From the Desk of Pastor Tom
"Bare" Essentials Drive Planned for June
A number of community leaders participated in a "Poverty Plunge" last month. The group is looking at systemic causes of poverty in our community. The group's first attempt at addressing the plight of needy people in Oshkosh is the "Basic Essentials Drive." Our congregation will participate by holding a drive to collect new underwear to be distributed at the St. Vincent DePaul Store.
The drive will run citywide from June 7 through June 18. Some businesses and organizations will join our effort in collecting underwear, others are seeking donations of peanut butter and canned tuna, high protein items that the Oshkosh Area Community Pantry can barely keep on their shelves.
The drive coincides with the last week of school--because some schools are joining in the drive-and the first week of summer vacation. Summer can be a lean time for children who rely on their school to provide them with breakfast and lunch. Watch for the Basic Essentials box in the Westminster Room and please give generously.
June Worship Schedule
June 6-Elder and Lay Pastor Student Rosangela Berbert will lead worship and preside at the Lord's Supper. We will celebrate by intinction.
June 13-"The Prodigal Son through Turkish Eyes" This is the third sermon in a series on the Parable of the Prodigal Son and His Brother. I will be showing some pictures that our Sunday school students drew last month to illustrate this parable.
June 20-"Dead Sea Scrolls Day" There was so much interest in the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit in Milwaukee that we're going to look a little more deeply at the texts today. Participants in Brown Bag Bible Exploration were asked to select one passage of scripture that they would to survive some catastrophe. Passages that will be used in worship include Psalm 139 (though not all of it!), Isaiah 43:1-5, Romans 8:38-39 and Exodus 3:7-15. Following worship we will look at the three Old Testament texts as they are recorded in the Dead Sea Scrolls.
June 27-Worship in the Park Green Challenge
Carpool, walk or bike to Abe Rochlin Park [corner of Sawyer and Oshkosh Avenue] for worship with First Congregational Church at 10 a.m. Further details appear on p. 3
See you in church,
Pastor Tom
Per Capita
Each year, our Session contributes a per capita payment of $29.00 for each confirmed member. This contribution provides our share of operating expenses to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and our synod and presbytery. We have the opportunity to offset this expenditure. Will you consider an additional contribution to our church of $29.00 for each confirmed member in your family? Your help with this will assure additional operating fund for our church. Please send a check, or place in the collection plate, and mark the check "Per Capita" on the memo line.
Thank you for your consideration.
May Session Report
Your Session met on Tuesday, May 18. Elder Vi Tews began with a devotion written by Fred Craddock. In this reading Craddock boldly declares that Christian worship should not be boring.
Elder Miriam Berbert showed her driver's license that was a mere few hours old. Congratulations, Miriam!
Treasurer Barry Johnson reported that the financial trends are good for the first third of year.
The Mission Interpretation Committee asked the Session to endorse Wisconsin Interfaith Needs Response's [WINR] request for mission funding from the Presbytery.
Session voted to give each hourly employee a half day off during June, July & August.
Worship Committee chair Keith Voelker reported that Ladies' Sunday was a great success. Session also voted to celebrate communion on Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011.
Session voted to purchase a Temporary Restaurant License. This will enable us to serve food to the general public for events like the Harvest Supper on October 2 and the Green Lake Concert Series concert on July 6. Plans are also underway to offer food for sale on Saturdays during the summer to coincide with Farmers' Market. We are also looking for people willing to prepare food on Saturday mornings this summer!
Christian Education Committee chair Rosangela Berbert reported that we have found Sunday school teachers for three months for each Sunday school class. Some people have also stepped forward as helpers. More teachers will be needed, but we are off to a good start!
Preschool Committee chair Harriet Martin reported that the Mom's Nights were a great success. The Color R World fundraiser has been scheduled for Saturday, October 9.
So goes the work of your Session.
Worship in the Park the 27th
The tradition goes on, as we worship with the Congregationalists the 27th, at Abe Rochlin Park. Bring a chair to sit on (or sit at a picnic table), a "dish to pass" (you can't do much better than church potluck fare), and a friendly spirit to share. We will celebrate the Lord's Supper during worship.
But take note: the service is at 10:00, instead of our usual 9:30 a.m. start time.
AND remember to carpool, ride a bike, or walk if you can. The hyper competitive Congregationalists have challenged us again to a contest for which church uses the least number of cars per person to get there. We won last year, and they are angling for revenge-still maintaining a spirit of Christian fellowship. [Bless their hearts.]
Besides, it's an ecological thing.
The 27th . . . 10:00 a.m. . . . Rochlin Park (by the Rte 21 bridge, off of Sawyer)
OUTREACH COMMITTEE
Directory update: The committee is planning to have the 2010 edition of the picture directory available by September. It will be a picture directory with addresses, phone numbers and email info if available. The updated packet will be inserted into the original blue binder. Please recycle the old sheets. Pastor Tom informs us the back of the sheets make great scratch paper for shopping list, "honey do" lists and visual reminder lists of things to get done.
Opportunities abound: In October our church will be again hosting the Gallery Walk. We will need volunteers to assist with many things. We discovered last year that many hands make the task easier and we had a chance to get better acquainted the new and old members. Please let a Community Outreach Committee member know if you would be interested in helping with any of the following activities.
Prepare and serve a Harvest Dinner
Set up/decorate Magnolia hall for the dinner
Help with publicity and outreach
Take tickets and greet audience prior to the Bell Choir Concert
Be greeters to the community as they come to see some local artists display their work
Noreen Johnson, Chair
With Sympathy
Deepest Sympathy wishes go out to the family of Robert Wilson. Robert died on Monday, April 19th. Condolences may be sent to his wife, Melody Wilson at 1515 Hazel St. , Oshkosh 54901.
Sympathy to the family of Richard "Sparky" Adams, brother of Pat Shugars, Richard passed away last month and his funeral was last weekend. Condolences may be sent to Pat Shugars, 1621 Oak St., Oshkosh, 54901
Annual End of the School Year Trip
To The N.E.W. Zoo and Bay Beach
June 16, 2010
8:30 - 5:00
Fee: $5
(Includes admission to the Zoo and 8 tickets at Bay Beach)
All are welcome!
Children 6 years old and under must
be accompanied by an adult.
Permission slips can by obtained by contacting Carol Joubert
Brat Fry
for
Camp Scholarships
July 9, 10 and 11
10am until 7pm
Pick and Save South
We are looking for help grilling and serving. There are two or three hour shifts available. What a great way to spend a couple of hours. The proceeds from the sale will benefit our camp scholarship fund.
Please sign up on the sheets in the Westminster room or contact Carol Joubert.
Thank You
To everyone that made our Sunday School picnic a success!!!
The following people gave their time and talent to make the Sunday School picnic on May 23, a big success: Cindy & Dan Binder, Sharon Engel, Chuck Kent, Rich Fox, Jim Dyer, Nate Dyer, Tim Matelski, Andrew Behm, Kathy Anderson, Carol Foust, Mary Lee, Willem Bosma, Terri Zilliges, Leigh Ann & Ken Liske, Lisa Dorn, Andrew Bosma, Otacillo & Rosangela Berbert, Lorie Riviere, Liv Farrow, & Liza Salisbury
Thank you,
for your time,
energy and skills.
You are leaving seeds of faith in our children and
with grateful heart we thank you.
for adding music to Sunday School:
Leigh Ann Liske
for teaching our preschool and Kindergarteners
Mary Willadsen
Olivia Farrow
Eliza Salisbury
for teaching our 1st thru 4th graders
Carol Foust
Carol Joubert
for teaching the 5th thru 8th graders
Rosangela Berbert
For all our helpers on Wednesday:
Ginny Evans
John Evans
Betty Struthers
Larry Didlo
Harriet Martin
Terri Zillges
Mary Willadsen
Miriam Berbert
Samantha Moseley
Sam Bradley
and let us not forget those who
nurture faith in the hearts of our adults:
Vi Tews
Faith Robertson
Adam Bauer
Barbara Goldthwaite
Ruth Tate
Pastor Tom