevideo, MN. She married Walter Heino in 1986.
She passed away at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, MN on October 16, 2019. Preceded in death by first husband: Clarence, daughter: Cari, and step-son: Gordon (Sheri). Survived by loving husband: Walter Heino, children: Judith (Roland) Wiegman, Edward (Beth), Donald (Linda) and Richard (Debra) Helmstetter, step-children: Grant (Candace) and Craig (Dawn) Heino, 20 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren, and sister: Gretta Whealy.
Visitation at KOZLAK-RADULOVICH BLAINE CHAPEL 107th Ave. NE & Hwy #65 Friday, October 25th, from 5:30 to 8 PM. Funeral services at MOUNT OLIVE CHURCH 700 Western Street, Anoka Saturday, October 26th, at 11 AM with visitation one hour prior. Interment Morningside Cemetery. Memorials preferred to the American Cancer Society or Lutheran World Relief.
An event for Verona and Monroe Vine & Branch members plus any others interested in participating in a social event.
When: Sunday, October 20, 2019, 1:30 pm Where: Hawk`s Mill Winery, Browntown, WI Cost: $5 for wine-tasting
We will have a Bible study after service in Monroe with a potluck meal. We will then proceed to the winery at 1:30 pm. A charge of $5 per person will be charged for your tasting. The winery will also have live music that afternoon.
First appearing in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original Sherlock Holmes story, A Study in Scarlet, The Baker Street Irregulars are a group of mischievous youngsters who assist Holmes from time to time. With their snooping and clever detective work, the Baker Street Irregulars solve the crime and discover the mystery behind Sherlock’s sudden illness. With lots of unique roles, this fun period piece has all the familiar traits of a good Holmes mystery… without Sherlock Holmes!
Fall Play General Admission $6 no RSVP needed, children under 6 free Saturday, October 19 at 7:00pm Sunday, October 20 at 2:30pm
*Saturday also has a $25 Dining Option at 5:30pm (includes performance). Must RSVP online by October 8: www.lps.wels.net/performing-arts/fall-play/dinner-theater-reservations Or by calling Sue at (920) 262-8104 Luther Prep Auditorium, 1300 Western Avenue, Watertown, WI ...more
Ken Notes: Kathleen hosted this at Delevan the other day and there was not a dry eye in the house. Great film, great message and great way to spend an evening!
Clear your calendars! The weekend of October 20th is Welcome Home Weekend.
We are aiming to have 100% attendance among our membership that weekend. Encourage your friends who have not been in worship recently to come home to their RLC family. Join us in Bible study as we prepare and equip one another for that day.
Help each other to look forward to the final “welcome home” of our Savior, who will welcome us to heaven. Service times will follow the regular schedule that weekend. See you there!
As in years past, we’re currently planning for our Thanksgiving meal basket distribution. Last year, we provided almost 300 households with a holiday meal. This year, we are planning for just as many, if not more.
We are grateful for the partnerships we have with churches in the Verona and Fitchburg area that help make distributing this meal so successful. We would be honored if your congregation assisted us again this year.
We’re making a few changes to how we distribute the meal this year, but what hasn’t changed is how we’d like items to be collected. We ask that when your congregation’s members donate, each donation includes the following items which will make up part of the meal basket:
1 Stuffing 6 oz. box 1 White Rice 2 lb. bag 1 French Style Green Beans 14.5 oz. can 1 Fruit Cocktail/Mixed Fruit 15.25 oz. can 1 Mandarin Oranges 15 oz. can 1 Pineapple Chunks 20 oz. can 1 Vegetable Oil 32 oz. 1 Cranberries (canned whole or sauce)
In addition, we ask for $15 along with each donation; we use this to purchase turkeys, frozen pies, and fresh produce to complete the meal basket. Please have your members make their checks out to your church. Then have the church write one check to Badger Prairie Needs Network for the total amount of all cash & check donations with “Thanksgiving dinner” in the memo line. This is extremely helpful in streamlining our process and providing food in a timely manner. Any remaining money will be used to purchase hams for Christmas or food to distribute from the pantry.
You may have already received an email with drop-off and distribution dates. After further consideration, we’ve made some slight adjustment to the schedule. Food and monetary donations should be brought to Badger Prairie Needs Network on Sunday, November 3, between 11:30 am and 1:00 pm. If you have members that are able to stay and help our volunteers sort the food, we would very much appreciate it. The Thanksgiving meal baskets will then be distributed from Monday, November 11 through Tuesday, November 26 during regular pantry hours which will allow patrons more opportunities to pick-up their meal baskets. If you or any of your parishioners have any questions, please contact Karen Dettinger, Special Events Coordinator (contact information below). We are exceptionally thankful for the generosity and continued support of the surrounding faith communities throughout the year and look forward to working with you.
"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
Paul wrote those words to the Philippians, but they are no less true today. I thank God for you. Thank you for all the work you do to to encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ to be active in worship and in the life of our congregation. Your efforts are invaluable to us.
As the sign-up window for Vine & Branches draws closer to the end, I also would like to encourage all of you. Remind those you have sponsored that this is an excellent opportunity to grow closer together and stay connected to the Word of God. I pray that God richly blesses your efforts.
I called you about finding a room to rent for the mother of our son-in-law, her name is Monica Cook.
She was widowed when her 5 children were small. Her youngest is now an adult.
She has a good paying job at the Oak Hill prison as a secretary. Her home is in Randolph but her car is old. She has been camping near Oregon for the summer to save money and wear and tear on her car.
She is studying court reporting online and has leads on working from home when she is done with the course.
She also put in for a transfer to a prison closer to her home but has not heard anything after the interview. She has good reviews on Care.com from when she was a overnight caregiver. You can look it up for verification.
Monica only needs a place to sleep for 8 hours 4 nights a week. She is willing to help with household chores and/or pay $15 a night.
Her cell number is 920-344-9476. She may not be able to answer while she is working. My cell number is 920-344-6414. I have known her for 6 years and may be able to answer some of the questions you may have.
Thank you for looking into this for me. I would have her in my home if it would help, but my house is still quite far away from her job.
All – usually we have done these on a Saturday, but we haven’t had a lot of participation. This year we are going to do this on Sunday (Aug 11th) after Church and Bible Study as we may have better turn out. Bring some work attire to church, and plan on helping where you are able. The more that help, the faster we can get`er done.
See you Sunday!
Tasks –
*Clean / Vacuum pews & Straighten Rows – 4 people needed *Wash / Clean windows as needed – 2 people needed *Clean bugs out of florescent light fixtures / replace dead bulbs - 2 people needed *Mop Tile & Vacuum Carpet as needed – 2 people needed *Apply 20 yards of mulch to the front landscaping beds and or trees or shrubs – 4 people needed (Deegan to bring a Bobcat) *Consolidate / Clean Storage areas (furnace room and shed) – 3 people needed *Trim Bushes as needed, pull weeds in landscaping beds – 3 people needed. *Cut trees around the drainage pond and remove – 2 people needed. *Clean up rocks surrounding parking areas – 2 people. *3 – 4 hours of work.
*Any of these Tasks can be done ahead of time if that works better for you.
Thanks, in advance, from your Property & Grounds Team! ...more
Thanks for your prayers and checking in. The family is doing well in my absence. They are busy packing back in Wisconsin and I am busy looking for a place to live, a place for Julia to complete her 8th grade year and getting settled in my temporary classroom. The new building won`t be ready until October. It is all wonderful as are the people I`ve met at Crown of Life.
So thankful for Pastor Luchterhand and his family. They have been very welcoming and encouraging. Hank and Rachel are wonderful too. I am blessed to be here.
I am flying back July 25 to finish packing up. We are planning to attend Pastor Priewe`s ordination and load up on Monday. Hopefully on the road the 30th. My installation is August 4th.
Thank you for your help and guidance in God`s word along the way. I am thankful to Resurrection for much.
God`s blessings on your day. See you at Tim`s ordination.
The next congregational meeting will be held SUNDAY at Noon in Monroe.
PLEASE NOTE: Technology will NOT be
used to connect both sites. Everyone is encouraged to attend the
meeting and potluck in Monroe today. Our apologies for any confusion. ...more
Join WELS Missions on July 13, 2019, at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI, for the first annual Taste of Missions event!
Starting at 12 p.m., sample ethnic cuisine from some of our mission fields while enjoying fellowship and presentations from home and world missionaries alike. Meet former missionaries and committee members who have served WELS Missions and hear stories of God’s magnificent grace in action at home and abroad. View displays, participate in family-friendly activities coordinated by our missionaries, and ask questions about the ups and downs of mission work during a panel discussion.
We will conclude the event at 4 p.m. with a special worship service celebrating the blessings the Lord has showered on WELS Missions. Registration is $5 per person, with children under the age of five attending for free. For additional details and to register, visit wels.net/tasteofmissions2019. We hope you can join us
What does it mean to be Lutheran? Why does it matter? Why are the letters "U.A.C." stamped above the door to our church building? These are just the start of the questions we hope to answer in our upcoming men`s Bible study. Join us as we dive deeper into most "basic" or "blameless" of the Lutheran confessions: the Augsburg Confession.
Men`s Bible study meets every Tuesday at Resurrection in Verona at 6 am (breakfast--provided), with Bible study beginning at 6:30. We try to finish to get you out the door in time for work!
More importantly, we want to encourage all of you to stay close to Jesus. I am confident a study of the Augsburg Confession will help do that as we unpack how all Lutheran teaching clearly comes from the Bible. Our new study on the Augsburg Confession begins this coming Tuesday, June 18. I hope to see you there!
In the peace of Jesus, Pastor Andrew Ewings ...more
Mike Behr and Kim O`Neil were married at our Verona campus on Saturday May 25. Mike has been a member of Resurrection for several years and Kim will be joining soon good willing.
The council set the following dates for the installation of the new church council members.
Thursday June 20th 6:30pm - Verona
Sunday June 23rd 9:00am - Verona
Sunday June 30th 10:30am - Monroe (The voter`s meeting is in Monroe this day as well)
Monday July 1st 6:30pm-Monroe
COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
The church council met on Tuesday, May 21.
The council began, as always, with Bible study, focusing on Mark 13 and the sign of the end times.
Newly elected councilmen were welcomed: Andrew Hellpap, inreach chairman; Mark Westphal, secretary; Cory Pope, Building and grounds and Bryan Andrews, Monroe Liaison.
The council approved the following membership changes.
Troy Handel and his daughter Breanna were released by recommendation from the Barnabas team for not attending worship or responding to various contacts. Vicki Janikowski was released at her request. She has moved from the area and is attending a different church.
Marissa Carbonara was welcomed to our Verona campus by adult confirmation. Welcome, Marissa!
Kaitie Isaakson was welcomed by transfer from Grace in Oshkosh to our Verona campus.
Eldon Rackow and John Meyer have been called home from our Monroe campus to heaven.
The council reviewed a draft of the ministry plan (budget) for the 2019/2020 ministry year.
The council will review the budget again in June and have a recommended budget for the next congregational meeting. Anyone wishing to see a draft copy is welcome to do so. Speak with Kent Woller, congregation chairman, at president@rlcverona.com.
The next congregational meeting was set for noon on Sunday, June 30 in Monroe. The council will continue to receive feedback on best approach for scheduling, location, use of technology, and timing of congregational meetings. .
Opening devotion focused on the congregation goals. Grow. Spread. Plant. 700 in weekly worship. 1000 members. 4 sites. By 2028. God will bless as he sees fit.
The proposed logo was approved unanimously. The new logo will begin to be used ASAP.
A rough timeline for starting a new site in Fitchburg was shared. The goal is to have a site with facility and new pastor by September of 2022. A meeting will be held in Verona on Sunday, May 19 at 11:45 for all interested in learning more. Speak with Pastor Strutz or Kent Woller for more information.
It was emphasized that the timeline is only a suggestion and further votes would be required before major steps are taken.
Offerings are about 11 percent lower than budget. But all bills are current. Six members went on a mission trip to Chattanooga, TN in April and helped former vicar Eric Melso. Similar trips are likely in the future. Members received training on sharing their faith. The same training will be offered at Good News in Mt. Horeb on Friday, May 31. Sign up sheets and more info are posted at each campus for this free training.
Council elections were held. Andrew Hellpap, new Inreach chairman. Mark Westphal, new Secretary. Corey Pope, new Property Chairman. Bryan Andrews, new Monroe Liaison.
Thanks to those coming on council.
Thanks also to those who have completedterms of faithful service. Phil Meinel, Inreach. Randy Huebner, Secretary. John Deegan,Property. Dave Plenge, Monroe Liaison.
All who serve our Savior are thanked and blessed. ...more
Starts at 11:45am with a potluck meal served in Verona during the meeting.
Technology will be used to connect both campuses.
The following have agreed to be nominated to serve on the church council and this slate of candidates will be presented to the congregation at the April 28 congregational meeting
Secretary - Mark Westphal Inreach - Andrew Hellpap Property - Corey Pope Monroe Liaison - Ken Edenhauser and Bryan Andrews
A member of our congregation who lives in Belleville is wheelchair-bound. She is in need of assistance getting from her wheelchair into bed in the evening. special Health Care qualification is not required. A female is preferred because the individual is female. Time is flexible but in the evening after 7 pm. If this is a way you could help us sister in Christ who is in need or would like more information please contact Jill Wunderlich directly. 608.712.3853.
Any help you could provide would be most appreciated. ...more
Meet Natalie Daneen Melso, born Wednesday March 20th at 4:36pm. She weighed 6 lbs 11 oz and measured 19 3/4 inches. She is healthy, chill, and we are in love! Thank you for all the prayers!!
Benjamin and Molly Phelps would like you to meet Ava Louise Phelps born 3-18-19. Thanks be to God!
A member family of RLC is in need of a vehicle to borrow this weekend due to vehicle repair and safety issues. if anyone can help, please contact Pastor Strutz: pastorstrutz@rlcverona.com or 608.515.4334. ...more
Parenting Workshop that helps transform parents from:
Behavior Police to Success Mentors!
Learn about:
- Communication`s effect on the child`s body and brain - Why a child`s behavior is communication - Why punishment doesn`t work (Break the judge, blame and punish cycle) - A new way --> Growing desired behaviors
- Finding new solutions! Creating successes where they did not exist before.
This is a free parenting workshop Please email Kathleen Harwood to register for this group at:kathleen@inthemomenttherapy.com
Date and Location:
April 6 at Christus Ev. Lutheran Church N6116 Delaney Road, Delavan, WI
Thought you would like to see this. Carter’s argument that if schools can teach mythology, they should teach the truth w/ Christianity :) He wrote this @ his Belleville school class. I’m a Proud father & thanks to you to for allowing my kids to learn ! ...more
Ken Notes: Click on the title or image to see a full size version...
Many of you may know the following news by now, but we wanted to inform you that Pastor Tom Trapp went to heaven on the evening of Tuesday, March 12th. He suffered a hemorrhage on the left side of his brain on Sunday, March 10th, and was taken to the hospital shortly afterwards after becoming non-responsive. He was surrounded by his family and friends, who have been reading Scriptures, singing hymns, praying and sharing memories since Sunday.
Thank you for all the prayers, calls, texts, and emails of encouragement and support. We are constantly reminded of these words from Jesus: “I am the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” What a comfort that we have faith in Jesus, the resurrection and the life!
Visitation & Funeral
Friday, March 29th Visitation from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Eastside Lutheran Church
Saturday, March 30th
Visitation from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Eastside Lutheran Church Funeral worship service at 11:00 a.m. at Eastside Lutheran Church (lunch after the service) In lieu of flowers, please send gifts to Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel. ...more
Life Line Screening, a leading provider of community -based preventive health screenings, is pleased to offer a preventive health event at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Verona on 4/23/2019.
Five screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems related to: blocked arteries which is a leading cause of stroke; abdominal aortic aneurysms which can lead to a ruptured aorta; hardening of the arteries in the legs which is a strong predictor of heart disease; atrial fibrillation or irregular heart beat which is closely tied to stroke risk; and a bone density screening, for men and women, used to assess the risk of osteoporosis.
Register for a Wellness Package which includes 4 vascular tests and osteoporosis screening from $149 ($139 with our member discount). All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete. There are four ways to register for this event and to receive a $10 discount off any package priced above $129, please call toll-free 1-888-653-6441, or visit http://lifelinescreening.com/communitycircle, or text the word circle to 797979, or put your name and information on the sign-up sheet on the bulletin boards posted in church.
Will be held June 27-30, 2019 in Des Moines,
Iowa. The deadline for early registration is April 1, 2019. Registration
is $190 and includes nine meals but not lodging.
If you would like more
information or a registration form, please contact Jean Schoenike, LWMS
Reporter for Resurrection at 608-325-9491.
Early Bird Registration (prior to April 1, 2018) includes convention registration, Friday and Saturday lunch and Saturday banquet: $190
Regular Adult Registration (between April 2 and May 1, 2018) includes convention registration, Friday and Saturday lunch and Saturday banquet: $210
Late Registration (after May 1, 2018) includes convention registration, Friday and Saturday lunch and Saturday banquet: $225
Kids Crossing Early Learning Center is located on the campus of Holy Cross Lutheran Church and School on Madison’s northeast side convenient to 90/94. We’re accepting applications for Lead Teachers in our 4K and 1-Year-Old classrooms. Our beautiful center has a full-sized gym and lots of green space for exploring, and our curriculum has a Christian values focus.
We offer competitive pay and great benefits, including a 25% employee child care discount. If you or someone you know would like to learn more about these employment opportunities at Kids Crossing, please contact Linda Grennan at lgrennan@holycrossmadison.org or 608-249-3101.
WELS Nurses Association spring conference April 26-27, 2019
The 2019 WELSNA Spring Conference will take place on April 26th and 27th at Eastside Lutheran Church in Madison, Wisconsin. Stay tuned for more details!
The Seminary Chorus, a 50-voice choir composed of men studying for the pastoral ministry at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, WI, will present a sacred concert
at:
Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel in Madison Wednesday, March 13, at 6:00 p.m.
The choir presents hymns and anthems in traditional and contemporary styles, accompanied by a variety of musical instruments and includes congregation participation.
A group from RLC will be going to help Pastor Eric Melso and his new congregation in Chattanooga Tennessee. Plans are to leave on Friday April 12th in the early morning and return in the evening on Monday April 15th. Friday night we will receive training on canvassing. Saturday the 13th will be a canvassing day. Sunday the 14th will be a day of worship and sightseeing in Chattanooga. And Monday April 15th will be the drive back home. all are welcome to come along who would like.
Talk to Gene cate or Pastor Strutz for more information. This will be a great opportunity to help pastor melso and his new congregation.
After looking things through and with great appreciation for your help it seems best to do the prospect canvas and new mover visiting in both locations on Saturday.
Several reasons.
1. The number of visits works out that it can be covered. 2. Saves drive time for everyone.
SO BOTH CANVASSES WILL BE ON SATURADAY!!
BOTH START AT 9, BOTH DONE AROUND NOON. (meet at the churches)
1 IN MONROE AND 1 IN VERONA AT THE SAME TIME
There will not be a canvass on Sunday.
We can use more people so please join us on this great heat wave we will have on Saturday
It just seems that storms and life go together. There is no place on earth where God’s people can be free - completely free - from the stress, pressure, trouble or pain that sin’s consequences bring. And escaping the torrents of temptation, the gusts of guilt, and the currents which carry even the strongest man off his moral moorings is only a dream. . . A fantasy. Our need, therefore, is not to think of ways to get away from the storms but to learn the secret of going through them. In some of the final words Jesus spoke in His immortal Sermon on the Mount, Jesus used a vivid word picture of two houses, built on opposite foundations. From this familiar illustra-tion, we can learn the secret of an unshakeable life...BUILT ON THE ROCK.
It was shared last week that Pastor Strutz was called to serve as MIssion Counselor for our synod. PastorStrutz and his family ask for your prayers and appreciates your input. Pastor Strutz is happy to talk with anyone and answer questions and hear advice and counsel.
Hopefully this will answer a few common questions.
1. What is a mission counselor?
A mission counselor is a pastor who works with new mission churches in our synod and especially new mission pastors. This work is done most often face-to-face and one-on-one. A mission counselor also works with churches that are looking to start new churches, or new campuses for their church. There are three mission counselors in our synod, each covering about one-third of the county. The call Pastor Strutz is holding would cover north and south east Wisconsin, plus the south east part of the country, from Texas and Oklahoma east to Atlantic Ocean. The call would involve a lot of travel.
2. Does this mean Pastor Strutz is leaving?
Not necessarily. Pastor Strutz may decline the call and continue serving at Resurrection. Even is Pastor Strutz accepts the call, he would not have to move and would continue living in Verona, at least for the time being. But if Pastor Strutz accepts the call he would no longer serve at Resurrection.
3. What happens to Vicar?
Should Pastor Strutz accept the call, Vicar would continue serving at Resurrection through the end of his year, either with Pastor Ewings or another pastor serving as his supervising pastor. The current mission counselor, whom Pastor Strutz would replace, is retiring the end of March and Pastor Strutz may not begin serving in this role until later than that, meaning Vicar would only have a couple months remaining.
Having said that, if Pastor Strutz accepts the call, Resurrection would no longer have Vicars.
4. Can`t Pastor Strutz do both?
Given the full-time nature of the work at Resurrection and the full-time work and travel for the mission counselor position, one person doing both is not possible.
Again, Pastor Strutz is happy to talk with anyone, receive input and answer questions. Please share your thoughts and prayers with Pastor Strutz and his family, especially Elizabeth.
Please join us on Saturday, January 19th, at 9:30 a.m. for a Thai Village presentation. This is an opportunity to see and buy Thai Village products and learn about their people and programs. We are seeing change happening through these outreaches and activities. God is opening doors for us to share our faith and pray for people in need and we see an increased interest in Christianity among non-believers. Pastor Arndt will start us off with devotion, followed by a presentation from Sara Zondag. We will have a light brunch following her presentation and time to check out the items.
Please pray the following with us:
Pray for Christians in Thailand to grow in the knowledge and understanding of God.
Pray for the programs of Thai Village to remain consistent with God’s purpose.
Thank God for His goodness and blessings to Thai Village and ask that we have wisdom in how to be good stewards of all our resources.
Pray for the health, work, and futures of the Thai Village artisans as they face different challenges in their lives.
Pastor Strutz received a call to serve as mission counselor for our synod.
This does NOT mean that Pastor Strutz is leaving. This means that Pastor Strutz will have the opportunity to deliberate where best to serve in Christ`s kingdom.
A mission counselor is a pastor who works with and mentors new mission churches and pastors at new missions. The mission counselor also explores new locations where missions might be started.
Pastor Strutz and his family appreciate your prayers and any advice and counsel. More information will follow. ...more
The committee for the 2020 Pathways to Christ Retreat, was held March 13-15. Our theme for the retreat will focuson on Prov. 17:17, “A Friend Loves At All Times”. Please visit our website for more detailed information. https://pathwaystochrist.org/.
Kathy Delikat, our ministry coordinator has recently purchased a house and needs some help in finishing the move. Volunteers are needed (if possible with truck or van) on Sunday December 30th to help with house cleaning and moving some items from her old house in Fort Atkinson to her new home in Albany and rearranging items in the barn at her old house.
Kathy recommends bringing some clean clothes as you will get dirty and also some work gloves. If you can help, please contact Kathy at262-443-0010or emailwwvetkathy@gmail.com(this email shows up on her phone).
The church council held a meeting on Tuesday, December 18. Here are the highlights.
The council began as always with Bible study. Pastor Ewings led a study on Proverbs, chapter 8, with a focus on wisdom.
The following membership changes were presented and approved: Release of Dave Nelson and his daughter Lauren due to a move from the area.
God has recently declared three children his children through baptism.
Wells Thomas O`Brien
Isabella Mina Boerner
Jacob Robert Cate
Verona membership stands at 331 baptized members.
Monroe campus membership stands at 78 members.
November average attendance. Monroe: 47 on Sunday, 7 on Monday for 54 total. 21 attended Thanksgiving service.
Verona: 163 on Sunday, 35 on Thursday for a total of 198. 79 attended Thanksgiving service.
The council was in unanimous agreement to apply for funding assistance for a Vicar for the 2019/2020 year. The application will happen in January/February, with decision if we will get a vicar in March or April. Call day is May 23.
The next congregational meeting was set for January 27 at 11:45 am.
Technology will be used to connect both campuses.
Treasurer reported with gladness that November offerings were $10,000 higher than budget and cash flow is very good. However, for the year, offerings are about $20,000 lower than budget.
Several facility repairs have been done at both locations.
Additional stain glass windows have been installed in Verona.
The next council meeting is set for January 15, 2019. Input is always welcome.
(TLCO) is a group of Christian musicians that play traditional Celtic instruments. Based in Wisconsin, the group travels across the country leading Christian worship services and per-forming in various public venues. They will be performing their:
“Christsong: A Celtic Christ-mas Concert" at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Middleton Saturday, December 22, at 7 pm
The concert will include traditional instruments including tinwhistle, fiddle, bagpipes, bodhran, and more. For more information on the group check out their web-site www.tlcomusic.com.
God’s grace has opened doors to an unprecedented mission opportunity in communist Vietnam.
It all started when Zang Lou, a leader within the Hmong Fellowship
Church (HFC) in Vietnam, viewed an online sermon by WELS Pastor Bounkeo
Lor in 2011. The clear proclamation of law and gospel and the message of
pure grace through Jesus Christ was something he had never heard before
. . . and he wanted to learn more. That same year, Zang Lou invited Lor
to come to Vietnam to train the HFC in the truth of the gospel. Lor
made his first training visit in 2012. Since that time, Lor has made
over 24 different trips to Hanoi, Vietnam. To assist in his training,
members of the Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI) began to accompany him
on some of these trips starting in 2016....
We will be setting up the trees THIS SUNDAY after church. We welcome volunteers to assist. The decorating for the Advent by Candlelight will be the following Monday and Tuesday. For more information contact Julie Krause or Kate Neitzel.
More than one hundred pastors, teachers, staff ministers, laypeople, and other ministry leaders from across the country gathered in Pewaukee, Wis., Nov. 12-14, for the 2018 WELS National Multi-Site Conference. Attendees met to engage in discussions and activities about developing multi-site churches throughout WELS.
Multi-site churches preach, teach, and carry out other ministry work from more than one physical location. These additional sites can help the congregation share the gospel message with new people and underserved communities. In many cases, they can also gather and use resources with increased efficiency.
Rev. Ron Koehler, pastor at Grace, a multi-site church in Tucson/Sahuarita/Benson/Vail, Ariz., led the conference’s first keynote presentation. He highlighted key reasons why a congregation may launch a multi-site effort. Rev. Jon Hein, director of the Commission on Congregational Counseling , then spoke about the potential of multi-sites to expand ministry work beyond their current reach. Rev. Nathan Strutz, conference planning committee chairman and pastor of a multi-site congregation, Resurrection, Verona/Monroe, Wis., closed the conference with a final keynote presentation reviewing what multi-site strategies are and can be for WELS.
Four sessions of workshops gave attendees opportunities to hear about experiences with multi-site development directly from project leaders. Pastors, church elders, and lay leaders spoke about reaching specific audiences, managing multi-site finances, uniting under one mission, and more.
Rev. Brad Snyder, Mt. Olive, Suamico, Wis., appreciated the fellowship among attendees at the conference: “We get together, enjoy and encourage each other, and stay minded on the mission.” Mt. Olive has called a second pastor to serve at a site it is developing in Hobart, Wis.
Rev. Paul Schupmann and Rev. David Brandt serve at St. John’s, Juneau, Wis., which is officially expanding to Horicon, Wis., in June 2019. They look forward to implementing what they learned from the conference at this new multi-site.
“The key concept is to grow the kingdom and continue to enable our people to share Jesus,” Schupmann explains.
“We all struggle with limited time and resources, but I see multi-site as a way to do more with what we’ve got,” Brandt continues. “I’m excited for the possibilities.”
Rev. Jeffrey Mahnke, St. Peter, Schofield, Wis., led a workshop at the conference to share what he is learning from an ongoing merger with Salem, Wausau, Wis. For any WELS church leaders considering undertaking multi-site initiatives with their congregation, he suggests, “Think big. Start talking about what could be done for the kingdom of Christ.”
The conference was partially sponsored by an Antioch II grant. For more information about multi-site churches and other home mission work, visit wels.net/missions. ...more
Does
time seem like it`s moving too fast? Are you constantly frustrated
because you never get everything done in a day that you wanted to?
Do the years with your children at home seem to be evaporating before
your very eyes? Do the weeks turn into months and the months into years
faster and faster all the time?
If so, you`ll find no shortage of advice on how to slow down your perception of time... ...more
Wayne Rudolph Kreklow, age
74, of New Glarus passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018,
at UW Hospital with his family by his side.
Funeral
services will be held at 11 a.m., on Monday, Nov. 19, 2018, at
RESURRECTION LUTHERAN CHURCH, 1603 16th Ave., Monroe, with Pastor Nathan
Strutz officiating. Burial will be in the Swiss Church Cemetery, New
Glarus.
Relatives and friends may call from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., on Sunday,
Nov. 18, 2018, at ZENTNER-BEAL FUNERAL HOME, 29 6th Ave., New Glarus.
An online memorial with guestbook is available at www.bealfuneralhomes.com.
RLC Notes uses the bulletin as a primary source of announcements (i.e. Announcements & Upcoming Events) and each week new data is added and updated. I also create special separate notes for important events that can be shared on Facebook or email without including the rest of the laundry. Finally I take requests and add these as separate items! This means a WOW meeting, a special service, or the 1 Million souls event would be mentioned twice.
You can email me (Ken), Kathy or Pastor and I will try to include your items. This could include anything from Choir Concerts or Prayer Requests to community events or rummage sales -- even a scripture verse that touched your heart. These items may not show up in the printed bulletin (most will not) but RLCNotes is a little less formal and I can be bribed with cookies. Please include RLCNotes in the subject line because I get lots of email...
I usually try to put all the pieces together Friday Morning and in the process, depending on the amount of coffee in my system, I may duplicate, omit, or include an outdated item. Some of this is intentional, like a part of the regular announcements and a special note to share. Anyway I try my best...
Now for your part. Each individual note can be posted to Facebook or emailed to a friend. So use RLCNotes to update you Facebook or invite friends to: Advent by Candlelight, A Christmas Service, WOW or Worms events, Easter, Thanksgiving, a Pot luck, a prayer request, or your rummage sale....
Both Pastor Strutz and Pastor Ewings will be at the Multi-Site Convention next week. If you are in need of Pastoral services, please contact Vicar Uhlhorn at 480.326.7557 or vicaruhlhorn@rlcverona.com.
The Seminary Chorus, a 52-voice men’s choir composed of students at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, will present its annual Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 9, at 3:00 and 7:00 p.m. in the campus auditorium. Featured will be traditional and contemporary anthems for choir and hymns and carols for the audience. There are no advanced tickets sales; a free will offering is appreciated. The seminary is located 11831 N. Seminary Dr. in Mequon. Find more information on Facebook and at wls.wels.net.
Cordially—with best wishes for a blessed Christmas,
James Tiefel, director The Seminary Chorus
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
One-million souls. C18
is a synod wide effort to reach 1 million. Yes, 1 million people with
the good news of great joy that is for all people. We have a Savior
Jesus. If everyone in our synod invites just 3 people to Christmas Eve
worship or Christmas for kids that goal will be achieved. Can you image
1 million people invited to hear the good news?! Postcards are
available at both campuses to help you invite your friends, neighbors,
and co-workers. Additional materials and updates are available from our
synod at welscongregationalservices.net/c18. ...more
Amazing Grace Lutheran Church of Panama City, Florida, suffered severe damage when Hurricane Michael made landfall in October. Among the rubble, it was found that the church`s 150 hymnals and other spiritual materials were destroyed by water and mold.
This Friday and Saturday, Northwestern Publishing House will accept contributions to purchase one or more Christian Worship hymnals to give to the church. Once the goal of 150 hymnals is met, any additional contributions will go toward NPH gift cards for Amazing Grace to purchase replacement Bibles for impacted church members and restore their church library. In appreciation of your kind contribution, you will receive a $5 coupon to use online at nph.net.
NPH`s collection event will be held in-person and over the phone on the following days:
Friday, Nov. 9, 9am–6pm
Saturday, Nov. 10, 9am–2pm
For your convenience, you can contribute over our customer service line by calling 800-662-6022 during the above hours... ...more
Hi, our new Ministry Coordinator Kathy Delikat has some unique housing requirements and hopefully we can help. She needs a pet friendly rural home closer to Verona than her current location which is for sale.
Thinking out loud, Kathy and I (Ken) thought there might be a farmhouse that is no longer occupied that would accommodate her and her pets which may or may not include a horse. She may also be in a position to purchase after the sale of her farm.
So if you know of anything or anyone with this type of property give Kathy a call.
Attached at the link is a PDF of her "family".
Any suggestions or ideas are welcome.
Thanks,
Kathy Delikat Ministry Coordinator Resurrection Lutheran Church 6705 Wesner Rd. Verona, WI 53593 608-848-4965 ...more
The following is the list of items needed for Thanksgiving baskets for BPNN:
2 Chicken or Turkey Gravy 10.5 oz. cans 1 White Rice (not instant) 2 lb. bag 1 French Cut Green Beans 14.5 oz. can 1 Fruit Cocktail/Mixed Fruit 15.25 oz. can 1 Mandarin Oranges 15 oz. can 1 Pineapple Chunks 20 oz. can 1 Vegetable Oil 32 oz. 1 Evaporated Milk 12 oz. can
They would also greatly appreciate a $15 donation along with each "basket" of food. Just like in the past, the individual donors should write a check to the church,and then the church can write one heck to BPNN with the note "Thanksgiving meal" in the memo. This will help offset the cost of turkeys and frozen pies. Thanksgiving baskets can be dropped off in the church office by Kathy`s desk. The DEADLINE for food donations is Sunday, November 11.
In addition to food donations, BPNN is looking for 4 additional volunteers for Wednesday, November 14, from 12:30-2:35pm. These folks will be cart assistants helping our patrons move their carts through the line to collect food. They will help people load their carts and bring the carts back for other shoppers. Contact the Kathy in the church office to volunteer, ministrycoordinator@rlcverona.com.
Amazing Grace Lutheran Church of Panama City, Florida, suffered severe damage when Hurricane Michael made landfall in October. Among the rubble, it was found that the church`s 150 hymnals and other spiritual materials were destroyed by water and mold.
Next week, Northwestern Publishing House will accept individual monetary contributions to purchase one or more Christian Worship hymnals to donate to the church. Once the goal of 150 hymnals is met, any additional monetary contributions will go toward NPH gift cards for Amazing Grace to purchase replacement Bibles for impacted church members and restore their church library. In appreciation of your kind contribution, you will receive a $5 coupon to use online at nph.net ...more
This is Henry Tomhave, a former member of Resurrection since I was 1 years old until about 8th grade. I am currently in my final year of study at Martin Luther College on my way to becoming a pastor. I want to thank you so much for your continued thoughts, prayers and gifts. You have been such a blessing to me and my family. I can’t thank you enough for your generous gift toward my education. I received my second quarter billing statement and I no longer owe any money until January. What a relief! I have three languages I am taking this year, so I only have time to work a few hours on the weekends. Your gift and its timing were amazing!
It has been so encouraging to me to witness from the humble beginnings to the present day all the blessings and growth that come through Resurrection and its ministry. I pray that all your efforts to reach out to other communities continue to be fruitful.
One request—pray for me as I finish up my final year here at MLC and God-willing, continue my education next fall at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.
The search for a new logo for RLC continues. The committee will continue to work on this and we will have an update in RLCNotes in the next few weeek.
Motion #1 (passed) - Current excess funds
A) - Land/Building Fund
We so move that the amount of $60,000 be moved from the non-restricted general fund account into the restricted Land/Building fund. We feel this amount will allow us to move relatively quickly should a land or building opportunity arise. These funds will be invested in a secure and semi liquid account to allow for the highest interest while still maintaining access to the funds if needed.
B) - Mortgage Debt Pay Down
We so move that all remaining funds in the non-restricted general fund account in excess of $30,000 be paid to the Church Extension Fund as a lump sum payment against our current mortgage. At this time we are estimating this amount to be between $10,000-$15,000.
Motion #2 (passed) - Future excess funds
We so move that upon annual evaluation by the church treasurer that if the non-restricted general fund account is in excess of $30,000, these excess funds are to be distributed with 70% of the funds going to the Church Extension Fund as a lump sum payment against the current mortgage and the remaining 30% being moved to the restricted Land/Building fund.
REFORMATION SERVICE On Sunday, October 28, at 4:00 p.m., there will be an area Reformation service at Luther Prep School in Watertown. The service will feature instrumentalists and choirs from all over the area. Professor Joel Otto from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary will be the preacher.
The Organization of WELS Lutheran Seniors (OWLS) challenged seniors to “Finish the Race” well when it held its annual convention for seniors in Elkhart Lake, Wis., Oct. 9-12.
The convention had 207 attendees from around the United States, which exceeded attendance for many recent years. Elkhart Lake, the home of Road America, is known for its ties to auto racing, relaxation, and history.
Attendees were treated to a rare opportunity to ride on the race track or visit the horse-powered world of the Wade House, a historic stage coach inn. Discussion of finishing the Christian race was focused through presentations of keynote speakers. Former missionary wife Rebecca Wendland shared the challenges of life in Africa but also spoke of the grace and strength of God to protect and guide his people.
Former U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter pilot Steve Schroeder and his wife, Sarah, shared the challenges they’ve experienced running their race during Steve’s military career, both before and after a crash changed their lives.
Home Missions Administrator Rev. Keith Free provided insight into the opportunities worldwide to share the gospel.
For over a decade, the OWLS have used their offerings to support the WELS European Civilian chaplaincy, which serves military personnel and WELS civilians in Europe. This year, the OWLS presented Military Services with a check for $52,000 for work in Europe. Two convention offerings and record proceeds from a silent auction were directed for next year’s gift to the work of the chaplain in Europe as well. The OWLS also provide scholarships to Martin Luther College students.
The October 2019 OWLS convention for seniors will be held in Galena, Ill. The convention is open to all seniors in WELS and the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, regardless of OWLS membership. For more information go to: https://wels.net/record-attendance-owls-convention/
The church council held a regular meeting on October 16. Here are some highlights.
• The council continued Bible study starting 2 Timothy with the theme, “Leaders re-mind and encourage each other”
• The following membership changes were approved: Tammy Streich was welcomed to our Verona campus by adult confirmation Kathy Delikat was welcomed to our congregation by transfer from St. John’s in Cold-Spring. Kathy serves as our ministry coordinator and volunteer coordinator and so will be attending at both campuses once she is able to sell her current home and move to our area. Welcome Tammy and Kathy!
Avery and Sara Faul and their son Wendel were granted transfer to Lord of Love in DeForest.
• The congregation has been blessed with a grant from the Siebert Foundation which will be used, per the foundation’s requirements, to assist with starting a new congre-gation in Monroe, specifically for pastor’s salary. This does not mean Pastor will be getting a raise, but more funds could be available for other ministry.
• The outreach team is continuing to consider logo options and plans to share an up-date at the October 28th congregational meeting.
• The council reviewed a motion regarding debt reduction and future excess funds. These two motions were shared earlier and are available for review prior to the con-gregational meeting on October 28th. The motions were unanimously approved by the council and will be presented at the congregational meeting with the council’s recommendation
• As mentioned earlier, the next congregational meeting will be held on Sunday, Octo-ber 28, at 11:45 am. Technology will be used to connect both campuses. ...more
Builder`s for Christ and WELS Christian Aid and Relief are teaming up to help one of our members whose home was destroyed in the flooding in August. The time has come for the rebuild. The Builder`s for Christ team is looking for a few additional people for next Friday and Saturday, to help with the rebuild. This is a great opportunity to get Disaster Relief experience without needing to travel for a week....
Help is particularly needed on Friday, October 19 and Saturday, October 20. Carpentry skills including, but not limited to, drywall installation, mudding and taping, painting, trim work and general clean up are needed. If you are interested and live in the Wisconsin area, please consider using your time and talents to help this family put their home back in order. This will be a fast-moving project so don`t hesitate to get involved by calling or emailing our site manager, Jim, at 920-210-2827, email - Jbublitz@charter.net, as soon as possible.
Volunteer Registration Form required to be filled out prior to volunteering - https://gf.wels.net/volunteer-application/
Marriage is a wonderful gift from God. Yet, we see marriage attacked on every side because of sin.
Maybe you`d like to learn more about marriage. Maybe you have a friend or family member struggling in a marriage that isn`t going so well.
What does God say?
How can God`s Word help?
What is marriage in God`s sight?
What blessings does God give in marriage?
Services on October 4,7,8 will answer those questions from God`s Word. Hear for yourself. Invite a family member! ...more
WELS ministerial education schools begin another year New WELS high school opens VEBA rate increase lower than expected Pre-order To The Ends of the Earth WELS Night at Ford Field
New for Kids Connection Together PDF WELS in the News Call Reports
The church council met on Tuesday, September 18. Here are the highlights:
The council continued a study of 1 Timothy, looking at chapter 6: leaders know and teach what true wealth is.
There was some discussion, but no decision about the possibility of modifying the rotation of pastor and vicar on Sunday morning to allow for less travel on Sunday morning.
Jeff Hartwig was granted transfer to St Mark`s in WAtertown, Wisconsin, due to a move to that area. Paul and Bobbi Jo Stiteley were received into membership at Resurrection by transfer from St. Andrew in Middleton.
Current membership stands at 414
336 Verona Campus
Monroe campus 78
Communicant membership is 323
253 Verona campus
Monroe campus: 70
Outreach team reported with joy that during August there were 18 first time guests in worship in Verona and 12 in Monroe. There are currently ten people in Bible 101/201/301 classes between our two campuses.
Worship attendance for August in Monroe was 47 average each week, 42 on Sunday and 5 on Monday. Verona attendance was 196. 150 on Sunday and 46 on Thursday. The Thursday number is higher than usual due to VBS closing worship on August 2, which had over 100 people in attendance.
The treasurer reported with thanks to God that offerings in August were more than $15,000 over budget. The 2017/2018 fiscal year ended with offerings over $20,000 above the budgeted amount.
The property chairman, along with all councilmen, thank all members for their countless hours of volunteer service.
The next council meeting was set for Tuesday, October 16.
The next congregational meeting was previously set for October 28 at 11.45 am.
Technology will be used to connect both campuses. So you can attend the meeting at either location.
In Christ, Pastor Nathan Strutz 608-515-4334 Jesus lived. Jesus died. Jesus rose! ...more
WELS
Christian Aid and Relief has been monitoring damage to WELS churches,
members, and communities in the Southeastern United States following
Hurricane Florence. So far, only Ascension in Jacksonville, N.C., has
reported significant damage. The congregation’s rented worship facility
lost shingles in the wind, allowing torrents of rain to destroy the
ceiling and fill the worship space. Christian Aid and Relief is still
awaiting reports regarding how other area WELS members and communities
fared.
Rev. Bob Hein, chairman of Christian Aid and Relief, reported that
Christian Aid and Relief approved a $10,000 gift to Direct Relief, a
secular relief organization that is providing immediate relief to people
affected by Hurricane Florence. Hein reports, “We are also assessing
ways to personalize our relief efforts by working through our churches
in the affected areas.”
To learn more about or support WELS Christian Aid and Relief, visit wels.net/relief.
"FOR OUT OF HIS FULLNESS WE HAVE ALL RECEIVED GRACE UPON GRACE" John 1:16, Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV)
This retreat is a full day event held annually on the first Saturday of October. The first retreat was held in 2009. Since then, the Lord has blessed us each year and we look forward to sharing God`s love for many years to come. We spend the day growing in the Word and relaxing in fellowship with our sisters in faith.
This year our keynote speaker will be Professor Earle Treptow and our closing devotion will be by Pastor Karl Shauland.
For details of the workshops and speaker biographies, please see the links below!
For more information, please contact atpeaceretreat@gmail.com. We look forward to serving you! ...more
Kathy Delikat has accepted a position as our new Ministry Coordinator and Volunteer Coordinator. We would like to welcome her to RLC.
A native of Pennsylvania, Kathy has lived in Florida, Iowa, and Minnesota, but now calls Wisconsin home. She resides on a small farm with her 5 cats (Serendipity, Isabella, Ferdinand, Tarantella, and Ramboli), 2 peacocks (Mutt & Jeff), a 23 year old bay horse named Rosie (Kathy`s horse, MisAladd, is in the photo, but crossed the rainbow bridge at the age of 26), a dog named Mr. Peabody, and a handful of chickens.
In her free time she enjoys outdoor activities like riding, hunting, fishing, hiking, and gardening, and also plays piano & organ for churches and choirs! She has shown her horses for western and dressage, and also enjoys touring wineries, crafting, cooking, and interior decorating. ...more
Marlene Kaye Priewe (nee Hartner) died trusting in the promise Jesus gave her and all believers, "Because I live, you also will live." Visitation will be Sunday, September 9th at Harder Funeral Home from 2:00 - 5:00 P.M. Funeral service will be Monday, September 10th at Loving Shepherd Lutheran Church, 3909 W. Clinton Ave in Milwaukee with visitation from 11:30 - 1:00 P.M. and service to follow. Memorials can be made to Loving Shepherd or Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.
Marlene was born February 8, 1960 to Theodore and Phyllis Hartner (nee Lueskow) in Milwaukee, WI, along with her two older brothers Dale (Marion) and Don (Karen). She was baptized and confirmed into God’s family at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church, Milwaukee. Marlene graduated from Madison High School in 1977 and Marian University in Fond Du Lac in 1981. She began her nursing career at Northwest General in Milwaukee and dutifully served in a number of capacities at St. Michael`s Hospital until it closed in 2006. Marlene continued her career as an ardent Milwaukee Public School nurse until her death.
Marlene and her beloved husband Mark were married in 1981 at St. John’s. She was the devoted mother of Daniel (Michelle), Angela (James), and Timothy (Carissa). She was also blessed to be able to dote on her three grandchildren: Braylee, Henry, and Morgan. She shared her love of camping and traveling with her family; planning summer trips that included historical places, sports stadiums, caves, oceans, and amusement parks. She was the biggest fan to her husband and children, cheering them on at countless baseball and softball games.
Marlene showed her love to those around her by teaching in Jesus Cares Ministries, Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She served as a secretary in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society and sang in the church choir. All this she did to praise her Lord who redeemed her.
Diagnosed with Mesothelioma of the peritoneum in 2014, Marlene exemplified her faith--always confidant that her LORD directed her life. She was able to share her faith with her doctors and others battling against cancer. She laughed, joked, and cried with hospital staff and loving friends that surrounded her during her hospital stays. To the very end, Marlene knew that her Savior was calling her by name and welcoming her home with open arms.
Marlene died at the age of 58 and is survived by many loving family members including her mother Phyllis, husband Mark of 37 years, and three children, Dan (Michelle--Braylee, Henry, Morgan), Angie (James), and Tim (Carissa). She is also survived by her brother Dale and family (Michelle & Mitch--Owen and Noah), (Laura & Mike), (Bob & Tamara--Evelyn), (Bonnie--Simon and Elliot), as well as her brother Don (Karen) and family (Diana & Ben). Her extended family includes her brother-in-law Bill (Sharon) Priewe, sister-in-law Cathy Priewe, cousins Patty (Jim) Nagel and Lynn Charles, many nieces, nephews, and a host of lifelong friends and co-workers whom she stayed in contact and with whom she appreciated friendship, love, and support.
Her favorite hymn, “The King of Love my Shepherd Is,” is the song I am sure she sings before the throne of God who redeemed her by the blood of Jesus, and called her to his side in Heaven--not by works but by God’s love and grace. --Mark
VISITATION
Sunday, Sep. 9, 2018 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Harder Funeral Service Inc 18700 West Capitol Drive Brookfield, WI 53045
SERVICE
Service at 1 on Monday at loving shepherd, with a visitation before at 11:30. Loving Shepherd is located at 3909 w Clinton avenue in Milwaukee ...more
You have probably heard of the C18 effort—a synodwide campaign to reach one million souls with the gospel prior to and on Christmas Eve. The only way that will happen is if the 360,000-member army of saints within WELS is mobilized. That is a major goal of C18—equipping people, young and old, to reach out to unchurched friends, family, neighbors, and acquaintances.
It will only be possible to mobilize 360,000 people if called workers provide the needed leadership and encouragement. One simple way is to ask WELS members to sign up to receive weekly C18 updates....
Please check the link for all the details and to sign up.
Here is a map that you can share to get people to church on Sunday of IMWI day, September 9th. One is a link to ridewithgps.com which will give turn by turn on a map. The second one (attached) is a snapshot with the route on how to get to your church on IMWI day (in red) and then the purple is the actual IMWI course and roads to avoid.
The map onridewithgps.comshows how to get to your church from downtown Verona. If you need something else, let me know.
Marriage is a wonderful gift from God. Yet, we see marriage attacked on every side because of sin.
Maybe you`d like to learn more about marriage. Maybe you have a friend or family member struggling in a marriage that isn`t going so well. What does God say? How can God`s Word help? What is marriage in God`s sight? What blessings does God give in marriage?
Services on October 4,7,8 will answer those questions from God`s Word. Hear for yourself. Invite a family member! ...more
Your brothers and sisters at Peace Lutheran Church, 1007 Stonehaven Dr., Sun Prairie invite you to share their joy on Sunday, September 9, as they dedicate their new facilities to the Lord. There will be two services, 8:00 & 10:30 a.m. (identical), with refreshments and finger foods after each service. Tours of the facility will also be given. We would be honored to have you join us!
Check out the latest drone video of the facility construction.
The church council held a regular meeting on August 21. Here are the highlights.
The council continued a study of 1 Timothy, with the theme, "Leaders carefully choose successors." There was discussion about best practices for choosing leaders for church council.
Several membership changes were approved. Baptism of Maveric Niehaus and Brianna O`Neill. Transfer in of Vicar Jordan Uhlhorn. Transfer out of Vicar Tim and Carissa Priewe. And adult confirmation for Stephanie Malchine. Welcome to all new members!
The council discussed Thanksgiving worship times. There will be a Thanksgiving service in Verona on Wednesday, November 21 at 6.30 pm and in Monroe on Wednesday, Novemeber 21 at 7 pm. Kathy Delikat has been hired as Ministry Coordinator and Volunteer Coordinator. She will being full time duties on August 27.
The outreach team reported eleven first time guests in Verona for the month of July and two in Monroe. The blessings of recent efforts in Monroe to reach those new to our communities was also shared. Four different families have attended worship as a direct result of these efforts. Many outreach events are upcoming at both locations.
The council continued discussion of best practices for excess funds, having considered input from the July 8 congregational meeting. A draft will be shared with the congregation in early September for further input. The council will review the input and put together a recommendation for the October congregational meeting.
The October congregational meeting was set for Sunday, October 26 at 11.45 am. Technology will be used to connect both campuses.
In Christ, Pastor Nathan Strutz 608-515-4334 Jesus lived. Jesus died. Jesus rose! ...more
Join us for a Vine and Branches Kick-off Bonfire this Friday, August 24th, at 7:00 p.m. in Verona. You can meet facilitators, ask questions, sign up for a group and learn more about our Vine & Branches ministry...
Thought I`d pass along the invitation to our friends in Verona to make a trip and join us for our Grand Opening if any are interested!
I attached a pdf of our direct mailer that will be going out. All the information is on there. Feel free to share it or just to steal info from it and share it in a different format.
Bethany Lutheran College invites juniors and seniors to spend a free weekend* on our campus. Learn more about the Bethany experience by attending chapel, visiting with faculty, and touring the campus. Whatever activities you choose, you will be sure to feel like a college student. The best part is that Bethany will pay for the entire cost of lodging, food, and events while on campus.
* You will be asked to pay a $40 deposit that will be returned when you arrive. To register, visit blc.edu/getaway
Registration is required by October 22, 2018 ...more
The time has come to say farewell to Vicar Tim and Carissa Priewe. This Friday, July 27th at 7:00pm, the RLC -Verona Campus will host a Farewell Bonfire in honor of Vicar Tim Priewe.
We thank God for his service this past year and look forward to all that the Lord has planned for both Tim and Carissa during this final year at the Seminary.
Please bring a snack to share and your lawn chairs! See you all TONIGHT in Verona.
And don`t forget the Lunch In MONROE SUNDAY JULY 29 11:45AM
5:15-6:00 pm Family Supper 6:00-7:00 pm Children’s Activities
Love without an agenda: Living Christ to neighbors, co-workers, friends without an agenda
Presenter: Pastor Kelly Huet
Description: We live in a divided divisive nation. We are bombarded with the philosophy all who don`t agree with me must be hated and vilified. Where the opinion of the mass is what the moral compass is and a tweet can send a nation into a free fall. Yet, here we are, where God has placed us and called us to be his followers, in uncertain times and places. The early Christian Church was known by their love and compassion in communities that were hostile to them and their message. It seems God has placed us in similar times. The time has come for us to step out of our comfort zones, put aside our always being right egos, and follow Jesus` lead and see how God is calling us to be followers of his, who loves without an agenda.
Key Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2.14, Matthew 9.9, Mark 1.17
Pastor Kelly Huet serves as resident missionary at St. Andrew Lutheran in Middleton, WI. His passion is equipping others to follow Jesus and live as missionaries in their neighborhoods, workplaces, and families.
Family Bible Night Sunday, August 5th Zion Lutheran Church W6910 County Road K. Arlington, WI
We would like to thank Vicar Priewe and Carissa for serving us so well over the past year. This week we are collecting money for a farewell gift as a token of our appreciation.
There will be an envelope in the Inreach folder in the copier room at our Verona campus, and an envelope in pastor`s office at our Monroe campus. You can also give your contribution to me, Philip Meinel, if that`s easier. Vicar will be presented with our gift at his farewell lunch this Sunday.
Thank you for all the encouragement you have shown Vicar and Carissa this past year. ...more
Vicar Jordan Ulhorn will be moving into his first apartment when he arrives in Verona on August 1. Having lived in school dorms until now, he has very little in the way of household goods and furniture.
If you can help with a donation of gently used furniture, dishes, cookware, or other homekeeping items, it would be greatly appreciated. A comprehensive list of items for setting up a first apartment is on the bulletin board in Verona. Please mark off the things you are able to donate to avoid duplicate efforts.
Large items should be delivered to the apartment, but smaller things can be stored at church until Vicar Ulhorn arrives. Please contact Elizabeth Strutz with questions: call or text608-515-4336or emailelizstrutz@gmail.com
WOW: Ladies please mark your calendar for July 14, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm as we look at Oils of the Bible. We will have oils and note their use in Biblical times. We will learn about how they are harvested and what uses they have in present day times. We will also learn how they were used in Biblical references.
Please RSVP to Ruth at ruthpudlocleaning@gmail.com. We would love to see all of you there!
Please if you plan to attend speak to Kerri Brunk about bringing snacks. Thank you!
Practice begins this Sunday as we prepare for two wonderful choir opportunities!
1. July 29 choir for Vicar Priewe`s farewell service
Rehearsals July 22 10:15 - 11:00 a.m. in choir room at Verona campus. Please have all notes learned. Separate e-mail sent with your voice part recording.
On July 29
8:15 - 8:45 a.m. in sanctuary at Verona campus 9:00 a.m. Attend service at Verona campus/Sing The Lord Bless You and Keep You at the end of this service. 10:15 a.m. Drive to Monroe campus 11:00 a.m. Gather in lower level/Warm-up or review as needed/Sing at end of 10:30 service Stay for luncheon if desired following 10:30 service.
Copies of the music will be available for pick up in the choir room/Verona campus beginning Sunday, June 24, if you would like to have your music early.
2. July 15 choir for Pastor Ewings` Ordination
Rick Hermanson will be preparing the concerto, Not Unto Us, arr. David Cherwien. Organ and flute accompaniment. Please reply to Rick at rjhermanson@gmail.com to indicate your willingness to sing or you can reply to this e-mail.
Rehearsals
July 1 10:15 - 11:00 a.m. in choir room at Verona campus
On July 15
2:45 in sanctuary at Monroe campus 4:00 service in Monroe
If you have any questions, please contact Kathi Appelt or Rick Hermanson. We hope you can join us! ...more
I thought I was going to keep things status-quo when elected to the Inreach Chairman position a year ago. Since then, we had a merger, established a 10 year ministry plan, and called an associate pastor. We`ve got a lot of things going on!
I want to share with you an Inreach update that affects the entire congregation and has dramatic potential to help RLC remain a healthy congregation. We`ve seen a need to improve communication both from members directly, and from the results of the Crossroads ministry planning process. We`ve also seen a need to improve adult and youth discipleship. A key aspect to both of these areas is member involvement.
Have you ever asked yourself, "Why has God placed me here?" We know he has a good plan for our lives, but what is it? Now that I know Christ, what am I supposed to do?
First Corinthians 12:7 says, "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."
This passage (and whole chapter) talks about how we have so many gifts - things that we like to do - and by the Spirit of our God, we can use these gifts for the good of our fellow Christians and our communities. I highly suggest reading the whole chapter, but essentially: We want to help members get instantly and permanently connected to the body of Christ at RLC.
We want members to recognize their God-given gifts and find joy in sharing these gifts with their fellow members and in their community.
We want to honor God for these member`s gifts - each and every indispensable member.
We want each part of the body to be connected, communicating effectively, and working together for a common cause.
To help RLC focus on these inreach goals, we have developed a Volunteer Coordinator position, subject to council and voter approval. This position would work in tandem with our existing Ministry Coordinator position, and ideally, would be the same person working full time at RLC. Our existing Ministry Coordinator will be transitioning to a different area of service this fall, so we are looking to fill these positions by late summer.
Both the Ministry Coordinator and Volunteer Coordinator position descriptions are available. Please let me know if you have interest in either one of these positions or both.
May the Spirit of our God work powerfully in your life.
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. –Acts 4:32
We`re planning a work day Saturday, June 30th 10-4 at the parsonage in Monroe. We have LOTS of work/cleaning that needs to get done before Pastor Ewings and his wife Ivy move in.
Want to help but can`t make it on the 30th? We`ve got LOTS of projects that can be done ahead of time. Let the Plenges know if you want to come on another day to help out. We can make arrangements for you to get into the parsonage.
When was the last time you went on a walk? What did you notice? I’m sure you noticed the skies, the birds, other people, animals perhaps. But more than likely, I’m sure there wasn’t a place you walked that didn’t have some sort of plant - ranging from weeds to flowers, from shrubs to towering trees. Think of how old many of those trees are, and how young some of those flowers are.
But think about this…think of where they all started. They all started in the same place…they all started as seeds! Small, insignificant looking seeds! But are they truly that insignificant? ... ...more
Just got news that Elijah Strutz is cleared to go home. Thanks to all for your continued prayers. We still have a long way to go literally. About 1000 miles. But there`s been great progress. God be praised.
previously -- Our son Elijah Strutz fell hiking in Colorado and is in the hospital. His left lung partially collapsed. He`s doing fine. But will be healing for a while.
Big thanks to his brother Caleb who stayed by his side and to search and rescue who got home down the mountain safely... ...more
The Resurrection Online Connection (ROC) Team is collecting information from members of Resurrection in order to create up-to-date and enhanced individual profiles. Please take a few moments to complete this form for each family member.
Thank you for your patience during this time of transition! Any questions or concerns regarding the process can be directed to members of the ROC team (Kimberly Zak, Gale Hellpap, Paul Appelt, Mark Krueger or Katrina Meinel). ...more
The
Resurrection Online Connection (ROC) team was developed to improve
communication and deepen connections with each other. The Congregation
recently purchased access to Church Community Builder, a sophisticated
software specifically created to improve communication for churches.
Over
the next few weeks members of the ROC team will be collecting
information from members of Resurrection in order to create up-to-date
and enhanced individual profiles within the new software. We will be
collecting this information through email forms and paper forms during
the offering. When given the opportunity, please take a few moments to
jot down your most recent information. Our goal is to have member
profiles created for each church member by the end of July. While we are
in the process of collecting member information, we will also start to
use different features within Church Community Builder for different
projects and events.
You might be invited
to an RLC event or activity through this software. Know that it is legit
and is a new program RLC is using! Thank you for your patience during
this time of transition! Any questions or concerns regarding the process
can be directed to members of the ROC team: Kimberly Zak, Gale
Hellpap, Paul Appelt, Mark Krueger or Katrina Meinel.
Living
Hope had its` first preview service, May 13th, at the movie theater! We
were blessed to have 41 people come to church; 9 more than the Easter
service. Everyone who attended Easter came back, which was awesome! The
day before the preview service we had a crew of people learn how to set
up and take down our "Church in a Box" equipment. We are thankful for
the many people who spent their Saturday learning how to do this, and
then come the next day to set up and take down. Everything went
smoothly.
Our next preview service is June 10th. Because of
God`s grace we will be renting a bigger theater that seats more than the
first theater we were in. To God be praised!
Thank you for all your support and prayers. Have a safe, fun, summer!
Ken Notes: This story links to the Living Hope website where much more of the story can be found. I hope we can send a group the their grand opening on September 9th...
On Sunday, May 27, I was contacted by Mr. Jeff Waymire, Leadership Chair, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Port Orange, Florida. He notified me that a divine call to teach preschool is being extended to me. I await further details and information to arrive by mail later this week.
I am humbled to be extended this call and look forward to laying this at the Lord’s feet. I pray for God’s wisdom and direction. Please keep me in your prayers as I consider this opportunity to serve.
Ken Notes: in googling Ali for a picture, I saw dozens of very happy smiling children including my own grandchildren. I hope we remember the impact Ali has had and continues to have on RLC. The future of our church is in those smiles and the wisdom imparted on our youth by Ali and others. Should she head to Florida I / we will miss her...
We invite you and your congregation to attend Northwestern Publishing House`s Customer Appreciation Event.
On Friday, June 22, 1pm-4pm, and Saturday, June 23, 9am-1pm, at NPH Christian Books & Gifts Store customers will join NPH in celebrating the many blessed years of the retail location`s ministry with special discounts and giveaways.
Share this event in your bulletin, on your church website, and on your social media pages. For your convenience, we`ve provided suggested text below for easy placement.
Visit NPH Christian Books & Gifts Store on Friday, June 22, 1pm-4pm, and Saturday, June 23, 9am-1pm, for their Customer Appreciation Event. To thank you for your support of the retail store, guests will receive additional discounts on clearance items and enter a drawing for a $100 gift card. Refreshments will also be served. Learn more at www.nph.net!
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and
only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal
life.
Maddie Deegan
Romans 8:38-39 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Cortney Ehlert
Luke 1:37 37 For nothing is impossible with God.”
Timothy Manning
Joshua 1:8 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Karley Michels
Joshua 1:9 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Gina Salmela
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Resurrection
will be having a virtual run right in Verona on Friday May 11th at
6:00pm on the bike trail. You can sign up there between 5:30 - 5:45pm.
We did this last year and it was a lot of fun without having to travel
to Mequon.
Phil Meinel is heading this event up. Please call him with any questions (1-920-728-1406) If you cannot make the virtual run and want to go to Mequon, then please go to www.life-a-thon.org.
5k run / 2 mile walk /and kids ¼ mile run is also held at the Seminary in Mequon on Saturday May 12th.... ...more
Former RLC vicar - By Rev. Caleb Free, Risen Savior Lutheran Church – Lakewood Ranch, FL
“Is now the right time? Should we wait? Should we move forward?”
Those were questions circling the minds of God’s people at Risen Savior Lutheran Church in Lakewood Ranch, Fla. – a small mission congregation an hour south of Tampa. In the fall of 2016, as we talked about our building project, we wrestled with the question, “Is now the right time to ?nish building God’s house?”
For God’s people in the book of Haggai, they said, “The time has not yet come for the LORD’s house to be built” (Haggai 1:2). But God rebuked them for their backwards priorities, and eventually he gave his people the promise, “I am with you, declares the LORD” (Haggai 1:13). For God’s people in Haggai, now was the time to build God’s house. The LORD was with them!
For God’s people at Risen Savior – as we listened to God’s Word, as we prayerfully contemplated our options, as we discussed it with our District Mission Board – we came to the same conclusion that now is the time! The Lord is with us! We didn’t know exactly what the future would hold, but we knew whatever would come, God would be right there with us.... ...more
Next week on Thursday and Friday (May 3rd and 4th) we will be doing pavement base preparation on Wessner Rd. by the dog park parking lot entrance and in the Ice Age National Scenic Trail parking lot. The contractor will then come back sometime in the next couple of weeks to complete finish paving, we will also keep you notified of that schedule as soon as we know the date.
We do not anticipate any impacts to access to the church during this project, just wanted you to be aware of what was going on, see attached for more information.
This past Sunday, Resurrection called Pastor Brad Snyder to be its Associate Pastor. Now he urges you to call him or contact him with thoughts, needs and input about our ministry and family here at Resurrection Lutheran Church.
Please also keep him in your prayers as he considers both of his calls to serve in God`s kingdom. Blessings on your week and your worship - In Verona join us tonight, Thursday 6:30pm and 9:00am on Sunday.
In Monroe we worship 10:30am Sunday and 7:00pm on Monday.
Pastor Brad Snyder Contact Information pastorbradsnyder@gmail.com call or text: 920-328-7838 ...more
I`ll send him this RLCNotes with our wish for the Lords blessing on his decision in either direction.... Also to be fair I may have embroidered his shirt but it look nice --- don`t you think???
With much work to be done here in Verona and Monroe Pastor has chosen to return his call to the synod offices. Sunday will also yield the results to our call for an associate pastor.
Please join us in thanking Pastor for his decision to stay and praying for our leadership that they find the perfect candidate for their position. ...more
Volunteers are needed to help prepare and paint the new Counseling room at the Monroe campus. The dates and times are: April 13th from 9 am to 1 pm to prepare the room for painting April 14th from 9am to 3 pm to paint.
If you can`t make those times but want to help out, don`t worry. We`re also looking for volunteers to prepare lunch/snacks and beverages for our volunteers. If your Vine and Branches group is still looking for a service project, you might consider this one. Your help is greatly appreciated! ...more
The ministry plans we have been working on are now available for review. Comments and feedback from the recent forums has been incorporated. We are very thankful for the input. Improvements have been made. Thanks again.
The full copy of the ministry plans are available electronically or via hard copy. The plan is to have further discussion and a vote on these plans at our congregational meeting, which begins at 11.45 am on Sunday, April 15. Technology will be used to connect both campuses.
If the plans are approved, implementation would begin July 1.
Thanks again to all who have provided input in the past and for further comments and feedback prior to and on April 15, and for help in carrying this plan out to God`s glory and with prayers for his blessing.
Grant funding from Thrivent Financial through its Thrivent Choice® program can help support organizations you care about. Don’t let Choice Dollars expire.
Eligible Thrivent Financial members who have Choice Dollars available have until March 31, 2018, to direct any remaining 2017 Choice Dollars. Help support Resurrection. Go to Thrivent.com/thriventchoice to learn more. Or call 800-847-4836 and say “Thrivent Choice” after the prompt. ...more
Have you ever thought about the work our Lord is doing in His home and world mission fields through YOU?
You are invited to come see and hear first hand. Women and men are welcome. The featured speaker will be Sean Young (former member of Resurrection and Our Redeemer.) He is currently the Joint Mission Council Chair for the Wisconsin Synod. He will be speaking about the African Immigration Project in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Your service, prayers and financial support are gifts from God and we give Him thanks and praise for each one of you.
Lutheran Women`s Missionary Society (LWMS) Saturday - April 21, 2018 8:30 am - 12:30 lunch Capitol Circuit Spring Rally Our Redeemer Lutheran Church 1701 McKenna Blvd Madison, WI 53711
Our Outreach started a group called Rcrc “Resurrection Church Running Club” during 2017
This year’s events are listed below:
The 1st event is the “Parkinson’s Run”. There is a 1/2 marathon, 5k and 1 mile walk and 2 kids runs. It will take place on Sat. April 7th In Cottage Grove Wi.
The 2nd event is the Verona Public Library “Word On The Street” 5k run/walk and kids 1/3 mile run. It will take place on Sat. May 5th at the Verona Public Library.
The 3rd event is a Wels Lutheran for Life “Life-a-thon” 5k run / 2 mile walk /and kids ¼ mile run. It is held at the Wi. Lutheran Seminary in Mequon on Saturday May 12th.
Our group will be having a virtual run right in Verona on Friday night May 11th at 6pm right on the bike trail. We did this last year and it was a lot of fun without having to travel to Mequon.
Phil Meinel is heading this event up. Please call Phil with any questions (1-920-728-1406)
The 4th event is the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary “Seminary Scurry” 5k run/walk and a ½ mile kids dash to be held on Saturday April 28th at the Seminary in Mequon
There is lots of kid and family events to do at this one. Please be sure to check this out and see our beautiful Wels campus.
The 5th event is the Monticello PTO “Pony Trot” 5k run/walk and a kids run to be held on Saturday July 7th in Monticello
The 6th event is the Belleville Community Picnic “Fun Run” This has a 5k run/walk, a 10k run and has many different female and male age groups to be held on Saturday Aug 11th.
A family finds joy when they discover the truth of God’s Word.
"When we got married, we decided to find a church where we could worship
together,” Kimberly begins. That search came to an end when Chris and
Kimberly Zak joined a nearby Lutheran church. “It was comfortable. We
made a good connection with the pastor, and they had a strong children’s
ministry,” she says. The church was not a conservative confessional
church, however...
...This search for a church home ended suddenly when they stepped
through the doors of Resurrection, Verona, Wis. It was the first church
on the list. Kimberly says that it was “like a light bulb went off.” The
message they heard was different from what they had heard for 12 years.
“We heard the Word of God, not interpretation,” she says...
Are you looking for encouragement? Are you looking for someone to come to your defense? How about a clean conscience? How about assurance that your sins are forgiven? Have you ever wondered just how the Old Testament books connect to the New Testament? Hebrews is the book for you! Come and join us as we “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” We continue our study in the book of Hebrews on Thursdays. Bible study starts at 7:30 PM (after Thursday night worship) and lasts about an hour. ...more
The slow songs of Lent grow on us when we understand they tell us of God’s love.
Nathan W. Strutz
I will be honest. Growing up, I really didn’t like Lent. We had to go to church two times in one week! And then one week we went three times in four days! And the hymns were so slow. They took forever. At least we would stop for a Shamrock shake after a midweek service or two.
But as I got older, I began to appreciate Lent, maybe even look forward to it. For one thing, I cannot escape my sin in Lent. The terrible, horrible, awful price is on full display. I caused the death of Jesus. I swung the whip. I put the nails in his hands. I joined the crowd and yelled, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
Going to church twice a week cannot pay for my crimes. Trying a little harder to be a little better will not fix my problem. Only Jesus can fix my problem. Only the blood of God’s own Son can pay for me. And would you believe God’s Son loved me so much, he paid—in full—for all my crimes?... ...more
It’s open enrollment at Our Redeemer Lutheran School for the Fall of 2018. Pre-K starts at 2 years old and they serve students up to the 8th grade.
They offer excellence in Christian education. Passionate and caring teachers encourage your child and promote a strong community within the classroom and school. We at Resurrection Lutheran Church provide additional tuition assistance to students K-8th grade to attend Our Redeemer.
To schedule a tour, visit www.orlmadison.org or call 608-274-2830. They are located at 1701 McKenna Blvd, Madison, just up the road.
ALSO:
Do you have children between the ages of 0 – 5? If so, Little Learners is an educational activity where children of that age learn through play alongside their parent or caretaker. It takes place at Our Redeemer Lutheran School – 1701 McKenna Blvd., Madison. It’s the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from 10a.m. – 11 a.m. Cost is $5 per family. Advance online registration is required. Visit www.orlmadison.org or call 608-274-2830.
WELS Christian Aid and Relief has announced its plan to call a disaster response coordinator for Puerto Rico who would serve for one year and work with the national pastors of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Church of Puerto Rico to identify and prioritize specific needs, plan construction and repair projects, and coordinate volunteer efforts. He would also help to coordinate …
...more
The next marriage retreat date is set for Saturday, February 17, from 1-5 pm at the Verona campus. Pastor Strutz will lead a study on healthy marriage based on God`s Word. Topics will be managing conflict and connecting with your spouse. Those who attend are encouraged to plan a date night following the session to continue the discussion.
Please sign up at either campus by February 11 so plans can be made. Pastor Strutz has also been in discussion about the possibility of hosting a full weekend retreat in Verona. If you would be interested in attending or assisting with planning this event, please speak with Pastor. ...more
Brothers, please consider attending the 9th Annual Men of His Word Conference at the Best Wester Premier Waterfront Convention Center in Oshkosh on Saturday, February 24, 2018.
Additional details and online registration are available at www.menofhisword.org.
Please join us for a day of fellowship in God’s Word that you will not soon forget!
A carpool will be going from Verona. Please talk to Pastor Strutz or Gene Cate. Last ...more
Meet WELS teens from across the country and around the world. Listen to speakers with a biblical perspective on timely teen topics. Gather information on colleges, ministries, and service opportunities. Experience lifting your voices in worship with 2,000 people.
Details
Start: June 26 End: June 29 Cost: $345 Event Category: WELS Youth Rally Event Tags: youth rally Website: https://wels.net/2018youthrally
Venue Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, OH United States + Google Map ...more
We would appreciate your help in advertising the IronmenofGod men`s conference at St. Paul`s, Ixonia! Suggested bulletin announcement:
5th Annual IronmenofGod men`s conference: Saturday, March 24 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Paul`s Lutheran school, Ixonia. Speakers this year are Pastors Karl Walther, Aarong Strong, Jordan Ertl, and staff minister Dan Schoeffel. Guys, come and be strengthened in your faith and enjoy Christian fellowship! Cost is only $30 and includes a catered lunch and a take home coffee mug! Register today at www.ironmenofgodwi.org!
We have also attached a bulletin insert. Thank you for your help with this important ministry and God bless your day!
On Sunday, January 28th, 2-4pm, there will be a new member party for RLC recent new members and their sponsors.
The Boerners offered to host at their place W3260 Dayton Wood Road, Belleville. Thank you Nathan and Taneil!
We are asking you, as a new member sponsor, to reach out to your new member, listed below, and encourage them to attend this exciting event, even better if you can attend with them. It is really important that our new members connect quickly with their fellow Christians at RLC and build strong relationships. This will also help build their relationship with our Savior. This event is an important milestone on that path.
New Member(s) Sponsor(s)
David and Brooke Erikson Micah and Alice Heyer Jessica Menke Tim and Carissa Priewe Ted Hall Gene and Lori Cate Steve Ebner Nathan and Taneil Boerner Chris and Kimberly Zak Rob and Kaye Reichert Avery and Sara Faul Andrew and Gale Hellpap Jenna Valentin-Straight Ken and Kathleen Harwood Larry Lyons Sue Lyons David and Krista Bethke Brian and Ellen Andrews Abby Bethke Brian and Ellen Andrews Anna Schultz Penny Schultz Neal Stake TBD Jake Zimmermann Tom Schloesser Dixie Williams TBD
Thanks again for participating in the sponsor program. Your work is critical in keeping members connected to the body of Christ.
We have lots of great opportunities for you to support this fun outreach opportunity! A few of these great opportunities include… ·
Leading up to – Making decorations. ·
During – Photographer, Group leaders, and more.
Prayers – Lots and lots of prayers that God may bless our efforts!
To find out more information on how you can get involved, please contact Ellen Andrews at (920)382-0511 or ellen.andrews@ces.uwex.edu.
We look forward to you joining us to hear how precious all people are to Jesus!
Space Station Salvation
Come blast off to Space
Station Salvation for vacation Bible school, to learn God’s Word at
Resurrection Lutheran Church! Children, ages 3-10, will enjoy upbeat
songs, Bible study, games, snacks, and crafts. While adults can enjoy an
opportunity to crack open the Bible and study core teachings of the
Bible.
We are especially excited that this
year Resurrection families have two great opportunities to invite
friends, family and neighbors to join them in studying God’s Word, at:
Monroe – Saturday, July 28th, 9:00am-Noon – Register at:
The 6th event is the Belleville Community Picnic “Fun Run” This has a 5k run/walk, a 10k run and has many different female and male age groups to be held on Saturday Aug 11th.
There will be more information for this event when it becomes available.
NOTES:
Anyone who signs up to do any of these events will be given our very own RCRC shirt that can be worn that day, future events or anytime you want. It is your shirt for participating, once you receive a shirt it is the only one that is given for free.
The intent is to get our congregation involved in more community events and show our support to our area communities.
Isaiah 40:31 “Those who hope in the Lord…will run and not grow weary”
Any questions please feel free to call me.
Gods blessings to all of you, Gene Cate Home: 608-424-3225 Cell: 608-513-8060 Work: 608-424-3612
Sorry for the delay. I had a funeral last week and it`s been ironically stressful for January. Happy to give a short update.
2018 marks the third year at another RLC - Redeemer Lutheran Church - in Ann Arbor, MI. Megan and I got married in June 2016 in California and continue to enjoy life with all the activity of a university city.
This past summer we both went back to the WELS worship conference (where we met), where Jacob participated in the festival choir and played oboe, and afterward spent a weekend in downtown Chicago. In August, we celebrated the completion of our church renovation after more than two years of planning. Although it was a lot of work for me as the project manager, we were able to use it as a big outreach event.
Our campus ministry is now funded through WELS Home Missions, and with God`s blessing, we`ve seen increased Bible study and worship attendance. I enjoyed planning our district Reformation 500 service on the district Commission on Worship and am staying busy this winter with a conference presentation on hymnody.
Megan continues to enjoy working as the office administrator at LimnoTech, a water environmental engineering firm. This past fall gave the biggest surprise: we became homeowners a lot sooner than we thought - all in four days! We now are settling in to a condo about 5 minutes from church. We enjoy hosting our parents when they come to visit and the many classmates who got assigned to our area.
We look forward to attending the Grow in Grace retreat for pastors in April. For more information, see our website at rlca2.com or find us on Facebook @RLCA2.
Jacob
Ben, Molly, and Emma
We do not have all that much new to add. I am currently starting my last semester at WLS and God-willing I will be receiving my call in May. We hope to see some of you then!
Molly is a part-time assistant and Star of Bethlehem in New Berlin, where she had previously done her student teaching. Emma is now 5.5 months old and doing well. No teeth yet, but they seem not too far off.
I am currently the senior assistant at St. Johns in Newburg and I work part-time at the winery in Cedarburg. We are looking forward to what God has in store for us and for our RLC family as we go forward in his grace.
Ben, Molly, and Emma
Tim Rosenow (July 2012- June 2013)
Hey all! Pastor Tim, like Vicar Tim, is still single, but the count of my niblings (nieces and nephews) has now increased to 7 with an eighth arriving in February! I`m blessed to have many of them quite close so I can visit and spend plenty of time being the favorite uncle.
I am now in my 4th year of serving at St. Paul`s in Prescott, WI. We are a small congregation, but are working on being more mission-minded (and the congregation has always been quite welcoming). We`ve added a monthly game night as a fellowship opportunity, and have just begun a 3-year Bible reading program called 2020 Vision.
A challenge that we`re facing is that a significant portion of the congregation is becoming elderly, but I see that as an opportunity for the younger members to step in and step up. I`m glad to hear that God has so richly blessed you in Verona (and Monroe!) and pray that he continues to shine on you and through you.
In Christ, -Tim
David and Katie
bigdave641@gmail.com
Here`s a succinct summary for RLC. To be sure, I can provide any other interesting details or members can ask, but this is probably what you`re looking for.
Regarding our family, Katie and I are blessed with Hezekiah James Sigrist, 4 years old, a creative, social little guy who is getting ready to start kindergarten this fall, and Samuel Levi Sigrist, almost 4 months old, who loves seeing new faces. We still and will always remember our daughter Hadassah Noel Sigrist who was born August 21 2016, baptized in the hospital room, and passed away the next day due to expected health conditions.
Regarding my ministry, after graduating from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary I deferred a call to pursue a Master`s Degree in Biblical Studies to focus on the Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint at Trinity Western University. In short, after a few months, the Canadian mission board called me to serve part-time a nucleus of a few families meeting monthly in Vancouver while I continued my studies. After a few years, we officially formed a church, Saviour of the Nations, and began growing slowly but surely, and then began to receive support from a combination of Home Missions, World Missions, and the Joint Mission Council so that we called Geoff Cortright to serve full-time. Now we are continuing to grow and spread to Gospel quite seriously all over the world as we meet with prospects and members who come and go from all over as Vancouver is a very transient, global city.
At this time I am finishing my doctoral studies in Cognitive Linguistics at a distance at Stellenbosch University (which shares a relationship with TWU) in South Africa, and am busy with many linguistically focused Bible research projects and biblical language teaching at Trinity Western University. At Saviour of the Nations we are training a PSI student from China, Qiang Wang, who will soon be called as a vicar, and I am doing occasional teaching and curriculum development with our sister seminary in Hong Kong, Asia Lutheran Seminary. The Lord will determine how things go, but we have plans to start a second site beginning with South Sudanese ministry in the near future in Surrey, which is a very quickly growing city in Metro Vancouver.
We are also now proud "landed immigrants" to Canada and will continue to see how the Lord blesses my family and our ministry at Saviour of the Nations.
Peace, David
Caleb & Kristin Free
pastorcfree@gmail.com
If our family was at all musically talented, our band name would be, Kristin and her July Boys. My birthday is July 13, three year old Clay`s is July 4, and brand new Aaron`s is July 15 (Kristin`s is April 14). Funny story about Aaron`s birth...he came three weeks early, and he also came on the same day I was officiating a wedding. Fortunately, I was able to see him born, quick perform the wedding, head back to the hospital to hold Aaron, all in about 2 hours. Everyone is doing well, and I can`t thank God enough for my beautiful family.
Ministry at Risen Savior in Lakewood Ranch, FL is exciting. We are coming to the close of a building project, finishing our sanctuary and education wing. We are scheduled to hold a Grand Opening on March 25, 2018, and we pray the construction will be done by then. We are also looking at the potential of starting a preschool at Risen Savior, with the earliest starting date being the Fall of 2019. We thank God for the opportunities he gives us to spread the gospel in our community, and we pray he gives us the strength to be faithful servants in his kingdom.
The Free Family
Eric & Jennifer
ecmelso@gmail.com
UPDATE!
Living Hope had its` first preview service, May 13th, at the movie theater! We were blessed to have 41 people come to church; 9 more than the Easter service. Everyone who attended Easter came back, which was awesome! The day before the preview service we had a crew of people learn how to set up and take down our "Church in a Box" equipment. We are thankful for the many people who spent their Saturday learning how to do this, and then come the next day to set up and take down. Everything went smoothly.
Our next preview service is June 10th. Because of God`s grace we will be renting a bigger theater that seats more than the first theater we were in. To God be praised!
Thank you for all your support and prayers. Have a safe, fun, summer!
Eric & Jennifer Melso
Jennifer and I are living in Ooltewah, TN, on the east side of Chattanooga. This January Jennifer will begin to sub in the public school system while I continue to work with our small group at starting a new church in the city of Chattanooga. Right now our home is also serving as the ministry center for our new mission church. We currently have worship once a month in our living room and conduct Bible class or hold church planning meetings on all the other weekends in the month.
We have chosen the name Living Hope for our church and are going to be delivering God’s message of hope to the people of Chattanooga. We even created a logo about a month ago after getting feedback from over 350 people at a Christmas Expo where we set up a church booth. We now just completed our initial website (www.livinghopechatt.com) and look forward to taking the next big steps before opening our doors!
We will be renting a movie theater auditorium for our once a month worship services starting in May and then September 9th, 2018 will be our grand opening when we start every week worship services at the movie theater. In the months leading up to May we will be getting the word out about Living Hope Lutheran Church and spend time meeting lots of people. We will also take the coming months to work with our core group as we get ready for the big launch, discuss how we will operate our church, and make sure we have a strong foundation for the future. Even though we are just taking baby steps right now, God has continued to bless our outreach efforts and has brought a good number of interested people into contact with us.
We miss our Resurrection family and hope you can come visit us in Tennessee sometime!
Pastor Andrew Ewings grew up in DeForest Wisconsin his father is pastor Jerry Ewings who has served at Lord of Love for many years and also at Lakeside Lutheran High School.
Pastor Ewings attended Lakeside Lutheran High School in Lake Mills and Martin Luther College in New Ulm Minnesota. Pastor spent time in China with the Friends of China program where MLC students and graduates take time to teach English in a Chinese school. In their spare time students have opportunities to witness conduct Bible classes Etc.
In Andrews case he also fell in love with his now wife Ivy. Her family still lives in China and word on the street is that Ivy is a fantastic cook especially of Chinese food (the real stuff not the stuff that you get at Panda Express). They will be spending a month this summer in China before joining us in Monroe. This will be Ivy`s first time seeing her family since they have been married.
Vicar Jordan Uhlhorn grew up in Scottsdale Arizona where he attended Arizona Lutheran Academy. He he is a runner and basketball player, and yes I may have included in a prayer or two that all thing considered a runner might be nice. I promise it was not at the top of my list of qualifications though. Vicar is single.
Vicar Uhlhorn actually wore his orange RLC t-shirt under his choir gown for the Seminary graduation concert.
We at RLC can`t say enough how excited we are to welcome Pastor Ewings and Vicar Uhlhorn and every indication from call day is that the feeling is mutual.
I am trying to create an online Cookbook of RLC recipes that
you can share with friends and family on Facebook or via a website. This
cookbook will serve as an easy inreach / outreach ministry, we are after all a
church that loves fellowship, a great meal and sharing the love of
Christ.
You can email a recipe to Recipe@Rlcnotes.com. A recipe should include the following...
Your Name
Ingredients and measurements
Directions
A photo (not required but your phone is just sitting there)
A brief note about why this is special
Example of notes...
...I
made this slaw as a hamburger topping for our Vine and Branches Group
and it was gone before the burgers came off the grill...
...My
aunt Laura refused to share this recipe, so I volunteered to help her
make it one day and wrote it down when she stepped out of the kitchen.
She is in Heaven now so think about her when serving this...
We are working to improve
communications at RLC. Part of this effort is introducing new validation
processes, which will require us to set earlier deadlines for
announcements. If you would like an announcement in the bulletin, it
will need to be submitted one week before our earliest service. Example:
An announcement for Sunday 3/18 (includes Thursday 3/15 and Mon-day
3/19) will need to be submitted by Wednesday, 3/7.
Likewise, any
announcement to be included in the monthly newsletter will need to be
sub-mitted one month in advance. Example: An announcement for the May
newsletter will need to be sub-mitted by March 31.
Please submit
all announcements to ministrycoordinator@rlcverona.com with heading and
text exactly as you would like it to appear. Please note that limited
printing space does not allow for all announcements to be in printed
format. However, all announcements will be included electronically in
the RLC Notes email.
When you submit an announcement, an
electronic copy (i.e. pdf file format of either bulletin or newsletter)
will be emailed to you for validation. If you need to make a correction
to your announcement, you will need to reply to the email with the
correction within 3 days.
Thank you for your help in improving our communications here at RLC!
Ken Notes: If you miss a deadline or have an item just for RLCNotes I may be able to accommodate last minute requests (I send RLCNotes Thursday or Friday). BUT my email can be a mess (100`s per week), so a call to 608.334.2174 will help. Emails must contain the text rlcnotes or rlc in the subject or body because I search for this from emails sent to Ken@KenHarwood.com. I also except bribes in the form of cookies, cake, or personal visits (bring a hammer).
The church council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, December 19.
The council continued a study of 1 Timothy, with the theme, "Leaders set an example for the congregation."
It was decided after discussion, to hold Midweek Lenten services in Monroe on Monday evenings. Pastor Strutz and Vicar Priewe will preach in a rotation with Pastor Bauer from Good News in Mt. Horeb and Pastors Moldenhauer and Cortright from Our Redeemer in Madison.
Ruth Redwing was received into membership by transfer from Good News in Mt. Horeb. Jesse Baumann was granted transfer to Immanuel in Long Valley, NJ.
The inreach team has decided to use the new version of the Lord`s Prayer for all services at both campuses for the sake of consistency and with the understanding that this version will likely become more popular in the future.
Offerings for the fiscal year (July 1-June 30) are about $11,000 behind budget, but due to lower spending, bottom line is very close to budget.
All groups and committees are thankful for the time and talents volunteered by members. Time and talent surveys will be better utilized in the future to best make use of the gifts God has given his people.
The outreach team will soon be setting 2018 dates for all major events such as Easter for Kids, Soccer camp, VBS, etc.
The council approved the following recommendation from the new pastor committee. This recommendation will be voted on at the January 14, 2018 call meeting.
After much discussion and consideration of other options and weighing the pros and cons of those options, the members of the second pastor committee are in full agreement and recommend to the RLC church council that the call to the second pastor should stipulate that the new pastor is to live in the parsonage in Monroe.
The congregation is to pay for all maintenance related expenses for the home and in addition will pay for the electric, gas and water utilities. There would be an “equity stipend” included in the salary package for the pastor for him to invest and build assets over the course of his ministry with RLC.
A realtor approached a member of our congregation with land for sale in Fitchburg. The council decided now is not the best time for the congregation to pursue this option.
The next council meeting date was set for Tuesday, January 16 at 5.30 pm. Technology is planned to be utilized to connect members from different campuses.
The next quarterly congregation meeting was set for Sunday, January 21, at 11.30 am. We plan to utilize technology so that members could attend at either campus.
A reminder that the call meeting for a new pastor will be held in Monroe on Sunday, January 14. A potluck meal will be held about noon, with the meeting to follow.
Committee Members;
Phil Meinel, Pastor Strutz, Vicar Priewe, Dick Meske, Paul Schoenike, Casey Smith and Kent Woller.
As many of you know, Resurrection started “RLC Clothing Closet” years ago, which was formed to give free clothing to families in need, and Becky Deegan volunteered to manage this ministry and to store clothing in her basement.
Becky has discontinued this outreach effort for these reasons:
1) many communities, especially Verona, have many other resources, such as the Badger Prairie Needs Network (RLC has tag-teamed with BPNN many times),
2) space limitations, etc. for clothing, and
3) her time is scarce lately and feels her time would be better spent serving in other ways. Becky wants to thank all of the service-hearted and generous people who donated clothing, clothing racks, hangers, delivered clothing, etc. All of the clothing and other items that were donated to this cause have been given to Family Promise in Monroe—this organization aides homeless families by working with area churches to provide meals and a place to sleep, clothing, counseling, assistance with getting jobs, etc.
Please pray that the intention of showing God’s love through giving was successful and that we continue to use the gifts God has blessed us with.
Westside Christian School, a ministry of St. Andrew Lutheran Church in
Middleton, is seeking qualified applicants for the position of preschool
director.
Minimum requirements are WELS membership, a degree in
education, preferably early childhood education, and full time
availability. You can obtain a complete position description from
Principal Hank Hoenecke at hank.hoenecke@westside-christian.org
Deadline for submitting resumes to Principal Hoenecke is January 1. ...more
Thanks to all the guys that participated in Advent by Bonfire. I hope you all had a good time, or at least have a good story to tell. I had a good time after I stopped putting out the fire and being sore afraid (thanks Pastor, good tie into the devotion).
May your families enjoy this Advent season as we light each candle, thinking of prophecy, Bethlehem, shepherds, angels, and our Lord`s coming.
Ken Notes: Thanks Phil for wanting to throw the party of the year by burning down the woods. I did receive notice that you may no longer travel to California...
I am reaching out to you because I know you through one of my church families at either Ressurection or St. Andrew. I am trying to fill a part time business manager position for my office. I have the position posted on our website, hancockcenter.net. The pay range is $17.25 - $22.25 per hour. It is currently posted as working daily for about 4-5 hours, but I can very flexible, especially for the right person. A proficient person may be able to work just one day per week to get done what really needs to be done or get some of the job done remotely. This position is a direct report to me...so there`s that bonus too!
If you know of someone who may be interested or need a part time job that is proficient in quick books and excell...I can help fill in the rest. I have been blessed throughout my carreer to offer positions to several of my bothers and sisters in Christ, hopefully this may be one of those times.
Please feel free to forward this e-mail to whoever you feel may benefit from it. I do have some applicants I am considering, so the opening probably won`t be open for very long.
The church council met on Monday, November 13. Here are some highlights.
The council continued a study of 1 Timothy under the theme, "Leaders stay in spiritual shape."
Dixie Williams was welcomed into membership at our Monroe campus by profession of faith. Welcome Dixie! Don Trapp was called home to heaven. Paula Schoenike requested release from membership at Resurrection. Kathy Meyer requested release from membership. Both requests were approved with heavy heart.
It was reported with joy that many people are attending Bible 101 classes at both campuses. Also, promotion for Christmas services and Christmas for Kids has begun.
Offerings for October were about $3000 higher than budget.
A precall meeting has been set for December 10 in Verona. A 12.15 pm potluck will be followed by the meeting at 1 pm. A precall meeting is an opportunity to provide feed-back on what we are looking for in a new pastor. Our District President will use input from this meeting to develop a call list for a new pastor for our congregation. this precall meeting is the key opportunity for input. Please attend the meeting if possible or complete the precall meeting form that has been emailed, distributed at church and included in the December newsletter. Please provide input to committee members: Kent Woller, Phil Meinel, Dick Meske, Paul Schoenike and Casey Smith.
The next council meeting was set for December 19 at 5.30 pm in Verona. Comments and input are always welcome.
Resurrection’s NEW Women’s Ministry...Women of His Word Please make plans to join the ladies of RLC at our upcoming potluck & Bible Study.
January 13th at 6:30pm
NOTE: It seems we are unfortunately, dropping the ball on a few things at church.
With no SIS group, we are not organizing so many things. So, I`m picking up the ball and trying to get a bit more organized. I`m going to put together a list of things we need to organize. If I miss something, please let me know! ( I`m not good at remembering stuf ).
1. Boxes for college students 2. Advent suppers 3. Putting up Christmas decorations 4. Taking them down 5. Christmas for Kids 6. Lent suppers 7. Easter breakfast 8. Confirmation celebration (???) 9. Church picnic 10. Vicar farewell food, present 11. Moving vicar 12. New vicar food pantry shower 13. Easter for kids 14. Soccer camp
One last thing! Becky Deegan bought a 40 cup coffee maker and is donating it for use. Thx Becky!
Please fill in or add to my list. And thank you all for all your time. It is all done to God`s glory!
Just a short reminder for members to turn in their forms by December 3.
As of yesterday, we had around 20 treasure commitment forms and a little less time and talent forms turned in. Last year, I believe we were around 50 so hopefully quite a few more to come in. ...more
As many of you know, Resurrection started “RLC Clothing Closet”
years ago, which was formed to give free clothing to families in need,
and Becky Deegan volunteered to manage this ministry and to store
clothing in her basement.
Becky has discontinued this outreach effort
for these reasons:
1) many communities, especially Verona, have many
other resources, such as the Badger Prairie Needs Network (RLC has
tag-teamed with BPNN many times)
2) space limitations, etc. for
clothing, and 3) her time is scarce lately and feels her time would be
better spent serving in other ways. Becky wants to thank all of the
service-hearted and generous people who donated clothing, clothing
racks, hangers, delivered clothing, etc.
All of the clothing and other
items that were donated to this cause have been given to Family Promise
in Monroe—this organization aides homeless families by working with area
churches to provide meals and a place to sleep, clothing, counseling,
assistance with getting jobs, etc. Please pray that the intention of
showing God’s love through giving was successful and that we continue to
use the gifts God has blessed us with.
Whether you are able to donate items, or are in need of a basket for your family, the Badger Prairie Needs Network is offering Thanksgiving food baskets to residents of the Verona Area School District.
We plan to prepare baskets for this program, the contact person will be Ali. Watch RLCNotes or more info...
We are excited to announce that Resurrection has started a new Women`s Ministry group called Women of His Word. The mission of Women of His Word (WOW) is to build up the body of Christ among the women of Resurrection so we can know Christ and make him known.
Our goals are :
To spend time in the Word of God to encourage spiritual growth
To develop Christian friendships
To reach out to others
To communicate areas of service
To deepen relationships that have open and honest conversations with other Christian women
We are currently asking all women in the congregation that are interested in getting involved to take a very brief survey to help us plan our 2018 events. The link can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QDK9KZ5. Paper copies are available in the fellowship area. Please complete the survey by Friday, November 17th.
Our next planning meeting is Monday, October 30th at 6:30pm. To join or for further questions about WOW, feel free to contact Ruth Pudlo (ruthpudlocleaning@gmail.com) or Gale Hellpap (glhellpap@gmail.com).
This year, with Easter being on April 1, 2017, the date that this
exactly six months before Easter falls on a Sunday, so we will have a
special service with Easter hymns, Easter Scripture readings and an
Easter sermon at all four services, Thursday, Sunday and Monday. ...more
Please join us on September 20 at 7:00 pm in the youth room at church to discuss A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. All are welcome to attend for a night of discussion and fellowship. Please contact Julie Krause at jkkrause65@gmail.com with any questions. ...more
A significant step in our
planning process – guided by Crossroads Consulting Ministry and
in-volving all our members – is now scheduled. On Friday, September 8 at
6 pm and Saturday, September 16 at 9 am leaders of our congregation
will serve as listening session facilitators as members in small groups
share their ideas and insights for future ministry. A pizza supper will
be served on Friday, September 8. Snacks will be served on Saturday,
September 16. Childcare will be provided and special events will be
organized for elementary age children. Plan to invest – in the cause of
Christ and his kingdom – a total of two hours of your time on one of
these dates.
At the listening session you will be asked, (1)
“What do we keep?” and (2) “What do we add?” regarding each of the
following ministry areas. All responses will be recorded and shared with
our leaders. What ministry efforts or programs do you envision in the
next few years? How might you and others benefit from them?
Worship (Receiving God’s Word and sacraments and praising God for these gifts.) Adult Spiritual Growth (nurturing adults to be equipped and motivated to serve) Children and Teen Ministry (providing training and instruction in the Lord from birth through school age)
Outreach (sharing the Good News of Jesus with others, especially the lost)
Fellowship (connecting members with each other, including those straying from God’s Word)
Member ministry (helping members identify and use their gifts of time, talent, and treasure) Additional Pastor (Yes or no? Skill set and abilities?)
Other (any ideas or ministries not included above)
Listening Session Guidelines:
All ideas from participants will be treated as good ideas.
There will be no debate or discussion at this time. (Open forums will follow later.)
When asked to offer input, participants can speak or simply say, “I pass.”
All thoughts and ideas will be recorded on flip charts or marker boards.
Our
leaders will consider all member input as they begin to shape our
congregation’s vision for future ministry. They will prepare a written
ministry plan for our consideration. After this docu-ment is thoroughly
discussed and officially approved, it will serve as a blueprint for
ministry at Resurrection Lutheran and be reviewed and updated annually.
Please mark your calendar now. Plan to participate and share your thoughts. Your personal in-put is desired, valued, and needed!
An insight from you, with God’s blessing, might benefit many!
All parents of Sunday School students are invited to learn more about Sunday on the first day of our fall format, September 10.
At 10.30 am in Verona all parents and children are invited to the sanctuary. Meet the teachers. Learn more about the Sunday School program. Find out how you can help teachers best train your children in God`s Word. The meeting will last about ten minutes, then children will go with their teachers to their respective classrooms for the Bible lesson... ...more
As we have in the past, we will again be collection nonperishable food items (nut allergies please be careful), paper items, cleaning supplies or gift cards for the new Vicar and his wife. There will be a laundry basket out in the hall for you to leave your gifts. They have already arrived!
If you have any questions please call Lori Cate at 608.424.3225. Thank you! ...more
If your child has not been in our Sunday School classes in the past please register them by August 27th. This registration is only for NEW students. Please be on the lookout for the registration forms on the red table in the church entryway.
Gene will be driving our moving truck. Tom Schloesser will be driving a vehicle to transport moving people.
On Monday July 31st we will meet at Vicar Ben and Molly`s apartment at 7:30 am located at:
3143 Maple valley Drive Madison, WI
We will load them into the truck and then move them to a storage unit in Saukville, WI It appears with my truck that will be a 2 hour drive. We will then unload them.
We will move onto the new Vicar Tim and Carissa residence located at:
4363 W Dean Rd. Brown Deer, WI
Which appears to be about 30 Minutes away from Saukville, we will load their belongings into the truck and then head back to New address:
Prairie Crest Apartments 321 Meadowside Drive Apartment 203 Verona, WI
We will unload them and then we have refreshments and a pizza supper put on by a few others from church. Helpers for the supper so far:
I know Lori Cate will be there I think Renee Schloesser also.
Helpers for the moving team so far are:
Tom Schloesser Gene Cate Alan Woller Caleb Hermanson
Of course both Vicars also at each of their places. Questions or know of someone who can help please call:
Annual Red Cross Blood drive on August 26th at RLC 8:00am-12:00pm
Please consider donating your time (and blood!) to help with our annual blood drive. This is a great outreach tool and a help in our community. A sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board.
Please speak with Denise Reimer if you have any further questions. Please feel free to contact Denise at reimer1@charter.net... ...more
Please stop by the red table by the sanctuary entrance to verify and check your contact information for our church directory. If everything is correct, simply sign your initials next to your name. Feel free to make corrections and notify Ali Manning if you need a picture taken. Thank you for your help as we work to complete our update. The final day to make corrections will be July 30th. Please feel free to email Ali at ministrycoordinator@rlcverona.com.... ...more
We are looking forward to spending time together and working to clean up and organize God`s house! Please prayerfully consider giving of your time on July 15th. We will begin around 8AM and work to around noon. Please feel free to spend a little or a lot of your time and energy with us on this day. The link below will bring you to a sign up sheet. You can also contact John Deegan at property@rlcverona.com or 608-527-3218. Thank you!
WANT TO SIGN UP NOW? FOLLOW THIS LINK TO OUR SIGN UP GENIUS-
Who was Joel? What is the “Day of the LORD?” Why is it valuable to read prophecies God makes in the Old Testament? Do believers need to fear God’s judgement through nat-ural disasters? Why did Peter quote Joel at Pentecost? These are just a few of the questions we will discuss and answer in our Thursday night Bible study series this month.
Since Joel is “only” three chapters long, here are 3 reasons to come to study Joel:
1. It gives you the opportunity to thoroughly study a whole book of the Bible, one chap-ter at a time.
2. You’ll have the benefit of growing closer to God as you read about his wonderful promises.
3. Group Bible studies can’t be beat! The opportunities for fellowship, food, and prayer make coming to these sessions worth your time.
Here is the weekly schedule for the Joel study. Can’t make them all? No problem! Each lesson has a standalone theme; you won’t be left in the dark if you miss a session. Here is the schedule with each lesson’s theme:
Week 1: July 6, 7:30 PM: Introduction and Overview of Joel Week 2: July 13: 7:30 PM: The Day of the LORD Week 3: July 20: 7:30 PM: The Locust Army Week 4: July 27 7:30 PM: The Roar from Zion ...more
Westside Christian Preschool in Middleton is seeking an assistant to serve during the 2017-18 school year. This paid position would involve assisting in the mixed-age classroom (3- and 4-year-olds) Tuesdaythrough Friday afternoons from 12:00 to 3:15 PM. State licensing qualifications apply. If interested, training to meet State requirements will be provided.
The
council leaders continued to study from 1 Timothy. The focus was on
public ministry qualifications to consider as directed by God’s Word.
Vine & Branches Sunday—August 13th. We encourage you to sign up!
We welcomed by Adult Confirmation– Avery Faul and Jenna
Valentin-Straight as New Members of Resurrection. We rejoice to have
this brother and sister in Christ in our midst!
Mike Korth
reported that our Preschool Graduation had a wonderful turnout and we
had 10 families join us for worship on June 4th for the Lunch Bunch
Celebration. Mike was thanked for his years of service as the Preschool
Chairman.
The Treasurer, Nathan Brunk, reported that for the
year, offerings and expenses are in line with budget. Thanks to God`s
people for generous offerings of time, talent and treasure.
The council authorized the establishment of a land fund for future sites
of the congregation.
August 13th at 10.30 am was set for an open
forum on an additional called worker for Resurrection. Please see the
RLC notes page at rlcnotes.com for additional details. This special
document can also be viewed on our bulletin board in the church hallway.
The council discussed the 2017/2018 budget and will recommend a budget to the July 9th Congregational Meeting.
The next Council Meeting was set for July 17, 2017.
God`s House is in need of your service! Please mark your calendars and get ready to work all to God`s glory! Let`s show our thanks and praise by using our time and talents to beautify the outside and inside of our place of worship.
Please use the link provided to sign up for the area you would like to spend your time on July 15th. We will be working from 8-12PM. We look forward to working together. If you can only give a little time or want to spend the entire time helping, it is greatly appreciated!
If you are not able to get down and dirty and would prefer to provide your services making snacks or bringing drinks around to the workers, that is wonderful as well! Please speak to John Deegan at property@rlcverona.com or 608.527.3218... ...more
Becky Deegan`s cousin, Lily Blumer, is having trouble finding temporary housing as close to Madison as possible--she is 19 years old and attends one of the colleges in Madison, and her mom asked Becky to put the word out just in case anyone is interested in renting a room to Lily.
Summer Concerts Mark your calendar! We’ll see you there for A Musical World Tour! Tuesday, June 27 – 7:00 PM Juneau City Park (Bad weather: St. John’s Lutheran Church-Juneau) * * * Tuesday, July 4 – 12:00 noon Columbus Parade * * * Tuesday, July 11 – 7:00 PM Arlington City Park * * * Sunday, August 13 – 4:00 PM Concert-in-the-Park Swan Park Band Shell – Beaver Dam (Bad weather: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church) With Hot Dog Supper & Dessert Door Prizes – FUN!!
As you may or may not be aware, Pastor Trapp at the Chapel will be retiring this June. He will be holding a retirement party on June 25th at 12:30pm, which you are all invited to attend. You can find out more about the event or let us know you`re coming at www.wlchapel.org/ptparty.
Would you also be willing to put something in your bulletins or online announcements about the event? Carol Trapp has written announcements for you to put in your bulletins or online announcements, which you can find below. Thank you very much for any assistance you can provide with getting the word out about this event.
Please don`t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions. God`s blessings on your day!
Philip Anderson Communication Coordinator Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel & Student Center 220 W. Gilman St. Madison, WI 53703-1810 608-257-1969 (x306)
You’re invited to Pastor Trapp’s Retirement Celebration on Sun. June 25 Worship 8:30am & 10am at Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel 220 West Gilman St Madison
Complementary Meal 12:30pm at Eastside Lutheran Church 2310 Independence Ln Madison
Mt. Olive in Monroe also voted to pursue the concept of becoming one congregation with Resurrection.
The first meeting to discuss further details will be held on Saturday May 6th at 9AM in Monroe.
Please feel free to share any input or direct questions to:
Kent Woller at 608.381.9316 president at rlcverona.com Gene Cate at 608.424.3225 outreach at rlcverona.com or Pastor Strutz at 608.848.4965 pastorstrutz at rlcverona.com
Thank you for keeping the Mt. Olive congregation in your prayers as well as the future ministry. ...more
Pastor Karl Hermanson, who serves at Faith in Oregon, an ELS congregation with whom we are in fellowship, suffered a massive stroke over the weekend. He may be with our Savior soon. Pray for the comfort and strength of his family. Pray for Faith congregation members to continue to be served and find strength in God during this difficult time.
In Christ, Pastor Nathan Strutz 608-515-4334 Jesus lived. Jesus died. Jesus rose!
This is the church. This is the steeple. Open the doors and see all the people.
This is a common children`s finger play. But it is not child`s play. It teaches an important truth: The Church is the people. The Church is people who believe in Jesus. Jesus loves people. Jesus died for people. Jesus came to our earth to save people.
You will notice this directory has pictures of people. These precious people are the Church. Even if the building burned down, we would still have a church, because there would still be people, people who believe in Jesus. People who are being led to heaven by Jesus. Please, take some time to get to know the Church. Take some time to attach the names and faces of your brothers and sisters in Jesus. It`s these people that are the Church. Open the doors and see all the people!
We are here to help you with your pictures! Please feel free to email pictures to Ali Manning at ministrycoordinator@rlcverona.com
We will also have people available to take your pictures after service on Sunday.
The link below will take you to the online directory that we are trying to create for ease of use and an easy way to keep your pictures current. This is in process so please understand that I have been editing information from the merge that only transferred 2013 member information. Even if you submitted a picture previously, they are not by name and it takes a long time to access your pictures on the computer. Please help by sharing a picture or having a new one taken! I will email you shortly if we need your picture. Thank you for your understanding and helping us know the Church!
We have been using the purple communication card in the service folder for just over two years. In that time, more than 70 guests have expressed interest in church membership through this card. Also, several members leave prayer requests and notes every week. We pray that these tremendous blessings will continue. One way you can help is to fill out the form completely every week. We know if you are a member we know your name and address, but everyone filling it out every week, encourages everyone to fill it out every week. We have noticed that lately guests are not leaving information and so it`s impossible for us to follow up and invite our guests to return. Thanks for your help in encouraging guests to fill out the communication card by filling it out, completely, every week. Thanks!... ...more
Our final Lenten Meal is almost here! Can you believe we are already down to our last 2 opportunities to eat and worship our Lord before our final walk during Holy Week. Please make plans to join us this Thursday at 5:30 for dinner and worship with us at 6:30!
The final Lenten Meal opportunity will be on April 6th and Carrie Henderson is our Meal Leader for Soup/Sandwich Night. We are in need of items such as:
Fruit
Desserts
Salads
Sandwiches
Please feel free to reach out and speak with Carrie at church or contact her via email at Carrie@neumillerfarms.com
We thank all of you for considering this opportunity to serve your Savior by preparing food and taking time to have fellowship with one another. How wonderful we can also serve each other in this way! If you have already done this service to your family at Resurrection, thank you! If you are considering doing so for these last two meals, we thank you in advance!
If you are looking for additional ways that you can serve using your time, talents or treasures...please don`t hesitate to ask or offer! God`s house and His people are always in need of a few more hands to make light the work!
When you think of foreign missions, you may reflect on a story, or video from WELS Missions that highlights a foreign country. A recent theme has been reaching “foreign” cultures in our own back yard here in the U.S. For me, “foreign” evangelism was just a concept for ministry and outreach.
Until I meet Nuch.
Nuch’s grandfather had been a shaman in their village in Thailand. When missionaries arrived at the end of WWII, Nuch’s grandfather and family became Christians–he put his trust in God and continues to resist the tug of shamanism even today. He never wants to go back to his days of darkness without the comfort of Jesus....
By: Vicar Benjamin Phelps Resurrection Lutheran Church Verona, Wis.
I wanted to get the word out on the upcoming Jesus Cares` Bible classes. We have planned out through June. Here are the dates and lessons:
March 13 God Makes the First People
April 10 The First Sin
May 8 The Flood
June 12 Abraham
Teachers, I will send a separate email regarding further information on the lessons. Have a blessed week and blessings on your preparations for the next meeting.
Terri J. Krueger Educational Therapist and Tutor teacherkrueger@hotmail.com 608-347-7165
Larry and Sue Dilgard will be moving to California to be closer to family. We will miss them dearly. Sue`s position as our ministry coordinator will be vacant and our congregation needs to find a replacement. Sue will be around for several more weeks to provide training and transition help. A list of duties and skills needed is available. If interested in finding out more about the position, please contact Pastor (pastorstrutz@rlcverona.com), 608.515.4334 or Ned Reimer (reimer1@charter.net),608.712.8635 by February 19th.
The council continued a Bible study of 1 Timothy 2:5-7, Jesus is our one mediator.
Two babies were welcomed into membership by baptism: Aramay Boerner and Leevi Olson. We thank God for washing away their sins and declaring them his own children.
The council discussed using the term "disciples" instead of "members" due to Biblical usage. The word disciple means, "learner," or, "follower," and is used by Jesus in Matthew 28. The council will give more consideration to this.
All members (or disciples) are encouraged to check out and subscribe to "The Resurrection Channel" on youtube. We are using this media avenue to connect with our college students through a short, monthly video. We also plan to utilize the channel for other things.
December offerings were extremely generous. Thanks to God for moving the hearts of his people!
Soccer camp dates are set for July 10-14, 9 am until noon. Camp will be in the morning this year to avoid the heat of the day. Mark the calendar and save the date. Many volunteers will be needed to continue this successful and well-received event.
The outreach team noted several blessings. Pastor has been given the opportunity to lead a twice monthly-Bible study at Noel Manor, a new senior living facility in Verona. Pastor was also approached about serving as a grief counselor at Willow Pointe, an assisted living and memory care facility.
Jesus Cares Bible study will begin on Monday, February 13 from 6-7 pm and will be held the second Monday of each month.
The early Christmas Eve service was blessed. 76 in attendance. 9 were first-time guests! We plan to continue offering this service the Thursday prior to Christmas Even in the future. The council accepted and approved the recommendations of the Early Childhood Outreach and Education Committee. These recommendations will be presented for decision to the congregation at our January 22 congregational meeting.
The council recommended moving forward with Crossroads Consulting ministry, based on feedback received after a January 15 seminar. The congregation will make a decision regarding this recommendation as well.
Several council positions will be up for election in April. They are: inreach, held by Ned Reimer; secretary, held by Randy Huebner; property, held by John Deegan and Prek chairman, held by Mike Korth.
All councilmen consider it a privilege to serve our Savior and requested your continued prayers. ...more
Late last month the final payment was made on the synod’s capital debt. The retirement of the debt took place nearly a year and a half ahead of schedule. Efforts to repay the debt began in 2009 after various synodical debts were combined into a single debt of $22.4 million. An initial synodwide special offering called the “Year of Jubilee” …
The Behr family have requested to become members of Resurrection Evangelical Lutheran Church by transfer from a congregation within our fellowship. They are truly convinced that the Word is taught in its truth and purity and that the Sacraments are administered according to their institution by Christ in this church... ...more
Brain Coaching: Cognitive Mediator Life Stress Inventory: How to handle it better Life Satisfaction Inventory: Building positive emotions Parent Coaching Prepare/Enrich Marriage Resources
2017/01/03/in FIC Features, Forward in Christ A change in weather and a missing child remind a mother that God is in control.
My
three-and-a-half-year-old son had been complaining about the snow. Only
a few days before Easter, after what had seemed an early and warm
spring, the cold rain had turned to ice and then snow. “Turn it back!
Turn it back to rain!” my son yelled.
“Perhaps God will,” I said, “if you ask him.”
I
thought of explaining to him how God once held the sun still in the sky
for a whole day in response to one man’s prayer, but, given his ongoing
fit, I didn’t think it was a teachable moment.
What happened
next happened so fast! After putting on his coat and boots so we could
go pick up his brother and sister from school, I let him out the door
while I finished putting on my boots and putting some wash in the dryer.
Now it was time to buckle him into his car seat, but he was gone. He
wasn’t in the front yard, the backyard, the fort, anywhere in the house,
or even in the van waiting to go. And I was terrified.
Then I saw them. Footprints in the snow.
I
followed them. Down the hill in the backyard, onto the back path which
runs behind our house, all the way up to where the path runs along the
railroad tracks, and then onto the railroad tracks. There he was in the
distance, walking right down the middle of the railroad tracks heading
to where the tracks crossed one of the major roads in the village. Few times in my life have I been so scared.
After
I yelled three times for him to stop, he finally did, and I was able to
catch up with him. I grabbed him in my arms and carried him the whole
way home, while he told me about his wonderful adventure of walking on
the tracks. I sternly told him how dangerous what he just did was.
A
day later, when my husband returned from his business trip, he
remarked, “Imagine, dear, if that rain had not turned to snow. There
never would have been any footprints to follow.” The rain turned to
snow about an hour before I found my son on the railroad tracks. When my
son ventured outside, about one to two inches of snow covered the
ground. A half hour after I found my son, the rain returned and melted
the snow.
“On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel,
Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel, ‘Sun, stand still
over Gibeon.’ . . . The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed
going down about a full day” (Joshua 10:12,13).
I did not pray
for it to snow that day. And I am glad that God did not heed my son’s
prayer to stop the snow. But I am convinced that God sent the snow that
day and at that very time—at least in part—because he knew my son needed
to leave footprints in the snow for me to follow.
God knows the
plans he has for us (Jeremiah 29:11). He knows our going out and is
familiar with all our ways (Psalm 139:3). And “we know that in all
things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been
called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Including the weather. Sarah Hahm is a member at Zion, Hartland, Wisconsin. ...more
Date: Sunday, October 29, 2017 Location: Dane County Coliseum, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, Wisconsin. Festival Worship: 4:00 p.m. Special Hymn Sing: 6:00 p.m.
Come early to visit informational displays and vendor booths! ...more
Notes: Do not forget this once in a lifetime to celebrate our heritage and bring all Christians closer together.
Mind: Brain Coaching: Cognitive Mediator Life Stress Inventory: How to handle it better Life Satisfaction Inventory: Building positive emotions Parent Coaching Prepare/Enrich Marriage Resources
Saturday January 14, 2017 9:00 a.m. To 12:00 p.m. Resurrection Lutheran Church 6705 Wesner Road, Verona, Wisconsin ...more
In addition, In The Moment Child and Family Therapy is offering one FREE appointment or assessment for first time clients in the month of January. Call608-620-3486to make an appointment!
Please join us at the
Appelt house, N9225 Hillcrest Road, Belleville, WI 53508. White elephant
gifts are encouraged. Feel free to bring food & beverage of your
liking. It will be a fun evening! We hope you can join us! ...more
Sign children up today online at www.rlcverona.org or complete a registration form.
We invite children ages 3-10 from 10:30-12:00pm to join us at Resurrection in Verona as we learn about Jesus! Songs, stories, snacks and crafts will be on hand! See you there! ...more
The council continued a study of 1 Timothy. The theme was: Leaders, like God, want all people to be saved.
Mike Behr, along with his children, Samantha, Brianna and Carter, were welcomed into membership by transfer from Faith Lutheran in Oregon, WI. Welcome!
The next new member welcome party is scheduled for Sunday, March 5 at the home of Ned and Denise Reimer.
The Men of His Word conference will be held Saturday, February 11.All men are invited to attend. Speak with Pastor, Gene Cate or Ned Reimer for details.
The outreach team, with our counseling ministry, will be hosting a mental health wellness fair at church on Saturday, January 14.Various services for body, mind and spirit will be offered, including child and family counseling, brain coach, pediatric massage and Bible 101.
Over 160 people were visited as part of our prospect canvass with Good News on Saturday, December 10. Focus was inviting people to our Christmas services. One family came to worship the very next day. God be praised!
A special seminar will be held on Sunday, January 15 from 10.30 am until 2.30 pm.Free child care and lunch will be provided. All are welcome to attend part or all of the Seminar. The Seminar is titled,Facing Today`s Realities.The seminar will help us determine the direction of future ministry at Resurrection, along with pursuing Big, Audacious Goals (BAGs). The Seminar will be led by WELS Pastor Elton Stroh, who has served for decades consulting with congregations and helping to plan future ministry. This seminar will help us determine as a congregation whether to not to continue working with Pastor Stroh and Crossroads consulting ministry.A decision will be made at the January 22 congregational meeting.
The next congregational meeting will be held on Sunday, January 22 at 10.30 am.A decision regarding Crossroads consulting ministry will be made. There will also be a report from The Early Childhood Outreach Committee and likely recommendations regarding future Early Childhood Outreach opportunities. We invite everyone to attend.
A huge thank you to Resurrection and the members for remembering our children in the gifts toward tuition. Henry is a sophomore at MLC and committed to the pastoral ministry. Grace and Claire are currently at Luther Prep. Your gift was credited to tuition to take a little off each month. I saw the full effects last week with a printout of our adjusted monthly payment plan. You have offered much relief with your generous gift - I will see it each month for 5 more months. Henry, Grace and Claire are truly appreciative along with Kelly and myself.
Thank you so much for reminding us once again how many ways God cares for his people. I truly see God`s fingerprints on this timely gift. Praise be to God!!!
May God richly bless you as you contemplate once again his priceless gift - wrapped in flesh and presented in a manger!
Helen Awe fell on the ice Tuesday morning. She was hospitalized at St. Mary`s for a broken arm. She will be spending a couple of weeks in a rehab facility. Her faith is strong and her spirits are good. Pray for God to continue to give her strength and a wonderful Christian attitude.
...more
Pastor makes an effort to attend the ordination for each of our Vicars. This is a special service in which one is set apart to serve and formally becomes a pastor. Vicar Eric Melso was assigned to begin a new congregation in Chattanooga, TN. The ordination service will take place on July 26.
Pastor and his family will travel to the service and take some family vacation time from July 21-28. If you are in need of pastoral assistance during this time, please contact Vicar Phelps. vicarphelps@rlcverona.com or 920.918.2420.
Pastor also has the unique opportunity to serve as a delegate to the synod convention this year. The convention will be held at Luther Prep school in Watertown, WI July 31-August 3. ...more
At the last quarterly voter`s meeting it was shared that the church council feels because of the growth we have been blessed with and based on Crossroads ministry recommendation, it would be wise to add an additional called worker. For these reasons the church council is including funding for this potential position with the hope of calling an additional called worker at some point in the 2017/2018 fiscal year.
Please understand this is only the funding portion of the process. There will be upcoming opportunities for the congregation to help develop what this additional called worker`s role would be. Although the council feels this called worker is necessary even if the merger with Monroe does not happen, the nature and/or specifics of the call could likely be very different if in fact the merger with Monroe does come to fruition. Below is a summary of the discussions had by the church council and some general information regarding some options that lie ahead of us.
Why are we talking about the possibility of a new called worker at Resurrection?
1. This would be an additional called worker. Pastor Strutz is not going anywhere, God-willing.
2. This discussion is NOT because Pastor Strutz is overwhelmed, but the discussion of an additional called worker has arisen to help us meet more opportunities to build up current members and reach out to more people in our communities.
3. God be praised! We have been blessed with growth. We are growing to the point (330 members) at which an additional called worker would be desirable.
4. Crossroads consulting has helped us see we are now no longer a pastor-size church (50-150 in worship), but are now a corporate-size church (150-350 in worship). Average attendance each weekend at Resurrection is around 200.
5. Additional called staff is one of the issues to confront in the shift from a pastor-size church to a corporate-size church.
6. Crossroads has identified several ministry areas in which we could improve, such as utilizing more volunteers, having more adults attend Bible study, having more children in Sunday School and strengthening other inreach ministries.
7. We realize there are many called worker vacancies in our synod right now (over 100), yet there are compelling ministry opportunities at Resurrection. We will leave to the Lord and to a called worker who would be called to determine where best to serve.
What about a staff minister?
A staff minister is typically a full-time called worker called to work with a specific area of ministry, such as education, outreach, or worship. A staff minister may have received specific training at MLC for a specific area of ministry, may have received training as a teacher, or possibly was already serving at a congregation in another capacity and was called to staff ministry.
It should be noted that there are currently 1394 pastors in the WELS. There are 95 staff ministers, across all areas of ministry. Staff ministers would not be trained or qualified for preaching.
It is the opinion of the church council that due to the small number of staff ministers and the even smaller number trained in the specific area of need for our congregation, that a staff minister would not be the wisest called worker position to add to our staff. The discussions about becoming a multi-site congregation with Monroe would also point toward having another pastor who could share preaching with Pastor Strutz and Vicar.
What would a new pastor do?
It would seem best that a new pastor be called to address areas in which we could improve, as well as best complement the gifts of our current pastor. There could be modifications to the list below as ministry needs arise. Also, these are only general categories. Other things would be included. Here’s a possible division. This would require more discussion: Current Pastor: New Pastor: More frequent preaching More frequent adult Bible study Supervise Vicar Encourage more volunteers Outreach Inreach Teach Bible 101 (often one-on-one) Sunday School Personal ministry (hospital, shut-ins, etc.) Leadership training/development
What about Mt. Olive in Monroe and our merger talks? How would that be affected?
The proposal to call an additional pastor is being presented separate from the merger talks with Monroe, to show that there is need at Resurrection for an additional pastor. If discussions and decisions with Mt. Olive proceed to becoming one, multi-site congregation, an additional pastor (likely living in Monroe) would greatly enhance ministry efforts. All 26 of the multi-site congregations in WELS have more than one pastor.
What are the financial implications?
The full cost of a full-time pastor varies based largely on three factors: salary, housing and health insurance. There are other costs such as pension, continuing education, mileage and professional expenses that are smaller. These are all included in the costs below. Salary: The pastor’s years of experience can affect salary by $10,000-15,000 per year. Housing: If a pastor lives in a parsonage, or church-owned home, an equity allowance (about $600 per year) is added to salary. If a pastor purchases his own home, the rental cost of a three-bedroom home is added to salary. (In the Verona area, this cost is around $18,000 per year.) For information purposes, there is a parsonage in Monroe, which is owned debt-free.
Health insurance: The pastor’s family situation, (single, married, without or without children), can affect the cost of health insurance widely. Costs range from $7,000 to $24,000 per year.
The council is including in the proposed church budget for 2017/2018 a pastor with 20 years’ experience (similar to Pastor Strutz), a pastor buying his own home in the Verona area, with a wife and children for health insurance purposes. Total cost in this scenario for an entire year would be around $100,000. This would be the most expensive scenario for planning purposes. The budget, however, includes these costs for half the year, figuring that it would take time for the congregation to call, have a pastor accept a call and then move to our area. Total budget impact in this half-year scenario for 2017/2018 is $50,000. Again, a different scenario, (pastor with less experience, pastor living in a parsonage in Monroe, pastor single or without children) could lower the costs.
What’s the timeline?
July 9: funding included in 2017/2018 budget. If approved, then…
August-September: Open forum to discuss congregational needs (could change with Monroe decision). If agreement to move forward, then…
September-October: meeting with district President
November-December: Place call (or decide to wait for May 2018 assignment).
It's called the resurrection channel. Anyone who wants to subscribe can. We plan to at least put on a monthly video geared for our college students, but the first video made, with encouragement as final exams approached was deemed a beneficial message for many situations.
At Christmas, happy hearts break into song! We are filled with joy because Jesus has entered our world of sorrow and tragedy.
Psalm
98 encourages us to:
“Shout for joy to the LORD all the earth burst
into jubilant song with music”
(v. 4). Yet such joy often eludes so
many.
A world of sorrow
I stumbled onto an 1803 rhyme. At eighteen, Thomas Love Peacock wrote: “Quickly pass the social glass, Hence with idle sorrow! No delay—enjoy today, Think not of tomorrow!” (from “A Glee”)
I
happened on those words the day I learned that a friend I first met
when I was eighteen had just died. Alcoholism. Now comes his family’s
first Christmas without him. Will it be merry? Would beer give more
cheer?
Two weeks after the first horror, a police chief in a nearby town killed himself, leaving a wife and two small children.
In both cases, what would you offer to help hollow hearts?
And
what of your deepest 2016 grief, whether secret or stretched wide for
all to see? Is joy real at all, in a world so worldly, in a mess so
messed up? If lasting delight does not come from a bottle, where do you
get it?
An ancient song made new
Yet what if we all sang anew an ancient song that both soothes sorrows and erupts in exuberance?
What
if that song needed trumpets of more than one kind to make it loud
enough? What if God himself breathed it out? And what if it were the
original “Joy to the World,” wrapping God’s praise with the brightest
Christmas bow and more?
Do you hear what I hear? God put the
raucous song right in your Bible—Psalm 98. He intends it to be ever
new, despite having lyrics perhaps three thousand years old. It’s part
of our Christmas ever year.
“Let the sea resound, and everything in it” (Psalm 98:7). Think about the fish of the sea singing.
In
2014, Nature published a study on how many fish reside in the global
ocean at a depth of 200 to 1,000 meters, deeper than fishers can
harvest with nets, down where 95 percent of fish biomass might exist.
Researchers
discovered that previous estimates of a billion tons of fishes in those
waters were low—90 percent too low. In those waters swim probably 11 to
15 billion tons of fishes.
The most common fish, experts note,
are bioluminescent bristlemouths. Do you think of chickens as the most
common vertebrates on earth? They outnumber people about three to one.
The number of chickens worldwide may surpass 24 billion. Yet glowing and
swimming deep down in the dark may be thousands of trillions of
bristlemouths.
All of them are to praise God, says the writer of
Psalm 98. And they make up only one species of about two million
animal species on the planet we can identify. A million more species
unknown to current science may dwell in deeper ocean depths.
The
writer of Psalm 98 tells them all, with all people on earth, to shout
and sing to the Lord, while rivers clap their hands and mountains shout
together for joy before the Lord.
An amazing message
“Joy
to the world!” Why did Isaac Watts summarize Psalm 98 with those words,
when he put the Spirit’s ancient song into rhymed English poetry?
Why
should you rejoice too? I’m not talking about just dipping a tentative
toe into some subdued celebration, but joining all the globe—even all
the oceans and fish—with both wind and string instruments in utter
jubilation?
Why shout to the Lord? “He has done marvelous
things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to
the nations. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the
house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of
our God” (vv 1-3).
Likely a Jewish man wrote those words.
Whoever he was, he seems to have an odd sense of timing. He sings
centuries before the first Christmas as if baby Jesus already lay in a
manger in Bethlehem.
That is, the psalmist does not say, “The
LORD will do marvelous things,” but “he has done marvelous things.” He
does not predict: “His right hand and his holy arm will work salvation,”
but states a fact: “His right hand and his holy arm have
workedsalvation for him.”
Mary sang similarly about God, before
Jesus was born: “He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has
lifted up the humble” (Luke 1:52). Had proud potentates tumbled from
power? Were God’s lowly ones lifted up? Not yet. But God always fulfills
his promises. Mary believed.
So do we, as we sing Psalm 98.
Here is joy. We believe that as sure as Jesus came the first time to die
in our place, he will soon reappear. It’s as good as done. The arrogant
will be banished. All creation will worship Christ.
We trust
what holy angels sang of the first Christmas night: First, “Glory to God
in the highest heaven.” Then, “on earth peace to those on whom his
favor rests” (Luke 2:14). The glory goes first to God because, as
Psalm 98 recognizes, “his right hand and his holy arm have worked
salvation for him” (emphasis added).
But think again. He saved
for himself? If you rescue someone from drowning, don’t you dive in for
the benefit of that helpless person, not yourself? But what could deploy
more joy than recognizing that God is different? He did all the saving,
all on his own initiative, to glorify his holy name.
And whom
did he save, when Jesus took flesh to die for all the world? The
psalmist says that the Lord revealed his righteousness to the nations.
Again, how odd that would have sounded in Israel. If the Lord uncovered
his righteousness not just to Israelites, but to the nations, wouldn’t
that be bad news for Israel? Foreigners were so depraved, so dirty, so
distant. If the Lord promised to be Israel’s God, how could all of the
ends of the earth see his salvation?
But by the Spirit of the
risen Christ, who gives us his righteousness as the best Christmas
clothes, it is happening. Again this Christmas, believers around the
world worship Jesus, from massive Chinese metropolises to tiny refugee
camps in northern Iraq. Two years ago Iraqi refugees in one camp
set up a meager tent with a manger scene. “All you have got left is the
love of that refugee child,” explained their British-born pastor. “That
to us in the Middle East is all that matters this Christmas.”
Or
visualize Christians I met in Uruk Uso, a village in Nigeria. Down dirt
roads they stroll, boisterously caroling late into the sticky night on
Christmas Eve, blown away by God’s rescue.
Join them in song
Sing
Psalm 98, seeing wonders of God’s love worldwide in believing hearts.
And think of the ultimate tomorrow. Long for Jesus’ reappearing, when
the song will fully, finally come true: “Joy to the world.”
Daniel Witte is pastor at Trinity, Nicollet, Minnesota.
The Preschool Committee was involved in the first ever Verona Area School District Kid's Expo in the high school gym in November. We had a table, talked to a lot of people, handed out literature, pens of course, magnets, and other knick knacks. Parents could fill out personal information to participate in a raffle drawing with donated Culver's and Pizza Ranch certificates. A positive outcome was that two families were unchurched and wished to be contacted. It was worth it!
Some committee members were involved with the Preschool Thanksgiving Dinner for all Preschool students and their families. Costumes were made for their program, and others cooked turkeys at home for the event. Thank you to congregation members who made a dish to pass or helped in other ways at the event.
As many of you know, Mary Beth Knippel resigned from her 3K teaching position. Her final day was Tuesday, November 22. There were six students in her class. What followed was a meeting with the parents and contacting five potential WELS certified replacement possibilities. One was prayerfully considering the position. It turned out that the parents of four students were going to leave our program and look for other opportunities. The need for a replacement teacher was no longer needed. The remaining two 3K students have been merged into Ali Manning's 4K classroom.
We are
invited to sing Christmas carols on the corner of Main St and Paoli St
at 5:00 pm on Friday, Dec. 2nd. Afterwards, we carol inside the Senior
Center on the same property and can enjoy chili or a hot dog (all
proceeds go to the Verona Fire Dept).
NEW THIS
YEAR: There will be trolleys taking people downtown Verona to local
shops. We've been offered a chance to carol on the trolleys as well.
Those who can't arrive at 5:00 pm may find the trolleys a better option
for them. Those are running between 6:00 - 9:00 pm. Hope you can join
us! ...more
You might wonder what the Season of Advent is all about. Christmas decorations are already out in all the stores. Why not just start singing Christmas carols at church right away, too?
“Advent” is a Latin word that means “coming.” The season of Advent helps us prepare for the high festival of Christmas much like Lent helps us prepare for Easter. The roots of this preparatory season go back all the way to the AD 400’s in France and Italy. The length of Advent was fixed at four weeks by about AD 600.
There are three major themes in the Season of Advent:
the coming of our Lord in the flesh at Christmas
the coming of our Lord to us right now in Word and sacrament, and
the coming of our Lord at the end of time.
Advent is a time of repentance, but also a season of joy-filled anticipation. The liturgical color for Advent that we display here at Resurrection is blue. Blue is the color of the sky, emphasizing the expectant nature of the season and of our faith. We look to the skies awaiting our Lord’s second Advent, just like the Magi of old looked to the sky and followed the star to the newborn King.
May our Lord richly bless you as you prepare to greet Jesus this Christmas!
Christmas Eve candlelight worship will be on Saturday, December 24 at 6:30 pm Christmas Day worship will be on Sunday, December 25 at 9:00 am with communion.
New This Year!
Candlelight Worship the Thursday before Christmas, December 22, at 6:30 pm On December 22nd, will have a preview of our Christmas Eve candlelight service. That way if you are going out of town or otherwise cannot attend worship at Resurrection on Christmas Eve, you can still enjoy the sights and sounds of the candlelight service. This would be a great opportunity to invite a friend to worship as well. Information for this special service is found on our Christmas invitation postcard. ...more
Offering envelope boxes are available today and we wanted to point out special offering envelopes that are included in the box. These special envelopes are labeledDebt Reduction. We've included these special envelopes because of the number of members who indicated a desire to help reduce our debt as part of our Big, Audacious Goal discussion.
Any special offerings included in this debt reduction envelope would go to reduce the mortgage on our facility. So there's no pressure, but anyone wishing to make a special offering above and beyond your regular offering to reduce our mortgage is welcome to do so through this envelope.
It was nice meeting you on Saturday. I wanted to let you know that I posted positions of Sign-up for volunteers at the BPNN Thanksgiving basket distribution on November 16. The shifts are from: 12:30-2:30pm, 2:30-4:30pm, and 4:30-6:30pm.
If you, or a group from your church, would like to sign up, you can either sign up online, or you can give me the names and times and I can sign everyone up.
Note From Gene
Badger Prairie Needs Network...
I just got the above email from Pat.
This is a schedule of needs for a thanksgiving meal.
Attention V & B facilitators or coordinators.
RLC notes?
I think this is a good Outreach Activity and a good way to give back to the community...
John Degan is asking for help Saturday November 5th at 8:00 AM. Tasks will be handed out that day or you can talk to John for specifics this Sunday. ...more
Council continued a study of 1 Timothy, focusing on leaders use God's law and Gospel properly.
New members Sarah Morisson and Sam Engelland were welcomed by adult confirmation. A party for new members will be heldSunday, November 6.
CelebrationSundaywill beOctober 30.
A September dip in worship attendance is being monitored. We pray for it to be a temporary dip and not a trend. There's always plenty of seats in worship.
The outreach team reported on a need for social media help.
The council approved beginning formal discussions with Mt. Olive in Monroe to discuss working together. Mt. Olive made a similar approval on October 16.
Exciting possibilities in Fitchburg are being explored. A visit with WELS mission counselor Mark Birkholz is scheduled forOctober 26.
The council approved and will recommend the Prek Long-range planning recommendations to not continue with VASD 4K for the 2017/2018 school year and create a committee to assess early childhood outreach and education ministries. This recommendation will be discussed and voted on by the congregation onSunday, October 23....more
During the worship service this morning
we will celebrate the reaffirmation of the baptism of Katy Westphal
with Mark and Laura Westphal. Katy was baptized by Mark during their
adoption in China. Let us celebrate this wonderful day with the
Westphals!! ...more
All ladies are invited to a meeting of the group, Sisters In Service (SIS) group onSunday, October 23, at10.30 am.
There are many events that need to be planned such as the congregational Christmas party, Advent suppers, care packages for college students, church decorating for Christmas and others. Please attend if you are able. The meeting will be held in the fellowship hall.
We understand that there is a voter's meeting going on and some may decide to attend that meeting. Totally understandable. If you would like to assist with these projects, but are unable to attend the SIS meeting, please speak wtih Carrie Henderson or Ruth Pudlo. They will be happy to utilize your service....more
1. Continue with the VASD for the current contract year (2016-2017 school year)
2. Do NOT opt in with the VASD for the 2017-2018 school year and instead retool the preschool to be a sustainable outreach ministry not tethered to VASD
- VASD restrictions on outreach efforts that are in conflict with the mission of our early childhood education programs
- Positive stand alone activities such as Kid’s corral and soccer camp
3. Create committee to reorganize the Early Childhood Education Program for the 2017-2018 school year. Committee driven by the mission statement and goals established by the Long Range Planning Committee - Present plan at January voter’s meeting to include;
a. Age groups of students b. Target class sizes c. Programs (Mornings with Mommy, 3K, 4K, other) and how those programs will connect with the unchurched. d. Staffing & licensing requirements e. Congregation - expected financial support
4. Create and present annually an objective evaluation by Preschool chairman to church council/voters on how the preschool is achieving its mission/vision/goalsEvaluation created by the RLP Long Range Planning Committee.
The Evening for Life is a fundraising banquet for WELS Lutherans for Life (WLFL) with the opportunity to learn more about the life-saving work of this ministry. Warning: It does pull at your heart strings. There are many great stories connected to this ministry. Philip and Katrina Meinel, have reserved a table at the event and would like to share this experience with otherRLCmembers. There are 6 seats currently available.
The event is Friday, October 14th, 5:30-9:00pm.More event details atwww.eveningforlife.orgor you can email themeinelteam@gmail.comwith any questions or call. We can even help you register. Hope you can make it.
"The Atheist Delusion" is a production of Living Waters and Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis. This movie exposes the delusion atheists hold to, and the one question that can destroy it. This event will be streamed live at 7pm on October 22. We plan on having a movie party! Bring snacks and have a great time of fellowship.
Having to prove the existence of God to an atheist is like having to
prove the existence of the sun, at noon on a clear day. Yet millions are
embracing the foolishness of atheism. “The Atheist Delusion” pulls back
the curtain and reveals what is going on in the mind of those who deny
the obvious. It introduces you to a number of atheists who you will
follow as they go where the evidence leads, find a roadblock, and enter
into a place of honesty that is rarely seen on film.
We are all looking forward to Sunday
School and seeing your children again this year! Classes will start
Sunday, September 11th at 10:30. We are blessed to have 4 classrooms
this year. Your teachers are below and will alternate weeks throughout
the year. Please let Lisa know if you have any questions or concerns.
Pre-K – K: Class will meet in the 3K classroom at 10:30. At 10:40 they will go to music. Teachers: Lori Plenge & Grace Neitzel
1st – 2nd: Class will meet in the 4K classroom at 10:30. At 10:40 they will go to music. Teachers: Molly Phelps & Lisa Neumann-Pudlo
3rd
– 4th: Class will start at 10:30 in the music classroom. At 10:40 they
will go to their classroom in the room behind Pastor’s office. Teachers: Phil Meinel & Nathan Boerner
5th
– 6th: Class will start at 10:30 in the music classroom. At 10:40 they
will go to their classroom in the room behind the kitchen. Teachers: Mike Wilde & Ellen Andrews
Thanks to all the teachers, organizers, and staff!
New members were officially welcomed. Vicar Ben and Molly Phelps by transfer. AJ
Hellpap by baptism. Anne Schultz by adult confirmation. We welcome
these new brothers and sisters in Christ to Resurrection! Several
members have transferred or moved as well.
The council agreed to
set aside time at its September meeting to hear a presentation from
Crossroads consulting ministry, a WELS ministry that assists
congregations in prioritizing and planning ministry. The timing
appears good with the recent BAG discussion and many opportunities
before us. After the initial presentation, the council will decide
whether to continue forward with utilizing this ministry. A report and update with be given to the congregation in October.
A volunteer or volunteers will be sought to serve in the position of
financial secretary. (One volunteer with experience was already
mentioned.) This position would do some of the tasks currently carried
on by the treasurer. As the congregation is blessed with growth, the
treasurer duties have grown and the need for more help has become
apparent.
Additional tables and chairs for growing Sunday School classes have been purchased. Praise God for this need.
First day of preschool will be Thursday, September 1. The 4K aide
position has become vacant. One RLC member has inquired about serving in
this role. The council spent time discussing a recent situation
involving our relationship with the Verona Area School District. An
update and recommendation will come to the October congregational
meeting regarding our future relationship with the school district's 4K
program.
The outreach team reported with joy that 25 children have
been attending VBS. In addition, 4-7 adults each evening have attended
Bible 101 classes.
The next Bible 101 class is slated to begin on
Thursday, September 22 at 7.30 pm. Invita-tions are available to invite a
friend.
The next congregational meeting was set for Sunday,
October 23 at 10.30 am. Two major topics of discussion will be a report
on utilizing Crossroads ministry, as well as a decision on our future
participation in the Verona Area School District 4K program.
Have you ever felt unprepared to talk about today’s hot-button issues from a Christian perspective? Do you wish you could be better equipped to defend why you believe what you do when your faith is challenged, and yet do it in a loving way?
Our upcoming study, Timely Topics, Timeless Truths, will equip you with biblical truths for engaging in challenging issues with your family, friends, and coworkers. We will dig into these interesting topics like intelligent design, global warming, gender identity. Class begins on Sunday, September 11 at 10.30 am. We hope to see you there!
In Christ, Pastor Nathan Strutz 608-515-4334 Jesus lived. Jesus died. Jesus rose!
“Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:4, 5
This is the time of year when millions of American families participate in the annual ritual known as back-to-school shopping. I don’t have to tell you how expensive that can be. Last year the average cost of school supplies for an elementary school student surpassed $100. Add on sports fees, instrument rentals, and field trips, and the cost jumps to more than $500.
Most parents bite the bullet and buy everything on the teacher’s list because they want to give their children the tools they will need to succeed. There is no guarantee, however, that having a desk full of supplies will lead to academic success. If you want to excel in the class-room, you don’t have to spend all kinds of money. According to David, what every student really needs is a good attitude and a good teacher.
An eager student
When I picture David, I see a shepherd boy with a staff in his hand or a king wearing a golden crown. I have never imagined David as a student sitting behind a desk, and yet that is how the psalmist describes himself in Psalm 25.
He is eager to learn. He is asking for guidance. More than anything else, he wants the Lord to lead him down the right path.
It wasn’t always that way for David, though. There were times when he charted his own course, when he chose to go his own way, when he put his trust in his own instincts and intelligence. David pleaded with God not to remember the sins of his youth and his rebellious ways (Psalm 25:7) as he struggled to move on from his less-than-perfect past.
Can you relate? Do you wince when you recall some of your past sins? Do you ever wish that you could go back in time and undo what you did? Do you get frustrated because nothing you do is able to remove those permanent marks from your record? There is a way to get rid of your guilt, but you don’t need to be better or try harder to do it. Instead, David invites you to take a seat next to him at the feet of the master teacher.
More than a teacher
Jesus’ disciples called him “Teacher” because he was a teacher. Jesus was the world’s greatest teacher. He spoke with perfect clarity because he was perfect. He always spoke the truth because he is the Truth. But the lessons Jesus taught went far beyond the classroom, and the words of David remind us of that.
Some teachers do nothing more than stand in the front of the class and tell their students what they need to do to pass. Better teachers roll up their sleeves and do everything they can to help their students succeed. But only one teacher in the history of the world took it upon himself to do something his pupils could never do. Jesus took our place to rescue us from eternal death. He passed every test. He has erased every mistake. He has defeated every enemy.
As a result we have hope. Like David, you and I have hope “all day long” because our Teacher is also our Savior.
Contributing editor Steven Pagels is pastor at St. Matthew’s, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin ...more
Please save these dates for Resurrection's Vacation Bible School this summer.VBS will run from Sunday, August 14th through Thursday, August, 18th from 5:30-7:30pm each day and is for children 3K - Adults who will find treasure in God’s Word.
Information and invites are available in the entryway.
The Church Council held a regular meeting on July 19. Here are some highlights.
The Council concluded reading through the Bible in one year and discussed the final
portions of the Old Testament, with noted joy of the Gospel gems in some small books.
Three new members were welcomed: Scott Graffin by adult confirmation and Rowan O'Brien and Katy Westphal by baptism. Welcome!!
The Inreach team shared a questionnaire on possible worship opportunities. The council agreed to share this with the congregation in September to gather input on worship options.
The Treasurer reported with joy and thanks to God that the fiscal year ended with offerings higher than expenses. The council will make recommendations to the congregation on how best to utilize these blessings.
The Outreach team noted God's grace showered on our soccer camp, with 63 children in attendance. Comments about the camp were beyond awesome. Thanks to all who helped.
The Prek chairman shared with thanks that all Prek staff positions are filled. Ali Manning, Director and 4K teacher. Mary Beth Knueppel, 3K lead teacher. Katrina Meinel, 3K assistant teacher. Becky Deegan, 4K aide. Volunteers will be needed to assist with custodial duties. Current enrollment is 15 in 4K and 6 in 3K (18 is max in 4K and 8 is max in 3K).
The BAG (Big, Audacious Goal) discussion was continued. Investigation into more details on the most popular BAGs will be discussed at the next congregational meeting.
The next council meeting will be August 16 at 7.45 pm, God-willing. Comments are always welcome to any Council member. Kent Woller, Chairman; Gene Cate, Outreach; Ned Reimer, Inreach; Mike Korth, Prek; John Deegan, Property; Randy Huebner, Secretary; Nathan Brunk, Treasurer.
A clothes pole and a new lawn mower set the scene for a lesson on forgiveness and love. Dan Nommensen
An accident revisited
My father was a busy pastor of a large congregation in Milwaukee. As busy as he was, he always seemed to find time to take me fishing or watch my baseball games, and we always enjoyed cutting the lawn together. Each of us had a push mower, and we’d go back and forth for what felt like hours.
Then one day we got a riding lawn mower! When it arrived, my dad looked at me and said, “Well, Dan, go ahead.” I was the first to ride it! Me!
This was the greatest moment of my life up to that point. Off I went! Sure, Dad told me to start off in a low gear, but I was 11 years old! I had ridden go-karts at full speed. I could handle higher speeds. There was nothing but open grass all around me . . . and one clothes pole.
I literally moved that lawn mower 50 feet before hitting that clothes pole. I managed to avoid all the open grass and hit it straight on. The front end of the mower was cracked, the headlight was broken, and part of the metal cover was bent. I felt absolutely, positively horrible. I prepared myself for the biggest punishment I would ever see.
God’s love reflected
Well, here’s what happened. He ran over and helped me turn off the tractor because it was still in gear and hitting the pole again and again. Then he said . . . nothing. Before I could even say a word, he knew that I felt absolutely horrible. He knew that what I didn’t need at that moment was a huge dose of the law with scolding and a permanent restriction from ever riding the lawn mower again.
I got off the tractor and announced my own punishment: “I’ll never ride this again—EVER! I promise.”
He responded, “That’s okay. We’ll just take the clothes pole down when we cut next time.” The damage to the mower was never repaired. My dad never mentioned it again.
I used that mower for nearly 25 years. The damage to the front served as a reminder to me about the use of the law and gospel. The unconditional forgiveness my dad showed me that day flowed from a heart that loved the Lord. It was a demonstration of the love shown by our heavenly Father through the sacrifice of his son Jesus. When I felt I needed to dole out my own punishment, Dad helped me see something different. He helped me realize mercy, grace, and forgiveness. I knew Dad’s love and forgiveness for me came from his heart as a reflection of God’s love for him.
I can recall this and other moments that help me recognize the opportunities I have to make a lasting impression in the lives of my own children. Because Jesus loves me, I want to make every day an opportunity to demonstrate that love in the lives of my children and others.
Dan Nommensen is a member at Calvary, Thiensville, Wisconsin. ...more
*On Sunday, June 26th, the RLC Congregational/Voter's meeting will be held at 10:30AM. We will be approving the budget before the fiscal year begins on July 1.
*Help in the RLC office?
From Sue Dilgard: I traveled to California May 19th-June 5th to help my mother who had fallen. Katie Mikula worked on the worship folders for worship for a two weeks while I was gone. My mother isn't recovering well I'll be traveling back to California and will be gone at least two weeks.
Is there anyone who may be able to help with the worship folders while I'm gone? The tasks listed below do not have to be done by one person they can be broken up to save time for everyone. The worked to be done would be:
*Preparing the worship folders on the RLC computer in the office for the Thursday and Sunday worship services after June 26th. We use the Publisher program.
*Printing the worship folders. (The process takes 2 1/2 hrs.)
*Folding (and if possible stapling) the worship folders for Thursdays and Sundays. Just an FYI: these are thick folders and are not easy to fold or staple.
For our soccer camp this summer we will have 2 students from Lakeside and 1 student from Luther Preparatory School coming to help coach the camp. We already have someone willing to host them for the week but we'd also like to provide meals for them throughout the week of July 11th-15th. If you'd like to sign up to provide a meal for these 3 high schoolers please sign up on the bulletin board!
Thank you for supporting our soccer camp in this way! ...more
I grew up in the small town of Fort Atkinson. My dad, Bill, works for a fire prevention company based in Milwaukee. My mom, Becky, is a 4th grade teacher at St. Paul's Lutheran in Fort Atkinson. I have two brothers. Both have chosen the path of pastoral ministry. Nate will be in his second year of study and Joe will be starting MLC in the fall. Both boys are set to be on the MLC soccer team. I'm hoping to get a chance to see them play together. My family owns two yellow labs who are very spoiled. I can't seem to get enough of either dog. I keep begging Ben for a puppy. Thankfully he is a logical man and knows what is better for us! I started my teaching career in 2014. I've taught two year of kindergarten and LOVED it. Kids at any age are amazing but there's something special about 5 year olds. School is so new for them, they can't help being excited about everything! I'm so thankful God has called Ben to serve you this upcoming year. I look forward to learning from each of you and growing together in the family of Christ.
Ben Phelps (Vicar to be)...
I grew up in Plymouth, WI. My father, Tom is an aerial photographer and works out of the Sheboygan airport. My mother, Susan is a retired WELS teacher and currently works as an interpreter at the Wade House Historic Site in Greenbush, where I have also worked. I have a younger brother Frederick who is a specialist in the Army and will soon be based in California. My sister, who is very talented musically, is going to start her senior year at Plymouth Public High School this fall. My whole family and I enjoy history and traveling all over the country to spend time outdoors and seeing places of historical interest and significance. Molly and I are looking forward to our wedding on June 18 followed by our honeymoon in Door County. During the summer I will be serving as a summer vicar at Bethany in Manitowoc. Molly and I are eagerly looking forward to serving you starting this August.
The Moore's have offered to host the youth group at their family cabin in the Eau Claire area. This is an event the youth wanted to take part in rather than going on a camping trip as initially planned. There will be kayaking, canoeing, hiking, swimming, and other activities planned.
The dates the Moore's are inviting the youth areFriday-Sunday June 10-12.We would like to get a count of how many are able to come along.
Please respond to this email as soon as you're able to with ayesornoanswer. The Moore's have extended the invitation for parents to come along too if they'd like.
IF your youth is able to attend please also respond with whether or not they will need transportation to the cabin. Please also let us know which dates they are available that weekend. Thank you!
More details to follow once we know who is able to attend. If you have any questions please talk to Denny or Amber.moorehome@tds.net
I have a friend at work whose daughter came from Florida with absolutely nothing but 1 bag. She has 5 children, oldest 14, 13, 12, and then a 16 month old and 3 months old. They have nothing, the kids don't have shoes she doesn't have bottles for the baby. This is just crazy. They all came to my work today and I saw the baby so I want to help so bad. Hopefully she will get me shoe sizes for them tonight. I will be at church on Sunday and anything I can pick up and take to work on Monday for her family would be helpful. I think clothes, food items and baby items are most important right now.
Any ideas you have are appreciated. I sent them to Porchlight right now. Pray for her family. Thank you!
The Educational Support Committee requests that you ask Mike Korth about a special project. Please you touch base because this project is a very worthy cause and you will want to be involved... You can also email mike at mkorth1422 [AT] aol.com for details... ...more
The WELS Wind Ensemble will lead us in worship this morning. Below is
some information about who they are, how they serve the Lord and where
you can see them later this summer. Thank you WELS Wind Ensemble!!
It strikes me lately that we moms can be really hard
on each other. We veteran moms can be the worst. My kids are almost
grown up, and I know how easy it is to forget the infant and toddler
years. I need to remind myself how excruciatingly long those days could
be, how hard I tried to be the perfect mom, how guilty I felt when I
failed, how tired I was, how overwhelmed, how bored.
Truth is, we veteran moms tend to romanticize and sanitize our
memories so much that we forget all about our kids’ tantrums at Target
and the Cheerios that lived under the sofa cushions for years. Years.
We need to ask God to help us be kinder to ourselves and others,
which brings me to that famous saying: “Be kind, for everyone you meet
is fighting a hard battle.”....
.... God made us, and he declares us gifted, precious souls through his
Son, Jesus. That same Son forgives our failures and, being human
himself, completely understands our weaknesses. He loves us and accepts
us as we are.
Maybe we can try harder to do the same for each other. Happy Mothers’ Day.
Numerous people have expressed an interest in the quickly approaching adoption of our daughter from China and how they can be of assistance. We’re currently doing a picture reveal fundraiser, please visit the link to check out our You Caring page with the updates. Feel free to ask us about the process as we love to talk about it. Tristyn’s excited to become a “big” brother! Thank you so much for all of the support we have received.
Ken Notes: Congrats Mark and Laura, I hope Tristyn has a sister soon!
If you would like to add an event, link or thought to RLCNotes please send it to Pastor on Ken. We can share info that is of a public nature. Garage sales, showers, Bonfires, Tupperware Parties, and a great recipe are all welcome here. RLCNotes.com is also available on the web... Do they still have Tupperware parties????
I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!
Michael Watters
Isaiah 10:13
For he says: “‘By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, because I have understanding. I removed the boundaries of nations, I plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their kings.
Elijah White
Ephesians 6:11
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Alan Woller
Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. ...more
Ken Notes: We are blessed to have these strong men enter our congregation.
Sean Young says he’s not much of an adventurer. He doesn’t even really like to travel. Yet since he took the job as director of missions operations for WELS in 2012, he has been to the jungles outside Kumba, Cameroon; to Red Dirt Village in the mountains of Thai-land; and to Kiev, the largest city in Ukraine—all to help plan how to spread God’s Word around the world. “It’s crazy that the Lord saw fit to put me here to help with that,” he says.
But Young will be the first to say that going to these exotic locales hasn’t been his greatest journey. His greatest journey has been one of faith—a trip that gave him true freedom through the gospel. Growing up in an Irish family in Milwaukee, Young was raised in the Catholic Church, which included going to confession, serving as an altar boy, and being a Christian Youth Organization representative on the church council.
It was during a church council meeting that he started questioning the congregation’s prior-ities. The group was discussing an annulment request that came with a monetary gift—a request that came from the parents of one of Young’s friends. When the council began talking about how to use the money, Young raised the question, “Shouldn’t we be talking about the marriage?” His question was ignored and when he brought it up again, he was asked by the priest to step out into the hallway. When he told the priest that he couldn’t go to a church like this, the priest said, “Don’t worry, you’ll learn the ways of the church.” “I left and never went back,” says Young. He was 18 years old.
Even though he left the Catholic Church, Young wasn’t giving up on religion. He began attending worship on Sunday at other denominations—United Methodist, Presbyterian and the Free Church. “Eventually when you’re church shopping, you end up sitting in the back so you can get an easy exit in case something goes wrong,” says Young. “I wasn’t finding truth anywhere.” During the week, Young had to travel cross town by bus to get to his high school. One day he was heading home from school and stopped outside St. Lucas to look at the church service times. “I thought, This looks like a big old Catholic church—I should try this,” says Young. “I had no idea what Lutheran was, much less WELS.”
As he was looking at the times, a hand came down on his shoulder. “I heard someone say, ‘Looking for a church, son?’ ” says Young. “[The pastor] started talking to me and invited me inside. I asked him all sorts of questions, and before I knew it, three hours had gone by.”
That Sunday Young took the bus to St. Lucas to attend worship. As in the past, he sat down and had his exit strategy ready when in walked the girl he was dating and her family. They sat right in front of Young. After some initial confusion, Young sat with his girlfriend and her family for the service.
At this church, Young found what he was looking for. “My perception was that in the Catholic Church, the priest was telling you what the Bible said. Here the priest—I didn’t know he was called a pastor—was reading from the Bible,” he says. “The sermon blew my socks off. It scared the snot out of me. He had me going to hell the one minute, and the next minute he told me why I had eternal salvation. It was the best sermon I ever heard,” says Young. “In 20 minutes, he opened my eyes. I was blown away. I thought, I have to get more of that.”
After the service, the pastor invited Young to Bible information class (BIC). Young agreed, and his girlfriend, Kirsten, offered to go with him.
Two years later, Young became a member. “I went from a two-time BICer to a confirmed adult,” he says. “I went twice not because I was a slow learner but because my commitment to my faith was huge and I didn’t want to go through what I just went through at [my old church].”
Young’s becoming a Lutheran didn’t sit well with his family. His mom, a strong Irish Catholic, had him excommunicated from the Catholic Church, kicked him out of the house, and didn’t talk to him for close to three years. “If you’re brought up Catholic, anything other than Catholicism is considered a cult,” Young explains. “She wanted me to be a priest.”
His grandmother finally helped convince his mom to rekindle the relationship—about five months before his wedding to Kirsten. After that Young shared his faith often with his mom before her death. “Our first conversation was about having to go to confession,” he says. “Growing up a Catholic kid, you dreaded going into the box. I was telling her that this isn’t something she needs to do. The Lord is not asking this of her—for her to demonstrate her faith. That [discussion] went on for years.” He continues to witness to his brothers and sisters, who still don’t all know the truth. “I know their eternal salvation depends on it, but all I can do is plant the seed and leave it up to the Lord.”
His family aren’t the only people whom Young has told about the gospel’s saving message. “I’ve been on the evangelism committee of every church I’ve ever been at because we have to share this,” he says. “Growing up Catholic, I didn’t have this kind of faith. I didn’t have this kind of relief. I didn’t have this kind of joy in my faith. It was all the black marks on the soul. It was all the heavy lifting you had to do to stay ahead of it. And you just can’t do it. Here it’s just the truth; it’s just the gospel.”
Being part of WELS Missions is giving him an opportunity to spread that good news even further—though he didn’t immediately apply for the job. At the time, he was running a construction company and doing quite well. “I was making money. My plan was all set—here I am, still thinking it was my plan!” he says.
Several pastors kept encouraging him to apply. “Two and a half months later [my family] took a big step off the cliff, not knowing, and God instantly caught us and kept providing for us,” says Young. “It was like a rebirth. [Before] I was living for the dollar; I wasn’t living for my family or for my faith. This was a nice way for God to slap me upside the head and say, ‘Hey, let’s get back to doing what you love.’ ”
Doing what he loves means sharing the freedom the gospel provides by helping plan mission opportunities around the United States and the world and helping administer the gifts the Lord has provided for outreach. It’s a fitting next leg in his journey of faith. And though we can’t all be part of the day-to-day work of WELS Missions, Young reminds us that we all have mission work to do. “We have to stay vigilant,” he says. “We have to make sure that we don’t just rest on the Word and be comfortable with it. We have to understand that our purpose is to share that gospel message with folks because there’s not a lot of time left.”
Julie Wietzke is managing editor of Forward in Christ magazine. ...more
It will be one of the highest attended days of the year for your church. It may be the highest. There will be some people you don’t know. Some of them are guests. Others are members who attend infrequently.
You have an opportunity to make a gospel impression on these people with a few simple acts. Indeed, you have an opportunity to make an eternal difference. Here are nine servant actions for you to consider.
Pray as you enter the property. Pray for the guests. Pray for the services. Pray for the pastor and the sermon.
Park at the most distant spot available. Save the closer parking places for guests.
Greet people. They may be guests. They may be members. It’s okay to introduce yourself to either.
Look for people to help. You know the place well. Many others will not. Be a guide. Help someone who looks like he or she needs help.
Sit as close as possible to the front of the worship center. Save the back rows for guests and late entrants, so they don’t have to walk past so many people.
Sit in the middle. Don’t claim that aisle seat where people have to walk over you or past you.
Sit closely. Your worship center may be packed. If so, be willing to sit cheek to cheek.
Volunteer to serve. As the number of attendees increase, so does the need for volunteers. The parking team, kids ministry, and church greeter ministry are a few of the areas that will need more volunteers to help serve and minister to members and guests.
Pray as you leave. The Holy Spirit is likely working in many persons who attended. Pray for His continual work of conviction and comfort.
These are simple acts. They are acts of service. And if you survive doing these acts of kindness and service on Easter, you just might be able to do them on other days of worship as well. ...more
Join us at 10:30AM for the Congregational Meeting in the Fellowship Hall
There will be a special congregational meeting at 10:30 am to address the future staffing needs for our Preschool.
The council is bringing forth the following motion to the congregation:
"Motion to recommend for voter approval to call a full time preschool teacher, director, and administrator with the understanding that we are unlikely to wean ourselves away from VASD."
At the circuit meeting in February I promised more information on BeyondU, and here is me sharing that information.
BeyondU is a joint effort of a number of congregations and pastors to create a movement among the High School students in the region. Monthly we will have a regional gathering of high school students that will focus on digging into the Word, connecting with other teens from around the area, and gathering for worship. Below and attached to this email are a number of promotional materials for you to use to promote the first event on April 3, 6-8pm.
Nate Abrahamson, youth pastor from Abiding Shepherd, will be leading the "dig in" section and be coordinating topics for the teens to be studying and is working with one of the Chapel bands to lead the worship time.
If you have questions please feel free to reach out to Nate Abrahamson (Pastor.abrahamson@abidingshepherd.org) or Kelly Huet (Kelly.Huet@St-Andrew-Online.org) and we will do our best to answer them.
More information will be available via the Facebook page as time gets closer (www.facebook.com/beyonduwi)
Feel free to spread the word beyond our circuit if you think other churches/ministries would benefit from this effort.
Looking forward to seeing how God uses this movement for the blessing of the teens in our area.
The Schloesser’s are hosting an RLC card party at The Crossing clubhouse on Friday, October 21stat 7 PM. The Crossing is located at 90 Pond View Way, Fitchburg, which is on Lacy Road about one mile east of Fish Hatchery (where the RLC Christmas party was held last year). We are planning to play poker and sheepshead. Anyone who does not want to play cards can hang out by the fireplace. Beer and wine will be provided. Bring a snack to share, if you like. There is no parking allowed on the street, so remember that you can double park in front of the clubhouse.
Please contact Tom or Renee to let them know how many people to plan for.
Our 4K teacher and director, Katie Mikula, was led to accept the call to St. John's in Mequon, WI. Katie will continue serving at Resurrection Lutheran Preschool until the end of the school year in June. We wish Katie God's blessings as she begins service to our Savior in a new field. Look for updates on a farewell prior to her departure, as well as information on the process of finding new staff for our Prek ministry. ...more
Ken Notes: Let me be among the first to thank Kattie and wish her continued success. Molding young minds is among one of God`s greatest callings.
We had been showing our worship services on the local cable access channel, but we lost the services of the individual who was recording the services to DVD.
Recording the service takes only a few minutes, but it does require a couple of steps about an hour apart and needs to be done at church. If you would be able to do this, please speak with pastor. It's not a threat, just the truth that if we can't find someone, the time slot will be filled with other programming. ...more
Lent is beginning this week and our mid-week services and suppers will as well. Please see
the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board and sign-up to share some food
for our meals. Our first service and meal is Ash Wednesday February
10th.
The season of Lenten begins this Wednesday with Ash Wednesday and continues on Thursdays in the follow weeks.
Easter is early this year, Sunday, March 27. That means Lent is also earlier than usual. Lent
is the season of the Church year when we prepare our hearts for Jesus'
suffering, death and resurrection. We reflect with somber sorrow over
our sins that caused his suffering, while rejoicing that he suffered for
me and died for my sins and rose to empty my grave! Special services are held during Lent. All services are at 6.30 pm. A meal will be served before each service, starting at 5.30 pm.
The first service is on Ash Wednesday, February 10. Pastor Strutz will preach. Then the remainder of the Lenten services will be held on Thursdays, February 18, 25 and March 3, 10, 17.
Sermons will focus on how Jesus kept the commandments perfectly for us as our Substitute. Pastor Strutz and Vicar Melso will preach a majority of these services.
Pastor
Moldenhauer from Our Redeemer and Pastor Bauer from Good News will also
each preach one sermon in the series. Themes for each service are as
follows:
February 18: Give everyone what is due them (Fourth Commandment)
February 25: Honor God's gift of the body (Fifth and Sixth Commandments)
March 3: Keep yourself free from the love of money (Seventh commandment)
March 10: Speak in the kindest possible way (Eighth Commandment)
March 17: Be content with what God has given you (Ninth and Tenth Commandments)
The church council met on January 19. Highlights include:
The council continued reading through the Bible individually and discussing together. Discussion was on Samuel and Kings.
New members were welcomed by transfer from other WELS churches: Jeff and Ann Kopp, Kimberly Thony, Nathan Brunk and David Plenge. One member, Lu Evenson, was called to his eternal rest in heaven. We keep Lu's family and especially his daughter, Linda Parks, in our prayers.
The council welcomed Chris James from Dane County Parks. The Town of Verona has vacated the portion of Wesner Road east of the church driveway. The Town will continue to plow and maintain the road up to that point and install a turnaround for town vehicles. This has left the church in possession of a potion of Wesner Road. It is agreeable to both the county and the church council that we quit claim deed our portion of the road to the County. The County will maintain and plow the road, freeing the church from any responsibility or costs in this regard. This decision was shared and approved by the congregation at a January 24 congregational meeting.
The outreach team reported with joy that through distribution of 3000 postcards before Christmas, 3 people attended worship for the first time at Resurrection. A similiar effort is planned prior to Easter. In addition, 13 people are attending instruction classes to learn more about God's Word and possibly become members of Resurrection in the future. Thanks be to God for these gifts.
The council was informed that our 4K teacher, Katie Mikula, has received a call to a Prek in Mequon, WI. Katie will now decide where she best can serve, either continuing at Resurrection or going to Mequon. We all keep Katie in our prayers.
Youth activities were shared, along with approval of door offerings to assist with youth rally costs. Special voluntary offerings will be gathered after the youth led service on Sunday, March 13 as well as part of one of the Lenten meals which the youth will help serve.
The council is pleased to serve the congregation.
Please share any thoughts or input with the council.
Congregational Meeting Highlights
At the congregational meeting on January 24, the congregation authorized the renewal of the contract with the Verona Area School District for the 2016/2017 school year. The congregation also approved the plan for stain glass windows presented by the interior design committee. With gifts on hand, new windows may be in place soon.
God’s Word is Love Resurrection Lutheran Church New Life News Anniversary Blessings Christmas for Kids in December Preschool News from Our Director, Katie Lent Worship Coming Up Council Highlights Congregational Meeting Highlights We Hear God’s Word RLC Ski/Snowboard Outing
Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life… A Life He gives and a Life we share Resurrection Lutheran Church is a Christian congregation gathered together by a common confession and devotion to God’s Word. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus gives us complete forgiveness of sin and life eternal through His Word and Sacraments. Therefore, we live through Christ to worship, confess and share the saving truth of the Bible, giving the sure hope of salvation to all.
Today
Resurrection will give thanks to God for ten years of the facility built
to his glory. Pastor Doug Tomhave, the first pastor of Resurrection,
will preach for the service, which will focus on the symbolism of the
facility and its distinctive Lutheran features. Pastor Tomhave will also
lead the Bible study on the history of Resurrection up to and including the facility construction.
A
potluck will follow Bible study at 11.30. Members of Resurrection who
were involved in the building process will share humorous stories and
anecdotes about the facility construction process. Join us to give thanks and glory to God.
Missionaries working in
the inner city are confronted with masses of people with whom they can
share the gospel. Among the hustle and bustle of an urban
environment—busy streets and crowded sidewalks—it’s sometimes a
challenge for a mission pastor to know which direction will lead to
opportunities for ministry. Rev. Ismael Sialer, Hispanic missionary for
Palabra de Vida in downtown Detroit, Mich., is always looking for new
ways to connect with an individual, develop a friendship, and point that
child of God to his or her Savior.
Palabra de Vida is a
multi-ethnic home mission congregation situated in a low-income section
of Detroit’s metropolitan area; more than 2,500 people live within
blocks of the church. A small mission like Palabra de Vida can be easily
overlooked among rows of brick buildings, so when an opportunity to
gain visibility for the congregation and help a neighborhood
initiative came up, Rev. Sialer got involved. The “Community Backpacks
for Free” event was organized to distribute free backpacks and classroom
materials to neighborhood children. Sialer offered use of a vacant lot
next to the church to host the neighborhood distribution. He says, “I
was able to see more people on that one day than in a whole month of
walking the streets of the neighborhood.”
More than 950 people
attended and many visited the Palabra de Vida tent set up at the same
location. Rev. Sialer, his wife, and Rev. Timothy Flunker, vacancy
pastor at Palabra de Vida, handed out Multi-Language Publications Bible
Teaching Series books. The books were offered free of charge, along with
a verbal invitation for a personal visit to explain the material in
detail. “The urgency to reach souls is unmistakable. The Lord has
blessed the congregation with members involved in ministry during the
vacancy, but will be even more greatly blessed when a full-time
bilingual missionary is able to be present every day in the neighborhood
around Palabra de Vida,” commented Flunker.
As a result of the
event, Rev. Tim Flunker is following up with twelve new English-speaking
Hispanic families from the area. Seven new Spanish-speaking families
have signed up for in-home Bible classes adding to the 20 families
already connected with the Hispanic ministry. Making initial contact
with people in the inner city “isn’t always easy,” says Rev. Flunker,
“but opportunities like the ‘Community Backpacks for Free’ event is a
great way to introduce people to the mission and ultimately to God’s
saving message.” To learn more about Hispanic outreach and urban ministry, visit wels.net/missions. ...more
For the first time ever, a kids' expo will be held in Verona on Saturday, November 5 at Verona Area High School. The purpose is to make our community aware of the many different opportunities for children in our community. Our church/prek will be hosting a booth to promote Christmas for Kids, our new Jesus Cares ministry and other avenues to reach children.
We are in need of volunteers to staff the booth from 9 am until 2 pm, as well as to assist with some set up and take down. See the sign up sheet at church, or speak with Denis Reimer or Pastor for more information. ...more
Confessions of faith: Sean Young - director of missions for WELS 2016/03/31/in FIC Features, Forward in Christ
Sean Young says he’s not much of an adventurer. He doesn’t even really like to travel. Yet since he took the job as director of missions operations for WELS in 2012, he has been to the jungles outside Kumba, Cameroon; to Red Dirt Village in the mountains of Thai-land; and to Kiev, the largest city in Ukraine—all to help plan how to spread God’s Word around the world. “It’s crazy that the Lord saw fit to put me here to help with that,” he says.
But Young will be the first to say that going to these exotic locales hasn’t been his greatest journey. His greatest journey has been one of faith—a trip that gave him true freedom through the gospel. Growing up in an Irish family in Milwaukee, Young was raised in the Catholic Church, which included going to confession, serving as an altar boy, and being a Christian Youth Organization representative on the church council.
It was during a church council meeting that he started questioning the congregation’s prior-ities. The group was discussing an annulment request that came with a monetary gift—a request that came from the parents of one of Young’s friends. When the council began talking about how to use the money, Young raised the question, “Shouldn’t we be talking about the marriage?” His question was ignored and when he brought it up again, he was asked by the priest to step out into the hallway. When he told the priest that he couldn’t go to a church like this, the priest said, “Don’t worry, you’ll learn the ways of the church.” “I left and never went back,” says Young. He was 18 years old.
Even though he left the Catholic Church, Young wasn’t giving up on religion. He began attending worship on Sunday at other denominations—United Methodist, Presbyterian and the Free Church. “Eventually when you’re church shopping, you end up sitting in the back so you can get an easy exit in case something goes wrong,” says Young. “I wasn’t finding truth anywhere.” During the week, Young had to travel cross town by bus to get to his high school. One day he was heading home from school and stopped outside St. Lucas to look at the church service times. “I thought, This looks like a big old Catholic church—I should try this,” says Young. “I had no idea what Lutheran was, much less WELS.”
As he was looking at the times, a hand came down on his shoulder. “I heard someone say, ‘Looking for a church, son?’ ” says Young. “[The pastor] started talking to me and invited me inside. I asked him all sorts of questions, and before I knew it, three hours had gone by.”
That Sunday Young took the bus to St. Lucas to attend worship. As in the past, he sat down and had his exit strategy ready when in walked the girl he was dating and her family. They sat right in front of Young. After some initial confusion, Young sat with his girlfriend and her family for the service.
At this church, Young found what he was looking for. “My perception was that in the Catholic Church, the priest was telling you what the Bible said. Here the priest—I didn’t know he was called a pastor—was reading from the Bible,” he says. “The sermon blew my socks off. It scared the snot out of me. He had me going to hell the one minute, and the next minute he told me why I had eternal salvation. It was the best sermon I ever heard,” says Young. “In 20 minutes, he opened my eyes. I was blown away. I thought, I have to get more of that.”
After the service, the pastor invited Young to Bible information class (BIC). Young agreed, and his girlfriend, Kirsten, offered to go with him.
Two years later, Young became a member. “I went from a two-time BICer to a confirmed adult,” he says. “I went twice not because I was a slow learner but because my commitment to my faith was huge and I didn’t want to go through what I just went through at [my old church].”
Young’s becoming a Lutheran didn’t sit well with his family. His mom, a strong Irish Catholic, had him excommunicated from the Catholic Church, kicked him out of the house, and didn’t talk to him for close to three years. “If you’re brought up Catholic, anything other than Catholicism is considered a cult,” Young explains. “She wanted me to be a priest.”
His grandmother finally helped convince his mom to rekindle the relationship—about five months before his wedding to Kirsten. After that Young shared his faith often with his mom before her death. “Our first conversation was about having to go to confession,” he says. “Growing up a Catholic kid, you dreaded going into the box. I was telling her that this isn’t something she needs to do. The Lord is not asking this of her—for her to demonstrate her faith. That [discussion] went on for years.” He continues to witness to his brothers and sisters, who still don’t all know the truth. “I know their eternal salvation depends on it, but all I can do is plant the seed and leave it up to the Lord.”
His family aren’t the only people whom Young has told about the gospel’s saving message. “I’ve been on the evangelism committee of every church I’ve ever been at because we have to share this,” he says. “Growing up Catholic, I didn’t have this kind of faith. I didn’t have this kind of relief. I didn’t have this kind of joy in my faith. It was all the black marks on the soul. It was all the heavy lifting you had to do to stay ahead of it. And you just can’t do it. Here it’s just the truth; it’s just the gospel.”
Being part of WELS Missions is giving him an opportunity to spread that good news even further—though he didn’t immediately apply for the job. At the time, he was running a construction company and doing quite well. “I was making money. My plan was all set—here I am, still thinking it was my plan!” he says.
Several pastors kept encouraging him to apply. “Two and a half months later [my family] took a big step off the cliff, not knowing, and God instantly caught us and kept providing for us,” says Young. “It was like a rebirth. [Before] I was living for the dollar; I wasn’t living for my family or for my faith. This was a nice way for God to slap me upside the head and say, ‘Hey, let’s get back to doing what you love.’ ”
Doing what he loves means sharing the freedom the gospel provides by helping plan mission opportunities around the United States and the world and helping administer the gifts the Lord has provided for outreach. It’s a fitting next leg in his journey of faith. And though we can’t all be part of the day-to-day work of WELS Missions, Young reminds us that we all have mission work to do. “We have to stay vigilant,” he says. “We have to make sure that we don’t just rest on the Word and be comfortable with it. We have to understand that our purpose is to share that gospel message with folks because there’s not a lot of time left.”
Julie Wietzke is managing editor of Forward in Christ magazine. ...more
Location: Dane County Coliseum 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, Wisconsin
Festival Worship: 4:00 p.m. Special Hymn Sing: 5:30
Western Wisconsin District - "Timeless Truths" October 29, 2017
Open to the Public
Come join us for worship!
Date: Sunday, October 29,
2017 Location: Dane County Coliseum, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way,
Madison, Wisconsin. Festival Worship: 4:00 p.m. Special Hymn Sing: 5:30
p.m.
Participants: Choirs, Instruments, and Organ Come early to visit
informational displays and vendor booths...
My heart overflows with joy every time I think of you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy!
My family and I would like to extend our most sincere thanks for the Christmas gift we received from the congregation. It is a joy for us to be serving here and this is just one reminder why: God's people show their love to Jesus by supporting and encouraging pastor and his family.
We pray the Lord will bless and return your generosity to you 1000 times over. Merry Christmas!
On
Sunday, January 17 at the regular 9.00 a.m. service, Resurrection will
give thanks to God for ten years of the facility built to his glory.
Pastor Doug Tomhave, the first pastor of Resurrection will preach for
the service, which will focus on the symbolism of the facility and its
distinctive Lutheran features. Pastor Tomhave will also lead the Bible
study on the history of Resurrection up to and including the facility
construction.
A potluck will follow Bible study at 11.30 on
Sunday. Members of Resurrection who were involved in the building
process will share humorous stories and anecdotes about the facility
construction process. Join us to give thanks and glory to God.
An RSVP if you plan to attend would be appreciated, especially for the potluck. Email to resurrection@rlcverona.com. ...more
Ladies join us tonight
for Advent by Candlelight is a special night; a night to prepare
ourselves for the busy Christmas season and set our mindset and
priorities to the best gift ever given, God's own Son, Jesus, our Savior
from sin. ...more
We expect the story of someone's life to start at the beginning: their birth. And three out of the four gospels (the books of the Bible that tell the story of Jesus' life) do just that. And by doing so, they give anyone who reads them a very favorable first impression of Jesus. We meet him as a baby. A cute, cuddly, non-threatening, not-at-all-intimidating baby....
- The council continued reading through the Bible and discussing. Very good questions are being asked and answered.
-
Athena Young was welcomed into membership. She had been a member at RLC
before moving to Watertown a few years ago. She has moved back to the
area. Welcome back, Athena!
- Mianna Woller was granted a transfer to Good News, as she has moved closer to our daughter congregation in Mt. Horeb.
-
Congregational finances are in good shape. Commitments will be used to
help determine the budget for next fiscal year (it's not too late to
turn in your commitment.)
- The council held a good portion of
the meeting jointly with Our Redeemer in Madison. The possibility of a
new church location in Fitchburg was discussed, along with ways to
better promote the grade school at Our Redeemer, especially among RLP
Prek families.
- Our Redeemer is in the process of calling a
second pastor. It was agreed that this annual gathering is a benefit to
both congregations and will be done again next year. The council-men
enjoyed informal fellowship after the meeting and continue to strengthen
ties in Christ. ...more
Happy November! It?s incredible how fast the school year is going! Here?s an update on our classrooms:
3 Year Old Preschool
Mrs. Melso will continue her lessons of pumpkins, leaves and apples and will also talk about Thanksgiving with her students and being thankful to God for all he has given us. Letters for the month are P, T and G. The children will work on their fine motor skills by tearing paper, gluing, cutting, and using tweezers. They?ll also work on counting and recognizing numbers.
4 Year Old Preschool
Miss Mikula?s class will dig into the Creative Curriculum unit of buildings. Investigations include: What do the buildings in our neighborhood and in other places look like? Who builds buildings and what tools do they use? What are buildings made of and what makes them strong? What is special about our building? And, what happens inside buildings? A number of the kids have really been into building towers and castles, so they will really like this unit☺. Other activities include reading ?The Three Little Pigs? and acting the book out, work-ing on fine motor skills, focusing on letter H, F, and E, and talking about what we?re thankful for.
Bible Stories for this month: God Provides Manna, Water and Quail, The Ten Commandments, and the Birth of Jesus Foretold.
There will be no school Wednesday, November 25th-Friday November 27th. We will be hosting our annual Thanksgiving luncheon on Tuesday, November 24th at 11:30am. All kids enrolled at RLP and their families are invited. We could use some help from RLC members for set up, food prep, and clean-up. We are also in need of turkey donations (we?ll need at least 36lb of turkey). Turkeys need to be precooked and shredded. If you?d be willing to help out in any way, please speak to Katie.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all! Give thanks for the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever!... ...more
The council continued reading through the entire Bible. Many good questions about Revelation were discussed.
Two new families were welcomed in membership: The Wiesmuellers and Mannings.
Amy Althof was released from membership as she has moved from the area and we are unable to contact her.
The council authorized the service of the Interior Design Plan Committee, consisting of Kate Neitzel, Kathi Appelt, Pastor and Vicar. The committee gave an initial report at the congregational meeting on October 25, focusing on stain glass windows and other design items in the sanctuary and narthex.
With joy, it is reported that seven people have attended the Bible 101 class. Four members and three prospective members. One is the friend of a member, one has a child in 3K and one has been in contact with our counseling ministry.
Ten people have indicated interest in church membership through the communication card. The announcement to fill it out will be modified to allow more time for members and guests to complete this form that has brought great blessings.
Ushers will be encouraged to more actively direct people to seats in the sanctuary, especially during services when the sanctuary is closer to full. God be praised for this!
The Prek task force was thanked for their service. The recommendations of the task force are operational and the task force was disbanded with appreciation for their work.
There will be a Town of Verona meeting to discuss vacating the section of Wesner Road east of the church driveway. All interested parties are invited to attend. The effect on our church should be minimal, as the town will maintain the road up to the church driveway, in-cluding snowplowing and future repairs.
50 people attended the marriage enrichment seminar. The next session is planned for February.
Youth group is blessed with 20 possible participants from 7th through 12th grade. Thanks to youth leaders Ken Harwood and Sonya Huebner for helping to revitalize this important ministry.
It seems like the world is getting darker. Maybe it’s that as my children get older and they are in the world more, my eyes are more sensitive to the darkness of this world. What is the world saying to them? How is it being said?
We know that our children have to be in the darkness. In fact, Jesus says, “My prayer is NOT that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (John 12:15-17, emphasis added).
The evil one is very crafty. He uses so many regular things, and often good things, to cast shadows. Stress, movies, relationships, books, family, video games, peers, conflict are just some examples of sources of shadows.
It would be nice if we could keep all the worldly darkness out of our children’s, and our, lives, but that just isn’t possible. As parents, we can be intentional with teaching them how to hear God’s voice and see his light. Reading scripture, prayer, and solitude time with God are rhythms we do in our home that still us enough to refresh our light and hear God’s voice.
Not only do we want to teach our children these things, we want to model it as well. It isn’t just our children who are in the world. We are too. We want to be as prepared as much as they are, if not more so, to stand and be a light in this world. When, as a family, we hear God’s voice, we can be a light of His love in this world.
Whenever my children leave to go into the world you will always hear me holler my tagline, “Be a light!” I have found this to be a good reminder for our family to be in the world but not of the world. Light looks different. Light shines. Light attracts. Light warms. Light shows direction. Light reveals.
So the encouragement I give to my children I also pass on to you. “Be a light!”
9/14/15 in Blogs, Jenni Schubring “Forward In Christ”
November 1st is Reformation Sunday and a great day to have Octoberfest!
The lunch will be after Sunday School so around 11:30 ish...
Our Vines and Branches Group is bringing Brats, Refreshments, and a few special events.
You can bring yourself, friends, a dish to pass or other goodies to share (leftover Halloween candy come to mind). There is a signup sheet on the board in the hall but feel free to just join us!!
Packer game is in the evening... So Church, party, nap, game... Perfect! ...more
Chris and Corrine Wiesmueller join us by transfer from Trinity in Waukesha. They have three sons, Andrew, age 6 Adam, age 4 and Bennett, four months.
Both Chris and Corrine have legal backgrounds. They joined Resurrection as they described it, "As a call from God." A recommendation from their former pastor in Waukesha and a friendly reception the first time they came didn't hurt either.
They recently moved to the Fitchburg area and are still getting fully settled in.
It’s easy to forget that our synod is a part of a larger fellowship of confessional church bodies around the world. The recent meeting of the synod’s Commission on Inter-Church Relations (CICR) is a clear reminder of our close ties with those church bodies and what a blessing God-given unity is.
The CICR works to maintain those close relationships through continuing contact and communication with our sister synods. Annual discussions take place between the CICR and the doctrine committee of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS). These discussions are intended to strengthen the fellowship relations between the two synods and to address issues of mutual concern.
Individual members of the CICR are assigned as the primary contacts with Lutheran church bodies around the world. Through written communications and personal visits, the contact men offer encouragement and advice. They also bring regular reports to the CICR of the blessings and challenges faced by our overseas brothers and sisters in places like Scandinavia, Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, and Latin America.
The CICR is also responsible for overseeing appropriate contact with other Lutheran church bodies not in our fellowship. The formal doctrinal discussions currently being held between WELS, ELS, and the Church of the Lutheran Confession (CLC) are taking place under the supervision of the CICR. At its meeting last week, the CICR reviewed the pro-gress of those discussions and offered feedback to the committee conducting the talks. Re-ports of the informal doctrinal discussions with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod are also reviewed. Please remember the work of the CICR in your prayers. Please also pray for the Lutheran church bodies around the world that share in our commitment to God’s Word and are partners in our God-given mission.
Serving in Christ, President Mark Schroeder ...more
Paul and Laura Konkol recently joined Resurrection. Welcome!
Paul is a pharmacist and works a variety of shifts, so you most likely will see the Konkol family at Thursday worship. Paul completed the Bible 101 class and was welcomed into membership by adult confirmation.
Laura is a life-long WELS member and joined us by transfer from Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel, our WELS congregation just off State St.
Hobbies? They have a new daughter, Addison, who was baptized at RLC. What other hobbies do you need? They are both Badger fans and are enjoying their new baby.
Take a chance to welcome our brother and sisters in Christ!
Luther Preparatory School is happy to be celebrating its 150th Anniversary on Sunday, November 15, 2015 with a worship service at 3pm in the LPS gym.
This special 150th anniversary has been celebrated over the past year and this worship service of celebration will be the highlight in thanking God for His blessings received at this campus in Watertown. Could you please put this special service info. on your November 15 church calendar?
I am also attaching a PDF for your church bulletin. This does not have to be printed in color. I would only ask you to insert this perhaps in your November newsletter and also in early November church bulletins.
Ken Notes: We have two young adults from RLC that attend LPS, Ireland Moore and Annaliese Hermanson and likely will have more in the future. The LPS website is at the link...
Our RLC member Dick Homan was hospitalized with a heart attack. He is going home today. He likely will have open heart surgery in about a month. Please keep our brother in Christ in your prayers. ...more
Mike and Vicki Wilde may look familiar to some of our members, as Mike and Vicki belonged to Resurrection previously. Mike then accepted a call to serve at Our Redeemer in Madison. After serving as a teacher in our WELS schools in places like the Native American reservation in Arizona and Cochrane and Madison, Wisconsin, Mike now works at American Family in Madison.
Vicki has worked at American Family for many years. They both enjoy camping, so you might see them at Thursday evening worship when they are out of town for the weekend. Mike also serves as one of our Sunday School teachers in the 4th through 6th grade classroom.
This weekend marks about six months to Easter. Because Easter is such a great day, we want to celebrate it all year round. Our services this weekend, both Thursday October 1 and Sunday, October 4, will sing Easter hymns, and have the Easter message, "Death is defeated."
All those wishing to dress in festive Easter attire are welcomed and encouraged to do so. We will also utilize the historic Easter greeting of the Christian Church, "The Lord is risen!" The response? "He is risen indeed!"
Lead Teacher position available in an Infant/Toddler Room!
Holy Cross Lutheran Church and School is opening a brand new school building and Early Learning Center in November! We are currently looking for loving, caring, responsible individuals with a desire to work with young children! Experience teaching young children is preferred.Requirements for this position include but are not limited to: lesson planning, family communication, and creating a healthy and safe environment. If you have any questions please contact Erin Mensching emensching@holycrossmadison.org 608-249-3101 ...more
Some good news on the preschool front. There are currently 26 students in the program, actually two programs, with 11 hearing God's word via 3K and a new Lunch Program. This includes 4 children who do not list a church home.
We are planting seeds and God promises:
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Also this years support is projected at $10,000 down from $25,000 a year ago and as much as $50,000 in the past..... ...more
My name is Jennifer Melso and I am the 3K teacher for the 2015-2016 school year. I graduated from Martin Luther Colleg in New Ulm, MN in 2014 with a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education. I previously worked at Garden Homes Lutheran School in Milwaukee, WI as a kindergarten assistant teacher.
This past May, my husband, Eric, was assigned to Resurrection Lutheran Church to serve as their new vicar. We moved to Madison soon after and will live in the area until next summer. We are so excited to be here and serve at both RLC and RLP.
In my free time I enjoy biking, camping, reading, hanging out with family and friends, and spending time with my husband. ...more
Daughter of Micah and Alice Heyer, Sophia Heyer, was born Tuesday Aug 25th at 5:25 pm. All are doing well. See their beautiful photo to the right. Praise be to God and congratulations to Micah and Alice! ...more
Almighty God, our King, we pray for those who rule and govern us: the president, the legislature and all who judge our laws. Grant justice in our land for rich and poor. Unite our country and communities in godly, common causes for our well-being. Keep safe those whose lives are in danger because of their service, especially police, firefighters and the military. Wherever our rulers or our laws are contrary to Your will and truth, turn us from our errors. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God and Father, Your Son, our Shepherd, did all things well. We pray for His Gospel to be proclaimed with might and power. By Your Holy Spirit, season our daily speech with the truth of Your grace and mercy and the redemption won for us in Christ Jesus. So also bless those who serve as pastors and all who are ordained to proclaim Your Gospel and administer Your Sacraments, so that they may make known both Your unyielding Law and Your precious Gospel. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God and Father, You say to all with anxious hearts, “Be strong; fear not!” You healed the sick and defeated death by Your resurrection. In Your good time and according to Your gracious will, heal the sick and comfort the suffering. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God and Father, the help of all who cry to You, be gracious to the poor, the unemployed, the underemployed and all who suffer hunger, want and need. Open the hearts of Your people so that wherever there is abundance, we might share the blessings You give to us.
Ken Notes: I saw War Room, a movie about prayer (5 stars in my book) and thought I would include this week prayer for you wall if you can not get to service this holiday weekend... P.S. you can watch the trailer at the link!
My dear Resurrection family, My time with you is already one month “in the rear-view mirror,” but all of last year is still at the forefront of my mind. And I’ve already been living in Milwaukee for a month, but sometimes I have this strange urge to visit Belleville ? I hope you’re not making the Melsos freak out too much!
This note (finally) is meant to express my sincere and humble thanks for the myriad ways in which you have prepared me for what I’m currently doing now. Thank you for giving me some awesome memories that I will take with me and not forget. Some of you taught me to lean on the LORD (and others!) for help when Satan attacks with anxiety and doubt. Some of you taught me to confidently move forward in Christ without guilt. A hard thing for me to learn. Some of you taught me the importance of reading the Word EVERY DAY! This is the best thing anybody can do. And some of you taught me to just relax and have a good time. For all of this, I am grateful. Oh, and yeah, thanks for the Yamaha keyboard!!! Wow, again, what can I say? (I’ve attached a selfie of my setup in MKE.) It’s a little strange but I shouldn’t be surprised. Because of my experiences last year, I feel comfortable and am suddenly much more prepared to serve in ways that seem so different. Somehow last year’s catechism class with the five guys has made me calm to teach God’s Word to 80 inner-city kids at St. Marcus. Somehow leading chapel at Our Redeemer and mingling with kids at RLC has made me eager to lead more devotions at St. Marcus and at “Wisco.” I’ve already shared a couple short devotions with the 26 Chinese and Korean high school students that are living with us in homes behind WLHS. The next year will be another amazing, new experience that I hope and plan to tell you about sometime later. I am doing quite well! Still pray for me. You can also feel free to contact me via call or text – 920.691.2862. And you’re more than welcome to visit me when you’re in Milwaukee – 363 N Honey Creek Parkway, Milwaukee WI 53214. (You can stop to see my parents in Fort Atkinson on the way ?).
The LORD bless you and yours as a new school year/etc. is underway. I am definitely thinking and praying about you, and whether your health or news is good or less than good, the LORD never changes. We have one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all… and He loves us! It is always good to hear from you, Resurrection family.
Adult Choir rehearsals will be held on Sundays from 7:45 - 8:30 a.m (we need everyone on time each week!) All interested adult members are invited to come and join us. If you have ever sung in a choir, wanted to sing in a choir, dreamed of being in a choir or just want to socialize with choir members, stop by to sing God's praise! We'd love to see you there. Need more info? Contact Kathi Appelt 424.1406, or Katherineappelt@gmail.com...
A new study suggests that joining a religious group could do more for
someone’s “sustained happiness” than other forms of social
participation, such as volunteering, playing sports or taking a class.
A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology
by researchers at the London School of Economics and Erasmus University
Medical Center in the Netherlands found that the secret to sustained
happiness lies in participation in religion.
“The church appears
to play a very important social role in keeping depression at bay and
also as a coping mechanism during periods of illness in later life,”
Mauricio Avendano, an epidemiologist at LSE and an author of the study,
said in a statement. “It is not clear to us how much this is about
religion per se, or whether it may be about the sense of belonging and
not being socially isolated.”
Researchers looked at four areas:
1) volunteering or working with a charity; 2) taking educational
courses; 3) participating in religious organizations; 4) participating
in a political or community organization. Of the four, participating in a
religious organization was the only social activity associated with
sustained happiness, researchers found.
WELS President Mark Schroeder will be throwing out a ceremonial first pitch and Koine lead singer Brian Davison will be singing the National Anthem during the second annual WELS Night at Miller Park on Fri., Aug., 14.
If your church is planning a tailgate, please text or call Mr. Lee Hitter, director of WELS Communication Services, at 414-238-5892 so we can stop by and visit with your members. WELS will not be hosting a centralized meet and greet this year.
Last August, more than 1,700 WELS members attended the inaugural WELS Night at Miller Park. This year, more than 3,500 tickets have been sold.
Everyone gets stressed about money. We have unexpected expenses that really stretch us thin. We have major purchases looming that we don't know how we'll afford. Whether you have great wealth or relatively little, odds are you get stressed out about money from time to time.
So have you ever told yourself that if only you had a certain amount more, all of your worries and concerns would go away? Have you even zeroed in on an exact number? Wouldn't it be nice if we could take that number to the negotiating table with God and confidently expect him to grant our request?
This week, we'll be talking about a man who's number was through the roof. Some estimate that he was the wealthiest man who has ever lived: King Solomon. And yet, toward the end of his life, Solomon looked at all that he had accumulated and used a surprising word to describe it: meaningless. His palace was full. His stables were full. The royal treasury was full. And yet when Solomon looked at his life, he considered it empty.
There's a reason for that. All of us as human beings have a deep, gaping need that only one thing can satisfy. Our desire for identity, purpose, acceptance, and hope can only be met by a healthy relationship with our God.
And yet, the devil tries to get us to fill that void with all kinds of cheap substitutes, including money. He tries to get us to use our money and possessions for something God never intended them to do - to give our lives value and meaning. And when he succeeds, we'll inevitably end up right where Solomon did. No matter how much money we might accumulate, we'll still end up feeling empty inside. No matter how much we have, we'll be convinced that it isn't enough.
Thankfully, this week God's Word will guide us in the God-intended purpose for money and possessions. It will also point us once again to the unconditional, forgiving love of our Father in heaven.
This Saturday, August 1, a group from RLC will attend the American Players Theatre production of Pride and Prejudice. Two or three tickets remain for last minute theatre-goers. Please contact Elizabeth Strutz atelizstrutz@gmail.com if you are interested in attending.
Jennifer and I are so excited to meet all of you and get to work with you this coming year. We'd also like to give you a brief introduction to ourselves and our story.
I was born in Fort Worth, Texas to my parents Carole and John Melso. They're both WELS teachers so we've moved around the country a number of times. I mostly grew up in Beverly Hills, Florida and Williamston, Michigan where my dad served as principal. Along the way I've picked up three little brothers, Tyler, Kyle, and Jacob. My parents were already encouraging me for the ministry when they sent me to Michigan Lutheran Seminary for high school. By the time I graduated I had changed my mind from wanting to be a teacher to wanting to be a pastor. I've never gone back on that decision and as my family moved to Brookfield, Wisconsin I attended and graduated from Martin Luther College in 2012.
MLC had a great impact on my life and while I was there I even met this wonderful girl named Jennifer Uhlhorn. She was born in North Dakota to her parents Daneen and Wayne and has a sister, Marissa, and twin brothers, Ryan and Michael. Jennifer's dad is a pastor so she grew up in a number of places too, starting in North Dakota and eventually Baltimore, Maryland and Colorado Springs, Colorado where her dad currently serves. Jennifer graduated from MLC in 2014 with a major in early childhood education.
We got married on July 11th, 2014 in Colorado Springs but not until after we had a year of very long distance. After I graduated in 2012 I spent the next year serving with Friends of China in a faraway place called Shaoxing. I loved my year there and will gladly talk your ear off if you ask me about it.
And so now after two years of attending Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and one year of blissful marriage, Jennifer and I are headed to Verona for the next chapter of our lives. We are so happy that we get to experience this vicar year together. Thanks for reading our story, we can't wait to hear all your stories too!
At its June meeting, WELS Christian Aid and Relief approved grants for fiscal year 2015-16 totaling $332,426 for humanitarian aid projects in both home and world missions fields.
“These projects help our missionaries reflect Christ’s love to people in need and also open doors to share the gospel,” says Rev. Robert Hein, chairman of WELS Christian Aid and Relief.
World mission fields receiving grants include Zambia, Nigeria, Malawi, Thailand, Indone-sia, Russia, East Asia, Mexico, Haiti, Nepal, Pakistan, and India. Grant money will be used for projects such as borehole drilling to provide clean water, English as a Second Language classes, home-based care for the chronically ill and dying, food assistance to the needy, agri-cultural projects, food and nutrition for orphans, midwife training classes, and medical equipment and health clinics.
Home mission fields in Las Vegas, Nev.; Chicago, Ill.; Farmington, N.M.; New Orleans, La.; and Toronto, Ontario, Canada, also are receiving grant money for projects that include welcome packages for new immigrants, a community garden, and a camp in a financially depressed area. Christian Aid and Relief works closely with the WELS Boards for Home and World Mis-sions, WELS missionaries, and sister congregations in the Confessional Evangelical Luther-an Conference in determining humanitarian aid grants.
The group also provides money for disaster relief efforts and people dealing with extreme medical emergencies. Two large disaster relief efforts this year—following flooding in Ma-lawi, Africa, and earthquakes in Nepal—are ongoing.
In January, Malawi experienced damaging floods that destroyed or damaged the homes of many families who are members of WELS’ sister synod, the Lutheran Church of Central Africa–Malawi (LCCA). Initial relief efforts included providing supplies so these families could construct temporary housing. But a larger upcoming need is food. The floods washed away crops and depleted the local food supplies. “These people are subsistence farmers,” says Missionary Mark Panning, mission coordinator for Malawi. “They depend upon the harvest to survive. This means many families will face hunger in the coming year.”
To help families get through until the next growing season, Christian Aid and Relief is working with LCCA church leaders to distribute almost 450 tons of maize (the staple food of Malawi) to an estimated 4,000 LCCA families so they will have something to eat from September through January.
“This gives us a great opportunity to let our light shine and to show our Christian love to our brothers and sisters in the LCCA. They know that this is assistance coming from do-nors in WELS, people are who concerned about their physical and spiritual needs and want to do something to help,” says Panning. “I pass along the sincere thanks of the national church for everything that’s been done.”
In Nepal, more than 9,000 people have been killed by two recent earthquakes in April and May, including 39 members of our church in Nepal. The WELS mission contact in Ne-pal traveled to nine villages in the rural areas of the Dhading district after the first earth-quake to distribute blankets, medicine, sleeping mattresses, and food. He returned in June to bring more food and blankets as well as Bibles and large tents so the people could worship during the monsoon season. Our contact also visited villages and brought aid to the Makwanpur district where there are churches that have expressed interest in WELS doc-trine. “People see the love of Christ when you share the words of the gospel, the message of salvation,” says the WELS friendly counselor to Nepal. “Then they see the love of Christ in these acts of kindness. It’s a powerful one-two.”
Nepal church leaders and Christian Aid and Relief currently are exploring the idea of of-fering a grief workshop in Dhading to help those struggling with their losses. “It’s really a privilege that the Lord would use us to channel his blessings to our brothers and sisters in need,” says Hein. “We are truly thankful for your prayers and gifts.” Learn more about WELS Christian Aid and Relief at www.wels.net. ...more
It's been a few months since I've sent out an update on the work being done at Good News in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin. God continues to give us opportunities to share the good news with people who need to hear it and continues to bless us as we do. Here are some quick highlights of what's been going on in Mt. Horeb this spring and early summer. ...more
Where has Pastor gone?
Pastor has moved his office back to the
space closest to the main double doors. This will allow more private
access to talk with pastor during preschool hours and at other times.
Plus the larger office is better for individual Bible studies and
conversations. Please take note of this. You are always welcome to stop
in and chat with pastor at anytime.
Ken Notes: I saw this in the bulletin and thought I would comment. We at RLC are a pretty lucky lot, we are not a mega church with many pastors, or a 9 to 5 church where the pastor becomes voice mail after hours. Pastor Strutz is a 24/7 hands on guy who will always talk and come to you if you need him, (and occasionally when you don't think you do - but trust me he knows). He takes his job seriously, and not just the pastor part, he is a friend as well.
Jeremiah 3:15 says, "Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding."
OUR Pastor takes this seriously and I am glad he does... ...more
The church council met on July 15, 2015. Here are some highlights:
The council continued a study of Psalms, focusing on Psalms 121 and 127, led by Vicar. For the upcoming year, the council will read through the entire Bible, beginning with the New Testament, and discuss the previous month's reading at each council meeting.
Several new members were welcomed. Paul Konkol by adult confirmation. Gene and Kay Saloff by transfer. Brandon, Lydia, Tristan and Elijah White by transfer.
Sara Musgrave and Ryan Duemke were granted releases from membership.
The council approved a motion to present to the congregation the WELS statement on marriage and marriage policies. This statement will be presented with the council's recommendation at the July 26 congregational meeting. The WELS has encouraged all congregations in our synod to adopt this statement, after advice with legal counsel, in light of the recent Supreme court ruling on same-sex marriage.
The council adopted a "wish list," to present to the congregation which will provide opportunities for special gifts and guide those gifts in line with priorities approved by the congregation.
A facility use request for Christian counseling services was made by a member of the congregation. The council adopted revisions to the current facility use policy to clarify some points. The council will be bringing this facility use request to the congregation with recommendation on July 26.
The council was awed by God's goodness and extremely thankful for the generosity of God's people in giving of time, talent and treasure to support our current and future ministry. Offerings were higher than anticipated. This allowed to the council to recommend and increase in Synod Mission offering to a point that 10% of congregational offering will be going to the work we do together as a synod. This work includes, training future pastors and vicars and teachers at two high schools, one college and one Seminary; carryingout mission work in the United States by planting new churches and around the world by sending missionaries to foreign countries and supporting local churches around the world. The proposed budget will also be shared at the July 26 congregational meeting.
Three new men officially began their terms of service on July 1, Mike Korth, Prek chairman; John Deegan, property chairman; Randy Huebner, secretary. They join existing council members: Denny Moore, president; Ned Reimer, inreach chairman; and Gene Cate, outreach chairman. Please contact any of these gentlemen or Pastor with your questions, comments and concerns. The council considers it a privilege to serve Christ and our con-gregation.
Kathleen and I are camping at Lifest in Oshkosh this weekend. Next year we should bring a group form the church it is a pretty amazing group of people... ...more
Gone on weekends and unhappy about missing worship? RLC has mid-week worship services on Thursdays at 6:30 PM. We also have a list of all the WELS churches all over the states…and the world! Speak to Pastor or Sue in the RLC office if you need information on these churches. Lord’s Blessings on your Summer!!! ...more
Gone on weekends and unhappy about missing worship?
RLC has mid-week worship services on Thursdays at 6:30 PM.
We also have a list of all the WELS churches all over the states…and the world! Speak to Pastor or Sue in the RLC office if you need information on these churches.
Abiding Shepherd in Cottage Grove, an ELS church, is hosting a summer pond/beach party Wed. July 1 from 1 to 9. The location is outside Cambridge. A couple youth from our church went last year and had a blast.
There's a poster at church with the information. ...more
Our picture and info directories are on line here. The information is password protected and not searchable to keep the information confidential. Ask the Pastor or Vicar for the password and share it ONLY with congregation members.
On Tuesday, May 19th, several RLC members attended the vicar call worship service at the WELS Seminary in Mequon, WI. At this service seminary students received an assignment to serve as a vicar at a WELS congregation for a year.
Eric Melso was chosen to serve as RLC’s 2015/2016 vicar. Eric and his wife Jennifer will move to our area and he will serve at our congregation throughout the next year. Please keep the Melsos in your prayers as they plan to join us later this summer. ...more
I was wondering if there was a way to communicate to the congregation that Andrew and I are seeking some help looking for a sitter for Trinity. In September our daycare only has space for her Monday - Thursday. We both work Monday - Friday so we need to figure something out. We're looking at one of two things.
Either:
1.) Hiring someone to watch Trinity Monday - Friday from 8:30am - no later than 5:30pm ($300/week) - a great opportunity for a mom who's comfortable adding another child to her group or has kids in school!
OR
2.) Hiring someone to watch Trinity on Fridays from 8:30am - 4pm ($10/hour) - maybe for someone who's currently working part time or a college student with Fridays open.
It would be WONDERFUL to find someone within our church community if possible so I'm seeking your help to get the word out.
Thank you in advance for your help!!! -- Gale Hellpap ...more
The Verona Area Needs Network (VANN) is partnering with Jung's Seed Company to encourage home gardeners to "Plant a Row for the Hungry" this spring. This is a nationwide campaign to encourage home and community gardeners to grow a little extra to donate to food pantries in their local communities....
It's been kind of a reflective last few days for me. Some interesting anniversaries have been on my mind.
Last year on Mother's Day weekend, Lindsay and I flew to Wisconsin to try to find a home in Mt. Horeb. Last year on the weekend the Church remembers Jesus' ascension into heaven I preached my last sermon at my previous congregation.
So as both of those important days have come and gone within the last week, it's been an opportunity to think a little bit about all that's happened during the past year. It's been an interesting year. It hasn't always been easy. But these opportunities for reflection have led me to a couple of conclusions. Neither is anything groundbreaking or revolutionary. But both are worth remembering.
God blesses us every day in ways that we could never imagine....
As many of you know, John Scott Harwood lost his battle with liver failure on 5/6/2015. A small gathering, at the Church, will be held this Saturday May 6th at 7 PM with a service at 7:30 PM the same night.
Ken and Kathleen wish to thank the congregation and especially Pastor Strutz and Vicar Steve for the unwavering love and support for both Scott and our family as Scott lived with us. Your thoughts, prayers, and opportunity to just talk were a blessing.
The link is to a PDF of the service folder... ...more
This walk/run supports the front lines ministry of WELS Lutherans for Life. The Meinel family will be participating in the event and are also raising funds to support this cause. If the Spirit moves you, please consider donating here to help us hit our goal. You are also welcome to participate in the event as an on-site or virtual participant. Call Philip Meinel at 920-728-1406 with any questions.
There will be a congregational meeting today after the worship service. We encourage
everyone
to attend. The following positions are at full terms. The congregation
will vote to fill the positions of Building & Grounds, Secretary,
and Inreach.
It is also being recommended that a
new position be added to the council The new position will be for a
Preschool Chairman. If the new position is voted in by the congregation
we will then vote in one of the persons that have accepted the
nomination to this position.
Literally translated the Greek word tetelestai means, "It is finished." The word occurs in John 19:28 and 19:30 and these are the only two places in the New Testament where it occurs.
The word tetelestai was also written on business documents or receipts in New Testament times to show that a bill had been paid in full.
Our class discussed this and thought that Jesus, who probably spoke Aramaic, may very well have spoken the Greek word "Tetelestai" which would have clearly been understood by all present, Jews, Gentiles, Romans, and others REGARDLESS of their native tongue. Tetelestai is a word we should learn similar to the "Paid In Full" message we see stamped on bills today.... ...more
Notes: Our youth group will pick a verse to share with you each week. We also encourage you to use the share link to add this to your face book or email to a friend in need of a spiritual lift.
Sunday, March 1 is friendship Sunday at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Verona WI , a perfect opportunity to bring a friend to meet Jesus. We will have the Morning Praise service with popular songs, easy to sing hymns and sermon crafted with new friends in mind.
This position will serve primarily as the administrative assistant for the church, and requires strong communication and customer service skills. The position will also serve as communications director for the church, school and Early Learning Center, coordinating website communication, social media communication, newsletter communication and marketing communication. The position requires strong organizational skills, an orientation to detail, a working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs, with advanced knowledge in Microsoft Word. Database experience a plus. Experience with blogging, managing facebook and website content is highly desired. The position is part-time, 28 hours per week. For information or to apply, contact Pastor Mark Bartels atmbartels@holycrossmadison.org
Lent is a unique season in the Church Year. It is the time we prepare our hearts for the greatest celebration of all: Easter and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Prior to his rising, Jesus had to suffer and die to pay the price for our sins. During Lent we focus on that suffering and death with a tone of somber reflection and repentance.
To aid in this reflection, there will be special services. The first special service will be held on Ash Wednesday, February 18 at 6:30 p.m. Ashes were used in the Bible as a sign of sadness over sin and cleansing from sin. We will again have the opportunity for the imposition of ashes for those who wish. A meal will precede the service, beginning at 5:30 p.m. All other Lenten services will be held on Thursdays (February 26, March 5, 12, 19,26), at our regular worship time of 6:30 p.m. A meal will precede at 5:30 p.m. The main focus of these services is to hear again the details of the suffering and death of our Savior. Those portions from the Bible will be read at each service.
All of these services will be different from our Sunday services. Communion will be offered to members following the services on March 5, 12, 19 and 26.
The theme for the sermons is the ironic sayings of Jesus' enemies. These sayings are ironic because they were spoken to insult Jesus or discredit him, but at the same time, they contain a great truth. Pastor Phil Moldenhauer from Our Redeemer in Madison and Pastor Bauer from Good News in Mt. Horeb will rotate preaching with Vicar Pelischek and Pastor Strutz for these special services.
Here is the schedule and themes:
February 26: Pastor Strutz, "The whole world has gone after him!"
March 5: Pastor Moldenhauer, "You are a king, then!"
March 12: Pastor Strutz, "His blood be on us and on our children!"
March 19: Vicar Pelischek, "It is better that one man die than that the whole nation perish."
March 26: Pastor Bauer, "His disciples will tell the people he has been raised from the dead."
Maundy Thursday Worship will be held with communion on Thursday, April 2 at 6:30 p.m.
Good Friday worship will be April 3 at 6:30 p.m. (no communion).
*Easter Sunday is April 5th*
Sunrise Service at 7:00 a.m.
Easter breakfast between the services
Easter Festival Service at 9:00 a.m.
These two services will be different. You can come and enjoy both!
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-15
To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Mark 12:33
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9
“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” 1 John 4:12
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” 1 John 4:16
We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
...more
I just wanted to give you a heads up that the Resurrection/Our Redeemer annual ski outing will take place on Friday, February 20th, from 7-11pm at Tyrol Basin, a short 20 minute drive west of Madison. We will have a reserved campfire area and cook hot dogs over the fire, enjoy hot chocolate and, of course, plenty of good skiing & snowboarding. Cost is $12 for lift ticket and $8 for rentals, if needed. Free helmets and free beginner lessons are also available. There is a sign-up sheet for those interested on the bulletin board at church. If you have any questions, please let me know.
"If one part [of the body] suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:26-27)"
Today, some of our fellow members of God's church are suffering. Just a few months ago, the country of Malawi was suffering a severe drought, and the government was having difficulty in providing water to people. Last week, Malawi went from one extreme to another. Days of heavy rains resulted in widespread and severe flooding throughout the African nation, destroying homes, crops, and lives. Many congregations and perhaps thousands of members of the Lutheran Church of Central Africa-Malawi, our sister synod live in the devastated areas and have been severely affected by the floods.
We are not yet aware of the full extent of the damage...
We have many different denominations of Kwik Trip cards on hand for all your travel needs. Plus, if you make a purchase inside a Kwik Trip store, we get an additional 10% back for our youth group. The money is used to send teens to the youth rally. The youth group has also used profits to purchase food for the Verona Area Needs Network food pantry. Please see Denise Reimer (608) 225-0902 or Katrina Meinel (920) 382-6696 for Kwik Trip cards.
If anyone from RLC Monroe is interested in purchasing cards, please e-mail Denise at reimer1@charter.net. The youth group thanks you in advance for your support! ...more
Found on our website, from here you can view the video of last weeks sermon. Scroll down to download PDF`s of the text of the current and previous sermons... ...more
Start each week day with a short Bible reading, devotion, and prayer.
Monday through Friday a devotion is provided by WELS and
WhatAboutJesus.com. Missed your daily devotion? Browse the archive, which has several
months` worth of devotions to uplift and encourage you with the Word. ...more
“May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us” (1 Kings 8:57).
Forward in Christ is the official magazine of the Wisconsin
Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Printed monthly, this magazine addresses
important issues facing Christians today.
EDITORIAL OFFICE Forward in Christ magazine N16W23377 Stone Ridge Dr Waukesha, WI 53188
On Monday, November 17th,
I was blessed to receive a divine call from Good Shepherd Early
Childhood Center in Sioux Falls, SD. This call is to be a co-director
of the center, which is flourishing with 122 children ranging from
birth to age 5, work closely with the 35+ staff members, and most
importantly, spread the Word of God to the children every day. This
call, if accepted, will begin shortly after the school year ends here
at Resurrection Lutheran Preschool.
Our synod has such a
unique and rare way of finding people to fill positions within God’s
churches and schools. Instead of called workers searching and seeking
for jobs, the Holy Spirit leads council members of different churches
to choose who would be the best fit for a certain position at their
church or school. It is unexpected and yet rewarding at the same
time.
I am
overjoyed, nervous, anxious, shocked, and everything else in between
about this call. Please keep me in your daily prayers as I process
everything and decide where to best serve our Lord. I gladly welcome
any thoughts, comments, or questions you may have. No matter the
decision, God will certainly bless our mission here at RLP and also
the mission at Good Shepherd Early Childhood Center.
Commitment Packets- The church council is in the process of finalizing our 2015 budget. To ensure we are working with the most accurate commitments, we ask you to prayerfully consider returning your commitment packets by December 15th. They may be placed in the offering basket or in the basket in the narthex. If you need another copy of your commitment packet, please contact Sue Dilgard atsdilgard@rlcverona.comor608-848-4965.
Sherry and I want to
thank all the members of Resurrection Lutheran Church for their prayers,
concerns and support for our daughter Sarah over the past six months.
You have all blessed us and lifted our spirits during this difficult
time. We believed that God has a plan and at times it has been difficult
for us to see that plan clearly. Sarah herself put it all in perspective when she emailed us this message after her last radiation treatment:
"Let
your hearts be lifted and your worries set free. Radiation is complete,
God is good and my path ahead is manageable with him at my side and
with all the love and support we're blessed with each day. This is all
part of God's plan and as much as it has been difficult at times, it is
where I'm meant to be and what I'm meant to endure. And why, because I
can! He's given me the strength and love and support to do just that. I
am truly, truly blessed and from this all, only wonderful and beautiful
things will come! They already have!".
Once again we thank you all for that same love and support. We are truly blessed.
Please join us for our
third annual caroling event on Dec. 5th, at 4:45 pm. We'll meet at the
corner of Paoli Rd and Main St in Verona. We’ll start just before 5
p.m., have the tree lighting, and then move over to the chili supper at
the Senior Center around 5:20. We carol indoors for a bit then eat
together. This is a fun event for Vine & Branches groups to do
together. All ages and musical talents welcome. ...more
We would like to express our greatest gratitude to you for generously providing us with funding to be able to attend the International Youth Rally this past summer. It was an amazing experience to see and worship with youth of our same faith. There were lots of fun workshops, activities, and speeches. It helped us grow closer together as a church family and grow closer to Christ in faith. We thank you once again for generously giving us this wonderful opportunity to worship and have fun with other Christians.
We will be helping to provide Thanksgiving Suppers to needy people in our community. It’s very easy to do:
*Below is a list of the items needed to purchase everything for a great supper
*These need to be here by next Sunday morning Nov.16thand you can leave the items in a bag in Sue’s office along with $15 cash or a check in an envelope to pay for a turkey for the families to enjoy. Please make checks out to RLC.
*The Verona Food Pantry will be picking up our bags on Sunday Nov. 16th.
*Bags cannot be accepted here at RLC after Sunday morning. If you miss this time you may drop your bag off at the Verona Food Pantry.
Thanksgiving Suppers
The following items will be needed for the Thanksgiving meals
Stuffing mix
2 cans of gravy
1 can of corn
2 cans of sweet potatoes
1 6oz. box of Jell-O (any flavor)
2 cans of fruit cocktail
1 bag of rice (not Minute Rice)
1 boxed dessert mix or pie crust mix, canned pumpkin pie mix, and a 5 1/3 oz. can of evaporated milk
Every Sunday after service we have a wonderful opportunity to socialize, network, greet our guests and catch up on what has been going on with fellow members. I just wanted to take a second to say thank you to the people who work so hard to make this little social such a great time to relax and share. It is one of the many things that makes our church so special.
Want to share a thought, photo, or idea. Let us know.... ...more
Join
us today for the Congregational Open Forum where you will be updated on
our outreach efforts at Good News in Mt. Horeb, outreach efforts
through Prek. God continues to bless us with new people walking through
our doors to hear about Jesus. Come and hear about these great
blessings. We will also hear the exciting things God is doing through
Vine and Branches as we grow closer to Jesus and grow closer to one
another. ...more
October 2 and 5 we will be celebrating six months to Easter. This is an annual tradition now at Resurrection to remind ourselves of the great joy of the greatest event ever: Jesus' resurrection from the dead.
The church will be decorated for Easter. Easter hymns will be sung.
Maybe you would consider doing two things:
1. Wearing Easter or spring attire (then Pastor won't be the only guy with a pink or pastel shirt on.)
2. Invite a friend to come with you and celebrate this special occasion.
Thanks for taking note and helping make this a special Easter service.
October 2 and 5 we will be celebrating six months to Easter. This is an annual tradition now at Resurrection to remind ourselves of the great joy of the greatest event ever: Jesus' resurrection from the dead.
The church will be decorated for Easter. Easter hymns will be sung.
Maybe you would consider doing two things:
1. Wearing Easter or spring attire (then Pastor won't be the only guy with a pink or pastel shirt on.)
2. Invite a friend to come with you and celebrate this special occasion.
Thanks for taking note and helping make this a special Easter service.
Ruth Pudlo is organizing a trip to the Fireside Theater for the upcoming Le Miserable show. These are the details:
Date October 18thSaturday.
Place Fireside Theater
Arrive at 4:45 p.m.
Dine at 5:15 pm.
Show is at 7:30
Cost with tax is $79.07 per person (tickets for the show and dinner)
See the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the hallway at RLC andyou will need to sign up no later than Oct 5th, Sunday. Please make your checks out to Ruth Pudlo. If you would like a copy of the menu or have any questions please email her at:: Pudlorut[at]frontier.com
Do you have a passion to save the lives of the unborn? It isNOTa hopeless cause. What can we do against such societal pressure toabort? Show love, share truth, and save one life at a time.WELS Lutherans for Life (WLFL)is working to save one child at a time, by sharing the honest truth about God's gift of life and providing loving support for each person who comes to their center. You also can take part in this life-saving work by showing support for this ministry. TheEvening for Life is a support banquet where you get to learn more about the ministry of WLFL while enjoying food, friends, and entertainment.
We have reserved a table for members of RLC who wish to attend.You are welcome to attend at no cost. You can register at www.eveningforlife.org and simply select the table reserved under Philip Meinel (table host). We are also planning to take a vehicle that seats 6 other people, so if you want a ride, we would enjoy your company along the way as well! We plan to leave at4:30 pmand be back around10:30pm. Please contact Philip or Katrina Meinel if you have any questions about Evening for Life or the WLFL ministry. Hope you can join us! Philip's cell is920-728-1406and Katrina's email ispkand4@gmail.com.
Ken Notes: How appropriate the 10th is my birthday.
It has been suggested by several members that we publish a "professional directory" of our members. This would be a simple inclusion of your profession in our church directory. This would allow members to utilize the gifts and abilities of fellow members when seeking certain services. This would also enable members to network regarding similar professions. Plus, it is nice to work with fellow members and support brothers and sisters in Christ.
We also realize that not everyone may be comfortable (or even able) to share what they do for a living. So we are asking you, if you are willing, to reply to this email with what you do for a job and we will include this in our next published directory. The term professional directory is used to include all lines of work. You never know what someone may be looking for. ...more
WELS Lutherans for Life invites you to Evening For Life
Friday, October 10, 2014 5:30 - 9:00 pm
Country Springs Hotel & Conference Center 2810 Golf Road Pewaukee, WI
Join us for an evening of life, laughter & Friday fish fry!
Be a part of the work of WELS Lutherans for Life: saving the life of a child… transforming the family from at-risk to thriving … and doing it again tomorrow!
Same great comic... brand new show!
Guest Speaker Mike Williams will inspire you with his compelling life story & great sense of humor. You'll laugh, you'll cry. You'll have a great evening!
A couple weeks ago we had information in the service bulletin and RLC Notes about needing a couple Sunday School teachers and noticed it was out of last weeks Notes and service bulletin.
As we are still in need of teachers, could that get back into each of these communications?
Ned Ken Notes: Ned is working hard for us so if their are any potential Sunday School Teachers or Substitutes out there, give hm a call. ...more
I hope you will have a chance to check out the LWMS.org website. There is a lot of interesting information on the website. One particular item I have been wanting to pass along to everyone is the “Blogs” section on the bottom of the purple right side menu. The July entry is from our “Befriend a Mission,” Pastor Caleb Free from Abiding Word in Dothan, Alabama. (note: Caleb was our vicar here at RLC)
Our Fall Rally will be October 11th at St. Andrew’s. Middleton. Our speaker will be Pastor Duncan. The presentation is “Moving Mountains – Overcoming Impossible Odds.” He will be telling us about WELS Outreach in Nepal and Pakistan.
I will be getting information to you in a few weeks regarding the Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel Dinner on October 27th.
Dorothy Endres Capitol Circuit Vice President ...more
Do you know a "Friend of Our Church" maybe not a member, but occasionally attends? Someone you have talked to about the church? A family that likes good food and great company? A colleague who has asked about our church? A WELS member from another congregation that has RLC connections!
ACT NOW and we will waive the $ 295.00 subscription fee and send it to them every week for FREE.
BUT WAIT THERE IS MORE -- as a special added bonus they can attend Octoberfest, the Health Fair, Our Picnic, Advent by Candlelight, Easter Breakfast, or one of the other events at RLC.
If this is too much work, how about this -- just click the little share link right here and then click the Facebook icon and I will stay up all night and personally share this note with all your Facebook friends. If it goes viral we can advertise and make millions of dollars. OK probably not but look you have to watch all the kitty videos, Shouldn't you let your friends know what you do on Sunday.... ...more
Sunday, September 21, is “National Back to Church Sunday,” which makes it an excellent opportunity to get the word out about Good News. On Saturday, September 6, we will blanket the town to invitations to our fall worship series entitled “Have you heard the Good News?” This is a “no knocking, no talking” canvass—simply leaving invitations at people’s doorsteps. We’ll meet at church at 9:00 a.m. for a light breakfast and directions. You can plan to be finished by 12:00 noon.
Good News Lutheran Church is our daughter congregation in Mt. Horeb. Good News is located at 1217 Business 18/151. For questions or to volunteer, contact Pastor Strutz or Pastor Bauer of Good News at jonpbauer@gmail.com608.772.7500
As you are aware, a special offering fund was created for the support of the Tomhave children's education. God has significantly blessed that effort. Last week, I was please to write a check to Luther Preparatory School for $2,000 to support the schooling of Henry and Grace for their 2014/2015 school year. Below is the thank you that was received from Henry and Grace.
If you missed this opportunity, I have good news: this is an ongoing fund. Any contributions received this year will be put into the fund to be presented as a subsidy for the next school year.
To God be the glory,
Rick Hermanson
Dear members of resurrection,
Thank you so much for helping my sister and I as we continue our ministerial education. I'm going into my senior year and I'm seriously considering going into the pastoral ministry and continuing next year at MLC. Grace is going to be a sophomore and is planning on being a teacher. We have very fond memories of growing up at Resurrection. I can't believe it's already been four years since we moved! God has blessed us all so richly through the generous gifts that you have given to our family and church. God has been good to us in the kingdom work down here at Hope! We are excited to hear how greatly the Lord is continuing to bless your church work up there too!
Andrew and Gale Hellpap were
blessed with the gift of a daughter. Trinity Hope was born Friday,
August 15 and received the gift of baptism that same day. An affirmation
of baptism is being planned for later. Here is the family contact info.
229 E. Pearl St. Belleville. Ghellpap [at] gmail.com. 608.515.4896.
Ken Notes: A special thanks to those who prayed for the Hellpap's. Please email me or the pastor any prayer requests, or other items for RLCNotes. This is YOUR newsletter!!! ...more
The church council met on
Tuesday, August 19. The meeting was held at Our Redeemer in Madison and
consisted of representative of Resurrection, Our Redeemer and Good News
in Mt. Horeb. The meeting discussed our very positive relationship and
opportunities to work together, especially in promoting the school at
Our Redeemer, where nine children from Resurrection attend. Our two
joint services for Epiphany (held at Our Redeemer on January 6) and
Ascension (held on Ascension Day at Resurrection) were also commended.
The councils will continue meeting together once a year to hear updates
and thank God for the work we are doing together.
Resurrection's
council also met individually and largely discussed the PreK staffing
situation. With adding a three year old class, there is the need for an
additional staff member. Many options have been pursued and many
contacts made. It seems certain that those search efforts have been
blessed to hire Julie Wegner from Our Redeemer to be the 4K aide and
have Elizabeth Strutz be the 3k teacher. Katie Mikula will continue as
the teacher/director of 4K. It was noted that with a growing program,
there is a need for more support for our PreK staff. ...more
Our church picnic is being held after the outdoors worship service on Sunday. We will have an outside service under a tent, bouncy house for the kids, bean-bag tournament, bingo, and of course, great food. Please plan to join us for an awesome time for all and please bring your lawn chairs to sit on. If youre interested in helping out with the picnic, please contact Ned Reimer at 608.712.8635 or Carrie Henderson at 608.862.3253.
Ned has been busy making sure the picnic is something special. Mark you calendars - Bring a friend - oh and bring a chair because the service is outdoors! Great food - great people - games - music.... perfect! ...more
This Saturday August 16th at RLC - Health & Safety Fair along with Red Cross Blood Drive!
RLC is hosting a Health & Safety Fair along with a Red Cross blood drive this Saturday from 9:00am - 1:00pm. Emergency vehicles will be displayed at various times throughout the event including a Medflight helicopter. Compression-only CPR, blood pressure checks, car seat checks and many other health and safety areas will be covered. Face painting and other children's activities will be available. Please join us for this community outreach event and spread the word to family and friends! Please call Denise Reimer with any questions/suggestions. If you can help, please consider donating cookies as a snack for the event.
Gale Hellpap's labor will be induced tomorrow (Friday). Pastor Strutz has requested prayers for the delivery and family. A baptism at the hospital is planned for Friday. ...more
Beginning Sept. 1st our resurrection@tds.net
email address with no longer be available to use to contact the staff
or the congregation of RLC. Please change your email files and use the
following email address to contact the RLC staff in the future:
THIS FRIDAY - FAREWELL BONFIRE FOR VICAR HAAG ON JULY 25TH
There
will be a farewell bonfire for Vicar Haag on Friday, July 25th at 7pm
at church. Join us for one last hurrah with Vicar and express our
gratitude to his year of service with us. Snacks and beverages will be
served, but please bring you own lawn chair. ...more
We will be updating the photos in the Resurrection directory in the next month. You may keep your photos the same, send me updated photos if you would like or I’d be happy to take your photo on Sunday mornings until the last Sunday in July. I have a list of photos that I need for new members in the last year… and I’ll be tracking you down on Sundays ;) If you have any questions please let me know.
RLCNotes is actually your newsletter, as a member of our congregation you can add your thoughts, links, ideas, prayer requests, and events. Just email them to Ken@kenharwood.com and/or to Sue Dilgard sdilgard@rlcverona.com by Tuesday PM. Include RLCNotes in the subject line and I will search for your content when I put RLCNotes together.
Sue just forward me anything that is not "bulletin worthy"...
Please note RLCNotes and RLCNotes.com are public documents and may be viewed by anyone. So request should be general and personal matters should be directed to the pastor.
This message is an update to the
February, 2014 letter regarding the RLC financial situation, and to
discussions on this topic at the April 27 RLC congregational forum
and voters meeting. The February letter highlighted the goals RLC
has undertaken, along with the corresponding financial challenges.
While 2014 has been a challenging year so far, we must not lose sight
of God’s continued blessings on our efforts, including:
We have the privilege to be part
of the WELs vicar program, helping train pastors who are now
reaching more people with the good news of Jesus (and who share the
RLC mission while here). The Lord has blessed us by enabling us to
be part of this program for another year starting this July.
We have commissioned nearly 40
members to Good News Lutheran Church in Mt. Horeb. Good News has
35-40 people in worship each week and new guests continue to come.
Pastor Jonathan Bauer has accepted the call to serve at Good News,
and will begin serving in July. This will allow Pastor Strutz and
our vicars to re-focus on work in Verona.
On an almost weekly basis, we have
new people attending RLC worship services. The fields are ripe for
harvest!
While the commissioning of members
to Good News has temporarily reduced attendance at RLC, our
attendance still is higher today than it was four years ago. If one
counts our combined attendance with Good News, total attendance is
30% higher than four years ago. What a blessing!
The charts included with this message
detail the RLC financial situation for calendar year 2014. The
charts show offerings compared to budget for 2014, both month by
month and year to date through April, 2014. While offerings remained
at 2013 levels for the first quarter of 2014 (resulting in a growing
budget deficit), RLC members were moved by the Holy Spirit to
increase support for the RLC efforts to carry out Jesus’ great
commission, and offerings exceeded our approved budget for the month
of April. We are thankful for the RLC members’ offerings of time,
talents, and treasures, and pray that this will continue! As the
Lord reminds us:
“Let us not
become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a
harvest if we do not give up”. (Galations 6:9)
Please continue to watch the RLC
website for updated financial charts and information provided by our
Treasurer Rick Hermanson as we move through the calendar year.
I pulled some Highlights! Click the title to download the whole thing...
Easter for Kids!
We were so blessed this year to have the largest group ever attend our Easter for Kids event! We had 37 children attend, and a few families came to RLC for the first time. Everyone enjoyed crafts, snacks, an Easter egg hunt, along with hearing about Jesus' victory on Easter. Thank you again to all those that helped make the day a huge success! Ken Notes: study the picture in the newsletter is is the funniest thing I have seen all week!
April 27th - Confirmation of Kaven Alec Dumas
His chosen verse: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
April 27th - Baptism of Hudson Ryan Stitley with parents Corey and Michelle
RLC PreK News - by: Director Katie Mikula
May is here and so is the warmth. After being cooped up for what seemed like an eternity, we’re extremely thankful for these beautiful, warm and sunny days and for the time to enjoy them. It took a while, but hopefully the warmer weather will stay a little longer this year?.
The children here at RLP have been busy learning about spring things, from plants to insects to baby animals. During the month of May, the children will be learning about birds, shapes, outer space, and the zoo. Matching games, charts, making our own rocket launcher, making paper bird houses and talking about our favorite zoo animals are just some of the activities we’ll be doing this month. Our garden is also getting ready to be planted, and the children will be helping out and getting their hands dirty. Thanks again to Ken and Carrie Henderson for their help! We always enjoy getting to spend time with “Farmer Ken” as the kids like to call him ?.
Asha Gilmore, our student teacher, is finishing up her last few weeks with us here. She has been a wonderful blessing and addition to our staff and classroom and we will miss her! Best wishes to Asha as she continues on with her Early Childhood education!
Registration is off to a good start for the 2014-2015 school year. We have only 2 spots left for our 3 year old program, so if you or someone you know is looking for a preschool, contact our director right away! Four children are already enrolled for our afternoon wrap around program, and we’d love to enroll more! Times for wrap around are 11:00am-3pm. Wrap around includes lunch, short rest time, Bible story, and extra learning opportunities. There still is space available for our 4K program, so if you live in the Verona area and have not registered yet, please do!
Our next Education Support Committee meeting is planned for Monday, May 12th at 6:30pm. The ESC is currently looking to get a committee together for the Hometown Days Parade on June 15th. This committee would be in charge of putting a float together, getting the float to the line-up site the day of, and finding people to help hand out items. Please speak with Katie if interested or have questions. RLP is also in need of a 3 year old teacher for the 2014-2015 school year. A job description is available on the PreK bulletin board or can be emailed to you. Again, please speak with Katie if interested.
One more note: our playground should be arriving soon and will need to be assembled by us! We’re looking at putting it together the 2nd weekend in May, but there’s a possibility we may need to put it together during the week. Please speak with Brian Kreutz if you are able to help either during the week or on that 2nd weekend. Thank you!
Save The Date...New Stain Glass Window!
Sunday, May 11 we will be dedicating the new stain glass window above the pulpit in church. Please make plans to attend. The dedication will take place during the 9:00 a.m. worship service. The Scripture readings, hymns and sermon will focus on the portion of the Scripture the window portrays, Jesus preaching from a boat.
In an effort to reduce paper consumption and continue our effort to
reduce costs, RLC will not be renewing paper subscriptions to Forward in
Christ magazine. We have free copies available in the narthex and if
you would like free electronic version of Forward in Christ please visit
www.wels.net/news-events/forward-in-christ
If
you would like to renew your subscription and receive a hard copy of
Forward in Christ at your home, please visit the link above and click on
"Subscribe to FIC" or contact Ned Reimer for further assistance ...more
Speak to Ruth Pudlo our LWMS representative for more information and the details about going on the 26th.
LWMS Capital Circuit Spring Rally
Saturday, April 26, 2014
St. Paul Lutheran Church 204 Deerfield Road Marshall, WI
Truth In Love Ministry
We exist to bring as many as possible to heaven. Truth in Love Ministry proclaims God’s wrath and grace with love and respect to Mormons and equips Christians to do the same. Truth in Love Ministry (TILM) is a parachurch organization affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS).
Speakers: Jacob Beilke and Ms. Bert Bieber Outreach to Mormons
Morning Agenda
8:30 Registration 9:00 Welcome and Opening Devotion 9:20 Mission, BAM & CAMM Reports 10.10 LWMS Jeopardy Game & Stretch Break 10:30 Business Meeting 11:05 Lunch 11:45 Speakers: Jacob Beilke & Bert Bieber 1:00 Closing Devotion
Katie was born in October of 1988 in Racine, WI. While growing up in Racine, she attended Trinity Lutheran School for grade school then went off to Shoreland Lutheran High School in Somers, WI. While her dad, Jim, lived (and still lives) in Racine, her mom moved around quite a bit. Katie’s family lived in Milwaukee for a short time, then Franklin, then Oak Creek, and now her mother, Pam, and step-father, Phil, reside in Racine. Katie has one older sister, Amanda, who just celebrated her 27th birthday. She lives in Cudahy and works as a manager at Sam’s Club.
After high school, Katie attended Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN. The summer before freshman year of college, Katie almost decided to withdraw from MLC and go to a university in WI for interior designing. But, after talking to her family and friends, she decided at the last minute to give MLC a try. Four years later, Katie graduated from MLC with a Bachelor’s of Science in Early Childhood Education. It was right after graduation that she received and accepted the call to be the Preschool Director and teacher here at Resurrection.
Katie and her cat, Rico Suave, call Verona home after moving here from Madison. This month will mark her 1 year anniversary of being a home owner which she’s very excited about! In her free time she enjoys doing Zumba at the local schools, hula-hooping (yes, hula-hooping), shopping, spending time with friends and family, playing sand volleyball at Ten Pin, photography, going up north with her family, and cheering on the Packers, Badgers, and Brewers! Speaking of the Packers, while at Lambeau for a game, Katie, her dad, and her sister ran into James Jone’s mom and got a picture with her! Unfortunately, they did not get an autograph from James Jones. Maybe next time.
Ken Notes: Of course those of us over 50 will have to explain the "Our Miss Brooks" reference to all of those under 50... ...more
For
almost two years, Carl and Ruth have shared their love with two dogs.
Ruth spends most of her time dealing with the chocolate lab, shooing
him out of the kitchen, cleaning up after his ventures into the garbage
can, finding clever ways to keep him from opening the refrigerator on
his own.
Ten feet away, Carl is usually fending off the white dog's
attempt to come cuddle on the couch with him. "No, Fred, go lay down,
this is Ruth's seat." The last step is threatening to vacuum, since the
white dog is terrified of the vacuum and hides at hearing the word.
Ten minutes later, the white dog will be back to watch Carl's favorite
show, Duck Dynasty, and sit at Carl's feet, jealous that Ruth is already
sitting next to Carl with a glass of her favorite boxed wine.
Editors Note: If you are not friends with Ruth on Facebook you need to be, her tails of the bad dog and photos of smiling Fred will brighten you day.Thanks Alex!
Steve is a fun, laid back guy who is hard to
miss at RLC. He and his family have been at RLC since the beginning
and helped to establish the congregation. Steve has grown up in
Belleville and graduated from Belleville High School in 2006. For
college, he attended UW Platteville to get a degree in manufacturing
technology, with a minor in metals processing. Now he is very busy
as the machine shop manager at his family’s business, Cate Machine
and Welding, a mainstay in Belleville.
When Steve does have some time off, he loves
being around people and spending time with his friends. An
outdoorsman who loves an active life, he especially likes fishing and
hunting, regularly going up north with friends and family. He also
likes biking, jogging, and working out. He just started winemaking
with his brother at their home, even welding together some of the
equipment themselves! He is finishing up two years as outreach
chair and loves talking to his friends about RLC.
Ken Notes: A pretty cool family all around. Steve also works hard as Outreach Chair on the Council as well. ...more
The church council held its regular meeting on February 18, 2014. Here are some highlights.
Jared and Melissa Burke and son Ryan, along with Paul and Krista Murphy
and their children, Mitchell, Tyler and Brooklyn were granted transfer
to Good News Lutheran Church in Mt. Horeb. We wish them God's blessings
in continuing our outreach work there.
Richard and Kay Homan were welcomed into membership by transfer from Our Savior's in Madison, an ELS congregation.
Randy and Sonya Huebner, and their children Ben and Rachel were welcomed by transfer from Our Redeemer in Madison.
Alex Pudlo was welcomed by transfer from Zion in Van Dyne.
Formal welcomes during worship are still being planned for these new members. Thank God and welcome our new members!
The
council discussed the Big, Audacious Goals for 2014. Tops on the list
were utilizing our facility more for outreach activities, maximizing the
prek enrollment (22 students in 4K and 10 in 3K) and fully funding the
congregational ministry plan. Information encouraging every member to
take ownership of our mission will be sent.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact me or any of our councilmen.
Tom
Schloesser, Chairman Ken Harwood, Secretary Rick Hermanson,
Treasurer Steve Cate, Outreach Ned Reimer, Inreach Ken Henderson,
Building and Grounds ...more
Ryan and
Melissa are a super fun couple who became members here at RLC in
2012.
Ryan and
Melissa both attended Northland Lutheran High School in Mosinee,
Wisconsin. It was there that they met and soon fell in love. After
high school, Ryan went to Milwaukee School of Engineering and Melissa
went to Wisconsin Lutheran College. Ryan now has a bachelors
degree in architectural engineering and Melissa now has a bachelors
degree in early childhood education. During college, in 2009, Ryan
and Melissa got married. Soon after graduation, Ryan and Melissa
moved to Green Bay, WI for Ryans job. In 2012, Ryan took a job as
a piping engineer at Affiliated Engineers here in Madison. While
living in Green Bay, Melissa taught at St. Marcus school in
Milwaukee, WI and would make the long commute every single day. Shes
now an independent sales director for Mary Kay.
In their free
time, Ryan likes to work out and prepare for strongman competitions.
Hes a strong guy! At his last competition, Ryan flipped an 865lb
tire ten times! Melissa enjoys visiting her family, especially her
sister who recently got married and lives in Milwaukee (whos also
a WELS teacher), cheering Ryan on at his competitions, and working
hard to one day earn her pink Cadillac through Mary Kay!
Ken Notes: I hope you enjoy reading these, I know I am sure learning a lot about our fellow members. I now know Ryan and Melissa as more than the couple with the cool yellow glasses. Want to profile a friend or family let me know. Kattie is starting to avoid me because I keep giving her work to do!...more
My
oh my how time flies! It’s already March! Hopefully spring is right
around the corner!
RLP
hosted an open house on February 5th and we had a wonderful turnout.
Over thirteen families came with interest in both our 3 year old
class and 4 year old class. Seven three year olds are already
registered for our 2014-2015 school year, and I’m still receiving
calls and emails from interested parents. If we get enough children,
a Wednesday/Friday class for our 3’s may be started as well. God is
good! Placement for VASD 4 year old
preschool
will begin in April. We have 3 children currently enrolled for our
wrap around program and are hoping to enroll more. Wrap around time
runs from 11:01am (right after 4K) and will go until 3pm and includes
lunch, rest time, Bible story time, and activities.
This
month our classroom themes are: Dr. Seuss, Trains, and Weather. We’ll
celebrate Dr. Seuss 110th birthday by reading some of our favorite
Dr. Seuss books and focusing on rhyming words. For the past few
weeks, the kids have been making trains in the classroom using our
little chairs, so I thought it would be fun extending this interest
into a whole week of learning about trains. With spring coming soon,
the kids will enjoy learning about the weather and what to look for
and expect in spring! Spring break is March 17-21st. I hope everyone
enjoys their nice, long break! Parent/teacher conferences will be set
up this month as well. At this parent/teacher conference, the
children will be presenting their portfolios to their parents. The
portfolio contains samples of each child’s work and is a way to
celebrate each child’s accomplishments throughout the year. I’m
excited for parents to see how much their child has grown! Our Bible
stories for this month are “12 year old Jesus”, “The Baptism of
Jesus” and “The Temptation of Jesus.”
A
wish list is being made and should be up on the preschool bulletin
board by the middle of March. This wish list is for items needed in
the 3 year old classroom. Both money donations and actual item
donations are more than welcome and will be much appreciated! Thank
you in advance for your generosity!
Our
big playground set will be going up in about a month! Our goal is to
have it up by April so our current PreK class can enjoy it for a few
months before summer. Volunteers are needed to help put the
playground together. If you are interested in helping, please speak
to Katie. A date has not been set yet because we need to wait for the
snow to melt and the ground to unthaw, but a weekend date will be set
ASAP.
The
Education Support Committee will be meeting March 10th at 6:30pm. At
this meeting, we will need to put together a job description for lead
teacher in our 3 year old program. Our previous teacher has taken a
fulltime office administrator job and will no longer be able to
teach. We’re so thankful for the work she has done here at RLP and
wish her nothing but the best at her new job! Notice of the job
opening will be posted at Our Redeemer, RLC, and Good News. The ESC
will also start planning another parent involvement session for our
fami-lies here.
As
you can see, we have so much to be thankful for here at RLP! God
continues to bless our efforts, our congregation, and our school.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Caleb
Free serves as a pastor at Abiding Word Lutheran Church in Dothan,
Alabama.
Free writes about the importance of community involvement when
starting a new church.
When
my wife Kristin and I first arrived in Dothan Alabama, we did not
know what to expect. We knew there was a small core group of WELS
people, but outside of them, we knew no one. So we quickly realized
we were going to have get involved in the community.
The
first month we started by just figuring out our surroundings: grocery
stores, restaurants, doctor offices, etc…After settling in, we
looked for ways to meet new people. I started canvassing the
neighborhoods around our apartment, letting people know of a new
church starting. I met a lot of good prospects, and even spent some
Saturdays watching college football in their garage!
But
we knew it would take more than just canvassing to meet new people
and prospects, so we looked for other ways to get involved in Dothan.
Kristin and I love sports and found out about a volleyball league
that runs during the fall. We joined the league and had a great time
getting to know many new and longtime citizens of Dothan. I also got
hooked up with a group of guys that play basketball 3 mornings a
week. Little did I know at the time, this basketball group had some
prominent people of Dothan in it. This group included the ex-Mayor,
the President of the Chamber of Commerce, the Dean of the local
Community College, the Pastor of the big Baptist Church, a spinal
surgeon, some lawyers, financial advisors, etc…all people who I now
see 3 times a week and who like to ask questions about the new church
in Dothan.
But
maybe the best group we have been involved with happened by accident.
Kristin went into the Chamber of Commerce one day, just looking for
some information on the city of Dothan. As she was there, she got
talking to one of the Chamber Board members. At the end of their
conversation, he invited the two of us to come to a weekly Wednesday
night gathering at a local bar/restaurant. We were a little hesitant
at the time, but went, and we are glad we did. We have been able to
spend about 3 months with this group, every Wednesday night, just
socializing and meeting some of the big shakers and movers of Dothan.
In this group: the current Mayor, the President of the Rotary Club,
the President of the Downtown Group, the Head of the Museum, the
President of a big bank, the head of the Dothan Arts Group, Chamber
Board members, a County Commissioner, etc… And just like the
basketball group, these are all people who now know of our new church
and love to ask us questions about starting a church.
Besides
these major groups, Kristin and I have found other ways to meet new
people. Kristin volunteers as a tutor at the elementary school we
worship in. She also participates in a program called “Reach Out
And Read” where she volunteers and reads to children at the local
pediatric clinic. We have both joined a group called “Dothan Area
Young Professionals”. This is a group of people under 40 who want
to be involved in Dothan. I have also joined the Chamber of Commerce
as well as the Rotary Club with the intent of getting connected to
new people in Dothan.
The
opportunities to be involved in the community are out there. It’s
just the part of taking that first step which is the hardest. Kristin
and I are both thankful for the opportunities we have been given so
far to meet new people, and we continually pray that God gives us
opportunities to tell all of them about the love of Jesus.
Jacki Adams was born on
December 7th and
grew up in Lake Orion, Michigan. While there, she attended Michigan
Lutheran Seminary in Saginaw, Michigan. After high school, Jacki
attended and graduated from Martin Luther College with a bachelor’s
degree in Elementary Education.
During high school and college, Jacki
was very active in the school’s drama productions. Also, during the
summer of 2011, Jacki had the wonderful opportunity to study abroad
in London.
In
her spare time, Jacki enjoys visiting her parents, Craig and Jan, in
Florida where they now reside. She currently works at Epic as an
Optime and Anesthesia trainer.
She also enjoys going to drama
productions put on by Verona High School and also productions at the
Overture center. She also enjoys reading books, watching old FRIENDS
episodes, and cheering on her favorite team, Michigan State.
You’ll
also see her on Sundays teaching our older Sunday School kids. Jacki
now resides in Madison, in a condo she recently purchased and
renovated last summer. Most of the renovations were done by herself
and her dad! Jacki, at this moment, is embarking on a wonderful
adventure to Ireland with her mom!
Editor Notes: Thanks Kattie M. for writing this! We all need to talk to Jacki her about the Michigan State thing, because other that that she is pretty cool.
My goal is to have a person or family of the week every week with the goal that we never catch up! Want to write one, mention it to Pastor or Ken Harwood on Sunday...
From Pot Lucks to Bible Studies with links to other resources you may find helpful, RLCNotes is designed to provide a quick glance at our faith in action. Read, Share, Discuss and most importantly come worship with us.
I like to make this as a topping for hamburgers or brats but when I made a small amount for our Vine and Branches group it was gone before the meat was even off the grill...
Born 8/25/19 to 
Benjamin and Molly Phelps would like you to meet Ava Louise Phelps born 3-18-19. Thanks be to God!
Isabel Mina Boerner, daughter of Nathan and Taneil Boerner. Born Saturday, December 1st and baptized Sunday, December 2nd.
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Our next preview service is June 10th. Because of
God`s grace we will be renting a bigger theater that seats more than the
first theater we were in. To God be praised! 
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May your families enjoy this Advent season as we light each candle, thinking of prophecy, Bethlehem, shepherds, angels, and our Lord`s coming. 
3143 Maple valley Drive 
July 15th. We will be working from 8-12PM. We look forward to working together. If you can only give a little time or want to spend the entire time helping, it is greatly appreciated!
Elijah Strutz
Michael Watters
Elijah White
Bring a music request or bring a song on your phone or be ready to sing one, YEP OPEN MIC...
Eric Melso was chosen to serve as RLC’s 2015/2016 vicar. Eric and his wife Jennifer will move to our area and he will serve at our congregation throughout the next year. Please keep the Melsos in your prayers as they plan to join us later this summer.
anted to take a second to say thank you to the people who work so hard to make this little social such a great time to relax and share. It is one of the many things that makes our church so special.
Ten feet away, Carl is usually fending off the white dog's
attempt to come cuddle on the couch with him. "No, Fred, go lay down,
this is Ruth's seat." The last step is threatening to vacuum, since the
white dog is terrified of the vacuum and hides at hearing the word.
Ten minutes later, the white dog will be back to watch Carl's favorite
show, Duck Dynasty, and sit at Carl's feet, jealous that Ruth is already
sitting next to Carl with a glass of her favorite boxed wine. 
