Post by Liisa Analore on Jan 8, 2010 15:55:13 GMT -5
Alyce Grabau – Wausau Manor
Beverly Lilteisch - Kennedy
Ben & Margaret Preisig
Linda Million
Jim Podratz – Wausau Manor
Earl & Kathy Madsen
Janet Koerten
Ellen Remus
Eric Shoenherr
Lorraine Enkers
Ethan
Kirk Asplin
Darrell Klockziem
Jim DeBroux
Judy
Linda
Others we should include?
PRAYER FOR THIS WEEK V
A Blessing for the New Year ~Brother David Steindalrast, OSB
May you grow still enough to hear the small noises earth makes in preparing for the long sleep of winter, so that you yourself may grow calm and grounded deep within. May you grow still enough to hear the trickling of water seeping into the ground, so that your soul may be softened and healed, guided in its flow. May you grow still enough to hear the splintering of starlight in the winter sky and the roar at earth's fiery core. May you grow still enough to hear the stir of a single snowflake in the air so that your inner silence may turn into hushed expectation.
Peace..... the angel announced. But peace is as much task as gift. Only if we become calm as earth, fluid as water, and blazing as fire will we be able to rise to the task of peacemaking, and the air will stir with the rush of wings of angels arriving to help us. This is why I wish you that great inner stillness which alone allows us to speak, even today, without irony of "peace on earth" and, without despair, to work for it.
CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS .
Wausau Residents & Surrounding area: If we are to save Public Access television in Wausau, we need EVERYONE to call your local Alderperson today. Ask them to continue funding until June 30 to give us time to find a permanent solution. Our homebound elderly need your voice, spread the word. Please call TODAY!
The Service of Installation for Rev. Chantel Nelson will be held at Peace United Church of Christ, Stevens Point, 1756 Dixon Street, on Sunday, January 17, 2010, at 3:00 pm. An installation in our Association is a time for churches to claim the covenant relationships we hold with one another. The presence of delegates from congregations of the Association, and especially from the District, provides a visible witness to our oneness in Jesus Christ and to our mutual ministry. Representation at this service is a part of our responsibility as members of an Association. Both clergy and lay people are encouraged to attend.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Jan 10 9:15 am Sunday School
10:30 am Worship
11:30 am Special Congregational Meeting (to provide information regarding
budget & finances)
Jan 12 7:00 pm Elders Meeting
7:00 pm Finance Committee Meeting
Jan 13 6:00 pm SGYG Meets
7:00 pm Confirmation
7:30 pm Choir Practice
Jan 14 12:30 pm Merri Hearts @ El Mezcal
Jan 17 9:15 am Sunday School
10:30 am Worship
11:30 am Coffee/Social/Take Down Christmas Decorations
Community Shabbat: Friday, January 22, 7:30 pm at Mount Sinai Synagogue. Our church has been invited to attend a special Sabbath service as modeled and explained by Rabbi Dan Danson and members of the Mt. Sinai congregation. An “Oneg Shabbat” will follow! Mount Sinai is located at 910 W. Randolph Street, Wausau.
They would like to have an idea of how many to expect so if you would like to attend, please either call Mount Sinai directly or let our church office know by January 15th!
Conference Board of Directors Listening Session
Saturday, January 23, 2010 —1:00-3:00 p.m.
St. Stephens’ UCC, 903 East 2nd St, Merrill, WI 54452
The proposed restructure plan for the Wisconsin Conference can be found at the Wisconsin Conference Website: www.wcucc.org. Lay leaders of churches are encouraged to read it, to share it with their congregations, and to attend the listening session. This session is for all lay persons.
Annual Reports… should be turned in to the church office (via email if possible) no later than Jan. 15, 2010. It is important for these to be turned in as soon as possible in order to distribute the Annual Reports in time for the Feb. 14, 2010 Annual Meeting of the Congregation.
Church Renewal Program
On Jan. 9th, 2010, 4 disciples of Grace UCC will attend an all day training session preparing to lead a program of church renewal back here at Grace beginning February, 2010.
This program is based on the book “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations” by Robert Schnase.
We would invite your participation in this program through the many challenging activities that the “Church Renewal Team” will be leading. We also invite you to obtain and READ the book! It is available on Amazon.com as well as most other new and used book sellers.
Silent Auction... The Christian Education Committee will again sponsor our Silent Auction fundraiser. New or gently used items may be brought to church between December 26th and January 2nd. No clothes, please. Bidding will begin January 3rd and continue thru January 17th. On January 24th, bids will be closed and during the 11:30 am Social Hour you will be able to pick up the items you purchased and pay for them. Moneys support the Sunday School projects and a designated amount will be donated to an account to be called the “Home Mission Fund.” During the year, people in need stop by the church and ask for food or gas cards. This will be a fund Pastor Wayne can then use to help these people out. Thank you for your donations and your participation in bidding for this important fundraiser.
Grace UCC to Celebrate 125th Anniversary in 2011 -- Grace United Church of Christ will celebrate it’s 125th anniversary in 2011. Anyone interested in working on a team to plan the celebration should contact a council member. Planning will begin in the next couple of months. If anyone has anything of historical significance (pictures, stories, newspaper clippings, etc.) to contribute, please give it to a council member.
NEXT SUNDAY'S BIBLE READINGS þ
January 10, 2010
Romans 15:1-7 (The Message)
1-2 Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”
3-6That’s exactly what Jesus did. He didn’t make it easy for himself by avoiding people’s troubles, but waded right in and helped out. “I took on the troubles of the troubled,” is the way Scripture puts it. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it’s written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we’ll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!
7-13So reach out and welcome one another to God’s glory. Jesus did it; now you do it!
Hebrews 13:1-6 (Contemporary English Version)
1Keep being concerned about each other as the Lord’s followers should.
2Be sure to welcome strangers into your home. By doing this, some people have welcomed angels as guests, without even knowing it.
3Remember the Lord’s people who are in jail and be concerned for them. Don’t forget those who are suffering, but imagine that you are there with them.
4Have respect for marriage. Always be faithful to your partner, because God will punish anyone who is immoral or unfaithful in marriage.
5Don’t fall in love with money. Be satisfied with what you have. The Lord has promised that he will not leave us or desert us. 6That should make you feel like saying,
“The Lord helps me! Why should I be afraid of what people can do to me?”
Matthew 20:25-28 (New International Version)
25Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
NEXT SUNDAY'S WORSHIP EXPERIENCES †
January 10, 2010:
This Sunday we are leaving the Lectionary behind for a few weeks. We will be discussing together during worship, the chapters in the book “Five Practices Of Fruitful Congregations.” This Sunday we will talk together about “Radical Hospitality.” Speaking of hospitality, after worship the Church Council will have a Fellowship Time with all kinds of goodies. There will then be a brief meeting just to update everyone on the financial information: how we did in 2009, and what we are planning for 2010. All Grace Disciples are urged to attend.
Grace Church services are broadcast on Charter Cable Channels 96 and 98 Wednesdays 1:30-3 pm; Thursdays 7:30-9:00 pm, Fridays 6-7:30 am. However, unless you help extend the deadline by calling the Mayor and your Alderpersons, this service will end on Jan. 30th.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK —
"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." Douglas Adams
THE WEEK'S LINK ü
tinyurl.com/theweekslink Today’s Daily Devotional from our UCC web site. You can sign up to receive them daily and enrich your prayer life.
WHAT CAN I DO? @
Attend worship EVERY Sunday. 10:30 a.m. Dress casual.
Pray. AND THEN PRAY SOME MORE.
Usher.
Provide Child Care during worship.
Volunteer as a Deacon (There are a couple openings).
Serve a Sunday Fellowship Time.
Bring a friend or three to church and keep bringing them.
Got a ministry idea you'd like to try?
Give regularly to the ministry of your church. And then give again…
AND FINALLY... J
(Note: While I intentionally want to keep this "Weekly News Post" fairly brief and simple, I am open to ideas or suggestions as to what you would like to see in this note. Let me know!)
See you in Worship!
Come to Grace!
www.cometograce.net
Rev. Wayne C. Drueck
Grace UCC
535 S. 3rd Ave
Wausau, WI 54401
715-845-7051
Beverly Lilteisch - Kennedy
Ben & Margaret Preisig
Linda Million
Jim Podratz – Wausau Manor
Earl & Kathy Madsen
Janet Koerten
Ellen Remus
Eric Shoenherr
Lorraine Enkers
Ethan
Kirk Asplin
Darrell Klockziem
Jim DeBroux
Judy
Linda
Others we should include?
PRAYER FOR THIS WEEK V
A Blessing for the New Year ~Brother David Steindalrast, OSB
May you grow still enough to hear the small noises earth makes in preparing for the long sleep of winter, so that you yourself may grow calm and grounded deep within. May you grow still enough to hear the trickling of water seeping into the ground, so that your soul may be softened and healed, guided in its flow. May you grow still enough to hear the splintering of starlight in the winter sky and the roar at earth's fiery core. May you grow still enough to hear the stir of a single snowflake in the air so that your inner silence may turn into hushed expectation.
Peace..... the angel announced. But peace is as much task as gift. Only if we become calm as earth, fluid as water, and blazing as fire will we be able to rise to the task of peacemaking, and the air will stir with the rush of wings of angels arriving to help us. This is why I wish you that great inner stillness which alone allows us to speak, even today, without irony of "peace on earth" and, without despair, to work for it.
CHURCH AND COMMUNITY NEWS .
Wausau Residents & Surrounding area: If we are to save Public Access television in Wausau, we need EVERYONE to call your local Alderperson today. Ask them to continue funding until June 30 to give us time to find a permanent solution. Our homebound elderly need your voice, spread the word. Please call TODAY!
The Service of Installation for Rev. Chantel Nelson will be held at Peace United Church of Christ, Stevens Point, 1756 Dixon Street, on Sunday, January 17, 2010, at 3:00 pm. An installation in our Association is a time for churches to claim the covenant relationships we hold with one another. The presence of delegates from congregations of the Association, and especially from the District, provides a visible witness to our oneness in Jesus Christ and to our mutual ministry. Representation at this service is a part of our responsibility as members of an Association. Both clergy and lay people are encouraged to attend.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Jan 10 9:15 am Sunday School
10:30 am Worship
11:30 am Special Congregational Meeting (to provide information regarding
budget & finances)
Jan 12 7:00 pm Elders Meeting
7:00 pm Finance Committee Meeting
Jan 13 6:00 pm SGYG Meets
7:00 pm Confirmation
7:30 pm Choir Practice
Jan 14 12:30 pm Merri Hearts @ El Mezcal
Jan 17 9:15 am Sunday School
10:30 am Worship
11:30 am Coffee/Social/Take Down Christmas Decorations
Community Shabbat: Friday, January 22, 7:30 pm at Mount Sinai Synagogue. Our church has been invited to attend a special Sabbath service as modeled and explained by Rabbi Dan Danson and members of the Mt. Sinai congregation. An “Oneg Shabbat” will follow! Mount Sinai is located at 910 W. Randolph Street, Wausau.
They would like to have an idea of how many to expect so if you would like to attend, please either call Mount Sinai directly or let our church office know by January 15th!
Conference Board of Directors Listening Session
Saturday, January 23, 2010 —1:00-3:00 p.m.
St. Stephens’ UCC, 903 East 2nd St, Merrill, WI 54452
The proposed restructure plan for the Wisconsin Conference can be found at the Wisconsin Conference Website: www.wcucc.org. Lay leaders of churches are encouraged to read it, to share it with their congregations, and to attend the listening session. This session is for all lay persons.
Annual Reports… should be turned in to the church office (via email if possible) no later than Jan. 15, 2010. It is important for these to be turned in as soon as possible in order to distribute the Annual Reports in time for the Feb. 14, 2010 Annual Meeting of the Congregation.
Church Renewal Program
On Jan. 9th, 2010, 4 disciples of Grace UCC will attend an all day training session preparing to lead a program of church renewal back here at Grace beginning February, 2010.
This program is based on the book “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations” by Robert Schnase.
We would invite your participation in this program through the many challenging activities that the “Church Renewal Team” will be leading. We also invite you to obtain and READ the book! It is available on Amazon.com as well as most other new and used book sellers.
Silent Auction... The Christian Education Committee will again sponsor our Silent Auction fundraiser. New or gently used items may be brought to church between December 26th and January 2nd. No clothes, please. Bidding will begin January 3rd and continue thru January 17th. On January 24th, bids will be closed and during the 11:30 am Social Hour you will be able to pick up the items you purchased and pay for them. Moneys support the Sunday School projects and a designated amount will be donated to an account to be called the “Home Mission Fund.” During the year, people in need stop by the church and ask for food or gas cards. This will be a fund Pastor Wayne can then use to help these people out. Thank you for your donations and your participation in bidding for this important fundraiser.
Grace UCC to Celebrate 125th Anniversary in 2011 -- Grace United Church of Christ will celebrate it’s 125th anniversary in 2011. Anyone interested in working on a team to plan the celebration should contact a council member. Planning will begin in the next couple of months. If anyone has anything of historical significance (pictures, stories, newspaper clippings, etc.) to contribute, please give it to a council member.
NEXT SUNDAY'S BIBLE READINGS þ
January 10, 2010
Romans 15:1-7 (The Message)
1-2 Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”
3-6That’s exactly what Jesus did. He didn’t make it easy for himself by avoiding people’s troubles, but waded right in and helped out. “I took on the troubles of the troubled,” is the way Scripture puts it. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it’s written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we’ll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!
7-13So reach out and welcome one another to God’s glory. Jesus did it; now you do it!
Hebrews 13:1-6 (Contemporary English Version)
1Keep being concerned about each other as the Lord’s followers should.
2Be sure to welcome strangers into your home. By doing this, some people have welcomed angels as guests, without even knowing it.
3Remember the Lord’s people who are in jail and be concerned for them. Don’t forget those who are suffering, but imagine that you are there with them.
4Have respect for marriage. Always be faithful to your partner, because God will punish anyone who is immoral or unfaithful in marriage.
5Don’t fall in love with money. Be satisfied with what you have. The Lord has promised that he will not leave us or desert us. 6That should make you feel like saying,
“The Lord helps me! Why should I be afraid of what people can do to me?”
Matthew 20:25-28 (New International Version)
25Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
NEXT SUNDAY'S WORSHIP EXPERIENCES †
January 10, 2010:
This Sunday we are leaving the Lectionary behind for a few weeks. We will be discussing together during worship, the chapters in the book “Five Practices Of Fruitful Congregations.” This Sunday we will talk together about “Radical Hospitality.” Speaking of hospitality, after worship the Church Council will have a Fellowship Time with all kinds of goodies. There will then be a brief meeting just to update everyone on the financial information: how we did in 2009, and what we are planning for 2010. All Grace Disciples are urged to attend.
Grace Church services are broadcast on Charter Cable Channels 96 and 98 Wednesdays 1:30-3 pm; Thursdays 7:30-9:00 pm, Fridays 6-7:30 am. However, unless you help extend the deadline by calling the Mayor and your Alderpersons, this service will end on Jan. 30th.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK —
"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." Douglas Adams
THE WEEK'S LINK ü
tinyurl.com/theweekslink Today’s Daily Devotional from our UCC web site. You can sign up to receive them daily and enrich your prayer life.
WHAT CAN I DO? @
Attend worship EVERY Sunday. 10:30 a.m. Dress casual.
Pray. AND THEN PRAY SOME MORE.
Usher.
Provide Child Care during worship.
Volunteer as a Deacon (There are a couple openings).
Serve a Sunday Fellowship Time.
Bring a friend or three to church and keep bringing them.
Got a ministry idea you'd like to try?
Give regularly to the ministry of your church. And then give again…
AND FINALLY... J
(Note: While I intentionally want to keep this "Weekly News Post" fairly brief and simple, I am open to ideas or suggestions as to what you would like to see in this note. Let me know!)
See you in Worship!
Come to Grace!
www.cometograce.net
Rev. Wayne C. Drueck
Grace UCC
535 S. 3rd Ave
Wausau, WI 54401
715-845-7051