September 24, 2015 - St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,
as faithful stewards of God’s grace.
1 Peter 4.10
The weeks ahead will be an exciting time in the life and ministry of St James as we conduct
our Building Toward God’s Tomorrow Stewardship and Capital Campaign. Our goals are
to secure support for our Annual Ministry Budget for 2016 and raise $1,500,000 or more in
cash and three-year pledges for our proposed facilities expansion and renovation project.
You will be hearing, seeing, and learning more about this campaign in worship, in the
Jottings, on our website, through mailings, and at our Congregational Leadership Luncheon
on Sunday, October 25—you are all invited!
We are very excited about this opportunity to embrace our mission more fully by increasing our capacity to be a place of
welcome and hospitality, to be a place of growing and gathering, to be a place of serving and giving. After all the years of
research, discussions, meetings and planning…NOW is the time to make a difference! With a successful campaign we will
gain a facility and grounds that enhance our call to be a community where we gather as God’s people to Receive, Grow and
Give.
We are asking that you read all the materials you will receive about this campaign and to study…discuss…share and then
pray! Pray about what God would have you do to ensure the success of Building Toward God’s Tomorrow.
We thank you for your partnership in ministry and for your prayerful consideration of support to our Ministry Budget for
2016 and our Capital Campaign goal.
Your Pastors, Kurt & Peter
Join us again this year for St. James Oktoberfest celebration. Tickets are $15 for the dinner ($3 for
children) all proceeds will go to Verona Joining Forces for Families (JFF) which helps area families
in need. We hope you’ll join us!
October 10
October 10
5:00 pm Polka worship with the Don Peachey Band
6:00 pm Oktoberfest Dinner:
German Bratwurst & Weisswurst, Sauerkraut, Potatoes, Bread & Apple Desserts
Tickets are on Sale at the Welcome Center
A Monthly Newsletter
Volume XV, No. 9
September 24, 2015
M
FROM THE PASTOR...
There’s a sense that the “refugee
crisis” in Europe seems far away and a
world apart. We view the struggles of
people young and old fleeing from
warfare and poverty from places of
comfort. And, to be honest, viewing
these people who come from
different ethnic and religious
backgrounds may only increase our
feeling of distance.
And this is what troubles me…about
myself. It’s so easy to turn off the TV
and say this is not my problem. It’s
not in my backyard. It’s so easy to
think these aren’t my people — fellow
Christians or fellow citizens.
But as Christians we are called to love
our neighbor — and we don’t get to
choose the neighbor who needs our
help. This is perhaps why Pope
Francis called on Christians in
Europe to open their homes (and
their hearts) to struggling refugees,
noting that the Gospel of Jesus calls
us all to seek to aid the most
vulnerable in our midst.
You may remember that St. James
was the first ELCA congregation in
Dane County to sponsor a Bhutanese
refugee family — Jagat & Januka
Thapa and their three children,
Bishnu, Krishna, and Sanjok — in
September, 2009. Many of you spent
countless hours mentoring them,
transporting them. The Thapas now
own a house a few blocks from our
own.
You may not remember that the
ELCA is currently working with
partner churches and organizations in
European countries seeking to help
refugees. Tamas Fabiny, the bishop of
one of these partners, the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Hungary,
recently said that their denomination
is working to “promote a culture of
mutual respect, inclusion and love.”
We should all be mindful that the
ELCA’s “Disaste r Re spon se”
continues to work with partners
around the world, such as helping
those dealing with wildfires in
California and earthquakes in Nepal.
It recently reached its five-year goal of
raising $15 million for its Malaria
Campaign. And the work continues
( se e w ww .e lca . org fo r m ore
information and stories about the
work you are a part of) — this is
“God’s work. Our hands.”
However, what often gets missed in
today’s news is the persecution of
Christians around the world (apart
from the horrific violence against
Christians by ISIS). While easy to
take religious freedom for granted
here, there are brothers and sisters in
countries where sharing their faith is
illegal, where confessing their faith
subject to imprisonment.
ST. JAMES EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
Phone: 608.845.6922
www.stjamesverona.org
Fax: 608.845.6903
WORSHIP
Saturday - 5:00 pm
• Sunday - 8:30 am & 10:45 am
OFFICE HOURS
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday — 8 am to 4 pm
Wednesday — 8 am to 12 noon
STAFF
Kurt Billings, Pastor
Cell: 235-8122
Peter Narum, Pastor
Cell: 469-9625
Michelle Lichty
Parish Administrator
Emily Jeremiason
Office Assistant
Barb Roberts
Office Assistant
Kelly Rodger
Youth Education Coordinator
Paulette Spoon
Adult Choir & Handbell Choir
Susan Bubolz
Youth Choir Director
Marilyn Doerfer, Alex Ford
Rhonda Chalone & Jim Erickson
Accompanists
Barb Rasmussen, R.N.
Parish Nurse/Visitation Coord.
Heather Pearl
Director, St. James Preschool
Lynn Hauski, Holly Parker,
Stacy Zimmerman & Lori Rudy
St. James Preschool
BOARD OF MINISTRY
David Polet, President
Karen Breitnauer, Vice-President
Kim Feller, Treasurer
Sue Martin-Zernicke, Secretary
Dennis Beres
Lee DeBaillie
Sheri Doyle
Jon Schellpfeffer
316-5519
848-8297
845-6425
246-2025
845-9305
848-1012
848-5466
845-9449
From the Pastor Continued
The “World Watch List” ranks North Korean, Somalia, Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan as the top 5 countries where “Extreme
Persecution” exists. The list goes on. And while these problems exist far away, these are our people — our brothers and
sisters in Christ, and we should do what we can to help so that they know they’re not alone, and they’re not forgotten.
I bring this to your attentions for two main reasons: (1) that you include persecuted Christians in your prayers, and (2) that
you include their persecutors in your prayers as well (see Matthew 5.44).
I believe Jesus calls us to first serve the hungry and needy closest to us. But we also live in a time when we are immediately
aware of the many suffering throughout our world. My prayer is that each of you individually, and we together as a
congregation, will continue to seek God’s guidance and strength in our mutual calling to love our neighbor in need.
—Pastor Peter Narum
Wednesday, October 7 at 6:00 pm
The menu this month includes Bean & Ham Soup, Salad, Breadsticks,
Apple & Pumpkin Desserts, Coffee, Milk, & Lemonade. All are
welcome. Please join our St. James Community for dinner.
Sunday, October 11th at 5:00 pm
We will discuss All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr. Marie Laure lives with her father
in Paris within walking distance of the Museum of Natural History where he works as the master of
the locks. When she is six, she goes blind, and her father builds her a model of their neighborhood,
every house, every manhole, so she can memorize it with her fingers and navigate the real streets with
her feet and cane. When the Germans occupy Paris in June of 1940, father and daughter flee to
Saint-Malo on the Brittany coast, where Marie-Laure’s agoraphobic great uncle lives in a tall, narrow
house by the sea wall.
In another world in Germany, an orphan boy, Werner, grows up with his younger sister, Jutta, both
enchanted by a crude radio Werner finds. He becomes a master at building and fixing radios, a
talent that wins him a place at an elite and brutal military academy and, ultimately, makes him a
highly specialized tracker of the Resistance. Werner travels through the heart of Hitler Youth to the far-flung outskirts of
Russia, and finally into Saint-Malo, where his path converges with Marie-Laure’s.
Doerr’s gorgeous combination of soaring imagination with observation is electric. Deftly interweaving the lives of multiple
characters, Doerr illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another.
This book is for sale at the Welcome Center for $18.
TREASURER’S REPORT
August 31, 2015
The 2015 Budget approved by the congregation at the semi-annual meeting on February 1, 2015 totals $546,375, which
represents a 5% increase from 2014. $506,000 of the income budget is from Operating Envelopes and/or those
contributions received through Electronic Funds Transfer.
August, 2015 Attendance:
August, 2014 Attendance:
934
1,034
August Receipts:
Total
Offering Envelopes
Actual
$42,459
$40,714
Budget
$38,650
$36,500
Increase (Decrease) from Budget
Dollars
Percent
$3,809
9.9%
$4,214
12.0%
YTD Receipts
Total
Offering Envelopes
Actual
$327,860
$306,976
Budget
$327,998
$303,750
Prior Year (P/Y)
$302,804
$284,975
YTD Receipts
Total
Offering Envelopes
Increase (Decrease) from Budget
Dollars
Percent
($138)
(0.04%)
$3,226
1.1%
Increase (Decrease) from P/Y
Dollars
Percent
$25,056
8.3%
$22,001
7.7%
Thank you to our faithful members for supporting our church budget which is on track for both receipts and expenses as
of August 31, 2015. The last 4 months are also critical to the operating budget, and last year the budget was achieved
ALL THINGS YOUTH AND FAMILY
* The Sunday School year is off to a great start! The first day of Sunday School
brought many excited faces. A big thanks to all volunteers who helped make this
day successful for all of the kids!
* Bibles will be presented to all Third Grade students Sunday, October 4 th at the
8:30 am service! The Hands-On Bible is one that I enjoy giving out each year. This
Bible features “tip-ins,” online parenting helps and hundreds of fun and
memorable activities! It is packed with activities and experiences that invite kids
to crawl inside the Scriptures and “do” God’s Word!
* Confirmation classes have also begun. Over the summer a new curriculum was
selected and in looking through lessons and materials the teachers are very
excited about this change.
September 27
Mission Trip Sunday
* The Affirmation of Baptism (Confirmation Service) is October 18th. This will be a
very special day for 9th grade students who have worked hard for the last two
years learning about the Bible and Luther’s Small Catechism. The service will be
part of the 10:45 am service followed by a reception for the youth and their
families. *For 9th grade students and families, there is a luncheon and practice on
October 11th at 12:00 pm.
September 30
High School Youth Group
6:00 pm—7:30 pm
October Youth Group Dates & Times
8:30 am Worship
October 7: MS & HS Activity Night: CORN MAZE 6:00 pm—8:00 pm
**parent drivers needed, contact Kelly at krodger@stjamesverona.org**
October 14: 4th & 5th YG@ St. James 5:00 pm—6:30 pm
October 4
Bible Presentation to
3rd grade students
October 10
Oktoberfest 2015
Polka Worship & Dinner
5:00 pm/6:00 pm
October 21: Middle School YG @ St. James 6:00 pm—7:30 pm
October 28: High School YG @ St. James 6:00 pm—7:30 pm
Dinner this month: Brinner (breakfast for dinner!)
Devotion this month: Everyone has a story, what’s yours?
October 18
Confirmation Service
10:45 am
October 25
New Members Received
8:30 am Worship
The Youth Handbell Choir will begin rehearsals on Sunday, October 4, at 10:45 am. We rehearse on Sunday mornings,
usually three times per month, in the lower level music room, for approximately one hour. Youth from grades 6 through
12 may participate; others with the OK of the director. New and returning young people are welcome! If you are interested
or have questions, please contact Paulette Spoon at e3pspoon@chorus.net or 845-3158.
FROM THE PARISH NURSE...Barbara Rasmussen, RN.,CPN
October brings the beginning of fall to our beautiful state, Wisconsin. Be sure to get outside for some exercise and enjoy
the wonderful colors our hardwood trees provide. God certainly paints a beautiful picture!
October is also the time that several flu clinics are available to the public. It has been noted that flu season is anticipated
to start earlier than in previous years. It takes the flu shot two weeks to reach its full efficacy. Please don’t procrastinate on
your protection and good health.
I also want to take this opportunity to remind and invite you, members of St. James, your families, and friends, to our
annual Hope and Healing Dinner and Celebration, to be held on All Saints Sunday, November 1, 2015. The celebration
will begin at 6:00 pm with dinner and followed with a candlelight worship service in the sanctuary.
The event is for any loss. It includes not only loss of life, but relationships,
jobs, our health and the health of others. It encompasses our memories, grief,
sadness, and pain. We are given the time to reflect and time to give it all once
more to God, asking Him to replace all our sadness and despair with the gift of
peace and hope. Please consider the invitation. Even if you have attended in
the past, you are so welcome to attend again. There will be a sign-up sheet on
the bulletin board in the narthex or call the church office with your name and
the number attending.
Have a Wonderful Autumn!
October 11
Blood
Pressure
Checks are taken the
second Sunday of each
month at 9:45 am in
the Church Office.
A thank you from Harriet Instefjord for all the beautiful cards, visits and food I received during my recovery from a fall. I
very much appreciated all the kinds thoughts.
God Bless my St. James Family
Alex Ford of our congregation is among the 19 area composers/organists whose original work for organ will be featured in
a recital on Friday, October 2 at 7:30 pm at St. James Church (Good Shepherd Parish); 1204 St. James Court; Madison. A
project of the Madison-based Association of Church Musicians, the event is a fundraiser for scholarships for organ
study. The public is cordially invited; there is no admission fee, but a free-will offering will be accepted.
More information can be found at http://madisonacm.org/recital.html
School is off to a great start. The kids are learning the routines, getting to know new friends and having a great time.
Ms. Holly’s 3 W/F class
Ms. Stacy & Ms. Lynn’s Pre-K Class
Ms. Lori’s 2 ½ class
We will be having a fundraising night at Dairy Queen on October 7th from 4:00 pm—7:00 pm. Ten percent of total sales
between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm will go to the Preschool. Come enjoy dinner or dessert and support the preschool at the
same time.
Bucky Books are available for purchase at the Welcome Center for $35. The Preschool receives $15 profit for each book
sold!! You can also contact Heather at sjp@stjamesverona.org to purchase a book. There are a lot of great coupons in the
Bucky Books. In fact you will save more than $35 when using the book. There is a sample book for you to view at the
Welcome Center.
In Residence: Four Winds - Lorraine
Crownhart; Girlie’s Manor at Ingleside Duane Eliason; Heritage, Monona Marlys & Vern Awes. Willow Pointe Russell & Betty Burgenske, Margaret
Hendrickson, Bob & Roberta Miller,
Vera Schreiner and Marv & Cookie
Thompson. Willow Pointe Memory
Care - Doris Stuber.
S
erving in the Military: Dan Sullivan,
Adam Jeziorski, Casey Biggins, Neil
Funseth, Justin Holmes, Mark Nyhus,
Ryan Nyhus, Adam Pechan, Casey Pulver,
David Pulver, and Shandra Pulver.
S
acrament of Holy Baptism: Kellen
Peter Wagner, son of Eric & Theresa
(Lueck) Wagner on September 20.
427 South Main Street
Verona, WI 53593-1492
e remember in our prayers — Members of St. James:
Olga Ascher, Marlys Awes, Duane & Margaret Eliason,
Lauren Geier, Dale Hagen, Kirsten Hansen, Kathy Marking &
family, Monica Pechan, Charles & Ruby Reuter, Dale Thompson, and
Chery Vroman. Friends of St. James: Kathy Angerman, Janet Earley, Eric
Jelinek, Patty Oskorep, Heidi Peterson, Deb Rikli, Laura Schurman and
Bev Thom. Relatives of Members: Helen Abplanalp (mother of Chuck
Abplanalp), John Bittrich (father of Elise Taft), Anne Bloomer (Rob
Frederick’s grandmother), Harry Chaudoir (father of Kate Pederson), Bob,
Donna & Mark Evans (parents & brother of Cindy Waldbillig), Molly
Fuglestad (sister-in-law of Erin Joanis), Janine Gerke (sister-in-law of Red &
Diann Chapman), Brad Hafermann, (brother-in-law of Sandy Saether),
Richard Johnson (father of Jeff Johnson), Hillary Knobloch (niece of Sandy
Saether), Don Koch (brother of Cookie Thompson), Bob M. (father of
Carol Ann McArdell), Al Miller (brother-in-law of Cookie Thompson),
Tom Miller (cousin of Helen Dignan), Leela Mitchum (niece of Mindy
Storch), Sandy Opsal (daughter of Burnell & John Morton), Craig Parman
(brother-in-law of Sandy Saether), Kristin & Brad Reinke (niece & nephew
of Laura Lee Hames), Laurie Ronning (mother of Beth Jonjak), Erica S.
(daughter of Carol Ann McArdell), Donald Smith (father of Mark Smith),
Larry Vroman (brother of George Vroman), Mary Taft (mother of Nat
Taft), Don Waalen (father of Karen Breitnauer), David Wallace (father of
Sheri Doyle), Chris Watters (brother of Ben Watters), and George Welsh
(father of Val Welsh).
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
W
PARISH NOTES