July 2015 Tidings - St Paul`s United Church of Christ

St. Paul’s United Church of Christ
1250 Leonard Point Road  Oshkosh, WI 54904  Phone: 920-231-3080 
E-Mail: [email protected]  Web: www.stpaulsoshkosh.com
July 2015 Tidings
“Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy.”
Psalm 96:12
I hope this issue of the Tidings finds you all well and enjoying the summer. I know for some of you
camping is a big part of the summer. Some of you have regular camp sites that you go to where you enjoy not
only being outside but also the fellowship of your fellow campers.
The Wisconsin Conference UCC is fortunate to have two outdoor ministry sites – Moon Beach in St.
Germain and Pilgrim Center in Ripon. These two camps have been described as treasured “gems.” Many of
you have attended one of these camps and can attest to the importance of outdoor ministry.
Many conferences and denominations have had to close down their camps for financial reasons. It is a
fact that the most effectively run camps are not able to generate 100% of operating and maintenance costs.
The WI Conference has supplemented this shortfall through OCWM funds. The Conference in conjunction with
the UCCI Board has determined that it is time to address long term needs and move the camps toward
sustaining themselves.
A three year CAMPital Campaign is in full swing. Three goals have been set by the campaign committee
– $3 million, $5 million, and $8 million. Individual projects are assigned to each level with the most important
occurring in the lowest level and the larger dreams in the highest level. Brochures are available that list all of
the projects at each level. These will be available in the Narthex and we will hand them out when we launch
our own campaign to support the CAMPital Campaign. At the Conference Annual Meeting, it was announced
that $1.8 million has been raised so far.
Here is where we all come in. The Church Council voted to pledge $30,000 to the CAMPital Campaign
over a three year period. We plan to raise the money through individual donations by all of you, fund raising
efforts, and the Sustaining Fund. We will officially kick this off in the fall, but I wanted you to be aware of it
now. If you would like to contribute before our kick off, please make a check out to St. Paul’s UCC with
CAMPital Campaign on the memo line.
The Conference is planning bus trips to both of the camps and I am working with Peter Smith of
Emmanuel on a worship service and lunch at Pilgrim sometime in the fall. Of course, you can also ask those
from St. Paul’s who will be attending camp this year – Kate Gassere, Bonny and Mike Juedes, and myself or the
many who have attended camp in the past.
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Our camps are the entry point to faith for many. This is our opportunity to support this vital ministry
and help to preserve these sacred spaces. Please prayerfully consider your financial support. It isn’t too late to
attend a camp this year either. A display is set up in the Fellowship Hall with information on the various camps
that are offered.
Blessings,
Pastor RaeAnn
P.S. Thanks for all the Flat Jesus pictures! Looks like Jesus is having a great summer already.
The Path will meet on Wednesday nights throughout the summer. During
July, we will be moving to Sheldon Nature Area.
We will gather for a simple meal at 6:00 pm. Bring your folding chair
and join us for a relaxed, casual time of fellowship and faith formation.
Biblical Texts for Personal Devotions and Reflection
based on the Narrative Lectionary
This summer our focus will be on the Psalms. The Psalms were written to be sung in
worship, as the gathered community. They express a wide range of emotions and
are filled with wonderful imagery. Our series will be titled “Songs in the Key of
Faith.”
July 5
Psalm 27:1-6
July 12
Psalm 40:1-10
July 19
Psalm 146
July 26
TBD
The Narrative Lectionary series on Psalms ends with Psalm 146. I am contemplating continuing the series into
August. If you have a favorite Psalm or a verse from a Psalm, let me know and maybe I will use it in worship.
HAVING FUN IN THE SUN
Summertime is a great way to use SCRIP Cards. For road trips, cook-outs, or
just relaxing,
SCRIP
has cards for everything.
Order your cards now or purchase some at the church and start to enjoy ALL THAT
SUMMER HAS TO OFFER!
Sara Spaulding was the latest winner of a $25 Target gift card in the
contest! Watch for the next contest!
The next order is due on Sunday, July 5th
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SCRIP
AUTOMATIC TRANSFER
Thanks to the folks who are now taking advantage of the Automatic
Transfer option that St. Paul’s and our bank are able to offer members. By
having your weekly giving automatically transferred from your accounts to
ours, you do not need to be concerned about your church pledge not being
fulfilled if you’re away during the summer. St. Paul’s is also able to plan on the necessary monies
becoming available to us during the summer when giving is down. This better helps the Council work
within their budgeted amounts.
If you are interested in joining with those who already use this method of automatic giving,
contact the church office for more details and the simple form that you need to complete and return to
us.
Don’t forget that we recycle all brands of ink cartridges. Those brought in so far
have really helped our office budget. There are drop off boxes in the Narthex and office.
Why not check with friends and neighbors for theirs!
It's already time to start collecting for the Back to School Fair which will be held August 6th
at Oshkosh North High School. The Fair gives lower income families in our area a fresh start to the
school year by providing a new shirt, pants, underwear, socks, hygiene supplies, and a haircut.
The "Christmas in July" tree is up in the narthex and ready to go! Please choose as many
tags as you like, purchase items on the tag or make a cash donation, and
return to the church, unwrapped, by July 26th. Cash donations can be
made by check (to Community Back to School Fair), or you can donate
department store gift cards which can be conveniently purchased via your July
SCRIP order. Gift cards from OLD NAVY help provide jeans and a shirt for
middle and high school students, plus St. Paul's gets 14% back from SCRIP!
Everyone wins! Be sure to choose your tags soon, so you have plenty of time to
shop or order gift cards. Thank you!
MUELLER, RAY & KIM
(#11) 07/03
BOERNER, RYAN & KASEY
(#12)
07/19
JOACHIM, BILL & ELIZABETH
(#50)
07/24
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BETTCHER, TELENE
RUDY, SHARON
BOERNER, CASSIDY
BOERNER, KASEY
LINSLEY, HARLAN
MARKS, MARCIA
SCHNEIDER, CRISTY
BOERNER, MASON
KAUFMAN, KAIDEN
BETTCHER, BRINLEY
07/02
07/02
07/07
07/11
07/15
07/17
07/17
07/24
07/27
07/30
Special music by the Winnebagoland Barbershoppers here during
worship on Sunday, July 12th!
The Serenity Garden at the front of the church is in need of some new plants to replace some
of the original ones. The decorative bench also in need of new paint
after several years.
If you would like to contribute to this
beautification project, put your contribution in a brown pew envelope
indicating “Plant replacements”. If you include your name, you will receive credit
on your Giving Statement.
Dear St. Paul’s UCC,
I am excited to share the good news that we have called two new "settled" Associate
Conference Ministers! Our Search Team of eight interviewed 15 candidates and
recommended the Rev. Rob MacDougall and the Rev. Jane Anderson to the Board of
Directors, who unanimously approved the calls. Both bring many years of pastoral
experience, a collaborative style of leadership, passion for future ministry models, and
plenty of energy and organizational skills to serve well as your Associate Conference
Ministers. We introduced our new ACM's at Annual Meeting today, and anticipate they will
begin their ministry on September 1.
We also gave thanks for the faithful and excellent work of Rev. Becky Johnston and Rev.
Kent Ulery, who will continue as Interim ACM's through the month of August. And we
expressed our gratitude for the Rev. Joanne Thomson's leadership in church development
and renewal, as we anticipate her transition to serving as the Southwest Associate
Conference Minister.
Already we are planning for some significant "transition" time together.
With gratitude and excitement,
Franz
_______________________________________
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Jane Anderson is called as the Associate Conference Minister for the Eastern Corridor.
Jane has been in ministry in the local church for 30 years. She first served a small rural
church as a licensed local pastor in the United Methodist Church. After coming to the
United Church of Christ in 1988, she served a suburban church outside Rochester, New
York, first as a licensed pastor and then as an ordained minister upon her graduation from
seminary and ordination into the UCC. During her 6 year tenure in New York, she helped
the congregation grow from 450 to 650 members. In 1995 Jane was called to First
Congregational UCC, Appleton, a congregation of 1450 members, assuming a variety of
pastoral leadership roles as the church's program and ministry have evolved.
Jane has served the wider church in a variety of settings - on Church and Ministry for the
Genesee Valley (NY) Association, on the Executive Committee of the Northeast (WI)
Association, on the Wisconsin Conference Board of Directors, and on the Executive
Council of the United Church of Christ. She is a graduate of Colgate-Rochester Divinity
School and has completed residencies in pastoral counseling and in marriage and family
therapy.
Jane is mother of two adult children and grandmother of two. She enjoys biking, hiking,
swimming and fly-fishing; loves cooking; is an avid reader, movie and theater buff; and
loves music, especially rhythm and blues.
Rob MacDougall is called as the Associate Conference Minister for the Northwest
Association. Rob grew up in Racine, just a few blocks from the city's best Danish bakeries.
(The best kringle comes from Bendtsen's on Washington Ave.) He attended St. Olaf
College, graduating with a BA in Social Work. He worked doing chemical dependency
prevention with youth in Milwaukee and Minneapolis before deciding to attend seminary.
Rob graduated from Pacific School of Religion with his M.Div. in 1985. He was ordained
that same year at his home church, First Congregational UCC of Minneapolis. His first call
was to St. Paul's UCC in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was the Associate Pastor with the
Rev. Ted Trost. After three years at St. Paul's, Rob received a call to serve First
Congregational UCC, Menomonie, where he has served for 27 wonderful years.
Rob completed a D.Min. at United Theological Seminary in 2005. His thesis focused on
issues around clergy retirement. Rob married Wendy Randall in 1981; they met at St. Olaf.
Wendy is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and is the current director of the Dunn County
Health Department. Rob and Wendy have three adult children, one of whom will be
married on June 27, and one grandchild. Rob recently planted a postage stamp vineyard,
and is hoping to produce some drinkable wine a few years from now.
We now have enough people interested in a Habitat for Humanity work day to schedule a date.
Thursday, August 20th or 27th, were requested, however the first home they
are building may be finished by then and the second one may not be far
enough along for our crew to start helping so the date may have to be pushed
back into September. Stay tuned for updates. We have 8 people signed up but
there's plenty of room for more. Please contact Barb Loomans if you still want
to join in the fun. No special skills required - just able hands and a willing
spirit!
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PLEASE KEEP THE FOLLOWING IN YOUR PRAYERS:
Those who are homebound or in care centers: Jeanette Cummings, Don
Kieckhafer, June Otto, Betty Gabbert, Eileen Redemann, Betty Bettin, Muriel
Carrillo
Haitian Student sponsored by St. Paul’s: Corriolant Yves
St. Paul’s friends and family: Neil Starke, Mary Jaynes’ sister Sue, Steve
Jones,
Mike Juedes’ sister Judy and niece Katelyn, Bobbi Reepsdorf’s niece Kary, Robin Oxley’s sister-inlaw
Those who are under ongoing medical care: Ann Sheldon
We mourn with: the family of Robert Richardson
June 7 – Honored the high school graduation of Alyssa and Caitlyn Schafer
given by Ellen Becker.
June 14 – Honored the 1st wedding anniversary of Carla Gearnhardt and
Lonnie Hershberger
SPECIAL GOSPEL MUSIC SERVICE
On Sunday, August 2nd, the choirs of Peace Lutheran Church and St.
Paul’s will combine to present this special Gospel Music Service at St. Paul’s 9:30 service. The choirs will be
accompanied by Ginny Kippa at the organ and Larry Klausch at the piano.
Some of the songs the choirs will be singing are: When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder, Since Jesus Came into
My Heart, In My Heart There Rings A Melody, and He Lives.
The congregation and choirs will sing the following: Standing on the Promises, Leaning on the Everlasting
Arms, Do Lord and Onward Christian Soldiers. The choirs will also be presenting this service at Peace
Lutheran Church on Sunday, July 19th.
We hope you will put the date of Sunday, August 2nd on your list of important things to attend and be with
us at St. Paul’s for this special event.
Special music by the Winnebagoland Barbershoppers here during worship on
Sunday, July 12th!
Trampfs
Weekly lawn mowers: Trampfs, Lowell Reepsdorf,
Boerners, Paul Gassere,
Jack Meyer,
Tom and Nachell Nabbefeld
Van drivers: Dennis Krause and Paul Gassere
and Debbie Wriedt for weeding flower bed
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Lowell Reepsdorf for spraying dandelions in May
Barb Jones for preparing June communion.
Val Trampf for planting front door and back door pots – Lynn Rollmann and Liz
Joachim for weekly watering
Coffee Hour always welcomes donations of cookies, donuts and/or juices for
everyone’s enjoyment. We appreciate the cash donations as well! Special thanks to
Anne Gassere for her cookie donations this morning. If you have a special event you’d
like to share with us during coffee hour, please feel free to contact Hiedi Sheldon.
Taylor Scott Rowe was baptized at St. Paul’s on Sunday, June 21, 2015 with Rev. RaeAnn Beebe officiating.
Taylor, born on May 19, 1993, is the son of Scott Rowe and Buena Rowe of Yuba City, CA.
A funeral service for
Robert
(Bob)
Richardson
of
Neenah was held at
Westgor
Funeral
Home in Neenah with Rev. RaeAnn Beebe and
Rev. John Mooney officiating. Bob passed
away on June 5, 2015 in Appleton.
Children are the
Rainbow of life.
Grandchildren are the
Pot of gold.
Help St. Paul’s when you shop! When you
shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon donates
0.5% of the purchase price to St. Paul’s.
Bookmark this link and support us every time
you shop – http://smile.amazon.com/ch/390102565
Congratulations to Rick and Jacki
Sheldon who were married by
Pastor RaeAnn Beebe on Saturday,
June 20, 2015!
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