July Schedule of Events at FPC
Summer is in full swing now. At church it feels like we are still very busy. Having the new land is making a real difference for our life together. I hope you can participate in some of what your church has to offer this month.
Sunday, July 4-As usual on the Sunday closest to July 4th I will address the relationship between religion and American life. We will celebrate communion. The sermon will address the legal concept of "ceremonial deism."
Tuesday, July 6-We will host a concert as part of the Green Lake Music Festival, Jason Duckles, a world renowned cellist will perform. We will serve a light, summer luncheon afterwards. This would be a great event to invite friends to.
Friday, July 9 through Sunday, July 11-Members of church will be staffing the Brat Wagon at Pick ‘n' Save South. Admit it, you are not getting enough sodium. We'll take care of that for you when you stop for lunch. Proceeds will go to our camp scholarship fund.
Sunday, July 11-The sermon, "Scoundrels," this day will be based on Luke 15:11-32 & 16:1-8. It is the fourth in a series of sermons about the Parable of the Prodigal Son and His Brother.
Saturday, July 17-We will be selling brats and hotdogs in conjunction with the Farmers' Market from 9 a.m. until noon.
Sunday, July 18-Worship will be at 9:30 a.m. as usual. At this point, that's all I know. I am, of course, open to suggestions: what have you always wanted to hear a sermon about?
Sunday, July 25-Our resident story teller, Vi Tews, will preach. Vi always does a fantastic job. Why not invite your friends to worship today?
Tuesday, July 27 through Thursday, July 29-We will host Vacation Bible School, joined by First Congregational Church. This is an evening program.
Saturday, July 31-We will again be selling brats and hotdogs on a Farmers' Market Saturday. Also that morning we will train our Sunday school teachers.
See you in church,
Pastor Tom
2010 Upcoming Events
July 6-Green Lake Festival of Music Concert
July 9, 10, & 11-Brat Fry-Pick ‘n Save South for Camp Scholarships
August 29-Corn Roast on the Green Space
June Session Report
Your Session met on Tuesday, June 15. Pastor Tom shared a reading from Psalm 104.
Treasurer Barry Johnson reported that we are in good shape with the operating budget as we head into summer. Pledging has been strong through the first five months of 2010.
Property & Finance Committee chair, Tim Matelski reported that the water heater leaked earlier in June and has been replaced.
Preschool Committee chair Harriet Martin reported that the preschool completed a very successful year. Enrollment for the coming year is strong-especially in light of competition from the citywide 4K program.
Christian Education Committee chair Rosangela Berbert reported that Sunday school teachers will be trained and oriented on Saturday, July 31. Lunch will be served-as we take advantage of the brat stand we will be running during Farmers' Market that morning.
Plans are well underway for hosting the Green Lake Music Festival concert on Tuesday, July 6. We hope many people will attend. We still need helpers and volunteers to contribute dessert bars and bread.
John Evans reported that our first go at selling brats and hotdogs on a Farmers' Market Saturday was a success. Bill Macksam, Jim Dyer, Chuck Kent, Ed Noe & Al Starrett joined John that morning. We served about 60 people, and made a profit. More importantly, we learned a lot and had fun working together. Watch for other opportunities to join the fun this summer!
Membership Enrichment
There will be no meeting of Lunch with Presbyterian Friends in July, the August lunch will be on Thursday, August 19th, at 11:45AM at Kodiak Jack's located at 2059 Witzel. Mark your calendars as well for Lunch with Friends in September. The September lunch will be held at The Chalice at the corner of North Main and Murdock at 11:45 AM.
On Saturday, August 14th we will have a "Free Fair" along with activities and food on the green space in conjunction with the Farmers' Market. Look around your home and garage for items which are in good shape, but you no longer have use for. Please be sure items are in good repair and something you would give to your son or daughter if they would only have a need for it. Please no clothing. More details to follow.
Keep Sunday, August 29th free for our annual Corn Roast. It will be here at the church in our new green space this year
Food Pantry
In June 27 food items & tooth paste were brought in for use by the Food Pantry along with egg cartons as well as two 12 packs of pop. Thank you for your generosity, it is appreciated and valued .
Special People
This month we have two outstanding people in our midst. Chuck Kent and John Evans. They have spent many hours in June working hard tearing up the floor in the kitchen to prepare for the new floor which was installed.
Chuck and John helped to put up the new section of fence at the west end of our green space.
They also are here to help with the yard work whenever they are asked and are needed.
Thanks to both of you for all you do!!!
The Outreach Committee Report
The Community Outreach committee continues to be engaged in a variety of activities that are important to you. In July our church will be sponsoring the Green Lake Music Festival at our church on July 6th at noon. Afterwards we will be serving a salad luncheon to those that attend. We will need volunteers to help prepare the food (make salads, breads, bars and cookies) and help with the set up and clean up. Because this is a daytime function it will be challenging to get enough people to help.
We will have a new member class on July 11th and acceptance to membership on July 18th during the church service. This will be a name tag Sunday. Be sure to introduce yourself to our new member(s).
In August we will be participating in a Community Blood Drive in cooperation with the two other nearby downtown churches - Trinity Episcopal and Congregation Churches. This drive will be held on Sunday and hopefully a number of our congregation will be able to go to the large coach van to donate blood. The blood that is collected is used at all of our local valley hospitals.
This will be held, Sunday, August 22, from 8AM until 11AM.
A prayer for summer
A rippling sea of green and gold
Is shimmering before us
As wind stirs the tall corn,
Wave after green wave rises high,
Reaching for the summer sun.
Lord God,
When you summon seeds
From these furrowed fields,
How readily they obey!
Like the myriad crops,
Help us grow steadily:
Help us stretch, ripen
Round out, unfold.
In the warm rays of your strength,
Help us yield goodness!
With Sympathy
Condolences to the family of Mark Ziebell, brother-in-law of Marge Voruda. Mark recently passed away and was married to Marge's sister Gertrude.
Our Sympathy to the family of Basel Tillou. Basel died on May 27th. Cards may be sent to his wife, Phyllis Tillou, 809 W 5th Ave. , Oshkosh, WI 54902
Thank You!
Dear Pastor Willadsen,
As you know, the Learning in Retirement program associated with UW-Oshkosh has met in your church over the past several years. The LIR curriculum committee is most appreciative of the opportunity to use your building for its meetings. We want to formally acknowledge and thank you for providing us this space.
Sincerely,
Bill Mattes, President
LIR
Remember in Your Prayers ............
Please pray for our niece Lisa. She lives in Green Bay and is having hip replacement surgery tomorrow (June 9). Being arthritic, she needs God's attention to keeping all her bones healthy during the surgery and recovery. Thanks - Ken and Marie Potterton.
Our niece, Lisa's, mother-in-law has been diagnosed with recurred Stage 4 cancer, which has spread since the initial diagnosis and treatment, several years ago. So please include her in your prayers as well as for our dear Lisa's hip surgery.
Thanks, again - Ken and Marie Potterton
Pray for Debbie Gross. She is waiting for a new heart.
Please pray for the Tate families: Son Ralph and the mission group are in Honduras. May they work with the people and help them in their needs.
Dan and family, including their 3 yr & 3 mo. old sons. They are on their way to Red Lake Nation in Minnesota, to help with their VBS. May they be a blessing.
Ruth Tate
End of the year trip
Our end of the school year trip to the N. E. W. Zoo and Bay Beach was a great success. On June 16th not only did the rain stop for the day, but the sun stayed nicely tucked behind some clouds so that it didn't get too hot.
At 8:30, thirty-seven of us that boarded a bus driven by Karen Cowling, Grace and Sam Lenz's Grandma. We were off to the N. E. W. Zoo where we would see their newest addition, a burrowing owl. There were also all our old favorites to check out, the peacocks, moose, penguins and swan, the porcupine, crane, giraffe and zebu. We looked at lions and elk. The albino alligator was a favorite of Riley Klug. Pastor Tom enjoyed the bison, which arrived at the zoo in 1976 for the "bisontannial". Jonathan Binder wished he could get a better look at the ichthyosaur, but it stayed under the water making distinctive bubbles. Brett Engel had a pad of paper to keep a list of all the animals he saw. (Great idea Brett!) Jackson Sarnowski also had a pad of paper with him, however he was not making list, he was ready to write tickets to anyone breaking the law.
We lunched on the grounds of the zoo where Nick Binder tossed rocks into the pond and ducked for cover. Tyler Duprey picked his sandwich apart, fed it to the chipmunks and compared his Gatorade to Sam's. He didn't eat a thing. Alexis, Morgan and Sierra ate part of their lunch and picked the rest in bits for the birds. A table full of girls; Chelsea, Amanda, Megan and Moriah sat nicely, ate and chatted about music.
We boarded the bus and went over that terrible bridge to Bay Beach for a wonderful afternoon of shake up, jiggle around, sick to your stomach fun. Joey Sarnowski was so excited to be at the park. Many of our youth, including Grace Klug headed for the slide first. You sit a burlap sack to go down the 100 feet. Peter Willadsen also enjoyed the slide. David Willadsen did not even want to try the slide, but his smile took up his whole face as he rode the tilt-a-whirl. He might have been really happy his brother wasn't so happy with the tilt-a- whirl. It was interesting to see who loved it and whose face took on a bit of a green hue. Lauren Nelson made sure everyone saw her mother's dislike of the tilt-a-whirl. Andrew Binder and Cole Walker enjoyed the bumper cars now that they can reach the peddles themselves.
It is a great way to spend the day with our youth and families. A way to learn things like: don't look for Willem Bosma on rides that get off the ground, Miriam Berbert can sleep on a noisy buses and even big kids like Megan need a change of clothing when there is a wading pool. Think about joining us next time - we guarantee an adventure.