August 27, 2000
Challenges and Changes - Rally Sunday
Meet Two of FCC's Finest - Ruth & Barb Dunham
Lower Level Renovation Project Update
Vacation Bible School Teaches Values to Many
A Short History of the Resource Center
As we head into Fall 2000, we have several exciting changes happening
in our
youth program.
First, the Sunday School classes previously held at 8:45 and 11:00 will be consolidated into one time 8:45. All children will begin in the worship service on September 10, where teachers will be commissioned before leading students to their learning areas.
This year we are making an effort to create teams of teachers. The advantages
for
children are:
1) continuity week to week,
2) lower teacher to student ratio,
3) more individual attention,
4) teachers with different gifts and talents working together to inform and inspire our children.
Advantages to the teachers:
1) teachers can trade weeks or share
the duties,
2) teachers can occasionally participate in worship.
Second, starting in October, we will return to a Children's Chapel time. On the first Sunday of each month, students will gather in our chapel for a time of music and worship before heading to their classes. On the third Sunday of each month, students will start the hour in worship. "This approach should provide students with a more balanced church experience," said Rev. Chris Rygh, associate minister.
Also on the third Sunday of each month we will hold a special forum for parents. This will be a time to exchange questions and share information about upcoming events. "We are also planning to use the time as a way of exchanging encouragement. Diane Schowalter, FCC member and professional child development clinician, will join us regularly to help us understand some of the natural transitions boys and girls undergo as they mature," said Chris.
Sunday evenings will be a little different, as well. Sunday night programming will return to a name more in line with our heritage, Pilgrim Fellowship. Junior and Senior Pilgrim Fellowship will typically meet from 6:30 to 8:00, beginning Rally Sunday, September 10. The schedule for Senior High will be more varied than it has been in the past including more activities off site and a focus on building a sense of community. A fall festival is being planned for late October.
The greatest challenge facing Rally Day is space. With the lower level remodeling, we will have to squeeze all of our activity on the upper three floors. "That means things will be fairly crowded for the first few weeks," said Chris. "We've got great people who can flex when they need to. We'll make it work." A final room plan is still in the works for Rally Sunday. Parents should look for a separate mailing which will list all the details of the Fall Children and Youth Calendar. *
On March 29, 1934, expecting their first child, Helen and Tom Dunham became members of First Congregational ChurchWauwatosa. Now deceased, their name is carried on in beautiful fashion by daughters Ruth and Barb Dunham.
Ruth and Barb, members of First Congregational since birth (and Sunday School students through gas rationing,) now occupy the Wauwatosa home, which was built by their parents. Both are retired from the healthcare field. Ruth worked as a medical technician at Deaconess Hospital where she headed the lab. Barb, a physical therapist was in charge of the Physical Therapy department at Milwaukee County Hospital.
Now the sisters spend much of their time involved with Eastern Star (a Masonic organization), travelling and with church activities. In Eastern Star, Ruth is Worthy Matron this year, her second time in that position. Their involvement with Eastern Star also started back in childhood as members of Job's Daughters. As a side hobby, each has extensive collections. Barb collects clowns while Ruth searches for angels and penguins their fun emblems from Eastern Star with which they said they got a bit "carried away." They also collect lions as they both happen to be Leos.
As travel enthusiasts, in addition to trips abroad, they own a mobile home which they enjoy for domestic travel. Bud, their energetic boxer is also a big fan of the vacations-on-wheels.
As for church involvement, it runs the spectrum. This year Ruth is serving on the Board of Congregational Care and Barb on the Board of Fellowship. They are involved in an independent Bible Study group which meets on Sundays between services. They help with St. Vincent's meals and all-church dinners and have also become regular helpers at the Friendly Beast breakfasts and all-church workdays (pitching in with the very un-enviable task of oven cleaning, among other things.) Barb video tapes services and they also both volunteer at Congregational Home in various capacities.
While all their help in and around the church would be appreciated in and of itself, the wonderful, bright attitude each woman brings to her service is most notable. The first comment given by virtually anyone who has worked side-by-side with these women on various projects is that they are always so cheerful and enjoyable to work with. "They have given their lives to helping," said one church member of Ruth and Barb Dunham.
"We're very happy to see such a thriving youth program again with such wonderful leadership in Chris." said Ruth. They both said they believe that a strong youth program is what creates a strong church. Certainly members as active, helpful and energetic as these ladies also deserve much credit for a strong church community! *
All of the demolition work has been completed. The old ceiling and floor tiles have been removed and the walls slated for demolition have been removed. Framing for the new walls, doorways and windows is largely completed. Orders have been placed for new lighting fixtures and final decisions are being made on color and finish selections. The project is on-schedule with completion targeted for early October.
Doug Jacobson
It has been a thrilling summer around the church. Your faithful attendance at worship and the many special summer activities indicate a commitment to growth in our community. Family camp participation was stronger than last year and Vacation Bible School set a new record with more than 100 children and 40 adult volunteers. We have several anticipating membership following the next orientation class. Construction for the basement renovation is also well underway.
As we begin a new season of ministry following a spectacular summer, let's remember not to let "busyness" get in the way of spiritual formation. Statistics and activities show progress but God is also interested in the development of the heart. Join me as I seek to know God more and to make God known. This October, I will be speaking about spiritual formation and the power of covenant in a message series titled, A People of Promise.
Pray now for the renewal of the church. I firmly believe God is doing a great thing and planning even greater things. We are God's people of promise and He is counting on us. *
Your Pastor,
Lonnie
More than 100 children came on an adventurous week at Vacation Bible School. The theme was, Veggie Town Values Building Citizens Who Do God's Work. During the week, the children were able to visit 5 different job sites, the Court House, Factory, Pet Shop, Animation Studio, and Doctor's Office. Each site focused on a different value being obedient, thankful, faithful, respectful, and teachable. The children were challenged to discover how they are all special and different and that wherever their interests lie, they can honor God with their unique gifts.
Parents, relatives and friends were invited on Friday to hear the kids sing, visit Veggie Town and enjoy picnic and Carnival. All week long, the kids were encouraged to bring personal care items and on Friday a representative from Sojourner Truth House came to tell them how their donations would benefit the children at the shelter. You never knew when special appearances would be put in by Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber, and Madame Blueberry (pictured below).
Without the countless number of volunteers, who did everything from creating and assembling Veggie Town, preparation work at home, nursery care, cutting, taping, baking, copying, transporting, leading, teaching, and organizing the picnic and carnival for the children and their families, Veggie Town would not have been the successful learning place that it was. A big thank you for all of the time, energy and love you so willingly gave! *
On Saturday September 9th, (we're passing on Labor day weekend!) the coffee pot will be on and "Breakfast With the Girls" will be launched on its first full year. We're excited about that and thrilled with everyone's response to this opportunity to gather together and share some laughter, tears, fun, and food everything that we do so well and that feels so much better TOGETHER.
On September 9th our program will be Rev. Deborah Payden. Debbie is a well-known author and speaker on building faith and traditions in the home, as well as an ordained minister and mother of two daughters. All who have heard her are excited about her coming to share her message with us, so please come out and help us kick off this new effort in style!
We've put our heads together over the summer to line up some great Saturday mornings and we'd like to let you know about a few of them so you get us on your calendars.
In October, Barbara Brown Taylor will bring us a wonderful program on Religion and art, drawing from the Art Museum's permanent collection. November 4th we'll be presenting Jacqueline Baumgart, whose inspirational look at her past as a woman in professional baseball (yes-baseball!) will be fun for us all. What about December? Well, we're passing on it do we really need one more thing to do? But you won't want to miss us in January! On January 6th it will be Melody Wilson-a familiar name and a message you won't want to miss. In April Sister Cauley will bring our souls to the garden what a great place to be in spring. In May we will wind up with the exciting and challenging seminar leader Holly Whitcomb. I know I've skipped over some months here that are still being firmed up but there will be a completed calendar (the kind you can put on the refrigerator!) in an up coming Columns so look for it. Also, it would be good of you to let the church office know if you'll be coming so we get enough "stuff," but call or not you know you're welcome. See you on September 9th at 9! *
Char Schweitzer
In the words of the youth campers... camp was "cool and awesome" ... "it really rocked."
Pilgrim Fellowship Camp 2000 had approximately 90 youth and counselors from churches in Wauwatosa, North Shore, Green Bay, Beloit, Rochester, Franklin, Illinois, Minnesota, and Iowa.
The weather was perfect, with marvelous moments of fun in the pool, on the volleyball court, and Frisbee field. Campers hiked through fields, swamps and woods and shared these moments with the tiny buzzing and biting creatures of the great outdoors. The counselors had many opportunities to share their faith journeys with the youth around the campfires. And, of course, camp would not be camp without singing morning, noon and night.
Along with all the recreational activities were times for Bible study. The Junior High group studied Old Testament Heroes and the struggles of forgiveness, sibling rivalry, friendship, obstacles, obedience, successes, and faith in God. The Senior High group worked with present-day challenges and their relationship to the biblical teachings.
First CongregationalTosa was well represented at both levels. A tremendous "thank you" goes out from our church to Sarah Edens who directed the Junior High Camp.
The Wisconsin Congregational Association for Youth and Camp Committee encourages young adults, adults, and youth 6th12th grade to mark their calendars for July 1521, 2001. Come and participate as a camper or as a counselor. It is a Spirit-filled week full of proof that God is doing God's thing among our youth! *
The area of the church which now comprises the Resource Center and the Friendship Lounge was originally three classrooms. The conversion was made in 1979. The Resource Center was to be primarily, but not exclusively, for Sunday School teachers. Most of the books came from the Christian Education office, including many of the children's books. There were two closets which held film strips and large lamps. Two cabinets provided storage space for slide projectors (still in place.)
In 1983, Else Landis was appointed chairman of the Resource Committee. At that time, the church office cataloged all newly acquired books and put the required card pockets and cards on each book. However, by the time Rev. Richardson arrived, the office had become so busy that the Resource Committee took over those duties. Faithful volunteers Georgia Kletti and Carrie Laubenheimer were responsible for this work.
Prior to 1992, the east wall of the church parlor consisted of shelves that held the Memorial Library. The decision was made at that time to convert the parlor into a bride's room and auxiliary dining room and to move the Memorial Library to the Resource Center. The Resource Center closets (holding film strips, maps, etc.) were dismantled and replaced by bookshelves. The Memorial Library books were thinned out, and a book sale held for the surplus books.
The Memorial Library books had been arranged alphabetically by author. The Resource Center books were cataloged according to the Dewey Decimal System. This necessitated giving Dewey Decimal numbers to the Memorial Library books. The books were then entered on a computer through the expertise of Rachael VerDuin. Labels were printed on the church office printer by Nancy Gross. These labels were used for the catalog cards and pocket cards.
The final step was integrating the Memorial Library books into the Resource Center books. This was recently accomplished by Alida Smith and Else Landis with help from Phil Landis.
The members of the Resource Committee were Georgia Kletti, Carrie Laubenheimer, Alida Smith Rachael VerDuin and Else Landis (chairman) all of whom served faithfully and well. Many thanks for their willingness to serve.
New volunteers are needed to help maintain our Resource Center. If this is an area which interests you, please contact the church office, 258-7375. *
Else Landis
Special Note:
Recently Rev. Kathy Rust was able
to order five volumes from The New Interpreter's Bible with money
from Doris Peay's (Rev. Steven Paey's mother) memorial gift as well as proceeds
from the recent book sale. This very popular series includes full Biblical
text as well as critical commentary; biblical text divided into coherent
and manageable units; introductions to each book that cover essential historical,
socio-cultural, literary and theological issues; and other aids to enhance
understanding. Take advantage of this terrific new resource!
A wonderful way to enjoy fellowship as well as serve the church and those in need is to join friends, to serve the meal at St. Vincent's followed by an evening out for dinner. For years, Circle 7 members and their husbands have enjoyed time together serving followed by a night on the town! Recently, our church couples club did the same. It's very simple: meet at church at 4:30 (one van or SUV is needed) car pool to St. Vincent's, serve the meal (cooked and provided by our church), and then make reservations somewhere else for dinner. Serving takes about an hour but the payback is worth far more than an hour's pay!
If your family, your friends, or even a church board would be interested in helping, call Karen Schmidt (414-964-8677) who is coordinating the service and sign up for a Friday night. There is plenty of help once you get to the meal site, so you needn't worry that you don't know what to do. Our church has some "service regulars" as well as those actually in charge at the site.
The service and fun that you have will warm your hearts and their tummies!
Another capacity crowd converged on Camp Lucerne on August 11, 12 13 and 14 for our annual Family Camp "Make a Joyful Noise" weekend. Fourteen families with a total of 27 adults and 24 children played, swam, worshiped, ate, and sang through sunshine, moonlight and rain. By the end of the weekend, the only things not damp were our spirits.
Waterfront activities are always a favorite. This year, access to the beach was virtually unlimited and this group of campers just could not get enough. In addition to boating, sandcastle building, swimming, cannonball diving from the raft, and water volleyball, there was a game involving a greased watermelon. The watermelon must have taken a bit of a beating since many of the participants questioned whether the melon served at Saturday evening's cookout was "the" watermelon. On Sunday, Emily, a Camp Lucerne lifeguard, directed three teams in a Water Carnival competition. In addition to a relay and boat-capsizing event, teams competed in creative sand sculpting. Within the 10-minute limit, Jimmy Donaldson became a face on a Mount Rushmore of sand, Dan VerDuin's friend Jordan was caught in the jaws of an alligator sculpture, and a third sculpture had a crab devouring a child.
The most delectable meal at camp was the Saturday evening corn roast, prepared by our valiant men who braved the rain so that we could all enjoy that char-grilled goodness. Thankfully, the rain cleared in time for our campfire sing along and talent show. Kathy "Madame Blueberry" Rust and Larry "The Cucumber" Rust opened the talent show. Scott Donaldson played the Veggie Tales theme on tenor sax as we all sang along. We discovered this was a group of many talents as we enjoyed impressions and stand-up comedy by Bill, Jimmy and Scott Donaldson, card tricks by Heath Halvorson, and the Schowalter Family's incredible enlarging machine. Beth Kebbekus led us in the Moose On The Loose song, the VerDuin Family taught us a new version of The Three Bears and we all danced to Owen Halvorson's Purple Stew. Ted Klumb provided guitar accompaniment for the rest of the sing along.
Worship is part of every family camp, with prayers before meals, devotions at each campfire, at the opening and closing breakfast, and a Sunday service. Themes included that of God as our loving Father who knows us completely, and the light we share with the world as Christians. Our Sunday night campfire was supplemented by glowsticks as we sang This Little Light of Mine.
There were some physical changes at Camp Lucerne this year. The camp was hit hard by the hailstorm of May 12th, causing varying degrees of damage to the camp buildings and severe damage to the trees. Cleanup has been ongoing since the storm and the camp staff remains hopeful that the many damaged pines will survive. Thirty-six of the camp buildings received new roofs since the storm, with all repairs not yet complete. Another project, of a planned nature, was also underway. A mountain of dirt covered the former baseball diamond as a result of the excavation for the new 12,000 square foot kitchen, dining and conference facility under construction. The expected completion is November of this year. We were told that plans are also in the works to build more sleeping accommodations to keep up with the increasing demand.
Returning family campers, notice that from year to year, each family camp is different and yet the same. The surroundings remain familiar and a certain amount of tradition is built into the schedule. First-time campers bring with them an opportunity to develop new friendships. Many families return each year, but as the children grow, they contribute to the fun in new ways. Family camp is a wonderful experience open to all members of our church family. Keep it in mind for summer 2001. *
by René Klumb
As fall approaches, our annual pledge drive approaches as well. This year's campaign "A People of Promise" will soon be up and running. It will be bringing an exciting, fresh and new approach to this fellowship and all who care about the future of First Congregational Church. Watch for future information and the unfolding of the story and how we all will affect it.
Rev. Kathryn A. Rust
will be attending the Boston Seminar on Congregational History and Polity, August 2030. The seminar will be held at the Congregational Library in Boston, MA. Instructors are Rev. Steven H. Ware Bailey and Rev. Dr. Steven Peay. Rev. Phil Jackson, Dean of the Congregational Foundation for Theological Studies, will also be in attendance.
Moms of Infants & Children (thru age 6)
Monthly evening meeting for fellowship and encouragement as Christian Moms will be held the 2nd Monday of each month from 79:00 p.m. in the church parlor. Have dessert, make a friend and hear a speaker. The program is called Mom to Mom and is based on values from the Bible. The first meeting is Mon., Oct. 9. Call Bonnie Ornst, 262-367-6293 or Michelle Jackson, 332-1979 for more information.
Births
July 26, 2000, Katelyn Grace was born to Dean and Kimberly Krotts.
August 15, Molly Elizabeth was born to Rev. Chris and Mary Beth Rygh.
Marriage
August 12, 2000, Michael Scott Pietrasiewicz and Elizabeth Anne Gold
Death
Marie Matson Behm passed away on
August 2, 2000.
The deadline for submitting articles for the next issue of the Columns is
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 8
