February 2007
From the Pastor:
Mission statement: Did you know we have a mission statement? Did you know it is seven years old? Did you know that it’s about time we looked at and redid our current mission statement? Why?
After some time mission statements become irrelevant. The fact is churches are living organisms that change and grow in different ways. Because of this, what the church stated it would be and do in its old mission statement is most likely no longer relevant.
In February our session will be participating in a retreat led by our executive presbyter. During our time together we will explore who we are as a church, who we want to be as a church, and where is God leading us. The hope in answering these questions is that we can develop a concise and self directive mission statement.
But what is a self directive mission statement? It is a mission statement that not only tells those who read it who we are, but it also describes what we are about.
As we look at who, what and where we are going it is important to engage in a process of listening and discernment. Being able to listen for God’s leading, as well as, the members of the church, is part of the process of discernment. But why is it important to listen?
Listening to God and to others allows us to have a clear picture of where we need to be as a church. Scripture tells us that without a vision, the people perish. Without a vision the church perishes, too.
Some have asked why try to fix something that is not broken. My response has been that “engaging in listening isn’t about fixing something, but rather being able to make sure that what we are about where God wants us to be.”
During our last congregational meeting, we were able to celebrate the ministry we engaged in during 2006. Positive comments regarding the church’s ministry of music, its Christian education, the new fellowship hour, our participation in mission, and our youth were spoken. But we also talked about improving communication, strengthening our youth ministry, and having younger families join us for worship.
At our retreat in February, we hope to take the recommendations and the positive comments we received and use them to formulate a new mission statement. Our hope is to have a sense of direction for our committees and for our session as we look at the next five years of ministry in Winneconne.
We invite everyone during the next couple of weeks to share with session members other joys and growing edges they think we need to focus on. Our hope is to have a statement that clearly states who we are and where we are going.
So join us as we dream of our future and what God calls us to be.
Peace and grace,
Pastor Mara
Worship for the Month of February
February 4, 2007
Fifth Sunday After Epiphany
9:00 a.m. Worship with Traditional Communion in Fellowship Hall
Readings: Psalm 138 and 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Sermon Theme: Microprinted time capsules can store information for a thousand years in 150 locations. They can store our personal messages for future generations. We can do better as apostles of Christ by sending out Christ’s message. Have you ever considered yourself an apostle? An apostle is “one who is sent”. The question is whether we are willing or feel worthy in accepting the call.
______________________________________
February 11, 2007 Sixth Sunday After Epiphany
9:00 a.m. Worship
Readings: Psalm 1 and Luke 6:17-26
Sermon Theme: There are some ugly dogs out there — do we embrace their beauty or ignore their reality? Jesus sees so much unsightliness where the world sees beauty, and he finds beauty in that which we repulse and resist. The obvious question for this text is why? Why does he love, bless, and exhort us toward seemingly ugly things?
_______________________________________
February 18, 2007
Transfiguration Sunday
9:00 a.m. Worship
Readings: Exodus 34:29-35 and Luke 9:28-36 and 37-43 or 28-43
Sermon Theme: Whether the topic is the JFK assassination or The Da Vinci Code, we are
fascinated by talk of secret plots that change the course of history. But perhaps we are missing the greatest “conspiracy” of all time.
_________________________________________
February 21, 2007
Ash Wednesday
7:00 p.m. Worship
Readings: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 and Psalm 51:1-17
Sermon Theme: Insurance companies now offer “accident forgiveness” for customers involved in minor accidents. What kind of forgiveness does God offer when our sin isn’t necessarily unintentional?
___________________________________________
February 25, 2007
First Sunday in Lent
9:00 a.m. Worship
Readings: Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 and Luke 4:1-13
Sermon Theme: A survey says that the majority of Houstonians often get lost in their home city. What’s the best way to find your spiritual home? On this first Sunday in Lent, it behooves us to watch where we’re going and make our way to a safe spiritual home.
ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
During the first three Sundays in February, the Christian Education Committee will continue to sponsor a class entitled "Parenting Your Teenager." Parenting teenagers can be a difficult task. However, with insights provided by Drs. Les and Leslie Parrot, we can look at how parenting a teenager isn't a job, but rather a call to love. For three weeks we will explore the following topics: “Rebellion and discipline, The legacy of the Christian Faith, and How to discipline your teenager."
Join us and Pastor Mara in this exciting class. The class will meet in the old green kitchen at 10:20 a.m.
_____________________________________________________
LAMPLIGHT LIBRARY
"Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."Psalms 119:105
Book of the Month: "The Next Place" by Warren Hanson This is the book that has brought healing to the many families and friends who have lost loved ones in our recent national tragedies. THE NEXT PLACE is an inspirational journey of peace, comfort, and hope to a place where earthly hurts are left behind. It is a picture book for all ages, a beautifully illustrated celebration of life, and an immeasurable comfort to those who have lost someone dear. Its gentle message makes THE NEXT PLACE an excellent book for the bereaved and an inspirational book for the dying.
A thank you to Sarah Walter for the donation of the book "The Next Place".
Worship Attendants for February:
February 11
Lay Readers: Dick Kreager
Greeters: Karen Angell
Nursery Attendants: Rhonda and Curt Schneider
February 18
Ushers: Aaron and Peggy Thums
Lay Readers: Dick Kreager
Greeters: Sandy and Bob Lindsey
February 21 Ash Wednesday
Communion Servers: (Communion by Intinction in Sanctuary) Wayne and Allys Rudisill, Mary Sell and Terry Spaulding
Lay Readers: Dick Kreager
Greeters: Terry Spaulding
February 25
Ushers: Karen Angell and Dave Norton
Lay Readers: Dick Kreager
Greeters: Jessica Harrison
February Birthdays!!
1st
Jane Cowling
3rd
Barbara Biggar
3rd
Sandy Lindsey
5th
Susan Hinz
6th
Marlin Tonn
1th
Kate Cross
12th
Emily Dinse
12th
Leslie Kiesow
12th
Millie Kreager
Barbara Zimmerman
25th
Katie Trieloff
27th
Lla Zimmerman
Mission statement: Did you know we have a mission statement? Did you know it is seven years old? Did you know that it’s about time we looked at and redid our current mission statement? Why?
After some time mission statements become irrelevant. The fact is churches are living organisms that change and grow in different ways. Because of this, what the church stated it would be and do in its old mission statement is most likely no longer relevant.
In February our session will be participating in a retreat led by our executive presbyter. During our time together we will explore who we are as a church, who we want to be as a church, and where is God leading us. The hope in answering these questions is that we can develop a concise and self directive mission statement.
But what is a self directive mission statement? It is a mission statement that not only tells those who read it who we are, but it also describes what we are about.
As we look at who, what and where we are going it is important to engage in a process of listening and discernment. Being able to listen for God’s leading, as well as, the members of the church, is part of the process of discernment. But why is it important to listen?
Listening to God and to others allows us to have a clear picture of where we need to be as a church. Scripture tells us that without a vision, the people perish. Without a vision the church perishes, too.
Some have asked why try to fix something that is not broken. My response has been that “engaging in listening isn’t about fixing something, but rather being able to make sure that what we are about where God wants us to be.”
During our last congregational meeting, we were able to celebrate the ministry we engaged in during 2006. Positive comments regarding the church’s ministry of music, its Christian education, the new fellowship hour, our participation in mission, and our youth were spoken. But we also talked about improving communication, strengthening our youth ministry, and having younger families join us for worship.
At our retreat in February, we hope to take the recommendations and the positive comments we received and use them to formulate a new mission statement. Our hope is to have a sense of direction for our committees and for our session as we look at the next five years of ministry in Winneconne.
We invite everyone during the next couple of weeks to share with session members other joys and growing edges they think we need to focus on. Our hope is to have a statement that clearly states who we are and where we are going.
So join us as we dream of our future and what God calls us to be.
Peace and grace,
Pastor Mara
Worship for the Month of February
February 4, 2007
Fifth Sunday After Epiphany
9:00 a.m. Worship with Traditional Communion in Fellowship Hall
Readings: Psalm 138 and 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Sermon Theme: Microprinted time capsules can store information for a thousand years in 150 locations. They can store our personal messages for future generations. We can do better as apostles of Christ by sending out Christ’s message. Have you ever considered yourself an apostle? An apostle is “one who is sent”. The question is whether we are willing or feel worthy in accepting the call.
______________________________________
February 11, 2007 Sixth Sunday After Epiphany
9:00 a.m. Worship
Readings: Psalm 1 and Luke 6:17-26
Sermon Theme: There are some ugly dogs out there — do we embrace their beauty or ignore their reality? Jesus sees so much unsightliness where the world sees beauty, and he finds beauty in that which we repulse and resist. The obvious question for this text is why? Why does he love, bless, and exhort us toward seemingly ugly things?
_______________________________________
February 18, 2007
Transfiguration Sunday
9:00 a.m. Worship
Readings: Exodus 34:29-35 and Luke 9:28-36 and 37-43 or 28-43
Sermon Theme: Whether the topic is the JFK assassination or The Da Vinci Code, we are
fascinated by talk of secret plots that change the course of history. But perhaps we are missing the greatest “conspiracy” of all time.
_________________________________________
February 21, 2007
Ash Wednesday
7:00 p.m. Worship
Readings: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 and Psalm 51:1-17
Sermon Theme: Insurance companies now offer “accident forgiveness” for customers involved in minor accidents. What kind of forgiveness does God offer when our sin isn’t necessarily unintentional?
___________________________________________
February 25, 2007
First Sunday in Lent
9:00 a.m. Worship
Readings: Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 and Luke 4:1-13
Sermon Theme: A survey says that the majority of Houstonians often get lost in their home city. What’s the best way to find your spiritual home? On this first Sunday in Lent, it behooves us to watch where we’re going and make our way to a safe spiritual home.
ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
During the first three Sundays in February, the Christian Education Committee will continue to sponsor a class entitled "Parenting Your Teenager." Parenting teenagers can be a difficult task. However, with insights provided by Drs. Les and Leslie Parrot, we can look at how parenting a teenager isn't a job, but rather a call to love. For three weeks we will explore the following topics: “Rebellion and discipline, The legacy of the Christian Faith, and How to discipline your teenager."
Join us and Pastor Mara in this exciting class. The class will meet in the old green kitchen at 10:20 a.m.
_____________________________________________________
LAMPLIGHT LIBRARY
"Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."Psalms 119:105
Book of the Month: "The Next Place" by Warren Hanson This is the book that has brought healing to the many families and friends who have lost loved ones in our recent national tragedies. THE NEXT PLACE is an inspirational journey of peace, comfort, and hope to a place where earthly hurts are left behind. It is a picture book for all ages, a beautifully illustrated celebration of life, and an immeasurable comfort to those who have lost someone dear. Its gentle message makes THE NEXT PLACE an excellent book for the bereaved and an inspirational book for the dying.
A thank you to Sarah Walter for the donation of the book "The Next Place".
Worship Attendants for February:
February 11
Lay Readers: Dick Kreager
Greeters: Karen Angell
Nursery Attendants: Rhonda and Curt Schneider
February 18
Ushers: Aaron and Peggy Thums
Lay Readers: Dick Kreager
Greeters: Sandy and Bob Lindsey
February 21 Ash Wednesday
Communion Servers: (Communion by Intinction in Sanctuary) Wayne and Allys Rudisill, Mary Sell and Terry Spaulding
Lay Readers: Dick Kreager
Greeters: Terry Spaulding
February 25
Ushers: Karen Angell and Dave Norton
Lay Readers: Dick Kreager
Greeters: Jessica Harrison
February Birthdays!!
1st
Jane Cowling
3rd
Barbara Biggar
3rd
Sandy Lindsey
5th
Susan Hinz
6th
Marlin Tonn
1th
Kate Cross
12th
Emily Dinse
12th
Leslie Kiesow
12th
Millie Kreager
Barbara Zimmerman
25th
Katie Trieloff
27th
Lla Zimmerman
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