Welcome Covenant Class!
Eric Haas, Taylor Lindl, Justin Meyer, Dan Miles, Molly Rowbottom, Ari Russ, and Kate Schalmo decided to confirm their parent’s baptismal vows last month, having successfully completed an intensive two-year program. In a moving ceremony, parents and mentors gathered around the kids, laying hands on them alongside the ministers. Then representatives, of the church extended the right hand of fellowship. These two symbolic actions spoke volumes about the love this church shows to its own, and about the work that still remains. When you see these new members, please welcome them warmly and invite them to confirm the vows they made with action.
Eric Haas goes to Wauwatosa West High School. He plays soccer for the junior varsity team and has been on the varsity tennis team for two years. He plays alto saxophone and the piano and participates in the Tosa West band and jazz band.
Eric is Life Rank in Boy Scouts and will be backpacking in the mountains of New Mexico for 10 days this summer. His side jobs include being a soccer referee and stringing tennis rackets. He would like to go to UW-Madison.
Taylor Lindl is a fourth generation church member, with many of her extended family still active as members. Taylor is an honor roll student at Tosa East where she is on varsity volleyball and track. In addition, she plays club volleyball. While she’s undecided about the specifics at this time, she plans to go on to college. Taylor enjoyed her volunteer experiences with church this past year and thinks she’d like to teach Sunday School one day when she has her own children.
Justin Meyer is a sophomore at Marquette High School. He plays on the football team and has also completed his Eagle Scout project. This summer, in addition to umpiring for Little League, he will be attending a youth conference in Washington D.C. with Leadership America.
Dan Miles has gone to First Church since before he was born. As babies, Dan and classmate Ari Russ attended choir practices and managed to hit each other with rattles while laying on a blanket during rehearsals. He has “drummed” the congregation to worship the last few Thanksgiving Day services, played trombone in the brass group at Christmas, and sings in the choir. Dan’s a student at South Milwaukee High School and a member of the wind ensemble, marching band and jazz ensemble. He’s played baseball, football and lettered in swim this year. He also writes for the school paper. As a Boy Scout, he has been elected to the Order of the Arrow and will be on staff for the Powderhorn Leadership Camp this summer.
Molly Rowbottom is a sophomore at Tosa East and a gifted artist who enjoys making use of her talent. She’s also on East’s soccer and swim teams and spends a lot of time babysitting.
Ari Russ also attends Tosa East. A good student, she is on the pom squad and plays viola. Outside of school, she is a gifted dancer and will again be competing at nationals this summer with her dance team. She’d like to get more involved with some service projects and plans to go on to school, but doesn’t know where at this time.
Kate Schalmo goes to school at Brookfield East. She plays the flute in the band, which recently took a trip to Walt Disney World where they marched in the parade at the Magic Kingdom. Kate takes Spanish in addition to her other classes and loves playing board games and doing word games, especially Soduko. She also enjoys reading and needlework. She is starting to take golf lessons and plays the piano. Kate will be doing some baby sitting this summer in addition to looking for another part time job to save up for college. Kate enjoys spending time with her family including her brother, Tom, and sister Sara, She is especially fond of her grandparents who also attend First Church. She has been working in the nursery at church for the last couple years and will continue doing that during her high school years. She really likes being with the little ones.
Congratulations to each of these students. Due to changes in the Covenant Class program, they have been preparing for their confirmation since seventh grade and have each made a committed effort to be a part of this church. We look forward to their continued involvement as they begin this new leg of their journey.