First Congregational
The Bell
United Church of Christ
420 Wilson Ave.
Menomonie, WI 54751
(715) 235-5838
e-mail: 1stcongo@wwt.net
website: menomonieucc.org August 2010
8/1: 10am Outdoor Service, potluck picnic and
games at Wilson Park Outdoor Worship Service and
4pm Family bike outing Potluck Picnic
NO 8:15am service today Sunday, August 1, 2010
8/3: 1pm Thursday’s Table board meeting Wilson Park‐‐10 AM
8/4: 5pm Executive Committee meeting Please join us for our annual outdoor service at
Wilson Park. The service will be followed by a
8/5: 10am Bible Study picnic meal and games. Please bring a dish to pass
8/7: 9am Communion bread baking and your own eating utensils. Beverages will be
provided by the church.
8/9: 6:30‐9:30pm Progressive Christian Discussion We will use the benches at the park but if
movie “Whale Watcher” you wish to bring your own chairs or a blanket for
your family to sit on during the service and the
8/10: 9am WIGC “Breakfast and Books” at the picnic, please do so.
Golden Leaf Café
5:30pm Church Council meeting Mission Activity
To Feed My Starving Children
8/16: 9:30am Tour Crafts
Friday, August 20th, 9:30 AM to 6 PM
8/18: 1pm 150th Anniversary committee meeting
Kids going into 4th grade or older and all ages of
8/19: 10am Bible Study adults are invited to participate in a trip to the
8/20: Grades 4‐adult trip to Feed My Starving Twin Cities for a day of fun at Como Park & Zoo
Children and a two‐hour shift at Feed My Starving Children
8/21: 9am‐noon Artzgirlz at Margy Hagaman’s in Eagan, MN. Drivers are needed and
transportation costs will be shared. People are
8/29: 4pm Family bike outing
asked to bring their own spending money for
lunch and snacks and an offering for Feed My
8/30: 9:30am Tour Crafts
Starving Children.
Please Note: The facility where we will work is one
Nita will be on vacation August 2‐5 where groups work together to pack dry meals to
Rob will be on vacation August 12‐16 & August 30‐ send to countries where children are starving.
September 6
This is a fun and meaningful activity for all ages.
Look for the registration form in this Bell. Space is 1
limited to the first 20 registrations.
Sunday, August 1: 10am
Coffee Hour Servers
Outdoor Service and Picnic
August 1: Potluck Picnic
Communion Sunday
August 8:
Sacrament of Baptism
August 15: Heather Jerrie and Eric Youngquist
Scripture: Exodus 26:1‐14, 36‐37, Numbers 7:1‐4,89
August 22: Neil & Marie Koch
Reader:
August 29:
Music: Mariah Karis
Sunday, August 8: 8:15 &10am Nursery Volunteers
Scripture: Genesis 15:1‐6, Luke 12:32‐40 August 1: none needed
Reader: Sandee Elkins August 8:
Music: August 15:
Adult Sunday School: 9am August 22:
Fellowship Hour: Following Worship August 29:
Sunday, August 15: 8:15 &10am
Jayne Helgevold will be guest preaching Bell Ringers
Scripture: Luke 12:49‐55, Isaiah 5:1‐7 August 1: none needed
Reader: Beth Draeger August 8: Domenic Stellino
Music: Heather Jerrie August 15:
Adult Sunday School: 9am August 22:
Fellowship Hour: following worship August 29:
Sunday, August 22: 8:15 &10am
Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4‐10, Luke 13:10‐17
Flowers**
Reader: Frank Burdick August 1:
Music: Luke Randall August 8: Hoyt/Hall
Adult Sunday School: 9am August 15: Schwebs
Fellowship Hour: following worship August 22: MacDougall
August 29:
Sunday, August 29: 8:15 &10am
**Please note: we request that flowers to be here
Scripture: Hebrews 13:1‐8, Luke 14:7‐14
for the 8:15 service on Sunday. Information for the
Reader: Liz Strachan
Church bulletin should be given to Deb Wesolek or
Music: Olivia Aarrestad and Galen Ericksen
the church office (235‐5838) one week prior.
Adult Sunday School: 9am
Fellowship Hour: following worship
Building Renovation
7/19/2010
Monies from 2008‐2010 $346,255.02
Communion Servers for August 1 (Outdoor Money Market Fund $13,319.97
Service): Jill Schwebs Check Book Balance $2,058.57
Loan Balance $74,700.35
Ushers for August Total paid ahead on loan $319,333.00
Bill and June Grambo, Tom & Barb Schmelzle, Ron Monies received last 30 days $2,116.29
& Joan Sandfort Monies need each month $1,434.39
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Keep In Your Prayers: Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Last fall I attended a lecture at the Overture
Luis Anda (deployed to Iraq) Center in Madison. The speaker was one of my
Andrew Skamfer (deployed to Afghanistan) favorite authors, Wendell Berry. After Mr. Berry
Joe Waggoner (deployed to Iraq) finished reading from one of his pieces of writing
Gerry Kochendorfer there was a question and answer time. I don’t
remember the question that was asked but in his
Marge Norris
answer Mr. Berry indicated that he did all his writing
The Pauly and Wendt families
with a pen on legal pads. He said he didn’t do well
Eileen Arnold
writing with a machine – typewriters or computers.
Sue Foxwell
He enjoyed holding a pen, seeing the letters he
Jarvi/Beamer family formed and being able to write just about anywhere
he found himself. He said that a pen and sheet of
Our Congratulations: paper engaged his mind and spirit in ways that other
…to Bill & Linda Olson, their first granddaughter, technology simply couldn’t.
Thela, was born on July 12. Her parents are Jesse Most of you know that I do my writing with pen
and Sarah Olson. and paper as well. I know it seems outmoded,
impractical and even a nuisance to others, but for me
Thank you it just seems natural. When I am on a computer I think
Our family wishes to thank our church friends for of emails I need to send, information I should look up,
their prayers and wishes for our granddaughter’s, many things I should be planning, and on and on. The
Claudia Schwartz, return to good health. She has singular item I need to work on gets lost in the great
maze of other concerns when I am on the computer.
completed many months of “intensive”
When I have pen and paper I am much better at
chemotherapy for leukemia and is now doing well.
focusing, I am much better at being present to the
She continues on a maintenance program of
task at hand. Perhaps this is true for the brilliant Mr.
medications to treat any hidden cancer cells
Berry as well.
remaining in her system. This is much more In July I spent four days on a planning retreat. I
tolerable than the chemotherapy and radiation collected all my books and supplies that I use to plan
was. Claudia has resumed the activities of a worship each week, put them and me into an R.V. and
teenager (nearly 16), drivers ed, band, sports, etc. drove off to a state park. I haven’t taken this kind of
The Muller Family planning time before – just me, some books, paper
and pens. I was amazed at how focused I felt. The
Birthday Reception time passed without notice and I was able to
There will be a reception after the September 5 accomplish all that I had hoped to. I also felt more
church service to celebrate Nancy Apelgren’s 80th creative, energized and in touch with the Spirit.
birthday. If you would like to send cards or I know the rest of the world is talking about
otherwise communicate with her, she is living with “multi‐tasking.” I need time for “singular‐tasking”. I
her son Chris at: 2754 Pearl Court, Sun Prairie, know that life feels fragmented and disconnected if I
Wisconsin 53590. don’t have time to be where I am, attentive to one
thing. While at the state park I had moments when I
felt reconnected to myself, which always means
feeling a greater connection with God. When this
If you would like to share some news with our
happens I feel free to live according to my hopes
church family, please call 235‐5838, or email
instead of my fears.
1stcongo@wwt.net.
I believe God is found more in the depths of our
souls than in the busyness of our schedules. May you
have time to meet the God within you and enjoy the
fullness of life. Rob
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Fall Dates: Mark your Calendars Men’s Inner Life Group
Rally Sunday: September 12 Due to people’s schedules over the summer, the
Men’s Inner Life group will not be meeting in
First Wednesday Activities: September 15 August. Look for an email in August regarding
September dates for the group.
All families with children birth to grade 12
will receive a mailing late in August with all Summer Sundays offer Veggie Tales
the information about what is being Younger children are invited to enjoy a Veggie Tales
planned this year for children, youth, and DVD each week after the Time with Children
families. This is a great time to update downstairs in Room 2. Though all ages may enjoy
them, they are provided especially for younger
nursery forms, let us know about allergies, elementary and pre‐school children. Leadership is
and imagine what kinds of programs your provided by Ben Jerrie, Jena Benoit and Olivia
family wants to be involved in this year. Aarrestad.
We plan to have a Confirmation group Kidventures & VBS
in 2011‐12, but not this year due to the ages We had great participation from our children and
of our kids. youth in this year’s summer programs. Thanks to
all the adults who provided rides, helped with all
kinds of things, and were supportive of these
August Bible Study programs of our church. We could not do these
There are three opportunities for Bible study as programs without lots of help and without
part of church during August. All people of any age collaborating with other local churches. These
are welcome. ecumenical efforts make it possible for many kids
to enjoy a safe and fun environment for learning
1) Sunday morning study of the text for the about God’s creation and love.
morning worship is held each week in the library
from 9‐9:45am. Check the worship page in this Bell
Progressive Christian Discussions
for the passages designated for the week.
Summer Light
2) Thursday morning study will focus on the Psalms Summer time is bringing a slow‐down to the pace
during July and August we will meet in the Parlor and frequency of our Monday night discussions. If
from 10‐11:30am on Thursdays August 5 & 19. you are not on Nita’s email list for Progressive
Christian Discussions and want to be, please email
3) Dunn County Health Care Center Study takes her at nitaucc@yahoo.com.
place on Wednesdays August 10 & 18, 10‐11:30am August 9, 6:30‐9:30 PM in Fellowship Hall
in Mildred Richard’s room. This group will be Movie Night: Whale Rider—FREE! Dave Cook will
focusing on the Psalms in July and August. share a few ideas regarding faith perspectives in
the movie, then we will watch and discuss it. Ice
tea, popcorn, air conditioning provided. Bring a
friend. The movie is rated PG‐13 and got great
Women in Good Company ratings!
The Women in Good Company continue to August 23, 7‐8:30 PM: Jo Ann Rucker will
walk on Mondays at 10:30am Stokke trail, share and lead discussion about Resilience. Many
weather permitting, or Stout Field house (meet in the community (school district and county
at church). employees) have participated in a resilience
Our next “Breakfast and Books” will be program for a few years now. This has been
Tuesday, August 10, 9‐11am at the Golden Leaf particularly meaning for to Jo Ann and she’s happy
Café. to share with us about it. Please join us!
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Tour Crafters
Our next Tour Craft gathering will be on July
ARTZGIRLZ (a Slight Twist) 12th at 9:30 in the Fellowship Hall. We have
AUGUST 21st , Saturday, 9:00‐12:00 a.m. met twice and have come up with ideas varying
Margy Hagaman’s home. from candy cane wreaths, canvas bags, snap
purses, aprons, cork trivets and decorated small
1. Pesky piles of Hand Mending Christmas trees. None of these projects have
2. Creative solutions to antiques and other been completed; we are just in the gathering
treasures stages but will begin in earnest on July 12th. So
3. Antique rug repair and table cloth repair come and join the fun!! We could use your help
4. Wedding Cathedral patterned quilt in the gathering process. If you have any of the
accidentally washed years ago (Is it repairable?) following items, drop them off across from the
5. Elbow patches attachment for silk jacket‐ office under the coat rack in a Tour Crafts
6. Summer outfit needing hemming rather than Basket.
Scotch tape *12‐18 inch artificial Christmas trees,
Bring your hand mending, your *wine corks,
treasures, and necessary supplies and help each *small to medium sized wooden picture frames,
other come up with solutions to whatever. *beads,
Bring your knitting, weaving, ideas, half‐ *flat, advertising refrigerator magnets,
finished projects, and other challenges if you *scrap wood and anyone eager to cut it in the
have nothing that needs repair. (You could shape of candy canes
always bring a holey (holy) sock , a glass egg, and We thank you, Loree and Jill
some sock thread….)
Just a suggestion as we finish the Sr. Choir Picnic
summer season and think about the autumn We are planning a senior choir get together with
with its shortening days and beautiful color. our new music director on Sept. 1, 6pm at Liz
Questions? Contact: Jill Schwebs, Connie Strachan’s house. Please bring a dish to pass,
Flug, Mary Gerber, Margy Hagaman beverages and plates, etc. will be furnished.
Families are also invited. PLEASE RSVP to Liz
Strachan.
Pie Social Update
This year's pie social was a tremendous success Introducing Our New Music Director
and was a year of "firsts". It was the first year After a 2‐3 month search we are pleased to
that we sold out of everything prior to the announce that we have hired a new Music
concert finishing and also the first year that we Director who will begin his work with us in
made $1000 (over $100 more than last year)!! September. Tom Anderson lives with his wife on
Thanks so much to all who made the beautiful, the west side of Eau Claire. Tom has been a
yummy pies & desserts, to those who donated church accompanist and/or Music director at
cash, and to those who worked before, during, churches in the Twin Cities since 2003. Tom has
and after the event. It was wonderful to see done worship planning and sought to bring a
everyone pitching in on such a fun project! wide variety of musical expressions to worship
Thanks again!! Michelle, Beth & Jen (Your Pie including jazz, contemporary, classical and
Social Co‐chairs) global/ethnic. Tom moved to Eau Claire
following the completion of his Law degree to
work in a private firm. Tom is a graduate of UW‐
Eau Claire with a degree in music composition.
We are excited to have Tom Anderson as our
new Music Director.
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SAVE THE DATE
September 24‐25, 2011
In 2011 our church will be celebrating its 150th
anniversary. During the course of the year we
Bike Outings: Sundays, August 1st & 29th
will be highlighting and celebrating various
If you enjoy biking, just learning or just getting
groups, events, activities, etc that have made us
used to it again, we have scheduled three bike
First Congregational UCC in Menomonie, WI.
outings for the summer. All ages are invited to
On Sept. 24, 2011, we will have a dinner
join others at the Red Cedar Trail head on
at the Off Broadway Banquet Center for all
highway #29 by Riverside Park at 4 PM on the
church members, past and present, former
following Sunday afternoons: August 1st and
ministers, etc. Then on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011,
August 29th. Those present will bike the trail for
we will be celebrating our 150 years with a
a long or short time depending on interest. Be
special worship service.
sure to bring your own water and trail pass. The
More details about the dinner and our
trail is free for those under 16. For adults you
celebration year will be coming in the next few
can buy a yearly pass that can be used on all
months. We hope you can join us for some of
state trails or you can get a daily pass at the
these special events.
trailhead. If some of you need a bike to try
riding again, Joe and Margy Hagaman have some
extras you can borrow for the day. Come and Church Directory
join in the fun! Pictures for the new church
directory will be taken the end
Jayne Helgevold Becomes of September. Look for more
information in the September
“Member in Discernment”
Bell and in the e‐news.
Jayne Helgevold has been a member of our
church for 5 years. During those years she has
attended the WI Conference Lay Academy, been Are you E‐connected?
our delegate to Association and Conference Do you have an email address? We send weekly
Annual Meetings, chaired our Planned Giving E‐news with updates and reminders. We have a
Committee and preached on Sundays. Jayne is facebook page with pictures, links, and
currently attending United Theological Seminary discussions; become a “fan”. Our website has
and has felt a call to ordained ministry. In the The Bell and info about the church that you can
UCC those persons moving toward ordained access. Get connected, stay connected!
ministry enter a process called “Member in
Discernment” (formerly known as “In Care”).
This process is one in which a local church and Volunteer Opportunity
an Association journey with the person, helping Literacy Volunteers of Chippewa Valley is
them listen for God’s direction and helping them looking for volunteers. Help an adult by
fulfill denominational requirements. Our church becoming a volunteer tutor. Different trainings
council is taking the steps to support Jayne in begin in September and October with
her journey. This is an exciting time for Jayne registration accepted now through September 8
and our church as we celebrate ministry or October 4. If you have questions or would like
together. to register, please call Cheryl at (715) 834‐0429
or go to www.lvcv.org.
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Intergenerational Fellowship Program is Seeking Participants for this year!
Many of you know that for the past six years our church has offered an intergenerational program
connecting children/youth and adults one Wednesday a month. Each year hosts, drivers, and visitors are
invited to participate. Teams will gather at church at 6 PM and return by 7:30 PM on the 2nd Wednesday
of each month. The hope is that the same teams get together each month. Though schedules and
sickness make that impossible sometimes, everyone is flexible and when the teams need to shift at bit
they do it with ease.
Anyone in the church is invited to participate as part of a team. For each team we need a host—
someone who will welcome 3‐4 visitors into their residence once a month for a time of conversation,
activity, games, or whatever the group wishes to do. Each team needs a chaperone or driver who is able
to facilitate conversation with the children/youth and host. And each team needs children, youth, or
adults who want to get to know others in our congregation.
Age limits: Children younger than 3rd grade may participate with a parent or guardian. Adults of any age
are welcome as hosts, chaperone/drivers, or visitors.
Commitment: We ask for people to commit to participating monthly (2nd Wednesday of each month,
October through May), knowing that there may be a time or two when they cannot make it due to
sickness, vacation, or unavoidable schedule conflict. Our first meeting will be in Sept 22 since we do not
start Fall programs until mid Sept.
Commitment to Safe Ministries: Our policy is to send at least two children/youth with the adult
chaperone/driver and for the travel to begin and end at the church where children can be picked up by
parents or grandparents. Adult drivers are screened.
Comments from past participants
What was one of the best things about visiting?
Connecting with both generations, facilitating those connections and being a part of the fun.
The relationships that were formed and the ability to listen to stories from the past and gain
perspective from someone else's point of view.
I met two young ladies, of our church family, that I had not had any interaction with before. They
were delightful.
What did you learn about our faith community?
God nurtures everyone in different ways and sometimes you need to talk to people outside your
family to hear the nurturance!
That we really need to be intentional about making these connections. I don't know they would
often happen if we didn't.
That people who are elderly have a great deal of wisdom on matters of faith.
Spend some time with a few people in our congregation and you will discover a side of them you
did not know. And this makes us stronger as a church body.
This is your invitation to participate in this year’s Intergenerational Fellowship Program. Please consider
how you can be involved and contact Nita in the church office if you have any questions or wish to
participate. Teams will be created at the end of August, so please be in touch before then. This is a
wonderful way to get to know more members of our church in an informal way!
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First Congregational UCC Intergenerational
Mission & Fun Event
Who: Adults of all ages and kids going into 4th grade or older
When: Friday, August 20, 9:30 AM to 6 PM
Where: Twin Cities
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory in St. Paul http://www.comozooconservatory.org/
Feed My Starving Children in Eagan http://www.fmsc.org/
Cost: $3 to chip in for drivers plus any other spending money for lunch and snacks. Feed
My Starving Children requests donations for the cost of food. Feel free to bring an
offering to share when we are there.
Schedule
Meet at church 9:15AM
Leave by 9:30 AM
Como Park: 10:45 AM ‐ 1:45 PM
Feed My Starving Children: 2:30‐4:30 PM
Arrive at church 6 PM
Background Info: If you are not familiar with FMSC, it is a wonderfully run place where hundreds of
people a day go to package simple nutritious meals for starving children in faraway places. It's great
teamwork and lots gets done in little time. There is an opportunity to do make purchases in their little
store of handiwork from third world countries.
RSVP to Nita: by Friday, August 13th if you wish to go. (Phone: 235‐5838; email:
nitaucc@yahoo.com)
Registration: Please email the info below or tear off and send or bring to church. Bring
cash that day for drivers. We are relying on volunteer drivers, so please indicate your
willingness to drive.
NOTE: We have reservations for 15 at FMSC but at this printing there is room for many
more, so please sign up!
‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ REGISTRATION FORM‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐
First Congregational UCC—Menomonie WI
Mission Event: August 20, 2010
Name(s) of Participant:______________________________________________________________
Parent(s) Names (if you are registering a child):____________________________________________
Name/Emergency Contact Phone: ______________________________________
I give permission for my child(ren) listed above to participate in this mission event and to be transported
by staff and volunteer drivers from the church.
Signed by parent/guardian: _______________________________ Date: ________
[ ] YES, I can drive if needed—contact me. My car holds ___ passengers.
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