January
25 (Sun.) 9:30 am -Full Service
“Angelus”
New Hymnal Dedication
Annual Congregational Meeting
26 (Mon.) 4:00 pm – Hand Bell Choir
29 (Wed.) 8:00 am – Men’s Bible Study**
3:45 pm – Elementary Youth Groups
30 (Thurs.) 1:00 pm – Hand Bell Choir
February
1 (Sun.) Holy Communion
9:30 am -Full Service
2 (Mon.) 4:00 pm – Hand Bell Choir
3 (Tues.) 10:30 am – Circle of Healing
4 (Wed.) 8:00 am – Men’s Bible Study**
10:30 am – Our Home K Care Service
3:45 pm – Elementary Youth Groups
6:00 pm – Madams & Sirs Potluck & Program
5 (Thurs.) 9:30 am - Guild
1:00 pm – Hand Bell Choir
8 (Sun.) 9:30 am -Full Service
9 (Mon.) 4:00 pm – Hand Bell Choir
11 (Wed.) 8:00 am – Men’s Bible Study**
3:45 pm – Elementary Youth Groups
12 (Thurs.) 1:00 pm – Hand Bell Choir
15(Sun.) 9:30 am -Full Service
16 (Mon.) 4:00 pm – Hand Bell Choir
17 (Tues.) 10:30 am – Circle of Healing
18 (Wed.) 8:00 am – Men’s Bible Study**
3:45 pm – Elementary Youth Groups
5:30 – 6:30 pm – Soup Supper
7:00 pm – Ash Wednesday Communion Service
9:30 am – Session Meeting
CHIT CHAT articles due
19 (Thurs.) 9:30 am - Guild
1:00 pm – Hand Bell Choir
22 (Sun.) 9:30 am -Full Service First Sunday of Lent
23 (Mon.) 4:00 pm – Hand Bell Choir
25 (Wed.) 8:00 am – Men’s Bible Study**
3:45 pm – Elementary Youth Groups
26 (Thurs.) 1:00 pm – Hand Bell Choir
* - meets at Little Bohemia
Duties
Ushers
Jan. 25 Robert & Pauline Rider
Feb. 1 Bob & Judy Ruch
Feb. 8 Bob & Judy Ruch
Feb. 15 Parker & Mid Sharpe
Feb. 22 Parker & Mid Sharpe
Liturgist:
Jan. 25 Kay Suffron
Feb. 1, 8, 15 & 22- Audrey Winchell
Lay Leader:
Jan. 25 Sharon Bridges
Feb. 1 Helyn Woolf
Feb. 8 Jan Schumacher
Feb. 15 Margo Perkins
Feb. 22 Helyn Woolf
Communion Person: Carol Bohlin
Counters
Jan. 25 Vince Hoehn and Joan Dioszegi
Feb. 1 Bob Bridges and David Foster
Feb. 8 Bob Schmidt and Sharon Bridges
Feb. 15 Vince Hoehn and Carol Bohlin
Feb. 22 Deane Galloway and Dave Lukas
As our minds grow wiser,
help our hearts to be kinder.
SESSION MEMBERS 2015
Clerk Carol Bohlin-715-356-4060
Janie Williams
Joan Quimette- 715-476-3887
Mary Koster- 715-686-7300
Tom Erickson-715-543-8046
David Foster-715-385-2217
Deane Galloway-715-543-8010
Ron King-715-583-9979
Dave Lukas-715-686-7697
Mark Schuelke-715-686-7223
DuWayne Schumacher-715-686-2074
Helyn Woolf-715-686-7173
Session meets the third Wednesday of the month.
DEACONS
Cathy Breitholtz, Susan Schroeter, Sharon Lukas,
Hope Dougherty, Jan Schumacher, Manny Markham
Feel free to contact a Session or
Deacon member with any concerns or questions.
Missions
Your Mission Committee has finalized a year of giving that any church would be proud to report. The committee worked hard to define our role and explore new areas of giving as we added the budgets from Madams & Sirs and the Westminster Guild. With these extra monies, we made sure that the recommendations from these groups were fulfilled. We now begin a whole new year with this rewarding role of helping others, locally, nationally and worldwide.
Sadly, our committee will be losing 3 very valuable members. Sarah Becklund, who is the most organized and thorough person I know, will be leaving the committee but will always be available for consultation and advice. Bob Schmidt and Bill Kaufman, who have faithfully and diligently served for years, have decided to step down and hand the reins to willing and very competent familiar volunteers. We will be welcoming Eileen Dybvad, Mid Sharpe, John Suffron, Dennis Breitholtz and Nan Bloch. With the addition of Nan, this should make the coordination of giving items through Fleazaar, an easier and smoother transaction. Give them all a big hand for stepping forward and stretching their personal talents into a new area of service.
The Loose Change Offering continues to be a very successful and worthwhile effort. The change that we pull from our pockets, wallets and bottom of our purses is unnoticed by us but makes a big impact in lives of those in need. From October through December, we donated a total of $394.60 to benefit DOVE. Way to go! Keep digging out that change as we collect for Heifer International in January through March.
Blessings to you as we Praise and
Serve The Lord.
Respectfully submitted,
Helyn Woolf – Mission Committee Co-Chair
The Stewardship Campaign
For 2015
Giving has always been a key part of our lives as Christians. As good stewards, said Peter, “each of us should use whatever gifts we have received to serve others” (I Peter: 10). Our stewardship shares the magnifying power of God’s grace—just as from a few loaves of bread Jesus made a feast for a multitude.
The Stewardship Committee reports that for the 2015 campaign, there were 88 pledges made for a total of $103,029 with an average of $1170 per pledge. This compares with a 2014 total of 93 pledges for a total of $118,084 with an average of $1269 per pledge. As can be seen, the number and total amount of 2015 pledges dropped from last year. However, it should be noted that in the past several years the total full-year envelope giving has exceeded the pledged amount. The Session has planned the 2015 budget with the confidence that our congregation’s generosity will continue.
Our giving month by month throughout 2015 will be especially important, in order to maintain support for our church’s commitments. The Apostle Paul promises us that we “will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others.” (2 Corinthians 9: 8).
Respectfully submitted,
David Foster, Stewardship Committee
Membership
The end of 2014 proved to be very busy in the life of our membership. On November 23, we installed new members, Ries & Pat Behling, Bob & Barb Schroeder, Rev. Steve & Rev. Nancy Russell and welcomed back Pat Pohl. On November 30 we installed Don Psenicka. We have all been going different directions, so I have not had the opportunity to feature these new family members in the Chit Chat, so I will work on that in the near future.
On November 30, over 50 members and friends stayed after the church service to “Deck The Halls and Hang The Greens” to begin a festive Christmas Season. By 12:00 noon, we were all sitting, munching and chattering during a warm and yummy lunch provided by the Membership Committee and our first over indulgence of Christmas cookies provided by all of you.
We enjoyed a warm glow and twinkling of lights that Pastor Chips added for the Christmas Eve Service which proved to be, as always, a rich and blessed time together to celebrate the coming of our Savior.
Madams & Sirs
February 4, 2015
6:00 Potluck
Program –
Melissa Patterson will talk about the
“Lakeland Sharing Foundation”
March Program –
Mr. Kruger will talk about “Life Direct”
Unfortunately, what goes up must come down! On January 4, a hardy group of people braved the frigid cold to worship and stay to undecorate. Again, we had the help of over 50 people. This was done in the record time of 30 minutes! We had to have them all visit for a short while, smelling the wonderful aroma coming from the kitchen, until lunch was served--munching, chattering, laughing and on their way home before 1:00 PM. We always say, taking down is not as exciting or fun as decorating, but it was hard to tell with all the laughter and enthusiasm. I think we have this down to a science. Thank you so much, everyone, for the help and wonderful camaraderie.
Now, we wish all of the snowbirds who are heading to warmer places, health and lots of sunshine. We look forward to seeing you for Easter Brunch!
We do have a few people who are looking for us to organize an inquirer's gathering. If you know anyone who would like to get to know us better, please pass their name on to myself, Lois in the office or Pastor Chips. We have 2015 wide open to greet new members!
Helyn Woolf, Membership Chairlady
MANITOWISH WATERS COMMUNITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
PO Box 69
Manitowish Waters, WI 54545
January
February
2015
Bible Trivia
…check your Bible knowledge
Author, Author
Who, according to tradition,
wrote the following books of the Bible?
1. Genesis?
2. Exodus?
3. Revelation?
4. Ruth?
5. Numbers?
6. Pslams?
7. James?
Come worship with us
at the:
Manitowish Waters Community
Presbyterian Church
Office Hours:
Monday through Friday = 9:00 am till noon
715-543-2998
Rev. Chips 715-776-2998
www.mwcpc.org
1. Moses, 2. Moses, 3. John, 4. Samuel, 5. Moses, 6. David, Asaph & many others, 7. James, the brother of Jesus.
Westminster GUILD
Westminster Guild met just once during the month of December, on the 4th, for our annual Christmas Luncheon. A baker's dozen of us gathered at Little Creek Coffee Company in Arbor Vitae, where we celebrated the season with a delicious lunch and lots of great conversation. Because of the way the holidays have fallen this year (date-wise), we again met only once in January -- on the 15th -- when we continued our Bible study, "Reconciling Paul: A Contemporary Study of 2 Corinthians". We will meet again on Thursday, February 5, to discuss Lessons 5 and 6. Each of these lessons can stand on its own, and we have extra copies of the study guide available. Just ask any Guild member for a copy, and please consider joining us. We will gather in the fellowship hall at 9:30 AM.
At our January meeting we also began our preparations for Fleazaar, and we are seeking clear plastic one-gallon water jugs and clear wine bottles for two of our projects. If you have any of these cluttering your household, please drop them off in the kitchen at church -- we will find them! Thank you!!
Continuing with our delicious Fleazaar recipes, here's the one from Sunday's lunch (July 13th) -- Chicken Enchiladas!!! The recipe serves 6, so we multiplied it by 25 to serve the HUGE number of worker bees we had that day!
February
Birthdays:
1st Chrystel Paulson, 2nd Marion Jacobs, Hayle Woolf, 3rd Lee Leeder, 4th Helyn Woolf, 6th Betty Gunther, Vanessa Hahn, 7th Julie Detling, 8th Mark Kayser, Journey Jacobs, 9th Heidi Jahnke, Jake Schilling, 11th Ruth Horner, Ana Erickson, 12th Andrew & Thomas Spencer, 13th Glenn Ripley, David Vogt, Amy Slone, 14th Glen Wildenberg, Becky Kayser, Daniel Slone, 15th Parker Sharpe, 16th Tom Larum, 19th Mary Willson, 22nd Maren Moll, Susan Glynn, 23rd Carol Bohlin, 24th Winnie Carlson, 25th Steve Jacobs, 26th Jasmin Erickson, 27th Kit McFarland, Luke Schilling, 29th Judy Erickson
Chicken Enchiladas
15-oz jar mild green salsa
1 cup sour cream
4 cups cooked chicken breasts, chopped
12 flour tortillas (6-inch)
4 plum tomatoes, diced
4 green onions, diced
8 oz. Mexican or co-jack cheese, shredded
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 pan.
2) In blender, puree the salsa and sour cream.
3) In a large bowl combine the chicken with 1 cup of the salsa-sour cream mixture; reserve the remaining mixture.
4) Soften the tortillas according to package directions, and place 1/3 cup of chicken mixture in the center of each tortilla.
5) Roll up tightly and place seam-side down in the prepared pan.
6) Top with reserved salsa-sour cream mixture; cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes.
7) Uncover and sprinkle with tomatoes, onions and cheese. ENJOY!!
Kay Suffron
Moderator
Anniversaries:
2nd Mark & Dawn Halliburton
10th Mark & Marjean Schuelke
14th Bud & Judi Arnold
John & Ann Wilson
19th Dick & Elaine Newton
22nd John & Jane Bals
We apologize for not getting a January news letter to you. Due to Christmas activities, the weather, sicknesses, and lack of many articles it did not come together.
I would like to thank everyone who helped make 2014 come together smoothly. Your volunteering for lay leaders, liturgists, coffee servers, ushers, Youth Group needs and other duties were very much appreciated in many ways. Each contributes to the whole of what makes our north woods church warm and a special place to worship.
YEA!!!
Trigs’ Cash Program has done us well in the last quarter of 2014
Village Market - $276.82
Trigs of Minocqua – $51.47
To keep this coming…just write 14 B
on your grocery receipt and put it in the box provided.
God does not comfort us to make us comfortable, but to make us comforters
Deacons
The Board of Deacons will continue to serve and be the “caring arm” of the church.
We would like to say “thank you and well done” to our outgoing Deacons: Dale Ekdahl, Mark Suckow and Ruth Stober. Your dedication and service was outstanding.
Please welcome the new additions to the Deacons: Susan Schroeter and Sharon Lukas! We look forward to working with them, and they too, will be great help in caring for the special needs of our Church Family and community.
Items the Deacons are involved in are:
· The Letter Lab with cards and a list of people to send cards to.
· There is an informational hutch next to this lab containing various information on helpful organizations.
· In the narthex, by the fireside room, there is a collection of “Care Notes” (booklets designed to help you through various life journeys).
· The above are in addition to help with food, travel, visitation, etc.
With this new year upon us, the Deacons are in the process of updating. If there is something you would like to add, please do not hesitate to contact one of the Deacons. And, we appreciate your help, and ask that you let any Deacon know if you are aware of someone who could use some support!
Board of Deacons Members:
Cathy Breitholtz, Manny Markham, Jan Schumacher, Susan Schroeter, Sharon Lukas and Deacon Chair – Hope Dougherty.
The Board meets in the choir room the third Sunday of the month.
Christian Education
We are in the “second semester” of our Wednesday Youth Group now. How very quickly the time goes by.