The Bell - First Congregational UCC

First Congregational
United Church of Christ
420 Wilson Ave.
Menomonie, WI 54751
(715) 235-5838
The Bell
e-mail: 1stcongo@wwt.net
website: menomonieucc.org
April 2015
April Events
Lent
4/1:
4/2:
4/3:
4/4:
4/5:
4/9:
4/12:
4/14:
4/15:
4/19:
4/22:
4/26:
NO supper or Confirmation
7pm Maundy Thursday service
1pm Good Friday service
1:30-3pm personal prayer time in sanctuary
10:30am Family Easter service rehearsal and
Easter egg hunt
8am Family Easter service
8:30-9:45am Easter breakfast
10am Festival Service
5:30pm Executive committee meeting
7:30pm Men’s Inner Life
Conference minister Rev. Franz Rigert –
guest preacher
2pm Spring Arts Showcase (sanctuary)
9:30am WIGC breakfast and books (Golden Leaf)
6pm Church Council
1pm Women’s Fellowship dessert and program
9am Breakfast Club
Camp Sunday
Family Night
Annual meeting and potluck
Please Note:
Susan will be on vacation April 6-12 and at Lay Academy
April 24-25
Holy Week & Easter for Families
Holy week begins with Palm Sunday (March 29)
and is marked by special services on Thursday
evening and Friday afternoon. Saturday morning
(April 4) we have a time of preparation for
children, youth, and families as we do some
rehearsing for the 8 AM Family Service. At
11:30am the youth host an Easter Egg Hunt for PS5th graders. We hope you will join us on Saturday
and Sunday!
Spring Arts Showcase - Sunday April 12
2 pm Church Sanctuary
Don't hide your talents! Bring them to the UCC
Spring Arts Showcase on Sunday, April 12, at 2pm,
in our sanctuary. We are looking for displays of
visual arts as well as performances of instrumental
and/or vocal music and performance arts, and our
church family includes and is acquainted with so
many talented people - time to celebrate! To be
included, please contact Ellen Ochs (715)235-0412
ellenbochs@yahoo.com or Deanna Schultz
schultzdea@uwstout.edu. Contact us soon!
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Worship In April
Thursday, April 2, 7pm
Maundy Thursday Communion/Tenebrae service
Ushers for April
April 5: Alan & Deb Benoit, Lori Anda & Gail Skamfer,
Jane Slupe, Jena Benoit
April 12, 19, 25: Alan & Deb Benoit, Lori Anda & Gail
Skamfer
Friday, April 3
1pm Good Friday service
1:30-3pm Sanctuary open for personal prayers
Coffee Hour Server(s)
4/5: Easter Breakfast
4/12: Kate Kramschuster and Barb Schmelzle
4/19:
4/26: Annual Meeting/potluck
Sunday, April 5: 8 & 10am
Sacrament of Communion
8am Family Easter Service
10am Festival Service
Music: Sr. Choir, Bell Choir, Trumpet
8:30-9:45am Easter Breakfast
Nursery Helpers
4/5:
4/12:
4/19:
4/26:
Sunday, April 12: 8:15 & 10am
Conference Minister Rev. Franz Rigert
Scripture: Acts 4:32-35, John 20:19-31
Reader: Jay & Owain Collins
Music:
10:30am Children’s Sunday School
Fellowship Hour after Worship
Bell Ringers
4/5:
4/12: Owain Collins
4/19:
4/26: Henry Ropella
Sunday, April 19: 8:15 & 10am
Camp Sunday
Scripture: I John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36-48
Reader: Youth
Music: Sr. Choir
9am: Adult Sunday School
10:30am Children’s Sunday School
Fellowship Hour after Worship
Flowers**
4/5: Easter
4/12: Heifner
4/19: Dittmann/Porter
4/26: Ropella
Sunday, April 26: 8:15 & 10am
Annual Meeting and Potluck
Scripture: Acts 4:5-12, John 10:11-18
Reader: Carol Ropella
Music: Sr. Choir
10:30am Children’s Sunday School
Meeting and Potluck following worship
**Please note: we request that flowers be here for
the 8:15am service on Sunday. Information for the
Church bulletin should be given to Deb Wesolek
(235-9360) or the church office (235-5838) one week
prior.
Nursery Volunteers Needed
Please consider volunteering in our church nursery
this month. This is a great opportunity to get to
know some of our young families and to support our
"Safe Sanctuaries" program. A paid staff member is
present, but an adult volunteer is also needed each
week. Thank you!
Communion Servers for April 5
Paul Mommsen, Jeff Lund, Jill Schwebs, Brian
Sandness, Jeff Jevne, Jane Culbert, Emily Billingsley
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Church Family News
From our Minister
Sisters and brothers in Christ,
During the last few weeks several church members have
commented to me that they/you have found this year’s
Lenten devotional booklet particularly meaningful. I have
too. The fourteen or so UCC clergy who wrote the daily
devotions are faithful, insightful, funny, heart full and gifted
writers. We bought more booklets than usual this year and
they were scooped up quickly. Next year we will have to
order more.
I have to say that I frequently read ahead in the booklet. I
do so in part because I am personally gripped by the
reflections and also because it offers fodder for my own
writing. I read ahead to the Holy Saturday page and found
the words there remarkably similar to discouraging words I
hear in our world today. So, spoiler alert, I feel compelled
to reprint them, particularly for those of you who didn’t get
to the table before all the booklets were gone.
Keep in Your Prayers:
Wendy Dittmann
Liz & Aanders Dommer
Nancy Woodard
Liz Strachan
Peggy Kothmann
Doris Lowry
Lois Randall
Terry Ingram
Our Sympathy:
To Aanders and Liz Dommer on the loss of their
baby, Lucan Jarl Dommer in February.
To Heather Jerrie and Eric Youngquist, Eric’s sister,
Heather’s Aunt, Irene, passed away in March
To Lori Anda, her aunt passed away in March.
To Matt Flug, his biological father, Vern Gruenwald,
died on March 23.
It is Holy Saturday and today, I have all the answers.
Today, I can see that violence will always decide who is
right and who is wrong. Today, I can see that the tomb is
victorious and the cradle empty. Today, I can see that only
the dead moon looks down from Heaven and all my
prayers are wasted breath. Today, I can see the tomb of
hope and I can see the way that the world killed Him.
Today, I can see that what has been shall determine what
will be.
Today, I can see the oceans rise and I know the
atmosphere will choke. Today I can see the fires of war
and I know they will never stop burning. Today, I can see
the sick and I know they will always be degraded. Today, I
can see the elders and I know they will always be
warehoused without dignity. Today, I can see our children
and I know they will always have to fight one another just
to be able to survive.
Today, the most I can do is nothing at all. Today, I need
God, and every scrap of reason I can muster tells me that
God is not coming. Today, I know that there is nothing that
tomorrow’s dawn will bring, other than more of the same
tired old world. Today, I am tired of it all, because today I
know that God is dead.
By John Edgerton
Celebrations:
To Korey Maves and Julie Bates-Maves, Benjamin
Maxwell Maves was born on March 6.
To Michelle Thierer, she was baptized on March 15.
Thank You:
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To Adrianne Harmston for filling in for Teresa
when she was on vacation
To Wendy Dittmann for filling in for Karolyn
while she was on vacation
To Deb Wesolek, Carol Schuler and Jane Hoyt
for ordering and putting out the Easter
flowers
Margy Ingram for her generous donation of
fabric for our pageant costumes.
Terry Nelson for putting up our new roomdarkening shades in Room 2.
To Terry Nelson and Jeff Huenink for
installing new shelves in the kitchen.
Our Monday Muffin bakers (Lyn Collins, Ruth
Morey, Judy Muller, & Joy Smith)
Joy Smith and Andrew Welsch for help with
the Muffin Ministry to UW-Stout.
This is the fullness of Holy Saturday but we know Easter is
still to come. We can feel the depths of Holy Saturday, but
we are Easter people. Faith is about having wide open
Holy Saturday eyes and singing on Easter morning.
Christ is risen - Rob
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Mission Statement
Official Call to the Annual Meeting of
First Congregational UCC, Menomonie
Sunday, April 26, 11:15 AM
Background: At the 2013 Annual Meeting of our
church, our congregation voted to become
recognized as an Open and Affirming church of the
United Church of Christ. Since this 2013 vote the
ONA Coalition of the UCC has indicated that being
recognized as an ONA church in the UCC requires
the inclusion of particular language in our official
church Mission Statement. Over the past three
month our Church Council voted to make the
changes to our Mission Statement according to our
church constitution, and these changes are being
brought forward to our 2015 Annual Meeting for a
vote of the congregation. The words to be added are
below in bold, italic letters:
All members and friends are invited to come
together to give thanks to our church leaders and
support the work of our church by attending our
Annual Meeting. At each Annual Meeting we take
opportunities to hear from our lay leaders who are
involved in all kinds of work and ministry in our
church. We vote on our church budget for the
upcoming fiscal year and elect new church leaders.
Annual meeting information:
Annual meeting booklets are available two weeks
ahead of time--April 12th. Please pick them up,
browse/read through them, and bring them with
you on April 26th.
Mission Statement of First Congregational UCC
We are called together:
 to celebrate God’s presence;
 to help each person to grow in his or her
relationship with God;
 to create a welcoming and supportive
community of all God’s people, affirming the
diversity of race, gender, age, sexual
orientation, gender expression and identity,
social and economic status, and the
differently abled;
 to observe and share life’s passages and our
faith traditions;
 to reach out in love seeking justice and
peace;
 and to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His
love.
Plan to attend the meeting after worship:
Extended childcare will be available so that when
children are finished with Sunday School they can
enjoy a snack and wait for parents.
Potluck:
After the meeting we enjoy a delicious potluck
dinner in Fellowship Hall. Please bring a dish to
share and your own place setting/tableware.
Everyone is welcome to join in this time of
fellowship!
Is Music Camp in your summer plans?
Hey kids! If you plan to attend a music camp this
summer, we have funds available for scholarships to
help with your expenses. In return, we ask that each
scholarship recipient contributes their musical talent
to the worship experience at church in some way.
Please fill out an application form available in the
church office or the volunteer bulletin board and
return them to the church office by May 3, 2015 so
that the Music Committee can choose the recipients
and notify them of their award.
Men’s Inner Life
The Men’s Inner Life group will be meeting on
Thursday, April 9 at 7:30pm in the church parlor.
Whether you have attended before or not, all men
are invited and welcome. Our discussions focus on
the thoughts that are foremost on the minds and
hearts of those present. So if you have been thinking
or wondering about something and would like to
discuss it with others come and join us.
4
Rotary Exchange Student
“Understanding PTSD: Healing & Hope for
Veterans and Their Families”
Saturday, April 18
9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Menomonie Veterans Center (Hwy 25 North)
Has your family thought about hosting an exchange
student? The Menomonie Rotary Club is once again
looking for host families for the 2015-2016 high
school year, and as several families from our church
can attest, that is a great experience for all involved.
There are advantages to the totally non-profit
Rotary Youth Exchange program: 1) it is only an
approximately 3-month commitment, as we recruit
3 families, in order to make it a broader cultural
experience for the student, 2) Rotary pays school
lunch, allowance, cell phone and school fees for the
student, 3) several Rotarians keep in touch with the
student and family to help as needed, and 4) it's a
step toward world understanding, one person at a
time. We believe in that! (And it's fun!)
If your family has questions, contact Ellen Ochs
(ellenbochs@yahoo.com, 235-0412)
Speaker (Sharlene Prinsen) – Panel Discussion –
Resource Fair - Lunch
No Cost to attend workshop; however preregistration requested (to guarantee handouts)
Free Book (by the speaker) to the first 50 who preregister!
Sponsored by several Menomonie area veterans
organizations.
Online Registration Form:
http://www.123contactform.com/form1310700/PTSD-Workshop-Registration-Form
Church Thrift Sale
Women's Fellowship
Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at 1:00 p.m.
We are planning to have a church thrift sale this
summer date TBA, so start saving all of your goods!
Any questions contact Wendy Dittmann.
Program: Susan Weston, Lay Academy
Devotions: Pat Kochendorfer
Committee for Dessert: Ruth Thomas, Shirley
Melrose, Sally Meinen
Please join us for dessert and the program.
Following that we will have a short business
meeting. A sign-up sheet will be posted by the
Fellowship Hall, or call Teresa to let her know if you
will be attending. We need this information
by Sunday, April 12th. Hope to see you there.
Empty Bowls
Thank you to all you who helped for Empty
Bowls. We had a successful event on March 7.
Over $8000 dollars was raised!
Spring Graduation Information
We are now collecting graduation information for
anyone graduating from a technical school, college,
university, or high school. Information will be in the
June Bell. Please provide the following info to
Teresa at 1stcongo@wwt.net, or 235-5838, as soon
as you know it:
Name of graduate; parent(s)
name(s); Graduating from
(where?);
What type of diploma/degree
(high school, certificate,
BS/BA, Masters, etc.);
Plans for future study or work.
Thank you for sharing your news with our church
family!
All women and men are invited to join us!
Women’s Fellowship Suggestion Box
The Women's Fellowship has placed a suggestion
box in the parlor to gather ideas for ways to spend
some of the profit from the 2014 Tour of Homes. If
you have suggestions for the Fellowship to consider,
please put a note in the suggestion box. Everyone is
welcome to offer suggestions. Decisions will be
made at the Women's Fellowship meeting on Ap. 15.
Working Women's Fellowship
Ladies Night Out - April 23rd. Meet at Ted's at 5:30
for pizza & a night of Downtown fun. Please RSVP to
Michelle at michelle_meinen@hotmail.com or (715)
505-0138.
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Progressive Christian Discussion Series on
Atul Gawande's Being Mortal: What
Matters in the End led by Toby Ellison
Heads Up!
Church Softball Coming
Thanks to Troy Steinmeyer for
offering to coach a youth softball
team from our church this summer
for students entering grades 7-10. If you are
interested in playing ball this summer, please
contact Susan Weston at susanwucc@gmail.com or
Troy at 920-475-4669 or sign up on the volunteer
board.
Atul Gawande’s book Being Mortal and his
Frontline presentation on February 6, 2015
remind us of “What Matters in the End” of our
lives and what patients and families need to die
as peacefully as possible. Toby Ellison will be
conducting a four-week class beginning Monday,
April 13 at 7:00 p.m. about preparing for one of
the most important events in our lives. The
series will continue April 20, 27, and May 4.
Using Atul Gawande’s book, a DVD of the
Frontline program and personal vignettes of
actual patient/family experiences from his
hospice/palliative care ministry, Toby will
highlight what we need to die peacefully. He
will also examine what families need in order to
support loved ones through the dying
experience.
Ira Byock, hospice physician said, “While
death may cast a long shadow upon us as we
journey through life, Americans typically refuse
to notice. We make jokes about death to
diminish its power, using laughter to insulate
ourselves from fear. In reflexively turning away
from reminders of death, we have at times
inadvertently isolated loved ones who needed
our presence, and we have robbed ourselves of
precious opportunities. Socially we have paid
dearly; culturally we are poorer for failing to
explore the inherently human experience of
dying.”
th
High School Youth Group News
April 1: Game Night for April Fools
All students in Grades 9-12 are invited to join us for
games and treats on Wednesday, April 1st from 6 7:15 p.m. in the HS Youth Room. Bring a friend and
your favorite game!
April 22: Kids Against Hunger
Join the Confirmation Class as they head to Our
Savior's Lutheran Church to package food for "Kids
Against Hunger" from 6-7:15 pm. RSVP to
susanwucc@gmail.com, so we can have a spot
reserved for you.
Confirmation Class to
"Kids Against Hunger" Event
On Wednesday, April 22, our MS and HS youth will
package food for Kids Against Hunger at Our Savior's
Lutheran Church. This is a Family Night, so plan to
join us for Jimmy John's subs at church, then we'll
walk to OSL together at 6 pm. RSVP to
susanwucc@gmail.com to reserve your spot.
Donations to help cover the cost of the food
packages will be gratefully accepted. Please send to
the church office with a note indicating "Kids Against
Hunger."
Please join us from 7:00- 8:30 p.m. in the
Fellowship Hall.
Monday Morning Muffin Ministry to UW-Stout
If you are on or near campus on Monday mornings,
come and say hello and enjoy a home-cooked
muffin! Look for our muffin cart behind Heritage
Hall between 9:40 - 10:10 am each week.
Thanks to all who make this ministry possible.
Students and staff often say, "You made my day!"
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Camp Sunday – April 19
The Breakfast Club April 19:
The Environment
We have two premier UCC Church camps in
Wisconsin, Moon Beach and Pilgrim Center. On April
19 we will celebrate the ministry of these camps,
make information available about all the programs
available at them and tell a bit about our Conference
wide effort to support them. We invite everyone to
come to church dressed looking like you are ready
for camp, particularly, wear your hats, shirts and
sweatshirts from camp if you have one.
The Breakfast Club: A Ministry of Coffee and
Community for Generations X & Y provides an
opportunity for young adults in the church to
connect with others and talk together about life and
spirituality in this twenty-first century world.
Please join us Sunday, April 19 in the Fellowship
Hall from 9 - 9:45 am for a light breakfast and
discussion. This month, in honor of Earth Day, we'll
be talking about issues related to the environment.
Nursery care is available, starting at 8:45 a.m.
Everyone is welcome! Bring a friend!
For more information, contact Kate Kramschuster
(katekramschuster@gmail.com) or Andrew Mercil
(mercila@uwstout.edu).
“Church Family” Night April 22: Seeing the
Sacred in Community
Members and friends of all ages are invited to
participate in “church family” night on Wednesday,
April 22. Following a simple supper from 5:30 - 6
pm, programming will be offered for children, youth,
and adults from 6 - 7:15 pm. Kids’ Club/Family Night
Coordinator, Morgan Kelly, leads the children’s
activities focused on practicing our faith in daily life.
Confirmation class and senior high youth will
continue their intergenerational fellowship visits.
This month Gary Johnson of Partners for
Resilience will present on “Parenting from the
Heart.”
Our goal is to offer activities that foster
connections within and between families and with
our church as a faith home.
Conference Minister to Preach – April 12
This past year the WI Conference United Church of
Christ elected a new Conference Minister. The Rev.
Franz Rigert has begun leading our Conference and
will be preaching at our church on Sunday, April 12.
Please come and join him at our 10am service and
greet him during the coffee hour following worship.
“If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be
beauty in the character;
If there is beauty in the character, there will be
harmony in the home;
If there is harmony in the home, there will be order
in the nation;
If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in
the world.” ---Confucius
We will be ordering pizza for supper. Suggested
donation for Wednesday Night Suppers are $3/child,
$4/adult, and $10/family. Please call the church
office at 235-5838 or email Susan at
susanwucc@gmail.com if you plan to join us.
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Holy Week
Palm Sunday Processional – March 29th
All worshipers are invited to come to Fellowship Hall to get palms and begin our Palm Sunday Parade from
there on March 29th. We are using eco-palms again this year—grown and harvested sustainably. The
sound system will allow us to hear the organ and sing on our way to the Sanctuary. Imagine you are part
of the crowd in Jerusalem that Passover week, so many years ago, welcoming Jesus with your “Hosannas!”
One Great Hour of Sharing Offering—Palm Sunday
Every Palm Sunday, we receive a very important offering in our church called “One Great Hour of Sharing”
(OGHS). This is one of four national offerings of the United Church of Christ. When you make a gift to One
Great Hour of Sharing, you actively participate in tending God’s people throughout the world. See more
about OGHS elsewhere in this newsletter. Families have been using the sharing calendar and coin boxes
this month. Today is the day to bring those for the processional. Please be generous on Palm Sunday. If
you can’t be in church, send your contribution to the church with One Great Hour of Sharing written in the
memo line.
Maundy Thursday – April 2nd, 7pm Worship
On this night we retell the story of the Last Supper and the betrayal of Jesus. At our 7pm service, we will
celebrate Holy Communion with unleavened bread to remember the Passover meal Jesus shared with his
disciples. We will also observe the Tenebrae liturgy which is a stirring reading of the betrayal of Jesus and
the movement from light to darkness.
Good Friday – April 3rd, 1pm Worship
Good Friday lays bare the world’s brokenness. In the crucifixion of Jesus we recognize the pain and
injustice of the world, and in this same moment we behold sacrificial love. At 1pm there will be a Taizé
prayer service. From 1:30 to 3pm on Good Friday our church sanctuary will be available for personal prayer
time. Readings and prayers will be provided for those who wish to use them, as well as candles to be lit for
people, places, and concerns.
Holy Saturday—April 4th
Families and youth are invited to come at 10:30 AM to make preparations and rehearse for the Sunday 8
AM family service. At 11:30 there will be an Easter Egg Hunt. Families will be emailed with details.
Easter—April 5th
Festivities begin at our 8 AM Family Service and continue during our 8:30 Easter breakfast prepared by the
men and boys of our congregation. All are welcome to join us. Our 10am Festival service will be filled with
glorious music as we celebrate the redemption of the world and the proclamation that Life is God’s final
word.
Childcare will be available during the 10 AM service.
Minutes of Church Council Meeting
First Congregational UCC, Menomonie, Wis.
February 10, 2015
Members present: Jeff Jevne, Jill Schwebs, Brian Sandness, Jane Culbert, Jeff Lund, Michelle Meinen, Jane Hoyt,
Ellen Ochs, Wendy Dittmann, Deb Wesolek, Susan Weston, and Rev. Dr. Rob MacDougall. Absent: Paul
Mommsen, Nell Johnson, Nancy Heifner, Emily Billingsley, and Brooke Jarvi-Beamer.
Moderator Jeff Jevne called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the church parlor.
Reflection: “Keep or throw?” Using a reading from the Lenten booklet based on Matthew 6:19, Susan reflected on
how we don’t need more space but fewer possessions instead. A brief discussion followed on downsizing, cleaning
out, and donating. Somewhere is a person who can use what we no longer need!
Minutes of the January 13, 2015, Council meeting were reviewed. Wendy moved to approve; Jeff L. seconded;
motion carried.
Clerk’s Report: Jane C. noted that church membership stands at 459, after moving David Cook, Anne FrantzCook, and Michelle Greenway-Lawler to inactive status. Also entered into church records were the baptisms of
McKenna Margaret Dodge, daughter of Jamie and Benjamin Dodge, and Gracie Sue Mueller, daughter of Katelyn
Mueller and Dennis Elmergreen. Jane H. moved to accept the report; Ellen seconded; motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report: Brian reported a General Fund balance of $12,111.85 as of January 31, 2015. The
Contingency Fund balance is $29,129.78. Michelle moved to accept the report; Deb seconded; motion carried.
Ordained Minister’s Report: Rob said he would provide his comments during the discussion of items of business.
Minister of Christian Education and Formation (MCEF) Report: 1) Susan said the youth are preparing for Fool’s
Sunday and the spaghetti lunch. 2) The Southern Poverty Law Center training session at UW-Stout was beneficial
and gave Susan a good chance to connect with people in the community. 3) Susan, along with Jill Christopherson
of First Congregational in Eau Claire, will attend a Progressive Youth Ministry Conference in Chicago in March. 4)
The intergenerational visits went well and Susan feels it is a good tradition to continue.
Jeff J. thanked Susan for her work on the Martin Luther King event. He read a note from Marian Lang of Red Cedar
Peace Initiative expressing thanks for Susan’s leadership and commenting on the great involvement from youth.
She said it was “a night of joy, peace, and inspiration.”
Communion March 1: Set-up--Jeff Lund and Jane Culbert. Servers--Michelle Meinen, Deb Wesolek, Nell Johnson,
and Brooke Jarvi-Beamer.
Moderator’s Report: 1) Jeff reminded Deacons to submit their annual reports to Teresa by March 27. 2) Karolyn
says the new vacuum cleaner is working well. 3) Repairs: a breaker was replaced on a freezer, and the garbage
disposal was serviced. 4) The MTG canceled the pancake breakfast that was to be held in the Fellowship Hall on
February 14.
Deacons’ Reports:
Music: 1) Ellen said the “Spring Arts Showcase” will be April 12 at 2 p.m. and will include a musical event and
visual display of arts. 2) Announcements for Alice Ruehl scholarships have been posted.
Stewardship: 1) Wendy expressed appreciation for the people who made stewardship announcements during
worship services. 2) The mailing with the narrative budget has gone out. 3) The committee is still working on a
“fundraiser for a purpose” and considering a thrift sale with monies going to Stepping Stones.
Membership/Fellowship: Michelle, Rob, Wendy Dittmann, and Karen Bumann will be attending the Turnaround
Church Workshop in Madison later this month.
Missions: Jeff L. was approached by Crop Walk organizers and agreed that our church will host the event October
11.
Worship: Jane H. raised the idea of a contemporary service, wondering if that would be attractive to people who
don’t come to church?
Old Business: Jeff J. reviewed actions taken at the January meeting: 1) Teresa will be the new payroll clerk,
starting in May. Brian will cover until then. 2) NA meetings are now held at the church on Saturday night. 3) The
Christmas Gift Giving Guide was approved.
New Business: 1) Organ update: Ellen shared a report from the organ refurbishers concerning additional
problems discovered during Phase One repairs. They include the need to move the adjustment location of
inaccessible key actions to area behind music rack; install slider seals because “sliders are leaking copious
amounts of air” (considered most important to correct); key actions will need seasonal adjustment. Original
estimate for Phase Two: $6,000 to $7,000. Revised estimate: $7,000 to $8,000. Jill moved to go ahead with
Phase Two repairs; Jane H. seconded; motion carried. (A free will offering to be taken at the Spring Arts Showcase
will go to the Organ Fund.) 2) Thursday’s Table annual report: Jill provided a financial statement. She noted that
less food is obtained from Feed My People and more is purchased from other sources. Each Thursday Pete
Samdahl, Food and Menu Coordinator, delivers leftover food to Bridge to Hope. Those meals are included in the
weekly account. 3) Planned Giving update: Rob reported that Jill Noreen is the new chairperson of Planned
Giving. Annual disbursements include 4% of the value of the Endowment going to the Council, by policy adopted
by congregational vote at 2014 Annual Meeting. The amount will be approximately $3,400.00. 4) Mission
Statement change: Because we are an ONA congregation, the National UCC has asked that we revise our
mission statement to include “gender expression and identity.” Rob presented a revised statement. Wendy moved
to approve the changes to our mission statement with the caveat that minor edits may be made; Jane H.
seconded; motion carried. Church bylaws require that the motion be presented at two Council meetings for
approval before being voted upon at the Annual Meeting. 5) “Campital” Campaign: Brochures were distributed,
and the Council viewed a video with the theme “Outdoor Ministry Matters.” The fundraising campaign is being
undertaken by UCCI (United Church Camps Inc.), and a representative will be coming to speak to the Council at
the March meeting. Rob noted the goal is ambitious: to raise $3,000,000 to $8,000,000 in three to five years.
Other Business: 1) Discussion on racism: A retreat will be held Sunday, March 1, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. for Council
members. Resources will be sent out in advance. 2) Annual Retreat for the new Council is tentatively set for May 2.
Adjournment: Jane H. moved to adjourn the Council meeting at 7:50 p.m.; Jill seconded; motion carried.
Jane Culbert, Clerk