fumc wausau nov 15 messenger

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NOVEMber

2015

FROM PASTOR JERRYS DESK

On Telling Familiar Stories

One of the challenges that we pastors face is that of finding new ways to tell

the same stories. Take Christmas for instance. There is probably no story in

all scripture that is more familiar than that of the birth of Baby Jesus in

Bethlehem, and yet every December we tell the story again. What else are we

going to do? Skip it? And so each year we face the task of somehow making

this loved and familiar story feel new. Its the same with Easter. Of course were going to tell the story of Christs resurrection again. Its who we are. But how do we keep the story from feeling stale? How do we repeat the old,

old story without sounding repetitious?

But you know whats even harder? Stewardship season. Every year about this time, as we prepare our budget for the following year and ask our

faithful to consider pledging their gifts to the church or increasing their pledge from last year we are faced with the same challenge. How are we going to say it this year? The Christmas and Easter stories are stories of

grace and hope, about what God has given to us. The stewardship story,

about giving back to God through the church, is a harder story to tell even

the first time. Telling it again and again . . . Well? How do we repeat this

story without sounding repetitious?

Theres actually a whole industry devoted to helping pastors tell the stewardship story. I get mail every week from some other business who has a

sure-fire way to ENHANCE YOUR CHURCHS GIVING THIS YEAR! Most are scams, promising immediate dramatic results. I sometimes feel that

that these offers should come with FDA-mandated disclaimers, like

prescription drugs do. (DISCLAIMER: Results not guaranteed. May cause

irritation of parishioners and temporary disgruntledness. If you have been

diagnosed with a shred of integrity, do not use this product. Talk to your

spiritual advisor to see if the Faith Power Spirit Other-Buzzword Giving Plan is right for you.)

But even if we reject the Madison Avenue approach to stewardship, with

implied false promises and manufactured enthusiasm, we still have to figure

out some way to talk about giving to the church, Here are the two major

options:

The Sober Assessment. Even as many individuals have increased their

giving over the past few years, our giving as a whole has not had a net

increase since at least 2006. In the years since then, we have cut staff and

operating budgets dramatically, but we are still struggling to keep up

with the decline, and we are still drawing from endowed funds to pay our

bills at the end of the year.

All of that is true, but theres a better way.

The Mission of Our Church. In the ten years since our last increase in

giving, we have started the Personal Needs Closet, the Homelessness

(continued on p. 10)

Sunday, November 22

8:00am - Morning Chapel

10:00am - Worship

The Opposite of Thanksgiving Matthew 21:33-44

The Season of Advent

Sunday, November 29 - First Sunday in Advent


10:00am - Worship

Prophecy and Second Meanings Jeremiah 33:14-16

*We observe Open Communion. All are welcome at

Gods table.

Sunday, November 1 - All Saints Memorial Service 8:00am - Morning Chapel with Communion*

10:00am - Worship with Communion*

Remembering and Being Remembered Ezekiel 16:42-43, 59-63

Sunday, November 8


10:00am - Worship

Grown Up Giving Exodus 36:20-29

Sunday, November 15


10:00am - Worship

Grown Up Believing John 6:60-68

Church Purpose:Church Purpose:Church Purpose:

Live and Share God's LoveLive and Share God's Love

NON PROFIT

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT NO. 542

WAUSAU, WI 54403

The Messenger First United Methodist Church of Wausau

903 Third Street

Wausau, WI 54403

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Phone 715 842-2201 Website: www.fumcwausau.org

STAFF

Pastor: Gerald Morris

[email protected]

Faith Formation/Music Coordinator Martie Pahris

[email protected]

Building Engineer: Andy White

Accounts & Records Supervisor: Karen Kellbach

[email protected]

Secretary: Arlene Trull

[email protected]

903 Third St; Wausau, WI 54403

Office Hours: Mon-Thurs - 9:00am-4:00pm

Web-site: www.fumcwausau.org

E-mail: [email protected]

November is full of wonderful worship opportunities. On November 1st we will be

observing All Saints Day and remembering those who have died during this past year. We will also have communion on that day and remember our Saviors death as well.

On November 8th, instead of the sounds of organ or piano, our music will be provided by

a string quartet made up of members of our church. The children that have been playing

bells on Wednesday evenings will also be playing for us.

On November 15th we will have a commissioning service for those who are going on a

mission trip to Guatemala during the week of the Thanksgiving holiday. This will be a

special time together as we send them off to a foreign country to share Gods love.

The holidays are almost here. November 22nd will be the Sunday before Thanksgiving,

when we will offer our thanks and praise to God for all that God has done for us. Then

November 29th is the first Sunday of Advent, and we begin preparing for the coming of

the Christ child. You are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities to gather

with your church family to worship the Lord our God.

During the month of November, the

Jubilate Bells will rehearse at 6:15

until 7:10pm in the Bell Room.

The Chancel Choir will rehearse at

7:15 until 8:30pm in the Choir

Room.

Upcoming Dates to Remember:

December 13 - Lessons and Carols

There will only be a 10:00am worship service

on this day.

December 20 - Childrens Program

This will be during the 10:00am service only.

Celebrating Pastor Jerrys 10 years of ministries here

Love Hope UMW Circle made over 45 gallons of laundry detergent for the Personal Needs Closet

Resources for Ministry Financial Update - September 2015 YTD

FUMC Wired

Website: fumcwausau.org

With links to the weekly sermon

(text and podcast)

facebook.com/WausauFUMC

WiFi Network: FUMC Public

(password: fumcpublic)

Revenue Expense

Pledged Offering $ 175,933.46 Salaries & Benefits $ 173,877.87

Non-Pledged Offering $ 33,574.90 Programming $ 18,344.96

Other $ 36,360.90 Apportionments to Conference $ 40,032.00

Building Operating Expenses $ 47,922.70

Total Revenue $ 245,869.26 Total Expenses $ 280,177.53

Net YTD $ -34,308.87

YTD 2015 Pledged & Non-Pledged Offerings compared to YTD 2014 8,414.22 lower

YTD 2015 Total Expenses compared to YTD 2014 8,883.69 lower

YTD 2015 Other Income compared to YTD 2014 2,813.09 higher

YTD 2015 Endowment Transfer compared to 2014 5,000.00 higher

Stories, continued from p. 1

Project with the United Way, the Downtown

Memory Cafe, and the partnership with the new

church sharing the building with us, New Life

United Methodist Church. We have renewed

ourselves by fostering community in small groups,

the new Mens Group, Family Camps, and by intentionally sending the church out to our home-

bound in the new Visitation Team. We have

reinvented Confirmation for our young people,

begun new retreats to foster their growth, planned an

overseas mission trip to Guatemala, and begun a

new Vacation Bible School plan in partnership with

North Central College.

This story is true, too, but this story matters more. In

the past decade, which has been a hard decade for

churches all over America, our church has responded by

reinventing itself, reclaiming its mission, and

rediscovering our calling to our community. And the

fact that weve done all this in a time of financial strain is an even greater testimony to the people that we are.

Thats our story. This month, as you receive mailings about your pledge, as you hear sermons about giving,

remember this second story. There is a reason that we

are here. There are lives that God is changing through

the ministry of this church. Thank you.

Page 3

Savvy Seniors will meet at

11:30am at on Monday, November

2, at the 2510 Restaurant on

Stewart Avenue.

Milestones

Deaths: On All Saints Day, in our Memorial Service, we will

remember the members and close

family of our members who have

died in the year since All Saints Day, 2014. At that service, there

will be a time when you may light a

candle for anyone for whom you

mourn whose name we have not

read.

Birth: Sullivan Reid Harris,

grandson of Bruce and Ann Chopp,

was born on October 1.

Baptism: Charlotte Eve Hassberg,

daughter of Zach and Danielle

Hassberg, and granddaughter of

James and Carla Wadinski, was

baptized in worship on October 18.

* Signifies an honored elder who cannot be at church regularly. Remember these members in your prayers.

1 Ricky Surprise Bryce Vannes Lauren Atonio Leisha Krahn Kyle Goertz 2 Tom Kelley Haley Fons 3 Brian Smith Lisa Riehle Susan Hamilton Carole Machek 4 Norma Volkman Jake Grant 5 Ella Weiland Michael Del Conte 6 Leroy Schoepke Bonnie Horban 7 Alberta Cunningham* Jessie Stange 10 Janet Lamont Matthew Carlson

11 Kay Zuleger Gerald Gisselman 12 Mary Virginia Quarles 13 Thomas Davis Steven Lindsley Chad Schepp 14 Thomas Lahren Buck Sutton 15 Jill Daubert 17 Stephan Ebert 18 Vicki Swanson 19 Linda White 20 Robert Gebhardt Timm Fischer Marilyn Zahn* Lincoln Larson Maria Jauch

21 Joan Harvey Marlaine Moede Emma Allen* Lennon Volkaitis 23 Peter Johnson Danielle Taylor 24 Paula Hauber 25 Virginia Day Joel Del Conte Rachael Del Conte Allen Stamp Chris Del Conte 26 Charles McCrory 27 Janet Schlueter* 28 Dave Decker Janet Stroik 29 Bob Firary Debra Schoepke 30 Sue Surprise Carla Wadinski

CARE and COMMUNITY

The Guatemala Mission Trip is paid for!

But keep bringing your aluminum cans to

the church!

All proceeds will support our churchs outreach projects.

CARE / OUTREACH

UNITED

METHODIST

WOMEN

Circle Meetings

November 11 - Mary-Faith Circle

9:30am - Church Parlor

November 12 - Love-Hope Circle

5:30pm - The Mandarin Restaurant

7:00pm - Church Parlor

Other Upcoming Events

November 4

Sunshine Gals:

9:30am - The Gardens

10:45am - Mount View Care Center

November 5

6:30pm - Executive Committee

November 12

10:30am - Sunshine Gals - Riverside

Terrace

November 17

6:30pm - Unit Meeting (Pledge

Service & Thank Offering)

- Parlor

November 22

8:30-11:30am - Chili Sunday

(Fundraiser) - Parlor

Page 4

Prayer Shawl Ministry Mary Ann Dykes

Each month on the 4th Tuesday a group gathers at the church to knit and

crochet prayer shawls. We share prayers and thoughtful readings during

our time together. The shawls are available to anyone who would like to

share the love and care of this congregation as they present a shawl to

someone they care about. There are many times of transition during our

lifetime, like marriage, new births, celebration of milestones, facing

chronic illness, surgery, or end of life.

A shawl is a reminder that we do not travel this life journey alone and

symbolically wraps one in the love of God. We have received many thank

you notes from those who have received the fruit of our labors. In August,

we sent a shawl with Pastor Jerry to his father, who had recently had

surgery. I would like to share the poem we received from him.

Dear Ladies,

Youve sent a very precious gift This is a lovely shawl

It doesnt come from one of you I hear it comes from all

I received it from your messenger

When he arrived in town

He gave it to me right away

He didnt let you down This year, in the cold of winter

Ill be warm and merry Thankful to the Prayer Shawl Group

Also to your Pastor Jerry

THANK YOU SO MUCH, Russell (Buddy) Morris (Luke 18:27)

On November 8, 2015, the Prayer Shawl Group will be hosting Coffee

Hour. Any donations on that day will support the purchase of yarn for this

ministry. Please join us as we Live and Share Gods Love.

When a Church Program Becomes Something More

By now, if you read this newsletter at all, you know

that weve begun a new Visitation Team in which volunteers make contacts or visits with those of our

church who arent able to be here in person any more. We have designed report forms and track our visits on

a spreadsheet.

All this is good, of course. We need records, even if

they can sometimes feel mechanical. And sometimes

people can make it even better. A month or two after

we started, one young family in our church came to

Arlene and Pastor Jerry, saying they had been hearing

about our visitation focus and wanted to be a part of it.

They couldnt make many visits, but could we connect them to just one person (who wouldnt mind two small

children) that they could visit?

We did. They have now visited several times. The

woman they visit now keeps track of the childrens birthdays. Both the young family and their new

adopted grandmother have written to thank the church

for the relationship they have discovered.

Programs are useful. Family is even better.

Page 9

Growing up, I learned a lot about Jesus. As an adult,

Ive learned even more.

One of the common threads that has been part of my

journey was the idea that Jesus is sufficient or what is sometimes called the sufficiency of Christ. In my fundamentalist world, the sufficiency of Christ was a

theological descriptor relating to the issue of salvation,

and simply meant that what Christ accomplished

through his life, death, and resurrection, was sufficient nothing more needs to be added to it. All these years

later, I still believe that to be true.

Growing up, we seemed to believe it. Countless times

Ive looked across a room and seen hands raised toward the heavens as people sang lines such as, youre all I need as an affirmation that Jesus is all we need. Theo-logically Christ was sufficient. Christ was a sufficient

object of worship. Sufficient to save. Sufficient to

follow. He was all we need or so I thought.

As an adult, I was confronted with a paradigm shift

where I left my old faith community and the worldview

they had given me. It wasnt that I didnt believe in God or Jesus anymore I simply became dissatisfied with

life, and realized there had to be something more.

I had been a Christian for a solid 20 years before I found

Jesus, but when I rediscovered him (a story I tell in my

book, Undiluted) I was hooked. It was as if I had spent

the majority of my life worshipping someone I didnt even know, and when I met him, it was like meeting a

stranger.

Yet, Jesus quickly became a really fascinating stranger

who invited me on a journey to follow him an invitation I accepted. Instead of trying to pattern my life

in accordance with a theological label, instead of view-

ing the world through a filter of historical dispensations,

or instead of trying to figure out what to make of so

many difficult parts of the Bible, I just started over.

I hit the reset button on my faith. I began studying what

Jesus said, the example of how he lived, and let his

words and example become the gospel truth. If Jesus is sufficient for all my needs, the very thing I

was taught growing up, surely he should be sufficient

for defining what it looks like to be a Christian or so

I thought.

As it turns out, the community from whence I came all

of a sudden didnt believe in the sufficiency of Christ. Teaching folks to love your enemies like Jesus taught and did, all of a sudden became an area of the

Bible that couldnt be accepted at face value. Instead of accepting it, believing it, and obeying it, Jesus

needed to be filtered through the Old Testament to

such a degree that loving enemies didnt really mean anything. The same community that insisted the earth

was only 6,000 years old, that God created everything

in 6, 24 hour days, and that Jonah really lived in the

belly of a whale all based upon the premise of taking the Bible the most literal way possible all of a sudden had a thousand reasons why love your

enemies doesnt actually mean love your enemies.

The folks who taught me that Jesus is sufficient became the people who insisted that I needed to look

to Old Testament law or the examples set by OT fig-

ures, in order to understand how we should live. In the

end, I found that one of the best ways to avoid doing

what Jesus taught, and one of the easiest ways to find

excuses for why we shouldnt live the way he

lived, was to use the Bible to do it.

Using the Bible to run from Jesus is surprisingly

easy and becomes a way of doing what many non-believers do, while feeling morally superior as you

do it.

But today I have returned to the question of my youth the same question that was presented to me as a

fundamentalist. Is Christ sufficient? Is Jesus really all

we need?

And, all these years later, I still answer yes but in a

new way.

Connections We recently finished a whole sermon series on how to use the Bible, with all its different voices and traditions,

some of which seem very strange to us. I concluded that in weighing the voices, we need to listen first to the voice

of Jesus. In the same vein, here is an essay from Benjamin Corey, author of Undiluted, who writes the blog

Formerly Fundy.

Using the Bible To Run From Jesus (What If Jesus Actually Is Enough?)

October 9, 2015

FAITH FORMATION

Page 8

FAITH QUEST Faith Groups: 8:459:45am

Worship at 8:00 and 10:00am

DAVID

October 18 - November 15 Grades 2 through 5

For the Lord does not see as

mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. -- 1 Samuel 16:7

Confirmation Calendar

Keep these dates open!

Jan 15, 7:00pm - Community Shabbat at Mt Sinai Synagogue

March 4-5 - Wesleyan Retreat, Camp Lucerne

Coming later this month in FAITH QUEST

The Gift of Jesus

November 22 - December 20 Grades 2 through 5

But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for seeI am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people. For to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ, the Lord. Luke 2:10-11 And suddenly there was with the angel a mul-titude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those whom God favors! Luke 2:13-14

The Wednesday evening activities for the

months of September and October were a time

of fellowship and learning. Adults had an

opportunity to take a class about Dementia in

the Church during September and the

Scripture Core class was offered both months.

Meanwhile, the children were upstairs

learning about God through music. We learned

new songs; one of which discussed the Bible

being a lamp to my feet, which tied in with our sermon series, Problems with the Bible. We learned about hymns and the hymnal, and

those hymns were sung in worship services.

We played rhythm instruments and learned

about string and brass instruments. And we

played bells and learned a little about how to

read music.

Volunteers Still Needed

Do you like spending time with children?

We still need volunteers to be in the nursery

on Sunday mornings during the 10:00am

worship service. If you would be willing to

give of your time in this way, please

contact Martie at the church, 715-842-

2201. Thank you.

OUTREACH Guatemala Mission Trip is Here!

It almost seems impossible. Weve been planning this mission trip for almost a year, and this month it happens. From the perspective of, well,

most of us, it has been a year of reminders and fund-raisers. We have

bought pecan rolls from the Guatemala Team, had our cars washed by

the youth, and in many cases donated directly to the Guatemala fund.

From the perspective of those who are going, in addition to planning

and administering the fund-raisers, it has been a year of going to extra

meetings, getting vaccinations, and even studying some Spanish with

our own Margaret Getzin.

And now the planning is done. On November 20, they will drive to

Milwaukee, spend the night there, then on the 21st they will fly to

Guatemala City, from which a bus will take them up into the mountains,

where they will spend a week working with Mission Guatemala. They

will not know all that they will be doing until they get there, but

Mission Guatemala runs medical and dental clinics, a school, and

several feeding centers. Guatemala has the highest rate of childhood

malnutrition in Central America.

On November 15, in worship, we will be commissioning these five

members as our representatives to Mission Guatemala:

Wes Ebert, Chlo Larson, Jennifer Marzu,

Sara Roquemore, John Willems Van Dijk

As a part of that worship service, you will be challenged to join these,

our missionaries, by praying for them daily. But theres no reason not to start now. This trip may change many lives - among the people in

Guatemala, among these who are going, and maybe even right here in

our own family.

November Mission Offering

The Neighbors Place

In November, our mission offering

will stay closer to home, supporting

the many different ministries of The

Neighbors Place. These range from a Food Pantry, to a free clothes and

furniture shop, to adult education, and

a community garden.

The Neighbors Place food pantry is the busiest in Marathon County, the

first resource for those who are

hungry.

For more information on The

Neighbors Place and these programs, check out their websi te at

www.neighborsplace.org.

Bring 4th Food

On November 22

remember to bring non-

perishable food items for

our 4th Sunday collection.

This month the food will be

donated to the food pantry

run by

Wesley United Methodist.

Page 5

5th Sunday Mission Offering

On Sundays with five Sundays, like

this month, our Mission Team has

designated the mission offering for

that last Sunday to our own Personal

Needs Closet.

And Another to India!

Rev. Sam Royappa, of the Wisconsin Conference, is leading a mission

team to Southern India this month. You may recall David Gnaniah's visit

to our church in July, when he talked about the school he had started at the

Philip & Timothy Stains Memorial Children's Home. He talked

about plans to expand the program to include more grades. The team has

been challenged to purchase and install playground equipment, complete

some maintenance projects, fund student scholarships, tutor students,

provide teaching resources, and school supplies. Mike and Sara Koss and

Sharon Gisselman from our congregation are part of this team. However,

there is an opportunity for mission supporters at FUMC to help. Financial

contributions can be sent to the church office and marked India Project.

Philip and Timothy Stains Memorial Children's Home is also an Advance

Special (#7940 India). Your contributions will not be used for travel

expenses. Your contributions will be used for the supplies and equipment

the team purchases. Of importance to Mike, Sara and Sharon is your

prayers for safe travel and successfully completing the team's challenge.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 ALL SAINTS' DAY

8:00am Morning Chapel - Communion

8:45am Education Hour

10:00am Worship - Communion

10:00am New Life UMC Worship - Chapel

11:00am Coffee Hour

1:00pm Grapevine Faith Alliance Worship

2

11:30am Savvy Seniors - 2510

3:00pm Communion, The Gardens

6:00pm Yoga

3

10:00am Program Staff

1:00pm Visitation Team

2:00pm Mt. View Worship

3:00pm Kennedy Park Worship

4

9:30am Sunshine Gals

6:15pm Jubilate Bells

7:15pm Chancel Choir

5

8:30am AA

10:30am PNC Steering Committee

6:30pm UMW Executive

Committee

6

Office Closed 7

8

8:00am Morning Chapel


10:00am Worship


11:00am Coffee Hour


9

6:00pm Yoga

10:30am Circuit Pastors Meet

10

10:00am Full Staff

1:00pm Personal Needs Closet

Open

5:30pm Board of Trustees

11

9:30am Mary Faith

UMW Circle



12

8:30am AA


2:00pm Worship - Forest Park

5:30pm Love Hope UMW Circle

- The Mandarin

Restaurant

13

Office Closed 14

15

8:00am Messenger Articles Due



10:00am Worship


11:00am Coffee Hour


16

6:00pm Yoga 17


6:00pm Staff-Parish Relations

Committee

6:30pm UMW Unit Meeting

7:00pm Finance Committee

18



19

8:30am AA

10:30am Downtown Memory Cafe

6:00pm Missions Team

6:30pm Worship Design Team

20

Office Closed 21

22 BRING 4th FOOD SUNDAY 8:00am Morning Chapel

8:30am Chili Sunday (UMW Fundraiser)


10:00am Worship


11:00am Coffee Hour


23

6:00pm Yoga

7:00pm Ministries Council

24

1:00pm Prayer Shawl Gathering

6:00pm Care Council

7:00pm Welcome and

Communications

25 26 THANKSGIVING DAY

Office Closed

8:30AM AA

27

Office Closed 28

29 1st SUNDAY OF ADVENT



10:00am Worship


11:00am Coffee Hour


& Fellowship Meal

30

6:00pm Yoga 1



6:30pm Women's Advent

Gathering

2




3

8:30am AA

10:30am PNC Steering

Committee


Committee

4

Office Closed 5

10:00am Leave for Clausen

Family Christmas

Show

Page 6

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 ALL SAINTS' DAY

8:00am Morning Chapel - Communion


10:00am Worship - Communion


11:00am Coffee Hour


2

11:30am Savvy Seniors - 2510

3:00pm Communion, The Gardens

6:00pm Yoga

3



2:00pm Mt. View Worship

3:00pm Kennedy Park Worship

4




5

8:30am AA

10:30am PNC Steering Committee


Committee

6

Office Closed 7

8



10:00am Worship


11:00am Coffee Hour


9

6:00pm Yoga

10:30am Circuit Pastors Meet

10

10:00am Full Staff

1:00pm Personal Needs Closet

Open

5:30pm Board of Trustees

11

9:30am Mary Faith

UMW Circle



12

8:30am AA


2:00pm Worship - Forest Park

5:30pm Love Hope UMW Circle

- The Mandarin

Restaurant

13

Office Closed 14

15

8:00am Messenger Articles Due



10:00am Worship


11:00am Coffee Hour


16

6:00pm Yoga 17


6:00pm Staff-Parish Relations

Committee

6:30pm UMW Unit Meeting

7:00pm Finance Committee

18



19

8:30am AA

10:30am Downtown Memory Cafe

6:00pm Missions Team

6:30pm Worship Design Team

20

Office Closed 21

22 BRING 4th FOOD SUNDAY 8:00am Morning Chapel

8:30am Chili Sunday (UMW Fundraiser)


10:00am Worship


11:00am Coffee Hour


23

6:00pm Yoga

7:00pm Ministries Council

24

1:00pm Prayer Shawl Gathering

6:00pm Care Council

7:00pm Welcome and

Communications

25 26 THANKSGIVING DAY

Office Closed

8:30AM AA

27

Office Closed 28

29 1st SUNDAY OF ADVENT



10:00am Worship


11:00am Coffee Hour


& Fellowship Meal

30

6:00pm Yoga 1



6:30pm Women's Advent

Gathering

2




3

8:30am AA

10:30am PNC Steering

Committee


Committee

4

Office Closed 5

10:00am Leave for Clausen

Family Christmas

Show

Page 7

FAITH FORMATION

Page 8

FAITH QUEST Faith Groups: 8:459:45am

Worship at 8:00 and 10:00am

DAVID

October 18 - November 15 Grades 2 through 5

For the Lord does not see as

mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. -- 1 Samuel 16:7

Confirmation Calendar

Keep these dates open!

Jan 15, 7:00pm - Community Shabbat at Mt Sinai Synagogue

March 4-5 - Wesleyan Retreat, Camp Lucerne

Coming later this month in FAITH QUEST

The Gift of Jesus

November 22 - December 20 Grades 2 through 5

But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for seeI am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people. For to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ, the Lord. Luke 2:10-11 And suddenly there was with the angel a mul-titude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those whom God favors! Luke 2:13-14

The Wednesday evening activities for the

months of September and October were a time

of fellowship and learning. Adults had an

opportunity to take a class about Dementia in

the Church during September and the

Scripture Core class was offered both months.

Meanwhile, the children were upstairs

learning about God through music. We learned

new songs; one of which discussed the Bible

being a lamp to my feet, which tied in with our sermon series, Problems with the Bible. We learned about hymns and the hymnal, and

those hymns were sung in worship services.

We played rhythm instruments and learned

about string and brass instruments. And we

played bells and learned a little about how to

read music.

Volunteers Still Needed

Do you like spending time with children?

We still need volunteers to be in the nursery

on Sunday mornings during the 10:00am

worship service. If you would be willing to

give of your time in this way, please

contact Martie at the church, 715-842-

2201. Thank you.

OUTREACH Guatemala Mission Trip is Here!

It almost seems impossible. Weve been planning this mission trip for almost a year, and this month it happens. From the perspective of, well,

most of us, it has been a year of reminders and fund-raisers. We have

bought pecan rolls from the Guatemala Team, had our cars washed by

the youth, and in many cases donated directly to the Guatemala fund.

From the perspective of those who are going, in addition to planning

and administering the fund-raisers, it has been a year of going to extra

meetings, getting vaccinations, and even studying some Spanish with

our own Margaret Getzin.

And now the planning is done. On November 20, they will drive to

Milwaukee, spend the night there, then on the 21st they will fly to

Guatemala City, from which a bus will take them up into the mountains,

where they will spend a week working with Mission Guatemala. They

will not know all that they will be doing until they get there, but

Mission Guatemala runs medical and dental clinics, a school, and

several feeding centers. Guatemala has the highest rate of childhood

malnutrition in Central America.

On November 15, in worship, we will be commissioning these five

members as our representatives to Mission Guatemala:

Wes Ebert, Chlo Larson, Jennifer Marzu,

Sara Roquemore, John Willems Van Dijk

As a part of that worship service, you will be challenged to join these,

our missionaries, by praying for them daily. But theres no reason not to start now. This trip may change many lives - among the people in

Guatemala, among these who are going, and maybe even right here in

our own family.

November Mission Offering

The Neighbors Place

In November, our mission offering

will stay closer to home, supporting

the many different ministries of The

Neighbors Place. These range from a Food Pantry, to a free clothes and

furniture shop, to adult education, and

a community garden.

The Neighbors Place food pantry is the busiest in Marathon County, the

first resource for those who are

hungry.

For more information on The

Neighbors Place and these programs, check out their websi te at

www.neighborsplace.org.

Bring 4th Food

On November 22

remember to bring non-

perishable food items for

our 4th Sunday collection.

This month the food will be

donated to the food pantry

run by

Wesley United Methodist.

Page 5

5th Sunday Mission Offering

On Sundays with five Sundays, like

this month, our Mission Team has

designated the mission offering for

that last Sunday to our own Personal

Needs Closet.

And Another to India!

Rev. Sam Royappa, of the Wisconsin Conference, is leading a mission

team to Southern India this month. You may recall David Gnaniah's visit

to our church in July, when he talked about the school he had started at the

Philip & Timothy Stains Memorial Children's Home. He talked

about plans to expand the program to include more grades. The team has

been challenged to purchase and install playground equipment, complete

some maintenance projects, fund student scholarships, tutor students,

provide teaching resources, and school supplies. Mike and Sara Koss and

Sharon Gisselman from our congregation are part of this team. However,

there is an opportunity for mission supporters at FUMC to help. Financial

contributions can be sent to the church office and marked India Project.

Philip and Timothy Stains Memorial Children's Home is also an Advance

Special (#7940 India). Your contributions will not be used for travel

expenses. Your contributions will be used for the supplies and equipment

the team purchases. Of importance to Mike, Sara and Sharon is your

prayers for safe travel and successfully completing the team's challenge.

CARE / OUTREACH

UNITED

METHODIST

WOMEN

Circle Meetings

November 11 - Mary-Faith Circle

9:30am - Church Parlor

November 12 - Love-Hope Circle

5:30pm - The Mandarin Restaurant

7:00pm - Church Parlor

Other Upcoming Events

November 4

Sunshine Gals:

9:30am - The Gardens

10:45am - Mount View Care Center

November 5

6:30pm - Executive Committee

November 12

10:30am - Sunshine Gals - Riverside

Terrace

November 17

6:30pm - Unit Meeting (Pledge

Service & Thank Offering)

- Parlor

November 22

8:30-11:30am - Chili Sunday

(Fundraiser) - Parlor

Page 4

Prayer Shawl Ministry Mary Ann Dykes

Each month on the 4th Tuesday a group gathers at the church to knit and

crochet prayer shawls. We share prayers and thoughtful readings during

our time together. The shawls are available to anyone who would like to

share the love and care of this congregation as they present a shawl to

someone they care about. There are many times of transition during our

lifetime, like marriage, new births, celebration of milestones, facing

chronic illness, surgery, or end of life.

A shawl is a reminder that we do not travel this life journey alone and

symbolically wraps one in the love of God. We have received many thank

you notes from those who have received the fruit of our labors. In August,

we sent a shawl with Pastor Jerry to his father, who had recently had

surgery. I would like to share the poem we received from him.

Dear Ladies,

Youve sent a very precious gift This is a lovely shawl

It doesnt come from one of you I hear it comes from all

I received it from your messenger

When he arrived in town

He gave it to me right away

He didnt let you down This year, in the cold of winter

Ill be warm and merry Thankful to the Prayer Shawl Group

Also to your Pastor Jerry

THANK YOU SO MUCH, Russell (Buddy) Morris (Luke 18:27)

On November 8, 2015, the Prayer Shawl Group will be hosting Coffee

Hour. Any donations on that day will support the purchase of yarn for this

ministry. Please join us as we Live and Share Gods Love.

When a Church Program Becomes Something More

By now, if you read this newsletter at all, you know

that weve begun a new Visitation Team in which volunteers make contacts or visits with those of our

church who arent able to be here in person any more. We have designed report forms and track our visits on

a spreadsheet.

All this is good, of course. We need records, even if

they can sometimes feel mechanical. And sometimes

people can make it even better. A month or two after

we started, one young family in our church came to

Arlene and Pastor Jerry, saying they had been hearing

about our visitation focus and wanted to be a part of it.

They couldnt make many visits, but could we connect them to just one person (who wouldnt mind two small

children) that they could visit?

We did. They have now visited several times. The

woman they visit now keeps track of the childrens birthdays. Both the young family and their new

adopted grandmother have written to thank the church

for the relationship they have discovered.

Programs are useful. Family is even better.

Page 9

Growing up, I learned a lot about Jesus. As an adult,

Ive learned even more.

One of the common threads that has been part of my

journey was the idea that Jesus is sufficient or what is sometimes called the sufficiency of Christ. In my fundamentalist world, the sufficiency of Christ was a

theological descriptor relating to the issue of salvation,

and simply meant that what Christ accomplished

through his life, death, and resurrection, was sufficient nothing more needs to be added to it. All these years

later, I still believe that to be true.

Growing up, we seemed to believe it. Countless times

Ive looked across a room and seen hands raised toward the heavens as people sang lines such as, youre all I need as an affirmation that Jesus is all we need. Theo-logically Christ was sufficient. Christ was a sufficient

object of worship. Sufficient to save. Sufficient to

follow. He was all we need or so I thought.

As an adult, I was confronted with a paradigm shift

where I left my old faith community and the worldview

they had given me. It wasnt that I didnt believe in God or Jesus anymore I simply became dissatisfied with

life, and realized there had to be something more.

I had been a Christian for a solid 20 years before I found

Jesus, but when I rediscovered him (a story I tell in my

book, Undiluted) I was hooked. It was as if I had spent

the majority of my life worshipping someone I didnt even know, and when I met him, it was like meeting a

stranger.

Yet, Jesus quickly became a really fascinating stranger

who invited me on a journey to follow him an invitation I accepted. Instead of trying to pattern my life

in accordance with a theological label, instead of view-

ing the world through a filter of historical dispensations,

or instead of trying to figure out what to make of so

many difficult parts of the Bible, I just started over.

I hit the reset button on my faith. I began studying what

Jesus said, the example of how he lived, and let his

words and example become the gospel truth. If Jesus is sufficient for all my needs, the very thing I

was taught growing up, surely he should be sufficient

for defining what it looks like to be a Christian or so

I thought.

As it turns out, the community from whence I came all

of a sudden didnt believe in the sufficiency of Christ. Teaching folks to love your enemies like Jesus taught and did, all of a sudden became an area of the

Bible that couldnt be accepted at face value. Instead of accepting it, believing it, and obeying it, Jesus

needed to be filtered through the Old Testament to

such a degree that loving enemies didnt really mean anything. The same community that insisted the earth

was only 6,000 years old, that God created everything

in 6, 24 hour days, and that Jonah really lived in the

belly of a whale all based upon the premise of taking the Bible the most literal way possible all of a sudden had a thousand reasons why love your

enemies doesnt actually mean love your enemies.

The folks who taught me that Jesus is sufficient became the people who insisted that I needed to look

to Old Testament law or the examples set by OT fig-

ures, in order to understand how we should live. In the

end, I found that one of the best ways to avoid doing

what Jesus taught, and one of the easiest ways to find

excuses for why we shouldnt live the way he

lived, was to use the Bible to do it.

Using the Bible to run from Jesus is surprisingly

easy and becomes a way of doing what many non-believers do, while feeling morally superior as you

do it.

But today I have returned to the question of my youth the same question that was presented to me as a

fundamentalist. Is Christ sufficient? Is Jesus really all

we need?

And, all these years later, I still answer yes but in a

new way.

Connections We recently finished a whole sermon series on how to use the Bible, with all its different voices and traditions,

some of which seem very strange to us. I concluded that in weighing the voices, we need to listen first to the voice

of Jesus. In the same vein, here is an essay from Benjamin Corey, author of Undiluted, who writes the blog

Formerly Fundy.

Using the Bible To Run From Jesus (What If Jesus Actually Is Enough?)

October 9, 2015

Resources for Ministry Financial Update - September 2015 YTD

FUMC Wired

Website: fumcwausau.org

With links to the weekly sermon

(text and podcast)

facebook.com/WausauFUMC

WiFi Network: FUMC Public

(password: fumcpublic)

Revenue Expense

Pledged Offering $ 175,933.46 Salaries & Benefits $ 173,877.87

Non-Pledged Offering $ 33,574.90 Programming $ 18,344.96

Other $ 36,360.90 Apportionments to Conference $ 40,032.00

Building Operating Expenses $ 47,922.70

Total Revenue $ 245,869.26 Total Expenses $ 280,177.53

Net YTD $ -34,308.87

YTD 2015 Pledged & Non-Pledged Offerings compared to YTD 2014 8,414.22 lower

YTD 2015 Total Expenses compared to YTD 2014 8,883.69 lower

YTD 2015 Other Income compared to YTD 2014 2,813.09 higher

YTD 2015 Endowment Transfer compared to 2014 5,000.00 higher

Stories, continued from p. 1

Project with the United Way, the Downtown

Memory Cafe, and the partnership with the new

church sharing the building with us, New Life

United Methodist Church. We have renewed

ourselves by fostering community in small groups,

the new Mens Group, Family Camps, and by intentionally sending the church out to our home-

bound in the new Visitation Team. We have

reinvented Confirmation for our young people,

begun new retreats to foster their growth, planned an

overseas mission trip to Guatemala, and begun a

new Vacation Bible School plan in partnership with

North Central College.

This story is true, too, but this story matters more. In

the past decade, which has been a hard decade for

churches all over America, our church has responded by

reinventing itself, reclaiming its mission, and

rediscovering our calling to our community. And the

fact that weve done all this in a time of financial strain is an even greater testimony to the people that we are.

Thats our story. This month, as you receive mailings about your pledge, as you hear sermons about giving,

remember this second story. There is a reason that we

are here. There are lives that God is changing through

the ministry of this church. Thank you.

Page 3

Savvy Seniors will meet at

11:30am at on Monday, November

2, at the 2510 Restaurant on

Stewart Avenue.

Milestones

Deaths: On All Saints Day, in our Memorial Service, we will

remember the members and close

family of our members who have

died in the year since All Saints Day, 2014. At that service, there

will be a time when you may light a

candle for anyone for whom you

mourn whose name we have not

read.

Birth: Sullivan Reid Harris,

grandson of Bruce and Ann Chopp,

was born on October 1.

Baptism: Charlotte Eve Hassberg,

daughter of Zach and Danielle

Hassberg, and granddaughter of

James and Carla Wadinski, was

baptized in worship on October 18.

* Signifies an honored elder who cannot be at church regularly. Remember these members in your prayers.

1 Ricky Surprise Bryce Vannes Lauren Atonio Leisha Krahn Kyle Goertz 2 Tom Kelley Haley Fons 3 Brian Smith Lisa Riehle Susan Hamilton Carole Machek 4 Norma Volkman Jake Grant 5 Ella Weiland Michael Del Conte 6 Leroy Schoepke Bonnie Horban 7 Alberta Cunningham* Jessie Stange 10 Janet Lamont Matthew Carlson

11 Kay Zuleger Gerald Gisselman 12 Mary Virginia Quarles 13 Thomas Davis Steven Lindsley Chad Schepp 14 Thomas Lahren Buck Sutton 15 Jill Daubert 17 Stephan Ebert 18 Vicki Swanson 19 Linda White 20 Robert Gebhardt Timm Fischer Marilyn Zahn* Lincoln Larson Maria Jauch

21 Joan Harvey Marlaine Moede Emma Allen* Lennon Volkaitis 23 Peter Johnson Danielle Taylor 24 Paula Hauber 25 Virginia Day Joel Del Conte Rachael Del Conte Allen Stamp Chris Del Conte 26 Charles McCrory 27 Janet Schlueter* 28 Dave Decker Janet Stroik 29 Bob Firary Debra Schoepke 30 Sue Surprise Carla Wadinski

CARE and COMMUNITY

The Guatemala Mission Trip is paid for!

But keep bringing your aluminum cans to

the church!

All proceeds will support our churchs outreach projects.

STAFF

Pastor: Gerald Morris

[email protected]

Faith Formation/Music Coordinator Martie Pahris

[email protected]

Building Engineer: Andy White

Accounts & Records Supervisor: Karen Kellbach

[email protected]

Secretary: Arlene Trull

[email protected]

903 Third St; Wausau, WI 54403

Office Hours: Mon-Thurs - 9:00am-4:00pm

Web-site: www.fumcwausau.org

E-mail: [email protected]

November is full of wonderful worship opportunities. On November 1st we will be

observing All Saints Day and remembering those who have died during this past year. We will also have communion on that day and remember our Saviors death as well.

On November 8th, instead of the sounds of organ or piano, our music will be provided by

a string quartet made up of members of our church. The children that have been playing

bells on Wednesday evenings will also be playing for us.

On November 15th we will have a commissioning service for those who are going on a

mission trip to Guatemala during the week of the Thanksgiving holiday. This will be a

special time together as we send them off to a foreign country to share Gods love.

The holidays are almost here. November 22nd will be the Sunday before Thanksgiving,

when we will offer our thanks and praise to God for all that God has done for us. Then

November 29th is the first Sunday of Advent, and we begin preparing for the coming of

the Christ child. You are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities to gather

with your church family to worship the Lord our God.

During the month of November, the

Jubilate Bells will rehearse at 6:15

until 7:10pm in the Bell Room.

The Chancel Choir will rehearse at

7:15 until 8:30pm in the Choir

Room.

Upcoming Dates to Remember:

December 13 - Lessons and Carols

There will only be a 10:00am worship service

on this day.

December 20 - Childrens Program

This will be during the 10:00am service only.

Celebrating Pastor Jerrys 10 years of ministries here

Love Hope UMW Circle made over 45 gallons of laundry detergent for the Personal Needs Closet

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NOVEMber

2015

FROM PASTOR JERRYS DESK

On Telling Familiar Stories

One of the challenges that we pastors face is that of finding new ways to tell

the same stories. Take Christmas for instance. There is probably no story in

all scripture that is more familiar than that of the birth of Baby Jesus in

Bethlehem, and yet every December we tell the story again. What else are we

going to do? Skip it? And so each year we face the task of somehow making

this loved and familiar story feel new. Its the same with Easter. Of course were going to tell the story of Christs resurrection again. Its who we are. But how do we keep the story from feeling stale? How do we repeat the old,

old story without sounding repetitious?

But you know whats even harder? Stewardship season. Every year about this time, as we prepare our budget for the following year and ask our

faithful to consider pledging their gifts to the church or increasing their pledge from last year we are faced with the same challenge. How are we going to say it this year? The Christmas and Easter stories are stories of

grace and hope, about what God has given to us. The stewardship story,

about giving back to God through the church, is a harder story to tell even

the first time. Telling it again and again . . . Well? How do we repeat this

story without sounding repetitious?

Theres actually a whole industry devoted to helping pastors tell the stewardship story. I get mail every week from some other business who has a

sure-fire way to ENHANCE YOUR CHURCHS GIVING THIS YEAR! Most are scams, promising immediate dramatic results. I sometimes feel that

that these offers should come with FDA-mandated disclaimers, like

prescription drugs do. (DISCLAIMER: Results not guaranteed. May cause

irritation of parishioners and temporary disgruntledness. If you have been

diagnosed with a shred of integrity, do not use this product. Talk to your

spiritual advisor to see if the Faith Power Spirit Other-Buzzword Giving Plan is right for you.)

But even if we reject the Madison Avenue approach to stewardship, with

implied false promises and manufactured enthusiasm, we still have to figure

out some way to talk about giving to the church, Here are the two major

options:

The Sober Assessment. Even as many individuals have increased their

giving over the past few years, our giving as a whole has not had a net

increase since at least 2006. In the years since then, we have cut staff and

operating budgets dramatically, but we are still struggling to keep up

with the decline, and we are still drawing from endowed funds to pay our

bills at the end of the year.

All of that is true, but theres a better way.

The Mission of Our Church. In the ten years since our last increase in

giving, we have started the Personal Needs Closet, the Homelessness

(continued on p. 10)

Sunday, November 22


10:00am - Worship

The Opposite of Thanksgiving Matthew 21:33-44

The Season of Advent

Sunday, November 29 - First Sunday in Advent


10:00am - Worship

Prophecy and Second Meanings Jeremiah 33:14-16

*We observe Open Communion. All are welcome at

Gods table.

Sunday, November 1 - All Saints Memorial Service 8:00am - Morning Chapel with Communion*

10:00am - Worship with Communion*

Remembering and Being Remembered Ezekiel 16:42-43, 59-63

Sunday, November 8


10:00am - Worship

Grown Up Giving Exodus 36:20-29

Sunday, November 15


10:00am - Worship

Grown Up Believing John 6:60-68

Church Purpose:Church Purpose:Church Purpose:

Live and Share God's LoveLive and Share God's Love

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U.S. POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT NO. 542

WAUSAU, WI 54403

The Messenger First United Methodist Church of Wausau

903 Third Street

Wausau, WI 54403

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

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