June 25, 2000
Vacation Bible School - VeggieTown Values On the Job
Join other FCC families for faith, fellowship and fun not to mention campfires, swimming, boating, canoeing and our famous corn roast. With a musical theme, campers are encouraged to bring portable instruments (voices & hands included) to Make a Joyful Noise Unto the Lord.
Family camp is held at Camp Lucerne on quiet, spring-fed Lake Lucerne - about 2 hours away in Washara County. Accommodations are in lodges with private bedrooms, shared bathrooms, and living room with fireplace and kitchenette. Bed linens and bath towels are included. Several families share each of 4 lodges. Meals are served family-style in the retreat center. Camp staff does the cooking and the dishes. Meals are kid friendly camp food. Especially popular is Saturday evening's campfire corn roast, thought to be the best meal of summer, by some! You experience all the fun of camping without really "roughing it."
Arrival is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Friday, August 11. As dinner is not included Friday, families may decide to meet for dinner en route. Departure is 1:00 p.m. on Monday, August 14 with the possibility of beach use extended to later that day.
Costs are $83/adult, $50/child (12 1) and infants under one are free. There is a maximum fee per immediate family of $314. Questions can be directed to Cathy & Gary Kebbekus at (414) 475-1634. Spaces are limited. Reservations must be made by July 2nd at the church office, along with a $100 deposit. There will be an informational meeting for all family campers in late July or early August. We're looking forward to a great family weekend! *
information provided by Cathy Kebbekus
At the May All-Church Election meeting Richard Koch was elected to the position of Vice Moderator for the 20002001 year.
Dick and Carol have been active members of First Congregational Church Wauwatosa since 1957. Their four children were all active in Pilgrim Fellowship and confirmed in the church. One of their sons, as well as daughter-in-law, Rick and Mary, were ordained here. (Rick and Mary are now ministers of a Congregational Church in Alaska.) Daughter Jean Reuss and family are still members of this congregation. In total, Dick and Carol now have 12 grandchildren whom they enjoy immensely.
Now retired, Dick owned a company and worked as a manufacturers' representative.
The Kochs have always been very active in the church. Most recently, Dick has served on the Church Council, Board of Deacons, Board of Benevolences and chaired the Board of Trustees. Additionally, he has been singing in the church choir for 33 years as has Carol.
Dick believes that the strength of First Congregational Church lies in the core of committed, active membership. "We have a very viable church and we as a congregation must nurture our Church. It won't grow without us," said Dick.
Not surprisingly, through his leadership role, Dick wants to work to develop more activity in the church, encouraging a broader range of the membership to become more involved in contributing their time and talents.
"Dick is one of the most trustworthy people I know," said Lee Jacobi, choir director. "He is extremely bright and the epitome of a Christian man, very devoted to family. After serving this church in many ways for so many years, he will make a wonderful moderator!" *
A Series of Sunday Messages and Discussions
on Significant Words to the Christian Religion
* Rev. Kathy Rust will speak on the historical theological
development of the word.
* Rev. Chris Rygh will speak on how the word relates to young students.
* Rev. Lonnie Richardson will speak on the practical application of the word to daily life.
Discussion will be intergenerational in the friendship lounge each Sunday from 9:00 to 9:40 a.m.
Sometimes I have heard people say of church on Sunday morning, "I think of church as a filling station. I come here empty, and during the service I get filled so I can make it through the week." To drink from the well that satisfies spiritual thirst is certainly an objective of church life. I would, however, like to stretch this notion. Church is more than a place of passive receptiveness where we come, sit back and say, "OK preacher, choir, organist, do it to me, fill me up." The test for good worship, the mark of a good church is not what we do during worship, it's what we do outside the church doors for the rest of the week.
The world is quite right in judging the truth of the gospel on the basis of the sort of lives the gospel is able to produce. Do we really look like the God whom we praise on Sunday morning? Have our songs and prayers changed us, made us into that which we profess? That is the test. We know that any sermon which is "seen," in deeds of love and justice is more effective than one which is only spoken and heard.
"Pastor, that was a wonderful sermon," said the parishioner at the door after the service. "That remains to be seen," said the preacher. After all is said and done may there be more done than said. *
In Him,
Lonnie
The book club at First Congregational Church sure has! So far this year we've read Kathleen Norris' "Amazing Grace," "Conversations with God. Book 1," by Neale Donald Walsch, Harold Kushner's "How Good Do We Have To Be" and next month we'll be reading "Embraced by the Light."
I have to admit I was a little leery about "committing" to a book club. With all my responsibilities as a mother, commitments to the Fellowship Committee, and the daily demands of my job, I wasn't so sure I could fit another thing into my schedule!
But then I found out it was only once a month (the second Wednesday of each month) and that we would be reading books that averaged less than 200 pages in length, were on the best seller list, and were chosen by the group. Now I'm not the world's fastest reader, but I thought even I could read 200 pages a month!
So I went to my first meeting in January. We had a small group, but what I would consider to be very diverse. We talked about our expectations during this meeting, and discussed what type of books we wanted to read.
One of the things we thought was most important was flexibility. We recognized the fact that everyone is busy and so we didn't want to create an environment that would make anyone feel like they had to be there every month. So we decided that if you're too busy or don't care to read the book selected, you could just respectfully decline one month, but show up the next.
We also wanted to leave it open to the type of books we read. Although I don't see us as veering off and reading a sci-fi book or a novel like "War and Peace," we did decide that the type of books read just have to be interesting, raise awareness, challenge our intellect, or enrich our lives in some way.
And although we seem to have a core group, each month we have the pleasure of new members joining us, either out of interest in the book itself, or the availability of time.
So you might be asking, "How is this book club different from other book clubs?" Well honestly it's pretty unstructured compared to most other book clubs. Oh sure we meet on a specific day each month, have one person called the "facilitator" in charge of leading the discussions. But here's a group where I can show up when I have time, in a pair of jeans and T-shirt, and share ideas and opinions with members I rarely have a chance to talk to on Sundays.
During our meeting in June we'll be discussing "Embraced By The Light," and deciding which books we want to read over the next couple of months. We'll also decide whether we take July and August off (like most book clubs do), or whether we meet anyway despite time constraints. For more information please contact the church office, 258-7375. Remember you're always welcome! *
by Terri Biloff
There were nine members in the 1999-2000 confirmation class. On May 21, Confirmation Sunday, Associate Minister, Chris Rygh introduced class members to the congregation and recognized some of the ways God has gifted each of them.
Sarah Berte is the youngest child of Joe and Carmen Berte. Last year she was a student at Longfellow Middle School in Wauwatosa. Sarah has been very involved in the BASIC ministries, and in her spare time plays a lot of soccer. "Sarah has the unique ability to see spiritual things with great clarity and a heart for God's people," said Chris Rygh, associate minister and confirmation teacher.
Erin Callen is the oldest daughter of Phil and Anne Callen. Next year she will enter Wauwatosa West High School. According to Chris, Erin has a deep sense of justice and grows impatient when she sees bad things happening to God's good people. "Based on what I saw this year, I have this sense that Erin will be a justice seeker, one of those who will look out for people who are hurting."
Jordan Eiff, son of Jerry and Sharron, was the only male in this year's confirmation class. Jordan joined the class in October when his family began worshipping at First Church, and quickly made this his church home. "Jordan," said Chris, "has experienced a lot more than others his age. He knows suffering. But in a remarkable way, Jordan has turned his frustration into grace. He's incredibly forgiving. God has granted him the gift of mercy."
Katharine Hudson is the oldest daughter of Hugh and Carol. She too was a student at Longfellow Middle School this year. "Katharine is one of those to whom others are drawn. She's genuine, likeable and disarming. She has a way of attracting a lot of friends. God has gifted her with an incredible sense of loyalty, patience and the ability to listen with the heart. According to the Bible these are the traits of a shepherd leader."
Beth Kebbekus, the oldest child of Gary and Cathy, will be entering Wauwatosa East High School in the fall. By growing up in the church, Beth has been exposed to nearly every facet of church life. She's served in worship as an acolyte. She's attended Sunday School. She and her family have been an important part of FCC family camping. Said Chris, "Beth definitely has the gift of encouragement. She does a great job of affirming and encouraging the people around her, especially her peers. It is rare to see this gift so well developed in someone as young as Beth."
Julie Kolaga is the youngest daughter of Paul and Sue Kolaga. This past year she attended Pilgrim Park Middle School in Brookfield. When she's not spending time with her family she's usually reading or doing something athletic. "Julie is wonderfully tenacious," said Chris. "Especially when it comes to understanding something new, Julie is relentless in her quest for clarity. She's never shy about asking the tough questions! Neither does she doesn't back away from sharing what she believes is right."
Leslie O'Meara is youngest daughter of John and Denise. This spring she finished eighth grade at Christ King School in Wauwatosa. Leslie is often seen on Sundays serving in our nursery, and she spends many nights and weekends as a babysitter for infants in our congregation. "Leslie definitely has what the Bible describes as the gift of servanthood. She's an inspiration to those who either can't see how to help or who seem unmotivated. "Leslie," said Chris, "has a great combination of compassion and 'can do' spirit."
Stacy Reddy, daughter of Pete and Patty Reddy, attended Whitman Middle School along with Erin Callen. "The first week we met last fall, Stacy tested out as an otter. That is code for someone who likes to have fun and always manages to make others smile." Adds Chris, "Stacy also seems to have the gift of mediation. She's a consensus maker and a bridge builder. I have a sense that God will use Stacy to help mend a lot of broken relationships. She's good at getting people together and helping them to talk."
Jenny Simpson, oldest child of Tom and Carolyn, enjoys a rich heritage at First Church because so many members of her extended family are also a part of the First Church community. "After spending the confirmation year with Jenny, it is clear to me," said Chris, "that Jenny has been blessed with the gifts of teaching and organizing. She did a great job of helping us stay on track and to focus on the material. She asks great questions and does a wonderful job of explaining complicated ideas in ways that everyone can understand." *
On Saturday June 3rd, "Breakfast with the Girls" was entertained with a visit from the Wauwatosa Childrens Library storyteller, Jean Ann von Rohr. With a wonderful hour long presentation, she both educated and enchanted us while she led us into the incredibly diverse world of childrens literature, and when she assumed her role as "storyteller" she transported us all into the world of our imaginations. It was a morning to remember and one that many would love to experience again (we'll see what we can do about that!).
"Breakfast with the Girls" will be taking a brief summer hiatus, but will be up and running on the SECOND Saturday in September (the 9th) due to Labor Day weekend. Watch the Columns for our future program announcements. If you would like to participate in September as a food organizer or hostess, contact Mary York (786-3959), Char Schweitzer (771-6216), Bonnie Ornst (782-6263), or Kathy Rust (258-7375) and we will be THRILLED to sign you on. In the meantime, enjoy your summer and remember, come fall, the coffee will be on. *
by Char Schweitzer
August 711, First Congregational Church will be presenting Veggie Town Values On the Job! from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.
VeggieTown Values On the Job! incorporates the popular video series VeggieTales into a dynamite learning extravaganza. Kids will build Christian values by learning God's Word. It encourages kids to use sound Christian values at home, at play, at church, and at school, as well as in their future! In this experiential approach toward learning, kids visit various sites during the VeggieTown Job Fair, to learn how to do God's work now and in the future.
The learning experiences are based on the Scripture, "Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). Kids will be challenged to use their God-given abilities to glorify His name. They will also discover that they all were created unique and special and that whatever interests they have can be utilized and energized in honoring the Creator and Father who loves them. Sometimes kids think that to really glorify God, they must grow up to be pastors or missionaries. Through the use of daily Bible stories and prayer, God will lead the way in showing kids how to route their own paths in ways that will glorify Him.
VeggieTown is a community, much like our own. In the center of the town is a Job Fair, celebrating all the different talents, interests, and abilities everyone in the community has to offer. Each day kids visit different job sites in t he town to explore God's Word, apply it to real-life dilemmas, and practice what they learn. They will work with Job Squad Leaders, Site Leaders, and fun characters like Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber.
The cost is $10 for your first child and $5 for each additional child for children ages 4 years through those entering 5th grade.
This is also a great opportunity for parents to get involved as a volunteer. Many volunteers are still needed in a wide variety of areas to make this work. There are plenty of opportunities designed for those who aren't able to commit a large amount of time.
Registration forms for children and volunteers are available from the church office, where you may also direct further questions, 258-7375. *
The 2000 summer music schedule:
July 2 Eleanor Quint
July 9 Scott DeKok
July 16 Chad Larget &
Michelle Harryman
July 23 Chantel Richardson
July 30 Eleanor Quint
Aug 6 Women's Ensemble
Marj Fowler, Diane Houriet
Dulcy Miller & Nan Cleveland
Aug 13 Marj Fowler & Diane Houriet
Aug 20 Bob Hedrick
Aug 27 Gary Back
Sep 3 Patty Kostreva
Eleanor Quint is a long-time soprano in the Milwaukee area. She has sung at the Skylight Theatre and served as a soloist in many churches.
Scott DeKok is the director of Central Choirs in West Allis. He is a well-known Milwaukee tenor.
Chad Larget has been seen in the Northern Lights Playhouse, the Skylight
Opera Company, and last year was on Broadway. He will be singing with fiancee
Michelle Harryman.
Chantel Richardson is the daughter of Lonnie and Mercedes. She will be a senior studying voice at Lawrence University.
The Women's Ensemble has acquired a following here at FCC, now singing for their 3rd consecutive year.
Bob Hedrick, a choir member, is a tenor soloist for many area groups. He has sung with Master Singers and the Florentine Opera to name a couple.
Gary Back has been the bass baritone soloist at FCC for 15 years. He has also sung with the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, Master Singers and the Waukesha Choral Union.
Patty Kostreva just celebrated her 16th year as soprano soloist at FCC. A music teacher in the Waukesha schools, she has also soloed with many groups including Master Singers.
The following individuals are members of the Church Council and various Boards for June 2000 through May 2001. A list of Committee members will be in the July issue.
Church Council
Steve Hayes
Dick Koch
Merrill York
Diane Houriet
Jim Walsh
Betsy Isenberg
Steve Fisher
David Mott
Jim Petrie
Jennifer Wakefield
Laura Anderson
Tom Gold
De McDermott
John O'Meara
Rod Schmidt
Carrie Sgarlata
Marty VanderVelde
* = Chairperson
Trustees
Hank Collis*
Bill Cummings
Tom Stacey
Hugh Hudson
Chris Mason
Richard Raymond
Tom Jarchow
David Moore
Dennis Stern
Deacons
Anne Callen
Phil Landis
Nick Sgarlata*
Win Williams
Donna Johnson
Lois Ashley
Mary Berger
Sally Boyle
Lissa Edens
Gary Kebbekus
Susie Daigneau
Jim D'Ambrisi
Beth Kelling
Cindy Payette
David Wareham
Christian Fellowship
Rene Klumb
Mary Leach
Michael Sgarlata
Ken Wittig
Joe Berte
Terri Biloff
Margaret Brown
Barbara Dunham
Carolyn Hitzemann
John Sgarlata*
Christian Education
Jodie Brunner
Nancy Quinn
Julie Smith
Carla Cummings
Carolyn Sullivan
Laura Taylor
Stuart Wong
Barb Holtz
Diane Schowalter
Scott Wittig*
Christian Stewardship
Joan Schultz
Char Schweitzer
Dale Blank
Maurie Daigneau*
Steve Russ
Ed Gibson
Jeff Snell
Benevolences & Church Relations
Bob Ornst
Karen Schmidt
Mary York*
Marj Fowler
Jane Jacobson
Nancy Vander Velde
Harry Holz
Bill Rose
Congregational Care
Sue Boettcher
Lynn Kuss
Doris Nolinske*
Sarah Sgarlata
Margaret Christopherson
Dick Clark
Ruth Dunham
Pat Schwai
Cathy Schmidt
Nancy Stevens
Elaine Wieand
All-Church Sports Dinner
Special note: the All-church Dinner will be held July 12 due to the busy July 4th week. Sponsored by the sports teams, we will enjoy a cookout with burgers, brats, barbeque and hot dogs. Reservations should be made by July 9 to the church office.
Job Seminar
On Monday, July 10, 6:309:30 p.m., David Swanson will lead a job seminar which offers techniques in choosing a career. Call the church, 258-7375 to register.
Circle 8: NO JULY MEETING
Our next meeting will be Tuesday, August 1, at 2:00 to play "Bunco" with Congregational Home residents. Meet in the Activity Room. Please bring a small prize.
Baptism
Grace Evelyn Hughes, daughter of David and Karen Nelson Hughes was baptized on June 11, 2000, born March 17.
A Chance to Serve at
St. Vincent Meal Program
Meal preparation begins here at church at 8:15 a.m. on Friday, July 7. Please call Barb or Ruth Dunham, 774-7147 if you are interested in helping with this special project of caring. At 4:15, we meet at church to carpool to St. Vincent. Karen Schmidt is in charge of servers, so give her a call at 964-8677 or call the church office, 258-7375. Remaining dates this year are Aug. 4, Sept. 1, November 3 and December 1, 2000.
The deadline for submitting articles for the next issue of the Columns is Monday, July 17
www.FirstChurchTosa.org
Editor, Beth Linscott
Communications Committee
Jennifer Wakefield - Chairperson,
Mary York, Bruce Smith, John O'Meara, Char Schweitzer
*
Rev. Lonnie Richardson, Senior Minister
Rev. Dr. Charles Goldsmith, Minister of Pastoral Care
Kathryn Rust, Associate Minister
Rev. Chris Rygh, Associate Minister
Rani Gusho, Administrator
Lee Jacobi, Director of Music
Betty Dethmers, Organist
Michelle Jackson, Parish Nurse
Betsy Isenberg, Secretary
Nancy Gross, Secretary
Charles Nelson, Administrator, Congregational Home, Inc.
Rev. Norman S. Ream, Minister Emeritus
*
Vol. 9, Issue 6
