ST. JAMES UNITED METHODIST CHURCH2945 Main Street, East Troy, WI 53120 262-642-7642

Rev. Bill Busch

Following the Cross January 2020

PASTOR’S PONDERINGSHappy New Year! And may your upcoming year be filled with grace and peace from God the Father and our

Lord Jesus Christ. Grace that provides divine assistance for daily living and peace to comfort us through all circumstances of life through the power of the Holy Spirit!

2019 was an exciting year! On July 1, 2019, St. James officially appointed as a Regional Ministry with Servant Community in Sullivan and the Community Church in Waterford. This is eternally significant because God has brought together 3 separate congregations, who now will work together with the intentional and common purpose of reaching out into our region of Southeast Wisconsin. Our Regional Ministry will strengthen relationships between each congregation for the sake of enhancing and growing current ministries, while exploring and launching new ministries together.

So far this year, in recent memory we had our first 4th of July Hospitality Tent which was an act of servant evangelism! We had our Big Day sermon series “Really!” our first Ministry Fair and Church Conference, then finished the year with the Advent Sermon Series Christmas Balance with a Candlelight Christmas Eve Service. Included with all of these events, was the intentional effort to help us grow as Disciples of Jesus Christ and opportunities to serve and grow into a calling the Lord has planned us for.

However, even though this is an impressive list of inspiring activities, a busy church should never be considered a spiritually healthy church! All of this work is intended to help each church create discipleship opportunities! Making Disciples is the reason each church exists, and we find that calling in the Bible as well as at the core of the definition of being a Professing Member of the United Methodist Church!

By definition, a Christian disciple is one accepts and assists in the spreading of the good news of Jesus Christ. Discipleship is also the process by which disciples grow in the Lord Jesus Christ and are equipped or empowered by the Holy Spirit to overcome the pressures and trials of this present life as they become more Christ-like. In this process, a believer learns to examine his or her thoughts, words and actions and compare them with the Word of God, and leads the believer to study, pray and obeying God’s Word every day.

In 2020, we will offer you spiritual growth opportunities such as:

A bag packing event at the Community Church for Misfits for Jesus in early January. Misfits for Jesus is a ministry to the homeless and this service opportunity designed for the whole family!

Starting the year, Mike Biesiadny will preach a sermon series called “Mission Possible.” This series will look at the power of personal missions and ministry in the church and how that helps our church grow vital and strong.

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(PASTOR’S PONDERINGS – CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE)

At the end of January, the Community Church in Waterford will host a 24-Hour Prayer Vigil. It will be held 1pm Friday Jan. 24 to 1pm Saturday Jan. 25. This Prayer Vigil will pray for our churches, our Regional Ministry and the weekend conference with Dr. Terri Terry. It also fulfills God’s call Acts 1:14 to pray in one accord and James 5:16 the prayer of a righteous person has a great power! Please watch for more information after the New Year!

Dr. Terri Terry (From the International House of Prayer University, Professor of Worship for their School of Worship) will come to our Regional Ministry. We invite you to join the Community Church in Waterford from Friday Feb. 7 through Sunday Feb. 9 and lead a Conference “Developing a Lifestyle of Worship.” I look forward to having Dr. Terry preach at St. James by video. This conference will be open to all churches and helps people better understand the true richness of worship and develop a lifestyle of worship by looking into the rich resources of the Old Testament and the Jewish Tradition. Watch for more information!

Of course, St. James will participate in the Interchurch Lenten Services, and watch for a Lenten Sermon Series and Study, followed by an amazing Good Friday and Easter Sunday Celebration!

All to start off the new year of 2020! Part of the discipleship is to learn to share the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15) and understanding discipleship helps us to continue growing into a vital Body of Christ. It helps us better care for those in our fellowship as we make an amazing impact in our East Troy community! May the Lord richly bless and keep you in this upcoming year and beyond!

Pastor Bill*********************************************************************************************

Worship in January

January 5th Mike Biesiadny peaching “Mission Possible Series”

January 12th Mike Biesiadny peaching

January 19th Mike Biesiadny peaching

January 26th Mike Biesiadny peaching

********************************************************************HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES IN JANUARY TO:

January 5 Carol HardakerJanuary 19 Daniel StiglitzJanuary 21 Bill GarvensJanuary 25 Denise Hubbard

H APPY ANNIVERSARY WISHES IN JANUARY TO: January 1 George & Karen

DavisJanuary 21 Dan & Debbie

EAST TROY MANORWORSHIP SCHEDULE

IN JANUARY

January 2nd Pastor Bill January 9th Brad Balgord January 16th Joyce Reed January 23rd Brad BalgordJanuary 30th Brad Balgord*************************************************************

SECOND HELPINGS

In December, LD’s BBQ blessed us with a wonderful meal of BBQ pork and chicken, rolls and their famous beans!! Kathy Tober provided the dessert of ice cream and strawberries. What a wonderful Christmas gift for the Second Helpings Committee. Thank you everyone for all your help in making 2019 another successful year!! The Second Helpings Committee Dolores Rich, Kathy Sonderegger, Colleen Robson, Mary Stobber, Jean O’Brien, Vicki Hahn and Karen & George Davis ************************************

HELP ST. JAMES UNITED METHODIST

CHURCH SUPPORT THE EAST TROY FOOD PANTRY

Don’t forget to bring your items for the food pantry each Sunday! These items are “always” needed no matter what month or season, they are: Laundry soap, dish soap, sugar, flour, and cookies.

The theme for January is “Keep Warm With.” Items needed are Soup, Crackers, Chili, Canned Pasta and Hot Cocoa.

WORSHP DURING TIMES OF BAD WEATHER

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WATERFORD COMMUNITY CHURCH INVITES ALL MEN

TOBREAKFAST ON JANUARY 4 TH

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NOVEMBER 2019 GIVING TOWARDSCHURCH BUDGET

TOTAL: $7,389.00

St. James United Methodist Church encourages friends, regular attenders and members to carefully consider the weather on Sunday

mornings. If you feel you can’t safely get to church during times of inclement weather, we

encourage you to stay at home. St. James UMC will attempt to contact regular attendees by

Facebook or e-mail to notify when worship is canceled. However, we also encourage you to watch channels, 4, 6, or 12 for announcements

regarding worship cancellation.

Also, please regularly support God’s ministry at the St. James Church no

matter the weather. Thank You!

THANK YOU’S

Dear Congregants,Thank you for your generous donation of gifts

for a family for the Holiday Help for Families program. The program is in its 6th year and has now become a collaboration of various community organizations that, with your help, was able to bring Christmas to 71 families. Community support for this program provided over 800 gifts for 177 children who reside in the East Troy School district. These children received not only toys, but much needed clothing items, such as socks, underwear, mittens, hats and boots as well as hygiene items, cleaning supplies, paper goods and more. Families also received assistance with food and gasoline.

We were honored to lead in the coordination of this year’s combined Holiday Help for Families program and grateful for the generosity of our community. Thank you again for your support of this worthy program. Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year. Sincerely,Marolyn Komperud, Program Director

***********************THANK YOU

The Second Helpings Committee would like to thank everyone for helping make our 10th year of the Second Helpings Mission a success! We could not do it without your help, donations and coming to enjoy the meals. We are looking forward to starting our 11th year in January with the Rich team providing the meal. MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE SECOND HELPINGS COMMITTEE!!

Dolores Rich, Kathy Sonderegger, Colleen Robson, Jean O’Brien, Mary Stobber, Vicki Hahn and Karen & George Davis.

(Thank you’s con’t)

BIG THANK YOU

The United Methodist Women would once again like to thank everyone who helped with our Holiday Sale. We had so many things brought in to sell and many baked for the Bake Sale. The men and women who moved tables and chairs and all the other things that needed doing; we thank you! It was a big success once again. Our total was $1,455.00. Many, many thanks!

Lois Crubaugh, ChairpersonUnited Methodist Women***********************

To the members of St. James UMC,Thank you so much for your recent donation of $100 to our local food pantry. We and those we serve are so extremely grateful for your support especially during the holiday season. We wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and the best in 2020. Sincerest thanks,From the members of the East Troy

Food Pantry and those we help. Peace and Joy!

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COMMUNITY CHURCH IN WATERFORD INVITE ALL

WOMEN TO A GAME NIGHT ON JANUARY 17 TH

Take a Moment . . . To Grow Closer to God!

Shaped to ServeGod has made each of us a unique individual shaped to serve and to glorify Him!

Fans of Jan Karon are happily reading her latest book, “Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good.” Father Tim, a retired Episcopal priest and also the leading character in the Mitford series, is looking for meaning in his life. In previous books, we followed him as he ministered to his flock, gave wise counsel to all who needed help, listened to Billy’s jokes, ate Esther’s Orange Marble Cake at every Mitford celebration (until it sent him into a diabetic coma), married Cynthia, and adopted a homeless boy, Dooley, who showed up on his doorstep.

After finishing each book, I thought that I would like to live in Mitford and hang out with the people who reside there! The daily life and the interactions with the Mitford crowd characterize hearts filled with love and the Holy Spirit. Mitford, a village located in the hills of North Carolina, could be described as a Garden of Eden, where folks have temptations, challenges, and trials but face them with humor, Christian love, and compassion.

The goal of this column is to show Christian love in action. In other columns, I have shared that love is an action, not an emotion. The people in Mitford, through Father Tim’s ministry, have learned how to “take care of their own”. Residents think about each other and give help when it is needed. The overall fallout is developing an environment of love in action.

Father Tim said, “I’m just going to love Dooley.” “That’s the hard way,” Cynthia said. “With God’s help, I want to be something like grace to him. So, if it works, it works, and if it doesn’t, maybe he and I will both learn something in spite of ourselves.”

“But think about it dad. I gave Sammy a really great pool table. You and Cynthia let us put it in your dining room. You took out all of your furniture so he could do what he loves. How many people would do that?” Father Tim replied, “In my experience, grace hardly ever makes sense.”

. . . . “one who possesses Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, and all the virtues of Man without his Vices.” That’s you, my friend, and God bless you for it.

My dear brothers, Saint James had written, “Take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger.”

“When I speak of God’s will, it helps to know that he wants the best for us. If you can’t believe he’s there, pray anyway. If you feel he’s cheap and withholding, thank him anyway. There will come a time when you’ll thank him even for the hard places.”

And as we live out our lives; hopefully, we will all experience that “Love is an act of endless forgiveness.” Love is an action that brings us to “Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good.” Praise be to God!

Judy McFarlane

STRAIGHT FROM THE ARK!A Mission of St. James United Methodist Church

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! We have so much to be thankful for. We give our biggest thanks to St. James UMC and all the members, for their continued support throughout the year. We are so blessed each day to nurture and teach young children in a Christian environment. Thank you to the St. James United Methodist women for their generous gift this Christmas, we were able to enjoy a delicious lunch together. Thank you to the Noah’s Ark board members for your dedication to the center. Thank you to Diane Garven’s “Grandma Dee” for coming in every Tuesday to pray and read with our preschool children. We are so lucky to have so many wonderful people here!

How cute were our little ones as they sang their music. We hope you enjoyed having us at the service! Here are all the books/gifts that were purchased for the giving tree. Thank you so much to the generous members who purchased

something to give! We are extremely grateful for the delicious hospitality we received after the service.

JANUARY 2020Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1AA meets in

Fellowship Hall7:30 p.m.

2East Troy

Manor Worship 10:30am

3 4 Men’s

Breakfast at Waterford Community at 8:00 a.m.

5Worship 9:00am

Sunday Schoolduring worship

6 7Small Group

Study at 1:00 p.m.

8Day Care

Board meeting 5:30pm

AA meets in Fellowship Hall

7:30 p.m.

9East Troy

Manor Worship 10:30am

PASTOR BILL OUT OF TOWN UNTIL

15TH

10 11

12Worship 9:00

a.m.

Sunday Schoolduring worship

13 14Small Group

Study at 1:00 p.m.

HOPEBook Clubmeets at 7:00 p.m.

15 AA meets in

Fellowship Hall7:30 p.m.

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE

16

East Troy Manor

Worship 10:30am

17High School Choir setting

up for Concert in Fellowship

Hall 6:00 p.m. Women’s

Game night at Waterford Community

6:30 – 9 p.m.

18High School Choir using Fellowship Hall 8:30

a.m.to

1:30 p.m.

19Worship 9:00

a.m.

Sunday Schoolduring worship

20Second

Helpings meal 5:30

p.m.AD

Council/Finance

Committee meeting @7pm

21Small Group

Study at 1:00 p.m.

22AA meets in

Fellowship Hall7:30 p.m.

23East Troy

Manor Worship 10:30am

24Waterford Community Prayer Vigil

starts at 1 p.m.

25 Waterford Community Prayer Vigil ends at 1

p.m.

JANUARY 2020Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

26Worship 9:00

a.m.

Sunday Schoolduring worship

27 28Small Group

Study at 1:00 p.m.

29AA meets in

Fellowship Hall7:30 p.m.

30East Troy

ManorWorship 10:30am

31

St. James United Methodist Church2945 Main StreetEast Troy, WI 53120

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JANUARY

Following the Cross Published monthly by St. James United Methodist Church, Editorial Committee

Rev. Bill Busch and Maureen Loehe, Administrative AssistantDeadline for February 2020 Issue: Wednesday, January 15, 2020

(Submit to church office) Phone # (262) 642-7642 Pastor Bill Busch (608) 475-0824

Church Office Hours: Monday, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Wednesday & Thursday, 9:30 – 4:30 p.m., Friday 11 – 4

p.m. Worship Hours

Worship – Sunday morning @9:00 a.m.Sunday School – 9:00 a.m. during worship, children are dismissed to class after Children’s

Time (September – May)

Our Website: easttroyumc.orgOur email address is: church@easttroyumc.org Pastor Bill’s email: pbbusch@gmail.com

Our Mission Statement “…Love God, Love One Another, and Serve the World.”