0116 Newsletter Online

January 2016, Issue 1
Windsor United Church of Christ
The Windsor Word
Living and Serving from Generation to Generation in the name of Jesus Christ.
January Lessons:
3rd
Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:1-12
Saint Mahew 2:1-12
Inside this issue:
Services
2
From Pastor Dave
3-4
From Pastor Julie
5
17th Isaiah 62:1-5
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Saint John 2:1-11
Calendars
6-7
Financial Recap
8
24th Psalm 19
Sunday School News
Within Our Congregation
9
General Announcements
Musical Notes
10
10th Isaiah 43:1-7
Acts 8:14-17
Saint Luke 3:15-17,21-22
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Saint Luke 4:14-21
31st
Jeremiah 1:4-10
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Saint Luke 4:21-30
Sunday Worship Schedule
8:00am Traditional Worship
9:15am Sunday School
10:30am Contemporary Worship
Windsor United Church of Christ
Senior Pastor: Rev. Dr. David McDonald
Associate Pastor: Rev. Dr. Julie Overman
4434 Second Street, PO Box 187
Windsor, WI 53598-0187
P: (608) 846-5731
F: (608) 846-5734
office@windsorucc.org
www.windsorucc.org
Windsor UCC
Living and Serving from Generation to Generation in the name of Jesus Christ.
Sunday Worship Services
3rd January 2016
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
8:00 T W
Ushers/Greeters: Joan Rice & Melinda Helmer
Paul & Kassie Fugere
Lay Liturgist: Joan Rice
10:30 C W
Ushers: Nancy Miller & Mary Rockhill
Marilyn Otto & Margie Sandstrom
South Door Greeter: Ed Krausman
North Door Greeter: Darryl Topinka
Nursery: Jean Gunderson & Christa Hunley
Nursery Backup: Tami Kepler
Lay Ministry Leader: Marian Drake
10th January 2016
8:00 T W
Ushers/Greeters: Roger & Carrie Stoltenberg
Yvonne King & Sally Orcholski
Lay Liturgist: Roger Stoltenberg
10:30 C W
Ushers: Debbie Simon & Peyton Simon
Dwight & Mary Mueller
South Door Greeter: Kari O’Connor
North Door Greeter: Bernie Rouse
Nursery: Christa Hunley & Cheryl Ksobiech
Nursery Backup: Tami Kepler
Lay Ministry Leader: Bernie Rouse
17th January 2016
8:00 T W
Ushers/Greeters: Bob & Kathy Whitaker
Bill & Carol Ridgely
Lay Liturgist: Bill Ridgely
Page 2
10:30 C W
Ushers: Marc & Carol Wipperfurth
Lowell & Arita Jevens
South Door Greeters: Dave & Sandy Strohkirch
North Door Greeter: KJ Busse
Nursery: Cheryl Ksobiech & Leigh Ann Larson
Nursery Backup: Tina Lisowe
Lay Ministry Leader: Barb Darnill
24th January 2016
8:00 T W
Ushers/Greeters: Russ & Kathie Stearns
Jerry & Betty Fuller
Lay Liturgist: Jerry Fuller
10:30 C W
Ushers: John & Kaye Stickney
Paul Ingebrigtson & Peggy Olson
South Door Greeters: Bob & Jen Vernig
North Door Greeter: Pam Cooper
Nursery: Leigh Ann Larson & Kelley McCann
Nursery Backup: Tina Lisowe
Lay Ministry Leader: Kit Thomsen
31st January 2016
8:00 T W
Ushers/Greeters: Dale & Sally Orcholski
Fran & Marian Drake
Lay Liturgist: Dale Orcholski
10:30 C W
Ushers: Dick & BJ Bower
Denny & Deni Dobson
South Door Greeter: Darryl Topinka
North Door Greeter: Eileen Fix
Nursery: Kelley McCann & Sandy Meeker
Nursery Backup: Janelle Midlikowski
Lay Ministry Leader: Betty Gene Diener
The Windsor Word
From Pastor Dave
Fifteen years ago this month, as I was giving the kids their evening baths in the
upstairs of the parsonage at my last parish, a phone call from Susan Norby on
behalf of the search commiee interrupted the bubbles. What started as a quick getacquainted conversation stretched to nearly an hour and an agreement to meet with the
search commiee on the King holiday later that same month. After that conversation and
interview, we set a trial sermon for the first weekend in February 2001. It was Julia’s birthday
weekend, and at the reception to meet my family the congregation kindly provided a decorated cake for her
to celebrate her 12th birthday.
Julia will soon be 27 and lives in Seale now. Cullen, who was in the third grade when we arrived, is
halfway through his second year of graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin. Rachel, who turned 7 on
her first day of school at Windsor after we moved here, expects to graduate from the University of Wisconsin
in May. It’s been a long journey together. My kids have grown up here. The church’s building project, so new
in so many of our minds, is now nearly a decade in the past; for many of our congregation’s children the
“new” church is the only church they know. The confirmands who will be taking classes this spring are likely
to be kids who were baptized by me soon after my arrival, or perhaps in the interval shortly before I came. In
short, time goes by quickly!
It’s not that long ago that we added our contemporary worship service. Or is it? Well, by my
reckoning, it’ll be 13 years this spring since we put Cornerstone together and began singing newer-style
music in late church. “Windsor Blue” passed from our dominant color scheme nearly a decade back. Our
trusty church secretary, Barb Varner, has been among us even longer than our contemporary worship service
has been around!
Windsor Church has enjoyed unprecedented constancy and stability in the last decade and more, and
we can be grateful that our time together has been fruitful, and remains so. David Schipper’s arrival shortly
after the building was completed, and Julie Overman’s coming among us in 2011, have added to the church’s
ability to develop and maintain strong and vital ministries. We have much for which to be thankful and
grateful—not only to the individuals on staff, but also for the faithful laity and leadership whose dedicated
service has helped us move from strength to strength.
I recently aended a pastoral installation at one of our nearby sister churches. It was a lovely service,
well-aended by area clergy. That congregation has undergone a great deal of stress in recent years, though,
as the result of unplanned pastoral transitions. In five years, that community of faith had seven clergy
providing pastoral care and worship leadership. Those who have been around our congregation know that
the “pastor of the week” model is one that really challenges the community to hang together in a transitional
period.
Our sister church has come out on the other side of that turmoil and looks forward to the future under
the pastoral guidance of a good and capable minister, whose gifts for service will serve them well. But their
needs and her skills will take time to grow together. In fact, it may take years for those gifts to fully flourish.
In the meantime, they will be struggling financially and as a community to restore what has been lost. That’s
not a simple task, as we all know.
Page 3
The Windsor Word
From Pastor Dave (cont.)
Windsor will hold its annual congregational meeting on Sunday, 24 January,
immediately following late worship. The ordinary business of such a meeting
will be taken on, generally, but also some specific items that will clarify and
strengthen our governing documents will be discussed. We’ll also look at the budget
for the coming year. While we don’t really have any control over things like utilities and
business expenses—those items that keep the lights on, so to speak—we do control particular
items like staff salaries and mission budgets.
At its recent meeting, the budget & finance commiee talked extensively about our biggest
budget item: staff compensation. Frankly, a lot of that conversation was around *my* compensation.
The Wisconsin Conference has a series of recommended factors to consider in building a pastor’s
compensation package. Those factors are: length of overall church service, length of service in a
particular place, and the size of the congregation. As of this writing, I am beginning my twenty-fifth
year as a pastor in the United Church of Christ, and my twenty-third since my ordination. At the same
time, we are amidst our fifteenth year together, which by most standards is a very long time. Our
current church membership is in the range of ~450.
Each of those three factors contributes to a grid that the conference produces. When we look at
my current cash and housing allowance, the finance and stewardship commiee determined that my
compensation is substantially below the guidelines. As of 2016, for example, the guidelines suggest
that, at my current level of experience (25 years overall), and service here (15 years), factored with our
size (300-500 members), my cash compensation is substantially short of where it should be. The
council and the commiee will be proposing a three-year plan to raise the pay level to the suggested
level at the annual meeting.
As you’ve heard me say repeatedly through the years, I don’t like talking about money and
I’m aware that you don’t like to hear me preach about it, either. But I do think it’s important for us to
be honest with each other about it, and to talk about such maers as adults. You all know my pay
packet. I’ve been accused of not being a very forceful advocate on my own behalf with regard to
salary and compensation maers. The commiee’s perspectives were clear and so we begin planning
for the coming year, accordingly.
In addition to these items, we are planning to make special offerings during the course of 2016
to support, by extra gifts on any “fifth” Sunday in a month (one per quarter), the building fund. We
will provide envelopes in the bulletins a week in advance for those special, over-and-above gifts to
help relieve our mortgage obligation to DMB Community Bank. The first occasion for this special
giving will be on 31 January, the fifth Sunday of this month. At the annual meeting we will be sure to
distribute envelopes for your use in making a gift to the mortgage fund the following week.
I look forward to the coming year in companionship with you as we seek to proclaim Christ’s
Good News!
Yours in faith,
David McDonald
Page 4
The Windsor Word
From Pastor Julie
Dear Friends in Christ,
I am just back from a family trip to Dayton, Ohio where we
celebrated my graduation with my doctorate from United Theological
Seminary. It was a joyous and festive occasion. However, it was shadowed
with tragedy. Next to me at the commencement ceremony sat my friend Judith.
Earlier this week Judith’s step-son Amelio had been shot and killed. The funeral was the
next day. Her husband was trying to pull it together to give the eulogy, and Judith was going to
sing.
This winter, I don’t feel I have to convince you that the kingdom is not yet here. There have been so many
deaths, so much gun violence, and so many tragedies, there’s no one who needs convincing that the
kingdom, as God wants it, is not yet here. We know that we live in a world that is crowded with darkness,
sorrow, and pain. But because of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who God sent to save the world, we
know that we must keep singing.
Mary sang even before the promised baby was born, when Jesus was still a thought and a prayer. Mary sang
before the promise of God was realized and made whole. Mary sang her faith even during the gestation
period for God’s will to be done. She sang for the changing of the world: for the mighty to be brought down
and for the humble to be raised up. I hope she remembered that song when Jesus was persecuted, when he
was arrested, beaten, and crucified. I hope she remembered that song when the tomb was found to be empty,
and her son was resurrected. I hope she remembered that she bore the Hope of the World for all humanity.
We need to sing for this time in which we live. We need to sing out justice. We need to sing out love. We
need to sing in the winter. We need to sing in the face of death, like Judith is doing, because we know death
does not have the last word. Amid violence and senseless deaths, amid all the ways we are haunted by
memories, what-if’s, and fears, we are called to keep singing.
I am so happy to have finished my doctorate. I learned so much, and grew as a person and as a minister. I am
so grateful to Pastor Dave and the entire congregation for encouraging me and supporting me on this
journey. It was a long three years, filled with set-backs, challenges, and triumphs. It is great to be done!
But I know that my ministry is not over. In some ways it is just beginning. There is more light and truth to
break forth from God’s word. We have so much to learn and do together as the Body of Christ in this world.
In this world filled with darkness and threats, we hold the light of Christ together for all to see. I look forward
to the year to come. Sing with me?
O lile town of Bethlehem / How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep / The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth / The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years / Are met in thee tonight.
-Pastor Julie
Page 5
Please notify the church office (846-5731) of any additions or corrections.
January 2016 Birthdays
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
Donna Krausman
2
Ed Hysell
Bernie Rouse
3
Jay Hoffman
Dwight Mueller
Tori Ruf
4
Bob Newlun
Luke Oshman
5
Dorothy Dahl
Kaitlyn Sherbo
6
7
Deni Dobson
Liam Soltis
8
Hayley Gunderson
Chris Stoltenberg
9
Chance Hernandez
Bob Vernig
10
11
12
13
Kim Schmidt
14
Nadilin Delmore
Gwen Kepler
Melinda Phillips
15
Alan Hendrickson
Mariah Lenzendorf
Christopher Thorpe
16
David Mulholland
Amber Westra
17
Melinda Helmer
18
Gordon Gunderson
John Loescher
19 Kraig Kahl
Hope Schultz
Peter Snyder
Vitale Snyder
20
21
Ed Boebel
Delaney Simon
22
23
Tom Larson
Geri Otto
Tom Simon
24
25
Heather Hornback
26
Jon Bussie
Audrey Jones-Caito
27
Rojeane Anderson
Eileen Fix
28
Nyellie Delmore
Karen Ferris
Colten Suchomel
29
30
Michael Birkholz
Spencer Kelsey
31
Weston Grefe
January 2016 Events
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
8 & 10:30 Worship
NO Sunday School
9:30 Band Practice
BUCKET SUNDAY
4
6:45p Knitters at
Norby’s
5
6
6:30p Jubilee Choir
8p Adult Choir
7
8
9
10
11
6:45p Knitters at
Norby’s
12
13
6:30p Jubilee Choir
8p Adult Choir
14
15
16
8 & 10:30 Worship
9:15 Sunday School
9:30 Band Practice
17
6p Food Pantry
6:30p AA Meeting
7p Dartball at WUCC
6p Food Pantry
6:30p AA Meeting
7p Dartball at WUCC
7p Lay Academy
3p
18
6:45p Knitters at
Norby’s
19
20
6:30p Jubilee Choir
8p Adult Choir
21
22
23
24 8 & 10:30 Worship 25
9:15 Sunday School
6:45p Knitters at
9:30 Band Practice
Norby’s
26
27
6:30p Jubilee Choir
8p Adult Choir
28
29
30
8 & 10:30 Worship
9:15 Sunday School
9:30 Band Practice
11:45 Annual Meeting
Bucket Sunday Sign-Up
31
8 & 10:30 Worship
9:15 Sunday School
9:30 Band Practice
Bucket Sunday Sign-Up
6p Food Pantry
Newsletter Deadline
6:30p AA Meeting
7p Dartball at WUCC
6p Food Pantry
6:30p AA Meeting
7p Dartball at WUCC
A Brief Recap of the Church's 2015 Finances
as of November 30, 2015
A complete breakdown of the income and expenses is
available in the church office
Income
November
Pledges
Unpledged gifts
Loose offering
Fund Raising
Sunday School
Mortgage Gifts
Cap. Camp. Interest
Other**
10,895
10,926
484
45
276
8,382
1
0
31,009
Monthly
Budgeted
16,667
5,417
833
2,083
67
10,468
8
0
35,543
Actual
YTD
100,578
120,070
4,652
14,278
700
90,842
20
763
331,903
Budgeted
YTD
183,337
59,587
9,163
2,913
737
115,148
88
20
370,993
Annual
Budget
200,000
65,000
10,000
25,000
800
125,616
100
600
427,116
Monthly
Budgeted
18,174
Actual
YTD
203,796
Budgeted
YTD
199,194
Annual
Budget
218,090
208
25
42
267
1,659
0
2,642
762
0
23,779
2,813
0
317
651
11,586
415
25,221
7,251
876
252,926
2,288
275
462
2,037
18,249
0
23,062
8,582
0
254,149
2,500
300
500
3,200
19,910
0
31,700
9,140
0
285,340
60,760
54,890
115,650
-36,676
0
0
115,148
125,616
** Facility Usage, Special Offerings, Interest, Miscellaneous
Expenses
November
Personnel
12,921
Ministries
Worship
199
Congregational Life
0
Hospitality
0
Nuture
0
Mission & Outreach
1,494
Stewardship
0
Buildings & Grounds
801
Admin. & Comm.
473
Fund Raising
0
Total Operating
15,888
Expenditures
Mortgage
Interest
5,050
Principal
5,418
Total Mortgage
10,468
Oper. Gain/Loss
4,652
(includes mortgage payment)
10,468
Checking Account Balance November 30
Encumbered Checking
Available Checking
21,814
6,477
15,337
The Windsor Word
Sunday School News
Advent Workshop
Thanks to everyone who
helped with the Advent
Workshop. On Sunday,
November 29, the kids
rotated around the Dining
Room at different stations
to make crafts for giving or
sharing with family members. Sunday School
teachers and helpers staffed the crafts, and parents
and grandparents were around too. This was an
exciting event and we can hardly wait for next year!
Thanks to everyone who donated wrapping paper,
too!
Christmas Program
The Sunday School presented its annual
Christmas program again this year on Sunday,
December 13 at 10:30 service. The program was
called, “An Unexpected Christmas.” Thank you to
all the kids who were in it! Thank you teachers
and helper and parents! Thank you David
Schipper, Karen Ferris, Darryl Topinka, Jennet
Shepherd! It was so much fun! Great job,
everybody!
There will be no Sunday School classes
on December 27th and January 3rd.
Within Our Congregation
In our Prayers:
Dorothy Dahl at Waunakee Manor Retirement Center
Donna Buchner at Waunakee Manor
Eunice Pa9 at Sun Prairie Health Care Center
Isabel Norsman at Parkside Assisted Living, DeForest
Wilma Mayr at Sienna Crest Assisted Living, Waunakee
Arlene Lillemon at Waunakee Manor Retirement Center
Mariellen Gasser at Parkside Assisted Living, DeForest
Bob and Glenna Davis
Congratulations:
The Reverend Doctor Julie Overman—received her Doctorate on 12/18/15
Annual Meeting of the Congregation
Sunday, January 24, 2016
11:40am
Page 9
The Windsor Word
General Announcements
Thank You!
Much appreciation and many thanks to Pastor
Dave McDonald and Dave Schipper, the-musicman, for participating in the Rachel Circle
Christmas Party Potluck again this year. For
many years, Pastor Dave has conducted
devotions and given communion to those
a9ending the party. Dave Schipper has played
the piano and sang Christmas Carols with our
group. We all enjoyed their time and efforts to
make our party special.
Thanks again.
Rachel Circle
Pat Allie, President
College Scholarships Available
Members of Windsor UCC are invited to apply
for college scholarships for 2016-2017 from the
Frank E. Page Scholarship Fund. Applicants
should be planning to begin or continue
education at any accredited 2– or 4-year college
or university, and should have a record of
academic achievement, service to church and
community, and demonstrated financial need.
The application deadline is February 15, 2016;
contact scholarships@firstcongmadison.org for
an electronic application. Questions? Contact
Be9y
Fuller
at
846-5533
or
bjfuller@centurytel.net.
Musical Notes
A Spring Youth Musical at Windsor United Church of Christ!
We’re gearing up for an exciting and fun spring youth musical at Windsor United Church of Christ.
We’re creating a musical with catchy songs, some cool dance routines, and a good plot about having faith in
God and being a Christian.
We have the same great group of leaders as last year with us. All youth and their friends, kindergarten
through sixth grade, are encouraged to be a part whether they’re just starting out, or have much experience
with musicals. The musical will be on Sunday, April 24th at 10:30 A.M. We’re looking to put together some
social gatherings in January and February for the youth participating to get to know each other. Practices
will start in March!
Thank You!
Thank you to the adult choir, the chime choir, Cornerstone singers and instrumentalists, special vocal
quartets, special soloists, trumpet players, woodwind players, piano accompanists, soundboard operators,
power-point designers, ushers, greeters, communion assistants, church decorators, refreshment providers for
church decorating, refreshment providers for between and after church services, guest musicians, and
everyone else who have given of your time and energy to help us celebrate and worship during this Advent
and Christmas season.
Page 10