September 29, 2002
Plan Now for Heritage Month - November
Creating a Financial Formula for Life
2002-3 Teaching Staff/ Pick-Up Policies
Seeking Applicants for Church Administrator
November is "Heritage Month" at First Church. Our focus will be on the "Fs" of Congregationalism Faith, Freedom, Fellowship and, with an apology to P.T. Forsyth, Future. Each week we will emphasize these important concepts in worship and various educational and fellowship activities.
The month will kick-off with a special weekend celebration of faith. Our guests for the weekend will be the Reverend Dr. Arthur A. Rouner, Jr. and his wife Molly. Dr. Rouner is the author of The Congregational Way of Life along with several other books. Well known in the NACCC, founding minister of the Colonial Church in Edina, he and Molly now devote themselves to reconciliation ministries in Africa and elsewhere. Please keep this weekend free to participate and grow in "the knowledge and expression of our faith." *
For a personal perspective on Dr. Rouner, see the article by Rev. Chris Rygh on page 7.Arthur Rouner speaking at First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa during the first Symposium in 1998.
When I was growing up, my father told me his financial formula for life. He said you start with your income and subtract what you owe your creditors. Next you pay back what you owe to your friends. Then you pay what you owe to your family, and what is left is for you.
This may sound simplistic, but this was from a man who was born just before the start of the Great Depression and grew up in an orphanage. In fact, it wasn't until he graduated from high school that he had some control of his life. His first decision was to go off to World War II.
Judging by the hardships in his life, I'm pretty sure my father believed that "God helps those who help themselves." He did have one thing going for him though; he was born in this country. With the freedom we enjoy, hard work, and desire, he overcame his humble beginnings.
I was even more fortunate because I had my mother and father for parents. Mom and Dad were there for my sisters and me with love, help, encouragement and yes, discipline. They wanted their children to have happier childhoods and a higher standard of living. They succeeded for my sisters and me, even though t hey died at fairly young ages,
I believe my father inadvertently taught me something else. We really don't face life alone. There are people who will help us along life's journey. In fact, while we get help at one time in our life, we can be the help giver later on. I guess I realized that my father's equation was missing the most important factor, God!
I'm afraid I have a tendency to place God at the end of my formula, right after what is mine. Since all of the blessings I enjoy are from God, I know he should be in the front of the equation, not the end. It seems whenever I do a small charitable act, my reward is always greater than effort or expense.
My task now is to start moving God to the front of my financial formula. I realize this will take some effort and time, but a lot of small steps can cover a great deal of distance.
Now that our Stewardship campaign is starting, I ask you, "Is God in your financial formula and where do you think he should be in that equation?"
Butch Boyd
Chairman of Stewardship
Stewardship Commitment Sunday - October 20th.
In the next few weeks you will all receive information from the Board of Christian Stewardship regarding the canvas for funds to support the operating budget for 2003. Look for your information packets on tables in the Atrium on Sunday, September 29. Pakcets that are not picked up on Sunday will be mailed. We will be having some church members give short talks on what the church means to them each Sunday for 4 weeks. Then Sunday, October 20th will be Commitment Sunday when all pledge cards should be turned in. After both church services that day everyone is welcome to come to the Social Hall for a brunch sponsored by the Board of Stewardship as a thank you for supporting the canvas in a timely fashion. Please turn your cards in by the 20th so we can avoid the cost of sending reminders or making phone calls.
Our church is moving forward with new activities and continuation of many of the favorites. We want 2003 to be "A Beautiful Journey" for the church, its members and friends. We need your support both financially and in attendance on Sunday mornings and at the various activities during the week. We will be having some new Adult Ed classes, Cherub Choir has been reinstated for the very young singers, and Sunday School children present talent shows to the delight of the Congregational Home residents. We continue with Wednesday Morning Men's Breakfast Meetings, dinners the 1st Wed. of the month, our regular choirs are back, the youth programs are resuming, the Church is busy and buzzing. Come! Join the fellowship of any of the groups that interest you.
We are very hopeful that the success of the canvas will allow us to once again designate a portion of our budget for the Board of Benevolence and Church Relations so they don't have to run the extra offerings during the year. Please support this fund drive for the church budget for 2003. We need to have a successful canvas completed by the end of October. This will allow the Budget & Finance Committee to have the month of November to establish the new budget, which will be presented for approval at the January 19, 2003 Annual All Church Meeting.
We need your indication of support for the church to move ahead as we continue with our "Hands to Work - Hearts to God".
In the past year many church groups have signed up to serve at St. Vincent's. Circle 7, the Board of Benevolence, the Board of Christian Education, the 4th grade Sunday School class and the Covenant Class have all served as groups. It is a wonderful opportunity for church groups to get together outside of church, serve God and others, and spend time together. Circle 7 will be serving in October and the Covenant Class will be serving in November. Would your group be available on the first Friday in December, January or February? Please call Pam Parker at 475-0044 to discuss your interest.
Hands to Work and Hearts to God! This year's theme for Rally Day is also going to set the tone for the whole Church programming year. The whole place was abuzz with children, parents, teachers, and the rest of us gathering to worship and fellowship with one another. Our teachers and helpers were duly commissioned, as were our students. All together we reminded ourselves of our covenant promise to "grow in the knowledge and expression of our faith" Hands to Work and Hearts to God!
The experience of Rally Day, indeed of the past four months, has powerfully reminded me of the vitality of First Congregational Church. This is a community of faith that is alive and well. God has gifted us with remarkable potential for growth and service to the surrounding communities. Now we have to begin to focus ourselves to actualize that potential and to make the dreams I hear from Council, Boards, and Committees become reality. Hands to Work and Hearts to God!
We have room to grow. There are many things that we do very well here at First Church, but there are still many areas where we need to improve. Recently I was privileged to attend a workshop dealing with local church outreach. There I learned that visitors to our church decide within the first five minutes of their visit whether they will return again. Our task in the weeks and months ahead, then, is to become attuned to those who come through our doors for the first time. We are a friendly, loving congregation, but we need to make sure that the friendliness and loving-care reach beyond our comfortable circle of friends and acquaintances. The goal before us is to have every member, of every age, become a 'greeter' even when not wearing a little badge! Hands to Work and Hearts to God!
Our 8:45 AM service is comfortably full almost every Sunday. Our 11 AM service, therefore, becomes the focus for "room to grow." We will also be exploring alternative opportunities for worship in the year ahead. Starting in October we will have a weekly mid-week service of Prayer and Holy Communion at 12 noon in Memorial Chapel. We will follow that service with a brown bag lunch and discussion group that we're calling: "Spirituality on Rye." As our planning process and self-awareness studies unfold we'll be reaching out more and more to serve a variety of people at various times and in different ways. Churches grow by taking risks in service, reaching out, and not by cutting back. Hands to Work and Hearts to God!
We have accomplished a great deal here at First Church in 160 years of service to God and community. As rich as our past might be, the future holds even greater opportunities and beckons us to move purposefully forward as "followers of Jesus Christ." I feel privileged to walk alongside you on this journey and to work with such a dedicated and gifted staff. Together we will put our Hands to Work and Hearts to God!
Yours in the Lord's service
Rev. Steven A. Peay, Ph.D., Minister
"Jump right in." It could be Julie Sheridan-Smith's mantra. While a member here for a relatively short amount of time, she is one of the most involved, invested members of First Congregational Church.
A few years ago, Julie and husband Tom, along with children Charles - 10, Max - 8, and Margaret - 7, officially became members of First Church after attending for a few years. Since then, Julie has taught Sunday School (she is currently co-teaching in the 4-yr.-old room); helped significantly with Vacation Bible School; became involved with the St. Vincent Meal program; served on the Board of Christian Ed. (which she currently co-chairs); created and implemented the Sunday School rotation program for Advent (an outreach program to Joy House); and served as a counselor at Jr. High PF Camp.
As family is the main focus for Julie, many of her activities center around her children. As a family, they have also enjoyed church activities such as Family Camp and Winter Camp.
While not intending to be a role model, Julie hopes that other members who may be reluctant to get involved will follow her lead and get involved. "I've seen that you can jump right in and it's so enriching. I'm excited about the growth and potential in this Church and in myself. I see God working all the time and I'm blessed to be a part of that," said Julie.
Julie has taken that approach to her life as a whole. Eight years ago, when their second child was born, Julie began running a child daycare out of their house. A certified teacher of Early Childhood Education, Julie was very active in her profession and presented at Early Childhood seminars. Now, while still caring for her "before and after school" kids, Julie is going to school full time at Mount Mary, both majoring in theology and working toward obtaining a teaching certificate. She plans to go on to seminary.
Julie said she recently received her call to ministry and would like to combine that with her interest in children and teaching, "...although I don't know where it will all lead," said Julie, with a smile. "I'm sure I'll end up somewhere I never guessed. Right now I really love being a student."
Throughout it all, Julie makes time for camping, reading, and visiting family regularly.
Julie's positive, energetic demeanor, sense of humor and enthusiasm for all she does are appreciated by those she works with. While she certainly does a lot of work both in our Church and through her other involvements, she seems to enjoy every aspect, viewing it all as opportunities, "It's really OUR responsibility. As you get involved, you can see the effect on people's lives and that's very powerful. Certainly your own spiritual growth jumps through these opportunities," said Julie.
Certainly many of us could benefit by following her example, ' Jump on in! The water's great.' *
According to Associate Minister, Chris Rygh, the PF schedule this fall will be very similar to last year's schedule with a few slight additions.
The group is still going to meet on Sunday evenings and Junior PF will still meet on the first and third Sundays. "But we're looking very seriously at adding a Wednesday evening component which would be more of a small group experience for students wanting to grow deeper in terms of their own Christian Walk. I know, for example, we had students attending the NAPF Conference in Spokane who came back wishing we would offer a little more."
Besides a discipleship group, Rygh is also considering what he is calling a Worship Series. Essentially, these would be a series of Sunday morning field trips to churches in our area. "Visiting some other Christian churches to experience their worship climate could be fun and challenging," said Rygh. "We've done this with recent Covenant Classes, but this would allow us to branch out a little more."
Details have yet to be finalized by the Youth Ministry sub-committee of the Board of Christian Education. Families with students of this age should have received a fall calendar. If you haven't, please check with the church office. *
8:45 Teachers
Nursery Kari Leon
2-yr-olds Sarah DeYoung, Laura Anderson
Rm 106 Leslie O'Meara(H)
3-yr-olds Nick Sgarlata, Traci Elliott
Rm 202 Laura Daigneau(H)
4K Michelle Beauvais, Julie Smith
Rm 201 Amy Kraus(H)
5-K Margaret Brown, Erin Callen(H)
Rm 200 Stacy Reddy(H)
Grade 1 Robin & Troy Peterson
Rm B3 Paige & Tom Galfano
Grade 2 Tracy Lockhart,
Rm B4 Melinda VerDuin(H)
Grade 3 Nancy Harmon, Lisa Mauer
Rm B6 Nancy Vander Velde
Grade 4 Mary Wray, Julie Anheuser
Rm B5W Annie Lindl
Grade 5 Pam Parker, Bill Donaldson (H)
Rm B5E
Grade 6 Butch & Jane Boyd
Rm 301
Grade 7 Tim Anheuser, Keith Harmon
Rm 302
Grade 9-12 Paul Stein
Resource Center
11:00 Teachers
Infant 2-yr-olds Christine Pozayt
Nursery
3-yr-olds Grade 7 Nancy Quinn
Rm. 201 Caroline Wells
Sue Rowbottom
(H)=Helper
New child safety procedures are in place for the nursery through 2nd grade. Starting on Rally Sunday, all children in the nursery and 2-year-old room were given an ID wristband. Parents are then given a matching ID ticket. Upon returning, an authorized adult with the matching ID ticket will be allowed to pick up the child. All other students through 2nd grade will only be released to an adult whose name is on an authorized pick up list. Parents of children in older grade levels are encouraged to work out a plan with the teacher.
To date, these safety policies have been running smoothly.
They have been put into action to ensure the utmost safety of all students
and pro-actively meet the latest insurance guidelines. If you have any questions
regarding these new procedures or still need to fill out any related forms,
please feel free to call Carla or Carrie at 414-258-7375. *
34 cooked chicken breasts, slivered
1-1/2 heads lettuce, washed and torn
3 green onions, thinly sliced
1 3-oz. can chow mein noodles
1 4-oz. pkg. slivered almonds
1/4 C toasted sesame seeds
Mix together first three ingredients. Add noodles, almonds and sesame seeds just before tossing with dressing.
Dressing:
4 T sugar
2 t salt (this is correct)
1/2 t pepper
4 T vinegar
1/2 C salad oil
Combine and shake to blend.
From the Kitchen of Char Schweitzer
Japanese Chicken Salad
Serves 68
All-Church WORKDAY
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19TH
Please join us for a day of fellowship and food while we support our church.
The fun will start at 9:00 am.
Lunch will be served at about 1:00.
The day should finish at 3:00 pm.
Childcare is provided and there's plenty of work both inside and out!
Come for part or all, either way your help will be appreciated.
Rani Gusho, our current Church Administrator, has been considering retirement for a couple of years now. She chose to stay on until Rev. Steve Peay settles in. Rani also wants to support a smooth transition to the new Church Administrator. To make this happen and still allow Rani to retire sometime in 2003, we need to begin the search for her replacement now. Though Dr. Peay asked her to reconsider and stay longer, she feels it is time to make the change.
The Church is accepting applications for the position of Church Administrator. This is a full-time, salaried position. The person works under the supervision of the Senior Minister. The Church Administrator supervises the Office Manager, Bookkeeper, Building Supervisor and Kitchen Coordinator.
Responsibilities include supervising the raising and spending of all church monies; serving as a resource person regarding legal and business matters of the church; and coordinating the building use and condition.
The Church Administrator works on a regular basis with and attends meetings of the Church Council, Board of Trustees, Board of Stewardship and Personnel Committee. S/he works with and attends Budget & Finance Committee, Nominating Committee, and Memorials and Special Gifts Committee and other committees when they meet.
Major annual duties include: preparing for Annual Meeting and Election Meeting, supervising the budget process for the following year, coordinating the Nomination process for all boards, evaluating persons supervised, organizing materials for auditor.
Major monthly duties: working with Chairpersons of boards and committees to organize materials for their meetings. Major weekly duties: posting of weekly contributions, banking cash/checks, attending staff meetings, proofreading Congregationalist/ Columns/ Order of Worship; checking condition of building/progress of projects, supporting ministers as needed, assisting lay leadership where requested, being available Sunday mornings for Congregational needs. You may contact the office for a copy of the Church's Position Description for the Church Administrator position.
If you are interested in being our new Church Administrator, please send
your resume to the Personnel Committee or drop it off at the Church office.
The deadline for accepting resumes is
October 30th, 2002. *
The college road trip. For many of my fellow students, piling in the car and speeding north meant there was a great concert in Minneapolis. For me, however, it meant that Arthur Rouner was preaching at Colonial Church in Edina. As a student at the University of Northern Iowa I seldom let a month pass without making the three-hour trek north to attend a worship service at Colonial Church.
Years later, I can still say that some of my most vivid and memories of compelling worship are from the Sunday mornings I spent listening Dr. Rouner. Perched in the upper balcony of the Colonial meeting house, I would listen to Rouner encourage us. Even in those days--before formally creating an international ministry of reconciliation and healing-- Rouner's preaching themes always seemed to reflect his deepest passions: mercy, compassion, grace and forgiveness.
After listening to scores of preachers and hundreds of preaching tapes in the last 10 years, I can still say that I've never encountered another pastor speak so naturally to the deepest hurts and longings of the soul. Nor have I heard one who communicates in a more compelling way our human need for restoration and renewal. *
by Rev. Chris Rygh
She came, she saw and she conquered our hearts once again. Molly O'Connell gave her warm and caring "jump start" to Breakfast With the Girls on September 7th and left a smile on every face and her tire tracks on every heart.
We are launched in to this new season with a line up of programs we hope will encourage, inform, entertain and - well you know- give us a really good excuse to gather together to laugh, talk, eat and generally enjoy this fellowship opportunity.
With that in mind, don't miss October 5th with coffee, goodies and Rachel Olson of the Milwaukee Convention and Visitors Bureau who will share secrets of Milwaukee with us.
Let us know if you would like to bring something to the table to share. Your help is appreciated. So bring a friend and don't forget to sign up in the office, please.
Char Schweitzer
Please Support These Youth Fundraisers
October 6 PF Gourmet Nut Sale
November 17 Jr PF Bake Sale
December 8 Gourmet Coffee Sale
2003 Events
March 9 Pre-Auction
March 15 Italian Dinner/Auction
Oct. 1 Retired Men's Club presents...
Helping New Generations the Old-Fashioned Way
Mr. John Solberg of the Rawhide Boys' Ranch will speak about the Faith-based traditional family environment and the history, mission and programs of the Ranch.
DON'T FORGET...
* Daylight Savings ends October 27.
* Turn in your ideas for the "Catch the Spirit
of First Church" logo and tagline contest.
Thursday AM Play Group to Start
Join us in the church nursery each Thursday morning starting September 26th. We'll meet from 9:3010:45 for play, talk and snacks with our kids. Children ages infant through preschool are welcome. Snacks will be supplied, but bring any drinks you'll need: Call Sarah DeYoung if you have any questions: 414-453-3652
Upcoming Sermon/Worship Themes
Sep 29 Scripture Steve/Chris
Oct 6 Communion Steve
Oct 13 Faith Steve
Oct 20 Stewardship Steve/Chris
Oct 27 Church Steve
NOVEMBER HERITAGE MONTH
Nov 3 Faith Art Rouner
Nov 10 Freedom Steve
Nov 17 Fellowship Chris
Nov 24 Future Steve
The deadline for submitting articles for the next issue of the Columns is
www.FirstChurchTosa.org
Editor, Beth Linscott
Communications Committee
Mary York - Chairperson, Nancy Fisher,
Barb Dunham, Rod Schmidt, Bill Edens,
Arlette Lindbergh, Bill Edens
*
Rev. Steven Peay, Ph. D., Minister
Rev. Chris Rygh, Associate Minister
Rev. Charles Goldsmith, Ph.D.
Congregational Home Chaplain
Rani Gusho, Administrator
Lee Jacobi, Director of Music
Betty Dethmers, Organist
Sally Boyle, Secretary
Anne Callen, Office Manager
Charles Nelson, Administrator, Congregational Home, Inc.
Rev. Dr. Norman S. Ream, Minister Emeritus
*
Congregational Columns (USPS 010-493) is published monthly by The First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa, 1511 Church St., Wauwatosa, WI 53213-2593, 414/258-7375. Periodical Postage Paid at Milwaukee, WI 53203-9998. Postmaster: Send address changes to Congregational Columns, 1511 Church St., Wauwatosa, WI 53213-2593.
Vol. 11, Issue 9
